Although it was late autumn, the weather in Huangyang Road was much warmer than that in the northwest, and much warmer than that in Chang'an City. Although it is still not as good as Jiangnan and the most southwest of Sui, it doesn't make people feel cold at all. If it were in Fangu, it would already be covered with snow this month.
In the past few months, the Black Banner Army has continued to attack, gradually taking most of Huang Yangdao into his arms. Tian Xin, who took care of Luo Yao's home and nursing home, seemed to have become blind and deaf. He had nothing to do with the expansion of the Black Banner Army. To deal with it, if the Black Banner Army takes a step forward, he will take a step back.
Chen Qianshan and Cui Zhongzhen were ordered to lead an army of more than 40,000 troops to advance eastward, disconnecting the connection between Xinkoucang and Xinyang City, but even so, not a single soldier came out of Xinyang City. Perhaps Tian Xin knew very well that his current strength and the Black Banner Army had no way to fight recklessly. If there was no problem in defending the city, if he went out to fight in the field, he was quite afraid of the tens of thousands of elite cavalry of the Black Banner Army.
The military reports in front kept sending back to Suzaku Mountain, and Fang Jie became more and more convinced that Luo Yao had changed his original intention. At the beginning, he did have the intention of fighting for the hegemony of the Central Plains, but now he only looks at the mighty city called Chang'an.
In the conference hall, Fang Jie stood in front of the huge map and focused on the marked situation.
Dugu Wenxiu, a newly promoted civil servant, walked in with a thick stack of papers, and said politely, "I have seen the general."
Dugu Wenxiu came from a famous family, and the Dugu family was also a first-class wealthy family in the Sui Dynasty. If it weren't for the emperor's big actions in Chang'an, there are still many members of the Dugu family who are officials in the court. Speaking of which, he and Dugujing, the former Minister of Rites of the Great Sui Dynasty, are still cousins, but he was born as a concubine, so his status is far less noble than Dugujing.
Back then when Huai Qiugong was seriously ill, Dugu Jing acted as Minister of the Ministry of Rites temporarily. He could go further, but this person is also a strange person. After hearing that Huai Qiugong had recovered, he immediately resigned. The emperor promised him to resign from the post of Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but instead he was named Minister of the Ministry of Officials, with greater power.
Later, he was deposed by the emperor because of his involvement in Prince Yi's case. However, according to analysis, the emperor had the same intention in dismissing him and expelling Luo Weiran and the others from Chang'an City. The emperor wanted to rectify the courtiers in Chang'an. In order to protect these important officials who were indispensable to the Sui Dynasty, and to prevent them from being implicated, he sent them out of Chang'an City first.
Later, it was said that after being dismissed from office, this great talent, who was especially valued by the emperor, was unhappy at home, and fell ill for a long time, but died without medical treatment.
But Fang Jie also knew that Dugujing's death was definitely not due to any serious illness.
In fact, the emperor didn't hide his thoughts from those people. He dismissed several courtiers he valued and sent them out of Chang'an. Those people behind the scenes may have guessed the emperor's arrangement very early, just like Huai Qiugong died of depression in his hometown in the south of the Yangtze River. , After they returned home, they were actually controlled by those people secretly.
Huai Qiugong died of grief and indignation, obviously because of despair.
Dugujing said that he died of illness, and nine out of ten were killed by others.
Su Chongli was still alive, but Pang Ba had sent five hundred elite soldiers to surround the Su family mansion. The Su family was not even allowed to come and go freely. Even if Su Chongli saw the right time and wanted to return to Chang'an City, he would have no chance. It is said that Pang Ba invited Su Chongli to be an official under his tent more than once, but Su Chongli just refused to submit, and it is estimated that he was not far away from death.
"What's up?"
Fang Jie took the hot tea Mu San handed him and asked.
Mu San immediately withdrew from the conference hall, staying far away. Fang Xie glanced at the little eunuch, and had to praise the little eunuch in his heart.
