Dingzhou, Governor's manor.
As soon as Yu Wen entered the back residence, his nose twitched and he smelled a strong scent of medicine.
The black clouds on the horizon were low, and the cold wind whistled. There was also the faint sound of crying coming from the side, which made him involuntarily tighten his neck.
Rumor has it that the Governor suddenly vomited three liters of blood. It looks like the rumors aren't groundless!
He thought silently in his heart, but he put on a sorrowful expression.
The matter in Dingzhou was urgent. Provincial Governor Gao Shun had completely given up his duties, so all the heavy burdens had fallen on Xu Chun's shoulders. He had forcefully endured his illness and slept all night. It was only natural that he would fall ill from overwork.
Yu Wen sighed. It was as if it was fate that it had happened now.
"Sir Yu!"
The servant went in to report. Not long after, a housekeeper came out to greet him. "Sir, why have you come?"
"It's just a small matter. It's winter, and a drop of water turns to ice. The soldiers in the city urgently need 3,000 sets of winter clothing, charcoal, medicine, and so on."
As Yu Wen spoke, he saw a difficult expression appear on the housekeeper's face.
The army surrounding the city not only delayed the autumn harvest, but it also made it impossible for the counties to receive money. Of course, there was only this lone city in Dingzhou right now.
Fighting a war meant fighting for military supplies. With so many things to worry about, even if the Governor wanted to gather them, it would not be easy.
In particular, the aristocratic families are all fence-sitters! Seeing that there is only one lone city left in Dingzhou, reprimanded in the name of the court, but no celestial soldiers have come, how could they not understand the severity of the situation? Additionally, the spies of the Xie and Lin families have been spreading news. As early as a month ago, they had already begun to decline. When they really couldn't be forced, they only gave out a few dozen stones of grain, like they were sending off beggars.
They couldn't collect taxes, and the aristocratic families weren't doing anything. Even Yu Wen knew that Dingzhou was in desperate straits.
Unless Zhang Wenzhen dared to kill all the aristocratic families in the city and take all their food and property, they would not be able to survive next spring.
If he really did that, especially under the pretext of a large army pressing down on the border, he would only be seeking his own death.
The aristocratic families only asked for a guarantee of land and the right to enter the government. They didn't care at all who sat on the throne.
Furthermore, the civil and military officials in the city were inextricably linked to these aristocratic families. Perhaps they were people themselves. Even if Zhang Wenzhen wanted to act, he would not be able to avoid a backlash.
It's understandable that the Prefecture Overseer is so anxious that he's in trouble both internally and externally.
Yu Wen's eyes flickered. Only then did he reveal the purpose of his visit. "In addition … our general heard that Lord Prefecture Overseer's condition has worsened and specially ordered me to come and greet him. May I ask …"
"Wu wu …"
At this moment, the cries in the inner chamber grew louder.
On the sickbed, Prefecture Overseer Xu Chun was as thin as a match. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper, and only his cheeks were slightly flushed. It was obvious that he was on his deathbed.
He stretched out his chicken claw-like hands, as if he was trying to grab something. His chest made a humming sound.
"Master … what do you want to tell me?"
His first wife, Madam Zhang, asked. Then, she hurriedly scolded the concubines and maids around her, "Lower your voice. Do you all want to make Master unable to leave in peace?"
She was also from a big family, so she was very good at controlling the situation. Especially after Xu Chun's death, she immediately took over the power of life and death. Chasing away a few concubines and maids was just a matter of a thought.
Those concubines who had sons and daughters to rely on were fine, but those who didn't were immediately frightened. Seeing their master's dying appearance, they completely gave up and didn't dare to move at all.
"Kingdom … Kingdom …"
Xu Chun moved his lips and finally spat out a few words, "The state is in trouble. Leave everything to Zhang Wenzhen. Dong … Dong …"
However, he couldn't continue speaking. His palm fell, and he immediately stopped breathing.
"Master!!"
Madam Zhang stretched out her palm and saw that Xu Chun had stopped breathing. She couldn't help but touch his corpse and cry bitterly.
For a moment, the entire inner chamber was filled with the sound of crying.
While Yu Wen and the steward were looking at each other, a manservant ran out with prepared mourning clothes and a black belt. However, he was sobbing uncontrollably, "Steward Qian, Master … Master passed away …"
As soon as these words came out, the steward's lips also turned blue. It was as if he had lost his backbone in an instant.
Even Yu Wen fell into a trance when he saw the Ocean Stabilizing Godly Pillar of the Prefecture City crumble.
In a daze, he didn't know how many words he said, or how many people he met, but he still muddle-headedly took his leave. Looking at the gloomy sky, Yu Wen suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
"Official Yu!"
When he walked to a corner of the street, two manservants who seemed to have been waiting for a long time immediately came up to him and respectfully said, "Our master invites you!"
"You are …"
Yu Wen's eyes moved, but he didn't say anything and followed them.
At the corner of the street, there was a carriage. It was covered on all sides, and the windows were covered with black cloth. It was obvious that they had been prepared. Yu Wen was a daring person and directly entered the carriage. The carriage immediately set off.
After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally stopped behind a large residence. Yu Wen shook his collar and entered the residence. Immediately, he was directly led by a steward into a secret room.
"Official Yu is also here!"
