Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Chapter 315: Each Taking a Step Back

Less than a month after Xiao Zuoming used the secret passage to "kidnap" some ministers, the first batch of troops sent by him arrived at Wangyan City. This army was led by Xiao Zuoming's newly appointed general Li Cheng, with only 5,000 people. It was obviously not for a full-scale siege, but a tentative attack.

Xiao Zuochen stood on the tower, looking coldly at the army below the city. Chu Yao stood beside him, playing with a jade pendant in his hand, with an indifferent expression.

"Li Cheng is Xiao Zuoming's newly appointed general. I have never heard of him before. He was sent here this time to test our attitude."

Xiao Zuochen said in a low voice.

Chu Yao nodded, his eyes calm.

"With only 5,000 men, they can't even touch the gate of Wangyan City. This guy wants to see if we will attack these 5,000 soldiers. Let alone 5,000, even if there are 50,000, he won't have the upper hand if we really start fighting. It all depends on what you think. Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. If we really start fighting, there will be no talk."

Xiao Zuochen lowered his brows and thought for a second, just a second, before replying in a decisive tone.

"In that case, let's give him a clear answer."

Following Xiao Zuochen's order, the elite troops of the Shura Army quickly assembled. The Shura Army was an army led by Mr. Ying, and its combat effectiveness was extremely strong, especially in defending the city, which was their strong point.

Li Cheng's army deployed their troops at the foot of the city and began to attack the city. However, the Shura army's defense was extremely tight, and arrows rained down on the city walls, making it impossible for Li Cheng's army to get close to the city walls. The battle lasted less than half an hour, and Li Cheng's side lost half of its troops, so he had to order a withdrawal.

Xiao Zuochen stood on the tower, watching Li Cheng's army retreat in a panic. Chu Yao, who was standing beside him, sneered.

"Xiao Zuoming is really too careless about the lives of these people. And this Li Cheng, Xiao Zuoming must have promised him some benefits so that he came to die. How naive~"

Xiao Zuochen nodded, without commenting on Chu Yao's words.

"But this is just the appetizer. Xiao Zuoming has tasted the sweetness of power and will not give up the Shura Army and Wangyan City easily. He is becoming more and more like that man now..."

A month later, Xiao Zuoming sent troops to attack again, but this time the target was Beiguan. Beiguan was farther away from Tai'an City and was the backstop of Wangyan City. If Beiguan was lost, Wangyan City would be trapped under the enemy's front.

This time, Xiao Zuoming sent more troops, led by another great general Zhao Yuan, with a total of 20,000 troops. However, the terrain of Beiguan was difficult to defend and Zhao Yuan's army, although they had the advantage in numbers, still had difficulty in facing the steep terrain of Beiguan. Moreover, the attack on Beiguan was also carried out secretly, so they took a small path and a long detour, and the entire army was a little tired.

Xiao Zuochen and Chu Yao were still organizing military affairs in Wangyan City at this time. For Zhao Yuan, this was the best time to attack. In order to slow down the support from Wangyan City, they even went around to the rear, that is, the side close to the border canyon, in order to surprise the North Pass.

But what Zhao Yuan didn't expect was that when his army tried to break through the defense line of Beiguan, two Shura armies rushed out from the side to attack. The Shura army's combat effectiveness was extremely strong, and it was even more powerful under Yun Feng's personal command.

The battle lasted for three days, but Zhao Yuan's army was unable to break through the defense line of Beiguan. In the end, Zhao Yuan had to order a withdrawal.

Xiao Zuochen stood on the city wall of Wangyan City, holding the good news sent by Yun Feng's carrier pigeon in his hand, and nodded with satisfaction.

Chu Yao, who was standing by, saw this and admired Xiao Zuochen's advance planning.

"No wonder you wanted to split the Shura Army into two teams and force two thousand people into my place."

"Eh? I didn't force it, I gave you the money~"

"Okay, okay, then it counts as your rental. So, are we going to let Zhao Yuan go just like that?"

"What else can I do? You want to kill him? He's just a small minion, so it's not worth it for a master like you to go out and fight~"

Chu Yao had a wicked smile on his face.

"I didn't say I would take his life~"

Looking at his expression, Xiao Zuochen knew that he definitely had no good intentions, and shook his head helplessly.

