In the early morning of the third day, officials of all sizes in Lingdong flocked to the city.

Under the city gate, the crowd of black oppressive people, who surrounded the displaced people of Linxian County, finally came to Lingdong, they were unclothed, skinny, and dull-faced, like a walking corpse, mechanically knocking on the city gate, even the strong city wall.

Farther away, a large area of bare woods has fallen, puffs of green smoke are slowly rising, and homeless people are cutting wood for fire to ward off the bitter autumn cold.

Hou Rong, like all the officials, had a pale face, as if he was sighing with admiration, and his eyes were full of despair, and he was no less than the homeless people in the city.

Since he got the news of the imminent arrival of the Northern Dynasty army from Steward Cui yesterday, he panicked and hurriedly found a few henchmen to discuss countermeasures.

He didn't dare to discuss with the officials of the whole city anymore, those wine bags and rice bags were selfish and selfish, and they had not achieved enough things and had more than enough failures, if they were to discuss countermeasures, there would never be a second result except for leaking the news.

But in this world, there is always something to be afraid of, and within two hours, the people who are a little powerful in the city seem to have known the news of the coming of the Wei army, and their eyes are full of resentment.

The old order is about to collapse, but the new order is unknown, this time is the most chaotic, Hou Rong did not dare to overpress, so he had to pretend not to know, this is still the most humble moment in the more than ten years since he took office as the magistrate of Lingdong.

At dawn, the restless Hou Rong had just fallen asleep, and when he was tossing and turning, the soldiers sent by Jiang Rulong woke him up, saying that there were a large number of soldiers under the city.

Hou Rong thought that the Wei army had arrived, so he was shocked, and hurriedly rushed to the city with his henchmen, and waited for the sun to rise, only to find that it was not the Wei army, but the vast number of displaced people.

He breathed a sigh of relief, but the situation in front of him made him even more bitter, and he didn't know what to do.

"My lord, I'm back......"

A large basket was quietly hung up to the city, and Jiang Rulong, dressed in coarse linen clothes, came out of it, and a group of officials immediately surrounded him.

"Well, where did these outcasts come from?"

Hou Rong couldn't wait to ask.

Jiang Rulong sighed: "My lord, just now, I pretended to be a homeless person to investigate the information, and found that they came from my Dawu provinces, the farthest even from the Gyeonggi region, and the nearest one was also a homeless person from this province. ”

"What, how could such a miscellaneous group of displaced people flock to the northeast together?"

"They are all Shengdou small people, and they can't say why, they only know that the Wei army is fighting all the way in the back, so they fled for their lives in front, and they ran here after escaping."

"But after all, fighting a war is a matter for the official family, and I haven't heard of any tragic battles before, how can there be so many displaced people?"

Speaking of this, a touch of anger appeared on Jiang Rulong's face, and he said in a deep voice: "The homeless people are all mouthful, saying that the Wei army burns and loots everywhere they go, not only forcibly robbing the people's property, but also slaughtering the village, piling up the severed heads into bloody human head towers, intimidating the people, and the people have become homeless people only if they go away to save their lives." ”

"The barbarians of the Northern Dynasty are so mad?!"

There were countless gasping voices among the officials, Hou Rong and County Cheng glanced at each other, and both of them were already colorless.

After calming down slightly, Hou Rong waved away the officials, pulled Jiang Rulong to the corner of the city, and asked alone: "Jiang Qianhu, you tell the truth to this official, how long can we hold Lingdong with our two thousand garrisons?" ”

Jiang Rulong's face turned red, and he shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it won't be more than three days at most!" ”

Hou Rong breathed a little and said urgently: "Why are you so vulnerable?" ”

Jiang Rulong smiled bitterly: "My lord doesn't know, the refugees are coming from the east and south at the same time, which means that at least two Wei armies are rushing towards Lingdong, which is twice as much as we estimated before."

If the Wei army can defeat the prince's army, it must be a division of tigers and wolves, and our army is just a local garrison, and its combat strength is more than a step behind, so there is no need to fall into a bitter battle, our army will collapse first.

In addition, at the moment in Lingdong, there are displaced people outside, there are disaster victims inside, the people's morale is unstable, morale is low, and there are at least 300 spies lurking in the shadows.

The last general said that it was the most optimistic estimate to be able to hold on for three days, and if the spies created chaos and grabbed the city gates, maybe the city would be broken in an hour or two! Lord Hou...... Lord Hou! ”

Hou Rong felt dizzy in his head, but fortunately he held on to the city wall with both hands and did not fall down.

