The Chu army stopped attacking, and this loud bang of heaven and earth took the lives of nearly 10,000 people, and the remaining 40,000 troops were blocked in the mouth of the gourd.

Zhao Lanjiang single-handedly cut off one of the two roads between Daming and Western Chu.

Zhao Lanjiang fell above the city, and the eagle circled a few times at low altitude, as if reminding Zhao Lanjiang not to break his promise, and only flew into the distance after Zhao Lanjiang gave a promise.

He said to Dong Dayou, "My task has been completed, and it's up to you next." ”

After the Chu army rested a little, they launched a crazy offensive to the east pass, the back road was blocked, and the Chu army fought against the water, if they wanted to survive, they had to rush out of a way to live. Dong Dayou is worthy of being the general of the northern front, and he commanded calmly and unhurriedly, and all kinds of means were used to defeat wave after wave of attacks of the Chu army.

On the second day, the offensive gradually weakened, Dong Dayou did not dare to be sloppy at all, day and night, personally supervised the battle, and on the third day, the offensive of the Chu army stopped.

The reason is simple, water is exhausted.

Zhao Lanjiang and Dong Dayou were supervising the battle at the head of the city, and suddenly someone shouted, "The Chu army has surrendered!" Everyone looked at it smoothly, only to see that among the Chu army, a team of men and horses came out, erected a white flag, and came to the pass without a blade.

"Will there be fraud?" said Dong Dayou.

Zhao Lanjiang had a lot of dealings with the Chu people, and the soldiers of the Chu State would rather die in battle than surrender, they believed that after dying in battle, the soul would return to the immortal heaven, and those who surrendered, after death, would enter the path of hungry ghosts.

The one who came said, "Speak, the one who is in charge of your affairs." ”

Dong Dayou said, "General Zhao, you can go." ”

This is the Hulukou front, although Zhao Lanjiang has a tiger festival, but due to the relationship between Yuwen Tianlu and the inconvenient identity, he was about to resign, and the other party said, "I am the special envoy of General Husai, and I was ordered to surrender to the city lord." ”

The other party said that it was the city lord of Zhao, not General Zhao, nor General Dong, which was very knowledgeable. How could Zhao Lanjiang not understand the reason, and said: "In Xia Zhao Lanjiang, he was a guerrilla general of the Fengzi Battalion of the Western Army, please tell me if you have something." ”

The envoy said, "General Husai admires the general very much, and specially invites the city lord of Zhao to go to the camp to discuss the surrender!"

The rest of the people stopped drinking, Zhao Lanjiang didn't want to think about it, jumped down from the top of the city three or four zhang high, and came to the envoy of Xichu, "Please lead the way." ”

The envoy didn't expect that Zhao Lanjiang would agree so happily, but when he remembered the scene when he fell from the sky, he was greatly impressed.

Wearing armor, Zhao Lanjiang followed the envoy to the Chu camp, and along the way, he saw that the Chu army was exhausted, obviously cutting off the water source, which had a great impact on their combat effectiveness.

Zhao Lanjiang came to the camp tent, saw the general of the Chu army, and said, "It's you?"

The general of the Chu army landed on one knee and saluted to Zhao Lanjiang, "Lai Ridan, the scout of the Fengzi battalion of the Western Army, see Zhao Guerrilla!"

Zhao Lanjiang didn't expect that Lai Ridan, who fought side by side with him that day, was actually a spy of Xichu, no wonder the other party would capture the gourd mouth and waist again and again, if he didn't break the Wolong Stone, I'm afraid it won't be long before the gourd mouth will be captured by him.

Zhao Lanjiang frowned and said, "Lai Ridan, are you from Western Chu?"

Lai Ridan said respectfully, "I was originally a nobleman of Great Chu, many years ago I was ordered to infiltrate the Western Army to spy on the military situation, and after my father helped the new emperor ascend the throne last year, I returned to Great Chu, and now I am recruiting generals." ”

Zhao Lanjiang suddenly felt in his heart, he heard Lei Zhenyu say that Lai Ridan was not doing well in the Western Army, and he offended his boss and was assigned to the West Eleventh Guard, guarding the gourd mouth, it seems that he did it, last year, Lai Ridan suddenly disappeared, and he took the opportunity to return to Xichu.

With his level, he is very familiar with the military deployment, guards, and grain and grass baggage in Hulukou, and it is indeed a wise move for Xichu to let him be a recruiting general. No wonder Dong Dayou said that the other party is very familiar with his own troop routines and troop deployment, and if he hadn't cut off the gourd mouth, the outcome would have been undecided.

After saluting, Lai Ridan got up and said, "I officially surrender to the City Lord of Zhao with General Da Chu ten points, but there are three conditions. ”

Zhao Lanjiang asked, "Speak." ”

"First, we must not abuse or kill prisoners indiscriminately; second, we must designate an area to house us and ensure the supply of materials; third, if you intend to return to Chu, please let them go unconditionally. ”

Zhao Lanjiang understands that brotherly feelings belong to feelings, he is now the leader of the Western Army, every word and deed, on behalf of the Western Army, now that the defeat of Western Chu has been decided, even if they don't surrender, they will only have the right to be killed, where are they qualified to negotiate conditions?

