Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

"Are you threatening me?"

"I don't dare. I just want to go into the city to rest."

"Hmph, forget it! Get out of here!"

"My lord, I really have no choice. These brothers are exhausted. If they can't find a place to stay, they will probably faint from hunger on the street tomorrow morning."

The soldiers guarding the city were furious when they heard this: "Nonsense! We have more food than we can eat in Xiangyang City. Where will we get the food for you?"

"Hey, sir, I don't like what you said. Unless you don't eat, you have to eat to be full, right? If you don't eat, your subordinates will eat, right? Do you want to starve your subordinates?"

"That's good. Well, since you are sincere in seeking advice, I will make an exception and let you enter the city."

"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master!"

"and many more!"

"Uh?"

"I'm telling you, after you enter the city, you are not allowed to wander around, and you are not allowed to kill civilians at will. If you break this rule, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Don't worry, sir. Although we are extremely vicious, we never kill innocent people or bully men or women."

"It better be this way. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless. Get out of here now!"

"Thank you, General. We will get out of here right now."

Those Xiliang soldiers rode into the city and disappeared in a moment.

Seeing that they had left, the soldiers guarding the city turned back to the military tent and said, "Master Yang, did you see that? These soldiers from Xiliang are not as vicious and murderous as the rumors say. They are even more docile than us Han people."

Yang Ling smiled and said, "Don't worry, they will get mad soon."

"Furious?"

"Not only will he get mad, he will kill people!"

"Ah? These people are not here to negotiate? Could they be assassins sent by Li Mi?"

"Not bad!"

"This is unreasonable. We have sufficient military strength in Xiangyang City now. If Li Mi sends assassins to kill us, isn't that tantamount to sending ourselves to our deaths?"

"Haha, these Xiliang soldiers are not assassins."

"what is that?"

"They are Li Mi's reinforcements."

"How can this be?"

Yang Ling said: "Look, the color of their armor is different from ours. This is clearly the special iron armor of the Western Regions!"

"I see! But didn't these Xiliang soldiers say they were ordered to check the situation in Xiangyang City?"

"This is just a lie they made up to gain trust! They must have some ulterior motive. Remember, you must be on high alert tonight and there must be no omissions."

"I will obey your orders!"

Yang Ling said: "Okay! Then let's follow the plan and do our respective duties!"

"Here!"

At nightfall, all the soldiers defending the city had gone to bed, but Yang Ling still did not sleep. He sat beside the table, reading a book over and over again, as if he was waiting for something.

Suddenly, the door creaked, and two people walked in after it was pushed open.

Yang Ling looked up and was shocked.

The two of them came in front of Yang Ling, clasped their fists and saluted: "Your humble servants greet the Marshal!"

"No courtesy, please sit down!"

After the two men sat down, Yang Ling asked, "What is the matter that brought you here so late at night, generals?"

"General, we two subordinates have the audacity to come here because we have a major secret to report to you!"

"Oh? What happened?"

"Today, we came to Xiangyang on Li Mi's orders to investigate the situation in the city, and found that it had been occupied by the rebels. We just checked carefully and found that the people in the city had no hostility towards us, on the contrary, they were very enthusiastic.

This makes me feel strange. Because as far as I know, the rebels attacked Xiangyang with great force and burned down three or four city defense tents. The people in the city should be terrified and even flee. However, the people in the city are not afraid at all. We secretly checked and found that there are many young and beautiful women among the people, wearing gorgeous clothes, obviously not ordinary people. I guess that the people in the city may have been captured and imprisoned by the rebels in Xiangyang City. "

Yang Ling was shocked and asked hurriedly, "Is this news true?"

"It's absolutely true! We captured several Xiliang soldiers on the way. They admitted that they came to Xiangyang City to investigate the situation at the instigation of the captured civilians in the city. They also said that Li Mi was ready to deal with the Marshal and hoped to reach an agreement with the Marshal to fight against the Xixia people together."

"Li Mi actually dared to negotiate with me!"

Yang Ling was so angry that his teeth itched.

He was silent for a while, then asked, "Where are those people being held?"

"In the northern suburbs of the city, not far from the military camp."

"take me."

"Yes!"

Half an hour later, Yang Ling finally saw the people.

These people were tied up and thrown into a corner. They were thin, with empty eyes and disheveled hair, looking miserable and miserable.

