Chen Yu raised his head and looked at the three people on the top of the city wall, Yan Sikong, Feng Ye, and Yuan Nanyu. His expression was cold and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

They looked at each other from afar, and the murderous aura mixed with the cold wind from Liaoning made people's cheeks hurt.

Chen Yu said something to the general beside him, and the general gathered his energy and shouted at the top of his voice: "The rebels have taken over the country, why don't you open the city gates and kneel down to welcome the King of Chu!"

The sound is like a loud bell and is very harsh to the ears.

Xu Feng shouted back, not wanting to be outdone: "You are a deposed prince who betrayed your king and your father, why don't you get off your horse and kneel before the Wolf King!"

The horse under Chen Yi's crotch stamped its four hooves restlessly, perhaps sensing its master's anger. He said something to the general beside him, then turned his horse's head and headed back, but after a few steps, he turned around and looked towards the top of the city, but no one knew what he was looking at.

Feng Ye had a gloomy face and said nothing.

From the moment he decided to stay, he already knew what was waiting for him. If Chen Yi attacked the city, Guangning would definitely fall. Now it depended on how he and Chen Yi would mediate. The worst result would not be that he and Yan Sikong died together, but that Yan Sikong would go alone.

After Chen Yu left, a single cavalryman rushed out from the three armies. Yan Sikong looked closely and recognized that it was Shen Hexuan's student - Fu Zhanqing.

Fu Zhanqing ran all the way to the foot of Guangning City. Facing the sharp arrows aimed at him from the top of the city wall, he showed no fear at all. He dismounted from his horse and said with a bow, "I am Fu Zhanqing. I have seen His Royal Highness the Wolf King, Master Yan, and General Liang. I am here to see you on the orders of the King of Chu."

Feng Ye glanced at Yan Sikong, and Yan Sikong said, "This person is Shen Hexuan's student, let him in."

Liang Huiyong instructed the defenders to open the city gate.

Fu Zhanqing became the first person in the Chu army to enter Guangning.

Chen Yi's army camped outside Guangning City. As long as he gave an order, the army could break through Guangning's broken city walls. For the Guangning soldiers and civilians, as long as the Jin people retreated, they would win, but for Feng's army, the war was far from over.

Fu Zhanqing met several influential figures in the yamen. He was a little embarrassed, but his eyes were clear and calm, and he dared to look directly into Feng Ye's eyes. He was young, but he dared to go to the enemy camp alone. The most important thing was that Chen Yi and Shen Hexuan were willing to let him come, which showed that he was not an ordinary person.

Yan Sikong looked at the young man in front of him who was being polite, and vaguely saw a bit of himself in him: just as smart and courageous, just as good at reading people's expressions, just as eloquent, but his eyes were much cleaner and more open than his.

Fu Zhanqing made a round of greetings, and finally his eyes fell on Yan Sikong. His bright eyes sparkled: "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

"Where's your teacher?"

"The teacher is in the camp right now. He has difficulty walking, so he sent a younger generation to come."

Feng Ye said coldly: "Is it because of his disability, or is it because he is afraid that I will kill him?"

Fu Zhanqing said respectfully: "When two armies are fighting, they don't kill the messengers. Teacher believes that the Wolf King has such magnanimity, so he is not afraid that the Wolf King will harm him."

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, with dangerous murderous intent in his eyes.

Fu Zhanqing lowered his head. Facing Feng Ye's intimidating aura, few people could remain fearless.

Yan Sikong said: "Zhan Qing, we have known each other for a while, and I admire you very much. Today, no matter what you come here for, no matter what you want to say, I promise not to harm your life."

Fu Zhanqing said gratefully: "Thank you, Master Yan."

"Go ahead."

Fu Zhanqing paused for a moment, then said, "The King of Chu's 120,000-man army has entered the capital, and is now facing General Feng's army with the Forbidden City as a barrier. There are another 70,000 troops outside Guangning City." He glanced at Feng Ye secretly, "The King of Chu is willing to allocate money and troops for Liaodong, recapture Liaobei, and completely eliminate the Jin soldiers, as long as..."

"As long as he becomes the emperor?" Yuan Nanyu said coldly.

Fu Zhanqing said nothing.

Yan Sikong said in a cold voice: "Liaodong is a vast frozen land with extremely cold weather. It has been a barren land since ancient times, but it is the most important northern gateway of our Dasheng. No matter who sits in the Golden Luan Palace, they must guard Liaodong. In this battle, the Guangning soldiers and the Feng family army risked their lives to fight against the Jin army, and only then did they barely save the city. The King of Chu sat on the mountain and watched the tigers fight, allowing the Jin people to abuse our Dasheng soldiers, and finally came out to reap the benefits. Isn't it chilling to the hearts of the people of the world? In this way, how can the Liaodong soldiers and civilians trust the King of Chu?"

