When all the monarchs and ministers heard this, their eyes lit up. Emperor Dali said excitedly: "Yes, yes, yes, go to Daming for help!" As long as the Ming army comes, we will be saved! The ministers chimed in.

Princess Qionghua looked at these monarchs and ministers, and couldn't help but have a thought in her heart: 'How can these people lead the country with such shallow vision!' This thought only flashed in his mind, and then he said: "Now I am afraid that it is not as simple as before to ask Da Ming for help!" The monarch and the ministers looked at Princess Qionghua in puzzlement, and the emperor asked, "What do you mean by this?" ”

Princess Qionghua sighed and said, "If someone treats us as much as we did before, can we still trust them as much as before?" Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then their faces turned pale, and a feeling of despair welled up in everyone's hearts. The emperor said in infinite panic: "So, then, we, we have, only one dead end, one?" ”

Princess Qionghua shook her head, "Not really! I think the Ming side will not want our Dali to be ruled by foreign people, but the Ming side will inevitably have doubts about us, and it may not be easy to convince them! ”

The emperor was very worried, and suddenly his heart moved, and he hurriedly looked at Qionghua and said: "Qionghua, you used to live in Bianliang and had a harmonious relationship with all the imperial concubines, you can speak, why don't you go to the Ming army to lobby the Ming army to help!" Qionghua felt that this matter was really not easy to do, but since her father had a life, and now Dali was in danger, she was naturally responsible as the princess of Dali, so she hugged her fists and said: "Erchen will do his best!" The emperor was very happy to see that she agreed, and immediately ordered the relevant departments to prepare gifts immediately, so that Princess Qionghua could go home and make some preparations, and then set off for Shanxian Mansion. Princess Qionghua promised and hurriedly left the hall.

Later that day, Princess Qionghua rushed to Shanxian Mansion with the precious gifts given to her by the royal family and the Ming delegation that had previously been placed under house arrest. Now, Shi Liancheng led a corps of the Ming army stationed near Shanxian Mansion, and Shi Liancheng was the commander of the Ming Army's operation, so Qionghua wanted to rush to Shanxian Mansion.

At the same time, the Dali Emperor ordered the troops near Dali City to defend to the death, and told them that the Ming army would come to support. This Dali Emperor has no great ability, but he is a little clever, he claims that the Ming army will soon come to support, and the morale of the troops around Dali City has been greatly boosted, and the people are also a lot more relieved.

However, the ministers of Dali are very clear about the current situation. That night, several ministers gathered at the home of one of them, drinking and chatting about the current situation. One of them said: "If today, the Zhu army is already storming Longwei Pass, the Bagan army has already appeared in the east of Erhai Lake, and Duan Zhichun's army is overpowering Fengyu County. The situation is already dangerous! Regardless of whether the Ming army will come to support us, I think that even if the Ming army is willing to support us, their 200,000 soldiers and horses are probably not the opponent of the 800,000 coalition army! ”

Several of the other ministers nodded approvingly, and one of them said worriedly, "There are eggs under the nest!" Once the coalition forces invade Dali City, I'm afraid we won't be able to save our lives! Alas! "The atmosphere at the scene was solemn. Suddenly, a person said: "As the saying goes, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall!" Instead of sitting and waiting to die, we should find a way to save ourselves! All the people were moved, but they did not speak. When the man saw that the crowd did not speak, he said angrily, "Although you think in your hearts, you dare not say it in your mouth!" I said, the situation has reached this point, what are you still trying to do? Besides, we are defecting to the general, not surrendering to a foreign race, and that is not a betrayal! ”

Everyone felt that what he said was reasonable, and the uneasiness in their hearts was immediately reduced by more than half. They glanced at each other and said, "I think we all think so!" But how to act is to be discussed! Another said: "It is obviously not feasible to escape from the city with your family to join the general!" Now that the city is under martial law, all the passes are also under martial law, and no one can get out without His Majesty's order! I think we might as well jointly send a trustworthy person to contact the general, secretly help him capture Fengyu County, and then help him capture Dali City! In this way, Dali City can be safe, we have made great contributions to the general, and the glory and wealth can also be preserved! Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, and then discussed the specific matters.

