When traveling west, Mao Yuxuan led the way by Huang Junhan, took the lead in crossing the river, rushed to Bai Simaban to visit Pei Hongce, and inquire about the military information of the Eastern Capital.

Jia Lan commanded the imperial guards to cross the river overnight and must meet Pei Hongce before dawn.

Pei Hongce was defeated in the first battle. Two Eagle Yanglang generals and two Eagle Killer generals turned against each other. The twelve regiments of the palace "fall" towards Yang Xuangan. Because the incident suddenly happened, they could not handle it. In the process of retreating in panic, the army had to abandon a large amount of weapons and supplies.

On the evening of the 12th, Pei Hongce retreated to Bai Simaban and defended the dangerous situation. Yang Xuanting commanded the army to attack overnight. By midnight, the battle situation reversed again. One Wu Ben Lang, two Wu Ya Lang, three Ying Yang Lang, and three Eagle Fighter Generals "turned over". The overall strength of the eighteen regiments "turned" towards Yang Xuangan, and the strength of both sides suddenly subverted. Pei Hongce was in a mess and retreated quickly with the remaining ten regiments, and all weapons and supplies were lost.

At the 13th hour, Pei Hongce withdrew to the Baosha Temple, which is Baosha Temple, to beat drums to reorganize the army, and then set up battle formations. However, his morale was lost, his morale was lost, and he was unable to fight again. According to the military rules, when he retreated to Dongdu at this time, he either moved his head or was entrusted with the border guard. The best result was to get rid of the people. Therefore, for the soldiers, they either fought to the death or surrendered, and had no other choice. As for escape, they didn't have to think about it. This is where Dongdu is located, and it was a time of war. Where can I escape? There is no way to heaven and no way to enter the ground, and there is only a way to die.

The strength comparison between the two sides has been subverted. Fighting is definitely death, and escaping is definitely death. Then only surrender. Since you surrender, it is better to turn against each other. It can be foreseeable that after dawn, this army will no longer exist. Once Dongdu loses this army, the palace city and the imperial city north of Luoshui will be directly under the attack of the rebels, and Dongdu will be in danger every now and then.

Pei Hongce was helpless and fell into despair. At this moment, Dongcao reported that someone had come to the Heyang Duwei Mansion. Heyang Dugu Wudu had no soldiers in his hands, and there was very little hope of defending Hanoi. At this time, people were sent suddenly, and there must be something wrong with Hanoi. Could it be that Li Yang's rebels came to kill him when the customs clearance was lost? If so, Dongdu was attacked from both sides and the loss was a foregone conclusion.

The more Pei Hongce thought about it, the more pessimistic he became. His slightly thin body seemed to be unable to bear it and became more hunched. The wrinkles on his forehead became deeper and his face was dim and had nothing to do with it. Even his gray hair seemed to have signs of white hair overnight.

The curtain was lifted up, and immediately after the Dong Cao official, three officers with armor were walking in one after another. Pei Hongce's eyes suddenly widened, and he was disbelief. He followed Hui Yan to make joy, and a smile of joy appeared on his dark and heavy face.

"I will participate in the Jianming Gong at the end!"

Traveling west and Mao Yuxuan were very excited, and knelt down on one knee and worshiped together.

"Get up, get up quickly!"

Pei Hongce stepped forward, leaned over to support each other, and looked quite close.

This action surprised Pei Hongce's Dong Cao Officer, and even Huang Junhan, who was standing behind the westward journey and Mao Yuxuan, was shocked.

Huang Junhan didn't know the true identities of these two northwestern people. He walked along the way and rushed, and had no communication with each other, and in fact he couldn't communicate. Both sides were speechless. The northwestern people were particularly cautious and did not say a word. But suddenly, these two burly men met Pei Hongce, the administrator of the capital of the capital, which was too unexpected. Huang Junhan was stunned for a moment, but he woke up quickly and saluted Pei Hongce respectfully.

Pei Hongce seemed to have disappeared, and only focused on supporting the two old subordinates, ignoring Huang Junhan.

A hint of shame flashed through Huang Junhan's eyes, and he took two steps back and stood side by side with Pei Hongce's Dong Cao Opera.

