Chasing King

When Yan Sikong returned to Qianzhou, Xu Yong was very attentive to meet him. He lamented the hardships of his journey and praised him for his meritorious service. But he never mentioned the rumors about him and Fengye. After all, rumors are just rumors. How can we believe them? Moreover, even if they are true, few people dare to embarrass him face to face like Shen Hexuan.

During the banquet, Yan Sikong shook his head and said that it would be difficult for him to negotiate the conditions for Fengye to accept Zhao'an. Wu mang should strengthen the city defense.

The conditions for closing the field really made people angry. They thought that he was willing to withdraw from the army, but now they can't take it lightly.

Yan Sikong sighed: "now it's peace or war, and I don't have the bottom in my heart. Although the imperial court wants to Zhao'an, we are not afraid of him if we don't realize it. We must be prepared to fight with him. I'm afraid that we can defend the city with the present strength of Qianzhou."

Xu Yong worried: "the seven prefectures of Qianzhou, together with the 10000 troops sent by Datong government, have a total force of only 30000, and nearly half of them are scattered in other cities. Although there are natural dangers in Qianzhou, and it's our defense and other attacks that occupy an advantage, if we capture Maoren, our food supply will be cut off. Even if we cannot capture the city, the food and grass in Qianzhou will only last for one year. "

Wu mang said: "it will take less than a year to seal the field. As long as we stick to the city, we can drag him down."

The rest of his life said in a low voice: "if we can keep it..."

Wu mang snorted coldly: "General Yu is from Datong. Is it because he has heard too many legends about fengjiajun and scared himself?"

Yu Shenglang frowned: "I've heard a lot about the Feng family army, but the Feng family army is brave and good at fighting. It's well known all over the world. Am I alarmist? It's better to be alert than to despise the enemy. "

"You are not alert, you are afraid."

"Don't quarrel, two generals." Xu Yong said, "both generals are right, but let's listen to the censor."

They all looked at Yan Sikong again.

Yan Sikong looked worried: "to tell you the truth, I fought with Feng Ye in Jingzhou side by side. I didn't believe the rumors about his 11-year-old armor and 14-year-old leader, but the Jingzhou war really shocked me. This son is not only brave, but also fierce as a wolf. He is familiar with military books, but he does not follow the rules. His behavior is unpredictable, and he dares to work hard. I have been observing him for many days in his camp. He has strict military discipline and high morale. He has been frustrated in Maoren, and he is determined to win the next battle. Judging from the current situation, if we really want to fight, I think Maoren can't hold on. "

The officials will be silent for a while.

Feng thought, "Lord Yan, no matter whether Zhao'an is successful or not, you can drag him on until winter. It's extremely cold in the northwest. He is likely to withdraw his troops ahead of time."

Yan Si Kong Ning said: "I have written to your majesty about this matter. On the one hand, if your majesty can rectify the name of Fengjia or hand over Xie Zhongren to Fengye, there will be a lot of room for maneuver. On the other hand, as you said, you can delay Fengye's fight. It's just that Fengye doesn't know that winter is coming. I'm worried that he will jump over the wall in a hurry. "

"In this way, Mao Ren is not very critical." Xu Yong's face was a little pale. "Do you have a good plan to keep Maoren? If Maoren is lost, the grain in Qianzhou will not be delivered. "

Yan Sikong pondered for a moment and looked at Lang for the rest of his life: "I think that in order to solve the crisis of Qianzhou, we must dispatch troops from Datong."

Everyone looked at Lang for the rest of his life.

For the rest of his life, Lang was stunned and immediately laughed bitterly: "since the defeat of Wala, many Mongolian tribes who were once gathered or suppressed by Wala have stood on their own and invaded the border from time to time. Although it is difficult for them to become a general situation, they are fighting guerrillas. Our troops are limited and we can't catch them at all. The people at the border are miserable. Datong is not what it used to be It's over. "

"I'm playing a compromise, and I implore your majesty to increase troops for Datong, but Datong borders on Qianzhou. If Qianzhou is lost, the grain supply of Datong will be limited, and your lips will die and your teeth will be cold."

