“…… Wu Jianying returned to the Changmao army in the evening of the same day that he met the king of Zhennan, and used the excuse that he had encountered our patrol sentry in the Tangshan area, and in order to make Changmao believe, he deliberately wounded himself with a musket. But Changmao still seemed to be a little suspicious of him, and after interrogating him for a long time, he did not let him return to the team, and he was ready to let him return to Suzhou. ”

“…… Wu Jianying said that he was lucky, and he caught the line of Li Xiucheng's henchman Ji Qingyuan in time, quietly stuffed Ji Qingyuan with fifty taels of gold, and begged Ji Qingyuan to take him into Jiangning City when he retreated, and asked Ji Qingyuan to agree to let him return to the old army to serve in the army, to give his original old ministry a hand, and promised to have the opportunity to intercede with Wu Jianying in front of Li Xiucheng. Therefore, Wu Jianying hopes that we will quickly help him make meritorious service and give him the opportunity to lead the troops again, so that he can find a way to secretly open the city gate and accept us into Jiangning City. ”

"These experiences are all Wu Jianying's one-sided words, because the lowly position failed to insert an inside line next to Ji Qingyuan before, and there is no way to understand the specific experience, so the lowly position can't judge whether what Wu Jianying said is true or false, and he doesn't dare to conclude whether he really surrendered or faked, please forgive the king of Zhennan."

Listening to Zhang Dejian's detailed report, Wu Chaoyue has not been silent, and he is also hesitating in his heart, not only feeling that this is a rare opportunity to break the city, but also extremely worried about the truth or falsehood of Wu Jianying's surrender, and even more worried that this matter will be handled carelessly, exposing his battlefield choice, and making it more difficult for the army to break the city. In the end, it was only after Zhang Dejian introduced that Wu Jianying's defense area was in the area of Hongmiao Street west of Shence Gate, that Dai Wenjie, who was accompanying him, said: "King Zhennan, it's best to be careful in this matter. If Wu Jianying surrendered by fraud, we will not only make a fuss about him, but we may not only fall into the trap of Long Hair, but also immediately expose the location of our main siege battlefield, giving Long Hair the opportunity to prepare in advance. ”

Wu Chaoyue hesitated and didn't speak, and only after a while did he ask Zhang Dejian: "Shi Peng, you have more experience in dealing with the long-haired general, do you think this Wu Jianying is really descending or deceitful?" ”

"Humble duty cannot be judged." Zhang Dejian shook his head, and said very carefully: "But the humble post always thinks that this matter is too coincidental, we want Wu Jianying to find a way to return to his old army, not only did he do this very smoothly, his old army also happened to be in the Shence Gate defense area that we were about to fight, and it also happened to be the same day that the king of Zhennan came to Xiaguan to get in touch with us, these coincidences came together, so coincidental that the humble position was a little unbelievable that it was true." ”

"It can't be said to be a complete coincidence." Wu Chaoyue shook his head and said: "After Wu Jianying's old department entered the city, Li Xiucheng arranged for it to be stationed at the Shence Gate, and at that time, we hadn't decided to attack the city on the Xiaguan side, so it couldn't be that Changmao had arranged it in advance to wait for us here." ”

"King Zhennan, do you think Wu Jianying really surrendered, and he really plans to give us an internal response?" Zhang Dejian asked tentatively.

"I can't be sure." Wu Chaoyue shook his head, calmly admitting that he couldn't judge the truth of Wu Jianying's intentions, and then Wu Chaoyue said: "But I'm more worried about another point, even if this Wu Jianying really surrendered, we arranged for the army to sneak attack to help him make meritorious contributions, and there was a move on the side of Shence Gate, Li Xiucheng may suspect the battlefield of Xiaguan, and combined with our troop allocation, Li Xiucheng may also be able to directly deduce our battlefield choice, and find that our main target is in this area of Xiaguan." ”

"You can't afford to be unguarded." Dai Wenjie nodded hurriedly, and reminded: "Especially since the King of Zhennan has now come to the battlefield of Xiaguan in person, this is more likely to arouse Li Xiucheng's suspicions." ”

Wu Chaoyue was silent again, and after thinking about it for a long time, he made up his mind, and said: "Forget it, Wu Jianying doesn't want this opportunity, whether he really surrenders or surrenders fraudulently, we won't take care of him, try not to arouse Li Xiucheng's vigilance first, and then find another way to break the city." ”

