First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 29
28. Overnight to vote
After Zhu Zhijin finished speaking, he carefully observed the changes in everyone's expressions, and winked at a person beside him, who immediately understood, "Even Zhu Shuzuo was treated like this by Gao Deru, let alone us."

Zhu Zhijin nodded and continued: "Just now, Gao Deru has said that as long as the Tang army breaks through the city, we will be the first to kill. With only four thousand soldiers and horses, ask yourself, can you resist Tang Gong's army? The world is already in chaos. Violent Sui will surely perish, following a superior like Gao Deru, do you all think there is a way to survive?"

The words have come to this point, the few people present did not hesitate any longer, and immediately expressed their position, "Zhu Shuzuo, tell me, how to do things, I will follow orders."

Zhu Zhijin was overjoyed when he saw this, "Guo Xiaowei, Chen Xiaowei, you two will call your confidantes to the back door of the prefect's mansion tonight. At that time, I will tie up Gao Deru and go out of the city to vote for Tang Gong."

Chen and Guo looked at each other when they heard the words, and they all nodded fiercely, "Zhu Shuzuo, I will only follow your lead, but please don't forget the contributions of my two brothers after the matter is completed."

Zhu Zhijin was so excited that he stood down and held the hands of the two, "If you vote for Mr. Tang, we will be in the same boat and share weal and woe."

After Chen and Guo left, Zhu Zhijin calmed down quickly, motioned to his confidant to close the door, took up the pen, and wrote a letter, handing it to his confidant, "After dark, you climb the rope down to the city, hand this letter Yu Tangjun", his confidants took orders and left.

Outside the north gate of Xicheng, the Tang army did not launch an offensive today, and was building a siege equipment with great fanfare in the open space outside the city.

Seeing this, Liu Hongji and the others were a little puzzled, "Governor, we brought siege equipment from Jinyang City, why are we building it here in front of the enemy?"

Li Shimin smiled, "Didn't you say yesterday that you won't see each other in three days, do you want me to treat you differently? Use your brain."

Liu Hongji scratched his head when he heard the words, "Last night's letter of persuasion to surrender was another night of harassment. It is expected that the enemy's troops are already panicked, so they can't take the opportunity to attack the city, but we are here...".

While muttering, Liu Hongji's eyes lit up suddenly, and he clapped his hands in praise: "I understand, it's to intimidate the enemy and break their morale."

Seeing this, Gao Chong smiled and said, "Brother Hongji's brain is turning very fast."

"Hongji is quite talented in military strategy, but because of his temper, he can't calm down and study," Li Shimin also nodded in praise.

Liu Hongji leaned forward, snapped his fingers and said, "And there is more than one benefit. After the siege equipment is built, it will still be useful for subsequent sieges."

"Today is a day to put pressure on the city." Li Shimin clenched his fists and stared at Xicheng in the distance, his eyes flashed with the edge of sure victory.

Li Jiancheng stepped forward, frowned and asked, "Erlang, do you want to force surrender?".

Li Shimin shook his head and smiled, "It seems that my elder brother is the same as before, and he fell into a misunderstanding when he thought of persuading surrender." He said and looked at Gao Chong, "You Zhi, you proposed this plan, so let you explain it."

Gao Chong had no choice but to repeat it again. Li Jiancheng suddenly became enlightened when he heard the words, and clapped his hands in praise: "It is true that we are narrow-minded. This plan is very good. It can not only reduce casualties and destroy the city, but also kill Gao Deru To serve as an example to others."

But he was a little worried, "Will someone in the city do this?"

"The eldest son underestimated human nature." Gao Chong shook his head and said, "Gao Deru is not a popular official at all. Under the threat of his wealth and life, there is no doubt that a virtuous and incompetent superior and a tyrannical court, Clearly not worth mentioning."

Everyone thought deeply after hearing the words.

As night fell, there was a commotion at the gate of the camp, and Zhu Zhijin's confidant came to vote overnight with a letter. Once the letter came, the big deal was settled, and no one doubted the feasibility of this plan.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin brothers looked at each other and laughed, "Very good, the governor is very pleased that your Zhu Shuzuo is able to find his way back. If the city of Xi is broken, it will be the first meritorious service." The confidant said warmly.

When Li Shimin heard the words, he interrupted hurriedly, and leaned closer to his ear and said, "The first contribution is Gao Youzhi."

Li Jiancheng coughed, "You report back to your family Zhu Shuzuo. After the matter is completed, I, Li Jiancheng, will personally ask for credit for him." He waved his hands and said, "You have made great achievements in reporting the letter overnight, and I will give you ten gold."

Gao Chong's eyes lit up when he heard that, ten taels of gold?It was a big deal, but then the attendant brought a tray with a hanging copper coin inside, Gao Chong was dumbfounded, it turns out that ten gold is ten guan coins.

Seeing this, the person who reported the letter hurriedly thanked him, and went out happily carrying ten pennies on his back.

"This Zhu Zhijin said that he would buy the lieutenant colonel and capture Gao Deru." Li Jiancheng patted Zhu Zhijin's handwritten letter in his hand, "I don't know if he can do it?"

"Whether it can be done or not depends on tonight's midnight." Li Shimin is very confident, because he agrees with Gao Chong's human nature. A foolish and loyal person.

"This Zhu Zhijin is a scholar, and the scholar has many eyes, so he will definitely think of ideas."

Speaking of which, Li Shimin was startled for a moment, looked up, and only saw one counting as the other. Wen Dayou, Gao Chong and others all looked at him expressionlessly, Li Shimin was stunned, and quickly laughed loudly to change the subject. "Then let's stand ready and wait for Zishi."

As time passed, everyone was dressed in armor and was ready at any time.

In Xicheng, the county magistrate issued a strict order. After dark, the streets are forbidden for idlers to come and go. Therefore, Xicheng at night is deadly silent. Guo Xiaowei and Chen Xiaowei gathered hundreds of cronies and servants around him, quietly Came to the back door of the official office of the prefect's mansion.

Seeing that he had arrived, Xiaowei Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Brother Guo, no... nothing will happen, right?"

Xiaowei Guo was also beating drums when he heard it. He looked at the sky, then at the people who were getting ready, and gritted his teeth: "It's already reached this point, there is no way out."

After the words fell, the back door creaked open, and Guo Chen and others trembled in shock.

"But the two captains, Guo and Chen?" The person who opened the door was dressed as a servant, and seemed to be a servant of the prefect's mansion.

Guo and Chen hurriedly responded, and they were also admiring from the bottom of their hearts. Zhu Shuzuo even bribed the servants of the prefect's mansion, which is really amazing.

"Gao Deru is half drunk in the middle hall of the backyard, everyone, come with me quickly", the servant hurriedly led the way.

Guo and Chen gritted their teeth and followed.

At this time, in the middle hall of the backyard, Gao Deru was lying on the desk, his obese body was panting with difficulty, and the lower seat beside him was Zhu Zhijin.

"Brother Zhu...Brother Zhu...hiccup..." Gao Deru braced himself up and hiccupped, with a lewd smile on his fat face, "I just... just hurt you in the daytime, but you put your beloved little... My concubine gave it to me, if you are interested, come and drink."

(End of this chapter)