"In this messy world, everyone has their own way of living. You can't force it." After leaving the military tent, Xu Mu walked to the edge of the forest with Yin Hu, who was rushing back.
In the forest, the hot sound of cicadas resounded. Si Huzheng took a few soldiers and ran into the depths of the forest to catch cicadas and cook them.
It was getting close to dusk, and the Puppet Capital of Cangzhou not far ahead was not closed. There are still many people asking for surrender, kneeling outside the city gate and refusing to retreat.
The military meeting did not explain the reason. Zuo Shiren was a little worried about the Demon Queen's fire city plan, and insisted on finding out more clearly before making any plans.
"Captain, Tai Shuyi said something when he left."
"What words."
"The Demon Queen... is a person who confuses the real with the fake. These words came from Taishu Wang's mouth."
"A person who confuses the real with the fake? What do these mean? Does it mean that the Demon Queen is fake?"
"On the way back, I thought about it, but I found that it was not right. If it is fake, why are so many people willing to be loyal to it?"
"Six Heroes, please pay attention to this matter and instruct the people below to follow this clue and see if they can find out anything."
Yin Hu nodded, "Then, helmsman, what should we do now in the imperial capital?"
"Zuo Shiren will send out the army tomorrow regardless of whether he can detect it or not. It has already taken a few days. If it continues for a few days, the soldiers' power of carrying victory will be completely lost."
"What I am most worried about now is Ning Wu. If he is not inside the city, he will definitely be outside the city. In other words, the Demon Queen still has an army hidden."
"Six Heroes, it's getting hotter and hotter these days."
Just saying that, Xu Mu stretched out his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Even at dusk, the sultry weather in late summer did not change at all.
"The day before yesterday, a soldier was hunting animals in the forest to make a fire, which almost burned the top of the mountain. Later, Yu Wen became furious and gave him ten strokes with his staff."
"There are clear rewards and punishments, this is natural——"
Before he finished speaking, Xu Mu frowned. When Tai Shuyi appeared, he thought about the possibility that it might be Tai Shuyi who had also been guessed by the Demon Queen's plan, so he went out of the city to talk about the Fire City Plan.
Whether the Fire City plan is actually implemented or not is another matter, at least for now, because of this ambush, it can be regarded as delaying the Allied forces' time.
"Six Heroes, you just said——"
"Yu Wen was so angry that he punished the soldiers with his stick?"
"last sentence."
"Some soldiers lit a fire in the forest and almost burned down the mountain."
Listening, something suddenly flashed through Xu Mu's mind. Yin Hu next to him also turned pale after thinking about it for a moment.
"What does the helmsman mean, the weather is dry and things are dry, so be careful with candles?"
"Exactly. Ning Wu's men and horses are hiding in the dense forest and mountains outside the imperial capital. Logically speaking, the imperial capital is in a hurry, and he should have come to the king long ago. But now, he has never come."
"Six heroes, send a message to Zuo Shiren quickly. In addition, cut down all the trees near the camp in advance."
"Don't worry, helmsman."
Just as Yin Hu turned around, in the faint darkness of dusk, he saw several signal arrows suddenly exploding in the sky in the blink of an eye.
Xu Mu's face turned red.
"My lord, the south gate of the imperial capital has been closed!"
"Damn it." Xu Mu gritted his teeth. As he thought, the plan of the Fire City was just a cover for the Demon Queen. What she really wanted to do was to rely on the dryness of the sky to burn down the dense forest near the imperial capital.
And Ning Wu is clearly the Shaoshan Man. The collected kerosene was sent out through a secret passage and handed over to Ning Wu.
"King Xu Shu, my alliance leader is here to tell you that the mountains and forests south of the imperial capital suddenly broke out on fire. The weather has been dry these past few days, and it is possible that the fire will burn all over the sky. I would like to ask King Xu Shu to return to the camp to discuss." There was another Dongling scout. , hurriedly rode over.
"Tell the leader of the left alliance to immediately send out the camp troops to cut down the trees near the camp."
Without intending to enter the account, Xu Mu hurriedly walked forward.
After less than a stick of incense, outside the imperial capital, the mountains and dense forests in all directions suddenly burst into flames.
Bursts of huge smoke surged into the sky crazily, gathering into a thick layer, and the clear summer moon could no longer be seen.
"Brother Xu! Brother Xu!" Zhao Di rode back to the camp in a hurry from a distance.
"It's not serious. I went to check the terrain nearby and found someone burning the forest. There was the smell of kerosene everywhere. I also heard that signal arrows were fired in the imperial capital, so I hurried back. But what happened? !”
"The Demon Queen is not planning to burn the city, but to burn down the mountains and forests!" Xu Mu said in a serious voice.
There are many mountains and forests in the south of the Yangtze River, which is not conducive to cavalry charges. Even if they are marching, they have to pass through mountains and mountains.
"How...could it burn up so quickly?"
"There is kerosene in the imperial capital and has been sent out. The Demon Queen is hiding an army to burn mountains outside the city. Brother Zhao, quickly order your troops to cut down the surrounding forests immediately. If there is a water source nearby, one And shipped.”
"Earlier, I advised the leader of the Left Alliance not to delay any further." Zhao Di gritted his teeth and hurriedly rode away.
Xu Mu raised his head and felt that it was getting hotter and hotter. The billowing smoke floated over condescendingly, captivating people's eyes.
Burning mountains certainly cannot burn down all mountains and forests. But even a large area nearby was enough to cause huge battle damage to the Allied camp.
…
On top of the city, Demon Queen Su looked calmly outside the city. Under the thick smoke, a smile appeared on her face.
"Your Majesty, there are many ordinary people and refugees in the nearby mountains and forests, about ten thousand people, who want to take refuge in the imperial city."
"Ignore them." The demon queen shook her head, "pass the order. From now on, there is no need to submit a petition to surrender. Inform all the troops to defend the city gate."
"Queen Mother, the Imperial City is a mountain city and does not have a moat. If the fire comes..."
"Then he should be martyred for his country."
The Demon Queen turned around coldly, "I still need to go back to the palace, so I'll leave the battle to defend the city to you."
"Xu Buyi? Zuo Ren? They are all dead souls plotted by me."
Kuai Jian Ah Qi also showed a smile. Holding his sword in his arms, he moved the crane to stir the water, and landed in front of his master.
…
In the narrow passage behind the Cangzhou Imperial Palace, three thousand dead soldiers in thick armor were already standing. When they saw the Demon Queen approaching, they all knelt down and clasped their fists.
"Your Majesty, let's get out of here. The world is vast. Queen Mother will help you choose another imperial capital. The orthodoxy of the Yuan family in the thirty states in the world is all in your hands."
The swaddled baby felt only the hot weather and suddenly started crying.
"My son will grow up quickly, and my mother will still watch over you to bring order to the chaos and unify the Central Plains and the outer lands."
"Ah Qi, enter the secret path."
Pushing aside a stone wall, the Demon Queen took three thousand dead soldiers and left in an orderly manner, taking advantage of the chaos. According to what she thought, the allied forces were now gathered in front of the imperial capital, and there were not many people left outside. With three thousand warriors and dead soldiers, it was enough to cross the river and leave.
It's hard to say that we can convince the Food King again to come to help in the battle.
"Xu Buyi, you are a step too late after all. Please die in the sea of fire."
…
