The envoy of the young marshal army, Ma Pei, traveled to the south gate of Huaiyin with such fanfare, of course, the Qin army defenders on Huaiyin City were difficult not to notice immediately, in addition to quickly preparing for the vigilance, the defenders in the city were also curious, and they didn't understand what the young marshal army was singing this time, and some smart Qin soldiers guessed that the arrival was likely to be a messenger sent by the young marshal army, but they couldn't guess the envoy intentions of the young marshal army. ——The slogan of revenge of the young marshal army was shouted loudly, and the soldiers of Qin, who were already desperate, certainly did not dare to expect any good news from the envoy.

The general of the Qin army who fled from the south of Lingxian appeared at the head of the south gate, although Guan Hu led the Huaiyin Qin army to successfully defend the city, and successfully repelled the joint attack of the young marshal's army Xiang Youbu and Qin Jiajun, but for this time the young marshal's army attacked the city, Guan Hu's heart was no longer the slightest confidence - the huge disparity in strength was placed here, and the main force of the county soldiers had been annihilated by the young marshal's army, and even the county management of Tancheng had been lost, and there was no reinforcement to count on, Of course, Guan Hu no longer dared to expect that he could continue to create miracles, and the only thing Guan Hu could do at the moment was to lead the army to defend the city, and strive to survive for a few more days, and pull more enemies to Huangquan Road as companions.

In this atmosphere of general despair from top to bottom, when Ma Pei came to Huaiyin City to identify himself and explain that he intended to persuade the Huaiyin defenders to surrender on behalf of Feng Zhonglai, the soldiers of the Qin army on the city wall were naturally shocked, and the guards also suspected that they had heard it wrong, and couldn't help shouting and asking, "What did you say?" What are you here for? ”

"The general in the city, here is General Feng, the general of our Great Chu, who is here to persuade you to surrender, as long as you agree, our General Feng will keep you all safe, and after entering the city, we will definitely let the army not commit any crimes!" Ma Pei replied loudly, and said: "Please report to your Liu Dingzhi Liu Xianzun immediately, and ask him to let me go into the city to interview him, I am an old friend with him, and I have always been like brothers, he will definitely see me!" ”

Guan Hu and many Qin soldiers were stunned again, and in surprise, Guan Hu simply asked again, "Didn't you say that you came to take revenge?" Even the banner of revenge was raised, why did they come to persuade us to surrender? ”

"We put that flag out for a special reason, and I'll tell you when we meet." Ma Pei replied loudly, and then said: "Please report to Liu Xianzun immediately, and ask him to allow me to enter the city for an interview." If you have any concerns, you can just drop a rope and take me to the city, so that I can go into the city alone without my retinue, so that you can rest assured, right? ”

After hesitating for a moment, the guards still let the soldiers put down a rope and let Ma Pei go up the city, but Ma Pei kept his word, stepped forward alone and tied the rope to his waist, and dragged the rope up to the city. Then there was no need to guard the order, of course, the Qin soldiers in the city put the sword on Ma Pei's neck at the first time, and at the same time tied Ma Pei with the rope, Ma Pei was not afraid, just smiled at the guard and said: "General, if you guess correctly, you must be the general Guan Guan from Tancheng, right?" If so, there's good news for you. ”

"What's the good news?" The caregiver asked suspiciously, and also acquiesced to his identity.

"After receiving the news that the main force of our young marshal army has taken Tancheng, our General Feng immediately contacted the Tancheng defenders of our young marshal army." Ma Pei replied: "Please ask our Tancheng defenders to treat the general and your family well, and give the general and your family some money and food, so that the general and your family will not be cold and starving, so the general please be relieved, your family will be fine." ”

The guard looked Ma Pei up and down, and after a while, he snorted coldly and said, "But if this official doesn't agree to surrender to you, my family will definitely die without a place to be buried, right?" ”

"The general thought of going there, how could we, General Feng, be above board, commit such a despicable act?" Ma Pei asked rhetorically, and said: "Please rest assured, General Feng, we have absolutely no intention of coercing your family against you, no matter whether you are willing to lead the people to surrender or not, your family in Tancheng will definitely not be harmed in any way." ”

The guard no longer spoke, but ordered the Qin army in the city to defend the city tightly, carefully preventing the young marshal's army from suddenly sending troops to attack the city, and then personally escorted Ma Pei back to the county temple to meet Liu Dingzhi, the commander of Huaiyin County. As a result, after Guan Hu and Ma Pei left, the Qin soldiers in the city were of course talking about it, not only worried that the young marshal's army was coming to deceive the self-army, and deceived the defenders in the city to take revenge after opening the city and surrendering, but they were all full of expectations for the surrender of the young marshal army and brought themselves a chance to live.