Turning their eyes to the other side, Princess Qionghua and Fan Yong and their party felt that the Ming military camp outside the city of Shanxian Mansion saw Shi Liancheng.

Princess Qionghua bowed: "Meet General Shi!" ”

Shi Liancheng said: "Don't be polite, I don't know what you're doing here?" ”

Princess Qionghua said with some shame: "We have listened to the slander and neglected your army, please forgive the general!" ”

Shi Liancheng said: "You are suspicious of this, of course, there is no need to apologize!" Princess Qionghua, you should explain your intentions. ”

Qionghua saw that the other party went straight to the point, so she stopped talking nonsense, and hugged her fists and said: "I am here to beg your army to fulfill its promise and help our country resist aggression!" ”

Shi Liancheng said: "You treat us as enemies for a while, and beg us for help for a while, so it's too simple to see things!" Qiong Hua sighed and said very sincerely: "This time the reason is on our side, I have nothing to say, I can only extend my most sincere apologies to the general!" Please forgive me this time if you don't remember the villain! Then he raised his head and said, "If Dali City is broken by the enemy, this must not be what you want to see!" At this moment, we have common interests and common enemies, and I ask the general not to care about the previous things and join forces with us to deal with the enemy! Then he looked at Shi Liancheng's face and saw what he said.

Shi Liancheng was silent for a moment, glanced at Qionghua, and said, "Okay!" I grant your request! ”

Qiong Hua was stunned for a moment, she didn't expect the other party to let go of her previous unhappiness so easily and agree to the rescue, and asked in disbelief: "The general agreed?" Shi Liancheng nodded and said, "As you said, we have common enemies and common interests, in that case, why don't I agree!" ”

Qiong Hua couldn't help but sigh: "The general is really worthy of being the brother of His Majesty the Ming Dynasty, and he is indeed a hero!" ”

Shi Liancheng said: "You go back and tell your emperor that if you want our support, don't be half-hearted, immediately open all the passes, and prepare grain and grass to support us!" We'll take care of the rest! ”

Qionghua asked, "How do you need our army to cooperate with you?" ”

Shi Liancheng said: "It's very simple, you just need to concentrate all your forces around Dali City to resist the enemy's attack." You don't have to worry about the rest. Qiong Hua nodded thoughtfully, she thought that her side and the Ming side still lacked trust after all, and it was difficult to cooperate with each other, and in terms of their own combat effectiveness and combat characteristics, it was also difficult to cooperate with the Ming army to fight, so it was the best choice to cooperate according to Shi Liancheng's plan for division of labor and cooperation.

Shi Liancheng said to Fan Yong: "Fan Yong followed Her Royal Highness the princess back to Dali to coordinate the actions and messages between the two of us. Fan Yong clenched his fists and promised.

Shi Liancheng said to Princess Qionghua: "Your Royal Highness Princess, if you don't have anything to do, you can go back!" Princess Qionghua asked in surprise, "Is it good to talk about our side?" Shi Liancheng smiled: "It's okay to talk!" Qionghua felt that the other party was really neat and tidy, and hugged her fists and said: "I have a request, please write down what we both said, make two documents, and then ask the general to stamp the big seal!" Then he explained: "I absolutely trust the general, the general is a promise, so why resort to writing!" It's just that if Your Majesty and the people in the court can't see an official document, I'm afraid it will be difficult to rest assured! ”

Shi Liancheng turned to a staff officer and said, "Immediately make two documents of what I just said." The latter promised to do so. A moment later, the two documents were ready, and the staff officer picked up the two documents and walked in front of Shi Liancheng, and presented them to Shi Liancheng with both hands. Shi Liancheng took the document and read it, then handed it to Qiong Hua and said, "You see if there are any problems." Qionghua took the paperwork, read it carefully, and felt that there was no problem, so she returned it to Shi Liancheng and said, "There is no problem." Shi Liancheng put down the papers, picked up his general's seal, and stamped both documents. Then he picked up two documents and handed them to Qionghua. Qionghua took the paperwork, bowed down and said, "Thank you, general, Qionghua farewell!" Shi Liancheng nodded, "The princess is leaving, I won't send it!" The princess turned to leave, and Fan Yong bowed to Shi Liancheng and went.