"General, here are the statistics of autumn grain harvests in various places."
Dugu Wenxiu lowered his hands and said, "Because the farmland in the south of the mountain is still actively reclaiming wasteland and planting at the same time, the harvest of autumn grain is not much. It is estimated that the harvest will have to wait until next year when the summer grain is harvested. The harvest in all counties is not bad. , there are several big rivers criss-crossing in Huangyang Road, so this place has never been a place to rely on rainwater for food, and the annual harvest is about the same. It's just that the food in Huangyang Road was looted by Luo Yao in the two years before last year, so it's a bit difficult. "
"Just know the number."
Fang Jie waved his hand and said, "Since I have ordered that the common people will not receive a grain of food this year, naturally I cannot go back on my word."
"The subordinate understands."
Dugu Wenxiu put the brochures from newspapers from various places aside, took out another copy and handed it to Fang Jie: "This is a document sent by Governor Sun, Lord Sun. Please have a look at it, General."
Fang Jie picked it up and looked it up, and found that Sun Kaidao was indeed a decisive person. During the past month of patrolling outside, he had beheaded seven local officials, and the people below had already nicknamed him Sun Guidao.
"How many barren fields have been cultivated in Shannan?"
Fang Jie asked while flipping through the pages.
"It's no less than 250,000 mu."
Dugu Wenxiu replied: "Over the past few months, more and more recruits have come here to recruit. Those who passed the selection were sent to the south of the mountain to open up wasteland and train soldiers. The progress is very fast."
"Um."
"Dugu."
Fang Jie glanced at Dugu Wenxiu and asked, "I want to ask you something."
"Excuse me, General, my subordinates know everything."
"What I want to ask is, are there people from your Dugu family among those gathering in Tongu Academy?"
Dugu Wenxiu's complexion obviously changed, and then she nodded: "This subordinate is not very clear about this matter. Although the subordinate is a member of the Dugu family, but because he is a concubine, he can't get in touch with many things. Most of them are controlled by the line of direct relatives, and those of us at most share some of the family property to live in chaos. But I heard my mother mentioned it by chance, saying that the chief steward of the Dugu family would go to Jiangnan at least once a year."
Fang Jie nodded: "Since this is the case, why is Dugujing still being forced to death?"
Dugu Wenxiu was silent for a while and said: "The general also knows that Dugu's family is not very consistent in everything... Moreover, they will not only prepare for everything. Dugujing is too loyal to the emperor, so..."
Fang Jie hummed and said: "This sentence is to the point... So, you are another choice for the Dugu family, right?"
Hearing these words, Dugu Wenxiu's expression changed suddenly, the hands holding the books trembled, and the books almost fell to the ground. He raised his head to look at Fang Xie, then quickly lowered his head, not daring to look directly.
…
…
"No problem."
Fang Jie smiled and said: "You should know that I always employ people carelessly. Even if you are sent by Dugu's family, you have real talents and learning, so I will use them anyway. I come from a poor family. I don't know much about the things in the famous family, so I asked you today just out of curiosity."
Dugu Wenxiu froze for a moment, put down the book in his hand, then lifted his robe and knelt down: "The general is right, I was indeed arranged by the elders in my family to vote for the general. First, I entrusted Mr. Sun to let Mr. Sun Referrals."
"Did Sun Kaidao take your money?"
Fang Jie said lightly.
"yes… "
Dugu Wenxiu said: "It's just that the subordinates don't know how much money it took to manage Mr. Sun at home."
Fang Jie smiled: "You don't seem to be a scheming person. The Dugu family sent you here, mostly because they looked down on me and felt that people like me were not enough to select outstanding figures from the Dugu family to assist. However, I know that often Those who stand out from the crowd are mostly descendants of concubines."
Fang Jie thought of Li Xiaozong.
"Although my subordinates are members of Dugu's family, my life with my mother has been quite difficult since childhood. If it wasn't for my cousin Dugu Jingduo's help, my life would not be as good as that of ordinary people."
