In the Duhu Mansion, Dong Yuan was pacing back and forth in the hall.

Yesterday, a huge disaster almost occurred in the city. Fortunately, Qian Lu came with a team of men and followed Wang Xingchao's instructions and killed several soldiers from the Protectorate in public, thus suppressing the storm.

Dong Yuan knew that among those people there must be spies from Long Ruijun.

Afterwards, Qian Lu sent soldiers to keep an eye on several leaders, hoping to follow the clues to find the base of the spies in the city.

But the stronghold was not found, and the soldiers sent never returned.

Dong Yuan knew that those people must be in trouble.

He really doesn't care how many spies there are in the city now.

Someone comes to report the battle situation in Liaoyang City every once in a while.

When he learned in the morning that several gaps had been opened in the city wall by the enemy, Dong Yuan knew that something was wrong.

Although the General's Palace is nominally controlled by the Anton Protectorate, in reality every Protectorate is just a puppet of General Anton.

Dong Yuan was appointed by the imperial court many years ago and came to the Northeast as the Protector. From the beginning, he knew his situation. To put it harshly, he was just a sealing tool.

All kinds of government orders from the east to the north are sent by the General's Office, and then stamped with the Protector's seal and issued in the name of the Protector's Office.

Dong Yuan originally thought that he would wait for a few years and then be transferred out of here at about the same time.

But the court seemed to have forgotten his existence, and Dong Yuan didn't know how many more years he would have to wait.

Since he had no real power in his hands, he was too lazy to take care of the affairs of the Governor's Mansion and left it to Deputy Governor Song Qingyuan to take care of.

Long Rui's army came to the city, Song Qingyuan went to the Bohai Sea and never came back, and many affairs fell on Dong Yuan.

It would be fine if Liaoyang City could be defended, but judging from the current situation, the Liaodong Army is gone and Long Rui's Army will soon enter the city.

Dong Yuan did not belong to the direct lineage of the Liaodong Army. Although he was the guardian of the Liaodong Army and everyone looked good on him, those arrogant and powerful generals never really took Dong Yuan seriously.

Although Wang Xingchao also signaled that he would give Dong Yuan some land as a gift, but compared to those generals and commanders who often owned dozens or hundreds of hectares, what Dong Yuan owned was not worth mentioning.

He was extremely anxious now.

As a puppet over the years, he has no real power and has not received any real benefits. Instead, many dirty things have been blamed on the Protectorate.

Now Long Rui's army will break the city at any time. Once they enter the city, in addition to the General's Mansion, the Protector's Mansion will definitely be the key target of Long Rui's army.

Of course he knows that in the chaos of war, lives are like straw.

If Long Rui's army breaks into the city, or even reaches the Protectorate, they will definitely not show mercy.

There are about a hundred soldiers in the Protector's Mansion. Among these soldiers, dozens of them came with Dong Yuan to take up the post. They are the greatest strength in the hands of the Protector-General.

But if Long Rui's army comes to kill them, such a small number of people won't even be enough to fill the gap between their teeth.

"Sir, if nothing else happens, I'm afraid Long Rui's army will attack the city before dark." Liang Mo, the captain of the Qin Military Academy in the Protectorate, was a personal entourage who accompanied Dong Yuan to his post. According to Dong Yuan's plan,

, originally wanted to hand over the post of Governor Shi to Liang Mo, but after taking office, he found out that the Liaodong Army had already arranged other official positions, and it was simply impossible for him to support his cronies.

Liang Mo is actually very down-to-earth and has been following Dong Yuan for many years.

His subordinates are also extremely low-key.

However, the enemy army was about to break the city, and Liang Mo was as anxious as Dong Yuan.

"I know." Dong Yuan frowned and said, "After they enter the city, they will definitely come to the Protectorate. Long Ruijun will definitely think that we are Wang Xingchao's gang members, and we are also in danger of disaster."

Liang Mo said: "Your Excellency is appointed by the imperial court and is not from the Liaodong Army. We cannot be implicated by the Liaodong Army. The Liaodong Army has done all kinds of bad things over the years. Your Excellency has not harmed the people, but has only brought infamy for them. We must not be killed unjustly."

"The army is in chaos, and Long Rui's army is coming to kill them. How can they distinguish right from wrong?" Dong Yuandao said.

Liang Mo said: "Sir, why don't you disguise yourself, let's leave the Protector's Mansion quickly, and take advantage of the chaos to get out of the city?"

"That is even more unfeasible." Dong Yuan shook his head and said: "After Long Rui's army breaks the city, they will definitely eradicate the roots, seal the city, and kill all the remaining Liaodong troops. By then, the city will be full of rebels. If we encounter Long Rui's army,

I'm afraid he will lose his life immediately. Moreover, after Qin Xiao enters the city, he will definitely look for my traces. If he knows that I have left, he will assume that I am Wang Xingchao's accomplice and will not spare me." He smiled bitterly: "And????

???????????? Besides, there are family members in the house, a whole family of people, old and young, how can it be said that they can just leave?"

Liang Mo frowned and said: "You can't leave, and it's even more dangerous to stay. Sir, what should we do?"

"Of course we want Long Ruijun to know that we are members of the imperial court, not comrades of the Liaodong Army." Dong Yuan stroked his beard and said thoughtfully: "As far as I know, Qin Xiao is not a murderous person.

