This night, perhaps because of the heavy losses in the siege the day before yesterday, or perhaps because of the arrival of the Great Zhao army, it was rare for the Northern Qin army not to attack.

But Xi Yan still hasn't slept all night, although he is very tired.

Whimpering with a thousand years of desolation in the wind of the cold night, Xi Yan walked out of the tent alone, when the battle was so fierce, it was very rare to have such a quiet time.

There was a huge moon hanging in the sky, and the light and cold moonlight covered the entire golden city, broken and decadent walls...... Everything seemed so lonely at night, only a row of jackdaws perched on the empty branches, Xi Yan made some noises when he went out, and the jackdaws flew away with a loud cry.

In last night's fierce battle, Xi Yan's back and shoulders were injured again, when Feng Yi broke through he had already been hit by an arrow in the shoulder, and the wound was not yet healed, and a new wound was added, and yesterday's successive charges made his wound completely crack open, and blood oozed when he was still on the battlefield, and when he took off his armor in the retreat to the city, blood and sweat had already dyed his underwear red.

There were many wounded in the army, but now the city is ...... There is no medicine left, even as the commander of the whole army, Xi Yan can only wash the wound with water, and then bandage it with a relatively clean white cloth.

Fortunately, it is winter, and the wounds on my body have not yet festered. But the ordinary sergeants could not even get a clean white cloth, so they could only tear their underwear into strips and bandage their wounds...... This may undoubtedly quench their thirst by drinking doves, but now they have nothing to do.

Turning the first street corner outside the tent, Xi Yan came to the place where the sergeants rested.

This was originally the residence of the people of Jincheng, and after the people in the city were evacuated to Lingzhou, the soldiers moved in. A soldier was reclining in the corner of the wall, looking peaceful, and when he saw Xi Yan coming, he propped himself up and showed a bright smile at Xi Yan.

"General, are your injuries healing?"

Xi Yan recognized that he was a personal soldier who had been guarding him when he went out of the city to attack the camp last night, so he also responded with a chuckle: "It's no big deal, what are you holding in your hand?" ”

Hearing Xi Yan's question, the soldier subconsciously clenched the sweat towel in his hand, and then explained: "This is the sweat towel that my mother sewed for me, and I am on an expedition...... When I miss my mother, I take it out and look at it. You see, there are also tweed embroidered by my mother. ”

Xi Yan's eyes drooped, he had no time to think about other ...... in the continuous fighting these days

At this time, the soldier suddenly mentioned that his thoughts about his mother and father in his heart were like bursting the embankment, and when he was at home, he was also a young son who was happy under his mother's knees, and although his father was strict, he was also protective everywhere; But on the battlefield, he has tens of thousands of lives and deaths on his shoulders, and after every battle, he will inevitably have to add a few wounds to his body......

The news of the brother's rebellion has already been transmitted back to Chongdu, but I don't know at this moment...... Where are your parents?

Just as Xi Yan was in a trance, the soldier suddenly asked, "General, we won't have reinforcements, right?" We're all going to die here, aren't we? ”

……

"No," Xi Yan said after thinking about it, but still looked him in the eye, "No matter what, I will let you leave alive." ”

Although the tone was low, it was so clear in the dark night, and the soldier smiled and breathed a sigh of relief after receiving this answer, "I believe in you. ”

Xi Yan didn't answer him again, but walked forward alone.

He knew that Jincheng was a dead end at this time...... Maybe these soldiers can leave alive, but they ...... Absolutely not.

As far as Da Zhao is concerned, he is now a traitor and a traitor! As far as Northern Qin is concerned, he is the enemy general who has caused heavy losses to the Northern Qin army, and no matter which side he is, he will never let him leave alive easily.

Walking around the coach's line, Xi Yan's eyes were full of countless gloom and sadness, thinking of the days in Chongdu City...... Xi Yan really doesn't know who is luckier than the dead Situ Yizheng and Jing Yuan?

Think that you once stirred up the situation in Chongdu City...... Now it seems so ridiculous, under the ravages of war, all the treacherous schemes can only be ruthlessly crushed into powder.

The intrigues of these people who used to be themselves were just a stumbling block in the face of the crushing of the war.

Towards daybreak, outside the city, a messenger came alone with a feast.

In the handsome tent, Xi Yan sat at the top, and the envoy of Northern Qin was standing in front of Xi Yan.

"If your envoy is here to persuade him to surrender, he doesn't have to talk in vain and be bored with himself."

