The north, west and south sides of Huyang Town are all plains and fertile soil, and only the east side is leaning on the remaining veins of Tongbai Mountain. This remnant vein is a shallow mountainous area, and the mountains are low, such as Tateshan Mountain, Tangzi Mountain, etc. In order to hide people's eyes, Hou Dagui led the army to set off from Lutoudian, first to the northeast from Baishan Ridge into the Tongbai Mountains, and then along the mountain road to the shallow mountainous area of Huyang Town in the west.

There has been no rain for several days, and there is less humidity in the mountains and forests, but more heat and dryness. Occasionally, there was a birdsong and ape crying in the distant mountains, and Hou Dagui loosened the sunshade hat he wore on his head, pushed aside a few vines hanging in front of him, and asked, "How far is it from his mother's Xiahu Gully?" "Although the mountains in front of me are not high, they are one after another, and the road twists and turns, and it is not easy to walk.

Behind him, Hui Deng raised his eyebrows and looked around, turned around and asked the guide a few words, and replied: "Let's just cross the ugly river, and then walk along the mountain road for an hour, it is the black stone ditch." From the black stone ditch to the middle of the tiger ditch, the road is narrow and steep, but I am afraid that I will not talk about the day. ”

Hou Dagui sighed, and said with his eyes half open: "In this case, there is no hurry, Fan Hecheng has not started fighting yet, let's go slowly." Then he recalled the conclusion of last night's military meeting, and couldn't help but be depressed for a while.

Zhao Dangshi summed up the method of dealing with Ma Guangchun in this battle with the words "fast", "accurate" and "ruthless", Hou Dagui understood the key of the first two words very well, but when asked about the word "ruthless", Zhao Dangshi said: "The core of this word can be summarized as" cutting grass and eliminating the roots". Ma Guangchun's department is the backbone of the Hui thief, and it is a rare opportunity for our battalion to break away from the large army and go alone. After this battle, as long as they can be annihilated, the foundation of the thieves will be lost, and there is no need to worry about it in the future. "Add another sentence, full of neutrality, "It's because our battalion not only wants to defeat Ma Guangchun, but also sweep one of them away!" ”

Hou Dagui doubted: "Outside Fanhe City, our army is attacking by defending, even if it wins, Ma Guangchun has to run, and his two feet can't run with four hooves, and our army can't catch up." ”

Zhao Dangshi smiled softly and said, "Old Hou, do you remember Cao Wenzhao three years ago?" ”

"Cao Wenzhao?" Hou Dagui frowned, "Didn't you die under the sword of the lord earlier?" ”

"Not bad. But at that time, you and I were still sending people under the fence and looking up to people, how could we capture and kill General Cao with only a few dozen horsemen? Zhao Dangshi said solemnly, "Hutou Xianzi, Tripzi Ao...... Yancun Baozigou, Hongni City, Jijia Mountain. In order to kill Cao Wenzhao, King Li Chuang successively set up ambushes in more than ten regions, and consumed layer by layer, until Cao Wenzhao was at the end of his rope and climbed Jijia Mountain, when he had no fighting spirit and little combat power, he had an opportunity to take advantage of. ”

Hou Dagui felt something, and echoed twice: "It turns out that the lord intended, Fan Hecheng is just a starter. ”

Zhao Dangshi patted his big arm and said: "Ma Guangchun is also a cunning thief, and it is unrealistic to kill his people in one battle. Then he said, "Gentlemen Chang and Mu and I both feel that it takes at least three battles to uproot Ma Guangchun." ”

“......”

The trees in front of him are lush and lush, and the sound of the mountain wind blowing brings Hou Dagui back to reality from his memories. He repeatedly chewed on the sentence that Zhao Dangshi later said, "The spear of the thief will be folded in your hand", and his heart was mixed.

Hui Dengxiang, who was walking not far away, complained intentionally or unintentionally: "How can he be at ease and content, waiting for the thief to come to the door in Fan River City." But we have to trek through mountains and rivers to endure this poisonous insects and beasts, wind and sun? ”

It was rare to see him, Hou Dagui listened to his words in his ears but did not say a word.

