xymnovel Chapter 129 The First Glimmer of Dawn
Chapter 129 The First Glimmer of Dawn
Chapter 129 Dawn Breaks (Fourth Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets)
Chengdu.
A dazzling display of prosperity, like oil being poured over a raging fire.
Inside the quiet imperial palace, in the emperor's bedroom.
The charcoal stove was burning brightly, and Liu Shan, despite wearing thick clothes, was still afraid of the cold. He placed his hands on the fire to warm them, greedily craving warmth.
Huang Hao unconsciously moved closer to the charcoal stove, his hands feeling as cold as if they were holding ice cubes.
Winter is so hard to endure.
Liu Shan and Huang Hao shared the same thoughts and he sighed inwardly.
suddenly.
A commotion came from outside the door.
"Lord Zhuge!!!!"
"Get out of the way."
Zhuge Zhan's loud shouts and the eunuchs' attempts to stop him reached Liu Shan's ears. Liu Shan was somewhat displeased and frowned.
The image of Zhuge Liang flashed into his mind, and his round body trembled.
Although Zhuge Zhan was his son-in-law, but...
Before Liu Shan could react, General Zhuge Zhan, Assistant General Dong Jue, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Fan Jian and Attendant-in-Ordinary walked in from outside.
These three are currently the prime ministers of the Liu Han court. As long as Liu Shan does not interfere, they are in charge of the government.
Two veteran officials, one of whom, Dong Jue, had served as Zhuge Liang's chief clerk and was highly regarded.
Huang Hao felt extremely uncomfortable upon seeing the three prime ministers, but he still bowed to them.
Many people in the court now rely on him, but none of the three prime ministers are of one mind with him.
Zhuge Zhan glanced at Huang Hao, wishing he could kill him. He used to want to seize Jiang Wei's military power, but now he somewhat understood Jiang Wei.
When Jiang Wei was in Chengdu, he was fighting against Huang Hao. Now that Jiang Wei has left Chengdu, these prime ministers are fighting against Huang Hao.
They lost.
Now is not the time to think about this. Zhuge Zhan took a deep breath, shook his head slightly, and bowed to Liu Shan, whose face was somewhat pale, saying, "Your Majesty, news has come from Hanzhong. Sima Zhao has ordered Zhong Hui, Deng Ai, Zhuge Xu, and others to launch a four-pronged attack on Hanzhong, with 200,000 elite troops and countless laborers."
"Other."
He paused, then said in a deep voice, "Deng Ai attacked Tazhong, while Zhuge Xu occupied Yinping Bridge. Cao Wei wanted to surround and kill the General."
"What?" Liu Shan, who was already unhappy, exclaimed in shock, his face turning deathly pale. He subconsciously turned to look at Huang Hao. Didn't the wizard say that Cao Wei wouldn't attack?
Huang Hao paid no attention to Liu Shan's gaze; the emperor was easy to fool, a few words of coaxing would suffice. But Jiang Wei... Jiang Wei was about to die. He was extremely excited, his very heart trembling.
Finally, the moment has finally arrived.
Zhuge Zhan, worried that Liu Shan wouldn't understand the urgency of the situation, quickly explained. But Liu Shan actually understood; after all, he had been emperor for many years.
At this moment, he remembered Jiang Wei's memorial and hurriedly ordered: "Order Zhang Yi and Liao Hua to lead their troops to meet the General."
There are not many generals left capable of fighting in Chengdu, and they are all veterans. Liao Hua is seventy-five, and Zhang Yi is seventy-two.
Add Zhao Guang, who's almost sixty.
They all had white hair.
However, Liu Shan was so frightened that he forgot Zhao Guang was still in Chengdu.
The usually slow-witted emperor reacted unusually quickly. The three prime ministers, Zhuge Zhan and his entourage, breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts soon sank again. The situation was dire. What if Jiang Wei didn't return...?