Ma Pei, who previously served as the commander of Xutai County, was indeed an old friend of Liu Dingzhi, the commander of Huaiyin County, and the relationship was quite good before, but this reunion after a long absence, above the lobby of the county temple, Liu Dingzhi did not have a good face for his old friend Ma Pei, and shouted angrily as soon as they met: "Shameless husband who is greedy for life and afraid of death, you still have the face to see me!" ”

"Brother Liu was harsh, the reason why the younger brother sacrificed the Xutai City to Young Marshal Xiang was not for personal life and death, but really forced." Ma Pei replied confidently and said: "At that time, Brother Liu, you must also know that the young marshal's army and the Qin Jiayi army in Ling County besieged the city with heavy troops, and the soldiers in Xutai City were outnumbered, and it was only before they were destroyed. If the city is broken, the young marshal of Da Chu, who has strict military discipline, is okay to say, it will definitely not poison the people and kill the innocent, but what Qin Jia's subordinates did, don't you know Brother Liu? What is the difference between letting them kill in Xutai City and rushing into the flock with hungry wolves? Therefore, for the sake of the military and civilians in the whole city of Xutai, the younger brother could only make up his mind and surrender to the young marshal's army. ”

After that, Ma Pei hurriedly added a sentence and said: "Fortunately, the little brother did not sacrifice his personal name in vain, the life of Li Shu in the whole city of Xutai was finally saved, and at the same time, General Feng was also quite good to the little brother, not only rewarded him richly, but also reused the little brother, so that the little brother had the opportunity to meet Brother Liu again." ”

"Cunning!" Liu Dingzhi roared angrily and roared: "Obviously, you are greedy for life and afraid of death, and you covet the glory and wealth promised by Xiang Kang's traitor, so you opened the city and surrendered!" You still have the face to put the responsibility on the people of Great Qin, and say that the surrender is for the sake of Li Shu in the whole city of Xutai! ”

"If Brother Liu insists on looking at it this way, then the little brother has nothing to say." Ma Pei spread his hands helplessly, and said: "Brother Liu, now it's your turn to be in the situation of the younger brother at that time, the young marshal army of Da Chu is besieging the city on all sides, and the fall of Huaiyin City is only in the mist, although the military discipline of the young marshal army is strict, and after the city is broken, he will definitely not attack the innocent Li Shu in the city, but Brother Liu, as the commander of Huaiyin County, if you continue to be obsessed and insist on making things difficult with the young marshal army, then after the young marshal army breaks the city, even if General Feng wants to let you go, there is no reason to spare you." Brother Liu, you are also a person who drags your family, don't you think about it for yourself and your parents, wife and children? ”

"Dreaming!" Liu Dingzhi flatly refused, and said: "As a courtier of the Great Qin, this official swears allegiance to the Great Qin Imperial Court, how can he be like you, a shameless rat, and surrender to the remnants of the Chu State, Xiang Kang, and the rebels?" ”

"Brother Liu, why are you doing this?" Ma Pei persuaded: "The good birds choose the trees to perch, the virtuous ministers choose the lord and serve, the tyrannical Qin II Hu Hai perverted, poisoning the world, causing the people of the Central Plains to rise up, and the old clans of the six countries have raised troops to restore the country, and the violent Qin country is already in danger, and the destruction is only in the day." At this time of life and death, Brother Liu, the most important thing you should do is to quickly abandon the darkness and turn to the light, and choose another master to show your strengths, live up to what you have learned in your life, splendid talent, why do you need to be obsessed and insist on accompanying the funeral of the tyrant of Huhai? Doing so sacrifices not to mention yourself, and is destined to affect your parents, wife and children, why should you? ”

Liu Dingzhi was silent, and Ma Pei said with a heartfelt voice: "Also, Brother Liu, although your loyalty to the tyrannical Qin court is admirable, but the last time you repelled the joint attack of the young marshal army and Qin Jiajun, and temporarily kept Huaiyin for the tyrannical Qin court, you have already repaid the kindness of the tyrannical Qin court to you." Now Huaiyin is already a lonely city, Brother Liu, your boss Gongsun Qing has also been defeated and died, and Donghai County Zhitan City has also been taken by our Young Marshal Xiang personally, Brother Liu, how can you be loyal to the tyrannical Qin court, and who are you loyal to? At this time, Kaesong surrendered because you have no way out, you have no power to use, not only can no one blame you, but the thousands of soldiers and civilians in Huaiyin Chengli will only thank you, Brother Liu! ”

