Peng Youzai tilted his head and looked at Feng Lingbo. He waved his hand to dismiss the others, then said to Feng Lingbo, "After this battle, this person cannot be left alive. Think of a way to get rid of him."
Feng Lingbo did not understand, and asked respectfully, "Father, you mean?"
Peng Youzai lifted his chin towards the person in the wheelchair.
Feng Lingbo asked, "Meng Shanming?"
Peng Youzai nodded slightly.
Feng Lingbo's heart tightened, and asked, "Why?"
Peng Youzai said, "His reputation is not for nothing. You've seen it for yourself. This person is indeed powerful. If he is here, even if he can suppress Shang Chaozong, it will only encourage Shang Chaozong's revival. So between him and Shang Chaozong, only one can live. Who will you choose? "
Feng Lingbo understood what he meant. No matter what, Shang Chaozong was his son-in-law. Although what he did was disadvantageous to Shang Chaozong, he did not want to take Shang Chaozong's life unless it was absolutely necessary. Under the circumstances, he still had to consider his daughter's side. Cutting off Shang Chaozong's wings was the best choice.
No matter internally or externally, if he did not even let his own son-in-law go, how would others look at him?
If he had to choose, he would naturally choose Shang Chaozong to live.
"Let him disappear quietly. Don't cause any commotion." Peng Youzai gave him a sidelong glance, then turned and left.
Feng Lingbo bowed slightly to send him off. When he turned back to look at the person in the wheelchair, he could only sigh in his heart.
He did not expect that Meng Shanming, a famous general of this generation, would fall under his blade. Although he could not bear it, he could not be merciful. Some of his father-in-law's words were reasonable. Meng Shanming was definitely an influential figure. He was Shang Chaozong's right-hand man …
At the lakeside, Meng Shanming raised his hand and gestured. Luo An turned his wheelchair and faced the lake.
In the distance, the green mountains were shrouded in the afterglow of the setting sun. Meng Shan Ming gazed into the distance with deep and calm eyes. His pale white hair looked a bit bleak under the setting sun. He didn't say anything for a long time. No one knew what he was thinking.
Shang Chaozong and the rest looked at each other, Shang Shuqing moved her skirt to the side of the wheelchair and said, "Uncle Meng, you haven't slept for a long time, go back and rest."
Meng Shanming came back to his senses. He raised his head and looked at her. Looking at her face, he suddenly said sadly, "I haven't seen you get married yet. You're not young anymore. It's time for you to find a husband. I think this is what the late king wanted."
Shang Shuqing lowered his body and half squatted beside the wheelchair before smiling, "Qing-er is long used to being alone. It is quite good, Qing-er does not want to marry."
Meng Shanming caressed her hair tenderly and his eyes were filled with affection, "Silly girl, how can a woman not marry. How can she live with such a big regret for the rest of her life? I understand your thoughts. If you are able to see Daoye, mention it to Daoye and see if he has any way. The birthmark on your face was planted by Mister Dongguo. He is Mister Dongguo's disciple and is from the Shangqing Sect. Perhaps he has a way to resolve it for you. "
Shang Shuqing smiled, "Uncle Meng, there is really no need. This is really quite good. Could it be that Uncle Meng wants Qing-er to find a man who would judge a book by its cover?"
Meng Shanming's eyes were filled with affection, "Girl, you must remember, as long as one's heart is right, there is nothing wrong with judging a book by its cover. This is human nature, what is wrong with it? Besides, which woman does not love to be beautiful? It has been hard on you all these years. Our silly girl is a treasure and whoever is able to pick her is someone's fortune. Unfortunately, the world has eyes but cannot see. I really do not know if Mister Dongguo planted this ugly birthmark on your face helped you or harmed you. "
…
The army rolled in like a tide and surrounded the city from several directions.
Among the troops, there was a 'Wu' flag at the head and Wu Tiandang, who was wearing bright armor, was escorted by the flag.
The guards at the top of the city walls were trembling with fear.
Wu Tiandang rode his horse outside the city and swaggered. He unsheathed his sword and pointed to the top of the city walls and shouted, "Listen to the guards at the top of the city walls. Immediately open the city gates and surrender. Those who surrender will be let bygones be bygones. If you are stubborn to the end, once the city is breached, kill without mercy! "
After a while, a basket was lowered from the top of the city walls and a person was released to negotiate.
