First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

...

Yuezhou is governed by Hepu City.

In the governor's house, Qinzhou governor Ning Huizao looked worried, just lying on the bench, indifferent to the fine wine and food on the table in front of him.

There was a man at the bottom with a beard on his face, who looked rough and bold. Instead, he ate happily, belching wine, and said loudly: "Brother, I didn't know before that this Hepu is so rich. If I had known, we would have come to take it." , I got Shichiro off for nothing."

"Erlang, don't be careless. Gao Chong will arrive tonight. Father's letter hasn't come yet, and I don't know how to deal with it now." Ning Huizao glanced at his second brother helplessly.

This person is none other than Ning Huizao's second brother Ning Xu, who is currently the commander of the Qinjiang Military Mansion and controls more than half of the Ning family's troops in Qinzhou.

Upon hearing this, Ning Can put the luminous cup in her hand aside, wiped the corners of her mouth with her sleeves nonchalantly, and muttered dissatisfiedly.

"When it comes to this, I have to say a few words. Brother, you are now the governor of Qinzhou and the next chief. My father is old now. Why do you need to ask him about everything?"

Ning Huizao glared at his second brother and snorted coldly: "My father has been in charge of the overall situation for decades, and he has no more experience than you and me? How can he make decisions on such a big matter?"

Ning Can curled her lips and didn't take it seriously, "Anyway, I don't think there is anything to worry about. Qinzhou has been named Ning for many years. Even when Gao Chong came, his surname was Ning."

Ning Huizao knew his second brother's temperament, so he didn't say much. He just kept silent for a long time, and then asked: "How many troops are available now?"

Ning Can immediately became serious after hearing this, "We brought 1000 people from Qinzhou, and there are more than 7000 people stationed in Hepu, but less than [-] people."

"Is this the only number of people left in Hepu?" Ning Huizao asked in shock.

Ning Can was also helpless, "That boy Qilang took all the soldiers and horses out, leaving only some city defense personnel."

"How is the defense going?" Ning Huizao continued to ask: "Although I don't want to fight, Hepu City cannot be let out without my father's order."

"That must not be allowed," Ning Can immediately glared and said, "Brother, don't worry, each department has been taken over by Qinzhou's own troops, so nothing can go wrong."

Ning Huizao nodded silently.

Suddenly Ning Xu frowned and said: "Most of the troops are still in the hands of Ba Lang, should we let him reinforce us?"

When he mentioned Eighth Lang, Ning Huizao looked startled. He hesitated and shook his head, "Don't look for him first. That kid is a bit evil, and he only listens to Seventh Lang."

Ning Chu suddenly chuckled, "He listened to Qi Lang, but now Qi Lang is dead, and Ning Chun is with Gao Chong, who is his brother-killer and enemy. Do you want to send him a message?"

Ning Huizao's eyes lit up when he heard this, "Okay, you can do it."

This second brother looks rough on the outside, but in fact he has a lot of twists and turns in his heart.

"By the way." Just as Ning Can was about to get up and go out, Ning Huizao suddenly remembered and asked with a frown, "What's the Mo family's reaction?"

Ning Can grinned and looked very disdainful when she thought of Mo Zhongwen, who was also in charge of the army.

"What kind of reaction can there be? Qilang directly took away Mo Zhongwen's military power, and now he is just an army commander in name only. Half of the people in the Hepu Military Mansion were taken out by Qilang, and the other half were incorporated into the city defense. He There are only about a hundred people left in the camp in the north of the city."

"Although the Mo family is weak, it has been in Hepu for hundreds of years. You have to be careful," Ning Huizao warned with some worry.

"Since you're worried, I'll kill him later," Ning Can picked up the wine bottle and said nonchalantly.

"Confused", Ning Huizao suddenly became angry, "If you can kill Mo Zhongwen, how can you kill all the Mo family? What we want is a stable Hepu."

Ning Xu twitched her lips and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. I'm going on patrol. By the way, the wine in Zhancheng is good. Remember to send some to the camp later."

