Outside Qizhou City, there was silence, not even a single person could be seen.
Li Zhi looked at the city angrily. If Li Junxian hadn't stopped him, he would have wanted to rush in, catch Li You, and beat him up.
Li Junxian looked at the arrows on the ground and said, "His Royal Highness, Prince Jin, you shouldn't stand so close."
"Li You! Get out!"
He shouted towards Qijuncheng again.
The voice of His Highness Prince Jin resounded throughout the land. Di Renjie looked at the figures walking around on top of the city. The people on top of the city must have heard this shout.
"Brother-in-law is right, the Tian family has a lot of troubles, and he has lost all face!" Li Zhi thought of the villagers who had escaped from Qizhou these days, and then saw the solid walls and clear fields around him, as well as his father's haggard look.
.
He sighed, blew out a cloud of white mist in the cold air, and whispered: "Has General Li brought artillery?"
Li Junxian replied: "I brought three doors with me."
"Blow open this city gate for me."
Li Junxian frowned and said: "Lishan and His Majesty have made an agreement that artillery cannot be used against the people of the Central Plains, and no unarmed people can die under the fire."
Li Zhi said displeased: "Didn't you have a lot of fun dealing with Fan Yang?"
Li Junxian replied: "It will only be used if it is confirmed that it will not hurt people."
Artillery has always been used externally, and can be easily left alone if it is not needed internally. This is the agreement between Lishan and His Majesty.
This is also the guarantee made by Lishan and His Majesty to the people of the world.
The county town looked particularly depressing as the sun set.
Miss Gongsun followed behind on a horse. Her eyes were firm, and whenever His Highness King Jin should rush forward, she would rush forward without hesitation.
Facing Li Zhi's anger, Di Renjie appeared calmer. He whispered: "Your Highness, set up camp and rest first. King Qi is in the city and he can't escape."
Li Zhi came back to his senses and gave the city an angry look, and then asked the horse to turn around and go back.
The camp was set up three miles outside Qizhou City. Li Zhi followed Li Junxian to the big tent first.
Zhang Jianzhi shrank his neck in the cold wind, "Come down for a while, Renjie, do you want it too?"
Di Renjie glanced at Zhang Jianzhi and felt that he was not up to par, "A three-year-old child? It's convenient but you need someone to accompany you."
Zhang Jianzhi covered his stomach and said, "I don't know if King Qi will send an assassin."
After hearing this, Di Renjie accompanied him to a wilderness for convenience.
The territory of Qizhou seemed to be getting colder, with the north wind blowing and bringing some rain. Di Renjie trembled as he waited for Zhang Jianzhi to be done.
Night enveloped this land.
Nothing happened on the first day of being stationed outside the city. Li Junxian reported the situation to Li Zhi, "I sent more than ten people to sneak into the city, but they were all discovered. They guarded them very strictly."
Li Zhi nodded and looked at the sand table, "I don't know much about the situation in the city from this sand table. In the future, we should let each state and city map out the building conditions in the city."
"General, Liu Dewei, the Minister of Punishment, has arrived."
Li Junxian nodded and said, "Let people enter the account to discuss matters."
Liu Dewei walked into the camp, and Li Zhi saw the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. He was very tall, and he had heard of his military exploits in his early years. He was from Pengcheng, Xuzhou, and followed Pei Renji to guard Jianghuai during the Daye period.
Later, he surrendered to Li Mi, and later returned to the Tang Dynasty with Li Mi. He was also the old man in Li Yuanji's hands.
He was appreciated by his father and stayed in the Ministry of Punishment, and now he has been transferred to the Ministry of Punishment as Minister.
Liu Dewei nodded and said: "The King of Qi has decided to rebel. It is useless to try to persuade him. Let's attack the city."
Li Junxian remained silent and focused on Prince Jin.
Li Zhi said in despair: "Wait a little longer, and I will go outside to persuade him."
Seeing that Li Junxian and Li Zhi still had hope of becoming King Qi, Liu Dewei sighed.
Among the three, only Liu Dewei had seen the evil deeds of King Qi Li You. He whispered: "If His Highness and General Li had also seen the evil deeds of King Qi, they would not be so hesitant."
Three more days passed, and there was still no movement in the city.
That night, Di Renjie became more and more impatient with Zhang Jianzhi and asked someone to accompany him when he got up to relieve himself.
Standing in the forest with his neck hunched in the cold wind, waiting, Di Renjie suddenly heard voices and became alert. He looked for the sound but saw no one.
Zhang Jianzhi came tremblingly with his belt held up, "Renjie, go back."
Di Renjie made a gesture of silence, listened carefully, and then heard a few more footsteps in the bushes.
Zhang Jianzhi also felt strange and looked for the sound.
The moonlight is not very bright tonight, and Zhang Jianzhi is hiding behind a tree and shivering.
Di Renjie pulled out the knife from Zhang Jianzhi's waist. Even if he came out with the army, he could not bring a knife with him.