The army tossed and turned through the winding mountain roads, until the sky turned dark and the warm sunset was reflected between the ridges, and Hui Deng reciprocated: "Under the command, there is a village in the valley ahead, called the West Tower Courtyard, and our army can spend the night there tonight." "Continue," from the north exit of the West Tower Courtyard, you can go to Longquan Temple halfway. Our army can take advantage of the cooking stove in the temple to solve the lunch, and then go north through the toon ditch and the three tone bays, and arrive at the lower tiger ditch before nightfall. ”

Hou Dagui was not in a high mood, and he responded sullenly, and asked, "Have you asked about the road to the west of Xiahugou?" ”

Whitden scratched his sideburns and said, "Then I'm afraid we'll have to find another guide, and when we get to the West Tower Courtyard, we can ask." But if you think about it, it's hard to see Mt. Tateyama even if you think about it. ”

Hou Dagui snorted twice and said, "So Lao Tzu has to stay in this wild and reckless mountain for two days?" Before Hui Dengxiang could answer, his face was already quite impatient, "What about Li Yuma?" Where has he been? The "Li Horse" he is talking about is Li Yanlang. Li Yanlang and Ru Pingyang once joined hands in Yankou Town to repel the chasing soldiers of the official army, and the heroic appearance of the two spread throughout the Zhao camp, and people compared the couple of Chai Shao and Princess Zhao of Pingyang in the early Tang Dynasty, and because Chai Shao was the concubine of the Li Tang royal family, there were often people in the background who teased Li Yanlang with "Li Concubine".

Hui Deng said: "Officer Li has just sent Tang soldiers, and the report and the commander know that his troops have arrived at Getiaochong, and it is only half an hour's journey away from us. ”

Hou Dagui led no battalion to the expedition this time, and only the outpost Li Yanlang and the outpost Huideng Xiang accompanied him. The remaining left sentinel Wu Mingfeng and the right sentinel Xiong Wanjian were left in the camp to be called. In addition, the counselor and overseer Qin Qigong was also left by Zhao Dangshi as a staff officer. The mountain roads are narrow, most of them only allow one person to pass, and 500 people at the front and rear posts can only enter by separate roads. And because Hou Dagui couldn't get used to the serious face of the Chinese officer Bai Wang, he sent him to Li Yanlang, but he was with his confidant Hui Deng.

Xitayuan is a small village, belonging to Huyang Town, more than ten households, Hou Dagui led troops into the village, although the military order of the Zhao camp did not burn and loot, but the whole village is still indispensable to chickens and dogs. Every family was preparing dinner on the hot stove, but Hou Dagui forced all the village houses to be temporarily requisitioned for military purposes, and the whole village was driven to the ridges at the end of the village hungry, guarded by soldiers, and not allowed to move half a step before Zhao Ying left.

Hou Dagui killed the two dogs in the village and feasted, Bai Wang followed Li Yanlang to the West Tower Courtyard to see this scene, and found Hou Dagui without hesitation, and asked him to release the prisoners of the villagers and compensate the villagers for their losses. Hou Dagui looked at Bai Wang very unpleasantly, so he naturally didn't agree, Bai Wang did not back down, and tried to show the military discipline of Zhao Ying, everything that Hou Dagui violated, one by one, recited it loudly in front of him, which made him angry.

The two sides were tit-for-tat, Hui Dengxiang and Li Yanlang were in the middle of the persuasion to no avail, seeing that Hou Dagui was angry and rolled up his cuffs and seemed to be about to move, at the last moment, it was he who suddenly deflated, and he was weak and stabbed down on the threshold, waved his hand in despair, and signaled Hui Dengxiang to do what Bai Wang wanted.

"Controlling ......" Hui Deng was used to seeing the powerful Hou Dagui, and when he saw him take the initiative to bow his head, he didn't know what to do for a while.

Who knew that Hou Dagui, who was hesitant, saw him hesitate, but said angrily: "What? Deaf on a dog day? Lao Tzu asked you to let the people go and give some silver, what's wrong? Are you not convinced? ”

Whedeng Ai Ai said: "Genus, subordinates ......"

"After pacifying the people, organize the soldiers to be quicker with their hands and feet, and set up all the small military tents for the march, otherwise we will sleep in the dry fields tonight and drink the northwest wind?" Hou Dagui was so angry that the corners of his mouth twitched, and he spoke loudly and urgently.

Hui Dengxiang learned to be obedient this time, and he didn't have a word to answer: "Subordinates receive orders, subordinates receive orders!" ”

"The thieves will block Lao Tzu one by one!" Hou Dagui left this sentence, and Bai Wang, Li Yanlang, and Hui Dengxiang, who were looking at each other, suddenly got up and walked away.