Dugu Wenxiu said: "This subordinate has concealed these things, please punish the general."
"Punish you for what?"
Fang Jie smiled and waved his hand: "Get up, as I said just now, I know that you are sent by the Dugu family, but I still want to use you, and I want to use you again. Your origin and your purpose of coming here. As long as you do things in a safe and sound manner, I will treat it as if I don’t know about it.”
Dugu Wenxiu kowtowed heavily: "My subordinates thank you for your kindness, General."
"You have a good temperament, but it fits your name well."
Fang Jie said: "I have already sent someone to bring your mother over, the only one who can blackmail you from the Dugu family is her old man. The people from the Xiaoqi school sent back the news yesterday that they have already entered Huangyang Road, and they are counting twenty more days to come." It's time to reach Suzaku Mountain. I ordered someone to build a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain with a beautiful view. You and your mother will live there. When the old man arrives, I will give you ten days to stay with her and get acquainted with the surroundings. Life."
"The general..."
Dugu Wenxiu, who had just stood up, knelt down again and kowtowed heavily: "The kindness of the general, I will never forget it!"
"Because I know you are such a person, I will treat you with sincerity."
Fang Jie smiled and said, "A month ago, I beheaded Pei Song, the chief copywriter at Tuntian, because of his negligence. Twenty days ago, I beheaded Liu Shouren, the director of grain and grass in Daying, for stealing money and food. Half a month ago, Yuan Wenmao, a pen official in the army, was beheaded by me because of drunkenness. Four days ago, I ordered Tian Yi, who joined the army, to be beaten with thirty army sticks because he couldn't make it. "
Fang Jiequ counted with his fingers: "I will accept all the people sent to me by various families, but it doesn't mean that I am a fool. I will keep them, but if they don't do things for me, they will be killed. You and them Different, do things well, and I will treat you generously."
"Subordinates... remember!"
Dugu Wenxiu hit the bottom with her head, not daring to get up.
"At the beginning of the establishment of Daying, everything is waiting to be done, and I am short of talents."
Fang Jie walked over and leaned over to help Dugu Wenxiu up: "I don't care what the origin of the people who come to join me, whether they are famous or poor, as long as they have real talents and learning, I will stay. Man, I stayed here to kill... These days, you are the only one who has worked hard after arriving in the camp, and you have never inquired about the secrets of the camp, but I know you will do this sooner or later, because your mother is still at home. "
"Since I value you, I can't bear to kill you. I can't bear to see you go the same way as those guys whose heads I chopped off. That's why I sent someone to find a way to steal your mother from Dugu's house." Come out, I took great pains, just don't want you to go the wrong way."
"Subordinates..."
Dugu Wenjing's shoulders kept trembling, she was choked up and unable to speak.
"Don't think too much, stay in the big camp and do things well. Not only do I lack generals who are good at fighting, but I also lack literati. After I go back, I can do whatever I need to do. In addition... Mr. Sun took money from your family, don't mentioned."
Dugu Wenjing nodded quickly: "This subordinate remembers."
"Go."
Fang Jie waved his hand: "After your mother arrives, I will entrust you with an important errand."
…
…
Mountain Pavilion
After drinking a glass of wine, Wu Yidao squinted his eyes and said, "Juexiao, have you become more murderous recently? It may not be a bad thing to keep those people sent by the aristocratic family."
Fang Jie smiled: "Kill some and keep some, so that those people can be more at ease. If I just pretend that I don't know anything, they will think that my heart is too deep, so they will be more wary of me. I will kill some for them. Talk about insignificant little people, but they look down on me because of my expression of joy and anger, and think that I am just a reckless man."
He drank the wine in the glass: "Now, I need to be looked down upon."
Wu Yiyi laughed loudly, raised his glass and said, "Just because this sentence needs to be underestimated, drink a big glass!"