Since entering Shaanxi Road, the atmosphere in various states and counties has become somewhat solemn.
Cao Bin has also received the news that Xixia is about to launch troops.
At this time, he was actually looking forward to Yuan Hao taking action as soon as possible.
At that time, we can use Yuan Hao to send troops too quickly as an excuse to end this mission.
I haven't seen that mission yet, and it will be sent when the war between the two countries is fierce.
Although this idea is somewhat unreasonable, he feels that his own life is more important than that of the general public.
At this time, the Xixia mission became frightened.
If they had already started a war before they returned to Xixia, the Song Dynasty might not let them leave easily.
In the blink of an eye, they had reached the boundary of Yanzhou, the first line of defense against Xixia.
Northwest of Yanzhou is the Hengshan Mountains.
The two countries of Song and Xia used Hengshan as their national border and deployed their own defenses.
Every time Xixia invades, most of them will advance from here.
After disembarking from the Yellow River Ferry, it only took them more than half a day to arrive at Yanzhou City.
The soldiers and horses of the four prefectures of Yan, Sui, Huan and Qing were all under the jurisdiction of Yang Zongbao, so he led his troops to station here to defend the front line of Hengshan.
After the reconciliation between Song and Liao, he was transferred here from Waqiao Pass on the northern line. If Xixia is not peaceful, I am afraid he will continue to be stationed here.
Cao Bin remembered that there was a story about a widow's expedition to the west, which started when Yang Zong died in Xixia.
At this time, Yang Zongbao was only in his thirties, and he looked very handsome and heroic, with an upright look on his face.
"Master Li, Uncle Zhongjing, now Xixia is about to make a move, you'd better set off as soon as possible, otherwise you will miss the opportunity."
After Cao Bin and others rested for a day, Yang Zongbao couldn't wait to remind him.
Although Li Tang and Cao Bin both wanted to kill each other, they had a rare tacit understanding about entering Xixia.
Why is killing the other person more important than your own life?
If they could avoid having to go on an envoy mission, they would rather wait a few more days.
So they tacitly delayed in Yanzhou. No one reminded them anyway, so they just pretended that nothing happened, and they could delay it for as long as one day.
Unexpectedly, after only one day, Yang Zongbao couldn't wait to rush.
The two of them could no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb, so they had no choice but to give the order to set off.
Zhang Yanshou breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. If Cao Bin didn't say anything, he really wouldn't dare to rush him.
Yang Zongbao looked at the meandering team of envoys and felt helpless, and he did not have much hope for the envoys.
He had always heard of Li Tang, a person who was seeking fame and reputation, but in reality he only relied on etiquette and was useless.
He has known Cao Bin since childhood, and he has always been a ridiculous playboy.
A few days ago, in letters from home, Cao Bin was praised in every possible way, saying that he had changed his ways.
Looking at it now, it's still the same as before. As the deputy envoy of the mission, he is reluctant to even step into Xixia. How can he look like a good minister?
It wasn't that he was afraid of fighting, but that he felt that he had only been transferred for a short period of time and was not fully prepared yet.
Since the imperial court sent a mission, as long as there was a slight possibility of a truce, he was willing to give it a try.
Yanzhou is only three to four hundred miles away from Hengshan. Even if the speed is slowed down, it will only take four or five days.
On this day, Cao Bin and others finally reached the boundary of Hengshan.
"Uncle, when will we do it?"
Taking advantage of the opportunity to set up camp, Zhang Yanshou walked over to Cao Bin and asked in a low voice.
Cao Bin looked at Li Tang's tent and only said:
“The nights are long and the dreams are many, everything must be done as quickly as possible.”
Regardless of whether he will die in Xixia or not, he must let Li Tang die before him.
When Zhang Yanshou heard this, he immediately understood.
When Hu Sanniang saw Zhang Yanshou leaving, she quickly approached Cao Bin and said with some excitement:
"Uncle, are you going to kill Li Tang? Can I do it myself?"
