The night is dark.

The feast in the West Garden of the Teaching Workshop continued.

However, there are not as many people in the lobby as there were at the beginning. Zhu Xuan, a university scholar, is an elderly person, can not bear to be tired, and since childhood Confucianism, decades of intensive study, Confucianism pursued the realm of "tranquility and tranquility" has been deeply rooted in the bone marrow, has always been quiet and disgusted, so he got up to thank several Yanshan dignitaries and said goodbye. Yandu Shangcheng was also "drunk", and he forcibly sent the scholar to the side gate of Xiyuan, and then fell to the ground and rode back.

As soon as these two leave, the send-off banquet will officially end. Since then, people have left from time to time, and of course, many people have found an opportunity to sneak in quietly, and the lobby is still full of people coming and going. In the article, everyone often drank just right, shouting and shouting Lingxingdafa, one after another Xiaoling kept doing, or graceful, or melancholy, or heroic, or free and easy...... The people in the church were drunk and cheered. In the hustle and bustle of this piece of silk and bamboo, no one noticed that Zhang Shao and Guo Biao, these two generals had quietly retired without knowing when. Only a few well-intentioned people noticed one thing: not long after the resignation of the great Sima Guobiao, the steward of the teaching workshop came in quietly and mysteriously called out the bearded girl Sangxiu and the pretty singer with the nickname of a real slave; The two women never returned.

These clear-eyed people smiled secretly, but did not say anything. Everyone understands in their hearts that the general is not drunk, but "if you don't get drunk, everyone gets drunk......

Shang Cheng still doesn't know what Guo Biao is doing behind his back.

After he left the workshop, he went straight to the public office of the Admiral's Mansion. The trap he had just designed needed to be further perfected, and the plan also needed to be affirmed and supported by Zhang Shao and Guo Biao, and there were some things that he had to explain to them immediately, so not long after he left the workshop, he sent someone to inform Guo Biao, Zhang Shao, and Wen Mu, the number two person in the Wei Mansion, to quickly go to the public office to discuss emergency military affairs without alarming others.

When Wen Mu, who finally arrived at the public house, walked into the ear room, Zhang Shao and Guo Biao had already arrived, and they were holding a cup of vinegar sauce soup to sober up.

Shang Chengzheng wrote letters to someone. Seeing him come in, he pointed to the drum stool next to the big case, asked him to sit first, and then pointed to the cup and pot on a small table next to the case, signaling that if he was thirsty, he would pour his own tea.

Wen Mu didn't pour the tea soup. After he sat down, he asked Zhang Shao with his eyes: What happened?

Zhang Shao shook his head. He's also confused right now. He was just watching people in the West Garden "teach" Yushi Fangzhi on the chessboard, and one of Shang Cheng's guards called him out, and then he came to the Admiral's Yamen. Aside from knowing that Shang Cheng was writing private letters to the admirals of Bohai and Dingjin, until now, he didn't know what had happened. He pondered that it was likely that Shang Cheng wanted to ask the two Wei Zhen for help, to say a word for him, and to beg the imperial court to send reinforcements......

It didn't take much effort, but Shang Chengcheng wrote the letter. He held the letterhead and carefully examined it in front of the candlelight before tucking it into the envelope. He named the envelope, put wax oil on the seal, and used the seal, called Suza, who was on duty at night, in and instructed: "Early tomorrow morning, find two people who are in order to be in place, and send the letter to Jizhou and Bingzhou separately." One by one, you can take a look at the room, let them be a little tired, and send something to eat and drink later. When Suza went out, he turned to Guo Biao and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight." ”

Without waiting for Guo Biao and them to ask what was going on, he looked at Zhang Shao and asked, "According to your Wei Mansion's judgment, when will the Turpentine start?" ”

"We judge that the Turbidians will probably be mobilized in August or September." Zhang Shao stood up and replied.

