Chen Yuanyuan's beauty shook the hearts of everyone who saw it. If she died in Beijing, it would have been fine, but she let Wu Sangui know that she had escaped, which ignited Wu Sangui's heart.

People are naturally possessive, not to mention that a commander like Wu Sangui, who is above 10,000 people, how can a woman who once belonged to her be allowed to live in a foreign country and give others a chance to get involved. Wu Sangui not only entrusted Chen Hongfan to help find Chen Yuanyuan, but also privately spread eyeliner to search for his people among the people, almost to the point of going mad.

It can be said that the reason why Wu Sangui has been restless recently is also affected by the unknown whereabouts of his concubine.

"Are you—are you true?" Wu Sangui's city mansion is extremely deep, and he rarely loses his temper in front of outsiders, so tonight can be described as a special case. He staggered to his feet from his chair, his hands shaking.

"I don't dare to joke about such a big thing." Zhao Yuanheng thought of Chen Hongfan's sworn expression, and his tone was also firm.

"W-where is she now?" Wu Sangui unconsciously took a few steps closer and asked.

"Protected by Chen Gongzhou, safe and sound, please rest assured." Zhao Yuanheng said with a straight face, and took out the hairpin that Chen Hongfan handed over to him from his arms, "This is a token." ”

Wu Sangui took the hairpin, looked at it carefully a few times, rubbed his fingertips lightly, and sighed softly: "This is a gift I gave to Yuan Yuan when I first met, and she has always carried it with her all these years, there is nothing wrong with it." ”

Zhao Yuanheng arched his hand and said: "Chen Gong thought that the prince was still in Beijing, but he didn't think that the prince came to Xuanfu, but he wanted to march to Shanxi?" ”

Wu Sangui put away the hairpin and glanced at Wu Guogui, Wu Guogui said: "At present, I have a military order, I am only stationed here, and I didn't say that I want to go to Shanxi." ”

Zhao Yuanheng said: "On the way I came, I heard that the Tartars besieged Sun Chuanting in Chaigou Fort, can there be anything?" ”

Wu Guogui nodded and said, "Yes, Sun Chuanting went deep alone and fell in love with the Tartars." ”

At this time, Wu Sangui said: "I stayed here, I really didn't want to face the Daming robe, and even went to the point of fighting in the same room. ”

Zhao Yuanheng frowned and said: "The situation of Chaigou Fort is critical, how can the prince, as my loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, be a watcher." ”

Wu Sangui shook his head and said: "The shape is forbidden, I don't have many soldiers here, and there are many Tartar soldiers, so I don't dare to act rashly." ”

Zhao Yuanheng said anxiously: "Huai'anwei has the soldiers and horses of Yijun Bohou and the noble, and the prince can conspire with him." ”

"Yijun Bohou Dagui?" Wu Sangui raised his eyebrows, "I seem to have heard of it, is it the confidant general of King Ningnan?" ”

"Not bad. General Manager Hou led the army to attack Shanxi, invincible, successively defeated the thieves, surrendered Jiang Jiu in northern Shanxi, and joined all the soldiers and horses, and the edge was flourishing. There are not many Tatars in Datong and Xuanfu, and the prince is going to start something anyway, and now is the best time! Zhao Yuanheng was full of enthusiasm and said pleadingly, "The army of King Ningnan has defeated the thieves in Shaanxi, and he will bring troops to come soon." The prince can join forces with the head of Hou and others to sweep away the tartars of Datong and Xuanfu and welcome the king. ”

Wu Sangui pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "What Brother Zhao said makes sense, I have my own plans here." Then the conversation changed, "I wonder if it's convenient to send back my beloved concubine right now?" ”

Zhao Yuanheng said: "This matter is arranged by Gong Chen, this place is not far from Datong, why don't you send a cronie to meet Duke Chen with me?" Chen Gong must have something to say. ”

Wu Sangui nodded and said, "It's okay, meet Chen Gong early, and settle things as soon as possible." Then asked Wu Guogui, "Go to Datong, is there a suitable candidate?" ”

"Yes." Wu Guogui didn't think about it, "Let Gao Dajie go, this kid is quick-minded, almost the same age as Brother Zhao, and he can talk to each other along the way." ”

"Okay, I also have the heart to lift the festival, so I'll give him this opportunity to perform." Wu Sangui agreed.

