It was not that the Northern Zhou Dynasty did not want peace talks.

They had previously terminated the negotiations and appeared to be packing up their belongings and preparing to retreat. They were just retreating in order to put pressure on the court. Otherwise, they could have ignored this meeting at all, let alone made so many preparations.

They just want to use this to gain more bargaining chips, because they understand that the Ming court is eager to take back Phoenix Ridge without the ability to respond with force. Therefore, no matter what conditions are offered, the court's attitude is OK

Negotiating, this gave them the opportunity to push further, and the conditions became higher and higher.

Zhao Huan and the others represent the imperial court and have their own considerations. After all, there is the will of the Holy One. But Fan Xiaodao doesn't have so many worries. Firstly, he is not an official official, but he has the authorization from the imperial court. Secondly, whether he can take back Phoenix

Ling, it was none of his business and could not touch his fundamental interests at all, so the prince sent him to test the other party.

Although he has no identity, he still represents the prince.

Zhu Yan had just returned to Beijing when he was assigned this difficult nut to crack. This was the emperor's test for him. If the negotiation was successful, His Majesty's contribution would be due to him. If the negotiation was not successful, he would be left to shoulder the blame. One can imagine his intention.

The Northern Zhou Dynasty did not completely block the door to negotiations.

Tuoba Yidao took the two of them to visit the Northern Zhou embassy. The embassy has more than 200 people and covers an area of ​​nearly 100 acres. In addition to offices, there are also special reception and accommodation houses. Among the foreign embassies, it is considered to be of a higher standard.

At the beginning, when the relationship between the two countries was harmonious, the Northern Zhou Dynasty invited the famous Jiangnan craftsman "Xiao Luban" to build it in imitation of the Humble Administrator's Garden, with rockeries, courtyards and corridors.

Fan Xiaodao thought to himself, he didn't expect the barbarians of the Northern Zhou Dynasty to know how to appreciate aesthetics.

Tuoba Yidao patiently explained to the two of them, which surprised Fan Xiaodao. Last time at Yutai Oil Shop, the two sides were at war with each other and broke up. Just now at the door, they were extremely insulting and set up a trap for the two of them.

It was a difficult problem, but now they look so kind and cheerful. I couldn't help but admire that the faces of these politicians really change at the drop of a hat.

When I came to the atrium, I heard shouts and shouts. When I got closer, I saw that it was a martial arts arena.

A military commander was leading dozens of people to practice sword practice. The two of them stopped to watch. Seeing Tuoba Yida approaching, everyone worked even harder. Fan Xiaodao felt strange and felt that these moves seemed to have been seen somewhere.

After a set of exercises, the military commander led everyone to salute Tuoba with a sword.

Tuoba Yidao glanced at Fan Xiaodao and introduced, "This is Fan Baotou, the number one warrior in the capital. General Xiaobai died under his hands not long ago."

Good guy, Tuoba Yidao is trying to bring hatred to Fan Xiaodao. Sure enough, when the general heard this, he was stunned and babbled to Fan Xiaodao. Fan Xiaodao couldn't understand the Northern Zhou dialect and looked at Tuoba

One knife.

Tuoba spoke to the man with a knife, and then said in Zhongyuan Dao, "Hilton, Fan Baotou is a special envoy of the imperial court. He has a distinguished status, so how can he be willing to be acquainted with you?" Then he smiled and said to Fan Xiaodao, "My subordinates, no.

You understand the rules and I’ll forgive you, Mr. Fan.”

The general named Hilton was full of disdain and said in poor Central Plains dialect, "Do you dare to challenge me to a duel?" After that, he drew his sword and cut off a strand of beard, and threw it in front of Fan Xiaodao. Everyone saw this

, all booed.

Tuoba Yidao spoke again in Northern Zhou dialect, pretending to scold him. After the two talked for a long time, he said to Fan Xiaodao, "In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the challenge of cutting off beards meant a matter of life and death. It was a warrior who used his life as a bet for his own glory.

