Just after the third watch, Duan Lang and his entourage finally came to the city of Molan. Above the city, a city defense commander standing beside Jiang Zhuming shouted cautiously.

"The gates are closed, who is coming?"

Duan Lang looked at Jiang Zhuming who was standing at the head of the city and shouted loudly.

"Master Jiang, don't come unharmed."

Jiang Zhuming couldn't see the faces of the people in the city clearly, but as soon as he heard this voice, he immediately ordered.

"Quick, open the gates."

The two heavy city gates slowly opened, and Duan Lang led Xiang Tiangu Fan and the others in. Seeing Jiang Zhuming coming down from the city, Duan Lang dismounted and greeted him.

"Lord Lao Jiang has been waiting for a long time, and it has been hard." Duan Lang clenched his fists and said.

"Why should Duan Shuai be polite, I haven't seen him for a few years, Duan Shuai is still free and easy." Jiang Zhuming replied with his fists clenched.

"How's it going, what's going on in the city?"

Duan Shuai rest assured, today the government has infiltrated the city under the pretext of bandits, and after sunset, there is a curfew in the whole city, and no one is allowed to go out. In particular, the two locations of Tingfeng Pavilion and Hanhaizhai have all set up checkpoints. General Guan Zhen had already deployed heavy troops around Tingfeng Pavilion, and as soon as Duan Shuai arrived, he would immediately implement the plan. ”

When Duan Lang heard this, he nodded admiringly. Guan Zhen is the general of the firearms battalion in Lidu City, and he is also the first member of the Black Armor Guard to follow Duan Lang. He was promoted to a general after several major battles, and this time he was specially sent to lead 20,000 soldiers and horses to Melan City.

"Okay, I have to leave before dawn, otherwise it will be a bit of trouble for Hanhaizhai to get the news. Let's go, go to the Wind Pavilion. ”

After Duan Lang finished speaking, he stepped onto the war horse. Jiang Zhuming did not take a car, but also rode a good horse and ran to the Tingfeng Pavilion with Duan Lang and the others. Along the way, Duan Lang saw that many city guards had set up checkpoints. It seems that Jiang Zhu is clearly doing his best.

Not far from the Listening Wind Pavilion, Duan Lang and the others stopped. Guan Zhen saw Duan Lang and the others appear, and hurriedly greeted him.

"The last general Guan Zhen, see Duan Shuai." Guan Zhen said in a suppressed voice.

"Guan Zhen, what's the situation?" Duan Lang asked in a low voice.

"It's all clear, the four mansions connected to the left and right of Tingfeng Pavilion are theirs. These days, scouts will be sent to keep an eye on this place, and after curfew tonight, not even a single mosquito will want to fly out. ”

"Okay, are our men in place?"

Guan Zhen smiled slightly, and blew a few birdsongs unique to the camp of the capital city in the distance. In an instant, the guards hidden in the darkness stood up with bows and crossbows.

Duan Lang's eyes were sharp, and he knew at a glance that this was the soldiers and horses of their capital city. Duan Lang made a greeting gesture to everyone, and all the guards also clenched their fists in their chests to salute Duan Lang.

Duan Lang looked at Jiang Zhuming and said, "Lord Jiang, it's not safe here, you can go back home for the time being." In an hour, I will go to the house to meet you. ”

"Okay, Duan Shuai take care."

Jiang Zhuming was not polite, as a civil official, he was very uncomfortable with this kind of scene of fighting and killing. Under the protection of a team of city guards, Jiang Zhuming returned to the palace.

As soon as Jiang Zhuming left, Duan Lang asked, "Guan Zhen, how is the situation of the people around here?" ”

Guan Zhen clenched his fists and said, "Don't worry, my lord, the generals have investigated these days." They're basically natives, and there are a few people who come out to do small business, and they've been controlled by the guards at the time of curfew tonight. Moreover, Lord Jiang had already informed the whole city to arrest the bandits tonight, so even if there was a big disturbance, the people would not panic. ”

"Okay, you take people to guard the perimeter, and anyone who escapes will be killed. Give me a hundred guards, and go to the Wind Pavilion to arrest people. ”

"No!"

Guan Zhen immediately commanded, and a hundred households led their subordinates and followed Duan Lang to the Listening Wind Pavilion.

