In the middle of the night, the inner hall of the Gu family was brightly lit, and several Xuanhe characters in Suzhou City made an appointment to come to the Gu Mansion.

Gu Youde sat on the top, his face flushed, and if he looked closely, he could see that his waist was trembling slightly. Coupled with the sweat on his forehead, in the middle of the night, it is not difficult to imagine what kind of intense activity he was doing just now.

The dilated pupils swept down, and Zhang, Wang, Li, Zhao, and several big families in Suzhou were all present. These people are not only his business partners, but also allies who advance and retreat together. Gu Youde reclined on the chair, his eyes slightly closed, and asked, "What are you old ghosts doing when you come to my house without sleeping in the middle of the night?" ”

Zhang Wenshun is the leader of Suzhou shipping, and there are no less than thousands of ships of all kinds under his hands. Except for Gu Youde, who was the most prestigious, he stood up, walked to Gu Youde's side, and said in a low voice: "Old man Gu, you must have heard the sound outside the city today." ”

Gu Youde said angrily: "I'm not deaf, just say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush here." "His good deeds were interrupted, and he was already on fire, and he didn't have the same all-round words as before.

Zhang Wenshun was not annoyed, and chuckled: "The Qing army is large, and there is even more artillery bombardment of the city, we can't turn Suzhou into a second Jiading." How can the three million people of Suzhou Mansion be handed over to a Jiading boy. Hou Yuzeng's father and son are both ominous people, and they die wherever they go. ”

Gu Youde's brows tightened, today's cannon sound was indeed a little scary, it was impossible to say that he was not afraid at all. Hou Xuanyan has a two-sided relationship with him, between his whole family and Hou Xuanyan, of course he will choose to protect the former. Even if he loses a Gu Ling'er, the old man will not be merciful. But is the situation really that bad? The old man still hoped that he could win the gamble.

The people in the lobby saw him frowning deeply and closing their eyes, knowing that he was making a decision. Everyone waited with their breath to listen to his decision, this is the head snake of the soil emperor of Suzhou, and his influence in Suzhou is not comparable to these people.

"What do you think of Hou Xuan's performance?" Gu Youde suddenly spoke, but he didn't make up his mind, but opened his mouth to ask.

Zhang Wenshun twitched the corners of his mouth and said disdainfully: "A yellow-mouthed child, by luck, succeeded, so that the conspiracy means to seize Suzhou." No matter how powerful he is, can he be stronger than the Shi Kefa Shi Cabinet Department? Even Shi Kefa can't stop the Qing soldiers, what ability does he have to hold Suzhou? In the end, sooner or later, we will be killed by him and become the second Yangzhou. ”

Gu Youde really wanted to be able to trust Hou Xuanyan, because this was the person he personally selected, but he didn't dare to bet the lives of his whole family on this big gamble. Burdened with a large family, he has to be very careful in every decision.

Since the Qing soldiers went south, the military power has never been greater, and it seems that after passing the Shanhai Pass, there is no longer anything that can stop these alien iron horses.

Although I don't want to admit it, many Ming people are already desperate in their hearts. They regarded the Manchu Qing's entry into the Central Plains as the destiny of heaven, and it was an irreversible trend of the times.

Gu Youde's heart was shaken, how could such a performance be hidden from the eyes of everyone present, they were all human spirits who had been in the business sea for many years.

"Old man Gu, the fate of our Suzhou can't be handed over to a kid from another city."

Gu Youde let out a long sigh, seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and said, "What do you want to do?" ”

Before Zhang Wenshun could speak, Gu Shouye beside him first became excited and said: "Daddy, the defenders of the whole city are our people, as long as we decide to sacrifice the city, what can Hou Xuanyan do with us?" When the time comes, take Ling'er back, and we'll open it..."

As he was talking, suddenly a figure flew in, and Gu Shouye saw that it was Gu Jiu, the loyal steward of the Gu family. Gu Youde's face changed, Gu Jiu was ordered by him to stay outside the door, and at this time, someone was thrown in, which means that someone broke into the door.

"Haha, Master Yue, what do you want to open? Do you need help from your son-in-law? ”

"Hou Xuanyan?!"

"It's the son-in-law." Hou Xuan smiled narrowly, his handsome face was angular in the candlelight, and the corners of his mouth and eyes were outlined in a dangerous arc, like a fox playing with his prey.

"Father-in-law, the defenders are all your people, and it is convenient for you to surrender the city, but have you ever thought that your people are all at the head of the city, and it is also convenient for the son-in-law to serve you in a pot?"

The whole of Suzhou is the people of these gentry, how can Hou Xuanyan not be guarded, he has already asked Qin He to secretly send people to keep an eye on the door of these gentry.

Tonight, they set out to gather at the Gu family, and Hou Xuanyan knew what they wanted to do as soon as they heard it.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were too many heroes and righteous people, who capsized in this kind of gutter and were betrayed by their own people, resulting in failure.

Hou Xuanyan pretended not to know, and used the power in his hands to arrange all the soldiers and horses composed of these gentry's families and courtyards in the city tower. He took Qin He's subordinates and came to Gu Mansion. Even the recruits trained by Xia Wanchun, he didn't dare to use them, because those were also from Suzhou. The power of these gentry in Suzhou is intertwined, and the slightest carelessness is shattered.

The panic in Gu Youde's eyes flashed away, and he said with a smile: "Wen Yuan, why didn't you remember to inform your father-in-law's house in the middle of the night." ”

Before Hou Xuanyan could speak, Xu Yuanbao beside him sneered and said, "Inform me, so that you can kidnap us and betray the country?" I just don't know how many of our brothers can sell it for what price. ”

"Yuanbao, stand down! Don't be rude. ”

Hou Xuanyan walked over with a smile, and the two hundred soldiers in heavy armor behind him followed suit. Step on the floor and make a neat sound.

Gu Youde spread his hands and said, "Wen Yuan, I really didn't see the wrong person... No, I still underestimate you. Hehe, what do you want to do with us now? ”

Hou Xuanyan put his hands behind his back and said: "It's dog days in the hot summer, and it's still like a steamer at night, how can you fall asleep?" As he spoke, he paced out of the lobby, leaving a back and said: "Today, a friend outside the city has set off a cannon for us for a day. ”

Xu Yuanbao led the soldiers, two with one on the other, and escorted them out of the lobby.

Although there are many Gu family members left, how can they be the opponents of these soldiers and horses who came from the sneak attack, and those who rushed to reinforce saw that the head of the family was arrested, and they did not dare to step forward. I could only watch them and their group go to the city tower.

Looking along the city tower, condescending, the enemy village in the night is dense. In terms of numbers, the defenders of Suzhou were only about 10,000 people, and they were all rabble. But outside the city is a real army of 70,000, all of whom are brave and good at fighting.

Seeing that the gate of the enemy camp was open, it was closed again. The burning torches stand out in the middle of the night, and although they are far away, you can still see a rough idea.

Hou Xuanyan raised his hands and shouted: "Fire!" ”

Boom, a huge ball of fire burst from the center, illuminating the entire sky into daylight.