Shang Cheng nodded and asked him to sit down, and asked, "Do you have a more accurate judgment of this time?" And on what basis did you make this judgment? ”

Zhang Shao leaned down on the drum bench and thought: "Autumn is the best time for livestock breeding, and no matter how delusional the Turks want to take revenge, they can't leave this matter alone." Even if the king of Donglu Valley wanted to launch earlier, it would be impossible for the tribes and clansmen below to agree to send troops. Therefore, it is impossible for them to use troops in the early autumn, and they will certainly not use swords in July. Besides, no matter whether they are preparing to fight Yanxi or plague Yandong, it will take time to gather grain, grass, soldiers and horses. Based on past experience, we estimate that the time it takes for the Turks to gather troops and horses to raise food and grass is about 20 days to a month, so there will be no major military events in early to mid-August. The most likely time for them to send troops is in late August, and if they are delayed again and again in early September, the whole battle will continue into winter, when the weather will be freezing and the roads will be difficult, and they will fight in a guest territory, and it is not known who will die. ”

Zhang Shao's words had already been made clear, but Shang Cheng still asked again: "Your judgment is that the launch of the Turpents will not be earlier than mid-August, nor will it be later than early September?" ”

"Yes."

Shang Cheng turned his gaze to Guo Biao.

Guo Biao also nodded in agreement with Zhang Shao's opinion. In the past twenty or thirty years, the Turks have harassed and invaded the northern Xinjiang guards many times a year, but the fighting is usually in spring and autumn, and the summer and winter still go south rarely happens.

Shang Cheng nodded silently.

He walked to the big map by the wall, rubbed his hands together and didn't speak for a long time. There is a candle mountain next to the map, and the three rows of nine arms of the thick sheep fat and large wax are blazing, reflecting the ear chamber as straight as day. In the sudden whirring sound of the candle burning, the smoke of the candle was chased by the heat, and it rose like a pillar, and disappeared faintly into the shadow behind the wooden beam. The three generals understood that he was about to announce a major military decision, and they all sat upright on the drum stool, and stared at his back with their waists and knees pressed with solemn faces.

At this time, the inside and outside of the Admiral's Yamen had already been tightly guarded, and there were drums in the distance, and insects chirping in the distance, and in the silence, only Shang Cheng was heard saying:

"I decided that I will leave the town again, cross the Lu River, and go straight to Mogan."

His voice was not loud, and his tone was very flat, as if he was whispering to someone about some trivial daily matters that were not worth mentioning, but in the ears of the three generals, it was like a thunderclap exploding overhead. Suddenly, the three of them sat on the drum stool, and their steady figures, like clay sculptures and wood carvings in the temple, couldn't help but shake twice. Guo Biao and Zhang Shao glanced at each other quickly, and saw that the other party's eyes were full of horror and confusion, so they knew that Shang Cheng had just made the decision at this time, and he had not discussed it with anyone beforehand. Guo Biao is the big Sima, no matter whether this position is fictitious or real, he has power or no power, he is in front of Zhang Shao, he thought about it a little in his mind, and coughed lightly and bowed in his seat......

Shang Cheng didn't wait for his persuasion, and said first: "I have decided to garrison a total of six brigades and seven battalions in various parts of Yanzhong, and then leave the town in early August. Seven brigades and three other battalions of the Yandong Left Army were dispatched again between late August and early September. The first target of the army staying in the town was Luhe, and the second target was Mogan; After capturing Mogan, he immediately blocked the traffic on both sides of the Heishui River, and at the same time blocked the White Wolf Pass with heavy troops. The first goal of Yandong's army was to attack the Bailan River Valley......"

Hearing this, Guo Biao and the others completely understood that Shangcheng's new strategy was completely a copy of the Spring Festival campaign launched two months ago. No, it's not even a remake, it's exactly a copy of the Spring Campaign!

Guo Biao couldn't sit still anymore. He could no longer care about the distinction between the strict ranks in the army, and hurriedly interrupted Shang Cheng's words, and said in a heavy tone: "The general's strategy, I decided that it was quite inappropriate. The king of the East Lugu of Tuqi is not an idle person. This person is well versed in military affairs, and he also knows the art of war, if my Yanshan Guards completely copy the old case of the Spring Campaign, or if there are small changes and the general trend does not change, they will be taken advantage of by this catastrophe! ”

