Liu Xinda witnessed the destruction of the Liang Army Navy with his own eyes.

The last Liang army warship broke through the attack of the two naval divisions of the Tang army and fled all the way to Ezhou City. The four warships of the Tang Kingdom chased each other and finally intercepted them on the river surface not far from Ezhou City.

Under Liu Xinda's nose, a short surface war began quickly and ended in a blink of an eye. When the Liang army warship was caught on the left and right, everything was destined.

The Liang army flag on the mast slowly fell down, and the Tang Dynasty battle flag was raised.

Obviously, the Liang army warship eventually surrendered.

Perhaps the Tang army on the river also saw the cavalry on the shore, one of which sailed straight to this side. When he was more than a hundred steps away from the shore, the sharp-eyed Liu Xinda's cavalry had already seen the catapults on the ship ready to go, and the iron-gray arrows of the powerful crossbows shone with a heart-pounding light under the reflection of the sun.

Liu Xinda was a little lost and seemed to have not noticed all this. His personal soldiers slapped his horse thigh with a fierce palm and shouted: "General, go!"

The war horses raised their heads and neighed, and rushed away. A group of cavalry quickly left the river bank. The whistling stone bullets on the warships flew over them later, smashing deep pits where they had just stood. The crossbow flew past, and the puffs of grass were cut off, and finally choked and plunged into the soil.

Liu Xinda did not expect that in just one battle, his extremely relied on the navy would be destroyed. Without the navy, it means that the Yangtze River was completely controlled by the Tang army. More importantly, the Tang army could use troops without any scruples without worrying about attacks from the water.

A navy team means that Liu Xinda can make full use of his projection ability to pose a threat to the Tang army anywhere to ease the pressure on Ezhou City, but now, he is left with the only way to defend Ezhou.

In fact, for Liu Xinda, the best way out is not to defend Ezhou City, but to make a quick decision and retreat immediately. While he can still leave now, while Yingcheng, Anlu, Guangshui and other places are still in the hands of Liang Jun.

If the Tang army wants to attack Ezhou, it will definitely take down places like Yingcheng and Anlu first, completely cut off the ties between Ezhou and Liang army, and turn Ezhou into an isolated city. Then it will launch an attack on Ezhou.

But Liu Xinda couldn't leave.

It is a dead end to defending Ezhou City, but Liu Xinda can only bite the bullet and walk further and further along this dead end, until the end of this road.

Sitting in the study, Liu Xinda once again opened a letter from Chang'an. This was written by Zhu Youzhen himself, not an edict, but a private message, which was also used by Zhu Youzhen's private seal.

He read this letter many times, and the letter paper was covered with sweat stains and yellow spots were printed on many parts. After reading it again, he sighed, kneaded the letter paper into a ball, and threw it into the trash can on one side.

In the letter, Zhu Youzhen spent a long time narrating the friendship between them, saying that his family is now under special care in Chang'an and everything is well. Although Liu Xinda is safe to fight in Ezhou, he knows that Liu Xinda is facing many difficulties now, but Ezhou's geographical location is important. As long as Ezhou City exists, it can restrain Liu Ruyan, Qian Biao, and even the Tang army in Jingnan area, share a considerable burden for Daliang and reduce the pressure on Chang'an City.

In a word, the longer you defend Ezhou City, the better.

Liu Xinda knew the meaning of this letter.

The so-called longevity is until he died.

He had no way out and could only do his best to defend Ezhou City, not only for Daliang, but also for him, Liu Xinda, to live longer. As long as he, Liu Xinda, lives, his family can enjoy wealth and glory in Chang'an. Once he dies, it is hard to say.

A dead person will not have much value. Even if Zhu Youzhen treats his family well in order not to let other generals feel upset, it will still not last long.

People are forgetful.

"Come!" He sat down, "Let Liu Haiqing come to me."

After a cup of tea, General Zhuangwu Liu Haiqing hurried to Liu Xinda: "What are the instructions of the general?"

"How is the morale in the city now?" Liu Xinda signaled him to sit down and speak.

"Now the city has sufficient food and sufficient military equipment. The general has rewarded a lot of gold and silver, and his morale is still good." Liu Haiqing said.

"Now we only have the only way to use gold and silver to inspire morale." Liu Xinda smiled bitterly: "There are still several big families in the city, so I'll find an opportunity to copy them."

Po Liu Haiqing was stunned: "General, the remaining families have always been respectful to us."

