Chapter 1448

Luoyang Beigong, Jiade Hall.

Just as Liu Bei arrived at Jiade Hall in a hurry, Grand Tutor Yuan Kui had also arrived.

Empress Dowager Dong, in a black phoenix robe, sat behind the pearl curtain.

Jian Shuo, clad in armor and carrying a sword at his waist, stood below the steps.

"Subject Liu Bei greets the Empress Dowager."

Liu Bei, who walked into the hall, came to Yuan Kui's side and then respectfully performed the kneeling and kowtowing ceremony to Dong.

Empress Dowager Dong, sitting behind the pearl curtain, lifted the sleeve of her phoenix robe and waved it gently: "So the Marquis of Linxiang has come; you may rise."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Liu Bei stood up, tidied his robes, and stood in place.

"When the Marquis of Linxiang came, you must have already known why I summoned you to the palace," Dong asked.

Liu Bei nodded.

Just outside the city, Liu Bei had already heard it from the attendant who delivered the order.

"I have heard a little about it," Liu Bei said, lowering his head.

Dong took a deep breath and said: "I have just received a report that Bingzhou Inspector Zhang Yang, because of the betrayal of Taiyuan Jun Governor Liu Wei, was captured alive and surrendered to Duan Yu, and Hanzhong Governor Su Gu also surrendered to Duan Yu."

"Jingzhao Yin Sima Fang reported that your former classmate Gongsun Zan was careless and underestimated the enemy, leading seven thousand cavalry to defy orders and leave Henei Jun to meet the enemy, encountering an ambush by Liangzhou troops outside Tianjing Pass, almost completely wiped out, and even Gongsun Zan himself was beheaded, and the White Horse Followers were completely annihilated."

Every battle report spoken from the mouth of Empress Dowager Dong made Liu Bei and Yuan Kui, who were standing in the hall, feel a few shades gloomier.

Especially when hearing the news of Gongsun Zan's death in battle, Liu Bei felt a sense of unreality.

Gongsun Zan was his former classmate and old friend, his senior fellow student.

In his early years, they studied under Lu Zhi together on Mount Gou in Luoyang, and when living in Luoyang, Liu Bei was often taken care of by Gongsun Zan.

Just outside the city, when he heard this news, Liu Bei was truly shocked.

The White Horse Followers were the elite under Gongsun Zan.

In Youzhou, they were basically invincible against the Xianbei and those grassland tribes.

Now, this was seven thousand cavalry, not seventy or seven hundred.

How could they be defeated just like that?

And they didn't even escape, they were directly beheaded.

Although the specific details were not yet known, this was enough to make Liu Bei feel surprised.

Also, Bingzhou Inspector Zhang Yang was captured alive, which was equivalent to the entire Bingzhou being almost finished.

I believe it won't be long before Bingzhou is completely conquered by Duan Yu.

And Hanzhong Jun.

Hanzhong Jun was the gateway to Yizhou.

Once Hanzhong was lost, the gateway to Yizhou was equivalent to being opened.

Duan Yu occupying Hanzhong could threaten Yizhou at any time.

The Great Han had thirteen provinces.

Last year, Duan Yu only had Liangzhou and half of Sili Captain.

If it continued at this speed, before the New Year, Duan Yu might have three provinces: Liangzhou, Bingzhou, and Yizhou.

Duan Yu started his army in March, and it had only been a month and a half since then.

But how could there be reports of defeat everywhere in this month and a half?

"Marquis of Linxiang, Grand Tutor."

Empress Dowager Dong looked at the two through the curtain and said: "It is not that I blame them for being incompetent, but Duan Yu has only been sending troops for a month and a half; is the Great Han about to have two provinces fall into his hands?"

"If he continues at this speed, by the end of the year, Duan Yu might be able to sit on the dragon chair in Luoyang for the New Year."

Liu Bei and Yuan Kui both knelt on the ground this time.

"Empress Dowager, please calm your anger."

"I am not angry; I am worried now that my mausoleum has not been completed, and when Duan Yu breaks into Luoyang, where should I be buried after I die?"

"How can the officials of the Great Han have the face to see the late Emperor and the emperors of all generations?"

"Marquis of Linxiang, I ask you." Dong looked at Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat, and he lay on the ground.

"Marquis of Linxiang, if I let you lead three hundred thousand troops to exit Hangu Pass and fight the Liangzhou Army, can you win?"

Liu Bei, who had his face pressed against the cold white marble floor, changed his expression.

If he were asked to defend the Luoyang passes and rely on the strong passes to block the Liangzhou Army, Liu Bei would still have a chance of winning.

But if he were asked to lead troops out of the pass to fight the Liangzhou Army...

To be honest, Liu Bei did not have this chance of winning.

In terms of field battle ability, in the current Great Han, if Duan Yu said he was first, no one would dare say they were second.

But if Liu Bei admitted in front of Empress Dowager Dong that he didn't dare, it would be equivalent to admitting that he was a piece of trash.

"Empress Dowager, it is not that I dare not," Liu Bei explained while lying on the ground: "It is just that the battlefield situation changes rapidly; if there is any mistake, the army will be overturned, and the eight passes of Luoyang will have no possibility of defense."

"Also, even if I luckily win, the rebels have the dangerous Hangu Pass to defend, and it will still be impossible to break through easily."

"Moreover, the army's food supply is currently insufficient; if the army goes on an expedition, food and logistics will be a burden."