lcionline Chapter 280 Marquis of Pingxi Takes Over Lihai City
Chapter 280 Marquis of Pingxi Takes Over Lihai City
In Bogda's plan, the capital city was already his for the taking.
As a result, his 100,000-strong army is now trapped in the capital and unable to move.
They were completely at the mercy of the Third Prince, finding themselves in a dilemma.
He really wanted to launch a direct attack on the capital, but he only had 100,000 troops and not enough food. His soldiers, who were starving and dizzy, had little fighting power.
Moreover, the new emperor had control of all 350,000 troops in the capital.
Bogda's troops were no match for them.
With such troops surrounding them, retreating back to the northern barbarians was simply impossible.
They could only be manipulated by the emperor at will.
The unrest in the North was almost quelled by the ascension of the third prince to the throne.
However, the Western Desert tribes also took the opportunity to launch a fierce challenge against Dayong.
The western region is vast and sparsely populated.
Taking advantage of the torrential rain disaster, the Western Desert tribes secretly launched an attack on Xishan Pass.
After the news reached the capital, the Western Desert tribes had already captured five cities in succession. The battle was even more intense than that of the Northern Barbarian army, and the situation was extremely tense!
Because the timing of the Western Desert Tribe Card was too clever.
It just so happens that this is the period when the people of Dayong are infected with the epidemic.
The garrison in the western border was also greatly affected, which allowed the western desert tribes to take advantage of the situation and invade.
Marquis Gao Dechong of Pingxi commands 100,000 elite troops to guard Qingya Pass in the west.
They are still holding out desperately, waiting for reinforcements from the capital.
Gao Dechong was Mu Wanjun's maternal grandfather.
Gao Linglong's father.
However, Gao Linglong was blinded by love back then. She went against her father's wishes, forcibly broke off the engagement he had arranged for her, and married Mu Hongqi without looking back.
This led to a breakdown in the relationship between the father and daughter, and they no longer had any contact.
Fortunately, Mu Hongqi's love for Gao Linglong was as deep as the sea, and he did not betray that love.
Gao Linglong tried several times to take her husband and daughter back to her parents' home to resolve the grievances between her and her father.
But Gao Dechong still refused to acknowledge this daughter.
Because his daughter's actions destroyed the agreement and trust between him and his old friend.
However, the relationship between the two was slightly eased thanks to Mu Wanjun, who had traveled from another time.
After transmigrating into the book, Mu Wanjun immediately went to the Western Territory to find her maternal grandfather.
She won over her proud grandfather with her cute and charming tactics and her superb medical skills.
She received her maternal grandfather's unparalleled favor.
But Gao Dechong only liked this granddaughter and still refused to acknowledge his daughter.
To prevent her maternal grandparents' family from suffering the same tragic fate as depicted in the book, Mu Wanjun had no choice but to try her best to brainwash them.
They tried every means to persuade her to abandon the western border and go south with her.
But all failed.
Her relationship with her maternal grandfather was still somewhat strained.
However, Gao Dechong's state of mind changed drastically after the Mu family was exiled.
Mu Wanjun would personally write down almost every day how miserable her journey in exile was.
Letters denouncing the emperor's heartless betrayal and expressing her desire to commit suicide to escape her suffering were sent to the western border.
Although Gao Dechong was unwilling to acknowledge his daughter, it was simply because he was a chauvinist and couldn't bring himself to do it.
It's not that I don't want my daughter to have a good life.
On the contrary, I am somewhat glad that my daughter has good taste and married well. Most importantly, I have a good daughter!
When Gao Dechong learned of his granddaughter's family's tragic situation, his belief in loyalty to the emperor was on the verge of collapse.
Fortunately, her granddaughter promptly sent a prescription and medicine to treat the epidemic.
Only Qingya Pass could be barely saved.
However, the western region already had a harsh environment, and the food harvest was poor year after year.
Coupled with the persistent drought, which led to reduced grain production, the region also encountered epidemics and floods.
Behind him were 100,000 soldiers and the entire city's inhabitants, while in front of him was a 200,000-strong army of the Wilderness Clan.
Gao Dechong was already in a state of panic due to a severe shortage of food and weapons.
This day.
Gao Dechong received two more secret letters in succession.
A letter from my granddaughter.
The letter states this.
The entire exile procession was orchestrated by the Third Prince.
Not only were they to be enslaved for eternity, but after they escaped from the iron mine, they were also accused of fleeing to escape punishment, and the entire court was tasked with hunting them down, leaving them no way out.
Mu Wanjun begged her maternal grandfather to send troops to rescue them.
There was also a letter from the capital.
It was a crucial secret from the capital delivered by his spy.
The gist of the story is that the Third Prince framed the Xie family, leading to the fall of the Northern Border's Hanshan Pass to the barbarians.
This led to the repeated loss of the northern border and a situation where the people were living in misery.
It was also the third prince who, in alliance with the northern barbarian army, stormed the capital and plotted to seize the throne.
Not only did they behead the old emperor, but they also wiped out all his brothers and relatives, massacring the officialdom and causing many dissenting officials to lose their heads and have their property confiscated.
Such a shameless new emperor was the final pillar that crushed Gao Dechong's loyalty to the country and his people.
Such a corrupt dynasty is not worthy of his bloodshed to protect.
After much deliberation, Gao Dechong finally decided to lead his men to abandon Qingya Pass and head to rescue his daughter's family.
Gao Dechong's sudden retreat led to Qingshan Pass being quickly breached by the Western Desert tribes, who are now advancing towards the capital at an extremely rapid pace.
Upon receiving the news, the Third Prince was so enraged that his veins throbbed, and he immediately flew into a rage during the morning court session!