Duan Lang signaled, and the hundred households stepped forward and began to slam the door. Xiang Tiangu Fan and the others were cautiously guarding around Duan Lang.

"Open the door, the government will conduct a routine night check." Baihu shouted loudly.

After a while, the lights lit up in the Tingfeng Pavilion, and as soon as a guard opened the door, the hundred households immediately rushed up with people to take down this person.

Duan Lang walked into the lobby and glanced at it, and the hundred households shouted upstairs and downstairs, "Everyone listen, the government is arresting bandits, and all of them are in the lobby." Violators ~ beheaded. ”

All of a sudden, the entire Tingfeng Pavilion suddenly panicked. The people living upstairs and downstairs walked out of the room and came to the lobby, Duan Lang took a look, and the total number of people was about thirty. He knew there shouldn't be any big fish living here. The real big fish should live in the backyard.

Duan Lang gave an order, "Tie up all these people." ”

Without waiting for these people to react, Baihu took the guards to show their weapons and rushed forward with a hula. Duan Lang was not in a hurry, and after cleaning up the portal in front of him, he took people to the backyard. To Duan Lang's surprise, although there were people in the backyard who resisted, it was far from what he imagined. In less than half a pillar of incense, the people in the backyard were either killed or taken down.

Duan Lang frowned slightly, and ordered, "Call Guan Zhen over." ”

After a while, Guan Zhen ran in. Duan Lang instructed Guan Zhen to send someone to search carefully, and not to let go of any suspicious points. After the order was completed, Duan Lang took people to the adjacent courtyard. There were a total of four courtyards adjacent to the Listening Wind Pavilion, and Duan Lang had reached the left and right places, and the resistance he encountered was still not very fierce. It wasn't until the last seemingly ordinary courtyard that it really encountered a fierce counterattack.

In this courtyard, there is not only the nominal pavilion master Jia Sizhi, but also the torture hall master Wu Gan. The two led the people Ma Ning to die rather than surrender, and Duan Lang and the eighteen guards finally killed the two after a bloody battle. The guards under Duan Lang also suffered many casualties. But the strange thing is that among these people, there is no Sa miracle doctor.

Duan Lang ordered a strict search, not even sparing the ground. Guan Zhen and the others found the mezzanine and the dark room, but still did not find Sado.

In desperation, Duan Lang escorted those bound people over. After a brief interrogation, they didn't even see Sado. Duan Lang asked Guan Zhen to gather all the old men arrested in the Tingfeng Pavilion and let them wash their faces with water to prevent Sado from escaping. However, after some tossing, Sado was still not found. Duan Lang was a little disappointed, it seemed that this Sado might not really be in Molan City.

Duan Lang ordered someone to hand over the captured ones alive to Guan Zhen for interrogation, and he took Xiang Tian and others to the mansion in a hurry. Seeing that it was about to be the fifth watch, Jiang Zhuming had been waiting for Duan Lang to arrive all night.

As soon as Duan Lang entered the hall in the backyard of the mansion, Jiang Zhuming hurriedly greeted him, "Duan Shuai, are there any casualties?" ”

"Fortunately, the casualties were not large, but the real people behind the Listening Wind Pavilion still escaped. But without those elites, Sado can't become the climate. Master Jiang, I'll leave the handling to you afterwards. ”

"Duan Shuai rest assured, he has already thought of a pretext, and he will never let Delong be suspicious."

"Lord Jiang, the good news in the Southern Theater is frequent, and the day when Delong and I will make the capital open is not far off. In the past few years, I have been taken care of by Lord Jiang, if there is any inconvenience, please feel free to speak up. Duan's next move may be spurned by the people of the world, if Lord Jiang has something unspeakable, Duan Lang will never implicate the adult. ”

Jiang Zhuming was stunned for a moment, and immediately said seriously, "Duan Shuai, although I, Jiang Zhuming, am a scribe, but I also have the temperament of a big husband. A few years ago, my teacher transferred the soldiers and horses of our city defense battalion, and Jiang dared to risk the danger of exterminating the clan to lead the troops to Kyoto, not to mention now. Duan Shuai doesn't need to say that Jiang is a person who knows how to repay his kindness. If Duan Shuai gets into trouble, he just needs to say hello. I am the same as the family, although I dare not say that all of them are heroes, but there are also a few people who are not afraid of life and death. ”

