The Tubo army did not show up for several days, and at this time, 6,000 reinforcements, including heavy infantry, rushed to Tuniu Military City, and Yao Jin was overjoyed and personally rushed several miles away to welcome the reinforcements.

Six thousand men came on horseback, including 1,000 heavily armored infantry, but they rode on two horses, one specially used to carry armor and swords, and a logistical supply team of thousands of camels to carry a large amount of supplies.

Zhonglang General Zhang Tuo stepped forward and hugged his fists and smiled: "General Yao, I haven't seen you for a long time!" ”

Yao Jin laughed, stepped forward and hugged the generals one by one, and said with emotion: "I am looking forward to the stars and the moon, and I finally hope for you." ”

"General Yao is not afraid that we will share the credit?" Zhang Tuo joked.

Yao Jin waved his hand, "Don't be afraid, there is a lot of credit, but I'm afraid that you won't share it." ”

Everyone laughed again, Yao Jin invited everyone to the camp to rest, Kang Bao stepped forward and asked, "General Yao, how is the situation of the Tubo people?" ”

Everyone respected this taciturn, dedicated and serious Sogdian general, Yao Jin said solemnly: "Three days ago, there was a night attack, we have prepared, shot 346 people, the Tubo army suffered a big loss, but the Tubo army in the valley has no signs of withdrawal, I estimate that there will be a big battle, I am very worried in the past two days, but you came, it is really overjoyed." ”

Yao Jin is very honest, he does not hide his lack of strength, the combat ability of the Tuyuhun people may be a little worse, but the Tubo army is stronger than the Shatuo army, if the Tubo army is an attack of about 10,000 people, they will definitely not be able to resist the 3,000 people, it doesn't matter if the army is defeated, but he is worried that it will endanger Ganzhou, then he is a sinner.

Kang Bao nodded, "The Governor is also worried about your lack of troops, so he sent us to support, hoping that we will unite sincerely, thwart the attempts of the Tubo army, and leave them a profound lesson." ”

Yao Jin said happily: "I'm looking forward to seeing the Mo Dao Army show its might again. ”

"I won't let General Yao down!"

The people talked and laughed, and led the army to the camp.

.........

At the same time that Kangbao and other reinforcements arrived at Dadou Bagu, Shatuo's envoy also arrived in Zhangye, and Guo Song discussed the exchange of prisoners of war between the two sides, the envoy was called Zhu Xie Jinman, who was the half-brother of Zhu Xie Jinhai, and was appointed as Jinchang Yehu, responsible for Shatuo's mining, animal husbandry, winemaking, tanning, military weapons and other industrial and mining industries, equivalent to Shatuo's deputy prime minister.

Zhu Xie Jinman brought more than a dozen of his subordinates, and Guo Song ordered Shi Pan Liao and his staff Zhang Qianyi to receive the Shatuo envoy and his party, and arranged for them to live in the post house.

In the military office, Guo Song listened to Zhang Qianyi's report, "Governor Qiyu, the other party hopes that their people can meet the prisoners of war and confirm the situation of the prisoners of war. ”

"What is their relationship?" Guo Song asked.

"It should be a brotherly relationship, Zhu Xie Shenglu is the oldest person in their generation, and even the deceased former Khan Zhu Xie Jinding is two years younger than Zhu Xie Shenglu."

"It seems that Zhu Xie Shenglu is very popular in Shatuo?"

"That's true, the envoy Zhu Xie Jinman said that he was a well-known good old man in Shatuo, and he felt that the Khan of Shatuo seemed to be more eager to redeem him."

Guo Song took a few steps and said with a smile: "I guess Shatuo Khan hopes that he will come forward to mediate the conflict between Zhu Xie Jinhai and the Council of Elders, this person looks very smooth and flexible, and he is really a good candidate for mediation." ”

"In that case, you might as well ask for a little more."

"That's for sure, if the price is too low, wouldn't it humiliate Zhu Xie Shenglu?"

Guo Song and Zhang Qianyi glanced at each other and laughed together.

........

Zhu Xiejin is about thirty years old, burly and tall, and can also be a warrior who can ride a horse, but what Shatuo lacks is not a warrior, but a civil official who can govern the country and the country, Zhu Xiejin Man had to take off his armor, put on a soft robe, and became one of the few civil officials in Shatuo.

This time, he was ordered by the Khan to come to Ganzhou to negotiate the exchange of prisoners of war, but he got the news of the loss of Jiuquan halfway through, and he had to wait for further news from the Khan in Guazhou.

Shatuo Khan had only one additional order, asking him to redeem Zhu Xie Shenglu as soon as possible, without mentioning the matter of Jiuquan at all.

That night, after meeting with his eldest brother Zhu Xie Shenglu, Zhu Xie Jinman talked to the officials of Ganzhou overnight about redeeming Zhu Xie Shenglu, and proposed that Zhu Xie Shenglu should return to Shatuo with him.

