On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 571 The lonely city is difficult to defend

Perhaps the last time he went to court to report on his duties, Cui Qiji pretended to be a business traveler and gained a lot. Not only did he eradicate a group of moths attached to the business traveler, he also won the praise of his father Cui Che.

This time, Prince Cui Qiji of Dayan also slowed down his journey, and along the way he staged many dramas of private visits in disguise to eliminate harm for the people.

After Cui Che got the news, he would not rush Cui Qiji.

He would not think that his prince had left a virtuous reputation among the people, and he would not be suspicious of him.

After all, no matter how famous he was among the people, he could not threaten his father's throne. It was Cui Che's taboo to only make friends with generals in the army without telling him.

Cui Qiji returned to Jinyang very late. It was already late February. Even Cui Yanzong, who was far away in Liaodong, had already been ordered to return to Beijing and was sent to Qingzhou by Cui Che to monitor Henan Province. The two brothers met on the way.

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Cui Yanqing, who was originally in Dingzhou and was even closer, had already arrived in Yong County, handed over power to Pei Ji, the governor of Qizhou, and took up the post of inspector of Guannai Road and governor of Qizhou.

As for Pei Ji, the former governor of Qizhou, Cui Che appointed him as the chief historian of King Yong, assisting Cui Yanqing in governing Qizhou and supervising the roads inside the pass.

After Cui Che learned about Cui Qiji's itinerary, he specially took Yang Lihua and Cui Youzhi out of the city to greet them.

Cui Youzhi was raised by his grandparents since he was a child, and his days with Cui Qiji were numbered. Now that the father and son met, Cui Youzhi hid behind his grandfather Cui Che, secretly looking at his father who was saluting his grandfather.

Cui Che pulled Cui Youzhi in front of him and said with a smile:

"This is your father, why are you still afraid of life?"

Cui Youzhi had no choice but to bow to his father and mother.

Crown Princess Yang's eyes became moist as soon as she saw her longing for her son. Although she was pregnant with Liujia, it did not diminish her longing for her eldest son.

After Cui Qiji helped Cui Youzhi up, the princess couldn't wait to hold her son in her arms, and her tears couldn't stop flowing down.

Yang Lihua was deeply moved when she saw this scene.

If she hadn't had her grandson by her side, she really didn't know how she would have survived a life where she could only see her son once a year.

Yang Lihua held Cui Qiji's hand tightly and choked with sobs:

"In the future, the family can be reunited and no longer have to suffer the pain of separation."

Cui Che coughed dryly and quickly changed the subject. He also planned to take Cui Youzhi on a tour of Hebei.

The honor guard returned to the city. Following Cui Qiji back to Jinyang were former Xuzhou general manager Sima Li Mi and many other staff.

Nearly all of them were left in the East Palace, but Li Mi and Du Ruhui, who arrived in Jinyang in advance, were transferred away from Cui Qiji.

Li Mi was released as the governor and gained local experience, while Du Ruhui was promoted to Shangshu Zuocheng because of his achievements in assisting Cui Qiji in governing Xuzhou. He was promoted to the fourth rank and assisted Shangshu Ling Fang Xuanling.

As for the important staff of the East Palace, such as the prince's horse washing, Zhan Shi and other positions, Cui Che delegated all the power to Cui Qiji and let him recruit himself. Only the prince who was in charge of the guards of the East Palace was directly appointed and dismissed by Cui Che.

In the imperial city, Cui Che did not allow the emergence of military forces that were not under his control. After all, the lesson of Yang Guang's crown prince taking control of Renshou Palace was at hand.

After Cui Qiji moved into the East Palace, Cui Che also began preparations for a tour of Hebei. Since he had previously issued an edict to exempt various places from field rent for one year, this year's treasury revenue was bound to drop sharply.

Cui Che didn't plan to make a big battle, and only planned to travel with 30,000 elite riders.

At the same time, he also conveyed his will to the states and counties, and local officials were not allowed to donate rare treasures, which wasted people and money.

