The branches depend on each other, and everything is harmonious. Zhu Yiming, the king of Xiang, originally expected Zhao Dangshi to spend five days with Huaqing after marriage, but he didn't expect Zhao Dangshi to stay in Xiangyang Mansion for five months. During this period, there were no soldiers in northern Chu, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the military and political policies were steadily implemented, and Zhao Dangshi did not have to take time out to look around, so he was able to enjoy a short period of family happiness.

However, in March of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, Zhao Dangshi had to bid farewell to Huaqing and return to Fanhe City. For no other reason, the situation in Henan has once again caused great turmoil.

At the end of last year, the Chuang army conquered Ye County and confronted Ding Qirui, Yang Wenyue, Zuo Liangyu and other officers and troops in Yuncheng County. At first, the plan of the official army was to wait for Wang Qiaonian, the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi, to lead the army to arrive. Unexpectedly, the army attacked in advance, captured Yuzhou first, and then took Zuo Liangyu's base camp Xuzhou without blood, and seemed to go north and west to encircle Yuncheng County.

Just when the official army of Yuncheng was preparing for a bloody battle, the Chuang army shook a shot and actually rushed north to attack and open the Fengfu. Fortunately, the officials and people of Kaifeng Prefecture were united in the city, and they once again resisted the onslaught of the intruding army, and the officers and soldiers of Yuncheng County hurriedly went north to support, and the intruding army was worried about the enemy on their backs, so they took the initiative to withdraw into Henan Mansion.

Considering the situation of successive victories in the past few months, this victory could have boosted the morale of Henan's officers and troops a lot. Unexpectedly, the army found out from the informant the plan of action of Wang Qiaonian, who led the troops from Shaanxi, and set up an ambush in Xiangcheng County, the road it must pass through, in advance. At the end of the battle, the main commander of this official army, He Renlong, left without a fight, and Wang Qiaonian was greatly defeated, attracting 2,000 remnants of the army to enter Xiangcheng and refuse to defend. The army fought non-stop, attacking Xiangcheng for five days and nights, and finally conquered the city. Wang Qiaonian was ordered by Li Zicheng to be killed by Ling Chi because he had excavated Li Zicheng's ancestral grave and whipped his corpse before leaving the school.

Wang Qiaonian was defeated, the Henan officials and troops were frightened, the officers and soldiers gathered in Yuncheng County dispersed in a hurry, Yang Wenyue withdrew to the north of Runing Mansion, Ding Qirui felt unstable after retreating to Chenzhou, and then also withdrew to Runing Mansion, Zuo Liangyu and Fang Guoan directly withdrew to Xinyang Prefecture.

The news also reached Zhao Dangshi's ears as soon as possible.

"The subordinates are secretly probing, and the defeat of the Shaanxi Governor may have a lot to do with He Renlong." Pang Jinming said.

"You mean He Renlong's cowardice?"

"Not really, it's just like this, it won't be so badly defeated."

Zhao Dangshi heard the deep meaning, and asked: "He Renlong is colluded with the Chuang army?" ”

"Eighty percent of them have ghosts." Pang Jinming said seriously, "Governor Fu was killed before, and it was rumored that the coachman who carried the sedan chair was dressed as a soldier of the Chuang Army, and it was He Renlong who mainly led the soldiers and horses at that time. He Renlong had a holiday with Governor Wang very early, this time Governor Wang had an accident, it was found that someone secretly informed the army of the marching route, so that the army was right, although there was no conclusive evidence under his subordinates, but it was also a trick of the He madman. ”

Zhao Dangshi did not change his face and said: "Whether it is He Renlong secretly breaking into the army or not, he has boycotted the war several times, first he did not listen to the orders of Inspector Yang and affected the encirclement and suppression in Sichuan, and then caused the death of Fu and Wang Erdu, and the crime is difficult to get rid of. He also said, "Without the Shun of our army and the strength of the Zuojia army, but he acted perversely, the hundred-legged insects of the Ming Dynasty died but did not stiffen, and there was still room for the general soldiers to clean up a town, He Renlong was really a madman." ”

Pang Jinming said: "There is still something to report to the lord to know." Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi at that time, was pardoned and used, and the saint transferred him to take over the post of governor of the three sides of Shaanxi, and now he has arrived in Henan. ”

A major turning point in Zhao Dangshi's life was given by Sun Chuanting, when Sun Chuanting and Hong Chengchou, Zu Kuan and other troops defeated Gao Yingxiang in Heishuiyu in the south of Xi'an, giving Zhao Dangshi the opportunity to take advantage of the situation, and Zhao Dangshi was very impressed by him. However, later Sun Chuanting was ordered to transfer the Beijing division to the north to fight against the Qing army, and was imprisoned for disagreement with Yang Sichang's politics, and there was no news. I don't want to go for a few years, but now I have released Emperor Chongzhen and re-entered the battle.