After saying that, he swayed away with the wine bottle in hand.

Ning Huizao was sitting alone in the hall, his expression a little uncertain.

At sunset, Gao Chong and others finally approached Hepu City. Until now, Ning Huizao still pretended to be deaf and mute, not sending anyone to pay homage, nor leaving the city to greet them.

"After a brief review, Guan Mountain is just ahead, five miles north of the city. You can camp on this mountain before dark." Ning Chun, who had been in Hepu, Yuezhou for several years, was familiar with the terrain here and stepped forward to suggest.

Gao Chong nodded and said with a smile: "What Ru He said coincides with me, and I have exactly what I want. The whole army will speed up and camp at Guanshan before dark."

Ning Chun paused after hearing this, and then just nodded with a smile.

"Do you really know this Guanshan?" Tian Yangming curled his lips and stepped forward to ask.

Gao Chong glanced at Tian Yangming and chuckled: "Guanshan is located five miles north of Hepu City, backed by the Nanjiang River. It is shaped like a hair crown, with the middle high and the ground on both sides, hence its name."

Tian Yangming was stunned on the spot and looked at Ning Chun.

Ning Chun was not surprised and just nodded numbly.

"Zi Guang, please remember," Gao Chong patted Tian Yangming's shoulder and said quietly: "A general does not understand astronomy, geography, Yin and Yang, Qimen, does not observe formations, and does not control military positions. He is a mediocre person." After saying this, he hit his horse and left.

Everyone behind him looked at him with admiration and pondered over his words over and over again.

"Brother Ziguang, which one do you know best?" Pei Xingjian came to his senses and stepped forward to ask.

Tian Yangming's mouth twitched, "One, I don't know."

Everyone laughed.

Qinzhou, governed by Qinjiang County.

The Governor's Mansion, in the backyard, in the study.

As the candlelight flickered, Ning Changzhen looked at the solemn-faced young man in front of him, gently twirled his beard and said with a smile, "Weiqing grandson, are you wondering why Aweng didn't reply to your Aye letter?"

The young man was only eighteen or nineteen years old, and he was very handsome. He was the eldest son of Ning Huizao and the eldest grandson of Ning Changzhen. He was a Taoist named Weiqing. He became an official this year and was serving as the chief of Qinjiang County Government. book.

Ning Huizao gave birth to his legitimate son when he was in his 30s. He had high hopes and hired famous teachers to teach him. Fortunately, Ning Daowu did not disappoint. "Young Yingwu, dabbled in six arts" has been determined to be Ning's successor. It is the backbone of Ning's future.

When Ning Daowu saw his grandfather asking about this, he finally found an opportunity to express his thoughts.

"In order to stabilize the position of our Ning family, Aweng asked Aye to station in Hepu. However, this will inevitably lead to conflict with the new strategic envoy Gao Chong. Now Aye has written to ask how to deal with it, but Aweng has not replied. Aweng is Aren’t you trying to train me, Aye?”

Seeing that his grandson understood what he was thinking, Ning Changzhen was also a little curious, "Weiqing Conghui, Aweng, that's exactly what I meant, so why do you look worried?"

Ning Daowu shook his head and sighed, "My grandson is just worried about making things worse. After all, the second uncle is warlike, and I, Aye, have a good face. If I completely fall out with Gao Chong, and Gaozhou Feng and Long The Chen family in Zhouzhou is watching with eager eyes, and our Ning family is somewhat weak. If we are not careful, we will fall into a situation where we are surrounded by enemies on all sides."Bang~ bang, Ning Changzhen gave him a high-five and praised, "He is indeed my grandson, Ning Changzhen. His analysis is very accurate, but you have to have confidence in Aye."

Ning Daowu stood up and poured tea for his grandfather.

Shaking the tea cup in his hand, Ning Changzhen was quite emotional and said softly: "In the past few decades, your father has been growing up under my protection. He is both civil and military. He is not weaker than others, but after all, he lacks some ability to stand alone. experience.