While the city of Jinyang was busy preparing for Emperor Yan's first tour, in the distant Longyou Road, Mai Tiezhang also led his army through the Hexi Corridor and arrived at Zhangye.

After a few months, the Yan army once again came to the city. The Yinshishi on the top of the city looked at the Yan-character flags, gritted his teeth, and clenched his hands into fists.

Obviously, the news of Cui Che's founding of the country and proclaiming himself emperor has reached Zhangye.

However, the Yinshi Master's incompetent rage could not make Cui Che feel the pain.

Instead, Mai Tiezhang sent some knights to race outside the city and shouted:

"Only punish the Yin Shishi, and the one who surrenders will not be guilty; if you resist stubbornly, your body will die and your clan will be destroyed!"

Before the arrival of the Yan army, Yin Shishi had been using Li Yuan's death to intimidate Zhangye's soldiers and people, saying that Cui Che would definitely massacre the city to vent his hatred.

But at the beginning, Yin Shishi had an internal response in Li Yuan's army, and the Yan Dynasty also had detailed infiltration in Zhangye.

How could Master Yinshi's little tricks be hidden from Mai Tiezhang.

"The Yan thieves are trying to trick you. If they open the city gate and they turn their backs on you, you will have no choice but to watch them rob your property and insult your wives and daughters!"

Master Yinshi shouted at the top of his lungs from the city wall, but how many people could believe him? Master Yinshi himself had no idea.

At this moment, at that moment, when Li Yuan led the army to attack, Cui Che had not yet occupied Hanzhong, and Yu Wenshu could send troops to Longyou from Hanzhong, which gave Zhang Ye's defenders the courage to follow Yin Shishi to defend the city.

But now, with the three counties of Hanchuan, Xicheng, and Fangling falling one after another, Zhangye has become the lone city of the Sui Dynasty in the north. Last time, Li Yuan was killed by luck, and Mai Tiezhang came again. They fought desperately to drive away Mai Tiezhang.

, there will inevitably be other generals coming with their armies.

Zhangye had a small population. Facing a behemoth like the Yan Dynasty and resisting with an isolated city, one can imagine the morale of the defenders.

Before the Mai Tiezhang arrived, Yin Shishi was already wearing his armor and never leaving his sword, for fear of being betrayed by his subordinates.

However, no matter how the Yin Shishi defended himself, how he refuted the Yan army's sentry cavalry outside the city, and frightened the people in the city.

After the Mai Iron Staff arrives at the city and the knights are given their assurances, there will always be someone who takes the risk.

After all, no one can guarantee that while they firmly believe in Yin Shishi's words, no one will choose to believe in Yan Jun's conscience.

The civil strife broke out on the night that Mai Tiezhang arrived.

Mai Tiezhang ordered Xue Ju to lead his troops to attack the southern city overnight, and Yin Shishi led his direct troops to take command personally.

But the remaining three city gates that he could not take care of had been secretly opened, waiting for the Yan army to come.

The agents who infiltrated Zhangye City were not only gathering intelligence, but also had the task of wooing the local wealthy families.

Yin Shishi was determined to die for the Sui Dynasty, but how could these wealthy people be willing to accompany him all the way to the dark side when they saw no hope.

After getting Mai Tiezhang's promise, they have been waiting for Mai Tiezhang to send troops to feint attack in the south to attract the attention of Yin Shishi and his direct lineage, and take the opportunity to let the Yan army enter through the remaining three city gates.

At this time, outside the south gate, only Xue Ju's Lanzhou soldiers were feinting to attack. The torches behind them were just tied to wood to confuse Yin Shishi.

Mai Tiezhang asked the wealthy Zhangye clan to open three gates, but did not tell them which side they would enter the city from, fearing that they would be ambushed.

However, the answer was soon revealed.

The huge commotion caused by the Yan army breaking into the city from the north gate of Zhangye resounded through the night sky.

The next chapter is before half past twelve

(End of chapter)