He didn't say this to Fu Zhanqing, because he knew Fu Zhanqing was just a messenger and couldn't make any decisions. He said this to Liang Huiyong. Although Liang Huiyong was dissatisfied with Chen Yi, his mission as the general of Liaodong was to protect Guangning and Liaodong. But at least at this moment, Liang Huiyong couldn't cut off their support.

Liang Huiyong lowered his head, his face stiff, and said nothing.

Fu Zhanqing said calmly: "When the King of Chu heard that Liaodong was in trouble, he assembled a large army and came to rescue, instead of just standing by and watching."

"What a clever excuse." Feng Ye said coldly.

Fu Zhanqing bowed and said, "The King of Chu is unwilling to engage in a war with the Wolf King under the city of Guangning. If the Wolf King is willing to withdraw the Feng family army from the capital, the Wolf King can lead the army back to Datong safely."

Feng Ye raised his chin slightly, already impatient: "If Lord Yan hadn't allowed you to enter the city, you, a mere scholar, would have died under the arrows long ago. You are not worthy of standing in front of me. Go back and let Chen Yi come to see me in person."

"But the King of Chu..."

"Shut up."

Fu Zhanqing's face changed and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Yan Sikong felt a little pitiful for his appearance, but Feng Ye was right.

To negotiate with Feng Ye, the envoy's status cannot be too low. At the very least, Shen Hexuan should come in person. If he sends a student, no matter how eloquent the student is, Feng Ye will not have the patience to say a few more words. I wonder if Chen Yi wants to humiliate Feng Ye on purpose.

Yan Sikong said, "It's getting late, Zhanqing, you should rest in Guangning for one night and leave the city early tomorrow morning."

Fu Zhanqing glanced at Yan Sikong, his eyes somewhat evasive, his expression unable to conceal his frustration, and it was obvious that he was very unwilling.

"Come here, take care of Master Fu."

After Fu Zhanqing left, Yan Sikong said, "I will meet him privately and test his attitude. Shen Hexuan must have another purpose in sending him here."

Feng Ye nodded, looked at Liang Huiyong, and said half sincerely and half threateningly: "General Liang, I understand your difficulties, but this is related to the survival of my Feng family army. I hope you can share the same hatred and hatred as you did against the Jin people."

Liang Huiyong said hurriedly: "Don't worry, Wolf King, we Liaodong men are definitely not ungrateful or treacherous."

Feng Ye nodded, but secretly winked at Yuan Nanyu, meaning to stare at Liang Huiyong.

——

After dusk fell, Yan Sikong ordered his servants to prepare a table of fine wine and food and entertain Fu Zhanqing alone.

Fu Zhanqing came as invited, and judging from his expression, he was obviously not surprised.

"Master Yan." Fu Zhanqing bowed deeply, "Thank you very much for saving my life."

"You're welcome. The Wolf King is just trying to scare you. He won't kill you." Yan Sikong chuckled. "You're not worth killing."

Fu Zhanqing said, "I have embarrassed myself in front of Master Taifu today. Master Taifu went to the enemy camp alone to quell the rebellion of King Liang, and recaptured a city with his eloquence. He was about the same age as I am now."

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "A good man doesn't talk about his past achievements. I have long forgotten what happened so long ago."

"Even a few years ago, when you were sent as an envoy to Chahar, you forcibly snatched the alliance with Chahar from the imperial court and consolidated the rear for the Feng family army. That was also an event that shocked the world."

"Your teacher dislikes people who are good at flattery the most." Yan Sikong said jokingly, "He didn't like me back then, so why did he like you?"

Fu Zhanqing also smiled. He hesitated for a moment and said shyly, "Actually, the teacher said..."

"What did you say?"

"They say...they say that I am a bit like you."

Yan Sikong raised his eyebrows.

Fu Zhanqing was a little nervous, and he said quickly: "Your Excellency is a dragon among men, a peerless talent, absolutely incomparable to ordinary people like us. Saying this does make me seem to be boasting."

Yan Sikong laughed and said, "I understand."

"What do you understand, sir?"

"I understand why Shen Hexuan accepted you as his disciple." Yan Sikong looked at Fu Zhanqing with a faint smile, "If you don't understand, then go back and think about it carefully. This is the only way to live up to your teacher's expectations of you."

