Xu Fengnian led a horse of the Youqi Army and walked slowly along the edge of the post road. Just as Yang Shenxing had reservations in his speech, Xu Fengnian would not have a heart-to-heart with Yang Shenxing. The place he was going to next was not the Helan Mountains where soldiers overwhelmed the border, but Lingzhou, which supported most of the taxes in Northern Liang. The most concealed inside story is that Xu Fengnian had met Wang Sui before. Xu Fengnian had only 800 white horses with him at that time, and Wang Sui led Beimang Dong Nabo Wang Jingchong and hundreds of private troops. They each separated from the army and met quietly.
Xu Fengnian was not in a hurry to ride his horse to Lingzhou, and fell into deep thought. Even if he had met with the coach of the Eastern Front of Beimang, he didn't know what kind of medicine Wang Sui sold in the gourd. It was obviously Wang Sui who asked for this secret We met, but we actually met, but Wang Sui didn't say anything serious. After some conversation, apart from talking about old friends from the past, he looked like an elder who was not far or close and met a nephew who was somewhat promising. It's just that while implicitly praising the younger generation, the old man didn't forget to brag about his demeanor back then, which made Xu Fengnian very helpless, and it was easy to think of Xu Xiao who retired in Qingliang Mountain in those years. During the period, Wang Sui ridiculed that the situation in Liyang is that one crab is not as good as one crab. Both the talents of court officials and the knowledge of literati are declining from generation to generation. He even scolded the two emperors of Liyang as cowards. Dog, dare not fight Bei Mang to the death, so he has to clean up the remnants of Western Chu. Although Xu Fengnian didn't agree, he was really relieved to hear it. In the end, Wang Suiyi patted Xu Fengnian's shoulder in a coquettish manner, and walked away without saying a word. From the beginning to the end, Wang Sui had only one sentence that hit the crux of the situation. Since he, Wang Sui, failed to reap any benefits from his westward safari, no one on the eastern front would be willing to feel sorry for Beiliang for a while. Xu Fengnian knew what the old man meant. It wasn't that the Eastern Front of Beimang had given up, because most of the garrisons on the Eastern Front of Beimang facing Gu Jiantang were conservative forces on the grasslands. Break through the gap and approach Tai'an City, then Wang Sui's obstruction at the east gate of Youzhou is very likely to deal a fatal blow to Taiping Ling and Dong Zhuo in the temples of Beimang and Beijing.
It was this sentence that dispelled Xu Fengnian's idea of trying to kill someone. He only talked about Fengyue with the old man, but he didn't make a move in the end. Therefore, this trip to Helan Mountain wasn't a surprise, but it wasn't a disappointment either. For Beiliang, who was currently battered by the battle of Lumang, there was no bad news, but good news. So Yang Shenxing came to Beiliang to serve as the deputy governor. As long as he didn't want to die to help the court mix sand in Beiliang, then Xu Fengnian didn't mind giving Yang Shenxing a peace of mind, and he could even take the initiative to help the old man accumulate some merits. Let Yang Shenxing not be too difficult to be a man. Beiliang and Xu Fengnian were like this to Yang Shenxing, and they were also like this to Han Lin, envoy of Lianghuai Economic Strategy.
This kind of forbearance everywhere, of course, can't be called hearty, and it can't be called a chivalrous spirit.
Xu Fengnian finally got on his horse, and before he whipped the horse forward, he glanced eastward.
The woman at the tea stall was sitting on the bench bored, looking up at the back of the somewhat bookish general riding one by one, walking farther and farther on the post road, thinking about the scene where this handsome guy was bargaining with her just now, she laughed. He smiled, thinking that this young man must have a good background, but he doesn't even care about a few pennies, so he knows how to live.
…
The state city of Lingzhou is full of joy. This kind of celebration comes from top to bottom, like the spring breeze turning into rain. The people in the city don't know why the city suddenly became lively again. They naturally guess whether it is a big victory between Liangzhou Guanwai and Youzhou Hulukou, but there is no definite news. , no one can be sure, but during this period of time, you can often see high-ranking officials and dignitaries, especially the big shots of Jiang Zhong's family, getting drunk. Mostly it was a family or a few families separated by generations to celebrate together. Some local wealthy families who were usually sharp-edged, now met in the narrow road of the restaurant, and there was no atmosphere of tension at all, and they just laughed it off. In the twilight, several riders entered the city by stepping on the gate, and went straight to the mansion of Biejia Song Yan in Lingzhou. An army sharp soldier with a knife hanging from his waist. Song Yan, who was notified by the concierge, walked out quickly, and was stunned when he saw Xu Fengnian standing on the street with his horse. Xu Fengnian asked someone to spare a horse for this Lingzhou political leader who admired Legalism, and the two rode slowly. To the governor's residence, which was still some distance away, Song Yan looked excited and asked in a low voice: "My lord, did you really win?"
