Entering the cold winter, the weather was getting colder by the day. Because of the cold weather, the speed of Du Qi's army was a little slower. It wasn't until the end of December that the army led by Du Qi arrived outside Guazhou City.
Under Du Qi's command, there were troops led by Xiao Yuanqi, Ma Yuan, and Xue Rengui. Especially the troops that had been lost before, they had already been replenished in Rou Yuan County. Their respective forces had already recovered.
This was the advantage of fighting on home soil.
It could replenish the source of troops.
Of course, the most important point was that Du Qi treated his people well. Moreover, the treatment of the soldiers in the army was extremely good. As long as they were able to perform meritorious deeds on the battlefield, they would be rewarded. Thus, countless commoners felt honored to be able to enter the army. Although there was a certain amount of risk in the army, there were more opportunities in the army.
Therefore, the commoners were extremely enthusiastic about enlisting in the army. Even when Xue Rengui and Ma Yuan were recruiting, there were many people who were not selected and had a look of regret on their faces.
Du Qi's current military force was more than 150,000 people.
The army was in formation. It was a dark mass.
It was very aggressive.
This formation exuded pressure, giving people the feeling that dark clouds were pressing down on the city. Even Li Shiming, Zhangsun Wuji, and the others on the city tower were shocked when they saw Du Qi's army.
Du Qi's army was too strong.
This was not something that ordinary people could contend against.
Li Shiming took a deep breath and waited quietly on the city tower. He wanted to see what Du Qi was going to do. Ma Zhou was beside Du Qi. He was tied up.
Originally, according to Zhangsun Wuji's suggestion, Li Shiming did not plan to appear personally and was prepared to stay in the army in the city. However, he wanted to talk to Du Qi, so Li Shiming finally changed his mind.
He wanted to talk to him personally.
Even if he might be targeted by Du Qi, Li Shimin was willing.
Li Shimin did not wait for Du Qi to speak first. When Du Qi's army got into formation, Li Shimin took the initiative to shout, "Du Qi, Ma Zhou is beside me. Even though you have that mysterious weapon that can bombard the city towers, you still have the ability to do so. However, as long as you bombard the tower, Ma Zhou will die with you. "
During the battle in Rou Yuan County, Li Shiming knew that Du Qi's weapon was powerful enough for long-range attacks.
If it weren't for Ma Zhou, he would have to hide.
But right now, Li Shimin did not need to worry.
If Du Qi's mysterious weapon bombarded the city gate tower, Ma Zhou would also die. Moreover, Li Shimin asked himself if he understood Du Qi very well. That was why he dared to come out and shout. If it were any other time, he would not dare to shout in person. Once Du Qi found his position, he would definitely die under the bombardment of numerous weapons.
Du Qi stepped forward directly. He looked up at the city gate tower and said, "Li Shimin, you've disappointed me a little. Speaking of which, I'm not angry that you want to attack my Xia Xia. Because as an Emperor, how can I allow others to sleep beside my bed? The Tang dynasty wants to dominate the world, so it's normal for them to attack my Xia Xia. However, you took the action of detaining Ma Zhou, which disappointed me. Of course, you can rest assured that I won't fire the cannons. Because in my eyes, Ma Zhou is more precious than you. "
"Your Majesty, fire the cannons!"
"Fire the cannons!"
At this time, Ma Zhou suddenly shouted.
As a minister under Du Qi's command, he was Du Qi's confidant and a member of the Cabinet. He was bound to have great power and influence in the future. But this time, Li Shimin was beside him, so he hoped that Du Qi would fire the cannons and directly kill Li Shimin.
Li Shimin was the Emperor of the Tang dynasty.
If Li Shimin collapsed, the Tang dynasty would definitely be in chaos.
Although he didn't want to die, he didn't want Du Qi to be constrained or coerced, and he didn't want Xia Xia to be affected by this. Therefore, Ma Zhou gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.
After hearing it, Li Shimin ordered his men to cover Ma Zhou's mouth. He then looked at Du Qi's position outside the city and continued to laugh, "Du Qi, did you hear Ma Zhou's words? It's really touching! I also want to have such a loyal minister, and I also want to persuade Ma Zhou to surrender. Unfortunately, Ma Zhou is unwilling. What a pity, what a pity! "
After a pause, Li Shimin continued, "Du Qi, for a talent like Ma Zhou, not to mention a weapon that can bomb, even three or five cities are worth exchanging. If it were me, I would rather pay a big price to get Ma Zhou back. Now, what are you going to do? "
Du Qi sneered.
