Hearing the word reinforcements, the soldiers who were originally tired were all shocked, and they all showed excitement, looked at Bai Qi, and responded loudly.

"Yes! Checkmate! ”

Bai Qi bowed his head slightly and continued to patrol.

A moment later.

An adjutant general hurried over and called:

"General."

Bai Qi looked at him and said, "What's the matter?" ”

The adjutant general's eyes flashed, and he whispered a few words in his ear.

Bai Qi listened, a fine light burst out in his eyes, and he said leisurely: "Do as Fang Xiang tells you." ”

"Yes, General!"

The lieutenant general stood upright and saluted respectfully.

Then, turn around and leave.

Bai Qi looked at his back, secretly thinking in his heart.

There are 50,000 more soldiers in the city, how to mobilize them, so as to be able to play the greatest role.

............

Meanwhile.

Lingbei Road, which is 100 miles away from Xinyi City.

Dressed in a crimson official robe and with a vicissitudes on his face, the first assistant scholar of the cabinet had just arrived at the mansion.

All the way, I dare not slack off.

Xie Qian, who got out of the carriage, was tired at the moment, and his gestures were like old decay from extreme exhaustion.

At such an age, rushing from Jinnan Mansion to the front line non-stop is indeed a test for him.

After entering the door of the government office and taking a seat, there were immediately people serving tea and snacks.

Xie Qian picked up the teacup, drank it all, and then handed it to the servant on the side.

The servant immediately understood, and was busy pouring tea.

Xie Qian picked up the pastry, dipped it in tea, and ate it little by little.

Side.

The eunuch of the celebrant Bingbi, who was also the deputy envoy of the peace quest this time, Wang Zhi, just stood upright, still holding tea in his hand, sipping one sip.

In the end, it is much younger.

Compared with the exhausted Xie Qian, Wang Zhi seemed a little energetic.

"Why doesn't the prince sit?"

After Xie Qian finished eating the pastry, he felt better, looked at Wang Zhi, and opened his mouth to talk.

With a smile on his face, Wang Zhi replied: "I've been sitting for a long time, it's good to stand for a while." ”

Hearing this, Xie Qian seemed to feel a little emotional:

"People, it's not okay to disobey the old, the same distance, the same carriages and horses, the official arrived at this yamen, and he couldn't even stand firmly, the prince looked like he was fine, it seems that this time he has to count on the prince and the princess."

Wang Zhi replied: "Lord Shoufu is polite, this time to discuss peace, Your Majesty appointed me as the deputy envoy, in fact, it is to let me be an errand runner, messenger, and the key issues have to be decided by Lord Shoufu." ”

The so-called errands, messengers.

It is nothing more than the eyes and ears of His Majesty.

Although this time, the cabinet and the celebrant have agreed on the bottom line of peace.

But when it comes time for the actual negotiations, no one can foresee what will happen.

Therefore, Emperor Zhou sent a close minister as a deputy envoy, which also meant to be vigilant.

After all.

At this critical juncture, Xie Qian, the head of the cabinet, was yearning for the imperial court, but not necessarily him, the emperor.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Xie Qian's old face, and he didn't say anything more.

picked up the teacup, took a sip, then put it down, looked at the servants on the side, and ordered: "Let General Leliang come to see this official." ”

"Yes, sir."

The servant answered, and turned to leave.

A few breaths of time.

The chief general of the Tiger Army, Le Liang came to Xie Qian.

Apparently he had been waiting for a long time.

"Meet Lord Shousuke, meet the prince."

Le Liang, who was dressed in military uniform, stood upright and saluted.

"Have you received Your Majesty's will?"

Xie Qian sat on the Taishi chair, looking at Le Liang, and his tone was calm.

Le Liang said: "The last general has received it." ”

Xie Qian nodded and said solemnly:

"Then you should know that the next few days will be very important to the imperial court, and the only thing to do is to beat Bai Qi and be afraid! Only then can the imperial court take the initiative in the next negotiations!

If Bai Qi can be captured alive, or Bai Qi killed, the imperial court will not only be able to take the initiative, but also have the capital to negotiate.

Therefore, when the reinforcements and baggage arrive, you and your soldiers and horses must prepare for a decisive battle, remember, there is an indomitable determination to achieve victory! ”

"The last general obeys!"

Le Liang's angular face did not have any expression, just saluted.

Even though the cabinet is under one person and above 10,000 people, when it comes to marching and fighting, it may not be comparable to a small general.

Therefore, he didn't say much, but just asked: "In your opinion, with reinforcements, can you capture Xinyi City, and if so, how many days will it take?" ”

Le Liang did not hesitate, and replied: "If the soldiers, horses and baggage transferred by the imperial court have not been detained, at most seven days, the last general will definitely conquer Xinyi City, and the enemy will be captured in vain!" ”

As soon as this remark came out.

