After the great victory in the northwest, Qining naturally sent people to deliver the good news to the court as soon as possible. However, it would take a lot of time to reach Jianye from the northwest. When the imperial court came with the order, it would take a month at the earliest. , so before the imperial decree arrives, Qining can only maintain the situation in the northwest as much as possible.
After being in his position, Qining realized that there was a truth in what he said.
Those in high positions do not necessarily need to know how to do things, but they must know how to employ people and be able to put the right people in the right positions to do the right things. This is the most brilliant ability of those in high positions.
Qining suddenly felt that he seemed to have done a good job at this point. At least after entering Xianyang City for more than ten days, the entire Xianyang City had restored its former atmosphere. People were coming and going on the streets, and there was no atmosphere of panic. People seemed In a short period of time, they have accepted and adapted to the arrival of the Chu army. Although the Chinese character flag at the top of the city has changed to a Chu character flag, the officials at all levels in charge still seem to be familiar faces. To most people in Xianyang City, Nothing seems to have changed much.
Qining was really busy in the first few days. He couldn't even remember how many things he had to deal with and the people he met every day. After getting through the first few days, he finally slowed down a bit.
The common people did not feel that there was any big change in the change of the king's flag, but the officials on duty knew the difference. Since the new empire controlled this land, it would naturally have some new atmosphere, and it would actually change many of the past. It may not be easy to get into old habits, but you should be as diligent as possible and do the things you have to do conscientiously and well. At least you can give the young master a good impression.
Officials are not fools. Everyone knows that Qining did not make too many changes to the officials in the northwest. Of course, it was not because he really trusted the officials in the northwest. It was just because he hoped that after occupying the northwest, he could smoothly spend the early emergency moments. .
As long as it stabilizes, the court will of course still have to clean up the northwest.
However, everyone also knows very well that in the past, any force that occupied the northwest would eventually need to use the local forces in the northwest to assist in management. As was the case with the Northern Han Dynasty, the Chu State will still follow this path, although some people are destined to be defeated in the near future. Although they may be transferred, most officials can still make a living under the control of the Dachu Empire. Therefore, if they behave more actively and show their talents better now, they will be more likely to stay in office or even be promoted in the future. .
For your future and livelihood, this is the time in your life when you should do your best.
Therefore, with all the officials actively and diligently handling official duties, Qining had less and less time to worry about, and even had enough time to look around Xianyang City and appreciate the elegance of the largest city in the northwest.
Military reports are delivered from Tongguan every day.
The soldiers and horses sent back by Qu Yuangu did not launch a decent attack on Tongguan. Several times they sent people to sneak close to the pass in the middle of the night, and were immediately shot and killed by the guards who were waiting. After that, the Northwest Army ceased its activities and concentrated on attacking Tongguan. A pass was built about ten miles east. It is said that the Northwest Army captured a large number of civilians and even quarried huge rocks nearby. Looking at it, it seemed that they really wanted to build a strong pass to compete with Tongguan.
Now that Qi Ning understood Qu Yuangu's true intention, he also understood that Tongguan was currently under little pressure, but he still ordered the Tongguan defenders not to be negligent in the slightest. The Chu army captured the pass because of the Tongguan defenders' temporary negligence. , this scene certainly cannot be repeated in Tongguan.
Hongmendao finally came to see Qining one night.
Qin Ning had no idea what Hongmendao had done in the past ten days or so, and it was hard to ask. After all, it was a matter of the Shenhou Mansion, and Hongmendao would not tell him honestly if he asked.
However, Qining could also guess that he should make some arrangements for the spies from the Shenhou Mansion lurking in the northwest.
Hong Mendao came in dressed in casual clothes and paid homage to Qi Ning, then said: "Sir, things here have been arranged. I plan to return to Beijing early tomorrow morning to return to the Lord Shen, so I came here to say goodbye to the Lord."
Qi Ning nodded and said: "It's a long way here, Fifth Senior Brother, please take care of yourself on the way." He then said, "Fifth Senior Brother, please wait a moment." He turned to the back hall and came out after a while, carrying a package in his hand, and handed it to Hongmen. , Hongmendao was a little suspicious, Qining smiled and said: "There are some banknotes here, and some fine treasures. I know that the fifth senior brother does not care about money, but this is my personal feeling, just accept it. "
Hongmendao hesitated for a moment, then Qining said: "It's all my own, you don't have to worry."
Hong Mendao was amused, thinking to himself that this time you lead the army on an expedition, could it be possible that you still carry treasures with you? Now you can come in and out of the treasure house of Zhenxi General's Mansion. There are countless treasures in there, and no one knows how much you take. The treasures in this package are most likely taken out from the treasure house of General's Mansion, but since Qining Of course, Hong Mendao didn't have much to say after thinking about it, so he took it and said with a smile: "Thank you Sir for the reward. I really don't have a few taels of silver at hand. I don't have much money to treat them to a drink after I return to Beijing. It's just right. I borrowed flowers to offer to Buddha.”
Qi Ning laughed, thought for a moment, then took out two letters from his arms and said: "Fifth Senior Brother, looking at the current situation, I won't be able to return to Beijing for a while. There are two letters here, one is for my house The other one is for Zhan Ying. I am a little worried about sending these two letters back, so I asked Fifth Senior Brother to take them back for me."
