Chapter 427: Driving Straight In

Your Majesty, the Xiliang troops have broken out from the North Gate and are fleeing toward Yongzhou!

Zhao Heng was draped in a thick fox-fur cloak; the firelight in Xian City illuminated the sky, naturally waking him.

Like many soldiers and generals, he was wondering what had happened inside Xian City.

He even felt a bit lucky for a moment, hoping that a rebellion had broken out in the city.

Now that the general had come to report, he understood immediately.

So this was a commotion intentionally created by Xiliang to break through the encirclement.

Your Majesty, should we pursue? the general asked again.

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No need, it is pitch black, how can we distinguish friend from foe? Zhao Heng yawned, ordering the soldiers to guard the camp strictly and enter the city tomorrow.

Even if he did not understand military affairs, he knew clearly that it was impossible to pursue the enemy in a night where one could not see their own fingers.

And even if they caught up, once they fell into a chaotic battle, they would certainly kill many of their own.

Generally, only when the attacking side sneaks into the city gates, or the defending side risks their lives to break out, would they choose to do so at night.

Pursuing is useless.

Yang Feng did not speak, while the Second Prince scolded: Whose general are you? How can you not even understand this? You bucket of rice!

The general was startled and stammered: This subordinate, this subordinate is a general of the Han Family.

Upon hearing this, the Second Prince's face suddenly burned, and he barked: Why haven't you scrambled back to guard the camp?

Yang Feng smiled and turned to leave.

The next day.

A burnt smell permeated the air.

The flames in Xian City had vanished, but black smoke was still drifting about.

Yang Feng sent out Cavalry to enter through the wide-open North Gate to investigate.

Confirming there were no ambushes, he ordered the Cavalry to open the four city gates, and the main army entered the city.

Your Majesty, they burned the Granary inside the city. After returning from his inspection, Yang Feng reported to Zhao Heng.

At this time, Zhao Heng was at the Ma Family residence, sitting in a pavilion by the pond; opposite him was a bewitching woman, who was none other than Xiao Shishi.

For this Northern Expedition, he had specifically brought her along.

At first, he was still wary of the dissatisfaction of Yang Feng and the generals, so he kept her hidden.

But after winning two consecutive battles and now capturing Xian City, he no longer had any scruples, possessing a sense of arrogance as if no one in the world could compete with him.

Even if he brought a Beauty to war, so what?

He had won!

So, Xian City is now an empty city? Zhao Heng asked indifferently.

It seems so. Yang Feng said.

Truly a cunning scoundrel. Zhao Heng snorted coldly, Then have the laborers quickly transport the grain and forage here.

Next, he asked, How is Yan Wang doing?

Replying to Your Majesty, he is still repairing the bridge. Yang Feng sighed slightly in his heart.

This time, he had held high expectations for Yan Wang.

But since leaving Wuguan, the central army had first captured Weng City, and now had taken the seat of Qinzhou, Xian City.

Yet Yan Wang, since leaving Qin Pass, had been trapped in Weicheng the whole time.

Compared to the achievements of the central army, the Eastern Route Army and Western Route Army really seemed insignificant.

In front of Zhao Heng, he had no power to argue on his behalf.

Hearing this, Zhao Heng's face showed a look of triumph; he raised his wine cup, Yan Wang relies only on Artillery; his military command is merely mediocre, not as good as mine.

Your Majesty is right; you are the Son of Heaven, and naturally, no one can compare to you. Xiao Shishi covered her mouth and chuckled.

Zhao Heng was even more delighted and laughed heartily.

Yang Feng glanced at Xiao Shishi, the disgust in his eyes flashing by.

If it weren't for these bewitching women, the Emperor would not have neglected state affairs and indulged in pleasure.

Although during this period, this monarch had shown signs of turning over a new leaf, years of bad habits were hard to change after all.

Your Majesty, although there are some things you do not like to hear, this old subject must still say them; the message sent by Yan Wang's Scout also guesses that Xiliang and the Northern Di are using a strategy of luring the enemy deep. Now that we have taken Xian City, it would be better to station here, wait for Yan Wang to lead his troops, and then march to Yanzhou Yucheng. Yang Feng bowed.

