In the first-line gorge military camp dozens of miles away from Xianning City, General Guihua calmly asked the palace envoys who came to deliver the decree to rest. Beside him, Nangong Hui and Shang Nian'er stood together holding hands, their faces a little solemn.

The first line of the gorge is seventy miles north of Xianning City, a narrow path between two huge mountain ranges. This used to be the only way for merchants from the Western Regions to go to the south in ancient times, but the terrain was rugged, with more than ten miles of mountain roads, the first of which was so narrow that even two people could not cross side by side. Looking up, you can only see a narrow sky, which was known as a line of gorge in ancient times. A thousand years ago, the south was greatly explored, and the construction of various trade routes and official roads was completed, and this trade route was gradually abandoned. Even if the road is farther away, it's better than losing your life on the road, right? After all, it is not only the terrain that is feared in the realm, but also the beasts and bandits that infest the mountains and forests.

The camp of the naturalized general was located in a col behind the narrowest section of the first line of the gorge, where the terrain was so high that you could overlook most of the first line of the gorge from the edge of the cliff. On the other side of the col are almost untouched primeval forests and precipices, and the enemy has very little chance of trying to touch the mountain from the opposite side, and the only thing that can reach Guò is the Grand Canyon beneath their feet. And as long as the person standing above threw something like a boulder log from above, not to mention the total annihilation, it would definitely be a heavy number of casualties.

As early as when Hearing that Chenzhou was breached, Shang Rong had almost guessed the next target of the place, so he sent people to report to the imperial court while sending people to prepare in the first line of the gorge. According to Shang Rong's original estimate, unless Wei Junmo's soldiers and horses were several times more than his own, it would be impossible to break through the first-line gorge and invade Ezhou. Even, if the emperor allows, he can temporarily take over Xianning's soldiers and horses to help defend the city, even if he can't hold Xianning City, it's no problem to hold it for a month or two. Will Wei Junmo's soldiers and horses be several times more than his own? Of course not!

It's a pity that things are obviously not as easy as Shang Rong thought. The commander of Xianning did not allow him to interfere in Xianning's military power at all, and this Shang Rong could also understand it, after all, he would not be happy that someone would point fingers at the Ezhou he was stationed in. But... Who can tell him why the idiot stationed in Xianning had to wait until the enemy besieged Xianning before he started to act. Won't the Xianning Army fight a water war? Even if it doesn't anymore, it's better than those northern landlubbers under Wei Gongzi, right?

Then, the emperor ordered someone to hand over all the military power of Ezhou to Wang Wei Hongfei of Jingjiang County, who was about to lead the troops. also asked his son-in-law to take his daughter back to Beijing immediately to report on his work, a small lieutenant, what kind of job is it?

"Father-in-law..."Nangong Hui frowned, but still spoke, "This time, it's probably my father-in-law who has been involved." "After a few years in the army, Nangong Hui no longer has the impulse and simplicity of the past. When there was an accident in the Duke of Chu, he desperately wanted to return to Beijing, but he was forcibly confined to the army by his father-in-law. It was only after more than half a year that he received the letter from his eldest brother that he fully understood the beginning and end of the matter, and since then Nangong Hui has been much calmer. He knew that the eldest brother had been planning to do so many things secretly for many years but had been hiding himself, but he didn't hide it very much from his sister who had never been at home, completely because of his own lack of ability. The eldest brother was so anxious to let himself get married, and the younger sister persuaded her to follow her father-in-law to leave Jinling in order to get herself out of the mess of the Nangong family. Since he was a child, he has always been protected by his brother and even his sister, which makes Nangong Hui feel inexplicably ashamed.

The naturalized general waved his hand and said, "Things are already like this, and it won't help to say this." You actually married Nian'er, we are a family, what does it not matter. ”

"But..."Nangong Hui said: "If Nian'er and I go back to Beijing, my father-in-law is only afraid that he will be here..." "Everyone knows why Xiao Qianye wants them to go back, they want to use Shang Nian'er and Nangong Hui to contain Shang Rong. At the same time, it also put an end to the possibility that Shang Rong might turn against each other because of Nangong Hui's influence. Whether it was the former or the latter, Shang Rong felt a little chill in his heart. In all fairness, even if Nangong Hui was his son-in-law, he never considered using this relationship to join King Yan from the beginning of the war. Shang Rong hadn't read too many books, but he also understood the truth of loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness in his heart. The king does not live up to the minister, and the minister does not live up to the king.

