The chaotic footsteps broke the solemn silence of the palace. Several officials almost ran away, and no one blamed them for their misbehavior.

"Are all the government soldiers along the way dead?"

"They disguised themselves, burned, looted, and slaughtered wherever they went at night."

"Let Jingdong Road be punished."

The Qinzheng Hall was even more noisy.

"What crime are you asking now?" The emperor slapped the tables and shouted, "Even if we kill them all now, can we stop the Jin people?"

The palace became quiet.

"What should we do now? What should we do now?" the emperor said angrily, pointing at everyone in the hall. "What's wrong with you? The Jin people are right under our noses."

All the officials knelt down.

"I am guilty."

"Your Majesty, we have found out that this is a small group of Jin soldiers." An official raised his head and said hurriedly, "There are not many people, less than 300 people, who disguised themselves to cover their tracks and raided all the way to Jingdong Road."

"Yes, Your Majesty, they have been intercepted and killed in Jingdong Road." Another official also said hurriedly.

As they were talking, an official came running in hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we have stopped them, we have stopped them," he shouted. "We have killed 108 Jin soldiers in Jingdong Road, and saved 34. The rest have escaped. We are encircling and suppressing them throughout the region."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, and the emperor sat down on the dragon throne.

"Leave no one behind," he added, his face still shrouded in shock. "We'll put all of Beijing and the rest of the country under martial law. This kind of situation can't happen again."

The officials present responded in unison. The emperor waved his hands wearily, and the officials bowed and left. Huang Cheng was called.

"What do the Jin people want? Have they responded?" the emperor asked anxiously.

Huang Cheng looked calm.

"They still want money and supplies," he said, "They say it's hard to survive the winter and the beginning of spring. I'm talking to them..."

"What are you talking about? It's just money and things. Send them away quickly." The emperor interrupted him unhappily.

Huang Cheng quickly responded yes.

"I will go to see them in person." He raised his head as if he had made up his mind.

The emperor waved his hands in disbelief.

"Go, go, go quickly," he said.

Huang Cheng bowed in response.

The streets of the capital were filled with panicked people, talking and asking questions everywhere.

"Did the Jin people really attack us?"

“It’s so scary!”

"Then the capital is in danger."

"Run! Run south."

It is not easy to start the race. People looked frightened and anxious, but soon someone conveyed the latest news.

"It was a group of scattered soldiers, and they have been wiped out."

"That's how it's possible that he could call me."

"The Jin people are very good at this kind of banditry. When they were in the north, they would often suddenly rob and run away in groups."

"There are 100,000 soldiers and horses in Jingdong Road."

This statement somewhat eased people's fears.

"Let's wait and see. After all, the emperor is here."

"Who has the connections to get the latest news?"

The crowd blocked the street and a team of guards had to shout at them to move aside.

Seeing this team of guards, many people recognized that this was the driver of Mr. Huang. Although they hurriedly made way, many people still couldn't help but ask questions.

"Master Huang, are the Jin people really coming to attack us?"

Huang Cheng naturally would not answer this question, but he did not just pass by without saying a word. The manager following the car raised his hand to signal the people.

"Don't spread rumors," he said. "The Jin army didn't attack us. They were just a small group of scattered soldiers. They have been wiped out."

Huang Cheng was a high-ranking official in the imperial court. When people heard his people say this, they all breathed a sigh of relief and started asking questions one after another.

This time the steward did not answer, but just waved his hand.

"Military and political affairs should not be discussed rashly." He said, and followed the carriage forward surrounded by guards.

The people were stopped and watched Huang Cheng drive forward, when suddenly someone realized that the direction was wrong.

"Why is Lord Huang going outside the city?" someone asked.

At this time, many people are considering whether to run away. Does Lord Huang have the same plan?

If all the officials are running away, then...

"Mr. Huang went to meet the Jin envoy." Someone who was well-informed said with a curled lip, and with a look of joy, "That's good, we can negotiate instead of fighting."

So that's how it is. The people around immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, yes, the Jin people are just greedy for money, just give it to them."

"We don't need these things, let's send them away quickly."

The atmosphere on the street was much more relaxed than before, and countless expectant eyes watched Huang Cheng's car drive away.

Even after leaving the city gate, the steward still felt the heat on his back, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Sir, are we really going to look for the Jin man?" he asked in a low voice as he got into the car.

"Where to find it?" Huang Cheng said indifferently with his eyes closed, "Yanwang Palace? Or are you going to the north?"

All the people who were originally from Yu Chihai and stayed in the capital had been killed by them, and going to the north now would be nothing but courting death, all in the Palace of King Yan.

