On the same night, countless people suffered from insomnia.
In Lingbao County, Wu Sangui and Ma Ke held a candlelight conversation at night. The topic revolved around the actions of the Tongguan bandit army in the past few days and the intelligence they had just received from Li Yan. In the society, Brother Yan doesn't say much, but he went straight to attack the enemy. Li went, which surprised Wu and Ma, but also admired him very much.
This is about to start a full-scale war. Wu Sangui and Ma Ke's hearts are beating fast and they are on guard. The situation is a bit chaotic now. Tongguan must be nailed down, otherwise once it collapses, Brother Yan will not be able to control it. ah.
Wu Sangui knew that Li Yan's chess game was very big, and once it became popular, he would be unparalleled in the limelight. But what Wu Sangui wanted to do at this time was not to compete with him, but to cooperate. He didn't care about what happened to Puzhou, nor did he care about Li Yan. Whether you can conquer Dali, you just have to do your part!
His duty is Tongguan!
As long as you conquer Tongguan, you can equal any credit!
"The guys will be here tomorrow at the latest. We should make a good plan for Tongguan." Under the night sky, Ma Ke looked very determined. Since he left Beijing a year ago, all he has thought about is killing thieves. Making meritorious deeds is good, but it is not the only purpose. Wherever he fell, he stood up. He wanted to fight to get out of the shadow of failure, get out of the trough, stand up again, and regain the prestige of the past!
Wu Sangui nodded, it was time to try the knife after sharpening it for more than half a year.
Liu Wenbing and a group of other nobles led the main force. Due to the burden of infantry and baggage, the marching speed was not very fast, but it was within an acceptable range. However, several of their bosses could no longer hold back and came first to Lingbao and Lingbao. Wu Sangui and Ma Ke met to discuss the military situation.
Needless to say, these gentlemen are also very itchy. Years ago, they invited Ying to go to Beijing to participate in the war. Their thoughts were to share the worries of the king and serve the country, and there was also an element of gold plating. However, when they went south to fight Baiwang, they were soy sauce throughout the whole process, which was not good for them. It can be said to be a training exercise at most, not a real battle, so I am holding back my energy. I have been holding it in for more than half a year. Now that I heard that Tongguan is about to be fought, I feel a little excited. Anyway, This time, I can't play soy sauce anymore, otherwise I won't be able to return to Beijing.
If I can't hold on to Dali, how can I have the dignity to return to Xijing! On the top of Dali City, Tian Jianxiu looked at the faint fire in the east, where the officers and soldiers' camp was located. Outside the city, there were dozens and hundreds of torches walking back and forth. They were undoubtedly spies of the officers and soldiers. Interspersed.
The officers and soldiers fought from midnight to noon and then withdrew their troops to repair. It was now midnight, but there was no movement. This made Ota Mihide and Gao Yikong a little puzzled. They gave them too long to breathe.
Gao Yigong guessed that the injuries to the officers and soldiers were too serious, so they would not need to prepare for longer. Of course, he did not rule out that they were making full preparations for the next wave of attacks. Tian Jianxiu believed in the second possibility. He felt that the next A wave will usher in an unprecedented crazy attack.
They might attack in the early hours of the morning! Tian Jianxiu guessed that this is the time when people's mental state is the most exhausted and the most relaxed. In fact... right now, at this moment, both he and his soldiers are extremely tired. From midnight last night to now I haven't slept for twelve hours. I'm very sleepy and tired, but I can't rest because I need to consolidate the city defense and prepare for war!
"Anyway, it's not just our family that's suffering." Gao Yigong snorted with a dark face: "Let's see how he can fly in early in the morning." As he said that, he turned to look northwest and couldn't help but frown and mutter: "It stands to reason that the ivy should be here at this time It’s time to arrive...it’s been a day, and if I still don’t come, I’m going to die without saving..."
Tian Jianxiu sighed: "It's not here yet, I'm afraid I'll stumble."
