Late Tang

The soldiers are approaching the city, and they are approaching Haobian!

Li Jing's soldiers were trapped in Duli Town, and he put forward harsh conditions for stopping the troops. In the City Lord's Mansion in Duli Town, everyone who had just been happy became listless again.Not only did Li Jing not die, but he also plotted an ambush and completely defeated their troops who attacked the camp.Even Wang Gai and Pei You, who had just been hailed as heroes, were captured by Li Jing again.Eight thousand soldiers and horses went out of the city, and now only half of the remnant soldiers returned after being defeated.

Fortunately, Li Jing only offered to hand over Feng Changgui this time, but not Wang Pu.

Zheng Jiezhi said helplessly on behalf of some representatives: "Let's spend money and eliminate disasters, this Li Jing, we really can't afford to mess with it."

Wang Pu said unwillingly: "We only need to stick to the city. With the strong city of Duli Town, Li Jing can't do anything to us."

"Of course we know this, but even so, as long as Li Jing stays outside, don't we have to hide in the city for the rest of our lives?" Zheng Jiezhi sighed, "Continuing to fight will only cause harm and no benefit. Once the city is surrounded, the people in the city How can a population of more than a dozen or 20 people be able to defend for a long time. Besides, if we continue to fight for a long time, the loss will only be greater than the present one. If Li Jing is so fierce, if the city is broken, he will regret it at that time."

"Give it to him, one hundred and eight families, each with 300 guan, and make up [-] million for Li Jing. As long as the army can be completely suspended, it will be worth it." These people were indeed frightened by the beating.Each family runs Duli Town, neither for hegemony nor for hegemony, but for making money.If it was said that they wanted to annex Qingni City before, it was because Qingni City had the largest port.But now, after getting entangled with Li Jing from Shamen Town, they fought several battles in a row, claiming that they had annihilated the United Fleet, and now they suffered consecutive defeats. A cavalry was defeated twice.

And because of these wars, the business routes in Duli Town have begun to be cut off, and the losses caused by this are quite huge.If Li Jing continued to besiege the city, the losses would be even more immeasurable.What's the deal with Li Jing? If you win him, it's impossible to occupy the Daxie Islands.

"If the owner of the city is because of the Feng family, then we can make a deal with Li Jing and let the Feng family take the money to redeem it. If the Feng family is willing to give Li Jing 100 million, I dare believe that he has always been known as a lover of money. Li Jing will definitely not insist on handing over the Feng family." Zheng Jiezhi suggested.

Feng Changgui sat at the last seat with a gloomy expression on his face.Take out 100 guan, and the Feng family has no problem.But if you want to spend 100 million, that's at least half of Feng's entire property.If Feng Zhang and Feng Yanqing were still there, it would have been better, but now that they are gone, the main branch of the Feng Clan is no longer able to do it, let alone he is only the Duli Town branch of the Feng Clan. [-] million, he would have to sell all his property to make it together.

Wang Pu said in a deep voice: "Okay, then please invite Zheng Gong to go to Li Jing's camp in person. If Li Jing is willing to suspend the army here and stop worrying about past grievances, I am willing to pay 100 million on behalf of the Feng family, but there is only one Conditions, Li Jing must beat gongs and drums, and the eight palanquin bearers accept my daughter Wan Jungong as his third wife."

Zheng Jiezhi nodded in agreement, and that day he brought a team of peasants to Li Jing's camp carrying hundreds of jars of fine wine and hundreds of cows.

Sitting in the tent, Li Jing couldn't help chuckling when he saw that the person who came was actually Zheng Jiazhi who signed the armistice agreement last time.

"The last time the agreement was written, you blatantly tore up the agreement. Why, why are you here again?"

Zheng Jiezhi smiled wryly and said: "The general misunderstood, the fact last time was a misunderstanding. It was Qingni City who attacked us first, and we were just forced to fight. A misunderstanding caused countless casualties. Regret. Now, I am willing to take the initiative to turn hostility into friendship, so that the two families will cease fighting and stop fighting."

"It's fine if I ask for a truce, but you are willing to agree to the conditions I proposed earlier? 500 million coins in money and materials, as well as handing over the Feng clan!"

"I, Duli Town, really want peace between the two families this time, so City Lord Wang proposed that Duli Town and Shamen Town marry together, and the daughter of City Lord Wang will marry General Li as the third wife. For this reason, Miss Wang's The Wang family of the father's family and the Feng family of the mother's family are each willing to donate 50 guan as dowry, and the other 410 families in our town are willing to give [-] guan as a celebration gift, so a total of [-] million guan in money, food and materials , as a gift of good union between the two families, from now on you and my two families will be friendly forever and will not offend each other."

What Zheng Jiezhi said was a little reserved, to save face for himself and Du Lizhen, the dowry comes with the gift, but it is actually just compensation. 400 million, this is a huge sum of money, Li Jing really hurt them this time.