Duan Lang hugged his fists gratefully, "Okay, since Brother Jiang said so, I won't say anything more." In the past few months, Lord Jiang must be careful. Once the court wants to transfer your soldiers and horses in the city, even if you push it on me, it will say that you can't transfer it. ”

Jiang Zhuming nodded, "Before starting a war with your Lidu City, Delong should be able to purge a group of officials from various prefectures. I have been prepared for this for a long time, even if the court changes the palace Yin, no one will be able to control my Molan City. ”

Duan Lang nodded, "It's not too early, I have to leave immediately." Hanhai Zhai has a lot of eyeliner, and it is not appropriate to expose my whereabouts at this time. Brother Jiang, the coming day is long. ”

"Duan Shuai, take care."

Duan Lang and Jiang Zhuming were concise and to the point, and after a brief exchange, Duan Lang immediately took Xiang Tiangu Fan and others out of Molan City. This night, except for his own people, no one knew that Duan Lang had come to Molan City. Overnight, the headquarters of the Listening Wind Pavilion was eradicated, and although Sado was not found, the lack of elite strength of the Listening Wind Pavilion was no longer a cause for concern.

At the same time, in the capital city, Han Feng with elite manpower also launched a thunderous operation against Tingfeng Pavilion. In the large battalion, more than a dozen lower-ranking officers were also taken. Before the branch lord Wang Binghuai could swallow the poison, he was knocked unconscious by Han Feng, and Wang Binghuai was captured alive, which was confirmed from his mouth. The real elite power of the Listening Wind Pavilion is the punishment halls of the various sub-pavilions.

On that day, these torture hall masters were beheaded in Lidu City, which greatly damaged the vitality of Tingfeng Pavilion. What's more, the Listening Wind Pavilion that had lost Mizuki was basically paralyzed. The second pavilion master, Sado, is only good at medicine and Taoism, and is not good at business operations. Even if Duan Lang doesn't eradicate the General Pavilion, I'm afraid it won't be long before the Tingfeng Pavilion will fall apart. After all, Sado's majesty is limited, and he can't suppress Jia Sizhi, Wu Gan and others at all.

Just before Duan Lang and the others started, Li Jianshan also played the court as the capital city government Yin, and listened to the remnants of Lord Huai in the Wind Pavilion, and implored the court to be completely eradicated. Half a month later, the court issued a decree to the local capitals, and for a while, Tingfeng Pavilion became a street rat, and each capital was annihilated. The secret offices in various places established by the old ghost finally disappeared and became the dust of the past.

In April of the same year, the Southern Theater launched a decisive battle with Zhao Li, Marquis of Xining. Ma Ruzheng and Yan Facheng didn't expect that Zhao Li, Marquis of Xining, had such a deep background, and they actually defended Xining City and defeated dozens of fierce attacks in Great Xia. The Great Xia Dynasty, under the pretext of the shortage of materials in the southern theater, temporarily stopped supplying grain and grass materials to the capital city.

In June of the same year, Ma Ruzheng led his troops to launch a general attack, and Xining City was finally broken by Great Xia in the face of a sharp shortage of various materials.

In the bloody battle, Yang Fakui, the former commander of the southern battalion, was killed, and the chief Bai Ruokong was martyred. In the Xining Marquis's Mansion, Zhao Li raised his sword to kill himself while being sad and angry. However, Zhao Zhuofeng, the prince of Xining, led the last army of troops to surrender on his knees, begging Delong to spare his life.

The war in southern Bactria finally came to an end, and when the news reached Kyoto, almost the whole city was boiling. Inside the palace, a large stone in Delong's heart finally landed. For several years, Daxia has been in the midst of internal and external troubles. To this day, it has always been.

In the Jing Pavilion, Xiangguo Wu Guangguang and other close ministers did their best to flatter Delong. Being able to recover the lost land of Great Xia can also be regarded as a great achievement of a generation of emperors. However, Delong did not want to recuperate and restore people's livelihoods. In his heart, he began to think about the hard bone of Lidu City.