Shang Rong looked at Nangong Hui and said in a deep voice: "You don't want to go back to Jinling? ”

Nangong Hui knew that he couldn't hide it from his father-in-law, so he nodded and said in a deep voice: "Don't hide it from your father-in-law, eldest brother and Mo'er... Now that they are all in Youzhou, I, I can't be their enemy. ”

Shang Rong sighed slightly and said, "That's it, the old man knows that this matter is embarrassing for you." What's more, with the mind of His Majesty... Even if the court wins in the future, I'm afraid that I won't let you go. "Xiao Qianye's hatred for Nangong Mo is not inferior to that of Wei Gongzi, and now that Nangong Xu has also taken refuge in King Yan, how could Xiao Qianye let Nangong Hui go after he knew about it? Even for the sake of Shang Rong's loyalty, I'm afraid it's impossible.

Shang Rong rubbed his eyebrows and muttered for a long time before saying, "You can leave here with Nian'er." ”

"Father?" Shang Nian'er was shocked and couldn't help but shout. Shang Rong's resolute face looked at his daughter with a little more love, and said softly: "Nian'er, marry your husband." Since you have married Hui'er, you are a member of the Nangong family, and you will go wherever he goes in the future. In the eyes of my father for the past two years, Hui'er is a good child, and you won't suffer if you follow him. ”

Shang Nian'er shook her head again and again, "No, father, what should you do if we leave?" ”

Shang Rong said indifferently: "The water spilled by the daughter who got married, not to mention that His Majesty still needs me to defend Ezhou, and he will not be angry with me because of his daughter and son-in-law." ”

Shang Nian'er is not so easy to deceive, "Even if His Majesty will not do anything to his father for the time being, when this matter is over, his father will only ......be afraid" Shang Rong smiled and said: "If it is for his father to die on the battlefield this time, it is his business no matter what His Majesty thinks." If you are lucky enough to leave a life, it is time for your father to disarm and return to the field. For the sake of my past achievements, I won't kill the heroes, right? ”

"Father!" Shang Nian'er intersects authentically.

business

Set tunnels.

Shang Rong didn't give them room to speak, and waved his hand and said categorically: "Okay, it's decided." You two, let's go tonight! ”

"No......" Shang Nian'er said with tears in her eyes, but she was stopped by Nangong Hui. Nangong Hui bowed respectfully to Shang Rong and said, "Father-in-law, it is Nangong Hui's unfilial piety that has affected you." Shang Rong said indifferently: "If you treat Nian'er well in the future, it will be the best reward for the old man." Go ahead and prepare. Even if I don't have you, I don't worry about sending Nian'er back to Jinling. In case something goes wrong in the war... It is not without generals who have been punished even by their families. The old man only has Nian'er, a daughter......"

Without Nangong Hui, Xiao Qianye would not have doubted Shang Rong's loyalty, and he would not have thought of taking Shang Nian'er back to Jinling. After all, Shang Nian'er is a daughter, not a son, and not many people think that relying on a daughter can contain a general with two hearts. As for now, the idea of the brothers of Nangong Mo and Nangong Xu is only slightly greater than the meaning of the son-in-law of the son-in-law of the control of Shangrong, right?

However, it is not easy to leave. Soon they found out that Nangong Hui and Shang Nian'er had left the barracks, and even when they left their tents, someone followed them. In this regard, Shang Rong thought that he was furious. It's a pity that the messenger of the decree only blocked them back with a few words of yin and yang.

"Since the general is dedicated to serving the imperial court, Ling Ai and Ling Son-in-law are just changing places to live temporarily, what danger can they have? The general was reluctant to let the two go on the road, didn't he secretly have two hearts? ”

Shang Rong was angry but helpless, it was true that here he could quietly destroy more than a dozen guards and even messengers who passed on the decree, but as a courtier, could he really do this?

"Nangong Hui is a general in the army, and now is the time to employ people, and this general will personally write to His Majesty to ask His Majesty for permission."