Emperor Dali saw the two documents stamped with the seal of General Shi Liancheng, and couldn't help but be overjoyed, and did not dare to delay, and immediately ordered all states and counties, all passes, not to block the action of the Ming army, and to cooperate, and at the same time ordered all localities to prepare grain and grass to meet the Ming army. After this order was issued, the Dali Emperor ordered to gather all the troops in the north and east to rush to Dali City to resist the enemy's attack. However, before he finished speaking, someone came out to oppose it, and this opponent was the emperor's own uncle, who was also the Privy Council of Dali, Duan Xuan.

Duan said: "Your Majesty, if the troops from the north and east are transferred, if the Ming army makes any changes, won't the north and east fall into the hands of the enemy in an instant!" Several ministers chimed in.

When Emperor Dali heard this, he couldn't help but hesitate worriedly. Qiong Hua frowned and said, "Father, there are only tens of thousands of troops in the north and east!" If the Ming army really moved, what could these tens of thousands of troops do? In the past, we were treacherous, but the Ming army did not make trouble, which shows sincerity, how can we be treacherous now? And Shi Liancheng is a hero who will do what he says, and he will never do anything that is untrustworthy! Father, don't miss a big thing because of doubts! ”

Emperor Dali was moved by Qionghua's words, nodded and said, "What you said makes sense!" Then he ordered: "Immediately transfer back all the troops from the north and the east!" Duan Xuan and the others were very shocked, and continued to persuade bitterly. Emperor Dali was a little annoyed, and said angrily: "If you want to take ideas, you don't have ideas!" Now that I have decided, what is your intention to make a hindrance? The hearts of the people were so heavy that they didn't dare to say anything more.

Realize the transfer to the Duan Zhichun camp outside Fengyu County. The envoy sent by Duan Zhichun to lobby the guards of Fengyu County came back and reported to Duan Zhichun: "General, the other party refuses to surrender!" ”

Duan Zhichun frowned and scolded angrily: "Does he want to be happy to see our Dali army killing each other? All the cronies looked at each other, and they all felt a little strange in their hearts.

Duan Zhichun took a deep breath to calm himself. Thinking of the current situation, he couldn't help but be confused, and couldn't figure out whether his approach was right or wrong, whether he was saving Dali or harming Dali? I can't help but think of what Princess Qionghua once said, if you divide for a long time, you must be together for a long time, Dali was originally under the rule of the Central Plains Dynasty, why not return to the Central Plains Dynasty now? Duan Zhichun suddenly thought of a question, was he so desperate to resist the unification of the Ming Dynasty as he said? Or are they just excuses, the real purpose of doing this is nothing more than to maintain the ruling power of the Duan family in Dali! As for the well-being and future of the people, I don't seem to think about it! Duan Zhichun's mind was in a mess, his face was pale, and he was dripping in cold sweat. When the cronies saw that he looked different, they couldn't help but feel strange in their hearts.

Hurried footsteps were heard at the door. Duan Zhichun came back to his senses and saw that a dusty scout rushed in. He frowned, and made up his mind in his heart: "Our Duan family is Dali Zhengshuo, only by maintaining Zhengshuo, the people can have a good life, everything I do is for the people of Dali!" As soon as he thought of this, his eyes showed a determined expression.