They still don't know that Jiang Wei submitted a memorial to Liu Shan more than six months in advance, asking Liu Shan to send Zhang Yi and Liao Hua north to provide support.
"Yes." Zhuge Zhan bowed in agreement, then glanced at Fan Jian and Dong Jue to his left and right. The three prime ministers left the palace together to urgently dispatch troops.
"Your Majesty, this servant is guilty." After the three left, Huang Hao knelt down on both knees, looking terrified.
Liu Shan was taken aback for a moment, then remembered the wizard. He shook his head and said, "This is the wizard's fault, it has nothing to do with you."
He couldn't bear to kill the wizard, because the wizard made him feel comfortable and allowed him to live. He added, "We can't blame the wizard either. It's just that fate is unpredictable, and even a wizard can't fully know what fate holds."
Huang Hao apologized repeatedly, his body trembling with fear, yet his heart remained incredibly calm, mocking Liu Shan as a coward.
He killed none of them.
The residence of Liao Hua, Right General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Bingzhou.
He was defecating in the latrine when he received the imperial edict. He was getting old; not only did he lack energy, but he was also losing control of his bodily functions.
Upon learning of the situation, Liao Hua immediately instructed his eldest son, Liao Ning, to prepare for the military expedition.
Although Liao Ning was his son, he was already old and gray. When Jingzhou fell, he was captured by Eastern Wu. He then faked his death, carrying his elderly mother back to Bashu, leaving Liao Ning behind in Eastern Wu.
Later, the two countries made peace, and Liao Ning was able to return, which can be described as a life full of twists and turns.
Now that he's old, he can't really lead troops anymore. Liao Ning is mainly responsible for the daily command of the troops, and he only offers advice when it comes to battle.
It took Liao Hua a while to emerge from the outhouse. He smiled bitterly and said, "I'm over seventy, practically on my deathbed. I never imagined this."
"Alas!" Liao Hua sighed deeply and went to sit down in the main hall.
The next morning.
Two white-haired veterans led about 10,000 troops out of Chengdu and headed straight for Tazhong.
Because they were in China, they didn't need to bring any supplies or vehicles. They could eat the local food wherever they went, and they traveled very quickly.
However, the bumpy ride on horseback was tough on the two old generals.
Zhao Guang's residence.
After Liao Hua and Zhang Yi left, he became restless. He paced back and forth in the corridor in front of the study with his hands behind his back, his face full of anxiety.
"Tazhong. The General is in Tazhong without anyone to meet him. If the General dies in Tazhong, Zhong Hui and Deng Ai will be able to advance unimpeded."
He longed to join Liu Shan in the campaign with Liao Hua and Zhang Yi, but because of Zhao Chongguo's crimes, he was now semi-retired at home and dared not go directly to the emperor.
He went to see Zhuge Zhan, but Zhuge Zhan dismissed him with just a few words.
It's true that I have the heart to serve my country, but no opportunity.
Zhao Guang grew angrier and angrier, and shouted angrily, "Men, tie up my unfilial son and let me whip him a few times to vent my anger!"
After Zhao Chongguo was released, he beat him half to death. Now Zhao Chongguo is better and can walk and run again.
Let's try drawing one more time.
"Ah!!! Father, please spare me, Father, please spare me!" Not long after, Zhao Chongguo's heart-wrenching voice echoed from Zhao Guang's residence.
"I'm just teaching you a lesson. If you dare to seize more land again, it won't be as simple as a whip; I'll cut off your legs." This was Zhao Guang's angry shout.
After Liao Hua and Zhang Yi set off, Chengdu fell into a state of continuous turmoil and unrest.
Bad news kept coming from the front: Hanzhong had almost fallen, with only three strongholds remaining.
Even these three strongholds are now isolated and vulnerable.
It seems that Cao Wei planned to relocate a large number of people to Hanzhong to cultivate land and store grain.
The Han Dynasty may be doomed!