Guo Biao enthusiastically invited Shang Cheng and Xue Xun, who came with Shang Cheng, into the mansion. Speaking of which, he and Xue Xun only knew each other and had never dealt with each other; A few days ago, when the Guo family celebrated their housewarming, as a neighbor, Xue Xun only asked a son to send a few gifts. Although he asked Zhongshan to bring a message to invite Shang Cheng over, he had intimate words to say to Shang Cheng alone, but they were all guests, and he had no reason to push Xue Xun outward. In addition, he felt that since the porter said that Xue Xun and Shang Cheng "came hand in hand to pay respects", it means that the relationship between the two must be unusual; Maybe Shang Cheng just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce himself to Xue Xun. I will soon go to Longxi to take office, and when the time comes, I will lead the military and civilian supervision of Longxi to supervise the military and political affairs of Longxi, and there will definitely be a lot of personnel matters that need to be negotiated with the officials; Xue Xun is the left servant of the ministry, and all the promotions and transfers of civil officials need to go through his nod, if he can get acquainted with Xue Xun first, he can do many things more smoothly......

There were outsiders present, and a lot of words were not easy to say directly, and he had the intention of befriending Xue Xun in his heart, Guo Biao led the topic to the Sudden Exhaustion of the Poor Mountain, in addition to the thrilling interpretation of this battle, he also praised Xue Xun's concubine Mi Zhong by the way. Xue Xun's favorite concubine at home is Mizhong's sister, who loves the house and Wu, and also looks at Mizhong's concubine brother differently. Now he heard Guo Biao praise Mi Zhong to the sky, so he had a good impression of Guo Biao, and heard that Guo Biao was going to transfer Mi Zhong to Longxi to entrust him with a heavy responsibility, and Guo Biao's evaluation of the time went to a higher level - Guo Fengyi was able to stand out from so many generals of the Pillar State and was appointed as the governor of Longxi.

Guo Biao threw it into a peach, and Xue Xun naturally wanted to repay it. He certainly can't help with military affairs, and he can't say anything insightful about local government affairs, but he has been in the Ministry of Officials for a long time, and he also knows a little about the personnel of the officials in the state capitals and counties of Longxi Wei, so he immediately briefly introduced the situation of several important civilian officials in the Longxi Health Department and some influential state officials in the local area. But he is a squire after all, and he can't say anything too specific, so he can only roughly describe an outline. As for the more detailed situation, he also had to go back to the ministry to ask someone.

That's enough. Guo Biao has several comrades-in-arms who are now in Longxi, so he still knows a lot about the Longxi Guards. But he is blind to the local government affairs of Longxi. With Xue Xun's introduction, he has more confidence in the situation he is about to face. While thanking Xue Xun, he invited him and Shang Chengdu to stay for dinner.

Xue Xun didn't care about Guo Biao's hospitality, so he agreed. But he knew very well in his heart that Shang Cheng deigned to visit his subordinates in the past, and Guo Biao made a grand ceremony of opening the middle door to greet his past boss, whether this was a big drama performed by two people together or a tacit understanding between them, in short, the two of them must have something to say that is not enough for outsiders. So, after drinking two glasses of wine and tasting a few bites of food, he got up and said goodbye to his master under the pretext that he still had a few important documents to read in the evening.

This time, Guo Biao did not force him to stay. Guo Biao said a few kind words, and made an appointment to come to the door in person another day to ask for advice one by one, of course, to ask Longxi about the problem, so he sent Xue Xun out with Shang Cheng.

Sending Xue Xun away, Guo Biao invited Shang Cheng to his small study. He had some more delicious wine and delicacies brought over; He was going to chat with Shang Cheng while eating and drinking.

