In late November, the cold was approaching, and Nanyang City had been besieged for more than half a month.

In the evening of this day, Wanqixi Wanqi Yuanzhong, who was responsible for the military affairs of the Privy Council, came down from the city. As soon as he returned to the military workshop directly under the Privy Council next to the palace, he washed his face with cold water. He was going to rest for a while before going to the palace canteen.

While having dinner, his neighbor Li Guang, the imperial censor in the palace, suddenly came to the door and actively invited him to go with him.

In response to this, Wanqi Yuanzhong, who had always been kind to others, naturally had nothing to say, so he steeled himself and left.

Let's say that the war has progressed to this point. Nanyang City, which had been prepared for a long time before the war, has already been completely transformed into a large military camp. All urban areas have been divided into military camps. There are walls between the camps.

It is under military control, and non-officers have to rely on badges to enter and leave.

Each camp not only has its own assigned responsibilities and contributes to the defense of the city, but also uniformly allocates materials, uniformly allocates buildings, and even gathers personnel for meals, which is really the same as a military camp.

Normally, some people would find it difficult to accept this.

But now, as soon as they arrive, the old, weak, women and children, and some idle bureaucrats who were somewhat resistant to the decisive battle in Nanyang from the beginning have been expelled to Xiangyang early, so there are still relatively few unrest factors.

Secondly, the Zhao Guan family is a bit particular after all. Even the palace is divided into a square. The left hall is the canteen, the right hall is the warehouse, the Privy Council, and all the provinces are gathered together to live near the palace. Not to mention that the official family themselves are also related to the square.

The expenses are the same for everyone in the palace. Even Mrs. Wu, who is only 17 or 18 years old, is as young as a flower. She has to work with Lan Daguan and Feng Erguan all day long and take the maids to wash and cook for everyone in the palace.

Not only that, after the war started, the seriously injured were also placed in the harem. She also led people to spread lime, boil water, and check wounds every day... From morning to night, she was so tired that she didn't even have the strength to speak.

It's not as easy as Mrs. Liang who took over the guard duty of Xinggongfang!

They were basically treated as livestock by the officials!

As for Guan Jia and Mrs. Wu, they set an example to this end, so what can the others do?

Although they have long been accustomed to the courtesy of a gentleman, when they met Mrs. Wu and the superintendent Feng Yi, Wan Qixi and Li Guang first saluted and greeted each other together, then picked up their plates and sat down in the corner of the cafeteria.

After sitting down, he didn't say much. He devoured two mouthfuls and drank a few mouthfuls of hot water. Only then did he feel like he was alive again.

I have to say that there are still special treatment here in Xinggongfang. The food is based on the treatment of wounded soldiers. There is an extra pickle than outside. What’s even better is unlimited hot water. It’s just that fresh meat jelly like ginger lobster in winter is not as good as in the city.

The reward on your head is just too much!

Back in front of them, after the two of them calmed down with hot water, under the dim candlelight, Wan Qixi was the first to smile bitterly and shake his head: "It's a pity that drinks are now controlled, so I can't share a drink with Brother Li to cheer up...

…”

"What a joy." Li Guang couldn't help laughing when he heard this, but he calmed down and said seriously. "Brother Wanqi came up from the city. I wonder how the battle is going in the city?"

Wan Qixi's heart moved, but he picked up the water bowl and took a slow sip.

In other words, his original intention was that he would become more useful and attract the attention of this powerful neighbor, so he invited him casually today, but unexpectedly the other party seemed to have other words, so he had to be careful this time.

After all, in Wan Qixi's view, Li Guang was the hardcore origin of Li Gang and Li Boji in Yangzhou. In the current situation, Li Gang once again proved that as long as he was not fighting, he was the most reliable minister, but as long as he was fighting, it would be a mess.

His miraculous ability... Before the siege, Nanyang did not wait until Zhong Xiang rebelled, but received new news that there was a civil strife among the troops sent by Li Gang to lead the counter-rebellion. Instead of subduing the military rebellion, it expanded?

