Delong

Chapter 369: The Four Fields (3)

In the second ten days of July, the autumn air in Hebei is beginning to appear, and the fields are full of gradually mature crops. When the wind blows, the yellow-green millet waves will fluctuate with the wind... This magnificent scene undoubtedly verifies the saying of many people. The drought this summer is just a Production cuts, some people worry too much.

"The millet must be a circle smaller than Fengnian." In the morning, on the official road in the northernmost part of Qinghe County, Qinghe County, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl with a military sword just walked up from the opposite field, her brows were slightly frowned. The only daughter of Dou Lide, the leader of the Dethrone Dragon Gang, and the new head of patrol cavalry, Dou Xiaoniang. "The harvest on the Qinghe side is obviously worse than that on the plain, and the plain is worse than that on the Bohai Sea..."

"The replanted wheat is even worse." On the other side of the official road, there were seven or eight knights standing on the embankment of the Qingzhang River, leading their horses to graze on the embankment. One of them picked it up casually. "After all, it was replanting... The battle in spring this year, it was said that it was not delayed until after the spring plowing, but Qinghe's preparations were too intense, and the spring plowing was still delayed."

The little girl frowned even more when she heard the words, but she looked across the Qingzhang River again, and couldn't help asking: "The Jingcheng on the opposite side is similar, right? The day before yesterday, I sent thanks to the branch, and I was in a hurry, so I forgot to check it out." .”

"I don't think it's the same." Under the embankment, there were a few people who were drinking horses, and someone came to answer. "It was the county of Qinghe, but it was taken away by Xiangguo County after the spring plowing."

"What about Xiangguo County?" Dou Xiaoniang continued to ask. "Will it be better?"

"I don't know, I haven't been there." A partner answered casually. "The day before yesterday, I sent thanks to the group in charge of them, and I only went to Jingcheng City."

The others also shook their heads in agreement.

Immediately, someone naturally came to ask curiously: "Ms. Dou, why are you asking this?"

"Don't call me Xiaoniang... I took a new name when I joined the team, call me Dou Hongxian!" Dou Xiaoniang carefully corrected, and then spoke. "The main reason is that sooner or later we will fight with places like Xiangguo and Wu'an, and want to see how good they are... It's all a drought, but they didn't fight Xuzhou, and they didn't fight the plains after spring plowing before. Wouldn't it be better than us? Aren't we here to investigate the specific situation of the drought recently?"

"You can ask." A slightly older partner, seeing that the accessories should be the leader of the team, thought about it on the spot, but gave a feasible idea. "Or just take a walk and see it at home, who can't understand the harvest in the field?"

"Yes, is it feasible?" Others asked in surprise. "Ms. Dou is talking about Xiangguo County, not just Jingcheng."

"I know, but I still think it's feasible." The gang leader nodded. "On weekdays, don't we often cross the river to Jingcheng and Zongcheng to spy? The other side has long been used to it, especially after this autumn, Zongcheng is still tougher, and Jingcheng is much more honest. Let's walk a few more miles to see So what? Just like what Xiaoniang said, taking advantage of this drought to see how the crops are doing in the fields, you can basically know the quality of Xiangguo County."

"Then let's go."

"Anyway, we are border patrols... Is it better to detect the inside story of the other side than to check the caravan here?"

"Just send them to Xiangguo County as a thank you in charge..."

"According to the rules, as long as the military situation is not important, there are three days of cheap time."

The others were also very excited. Dou Xiaoniang originally wanted to continue to correct her name, but when she heard that the gang leader recognized her idea and planned to cross the river to investigate, it was difficult to speak.

A group of border patrol cavalry were originally aggressive and highly mobile. After making up their minds, they set off without hesitation. Instead of taking the serious pontoon bridge, they found a shallow water wild beach upstream, and twenty or thirty cavalry floated directly. The horse passed by.

However, the following results surprised everyone, because the harvest in the fields in Jingcheng County was obviously not as good as that in the south of Zhangshui.After thinking about it, everyone can only think that it is May and June, and the disaster relief here is not good.

"They think this is the county of Qinghe, and if they occupy it, they are just grabbing Qingzhang water to guard against us, so they are unwilling to do their best!" Dou Xiaoniang immediately gave a judgment with resentment.

Everyone else agrees.

"Don't say any more." The gang elders were more mature and quickly issued the military order. "Hurry up and go to the west, and go to Julu County to have a look... so as not to delay going back at night."

