I heard that the Broken Iron City was lost and Shenxiong Pass was in danger. Cui Hong, who was returning to the Great Chu from the Western Regions, couldn't help but feel ashamed and annoyed.

He was the Minister of War and advocated sending troops to the Western Regions. His original intention was that the Western Regions were weak. After being pacified in one fell swoop, he could not only intimidate the enemy's army, but he could easily make contributions. Unexpectedly, the enemy was so cunning. The Western Regions were just bait, but he swallowed it in one bite.

Cui Hong divided the army into three units. The front followed him and rushed back to Chu as soon as possible. The central part marched normally in case of emergency needs. The rear part escorted the baggage and walked slowly.

If the God's Pass is lost and the capital is in a hurry, the great victory he won in the Western Regions will become insignificant and even a sin.

Cui Hong was anxious and left half of the army halfway, and only brought five thousand people to lightly wear. He rushed back to Yumen Pass before the beginning of winter.

Hearing that Shenxiong Pass was still standing, and the emperor was personally directing the battle of Mayi City in Jincheng, Cui Hong breathed a little relieved and planned to stay for one night, waiting for the rear army to catch up before making a decision. It was too late to go to Mayi City. Perhaps he could wait for an opportunity to send troops from Shenxiong Pass to cut off the enemy's retreat.

Cui Hong slept peacefully and had a dream in the early morning. He thought he was still leading troops in the Western Regions to fight, and there seemed to be enemy troops from all directions, but after rushing over, he could not see a figure. Not long after, even the soldiers behind him were gone, and he was the only one running around...

Cui Hong suddenly woke up, sat there for a while and was still scared. His health was not very good at all, and at this time he felt even more painful in his old wounds.

He didn't ask anyone to lie down and sleep for a while. He has been so tired these days that he has been marching urgently for days. Even young and middle-aged people can't bear it, let alone a weak old man like him.

Just as he leaned back, a rushing footsteps came from outside the door, followed by an urgent voice, "Sir Shangshu?"

"What's the matter?" Cui Hong got out of bed.

“There is an emergency military situation.”

As soon as Cui Hong opened his mouth, the entourage sleeping outside also got up, immediately lit the oil lamp and opened the door.

Cui Hong walked to the door in his clothes, stared at the general Shao Kejian who came to report the news seriously, and took a official letter from the other party. His face suddenly changed when he looked at the first line of words.

The God's Pass is lost...

Yesterday's news also said that God is in peace and carefree, and the decisive battle will be held in Mayi City. How could it be lost overnight?

Cui Hong continued to read down. The content of the letter was very simple. He did not elaborate on the process or reasons. He only said that Shenxiong Pass was lost. Please support Yumen Pass immediately.

When the letter was sent, Shenxiong Pass did not know that the Minister of War had already rushed back, so he only asked for help from the Yumen Pass commander Shao Kejian.

"Where is the sender?"

“Outside.”

Cui Hong immediately put on his clothes, but he still didn't believe it. He couldn't help asking: "Is it a false alarm? Aren't the main forces of the enemy in Mayi City? It's easy to defend but difficult to attack... Who is the defender?"

"General Chen Xiao." Shao Kejian replied.

"Well, the person you choose should be fine."

Cui Hong hurried to the main hall in the front yard. The post soldiers were still waiting there, but they could not provide more information. He answered the letter halfway, and he didn't know how many hands he had fallen before, and he didn't even know the content of the letter.

Cui Hong is not the kind of person who makes a quick decision. It is his most urgent expression to march back to Yumen Pass.

He waited for another morning, summoned the generals and officials, and formulated multiple plans to deal with different situations.

Asking for help comes one after another. After noon, Cui Hong did not hesitate anymore and ordered Shao Kejian to lead the Yumen Pass defenders to set off immediately and as a vanguard to Xiaozhou City.

