The west wind blows and the yellow sand dances with it.
It was as if winter had suddenly arrived at this moment, the temperature dropped sharply, the sky was covered with clouds, and a haze gradually dispersed.
Pang Fei licked his dry lips, spit, and whispered, "How long will it take?"
Have been waiting for nearly an hour.
Qin Mubai knew without thinking that even Pang Fei was impatient with waiting, not to mention Li Ji and others.
Behind him, the tiger and wolf troops were deployed in the field; in front of them, a mottled city gate was tightly closed.
He was confident in the letter he wrote.
No matter whether it was Li You or Yin Hongzhi, after seeing the letter, they were in a desperate situation and had no reason not to think more about it.
Because he said in the letter that this was their last chance to survive. If they remain stubborn, they will all be burned to death; if they open the city to surrender at this time, there is still a glimmer of hope. You can discuss the details with them yourself.
There is something mysterious in the word "discuss in detail". Not only did it give Li You and Yin Hongzhi room for fantasy and extravagant hopes, it also gave themselves greater room for maneuver.
In short, they have no reason to refuse outright.
Another gust of cold wind blew up, and Qin Mubai, who was sweating a little, couldn't help but shiver. The temperature has really dropped. Is it going to rain or snow
At this time, Xue Rengui pointed towards the city head: "General, please look!"
On top of the city, a figure that was incompatible with the dark and mottled city appeared.
Wearing a pink skirt, cloud-covered silk fabrics, light makeup, and a phoenix hairpin and jade armbands, this is Princess Gaoyang's favorite outfit.
"Ling'er..." When Qin Mubai looked up and saw her, his eyes instantly fixed on her, his lips moved, and he called softly.
Princess Gaoyang, who was at the top of the city, put her hands gently on her lower abdomen. The smile on her face was as gentle as the spring breeze in March. Her eyes gently narrowed and she smiled.
The top of the city was more than several feet high, and there was a strong wind howling, so it was impossible for the two of them to talk quietly. But Princess Gao Yang seemed to have heard Qin Mubai's low call and murmured back: "Mubai..."
The cold wind blew loudly, causing the flags on the top of the city to fly.
Yin Hongzhi appeared next to Princess Gaoyang, raised his hand to the city, and said loudly: "Long time no see, General Qin!"
"Yin Hongzhi!" Qin Mubai tightened his hands and squeezed the carved bow on the saddle until it made bones.
I really want to shoot with my bow and kill him instantly with one arrow!
"General, why don't you step forward and speak? Are you still afraid of Yin's cold arrows?" Yin Hongzhi said loudly, "General, don't worry, Yin is not that confused!"
Qin Mubai snorted coldly, clapped his hands and took a few steps forward. The city wall blocks the sound of the wind. Looking up, you can clearly see Princess Gaoyang's curved eyebrows.
"Mu Bai, why are you here?" Princess Gao Yang opened her red lips lightly and said with infinite pity.
Qin Mubai frowned: "Ling'er, why have you lost so much weight?"
"Haha, you two really have a deep love for each other!" Yin Hongzhi said with a smile, "However, it seems that there are more important things to discuss at the moment. General Qin, how about we talk about business first? If the negotiation is settled, you and Her Royal Highness Princess There will be endless time for private conversations.”
Qin Mubai glanced at him coldly and said, "Why don't you see King Qi?"
"He was drunk." Yin Hongzhi added: "He was so drunk that he fell unconscious. Don't worry, I can make the decision in everything."
"That's good." Qin Mubai nodded and said, "I believe your eyes are not blind. Have you seen these tens of thousands of troops in the four fields?"
"I did see it." Yin Hongzhi said calmly, calmly.
"If we want to attack by force, we can only break the city with a flip of our hands." Qin Mubai said, "Give up! If we open the city earlier to accept surrender, if we can reduce the number of killings, there may be a glimmer of hope."
"Perhaps?" Yin Hongzhi curled his lips, "I don't like to hear this. Did General Qin come here specifically to ask for peace, with just this little sincerity?"
"Seek peace?" Qin Mubai sneered, "Mr. Yin, you really don't know the current affairs! If I hadn't come, Li Ji would have already sent troops to attack the city, and you would be dead and gone without any suspense. Now I'm here The purpose is to reduce the number of deaths and reduce your guilt. In this way, there is still a chance to intercede for you and the King of Qi in front of His Majesty, or if you are lucky, you may be able to avoid it. Just die and be exiled."
"Since you can't be the master of the house, what are you doing here?" Yin Hongzhi's face darkened, and he waved his hand: "You can leave, I won't send you away!"
