Chapter 549: Keeping the Fire
On this day, Wu Ren, Young Master Ji and Tao Xun had a rare gathering.
The three of them showed a rare look of relief on their faces.
They had been really busy for a while, and finally delivered the food and grass to the designated location.
In the last letter from Governor Lu, it was mentioned that Pingzhou would send troops to attack Donghai, and asked them to help solve some of the food and grass problems, and gave several alternative locations, and they needed to secretly transport the food and grass there.
After the three of them discussed it, they picked a place that everyone thought was good, and then divided the tasks, and each person was responsible for a part.
In order to complete this task, they all worked hard.
Tao Xun, needless to say, has a geographical advantage. After all, the Tao family has been in Qingzhou for many years, and there is still a foundation, which can radiate to the nearby Xuzhou.
As for their Ji family, they have a large family and a large business, and have branches in Qingzhou, Xuzhou and Donghai.
Although the Ji family branch was abolished and became a mere formality after Donghai became the separatist territory of the King of Jin, there are still three pounds of iron in a rotten boat. If you dig it up, you can still use your relationship.
After Ji Dashao and Tao Xun finished their part, they looked back and saw that Wu Ren had also finished it.
Ji Dashao and Tao Xun: ...
For them, it was the most unexpected.
Tao Xun asked Wu Ren secretly, "Did you use the relationship of the Hu family?"
Ji Dashao was more direct, "Did you sacrifice your looks?"
They said that the head of the Hu family was a woman named Ding Xiang, known as Ding Zhanggui. She lost her husband before she married into the Hu family, and she was left as a widow.
The Hu family had few members, but they had enviable wealth, and all relatives coveted them.
This woman was good at business and very bold. After she married into the family, she became the head of the family and supported the Hu family.
After the Pingzhou uprising, the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce was put on the list of prohibited transactions by the Dali court, and she came to seek cooperation.
Young Master Ji and Tao Xun looked at them coldly, and the relationship between the two was a little unusual.
Wu Ren rolled his eyes at them, "Don't talk nonsense."
It is true that he borrowed Ding Xiang's relationship, but she also took the opportunity to negotiate some conditions that were difficult to negotiate before. She is definitely not the kind of person who will be overwhelmed by emotions.
Tao Xun was quite curious about Wu Ren's thoughts, "Old Wu, what do you think?"
Young Master Ji touched his chin and continued, "If I remember correctly, she is two years older than you? In addition, this shopkeeper Ding is not very outstanding."
Ding Xiang is not beautiful.
Hearing this, Wu Ren said lightly, "In this world, a smart brain is more useful than a pretty face."
In this chaotic world, you must first ensure that you survive before you can plan for the future.
If it were not a chaotic era, but a prosperous era or a peaceful era, he could be more willful and marry a beautiful wife, at least the offspring born would be beautiful.
Hearing this, Young Master Ji gave him a thumbs up, "You are so insightful, Governor Lu is still good at training his disciples."
Wu Ren smiled faintly, his master said that reading makes people wise. When they first met, he could clearly feel the gap between him and Young Master Ji, and later as he improved, this feeling became less and less. It's worth it that his master kept sending him books.
Chang'an
Another urgent memorial from Sun Ming, which was sent six hundred miles away.
Taiwei Xiao Qun handed it to the emperor silently.
Song Mo took it and saw that this time the memorial no longer urged the court to send troops for support, but wrote in the memorial that if the court could not support Yanmen and Daijun, he would request to lead troops to withdraw from Yanmen and Daijun, retreat to Xinxingcheng and Zhongshancheng, and defend separately.
This was Sun Ming's helpless solution, as the court's reinforcements had not arrived yet.
Of the 100,000 soldiers of the Sun Family Army, only 50,000 are still capable of fighting, and there are more than 10,000 wounded soldiers.
Of course, the Xianbei also suffered heavy losses.
But Sun Ming now only wants to keep some sparks for the Sun Family Army, and not to kill them all.
Song Mo looked at the memorial expressionlessly. His plan with Xie Zhan to eliminate the two kings was at a critical moment, and no changes would be allowed at this time.
Song Mo ordered coldly, "Tell Sun Ming to hold on and not retreat!"
He told himself in his heart that there must be some trade-offs. Besides, Sun Ming and Pingzhou still have a head and tail, even if the Sun Family Army is gone in the end, it is not a pity.
