Zhang Xun and Ji Zheng recounted their experiences of the night to each other, and they were all embarrassed.

Zhang Xun was a little annoyed and said, "I shouldn't be so aggressive. ”

"Forget it, it's all over, many things are also considered coincidences, who could have imagined it at the beginning."

Zhang Xun was silent for a moment, and then asked, "By the way, what about His Royal Highness the Prince?" ”

"He and Huang Yun are both in the Chinese army, and they have now entered the city."

"We have entered the city, but King Chen has left the city, what should we do now?"

Ji Zheng said: "Since we have occupied Nancheng, then we will rely on Nancheng to reorganize our troops, and then make plans." ”

"Good. My troops were completely lost and no longer in formation, so I first ordered them to withdraw to the rear to rest. ”

The two were about to return for repair, when a team of people came, and it turned out to be Prince You and Huang Yun who came with troops.

Zhang Xun stepped forward and saluted, "I've seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I've seen General Huang." ”

The prince's face was full of joy of victory, "It's good that General Zhang is okay, I didn't expect Ji Aiqing to break through the city gate so quickly, and now victory is in sight." ”

"His Royal Highness Prince Xie, General Xie Huang, if it weren't for the two of you who gave me the order to rescue, I'm afraid I would have been captured."

Huang Yun covered his neck with his hands, blood was still oozing from the gauze wrapped around his neck, he glanced at Ji Zheng, and said in a strange voice: "Hmph, let's thank you brother well." ”

Ji Zheng didn't pay attention to Huang Yun, but just saluted the prince's friends and said, "Thank you for your Royal Highness's order." ”

"Eh, the two generals don't have to be like this, the two are lonely and ambitious, they are both pillars of the country, how can I abandon them? The two generals of this war have the greatest credit! ”

Zhang Xun saluted again: "Your Royal Highness the Prince, for now, we should consolidate our defenses, rely on the southern city, and then occupy the entire Wanqiu City after resting." ”

"Good, good. According to General Zhang! ”

As soon as the words fell, a herald hurriedly rushed over, and the herald turned over and dismounted in front of everyone, knelt down and said, "Report!" The defenders of Luanshan have been dispatched and have now been killed outside the city! It is facing off with the defenders outside our city. ”

Zhang Xun sighed: "It's so fast." ”

As soon as he heard the defenders of Luanshan, Prince You was frightened, and he panicked and ordered: "Quickly let the soldiers enter the city to defend!" Close the gates! ”

Ji Zheng said: "No, when our army entered the city, the city gate has been completely destroyed, and now it is too late to repair it, if the whole army enters the city to defend at this time, it will be cocooned and self-bound, and fall into the situation of being attacked from front to back, and there is still room for division of troops to defend under the city." ”

Zhang Xun also nodded: "Yes!" The defenders outside the city are not allowed to enter the city, and they must maintain a standoff, Luanshan has limited troops, and we still have more than 4,000 people, and we are in an absolute advantage in terms of strength. ”

While the people were deliberating, there was another Malay report from the north, "Report! The Chen army in the north is gathering and seems to have the intention of attacking! ”

"Oops, could it be that Chen Guoren plans to take advantage of our unstable foothold and attack us inside and out? If that's the case, it's not going to be easy! ”

As soon as he heard this, the prince paced back and forth again in a panic, "Ji Aiqing! Didn't you say you could keep me safe? Now Chen Guoren is going to attack inside and out! What are we going to do? What to do! ”

"Your Highness, don't panic, we have an absolute advantage in troops, and the people of Chen Guo definitely don't dare to advance!"

After that, Ji Zheng stepped on the debris piled up by the wall, jumped up, easily grabbed the eaves, and then kicked the wall hard, and jumped onto the roof.

Ji Zheng looked to the north, and sure enough, he found that the alley outside the street was already crowded with Chen Guoren, who were like ants foraging for food, and were converging in the direction of Nancheng, but the number of soldiers among these people was not large, and most of them were ordinary people armed with sticks.

Ji Zheng jumped off the roof and said to everyone: "Chen Guoren is indeed gathering, and now more than 2,000 people have gathered. ”

Zhang Xun was puzzled, "How can there be so many people?" ”

"There are a large number of civilians among them, and although the fighting power of the civilians is not strong, we must not ignore their determination to fight to the death, and as far as I can see, the number of civilians is still increasing. In the end, women and children will resist desperately, and when the time comes, it will be difficult for us to do it. ”

"Indeed, Chen Guoren's country is about to be broken, and he will inevitably resist desperately, and in the end he can only lose both, and our slaughter of the people is also an unrighteous act, I am afraid that we will fall behind."

