Sun Furong said: "Little Wu, maybe your father offended someone in the rivers and lakes, and they came to you to seek revenge." ”

Yuan Xiaowu suddenly realized: "No wonder there are people from the rivers and lakes who have appeared in Yangzhou Weiyamen in the past few days, I thought they were unfavorable to Wang Yushi, but who knew that they were coming for me." ”

Sun Furong hurriedly said: "Then Xiao Wu, don't go to the yamen on an errand these days, take care of your mother at home first, and then carefully inquire about the origin of those people by the way, I will send Mr. Qin to visit often." ”

Yuan Xiaowu bowed his hand and said, "Thank you Sun Weng for taking care of me, I have already taken leave from Wang Yushi." When my mother's illness improves, I will go to the yamen to listen to the order. ”

Sun Furong nodded and said, "That's good, that's good." ”

After that, he said goodbye with Mr. Qin.

That night, Wang Bin inspected the moat, tired after a day's work, returned to the house, took off his armor, ordered the servants to prepare a bathtub, boil hot water, Wang Bin jumped into the bathtub, lay in it, and let the hot water wash away the fatigue of the day.

He was closing his eyes when the door suddenly opened and the three of them broke in.

Wang Bin suddenly sat up, through the dense water vapor, he recognized the two people on the left and right were Yangzhou Wei Qianhu Xu Zheng and Zhang Sheng, and one in the middle was masked with a black cloth, I don't know who it was, the three of them each held knives and guns, murderous, and surrounded him.

Wang Bin shouted: "Xu Zheng, Zhang Sheng, what do you two want?" ”

The masked man in the middle, took off the black cloth, revealed his true face, and sneered at Wang Bin: "Wang Yushi, do you recognize me?" ”

Wang Bin was shocked and said, "You are Wang Li's brother Wang Zong?" ”

Wang Zong said with a smile: "Exactly, Yangzhou Wei wants to welcome the King of Yan, but you and Chonggang are not attached, so let's borrow your head to make a name today." ”

With that, he waved his knife and cut off Wang Bin's head, and the blood stained a basin of hot water.

At the same time, someone else assassinated Chonggang and released Wang Li and Liu Rong from prison.

Wang Lilai came to the top of the hall, summoned all the soldiers under him, and held the heads of Wang Bin and Chonggang and said to everyone: "The army of King Yan is coming to Yangzhou in the near future, I am determined to surrender, and I am willing to follow my left!" ”

Everyone looked at each other, and when they saw that Wang Bin and Chonggang were dead, they all raised their left arms together and shouted, "I am willing to follow the command." ”

Wang Li nodded, and handed over Wang Bin and Chonggang to Liu Rong. Liu Rong rushed to Tianchang with these two heads and horses, and when he met the Yanwang team, he offered the heads to show the sincerity of Wang Li's surrender. King Yan was overjoyed and urged the army to hurry up and rush to Yangzhou.

After the army of King Yan entered the city, he rewarded Wang Li and ordered him to lead the army with Liu Rong, the commander of the capital, and ordered the cities of Gaoyou, Nantong Prefecture and Taizhou, and gathered boats to prepare for crossing the river.

Wherever the Yan soldiers went, all the cities fell, the king of Yan then set up a large camp in Gaozi Port, the Yan army boats and boats went back and forth on the river, the flags and drums covered the sky, and the Beijing division was shocked.

Emperor Jianwen heard that the Yan army was approaching, and he was in danger, so he urgently recruited Fang Xiaoru into the palace to discuss countermeasures.

Fang Xiaoru pondered for a long time and said: "Your Majesty, the matter is urgent, and we should take measures to delay the army at this moment." Send people close to King Yan to allow him to cut the land and divide the river to rule. It only needs to be delayed for a few days, Sheng Yong's army arrives, and then there is a showdown. In addition, we will send people to the southeast to recruit troops, and the two-pronged approach will still be possible. ”

