Chapter 343: My Responsibilities
On the surface, Han Ruzi had three strategies to deal with the enemy, but none of them were feasible. Although he didn't say it, he knew very well in his heart that these were all desperate struggles.
Even so, he still had to struggle.
The King of the East Sea was allowed to make preparations, and he was also not allowed to leave the city without an imperial decree.
Meng E sent a guard back to remind the emperor that if they wanted to carry out the assassination mission, they had to leave the city before dawn, otherwise, it would be more difficult to succeed.
Han Ruzi put on a cloak, without a standard bearer, only a few eunuchs and guards, and went to the city again around the fourth watch.
The Huns outside the city were ready, and in the shadowy firelight, the tall siege machine was like a giant resting. Suddenly, a giant sneezed and made a loud noise.
The siege was calibrating the equipment and fired a stone bullet, its trajectory could not be seen in the dark, only the sound of the landing could be heard, and the people in the city could already feel the power of this blow.
It takes a dozen or even dozens of people to pull at the same time to launch a stone bomb. The first attempt was successful, the Huns cheered in unison, and immediately someone rode to measure the distance. How close to the city.
After that, different siege weapons were tested separately, but only one failed. The newly built shelf was overwhelmed and collapsed on the spot. The Huns were furious and forced dozens of craftsmen to run in the direction of Jincheng. They were not in a hurry behind. Chasing after the ground, occasionally bending the bow and shooting arrows, every arrow will hit.
Han Ruzi walked along the city wall for a while, and the eunuchs ran in front, reminding the soldiers not to salute, so as not to attract the attention of the Huns outside the city.
From the backs of the defenders, Han Ruzi felt an uncontrollable fear. They were not real soldiers. When they saw powerful enemies and weapons, they couldn't help but be afraid.
Han Ruzi couldn't even think of a way to boost his morale.
There are two gates in the southern city, one is the main gate, where the envoys led by the King of the East Sea are waiting inside, and the other is the side gate, where the guards hide.
Han Ruzi went to the top of the side door first, preparing to release the assassins. He at least watched them out of the city.
Liu Jie sent orders from the city.
The city gate opened a gap, and ten guards and Hua Bin filed out. To Hua Bin, this was no different from suicide, but he had no choice, and he would still die if he stayed in the city.
It was said that he wanted to see everyone, but Han Ruzi's eyes turned to the distance, without a clear goal, he just casually looked away, and soon, before the Huns officially attacked the city, he would send the King of the East Sea out to execute another suicide. Task.
If he had known that it would be so difficult to be an emperor... Han Ruzi would still choose to be emperor without hesitation. To be the real emperor, at least now he is making the choice, not being chosen by others.
"Wait, let them withdraw first." Han Ruzi said eagerly, he saw something.
While Liu Jie was still in the city, Zhang Youcai hurriedly ran to the other side and asked others to hold his legs. He leaned out from the wall and shouted to the bottom, "Come back! Your Majesty has an order, tell them to come back!"
Han Ruzi couldn't hear the sound below, only saw the guards continue to ride on horseback, and they all turned around when they were about to cross the bridge. to the expressions, but their confusion is evident.
After a while, the guards returned to the city as ordered, and the city gate closed immediately.
Meng E came to the city wall.
Han Ruzi pointed to the distance, "The Huns have sent people here."
Indeed, a group of Huns rushed out of the camp, about twenty or thirty people, and were rapidly approaching Jincheng.
"Well." Meng E didn't understand what this had to do with the assassination of King Youxian.
"They are either declaring war or negotiating, and they can make an impression on them first."
"What impression?" Meng E has always understood the emperor's thoughts, but now she is a little confused.
Han Ruzi did not explain, but said to Zhang Youcai: "Xuandong Haiwang goes to the city."
Zhang Youcai ran ahead, and Han Ruzi waved to Meng E, motioning her to follow.
The group quickly came to the top of the main gate. The King of the East Sea had just entered the city after receiving the decree, and greeted the emperor with a confused look.
Han Ruzi stood on the inner side of the city, not to be seen outside the city, and said to the King of the East Sea: "The Huns have sent messengers here, you go to receive them, and find a way to make them think that something big has happened in the city."
"A major event... oh." The King of the East Sea came to understand, "Then Your Majesty should not stay here, His Majesty is watching from behind, I don't feel right."
Han Ruzi took people down the city, Meng E also understood the emperor's plan, and returned the same way, still hiding behind the side door, quietly waiting for the opportunity.
If the Huns can be convinced that the emperor was killed, Meng E and others' assassination plan may have a higher chance of success.
Han Ruzi was waiting under the city, and a hope rose in his heart. As time passed, this hope quickly declined. Even if the Huns believed that the emperor had been assassinated, they would not easily believe the people of Chu. Meng E and others were still like sheep. The tiger's mouth will only anger the Right Xian King even more.
The entourage of the King of the East Sea hurried down, knelt in front of the emperor, and said, "The King of the East Sea invites His Majesty to go to the city."
Han Ruzi was stunned for a moment. The task of the East Sea King was to fabricate lies. But he still walked towards the head of the city, there must be a reason for the King of the East Sea to do so.
The King of the East Sea came up to us, surprised, "It's the messenger of Da Chanyu, who really came to talk about peace."
"Da Chanyu's messenger just left..."
"It seems that Da Chanyu is not worried about King Youxian, so he sent a group of messengers just in time. This messenger is also someone your Majesty knows."