Pan Liao smiled and said: "Zhu Xie Yehu has also seen it, your eldest brother is treated very well here, he is in a separate house, basically under house arrest, and he has not suffered much, we are also very willing to release him back to Shatuo and let him go home and reunite with his family as soon as possible, but what we need is your sincerity." ”

Zhu Xie Jin bowed and said: "I have just said that we are willing to exchange 200,000 sheep for my brother, which is the price of the grassland in exchange for the chief, and we have shown enough sincerity." ”

Pan Liao shook his head, "As far as we know, Zhu Xie Shenglu has a high status in Shatuo and is admired, although he is not a khan, his status is comparable to a khan, it is disrespectful to him to ransom him with 200,000 sheep, and the governor of my family wants to ransom him with the price of the khan." ”

Zhu Xie Jinman's face changed, the Khan has no ransom, if it must be marked with a price, it is at least more than 500,000 sheep, you must know that Zhu Xie Shenglu's own tribe is only 500,000 sheep, this is tantamount to taking out the property of his entire tribe, how can this asking price be accepted?

"Don't [read fo] can!"

Zhu Xiejin denied, "At most, 300,000 sheep, this is the limit, and if there is more, it is not in accordance with the rules, and secondly, we can't bear it." ”

Pan Liao said unhurriedly: "The rules are made by people, and the things we set today will also become rules in the future, I think it should be flexible, as for the bearing capacity, Zhu Xie Shenglu often told the soldiers guarding him that his tribe has a million sheep, and I don't think it's much to take out half of it, and it will be restored in a few years, human life is worth more than sheep's life!" ”

Zhu Xiejin is full of hatred in his heart, the eldest brother talks nonsense after drinking all day long, bragging about himself, who doesn't know his little family background?

"One million sheep must be an exaggeration, don't believe it too much, we know that his tribe only has 300,000 sheep at most, and he is a good person to brag."

Next to him, Zhang Qianyi said: "That's it! Put Zhu Xie Shenglu and other prisoner of war exchanges together to settle the general account, and it is likely that there will be a plan acceptable to both sides. ”

Zhu Xie Jin was helpless, so he had to nod and agree.

.........

The Ganzhou officials said goodbye and left, Zhu Xiejin was really a little upset, he never expected that the other party's asking price would be so high, asking for 500,000 sheep, he also realized that he was a little in a hurry, and was caught by the other party, which made him regret it in his heart.

The ransom that the Khan promised was 300,000 sheep, but the Tang army asked for 500,000 sheep, what should I do?

At this time, his deputy, Daru, said in a low voice: "Ye Hu, I have an idea. ”

"What thoughts?" Zhu Xie Jinman glanced back at him.

"We went to the prisoner of war camp today, and our captured soldiers are about 6,500, but we have 11,000 Han miners in our hands, plus about 15,000 women and children, that is to say, we still have 9,000 people to bargain, according to the exchange of a slave for 20 sheep, these 9,000 people are almost 200,000 sheep, and in the end, after some bargaining, we can reach an agreement by adding another 200,000 sheep."

Zhu Xiejin's eyes lit up, this is a good way.

.........

In the outer study of Guo Song's mansion, Guo Song stood in front of the window with his hands in his hands, listening to the reports of Pan Liao and Zhang Qianyi.

Zhang Qianyi bowed down and said: "The judgment of the governor is not wrong, Zhu Xie Shenglu is indeed very important to them, the importance is even beyond our imagination, and it also shows from one side that the contradiction between Zhu Xie Jinhai and the Council of Elders is very sharp, they urgently need Zhu Xie Shenglu to go back to mediate the conflict and prevent Shatuo from infighting, we can indeed make full use of this Zhu Xie Shenglu." ”

Pan Liao said on the side: "Mr. Zhang and I both agree that the condition of 500,000 sheep will never be compromised. ”

Guo Song said slowly: "Actually, I don't want Sha Tuo to give out a sheep, as long as Sha Tuo agrees, let the soldiers and civilians of Beiting return to the east by the road." ”

Speaking of this, Guo Song looked back at the two of them: "This is my bottom line of negotiation!" ”

Pan Liao and Zhang Qianyi looked at each other, the two of them really didn't expect that the bottom line of the Governor's negotiation was to let the soldiers and civilians of Beiting return to the east.

Guo Song's eyes were a little sad, "The imperial court does not support us to recover the Hexi Corridor, and Shatuo still has more than 100,000 troops, and the troops are strong, we can't exterminate them in the short term, but the food shortage of the soldiers and civilians in Beiting is becoming increasingly severe, and they may not be able to survive this winter, rather than they are destroyed by Shatuo, it is better to let them give up the isolated city of Tingzhou and return to the Tang Dynasty in the east, Shatuo can also occupy Tingzhou without blood, so that Hui Hui has nothing to say, it is beneficial to both sides, I believe that Shatuo will definitely agree to this condition." ”

Pan Liao suddenly became anxious, and hurriedly said: "Governor, give up Tingzhou, the court will be held responsible." ”

Guo Song sneered, "The imperial court has long given up Tingzhou, and they are embarrassed to hold them accountable?" ”

Next to him, Zhang Qianyi suggested: "The Governor might as well report this idea to the Son of Heaven first, and strive to get the support of the Son of Heaven, and there is nothing to say about the political affairs hall." ”

Guo Song knew that Li Shi was not a courageous person, in the face of a strong political hall, he often ended up in a compromise, if this matter was known by the political hall, it would be troublesome, thinking of this Guo Song said decisively: "This plan is done first, and then I will bear all the consequences caused by it!" ”