Zhang Shi, Fo Cheng and the speculation are good, Jiangzuo Tang State's Jingzhou assassin Shi Huanmeng, it is true that soon after He Hun was in rebellion, he wrote to the Jiankang court, asking him to take the opportunity to lead the northern expedition, but the result was rejected by the Jiankang court; Yin Dang, who had not been in Yangzhou for a long time, received permission from the Jiankang Imperial Court after the same request for the Northern Expedition.

Huan Meng actually expected this result.

After all, since the Tang Dynasty moved south to Jiangzuo to the present, Jingzhou here, because it is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, overlooking Jiankang, relying on the natural geographical advantage of going down the river, and has a large number of counties, the people are rich in the state, and has a large number of Guanlong displaced people living here based on the construction of the army, the soldiers are brave, can fight and dare to fight, so it has always been the object of strict defense by the imperial court. So now, although there is civil strife in the Wei State, it seems to be a good opportunity to recover Shenzhou, but it can be said that it is for the sake of the imperial power to avoid threats, or for the benefit of the first-class lords in power, of course, the court will not allow him to use troops again.

It is precisely because the DPRK and China are now extremely vigilant against Huan Meng, the last time Huan Meng attacked Shu, the DPRK still had time to discuss this for a while, so that he could not reply to him in time, but this time it was not, his letter was only sent a few days ago, and the will to prohibit him from sending troops was hurried down to Jingzhou.

If there is no will, Huan Meng can also be like the last time to attack Shu, and send troops without an edict again, this time the will was issued so quickly, but it made him not good as before.

Huan Meng visited Yuan Ziqiao in person on this day to ask about countermeasures.

Yuan Ziqiao is a scribe in the end, although he has courage, but now the corporal is good at drinking, taking five stone powder and other habits, he has everything, daily lack of exercise, so the physical fitness is not very good, the previous time to cut Shu, back and forth thousands of miles, long-distance travel, he has several times in front of the battle, personally risked the arrow, but also suffered a little injury, because soon after returning from Shu, he contracted the disease, he has been bedridden for two months.

Huan Meng didn't bring a few entourage, drove lightly, arrived at Yuan Ziqiao's house, did not ask his family to inform him, went into the backyard, went to Yuan Ziqiao's bedridden room, pushed the door and entered.

Yuan Ziqiao, who was lying on the bed, closed his eyes, his face was pale, unkempt, his body was covered with a brocade quilt, his exposed cheeks and arms were as thin as firewood, where was there still half of the unruly romance of the past? Not to mention the brave posture of fighting hard during the Battle of Zhenqiao.

When Huan Meng saw this, he suddenly felt sour, and Yuan Fangping, the eldest son of Yuan Ziqiao, who came in with him, said, "Are you sleeping?" ”

Zi Qiao is the name of the legendary fairy prince Qiao of the Zhou Dynasty; Fang Ping is the word of the immortal Wang Yuan in the legendary Qin Dynasty in the previous dynasty. There are many people in the Jiangzuo clan who believe in the Tao of the Heavenly Master, and the same is true of Yuan Ziqiao's family, so the names of their fathers and sons are taken from the names and characters of the ancient immortals.

Yuan Fangping is not very old, only seven or eight years old, has not yet been crowned, hangs his hair, wears children's clothes, although he is young, his behavior is quite mature, and he replied with worry: "Jiajun wakes up these days for a short time, and sleeps for a long time. ”

"How about eating?"

"I can't eat a meal for two or three days."

Huan Meng saw a bowl of talisman water on the table next to the bed, frowned and said, "Where did this come from?" ”

Yuan Fangping replied: "It was the kid who asked for it from Master Zhang. ”

"Zhang Shi" is the leader of a Shu Heavenly Master Dao who followed Huan Meng from Shuzhong to Jingzhou, and has a wonderful name.