When Yang Ling saw the appearance of these people, he became furious and wished he could tear these Xiliang soldiers into pieces immediately.

Is this a human? It's clearly an animal!
These people were tortured beyond recognition, their faces were covered with bruises and scars, their bodies were covered with bloody scars from being whipped. Some had blood stains on the corners of their mouths, their legs were swollen and deformed; some were lying on the ground dying, covered with thick cotton jackets, but still couldn't resist the cold.

"General, these people are not ordinary people. They must not fall into Li Mi's hands. Otherwise, our Song Dynasty will lose so many loyal old ministers."

Yang Ling nodded in agreement and said, "I understand. I certainly won't let Li Mi succeed."

After he finished speaking, he ordered: "Rescue these people first."

"Yes!"

Yang Ling personally helped everyone untie the ropes, and then helped them to the eaves, using the stove to drive away the cold. Then, Yang Ling ordered people to bring chairs for them to sit on. Seeing Yang Ling as kind and benevolent as a bodhisattva, these people knelt down and worshiped him.

Yang Ling stopped them and said, "Everyone, don't be polite. Sit down and have some tea."

"Thank you, Marshal, for your grace."

Yang Ling looked at everyone and said, "Everyone, I'm not afraid to tell you that our current situation is very dangerous. Although I, Yang, am not a top expert in the army, my martial arts skills are also very strong. But today, I can't even match the two guards of the other side, let alone defeat them. Why is that? Because the opponent's strength is too strong, beyond our imagination."

After hearing this, these people all looked worried.

Yang Ling continued, "I just observed that the people in the city have no hostility towards our army, nor are they afraid of us. If not, there wouldn't be so many people standing at the street corner to welcome us today."

Yang Ling paused for a moment and continued, "I estimate that the enemy outside the city will soon attack the city. By then, the city will be in danger. You are the pillars of my Song Dynasty and the ministers of the country. You must not fail. I, Yang Ling, dare to ask you to temporarily avoid the front line and retreat to Dongling County. Come back after the war is over. How about it?"

"Marshal, this is inappropriate, isn't it?"

"That's right. The change of ownership of the city is such a big deal. How can we not report it to the court?"

Yang Ling shook his head and said, "This matter must be kept secret from the court. We don't want to be treacherous people!"

These words immediately resonated with many people, and everyone echoed them.

Yang Ling continued, "I, Yang Ling, am not a pedantic person. If I were really a traitor, I would not have led troops into the city today to rescue the people and soldiers in the city. Since I chose to lead the army to rescue everyone, I sincerely want to protect you and defend our Song Dynasty!"

"The Marshal is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness!"

Yang Ling waved his hands and said, "It's hard to persuade the damned ghosts with kind words. If you insist on defending the city and wait for the rebels to attack the city, you will only die in the end!"

Everyone was hesitant, and someone asked, "Marshal, what should we do next?"

"I suggest that we abandon the city and move our position!"

Yang Ling's idea is actually similar to that of Guo Yaoshi, Zhang Liang and others. He also took into account that the city was strong and the enemy army had been attacking for a long time but failed to conquer the city. Instead of a head-on confrontation, it is better to take advantage of the enemy's failure to break through the city, try to evacuate the city, and give the enemy a fatal blow from the flank. As long as the flanks and Xiangyang City are defended, victory will belong to us, and the enemy will not be able to besiege Xiangyang City for a long time. After all, Xiangyang City has a special geographical location and is a must-pass place for the Grand Canal. The enemy army cannot bypass Xiangyang anyway. At that time, the defenders in the city only need to defend the city and delay the enemy, and the imperial court reinforcements will naturally continue to reinforce.

However, the defenders in the city had completely different ideas.

"No! Marshal, I don't agree with your idea. If we abandon the city, how will we resettle the hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers in the city? They are the most precious wealth of our Song Dynasty."

"Yes! We would rather die on the battlefield than live in disgrace."

"We swear to live and die with Xiangyang!"

Seeing everyone's firm attitude, Yang Ling couldn't help but sigh and said, "I know everyone's difficulties, and I won't force you. You can choose to stay in the city. But I hope that everyone will discuss things more in the future, and not act on their own, so as not to delay important things."

Everyone looked at each other, obviously, no one could convince themselves.

However, Yang Ling had already anticipated this outcome and was mentally prepared, so he remained calm and said with a smile, "Everyone can think about it. There is still plenty of time, so there is no need to rush for two or three days."