If he was really determined to bury Hu Hai, Liu Ding would have asked Ma Pei to push him out and cut him directly, how could he let Ma Pei talk so much nonsense in front of him? With a thought in his heart, and listening to his friend's repeated persuasion, Liu Dingzhi's heart was naturally even more shaken, but Liu Dingzhi didn't dare to act rashly, turned his gaze to the guard sitting next to him, and asked tentatively: "General Guan, Ma Pei, a greedy and death-fearing puppeteer, confuses the public, do you think we should beat him out of the city?" Or will we behead him on the spot, proving our determination to fight the thieves outside the city? ”

His wife and children were all pinched in the hands of the young marshal, and of course the guards didn't dare to mess around, and at the same time, when they couldn't figure out Liu Dingzhi's intentions, the guards didn't dare to rashly reveal their unwavering attitudes, so they thought about it for a while before saying: "County Zun, how to deal with this traitor messenger, don't be in a hurry." But there is one thing that is very strange, and the county still needs to be carefully investigated. ”

"What does General Guan think is strange?" Liu Dingzhi asked.

"The traitors outside the city came this time under the banner of revenge, and they threatened early to avenge the traitors who were killed and injured in the last Huaiyin War." The guard said: "Why did the thieves suddenly send messengers to persuade us to surrender after the soldiers came to the city, don't they want to take revenge?" Didn't Liu Xianzun think this matter was very strange? ”

"yes, that's weird." Liu Dingzhi nodded, and quickly turned to Ma Pei and asked, "Piff, didn't you rebel thieves say that you want to avenge your thieves who were killed and injured last time?" Why did they still come to persuade us to surrender? What kind of ruse? ”

Ma Pei smiled, smiled very easily, and said with a smile: "Brother Liu, General Guan, things have come to this point, you still don't understand, the reason why our General Feng ordered to play the banner of revenge is not really to settle your old accounts, but for the sake of Brother Liu and General Guan!" ”

"For our sake? What is the rationale for this? Liu Dingzhi asked in surprise.

"Brother Liu, why don't you think about it, if General Feng doesn't raise this banner, he will directly let the junior brother persuade you to surrender." According to Feng Zhong's instructions, Ma Pei Zhenzhen said with a rhetorical voice: "Then Brother Liu, even if you and General Guan have made a wise choice, what if the soldiers under your command are not satisfied?" What if Li Shu in the city doesn't agree? What would you do if one of them took a risk and suddenly attacked you? ”

"But isn't it a different story now?" Ma Pei pointed out: "Our army openly raised the banner of revenge, and released a rumor that it was to avenge the soldiers who died last time. And who doesn't worry about their lives? In desperation, Brother Liu, you and General Guan made a wise choice, in order to survive, which of the soldiers and civilians in Huaiyin City did not dare to obey? And who dares to have a different heart? Brother Liu, you and General Guan, why do you still need to worry about your lives? ”

Liu Dingzhi and Guan Hu were silent together, although they knew that Ma Pei's words were a little untrue, but they had to admit that they had made a surrender at this time, and the people below really would not have any resistance, and there must be countless people who raised their hands in support and approval in order to survive. Ma Pei observed his words, and took the opportunity to say: "Brother Liu, General Guan, our General Feng has considered this situation for you, what else do you have to worry about?" Don't hesitate any longer, life and death, honor and disgrace are already in your thoughts, and our General Feng can guarantee that as long as you open the city and surrender, he will not only never harm you, but will also reuse and reward you. For your own sake, and for the sake of the military, civilian, women and children in Huaiyin, make up your mind. ”

Liu Dingzhi and Guan Hu's hearts were even more shaken, and they couldn't help but quietly peek at each other's reactions, but after finding that the other party was also peeking at themselves, Liu Dingzhi and Guan Hu also immediately understood in their hearts, knowing that the other party and himself had actually moved the idea of surrender a long time ago, but they couldn't pull this face and agree. And after thinking about it again, Liu Dingzhi, who was still a little capable, suddenly shed tears, choked up and said: "General Guan, it's not that the subordinates are greedy for life and afraid of death, it's that we really have no way out now, for the sake of the people of the city, or to live and die with Huaiyin City, you take an idea, the subordinates listen to you." ”

"It's shameless, I obviously want to surrender, and I want to pull me to carry the infamy." Guan Hu despised in his heart, but unfortunately his acting skills were too poor, Guan Hu couldn't think of Liu Dingzhi to come with tears in his eyes, and after hesitating for a long time, Guan Hu said: "In this way, call all the officials and generals in the city and ask their opinions." ”

When Liu Dingzhi heard the applause, he hurriedly summoned the officials and defenders in the city together with Guan Hu, announced Ma Pei's intention in public, and then asked everyone's opinions. The result was the same as Liu Dingzhi and Guan Hu expected, desperate, for the sake of their own lives, almost everyone opened their mouths to express their willingness to surrender, Liu Dingzhi also cried again, beat his chest for a long time, and then invited Ma Pei to sit down in the center, led the city Chinese military officials to bow to Ma Pei, and officially accepted the surrender of the young marshal's army.

