The battle of Xiangyang Mansion seems to be thrilling and dramatic, but in essence, everything is in Zhao Dangshi's calculations.

Under the pretext of defending against the southern invaders of Yukou, the northern garrison was withdrawn, in order to set up a trap for Zhang Ji and invite you into the urn. Of course, Zhang Xianzhong will finally make up his mind to raid Xiangyang Fucheng, on the one hand, because of the emptiness of the Xiangyang garrison, on the other hand, because he is very conceited, of course, in the end, Luo Rucai's instigation is also indispensable. As for Luo Rucai, he volunteered and kept saying that he was going north to entangle Yuan Jixian, the governor of Yunyang, to deal with Xiying, but as soon as he turned around and patted his buttocks, he went directly from Yunyang to Yu and defected to Li Zicheng.

With Wang Jiye and Luo Rucai as internal responses, Zhao Dangshi was able to clearly understand Zhang Xianzhong's series of actions after coming to Huguang, and then seduced Zhang Xianzhong step by step and introduced him and Xiying into this well-designed net. Except for the fact that the left and right battalions of Feijie rushed from the Lutoudian Inspection Division to Xiangyang Fucheng a little tighter, the implementation of the whole plan was completely smooth. The stakes are very high, and there are very few people who know the inside story, and even the front-line commanders of this military operation, Han Gon and Ma Guangchun, also received a temporary military order - Zhang Xianzhong was killed because of the leakage of military information, and Zhao Dangshi certainly took this as a lesson and strictly controlled the rumors.

The reason why Zhao Dangshi took great pains to arrange this situation with Gu Junen was because he could break the last shackles of Zhao Ying's development in northern Chu in one fell swoop, that is, the "entering Xiangyang" that Zhao Ying had been thinking about.

Although the nominal duty is to "guard Yunyang and Xiangyang", Zhao Ying was previously in northern Chu, and he was still inevitably restricted everywhere. Daming advocates "taking literature and martial arts", and all abide by this Taoist dogma from the court to the court and down to the locality. Even if Zhao Ying was important to the stability of the situation in northern Chu, those civil officials in Xiangyang Mansion would still not allow the soldiers and horses of the local military town to get involved in the city.

The late Wang Chengen, the governor of Xiangyang Prefecture, once said that "the defense of Zhao Zhenbing is more important than the defense of Sichuan", and the official Kuang Yueguang thought that Zhao Dangshi was no different from Dong Zhuo. They never allowed Zhao Yingbing to enter the city, and were only willing to provide a garrison on the outskirts of the city.

The city defense is easy to pass, and the heart defense is difficult to break. Zhao Dangshi knew very well that if he did not take extreme measures, the city walls of Xiangyang Mansion that were close at hand would forever become the moat of Zhao Ying. As an independent individual, Zhao Dangshi is affectionate and righteous, but as the leader of Zhao Ying, reality forces him to become an emotionless beast. Zhao Ying's pace of progress cannot tolerate the obstruction of others, if there is, then Zhao Dangshi will not hesitate and do everything possible to eliminate it.

This is his mission.

Zhao Ying's move to Xiangyang this time can be seen as an amplified mode of occupying Zaoyang at the beginning. In other words, it was through the hands of thieves and thieves to cut off all the officials who opposed Zhao Dangshi in Xiangyang Mansion and reset the power structure. Wang Jiye, the general of Xiying, is playing the role of executioner.

Wang Jiye surrendered to Zhao Ying's deeds, and very few people knew about it. Zhao Dangshi himself only knew the true identity of this mysterious "General Wang" when he was here, and outsiders had no way of knowing. The task given to Wang Jiye by Zhao Dangshi was to lead people to kill Wang Chengen, Kuang Yueguang and other diehards in Xiangyang Mansion. As a result, Wang Jiye, as a scapegoat, could no longer surrender to Zhao Ying openly, but Zhao Dangshi arranged a retreat for him.

Zhao Dangshi asked Zhao Chenglin to find a top bag similar to Wang Jiye among the captives in Xiying to die, and then asked Pang Jinming to be responsible for covering people's eyes and ears to escort Wang Jiye, who had nominally been "conferred the head", to Henan Shaolin Temple to become a monk. Wang Jiye carried a letter of recommendation written by Zhao Dangshi to the temple, and the content was naturally embellished to cover up Wang Jiye's behavior, and the Shaolin presiding officer on the other side of the sea will definitely not refuse to provide a place to stay.

The three words "entering Xiangyang" seem simple, but they involve a lot of areas, and it is by no means a simple stationing of troops. Without the constraints of the prefecture and county officials, Zhao Ying could effectively control all joints of Xiangyang Mansion from military to civil affairs.

For example, in the warehouses and warehouses of Xiangyang Mansion, Zhao Ying claimed that most of them were destroyed by thieves, but in private, all these military materials were strictly controlled by Zhao Ying. Xiangyang is an important transit station for transshipment traffic in northern Chu, and after Yang Sichang set up a superintendent here, he issued a military order to gather the materials of various prefectures in Xiangyang Mansion for the superintendent to be distributed and dispatched according to the situation. To this day, the accumulation of money, grain, and materials in the treasury of the prefectures can be described as a mountain of money, grain, and materials, and they are still in full swing, but it is certain that the Zhao camp will not become a major problem in the army for at least a long time.

