Zhi Ting admonished: "What about you, dear brother?"

"As for me, my little brother." Yan Yingyuan smiled calmly and said, "I'm afraid it will be difficult to escape. After all, at that time, I was already trapped in the imperial prison and became a prisoner of Jiannu."

"How can that be done?" Zhi Ting said urgently, "This is absolutely impossible."

Fan Zhongjie did not say anything, because he agreed with what Yan Yingyuan just said.

As long as Duduo and his 60,000 troops can be burned down with a single fire, nothing is insurmountable, including Yan Yingyuan and him, the prefect of Huai'an Prefecture, who can be sacrificed without hesitation.

Because if these 60,000 troops were burned down with a fire, the Jian slaves would completely lose their ability to go south to conquer the Ming Dynasty.

In this way, the Huanghuai defense line can be truly held, and the Ming Dynasty can be in an invincible position.

Thinking of this, Fan Zhongjie immediately said: "Yan Xiaoyou, I'm afraid you alone are still not enough to win Duduo's trust. Why not add me as the prefect of Huai'an Prefecture."

Yan Yingyuan bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty is so righteous, I admire you."

Yan Yingyuan did not reject Fan Zhongjie's proposal, because he also felt that adding Fan Zhongjie would be safer. If he was only 60% sure before, now he is 80% sure.

"Then add me too." It was rare for Zhi Tingjian to be enthusiastic.

"Zhizhi County Magistrate, you don't have to join in the fun." Fan Zhongjie said, "After all, your county government office is in Dongcheng. If you come to Xicheng for no reason, it will arouse the suspicion of the slaves."

Yan Yingyuan also said: "Brother, there is really no need to join in the fun. If the death plan fails and Duduo finds out, Dongcheng is our last resort. As long as Dongcheng is not lost, Shanyang is not lost, and Huai'an Mansion will be

Otherwise, the slave-building army would not even be able to cross Huai'an and go south to Yangzhou, let alone directly threaten Nanjing."

"How can that be done?" Zhi Tingjian said anxiously, "If the death plan fails, I alone cannot defend the huge Shanyang City."

Fan Zhongjie said: "Aren't there still more than 5,000 local warriors in Dongcheng? If you follow Jianheng's tactics, you will be able to hold on for a while. In at most half a month, the navy should return to Huai'an Mansion.

"

"But, but..." Zhi Tingjian still tried to dissuade him, "There is so much money, food and equipment in Xicheng."

Fan Zhongjie thought for a moment and then said: "The silver in Shanyang's treasury will not be moved away. Anyway, even if it is burned, it will not seep into the soil and disappear, but it would be a pity if the grain is burned."

"Food can be dropped off at night," Yan Yingyuan said.

"Just leave part outside the warehouse for inspection."

"Sure, then it's settled." Fan Zhongjie said solemnly.

Seeing that the dissuasion failed, Zhi Tingjian could only let out a long sigh.

Then he bowed to Yan Yingyuan and Fan Zhongjie and said, "Your Majesty, I have a worthy brother. Please accept my respect."

Yan Yingyuan and Fan Zhongjie followed each other and bowed to each other. After they stood up, both of them had first-class smiles on their faces. Seeing the smiles on their faces, Zhi Tingjian felt even more admiration in his heart. He was a sincere countryman.

…

On April 28, the 18th year of Chongzhen, Duoduo's army once again fought back outside Shanyang City.

By this time, Hou Fangyu had already been waiting outside Shanyang City with Fan Chengmo.

With Hou Fangyu's status as a Gongsheng of the Imperial Academy, he could travel unimpeded throughout the Ming Dynasty.

Fan Chengmo and Hou Fangyu flicked their sleeves and knelt on one knee to greet Duo Feng.

"No need." Duduo waved his hand and asked, "How did things go?"

"Your Highness, this servant is just about to congratulate you." Hou Fangyu couldn't help but say with joy, "This servant has persuaded Maoxiang with his sharp tongue to capture Shanyang for you, Your Highness."

"What?" Duduo was really surprised.

He Luohui next to him was even more brilliant and had a sharp tongue?

"Hou Fangyu, have you really convinced Maoxiang?" Duduo said somewhat doubtfully.

When he originally sent Hou Fangyu into the city to implement a divorce plan, Duduo also had the mentality of giving it a try. It would be good if it worked, but it would be okay if it didn't work. However, Duduo really didn't have high hopes for this.

But he didn't expect that Hou Fangyu, a dog slave, would give him a surprise.

"Back to your lord, I really convinced Mao Xiang." Hou Fangyu replied with certainty, "If your lord doesn't believe me, you can ask me."

[Fan Chengmo, courtesy name Jin Gong]

Duduo then turned his attention to Fan Chengmo: "Is this really true?"

Fan Chengmo said hurriedly: "Master, Maoxiang has indeed agreed to submit to the Qing Dynasty and has arrested Yan Yingyuan."

"What did you say?" Duduo was even more surprised now and asked anxiously, "Maoxiang has arrested Yan Yingyuan?"

He Luohui, Tunqi, Ashan and other Eight Banners nobles also looked at each other, this was really beyond their expectations.

Previously, they fought against Shanyang for a full month, killing nearly 10,000 people, and the city of Shanyang remained unmoved. However, this time they withdrew their troops to rob Lianghuai Salt Fields for half a month, but the situation in Shanyang turned upside down.