After an hour, the city gates opened and the guards took off their armors and came out with bare arms. They were carrying vines and asked for forgiveness.
Wu Tiandang accepted the surrender and the army entered the city and officially took over the entire city.
The people in the city were extremely frightened at first but gradually calmed down after realizing that they were not disturbed.
Similar things were repeated in the Upper Six Counties of the Southern Continent …
In the brightly lit imperial palace of Yan Jin, a white-haired man in a yellow robe paced back and forth barefooted in the majestic hall. He roared, "800,000 troops, 800,000 troops! It has only been a few days and we have lost so badly. Zhou Shouxian, you fool, you have let me down. You have let me down. You have let me down! "
In the hall, the Great Minister of Public Works Tong Mo, the Minister of Internal Affairs Tian Yu, and the Commander of the Central Chariot Prefecture, Gamiao Shui, all lowered their heads in silence. Their expressions were either solemn, sad, or tense …
In a military camp, armored soldiers were patrolling back and forth. Golden Wings were constantly taking off and landing.
In the central military tent, various reports and military orders came and went as people came and went. Standing in front of the map, Zhou Shouxian did not take off his armor. His face was haggard and mostly anxious. He had not slept for a few days, and the rims of his eyes were dark.
He still wanted to salvage the situation. After all, he still had hundreds of thousands of troops within Nanzhou. However, the rebel army that had taken over Nanzhou did not give him a chance. They had forcefully scattered and exhausted his hundreds of thousands of troops within Nanzhou. Large groups had been defeated, and small groups were unable to regroup with others. The news that came were waves of cries for help.
Zhou Shouxian wanted to help, but what could he do to help?
The rebel army's attack from beginning to end had targeted his weakness step by step and carried out a perfect strategic attack. The result was the situation before his eyes. It had turned his 800,000 troops into a plate of loose sand.
Another report arrived. After Zhou Shouxian read it, he swayed slightly.
Sitting to the side with a taut face, Provincial Governor Xue Xiao of Dingzhou rose and took the report in his hand to read.
It couldn't be considered a report. It was a letter sent by Zhou Shouxian's trusted general in Nanzhou. Originally, they could still eat grass, gnaw on tree bark, and drink stream water when they were thirsty. However, the enemy had cut off the stream and changed its course. They occupied an advantageous position and surrounded them but did not attack. They could not drink water all day, and their morale was close to collapsing. If reinforcements did not come, the general would not be able to suppress the desire of the people below to surrender and could only surrender in shame to the court.
Xue Xiao took a deep breath. In one day, he had accompanied Zhou Shouxian to read a dozen similar urgent letters.
After accompanying him for so long, he had more or less figured out why Zhou Shouxian had lost so badly.
Placing the letter on the table, Xue Xiao sighed and said, "The strategy was ruthless, steady, and accurate. They directly targeted Brother Zhou's weakness. The tactics and attacks were treacherous. Between advance and retreat, they completely controlled the rhythm of the battle. Brother Zhou's 800,000 troops were pinned down and had nowhere to go. It has to be said that the rebel army's attack skills were superb. It was a magnificent show that broadened one's horizons. I really didn't expect Feng Lingbo to have such military talent! "
Zhou Shouxian suddenly raised his head and whined, "Brother Xue, could it be that you still think the commander of the rebel army is Feng Lingbo?"
Xue Xiao was stunned, "Didn't the Imperial Court send news that the Shang Dynasty's military power is already under Feng Lingbo's control, and that Feng Lingbo is the military governor of the five counties of Nan Province, commanding the troops of the five counties?"
Zhou Shouxian said with grief and indignation, "Brother Xue, the court has wronged me! Feng Lingbo has been in Guang Guan prefecture for many years. I've fought with him for many years. What kind of person he is, and how capable he is, do you think I don't know? "
Xue Xiao said, "Shang Chaozong?"