The envoy looked at Shang Rong with a smile and said: "The general still don't bother, when the army of the king of Jingjiang County arrives and the general delivers the military power, we must take the two back to Beijing." ”

Shang Rong gritted his teeth, "Don't bother with it." ”

Two days later, Wei Hongfei really rushed to Ezhou with 100,000 soldiers and horses. There were also three sons of the Jingjiang County Palace, obviously Wei Hongfei planned to take advantage of this opportunity to make a little more achievements, so as to pave the way for his son's future. The first-line gorge camp could not accommodate more than 100,000 troops, so the 100,000 troops were just stationed in a temporary military camp not far from Ezhou outside the first-line gorge. Shang Rong, who was notified to go to meet the commander, only glanced at the temporary military camp and couldn't help frowning. Again, what is the point of camping in such a place where there is neither danger nor city? If Tainingwei rushed through the first-line gorge, it would not take a day for the world to crush this improvised military camp to the ground.

The last time Wei Hongfei led troops to fight was before Wei Junmo was born, he was in his early twenties, and he said that he was leading soldiers, but the first emperor saw that his father and a little kinship gave him a chance to rub military merits. The deputy general alone was given to several veterans, and the soldiers and horses of the Northern Yuan Dynasty were already in danger at that time, can they not win the battle in this case? In the past 20 years, Wei Hongfei, as the concubine of Princess Wang Changping of Jingjiang County, did not even have much time to ride a horse, and suddenly had to lead the troops to fight. Yichunhou's current exit is his future Yinjian, not to mention, Yichunhou still had some real skills back then.

But Wei Hongfei didn't feel that he couldn't do it, he only felt that he didn't meet him. Now that I finally have a chance, I am holding my breath to make a battle achievement and raise my eyebrows. He must let the world know that the Jingjiang County Mansion did not rely on nepotism, and he Wei Hongfei did not rely on Princess Changping to have today.

"General Shang, please hand over the military power." The messenger who came to deliver the decree squinted at Shang Rong and said sharply. In the past two days, Shang Rong has more or less recovered. This person is not a nose to his own nose and eyes are not eyes, in addition to the fact that Nangong Hui is not treated by the emperor, there is another important reason that he did not give him a gift. However, Shang Rong did not have much spare money to bribe the envoys sent by the emperor, after all, it was impossible for him to pile up military salaries, and these people did not say that tens of taels and one hundred taels could be dispatched. In that case, forget it.

Shang Rong did not delay, and the transfer of military power was not a very complicated matter. In addition to the various dossiers in the army, the most important thing is the military talisman. Shang Rong was already ready before Wei Hongfei came, and directly waved his hand to send things up. Two soldiers held a full box of files in one hand, and one carried a small box containing a letter of soldier sigil that could command a large army.

Shang Rong said: "The king of the county, please check it." ”

Wei Hongfei was not polite, stretched out his hand to take the talisman and the seal letter and looked at it, nodded with satisfaction: "There is a general of labor and merchant." ”

"Don't dare."

Then Wei Hongfei asked people to check the files and account books in the army, with the military talisman in hand, Wei Hongfei was quite complacent, and did not go to check the account books in person, but asked the three brothers Wei Junbo who were with him to go and see it. Seeing this, Shang Rong only frowned and did not speak. The three brothers of the Wei family took people to check the accounts on the side, and the rest of them drank tea in the war.

Wei Hongfei sat on the main seat, raised his glass to everyone and said: "This king has just arrived in Ezhou, and he will ask General Shang for more help in the future." ”

Shang Rong pulled the corner of his lower lip and said, "The prince is serious, and the last thing will be within the line." ”

Wei Hongfei smiled indifferently, and said to the envoy who was sitting at the bottom of the edict: "This time, Lord Lao has worked hard to run, and tomorrow the Lord will leave for Beijing to return, why don't you practice it for the Lord tonight?" Please also enjoy the light. "That envoy can be sent to deliver the decree, naturally it is not a high-ranking official, but it is just a Ministry of Rites official from the fifth grade, before the Jingjiang County Mansion secretly gave him a lot of benefits, and now that Wei Hongfei is so loved, he naturally feels physically and mentally hurt. Compared with Shang Rong's indifference to himself, he suddenly smiled more and more earnestly at Wei Hongfei.

"Then thank you to the prince, but it's a pity that the lower officials have to return to Beijing to revert to the decree, and they can't see the heroic posture of the prince on the battlefield."

Wei Hongfei smiled modestly and nodded with satisfaction in his heart. This man meant to return to Jinling, and he would speak for him in front of His Majesty. Although these sesame petty officials who seem to be only five or six grades seem to be insignificant, Wei Hongfei, who has lived in the Jinling Imperial City for more than 20 years, knows very well the truth that the king of Hades is good and the little ghost is difficult. Sometimes it's these seemingly insignificant people who will make you suffer a lot.

