"General Yelü, you are here in Hongzhou to see His Highness, are you here to discuss Liangzhou with us?"
Seeing his preemptive move, Yelü Hong lightly smiled and took a sip of tea, saying, "After fighting for so long, Your Highness and General must not wish for the common people to suffer. I am here on my Emperor's orders to discuss withdrawing troops with Your Highness."
Tantai Ye coldly curled his lips. They had broken through three cities in the Chaoge area, and now they wanted to negotiate with them over Liangzhou. What a pipe dream.
"His Majesty is hosting a banquet in Yanjing. If Your Highness deigns to attend, all these matters can be discussed."
Hah, it's likely a Hongmen Banquet.
Tantai Ye picked up his wine cup and drank, a sharp glint flashing in his lowered eyes.
Just as he was about to say something, he saw Xiao Chizhan's deep gaze sweep over him. He instantly understood and put down his wine cup.
"It's the victor who takes all, the winner is king. Northern Qi's three cities have been breached. If General Yelü is here to surrender, then we need to have a good discussion about the compensation terms."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yelü Hong's hand, holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.
"Your Highness, General, Liangzhou is a border city. As long as Your Highness withdraws from Chaoge, Liangzhou will be fully returned."
Xiao Chizhan stroked the snow ball in his arms, his pale and somber face showing no change in expression.
"The Nine Provinces are in turmoil. Your Highness has massacred tens of thousands of soldiers in Mobei. If the Mobei warships cross the Mo River and attack Daliang's Jiājùn Pass, Daliang's border will inevitably be fragmented. Your Highness is a wise man and understands the implications."
Tantai Ye raised his eyebrows and smiled, "So, this is the reason General Yelü dares to come alone to see us? Truly courageous."
Let alone one Liangzhou, even if the entire border was breached, Xiao Chizhan, that madman, wouldn't care.
What he wanted was blood, war!
Yelü Hong remained silent, feeling a pang of unease. He looked at the silent King of Dingbei and couldn't help but suspect that the Crown Prince had sent him here to use Xiao Chizhan's hands to kill him.
Thinking this, his body trembled. But since ancient times, envoys are not beheaded in times of war. He came to seek peace, how could the King of Dingbei dare to kill him? Absolutely not!
Unless he no longer wanted this Daliang.
"Your Highness, this turmoil in the Nine Provinces has caused widespread suffering. His Majesty's banquet for all the states is also an opportunity for everyone to reconcile and discuss. If Your Highness condescends to attend, the nineteen prefectures of Daliang's border will surely be stable."
At this moment, Xiao Chizhan suddenly stood up slowly. Carrying the cat in his arms, he walked leisurely behind Yelü Hong.
His pale, chilling hand lightly patted his shoulder, his voice, cold and sharp, carrying a hint of manic laughter.
"Xie Beihan's plan is quite good."
"What does Your Highness mean?!"
As the words fell, a white blade flashed across his neck. The cold blade pierced the flesh, shocking the Northern Qi envoys.
"King of Dingbei, what are you doing?"
Yelü Qi stood behind, watching his father being held hostage. A calculating look flashed across his gentle face.
Someone angrily exclaimed, "King of Dingbei, do not be too arrogant."
As the words fell, with a swish, a hidden weapon flashed, and blood splattered. The man who spoke instantly fell to the ground. This scene shocked everyone.
They had long heard that Daliang's King of Dingbei acted arrogantly and ruthlessly, but none of them had expected that this scoundrel would dare to kill an envoy.
Yelü Hong sat in his chair, cold sweat beading on his forehead. But he was held tightly and could not move at all.
The man behind him let out a light laugh, followed by even more eerie laughter from his chest. He could feel his body shaking with laughter.
"He wants me to kill you, to use it as an excuse to unite the Nine Provinces and attack Daliang together. Xiao Chizhan laughed so hard his chest vibrated. "I, I will give him this opportunity."
Yelü Hong was greatly alarmed. Was this King of Dingbei mad?
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has no such intentions. We are acting on His Majesty's orders, bringing our most sincere hearts to negotiate with Your Highness."
The chilling blade moved closer, forcing him to dare not speak further.
Xiao Chizhan's lips curled into a disdainful arc, and he lowered his gaze with a cold smile, his aura dangerous and gloomy.
"Guards."
"Your Highness."
"Take these people down and entertain them well."
Yelü Hong was greatly alarmed. He truly did not expect the King of Dingbei to be so audacious, to detain envoys and openly defy Northern Qi!
He suppressed the surging anger and killing intent in his heart and allowed the Daliang guards to take them away.
He finally saw clearly. The King of Dingbei was doing this deliberately. What was this madman trying to do?
What terrible luck. Xie Beihan, that insidious villain, would go to any lengths to get rid of him, not even caring about Liangzhou.
"Should we release the news?"
Tantai Ye's pupils were as dark as ink. He lazily sat in his chair, unrestrained and indulgent.
Hearing his question, Xiao Chizhan's lips curved into a beautiful arc. Carrying the cat, he walked out, "Of course. I want to see how he intends to fight?"
A few days later, the news of the Northern Qi envoy's assassination in Hongcheng instantly spread to Guancheng.
Military camp.
Inside the main tent.
Xie Beihan, draped in a large robe of dark purple brocade, leaned lazily on the couch with a smile.
After the doctor examined his injuries, he re-dressed and bandaged them, instructing, "Crown Prince, this poison is not fatal now, but it is very potent. You must take your medicine on time."
"Yes, thank you, doctor."
After the doctor left, Mobei Abahai, sitting below, glanced over with a sharp gaze.
"That madman Xiao Chizhan massacred tens of thousands of my Mobei soldiers. This is all thanks to you, Crown Prince. If you don't give me an explanation, our cooperation ends here."
Hearing this, Xie Beihan straightened up slightly, his evil, smiling eyes looking towards Xu Qing.
"Xu Qing, Abahai blames you. Why don't you explain a few words quickly?"
Xu Qing, dressed in a kasaya and holding a string of prayer beads, his eyes, as deep as a cold pool, showed no change as he heard Xie Beihan's words, emanating a cold and proud aura.
Chi Yan's cold and flawless face, however, showed a hint of anger.
"Does the Crown Prince always use him as a shield?"
"Hahaha." Xie Beihan let out a few loud laughs. "This is our Northern Qi's King of Beihan, not a shield, but his duty."
Chi Yan narrowed her eyes and placed a cold, flashing Xuan blade heavily on the table.
Her face, as beautiful as spring peaches and autumn apricots, held a chilling murderous intent. "This matter absolutely cannot be let go. If the Crown Prince cannot give us Mobei a satisfactory answer, Mobei's million iron cavalry will trample into Northern Qi."
'Tsk, don't be angry.'
Xie Beihan opened his wicked, enchanting eyes, tilted his head, and said with a slightly improper teasing tone.
"That fellow Xiao Chizhan massacred tens of thousands of Mobei people, killed Yelü Hong, and then sent troops to attack Xiqiang. The areas around Northern Qi's Chaoge are devastated. His actions have already aroused widespread indignation. Just wait and see, the old emperor's banquet for all the states this time, Daliang is bound to lose."
Chi Yan sneered, "Xiao Chizhan is cunning and treacherous. How do you know Yelü Hong is really dead?"