Zuo Menggeng and the Zuo family occupied the entire annex on the west side of the Hezhi Temple. As soon as Jin Shenghuan and Gao Jinku entered the courtyard, a middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian passed by.

Jin Shenghuan turned his head and said, "This person is familiar." ”

Gao Jinku didn't squeak, and when the two saw Zuo Mengeng, they found that his eyes were red and swollen like peaches, as if he had cried.

"Childe."

"Sit." Zuo Menggeng's voice was weak, and he looked miserable.

Gao Jinku said first: "Son, I just bumped into someone in the courtyard, and it looks like the eldest son of the Shangqiu Hou family?" ”

"Yes."

After this reminder, Jin Shenghuan suddenly remembered the origin of the familiar person. Zuo Liangyu was once supported by the former head of the household department, Hou Sui, and respected Hou Sui very much. Although Hou Sui was imprisoned in the prison due to party disputes, his family was always courteous to Zuo Liangyu. The Hou family is in Shangqiu County, and the Zuo family is in Xuzhou, the two sides are not far apart. Hou Fangxia has never been in the Jinshi, a few years ago as a local petty official, but later because of his father dragged down, so Fu Xian presided over family affairs at home, Jin Shenghuan and Gao Jinku have been to Shangqiu Hou's house more than once, and he has met.

"A month ago, the thieves broke through Shangqiu, thinking that the Hou family would die, but I didn't expect that the eldest son of the Hou family would take a few family members to fight out of the encirclement, and he has been displaced until now. It was only recently that I came to Huguang from Henan to take refuge, and when I heard that our army was stationed here, I came to defect. Zuo Mengeng said, snorting.

When Jin Shenghuan heard this, he guessed a few points, so he asked: "Is there any news from Henan when he comes?" ”

Zuo Mengeng's nose was sour at this time, and he wept and said: "The eldest prince of the Hou family said that my father has ...... It's dead. ”

"Huh?" When Jin Shenghuan and Gao Jinku heard this, they were all shocked, "Is it true?" ”

Zuo Mengeng wept and said: "The eldest son of the Hou family passed through Xinyang Prefecture a few days ago, and recently heard the news of the fierce battle between the thief and his father, and I will not be mistaken. ”

"Although the Hou family has a good relationship with Zuo Shuai and Gongzi, after all, they are in a hurry, and it is unknown if they hear rumors." After Jin Shenghuan was surprised, he still had reservations, "At present, the official military report has not arrived, and everything is difficult to say." ”

Zuo Mengeng raised his head and said, "So, my father ...... him."

Unexpectedly, Gao Jinku immediately said: "Childe, don't hide it, not long ago, scouts scattered in the north came to report, and they also mentioned that Zuo Shuai's whereabouts are unknown. I was suspicious, but now that there is the eldest son of the Hou family as proof, Zuo Shuai may really be ......"

"Is that true?" Zuo Mengeng looked sad. The division of labor in the army, Gao Jinku is responsible for the sentinel and spying on peripheral intelligence, and the words that come out of his mouth are very convincing.

Gao Jinku obviously felt the corners of Jin Shenghuan's mouth twitch, and hurriedly said: "It's true, how can the military be child's play!" As he spoke, he squinted and gave Jin Shenghuan a look. Jin Shenghuan hesitated twice, but still didn't speak.

Zuo Mengeng's face turned gloomy, and he shook his head lightly and said, "If my father dies, what's the use of me going to Wuyang Pass?" He sighed twice and said, "The eldest prince of the Hou family also said that the thieves were wantonly searching and killing in Xinyang Prefecture, and they had the intention of attacking Huguang...... He really couldn't hide it, so he came over the mountain. If this matter is confirmed, our army will not be able to break into the thief's knife by itself! ”

Gao Jinku immediately persuaded: "Childe, it's better to go south." ”

"To the south?" Zuo Mengeng was stunned, "Go to Wuchang Mansion?" ”

Gao Jinku spat and flew wildly: "No matter what happens in the north, as long as we take Wuchang Mansion, we can attack and retreat, and we can defend it." It is just around the corner to fight back to Henan and be ashamed of Zuo Shuai! He could see that Zuo Menggeng was in chaos, and he wanted to make a plan in his heart today while the iron was hot.

I didn't think about it, but Jin Shenghuan said: "Childe, I think the matter of going to Wuchang Mansion can be slowed down." ”

"Huh? What does Uncle Kim think? ”

Jin Shenghuan replied: "Zuo Shuai's life and death are very important. It is difficult to draw a conclusion based on just a few words. ”

Gao Jinku said angrily: "I've already found out the military information, is it still just a word?" ”

Jin Shenghuan looked at him and said, "Then you can take the official Tang newspaper and take a look." ”

"I ......" Gao Jinku was speechless for a while. He was originally echoing what Hou Fangxia said, temporarily adding fuel to the fire, where is there really any report.