"You can have fun as you like~"

Half a month later, when Zhao Yuan was tortured to the point of skin and bones and returned to Tai'an City crying to the emperor about the "evil deeds" of Xiao Zuochen and Chu Yao, Xiao Zuoming finally realized that it was not easy to overthrow Xiao Zuochen by force alone. So he sent an envoy to Wangyan City to negotiate with Xiao Zuochen.

The messenger was Xiao Zuoming's trusted minister Liu Jin, who came to Wangyan City with the emperor's handwritten letter.

Xiao Zuochen sat in the hall, looking at Liu Jin coldly. Chu Yao also sat beside him, looking indifferent.

Liu Jin bowed respectfully and then presented the emperor's handwritten letter.

"Your Highness Prince Yun, the Emperor hopes that you can change your mind, hand over the military power of the Shura Army, and return to Tai'an City. The Emperor promises that as long as you are willing to come back, all past events will be forgiven."

Xiao Zuochen sneered, took the letter and threw it on the table.

"Let bygones be bygones? Do you think I will believe his promise? Besides, what have I done wrong to be blamed?"

Liu Jin's expression changed slightly, but he still spoke respectfully.

"Your Highness Prince Yun, the Emperor sincerely hopes that you can come back. After all, you are his biological brother. Why should brothers quarrel to such an extent?"

Xiao Zuochen looked at Liu Jin coldly, his eyes as sharp as knives.

"Brother? When he forced me to hand over the military power of the Shura Army, did you ever think that we were brothers? Doesn't he know how he got the throne? Don't you know? To put it bluntly, I gave it to him, and now that he is in the position, he has started to covet the military power in my hands!"

Liu Jin was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer. After a while, Chu Yao broke the silence.

"Lord Liu, since the emperor has sent you to negotiate, he must know that force alone cannot solve the problem. In this case, why don't we talk openly and honestly?"

Liu Jin nodded and said respectfully.

"Mr. Chu is right. The emperor hopes that His Royal Highness Prince Yun can hand over the military power of the Shura Army and return to Tai'an City. As long as His Royal Highness Prince Yun is willing to come back, the emperor is willing to give you the highest treatment."

Xiao Zuochen sneered.

"The highest treatment? Would this king care about this?"

Chu Yao patted Xiao Zuochen's shoulder gently, signaling him to calm down, and then spoke to Liu Jin.

"Lord Liu, His Royal Highness Prince Yun can promise not to take the initiative to attack Tai'an City, nor will he take the initiative to become an enemy of the emperor. But His Royal Highness Prince Yun will not hand over the military power of the Shura Army. Wangyan City was previously managed by Concubine Yun, and later by Prince Yun. Taking a step back, it is Princess Yun who is in charge. How can we say that Wangyan City can be regarded as the hard work of His Royal Highness Prince Yun. The Shura Army was also trained by Prince Yun's teacher. Even if Prince Yun does not want the Shura Army, it is not the turn of the emperor~ So the best way is for Prince Yun to lead the Shura Army to station in Wangyan City, and also to guard against the Miao border for Tai'an. And I will return to Beiguan to guard against Cangyan Kingdom."

Liu Jin frowned, obviously not satisfied with this condition.

"Mr. Chu, I'm afraid the emperor will not agree to this condition."

Chu Yao smiled slightly, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Lord Liu, the emperor should know that His Royal Highness Prince Yun controls the Shura Army and Wangyan City is impregnable. If the emperor insists on using force, the final result for you will be, at best, both sides will suffer losses, and at worst, you will never return. Now we are not asking for too much, but if the emperor still wants to maintain peace, we are willing to take a step back and live in peace with each other."

Liu Jin was silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

"I will bring His Royal Highness Prince Yun's conditions back to Tai'an City and report to the Emperor."

A few days later, Liu Jin returned to Wangyan City with the emperor's reply. The emperor finally agreed to Xiao Zuochen's conditions. As long as Xiao Zuochen did not take the initiative to attack Tai'an City, the emperor would no longer think about the Shura Army and Wangyan City.

Xiao Zuochen knew that although this struggle had come to an end temporarily, Xiao Zuoming would not give up easily. The road ahead was still full of unknown challenges.