Fan Zhongyi was taken to another house and immediately felt as if he was in another place.
Daizhou, this frontier city, was mainly used to guard Yanmen Pass, and was truly a military town. So when Fan Zhongyi arrived here, he saw rough, low but solid buildings, with brick and stone walls and rammed earth walls.
The scene in front of him made him rub his eyes subconsciously. There were lakes, rockeries, pavilions, and birds chirping from somewhere. A wall separated the chaotic Daizhou city and a sense of tranquility came over him.
The entourage was settled in a separate room, and Fan Zhongyi lived in a wing room. The general said: "Stay here for a while, wash yourself first, and don't walk around casually."
Fan Zhongyi clasped his fists and bowed as a gesture of agreement. He muttered to himself: This courtyard is most likely Yang Ye's residence.
There were many sentries outside the house, but once inside, there were few people. Only at the end of the corridor and the intersection, men in cloth clothes were seen walking back and forth slowly and casually.
Sure enough, someone had prepared hot water for bathing. Soon, Fan Zhongyi was lying comfortably in the bathtub. As his aching waist and legs soaked in the hot water, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Such good treatment suddenly made Fan Zhongyi feel comfortable, but he did not forget his mission of going south. Although his body was tired, his mind never stopped.
Fan Zhongyi paid extra attention to two signs that he saw with his own eyes: first, the city was in a state of panic, and the panic was not caused by the Liao army's attack. Second, something seemed to have happened to the front camp of the Hedong Army.
Fan Zhongyi closed his eyes and did not move for a long time. The former camp military office of the Xu army should have some officials similar to the military supervisor, and there should be more than one; Yang Ye's military power should be dispersed by some government offices such as the former camp military office. However, there is a key problem. Most of the soldiers of the Hedong Army are former surrendered soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty in the Eastern Han Dynasty, while Yang Ye is the famous Yang Wudi of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He has a high prestige in the army and is an old general of the Eastern Han Dynasty. If the situation changes, any power restraint will be meaningless in the face of unruly violence.
Fan Zhongyi boldly speculated that since Yang Ye dared to escape from Tokyo, he must have made some preparations after returning. This also proved that Yang Ye's sudden departure from Tokyo did have a reason.
The water had become a little cold, so Fan Zhongyi got up and put on his clothes.
Just as I finished cleaning up, an old man with gray hair in a bun came into the room and said, "Come with me."
Fan Zhongyi asked: Where to go
The old man turned around and walked out without saying a word. Fan Zhongyi couldn't help but follow him.
When Fan Zhongyi arrived at an upper room, he saw a burly man sitting next to the coffee table. The old man said, "Alang, the man is here."
Fan Zhongyi turned his head slightly and saw that the old man had already gone out.
The burly man said: "This is the business of the Fan Mansion. Please sit down."
Fan Zhongyi was shocked that his identity had been discovered and that Xu Guo had a spy in the Liao Dynasty. But he immediately thought of a simple problem: he didn't know where his two followers had been taken.
Fan Zhongyi calmed down, clasped his fists and said in a flattering manner: "You are Yang Wudi, the commander of the Daxu Hedong Army.
It's just an empty title, Yang Ye said, pretending to be calm and indifferent, but the anxiety between his brows was obvious.
Fan Zhongyi walked over carefully and looked around to observe the movements around him, as if he felt that there were only the two of them in the entire yard.
Yang Ye said rudely: A traitor should be a Han official of Liao. Why did he come to Hedong to find Yang from afar
Fan Zhongyi's face suddenly became very ugly, but he could only hold back his anger and said: I am from Youzhou and have been a citizen of the Liao Dynasty since I was a child. The commander had some misunderstandings. The Liao Dynasty not only had Khitans, but also Xi, Jurchen, Tatar and Han people. Everyone could serve as an official in the court.
Heh, Yang Ye responded with a sneer.
Fan Zhongyi said calmly: Lord Yang is loyal to the country and the court, how does the court treat you
What does that mean? Yang Ye asked.
Fan Zhongyi said: Li Chuyun and Luo Yanhuan were both founding heroes, but they also ended up like this. Yang Gong was a surrendered general of the Eastern Han Dynasty, with a large army under his command. Have you ever thought about your situation
Yang Ye suddenly slapped the table with his palm, and the teacup on it jumped, spilling water all over the table. The sudden slap scared Fan Zhongyi. Yang Ye was furious, and then his face turned cold. Do you think that with your eloquence, you can make Yang betray his ancestors and surrender to the Liao Kingdom, and be willing to be a slave of three surnames
Fan Zhongyi was not easily frightened, and soon calmed down, saying in a friendly way: "Why should Lord Yang surrender to the Liao Dynasty? Hedong was originally the territory of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it was conquered by the State of Xu. Why should Lord Yang surrender to others?"
Yang Ye said: Xiao Siwen is trying to sow discord. You underestimate me. You are a spy. There is no point in saying more.
Just then, there seemed to be a figure outside the door, and the old man's voice said: Alang.
Yang Ye said angrily: Come in
The old man entered, walked up to Yang Ye, bent down and whispered something in Yang Ye's ear.
Fan Zhongyi pricked up his ears. The voice was too soft to hear clearly, but he could faintly hear words like "chaotinglu".
After the old man finished speaking, Yang Ye gave him a look. The old man said to Fan Zhongyi: Come with me.
Fan Zhongyi stood up, clasped his fists and bowed to Yang Ye, saying: I will take my leave first.
