Not surprisingly, as soon as the causes and consequences of Zhu Changfa came out, everyone in the tent, including Zhao Dangshi, was stunned for a while. Yang Zhaofeng sighed and said: "It's just that the subordinates are not talented, and Yu Lu bumped into the patrol archers of Zaoyang County, and the two had a dispute, and most of them were killed, but there were still a few fish that slipped through the net." ”

Chang Zeyu stroked his long beard, frowned and said: "It is Chu Xidi who is also the patrol officer of Zaoyang County, so I am afraid that there will be hidden dangers." ”

Mu Gongchun said: "Although there are hidden dangers, they are not big. There are many bandits and strongmen near Zaoyang, there is no physical evidence, just based on the words of the deserters, Chu Xidi is afraid that there is not such a big means to directly nail my Zhao Ying to the board. ”

Yang Zhaofeng's face was ashamed, and he lowered his head and said: "My subordinates are not doing things well, please punish the lord." ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "It's hard to say merit for this matter now, I won't punish you or reward you." Turning his head and asking Xiang Chang and Mu, "The two gentlemen think that this Zhu Changfa can be useful in our army?" ”

Chang Zeyu asked Yang Zhaofeng first: "Are your identities exposed along the way?" ”

Yang Zhaofeng said: "No, after the three of them were caught, they were blindfolded and gagged, and the conversations between me and Zaoyang archers are all far away, and there will be no leakage." At the end, he added, "But the kid surnamed Zhu is a ghost, I'm afraid he can guess that I am the one who drinks at the same table with him." ”

Zhao Dangshi said to Chang Zeyu: "Lao Meng is an expert, and Fengzi is also a meticulous person. There is no need to worry about that, sir. ”

Chang Zeyu said: "You originally wanted to rely on this Zhu Changfa to blackmail King Xiang? ”

Yang Zhaofeng responded: "At first, I really didn't expect him to be the prince of the prince, and I only learned about it later. ”

Chang Zeyu shook his head and said, "If he is the son of an ordinary official eunuch, it is not a big deal to ask for a ransom. But because he is the son of King Xiang, I am afraid that this matter of seeking wealth will not be so easy. ”

Yang Zhaofeng was puzzled: "How do you say this?" ”

Chang Zeyu replied: "It's very simple, if King Xiang's son falls into the hands of thieves, he will definitely inform the court, and it will also attract great attention from the government and the public and Xiangyang." Now there are thousands of forces in Xiangyang Mansion, and it is far from being something that our battalion can clear up in a short time. Even if I cover it up again and again, there are too many variables between coming and going, and I am afraid that it will inevitably be exposed in the end. Once exposed, there will be no trust between our battalion and the imperial court. At that time, shooting yourself in the foot will do more harm than good. ”

Zhao Dangshi nodded and said: "Yes, the new annex of our battalion is in the ascendant, and it is a critical moment to walk on thin ice, so you can't take this risk." If you want to use Zhu Changfa to carry out the story of Hanzhong back then, it is not the right time at present. ”

Yang Zhaofeng listened to the words of the two, immediately knelt on one knee, and said to the top: "Yang Zhaofeng is self-righteous and rash to act. It has caused danger to our battalion, and it has been a failure, so please punish the lord again! ”

Zhao Dangshi helped him up and said angrily: "You phoenix, your heart is too real." As I said before, I will leave this matter aside for the time being. It's only been so long, am I going to turn my face? My surname Zhao is such a vacillating and narrow person! ”

Yang Zhaofeng stood silently with a red face. Zhao Dangshi asked Chang Zeyu: "According to Mr., let's send this Zhu Changfa away as soon as possible?" ”

Chang Zeyu here hadn't answered yet, and Mu Gongchun over there first interjected: "Lord, my subordinates think that Zhu Changfa may not be able to use one or two." Although he is nominally separated from Chang Zeyu on the left and right military divisions, whether it is others or himself, he can feel that Chang Zeyu is obviously more trusted by Zhao Dangshi. Previously, he had always felt that he was suppressed by Chang Zeyu and it was difficult to behave, but at this time, taking advantage of the conversation between Zhao Dangshi and others, he had a brain teaser and really came up with a clever trick.

Zhao Dangshi knew that Mu Gongchun and Chang Zeyu were very different. If Chang Zeyu takes the right path, he focuses on the whole and is stable. Then Mu Gongchun is a master who specializes in evil tricks. Zhao Dangshi also used the words "Mr. Chang and my son, Mr. Mu and my Chen Ping" in private conversations with others to describe the role of the two in his heart.

