Zhang Zhongliang and Lu Junyong were on inspection.
The huge artificial lake has taken shape, and Lu Junyong is proud of it.
Zhang Zhongliang looked at the gap between the man-made lake and the flat land above, and shook his head: "Brother Lu Junyong, you are so cruel to drive people down from such a high place to death or disability!"
Lu Junyong: "Haha, haha! I am also thinking about whether to do a slope."
The two had a tacit understanding and moved forward hand in hand.
There were felled tree stumps everywhere, and Ksitigarbha and a group of generals were inspecting the camp.
General: "There are bare tree stumps everywhere and not a single trunk in sight. It's difficult to even make a fire to cook."
A general said: "We have been burning all the way, burning the enemy over the cliff at Yan Cliff, and ambushing the troops in the valley. Now the army of the Western Liao Kingdom is like a frightened bird, and its color changes when it hears the fire."
General: "Ksitigarbha uses the God of Fire to haunt ghosts. No wonder they want to dig up all the turf."
Ksitigarbha was not without pride, he looked up to the sky and laughed: "Hahahaha——"
…
Inside the handsome manor, the lights are brightly lit.
Zhang Zhongliang talked with Lu Junyong, Ba Nanye, Riguang and Yueguang all night long.
Zhang Zhongliang: "Now that we have enough firewood, can we build eight thousand unicycles and eight thousand chariot shields? We also need to prepare fire fuel."
Postman Ye said: "Marshal, don't worry, your subordinates have been prepared, enough for the army."
Zhang Zhongliang: "That's great. Can the artificial lake be drained tomorrow?"
Lu Junyong: "Don't worry, coach. The canal will be opened and the water will be released in the evening tomorrow. The water will be able to reach the lake in one day, which will be enough for wartime needs."
Zhang Zhongliang nodded.
The next day, the two armies faced each other and were at war with each other.
Ksitigarbha jumped out of the formation, and Mary drove her horse to the formation.
King Ksitigarbha rode his horse and responded: "What do you think, princess?"
Mary: "Yesterday, I received the imperial decree from my father and discussed with the ministers this morning whether to surrender or not. However, the word surrender is quite inelegant. May I ask Ksitigarbha Ksitigarbha, what are the conditions for seeking peace?"
Ksitigarbha: "Wherever the heavenly soldiers go, there are only two words: war and surrender. There is no precedent for asking for peace. If you fight, you will be defeated. The defeated king will be slaughtered by others. What conditions can be discussed? If you surrender, you can keep your life safe and your country will be safe." It will be a country of great harmony, one and the same system as the Kingdom of Magya, and all living beings will be equal."
Mary: "One body, one system, it is great that all living beings are equal. My husband, Zhang Zhongliang, also thinks this way, but if all living beings are equal, wouldn't it mean that there is no respect for superiors and inferiors, and everyone can be a king?"
Ksitigarbha: "It is good that there is no respect for superiors and inferiors, but it is not true that everyone can be a king."
Mary: "Ksitigarbha's idea is that I will report it to my father and I will give you a reply soon. It's just that today's matchup is inconvenient for me. It's not your opponent to wield swords and guns. Can we have a truce for a day?"
Ksitigarbha: "Princesses and girls should not wield swords or guns. Besides, I have said that I will never fight with women and children. Please return to the city to raise them."
Mary pretended to be furious: "Ksitigarbha, you keep saying that all living beings are equal, are women not living beings? Yesterday I saw you marching for thousands of miles, and you were exhausted, so you opened the net and refused to fight. I never thought that you would take advantage of others' danger to harm me today. This matter Spread the word, what mercy do you have, even if I am killed by you, how can other countries obey you in the future?"
Ksitigarbha: "Come on, let's have another day's truce today. Whether we surrender or not, we will wait until your father decides."
Mary: "Ksitigarbha, I am going back to the city to meet with my father today. You must keep your word and do not allow sneak attacks."
Ksitigarbha: "Who do you think I am? How can a gentleman go back on his word? Just go back to the city. If you don't surrender tomorrow, it will be too late to regret when we meet each other with swords."
In this compartment, Zhang Zhongliang, Lu Junyong, Ban Nanye, Sunlight, Moonlight and Mary were sitting alone in a group, chatting and laughing.
Shan Dan: "We fought tooth and nail to stop Ksitigarbha. We tried our best to stop him for a few days even though we lost troops and generals. My sister's few words actually made Ksitigarbha stop his troops for two days. I'll see what my sister has to say tomorrow."
Everyone laughed. Mary suddenly felt sick, stood up and ran outside the tent.
Everyone was confused. When Mary returns, Nikko comes to visit.
Riguang: "Prince-in-law, congratulations, the princess is happy."
Zhang Zhongliang was very happy and asked Mary: "Really? Mary?"
Mary nodded silently.
Everyone congratulated him one after another.
Zhang Zhongliang: "Tomorrow we will open the canal and release the water. Brother Lu Junyong can control it at will. Since Mary is pregnant, she will recuperate in the Commander's Mansion from now on. Tomorrow, I will go to meet Ksitigarbha to see if this person has three heads and six arms."
