At ten o'clock in the evening, there was a light snow around White Horse City, and Gao Hongyi pushed open the door of Li Zhong's room and walked in.

Li Zhong was drinking in the room, when he suddenly noticed someone coming in, he immediately raised the axe, and when he saw that it was Gao Hongyi, he was stunned.

"Why, you are so dissatisfied with your military law that you want to kill me!" Gao Hongyi said lightly, and found a chair to sit down at random.

Li Zhong woke up at this time, and hurriedly threw the axe, "Brother Yi misunderstood, I thought it was an assassin, so I will." ”

"I understand that Brother Li, who has been good to me since I was a child, will not kill me! Right? Gao Hongyi said softly.

Li Zhong said excitedly, "Brother Yi, even if I cut myself, I don't dare to harm you!" ”

Gao Hongyi understood that Li Zhong was the most loyal, and said gently, "Okay, Brother Li, sit down and say." ”

Li Zhong sat down at this time, Gao Hongyi poured him wine, and asked softly, "I punished you in front of so many people today, you are wronged." ”

Li Zhong hurriedly shook his head, "Don't be wronged, Brother Yi, I've already thought it through, it's right for you to punish me, I disobeyed the military order, you punished right, and I think you should be punished heavily!" ”

"Oh, what do you think, tell me about it."

Li Zhong said: "Brother Yi's punishment of me today is Liwei, just to show outsiders and let them understand that even me and you are merciless, and they will be even more severe!" The temperament of the army will be greatly improved, and at that time, our Northern Protector Army will be convinced to serve you when they see that you have clear rewards and punishments, I guess right? Brother Yi. After Li Zhong finished speaking, he drank the wine.

Gao Hongyi poured Li Zhong another glass of wine, and then said, "I guessed half right." ”

"Half?"

"Yes!" Gao Hongyi drank all the wine in the cup, "Brother Li, you may not understand. Although I am now the general of the Northern Protector, I can be regarded as a hegemon, but how many people are truly convinced and willing to serve me sincerely! I dare say, two or three out of ten! And that's not even enough! ”

"Why?" Li Zhong asked.

"It's because I'm young, they think that I don't have enough ability, my qualifications are shallow, and they even treat me as a little hairy child, they think that I can be this Northern Protector General because of my father's grace, they even think that their ability is far above me, but they just hate that they don't have a good father, they don't have a good opportunity, but they want to get a good life, so they have to condescend to me!"

Li Zhong was a little puzzled, "No! You easily recovered Black Flag City and surrendered, designed and messed up Ma Tangfeng's tricks, killed the anti-thief Shi Hu, easily took the rebel thief Yinglin to recapture White Horse City, and implemented the plan of joining forces and joining the city! Now that the Northern Protector is thriving under your rule, more than the old generals, are they all blind? I can't even see this! ”

Gao Hongyi said coldly, "Brother Li believes that I know and understands that this is my true ability, but they don't believe it and don't know that they all think that I am relying on luck, they all respect me and fear me in a high-sounding manner, but in private they are angry with me and hurt me, and they can't wait for me to fail everywhere, and I can only be happy if I die a tragic death immediately!" ”

Li Zhong was indignant, "You tell me who they are, and I'll go over and cut them." ”

"Brother Li, it's easy to kill people, but it's hard to win hearts, you understand?" Gao Hongyi soothed him and said.

Li Zhong shook his head, "I don't understand!" ”

Gao Hongyi explained, "Killing them is just a knife, but if they really want to work for me, or even death, it is not possible to kill people." ”

"So what should I do?" Li Zhong asked.

Gao Hongyi replied, "This is the other half you didn't say just now!" Brother Li, I am angry with you for your military law today, first, because you are angry for your blatant disobedience to military orders, which makes those who secretly hurt me see a joke. Brother Li, think about it, if outsiders don't listen to my military orders, those people won't think anything! But if even you, who have the deepest affection for me, don't listen to my military orders, what will they think? They'll think I'm incompetent! You understand? ”

Li Zhong hurriedly stood up and admitted his mistake, "Brother Yi, I'm confused!" If I had known that today's events had caused you so many troubles, and you were a knife on my neck, I wouldn't have go! However, Brother Yi, don't worry, I will definitely listen to you in the future. If you ask me to kill, I will kill whomever I want, and I will be the knife in your hand! ”

Gao Hongyi raised his wine glass excitedly, and the two of them drank it all in one fell swoop.

