October of the second year of Jianwen, Beiping

Yesterday was still autumn, and after a night, the snow fell one after another.

Pushing open the door, Meng stomped his feet, rubbed his hands, and took a breath of hot air, finally dispelling some of the coolness.

News came from Nanjing that the army led by Sheng Yong had set off and would soon arrive in Jinan. The eunuchs in the palace were conscientious and did a very meticulous job of intelligence, including the leading officers of the army, the route of travel, and the general attack plan were all secretly reported to the king of Yan.

Wu Jie, the Marquis of Anlu, who was stationed in Dezhou, was under the most pressure, and as soon as Sheng Yong arrived in Jinan, he would definitely fight Dezhou first. If you don't go to Texas, you won't be at ease when you enter Hebei.

King Yan convened the generals to discuss countermeasures, and all the generals proposed to march into Shandong, taking advantage of the fact that the imperial army had not yet arrived, and took the first step - inserted - the nail was inserted.

Unexpectedly, the order was issued, but the target of the attack was Liaodong.

The King of Liao was called to Nanjing by an edict from Emperor Jianwen, and after entering Beijing, he was trapped in the Liao Palace, and his treatment was not much better than that of the King of Qi who was under house arrest.

In Liaodong, most of the state capital has been returned to the king of Shunyan, and the rest of the horns are shady, and the Northern Yuan Dynasty will not patronize the graining grass, except for the bitterness is cold. Not to mention the states and counties, there are very few border guards, and the army is sent to attack these places in the winter, and they are full of food?

The generals didn't understand how His Royal Highness King Yan, who had always been wise and decisive, could make such a military plan that was almost convulsive.

But the order has been given, and it is useless to oppose it.

Military orders are like mountains, and generals such as Zhang Yu, Zhu Neng and others can only obey orders.

Shen Xuan was still a striker, and Yang Duo, who returned from the grassland, was placed under Zhu Neng.

Zhu Gaochu and Zhu Gaosui accompanied the expedition, and Beiping was left to Zhu Gaochi to defend. With Li Jinglong's precedent, knowing that Zhu Di left Beiping, Sheng Yong would not take risks easily. Even if you want to fight Beiping, you have to wait for spring to come.

If Zhu Gaochi holds another ice sculpture exhibition, who can stand it?

Meng did not go out with the army, the weather was suddenly cold, he began to have a fever and cough, Dr. Zhao saw it, said that the old injury recurred, hurt the bottom of the body, and needed to be recuperated.

Zhu Gaochi took the opportunity to ask King Yan for someone, the weather was cold, and Meng Tongzhi couldn't play much role in following the expedition, so it was better to stay in Beiping to help him deal with government affairs, and by the way, let the good doctor of the palace recuperate for him.

"Meng Tong knows that he is not as weak as the crown, and he is talented, if he can't take care of his body, it will be a pity."

No matter what Zhu Gaochi's purpose was, he helped Meng in the end.

If he really issued a certificate with the army, Meng didn't know if he would be able to carry it. This year seems to be colder than the previous year.

"That being the case, Meng Tongzhi can stay in the palace and listen to the dispatch of the prince."

"Thank you, Father."

A large part of the reason for leaving Meng behind was to belong to the steppe tribes.

After the selected tribal warriors set out with the army, the old and young women and children left behind need to be properly arranged, which is the task given to Zhu Gaochi by King Yan, and Zhu Gaochi always has to find a few helpers. It is also strange to say that none of the officials in the Beiping political envoys and the royal palace can communicate well with these Mongols, but Meng is a special case.

Language barrier? It doesn't matter, there are translations. If it doesn't work anymore, you can draw it directly.

When the Mongolian tribes sent people to ask for food, salt, and various daily necessities, the civil officials wanted to save face, and held the doctrine of the sage, but it was not good to deal with them because of the three melons and two dates, and the military attaché was very arrogant, and his temper was hot, and he immediately blew his beard and stared at him if he didn't say a word, and he still fell on the stool if he couldn't lift the table.

Replaced with Meng, from reception to bargaining to sending people away, it didn't take two teas of time.

Hou Xian, who was also sent to Zhu Gaochi to obey his orders, inevitably sighed, if Meng Tongzhi accompanied him at the beginning, he would be fooled...... No, there must be more tribes that are attached to the prince because of their admiration.

In fact, Meng Bu was not much higher than Hou Xian and the others, he was only more observant and could speculate on the intentions of these annexed tribes to the greatest extent. And then start haggling.

is not as face-saving as a civil official, and he will not lose his temper at every turn, so he is naturally handy in doing things.