Xie Qian was slightly stunned, then his brows couldn't help frowning, and he said coldly: "You mean, the soldiers and horses and baggage that were allocated to you before are deducted?" ”

Le Liang didn't answer, just silenced.

Seeing this, Xie Qian immediately had an answer in his heart, and looked at Wang Zhi, who was also the commander of Dongchang on the side.

Wang Zhi was expressionless, and replied coldly: "It is normal for baggage to be transported to Lingbei Province from all over the country, and there is loss on the way to transportation. ”

This sentence made Xie Qian's heart cold.

immediately understood that Wang Zhi knew about this matter.

Wang Zhi knows, which means that His Majesty also knows.

In this critical autumn of survival, soldiers and horses and baggage are the top priorities.

His Majesty even acquiesced to the relevant officials, and the lake got into trouble.

If nothing else, it should be because of the fear of vigorous rectification and accidents.

"Your Majesty is frightened by the rebellion in various places before, even if the officials in various places are trying to find out how to do it, they pretend not to know, and they don't even consult with the cabinet, just to ...... a stable place."

That's it.

Xie Qian sighed in his heart, pretended not to know about it, looked at Le Liang, and promised: "The official is here, the prince is also here, if there is a gap in the allocated soldiers and horses and baggage, and then transfer it from all over the country, the official will draw up the strip, and the prince will approve the red, if you can capture Bai Qi alive, the official will play for you!" ”

When Wang Zhi heard this, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Xie Qian's firm expression, he still gave up.

Le Liang, who got the promise, his face like frost, finally showed a little moved, his expression became more and more resolute, and he bowed: "The last general will live up to the trust of the court!" ”

Xie Qian nodded, waved his hand and said, "The baggage is here, there are still a few days, you go back and wait patiently, wait for ......."

Before he finished speaking, he heard a movement outside the house that he had never heard before.

The voice was not loud, but it made Le Liang's face change in an instant.

Xie Qian noticed Le Liang's expression and immediately knew that something big had happened!

Firmly in the center of the temple, Taishan collapsed in front of the cabinet and did not change, at this moment, his face also showed a touch of uneasiness, and he asked, "What happened?" ”

Le Liang said in a deep voice: "This is the sound of cannonballs, and the direction is Xinyi City." ”

Hear this.

Xie Qian and Wang Zhi both showed stunned expressions, and blurted out: "Hundreds of miles apart, you can actually hear the sound of cannonballs?" ”

Le Liang said: "Bai Qi has three main guns, which are extremely powerful, far beyond ordinary artillery, and this sound is emitted by the main guns." ”

“......”

Hearing this answer, Xie Qian and Wang Zhi fell silent.

Although, the sound of the cannonball was very small, almost imperceptible.

However, this place is hundreds of miles away from Xinyi City after all.

At a distance of hundreds of miles, you can still hear the sound, this dry man's artillery is really more powerful than thunder!

There was a moment of silence.

Wang Zhi's sharp voice sounded in the room.

"General Le, don't you go and ask what's going on?"

Le Liang said: "It's too late to ask now, and someone will tell you later." ”

The voice fell.

A military general pushed the door and walked in, and when he saw Xie Qian in the first seat and Wang Zhi in the side seat, he was slightly stunned and immediately silenced.

Le Liang said: "These two adults are from the capital, if they have anything to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

With permission, the general said in a deep voice: "Scouts are urgent, Bai Qi suddenly concentrated his artillery at the south gate and attacked the camp I was stationed outside. ”

Le Liang asked, "Do you know why?" ”

The general replied:

Another scout came to report that a group of cadres had appeared in the south of Xinyi City, and the exact number of them was unknown.

The last general thought that there were two possibilities for Bai Qi to launch a Meng's attack at night.

If the number of cadres supporting Xinyi City is large, and even the number of our troops besieging the city is outnumbered, it is necessary to join forces with the outside and attack our camp to the south.

If the number is small, it is to use artillery cover to let this group of cadres enter the city to replenish the soldiers and baggage.

Based on the information currently available, the general guessed that it should be the latter. ”

Side.

When Xie Qian and Wang Zhi heard this, their hearts were cold.

Neither the former nor the latter was unacceptable to the imperial court.

Once Bai Qi gets reinforcements, even if the Tiger Ben army tries its best to attack, it may not be able to gain the upper hand.

When the time comes, the negotiation will have no confidence, and it will inevitably be raised by people and ask for the price.

That's it.

Wang Zhi couldn't bear it, and said a little anxiously: "In this case, why don't you send troops quickly to stop them!" ”

In the middle of the night like this.

Cadres who do not have the city wall as a barrier are not much different from unarmed peasant households in the face of a heavily armed tiger army.

As the commander of Dongchang, Wang Zhi obviously understood this, so he couldn't wait to urge Le Liang to send troops quickly.

