If there was a chance to choose again, Bao Dun Bao Sanye felt that he would rather lead the old and young in his family to take refuge elsewhere than stay to be the lord of Runan City.

"Is there any news from Huaizhou?" Baudun asked the soldiers who came in.

The soldier shook his head, and couldn't bear to answer directly, "The Liang army outside the city has sent a messenger." ”

"No, Liang Jun just wants me to surrender, there's nothing to say."

The soldier replied and turned and retreated.

"Wait." Bao Dun changed his mind, "Please come in, maybe this time Liang Jun can make a little more sense." ”

Bao Dun refused to stay in the official yamen, still giving orders in his own house, the generals came in one after another, reporting the matter of defending the city, there was no change from yesterday, the more I listened, the more chilling it became, Bao Dun interrupted the speaker, and said to several generals: "It seems that the Sheng family will not send reinforcements over." ”

A general said: "Don't be depressed first, don't be depressed first, losing Runan, it will be harmful to Huaizhou, the Sheng family will not see death and not save it, I think we are transferring troops and sending generals, let's hold on for a while......"

Bao Dun smiled, "Runan is not an important gateway to Huaizhou, and the Sheng family has no intention of sticking to it, so we still have to figure out our own way." ”

The generals were silent for a long time, and one said: "Is the third master going to surrender to the Liang army?" ”

"As long as you can keep the soldiers and people of Manchurian safe, you can surrender to anyone, Runan turned out to be the city of Luozhou."

"King Liang is not the lord of Luozhou, he just happens to occupy the eastern capital and several counties, not even half of Luozhou."

"Even so, King Liang has many generals and is still the overlord of Luozhou."

The generals looked at each other, and the other said: "If you just change the flag, it is okay to surrender to King Liang, but King Liang wants to send troops into the city, and he also wants to take the position of the third master's city lord......"

"The city lord has never been what I wanted, someone is willing to take over, I am grateful, if Liang Jun can ensure that he will not commit any crimes after entering the city, it will not hurt to let them in."

The generals were silent, and they all felt that Bao Dun was depressed, but they couldn't think of a better way.

A general hurriedly ran in, his face panicked, "Third master, something strange is coming......

Bao Dun was taken aback, got up and said, "The Liang army is attacking the city? Everyone prepares, if the Liang army is strong, Runan City must not be ......"

"The Liang army did not attack the city." The general hurriedly said, "It's the messenger......

"What's wrong with the messenger?"

"The messenger seems to ...... It seems to ......"

"Sharp." Bowton shouted.

"It seems to be the Metropolitan Governor Xu ......"

"Are you sure?" Bowdon was even more surprised.

"It looks very similar, I ran to tell the third master, and I didn't look at it carefully."

"Where is the messenger?"

"I've entered the city, I'm coming this way, I think I'll be there soon."

Bao Dun led the generals to stride out of the hall and went straight to the courtyard gate, just in time to bump into the messenger.

Xu Ji entered the city alone, stepped forward quickly, and said with a smile: "The third master hasn't seen you for a long time." ”

Bao Dun's face flushed, and when he saw Xu Ji again, he was not only surprised, but also a little ashamed, "I didn't expect it...... I didn't expect ......."

"I have no official position now, if the third master can afford it, call me 'sir'." Xu Ji first solved the embarrassment of the title.

Bao Dun laughed dryly, "Mr. Xu, please come in, that ...... Set up a banquet for Mr. Xu to catch the wind and wash the dust. ”

"I'll have to go to the city to recover later, a cup of tea is enough."

The generals were also as at a loss as Baudun, and they hugged the two into the living room, and after receiving a hint from Baudun, they withdrew one after another, and discussed each other as soon as they got outside.

"It hasn't changed, but it looks like a different person."

"Yes, it's not like the Grand Duke, and it's not like King Wu."

"What the hell is going on?"

