At ten o'clock in the evening, Gao Hongyi made a special trip to Mei Rou to discuss the matter of returning to the north to protect the north.

Mei Rou was obviously much more sober, much better than in the afternoon, and at the moment, she was wearing a black fur coat and looked at him with a serious face.

"Gao Hongyi, what are you doing in my Black Flag City."

Gao Hongyi could see that the small city lord of Black Flag City in front of him had a straightforward personality, was cool, and spoke even faster, and he always liked to go straight with a single knife.

He pondered for a while, and said loudly: "Hongyi has come to protect Black Flag City and protect you this time. ”

"Protection?" Mei Rou was puzzled, "My Black Flag City is good, and I need you to protect it." Besides, we are not affiliated with your Northern Guardian Eleven Cities, you know. ”

"Of course Hongyi knows, but because of this, Black Flag City needs protection even more."

Mei Rou didn't answer, and Gao Hongyi continued: "Mei Rou City Lord, you think, if you are a Western Xia person, let you attack the Northern Protector Eleven Cities and the Black Flag City, you will choose to attack the Northern Protector Eleven Cities that are connected together and have strong soldiers. Or prefer to attack the isolated Black Flag City, where the old and weak soldiers are serious. ”

"Although Black Flag City is isolated, it is not an old and weak soldier. The terrain of my Black Flag City is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and there is a world of difference between your Northern Protector Eleven City and the border between the Western Xia Kingdom and the Wang Gu Department as a whole. If I had to choose which side to attack, I would definitely attack the northern moat first, and as long as the northern moat was defeated, the eleventh northern city would collapse at the touch of a button! Mei Rou said calmly.

"But there's some truth to what you're saying. I would like to ask you a few questions, can you answer me? Mei Roufu asked again.

"City Lord, please speak!"

Gao Hongyi didn't expect that Mei Rou, who was less than ten years old in front of him, would speak so skillfully and with a lot of experience, which made him suddenly feel a little caught off guard and didn't know what to do. Because what he wants to say depends on what Mei Rou asks, which is very bad. But right now, he has no choice but to wait quietly for the opportunity.

"I ask you why you protect Black Flag City, just because of the seven men under your command! Or what are the conditions of your Gao family? ”

Gao Hongyi calmed down a little, he knew that the opportunity had come.

"City Lord Meirou, let me first explain that I am here on behalf of the Gao family this time, and before I came, my father only said one condition, that is, I hope you can submit and obey our orders. It is truly integrated with the eleven cities of the Northern Protectorate to jointly resist the invasion of the Tanguts and the Mongols.

Just now you asked me, why do I protect your Black Flag City, and why do I protect you? To be honest, there are no soldiers and no soldiers below, and there is no ability to protect Black Flag City, let alone protect you. But I would like to ask the lord of the city, the poor people under the rule of your Black Flag City must have been brutalized by the Tanguts and the Mongols, how do you protect them as the lord of a city? ”

Mei Rou was silent, and Gao Hongyi continued: "I may not know about the situation in Black Flag City, but Hongyi is somewhat clear about the matter of Beihu. Before the alliance of the eleven cities of Beihu was unified, the civilians in the Beihu area were brutally killed by the Western Xia and Mongols, and countless cattle, sheep and horses were robbed.

After the formal alliance between the eleven cities of Beihu, the Tanguts and Mongols killed a total of 80 civilians in the Beihu area, and at the same time, the Beihu Prefecture killed 11 Mongols and more than 200 Tanguts. City Lord, do you want me to go on? ”

Mei Rou said with a surprised face: "What you said is true? ”

"Every sentence is true, and I found it in the notebook of General Beigo."

Gao Hongyi continued: "The city lord may not know that as long as you return to my northern protector of Black Flag City, the number of people reported just now will be greatly reduced until no civilians are killed. Because we have ascertained that all the Tangut people who killed civilians in the territory of the Eleven Cities in the North Protector and the Mongols crossed the border from your Black Flag City. The lord of the city, don't you feel guilty about it? And in the morning, the city lord and you yourself were almost captured by the assassins of the Western Xia Kingdom, and you are the city lord of the dignified Black Flag City, and how will the people of the Black Flag City live, has the city lord ever thought about it? ”

"That's it! Stop it. Mei Rou said helplessly.