Fu Zhanqing rolled his eyes and said, "Thank you for your advice, sir. I will think about it carefully."

"I know there are some things you dare not say to the Wolf King, and the Wolf King is too lazy to listen to you. You must be able to say them only to me, or specifically to me." Yan Sikong personally poured wine for Zhan Qing, "Go ahead."

Fu Zhanqing raised his glass and toasted Yan Sikong, and the two drank together.

Putting down the cup, Fu Zhanqing sighed: "The King of Chu originally planned to send the teacher, but the teacher suggested that I come to test the waters first. The teacher does have a lot to say and wants me to convey it to the Grand Tutor."

Yan Sikong listened quietly.

"The teacher received both letters from the master. The second letter..." Fu Zhanqing said with a wry smile, "The teacher was furious. The King of Chu relied on the teacher in most matters, but the King of Chu was too obsessed with the throne. Because of the secret communication with Zhuoletai, the teacher and the King of Chu almost fell out. He was firmly opposed to sacrificing Liaoning for the throne, but he failed to stop the King of Chu. Later, he saw that the situation was irreversible, so he had to play along and persuaded the King of Chu to send troops to Guangning, one to save Liaoning, and the other to surround the Wolf King."

Yan Sikong sneered, and his guess was almost right.

"Sir," Fu Zhanqing said worriedly, "the King of Chu will never stop until he can get the capital. Now the Wolf King has more troops in the capital than the Chu army, and there are cities to defend with sufficient food and grass. If the Wolf King does not retreat, the King of Chu may not be able to break in. But if the King of Chu does not retreat, the Wolf King will not be free. If the stalemate continues, both sides will suffer, and the innocent soldiers and civilians will suffer the most."

"How could I not understand this?" Yan Sikong looked at Fu Zhanqing, "But do you think the Wolf King would give up the kingdom he had conquered with great difficulty?"

Fu Zhanqing sighed: "Yes, but when I return to the camp, the King of Chu will send troops to attack Guangning."

Yan Sikong drank a glass of wine in silence.

"Sir." Fu Zhanqing stared at Yan Sikong and asked tentatively, "If, I mean if, the Wolf King must give up the capital, what will he agree to?"

Yan Sikong looked directly at Fu Zhanqing and smiled: "What do you think?"

Fu Zhanqing blinked his eyes and said, "I dare not speculate rashly."

Yan Sikong drank another glass of wine, his mind full of thoughts. Fu Zhanqing's question was exactly what he had been racking his brains over.

"Sir, please drink less." Fu Zhanqing advised gently.

"I've never been drunk."

"Yes." Fu Zhanqing smiled faintly and whispered, "My lord, I'm afraid it's just intoxicating."

"What?" Yan Sikong didn't hear clearly.

Fu Zhanqing looked up at Yan Sikong and said, "My Lord, you are devoted to planning for the Wolf King and doing your best for Guangning. Have you ever thought about yourself?"

"What's there to think about with just a rotten life?" Yan Sikong sneered, "When I burned the Chu army's rations, I had no intention of coming back alive, but God didn't accept me and punished me to continue struggling in this world."

Fu Zhanqing frowned: "Why do you think so, sir? In my mind, you are a celestial being who has transcended the mundane world and should have a good future or a good place to go."

Yan Sikong laughed: "You think too highly of me. I don't know what rumors you have heard. Those storytellers can make up anything just to earn a few more dollars."

"I don't listen to others. Seeing is believing." Fu Zhanqing said, "Besides, the adults that the teacher talks about are different from what the world says."

"Ah, that's right. How could you hear good things about me when you are in the market?" Yan Sikong said with a smile, "They all call me... um... 'Rider on the Wall', right?"

Fu Zhanqing lowered his eyes: "People in the world don't understand you, sir. One day, if I can ascend to the throne and become a prime minister, I will definitely clear your name!"

"No need." Yan Sikong shook his head gently, "I have made many irreparable mistakes, betrayed and used many people, and was laughed at by the world, but I don't feel wronged. I don't care about my reputation after death, I only care about the unfinished business in my life."

Fu Zhanqing could not hide the sadness in his eyes.

"Zhan Qing, perhaps this is the last time we will meet in this life. You are indeed somewhat like me. I hope you don't make the same mistakes I did. From now on, whether you are in the temple or in the underworld, no matter what position you hold or who you serve, you should always put the people and the country first, and restore the great prosperity of the Great Sheng."

Fu Zhanqing's eyes were filled with tears. He stood up and bowed deeply to Yan Sikong: "Young man, please keep this in mind and never forget it."

Yan Sikong also stood up, bowed to him, and left without looking back.