If you want food, you can.

If you want salt and spices, you can also.

If you want cloth, no problem!

However, things cannot be given for nothing.

Meng Shishilang smiled and calculated, "Now the land where you set up your tent is given by the prince." The pasture grazing after the beginning of spring is also divided by the prince, don't you want better pasture, raise more cattle and sheep, and live a better life? ”

The words really tickled the other party's itch.

The strong men stopped patting the table, their eyes stopped glaring, and they stared at Meng with blank eyes, and their eyes were full of stars.

Horses can be ridden, cattle and sheep are flocked, and there is no need to worry about starving livestock and freezing to death in winter.

What a wonderful life!

The reason why these tribes were moved by Hou Xian's words and were willing to attach themselves was that they couldn't live on the grassland.

The already difficult life, coupled with the oppression of the large tribe, the cattle, sheep and population of the tribe have been decreasing. Adults can't eat, children can't feed, how to fight against the difficult living environment? In the long run, sooner or later it will be swallowed up by other tribes.

The glory of the great Genghis Khan can only be recalled in dreams, and the Golden Family has declined. The Qiergis, Asuth, Arutai and Oirats are fighting each other, and the life of the steppe herders is becoming more and more difficult day by day.

The big fish eat the small fish, but the small fish can't eat the shrimp, so a vicious circle, when the small fish are devoured, the big fish can only consume each other, and the only thing waiting for these big fish is death.

Hou Xian and Yang Duo's solicitation gave these tribes life, and Meng told them that if they wanted to benefit, they had to pay a price.

"The prince has been merciful and has given you a place to stay, and you should repay it. After all, there is no such thing as a free meal in this world, and there is no benefit to be taken for free. ”

Meng smiled calmly and confidently. He had already found out the details of these tribes from Hou Xian's mouth, and it was not difficult for them to accept the conditions he had offered. The reason why they couldn't talk about it before was that the officials they contacted didn't know the other party and couldn't save face.

Thinking of this, Meng couldn't help but sigh and ask, is it difficult to ask? Does asking eunuchs and military attaches for advice really hurt their self-esteem?

It seems that not only the civil officials under Emperor Jianwen are out of tune, but also these civil officials under King Yan.

To put it bluntly, the scholars of Qinggao look down on the military and have no good impression of the eunuchs. It's not bad if you don't jump high and scold people, but please ask for advice? It's simply impossible.

Meng Shishilang shook his head, civil and military discord, which dynasty has it, but it was magnified to the extreme in the Ming Dynasty.

Is it also a feature?

The strong men were finally persuaded by Meng, took the initiative to reduce the amount of grain and cloth by half, exchanged the cattle and sheep in the tribe for chickens, ducks and salt, pressed their handprints on the exchange contract drawn by Meng Tongzhi, and happily returned to the camp with the extra carriage.

Before leaving, he patted his chest and called Brother Meng Tongzhi.

Meng smiled and watched the carriage go away, not feeling sorry at all.

Looking at the sheep crowded in the courtyard, Zhu Gaochi and the palace officials didn't say anything for a long time.

Meng Tongzhi's shot was really extraordinary. Not only was the grain given halved, but hundreds of sheep were harvested!

"Son of the world, these are just fixed money." Meng hugged his fists and said to Zhu Gaochi, "Another two hundred and fifty sheep will be delivered within three days." ”

"How much?"

"Two hundred and five." Unconsciously twitched the corners of his mouth, and set this number, he didn't expect it.

Zhu Gaochi was overjoyed, slapped his palm and smiled, and said: "Meng Tongzhi is really good, Lone was troubled by these Mongols, and he never thought of a proper way. How did Meng Tongzhi convince them? ”

Meng didn't speak, only took out a stack of "contracts" with handprints from his arms and offered them with both hands.

Zhu Gaochi looked at it curiously, and the expression on his face became more and more exciting.

The first, familiar to him, is a hideous sheep and five stick figures. The white strip in Duoyan Sanwei's hand is also of this type.

The second one, also a hideous sheep, two fat ones, what is it?

Looking at the past, Meng Yi grinned, "Hui Shizi, it's a chicken." ”

Zhu Gaochi: "......"

Behead a sheep at level 5, but a sheep can only be exchanged for two chickens?

What is this reasoning, and does it count? The Mongols actually agreed?

Meng said that the content of the contract is true, and the business is also childlike.

As for the reason, he didn't do anything else, but took these Mongolians to visit the "chicken farm" run by the monk Daoyan.

Before King Yan's rebellion, for the sake of the secrecy of the underground, soldiers, and factories, a large number of chickens and ducks were raised in the palace, and they were also complained of disturbing the people.