Mary shook her head: "There is no need for the prince-in-law to go there in person. I will meet Ksitigarbha tomorrow, and there is no need to delay him for another day."
Zhang Zhongliang: "But..."
Mary: "Don't worry, I have my own sense of discretion."
The rising sun is rising in the east, and the two armies are in front of the formation. In the horse formation between Mary and Ksitigarbha, Mary bowed her hands to Ksitigarbha on horseback and said: "Ksitigarbha, this princess returned to the city yesterday and brought two pieces of news."
Ksitigarbha: "Please tell me the details."
Mary: "Yesterday, my father discussed with the ministers and had decided to surrender, but my husband refused to accept it. My father has given him full authority to negotiate with Ksitigarbha. Tomorrow he will go to the battle in person. It will be up to him to decide whether to fight or surrender. .”
Ksitigarbha: "Zhang Zhongliang refuses to accept? How is that reasonable? His troops have been defeated in every battle against me. Do I have to capture him alive before he is convinced?"
Mary: "Ksitigarbha, this is wrong! In the past wars, our army was afraid because Ksitigarbha set fire to the mountains in our country. Today we are fighting again. All the surrounding trees have been cut down, and you can no longer attack with fire. , this is one. Second, my husband’s dissatisfaction lies in the rumor that Ksitigarbha has three heads and six arms, and he wants to witness it himself. If Ksitigarbha can persuade Ksitigarbha to surrender to him, it will be a great good."
Ksitigarbha: "Hahaha! One head and one arm, just a mortal! Then let him come. I have already arrived at the city, and I am not afraid of any tricks you can play."
Mary: "Then there will be a truce for one more day, and I, the princess, will resign and return to the city."
Ksitigarbha: "Princess, please."
Lu Junyong took Zhang Zhongliang to see the artificial lake.
The artificial lake has been renovated. A slope was added between the lake and the higher ground.
Zhang Zhongliang: "Brother Lu Junyong, open the canal and release the water."
Lu Junyong: "I have the order." He relaxed his voice and said: "Open the canal and release the water——"
Water stored in the four directions is introduced into the lake.
Zhang Zhongliang walked to the high ground and said, "Everything is ready. Pass my order: Mary's more than 200,000 troops will immediately withdraw their defenses and return to the city to defend against the enemy."
In Mary's military tent, Shan Dan, Hao Tianlei, Chen Yumei, Wei Wei, Ba Jian, Wei Jue, and Wang Yihu were sitting under the tent.
Mary sent an order: "Today's withdrawal must be done so that no one is aware of it and no ghosts are aware of it. Please note that the camp will not move, the tents will not move, the bells will be removed from the carts, and the horses' feet will be bound. The sergeants will only carry personal weapons and go into battle lightly. Do you understand?"
All the soldiers said in unison: "I understand!"
Mary said with satisfaction: "Let's all work separately."
All the soldiers said: "I have the order."
After the soldiers went their separate ways, Mary walked outside the tent, went back into the tent, took out a piece of silk book from her arms and placed it on the table.
At this time, Ksitigarbha had been in formation for a long time. Seeing that there was no movement in Mary's camp, the general could not hold himself back: "Ksitigarbha, Zhang Zhongliang is so negligent, I will charge the camp and capture him alive."
Ksitigarbha: "Don't be impatient. Zhang Zhongliang is a young man who only cares about face."
Seeing the sun rising three poles, Ksitigarbha also felt strange: "There is no movement. Could it be that he has run away? He ordered the crossbowmen to shoot arrows and check for movement."
In an instant, arrows shot towards Mary's tent like locusts.
There was silence in the camp. Ksitigarbha suddenly realized: "I have been fooled."
Ksitigarbha Ksitigarbha picked up the silk cloth on the case and said: "Your Majesty Ksitigarbha, I would like to thank you for the three-day truce. During the three-day period, our country in Western Liao has gathered a million troops, and the city of Western Liao will be your burial place."
Ksitigarbha shouted that he had been fooled: "Chase! Go straight to Xiliao."
Ksitigarbha's army pursued them outside Xiliao City. Seeing that Mary had led her troops past the firewood array and entered the city, Ksitigarbha's waved his hand to signal for retreat.
General: "Ksitigarbha, why don't you take advantage of the victory to pursue and attack the city?"
Ksitigarbha: "The enemy is well prepared and cannot attack rashly. Order the sergeants to stand by and not move forward." He turned around and walked to a high place, looking at the piles of firewood outside the city and then at the bare mountains behind. If there was anything, think.
General: "Ksitigarbha, how about we surround the city first?"
Ksitigarbha: "No need, run away early." He approached the firewood, picked up a piece of split wood, and smelled, "The mountain behind has become a mountain of light. It can be seen that the enemy is afraid of fire attack, there is so much firewood , Aren’t our troops afraid? Once it is set on fire, the 400,000-strong army will turn into ashes in an instant.”
General: "Ksitigarbha, the 400,000-strong army is camping tonight. Please order the sergeants to move the firewood to the outside, so that you can rest easy."
Ksitigarbha nodded: "Remember, tomorrow is the decisive battle, no tents are allowed to be set up tonight, no matter the rank, everyone must lie down on the spot."
General: "As ordered."