Jiang Rulong came over to help him, but he waved his hand: "I'm fine......"

As he spoke, he sighed again and said, "Since this is the case, then we can only use the strategy that the official said yesterday......"

Jiang Rulong's face changed, and he wanted to persuade him, but was stopped by Hou Rong.

"Jiang Qianhu, I know that you think this official's strategy is too dangerous, but Lingdong must not surrender.

First, now that the Wei army has not arrived, but the displaced people have already come first, you and I can't do it even if we want to open the city and surrender. Second, our dynasty has always hated treason, once we surrender, even if the Wei army does not kill us, how can the prince's secret chess allow you and me to get away? ”

Jiang Rulong's face changed several times, and finally sighed, which was regarded as a default.

Hou Rong continued: "After a while, you gather those merchants who are clamoring to leave the city, open the east gate, open the way by the guards, drive out the homeless, let them out of the city, and don't let them affect our strategy."

When the merchants are almost gone, let's start to act according to the plan, remember, if there are more people, there will be leaks, as long as you bring a few loyal henchmen.

Whether the officials of Lingdong can escape depends on this risky move. ”

Jiang Rulong was stunned: "My lord, the homeless people outside the city are hungry, those merchants go out of the city with goods, as long as the garrison returns to the city, they will be robbed of their finances at least, and their lives will be lost." ”

Hou Rong snorted coldly: "It's they themselves who are clamoring to get out of the city, and the official still cares if they live or die?" It is better for these forgetful things to die, so as not to be upset. ”

"No, my lord, the others are okay, but if the Cui family caravan also ends up like this, then although my dynasty is big, is there still a place for us?"

Hou Rong squeezed out a smile, patted Jiang Rulong's shoulder and said: "Don't worry, when you open the door in Dongcheng, you will definitely attract homeless people to come over, and then I will open a corner of Xicheng and let the Cui family caravan go out from Xicheng, it is said that their guys are all veterans who have come down from the battlefield, and there is a clever person like Steward Cui, who should be able to deal with it." ”

Hearing this, Jiang Rulong was relieved, not that he was salty and eating radishes and worrying about it, but that the Cui family still needed a proof for them in the dangerous move of the county order, and they must not be allowed to die among the displaced people like this.

After everything was explained, Hou Rong was still not at ease, grabbed Jiang Rulong's wrist, and solemnly instructed: "Lord Jiang, the life and death of you and me, as well as the fate of Lingdong, are all above this plan, and we must not make any mistakes." ”

Jiang Rulong's heart sank and nodded silently.

At noon, the east gate of Lingdong City was opened, and the displaced people thought that the eldest lord had sent a kind heart to let them enter the city to avoid trouble, and they immediately rejoiced, and the crowd of people scattered nearby immediately gathered at the east gate.

However, before they could react, a large number of soldiers came out of the city with sharp knives in their hands, punching and kicking all the way, clearing a clearing.

Immediately afterwards, the merchants who were clamoring to go out of the city to avoid disaster finally got their wish, drove the cart, carried the goods, helped the old and the young, and walked out of the east gate.

When he saw the situation in front of him, he immediately realized that something was wrong and wanted to return to the city, but the soldiers were willing to let them rebel?

The steel knife used to deal with the displaced people was immediately aimed at the merchants, and in desperation, the merchants had to scold Hou Rong and Jiang Rulong while gritting their teeth and leaving the city.

The homeless people outside the city were already hungry with green eyes, and experienced an empty joy, and it was the time when evil was born to the side of the guts, seeing these merchants in gold and silver driving the cart, it was like a hungry wolf meeting cattle and sheep, and immediately rushed up, coaxed and robbed, and the scene became very chaotic.

However, the officers and soldiers who were supposed to maintain order turned a blind eye to this, and instead took advantage of the chaos to retreat into the city, not allowing a single homeless person to enter the city.

At the same time, the fifteen carts of the Cui family quietly left the city from the west gate, but no one had any idea of such a conspicuous and gorgeous carriage and horse, and no one noticed that there were a few fewer people and horses than when they came.

A group of more than 30 people walked five or six miles to the west, and came to a mountain pass, Mei Chuang stood at the front of the car and blew a whistle, and more than 100 horsemen immediately rushed out of the mountain pass, all of whom were fully armed forward battalion soldiers.

As soon as they saw Mei Chuang and a few people, the soldiers immediately turned over and dismounted, and helped them drive the cart to the mountain pass to hide.