The steward was embarrassed, but even more puzzled. If that was the case, then why had they been lying to the emperor and still been negotiating with the Jin people? And now they were saying they wanted to negotiate in person?

Huang Cheng opened his eyes.

"Are you stupid?" he said, "Of course you should run away now. The Jin people are coming to attack you, why don't you run away? Are you waiting to accompany the Emperor Renxiao?"

Huh? He actually ran away? Did the Jin people really attack us? Was the same old story of Emperor Renxiao going to happen again?

The steward stared in shock.

…

The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard in Beizhen Fusi.

"The master is here."

Seeing Lu Yunqi coming, the crowd of people hurriedly made way for him, revealing a shoulder bag he was carrying.

There was a person lying on it, covered in blood.

Lu Yunqi walked over and looked down.

It turned out to be Jin Shiba.

His face was as pale as gold paper, and it was obvious that he was seriously injured.

As if he noticed Lu Yunqi beside him, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Lord Lu." He called out weakly, as if for confirmation.

Lu Yunqi nodded.

"It's me," he said. "You can tell me now."

Jin Shiba raised his hand with force and grabbed the sleeve of Lu Yunqi that was hanging at his side.

"Sir, the Jin people are coming." He said with all his strength, "We are no longer invincible in the east and west of Beijing..."

He took his last breath when he finished speaking, his hands dropped powerlessly, his eyes still wide open.

The expressions of the Jinyiwei soldiers present changed, but Lu Yunqi's expression remained blank. He raised his hand and touched Jin Shiba's eyes.

…

Dust flew up in the wilderness, accompanied by howling and cursing.

"You bastard, aren't you very powerful? Why are you running?"

"Come and fight with Grandpa."

Laughing, "You are so fat, you can't run and catch up."

The fat soldier was panting and could not help but stop with his hands on his knees.

"Fourth Brother Han, what you said is really wrong." He said, looking at the soldier beside him, "You said I was fat and would be killed by the Jin soldiers because I couldn't run away. I didn't expect that I would encounter the Jin soldiers, but I couldn't run away. I didn't get killed by them. I killed them instead."

Fourth Brother Han laughed and watched the two Jin soldiers in front of him fleeing towards the mountain pass.

"Hurry up, they are trying to escape." The fat soldier said anxiously, "Their heads are worth a general flag."

Others also wanted to catch up, but Fourth Brother Han was not impatient.

"Don't worry, they can't run away. Lao An and the others are blocking them over there. Just wait, these two little brats will be back soon." He said, slamming the rifle in his hand to the ground, looking like he was waiting for something to happen.

This was quite amusing, and everyone else was laughing as well, except for the fat soldier who looked unhappy.

"Old An and the others are so stupid, they might not be able to stop us." He said, and continued to run forward. "I have to go and take a look."

After running two steps, I couldn't run any more, so I put my hands on my knees, lowered my head and gasped for breath.

Han Si Ge and others behind him burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" The fat soldier turned around and looked at them unhappily. "Although I run slowly, I'm a good shooter. Just wait, I'll kill both of them by myself..."

Before he could finish his words, he saw the faces of Han Si Ge and others, who were originally smiling, froze.

"Fatty, run." Fourth Brother Han shouted suddenly.

Run? The fat soldier snorted twice.

"I won't run," he said.

Before he finished speaking, he saw Fourth Brother Han and the others start to retreat.

"Fatty, run." They all shouted hoarsely and ran backwards along with the shouting.

The fat soldier was stunned for a moment, then turned around subconsciously and looked shocked.

The two Jin soldiers who had just escaped have returned, without any of their previous panic, with vicious smiles on their faces, and a group of cavalry appeared behind them.

The first row consisted of five men, each riding two horses, wearing armor and bronze helmets, equipped with sickles, bows, crossbows, and spears, and carrying a colored flag on their backs.

Why are the Jin soldiers coming again?

And they are such elite cavalry?

There were more than five people. They were slowly approaching this side, and behind them, team after team of cavalry appeared one after another. The narrow mountain pass seemed to have turned into a pocket, constantly spitting out, as if there would never be an end.

"Fatty, run."

The hoarse voice of Fourth Brother Han was heard.

Run, yes, run, the fat soldier swung his arms and legs vigorously.

It seemed that the way he was running was very funny. Behind him, he could hear the Jin soldiers laughing and saying something in nonsense. There was the sound of horse hooves behind him, approaching him but not getting closer, just like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Fatty, Fatty, run."

Fourth Brother Han turned around and cried out, but saw the fat soldier stop.

"Fuck him," he yelled, "I can't run anymore. I won't run anymore."

He grasped the spear, turned around and rushed back towards the Jin soldiers.