The two of them left the living room and walked north along the way they came. Fan Zhongyi felt that this old man should be Yang Ye's confidant, and when he looked around to see if there was anyone around, he said: "I have a few more words to say, please tell Mr. Yang. The court sent someone to negotiate terms, and we should not trust them easily; things have come to this point, even if it is temporarily settled, the higher-ups will settle the matter sooner or later."
The old man seemed to be mute and did not seem to understand what Fan Zhongyi said. He had no intention of answering at all.
As soon as Fan Zhongyi returned to the place where he had been before, he saw several big men waiting there. When they saw Fan Zhongyi, they tied him up without saying a word. Fan Zhongyi's heart skipped a beat, and then he saw a man holding a cloth ball and trying to stuff it towards him. He hurriedly said: "Old sir, please ask Yang Gong to think twice."
Then, my head felt dark and was covered by a sack.
Fan Zhongyi felt like he was getting on a carriage, and then he heard the creaking sound of wheels. Gradually, the hustle and bustle of the city disappeared from his ears, leaving only the very boring and monotonous sound of the wheels.
Fan Zhongyi was in a state of panic and fear. Yang Ye had clearly rejected his lobbying and was trying to silence him.
About a few days later, the dying Fan Zhongyi suddenly felt a bright light in front of his eyes. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the dilapidated and familiar ruins: the Great Wall.
A voice said: Go back to where you came from
The Liao Dynasty went to the capital, and Xiao Siwen and other important officials of the Northern Court had returned from Yingzhou. Soon, the spies from Xiazhou, Xuguo and Pingxia Province first reported the news.
Earlier, the Liao spies bribed a Tangut named Zheheige. This Tangut was not a simple person, but a confidant of Zhe Dejian, the Grand Commander of Pingxia Province, so it was worth the Liao people's money to bribe him.
When Xiao Siwen sent Fan Zhongyi to Hedong, he also sent people to Xiazhou to inquire about the news.
At this time, the news had been reported back, and they were all trivial matters, but Xiao Siwen paid more attention to what he learned from Zhe Heige. Zhe Dejian had received an imperial edict to go to Dongjing for a meeting; but not long ago, the Xu court withdrew the order and cancelled the summons. In addition, it was said that Yang Ye's wife Zhe had just given birth to their third son, but Zhe Dejian did not send anyone to send a gift and ignored the matter.
A few days later, Fan Zhongyi also came back.
Xiao Siwen immediately sent someone to notify the people involved in the planning of this matter, and asked them to go to Xiao's house to discuss the matter as soon as Fan Zhongyi returned to Beijing.
When Yang Gun was on his way home, he met the cavalry of General Yelu Xizhen. Yelu Xizhen also recognized Yang Gun on foot and immediately stopped his horse to greet him.
Yang Gun quickly placed his hand on his chest and bowed.
Yelu Xizhen said: General Yang, please follow me back home and have a drink with me.
Yang Gun said: It is better to obey than to be respectful.
When they arrived at Yelu Xizhen's house, they drank three rounds of wine together. Yelu Xizhen asked: "What do you think the news from Xiazhou means?"
Yang Gun thought for a while and said: Zhe Dejian seems to be involved in Yang Ye's affairs. The Zhe and Yang families are in-laws.
Yelu Xizhen nodded and said: It seems so.
Yang Gun added: Fan Zhongyi was able to come back alive, and Yang Ye’s attitude towards the Liao Dynasty was also very interesting.
Yelu Xizhen said: Fan Zhongyi has not yet arrived in Shangjing, so we don’t know the inside story.
Yang Gun said calmly: Fan Zhongyi was an official of the Liao Dynasty. He had an affair with Yang Ye. The fact that Yang Ye did not kill him showed his attitude.
Yelu Xizhen suddenly realized: Yang Ye at least wanted to leave a way out.
Yang Gun nodded: When Li Yun was still in Hedong, the two Li clans, Li Chongjin and Li Jixun, conspired to rebel and tried to get Li Yun to join them; the Liao Dynasty also sent people to contact them. Li Yun thought that he could marry Fu Yanqing, so he rejected Li Chongjin and the Liao Dynasty's good intentions, but he did not kill the Liao Dynasty envoys to leave a way out. Later, Li Yun did rebel.
Yelu Xizhen looked worried after hearing this and said thoughtfully, "It's hard for Lord Xiao not to get involved in the affairs of Hedong this time."
Hearing that there was no intention to ask, Yang Gun kept silent and silently picked up the wine cup to drink.
Yelu Xizhen added: Lord Xiao has great ambitions and has worked hard for the Liao Dynasty. I have always believed in Lord Xiao, but in recent years, it seems that Lord Xiao's strategy towards the Xu Dynasty is too radical and tough.
Yang Gun did not comment.
Yelu Xizhen looked at him and said: When we discuss the matter in a few days, I hope General Yang can persuade Lord Xiao that the Liao Dynasty has not gained any advantage over the Xu State in the past few years, and the strength has reversed. It is better to be cautious when making decisions.
Yang Gun said: I am just a commoner now. I am lucky to be around Lord Xiao. How can I be qualified to advise Lord Xiao
Yelu Xizhen shook his head and said: "I can see that General Yang's opinions are highly valued by Lord Xiao. The battle formation strategy you brought back from Dongdao was put into practice in Liaoxi Fort. Try to persuade him so that Lord Xiao can think about it more."
Yang Gun bowed but did not agree.