As the saying goes, those who are close to Zhu are red and those who are close to Mo are black. Although they have not been with the soldiers of Hongjindu for a long time, the soldiers of Wuyue Army have been sublimated to an unprecedented level in terms of personality.

Shao Jixian got up early every day before dawn, washed his face, chopped firewood, fed the horse, and hitched the carriage. After everything was ready, he shouted, "Brothers, go shopping!" Then he went straight to Changzhou City, surrounded by people.

The busiest street market.

Wu Yue's army was obviously inexperienced in the area of ​​hunting for goods, and even with the strength of the people and their best efforts, little effect was achieved. After Xu Xian pointed out, Shao Jixian hired several red scarf soldiers as "consultants", and only then did he get a glimpse of the "hunting for goods"

The way to learn.

With the harvest, he naturally became more diligent. Shao Jixian took people out early and returned late every day, just like a hard-working old farmer working silently in the prosperous city of Changzhou. Xu Xian could always see him with a satisfied smile every evening.

Pass by the handsome tent.

"Shao Jixian, come in!"

Upon hearing Xu Xian's call, Shao Jixian quickly entered the tent and asked, "What are your orders, Commander-in-Chief?"

Xu Xian stroked the short beard under his lips and said, "Look at your grin reaching up to your ears. Let me ask you how much money you made today?"

"Not much! Not much!" Shao Jixian stretched out a finger and said: "There is always ten thousand guan, hehe..."

"Don't exploit us too hard and cause a civil uprising. We don't need the Tang army outside the city to fight. The people of Changzhou alone can give us enough to drink a pot."

That day, after a lot of bluffing and frightening, coupled with Li Congjia's promises and persuasion, Wang Kuangye actually let Changzhou out, and Xu Xian also fulfilled his promise and let Li Congjia and Li Hongji brothers go.

However, on the third day, Wang Kuangye, who had originally retreated, came back and surrounded Changzhou with 30,000 troops. It was probably because Li Jing was afraid that they would raise troops and march north to threaten Jinling.

Wang Kuangye did not attack the city, and Xu Xian naturally would not take the initiative to cause trouble for him. The two sides were in such a confrontation inside and outside the city that they were in peace for the time being.

"Commander, don't worry. We are all looking for the rich people in the city, and they won't break their muscles and bones to fight with us. The commander-in-chief opened an official warehouse to provide food for the people, and even asked the brothers from the Red Scarf City to help the widows.

When carrying water to repair houses, many people in the city said that the army is a benevolent and righteous army, so how can it cause trouble for us."

"Haha..." Xu Xian laughed twice, "Get out, remember to load everything on the boat and take it with you when you evacuate later!"

As soon as Shao Ji stepped out, Dakui came in and said: "Commander, there is someone from outside the city."

"Who is it? It shouldn't be Wang Kuangye. Just say that I don't have time to see him."

Wang Kuangye probably also wanted to imitate Xu Xian in retaking Changzhou without using any weapons. From time to time he would invite him to the city to talk, using threats and inducements, but Xu Xian just ignored him.

Dakui reported: "It's not Wang Kuangye, it's an angel sent by His Majesty!"

"Oh!" Xu Xian stood up and said, "Come with me to have a look!"

Xu Xian immediately left the camp and came to the north city. He saw a group of people standing under the city, including eunuchs, officials, many Zhou soldiers, and even an angel guard of honor.

A Zhou sergeant came to the city and spoke in an authentic Kaifeng accent, "Your Majesty has an edict, so Commander Xu will quickly come down to the city to receive it."

Xu Xian smiled and asked: "May I ask who announced the decree for Emperor Zhou?"

A middle-aged man in official robes stepped forward and said loudly to the top of the city: "Wang Xing, a member of the Ministry of Etiquette, has met General Manager Xu and heard that the General Manager has captured Changzhou Longyan Dayue. The Tang Dynasty has begged for surrender from His Majesty and is willing to exchange the land north of the Yangtze River."

Changzhou, Your Majesty has given permission to send a subordinate to Changzhou to announce the decree. Firstly, he will reward the general manager for his merits, and secondly, he will ask the general manager to withdraw from Changzhou."

"Oh? Your Majesty wants me to withdraw my troops?"