It seems that it is not only outsiders like Yang Huchen who find it incredible, even Song Yan's family members in Beiliang don't dare to believe the spy information from the border, because Xu Fengnian didn't make a big fanfare in the territory of Beiliang Road for some reason. Propagating the great victory at the border, even Song Yan, a high-ranking official with real power from the third rank, can only learn the final results of the three battlefields from the crude espionage that cherishes words like gold.
Xu Fengnian nodded and said, "A miserable victory."
Song Yan's face flushed suddenly, and his lips trembled. This bone-hard literati who could straighten his waist even when he first met His Royal Highness, was speechless for a while.
Xu Fengnian sighed and said: "There are still battles to be fought, but there should not be too many battles within half a year. The frontier army can take a breather for a while, but then you Lingzhou will be devastated, and you will only be busier than before."
Song Yan said with a smile: "Compared to the other three states, only Lingzhou is far away from gunpowder. Those of us who are Taiping officials, it's nothing to be busy. I only heard of those who died in battle, and it's rare to hear that they were tired in officialdom." dead."
Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, looked at the bustling streets that were bustling at night, and said softly: "Xu Beizhi is going to step down from the position of governor of Lingzhou and take over from Tian Peifang as governor of Liangzhou, but the position that Xu Beizhi has vacated, Mr. Song, you... "
Xu Fengnian didn't finish his sentence, Song Yan remained silent, neither showing resentment nor resentment, nor did he say any generous words as a civil servant who only seeks the well-being of the people and does not seek high-ranking officials.
Xu Fengnian was a little helpless, and said: "Thousands of scholars went to Liang, just like some scholars from other places privately slandered. Up to now, they have been officials the size of sesame seeds and mung beans, like a wealthy gentry who casually donates to beggars on the roadside. It is in line with the principle of raising a scholar with a thousand pieces of gold. Although Song Dongming became the deputy economic envoy of Beiliang Dao and ranked second, after all, Song Dongming is not a scholar who went to Liang in the strict sense. As rumored by outsiders, Song Dongming is more related to Xu Beizhi Huangfu Similar to Ping and the others, they are my confidantes who Xu Fengnian promoted out of the ordinary based on his personal preferences."
Speaking of this, Xu Fengnian laughed at himself, "Now that Beiliang has won the battle, logically speaking, it is time to appoint officials and make a wish. There is an urgent need to give these scholars who are waiting to be fed a hope. After all, Beiliang is only a land of four states. There are only so many hats, and many non-local scholars have been stuffed in the yamen of various places. It is impossible for me to drive away the local officials of Beiliang to make room for them. If it is not suitable, I have to use a third-rank high-ranking official of the governor of Lingzhou as a gimmick .Originally based on Mr. Song’s ability to manage political affairs, he is of course the best candidate for the next governor of Lingzhou.”
Song Yan finally opened his mouth to speak, without any concealment, on the contrary very straightforward, asked: "My lord, if I can't be a governor in Lingzhou, can I go to other states?"
Xu Fengnian also said frankly: "After Tian Peifang was promoted to deputy economic envoy, Xu Beizhi took over. This is a certainty. The current governor of Liuzhou is Yang Guangdou, and Chen Xiliang is the next one, and it can only be Chen Xiliang. Liuzhou has been affected by a series of wars. To put it bluntly, I am willing to let Mr. Song be transferred to Liuzhou. I guess you will not be able to convince the public. This has nothing to do with your Song Yan's ability to govern. As for Youzhou, you might as well contact Tell the truth, Hu Kui, who is determined to make contributions in the battlefield, will indeed return to the frontier army soon, but the candidate for the next governor is also very particular. Compared with Liangzhou, Youzhou puts more emphasis on martial arts than literature. In a few years, he won't be so aggrieved, complaining that he is a vase governor. Back then, he tried his best to work hard to come to Lingzhou to take a job. Many, with the heaviest casualties, it's not right for you to go to Youzhou."
Song Yan smiled bitterly and said, "If the prince says that, the next official will give up. It's good to talk about it, and you don't have to worry about that all day long."
