Chapter 226

It was already dusk!

Taicang ignited a fire soaring into the sky, and the land of the three prefectures was shrouded in its light.

Like a gorgeous red cloud, it attracted everyone's eyes!

Original Chongcheng.

Zhou Tiancheng took 200,000 troops out of the city.

"What, how dare Zhou Tiancheng!"

"Why was such a big event not reported? Do you still take my position as Inspector seriously?"

Tuoba Shuchao was furious when he learned the news.

The sword was already on Zhou Yong's neck.

Recalling today, Zhou Tiancheng specially invited him to drink together, and the atmosphere was warm during the banquet.

Halfway through the wine, Zhou Tiancheng suddenly took his leave, saying he was old and could not hold his wine, and the crowd did not think much of it.

During the banquet, Zhou Tiancheng was also impassioned, saying: "Defending the original Chongcheng is our duty."

The words were still in his ears.

In the blink of an eye!

Zhou Tiancheng actually led He Sheng and others across the city gate to attack Taicang.

Tuoba Shuchao was furious.

He wished he could split this Zhou Yong in front of him.

Zhou Yong was not panicked, pushed away Tuoba Shuchao's long sword with his hand, and said calmly:

"Prince Qi, don't be impatient."

"Commander Zhou and the others have been out of the city for two hours."

Just at this time, there was a commotion on the city tower.

Tuoba Shuchao's original fierce wine intent had long since dissipated by more than half.

200,000 troops left the city; such a big event, when blown by the wind on his back, was already full of chill.

He hurriedly climbed the stairs, only to see the city tower crowded with people, all with nervous expressions, looking into the distance.

Only to see!

Looking from afar, in the direction of Xuzhou, the fire was soaring into the sky, like the wind helping the fire, getting more and more intense, reflecting half the sky red.

"Taicang!" Tuoba Shuchao exclaimed in horror.

Zhou Yong followed closely, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he laughed lightly:

"It seems that Commander Zhou and the others have succeeded!"

Tuoba Shuchao's eyes flashed with unbelievable light.

Taicang fire, what is burning is not just grain and grass, but the lifeline of the Yanbei Army!

Could it be that Zhou Tiancheng really succeeded in attacking Taicang.

Burned the grain and grass of the Yanbei Army in the city.

How could such a spectacular fire be fake?

On the city tower.

Zhou Yong bowed and saluted, his tone respectful: "This matter is of great importance, please decide, Prince Qi, what should we do next?"

Tuoba Shuchao had long been in a mess.

Moreover, judging from the fact that he only learned the news now, he could not command this army at all.

The army had long been managed by Zhou Tiancheng and others into an iron plate.

Zhou Yong's words were just taking advantage of the situation to give him a step down.

"Taicang has fallen, Lu Chen will surely save it."

Zhou Yong's voice sounded again, "Our elite troops are all out; this is the best time to destroy the Yanbei Army."

Tuoba Shuchao did not know what to decide in his heart.

Just at this time!

A team of cavalry under the city galloped to, shouting loudly:

"Urgent report from the army!"

"Commander Zhou defeated the enemy army in Taicang and burned Taicang clean with a fire!"

"And captured many cities one after another, like a hot knife through butter!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the city tower suddenly boiled, and the cheers shook the sky.

Tuoba Shuchao only felt a roar in his ears; in the silence of all things, only the deafening jubilation remained.

Looking at Taicang, the fire soared into the sky, burning more and more intensely!

The city gate slowly opened amidst the rustling sound of iron chains.

Teams of people and horses surged out of the city like a tide.

They had already rushed out of the city walls without stopping; the depression of June could not wait any longer.

When Tuoba Shuchao came back to his senses!

Zhou Yong and others were already gone, leaving only a few personal attendants standing behind him.

The situation had already spiraled out of control and escaped his grasp.

In the original Chongcheng, only 50,000 troops remained, and the rest had all left the city.

"Could Lu Chen be defeated like this?"

In Tuoba Shuchao's mind, the invincible figure from more than twenty years ago appeared; every time he recalled it, he felt terrified.

He turned around and looked around, only to see many soldiers still with expressions of regret on their faces.

They failed to follow the army on the expedition to make contributions, leaving only the fate of staying behind.

Now there are only tens of thousands of soldiers in the city who can fight!

The city is empty!

A Taicang actually moved all the people to leave the city.

"Something is wrong!"

Tuoba Shuchao's face changed suddenly.

Zhou Tiancheng led 200,000 heroic troops and rushed straight to Taicang.

Along the way, they encountered no obstacles, and the army was unstoppable.

Until the first battle of Taicang, they encountered stubborn resistance.

However, thanks to the accuracy of the intelligence.

He saw that the enemy soldiers stationed there, although numerous, were chaotic and lacked command and coordination.

Sure enough, as expected.

But!

Zhou Tiancheng did not really start attacking the city; once started, there was no turning back.

More than 200,000 troops, if they could not take the city and retreated, Lu Chen's reinforcements would have arrived, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Camp explosion is a small matter; if there is a stampede, it will be a real rout, a thousand miles of collapse.

Zhou Tiancheng waited quietly.