At the beginning, the palace used the reason that raising chickens and ducks was to pray for blessings and resolutely not kill Zhang Hao. After the capture of Beiping, these poultry were moved to a remote courtyard in the palace to be raised, and the number increased. After killing a batch, another batch grows up, and it is not cost-effective to use it as military rations, so it is better to exchange it with the Mongolian tribes that belong to it.

The problem of the tribe is solved, and the dividends given to Duoyan Sanwei are also available.

"It is believed that these tribes belong to the prince in order to fill their stomachs. The men of the tribe followed the prince on the expedition, and there was no suitable pasture in winter, so it was better to exchange cattle and sheep for chickens and ducks, meat and poultry eggs to eat, and more to the market in exchange for other things needed. ”

Meng took out a few more pieces of paper, on which were drawn two circles of similar size, one with two sheep and the other with seven or eight chickens.

"On the grassland, these tribes have to migrate from water to grass, and after they belong to the prince, some habits can be changed appropriately, as long as life is better, no one should have complaints."

Meng said a little vaguely, but Zhu Gaochi heard it very clearly.

"You promised to give them pasture?"

"Yes." Meng said, "But the humble position didn't say where it was, and when the prince achieved a great cause, the divided Beiyuan was naturally not an opponent." It won't be a problem to take down a few pastures. ”

In the latter words, Meng did not say, once the attached tribes are used to living a settled life, will they still want to go to the grassland to eat and sleep in the open?

Obviously impossible.

Zhu Gaochi nodded, put away the two stacks of paper and handed them to the civil official on the side to circulate, "Look at it, my father handed over this matter to Gu, and he trusted Gu." I ask you to entrust you, and I also value the talents of the princesses. Be lonely and forgive the princesses, and the difficulties of loneliness should also be considerate of the princesses. ”

Everyone was ashamed, but Meng secretly complained.

Does Zhu Gaochi value him or harm him? It's clear that it's worth hate!

Should he be glad that he stood firmly in the ranks of military attaches and did not have to deal with these civilian officials from time to time?

Meng smacked his lips, unable to understand.

That night, Meng tossed and turned, thinking a lot. Staying in Peking may not be a good idea. Really follow King Yan on the expedition? He didn't want to joke with his body.

Monk Daoyan recited Buddhist scriptures all night, and his spirit was still very good. Knowing from the eunuch that the problem of belonging to the tribe had been solved, he sent someone to invite Meng and someone to report back to the son, and today he wanted to discuss Buddhism with his disciples, and asked the son to forgive.

The subtext is: The great monk wants to talk to his apprentice, and the prince wants to catch the strong man and find someone else for the time being.

Being able to temporarily get out of the heavy work, Meng is naturally happy. The price is to be buzzed by the great monk, gritting his teeth, and always being able to survive.

Walking into Daoyan's wing, a step of heating rushed to the face.

The layout in the wing room is simple, even simple, except for a bookshelf, a table, and two futons.

Dao Yan motioned for Meng not to be formal, and sat down to speak.

There is a kettle on the charcoal stove and a few pieces of charred scones, which exude an enticing aroma of wheat.

Meng stared at the scones, his eyes motionless.

Dao Yan twisted the Buddha beads and smiled slightly, "The disciple is hungry?" ”

"I'm a little hungry." For Dao Yan to call him an apprentice at every turn, Meng was already numb.

Just call it, and there won't be a piece of meat missing anyway.

"In that case, let's use it with the teacher."

A eunuch brought rice porridge and side dishes, and Dao Yan picked up a scone cake and put it in the empty bowl in front of Meng, "Use more, eat more, and your body will be better." ”

The fragrant scones are a little hot to the mouth, and when you bite into it, the wheat fragrance is wrapped in the aroma of meat.

Meng looked at Dao Yan in surprise, minced meat?

Monks are not honest!

Dao Yan broke the scones on his plate, but they were vegetarian, the meaning was very clear, the meat food was prepared for good apprentices, he was a monk, how could he easily break the vows.

Monks?

Meng took another bite of the cake and poured most of the bowl of porridge, the six roots of the monks were pure, the six realms were empty, and they regarded the world as nothing, and they would use all their minds to encourage King Yan to rebel?

Dao Yan seemed to be able to guess Meng's thoughts, but he didn't explain, he just ate cakes and drank porridge one bite at a time, and he didn't say anything about eating.

In silence, the food in front of him was swept away, the eunuch brought tea, and Meng Chang breathed a sigh of relief, he hadn't eaten so much for a long time.

