The attack and defense of Liyang was fierce until the 24th, and it was so fierce that Meng Yishan had to personally put on armor to boost morale.

Extravagant Feihu secretly dispatched dozens of elite archers to shoot under the city, and Meng Yishan was unfortunately shot in the cheek by a stray arrow, so he did not rush to the ground at that time and grabbed the head of the city for his subordinates.

The life and death of the main general were unknown, and the generals of the Hanghu Army were relieved, and finally gave the luxury Feihu a blow to capture the southern city.

Thousands of soldiers of the Hanghu Army abandoned the city and fled from the north gate that was not encircled, and encountered ambushes at the southeast foot of Maoshan Mountain, and finally it was difficult to escape the devastating blow.

Liyang is not far from Jiangning, but because the Zhejiang-Fujian army occupied Liyang at the western foot of Maoshan as early as the 21st, in just a few days, the scouts infiltrated the area east of Maoshan, and the news of Liyang's defeat dragged on for a day to reach Jiangning.

The 30,000 soldiers and horses of the Zhejiang-Fujian Middle Route Army led by Tian Chang and Hao Feihu, and tens of thousands of people, took advantage of the wet soil to freeze the cold on the night of the capture of Liyang, that is, they pulled out the camp from Liyang and marched north to Jiangning.

Jinshan Zhixian in the southwest of Jiangning abandoned the city and fled, and the outpost of the Zhejiang-Fujian army was captured without much effort.

On the 25th, which was also the day when Gao Zongting secretly arrived in Jiangning, and it was also the day when Wang Xueshan secretly played Huaidong to pick up King Lu's military camp, about 60,000 soldiers and horses of the two armies of the middle and right wings of the Zhejiang-Fujian army approached within a hundred miles of Jiangning from the southeast and southwest.

In the Wenhua Palace, it was reported that Liyang was lost, Meng Yishan's life and death were unknown, Chen Xiyan was also like being beaten, stunned on the spot, sorrow welled up from his heart, and couldn't help but cry, on his thin cheeks, he knelt on the hall, and his forehead knocked on the sound of "bang", and said: "The minister's loyalty to the court can be seen from the sun and the moon, if the emperor wants to leave Beijing, the society is still there, and the imperial family is difficult to survive!" Although Chen Xiyan's voice was hoarse, it was deafening.

Yongxing Emperor Yuan Jianwu was shocked by the news of the loss of Liyang, but when he heard Chen Xiyan's words, his eyes turned green, and he scolded without words: "You old horseman, dare to curse the clan, are you not afraid of your crime of bullying the king?" ”

Zhang Yan, Zuo Chengmu, and Cheng Yuqian knelt down in a panic to persuade and said: "The emperor is angry, Chen Xiang is also sincere, and he is in a hurry...... Wang Xueshan was also forced to kneel down and plead with Chen Xiyan at this time.

"Kneel down!" Yuan Jianwu resisted the anger in his heart and wanted to drive Chen Xiyan out, but he was already annoyed by Chen Xiyan in his heart. If it weren't for the fact that Jiangning's situation was inseparable from Chen Xiyan, he couldn't wait to give Chen Xiyan to die on the spot.

Chen Xiyan knocked his head and banged, Zhang Yan was afraid to signal to the eunuch of the Yellow Gate next to him and let them take Chen Xiyan out, in case Chen Xiyan admonished him to death, the whole situation would be out of control at all.

The blood on his forehead flowed into his eyelids, and his vision was blurred, Chen Xiyan was dizzy and helped out, and rushed Wang Tian and Yu Xinyuan into the palace in a hurry.

Chen Xiyan went back to the political hall to smear his wounds and sit for a long time, but he didn't see the emperor calling. Dizzy and disheartened, Chen Xiyan did not care about how the emperor discussed with everyone in the Wenhua Palace, and asked the staff Wang Yue to prepare a carriage and send him back to the house to rest first, still hoping that the emperor would not be stupid enough to really take a step out of abandoning the city and fleeing, and he was still sad for the fall of the Hanghu Army.