Hearing this, Zhao Heng's smile vanished; he gave a lukewarm reply of "I know," and waved for Yang Feng to leave.

After Yang Feng left, Zhao Heng said to Xiao Shishi: Beauty, do you think I should wait for Yan Wang, or not wait for Yan Wang?

Xiao Shishi's expression was charming, Your Majesty, how would I understand these major military affairs? It is just that when I was in Jinling, I heard the common people all praising Yan Wang, and there were even storytellers singing about him in the streets.

Hmph, that is because I did not lead the Northern Expedition myself. This time, I will let those foolish commoners know of my achievements in the Northern Expedition.

Tee-hee-hee, Xiao Shishi laughed, I will just wait for Your Majesty's triumphant return.

Zhao Heng drained the Wine in his cup in one gulp; seeing Xiao Shishi's pretty face flushed from the wine and her allure, he could not help but feel a slight warmth in his lower abdomen.

He grabbed Xiao Shishi's hand, held it to his mouth, and asked, Did you bring the stuff?

Xiao Shishi's eyes were as seductive as silk, Naturally.

Having said that, she poured a cup of Wine for Zhao Heng, dipped her fingernail into the cup, and a clump of red powder dissolved into the liquid.

Zhao Heng chuckled; due to years of wine and women, his body had long been hollowed out, and he was gradually becoming unable to keep up with his desires.

But Xiao Shishi's unique medicinal powder could always help him regain his vigor.

Draining the Wine, he picked up Xiao Shishi and walked toward the inner quarters.

Rest for two days.

The morning of the third day.

The central army set out once again, heading toward Yongzhou.

"Your Highness, the central army has set out for Yongzhou."

Weicheng.

More than a day after the central army had set out, the Scout dispatched by Yang Feng delivered the news into the hands of Zhao Xu.

"Absurd!"

Weicheng is approximately 120 kilometers away from Xian City.

If the Infantry marches, it will take at least two days to arrive.

Now that the central army is rushing on the road, the distance between the two armies will only grow wider.

"General Yang is the Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition, yet the Emperor repeatedly refuses to listen to his words, choosing instead to believe the slander of treacherous villains; this is truly beyond words." Ma Han sighed.

After a pause, he continued: "This Yongzhou is vast and sparsely populated, more than twice the size of Qinzhou; if we go any further north, it will be difficult to retreat."

Zhao Xu remained silent.

He never evaluated Zhao Heng in front of others.

In his heart, however, he had long since labeled him.

In his view, this Emperor of Great Song was not even as capable as Zhu Youjian, the emperor at the end of the Ming dynasty.

He could only be compared to Emperor Huizong of Song, who ruined the foundation of the Northern Song dynasty.

"What can be done? This bridge will still take five days to repair; by the time the entire army crosses the river, I fear the opportunity will have long since passed." Qin Shan rubbed his forehead.

"There is no other way; since you say it has passed, we can only make do with what we have." Zhao Xu frowned.

He would not let his soldiers abandon the Artillery and War Chariots to cross light and give chase.

Otherwise, if the Northern Di were to truly cross the Jin River from the north.

He would not be able to save the central army, and he feared he would not even be able to protect himself.

Therefore, no matter what, he had to continue waiting for the Weiqiao to be repaired.

At the same time, he hoped that Chang Wei could successfully take Xiao Pass, preventing reinforcements from Western Liang or the Northern Di from emerging from Xiao Pass to launch a pincer attack from the north and south, or to harass their supply lines.

Baocheng.

At this moment, the troops of the Xiao Family were still continuing to besiege this place.

Over these past days, the Xiao Family troops had launched several assaults on the city, but all were repelled by the soldiers of Ma Jin within the city.

However, the Xiao Family troops did not seem to be in a hurry, merely continuing to besiege Baocheng.

Yet at this moment, on Huangmei Mountain thirty miles away, a pair of eyes were watching all of this.

He was none other than Chang Wei.

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