Dou Rong wore ordinary armor and mingled among the soldiers. When Lei Zhenzi remained silent for a long while, he asked again, "What brings the envoy of Zhou here?"
Lei Zhenzi still could not find him and was utterly bewildered. What kind of diplomatic mission left him unable even to see the opposing commander?
Forget it. Straight to business. Afraid Dou Rong would not hear him, he raised his voice and shouted:
"General Dou, King Zhou is cruel and heartless, a muddleheaded ruler without virtue. You command the troops and protect the people at Sishui Pass, and you have long enjoyed their respect. Why help that tyrant commit his atrocities? Why cling so stubbornly to defending the pass for that benighted ruler?"
Dou Rong still did not show himself. His voice drifted intermittently from the densely packed soldiers, and his position seemed to change every few sentences.
"The King of Wucheng promoted me from a commoner to a general. His Majesty then honored me with his trust and ordered me to garrison Sishui Pass. How could I possibly turn elsewhere?"
"Even without all that, a ruler's subject must naturally be loyal. As a birdman from the wilds, the envoy of Zhou presumably understands none of this. That is hardly surprising."
His words carried more than a little disdain.
"Hmph."
Lei Zhenzi snorted coldly, his expression darkening. Yet Dou Rong's words made him feel that persuading the man to surrender was all the more worthwhile.
"Our army is now attacking your Sishui Pass. Jiameng Pass remains behind its defenses and offers no support. Although Lu Xiong has reached Tong Pass with the Western Expedition Army, he is still some distance away. Your men have defended the pass and kept watch day and night all this time; they are already exhausted. Our