Chapter 343: The Millennium Ancient City

A large enemy force?

The Liangzhou Army became alert in an instant.

Within these Shu roads, if a large-scale battle were to occur, it would be the most fatal thing for them. In fact, throughout this journey, Qin Zhangfeng had been worrying about this...

If at this moment, that Xie Yang in Shuzhou City were bolder and sent his thirty thousand Imperial Guards, pouring out in full force to ambush the Liangzhou Army on these Shu roads.

The Liangzhou Army would certainly suffer heavy losses.

However...

It was clear that Xie Yang did not have such a desperate, all-or-nothing mindset. This fellow who had just proclaimed himself the Shu King only wanted to rely on the sturdy city defenses of Shuzhou and turtle up inside Shuzhou City.

Therefore.

He lost a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity to turn defeat into victory.

"Over a thousand enemy troops!"

The scouts in front came to report again.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; a thousand-odd people were not much of a problem.

Yet, what happened next left the highly tense Liangzhou Army feeling both amused and annoyed. These thousand people were not here to ambush them at all, but to defect to them!

Zhong Lin was dumbfounded.

Because these thousand people were all Imperial Guards who had run out of Shuzhou City, as the uniforms they wore were all standard-issue for the Imperial Guards.

Moreover, Zhong Lin actually recognized the person leading them.

"Old Niu?"

Qin Zhangfeng had also met this person.

It was that general who had gone to Liangzhou to seek reinforcements, named Niu Guishan.

Upon seeing Qin Zhangfeng, Niu Guishan looked sorrowful and knelt down with a thud: "General Qin, save Chuan Shu! That Xie Yang is mad, he has already gone mad!"

The other Imperial Guards were also filled with righteous indignation.

Qin Zhangfeng helped Niu Guishan up, and only then did he learn that this time, when Xie Yang sought reinforcements from the Southern Barbarians, the Prefects of the cities between Jiangzhou and Shuzhou had all cleared the way.

This move caused a huge uproar in Shu.

First, it had been confirmed that the Southern Barbarians who had slaughtered Jiangzhou for two months were colluded with by this Xie Yang. Therefore—the death of the Old Shu King could not be separated from Xie Yang. This was already equivalent to patricide!

And then.

Xie Zhen, who was over on the Yinzhou fleet, also issued a Declaration of War, angrily denouncing Xie Yang for colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, and for hunting down him, the legitimate heir; this was equivalent to fratricide!

Patricide and fratricide!

Intolerable by Heavenly Principle!

At this time, the emotions of the people of Shu naturally underwent a drastic change. And no matter how loyal these Imperial Guards were, they still possessed a basic sense of right and wrong.

Niu Guishan was someone who had been to Liangzhou, so he naturally knew the strength of the Liangzhou Army. Therefore, this time, he did not hesitate to bring his group of brothers to defect to Qin Zhangfeng, seeking only a way to survive.

Qin Zhangfeng was overjoyed: "General Niu, are you familiar with the defensive fortifications of Shuzhou?"

Niu Guishan laughed loudly: "If I weren't, how would I dare to come and defect? General Qin, rest assured, I have already prepared a City Defense Map. Someone, bring it to the General!"

The Liangzhou Army was extremely delighted.

Niu Guishan presented the City Defense Map, and Qin Zhangfeng took a careful look, immediately taking a deep breath and sighing: "This Shuzhou City is truly a wall of bronze and iron!"

Everyone nodded in succession.

This matter is something that anyone who has played Three Kingdoms games would know. For instance, the Chengdu City in "Dynasty Warriors" is the Shuzhou of this time. Not only is the entire city almost on a mountain, but the mountain roads are also guarded layer by layer, with strict security. The military defenses are among the best.

Without hundreds of thousands of troops, you wouldn't even be able to see the city gates.

How could one talk of laying siege?

Niu Guishan smiled bitterly: "General Qin, if you wish to take Shuzhou within two days, there is almost no hope. I suggest we plan it slowly. However, once the Southern Barbarian army arrives at Shuzhou, it will be even more difficult."

The others looked at each other in dismay.

Looking at it this way, let alone this army of sixty-five thousand, even with three or four hundred thousand, it would be difficult to take it in two days.

"Xie Yang has put out the word that even if General Qin grew wings, he wouldn't be able to break in."

Niu Guishan sighed.

Upon hearing this, the generals of the Liangzhou Army all burst into laughter.

Qin Zhangfeng also smiled: "Is that so? Then this time, the Liangzhou Army will grow wings and show him, Xie Yang, a good look!"

Niu Guishan was completely confused.

The group laughed heartily.

Zhong Lin also did not know why Qin Zhangfeng was so confident. Because the Glider equipped to the Liangzhou Army by Liu Zheng had not actually been revealed to the world at this time. The three thousand people who had been bombed from the air by the Southern Barbarians had all turned into ashes and flowed into the rivers.

No one knew what Qin Zhangfeng's secret weapon for attacking Shuzhou was this time.

"Set off!"

With Niu Guishan's City Defense Map, Qin Zhangfeng was immediately full of confidence.

Finally, half a day later.

The army of sixty-five thousand arrived at the foot of the city.

Looking from afar at the towering Shuzhou City, Qin Zhangfeng narrowed his eyes slightly. The reason was none other than that this Shuzhou City had endured a thousand years of war, and its defensive fortifications had been reinforced again and again, year after year; after so many years, it had almost become a steel fortress.

If one were to really attack the city in the traditional way.

It is feared that even an army of hundreds of thousands would be in vain.

This was also the first large city the Liangzhou Army had encountered.

It was even more towering than the previous Hanzhong City.

The weather in Chuan Shu was very foggy.

