Yue Fei finally frowned, "Prime Minister Xue is confused. Wasn't it you who questioned the emperor in person at the mouth of the Jing River and then left with your face covered? If Xixia didn't know about the war between the two countries, it would be wrong unless you deliberately concealed it... Even so, it's not right. The two armies have been fighting in Hengshan and Pingxia City for several months. If Cha Ge hadn't led the main force to Hengshan, how could I have marched straight in? Why are you talking about whether to declare war or not at this time?"
Xue Yuanli did not stop for a moment after hearing this, and continued to bow: "Let's not talk about the past. I would like to ask, now that things have come to this, can Yue Jiedu withdraw his troops temporarily? The Great Baigao Kingdom is willing to cede the seven states of Hengshan to the Great Song..."
Yue Fei and Hu Hongxiu looked at each other, and they both clearly saw the word ridiculous in each other's eyes. What was the point of talking about such things at this point?
Besides, even if others don’t know, doesn’t the person opposite know the temper of the Song Dynasty officials?
Taking a step back, even if we don't talk about Emperor Zhao, if any general of the Song Dynasty came here, how could he retreat?
"If it is not enough, I am willing to send another 30,000 Tangut cavalry to lead the emperor to attack the rebel general Zhe outside the Yellow River... If it is still not enough, I am willing to send the crown prince to Tokyo..."
Xue Yuanli kept talking one thing after another, and the person opposite him, even though Yue Fei was usually calm, couldn't help but stare at Hu Hongxiu next to him repeatedly, and then sighed in his heart that the other party was being ridiculous... But he didn't say it out loud, because this ridiculous thing also happened six years ago.
At that time and moment, it was just like this moment.
In fact, Yue Fei had been patiently waiting for the other party to finish speaking before he spoke: "Mr. Xue, at this point, there is only one thing that can stop the war..."
Xue Yuanli suddenly became solemn.
"Please ask your king, the crown prince, and the king of Yue to come to my army. I will send them to Chang'an to be dealt with by the emperor." Yue Fei said calmly. "If so, I am willing to give up Xingqing Prefecture and station in Jingzhou."
"Jiedu Yue is joking." Xue Yuanli was silent for a moment, and finally laughed. "It is precisely to prevent the king and the capital from being lost that I have made all the conditions before... Could it be that Jiedu Yue thinks that the king and ministers of our Dabai Gao Kingdom are as inflexible and unyielding as your country? Xingqing Prefecture has sufficient food and grass, and 100,000 strong men, which is enough to defend for several months. Let's wait for King Cha Ge of Jin to return with his army to defend the king, and then attack from both inside and outside, and then keep Jiedu Yue in the city as a guest."
Having said this, Yue Fei didn't even bother to mention Yelu Dashi, and simply raised his hand to see the guest off.
Armored soldiers from both sides went down and pushed Xue Yuanli back, but they did not detain or kill him. Instead, they let him walk to the foot of the city, then put him in the basket and returned to the city of Xingqing Prefecture.
Although this incident seemed a bit strange, it did not affect the overall situation at all. Thanks to the high-quality wood used in the Xixia Imperial Palace, the rough ladders and battering rams were ready by noon. At the same time, a large number of non-contact battles had already taken place outside the city... In addition to setting up siege positions, the various Song troops had already begun to test the entire line, as if everyone was already impatient.
Of course, at this moment, no one could guess who would get the first credit for this battle. However, among all the generals, the one who seemed to be the furthest away from the first credit for breaking the city seemed to have been determined long ago. It was Li Shifu, the deputy commander of the Imperial Camp Cavalry.
By the way, this Dangxiang general from Suide, most of his subordinates were foreign cavalry from the Hengshan area. Compared with their opponents in yesterday's battle, they were only more sinicized, better equipped, and had more than a year of military training. They were not suitable for siege.
And just because people don’t talk about some things doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Li Shifu was the deputy commander of the imperial camp at a young age, and he inherited the title of founding duke as a special exception. In addition, judging by their performance in the battle of Yaoshan, it was impossible for anyone to openly doubt their loyalty.
Logically speaking, this person should be one of the most promising people in the world.
However, that was just a theory. Everyone knew that the court and the imperial camp were still concerned about his Tangut identity. Even before the battle, some people suggested not to let Li Shifu accompany him, in case he changed his ways and caused a disaster. Even Li Shifu himself knew this and wanted to downplay his Tangut identity, but the government valued him because of his Tangut noble identity and his ability to control and recruit foreign cavalry. So, he was helpless.
But then again, from the current perspective, the identity of the Dangxiang tribe still brought tangible benefits to Li Shifu. He led the foreign cavalry to monitor and investigate the periphery of Xingqing Prefecture. The local monks and laymen, rich and poor outside the city, were much calmer. When they inquired about the situation in the city and the main intersections outside the city, there was not much resistance.
However, these cannot affect the fact that he cannot participate in the siege.
In fact, when he led his troops to circumnavigate the city, he discovered that the water supply to the Tangqu in the west of the city had been cut off, and then he quickly sent people to investigate the two main water gates. Unfortunately, the Xixia people were not confused. Since the two main water gates were exposed, how could they not be on guard? The Fanqi saw clearly that the debris and bricks were piled up tightly behind the water gates, blocking the two water gates inside and out, and there were still militia archers stationed above to defend.
Seeing this situation, Li Shifu, who was originally excited, asked someone to report to the commander-in-chief Yue Fei, but at the same time he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. He simply gave up the idea of attacking the city and making merit in this battle, and concentrated on guarding the periphery, preparing to catch the leak after the war.
Back to the present, at noon, after Li Shifu arranged his own cavalry, he led two or three hundred of his own troops to circle around the outer perimeter of the city. It was not so much an inspection as it was a personal rectification of military discipline to prevent these cavalry, who had only served as imperial soldiers for two years, from losing their patience and bringing disaster upon themselves in front of the always fastidious Yue Jiedu.
"What's going on?" When he arrived at a place in the south of the city, Li Shifu saw from afar a hundred men and women kneeling in front of a temple on the side of the road. There were also several monks talking and discussing with their subordinates nearby. He immediately reined in his horse and went forward to question them.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