"So there's no urgency. In order to hide the eyes and ears of the enemy in the chaotic army, it is normal to release false news, and it is not the first time in the past few years that Zuo Shuai has been reported to be dead. ”

Zuo Mengeng's anxious expression eased, and he was even a little happy: "Uncle Jin, what you said is reasonable!" ”

Gao Jinku was so anxious that Jin Shenghuan continued to suppress his words and said: "Moreover, no matter what the situation in Henan is, the three passes of Yiyang are very important to our army. Didn't the eldest prince of the Hou family say that the thieves have signs of turning over Tongbai Mountain and committing Chu, as long as the three passes of Yiyang are still in the hands of our army, it will be difficult for the thieves to come over, and they can also provide cover for our army's subsequent actions in Chu. The throat turned and continued, "The defeat of Zhu Xianzhen is a foregone conclusion, and there is no need to dwell on it, but because of this, the adverse effects that may be caused by this defeat must be prevented by our army." Liu Hongqi and the others are just cowards, they can't be fully trusted, if they don't keep an eye on them, they are only afraid of bad things. ”

Zuo Mengeng, who said this, nodded and sighed: "Uncle Jin, you still have an idea!" He was already torn between going north and going south, and it was actually more in line with his mind to go north than to go south. It's just that the news brought by Hou Fangxia disrupted his formation, and he was extremely painful. At this moment, Jin Shenghuan analyzed the pros and cons for him, relieved the troubles in his heart, and he was much calmer.

"Regardless of whether what the eldest prince of the Hou family said is reliable or not, our army is still the first to go north. When you arrive at Wuyang Pass, stabilize the three passes of Yiyang, so that you can not only respond to Zuo Shuai, but also prevent thieves from going over the mountain. ”

Gao Jinku said angrily: "Don't forget that there is still Zhao Dangshi!" ”

"Father-in-law? What's wrong with him? It's a good thing for our army! Zuo Mengeng said with a straight face.

"How can it be a good thing? Zhao Dangshi's wolf ambition is by no means a good kind, the son should be careful! ”

"My father's life is uncertain, and you are here to chew my father's tongue again? What is the intention? "Zuo Mengeng has enough worries, and the only important reason to support him to persist is Zhao Dangshi of the garrison in Suizhou. Even though he had some unhappiness with Zhao Dangshi in Suizhou just now, deep down in his heart, he secretly thought that Zhao Dangshi would definitely help him in times of difficulty. After all, there is a father-son relationship and an official army, he doesn't believe that the thief really came to Huguang, and Zhao Dangshi can not share the same hatred with him. Gao Jinku's questioning is equivalent to shaking his spiritual pillars, and of course it will arouse his disgust and rejection.

Gao Jinku was speechless when he listened, for fear of arousing Zuo Menggeng's anger, he didn't dare to refute, his face was curtained, and he was silent. Jin Shenghuan was also wary of Zhao Dangshi, and came out at the right time to play two rounds, which finally suppressed Zuo Mengeng's anger.

"Assemble the army tonight, set off tomorrow, and be sure to rush to Wuyang Pass!" Zuo Mengeng had guidance, he was no longer confused, he immediately regained his confidence, and his mental head completely changed, "Let me go, just say that our army will go back to Henan to fight thieves and avenge Zhu Xianzhen." Those who procrastinate will not be forgiven. Order the people to provide food for the army, and if they refuse to pay, they will be punished as thieves! ”

Out of the courtyard, Gao Jinku, who was holding his stomach, couldn't help but start a fire and said, "Brother Jin, what do you mean?" Originally, the son went south with a word, you have to come to stir up the situation! ”

"It's not a spoiler." Jin Shenghuan said, "You also heard it, Zuo Shuai may have died, even if you and I think about ourselves, after all, we have a past relationship with Zuo Shuai." Instantly changed his face and shook it clean, is it the husband's doing? ”

"You said this, and it came back again, and I was bitter before I dared to fall in love, and I said it all to your?"

"Nope. Senior brother, what I said does make sense, but if I want to follow you all the way, it won't work. ”

"This can't be done, that's not possible, so what are you going to do!"

Jin Shenghuan groaned: "Just according to what the talented son said in front of him, go to the north first." If Zuo Shuai is fine, take Zuo Shuai over; If Zuo Shuai really suffers an accident, according to what you said, let's take our son to the south immediately. ”

"Good!" Gao Jinku thought about it, his face was crooked, and he kicked a flying stone, full of resentment, "I said that there is Zhao Dangshi in the north, and I can't listen to it." I want to see if you really got into trouble with the surname Zhao, how did you end up! "After that, he didn't look back and walked without a trace.

Jin Shenghuan stood in place and let out a long sigh.

