"It's almost August 15th, and the days go by so fast."
Fang Jie looked at the bright moon hanging outside the window, turned around with a smile, and poured wine for the two people sitting at the table with his own hands: "Day by day, year by year, it passed without feeling anything. Now I want to I think, when I met General Xu for the first time in Chang'an City, it seemed that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, right?"
The old man sitting next to the table quickly smiled along with him: "My lord has a really good memory, it's just around the time of the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Don't call it that. I was taken care of by the old general when I was in Chang'an. I haven't had time to repay this kindness."
Fang Jie smiled, sat down again and filled a glass of wine for the people around him: "Although I had no chance to meet General Liu when I was in Chang'an, I have always admired General Liu's reputation. It's just that at that time, I was surrounded by trivial matters. Being pestered and unable to visit is also a pity in my heart. To be able to meet General Liu today is also a fulfillment of a wish."
Sitting next to him was Great Sui General Liu Enjing, and sitting opposite him was General Xu Xiaogong.
Yang Jian dismissed them from the army, took them back to Chang'an in a prison van, and was rescued by Yan Kuang on the way, but Fang Jie didn't meet them until today. These two people have been in the Black Banner Army for more than a month, entertaining them with delicious food and drink all day long, but they never saw Fang Jie's face, they have already scratched like a mouse in their stomachs. Heart.
"Sigh, the military affairs are busy, and it is my fault that it is only today that I have the opportunity to welcome the two old generals. I will make a toast first to apologize."
Fang Jie drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, Liu Enjing and Xu Xiaogong quickly drank with him.
If anyone sees this scene, they will definitely feel touched. When he was in Chang'an City, although Fang Jie was famous, he was far behind the two of them in terms of status. If they were sitting at the same table drinking, how could it be possible for the two of them to accompany them so cautiously
Things change so fast.
When he was in Chang'an City, Xu Xiaogong's impression of Fang Xie was just a rising star from a poor family. He felt that this person was really lucky. He was promoted by Emperor Yang Yi. Get rid of it by means of pickling, and after more than ten years, you may be a powerful minister in the court. But the world was in chaos, Fang Jie didn't use it for more than ten years, and he became a prince in just a few years.
And these two once prominent generals became prisoners instead. If Fang hadn't rescued them, even if Yang Jian didn't kill them, he would have to spend his life in prison.
"We should thank Lord Guo for saving his life!"
Xu Xiaogong stood up holding a cup and said: "If it wasn't for the Duke's righteousness, the two of us would be two dead bones by the side of the road. This is the kindness. As for the small things in Chang'an City, they are nothing to worry about. .”
"Where is it?"
Fang Jie waved his hand and said, "It's also a coincidence that we saved the two old generals, it's because of our destiny."
"Yeah."
Liu Enjing hurriedly said: "Fate!"
Fang Jie picked up the cup and drank with the two of them at the same time, then sighed and said: "It's a pity, when we were in Chang'an City, the Sui Dynasty was prosperous, the world was peaceful, the four sides surrendered, the country was peaceful and the people were peaceful. Looking at it now, it's only been a few years? The great rivers and mountains have rotted like this, although I have the intention to kill thieves for the country, but I am alone and alone."
He glanced at the two of them and said: "The traitors are in power, but the loyal ministers are slaughtered. It is chilling. My greatest wish now is to call the world's insightful people to assist the eldest princess to revive the Great Sui Dynasty. Kill those thieves one by one. Kill them all, and return the people to a peaceful world! However, this matter is too difficult. Although the Black Banner Army has expanded some troops, there are only a handful of generals available under it, alas... "
Fang Jie sighed and said nothing more.
Liu Enjing and Xu Xiaogong looked at each other, and immediately understood what Fang Jie meant. For the two of them, isn't this the best choice
"If..."
Xu Xiaogong stood up and said: "If the Duke does not give up, I am willing to be driven by the Duke and do my part for the Black Banner Army."
"I would too!"
Liu Enjing said: "As a subject of the Great Sui Dynasty, I feel unhappy not being able to kill thieves for the country!"
"So good!"
Fang Jie quickly said: "It just so happens that the recruits trained by my Zhuqueshan camp haven't been tempered in the battle, and they can't be used much. If the two old generals are willing to condescend, I still have 10,000 men who are short of a leader. This time, when I came back from Nanyan, most of the recruits were handed over to Chen Qianshan and Zhuge Wuyin, and I only left 10,000 people. I will transfer 10,000 soldiers from Nanyan to build two new armies. If the two old generals are willing, how about taking charge of an army each?"
Fang Jie said: "I know that with the prestige and qualifications of the two old generals, it is indeed a bit wronged to lead the army like this. But now the Black Banner Army has limited strength, please don't blame the two."
Xu Xiaogong sighed: "It is already our luck to be able to lead the army again. From now on, the Lord... if the Lord has any orders, just say it. Although the two of us are old, we can still use our bows and horses, and the army is in our minds." I haven't forgotten anything about Wu Shang, I hope I can share my worries with you."
Fang Jie couldn't help laughing, took the two of them by the hand, walked to the map and said, "I have a difficult problem right now, and I need two old generals to share my worries."
He drew a circle on the map, enclosing Yongbei Road, Nanhui Road, and Beihui Road: "Although these places clearly declare their allegiance to the eldest princess, they are all duplicity. People, if they don’t fight, they will have evil intentions after all. What do the two old generals think, where should we start to deter them first?”
