Chapter 494: The Dream of a Scholar and Knight
After hearing this, Xiong Feng's eyes widened instantly and cold sweat dripped down his back.
Could it be that the deal between him and King Zhenbei...
The court and His Majesty have known about this for a long time and have been watching it all along! ?
Wenquan half-knelt in front of him, his smile revealing a bit of cruelty:
"You think that all the civil and military officials are stupid and that your actions can be concealed from the world? Oh, that's really ridiculous.
However, I have to thank you for passing on the news to the King of Zhenbei. He will lead his troops into the city in three days, which will be a good opportunity for us to catch the turtle in the jar and beat the dog behind closed doors."
Xiong Feng's face turned pale in an instant, like a dead person.
Collaboration with the enemy and treason is an indisputable capital crime.
He suddenly opened his throat and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Zhu Xiao! Li Zhu! Where are all the dead people?!"
Xiong Feng called out the names of dozens of his confidants in succession. His hoarse voice echoed repeatedly in the general's office, but no one responded.
Just when Xiong Feng was in despair, two figures appeared outside the door.
Xiong Feng's face lit up with joy, but after seeing the person's face clearly, his expression became even more incredulous.
The people who came were wearing bright red official robes. They were Wang Youya, the prefect of Danzhou, and Wu Jiang, the Sima of Danzhou.
In Xiong Feng's impression, although Sima Wu had some character, the prefect Wang Youya was a weakling with no opinion of his own and didn't even dare to fart in front of him.
These literati have never been seen to be tough.
"Stop shouting, Mr. Bear, save your energy."
Wang Youya stood in front of Xiong Feng with his hands behind his back, looking dignified, completely different from the timid and submissive man that Xiong Feng usually saw.
Xiong Feng stared at him and was speechless for a moment.
Wang Youya sneered:
"Over the years, this government and Sima Wu have already figured out the forces you have cultivated overtly and covertly.
Do you really think that all the good men of Daliang are like you, traitors seeking fame and fortune?
Let me tell you, half of the generals you promoted are from this government, and they are all loyal to Your Majesty and the court!
As for the rest...don't worry, I will escort you back to Beijing tomorrow, and you will definitely not be lonely on the road."
Wang Youya waved his hand and was about to order someone to take Xiong Feng away. He planned to discuss with Wen Quan and Sima Wu how to lure the enemy into the city.
"Master Wang, please wait!"
Wenquan suddenly stood up, pondered for a moment, looked at Xiong Feng and said:
"There is no need to escort this man back to Beijing."
"What does General Wen mean?" Wang Youya remembered that His Majesty's oral order did say that Wen Quan had the right to deal with Xiong Feng.
Wenquan walked up to Xiong Feng, squatted down and said:
"Xiong Feng, I can give you a chance to make amends.
I just want to borrow something from you."
When Xiong Feng heard that he still had a chance of survival, he said in a panic, "Tell me! As long as I have it, you can take it!"
Wen Quan smiled faintly and uttered a few words:
"I, the general, would like to borrow your head for a while."
…
The next day, Xiong Feng's head was hung high on the city wall of Danzhou's inner city, attracting all the people of Danzhou to watch.
"Treason for fame and fortune will lead to a miserable death!"
"Good death, this is retribution!"
The people threw vegetable leaves and eggs at the bloody head.
From the moment Xiong Feng was captured yesterday, the prefect Wang Youya ordered the blockade of Danzhou City, and all citizens were not allowed to enter or leave.
No one in the outside world knew that Xiong Feng was dead, and no one knew that the city of Danzhou had been turned upside down.
…
On the day when Xiong Feng and King Zhenbei agreed to open the city, Wen Quan stayed up all night and stayed on the city wall.
He was still dressed in white, with one hand on the sword at his waist, like a sculpture, quietly waiting for the first ray of dawn in the sky.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Wen Quan looked back and saw Wang Youya also climbed to the top of the city wall.
"The crossbowmen on both sides of the street have been arranged, and Sima Wu is doing a final check on the deployment to ensure that there are no mistakes."
Wang Youya stood beside Wen Quan, and they looked at the sky together.
The stars hang low over the plain, the dusk is deep, and danger lurks on every side.
There is less than an hour left until dawn.
Wang Youya looked into the distance and said:
"The King of Zhenbei has evil ambitions, but luckily the imperial court was prepared and replaced Xiong Feng with you.
Otherwise, if all the food in Danzhou is really handed over to King Zhenbei, the consequences will be disastrous."