After the tea, the room fell silent again.

Dao Yan could sit quietly all day, but Meng couldn't, so he could only ask first: "The master called me here, but I have something to order?" ”

"Something's true." Dao Yan nodded, took out a book from the bookshelf and handed it to Meng, and said very profoundly: "This book, I hope that the apprentices will study it." ”

Meng looked at Daoyan, and then looked at the cover of the book, and the three words "Tao Te Ching" were impressive.

"Master, are you sure you want me to study this book carefully?"

As a monk, he actually asked his apprentice to study Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching"? Even if you take this "Diamond Sutra", it is better than the "Tao Te Ching", right? What's the difference between this and directly letting him betray his teacher?

No, he hasn't apprenticed yet, and he hasn't joined this monk's bad sect!

Before Meng could figure it out, the book in his hand was suddenly taken away again.

Raising his head, a trace of embarrassment flashed on Monk Daoyan's face, "It's the wrong thing for the teacher, these books are right." ”

Meng took it, looked down and looked at the "Book of Changes" again. It's not much better than the Tao Te Ching.

looked at Dao Yan suspiciously, is this really a disciple of Buddhism?

"The master's teachings must be studied carefully in the future."

Judging from the pages, the "Book of Changes" in his hand must be an ancient book, and I am afraid that it was handed down before the Song Dynasty. Regardless of the content of the book, the book itself is already priceless.

Neither the Tao Te Ching nor the Book of Changes are Buddhist things, was the great monk negligent or deliberate?

Dao Yan twisted the Buddha beads, and wanted to say a few words to save the image in the minds of his apprentices, but Meng suddenly stood up, only to say that he had benefited a lot from meeting with the master today, and he would definitely study the classics hard when he went back, and he would never live up to the master's attention.

"Master, I'm leaving."

Meng Tongzhi turned around and went out, his movements crisp and neat.

Dao Yan sat on the futon and didn't speak for a long time.

After a long time, he smiled lightly and recited the Buddhist scriptures again.

This apprentice is really cunning, and when he gets cheap, he still refuses to call him master.

It doesn't matter, what the monk has is patience.

Apprentices can't run away after all. This master, it doesn't matter if you call or not.

In the next few days, Meng was often invited by Daoyan to "talk about Buddhism", and Zhu Gaochi failed every time he tried to catch the strong man.

Isn't that too much of a coincidence? It wasn't until Princess Yan reminded him that Zhu Gaochi was stunned.

"Your father handed over the affairs of Beiping to you, and he also wanted to see your ability to control it." Princess Yan is still a little sickly, but her complexion is much better than two months ago, "Meng Shishilang is talented, if you want to use him, you also need to think about how to use it." ”

"Child......

"You have been taught by Confucian teachers since you were a child, and you are not as flamboyant as your two younger brothers, which is a good thing." Princess Yan paused twice, and then said, "But don't learn all the twists and turns in the sour Confucian's stomach, which are chilling." ”

Zhu Gaochi did not speak.

"Why is your father so supported? Why are your two younger brothers even more praised by military attachés? Princess Yan looked at Zhu Gaochi with a sharp gaze, "You are getting older, and the mother concubine doesn't want to say more, just one point, look at the emperor of Nanjing, can't you understand?" ”

“…… Be. ”

Exiting the main hall where Princess Yan lived, a thin layer of sweat appeared on Zhu Gaochi's forehead.

Thinking of the words of the concubine, I couldn't help but sink in my heart.

Why did Master Dao Yan suddenly invite Meng to go, and why did the mother concubine suddenly teach like this, and compare her two younger brothers?

The way to get under it?

Zhu Gaochi exhaled, a little in a trance, and seemed to understand something.

After Princess Yan talked to the prince, the number of times Dao Yan asked Meng to study Buddhism gradually decreased, at least when Wang An went to find someone, he would not rush to the air again and again.

The atmosphere of the royal palace officials and subordinates has also changed, and as the work assigned by the prince gradually lightened, the eyes staring at Meng became less and less. Even if there is, it is no longer as stabbing as in the past, which really makes Meng Shishilang much easier.

In between work, Meng began to study the classics given to him by Daoyan.

The Book of Changes is difficult to understand, but if you read it carefully, you can get a different experience every time. The wisdom accumulated by our ancestors is a treasure that is difficult to obtain in an impetuous steel and concrete society.

When you calm down, you can find many shortcomings in your body.

Clever, competitive, woman-like, forward-looking.

I thought I was very low-key, but I became a rafter everywhere.

