In February, it was still a bit cold in the early morning. Tie Kui got up early to practice, and it took half an hour to give up.
Qiu Dashan looked at Tie Kui and said, "The prince has an order and ordered me to return to Beijing as soon as possible. Go back to the house and clean up, and immediately follow me back to Beijing."
Tie Kui had no other words, nodded and said, "Okay."
As we set off, Tie Kui asked in surprise, "Where is General Zhang? Wouldn't he go back to the capital with us?"
Qiu Dashan shook his head and said: "He won't return to the capital, the prince will let him go to Shandong." There is Lou Qingyun in Shandong, so I'm not worried for the time being.
Tie Kui's face was dejected, and he said, "We had 100,000 people here, but now there are only more than 20,000 people who have returned." Four-fifths of them were lost.
Qiu Dashan said: "It is lucky to be able to bring back more than 20,000 people. Once Jinling falls into Yun Qing's hands, even the general doesn't know if he can return to the capital?"
Tie Kui couldn't help saying: "The wealthy man in Jinling, no one in the world knows. If it is taken by Yun Qing, he won't be able to snatch it clean." There is a reason why Tie Kui said so. The Northwest Army took Fuyang and followed The bandit began to search for things. Gold and silver jewelry are the same as antique calligraphy and painting, grain, cloth, medicinal materials and so on.
Qiu Dashan smiled bitterly and said: "Jinling fell into Yun Qing's hands, and it can cover their expenses for this troop dispatch." Yun Qing dispatched 600,000 troops this time, and the cost was staggering. I believe their official treasury is empty. But as long as the odds are won, the cost can be quickly replenished.
Tie Kui shook his head and said, "It's a pity." In the eyes of many people, including Yan Wushuang and Qiu Dashan, Tie Kui is a good fortune, so Tie Kui's words are not exaggerated.
Contrary to Qiu Dashan and others, Kang Yongquan and Sun Shaojian looked at the mountain of spoils, but they were dazzled and couldn't come over.
Kang Yongquan said with some excitement: "General, now we have made a fortune." These trophies were snatched by them, and they also had a share according to the rules. Although the proportion of the relative total is not high, the distribution to individuals is still considerable.
Du Zheng also had a smile on his face, but his mouth said: "Look at you for what you are doing. When we hit Jinling, you won't be able to see it."
Sun Shaojian said with great ambition: "General, we will be able to defeat Jinling in less than two months."
Du Zheng turned his head and looked at Sun Shaojian and said: "It is a good thing to be confident, but you can't be proud." No one dares to boast about the battlefield. In addition to having won, otherwise even certain things may change.
Sun Shaojian nodded hurriedly.
At this moment, a loud voice sounded outside: "General, the prince is here."
The three of them immediately went out to meet Yun Qing.
When Yun Qing saw the three of them, he smiled and asked, "What's the happy event that makes you feel so good?" He couldn't be more familiar with the kind of joy from the heart.
Du Zheng explained the number of spoils seized: "General, only Fuyang is as rich as this, not to mention Luzhou and Jinling." After taking down Luzhou and Jinling, these generals are going to bulge their pockets.
Yun Qing's expression didn't fluctuate at all: "I hope this harvest can make up for the cost of sending troops." This dispatch of troops emptied both the official and private treasury.
Du Zheng smiled and said, "Master, not only can this time make up for the cost of sending troops, but there will definitely be a surplus. You and the princess don't have to work so hard."
Yun Qing said: "The real hardship is the princess." The cost of sending troops is huge, and Yuxi really can't wait for a penny to be broken into two flowers. If there is no necessary expenditure, she will not approve it. This is not only reflected in government affairs, but also in Pingxi Palace.
Du Zheng smiled and said: "Our victory has half the credit of the princess." This is what Du Zheng said from the heart. If the army can't keep up with the salary, food and grass, there will be no way to talk about this battle.
Yun Qing smiled and said, "If the princess hears you, he will be very happy." Yuxi is not afraid of hard work, because she is afraid that no one will approve of what she has done.
When the group entered the house, Yun Qing was about to talk to a few people about the attack on Luzhou. Du Zheng said: "Master, you have worked hard on this journey, let's take a rest first!"
Yun Qing shook his head and said, "It's not too late to go to rest later." Although Fuyang has been attacked, he is not clear about the specific situation. You must first understand the situation clearly before going to rest.
As soon as the map was unfolded, someone outside shouted: "General, Yongzhou was broken by General Guan." This is good news for them.
Du Zheng's face showed joy: "Master, now we can attack Luzhou in two ways." In this way, they can take Luzhou in the fastest time.
Yun Qing nodded.
Qiu Dashan and Tie Kui arrived in the capital. Neither of them went home, but went to the Yan Palace.