…
Yang Yingqin, the general of the Zhenxi Army, received the emperor's order and was galloping on the official road with 100,000 soldiers and horses, preparing to go north to Yanmen to support Sun Family Gate. Unexpectedly, when passing through Tianmen, he received a secret order, which ordered him to lead his troops to turn south to encircle and suppress the rebellion.
The confidant was puzzled, "General, aren't we going to support the Sun family army?
Besides, hasn't the court already joined forces with the two kings to encircle and suppress the traitor Xie Zhan? Why do they have to go south to join in the fun? Obviously, the military situation in Yanmen in the north is extremely urgent.
Just obey the military order, these are not your business.
Yang Yingqin looked at what was written on the secret decree, asking him to go to the south to obey the orders of the person holding the other half of the Tiger Mansion. He knew something was wrong.
South
Fang Xinkai is a general under King Cheng, and is also the main general who led 50,000 troops to encircle and suppress Xie Zhan in the southwest this time.
And the general leading the troops on the side of King Jin is Zhao Biao.
Fang Xinkai looked at the south gate of Lingnan and said to Dong Guowei and Zhao Biao with a smile, "This gate will be broken in less than three days."
Dong Guowei and Zhao Biao didn't say anything. Isn't this something that anyone with a discerning eye can see?
Fang Xinkai recommended himself, "General Dong, how about our army being the vanguard starting tomorrow? ”
Once this was said, everyone knew what he was up to. He wanted to take the first place.
Dong Guowei didn't say anything, but his confidant and favorite general next to him said, "Why?" Their imperial army had been fighting with the Southland for so long, and when they saw that they were about to win the battle, he wanted to pick peaches. Why? ?
When Fang Xinkai saw that Dong Guowei didn't say anything, he obviously didn't agree with his proposal. Zhao Biao beside him was even more careful.
Fang Xinkai returned to his military tent with a calm expression.
At this time, his confidant hurried in, "General, general, I have good news!"
Fang Xinkai was in a bad mood. Seeing his confidant's face look happy, he lazily asked casually, "What's the good news?"
"I just learned that there is a path that can bypass the city gate and go straight to Huanglong."
"What? Tell me what's going on?"
"This is what a soldier from the Southern Conquest Army who I had a good time with told me..."
After Fang Xinkai asked clearly, he asked a subordinate to lead someone to verify the authenticity quietly.
They, King Cheng and Governor Xie, had formed an alliance before, and the armies of both sides had also cooperated. Then, there are always one or two who hit it off immediately and have a good time. Now that the Southland is in danger, it is possible that the other party wants to use this secret path to surrender.
Later, when he learned that the news was true, Fang Xinkai was very happy. He slapped his confidant on the shoulder with a big palm like a leaf fan, "Good guy! Well done!"
Fang Xinkai asked his subordinates to call over.
During this period, he kept pacing back and forth in the military tent, wondering if he wanted to give it a try?
There are two generals under King Cheng, one is him and the other is Wei Kuang. But Fang Xinkai could feel that King Cheng relied more on Wei Kuang.
Fang Xinkai felt that if he made great contributions in the battle to encircle and suppress Xie Zhan, he would definitely surpass Wei Kuang and gain the attention of King Cheng.
After his subordinates arrived, he asked his subordinates for their opinions on the matter.
Some people agreed, "General, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we can capture Xie Zhan alive, wouldn't it be a great achievement?"
Fang Xinkai stroked his beard, he thought so too.
Some people disagreed, "General, we'd better fight steadily, not seeking merit, but seeking no faults."
Fang Xinkai didn't think so. The prince had already agreed to recruit him. In the future, there would be far fewer opportunities to make meritorious deeds. Only when he defeated Pingzhou or Xianbei would he have the chance to make great meritorious deeds.
And whether it is a war with Xianbei or Pingzhou, the battle is expected to be very difficult, and there will be few opportunities to make great achievements.
This time it was a rare opportunity to beat Xie Zhan, the lost dog.
"Be careful of fraud," the subordinate reminded.
Fang Xinkai's confidants knew that their general was very moved, and immediately retorted to those who disagreed, "If you worry too much about joining the army, it is a scam. Don't forget that we are an army of fifty thousand. We will march straight in, even if we face the Central Government in the south." Army, there is no need to be dissatisfied. What does Xie Zhan want to do against us? "