Gao Hongyi ignored her and continued: "Mei Rou, you are the city lord of Black Flag City at a young age, and I see that your sergeants care about you so much and respect you so much. Do you know why they do this? They are out of trust in your family, out of your desire for their protection, and out of recognition that you are a good city lord who can do something. ”

"Alright," Merry interrupted loudly.

"I know it all, what else do you have to say?" Mei Rou suddenly calmed down. "There's nothing to say, just go back."

Gao Hongyi was a little disappointed in his heart, he shook his head sadly, turned around and left. However, before leaving, he said: "Sister Mei Rou, you are still young, you are very kind, you will be a city lord who can make a difference, but the subjects of your territory will not follow you with all their hearts." ”

Gao Hongyi left Black Flag City with Li Zhong and the others, although he did not gain Mei Rou's trust and succeeded in persuading them to submit. But his heart is very satisfied, this opportunity made him understand the difficulty of being a lobbyist, and let him see his own shortcomings, a little pretentious? Perhaps!

It was getting colder and colder, and they had too little clothing with them to stay in the wilderness, so they hurried back to the northern moat.

……

The icy winter morning, accompanied by the howling cold wind, seems to freeze people's hot blood. But Gao Hongyi obviously wouldn't give in, he got up early in the morning and went to the main hall to see his father Gao Yuanhe.

Gao Yuanhe was discussing things with the deputy general Shi Hu, and when he saw Gao Hongyi coming in, he motioned for him to sit down first. After they finished discussing, Gao Yuanhe looked at his son with a calm face and asked with concern, "Why didn't you sleep a little longer when you got home so late last night?" ”

Gao Hongyi's nose was sour, "Father"

"Okay, don't talk about it, I know it all. You did a good job this time, and you didn't embarrass the Gao family. ”

Gao Hongyi said seriously: "The son is ashamed that he failed to complete his father's task, please punish his father." ”

"Not done?" Gao Yuanhe's expression was a little unpredictable, "Then what is this?" ”

Gao Yuanhe said and took out a letter and handed it to Gao Hongyi.

Gao Hongyi took it suspiciously, it was a letter from Black Flag City, and Mei Rou said on it that she agreed to return to the Gao family, but hoped that Gao Hongyi would protect herself!

Gao Hongyi was surprised: "Father, where did this come from?" ”

"Early this morning, the flying pigeon of Black Flag City passed the book, it seems that you don't know it yet!"

Gao Hongyi couldn't believe it, read the letter carefully, confirmed that it was from Black Flag City, and was excited as if he wanted to call out, "Father, that means Black Flag City has completely surrendered to our Gao family?" ”

"Of course, at the same time, the Twelve Cities of the North Protector are officially united!" Gao Yuanhe said happily, "This day, I have waited for my father for many years, and I have finally arrived. ”

Shi Hu's expression on the side was even more unpredictable, but he reacted quickly and hurriedly hugged his fists and said, "Subordinates, congratulations to the general for unifying the twelve cities of the Northern Protector!" Since then, the North Protector has officially become one, which is really a great thing! ”

Gao Yuanhe didn't pay attention to him, but looked at Gao Hongyi, "Yi'er, you did a good job on this errand, let's say, what reward do you want?" As long as the Father can give, the Father will promise you. ”

Gao Hongyi's heart had settled down at this time, and he said calmly: "Erchen doesn't want to get anything, I just hope that my father can trust Erchen and let Erchen go out to experience more." ”

"Haha, this is fine. But you really don't want anything? Gao Yuanhe looked at him and asked

"Yes, father."

Gao Yuanhe pondered for a while and said: "Our Northern Protector Military Regulations are the most clear rewards and punishments, and meritorious service will naturally be rewarded, you don't want it, but you can't help but reward it for your father." Since the city lord of Black Flag City mentioned that you will protect them, my father will appoint you as the deputy commander of the Northern Guard Horse Division, responsible for contacting Black Flag City! ”

"Thank you, father!"

Gao Yuanhe waved his hand, "Don't be busy, according to common sense, since Black Flag City has surrendered, you need to go there immediately and let them swear allegiance." It's just that there is one errand that my father wants you to do, and it doesn't hurt to go after you finish it. ”

"Yes, father." Gao Hongyi happily agreed, and asked at the same time, "I don't know what my father asked my son to do, and I asked my father to show me." ”

"Welcome to the West Shogun Ma Tang Feng!"

Before Gao Hongyi could ask for details, Shi Hu hurriedly said, "General, I'm afraid this matter is inappropriate!" ”