When Yang Ling said this, an idea suddenly occurred to him.

Yang Ling looked at everyone and smiled, "If you are worried about insufficient food or supplies, don't worry. We have already collected enough food in Luzhou Prefecture. We just need to wait until winter comes and we will be able to get through this difficult time."

Now everyone looked at Yang Ling in a daze.

Yang Ling continued, "As for other issues, you don't have to worry. The reinforcements sent by the Song Dynasty court should arrive soon. When the time comes, the Song Dynasty reinforcements will help everyone defend the city, so there is no need to worry about insufficient food and grass."

Everyone suddenly realized that reinforcements were about to arrive.

"Marshal, is this true?"

"Marshal, please don't lie to us, otherwise we would have waited so long in vain."

"Don't worry, I won't lie to you."

"Haha, that's good! That's good!"

Yang Ling said a few more words to comfort them, then led his troops back to the posthouse to rest.

The next day, Yang Ling went out again to inspect the city defense.

Last night, Yang Ling led the army into the city, which greatly boosted the morale of the defenders on the city wall. Therefore, the atmosphere on the city wall today is particularly solemn, and even reveals a hint of murderous aura.

Yang Ling came to the city wall to inspect. When the civilians and soldiers in the city saw him coming, they all bowed their heads respectfully, with reverence on their faces. Yang Ling swept his eyes through the crowd and found that many people were in tattered clothes and covered in blood, obviously injured. He sighed in his heart, and then ordered the soldiers to repair the broken crenels and battlements on the city wall, and asked the medical officer to visit the patients in the affected houses.

After being busy until dusk, Yang Ling returned to the posthouse and immediately summoned civil officials to discuss the next battle strategy.

Yang Ling looked at Han Shizhong and asked, "Captain Han, what do you think we should do?"

Han Shizhong frowned and thought for a moment before answering, "I think we can set up checkpoints along the river to intercept the rebel fleet and force them to give up chasing the Marshal."

Han Shizhong's idea was relatively simple. He wanted to directly block the rebels' pursuit route of the army, preventing the army from smoothly attacking the heart of the capital.

Yang Ling thought this idea was too naive, and snorted disdainfully: "If the rebels are so stupid, they don't deserve to occupy such a place. Let's set up camp near Xiangyang City. When night falls, we will take a boat south and go to Guangdong and Guangxi by land to find Liu Zongmin."

"what?!"

Han Shizhong exclaimed: "Marshal, you are crazy. You actually dare to take the water route. You absolutely cannot do that!"

"Don't worry, Captain Han. Our ship is very fast and the rebels can't catch up with us."

"No, no, absolutely not. It's too dangerous."

Han Shizhong still shook his head stubbornly, unwilling to follow Yang Ling's advice. Although Han Shizhong knew that the Marshal was a great martial artist, this strategy was too risky. Fortunately, the Marshal's wisdom was far superior to that of ordinary people, so Han Shizhong was able to follow the Marshal for a living. But if it were someone else, he would have long since surrendered to the rebels and become a traitor, selling out his master for fame, and there would be no chance for him to stay by the Marshal's side.

"Okay, then we'll go along Poyang Lake and take a shortcut to Guangdong and Guangxi to find Liu Zongmin. However, this matter should not be made public, let alone let Liu Zongmin know. You go and mobilize the army first, and then I will lead 500 cavalrymen to sneak into Poyang Lake secretly and go to Guangdong and Guangxi to investigate the situation first."

After Yang Ling told Han Shizhong about the plan, he warned him, "Remember, don't let the news leak out."

Han Shizhong nodded in agreement.

After Han Shizhong left in a hurry, Yang Ling immediately called Li Yun and others.

"Everyone, I am going to Poyang Lake."

"Marshal, what are you doing? Poyang Lake is so dangerous, how can you go there?"

"This Governor is determined to venture into Poyang Lake alone!"

"Marshal, please forgive me for speaking frankly, but your decision is very rash! Poyang Lake is a natural barrier, not suitable for infantry to pass through. Even with ships, it is difficult to cross. Besides, you have no ships except us. Marshal, please don't take the risk. I am willing to take this trip on your behalf!"

"Marshal, I am willing to serve you. Please let me take your place!"

"I am willing to accompany you on this journey!" (End of this chapter)