Huang Junhan came from a prominent family in Hanoi. The main hall of the Huang family in Yanjin, Hanoi was in Jiangxia, and this branch of Henoi was a side branch, but in the rise of Tuoba Wei Kingdom, he was an official and a wealthy family in Shandong. In the Supreme Qi era, the Sima family rose, and the Huang family in Yanjin was of course allied with the Sima family for regional interests. However, after the unification of the empire, three or four aristocratic families such as the Huang family in Yanjin were curbed and attacked by the entire Shandong aristocratic group. The children of the clan basically had no chance to make a comeback. Today, the imperial political storm broke out again, and the Guanlong people killed each other. As long as the Shandong people were dealing with it properly, they would definitely make a profit. Huang Junhan was of course one of the people who were aware of Pei Hongce. At this moment, seeing this group of people in the northwest met Pei Hongce, curiosity arose, they had the idea of ​​getting a glimpse of the truth.

“Where is Galan?”

Pei Hongce carefully looked at Xixing and Mao Yuxuan. Seeing that the two were still as fierce as before, he couldn't help but nodded frequently, and then immediately asked about Jialan. The whereabouts of Jialan and the group of Northwest Wolves were a few months ago. Pei Hongce learned from the center that the storm of the suppression of the Northwest people in Hebei some time ago was also concerned about it. However, he did not expect that his old subordinates would suddenly come to an end in his own danger. Pei Hongce's despair disappeared in an instant. At this moment, he was full of fighting spirit and confidence. At that time, the Northwest Wolves were invincible, and the fierce Turks, Tiel people and Tuyuhun people were beaten by him to no avail. The wolf rushed to the fore. What was Yang Xuangan?

"Crossing the river." Xixing said respectfully, "Jalan convinced Dugu Commander Dugu that with the help of the Heyang Commander Dugu, the imperial guards Long Guard were crossing the river overnight and must arrive at the battlefield before dawn."

"Please be sure that the Northwest Wolf must defend the Eastern Capital for Ming Gong even if he is crushed to pieces." Mao Yuxuan bowed his hand and was full of heroic spirit.

Pei Hongce patted Mao Yuxuan's shoulder hard and patted his arms westward. He was in a state of great excitement and generous. At the critical moment, the robes of living and dying together are the most trustworthy.

"How many people have come?" Pei Hongce asked, "All the way, is there any damage?"

"Even Galan, all the northwestern wolves who were alive in that year have come." He went west to report the names of the people, and then informed the details of Jiang Chengzhi's Loulan First Brigade, Buyi and Jiangdu Hou Tianma Jung, Ashina Hebao's Ziyun Tiansha Thief, Lu Long's Devil City Horse Thief, and the baggage brigade composed of horsemen and servants recruited from all over Hexi, and about 400 people of the imperial guards.

Galan had only four brigades. Although they were horse soldiers and had considerable combat effectiveness, facing tens of thousands of rebels, this number of troops was like a drop in the bucket. Pei Hongce frowned and his expression was heavy again.

Mao Yuxuan wanted to speak but stopped. He wanted to ask about the situation of the battle, but the chaos outside Baosha Temple just now had all told. Pei Hongce was defeated and was defeated miserably, and his morale was gone. At this time, the wisest way was to withdraw from Jinyong City to defend, or simply withdraw from Luoyang City and continue to stay here to block the rebels, which was purely a suicide attempt.

Pei Hongce obviously wanted to discuss countermeasures with his old subordinates. He looked at the Dong Cao official and Huang Junhan, waved his hand gently, and signaled them to withdraw from the account.

The two turned around and left the military tent. Mao Yuxuan immediately stood near the curtain to prevent accidents. He looked suspicious and asked nervously, "Ming Gong, can't even trust your subordinates now?"

Pei Hongce smiled bitterly and shook his head.