Shang Cheng didn't turn around, he stood in front of Yutu and listened to him, and said with a sneer: "I'm afraid that he doesn't understand the military!" After that, he no longer explained what he meant, and continued to explain his plan: "...... Yandong is like its large army, known as seven brigades and three battalions, but the actual dispatch of troops cannot exceed three brigades, and after occupying the Bailan River Valley to disperse the four divisions on the left side of the mountain to complete the first goal of the campaign, it is necessary to immediately put on a posture of following the king of the East Lugu to the west and advance into the White Wolf Mountain, and when the main force of the king of the East Lugu and the four divisions of the left side of the mountain return to the east, then use one part as a bait to lure the enemy's main force to follow into Yandong, and then hold on to the base city of Beizheng County until the army of the town of Deliu Town completes the campaign goal. ”

Now, the three generals were so surprised that they couldn't even close their mouths. Guo Biao is right, the king of Donglu Valley is indeed a deep military master, and in the end, he will inevitably see through the flaws in Shang Cheng's plan, so that he will plan and design the main force of the left army of Yanshan to encircle and annihilate in the Bailan River Valley. Wait for the encirclement and annihilation of the main force of the Left Army, and then turn around and encircle and suppress Mogan's Zhao Army from three sides with the Alegu troops and the troops of Heishui City, which is simply another copy of the Spring Campaign. The problem is that the main force of the left army is not in the Bailan River Valley, and the wishful thinking of the king of Donglu Valley will definitely not work! The same one, the main forces of the Left Army, where did they go?

Shang Cheng continued: "...... Once it was determined that the Donglu Valley Wang Department and the Shanzuo Fourth Division were attracted by the large army, the main force of the Left Army stationed on the Beizheng front line of the four cavalry brigades, one from the old Tang Post Road to stay in the town into the grassland, and the other out of the horse Zhichuan straight to Mogan, converged out of the town army one by one" He knocked twice vigorously on the map marked with the three big characters of "Heishui City", and the sound of banging sounded like a bang in everyone's hearts. "One by one, two armies converge and go straight to Blackwater City!"

Shang Cheng finished speaking.

But none of the three generals spoke.

The room was quiet enough for them to hear each other's heavy gasps, and they could hear each of them swallowing saliva.

Guo Biao stared at Yutu and exhaled one breath after another. He nervously calculated all the details in his heart, desperately looking for possible omissions in Shang Cheng's plan, was silent for a long time, gritted his teeth and said viciously: "It can be done!" If I were the king of Donglu Valley, I would definitely fall for this! ”

Zhang Shao's red eyes also nodded vigorously. He knew that he was not as good as Guo Biao in military affairs, and even worse than Shang Cheng, but he could compare his heart to his heart and put himself in his shoes, if he was in the position of the king of Donglu Valley and saw the big flaws in the opponent's strategy of using soldiers, he would inevitably take advantage of the situation to set a trap again, and then the king of Donglu Valley would definitely fall into the trap he set for himself! Even if he let go in time after following the left army into Yandong, he wouldn't be able to return to the army in time to rescue Blackwater City!

Although Wen Mu was so excited that he couldn't even speak, he was delicate, and quickly put the many reserves of the two large warehouses of Yinan and Geping in his heart, and after careful preparation, he said very firmly: "The two military depots in Yandong and Yanzhong have enough ordnance, baggage, heavy grain and herbs, even if the four cavalry brigades of the left army participate in this battle, the inventory of Ge Pingku's treasury is enough to support five months without the need for additional deployment!" He also said, "What about Fangzhou?" If the Da Tengliang Department and the Wannuer Department of Tu Du Ci ignore Luhe and Mogan and send troops to attack the direction of Fangzhou, with the existing strength of Yanxi, they will not be able to hold it! ”

Shang Cheng said: "I asked Zhen Qian, the Admiral's Mansion has the right to promote the border army of one brigade into the guard......

"It's still not enough! The Da Teng Liang Department and the Wannuer Department can send 20,000 troops, and Ximen Sheng only has 3,000 people, and the strength of the two sides is very different, and Ximen Sheng will definitely not be able to ensure that Yanxi and Fangzhou will not be lost. ”

"I have already written a letter to the admirals of the two Wei towns of Dingjin in Bohai, hoping that they can make a feint in the west of Bohai and the east of Dingjin while we are launching a military campaign, so as to contain the forces of the four tribes of Shanzuo and the Wannuer tribe of the Da Tengliang tribe, and at the same time be able to deal with us."

