Northern Dynasties

Chapter 496 Enemy Envoy Visits
The two cities fell one after another, especially the stone cannons used by the enemy when they attacked Zhongyi City were unimaginably powerful, which immediately made Heyang's defensive pressure unprecedentedly strong.

After the fall of Zhongyu City, Hu Lujin immediately recalled the troops dispatched to the south bank, and concentrated all the troops on the north bank for defense.

In view of the fierce attack of the enemy's stone artillery, Hu Lujin did not dare to gather all the horses in the city, but stationed along the river, with a battalion for dozens of miles, and expanded the defense range to reduce the power of the enemy's offensive.

Of course, he didn't dare to hide such a big thing as the loss of two cities in succession, so he immediately reported to Yedu, and by the way, told his son Hu Luxian about the enemy's intelligence, especially the identity of the enemy's chief general, that he had learned at the south bank. Play back together.

A few days later, a group of Yedu envoys headed by Chen Yuankang arrived at Heyang Camp.

Along with the team, there was a large cart with iron cages, which was particularly eye-catching. Before entering the gate of the camp, Chen Yuankang first apologized to Hu Lujin, who was leading the crowd, and then pointed to Xue Guyan behind him and ordered: "By the order of your son, Xue Guyan will be imprisoned and returned to the capital as punishment!"

Several powerful soldiers like wolves and tigers rushed forward, confiscated Xue Guyan's saber and stripped off his robe, took the shackles and threw them into the car, like a captured bear.

"Da Sima save me..."

Xue Guyan knew that the guilt was inevitable, but he never thought that Shizi would detain him like a beast in such a humiliating way under the eyes of everyone. For a while, he was filled with grief and indignation, looking at Hu Lujin and begging repeatedly.

After seeing this, Hu Lujin also showed embarrassment, and said to Chen Yuankang: "Xue Guyan was disadvantaged in the battle, and he is really guilty, but after all, his meritorious service is worthy of honor. I implore Chen Youcheng to take care of his dignity."

"Mr. Ping Qin's meritorious deeds, how can a lowly position not know? But now the army has been defeated and humiliated the country, and the capital is in turmoil. The prince is furious, and the lowly position is only following orders."

When Chen Yuankang heard this, he hurriedly bowed to Hu Lujin and said that he was helpless.

But when he saw Hulujin's son Huluxian walking into his entourage for a while, and the slaves in the team gave him another wink, he reluctantly covered the cage with a cloth curtain. It didn't change Xue Guyan's bad situation, but with this layer of veil covering it, it wouldn't directly expose the ugly people.

Immediately, dozens of soldiers were separated from this team, but they did not enter the camp, and pulled the prison cart that was imprisoning Xue Guyan, and then went straight back to Yedu along the way. The anger of defeat.

Hu Lujin knew that the son was also using this to express his dissatisfaction with him, so he invited Chen Yuankang and his party into the camp with due courtesy.

Sitting down with each other after entering the account, Chen Yuankang looked at Hu Lujin and asked directly: "My son is humble, I would like to ask Da Sima, can Da Sima promise to guard Beizhong City and never let the city fall into the hands of thieves again?"

When Hu Lujin heard this, he frowned slightly, and after a long silence, he said: "The thieves attacked the city before, and the artillery they used was really amazing, and the defenders couldn't deal with it. The central city is already its limit, once it sets foot on the north shore, tens of thousands of soldiers here will definitely be able to kill it..."

"Wait a minute, Da Sima means, is it possible for the bandit army to continue marching northward and reach the river bank?"

Before Hu Lujin finished speaking, Chen Yuankang asked again.

Although he was very reluctant to admit it, when he thought of the momentum of the enemy's attack on Zhongyi City, Hu Lujin had to admit that although he had tens of thousands of troops, he still couldn't guarantee that he could defend Beicheng without losing it.

And the preparations he is making now are no longer limited to the strongholds of the city, but to the tens of miles of river embankments on the north bank. Even if the north city is smashed and smashed by the enemy's stone artillery, he must fight bravely and prevent the enemy from landing on the river bank in its entirety. Opportunity.

However, Chen Yuankang was not interested in his overall tactical preparations. After confirming that Hu Lujin could not guarantee that Beizhong City would not fall, he said again: "Then I will arrange for Da Sima Lao to go to Zhongyi City to fight The thief will have a conversation."

"Chen Youcheng wants... This, is this what the prince means?"

After hearing this, Hu Lujin's expression changed immediately, and he stood up from his seat, with a wave of embarrassment welling up in his heart, he glared at Chen Yuankang and asked in a loud voice.

"Alas, the former division failed, and the situation in the middle school is quite unstable. Han Situ and other troops went to Henan, but there is no news so far. The son is struggling to maintain the situation in the capital, and Heyang has lost again... Heyang is absolutely Can't lose, no matter what!"

