After such a delay, Liu Jing had completely escaped from the dense forest. On the other hand, Zhang Xun and Li Zhufeng, although riding horses, were still spinning around in the dense forest.
"Old Zhang, go back and discuss it in the long term." Li Zhufeng said.
Zhang Xun was a little angry when he heard this, but it didn't help. He nodded and said: "Okay! Ming Jin withdraws the troops!"
After a while, Zhang Xun returned to Qiandu City with more than 10,000 soldiers.
However, when the city gate was opened, he was stunned.
On the opposite side of the ten-foot-wide ravine, there were suddenly filled with civil and military officials, and the leader was none other than Emperor Jing Xing.
After the officials, there were the common people who were crowded together.
As soon as this group of people saw him, they immediately shouted excitedly: "Welcome to Duke Ding for his triumphant return!"
There is also a sentence: "Welcome to Marquis Wuling for his triumphant return!"
However, Li Zhufeng was not left behind.
With full of doubts, Zhang Xun crossed the ravine from the ladder and came to Emperor Jing Xing. He first saluted and then asked with some surprise: "Your Majesty, is this...?"
"Huang Shangshu said that if you go out of the city to pursue us, you will surely return victorious."
"The imperial court should take the opportunity to organize the people and go out of the city to welcome me, so that I can serve the people of the capital and have a look at the demeanor of the great officers and soldiers."
"I thought it made sense, so I adopted it, so that I could clear away the haze caused by the war these days."
"But this ravine is difficult to cross. After thinking about it, I just stayed behind the ravine and waited for your triumphant return."
Huang Shangshu naturally refers to Huang Li, Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue.
Zhang Xun felt a little helpless when he heard this. He felt that he was being flattered.
This pursuit out of the city clearly failed to kill Liu Jing, so why was he so praised?
The word "triumph" made him even more embarrassed.
"Zhang Qing's family, what's the result of this outing from the city?" Emperor Jing Xing asked with a bit of hope in his eyes.
Zhang Xun felt a little ashamed when he heard this, but he said truthfully: "Under the pursuit of our army, the enemy army lost many soldiers and generals. After this battle, the enemy army was completely defeated, but Liu Jing was not captured."
As soon as these words came out, Emperor Jing Xing was a little disappointed, but he still said: "A great victory! If you defeat the enemy, it will be considered a rare great victory!"
"The Zhang Qing family doesn't have to be too harsh on themselves."
Zhang Xun felt even more ashamed when he heard this. Even the old face turned red, this was the first time this happened.
"I am terrified."
"If even the pillars of the country like Duke Ding are in fear, then wouldn't we be ashamed to death?" Huang Li, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, walked over with a smile and praised.
Dongfang Ming, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, followed closely behind and said: "Liu Jing's army has been defeated by Duke Dingguo, so what does this man have to fear? I believe that given time, it will be easy for Duke Ding to capture him." !”
Dongfang Ming and Huang Li almost praised Zhang Xun as an unprecedented and unparalleled general.
Zhang Xun had no choice but to wave his hands repeatedly and keep humbling himself.
At the same time, his deep eyes concealed deep worries.
When Black Blade died, Liu Jing's words were still fresh in his memory.
If Liu Jing is allowed to live like this, it will undoubtedly be irresponsible to the country!
So, he had to do something!
"Okay, okay, don't stop chatting at the city gate. Your Majesty has already prepared a banquet to welcome the generals. Let's talk in detail after the banquet." Huang Li said with a smile.
He feels that after so many days of hard work, it may be impossible to completely integrate into the princelings in the future, but at least he will not be squeezed out!
Hearing this, Zhang Xun felt helpless again.
Another feast!
These days, almost every time a battle is won, a banquet will be held in the palace.
Although it can boost morale, in the long run it will inevitably foster arrogance among soldiers.
What's more, the money for hosting the banquet is also a big expense!
But there is a saying that goes well: don’t hit the smiling person.
His Majesty even prepared a banquet, and it was said to be a blessing for him.
What else can Zhang Xun do? Naturally, it is better to be respectful than to obey.
At the banquet, there was another round of chatter and laughter, and everyone drank freely.
Especially Huang Li and Dongfang Ming, they were almost competing to drink wine to Zhang Xun, which made him tireless but difficult to express.
Near the end, Emperor Jing Xing finally said what he had been accumulating in his heart for a long time: "Now that the main force of the enemy army has been defeated, the remaining remnants have nothing to fear. This is truly a God-given opportunity!"
"I wonder if Zhang Qing has any plans to leave the city to fight?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes turned to Zhang Xun.
You know, when the Holy One made this request before, he rejected it several times.
Could it be that it's still the same this time?
However, to everyone's surprise, Zhang Xun nodded!
And he nodded very firmly!
"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, wildfire never burns out, but the spring breeze blows and regenerates. Even if there are only a few remnants of this rebel army, if they are not eliminated for a day, I will feel uneasy!"
"So I plan to take a rest, and when the three armies are in full condition, they will go out to fight in the city, annihilate the rebels, and capture Liu Jing alive!"
"Okay! I'm sure!" When Emperor Jing Xing heard this, he was immediately delighted: "If you are short of food and grass, go to the Ministry of Husbandry. If you are short of weapons and armor, go to the Ministry of Works!"
"I fully support you. There is only one request. Bring that traitor back to me alive!" Emperor Jing Xing waved his hand and spoke boldly. He even started coughing violently when he got to the emotional point.
"promise!"
"Hahaha, good! Very good!" Emperor Jing Xing smiled.
At the same time, Huang Li and Dongfang Ming also took the lead in praising him.
Everyone looked cheerful, except... Lu Zheng, who was sitting in the corner, had a hint of gloom on his face.
He looked at the backs of everyone, and thought about the current situation, and couldn't help but feel a little entangled and hesitant.
If the imperial court wins and the prince ascends the throne in the future, then Lu Zheng will definitely not end well.
He hoped from the bottom of his heart that Liu Jing would win, but it was a pity that Liu Jing failed to live up to his expectations!
In the current situation, let alone winning, I don't know whether my life can be saved.
Then where should I go?
"Alas!" He suddenly sighed, his expression a little lonely and desolate.
…
After the banquet was over, it was late at night in the blink of an eye.
Lu Zheng paced back and forth in his courtyard, thinking again and again, and finally gritted his teeth and entered the study.
He wrote a letter as fast as he could, and then in the dark night, with the faint moonlight, he crumpled the letter into a ball and stuffed it into the mail bucket at the feet of the carrier pigeon.
Then they waited for a long time, until midnight, when they saw that there were no guards patrolling the streets, they quietly released the homing pigeons.
In the dark night, the homing pigeon spreads its wings and flies towards the outside of the city!
Lu Zheng just looked at this scene quietly, as if looking at his own future and destiny.
