Sui and Tang Dynasty Generals

Chapter 55 What? The thieves fled?

Outside the gate of Li Mansion.

Many scholars were standing outside the door, discussing things in groups of three or five.

There were also many attendants and servants guarding the carriage.

Hearing the sound of galloping horses coming from afar, everyone looked over. When they saw the man come to the gate of Li's house and dismount from his horse, everyone looked at each other.

"Look, there's news about Qinghe again!"

"I don't know what the current situation in Qinghe County is!"

"Look at that person's panic. I think it's not good news..."

Everyone watched the man walking towards the mansion, talking and speculating.

Amid the noisy conversations.

When the servants of the Li Mansion who were guarding the gate saw the man coming, they all knew that he was Cui's follower, but they still let the man into the mansion after confirming the token.

Inside the Li Mansion.

The man walked quickly through the flower garden and, under the gaze of many scholars in the front yard, hurriedly ran all the way to the main hall.

In the main hall.

The five elders of the Cui family, Cui Hebo, Cui Jingong, Cui Xiwen, Cui Yunying, and Cui Yunzhong, were still discussing with other officials and generals what to do now.

Afterwards, in full view of everyone, the man was seen quickly coming into the main hall, kneeling in front of Cui Jin Gong, panting, and bowing to Cui Jin Gong and others.

"Sir! News has been sent back from Zaoqiang and Zhangnan! The two reinforcements that went to Qinghe last night were all defeated by the rebels!"

The man reported to Cui and others.

Upon hearing this, even though they were prepared, Cui Hebo, Cui Jingong and others were still stunned, and their old faces were filled with disappointment.

"Hey, this..."

“We were beaten back again…”

Cui Jingong and others sighed, fortunately they all knew that Zhou Hao, the chief clerk of Xin County, had really tried his best, so no one thought of blaming him.

Looking at each other, Cui Hebo, Cui Jingong and others also knew that they could do nothing about the rebels outside Qinghe County at the moment. They could only let the man retreat first and continue to take turns with other followers to gather information.

Behind Cui Hebaek and Cui Jingong, Cui Yuzhe and Cui Wenjin, brother and sister, heard the attendant's words and watched him turn and leave. Their hearts instantly sank to the bottom.

When they thought of Qinghe County, the brother and sister were filled with despair.

Both the brother and sister knew that this time, there was really no hope at all.

According to everyone's previous speculation, Qinghe County may only be able to hold out until today at most.

Now that the reinforcements have been driven back by the rebel army, I'm afraid Qinghe County...

Thinking of the scene after the rebel army broke into the city, the brother and sister Cui Yuzhe and Cui Wenjin could not help but feel fear and terror.

The bandit Zhang Jin said that he had massacred many innocent civilians in the past!

In the past few days, Zhang Jincheng did not give He Tan any room and even killed the scholars who went to He Tan. Behind this action, the elders of the clan and many people speculated that this time Zhang Jincheng also intended to target the Cui clan.

In the main hall.

"Failed again!"

"Hey~ What should I do?"

"We have already split our forces into two groups to rush to help overnight... I'm afraid there is no hope!"

Behind the wooden tables, many Sui Dynasty officials and middle-aged generals were talking to each other, and many of them just shook their heads and no longer held out hope.

Li Jingjie, who was in the main hall, saw this scene and heard everyone's comments. He couldn't help but sigh, knowing that the fall of Qinghe County had become inevitable.

Li Fuzhong.

Not only the officials and generals in the main hall, as the news spread in the courtyard, the scholars, children of famous families, and Li Jingjie's students in the courtyard also shook their heads.

"There is no hope now. Let's wait for the Sui army to arrive before making any plans!"

"Yes! We have tried our best..."

"This is beyond human power! Right now, I think it's better to think about how to take revenge as soon as possible..."

Whether in the yard or under the pavilion, the men were talking one after another, and they had all given up the idea of rescuing the situation.

Although every man looked a little disappointed, they were not too sad. After all, they were not members of the Qinghe Cui family. They came here to seek for an opportunity, thinking that if they were lucky enough to find a way to help the Cui family, they would not have to worry about their future. If they could not help the Cui family, that was fine. Not to mention that Qinghe County was lost and occupied by the rebels led by Zhang Jincheng, even if the Cui family members in Qinghe City were massacred by Zhang Jincheng, it would not affect them much.

Wasn't it the same with the Xie family back then? Compared with the Qinghe Cui family today, the Chenjun Xie family was much more terrifying when they were at their peak.

But in the end, weren't they also massacred by Hou Jing during the Hou Jing Rebellion? Now, decades have passed. If it were not for the deeds of Xie's ancestors, Xie's status in the hearts of scholars all over the world might not be as high as that of some of the up-and-coming clans.

