After Peng Yuejun surrounded the Western Chu Palace, he not only trapped Xiang He and the more than 2,000 Western Chu Lang Central Guards led by him, but also trapped many Western Chu army courtiers including Chen Ying, Jing Jia and Lu Qing, Lu Chen's father and son, and many Western Chu army courtiers suddenly received the news that Peng Yuejun was attacking Pengcheng.

In addition, because Xiang Liang's wife also lived in the palace, and Xiang Kang's wife, son and sister-in-law were also trapped in the palace of Western Chu, and they were not rescued by the Han soldiers in the first time, but fortunately, Feng Zhong was very aware of this situation, and the Han army did not have to worry about finding their whereabouts.

Originally, when receiving the news that Peng Yuejun had entered the city in a big way, Xiang It only had to make a decisive decision to take the two thousand five hundred lang central guards under his command to protect the hundred officials of Western Chu to abandon the city and break through, and there was every hope of escaping out of the city first. How could we possibly have time to take them away? ”

"Things have come to this point, what time do we have to care about our wives and children?" Lu Chen was so anxious that he stomped his feet and said: "Only by protecting our Western Chu court first, can we reorganize our troops and horses to launch a counterattack after leaving the city and recapture our capital Pengcheng, or wait for the king to return to the division for a counterattack." But if our Western Chu Imperial Court is finished, then our trouble will be even greater, even if the king returns to the division with our main force to counterattack, it will be difficult to take back Pengcheng quickly! ”

The officials still didn't follow, they were all worried that as soon as they left, the Han army would poison their wives and children, Xiang It was also a little scruples, and felt that the situation might still have hope to be saved, so he said: "Wait a little longer, there are still many troops loyal to us in Pengcheng City, and there may not be no hope of blocking the rabble of Han thieves, even if they can't stop it, when they withdraw to the palace and join us, it is not too late for us to abandon the city and break through." ”

Although Xiang it urgently sent people out of the palace to contact the various armies in the city, asking them to fight back with all their might, it was really impossible to prevent them from withdrawing from the palace to join the army, but the heralds sent out were all like mud cattle and the sea, there was no news, Peng Yue's army had already hit the palace gate, and only hundreds of soldiers fled to the prince to join Xiang Qi's army, including Xiang Sheng's deputy Fan Jing was nowhere to be seen, and I don't know whether he died in the chaos of the army, or left everyone and fled out of the city.

In the end, when Peng Yuejun surrounded the palace of Western Chu on all sides, Xiang It knew that he had made a big mistake and missed the best opportunity to break through the chaos. Or hold on to Miyagi and wait for reinforcements?

Although he was deprived of military power as early as the Xiang Liang period, the original Zhang Chu general Lu Chen was still very conscientious, and immediately stood up and said: "General Xiang, there is no need to negotiate, we have no choice but to seize the time to break out of the city." It is impossible to think about holding on to the reinforcements, the reason is that the army in the hinterland of our Western Chu has long been hollowed out, and absolutely no army has rushed to reinforce in a short period of time, and the second is that there is not much food in our palace city, and we can't hold out for a few days at all. ”

I regretted that I hadn't listened to Lu Chen's good words and persuasion before, and I would listen to Lu Chen's analysis again, Xiang It no longer hesitated, and immediately nodded and said: "Lu Situ is reasonable, indeed, we have no choice but to hurry up and break through." Let's do it, discuss it quickly, and see how to break through and retreat. ”

"Wait." Ling Yin Chenying, who hadn't spoken much before, opened his mouth and said: "Lang Zhongling, now hurry up and break through, we may have a point or two of certainty, but Lang Zhongling Lu Situ have you thought about it, how much will it cost us to abandon the city and break through, how much will it cost to kill the siege of the thief army?" After the breakthrough is successful, are you sure that you can get rid of the front and back pursuit of the thief army? Retreat to safety? ”

At this moment, even Lu Chen didn't dare to say anything, because Xiang He had just given a general introduction to the situation of the Western Chu army, saying that the Pengcheng garrison with a total of only five or six hundred people fled into the palace to join Xiang Qilang's middle guard, and the total strength of the Western Chu army was only more than three thousand, even if it was barely out of Pengcheng, the army would definitely have to suffer heavy losses, and if the Han army continued to chase after it, even Lu Chen did not dare to guarantee that the Western Chu army would be able to protect the hundred officials from the pursuit and retreat to a safe place.

