The next morning, Xu Ji was not sent to the city to show the public, but the Liang army still launched a siege that lasted nearly two hours, and Mingjin withdrew before noon, returning in vain.

In the afternoon, the Liang army launched a second siege, this time without sending soldiers, but only throwing stones from afar, smashing several potholes in the city walls, and possibly crushing several houses in the city.

During the attack, the loud soldiers took turns shouting outside the city, reprimanding Yecheng for all kinds of crimes, pointing out that the emperor was a false establishment and was not recognized by the world.

Xu Ji didn't have a chance to watch the siege, he couldn't even leave his tent now, Yu Zhan was driven elsewhere, leaving him alone with nothing to do, only listening to the sounds outside and guessing out of thin air.

Ma Wei was probably weak last night, so he talked to Xu Ji, and when he woke up, he returned to the same state, still preparing to capture Yecheng and hold on.

The more anxious Xu Ji is, the more calm he must be on the surface, even if he is in a no-man's land, he must take his time, kneel on the bunk, as if he is an old monk, and in his heart he is actually going to heaven and earth, wandering around, trying to grasp every bit of information known, and guessing Ma Wei's intentions accordingly.

At noon, someone brought food, there was wine and meat, much more abundant than usual, Xu Ji asked: "Is it given by King Liang, or is it given by Lord Fei?" ”

The soldier delivering the meal rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Gifted by Lord Fei." Xu Ji guessed that if King Liang spoke in person, the soldiers would never dare to be so rude.

Xu Ji gave up "meditation" and drank and ate meat recklessly, and most of the meat was quickly eaten, revealing a note at the bottom of the plate.

"Day 1", that's all there was to the note.

Xu Ji shook his head and smiled bitterly, making sure that this was really Fei Yu's gift, picked out the note and put it aside, ate first, and then tore it to pieces.

The next day, the Liang army's offensive became more and more violent, and Xu Ji could also hear the earth-shaking sound in the distance in the tent, intermittently, from morning to evening.

Xu Ji gradually felt a little anxious in his heart, the situation became more and more urgent, but he couldn't do anything, he didn't even have a news channel, sitting in a dark tent, like a dog brought home by a butcher, hiding in a cage and shivering, not knowing whether he would be killed and sold for meat, or would become a domestic dog with bones to eat.

Xu Ji is trying to find a third way, so he is becoming more and more apprehensive.

On the third day, a large number of Liang troops had been arrayed under the city, and many stone-throwing equipment had been loaded, but King Liang suddenly ordered to suspend the attack today.

Xu Ji learned the news from the soldier who delivered the meal, this person was in a better mood today, and took the initiative to nag a few words, "It seems that Yecheng is going to surrender, haha, this is a great achievement." I heard that there are a lot of rich people in the city, and even the common people have a lot of savings, so everyone can share something. ”

The soldier left, Xu Ji directly turned the meat on the plate, and did not see the note, this was the last day that Xu Ji promised to give an answer, it stands to reason that Fei Zhen should be in a hurry, but he did not urge like the previous two days.

Xu Ji hoped that Fei Xun did not do anything stupid.

Around the same night, someone finally came to pass on Xu Ji and took him to see King Liang.

There were already several people in the Chinese military tent, and Ma Wei sat on a chair, not allowing others to approach, and did not look at anyone, like a statue looking down on the world.

It was the eunuch Gao Shengze who was in charge of King Liang again.

"Xu Gongzi came just in time." For Gao Shengze, the most worthwhile thing to do is probably to share the worries of King Liang, so he is always so happy, with a smile on his face, and he is very kind to everyone.

"All three messengers are here, and there is no shortage of one." Gao Shengze pulled Xu Ji to the designated position and lined up with Kou Daogu and Fei Xun.

Xu Ji glanced at it, Fei Xun beside him lowered his head, and Kou Daogu, who was separated by a person, still had that arrogant demeanor.