So after this battle, what will happen to Li Boji, who still doesn't know that he missed a big event?

It is unlikely that it will be damaged directly, but after the war, Lu Yihao and Mr. Lu will definitely become powerful. However, the tempers of Lu and Li are so fierce, I am afraid that there will definitely be a fight between dragons and tigers... Speaking of which, he will definitely be in trouble.

Or are they people from the Privy Council, who are theoretically directly subordinate to Xianggong Lu?

Of course, when thinking about this, Wan Qixi found it funny, because he was supposed to be Wang Boyan's confidant, but who made Wang Xianggong go against the official's will and be expelled to Xiangyang? But after all, Wang Xianggong

He is a dual veteran of Hebei and Bagong Mountain... It seems that he may not lose power because of this, and his capital left in Nanyang will not be looked upon by Wang Xianggong in the future.

In short, I couldn't think of any flowers in my mind, but it was just a matter of two sips of water when I put it outside. So when I put down the bowl, Wanqi Yuanzhong had already smiled like a flower: "Brother Li asked me, where do you dare to go?"

Answer? It’s just that Brother Li is the imperial censor in the palace and enjoys the power of supervision. He can inspect the situation in the city by himself, so why do he ask the lower officials instead?”

Let's talk about it. Opposite me, Li Guang, a former member of the Tang clan, a so-called well-dressed man, and a literary minister who has always been known for his uprightness, didn't know that in the blink of an eye, he would already have dozens of twists in his stomach? But he spoke frankly to the case:

"To be honest with my dear brother, brother Yu is still worried about the situation of the war..."

Wan Qixi felt funny in his heart. Who among the people in this city had not been worried about the outcome of the war? But now that the official family had already staked the stakes, what was the worry?

It's nothing more than whether you can get through it or not.

If the Suiguan family survives, they will have a deep capital in the future. If you drink an extra bowl of hot water here today, you will be infinitely rich in the future. But if you can't survive, you can only take one step at a time.

However, thinking like this in his mind, Wan Qixi didn't hesitate to look at him seriously: "Brother Li, I'd like to know that the city seems to be worry-free."

"oh?"

"Brother Li, please listen and speak slowly." Wan Qixi continued to respond seriously. "You should have some knowledge of the attack and defense on the city wall these days, right?"

"It's natural." Li Guang didn't go to eat either, but he stood face to face at the table, looking at his treasures, as if he had already inquired about them. "On the four days before the siege, the Jin army only filled in the outer trenches, and on the fifth day they thought it was frozen.

After the outer trenches were useless, they used ladders to attack the city, but were defeated under the sheep and horse wall in the inner trenches. On the sixth day, the Jin army came up with a clever strategy and launched seven corridors to attack the city. After being blocked by Fu Tongzhi, they simply attacked the city face to face.

The five roads were used to transport troops, and they fought hand-to-hand with our army under the city, and then retreated at night; on the seventh day of the siege, the corridors still harassed the city, but the poles on the city were beaten, and the pulleys and hooks were easily broken; on the eighth day, they started again

The big cave cart is three feet long, one foot high and one foot wide. It has a solid wood frame, is wrapped with leather ropes, covered with wet felt cloth, and coated with mud. The hook ropes are easy to break with bows and arrows, so that two of the cars reached the city.

The door is really thrilling..."

"Yes." Wan Qixi couldn't help but sigh. "That day, Chen Shangshu had already advised the officials to use cannons, but the officials refused. Fortunately, there were mechanisms on the city gate, a double-layered city gate, and there was also an exit at the top of the city gate hole.

They poured oil and rocks, and finally stuffed gunpowder packets into the cart with a big hole, and then stopped it."

"However, the flying bridges, tower cars, and wheel ladders in the next few days will not be so dangerous." Li Guang said, but he didn't know which one of him and the man opposite was worried about city defense, and who was not.

