Some soldiers turned their heads to look south and saw flames rising into the sky.
"Did you get lost?"
"It's probably because of the water..."
Less than half an hour later, dozens of people on fast horses rushed to the city. Someone shouted: "There is a camp roar in the South Camp! Let me enter the city quickly, I want to see the manager."
"Who is coming?!"
"There is a silver talisman here at the Qianhu Branch of the South Camp of Dali City. Let me enter the city quickly."
"General, please wait a moment. Let me verify the silver talisman and report it to the city guard."
"Damn it! In this peaceful time, you just let me enter the city. I'm so long-winded, and it's delayed important things. Can you afford it?!"
"General, wait a moment..."
The city gate just opened, and the leading general threw down the silver talisman and rushed straight into the city without waiting for the defenders to see their faces clearly...
Dali General Administration Office.
Duan Xingzhi no longer lives in the Dali Palace, which has now been converted into a palace.
The best mansion in the city originally belonged to Gao Taixiang, but it was changed to the Marshal's Mansion.
Duan Xingzhi had no choice but to change Gao Taihe's residence to the Dali General Manager's Palace.
That night, he still hugged his beloved concubine Zheng Huiyuan to sleep...
Zheng Huiyuan could not be called beautiful. She was over thirty years old and had been married before. When Duan Xingzhi was the emperor of Dali, he had many concubines and was not very fond of her.
But when the Dali Kingdom was destroyed, she was the only one among the concubines who fled to Shanchan with Duan Xingzhi; after the surrender, she was the only one who still regarded him as the British master who protected his subjects.
Every time she looked at him, the look in her eyes was so sincere and sincere that no other woman could act out.
The ancestral foundation passed down for twenty-two generations and lasted for 317 years, but died at the hands of Duan Xingzhi. Sometimes in the dead of night, Duan Xingzhi felt extremely guilty in his heart. It was Zheng Huiyuan who relieved the pain for him.
Duan Xingzhi has enjoyed too many blessings as an emperor in his life. After this ordeal, he no longer indulges in beauty. Now he only wants to stay with this woman, Zheng Huiyuan.
This is another side of him. In the eyes of others, he is a surrendered king, a lackey who helps the tyrants do evil, and a coward who ruins the inheritance of his ancestors and lives in vain.
But in front of Zheng Huiyuan, he is just a man. He is knowledgeable, calm, elegant, knowledgeable about Buddhism, and understands emotions... Of course, they are an old couple, so he doesn't have to show off these things.
While sleeping until midnight, Duan Xingzhi suddenly trembled and opened his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Although there was only a slight movement, Zheng Huiyuan woke up and asked softly.
Duan Xingzhi opened his eyes and looked at the curtain, hugged Zheng Huiyuan, and murmured: "Just now, I dreamed of Hara and Forest again. The vast territory of the Mongolian country, the strength of the Khan... It's scary, but respectable."
"Lang Jun went to Mobei personally for the people of Dali and experienced hardships."
"Well, people in the world always think that I came down just to survive. They don't know that I want to save the Duan family and rule my subjects... But you are the only one who understands me."
"Mr. Lang, I know you personally." Zheng Huiyuan wanted to comfort him, so she leaned forward gently.
Duan Xingzhi stroked her long hair and said, "I'm tired today, go to sleep."
"I want to try again and give birth to a child for my husband."
Duan Xingzhi couldn't help but sigh and said: "There's no need to try, I can't give birth."
Zheng Huiyuan was moved by the fact that a former emperor and now a steward could say such things, and said softly: "It must be the concubine's fault. Try again. If it doesn't work, you can take in a few more concubines."
"It's God who punishes me, it has nothing to do with you." Duan Xingzhi said: "From now on, the hereditary manager of Dali will be left to my brothers. But it's ridiculous. Duan Shi fought so hard that he actually got ahead of me.
.”
"He's a young man with a lot of energy, so he deserves to be in trouble like this."
"He has no idea that I only want to preserve the Duan family and live up to my ancestors." Duan Xingzhi sighed: "Oh, I just hope that the days to come will be peaceful..."
At this point, there were several screams outside.
"There is an assassin! Manager, hurry up..."
Then there was a "pop" sound, the sound of blood being splashed on the door.
The two people in the room were shocked and sat up.
After a while, someone opened the door and came in, and the light of the torch illuminated the room.
The maids who were waiting for the night panicked and shrank into the corner.
"Don't panic." A young voice said, "Don't yell, don't resist, I won't kill people indiscriminately."
Duan Xingzhi blocked Zheng Huiyuan behind him and shouted: "Who are you?! How dare you..."
"Li Xia."
"Li Xia?! This... this is not possible... you... what are you going to do?!"
"Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you. Take a deep breath, calm down, and don't be afraid."
Li Xia was holding a long sword, and blood was still dripping from the tip of the sword. But like a polite guest, he raised his hand and comforted Duan Xingzhi.
After everyone in the room calmed down, Li Xia said calmly: "You can put on your clothes. Then go out so that the guards in your house don't have to panic. We all hope that the fewer people will die, the better. Dali Kingdom
The population is running low.”
…
Gao Mingyue was standing next to Li Xia, silently looking at the furnishings in the room.
