"Whoa!" With the sound of an iron chain pulling, the wooden door of the Shangjing dungeon was opened, and the dazzling light immediately shone into this dark place. Shadows creeped inside, as if countless ghosts had been awakened.

A bald old man limped down with two barrels. The bars on both sides of the prison were soon plastered with people who were so dirty that they couldn't even see their skin. "Rice...... "Rice ......" came in Khitan with various accents, and they seemed to only have this one Khitan word.

The old man was unmoved, scooping a spoonful of gooey in each of the clay bowls that came out.

The bald old man walked to one of the cells and couldn't help but look inside, because there were many people in the other cells, and there was only one person in this one. It was a man, and his hair was unkempt and seemed to be in a bun, and the top of his head had not been shaved. He sat there in a daze, and did not stick out the bowl.

"Eat?" The old man called.

The man came back to his senses and looked at the contents of the barrel in a daze, and it emitted a stale stench, and the man's throat squirmed. He sighed, stretched out a bowl weakly, and said in skillful Khitan dialect: "Give me some water, thank you." ”

The old man gave him a cold look, and without speaking, he scooped a spoonful of muddy water and poured it into the bowl.

At this moment, the bright hole above darkened slightly, and several people appeared there. The old man turned to look over: "Who?" ”

The Khitan warrior guarding the door said: "King Song (Yelu Xiyin) and King Yue (Yelu Bishi) have arrived!" ”

The old man dropped his spoon and bent down to face it.

"Where?" At present, a big man with a stiff beard that stood up a lot asked, that man was Yelu Xiyin, one of Yelu Abaoji's grandsons. Walking behind him was Yelu Bi, the king of Yue, whose face and robe were much gentler.

"The prince is here." An official said.

The group walked over, and the Han Er inside was putting down the bowl with the muddy water. The official outside said: "This person is Fan Zhongyi." ”

Fan Zhongyi sat on the ground and was stunned for a moment, then suddenly got up, slapped the wood, looked excited, and his eyes were red. The guards were startled, and hurriedly stood in front of the nobles, shouting, "What are you crazy about? ”

Fan Zhongyi shouted in a hoarse voice: "King Song, King Yue, I have something important to confess, Yang Gon is a traitor!" Don't believe him, the Khitans are not more trustworthy than the Han'er......"

Yelu Xiyin pushed away the guards in front of him and looked at Fan Zhongyi with a sneer. Fan Zhongyi glared again and said, "I want to see Xiao Gong, let me see Xiao Gong!" ”

Unexpectedly, Yelu Xiyin didn't pay attention to him at all, turned his head and asked King Yue: "Why do you still keep this traitor?" ”

King Yue thought for a while and said: "It is said that figures like Fan Zhongyi can't bear the heavy responsibility of the defeat of Hedong, and they are not beheaded in time after being imprisoned, for fear that there will be commanders." ”

Yelu said with displeasure: "Get him out, and his whole family, and skin him alive to show the public!" ”

King Yue hurriedly persuaded: "King Song had better not make such a big battle, there are many Han children living in the southern city of Shangjing, all of whom serve the great Liao......"

Fan Zhongyi also suddenly knelt on the ground, and said hurriedly: "The prince spares his life!" Spare my sons and daughters, let me do anything, I'll be useful!"

"Dogs are not as good, what's the use? At least the dog will not harm the master. Jeremiah was angry and disdainful.

Fan Zhongyi hurriedly said: "Ask the prince to let me see Xiao Gong!" ”

King Yue also persuaded in a deep voice: "Let's not take care of this matter for now, we are still ready to deal with the people on the other side of the king's tent." I heard that Xiao Siwen has gone to Xu Guo to negotiate peace, and once they free up their hands, they will definitely return to Shangjing to deal with us. ”

"Peeled!" Yelu said secretly, "Find a skilled hand who skins sheepskins, and don't let them die too happily." "Just shake it off and leave.

King Yue stayed for a while, and said to Fan Zhongyi: "King Song has broken with the king's tent, how can you see it?" ”

Fan Zhongyi desperately hit the wooden fence with his thin body, shouting and crying bitterly, his voice echoing in the dark dungeon, like a ghost crying and howling.

……

The city of Lanzhou on the south bank of the Yellow River. Xiao Siwen and other Liao envoys were not officially summoned immediately, and the person who received them was Lu Duoxun, an official of the Ministry of Rites. Lu Duosun had to negotiate the conditions with Xiao Siwen and others in private.

At this time, Xiao Siwen was very dissatisfied, he picked up a piece of paper, pointed to the paper and asked Lu Duoxun: "What does the state of brothers mean, why does the Great Liao Emperor want to be a younger brother?" ”

"Don't be impatient, Xiao Gong is a little impatient." Lu Duosun was very calm, and said in a relaxed tone: "If you withdraw your troops and make peace at this time, it will obviously put the Goryeo Kingdom in a disadvantageous position. If Xu Liao and Liao did not turn enemies into friends and were commensurate with brothers, how would the Daxu court explain to Goryeo? ”

Lu Duoxun's tone gradually became heavier, and his expression became serious: "The two countries are not called the gift of father and son, or uncle and nephew (once the Liao State and the Northern Han Kingdom), but the gift of brothers of the same generation. Duke Xiao and the monarchs and ministers of the Liao State should let go of their old thoughts and look at the current strength and weakness, who is attacking and who is painstakingly supporting? Liao Guo is not called a younger brother, dare to continue to be a big brother? ”

Xiao Siwen suddenly stood up, "This kind of covenant, my father doesn't dare to agree!" ”

Lu Duoxun retracted his fierce gaze and persuaded again: "It's better for Gong Xiao to weigh and think more before expressing his position." The Liao State just suffered a small loss in the false name, and Da Xu did not ask the Liao State to pay tribute...... At this time, the Liao State still wants to take advantage of it cheaply, so what is there to talk about, Xiao Gong might as well bring the letter back and ask the Lord of Liao to continue to gather troops to fight! ”

Xiao Siwen took a deep breath, as if he had forcibly suppressed the evil qi, and said, "Let us discuss." ”

"Sending off!" Lu Duosun shouted decisively.

