King Liang once sent 10,000 troops to Xiangyang with Xu Ji, most of whom were stationed outside the eastern capital, and left more than 1,000 people when escorting grain and grass a few days ago.

There were changes in the eastern capital, the army outside the city was in turmoil, many people fled among the Jizhou soldiers, and there were still six or seven thousand people left, and they were in a dilemma: stay, afraid of being killed; Flee, fearing for his family in the city.

Hearing that the first group of Ning troops was coming, and more than 1,000 people fled, Guo Shifeng suggested to Pan Kai: "The Ning army has arrived, and General Pan has a solid backing, so he can summon the Liang army outside the city into the city and comfort him, but if the comfort fails, he needs to be brought to justice by military law." ”

Pan Kai disagreed, "King Ning is ruthless, he once burned and killed thousands of Wu soldiers outside the eastern capital, everyone still remembers, so when I heard that Ning Jun was coming, everyone was afraid, if I summoned him into the city again, the soldiers of the Liang army will definitely be even more afraid." Alas, it is better to let those who stay stay stay and those who wish to go go. ”

"King Ning burned and killed Wu Bing at the beginning, for his own reasons, this time he came to the Eastern Capital, only gratitude, no resentment, how could he kill again? General Pan must not let the Liang army leave outside the city, he really can't bear it, just sit idly by, and never let it go, so as not to disturb the morale of the soldiers in the city. ”

Pan Kai nodded, "Anyway, I don't interfere." ”

Guo Shifeng was anxious to see Xu Ji and King Ning, and told him to go out of the city after that, thinking that with Zong Mingyi in charge, there would be no more accidents.

But he underestimated King Ning's "prestige".

The news of King Ning's visit to the eastern capital spread far and wide, both inside and outside the city had been heard, more and more people were terrified, Guo Shifeng had just left, and the Liang army outside the city began to flee on a large scale, and the generals were powerless to stop it, so they also ran away.

When the news came to the city, Pan Kai sighed, regretted, left Guo Shifeng's advice behind, and ordered: "If the soldiers of the Liang army want to stay, they will stay, and if they want to go, they will leave, and they will be at their own convenience." ”

As soon as this order was spread, the Liang army in the city was also in chaos, thinking that this was a hint: King Ning would go on a killing spree, and General Pan reminded everyone to flee quickly.

At first, some people secretly left the city, and soon it became a large-scale escape, the city gates were wide open on all sides, some people were in groups, some people went on the road alone, and more people were wives and children.

Zong Mingyi is good at leading troops to fight, but he is not good at dealing with such a chaotic situation, in a hurry, he sent troops to take over the city gate, but as soon as Ning Jun went to the street, it brought even greater chaos, and the rumors flew like flying, quickly spread throughout the city, saying that Ning Jun was ready to clear the city, and even Pan Kai heard about it, and specially sent people to ask for the truth.

Zong Mingyi was speechless, so he had to order the troops to be withdrawn and let the soldiers and civilians of the eastern capital flee.

It wasn't until after dark, seeing that Ning Jun had no intention of killing, that the tide of escape gradually stopped, Pan Kai counted the soldiers, reclosed the city gate, and returned to his residence with a sigh.

Soon after dawn the next day, King Ning rushed to the eastern capital, and he had heard about the situation in the city on the way, and his heart was very angry, and the first thing he did when he entered the city was to order someone to tie Zong Mingyi and ask him why he could not stop the escape.

"What do I want an empty city for?" Ning Bao lived in a camp in the northern city, which was his territory when he was guarding the eastern capital.

"I sent troops, but ...... But the situation was even more chaotic, and everyone said that the Ning army was going to kill all the soldiers and civilians in the Eastern Capital......" Zong Mingyi knelt on the ground and tried to justify.

"So what?"

"I ...... I don't think King Ning has this plan, and King Ning said that he didn't want to empty the city, so he ......"

"So you're soft-hearted?" Ning Baoguan was furious, "You yourself are also from the people, don't you know that the people are all bullying the weak and afraid of the hard?" They are afraid of what you do, you do it, they are afraid of slaughtering the city, you put on the posture of slaughtering the city, they will be honest after a while. I have only heard that the people are afraid of soldiers, but when you come here, soldiers are afraid of the people, and you are also worthy of being called a general? ”

Zong Mingyi's face was red, and he didn't dare to argue anymore.