The next thing is simple, Liu Dingzhi and Guan Hu led the officials in the city out of the city to surrender, Feng Zhong swore an oath in public, swearing never to harm anyone in Huaiyin City, and then sent troops into the city, and took the Huaiyin County that Xiang Bo and his son had repeatedly attacked before without a single soldier, and also incorporated the Huaiyin Qin army, which was still somewhat combative.

That night, Feng Zhong held a banquet in the temple of Huaiyin County to celebrate the successful victory of Huaiyin, and sent people to Xiang You's camp to invite Xiang Bo to the city for the banquet, but unfortunately Xiang Bo resigned the invitation on the pretext of being unwell. At the same time, after Feng Zhong's envoy left, Xiang Bo was furious and overturned the case table in front of him, and roared angrily: "Obviously I just want to surrender, and I still sell so many guanzi, and I don't know the slightest rumor about the old man!" Feng Zhong Pifu, bullying the old man is too much! ”

Zhang Liang, who had been hit repeatedly, was silent, but after Uncle Xiang had enough of his temper, Zhang Liang persuaded weakly: "Brother Calm your anger, this is also a good thing, at least you can meet Xiang Zhuguo a few days earlier." Huaiyin surrendered without a fight, your army took advantage of the situation to go south, and there must be no big problem if you want to take Guangling, and if you take Guangling, your army can smoothly join forces with the army of Xiang Zhuguo. ”

Zhang Liang's words reminded Uncle Xiang, so that Uncle Xiang suddenly had a glimmer of hope, and quickly nodded and said: "That's right, it's indeed a good thing, at least I can join my brother's army a few days earlier, and after the meeting, my brother will call the shots for me, see if he Feng Zhongxiao'er dares to be such a villain!" It also depends on whether he dares to disobey the old man! ”

After finishing speaking, after thinking about it quickly, Xiang Bo immediately took pen and ink and wrote a letter to Xiang Liang on the spot, while telling Xiang Liang the current situation of the young marshal's army, and asking Xiang Liang to raise troops to the north as soon as possible, take over the territory and army that Xiang Kang laid for the old Xiang family, and suggested early that after Xiang Liang and the young marshal's army joined forces, he immediately reorganized the young marshal's army and adjusted the personnel, so that the Xiang family could firmly control the army. In addition, Xiang Bo naturally had to slander Xiang Kang a few more words, complaining about Xiang Kang's light flesh and blood, reusing different surnames, and laying hidden dangers for the future development of the Xiang family's army.

To Xiang Bo's surprise, Xiang Liang got in touch with the young marshal army on the southern front earlier than he expected, and a day later, Feng Zhong led the army south along the Qin Chi Road, and it took only two days to successfully arrive at the city of Guangling, and he also ran into the envoy sent by Xiang Liang to contact the young marshal army. But what made Xiang Bo unbelievable was that Xiang Liang, the real boss of Xiang Kang Yaozun's young marshal army, issued the first order so that the young marshal army did not have to rush to join him, and asked the young marshal army on the southern front to give priority to sweeping away the remnants of the Qin army in the south of Donghai County, and then discuss the matter of meeting the division after Xiang Liang completely pacified Jiangdong.

In addition, Xiang Liang also highly praised Xiang Kang's outstanding performance in his handwritten letters, and asked Xiang Kang to continue to work freely, do whatever he wants on the territory of the young marshal's army, and do not need to ask himself for instructions on major and small matters. At the same time, Xiang Liang also took into account Xiang Kang's seniority and age in the Xiang family, and asked the messenger to give Xiang Kang his matching sword, so that Xiang Kang could take out his own sword when the members of the Xiang family disobeyed the order, and dispose of it as the patriarch of the Xiang family.

Hearing Xiang Liang's attitude, Feng Zhong, who was still a little worried, was of course smiling, Xiang Bo was like a frosted eggplant, and he was completely stunned on the spot, Zhang Liang sighed secretly in his heart, and said: "A brother of a mother's compatriots, how can one be as stupid as a pig and the other as cunning as a fox?" has said good and obedient things to this point, and also put the attitude of support and trust to this point, in the future, Xiang Liang will raise troops to the north, just to prevent Xiang Kang Xiaozhuzi from obediently bowing to him. ”