Dai Wenjie and Zhang Dejian nodded in agreement, both feeling that things had come to this point, and it was best not to arouse too much vigilance from the Taiping Army. Wu Chaoyue glanced regretfully at the direction of the Shence Gate that he was very familiar with, sighed quietly, and said secretly: "It's a pity, it would be nice if you could really enter the city from the Shence Gate." ”

…………

Wu Jianying, who was in Jiangning City and had no way to keep in touch with Wu Jun at any time, and ventured back to the city to be an undercover agent for Wu Jun, of course, did not know that he had been abandoned by his suspicious family, and was still waiting for Wu Jun to help him be rewarded for his meritorious service and regain control of the army.

In order to be able to get the reward and glory and wealth promised by Wu Chaoyue, and also to take revenge on Li Xiucheng, who deprived him of his military power for no reason, Wu Jianying prepared very hard in Nanjing, in addition to desperately currying favor with his new boss Ji Qingyuan, he also put down his shelf and tried his best to get along with his former subordinate general Fang Youcai, and worked tirelessly to help Fang Youcai deal with all kinds of trivial affairs in the army, even if he was ridiculed, he did not complain. As a result, because of the good relationship with Fang Youcai before, Wu Jianying really quickly gained Fang Youcai's trust and dependence, not only can he move freely in Fang Youcai's army, but also can freely go up and down the city wall to get the opportunity to secretly contact Wu Jun.

On the same day that Wu Chaoyue moved his headquarters to Xiaguan and confirmed that the information had been sent to Wu Jun, Wu Jianying also felt that Wu Jun was likely to launch a fake sneak attack that night, in order to seize this meritorious opportunity, Wu Jianying simply lived directly on the western section of the city wall of Shence Gate, and patrolled the city three times in half a night under the drizzle of the autumn night, carefully observing the movements under the city, and ready to lead the army to meet the sneak attack of the Wu army at any time. However, to Wu Jianying's great disappointment, it was almost midnight, and the city was still silent, without the slightest abnormal movement.

"Why hasn't the King of Zhennan sent someone to attack here? It's good to make an appointment in advance. ”

It was a pity that he could not make an appointment with Wu Jun in advance, and when it was time for the third watch, Wu Jianying once again took a few henchmen to patrol the sentry back and forth on the city wall, while pretending to check whether the sentry on duty was lazy to sleep, while carefully paying attention to the movement under the city. As a result, there was still nothing to be found after a circle, and the disappointed Wu Jianying was about to return to the city tower to rest, but he never thought that in the direction of Jinchuan Gate, a team of Taiping soldiers with torches suddenly came, Wu Jianying did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly stepped forward and shouted and asked: "Password!" ”

"Born with harmony is precious, and everyone enjoys peace with each other."

The password for answering was correct, but the voice made Wu Jianying feel vaguely familiar, and when he looked at it carefully, Wu Jianying was suddenly taken aback, and blurted out: "Zhongwang Chitose?!" Why did you come here in person? ”

The leader of the Taiping army who landed in the city late at night was indeed Li Xiucheng, and Li Shuxiang, who was Li Xiucheng's most trusted next to him, saw Wu Jianying hurriedly running in front of him to salute, Li Xiucheng was also a flurry, and asked with some surprise: "Wu Jianying?" How are you? I remember that I have sent you back to Suzhou to help prepare grain and grass, why are you still in Tianjing City? ”

"His Majesty was intercepted by the demon sentry team in Tangshan and was injured, so he could only return to Tianjing."

Wu Jianying hurriedly explained, and Li Shuxiang, who accompanied Li Xiucheng on his tour of the city, also said: "Loyal King Chitose forgives the sin, and forgot to report this incident to you, Yang Tianyi (Ji Qingyuan) had a report on the day he entered the city, saying that Shi Tianan was intercepted and injured by demon soldiers and returned to our army." Yang Tianyi knew that Shi Tianan was familiar with the situation of the army, and let Shi Tianan return to his old army, helping Yang Tianyi's current general Fang Youcai to deal with military affairs. ”

Li Xiucheng, who was also a little suspicious, glanced at Wu Jianying again, and was a little suspicious in his heart, but he found a detail that Wu Jianying's clothes had been wet by the drizzle, so he asked casually: "How long have you been in the city?" Why did the clothes get wet like this? ”