Cao Bin glanced at her and said:
"Stay away! Is killing someone so fun? Do you think my suspicion is not high enough or something?"
Hu Sanniang waved her hands quickly and said:
"No, don't be angry, I just won't go..."
The next day, as the team marched through Hengshan, Zhang Yanshou was about to ask Li Tang for a "secret talk" when a group of Xixia soldiers suddenly ran out from the corner of the mountain.
"Is this Master Zhang Yanshou in front of you?"
Zhang Yanshou was stunned and said hurriedly: "That's exactly me. Are you a patrol soldier from Hengshan Camp?"
The leader of the soldiers said: "The king of the country has arrived at the Hengshan camp in person. Please ask Mr. Zhang to bring the Song envoy to meet the king."
Zhang Yanshou glanced at Cao Bin, shook his head helplessly, and had no choice but to lead the team to follow.
"Damn it, why did Yuan Hao come so fast? Is he going to go out in person?"
Cao Bin cursed secretly and had to follow the envoy to the Hengshan camp of the Xixia people.
Before the Xixia people founded the country, they continued to build Hengshan.
At this time, the Hengshan Camp was more like a small city than a military camp, with all the palaces and palaces available.
Li Tang didn't realize at all that he had walked around the gate of hell.
At this time, he was stepping up his efforts to please Zhang Yanshou and planned to sharpen his guns before the battle.
"The envoy of Xuan Song Dynasty comes to see you!"
Before arriving at the Hengshan camp, some guards started shouting.
After handing their swords to the guard and being searched again, Cao Bin and Li Tang followed Zhang Yanshou into the Hengshan Camp and entered the main hall.
There were many people sitting in the spacious hall, as if a banquet was being held.
The person on the high platform was Yuan Hao, the first ruler of Xixia.
He is in his forties, has bald hair, a round face, a high nose, and fierce eyes, giving him the look of a wolf watching an eagle.
Sitting next to him were two beauties, one in her thirties and the other in her late teens, both as beautiful as flowers.
According to the news from Yanzi, Cao Bin was able to guess that these two women were Yuan Hao's queen "Wu Zang Hei Yun" and his favorite concubine "Wu Yi Xi Meng".
"Foreign ministers Li Tang and Cao Bin pay their respects to the Lord of Xixia!"
Li Tang and Cao Bin approached Yuan Hao for more than ten meters, but were blocked by the guards.
After they bowed their hands in a polite manner, Li Tang wanted to present the credential of the Song Dynasty.
Yuan Hao ignored it at all, laughed loudly and said to his subordinates on both sides:
"It's a wonderful time for the envoy from the Song Dynasty to come. Now that I'm about to go on an expedition, wouldn't it be better to send two heads to sacrifice the flag?"
"Come here, cut off their heads..."
"Fuck!"
Hearing this, although Cao Bin was already prepared, he couldn't help but be shocked and his legs were a little cramped.
This Yuan Hao is indeed a barbarian. He wants to behead the envoy before even asking questions. Does he still follow the rules?
"Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty! I am willing to surrender. I surrender to Xixia!"
Li Tang fell to his knees with a "pop" sound, with a flattering smile on his face, without any hesitation, and was extremely smooth.
When Yuan Hao saw this, he was beaming with joy: "People from the Central Plains have always had weak legs, hahaha..."
Immediately afterwards, he seemed to remember something, and suddenly turned to Cao Bin and said, "What about you?"
"Uh...I can't kneel down..."
"Okay! I didn't expect that there are still warriors in the Central Plains. I'll help you. Pull them out and kill them!"
Cao Bin patted his stiff legs, feeling a little on the verge of tears. Ma De, I actually want to compromise and save the country!
After all, it is difficult for two fists to beat four hands. Let alone him, even if King Chu comes, he will probably be chopped into pieces without weapons.