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I also have three conditions, first, remove the sword and axe hand hidden in the shadows, I don't want to kill again." ”

Lai Ridan's face was ashamed when he heard this, and he waved his hand behind the screen, and dozens of shadows fled.

Zhao Lanjiang said again, "Second, 30,000 captives, I can let you go, but I want your Western Chu Imperial Court to take nine million taels of silver to ransom." ”

"And the third?"

Zhao Lanjiang said coldly, "Third, in this big battle, Lao Jiu, Lao He, and Huzi of our Fengzi Battalion died for the country, and I want you to commit suicide in front of their clothes and graves." ”

"We are just our own masters. ”

Zhao Lanjiang understood, however, he didn't rub sand in his eyes, he was betrayed by his brother, and he brutalized his robe, he couldn't bear this kind of thing.

"This is the bottom line of surrender!" Zhao Lanjiang said, "If you don't want to bury the bones of 30,000 Western Chu soldiers in another country, then make a choice." ”

He said word by word, "Believe me, I'm the best at killing people." ”

Of course, Lai Ridan believed that his title of the wolf of Hengduan Mountain was not self-proclaimed, but was built with the bones and heads of countless generals in Western Chu. He is a nobleman of the Chu State, for the interests of the country, he has been lurking for ten years, if it weren't for Zhao Lanjiang, he could have captured Hulukou and established a prominent feat, but everything has come to naught.

Lai Ridan said, "I used 10 million taels of silver to buy my life." ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Don't talk about it." ”

"Then you're not afraid that I will lead the army to fight to the death and fight to the death?"

Zhao Lanjiang smiled, "If you are a warrior of Western Chu, you will naturally regard honor as more important than your life, and it is better to die in battle than to be captured." If you are a scout of the Western Army, you will naturally know the weight of the four words "Nine Deaths and No Regrets". ”

Lai Ridan sat down on the chair and said, "I'll think about it, and I'll give you an answer before tomorrow!"

Zhao Lanjiang turned and left.

The generals of Western Chu watched him all the way, and there were many discussions, but no one dared to stop him.

Back in the city, Dong Dayou stepped forward and asked, "How was the talk?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Prepare for battle." ”

Needless to say, Dong Dayou knew that this battle would undoubtedly be fought. He hurriedly gave the order and ordered the soldiers to take turns to rest and recuperate, maintain their strength, and prepare for a fierce battle. Now that the Chu army is out of water, as long as it lasts for two days, Western Chu will be defeated.

At sunset.

The envoy of Xichu came to negotiate again, holding a box in his arms, and said at the head of the city, "I am the envoy of Xichu, and I am ordered to come and surrender!"

The box was delivered, Dong Dayou opened it, and was stunned.

Lai Ridan's head was lying in the box, and the blood stains had not dried. There is also a letter on it, which reads, "Lai Ridan lives up to the general's cultivation heart, and hopes that General Zhao will keep his promise and die without regrets!"

Zhao Lanjiang looked at Lai Ridan's blood book, and his heart was heavy.

He remembered that when Lai Ridan first joined the Western Army, his personality was very weak, and many people made fun of him because he was of Hu blood, Zhao Lanjiang was still ten people at that time, and every time he was bullied, Zhao Lanjiang would come forward to ask for an explanation, so he did not fight with others.

Fortunately, Lai Ridan was also willing to make progress, and learned a lot of killing skills from Zhao Lanjiang, and gradually became a scout who came out of his own way. But he didn't expect that Lai Ridan was actually a nobleman of Western Chu. The young man who followed his ass that day became the enemy general who killed countless Western Army.

Zhao Lanjiang is a person who misses the old, and when he saw that he had been ambushed, he said, "Be kind to what is behind him, and send his body back to Xichu." ”

The Western Chu Army, which was trapped in Hulukou, officially surrendered to the Western Army of the Ming Dynasty.

In this battle, 30,000 Western Chu troops were eliminated and 20,000 were captured, which is known as the great victory of Hulukou in history. However, the Western Army of the Ming Dynasty suffered heavy casualties at this station, losing nearly 20,000 people, plus the loss of the Ming Army on the first line, the entire Western Army of 100,000 troops, lost nearly half.

However, this battle greatly damaged the vitality of the Chu State, and the losses of the Northern Zhou army were even worse.

When the results of the war reached the capital, the government and the opposition were shocked.

At the time of Yuwen Tianlu's treason, Zhao Lanjiang and his party turned the tide and successfully reversed the situation of the war in Western Xinjiang, and the streets and alleys were talking about this war.

In this battle, Zhao Lanjiang became famous and became a rising star of the Ming Dynasty!

......

Light snow.

Light snow fell at the mouth of the gourd.

The remnants of the Western Chu army had already disarmed, and under the guard of the crossbow archers, they lined up and walked out of the gourd, their faces expressionless, like walking corpses.

An escorted expeditionary army saw a middle-level general of the Chu State in the crowd, and was furious, and he drew his sword and was about to rush over, "Return my brother!"

The middle-level general looked at him indifferently.

