The news that Zhang Xuan had sent an envoy to see Xu Shiji soon spread throughout the city, and that night, in a large tent in the military camp in the city, Cheng Yanjin was coincidentally encouraging a group of middle and low-level generals.

"I know Zhang Xuan better than anyone else, when he was not yet a career, I worked as a buddy for him, he treated people kindly, and finally gave me a few hundred taels of gold, and then those days! It's the happiest day of my life, and it's beautiful with money."

Cheng Yanjin is rarely so sincere, even he himself was almost intoxicated by the situation back then, he suddenly shook his head again, and said to everyone: "We have to persuade Lao Xu to give up resistance, everyone doesn't want to fight, there is still an old lady to support at home, what if we die?" ”

Everyone was moved by what Cheng Yanjin said, and the more important thing is that there are only 5,000 of them, but there are 30,000 elite Sui troops outside, and the result of the final resistance will definitely die, "Old Cheng, what do you say we should do?" The crowd asked.

Cheng Yanjin perked up and said: "The key is that everyone must work together, everyone goes to petition Lao Xu, saying that we are willing to surrender, I know Lao Xu, as long as all of us don't want to fight, he can only admit defeat." ”

"But Li Gongzi also treats us well"

Before someone finished speaking, Cheng Biting Jin glared at him viciously, "It's not a thin fart, he ran away first"

Cheng Yanjin took out a handful of leaflets and threw them on the ground, "What does it say, he himself fled from Baicheng with 20,000 troops to Merge Prefecture, leaving us brothers here and leaving them alone, there are so many brothers' families in the city, what if you don't surrender?" He doesn't care whether Lao Tzu lives or dies, does he still want Lao Tzu to work for him? ”

Everyone was indignant at Cheng Biting Jin, and Li Jiancheng led the army to flee really stabbed the hearts of these generals, although several generals were a little skeptical about the authenticity of the contents of the leaflets, but under the unanimous condemnation of everyone. They had no choice but to remain silent.

Cheng Yanjin saw that everyone had been basically convinced, so he said: "I'll contact some brothers again, and when the time comes, everyone will ask together, Lao Xu has no choice, first set the time for the petition, and make five corrections." Everyone gathered outside the big tent of the Chinese army. ”

"Don't worry! We'll definitely go. ”

Cheng Yanjin and the others set a time for the party to petition, and hurriedly went elsewhere to incite the generals to rebel, and he would not let go of any officer above the brigade commander

Zheng Yan, the commander of Xinxiang County, is the eldest son of Zheng Shanguo, the secretary of Dali Temple, and Zheng Shanguo and Li Yuan got married, Zheng Shanguo's eldest daughter married Li Yuan's eldest son Li Jiancheng, and Li Jiancheng's wife Zheng is Zheng Yan's sister.

The reason why Li Jiancheng took Xinxiang County as his foundation was because Zheng Yan served as the county magistrate here.

Zheng Yan is about 30 years old and has a tall figure. Thin appearance, he was originally a minister, when Yang Xuangan rebelled in the ninth year of the Great Cause, he also surrendered Yang Xuangan in Luoyang, and was liquidated afterwards, but Yang Guang, the son of heaven, did not severely punish him in front of his father and family, but demoted him to the county lieutenant of Xinxiang, and soon promoted to the county commander.

He has done a lot for Li Jiancheng over the years. has always spared no effort to support Li Jiancheng, but this time he was also a little dissatisfied with Li Jiancheng.

Half of the population of Xinxiang County are the families of Li Jiancheng's soldiers. Including Li Jiancheng's wife Zheng, but Li Jiancheng's sons were in Taiyuan, in order to protect themselves, they abandoned their wives, and they were so supportive of him, Zheng Yan thought of Li Jiancheng leading the army to flee north. I hated it so much that the roots of my teeth itched.

At this time, it was already five o'clock in the middle of the night, but Zheng Yan couldn't sleep, and Zhang Xuan's letter to him was placed at the head of the bed, and he didn't know how many times he had read it.

Zhang Xuan made it very clear in the letter that he was the parent official of a county. When the lives of the fathers and elders of a county are the most important, and their own reputation is light, 'for the protection of the people for the wronged thieves, Xuan is deeply respected, and the county monarch is considered for the fathers and villagers, judges the situation, and avoids soldiers'

At this time, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside, and an attendant reported outside the door: "County gentleman, there seems to be an accident at the barracks." ”

Zheng Yan was secretly taken aback, quickly got up and put on his clothes, he walked out of the door and asked, "What happened to the barracks?" ”

"It looks like the generals are gathering to petition!"

