Wang Chongyin mostly played the role of a counselor around Li Yiyin, but he was definitely not a weak scholar.

Having lived a homeless life since he was a child, he learned early to protect himself with fists, swords and bows.

So the moment Pan Mei and Bi Hongyu showed their murderous intentions, Wang Chongyin woke up. This was Anding County, Jingzhou, the home base of the Zhangyi Army, not Xiazhou, Yinzhou.

The one hundred eagle cavalry he brought are still stationed outside the city. If he dares to act rashly, no one can save him.

Wang Chongyin's face was gloomy and ugly, and he forced himself to calm down.

But he found himself in an awkward situation. He had just stood up angrily and looked like he wanted to argue with Zhu Xiu. Now he knew that if a quarrel broke out, he would definitely be the one to suffer.

Wang Chongyin couldn't stand or sit. He was in a dilemma, and there was some sweat on his temples.

Zhu Xiu saw this, secretly laughed, coughed lightly and said: "Envoy Wang, please don't be angry. If you have anything to say, please sit down and talk."

Zhu Xiu took the initiative to speak, which was regarded as a rescue for him.

In an instant, Wang Chongyin felt a little grateful in his heart. He cupped his hands without saying a word, straightened his robes and sat down again, his face returning to calmness.

In this situation, he could only maintain his last trace of dignity by remaining silent.

As a special envoy of the Dingnan Army, even if he goes to Kaifeng, he can receive favors and courtesy from the court. Why is it that when he arrives at the territory of the Changyi Army, he is so low-key and always suffers from anger?

Zhu Xiu moved the tureen and said with a smile: "Your envoy said before that the two families have harmonious exchanges. The old commander and I agree. In the final analysis, our two families have no insoluble grudges and there is really no need to embarrass each other."

Wang Chongyin smiled to himself and said: "Zhu Sima understands justice well, and the Zhangyi Army will surely prosper under Zhu Sima's management in the future."

Wang Chongyin was indeed sincere in what he said. After the first confrontation and a few simple words, he deeply realized that this young man who occupied the top position in the Changyi Army should not be taken lightly.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Let's continue the topic just now. It is very simple for Li Shizhong to exchange for Li Guangrui. One thousand catties of gold, three thousand fine horses, and five hundred stallions. The ransom can be collected within two months and sent to

In Pinggao County, Yuanzhou, if you see money or horses, let them go."

Wang Chongyin cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "There are still more than two thousand captives. I also ask Zhu Sima to show his noble hand and release them all."

"I said, prisoners are not an option in the negotiation." Zhu Xiu shook his head and shook his feather fan lightly, "As the saying goes: 'Until the father dies, the disaster will continue.' These two thousand Wuyuan soldiers are the main culprits of invading Yuanzhou.

Keep them here and suffer a lot, which can also be considered as atonement for the people who died in Yuanzhou."

Zhu Xiu said solemnly: "To tell you the truth, I just want to use these prisoners to warn the world. Don't think that our Zhangyi Army is easy to bully, let alone take the lives of the people under our rule as a trifle! If you dare to invade Zhangyi Army's territory, you will be killed."

If one of my people robs one of my people's sheep or cattle, the price will be paid ten times or a hundred times!"

Wang Chongyin was angry, but also full of helplessness.

He finally understood that no matter how much he paid, he could not redeem the more than two thousand prisoners of war.

Although that group of miscellaneous soldiers did not have much value, they were also the most important force deployed by the Dingnan Army in Yanzhou.

If the prisoners were not returned, the Wuyuan Army would exist in name only, and the Dingnan Army would no longer have a deterrent force in Yanzhou.

The Baiyan Pool in Yanzhou is located more than a hundred miles north of Wuyuan, beyond the ancient Great Wall of the Qin and Han Dynasties. The Baiyan Pool is an important salt-producing area and an important source of salt tax for the Dingnan Army. It is protected by the Yuzhou garrison.

Therefore, the survival or death of Wuyuan Zhenbing is not important to the Dingnan Army. The symbolic significance is greater than the actual effect.

However, losing an entire formation of troops and horses at once was a major setback that the army had not encountered in more than ten years.

Wang Chongyin took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Putting aside the prisoners, I forgive Wang for speaking frankly, but the price your army is asking is too high."