In August of the same year, Ma Ruzheng led the army back to the camp in Kyoto, and Delong summoned his uncle Ma Ruzheng into the palace overnight to face the saint.

In the imperial study of the palace, Prince Hong Zhao Shiyu, Xiangguo Wu Guangguang, and Zhang Zhao, the head of the Jiantian Academy, are listed.

Ma Ruzheng entered the imperial study and bowed down, "Minister Ma Ruzheng, meet Your Majesty." ”

"Uncle, please get up, come here, sit down." Delong looked at Ma Ruzheng happily, this was his biggest reliance.

Ma Ruzheng greeted Prince Hong and others before taking a seat. Delon looked at the crowd and whispered.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you and I are not outsiders, except for my close ministers, who are relatives of the emperor. Today, I will go straight to the point and want to ask you Aiqing how I should treat Duanlang, the capital city. DeLong said bluntly.

Wu Guangguang was stunned in his heart, and looked at the old prince Zhao Shiyu. And Zhao Shiyu, the prince of Hong, has slightly drooping eyes, like an old monk in a fixed state. Ma Ruzheng had already learned about this in Delong's secret documents, and he was not panicked in his heart. Still, he didn't want to be the first to speak.

Delong looked at everyone and didn't speak, and looked at Zhang Zhao. Zhang Zhao understood what Delong meant, and hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the greatest thing in this world is not the king's land, and the Lidu City is my Lijing Lidu City after all, not his Duan Lang's fiefdom. If His Majesty is worried that Duan Lang will not listen to the court's call with heavy troops, then take back the soldiers and horses. ”

"Zhang Aiqing, the soldiers and horses in this capital city are not so easy to collect. Uncle, if there is opposition in the capital city, do you think you can fight against the whole country? Delong looked at his uncle Ma Ruzheng

"Back to Your Majesty, I have a large battalion guard, experienced the war in Xining, and can be said to be experienced and brave in battle. However, the soldiers and horses of the capital city should not be underestimated, if you add the northern battalion and the soldiers and horses of Kyoto, it should be able to be wiped out in three to five months. ”

Ma Ruzheng returned victorious, and his mood was in high spirits. In his opinion, there are less than 200,000 troops in the Lidu City, and no matter how powerful they are, they can't resist hundreds of thousands of troops.

Delong nodded with satisfaction, "Lord Xiangguo, old prince, what do you two think?" ”

Wu Guangguang hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, the ancients are famous. Even if you want to win Duan Lang, you have to have an excuse. At present, Lidu City is low-key and does not show any intention of rebellion. The minister felt that it was better to summon Duan Lang and others to Beijing first. If they can come, His Majesty can appoint high-ranking officials to stay in Beijing. In this way, you can also avoid the calamity of the sword soldiers of Great Xia. ”

"And what if he doesn't dare to come?" DeLong asked unhappily.

Prince Hong smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, if you don't come, isn't this just in line with the famous words of the teacher." If the minister has the heart of not being subordinate, the king raises his army and submits, and I believe that the subjects of the world will also condemn together. ”

Wu Guangguang continued, "His Royal Highness is right, and the minister also means so. Moreover, when the southern soldiers returned to Kyoto, His Majesty could come to the world to discuss politics. Even if he Duan Lang didn't come, then Mingyue, Shangguan Xuanwu and the others couldn't stop coming. Once these people enter Beijing and want to go back, it is not up to His Majesty to have the final say. ”

Delong was overjoyed, "Okay, that's what I mean." Wu Aiqing, tomorrow morning, you can discuss it with the ministers. It's been more than three years, and it's time for me to talk about politics again. ”

"Obey."

Wu Guangguang secretly glanced at Delong, as a Wenchen, he didn't want Great Xia to fight for years in his heart. But looking at Delong's meaning, if he does not take back the power of the soldiers and horses in the capital city, he will always be a knot. Wu Guangguang knew that if Great Xia wanted to be completely stable, he had to solve this matter.

Two days later, one decree after another was issued. Three years later, Delong once again convened the world's council. But this time the decree was very severe, and the dignitaries from all over the country had to be present. Otherwise, severe penalties will be imposed.

Ten days later, 800 miles were rushed to Lidu City. When Duan Lang and the others saw this decree, everyone knew very well in their hearts that Delong had officially declared war on them.