Everyone was naturally speechless, but when they were trying to pass through the long and narrow southern area of ​​Jingcheng County, and were about to enter Julu County, Xiangguo County, a group of unexpected people suddenly appeared behind them.The opponent had about a hundred riders, and they were only under the banner of the Great Wei court. The scouts of the Dragon Clan thought they were soldiers from Xiangguo County, and wanted to leave quickly, but immediately, one of the opponent's prancing horses came out. , took the initiative to greet them from a distance, and they immediately realized that something was wrong.

"Miss Dou, long time no see." Su Jingfang greeted him loudly with a smile on his face from afar. "Are you dethroning the dragon gang ready to take action against Xiangguo? This is going to enter Julu!"

Obviously, this is from Wu'an County.

Besides, since Zongcheng was captured by Wu'an County, it was used as the front line to defend against the Dragon Clan, and the Dragon Clan launched a special patrol system, and the two families have often met... The atmosphere is generally harmonious and restrained, because both sides The economic and trade exchanges and non-governmental exchanges in China are very smooth, and the political interaction between the highest levels of the two sides is obviously much more friendly than other places... But there is also an obvious competitive mentality, after all, there is an objective military confrontation.

Those who dismissed the dragon gang didn't say anything, but they always thought that in one or two years, two or three years, Hebei would be annexed as soon as the opportunity came, and Wu'an County could not escape, so they often had a condescending posture.Correspondingly, Wu'an County also has a strong defensive mentality, as well as a sense of eagerness triggered by strong confidence in its own combat power.

In this case, when meeting a third party on the territory of a third party, Dou Xiaoniang is naturally ready to taunt, and she also has the confidence to taunt, her cultivation level is slightly higher than that of Su Jingfang... But she did not taunt the other party in the end, because Su Jingfang was behind One person quickly caught her attention, it was a young female general who was slightly older than herself but not much older.

This person's body-protecting true qi seems to be absent, like a rare female general who is stuck at the level of condensing pills.

In Wu'an County, there seems to be only one person who meets this condition.

"Is it General Fan?" Dou Xiaoniang thought for a while, bypassing Su Jingfang, and directly cupped her hand at the female general. "General Fan, your elder brother, Chief Fan, has a lot of words to tell us that we must send a message when we see you, please go home."

It is rare for Fan Lihua to be persuaded by Su Jingfang to go out of the country to do business. When she first came up, she met someone from the Dragon Gang, and she was embarrassed... Time has passed, and she is no longer the stubborn Fan family who couldn't accept the death of her elder brother and the surrender of her second brother. Miss, especially after coming to Hebei, seeing the devastation everywhere, I also have a little understanding of the war, and the only living relative is getting more and more secure in the Chulong Gang, so the natural position wears away... But I have to say it again, She followed Zhang Shiniang, brought people to Wu'an County, and found her new position and new value early on, and it was also impossible for her to give up everything here just because of a word.

But now, with such a young lady speaking softly to her, it is impossible for her to show her aunt's temper, so she bowed her hands and returned some polite words honestly.

The contact between Fan Lihua and Dou Xiaoniang greatly eased the atmosphere present, Su Jingfang didn't seem to want to make trouble, just stood aside and pretended to be innocent.

The two sides chatted for a while, and roughly eliminated some hostility and the possibility of armed conflict, but they still had their own ideas... The reconnaissance naturally became surveillance, and they only went in the direction of Julu together.

After arriving in Julu, Dou Xiaoniang and her team easily got the answer they wanted—the harvest in the Xiangguo County was not as good as that in the Qinghe area in the Longbang.

It can be seen that Chen Junxian, the governor of Xiangguo County, is a waste of ineffective disaster relief.

However, now that things have come to an end, Dou Xiaoniang and the others who got the answer are not in a hurry to go back to the border line, but choose to continue to follow Su Jingfang and his party... If the border patrols withdraw at this time, it will be real. Dereliction of duty, especially when they escorted the head of their family's foreign affairs into Xiangguo County the day before yesterday.

At this time, people from Wu'an County also came to Xiangguo suddenly, and they seemed to have something to say.

At the same time, Su Jingfang's group who obviously set out from Zongcheng didn't intend to drive away the ridicule, but let them follow.

However, when the two sides had their own ghosts, what they didn't know at all was that Xie Minghe, the head of foreign affairs of the Dragon Gang, was a guest of honor in Xiangguo County.