After nightfall, the soldiers of the Wuqi Battalion set up a series of military tents on several narrow plots of land in the four fields of the West Tower Courtyard. Waiting for the curfew in the army to ring, Li Yanlang asked Hou Dagui to discuss the errand of the night patrol, but he didn't see him, walked a little way, bumped into Hui Dengxiang, and asked, "Do you know where the control is?" ”

Whitden said, "I heard the soldier say that the wind is blowing on the slope of the west head, and I will go to find him." This matter of patrolling the night in the first half of the night first bothered Officer Li. I'll come in the middle of the night. ”

The two parted ways, and Hui Dengxiang was alone, walking the path around the hillside at the west end of the West Tower Courtyard, and saw a faint figure in the dark sky. He took two steps forward and called softly, "Commander? ”

The figure moved, but did not squeak, and Whitden was a little puzzled, and called several times in succession. As a result, the figure scolded and said, "Don't fucking call, disturb Lao Tzu's tranquility." "Listening to the voice, there is no doubt that Hou Dagui is there.

Whedon hurriedly stepped up and said, "Commander, this black light is blinding, the wind is strong on the slope, and we will leave early tomorrow morning, why don't you go in and rest?" ”

Hou Dagui said coldly: "Are you the ruler or am I the commander?" You let Lao Tzu go back, Lao Tzu wants you to get out of here now! ”

Hui Dengxiang sensed Hou Dagui's negative anger, laughed a few words, and then asked: "Is the control for Bai Wang?" ”

Hou Dagui laughed and said, "Just him? It can't get into my eyes. ”

Whitden hesitated for a moment, but said, "But at that time, the control system finally gave in. ”

"Concessions?" Hou Dagui's tone was heavy, "This fool is a stunned man, why should Lao Tzu be like him." The lord wants me to come out and fight the thief, but he doesn't want me to beat him. Then he scolded, "You are talking about this, and I don't like to hear it." Take advantage of Lao Tzu's wind blowing comfortably, there is no fire, why don't you hurry up and roll downhill! ”

Hui Dengxiang was silent for a long time, standing beside Hou Dagui and not moving. The moon is dark and the wind is high, and the mountain wind on the slope blows horizontally, sweeping past the ears of the two, whirring. After a while, Hou Dagui said, "What? Do you have anything else to say? ”

"There are some things that my subordinates don't want to say yet......" Whitden took a deep breath as he faced the wind blowing, "However, seeing that the current depression of the control is difficult to dissipate, I feel that it is better to make peace with the plate than to delay for a long time." ”

"Oh? Tell me about it. It was very different from the previous flattering tone, and at this time, Hui Dengxiang suddenly became serious, and his tone became heavier, and Hou Dagui felt abnormal and became a little interested.

Whitden cleared his throat and said, "The reason why the ruler is depressed and unhappy, in the final analysis, is that he consciously does not care about the Lord. ”

When this sentence came out, Hou Dagui didn't refute it in a sarcastic tone as he was used to for the first time, and stood silent. Hui Dengxiang was overjoyed, and continued: "The five major commanders in the battalion, Xu Tong made combat training, and he was already a major general; Guo came to the top, and he also led troops to fight abroad several times; This time, the Korean command also sat in the south with a battalion; Even the king's control and planning of Tuntian are also self-contained; Only Hou rules you, and you have never had a chance to show your ambitions. However, in terms of seniority, in fact, you are the most senior, and the lord often says that he treats everyone equally, but what he does is everywhere partial. ”

Hou Dagui replied: "You dare to arrange the lord in front of me? Counting the important responsibilities of the main commissioner, there are not a few. ”

"The subordinates do not dare to slander out of thin air, everything they say comes from the heart, all from what they see and what they hear." Hui Dengxiang said with a glance, "Since my subordinates returned to the camp, I have known that the major affairs in the army have nothing to do with the command. military reform, the control system has no right to intervene; Foreign war thieves, there is no chance of control; The construction of Tuntian is not a step that can be involved in the system. Such a precaution is really openly respectful and secretly degraded. And the 'heavy responsibility' in the mouth of the commander is nothing more than sitting in the standard camp, negotiating peace, and going out to liaison. Further, Dingtian only instructs the system to cut through obstacles and suffering, and to do those inconsequential chores such as setting the tone in the name of setting the tone and actually finishing the cleanup. This is an empty move, but the subordinates can see it really. Now that the matter has come to this, why should the ruler deceive himself again. It can be seen that even Pu Guoyi, Peng Guangzhi and others now have the courage to start throwing off their faces, and no one has been in their eyes for a long time! ”

