Chapter 719: Abandoning the City and Fleeing West

Wang Shichong did not dare to take off his clothes to sleep these days. He took a nap in a soft chair wearing his armor. Suddenly, he was awakened by a violent explosion. Wang Shichong was shocked and asked his attendants anxiously, "What was that sound just now?"

The guards on the left and right said, "Your Majesty, we heard it too. It sounded like thunder, but the moonlight outside was bright, so we didn't know what the sound was!"

"If you don't know, just go and check it out. Do you want me to check it out myself?"

The two guards turned and ran away. Wang Shichong sat for a while, but he was still worried, so he stood up and said, "I want to go to the top of the observation platform!"

The Observation Terrace is the tallest building in the imperial palace, ten meters high. Not only can one observe the night sky, but one can also overlook the surroundings from the top of the terrace, with a clear view of the surrounding situation.

After the Sui army occupied Hanjia Cang City last night, Wang Shichong was basically in the Guantian Terrace, and he is now on the third floor of the Guantian Terrace.

Wang Shichong climbed to the top of the platform and stood on it to look around. He saw the blown-up Tianjin Bridge at a glance, and thousands of soldiers were standing on the South Island, seemingly watching the excitement.

"Your Majesty, look! The fleet!" The guard pointed to the east.

Wang Shichong looked to the east and saw countless large ships anchored on the south bank of the Luo River. Countless soldiers were disembarking from the ships and running south in groups.

Wang Shichong's heart sank as the Sui army entered the city.

Currently, 80,000 of Wang Shichong's 150,000 troops are concentrated in the imperial palace, and 70,000 are distributed at various city gates, mainly in the South City, led by his eldest nephew Wang Tai.

Wang Shichong knew very well that Wang Tai was mediocre in ability, and once the Sui army entered the city, Nancheng would be doomed.

At this moment, the guard who had just gone to get the news came to report, "Your Majesty, Yuanbi City was attacked by the Sui army, and General Song Weiming and General Miao Xiu led their troops to surrender."

Wang Shichong's head buzzed. Yuanbi City was the garrison of his third brother Wang Shiwei, with 50,000 troops stationed there. Song Weiming and Miao Xiu were his right-hand men. If they surrendered, it would mean the end of the 50,000 troops.

"How is the King of Chu?"

"His Highness the Prince of Chu is still alive or dead!"

At this time, another soldier came running to report, "Your Majesty, Hui'anmen Street has been cut off by tens of thousands of Sui troops. Our army cannot break through and has lost contact with the defenders of the North City."

At this moment Wang Shichong finally understood that the Sui army had blown up the Tianjin Bridge and cut off Hui'anmen Street, and the imperial palace had completely lost contact with Luoyang City and became an isolated island.

He made up his mind and said, "Go and find Wang Renze quickly!"

After Yuanbi City was captured, the 80,000-strong army was suddenly reduced to 30,000 troops. Wang Renze had 20,000 inner guards and Wang Shichong had 10,000 Niuwei troops, including the 3,000 most loyal Qiang and Hu guards.

Wang Shichong had no choice. If he could not break out into the city, he would have to abandon the palace and leave Luoyang. If he stayed in the palace and could not survive until tomorrow, everyone would be doomed.

Soon, Wang Renze came running over with sweat all over his forehead, and said anxiously: "Uncle San did something stupid again, whipping Song Weiming and Miao Xiu. The two of them killed Uncle San in anger and surrendered Yuanbi City. All 50,000 troops are gone." Wang Shichong sighed and said: "According to the original plan, prepare to break out to Hongnong County to the west!"

A cunning rabbit has three burrows. Wang Shichong also left himself a way out. If he could not defend Luoyang, he would retreat to Hongnong County, but not through the Xiaoguan Road. Instead, he would enter Hongnong County along the Luo River.

But his final destination was not Hongnong County, but to continue southward, pass through Zhuyang Pass and enter Xiyang County, then enter Hanzhong along the Han River from the southwest of Xiyang County, and finally go from Hanzhong to the Qiang and Hu areas of Longyou.

Wang Shichong's third cave is the Hetao Qiang Hu area, which is his real old nest. At present, there are almost no troops in Hanzhong. The troops have been withdrawn by Li Yuan to fight in Hedong. Hanzhong is empty and it is completely possible to pass through it smoothly. This gives Wang Shichong hope of retreat.

