In any case, the accession to the throne of the new emperor was a major event and a happy event, the city was full of lights, the streets and alleys were cleaned, and the people whose soles were too dirty did not even dare to go out of their homes.

There were as many as 1,500 officials, nobles and celebrities invited to participate in the ceremony, which was of course not comparable to the first three emperors in the Eastern Capital, but for Yecheng, it was a grand event that had not been seen for more than 100 years.

Xu Ji was not invited, and in order to avoid embarrassment, he was allowed to return to Siguo Valley.

The people in the valley were already in a hurry, and when they saw the safe return of the son, they were all overjoyed, and the old servant knelt down to thank the heavens, and burst into tears.

Meng Yingbo's life has been particularly difficult these days, as soon as there is a wind and grass, his face changes immediately, so that he rarely sees people, hiding in his hut every day, wanting to escape from the valley for a while, and wanting to be generous to righteousness, but he always lacks one or two courages.

Seeing Xu Ji, Meng Yingbo was happier than anyone else.

After Xu Ji met with everyone, he asked Meng Yingbo to go to the study to talk and tell him that Yecheng intended to form an alliance with the Descending Army.

Meng Yingbo thought about it for a long time, but he didn't expect such a result, and only after a while did he say: "I have always admired Childe, but now I understand that I still underestimate Childe's ability." Someone else has two wives and is already anxious, but Childe can be left and right, and can also encourage the two sides to form an alliance - why does Childe refuse to be king? ”

"Don't mention this matter again, the alliance has nothing to do with it, it is purely the best choice for Yecheng and Qinzhou: one side has the emperor name but lacks troops, and the other side has sufficient troops but lacks a name, which just complements each other."

Meng Yingbo nodded, "I won't mention it." But he didn't change his opinion in his heart, and his admiration for Xu Ji increased a little more.

"Yecheng needs an envoy, and I recommended General Xiao Meng."

"Emissary? What messenger? ”

"Go to Qinzhou to convey the envoy of goodwill to the descending army."

Meng Yingbo's face changed suddenly, and he waved his hand again and again, "Gongzi wants my life, to put it simply, with my brother as an example, I will never postpone it, and I don't need to go all the way back to Qinzhou to see the golden saint die." ”

Meng Yingbo didn't know how to speak, Xu Ji had long been used to it, and said with a smile: "This is not sending you to death, I am saving your life." ”

Meng Yingbo still shook his head, "I escaped secretly, with the fiery temper of the Golden Holy Maiden, she will poke me in a hole with a long lance as soon as we meet, don't say that I don't dare to resist, even if I have the courage and the ability." ”

"The Golden Holy Maiden hates officers and soldiers?"

"Of course I hate, it's life and death on both sides."

"But the Golden Holy Maiden can reuse Cao Shenxi and others, why is this?"

"Uh......"

"The Golden Sage is strong, but she is not a person who holds grudges, as long as it is beneficial to the Descending Army, she can forgive anyone, not to mention that General Xiao Meng has not committed an unforgivable felony."

"It's hard to say, if the Golden Holy Maiden knows that I invited my son in private, it will be a big sin."

"As long as you bring back good news, you will be forgiven, and you will do a great job."

"Good...... Shall I go back alone? What if the Golden Holy Maiden doesn't believe me? ”

"Yecheng will send someone to Qinzhou with you."

Meng Yingbo thought for a while, gritted his teeth and said: "Gongzi refuses to go to Qinzhou with me, I have no way out anyway, instead of staying here and waiting for death, it is better to be a messenger, as soon as the golden saint is happy, maybe she can really forgive my sins." ”

"Definitely." Xu Ji made a guarantee.

"When are you leaving?"

"The new emperor ascended the throne today, and it is estimated that he will send someone to invite you into the city tomorrow."

"Into the city?"

"Don't be afraid, answer whatever you ask, don't hide it, and don't lie."

"Even the real purpose of my trip?"

"If the other person asks, you say. Yecheng needs a ready-made messenger to lead the way, and your intentions won't change their decision. ”

"Understood. Does Childe want to piggyback on letters? A few words will do. ”

"The letter is exempt, please tell General Wang Dian: The state of Wu is dead, and it is better to take a new path than to work hard to summon the soul for it."

Meng Yingbo sighed: "It seems that it has to be like this. ”

"Please tell the Golden Holy Maiden......" Xu Ji thought for a while, "Just tell her what you have seen and heard in the valley, if she is interested." ”

"Can you say anything?"

"I don't have anything to hide here."

"Even Lord Fangde can say that?" Meng Yingbo had to confirm it.

Xu Ji smiled: "There is no need to hide it. ”

"Okay, when I go back to Qinzhou, I'll act when I see the opportunity, if the Golden Holy Maiden is unhappy, I'll not mention it."

Early the next morning, Yecheng really sent someone to pick up Meng Yingbo, and by the way, the officers and soldiers who were protecting the valley were withdrawn, leaving only a dozen soldiers at the outpost.

Siguo Valley returned to quiet, perhaps because the season has passed, or because of the tossing and turning for days, the weeds no longer have their original prosperity and arrogance, and the cut ones have not grown again, and the survivors have finally relented, staying in the designated position honestly, and no longer expanding outward.

Xu Ji went to sweep Fan Guan's tomb, sat on the tombstone, and asked in his heart, "Have I waited long enough?" Is it time for me to go out of the mountains? ”

After thinking about it, Xu Ji sighed and muttered, "I have to wait a little longer, but I have already promised her......"

Someone shouted to him in the distance: "Young Master Xu! Please go to the city quickly, Mrs. Feng is invited! ”

Xu Ji stood up, but he couldn't see the speaker, and when he returned to the courtyard, Chang Yanzhi greeted him: "Mrs. Feng sent someone to deliver a letter, asking Gongzi to enter the city immediately, saying that there is an emergency." ”

"What about the messenger?"

