Wu Teng blurted out: "First find a reason to take the military power of the two princes, and then send his henchmen to Xiakou and Xuchang to block the two armies of Qi, and put heavy troops in Jingzhou in case His Majesty sends Yan Chixing to attack us." ”

Deng Yuanjue said with a smile: "If you really want to do this, doesn't that mean telling the whole world that I want to rebel?" Besides, if I follow your strategy, wouldn't I have to start a war with Yan Chixing, Tian Wuji, Xiang Chu, Jiang Huan Chu, and the local forces of Chu at the same time? Do you think we can handle it with our current forces? ”

Deng Yuanjue threw out a few questions in a row to blind Wu Teng, but after thinking about it, Wu Teng said happily: "It turns out that you have planned it, general, and I am still worried that you are not prepared." ”

Deng Yuanjue lightly clasped the table case with his fingers, pointed to the map on it and said: "If I am not prepared, how can I transfer Xiao Yin and Xiao Che to the front line, Wen Jie is still in Jianye, if His Majesty is not good for him, then don't blame me for attacking the two princes." ”

Wu Teng was surprised in his heart: "I didn't expect that the general had already installed his own people around the two princes, as long as he wanted, he could kill the two princes by the hands of the Qi army at any time." ”

"Xuchang Taishou Xing Kan and Wu Daocheng, the commander of the city defense army, are their own people, even if the eldest prince is gone, with the 80,000 troops of the two of them, Jiang Huan Chu will not want to step into Chu again. It's just that on Xiakou's side, if the third prince is gone, who will guard him for him? "Wu Teng has been stationed in Xuchang and knows the situation there, but he is not so sure about Xiakou.

Deng Yuanjue's finger moved to Xiakou: "I transferred Yue Shouming from Xianghu to Xiakou to replace Xiao Che, there were four pirates in Xianghu back then, and the most powerful was Li Zhixi of Boracay Island, and Yue Shouming was able to become his military advisor, and was later promoted to the deputy commander of the navy. ”

"Even if Yue Shouming can defend Xiakou, but he is not our own person after all, if he is loyal to His Majesty in the future, then wouldn't we lure the wolf into the house?" Wu Teng was still a little worried about this outsider.

Deng Yuanjue shook his head: "No, Yue Shouming was born as a pirate, and the time to surrender to the Great Song Dynasty was also very short, and he had never even met His Majesty, and even the position of deputy commander of the Navy was promoted to fight for him, how much affection can such a person have for the Great Song Dynasty?" Whoever has the better chance of winning, he will play for. ”

Hearing Deng Yuanjue mention Shi Luosheng, Wu Teng sighed: "It would be nice if Luosheng was still here, with him and Zixuan here, our chances of winning will be greater." ”

Deng Yuanjue snorted coldly: "That's not necessarily, don't forget that he is a pawn cultivated by His Majesty to deal with me, if he is still here, maybe His Majesty's side will have a higher chance of winning." ”

Wu Teng couldn't refute these words, Deng Yuanjue also wanted to envelop him by his side and use him for himself in the future, but he was cut off by Xiao Daocheng halfway, but he became a pawn to restrain himself.

Deng Yuanjue was reluctant to mention Shi Luosheng, so he diverted the topic: "In addition to Xuchang and Xiakou, Jingzhou City is also very important, if Your Majesty uses troops against me, Jingzhou will be our first line of defense." Before I take Jiangdu, I will transfer you over. After you go, you have to make two preparations, on one side is to resist Yan Chixing's army, and on the other hand, you have to keep an eye on Yue Shouming, in case he falls to His Majesty's side, you have to find a way to take him down as soon as possible. ”

Wu Teng nodded, looked at Xia Kou on the map, and remembered that it was here a few years ago, he and Shi Luosheng divided into two routes, land and water, captured the city and killed Xiang Tong.

Deng Yuanjue didn't pay attention to Wu Teng's distraction, and continued: "In the end, only the local forces of the Chu State are left, and it is not difficult to exterminate them, but it will be very annoying. Destroy one, and immediately another will be raised, and we don't have so much energy to spend on them. ”

"If you don't use force, then you can only find a way to persuade them to surrender." Wu Teng reacted quickly.

Deng Yuanjue nodded in agreement: "You're right, these local armed forces are currently the strongest in the Gao family in Lin'an, and I plan to start with them first." Tomorrow I will divide the troops into two routes, I, Yunjing and Wenhao will go to Lin'an, and you and Yuqing will lead the troops to Jiangdu first. ”

Wu Teng was puzzled: "Why don't you wait for us to concentrate our forces and take Lin'an before persuading the Gao uncle and nephew to surrender, isn't there a greater chance of them surrendering at that time?" ”

Deng Yuanjue shook his head: "No, this uncle and nephew of the Gao family are all opportunists, if I defeat Jiangdu and then persuade them to surrender, not only will they not surrender, but they will also oppose me under the banner of reviving the Chu State, and then I will have to deal with the two armies of the Qi State and Yan Chixing, and if I am not careful, I will be exploited by him." ”

Wu Teng suddenly realized: "I understand, if the Gao uncle and nephew surrender before the Jiangdu is defeated, then even if they want to rebel again, it will be impossible to play the banner of reviving the Chu State, because they have betrayed the Chu State before the destruction of the Chu State, without this banner, we will not get the support of the people of Chu, and it will be easy for us to destroy them." ”

Deng Yuanjue's finger finally rested on Jiangdu: "When all this is deployed, it will be time to really capture Jiangdu, and taking Jiangdu is not the end of the war, on the contrary, the war that really belongs to us has just begun." ”

"Uncle, something is wrong, Deng Yuanjue actually personally led troops to fight Lin'ancheng." Gao Kegong, who wanted to be in a safe corner, received the battle report and hurriedly found Gao Yi.