Ah Weng, I am also over 70 years old, and I have only a few more years to live. Sooner or later, this huge family fortune will be handed over to you and your son. This is an opportunity, both a crisis and an opportunity. I just want to see how he responds, even if the situation It’s not good, Aweng, I’m still alive and can still tell the truth.”

Ning Daowu was thoughtful and just asked: "How do you think we should deal with it, Aweng? It can not only protect the interests of my Ning family in Yuezhou, but also not worsen the situation."

"Good boy", Ning Changzhen laughed and scolded after hearing this: "You asked me this time, you said, I want to see your thoughts."

Ning Daowu's expression turned bitter. After thinking about it, he had to say: "If you don't want to lose Yuezhou, then you can only fight. However, you can't start a full-scale war or establish a mortal enemy. So you can only grasp this intensity and not fight Gao Chong to the death." , but we also want him to see what I, Ning, mean, is that right?"

Ning Changzhen's eyes were full of satisfaction and he said noncommittally: "If it's not that simple, then what worries do you have?"

Ning Daowu was stunned, then slapped his head and grinned: "Yes, I can think of it, Aye must be able to think of it, and even the legendary Gao Chong can definitely think of it."

Ning Changzhen twisted his beard and laughed, "Having a grandson like this will ensure that the Ning family will have no worries for 50 years."

Daowu Ning raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Ah Weng underestimated me. As long as I am here, the Ning family will have no worries for a hundred years."

Ning Changzhen was even more happy, and his laughter spread straight outside the hospital.

According to the original trajectory, after Ning Changzhen's death, his son Ning Huizao succeeded him as the governor of Qinzhou. Ning Huizao died of illness in the 22nd year of Zhenguan at the age of 75. Ning Huizao's son Ning Daowu succeeded him as the head of the Ning family. At that time, Ning Daowu He served as the magistrate of Qinjiang County.

Later, Wu Zetian came to power, and Ning Daowu successively held the positions of Sima of Longzhou and governor of Aizhou. However, at this time, the Ning family of Qinzhou had lost its glory.

Ning Daowong had three sons. The eldest son Ning Qilan was appointed as the chief registrar of Guizhou, the second son Ning Qiji was appointed as the magistrate of Lipu County, and the youngest son Ning Qixiong was not appointed official.

The Ning family in Qinzhou gradually declined. In the late period of Wu Zetian, the Ning family in Qinzhou only had Ning Tiyuan, a Jinshi, as its pillar. However, Ning Tiyuan was also dismissed from office for violating Yan Zhijian. On the contrary, the Chen family in Longzhou, who was once attached to the Ning family, became more and more popular. The more powerful and prosperous.

Just as Ning Changzhen and Ning Daowu's ancestors and grandsons said, Ning Huizao also understood the stakes.

The heirs trained by this kind of clan are not simple. There are also those dandy kids who only know how to fly eagles and lackeys, but those kind of people are destined not to become the helmsmen of the clan.

Ning Changzhen's evaluation of Ning Huizao is "Yun Wen Yun Wu", which is not an exaggeration.

For decades, although it was Ning Changzhen who had exerted pressure on Qinzhou, the specific implementation matters were all handed over to Ning Huizao, which is enough to show Ning Huizao's ability.

At this moment, the three generations of the Ning family all have one idea, which is to start a war and show the power of the Ning family, but they must also control the intensity and not completely fall out with the court.

Going to war with the imperial court sounds unbelievable. In the Central Plains, it would be a crime of beheading. However, the Lingnan chiefs have been like this for thousands of years. Fight first, and then go to the court to surrender. The court will still treat you. I have been promoted to a noble position, which can be regarded as a slang official, and is also one of the privileges of ethnic minorities in other places.

However, Ning's family is destined to miscalculate this time, because the person they face is Gao Chong, who does not have the idea of ​​educating people's livelihood like the traditional Confucian scholar-officials.

In his opinion, resisting the government and raising troops to go to war is treason. The strategy of restraining the emperor does have its merits, but it is not to be led by others.