I only listened to the scout's report: "General Qiyu, the Tianzhu army is storming Longwei Pass, and the Bagan army has broken through Zhao Yancheng and is forcibly crossing the Erhai Sea!" Here is a brief description of the terrain around Dali, Dali City is located under Cangshan Mountain, on the shore of Erhai Lake, located in the east of Cangshan Mountain and the west of Erhai Lake; Dozens of miles away from the south of Dali City, the Erhai Sea vein and the remaining vein of Diancang Mountain merge, leaving only a narrow and dangerous passage, Longwei Pass is located in this convergence place, this is the only way to enter the range of Dali City from the south; Fengyu County is located in the mountains and mountains in the north of Diancang Mountain, and it is the only way to enter the scope of Dali City from the north. Longwei Pass and Fengyu County are the only way to enter the range of Dali City on the road, if you stagger these two directions, there are only two ways to enter the range of Dali City, one is to cross the steep Diancang Mountains from the west, and the other way is to cross the Erhai Sea from the east and directly attack Dali City across the sea. The current situation is that Duan Zhichun's 80,000 troops are pressing Fengyu County, Tianzhu's nearly 500,000 troops are storming Longwei Pass, and Bagan's army is trying to storm Dali City across the sea after breaking through Zhao Yan City.

Duan Zhichun frowned and muttered, "If they break through Dali City first, the consequences will be really unimaginable!" Then he asked the scout, "What is the current situation in the various places?" ”

The scout replied: "The Tianzhu army was blocked at Longwei Pass, and the losses were not small in a few days. Bagan attacked several times across the sea, but the armament Erhai army was repulsed and there was no progress. ”

Duan Zhichun relaxed slightly, then frowned, and said categorically: "I must hurry up, time is not waiting for me!" At this point, the order was immediately sent down, so that all armies could prepare and attack Fengyu County early tomorrow morning. Duan Zhichun felt that he had no choice.

Early the next morning, the army under Duan Zhichun poured out and pounced on Fengyu County, and the offensive and defensive battle of Fengyu County kicked off. At this point, the three directions around Dali City have fallen into a fierce battle, and the situation is precarious for Dali!

Emperor Dali was worried about the constant receipt of bad reports from the front, and the only consolation was that the enemy onslaught had been resisted in all three directions, and so far the enemy had not broken through the defensive line. However, the enemy's forces were huge, the offensive was fierce, and the momentum was like a rainbow, while their morale was low and their troops were outnumbered, although they temporarily blocked the enemy by virtue of their geographical advantages, but if the war continued in this way, sooner or later the enemy would break through the defensive line.

Emperor Dali summoned Fan Yong many times a day to ask about the progress of the Ming Army, and in the emperor's heart, the Ming Army seemed to have become his only savior. However, every time he summoned Fan Yong, the answer he got was that "the army is being assembled and will arrive soon", and Emperor Dali was disappointed every time, but he felt that hope was in front of him.

On this day, Emperor Dali summoned Fan Yong again to ask about the progress of the Ming army, and Fan Yong still replied as before: "The army is about to arrive, Your Majesty should not be impatient!" Emperor Dali couldn't help but get angry, and said angrily: "Your envoy says that the army is about to arrive every time, but so many days have passed, why is there no news at all?" Fan Yong smiled: "Your Majesty, don't be impatient!" I think our army is already in the vicinity and is about to attack! The reason why we haven't gotten the news yet is because the enemy army is surrounded on three sides, and it is difficult for the news to come in! Emperor Dali felt that Fan Yong was reasonable, and then thought about the current situation, and he had no choice, so he could only hope that the Ming army could arrive in time to defeat the enemy.

Fan Yong came out of the palace and got into a carriage to go back to the post house to rest.

The carriage started, but stopped shortly after walking. Fan Yongzheng felt strange, and only heard the entourage driving the car say, "My lord, it's Princess Qionghua." ”

Fan Yong's heart moved, he opened the car curtain, and sure enough, he saw Princess Qionghua's frame blocking in front of him on the street, the car curtain was opened, and Princess Qionghua's beautiful face was revealed. Xiu's eyebrows were furrowed, looking a little annoyed. Fan Yong hugged his fists and said, "Her Royal Highness the Princess!" Princess Qionghua said: "I have something to ask you, you come with me!" Immediately, regardless of whether Fan Yong agreed or not, he lowered the car curtain. The carriage turned in one direction and headed towards the princess's mansion. Fan Yong felt that it was difficult to refuse, so he ordered his entourage to follow by car.