Whitden seemed to be fully mentally prepared, and he didn't have many scruples between the lines, even if he was offensive. Hou Dagui listened to what he said, and he was speechless. For a long time, he felt that Zhao Dangshi seemed to be gradually losing his initial trust in him. After the first time he went out of Sichuan, he rarely sent himself to lead troops to fight independently. He was actually very envious of Xu Hui, and envied him for having the opportunity to take charge of himself five times or three times, leading the troops with Zhao Dangshi separately, establishing prestige and consolidating his position through strength. Although in the Zhao camp, Zhao Dangshi gave him enough respect, let him be in the first place in every military discussion, and used him as the commander of the standard battalion every time the military reform, but he always felt that he could get these, but he was just eating the old books.

How can a great husband be fed by the groaning! Hou Dagui, who consciously accepted Zhao Dangshi's "charity" again and again, was actually very frightened in his heart. The more frightened he became, the more he wanted to prove himself, such as scolding the generals in public, and winning them under his command through various means, etc., were just means for him to try to eliminate his deep insecurity. Outsiders see him as the number one general in Zhao Ying, who is very glamorous, but who knows the struggle and hardship behind the scenes. He actually lived a very tired life.

Hui Dengxiang sighed for a while, guessing that Hou Dagui, who was silent, had been shaken, and said: "The control system has been stable so far, but the lord sees the merits of the past, and does not dare to act rashly so as not to lose the hearts of the people. At that time, the ruler will have the mind and body of the prime of life, but it will be difficult for him to do anything like a caged bird, and how can he have a heresy with the walking dead? ”

When Hou Dagui heard him say this, he couldn't help but say: "That being the case, then this time, why did the lord send me to fight?" And what do you say, 'The spear of the thief will be broken in your hand', isn't it superfluous? ”

After hearing this, Hui Deng suddenly laughed, and Hou Dagui said angrily: "What the hell are you laughing at? ”

"I laughed at the control of the mind so pure that I played with the lord in applause." Whitden said in a straight voice, "Who is the lord, you should know the most about the control. Dealing with people and things has always been three points of reality and seven points of emptiness, if you think about them with an ordinary heart, it is tantamount to seeking skin with a tiger. It is true that the lord has said, 'The spear of the thief will be broken in your hand,' but this is just for you to listen to. Who knows the sincerity of his words, not 'The spear of the thief will pierce you'? ”

"What? You dare to say that the lord borrowed a knife to kill people? Hou Dagui was furious, and grabbed Hui Dengxiang's collar, "A dog's fart until now, what you say is enough for you to fucking die ten times!" ”

Hui Dengxiang's neck was stiff, and he didn't have the slightest fear of giving in, so he responded: "My words are all from the bottom of my heart, and there is a little lie, and I will die with five thunders at once without waiting for the lord to move the punishment!" Seeing that Hou Dagui's anger had risen, his fist as big as a bowl was clenched tightly, and he also had a little palpitations, so he said, "The lord's heart is clear about you." Rao Liubo, since the beginning of Hanzhong, has been accompanied by the control, although he has no name, but no one in the camp knows that it is the woman who controls you, but the lord turned a deaf ear, and took advantage of the time when the control went to Chengtianfu, and actually took the initiative to give her to Zuo Mengeng's milky and undried boy. Can you really bear this insult? After speaking, he suddenly felt that his neckline was loose, Hou Dagui let go, walked to the side and squatted down with his head covered.

The trump card had an effect, Hui Dengxiang was overjoyed, tidied up his collar, stepped forward, and said to Hou Dagui gently: "This act of anger between people and gods can only be done by Zhao Dangshi. What good is this kind of unrighteous lord? Hou Tong's ability is outstanding, and it has spread throughout several provinces, and it is a pity to sink in Zhao Ying. With the last swallow of saliva, he raised his voice and said, "The eight kings are eager to seek talents, and I hope to join hands with the Hou Commander to achieve great things!" ”