Looking at Qinghe County now, many scholars in the courtyard were talking in low voices, discussing whether the Cui family of Qinghe would follow in the footsteps of the Xie family and encounter the butcher just like the Xie family did in the past.

As dusk falls.

In the courtyard of the Li Mansion under the cover of night, as the dishes prepared by the Li Mansion were served, behind the wooden tables, every man ate and drank without restraint while discussing how Cui should take revenge and what they could do to help.

In everyone's eyes, rescuing people is difficult, but revenge is relatively easy, especially for veteran general Yang Yichen, who has led his troops south.

If Cui wanted to take revenge at all costs, these people, who were either children of bureaucrats or descendants of famous families, could contribute to some extent.

Under the pavilion.

Because there was not enough space in the main hall, the injured and weak Cui Yuzhe and Cui Wenjin were arranged to sit under the pavilion.

Looking at the food in front of them, neither Cui Yuzhe nor Cui Wenjin, thinking of Qinghe County at the moment, had the inclination to pick up their chopsticks, nor did they have an appetite.

Listening to other scholars' discussions, talking about how to avenge the rebels, what they can do, who they know...

Cui Yuzhe and his sister knew that those men meant well and were thinking about how they could help the Cui family, but hearing those words, they felt really uncomfortable.

However, thinking that those people had no relationship with Cui family, it was impossible to ask them to shut up, so the brother and sister listened helplessly.

"Brother?"

When Cui Wenjin saw his brother standing up, he quickly raised his hand to support him.

When Cui Yuzhe saw Li Qiong walking towards him from under the eaves in the distance, he did not let his younger sister accompany him. He knew that his younger sister was also feeling very uncomfortable and was also worried about her parents and clan members. It was better for her to have Li Qiong accompany her than for her to feel uncomfortable with him.

"I've asked the doctor to bring some medicine! Wen Jin, eat something first!"

Li Qiong came to Cui Wenjin's side, watched Cui Yuzhe slowly walking away, then looked at Cui Wenjin, frowned and advised.

Cui Wenjin's eyes were red and he shook his head, watching his brother endure the pain, worry about his parents, and at the same time force himself to smile, nodding and talking to those scholars who spoke up to express their goodwill.

Born into the prestigious Cui family, she finally felt the sadness and pain at this moment.

"Wenjin~! Don't think too much!"

Li Qiong looked at Cui Wenjin, who was squatting and crying, and reached out to comfort her gently.

Just looking at the crying Cui Wenjin and listening to the scholars and senior brothers around him talking about their family backgrounds and abilities, Li Qiong didn't know how to comfort Cui Wenjin.

After all, Li Qiong himself knew, as everyone else thought, that the siege of Qinghe County was beyond redemption.

If nothing unexpected happened, Qinghe County would probably have been occupied by the rebels by now.

Under the night.

An atmosphere of despair enveloped the main hall of Li's mansion.

Under the light of candles, seeing the Cui clan members with gloomy, angry or nervous looks, whether it was Li Jingjie in the main hall or other officials and generals such as County Magistrate Wang on both sides of the main hall, they all quieted down and rarely communicated with each other. Even when they spoke occasionally, they were especially careful with their voices.

After all, they all knew that when Cui Shihu came to Li's house again, he might bring back the news that Qinghe County had been conquered by the rebel army.

Although it was already dark, Li Qiong was still standing beside Cui Wenjin out of concern for him, accompanying him, fearing that he would collapse after hearing some bad news.

In the courtyard of the Li Mansion.

Under the illumination of moonlight and candlelight, although dinner had already ended, many scholars and children of prominent families did not go home.

After all, everyone knows that the news of Qinghe County being breached may come tonight.

By then, we will know whether Zhang Jincheng really massacred the city after leading the rebel army to capture Qinghe County, and whether the Cui family of Qinghe will really repeat the mistakes of the Xie family and experience genocide.

at last.

During everyone's long wait.

A man on horseback finally arrived at the gate of Li's mansion.

In the courtyard of Li's mansion, the scholars were also waiting. When they heard the noise and saw Cui's entourage walking towards the garden in the dim night, everyone started talking.

"The news is coming!"

"Tell me, after Qinghe County was captured by the bandits, did they dare to massacre the Cui family..."

"Given Zhang Jincheng's brutality and violence, and his previous actions, he has already made enemies with the Cui family. What else is there to be afraid of?"

Several men were discussing this, but just as they finished speaking, they noticed that the face of Cui's entourage seemed very excited. Seeing this scene, the men were a little surprised.

same.

The scholars and children of prominent families around the courtyard all noticed the look on the attendant's face. He did not seem as panicked as they had imagined. Instead, he seemed very excited.

"what happened?"

"I do not know!"

"Could it be that Zhang Jincheng didn't attack the Cui clan members? No, then why did Zhang Jincheng kill the people sent by the Cui clan before?"