Meng Yishan may be suspected of being greedy for merit, but if it weren't for Chen Xiyan's appointment, it would be impossible for him to enter Beijing alone.

As long as Meng Yishan does not enter Jiangning City, the Hanghu Army can follow the example of the Jiangzhou Army and stay on the periphery for the time being, without rushing to block the front of the Zhejiang-Fujian Army and bury it.

The carriage stopped, Chen Xiyan thought he was home, and he lifted the curtain and was just about to come down, only to find that the carriage was parked on the street, and there was a person standing on the street, dizzy, his eyesight was greatly affected, and he couldn't see it clearly.

"It's the old man Zeng." Staff Wang Yue said in Chen Xiyan's ear.

"Grandpa Zeng, please get in the car." Chen Xiyan also had doubts in his heart and needed to ask Zeng Mingxin for advice, and when he saw that he took the initiative to block in front of the car, he asked him to get in the car.

Zeng Mingxin was full of white hair, and there were no servants with him, with the support of Wang Yue, he climbed into the carriage with difficulty, sat down opposite Chen Xiyan, looked at each other, and was silent for a long time.

"The old man has a clear view of the world, and he dares to ask the old man, does Huaidong have any different aspirations?" In the end, it was Chen Xiyan who broke the silence and asked this taboo topic.

Wang Yue, who was sitting on the wheel of the car and driving instead of the coachman, was secretly frightened when he heard this, he didn't know the details of the Wenhua Palace's court dispute, but listening to Chen Xiang talk to Zeng Mingxin about this sensitive topic so unabashedly, he could also know that the situation had reached the most critical moment.

The critical situation is not only that the rebels of Zhejiang and Fujian are about to march under the city, but also the will to defend the city inside and outside the court is on the verge of collapse.

"If Jiangning can hold the moon, Huaidong will have different ambitions; If Jiangning collapses in an instant, if Huaidong has no different aspirations, but what about the people in the world? Zeng Mingxin said.

Wang Yue listened with emotion outside the car curtain, and said in his heart: After the luxury family lost Mindong, they have become trapped beasts, and they can only gamble on the last fight in Jiangning. After the Zhejiang-Fujian army seized Huizhou, it stopped at Ningguo, which was to lure reinforcements to come from afar and attack it. The Huaidong army came in a hurry, and even if it won, it would be a crushing victory. As long as Jiangning City is not lost, the Huaidong Army is slowly approaching from the left flank, and the Jiangzhou Army is slowly approaching from the right flank, and the vast area from Yishan to the north to Jiangning City is a big trap for the Zhejiang-Fujian army. Even if the luxury family gets grain from Huizhou, it can support it for half a year, but the morale and morale of the army will definitely not be able to support the storming of Jiangning for a month.

When the Zhejiang-Fujian army became a tired army under the city of Jiangning, the Huaidong army and the Jiangzhou army joined forces to attack it, and the victory or defeat was self-evident.

It was also based on this that Wang Yue persuaded Chen Xiyan to invite the Hanghu Army to enter Jiangning to assist in the defense, but he did not expect that it was his own proposal that caused Meng Yishan and the main force of the Hanghu Army to cover Liyang.

As Zeng Lao Guogong said, as long as Jiangning is not lost, Huaixi has Dong Yuan, Jiangzhou has Yue Lengqiu, and Jinghu has Hu Wenmu, Huaidong will endure even if there is dissent.

The situation has developed to this point, and Wang Yue is only frustrated, disappointed, and lost in his heart, and his ambition to assist Chen Xiang's career has long been gone.

"Since the old prince said so, why did he stay in Jiangning City?" Chen Xiyan asked.

Lin Jian ran Huaidong Qianzhuang and came to Jiangning to raise money, and Mu Guogong was the first to respond among the powerful people in the city. Even if some hidden secrets are not known to outsiders, Chen Xiyan and Wang Yue can affirm Zeng Mingxin's position of supporting Huaidong.

