Across the Water Margin: Officials of Ximen

However, these common people who died in despair cannot leave a name in the long river of history, becoming the most tragic political victims.

The choice Zhao Bushi has to make is whether to kidnap the people in the city and fight to the end?

The leader of the Jin Army outside the city, Wanyan Zongfu, has sent envoys to the city many times to persuade them to surrender, saying that the people of Xiangzhou are also citizens of the Kingdom of Jin, and as long as the defenders open the city and surrender, the Jin Army will not kill any of its people.

If Xiangzhou's defenders resist stubbornly and fight together, the Jin army will not be able to guarantee the safety of the people in the city.

Faced with the persuasion of Wanyan Zongfu, the leader of the Jin army, Zhao Bushi pondered for a long time, and decided to open the city and surrender to save the people and soldiers in the city.

Zhao Bushi entrusted Huang Qianshan, who stayed in Xiangzhou to assist him, to negotiate with the Jin army, asking the generals of the Jin army to swear not to kill the defenders and the people.

Huang Qianshan reached an agreement with Wanyan Zongfu. When Kaesong surrendered, bad news came from the magistrate's yamen, saying that Zhao Bushi had committed suicide.

So far, Zhao Bushi exchanged his death for the safety of the people in the city, which not only saved the people and his subordinates, but also maintained the dignity of his own Zhao clan's children.

After Wanyan Zongfu learned of Zhao Bushi's deeds, he also praised Zhao Bushi as a man of love and righteousness, and ordered Huang Qianshan to bury Zhao Bushi generously.

Xiangzhou City surrendered, and the news of Zhao Bushi's death spread to Cizhou, and Zong Ze, the veteran who was determined to restore the Zhao family, lost all hope.

In fact, as an old friend, Ximenqing also wrote a letter to Zongze, persuading him to follow God's will, give up his position of supporting the restoration of the Zhao family, and work with him in Bianliang City, Tokyo.

In order for Zongze to leave Cizhou safely, Ximen Qing also sent a letter to the general of the Jin army, Wanyan Zongbi, asking Wanyan Zongbi to encircle and not attack, and to give Zongze a chance to choose to leave.

After reading Ximen Qing's letter, Zong Ze let out a long sigh, and said to Ma Kuo beside him, "Zicong, your sworn brother Ximen Qing was very eloquent when he was in Dengzhou, and now he is a flying dragon soaring in the nine heavens." Yes! You have been with him for many years and love him like a brother, would you like to tell me about his past in detail?"

After hearing this, Ma Kuo told his teacher Zong Ze about his past contacts with Ximen Qing, how Ximen Qing helped his father and son and Zhao Liangsi in negotiations with Jin again and again.

After a long talk with Ma Kuo, Zong Ze came to a conclusion that Ximen Qing's pictures were not small, and he must have great ambitions to compete in the world.

"Zicong, the Great Song Dynasty is dead, and the Zhao family is hard to revive. There is no future for you to follow as a teacher. Thinking of it as a teacher, your righteous brother will do something big in the future. You should vote for your righteous brother Ximen Qing, your achievements in the future will far exceed being a teacher."

Zong Ze said to Ma Kuo.

Hearing this, Ma Kuo said hastily: "The teacher is in danger, how can the students abandon the teacher for the sake of fame and fortune? The students would rather stay and live and die with the teacher!"

"Zichong, you idiot! You still have your parents, wife and children, how can you die for nothing for this old man? Forget it! I am not a pedantic person as a teacher, so I will go to Bianliang City, Tokyo with you, and meet your righteous one." Brother!"

Zong Ze said with a wry smile.

Ma Kuo asked suspiciously: "Teacher, is the city of Cizhou not guarded anymore?"

Zong Ze smiled wryly and said: "The general situation is gone, Cizhou is an isolated city, how can we defend it?

His Highness Zhao Bushi was able to open the city and surrender in order to protect the safety of the people of Xiangzhou, and to show his ambition with death. Should I, Zongze, drag the people of Cizhou to the underworld together?

As long as I can protect the common people, what does my reputation, Zongze, mean?

After thinking about it as a teacher, I will hand over Cizhou to the Jinren, and return to Bianliang City, Tokyo with you. "

After hearing Zong Ze's words, Ma Kuo still couldn't believe his ears.

My teacher is a staunch anti-gold faction, and now he is able to hand over Cizhou City to the Jurchens?

Could it be that the teacher is using words to stabilize me, and he wants to learn from Zhao Bushi to commit suicide?

