The Child Emperor

Deng Cui returned from a defeat. It is not an exaggeration to say that he escaped from death. He led more than 10,000 soldiers from the Western Regions when he left, and now there are only three or four hundred people behind him.

But Deng Cui's performance did not show any signs of failure. He rode straight into the Tiger City, shouting for wine and meat, as if a wealthy traveler walked into an inconspicuous country shop.

There are not many people in the city. Shen Jingshi is right. The craftsmen have indeed run away. They are building a city for the Great Chu.

Deng Cui's sudden appearance made nearly 200 Chu soldiers in the city feel apprehensive. They trapped a general and were about to set fire to death.

Shen Jingshi was especially nervous. After Deng Cui returned to Beijing, he was able to see the emperor directly. If he complained, he would not be able to bear it, so he squeezed through the crowd, came to Deng Cui, and said in surprise: General Deng is back, we are still Think... how did General Deng come back?

Deng Cui threw the reins in his hand to Shen Jingshi.

Deng Cui was a general after all, and he brought back more soldiers. Shen Jingshi handed over the horses to others and ordered food to be prepared.

The cook also ran away, the soldiers brought cold wine and cold meat, and without waiting for heating, Deng Cui and others devoured it. Fortunately, the meat was cooked, but it tasted a little more ice.

The soldiers of the Chu army stood at the entrance of the hall, not knowing what to do, they all looked at Shen Jingshi, Shen Jingshi signaled that everyone should not worry, everything was covered by him.

Deng Cui had almost eaten, and said loudly, Where is General Zhang? Why didn't you come to see me?

Shen Jingshi stepped forward and smiled: General Zhang went to bed early, we don't want to disturb him.

Well, that's how people are when they're old. Deng Cui waved his hand to let the soldiers in the Western Regions beside him move out of the way for Shen Jingshi, and then asked, What about the other people in the city?

I heard that the troops in front were defeated, and they all ran away. There are few soldiers in Chu, and the bullets can't be suppressed.

Deng Cui pouted, A bunch of cowards. Then he looked at Shen Jingshi, Everyone else ran away, why did you come?

I have an order to summon General Deng back to Beijing.

By whose order?

Of course it is His Majesty's imperial decree. Shen Jingshi said in surprise.

I'm having a good time, why should I go back? I'm not leaving.

Shen Jingshi was taken aback again, General Deng, this is not a joke, you have already been defeated, and you have few soldiers left, so the enemy army is behind you? Stay, and this is the imperial decree, how can General Deng resist the decree?

Deng Cui laughed a few times, If I don't refuse, how can I explain to His Majesty when I go back?

Shen Jingshi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, and smiled: General Deng, rest assured, after returning to Beijing, I will write clearly in the memorial that General Deng is not discouraged despite defeat.

Deng Cui patted Shen Jingshi's shoulder with a greased hand, Thank you then, call General Zhang up, and tell him not to fall asleep, let's hurry up if we want to leave.

Deng Cui was eager to leave Huzhucheng, Shen Jingshi breathed a sigh of relief, leaned forward, and whispered: General Zhang is more troublesome, he refused to leave, saying that he must wait for the imperial decree to arrive.

Don't you have an imperial edict?

Shen Jingshi shook his head, I came before the defeat, and the imperial decree only called General Deng back to Beijing alone, excluding others.

So it is. Deng Cui nodded.

Shen Jingshi continued to persuade, General Deng leads the army to expedition, and His Majesty will recall it. If we hear that the army is defeated, we must recall the entire army. Let's leave Huzhucheng first, walk slowly on the road, meet the imperial decree, and return to Beijing. Don't talk about leaving early - I have no other intentions, I just want to keep this force in the Western Regions.

Everyone thinks the same as you? Deng Cui pointed at a group of Chu soldiers at the entrance of the hall with his chin.

Exactly the same, only General Zhang is stubborn.

That General Zhang is not sleeping now?

It shouldn't be. He refused to talk to the soldiers and locked himself in the house.

Deng Cui stood up, This is not easy, I will persuade him, he will definitely listen to me.

Yes, General Deng doesn't need to be too troublesome, as long as there is an official seal.

Deng Cui strode out and suddenly turned around, Aren't you going with me?

Shen Jingshi hurriedly followed, feeling much more at ease. Zhang Yin and Deng Cui shared the same seal. In name, Deng Cui's status was higher and he was the emperor's relative, so he should be able to persuade Zhang Yin to abandon city.

There were still firewood piled up in front of the stone house. Deng Cui smiled and said, What is this for? Are you worried that General Zhang will be too cold at night?

Shen Jingshi blushed, and hurriedly ordered the Chu soldiers to remove the firewood.

Several soldiers stood behind holding torches. Deng Cui strode forward and knocked on the door, General Zhang opened the door, it's me, Deng Cui.

The old servant inside said, Is General Deng also trying to persuade Lord Hou to abandon the city?

It's just a broken city, why is your Marquis reluctant to give up? Let's go back to Beijing to explain it clearly, and Your Majesty will definitely understand.

The Marquis said that nearly three years of hard work should not be wasted, and this is not a broken city. If this city is lost, the countries in the Western Regions will definitely surrender to the enemy, and the gods and ghosts will be able to occupy it without spending a single soldier or a single soldier. The Western Barrier of Great Chu. The Xiongnu cavalry marched from the north in large numbers to the south, and the Western enemy forces kept knocking and harassing through the Western Regions, and the Great Chu was attacked by the enemy on both sides, making it even more difficult to support.”