Li Shimin was just standing there and talking.
He was deliberately provoking him.
Du Qi was not in a hurry. He smiled coldly and said, "Li Shimin, Ma Zhou is indeed important. I can't give up Ma Zhou. Because to me, Ma Zhou is one of a kind. However, you want to get Ma Zhou back, not in a humiliating way, but in exchange for Ma Zhou. In exchange for Ma Zhou, not only will Xia be hurt, but Ma Zhou will also be humiliated. I want to get Ma Zhou back, and I want to get Ma Zhou back fair and square. "
Li Shimin said coldly, "Du Qi, you really don't care about Ma Zhou's life?"
He understood the meaning behind Du Qi's words.
He just didn't agree.
Du Qi said, "I've already said it. It's not that I don't want to get Ma Zhou back, but I don't want to get Ma Zhou back in the way you planned. Li Shimin, there are more than 20,000 soldiers under your command in my hands. These soldiers are all soldiers of your Tang dynasty. Their life and death depends on a single thought from you, Li Shimin. "
"If you release Ma Zhou now, I will release these captives."
"If you don't release Ma Zhou today, I will kill 100 people today. If you don't release Ma Zhou tomorrow, I will kill 200 people tomorrow. If you don't release Ma Zhou the day after tomorrow, I will kill 300 people, and so on, until all the captives are killed. "
After a pause, Du Qi continued, "At the same time, the spies that I, Xia, have planted in the Tang dynasty will spread the news of your ruthlessness. You don't care about the lives of your soldiers, and you don't care about the lives of your soldiers. Li Shimin, this is my response. I'll give you a choice. The choice is in your hands now. How do you choose? "
Li Shimin's face turned ugly when he heard this.
Du Qi's methods were so ruthless.
This was simply too ruthless.
Li Shimin could disregard the lives of his soldiers, but after the news spread throughout the army in the city, even if the soldiers supported Li Shimin, even if the soldiers relied on Li Shimin, in the end, the soldiers' hearts would turn cold. Because the treatment of all the captives today could be the treatment of the soldiers in the city tomorrow.
Zhangsun Wuji was beside Li Shimin. When he heard Du Qi's words, he knew that things were not good.
He had already persuaded Li Shimin.
He did not let Li Shimin come.
It was to avoid making things difficult for Li Shimin. Li Shimin had originally agreed, but in the end, he changed his mind. Now that Du Qi had made it clear that he was here, Li Shimin was in a difficult position.
Zhangsun Wuji knew that Li Shimin was in a difficult position, so he took the initiative to stand out and said loudly, "Du Qi, don't use such methods to threaten His Majesty. Right now, Ma Zhou is in our hands. If you don't give him weapons according to the agreement. Then Ma Zhou will definitely die. "
Du Qi said, "Zhangsun Wuji, needless to say, I know that there's no point in giving birth to a son like this. The idea of digging up someone's ancestral grave was your idea. I arranged for Ma Zhou to be an envoy to represent me to the Tang dynasty. This is diplomacy between countries. You must know that when two countries are at war, they don't kill the envoys. But you, Zhangsun Wuji, persuaded Li Shimin to detain Ma Zhou and even threatened Ma Zhou's life. "
"This kind of method is really despicable."
"Zhangsun Wuji, look behind me. Look at those twenty thousand captives. Look at their eyes. Look at your surroundings. Look at the soldiers around you. Look at their eyes. "
"You should know that the reason why you can guard Guazhou City is not because of how powerful you, Li Shimin, or how powerful you, Zhangsun Wuji, are. It's because of these ordinary soldiers."
Du Qi said, "It's because of their existence that Guazhou City can stand here. Now, Li Shimin is not willing to care about the lives of the soldiers. I'm very sorry. "
Zhangsun Wuji's expression was quite ugly.
Especially when he looked around, he seemed to see disdain in the eyes of the soldiers.
They were looking down on him.
There were even some soldiers that were looking at Zhangsun Wuji with hostile gazes.
Zhangsun Wuji took a deep breath and retracted his gaze. He didn't care about this. Because to him, it was just the thoughts of a group of ordinary soldiers. It wasn't worth his consideration.
Zhangsun Wuji only considered the future of the Tang dynasty.
He wholeheartedly planned for the Tang dynasty.
He had no selfish motives.
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