Gao Hongyi motioned for him to sit down and continued, "Outsiders think that our Northern Protector Rebel Army is a rabble, and it can't compete with the officers and soldiers at all!" Even if we have ten times the strength of the enemy, we will feel that we are not opponents, why, we just don't believe in the combat power of our Northern Protector Army! Originally, I thought the same way, but when I saw you leading the cavalry battalion to attack the Western Xia cavalry formation today, our people not only showed no weakness, but also dealt a heavy blow! Brother Li, you gave me courage!

So I thought of this second point, that is, to govern the army strictly! I want those people to see that I'm determined, but that's just the beginning. I established the Heavenly Wolf Army before, and now the real purpose of Yan Ming's army is to create an iron-blooded army that is feared by both officers and soldiers, and then destroy Ma Tangfeng in one fell swoop to unify the northwest and two guards! Let those people see my true strength, let them understand that my Gao Hongyi did everything not by luck, but by their unattainable ability, so that they can revere me with all their hearts, admire me, and truly use me! ”

Li Zhong nodded as if he didn't understand, and at the same time asked curiously, "Brother Yi, if they still don't believe you by that time, they won't be able to use it for you!" What will you do?! ”

"Then they are stupid, and stupid people are not worthy of my use! At that time, those who think they are wise will live, and those who are stupid will die! ”

That night, the two of them drank and talked happily, and they were very happy, and they drank until late at night before they went back to rest.

At noon on the second day, Li Zhong came together and waited at the door of Gao Hongyi's room, yesterday Gao Hongyi asked him to meet the reinforcements sent by Ma Tangfeng!

Li Zhong waited in front of the door for a while, Tu Su saw that he was tired from standing, and the weather was strangely cold, so he wanted to move a chair for him to sit on, but Li Zhong insisted on refusing. said, "Guilty body, it's good to be able to stand here, then dare to sit down!" ”

Tu Su saw that he had been insisting, so he didn't say anything anymore and stood with him.

Guo Shi and Chen Xuan came to report the military situation, and when they saw the two of them standing left and right in front of Gao Hongyi's door, they were a little puzzled.

Guo Shi quietly walked over and asked with a smile, "What's the matter with General Li, he was punished by the general to stand?" ”

Li Zhong bowed his head and didn't answer, Guo Shi said loudly to himself, "It seems that the general was also punished by Mr. when he was young." ”

Chen Xuan hurriedly pulled him, "Lord Guo, be cautious in your words and deeds!" ”

Guo Shi said with a smile, "City Lord Chen is too careful, the general is approachable, and he won't say anything when he hears it." General Lee, you say yes! ”

Li Zhong glanced at him and kept silent.

At this time, Gao Hongyi shouted in the room, "Whoever is outside the door, come in!" ”

Everyone rushed in, Gao Hongyi sat leisurely on the chair and looked at them, "Sit down, Ben ate too much wine last night and slept a little late, so you have been waiting for a long time." ”

"My subordinates also just came, so I didn't wait long, but General Li waited for a long time, and his legs looked a little numb." Guo Shi said with a smile.

Gao Hongyi said lightly, "How's the military situation?" ”

Chen Xuan stepped forward and replied, "General, after the Western Xia cavalry evacuated White Horse City yesterday, they went to Jingzhou City, Lin City, Iron Dragon City and Invincible City overnight, but each city was on guard, they found nothing, and they are currently repairing on the mountain not far from the invincible city, I don't know what they want." ”

Gao Hongyi said to himself, "Invincible City, the border between the North and the West!" ”

"Exactly." Guo Shi said, "It seems that this Western Xia cavalry sees that it is not good for us to attack the north quickly, and wants to change the route to attack the western protection!" ”

"Chen Xuan, how is the trial of the Western Xia official that Li Zhong arrested yesterday?" Gao Hongyi asked.

Chen Xuan replied, "It's still under trial, and there is no useful information for the time being." ”

"Hurry up! Don't try it out when the time comes, it's useless. ”

Chen Xuan replied, Gao Hongyi stood up and said, "Li Zhong, let's go and see the reinforcements sent by Nama Tangfeng." ”

Li Zhong nodded and left with Gao Hongyi.

The two of them arrived at the official road not far from the city of White Horse City, and they were a little stunned when they saw the Western Guardian reinforcements waiting there from a distance.

When the leading general saw Gao Hongyi and the others, he immediately led people to run over in confusion and shouted, "General Ma, the Western Protector Horse Division, should be asked for a letter of help from General Gao!" Sergeant commissioner, fifty people! Fully assist the Northern Protector against the cavalry of the Western Xia Kingdom! ”

Li Zhong's anger was like thunder, "The horse hall wind of the dog day!" Send fifty men to help, what kind of heart does he have! Humiliate us? ”