At dusk that day, as the weak rebel soldiers gradually stopped the attack that day, Chen Miao's henchmen threw a bamboo tube containing Chen Miao's private message to the black tiger thieves with black scarves on the opposite side across the position.

He shouted: "And give it to your leader Zhou." ”

The black tiger thief did not dare to slack off, nor did he dare to open the letter privately, and immediately handed it over to Benmu Zhang Feng.

Zhang Feng did not dare to slack off, and immediately went to the county government in person and handed it over to Zhao Yu in person.

I have to say that Zhang Feng's situation in the past few days is not very optimistic, just because his positions under his command have been lost the most, even among the black tiger thieves, private discussions against him have gradually begun to circulate, feeling that he is a big man, and his ability does not match his position - to put it bluntly, he just feels that he should not have such a high position.

Even Wang Qing, who has always had a relationship with him, has mocked him in public many times, which makes Zhang Feng feel very uneasy.

Fortunately, their big leader did not listen to Wang Qing and others chewing their tongues, and comforted and comforted him many times, which finally made Zhang Feng's heart feel a lot more at ease.

In addition to peace of mind, Zhang Feng also lowered his posture in front of Zhao Yu, for example, in the matter of sending letters, if he was replaced by powerful factions such as Chen Mo and Wang Qing, he would send someone to finish, but he personally delivered it to Zhao Yu, which did not mean to flatter.

After seeing Zhao Yu in the former yatang of the county government, Zhang Feng took out the bamboo tube from his arms, respectfully handed it to Zhao Yu, and explained: "Great leader, this is what the rebels just threw to my brother in the army, and said that it was handed over to you. ”

Zhao Yu also felt a little puzzled: "It's good if you send someone to send it, why come in person?" ”

"This ......"

Zhang Feng's face was scornful.

Fortunately, Zhao Yu has also been in charge of the cottage for a long time, and he can see the apprehension in Zhang Feng's heart at a glance, and he shook his head and said with relief: "I said it, Zhang Feng, you are the old man of the cottage, and you are also loyal to the cottage, I will not erase your old achievements because of your recent loss." ”

As he spoke, he took a few steps forward, patted Zhang Feng's belly lightly, and said with a smile: "But your posture should really be changed...... How to say it, it was also one of the well-known 'Yingshan Nine Thieves' back then, you look at Ma Hong, and then look at you. ”

"Yes, yes......"

Zhang Feng nodded both ashamedly and happily, after all, Zhao Yu could say this to him, which meant that he still trusted him very much.

In fact, Zhao Yu did not have the idea of 'abandoning' Zhang Feng.

It is undeniable that Zhang Feng is gradually inferior to Ma Hong and Liu Tu in leading troops to fight, let alone compared with Chen Mo, Wang Qing and others, but at least Zhang Feng is still loyal to him and the cottage, and Zhao Yu will not give up Zhang Feng on this point.

Not to mention that Zhang Feng is still capable in other aspects.

After a few jokes with Zhang Feng, Zhao Yu looked at the bamboo tube in his hand and asked casually: "Who sent it, did the other party mention it?" ”

"Nope." Zhang Feng shook his head.

Zhao Yu frowned slightly, opened the bamboo tube, took out a piece of silk cloth inside, and spread it out in his hand.

Glancing at the words on the silk cloth, Zhao Yu's brows furrowed deeply.

I saw that it was written: If I can persuade Guan Qushuai to give up revenge on Kunyang when he withdraws his troops, can I rely on this goodwill to restart the negotiations between Kunyang and Yishi?

Looking at the payment again, the word 'Chen Miao' was written on it.

Chen Miao? …… Is the commander of the Jiangxia rebels, Chen Miao?

Zhao Yu frowned and thought.

"Grand Chief?"

Seeing that Zhao Yu stood without saying a word for a long time, Zhang Feng was a little apprehensive and asked cautiously, "I don't know who sent the letter?" ”

He seemed to want to use this question to test his place in the heart of the leader in front of him, to see if he still trusted him.

However, Zhao Yu did not mean to hide it, and said with a frown: "It is Chen Miao, the commander of the Jiangxia rebels, who seems to see that our side is afraid of retaliating against me when the rebels evacuate......

Hearing this, Zhang Feng was overjoyed and surprised.

Happily, the big leader in front of him did not hide him, and he still had a position in the other party's heart; To their surprise, the rebel commander on the opposite side actually saw the one thing they were most worried about.

After some contemplation, Zhao Yu instructed Zhang Fengdao: "I have to think about this matter, you go back first, remember that the content of the letter must not be leaked." ”

"Yes!"

Zhang Feng also understood that it was not his turn to participate in the discussion of such a major event, so he respectfully clenched his fists and retreated.

At this time, Zhao Yu returned to the chair behind the judgment table and sat down, looking intently at the letter in his hand.

Chen Miao's letter contains three messages.

First, this person has seen that he is most worried about Kunyang at the moment, that is, he is worried about retaliation against Kunyang when the Changsha rebels withdraw.

Second, Chen Miao was willing to persuade Guan Shuo to give up revenge on Kunyang as a gesture of goodwill to Kunyang.

Third, Chen Miao hopes to use this goodwill to restart negotiations between the two sides.

And among them, negotiation is obviously the ultimate goal of the other side.

After pondering for a while, Zhao Yu instructed He Shun, who was beside him, to say, "He Shun, you asked someone to invite Liu Gong and Li Xiancheng to come, and said that I have something important to discuss with them." ”

"Yes." He Shun clenched his fists and took the order, turned his head and walked out of the yatang.

