Chen Qing took the map given by Cui Jiu and compared it with the city model they made themselves, and found that there were discrepancies in many places. The biggest difference was the location of the warehouse. The location of the warehouse in the model was southwest of the city wall, close to the city wall, while the location of the warehouse in the map was
In the center of the city, there should be a residential area.
Liu Qiong asked doubtfully: "Your Highness, is this Cui Jiu's map reliable?"
Chen Qing smiled lightly and said: "This is his exoneration certificate. Do you think it is reliable?"
"But our intelligence shouldn't be wrong!"
"Of course our intelligence is credible, but there is a time issue. It took half a year to build this wooden city. In other words, the latest information is from half a year ago. A lot of changes will happen in half a year.
It’s not that Yan Chang doesn’t know that the warehouse is placed on the edge of the city and is easily attacked by fire. It’s believable that they recently moved the warehouse to the center of the city.”
Tang Qian next to him said with a smile: "It would be easier if the warehouse was on the edge of the city. We can burn the warehouse completely with a shot of kerosene. We can do this in normal times, but in wartime we will definitely move it to a safe area. This way
I find Fen Cui Jiu’s map to be credible, just like when we were at Ganquan Fort.”
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said: "If we can burn all the fodder in the warehouse, the situation will change."
Liu Qiong also said: "You can inform the intelligence scouts in the city and see if they can do anything."
Chen Qing sighed, "The problem is that we can't enter the city!"
Tang Qian smiled and said, "What if we let the Cui family think of a solution?"
A word reminded Chen Qing, and he hurriedly walked to the tent and asked: "Is Cui Yuan gone?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, I just left."
"Hurry up and chase him back to Ali. Just tell me that I have something to do."
Several soldiers rushed to catch up, and soon Cui Yuan, who had just left not long ago, was chased back.
Chen Qing invited him to the main tent and said, "Can Mr. Cui go see Cui Jiu?"
Cui Yuan reacted very quickly and said with a smile: "Your Highness, you want me to deliver a message to the city?"
Chen Qing nodded, "Exactly!"
Cui Yuan smiled slightly and said: "I can give it a try, but there is no guarantee that I can enter the city."
The gate of Daming City was closed, and there were soldiers from the army pacing back and forth on the top of the city. At this time, an ox cart slowly approached the south gate. A man on horseback followed the cart. When the defenders saw it, they immediately fired arrows as a warning.
.
"stop!"
The oxcart stopped, and the man following the oxcart urged his horse forward and said to the city head: "My master is the elder brother of Manager Cui. I have important matters to see Manager Cui!"
Manager Cui was Cui Jiu, and all the soldiers in the city knew that he was Manager Cui's brother. They did not dare to neglect, and quickly said: "Please wait a moment, we will report!"
The soldier hurriedly ran to report. It was getting very late at this time, almost two o'clock, and Wan Yanchang had already gone to bed. After receiving the report, he said after a while: "It is not appropriate to open the city gate in the middle of the night. You can inform Manager Cui to go to the top of the city to speak.
Talk, if you have anything to do, we’ll talk about it tomorrow!”
The soldier ran to inform Cui Jiu again. Cui Jiu had just fallen asleep when he was woken up by his servant. Hearing that his elder brother was coming, he didn't know what had happened, so he quickly put on his clothes and rushed to the south gate.
Cui Jiu came to the top of the city, looked down, and asked loudly: "Is that eldest brother below?"
"I am exactly that, Ah Jiu, can you let me go into the city for a chat?"
Cui Jiu asked the general guarding the city next to him: "Can you open the city gate and let my brother in?"
The city guarding general shook his head, "Manager Cui, I'm sorry, we asked the capital marshal for instructions, and he said that the city gate cannot be opened at midnight."
"This is so inhumane!"
"Manager Cui, I'm so sorry. If I can help, I will definitely help."
Cui Jiu thought for a while and said: "Let's do this! Open the outer city gate, but the inner city gate is closed. I will go to Wengcheng to see my brother."
The general who defended the city still smiled bitterly, and Cui Jiu immediately said angrily: "How can there be such a difficult person? I will go find the marshal!"
The general who defended the city said quickly: "Don't bother Marshal Du any more. Let's do this! We can put the steward down in the city. The city gate won't open, but the steward can still see his brother!"
Cui Jiu snorted with great dissatisfaction, "Okay then!"
There is a well-like wheel on the top of the city, with a hanging basket underneath. When it is inconvenient to open the city gate, people are allowed to temporarily go out to do business. Cui Jiu sat in the basket and was slowly lowered into the city by a rope.
The general who defended the city looked at them and saw that they were talking and said some words. The two hugged each other and said goodbye.
After the ox cart left, Cui Jiu went up to the city in a basket. He felt a little depressed. He thanked the general who defended the city and returned to his house.
Back in the house, Cui Jiu came to his study and lit the lamp. He closed the door and took out a knife from the drawer. After thinking about it, he opened the window and looked to make sure there was no one outside. Then he took out a knife from his pocket.
Take a hard wax pill and cut it open with a knife. Inside is a piece of paper filled with words.
When he opened the note, he was shocked. It turned out to be written by Chen Qing himself. He opened it and read it silently, then threw it into the incense burner together with the wax shell and burned it. The firelight illuminated his face, making him look particularly relaxed. Chen Qing finally
The letter gave him a promise.
Early the next morning, Cui Jiu came to the government office. Wan Yanchang said with concern: "You can't open the city gate at night last night. This is a strict order. I asked someone to open the city gate in the morning, but your brother has already left. I'm sorry!"
Cui Jiu bowed and said: "Thank you Marshal Du for your concern. I completely understand that it is a principle not to open the city at night, and my brother just came to say a few words to me."
"Is there anything going on at home?"
"My second brother has passed away and there will be a funeral tomorrow. My eldest brother hopes that I can go back and take a last look. I have already refused. Let my son take my place!"
"Hey! If it's not a special situation, you might as well go back and take a look. A big war has changed a lot."
Cui Jiu resigned and went to his official room. Wan Yanchang thought for a moment and then sent someone to find the general who was on duty last night.
Not long after, the general who was guarding the south gate last night hurried over, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See you, Marshal!"
Wan Yanchang whispered: "Tell me the details of the meeting between Mr. Cui and his brother last night. Don't hide anything."
The general on duty recounted what happened last night in detail, and finally said: "Because Marshal Du strictly prohibited opening the city gate, no matter what Mr. Cui asked, the humble officer did not agree. In the end, he had to work around it and use a hanging basket to release him.
down town."
"Did you see any correspondence between them?"
"No!"
"Are you sure you haven't?" Wan Yanchang asked again.
"Bizhi kept staring at them and could see clearly that they were talking and the other party seemed to be making some request, but Manager Cui kept shaking his head. Then they had no choice but to hug and say goodbye."
Wan Yanchang nodded, "Go ahead!"
The general on duty bowed and left. Wan Yanchang knew the virtues of these aristocratic families very well and would avoid danger. He also knew that Cui Jiu sent his son away. He suspected that Cui Jiu's brother wanted Cui Jiu to return.
Cui Jiu did not agree, obviously because he was afraid of his own revenge.
Wan Yanchang shook his head and said: "Winning the loyalty of these guys is simply a fool's errand!"