In the hall, Bao Dun sat on pins and needles, and after taking a sip of tea, he simply made his words clear, "The original thing was really a last resort, Mr. Xu was far away in the eastern capital, but the Huaizhou army had already arrived in the city, and the Sheng family was ......."

"The Sheng family is playing the banner of the imperial court again, but the armies of the Eastern Capital are anti-army, and the soldiers and people of Runan are more willing to belong to orthodoxy. I knew that if I were to defend the city, there would be a good chance that I would make the same choice. ”

"Mr. Xu will definitely have a better way to defend the city." Bowton sighed.

"It's going to provoke more enemies too." Xu Ji didn't want to talk about the past, "I didn't come to reminisce about the past, but to persuade him to surrender." ”

"Xu Gongzi is here, I am willing to surrender."

"It's that simple?"

"It's as simple as that, I don't dare to mention any conditions, I just want to ask Gongzi Xu to ask for a favor for Runan City."

"Please King Liang don't disturb the soldiers and people in the city?"

"Exactly, there are not many soldiers in Runan, no more than 5,000 people, there are many people, most of them are old and weak, women and children, and there is not much threat to the Liang army."

Xu Ji should not be silent.

Bao Dun said: "I know it's difficult, King Liang wants money and food, I try my best to be satisfied, I want a hostage, I personally go to him to act as an entourage." ”

Xu Ji shook his head, "Has Third Master Bao ever thought about it, how long can you protect Runan like you?" ”

Replaced by Bowton's silence should not.

"Even if the king of Liang is willing to sell me a favor, it is just an expedient measure, and when the Huaizhou army attacks, the king of Liang will either drive the soldiers and people of Runan to fight to the death, or destroy the city and return to the eastern capital, and all the population must follow, or be killed."

This is the result that Bowton did not dare to imagine but knew by heart.

"I always thought that the troubled times would end soon...... Alas, I made mistakes again and again, I shouldn't have been the lord of this city in the first place, I didn't have this ability, but I took on such a major responsibility, it was my own strength, and now it is difficult to ride a tiger...... There is no other choice? ”

"Yes."

Bao Dun got up and was about to kneel, Xu Ji hurriedly helped him up, "Bao Sanye can't do this big gift, the road I am referring to is not easy to walk, it may be more difficult than defending the city." ”

"As long as it is a way to live, I will go no matter how difficult it is, as for whether it is a blessing or a curse, I will bear it myself, and it has nothing to do with Mr. Xu, Mr. Xu's guidance to Runan, I will never forget."

Xu Ji smiled, Bao Dun is a sincere person and rarely exaggerates his strength, but his "never forget" is not worth taking seriously.

"Runan City is small, there is no power to protect itself, for the sake of the soldiers and civilians of the whole city, Bao Sanye needs to rise up and fight, cross the county and the city, recruit troops and buy horses, so as to have a glimmer of life."

Bao Dun was stunned, "Mr. Xu...... He's a lobbyist for King Liang, right? ”

"Sort of."

"But Mr. Xu persuaded me to be self-reliant, saying that I didn't have this intention, even if I did, the situation now doesn't allow it."

"As long as Bao Sanye is born with this ambition, it will be easy to take the first step."

"What's the first step?"

"Go north with King Liang and establish military merits."

Bao Dun was stunned again, "According to Mr. Xu's plan, the people of Runan may be saved, but the soldiers will have many casualties." ”

"There's no such thing as a double plan."

Bao Dun pondered for a long time, and suddenly said, "Mr. Xu said that he would go north with King Liang, what does this mean?" Didn't King Liang want to go east to Huaizhou? ”

"East into Huaizhou, north into Hebei, King Liang's plan is huge."

Bao Dun couldn't help but laugh, "I don't mean to underestimate it, but...... Although the eastern capital is far stronger than Runan, it is not impregnable, barely self-preservation, and still has the strength to go east and north? ”

"Surviving in troubled times is like sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat, and if you sit in the city, you will only weaken day by day, and there is no reason to become stronger."