On the contrary, Zhang Jianzhi pretended to have a wooden knife on him.
After getting closer, I saw two figures. One of them seemed to be tied up. There was a person in front of him who was holding a rope, and he was pulling the person behind him to move forward cautiously.
Di Renjie looked at the direction. They were not heading towards the camp, but towards Qizhou City.
"Renjie, let's call for soldiers and horses to capture them!"
Upon hearing the words in his ear, Di Renjie first glared at Zhang Jianzhi, who looked like an idiot.
After some calculation in my mind, I went to find soldiers and horses to capture him at this time. The opponent must have run far away.
Who would want to go to Qizhou City at this time?
Di Renjie had a plan in mind and quietly followed him.
The man walked cautiously.
"Jianzhi, you hold the person tied behind you, and I'll hold the person holding the rope."
"Here."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianzhi rushed forward.
Di Renjie was just about to say don't move yet, when this urn rushed forward.
Feeling regretful in his heart, he gritted his teeth and rushed forward.
There was a scream in the forest, and Zhang Jianzhi was kicked to the ground by the man. The murderer in front of him pulled out a real knife and shouted: "Di Renjie! Save me!"
The sword's light was so sharp that the opponent was about to raise the sword and swing it down, but the movements in his hand suddenly stopped.
Di Renjie held a wooden knife against the murderer's back, "Don't move!"
"Who are you!"
the other party asked.
"Leading the guards and horses, we are ordered to fight against rebellion!"
"Hehehe... I didn't expect to fall into your hands."
Di Renjie was holding a wooden knife in his hand, and he was also very panicked. Fortunately, the tied man was not exposed.
The man holding the knife in front of him didn't look back.
Upon receiving the signal from Di Renjie's eyes, Zhang Jianzhi gritted his teeth again, stood up and snatched the man's knife.
The two of them relaxed.
Seeing that Di Renjie only had a wooden knife, the man rushed forward angrily, but Zhang Jianzhi put the real knife in his hand across his neck.
This time Zhang Jianzhi had the courage and said, "Hey, Renjie is good at what he does. This family is not ashamed."
Di Renjie smiled bitterly and thought to himself that this man went to make a sneak attack but failed. If he hadn't been quick to act wisely, this idiot would have been dead long ago. What on earth was he so proud of?
Look at the tied man again. He is wearing an official uniform and has a cloth stuffed in his mouth, unable to speak.
Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi escorted the two of them towards the camp.
In the big tent, Li Zhi, Li Junxian, and Liu Dewei were still debating whether to attack the city.
Outside the camp, the guards came to report, "General, Your Highness, Liu Shangshu, Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi have captured two criminals."
"Bad guy?" Liu Dewei was a little curious.
Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi escorted people into the tent. They were in a very embarrassed state.
Li Junxian nodded and said, "Who are you?"
The tied man hesitated and gestured that there was a cloth stuffed in his mouth.
Zhang Jianzhi pulled out the rag from his mouth, which was still stuffed quite deeply.
When the rag came out, the man let out a deep breath, then looked angrily at the other man being held captive, and began to beat him.
Zhang Jianzhi and Di Renjie frowned at this scene.
"Are these two enemies enemies?"
After fighting for a while, the man in official uniform stood up again and replied: "Xia Guan Hui Yun County Wei You Wenzhi."
Li Zhi pointed to the other person who was beaten, "Then he is..."
You Wenzhi replied: "This man's name is Xu Xuanhui. He is a counselor under Liu Lan's tent and a member of the King of Qi."
Di Renjie smiled softly and said in a low voice: "As expected."
Unexpectedly, the court searched hard and caught these two people here.
Li Zhi nodded and said, "Liu Lan's rebellion was arranged by the two of you?"
Xu Xuan was ashen as ashes at the meeting, and she knelt on the ground and became silent.
You Wenzhi replied: "The lower officials have tried to dissuade Liu Lan from plotting rebellion several times. This person is the one who lobbied General Liu Lan several times. He is a member of the King of Qi, and he also wanted General Liu Lan to deal with Lishan according to King Qi's wishes."
"This fellow also wants to bribe the subordinate to serve as a slave to the King of Qi. If the subordinate refuses to obey, he will kidnap the subordinate and present it to the King of Qi."
Li Zhi looked at You Wenzhi and said solemnly: "Are you a good person?"
Di Renjie asked again: "Why did you run away when the court wanted to investigate?"
You Wenzhi replied: "The King of Qi sent someone to give gifts to Xiaguan, and Xiaguan accepted them. There will also be letters from King Qi to recruit Xiaguan at home. It was ten years ago in Zhenguan. Xiaguan was confused and wavered at the beginning.
.”
"I knew I couldn't explain it clearly, so I ran away. I didn't expect to be kidnapped by this guy in the middle of the road. It's really hateful!"
After saying that, You Wenzhi kicked Xu Xuanhui again.
This Xu Xuanhui is a thin middle-aged man with the appearance of a scholar.