The three generals frowned at the same time. Shang Cheng rose too fast, he had no prestige among the armies outside Yanshan, and he couldn't talk about any popularity, so what role could a private letter play with just that?

"Write a letter to say hello first, so as not to say that we are not kind to things." Shang Cheng smiled. He sat down on the big case, picked up the bitter tea that had been cold for a long time and took two sips. "Tomorrow I won't send a few Beijing officials. Lao Guo apologized for me when he went to send it, and said that I was hangover and couldn't wake up, and I accidentally contracted the wind cold, so I really couldn't send it away. I plan to leave tomorrow and secretly go to Beijing, personally explain this strategy to the Ministry of War and the Prime Minister's Office, and let the Ministry of War go and explain the truth to the two of them in detail. ”

Guo Biao said: "The wheat harvest is imminent, the war is not far away, Yanshan military and government affairs are heavy, and there are a lot of things, you can't go." I'm Da Sima, I'll go. ”

"You can't go." Shang Cheng smiled, "If you go, you won't be able to come back." As to why he did not come back, he did not say. The imperial court has already ordered Xiao Jian's generals, Guo Biao returned to the capital, as an important member of the Xiao generals, most of them will be sent to be the deputy marshal of the Southern Expedition, and it is almost impossible to return to Yanshan. And the southwest is a big quagmire, and he can't say when he can climb up after falling into it...... In fact, it doesn't matter if Guo Biao is told about the Southern Expedition. Guo Biao is the same as his honor, his position is also inseparable, and he is the son-in-law of the Marquis of Poyang, although a major event like the Southern Expedition is kept secret from the outside world, Guo Biao will definitely be able to know it quickly. He couldn't say that it was because Zhang Shao and Wen Mu were present. The level of the two of them is not enough to know about this kind of thing.

Since Shang Cheng categorically objected, Guo Biao couldn't say anything. Zhang Shao knew that his qualifications, military exploits and position were impossible to speak in the Prime Minister's Office, so he didn't speak.

"That's how it was settled. I'll go to Beijing and come back in 20 days at the earliest. In the past 20 days, military affairs have been arranged by Zhang Shao in the center, and the specific arrangements and arrangements will be discussed and handled by you. Shang Cheng looked at Zhang Shao and Guo Biao and said. He knows that Zhang Shao and Guo Biao don't deal with each other, and who treats him badly, but if he makes trouble at a critical moment, then don't blame him for talking about things and marching methods. "In addition, Lao Wen, if you can hand over the matter at hand to others, go to Beizheng to meet Sun Zhongshan and tell him this decision, so that he can prepare first. Sun Huan is there, let's talk about Lao Guo. There is also Fangzhou, Ximensheng also has to work hard for you. Shang Cheng pondered and said, "There is also the question of command after the war begins: Ximen Sheng continues to be in Fangzhou, Lao Zhang, you are still in Yanzhou, Lao Guo takes the Middle Route Army out of the town, and I will go to Yandong to command the battle of the Bailan River Valley." ”

As soon as he said this, Zhang Shao and Wen Mu were shocked. No matter who laid down Blackwater City, it is a great credit to the famous history, such a big credit, how can a blind man say let it? Guo Biao couldn't sit still, his round face was swollen red, and the green tendons on his forehead jumped up, and he jumped up and said, "This, this...... It can't be done! General, you still lead the army in the middle lane, and I will fight the Bailan River Valley! ”

"You can't." Shang Cheng shook his head again and said very sincerely, "You are not the opponent of the King of Donglu Valley. Yandong's battle must be fought just right. Not only to swallow the bait left by the king of Donglu Valley, but also to jump out of the circle before the enemy joins the circle, but also not to make the opponent suspicious, and then seduce the Tuqi people to go deep into Beizheng Yiyi This road is the most variable, and the slightest carelessness is an undefeated situation, no matter who I let go, I can't rest assured, so I have to go in person. ”

He has said everything to this extent, what else can others say? Besides, Shang Cheng's worries are also true. After getting along for so long, everyone knows that whether it is about military affairs or planning, or about making decisions at the moment of rapid change, Guo Biao is inferior to Shang Cheng. The Battle of Bailan Valley was the finishing touch of the entire campaign, focusing on the middle and heavy, and Guo Biao really couldn't bear it; Sun Zhongshan, Sun Huan and others are even more unsuccessful. can only let Shang Cheng personally command.