The envoy glanced back at Shang Rong and said with a smile: "General Shang, Ling Ai and Ling Son-in-law will follow Xia Guan on the road early tomorrow morning." If the general has anything to explain to the two, he will have to do it. Shang Rong's face was slightly gloomy, and he lowered his eyes and said lightly: "Thank you for reminding me, the old man knows it." ”

The messenger was bored, snorted and stopped talking.

However, Wei Hongfei looked at Shang Rong and smiled: "Since you are idle, General Shang... Where are the rebellious rebels now? ”

Shang Rong glanced at him and said, "Back to the prince, you have already arrived in Xianning, and you will definitely attack the first-line gorge in the near future." The last general asked for orders to guard the first line of the gorge. ”

Wei Hongfei was stunned for a moment, thought about it before shaking his head and said: "The first-line gorge is known as a natural danger, and it is not so easy for the rebels to come over. What's more, there are more important places that need to be garrisoned by General Shang, so let's leave the first-line gorge to the people below. Shang Rong frowned, what is more important now besides the first-line gorge? Although Ezhou also needs people to guard it, can Tainingwei have wings and fly from the first-line gorge to Ezhou City?

"What does the prince mean?"

Wei Hongfei said with a smile: "The dogs have also been on the battlefield, how do you feel that there are their brothers in the first line of the gorge to guard the general?" ”

Shang Rong said: "I'm afraid it's... Something is wrong. Shang Rong naturally knew that Wei Junbo had several brothers, compared to Wei Junmo, who is now famous in the world, the three brothers Wei Junbo, Wei Junze, and Wei Junyi were simply dimmed under the aura of Wei Gongzi. The brothers Wei Junbo and Wei Junze did go to the battlefield -- just once, and they were still in charge of reserve military supplies.

Hearing this, Wei Hongfei's face was slightly gloomy, and he said in a deep voice: "What? General Shang doesn't believe in this king? ”

Shang Rong said: "The first-line gorge is the only barrier in Ezhou, and once the first-line gorge is lost, Ezhou will be unreservedly exposed to the rebels." Please also think twice. ”

Wei Hongfei was displeased, waved his hand and said, "Enough!" General Shang, this king has made up his mind. If the general is not at ease, it is always okay for the king to personally guard the line, right? Or is it... What was the general's dissatisfaction with His Majesty's will? Shang Rong was speechless, Wei Hongfei obviously wanted to snatch the military merits of the rebels stationed in the first line of the gorge into his own hands, no matter what he said, he would only think that he wanted to steal the military merits from him. But... Is it really that easy to repel the rebels? The First Line Gorge is indeed an easy place to defend and difficult to attack, but it is also a place where it is difficult to take the initiative to attack. With the wisdom of Gongzi Wei and the Lord of Star City, he may not be able to come up with a way to crack it after a long time in the world.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Wei Hongfei snorted lightly: "This king hopes that the general can lead his troops to garrison Ezhou, so that this king has no worries, can the general understand?" ”

There was silence in the big tent for a long time, and Shang Rong sighed secretly in his eyes, and silently arched his hand towards Wei Hongfei.

Soon, Wei Junbo came out to tell the account book that there was nothing wrong, and there was a messenger from the imperial court to witness that the handover was completed. Shang Rong didn't want to stay longer, got up and said that he would retire and turned around and walked out of the big tent. Behind him, the snarky voice of the official who delivered the decree sounded, "This naturalized general is really rude!" ”

I only heard Wei Hongfei laugh and said: "The naturalized general is not in a good mood, and he still looks forward to Lord Haihan." ”

Out of the big tent, Shang Rong looked at the military camp in front of him and the busy soldiers coming and going, and sighed a little weakly. He was indeed a little dissatisfied and dissatisfied with the sudden seizure of military power, but what worried him more was... Is Wei Hongfei really okay as a coach in the army? He has seen a lot of generals who have seized the military merits of his subordinates over the years, but it is still extremely rare for Xiang Wei Hongfei to be so unabashed. What's more, just looking at Wei Hongfei's style, he knew that Wei Hongfei did not take Wei Gongzi and Taining Wei in his eyes. Do you think that with more soldiers and horses than the other party and the natural danger of the first-line gorge, you will definitely be able to win the chances?

'M afraid... It's not that easy, is it?