Gao Shengze took two steps back, stood sideways, so that King Liang in the distance could see the three messengers, waited for a while, and saw that King Liang had nothing to say, he smiled and said: "The three were ordered to persuade King Liang to withdraw his troops, although it was useless, but it was also harmless, and persisting to this day can be regarded as a worthy mission." Well, King Liang gave the order to attack the city, but he did not give up the negotiations with Yecheng, and always hoped that the rulers of Yecheng would wake up and take the empress dowager and the people in the city as the most important thing, and open the door and surrender as soon as possible. ”

Gao Shengze stopped, glanced at King Liang again, and then said: "Now that the negotiations have finally made progress, the new envoy of Yecheng is here, he wants to confirm that the three of them are fine, and then take one back to the city." ”

A person walked out from the side, dressed as a civil official, Xu Ji didn't recognize it, but the person seemed to recognize him, looked at it carefully, then looked at the other two, nodded and said: "The three envoys are all here, and what King Liang said is true." ”

Of course, the king did not lie. Which one do you want to take back to the city? Gao Shengze asked.

"Xu Zhi, Xu Gongzi." Civil Official.

Gao Shengze couldn't call the shots himself, glanced at King Liang, and then shook his head, "Your Excellency sees that Xu Gongzi is still alive, that's enough, you can't take him away." ”

"But ......"

"It's nothing, if Yecheng wants to negotiate peace, he can't do whatever he wants, right?"

"Alright, Lord Fei Fei."

After Gao Shengze got the signal, he smiled at Fei Yu and said, "Congratulations to Lord Fei, you can return to the city safely." ”

"I was ordered to send an envoy, but I returned in vain, Fei Mou has no face to see Your Majesty, I am willing to stay and ask Mr. Kou to return to the city." Fei Xun actually refused.

The civil official of Yecheng said: "I am also acting on orders, and the person I want to bring back is either Mr. Xu or Master Fei, and there is no mention of Mr. Kou." ”

Kou Daogu didn't seem to hear these words.

"Negotiate peace, what are you going to do with me taking a waste like me back to the city?" Fei Xun showed a hint of anger.

Gao Shengze said with a smile: "Yecheng can't do what he wants, and Master Fei can't. ”

Fei Yu couldn't help it, he thanked King Liang with his hand, and when he turned around to get out of the tent, he glared at Xu Ji fiercely.

The civil officials of Yecheng led people away, Gao Shengze did not let the remaining two envoys leave immediately, he had to take a look at King Liang first every time he did something, and he didn't know if he had been reminded in advance, or if he could always accurately guess King Liang's intentions, and every word would be true.

"In the second half of the night, Yecheng will send envoys again, they are really eager to negotiate peace, but they are still lucky, and they are unwilling to give greater concessions. Although the two are the envoys of Yecheng, they are also the people appreciated by the King of Liang, and I hope that the two of them will know everything - stand on the side of the King of Liang, give advice to the King of Liang, think about whether it is war or peace, if the war is war, how many days will there be to capture the city? What kind of requirements should be made? ”

Xu Ji wanted to be on the same scene with Kou Daogu, this was the first time, the two turned their heads and glanced at each other, disgusted with each other, and immediately looked away without speaking.

Gao Shengze waited for a while, was a little embarrassed, and said with a smile: "The two of you are still embarrassed, there are no outsiders here, especially Master Fei, what you said ......"

A light cough came from a distance, Gao Shengze immediately shut up, turned to King Liang to take a look, and then took small steps, came to the audience to listen, and nodded frequently.

Gao Shengze returned to the two of them and brought King Liang's latest intentions, "Please Mr. Kou speak first." Mr. Kou, the person who has attained the Tao, King Liang and you are familiar at first sight. ”

Kou Daogu took two steps forward, leaving Xu Ji completely behind, and then spoke: "It is the luck of Kou's life to meet King Liang." In troubled times, the so-called monarch chooses his ministers, and ministers also choose kings. Kou Mou supported himself in Yecheng, but he never surrendered, until he met King Liang, and he had the heart to assist the Ming Lord. ”

Gao Shengze nodded approvingly for King Liang.