Big change?

Hou Fangyu said: "Master, Maoxiang has not only arrested Yan Yingyuan, but also arrested Fan Zhongjie, the prefect of Huai'an who is also in Xicheng."

"Now the people in Maoxiang have completely controlled Shanyang Xicheng."

Speaking of this meal, he added: "Unfortunately, Shanyang County Magistrate Zhi Tingjian noticed the abnormality in Maoxiang and closed the canal lock bridge and west gate in advance, so Shanyang East City is still under the control of the Ming army

.”

"Wait, wait, wait, wait." Duduo interrupted Hou Fangyu, "Let me take care of myself first."

What Hou Fangyu said contained a lot of information, which confused Doduo's mind and he had to sort it out.

Speaking of this meal, Duduo said again: "You mean, Maoxiang has surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. He not only controlled Shanyang Xicheng, but also arrested Yan Yingyuan and the prefect of Huai'an Prefecture?"

Hou Fangyu said: "Yes, Shanyang West City is already a city of the Qing Dynasty."

Fan Chengmo then said: "Master, Maoxiang is waiting for your summons at the city gate. You only need an edict to summon him to the army, and you can also send troops to take over Shanyang West City."

"There is no rush to send troops, no rush yet." Duduo's mind was still very clear.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! In any case, Duduo has read the popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms no less than twenty times.

Cao Cao in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms was such a smart man, but he was deceived into Puyang City by Chen Gong with a letter. If the strong general Dian Wei hadn't fought to save him, Cao Cao would have been burned to ashes.

Therefore, Duduo will never send troops into the city easily.

Even if Fan Chengmo repeatedly promised, he would not send troops.

Because Yan Yingyuan is too cunning, Duduo is a little afraid of him.

After a pause, Duduo added, "It's better to meet Maoxiang first."

Hou Fangyu volunteered and said, "My lord, please wait a moment. I will summon him right now."

After about a quarter of an hour, Hou Fangyu actually brought Maoxiang to Duduo.

Seeing Maoxiang walking proudly in a robe, He Luohui and other Eight Banners nobles were a little confused.

Duduo also felt a little emotional in his heart. Now he finally understood deeply why Huang Taiji spent so much effort to recruit Hong Chengchou.

For no other reason than because Hong Chengchou is worthy.

Let’s just say that the Maoxiang in front of him is worth at least fifteen niulu of Eight Banners soldiers!

No, not just fifteen Niulu, because even the Eight Banners soldiers who died fifteen Niulu failed to capture Shanyang, but this man helped them capture Shanyang without any bloodshed.

This is the use of scholars such as Maoxiang and Hong Chengchou.

"I'm Maoxiang." Maoxiang bowed to Duduo with a long bow to the ground, "See you, Your Majesty."

"Are you Maoxiang?" Duduo looked Maoxiang up and down without any expression on his face, "The Qinwang scholar who guards Shanyang with Yan Yingyuan?"

Maoxiang responded without being arrogant or humble: "That's right."

Duduo said again: "I heard that you arrested Yan Yingyuan and the prefect of Huai'an?"

"My lord, this is indeed the case." Maoxiang replied, "Because these two people do not know the current affairs and do not understand the principle of good birds choosing trees to roost and good ministers choosing masters to do their work. They only know that they are blindly loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

We are loyal to Chongzhen, so we can only capture them."

After saying this, Maoxiang continued: "However, these two people are considered loyal ministers after all. I would like to ask the prince to spare their lives. In addition, there are the people of Shanyang. Please don't vent your anger on them, especially not to massacre the city."

We must do this to avoid chilling the hearts of the people in the world. Otherwise, it will be quite detrimental to our Qing Dynasty’s efforts to pacify Jiangnan in the future.”

"No, absolutely not!" said angrily, "The prefect of Huai'an can spare his life, but Yan Yingyuan must die, and he must be skinned and cramped! The city of Shanyang must also be massacred!"

"Tunqi!" Duduo said nothing with a dark face, but He Luohui said angrily, "How can you speak in front of the master?"

"Your Majesty, as long as you say something else, we will accept it without any objection from Xianglan Banner, but this is not allowed." Tun Qi said angrily, "If Yan Yingyuan is not killed and Shanyang City is not massacred, I Xianglan Banner will not accept it and will categorically refuse to accept it."

Not convinced!"

"Shut up." Duduo finally couldn't bear it anymore and said angrily, "Drag me and you down!"

Immediately, two Baya soldiers with white flags strode forward, forcibly set up the Tunqi and dragged them away.

"Mr. Geng made me laugh." Duduo smiled awkwardly at Maoxiang, and then said with a straight face, "But what this little slave said just now is not unreasonable. Yan Yingyuan must die, and Shanyang City must be slaughtered!"

"Ah?" Maoxiang suddenly changed his expression, "My lord, did you promise me?"

Hou Fangyu next to him was also a little embarrassed, because he accepted the condition on Duduo's behalf.

Duduo said: "I have promised you, so the west city does not have to be massacred, but the east city must be massacred!"

Maoxiang sneered in his heart, Dongcheng must be slaughtered? Then you have the ability! However, Maoxiang remained calm on the surface, pretending to be helpless and sighed softly, which was regarded as acquiescence.
To be continued...