With the arrival of the Mongolian army, the defense war suddenly escalated, and the battle was from dawn to the sky full of stars, but it still failed to break through the city and was unable to withdraw its troops. The Song army was not easy, and almost all the troops of a brigade were pressed down, and even the baggage regiments were all equipped with weapons to assist in defense, and they were responsible for the security tasks in the city. The magistrate Chen Boyuan also changed into military uniforms, and carried a sword in his waist to lead a squad of officials and yamen runners to command the township soldiers and husbands to carry supplies, rescue the wounded, cook, appease the people, and maintain public order.

After the enemy retreated, Luo Datong ordered the Second Regiment, which was defending the South City, to the North City, to replace the next Regiment, to rest and serve as a reserve. He also arranged a reserve team composed of the scout battalion, the personal barracks and the baggage regiment to replace the defense of the Second Regiment. Then he inspected the two ministries' handover positions, inspected the defense and post positions in various places, and reminded him to strictly prevent the enemy's attacks at night before he went down to the city and rode back to the yamen.

‘Dude…’ The clear sound of horse hooves echoed on the quiet streets in the city, and except for the lanterns hanging high at the intersection, the city was also pitch black. If it weren’t for the occasional sound of inquiries from various checkpoints and the footsteps of patrol teams, it would be like a city that was dead.

Since the enemy's besiege, Luo Datong ordered martial law to be implemented. Every day from Mao to Chen, residents in the city are allowed to go out to buy and shop. During the rest of the time, each house is closed, and businesses are closed, and no streets are allowed. Fireworks are not allowed in the city at You hour, and those who violate the order will be killed without mercy. At the same time, checkouts are arranged on the bridges and important roads in the city, patrol teams are arranged to patrol, and shooters are arranged at the commanding heights. Those who violate the martial law order are immediately arrested, and those who resist will be shot dead on the spot.

The city's merchants and the people naturally complained about such harsh martial law orders, and even the magistrate Chen Boyuan thought it was unnecessary. However, Luo Datong did not compromise, because he still remembered that the Yuan army attacked in Qiongzhou. At that time, the island was not calm, the people inside were unstable, and the outside was dissatisfied, which was internal and external troubles. The city where he was walking was only dozens of miles away from the coast, and the enemy could arrive in a day. At that time, the young emperor responded to the enemy and issued martial law orders to prevent someone from colluding with the enemy during fierce battles, gathering people to cause trouble, or working inside and outside.

Those who have not experienced the situation in those days cannot understand the crisis of the situation. At that time, Luo Datong was just a teenager in his teens and was selected to be a guard for the young emperor. Faced with the imminent enemy, the ministers in the court were also panicked. Some suggested getting on the boat again to avoid the enemy's attack, and some mentioned the time to take refuge in the city again. Some even fought for peace with the enemy, accepted the imperial seal to protect the royal family and prevent the people from being attacked. Everyone knew that this was about surrender, but it was more generous and gave themselves some face.

Thinking about these important officials of the court, they all had different thoughts and had no fighting spirit, and rumors spread among the people. It was rumored that the Mongolian army wanted to slaughter all the people on the island. You should know that at that time, Qiongzhou was always on the verge of the management of the court, with wealthy clans separatist and bandits rampant, and the government had no position in the hearts of the people. Local officials had to rely on bribing local tribes and li chiefs to maintain their nominal rule. The Mongolian Yuan had long sent people to contact Li chiefs and wealthy families, bribing local officials, and preparing to seize Qiongzhou from both inside and outside.

Luo Datong, who was just a soldier at that time, could not know how the young emperor, with the support of the Empress Dowager and the old ministers of the General's Office, took the island-wide martial law measures to persuade the important officials in the court to fight the enemy with one force. However, he realized the crisis, the fear and despair that could not be clearly covered by the island, as well as the sinisterness and shamelessness of human nature at the critical moment of life and death. Although the current situation is not as critical as that at that time, there are similarities.

With the huge gap in the enemy and our army and trapped in the lonely city, Luo Datong dared not bet that human nature is good. He would rather believe in the nature reflected by human beings under the survival instinct. No one can guarantee what a good person will do between life and death. Putting aside these things, the Mongols and Yuan ruled Jiangnan for nearly ten years, who would guarantee that there were any beneficiaries in them and still not forget their old masters. At this time, they would take the opportunity to help the evildoer, incite the people to provoke trouble, create chaos, and even cooperate with the people to do the city.

Moreover, since the Mongol Yuan was determined to invade the south, he would definitely siege spies in the city, collect intelligence, convey information, and wait for an opportunity to open the city. There is no shortage of robbers everywhere. Those idle men, bandits and soldiers who are lazy on weekdays will also use the time to kill and set fire when the defenders and the government have no time to take care of them. Therefore, Luo Datong ordered the implementation of martial law and sent troops to the streets to guard against the police, so that even if there is something wrong, he could quickly suppress them. The ban on candles at night can avoid fire disturbing people's hearts, and can also prevent enemy spies from using lights to transmit information to prevent secrets such as deployment of troops.