"You go back first, let me think about it for a while before replying."

After sending the envoy, Li Liang immediately said: "I think this condition is acceptable, and we can't keep our soldiers and horses here forever. Our foundation is still in Dengzhou. Besides, if we don't agree, we can also conquer the capital city." Li Town is such a strong city. The long-term siege actually consumes not only Duli Town, but also ourselves. I think it is better to agree to the conditions of Duli Town. It is the best time to strike and truce. What's more, 400 Wan Guan, this is a lot of money. The Feng family is nothing to worry about now, so it's okay to let it go."

Li Jing pondered, and said softly: "It's just that Wang Pu asked me to take his daughter as a concubine. This matter is not easy to handle. If I accept it, then the Li family in Qingni City will inevitably care."

"My lord is too worried." Li Liang smiled lightly, "It's just a girl, how can it be a big deal. My lord just accepts it, so what does it matter. Qingni Li's family doesn't really mind, now that Li Lingfu is dead, Li Juren was seriously injured again, and it is estimated that he will not be able to survive. The only one left is Li Juyi, who is brave enough, but compared with his elder brother, he lacks some prudence and strategy. Compared with Li Lingfu, he is even worse. Now they have to stop at us to keep them Qingni City is not lost, how can I care about these little things. What's more, this Wang Pu's daughter has already been sent to the lord, whether you accept her openly or not, the Li family also sees it like this."

"Continuing the confrontation with Duli Town right now is an act that will hurt both sides, and peace will benefit both. As long as we keep a soldier in Qingni City, we can control Qingni City with our hearts and deter Duli Town. We You can return to Shamen Town by yourself, and you don’t have to be restrained here anymore.”

After listening, Li Jing still hesitated.The truce is also his plan, what he hesitates is still unwilling to reach an armistice agreement in the name of marriage.At this moment, a report outside the account suddenly said that Li Juyi asked to see him.

"Uncle, my elder brother is dying. He asked uncle to meet him and said that he has something to ask." Li Shouyi said with a sad face and choked up.

Li Juren picked up Li Juli yesterday, but returned with serious injuries.When he returned to the stronghold, he passed out and passed out. It took him a long time to wake up, but the whole person was already dying.He knew that he couldn't make it through, so he brought Li Shouyi and the four cavalry generals Cao Meng, Gao Duo, Yu Bao, and Li Biao, who were in charge of the crane, to deliver the funeral.Gao Duo is not only a general of the Crane Control Army, but also the younger brother of Mrs. Gao, the uncle of the Li Shouren brothers, and a nobleman of Goguryeo.

Seeing Li Juren's situation, he couldn't help but sighed: "Although Li Jing has sent troops to help and defeated Zhang Dewei and Duli Town successively, they were only defeated in the two battles but not completely wiped out. Li Jing's root is in Dengzhou, so he will not The general's army has been moving to Liaodong. After this battle, he will negotiate peace with Duli Town again and then withdraw his troops. If he leaves, I'm afraid we will fall into the covetousness of Beisha City and Duli Town again. Right now I am green There are only two or three thousand remnants left in the city, how can we be afraid. In my opinion, only by relying on Li Jing, may we be able to save Qingni City and the Li family."

Cao Meng is also Li Lingfu's old brother. At this time, he couldn't help saying: "The Li family's century-old foundation in Qingni City, how can you just give it away. You and I are both from the Li family, so how can you watch Qingni City change hands. Qingni City There are still [-] crane control troops in the city, as long as time is given, they will definitely be able to recover."

Li Biao is also a collateral branch of the Li family in Qingni City, and sighed: "It's just who can give us such time, even if Duli Town and Beisha City don't come to take it, seeing that we are so weak, there will be a lot of other people I want to seize Qingni City. Living in Liaodong is like being in a pack of wolves, once you get injured, you may be eaten by your companions."

Cao Meng glared at Li Biao: "Li Biao, you are also a descendant of the Li family, how can you say such a thing?"

"I'm also doing this for the good of the Li family. By attaching to Li Jing, at least I can preserve the family. But if it is annexed by other people, the Li family may not escape the disaster of extermination."

Li Juren was lying on the bed, listening to the disputes among the retainers below, he made up his mind, and said: "The current situation of Qingni City is difficult to save. My intention is to hand it over to General Li Jing, but what can I do?" He refused last time, so why is he willing this time? If General Li Jing refuses to protect Qingni City, Qingni City will be in danger, and the Li family will be in danger."

Yu Bao, who has never spoken, is in his 50s. He was the head of Li Lingfu's original guard. He followed Li Lingfu since he was a child, and became his guard when he grew up. Later, he left Qingni City with Li Lingfu and went to Liaodong.He is loyal to Li Lingfu and the Li family.