Xiaozhou City is an ancient city and an extremely important level. When Shenxiong Pass is lost, it is the second line of defense. If this city is lost, there will be no danger in Guanzhong. Yumen Pass in the west, Mancang City in the east, and even the capital in the south will all face direct attacks from the enemy.

Especially Mancang City, it is the most important place to store grain in Guanzhong. The troops west of Hangu Pass all rely on this city to supply grain and grass.

Cui Hong was anxious. For the first time, he felt that the enemy was so powerful that he even felt fearful.

He waited for a long time and a night. After another 5,000 soldiers arrived, the 5,000 people who arrived in advance set off immediately and went to Xiaozhou City to provide reinforcements.

News kept coming from the front, Shao Kejian rushed to Xiaozhou City, only a few hours earlier than the enemy. Then there was a big battle. The Chu army stood firm and barely stabilized its position, but the news of Shenxiong Pass was interrupted.

Cui Hong could no longer stay at Yumen Pass. He led 5,000 troops to set off the next morning and left orders for the two ministries at the end of the country. He was not allowed to stay after arriving at Yumen Pass and went to Xiaozhou City immediately.

When Cui Hong arrived, Xiao Zhou City was already in a mess.

Since the completion of Shenxiong Pass, Xiaozhou City has declined its status and has not been renovated for many years. The enemy has arrived in a hurry and has no equipment to help, so the city was not conquered immediately, but it still caused great damage, and the old wall tiles were scattered all over the ground.

Cui Hong entered the city and climbed the wall to watch. He saw that there was a dark place in the distance, full of unfamiliar enemy troops. They temporarily gave up their hard attacks and arranged their formations, leaving open space in the middle, obviously waiting for the arrival of siege equipment from the rear.

Xiao Zhoucheng could not be defended, Cui Hong felt a sudden slap in his heart, and he became more and more panicked. For the first time, a terrible thought was that the Great Chu was about to perish.

The incident happened suddenly, and the emperor and the court officials were not there. The Minister of War was the backbone of the Chu army. He had to make decisions and make decisions in everything. Cui Hong admired his son-in-law a little. The young emperor seemed to be better at dealing with this situation.

When Cui Hong turned around, he barely maintained his composure. He lowered the wall to summon all the generals and first asked how the Shenxiong Pass was lost.

There are some defeated soldiers who retreated from the Shenxiong Pass in the city. There are many different opinions. Some say that traitors open the door to take the enemy, some say that gods burn the city from heaven, some say that mountains shake the earth shake and collapse the city walls...

The statement that there is only one person is a little more credible. He said that the enemy hid a batch of siege equipment in the valley outside the city. He formed it at night and launched an attack in the early morning. He broke through the city gate that afternoon. The guard Chen Xiao insisted on retreating and was probably trapped in the city.

The enemy not only has equipment, but also is very good. If the Shenxiong Pass cannot withstand it, Xiaozhou City will not be able to do it.

Cui Hong did not mention this matter and ordered Shao Kejian to guard the city, "The city is there, the city is dead, the people are dead, and those who abandon the city and flee will be sentenced to death. I will return to Beijing immediately and send troops to support you. For ten days, you must hold on for at least ten days."

Shao Kejian received the order, Cui Hong left his army and only brought a few personal soldiers to Beijing. When he passed the intersection leading to Mancang City, he sent someone to issue an order to defend the city's generals.

You must never show your fear, this is Cui Hong's only idea.

The capital was already in chaos, with people everywhere on the streets, yelling to escape, but I don’t know where to escape.

Cui Hong was treated at the highest level, and many ministers greeted him at the gate of the city. Prime Minister Zhuo Ruhe summoned him to the Qinzheng Hall to discuss matters.

More than ten ministers gathered in the Qinzheng Hall. When they saw Cui Hong, they all came up to him, treated him as a savior, and asked about the situation ahead in a verbal way.

Cui Hong wanted to know the situation in the capital.

Zhuo Ruhe was calm and told everyone to shut up. He explained in person: "The things are all together. According to Jincheng, the Chu army won a great victory in Mayi City and the enemy was dispersed. Unexpectedly, Shenxiong Pass... Alas, I have sent someone to deliver the letter, and Your Majesty has not replied yet."