This used to be her parents' house.
The reason why Li Xia was able to enter here smoothly tonight was also thanks to her.
Gao Mingyue was familiar with everything about this mansion.
She knew where to climb over the wall and open the side door without alerting the guards, and how to get to the main house as quickly as possible after entering...
Therefore, tonight's raid was almost entirely directed by her.
Entering the main room at this time, she couldn't help but think how great it would be if her parents were still here.
As she once said, she wants to get married from here, to Li Xia.
The next moment, Li Xia shook her hand.
He looks very cold on the surface, but he is actually very aware of women's emotional changes. Although not every woman has the patience to comfort him...
Duan Xingzhi squinted his eyes and saw that the man and woman in front of him actually whispered a few words at this time, as if they were here to play.
He also turned to Zheng Huiyuan and said, "Don't be surprised, I'm here."
Duan Xingzhi was not a man who acted on impulse, otherwise he would not have surrendered.
He quickly understood the situation, put on his coat and stood up, when someone came forward and put a dagger against his lower back.
"Be honest, go to the front hall, and tell your guards that there was a camp roar in the South Camp, and Dong Kuang sent more people to protect you."
"I did what you asked, can you guarantee that she and I will survive?" Duan Xingzhi asked.
Li Xia said: "As long as you are honest and obedient, I won't kill you."
"good."
Soon, the General Manager's Mansion returned to calm.
Li Xia's people began to move the bodies and clean up the traces.
…
While doing this, Li Xia kept thinking... How important is Duan Xingzhi, the general manager of Dali?
If there was really a large amount, there should be elite Mongolian guards, and Li Xia couldn't do it and just charged in like this.
To put it simply, Duan Xingzhi was the bridge between the Dali clan and the Mongols. The Mongols used him to communicate with the clans, allowing them to maintain order and collect money and food.
If he were killed, Mongolia would only need to replace someone to represent the Dali family, and everything would not change much.
Fighting against the Mongols in his name would have little effect. He was just a puppet in the first place and could not call upon the world at all.
One thing that must be realized is that Duan Xingzhi's current power was given by the Mongols.
Then, the important thing is how to make good use of the power that the Mongols gave Duan Xingzhi.
This is the biggest test for Li Xia, instead of trying to conquer Dali with more than a thousand people.
…
"What do you want?" Duan Xingzhi asked.
"It's very simple." Li Xia said: "I want grain and grass, and I also need the labor, mules and horses, to transport grain and grass. I want to leave Dali from Lingguan Road. I need you to help me cross the Jinsha River and take me through the border and checkpoints along the way."
Duan Xingzhi was stunned and asked again: "You want to take me away?"
"Um."
"I……"
"You have to think clearly, the weather is getting hotter, and the Mongolians can't stand the heat, so it's impossible for Ashu to stay in Jiaozhi until July. He will definitely come back before summer."
Duan Xingzhi trembled subconsciously and asked, "So?"
"When he comes back, you can tell him that two hundred prisoners escaped in the roar of the camp tonight, and you lead the troops to chase him all the way out of Lingguan Road."
"Impossible, this is impossible..."
"Then you die." Li Xia said, "You will die in my hands tonight, or you will die in his hands when Ashu comes back."
Duan Xingzhi gritted his teeth and murmured: "You will cause the entire Duan family to die. If so, you might as well kill me directly!"
"You have a lot of backbone?"
Duan Xingzhi was stunned again and said anxiously: "Do you think I am a coward for surrendering?! I tell you, I never surrendered just for myself..."
In the middle of his words, Li Xia had put the sword on his neck.
"I don't mind killing you. After you die, there are Duan Zhong, Duan Zhen, Duan Liang and many other people helping me. You just need to give me an answer, 'good' or 'bad'?"
The sword was so sharp that Duan Shi could feel it cutting the skin on his neck.
There was cold sweat on his forehead, and his lips were trembling.
Suddenly, there was movement outside the hall.
After a while, Xiong Shan pushed the door open and came in. He whispered in Li Xia's ear: "County Lieutenant, some Mongolians came to see Duan Xingzhi. They brought more than ten people with them and said they would call in if he doesn't open the door."
"knew."
Li Xia pressed the sword in his hand and asked Duan Xingzhi: "Is it good or not?"
Duan Xingzhi was still hesitating.
He knew that the plan Li Xia mentioned was not enough for him to hide it from Ah Shu.
If he did so, he would probably die for betraying the Mongols.
But at least, Li Xia still gave him a hope...
The sword on his neck came forward, and Duan Xingzhi wanted to swallow, but he didn't dare.
"Okay." He finally said one word.
Li Xia put away his sword, turned around, and whispered a few words to Gao Mingyue.
After that, he patted Duan Xingzhi on the shoulder and said: "Now, whoever came forward to tell you, let the Mongols in and let them talk in the Fanyin Tower in the front hall."
"Li...don't you ask who is here?"
"Well, this is also very important." Li Xia said, "But we are pressed for time. Let's kill them first and then talk about it."
"Kill... kill them?" Duan Xingzhi's face turned pale instantly, "I tell you! I will never surrender just to save my own life. If you..."
"Shut up, if you dare to say another word, I won't ask you again and will kill you directly..."