Zheng Yan felt that the problem was a bit serious, the generals actually petitioned collectively, and if they didn't do it well, there would be a mutiny, and once the army lost control, it would be a disaster for the county's fathers and elders.

At this time, the butler hurriedly walked over, bowed down at the bottom of the steps, and said, "Master, General Xu sent someone to invite the master to the barracks, saying that there is an important matter to discuss." ”

Zheng Yan nodded, and he got on his horse and headed towards the barracks with a few followers

There was a commotion in the barracks, and more than 300 generals above the brigade commander gathered outside the big tent of the Chinese army to ask Xu Shiji to negotiate with the Sui army, and they were all instigated by Cheng Yanjin to come to petition Xu Shiji.

"General Xu, our family is in Xinxiang, there are no eyes for swords and guns, everyone is red-eyed, who will ensure the safety of our family?"

"General Xu, Lu Mingyue's 100,000 troops have been beaten to the ground, we only have 5,000 troops, and there is no backup, what can we do to resist the elite of the Qingzhou army?"

"General Yang is right, our confrontation with the Qingzhou Army is to hit a stone with an egg, we are not cowards, but we don't want to die in vain!"

"Li Gongzi left us and fled, why should I give him my life?"

Everyone kept shouting, their tone became more and more angry, more and more excited, and asked Xu Shiji to give them an explanation.

In the big tent, Xu Shiji was really a little anxious, he didn't expect the generals to ask for surrender so unanimous, of course, Xu Shiji never dreamed that it was Cheng Yanjin who instigated the tandem behind his back.

But no matter what, the situation has reached the point where it is now, and this battle to defend the city can no longer be fought.

Xu Shiji sighed helplessly, there was a letter of persuasion from Zhang Xuan on the table next to him, and Zhang Xuan's sincerity in the letter also made him quite moved.

'The general is a person of faith, entrusted by people, loyal to people, no matter whether Xinxiang can be held or not, the general is worthy of his heart, but the world is about to be in chaos, Zhang Xuan wants to calm the people of the world, save the people from fire and water, in order to express his ambitions, Zhang Xuan has heard that the general has great ambitions, and he is willing to discuss the policy of peace and security with the general'

At this time, the soldier reported at the door: "General, Zheng Xianjun is here." ”

Xu Shiji was waiting for Zheng Yan, and hurriedly said, "Hurry up and invite him in!" ”

After a while, Zheng Yan walked into the big tent and said with a slight smile: "It seems that General Xu is under a lot of pressure!" ”

Xu Shiji smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It's not that the pressure is high, but this battle can't be fought, the generals are afraid of war, the soldiers are afraid of death, and there is no point in fighting, I want to hear the opinion of the county gentleman." ”

Zheng Yan understood why Xu Shiji came to him, Xu Shiji already wanted to surrender, but he couldn't let go of his face, he was Li Jiancheng's brother-in-law, if he even surrendered, then he would be worthy of Li Jiancheng.

Zheng Yan said slowly: "Zhang Xuan also advised me in the letter to me not to use troops for the sake of the people of the city, in fact, I am the official of the Great Sui, he is the local general of the Great Sui, there is no surrender between us, but I still have to persuade the general to comply with the times, of course, if the general is unwilling to surrender Zhang Xuan, it can also be used as a condition for leaving the city, if the general is willing to follow Zhang Xuan, I think it is also a good choice." ”

Xu Shiji was silent for a moment and said, "Can I ask the county gentleman a personal question?" ”

"General, please tell me the truth."

"Do you think the county gentleman has a future with Zhang Xuan, or do I continue to follow Jiancheng with a future?"

Zheng Yan laughed, "Since the general trusts me so much, then I'll tell you what is in my heart, in fact, both of them are dragons and phoenixes among people, and they are both people with great ambitions, but there is also a Li Gong on the top, the general is the general of Li Gong's son, compared to directly following Zhang Xuan, there is still a layer of separation, but I don't think the problem is here, Jiancheng is the background of the Guanlong aristocracy, Zhang Xuan is relying on the Shandong Shi clan to start, these are the two strongest forces in the world, the general thinks about his origin, which side should he choose?" ”

Xu Shiji woke up like a dream, he was born in a wealthy family in Shandong, how could he be treated if he took refuge in the Guanlong nobles, at this moment, Xu Shiji finally made up his mind.

"I want to ask the county gentleman to go to the Sui army camp and talk to Zhang Xuan for me, I wonder if the county gentleman is willing to go?"

Zheng Yan smiled happily: "It seems that there is no more suitable person than me, I will go out of the city!" ”

(To be continued.) )