After the first lunar month, the weather didn't seem to get warmer at all, and there was even a heavy snowfall in Fan Gucheng. But it's better than Langru Mountain. After all, there is no shelter on the grassland, and there is not even a mountain bag within hundreds of miles. In Dacheng, herdsmen like to live in tents, and the wind is particularly violent.
The wind is mixed with snow, which is called the white hair wind by the prairie people. A white wind and a disaster, the white hair wind is the nightmare of the prairie people. And every time I think of this, the Han people in Fangu City are very happy. The people in Fangu City don't farm, and the weather in this ghost place is cold for half a year, and the crops are not as tall as the weeds. They used to be supplied by the imperial court, but now they rely on trade. So they didn't worry about the strong wind and cold weather at all. Anyway, the food in Fangu City couldn't be eaten for three years.
Because of the snow, the normal drills of the frontier army were all exempted by Li Xiaozong. But the frontier soldiers couldn't go home, because the Mongolian Yuan Empire didn't know if there would be any troubles caused by the Northern Liao people selling horses a while ago, so they had to be prepared. In the seventh year of Jianye in the Sui Dynasty, this small city could hold back the 40,000 horses of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, and it could hold back the Mandu Wolf of Mandu Latu. Li Xiaozong didn't want to be unable to stop Mandu Latu when he was in office.
"Fang Jie hasn't come to report for half a month, right?"
Li Gandang, who has been promoted from the deputy captain of the accompanying army to the captain of the school, squatted on the ground and lit his cigarette pouch: "I don't know who is so bold to do it. It stands to reason that the kid is good at martial arts. Although he can't practice, he can deal with ordinary big men seven times." Eight is not a problem, why was he beaten so badly. Besides, who in Fangu city would hate him?"
The tobacco leaves are grown by the people of Fangu City themselves, and they are called smoke guns, which are very choking and powerful.
"Why don't we take a leave of absence with the general and see Fang Jie go?"
Fu Baobao picked up the snow on the ground and rubbed his face. Although the snow was cold, his face would warm up after rubbing it for a while. He was born as a scout, and some habits can't be changed. All the members of the scout team with him died, so he would rather not be a scout team leader than transfer to a regular team to be a corporal leader. Sometimes seeing too much death will not make you indifferent, but will make you more afraid of death.
"The general ordered that no one is allowed to leave the camp."
Li Gandang sighed and said, "I usually don't like that kid, but I really panic after not seeing him for a few days."
"Team Zheng, do you want Fang Jie, or dog meat hot pot?"
Qiu Xiaoshu leaned over and asked with a smile.
"Fuck your mother! This is brotherhood, do you understand me?"
Li Gan gave Qiu Xiaoshu a blank look and said, "Look at that bitch of yours, you don't have any loyalty at all. Let me tell you, if it's really a matter of life and death, you are the first person to be a traitor. You only have dog meat hot pot in your heart and no comrades." The person in the robe, I have seen your true nature clearly. On the day Fang Jie was beaten, if you were there, he would have run away."
Qiu Xiaoshu blushed, wanted to refute but finally endured it.
Li Gandang took a puff of earthen smoke and said, "Since we are destined to be in the same big camp, we should cherish it. Fang Jie is our brother, and his life is tied to a horizontal knife. He has been bullied, we can't Sit back and ignore it. I will go and beg the general later, and I will take our team to investigate tomorrow!"
Fu Baobao nodded vigorously and said: "The team leader is right. Having you as our team leader is also a blessing we have cultivated in several lifetimes. If Fang Jie knows, he will also be grateful for your kindness."
Just as he was talking, he suddenly saw a group of people and horses suddenly appearing outside the gate of the camp in the distance. They were all wearing white cloaks, so they could only see clearly when they were close. They were riding tall horses. There were not many people, only about thirty or fifty people. The leader took a sign from his waist and handed it to the frontier soldiers who guarded the gate. The soldiers looked at it and ran into the camp to go straight to General Li's tent.
"Who? So arrogant... He didn't get off his horse when he got to the gate of the camp."
"Although it is stronger now than it was when the first emperor was in power, the entire Right Guards can't gather two thousand cavalry. The horses of these people are not commonplace from a distance, and they must have a lot of background."
Li Gandang had just finished speaking when he saw Li Xiaozong coming out of the big tent, looked in the direction of the gate, adjusted his clothes and walked quickly over.