Seeing that there was no one else left and right, Shang Cheng couldn't help but complain about him, saying, "Lao Guo, what are you doing today?" You and I are friends in the pile of dead people, and you still need to be so public? He still hasn't figured out why Guo Biao defected to the Yanshan system. Although he once said to Wang Yi that Yan Gu is likely to part ways with Xiao Jian; But Xiao Yan, hasn't there been a split yet? Besides, although he was very optimistic about the future of this southern expedition, it was his family's opinion, and he couldn't count it at all; The whole court, from the prime minister's office to the military department to the officers and soldiers of the various ministries who participated in the southern expedition, all felt that the southern expedition was invincible. Some optimists even think that as long as the news of Da Zhao's southern expedition reaches Nanzhao, the king of Nanzhao may be afraid of self-restraint; Xingxu Xiao Jian had not yet arrived in Jiazhou, and Nanzhao sent the letter of surrender and submission to Shangjing. As long as the Southern Expedition wins, Xiao Jian will inevitably still be the mainstay of Da Zhao, as Xiao Jian's number one henchman, Guo Biao will inevitably rise to the top, why do you have to jump to the Yanshan system? What's more, the current Yanshan can really be regarded as a series in the army? I just put gold in my face. The so-called Yanshan system, when it comes to the knighthood of the prince and the son, there are a lot of titles, but when it comes to honors, only he, the idle Shangzhu country, can support the scene. Other people, what Zhang Shao, Ximensheng, Sun Huan, Sun Fu, Shaochuan, Zheng Qifan, Quanji, Zhengqian, Laosan, etc., etc., the high is not General Huaiyuan, and the low one is the captain of the sixth grade, and there are only three military Simas in a bunch of Tonggong, and they can still salivate and call themselves Yanshan with their faces? I'm not afraid of being embarrassed!

Guo Biao poured him a glass of wine and pushed a few dishes in front of him. Seeing that he didn't hold the lamp or move the chopsticks, he first tilted his neck and lowered his eyelids, lowered his eyelids with the empty bowl, was silent for a moment, and said: "Zida, it is the sentence you just said, the friendship between you and me in the pile of dead people." Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly stopped again and poured wine into his jar. This time, he didn't drink it, just stared at the crisp Huo's liquor. After a long time, he let out a long sigh and said quietly: "I also have to do what I want, and I have to do it." ”

Shang Cheng was speechless for a long time. Guo Biao's words, he is half understanding and half ignoring. In July last year, he fell from a horse in Fangzhou, and at that time he recommended Guo Biao to be the governor of Yanshan to continue to implement the autumn strategy. In the end, Shangjing only appointed Guo Biao a fake governor. I remember that there were rumors at that time, saying that the imperial court intended to let Zhu Xu go to Yanshan; Zhang Shao also wrote a letter to him specifically for this matter. In the end, sure enough, it was the Zhuxu who supervised Yanshan. From the point of view of the public heart, it is the decision of the imperial court to serve as the governor of Yanshan, and it has nothing to do with "what you want and what you want". But from a personal point of view, of course, he thinks that Zhu Xuan has taken the position that should belong to Guo Biao, and he must be upset for Guo Biao. Besides, Guo Biao complained that Xiao Jian did not come out to say a word to uphold justice at the critical moment, which is also reasonable, saying that it is "a last resort", which seems to be reasonable. Guo Biao made a great contribution, but turned his face and found that someone else had occupied his seat, obviously still alive, but he was posthumously crowned a founding marquis by the imperial court, and whoever this kind of thing fell on him would be full of resentment! However, this is not a big deal after all, just say a few strange words and complain a few words to vent, it is really boring to make a storm in the city.

He said to Guo Biao: "You have an opinion on General Xiao, you can explain it to him face to face......

"Not what you think." Guo Biao interrupted Shang Cheng's words. He said, "I know very well what happened in July and August last year, as well as the matter of Zhuxu's trip to Yanshan......

"As the saying goes, if you listen to both, you will be clear, and if you believe partially, you will be dark. We are all leading soldiers, but we can't just listen to one side of the story. Shang Cheng also interrupted him.

"I just listened to a lot of people to know what happened."

Shang Cheng opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't say anything. He originally wanted to say that Gu Shi's old horseman's words were unreliable, but after thinking about it for a while, he forgot it. No matter how you say that Gu Shi and Guo Biao are also Weng sons-in-law, he came to "separate" other people's relatives, which is really boring!

Guo Biao saw that he no longer spoke, so he continued: "Actually, I want to tell you that no matter how outsiders talk about going to Yanshan, I don't have any other thoughts about Lao Shuai. The old man has the grace of promoting me, even if he teaches me to break my bones, I am also willing! ”

These words were sonorous and powerful, and the meaning of sincere gratitude was overflowing, obviously Guo Biao was moved. But Shang Cheng didn't understand what Guo Biao wanted to say more and more. Since Guo Biao is grateful to Xiao Jian, why is there such a big mess today?