Deng Cui turned to Shen Jingshi and said, It makes some sense.

Shen Jingshi stepped forward in a hurry, But the tigers in the city can't hold it. There are hundreds of soldiers in total, and there is not enough food and grass...

The old servant in the room hurriedly said: There are not enough people, but there is enough food and grass. After the winter, the imperial court knows that we are still holding on, and will definitely send people to support. As long as the Tiger City is still there, the enemy cannot enter the Western Regions in large numbers. Chu Li is amazing.

Shen Jingshi became angry and took a few steps forward, The Western Regions are all countries that are going back and forth, and it is useless for the Chu army to stand alone in the city. General Zhang wants to atone for his grandson. Everyone must obey his orders.

Master Hou said that he only obeys the imperial edict.

Shen Jingshi shook his head helplessly, and said to Deng Cui, I'm so stubborn, I don't know if it's General Zhang's intention, or that old servant is doing the trick.

Deng Cui took two steps away, beckoned Shen Jingshi to come over, and whispered, Since things have come to this point, why not...

Shen Jingshi leaned over and asked, Why not?

Deng Cui stood up and pulled out his waist knife. Without further ado, he chopped it down with one knife.

Everyone inside and outside the house was shocked, especially the group of Chu soldiers, who were even more terrified. Deng Cui's move was too unexpected. He didn't even bring soldiers from the Western Regions. hands-on.

Deng Cuiman put away the knife indifferently, and said, Anyone who proposes to abandon the city will be guilty of the same crime as Shen Jingshi.

No one dared to speak, but no one took orders.

Deng Cui laughed and said: Look at your ghostly appearance. I can escape from a siege of 100,000 enemy troops, but I still can't defend a tiger city? Look at me, do you look like someone who is about to die? As a man like me, when I return to Da Chu in the future, I want to inherit the lineage and honor him as a prince. In Huzhucheng, I only make merit and don’t die.”

Deng Cui was in high spirits, and he didn't look like a defeated general.

Shen Jingshi was dead, and the Chu soldiers were leaderless. They were immediately convinced by Deng Cui's aura, and finally someone said, How to defend the city?

There are many enemy troops, but this is Kunlun Mountain. There are no people within a hundred miles, and there is no food and grass supply. The more enemy troops come, the shorter the persistence time. We don't have to do anything, we can easily Get through this winter. I can guarantee that the enemy will only send people to check the situation. If there is no one in the city, they will enter while there are people in the city. If there are people in the city, they will not attack at all. The head of the Deng family will never end.

Deng Cui was confident that the Chu soldiers were infected, and no one asked any more questions.

The soldiers from the Western Regions who ate in the hall also came out, and they all gathered around Deng Cui. They had experienced a fiasco, nine out of ten, but they had no complaints against the general who led them on the expedition. Deng Cui's desperate expression.

Let's all go to bed, the big things will be discussed tomorrow, wait, take the body away first, and it will be frozen with the ground later, it is not easy to clean up.

Several Chu soldiers came to carry the body away, the others dispersed, Deng Cui turned around and came to the door again, If I don't open the door again, I will really set fire to it, and then I will say that your lord colluded with Shen Jingshi and wanted to sacrifice his life. The city surrendered to the enemy...

The door opened, and the old servant came out, his face pale, That's the Protector of the Western Regions, which was sealed by the imperial court.

I'm still a general appointed by the imperial court. It's fine. The Deng family has few sons and many daughters. It's a big deal to dedicate a sister to the emperor.

Zhang Yin also came out, his face was also very pale, not because he was frightened, but because he was cold and hungry.

hungry?

Zhang Yin nodded.

Deng Cui personally helped Zhang Yin to the hall, where there were still wine and meat left.

Deng Cui watched Zhang Yin eat and said to the old servant, Don't look at it, let's eat.

Zhang Yin didn't eat much and asked, You...

I met the Western enemy and defeated them. I didn't expect the Huns to appear suddenly, and there were quite a lot of them. I didn't fight, but I escaped, made a big circle, and finally came back. There are still some scattered people behind. The soldiers, plus the Chu soldiers in the city, are estimated to be in the early 1000s, enough to defend the city.

Lack, gap.

The two had been working together for a long time, and as soon as Zhang Yin opened his mouth, Deng Cui understood what he meant, You don't need to repair, just stay there. I can guarantee that the enemy will not dare to attack.

Zhang Yin was not an ordinary soldier, so he could not impress him with a promise, so he asked, What if?

Deng Cui smiled and said: What if the ground collapses one day? What if the mountain collapses tomorrow? What if there is a sudden illness? Be prepared when you should be prepared, and when you are damned - then die laughing, crying is useless. It's useless to be afraid. You are right, the tigers in the city can't be lost. I have fought against the Western enemy, and they are not as powerful as the legends. If you want to say what the biggest use of defending the city is, it is to tell the enemy that the Great Chu will fight for every inch of land.

Zhang Yin snorted, lowered his head and continued to drink cold wine and eat cold meat, but the old servant beside him lost his appetite. It turned out that General Deng's so-called guarantee was not foolproof.