"Most things stop between the sheep and horse wall and the city wall. It's just that after so many days, the sheep and horse wall is riddled with holes, and all the inner and outer trenches have been lost..."

"That was before today." Wan Qixi said with a smile. "There is another big risk today, but it is not a risk."

"oh?"

"Brother Li, do you still remember the big hole car you just mentioned?"

"Of course I remember, the Jin Army used the big cave car again today?" Li Guang was curious for a moment.

"It's not a big cave car, it's a huge cave car!" Wan Qixi shook his head and laughed. "I think it must have been built since that day, but it was hidden behind the opponent's general platform and a curtain was added to cover it... The cart is four feet high, ten feet long, and two feet wide, with five seats in total. It is pushed along the five old corridors of the day and dragged by armored oxen and horses. It is as spectacular as the 'Yunliang Cart' recorded in history books."

Li Guang was stunned for a moment, but he tried his best to ask: "My dear brother, with such an attitude, do you want to come to the city and break the 'Yunliang' calmly?"

"It was broken, but it was ridiculous." Wan Qixi simply slapped the case and laughed. "The car was pushed halfway, even the officials were shaken, and they were ready to fire... But the 'Yunliang' was too heavy and heavy. Before they reached the outer trench, the armored oxen and horses used to drag around were shot by the enemy's bows and rockets from the city. They scattered in panic, and being dragged from all directions, several cloud beams were all top-heavy and crooked. Most of them were completely destroyed and could not move, and one of them simply flipped over. There were countless golden soldiers hidden in the car, and they were simply crushed into meat patties... Today we simply won without a fight."

Li Guang became more and more astonished, but didn't know what to say. He paused for a moment and then asked: "It is because the war has been so dangerous these days that my dear brother thinks that Nanyang City is safe?"

Of course it is!

Wan Qixi screamed secretly in his heart, but his face was stern: "No! I think Nanyang can be defended not because of these city defense confrontations, but because the officials have tolerated it until now without firing any artillery! How forbearing is this?" How calm is it? If the officials are determined to this point, and everyone is united in following, the national destiny of the Song Dynasty will definitely be revived! And no matter how tyrannical the Jin army is, how can they affect Nanyang in the slightest?"

These words were spoken in a loud voice. Although it was in the corner of the canteen and the light was dim, it still attracted the attention of many officials dining and the servants who were originally on duty in the canteen.

Li Guang was obviously startled by this. He waited for the people around him to stop looking, then he twisted his beard and said in a low voice: "Actually, I don't want to hide it from my virtuous brother. Brother Fool is looking for you today not because he is worried about the city's defense, but because of the city's defense." The officials are forbearing this time... You said that things such as corridors, large cave carts, flying bridges, etc. could have been made from flying cannons. The new cannon carts in the city are of various sizes and are extremely numerous. They are complete, but the officials would rather launch them. The elite in the city are fighting hand-to-hand below the city, but they don’t want to do this. What’s the purpose?”

"There must be something in mind, but I really don't know what it is." Wan Qixi shook his head proudly.

"Brother Yu actually doesn't care what other thoughts the official family and Chen Shangshu have." Li Guang sighed, and finally expressed his real worry. "I'm just worried about the official family..."

Wan Qixi understood clearly in his heart, but his face looked confused: "What does Brother Li mean?"

"Previously, the palace discussed that the Jin army should be exhausted at Nanyang City. When the Jin army was exhausted and the surrounding area relaxed, Zhang Jing was asked to send reinforcements across the Baihe River to support the enemy. Then the officials took the opportunity to march south to Xiangyang, putting the Jin army in a dilemma and forcing it to retreat. He retreats, right?" Li Guang continued to lower his voice and spoke seriously. "But if the officials leave such leeway, will they lose their temper and be unwilling to leave, saying that they will spend time with Wanyan Wushu in the city? in the end?"