"The meaning of our chief is very simple, please Chen Fujun to write a public announcement... In fact, we have already written the announcement for you, and I brought all the people who preached the announcement for you... The main thing is to ask Your Excellency to admit yourself Lack of ability in civil affairs, so that they can do nothing in the drought, unable to save the people; lack of military experience, unable to stabilize the place, eliminate banditry, so that the local security deteriorated, affecting the entire central and western Hebei; culturally also It is difficult to be practical, and we cannot follow our suggestions so that the people of Xiangguo County can enjoy fair foundation building and literacy opportunities... and it is precisely because of the above that our Chief Zhang was furious, so he sent someone to reprimand Chen Fujun Let Mr. Chen be more worthy than Li Ding, Mr. Chen also realized his mistake, he is extremely ashamed, and is willing to abdicate." Xie Minghe, who was sitting in the guest seat in the lobby of Longgangbao in the south of Xiangguo County, spoke sincerely. "In this way, Mr. Chen will be able to escape the catastrophe and return to his hometown in peace?"

Chen Jun sat on the main seat first, with a troubled expression on his face, and at the end he simply covered his face and bowed his head: "This is too...too much! If this kind of announcement goes on, I will make people laugh for the world, and the reputation of the Chen family in Runan It will take a lot of damage.”

"Mr. Chen Fu." Xie Minghe sighed and said helplessly. "I can barely be considered a descendant of a famous family. Today, I will tell you a truth in my personal capacity. That is, your personal name, whether it is good or bad, does not have much impact on the family's reputation."

Chen Jun raised his head in a daze.

Seeing this, Xie Minghe understood, but continued on: "Family prestige depends on two things... one is whether the family can be continued, and the other is how many people can be officials during the continuation process. And then what to do... To put it bluntly, it depends on the sum of your family's official status. As for your personal reputation and official status, it doesn't really matter much. Your Runan Chen family, your ancestors certainly There are many outstanding people, but are there really no people who are shamed and thrown into the history books? How can you deny your ancestors? If you have to say something bad, it is also useful to leave a bad reputation in the history books, at least better than the history books It’s even more important if you don’t have a name left on it. Therefore, no one should use any family prestige as a cover.”

Chen Junxian was slightly embarrassed, but did not say anything.

"Of course, this is a private admonition, and the next step is official business." Seeing this, Xie Minghe suddenly raised his voice again. "Do you think that some things are up to you?"

"That's up to you?" Chen Junxian finally spread his hands angrily. "If that's the case, why didn't you Dulong Gang directly send troops to take Xiangguo County? I asked you to help me resist Li Ding, but you just asked me to give up the territory!"

Listening to his words, it turned out that Li Ding was trying to go down the river and annex him.

"Mr. Chen, you don't know what to say." Xie Minghe sneered. "You yourself are incompetent. For several years, you can't even clean up the Black Mountain. This has aroused dissatisfaction in Taiyuan and attracted Li Ding's covetousness. The majestic prefect of a county dare not live in the county mansion of the county city, so he can only go to the army in the south of the city. If you want to surrender, you are afraid that you will end up in a foreign country, so you come to us... We also gave you a plan, as long as you do some superficial things according to our strategy, you are allowed to take your family from our The land returns home safely, what else do you want?"

Chen Junxian finally sighed: "I came to you because I thought that Taiyuan is not benevolent, Wu'an is not righteous, and sold Xiangguo County to you..."

"We won't be fooled." Xie Minghe sneered and shook his head. "This dilapidated place in Xiangguo County...is long and narrow. It cuts across the middle of the Zhuozhang River. It is easy to get it, but how can you defend it? Li Dingnian is full of strength and looks like a hungry dragon in the south. How can we tolerate us taking his upper reaches? Even Taiyuan will definitely not allow us to take down the counties near the mountains and threaten them directly. In the north of Zhao County, let alone the prefect Zhang of Zhao County, he would run away in fear. If we take it, will we take it or not? Believe it or not, the people of Youzhou will get involved? I don’t believe Mr. Chen Fu doesn’t understand this truth. Don’t you just want to drag us in, create a multi-party melee, and ask for chaos Do you want to survive? Or is there another trick?"

Chen Jun was silent for a moment, and then he spoke after a while: "Although that's the case, the land of a county is given to you for free. Isn't your Chief Zhang not interested?"