Le Liang did not contain a lake, and without the slightest hesitation, he said loudly: "Gather soldiers and horses, and gallop with this general to help Xinyi City!" ”

After speaking, he didn't dare to delay for a minute or a second, and hurried out of the house with a step, without even saying a word back to Wang Zhi.

After Le Liang left.

Xie Qian and Wang Zhi stood in place, falling into a state of unease.

Wang Zhi put his hands behind his back, paced back and forth, and said a little anxiously:

"On that day, the bottom line set by the imperial court was based on the ability to severely defeat Bai Qi.

If they get reinforcements in vain, the Tiger Ben Army will have nothing to do with them, and if they want to negotiate peace, I am afraid that they will not be able to keep the bottom line.

Not to mention anything else, Lingnan Dao, which was eaten by Qianguo, must not come back! ”

As the first assistant of the cabinet, the prime minister of the Zhou State.

In the face of such a sudden change, Xie Qian seemed extremely calm.

With a light face, he said: "As long as peace is negotiated sincerely, the imperial court has no bottom line, and in order to achieve ......the goal, it is not impossible to make appropriate concessions."

Speaking of this, he paused and continued: "Of course, it is best for the Tiger Ben Army to hit Bai Qi's subordinates according to the plan, and the bottom line must be held until the last resort. ”

“......”

When Wang Zhi heard this, he looked at Xie Qian, but he didn't know what to say for a while.

There was silence for a few breaths.

He couldn't help but ask: "According to Wang Shoufu's meaning, does the bottom line set by the imperial court exist or does it not exist?" ”

"Exists."

Xie Qian replied immediately, paused, and said, "It doesn't exist again." ”

Seeing that Wang Zhi didn't talk, he explained to himself:

"The bottom line of the imperial court is to rely on the Tiger Ben Army to win, if the Tiger Ben Army can win, the bottom line exists, if it can't win, the bottom line does not exist."

“......”

Get such an answer.

Wang Zhi immediately understood in his heart that, in short, it still didn't exist.

After all.

What is the bottom line that can be backed down?

But.

Xie Shoufu's words should have reminded him as well.

When it comes to the real negotiations, don't stick to the so-called bottom line, as long as you can get the goal and satisfy Your Majesty, and make concessions in some aspects that you haven't taken into account, it's okay.

"I'm afraid General Le won't be able to come back tonight, the carriage and horses have been tiring for two days, and this official should take a break and recuperate for the subsequent negotiations."

Xie Qian sat on the Taishi's chair and said leisurely.

When Wang Zhi heard this, he immediately understood and bowed.

"Shousuke-sama, rest, retire."

With that, turn around and leave.

Xie Qian glanced at his back, didn't think about it anymore, turned around and went back to the bedroom to recuperate.

Following.

Early morning.

In the main hall.

Xie Qianduan sat on the Taishi's chair, looking breezy and cloudy.

Wang Zhi paced back and forth, waiting for news from Xinyi City.

Last night, Le Liang led his troops out and didn't return overnight, and he didn't know what the battle was like, whether he won or lost.

Minutes and seconds passed.

Just when Wang Zhi was waiting a little impatiently.

A strong bloody aura wafted from afar, gradually permeating.

Wang Zhi sniffed, cheered up in an instant, and looked in the direction of the door.

The next second.

I saw Le Liang push the door in, his armor was slightly torn, and the part of the fabric was stained red with blood, emitting a pungent smell.

Shoufu Xie Qian frowned imperceptibly, quickly returned to normal, and asked, "General Le, how is the battle going?" ”

Le Liang's face was as cold as frost, he shook his head gently, and only replied with four words: "Not optimistic." ”

The voice fell.

Xie Qian and Wang Zhi glanced at each other, and they could both see a trace of lament in each other's eyes.

"What do you mean by that?"

Xie Qian sighed in his heart and continued to ask, hoping that the situation would still have room for change.

Le Liang raised his eyes to look at Xie Qian, and said in a deep voice: "The cadres who support Xinyi City are at least 50,000 people, and under the cover of the artillery in the city and the Xuanjia cavalry outside the city, they have already entered the city!" ”

Needless to say, Xie Qian also understood.

There were suddenly 50,000 more people in the city.

Even the Tiger Army, which has received support, will not be able to conquer it in a short period of time.

If it drags on like this, it will only drag the Tiger Army into the quagmire.

In the territory of Qianguo, all kinds of firearms were continuously manufactured and sent to Lingnan Province.

And the imperial court ...... Now we can't even afford to pay for the development of firearms.

In this way, peace is imminent.

If you drag it out, you will only be more passive.

That's it.

Xie Qian made up his mind and said decisively: "Let the Tiger Ben army withdraw, and this official will send someone into the city tomorrow to negotiate!" ”