Not even the emperor can stop you from fighting. General Hilton and Tuoba Bai are sworn friends. He challenges you, and I cannot dissuade you."

Fan Xiaodao sneered in his heart, Ganqing had set a trap here and was waiting for me to take advantage of him. He smiled and said: "I really want to challenge, but unfortunately I don't have a beard. Why don't we wait until I grow a beard and try again? Or, let me see Tuo

Master Ba’s beard is quite long, why don’t you cut it off and lend me some?”

Tuoba's face changed slightly.

In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, everyone would grow a long beard after adulthood. The length of the beard was a symbol of a person's identity and status. Fan Xiaodao said it was unintentional, but he asked the question to him. Naturally, he would not cut his beard on his behalf. For him,

, which is a shame.

Seeing that Fan Xiaodao did not dare to accept the challenge, Hilton spat on the ground, "I thought that all the warriors of the Ming Dynasty were brave and good at fighting, but I didn't expect that all of them were as timid as mice, and the frontier troops were also like turtles.

If you won’t fight behind closed doors, even if I return Phoenix Ridge to you, we will run away obediently as soon as our army arrives, haha!”

Everyone laughed, full of ridicule.

Fan Xiaodao was thick-skinned enough. The other party asked them to come with knives. He knew that the other party had bad intentions, but he remained unmoved in the face of provocation. He came here to negotiate and test his words. He used his words to no avail.

He simply ignored the other party's provocation.

But the other party refused to give in, and his words became more and more exaggerated, even mocking the court and the emperor.

"Everyone in the world is a coward and dare not accept the challenge, haha!"

Fan Xiaodao looked displeased, "Master Tuoba, we come here with sincerity. Is this how you treat guests in the Northern Zhou Dynasty?"

Tuoba spread his hands with a knife, "Although I am an envoy of the imperial court, these people are all generals of Tiance Pavilion. They are only responsible for the safety of our mission and do not listen to my orders. If they are offended, I can't do anything about it."

ah."

At this time, Zhao Xing took a step forward, holding the handle of the knife in his hand, locking his eyes tightly with Hilton, and said coldly: "Pull out the knife, you win."

When Hilton heard this, he immediately laughed and said, "What a wild guy, please tell me your name. I will not kill anyone without a name!"

Zhao Xing said calmly: "It's not necessary."

"Why?"

Zhao Xingdao: "A dying person is not worthy of asking questions."

The man laughed loudly and said, "You are not old, but your tone is not small."

Zhao Xing pinched his nose and took two steps back, "You have bad breath."

The people of the Northern Zhou Dynasty lived in a bitter cold land and ate mostly meat, so it was inevitable that their mouths would smell bad. Zhao Xing was born with a sensitive nose and could not stand the smell, but at this time, saying such a thing was tantamount to an insult. Hilton was so angry

Yelling loudly, he came to the martial arts field and said to Zhao Xing: "Come down, and I will teach you for your mother what politeness is!"

There was a hint of murderous intent in Zhao Xing's eyes.

For him, his mother is the person he respects the most, and no one can insult him. Hilton's words stimulated his nerves. He took a few steps forward, held the scabbard in his right hand, put his left hand behind his back, and raised his chest.

Standing there like a towering tower, a fierce aura came out of his body.

The sword is not out of its sheath, but its intention is tightly locked on the opponent.

Hilton sensed the crisis, but with everyone present and this being his home court, how could he show weakness? He moved left and right, waiting for opportunities. Zhao Xing remained motionless, with no flaws in his body, and there was no way to make a move.

Everyone cheered him up, "Ulila!"

"Kill him!"

The voices kept coming and going, but Hilton felt an unprecedented crisis. Although he was not a disciple of Tiance Pavilion, he was stationed at Tiance Pavilion all year round and often fought with the masters in the pavilion. His martial arts was also ranked among the best in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Because of this, the imperial court

He was sent to protect the safety of the mission. The man in front of him seemed young, but he carried an aura of a master, which made him fearful.