The King of the East Sea looked a little weird, Han Ruzi walked to the city wall and looked out.
There were more than 20 envoys from the Huns, and the first one turned out to be a woman.
"Is the Great Chu Emperor in the city?" the woman asked in the Central Plains dialect.
It's really golden.
Han Ruzi was stunned for a while, then nodded to the eunuch beside him, Zhang Youcai said loudly, "Your Majesty is here, I am Zhang Youcai, does Miss Jin still remember me?"
Jin Chuiduo seemed to nod his head, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the Huns will not attack the city today, and will retreat immediately. After an hour, please leave the city for peace talks, ten miles away from the city and fifteen miles away from the Huns camp. Fang is only allowed to bring two people."
"Wait." Han Ruzi said, but Jin Chuiduo didn't want to say more, turned the horse's head and led the people away.
"What does she mean? Just a few words to deceive His Majesty out of the city?" The King of the East Sea had to explain himself, "I hinted to her, but she didn't believe it at all. She said she knew the emperor was alive..."
"Wait, if the Huns really retreat, I can go out of the city to negotiate."
"It's too risky!"
"Someone has to take risks." Han Ruzi looked into the distance, "Go get someone to prepare three good horses, Wang He, follow me out of the city and call Meng E."
The negotiating parties brought two people each, and Han Ruzi chose Wang He and Meng E.
Wang He was just the head of the guards, so he didn't dare to say anything else, so he went to Meng E immediately. After a moment's hesitation, the King of the East Sea also went down to find someone to arrange horses.
The Huns still showed no sign of retreating, the tall siege machines still stood in place, and a large number of cavalry guarded the front.
It was already bright, but the Huns still did not move.
The King of the East Sea came back and brought a large number of generals. Cai Xinghai and Fan Zangshan climbed to the city with injuries and did not say anything, and knelt behind the emperor with the other generals.
The Huns in the distance finally responded. The siege machine was still there, but the cavalry began to turn around, but they walked slowly, as if they were reluctant, and seemed to be waiting for a turnaround.
Han Ruzi turned around and faced the generals, just as he was about to speak, the civil servants who got the news also ran from both sides, and also knelt down without saying a word.
"In front of the great enemy, when one of you is required to stand up, has anyone ever refused? I inherited the great cause of my ancestors as a virtuous person, resisted the enemy, defended the land, and sheltered the people. It is my duty. When the Huns attacked the city , You are the soldiers first, the common people first, it is also my turn to be the ministers first. You are equal, please perform your duties, if the negotiation does not go well, there will still be a battle today. "
Civil and military officials did not speak, did not stand up, and some people cried out loudly. If it is normal, this is a custom, but at this moment, it is somewhat sincere.
Han Ruzi still didn't care, he turned around again and looked out, the Huns were really retreating, and the siege device had no time to dismantle, and was left alone in the same place.
"If there is still going to be a war, none of those things outside the city can be left behind. Fan Zangshan and Cai Xinghai, the two of you will distribute them later."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The two of them crawled on the ground. Although they were all injured, they didn't say a word.
"Get up." Han Ruzi said again, "The officials of Great Chu cannot kneel to defend the city."
Only then did everyone stand up one by one, and the civil servants put on one or two pieces of armor over their robes, which looked nondescript enough to make the ceremonial officials shake their heads, but it didn't matter at this time.
Han Ruzi walked in front of several scholars, who accompanied them as advisers. After Jincheng was besieged, their role was not as good as that of ordinary soldiers. Only Shan Mingzhong once proposed to change the recruitment of civilians to military recruitment.
Shan Mingzhong was still very young, only in his twenties. Han Ruzi had an impression of this person, so he stood in front of this scholar and said, "Wenzhi and Wugong, your responsibilities are not here, I have thousands of them. First, the Great Chu will not die, military generals are loyal to the battlefield, and literati are loyal to guard the Chao Gang, after the city is broken, you must do everything possible to return to the capital, pass on my will, and urge the ministers to establish a new monarch as soon as possible."
The readers all knelt down again and wept bitterly.
Han Ruzi said to Wang He, "Assign a bodyguard to each of them."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Han Ruzi turned to the other accompanying civil servants, "Everyone..."
"The ministers and others were ordered to change into military uniforms. Today, they are all military generals. Apart from dying in battle, they have nothing else to do," said a minister.
"Nothing else." The officials said in unison.
Han Ruzi finally looked at Liu Jie, Zhang Youcai and other eunuchs, pondered for a long time, and said, "If anything happens, you can follow me."
The eunuchs bowed and took this as their own glory.
"Bring a pen and paper." Han Ruzi said.
The eunuchs carried these things with them. Immediately, some people held small cases, some people spread paper and ink, and Han Ruzi wrote down an imperial decree. He couldn't just let the scholars escape back to the capital, he had to give them some proof.
Liu Jie took out the treasure seal, which Han Ruzi put on the imperial decree. After folding it, he did not know who to give it to. This is a backup imperial decree in case, and it cannot be handed over to the scholar right now.
East Sea King? Han Ruzi didn't trust him to this point.
While hesitating, Cui Teng ran up out of breath and said stunned: "Everyone is here, why is no one calling me?"
Having found the right person, Han Ruzi turned around again and looked outside the city. The Huns retreated a little faster. Someone was setting up a temporary tent on the road ten miles away from the city.
Jin Chuiduo may be credible, but can she deter King Youxian and let him watch the peace talks without attacking?