The time for the five-day surrender of Shu had long passed, and Meng Chang obviously had no intention of surrendering.

Previously, the east road of the Zhou army began to set off from Suizhou on April 18, and arrived in Mianzhou on April 23, and the city of Mianzhou was surrendered on the same day; On April 23, Shi Yanchao led his troops north to march to Jianmen Pass, running for 290 miles, and suddenly arrived at Jianmen Pass on April 29.

Shu general Han Baozheng hastily gathered troops and horses to meet the battle, and the two armies fought at Hanyuanpo. Shi Yanchao personally led the heavy cavalry to break through the Shu army camp, pierced through the Shu army camp for half a mile from the center, drove straight into no one to stop, and burned the banner of the Shu army; The main general, Han Baozheng, led his soldiers to fight to the death, and was pierced through the chest by Shi Yanchao with a shot. More than 10,000 people of the Shu army were defeated, and countless surrendered people.

On the same day, Jianmen Pass was captured, the gate was wide open, and Xiang Gong Caobin successively led 40,000 troops into the pass. The defense line of the northern road of Shu has completely collapsed, and the battle of Shu has just passed two months.

When Guo Shao heard the news, the first army approached Chengdu.

……

On the Imperial City Hall of Chengdu Mansion, Meng Chang looked at the obviously many fewer people in the court than usual, and asked, "Where have some other ministers gone, why don't they go to the court?" ”

A civil official took out a stack of pieces and whispered, "Your Majesty, these are all sick. There are also concubines in the family who want to give birth to children, and those who fall on horseback and get injured ......"

Meng Chang sighed for a long time: "My Meng family has been a scholar of brocade clothes and jade food for decades, why do they want to treat me like this?" After saying that, tears flowed, and all the sparse princes of His Highness were sad.

It was cloudy, and the wind was blowing outside, pouring into the main hall and causing the curtains on both sides to swing. There was no one in the hall to speak, only the sound of the wind. Meng Chang only felt that this magnificent palace had become extremely desolate at this time, and the curtains were turbulent, as if the entire imperial city was swaying and crumbling in the wind.

Meng Chang raised his head, looked to the east and listened, and it was still so quiet...... In fact, all the news was heard from others, and I have never seen a single soldier of Zhou with my own eyes. Maybe it's all a dream, it's all fake!

But in the wind, I really heard the roar of the Jin Ge Iron Horse.

Madame Blossom persuaded him last night to disband the harem and let the palace maids go home. She said that even if she didn't let them go, she wouldn't be able to observe the festival for His Majesty, and the soldiers of the Zhou army who came over 2,000 miles would definitely indulge in the army, and they would treat this place as a big green building and wantonly insult His Majesty's wives and concubines and palace maids.

"You ......" Meng Chang was furious, ashamed and anxious, "all of them will be slaves of the country!" Your property will be robbed, and your wives and concubines will be taken to the barracks to be used as prostitutes, and the enemy will not let you go! His fingers were trembling.

The voice echoed through the empty hall, and there was an inexplicable atmosphere of fear in the echo.

He suddenly said loudly: "Fight the Zhou army in a decisive battle under the city!" Who's fighting for me? ”

No one answered, and Meng Chang was furious: "I want to drive the expedition in person!" At this time, the crowd hurriedly dissuaded, but Meng Chang shouted, "Do you think I can't lead troops?" I am the son of Gaozu......"

At this moment, a eunuch ran in and reported: "Hou Mao has come back on a single ride and is outside the palace, but his clothes and armor are not in order......

"Which Hou Mao?" Meng Chang asked.

The eunuch said: "Xingzhou defense envoy, the military general who defended Qingniling and made meritorious contributions." ”

Meng Chang seemed to remember, and said, "Pass it in." ”

After a long time, I saw a short military general walk into the main hall, this guy's armor was already tattered, it was like a ragged one, and there was still a sword hanging on his waist. Immediately, a civil official said: "Who is he, he dares to bring a sword to the palace!" ”

The eunuch said: "Li Yuanjun, you have to see clearly, that sword is the sword of Gaozu. Who would dare to take his sword? ”

Hou Mao listened, stunned to untie the sword from his waist, knelt down on the hall, held the sword with both hands, his expression looked a little wooden: "Your Majesty, this sword was given to my father by Gaozu, and my father used it to protect the people of Shu. ”

Everyone was silent.

Meng Chang said, "How did you come back?" ”

Hou Mao said: "The ministers first stood in Qingniling and waited for reinforcements, and the Zhou army swarmed to attack from many sides, and after our troops dispersed, the troops were sparse and broke through the defense line. Chen led the army to retreat, and when he heard that General Han's reinforcements had arrived in Xingzhou, he led the rest of his troops to join General Han. The general gathered troops and horses from all over the country in Xingzhou, concentrated his forces on a decisive battle with the Zhou army, and was defeated. General Han retired to the Sword Gate Pass, and the last general followed......

On April 29, the East Road of the Zhou Army actually passed through the entire land of Shu and detoured to the back of Jianmen Pass. General Han was killed in battle at Hanyuanpo. The minister was ordered to stay at Jianmen Pass, at that time most of the soldiers had fled, the Zhou army was attacked inside and outside, and the minister had nothing to do, so he had to gather people to defend at Jianmen Pass, and was defeated. The minister fell from the city into a ravine, and by luck he survived, and returned by walking the path at night. ”

Meng Chang was moved to hear this and walked down from the throne. Hou Mao hurriedly picked up his sword again.

"What military rank are you?" Meng Chang asked.

