After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 6 Suspicious Things (Revised)
Xie Wenzai has always been a smart and meticulous person.

Even though he is famous for his articles and knowledge, and he was the top student in high school before he even reached his senior year, his talent in military strategy is not bad.After being exiled for more than 20 years, he was protected by the Zhou family of the Zhenguo Palace and his cousin Haixi Ya. He did not suffer much. In addition to reading, studying medicine, writing articles, and teaching children, he occasionally helped analyze the military situation at the border. , and even gave advice to several major generals of the Zhou family to help them win the battle.

If it weren't for this credit, the Zhou family of Zhenguo Palace would not have been able to shelter him and let him spend more than 20 years in peace in the northwest.

Although he is the disciple of Wu Guozhang, the son-in-law of the Zhou family, and his wife, Zhou, is the sister of the current Zhen Guogong, in fact, his relationship with Wu Guozhang as a teacher and student is not deep. It was just his senior high school examination. The examiner was Wu Guozhang, who was the Minister of Rites at that time.Wu Guozhang selected him as the leader of the economics, but it was the emperor who selected Tanhua.He drafted a memorial on Wu Guozhang's order, and was exiled in retaliation by his political enemy Sun Ge Lao. Wu Guozhang knew that he was wronged, but still sat back and watched his future be ruined.With such a weak teacher-student relationship, how could Wu Guozhang's in-laws take such good care of him for the sake of their son-in-law?
During the first two years of his exile, he relied entirely on the help of his cousin Hai Xiya.It was precisely because he had made several contributions to the frontier army generals, counselors and military aircraft through his cousin's channel that he had the secret protection of the Zhou family behind him.

However, since Hai Xiya's son Hai Dingcheng died on the battlefield, Xie Wenzai followed the Hai family and left the heartbroken Suzhou and went to Guazhou to live in seclusion. Even if he was pardoned, he would not leave.In recent years, he occasionally helped the familiar Guazhou Guard general analyze the military situation, but he no longer participated in the war.The old people in Suzhou City may have forgotten his reputation.

But the two old friends Cao and Lu, who had been accompanying Xie Wenzai through the long years of exile in the border town, could not possibly forget his many deeds of predicting the enemy's opportunities.Even if they had never suspected the businessman named Sun before, when they heard Xie Wenzai said that this person was suspicious, they couldn't help but calm down and think carefully about the doubts.

Cao Gengyun said in a deep voice: "It is common for war leaders of the border army to deal with caravans. Some caravans simply earn money and food for the border army. Otherwise, there will always be people in the court looking for excuses to delay the food and grass, and the frontier army will have no money. , do you really want to watch your soldiers starve to death? But since this businessman’s surname is Sun, and he takes the initiative to approach Sun Yonglu, he might be an aide sent by the Sun family, just using the name of a Guazhou businessman to coax outsiders."

After all, Sun Yonglu had been wasting at the border for several years, but he had never made any significant achievements.If the delay continues, the Duke of Zhen will pass the seal of command to his own son. What about his Sun Yonglu?Mr. Sun Ge was worried about his nephew, and it was only human nature to send someone to help him.

It's just that this person gave Sun Yonglu a bad idea when he first arrived. He is obviously not a good person. God knows what bad things will happen next.The generals of the Zhou family may be in trouble.All of them are good at fighting, but when it comes to fighting with others, they may not be as good as Mr. Sun Ge's minions.

Cao Gengyun was deeply worried about the generals of the border army.

Lu Bainian had a different view: "Does Sun Yonglu need staff who can plot against the Zhou family? What he needs is talents who can help him win the war! Rather than bothering to deal with the Zhou family's major generals, he might as well find someone to rely on. He made detailed records and went to the Western Regions to inquire about the movements of the Hu people, so as to help him win several victories. Many merchants from Shazhou and Guazhou traveled to the Western Regions to sell goods, and many of them also secretly served as spies for the border army. Zhou There are familiar businessmen at home and in various guards. Since this businessman named Sun is known as a Guazhou merchant, he must have the same idea. He should be sent by the Sun family to serve as a spy for Sun Yonglu. Help him find out information about the Hu people and give him the opportunity to make military exploits..."

