Chapter 227: The Northern Barbarians Retreat, and the Han Capital Completely Falls

"Retreat to the northern border?" Chagan Wuli looked at the middle-aged scholar with a gloomy look in his eyes, and asked unwillingly: "Is there no other way?"

The middle-aged scholar sighed slightly, and his eyes swept over the remnants of the defeated army around him, and his helplessness became more and more apparent. He knew that the current situation could not be reversed by courage and pride alone. He said slowly: "Khan, a real man is one who can bend and stretch. Now the rebel army has taken control of the Miyun Reservoir."

"That's exactly why." The military advisor's voice was low and firm. "We can't stay here any longer and wait for death to come. At this stage, we must retreat, preserve our strength, and look for opportunities to counterattack."

He shouted at the top of his lungs that if the Miyun Reservoir was still in their hands, they would naturally not need to retreat.

But their trump card is now in the hands of the rebels, and they no longer have the final say on whether they can stay in Hanzhou.

In any case, Miyun Reservoir is always a huge hidden danger.

Chagan Wuli was filled with resentment and resentment, the expression on his face became more and more intense, and his brows were tightly knitted together to form the Chinese character "川".

He knew that if he continued to fight, he would probably only bring about his own destruction.

But once he thought about the pride of the Northern Barbarians, whose glory would be destroyed in his hands, he could not make such a decision easily.

"I can not be reconciled!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his voice full of reluctance and anger, "When and where have I ever been so embarrassed as the Northern Barbarians? Are you going to just watch me laugh at you?"

The middle-aged Confucian scholar's eyes flickered as he stared at the former hero in front of him, and he felt the same way about his difficult decision.

just,

Now, this is the only way for him, the Northern Barbarian, to go.

"Now, we, the Northern Barbarians, have only one way to go." He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound firm and rational, "Great Khan, there is an old saying among the Han people: He who knows the current situation is a hero!"

Chagan Wuli nodded slightly, but the gloom on his face did not dissipate. The middle-aged scholar continued: "A temporary failure does not mean a permanent failure. We can retreat to the north. There is still hope."

He took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, "A temporary failure does not mean eternal failure. We can retreat back to the north. There is still hope."

"But if we continue to fight like this, not only will the reputation of the Northern Barbarians be ruined, but the entire Northern Barbarians will probably face a catastrophe."

"Okay." Chagan Wuli finally made up his mind. Although he still felt unwilling, he knew this was the only way out. "Then do as you say. Notify everyone and prepare to retreat to the northern border!"

"Don't worry, Khan."

A cold light flashed across the middle-aged scholar's eyes. He secretly calculated the next plan in his heart and whispered, "Even if we retreat, we will never let the rebels have an easy time. Isn't the Tongzhou Reservoir still in our hands now?"

"Although the water storage capacity of Tongzhou Reservoir is not large, it is enough to cause a lot of trouble to the rebel army." A vicious plan flashed through his mind, and a sinister plan had been constructed in his mind.

As the Khan's order was issued, the surrounding soldiers began to get busy.

The middle-aged scholar quietly approached Chagan Uli and whispered, "Great Khan, if we deliberately open the gates of the Tongzhou Reservoir and release water to attack the rebels' camp during our retreat, it will definitely cause great chaos to them."

Chagan Wuli was stunned for a moment, and then a strange light flashed in his eyes. "You mean, use the water to create chaos?"

"That's right." The middle-aged scholar's voice was low and firm. "Although the rebels are numerous, they will inevitably fall into panic if they encounter a flood without any preparation. We can take the opportunity to retreat, preserve the strength of our Northern Barbarians, and at the same time make the rebels pay the price."

The middle-aged Confucian scholar's words suddenly made Chagan Wuli's eyes light up. He was worried that he had no way to deal with the sharp momentum of the northern barbarians, and now this method has come.

"Okay, let's do as you said. When we retreat, we'll open the gates of the Tongzhou Reservoir and give the rebels a big gift." He said with great excitement in his heart.

"Don't worry, Khan. I will immediately arrange personnel to ensure the smooth implementation of this plan."

The middle-aged scholar smiled slightly and spoke in a low voice, already beginning to think about the next details in his mind.