He said: "I think it's not that Li Jing doesn't want to collect Qingni City, but is actually still worried about the attitude of some others. Now that the young master is seriously injured, he personally entrusted Qingni City and Li's family to Li Jing at the end of his life. Come on, he can't make excuses."

Li Juren nodded after hearing this, and hurriedly asked Li Juyi to invite Li Jing to come.

Li Jing followed Li Juyi to Li Juren's tent, saw Li Juren's pale complexion, chapped lips, and loose eyes, so he knew that his life was not long.Li Jing stepped forward to hold his hand, and whispered a few words of comfort.

Two lines of tears rolled out of Li Juren's eyes, he held Li Jing's hand tightly, looked at Li Jing and said, "Please come here for no other reason. It's just because I'm not filial that my father entrusted me with the century-old foundation of Qingni City." In my hands, but I can't keep him. Now that I'm seriously injured, I'm afraid I won't be able to last for two or three days. Before I die, I'm worried about one thing, and I hope that my uncle will promise me, otherwise, I will die with regret."

"The eldest son said, as long as I, Li Jing, can do it, it will be done."

"Father died in battle, and now I am about to die again. Qingni City has no more than a thousand soldiers and is in danger. My nephew asked my uncle Nianza to be sworn brothers with my father. I have pity on the people of Qingni City and the Li family. Nicheng, save more than [-] people and my Li family, I will die in peace."

Li Jing said: "The third son died in battle, and the eldest son is seriously injured now, but he can still hand over Qingni City to the second son. The second son is brave, young and promising, and can take on this important task."

Li Juren said: "Second brother is more than brave, but he is still too young. He has been in the army and has never had experience in handling specific affairs. With the current situation in Qingni City, he cannot take on this important task. Yi can follow my uncle, or be a general, but he must not be allowed to take over Nicheng, otherwise, it will harm him."

Li Jing pondered for a long time: "Qingni City is a hundred-year-old foundation of my nephew's family, and I take it over with patience. Besides, now I am the deputy soldier and horse envoy of Daxie Village, and there are more than [-] people under my command. .”

Li Juren held Li Jing's hand tightly with both hands, and said: "Uncle, if you are worried that someone in Qingni City will not accept it, you don't have to. My mother and Uncle Meng have agreed on this matter. Now Ju Yi also has the same intention, and in addition The four major cavalry generals of my controlling crane army are here, and they are also willing to obey my uncle's orders from now on."

Li Jing was silent.

Li Juren said to Li Juyi: "You swear!"

"I, Li Juyi, hereby swear that I sincerely ask my uncle to take over Qingni City, and I have no second thoughts in my heart. If he repents in the future, he will be pierced by thousands of arrows and die a bad death."

Gao Duo's four cavalry generals also knelt down on one knee to Li Jing, swearing allegiance.

At this time, Li Jing stepped forward to support a few people, and reluctantly said: "So, I will take on this important task. Today, I also swear here that with me, Li Jing, I will protect the safety of the Li family. But beforehand Agreed, I will only take Qingni City temporarily, and when Juyi grows old and Qingni City is safe, I will hand over Qingni City to Juyi and return it to the Li family."

With Li Jing's consent, Li Juren was very pleased.

The next day, Li Jing, Li Juyi and Li Juren discussed the truce agreement of the envoys of Duli Town, and they had no objection to the agreement of Duli Town.Although Wang Wanjun had agreed to Li Juren's marriage proposal, since she had already joined Li Jing's side, the Li Juren brothers had already regarded her as Li Jing's woman.There is nothing wrong with the additional condition of public concubinage today.

Although they have a sworn enemy with Duli Town, since they have attached themselves to Li Jing, they also agree with Li Jing's decision to truce.My father attacked Duli Town once, and the whole army was wiped out.The coalition forces fought Duli Town again and were defeated again.If it wasn't for Li Jing's unexpected plan to win the round, it would be impossible to conclude the current alliance under the city.

In the afternoon of that day, ten miles below the town of Duli, between the two armies, the table had already been laid down.

Li Jing and Wang Pu, as representatives of the two families, signed their names on the truce agreement.That night, Li Jing beat gongs and drums according to the agreement, and carried the big sedan chair eight times to accept Wang Wanjun as the third wife.And Duli Town also paid the first batch of 100 million in compensation, which was naturally a generous dowry from Wang Wanjun's father and mother in name.The remaining 300 million will be delivered in installments within the agreed date with various grains, cattle, sheep, horses, slaves, and various materials ores.

Just after the lively concubine banquet in the first half of the night, Li Juren died of a hair injury in the second half of the night.In the early morning of the second day, Li Jing ordered the camp to be pulled out, and Li Juren's body was transported back to Qingni City.After a great battle, the soldiers finally ceased the war and negotiated a peace, and they triumphed.

(To be continued)