Wan Qixi also had such worries in his heart, because the behavior of Zhao Guan's family on the city wall in the past few days really made people unable to help but think so.

However, after all, Wanqi Yuanzhong is Wanqi Yuanzhong. When he thought of this, he shook his head firmly: "If Brother Li is worried about this matter, then I can just tell you frankly. I am accompanying the officials in the city. See

It is clear to me that the recent actions of the Guan family are not in vain to vent their anger with the Jin Army coach, but also a thorough consideration and decision. When the critical moment comes, I think the Guan family will never act arbitrarily!"

Hearing this, Li Guang was relieved for a moment and thanked the other party, but Wan Qixi also quickly declined.

In this way, when the two of them talked about this, the food was already cold, but they fetched hot water and boiled it directly. They had dinner together and then said goodbye to each other.

Not to mention that Wan Qixi saw people talking human words and ghosts talking nonsense, so he easily dealt with it and went back to rest. On the other side, Li Guang, Li Taifa, the imperial censor in the palace, cheered up slightly after hearing the other party's words, and brought a hot water bottle with him.

When he returned to his residence, he soaked his feet first and then went to bed early. However, after he went to bed, he tossed and turned and found it difficult to fall asleep. In the middle of the day, he picked up a book to read, and all he felt was chaos.

After all, Wanqixi's gesture just now seemed to be strict, but in fact it was just empty words and perfunctory. Therefore, although Li Guang was temporarily comforted, the doubts deep in his heart were never dispelled. In fact, now this person

Li Yushi's mind was still full of thoughts that Nanyang was safe and sound, but Zhao Guan's family had made mistakes, causing the overall situation to collapse.

This is not an idea that came up recently. It was an idea that I had discussed with Lin Qi and other friends before the siege, and received a letter from Li Gang, the favor minister in the southeast, to remind me. However, now Lin Qi and others are mostly affected by the angry Zhao Guan family.

He and Lu Yihao drove to Xiangyang, and then the city was surrounded and letters were cut off. There was only Li Guang and one important official of the Li Gang faction in the city. Seeing the Zhao Guan family's recent behavior, they were really worried, so they had no choice but to discuss it with others.

However, Li Yushi was lying on the couch, thinking about it, worrying constantly but having trouble figuring it out... Although what he said to Wan Qixi today was that he was worried that the official family would not go to Xiangyang, in fact, the official family

If he really doesn't go to Xiangyang, he will just spend his time in Nanyang. In his opinion, it's not impossible.

After all, as a royal censor with supervisory powers, Li Guang is very aware of the current situation in Nanyang. There are sufficient supplies and room for city defense. What no one expected was that Zhao Guan's family and Chen Gui, the Minister of War, were prepared... For example,

Li Guang was considered a Jingkang veteran who participated in the siege of Tokyo before, but he really didn't expect that Zhao Guan's family was so safe that he dug a reservoir in the city in advance to store coal?

Not to mention the practice of clearing out the excess residents early and turning the city into a large military camp.

In the past few days, seeing the various engineering methods of the Jin people being repeatedly restrained, he, the censor, sometimes felt that even if the city wall was completely gone, Nanyang seemed to be able to survive with the Jin army relying on these military forts in the city!

And the Song Dynasty will never repeat the shame of Jingkang and fall into the danger of national subjugation again!

That's right, even Li Guang now vaguely feels that as long as this consumption continues, even if Tokyo and Changshe are all gone, and the Jin people come with tens of thousands of reinforcements, sooner or later they will be exhausted by the scorching heat and casualties, and finally

Walk away in embarrassment.

In other words, Li Guang certainly wanted to make an expression based on his political stance when he was facing Wan Qixi just now, but from the bottom of his heart, he has been vaguely convinced of the young official in front of him these days, and he is also convinced of the situation.

Not that pessimistic... It's just that, as a veteran minister and a typical Confucian minister, he was somewhat instinctively afraid of the Zhao Guan family acting so independently of the bureaucracy.
To be continued...