“…… The old handsome man has a great favor to me, and Zida you also have a great favor to me. The grace of the old handsome man is only beneficial to me; Zida's grace, but it is the grace of my Pingyao Guo family! ”

Shang Cheng waved his hand and said, "This is what you fought with a knife and a gun, and it has nothing to do with me." ”

"No!" Guo Biao said, "It has nothing to do with others, but it has a lot to do with Zida." The Guo family can have today, all because of the general's respect and trust! As he spoke, he took three steps back from his seat, and bowed to the ground on one knee.

Shang Cheng didn't warn that he would make such a name for himself during the banquet, and watched him squat down and kneel down with his hands clenched into fists in front of his forehead, before he suddenly woke up from his astonishment. He threw open the wine cup, jumped up and bypassed the case in two steps, grabbed Guo Biao's two arms and dragged them upward, and scolded in a messy manner: "If you come to this again, beware of me turning my face!" If you want to say something grateful, just say it, don't give a big gift at every turn! He dragged Guo Biao and pressed him to the seat, and said, "It's all said, we are comrades-in-arms." Since you are comrades-in-arms, it is very ordinary for you to save my life today and I will pull you tomorrow. Besides, as I said, your current title and title are all in exchange for your own life, and it has nothing to do with me. Even if it has a relationship, that is, I have put forward such a strategy, one by one, and in the end, it is not up to you to implement it? He sat back in his seat, poured the little residual wine in the overturned cup on the ground, poured another one himself, and filled Guo Biao's cup with a smile, and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, you and Zhongshan didn't implement that strategy, right?" Zhongshan fought in Mogan, and the month-long war dragged on for months, and he spent an unknown amount of food and salary in vain. You're even more powerful, and when you enter the grassland, you'll be gone. If it weren't for my headache and I didn't want to pick up a pen and write, maybe I would have issued an official document to impeach you one by one, and Guo Fengyi, the fake governor of Yanshan, led 3,000 cavalry into the grassland to hunt, and he didn't hear from him for several months, please treat him for the crime of 'not returning after the time limit'......"

Guo Biao smiled, and didn't answer Shang Cheng's words, picked up the wine that Shang Cheng poured for him with both hands, and poured it all in one gulp. He held the empty lamp, looked at Shang Cheng with blazing eyes, and said slowly: "Zida, I think that my appointment as the Great Sima in Yanshan is just a false appearance, but in fact, I have other plans. You should know this, right? ”

Shang Cheng was a little baffled. At the beginning of last year, Guo Biao led a group of young generals to Yanshan to study soldiers, and the real purpose was actually to be ready to take over his false post as a commander when the situation was in danger, how could he not know about this? From the moment he received the official letter from the Ministry of War, he knew that Guo Biao had another purpose. Up and down Yanshan, there were many people who figured out about this matter, and later Zhang Shao and they also gave Guo Biao "small shoes" for this reason. But this matter has long passed, why did Guo Biao suddenly reveal his scars again?

Seeing that Shang Cheng nodded in affirmation, Guo Biao said again: "I just went to Yanshan with an official document from the Ministry of War, and I didn't show it from beginning to end, let alone jump out to point fingers because I had a reliance in my hand." That's it, Zhang Jixian and Simon Kezhi also taught me to lose face several times. Take me as an example, based on what Zhu Xuan is doing now, can he last long in Yanshan? ”

Shang Cheng hadn't thought about this matter carefully. He thought for a moment and shook his head. Zhu Sanzhan has now offended all the civil and military forces of Yanshan, and it is basically impossible to think for a long time, and it is estimated that within half a year, the imperial court will have to transfer him away. The preface of the Shangzhu Kingdom can't stop the group of kicking mules, and it is estimated that no one in the other Pillar Kingdoms will dare to take it over easily. He can't go to Beijing to "recuperate", Guo Biao is about to go to Longxi, Sun Zhongshan's qualifications and abilities are not convincing, and the new Yanshan Admiral is either Zhang Shao or Ximen Sheng...... He was suddenly surprised to find that if things were really as he imagined, Zhang Shao or Ximen Sheng would be the governor of Yanshan, plus Guo Biao was in Longxi, Sun Fu was in Jiazhou, and there was a Shangzhu State in the capital who dared to fight with Yang Liehuo.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he was right; The more I felt that I hadn't expected it wrong, the more surprised I became. He never thought of establishing any Yanshan system, and even often sneered at those who said "our Yanshan system". Who knew that between his cynicism, this big mountain in the army had already become a climate......