Liu Enjing and Xu Xiaogong looked at each other, and they both knew in their hearts that Fang Xie wanted to completely stabilize the Southwest. They are now in the Black Banner Army, if they don't do something, they may lose the position they just got. Now they have no other choice, the court can no longer use them, unless Yang Jian dies. As for other forces, those people in Jiangnan are fighting Yang Jian fiercely, and it is still unclear who will win the battle. Now that the Sui Dynasty is in chaos, there are really not many people to turn to. While the eldest princess is in the Black Banner Army, Fang Jie holds the biggest initiative!
The two of them see this point more clearly than anyone else.
"I would like to share my worries with my lord!"
The two clasped their fists at the same time, speaking in unison.
…
…
Yongbei Road
Daozhi Crescent City
It was already late, but the Governor's Mansion was still brightly lit. Almost all the people who can stand on the stage in the city are in the Governor's Mansion, not a few of them. When the news of the Black Banner Army's triumphant return from Nanyan came back, these big shots in Yongbei Road couldn't sit still anymore.
Yongbei Road is adjacent to Pingshang Road. Originally, Chi Haonian, governor of Yongbei Road, Du Jianzhou, governor of South Huizhou Province, Zhong Xin, governor of North Huizhou Province, and Luo Qiu, governor of Pingshang Road who had been killed by Fang Jie, conceived... Fang Jie's Black Banner Army went south to fight the He people. Even if Fang Jie won, there might not be many troops left, and then Luo Qiu took the opportunity to remove Fang. In this way, the Southwest would still be ruled by the four of them.
But who would have thought that the Black Banner Army would win every battle going south, and it would be like a broken bamboo. Nanyan's army collapsed at the first touch, and millions of He people were buried outside the city of Yongzhou. As for Luo Qiu, one of his allies, he was eliminated by Fang.
Now their plans have all come to nothing. After Fang Jie went south, the Black Banner Army not only did not suffer heavy losses, but grew stronger. Luo Qiu is dead, Ping Shangdao and half of Nanyan are now tightly held by the Black Banner Army, and no one can get involved again. Next, it was the turn of Yongbei Road.
Chi Haonian hoped that Fang Jie would be defeated in the south every day, and it would be better to die in the south. But things backfired, Fang Jie was doing well, but his strength was getting stronger and stronger. If Fang Jie frightened Chi Haonian and the others with his military power when he went south, these people still looked down on Fang Jie in their hearts. No one thought that Fang Jie would rise to become a vassal, but now, the person they looked down on came back with elite troops.
"I asked you to come, not to quarrel!"
Chi Haonian slapped the table, and glanced at everyone with a gloomy face: "Fang Jie returned to the north, the people have already entered Yongbei Road, and it is not far from Xinyue City. It looks picky, open the door when Fang Xie arrives, the Black Banner Army will arrive in New Moon City in less than ten days!"
These words made everyone quiet down.
The current situation is very clear to everyone present. Fang Jie returned north with a large group of people, and finally entered Yongbei Road. No one dared to resist, they opened the city gates one after another, and everyone wanted to kneel down and lick Fang Jie's shoes! This left Chi Haonian with nowhere to vent his anger. If things continued like this, the Black Banner Army would be at the gates in a few days.
"Tear your face?"
Someone laughed at himself: "Now what qualifications do we have to tear ourselves apart with Fang Jie? We used some excuses to hide our strength and bide our time to give in, but now we don't even have anyone who can fight! Even if we did, Can these soldiers and horses hold back the Black Banner Army? I have heard that the Beihui Road is over! The man named Cui Zhongzhen personally led the troops to the south, and Zhong Xin handed over the entire Beihui Road without even resisting... "
"You want to pay too?"
Chi Haonian asked coldly.
"No?"
The man also sneered: "Then what is the Governor going to use to fight Fang Jie?"
He stood up and glanced at everyone: "We all know how Fang Jie does things in the south. Anyone who listens to him can at least keep his family property, and anyone who resists will be exterminated! I'm sorry everyone, my Chen family is in New Moon City I can’t be considered a famous family here. I have no soldiers and no generals. I still want to live to be eighty years old. I won’t accompany you here to discuss how to resist the Black Banner Army. Don’t worry, I won’t be with you either. The Black Banner Army should cooperate internally and externally, so I'll just wait."
He took a look at Chi Haonian and cupped his fists: "Farewell!"
As soon as he got up, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay. It didn't take long for more than half of the people to leave. These people thought the same as the person just now. They were unable to stop Fang Jie's Black Banner Army. If they obeyed, they could still guarantee their family property. not lost. Up to now, self-protection is their greatest luxury.
"A group of... trash!"
Chi Haonian stood up abruptly and cursed, a fire welled up in his heart, his throat was sweet, and he spit out a big mouthful of blood with a wow. After shaking his body a few times, he fell limply. The rest of the people who didn't leave looked at each other, got up one after another, no one cared about him, and all left.
The servants quickly helped Chi Haonian up, and went to invite the doctor again. Chi Haonian didn't wake up until the middle of the night. He glanced around and looked at the concerned family members around him. He suddenly understood that at this time, only the family members were on his side. And my own decision, the most direct decision is the life and death of these people who care about me.
"well!"
He sighed for a long time, and finally shook his head: "Come here, help me up, I will write a letter in my own hand and send it to the Black Banner Army, just say... just say I am Chi Haonian, in the new moon The city welcomes the Duke of the country!"