Yongzhou City fell again, which made the already cloudy court even more solemn.

What Tuoba Yan's next target is, no one can guess from the court. Wuping Pass and Yongzhou were lost one after another, and the northwest barrier of Southern Chu had been broken, and there was nothing left to stop Tuoba Yan's iron cavalry from stepping into the Central Plains. Tuoba Yan may go east and attack the six counties of Lingdong, or he may go north and attack Yangcheng. Perhaps, he directly waved his army south, crossed the Lan River, and attacked the new capital Pingcheng.

No matter where Tuoba Yan attacked, it would be a huge disaster for Nanchu.

"Everyone, Aiqing, do you have a way to deal with it?" Emperor Zhao Ruize has been an ornament at the court meeting for many years, and now he finally can't help but ask.

It's a pity that none of the officials below will be able to answer this question.

Old Lady Xu still didn't look impatient, and asked Old Marquis Mu slowly, "General Mu, you have experienced a hundred battles, what do you think about this?" ”

Since General Mu Lao was captured by his second son, how dare he squeak in the court again. At this moment, Mrs. Xu asked him to express his opinion, and he had to say vaguely: "The old minister is old and confused, where is the high opinion?" ”

Seeing this, Mrs. Xu had no choice but to ask the Ministry of Rites: "When will the Ministry of Rites and the embassy of the peace conference set off?" ”

"Soon, soon......" replied with trembling Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites.

"Soon?" When Mrs. Xu heard this answer, she was so angry that she almost flipped the table, "How many days have you been here, and you haven't prepared yet?" Do you have to wait until Xiang Qiang hits the gate of Pingcheng before you take the delegation to the peace talks? ”

"Immediately, Weichen immediately led the team to negotiate peace with Xiang Qiang." The Ministry of Rites Shangshu didn't dare to delay any longer, even if there was a mountain of swords and a sea of fire ahead, he had to go.

Old Lady Xu finally expressed her position when she saw that the Ministry of Rites had finally spoken, and then she calmed down her anger, "Tomorrow, I want to see the mission depart." ”

When Tuoba Yan arrived in Yongzhou, it was also like Wuping Pass, and there were few people on the road. The people have long taken refuge in other places with their families and mouths, and the city has long been empty.

Several lieutenant generals looked at this depression and couldn't help but laugh: "The Chu people are really cowardly, they ran away before we entered the city." ”

"Chu people can't do it, they are cowardly before they fight, and it's strange if they can win."

"It's still the Khan powerful, when they saw the Khan's royal flag, they were already scared to pee their pants, how dare they fight?"

"The guard in Yongzhou begged for mercy vigorously, laughing to death. If you want to talk about tough guys, I only serve Feng Rubing of Nanchu. ”

"Feng Rubing......" Alem listened to the chatter of his subordinates, thinking of the unyielding general, he really loved and hated. I heard that Feng Rubing was rescued by the intermediaries of the Chu State, but now he is still missing.

Alem had the same idea as Tuo Bayan, hoping that Feng Rubing would stand on his side and fight side by side. However, Al-Am is much more sober than Tuoba. Although Qin Luo was moved by the Khan's words, it does not mean that Feng Rubing will also be moved by him. Alem is also a military general, and he understands that the word "loyalty" is more important than life in the hearts of all generals.

Qin Luo and Tuoba Yan are politicians who only care about the gains and losses of interests, while Feng Rubing and Alem are generals who care about honor. Although they are people of different nationalities, different countries. Leaving aside the country and the nation, in fact, they are the same kind of people.

Alam and Abutai led their men and horses to clean up the battlefield. There were not many prisoners this time, and there were no famous generals like Feng Rubing. Tuoba Yan simply looked at the counted loot, and nodded with interest, these things can no longer arouse Tuoba Yan's interest.

The captured booty was actually enough for the Qingyun herdsmen to survive this winter, but it was far from the amount expected by Tuoba Yan. He has been planning this battle for a long time, and it is the first time he has personally conquered, how can he only bring this little thing back? Tuoba is ambitious, and he has set his sights on the final destination of this war - Yangcheng!

Tuoba Yan and his second brother Tuoba Ling discussed in the Chinese army's tent late at night how to attack Yangcheng. After all, Yangcheng used to be the capital of the Chu State, and the city was naturally tall and majestic, even more domineering than the Wuping Guancheng Tower.

"If we want to attack Yangcheng, our ladder, I'm afraid the height is not enough." Tuoba Ling hadn't really been to Yangcheng, but he had heard from the people of the Central Plains that the walls of Yangcheng were tall and impregnable.

But Tuoba was arrogant, and he didn't feel that Yangcheng was any different from other cities at all, he had been carried away by the successive victories, and felt that Yangcheng was also the same as Wupingguan, and it was easy to get it. Even, Tuoba Yan looked at the other side of the Lan River with great ambition, if it weren't for the lack of warships to cross the river, he would not have been able to directly attack the new capital of Southern Chu - Pingcheng!

Tuoba Yan didn't like the second brother's retreat, he said proudly: "I don't believe it, Yangcheng will be an iron wall, unable to be attacked, unable to break?" Second brother, it's man-made, don't back down. ”

"I won't retreat, Khan, where you go, I will follow Khan and fight wherever I go." Tuoba Ling smiled bitterly, now the relationship between himself and his third brother is really not as close as before.

Tuoba Yan softened his tone: "Second brother, with your think tank, I am relieved." ”

Wuping Pass and Yongzhou were lost one after another, not only the Southern Chu court was anxious, but also the people in Xiang Qiang were also anxious. Even Blacksmith Sun began to be anxious, and frequently went to the secret passage to meet with General Feng. Only Qin Luo seems to be in no hurry or impatient, and he looks like he is strategizing.

