In the afternoon of the next day.
Guan Hongye rode a warhorse and led a dozen generals to the outskirts of Nanyang City.
As the vanguard army replaced the defenses around Nanyang, the line from Nanyang to Mount Makou was officially recovered. The main camp of the rebel army naturally moved from Wu Pass to Nanyang.
The blood on the city wall had not dried. The Xiliang Army who arrived first were burying the Chu corpses.
On the city wall, the Xiliang Army waved their flags and showed off to their comrades that they had conquered the city from hundreds of miles away.
Yue Jiulou and the generals of Western Liang who were with Guan Hongye felt honored and raised their weapons in response. The generals of the imperial court beside them were shocked. It was only now that they believed that Xu Buling had really taken 2,000 men to conquer Nanyang City.
Guan Hongye, dressed in bright silver armor, looked at the large number of Chu corpses being dug outside the city wall. The disbelief in his eyes did not disappear.
As a veteran general who had led troops for many years, Guan Hongye could deduce the battle situation a few days ago from the corpses on the ground.
The battle was fierce, but most of the city wall was intact. There were only the remains of long ladders at the bottom of the city wall. The siege vehicles and other military equipment had not been able to get close to the city wall. They were destroyed when they were a hundred steps away. This was not the result of a normal siege. Guan Hongye racked his brains, but he couldn't figure out what had caused this situation.
After looking around, Guan Hongye called a junior general of the imperial court who had arrived at Nanyang in advance.
He asked, "How did His Highness conquer the city? How did he defend the city? "
The junior general had arrived with Tu Qianchu's cavalry. He had just arrived. He walked in front with a blank look in his eyes.
"His Highness led two thousand cavalry to conquer the city from the south gate. I asked, and the Xiliang Army said that His Highness led a dozen men of sacrifice to fight their way up the city wall. They opened the city gate from the inside, and the Xiliang Army was able to enter … "
The general next to him was also concerned about this issue. Hearing this, he asked in confusion,
Hearing this, he asked in confusion, "The Nanyang garrison must have archers. His Highness is skilled and can climb the city wall with his bare hands, but how did he get to the bottom of the city wall with ten thousand arrows and crossbows?"
The young general shook his head. "I'm not sure. In any case, we killed our way up. And I heard from the captive Chu soldiers and the people in the city that when we were attacking and defending the city, there was thunder outside. It seemed that His Highness had invited an otherworldly expert to cast a spell. After he shouted 'Lord of Thunder, help me', the sky descended with Xuan thunder and destroyed the Chu army's siege chariots and ladders. I went to look at the wreckage. It looked like it was struck by lightning … "
"He said."
"Lightning fell from the sky?"
"Lord cast a spell?"
Guan Hongye and his advisor were baffled. They were the most powerful people in the world and certainly did not believe in such metaphysical theories. But if they didn't explain it this way, they wouldn't be able to figure out how Xu Buring had broken through and defended the city.
The advisor followed beside Guan Hongye and thought for a while. "General, a war is about 'the right time, the right place, and the right people'. It's pure nonsense to ask a master to cast spells, but it's not impossible to have the right time to besiege the city."
Guan Hongye thought so too. In history, when two countries fought, it was not as if there had never been meteors falling from the sky and smashing the enemy's camp, or when the siege was met with an earthquake that collapsed the city wall. If they encountered a Child of Providence who was helped by God, two hundred of them could destroy a camp of ten thousand people, much less two thousand.
But while there were examples, it was impossible to predict destiny in advance. How did Xu Buling know that there would be wind and rain on the day of the siege?
While everyone was filled with questions, they rode to the marshal's mansion …
…
In the hall of the marshal's mansion, the generals who had arrived first were already seated. In the field outside the hall, there were several corpses covered with white cloth. They were arranged neatly on the ground, and beside them were the helmets and sabers of the Xiliang Army.
Dozens of generals sat upright. They were either silent or nervous. The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Thud — thud — thud —
Xu Buling, who was dressed in a white robe, leaned against the armchair in the middle of the hall. He tapped the long saber in his hand against the stone tiles on the ground. There was a hint of fierceness in his eyes as he stared at the crowd walking toward the marshal's mansion.
Guan Hongye brought his subordinates and walked quickly into the marshal's mansion. When he saw the dead soldiers covered with white cloth on the ground, his heart skipped a beat, and his footsteps instantly slowed down.
The marshal's mansion was silent. The generals and advisors inside and outside the hall lowered their heads and looked at Guan Hongye from the corner of their eyes.
Guan Hongye walked slowly on the path in front of the hall. His eyes kept darting around. When he arrived at the door, he regained the dignified bearing that a marshal should have. He strode into the hall and said,
"Crown Prince Xu is indeed valiant and unparalleled. His Majesty is very pleased to have made such a great contribution …"
Crack —
Just as Guan Hongye finished speaking, the sound of wood shattering suddenly came from the silent hall.
The armchair Xu Buling sat on was shattered into pieces. He swept through the hall like a falcon pouncing on a rabbit, and his saber went straight for Guan Hongye, who was at the door.