Song Yan knew well that Liangzhou, Liuzhou and Youzhou would not be able to go, and Lingzhou would not be able to get promoted this time. After setting a precedent in the officialdom by buying a horse with a lot of money, there might still be no suitable position for Song Yan in the future. Because Lingzhou will inevitably become the best place to resettle scholars who go to Liangzhou, Jiangnan outside the Great Wall, where there is no sound of war drums and no smoke, is naturally suitable for scholars who dance and write, and Beiliang may take advantage of the trend to form a stable situation where the north will be the south, so Song Yan is particularly worried He is not a pedantic literati. Although he is not the kind of official who is too keen on fame and fortune, he is never foolishly loyal to anyone. Fulfilling one's ambitions is, after all, directly linked to the size of the official hat on one's head. Imagine if Zhang Julu was a small official in the Qingshui Yamen, how could he single-handedly create the current situation in Liyang
Xu Fengnian exhaled lightly, without turning his head to look at Song Yan, "Three years, if I can last until three years later, I will be able to do what I promised you at the beginning. If... If you feel wronged, take advantage of this time Yang Shenxing has entered the cold, I can let you escape from the officialdom in Beiliang and go to Tai'an City."
Xu Fengnian said calmly: "It's not that I'm testing you. Beiliang hasn't had the habit of playing tricks since Xu Xiao. In this land, there aren't many seeds for reading. It doesn't matter if you can stand it. The flowers blooming inside the wall are fragrant outside the wall, and they will not be blocked, let alone chopped off with a cold knife."
Song Yan leaned back slightly, his shoulders gently rising and falling with the horse's back, and lazily said: "If I, Song Yan, go to Tai'an City, can the emperor of the Zhao family keep pace with me? Can't he? He will run specially because I can't be promoted. Come to explain one or two in person? Can’t you? My Song Yan’s knees can’t be said to be so hard, but at least I don’t have to go to court meetings every day to kneel in Beiliang. Day after day, year after year, there is no end. Scholars, it is more comfortable to be an official standing up than kneeling, not to mention that I am not a small official. Of course, if one day the emperor of the Zhao family came to me and said, Song Yan, the six departments of the court are missing. A minister, why don't you settle down first, and then let you go to Zhongshu Province and Menxia Province to be the chief official, and guarantee that when you enter the coffin, you will have a posthumous title of Wenzhen or something. Stop it, I'm going to cry, make trouble, and hang myself."
Xu Fengnian laughed loudly, "Master Song, lord Song, then don't even think about it. Miss Song is not bad in appearance, but she really didn't cause harm to the country and the people. Not to mention academic ability, Yan Ge is always giving birth to a daughter. Come on, stronger than you."
Song Yan snorted very bluntly.
When they arrived at the governor's mansion, Xu Beizhi was still on airs that day. After learning that the king of Beiliang was coming, not to mention mobilizing people to open the ceremony door, even if he showed his face, Xu Fengnian had no choice but to go to the study. The frightened mansion was cautious. Pushing open the door, I saw that the governor who had not taken off his robes was sitting on a chair dealing with government affairs. In the messy study room, books were scattered all over the place. Xu Fengnian bent down to pick up a book. Song Yan smiled and went to Windows open windows for air. When Xu Fengnian had almost finished tidying up the study, Xu Beizhi put down his pen, rubbed his wrist, and glanced up at Xu Fengnian, who smiled and said, "Now Song Dongming and Bai Yu are fighting with each other in Qingliang Mountain. There won't be any big troubles, but it's not reassuring after all, so I want to let the governor of Liangzhou go to Liangzhou as a peacemaker, and help me watch as the governor of Liangzhou."
Xu Beizhi said indifferently: "Let's not mention whether those two people will have pimples in their hearts, just say that Lingzhou is a mess, you don't let Song Biejia, who is familiar with the road, come to be the governor, just to appease the scholars who went to Liangzhou, and hand it over to a Outsiders, do you really think that there will be no mistakes by then?"
Xu Fengnian said with a smile: "Then what do you say?"
Xu Beizhi cut to the chase and said, "Did Li Gongde say that he would resign as the economic envoy and be replaced by Song Dongming?"
Xu Fengnian nodded and said: "Having said that, he meant that it was not used as an economic strategy, and he only retained the false title of Governor Liangzhou Guanwai New City Construction, but I didn't agree."
Xu Beizhi sneered and said, "Why, are you afraid of being accused of killing a donkey? Does it chill the hearts of the veterans of Beiliang? Or are you worried that Li Hanlin won't be able to justify it?"
Xu Fengnian smiled without saying a word.
Xu Beizhi was a little angry, and said in a deep voice, "Don't drive a Lingzhou, it's not small!"
Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, "It's not small, but it's not big enough either."
Xu Beizhi said: "Then let Mr. Song go to be the governor of Liangzhou. I only take up a spare position in Qingliang Mountain, and I can also help you play a check and balance effect."
Xu Fengnian still shook his head, and lost his eyes to Song Yan who was watching from the other side.
Song Yan gloated and said, "My lord, there are people in the world who don't want to be the governor but are willing to be other officials. Isn't this embarrassing Song Yan? Besides, the governor of Liangzhou is much more expensive than the governor of our Lingzhou. I can't say such words against my will. What's more, the governor Xu is obviously going to be successful, so I got mixed up with the subordinates, and finally lost the governor and went to Liangzhou to sit on the bench. After thinking about it, then the incense and fire that I have managed to accumulate these days will be gone. Whether it is public or private, the lower officials will not help the prince to persuade the governor."
After being interrupted by Song Yan, the original tense atmosphere in the study was gone. Xu Beizhi probably vented his pent-up grievances, and quickly regained his composure. Nobody believes it?"
Xu Fengnian moved a chair and sat down, "I can't really suspect anyone, but if you stay in Qingliang Mountain with oranges, I can feel more at ease outside Beiliang Pass."
Seeing Xu Beizhi staring at him without turning his eyes, Xu Fengnian felt a little guilty, "Chen Xiliang refused to leave Liuzhou even if he was beaten to death. I made it clear that I want to take root there, and I really have no choice."
Xu Beizhi smiled and said, "My lord really knows how to squeeze persimmons."
Xu Fengnian resentfully said nothing.
Song Yan's face was strange, the relationship between the prince and Xu Beizhi and Chen Xiliang is really worth pondering. Otherwise, listening to Xu Cishi's tone, how could he sound like a woman who is fighting for the position of a doctor at home.
Xu Beizhi's face suddenly softened, "It's not easy in Liuzhou. In that big battle where each side can only win or lose, both sides have brought out the things at the bottom of the box."
Especially in Beiliang, where the troops are inferior, not to mention that all 30,000 dragon elephant troops have been thrown into the battlefield. Except for Qingcang, the soldiers and horses of the two towns of Liuzhou, plus the Liangzhou cavalry rushing to help, even Liu Wenbao and Chai Dongdi of the Sima family temporarily The assembled 4,000 private soldiers from the Western Regions, as well as the 20,000 monks and soldiers from Mount Landa that Liuzhu Bodhisattva urgently mobilized, all surfaced one by one. The bloody battle was won in an extremely thrilling manner. It can be said that the lack of any army will lead to the fall of Liuzhou, not to mention the ability to draw thousands of cavalry to enter the center line battlefield after the war, echoing with the cavalry outside Beiliang Pass, and finally successfully forcing Dong Zhuo to give up his plan to die together. If it was only Beimang's unilateral annihilation of Hulukou's entire army, Dong Zhuo, who had already pulled out the nail in Hutou City, could ignore it completely and continue to advance south.
Therefore, it can be said that Liuzhou, which was originally the most irrelevant to the overall situation, was the real winner of the reckless battle in the second year of Xiangfu.
Xu Beizhi stood up and stared at Xu Fengnian, "You should be clear, even if I hoarded food on a large scale before the war, I also used various means to 'borrow food' from various places around Beiliang during the war, and I didn't even release food from Xishu. However, if you want to win the next battle, not to mention the imperial government restricting the water transportation, as long as the Liyang water transportation does not fully support Beiliang, then the result is that the battle is not impossible, but we will die a lot of people in Beiliang, Maybe 30,000, maybe 50,000, maybe more. Beiliang, what should I do?"
Xu Fengnian sat quietly on the chair, silent for a long time, and finally said: "After I leave this study, I will leave for Tai'an City."
Song Yan's expression changed drastically.
Xu Beizhi slammed his fist on the desk suddenly, furious, "You, Xu Fengnian, can afford to lose this face, but I, Beiliang, can't! Liu Jinu of Hutou City! King Lingbao of Liuzhou! Tian Heng of Youzhou! I, Beiliang, died in battle. I can't afford to lose tens of thousands of heroic souls!"
Xu Fengnian got up silently, and walked out of the study silently.
Song Yan hesitated to speak, but in the end it was just a sigh.
Xu Beizhi roared at the back: "Beiliang iron cavalry can stop even Beimang's million soldiers and horses! Is it difficult to take down Liyang's Lianghuai?!"
Did not stop.
In the dark corridor, the not-so-old figure was slightly stooped.