He clasped his head on the ground and said nothing, trembling and terrified.
Li Junxian didn't want to see this farce, and felt that everything would be clear if he took the twists and turns here to confront Liu Lan in the middle of the court, "Take it down."
The people were taken out of the camp, and Zhang Jianzhi followed suit. Di Renjie also walked out. He asked: "Renjie, have we two made a meritorious service?"
Di Renjie nodded slightly, "That's right."
"With such merits, I think I can become an official?"
"You have a good idea." Di Renjie shook his head and said: "At most, I can get a convenient job, or be a caretaker in the Hongwen Pavilion? Be the director of the Sifang Pavilion?"
Zhang Jianzhi shook his head, "That won't work. A certain family can't do such miscellaneous things."
"Then you still have to take the imperial examination, unless you capture King Qi alive and bring him back to Chang'an City."
"Renjie, I really love to joke."
Li Zhi was still talking to Li Junxian in the big tent.
A guard came to report, "Your Highness, You Wenzhi said that he would like to go to Qizhou City to persuade the King of Qi."
Li Zhi replied: "No!"
"But..." the guard hesitated for a moment and then replied: "He said that if he didn't go to Qizhou, he would rather starve to death. He could make King Qi change his mind."
"What means does he have to make Li You go to Chang'an obediently?"
"He didn't say anything. He just said that if he was not allowed to go to Qizhou to lobby, he would starve to death."
It was the first time he went on a far journey and the first time he encountered such a complicated matter. Li Zhi was very troubled, but he still got up and walked out of the tent.
The soldiers here are very busy, and Li Junxian plans to continue the siege of Qizhou City.
Walking to the prison car, Li Zhi looked at the downcast You Wenzhi and asked, "Why do you want to see King Qi?"
You Wenzhi knew that the young man in front of him was the King of Jin, and smiled bitterly, "Xia Guan accepted the gift. I think the Qi King's defeat will definitely accuse Xia Guan of being an accomplice."
Hearing this, Di Renjie whispered: "It's still too late for you to go to King Qi now. He might accept you. Xu Xuan will be locked up here. As long as he doesn't communicate with King Qi, in King Qi's heart, you are still
Collusion.”
"Xiaguan will not go to the King of Qi. In fact, after knowing Liu Lan's intention, the official wanted to persuade the King of Qi. How could he be kidnapped by that guy because he was on the same road? If he had to escape, if the official was caught by the court
If I inquire, I will never see the King of Qi again, and I will be unable to persuade him to return."
Di Renjie frowned and said, "You don't have to go. As long as you explain clearly, even if the court wants to punish you, it will be lenient."
You Wenzhi didn't answer.
The three of them just looked at him.
As if hesitating, You Wenzhi sighed: "If you can leave a posthumous reputation for your subordinates, as long as you are not a rebel, it doesn't matter if you go, and it doesn't matter if you die."
Li Zhi asked people to release him, and then ordered: "If you can't see it, you can find a chance to escape. Even if you have to endure the humiliation and stay with King Qi, you can still look for another chance. I will help you straighten out in the future."
You Wenzhi nodded slowly, "Thank you to His Highness King Jin. Even if His Highness didn't say anything, I would have already planned to persuade King Qi to return after he lost his way."
Li Junxian arranged for several smart guards to look after You Wenzhi.
Li Zhi took out a glass lens and said to one of the guards: "This lens can reflect light and can be seen from several miles away. If something happens in the city, put this lens on the top of the city."
The lens is only about the size of a palm and can be placed quietly behind the masonry of the city wall.
After making these preparations, You Wenzhi packed up and headed towards Qizhou City with three guards at night.
In Qizhou City, the person guarding Qizhou was Yan Hongliang, a close confidant of the King of Qi. This man was still drinking as the battle approached.
He sat on the top of the city and said, "Hahaha! The King of Jin dared to attack the city with a thousand soldiers and horses. There is really no one in the court."
"Report!" The soldier came to report, "General, there is a man named You Wenzhi who is asking to see you at the gate."
"Which You Wenzhi?"
"It's Wei Youwenzhi of Huiyun County."
"Hahaha!" Yan Hongliang laughed and said, "He is an old friend of King Qi. Please come in quickly."
The city gate opened a gap. Li Zhi took a bamboo telescope and saw clearly the situation in the distance. The city gate opened, and someone came out with a torch and took the people in.
Di Renjie asked curiously: "What is this?"
"This is called the Lishan Telescope. You can see distant scenery."
"Oh?" Zhang Jianzhi also became interested, "Is there such a treasure?"
Li Zhi gave the binoculars to these two people.
Di Renjie played with it, holding the telescope and squinting his other eye, looking at Qizhou City in the distance with the monocular telescope, "What a treasure, I can even see clearly the defenses on the top of the city."
"really?"
Zhang Jianzhi became interested, picked up the telescope and looked into the distance, "Huh? Apart from the torches, I can only see darkness. It's so dark that I can't see anything clearly. Set up defenses? How did you see it?"