Gao Yigong was shocked: "You mean..."
"When the officers and soldiers were besieging the city, they sent a force of thousands of soldiers and horses to Beiluo River in order to block the reinforcements from Crouching Tiger Mountain. If the ivy came to support, it would definitely encounter a fierce battle with it. If it wins, , came early."
"You haven't come yet, that means you haven't fucked anyone before!" Tian Jianxiu's expression was indifferent, but Gao Yigong became serious: "In this way, we have truly become alone." He looked into the distance with a look in his eyes. of fear.
"This is just my guess. Maybe the creeper saw that the other party was prepared and did not dare to come over easily. He is also waiting for backup, and even if he loses, we will not be alone. Liu Fangliang will not ignore death. If we die Now, he’s next!”
Gao Yigong was relieved. Liu Fangliang was one of Li Zicheng's confidants and was absolutely trustworthy.
"Wait a minute." Tian Jianxiu looked up at the dark night sky: "Li Yan will attack again soon, and our reinforcements will definitely come!"
It was dawn and Chang Yu woke up.
Drunk people all have this experience. After being drunk, they fall into a deep sleep and wake up quickly. Because it is a deep sleep, they wake up with a splitting headache. However, Chang Yu will not be like Hao Yaoqi and the others every time. After getting drunk, he will swear that he will be a puppy the next day if he drinks again.
He buried his head in the cold water and held his breath for a while. He took the towel from Lian Xin and wiped his face. Then he asked Lao Hu next to him: "Is there anything going on outside?"
"The fan came to report that early in the morning Song Xiance asked for an audience at the yamen gate, and Zheng Zhilong went outside the palace to wait for the summons."
You haven't read Li Yan's secret message yet, are you in a hurry? Chang Yu had a little surprise. Although he heard that Song Xiance went to the Ministry of War Yamen to ask for resumption of peace talks and was rejected, but it made Song Chaizi unable to sit still, then he must have received some news.
Song Xiance has indeed received the news!
After the news of Li Zicheng's capture came out, he was also at a loss. After all, everyone was under house arrest at that time, powerless and helpless.
But after all, this guy is a strange person. He used the deduction he learned to find out that Li Zicheng was in danger but could turn it into a good thing. From the official reaction and some clues from Chang Yu, he inferred that Li Zicheng was not arrested, so he could still calm down at that time.
But when he learned that the imperial court had taken the imperial capital, he became a little anxious. He knew that the imperial court wanted to take advantage of the fact that Li Zicheng's whereabouts were unknown and the army there was panicked to gain more chips to lower the price. Then Li Yan's people from Tongguan also arrived, and he After knowing something, I decided not to delay any longer, otherwise the transaction price would become lower and lower due to long nights and many dreams.
So he impatiently went to the court's negotiator Shi Kefa. However, Shi Kefa still said the same thing, either he would agree to the previous price or not negotiate. This was the court's bottom line.
There is no fixed-price deal, so Song Xiance came to Dongchang Yamen to find Chang Yu to mediate. He had no choice but to at least give me a chance to bargain.
After washing up and having breakfast, Chang Yu went to work in a carriage. As soon as he entered the alley, he saw Song Xiance pacing back and forth in front of the company. It was obvious that this strange man, who had always been calm and composed, was anxious.
Chang Yu dismounted and first scolded the fan next to him for neglecting Song Xiance and not even letting him in. Then he invited Song Xiance into the Yamen and was served tea: "Why are you here, sir, so early in the morning?"
"Lord Governor, why do you ask questions when you know the truth?" Song Xiance smiled bitterly and shook his head. This little eunuch was too slippery. He said on the surface that he would not participate in any negotiations, but in fact he was adding fuel to the fire.
"I seem to understand, but I don't understand." Chang Yu smiled, and then took out Li Yan's secret letter from his arms: "I received it last night. This Li Yan is just nonsense."