"The Zeng family has also been favored by the imperial family for generations, and Jiangning is falling apart, and there are always people who will be martyred for it. The old man's old bones can no longer be used in other fields, so he came to be a companion to Chen Xiang! Zeng Mingxin said calmly.

"Has the news of the Wenhua Palace been spread?" Chen Xiyan asked abruptly.

"It's all over the city!" Zeng Mingxin said.

Wang Yue is also a stranger, the matter of the Wenhua Palace's court fight was originally a secret discussion, and it was even known all over the city in a small half a day.

Then all the people in the Wenhua Palace, someone must have been bought by the luxury family, so who will it be? Although Cheng Yuqian and Zuo Chengmu are selfish, they are not like the eunuchs in the palace who do not have such great ability, is it Wang Xueshan?

Wang Xueshan is present in every stinky chess move taken by Jiang Ning, but he can't figure it out, what is the benefit of Wang Xueshan being a household secretary, selling it to a luxury family? Even if the luxury family captures Jiangning, it will be difficult to defend it for a long time under the siege of the Jiangzhou army and the Huaidong army, and the luxury family should seek Jiangxi. What benefits can Wang Xueshan get from the luxury family? Could it be that Wang Xueshan has the handle to fall into the hands of luxury families?

Wang Yue shook his head, even if he had doubts at this time, there was no way to trace it at this time, and Emperor Yongxing fundamentally no longer trusted Chen Xiang, and said secretly: The situation has developed to this point, even if Emperor Yongxing is determined to stay, he will not be able to save the turmoil in the army's heart.

"The emperor doesn't want to go, and no one pushes him to leave; The emperor wants to leave, Chen Xiang, you can't keep your old nose, and the more you stay, the more you become an enemy," Zeng Mingxin said sadly, "No matter who spreads the news of Wenhua Palace, the matter is irreparable, and Chen Xiang can complain about Huaidong and take it?" ”

Chen Xiyan was speechless and burst into tears, and said: "This is a great country, this is a great society!" "I only felt angina, and I couldn't speak.

When it was about to fall into the night, the rebel outpost had reached the south of the city outside the Wangshan Gate, and the whole city was terrified.

The palace sent people to invite him twice, but knowing that Emperor Yongxing's mind did not change, Chen Xiyan was disheartened and turned away the ministers in the palace twice, until Zhang Yan came over in person, and did not let him in.

"The luxury family has Jiangning, which is not long-lasting, patrolling Huaixi, there is still something to do!" Zhang Yan persuaded hard.

"Jiangning always needs someone to stay, if the emperor still trusts the old man, the old man still has a head to offer," Chen Xi said decisively, "Wang Xueshan and Wang Tian persuaded the emperor to go to Huaixi, then let them go to Huaixi, the old man is waiting for them under Jiuquan!" ”

Zhang Yan still felt a chill in his heart when he heard Chen Xiyan's words, seeing that he had made up his mind, it was difficult to persuade him, and besides, the emperor didn't really want Chen Xiyan to go to Huaixi with him, and Jiangning always had to leave someone to clean up the mess.

Although Wang Xueshan said that he was familiar with the situation in Jiangning, and the emperor went to Huaixi, Jiangning was not irretrievable, but Zhang Yan also knew that even if there was no conclusive evidence, he would never let something that might be cheap for Wang Xueshan happen.

"Is the emperor going to Rujiangmen?" Zeng Mingxin asked.

Zhang Yan's face showed hesitation.

"Phew!" Zeng Mingxin said angrily, "The old man really shouldn't ask this question, go east to Weiyang, why aren't you afraid that the 20,000 soldiers and horses of the Huaidong Navy will come to 'greet you'; In addition to going west to Luzhou or Chizhou by going against the river in Rujiangmen, what choice can you have? The old man is really stupid, and this extra question will arouse suspicion! Bah! ”

Wang Yue sneered in his heart, Mu Guogong was determined to die, at this time, thinking of the old relationship of the clan, he had all kinds of unbearable feelings in his heart, and he asked more questions, thinking of showing the emperor a way to live, but he gave Zhang Yan's hesitation to be buried.