The young soldier raised his knife and slashed, but was stopped by one of them, "Stop!" Seeing this, the soldier hurriedly stopped, threw the long knife on the ground, and cried silently, "General Zhao." ”

Zhao Lanjiang picked up the long knife, stuffed it into his hand, patted him on the shoulder, and said: "As a soldier, you must learn to use the knife in your hand to protect your family and country, instead of killing defenseless people." ”

"But they are Chu people!"

Zhao Baojiang said, "The general of the defeated army." ”

A military general pulled the man back, "The subordinates are not strict with the law, and I ask the general to punish him." Zhao Lanjiang waved his hand and said, "Take them to the prisoner of war camp." ”

Zhao Lanjiang walked along the mouth of the gourd, and suddenly saw a familiar face, this person was lying on a stretcher, his knee was seriously injured, and he was carried by two Western Chu soldiers. The man said, "Let me go, and kill me instead of surrendering to the thief." ”

It was the scout named Tang Prophet he met halfway up the mountain a few days ago. On that day, he was subdued by Zhao Lanjiang, but this scout risked his life to attract the shadow of Xichu and create some small troubles for him. Later, he jumped off the cliff with the flag, but he didn't expect to fall from such a high place and actually picked up a life.

Zhao Lanjiang came to his side, "Do you remember me?"

Seeing this, Scout Tang Prophet spat a mouthful of saliva, and under the serious injury, he deviated his head a little, he raised his head and said, "Are you Zhao Lanjiang?"

"Exactly!"

"You'd better kill me, or I'll kill you in the future. ”

The accompanying general drew his sword and wanted to kill this person, but was stopped by Zhao Lanjiang. Zhao Lanjiang saw that there was a stubbornness in his eyes, and his expression was quite similar to that of himself back then, and he said with a smile, "I promise you generals that you will not kill prisoners of war, and after you recover from your injuries, you will come to Yinyang to seek revenge on me at any time." Then he commanded, "Heal his wounds." ”

......

The POW camp was built ten miles north of the West Eleventh Guard, a basin full of stones. Dong Dayou ordered people to take local materials, built a prisoner of war camp, put 30,000 prisoners in it, and set up heavy guards around it, he learned the lesson of the siege of the city, and set up a tung oil warehouse at the entrance. If there is a mutiny, just release the tung oil, and a fire can trap everyone in it.

The envoy of the Ming Dynasty has gone to Western Chu to discuss the redemption of prisoners of war. However, this battle had already emptied the treasury of Western Chu, and the Chu court was unable to pay the ransom.

The main battle faction that had previously supported Chu Bieli was besieged by the new nobles by taking advantage of the situation, and they took the opportunity to force Chu Bieli to remove several generals who had previously supported him on the throne, and the entire Western Chu court set off an inner court storm.

It is said that the daily court and political deliberations, in the Xijing Palace, are in chaos, at first it is still to refer to Sang and scold Huai, and then directly tear the skin, and some people even throw shoes at political enemies in front of Chu Bieli in the court.

Chu Bieli originally came to power with the support of the main battle forces, but after this war, the old aristocratic forces gained the upper hand again, and there was a mess inside.

The ransom did not wait to come back.

What Zhao Lanjiang waited for was an expulsion order. The expulsion order was issued by the Great Chu royal family, to the effect that the Great Chu army was strong and strong, and the soldiers regarded death as home, and the 30,000 Chu troops surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, desecrating the immortal heaven, and after death, they will fall into hell and reincarnation, and they will not be able to live forever. The Great Chu State no longer recognized the identity of the Chu State of these 30,000 captives.

When the news reached the prisoner of war camp, there was an uproar.

One general took the opportunity to incite hundreds of people to launch a rebellion, and was shot into a hedgehog by Dong Dayou's random arrows, and more people slowly accepted the facts, and they began to become depressed after losing their faith.

On the other hand, the Western Army encountered greater pressure.

They were seriously short of food rations, and asked the imperial court for food, but they were refused. In the matter of prisoners of war, Zhao Lanjiang asked the capital to deal with it, and the Ministry of War replied to make its own decision.

"30,000 captives, that's 30,000 mouths!"

Dong Dayou said worriedly, "Even if the minimum ration is guaranteed, two or two meters a day, it can still support two months, but the winter will be."

If this continues, I am afraid that by the beginning of spring next year, there will be few survivors left. ”

"What do you mean?"

Dong Dayou said, "Kill it." Keeping it is also a burden for my Western Army!"

Zhao Lanjiang hesitated.

"As soon as you give the order, tonight, I will poison their rations, and when the attack is on, I will burn the prisoner of war camp to ashes. ”

Zhao Lanjiang shook his head, "I promised Lai Ridan." ”

"I understand the situation of the generals, but the promise is one thing, the reality is another. If it is inconvenient for the general to make a decision, I will help you bear this charge. ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Let me think about it for a few days." ”

Dong Dayou said, "I heard that the master of ceremonies, Gao Yuangao's father-in-law, has set off and is about to arrive in Yinyang City. According to the grapevine, His Majesty is ready to make you the Governor of the Western Army. ”

Zhao Lanjiang didn't care about the reward, he cared about the lives of 30,000 prisoners of war. He also understood that killing these 30,000 people was the wisest choice.

However, if he ordered to kill 30,000 prisoners, what was the difference between himself and Yuwen Tianlu back then?