When Blacksmith Sun went to the secret road to see Feng Rubing again, he reflected Qin Luo's attitude to General Feng, "Great Chu has been defeated one after another, and we are all anxious, and we want to send you back immediately to preside over the battle." But Qin Luo hasn't stopped martial law yet, and he asked us to wait a few more days. I originally wanted Liu Changfeng to take you out privately, but there were too many Xiang Qiang soldiers outside, and we couldn't do it. ”

General Feng was not as anxious as Blacksmith Sun, he said indifferently: "Since Qin Luo asked us to wait a little longer, let's wait a few more days." ”

Blacksmith Sun said eagerly: "However, now that Tuoba Yan has even broken through Yongzhou, no one can know what Tuoba Yan's next target is." In case, he really wants to cross the river to attack Pingcheng, we can't let the tragedy of Yangcheng happen again. ”

"Tuoba Yan can't cross the river without warships." Feng Rubing said firmly, "Presumably Qin Luo also saw this, so he could be calm and calm and settle down to lay out." ”

"Even if it's not Pingcheng, it could be other states and counties." Blacksmith Sun asked, "Everywhere Tuoba Yan went, there were no corpses everywhere. It has only been hundreds of years since I had such prosperity in Dachu, and I can't be destroyed by Xiang Qiang's iron horse. ”

Not only Southern Chu, not only Xiang Qiang, in fact, every time the Central Plains changed dynasties before, it was a huge disaster for the people. The so-called prosperity, the people suffer; Death, the people suffer. Those who are in high positions compete for power and profit, fight and kill, and suffer are all the people at the bottom.

It's just that the Xiangqiang people don't understand the culture of the Central Plains, and they won't be like the founding emperors in the past, forbidding the army to burn and plunder for the sake of the people's support. Xiang Qiang would only snatch the treasures and women of the Central Plains, and then come and go like the wind, leaving only a mess.

Feng Rubing remembered the tragic past when Yangcheng was breached, and couldn't help but show a heavy expression. He groaned, "You are in a hurry, I am actually more anxious than you." I can't wait to return to the battlefield immediately and fight with the Xiangqiang people. Instead of staying in this dark place and doing nothing every day, as we are now. But Qin Luo asked us to wait, and there must be a deep meaning. We shouldn't question him. ”

"But......" Blacksmith Sun opened his mouth to argue, but Feng Rubing stopped talking.

"No, but. Qin Luo is not arrogant, not impatient, neither humble nor arrogant, and he will become a great weapon in the future. Feng Rubing spoke highly of Qin Luo, "I believe in Qin Luo, don't rush him, don't put pressure on him." I believe he has a trick. ”

Blacksmith Sun was no longer anxious after General Feng's admonition, he nodded, "Qin Luo does have a lot of ideas, in fact, during this time, thanks to Qin Luo's advice for me, I was able to obtain information from Qu'an County and Jingyang County. And before, Qin Luo rescued the Holy Lord alone, and I valued his ability and invited him to join us. ”

Feng Rubing knew that at that time, when he learned that the prince had been arrested from the guards who protected Zhao Ruize, he was frightened into a cold sweat. Later, after many inquiries, I learned that Zhao Ruize was taken to Danyang City of Qingyun Department. Fortunately, Zhao Ruize's identity as the prince was not exposed. Just as General Feng was about to send someone to forcibly snatch Zhao Ruize from Xiang Qiang, he suddenly heard that Xiang Qiang's old khan wanted to spare the women and children of the Central Plains. At that time, he was still inexplicable, and he couldn't figure out why Tuoba Hao was so kind. Later, I learned that it was Qin Luo who mediated it.

Qin Luo's move can be said to have saved Da Chu, which should have been a feat that should be written about, but for Qin Luo's safety, they can't say it to outsiders, they can only act as if they don't know anything, only in their hearts, silently thank Qin Luo, the unsung hero.

However, Qin Luo's mentality was very good, and he didn't feel that he had done anything great. Even later, when Qin Luo was tortured and imprisoned by Tuoba because of this incident and almost died, he didn't feel wronged. Maybe Qin Luo felt that keeping the heir of the emperor of Chu was what every Chu person should do, but it just so happened that he met Zhao Ruize.

After Tuoba Yan and Tuoba Ling discussed that day, the next day, they gathered the generals to discuss the next strategic plan. Tuoba Yan said straight to the point: "This time, we will go straight to Yangcheng and strive to take it in one go." ”

General Kutulu's brow furrowed slightly, obviously not quite agreeing with this plan. He bluntly said, "Khan, I think we should fight in a roundabout way. Yongzhou is still four or five days away from Yangcheng, and if we go directly, they will definitely take precautions. It is better to attack the east and the west, pretend to attack other states and counties, and when the Central Plains is deployed, immediately turn around and attack Yangcheng. ”

After hearing this, the second prince couldn't help but nod, he was very satisfied with Kutulu's suggestion. Tuoba Ling added: "We must wait for the Central Plains to transfer troops, and then immediately turn to the attack. They are no better than us in the Central Plains, and the generals need to consult their emperor for everything. After the Southern Chu Imperial Court knows our offensive target, it will be too late to order support. ”

Xiang Qiang's generals burst into laughter, and they had already discovered the problem that the Southern Chu generals had no power. While lamenting the helplessness of the Southern Chu generals, they laughed at the stupidity of the Central Plains court. But they didn't know that the Southern Chu court also had their own troubles. Although the two countries have different systems, they have their own advantages and disadvantages.