In Chen Hongfan's private bureau, Zhao Dangshi also learned two news.

First, Yu Yinggui, the governor of Huguang, was impeached by Xiong Wencan and imprisoned.

Yu Yinggui has a straightforward personality and thinks that he has been directly promoted by the central government and has the credit of guarding the Xianling Mausoleum, so he has always disagreed with Xiong Wencan, and has always resisted the policy of appeasing the Liukou. Xiong Wencan regarded it as a thorn in his side, and it happened that Luo Rucai and other subordinates were in chaos recently, and Yu Yinggui was impeached for the crime of arson. There were very few people in the court who helped Yu Yinggui speak, and Yang Sichang also contributed to Xiong Wencan's aid, and finally the court agreed to replace him with Shang Baoqing Fang Kongzhi. Yu Yinggui was sad and indignant in his heart, and when he was arrested, he bluntly said, "Zhang Xianzhong captured Gucheng to appease." Take a leave of absence for a year, and if you don't rebel, you will behead the minister to thank the thief", but the court turned a deaf ear. Subsequently, Yang Sichang entered the Dongge University as a scholar and was also in charge of the military department. One fell together, which is embarrassing.

Yu Yinggui was deposed, and Zhao Dangshi was still very happy. At first, Yu Yinggui knew that Chen Hongfan and Xiong Wencan were in the same breath, and almost had little intersection with Chen Hongfan, and Chen Hongfan felt uneasy many times. Now that the new person is replacing the old person, as long as he seizes the opportunity to smooth out the relationship with Fang Kongzhi, it will be beneficial to the stability of Chen Hongfan and Zhao Ying's forces in northern Chu.

Second, He Tengjiao, the magistrate of Nanyang County, was transferred to Beijing to serve as the head of the military department because of his meritorious service to the thief.

Chen Hongfan has invited He Tengjiao to the manor for banquets many times, and Zhao Dangshi has also met with others many times. Although there is no particularly deep friendship, after all, it is a familiar face, and the gifts are naturally not missing. Now He Tengjiao has been transferred to Beijing as an official, and he has also entered the military department, which can be called a pivotal position, which is equivalent to helping Zhao Ying install an old man in Beijing. In the future, it will certainly be beneficial to improve Beijing-China relations. Zhao Dangshi listened to Chen Hongfan speak, and at the same time, he had already begun to think in his heart, and when he returned to the camp, he would immediately send someone to Nanyang to give He Tengjiao a big gift.

The three of them talked in the pavilion for a short time, the rain suddenly stopped, taking advantage of the clouds and rain, Chen Hongfan immediately sent someone to prepare a small boat, boating on Tanxi Lake to continue drinking and entertaining. Zhao Dangshi knew that it was not suitable to speak deeply, and he communicated with Su Gaozhao every time, and did not get involved in too many commercial matters, but just laughed about the customs and interesting things in Huguang, Shaanxi and other places. With Chen Hongfan on the side, when the three of them got off the boat and landed, Su Gaozhao had already lost the precautions he had at the beginning of Zhao Dangshi, and he was obviously a lot more intimate.

When it comes to eating, drinking, and having fun, no one can be out of Chen Hongfan's right. Zhao Dangshi has frequent contacts with others, and it is not strange to see it early, but Su Gaozhao is laborious, and he is very eager to be lustful. At the dinner banquet, the three of them pushed the cup and changed the lamp, and there were beautiful women who persuaded each other to drink during the banquet, and they were satisfied with Su Gaozhao's service. Zhao Dangshi observed carefully, and from Su Gaozhao's expression and movements, he also knew that the other party must also be a player, and a person who naturally likes wine and wealth means that he is very good at prescribing the right medicine, so he is happy in his heart.

In the second half of the wine, Su Gao was already drunk. When he was full of wine and meat, he had no scruples, and he couldn't stand the high hats of Zhao and Chen one after another, and he couldn't control his mouth, and he talked a lot about the internal and external affairs of the Zheng family.

Since Chongzhen defeated Liu Xiang, the last great enemy in the southeast sea, in the eighth year, Zheng Zhilong has completely controlled the trade flow in the southeast sea. Based on Anping, Fujian, the Zheng clan established a huge network of influence covering Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and other places, with as many as 1,000 merchant warships under his command, countless crew members, and tens of millions of annual incomes. The trade routes controlled by him were as far as Japan, Ryukyu, Bo Ni, Luzon and other dozens of foreign countries, and the Japanese people, Franc machine people, and red-haired people also respected them and did not dare to exceed half a point.

Zheng Zhilong's strength, Zhao Dangshi never had the slightest doubt, and most of the boasting of Su Gaozhao was also a sincere nod. Thinking on the other hand, if it weren't for the Zheng family's strength, why would he Zhao Dangshi go to great lengths to make friends with him thousands of miles away?