Yan Wushuang's face was very ugly. When he saw the two of them, he said: "Just got the news that Luzhou was breached by Yun Qing last night. In two days, Yun Qing took Luzhou in just two days." There are two in Luzhou. One hundred and fifty thousand troops defended, but it was breached in two days.
Qiu Dashan asked, "So fast?" Although he knew that Yun Qing could take down Luzhou, he didn't expect it to be so fast.
Tie Kui asked, "Could there be another cavalry attack?"
Yan Wushuang said with a black face, "No. A thousand households named An Fu killed Li Can. When Li Can died, Luzhou was in chaos." The civil strife in Luzhou gave Yun Qing a chance. Otherwise, Yun Qing would not be able to break through Luzhou within two days.
Qiu Dashan said in disbelief: "A great general would be killed by a thousand households?" It was a bit weird to say it.
Tie Kui reacted quickly and asked, "Could this Anfu be bought by Yun Qing a long time ago?" When it was impossible to fight again, he suddenly came to such a hand.
Yan Wushuang shook his head and said, "I don't know for the time being." No matter what, Yan Wushuang would not pay attention to a thousand households.
Qiu Dashan said with a worried expression: "Jinling in Luzhou is only a few hundred miles away. If you do this, it won't take long before Jinling will fall into Yun Qing's hands."
Yan Wushuang was silent for a while and said, "I got the news two days ago. Xu Zhen sent troops to Hunan ten days ago. Now he has captured two states and is approaching Tanzhou."
Tie Kui said with some worry: "Lord, General Lien is in Jiangxi." If Hunan is breached, the General Lien guarding Jiangxi would be in danger.
Yan Wu said blankly on both sides: "It's too late to let him withdraw now."
Hearing this, Tie Kui bowed his head and said nothing.
Yan Wushuang glanced at Tie Kui and said, "You are tired after traveling for so long, so let's go back and rest!"
Tie Kui went home and washed briefly, then fell to bed after eating something. And Qiu Dashan was still talking with Yan Wushuang in his study at this time.
Yan Wushuang said: "Sneak attack on your cavalry, because Yun Qing placed it in a secret place for training, we haven't heard anything before."
Qiu Dashan's expression changed: "It is not the cavalry of Xihai?" He thought it was a cavalry transferred from Xihai by Yun Qing.
Yan Wushuang shook his head and said, "No. But I carefully studied the route of the lower cavalry and found a problem."
Qiu Dashan hurriedly asked, "What's the problem?"
Yan Wushuang said: "The route the cavalry took from Xiayi to Fuyang bypassed our three important defense zones and chose the safest and most convenient route. Do you know what this means?" As long as there is one It was found that the cavalry could not succeed in a sneak attack.
Qiu Dashan said: "Yun Qing knows all about our military deployment." After a pause, Qiu Dashan said with an ugly expression: "The cavalry still enters through our north gate, and the north gate is our weakest defensive place."
Yan Wushuang said: "There must have been some generals secretly rebelling in Fuyang City, and the position is not low." As for who this rebellious person is, he will find out.
Qiu Dashan looked hateful: "Let me know, I have to chop him up."
Yan Wushuang's conversation turned around and asked, "How did Tie Kui escape the pursuit?"
Qiu Dashan's heart jumped: "The prince suspects Tie Kui?"
Yan Wushuang said: "The cavalry who attacked you this time is led by Cui Mo. If Cui Mo takes the cavalry to catch Tiekui, Tiekui will not escape." It is a great achievement to catch Tiekui. With Cui Mo's temperament, it would be wrong to give up such an opportunity.
When in Xuzhou, Tie Kui once told Qiu Dashan that it was fortunate that it was not Cui Mo who led the cavalry to chase him. Otherwise, not only him, but even Qiu Dashan may not be able to escape. Now Yan Wushuang said that, making Qiu Dashan very uncomfortable. Because catching him is more meritorious than catching Tie Kui.
Tie Kui was worried that Yan Wushuang doubted him, and deliberately said these things in front of Qiu Dashan. Really something is going on, Qiu Dashan can also help him block it.
Qiu Dashan frowned and said, "The prince knows why Cui Mo didn't lead the cavalry to kill Tie Kui?"
Yan Wushuang nodded and said, "I said I was too tired and needed a rest, but this is an excuse." Anyway, Yan Wushuang didn't believe this.
Qiu Dashan's heart was very indignant, and his voice became louder when he spoke: "Master, I suspect that Tie Kui is meticulous based on this inexplicable matter without proof. If it is spread out, the soldiers below will be chilled." Doubt. Tie Kui, he didn't even suspect him.
Yan Wushuang didn't speak, but looked at Qiu Dashan coldly. After so many years, I haven't dared to speak so loudly in front of him. Had it not been for Qiu Dashan who had followed him for many years and had been loyal to him, he would have been dragged out and punished.