"Master, let's have some food together!" At the beginning of the war, the military and government sides jointly operated, and the location was set up in Changshu County. This was easy to discuss and there was no need to run around to convey messages. Seeing Luo Datong entering the central hall, the magistrate stood up and bowed.

"Okay, I only ate two sesame cakes this day, but I'm still really hungry!" Luo Datong returned the gift, looking at a large round table in the hall with food on it. Wang Xuan, the Marquis of Yu of the Ministry of Tourism, Sima Huang Fan, Changshu County Magistrate, Bo and others were eating at the same table. When he saw him coming in, he stood up one after another. He pressed his hands to make everyone not have to be polite, so he found an empty seat to sit down. A servant immediately gave him a bowl of soup. He also reached out and grabbed a sesame cake from the plate, broke it apart, and then picked up two pieces of cut mutton, bite half a piece of it, chewed a few bites and swallowed it, as if he was choking. He quickly picked up the bowl and sucked it, and then took a sip of the soup before it went smoothly.

"Why don't you eat? What do you think of me?" Luo Datong even ate two sesame cakes and saw the soup. When he reached out to get the sesame cakes, he suddenly found that not only the people on the table were looking at him, but even the servants who served were looking at him blankly and asked in confusion.

"Dutong, you have not washed up yet and just ate so hard. Isn't it too rude?" Du Yuhou Wang Xuan shook his head helplessly.

"Haha, it's rude." Luo Datong realized that his eating habits were a bit indecent. He looked at the military uniforms covered with smoke and dust, and blood stains, and his hands were stained with something, dirty, and he didn't have to think that his face was not much better. He usually was with his colleagues, and everyone was like this, and no one would say anything, but there was a local official on the table who seemed rude. He quickly withdrew his hand, took the handkerchief handed over by the servant and said with a smirk.

"It's okay, it's okay, those who accomplish great things do not care about the trivial matters!" Chen Boyuan saw that the scene was a little awkward, and quickly waved his hand and smiled, "The governor has been holding clothes for several days and has not received it. He commands the battle on the city every day. It's a big matter, so why should you care about these things!"

"Minister Chen said it well. Why should those who accomplish great things be careful about the trivial matters?" Luo Datong said happily when he heard this, "Don't look at my dirty military uniform, but when I opened the government in Jiazi Town, there were only a few people in the palace, and only a few generals had the armor. It was difficult for everyone to have weapons. They only ate white rice, dried fish, and sand in the rice were hurting their teeth. His Majesty sat on the steps with a big bowl like everyone else. For the sake of two ships of food, His Majesty almost fought with Zhang Shushuai. Who would have thought that today we could be ready to recover the two Huai Rivers and advance to the Central Plains."

"Oh, Your Majesty has shared the same joys and sorrows as everyone?" Chen Boyuan chose an official to become an official after regaining Jiangnan. He had never experienced the hard years in Qiongzhou. In any case, he could not imagine that His Majesty would sit on the steps to eat like a child from a rural village man's family, and said in surprise.

"What is the past? Your Majesty is the same now." Luo Datong said a little dissatisfied, "Your Majesty's daily diet is not as good as my general. He is also a simple meal. He is also wearing old clothes in the harem. He is like the soldiers in the canteen, paying the meal fee himself to avoid invading the soldiers' food fee."

"Oh, I didn't expect that Your Majesty's life would be so simple. He is really a role model for us and a blessing for the people of the Song Dynasty!" Chen Boyuan was extremely shocked when he heard this. His words could be said to have subverted his past cognition and sighed.

"It's more than that! Your Majesty values ​​love and righteousness and compassion for the people. If I hadn't been taken in by Your Majesty and taught me carefully, I would not have the status today. Even if I was crushed to pieces, I would not be able to repay you with my kindness." Luo Datong was a little confused as he spoke, as if he had returned to his life with the little emperor.

However, Luo Datong quickly woke up from his memories, and while eating, he discussed war with everyone. In recent days of battle, there were thousands of casualties in the Fifth Brigade, especially today, many people were injured by stone bullets and stray arrows. Everyone knows that the threat of food shortage in the Mongols will become increasingly prominent, so the future battle will be more intense. The most threat to their defense of the city was the catapult, which not only caused damage to the defense measures, but also caused great casualties to the soldiers. Therefore, the topic turned to how to eliminate this threat.

After discussion, everyone tends to concentrate artillery to destroy the enemy's rock-throwing position to eliminate this threat. However, everyone knows that artillery is the fulcrum of the entire defense system, and concentrating limited artillery in one place. Once the enemy finds that it is time to attack the city from there, a loophole will appear in the entire defense system. In addition, the use of artillery is difficult to achieve. The city wall is the best position as the launching position, but the city wall is narrow and difficult to be arranged in a staging manner. In addition, if the first artillery can not be severely damaged by the enemy's rock-throwing position and lose its counterattack ability, it will not be able to transfer its own artillery array in time, causing great losses under the enemy's counterattack.
Chapter completed!