As the only surviving person in Dingzhou City, he only has two wishes in this life, one is to kill the enemy to serve the country, and the other is to kill Yuwen Tianlu to take revenge.

Yuwen Tianlu is dead, not dead at his hands. On the contrary, before he died, he handed over all the power in the light and darkness in his hands to Zhao Lanjiang.

Do you really want to live step by step to become the person you hate the most?

Zhao Lanjiang decided to go back to Yinyang City.

When entering the city, the entire Hidden Yang City set out to welcome the great hero of the Hidden Yang City, the new city lord of this city, back to the city.

Zhao Lanjiang not only killed Tuoba invincible, but also saved Yinyang from danger. With the power of one person, the Western Chu army was trapped in Hulukou, and this matter has already been compiled into a script and recited in the community. He has become the new symbol of Hidden Sun City, just as the Golden Sword King inherited back then.

The Golden Sword King retired successfully, and the story of Zhao Lanjiang has just begun.

However, Zhao Lanjiang was not happy, and sat in the city lord's mansion with a sad brow.

Li Chengcheng did not go to Hulukou, but he had heard about what happened during this period, and he knew no less about Zhao Lanjiang than Xiao Jinyan, so he naturally knew what he was thinking.

In the first battle of Yinyang City, Li Chengcheng and Zhao Lanjiang fought side by side, and deeply felt the cruelty of the war, which was something that he could not understand when he was a son-in-law in Jinling City.

The dispute between the rivers and lakes is, after all, nothing more than a dispute of grievances.

Wars between countries can best temper people's will.

He was glad that he didn't have to sit in the position of the city lord and face such a dilemma. After this battle, Zhao Lanjiang will definitely stay in Yinyang City, while Li Chengcheng will miss Jiangnan a little.

Li Chengcheng handed over a pot of wine, and Zhao Lanjiang took it over and drank it all.

"What should I do?"

Li Chengcheng said lightly, "The Zhao Lanjiang I know has always been quick to enmity and hatred, when did he do things so indecisively?"

Zhao Lanjiang didn't have a good breath and said, "Standing and talking doesn't hurt my back, the lives of 30,000 people, just in my thoughts, I would rather ride a horse and hold a knife and fight on the battlefield than be embarrassed here." Alas, it would be nice if Lao Xiao was here. ”

Li Chengcheng said, "You already have a decision in your heart, don't you?"

Zhao Lanjiang liked Li Tingcheng more and more, he reached out and grabbed Li Tingcheng's shoulder, "Good brother, stay and help me." ”

Li Tingcheng felt very awkward and pushed him away.

"As soon as this matter is over, I will go back to Jiangnan. Next year, it will be the tenth year of the Jinling Li family to worship their ancestors, and according to the ancestral system, I will go back to inherit the family's wealth. ”

"I'm afraid you're going to go back to our little master, right?"

Li Tingcheng's face turned red, "Get out." ”

"Don't think I don't know, except for the days when the city was besieged, every once in a while, you would use the Tongyi to send letters to Jiangnan, I don't believe it, it was written by you to your father. ”

"How do you know?"

Zhao Lanjiang laughed and said, "Because, I am the Lord of Hidden Yang City!"

Li Chengcheng changed the topic repeatedly, "Those prisoners of war, what have you thought about how to deal with them?"

Zhao Lanjiang said: "I think there is already an answer." ”

Seeing his firm expression, Li Chengcheng had already guessed and asked, "You're not afraid of destroying your future?"

Zhao Lanjiang said with a solemn face, "The future is fought with your own life, not with other people's lives." My choice is borne by one person. ”

"It's a little silly, but I like it." ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I'm not interested in sissy!"

Bang!

The roof of the city lord's room collapsed.

Li Tingcheng and Zhao Lanjiang are no longer Wuxia Ameng, as soon as the two of them moved, the ground shook and the mountains shook, and Li Tingcheng's sword became a demolition brigade.

"This pavilion is worth 30,000 taels!"

Li Chengcheng was unrelenting, and the long sword was in hot pursuit, "Lao Tzu compensates!"

Rumble!

"This is a thing of the Tang Dynasty! 100,000 taels!"

"Lao Tzu pays!"

Rumble!

Another rockery was cut off by Li Chengcheng.

"This is a stone from the Qing Dynasty, an antique!"

Li Tingcheng scolded, "When I haven't read a book, fuck off!"

After the two martial arts entered the Tongxiang, their skills increased greatly, and in an instant, the city lord's mansion chickens flew and dogs jumped, and someone escorted to investigate, but was stopped outside the door by Zhao Lanjiang.

When they went with each other last year, Zhao Lanjiang, Li Tingcheng, and Xiao Jinyan often practiced martial arts together, and now that Xiao Jinyan went to Xichu, he and Li Tingcheng hadn't fought so happily for a long time.

For a long time, the two were exhausted.

"You're not my opponent!" Li said.

"If I use the knife technique to kill Li Xiancheng, how sure do you think I can block a few knives?"

Li Chengcheng knew that if this was the case, I was afraid that he would not be able to stop it with a single sword, but it was limited to Hidden Yang City, but he refused to admit defeat, "It's okay to win." ”

Zhao Lanjiang sat on the ground and said, "God of Wealth, this one has a total of 800,000 taels of silver." Would you rather have a cash or a silver ticket?"