Mr. Sun Ge has been in the court for decades, so it is impossible that he cannot clearly see what is the basis for a military attache to gain a foothold in the border army.What's the use of sending people to help Sun Yonglu suppress the Zhou family's young generals?Even if Mr. Zhou cannot inherit the title of Duke Zhen, there are still so many generals in the border army, and all the commanders of the guards are more senior and have made more contributions than Sun Yonglu.If Sun Yonglu had no military merit, he would never be able to seek military power!

To put it bluntly, as long as Sun Yonglu has military exploits, the Zhou family may not be able to stop him from rising to prominence.

Cao Gengyun and Lu Bainian each had their own guesses about the purpose of the businessman named Sun. Each one felt that he was more reasonable, so they had to ask Xie Wenzai for his opinion.

Xie Wenzai only asked them one question: "If this businessman is really here to help Sun Yonglu find out information about the Hu people so that he can help him achieve great achievements, why is he making such a big fuss in Suzhou City?"

Cao and Lu couldn't help but be startled.

Xie Wenzai smiled slightly: "Except for the spies secretly raised by the generals, among the caravans that usually travel in the Western Regions, who else does not carefully manage their reputation? Even if they go out of their way to please the generals of Chu, they will not publicize it publicly. This kind of thing is to avoid being treated as spies by the Hu people. Their purpose is just to make money. This is the usual practice of businessmen to please the generals of Chu at the border and the Hu people in the Western Regions.

"If this businessman surnamed Sun wants to be a spy for Sun Yonglu, he should not openly claim that he is close to Sun Yonglu, and still surround Sun Yonglu every day, letting everyone know that he has Sun Yonglu's trust. If it is true as he said, Guazhou There is a spy planted by the Hu people among the immigrants. Isn't he afraid that the spy will spread his information back to the ears of the Hu people? Then how will he find out the enemy's situation for Sun Yonglu in the future? He is afraid that he will be arrested as soon as he arrives in the territory of the Hu people. Get up?!" It can be seen from this that this man is not here to help Sun Yonglu perform meritorious service. So, what is his plan?

Nowadays, a large number of immigrants are stranded outside Suzhou City, which has affected the lives of soldiers and civilians in the city.If the trouble gets bigger, Mr. Sun Ge, the initiator who advocates giving up large tracts of territory outside the customs and concentrating troops to protect key cities, will definitely not be able to please him.If even the resettlement of immigrants went wrong, and it was caused by his grandson's family, the turmoil caused by this would probably not be easily calmed down.

No matter how stupid Sun Yonglu is, there are always aides around him who can think of this.Then why did he insist on listening to the merchant and guarding the city gate every day to catch spies?What on earth did the businessman say to him?
Cao Gengyun immediately thought: "Is it possible that other people in the court are digging holes for Mr. Sun Ge? It is easier to deal with this fool Sun Yonglu than to deal with other members of the Sun family."

Lu Bainian frowned: "Just for the sake of fighting for power and profit, the people of Shazhou are allowed to suffer. The person behind this is not a kind and kind gentleman."

Xie Wenzai glanced at his two old friends helplessly: "Why do you only think about the high-ranking officials in Beijing? Don't you think... maybe it's not our Dachu people who are causing trouble?"

Cao and Lu looked at him in surprise.

Xie Wenzai sneered: "The city gates of Suzhou are opened every day, and countless people, animals, carriages and horses are blocked on the road. What if there is an enemy attack? Should the defenders be ruthless and forcefully close the doors regardless of the lives and deaths of the people, or should they let the city gates open and the people Entering the city with the enemy's cavalry?"

Cao Gengyun said hurriedly: "Enemy attack? Impossible, right? If there is any enemy situation, Guancheng will definitely send a warning!"

Xie Wenzai raised his eyebrows: "But the one guarding Guancheng now...is Sun Yonglu!"

Both Cao and Lu were silent.

Everyone has been at the border for so many years, and has exchanged letters with the border troops. They all know what kind of person Sun Yonglu, Sun Ge's nephew, is.

He's not so incompetent, right?

Lu Bainian asked seriously: "Brother Xie, do you think Sun Yonglu can't even do such a small thing?"

Xie Wenzai also said seriously: "As long as the businessman named Sun really has evil intentions, even if he can do it, he will definitely be unable to do it!"

Lu Bainian suddenly stopped talking.

(End of this chapter)