Huan Meng didn't believe this, and said: "If Fu Shui is useful, why do you need medicine? ”

Yuan Fangping hesitated for a while and said, "The doctors invited recently have refused to prescribe medicine for Jiajun, and the kid can't, because he asked Master Zhang for this talisman water. ”

When Huan Meng heard this, he was shocked and said, "The doctor refuses to prescribe medicine? Uncle Yan's illness is so serious that it is? Asked Yuan Fangping, "Why didn't you tell me earlier!" ”

"The family said that the governor is busy with military and political affairs, and he doesn't want to disturb the governor with his illness."

When Huan Meng heard this, his heart was even more sour, he lightened his steps, arrived at the bed, bent down, reached out and wanted to caress Yuan Ziqiao's cheek, but he was afraid to wake him up, hesitated for a moment, and finally retracted his hand, and sighed: "Yuan Yang! Why are you so stupid? Military and political affairs, mundane matters, how can it be as important as me? He straightened up, commanded the servants, and said, "Get all the famous doctors in the state at once!" If the prescription is valid, I will reward you heavily! ”

A weak voice sounded and said, "Ming Gong, there's no need. ”

Huan Meng hurriedly turned around, looked at the bed, and saw that it was Yuan Ziqiao who woke up and turned around.

"Uncle Yan, why is your illness so serious? Why don't you let Fang Ping tell me? Yesterday I sent someone to visit you and replied that you are all right! Uncle Yan, why lie to me! I knew you were so sick, I ......"

"Ming Gong, I'm afraid my life will be short."

Huan Meng was startled, hurriedly stretched out his hand to cover Yuan Ziqiao's mouth, and said, "Yuan Yang! You can't say that. We have all fought down in Shudi, what is a sickness? Our famous doctors in Jingzhou, I will summon them all to you today! But if they don't work, I'll send people to the states, and I'll bring you all the healers from all over the country." Isn't it just a minor illness? If people eat whole grains, who will not have a small illness or a small disaster? It's nothing! It must be curable! ”

Yuan Ziqiao reluctantly pulled away Huan Meng's hand, but his face was unwavering, neither fearful nor worry-free, looking down on life and death, and said calmly: "Ming Gong, the gains of Shu are what this man can do; Ziqiao knows his own illness, and my illness is beyond human control. ”

Huan Meng's voice was sad, and he said, "Ziqiao! ”

Yuan Ziqiao struggled to raise his hand, pointed to the case, and said: "Ming Gong, it was when I was in a little better spirit the day before yesterday, and I dictated a proposal written by Fang Ping, but I haven't finished writing it yet. After this is to be written, it is on the same as that of the Ming Duke. Now that Ming Gong is here, I don't need to write this book anymore. Ming Gong, please take a look first. ”

On the side of the bowl of runic water on the table, a piece of plain paper was folded.

Huan Meng picked up the paper, unfolded it, and saw that there were hundreds of words written on it, so he read it carefully.

Although it is only a few hundred words, the whole article has not been completed, but Huan Meng has read it, and he knows that Yuan Ziqiao's article wants to talk about something, and he visited Yuan Ziqiao today and wanted to ask about the same thing. Although the font on the paper is childish, it describes major military and political events, but it gives people the feeling of a thousand weights.

After reading what was written in the article, the first thing that came to Huan Meng's mind was not to be anxious to know what was underneath, but to say sadly: "When the spirit is a little better, you can dictate these hundreds of words!" Uncle Yan's illness, is it really terminal? "Although there are many celebrities and scribes in his house, but most of them are only Qing scholars, when it comes to practical talents, only Yuan Ziqiao can help him, not to mention anything else, only lead 10,000 people to cut down Shu, if there is no Yuan Ziqiao's pre-war strategy, and the morale of the pro-morale in the war, it will definitely not succeed, when I think that Yuan Ziqiao may really be as he said, soon in the world, with Huanmeng's heroic spirit, I can't help but feel the pain of breaking my arm.

"Have you finished reading it? I have only written half of this book, and the second half has not yet been written, so I will listen to it with Ming Gong. ”

"Ziqiao, let's not talk about these things now, when you get better, and the coming day will be long, let's discuss it in detail before it's too late."

