Chapter Thirty-Two Arrived Just in Time

  Thanks for abccd5432's reward!!!

  After carefully observing the terrain of Hantangguan City and the twelve connected cities, as well as the natural barriers of Jinguo Gorge, Yang Guozhong really couldn't understand why Geshu Han abandoned these places after escaping back to Tongguan City.

  Even if the moat was filled with corpses, the twelve forts on the west side of the Forbidden City could still effectively kill the attacking rebels.

  It is understandable to give up the already broken-down Hantangguan City due to insufficient military strength, but the 12th city should not be given up.

  For more than half a year, the rebels have been continuously attacking Hantangguan City, causing extremely serious damage to Hantangguan City, which can be described as being riddled with holes. Under the continuous war situation, it is impossible to carry out large-scale repairs, resulting in a significant decline in its defensive capabilities, making it easy for the rebels to break through. With sufficient troops, Hantangguan City can be used for defense, and if the troops are insufficient, abandoning it is also justified.

  But the twelve connected cities that are mutually defensive with Tongguan Pass should never be abandoned under any circumstances!

  Won't this old general have his guts broken?

  Yang Jie's proposal was made, and Geshu Han had not yet had time to respond. Li Chengguang, who was on the side, spoke up first, "Yang Bingmashi, Geshu Yuanshuai, I think what Yang Bingmashi said is very reasonable. Regardless of how many guards are lacking in Tongguan City, the twelve connected cities should not be abandoned and must be guarded by troops!" This was also Li Chengguang's consistent view.

  Gao Shi also stood up and expressed his own views: "General, I think what Yang Bingma Shi said is very reasonable. Although the corpses in the moat have not been completely cleared, the function of the moat and the twelve connected cities has been restored. We should send more soldiers to garrison them. When the rebels attack the city, the twelve connected cities can effectively hold back the rebels and slow down their attack on Tongguan City to some extent."

  Although Wang Silie and other generals did not speak out, their expressions also showed similar meanings, that is, they agreed with Yang Hui's words and sent troops to garrison the Twelve Linked Cities.

  Geshu Han hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "This commander also approves of Yang Bing's suggestion. Let's immediately dispatch troops to defend the twelve cities, with 120 soldiers stationed in each city, led by a xiaowei!" As he spoke, his eyes fixed intently on Gao Shi standing behind Yang Hui, and he ordered: "General Gao, arrange for which city to send which troops to lead!"

  "Yes, General, Yang Bingma Shi, the end will follow orders!" After Gaoshuai responded loudly, he left on horseback and arranged for re-sending soldiers to garrison the Twelve Linked Cities.

  Seeing all the generals acknowledging his proposal, Yang Hui let out a sigh of relief!

  However, he also regretted his decision to let Geshu Han come to garrison the south gate, and thought that he should have led the army himself.

  Ge Shuhan is getting old after all, and often appears confused.

  Fortunately, there was the patrol action in the afternoon, otherwise such an important place as the 12th city would have been abandoned, which would be a pity! He continued to wonder why Geshu Han did not recognize the role of the 12th city at this time and did not dispatch troops to defend it, nor did other generals mention it.

  Won't he be the only one who remains sober, while all other generals are confused? Yang Kai himself is also confused!

  He did not interrogate Geshu Han and other generals about this matter, and continued to patrol the city.

  It's okay, except for the significant change in defensive situation on the south gate side, other directions of the city remain basically unchanged.

  As the city tour came to an end, just as the various generals were preparing to disperse and return to their respective posts to continue waiting for orders, a soldier rushed in to report that the supervising eunuch Bian Liancheng had escaped and returned! Upon hearing that Supervising Eunuch Bian Liancheng had appeared, all the generals were somewhat surprised, including Geshu Han.