So Emperor Jianwen issued an edict and sent all kinds of ministers to the southeast to recruit troops and serve the king. The edict is roughly as follows: "Fengtian carries the emperor's edict and says: I Qin is ordered by the emperor's ancestors, and the heirs are enshrined in the gods." The Yan people are not moral, they are free to fight, abuse all surnames, and repeatedly raise soldiers to beg for it. The generals who are close to the law are lawful, and the soldiers invade Huai, intending to cross the river and commit crimes. The general Sheng Yong has led the division to control the chokehold, and it is necessary to sweep it away. The Quartet Division, the Political Division, the Inspectorate and the ministers of the Ministry of Defense, hearing that the country is in trouble, should think hard about their loyalty and bravery, and lead the righteous and brave divisions to go to the king of Que Qin, to calm the difficulties, to achieve great success, in order to support the sect. Alack! I don't want to say anything about my immorality and forcing the capital master, but how can my people turn their backs on me and don't care? Each is the heart, in order to calm the difficulty, then the reward of the ceremony, on the merits and deeds, I have nothing to spare. Therefore, the edict is hereby heartfelt. ”

Under the edict, most of the six ministers of the imperial court were self-planned, seeking to recruit troops, and the capital was empty.

On this day, the weather was clear, and the moon was on the willows, and several young officials of the Hanlin Academy, namely Huang Zhan, the champion of the revision, Wang Shu, and Yang Qi, the editor of the list, and Yang Qi, the tanhua, gathered at the house of Yuan Jiejin, who was waiting for the edict, to drink, and saw off Huang Zhan and Wang Shu.

Xie Jin raised his glass to Huang Zhan and Wang Shu and said, "I wish the two of you a success in recruiting troops in the southeast." ”

Huang and Wang drank all the wine in their cups.

Wang Shu asked Huang Zhan: "Champion Lang, where are you going to recruit troops?" ”

Huang Zhan said: "I want to go to Hangzhou, there are many people there, if you can't recruit soldiers, it's good to raise some money." Wang Bianxiu, where do you want to go? ”

Wang Shu said: "I am going to go to the counties of Guangde, the people here are strong, if you raise money and food, it will be for the soldiers I have raised." ”

Yang Qi smiled: "You two are a perfect match. ”

Wang Shu asked, "Yang Bianxiu, where are you going?" ”

Yang Qi pointed to the ground and said, "I am ready to defend the Jingshi to the death and always be with Your Majesty." ”

Wang Shu asked Xie Jin again: "Xie Zhizhao, are you a dead Sheji, or are you going out to recruit soldiers and serve the king?" ”

Xie Jin smiled bitterly and said: "I am from the edict of Jiupin, and I am not qualified to die or go out to recruit soldiers." I'm going to die of old age. ”

Huang Zhan comforted him and said: "Jinshen (Xie Jinzi), you are a great talent. When Emperor Taizu Gao was alive, you were a high school Xie Yuan, once served as a bachelor of Hanlin, Taizu once said: 'You and I are righteous and ministers, and we are the same as father and son.' 'Grace is like this, and it is not in ancient times, and it is better for us to wait for it. ”

Xie Jin shook his head and said: "It's a pity that I am arrogant, the young man is crazy, I don't know the deep meaning of Taizu, and I am jealous of the courtiers, so that's it." ”

Huang Zhan said: "After Yan Chao is calmed, I will definitely recommend Brother Xie to the emperor." ”

Xie Jin thanked him.

Wang Shu asked: "Brother Xie thinks that King Yan and the court will win or lose?" ”

Xie Jin stroked his beard and said: "I have only been founding the country for more than 30 years, and the people are convinced. In addition, I have the Yangtze River moat, the northern soldiers are not skillful, and the decisive battle on the river will be won. Just like when Yu Yunwen broke the battle of King Hailing, if the Yan army and I hold on for a long time, there will be chaos in the future, then I can win without a fight. ”

Yang Qi sneered: "What if the boat master is invincible? ”

Xie Jin glanced at him and said, "Then the outcome is unpredictable." However, there are still 200,000 guards in the Beijing division, the battle is insufficient, and the rules are more than enough, if you can hold on for a few months, Brother Huang, Brother Wang and other Qin Wang's divisions gather, then the Yan army will be defeated. ”

When everyone listened to his analysis, they all put their hearts at ease, drank heartily, talked about the past and the present, and dispersed until evening.

After everyone left, Xie Jin's youngest son Xie Zhenliang said to his father: "Uncle Yang can die in Sheji, and he has the style of ancient benevolence, which is really admirable." ”

Xie Jin smiled and said: "Otherwise, Huang and Wang may be able to die, but Uncle Yang can't." ”

Xie Zhenliang was a little puzzled and asked: "Uncle Yang is impassioned today, and he keeps saying that he wants to die, how can he be fake?" ”

Xie Jin said to him: "Listen carefully. ”

Xie Zhenliang listened carefully.