…… When the people had discussed all the things properly, the drums were beaten four times.

Shang Cheng left the Admiral's Mansion and went to Lu Ji's house again, woke up Lu Ji and explained that he went to Beijing, and carefully discussed some government affairs and miscellaneous matters such as levy, transportation, and public security.

He didn't feel sleepy, so he took the two clerks on duty to sort out the accumulated paperwork, and all the ones that should be transferred and should be sent back were explained and instructed one by one, and he felt a little hungry in his stomach, and was about to let people go to the stove room to see what else to eat, when a guard came in and said that the young lady had sent a maid beside her.

The maid is very familiar, and she is the most beautiful little girl in a large number of maids in the backyard, but Shang Cheng can't call her name. He couldn't remember if she was called Rouge or Hui'er.

Rouge knew the rules of this house, and stood at the door of the study with his fingers pinched, bowing his head and not speaking.

Shang Cheng threw the two books into a blanket and was about to take them to read on the road, and asked her casually, "It's so late, what's the matter with you?" Yue'er asked you to come over? ”

"......," the maid said.

"Be louder."

"Little, Miss Jean, let me ask you......" Rouge's voice was still like a mosquito humming.

"You're louder." Shang Cheng pressed the anger in his heart and tried to talk to her in a kind tone.

“…… Miss asked, two sent, two ......" Rouge's voice could barely be heard clearly. "Two wives, how should they be safe...... Arrangement. ”

Shang Cheng's brows furrowed together: "What kind of mess?" Make it clear! Two ladies? Whose wife? ”

“…… It's just that it was delivered by the workshop in the evening. The people in the workshop said, "The two of them are, they are your wife." ”

Shang Cheng's face darkened. No need to ask, this is someone who wanted to pat himself on the back and ran to the workshop to speak, so the workshop was busy sending people here. He took a deep breath, didn't go to investigate the matter of the teaching workshop, and asked the little girl: "Did the people in the teaching workshop say that they didn't say it, who asked them to send people here?" ”

“…… It's Guo Da Sima. ”

Guo Biao?!

He gritted his teeth. Okay, good Guo Biao Guo Fengyi, I haven't troubled you, the guy with the "Shang Fang Sword", you can give me two "trouble" first!

He snapped and threw a copy of the Book of the Later Han Dynasty in his hand on the table, and said, "Go and tell them where you came from, go back!" I don't have chopsticks and bowls for them here! ”

Rouge was frightened by him, took a few steps back before barely standing firmly, buried his head and said timidly, "Great, my lord, don't be angry. You, you can't let them go back......"

“…… I'm afraid, I'm afraid someone will gossip about you. ”

Gossip? Joke! Who is he afraid of gossiping about him? And who dares to gossip about him?

Rouge said in a low voice, "Yes, if you send them back, people will say that you are...... It's 'chaotic and abandoned'. Besides, some people have dirty thoughts, and they may not make up some words, they, they ......"

Shang Cheng froze. He really didn't expect these consequences. But what the hell is this bearded girl and Kabuki?

Guo Biao, you son of a bitch, look what shitty you have done! He scolded through gritted teeth.

But he could only scold a few times and vent his evil anger, and he couldn't do anything else. The two kabuki sent them to the door, and no matter how reluctant he was, he couldn't push them outside, otherwise it would be "chaos from the beginning to the end", and then there was something wrong with him; And it's hard to say whether those two unlucky girls will find a good person in the future, in short, it's troublesome......

"Forget it, I'll talk about this when I get back!" He said irritably to Rouge, "You talk to Miss, I'm going to go out on business, and I'll be delayed for about twenty days." Those two ...... Just say what I said, let the young lady find a place for them to settle down first, and then talk about it later! ”