However, Chen Ying underestimated Xiang it a little in this matter, although he had been dissipated by the comfortable life, and his bones were softened by the wine provided by Xiang Yu, but after all, Xiang Qi's body flowed in the blood of the old Xiang family, so even if he knew that there were many difficulties, Xiang It only thought a little, but still said: "If you are not sure, you have to try it with all your might, how is it better than being trapped in the palace by the thief army and starving to death, so it is decided, hurry up and get ready, tonight at the second watch, go out of the palace from the west gate of the palace to break through." ”

After that, Xiang Qi also ordered: "Ladies and gentlemen, you should also hurry up and get ready, I will send someone to send you weapons and armor in a while, and you will also put on the battle tonight and join forces with our soldiers to break through the siege." ”

It has been several years since there has been a war, and even how to cut people with a knife is almost forgotten, listening to Xiang Qi's arrangement, Chen Ying, Lu Qing and Jing Jia and many other Western Chu officials are of course all complaining in their hearts, but they dare not go against Xiang It's arrangement, so they can only obediently agree with everyone, and Xiang It discussed with Lu Chen to arrange a breakthrough, and then hurriedly went down to the palace to organize the army to prepare for a breakthrough.

There was an accident, when Xiang it was out of the hall, there was a sudden voice from behind asking him to stay, Xiang it looked back, but saw that it was Xiang Yu who called Wang Yong, the king of the promotion, who was chasing after him quickly, Xiang It stopped and asked, "Wang Tingli, is there something wrong?" ”

"Lang Zhongling, please take a step to speak." Wang Yong bowed, and then without waiting for Xiang to agree, he pulled Xiang it to a no-man's corner next to him, and said in a low voice: "Lang Zhongling, as for how to break through, Xiaguan has a way to let us kill Pengcheng at the lowest cost and get rid of the pursuit of the Han thieves, but I don't know if Lang Zhongling is willing to listen." ”

"Kill Pengcheng at the lowest cost and get rid of the pursuit of the Han thieves?" Xiang was a little surprised, and hurriedly said, "What's the best way?" Say it. ”

"Then the lower official will be presumptuous." Wang Yong lowered his voice and said, "Xia Guan first stated that Xia Guan was all because of his loyalty to the king and in order to protect our Western Chu court, so he made this decision. Xia Guan thinks that if Lang Zhong Ling is determined to break through, you might as well arrest the wife and son of Xiang Kang, a traitor who lives in the palace, and escort them to the front of our army, and use them as hostages to force the Han thieves to make way and let them go. ”

Before Wang Yong's words were finished, Xiang Qi's face had already changed, and he glared at him with anger on his face, Wang Yong was timid, and said with a trembling face: "Lang Zhongling, the villain is also for the sake of our Xichu soldiers, if we don't use this method, we have little chance of being able to get out of the encirclement and get rid of the pursuit of the thief army." ”

"Shut up!" Xiang It scolded: "Close your beak, in terms of seniority, the son of the traitor Xiang Kang is my cousin, let me use my cousin's life as a threat to force the thief to make concessions, what face do I have to meet the world in the future?" To meet the ancestors of our Xiang family? Get lost! ”

Seeing that the horse's fart slapped on the horse's leg, Wang Yong could only quickly flee back to the side hall with a roll, but Wang Yong's words still reminded Xiang it to a certain extent, so that Xiang It couldn't help but be moved, and said secretly: "Why did you forget that there is still this way?" If I take Uncle Ji's wife and children away with me, and the Han thieves throw a mouse trap, I will definitely not dare to give our Xichu Wenwu's family members, what should I do in the future, I will escape to a safe place, maybe I can exchange them for all our family members. ”

After making up his mind, Xiang Yi came up with another way, hurriedly beckoned a guard to the front, and instructed him: "You go to see my second mother immediately, just say that the thieves have entered Pengcheng, for the safety of her and Xiang Kang's rebellious thief's wife, please also be ready, and break through with us tonight." But remember, I must not let my second mother know that it was the army of Han thieves who killed Pengcheng, and gave a ban order to the Lang Zhongwei who protected them, if anyone dares to let my second mother know that it was the army of Han thieves who killed Pengcheng, they will be killed! ”

According to Xiang Qi's order, the guards soon came to Xiang Kang's second uncle and aunt to pass the word, and the ghost said that it was necessary to break through the siege only when the Qi Di Liukou entered Pengcheng, and the second uncle and aunt, who knew nothing about politics and military affairs, also believed it to be true, worried that the nephew and nephew would not have any good results if they fell into the hands of the Qi thieves, so they quickly agreed, and immediately led the Yu family sisters to pack their luggage, and after a hurried dinner, it was just dark and they went out of the yard, and took a car to meet Xiang It and others under the protection of the guards.