"Sun Chuanting has two sons, not comparable to Ding Qirui, Yang Wenyue and the like, when he takes office in Shaanxi, Shaanxi will definitely become a key area for the competition of all parties, you will pay more attention to this person in the future." Zhao Dangshi instructed, and then thought of another thing, so he asked him, "By the way, a few days ago, Lord Fan mentioned the battle situation in Liaodong to me, and it seems that ...... Doesn't seem to be doing well? ”

Pang Jinming nodded and said: "This subordinate also found out the news, I originally thought that it was thousands of miles away, and it would not hinder the military here, and I didn't plan to bother the lord." ”

Zhao Dangshi raised his face and said: "I, Zhao Ying, am determined to help Huanyu, as a person in Zhao Yingzhong, the pattern should be big." You've been the commander of the secret service department for so long, aren't you slacking off? Why is there no foresight at all? ”

Pang Jinming hurriedly said in his heart: "My subordinates will never dare!" "Hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed a few times," the subordinates were covered with lard for a while, and they were ashamed, and begged the lord to punish him! ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "The punishment is exempted, get up." You are an old brother, Zhao Ying is your home, and I am like relatives with you. You have to be the master of everything you do, you know? And said, "Zhao Ying is growing stronger day by day, and his influence is not comparable to the past. A trembling tremor was enough to shake the Jingshi Liaodong. On the other hand, the affairs of Jingshi Liaodong are also related to the next many policies of my Zhao Ying. The Secret Service Division is the eyes and ears of the whole army, and we must not close ourselves to the trap, otherwise my Zhao Ying will become blind and deaf? Crossing the river by feeling the stones is not a long-term solution. In the future, we can no longer limit the focus to just a corner of Chu Yu, everything must be regarded equally regardless of distance or proximity, and no matter how big or small, we must report it to the general after it is sorted out! ”

Pang Jinming's heart was like Zhong Zhen, and he promised in a loud voice, and said: "Lord, Liaodong ......"

"That's it."

Pang Jinming breathed a sigh of relief and said: "The war in Liaodong is stalemate, and since the governor Hong Chengchou and Hong Gong took office, the conquest has continued. In August last year, the Northern Captives besieged Jinzhou, and Hong Gong led more than 100,000 troops to gather in Ningyuan ......"

Liaodong is located in the military frontier, there are many guards, and the official name is even more lengthy, in order to save trouble, the government and the opposition generally use the ancient name and the pronoun to replace. "Jinzhou" is an ancient place name, covering the area of Zhongtunwei in Guangning and Zuotunwei in Guangning. "Ningyuan" is a general term, which generally refers to Ning Yuanwei and does not include places such as Ningyuan Zhongzuo or Ningyuan Zhongright. For example, Ningyuan Zhongzuo Office, Guangning Zhongtun Office, Guangning Zhongzuo Institute and other places are basically referred to by the names of the most important castles in the territory, such as Tashan Fort, Songshan Fort, and Dalinghe Fort.

“...... The northern captives sent out the army to invite the attack, and after repeated defeats, the army of Honggong entered Songshan Fort. The two armies held each other for several months, and the chieftain was cunning, and sent the division to cut off the main road of Songshan, cut off the grain route, and besieged more than 100,000 troops of Honggong to the death. And last month, the general troops of the various units in Songshan Fort were in turmoil, and Hong Gong's bullets could not be suppressed, and finally a huge defeat was brewed. Hong Gong was held and refused to give in to the death, Liaofu Qiu Minyang and Wang Tingchen, Cao Bianjiao and other generals were also killed in battle, and more than 100,000 troops were wiped out in ashes. ”

When Zhao Dangshi heard this, he was a little puzzled: "Is Gong Hong dead?" ”