When Zhao Yuanheng heard this, he recalled the situation in Xuanfu, and was still worried, and said, "Lord Wang, where is Chief Hou ......?"

"Don't worry about it." Wu Sangui waved his hand, "I, Wu Sangui, am a Mingchen for one day and a Mingchen for life, and the head Hou is in Huai'anwei and close at hand, so I will send someone to contact me early tomorrow morning." ”

Zhao Yuanheng was relieved and thanked him. After a short while, a sleepy-eyed young man hurried to the room and met Wu Sangui. Wu Sangui pulled him to the screen and instructed a few words, and then the two turned out, and the young man walked towards Zhao Yuanheng with a smile on his face and said, "Brother Zhao, I am fortunate to meet in the next high festival." ”

This tall and medium-sized person, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a burly physique, a strong and powerful voice, and a very reliable look, Zhao Yuanheng chatted with him for a few words, and Gao Dajie said: "The defense of the city is controlled by Tang Tong's army, this guy is determined to take refuge in the Tartars, and we can't find him out when we go out of the city." I have two sets of sentry uniforms and corresponding waist tags, let's go and change them at once, and it is best to go out at dawn while the defenders of Xicheng are changing guards. ”

Zhao Yuanheng said: "It's all up to Brother Gao's arrangement. ”

Wu Sangui walked in front of the two, took Zhao Yuanheng with one hand and Gao Dajie with the other, and said seriously: "This trip depends on the two young talents." ”

Gao Dajie replied: "Don't worry, the prince will live up to his mission." After speaking, he left with Zhao Yuanheng.

The figures of the two disappeared, Wu Guogui closed the door again, and asked Wu Sangui: "Lord Wang, how to deal with this matter?" ”

Wu Sangui walked back to the table and sat down, and said in a deep voice: "It's not this, but these two things." One is the private matter of my concubine, and the other is the official matter of the situation in Xuanfu. ”

"I think Chen Hongfan wants to knead these two things together." Wu Guogui smiled lightly.

"Then he's really right, to be honest, I think about it for a long time, and I really can't let go of Yuanyuan."

Wu Guogui said: "It's just a woman, don't laugh at the prince." Our Guan Liao army only has 10,000 soldiers and horses coming to Xuanfu this time, but they don't have the strength to act recklessly. He took a deep breath again, "In addition, the prince must not forget Beijing's backhand." Without this backhand, with the cunning of Tang Tong's old horseman, where can the prince be persuaded with a letter. ”

"I don't need you to remind me how I could have forgotten the real purpose of the garrison here." Wu Sangui said coldly, "For the sake of Guan Liaojun, I have abandoned more than 30 family members in Beijing, if the concubine is still alive today, nothing can stop me from taking her back." ”

"How does the prince arrange it?"

"I've told Dajie that he's a smart guy and knows what to do." Wu Sangui held an empty teacup in his hand, "You don't have to worry about this matter in general, there is a good result nine times out of ten." What I am most worried about at the moment is still official business, that is, the situation in Xuanfu. Tell me, what's going on now? ”

Wu Guogui replied: "In Chaigou Fort, more than 10,000 people from Ye Chen, Bahana, and Shi Tingzhu blocked all the passages, and Sun Chuanting could not win several field battles, and 20,000 people were trapped to death. It's a pity that bad luck and heavy rain fell from the sky, so the matter of attacking the fortification was delayed again and again, but it was expected that in the end Chaigou Fort would not be able to hold. After a pause, he continued, "In addition, it is what Zhao Yuanheng said about Huai'an Weihou Dagui just now. It is reported that Hou Dagui led his troops to rescue Chaigou Fort once yesterday, but in the southern mountains, it was blocked by Ye Chen's Aliha Chaoha, and retreated to Huai'anwei. ”

"Well, if this situation continues, Chaigou Fort will definitely not be defended." Wu Sangui said while thinking, "But don't forget, Zhao Yuanheng said, the Ming army in Datong and even Shaanxi is on the way, the heavy rain in front of me is raging, I don't know when it will be, if these reinforcements arrive, Chaigou Fort has not been defeated, the situation in Xuanfu may be ......"