Zhao Dangshi said with a smile: "What is Mr. Mu's opinion? ”

Mu Gongchun smiled faintly and said: "The lord must know, I use Zhu Changfa, not in public, but in private." The lord forgives the sin, so that his subordinates can dare to add another sentence: this private is the private of the lord. ”

Zhao Dangshi was puzzled: "My selfishness? After thinking about it again, I suddenly felt a shock in my heart, and stammered, "Could it be ......?"

At that time, there were only a handful of people in the account, and Mu Gongchun got Zhao Dangshi's permission and slowly said his plan. The voice fell, Zhao Dangshi's face was calm, and he seemed to have a feeling that the burden of a thousand catties had been swept away, and Yang Zhaofeng and Zhou Wenhe smiled and congratulated Zhao Dangshi. Even Chang Zeyu, who has always been conceited, looked at Mu Gongchun with a little more praise in his eyes than before.

"Although this matter is evil, it is not dangerous and feasible." Chang Zeyu nodded slightly.

Mu Gongchun said with a smile: "My subordinates have done their best for the lord, and they can only help here." The rest of the things are still up to the Lord. "Zhao Dangshi's royal majesty is just and soft, and Ping Suli is very good at getting along with the generals, so even a Confucian like Mu Gongchun, after getting acquainted with him, will not be too restrained.

Zhao Dangshi smiled embarrassedly, wanted to speak but didn't know whether to praise or scold, and stared at him for a long time before he held back a sentence: "What a dog's ......"

Chang Zeyu rarely smiled for a while, and after laughing, he said with a straight face: "Lord, since Mr. Mu has offered a clever plan, his subordinates have also put the icing on the cake and presented the plan he just thought of." He added, "In this way, using this Zhu Changfa is not only for personal gain, but may also be beneficial to the public." As he spoke, he told his thoughts.

Zhao Dangshi listened, thought for a moment and said: "What Mr. Chang said is feasible, but it is man-made, and whether the progress can really be as we wish still needs to be slowly scrutinized." ”

Chang Zeyu nodded and said: "If this matter goes well, then our army's two strategies of 'extensive assistance' and 'shun the imperial court' will be successful." He turned to smile and said to Yang Zhaofeng, "Yang joined the army, now it seems that this Zhu Changfa should be more merit for you." ”

Yang Zhaofeng also smiled briskly: "I hope that the military teacher will be auspicious, and he can make a lot of credit." ”

Zhao Dangshi asked, "Then where is Zhu Changfa now?" ”

Yang Zhaofeng replied: "I am being detained in the special room behind the camp. This kid has been silent, a little scheming. ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "Raise him to eat and drink first, and wait for him to calm down tomorrow, and I will go to find him." After speaking, Zhu Changfa thought of another person, and his heart was heavy.

The next day, early in the morning.

Because he talked late last night, Zhao Dangshi got up a little late. After washing, Zhou Wenhe reported that there were already several groups of people waiting outside.

A long time ago, at Juyun Temple in Chungju, Cho Dangshi had a conversation with Zen Master Chuwan Guangzhen. At that time, Zen Master Guangzhen reminded him that he might one day face a situation of "Kanglong has regrets". Confused, he asked why. Zen Master Guangzhen did not elaborate, but only exhorted with sixteen words: "High but not impatient, expensive but not arrogant." The heart is like stopping water, moving without regrets. ”

Today, Zhao Dangshifang gradually feels that the advice given to him by the Zen master is not unreasonable. With the vigorous growth of Zhao Ying, as the head of the army, he will inevitably face a flood of difficult problems actively or passively. Even if the heart is as strong as iron, there will be moments of anxiety and confusion. Whenever he encounters such a situation, he will encourage himself with these sixteen words, which are like a clear stream, which can always wash away his restlessness in an instant.

Zi said: Long virtue and the hermit also. It is not easy to be in the world, it is not famous, there is no boredom in the world, there is no boredom in the world, there is no boredom in the world, happiness is done, and worry is against it.

Zhao Dangshi is not a hidden dragon, and he can't be as detached from the world as Zen Master Wanguangzhen. He knew that he was destined to be a "dragon" flying high above the nine heavens, and if he ended up with a "regretful" end, then everything would be in vain. He is burdened with very human pressure and responsibility, and he can only choose "no regrets".

Just like now, when he opened his eyes, there were endless military chores, and he didn't feel bored for no reason. Eventually, however, he threw the towel into the copper basin, stabilized his mind, and began to sit upright to meet the seekers.

The first one to come in was Guo Ruke's person, who reported that the outpost of the Qihun camp that had gone out to Tang County would return triumphantly in the afternoon. Zhao Dangshi had already made a plan for Guo Ruke's disposal, so he didn't bother to say anything here, just talked a few words.

