Chapter 2: Tianhe (Liushang)

"Xue is a civil official, and the amount of alcohol is probably not as good as that of the heroes. But today, I have to have the courage to pay tribute to everyone again, if not for anything else, but for your achievements today. Before Xue left Chang'an, he heard that the Anxi army was still fighting with the Da Bolu people outside the city of Bodhisattva Lao. Who would have thought that with a flick of his fingers, the banner of my Tang Dynasty has been planted by the monarchs under the capital of the Jianda Luo Kingdom! As the old saying goes, there is no greater merit than breaking the country. The monarchs broke the two countries in half a year, this is rich and rich, but there is no escape! ”

"Hahahaha!" "Borrow the auspicious words of Lord Qincha!" "Hahaha!" "It's done!" A group of Anxi soldiers laughed loudly, and they all felt that Chang'an came to this Qincha lord to pray and praise well, and the words were all in everyone's hearts.

Feng Changqing didn't pay much attention to Xue Jingxian at first, and only for the latter's sake representing the imperial court, he had to perfunctory him. After patiently listening to this person's toast, I couldn't help but start to look at him again, and the sense of appreciation came spontaneously.

Zhou Xiaofeng, who was sitting at the bottom of Feng Changqing, was also vigilant, ordered someone to pour himself a glass of wild wine, raised it to his eyebrows, and returned with a smile, "Lord Xue has come from afar, I should have made more efforts to entertain him." However, the war was in a hurry, and there was no food between the troops for the time being. I can only borrow this little light wine first, and wash the fatigue of the journey for the adults. I hope that adults will not dislike us and wait for shabby, let go of the amount and drink a few more! ”

Referring to the previous holy decree, he had just been promoted to General Huaihua, and his official rank was under the third rank. And Xue Jingxian, who is diagonally opposite, has an official rank of just a middle doctor from the fourth grade. Therefore, the latter didn't dare to sit and accept Zhou Xiaofeng's salute, so he quickly stood up with his hands on his feet, tidied up his clothes first, and then clasped his fists and saluted, "General Zhou, don't say that." How dare Xue think that the banquet is shabby. It is precisely because the gentlemen eat chaff in front of us that our generation can live a peaceful life in the rear. If Xue couldn't even tell the difference between good and bad, he would have read the sage book for more than ten years in vain! ”

With that, he picked up the wine cup from the low table and took a sip. Then he didn't wait for others to serve, he picked up the wine jar next to his seat and filled the empty wine cup, "Xue can't speak." Thank you for your hospitality! Immediately, he raised his head and swallowed the wine whale in the cup again.

"Lord Xue has a good amount of alcohol!"

"Lord Xue is a good man!"

When everyone saw this, they didn't praise again. There are also Zhao Huaixu, Li Yuanqin and other generals, who came to greet Lord Qincha with wine cups. Xue Jingxian had the intention to leave a bold impression in front of everyone, and he did not refuse the wine cup held up in front of him. Say a few impassioned words, and it's a mouth-to-mouth. In the blink of an eye, he greeted everyone in the military tent, pushing the atmosphere in the tent like fire.

Rao is sergeant's own wild wine was bland, and a series of more than 20 lamps fell into his stomach, and Xue Jingxian also felt that the world was spinning. In order to complete the mission entrusted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he still used all his strength to support it. While pushing the cup and changing the lamp with the generals, he said loudly: "As the old saying goes, fame is taken right away." It's a pity that Xue's body is too weak, he can't get on a horse, and he can't dance. Otherwise, Ning Xiao used to be far away, put pen to paper, and fought side by side with the monarchs. Even if you are drunk and lying on the battlefield, it is not worth coming to this world to walk once! ”

"Lord Xue is polite. If there were no scholars like adults who were strategizing in the court, how could I be so calm in the Western Regions?! Seeing that Xue Jingxian was always polite when he spoke, Feng Changqing smiled and responded in a low voice.

"I'm ashamed to say that. Xue also just entered the court. Originally, he was just a local official, so how could he have any opportunity to participate in military affairs?! Xue Jingxian shook his head, his eyes slanted and he was humble.

"Oh?" Feng Changqing was slightly stunned, a little surprised by the other party's honesty, "But in the old man's opinion, with Lord Xue's talent, it must be right to ask the right question, and it is also a matter of an eye!" ”

He is now the third division of the Kaifu Yitong, the deputy protector of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, and the general of the auxiliary country, both in real and virtual positions, they are far above the other party. According to common sense, there is no need to care so much about the words of a small four-rank official. However, after inquiring about Xue Jingxian's toasts, Feng Changqing vaguely felt in his heart that this son might have another purpose besides announcing the decree for the imperial court. Therefore, we have to be extra careful, so as not to offend a certain powerful force in the DPRK and China and bring unnecessary trouble to the Anxi army. (Note 1)

"In this way, Xue Mou will be brave and thank the old general Ji Yan first!" Xue Jingxian was worried that he couldn't get close to the other party, and when he heard this, he hurriedly smiled and stretched to the ground. "If Xue really has that day in the future, he will definitely not forget the encouragement of the old general on this day!"