Guo Shifeng had been following King Ning's side, and at this time he persuaded: "It must be Pan Kai who is the main one to let go, and General Zong is forced to ...... helplessly."

Zong Mingyi nodded again and again.

Ning Baoguan sneered: "What is Pan Kai, my subordinates want to listen to his orders?" ”

Guo Shifeng didn't dare to say any more, took a step back, and glanced at Zong Mingyi, Zong Mingyi's hands were tied behind his back, kowtowed, and said: "The last general is guilty, please punish King Ning." ”

"Let go of the soldiers and civilians of the Eastern Capital, what you committed is a capital crime, but remember that your previous merits were high, and your merits and demerits were offset, and you were demoted to a soldier, and you made meritorious service again for self-effectiveness, get out."

King Ning's tone was not good, but Zong Mingyi was greatly relieved and kowtowed to retire.

Ning Baoguan is still not relieved, and what he hates is not his own generals, but the soldiers and people of the Eastern Capital, "A group of guys who don't know what to do, run away when they see me, hey, I want to let them have no way to escape." ”

Guo Shifeng observed his words and looks, and stood obediently to the side without squeaking, but turned his head to glance at Xu Ji.

Xu Ji smiled and stepped forward and said, "King Ning now knows the importance of 'name', right?" ”

Ning Baoguan's eyes were cold, "I killed so many Wu soldiers, you don't want to avenge them?" ”

"Yes."

Ning Baoguan's face changed, and then he said proudly: "I don't lack enemies in my life, it's okay to have one more, I'll just sit here, you come to take revenge, I'll give you a chance to fight alone with you, and don't let the guards interfere." ”

Xu Ji arched his hand and said: "I want to take revenge on King Ning, who is above 10,000 people, and I will not fight with Ning Baoguan, who is brave enough to be brave." ”

Ning Baoguan laughed and said to Guo Shifeng: "You are both strategists and friends, and you are from the same school, why are you persuading people in different styles?" ”

Guo Shifeng said with a smile: "I don't think that King Wangning explained in detail. ”

"Mr. Guo's persuasion is like a spring breeze, but after that, it is more and more bitter, Mr. Xu is just the opposite, persuading people is like scolding, you have to taste it carefully, you can understand the taste."

Guo Shifeng's smile did not decrease, "Mr. Xu is indeed better than me." ”

"No, no, you are better than Mr. Xu, you are the same strategist on the outside, but Xu Ji is not, he calls himself a strategist, and he still thinks he is the king in his heart, and he always has the meaning of being superior. No matter how powerful he is, if he can't be used by others, he is useless. ”

Ning Baoguan's face gradually became cold, and Guo Shifeng smiled and said nothing.

Xu Ji did not refute it, and waited for King Ning to "taste carefully".

After being silent for a long time, Ning Baoguan spoke: "What is my name now?" If you want to win the world, what name do you want? ”

Guo Shifeng sighed secretly, Xu Jizhi's persuasion was actually going to succeed again.

Xu Ji took half a step forward and arched his hand: "At present, there are three kings of Ning: one is ruthless, burning and killing Wu soldiers, and the poison of the means is heard in the world; the second is the color name, abandoning his wife, forcibly marrying Queen Tiancheng, a lustful person since ancient times, and there is no one who is on the right side of King Ning; The third is prestige, seizing Jiangdong, attacking Jingzhou, and occupying the eastern capital, which has become a trend of prosperity. ”

"Hey, I said that you persuade people like scolding, and you have intensified it, come, tell me what name I need?"

"The first is still ruthless."

"Huh?"

"If you don't have a ruthless reputation, how can you storm cities and seize land, and make the enemy fearful?"

"I already have this."

"But it's not enough."

"Not enough?"