A new piece of intelligence came.

In the northern camp, Lu Chen had appeared to lecture on military strategy, and many generals in the army gathered in one hall to listen carefully.

And today, what Lu Chen lectured on was:

"March straight to Huang Long Prefecture in June!"

Huang Long Prefecture is the location of the Northern Wind capital.

He Sheng laughed loudly on his horse when he heard the news, full of sarcasm.

Lu Chen's large army had been trapped in the original Chongcheng for more than six months and could not advance an inch.

Now that the granary is in an emergency and the enemy is at the city gates, he still dares to speak wildly.

Daring to claim to march straight to Huang Long Prefecture in June!

It's really ridiculous!

Zhou Tiancheng heard this news, loosened the horse rope he was holding tightly, and his palms were full of sweat.

Lu Chen is in the northern camp.

He hesitated no longer, made a decisive decision, and ordered the army to attack strongly.

200,000 troops, in the fierce battle of two hours, surged toward Taicang City like a tide.

Finally!

Under the fierce offensive, the city gate was broken, and the large army killed into the city.

He Sheng was overjoyed and cheered loudly.

Zhou Tiancheng was also anxious and hurriedly rushed into the city on horseback.

Only to see that the city was already in chaos, and the soldiers were fleeing everywhere.

Zhou Tiancheng took He Sheng and others straight to the grain storage place of Taicang.

There, the rectangular large granaries were scattered, filled with round granaries.

Each one was several feet high.

Looking at the scale, each granary could store 50,000 to 60,000 catties of grain.

"Commander Zhou, look!"

He Sheng kicked open the wedge door of the granary, only to see full white rice pouring out like a waterfall, scattered all over the ground.

Zhou Tiancheng was extremely excited; he held up a handful of fine rice, feeling deeply.

Back then, he defended the city, had no rice to eat, and was forced to eat tree bark, boil armor, and even eat "white meat."

The Yanbei Army was rich, and the granary was full.

His heart was full of hatred and excitement.

Hatred that the Yanbei Army did not suffer his tragedy.

Excited that there were indeed 400,000 troops' grain and supplies hidden in the city.

Looking at the granaries all over the ground, a feeling of indescribable pride surged in Zhou Tiancheng's heart.

He knew that this battle was won.

What Tuoba Shuyi couldn't do back then, he did.

Defeating Lu Chen upright and honestly.

The surrounding soldiers all showed joy, prying open the granaries one after another, revealing the rice piled up like mountains inside.

"Report to Commander Zhou, this is all the rice harvested this year, of superior quality."

He Sheng was even happier when he heard this, laughing loudly.

"Lu Chen, just a mediocre person in the north; there are no heroes in the world, letting the boy become famous."

"Claiming to be the first in using troops for four hundred years, it is truly absurd!"

"And claiming that there will be a Lu Chen in the Divine Land in three hundred years, it is truly ridiculous!"

Zhou Tiancheng just smiled after hearing this and fed the rice he held in his hand directly into his mouth.

Chewing carefully.

"Pfft!"

He chewed carefully, and suddenly, his face changed greatly, he spat out all the grain in his mouth, his eyes widened, and he was horrified.

"Not good, this grain is all soaked in fire oil!"

There were soldiers beside him, hurriedly reporting in panic:

"Commander Zhou, under the granary, it's all nitrate carbon!"

Zhou Tiancheng heard this, his face turned pale instantly, and he could no longer remain calm.

"Something is wrong, retreat quickly!"

He ordered urgently.

However, I don't know when.

The city had already ignited a monstrous fire.

The fire illuminated his old and horrified face.

【October 6th, you lectured on "Training Summary" at the northern camp; the audience was mostly young generals in the army, full of heroic spirit.】

【When the lecture was exciting, you used black charcoal as a pen and wrote on the erected wooden board:】

【"In June, march straight to Huang Long Prefecture!"】

【The handwriting was like a dragon flying and a phoenix dancing, revealing the spirit of gold and iron horses.】

【Some generals in the army left quietly, while those who stayed were respectful and dared not be the slightest bit negligent.】

【You continued to draw the map of the northern prefectures and protectorates on the wooden board; every large city and important town became clear under your pen, like looking at patterns on your palm.】

【Everyone was amazed, only then did they know that His Majesty knew every inch of land and every city in the north like the back of his hand.】

【After the map was drawn, you wrote a series of dates and cities below: "November 17th attack Hezhou, December take Chechi, January 8th take Wuyang in Jingzhou..." The handwriting was vigorous and powerful.】

【The crowd looked at each other, all feeling confused about the plan on the wooden board.】

【The large cities listed above are all important strongholds in the north; however, to go to these places, one must pass through the impregnable fortress of the original Chongcheng.】

【The original Chongcheng has 500,000 defensive troops, and everyone knows the strength of its defense.】

【How to break through this city became the biggest doubt in everyone's heart.】

【Although they were full of doubts, they dared not ask rashly.】

【Halfway through the lecture!】

【Suddenly, the fire outside soared into the sky, reflecting the sky red.】

【Everyone was horrified to find that the grain depot of "Taicang" had ignited a monstrous fire.】