The stalemate lasted for a cup of tea.

Fan Xiaodao suddenly said, "Zhao Xing, I'm hungry."

Zhao Xing looked back at him. When Hilton saw this, the opportunity came. He rushed to him in a flash and was about to draw his sword. The light of the sword flashed. Zhao Xing's left hand on his back drew the sword in an extremely strange posture.

out.

Hilton was surprised that the hand that drew the sword could not use any strength.

Everyone's exclamations of surprise could be heard.

He felt as if he was in the clouds, floating in mid-air. No, where was his body? He looked down and saw that his body was still in place. At that moment, he understood that his life had come to an end.

The whole life flashed before his eyes like a marquee, but it was over before it even started.

The head fell to the ground, making a heavy sound.

Zhao Xing didn't even turn around. His sword had been sheathed. He smiled and said to Fan Xiaodao, "I understand." As if nothing happened, he slashed at Tuoba and said, "Master Tuoba, can we start dinner now?"

He glanced at the corpse on the ground again and said, "I said, if you pull out the knife, you win."

The entire martial arts arena fell silent instantly.

Everyone was silent.

This man clearly had his back to Hilton, but it was like he had eyes on his back. He chopped off Hilton's head like a melon or a vegetable. Especially the posture and angle of the knife drawn were unbelievable. There is such a thing in the world.

Sword skills?

Tuoba Yidao's expression changed slightly and he waved his hand. Someone stepped forward and took away the body on the ground and the head not far away. Fan Xiaodao shouted, "Wait!"

Those people stopped, and Fan Xiaodao walked up to them and took out two hundred copper coins from his arms, "I didn't kill Boren, but Boren died because of me. I am deeply ashamed. These two hundred coins should be regarded as

Let’s chat and express our feelings.”

Killing someone changes the situation instantly.

Those who were ready to laugh or make fun of each other stopped speaking. After seeing this kind of sword technique, they thought that no one could catch such a sword. Tuoba raised his hand and said, "Please!"

Everyone entered the hall, and a banquet had already been set up in the lobby.

After a battle, Tuoba Yida put away his contempt, seated the guest and host separately, raised their glasses and said, "Tonight, two young heroes, Fan and Zhao, are coming to our hotel and making our hotel shine. Come today, we will

Let's drink and have fun, and only talk about romance, not business matters."

Fan Xiaodao sneered in his heart, "We won't talk about business. Even if I go to see Miss Bai Wuchang for a drink and a heart-to-heart talk, who has the heart to have a drink and talk with you here? However, since you don't mention it, we naturally won't talk too much, but we won't talk too much."

Tell the truth.

Tuoba Yidao introduced the dishes on the table, which were all famous dishes of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, such as braised Dingbei Army in braise, boiled Guandong in water, and stewed Datong in iron pot. He looked like he wanted to eat the Ming Dynasty army and important passages alive.

Fan Xiaodao just listened and didn't say anything.

The meal was tasteless, Tuoba Yidao drank a lot and kept urging the two of them to drink. The wine they brought was Northern Zhou Dynasty liquor. Everyone came together to persuade them to drink, but the two kept their spirits up and continued to drink.

There is no problem if I use my internal strength to control my drinking.

Soon the banquet came to an end, and Tuoba Yidao could keep his composure and never talked about Phoenix Ridge.

Fan Xiaodao stood up and said goodbye, "Thank you for your hospitality, sir. It's getting late, we should go back."

Tuoba Yidao laughed, pulled him and said, "Captain Fan and Captor Zhao, you two might as well go to my study and have a chat. I'll give you a few words."

Fan Xiaodao put his hand on his head, "I'm a little drunk today, why don't we talk about it tomorrow?"

Tuoba Yida smiled and said, "I have specially prepared a sobering soup, please move on."
Chapter completed!