Chapter 28: It turned out to be the kingdom

  Beyond Zhūyǔ Mountain, Jì City is in sight.

  Standing on the top of the mountain, Li Zhong borrowed the shelter of the trees and vaguely saw the outline of the city.

  Set up camp near a water source and let the troops rest, Li Zhong called Bai Lang over and instructed: "Ji City is right in front of us, but we still don't know the current situation of this city. Today, from afar on the mountain top, it seemed that there were no soldiers besieging it. Now take a few people, disguise yourselves and enter Ji City to gather some information."

  The White Wolf accepts the order.

  Ji City, the government office of the Governor of Hanyang.

  Fu Xi was handling government affairs in his study.

  Although the rebel army was approaching, and the situation was becoming increasingly severe, Fu Xie would never give up eating because of it. The things that needed to be done would absolutely not fall behind by a single bit due to this or that reason.

  Just then, there was a knock at the door.

  "Come in."

  Fu Xi put down his brush and raised his head, revealing a dry, yellowish, and haggard face.

  The door opened and a young man in his early twenties walked in. It was Fu Xie's son, Fu Gan.

  Fu Gan held a bowl of ginseng soup, his face worried: "Father, you haven't rested well for a long time." Looking at the bloodshot eyes of his father, Fu Gan could only hate himself for not being able to share his father's worries.

  "Hehe," Fu Xie took over the medicinal soup and smiled, saying: "It's nothing, you don't have to worry."

  Fu Gan watched as Fu Xie drank the medicinal soup, and after a faint flush appeared on his face, he slightly let out a breath of relief, but the worried look on Fu Gan's face did not diminish.

  Just now, the county lieutenant came to the governor's mansion because he really didn't want to disturb the overworked Governor Fu. He informed Fu Gan of the urgent news from the front lines and hoped that he would present it to Fu Xie. However, when Fu Gan saw his father's current state, he really didn't want him to hear any more bad news, so for a moment, he hesitated in his heart, unsure whether or not to speak.

  But who is Fu Xie? Seeing Fu Gan's hesitant appearance, he changed his mind and put down the bowl of soup, saying seriously: "What urgent news do you have to report?"

  Fu Gan opened his mouth, after a while, he said in a low voice: "Father, the county lieutenant just sent a message that Xi County, Wang Yu, Xian Qin and Feng Dao four counties have all been lost."

  Upon hearing this, Fu Xie's mouth twitched and he fell silent for a long time before sighing: "As expected..."

  It's indeed as expected.

  At first, Governor Geng Ben recruited soldiers from the six counties, leaving each county empty. Later, the defeat was too sudden, and although Fu Xie hastily ordered the county magistrates, county commanders, and county captains to recruit soldiers to defend themselves, what effect could be achieved in a short time?

  Thinking of this, Fu Xi couldn't help but feel a deep hatred for Geng Bing.

  He had long advised Geng Ben, but Geng Ben did not listen, and as a result the army was defeated. What can be done about it?

  "Father..." Fu Gan clenched his teeth and said: "Ji City has only over a thousand soldiers left, it's already hard to keep them safe, rather than..."

  "Retreat?!"

  Fu Xi gave him a stern look and turned away, saying: "Don't mention this again!"

  After a while, Fu Xie said again: "Tomorrow you will take your mother to Mei Yang, and I... won't go anywhere."

  White Wolf brought five people, disguised as merchants, swaggering into Jizhou City and checked into an inn. The inn was cold and empty, with no other guests, which foiled White Wolf's plan to gather information in the inn.

  Having no other choice, he could only use money to get information, and finally got a lot of useful news from the mouth of the wine shop owner, so he didn't delay any longer, immediately left Jizhou alone and returned to the camp.

  "So you're saying the rebels haven't completely taken over all the cities in Hanyang Prefecture yet?"

  After listening to Bai Lang's narrative, Li Zhong thought for a moment and asked.

  "But it is so, Your Majesty." The White Wolf said: "However, looking at the situation, it's almost done."

  Li Zheng nodded slightly and said, "It's probably like that. Liangzhou is vast after all. Within two months, the rebels are likely to be busy collecting soft persimmons, leaving Han Yang as a nail until last."

  Li Zhong felt relieved and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

  As for how things were going elsewhere, Li Zhēng didn't want to bother with it; as long as Fù Xiè was still around, that was a good thing.

  "My lord, the five brothers who went with you have stayed in the city." White Wolf continued: "I had them investigate the situation within the city and gather information about the governor's mansion."

  Li Zhēng heard this and his eyes lit up. He looked White Wolf up and down, smiling: "You can think of these things, not bad!"

  These people under his command, whether it's Zhang Shan or Zhao Wu, or even Bai Lang and others, are actually not great talents, and they all have their own shortcomings. But unexpectedly, Bai Lang has now given him a surprise.

  Li Zhēng hadn't thought of this before, but Bái Láng had already taken care of it.

  The white wolf was somewhat embarrassed by Li Zhong's gaze, saying: "I think that in order to rescue Fu Xie, we must have at least one safe route of retreat. Moreover, Fu Xie might also be a stubborn person, otherwise under the pressure of the rebel army, ordinary people would have fled long ago, just like the county magistrate of Lingzhou. Therefore, we still need to investigate Fu Xie's usual habits and his schedule of going in and out, so that in case things don't go well, we can forcibly take him away..."

  "Well said!"

  Li Zheng sincerely praised.

  This white wolf usually looks ordinary and steady, but unexpectedly has a quite agile mind. It seems that there is still some cultivation value.

  Li Zhuang thought for a moment and said, "Let's not talk about whether what you did this time will succeed or not, but your idea is good. I hope that in the future, no matter what you do, you'll think things through carefully."

  "Ah!"