When Lin Jian first ran a money bank, Mu Guogong took out a large amount of silver, and his vision was accurate, and he should have a deep understanding of Huaidong.

Mu Guogong asked this question, did he guess that Huaidong would meet him halfway?

Zhang Yan was ashamed, and he had no face to ask Zeng Mingxin for advice, so he bowed and retired.

Soon the edict appointing Chen Xiyan as Jiangning's stay was sent to the palace, but it did not specify the time when Emperor Yongxing left Jiangning with his officials.

Although Emperor Yongxing went to Huaixi to patrol the hunt, although he only conveyed a secret decree to officials above the fifth rank and ordered him to accompany him, the news soon spread all over the streets. Even if there is no mole making waves, it is impossible to hide the news by this time.

The people who had a little head and face were in a hurry to pack up their furniture and flee Jiangning, and there was a mess in the city, and no one had the heart to clean it up.

A large number of guards at the head of the city fled, and even the Jiangning Navy that escorted the patrol also had a large number of deserters; The armor was thrown all over the streets, and they all felt that it was easier to escape by mixing in with millions of people.

For a while, the people in Jiangning City were panicked and completely chaotic.

Chen Xiyan barely cheered up, Zeng Mingxin and Wang Yue accompanied him to inspect the city, and some loyal soldiers followed, barely stabilizing the situation in the city, but there were people robbing, raping, and killing people everywhere in the city, as if it was the last madness, standing at the head of the city and seeing that more than a dozen places in the city were on fire, and the yamen squad was completely paralyzed.

At dawn, there was a faint light of fire in the sky, and it seemed that a larger outpost of the rebels was approaching the periphery of Jiangning, and at this time, there was also a group of men and horses in the direction of Miyagi holding torches and marching towards the naval garrison in the Rujiang Gate.

The emperor is out of the palace - Chen Xiyan knelt down towards the fire and bowed three times, which was regarded as a trip for the emperor.

Chen Xiyan stood up, looked at the team of people who came out of the palace at the head of the city, felt sad and reluctant, and asked Zeng Mingxin again: "Old Guogong, at this time, you tell me the truth, will Huaidong meet me halfway?" ”

Although the main force of the Huaidong Navy was still far from Jiangning City, and only a small number of troops from the outpost entered the prison island outside the mouth of the Jinchuan River, it was uncertain that Huaidong had any other back-ups; It may also be that Lin Tingli had already received a letter and led the army to meet him in the south of Luzhou.

Even at this moment, even if he knew that the emperor's trip to Huaixi was irreparable, Chen Xiyan still hoped that the emperor would enter Shouzhou smoothly.

Although Huaixi is headed by Dong Yuan, Liu Tingzhou, Tao Chun, Xiao Kuian, and Yuan Hancheng, the king of Chu, all have power, so it is still possible for the emperor to gather forces loyal to the imperial family in Huaixi.

"Stupid, stupid!" Zeng Mingxin hated iron and scolded, "If Huaidong doesn't welcome him, will Dong Yuan or Yue Lengqiu really have the strength to contain him?" It's stupid! It's stupid! ”

"What?" Chen Xiyan asked in surprise, "Even if the emperor is allowed to go to Huaixi, Huaidong still has a backup strategy?" ”

"Gao Zongting is in Jiangning, Chen Xiang will see him or not?" Zeng Mingxin said.

"What can Lin Tie do, the general trend has gone, unless Huaidong can become 20,000 elite soldiers here!" Chen Xiyan said in frustration. The front of the rebel army was less than thirty or forty miles away from this side, and the morale of the troops in the four cities of Jiangning was fluctuating, and there were many generals who fled without permission, and it was difficult for Chen Xiyan to stop him with his personal prestige. As long as the emperor goes out of the city with the navy, I am afraid that he will not be able to hold on for half a quarter longer, and the Huaidong soldiers and horses will not be able to catch up even if they have wings.

Chen Xiyan didn't believe that Gao Zongting could change anything if he entered Jiangning alone.