After that, Yin Hongzhi went to pull Princess Gaoyang to leave the city.
"etc!"
Princess Gao Yang did not struggle and scolded coldly: "I am the biological sister of King Qi after all. I haven't spoken yet, so why do I just listen to your mercy? You said that Mu Bai cannot be a family member and can't make the decision. How can you Who are you qualified to give orders here?”
Yin Hongzhi was startled: "What did you say?"
"I said..." Princess Gaoyang looked at Yin Hongzhi indifferently, as if looking at a complete stranger, and said in a tone of scolding and ordering her servants, "You have no right to be the master of the family. How to decide, you have to ask for permission. The King of Qi will make the decision.”
"Are you confused, Gao Yang?" Yin Hongzhi looked embarrassed and scolded in a low voice, "I am your uncle! Even your brother listens to me! This time the army is raised, I am completely assisting your brother in taking care of everything! You Let me ask the soldiers in this city, do they listen to me?"
"Huh! Things are different now." Princess Gaoyang said loudly, so that the soldiers on the city could hear, "They followed you at first just to get promoted and make a fortune; now, with the soldiers pressing down on the territory, if they resist stubbornly, they will definitely be killed. There is no way out. What kindness do you have to these soldiers, and what right do you have to ask them to die for you?"
After hearing this, all the soldiers at the top of the city began to wonder, and began to talk among themselves in secret.
"Shut up!" Yin Hongzhi became anxious. These few words of Princess Gao Yang were so sharp that they really hit his vitals and weakness. If she continues talking, the morale of the army may turn into mutiny!
"Let me go, get out of here!" Yin Hongzhi suddenly turned his face and waved, "Someone, send the princess down!"
At the top of the city, Qin Mubai and others vaguely heard the dialogue at the top of the city. Qin Mubai's eyes moved, and Xue Rengui reined in his horse and retreated, holding a bow and arrow in his hand.
On the top of the city, several soldiers came forward rather hesitantly, stood on both sides of Princess Gaoyang, cupped their fists and said: "Your Highness, please!"
"Humph, you are so confused! You actually listened to his orders and didn't believe what I said!" Princess Gaoyang snorted coldly, "Raising troops to rebel is always a dead end. You don't have to doubt this. Now that General Qin is here to persuade you to surrender, all you have to ask is You guys can still get a chance to survive for the crime of being the leader; if you still follow Yin Hongzhi in the end, you will definitely be dead! - You must have looted a lot of treasures, and you will be killed if you break the city! How can you enjoy your life? Everyone knows that King Qi and Yin Hongzhi are the leaders of the rebellion, and this princess was kidnapped and innocent. If you can repent now and stop at the edge, I will protect you. Immortal!"
"Gao Yang, why don't you shut up!" Yin Hongzhi turned his face completely and became furious, "Don't listen to her deceptions, all the troops! Li Jiwan doesn't dare to attack the city. As long as Gao Yang is in hand, we can all sleep peacefully and wait." The emperor pardons me, and I will live a happy life with my treasure. Why don’t you capture the princess and send her to the city?”
After being scolded continuously, the soldiers remained indifferent and looked at the uncle and nephew suspiciously.
"That's it, Yin Hongzhi. From the moment I called your name, you are no longer my uncle." Princess Gaoyang looked at him coldly, as if staring at a dead person, and said, "My brother is confused. He is at your mercy because he respects you and loves you; I have always been reluctant to target you because of the same feelings. But when I see your true face, my former uncle is already in my heart. At the end of his life, I only see an ugly villain, a sinister devil! - Soldiers, you are all smart people, you know whose words you can trust more, besides me, Princess Gaoyang, there are others in Xiangcheng. Who can protect you from death?"
"You, you, you... you're crazy!" Yin Hongzhi really didn't expect Princess Gaoyang to do this. He was caught off guard and frightened. His face turned pale and his mouth started to tremble.
Those soldiers are not idiots. When Li Ji's troops pressed forward and the rebels were defeated, most of them had already fled or defected before the battle. The remaining group of people are all the "remnants" who stayed in Xiangcheng earlier. Needless to say, people are panicking.
Now that they heard Princess Gao Yang's words again, the already tilted balance in their hearts completely tipped in one direction!
Suddenly, several generals looked at each other and loudly said: "I am willing to follow Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
"You, you rebelled! - Come on, come on, capture the rebels!" Yin Hongzhi shouted in panic while retreating.
However, a few of his loyalists came forward with swords in hand. But at the same time, the soldiers around Princess Gaoyang also drew their swords and surrounded Princess Gaoyang at the core.
Suddenly, the city was in chaos!
"good chance!"
