mtlumby2d Chapter 2221 Personnel Swap Deal
Chapter 2221 Personnel Swap Deal
Chu Ning narrowed his eyes and raised his hand to signal that he should remain calm.
The riders reined in their horses a short distance from the city wall, a distance that was just the edge of the effective range of ordinary crossbows, conveying both their intention to negotiate and their wariness.
The leading knight was dressed in Tang army attire, but was not wearing armor.
He glanced at the city wall, seemingly confirming the location of the dragon banner, then suddenly took a riding bow from beside his saddle and nocked a special arrow.
There seemed to be a scroll of silk tied to the shaft of the arrow.
"He's going to use an arrow to deliver a message!" Feng Mulan exclaimed.
Sure enough, the Tang knight drew his bow and shot an arrow, not at the people on the city wall, but at a high angle, with a "whoosh" the arrow toward the city wall.
The arrow traced an arc and, with a "thud," embedded itself deeply in the wooden eaves of the wall not far in front of Chu Ning, its fletching still trembling.
The guards immediately stepped forward, cautiously inspected the arrows, and after confirming that they were free of poison and traps, carefully untied the silk scroll tied to the arrow shaft and presented it to Chu Ning with both hands.
Chu Ning took the scroll of silk, which was slightly damp with sweat, and slowly unfolded it.
The handwriting above is slightly messy, yet it is powerful and penetrating, conveying a deliberately crafted sense of imperial composure and unquestionable authority:
"Emperor Chu Ning of the Great Chu Dynasty hereby decrees: Last night's battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, and I myself was nearly driven to the brink of defeat. Was this all ordained by fate or human effort? However, the situation changes in an instant, and the circumstances have now shifted."
Your general Han Xing was brave and skilled in battle, and his loyalty was commendable. However, he eventually exhausted himself and was captured. He is now in my hands. I have always cherished talented people and cannot bear to kill him.
I have heard that my beloved general Yuchi Bo is imprisoned in your army. General Yuchi has served me for many years and has made outstanding contributions. I think of him and miss him dearly.
I am willing to exchange Han Xing for Yuchi Bo's life. This is the common practice among military men to exchange prisoners, and it will also prevent loyal and brave men from dying in foreign lands.
You have one day to reply. If you agree, you may send an envoy to my camp to discuss and exchange details.
If this is not permitted, Han Xingzhi's head will be hung at my gate at this time tomorrow.
The decision of where you go and what path you choose is yours to make.
Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty
The letter was short, but it struck Chu Ning's heart like a heavy hammer.
Han Xing has indeed been captured!
It fell into Li Shiming's hands!
The letter's tone appeared calm, even tinged with regret and routine, but what it revealed between the lines was blatant coercion and the posture of a victor.
Replace Yuchi Bo with Han Xing.
One was a supreme general of the Great Chu, who had just been trapped in a desperate situation while covering his own escape; the other was a fierce general of the Great Tang, who had been captured by the Chu army. Their value was incomparable to that of Han Xing.
This was an unequal exchange, and more importantly, Li Shiming was showing off the advantages he currently held.
He captured Han Xing, while Chu Ning seemed to have few other options.
Chu Ning's hand holding the silk scroll trembled slightly.
It wasn't out of fear, but out of extreme anger and humiliation.
Li Shimin not only ruined his great cause of unification, but now he is also threatening him with the lives of his generals!
Even more devastatingly, the letter also confirmed that Han Xing was still alive, which meant that he could not even find solace in the tragic sacrifice of dying for his country, and had to face this cruel choice head-on.
"Your Majesty, what does the letter say?" Feng Mulan couldn't help but ask, and the surrounding generals also cast anxious glances at her.
Chu Ning did not answer immediately.
He slowly raised his head and looked out of the city once more.
The Tang envoys had already turned their horses around and were slowly retreating back to their own camp. Their white flag stood out conspicuously in the morning light.
His gaze passed over the messenger and landed on the field occupied by the enemy, on the camp where Han Xing might be imprisoned.
In the end, their gazes collided in their imaginations with those of Li Shiming, who seemed to be staring at Tang Junlong from afar.
Li Shiming gave him one day.
One day, the fate of Han Xing was decided, and the future course of events was also determined.
Chu Ning slowly clenched the silk scroll in her hand, her knuckles making a slight cracking sound.
Beneath his gloomy face lay rapidly racing thoughts and a storm about to erupt.
On the city wall, all was silent except for the sound of the morning wind rustling through the banners and the faint, beast-like growls coming from the enemy camp in the distance.
A new game has begun in this way.
At this moment, Feng Mulan's voice, filled with rare urgency and a hint of sob, broke the suffocating silence on the city wall.
She stepped forward, almost touching Chu Ning's cloak, her eyes filled with earnestness and concern for her comrade:
"Your Majesty! General Han Xing... General Han Xing must not be harmed!"
"He is a veteran general who followed His Majesty in raising an army. He is loyal to His Majesty and to the Great Chu, and Heaven and Earth can attest to his loyalty!"
"Over the years, I have fought in more than a hundred battles, large and small, in the north and south, and I have always been at the forefront of the charge."
"This time, he single-handedly held off enemies from all sides, protecting His Majesty and the entire army from the rear!"
Her voice rose higher and higher, becoming exceptionally clear in the morning breeze. She was speaking not only to Chu Ning, but also to all the generals and soldiers who had gathered around upon hearing the news:
"Your Majesty, General Han is not only a general, but also a banner of the spirit of our Great Chu army!"
"Countless young men in the army regard him as a role model, and countless soldiers have fought to the death under his command!"
"If Your Majesty... if Your Majesty, out of concern for a powerful enemy or out of pity for a single prisoner, were to leave General Han to die, it would be more than just General Han who would feel the chill in his heart."
"The soldiers of the three armies have fought valiantly to this point, witnessing their comrades fall into enemy hands while protecting their lord, yet their lord remains indifferent. Where is the army's morale? Where is the fighting spirit?"
"From now on, who will be willing to risk their life for His Majesty and for the Great Chu in dire straits?"
Feng Mulan's words struck a chord with everyone.
Many generals looked sad, and low, suppressed murmurs arose among the soldiers.
Han Xing's bravery and loyalty earned him high prestige in the Chu army, and his fate touched the hearts of countless people.
Just then, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps came from the steps of the city wall.
Upon learning the news, the three generals, Ma Chao, Guan Yun, and Ran Ming, rushed up the city wall almost together.
They all bore the marks of last night's fierce battle, their armor still on, their faces a mixture of exhaustion, anxiety, and anger.
Ma Chao, the most impatient of them all, spoke first. His eyes widened, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chu Ning, saying:
"Your Majesty! This humble general has just arrived from the North Gate defense zone! General Han Xing has been captured by the Tang dogs?"
"How can this be allowed! Your Majesty, we must replace him! What is that scoundrel Yuchi Bo? Ten Yuchi Bos are not worth a single finger of General Han!"
"General Han got trapped while covering for us. If we don't rescue him, I, Ma Chao, will be the first to object!"
"Your Majesty, please grant me permission. This humble general is willing to lead my troops out of the city now. Even if we have to steal, we will bring General Han back!"
Ma Chao was very emotional, and his voice was like thunder.