As long as everything goes well, the Northern Barbarians will regroup and rise again. Although they cannot completely wipe out the rebel army this time, they will be able to cause them a lot of trouble and delay their pace.

……

At the same time, Handu.

With the fall of Pengcheng, Daqian's last line of defense collapsed, and the former glory and honor vanished in an instant. The magnificent flags that once stood on the city wall have now been torn to pieces by the rebels' cavalry, leaving a mess on the ground.

The wind blew up the tattered cloth, making a shrill whimpering sound, as if wailing for the decline of this ancient city.

The rebel army came like a tide, with unstoppable force, and headed straight for Huanglong and Handu without any hindrance.

When they arrived at Handu, this city with a history of 500 years stood before them. On the towering walls, mosses and weeds grew intertwined, and under the erosion of time, they gradually lost their brilliance.

Even at the city gate, the once majestic carvings have now been blurred by wind and rain and have lost their former majesty.

The shops on both sides of the street had long been closed, with doors and windows locked. Only a few stray dogs were wandering the streets, occasionally whimpering, as if looking for their lost owners.

There was a heavy feeling of depression in the air, as if even the sunlight was blocked by the haze and could not penetrate.

The streets of Handu, once bustling with people, have now disappeared. The lively hawking and laughter have long since turned into silent echoes. Only the wind is wandering on the streets, with a few fallen leaves swirling in the wind, looking particularly lonely.

The once bustling restaurants and teahouses are now eerily quiet; through the shabby windows, one can see messy tables and chairs and dust all over the floor. It seems as if time has stopped at this moment and all the laughter has turned into silent sighs.

Although the city is now deserted and lacks its former prosperity, one can still feel the former glory of this capital city just from the pavilions and towers on the mountains.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, it was even more desolate. There was no one in the empty hall. Only the sound of the wind was echoing, carrying a hint of uneasy whispers.

The sandalwood door of the palace was half-open, revealing a hint of darkness. The embroidered curtains hanging on the walls had long faded, looking old and dilapidated. The tall palace lanterns swayed in the weak light, casting long shadows, as if telling the helplessness and sadness of this imperial palace.

The air around was filled with a smell of decay, as if even time had stopped here, solidifying into a suffocating picture.

Liu Wulie sat slumped on the dragon throne in the center of the hall, his eyes empty, having long lost his former majesty. He was still wearing the gorgeous dragon robe, but now it looked particularly funny and out of place. The thick dust covered the dragon throne, as if mocking his former glory and honor.

At this moment, he was heartbroken, his mind was filled with thoughts of death, and he felt ashamed to face his ancestors, which made him extremely painful.
He still became the person he hated the most.

In the end, he became the king of Daqian who lost his country.
It's ridiculous that when he first ascended the throne, he had lofty ambitions and vowed to be a wise ruler.

Thinking about it now, he was so ridiculous and so pathetic back then.

"Your Majesty..." A whisper echoed in the empty hall, but the only response was endless silence.

Liu Wulie's heart was filled with despair, and the laughter and joy he once heard seemed to ring in his ears, but now it has turned into ruthless ridicule. His hands hung weakly on the edge of the chair, and his fingertips gently stroked the thick layer of dust, as if looking for a trace of warmth.

The dragon throne in the center of the hall no longer had the majesty and dignity it once had, replaced by a thick layer of dust, making it look particularly deserted.

On the long stairs, the former guards had long since left, leaving only a few tattered suits of armor standing alone, as if guarding the lost royal power.

The footsteps of the rebels were getting closer and closer, deafening, resounding like thunder in this bleak world. The gate of the Qianqing Palace had long been surrounded by the rebels' cavalry, with swords and guns pointed at each other, and the atmosphere was so tense that it was suffocating.

Liu Wulie trembled slightly, and countless moments flashed through his mind. The glory and power he once had were now gone before his eyes. His heart was filled with anger and unwillingness, "I have become the king of a fallen country, I can no longer be a coward..."

The guards were still faithfully performing their duties, and advised earnestly: "Your Majesty, all this is still unknown. At least, aren't we still the Northern Barbarians? As long as Your Highness is still here, Daqian still has hope of rising."