Qin Mubai quickly glanced at Xue Rengui. Xue Rengui understood it and pointed his bow and arrow at Yin Hongzhi!
Qin Mubai wanted to shoot this arrow himself. But caring leads to confusion. After Princess Gaoyang appeared, he always felt that his mind was a little wandering. I'm afraid that if this crucial arrow is missed, the success will be in vain!
Xue Rengui's archery skills are not inferior to his own, and his bow is stronger and harder. This arrow to the head will definitely not be a problem.
Just when Xue Rengui was about to open his bow and fire an arrow, a loud shout suddenly sounded from the top of the city: "What are you doing!"
Xue Rengui was startled and quickly stopped.
—Li You appears!
"Your Highness the Crown Prince! - Crown Prince, you came just in time!" Yin Hongzhi seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw and hurriedly ran to him and shouted: "Look what Gao Yang wants to do! She actually instigated these traitors and wanted to If you want to force me to surrender, open the city and surrender!"
Li You said nothing. After being drunk, his eyes seemed to be a little dull. He looked at Princess Gaoyang blankly and said: "Ling'er, why are you doing this? - And you, you have been following me for a long time, and you are not those temporary recruits. Will all the stragglers betray me and leave when the critical moment comes?"
For a moment, the soldiers who were about to surrender hesitated, put away their swords, lowered their heads and stood aside.
Princess Gao Yang was not in a hurry. She looked at Li You with melancholy eyes and murmured: "Brother...haven't you woke up now? Look at what you have done? What you are doing is really what you want. Didn't you agree to go back to Chang'an with me and apologize to the emperor? ... How will your mother and concubine live in the future?"
"do not talk!!!"
Li You shouted suddenly, causing Princess Gao Yang's face to tremble.
"King Qi!" Qin Mubai shouted loudly under the city wall.
Li You walked to the top of the city with a complicated expression on his face. He looked at Qin Mubai without saying a word.
"Let's open the city! Ling'er and I will accompany you to Chang'an." Qin Mubai said briefly, one word at a time, "I will protect you from death!"
"Ho, ho ho!"
Li You suddenly laughed, as if he had lost his mind and gone crazy.
"At this point, do you think I still care about dying? I don't want your sympathy and charity!" Li You shouted, "Qin Mubai, you shouldn't have come, you really shouldn't have come!"
"Why?" Qin Mubai asked loudly.
"You made me die without any dignity at all!" Li You shouted hysterically, "I didn't dare to see Ling'er. How do you want me to face you now?"
Qin Mubai fell silent for a moment.
In the end, Li You still retained a trace of... humanity!
"Ha... Hahaha!" Li You laughed crazily at the top of the city and said to himself, "That's it, that's it. I already lost everything, so what's the so-called dignity and face?"
"Your Highness, please don't give up on yourself!" Yin Hongzhi hurriedly advised, "Now is the most critical period, and everything depends on success or failure - at this time, if you negotiate terms with the emperor, the time will be most mature and sufficient!"
"What nonsense!!!!" Li You's face turned red, and the veins on his forehead bulged out as he roared like a lion. "It's all because of your bad idea that I ended up like this! Now, you want me to take over the whole city?" The lives of soldiers and civilians are at stake, go and negotiate terms with the court! ... Although I, Li You, am a scoundrel, a villain, an idiot, and a fool, I have not lost all my conscience and my last bit of humanity!”
"You... what did you say?" Yin Hongzhi was really embarrassed now!
He never expected that Li You, who always respected him like a father and obeyed his advice, would suddenly become like this!
"Hahaha...!" Li You wandered around for a while and shouted to the people below the city, "Qin Mubai, do you still remember the appointment I made with you on the carriage when I left Xiangzhou?"
Qin Mubai nodded: "Remember. His Highness once said that if you are lucky enough to survive this trip to Chang'an, you must come back and have a drink with me until you are drunk."
"Okay, very good." Li You laughed maniacally, "Now, come and have a drink with me!"
Qin Mubai frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, you open the city gate. I'll go in alone!"
"General, you must not enter the city!" Pang Fei and Xue Rengui said anxiously.
"It doesn't matter." Qin Mubai waved his hand, indicating that they don't need to be nervous.
Yin Hongzhi was anxious: "You'er, you're crazy! You must not open the city gate at this time, otherwise the enemy will swarm in. What can you do?"
"Ha!" Li You smiled indifferently, "Swarming in? Then let them in! - Qin Mubai, you and I will drink wine between the city gates. Li Ji's army is coming to take the city. Just let them step in on my corpse!"