Zhu Xiu asked strangely: "Li Guangrui is Li Shizhong's biological son and the heir to the Dingnan Army. Does your young master think that his life is not worth this money?"

Wang Chongyin smiled bitterly, cupped his hands and said with some pleading: "Zhu Sima's price is too high. Since the two families have repaired, we should show sincerity to each other. For three hundred catties of gold, one thousand fine horses, and fifty stallions."

The price is good."

Zhu Xiu shook his head: "Eight hundred catties of gold, two thousand five hundred fine horses, and four hundred stallions!"

Wang Chongyin gritted his teeth: "Five hundred kilograms of gold, fifteen hundred fine horses, and one hundred and fifty stallions!"

"Your sincerity is obviously not enough! Six hundred catties of gold, two thousand good horses, and three hundred stallions are all at the same price! No matter how low it is, there is no negotiation!"

Zhu Xiula had a long face, put on a very unhappy look, and showed the lowest price.

Wang Chongyin was at a loss for words, hesitated for a while, and sighed bitterly: "To be honest with Zhu Sima, good horses are easy to say, but we really can't afford so much gold and stallions..."

Zhu Xiu waved his hand and said with a half-smile: "Your envoy, please don't fool me. The Dingnan Army has accumulated more than a hundred years of savings, and has been doing business with Tubo and the Western Regions for many years. Merchants in the Western Regions like to trade gold and silver, as well as the Uighurs and Khitans from Jinshan.

people, often

I brought a large amount of gold and silver to Yinzhou and Xiazhou for trade. I was willing to believe it when other feudal vassals complained about poverty, but the Dingnan Army complained that they had no money... Haha, I'm afraid the gold in the Kaifeng treasury is not as good as yours, Li Shizhong

Plenty in the fanny pack!

Not to mention horses, before you occupied my Yuanzhou racecourse and took away more than a hundred stallions. During the Tang Dynasty, there were thirty-six racecourses in the Longyou Shepherd Supervisory Office, and thirteen of them were located under the jurisdiction of the Dingnan Army.

The Dingnan Army can be regarded as the place most in need of horses in our imperial vassal town.

You will definitely make the army so rich that even the officials will be jealous of you!"

Wang Chongyin laughed unnaturally and said: "Zhu Sima is joking. The Dingnan Army is located in a remote location with many mountains and little fields. It has to guard against the flooding of the Yellow River, the treasury is empty, and the people are hungry and cold. They really can't afford much ransom, let alone dare to

Compared with the capital city of Kaifeng! The official family is all over the world and rich all over the world. How can it be compared with the small army of troubleshooting..."

Zhu Xiu was too lazy to listen to his words and said mockingly: "If Li Shizhong feels that the Hetao area is barren, he might as well exchange with Zhang Yijun. We don't want more. We want Xiazhou and Yinzhou, and Jingzhou and Yuanzhou will be given to you.

How is it?"

"Uh..." Wang Chongyin was speechless and smiled stiffly, "Zhu Sima is really good at joking, how can he change the territory under the jurisdiction of a vassal town without authorization? Besides, there are a large number of party members living in Yinxia Prefecture, and it is the ancestral property left by Xia Guogong. It is absolutely not allowed.

Maybe in exchange..."

Zhu Xiu said impatiently: "Then stop talking useless words. Will you agree to the price I offer or not?"

"This..." Wang Chongyin was hesitant. The price was already higher than Li Yiyin expected.

Forget it, Li Guangrui is his biological son after all, and if he still wants to inherit the great cause and pay a higher price, Li Shizhong will not refuse to agree.

"Okay! Just follow Zhu Sima's request! Two months later, the two families reached a deal in Pinggao County, Yuanzhou!"

Wang Chongyin gritted his teeth, stomped his feet ruthlessly, and responded with his fists cupped.

Although these wealth did not come from his family wealth, as a member of the disaster-stricken army, he still felt that his heart was bleeding and his whole body ached like flesh was being ripped out.

"Your ambassador is indeed a cheerful person!" Zhu Xiu clapped his hands and laughed.

Wang Chongyin smiled uglier than crying. He hesitated and asked tentatively: "I wonder if Li Guangyan..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Xiu slapped the armrest of the chair, pretending to be indignant and said: "Li Guangyan led his army to invade our Yuanzhou Racecourse, and went south with Li Guangrui to harass the people and plunder cattle and sheep. This is an unforgivable crime.