Su Gaozhao talked for a while, his eyes drifted to the servant girl who served him, and he began to talk about Zheng Zhilong's Japanese wife. He also praised Zheng Zhilong's eldest son for having the style of a father, being intelligent, studious since he was a child, and he has been admitted to Xiucai this year.

Zhao Dangshi and Chen Hongfan only laughed together. When Su Gaozhao fell asleep completely, Chen Hongfan carried him back to the wing room and turned him back to the banquet, Zhao Dangshi immediately said: "The kindness of the elder brother's recommendation, the younger brother is unforgettable!" ”

Chen Hongfan changed the smile on the banquet and said solemnly: "You and my brother, why do you have to see the outside like this. He added, "In this northern Chu, you and my brothers are all outsiders, and if you want to live a stable life, if you don't help each other, it will be difficult." ”

Zhao Dangshi also changed his face and said: "What my brother said is extremely true. ”

Chen Hongfan poured a full cup of wine for Zhao Dangshi, and the two clinked glasses and drank, Chen Hongfan said: "Su Gaozhao may live in my village for ten days." I will entertain him for my brother, and with my brother here, you can relax a little. As he spoke, he smiled at Zhao Dangshi.

Zhao Dangshi smiled lightly and said nothing, under the curtain of the red candle veil, the two had a tacit understanding, and they toasted each other at the same time.

That night, Zhao Dangshi stayed at Chen Hongfan Manor, and the next day, Su Gaozhao stayed in a hangover until noon before waking up. Zhao Dangshi met with him, and then rushed back to Zhao Ying with Zhou Wenhe and other Pegasus. When he arrived at the camp, it was already dusk, and Deng Longye was already waiting outside the camp tent.

There was a short old man who followed Deng Longye, and he listened to the introduction of the housekeeper of the Chu family. When he entered the account, he only promised, and he couldn't make a fart with three mallets, so Zhao Dangshi didn't say much to him, took the letter submitted, and read it again.

Chu Xidi is a person who knows how to judge the situation, or there is a Chu family behind him and an industry that has been accumulated for many years, and the reality also forces him to choose the most prudent approach. Zhao Dangshi made many requests to him, he accepted them all, and at the end of the letter, he even proposed to marry a twenty-eight-year-old niece in the clan to Zhao Dangshi as a concubine.

"Others can bend and stretch, but this one has gone further, without skin and face." Wang Laixing looked at the housekeeper of the Chu family who left the camp in fear, and said coldly.

"I am twenty-eight years old, and my thick-skinned old face has delayed my youth. Come to brother in his prime, it's better to accept it. Zhao Dangshi said jokingly.

Wang Laixing stuck out his tongue with a dry smile, and said with a grimace: "I don't dare, I have to tell Shi Lu about it, I'm afraid I'll die young." He said, "Let's go according to Brother Dang'er's refusal to the old man of the Chu family just now." ”

The two laughed for a while, and Wang Laixing said: "It's ridiculous that Chu Xi lifted a stone to hit his own feet, but he gave me a lot of benefits to Zhao Ying." He continued, "Not interfering with the Dafushan silver mine, withdrawing people from various Guanjin Passes, and setting aside more than 400 acres of Shangjia land in the northeast of Qifang Township are all good for our camp." ”

Zhao Dangshi nodded and said: "This doesn't count, he also had to agree to my request for soldiers and horses to be stationed in the back countryside." Originally, I was worried that Zaoyang County would be difficult to control, but now I took advantage of this opportunity to take the back township, just like inserting a wedge in the south of the county, which can not only keep an eye on Zaoyang County nearby, but also put it under the control of our camp at all times, and echo with the deer head store. "Oh, there's one more thing, and that's the three thousand birds he has." My camp can be purchased at market price, why not be there, you see him, let him do this. ”

Wang Laixing agreed and asked, "I don't know who the soldiers and horses stationed in the back countryside are going to send?" ”

Zhao Dangshi scratched his head and replied: "I thought about it, it's still Feijie Camp." This battalion is the elite of our army, and the mobility is also the strongest. ”

Wang Laixing laughed and said: "Chu Xi dares to move the people of the Feijie camp, but I am afraid that Lao Han is going to stare Zaoyang County to death." Then he asked, "Is Lao Meng back?" ”

Zhao Dangshi nodded and said: "A few days ago, Lord Torin said hello, the county prison will not let people go, and I think it should be tomorrow." And said, "Fortunately, Lao Meng has strong muscles and bones, and I heard that his health is still good." This time the rumor has not been revealed, and there is a credit for him to grit his teeth, and he needs to be rewarded when he comes back. ”

Wang Laixing then changed the topic and said: "Qifang Township is adjacent to our camp's fields, and it has hundreds of acres of land in the northeast, which just happens to be connected. said with a wry smile, "Tuntian's first case has just come out, and this time it will have to be revised overnight." ”

Zhao Dangshi thought for a while and said, "I expect these lands to be given to the Zuo family." ”

"To the Zuo family?" Wang Laixing raised his eyebrows slightly, "These four hundred acres of land are all excellent anointed fields, I was greedy in front of my head, and now it is easy to get my hands on it, so I gave it to Zuo Liangyu for nothing?" ”

Zhao Dangshi shook his head lightly and said, "It's a matter of strategy, not the field itself. ”

"Strategy?"