He had no idea what to say. After a while, he asked Guo Biao: "Is it because of this?" "That's why you classified yourself as a member of Yanshan? After all, everyone can see that the future of the Yanshan system is great. In the Yanshan Guard, a large number of military-level generals are around forty years old, which is the most glorious years in their lives; Below them, there are many more talented young generals who are maturing step by step. The most important thing is that these generals and colonels have all emerged in foreign wars, which is in line with the change of Da Zhao's military strategic guiding ideology from defense to offense; Their future is conceivable, and it will be incomparably brilliant!

Guo showed what Bai Shangcheng was asking. From the moment he broke through the encirclement of the Buyeo people and entered the Zhao realm, he was thinking about this question: whether he really entered the ranks of Yanshan. For almost a year, he stayed in Yanshan. In Yanshan, what he saw and heard was completely different from that of the Central Plains garrison. He watched and thought and compared at the same time. While the Liyuan Battalion is still looking over the examples of the past few decades and discussing how to conduct in-depth and successive defensive operations, the Yanshan Guards are already discussing how to conduct overseas operations, and Zhang Shao and the others are already thinking about solving new problems that he has never heard of, such as "overseas combat methods" and "management of occupied areas." There is no doubt that these things hit him hard. In his military career, he had always thought about how to defend himself against foreign captives, so it was difficult for him to abandon his old train of thought at once; However, the change in the atmosphere in the court that he learned from his father-in-law taught him to believe that the practices of the Yanshan Guards were more in line with the ideas of the imperial court. Between the old and new concepts, he swayed and wavered, and finally he still felt that he should enter the Yanshan system. Yes, Lao Shuai, Yang Guogong, his father-in-law and Yan Gu, they are all a generation of famous generals, but their ideas are still stuck on "defense", they can defend their families and the country, but they are not enough to expand their territory. Compared with the generals of Yanshan, they all seem to be heroes in the twilight, although they are not strong, but they are no longer the ambition and pride of the year, but they are concerned about their own glory and loss. And the soldiers of Yanshan, they yearn for honor, look forward to victory, are eager to make meritorious contributions, and are willing to make efforts and sacrifices for this! He, Guo Biao Guo Fengyi of Pingyao Guo's family, is also looking forward to the day when he can "climb the wolf Juxu Mountain to build an altar and sacrifice to the sky to tell the success", adding mountains and vast land to Dazhao!

It was precisely because of his ambition that he finally decided to enter the ranks of Yanshan. He had already told Lao Shuai and his father-in-law about this decision two days ago, and he had also obtained their understanding and understanding. He greeted Shang Cheng with the most solemn etiquette today, just to tell others that he was already a member of Yanshan!

Shang Cheng listened in surprise as Guo Biao finished speaking. For a long time, he didn't say anything.

He really couldn't remember how old Guo Biao was this year. It could be fifty-two, it could be fifty-three; Or either of these numbers is wrong. But he admired Guo Biao's ambition. This is the real "old man is determined to be a thousand miles"!

With admiration, he said to Guo Biao: "Then, what do you need me to help you do?" ”

"I need everything." "But what is needed most right now is people." One by one, handy people. ”

Shang Cheng nodded. This is not difficult to do. He told Guo Biao that a group of battalion officers could be transferred from Yanshanwei to enrich Longxi. Of course, Guo Biao can directly come to the Ministry of War for this matter. Since the imperial court ordered him to be the governor of Longxi, this in itself represents the imperial court's trust in him. In this case, he proposed some personnel arrangements and transfers, and the imperial court could generally agree to them.

"I'm going to have a few more people." Guo Biao said. He directly named the names of several people, "Wen Mu, Zheng Qi, Tian Xiaowu, and Zhao Shishi......"

Shang Cheng was a little embarrassed. He is not the commander of Yanshan now, and the squire of the military department is also a false position, helping Guo Biao to come up with some ideas and make a decision, it will be very troublesome for him to do real things. In addition, Wen Mu, Zheng Qi and Tian Xiaowu said that they are still in Yanshan; The stone has already been incorporated into the Southern Expedition, and people are pulled out of the Southern Expedition sequence, isn't that right?

Guo Biao didn't know that Shi was going to participate in the Southern Expedition. Since Shi Shi was going to follow Xiao Jian and Sun Fu to conquer Nanzhao, he dispelled the idea of transferring Shi to Longxi. He felt that with Wen Mu, Zheng Qi and Tian Xiaowu, plus a group of battalion officers transferred from Yanshan, he should be able to open up the situation in Longxi soon. After all, he still has some comrades-in-arms and acquaintances over there, and they can also help him a lot......