"So expensive?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "If you don't rub oil from Xi Chu, you have to let the world's rich in the future break the bank, but there is really no, make an IOU." Don't say you're in debt!"

Li Chengcheng took the pen and ink.

Zhao Lanjiang said, "You should write two, one for 100,000 yuan, which belongs to me." The other is 700,000, which is considered to be from Hidden Sun City. ”

"Is there a difference?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Of course there is a difference. ”

Li Chengcheng wrote two IOUs, "If you have the ability, come to Jinling to get it yourself." ”

At this time, someone outside the gate came to report, "City Lord, the city gate has been spread that the master of ceremonies has arrived outside the city gate." ”

Zhao Yanjiang said, "So fast?"

Zhao Lanjiang put on his armor and came to the city gate with Li Chengcheng, Li Xianzhong and others, and was shocked by this momentum.

The eunuch who delivered the decree represented the Son of Heaven in person, and was generally equipped with sixty-four Praetorian Guards and five hundred soldiers and horses to escort him.

Where is this reward, the entire Ming Dynasty, only the feudal king, can have such an honor!

Zhao Lanjiang is a rough person, and he doesn't understand the joints. Fortunately, the accompanying people, officials of the Ministry of Etiquette, came to the city gate in advance and performed a salute with him, how to arrange accommodation, how to greet him, how to salute, etc., and talked for nearly an hour in one breath.

Zhao Lanjiang was tired of hearing this, and directly interrupted, "Where is there so much nonsense, just go out to greet it!"

The official of the Ministry of Rites was shocked, "Don't do it, it's so rude that it hits the face of the Son of Heaven!"

Zhao Lanjiang glared, "You are so polite, I still have 30,000 Chu troops over there, you go and reason with them, see if they will eat you raw?"

Frightened, the officials of the Ministry of Rites hurriedly silenced.

Zhao Lanjiang led people to ride to the front of the chariot and shouted, "Which one is Gonggong Gao?"

A middle-aged eunuch with a powdered face said in a sharp voice, "Our family is!"

Zhao Lanjiang laughed, "Let's go, let's drink!"

stepped forward and grabbed Gonggong Gao and pulled him on his horseback, and the rest of the people were shocked, the capital passed the decree, and they had never seen such a reckless person. Zhao Lanjiang said to the rest of the people, "Why are you still stunned, greet guests!"

After that, shoot the horse and gallop.

Gao Gonggong's face was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he went straight into the city lord's mansion, Zhao Lanjiang helped Gao Gonggong off the horse, and Gao Gonggong rode a horse for the first time, and blisters appeared on the inner thighs, and he walked a little unnaturally.

Zhao Lanjiang smiled and asked, "What's the matter, some eggs hurt?"

When Gonggong Gao heard this, his face was displeased, and he raised his shelf and said, "What's the matter, General Zhao, are you laughing at our family?"

Zhao Lanjiang scratched his head, "I forgot, you didn't." ”

He turned around and shouted, "Is the banquet ready, is the room ready?"

Zhao Lanjiang took his father-in-law to a room and said, "It's a little shabby here, father-in-law will rest for a while, let's drink!"

After that, he left his father-in-law alone in the house and left.

Gao Gonggong was very angry, he went out of the palace to pass the decree, and when he got there, he was not sent from afar, but this kid didn't understand etiquette, and he made up his mind that after returning to the capital, he would give him a small shoe in front of the emperor.

Suddenly, Zhao Lanjiang pushed the door and said, "Forget, father-in-law should be careful." I was fighting with a friend just now, and this house is a little unstable. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a bang. The entire roof collapsed and fell diagonally to the ground, and Gao Gonggong was very frightened.

Zhao Lanjiang said: "Do you want to change places?"

Gao Gong said, "No need, it's cool at night." Two more quilts!"

The dinner party did not eat, Zhao Lanjiang sent a pot of boiled potatoes, not even salt, the taste is simply difficult to swallow, Zhao Lanjiang also said that just after the war, the city is short of supplies, he took out his rations to honor Gao Gonggong.

This reward, the emperor's grace is immense.

Gao Yuan took this errand and came to Yinyang thousands of miles away, thinking that he would take the opportunity to get some oil and water, so he also specially told the officials of the Ministry of Rites to ask him to hint to Zhao Lanjiang that this reward was not ordinary, so that Zhao Lanjiang was ready for favors, who expected that not only did he not have hot soup and hot rice, but he didn't even have decent food, and he was angry.

Nothing was said all night.

The next day, the Praetorian Guard led by Gao Yuan entered the city, and he had the appearance of sending an edict, put up a shelf, and summoned everyone in the council hall of the city lord's mansion.

Gao Yuan said, "Guerrilla Zhao, this time our family left the capital and brought two holy decrees, I don't know which one you want to hear?"

He did not call Zhao Lanjiang the lord of Zhao City or General Zhao, but became a guerrilla of Zhao, apparently implying that Zhao Lanjiang was nothing more than a guerrilla general in the Western Army.