He immediately dispatched 100,000 troops to the Western Wilderness to provide support.
Among these 100,000 troops.
There were 20,000 Northern Barbarians who had been disrupted and reorganized.
at the same time.
Not only did the Western Desert tribes want to take advantage of the situation to divide up Dayong, but the various extraterritorial dynasties in the Southern Territory were also simultaneously launching wars against Dayong.
The war in the entire Dayong Dynasty broke out in full force.
The major prefectures along the coast were also severely impacted.
Including Lihai City.
*
A few days ago.
Xiao Yuxuan took No. 8 and a medium-sized boat to Lihai to purchase a group of strong laborers and young and beautiful maids.
There are plenty of able-bodied men on the island, but far too few young women, which is detrimental to future population growth.
Therefore, the number of women is equally important.
But Xiao Yuxuan didn't expect that.
The battle situation has spread to Lihai so quickly.
In order to defend against the foreign tribes invading from the southwest, the Lihai government directly sent troops to indiscriminately arrest men on the streets to enlist in the army.
They didn't give the people a chance to complain at all.
Xiao Yuxuan could see from afar that soldiers were conscripting able-bodied men at the dock, which was in complete chaos.
He dared not let the large ship approach the dock, and instead stopped at a distance to observe the situation.
Meanwhile, the dock management staff noticed the large ship that had been sitting motionless at the entrance and urged them to come ashore as soon as possible.
Xiao Yuxuan became even more vigilant.
Immediately move the ship away from the dock.
Do you know where there is a place nearby where a boat can dock?
Xiao Yuxuan went to the cabin to inquire about the crew and the captain.
“Our large ship can dock at the East and South docks of Lihai, but there are small docks in the villages outside the city where we can use small boats to smuggle ourselves ashore,” a captain immediately said.
His home was in a small fishing village outside Lihai City, so he knew it very well.
Xiao Yuxuan's eyes lit up immediately, and he ordered the boat to set sail.
"Then let's sail the boat over there."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After quickly determining the direction, the captain headed towards the small fishing village.
The two boats were too large to get close to the small fishing village.
Xiao Yuxuan and the others then used an emergency boat to go to the small fishing village.
The crew members of both ships did not need to disembark; they had to steer the ships to prevent them from being swept away by the waves.
To prevent the crew from having any selfish motives that could cause harm, Xiao Yuxuan left five guards on both ships.
He only took Captain Li Dahai and ten guards with him to the fishing village.
Captain Li Dahai led everyone to the fishing village and went directly to talk to the village chief.
I also informed the village chief about what I saw at the Lihai City Wharf.
"Uncle, I reckon the news of the government's conscription will soon spread to the surrounding villages, and by then the men in the village won't even have time to escape!"
"Why don't you listen to me and come with us to leave this place with our master?"
Li Dahai was quite respected in the village.
Although he has never been the captain of a large ship, he has been steering medium-sized ships for many years and has led many men from the village on boat trips. His character is trustworthy.
However, this matter was too important for the villagers, and they dared not make a decision blindly.
"If you don't believe me, why don't you send a few people to investigate near Lihai to find out the truth? That way, everyone can take precautions early."
"Okay, I'll listen to Da Hai."
Village Chief Li immediately dispatched several quick-witted and agile young men to Lihai City to inquire about the situation.
Li Dahai then traveled to several nearby villages to persuade them.
Xiao Yuxuan originally wanted to find a brokerage firm to buy some young and strong men and maids, which would be less troublesome.
But he didn't expect Lihai City to fall into chaos so quickly.
They were all clearly strong and robust young men, the kind of people the government liked best.
If we were to enter the city directly like this, we would definitely attract the attention of the government officials and cause trouble.
Right now, the only option is to buy people from the village.
However, if we start with the villages, these people will definitely have their families with them, and there will inevitably be many elderly and young people mixed in.
Li Dayong visited four or five villages, and by noon, the people sent out by each village to inquire about the situation were gradually returning.
The villagers still need to discuss whether to sign indentures and follow Li Dayong's master, or to seek refuge elsewhere; it's not something that can be decided in a short time.
Xiao Yuxuan told Li Dayong to stay in the village and handle these matters.
He secretly approached Lihai City with his guards to gather information.
Xiao Yuxuan and his group arrived at the South Wharf and found many boats of all sizes moored there.
There are two ships of the same specifications as No. 8.
All of these boats are stuck at the Lihai Wharf and cannot leave.
Xiao Yuxuan's secret guard, Anwu, quickly returned with the information.
"Your Highness, according to my inquiries, all of these ships were seized by the Lihai government."
"All the cargo that was on board was seized and taken off the ship by the government under various pretexts, presumably in an attempt to plunder these supplies for war preparation."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuxuan's guess was exactly the same as he had imagined.
Fortunately, he had the foresight to not let the ship dock.
Otherwise, they would definitely be seized by the government, and even if there weren't many supplies on the ship, they would definitely be taken away.
If it's government officials, they're even more shameless.
They might even seize the ship and its crew, which would result in enormous losses for them!
"Could we find a way to get into the city and have the brokers bring a group of people out?" Xiao Yuxuan asked.
"I'll give it a try," Anwu replied.
Xiao Yuxuan nodded, signaling him to do it.
The surrounding fishing villages are very small, and the total population of them may not even be a thousand.
Not all of these people will necessarily agree to follow Li Dahai.
He needs to find a way to recruit more people.
Otherwise, we would have to return empty-handed, which wouldn't be worthwhile.
If we really can't buy people, we can only bring supplies.
"It's a pity that Ah Li didn't come along this time, otherwise all these ships would be ours."