bookcurios Chapter 274 Outside Lu County
Chapter 274 Outside Lu County
When Zhao Sheng returned home, Cheng Ziyun came hurriedly to report that Shi Ge had quietly occupied a small town thirty miles outside Lu County and arbitrarily changed its name to Shimen Town.
"Haha, this Shi Ge does know how to use some tricks. Could it be that his ambitions are limited to this tiny place?" Zhao Sheng raised a playful smile at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes flashed with a deep light.
"Your Majesty, it is difficult for us to guess the intention behind Shi Ge's move. Do we need to strike with thunder and lightning to directly wipe out Shimen Town and its ambitions?" Cheng Ziyun frowned, his tone filled with determination.
"This open provocation to my Dingzhou territory is undoubtedly a demonstration against us. It's time to teach them a lesson and let them understand what the insurmountable boundaries are." Zhao Sheng's face was solemn, and his words revealed an unquestionable determination.
Ma Biao watched silently from the side. Zhao Sheng's iron-like expression made him realize that Shi Ge's actions this time had completely touched the young prince consort's sensitive spot.
"Sir, before we act, perhaps we should negotiate with the Shige Tribe first. After all, they are a tribe that recently escaped from imperial slavery, and we still don't know why they came to Dingzhou. Acting rashly might not be the best strategy. We should first find out the reason and then make a decision."
Zhao Yongsheng, the wise man in charge of Dingzhou's security intelligence, has become more calm and cautious in his actions, and every decision he makes is carefully considered.
"Negotiate? How to negotiate?" Zhao Sheng's mind flashed through the complicated rehearsal scenes of later generations, but he was immediately pulled back by the reality before him.
Now that supplies are scarce, all that fancy display is futile. Is it really necessary to wait until the enemy surrenders before responding with gunpowder?
Zhao Sheng's face showed hidden displeasure, and his tone was full of unquestionable determination: "This matter is left to you to handle, and the goal is to get Shi Ge away from here. Otherwise... you and I know the consequences." Although his face was full of anger, he actually longed for a clear result.
"Don't worry, sir. I will set off immediately to negotiate with them and will do my best to obtain a satisfactory answer for you."
"Confidence is the cornerstone of your actions. My patience is limited. You must act quickly and decisively. Don't let this matter be delayed until the spring plowing time, so as not to affect the overall situation." Zhao Sheng's attitude was as firm as a rock. He vowed to eradicate the intrusion brought by the stone leather.
"In that case, everything will proceed according to the plan. I will personally lead the team to meet with Shi Ge and strive to resolve the issue properly."
Zhao Yong responded, his words revealing unquestionable determination, as if he had foreseen the coming storm, but also stepped into the unknown with confidence.
Zhao Yongsheng took the lead and sent his confidant to deliver a letter. The words between the lines revealed his sincerity in wanting to meet in person, in order to find out why Shimen Town had become a must-fight place.
On the day the letter was delivered, Shi Ge quickly wrote back, having the courier deliver it back. After a few brief words, they agreed to meet in Lu County the next day to deal with this unresolved situation.
At first light of the next morning, Zhao Yongsheng, under the protection of Ma Damao's elite team and the well-trained security team in the workshop, headed straight for Lu County.
Cheng Ziyun had heard the news early on and knew that there would be a crucial meeting between Zhao Yongsheng and Shi Ge today, so he set up a tight defense line early to ensure that nothing could go wrong.
When he saw Zhao Yongsheng and his group coming in a mighty procession, he personally stepped forward to greet them with a smile on his face, but his eyes contained a wariness that should not be underestimated.
As soon as Cheng Ziyun saw Zhao Yongsheng entering the city gate, he stepped forward to greet him, his hands slightly cupped, his tone filled with respect and warmth:
"Director Zhao, upon hearing that you were approaching, I personally oversaw the city's defenses. Could you please see if there are any areas that require additional troops, ambushes, or adjustments?"
Zhao Yongsheng responded with a smile, his eyes warmly sweeping over the team behind him that was ready to go, and said to Cheng Ziyun:
"Not only did I come here myself, I also brought an entire regiment of reinforcements, including a well-equipped artillery company. This will complement our existing city defense artillery. I doubt those scoundrels will dare to act rashly."
After saying this, he turned his head slightly, motioning Cheng Ziyun to look at the soldiers who were lined up in neat formation and in high morale, his eyes flashing with confidence and expectation of victory.
"Ma Damao from the Third Special Agent Regiment has come to pay a special visit to Commander-in-Chief Cheng." Ma Damao bowed first according to military rules. Although his official rank was not as high as Cheng Ziyun's, he was still as polite as ever.
Cheng Ziyun glanced at the four thousand elite soldiers behind Zhao Yongsheng and nodded slightly in return. There was no trace of contempt in his eyes, because he knew that the extraordinary power of the weapons in the hands of this team was enough to make up for the lack of numbers.
There is no need for many words between the two of them; a look, a gesture, is enough to express everything.
Shi Ge arrived as promised. In an open area three miles outside Lu County, a temporary and shabby shed became the stage for the confrontation between the two sides.
"Are you the important figure in charge of the safety of Luancheng?" Shi Ge asked with a hint of inquiry in his tone, and looked at the other party sharply.
"It's me," Zhao Yongsheng said calmly, introducing himself. "I've come here at the request of the Prince Consort of Luancheng. I want to ask you all for an explanation as to why you have taken over this small border town of Dingzhou without permission."
Zhao Yongsheng slowly raised his eyes and glanced at the two people following Shi Ge.
One was the dashing young Major General Mu Hui, the other was Hou Lin, a weathered, menacing man. Flames seemed to burn in their eyes, revealing a hostility and determination that should not be underestimated.
The air froze at this moment, and an undercurrent of competition quietly began.
Zhao Yongsheng faced the group of people in front of him fearlessly. The security team standing behind him, each holding a hunting rifle loaded with five shotgun shells. Ten people meant fifty whistling bullets of life and death.
At this close range, aiming is almost unnecessary, and each shot is enough to end a life in an instant.
Each side led a entourage of ten people, and in the distance, there were a hundred people on standby. The distance between them was exactly a hundred steps away. A negotiation slowly began in such a spatial layout.
"What we are doing is not an unreasonable occupation. Yuan Shan, he was originally a brave general under my command. You can generously give me a fortress named Yuanshi Town, so why can't I find a piece of land and name it Shimen Town?" Shi Ge's tone revealed an unquestionable determination.
At this point, Zhao Yongsheng's mind was clear, and all causes and effects seemed to have found a reasonable explanation in these words.
Zhao Yongsheng smiled bitterly and thought to himself, "So that's how it is. This is your excuse."
He couldn't help but feel puzzled by Shi Ge's logic. He could act recklessly in other people's territory and try to weave a seemingly reasonable cover to cover up his behavior.
The air in the tent, which was originally so tense that it was almost frozen, suddenly loosened a little, and the tense atmosphere quietly eased.