It turned out that Yang Qi and Xie Jin lived next door, and at this time, Yang Qi's shouting to the servant came from the wall: "It's noisy outside, watch the guinea dog." ”

Xie Jin whispered to his son: "If you can't give up a dolphin, how can you give it up?" ”

His son hid his face and smiled.

On this day, Princess Ningguo was ordered by the Empress Dowager Lu to come to Jiangbei to negotiate peace with King Yan.

Princess Ningguo entered the camp and saw King Yan, and the brother and sister hugged their heads and cried.

After crying, King Yan asked, "Where are my brothers Zhou and Qi Erwang?" ”

The princess said: "Both of them are detained in the Zongren Mansion, and they have not resumed the king." ”

Zhu Diyi, the king of Yan, was sad and said: "The land of my father's tomb has not been dried, and your brothers have been destroyed, the young lord is so patient, where is the family affection?" I don't want to be better today, to be able to see my sister is really like being reincarnated. ”

Princess Ning Guo said: "Fourth brother, the young master is confused by the traitorous ministers, and he knows that he is wrong. I came today to make peace with you, if you can withdraw from the army, the emperor is willing to rule the river with you. ”

King Yan patted the table and said: "I led the troops to come today, not because he thought, the reason why I came is to get rid of the traitorous ministers, and the Qing monarch is obsessed." The land that my emperor has divided cannot be guaranteed, and it is not his heart to cut the land! I have to enter the Beijing division on this trip, except for the traitorous ministers, the son of heaven, after paying homage to the filial piety tomb, I want to restore the old rules and regulations, and avoid the sins of the kings. My sister wants to slow down my division and wait for the distant soldiers to arrive! ”

As soon as King Yan said this, Princess Ningguo's face turned crimson, and she said silently for a while: "Fourth brother, I had a good intention to say that the two of you are together, but who knew that it was a hot face and a cold buttocks, so I took my leave." "With that, immediately board the boat and leave.

King Yan didn't keep her, sent her to the shore, and said: "Sister, please thank the son of heaven for me, I love my dear relatives today, and I have no other intentions, fortunately, I will not be confused by traitors in the end." Even more to my brothers and sisters, I can't help it, the gods of Lai Zongmiao, get here, and we will see each other one day. ”

Princess Yingying of Ningguo bowed down and cried: "It seems that there is still a big war between the imperial court and the fourth brother, as the saying goes, if you don't die in the heart of the Yellow River, I hope the fourth brother will take care." ”

King Yan bowed his hand and said: "Please also ask the eldest sister to spread the word to your husband, and the one who knows the times is Junjie." ”

Princess Ning Guo categorically refused: "He has his own knowledge, and I am not good at persuading a woman." ”

King Yan snorted and said, "After I enter the capital, he will naturally see my methods. ”

The two parted happily.

Princess Ningguo returned to Beijing and told Emperor Jianwen what Zhu Di, the king of Yan, said. When Emperor Jianwen heard this, he panicked, summoned Fang Xiaoru, told him what Zhu Di said, and asked: "It seems that King Yan has seen through Mr.'s plan and refuses to negotiate peace, so what can I do?" ”

Fang Xiaoru comforted him and said: "The Yangtze River is dangerous, and you can be a million soldiers." The Jiangbei ship has been burned out, how can the northern division fly over. For this occasion, when the Sheng Yong army comes to fight to the death with the Yan thief, it may be able to turn things around. ”

In anticipation from the imperial court, Sheng Yong led the army to Jiangbei and camped outside Puzikou City.

Puzikou City is located on the opposite bank of Jingshi, built in the fourth year of Hongwu (1371 AD), and is the last barrier of Jingshi.

Puzikou City, a radius of several miles, built by the mountains and rivers, a total of five gates: the east gate is "Cangbo Gate", the south gate is "Qingjiang Gate", the west gate is "Wanfeng Gate", the north gate is "Yanggu Gate", and the South Gate is "Wangjing Gate".

In order to defend against the impact of the river tide, a stone embankment with a height of more than ten miles was built near the river beach outside the Qingjiang Gate.

Puzikou City is the seat of Jiangpu County, directly under the jurisdiction of Ying Tianfu, and the county government is in the Guanlin Lane on Dongmen Street in Pukou City.

After Zhang Shixing escaped from the battle of Lingbi, he fled north to Jinan, and saw Tie Xuan, Sheng Yong and others, and described the battle situation in detail.

After Sheng Yong heard this, his face changed greatly, and he sighed and said, "The big thing is gone." ”