"The prince is thoughtful." Wu Guogui nodded and said, "Our army must prepare in advance. ”

"No matter how the world changes, I Guan Liao Army or Guan Liao Army, for the Guan Liao Army, whether it is the Qing Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty, I have to go back a little." Wu Sangui looked resolute, "It's okay for Ye Chen to let me go back to Xuanfu Town, give me a chance to choose." ”

Wu Guogui said: "My subordinates understand, let's act here when we have the opportunity." ”

"Yes, act on the opportune moment." Wu Sangui poured tea from the teapot that had been empty for a long time in advance, and sneered when he picked it up, "If we don't see the opportunity to act, what can we do?" ”

At the same time, in Shaanxi, Zhao Dangshi's army, which had been resting for half a month, began to enter Jin one after another.

This time, Zhao Dangshibing was divided into three ways. All the way, led by Zhao Dangshi, 46,000 soldiers and horses went east to Guanzhong Avenue, out of Tongguan and Fenglingdu into Puzhou, Shanxi; One way, led by Guo Ruke, 16,000 soldiers and horses went north to Chaoyi and Haoyang, and went out of Hancheng to Yumendu into Jiangzhou, Shanxi; All the way, led by Guang Wenlu, 21,000 soldiers and horses crossed the Taihang Mountain from Weihui Mansion in Henan Province to the west and entered Zezhou, Shanxi. The soldiers and horses of the three routes swept away the remnants of the Shun army in Qingzhou County along the way, and it was expected to meet in Taiyuan Fucheng, where Li Zicheng's camp was located, to launch a general attack on the Shun army. In addition, Xu Hui stayed in Xi'an with nearly 10,000 people due to physical reasons, while Zuo Menggeng's army continued to attack Shandong and did not have to participate in the Shanxi war for the time being.

"The new dynasty and the new policy, don't miss the old mistakes, if Li Zicheng is the current butcher's knife, the court is willing to give him the opportunity to serve the country." In this Northern Expedition, Tian Jianxiu and other generals of the Shun army who surrendered in Xi'an Mansion also accompanied him, and thousands of soldiers flowed, winding along the road to the distant horizon, Zhao Dangshi was dressed in angry horses, and said to Tian Jianxiu with a whip, "Fan Jing's holy decree has been issued, if Li Zicheng and the following surrender quickly, forgive the sins and appoint them, they will all be knighted and given names to show encouragement." Li Zicheng gave the name Li Fengtian, Li Guo gave the name Li Chixin, and Gao Yigong gave the name Gao Bizheng ......"

Tian Jianxiu silently listened to the high-spirited Zhao Dangshi raise his head, sighed and shook his head: "It's not a ......."

"What does the word 'not succeed' mean?" Zhao Dangshi was halfway through his speech, and paused to ask.

Tian Jianxiu said: "The imperial court's northern expedition is unstoppable. Although I have worked hard for Li Zicheng, I ask myself, no matter how stubborn Li Zicheng is, he will not escape his destruction in the end. However, the destruction of Li Zicheng's army and Li Zicheng's surrender are two different things, Li Zicheng is a person, I understand, anyone will surrender, he will never surrender. ”

Zhao Dangshi nodded, and then heard Tian Jianxiu say: "What's more, Li Zicheng has been proclaimed emperor in Xi'an and Beijing, a person who has been an emperor, let him work for the Ming Dynasty again, it is really the biggest insult." ”

"Life and dignity, for Li Zicheng, must not be both." Zhao Dangshi looked into the distance, "This is the last mercy of the imperial court, whether you choose it or not, it's all up to Li Zicheng himself." ”

Tian Jianxiu was silent for a long time, and suddenly raised his head and asked, "...... the prince?"

Zhao Dangshi interrupted him and said, "How many times have I said that between you and me, you don't have to be so commensurate. ”

"Okay, Brother Zhao." Tian Jianxiu said astringently, "I've always wanted to ask you a question, but it's hard to find an opportunity. It doesn't seem to be the most suitable place now, but I'm afraid that if I miss this time, I won't be able to ask this question for the rest of my life. ”

Zhao Dangshi smiled: "You say." ”

Tian Jianxiu agreed, and asked slowly: "Brother Zhao, when did you start treating Li Zicheng as an opponent?" ”

After asking these words, Tian Jianxiu's body was straightened on the horse, his face was solemn, and he was ready to wait for Zhao Dangshi to think deeply. But to his surprise, Zhao Dangshi looked ahead, almost blurted out, with incomparable firmness and decisiveness in his tone, and said, "See him for the first time." ”

When Tian Jianxiu heard this, he was stunned for a long time, and finally felt a thousand melancholy in his heart, and only turned into an indifferent wry smile at the corner of his mouth.