"The king of Huizhong is a thousand years old, and his subordinates live in the city." Wu Jianying replied truthfully, and said: "It's been raining lightly in the sky, and your subordinates have been patrolling back and forth four times, so your clothes are wet from the rain." ”

"Patrolled four times?" Li Xiucheng was even more puzzled in his heart, and asked, "Why do you patrol so diligently?" ”

"Huizhong Wang Chitose, because the transcendence of the little demon has reached the next level." Wu Jianying had been prepared for this question for a long time, and immediately replied: "Beyond the little demon moved to Xiaguan today for no reason, and his subordinates were worried that this was a signal that the demon soldiers were ready to make a move in the area of Xiaguan, so they stepped up their precautions and tried to patrol as many sentry posts as possible to prevent the sentries from sleeping lazily, giving the demon soldiers a chance to sneak attack." ”

Nodding with satisfaction, Li Xiucheng's doubts in his heart were slightly reduced, and he also had a good impression of the hard-working Wu Jianying, so he said casually: "It's hard, but don't be too nervous, this battle still has to be fought, don't be tired now." ”

"Thank you for your concern." Wu Jianying hurriedly thanked him, and said very hypocritically: "Loyal King Chitose, you have to take care of your body, just leave the matter of patrolling the city late at night to us, the courtiers of the loyal palace, and you don't need to go to the city in person." ”

"I can't sleep, so I can walk around the city wall." Li Xiucheng replied casually, and casually instructed: "Be careful, especially to prevent the demon soldiers from secretly digging the city under the city, and if there is any movement, immediately warn the police." ”

Wu Jianying respectfully agreed, patted his chest and said: "Please rest assured, King Chitose, your subordinates know that the Transcendence Little Demon will definitely attack the Shence Gate, and they will keep an eye on this side, if the Beyond the Little Demon does not come to attack the Shence Gate, if he dares to come, the subordinates will ensure that the demon soldiers who call him will not return!" ”

"What?" Li Xiucheng's heart moved, and he hurriedly asked, "How do you know that the Transcendence Little Demon will definitely attack the Shence Gate?" ”

Wu Jianying was taken aback, only then did he realize that he had missed his mouth, but fortunately, Wu Jianying was very anxious, and immediately replied without blinking his eyelids: "Hui Zhong Wang Chitose, because His Majesty knows that the first time the Transcendence Little Demon fought with our Heavenly Army was in this Divine Gate." The little demon beyond not only has a special impression here, but also must be very familiar with the terrain and city defense situation here, so he just moved the Chinese army camp to Xiaguan today, and his subordinates felt that he would definitely attack the Shence Gate. ”

Li Xiucheng opened his mouth wide, Li Shuxiang was also a little dumbfounded, and after glancing at each other, Li Xiucheng and Li Shuxiang also exclaimed in unison, "How did we forget this?" Beyond the little demon is familiar with the situation of the Shence Gate, and is deeply impressed by the Shen Ce Gate, it is most likely to attack the Shen Ce Gate! ”

After the exclamation, Li Xiucheng, who was reminded by Wu Jianying, carefully recalled the deployment of the Wu army, and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat in the rainy night, and said in surprise: "Not only is it possible!" It's still very possible! Although the demon soldiers in the area of Xiaguan and Shence Gate seem to have few troops, if they are willing to surpass the little demon, they may transfer the mobile forces of the demon soldiers stationed in the dragon's neck area to participate in the battle at any time within half a night, and form an advantage over us to fight more and less locally! ”

Seeing Li Xiucheng's excited expression, Wu Jianying, who was anxious to curry favor with his boss to get back the military power, thought about it for a while, and simply added, saying: "Zhongwang Chitose, there are also demon soldiers' sailors, Xiaguan is close to the Yangtze River, and there is a wharf where you can quickly get on and off the boat, and if you want to surpass the little demon, you can also mobilize the sailors to go ashore to participate in the battle at any time, so that he has more troops available!" ”

Hearing Wu Jianying's words, Li Xiucheng immediately slapped his forehead with his palm, and Li Shuxiang wiped his cold sweat and called it lucky, and said: "It's so dangerous, I almost surpassed the little demon again, and surpassing the little demon is not a sound attack, it is a reality, and I am really ready to lay down the level or the magic gate!" ”

"Go home immediately and convene the generals to discuss the matter! The defense of Shimonoseki and Shence Gate must be strengthened! ”

Li Xiucheng didn't think much about it, he immediately turned around and left, when Li Shuxiang and the others hurriedly followed, Wu Jianying turned his heart sideways, and hurriedly stepped forward to grab Li Shuxiang, who was most trusted by Li Xiucheng, and while going to bribe the remaining fifty taels of gold after Ji Qingyuan, he whispered: "Li Shangshu, please do something." ”

"What's the matter?" Li Shuxiang asked in a low voice.

