Jiuxi

Chapter 12 012 [Clouds moving in all directions]

In the northern part of Huaizhou, from west to east, there are Baoying Prefecture, Lai'an Prefecture and Donghai Prefecture. The three prefectures are roughly in the shape of "pin".

To the northwest of Baoying Mansion is Panlong Pass. This majestic pass controls the only way to the northern Yanjing area.

Lai'an Mansion, located in the middle, protrudes to the north and faces Beiyan directly. Therefore, the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion is located here to facilitate the command of the northern defense line.

The Metropolitan Governor's Mansion is not as magnificent as some people imagined. Instead, the layout is quite compact, especially the duty rooms of various officials in the front yard are crowded together, which often leads to noisy and bustling scenes.

In a simple courtyard in the back house, a middle-aged man in regular clothes sat at a stone table, his eyes slightly closed as he listened to the young man standing next to him reporting military information.

He is tall and tall, and even when he is sitting, he looks like a dragon crouching and a tiger standing tall. Especially the eyebrows above his tiger eyes are like steel knives, which is intimidating.

He was the Commander-in-Chief of Huaizhou, Xiao Wangzhi. He was 47 years old at the time. He commanded [-] troops and was stationed in the north of the Yangtze River. He was as famous as the Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou, Li Tianrun, who was stationed in the south of the Yangtze River. He was a famous general who gave Beiyan and even the Jing Dynasty a headache.

The young man's name was Xiao Hong, and he was Xiao Wangzhi's second son.

He is 24 years old this year. He has a tall and tall figure and stands out from the crowd. At a glance, he can tell that he is an elite member of the army. However, standing next to Xiao Wangzhi, all his glory is covered up.

"...Commander Father, I agree with General Pei's analysis, so our army can take advantage of the puppet Yan's desire to attack Panlong Pass and induce the opponent to concentrate its forces in the northwest. At that time, our elite troops can go north to Yongquan Pass. Make up for the regrets from four years ago." Xiao Hong said calmly.

Xiao Wangzhi was noncommittal and lightly tapped the table with his right hand.

A burst of footsteps came from far and near, and then Huang Xianfeng, Sima of the Governor's Office, walked into the courtyard, came forward and saluted, "I have met the Governor."

Xiao Wangzhi opened his eyes and asked lightly: "What's the matter?"

Huang Xianfeng looked a little strange and said respectfully: "There is a young man outside the mansion asking to see the Governor. He said that he is the guardian of the Lu Family Company in Guangling Prefecture, and he has come to present urgent military information related to the safety of the border troops."

Xiao Wangzhi gave him a meaningful look.

Xiao Hong frowned slightly and said: "Huang Sima, my father is so busy with military affairs, how could such a whimsical person -"

Xiao Wangzhi raised his hand to cut off his words, and then said to Huang Xianfeng: "Continue."

Huang Xianfeng bowed and said, "Yes. The official wanted to send him away, but this person mentioned Panlong Pass. The official asked him what the specific matter was, but he insisted on seeing the governor before he could tell."

Xiao Wangzhi muttered: "Bring him here."

Huang Xianfeng responded: "Yes."

After about half a stick of incense was burned, Huang Xianfeng led someone into the courtyard. It was Li Chengen who had arrived at Lai'an Mansion according to Lu Chen's instructions.

When he came in, he first noticed the man sitting at the stone table. It was the first time he saw such a big shot. He was so nervous that he swallowed involuntarily and even forgot that he should come forward to greet him.

Xiao Wangzhi raised his head slightly and asked bluntly: "Do you have any urgent information related to the safety of the border troops to submit?"

Li Chengen was startled by his loud voice, and finally came to his senses. He quickly saluted and said, "Li Chengen, a common man, is the nursing home of the Lu family in Guangling Prefecture. See you as the Grand Governor!"

Xiao Wangzhi waved his hand and said, "Let's get down to business."