Zhao Yanjiang said, "Look at my father-in-law's mood." ”

"What do you want to do with the 30,000 Chu army prisoners of war?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone held their breath and looked at Zhao Lanjiang, and the entire conference hall could be heard.

Dong Dayou winked at him.

Li Tingcheng also listened with pricked ears.

Zhao Baojiang said, "Father-in-law, can you take a step to speak?"

The two came to the side hall, and Zhao Lanjiang said, "My father-in-law has something to say, and I am stupid, and I hope that my father-in-law will give me some advice." ”

With that, he took out an envelope from his bosom and handed it over. "It's just 100,000 taels, it's not a tribute. ”

Gao Yuan sneered in his heart, Zhao Lanjiang, Zhao Lanjiang, I was so arrogant yesterday, and I still showed a fox's tail when I said it today, but for the sake of you being sensible, let's help you a little. It just so happened that she recently raised a relative outside the palace, and she could use this money to help her redeem herself.

He stretched out two fingers without any fireworks, pinched the envelope, put it in his arms, cleared his throat, and said sharply, "Does City Lord Zhao know that you reported to the capital, why did the military department let you make your own decision?"

After receiving the money, even the title has changed.

Zhao Lanjiang shook his head.

"This is Your Majesty testing you!" Gao Yuan said, "It's not a secret, these three prisoners of war, killing is a will, not killing is a will, although they are all rewards, but the content is very different!"

"What if you kill, what if you don't?"

Gao Yuan said, "I've said enough. ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Now I am searching for land, and filial piety will be sent to the Gao Gonggong Mansion later!"

Gao Yuan said, "If you kill it, isn't the position of the governor of the Western Army vacant? Your Majesty has kept it, and it is ready for you." ”

"What if you don't kill it?"

"Don't kill?" Gao Yuan said, "You can take care of the one-acre and three-point land in this Hidden Yang City." ”

The two returned to the hall.

Gao Yuan said, "City Lord Zhao, have you made a decision?"

Zhao Lanjiang has already made a decision, and said: "In the first battle of Western Xinjiang, my Ming Kingdom is full of military might, the battle situation has been decided, and it is urgent to recuperate. Of these 30,000 captives, I am ready to stay in the western Xinjiang and cultivate the wasteland. ”

Gao Yuan didn't expect that after a few clicks, Zhao Lanjiang still said such words, and he said coldly, "If you do this, I'm afraid it will damage the prestige of my Heavenly Empire!"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "The power of the Son of Heaven does not lie in martial arts, but in educating all the people with virtue, these people have been expelled by Western Chu, if they can be tamed and become the people of the Ming Dynasty, they can show the prestige of our Heavenly Dynasty and lead the people to naturalize!"

These words were impeccable, there was no ink in his stomach, but fortunately, he used a knife yesterday to force Chai Gongwang to stay awake all night, and Chai Gongwang held back this remark.

"Good! good!"

Gao Yuan said three good words in a row before he said, "Zhao Lanjiang listens to the order!"

Everyone got up one after another, and Zhao Lanjiang bowed on the ground together, Gao Yuan ordered someone to take the holy decree, opened the reading, "Fengtian carrier, the emperor said, the Northern Zhou, Western Chu battle, Zhao Gong blocked the river, high merit and hard work, and stabilized the war situation in Western Xinjiang, specially named the city lord of Yinyang, and the imperial gift brought a golden knife into the palace." Chin!"

When everyone heard this, they were upset.

Pacifying the war situation in Western Xinjiang can be described as a monstrous achievement, but in the end, it only recognized the status of the city lord of Yinyang that Zhao Lanjiang had already achieved, although there was still a golden knife into the palace, but it was more of an honor, without any substantive power.

Zhao Lanjiang's face was calm, the moment he made his choice, he already knew the ending, he accepted the order, kowtowed three times, "The minister receives the order!"

Gao Yuan sighed and said, "It's not worth it, it's not worth it." Originally, he was a king of the Hidden Sun and the governor of the Western Army, but in the end, he couldn't leave anything behind. ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "It's worth it!"

Gao Yuan said again, "You come here with your ears, Your Majesty still has a secret decree with you." ”

Zhao Lanjiang leaned over, Gao Yuan told him in his ear, Zhao Lanjiang's face changed suddenly, he took a few steps back, trembling all over, holding back his anger, and did not make a sound.

In this battle, everyone in the Western Army had another reward, and there were other people who announced the decree on their behalf, and Gao Yuan finished the decree, and he was not willing to stay for a long time, thinking that Zhao Lanjiang's filial piety was estimated to be no longer playful, so he hurriedly left with everyone.

However, this trip did not go out in vain, and he finally received 100,000 taels of silver from Zhao Lanjiang, he took out the envelope from his arms, opened it, and almost vomited blood.

"There is a special basis for Jinling Li Chengcheng to owe Zhao Lanjiang 100,000 taels of silver. Days. ”

......

Although he did not become the king of Yinyang, he finally made the imperial court recognize the status of the lord of Yinyang City of Zhao Lanjiang, and retained the right of autonomy, and the imperial court will no longer set up a prefect yamen here.

The battle was won, and there was a sense of joy in Yinyang City. The matter of the imperial court sealing Zhao Lanjiang as the city lord has spread all over Yinyang, and Chai Gongwang was also ordered to begin to prepare for the ceremony of the city lord of Zhao Lanjiang.

