A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

When the negotiations reached a stalemate, Wang Xuance took the initiative to make overtures, and the Song state naturally had to reciprocate in kind.

However, Song Zhong was reluctant to compromise on the matter due to the expense. In addition, Liu Wei was kept in the dark and focused on negotiations, which led Song Zhong and the Prime Minister to believe that Wang Xuance had already been persuaded.

The issue now is the cost; as long as a sufficient cost is paid, everything will be fine.

Moreover, the Divine Empire also values ​​its reputation. If it goes back on its word, how can it lead the entire Chinese civilization?

Under these circumstances, Song Zhong felt that having so many troops stationed throughout the capital was somewhat of an eyesore.

So he reduced the number of guards to respond to Wang Xuance's overtures.

Song Zhong's choice delighted Wang Xuance; he had never seen such a fool.

The enemy is still outside the city, and they've already started to tie their own hands. Tsk tsk tsk, could it be that they've awakened the bloodline of their Song ancestors?!

Which feudal lord still insisted on etiquette on the battlefield? He was recorded in military books by strategists and ridiculed for over a thousand years.

Wang Xuance used the pretext of transporting prisoners to send Jiang Shiren with a group of soldiers to gradually approach the city gate.

Upon reaching the city gate, Wang Xuance discovered that there was an even greater surprise.

To show his respect, the Song general personally greeted them at the gate.

Wang Xuance licked his lips. Heaven was giving him an opportunity to make a name for himself, but if he didn't seize it, he would suffer the consequences.

He gave Jiang Shiren a signal, and Jiang Shiren walked toward the general with a smile on his face.

Although the general hated the man who had killed many of his soldiers to the core, he had no choice but to bow his head under the eaves of the house and take a few steps forward with a forced smile.

Jiang Shiren bowed to the general, and the general returned the bow.

At that moment, at that opportunity, Jiang Shiren charged toward the Song general, slit his throat with his sword, and killed him.

"Rush!"

The 5000-strong allied army, disguised as prisoners, and the 1000 guards, launched a sudden attack and, taking advantage of the Song army's unpreparedness, directly occupied the city gate.

The city gate was too small to allow too many people to pass through.

With 6000 troops, they could hold the place for a while. Wang Xuance returned to his previous camp early. For the past few days, he had been sending people back secretly every night, waiting for this opportunity.

There were now tens of thousands of troops in the camp, and Wang Xuanling personally led them straight toward the city gate.

At the same time, he ordered someone to send a signal so that the army ten miles away could arrive simultaneously.

It's only 10 li (approximately 5 kilometers), not even as far as the distance from the city gate to the palace.

By the time Song Zhong in the palace receives the news, they may have already completely occupied the city wall.

not good!

Only then did the guards at the city gate realize that the Tang Dynasty had broken the alliance and was attacking them again.

No, the two sides are still negotiating, and it seems that a formal ceasefire agreement has not yet been signed.

They are still enemies!

The troops around the city gate rushed to defend it, but after being redeployed twice by Song Zhong, the city gate was left with less than 10 defenders. Moreover, under Song Zhong's orders, some of them were resting and others were on night duty, leaving only 3 men on the scene.

Logically speaking, if the Song Dynasty were to attack, these 3 men would be enough to hold out for a period of time, allowing the main army inside the city to move to the city walls for defense.

But this is not the normal situation. The Song general was killed on the spot, and the 6000-strong allied army has taken control of the city gate. Wang Xuance will arrive with his army soon.

To change the situation with just 30,000 men would require an exceptionally outstanding general among them.

Another problem arises: the Grand General himself came to welcome the prisoners released by the Tang envoy, so how dare you, a mere city gate guard, not come down and follow him?!

Of course I wouldn't dare!

The city gate guard was right behind the general. After Jiang Shiren killed the general, he took advantage of the general's dazed state and sent him to meet the Song general with a single blow.

Now the city gate garrison not only has 3 men, but it is also leaderless, with all the generals above the rank of lieutenant general killed.

In this situation, they had no way to form an effective offense or defense. When Wang Xuance arrived with his troops, the allied forces switched from defense to offense and charged towards the city walls.

Song Zhong, who was in the palace, did not receive the news until the army arrived and completely occupied the city wall.

"How is that possible?"

"Isn't the Tang envoy still in the palace?!"

"How dare they?!"

"Where is the General? Tell him to immediately mobilize troops to defend the city!"

Song Zhong roared!

"Also, go see if Liu Wei is here, and bring him to me!"

"Your Majesty, the Grand General went to receive the prisoners and was executed on the spot!"

The messenger at the city gate said something that left Song Zhong speechless.

"Where is the General of the Flying Cavalry?!"

Song Zhong asked.

"The General of the Flying Cavalry, following behind the General, was caught off guard by the Tang army and launched a surprise attack, and he also died on the battlefield."

Song Zhong: "..."

"Where is General Wei?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, General Wei and General Piaoji, who were standing on either side of the General behind him, have also died in battle."

The messenger said, head bowed.

Song Zhong's eyes were somewhat blank. Of the three top generals of his Great Song Dynasty, not one of them was left.

Now, if we want to gather troops and drive out the Tang army, we can't even find a commander.

"Then tell me, who else is alive?"

"Your Majesty, I am only responsible for the soldiers at the city gates. I do not know which generals are in the army."

Song Zhong waved his hand and did not make things difficult for the messenger. Instead, he dispatched half of the Imperial Guards to lead the army to defeat the allied forces led by Wang Xuance.

After the Imperial Guards were dispatched, the remaining Imperial Guards also dragged Liu Wei out of bed.

"Excellent methods, brilliant schemes, utterly shameless!"

Song Zhong looked at Liu Wei in front of him and said through gritted teeth.

Liu Wei was completely dumbfounded. What happened? Weren't they talking perfectly fine? Why were they dragged off the bed?

He hasn't even put on his clothes yet!

This is truly an insult to civility!

"What does Your Majesty mean by this? Do you intend to wage war against our Great Tang Dynasty by insulting me like this?"

"The allied forces led by our Great Tang are now outside the city. Your Majesty should think carefully!"

Liu Wei threatened!

"you do not know?"

Song Zhong looked at Liu Wei with a puzzled expression, but Liu Wei's expression didn't seem fake.

"Know what?"

Liu Wei looked completely bewildered, his eyes filled with utter naiveté.

Song Zhong fell silent. It seemed that Liu Wei was really just a nobody who knew nothing at all.

"Wang Xuance, under the pretext of sending prisoners, dispatched allied troops disguised as prisoners. Taking advantage of the time when the Grand General, the General of the Cavalry, and the General of the Guards were returning to their camps to collect prisoners, they launched a sneak attack without any regard for military ethics. The Grand General, the General of the Cavalry, and the General of the Guards died on the spot."

"They're attacking the city gates now. It's your turn to tell me, what exactly are you trying to do?!"