Li Chengen did not dare to hesitate and replied: "The grassroots were entrusted by Lu Chen, the young master of the Lu family, to report to the Grand Governor that Ning Li, the captain of the Panlong Army, was suspected of colluding with the fake Yan Xizuo."

The young man standing next to him frowned.

Xiao Wangzhi asked calmly: "Is there any evidence?"

Li Chengen then gave a brief account of what happened to the Lu family caravan from the time it entered Panlong Pass to the time it arrived at the outskirts of Guangling City, mixed with Lu Chen's analysis of the matter before departure.

After saying this, his mouth felt dry.

Xiao Wangzhi turned to look at Huang Xianfeng and asked, "Did the Warp Weaving Department send a secret report some time ago?"

Huang Xianfeng replied: "Back to the Governor, it is indeed true. Su Yunqing, the inspector of Huaizhou, captured the puppet Yan Xizuo in Taixing Mansion in mid-February, and found out that Zhang Xi, the captain of the Taixing Army, had collaborated with the enemy and treason. He was dying It was previously revealed that there is a traitor with a high status in Huaizhou, and the Sutra Weaving Department is investigating."

He glanced at Li Chengen and then said: "Su Inspector also said that Zhang Xi confessed that the Guangling Lu family was responsible for helping the fake Yan Xi make a message."

A strange look flashed in Xiao Wangzhi's eyes, and he said to the anxious Li Chengen: "That young master of your family thinks that Zhang Xi's confession is to frame the Lu family in order to protect the other traitor Ning Li? He also Is there any other explanation?"

Li Chengen had never experienced such a strong sense of oppression. He couldn't help but bite the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to calm down. He lowered his head and replied: "Back to the Governor, my young master mentioned that Zhang Xi used death techniques to try to separate you and The attention of the Weaving Department has been drawn to the Lu family in Guangling. The Puppet Yan’s move is aimed at the border pass, Panlong Pass may be in danger, and there may also be Puppet Yan’s eyes and ears in the Weaving Department.”

Xiao Wangzhi was silent for a moment and said calmly: "You can go back."

Li Chengen was stunned. He didn't know whether he had completed the task assigned by Lu Chen, but he didn't dare to ask.

Xiao Wangzhi's eyes flashed with light, and he said leisurely: "Go back and tell the young master of your family that I understand his kindness."

Li Chengen felt awe-inspiring and did not dare to say anything.After he retreated, Xiao Wangzhi stared at the ancient tree in the corner and said slowly: "When did Pei Sui start to doubt that Ning Li?"

Huang Xianfeng replied softly: "47 days ago, that is, nine days before Zhang Xi's identity was revealed."

Xiao Wangzhi said with a smile but not a smile: "If Pei Sui knew that a young boy could guess the conspiracy of those in the north, which is not much worse than him, a veteran who has been on the battlefield, do you think he would be able to guess it?" Wake up in the middle of the night and slap yourself a few times?"

Huang Xianfeng smiled and said: "It's very possible."

Xiao Wangzhi said: "This little guy is very thoughtful. It's okay to not trust Su Yunqing, but he actually thought of selling me a good deal."

Huang Xianfeng nodded and said: "Grand Governor, let me be bold. In terms of attitude towards the Sutra Weaving Department, the young master of the Lu family coincides with you. There is no problem with Su Jianxiao's loyalty, but he treats his subordinates too much." Now that I’m more trusting, do you want to remind him?”

Xiao Wangzhi muttered: "There is no need to interfere in the internal affairs of the Warp Weaving Department. I don't have the energy to compete with Qin Zheng. As for the arrangements for Panlong Pass, we will keep them secret from the Warp Weaving Department for the time being to avoid leaking the news."

Huang Xianfeng responded.

Xiao Wangzhi suppressed the faint smile on his face and said calmly: "Go to Panlong Pass in person to cheer up Pei Sui. Since the north side wants to fake surrender, he must do his best to be a landlord." Friendship. If he can't even invite you to the urn, I will let him go to Donghai Mansion to groom horses for another half a year."

Huang Xianfeng said sternly: "I will accept my order."