In the imperial official system, important officials such as chiefs, Sima, and military officers were directly appointed by the central government, while those of the chief officials were generally recruited by the chief officials themselves. When Pei Hongce was in the Western Regions Duwei Mansion, because the territory and duties were very special, most officials and subordinates were recruited by themselves. In this way, they monopolize power and prohibit orders, which was easy to achieve results, but the disadvantage was that they lost supervision and easily formed a confrontation with the central government. Other middle and low-level military and political officials such as county magistrates and guards were also recruited by themselves. However, when they arrived at the prefect, Yingyang Mansion and even the Central Government Office, 12

Most of the middle and senior military and political institutions in the Military Affairs Office were directly appointed by the central government, which formed a power constraint, which was conducive to centralization. Today, the government further reformed the official system, increased the power of the central government to directly appoint officials, and restricted and reduced the power of military and political officials to privately recruit subordinates. For example, Pei Hongce, the chief officer who was directly under the central government from the third rank, who was in charge of the chief executive of Henan Yin, who was actually in charge of the capital of the capital, had great power. In order to restrict and supervise this power, the central government decentralized power. The specific method was that the county magistrate, chief secretary, Sima, and East and West Cao were directly appointed by the central government.

"After two battles, there were 8,000 people in forty regiments, only ten regiments and two thousand people left. The rest all turned against each other and betrayed the enemy." Pei Hongce sighed, and then cursed with gritted teeth, "It is not an exaggeration to have a group of unforgivable traitors who have crushed their bones and ashes."

Pei Hongce was both angry and frustrated. Fortunately, in front of his old subordinate, he did not need to hide his emotions or protect his face. To be honest, the depression that was held in his heart was vented.

Traveling west and Mao Yuxuan looked at each other in shock. How could this be possible? The garrisons in the Jingji are all children of Guanzhong and Heluo, and they are all absolutely loyal to the emperor. How could they betray the emperor? If this was not from Pei Hongce's mouth, the two of them would not believe it at all. Just imagine that the border soldiers thousands of miles away from the capital were all loyal to the emperor and the empire, and fought bloody for the emperor and the empire without regrets. Then how could the garrisons in the Jingji betray the emperor? The living environment of the border soldiers was the worst, the worst treatment, and they were in danger of being protected, but they were willing to sacrifice their lives to guard the territory. The garrisons in the Jingji were the best and the treatment was even more jealous. What reason did they have to betray the emperor? Why did they hurt their own empire?

"The situation is over, and the morale of the army has been lost." Pei Hongce pointed outside the tent and sighed sadly, "If we fight tomorrow, these ten regiments will also surrender to the enemy, and the fall of Dongdu is a foregone conclusion."

"I can't defend Jinyong City?" Mao Yuxuan asked in surprise.

"Hulao, Heishi Pass, and Luokou Okura surrendered without fighting. Do you think Jinyong City can be defended?" Pei Hongce shook his head repeatedly, "At present, it seems that only the palace city and the imperial city may be able to hold on for a few days, but the fall of the outer capital is irreversible. The fall of the outer capital is, and the relatives of the officials and soldiers are controlled by the traitors. How many days can the palace city and the imperial city be held on?"

"Ming Gong, I heard from Jia Lan that the emperor had already made plans. The troops from Chang'an and Zhuo County were coming quickly. In addition, the Donglai Navy is also coming day and night. It is estimated that..."

Pei Hongce waved his hand and interrupted Mao Yuxuan's words, "The situation is out of control now. Who can win depends on planning, but..."

Pei Hongce did not continue to say that the power to control how the storm evolved was not force, but the force of the game between the aristocratic groups.

Of course, Xixing and Mao Yuxuan understood what Pei Hongce meant, but that "battlefield" was too far away from them, and they were not qualified and capable of entering that "battlefield". Among the Northwest Wolves, the only one who was qualified to intervene in that "battlefield" was Galan.

"Ming Gong, let me bring you a word." Xixing said solemnly, "Even if the Ming Gong's entire army is wiped out and all the forty registrars surrender to the enemy, Ming Gong should not return to the palace."

Pei Hongce had a stern expression and a sharp look.

"Ming Gong, the reason why Jialan asked us to come first is to stop Ming Gong from returning to the city."

"Why?" Pei Hongce asked.

"Jia Lan said that Dongdu stayed behind Fan Zigai and waited for Ming Gong's head to establish his authority."

Pei Hongce narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression was ferocious, and his murderous aura gushed out. Is it a good idea to use your head? Fan Zigai dared to kill someone?

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Chapter completed!