Kou Daogu continued: "According to Kou's simple opinion, Yecheng is not credible, especially the county lord of Huanyan is not credible. For the sake of King Liang, why not do the opposite, wait for the Yecheng envoy to come again, bargain, agree to negotiate peace, and then take advantage of his unpreparedness, go straight into the city, then it is war or peace, all according to King Liang's mind, no need to guess what others think. ”

Gao Shengze nodded, and found that he didn't get a signal from King Liang, so he hurriedly stopped, glanced at King Liang, and said to Kou Daogu: "Thank you, Mr. Kou." Does Mr. Kou have anything else to say? ”

"King Liang asked Yecheng about the peace, I only said this, and I didn't say anything else for the time being."

Gao Shengze nodded again, and then said to Xu Ji: "Xu Gongzi can speak." ”

Xu Ji stood still and didn't move, and let out a long sigh before speaking, "The capture of Yecheng, the first to benefit is the Huaizhou Sheng family, followed by the Jiangdong Ning King and the Bingzhou Shen family, and even the He Rong Department outside the fortress can also share a big cup of soup, but King Liang, I don't see what benefits can be gained." ”

Gao Shengze looked left and right, and whispered to Kou Daogu: "If Mr. Kou has any objections, he can refute them." ”

Kou Daogu was waiting for this sentence, and did not look back, and said: "This is a bad word, Yecheng is captured by King Liang, how to deal with it after it is in hand, King Liang takes the lead and says nothing." What Xu Gongzi is worried about is nothing more than the Huaizhou army grabbing merit, and the state army and He Rong's army are now going south, in fact, they all have countermeasures. After capturing Yecheng, King Liang Ke ordered to take care of the entire Jizhou, leaving the Liang army in his headquarters to guard Yecheng, and sending the Huaizhou army to northern Hebei, one is to prevent the Huai people from being in turmoil, and the other is to make it fight with the two tigers of the Bingzhou army. As for King Ning, he is far away in Jiangdong, so don't worry about him for the time being. When King Liang stabilizes Yecheng and echoes the eastern capital, he can make progress again and stand out from the crowd, so what are you worried about? If you don't dare to get what you deserve, then the world is even more unobtainable, forgive Kou Mou's words, King Liang seems to be taking risks even to be the king, should learn from someone, abdicate and live in seclusion, and send people under the fence, which is much safer than now. ”

After Gao Shengze received King Liang's signal this time, he nodded again and again, "What about Gongzi Xu?" What else is there to say? ”

Xu Ji thought for a while, "Between adventurous and enterprising and abdicating and seclusion, there are many choices, there are near-term worries, there are long-term concerns, and the solutions are different. ”

Gao Shengze smiled: "What Gongzi Xu said is a bit general. ”

Xu Ji thought for a while, "I hope to stay here and wait for the Yecheng envoy to come again, and listen to what conditions Yecheng is willing to give before I can continue." ”

Gao Shengze returned to the stage, talked to King Liang in a whisper, and soon came back, "Both of you can stay." ”

Gao Shengze found two stools and asked them to sit down, but he was still standing, running to the side of the stage from time to time to see what King Liang needed.

Xu Ji and Kou Daogu sat opposite each other, one smiling, the other sinking like water.

After waiting for a long time, the third watch had passed, and news came from outside, and the Yecheng envoy arrived as scheduled, a total of two people.

"Yecheng is not sincere in negotiating peace, there must be tricks." Kou Daogu stood up and reminded.

Xu Ji also stood up and didn't say anything.

Two messengers entered the tent, one was the original civil official, the other was wearing a cloak, and the samurai at the door was to search his body according to the custom, and the man ducked, lifted his hat, and revealed his true face.

Lord Huanyan came in person.

。 m.