He said with all his might, extremely sadly: "The rebels are outside now. If Your Highness falls into their hands, the consequences will be..."

He did not continue to say the following words, but Liu Wulie already knew in his heart that if he really fell into the hands of the rebels, what would be waiting for him would be endless humiliation and death.

Liu Wulie felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if being tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and a trace of struggle and hesitation flashed in his eyes.

In the end, he was still driven by the unwillingness in his heart. He didn't want to die in humiliation, and he didn't want to just accept his fate.

Gradually, his dull eyes suddenly lit up with a crazy and fierce look. He stared at the half-open door, outside which were the swords and shadows of the rebels.

It was obvious that the rebels' knife was almost at his neck. If he waited any longer, he would have no way to retreat and would have to die with the infamy of a king who lost his country.

Such a result was definitely not what he wanted, nor was it what he could accept.

"Okay, I'm leaving!"

At this moment, the unwillingness in his heart had become his last obsession, making his originally dead heart burst with life again.

He stood up. Although he was weak, a stubborn flame ignited in his heart. "You are right. As long as I am alive, Daqian will not be destroyed."

"Hurry, get ready!" He turned and shouted to the guards. Although his voice was weak, it was full of determination.

The confidants around him immediately took action and prepared an escape route. Liu Wulie secretly swore in his heart that he would never let this palace become his final destination. He wanted to escape and regroup, even if the road ahead was full of thorns, he would fight for a glimmer of hope for himself and Daqian.

At this moment, the sound of swords and sabers outside became more and more intense, and the footsteps of the rebels came like a flood, shaking the entire palace.

Liu Wulie felt a sense of urgency in his heart. He knew that time was running out and he had to act quickly. He took a deep breath and silently said to himself, "As long as I am here, there is still hope."

Hundreds of guards followed behind him, knocking away the people in front of them, protecting Liu Wulie as he fought his way out of the crowd.

……

At the same time, Lin Zhongyun also led his army into the former Nine-Layered Heaven Palace - Qianqing Palace.

When he stepped into this once glorious palace, he was filled with emotion. This was once the residence of the emperor and a symbol of power, but now it has become a ruin after the baptism of war.

The rebels have cleaned it up, but the hall is still littered with broken furniture, torn curtains, and bloodstains that have not yet dried, as if telling of the cruelty and ruthlessness of the war.

Lin Zhongyun looked around and felt a chill in his heart.

Is this what it feels like to have power?

Throughout the ages, countless people have fought hard and even paid the price of their lives to become the owner of this palace. But now, standing in this place that countless people dream of, he doesn't have any special feeling in his heart.

At this moment, a guard's urgent voice came to Lin Zhongyun's ears, "General, Liu Wulie has led his men out of the city!"

"Oh?"

When Lin Zhongyun heard the news, his lips curled up, and a look of sarcasm flashed across his eyes. "I didn't expect that Liu Wulie would become a deserter?"

This surprised him a little. He originally thought that no matter what happened, Liu Wulie would live and die with the Qianqing Palace, but he didn't expect that he would escape.

Although they have now taken over the entire Handu and Daqian has no chance of rising again, he does not intend to let Liu Wulie go.

Even if it was not to prevent Liu Wulie from making a comeback, just for the sake of the people who had been fooled by him, Liu Wulie would definitely die.

He might have had some compassion in his heart originally, but as things gradually developed, now that he is in this position, he has understood the importance of cutting the grass at its roots.

Lin Zhongyun took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination, "Come here, gather the troops immediately and chase Liu Wulie. We must not let him escape!"

"Yes!" the guards responded in unison and quickly began to mobilize the troops.

"He can't escape."

Lin Zhongyun patted the warhorse's butt and led his men to chase in the direction Liu Wulie fled.

As the order was given, the soldiers of the rebel army were ready to go. The sound of armor colliding and horses' hooves echoed in the empty palace, like the beating of war drums, stirring everyone's heartstrings.

Just like that, Lin Zhongyun, who had just taken over the Qianqing Palace, hadn't even sat down yet when he led a group of men out of the city to chase after him...

(End of this chapter)