Li Zhang snorted listlessly and raised his hand to point outside: "Persevere? How can I insist? Listen to what's going on around you. The Zhenjiang Army has broken through the city wall and is about to enter the city..."
"We can break through!" Ye Rongcheng said firmly: "I still have a cavalry in my hand. If I have to break through, I can give it a try!"
Li Zhang glanced at him and said in a deep voice: "General Ye, I don't have the energy to hold on any longer... You can go on your own, break out with your brothers, meet with my master, and help him make a comeback... Here you go. I take revenge."
Ye Rongcheng was stunned when he heard this. He heard the meaning behind Li Zheng's words. The young Prince Jin was planning to give up. It's no wonder that facing a formidable opponent like Li Jiangyao and hundreds of thousands of powerful troops holding the territory, no matter whether they defend the city or break through, their hopes are slim.
After a moment of silence, Ye Rongcheng finally raised his hands and said, "Your Highness...then...it will be over..."
"Let's go quickly," Li Yan waved his hands feebly and said painfully: "I'm afraid it's too late. I will stay and die with the enemy!"
Ye Rongcheng showed a sad expression on his face, said "Your Highness, take care", then turned around and strode away. Now the Zhenjiang Army is still fighting for the city wall defense line with the defenders. If the Xuanjia Cavalry attacks outward along the city gate, there may be a way out.
Seeing Ye Rongcheng's back walking further and further away, Li Zhang's eyes gradually narrowed, and a cunning light kept flashing in his eyes.
"Cold Mountain!"
"This is my humble duty. Please give me your orders, Your Highness!"
"Act immediately," Li Zhang stood up suddenly, taking off his armor and ordered: "Ye Rongcheng leads his troops to break out, which will definitely attract all Li Jiangyao's attention. Take this opportunity, let's get out of the city through the secret passage! Damn it! Yes, leave quickly!"
Li Zhang's actions were not sloppy. Just when Ye Rongcheng went to gather his soldiers and horses, preparing to attack at all costs, he was already protected by his own soldiers and moved from the secret passage of the Jin Palace to a stable not far from the north city wall. inside, and then fled out of the city through the tunnel over there.
This route was originally set up by Lao Jianhua himself, and no one else knew about it except Li Zhang and his captain Leng Shan. The letter Lao Jianhua left for him also specifically mentioned that if Hangzhou could not be defended, he would use this road to safely transfer to save his life in order to make a comeback.
The reason why Li Zhang acted frustrated in front of Ye Rongcheng and even planned to stay and fight against the Zhenjiang Army was because he needed to let the other party act as a scapegoat to attract Li Jiangyao's pursuit and encirclement, so that he could escape calmly.
If Ye Rongcheng knew about this cold-blooded and sinister plan, he didn't know what the loyal General Xuanjia would think.
Li Zhang followed the secret road to the stables in the north of the city. However, he did not rush to find another entrance to escape from the city. Instead, he ordered his soldiers to hide temporarily until it got darker and the Zhenjiang Army completely invaded the city and began to surround Ye Rongcheng. .
At that time, there was chaos outside the city and visibility was unclear, making it very easy to escape from danger.
Li Zhang hid in the hay house, sitting on the haystack and chewing dry food, while listening to what was going on outside. At this time, the north of Hangzhou City had been broken through by the Zhenjiang Army. A large number of heavy infantry entered the city to pursue and eliminate the remnants of the Qing rebels. At the same time, they advanced towards the Jin Palace, the Dudu Palace and the city gates in other directions.
The sound of horse hooves, footsteps and commands on the streets indicates that the rebel base camp is being recaptured.
Li Zhang looked through the wooden grille at the top of the hay house to see that the sky was getting dark outside, so he slammed the flour cake in his hand on the ground and shouted in a low voice: "It's almost done, let's start taking action!"
Following his order, four soldiers took the lead in entering the secret passage and were responsible for opening the way, while Li Yan, accompanied by Leng Shan, followed into the secret passage. Behind them, there were four other security masters covering them.
The group of people walked forward cautiously in the deep secret passage. After about half an hour, the flat road began to gradually slope upward, indicating that they were getting closer to the exit.
Li Zhang asked breathlessly: "Is it reliable up there? Is the war horse okay?"
Leng Shan, who was following him quickly, responded: "Your Highness, please rest assured. The exit is located in a small forest, surrounded by shrubs and covered with weeds. It is very remote and hidden. However, the horses have been kept far away. I don’t know if anyone discovered me in the woods.”
"Let's take it one step at a time!" Li Zhang wiped his sweat helplessly: "If it doesn't work, just steal and rob. The war is chaotic, so it shouldn't be a big problem to recruit a few isolated Xinjiang troops."
While he was talking, the soldiers responsible for exploring the path in front had stopped. Two of them were cooperating to push up the upper cover and secretly peered out.
Li Zhang knew that the exit was coming, and he couldn't help but become a little nervous. He whispered to the front: "How is it? Is there anyone outside?"
The soldier at the top looked at it for a while and responded quietly: "No, it's quiet everywhere, and it's almost dark."
"Okay!" Li Zhang was overjoyed when he heard this, and quickly urged: "Hurry up, come on!"