"Your Highness!"
"No …"
Cries of alarm rang out in the hall.
Guan Hongye's expression changed drastically, and he quickly retreated.
The bodyguards beside him hurried forward to stop him, but they were only experts in the military who protected Guan Hongye. In the face of Xu Buling, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Xu Buling raised his hand and waved his sleeves. Four bodyguards were sent flying and crashed into the pillars of the hall.
"Your Highness!"
Guan Hongye's face was pale. He wanted to turn around and run, but before he could turn around, he was lifted up along with his armor.
Xu Buling grabbed the back of Guan Hongye's neck with one hand. His face was filled with rage and murderous intent. He forcefully dragged Guan Hongye to the corridor outside the hall, pressed his head against the railing, and raised his saber.
"No!"
"Your Highness, please calm down …"
The dozen or so generals of the imperial court were scared out of their wits. Some hurriedly knelt down to dissuade him, and some pounced forward to stop him.
Yue Jiulou also ran forward and grabbed Xu Buling's arm.
"Young King, please calm down!"
Guan Hongye was pressed against the railing. He said angrily,
"Xu Buling, are you trying to rebel? I am the commander-in-chief appointed by His Majesty. You are disrespecting your superior … "
"I don't care who you are!"
Xu Buling pressed down on Guan Hongye and lifted his head. He looked at the corpses on the ground.
"Did I inform you before I led the army to conquer Nanyang?"
Guan Hongye's face turned red, and the armor on his body rattled. He wanted to argue, but he could not say a word.
"I asked you for reinforcements. Where were they after the city was conquered? You defended for a day and a night, but the reinforcements did not arrive, causing the soldiers to die in vain. Do you know what is the punishment according to the military law? "
The generals of the imperial court were so scared that their faces turned pale. Guan Hongye's deputy general risked his life to go forward and dissuade him.
"Your Highness, General Guan has set up defenses at Wu Pass. It is not suitable to mobilize the army before Mount Ma Pass is breached. We have already sent a message to the prince to withdraw the army …"
"You are blaming me for not mobilizing the army?"
Xu Buling was furious. He grabbed Guan Hongye and looked at the hall of the commander-in-chief's residence.
"Has Mount Ma Pass been breached? Has Nanyang been breached? Where the f * * k are you standing? The Chu camp? "
Guan Hongye's face was as red as blood, and his eyes were bloodshot, but he could not speak.
The generals of the imperial court were also speechless. After all, Guan Hongye could not escape the blame, but he could not just kill Guan Hongye like this.
Deputy General Guan Hongye said anxiously,
"Your Highness, please calm down! The prince and the soldiers of Western Liang have contributed greatly to breaking Mount Ma Pass and Nanyang. General Guan has neglected his duty, but if Nanyang is not breached, we cannot pass through Mount Ma Pass. After General Guan received the news, he rushed to the rescue day and night. In reality, he did not arrive too late, and the siege of Nanyang was resolved. His crime does not warrant death … "
Xu Buling naturally knew that his crime did not warrant death. Otherwise, he would have killed Guan Hongye long ago. He would not have said so much nonsense. He stared at Guan Hongye, his saber at his neck.
"As the commander-in-chief, you are overcautious and afraid to advance. How can you talk about quelling the rebellion? I will spare your worthless life this time. If there is a next time, if the Xiliang Army loses one more person, I will use the lives of the Guan family to pay for it. "
Guan Hongye's chest burned with anger, but in a situation where he was not in the right, he did not dare to vent his anger. He could only grit his teeth.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. If I neglect my duty again, there is no need for Your Highness to do anything. I will bring my head to see His Majesty."
Xu Buling's gaze was cold. He glared at Guan Hongye for a moment before he stabbed his saber into the ground in front of the hall. He turned around and carried the remains of their comrade out of the residence with the Xiliang Army soldiers.
The generals of the imperial court secretly sighed in relief. No one dared to look at Guan Hongye's expression.
Guan Hongye stood in front of the hall in his armor. His face alternated between red and white. He gripped his sword tightly. After Xu Buling's figure disappeared, he still stood there for a long time before he suppressed the emotions in his heart. He turned around and slowly walked into the hall.
The hall was silent. Everyone looked down as they did not dare to comment on what had just happened.
"Everyone, please take a seat. Now that Mashankou and Nanyang have been recovered, the next step is Xiangyang …"
Guan Hongye sat upright on the armchair. Just like in the past, he began to arrange the deployment of the army for the future. His tone was calm, and he was neither happy nor angry, but his fingers trembled continuously.
The generals in the hall did not have the mood to listen to him. Their gazes were fixed on the saber at the door.
If the commander-in-chief lost his dignity, how could he still be called the commander-in-chief?
Today, he was rendered speechless in front of Xu Buling. From now on, when Xu Buling said no to all the arrangements of the army, who should the soldiers listen to?
After this incident, it was clearly impossible for Guan Hongye to have sole control over the army …