"We don't lack territory, we don't lack any prestige, and we don't need to prove our strength to anyone. We have already proved that what we need now is to recuperate and recuperate our internal strength. At least we can get through this year's drought and wait until something happens in Jiangdu or Dongdu. .” Xie Minghe replied helplessly. "Then if we really want to expand and swallow the land, we must start from Hejian and go to Youzhou..."

"This concentration is really remarkable." Chen Jun was silent for a moment before sighing. "Chairman Zhang has achieved the overall situation in three years, and it is by no means a waste of fame."

It was Xie Minghe's turn to stop talking. As the person in charge of foreign affairs, he was already tired of hearing similar words.

The two faced each other in silence for a while in Longgang Fort, where they could overlook the city of Xiangguo County from a distance, and then it was Chen Jun who spoke first: "But I still feel it's too embarrassing."

"Whether you lose it or not is not up to Mr. Chen. As long as you want to go back to your hometown in Runan, you have to ask us. As long as you enter the country, we can still make up for it in your name, but in that case you will lose most of it." Effectiveness, it seems that it is not frank enough." Xie Minghe advised earnestly. "Let me remind you again, you really don't want to think that you can still save your family, you can still dance on three eggs and continue to survive... After the First World War in Xuzhou, the local officials have recognized the situation, OK? Who cares about your status as a sheriff?! The next step is wanton mergers, where the strong prevail and the weak eat the dust. If you can't hold it, you can't hold it. Don't struggle anymore! And Li Ding is here for the territory , It is the invasion of the princes. Under the sword, you don't talk about face, even the lives of your family members and yourself are difficult to guarantee."

"That's why I went to Jiangling for help." Chen Jun said sadly. "I originally thought that the world would be able to make do with it, but after the battle in Xuzhou, you produced a pile of whale bones, which pierced the cover... What can I do? I am just an ordinary sheriff, in this position, It's like being in a pack of tigers and wolves."

"You also know that Jiangdu is just a cover-up? Without us, people will still find out, and you will have to leave sooner or later." Xie Minghe said quietly.

"Then I have another question." Chen Jun thought for a while before continuing.

"As long as you cooperate, everything will be easy." Xie Minghe relaxed.

"Why did you do this? To show Li Ding? Or did Li Ding have an understanding and fellowship with you because of his friendship with your chief?" Chen Junxian continued to ask. "Or, is it true, as the rumors say, that Taiyuan Yinggong is in contact with your chief? Bai Sanniang wants to learn from Nvhuang and even Empress Chidi to become an empress?"

"Your Excellency thinks too much." Xie Minghe was speechless. "First of all, since the Dragon Gang is the leader of the world's rebel army and regards itself as the overlord of Hebei, there is no reason for the annexation war in the neighboring counties to not show up; secondly, we must try our best to separate Li Ding and the British Duke...so, not only your Excellency This side is about to be given up by a single order from our chief, and there is also a commendation letter posted all over Hebei by Li Junshou, so that everyone in the world will know that Li Ding was able to get Xiangguo County because he took the initiative to oppose Wei."

Chen Junxian was stunned for a moment, and finally smiled wryly: "Looking at the current situation, Li Ding can't refute it, and no one will believe him even if he refute it? People in the world will only think that he is just like Zhou Xiaoshang."

"His actions are no different from Zhou Xiaoshang's. He has come to this point. Does anyone care if he plays the final banner?" Xie Minghe answered seriously. "It's just that some specific people are going to write letters. He is the periphery of our Dragon Gang... not someone else's. He can't explain it himself, that's all."

"I agree." Chen Jun thought for a while before suddenly responding. "It can make Li Ding suffer a lot, and I am willing to lose some face."

Xie Minghe was overjoyed immediately.

One day later, Su Jingfang, who kept Dou Xiaoniang and her group under control, successfully arrived at the traffic hub designated by his master, Chong Nanhe County, and did not arouse anyone's suspicion... That's right, Dou Xiaoniang and the others thought they were In fulfilling his duties, he monitored Su Jingfang and his party, but in fact, it was Su Jingfang who used a simple method to control the Sentinels of the Dragon Gang who were not likely to cause direct armed conflicts in secret military operations.

The two sides only had one face-to-face meeting before he thought of this strategy.

As for the purpose of Su Jingfang and Fan Lihua's trip, it is to raid and control Nanhe, at least to control the official road bridge on the east side of Nanhe County. Controlling this place can effectively prevent Chen Jun, the governor of Xiangguo County, from fleeing to the east first, and then relying on Chulong Help continue to resist.