In short, you are the one who wants to be beaten, and then you are the one who surrenders. The officials and soldiers of the imperial court are tossing back and forth, and in the end they have to give you a reward. Gao Chong is not used to this kind of good thing.

After hearing the report, Feng and Chen, who were in Fengshan County, Jiangzhou, did not dare to delay at all. Early the next morning, they ordered their troops and horses, totaling more than [-] people, to go straight to Hepu County, which was more than a hundred miles away.

"Chen Da, now that things have come to this, I hope that you and I will put aside our past grievances and work together to help Gao Jingluo appease the counties in Yuezhou."

On the official road outside Fengshan City, Feng Zhiyu, the governor of Lianzhou, rode his horse forward, caught up with Chen Longshu, crossed his hands and said.

Chen Longshu's face was gloomy and he glanced at Feng Zhiyu coldly, "Tell your father that the head on your neck should be kept by a certain family."

Feng Zhiyu was furious when he heard this, "How brave, so shameless...".

"How are you doing?" Chen Longshu glared tit-for-tat.

Previously in the city, Shi Lude, the governor of Nanyin Prefecture, was suppressing them, so the two did not dare to make any mistakes. But now after leaving the city, the anger between the two families was about to break out.

Chen Longshu's father, Chen Fozhi, rebelled in response to Wang Zhongxuan of Guangzhou, but died at the hands of Feng An.

As the saying goes, the hatred for killing his father is irreconcilable. For so many years, Chen Longshu devoted himself to developing the Longzhou Chen family and never had the chance to take revenge, but this does not mean that he has forgotten his hatred.

The two looked at each other angrily, but in the end they could not take action. Erlang of the Feng family smiled coldly, stepped forward, and said with a ferocious provocative smile: "This Lingnan is either named Ning or Feng. It is destined to be Feng in the future. Your Chen family ...can never turn over.”

The veins on Chen Longshu's neck and arms were exposed. He wanted to draw his sword and cut Feng Zhiyu in front of him in half, but his reason told him: No.

Once he takes action against Erlang of the Feng family here, it will be tantamount to rebellion and will definitely offend the new manager, which will not be conducive to the rise of the Chen family. Chen Longshu finally held back, stopped entangled, and left.

Looking at Chen Longshu's retreating back, the ferocious smile on Feng Zhiyu's face gradually disappeared, and the veins in the hand holding the Hengdao were also exposed, and he was extremely vigilant in his heart: Chen Longshu is so forbearing, sooner or later it will be a disaster.

As for ordering Feng and Chen to come to Yuezhou together, Ning Chun also had some advice. He believed that the Feng and Chen families had a big feud, and if they sent troops together, there might be friction.

But Gao Chong didn't take it seriously. He believed that Chen Longshu was a smart man.

According to the original trajectory, after the death of his father Chen Fozhi, the Chen family in Longzhou declined, and Chen Longshu fled alone. Later, relying on his own efforts, he moved among various forces, served as the governor of the seven states in Lingnan, and once again became one of the three chiefs of Lingnan. , and taught descendants like Chen Jiyuan and Chen Qiuqiong, which shows Chen Longshu's resourcefulness.

How could such a person act impulsively?

Hepu City, north gate, above the gate tower.

Ning Huizao's face was solemn and he was looking at Guan Mountain in the distance.

The second brother Ning Chu came in a hurry, also with a gloomy face.

"Brother, that Gao Chong is crazy," Ning Can said angrily: "He is actually cutting down trees and building siege equipment. What does he mean? Just start a war without even talking about it?"

Ning Huizao sighed, "That Gao Chong is a real achievement. He knows our thoughts well. It seems that he doesn't intend to give Ning this face."

"Hmph, since you're so trusting, let's wait until we have a fight." Ning Can snorted coldly, "Let's see who is tougher now."

Ning Huizao ignored it and only frowned deeper.

Looking at the actions of Guanshan Camp today, this development seems to be somewhat unexpected.