"Don't dare, don't dare." I didn't expect the other party to dare to climb up with a random pole, Feng Changqing was flustered again, and he couldn't cry or laugh in his heart, "In the future, Lord Xue will come and go in front of the king, and these Anxi children behind the old man will ask Lord Xue to take more care of them!" ”

"Huh! The old general is serious! Xue Jingxian raised his head and straightened his waist, "The generals are fighting bloodily for the Tang Dynasty in front, and Xue is waving his flag and shouting in the rear, which is the duty to be done." Although Xue is soft-spoken at the moment, he can't help if he wants to. However, Xue still has the courage to put a word here today. In the future, if the Anxi Army needs Xue's service, as long as a letter is sent, as long as Xue can do it, he will never dare to refuse! ”

"That old man really needs more Lord Xue!" Feng Changqing was stunned again, then put away his smile, and ordered loudly at Wang Xun and other young generals, "What are you still looking to do, why don't you hurry up and pay more respects to Lord Xue for the old man!" ”

"Yes!" Wang Xun, Yu Wenzhi, Song Wu and others responded in unison, stood up, and toasted Xue Jingxian from afar.

"These are all the younger generations that the old man is optimistic about. The future of the Anxi Army also depends on them. Feng Changqing stroked his beard and introduced to Xue Jingxian with a smile, "In the future, if Lord Xue can achieve his wish, he must take care of them!" ”

"Don't dare to take care of it!" Xue Jingxian also stood up and raised his lamp to return the salute to Wang Xun and the others, "Although it is a civil and military journey, Xue is willing to make these friends." ”

The more he spoke out, the more he confirmed the possibility that there was a powerful force standing behind him. Feng Changqing smiled slightly, and motioned with his eyes to Wang Xun and the others to continue to deal with Lord Qincha. I used the excuse that I was old and frail and needed to clean up the residual wine in my body in time, and it was convenient to take a leave of absence and go out.

There were already Cen Shen and other cronies waiting in the small tent on the side of the Chinese military tent. After seeing Feng Changqing, he immediately stepped forward and reported in a low voice what he had heard through various channels. "This person is the Jingshi who came out of the city on the eighteenth day of last month with Song Yu, a member of the Zhongshu House. It only took twenty-three days on the road to reach Shule. Then he was greeted by our left-behind brothers and sent someone to escort him all the way here! ”

"According to the news from the imperial court. This person took the path of Mrs. Qiu Guo and got the position of middle doctor. But he doesn't seem to get along well with Song Yu, a scholar in the middle school. The people of Song She were all hugging everywhere, but they deliberately hinted that the local officials should not deal with Dr. Xue! ”

"What else?" Feng Changqing frowned slightly, and there was no hint of alcohol on his old face. "Shouldn't they be comrades?"

"The subordinates can't guess what the reason for this is?" Cen Shen, the judge of Jiedu Mansion, shook his head and replied in a low voice, "Although the two are both Yang Guozhong's cronies, they did not travel together on the road. And the treatment is simply one in the sky and the other in the ground. However, according to the brothers who were sent to receive the guards, it seems that Dr. Xue had another adventure on the road. Near Huizhou, a housekeeper who claimed to be surnamed Li gave him a horse and a basket of books. There are a lot of gold leaves in the book. ”

This news is not trivial, Feng Changqing's eyes immediately lit up, and he asked in a deep voice: "Who is that person." What else do they know? ”

"The surname of the person who confided the news to us is Dong. He is a gang leader of the Long Wu Army. According to his own words, it was this bad luck that made him an errand who needed to run so far. Cen Shen thought for a moment and added in a low voice, "Based on his drunken words, we deduce that the person who gave Doctor Xue the gold belongs to another force that is completely different from Yang Guozhong. And according to the appearance of the donor he described, he looked like a eunuch! ”

"Eunuch?" Feng Changqing's eyebrows quickly raised, and he suddenly realized, "What do you mean, the surname Xue is the crown prince, or which prince's person?" ”

"Exactly!" Cen Shen nodded slightly. "Otherwise, there is no need to drive out of such a place so far away from Jingshi to talk to the surnamed Xue!"

"Hmm!" Feng Changqing groaned in a low voice. All the words that Xue Jingxian had said today hurriedly echoed in his ears. It seems that when this person was announcing the decree, the third sentence mentioned Yang Guozhong and the crown prince? Could it be that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is making a comeback? Do you have any news like this? ”

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince made a comeback in the middle of last month. At present, with the assistance of Qin Guozhen and the two Guomo brothers, he is re-familiar with government affairs. It is said that this time His Majesty suddenly had the intention of passing on the throne, so he ordered Yang Guozhong to fully cooperate! ”

That's right. Feng Changqing shook his head, a wry smile appeared on his face. No wonder Xue Jingxian worked so hard today, it turned out that he had already hugged His Royal Highness the Prince's thick legs. As a border town with heavy troops, of course he can't easily have anything to do with the prince. Otherwise, the fate of General Wang Zhongsi will be a lesson from the past. Not only did he end up depressed, but even the strength of the Hexi Army was greatly damaged, and countless brothers were buried outside the stone castle by their successor Ge Shuhan. However, for the sake of the future of the Anxi Army, Xue Jingxian really can't be offended. Otherwise, once the crown prince takes over the throne in the future, what awaits everyone will be a flying disaster.

