On the city wall, Zhao Hu's eyes turned red.
"Fire arrows! Cover General Han!" he roared.
Arrows were like rain, shooting at the Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer general.
But those arrows were like scratching an itch for him, and with one swipe of the spear, all of them fell away.
Occasionally, a few shots came close to him, but they were bounced away by his protective body Spiritual Power.
Han Zhang took the opportunity to retreat a few steps, then dodged and retreated back to the city wall.
When Zhao Hu saw it, he immediately signaled to suspend the city gate formation and took Han Zhang back to the city.
"General Han!" Zhao Hu's voice trembled, "You are injured!"
Han Zhang lowered his head and glanced at his left arm. There was a cut in his sleeve and blood was seeping out.
He gritted his teeth and switched the knife to his right hand.
"Shut up." His voice was hoarse, "Give me the order, and the arrow array will be designed intermittently. Rolling logs and rocks will be thrown at me!"
Zhao Hu responded, turned around and ran to deliver the order.
Han Zhang leaned on the battlements, looking at the black figure under the city, his heart felt cold.
Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer is different from Foundation Establishment, Eighth Layer by one realm, which is the natural chasm.
He has been able to hold on until now only because of the cover of City Gate Formation and arrows.
But the arrows will always run out, the rolling logs will always be smashed, and the soldiers will always die.
At that time, who will stop?
On the Tai Chi Hall, the lights are bright.
This is an emergency meeting before the emperor.
Emperor Xianwu was sitting on the dragon chair with a gloomy look on his face.
The ministers lined up on both sides, no one dared to speak, and even gasped.
Nanan Gate's battle report has been sent back: three thousand cavalry, led by Qin Hao and Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer Peak, are cruising outside the city.
Emperor Xianwu's eyes swept across the ministers and finally landed on Minister of War Lu Zhengyuan.
"Lu Shangshu, who are the Nanan Gate defenders?"
Han Zhang came out with sweat on his forehead. "Back to Your Majesty, the guards are Han Zhang, Foundation Establishment, Eighth-Layer Peak, with 1,200 soldiers under his command."
"One thousand two hundred people versus three thousand people," Emperor Xianwu said in a calm tone, but everyone could hear the anger beneath the calmness, "Send troops for reinforcements immediately."
Lu Zhengyuan said, "Your Majesty, there are reinforcements, but generals are hard to find. This Qin Hao is Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer Peak. The only ones who can fight with him are the two in the palace and Yao Residence's guest Zhou Qi."
Ministry of Revenue Shangshu Zhou Wenyuan came out and cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, what Lu Shangshu said is reasonable. The top priority is to send experts to help Nanan Gate."
"I think that Yao Residence Ke Qing Zhou Qi is just the right candidate." Ministry of Revenue Shang Shu Zhou Wenyuan said.
Emperor Xianwu did not answer the call and turned to Yao Jingyi.
Yao Jingyi came out of the queue, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, Zhou Qi is Yao Residence's guest minister, not a general of the imperial court. I can pass the message on my behalf, but I cannot guarantee whether he will go or not."
This is true, but it is a bit harsh in court.
Ministry of War Minister Liu Chong came out and raised his voice a little higher. "Master Yao, the capital is in danger now. Your Yao Family guest is enjoying the rewards of the imperial court. Now that the imperial court is in trouble, how can he stand by and watch?"
Yao Jingyi glanced at him and did not answer.
Liu Chong continued, "Your Majesty rewarded him with spiritual stones, Cultivation Method, and elixirs. Shouldn't he serve the imperial court?"
Emperor Xianwu raised his hand, and Liu Chong's voice stopped abruptly.
"Chancellery Secretariat," Emperor Xianwu looked at Yao Jingyi, "Go and invite Zhou Qi yourself and tell him that I don't want him to charge into the battle, as long as he guards Nanan Gate and blocks that Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer."
Yao Jingyi was silent for a breath.
He knows how difficult this job is.
Zhou Qi is not a servant of the Yao Family, nor has he inherited the benefits of the imperial court. Even when he asked the emperor for Golden Core Cultivation Manual, he was slapped by Emperor Xianwu.
He is a Foundation Establishment Perfection monk, and he can be ranked among the top in this Great Yong Dynasty.
Can such a person be summoned by the emperor's word?