"Far from enough, Wu Bing was originally a captive, bound, unarmed, easy to kill, King Ning's ruthless name, is ruthless, ruthless, but not ruthless, so the soldiers and people of the Eastern Capital would rather flee than attached, if they are ruthless, then Wuzhou County has long been tamed, and the Xi family in Jingzhou should also surrender the city."

Ning Baoguan sneered again, but didn't say anything.

Xu Ji continued: "The second is benevolence, loving one person is lustful, loving others is good benevolence, King Ning is lustful, one more step ......"

"Needless to say, I have a headache when I listen to it, and the third one must still be prestigious, and it is not prestigious, right?"

Xu Ji said with a smile: "If everyone has King Ning's understanding, the strategists will be much easier." ”

Ning Baoguan said to Guo Shifeng: "This question is left to you, how does Mr. Xu say that my 'prestige' is not enough." ”

"Xiangyang." Guo Shifeng only said two words.

Ning Baoguan laughed and said, "It is worthy of being my military advisor." Does Mr. Xu have anything else to say? ”

Xu Ji shook his head, "I'll wait for King Ning to 'savor it', but I have a private matter to ask for." ”

"Hmm." Ning Baoguan put away his smile.

"I have a friend who seems to be imprisoned by General Pan, he is not from Dongdu, nor is he a subordinate of King Liang, and I hope that King Ning will release him."

Ning Baoguan looked at Guo Shifeng.

Guo Shifeng said: "It's called Chang Yanzhi, and he is Mr. Xu's entourage." ”

"You consider your retinue a friend?" Ning asked puzzled.

"He is a friend who walks with me, not an entourage."

"Mr. Xu's friend must also be a strategist, I want to meet him."

Xu Ji smiled: "I disappointed King Ning, he is not a strategist, he was born in the army, he is tired of the battlefield, and he retired with me, so he became a friend." ”

"It turned out to be a coward, Chang Yan...... I'm a little impressed. Mr. Xu doesn't need to worry, when I ask to understand, I will return you as a 'friend'." Mr. Guo, should we wait for Pan Kai to come and meet him, or should we go to see him? ”

"Pan Kai is quite suspicious, but there is no way back, and he will never dare to use force against King Ning, so King Ning should go to see him, comfort his heart, and let the remaining soldiers and people in the city not be afraid."

"Okay, then bring less guards, and I'll go to Pan's Mansion in person."

Ning Baoguan strode out, Guo Shifeng quietly bowed his hand to Xu Ji, and whispered: "Only Mr. Xu can persuade King Ning, he at least doesn't want to punish the fugitives now." ”

Xu Ji smiled.

Ning Baoguan only took more than 30 people to the palace barracks, and Pan Kai did not have many remaining subordinates, but there were nearly 1,000 people, and there were four or five hundred people in the barracks alone, and they were extremely loyal to him, which could be said to be a hundred responses.

Ning Baoguan was not afraid at all, went straight to the door, and after seeing Pan Kai, he laughed from afar, stretched his arms to meet him, gave him a hug, and said loudly: "Farewell to the Eastern Capital, goodbye to the Eastern Capital, General Pan's majestic posture is undiminished, which is gratifying." ”

Pan Kai had a lot of awkwardness in his heart, seeing that King Ning was so enthusiastic and informal, he felt at peace in his heart, and as soon as he got out, he immediately knelt down and said "King Ning forgives his sins".

Ning Baoguan stayed for a feast and invited many relatives and friends of the Pan family to participate, he actually knew more than half of the people, could call out their names, and even said some details when they met in the Eastern Capital.

In less than half an hour, the Pan family was all convinced, and even Pan Kai removed the last bit of regret in his heart, and no longer cherished King Liang.

Xu Ji refused to drink, retired halfway, and was sent back to the General's Mansion.

Xu Ji had never heard Ning Baoguan's order, but Chang Yanzhi had been released, and not long after he came back, he immediately ran to Xu Ji and said, "It's hard to escape again." ”

When he returned to the room, there were no outsiders present, and he said: "Gongzi saw King Ning, what do you think?" Is it eligible to compete for the title? ”

"I can forget my identity as King Wu cleanly, King Ning is the first person."

Chang Yanzhi sighed, he had nothing to say, and he was very reluctant in his heart.