Not long after, autumn came.
When autumn comes, Xisu will look for opportunities to rob the merchants on the border of Qianyu, and if the opportunity is right, he will go into the city to rob. This kind of thing has been stationed by the Northern Army for many years, and they have already understood it by heart. As a result, at such a time, the Northern Army, which has been working step-by-step all day, will become more cautious.
Although there are a lot of soldiers in the north, with 10,000 troops stationed, there are also many people in Xisu, and Dongming is also staring at the side. How big is it going to be.
In the autumn, they all call it "fighting the autumn wind".
Xue Ziqin called a few lieutenants over to discuss the matter. The veterans in the barracks knew at first sight that they were discussing countermeasures. Everyone knew it, and it was time to work hard again.
But Jiang also didn't know about the autumn wind. He only felt that after entering the autumn, the atmosphere in the barracks was a lot dignified. It was not like before. Although the daily training was continuous, it was very relaxed.
The two of them had recently been on duty at night, and they both slept in the afternoon before waking up.
Wei Lin was still lying on the straw stack, and Jiang also heard someone talking outside the tent in a daze. He couldn't speak clearly, so he asked, "Why are everyone so nervous recently?"
"Fight the autumn wind." Wei Lin said indifferently.
"What is the autumn wind?"
"It's just that a group of beggars who are about to starve to death are coming to grab food."
"Beggars are not called beggars if they rob."
"Do I know that this is an analogy?" Wei Lin said, "It's impossible for the Northern Army to just live here to watch the scenery, and they always have to guard against foreign invasions, grabbing food and other things."
"Then why is autumn coming?" The two have been together for a long time, and the degree of Jiang's need for face has faded as the time together became longer and longer. He really didn't know about these things, but Wei Lin often knew it. He thought that a gentleman should not be ashamed to ask, so he didn't feel awkward anymore. Anyway, it was asking, not asking for advice.
Wei Lin held up his hands and stretched his waist, and his voice was still a little lazy and patiently explained to him: "Bianguan tribe, there is no city, and they don't understand fine trade, they rely on mountains to eat mountains and water to drink water, but they have nothing to eat in winter. , so just come and rob us who have stored grain."
"Can you beat them? It's too self-sufficient." Jiang Ye's tone was somewhat disdainful. Probably because he was born in this big country, he felt that the border tribes were not enough.
"If you can't beat others, you can harass them. Anyway, if you grab a little bit, it's a little bit."
"Oh."
The words were divided into two parts. Xue Ziqin sat in the general's tent, and the four lieutenants in the hall stood aside with serious expressions. Xue Ziqin held a teacup in his hand, and did not look at the four people below, looking a little careless. It was Min Qiu who took the lead: "General, it's time again."
"I know, otherwise what would I ask you to do?" Xue Ziqin asked rhetorically.
Min Qiu was accustomed to being scolded by Xue Ziqin on weekdays, but now he doesn't feel anything, and continued: "The scouts have already been arranged, what will the general plan to arrange for other matters."
Xue Ziqin smiled. That smile was quite normal. It wasn't a sneer or a belly laugh. To be honest, it was probably a smile. But when a smile appeared on Xue Ziqin's face, the matter itself seemed abnormal. The four people in the hall were a little flustered, and they all looked at Xue Ziqin, waiting to speak.
But Xue Ziqin just didn't speak.
The atmosphere was so weird that Shan Mo couldn't bear it anymore and broke the silence: "Or should I follow the general's rules?"
Hearing this, Xue Ziqin raised his eyebrows with joy, and burst out laughing: "What you said, it's not that I don't lead by example, the old man has set the rules, you also think that the rules are good, don't you?"
"..." The four people in the hall fell silent.
Shan Mo really wanted to slap himself. The meaning of Xue Ziqin's smile was obvious, just digging a hole and waiting for the four of them to jump.
According to common sense, Xue Ziqin suddenly became the general of the Northern Army. This time Xisu came to fight Qiufeng, and it was his opportunity to show it. No matter what, he had to lead the attack in person, and it would be better if Xisu people could not find the north. However, the northern army had more than 10,000 men, and it was always a division to deal with Xisu. The reason is very simple, even if it is to survive the winter, it is impossible for Xisu to come out in full force, and the Northern Army has always been a representative of strong soldiers. In dealing with this kind of routine-like grabbing food, a few generals can’t say 100% of the top. Heart.
So this life of leading troops to block it becomes a meaningless activity, and no one wants to take it on himself. Originally, I was happy in the military camp, but everyone who can be lazy still wants to be lazy.
Xue Ziqin smiled and waved to the four people in the hall, signaling them to come over.
Zhou Xiao seemed to have expected him to be like this, he sighed helplessly, shook his head, and walked up to Xue Ziqin first. Seeing Zhou Xiao walking over, Guo Linchong followed. In the blink of an eye, the four of them gathered in front of Xue Ziqin's several cases, only to see that Xue Ziqin had come prepared long ago, and took out five bamboo sticks from under the several cases.
"The painted winner, hurry up." He hid the painted end in his palm.
In the past, Xue Changfeng always ordered and arranged directly. Like Xue Ziqin's decision by lottery, I really don't know if this person is too casual, or if he trusts the strength of his lieutenants too much.
But no one was twitching, each took one at random, and then again
Light up the bamboo sticks.
The bamboo stick that was randomly blackened with ink was in Guo Linchong's hand.