"Where can the enemy get so many troops? Can we start a war in two places at the same time?" Cui Hong couldn't believe it.

Zhuo Ruhe and others cannot explain this issue.

"How many soldiers are there in the capital?" Cui Hong asked.

"There are more than 50,000 soldiers in part of the Guards, plus the temporary recruitment." Zhuo Ruhe was not idle, and he has been mobilizing the army as much as he can these days.

"Fifty thousand people, too few." Cui Hong was thinking about a question along the way: Shenxiong Pass was lost, Xiao Zhou City was about to be broken, and Mancang City would be defeated. What should I do if the capital city was?

Now he threw the problem to the prime minister, "The enemy's army is in large numbers, and Xiao Zhou City will not last long. At this moment, it may have been lost. The enemy will attack the capital soon. 50,000 people will be useless. Whether to fight or retreat, please decide."

The ministers were shocked when they heard this. If even the Minister of War was not sure, then the capital would be in danger.

"How about fighting? How about retreating?" Zhuo Ruhe asked.

"If you fight, immediately transfer all the soldiers on the front line back, give up Xiaozhou City, burn Mancang City, and concentrate on guarding the capital. Whether to win or lose, it is up to fate. If you retreat, you will go to Guandong and you must set off immediately to guard Hangu Pass and block the enemy's chances."

Everyone was speechless, and their eyes were all looking at the prime minister.

Zhuo Ruhe was silent for a moment and suddenly sighed: "I only know the difficulties of the emperor today, if Your Majesty is there..."

Everyone sighed at the same time. Like the prime minister, they missed the emperor very much.

"I shouldn't have agreed to the imperial commander in person at the beginning." Yuan Jiuding, the Minister of Personnel, said tremblingly.

"Your Majesty stayed in the capital and could not defend the Shenxiong Pass. Instead, he might lose the great victory in Mayi City. In that case, we would not even be able to retreat to Guandong." Cui Hong wanted to say something for his son-in-law.

The ministers were speechless again, and finally Zhuo Ruhe said: "There is no need to be humble at this time. Everyone has something to say, Taifu Cui, you can say it first, how can you do it more safely?"

Cui Hong understood that the Prime Minister and others were afraid of taking responsibility, so they had to make the decision and "retreat."

"Give up the capital?" Zhuo Ruhe said in shock.

Cui Hong cursed inwardly and said, "At least, the people in the palace must be sent to Luoyang for refuge. The capital must be guarded, and Hangu Pass must also be guarded, especially Hangu Pass, which will soon be the most important line of defense. I will supervise the guards myself, as for the capital..."

Cui Hong's eyes swept over and the ministers bowed their heads one after another.

Zhuo Ruhe said: "It is my duty to guard the capital."

Cui Hong looked at Zhuo Ruhe and thought to himself that the old fox also had a moment of bravery.

According to the rules, everyone should persuade him at this time, but people are in a panic and the rules are not that important, and no one speaks.

Zhuo Ruhe said: "The incident happened urgently, and Your Majesty is not here, so the matter has to be decided by me. Grand Tutor Cui, let me ask again, can't Xiao Zhoucheng really be guarded?"

"I can't hold on." Cui Hong was very sure.

"Where is the capital? It can't be kept."

"It's hard to say."

Zhuo Ruhe pondered for a moment, "Since the palace is going to move to Luoyang, there will be Duan Cui's tutor to enter the palace to invite him. Hangu Pass is very important, and there will be Duan Cui's tutor to guard him. The Ministry of Revenue has prepared pictures and the Ministry of Rites has installed ceremonies. If the situation is even more critical, the two departments will also move to Luoyang."

Zhuo Ruhe paused, "The others followed me to stay in the capital. Unless your Majesty has ordered you to leave, you and I are all ministers of Chu. It is time to be loyal." (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!