In the dead of night, Zhou Ziru slowly walked out of the meeting hall, stretched a little, and then walked up to his room.
After passing through several arches, I was suddenly stopped by a figure in the corner.
"Prime Minister Zhou has so many things to do every day, it's really hard work."
Although Zhou Ziru was tired, he knew as soon as he heard it that it was Yi Xiaodao's voice!
"Huh? You're awake. How is your injury?" Zhou Ziru smiled and walked towards Yi Xiaodao.
"Stop! Are you planning with the King of the North to abandon Guicheng?"
Zhou Ziru was stunned for a moment, frowned and said, "Yes, how did you know about what I discussed today?"
"Guicheng is the foundation of the Northland kings for generations. If you abandon Guicheng, what will happen to the Northland king? What will happen to the people of the Northland?"
Zhou Ziru squinted his eyes and looked into the darkness. He only felt that something was wrong with Yi Xiaodao today.
"You're not Duke Wu Ding, who are you!"
Zhou Ziru took two steps back slightly and coughed twice. From the dark shadow behind him, Gun Yinjiao and Dao Henghai came out in response and rushed towards Yi Xiaodao.
"Clang clang clang!"
Two people also appeared next to Yi Xiaodao, Qin Changqian and Man Yong. The four of them briefly fought, but neither side took advantage and retreated to the side.
Zhou Ziru naturally knew Qin Changqian and Man Yong. Just when he was suspicious, another beautiful figure rushed towards Yi Xiaodao.
"It's really you!"
Jian Liuyun recognized the person in the dark at a glance. It was not Yi Xiaodao, but He Yue'er. The two of them had spent some time together on Gushan outside Wancheng and were very familiar with each other.
"Why are you exposing me..." Yi Xiaodao walked out of the darkness. As expected, it was not him, but He Yue'er.
Zhou Ziru patted his head: "It shocked me. I forgot that Miss Yue'er can imitate other people's voices. I wonder how Wu Dinggong is doing now?"
He Yue'er shook her head: "Still unconscious. I don't know what to do..."
"Miss Yue'er, don't worry too much. Everything has its own cause and effect. Wuding Gongji has his own destiny and will get better." Zhou Ziru said and was about to leave.
He Yue'er quickly took a few steps to stop Zhou Ziru, but because they were acquaintances, Gun Yinjiao and Dao Henghai did not stop him.
"Zhou... Prime Minister Zhou, I heard that you are giving up and returning to the city? This is not okay!"
"Why not?" Zhou Ziru was a little curious.
He Yue'er lowered her eyes and said: "Xiao Dao has been running around all these years, maybe for gold and silver, official position, or even for me. But I know that the most important thing in his heart is the people."
"We are all poor people, especially Yi Xiaodao. He used to beg for a living in Wancheng and saw too many sufferings among the people..."
Zhou Ziru laughed at himself: "Ha...yes, I was born into the Zhou family in the capital city, and I have good clothes and good food, but I have never suffered any hardships or suffered any sins..."
He Yue'er shook his head: "Don't worry, Prime Minister Zhou. That's not what I meant. I mean...if Yi Xiaodao wakes up and finds that we have given up on Guicheng, he will definitely not be able to bear it!"
"I don't want him to fall into self-blame day and night. I also ask Prime Minister Zhou to think of other ways to save his life and return to the city!"
Zhou Ziru looked at He Yue'er intently, and Man Yong, who was standing aside, became suspicious of Qin Qian's capital, and stepped forward to block He Yue'er behind him.
"Miss Yue'er, I really don't have any love for the people. I am Daqi's literary prime minister, and I just want to protect Daqi's country."
"But you have to know that the country of Daqi is composed of tens of millions of people! How can you not care about the life and death of the people?"
Zhou Ziru waved his hand and said: "It's not like we don't care. If we return to the south, we will take away the people returning to the city with us. Miss Yue'er can rest assured about this."
"But…"
He Yue'er wanted to say something more, but Zhou Ziru waved his hand and said: "Miss Yue'er, I also know that Duke Wu Dining has a deep affection for you. But forgive Zhou for speaking frankly, such important matters of family and country are not something that you, a female class, can interfere with. Hey, let’s wait until Duke Wu Ding wakes up before making a decision.”
After saying that, he turned and left.
Qiang Yinjiao and Dao Henghai followed Zhou Ziru away. Jian Liuyun stepped forward and said with a smile, "Do you still care about the fate of this returnee? Why don't you go back and guard your little lover?"
He Yue'er rolled his eyes at her, and Jian Liuyun smiled and said: "Don't worry, Master is not that kind of unkind person. You should still care about Mr. Wu Ding. I'll leave first. If anything happens to Master, I will be there in time." I told you!”
After Jian Liuyun left, Man Yong said angrily: "Master's wife, this Prime Minister Zhou is too arrogant. Do you want me to punish him?"
Qin Changqian tapped him on the head: "What a shame! Even if we were able to stop them just now, it's because the other side didn't kill them! If they really fight, you can't deal with any of those women!"
Qin Changqian spoke a little more in front of Man Yong.
He Yue'er sighed: "I don't want Xiaodao's hard work to be in vain, but they are right, these big things are not my thing to worry about, go back."
As time passed, the city was busy with troops and horses. The people also knew that there was going to be a war, and more and more people fled back to the city.
But He Yue'er and the others, including Li Dingxing, didn't know what Zhou Ziru was doing. They only knew that soldiers and horses were rushing back and forth every day and everyone was busy.