Ma Kuo said nervously: "Teacher, you, do you really want to return to Tokyo Bianliang City with the students?"

Zong Ze saw the worry in Ma Kuo's heart, he laughed and said, "Zicong, it's not so easy to die as a teacher!

Hebei and Hedong fell into the hands of the Jin people. If the land of these Han people is not taken back, they will die as teachers!

However, to regain the lost ground, the strength of the teacher is not enough, in the future I have to count on your righteous brother!

Zichong, do you understand why you changed your mind as a teacher and want to go to Bianliang City in Tokyo with you? "

When Zong Ze said so, Ma Kuo was completely relieved.

Obviously, after learning about Ximen Qing's annihilation of 20 troops in the First World War and his legendary experience, the teacher Zong Ze had high hopes for Ximen Qing, hoping to use his strength to restore the Han people.

The teacher is planning to go to Brother Ximen Qing's side, exert influence on him, and persuade him to take the road of regaining the lost land, right?

Regardless of Zong Ze's purpose, as long as he does not seek short-sightedness, Ma Kuo, a student, can rest assured.

Knowing that Zongze was going to negotiate with the Jin army outside the city, Ma Kuo immediately volunteered to go out of the city as an envoy.

Ma Kuo went to and from the Kingdom of Jin many times to negotiate, he could speak the Jurchen language, and he got acquainted with many Jurchen nobles. There was indeed no more suitable candidate than him in Cizhou City.

Therefore, Zongze authorized Ma Kuo to go out of the city to meet Wanyan Zongbi, the chief general of the Jin army, on his behalf.

Ma Kuo once accompanied the old emperor of the Jin Kingdom, Wanyan Aguda, to conquer the Liao Kingdom's Shangjing Linhuang Mansion and Nanjing Xijin Mansion. At that time, Wanyan Zongbi was also in the army, so the two were old friends.

However, when Ma Kuo entered the camp of the Jin Army and met Wanyan Zongbi in the tent of the Chinese Army, Wanyan Zongbi yelled and said, "Ma Kuo! It really is you! Our army has long wanted to arrest you. cast a net.

Hahaha~ It's really hard to find a place to go through the iron shoes, and it doesn't take much effort to get it!

Ladies and gentlemen, tie up the traitor Ma Kuo! "

Chapter 975 The Xixia Kingdom Sends Troops

With Wanyan Zongbi's order, the Jurchen warriors in the Chinese tent rushed up like wolves and tigers, grabbed Ma Kuo's arms, and were about to tie him up.

Ma Kuo couldn't struggle, so he had to turn his head to look at Wanyan Zongbi and asked: "The two armies are at war, and if they don't kill their envoys, why does General Zongbi do this?"

Wanyan Zongbi sneered and said: "In the late Song Dynasty, you broke your promise, you, Tong Guan, Zhao Liangsi and others used lies to deceive our Jurchens many times, and you are the sinners of the war between the two countries.

Ma Kuo, don't you know that my Dajin Kingdom has long asked the dead Song Dynasty for you and other sinners?

It's a pity that you waited to die, and disappeared, but no one was caught!

I really didn't expect you to be so courageous, and you actually delivered it to your door today. "

Hearing this, Ma Kuo became wise and said hastily, "General Zong Bi, what you want to arrest is Ma Kuo, an envoy from the lost Song Dynasty, but I am Ma Kuo, brother-in-law of brother Ximen Qing, the privy envoy of Chu State!

I came here this time to deliver Cizhou to your army under the order of Brother Ximenqing.

General Zong Bi, are you really going to arrest me? "

Ma Kuo knew that Ximen Qing was the son-in-law of the Kingdom of Jin, and Wanyan Zongbi was Ximen Qing's wife-in-law, so he used Ximen Qing's name as a talisman.

Sure enough, after hearing Ma Kuo's words, Wanyan Zongbi immediately waved the Jurchen warrior back, restored Ma Kuo's freedom, and asked him to sit down and talk.

After a near-miss collision, the next step was a matter of course.

After learning that Ma Kuo was Ximen Qing's sworn brother, Wanyan Zongbi treated Ma Kuo much more kindly.

Ma Kuo took the opportunity to explain that Zongze, the prefect of Cizhou, was ordered to hand over Cizhou and lead officials and soldiers who were not native of Hebei to return to the south of the Yellow River.

Because of the Zhao Bushi restoration incident, Wanyan Zongbi originally led the army with a murderous look to cut off Zongze, a member of the Zhao restoration party.