"I'm gone, and I said I was going to invite someone else."

Xu Ji didn't have time to think too much, found the horses, and prepared to set off immediately.

The old servant was very worried, "When will Gongzi come back from this trip to the city?" ”

"As soon as possible, it shouldn't be too late." Xu Ji shot his horse out of the valley, and a soldier at the outpost was ordered to follow the escort.

When entering the city, it was getting late, and there were already people waiting at the gate of the city, leading Xu Ji straight to the mansion of the king of Xiangdong.

Feng Juniang hurriedly came out to greet her, with a grim expression, and took Xu Ji to an empty room, "Please take a break here, the big county lord will come soon." ”

"What's wrong?"

"It's King Liang, the news says that he detained the two kings in Mengjin, I only know this, and the details will be said when the big county lord comes." Feng Juniang nodded and left in a hurry.

Xu Ji sat alone in the room, speechless for a long time, wondering how he could forget about Ma Wei, the king of Liang, who obviously occupied an important piece of land, and Ma Wei was his best friend.

Because Ma Wei's strength is too weak, although he occupies the eastern capital, he is in danger, facing enemies on all sides, and he can't withstand any blow.

Ma Wei admitted his weakness, successively declared himself a vassal to Jiangdong and Yecheng, maintained courtesy to Huaizhou, Jingzhou, and Bingzhou, and secretly called himself a friend to the descending army.

Where did Ma Wei get the courage and, most importantly, where did the troops come from, who dared to detain the two kings who were just passing by?

Xu Ji couldn't guess.

There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, and soon, the county lord of Huanyan came in with Feng Juniang and three other maids, and he didn't look at anyone, and sat directly on the main seat.

Xu Ji got up and bowed his hand, and then sat down.

The leader of Huan Yan was silent for a long time, as if he had guessed the doubts in Xu Ji's heart, and said as soon as he opened his mouth: "Huaizhou lends troops to King Liang." ”

"I see. King Liang made a request? ”

"Not yet, but he specially sent someone to send a letter to tell me that the two kings are fine, and they are currently visiting Mengjin, and a peace letter will be delivered in a few days."

"Mavi...... How could the Sheng family lend him soldiers? I thought that Huaizhou and Yecheng were not brothers, but at least they were reliable allies. ”

"This thing...... Blame me, the Sheng family once sent someone to ask for marriage, hoping to have a relationship with the king of Jibei or ...... The king of Xiangdong married, I refused, and promised the princess to them. The Sheng family didn't say anything at that time, accepted the princess, and even set the day to send off the relatives, just tomorrow. ”

The princess is the daughter of the Emperor of All Things, although her status is noble, but she has lost power, and the person the Sheng family wants to marry is one of the two county lords, but the county lord of Fangde promised He Rong Pingshan in advance, and the county lord of Huanyan himself refused to marry either party.

"Is there any other reason?" Xu Ji asked.

Lord Huanyan shook his head slowly, "As far as I know, this should be the case. ”

"How does the county lord plan to deal with it?"

The county lord of Huanyan raised his head, and looked directly at Xu Ji for the first time after entering the house, "In a few days, King Liang will definitely send not only a letter of peace, but also a large army, he intends to capture Yecheng, and he used the plan of the general at the beginning." ”

Lou Wen once wanted to raid Yecheng, but the army had not yet been launched, and he had already suffered, and now Ma Wei wanted to use the same strategy, in the name of escorting the two kings, to the city.

Lord Huanyan was silent for a while, and then said: "The princess will leave early tomorrow morning and send her to Huaizhou to settle the heart of the Sheng family." After that, Yecheng waited for the battle behind closed doors, and could not surrender no matter what. As for the two kings, Yecheng behaved toughly, but the two kings were safe, once they showed their cowardice, the two kings and even the entire Zhang family would be reduced to prisoners. ”

"What did the Emperor say?"

Zhang Shiyu has been proclaimed emperor and can no longer show up easily.

"He doesn't have to say anything." Lord Huanyan said coldly, "I will solve the trouble I caused, if the Zhang family dies, the responsibility will be borne by me alone." ”

After waiting for a while, the county lord of Huanyan said again: "Yecheng has borrowed 100,000 troops from He Rongbu, and he will be able to go south within half a month. ”

Borrowing troops from the He Rong Department means that the lord of Fangde must marry the king of Zuoshenwei.

Xu Ji didn't speak.

"He Rongbu has a lot of appetite, Yecheng has to give up half of Jizhou, lose the east corner, harvest Sangyu, the loss of the north of Jizhou, to take back from King Liang's Luozhou. Mr. Sun and General Meng had already set out for Qinzhou, and Yecheng was still willing to form an alliance with the Descending Army. ”

Xu Ji still didn't speak.

Feng Juniang, who was standing on the side, whispered: "What does the county lord's response to, what does the son think?" ”

"The next step." Xu Jidao.

Feng Juniang was very embarrassed and said with a smile: "In the eyes of the son, there is no best strategy, right?" ”

"It's really not, Yecheng will die."

Lord Huanyan got up and said proudly: "Do you think I can't defend Yecheng? Think I won't be able to send away He Rongbu in the future? Or do you say that you only care about Fangde's marriage? She must marry He Rongpingshan, and the matter has been decided. King Liang took advantage of the fire to rob and must not be forgiven. Let him come and see who this fire will burn. ”

The county lord of Huanyan walked away, and the two maids followed, and Feng Juniang also had to follow, leaving only one sentence: "Many people are waiting to be rescued, and the son can't ......."

"I can't."

Feng Juniang stomped down and chased out quickly.

Xu Ji decided to "wait a little longer" and wait for Lord Huanyan to come back.