Mastering the warehousing inventory of Xiangyang Prefecture can also fundamentally control the prefectures and counties in northern Chu, especially in the jurisdiction of Xiangyang Prefecture, which are in urgent need of various supports. With both military and political constraints, Zhao Ying can be regarded as able to completely control the entire territory of Xiangyang Prefecture.

In addition, the Xiangwang Mansion, located in the city of Xiangyang Mansion, also became the bag of Zhao Ying. The industry of the Xiang Domain in Xiangyang Prefecture and the surrounding prefectures is quite prosperous, and to put it mildly, Zhao Ying will promote the development of agriculture, commerce, mining, fishery and other industries in the future, and can get more "help" from the Xiang Domain. To put it mildly, the Xiang Domain, which has lost the barrier of the Xiangyang City Wall, is like a child who has passed the market with a thousand gold, and it is difficult to survive or die from now on. Zhao Dangshi took into account the situation and was willing to continue to go hand in hand with Xiang Fan, but if Xiang Fan was disobedient, then it would not be difficult for Zhao Dangshi to "starve to death" in Xiangwangfu.

There is also a little good news, thanks to the defeat of Lu Zhenguo and Li Anmin.

Zhao Dangshi didn't have the idea of fighting the two of them at first, but later learned that the troops of the two of them had suffered huge losses in the rebellion, and they should exist in name only, so they immediately had a different mind.

Zhao Ying is based on northern Chu, and it has the city of Xiangyang, which is the foundation of the foundation. However, the left and right battalions of Feijie and the Wuqi battalion that came later were the main force of field warfare, and they often had to go out to fight, and with the importance of Xiangyang Fucheng, it was necessary to leave an army to sit in the town for a long time. The combined number of soldiers in the odd battalions of Lu and Li is about 2,000, which is enough for the defense of Xiangyang Prefecture. Zhao Dangshi found the two of them and euphemistically expressed his desire to be in the same boat with them.

Although Lu Zhenguo and Li Anmin belong to the Governor's Standard, they still have the ability to change their skills. At this time, the dynasty program was abolished, and the establishment on the surface did not represent a private affiliation. Just like the Zuo Family Army, in addition to the internal battalion officers under Zuo Liangyu's own general military standard, the core members also have troops from the governor, governor and other places. They don't listen to their bosses and take Zuo Liangyu as the head of the horse for no other reason, but only strength. Zuo Liangyu has the strength to help them raise the army, has the strength to help them stabilize their military position, and has the strength to maintain their army is rampant, so they are willing to follow Zuo Liangyu to keep warm.

It's the same when you return to Zhao Dangshi. As long as you are not blind, you can see that Zhao Dangshi has become an upstart in the head of the Chu Yu army, and the thriving momentum is unstoppable.

Zhao Dangshi did not force them to make a decision immediately, after all, the rewards and punishments of the imperial court are not yet known, and the governor has not yet responded to the recent series of turmoil between Chu and Yu, and everything is still difficult to say. However, in Zhao Ying's privates, the establishment of the "national security camp" spelled out from the names of Lu Zhenguo and Li Anmin has been in the charter.

In the spring equinox of February, Dengfeng ushered in a heavy rain.

At the foot of Shaomu Mountain, Deng Longye, Man Ning and Xue Bao stood under a large camphor tree to take shelter from the rain. Xue Xuan couldn't help but look around, and shouted: "Why hasn't it arrived yet?" ”

Man Ning smiled: "Old Xue, look at your appearance of scratching your ears and cheeks, you really look like a monkey." ”

Xue copied him back and said, "It's better than you black charcoal." ”

Deng Longye listened to the two of them arguing, squinting his eyes and looking back. Zhu Yousong, who was originally dressed gracefully and luxuriously, has now changed into a coarse linen shirt of ordinary people, but even if he is poorly dressed, his wide face and big ears with red light still show an atmosphere of wealth that is difficult to hide.

"Lord Wang, please wait, when the people come, let's go up the mountain immediately."

After getting along with Deng Longye and other vulgar and reckless men for more than half a month, Zhu Yousong has calmed down a lot. Deng Longye told him that the Fu Wangfu Mansion had been ruined, and even if he was sent back, it would be useless. Zhu Yousong lived in the countryside with them during this time, until Deng Longye met a stranger two days ago, and then informed him that he would send him to Shaolin Temple.

"Wait...... Do you want this king to become a monk? The two pranky Manning and Xue Zhaozheng quarreled, Zhu Yousong felt that among these people there was some reason about Deng Longye, and at this time he couldn't help it, and took the opportunity to ask the doubts in his heart.