When the second uncle and his entourage came to the vicinity of the west gate of the palace, the main force of the Western Chu army in the palace had already assembled in the courtyard and arranged the retreat order. Then it was also at this time that the second uncle and aunt suddenly remembered a major event, and hurriedly instructed Yu: "Son, help me get out of the car, I want to see it, I forgot a big thing." ”

"Second uncle, what major incident have you forgotten?" Yu hurriedly asked.

"I forgot your third uncle." The second uncle replied: "She lives outside, and I don't know what the situation is now, she has been careless since she was a child, if you also forget your third uncle and aunt, then the matter will be troublesome." ”

The third uncle and mother with a weak personality are far better than Xiang Bo's father and son, after Yu Miaoge's mother and son were placed under house arrest, the third uncle and mother also came to visit, reading at this point, of course Yu will not refuse, and quickly helped the second uncle and mother to get out of the car, as she went to see Xiang It, none of the guards next to him dared to stand up to stop it, they could only follow and protect, the second uncle and Yu inquired all the way, and soon found Xiang It who was discussing the breakthrough with Chen Ying, Lu Chen and other important ministers of Western Chu.

"It's, where are your three mothers? Is there any news of her? The second uncle and aunt attached great importance to sisterhood, and as soon as they met, they asked Xiang It: "Do you plan to go to her house and take her with you this time?" ”

"It's ......." Xiang It was extremely difficult, and hesitated for a while before replying: "The second mother forgives her sins, it's too chaotic outside, and the nephew has also cut off contact with the third mother, I don't know what her situation is, and she is preparing to break through from the west gate, and there is no way to go to the east of the city to pick up the three mothers, so I ......." ”

didn't dare to finish speaking, Xiang It hurriedly changed his words and said: "But please rest assured that the second mother has withdrawn from the city to a safe place, and the nephew must find a way to rescue the third mother, she is so old and a woman, and those thieves don't dare to do anything to her." ”

The second uncle and mother were disappointed when they heard this, and Lu Chen next to him hurriedly helped Xiang It and said: "Old lady, Lang Zhong also makes him really embarrassed, we only have 3,000 troops in our hands, but there are tens of thousands of thieves outside, if we go to the east of the city for Master Xiang's wife, we will not only have to sacrifice countless soldiers, but also be sure to kill the siege of the thief army." ”

The second uncle and mother have always been reasonable, and although they were worried after listening to Lu Chen's explanation, they also dispelled the idea of forcing Xiang to save the third uncle, but there was an accident, and Lu Chen even added a ghostly sentence, saying: "Besides, the thieves outside are also the army of your nephew Xiang Kang, and it is ...... for the sake of blood and family affection." ”

"Lu Chen, shut up for me!"

It was too late for Xiang to hurriedly stop it, the second uncle and aunt had already opened their eyes all of a sudden, and Yu next to him suddenly opened his small mouth so that he could stuff two eggs, and then the second uncle and aunt immediately asked Lu Chen, "What did you say?" Outside is Kang'er's army? ”

had already found out that something was wrong, Lu Chen didn't dare to say anything, and the second uncle and aunt asked to no avail, so he could only turn to Xiang It, slam the ground with a cane, and asked: "Xiang It, you say, what kind of army is outside?" Is it the Qidi bandits you sent someone to say, or did he just say that it was Kang'er's army outside? ”

Xiang It didn't dare to say anything, and lowered his head weakly, the second uncle and mother were even more angry when they saw it, and laughed angrily: "Okay, good, good, it's really getting more and more filial, obviously it's your Uncle Ji's army outside, and you deliberately lied to me that what is a rogue in Qidi, and you want me to take your Uncle Ji's wife and son with you, and continue to let your Uncle Ji and his wife be separated, and the father and son can't meet, your heart is really ruthless." ”

"Second mother, niece and nephew, I can't help it." Xiang It shouted: "I am Uncle's courtier, Uncle and Uncle Ji are enemies now, I must be loyal to Uncle!" ”