Hearing the conversation between the two, the prince shouted, "What should I do? What to do! We're surrounded! Is there a way to live?! Two Aiqing! Find a way! Hurry up and break out, we don't want Wanqiu City! ”

Ji Zheng said: "Your Highness, don't panic, wait and see what happens." ”

"Wait and see!? If they do call! Can you keep me safe? ”

"His Royal Highness the Prince! The government is guaranteed by his life! ”

The prince looked to the north, and sure enough, he saw that the streets and alleys not far away were crowded. The prince was so anxious that his face turned purple and he was almost out of breath.

Huang Yun patted the prince's friend on the back, and then pointed at Ji Zheng and scolded: "Ji Zheng! If the prince had three long and two short! You've got a few lives to do! ”

Seeing this, Zhang Xun dared to hurriedly play a round and said: "General Huang, please rest assured, my two brothers will definitely find a way to ensure the safety of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and now in the current situation, we are not passive, nor do we have any disadvantages, but it depends on how Chen Guoren acts, and then make targeted decisions." ”

Huang Yun ignored Zhang Xun, but continued to point at Ji Zheng and scolded: "Ji Zheng! It's you! You have to attack the city! Now we are trapped in the city, and there is no escape! If my army is defeated, the old man will definitely kill you before he dies! ”

Ji Zheng ignored Huang Yun and just organized the defense with Zhang Xun.

Soon, the soldiers and people of the Chen State in the north of the city gathered in the palace and marched towards the southern city.

Zhang Xun was already in full battle, and he and Ji Zheng stood in front of the formation, ready to meet Chen Guoren's attack. At this time, Zhang Xun looked at the opponent, only to see that the person standing in front of the formation was not someone else, but King Chen who had escaped from him.

King Chen was on crutches, surrounded by many soldiers and civilians, and limped towards the front of the battle.

"General Zhang, don't come unharmed, cough cough." King Chen shouted from afar.

"King Chen, don't come unharmed."

"Hehe, cough cough, the two of us have walked in the ghost gate, and we can still meet at this time, it is really fate."

Zhang Xun didn't want to talk nonsense, and said directly: "King Chen, we have broken through Wanqiu City, and also rescued the prince and General Huang, now you have no hole cards, I advise you to surrender." ”

Hearing Zhang Xun's words, King Chen smiled and said slowly: "Ahem, okay, okay, I surrender." ”

Everyone was taken aback, and they didn't expect King Chen to accept it happily.

Chen Guotai Shi Gugu knelt down in front of King Chen, and wept bitterly: "King! No! No! Can't surrender! There must be no surrender! ”

The guard Mo Hua also knelt on the ground and pleaded with tears in his eyes: "King! Can't surrender! The last general is willing to repay the country with death! ”

The soldiers and civilians behind him knelt down one after another and said in unison: "I am willing to repay the country with death!" ”

Zhang Xun and Ji Zheng were also surprised, seeing that the war was about to break out, why did King Chen agree to surrender so easily?

Chen Wang stood upright in the crowd on crutches, his head held high, his gray hair swaying in the breeze, and the sun embedded in the wrinkles of his face, outlining a smile of relief.

"Get up, get up, it's okay, ahem." King Chen smiled and said to the people who were kneeling on the ground.

Looking at King Chen in front of him, Zhang Xun suddenly recalled the feeling he felt at the moment he walked out of the high platform, he understood, he understood everything. At this time, he felt as if he and King Chen were in touch, and he knew that if he were King Chen, he might make the same choice.

"General Zhang." Chen Wang's voice pulled Zhang Xun back to reality from his contemplation.

"King Chen."

"General Zhang, I am willing to cede the land and city of Shu County to Wu State, and ask the Son of Heaven for guilt, cough cough, I don't know if the general can accept such conditions."

As soon as the words fell, before Zhang Xun could reply, he saw Huang Yun take half a step forward, pointed at Chen Wang arrogantly and scolded: "Hmph! I am the general Huang Yun! Whether your conditions can be accepted or not is not up to Zhang Xun to decide! It's up to me! ”

"Oh, ahem, General Huang, fortunately, fortunately. Is the condition I said okay? ”

"Not feasible! Chen must cede the land, cities, and people of Shu County, Hong County, Beiyang County, and Baji County! In addition, an indemnity of five thousand taels of gold was to be paid. ”

Huang Yun said that, the voices of the soldiers and civilians of Chen Guo suddenly boiled, and Mo Hua knelt down in front of King Chen again, and asked for his life: "King! Let's fight! Wu people deceived me too much! I'm willing to fight to the death! ”

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

Chen Guojun and civilians roared angrily, and their shouts were earth-shattering.