Seeing Hu Lujin's appearance like this, Chen Yuankang also stood up and looked at him and replied: "I brought a bandit to Li Tai's blood relatives on this trip, and my son told me that if Da Sima was able to protect Heyang, I would kill the bandit." All of you come to the river to kill the oath master. But if Da Sima... the lowly position also knows that this is unbearable, but Da Sima should also understand that Heyang will never allow any mistakes! May I ask Da Sima, should I go to the lowly position?"

Hearing Chen Yuankang throwing the question back to himself, Hu Lujin's expression darkened again, and he stood there for a long time before he sighed again, turned to the north and bowed to the ground, and said in a shy voice: " The minister has betrayed the king and insulted the prestige of the country...Chen Youcheng came from far away, so he must not know the details of the enemy's situation, my dog ​​Feng Lexin has returned from Henan, and I can serve as Chen Youcheng's guide."

The loss of the two cities of Heyang, to the current Eastern Wei Dynasty court, is like a leak in the house, and it rains overnight. The situation here absolutely cannot continue to deteriorate.

I have exhausted my strength here, so I can only find a way from the enemy.However, such things as seeking peace and persuading surrender obviously should not be done by the new eldest son Gao Cheng who is in charge of military affairs. Hu Lujin, who is on the front line and is at a disadvantage in combat, cannot escape the blame.

Li Tai was also a little dazed when Beizhongcheng sent a letter to the desk to talk about it.Although he also felt that he played pretty well here in Heyang, but Eastern Wei's endurance is so little?He was so embarrassed that he wanted to solve the threat he posed by means other than fighting.

However, after a little thought, he could understand the situation and mood Gao Cheng was facing at the moment.

As a second generation of power, Gao Cheng rarely experienced extremely dangerous situations except that he was shot by his father when he was young because he couldn't sit on the back of a bull while running.At least compared to his father Gao Huan who kept running away after several failed attempts to murder the boss, his stamina and toughness were not far behind.

Li Tai has the perspective of a latecomer, and understands that this turmoil is not dangerous for the Eastern Wei Dynasty.But in Gao Cheng's view, every moment of change since his father's death is a new challenge and new pressure.

This process of constant pressure is uncomfortable for anyone, and the limit that everyone can bear is also different.Gao Cheng is a smart person. Compared with his parents who are ready to fight for their lives, he has more bargaining chips and more choices, so he is naturally happy to solve problems in more ways.

Not to mention Li Tai, a little butterfly in the big era, in the original history, Hou Jing had completely rebelled and switched to the two countries. Gao Cheng was still willing to lower his profile and try To appease Hou Jing's surrender.

Although Li Tai was no more harmful to the Eastern Wei Dynasty than Hou Jing's rebellion, but now he is one step away from the north bank of the Yellow River, and he absolutely needs to be dealt with carefully.

But this is an analysis from the perspective of the Eastern Wei Dynasty. Li Tai himself does not have much demand for such a meeting.

To be honest, being able to capture Zhongyi City was already his limit, mainly because Hu Lujin sent people south to cut off his escape route so that he could not escape.

Before that, even Heyang Nancheng was just a windfall, in the final analysis, it was only because Xue Guyan seduced him here step by step.

If Xue Guyan hadn't been the first to tease and besiege Jingu City, he would either be sleeping in Hanguan City, or he would have gone to Yingchuan to pay respects to the general of the universe. As for being stuck on the river bridge, he couldn't advance or retreat?

He is currently at the forefront, it is always inappropriate to contact the enemy envoy rashly, and it is inevitable that he will chew his tongue if he is found out.But when he saw the list of envoys sent by the other party, he couldn't help but feel a little moved.

Chen Yuankang was one of the most important counselors in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. He was highly valued by the Gao family and his son. Li Tai also admired him for a long time, and he was not against meeting him.

However, if it was just Chen Yuankang, it would not be worth seeing Li Tai before the battle. Among the key companions were his relatives who stayed in the Eastern Wei Dynasty.

This made it impossible for Li Tai to refuse. Although his relationship with his relatives in the Eastern Wei Dynasty was not very deep, after all, the blood relationship was here.If because of his categorical refusal, his relatives ended up in the same fate as He Basheng's sons, he would inevitably feel sorry, and he would not be able to let go of his heart, and it would also give people a feeling of being too cold.

So he immediately wrote back and made an appointment with the other party to meet, and he himself went straight from Nancheng to Zhonglu City to wait.

After receiving Li Tai's reply, Hu Lujin and Chen Yuankang also secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, Li Tai was not so ruthless that he completely ignored the safety and death of his relatives and refused to communicate.

So they arranged the boat according to the time provided by Li Tai. Chen Yuankang, Hu Luxian, and two children of the Li family in Longxi went with them. Under the escort of a dozen guards with short blades, they took a small boat to Hezhou. Go to the Zhongli City on the top.

At the same time, Li Tai was already wearing armor, surrounded by his own soldiers, standing outside the north gate of Zhongli City quietly waiting for his relatives to arrive.

(End of this chapter)