Guo Linchong looked at the bamboo stick and shook his head: "Hey, bad luck."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xue Ziqin's tone suddenly became serious, "In order to ensure the stability of the border, it is an honor to send you to lead troops to stop Xisu!"
What a face to say... Hearing this, Guo Linchong replied silently in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it at all, he had to nod his head and replied, "Yes, the general is right."
"Then it's settled. If there is no abnormality, Guo Linchong will handle the blockade this year." Xue Ziqin was in a good mood, and his tone was much softer.
Zhou Xiao looked at him and wanted to laugh.
He still knew a thing or two about Xue Ziqin's past. Although he didn't stay as long as Shan Mo, he also knew that Xue Ziqin had been bullied. As the saying goes, where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. There are a lot of people who have been staying in this military camp. Everyone has passed it around, and there are several sets of rhetoric behind their backs, nothing more than those things in the past.
But Xue Ziqin's temper was really similar to that of the general, and the gloomy days in the past did not seem to have any effect on him.
Shan Mo saw that Guo Linchong had taken up this errand, and the corners of his eyes were wrinkled with laughter. After returning the bamboo stick to Xue Ziqin, he patted Guo Linchong on the shoulder with some sympathy: "Xiao Guo, if there are not enough people, talk about it, I will definitely support it. you."
"Thank you..." Guo Linchong said with a sad face.
Seeing that the blocking of Xisu was finished like a farce, Min Qiu coughed twice, as if he had something to say. Xue Ziqin knew Min Qiu's temperament very well, but he also annoyed this the most. The most annoying thing was that when Min Qiu said something, it always seemed like he had to have a foreword, called mother-in-law for short.
"If you have something to say, go out if you don't have anything to say, or go hunting if you have nothing to do. I just happened to be greedy." Xue Ziqin said impatiently. The phrase "going to hunt" was of course casual, and as soon as Min Qiu's dry cough came out, Xue Ziqin knew that he must have something to say.
"General, the person who was sent to investigate the identity of the famous general of the Sui Kingdom who assisted King Wuqu a few days ago has sent a letter."
"Oh?"
A few people sat down again, leaving Min Qiu standing in front of Xue Ziqin, reporting.
After things happened one after another, Xue Ziqin felt that there must be something wrong. But the two assassins who killed Xue Changfeng died on the spot, and he couldn't find anything if he tried to investigate. After thinking about it, he decided to start with the general of the Sui State—from Hanzhou to Xiangcheng, this series of things happened strangely and closely. , since it cannot be verified here, it is better to change it.
"That general of the Sui Kingdom is Cao Zhong." Min Qiu said, "Cao Zhong's background has also been checked, but unfortunately it can only be found four years ago, and there is no news at all."
"Go on."
"Four years ago, Cao Zhong was suddenly used by the four princes of Sui in Sui. They are all amazing talents. The incident in Hanzhou and even the attack on Wuqu were all planned by him."
"Then this Cao Zhong is really a talent." Xue Ziqin said with his eyes down, "Since he was already in Sui country four years ago, why did he join the army from Yanzhou?"
"I really don't have any clues about this matter, and there is no definite news after several investigations. I went to check the situation in Yanzhou. He joined the army spontaneously, his ancestral home is written in Xiangcheng, and he lives in Yanzhou."
Dan Mo listened in a cloudy and foggy manner, opened his mouth and asked, "Who is this Cao Zhong?"
"He was a spy who sneaked into Yanhangu before." The person who answered was Guo Linchong, who obviously knew this better, "Cao Zhongan pretended to be a recruit to sneak into Yanhangu's garrison, and then did a lot of things... So, the master behind King Wuqu It's him." Guo Linchong said to Min Qiu in the latter half of the sentence, Min Qiu nodded and continued, "Although I suffered a loss last time, neither Suiguo nor Wuqu got any good, and Cao Zhong's identity is also not good. It's clear, and it's not too bad."
When Xue Ziqin heard the words of these people, he always felt something strange.
He didn't say anything for a long time, and the people in the hall could only wait for Xue Ziqin to speak.
"Cao Zhong was the group of people I personally brought before, right?" Xue Ziqin asked.
Min Qiu nodded, he remembered these trivial matters most clearly. Xue Ziqin added: "If it wasn't for Guo Linchong, I wouldn't even remember his name as Cao Zhongan."
Min Qiu answered, "It is indeed Cao Zhongan."
"This is not what Min Qiu reported that day, I just remembered it..." Guo Lin added another sentence.
"But I still think Cao Zhong is more smooth." Xue Ziqin said, looking at Guo Linchong with playful eyes. Guo Linchong happened to be looking at Min Qiu, but he didn't look at Xue Ziqin at all. Min Qiu didn't notice anything was wrong, instead he followed Xue Ziqin's words and said, "That's true, but the name Cao Zhongan is not bad."
"A general of an enemy country, or a spy, why are you still praising him?" Shan Mo asked a little puzzled.
Xue Ziqin smiled indifferently: "This is called the separation of public and private. He must be a filthy villain, but he can get his name. It's okay, go ahead, Guo Linchong."
"Here!" Guo Linchong came back to his senses and hurriedly looked at Xue Ziqin.
"The matter of blocking is left to you, don't screw it up."
"Yes."
The four of them bowed one by one and then exited the general's tent one by one. Min Qiu was at the end of the line. Just when he was about to go out completely, Xue Ziqin stopped him again: "You stay here for a while."