Qiu Dashan also realized that his emotions were not right just now, and he immediately knelt on the ground and said, "The prince, Tie Kui was born and died with me over the years. Moreover, his wife and children are in the capital and other family members are in Liaodong. It is impossible for him to even want his wife, children and clansmen. Yes. I would never believe it if Tie Kui has taken refuge in Yun Qing."
Yan Wushuang didn't speak, just said, "I hope he has not let down his trust in you." He also didn't want Tie Kui to be the one.
Qiu Dashan shook his head and said, "Master, I promise you with Xiang Shangren's head that Tie Kui definitely cannot be Yun Qing's person." If Tie Kui has rebelled, it is impossible to follow him back to the capital.
Yan Wushuang said lightly: "Go on!"
Meng Nian sent Qiu Dashan away and said to Yan Wushuang: "Master, General Qiu has a straight-forward temperament, and there is no room for sand in his eyes. Without evidence to tell him that Tie Kui may be a traitor, he is definitely impossible to believe." Meng Nian has reservations about whether Tie Kui betrayed and turned to Yun Qing.
Yan Wu said without expression on both sides: "I know." If he didn't even know the disposition of Qiu Dashan who had been with him for so long, he would have become a pile of bones.
Meng Nian was a little surprised: "Since I know, why did the prince say these things to him?"
Yan Wushuang said: "Dashan can't hide words, he definitely can't keep things from today. If Tie Kui is really dissatisfied, he will definitely do something." As long as Tie Kui moves, he can hold his tail.
Meng Nian felt a bit risky: "If he really rebels, this will make him startled. If not, doing so will make him chill." Yan Wushuang was suspicious of this and it made Meng Nian a headache, but no matter how hard he tried, this matter would be changed. No more.
Yan Wushuang said, "No need to say more about this."
As Yan Wushuang expected, Qiu Dashan invited Tie Kui to drink the next afternoon. While drinking, Qiu Dashan recalled his days in Liaodong with Tie Kui: “In Liaodong, although the days are a bit more bitter but comfortable. It’s not like here, suffocated.” The people he defended with his life didn’t even believe him. Is there someone more aggrieved than this!
Qiu Dashan felt that Qiu Dashan was in a bad mood, and asked, "General, did something happen?" When he came back, Qiu Dashan was in good spirits. But Qiu Dashan's mood is obviously very low.
Qiu Dashan drank a large bowl of wine and said with a sorrowful expression: "Although the son was young at the beginning, no one who has seen him praised him, saying that he can inherit the mantle of the marshal in the future. But now..." , Qiu Dashan didn't say any more, let him say bad things about Yan Wushuang, and couldn't say it.
Tie Kui stood up and poured a glass of wine for Qiu Dashan: "After so many things, it is inevitable that the prince has changed his temperament from before. As our subordinates, we should be considerate and considerate of him."
Qiu Dashan patted Tie Kui heavily on the shoulder: "These years, you have been wronged." Yan Wushuang sent someone to monitor Tie Kui, and Qiu Dashan knew about it. At that time, he felt that Yan Wushuang's approach was not honourable and that the consequences would be great, but his opposition was useless.
Tie Kui smiled and said, "Compared with those dead brothers, I'm already very lucky." To be alive now, not only depends on his ability, but also depends on his luck.
Qiu Dashan drank a large bowl of wine and said, "It's good if you can think so." If you care too much, you will be tired.
After drinking all afternoon's wine, Tie Kui was helped back. But when he got home, Tie Kui opened his eyes when there was no one in the house. It is not difficult to hear from Qiu Dashan's words that Yan Wushuang doubted that he could come back safely.
Tie Kui looked at the roof and said that when he was defeated, he really wanted to go to the northwest. Going to the northwest can restore his identity, so that he won't have to live such trembling days again. But he can't. Not only his wife and children are in the capital, but the foster father and mother are also in Liaodong. Once he went to the northwest, his wife, children, and adoptive parents would all have to die.
One day later, Meng Nian said to Yan Wushuang: "Lord, Tie Kui went home after drinking with General Qiu yesterday and developed a high fever in the middle of the night."
Yan Wushuang asked, "Have a high fever?"
Meng Nian said: "The imperial physician said that General Tie's fever was caused by his body injuries." Although Tie Kui was wounded on his body, although it was not fatal, it was impossible to heal in such a short time. In this case, drinking so much alcohol is definitely not good.
Yan Wushuang frowned and said, "This is a bit too coincidental." He fell ill before he even started to check Tiekui. This is considered a retreat.
Knowing what Yan Wushuang was thinking, Meng Nian said, "Master, I will let people pay close attention to Tie Kui."
Yan Wushuang nodded.