Cui Hongdu had obviously expected this, and nodded slightly: "Please speak."
Li Xingchen and Pei Zilie glanced at each other subconsciously, and couldn't help but sigh in their hearts. These children from aristocratic families are really stable in the face of such a situation. This Cui Hongdu is really showing off his talents when he comes to the army. Maybe he will become a soldier.
Civil servants are better.
Li Xingchen then said: "Of course General Cui can only go back alone. It is impossible for us to allow so many soldiers to follow General Cui, but General Cui can rest assured that as long as these brothers on the mountain can take the initiative to lay down their weapons, I guarantee that they will not be embarrassed.
.”
"This..." Cui Hongdu raised his eyebrows.
This was obviously to ask them to surrender. Being able to speak so tactfully and politely made it "difficult" for Li Xingchen.
Seeing that Cui Hongdu seemed to be hesitant, Li Xingchen's hand slowly fell on the hilt of his sword: "Why, does General Cui think that we have no way to take down this mountain? At this time, allowing your troops to put down their weapons is also our request to Wei Xiaokuan
If General Cui doesn't appreciate the goodwill conveyed, then I'm afraid everything else we say today won't have much meaning."
Cui Hongdu gave a wry smile. He had already said this, and obviously no other choice was given to him. Anyway, Cui Hongdu didn't expect to make any more troubles with such a small force. Since Li Xingchen agreed, he could only
believe him.
At least Cui Hongdu felt that Li Xingchen's words were sincere.
He stared at the calm liquid in the wine glass, slowly picked up the glass again, and drank the wine in one gulp.
I am afraid only Cui Hongdu himself knows how much suffering he suffered after drinking.
Putting down his wine glass again, Cui Hongdu said slowly: "Since I'm going back to resume my life, I can't be empty-handed. I don't know what General Dang Kou's conditions are. I want someone to tell the two old generals."
Li Xingchen looked at Cui Hongdu with a half-smile, which made Cui Hongdu feel uncomfortable all over. Pei Zilie coughed lightly and said with a smile: "General Cui, I'm afraid these shouldn't be what you are talking about now. At least these conditions should be for my family's general.
Talk to General Wei Xiaokuan or General Yuchijun of your army."
Cui Hongdu opened his mouth, and what Li Xingchen said made sense. Although Li Xingchen could not be compared with Wei Xiaokuan and others in terms of official titles, the actual identities of both parties were the highest commanders of the Southern Chen Dynasty and the Northern Zhou Dynasty in Bashu, so these matters should indeed be between Li Xingchen and Wei Xiaokuan.
Waiting for a fair dialogue, Cui Hongdu is not qualified as the commander of a partial army.
Cui Hongdu thought it was a bit strange for a general like Wei Xiaokuan to negotiate with a young general like Li Xingchen. But now that the matter is at this point, if a result that satisfies both sides can be achieved, then Wei Xiaokuan will also not
I will worry about these more.
Cui Hongdu immediately stood up and solemnly raised his hands: "You two already understand what you mean. I will go up the mountain to make arrangements, and then immediately go to see General Wei outside Changgu."
Li Xingchen and Pei Zilie looked at each other. They were a little surprised that Cui Hongdu agreed so happily. However, on second thought, Cui Hongdu had no other choice now. Obviously there was hope of life, and he still didn't want to die.
Cui Hongdu didn't waste any time talking to Li Xinchen, and walked directly up the mountain as soon as he waved his hand.
Pei Zilie looked at Cui Hongdu's back and said slowly: "Shizhong, no matter how we negotiate with Wei Xiaokuan now, they have not gone through the imperial court."
As if he had expected what Pei Zilie would say, Li Xingchen chuckled: "The imperial court is thousands of miles away, and news has been exchanged. It has been several months since this matter was finalized. I don't know how the situation will evolve.
"
Pei Zilie frowned: "Shizhong, but if we cross the court like this, I don't know what the court will do if it knows..."
"Attack Bajun, attack Shujun, when have we ever obeyed the imperial court's orders?" Li Xingchen said calmly, "The matter is now over and the deal is done. Are you still going to wait for the imperial court's order to decide what we should do?"
Taking a breath of cold air, Pei Zilie wanted to refute, but for a moment he found that he could not find a suitable reason at all. Although the Battle of Bashu did not get the permission of the imperial court, it was agreed by the East Palace, and the subsequent Battle of Langzhong, etc.
When the enemy takes the initiative to attack, even if the court does not agree, it is impossible to sit still and wait for death.
But now he takes the initiative to negotiate peace with Wei Xiaokuan and others. In Pei Zilie's view, Li Xingchen is somewhat acting on his own initiative.
Looking around, Li Xingchen lowered his voice: "Master, to be honest, do you think we are still loyal ministers in the court's heart? Can't you see clearly what the court's attitude is towards us?"
Pei Zilie was speechless for a moment. He knew very well what Li Xingchen meant. He also knew how the imperial court saw them. Pei Zilie had expressed his dissatisfaction to Xu Deyan and others under his command more than once before, but when it came time to really break it,
When he was being shy, Pei Zilie was somewhat hesitant.
After all, he has been instilled with the idea of "loyalty to the emperor and serving the country" since he was a child. Although the imperial court did a bit too much, it is definitely impossible for Pei Zilie to completely cut off contact with the imperial court.
Li Xingchen was not in a hurry, and just said calmly: "As for why I want to have peace talks with Wei Xiaokuan at this time, I believe you know it very well. If this battle can continue, I definitely don't want to give up, but I can't continue
beated."
Pei Zilie nodded slightly, he knew Li Xinchen's considerations.
This battle has lasted for more than three months since the Chinese New Year. The army was dispatched and the battles were going back and forth. For Li Xingchen's weak system, it was already on the verge of collapse. If Jiangling hadn't secretly provided food and grass from time to time, plus
Pei Zilie made some gains by conquering Shu County. I am afraid that the first person to run out of food was not Wei Xiaokuan but Li Xingchen.
This campaign has already delayed this year's spring plowing. Li Xingchen obviously doesn't want to delay the summer harvest any longer. What's more, the operation of the southern county workshops in the rear has reached its limit. It may be difficult to replenish more troops needed on the front line in a short period of time.
Edged arrows, especially when the battle line is pushed farther and farther,
Of course, there is another reason, that is, Li Xinchen still has many prisoners who need to be resettled, and there are also many Ba people who have come out of the mountains who need to be resettled. These cannot allow Li Xinchen to stay in Cangxi Valley for too long. After all, he has to do these things
It is impossible to leave everything to Tang Yishun, Tang Zhengliang and others in the rear. In this way, Li Xingchen's life will be completely in the hands of the Xiajiang Tang family.
Fortunately, King Gu Ye brought a lot of talents to Li Xinchen from Jiangling. At least now, there is no obvious dominance of one family behind Li Xinchen. However, there is no leader and Li Xinchen, as the current leader of the entire system, cannot let it go.
His rear has always been in this state, so he also wants to end the war in front of him as soon as possible.