Empress Chu

Page 255

Chapter 69 Closing the City

When a group of people stumbled and cried and appeared in sight, Chu Zhao thought that it was the same as before, that Xiao Xun was using it as a meat wall, as a meat shield, to fill in traps, to trip horses...

But this time the people did not follow behind the dense forest-like military formation.

There are also soldiers and horses galloping, and they scatter left and right, protecting these people like wings.

This is the scout of the court soldiers and horses.

"His Royal Highness—" the scout galloped to report, "It's the people of Han County. They came to report that the people of Han County are fighting with the rebels."

Upon hearing this news, the first thought of the other generals was, new strategy for the rebels?

In the past, the rebels used the people to force them to retreat, but now they use the people to lure them into the city?

Soon those people were brought to the front. Although they didn't know what the queen looked like, when they saw the female general in red in the army formation, they all knelt down and called out to the queen.

"The Xiao thief oppressed the people, and the people were in dire straits."

"Killing at random, insulting."

"People in the county can't stand it."

"Everyone raised an incident together, rushed into the government office, killed the general, and opened the city gate."

"We're looking for the empress's help—"

"More than 100 people rushed out, and only a dozen of us survived in the end."

"Empress Empress, Empress Empress, we finally see you—"

"Empress, please help, save us—"

After listening to the people's complaints, Chu Zhao looked at the scouts again.

"The scout ahead, looking at the city of Hanjun from a distance, there is something strange." The scout said, "There are fireworks in the city."

"Since—" Chu Zhao wanted to speak.

The generals next to him hurriedly persuaded again: "Your Majesty, be careful, let the soldiers and horses investigate again."

"Yes, ma'am." A general whispered, "The states and counties here have been run by King Zhongshan for many years, and they immediately surrendered to Xiao Xun, so we have to be careful."

Chu Zhao looked at the mourning people in front of the army formation, and then looked into the distance. The people rioted and fought with the officers and soldiers. No matter how many people there were, it was like an egg hitting a stone.

"We can't wait." Chu Zhao said, "Even if it was the conspiracy of the rebels, those people are really being trampled. They have nowhere to go and nowhere to escape. Even we abandon them. What is the difference between us and the rebels? What face do you have to make them the people of Great Xia?"

The generals looked at each other, and without further words, they bowed down and saluted: "Please send troops!"

Chu Zhao waved his hand, Xiaoman behind him immediately waved the battle flag, the battle drums rose slowly in the army formation, and the army formation moved slowly on the ground.

The drums of war and the galloping soldiers and horses made the whole ground tremble.

The army formation moved, and the tents in the rear became quieter. Xie Yanlai, who was sitting on a rocking chair enjoying the spring sunshine, yawned.

"Are you going to break camp?" He said, looking at the sky again, "It's just in time for dinner."

He turned to look at the soldiers beside him.

"Let's talk about it after dinner."

The soldier responded: "General Xie, the old duck soup I ordered yesterday has been stewed. I'll go and see if it's ready."

The soldier turned around and was about to leave, but he was stopped by Ale: "What to eat, the queen has gone to fight, you are still waiting here to eat and drink."

Xie Yanlai sat on the rocking chair and shook gently: "Why not? I don't have to go to war, I'm here to recuperate."

A Le stared at him: "I think you are here to gain weight!"

Xie Yanlai stretched out her hand and touched her face: "Why are you fat? I was quite haggard before, and it's still too early to make up for it. Why do I have to raise it for two or three years?"

Ah Le grabbed his rocking chair and was about to overturn it: "What are you raising!"

"You rude maid!" Xie Yanlai yelled, "I've been a concubine's maid for so many years, and I haven't made any progress!"

The two were noisy, Xie Yanlai didn't drink his old duck soup in the end, but he didn't run to lead the army to attack the city, but packed up and followed the luggage and walked behind. down.

In the midst of fireworks and chaos, the aristocratic families in the county led the surviving people to worship the queen.

"I'm guilty, I'm ashamed to see the queen." The elders in charge kowtowed with tears in their eyes. They had messy beards and hair, disheveled clothes, and escaped death.

As they kowtowed, the surviving people knelt down and cried loudly, also claiming to be guilty.

"We were first deceived by King Zhongshan, believing that he is a good prince for the country and the people."