He had previously conquered Western Liaoning and captured the camp without going on a killing spree. Not only that, even if he was from the Liaodong Army, as long as he surrendered, he would be able to accommodate us generously. We are appointed by the imperial court, and we are not the same people as Wang Xingchao. As long as there are

If we have the opportunity to meet Qin Xiao and explain the details to him, he will not kill us."

Liang Mo said: "What your lord said is absolutely true. It's just that my subordinates are worried that Long Rui's army has already reached the Duhu Mansion before your lord has seen Qin Xiao. Many of Long Rui's army were originally bandits, and they entered the Duhu Mansion and burned and killed them."

We don’t have many soldiers in the Protectorate’s Mansion to plunder, so we’re just afraid when the time comes!”

"Are you worried that those Long Rui soldiers will attack the Duhu Mansion and plunder it?" Dong Yuan sneered: "If that is the case, Long Rui's army will not be able to become popular so quickly. Qin Xiao is still very strict with his soldiers and horses, and military discipline

Sen Yan. He is not stupid. If Long Rui's army breaks through the city and burns, kills and loots in the city, then the reputation that Qin Xiao has managed to save will be gone in an instant. I believe that before attacking the city, Qin Xiao has already understood

The officers and men under my command have given instructions that they will not be allowed to act recklessly after breaking the city."

"If this is true, you don't have to worry about Long Ruibing killing innocent people indiscriminately in the Protectorate."

"You still don't understand." Dong Yuan walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, saying as he walked: "The Protectorate is different from ordinary people. The soldiers of Long Rui Army may not go on a killing spree in the city, let alone burn, kill and loot.

But that is for ordinary people. Many people want to use this battle to make meritorious service and be rewarded. In their view, if the Protectorate is an ally of the Liaodong Army, my head will be the greatest contribution. Everyone wants to take my head.

I’ll take my head to ask for credit and reward.”

Liang Mo said worriedly: "Then what should we do?"

Dong Yuan thought for a moment and then said: "Qian Lu is still in the house?"

"He is in the front yard." Liang Mo said: "He was worried that mobs would come to harass the Duhu Mansion again, so he led people to guard the area."

Dong Yuanleng

He smiled and said: "He stayed here on purpose because he was afraid of fighting with Long Rui's army at the top of the city. The capable people under Wang Xingchao either died in the battle or defected to Qin Xiao, and the rest are just a bunch of drunkards and rice sacks."

He waved to Liang Mo, signaled Liang Mo to come closer, and whispered: "You arrange for twenty swordsmen to ambush around, and then send people to find Qian Lu, and say that even if I want to discuss it with him, he will not doubt it.

"

Liang Mo vaguely understood something and whispered: "Sir, do you want to use Qian Lu's head to prove that we are not party members of the Liaodong Army?"

"As of now, that's all." Dong Yuan sighed: "Qian Lu is a direct descendant of Wang Xingchao's subordinates. If we kill this person, we can prove our position to Qin Xiao."

Liang Mo didn't talk nonsense and was about to make arrangements when he heard footsteps approaching in a hurry.

"Report, sir, something serious has happened!"

A soldier crawled to the ground outside the hall. He didn't even have time to report. He rushed directly into the hall, knelt down and said: "Come in, Long Rui and Long Rui's army are coming in!"

Before Dong Yuan could speak, he saw another person hurriedly walking in outside the hall, and it was Qian Lu.

"General Qian??????????????????" Dong Yuan saw Qian Lu coming in, his eyes twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged and he just said: "There is military information."

Qian Lu was just a guerrilla general. Dong Yuan called him General Qian, which was polite.

Qian Lu was obviously very concerned about the battle ahead and had already asked: "What is the situation at the South Gate now?"

"It was a mess." The spying soldier gasped: "There were many of them, and they came like a tide through the gap under the city wall. Our people came down from the top of the city to resist, but there were too many enemy troops.

, we were outnumbered and suffered heavy casualties."

"Where is the general?" Qian Lu asked anxiously.

The soldier shook his head and said: "I don't know, there are killing sounds everywhere. Our army has been overwhelmed by the enemy. They really broke the city."

Dong Yuan and Liang Mo looked at each other, both expressionless.

"General Qian, what do you think we should do now?" Dong Yuan looked at Qian Lu and said, "Should we send all the troops from the Protector's Palace up?"

Although he was the protector of the four northeastern counties, he was polite to Qian Lu.

Qian Lu said: "Master Protector, we only have less than 200 people on hand. Sending this few people here seems to have no effect, right?"

"Then what should we do?" Dong Yuan clenched his fist and said: "Now that things have happened, we can only live or die with Liaoyang and fight to the last soldier. What does General Qian think?"

"This!" Qian Lu lowered his head and hesitated.

Suddenly, Dong Yuan said in a deep voice: "Don't do it yet!"

Qian Lu heard the voice and before he could recover, he felt a sudden strong wind behind him. He knew something was wrong. His hand on the handle of the sword at his waist tightened suddenly. He turned around and was about to draw the sword, but

Liang Mo, who quietly came around behind him, also struck fiercely. Just as Qian Lu turned around, the big knife in Liang Mo's hand had already slashed down, hitting Qian Lu's neck.

Blood spurted out, and Liang Mo was afraid that the knife could not kill him, so he slashed several times in succession. Only when Qian Lu fell in a pool of blood, Liang Mo stopped.

The soldier was so frightened that he collapsed on the ground. Dong Yuan was calm at this time and ordered: "Cut off his head, summon all the sergeants of the Protectorate, go to the front yard and tell Qian Lu's men that if they want to survive, they must listen to
Chapter completed!