Pang Jinming replied: "Yes." It is said that today's saint feels that Hong Gong is loyal and righteous, has not humiliated the court, and has lived up to the monarchy, and has decreed that Hong Gong will be sacrificed to 16 altars, and one altar and one altar will be sacrificed in turn on schedule. He was also buried with a national rite and cared for his widow and children. "The imperial court is now in a mess, and the saint is about to settle the blame for this defeat." Wang Pu of Datong Town, Ma Ke of Guanmen Town, Tang Tong of Miyun Town, Bai Guangen of Jizhen Town, and Wu Sangui, deputy general of the forward Left Battalion, were convicted of the defeat of the division and the trapping of the governor. In addition, the military department was greatly involved, and the soldier Chen Xinjia, the staff Langzhong Zhang Ruoqi, and the staff director Ma Shaoyu and others may not be able to escape. ”

Zhao Dangshi shook his head in a deep voice, and sighed for a long time: "Internal and external difficulties, disasters are not a single line. ”

was still talking, and suddenly someone outside asked to see him, and Pang Jinming immediately retired. When people came up, they saluted Pang Jinming respectfully at the door, and saw their appearance clearly, but it was Hei Bangjun.

"What's the matter?" Zhao Dangshi asked. This Hei Bangjun joined the Zhao Ying Secret Service Division by himself, and he was very hardworking. He has good ability, he has made several contributions, and after a trip to Henan Mansion a year ago, he was directly appointed as the deputy commander of the Secret Service Department when he came back, and now the handling of a piece of affairs in Henan is in his hands.

"Lord, this is the brother of the royal village, named Xue Xuan." After Hei Bangjun finished saluting, he introduced a man with a wrapped head next to him, "Last year's action in Luoyang to rob King Dechang, he was responsible for receiving the command of Deng and Man. ”

Zhao Dangshi saw Xue Shu lowering his head, deliberately covering the scars on his face, and asked, "What's going on on your face?" ”

Xue replied: "Back to Zhao Shuai, the villain gave the army as the forerunner when attacking Yuzhou City, and blew up the city wall with gunpowder, but he didn't have time to go, but he left this ugly appearance. ”

Zhao Dangshi pointed his finger approvingly: "This is not an ugly appearance, but a heroic appearance." I am waiting for the eldest husband, not a woman in the boudoir, nor a eunuch in the palace who takes the low and makes the small, if you follow the example of Pan An, Song Yu and the like all day long, what kind of system will it become? The king of Lanling in Northern Qi was even ashamed of his very beautiful appearance, and wore a ghost mask to cover him. Brother Xue's scar is not born, but acquired by fighting bravely, it is the supreme glory, it should be taken out to show off and be proud! ”

When Xue Xuan heard this, his heart was hot, and he swallowed his saliva and raised his head and said, "Thank you Zhao Shuai!" He was self-destructive, he felt inferior, and even though he was promoted to the rank of leader, he could not hold his head up in front of people. When others saw that he was hiding and knowing that he was ashamed of himself, they deliberately said some gossip to hit him, and although he did not refute it, his heart was actually uncomfortable. Until this time, Zhao Dangshi's words were like a warm winter day, which made his eyes suddenly bright.

"Even the famous Zhao Shuai said so, why should I be self-conscious? Other miscellaneous words should be treated as farts! ”

Xue Zhao was thinking about it, and heard Zhao Dangshi ask: "I don't know what is the important matter of Brother Xue?" Li Dazhang is all right there? ”

"It's all right to be taken care of by Zhao Shuai." Xue Zhao said solemnly, "It's just that recently I have captured a few dignitaries in my village, and Li Dazhang feels that it may be useful to Zhao Shuai, so he specially ordered me to wait for the solution." Then he added, "Zhao Shuai rest assured, my village made a careful plan before we started, and these people only thought that Zhao Shuai saved them, and they would never have thought that your army had anything to do with our village." ”

"What's the reason?"

"A few days ago, the army broke through Taikang, Suizhou, Ningling, Kaocheng and other places, and surrounded Shangqiu. There is a big clan Hou clan in Shangqiu County, although the city is broken, but there are Hou Fangxia people who cut out of the pass with their families, and they get from our village. ”

"Hou Fangxia?"

Hei Bangjun answered: "That is, the son of the former Hubu Shangshu Hou Sui." Hou Sui had five sons, the eldest son Hou Fanglai, the fourth son Hou Fangren, and the eldest Hou Fangce all died in the Shangqiu Rebellion with the rest of their relatives. The other third son, Hou Fangyu, is currently studying in the southeast and has also survived. ”

"Where is Hou Fangxia?"

"Placed in the camp, being entertained."

Zhao Dangshi stroked his beard and his head, and a thought flashed in his heart, but he felt that this Hou Fangxia had come at the right time.