"I was deceived by Deng Yi again, thinking that Xiao Xun was really entrusted with the throne by the late emperor, and he was the orthodox of the Great Xia."

"We will be loyal to His Majesty and respect him."

"Who would have thought that Officer Xiao would lead his soldiers into a frenzy, treat us like pigs and dogs, bully and humiliate us at will, and even take pleasure in killing—"

"I can't bear it anymore, I can only fight to the death, and ask the empress for help—"

At this point, the old men were crying, covering their faces with their hands, and hitting their heads on the ground.

"I deserve to die for my crimes, thank you for not giving up, thank you for saving my life."

After listening to these words, and looking at the people crying together, Chu Zhao sighed lightly, and knew what was going on. It turned out that the aristocratic families in the city joined forces to set up a grand banquet. The officials who will attend the banquet in the future will poison Kill—and in order to poison these officials and generals, several old people did not hesitate to drink poisoned wine together.

Then, under the leadership of the aristocratic family, the people captured the government office, seized weapons, and fought with the soldiers stationed there.

Although the people rose up to fight, they were vulnerable in front of soldiers and horses. Fortunately, Chu Zhao led his troops to arrive in time, otherwise they would all be slaughtered.

"Get up quickly." Chu Zhao stepped forward, helped the elderly with his own hands, and then looked at the kneeling people, "You are not guilty, even if you are deceived, it is the crime of this palace. I came too late."

"Empress Empress—"

Hearing this, the elders and the people were finally relieved, bowed down and shouted mournfully again.

"The empress is a thousand years old!"

After taking down the county, there are still many things to deal with, chasing deserters, setting up defenses around, and searching the city. Although these aristocratic families and many people say they want to surrender, the personnel still have to be strictly checked to prevent spies. They have been busy until dusk. to a resting place.

Ale has already tidied up the residence, boiled hot water, and prepared hot meals.

Chu Zhao sat down, took a sip of hot tea, took a breath, and suddenly thought of something to look around: "Where is Xie Yanlai?"

In the army, Xiaoman followed closely, while Ale stayed behind to take care of Chu Zhao's daily life. Besides Ale, there was Xie Yanlai in the rear.

Of course, he didn't take care of her daily life, but was taken care of with her.

Xie Yanlai was there every time he took a break, and he enjoyed all the delicious food and drink in advance.

Why aren't you here today?

Ale snorted: "When the lady was fighting, he hid behind to enjoy leisure, and after the fight, he wandered around again."

Wandering around the county town?Chu Zhao thought for a while and put on his outer robe again: "I'll go and have a look." After saying that, he went out.

Ah Le could only scold Xie Yanlai again, making the young lady unable to rest.

Although Xie Yan came to stroll around, Chu Zhao immediately asked where he was, the place where the corpses were collected outside the city.

As night fell, torches were lit in the open space outside the city, and corpses were densely packed. This side was only the corpses of the people, and the soldiers were in another place.

Some of the victims were taken away by the surviving family members, and some were killed by the whole family. At this moment, more than half of them have been covered with straw mats, and the remaining half have not had time to cover them. There are too many dead people, and there are not enough straw mats.

Among the densely packed corpses stood a person, who seemed to be patrolling and seemed to be in a trance.

He was dressed in black, and the flames danced on his face, as if outlining ghostly patterns.

"The people who suffer the most in the war are the people." Chu Zhao said softly, walking to his side, "We came too late and failed to rescue them from the sea of ​​suffering."

"Bitter sea." Xie Yanlai repeated these two words, "Maybe they don't know they are in the bitter sea, and they don't know whether to jump out of the bitter sea."

If the battle is not over for a day, they will live in panic. Today they regained the city, but they can't guarantee that it will be lost that day. Chu Zhao was silent for a moment. She really has no right to say that she saved the people from the sea of ​​suffering.

She looked around and saw that there were old and young people who died. It must have been the same situation in that life. She thought it could be avoided in this life, but the result was civil strife.

Chu Zhao said softly: "You still don't know what's going on in the city, do you? Xiao Xun's soldiers were tyrannical and cruel to the common people, scaring the surrendered families. They recognized that he was not a wise king, persuaded the people in the city to rise up, Let the soldiers of the county city be caught off guard, and this city is so easy to capture."

"Scared?" Xie Yanlai sneered, "These aristocratic families will be scared by the people being killed? They are so easily scared, how could they rebel with Xiao Xun in the first place?"