Wenquan said in a deep voice:
“The King of Zhenbei has been preparing for many years, but has not yet officially declared war on the imperial court.
He should be planning to join forces with Xiong Feng, first take over Danzhou as a base without any effort, catch the imperial court off guard, and then formally declare war.
If our plan succeeds tomorrow and we can capture the King of Zhenbei in one fell swoop, we can completely resolve the court's biggest worry."
Wang Youya said: "I hope everything goes well."
"I hope everything goes well."
The two fell into a brief silence again.
Wang Youya looked at Wen Quan beside him with some hesitation, and finally couldn't help but said:
"General Wen, there is something I don't understand. Could you please explain it to me?"
"Please speak, Lord Wang."
"Since the imperial court has long known about the Zhenbei King's evil ambitions, why didn't they take the initiative to attack him earlier?
If we wait for the other party to make the first move, and then we strike back, won’t it be easier for us to be controlled by them?”
Wen Quan glanced at him sideways, his eyes as deep as the night.
“The King of Zhenbei has a large army and has been in a stalemate with the imperial court for many years. Neither side has a trump card that will ensure victory, so no one dares to act rashly.
Over the years, the King of Zhenbei has been hoarding food and fodder, and winning over the Wuzi forces behind him. The imperial court is also accumulating strength, purging the King of Zhenbei's followers in the court, constantly strengthening the defense of the northwest, and preparing another trump card.
It's just that now it seems that the King of Zhenbei is preparing faster, so we'll start first."
"Another trump card?" Wang Youya was a little surprised. "What is it?"
Wenquan shook his head slightly.
"That is the highest secret of the imperial court. I don't know it either."
"Then... the court is not ready yet?"
Wen Quan still shook his head, "I don't know."
Wang Youya glanced at the sword on Wenquan's waist, smiled bitterly and shook his head, jokingly saying:
"I thought I was just a civil servant and didn't know about those things, but it turns out that even you military generals don't know.
However, I still envy those of you who can fight, who can take up guns and go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, defend your country, and leave your name in history.
We scholars can only write a few words to criticize corrupt officials and the government. If the enemy army really comes to our doorstep, you soldiers can kill the enemy and protect the people, but we can only hide under the table and be slaughtered.
Oh, sometimes I think, if only I had joined the army when I was young and learned some martial arts.
If I meet someone like Xiong Feng, I will kill him with one sword. Haha, how satisfying it would be! "
Wen Quan smiled and said, "I can understand the dream of scholars and knights throughout the ages."
"No, you are not a scholar and cannot understand." Wang Youya waved his hand.
Wen Quan suddenly turned his head and looked at him, saying seriously:
"Sir Wang, I am actually a scholar as well."
Wang Youya was stunned.
Wenquan said again:
"Besides, I was admitted as a Jinshi in the third year of Jingchu, the same year as you."
Now it was Wang Youya's turn to be embarrassed.
It was all because he was too happy about passing the imperial examination that year. He didn't pay any attention to the other people on the list, and naturally had no impression of Wenquan.
But they remember themselves.
I'm sorry!
"Ahem." Wang Youya touched his nose, thinking about how to get away with it.
Wenquan continued to speak, as if he was reminiscing about the past.
“I have worked as a clerk and also as a county magistrate.
But later I found that there are many injustices in this world, and reasoning often doesn’t work.”
Wang Youya asked, "So you gave up writing and joined the army?"
"Yeah." Wen Quan glanced at him sideways.
"But Lord Wang has a chivalrous heart. Even if you don't go to the battlefield, I believe you will definitely go down in history."
"Hahaha, I love to hear that!" Wang Youya patted Wen Quan's shoulder and laughed.
"We get along well, so let's stop being so rude and just call each other brothers from now on. What do you think, Brother Wen?"
Wenquan smiled and clasped his fists: "Brother Wang."
Wang Youya was very happy and said excitedly:
"After we capture that old fellow, the King of Zhenbei, we can follow the example of those heroes and swear an oath of blood to become sworn brothers!"
"That's exactly what I meant."
The two men clasped their hands together, feeling a surge of passion in their chests, as if they had regained the enthusiasm they had when they were twenty years old.
Dawn was breaking in the distant sky.
The first cockcrow was heard in the city.
The smiles on their faces faded, and they looked into the distance at the same time.
On the plain, the morning light tore through the night like a thin thread, and the dark shadow of a team gradually appeared, like a silent giant python.
It is winding towards Danzhou City.
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