Guo Si and Xie Guang stared at Ding Chong, one furious, the other cold.
Ding Chong was very nervous, his back was covered with sweat, and his calves were a little cramped. He wanted to laugh twice to show his heroism and unyielding, but his mouth refused to obey him, and the muscles on his face were even more stiff and unable to move.
He could only say nothing, summon up the courage, suppress the fear in his heart, and look at Xie Guang.
After an unknown amount of time, Xie Guang smiled silently. "You will die."
"I know." Ding Chong's throat was dry and his voice was hoarse. "That's why I ate a lot just now. You don't know that in order to defeat you, non-combatants from the queen to ordinary people can only eat one meal a day. Although we are with the emperor,
The ministers who are close to me cannot eat meat or drink wine. The wine and meat are reserved for the soldiers who have made meritorious service."
Unconsciously, Ding Chong found that he was no longer nervous, his body relaxed, his breath became steady, and his voice became louder.
"Do you think you can defeat such an emperor?"
Xie Guang frowned slightly, avoided Guo Bang's eyes, waved his hand, and ordered Ding Chong to be imprisoned.
Guo Bang was a little confused. "Lao Xie, what does he mean? What does Mr. Jia mean by that sentence?"
"Mr. Jia's idea is very simple. Either we defeat Dong Cheng's camp and force the emperor to issue an edict for pardon. Or, we can do meritorious service and ask the emperor for pardon."
"Which one do you choose?"
Xie Guang gritted his teeth and was silent for a long time. "I choose... wait."
——
Liu Xie was sitting on the general's platform in the central army. The north wind was getting stronger and stronger, making his whole body cold, and the big paper above his head made a rustling sound.
The sun sets in the west and is about to set below the horizon.
Ding Chong never came back, and Guo Bang remained silent.
The plan to lure Guo Si to attack was extremely close to failure.
Shi Sunrui was also very anxious and sent people to inquire about the progress twice.
They have completed their deployment and will leave their current positions early tomorrow morning and set up formations on the ground. If they attract not the Flying Bear Army led by Li Shi, but tens of thousands of cavalry led by Guo Si, they will be in big trouble.
what to do?
Liu Xie was very depressed. Why did I encounter disobedient enemies and didn't follow my script?
It seems that in terms of strategy, my rank is still too low and I am not as experienced as Jia Xu.
After repeated weighing, Liu Xie decided to ask Jia Xu for advice.
The stakes in this battle were so important that he couldn't afford to lose.
——
Once again passing through the camp where his family lived, Liu Xie felt a different atmosphere from last time.
It was getting late, and the tent was still dark. Occasionally, some crying could be heard, but the crying was no longer accompanied by scolding or insults, but gentle comfort.
"If Bao doesn't cry, when Aweng performs his meritorious service tomorrow, he will have meat to eat."
Sometimes, you can still hear the sound of chanting. "How virtuous! Come back. A basket of food, a spoon of drink, in the back alley... Grandma, I want to eat a basket of food."
His voice was not loud, and his enunciation was not very clear. It was mixed with the sound of swallowing saliva, which was heartbreaking.
Several half-year-old children squatted at the door of the tent, watching Liu Xie and his party walking by, with their dirty little faces raised and their eyes shining.
Half of the older children came out hesitantly and raised their hands.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"
When Hu Ben, who was accompanying him, was about to step forward to stop him, Liu Xie stopped him. A child has no weapons, so there is nothing to worry about.
Can he suddenly pull out a grenade?
"What's the matter?"
"I...I am fourteen and a half years old this year, and I still have three months to turn fifteen. I...can I go into battle?"
"Why do you want to go into battle?"
"I...I'm hungry." The child swallowed and lowered his head. "I will have wheat to eat when I go into battle."
Liu Xie couldn't bear it and wanted to agree to the child or order someone to reward him with a bowl of wheat rice.
But when the words came to his lips, he still swallowed them.
If he promises one now, ten may appear soon.
"It's not possible now. However, I can assure you that if you endure it for a few more days, you will be able to eat enough."
The child was very disappointed and retreated sullenly, squatting on the roadside with his chin resting on his knees and his eyes dull.
Liu Xie quickened his pace and walked through the camp.
While walking on the hillside of Shangyuan, for some reason, he suddenly couldn't help it. Tears fell from his eyes. He turned his back to Wang Yue and others and stood on the roadside, pretending to look at the scenery in the distance.
It took a while to calm down.
He has no way out.
Even if he wanted to give up resistance, Li Jue and Guo Si would not treat these children well. They do not know how to govern, they only know how to kill.
Only by getting through it can we see hope.
Liu Xie gritted his teeth, wiped away the tears on his face, took another deep breath, and started walking again.
——
Jia Xu was not asleep yet and was guiding people in front of the tent.
"Sir, are you seeking immortality?" Liu Xie made a joke to cover up his uneasiness and depression.
"The prosperous age is approaching, and I want to live longer to see with my own eyes what peace is like."
"Sir, do you have such confidence?"
"Your Majesty, don't you?" Jia Xu smiled silently and extended his hand to ask Liu Xie to enter the account. He turned on the light and the light illuminated the letters on the case, except for the "I Think About You" that Liu Xie had seen last time.
, and some wooden slips filled with words.
Liu Xie picked up a stick and looked at it. "What is this?"
"This is the Liangzhou strategy drafted by me." Jia Xu said, taking a few more wooden slips and handing them over together.
Liu Xie looked at Jia Xu in surprise.
The winner hasn't been decided here yet, and he actually started drafting a strategy for Liangzhou?
"That's all?" Liu Xie asked while looking at it.
"I just wrote an outline."
Liu Xie didn't ask again. It was indeed an outline. There was only one sentence on each wooden slip, or even just a few simple words.
Trade and travel, border settlement, silk horse, selection of generals, education...
"Sir, you have a vision, but I have immediate worries. I would like to invite you..."
Jia Xu smiled lightly and said, "About Guo Si?"
Liu Xie closed his mouth and looked at Jia Xu quietly.
"Your Majesty, please drink some water." Jia Xu took the pottery cup, lifted the kettle on the table, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Liu Xie.
Liu Xie reached out to take it, but Jia Xu didn't let go. He looked at the water in the cup and his voice was a little erratic.
"Your Majesty, do you see the difference between the water in the cup and the water in the pot?"
Liu Xie's head hurts a little.
Being the king of such a person is really stressful, and you have to be tested anytime and anywhere.
He glanced at Jia Xu, then looked at the water in the glass.
Under the light, the water surface rippled and shone.
The complicated thoughts were like water in a glass, slowly calming down. A flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he suddenly realized something.
"The water in the cup is the same as in the pot, but its position is different and its shape is different. Therefore, if you want to plot against Guo Si, you should be in Guo Si's place and think about what Guo Si wants?"
Jia Xu couldn't help but smile, nodded, and asked, "What is Guo Si thinking about?"
Liu Xie did not answer in a hurry. He took a sip of water and analyzed it carefully.
During the few sharp questions and answers just now, he understood a truth. The so-called strategy is aimed at people's hearts. If you want the strategy to be effective, you must first understand the opponent and think about what he thinks.