Liu Xinda sneered: "I know, but I need their money more now. What's the use of these people being respectful? Isn't it just to bury a lot of money in his own cellar to snatch it?"

"These people still have a certain amount of power." Liu Haiqing was a little embarrassed.

"Then you uproot it!" Liu Xinda said with a ferocious look on his face: "Haiqing, remember that there is only one force allowed in Ezhou City now, that is, we. Any other possible force, no matter how big or small, should not exist. And the only thing we have to do is to do everything we can to ensure the combat effectiveness of the army and its support for us. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Liu Haiqing nodded.

"This is for you!" Liu Xinda picked up a piece of paper from the big case and handed it to him.

After taking a look, Liu Haiqing couldn't help but be stunned, "General, why do the defense in the city need to be adjusted again?"

Liu Xinda smiled slightly: "Liu Santong came here, and I think Tang Jun will definitely know something from him."

"Even if Santong doesn't follow us, it won't betray us!" Liu Haiqing widened his eyes: "It's all a life-long friendship."

Liu Xinda took a deep breath: "Since he decided to be a farmer, that would not be a life-long friendship."

"Then why let him go? This change of defense requires a lot of effort!" Liu Haiqing was a little dissatisfied. "I should have stayed there at that time, or..."

"Or kill him?" Liu Xinda stared at Liu Haiqing: "I remember he saved your life."

"How can you care about the overall situation?"

"You think so, but many other people don't necessarily think so!" Liu Xinda shook his head and said, "Liu Santong has been with me for many years. There are a lot of people under his command. These people are now the backbone of our guardians of Ezhou. If I kill him, what would you think? I even kill Liu Santong. Can you kill them at some point? In terms of friendship and credit, who can compare with Liu Santong, including you?"

Liu Haiqing laughed dryly.

"So I can only let him go and give him money. I want everyone who follows me to see that I, Liu Xinda, is a person who values ​​friendship and friendship." Liu Xinda said: "And if Santong really reveals the defense in the city to us and the Tang army attacks according to his plan, our changes can just teach the Tang army a good lesson."

"Great General!" Liu Haiqing was impressed. "Then I'll do it right away."

After seeing off Liu Haiqing, Liu Xinda sat in the house for a long time, stood up and went straight to a room in the backyard. After hesitating for a long time, he turned around and wanted to leave.

The window of the door of the compartment opened at this moment, and a face appeared by the window, saying, "General Liu, since he is here, why not come in and sit in? I have been locked up by you for many days. I will neither let me go nor kill me. What is my intention? Is the general hesitant himself?"

Liu Xinda turned around and looked at the man for a while before laughing: "The two armies are fighting, but the envoys will not be killed. Mr. Xiao Jing, I am just idle and want to come to see you. Speaking of which, I am mostly rude soldiers around me. I can go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, but when I chat, I can't help but feel confused."

Xiao Jing laughed: "General Liu, the moonlight is quite good today. Why not prepare a pot of wine and let me have a good chat with General Liu? I am a good person to chat with him."

"That's good. As an envoy, if you don't have a three-inch unconfused tongue, you will naturally not be able to do this position." Liu Xinda smiled and waved his hand. The guard in front of the door immediately opened the door. The man in the door walked out with his hands behind his back.

"Go to prepare the wine and food, and I and I will have a few drinks." Liu Xinda said.

Soon, a small table was set up under the moonlight, and several cold dishes and a pot of wine were presented to the two of them.

Liu Xinda poured a glass of wine for the other party and said, "To be honest, Liu admires Jiang Dashen. In a short time, he swept over half of the southeast. And there is also an emperor's son-in-law, hehe, the future is bright."

"Since that's the case, what is General Liu hesitating about?" Xiao Jing raised his glass to drink.

Liu Xinda took a sip and said lightly: "Whether Li Ze or Xiang Shuai are clearly distinguished, they are all important officials of the Tang Dynasty. To say that Mr. Xiao is unhappy, if you really want to talk about it, Li Ze's strength is much stronger than that of Xiang Dashui. Li Ze also sent someone to persuade me to surrender. If I, Liu, really want to rebel against Daliang, why not choose a strong one but a weak one?"

Xiao Jing raised his neck and drank the wine in the glass, stood up, and poured himself another cup: "General Liu, we are not seeking surrender to you, but seeking cooperation. Cooperation and surrender, there is a huge difference."

"It's just a bit better." Liu Xinda shook his head and said.

"Of course not." Xiao Jing said: "After I came, General Liu never listened to me in detail, but today I came. I guess there was something big change again, right?"
Chapter completed!