The envoy of Northern Qin looked arrogant, and said slowly: "No, no, no, this time I didn't come to persuade you to surrender. ”

Xi Yan sneered, "Why is it not for persuasion?" ”

The envoy of Northern Qin smiled lightly, then took out a letter from his sleeve and presented it to Xi Yan, "This book was written by General Fu Mang, the commander of our army, and General Fu had an appointment with Brother Ling Huan Guohou in advance. At this point, it's time to make good on your promise. ”

Xi Yan slapped the letter on the table and asked in a cold voice, "Have an appointment?" What about? ”

"General Fu promised to order Brother Huan Guohou to let you leave when you were at the end of your road. Now it seems that if you don't keep your promise, I'm afraid you'll be buried here, but ......"

The envoy of Northern Qin deliberately paused for a moment, and Fang said: "A few days ago, when our army was attacking the city, you attacked it with fire, and the sergeants were killed and wounded. Although the general and Brother Ling had a word first, he had to let you go. But if you use such a plan, the general is resentful, so if you want to lead your troops away, you need to agree to pay the general three conditions. ”

The atmosphere in the tent suddenly froze, Xi Yan paused, and still said coldly: "If it is a condition for foreign countries, your envoy does not have to speak......

Xi Yan looked at him like two ice picks, but the messenger still said calmly: "No, no, no, Xi Gongzi is a flexible person, would you like to hear it?" ”

Although Xi Yan still maintained that stubbornness in his heart, he also knew that he and the others should leave, outside the city...... Da Zhao's hundreds of thousands of troops are coming in a steady stream, if Fu Mang does not withdraw his troops, it will be absolutely impossible for him and others to break through from the heavy encirclement.

Xi Yan looked at the envoy of Northern Qin coldly, and said after a while, "You say." ”

"There are three conditions! First, after leading the army south to Lingjiang, you can't wait for the opportunity to counterattack our Northern Qin army. ”

Xi Yan pondered for a moment and responded: "After going south, I should rest and recuperate, I have no intention of interfering in the war in the northwest again, and I can agree to this first one." ”

Seeing that Xi Yan agreed, the Northern Qin envoy couldn't help but show a contemptuous smile, and his tone became very arrogant again, "Second! You used a stratagem to kill many of my soldiers in Northern Qin. General Fu said that he wants you to apologize for disarming in front of the army, so as to relieve the hatred in his heart. If you agree, the general will let you go. ”

Xi Yan's hand hidden in his sleeve was clenched into a fist, but his face was still very calm. But the generals standing on both sides couldn't hold back the anger in their hearts, and they drew their swords one after another to kill them. But I only heard Xi Yan whisper coldly, "Stop." ”

Xi Yan slowly closed his eyes, only to feel that there was a cold blood surging in his chest, so humiliating...... Fu Mang was really vicious, but thinking that there were still tens of thousands of soldiers in the city, no matter how much he was humiliated, Xi Yan had to endure it.

"Good. This second ...... I promise you too. ”

Seeing this, the envoy of Northern Qin smiled even more rampantly: "Third, you can leave if you want to, but you can only take 50,000 horses with you." If it exceeds 50,000, don't blame me for not keeping my promise. ”

"No," Xi Yan dismissed the envoy's words without hesitation, "I will take all the soldiers and horses in the city away, if you don't agree, it's a big deal to fight to the death." I want to see how many people from your Northern Qin army can be buried here. ”

At this time, there were still 70,000 horses left in the city, and the 170,000 who had withdrawn from Feng Yicheng had already lost more than half of them in large and small battles.

The envoy of Northern Qin didn't seem to expect Xi Yan to refuse so simply, so he was speechless for a while. After a while, he said again: "Young Master Xi, then let's take a step back." You can take all the people in the city with you. However, when you go out of the city and in front of the two armies, kneel down to our Northern Qin soldiers and admit your mistakes! ”

"What's wrong with killing an enemy to defend my territory?"

"At this moment, you are at the end of your life, do you still want to judge right and wrong!?"

This sentence was like a sharp sword, stabbing Xi Yan's heart fiercely...... For a while, Xi Yan was like a fish in his throat. After a long time, he said with difficulty: "Okay, you go back and tell Fu Mang, I promise." ”

"Good! is worthy of being Huan Guohou's own brother, the husband can bend and stretch, and he should be like this! The envoy of Northern Qin said wildly, "Early the day after tomorrow, west of Jincheng." My Northern Qin army will open a gap, whether to go or stay, you decide for yourself! ”

After that, the envoy of Northern Qin swaggered and walked away.

"General! What a humiliation this is, let alone kneeling to the Northern Qin barbarians! As soon as the envoy of Northern Qin left, the generals in the tent gathered in front of Xi Yan, "The last general and others beg to fight to the death with Northern Qin!" ”

Xi Yan's face was like frost and snow, "Okay, you don't have to persuade anymore." It is better for me to be humiliated alone than for 70,000 soldiers to die here. Go down and get ready, and go out of the city with me early the next morning. ”