He sighed for the rest of his life: "I don't know. It's just general Xue There are also his difficulties. "

Xue Ronggui is now the commander-in-chief of Datong. Since he took over the Datong army for three years, he has made no achievements or mistakes. His failure to wipe out the Mongolian soldiers is not because he is incompetent, but because he has more heart than strength. In the past three years, the imperial court has always wanted to talk about cooperation with Mongolian soldiers. However, due to the decline of Wala, the largest Mongolian tribe, Mongolia is divided into two groups. There is still much hostility between the tribes. Today, it has made peace with this one, and tomorrow, it will come to burn, kill and plunder.

If Feng Jianping is still there, according to his strategy at that time, to attack the wandering Mongolian tribes while winning, to establish a stronger Datong defense line, to support the new Mongolian king of Pro US faction, to unify the wandering tribes, to open up the mutual market, and to make friends between Yi and Xia is the complete strategy.

It's a pity that Feng Jianping has died unjustly in the imperial prison with his unfinished ambition and the only hope for peace in the northwest border for a hundred years.

Yan Sikong knew that in order to mobilize the Datong army, peace must be restored at the border of Datong. Otherwise, they would be defeated and the barbarians would invade. He said, "I want to see general Xue."

"This..."

"It's only two or three days' journey to Datong. Your majesty will pay attention to Datong only if I tell you about it. I will ask your majesty to send envoys to Mongolia again. After the split of Wala, the Chahar tribe is now the strongest. If we support the Chahar tribe to unify other tribes and open a horse market to them, at least we can solve the harassment of the scattered soldiers on the border."Xu Yongdao: "but a few years ago, the ministers of the DPRK and the central government disputed whether to open the horse market, and finally it was not settled."

"A few years ago, the eunuch party was still in power, but now it's different. I will send a letter to General Zhao and Mr. Tingwei to persuade them to admonish your majesty together." Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes. "The imperial court didn't agree to open the horse market, mainly for fear of raising tigers. But now we can see clearly that Chahar is not a climate, but the two big knives, zhuoletai and Fengye, are about to swing around the neck."

"Yanda people have a point." Wu mang patted his thigh. "We have already discussed that if we open the horse market, Hetao can regain its vitality. Even if Chahar grows up gradually, we dare not invade it easily. On the contrary, the endless burning, killing and looting of the border can not be eliminated completely. If we put the beautiful land of Hetao without farming or animal husbandry, what is the long-term solution."

Yu Shenglang also agreed: "general Xue also has this intention, but he wrote several times, but the imperial court refused to accept it. If Lord Yan can promote this, it will be a blessing for the army and the people in Northwest China."

"In this way, please go to Datong with me and introduce general Xue to me."

"Well, it's not too late. We'll start tomorrow!"

Yan Si Kong smiles faintly, and her eyes twinkle.

-

before he left, Yan Sikong ordered all the officials and generals in Qianzhou. Qianzhou, a remote place, has more oil and water than a rich place. Yan Sikong's move made these people more convinced of him.

On the way to Datong, Yan Sikong bribes Yu Shenglang heavily. Yu Shenglang is an old man in Datong, and he never forgets the fengjiajun, but now that the fengjiajun has become a rebel, he does not dare to put these ideas on the surface.

After receiving Yan Sikong's money, Lang naturally knows everything for the rest of his life. He shakes out to Yan Sikong what positions all Datong's officers and generals are standing in. Yan Sikong has a lot of money when he is empty. As long as Xue Ronggui is taken care of by himself and the soldiers below are fed, Datong army can turn into fengjiajun again at any time. After all, the imperial court sometimes defaults on salary, which one Old people in Datong don't Miss Feng Jianping's scenery and power in Datong.

As for Xue Ronggui, he was originally recommended by Xie Zhongren, but now the eunuch party has collapsed. If he knows the truth, he will win over if he can. If he can't, he will get rid of it.

-

Yan Sikong, escorted by 800 people and horses he took when he left Beijing, came to Datong with Yu Shenglang.

The situation of Datong is the same as what Lang said for the rest of his life. It occupies the solid defense line established by predecessors, but it does not have the ability to eliminate the Mongolian guerrillas. The morale of the officers and men has plummeted. Today's Datong is absolutely unable to resist the Wara of that year. The reason why it is barely maintained is that Chahar is still weak.

Xue Ronggui personally came to welcome Yan Sikong and prepared a banquet. However, compared with Xu Yong and others, he was much more reserved and indifferent. After all, although he was not a eunuch, he was also recommended by Xie Zhongren for fear that Yan Sikong might find some reason to join him.