"One of our military strategies is to accept Zuo Liangyu. I worked hard to make Zuo Mengeng one of them. Zuo Sili once said that the Zuo family had tried to acquire the ownerless wasteland in Zaoyang several times without success, and I gave it to him, and Zuo Liangyu would be happy. In addition, the Dafushan Silver Mine ensures that there is no interference from the county, and the two big gifts are not more sincere than sending some gold and silver vulgar things? ”

Wang Laixing was a little unwilling to say: "This gift is too expensive." ”

Zhao Dangshi explained: "It doesn't matter. With 400 acres of land, hiring people to cultivate it is a problem, and the field is under the nose of our battalion, so I can propose to the Zuo family that our battalion help with the farming, and the harvest will be shared with the Zuo family. It is expected that the Zuo family will not contribute money or effort, and sit back and enjoy the success, how can it be unhappy? ”

In this way, Wang Laixing can be regarded as accepting.

Zhao Dangshi quipped: "Come brother, I can't see it, when I become the commander, I have become tough when I speak." Since coming to Zaoyang, Zhao Dangshi clearly felt the change in Wang Laixing's style of acting, especially after he became the commander of Tuntian Yingtian, he became more and more stable and tough. Zhao Dangshi saw it in his eyes and was happy in his heart. I thought that there was nothing wrong with the decision to support Wang Laixing's ascension to the throne in the first place.

When Wang Laixing heard this, he was a little embarrassed, and smiled, as if he had returned to the original image of being young and shy in front of Zhao Dangshi.

Tuntian was complicated, and Wang Laixing didn't stay in the tent for too long, but he retired after a while. After him, Fu Xunyu returned to the camp to ask for a meeting. Zhao Dangshi had previously sent him to Gucheng again, in the name of sending wine to the Eight Kings, to find out the truth of Xiying. But listening to Fu Xunyu's report, Xiying was as safe as before, and there was no special move. Moreover, before Fu Xunyu returned to the camp, he specially went to find his old friend Lu Yue, trying to find out some truth from his mouth, but to no avail.

Waiting for Fu Xunyu to retire, Zhao Dangshi said to Chang Zeyu: "Lao Hou once saw the Xiying generals Bai Wenxuan and Feng Shuangli in the south, both of whom are Zhang Xianzhong's humerus generals, and there must be something important to leave the camp easily. And before, I had captured the three camps of Naxi, Hui, and Cao in one place, and I think this is probably a mountain rain is coming. ”

Chang Zeyu bowed his head and said: "The lord is very worried. I remember that when Guo Tong attacked Tang County, he learned that Lao Huihui, Ge Liyan and other Yu Kou were gathering in the direction of southern Henan one after another. Now Cao Cao is in turmoil on the ground of Tianfu, and its destination is also very likely to be to go north. If you draw a line from Tang County to the south, from Chengtianfu to the north, and then from Gucheng to the east, the place where the three lines intersect is Zaoyang County. ”

Zhao Dangshi said solemnly: "Since these three people want to try me, what are they plotting? ”

Chang Zeyu replied: "Yu Hui camp, the lord killed the general of his battalion, it is already a festival, and the old Hui Hui is the first to be righteous, and he can't ignore it; In Cao Ying, Cao Cao wanted to return to northern Chu and Yunyang for development, and there were a lot of miscellaneous departments with each battalion, so he had to squeeze our battalion out of order to survive; In Xiying, it is similar to our camp, and one mountain does not allow two tigers. These three people have old grudges and old friendships, and it is not uncommon for them to join forces. To prepare for a rainy day, the lord should also prepare in advance. ”

Zhao Dangshi said deeply, and said: "I have also told Chen Hongfan about this worry, and his intention is that if there is a dispute at that time, he will definitely help." ”

Chang Zeyu thought for a moment and said: "Chen Hongfan is not a good general, and his duty is to defend the infant city, and the lord must not put too much hope on him. Xun Ji said, "My subordinates think that Fang Jin has two soldiers and horses who can contact him in advance, and maybe he has real help." One is Zuo Liangyu, and the other is Long Zaitian. ”

Zhao Dangshi held his chin with his hand and nodded in agreement.

Chang Zeyu said: "Zuo Liangyu is the commander of the army, and he has the responsibility to help; Long Zaitian will soon enter the north of Tunchu. These two departments are both strong in combat, and the lord is friendly with them, so they are invincible. ”

Zhao Dangshi heard this, laughed and said: "What Mr. said is extremely true, Zuo and Long, I am trying my best to fight for them. But even without the help of the other two, I have nothing to fear. ”

Chang Zeyu listened to his words full of confidence, his brows first frowned, and then he thought of something, and nodded with a comfortable face.