Song Xiance was a little confused and reached out to take Yimu Shixing, and then stood up with a look of shock on his face: "Master Governor, if this continues, it's terrible."
"So he's fooling around?" Chang Yu rubbed his head.
"Once the melee breaks out, it will be endless, and how many innocent people will be tortured..." Song Xiance said with regret on his face: "If it is like this, there is nothing to talk about, and why is there any need to talk..."
Chang Yu also sighed: "Talk about peace, talk about peace, we should have talked peacefully, but the court showed sincerity, but you only thought about making tricks. Now it's better."
"Master Du Gong, where did you say this? We proposed the peace talks first, and we are sincere. King Chuang really can't bear to see the people suffer, and he doesn't want to see the Ming Dynasty crumbling and suffering external humiliation." Song Xiance said quickly, Chang Yu curled his lips: "Although you mentioned the peace talks in the first place, you are just trying to delay it. Besides, Li Chuang has brought disaster to the country and the people for more than ten years. What kind of harm has the court done to the people? Emperor You wish you could kill him with a knife, but now the people of the world are willing to accept his surrender and spare his life, but he is still dreaming about the Spring and Autumn Period, wanting to carve out territory, make kings, and gain military power. Is this your sincerity?" He said again. He snorted coldly: "Even if you offer this price, the imperial court will tolerate it for the sake of the common people. All you need is to send troops to defeat Zhang Xianzhong or recover Jinzhou. Is this too much to ask for?"
Song Xiance's muscles twitched a few times, and he lowered his eyebrows in deep thought. Chang Yu shouted: "Although the imperial court is not as weak as before, sir, do you think there is a city that I can't conquer, and there are soldiers that I can't defeat?
Not today, but tomorrow, not this year, but next year! "
Song Xiance looked up to the sky and sighed, then looked at Chang Yu: "I just want to ask the Governor whether King Chuang is safe!"
"Is this important?" Chang Yu stood up fiercely: "Could it be that if he dies, you can immediately raise your hands and surrender, but if he is alive, you will have the strength to fight hard and win?"
Song Xiance nodded slightly: "Yes, yes, what the Governor said is absolutely true."
"It doesn't matter what I say. What matters is that it's time for you to make a decision!"
"Can you stay with me for five days?" Song Xiance thought for a moment and said,
"I've been waiting for more than ten years, so of course I won't miss you in a few days." Chang Yu snorted coldly.
"There is another matter that I would like to ask the Governor to mediate. For these five days, you and I will stand still. We cannot intensify the situation any more, otherwise we may not be able to contain it!"
Chang Yu sighed: "The arrow is already on the string. It doesn't mean it can be stopped if the governor says to stop. Maybe the bow has been fired now."
Song Xiance stamped his feet and sighed after hearing this, and Chang Yu said: "But I can guarantee that as long as you accept the court's conditions, you will stop immediately regardless of whether you draw the bow or not."
"That's all we can do now." Song Xiance smiled bitterly and cupped his hands to Chang Yu: "Thank you very much, Governor."
"No need..." Chang Yu was talking when someone outside the hall bowed forward and said, "Report to the Governor, the Jinyi Guards are here to report urgently." As he said this, he held a letter in both hands and handed it to Chang Yu. He took it and opened it, looked at it expressionlessly for a while, and then handed it to Song Xiance.
This is the latest battle report sent by the Jin Yiwei. They besieged Dali several times and almost broke the city. Zhang Guozhu defeated thousands of bandit reinforcements in Beiluo River and captured the bandit leader and more than a thousand bandits... Song Xiance's face was livid, and he stood up and said to Chang Yu Gong cupped his hands and said, "The common people will say goodbye first."
Chang Yu stood up and walked him to the yamen gate: "The court will come to the negotiating table again as promised in five days. I only hope that we can shake hands and make peace by then." Song Xiance nodded: "What the common people want!"
