Chapter 976: Feng Wang Ce (Part 1): Fangs of Darkness
Chapter 976: The Fangs of Darkness (Part 1)
Chapter 974: The Fangs of Darkness (Part 1)
It wasn't until the moment he walked out of Chang'an City that the tight string in Pei Ju's heart completely relaxed, and he turned to look at the ancient city behind him with lingering fear.
Before going on the mission, Pei Ju thought that the trip would only be dangerous, but the fact was that he far underestimated the degree of thrills of the trip.
In the days after arriving in Chang'an, Pei Ju clearly felt that he was being targeted by more than one force.
Pei Ju doesn't know whether the people who are targeting him want to protect him, assassinate him, or both, and he has been caught in the vortex of the game between the major dark forces.
So since his internal energy was blocked, Pei Ju did not dare to relax for a day, and even checked his meals and drinks several times.
As expected, someone secretly poisoned Pei Ju and wanted to kill him to disrupt the Liang army's negotiations.
Pei Ju only had a short three days from entering Chang'an to leaving, but he experienced no less than ten assassinations.
If Pei Ju hadn't been vigilant enough, he would have been dead long ago, but fortunately he still broke into this dragon's den.
Feeling that the internal strength in his body was gradually recovering, Pei Ju couldn't help but let out a long breath and whispered to himself: "Fortunately, I am here this time. If it had been anyone else, I might not have been able to go back."
At this point, a cold light flashed through Pei Ju's eyes, and he said coldly: "If these shameless bugs come down, I will kill as many as they dare to appear in front of my evil king."
After saying this, Pei Ju immediately galloped towards Luoyang in the east, escorted by a group of guards.
In Chang'an City, on top of the city tower, Dong Zhuo looked at Pei Ju's back with a cold face.
Until Pei Ju's figure completely disappeared, Dong Zhuofang said calmly to Lu Buwei beside him: "Send someone to keep an eye on Pei Ju. As soon as this person arrives in Chang'an, some demons and monsters will become restless. There may be contact between them."
“No.” Lu Buwei responded in a deep voice.
Dong Zhuo had no expression on his face and remained silent for a long time. He didn’t know what he was thinking. After a while, he asked, “Military advisor, do you think Shimin is really dead?”
Lu Buwei was silent for a moment and said: "My lord, this possibility is not impossible, but it is not high."
"Oh? Why?" Dong Zhuo asked indifferently.
“Even if a general of General Li’s level were killed in battle, not even a few severed limbs would be found.
Of course, it is not ruled out that there are no bones left, but his subordinates still believe that General Li is more likely to be captured alive. "
Dong Zhuo nodded in agreement and asked, "Then do you think the coalition forces will release Shimin?"
“Absolutely impossible.” Lu Buwei said with certainty.
Dong Zhuo took a deep breath when he heard this and did not continue to ask why, because he already knew the answer.
This is just like Dong Zhuo captured Qin Hao alive, and Qin Wen came to ask for it from him. Dong Zhuo would never agree.
“I have ordered Li Xiuning to take full responsibility for the negotiations with the coalition forces. I have also ordered Liang Wei to rescue Li Shimin at all costs.”
)
A trace of exhaustion flashed across Dong Zhuo's face, and after thinking deeply for a while, he said: "Immediately send someone to Kunlun Mountain to inform Taoist Master Taiqing of the news of Shimin's capture." "But my lord, the Taoists have said before, no. He will join us in Liangjun's affairs."
"This is not only my Liangjun's business, but also his Taoist business. After all, Shimin is also Taiqing's grandson, so he won't want to watch Shimin die."
“This…is true.”
————
In September of the first year of Zhongping (189), thirty-six princes met at Suanzao to form an alliance and elected Qin Hao, the governor of Nanyang, as the leader of the alliance.
Qin Hao did not launch an attack immediately. Instead, he ordered the coalition forces to conduct two-month training, and then launched the third battle of Hulao Pass. After that, he divided his troops into three groups to attack the other three passes in Sizhou.
More than half a year had passed until Qin Haoguang broke through Hulao Pass, and the other two groups broke through the southern pass. When the three armies joined Luoyang, more than half a year had passed, and it was April of the second year of Zhongping (190).
Luoyang was also captured quickly, and Qin Hao sent envoys to negotiate, and the negotiation process did not take too long.
The second year of Zhongping, May 8th.
Pei Ju, as the envoy of the coalition forces, returned to Luoyang and brought back the good news of Dong Zhuo's compromise.
As soon as this news came out, the coalition forces were all excited. After all, this meant that the war was about to end and peace was coming!
As for the conditions proposed by Dong Zhuo, they were subconsciously ignored by the princes. After all, in their view, since Dong Zhuo, who had always been strong, could compromise once, he would definitely be able to compromise a second time.
As for Pei Ju, who risked his life as an envoy to Dong Ying, he was regarded as a hero by the entire coalition army. His deeds of verbally quarreling with hundreds of officials were also widely circulated among the coalition forces, and quickly radiated to the whole world, which also caused Pei Ju's reputation to skyrocket.
After learning the whole story from Pei Ju, Qin Hao was far less optimistic than other princes.
Dong Zhuo firmly believed that Li Shimin was still alive, and he did not hesitate to take back Li Shimin as the only price for an armistice. This obviously regarded Li Shimin as his successor, and it was even more impossible for Qin Hao to let Li Shimin go.
In Qin Hao's heart, the value of Li Shimin was even greater than that of the entire four counties of Sizhou. The reason why he did not kill Li Shimin for the time being was just to squeeze out the last remaining value from him.
When Li Shimin loses his final use value, Qin Hao will kill Li Shimin without hesitation, and then return Li Shimin's body to Dong Zhuo, making him completely give up.
Even though Dong Zhuo has a tough attitude now, for him, Li Shimin is valuable only when he is alive. Once he dies, everything will be over. He will never continue to fight with Qin Hao for a dead person.
This time Li Xiuning is Liang Jun's negotiator, and she will use the key to the Tiangong treasure as the final trump card in exchange for the life of her second brother. However, what Li Xiuning doesn't know is that she will personally ring the death knell for her brother.
“Lord, Li Xiuning has entered Luoyang City.” Nong Yu reported.
Qin Hao immediately became energetic when he heard this, and said with a smile: "The key is here, let's go and see her together."
What Qin Hao didn't know was that just when he went to see Li Xiuning, brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu got together again, and he didn't know what they were plotting.
"Brother, the old thief Dong Zhuo has given up. If this continues, I'm afraid Sizhou will really fall into Qin Hao's hands."
Yuan Shu's words also made Yuan Shao frown, but there was really nothing he could do about it. The forces of other princes were not bordering Sizhou, and those who bordered them were all small princes like Wang Shichong, so they couldn't compete. I don’t have the guts to argue with Qin Hao!
“Qin Hao is the leader of the alliance. He takes advantage of the opportunity to guard the four counties of Sizhou, which is a legitimate thing. No one except him has this qualification. But..."
A hint of coldness flashed in Yuan Shao's eyes, and he said calmly: "I, Yuan Benchu, will not let him get Sizhou so easily."
(End of this chapter)