Yuan Ziqiao said: "Ming Gong, if you don't say it today, I'm afraid there will be no future." ”

Huan Meng wanted to wait for another word.

Yuan Ziqiao stopped him, talked to himself, and said down: "Duke Ming, if I remember correctly, my book is that although Yin Yangzhou has received an edict from the imperial court, he will cross the river to the north, but Duke Ming does not have to worry about it. But is it? ”

Seeing Yuan Ziqiao's resolute attitude, he insisted on saying it, but Huan Meng couldn't, so he had to say, "Yes." He immediately smiled and said, "Yuan Yang, you have never forgotten and have an excellent memory, how can you remember what you wrote?" It's unmistakable. ”

Yuan Ziqiao knew that he said this in order to reduce the mourning atmosphere in the room, and returned him a smile, and then said: "Ming Gong, why does Ziqiao explain that Gong doesn't have to worry about this?" This is because Yin Yangzhou is his person, Ming Gong knows, this person Qing Hui Yaliang, is certainly well-known in the world, but governing the government and seeking the country, using soldiers is strange, but it is not his ability, and Yangzhou has no capable generals, and although Wei is now in internal strife, and there is an invasion of Pu Qin outside, but whether Murong Zhan, Murong Wutai, or Pu Mao, He Hun evil, they are all good at using soldiers, so I expect that Yin Yangzhou is not their opponent, although Yin Yangzhou is ordered by the king to go on a northern expedition, it will not succeed! ”

Huan Meng nodded, agreeing with Yuan Ziqiao's judgment of Yin Dang's ability. In fact, Huan Meng and Yin Dang had served in the governor's mansion of Eryu, but they had a colleague relationship, and he knew more about Yin Dang's talent than Yuan Ziqiao, so he called Yin Dang's words and said: "Shenyuan is virtuous and has words, if he is appointed as a scholar, it is enough to set an example for the imperial court. I also thought that his Northern Expedition would definitely come back in vain. ”

Yuan Ziqiao coughed twice, his voice was even more inaudible than just now, and said: "So Ming Gong doesn't have to worry about the imperial court not allowing Ming Gong's Northern Expedition, but ordering Yin Yangzhou to cross the river and go north. Ming Gong might as well wait and see, after the defeat of Yin Yangzhou, Ming Gong can take the opportunity to immediately write to the court and impeach him; On the one hand, you can also request to send troops to Yu and Xu again. ”

It's a two-pronged solution.

The important ministers of the Jiangzuo court launched Yin Dang to counter Huan Meng, so after he was defeated, he wrote to impeach him, even if he could not be removed from his official position and arrested and imprisoned, at least it could greatly affect his prestige. You don't allow Huan Meng to attack Wei in the court, but Yin Dang, who was elected by you, was defeated, so when Huan Meng asks for war again, those important ministers in the court will no longer be able to refuse him, this is the second article.

Huan Meng thought of all of this, he groaned slightly, and said: "Uncle Yan, Qing's words are very true, and I also see this." After a pause, he expressed his worries and said, "Uncle Yan, just like you just said, Murong Zhan and Pu Mao, although they belong to Hulu, they can all be called talents, especially Pu Mao, don't be different from Zhu Hu, but know the royal way, since the pretence, in the Guanzhong to practice benevolence and righteousness, steal the hearts of the people, and be honest with my strong enemy of the Tang Dynasty, I am worried that if I can't seize this good opportunity of Wei Yu's civil strife, recover the Central Plains and Hebei, in case Luoyang and other places are invaded by Pu Mao, then its momentum will inevitably flourish, if I wait until then to go on a northern expedition, I'm afraid it will not be easy." ”

Yuan Ziqiao said: "Pu Mao is indeed an outlier among Hulu, but Ming Gong doesn't need to worry too much about him. ”

"Oh?"

"In the future, when the Ming Duke goes on a large-scale Northern Expedition, as long as he can get help from one person, although Pu Mao is strong, he is not worried."