"Exactly, don't worry, General Manager. The Tang army has retreated thirty miles away. They will not enter the city until the General Manager leaves Changzhou safely!"

“They are thoughtful!”

"Please open the city gate and let us enter the city. Or we can go out and receive the order."

Xu Xian smiled and said, "Please forgive me, angel. Xu has a heavy responsibility and dare not open the city gate without seeing the imperial edict. Please ask the angel to announce the edict under the city, and then hand over the edict for me to check before talking."

"Okay!" The envoy under the city immediately opened the imperial edict and read: "The edict says: Xu Xian, the military commander of Heng Haijun Jiedu, has made great achievements in conquering the Tang Dynasty. He is granted the title of Lord of Hezhong County, the title of Shangshu Ling, and the crown prince Shaobao. Now the Tang Dynasty sincerely begs for surrender, and I have given my permission.

You can withdraw from Changzhou and come here."

Xu Xian knelt down at the top of the city to thank him and had the edict brought up in a hanging basket. Xu Xian opened it and saw that it was indeed Chai Rong's handwriting, and that the jade seal and the official seals of the three provinces were also correct.

He held the city wall and said to the people in the city: "I have experienced your Majesty's decree. Now I will open the city gate and invite the angels to enter the city."

But the envoy cupped his hand and replied: "Since your Majesty has confirmed it, I only hope that your Majesty can carry out your decree as soon as possible. I will not enter the city. I will cross the river to report back to Your Majesty."

"Okay! I will withdraw my troops tomorrow. I wish the angels a safe journey!" Xu Xian bowed to see him off, and only got up when he saw the other party walking away.

Shao Keqian, who had been silent next to him, suddenly said: "Commander, are you really going to return Changzhou to the Tang State tomorrow? Why don't you just give Changzhou to Wu Yue? If you give Wu Yue a rare opportunity, I'm afraid it will be difficult to capture it again in the future!"

Xu Xian turned to look at Shao Keqian and said, "I heard that someone was looking at the top of the city to shoot arrows the night before yesterday. Isn't it a secret message from the King of Wuyue to you?"

Shao Keqian was an upright man and could not hide the matter on his face. He could not help but look a little embarrassed. He cupped his hands and replied: "This is a secret letter from the king. Changzhou is the gateway to Jinling. If Changzhou can be in our hands, the Tang Dynasty will no longer be a threat to Wu Yue."

"

"I'm afraid Li Jing won't be willing. Changzhou is a bargaining chip for His Majesty to negotiate with Tang State and I can't make the final decision. If King Wu Yue really wants Changzhou, there is nothing he can do."

Xu Xian chuckled softly and said: "Go back and prepare some good hands, sneak into my camp tonight and kill me. This Changzhou belongs to Wu Yue!"

He was just teasing him casually, but Shao Keqian's expression changed drastically and he knelt down and said, "This subordinate has no intention of harming the commander-in-chief!"

"I'm just kidding you, why are you nervous!" Xu Xian stretched out his hand to help Shao Keqian up, "Don't worry, at least I won't return Changzhou to Tang State tomorrow!"

"Why?" Shao Keqian looked at the edict in Xu Xian's hand, "Is this edict fake?"

Xu Xian took the yellow scroll and patted it in his hand: "Actually, I don't know whether it is true or false."

There were many officials in the imperial court. Even if Xu Xian often walked in front of the palace, he would not pay attention to the appearance and name of a small official in the Ministry of Etiquette. What's more, this person's appearance and name were all popular, so Xu Xian could not tell them apart.

For such an important decree, at least a familiar official must be sent over. What really made Xu Xian suspicious was that the angel left without entering the city. He most likely concluded that this was a fake. Those civil servants

What kind of virtue is, Xu Xian knows best, and he will easily let go of things like reaping huge benefits.

Wang Kuangye, Wang Kuangye, being able to use such a strategy shows that he is quite smart. It is difficult to tell whether the edict is true or false, so it can be seen that he has put in a lot of effort.

Xu Xian was even more curious as to why Wang Kuangye still used such a trick. Could it be that Changzhou was occupied and Li Jing still didn't intend to surrender?

He returned to the camp full of doubts. As soon as he sat down, Xu Lang came in with dinner, "Father, I put some dogwood in the mutton soup cakes made in the kitchen tonight."
Chapter completed!