When Xiao Siwen and the others returned to the hotel, he immediately said angrily: "If the old man agrees to this covenant, wouldn't he be a sinner?" ”

Yang Gon said quietly: "Lu Duoxun is right, the situation is like this, if Da Liao doesn't suffer any losses, it seems that it can't be said." Of course, we would rather send some goods, but what is the difference between paying tribute and acknowledging the high status of the two countries? ”

Xiao Siwen still didn't let go, he fully understood what responsibility he would bear...... In fact, it's a black pot! Negotiation of peace was not his idea.

The four of them couldn't even eat dinner in the hotel, and they argued until midnight. Later, they were tired, and several people leaned back in their chairs and were silent.

At this moment, suddenly there was an "ah" outside! Xiao Siwen and the others were startled, and they all sat up straight and listened to the movement outside. The shouts continued, and there seemed to be a fight.

A man got up and said, "Go down and see what's going on." ”

Xiao Siwen said: "Beware of fraud. ”

As soon as the words fell, there was a knock on the door outside with a "bang ......". Then there was a loud bang, the latch of the door broke, and a warrior with a strong and stubborn cherry spear staggered in, followed by two more people.

Yang Gon had already picked up a waist stool and held it in his hand, and shouted in Chinese: "Who is coming?" ”

The takeo with the Sakura spear came in backwards, turned his head and said, "There are assassins!" Let's watch the door and watch the window! ”

Xiao Siwen was observing the sudden incident suspiciously, when suddenly there was a "bang", and he saw the martial artist who had just spoken falling to the ground on his back, with a crossbow bolt stuck in his forehead, his tail was still shaking due to the force, and a pool of blood soaked out from under the martial artist's helmet. The remaining two warriors hurriedly closed the door and waited.

Xiao Siwen stared at the corpse, and forgot to close his mouth. He originally thought it was some kind of trick, but Xu Guo's guards were killed alive! Siu Siwen realized the seriousness of the matter.

At this time, Yang Gon rushed up, pulled out the single knife on the corpse's waist, and turned around and threw it in front of Xiao Siwen. Then he took a shuttle spear from the man's back and threw it to the other messenger, who himself took the cherry spear in his hand.

"Crackling......" A short crossbow bolt suddenly entered through the window! Except for a few pieces of wood, the window was covered with paper.

Before Xiao Siwen could react, his face was hot, and a crossbow arrow flew over his face. Xiao Siwen's face changed, and he overturned the coffee table with a "clang" and hid behind. Seeing this, Yang Gon and the others also drew the scoop in the same way, and hurriedly overturned the coffee table.

"Bang!" An axe swung through the window, and the strips of wood and window paper were swept everywhere. Then a big man dressed in black came out half-body.

"Drink!" Yang Gon screamed, grabbed the cherry spear and stabbed it. Unexpectedly, with a "ding", the cherry spear actually pierced the armor, and the man was wearing plate armor under his black robe! The metal of the neckline flashed in the lamp.

Yang Gon glared angrily, stood on his lower plate with his legs apart, and stabbed him with a slam shot. The man took the axe and swung it, a beat late, this time the cherry gun was inserted into the big man's armor, the man screamed in pain, the axe fell, and the wooden handle of the cherry gun was broken with a "bang"!

At this time, the remaining two guards rushed over, and the strong man slashed at an iron log shield with another wave, and one of the guards took a few steps back, and the other guard picked up a single knife and slashed over. At this time, other black-robed assassins also climbed in through the window.

The guards retreated to protect Xiao Siwen and the others, and said angrily to the two people on the other side of the window: "You wait for Da Xu's soldiers, and you actually kill Da Xu soldiers!" ”

The strong man said, "You are protecting the thieves!" ”

The guard said, "The duty is." Where did you put the will of the officials? ”

Yang Gon had abandoned the wooden handle, resumed his work, and shouted, "Go to the bedroom!" After that, he and Xiao Siwen turned around and ran. The two guards also turned around and ran, turning around with their swords and shields and fighting.

"Bell!" There was a violent metal thump at the door, a flash of sparks, followed by a loud roar, "Bang...... Yes! ”

Outside, there was a rapid sound of "da-......", which was the movement of many horses' hooves on the brick floor. Yang Gon said: "The cavalry is coming!" Hold the door and wait for help. ”

This bedroom has only one rear window, which opens high and has a small opening. There is almost only this small door in the gap, and a few people can defend it, and the armor soldiers at the door are wearing plate armor, so it is not difficult to delay a little.

Xiao Siwen ran here in shock, and only then did he come back to his senses a little, Yang Gon was indeed very good at using soldiers when he was in a hurry. Anyway, Yang Gon did save his life tonight!