In the corner, Xia Xun, Xie Yufei, Ximen Qing and Nan Feifei gathered together.【】
"Ms. sir, the injury on your head... what happened?"
Nan Feifei gently wiped the blood stains on Ximen Qing's forehead with a handkerchief and asked distressedly.
Xia Xun coughed and said seriously: "Brother Gao Fei was accidentally injured by Qiu Xia in order to save me."
Ximen Qing rolled his eyes at him.
Xie Yufei re-bandaged Xia Xun's wound, but due to excessive force, the wound on his shoulder tore open again. He didn't feel anything at the time, but now he was not only bleeding, but also in unbearable pain. Xie Yufei tied the cloth strip and asked nervously
: "Mr. Sir, what should we do now? It would be terrible if the government becomes suspicious and starts interrogating people one by one."
Xia Xun said calmly: "I arranged everything for the corpses of Qiu Xia, Cao Yu, and Ziyi Teng. The scene was arranged in a confusing way, as if they were killed with sympathy. If Sheng Yong and Tie Xuan were smart enough, they would not make such a big fuss at this time.
The investigation made the officers and soldiers guarding the city suspicious of each other, and people were panicked. However, the only thing that worried people was Cao Yu's father. He didn't have many available people. If he came to check the officers and soldiers guarding the city one by one, he would know me.
…”
Ximen Qing sighed and said quietly: "If you think about it carefully, all the troubles I had in my promotion were all caused by you, Yang Xu. Originally, I was living a carefree and comfortable life in Yanggu County. It was all because of you.
, came to me from Qingzhou and dragged me to Peking with you, almost causing death. Well, now that I have arrived in Jinan, you have dragged me into the water again, making me a prisoner of the imperial court."
Xia Xun patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't sound like a resentful woman, okay? What's wrong with me dragging you to Peking? If you didn't go to Peking with me, how could you get such a charming little lady? Such a blessing
But my brother fought for you. You will benefit from following your brother..."
Ximen Qing said bitterly: "What's the benefit? Can you find me another beautiful little lady?"
Nan Feifei was not angry when he heard this and pinched him hard. Ximen Qing felt the pain and quickly laughed and said, "Good lady, aren't I just talking in anger?"
Xia Xun glanced at Nan Feifei and said with a smile: "Feifei, look at your gentle and graceful appearance now. You really look like a little woman. Do you already have a child?"
Nan Feifei glanced at Ximen Qing and said shyly: "Not yet..."
Ximen Qing glared at Xia Xun and snorted: "Stop teasing my wife, tell me! What should I do now?"
Xia Xun frowned and said: "Sheng Yong, Tie Xuan, in order to prevent deserters and collaborators, there are always patrolling supervising soldiers guarding the top of the city. All the tools that can be used to climb out of the city have been confiscated. During the war, arrows rain like rain.
Self-protection is particularly insufficient, and I have no chance to reveal my identity to the Yan army. If there is really a danger of being discovered, I will have no choice but to flee into the city. Now there are countless empty houses. It is easy to hide, but... eating is a big problem.
.”
Ximen Qing thought for a while and said: "This is the only way to eat. I will find a way. Even if you don't have enough food... you won't starve to death."
"Brother Ximen..."
Xia Xun held his hand and shook it, but did not say a word of thanks. He did not say thank you for his kindness. Ximen Qing finally stood by his side at the critical moment. At the moment, there was no chance that King Yan would succeed.
, A friend in need is a friend indeed, and Ximen Qing’s brotherhood was unforgettable to Xia Xun.
Xie Yufei said: "Mr. sir, should we wait until the officers and soldiers find us before leaving, or should we escape now?"
Just as Xia Xun was about to answer, he heard a commotion at the top of the city, banging bangs, and someone shouted: "The Yan army is attacking at night..."
※※※※
This night attack by the Yan Army only lasted a short time. The Yan Army had carried out similar night attacks before, and its real purpose was just to make it difficult for the city defenders to rest. This time it seemed to be the same, as the defenders rushed to the city one after another.
When the troops were ready, the Yan army withdrew and only fired sporadic arrows at the top of the city.
However, the officers and soldiers defending the city soon discovered that this time was different from the previous night raids, because many of the arrows had letters tied to the arrow shafts. At this time, many of the soldiers and civilians defending the city were forced to let the refugees out of the city.
The strong laborers who served as cannon fodder were left behind, and the strong men who were trapped in the city for more than two months and still had the strength to walk and even defend the city were all from relatively wealthy families, so they persisted until this moment.
Most of these families have the conditions to study privately, and naturally they can read more or less. So, under the torch, letters were opened one after another. When the officials began to collect the letters of King Yan, the contents were already in
The news spread quickly throughout Jinan City.
"If we don't surrender, the Yan army will flood Jinan?"
Ximen Qing was shocked and said: "It's broken, it's broken, Feifei, let's escape with Yang Xu and the others."
"Where to run?"
Nan Feifei scolded angrily: "The flood has entered the city, and the whole country has been flooded. Hiding in the houses... it is not as high as the top of the city."
"What should I do? What should I do? I'm really going to die in the city now."
Xia Xun's expression changed, and he suddenly thought of an extremely important event, and blurted out: "Flooding Jinan City? It's a bad thing!"
Ximen Qing said with a bitter face: "We were not starved to death or beaten to death, but in the end we were drowned alive. After all, we cannot escape death. Of course it is not good."
Xia Xun slowly shook his head: "We can't escape yet, this city... I still have to defend it!"
Xiqingmen lamented: "There is nowhere to escape even if you want to, brother!"
Only Xie Yufei seemed to hear something in Xia Xun's words. She glanced at Xia Xun and saw that his face was extremely solemn, but there was not much panic about the impending death.