Not only to face the sword light and sword shadow from the front, but also to beware of the bleak wind and cold rain from behind, Rao is Feng Changqing has been through the waves for a long time, and he feels very difficult to do for a while. In any case, maintaining the stability of the Anxi Army is the most important, especially at this juncture, it is even more sloppy. Thinking of this, he sighed and asked in a low voice, "When the surnamed Xue was in Shule City, did he see the border prison army?" Can someone contact him? ”

"Nope!" Cen Shen smiled and promised in a low voice, "Bian Lingcheng's guy just went out to inspect his hundreds of hectares of land, and he was not in the city at that time. ”

"That's good!" Feng Changqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Although he, the deputy chief protector of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, is not under the pressure of his head at the moment, the influence of the supervising army Bian Lingcheng cannot be ignored. In case Xue Jingxian has already colluded with Bian Lingcheng, or Bian Lingcheng learns about the intention behind Xue Jingxian, he is ready to take advantage of this to ask Yang Guozhong for credit. The Anxi army is bound to suffer a lot of turmoil. After all, Bian Lingcheng, as a supervisor sent by the imperial court, represents the Tang Dynasty Emperor himself.

"Subordinates are bold, please send the general back to the east as soon as possible!" Cen Shen took another half step forward and suggested in a low voice. "General Song is the younger brother of Zhongshusheren, and General Yuwen's attitude is unknown. The subordinates got the news that the two of them were praised by Yang Xiang, so they were promoted by leapfrogging. If the entanglement between Yang Xiang and the crown prince spreads to my Anxi army, I am afraid it will affect the morale of the army! ”

"It's too late!" Feng Changqing shook his head and continued to smile bitterly, "Bian Lingcheng has another group of cronies in his hands. That is the system of the imperial court, and the old man cannot interfere. At this moment, he is probably hurrying to this side from Shule, and it is estimated that he will arrive in a blink of an eye! ”

"Old thief!" Cen Shen frowned, and his hand involuntarily touched his waist, "If your subordinates take a few people out......."

"Don't be reckless!" Seeing this, Feng Changqing hurriedly shouted in a low voice. If he nodded lightly at this moment, I am afraid that in a few days he will have to ask the court for Bian Lingcheng to do the merit behind him, and play his "sacrifice for the country, unfortunately died by gangsters!" ”

This may be the best option to prevent problems before they occur. However, as a loyal courtier of the Tang Dynasty, Feng Changqing was unwilling to kill the killer. Although over the years of cooperation with Bian Lingcheng, the other party's greed, troubles and elbows in military affairs have always challenged his tolerance limit.

Seeing that Feng Changqing couldn't be ruthless, Cen Shen had no choice but to retreat, "Then change the purpose of this battle to the general, and end the delay under Tancha Shiluo City as soon as possible!" ”

"The old man has been preparing for more than two years, and this is the day he has been waiting for!" Feng Changqing thought about it and shook his head with a wry smile. "Sooner or later, it's coming. Let him come, the old man will wash away the shame on the head of the Anxi army in front of them! ”

With the current strength of the Anxi Army, although Tancha Shiluo City is tall, it is only a matter of a few drums that it will be conquered. However, the purpose of his expedition to the west was neither in Dabolu nor in Kentara. Rather, behind the two countries, the great food that keeps advancing eastward, destroying wherever it goes like a locust.

In the tenth year of Tianbao, due to the sudden rebellion of the Qarlu servant army, Gao Xianzhi was defeated by the big cannibals in the area of Hengros. Almost half of the elite of the Anxi army was lost there. The brothers who returned alive tried their courage and were determined to take revenge. Therefore, Feng Changqing deliberately pretended to attack Tancha Shiluo City for a long time this time, waiting for the big cannibal reinforcements to take the bait.

Either you don't fight, or if you want to fight, you have to beat the big cannibals and repay the blood debt on the banks of the Gangros River, even Bengali. It makes those religious fanatics of Da Food have nightmares when they hear the word "Datang" from now on, and they easily dare not think of peeping into the East again.

For this reason, Feng Changqing would rather pay all the costs, including his own life, at any cost.

Note 1: Kaifu Yi is the same as the three divisions, which is from the first product. The general of the auxiliary country is the second grade. Both are fictitious positions, and they can receive salaries and use the same costume and honor guards. The deputy protector of the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, is a real position, from the second grade. At present, Xue Jingxian is a middle doctor, and his grade is from the fourth grade, and there is no actual management scope. Therefore, in front of Feng Changqing, Zhou Xiaofeng and others, you need to hold the courtesy of your subordinates.