"What?" Qin Mubai, Princess Gaoyang and Yin Hongzhi were all surprised!
"Hahaha!..." Li You laughed maniacally and waved his hand, "Come here, open the city gate and prepare wine for the guests!"
"Brother, what are you going to do?" Princess Gao Yang was anxious and hurriedly hugged Li You's elbow.
"Good sister..." Li You hugged Princess Gaoyang into his arms, closed his eyes, and whispered in her ear, "Brother is a beast, and I have caused you trouble... At this point, I can only take this path!"
"Brother... no, no!!!" Princess Gao Yang was frightened and hugged Li You tightly and refused to let go.
Yin Hongzhi felt something was wrong and shrank back, preparing to run away.
"Take him down!!!" Li You suddenly yelled!
The last remaining rebels were all Li You's followers, and they still listened to him after all. At this time, they all took action and captured Yin Hongzhi.
"You, You'er! You're crazy! You're drunk, don't do anything wrong!" Yin Hongzhi was forced to kneel on the ground, his arm was about to be broken, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and he shouted in panic.
"My good uncle, you raised me. In my heart, you have always been better than my father." Li You walked up to him, knelt down, and whispered in his face, "As of now, I have no choice. You have been with me for nearly twenty years, and the last part of the road to hell... can you bear to leave me?"
"W-what are you going to do? Don't do anything stupid!" Yin Hongzhi didn't even care that his arm was about to be broken, and struggled hard, "Things haven't evolved to the point of being out of control yet. Listen to me quickly. Don't worry. Don't do anything stupid!"
"It doesn't matter. No matter what happens, it will be a dead end." Li You grinned, and there were bursts of gray death in his eyes, and said desperately, "Rather than let you fall into Li Ji's hands and give it to me. It's better for me to torture you... I'm already so notorious anyway, so what's the point of adding another charge of killing my uncle?"
"You're crazy! You're crazy! You're really crazy!!!" Yin Hongzhi shouted hysterically, knowing that his end was approaching and everything was irreversible.
"Yes, I have indeed gone crazy a long time ago! If not, why wouldn't I be here today?" Li You suddenly narrowed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed Yin Hongzhi!
"Brother, no!..." Suddenly there was a scolding sound, and Princess Gao Yang rushed forward. A pair of bare hands actually grabbed the blade of the knife in Li You's hand!
Suddenly, blood flowed!
"Ling'er! Relax your hands!" Li You's eyes were already red, roaring like a mad beast, "Let me... kill him!!!"
"No, no, brother!..." Princess Gaoyang finally let go of her voice and cried unbridled, "He is very hateful and deserves to be cut into pieces! Just now, I wanted to kill him with one knife, or kill him with a thousand swords." He pushed down the wall...but it really hurts, you know? It really hurts!"
Li You's hands trembled, and his whole body seemed to be possessed. His eyes were dull and his face was pale. It seemed that only then did he see Princess Gao Yang's hands still holding the blade, with blood flowing freely.
Suddenly, he burst into tears!
"Ling'er!... I'm sorry for you, brother! The person who deserves to die the most is me!!!" Li You threw the knife and yelled crazily.
Yin Hongzhi's eyes looked straight at Princess Gaoyang's white and weak hands holding the blade, and his expression became stiff.
The soldiers present were all stunned. Many people wiped away tears secretly.
With a "bang" sound, Princess Gao Yang's hands loosened and the knife fell to the ground.
"We are relatives, a family." Princess Gaoyang murmured, "We are a family, we should live and die together, share weal and woe... Brother, no matter what you become, you will always be my brother; uncle, although I am very I hate you, but you are still my uncle. I almost grew up on your lap. You were the uncle who told me stories and coaxed me to sleep. The uncle who fanned himself to repel mosquitoes; the good uncle who never gave me any grievance and never let anyone bully me... "
"Ling, Ling'er..." Yin Hongzhi looked at Princess Gaoyang blankly, his old eyes seemed a little blurry.
The sergeant next to him let him go.
Qin Mubai and others below the city couldn't see or hear clearly what was happening on the city tower, so they became anxious.
Qin Mubai shouted loudly: "Ling'er!"
"But why did a good family become like this?" Princess Gao Yang closed her eyes in pain, completely ignoring the wounds on her hands, covering her face with her hands, and burst into tears!
At this moment, the gate to Xiangcheng made a squeaking sound and was opened from the inside.
The tens of thousands of troops behind Qin Mubai made a commotion, and even Li Ji widened his eyes in surprise.
Li You stood at the gate of the city with a bottle of wine in each hand. He raised one of the wine bottles towards Qin Mubai and said loudly: "Come on!"