On the city gate, there is a three-story city tower. The top floor has been flattened by the war. On the second floor, Sheng Yong, Tie Xuan and others looked heavy. In front of them, there was a pile of confiscated letters, most of which had been guarded.
The city officers and soldiers opened it.
Mr. Cao, who was furious because of the inexplicable tragic death of his son, had to temporarily put aside his son's affairs and join the military plane. He said worriedly: "The morale of the army has been weakened, and I am afraid that this city cannot be defended. The soldiers and civilians defending the city were still hoping that they would be forced to
If the Yan army retreats, the imperial army will rescue the siege. Now as long as the Yan army diverts water to the city, Jinan will be destroyed, and everyone will die without a burial place. Who will still have the heart to defend the city?"
Sheng Yong said anxiously: "I have just returned from patrolling the city. The officers and soldiers of our guard station are relatively calm, but the people who came to the city to arrest them are extremely frightened. Now they account for at least half of the troops defending the city.
, if they have no intention of defending it, the city will be destroyed by the Yan army without flooding."
Tie Xuan said seriously: "So what? Do you and I have to surrender the city and submit to Yan Ni? Sirs, who wants to surrender and become a person who is unfaithful and unjust and will be infamy for thousands of years?"
Sheng Yong, Gao Wei and Master Cao quickly said: "We are loyal to the emperor, but we are just worried that once King Yan implements this plan to wipe out the family, our months of hard work will be in vain, and the city of Jinan will not be defended."
, so I am hesitant and at a loss.”
Tie Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly and said solemnly: "If this is the case, I have a plan that may be able to get rid of the traitor Yan."
Sheng Yong said with emotion: "Master Tie, if you have any clever ideas, tell me quickly."
Tie Xuan explained the plan he had just thought of in detail. Sheng Yong hesitated and said: "This... Master Tie, you have to think clearly. If this plan succeeds, the Yan army will naturally collapse without attacking, and Jinan will be defeated."
The siege can be broken. But if it fails... Since ancient times, when defending a city, you must not surrender unless you have to. The defenders of the city will pretend to surrender. Once the city is broken, there may be a massacre of the city, and neither the soldiers nor the people of the city can be saved."
Tie Xuan sneered: "Does General Sheng still have the heart to protect himself? Yan Ni is crazy and has decided to flood the city. Once our plan fails, it will still be the same situation. Under the flood, there will be no chance of survival, and the whole city will die together.
, are you afraid of massacring any city, whipping the corpses is enough? Now that Yan Ni wants to divert water to flood the city, the army and the people are discouraged and cannot hold on, so this is the only way to do it. If it works, then you and I will kill Yan Ni, save Jinan, and be famous for our success.
If defeated, the King of Yan will be furious, and the entire city's soldiers and civilians will no longer have any luck. They will just give up their intention to surrender to the enemy. The city will be alive but the people will be there, but the people will die!"
Master Cao thought: "The King of Yan's plan to exterminate the household is to force us to surrender. Your plan to exterminate the household is to cut off our way of surrender." Seeing Sheng Yong, Gao Wei and others had no objections. Although he slandered,
But he didn't dare to reveal anything.
Tie Xuan suddenly stood up and said loudly: "What do you and I learn from reading the books of saints and sages? Eat the emperor's salary, be loyal to the emperor, serve the emperor, and shine for thousands of years! If you die, you will die, and you will get what you want!"
※※
The four cities of Jinan, with the exception of Dongcheng, had already been completely blocked. In the middle of the night, all the Minzhuang who were guarding the head of Dongcheng were mobilized and replaced by the trusted officers of the supervising team. From a distance, they could only see the torches shining brightly, but they didn’t know.
What are they doing under the city gate?
At dawn, Sheng Yong, Tie Xuan and others summoned the defenders. The city defenders knew that Yan's army was about to burst the embankment and flood the city. They were panic-stricken and had not slept all night. They were summoned again in a daze. They did not know what had happened.
matter.
Tie Xuan said sadly: "The Yan army has been besieging the city for more than two months. The entire city's soldiers and civilians have been holding on and serving the Lord. They have tried their best. But now the city is getting more and more difficult, and the imperial reinforcements have not been seen. Last night, the Yan army shot a book
Entering the city, he said that if he did not dedicate the city, he would flood the city with water and all the jade and stone would be burned. I waited for the shepherds to guard one side, reported it to the court, and went to make peace for the common people. Now Jinan's soldiers and civilians have been holding on to the isolated city for two months, and there have been countless casualties. We have done our best to the court.
Zhong, how can we bear to let all the soldiers and civilians in the city be buried in the country, just to feed the belly of the fish and turtles? Therefore..., I have discussed with you sirs and determined to...dedicate the city and surrender!"
As soon as these words came out, there were thunderous cheers and countless people shouted wildly. Even many soldiers showed relieved smiles on their faces. The Yan army outside the city didn't know why. Suddenly they heard a movement from the city and immediately stepped up their guard, but carefully
Observing, but speaking, bursts of cheering and cheering sounds came from the city, and they couldn't help but look at each other in surprise.
Tie Xuanrong's soldiers and civilians shouted wildly for a while, and then he pressed his hands down slightly and continued: "I have selected several officials and are preparing to go out of the city to negotiate with His Highness King Yan to surrender the city..."
The three officials came out in response and looked around at the people. One of them was Yi Jiayi, an old acquaintance of Xia Xun. Xia Xun, who was already invisible in the crowd, lowered his head again.
Tie Xuan added: "In order to let His Highness the King of Yan understand the sincerity of the soldiers and people of our city, we need to invite several elders to go together. Therefore, please recommend a few people to go to the military camp of His Highness the King of Yan with my envoy."
Upon hearing this, Xia Xun's head dropped even lower.