【The importance of Taicang is self-evident. Once lost, the consequences will be unimaginable.】

【Everyone showed anxiety, but you remained calm.】

【You slowly raised your hand and wrote the last two dates on the wooden board: "April 14th next year, march straight to Huang Long Prefecture."】

【"October 6th, break the original Chongcheng."】

【Everyone was stunned; October 6th is today!】

【Seeing you so calm, although they were still nervous, they felt a little at ease.】

【After you finished writing, you turned around and smiled: "That's all for today, everyone disperse."】

【Those who were interested silently remembered the dates you wrote.】

【You wiped your hands and walked out of the tent.】

【Only to see the fire in Taicang burning fiercely, illuminating a prefecture.】

【Feng Haiping had already walked up and said: "Your Majesty, our army has discovered that Zhou Tiancheng has entered the city."】

【You nodded, indicating that you already knew.】

【"Another scout went to the original Chongcheng to report the news, and Zhou Yong has led the army out of the city."】

【Feng Haiping was excited on the side; everything today was in the Prince of Yan's expectations, without any mistakes.】

【Every step was like being carefully rehearsed, without any difference, as if the enemy army had become part of the Yanbei Army, listening to the Prince of Yan's command.】

【Feng Haiping stared at the line of words the Prince of Yan had just written, secretly speculating: In June, can we really march straight to Huang Long Prefecture?】

【Today is a bit different from usual; Lu Yu is not by his side; he felt itchy and participated in this battle.】

【Now, the stars are all over the sky, and the night is deep.】

【You stand tall outside the camp tent with your hands behind your back, gazing at the distant starry sky, listening to the intelligence sent up.】

【You nodded faintly; six months, everything should be over.】

【October 6th, when the Northern Wind's 200,000-strong army attacked the city, Taicang fell into a sea of fire.】

【Jia Fu led 60,000 Yanbei troops to block outside Taicang City, beheading 90,000 enemies, capturing 40,000, and countless fled.】

【At the same time, Xie Ling led 100,000 Yanbei troops to ambush the Northern Wind army that left the city at Heling, beheading 40,000 enemies in one battle.】

【Jia Fu drove the fleeing Yanbei Army to meet the Northern Wind army that came to support the original Chongcheng, causing chaos, stampedes, and mutual slaughter, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.】

【Under the cover of night, Yu Xu disguised himself as a northern fleeing army and successfully tricked the city gate open.】

【Overnight, the Northern Wind army had not yet reacted, and the original Chongcheng was broken.】

【The 100,000-strong army led by Zhou Tiancheng mutinied, exploded the camp, and many fled; in the end, only 4,000 remnants remained, escorting Zhou Tiancheng, and fled back to the original Chongcheng in a panic.】

【"Commander Zhou is back, why don't you open the city gate."】

【He Sheng shouted at the city gate many times, but no one responded, and the city gate was closed tightly.】

【Zhou Tiancheng felt an ominous premonition; it was unusually quiet outside the city today.】

【Not long after, a person walked out on the city tower, with a clean face and no beard, wearing a python robe, heroic and spirited.】

【Zhou Tiancheng recognized this person at a glance; it was Yu Xu, one of the twenty-six generals of the Lu family army.】

【Yu Xu laughed leisurely: "Commander Zhou, please return."】

【"His Majesty has words for you; this time, I have to thank Commander Zhou for his generous help, using the 100,000 shi of military grain in the original Chongcheng to exchange for a Taicang for us."】

【When Zhou Tiancheng heard this, he was furious, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted on the horse's back.】

【Zhou Yong brought the remaining 5,000 defeated soldiers to meet them, and Zhou Tiancheng and He Sheng escaped the battlefield and saved their lives.】

【On the day the original Chongcheng was broken, Tuoba Shuchao saw that the situation was gone and had already abandoned the city and fled.】

【In Yancheng, Wu Long saw the fire in Taicang soaring into the sky, knowing that the Northern Wind army had come out in full force, furious, and hit the table in the tent, and the table shattered, and he cursed:】

【"Zhou Tiancheng is truly a fool!"】

【That night, he immediately led 80,000 Qianyuan troops and quickly retreated to the Northern Wind territory.】

【Tuoba Shuyi heard this bad news, did not eat for three days, and finally sighed: "The one who destroyed my Northern Wind empire is Zhou Tiancheng!"】

【At the end of the month, Tuoba Shuyi organized 500,000 troops, stationed near Yunshan, and waited in full battle array.】

【The Qianyuan Empress learned of this news, danced with her sword until dawn, and increased troops by 50,000 the next day to aid the Northern Wind.】

【Han and Chu countries heard this battle report, and the country was full of jubilation, and the people's hearts were inspired.】

【The news of the Yanbei Army's great victory in the original Chongcheng spread like wildfire to the five countries.】

【For a time, Lu Chen's name made the world tremble!】

【The Yanbei Army began to collect the supplies and grain on the battlefield, and at the same time carved stone tablets in the original Chongcheng to record the achievements of this battle.】

【On October 25th of the same year, the Yanbei Army prepared troops and marched north again.】

(End of chapter)