"I heard that the imperial court sent law enforcement envoys from Dali Temple and the Ministry of War to inspect. Could it be that they have arrived?"
Qiu Xiaoshu guessed.
Li Gandang glared at him: "What's the matter? I saw a big man from the imperial court, are you planning to go over there to curry favor?"
Qiu Xiaoshu endured the anger in his heart, stood up and walked towards the tent. Li Gandang looked at his back and sneered, "Baby Fu, do you know why I never arrange for Qiu Xiaoshu to die every time?"
"I don't know, why?"
Li Gandang said: "This person has a lot of thoughts, but unfortunately he has no guts. When he talks to people, his eyes flicker, which shows that his heart is not right. Such a person, I dare not give our backs to him. Fight on the battlefield, brother Our lives were lost at some point in the world, so I won’t do anything that makes us lose our way.”
"No way."
Fu Baobao was surprised and said, "I think Xiaoshu is pretty good."
"You look good?!"
Li Gandang said seriously: "If there is a real crisis, I can keep you behind me. People like him... can only escape behind you. Although Fang Xie is afraid of death, Fang Xie is very loyal. Something really happened, Fang Xie I won’t run away. That’s why I treat you as brothers and Fang Jie as my brother.”
Fu Baobao was moved: "With you here, our team is happy!"
…
…
Li Xiaozong secretly glanced at the eunuch sitting high on his seat, although he was annoyed, he couldn't break out. After all, this eunuch has a special status, he is the eunuch of the imperial study room Bingbi. This seat is next to His Majesty the Sui Emperor. Sometimes a casual sentence from him may change a person's future.
"Eunuch Wu, please don't take offense at the impoliteness of not being able to greet him far away."
Li Xiaozong clasped his fists and said.
"General Li, you are welcome..."
Sitting on Li Xiaozong's chair, Wu Shengsheng said with a smirk: "Our family obeyed His Majesty's order and followed the Dali Temple and the adults of the Ministry of War to closely check the four military accounts. Naturally, we dare not publicize it. If people know about it, it will be difficult to check the accounts. If you can’t handle His Majesty’s errands, we won’t have much fruit for you when you return to Chang’an.”
Li Xiaozong hated the eunuch's tone of voice, but he didn't show it on the surface: "What Eunuch said is, since Eunuch is here to check the accounts, I will send all the accounts up later."
"Not urgent."
Wu Peisheng waved his hand and smiled and said, "Since we're here, there's no rush. Our family encountered a heavy snowstorm halfway along the way, suffering from hunger and cold... Why, General Li doesn't plan to treat us to a glass of wine to warm up?"
"I was the one who neglected."
Li Xiaozong quickly turned around and ordered his soldiers to prepare food and drinks, and then ordered the accounts to be ready to be brought up at any time.
"What our family dislikes the most is snow. It looks white and clean, but it is actually the dirtiest. The clothes on the body are stained with snowflakes, and they are wrinkled and ugly after a while... General Li, do you mind taking us with you?" Looking for a place to change clothes?"
Li Xiaozong said: "Please come to my study, father-in-law, and I will lead the way."
Wu Peisheng nodded, stood up and said to the officials of Dali Temple and the Ministry of War: "The food will be served in a while, my lords, please use it first, don't wait for our family, we will come back naturally after changing clothes."
The people from Dali Temple and the Ministry of War quickly stood up, clasped their fists and said, "Eunuch, go on your own, I'll just wait."
Wu Peisheng didn't say much, and followed Li Xiaozong to the back. When he was about to reach the study room, Wu Peisheng suddenly smiled and said: "Before coming to Fan Gu, our family went to Woxian Mountain first, and met Tang Gong Li Yuanshan, the general of Youxiaowei. When we sat down and chatted, Tang Gong deliberately I mentioned you, General Li. He said that you are a rare general, and your achievements in the future must be higher than his. Our family thought that such a general cannot be buried, so after returning, in front of His Majesty, our family will mentioned."
Li Xiaozong was a little puzzled by Wu Peisheng's 180-degree turn. But he was also quick-witted, and immediately clasped his fists together and said, "Thank you father-in-law, I still have good tea from Jiangnan in my study, why don't father-in-law drink a cup to warm up first?"
"That's right. After leaving the capital and going all the way to the northwest, it's hard to drink tea from the south of the Yangtze River. Especially on Shandong Road, Governor Yuan Chongwu couldn't find a few decent tea leaves in his study."