Two carriages came to the gate of the princess's mansion one after the other. Fan Yong got out of the carriage, saw Princess Qionghua, hugged his fists and asked, "I don't know what Her Royal Highness the princess has to say?" Princess Qionghua glanced at Fan Yong with a strange expression and said, "Go in and talk." Then he walked into the door first, and Fan Yong followed.

After a few moments, the two of them came to the top of the hall and sat down as guests. The maid brought tea, and Princess Qionghua said to the maids, "You all stand down!" The maids answered and withdrew. In an instant, there were only two people left in the hall, Princess Qionghua and Fan Yong. Fan Yong picked up the tea bowl and drank the tea, guessing in his heart the intentions of Her Royal Highness the princess.

Princess Qionghua asked angrily, "Honestly, what are you talking about?" ”

Fan Yong put down the tea bowl and said with a smile: "Why did Her Royal Highness the princess say this?" Doesn't Her Royal Highness know our intentions? We're here to help Dali! ”

Princess Qionghua snorted and said angrily: "Do you think I will believe this?" Tianzhu and Bagan came to annex our Dali, and the same is true of Daming, but the means are much more clever! ”

Fan Yong remained silent and asked with a smile: "Since Her Royal Highness the princess thinks so, why did she want to promote the reconciliation and alliance between Dali and my Daming?" ”

Princess Qionghua glanced at Fan Yong, turned her head to look at the ceiling, sighed, and said, "The era of Dali is over, I hope that Dali can finally return to the embrace of the Central Plains Dynasty instead of being ruled by a foreign race!" Fan Yong couldn't help but be in awe, and hugged his fists and said: "Her Royal Highness the princess has such a mind, which is really commendable!" ”

Princess Qionghua looked at the reverse of the west, and said angrily: "But you are playing tricks!" ”

Fan Yong snorted and said, "The princess's words really make me scratch my head!" ”

Qiong Hua snorted coldly and asked, "Let me ask you, why didn't you come to the rescue this time?" ”

Fan Yong said: "The road is rugged and long, and the army has a large number of heavy materials, so it is impossible to be fast. I understand Her Royal Highness's feelings, but this kind of thing can't be rushed! ”

Qiong Hua said: "Don't think I don't understand military affairs!" It is only more than 200 miles from Shanxian Mansion and Huichuan Mansion to Dali, so many days, not to mention the Ming Army, which has always been known as the division of tigers and wolves, even other armies have already arrived. What's more, the Ming War Cavalry moves like thunder, if you intend to rescue, the War Cavalry Force has appeared on the battlefield many days ago! ”

Fan Yong smiled bitterly: "Her Royal Highness the princess is going to say this, and I don't know how to explain it." ”

Qiong Hua said: "You don't plan to rescue at all, am I right?" ”

Fan Yong shook his head and said, "There is no such thing!" ”

Qiong Hua said: "You want our Dali army to be exhausted in such a big battle, so that you can unify Dali in one fell swoop in the future so as not to encounter obstacles!" At the same time, it is also the use of the Dali army to consume the living force of the Tianzhu people and the Bagan people and dampen their spirit! Kill two birds with one stone, you guys are really calculating! ”

Fan Yong didn't speak, and couldn't help admiring Qionghua in his heart: "The monarchs and ministers of Dali are all rice buckets, but I didn't expect that Her Royal Highness the princess was so wise that she actually saw the plan of Your Majesty and the general. She wasn't entirely right, but that's pretty much it. But things have developed to this point, even if she reports this matter to Emperor Dali, it will be useless! Sue for peace with the coalition forces? Even if it were possible, the strength of both of them would be almost exhausted! ’

Qiong Hua saw Fan Yong's expression in her eyes, sighed, and said, "It seems that I guessed correctly!" ”

Fan Yong asked, "What is the princess going to do?" ”

Qiong Hua smiled bitterly: "What else can I do? In fact, Dali has long had no choice! ”

After all, what happens next, let's see how it will be broken down next time.