After a while, the county commander Liu Bi and the county commander Li Xu came one after another, with puzzled faces on their faces.

After the two arrived, Zhao Yu stood up, handed Chen Miao's letter to the two, and explained: "This is what I just received, let's take a look." ”

Liu Bi glanced at the contents of the letter a few times, and asked in surprise: "Chen Miao?" Is it the commander of the Jiangxia rebels? The one who wanted to rebel against Wu Zhi in the first place? ”

"Hmm." Zhao Yu nodded.

From the side, Li Xu had already finished reading the letter, shook his head and said resolutely: "Leader Zhou, don't make peace with the rebels!" ”

Zhao Yu did not reply to Li Xu immediately, pointed to the letter in their hands and said: "It is not difficult to see from the letter sent by Chen Miao that the rebels are gradually unable to hold on...... Unlike my guards in Kunyang, who have a belief in defending their hometown, the morale of the rebels is gradually declining due to many aspects such as unfavorable weather and war...... I don't doubt that my Kunyang will be able to repel this rebel army in the end, what I am worried about is that they will retaliate against my Kunyang......"

After a pause, he explained: "Retreating into the city and engaging in street fighting was my last resort that day, and although everything went well, it also allowed the rebels to enter the city...... If Na Guan Shuo sets fire to the city and ambushes the troops outside the city, even if we can retreat to Runan and Xiangcheng, we will be ambushed by the rebels halfway......"

"This ......"

Liu Bi and Li Xu looked at each other, although Zhao Yu was only two short sentences, it was not difficult for them to guess what a cruel scene it would be.

After a while, Li Xu asked hesitantly, "What does Leader Zhou mean...... Make peace with the rebels? ”

Zhao Yu said euphemistically: "If this move is beneficial to my Kunyang, I think so." ”

“……”

Liu Bi and Li Xu looked at each other again.

Immediately, Li Xu nodded and said, "I understand." ”

He took a deep look at Zhao Yu a few times, and said, "I believe in Leader Zhou, and I am willing to share the responsibility with Leader Zhou." ”

From the side, Liu Bi glanced at Li Xu in astonishment, and hurriedly said: "Liu also believes in Leader Zhou and is willing to admit responsibility with Leader Zhou." ”

"Thank you both for your understanding."

Zhao Yu smiled and arched his hand.

After a while, Liu Bi and Li Xu said goodbye and left, while Zhao Yu stood at the entrance of the yatang, looking out of the house with his hands behind his back.

is very helpless, there is no shortage of heroes in the world, and among the rebels opposite, there are also many visionary ones, such as that Chen Miao.

He knew very well that the seemingly kind proposal in Chen Miao's letter was actually a threat in disguise, and if he did not accept the 'goodwill' of the other side, the other side might take the means of 'revenge'.

Zhao Yu believes that he believes that Chen Miao does not want to 'take revenge on Kunyang', which is why he has this letter, but if there is no possibility of reconciliation between the two sides, if Chen Miao, as the commander of the Jiangxia rebels, will not show mercy to his Kunyang subordinates - who will show mercy to the enemy's subordinates who are already destined to not be reconciled?

I have to say that Zhao Yu is selfish in guarding Kunyang, because Kunyang is his territory and his foundation, he can't sit back and watch the rebels occupy Kunyang, and in the same way, he can't sit back and watch the rebels 'retaliate against Kunyang' and set a fire to burn Kunyang to the ground, so in the case of nothing to do, he will choose to reconcile with the rebels.

In order to prevent him from falling into the trap, he invited Liu Bi and Li Xu, intending to let them share the responsibility with him.

But......

…… It's really uncomfortable, with the notoriety of 'thief', I don't know what happened to Xun Yi......

Looking up at the clear sky outside the house, Zhao Yu thought with a loss.

At the same time, in Xuchang, the county seat of Yingchuan County, the letter of Wang Yong, the county commander of Xiangcheng County, finally arrived in Xuchang County.

When this letter was sent to the county guard's mansion, the county guard Li Min was discussing with the county lieutenant Cao Suo, the sergeant Tian Qin and other generals to defend the city, and even Xun Yi and other civil officials were also standing on the left and right at this moment.

It is no wonder, because as the seat of Yingchuan County, the current situation of Xuchang County is not much better than that of Kunyang County, and the nearly 10,000 troops led by Xiang Xuan, a general under Guan Shuo, and the 30,000 Jiangxia troops sent by Chen Miao to support Xiang Xuan, have already surrounded Xuchang County on all sides.

When everyone was discussing, a soldier might come to report: "My lord, there is a letter sent by the county order of Xiangcheng County." ”

Hearing this, Li Min looked annoyed, and he didn't even have the interest in reading the letter, because he felt that Wang Yong, the county commander of Xiangcheng County, must have come to ask for help.

Seeing that Li Min didn't mean to read the letter, Xun Yi, the governor of the western post, stepped forward to take the letter, opened it and looked at it.

"What did he say, was it a call for help?" Li Min asked without looking back.

However, Xun Yi did not answer for a long time.

Li Junshou turned his head unhappily, but saw Xun Yi holding the letter in his hand, his face full of surprise.

"Adult ......"

Turning his head to look at Li Min, Xun Yi said with surprise on his face: "Kunyang is still there!" Kunyang is still there! When the city wall had been breached by the rebels, Zhou Hu led the soldiers and civilians of the city to fight the rebels to the death in the city, so that the rebels could not occupy Kunyang so far......"

“……”

Suddenly, the whole room was silent.

Not only the county guard Li Min, but the rest of the people were also full of shock.

Kunyang ......

Still there?!