Hidden Yang City Head.

Zhao Lanjiang and Li Chengcheng stood on the city wall, watching the sun set.

Li Qingcheng said, "I heard Gao Yuan's words. ”

Zhao Lanjiang was shocked.

Li Chengcheng's martial arts entered the Tongxiang, and this kind of words naturally couldn't escape his ears, "What are you going to do?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I don't know. ”

Li Chengcheng said, "She is Lao Xiao's confidante, if you really follow the emperor's order to hunt down and kill Yu Wenshuang, I'm afraid that in the future, you and Lao Xiao won't even be brothers." Not to mention ......"

"Although Yuwen Tianlu is your enemy, when he is dying, he can be regarded as a favor with you, and he will hand over all the power in his hands to you, you have achieved today, he can also be regarded as a favor to you, if you do something unfavorable to his daughter, how can you pass the threshold of your conscience?"

"There are so many masters in the whole world, why did he let you do it? Have you ever considered it?"

Li Chengcheng continued, "This emperor is a bit scheming. I don't like it. ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I can wait, I can delay." ”

Hidden Yang City is under the struggle of the Golden Sword King, although it has autonomy, but if it openly disobeys the emperor's order, then this power can be withdrawn by the imperial court at any time.

In the matter of killing prisoners, Zhao Lanjiang's choice was inconsistent with what the imperial court hoped for, so no matter how great the credit was, Zhao Lanjiang was always outside the core of the emperor's power. The emperor will not see a person who disagrees with him in power, and it will not be long before the new governor of the Western Army will take office, and at that time, in addition to guarding against Western Chu and Northern Zhou, he will also be tasked with monitoring every move of Hidden Yang City.

However, the emperor also left him a chance, and that was Yuwenshuang. But with Xiao Jinyan's relationship, will Zhao Lanjiang really move Yuwenshuang?

The night has arrived.

Zhao Lanjiang said to Li Chengcheng, "Accompany me to the Ghost Fan Tower." ”

The second time he came, Zhao Lanjiang directly found the woman in Tsing Yi.

The woman in Tsing Yi gave a salute and said, "See City Lord Zhao!"

This time, the city lord is the righteous city lord, the imperial court's decree has been issued, and Zhao Lanjiang is already the official owner of Yinyang City.

"I've come to your principal. ”

"The host is not there, here I have the final say. ”

Zhao Lanjiang took out a pendant from his arms and threw it over. This pendant is the skull mark that fell on the ground after Mr. Langya Gehai captured Mrs. Qi that day.

"You said it could be counted?"

Seeing this, the woman's face changed greatly, and she said, "I'll come when I go." After a while, she turned back and said, "Master, please." ”

One is the lord of Hidden Sun City, the other is the owner of the underground, and the two finally met.

The old man sat in a wheelchair and looked Zhao Lanjiang up and down, "I know all about the 30,000 captives, but I didn't expect that you have more courage than the old man imagined." ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I didn't expect you to be able to live so much." ”

"How much do you know about the Skull and Bones Society?"

Zhao Lanjiang actually only heard a few words from Yang Xiaoxiao and Xu's shopkeepers, and only then did he know that Mrs. Naqi was also one of the long-term workers of the bloody handprint, and she had a little understanding of this organization.

"Not much. Zhao Lanjiang smiled slightly, "It's not a lot." ”

"I'm old and don't have that much strength, if you have anything to say, just say it. ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I want a hundred skilled craftsmen, preferably the descendants of the Li family, you are the master of the Ghost Fan Tower, this should not be difficult for you." ”

The Li family, which built Yinyang City back then, was divided into two branches. One of them is hidden in the Ghost Fan Tower, and the craftsmanship has been passed down.

"What do I get?"

"A promise. ”

The old man smiled and said, "The dignified Hidden Yang City Lord has a promise, it's very cost-effective, aren't you afraid that I will open my mouth?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "You have lived for so long, you should know a little measure." ”

The old man said, "Okay, I promise you!"

"Don't you ask what?"

The old man said, "Now that you know, why do you need to ask again?"

......

"Are you really going to build a city for those 30,000?"

When Zhao Lanjiang told his plan, Li Qingcheng barely believed his ears.

"Yes, they are north of the West Eleven Guards, only twenty miles from the city of Kangju, and that place is full of tidal flats and wasteland, and if they can be reclaimed, they can be completely self-sufficient. ”

"I'm afraid they can't get used to this kind of life. ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "If people can't even eat, it's not up to them to choose what kind of life they live." I have already thought of a name, it will be called Stone City, and after it is completed, it will be merged into Hidden Yang City and become the twentieth city of Hidden Sun. ”

"The Chu people are stubborn and aggressive, who will manage them?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Naturally, there are people. ”

The dungeon of the Lord's Mansion.

"Let me out!"

When they heard that someone was coming, Prince Xiang, Feng Chitose and others shouted louder, and when they saw that the person who came was Zhao Lanjiang, Prince Xiang said, "You still have the face?"

Zhao Lanjiang saw that Prince Xiang, Feng Chitose and others had stubble on their faces, their hair was unkempt, and they had lost twenty or thirty pounds, scratched their heads, and said, "I'm sorry, I forgot about you!"