Zhang Xutuo's route to the north was the same as Wang Shichong's route to the south, but Zhang Xutuo could never have imagined that the forgotten road was actually Wang Shichong's secret escape route.

Wang Renze left, and Wang Shichong sent someone to find his eldest son Wang Xuanying. He was silent for a moment and said to his eldest son, "I am going to retreat westward. I am afraid it will be dangerous. You take your son and stay. I will also leave the palace treasury to you. After I leave, you surrender to the Sui army. Xiao Xia promised me to spare my children and grandchildren's lives, and that's you. I also hope that he will let you and your son become rich men because I sealed the palace treasury, and continue the Wang family's descendants. Don't rebel again, Dalang, you take care of yourself!"

Wang Xuanying felt heartbroken and knelt on the ground crying. Wang Shichong touched his son's head with sorrow, turned around and left with a large number of soldiers.

Half an hour later, the gate of Yihui Palace in the southwest direction opened, and Wang Shichong led an army of 30,000 to escort more than 200 members of the Wang family and their families out of the palace and retreated to the southwest along the Luo River.

As soon as Wang Shichong left, Crown Prince Wang Xuanying ordered 5,000 guards to surrender and opened the Xuanwu Gate. Luo Shixin led a large army into the palace and took control of all the storehouses and important palace gates.

At the same time, Liu Changgong persuaded several important generals guarding the South City to surrender. At the same time, he beheaded the southern commander Wang Tai, and used Wang Tai's head as a token of his surrender. 50,000 troops surrendered to the Sui army.

When the deputy general Zhu Hongzhi who was guarding the north city discovered that the main general Wang Shiyun had escaped, he immediately opened the city gate and surrendered to the Sui army. Wang Shichong's foundation was too shallow, and except for his brothers and nephews, the other generals under him would not be loyal to him. Once the main general was gone, the generals under him would choose to surrender without hesitation.

Xiao Xia entered the palace. In the grand square in front of the Qianyang Palace, Wang Xuanying, with his five-year-old son and several wives and concubines, knelt on the ground to accept their fate.

Xiao Xia looked at him for a moment and said, "Although your father committed an unforgivable crime, he was still sensible and returned the King of Yan and my brother. Since I promised him, I will not break my promise. As long as you live honestly and don't cause trouble, your descendants will be able to continue. Go and collect your personal property! I will send a ship to take you to Min County, Jian'an County, and give you a few hundred acres of land, so you can live a quiet life there."

Wang Xuanying, his wife and children kowtowed several times and said with tears in their eyes, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Highness!"

He originally wanted to plead for his father, but he finally held back. How could he change his father's fate?
Wang Xuanying and his sons and their wives and concubines were taken away. Xiao Xia came to the Guantian Pavilion, which was Wang Shichong's temporary command center. The soldier spread a map on the table and said, "This is the retreat map we found. Please take a look, Your Highness!"

Xiao Xia looked at the map and found that it was consistent with his guess. They went from Hongnong County to Xiyang County and then to Hanzhong, and finally retreated from Hanzhong to the Hetao old nest. Luo Shixin whispered, "Could it be a fake map? Wang Shichong left it here to deliberately mislead us?"

Xiao Xia shook his head. "Wang Shichong's ancestor was the leader of the Qiang and Hu tribes in Jiaohe County. His route is correct."

Xiao Xia pointed at the densely packed small characters on the map and said, "These are all the conditions along the way, including the population, villages, terrain, bridges, food storage areas, etc. This map cannot be a fake. This should be a backup copy. The original is in Wang Shichong's hands. He left in a hurry and forgot about the copy."

Luo Shixin immediately clasped his fists and said, "Many of the terrains are difficult to walk on, and we have to climb mountains. I am afraid that we cannot catch up with 30,000 cavalrymen. I beg Your Highness to let me lead 20,000 troops to chase them. I will definitely bring Wang Shichong's head back!"

Xiao Xia nodded slowly and said, "I have sent a pigeon letter to Zhang Xutuo, asking him to send 10,000 troops to block the western front. You can lead 20,000 troops to chase after them. Make sure to wipe out Wang Shichong's army and family!"

(End of this chapter)

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