Hong Mendao put down the package, took it with both hands, and said sternly: "Don't worry, sir. After returning to Beijing, I will personally hand these two letters into their hands."
"That's it for Senior Brother Lao." Qining said, "You are from the Shenhou Mansion, and you have been hiding your identity here. If you leave tomorrow, it will be inconvenient for me to see you off."
"Your Majesty, you're welcome." Hong Mendao said with a smile. He carefully put the two letters into his arms. He thought of something and then said, "Yes, there is one last thing before I leave."
"Is there anything you're worried about?" Qining asked, "If I can help, Fifth Senior Brother says it's okay."
Hong Mendao lowered his voice and said: "I have arranged everything here, but I just want Sir to meet someone."
"A person?" Qi Ning was stunned and said, "Who do you want to see? Fifth senior brother can ask him to come to the general's residence."
Hong Mendao shook his head and said: "This person has a very special status. Not only can he not come to the General's Mansion, but when the Lord sees him, no one else can be around him. This person has a very important thing to tell the Lord."
Qi Ning looked suspicious, and Hong Mendao immediately said: "Sir, don't worry, I know this person's details clearly, and there is absolutely no threat to you."
"Fifth Senior Brother has misunderstood." Qi Ning said with a smile: "I'm not worried about any threat to me, but this person is mysterious and mysterious. Why does he want to see me?"
Hong Mendao hesitated for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty, I don't know something. I have been lurking in the Northern Han Dynasty for many years and have been collecting intelligence for Da Chu. However, there is still an extremely important piece of information that I have never gotten a clue about."
"What information are you talking about?"
Hong Mendao lowered his voice and said: "Your Majesty must have heard of Changling Marquis Beitang Qing!"
"Beitang Qing?" Qi Ning's face changed slightly. He was naturally very familiar with this name. Perhaps the entire Qinhuai Army also still remembered this name.
Changling Marquis Beitangqing can be said to be the biggest enemy of the Chu State. This man commanded the Han army and the Qinhuai army commanded by Jin Yihou Qi Jing and fought for many years. It is true that when you meet your opponent, you will meet a good talent. The two peerless generals have been competing on the battlefield for many years, but they It's always hard to tell the winner.
Qi Jing died young in his prime, but the famous general Beitang Qing also disappeared a few years ago.
However, the Chu State's fear of Beitang Qing has not weakened because of Beitang Qing's mysterious disappearance. When the Chu State planned the Northern Expedition, it considered that the biggest hidden danger was Beitang Qing. In the eyes of the Chu people, if the Chu army The main force went north, but encountered Beitang Qing's comeback. The consequences were really unimaginable. This also shows Beitang Qing's power in the hearts of the Chu people.
Hong Mendao suddenly mentioned Beitang Qing. Qining was surprised, but he was not too surprised.
Qi Ning also knew a little bit about Beitang Qing's disappearance. Back then, Beitang Qing was in charge of the Southern Army of the Northern Han Dynasty on the front line and won the hearts of the military. Because of this, he was feared by Beitang Huan, the former emperor of the Northern Han Dynasty. It is said that Beitang Huan issued an edict to recruit Beitang Qing to return to the capital. However, many of Beitang Qing's subordinates had anticipated that Beitang Qing might encounter something unexpected if he returned to the capital, so they persuaded Beitang Qing to disobey the order. Some even secretly Li is preparing to support Beitang Qing in seizing the throne.
But Beitang Qing finally returned to the capital. When he stepped into the gate of Luoyang Capital, people had no news of this generation of famous generals, as if they had disappeared from the world.
It's just that everyone knows that Beitang Qing has made great achievements in battle, and his prestige among the Northern Han army is too high, which violates the taboo of having great achievements that shake the master.
Once a minister is feared by the emperor, the result will naturally not be much better. Beitang Qing's disappearance naturally makes people suspect that he was secretly executed by Beitang Huan. Otherwise, it is impossible for a living person to disappear, let alone a world-famous person. A famous general of the Northern Han Dynasty.
Beitang Qing, the most feared Northern Han nationality in the Chu State, suddenly disappeared, which naturally attracted the attention of the Chu State. For the Chu State, if Beitang Qing was really secretly executed by Beitang Huan, then the Northern Han Dynasty would be waiting for his own death. Broken pillars and beams, this is great news for the Chu State, but the Northern Han Dynasty never announced the death of Beitang Qing. In this way, whether Beitang Qing is dead or alive has become a very big deal. Mystery.
Whether Beitang Qing lives or dies is even related to the Chu State's military strategy against the Northern Han Dynasty. Therefore, sending people to find out Beitang Qing's life and death is naturally information that the Shenhou Mansion must understand.
Lieutenant Lian Zhen, Hong Mendao, was lurking in the Northern Han Dynasty and was the chief spy of the Shenhou Mansion in the Northern Han Dynasty. It was natural for him to investigate the life and death of Beitang Qing.
"Exactly." Hongmendao nodded slightly and said: "Beitang Qing suddenly disappeared a few years ago. There was no news about this person in the Northern Han Dynasty. The emperor ordered that Beitang Qing's life and death must be found out. Although I came to the northwest , but never stopped searching for Beitang Qing’s whereabouts. I spent a lot of manpower and material resources on this, but no clues were found. It was not until a few months ago that I finally found a glimmer of hope.”