Gao Yi escaped all the way back to Lin'an after breaking through from Shouchun that day, and his departure was equivalent to indirectly killing the prince Xiong Xin, for which Xiong Huan also sent someone to Lin'an to reprimand him. However, it was just a reprimand, Xiong Huan's control over local forces was getting worse and worse, even if he wanted to recall Gao Yi back to Jiangdu, it would be impossible for him to go.

"What?" Gao Yi was also shocked. This has just jumped out of the fire pit, and before two days of good life, Deng Yuanjue is coming to the door again. If you count this time, it is the third time that he has been surrounded by him.

"Great Sima, General Zhou Yunjing and Zhou are asking to see you outside the mansion." The butler brought new news.

"How many people did he bring?" Gao Kegong was very surprised when he heard that Zhou Yunjing was coming to Lin'an.

"Alone."

"What? He is so bold, isn't he afraid that we will kill him and sacrifice the flag? You go and invite him in. Although Gao Kegong shouted to kill him, he still admired him a little in his heart.

"The last general has seen Da Sima and General Zhengnan." Zhou Yunjing walked in and bowed generously.

Gao Yi sat on the main seat and looked Zhou Yunjing up and down a few times: "I heard that the general has surrendered to the Song Kingdom, I don't know why he came to my Lin'an City today?" ”

Zhou Yunjing smiled faintly: "The last general came specifically to save Da Sima, Da Sima has already come to a catastrophe, don't you know?" ”

Gao Kegong drew his long sword and said angrily: "Zhou Yunjing, you yourself collaborated with the enemy and treason, and your sin is unforgivable, and now you dare to make a big deal of nonsense here, do you really think that I don't dare to kill you?" ”

Zhou Yunjing sneered: "Yes, I surrendered to the Great Song Dynasty, but what about your uncle and nephew?" Is it more glorious than me? You Gao Kegong, after the loss of Chaisang, did not go to Shuzhou, but ran to Lin'an to secede, which directly led to the loss of Shuzhou and Huicheng. There is also your great Sima Gaoyi, Your Majesty left you and the prince to guard Shouchun, but you escaped from the battle under the pretext of sneaking up on the grain and grass of the Song army, resulting in the fall of Shouchun and the death of the prince. Your guilt is probably ten or a hundred times greater than that of me, Zhou Yunjing. ”

Gao Yi's face turned red, and he pressed Gao Kegong's long sword with his hand: "General Zhou, don't go around the bend, just explain your intentions, why did General Deng send you?" ”

"Since Da Sima is quick to speak, I will also say it directly. The purpose of the general asking me to come is to persuade you to surrender. Speaking of this, Zhou Yunjing stretched out his hand to stop Gao Kegong, who was about to interrupt him: "General Gao, don't be in a hurry to interrupt me." After I entered the city, I first went to your barracks and granaries to see, although there are 80,000 troops in the city, but the grain and grass are only enough for a year, if General Deng's 100,000 troops are killed, do you plan to survive for a year, or break through to the outside? ”

Lin'an is the largest city in the eastern part of Chu State, and the grain in the city was enough for 80,000 troops for five years, but Gao Yi didn't expect Deng Yuanjue to play cards according to the routine, and did not personally lead the troops to fight Jiangdu, but first hit his own Lin'an, which led to a large number of grain and grass not in place.

Gao Kegong was still unconvinced: "We can kill you first, and we are trying to find a way to resist the Song army." ”

Zhou Yunjing laughed: "If you kill me, will General Deng retire?" You are not afraid that you will anger the general even more, and then you really have no room for maneuver, Da Sima, have you forgotten the experience of being surrounded in Yuezhou and Shouchun? And General Gao, have you forgotten the experience of being besieged in Jizhou and Chaisang? ”

These two memories were the darkest days of their lives for both of them, especially Gao Kegong, who was also taken to Jianye City as a prisoner for a period of time after the destruction of Jizhou City.

Zhou Yunjing saw that when he talked about the sore spot of the two of them, he happily made up for it again: "The first two times you were besieged, you still have the backing of the Chu Imperial Court, you can save your life, but this time there are no reinforcements, even if you choose to break through, although the world is big, where can you go?" Do you dare to go to other local forces? Even if they dare to go, will they dare to take you in? If you return to Jiangdu, Your Majesty hates the two of you to the core, and I am afraid that before Jiangdu falls, he will kill you to vent his anger. ”

Gao Yi and the others knew that although Zhou Yunjing's words were mean, they were all true, who would dare to take them in if the local area was divided? Even if there are those who dare to take them in, they will be worried about being sold to Deng Yuanjue.

"General Zhou, you stay in the house for a few days, and then we will give you an answer after our uncle and nephew have discussed it." Gao Yi decided to put Zhou Yunjing under house arrest first, and wait and see the situation for a few days before making plans.

Zhou Yunjing and Gao Yi have known each other for many years, how could they not know his little abacus: "I'm just an idler, let alone staying for a few days, even if I live for a year and a half, it's no problem, but General Deng's army will be killed in three days at most, whether it is a battle or a surrender, there is not much time left for you to think about." After speaking, he walked to the back hall and casually found a guest room to live in.