Looking at Tai'an from the full moon

Chapter 309: Affordable

Accompanied by Yun Feng, Xiao Zuochen walked in front of Pang Hong, but did not stand too close. Pang Hong took the initiative to step forward, but Yun Feng held him back. Pang Hong looked at Xiao Zuochen with a begging look on his face.

"Let him come closer and talk."

Yun Feng had no choice but to let go and let Pang Hong come closer. Hu Cheng followed closely behind Pang Hong and also moved closer.

"Your Highness Prince Yun, I wonder if you can understand the hardship of ordinary people's lives. I think I am a man of some intelligence, but with my appearance, if I want to marry and have children, I must have some money at home. I have also participated in the imperial examination, but the results were not ideal. I am better at military strategy. So I can only choose to join the army, hoping that one day I can be appreciated by the general.

It was also because of that battle that I was able to work as a military advisor to Hu Cheng in the county town, and because of that, I started a family. But once you start a family, you have a weakness, and my wife and children are my weaknesses. The emperor might be worried that I would react, so before leaving, he specifically told me to do my best in this battle, and to consider my wife and children regardless of winning or losing. At that time, I didn't understand why the emperor sent someone to tell me this, until I heard the emperor's conspiracy, and then I understood. "

"Then what do you mean by telling me all this? Do you want me to spare your life? In fact, I don't want to kill you. I value your talents. If you are willing to submit to Tai'an, I can ask the emperor to spare your lives. Or if you don't want to submit to the court, you can follow me."

Hu Cheng's eyes widened after hearing this, and he looked at Pang Hong and then at Xiao Zuochen. It was obvious that he was moved by this proposal.

Pang Hong saw Hu Cheng's little move out of the corner of his eye and knew that he was moved.

"I appreciate your kindness, Prince Yun. It's not that I don't want to live, but since the emperor sent someone to tell me about this, it means I have no way out."

Pang Hong sighed and continued.

"As I said at the beginning, the emperor doesn't care whether the battle in the border canyon is won or lost. Our role is just to attract firepower and delay the troops here, so we must be obedient enough. And the way to make us obedient is to threaten us with the lives of our wives and children."

""Military Advisor Pang, please don't blame me for being harsh, but the reality is that if the matter at the border canyon doesn't satisfy the higher-ups, then they won't let you get what you want. Do you understand?""

After listening to this, Xiao Zuochen pondered for a few seconds.

"If you trust me, I can send someone..."

Pang Hong knew what Xiao Zuochen meant, and quickly raised his hand and shook his head.

"I appreciate Prince Yun's kindness, and I fully believe that with Prince Yun's strength, he can have someone sneak into Cangyan City quietly. However, Emperor Cangyan has always been very suspicious. I am worried that my wife and children have already been taken to the palace and imprisoned. I dare not take this risk. In fact, I am not afraid of death. If my death can bring peace to my wife and children, it would be fine. But I am worried that after my death, the emperor will not fulfill his promise, leaving my wife and children alone and helpless."

"Then do you want me to take them to Tai'an after you die?"

Pang Hong shook his head.

"They are used to living in Cangyan, and I have no enemies in Cangyan. Other officials and people will not make things difficult for them. Anyway, I will die today. I just hope that His Royal Highness Prince Yun can let Hu Cheng go. If Hu Cheng can live, he can take care of my wife and children for me, and I can rest assured."

Xiao Zuochen and Hu Cheng were both stunned. They didn't expect that Pang Hong's request was this. But Hu Cheng was unwilling.

"No! I am able to achieve what I have today entirely thanks to you. Without your help, I will be trampled down sooner or later! Rather than this, I might as well just die with you!"

Hu Cheng was about to draw his sword, but Pang Hong quickly stopped him. Pang Hong looked back, knowing that the armored army might be watching their every move from behind, but the huge rocks pushed down by the Shura Army just narrowed the distance in the middle of the road. In addition, many soldiers were pressed under the huge rocks, and the team was in chaos for a while, which also blocked the view of the armored army behind.

Not all the armored soldiers at the back knew about Emperor Cangyan’s “conspiracy”; only a few squad leaders and those who gossiped with them knew about it.

"Hu Cheng!"

Pang Hong held down Hu Cheng's knife handle. Although he was not a military general, he was surprisingly strong at this moment.

"Listen to me! You just got married and you have a lovely wife waiting for you at home. You can't let her be a widow like this. Besides, only if you are alive can you help me take care of my wife. Otherwise, how can I feel at ease?"

Hu Cheng gritted his teeth and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Pang Hong.

"Well, there is no point in saying more. The emperor will be furious if we lose the battle of Wangyan City. Even if I return alive, I am afraid the emperor will use me to vent his anger. But if I die in the battle and you return with my body, the emperor will not do anything to you even if he is angry."

"But..."

"Hu Cheng! With my status, I cannot change the mind of the superior. All I can do is to protect the people around me, so that my death will have some value."

Hu Cheng remained silent. He didn't understand any big principles, but he knew that since Pang Hong insisted on doing so, there was no hope for improvement.

After listening to this, Xiao Zuochen also sighed and said to Hu Cheng.

"He's right. The safest way is to use him in exchange for the stability of your family and his wife and children. Otherwise, none of you will survive."

"King Yun..."

As Pang Hong opened his mouth, Xiao Zuochen raised his hand to interrupt him, then turned to Yun Feng beside him and said.

"Let them do it."

Pang Hong and Hu Cheng looked at Xiao Zuochen in confusion, then looked at Yun Feng. He took out a flare from his arms and fired it into the air, then gestured to the Shura Army on both sides. Those were gestures that would be used in the military, but they were different in each country, and the Shura Army's gestures were obviously much more complicated.

Pang Hong saw the Shura armies on both sides retreat and disappear after Yun Feng made the gesture. After a while, he heard the sounds of fierce fighting and tragic wailing coming from the army behind. He and Hu Cheng were so frightened that they looked back curiously.

"If General Hu wants to return safely, it's not enough to just take your life with you. Since the Armored Army is here to supervise you and send you to your death, I will use them to help General Hu."

Pang Hong was stunned. He was not shocked by the strength of the Shura Army, but by the gesture Xiao Zuochen Yunfeng had just made. He had just told King Yun that the Ironclad Army was behind the troops, and the Shura Army had accurately killed the enemy under the gesture. Now looking at the boulders on both sides, it turned out that the Shura Army had divided its subordinates and the Ironclad Army into two sections at the beginning, so King Yun wanted to surrender him and Hu Cheng from the beginning.

"Your Highness Prince Yun..."

"Military Advisor Pang, perhaps you didn't believe in my strength just now. Do you believe it now?"

Pang Hong knelt down and kowtowed solemnly to Xiao Zuochen.

"Your Highness, please save the lives of my family!"

Xiao Zuochen nodded, but did not immediately go forward to help others. Since it could save his entire family, Xiao Zuochen was worthy of this favor.