Yan Sikong, on the other hand, is modest and gentle. He never mentions his magnificent death bullet. During the dinner, he just learns about Datong like Xue Ronggui, although most of him has learned about it from Lang for the rest of his life.

The next morning, Yan Sikong and Yu Shenglang personally went to Xue Ronggui's house to discuss the opening of the horse market. At the same time, they brought a box of gifts.

Although Xue Ronggui is the commander-in-chief of Datong, the armament of Datong has been greatly weakened. Like the officials and generals of Qianzhou, he can't get much benefit. He is really shocked by Yan Sikong's great efforts. However, he knows that he won't be paid for his reactive work, and he doesn't know what Yan Sikong wants, so he doesn't dare to accept it at all.

Yan Sikong comforted him with a smile, saying that he gave this gift only in the hope that he would really open the horse market in the future and not forget his own advantages. Everyone knows that if the horse market opens, Hetao area will be able to live in a few years, and then this barren land will become a gold and silver mountain. Who doesn't want to get a share.

Xue Ronggui took it at ease, and he was also enthusiastic about Yan Sikong.

During his days in Datong, Yan Sikong has been managing Datong officials and testing Xue Ronggui, trying to find the right time to reveal his real intention to Xue Ronggui. However, he is cautious and careful in his actions, such as treason. He can't just throw it out. Before he's sure, he's always patient.

During this period, he also did a few things that seemed very puzzling to outsiders.

"It's autumn harvest time now. I heard that the apricots in Datong are sweet, especially in Dawan county. The mutton noodles are especially delicious. Brother Yu is a big fellow. Can you take me to Cunfeng mutton restaurant for a taste?"

The rest of his life Lang was surprised and said, "brother Yan, have you ever been to Datong? How could you know so clearly? "

Yan Sikong gave a lonely smile: "a friend once told me that this record has been recorded for many years..."

Seventeen years.

Sometimes he even blames himself for his good memory. When he was young, he could remember what he had said with Feng Ye. They all said that Hui would be hurt because others could cure the pain by forgetting, but he could not even forget.

"Cunfeng restaurant is an old name of Datong. It's in the city. I'll take brother Yan to taste it today. As for the apricot in Dawan, it's just autumn harvest. I'll send someone to bring it to brother Yan quickly so that brother Yan can have a good taste of Datong."Yan Sikong said with a smile, "thank you, brother Yu."

Yu Shenglang takes Yan Sikong with him, while Yan Sikong takes his bodyguard Feng Xiang. They leave the post house in plain clothes. Instead of riding or riding, they walk to the south of the city.

At this time, it was dusk. From a long distance, we saw a two-story house on the street. There were people sitting on the floor and in front of the shop. There was a yellow flag on the top of the building. It was Cunfeng mutton, which was fragrant half a mile away.

When he arrived at the mutton restaurant, Lang gave Xiao er a few pieces of broken silver for the rest of his life: "find us a good place."

"Oh, General Yu, why are you back? Come on, please take your seats."

The second grader welcomed them into the restaurant, found a window seat on the second floor, served tea and water attentively, and soon served three bowls of mutton noodles.

The bowl was bigger than the human face. The wide, flat, white and tender noodles were lying in the soup bottom with golden oil, covered with green scallions, and several pieces of mutton that were as thin as paper and half the size of a bowl.

In addition to noodles, Xiao Er also served them large pieces of mutton with sauce, stewed mutton and a jin of Shaojiu.

The rest of his life Lang filled the two people's glasses and said with a smile, "come on, try our mutton noodles, and then our good wine. It's very energetic."

Yan Sikong stared at the bowl for a long time, picked up the chopsticks and began to eat.

For the rest of his life, Lang and Feng Xiang were stunned. Feng Xiang whispered: "Lord Yan is so hungry."

Yan Sikong swallowed several mouthfuls, then stopped, grabbed the glass in front of him and drank it all.

The first time he drank wine from Northwest China, it tasted tricky and spicy, which made him cry.

The rest of his life Lang burst out laughing: "well, I'll tell you. This wine is very strong."

Yan Sikong wiped a tear, also followed with a smile: "good wine, good noodles."

Fengye has eaten the best steamed buns in Guangning and the best mutton noodles in Datong, but they have no chance to go to the south where it doesn't snow, eat the fat fish, enjoy the sweet scented osmanthus in the city and watch the waves flying several feet high.

Half of the agreement has been completed, so What?

Nothing.