Qin Jili took Li Zhizhou and his subordinates, as well as the father and son of the He family, and flew to the county where Zhao Jinlong was located. In the yamen of Lingzhi County, He Renzhi met the military advisor of the rebel army, that is, Cai Huixin's father-Cai Youyue.

Under the introduction of Ling Zhixian, Li Zhizhou and Cai Youyue each brought their subordinates to meet each other one by one. Cai Youyue only brought a few nobodies to participate in the negotiations, and he had seen He Renzhi at the Reverse Manuscript Festival and the temple fair of the Fire God Temple, because of the special situation this time, he did not have a friendship with He Renzhitao.

He Renzhi was also looking at the timing and did not recognize Cai Youyue.

The people of the government and the rebel army sat on both sides of the yamen hall and began to discuss the matter of incorporation.

Li Zhizhou politely said to Cai Youyue: "Master Cai, this official has been in charge of this county for many years, and he has deep feelings for the people of this county. If the rebel army can reconcile with the government and be incorporated into the officers and soldiers, it is something that the officials are happy to see. ”

"It would be great if everyone in the government was like what Master Li just said. Cai Youyue remained calm, and he replied quietly: "I'm afraid that the government has no sincerity to absorb us at all, and even take the opportunity to eradicate us under the guise of co-optation." ”

Li Zhizhou solemnly replied to Cai Youyue: "With your strength, even if we plot against you under the guise of co-ordination, it will not be easy to eradicate you." Moreover, as soon as the negotiations began, you were wary that we would plot against you, and you would not be able to plot against you at all, because you had already prepared for it. Instead of losing both, it is better to use it for your own use, so that you can also become officers and soldiers. ”

Cai Youyue replied calmly: "If you are sincere, my brothers are very willing to return to the government." The reason for our uprising was that we were oppressed by the officials of the neighboring provinces, so we had to rise up to resist, and later the officers and soldiers of our own province also attacked us, so the matter became more and more troublesome. If you really don't want to lose both sides and let go of your past grudges, we are all willing to become officers and soldiers. ”

Ling Zhixian interjected: "Because the fields have been barren in recent years. The government was unable to collect enough taxes, the official treasury was empty, and it was difficult to raise soldiers. Benzhi County mentions, only recruit your leaders, and disband the rest of the personnel on the spot, so that the lower ranks of the rebel army can go back to work hard, which is more beneficial to both sides. ”

Cai Youyue replied sternly: "That's not necessarily, the soldiers of the rebel army used to plant basically rented fields, and those fields were barren for several years. It must be quite difficult to re-cultivate, and now that the exorbitant taxes are so severe, the brothers may not be able to survive when they go home, and it is very likely that they will wait for the revenge of the government after the autumn. If you have the sincerity to recruit us, you will take us all in. ”

Ling Zhixian argued on the basis of reason, and he firmly explained: "But after a few years of uprising, the county declined, and it is a fact that the official treasury is empty and it is difficult to raise troops. After Zhao'an. If we add 10,000 or 20,000 officers and men, the county will be devastated. ”

"Ling Zhixian, don't say that, your county can't afford to pay for it yourself. You can ask the higher yamen to allocate silver taels. In the future, you can also recruit them to serve in other places, so you don't need your county to raise these soldiers. Things will be discussed slowly, and a suitable solution will always be found. Li Zhizhou mediated bitterly.

"Okay, let's discuss this slowly. We have to ask the higher levels of the yamen. Let's take a look at what we say above before we can make the final decision. "Ling Zhixian wants to ask the superior yamen and wait for the reply from the superior. The negotiations immediately reached an impasse.

Cai Youyue had no choice but to make an indifferent reaction: "It's okay to discuss this matter slowly in the future, if you are in a hurry, you can only compromise and seek perfection, which is not good for both parties." ”

"The official's expectations have not been fulfilled!" Li Zhizhou sighed deeply.

"Things haven't reached the point of despair yet, and Lord Li doesn't have to blame himself. He Guanju still had a fantasy, and tried hard to comfort Li Xuehai: "When the time is ripe, Lord Li can come over to participate in the negotiations." ”

Ling Zhixian also perfunctory Li Xuehai said: "That's right, this time Lord Li came to participate in the negotiations, and it was hard for Lord Li." When the results of the instructions to the yamen at all levels come down, if the conditions permit, it is indispensable for Lord Li to come over and participate in the negotiations. ”

Li Zhizhou replied thoughtfully: "Okay, it's best to be able to do this, if this thing collapses, it will have a great impact on the current situation." The officer is waiting for the next time to come and mediate. ”

"What should I do now?" He Renzhi, who was holding Qin Ji in both hands, asked Lord Li with mixed feelings.

Li Zhizhou thought for a while, and then said generously: "Now, the official will invite you and go to the inn for lunch!"

Ling Zhixian mixed up and said: "Originally, the yamen of this county had food to eat, but since Lord Li paid for a treat, we went to eat something more delicious together." ”

Li Zhizhou pursed his lips and asked Ling Zhixian to prepare a carriage, and then let Cai Youyue and his entourage get into a carriage, he and He Guanju father and son got into a carriage, and Ling Zhixian took people into a carriage and ran out of the county government one after another.

Li Shihai, the governor of Lingbei Prefecture, who had been the magistrate of the county here for many years, was quite familiar with all places, and he took everyone into a restaurant he used to go to - Dalu Restaurant, and asked everyone to order a dish they liked to eat.

All kinds of dishes were passed on the table one by one, and under the greeting of Li Zhizhou, everyone ate by themselves, what to incorporate and negotiate, anyway, we have to wait for the opportunity to talk about it, and now everyone has forgotten about it.

"Lord Qi Ling, the little one was sent by Chen Guerrilla to report to the adults, Chen Guerrilla encountered a small group of rebel troops blocking the road on the main road, and Chen Guerrilla has chased him!" It turned out that this was a soldier under Chen Suo's guerrilla in the left battalion of Yongzhou Mansion, saying that he had encountered a rebel army.

As soon as Cai Youyue heard that it was the rebel army's team, she vigilantly got up and asked the soldiers who entered the hotel to report: "You said that the rebels blocked the road and robbed!?"

The soldier who delivered the news was quite calm, and he replied seriously: "Yes, the robbery team is under the banner of Zhao Jinlong's rebel army, saying that they are Zhao Jinlong's rebel army. ”

"Nonsense! Where will we, the rebel army, do the business of blocking the road and robbing it? Take us to see the situation!" Cai Youyue stood up in disbelief, called his entourage, and asked the officers and soldiers who came in to report to take them to see the so-called rebel army together.

Under the guidance of that officer and soldier, Cai Youyue and the others drove the carriage to the main road in the suburbs.

In the distance, Chen Suo and his officers and soldiers were chasing a small group wearing rebel uniforms, and the small group retreated while resisting, and soon ran into the nearby forest......!