While talking, Wu Peisheng went into Li Xiaozong's study and sat down by the fire. He stretched out his hand to warm on the stove, and after a while, white mist steamed up from his body. Li Xiaozong brewed tea himself, put it beside Wu Peisheng and said, "My father-in-law came from a long way, the journey must be very hard."
"It's all for His Majesty, it's hard work."
Wu Peisheng took the teacup, pondered for a while and said: "Since I met you, General first, in private, our family will open the skylight and speak frankly... Our family went to Woxian Mountain first because we have a good personal relationship with Mr. Tang. Mr. Tang mentioned you specially. ... But it's not like what our family said just now, what is so rare... As for what we are talking about, our family thinks, General Li must be very clear in his heart. We don't need to waste our words, we just ask... General Li Are you all ready?"
"I don't know... what my father-in-law needs me to prepare."
Li Xiaozong's heart tightened, and his face was a little painful.
"Since the Fang Jie was sent by the Mongolian Yuan Empire to try to bribe the generals of the Sui Frontier Army to obtain information, then this matter cannot be delayed. If General Li is ready, then our family will let the law enforcement envoy of Dali Temple go Take people, people take them, our family will leave, you write a memorial, and when our family leaves, take it back to Chang'an and present it to His Majesty."
"This... can you think of a different way?"
Li Xiaozong couldn't help asking.
"General Li... don't you think... it's easy for our family to tell you these things? If the matter becomes serious, our family will also lose its head!"
"I know… "
Li Xiaozong's face became more and more ugly, and he felt like a knife was twisting in his heart.
…
…
"Obviously, the tax collected by Fan Gucheng is enough for self-sufficiency. You still have to ask the Ministry of War for money and food every year. As for this, His Majesty will never forgive you if you know about it. Let's be honest, if we don't have a good relationship with Mr. Tang, Our family is too lazy to meddle in your business. On the contrary, you are hesitant. Is it possible that our family should report the truth? The military... opened a brothel and opened a casino. If His Majesty finds out about these things, he will overturn the case in anger! "
"Duke Tang thinks that you are your nephew helping you, don't you appreciate it?"
"I see."
Li Xiaozong took a deep breath, smiled bitterly and said, "It's all because of my own greed, but now I have to blame others... Okay... I'll send someone to catch Fang Jie later."
"Catching a solution is not enough."
Wu Peisheng smiled and said: "Since he is a secret agent sent by Meng Yuan, you have to find out, there must be a process, right? How did you find out? Who is the accomplice? Who did you buy? You need to prepare all these, Just tell our family when you are ready. Our family takes people one by one, and none of them can get away."
"Isn't it okay to take a solution?!"
Li Xiaozong stood up suddenly, his face became paler and paler.
"Take one? It's easy for you to be a member of Dali Temple and the Ministry of War? Or...you think His Majesty is confused and can't see it?"
Wu Peisheng sneered and said, "It seems you don't have much interest, let me give you some pointers... Since Fang Xie has a military position, he naturally wants to bribe his teammate. People in that team naturally have his accomplices, as well as others." People who betrayed the secrets of the court. Fifty people in a team... half of them are almost enough. If General Li doesn't do it, you can gather people together in a while, and our family will let people do it."
"Find out the secret work and make military achievements."
Wu Peisheng smiled and said: "Our family is here to congratulate General Li first. After our family returned to the capital, His Majesty was so happy that General Li jumped two ranks from a fifth-rank general to a fourth-rank one. General Lang. Even if Wu Zhenwei is not the hero of the eagle and the tiger, it will be no problem to be a strong general."
"General Li hasn't written the name list yet?"
He asked with a chill in his voice.
Li Xiaozong was slightly entangled, walked slowly to the desk, picked up the brush, melted the thick ink, and slowly wrote four words on a piece of white paper: The main criminal Fang Jie...
After writing these four words, his expression was already ferocious and a little scary. The trembling of the hand became more and more severe, so much that the ink on the pen was shaken off a lot. He didn't know how long it took before he continued to write on the white paper with a heavy weight like a thousand catties.
Accomplices: Li Gandang, Lieutenant of Zhengguoyi, Captain of Team A... Lieutenant Liu Sansheng, Deputy Accompanying Lieutenant of Rong, Qiu Xiaoshu, Chief of Staff...
A long string of names, a total of twenty-five.