Zhou Shouxian shook his head and said painfully, "To be able to command 600,000 troops in battle with such ease, do you think someone who is commanding such a huge army for the first time can do it? Do you think there is anyone else over there who has this kind of experience? Does Feng Lingbo have it? Does Shang Chaozong have it? "
A light flashed in Xue Xiao's mind, and he suddenly sucked in a breath of cold air, "Meng Shanming!"
Zhou Shouxian pressed his fists on the table and sobbed, "If I knew it was Meng Shanming, I wouldn't have arranged my troops like that, and I wouldn't have lost so badly! The court's intelligence is wrong, it's wrong for me! "
Xue Xiao didn't say anything, and frowned slightly, disapproving. However, Zhou Shouxian was already in this state, and there was no point in saying anything else …
The next morning, Zhou Shouxian, who had fallen into a nightmare on the tent table, was suddenly woken up by the noise outside the tent.
He got up and stretched his numb and stiff body, and quickly walked out. He opened the tent flap to take a look, and found that there were unfamiliar faces outside the tent. His 3000 personal guards were nowhere to be seen, replaced by another group of people.
"What's the situation?" Zhou Shouxian shouted.
No one answered. After a while, Xue Xiao came with a group of people. Zhen Ling Institute's Jin Wuguang and Flying Flower Pavilion's Cao Yu 'er were also beside him.
The two sect masters looked at Zhou Shouxian with complicated expressions.
Xue Xiao stood in front of Zhou Shouxian, and they looked at each other in silence.
Zhou Shouxian seemed to realize something, and smiled bitterly, "Brother Xue, is there a decree from the court?"
Xue Xiao's lips slightly tightened, and he said Slowly, "His Majesty has decreed that Brother Zhou is to be escorted to the capital, and Brother Zhou's matter will be handled by me!"
Zhou Shouxian looked at Jin Wuguang and Cao Yu 'er. Looking at their expressions, he could already guess that they were going to leave him, so he asked, "Sect masters, can I have a word with you?"
The two looked at each other, and then turned to look at Xue Xiao. Seeing that Xue Xiao didn't object, they nodded slightly.
The three of them went back into the tent one after another.
The tent flap was closed, and Zhou Shouxian cupped his hands and bowed to the two. "I'm useless, and I've implicated Zhen Ling Institute and Flying Flower Pavilion."
Cao Yu 'er smiled bitterly. "Now that things have come to this, there's no turning back. Sir, you don't have to blame yourself. It's already in the past, and I hope that Sir can understand our difficulties. We can't protect Sir anymore."
Zhou Shouxian could naturally understand. Things had come to this, and the two factions couldn't possibly go against the court just to help him escape. They could only give up on him if they helped him escape.
Zhou Shouxian cupped his hands again and said, "If it's possible, and if it's convenient, I hope that the two of you can take care of my family for me on account of our many years of friendship."
Jin Wuguang said, "It's not time for that yet. Sir, you have His Majesty's trust, and there might be a turn for the better."
Zhou Shouxian shook his head and sighed. "I can't live. Someone will definitely take the blame for this. After the investigation, there's only death for me. Please wait a moment! "After saying that, he walked back to the table, took out a brush, and wrote something. He even signed it.
Then, he shook the paper and walked back to the two of them. "I'll have to trouble the two of you to pass this to Sir Xue outside to report to the court."
The two of them took the paper and opened it to take a look. After reading it, their expressions changed drastically. Cao Yu 'er said anxiously, "Sir Zhou, there's no need to do this!"
Zhou Shouxian waved his hand. "After I'm sent to the capital for interrogation, I won't be able to escape punishment. I'll definitely die, and I'll easily implicate my family. If I commit suicide in defeat, I'll still have a reputation for loyalty. The court won't go as far as to implicate my family. Otherwise, the soldiers of the court will be bitterly disappointed. I'm going to die either way, so there's no need for the two of you to persuade me anymore. Take care! "He extended his hand and gestured for them to leave.
What else could the two of them do? They knew that the other party's choice was a wise one.
When the two of them took Zhou Shouxian's confession letter and walked out of the tent, the sound of a treasured sword being unsheathed came from behind them. The two of them turned around to look.
Xue Xiao, who was standing outside the tent, also saw Zhou Shouxian's movements when the tent flap opened. His expression changed drastically, and he reached out and shouted, "Brother Zhou!"
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