The soldiers led by him walked to Mei Chuang's side, hugged his fists and said: "General Qiqi, I just received the military order this morning, and General Liu is taking the main force of my forward battalion day and night, and he is coming in a hurry, and the army of the commander is not far away!" ”

"Good!"

Mei Chuang nodded and said, "Recruit all the brothers who scattered out to intercept the messengers of the Southern Dynasty, get ready, and attack the city as soon as the general's main force arrives!" ”

"Obedience!"

The soldier agreed, looked at the people brought back by Mei Chuang, and suddenly asked suspiciously: "General, why didn't you see the little marquis and the three dogs?" ”

Mei Chuang glared at him, and said angrily: "That kid refused to come out with a few people, saying that he wanted to wait for the army to attack the city. ”

The soldier exclaimed, "Just a few people?" How to fit inside and out? ”

Mei Chuang remembered Xu Rui's confident appearance before leaving, gritted his teeth, and snorted coldly: "Don't worry about him, there is nothing in the world that this little monster can't do!" ”

After speaking, Mei Chuang strode towards the mountain pass.

The soldier scratched his scalp, and he didn't know why the general's face suddenly changed.

A soldier who went out of Lingdong with Mei Chuang patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't care, the general has been wronged this time, and it will be fine in a while." ”

"Wronged? Who dares to give our general a grievance? ”

"Of course it's the little marquis, the general is very well-behaved in front of him, hahahaha."

As soon as he said it, the soldier was even more puzzled.

At that time, it was already dark around Lingdong, and the displaced people in the distance lit a sparkling fire, which looked like stars in the sky from a distance.

In the chaotic grass, a group of homeless people quietly touched the west city gate by the night, these homeless people were more than 2,000 people, although they were wearing the clothes of the homeless, but they were all holding steel knives, and their faces were resolute, and they were the soldiers of the forward battalion who were ready to sneak attack at night.

Liu Yi, who was old and strong, carried the Qingxue Cold Water Knife, bowed down and walked at the front of the team, and beside him was Mei Chuang, who had just left the city at noon.

"General, according to the agreement, don't we have to wait until the day after tomorrow to attack the city, why did we touch it tonight?"

A forward battalion soldier lowered his voice and asked Liu Yi.

Liu Yi said angrily: "Xu Rui's kid is full of nonsense, you have to believe him, you have to count the money for him happily if he is sold!" ”

Everyone chuckled, and a forward battalion soldier who followed Xu Rui into the city said: "General, I don't think our little marquis loves money, maybe the money will be given to our brother in the end." ”

"Think beautifully!"

Liu Yi scolded with a smile: "You white-eyed wolves, why, you were bought after following him into the second city?" Look at your little bit of interest! ”

The crowd laughed again.

Liu Yi glanced at Mei Chuang, who was speechless, and said coldly: "Hmph, how did I tell you before leaving?" Let you protect him, protect him, it's okay now, he takes two or three kittens inside and out, if something happens, what will you do? ”

Mei Chuang had already been left behind by Liu Yishu, and the moment he left the city, he knew that it would be this kind of result, so he had to smile and say: "You don't know that kid, who can stop what he wants to do?" Besides, I'll have to come out and give you his plan, won't I? ”

"Who can't carry the strategy, do you have to make this trip to General Mei?"

Mei Chuang said helplessly: "I said the same thing, but that kid will take revenge, when I broke through the Yushan Pass, I questioned him in public, and lost his face, isn't this a personal vendetta, I have to force me out with righteousness, and eat your leader?" ”

Liu Yi was stunned for a moment, seeing Mei Chuang's aggrieved face, he felt that Xu Rui was determined to do this, and immediately covered his mouth and laughed.

"You, you, you know that the plan has been tricked out, I think you also love that kid very much, right?"

While talking, the two touched the west city gate, and after approaching the city gate, the whole army stopped talking, quietly waiting for the order of the official, but waiting left and right, Liu Yi still did not give the order to attack the city.

"That kid said to open the city gate at this time?"

Liu Yi whispered to Mei Chuang to confirm.

Mei Chuang nodded: "Strange, that kid has always been punctual, he said that he was sure to open the city gate at three o'clock, so that we could get ready, now the hour has come, but the city gate has not moved, is there something wrong?" ”

Liu Yi's eyes froze, and his two eyes swept around the city like eagle falcons, and his face suddenly changed.

"No, the city is too quiet, there isn't even a scout to look out, we've got it!"