"Please say a favor to Chung Wang Chitose and forgive me for talking nonsense in the army." Wu Jianying quietly stuffed the gold into Li Shuxiang's hand, and said in a pitiful whisper: "I know, this time King Zhongwang Chitose sent me back to Suzhou, it must be because I was known to him about the nonsense in the army, but I really didn't have any heart, I just complained a few words casually, and now I am guilty." I also asked Li Shangshu to help me with a few kind words, and asked King Chitose to forgive my sins, so that I could continue to lead the Heavenly Army to kill demon soldiers and make meritorious atonements. ”

Glancing at the gold stuffed by Wu Jianying, and thinking that Wu Jianying had to remind him tonight before the army discovered the main direction of the Wu army, Li Shuxiang nodded and said in a low voice: "I'll try my best, whether it will be successful depends on your luck." ”

Luck came and nothing could stop it, that night, after Li Xiucheng summoned his generals to arrange and strengthen the defense deployment in the northwest of Nanjing City, before Li Shuxiang could open his mouth to remind him, Li Xiucheng had already found that there was a loophole in his arrangement and deployment in the northwest of Nanjing City, that is, the headquarters of Ji Qingyuan, who was in charge of the northwest defense, was too far away from the Shence Gate, and at the same time, Wu Jianying's old department, who was responsible for guarding the first line of the Shence Gate, had been divided into two by Ji Qingyuan, and Liu Yulin and Fang Youcai's two generals were not under each other's control. During the war, it was easy to have the problem of command confusion, so Li Xiucheng quickly made up his mind and decided to arrange a general to lead the defense of Shence Gate and directly obey his command.

"Loyal King Chitose, let Wu Jianying pick up this burden." Li Shuxiang, who had received the benefits, took the opportunity to say: "The two armies of Liu Yulin and Fang Youcai used to be Wu Jianying's old troops, and it is convenient to continue to let Wu Jianying command these two armies, and it can also avoid the troublesome problem of changing commanders and not being familiar with the situation of the army. ”

"You can't let Wu Jianying command the troops." Li Rongfa, the godson of Li Xiucheng, who had a holiday with Wu Jianying, immediately objected, saying: "This person is greedy for life and afraid of death, and he is unreliable, and he has slandered your father-in-law, and it is too dangerous for him to command the army. ”

"His Royal Highness Zhonger, Wu Jianying said those words just to complain, and there is nothing malicious about it." For the sake of gold, Li Shuxiang said another good word for Wu Jianying, and said: "And if he hadn't reminded us tonight, we wouldn't have discovered the main direction of attack beyond the little demon so quickly." ”

Thinking of Wu Jianying's contribution to himself just now, Li Xiucheng hesitated a little, then looked up at his other cronie Ji Qingyuan, and asked, "Yang Tianyi, what do you think of Wu Jianying?" ”

"Not bad." Ji Qingyuan, who also received Wu Jianying's gold, took a short hand and replied: "After he was intercepted and killed by the demon scouts and fled, I asked him to give his original subordinates a hand, he didn't complain anything, he still worked very hard, and he was so diligent when he was convicted, such a person is rare." ”

Deji Qingyuan reminded Li Xiucheng that Wu Jianying dutifully patrolled the city in the rain tonight, so he nodded and said, "Okay, let Wu Jianying continue to command his old troops and guard the Shence Gate." ”

"Father-in-law......."

Li Rongfa wanted to object, but Li Xiucheng interrupted him with a wave of his hand and said: "Rongfa, I know that you and Wu Jianying have a holiday, but when is it now, you can't care about personal grievances anymore, and you must focus on unity." Wu Jianying is loyal and smart, and he is familiar with his old army, so it is more suitable for him to continue to lead the original army to guard the gods. ”