It can be seen that Li Ding also knows Zhang Xing very well. He knows that Zhang Xing, who regretted so much after the Xuzhou War, will never send troops without authorization, especially for Xiangguo County, which is a troublesome state wedged in the western part of Hebei, but he I also know that once Zhang Xing gets the news, he will definitely try to use his political influence to make some money out of thin air.

In Li Ding's view, the most troublesome thing is that Chen Jun went east first, and became a new buffer force on the east side of Xiangguo with his back against the Dragon Gang. This was simply unacceptable to Li Ding who had endured for a long time.

"Why don't you enter the city!" Seeing that the soldiers on the bridge didn't dare to stop him, Su Jingfang hesitated for a moment, and offered a suggestion to Fan Lihua.

"Entering the city?" Fan Lihua was inexplicably flustered, and at the same time looked at the patrolling riders of the Dragon Gang behind the team. "Just over a hundred of us?"

"Enough." Su Jingfang also glanced at Dou Xiaoniang and her party, he knew the real reason for the other party's panic. "There is no need to hide it here... One thing, no matter what they do next, they will be suspicious, and then go back to report, but instead directly take the city, it is impossible to make them continue to be vigilant, follow curiously, and procrastinate; two things , They followed, we can't say that we can pretend to be a tiger, and use the name of the Dragon Gang to break the morale of the defenders in the city; three things, whether it is to detain Chen Junxian or prevent the Dragon Army from coming to help, controlling the city is better than controlling the bridge. "

"I understand the first two, but what about the last one?" Fan Lihua thought for a while and continued to ask. "The Dragon's Army is really coming, we have a hundred riders, we can't stop it in the city and on the bridge, right?"

"That's a fight... The problem is that the two families can't fight now." Su Jingfang answered frankly. "Since we can't fight, occupying the city is taking advantage of it first, so that it is difficult for them to attack the city."

Fan Lihua was stunned: "In that case, let's enter the city... You pretend to be the emissary from the county, and I will directly capture the deputy captain of the garrison behind! Take control of the city defense!"

The two discussed it properly, and without hesitation, they continued to go to the city ahead, but Dou Xiaoniang and others, who had no idea that they had been tricked, discussed after a while, but they still boldly decided to follow-they didn't believe in Wu'an County This group of people is going to sell themselves, and they really want to know what this group of people want to do.

Of course, the three-day cheap time is approaching, and they still have one person to go back directly. At the same time, they have discussed properly, and once they figure out what to do, they will report back immediately.

Besides, the autumn is warm and sunny, and the gate of the strategically located Nanhe City is wide open, and there is no defense at all.

However, what is surprising is that at the intersection in front of the city gate, many passers-by gathered around a big tree where the notice was posted, which actually blocked the intersection. They were only slightly alert when they saw soldiers and horses, and did not flee in fright the meaning of.

Su Jingfang couldn't figure it out, so he took the initiative to look, and Dou Xiaoniang and others naturally stepped forward.

As a result, after a distance of dozens of steps, someone inside could be heard preaching loudly under the tree:
"That's what it means... It's you... Our Chen Junshou did a little badly, but now Hebei is in charge of Chief Zhang of the Dragon Gang, so Chief Zhang drove Chen Junshou home, and gave our Xiangguo County to Wu'an in the south Governor Li of the county is here to take care of... Li Junshou is Chief Zhang's sworn brother and a first-class confidant subordinate, so I have to hand it over to him... As for posting this notice specially, one is that Chen Junshou felt sorry for everyone and took the initiative to give it to the county. I confessed my mistake in the "Guilty Report", and the other one is to ask everyone not to panic. It is normal to see some soldiers and horses coming and going, because people from Wu'an County will definitely come to receive it... Everyone, take advantage of the lack of autumn harvest, and go to the mountains with peace of mind It is right to find some jujubes to make up for the lack of drought."

Su Jingfang and the others were dumbfounded.

Dou Xiaoniang could see clearly that the preacher was one of Xie Minghe's group that she had escorted earlier, she couldn't help being surprised, and then seriously asked the people beside her: "Is that so? Are you here to take over the city? Why are you still hiding it from us? What's the point?"

Even if Su Jingfang was as cunning as a ghost, as bold as a dragon, and as careful as a hair, his mind was just a mess at this moment, and he didn't know how to answer for a while.

(End of this chapter)