Chu Zhao frowned slightly: "You mean that these aristocratic families are not trustworthy, and I know that too, after all, they surrendered to Xiao Xun before, if you say they are innocent, they are not innocent, but at this time, it is not easy to pursue their crime of rebellion... ..."

Xie Yanlai interrupted her: "That's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?" Chu Zhao asked.

Xie Yanlai looked away: "I don't mean anything."

What, Chu Zhao said: "Xie Yanlai, what can't you tell me?"

Xie Yanlai laughed: "Why do I have nothing to say to you? I—"

Before he finished speaking, a general came and shouted loudly, "Queen, there is an urgent letter from the capital."

Xie Yanlai stopped talking, and Chu Zhao also turned his head: "Is it a letter from His Majesty?"

The general nodded: "There are letters from His Majesty, and there are also letters from Mr. Xie and others."

He was away on an expedition, and letters from the capital kept coming. Xiao Yu told her about the daily life in detail, while Xie Yanfang told her about the affairs of the court one by one, and even asked officials from various ministries to write letters. Of course, she would not really bother to deal with it. For court affairs, Xie Yanfang had resolved many matters, and she was allowed to participate in them, as if she was still sitting in court.

A smile appeared in Chu Zhao's eyes, and Xie Yanlai who was beside him walked away before he could speak.

"Hey." She called out, "I haven't finished talking yet."

Xie Yan didn't look back, just waved her hands and strode to the other side.

"Your Majesty, this is a letter from His Majesty." The general also walked up to Chu Zhao, and respectfully handed over a letter first.

Chu Zhao glanced at Xie Yanlai who was walking away again, that's all, he didn't want to talk about it so he didn't ask, this is not a place to talk, she took the letter and walked into the city.

"Your Majesty wrote a lot more." Chu Zhao said, looking at the thick envelope in his hand, and then at the general's hand, "Which one is Mr. Xie?"

The general quickly pulled it out and said with a smile, "This."

Chu Zhao trembled in his hand and made a thin sheet.

"Master Xie, why didn't you talk so much this time?" She said, she simply opened it immediately, and there was only one talisman in the envelope.

Chu Zhao froze for a moment, held it in his hand and looked at it by the light of the city gate, what is it?

The general next to him looked at it for a moment, and said with a smile, "This is a wishful amulet for the safety of the Great Buddha Temple in the capital. When I went out to fight, my family also begged for it."

Chu Zhao laughed: "Does he even believe this?"

The general said with a smile: "Your Majesty is going to fight abroad, Mr. Xie is worried. It is always safer to have more trust. My wife has worshiped all the gods and Buddhas she can ask for."

Chu Zhao laughed out loud.

Xie Yan, who was standing outside the city surrounded by night, turned her head back and forth, watching Chu Zhao go through the brightly lit city gate.

What does he mean?That's what conquest means.

Conquests always lead to death, and it is better to win than to lose. Does he insist that the people of Han County were not necessarily killed by Xiao Xun's soldiers, but were intimidated, incited, deceived, and rioted by others civil unrest?

What does he mean by that?Do you have to say that the dead people were not killed by Xiao Xun, but died at the hands of you, the queen?

Some people are indeed evil and ruthless, but what they are doing at this moment is to protect her, make her invincible, and make her shine.

Did he insist on pressing her in the mud, making her not only physically exhausted, but also mentally tormented?

Not interesting.

Xie Yanlai looked at the corpses lying on the ground again.

It's boring, life and death, crying and laughing, is just a game in other people's hands.

He withdrew his gaze, turned around and strode away into the night.

……

……

After staying up almost all night, Chu Zhao finished dealing with many matters in Han County and read the letter from the capital.

Xiao Yu's letter is the last to read, and it is used to accompany the meal and soothe the body and mind.

"Looking at Your Majesty's letter, Miss eats, takes a bath, changes clothes, and sleeps well." A Le held the hot soup and fed it to Chu Zhao spoonful by spoonful, so that Chu Zhao could make a move.

Chu Zhao sat on the chair, enjoying Ale's service, lazily opening the letter, and suddenly thought of something to sit up.

Ah Le hurriedly moved the spoon away, almost poking him in the face.

"One more thing." Chu Zhao said, put down Xiao Yu's letter, spread out the letter paper, picked up a pen and paper, "I have to explain."