  The eunuch monitor was not an ordinary person. Since the imperial court implemented the system of using eunuchs as monitors in the army, the status of the eunuch monitor has been above that of the various generals, second only to the marshal and other military commanders. Moreover, due to the close relationship between the eunuch monitor and the emperor, many times their right to speak even exceeded that of the marshal or military commander. At specific times, they could even control the fate of the entire army and the fate of the marshals and military commanders, as in the case of Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi, two great generals who lost their lives due to Bian Lingcheng's repeated memorials and Yang Guozhong's interference.

  For military commanders at all levels, the eunuchs who supervised the army were a mountain pressing down on their hearts and a sharp sword hanging over their heads. They were extremely intimidating figures, especially after a defeat in battle, when they would be even more feared.

  A single memorial from a eunuch military supervisor could decide their future and even life or death.

  It can be said that the eunuch monitor is the most feared, unwelcome and hated person in the entire army, especially someone like Bian Lingcheng who has direct access to the emperor's orders, has gained the emperor's trust, and has caused the death of two generals, Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi. Many people wanted to kill him quickly, almost everyone hoped that he would die in the chaos of the army during the defeat at Lingbao, but unexpectedly, he appeared again like a ghost.

  No one present knew where Bian Liancheng came from.

  If Bian Lingcheng had just escaped from the chaotic army, he should have appeared in front of Tongguan. But now, Bian Lingcheng did not appear from the east, but instead entered Tongguan City from the west gate! How could this person emerge from the direction of the west gate of Tongguan? This was the doubt in everyone's mind present at the scene.

  Yang Jie naturally hated this so-called trusted father figure, if it weren't for this person repeatedly speaking out, Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi's two generals might not have died. If these two generals hadn't died, the defeat of Tongguan might not have happened either!

  As soon as Lian Cheng appeared, he couldn't help but frown and ordered Lian Dai to bring the person in front of him.

  He is unlike Gao Shuhan and other generals who have no fear of Lian Cheng at all, nor will they have any scruples.

  When they heard the report of Gao Lishi's arrival at Tong Pass, many generals cast their eyes on Geshu Han and Yang Guozhong, the two top military commanders of Tong Pass. They saw different reactions from Geshu Han and Yang Guozhong's faces.

  Geshu Han's expression was slightly tense, with a hint of fear; while Yang Jie had an air of disdain and indifference. Seeing the two main generals' expressions change like this, many generals couldn't help but feel curious, wondering how Yang Jie would treat Bian Lingcheng when he arrived!

  Of course, no one knows that after hearing about Bian Lingcheng's arrival in Tongguan City, Yang Hui immediately made a decision, an extremely resolute idea suddenly arose in his heart. He wanted to use this person to enhance his own prestige!

  "Bring the edict here!" A faint voice came out of Yang Hui's mouth, and no one could sense what state of mind Yang Hui was in at this moment. However, his words still caused many people to feel a sense of surprise.

  But Yang Kai ignored the gaze of the other generals and stood proudly on the south gate tower, waiting for Bian Lingcheng's arrival.

  Very soon, Bian Ling Cheng appeared before Yang Hui under the leadership of several soldiers.

  This is a middle-aged eunuch in his forties, whose skin should have been very fair, but due to being sunburned and having gone through the baptism of war, his face turned dark red, only the flesh on his body covered by clothes was white.

  That red face, wretched expression, plus a body covered in mud and bloodstains, makes one feel quite amused.

  Seeing Bian Lingcheng like this, Yang Hui's two thick eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

  Although he returned in a sorry state, General E's dignity was still intact. Many of the generals, whether willingly or unwillingly, came forward to pay their respects, and even Geshu Han slightly clenched his fist and gave a greeting.

  Only Yang Jie stood proudly, with a cold gaze at Bian Lingcheng, who was supported by several bodyguards and stumbled to the front of the crowd.

  He had already figured out why Bian Liancheng would come from the west gate direction, and his heart was also surging with a thread of surprise.

  This eunuch has come at just the right time, and now he's being given a big gift!