Hou Mao said: "Xingzhou defense envoy." ”

Meng Chang said: "I heard that you have made meritorious contributions, but no one has promoted you?" ”

"Liter...... What kind of official is promoted? Hou Mao hurriedly said, "The minister has no courage, my father once said that he can't learn martial arts, and he can't learn literature first; After reluctantly, he inherited his father's mantle and practiced martial arts, and he was grateful to have an official and a half-position. ”

Meng Chang said: "I have appointed you as the generalissimo of soldiers and horses, and I will fight a decisive battle for me out of the city!" ”

Hou Mao was stunned and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen...... But is the forbidden army still willing to go out of the city to set up a formation? ”

At this moment, Li Hao finally opened his mouth to persuade: "Your Majesty must not force the soldiers of the forbidden army, beware of the soldiers ...... mutiny."

…… Meng Chang didn't do anything, he didn't know what to do. After he left the court, he saw a porcelain bottle from the Tang Dynasty on the cabinet, and when he went up, he picked it up and fell to the ground, with a very terrible face: "The jade is burning!" Haha......"

Hearing this, Madame Hua Rui felt that the front hall was coming, and called, "Your Majesty is angry. ”

After a moment, he thought about the possible treatment, and his face was full of fear, and his hands and feet trembled. "Yes, it's a hundred deaths...... Meng Chang looked up at Fang Liang. Madame Hua Rui hurriedly stepped forward and persuaded: "Your Majesty, sit down and meditate for a while, there will be a way." ”

Meng Chang burst into tears, shook his head vigorously, and said, "I haven't suffered anything, and I can't stand that kind of toss." You go and find me a white silk. ”

Mrs. Hua Rui gently persuaded her and said: "Gaozu has been a country for decades, and the royal family has long been known to the world. Even if Your Majesty loses a country, as long as you endure this difficulty, you will still be a nobleman. You are of noble birth and you can't change it in your life, as long as you change your heart...... The noble status, the days of fine clothes and food, how many people in the world can't be in the ninth generation, Your Majesty think about it. ”

Meng Chang said: "I don't have the throne, what use is it to you?" ”

Mrs. Hua Rui hurriedly said: "The concubine is just sorry for Your Majesty, not for herself." The concubine is a woman, the broken flowers and willows, the concubine is just nothing, without Your Majesty, she is nothing, what else can you lose? ”

"What then?" Meng Chang was stunned.

Madame Hua Rui immediately retreated and said softly: "The concubine has found a path for Your Majesty, and she may be able to help Your Majesty a little."

The concubine helped a woman a few years ago, named Jing Niang, and she is now a close person to Guo Shao; As long as she is contacted, perhaps she will be willing to reciprocate the favor she has received in the past. Jing Niang was in the camp of the Zhou army and was difficult to contact; However, the concubine has already thought of a way, that is, to contact a woman named Wushan Bai Grandma first.

Wushan Bai Sanniang is the ex-husband of Wang Zhaoyuan's son-in-law, and the eunuchs around the concubine inquired that Wang Zhaoyuan also wanted to find a way back through Bai Sanniang. Wang Zhaoyuan finally revealed his original form, he was a courtier; It's not good to do big things, but it's a good way to make friends and drill camps. He must have a way to find Bai Sanniang.

The meaning of the concubine, His Majesty ordered Wang Zhaoyuan to bring one of our people to find Bai Sanniang; Then contact Shangjing Niang through Bai Sanniang...... Because Bai Sanniang is just the fate of Pingshui, the concubine asked her for a reward; Jingniang is more reliable, and the concubine has seen her in person. ”

Meng Chang was confused: "Twists and turns, can you speak in front of Blacksmith Guo?" Will she help you, will she help me? ”

Madame Hua Rui said: "She looks at my affection, she is helping Your Majesty; Even the concubines are helping His Majesty. We are all trying to find a way for you, all the people in this palace can only rely on Your Majesty, who are we not helping you? ”

Madame Hua Rui's eyes glistened with tears, but there was a hint of a smile: "Your Majesty still remembers the construction of the Crystal Palace for the concubines on the Mohe Pool?" No one has ever been so nice to me......"

She muttered, "I'm so scared too...... People are so scary that they may face things that are worse than death...... Several times I also wanted to die a hundred times, anyway, I have enjoyed the dignity and good life, and at this time I died to observe the festival for His Majesty, maybe I can finally ask for a name. However, for a noble person like Your Majesty, what is the gain of sacrificing his concubines? ”

She seemed to be talking, and she never said these words in front of Meng Chang, "It's all retribution, I must have been a bad person in my previous life, so I was born as a courtesan." Your Majesty has made me very noble, but...... All of this is a flower in the moon and water in the mirror, it's just a dream of Nan Ke, and he has to return it after all, and the person with a thin life will not end well. I will wither like a peony flower in Chengdu Mansion, hoping that I will use this broken body and defiled soul to atone for my sins, and the world will be peaceful when I am reincarnated in the next life......"

Meng Chang frowned: "What do you mean by this?" I don't understand, are I trying to persuade me to surrender? ”

Madame Blossom came back from her trance, gritted her teeth, looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, is there any other way to go than surrender?" Has Your Majesty figured it out, is it really going to die for the country? ”

Mrs. Hua Rui's words were very harsh, Meng Chang was stunned, touched his neck, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and seemed to be thinking about what it was like to hang himself.

"There is still a way to live, if Your Majesty wants to fight for it, surrender!" Madame Blossom said dryly. The word surrender is repeatedly emphasized and becomes extra clear.