Zhang Xun saw that the momentum was not right, and hurriedly asked Huang Yun for his life: "General! Chen Wang's conditions are acceptable! At present, the army and the people of Chen Guo have the same hatred for the enemy, and the momentum is high, and we may suffer a big loss if we really fight! Moreover, the other three counties are too far away from Wu State, and even if they get it, they can't hold it. ”

Huang Yun saw that Chen Guoren was excited, so he changed his words and said, "Forget it! We don't want those three counties, and neither do your people, but we can't lack gold! ”

King Chen waved his hand, signaled the army and the people to be quiet, and then said to Huang Yun: "General Huang, Chen Guo is poor and weak, five thousand taels of gold can withstand more than a year's worth of finance and taxes, I really can't take out so much money, one thousand taels, if the general approves this condition, you can bring the gold back today." ”

Huang Yun looked at King Chen contemptuously, and said with a smile: "Hmph, the lord of the dead country still dares to talk about the conditions, wait for me to sweep away your broken city, not to mention a city, a thousand taels of gold, all the gold and all the land in your treasury will belong to our Wu country!" ”

Mo Hua suddenly pulled out the sword from his waist, pointed at Huang Yun and scolded: "Don't be crazy, as long as the king gives an order, I will be the first to cut you!" ”

The military and civilians of Chen Guo were also boiling again, and they chanted.

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

Seeing this, Zhang Xun hurriedly persuaded the prince: "His Royal Highness the prince! A city plus 1,000 taels of gold is fine, but if things are allowed to develop, the situation may still be very unfavorable to us! Fighting, the sword is not long-eyed! ”

Hearing this, Prince You immediately broke out in a cold sweat, he hurriedly grabbed Huang Yun, and whispered in a low voice: "Uncle, take it when you see it, what if you really fight?!" Swords don't have long eyes! ”

Huang Yun pondered for a while, and said to King Chen: "Okay, if a city adds a thousand taels of gold, King Chen must also ask the Son of Heaven for guilt, and in addition, the State of Chen must also be attached to our country!" ”

King Chen nodded and said, "Okay, okay." Ahem, I will prepare a letter of state, and Wu will also send an envoy to sign a letter of state with me. ”

The prince pulled Zhang Xun and said in a low voice: "General Zhang, you go, you go, I order you to be a messenger to surrender." ”

Zhang Xun responded to the order, and then walked forward two steps to the front of the formation.

Chen Wang looked at Zhang Xun, nodded with a smile, and then turned back to Jugu and said, "Take pen and ink and brocade silk." ”

"The Great King......" Jugu was full of tears, kneeling to present pen and ink and brocade silk to King Chen.

King Chen pasted the brocade silk on the damaged palace gate, padded mottled paint and messy fractures, and wrote the letter of surrender.

Above the palace, the sky is blue and cloudy, and everything is just like the past. The flames of war are not extinguished, and the green smoke is curling, and these scenes do not paint the sky with a single color. And under this eternal sky, the people of Chen Guo are experiencing the saddest moment, some of them are in tears, some are heartbroken, and some of them are full of grief and indignation into anger, glaring at the Wu people opposite.

All the grief and pain turned into a heavy burden, crushing Chen Wang's old and frail body, and he barely straightened his already rickety back, concentrating all his weight on the crutch that was deep in the dirt.

"Jade Seal." Chen Wang said calmly.

Jugu was full of tears, and he couldn't kneel for a long time, he slowly raised his hands and held the jade seal wrapped in brocade cloth above his head.

King Chen took the jade seal, uncovered the light brocade cloth, and a dark golden condensed jade seal appeared in front of everyone's eyes, staring at this jade seal symbolizing royal power, a wry smile flashed on his face.

The light passed through the jade seal with difficulty, disturbing its smooth surface, and countless images were mixed and collided in the jade body, transforming into a swaying afterimage, which seemed to be the history of Chen for more than 500 years, as if it was the rise and fall of this country, when King Chen held it up, his vicissitudes of life melted in this jade seal, forever branded into the illusory and dim afterimage.

King Chen forcefully stamped a large dark red seal on the surrender certificate. At this point, he took a deep breath and felt relieved.

King Chen picked up the national letter and walked slowly to the front of the formation on crutches.

"Envoy of Wu, our country is willing to surrender, please accept the credentials." With that, King Chen bent down and held the letter in front of him.

Under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Xun slowly walked in front of King Chen, he bent down and bowed deeply to King Chen, and then solemnly took the letter of Chen Guoguo.

Two days later, Zhang Xun and others completed all the state formalities and returned to the court. In the brilliant spring light, the triumphant Wu soldiers sang loudly, leaving only the ruined city and barren scorched earth behind them.