Feng Chitose snorted, "What's the matter, the Northern Zhou army has attacked, if you let me out, maybe I will say a good word to you in front of the Tuoba Niuren and spare your life." ”

Li Qingcheng said with a smile, "Your Tuoba God of War is already dead." ”

The crown prince said, "That's my Great Chu army coming into the city?"

Zhao Yanjiang said, "Yes, I'm going to make you the city lord!"

Prince Xiang calculated in his heart that his status in the royal family of Chu was not high, and if Great Chu captured Yinyang, it would be a good choice for him to be the king of Yinyang.

"Let me out, I'll make you the deputy city lord!"

Zhao Lanjiang laughed, and an entourage said, "What Northern Zhou and Western Chu have become history, and the sky has already changed outside!"

Prince Xiang said, "What, my Great Chu is dead?"

"Not dead, but half-dead. Chu Xiang, I'll give you a choice, do you come out to sell your life to me, or continue to eat in this dungeon and wait for death?"

Prince Xiang said, "Wait for death to eat?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Chu Xiang, the city lord has named you the stone city lord!"

"Stone Town, haven't you heard of it, do you have anything to eat?"

"There are stones. ”

"Then I'd better stay here. ”

Zhao Lanjiang was about to leave, and the crown prince said, "Don't mind, I'll think about it." ”

Feng Chitose said, "What about me? Without the City Lord of Stone City, it would be okay to give me a nest." ”

......

Back at the City Lord's Mansion, Zhao Lanjiang saw Yang Xiaoxiao, "It's only been more than ten days, why did you get fat?"

Yang Xiaoxiao had her hands on her waist and had some difficulty walking, and Zhao Lanjiang noticed that her lower abdomen was already bulging.

Zhao Lanjiang was overjoyed, "Got it?"

Yang smiled and nodded.

"When?"

"You don't remember?"

Zhao Lanjiang scratched his head, "So many times, how can I remember them one by one." ”

Yang Xiaoxiao said angrily: "On the shore of Xiangjian County Lake, you have done a good thing!"

Zhao Lanjiang remembered that after drinking that day, he had a fish and water with Yang Xiaoxiao by the lake, and remembered that passers-by scolded him for being shameless, of course he was shameless, he was asking for a child.

The two talked about love, and Yang smiled and said, "Help the child choose a name." ”

Zhao Lanjiang thought for a while, "Since it was by the lake that time, it will be born in the future, whether it is a man or a woman, it will be called Zhao Husheng." ”

Yang Xiao scolded with a smile, "It's so ugly!"

Zhao Lanjiang thought about it, this is still Li Chengcheng's most reading, he ran to Li Tingcheng's room and said, "Li Tingcheng, help my child come up with a name." ”

Li Chengcheng wondered, "Where did the child come from?"

Zhao Lanjiang told the ins and outs of the matter, Li Chengcheng thought for a moment, and said, "At that time, it was June and summer, the five elements belonged to fire, the location was on the lakeside, and he liked water, and after all, the child should be born in March next year, and tens of thousands of things will be born in spring, so the child will be called Wang Fugui!"

Zhao Lanjiang scolded, "If Lao Tzu doesn't kill you, he won't be surnamed Zhao!"

......

Three days later, the city of Hidden Sun celebrated.

Early in the morning, the dragon, tiger, leopard and wolf four guards, under the leadership of the four commanders, came to the city lord's mansion square to hold the canonization ceremony of the city lord of Yinyang.

Zhao Lanjiang didn't like this kind of red tape, but he couldn't stand the insistence of others, especially Chai Gongwang, who copied the set of Li Xiancheng's accession to the throne that day, and was scolded by Zhao Lanjiang.

Countless people of Yinyang poured into the square to witness the enthronement of the new city lord.

If he only inherited the mantle of the golden sword Li Qiu, the people of Yinyang might recognize this city lord, but they would never be so kind. After experiencing the battle with the Northern Zhou, Zhao Lanjiang and the Yinyang people fought against the enemy together, and gradually established their prestige, which was officially recognized by the people of Yinyang.

The city lords of the nineteen cities were also in person.

On the square, under the auspices of Chai Gongwang, Li Xianzhong, the four major commanders, and the nineteen city lords swore allegiance to Zhao Lanjiang respectively.

Nineteen cannon shots.

Zhao Lanjiang helped Yang Xiaoxiao and came to the square.

"I, Zhao Lanjiang, swear here today and become the Lord of Hidden Yang City. I will take Yinyang as my home, defend the rights of the people of Yinyang, and be loyal to the Ming Dynasty. If the court needs it, I will stand up, and if the people need it, I will stand up and defend Yinyang City to the death, and advance and retreat with Yinyang. God bless the Hidden Sun!"

On the square, everyone said in unison, "God bless the hidden sun!"

When an old man of Yinyang saw this scene, he remembered the scene when Li Qiuyi, the king of the golden sword, took the oath, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

He raised his long sword and shouted, "King of the Golden Sword!"

Everyone shouted, "Golden Sword King!"

"King of the Golden Sword!"

The sound resounded throughout Hidden Sun City, spreading for dozens of miles.

(End of volume)