I thought I was walking steadily, but I didn't know that I was stepping on a single-plank bridge under my feet.

Gradually, Meng understood Daoyan's intentions.

One day, he was called by Dao Yan to study Buddhism, and Meng Shishilang sincerely saluted Dao Yan and said, "Thank you, master." ”

Dao Yan twisted the Buddha beads, "Still don't want to call the poor monk a master?" ”

Meng: "...... is grateful, and if you join a bad sect, don't talk about it."

"That's fine." Dao Yan smiled, "There will be a day when there will be." ”

Sample, see how long you can still be hard-mouthed!

In mid-October, the battle report from the front was transmitted back to Beiping.

The military order issued by King Yan was to conquer Liaodong, but he turned south halfway, borrowed Tianjin, passed through Zhigu, and pointed to Cangzhou, which was captured by Xu Kai not long ago.

The general was puzzled, and the reason given by King Yan was that "watching the stars at night, I saw that there were two white gases, pointing from the northeast to the southwest, it must be Linan!" ”

Playing seal-build-superstition-letter, King Yan is very proficient.

Heaven guides, the south is good, the south is cheap, let's not go to Liaodong, attack the south!

Before sending troops, King Yan and Dao Yan set up this plan to attack the east and west, in order to confuse the court and catch the other party off guard. In addition to the two people who formulated the plan, even Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng and other generals were hidden. After sending troops, the generals found that the direction of the forward exploration was wrong, and after asking, King Yan finally explained the reason.

The winter is very cold, rain, snow and mud, and it is not easy to attack the city. Only by attacking the unprepared and quickly resolving the situation can we minimize the losses.

Xu Kai, who was stationed in Cangzhou, was Zhu Di's defeated general, and it was not a problem to go down.

After taking Cangzhou, he entered Shandong and joined Wu Jie in Dezhou to fight a decisive battle with the imperial army.

"In the cold season, the heavy snow seals the river, and you can cross the river by the road and go directly to the city of Cangzhou."

Shen Xuan, who served as the vanguard, took the lead in setting off, and Yang Duo led 3,000 cavalry to echo around. On the way, he encountered the scouts of the Southern Army and immediately captured them.

When the forward troops of the Yan army arrived in Cangzhou, Xu Kai, who was stationed here, still did not notice it, and wholeheartedly urged the soldiers to build a city defense to guard against Zhu Di.

It wasn't until Shen Xuan and Yang Duo led the cavalry to appear under the city that the defenders in the city realized that something was wrong.

Yan Jun came too fast, and Xu Kai didn't get any information.

Didn't you say that King Yan had a whim to fight Liaodong? How did it suddenly appear in Cangzhou?

Taking advantage of the chaos in the city, the Yan army attacked from all sides.

Under the cover of bows and arrows, the Yan army set up a ladder and climbed the city.

The defenders hacked one to death, and a second would soon pick up. The fierce and undaunted posture quickly broke the will of the defenders.

Xu Kai personally supervised the battle and did not suppress the position, especially Shen Xuan also climbed to the top of the city, showed his long knife, and after being recognized by a certain southern army who had experienced the battle of Baigou River, he exclaimed, and the defenders at the head of the city turned their heads and ran away.

Isn't this killing god easy to mess with, even the Pingdu Governor of the three armies of Yongguan can't withstand it, don't you run and wait to lose your head?

Shen Xuan held the knife and watched the southern army at the head of the city retreat like a tide, and the Yan army that climbed up to the head of the city one after another followed closely, the expression on his face was very indescribable.

Zhang Yu looked at the "isolated" Commander Shen, and couldn't help but laugh in the end.

Zhu Neng was not so polite, slapped Shen Xuan on the back, and said with a smile: "You kid is amazing!" Lao Tzu didn't have this treatment when he killed Qu Neng. ”

Shen Xuan: "......"

Cangzhou fought a battle, and the main general Xu Kai, the governor Chen Xian, and the commanders Yu Qi and Zhao Hu were all captured. The Yan army beheaded more than 10,000 people, and the rest surrendered. A large amount of baggage was captured, and in addition to the need to replenish the army, it was transported back to Beiping.

The officers and men of the forward troops were all captured, but Commander Shen unexpectedly did not get a single head. When he approached, the southern army ran away. If he can't escape, he will surrender immediately, and resolutely not give him a chance to cut people.

It can be seen that the force value is too high, not only do you have no friends, but even enemies are difficult to find.

What a tough man in this life.

Meng Tongzhi was not there, no one could dispel the evil qi on Commander Shen's body, and the soldiers of Yanshan's guard could only ask for more blessings for themselves.