What followed was a night of silence, and he was assigned to the south to track the movements of Long Zaitian, the deputy general of Shipingtu, who was heading north. Long Zaitian was a very important person, and Zhao Dangshi cheered up and asked for details. When asked, the situation changed slightly. It turned out that just two days ago, Cao Cao, Luo Rucai, and Wang Lin Chengcheng of the troubled times flowed from Henan to Huguang, and rebelled for Huanggang, Luotian and other places. The armament of the official army near Wuchang was relatively weak and overwhelmed, so Long Zaitian temporarily received an order to postpone the northward movement and go south first to fight the fire. Zhao Dangshi originally expected to visit Long Zaitian in person in a few days, but it seems that the plan will have to be postponed.

waited for the night to retreat, but the people who came up next also had something to do with Long Zaitian. The man claimed to be a member of the Zuo family in Xuzhou, and came to the letter on the order of Zuo Sili. Zhao Dangshi read the letter and knew that in addition to mobilizing Long Zaitian, Zuo Liangyu's army was also recruited, but because Zuo Liangyu himself was still elsewhere, Jin Shenghuan, a general under his command, led about 1,000 people to help. Of course, Zuo Sili's letter was not for a mere Jin Shenghuan, it was believed that there was also Zuo Liangyu's eldest son Zuo Mengeng.

Zuo Sili's letter was informal, and Zuo Mengeng had not yet reached the weak crown, so his accompaniment this time was arranged by Zuo Liangyu in private.

Although Zuo Sili kept saying that Zuo Liangyu wanted his son to become a Chan, he sent his beloved son to exercise with the army and visit Zhao Dangshi for his father. But Zhao Dangshi could basically guess that nine times out of ten, this Zuo Mengeng was mainly coming for himself. To tell the truth, Zuo Liangyu, as a general, often leads troops outside and has no free time, and secondly, it is not convenient to have a private meeting with Zhao Dangshi because of his identity, so it is indeed a wise move to send his son as a messenger to meet with Zhao Dangshi in advance instead of himself.

At the end of the letter, Zuo Sili also specifically mentioned that Liu Guoneng would also come with him as a general. On the surface, of course, he reminisced with Zhao Dangshi as an old man, but with Zhao Dangshi's understanding of Zuo Liangyu, he was probably still worried that Zuo Mengeng was young and easy to be manipulated, so he asked Liu Guoneng, a calm and relatively clear person who knew the details of Zhao Ying's background, to add an insurance. Regarding contact with Zuo Liangyu, Zhao Dangshi has been prepared, and if the other party does not come, he will find the door himself. And whether it is Zuo Liangyu himself or his son, he can see the move.

The last thing, which is not important, is related to the old return to Ma Shouying. Zhao Dangshi had previously learned about the recent whereabouts of the Liukou who had returned to the camp from Zhang Xiongfei's death, but he never understood why the brave Zhang Xiongfei's army would collapse in the face of Guo Ruke. Now I know that in fact, most of the month ago, maybe in Henan for a long time without success, the division and veterans were tired, and maybe it was touched by Zhang Xianzhong and himself and others to accept Zhao'an, in short, Ma Shouying and Ge Li He Yilong, mixed 100,000 Ma Jinzhong also conveyed their willingness to surrender to the imperial court. And because Ma Shouying and He Yilong have been in trouble in Henan for a long time, and the relationship with Henan's officials and troops is extremely poor, although the two of them are in Henan, they are willing to seek the near and far, and send people to Mulan Cottage to ask Huguang for comfort. And Ma Jinzhong asked Chang Daoli, the governor of Henan, for comfort.

At present, there is still no conclusion on the outcome of the two sides, but it is very likely that for this reason, Zhang Xiongfei, who was patrolling the Chengshui Border, did not have the will to fight with the officers and men. In essence, if Ma Shou should have begged the Henan officials and troops for appeasement at that time, then the Henan side would have coordinated its own relations, and there would have been no such thing as Tang County asking for help. At the moment, Ma Shouying was wishful thinking to negotiate with the Huguang officials and soldiers, but he was deflated in Henan, even if he succeeded in recruiting peace in the end, Zhao Dangshi did not have to bear any responsibility.

After dealing with these things, it was almost noon, and the servants served the food, and Zhao Dangshi had no appetite. I swallowed two bowls of gruel with only salted plum vegetables, and I already felt seven points full. The strategy offered by Mu Gongchun last night was very feasible, and his focus today was to get this matter out first. And the most important thing in this strategy is in one person in the battalion.