The light in the room was as small as a bean. There were already seven or eight people sitting in the room. Under the dim light, their expressions were uncertain.
"So it's you guys!"
Yu Wen naturally recognized them. They were all mid-level civil and military officials in the prefecture city. They weren't famous, but they held important positions and were very important people.
Of course, he was also like this. Although he was only a provincial governor's clerk, he could enter and leave the prefecture governor's residence and get close to Zhang Wenzhen.
Just thinking about it, his hands immediately began to tremble, but there was a fire in his eyes.
"Very good! Official Yu saw us. First, you didn't turn and leave, and second, you didn't immediately scold us. It can be seen that you are also on the same side! "
A young voice rang out. A man who looked like the son of an aristocratic family came to the main seat. "Little brother Xie Wusi greets everyone!"
"Someone from the Xie family?"
Yu Wen nodded. "No wonder you were able to invite so many people. What do you want to do?"
"I should be the one asking you that!"
Xie Wusi said with a smile. "You just came out of the prefecture governor's residence. Is Xu Chun dead?"
Yu Wen's heart trembled. He was surprised by the Xie family's well-informed news, but he still nodded. After admitting it like this, everyone in the hall had different expressions, but they all let out a great sigh of relief.
"The prefecture governor is usually generous and has been kind to us. However, how can small favors compare to the righteousness of the lives of all the people in the city?"
A middle-aged military officer said indifferently.
"That's right … Dingzhou City is about to fall. We should also discuss our retreat and make plans for the prefecture governor's funeral!"
A civil official to the side said, "At least … with Wu Zhen's promise that the army will not do anything after entering the city, and even the prefecture governor's family will be pardoned, our friendship as colleagues will not be in vain …"
"That's right!"
When the military officers heard this, their eyes all brightened as they echoed loudly.
Yu Wen's hair stood on end as he listened. He firmly remembered the civil official who had spoken and thought to himself, "In terms of shamelessness and ruthlessness, this person can be said to be outstanding. I must not offend him in the future …"
"Very good!"
Xie Wusi was overjoyed. "All of you are loyal to the imperial advisor. You are all great contributors!"
Everyone said that they did not dare. Yu Wen had originally wanted to find a way out, so he agreed with a few words. Only then did a difficult expression appear on his face. "It's just that most of the military power in the city is in the hands of Zhang Wenzhen. He is the prefecture governor's confidant and loyal to the court. He is not easy to deal with …"
"Besides … there are still those emissaries!"
"Zhang Wenzhen was just a deputy general before. What is there to be afraid of?"
The military officers to the side said, "In terms of military seniority, he is ranked behind me. If it wasn't for the prefecture governor's orders, who would be willing to listen to him?"
"With your help, at least the west gate will not be a problem! As for Zhang Wenzhen? "
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Xie Wusi's mouth. "Since this person is determined to stubbornly resist the heavenly army, we can only send him to his death. Not only will he die, but his family will also not be able to escape!"
This cold murderous intent immediately made Yu Wen quiver.
…
"Although I knew the principle of fate restraining each other, I did not expect the fate of Dingzhou City to decline to such an extent after Xu Chun's death!"
I returned to the relay station and called for the confucian scholar and the general. "Let's get ready. It's time to go!"
"But as soon as Xu Chun died, the city immediately became unstable?"
The confucian scholar stroked his beard and sighed.
"As soon as we find any clues, we will immediately contact Zhang Wenzhen and take the initiative to gain the upper hand. We might still have a chance!"
The general snorted coldly.
"This is fate. It is not something that humans can change!"
I laughed bitterly. All the aristocratic families in the city were preparing for a retreat. They had other plans. What else could they, as foreigners, do?
If they used magical power and magical powers to forcibly suppress the fate, did they really think that the hidden powerful person was a vegetarian?
Moreover, if they forcibly resisted such fate, even if it was him, his merit would be reduced and he would incur the consequences.
"Go rest! Go rest! "
Thus, he could only wave his sleeve and sigh.
"Ah … you …"
The general stamped his foot. If I was determined not to help, the most he could do was inform Zhang Wenzhen to increase the security. There was nothing else he could do.
"Who would have thought … 300 years ago, when the chaos at the end of the Shang Dynasty came, the world changed and entered a period of intense change …"
A trace of sorrow appeared on the old confucian scholar's face, but he did not say more.
It was clear that they could not do anything right now. They had no obligation to accompany a loyal minister to death.
…
Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Six years of peace passed, and now it was seven years of peace.
The world was still in chaos. In Dingzhou, the battle to besiege Dingzhou City had finally reached its final moment.
Xu Chun's death brought a trace of sorrow to the new year. Not only did it sweep away the last trace of joy of the festive season, but it also seemed to draw a final end to the old court's rule in Dingzhou.
"Launch the catapults!"
Qi Lin, Chen Jingzong, and the others were calm and unruffled. Each day, they took turns attacking the city and continuously increased their strength.
Under the situation of Dingzhou being unified, the various places were peaceful. This gave them enough time to slowly grind down this sturdy city.
The aristocratic families in the city had long lost patience. They all sent out letters of surrender and secretly contacted each other. Their power grew.
"Again!"
Qi Lin wore his armor and roared loudly. He looked at wave after wave of soldiers, flying arrows, and throwing stones. His gaze occasionally turned in the direction of the Luo River. No one knew what he was thinking.
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