Qin Mubai quickly got off his horse and strode over. Xue Rengui and others also hurriedly followed, but Qin Mubai stopped them and stepped forward alone.
There were no soldiers behind Li You, he was alone.
Walking up to him, Qin Mubai stared into his eyes, but Li You smiled very calmly, handed him the watering can, and said, "Why, do you dislike me and refuse to drink with me?"
Qin Mubai didn't say anything. He took the wine bottle, threw the lid away, and poured a few sips into his mouth.
Li You didn't say anything and drank several sips like him. Then, he crossed his legs and sat down on the yellow sand.
Qin Mubai also sat opposite him. The two looked at each other, but they had nothing to say and just drank heavily.
Finally, the wine was finished. Both men threw away their flagons.
Li You lowered his head and giggled.
"Let's go, follow me to see Li Ji. Then Ling'er and I will accompany you to Chang'an." Qin Mubai said.
Li You grinned, revealing a sad smile, and shook his head.
"not going."
Qin Mubai frowned and suddenly realized something. At this moment, a thin trace of blood actually overflowed from the corner of Li You's mouth. His eyelids, nostrils, and lips quickly turned blue at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"Did you drink poisonous wine?!" Qin Mubai exclaimed in shock.
"Ho, ho ho!" Li You laughed several times indifferently, and suddenly grabbed Qin Mubai's wrist with both hands, staring at him with bright eyes, gritting his teeth and said: "Promise me, promise me something!"
Qin Mubai frowned and thought: Perhaps, this is also Li You's inevitable destiny...
"Say it!"
"Take care of Ling'er and my mother!" Li You's body twitched suddenly, and blood spurted out of his mouth.
Toxic, violent!
In this situation, Qin Mubai knew that even if Hua Tuo was reincarnated, he would be hopeless.
When a man is about to die, his words are kind; when a bird is about to die, his song is sad.
The scene in front of me is unbearable to watch...
Qin Mubai couldn't help but closed his eyes... "I promise you!"
Li You let go of Qin Mubai and looked up at the sky. His eyes were already filled with deathly gray, but there was a glare of unyielding anger. He roared loudly: "Heaven! Why did you let me be born in the house of the emperor! !”
After roaring, blood surged from his mouth and his whole body was numb!
"elder brother-"
At this time, a shrill cry came from behind the city gate. Princess Gao Yang stumbled over and threw herself on Li You.
"Brother, brother! Why are you doing this? Don't leave me!" Princess Gao Yang shook Li You desperately, her voice was hoarse...
Qin Mubai looked at the two brothers and sisters blankly, lost in thought and speechless.
Li You fell on his back. Princess Gao Yang held him tightly to prevent him from falling, but there was nothing she could do. Li You finally fell down and rested his head on Princess Gao Yang's lap.
"Ling, Ling'er..." Li You stretched out a hand, wanting to touch Princess Gaoyang's face. But now, his pupils are all focused, and it is obvious that he can no longer see anything.
Princess Gao Yang burst into tears, grabbed Li You's hand and put it on her face: "Brother, Ling'er is here... Ling'er is always here, and will always be here..."
"Ling'er... I'm leaving. I really want to take care of you all my life, watch you get married, watch you have children, and be filial to your mother with you. But... I'm a bastard. I'm not a human being and don't deserve to live in this world." Li You turned his eyes with difficulty and looked at Qin Mubai again. The words he spoke were a little unclear, and he said intermittently, "Fortunately, you still have Mubai... As long as he is here, I can leave with peace of mind. From now on, I can leave with peace of mind." , you have to live a good life with him. Forget brother, forget uncle... If you can live well, brother will be just as happy under the spring, you know?"
"Hmm... um!!" Princess Gao Yang burst into tears and nodded repeatedly.
"Qin Mubai, be kind to Ling'er... Otherwise, I will never let you go even if I'm a ghost!"
After saying this, Li You's body twitched violently, and amidst Princess Gaoyang's heart-rending screams, he stood up abruptly and died.
Those eyes, the eyelids were already black and blue, and the pupils were ashen as dead fish, still staring straight at Qin Mubai.
Princess Gao Yang leaned on Li You and cried so hard that she almost lost her breath.
Qin Mubai bent down, put one hand on Princess Gao Yang's shoulders, and reached out to Li You's face with the other hand, gently wiping his eyelids.
"You can go without worries..."
Li You's eyelids finally closed.
At this time, a "plop" sound suddenly came from behind. Qin Mubai turned his head and saw a man falling to the ground with his brains split. He turned his head and looked shameless.
That suit of clothes looked familiar, it was Yin Hongzhi.