Jinghong Tower

In Zhuozhou City, Meng Wangsheng looked sad. There was not enough food and grass. In order to save food, Meng Wangsheng, the general, only ate one bowl of coarse grain rice every day.

But saving alone is not enough. The food will eventually run out. They requisition food from the people, and the people's life is not easy. Every house is closed and they dare not come out. The soldiers who went to requisition were turned away and broke down the door impatiently. When they came in, some timid people took the initiative to bring out grains, while others picked up their kitchen knives and axes, willing to risk their lives rather than give them a grain of grain.

The situation developed in the direction that Meng Wangsheng least wanted to see.

He was guarding the city, but the people in the city did not appreciate the kindness. At first, Meng Wangsheng felt chilled, but later he understood.

The reason why the people are ungrateful is because they are not defending the city for the people.

Because this is the last line of defense for the capital, they are protecting the capital, not the people in the city.

Meng Wangsheng climbed up the city tower. Outside the city were thousands of troops of the King of Jin, and inside the city were lifeless streets.

Meng Wangsheng was at a loss.

At this moment, there was a noise coming from downstairs.

He looked down and saw that the noise was coming from a slovenly Taoist who was holding an iron-clad fortune teller in his hand.

The Taoist raised his head and met Meng Wangsheng's eyes, who was leaning forward and looking down.

"What is General Meng doing? Defending the capital? Hahaha, the capital is in Jinling, far away from here."

Meng Wangsheng's heart sank. The capital was in Jinling, and the words of the sloppy Taoist gave him the heaviest blow.

His family is also in Jinling and they are hostages.

If you surrender, your family will die.

Fighting hard to the end, as long as it ends in failure, his family will not end well.

What if he died? Will the King of Qi and the Emperor let his family go for the sake of his own death?

Meng Wangsheng's heart was like thousands of horses galloping, and he committed suicide. This was the best way he could think of.

His hand subconsciously grasped the hilt of the sword. At this moment, the slovenly Taoist under the city tower suddenly took out something from his arms: "Does General Meng know this thing?"

Looking at that thing, Meng Wangsheng suddenly realized that it was his son's jade flute. He scolded his son for playing with things, but he still spent a lot of money to find this jade flute made by a famous master in the previous dynasty and gave it to his son.

The son couldn't put it down and took the jade flute with him everywhere from then on.

"Let him come up." Meng Wangsheng said.

The sloppy Taoist went up to the tower and held the jade flute in front of Meng Wangsheng with both hands.

Meng Wangsheng took the jade flute. Yes, this was the one he gave to his son. The words on it were carved by himself.

"Why is this thing in your hand?" Meng Wangsheng asked.

The sloppy Taoist smiled slightly: "Of course the eldest son sent it here. By the way, Mrs. Zhongyong asked Pindao to tell General Meng that Mrs. Meng, the two young masters and a young nephew are now in Shunde Mansion and are safe."

Meng Wangsheng's body swayed. The news came so suddenly that he couldn't bear it.

"The young nephew is... from the Xie family?"

The sloppy Taoist gave up and said, "It's good that General Meng has an idea." Meng Wangshang let out a long sigh of relief, and then became nervous again: "Did Mrs. Zhongyong save them?"

The sloppy Taoist smiled slightly: "General Meng, as long as he knows that you have nothing to worry about at this time, it is enough."

Meng Wangchang exhaled a long breath: "What are your orders from Mrs. Zhongyong?"

Mrs. Zhongyong was Li Jinxiu, the old lady of the Marquis of Wu'an Mansion. Not only did Meng Wangsheng know that the Marquis of Wu'an was ordered to guard the capital, but he also knew that if the Marquis of Wu'an Mansion stayed in the capital, they would already have back-ups.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Wu'an Hou Mansion rescued his wife and children, so he had to show something.

The sloppy Taoist smiled and said, "Old Marquis Wu An has arrived..."

Meng Wangsheng was surprised, has Marquis Wu An arrived?
Is this here to help?
But Wu'an Hou only had 5,000 troops in his hands. Let's not talk about whether he could withstand the Jin king's army. He brought all the troops to Zhuozhou. What would happen to the capital?
The sloppy Taoist lowered his voice: "To be honest, General Meng, this poor Taoist was actually sent by the King of Jin to persuade him to surrender."

Meng Wangsheng immediately became alert. Is this Taoist a member of the King of Jin? Has the Marquis of Wu'an Mansion surrendered to King Jin?

As if he could see what he was thinking, the Taoist looked serious: "What are you thinking about? I am Yuan Gang, a retainer of the King of Jin, but Yuan's benefactor has a close relationship with the old lady of Wu'an Hou Mansion. Yuan is here this time." To persuade him to surrender, and to bring a message to the Wu'an Hou Mansion, it's all just a favor."

The corner of Meng Wangsheng's mouth twitched. Is there such a favor?

Can you also bring a message to someone to persuade them to surrender?
"Marquis Wu'an is currently in Baijiatun. You who are guarding Zhuozhou must know where Baijiatun is. The next step will be a matter between the two of you. I can't control it, but judging from the situation in your city, I'm afraid it won't be delayed for a few days. General Meng should find a way out for himself."

After Yuan Gang finished speaking, he saluted Meng Wangsheng, turned around and walked down the tower. Meng Wangsheng watched his back disappear among the tiles.

How did Yuan Gang enter the city?
Could it be that there is another secret passage in the city that leads outside the city that he doesn't know about?
Meng Wang broke into a cold sweat.

In the evening, Meng Wangsheng disguised himself. Leaving the city through a known secret road, he took a small path to bypass the Jin army's camp. Standing on the hillside, he looked at the lights of the advancing camp in the distance and let out a long sigh.

If he wanted to escape, this was a good opportunity, but he couldn't.

Meng Wangsheng smiled bitterly, he was really impulsive. How could he believe Yuan Gang's words based only on his son's jade flute? What if this was just a trap, what if Marquis Wu'an was not in Baijiatun?
But he has no way out, he wants to gamble.

An hour later, Meng Wangsheng arrived at Baijiatun.

It wasn't until he saw that familiar face that Meng Wangsheng felt relieved.

The Marquis of Wu'an, Lu Pingnan, is really here!
"Lao Lu, is it really you?" Meng Wangsheng was about to burst into tears. He had never been so excited when he married his beloved wife.

Lu Pingnan patted him on the shoulder: "You think I want to come? My mother didn't force me to come."

Meng Wangsheng chuckled. When he was a child, he often went to the Lu family to have a meal. This is the friendship that comes from having a meal, and it can save his life at critical moments.

"Lao Lu, how many people did you bring here? Did you bring all the five thousand people in the capital? What will happen to the capital when you come out?" Meng Wangsheng asked.

"There is my mother in the capital, don't underestimate my mother, she is the Dinghai Shenzhen. Besides, I didn't come here by myself, my third child also came, he is in Qizhen.

In addition, my mother also sent someone over.

Lao Meng, let's fight this battle together. "

Meng Wangsheng was moved to tears. He grabbed Lu Pingnan's hand and said excitedly: "From now on, your mother is my mother, and my son is your son!"