The soldier agreed, and he and his companions struggled to push open the heavy cover, then turned over and climbed up.
Li Zhang waited for a moment and saw that there was no movement outside, so he boldly got out. Leng Shan and others followed, and then they all climbed out.
The dense forest they were in was surrounded by darkness. In the distance, the city of Hangzhou was blazing with flames and the sound of killings. A large number of troops from the Xinjiang Army were advancing towards the city at a distance of hundreds or even thousands of steps.
Li Zhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to ask Leng Shan and the others to find the horses that had been hidden nearby. Unexpectedly, before he could say anything, a loud shout suddenly came from the surrounding dense forest, and then, countless torches lit up one after another. The whole forest was illuminated as if it were daytime.
Thousands of warriors wearing black armor, white robes on their shoulders, sharp knives on their backs, and flat-ended hard crossbows surrounded Li Zhang and others.
Li Zhang looked at these ambush soldiers who suddenly appeared in front of him in disbelief. He was stunned on the spot for a moment, not knowing how to react. It is definitely impossible to rush in forcefully, and it is even more futile to escape back to the tunnel. Since the other party was able to block here and wait for him in advance, the entrance to the city must have been exposed and fell under the control of the Xinjiang Army.
But Li Zhang really couldn't understand how Li Jiangyao was able to predict the unknown and guess that he would break out from here, and also knew the specific location of the secret passage.
Just when Li Zheng was at a loss, Li Jiangyao, the chief guard of the Zhenjiang Army, stood out from the crowd and strode up to Li Zheng and his guards. Next to him, there was also a Hu man in casual clothes.
Li Jiangyao looked Li Zheng up and down, and sneered: "Li Zheng, your movements are too slow, which made me wait for a long time. I waited until now, probably because I wanted that idiot Ye Rongcheng to help you. Are you going to lure us away by making noises in the east and west?"
Li Zhang looked around nervously and asked sharply: "How did you know that this king would come here?"
Li Jiangyao raised his hand and pointed at the Hu man next to him: "This is the leader of the Hangzhou branch of our Zhenjiang Army Intelligence Department, Gezitijiang from the Kingdom of Qiuci. Your every move cannot escape his eyes. .As for today’s situation, let him answer your questions.”
Hearing this, Gezitijiang smiled slightly, took two steps forward, and then shouted loudly to Li Zhang and others: "Lengshan, you can leave safely. Your wife, children, and parents have been brought here from Lingling. I’m waiting for you in Yuhang right now.”
Upon hearing this, Li Zhang couldn't help being shocked, and subconsciously turned to look at his guard captain Leng Shan. Leng Shan didn't even look at him. He walked straight to Gezitijiang and said honestly, "Thank you for your kindness, sir, for letting me, the youngster of the Leng family, live. Leng Shan is willing to accept the sanctions of the imperial court."
Gezitijiang nodded and said with a smile: "You have abandoned the dark side and surrendered to the bright side. Our army will no longer pursue you. Go back and reunite with your family."
Hearing what he said, Leng Shan quickly thanked him again, while Gezitijiang waved his hand: "You should thank our Protector."
Leng Shan quickly saluted Li Jiangyao again: "Thank you, Protector, for your magnanimity!"
Li Jiangyao smiled faintly and motioned for Leng Shan to leave first. Then he looked at Li Yan, who was full of anger: "How is it? How does it feel to be betrayed and plotted?"
"Li Jiangyao, you bastard!" Li Zhang pulled out his sword and shouted: "Who are you a fucking hero for engaging in conspiracy and conspiracy?! Lengshan's parents and children have been taken hostage by you, how can he not be obedient? Are you obedient? I am not convinced?"
Li Jiangyao also slowly drew out the Xingluo Knife and said calmly: "Who cares whether you accept it or not? I only care about one thing. How did my teacher, Commander He Jingming, die in your hands?"
Li Zhang was stunned for a moment, and then he said with a strange smile: "Want to know? I might as well tell you. He Jingming is nothing more than the number one general in Shengtang. The three thousand soldiers under my command were guarded by his Fierce Blade Army. The horse was killed to pieces, but he himself couldn't even lift the sword, so he was stabbed to death by my sword. Hahaha, Xingluo's sword skills are famous all over the world, but in the end he was still defeated by me?"
Knowing that he was trapped in a tight siege tonight and would never have a chance to escape, Li Zhang went crazy, laughing and cursing loudly, and repeatedly belittling He Jingming.
Li Jiangyao's eyes gradually gathered a strong chill. After the other party finished speaking those crazy words, he said coldly: "Three thousand people attacked two hundred colleagues from the Holy Tang Dynasty and killed an old man who was seriously ill." Li Zhang , your life is simply the greatest humiliation in the world!"
"Come on, I can't kill you within three moves, I'll let you go!"
Li Zhang raised his eyebrows: "Is this true?"
"I swear by my teacher's Xingluo sword," Li Jiangyao stared confidently at the enemy in front of him: "All the white-robed soldiers are witnesses! If you can take three swords from me, I will let you live."
"Hahaha, okay!" Li Zhang looked up to the sky and laughed: "Li Jiangyao, don't regret it!"
After saying that, he jumped up and stabbed straight at the opposite side with his fierce sword.