"But you are also a descendant of the Xiang family!" The second uncle said angrily: "Don't forget, you and your Uncle Ji, as well as your Uncle Ji's son, all have surnames!" All have the blood of the Xiang family! Things have come to this point, why do you still have to hold on to your Aunt Ji and cousin? Aren't you afraid of any accidents they have on the battlefield? Hurt your Uncle Ji's son? ”

Xiang Qi plucked up his courage and said: "Second mother, you told me to show mercy to Uncle Ji's children, but Uncle Ji's subordinates will not show mercy to my subordinates, as soon as I walk out of this palace gate, Uncle Ji's subordinates will immediately shoot at me, do you believe it or not?" ”

"You and they are enemies, and of course they want to treat you like this." The second uncle and mother were very open to this, and said, "But what does this have to do with your Uncle Ji's son?" Back then, in the city father, how many violent Qin soldiers did your tall father (great-grandfather) kill, but did the Tyrannical Qin official government hold you accountable for this? The Tyrannical Qin Mansion still has such a bearing, are you not even as good as the Tyrannical Qin Mansion?! ”

Slammed the ground with a cane again, and the second uncle and aunt said loudly: "If you want to break through and escape, the second aunt will not stop you, I will also go with you, even if I am pierced by random arrows, I will die without regrets!" But you must leave your Uncle Ji's wife and son behind, let them go back to reunite with your Uncle Ji, they are innocent, and your second mother and I will never let you implicate them again! ”

Xiang It was extremely difficult, gritted his teeth and simply told the truth, "Second mother, it's not that my nephew must take Aunt Ji and my cousin away, it's my nephew and grandson that I have to think about the families of our civil and military ministers in Western Chu, only by taking Aunt Ji and them away, Uncle Ji's subordinates will not hurt the families of our hundred officials in Western Chu, and if Uncle Ji's people agree in the future, my nephews and grandchildren can also use them to exchange our family members of Western Chu Wenwu." ”

"Then you can send someone to talk to your Uncle Ji's subordinates now!" The second uncle and mother immediately said: "Go and tell your Uncle Ji's subordinates, just say that you are willing to send your Uncle Ji's wife and son back, in exchange for their mercy to your uncle's courtiers and dependents, and the people brought out by your Uncle Ji will definitely agree to such conditions!" ”

"This ......."

Xiang It was a little hesitant, and Chen Ying next to him hurriedly said: "Lang Zhongling, the old man thinks it's worth a try, you might as well send someone to talk to the army of the King of Han, and say that they just need to give way and let us leave Pengcheng with the rest of the army and the wife of the family, and we will hand over the palace city of Pengcheng and the family of the King of Han to them together, the army of the King of Han has always been known for its benevolence and righteousness, and it may not agree to such conditions." ”

Considering that the certainty of breaking through and escaping was not very large, and he couldn't withstand the repeated urging of the second eldest mother, Xiang it gritted his teeth and decided to send Lu Chen's father Lu Qing as an envoy to go out of the palace with a white flag to negotiate with the Han army. The result surprised Xiang He and the others, and at the same time, they were extremely glad that the west gate of the Xichu Palace had just opened, and countless Han soldiers appeared in the private houses opposite.

Lu Qing didn't return to Xiang He and the others until it was completely dark, and said as soon as they met: "The Han army has promised us all the conditions, but they also put forward two conditions, one is that our army must lay down all their weapons before leaving the palace and leaving Pengcheng, and after ten miles out of the city, they will give us another hundred spears and fifty swords to defend ourselves on the road, and the second is that among our Western Chu officials, one person must not be let go, and must be handed over to them for disposal." ”

"Who is it?" Xiang asked quickly.

"Our court, Wang Yong." Lu Qing replied: "Wang Yong presided over the court prison, deliberately connived at the jailers to guard and abuse the Han army's family, so that they were tortured, and also made six lives, the Han army now hates him to the bone, and must cook him to death with a ding." ”

"Lang Zhongling, spare your life!" Wang Yong hurriedly rushed to the ground in front of Xiang It and begged for mercy, and begged: "Please ask Lang Zhong to send someone to talk to the Han army for the sake of the lower officials' loyalty to the king, and let the lower officials also go with you." ”

None of the Xichu Wenwu present said a word, Xiang It was expressionless, and only said after a while: "Wang Tingli, if you didn't say those words yesterday, I would definitely save you at any cost, but you dared to instigate me to take my cousin and nephew as a hostage yesterday and escort him to the front of our army to block spears and arrows, just by virtue of this, I can't spare you." Someone came, took Wang Yong down, tied it up, and prepared to hand it over to the Han army. ”