!

This man was a tough guy. No matter how hard he was tortured, he would not say a soft word. He even cursed the old commander and me, and even greeted three generations of our ancestors!

Huh~ Didn’t this bitch threaten to be sworn in with me, the Chang Yi Army? Now that he’s in my hands, I must let him know how powerful he is!”

Zhu Xiu had a cold face and stared at Wang Chongyin warily: "Your Majesty, don't mention Li Guangyan again. Even if you offer twice the price, I won't be able to let him go!"

Zhu Xiu cursed angrily and glanced at the side door blocked by a screen from the corner of his eye.

Wang Chongyin's inner thoughts were as expected. The Zhangyi Army did not dare to touch Li Guangrui for fear of breaking up with the Dingnan Army, but they did not have so many scruples about Li Guangyan.

Li Guangyan's fourth brother and eldest sister both died at the hands of the Changyi Army, and the two sides formed a bloody feud. Now that Li Guangyan has been defeated and captured, he may not live long!

Wang Chongyin sighed with a grimace, and pretended to plead: "Please Zhu Sima, please show mercy. No matter what, please spare Li Guangyan's life..."

Zhu Xiu changed the subject and said, "I wonder how much Li Shizhong is willing to pay for Li Guangyan? If the price is right, it's not impossible to negotiate!"

"Um..." Wang Chongyin's face froze. Just now he had said angrily that he wanted to cut Li Guangyan into pieces with a thousand knives. Why did he turn around and start discussing the price again?

Zhu Xiu chuckled, looking like a profiteer: "If Li Shizhong can offer the same price, I can also consider sparing Li Guangyan's life..."

Wang Chongyin couldn't laugh or cry: "Didn't Zhu Sima just say that Li Guangyan's crime is unpardonable?"

Zhu Xiu smiled shamelessly: "Isn't this the envoy asking me to spare Li Guangyan's life? I have to show my respect to the envoy."

Wang Chongyin felt helpless and wanted to say that I was just saying casually. Why did you take it seriously?

He quickly understood that Zhu Xiu's fierce appearance of shouting and killing just now was just a pretense. The purpose was to raise the asking price and make another huge profit from Li Guangyan!

"Under the handsome appearance of this young man, Lang Siwen, he is actually so cunning and cunning! You really can't be judged by appearance~" Wang Chongyin looked at Zhu Xiu who was sitting high on the throne and smiling. He was extremely vigilant and kept reminding himself that he must not be fooled by this person.

Blinded by his appearance.

If he really changes to Li Guangyan, he doesn't know whether others will be happy or not, but Li Shizhong will definitely not be happy.

However, this is after all an internal struggle within the Dangxiang Army, and the delicate relationship between members of the Dangxiang royal family cannot be made public or explained directly.

Wang Chongyin considered his words and said: "In regard to Li Guangyan, can Zhu Sima give me a few days' grace and allow me to go back and report to Li Shizhong. After I get a clear answer, I will discuss it with Zhu Sima. But before I leave, I want to see Li Guangyan first."

Zhu Xiu thought for a while and said: "Okay! Li Guangyan is imprisoned in another prison and has suffered minor punishments. Your envoy must be mentally prepared and not be frightened... Let General Pan take your envoy there."

~”

Zhu Xiu winked at Pan Mei, who nodded understandingly, stood up and clasped her fists, saying: "The last general takes orders!"

Wang Chongyin followed Pan Mei to leave and went to see Li Guangyan in the cell.

The Li Guangyan that Wang Chongyin could see was naturally fake, pretending to be a death row prisoner with human life on his hands. After being tortured, his skin and flesh were torn apart beyond recognition, with only half a breath left. Wang Chongyin, the custodian, couldn't recognize him standing in front of him.

The screen moved away, and Yan Ping led Li Guangyan into the hall.

Li Guangyan was dressed in prison clothes, his hair was simply tied up, and his hands and feet were not shackled. He looked at the place where Wang Chongyin was sitting in a daze.

Bi Hongyu stood next to Zhu Xiu, holding her knife and watching him warily. The aura on this man's body was very dangerous.
To be continued...