After he resigned, Xiao Wangzhi looked at Xiao Hong, who was in deep thought, and continued the original topic: "The plan you have planned is too crude. Think about it again, how can you hide it from the enemy and let the puppet Yan army follow our pace? Act.”

Xiao Hong threw the word "Lu Chen" out of his mind and continued to face this rigorous examination.

……

To the northwest of Panlong Pass, at the border between Qi and Yan, there is an uninhabited land of more than thirty miles long and more than seventy miles wide, which can be regarded as a buffer zone between the two countries.

This was once the main battlefield of the war between the two countries. After seven or eight years, it is difficult to find traces of the iron and blood of those years. Only the lush green mountains and the spring breeze passing through the forest can be seen.

In a quiet mountain valley, two groups of people came from the north and south, approaching each other cautiously.

There were more than thirty cavalry in the south, led by Ning Li, the captain of the Panlong Army, who was ordered by the capital commander Pei Sui to go north to contact them.

"But Captain Ning is in person?" one of the twenty riders from the north said.

Ning Li cupped his hands and said, "Exactly."

The man also saluted on his horse and said, "I'm Li Gu, I'm here to meet you on the order of the master of the family."

The two left the subordinates they brought with them and rode their horses slowly eastward. The remaining dozens of riders looked at each other with curiosity and wariness.

They already knew the mission of this trip, which was mainly to make preliminary preparations for Nantou, the head of the family mentioned by Li Gu, but no one could imagine what the two leaders were talking about at the moment.

Li Guzhuangruo glanced at the crowd behind him unintentionally, and said in a low voice: "Master Wang thought about it again and again, and finally decided to let more than a hundred people follow the head of the family to Nantou."

Ning Li frowned and said: "There are no more than thirty people around me who I can trust. It would be too difficult to win the level with just these few people."

Li Gu sighed: "No more. This matter is of great importance. Lord Wang has to coordinate the military and the Jingchao cavalry, and also be on guard against the eyes and ears of the Warp Weaving Department in the south. You also know the tricks of Qin Zheng in the south. The Warp Weaving Department is here His rule is growing stronger day by day, and I don’t know how many nails have been scattered to the north. To ensure that everything is safe, Mr. Wang selected these people after half a year of screening."

Ning Li was silent for a long time and said slowly: "There must be a top master. If you can't kill Pei Sui, it won't matter."

Li Gu nodded in agreement.

While the two were secretly discussing the details and dozens of riders were waiting quietly in place, on a mountain several hundred feet to the east, there were more than ten people in the forest like crouching tigers, patiently and calmly staring at the movements in the valley.

This group of people exudes a fierce and wild aura. They are all tall and muscular, with bright and refined eyes that inadvertently reveal their advanced martial arts skills.

What is strange is that the core of such a group of strong and powerful men is a slightly thin figure.

It can be judged from the body shape that this is a woman. A mask with green face and fangs covers her face, revealing a pair of cold eyes.

A middle-aged man next to him whispered: "Miss, it seems that the gang leader is right. Li Xuanan probably defected to the Southern Dynasty without good intentions. Now it seems that nothing unusual is found in the Southern Dynasty. Should we issue a warning to them?"

The woman's tone was indifferent and there was no trace of waves: "The monarchs and ministers of the Southern Dynasty are in a corner and are obsessed with power struggle. They cannot see that the people of the North are living in dire straits. Why remind them? If you really do this, they will be suspicious of them, and they will be suspicious in the future. An unexpected incident will only delay dad's grand plan."

The middle-aged man hesitated and said: "Young lady, what do you mean, I just sit back and do nothing?"

The woman stared and said: "Li Xuan'an killed a good man and took credit for his crime, and his hands are stained with the blood of countless innocent people. If he hadn't been hiding in the military city in the past few years, I don't know how many people would have wanted to take his head. Now, regardless of whether he sincerely defected to the Southern Dynasty, He still has other motives. As long as he approaches this wilderness, there is only one choice for us——"

She paused and said coldly: "Kill him quickly."

(End of this chapter)