Deng Longye smiled and said simply: "The prince is wise." ”

Even if he is mentally prepared, when the speculation is confirmed, Zhu Yousong still finds it difficult to accept. His eyes were wet and red, and he sobbed quietly: "How, how can you be like this......" Although Fu Fan worships Buddha, except for burning incense and doing some face-saving projects, the wine color and wealth are not lost. Zhu Yousong really can't imagine the days when he will never get close to women and will not eat wine and meat. If he had the courage, he really wanted to crash into the front of the mountain gate of the Shaolin Temple.

Deng Longye comforted him and said, "Lord Wang, you have to endure it for a while before you become a master." I remember that Emperor Taizu of this dynasty was also a Buddhist at first, and then he didn't become the Ninety-Five? ”

Zhu Yousong shook his head and said: "How dare Xiao Wang be compared with his ancestors, Xiao Wang doesn't ask for anything else, only asks for all heroes and heroes to let the villain have a way to live, and when the villain goes back, he will enshrine you in front of the case, three kowtows in the morning and dusk, and a stick of incense in the morning and evening." ”

Deng Longye sighed: "Lord Wang, I waited to rescue you, how could I bear to watch you go to the fire again?" He continued, "A few days ago, the thieves captured Ruzhou, and Qian Zuozheng of Zhizhou was martyred. The thieves opened an official office in Ruzhou, as if they had the intention of fighting against the Ming Dynasty and changing the dynasty. Since he wants to establish a new dynasty, he can't tolerate a relative of the emperor like the prince. No, just two days ago, I heard that the thief and the Cao thief who came from Chu were in harmony and were going to attack Kaifeng. Where is Kaifeng, the fief of King Zhou. The thieves hate the royal descendants, and they will never stop until they kill them all. I'll let the prince go, if I encounter thieves and bandits halfway, won't I fall into the mouth of the tiger again? Luoyang City's sword mountain and sea of fire are really gone! ”

Zhu Yousong was silent in tears, and Deng Longye continued: "At present, Henan is full of thieves, and Luoyang, Yanshi, and Dengfeng are even more thieves, and it is difficult for me to take a single step. The safety of the prince is important, always hiding in the countryside is not a way after all, fortunately, Shaolin hosts and my lord has a friendship, the temple has the support of the temple soldiers, and the thieves near and far dare not invade, and send the prince to the temple to avoid the limelight, which is really the most appropriate move. ”

"But ......" Zhu Yousong knew that what the man in front of him said was false and true, and he couldn't believe it, but he couldn't find a reason to refute it. He knew almost nothing about the outside world, and he wanted to ask Deng Longye to send him to live in other feudal mansions, but when the words came to his lips, he didn't know where he could go at all, and even Zhou Fan's matter in Kaifeng was only learned from Deng Longye's mouth just now. As for the presence of the emperor in Beijing, he knew it, but he had the impression that Beijing seemed to be on the horizon thousands of miles away, so he didn't dare to mention going to Beijing.

"Hero, does Xiao Wang know who is waiting for him now?"

Deng Longye responded: "It's the person who went to Shaolin with the prince." ”

Zhu Yousong saw that the mouths of this group of people were extremely tight, and he also dispelled the idea of clichés, and silently lamented and began to feel sorry for himself as usual. At this moment, Deng Longye saw Man Ning and Xue Xuan, who were arguing, suddenly quieted down, and jumped out to look at the road, but saw that the three horsemen were rushing in the rain.

The three horsemen arrived in front of him in a moment, the knights dismounted one after another, one took off the bamboo hat, Deng Longye and Man Ning stepped forward at the same time and saluted: "Commander Pang." "This person is Pang Jinming, the commander of the Zhao Ying Special Service Division.

Pang Jinming's face was as dark as ever, he glanced at Xue Jian not far away, and said in a suppressed voice: "Yuzhai's? ”

Deng Longye replied: "Yes, it is thanks to him that King Dechang came out this time." He added, "I know each other well and can be relied on." "Although they do not belong to the Secret Service Division but are the commanders of the Parenting Division, Zhou Wenhe has a close relationship with Pang Jinming, and the relationship between the two divisions is also very close, and they usually move around and cooperate a lot. Pang Jinming's clever means and unpredictable personality are very unpredictable, and in the eyes of Deng Longye and Man Ning, he is the most unprovoked person in Zhao Ying.

"Send the people of the imperial village away and send the prince to Shaolin, you don't need them." Pang Jinming's words were faintly tough.

Deng Longye didn't dare to disobey, nodded and turned around and said a few words to Xue Xuan, Xue Xuan glanced at the silent Pang Jinming, smiled, and beckoned a few subordinates behind him: "Go, go home!" He didn't meet Pang Jinming, and quickly disappeared into the deep forest with his stride in the mud.

Pang Jinming then snapped his fingers, and a man standing beside him arched his hand and said, "Commander." ”

Deng Longye looked at this man's face and asked, "Your Excellency?" ”

Pang Jinming replied for the man: "Come to serve King Dechang." ”

"Serving King Dechang?" The man was stunned, and his eyes involuntarily glanced at Zhu Yousong, who was cowering and hiding under the tree a few steps away.