Bao Dun was faintly moved, "Go north with King Liang, and then what?" ”

"If Bao Sanye is only to deal with King Liang, then he doesn't need to surrender, hold on, King Liang won't be delayed here for too long, but Runan will not be at peace for a while. If Bao Sanye wants to make a long-term plan, he will lead the elite soldiers to the north, and after making meritorious contributions, he will seek Runan and the surrounding counties, and be willing to be the barrier of the eastern capital. After that, it depends on what the situation is, and the United Strength will continue to expand if it is weak. As for the future, I don't know, it all depends on Bao Sanye's luck. ”

"I've never had such ambitions......"

"From the moment Bao Sanye set out to protect the soldiers and civilians of Runan, he already had ambitions - to protect a group of people in troubled times, which is a greater ambition than competing for the world."

"Haha, Mr. Xu......" Bao Dun thought for a while, "Mr. Xu is about to leave the city?" ”

"Well, I'm only asking King Liang for an hour."

"Okay, please Mr. Xu tell King Liang that I am willing to lead 3,000 troops to the north with him."

"Three thousand is too little."

"There are less than 5,000 soldiers in the city, so we have to keep some to defend the city."

"Bao Sanye still hasn't given birth to real 'ambitions'."

Bao Dun gritted his teeth, "Give me three days to recruit soldiers, and after three days, I will take 8,000 people to the north." ”

Xu Ji arched his hand, "It's almost." ”

Bao Dun sighed, "I always thought that someone would share the burden for me, and I never thought that I would have to take on more burdens - it was Mr. Xu who woke me up." ”

"It's not a good road."

"There is no better way to go."

Outside Runan City, Ma Wei was drinking in the tent, except for the guards, only Gao Shengze was guarding him.

"Xu Jixing? Although he has an old relationship with Bao Dun, Bao Dun once betrayed him and returned to Huai, I'm afraid he won't listen to Xu Ji's persuasion anymore, right? Gao Shengze said carefully.

"Hey, for Xu Ji, this is just a small test."

"Hehe, King Liang sees people with a clear eye, and he is much more powerful than us vulgar eyes." Gao Shengze said with a smile, he didn't dare to pick on King Liang.

"Xu Ji is a treasure knife, and it must be used in the hands of true heroes, otherwise, he will suffer from it."

"Just ask the world, who else can afford the word 'true hero' more than King Liang?"

"Haha, like you, it's just a blunt knife with no blade, but it is inlaid with a lot of gold and silver jewelry, which can be used by everyone, but it is not very useful, and it looks gorgeous."

Gao Shengze was not ashamed, and said with a smile: "I am a blunt knife, so I can stay by King Liang's side, I am useless, but when it is critical, I can also block a sharp knife for King Liang." ”

Ma Wei put away his smile, motioned for Gao Shengze to pour wine, and muttered: "I won't wait any longer, Xu Ji will either be used by me, or the knife will destroy people, and he can't be given to others anymore." ”

Gao Shengze nodded again and again, "Yes, yes, the treasure knife must be held in your own hand." ”

Before the pot of wine was finished, it was reported that Xu Ji had returned.

"How?" Mavi asked.

"The lord of Bao City needs three days to recruit troops, and he will take eight thousand people to go north with King Liang."

"How did you convince him to change his mind? Prior to this, Bao Dun only wanted to stay in Runan, and was willing to contribute food and money, but he was unwilling to contribute troops and efforts. ”

"I told him that in order to survive in troubled times, you must first have ambition, defend a city, and die at the hands of men sooner or later."

"Haha, I understand, you suggested that Bao Dun first follow me north to make meritorious service, and then ask to return to Runan, conquer from all sides, and change defense to attack, right?"

"Hmm."

"If Bowton really had such an ambition – it would have been of any use. What about Xu Gongzi? Will you go north with me? ”

Xu Ji shook his head, and a wave of anger arose in Ma Wei's heart.