But Emperor Xianwu had already said it for this reason, and he couldn't refuse.
"I obey." Yao Jingyi bowed, turned around and strode out Tai Chi Hall.
Behind him, the debate in the court continued.
Some people suggested moving troops from the north of the city, some suggested closing Nanan Gate and abandoning the outer city, while others advocated sending envoys out of the city to negotiate peace.
Emperor Xianwu has never made a statement.
He leaned on the dragon chair, half-closed his eyes, thinking about the situation.
When Yao Jingyi came out from Imperial City, it was already dark.
He was neither riding a horse nor sitting in a sedan chair. He was walking alone on the street, neither fast nor slow.
There were only a few pedestrians on the street, and occasionally a few soldiers ran by, their boots clicking on the bluestone.
He walked to the gate of Zhou Qi and stood still.
Take a deep breath, raise your hand and knock on the door.
The door opened quickly. When the boy saw him coming, his expression changed and he quickly bowed. "Master."
"Is Mr. Zhou here?"
"Here, in the house."
Yao Jingyi nodded and stepped into the courtyard gate.
Main Hall's door is open, and Zhou Qi is sitting inside with a pot of tea in front of him, drinking it slowly.
Seeing him come in, she didn't stand up, but just raised her chin. "Mr. Yao, sit down."
Yao Jingyi sat down opposite.
The waiter brought the tea, exited, and closed the door.
The hall was quiet for a while.
Yao Jingyi picked up the teacup, took a sip, and put it down.
He considered his words, but after thinking about it again and again, he felt that there was no use in beating around the bush, so it was better to speak directly.
"Mr. Zhou, have you heard about Nanan Gate?"
Zhou Qi nodded.
"The imperial court wants you to go," Yao Jingyi said, "You don't need to fight, just sit back and block that Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer."
Zhou Qi picked up the tea cup and took a slow sip without saying anything.
Yao Jingyi looked at him, waited for a few seconds, and saw that he had no intention of speaking, and then said, "Your Majesty said that you are not required to charge into the battle, but..."
"Mr. Yao." Zhou Qi interrupted him.
Yao Jingyi's voice stopped.
Zhou Qi put down the tea cup and looked at him with calm eyes.
"Some time ago, when I asked you to ask for Cultivation Method for me, what did the emperor say?"
"I stated that when Champion Marquis sends troops, I can do my best to help."
"If I remember correctly, I gave you a slap in the face!"
"Is that slap meant for me?"
Zhou Qi stood up, his eyes getting colder. "Of course I, Zhou Qi, am not a shameless person."
"The emperor himself broke the deal with his own hands, why do you still ask me to work for you?!"
Yao Jingyi was speechless on the sidelines.
He was a lobbyist, and he even received the slap in the face that day.
Although he didn't tell anyone, the fingerprints on his face couldn't be hidden.
"Mr. Zhou." He finally spoke, his voice hoarse, "I'm not here to intercede on behalf of the court."
Zhou Qi looked at him.
"I'm here to beg you." Yao Jingyi stood up, adjusted his clothes, and bent deeply towards Zhou Qi, "If Nanan Gate is broken, Yongjing will be in danger, and if Yongjing is broken, Yao Family will be finished."
He straightened up and looked at Zhou Qi.
Zhou Qi did not move and glanced at Yao Jingyi. At this time, he was caught in the middle and was in a dilemma.
"Mr. Yao, I promise you to keep Yao Family safe, and of course it's a promise." Zhou Qi was still staring at Yao Jingyi, his eyes filled with light that Yao Jingyi couldn't understand.
"Are you sure you want me to use this favor here?" Zhou Qi finished slowly.
Yao Jingyi understands what he means.
The room fell into silence.
"Mr. Zhou is right, Yongjing belongs to the royal family. Even if Nanan Gate is broken, the two royal family members are still hiding it."
After a long time, Yao Jingyi said slowly.
That's right, why use your own favors to protect the royal family?
The royal family's trump cards haven't been revealed yet.
Moreover, the emperor's will was conveyed to him, and he had already conveyed it in place.
Would that Xianwu emperor really choose to offend a Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer Peak character at this time?
Yao Jingyi remained silent for a few breaths, without further persuasion, and clasped his fists.
Saying goodbye, he turned around and walked out.