A nearby Jin soldier swung his sickle at him without hesitation, and from his high position, he chopped off the fat soldier's spear and landed it directly on his head.

A scream brought up a rain of blood.

Fourth Brother Han's eyes turned red, he gritted his teeth and turned back.

"I'm going to fight you," he shouted.

I can't run away anyway, so instead of being played to death, I might as well try to find a back cushion.

The other soldiers also turned around, gripped their spears tightly, and rushed towards the Jin soldiers with roars.

…

A general on a high platform was looking ahead with a pale face.

"Why... so many more..." His voice was trembling, "Didn't you say... there were only 300 scattered soldiers? How can there be 300..."

In the wilderness, as far as the eye can see, dense groups of Jin soldiers are marching towards this side, like clouds covering the sky and the sun.

Three hundred? Thirty thousand is too much...

"We can't stop them... The capital city..." the general murmured, and with a bit of sadness, "We will meet the enemy..."

…

"This is impossible! How could the Jin army have so many troops to attack the capital?"

Qinghebo shouted.

"Zhu Shan, stop threatening me. You are a criminal now, and I will not let you lead the army to the north."

Duke Cheng looked at him.

"Don't you think the whole thing is wrong?" he said, "since the Jin people suddenly negotiated peace."

Isn't that right?

If you can't win the fight, you must negotiate...

Duke Cheng nodded again.

"Well, with your brain, of course you don't think so," he said.

Qinghebo was furious again.

"Zhu Shan, you..." he shouted.

Duke Cheng raised his hand to stop him.

"Master, now is not the time for you and me to argue." He said, and as soon as he finished speaking, a general came in from outside with a pale face.

"Master." He knelt on the ground with a plop, his voice hoarse, "The scouts reported that the Jin army has arrived at Jingdong Road."

really!

Qinghebo stood up suddenly.

"How much?" he asked tremblingly.

It is not impossible for the Jin army to break through the north and invade the eastern part of Beijing. The Jin army's light cavalry is good at sudden attacks, but they are usually small teams of a few dozen or so. After an invasion, they either run away or are strangled.

The general swallowed his saliva, as if he was afraid to look at He Bo clearly.

"I don't know yet, probably..." He seemed to be unable to hold on and leaned over to the ground, his voice muffled, "40,000..."

Forty thousand is not a large number on the battlefield. The garrison troops in Jingdong Road also far exceed this number, but that was in the past. Now, in order to support the north, half of the garrison troops in Jingdong Road have been transferred away.

No wonder the Jin people were able to launch a surprise attack with so many troops...

No wonder the Jin people set him up for an ambush...

No wonder Jin Renhe insisted on taking the three northern counties so that he could move troops deeper into the hinterland...

It turns out that the drunkard's real intention is not the north, but the capital...

Qinghebo raised his foot and was about to rush out.

"Come, come, gather..." he shouted.

Duke Cheng grabbed him.

"And then what? Do you want to give chase?" he said.

It's impossible to catch up at this time.

Qinghebo's face turned pale and blue. The capital... the capital...

Is the old story in Kaifeng going to happen again?

"While you were mobilizing reinforcements, I sent the troops from Suning Pass to the capital," said Duke Cheng.

Qinghebo suddenly became smart and his eyes sparkled.

Considering that time, there is some hope...

But Duke Cheng shook his head.

"I've said before, all I know is that the Jin people are treacherous. I'm not a god, so I don't know exactly what they will do and when they will do it, so I'm afraid there's not enough time," he said.

"The most crucial thing is that it cannot be stopped near the capital..." Qinghebo continued.

Even if the Qingshan Army at Suning Pass pursued closely, they were not blocking them from the front. If the Jin people were given a chance to cross the Jingdong Road defense line, the capital would be like tofu to them...

"I hope the capital can hold the city. As long as they can hold it and wait for the reinforcements to arrive..." he murmured, clenching his hands, his face looking dejected.

The capital city, it's impossible. The people there have never experienced the cruelty of war. Those imperial guards don't even have the courage to fight. Even if they do, their fighting power is...

Finished.

Qinghebo's eyes went dark and he fell into the chair.

"But I'm not a god."

The voice of Duke Cheng rang out again.

"But there are also some magical things and people in this world."

Qinghe Bo looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Duke Cheng looked in the direction of the capital city with a gentle and calm expression.

"That person is there, there is still a glimmer of hope," he said.

That person?

Which one?

The Earl of Qinghe frowned.

…

There was a slight click, and Miss Jun, who was sitting on the bed, put her hands on her knees and turned her head to look back.

Light shone from above, but was immediately covered by shadows. Footsteps were heard, and Lu Yunqi walked in.

"You're back just in time. I have something to say to you." Miss Jun looked at him and said.