Standing on the watchtower at this moment, he could barely see the entire Shuzhou City, having a feeling of "only in this mountain, the clouds are deep and I know not where." However, from Niu Guishan's mouth, he learned that the number one talented woman of Shu, Pei Yanran, seemed to be in those clouds and mists at this moment, gazing at him longingly...

Yes, she is not dead.

She has been protected by the people of Chuan Shu. They are protecting this fairy, and they are also gathering; she has found a strong reinforcement in Qin Zhangfeng.

This is a situation that surprises Qin Zhangfeng very much.

Likewise, as he looks at Shuzhou City in the clouds at this moment, his heart, which is like steel, seems to instantly turn into soft, yielding silk.

Yanran...

Are you looking at me too?

At this moment.

Cheng Kai has already arranged the matters of the army's encampment, following exactly the Art of War he has studied thoroughly.

Afterwards, he comes behind Qin Zhangfeng and smiles: "General Qin, sister-in-law is still in the city; our attack should be sooner rather than later!"

Qin Zhangfeng blushes slightly and coughs dryly: "How is the weather?"

Cheng Kai smiles slightly: "Tomorrow morning, the fog will gradually thin; the brothers have long been unable to hold back!"

Qin Zhangfeng's eyes light up: "Good! Pass down the order, rest for the night, attack the city tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

"General Qin has arrived!"

"The Liangzhou Army has arrived!"

"That's great!"

At this moment.

In Shuzhou City, everyone is running around telling each other the news.

No matter how the Imperial Guards suppress it, this news still spreads rapidly, and everyone is weeping with joy.

Such a situation is rare.

When troops from other places arrive, the local commoners are actually this ecstatic.

It is truly because this Xie Yang is so unpopular and muddle-headed.

"Has he come?"

Hearing this, Pei Yanran goes up to her high tower again, joyfully and excitedly tilting her head to look at the peak of the clouds.

It is good that he has come.

It is good that he has come.

Shall Yanran play a tune for you?

Shu Wang Mansion.

"Do not worry, Shu Wang, that Qin Zhangfeng is merely a mediocre person! At this time, he only dares to camp on the mountain and does not dare to advance an inch!"

"Exactly, if he truly had the intention to attack the city, he would have started setting up formations long ago!"

A group of civil and military officials laugh heartily, full of confidence.

Xie Yang also snorts coldly: "Therefore, they are just a bunch of good-for-nothings! Come, come, let us continue our drinking!"

The crowd roars their agreement.

In their view, Shuzhou is a fortress that has rarely been breached in so many years. Even during the Three Kingdoms period, if it were not for Liu Shan leaving the city to surrender, the Wei army could not have taken Yizhou so easily. After so many years have passed, the city of Shuzhou has become even more solid; the Liangzhou Army is fighting a long-distance campaign and is exhausted, so what can they do to Shuzhou?

However.

Just as great chaos has already arisen in this Zhongyuan land and within Chuan Shu.

No one knows.

At this moment, in the Western Regions, a fierce argument is unfolding at the court of the Dayuan Kingdom.

"Your Majesty! This time the Liangzhou main force has moved south, leaving their strength empty; this is definitely the best time for our Dayuan Kingdom to launch an expedition!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! We must seize this opportunity!"

"Your Majesty..."

Almost all the ministers, all the civil and military officials, kneel to offer their Admonishment.

Xie Xuan looks at this group of people coldly.

Watching the righteous indignation of this group, he suddenly feels that he has grown old... Yes, ever since the great battle of Yanqi, where he directly lost two hundred thousand soldiers, he has felt that he has lost his spirit. This situation actually stems from the fact that he has no sense of belonging to the Western Regions.

All his life, he has always thought about how to fight back to Longyan, to fight his way back.

Here, he can never find the feeling of home; he has always believed that the Western Regions are not the orthodox land. He is a dignified descendant of the Longyan Dynasty royal family; why is he playing house with this bunch of barbarians every day?

Therefore.

Rather than saying he is still the King of this Dayuan Kingdom, it is better to say that he has long placed all his hopes on Xie Chan.

He smiles coldly: "Do you esteemed ministers believe that without the Liangzhou Army, you can shake the Western Regions Construction Corps?"

The crowd still wants to speak.

Xie Xuan laughs heartily and waves his hand: "Since that is the case, then I shall grant you the right to wage war! Go, let me see how much ability you have!"

The crowd is overjoyed.

In fact, these people have long felt that Dayuan is empty, and these Governors who were once suppressed by Xie Xuan naturally have their minds becoming active.

If you are no longer capable, why should we still listen to you?

The Jingjue Kingdom, Qiuci, Wusun, Gumo, and other various kingdoms are already sharpening their blades at this moment.

Without the Liangzhou Army, what can the Western Regions Construction Corps do?

Do it!

These people, having received Xie Xuan's approval, ran off without stopping to rest.

Seize the time and get to work!

No one expected it.

These Governors, like wild horses unbridled.

Had actually not yet dispatched troops to Yanqi, but had started fighting among themselves first. Because after the Governor of Qiuci, Wu Kaiti, was dealt with by a Night Walker, this great power of the Western Regions, Qiuci, fell into internal chaos, with several generals and several Princes fighting in a tangle. When the nearby Kingdom of Jingjue saw this, they also wanted to get involved.

Wusun saw this and thought, you actually want to carve up Qiuci?

How could this not involve me? Troops and horses arrived directly at Qiuci.

It was chaos.

Once Xie Xuan stopped managing things, the Northern Western Regions all fell into chaos.

This left even Xie Xuan feeling between laughter and tears.

A bunch of good-for-nothings!

A bunch of people without foresight!

Because of this.

Ling Chen was delighted.