"Report, Your Majesty, the Northern Yi army has occupied Juyi City, and they will reach Gui City in three days at the earliest!"
The King of the North and Zhou Ziru looked at each other. There was some deep worry in their eyes. It came too fast...
"Prime Minister Zhou, what do you think we should do now?" The King of Beidi had no idea and just wanted to hear Zhou Ziru's opinion.
Zhou Ziru frowned: "Since the Beiyi army is coming, we can't just run away. We have to send people to defeat the enemy, so that the show can be successful..."
"I'm going to send people to go around the rear, pretending to sneak attack on the opponent's baggage behind, and then fake defeat. If we leave some troops to resist in the city, we will definitely attract Beiyi to take the bait."
"Three days is just enough time. Let's evacuate and return to the city now."
The King of the North nodded and said: "If we attack the baggage by surprise, I still have a few strong generals under my command..."
"What's the use of a bull's-eye to kill a chicken? It's better to save the powerful generals under the prince to ambush the Beiyi!" A person said loudly outside the door: "The general is not talented, so I am willing to take the initiative to enlist in order to defeat the enemy's spirit!"
Zhou Ziru lowered his eyebrows and said, "Do you have the right to speak here?"
"Um... Prime Minister Zhou, please calm down." The visitor stood outside the door, not daring to talk back, but he started laughing after he finished speaking.
The King of the North looked at the visitor, who was young and heroic, with sparkling eyes and a very energetic look, and asked: "Who is this?"
The people outside the door did not dare to answer, so Zhou Ziru could only reply: "General Daqi, Xiao Kuan."
"Ah, I have heard something. I heard that General Xiao led only three thousand cavalry and attacked nine cities in Chuxiang? What a hero!" The King of Beidi looked at Xiao Kuan outside the door with admiration in his eyes.
Xiao Kuan grinned and said, "Your Majesty, you are so complimentary."
"Xiao Kuan, you heard the conversation between me and the prince just now. Do you dare to go to this battle?"
"I can't ask for anything more! I, Xiao Kuan, don't ask for anything else, but I just want to be famous all over the world and leave a name in history!"
The King of the North was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but smile: "General Xiao is really quick-tongued and doesn't hide anything about fame and fortune. This is the first time I have seen such a straightforward person."
"Prime Minister Zhou, Your Majesty, time is running out, how about... the general prepares to set off right now?" Xiao Kuan was impatient and couldn't wait any longer.
Zhou Ziru said slowly: "Xiao Kuan, listen carefully. This time is no different than before. Outside of Guicheng, outside the fortress, there are enemies everywhere. Have you thought clearly?"
When Xiao Kuan heard this, he stopped laughing and stood for a while with a serious face. After all, he couldn't hold it back and chuckled: "Ha, Prime Minister Zhou, I am a martial artist. What a martial artist wants is to be wrapped in horse leather..."
"Okay, then go ahead." Zhou Ziru nodded in agreement.
Seeing Xiao Kuan turn and leave, the King of the North didn't hesitate at all, and sighed slightly: "Good general! It's a pity to use it like this..."
Zhou Ziru was silent for a while and said, "Besides him, I have no other suitable candidate for the moment."
Xiao Kuan, who was walking in the palace, kept his eyes straight and walked faster and faster, almost running out of the palace at a trot. The moment they left the palace, Qin Changqian and Man Yong passed by the side door, and they were returning from martial arts practice.
Several people were separated by the door, without seeing each other.
After leaving the palace, Xiao Kuan looked south, with a rare melancholy: "Brother Qin, I don't know where you are... I'm the only one this time..." After saying that, he got on his horse and headed towards the north gate. .
Qin Changqian, who was in the palace, had just taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped, listening to the sound of horse hooves outside the door, he was entranced.
"Brother Qin, what's wrong?" Man Yong asked curiously.
Qin Changqian smiled and said, "It's okay. Who dares to ride a horse outside the palace?"
"Horse riding, by the way! Brother Qin, can you teach me how to ride a horse when you have time? Didn't you say that in Chuxiang, you kicked nine cities in a row? That's so cool!"
"Yes! Jiuzuo! There was another person at that time, and that guy was quite powerful..."
The two of them were talking and walking in the palace, and gradually disappeared into the depths of the palace...
Return to the city, north gate.
Five thousand cavalrymen were already ready to go. Everyone was holding guns, carrying bows on their shoulders, carrying knives on their waists, and hiding daggers in their legs, just waiting for the arrival of the general.
Xiao Kuan galloped on his horse. When he saw the crowd, he lightly jumped off his horse. Immediately, a soldier led him to replace it with a stronger horse.
Xiao Kuan looked at the cavalry in front of him and asked, "Do you know what we are going to do?"
The cavalrymen looked at each other, and no one answered.
In fact, they knew that they were all excellent cavalry selected by each army. How could they not know about this battle? Everyone wrote letters home and handed them over to the army. Prime Minister Zhou has promised that his family will have enough food and clothing. Is there anything better than this? At this moment, life and death are not so important.
"Very good, it seems you all know." Xiao Kuan grinned again.
If no one responds, no one objects. In Xiao Kuan's case, there is no objection, that is permission and agreement.
"But don't be afraid, I am Xiao Kuan, the famous general of the Yulin Army in the imperial court! In this battle, I, Xiao Kuan, and you will die, which will comfort you for the rest of your life!"
Xiao Kuan was stupid and didn't know what to say. After saying this, he had nothing more to say, turned around and shouted: "Open the city gate!"
The city gate opened slowly, and Xiao Kuan took the lead and rushed out: "Follow me and die!"