A day later, the large camp of the Longxinggou training camp in the northeast of Yingshan County, the big tent of the Chinese army, the commander Wang Laixing, the chief secretary of Tuntian, Lu Zhongheng, the coach Luo Wei, and the three sentinels of Guang Wenlu, Zheng Shixin, and Wang Guangying, each sat in a small horse and formed a circle.

Since the reform of the military system, the former battalion of Tuntian has basically ceased to participate in miscellaneous affairs such as tuntian and construction, and has officially changed its name to the "training battalion" and has been directly managed by Wang Laixing, and has essentially become a field army under the establishment of the Tuntian army. However, Tuntian made this position still retained, and continued to be held by Zhang Miaoshou.

The nature of the whole battalion has changed, and Zhang Miao's power with the word "Tuntian" on his hand can be imagined, but he is only responsible for some trivial things, which can be regarded as a complete farewell to the front of the stage. The original Tuntian master Lu Zhongheng was reassigned to "Counselor and Supervisor", although he and the battalion coach Luo Wei did not belong to the Tuntian Army, although the military power was in the hands of the three sentinels, they were really Wang Laixing's left and right arms in the training camp.

The training camp just arrived in Longxinggou yesterday, and before the buttocks were hot, they received an emergency military order from Zhao Dangshi at night.

"According to the informant, Han Huamei and Ma Shangzhi in Jiuliguan have moved." Wang Laixing said in a deep voice, "It was Liu Hongqi who reported it to the lord." ”

Liu Hongqi and other bandits were bewitched by Zhao Ying and returned to the banner of the Chuang Army, but at present, the Chuang Army's soldiers did not reach Tongbai Mountain, so they communicated privately with Zhao Dangshi first under the matchmaking of the Chuang Army.

Lu Zhongheng was dressed in military uniform, high-spirited, and looked left and right to see no one talking, so he said: "The local bandits of Tongbai Mountain have their own tribes and their own villages, and they are not controlled by Liu Hongqi alone. Zuo Liangyu retreated to Xinyang Prefecture and chased after the army, and he would inevitably think of escaping over Tongbai Mountain and coming to Huguang, and he would inevitably discover the backlash of Liu Hongqi and others. But Liu Hongqi, Mao Xianwen, and Zhao Fawu broke into the army together, and he couldn't pry it, so he turned around and lured Han Huamei and Ma Shangzhi again. That's how it should be. ”

"Tukou rarely has faith, when Zuo Liangyu lives and dies, he must be an official and promise to be stingy, Han Huamei and Ma Shangzhi are short-sighted, and it is not surprising that they are tempted. Our army came here to guard against this hand. Wang Laixing said, "Han and Ma control Jiuli Pass, although it is relatively far away from Xinyang Prefecture, but fortunately, you only need to pass through one pass to enter Chu." If Zuo Liangyu is brought over, things will be tricky. ”

Luo Wei asked, "Did Zuo Mengeng's kid move?" ”

"It's moving." Wang Laixing said solemnly, "But the lord's letter says that someone has been arranged to delay him, and it is estimated that it can be delayed for at least two days, plus it will take two to three days for Zuo Mengeng to hurry, and at most five days, we must hurry up and take Jiuli Pass back!" ”

"When will Zuo Liangyu pass the test?"

"There is still a pile of messes in Xinyang Prefecture, Zuo Liangyu is afraid it will take five days to clean up, no matter what happens after five days, the army will inevitably fight over, and Zuo Liangyu will inevitably escape through Jiuli Pass. It's five days left and right, and we don't have much time! ”

Luo Wei thought for a moment and said, "If the lord can really hold off Zuo Menggeng's army for two days, there is still time." ”

"We don't have to worry about the Lord, think more about ourselves." Wang Laixing said unhappily, "I have to act today, this is the rugged and difficult road to go to Jiuliguan Mountain, and the heavy rain continues, the soldiers and horses should not be too many, I think a thousand people are enough." Who of you would like to fight? ”

Lu Zhongheng responded: "I think it's better for the sentinel to go." The Guang Sentinel Officer has been in the middle of the river for a long time, and he is familiar with mountain warfare, and he has carried out many surprise missions before. ”

"Okay, let's do it." Wang Laixing also intended to appoint Guang Wenlu, and readily agreed.

The third sentinel officer of the training battalion, Guang Wenlu, who was transferred from the field army, is the most proficient fighter in the field. Although Zheng Shixin and Wang Guangying also have talents, their accumulation is still insufficient, and they are embarrassed by the heavy responsibility. This action is very critical, Wang Laixing did not dare to hold it up, but still chose the most trusted Guang Wenlu.

"It is incumbent on my subordinates!" Guang Wenlu got up and gave up his hand, but after a pause, he said, "The commander said that he would bring a thousand people, and his subordinates would draw 500 people from the outpost, and he would like to draw 500 people from the outpost, and borrow one from the Wang Sentinel. ”