  Li Zhong understood the implicit meaning of his words, knowing that the emperor's view of him had changed. He was immediately excited: "Your subordinate will not disappoint Your Majesty!"

  "I hope so." Li Zhong nodded slightly and said, "You go down first and let the soldiers rest well. Tomorrow I will personally enter the city to visit this prefect!"

  In June's early morning, with no clouds in sight, the air is fresh and clean.

  Li Dang washed up by the stream and listened to the birdsong all over the mountain, breathing in the fresh air of the forest, feeling refreshed.

  Today, he is ready to go into the city and visit Fu Xie, the Marquis of Hanyang Prefecture, to see if he can persuade him with his three-inch tongue to withdraw from Jizhou before the rebel army besieges the city.

  However, thinking of some records in memory about Fu Xi's life and major events, as well as some rumors heard after coming to this era, Li Zhēn actually didn't have much hope for this trip.

  If he wanted to withdraw, Fu Xi had plenty of opportunities, just like the unknown county magistrate in Lingzhou, who ran away early on, where did he need someone else's persuasion?

  Now in this situation, Fu Xi is clearly unwilling to withdraw.

  People like him have made up their minds and are almost impossible to change.

  Li Zhong shook his head slightly and sighed inwardly.

  People are different. Someone like Fu Xi will leave a name in history. What about the county magistrate of Lingzhou? What kind of thing is he?!

  But it's not bad to meet Fu Xie first, get familiar with him, and when the time is ripe, rescue him again, won't cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

  Just as he was thinking, suddenly, Li Zhēng's footsteps paused, his eyes fixed.

  There is a slight vibration on the ground!

  A keen sense of feeling clearly senses that this vibration is getting stronger and stronger.

  Li Zheng furrowed his brow, could it be an earthquake?

  No!

  At this moment, the White Wolf also lowered his body, put his ear to the ground, and immediately stood up and hastily said to Li Zhong: "Your Majesty, a large cavalry is approaching in this direction!"

  Cavalry regiment!

  Li Zheng's heart suddenly felt clear and bright!

  "It's no good, it's the rebels!"

  In an instant, Li Zhong understood. In today's Liangzhou, apart from the rebels, who else has a large cavalry?!

  "Go, to the top of the mountain!"

  Li Zhēng took the lead and quickly climbed towards the top of the mountain.

  Standing on the mountaintop, feeling the increasingly intense vibrations coming from beneath his feet, looking at the edge of his vision that one thickening, undulating black line, Li Zhēng couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

  Originally I wanted to go into town today to see Fu Xie, now it seems that's completely impossible.

  The rebels have arrived, and judging by their scale, there are at least tens of thousands of them.

  Tens of thousands of horses and men can completely surround Jizhou like a flood, making it difficult to rescue Fu Shuo.

  Li Zheng pursed his lips tightly, his eyes gradually sharpening.

  No matter what, Fu Xi must be rescued. Even if there are thousands of troops and horses, how can they not break through?!

  With a determined mind, Li Zhēng waved his hand and led the White Wolf down from the mountain top, back to the camp.

  "Don armor and get ready to depart!"

  Arriving at the camp, Li Zhuang let out a loud shout, turned around and entered his own mountain cave, put on his helmet and armor, hung up his precious sword, grasped the Blood Dragon Spear, and walked out with big strides.

  The sixty-two cavalrymen each led their horses, forming a neat and tidy line. When they saw Li Zhēn come out, they all looked at him with a "qiū shuā" sound.

  "Gentlemen, this time we have traveled hundreds of miles to get here, with only one goal in mind: to rescue the governor of Hanyang, Fu Xie." Li Zhong raised his eyebrows, his face full of sternness: "Just now, tens of thousands of troops rushed towards Jicheng, and you want to save one person from among them - I ask you, are you afraid?!"

  "I'm not afraid!"

  "Haha, okay!"

  Li Zhēng let out a loud shout: "We, the people of Shénzhōu Grassland, fight against heaven and earth, what are we afraid of?! Those rebels are just a mob, I see them as nothing but chickens and dogs, one touch and they'll collapse! Now, you all follow me down the mountain, listen to my commands, and act when you see the opportunity!"

  "Ah!"

  After this period of mountain marching, the cavalry under Li Zhong's command had gradually adapted, and although they were not as comfortable as fish in water, they were much more at ease navigating the mountains.

  Soon, a group of dozens of riders descended from Zhuyue Mountain, and Li Zheng led his men to hide in the woods.

  Standing under a big tree, Li Zheng pointed to a small hill in the distance and said to White Wolf: "Later we'll go up that small hill, pay attention to hiding our figures, don't let people discover us."

  That small hill is the closest to Jicheng and also the only place where one can hide their tracks. Beyond that small hill, it's a flat plain as far as the eye can see.

  A group of people and horses quietly arrived at the back of a small hill, ordering their soldiers to temporarily hold back. Li Zhēn then quietly climbed up to the top of the small hill with White Wolf, crawling down afterwards.

  The geographical location of this small hill is extremely superior, at least for Li Zhuang now. On the top of the hill, the view is extremely open, and the west and south walls of Jicheng are all in sight.

  Li Zhong led his men to hide behind a small hill when the rebel army had already arrived at the city gate.

  On the small hill, as far as the eye can see, there are densely packed and surging human heads and horse heads. Long guns are like forests, knives and swords are like frost, shining with a cold and stern light in the sunlight.

  The most striking thing was a large flag in the middle of the army formation.

  Li Jing's eyes widened as he stared at a huge character "Wang"!

  Kingdom!

  Li Zhong reacted instantly.

  It seems that the commander of these tens of thousands of soldiers is none other than Wang Guo, the Longxi man who claims to be the General of the United Army and was promoted by Han Xian and others as their leader!