Amidst many puzzled discussions and under everyone's gaze, the escort had already walked quickly through the front yard and into the main hall.

In the main hall.

Under the candlelight, the people who had been waiting saw the escort arriving.

No matter whether it was Cui Hebo, Cui Jingong, or the middle-aged men such as Cui Xiwen, Cui Yunying, and Cui Yunzhong, their hearts tightened and their breathing became a little uneasy.

Behind Cui Hebaek, Cui Yuzhe and Cui Wenjin didn't even dare to breathe, and stared at the entourage.

Li Jingjie, as well as officials and generals including County Magistrate Wang, all stopped talking and looked at the attendant.

Under the gaze of everyone, the attendant quickly ran to Cui Hebo, knelt down and bowed.

"Sir! News has come from Wucheng that the bandit Zhang Jincheng was defeated by reinforcements yesterday and his army fled. The crisis in Qinghe County has been resolved!"

The attendant reported breathlessly and bowed his hands.

In the main hall, upon hearing the words of Cui's followers, Cui Hebo, Cui Jingong and others stood up instantly.

"what?"

"What did you say? Say it again to me!"

Cui Hebaek raised a trembling hand, his eyes widened, his breathing rapid, and he asked impatiently, his expression full of disbelief.

"What? The siege of Qinghe has been lifted?"

"Zhang Jin said he was defeated by reinforcements? Where were the reinforcements?"

Not only Cui Hebaek and others, but Li Jingjie and others also looked at the entourage in shock and looked at each other.

What this Cui family entourage brought was not the news that Qinghe County had been breached!

Instead, it was the news that Zhang Jincheng... was defeated by reinforcements and the entire army fled!

This, how is this possible?

"What? Did you hear that?"

"Impossible, Zhang Jincheng lost? It says in there that Zhang Jincheng lost!"

"I heard it too! How is this possible..."

In the front yard of the Li Mansion, many scholars and men who had been quiet until now were shocked when they heard the exclamations from the main hall, and immediately began to clamor and talk loudly.

Some people even doubted their own ears. The Sui Dynasty's army was all in the north, and the reinforcements from Xin County had been repelled. How could there be any reinforcements to help Qinghe County?

In the main hall.

When Cui Heba, Cui Jingong and others confirmed from their followers that they had not heard wrongly, Zhang Jincheng was really defeated by the reinforcements, and they immediately showed excited and relieved smiles.

"Great! Great!"

"Okay! Okay!"

As members of the Cui clan, they, at their old age, value their family more than anyone else.

They were born into the Cui clan, and no matter where they go, others will be respectful when they hear that they are from the Qinghe Cui clan, no matter if they are young or now serving as officials. Even their descendants will gain status and fame under the title of Qinghe Cui clan.

So in the eyes of the Cui family, they can die, but nothing can happen to the family.

"Wenjin, that's great! This is heaven, blessing the Cui family!"

Li Qiong was also a little surprised. Although she didn't understand what happened in Qinghe County, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when she heard that the rebels were defeated and fled. She looked at Cui Wenjin beside her and said.

Being able to remain safe and sound in such a desperate situation, Li Qiong could only think that it was God's blessing on Qinghe County and the Qinghe Cui family.

"Wen Jin..."

Li Qiong watched as Cui Wenjin's legs and feet suddenly became weak and he was about to collapse, so she hurried to support him.

Cui Yuzhe looked at his younger sister and could completely understand her because he himself was not in much better condition at the moment. He was gasping for breath, and his tense heartstrings were now relaxed. Both his palms and back were wet with sweat.

Looking at his entourage who didn't know what was going on, Cui Yuzhe touched his wound, closed his eyes, and sighed as Miss Li said, it was really God who blessed the Cui family.

At this moment.

A servant of the Li Mansion suddenly came into the main hall and reported to Li Jingjie that several men on horseback had come from outside, and the leader claimed to be Cui Duxing.

"uncle?"

Hearing his uncle's name, Cui Yuzhe opened his eyes in surprise.

"Isn't Duxing in Qinghe County? It seems that the siege of Qinghe has been lifted and the bandits have fled. Duxing must know what happened!"

"But Du Xing rushed to Jin County in such a hurry, I'm afraid there must be something important!"

Hearing Cui Duxing's arrival, Cui Hebaek and others were completely relieved and started discussing.

In the main hall.

"Quick, please come into the house!"

When Li Jingjie heard that Cui Duxing of the Cui family had arrived, he quickly ordered his servants to invite him into the mansion.

　I get nervous every time I put something up for sale, and some of the writing isn’t as good as I’d like. I hope you will tolerate me. Starting from the next few pictures, I’m sure they’ll get better and better!

　　It was the same with my previous book. I was so busy getting it on the shelves that I could only write 1,400 words.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)