Yecheng couldn't muster too many troops for the time being, and Yin Fu and the two kings could only bring 8,000 people to meet the Western Expeditionary Army, claiming to be 30,000 people - originally to claim 50,000 people, or even 100,000 people, Yin Fu resolutely opposed it, and said to the ministers: "The two kings will work hard to go to Qinzhou in person, and they will be able to boost morale and beat the army of 100,000." ”

According to Yin Fu's idea, he didn't even have to bring 8,000 soldiers, but he and the two kings rode lightly on the road, went straight to Qinzhou to take over the Jizhou army, and then acted cheaply, deciding whether to attack, defend, retreat, and peace.

The other ministers disagreed, thinking that it was too risky, and the king of Xiangdong and the king of Jibei especially disagreed in their hearts, only saying "inappropriate" and insisting on leading troops on the road.

Yin Fu was originally a civil official, although he did not accept the old, but he was quite unfamiliar with military affairs, and he was anxious, but he couldn't urge the whole army, and after five days of departure from Yecheng, he barely arrived at Mengjin, which was much slower than he expected.

The north and south cities of Mengjin were still guarded by the Liang army, but friendly troops were allowed to be stationed outside the city, with a Huaizhou army on the south bank and the Jizhou army and the Bingzhou army on the north bank, whose main responsibility was to supervise the grain ships and ensure the smooth westward road.

Yin Fu had no intention of staying here, but the two kings and the generals thought that there was their own military camp on the north bank, and they could rest in it for a while, while waiting for news from Qinzhou.

Coincidentally, the Huaizhou army retreating from Xijing also happened to rush to Mengjin and stopped on the south bank.

When the Huaizhou army evacuated Xijing, a large amount of military funds were abandoned, after passing through Tongguan, the soldiers were a little relieved, especially when they heard that the two armies of Jizhou and Bingzhou had not yet retreated, and there was no descending army behind them to catch up, they were more relieved, and marched slowly instead, always paying attention to the news of Xijing and Yecheng, in case there was a turnaround, they still had time to turn around and return to Qinzhou to get a piece of the pie.

Yin Fu was clear about this, and said to the two kings: "Huaizhou waits and sees the situation and falls with the wind." The two highnesses do not need to be polite, they should set off as soon as possible, either to capture Xijing, or to welcome back the Jizhou soldiers. As long as Yecheng's strength still exists, the Sheng family's children will naturally go to Yecheng to bow to the Empress Dowager and the two highnesses. ”

King Jibei is a nephew, he doesn't talk much, and he listens to the arrangement of his uncle King Xiangdong.

The king of Xiangdong has suffered in the eastern capital, and he still has lingering palpitations, so he must be safe, "Lord Yin is reading the book of sages, why is he so unbreathable?" The news of the departure of Yecheng's reinforcements must have reached Qinzhou, so it's okay for us to go slower. Huaizhou is a vital ally of Yecheng, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is an arm. Sheng Xuan, the commander of the South Shore, is also a member of the Sheng family, and he has a friendship with me for decades, and if he comes to visit the North Shore, if I ignore it, it will be a big faux pas, and it will cause a gap between the two states. It's not appropriate, it's very inappropriate. ”

King Jibei nodded, "It's just one night, and we can set off tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." If everyone talks well, maybe they can persuade Sheng Xuan to change his mind and lead his troops back to Xijing, and the two sides of the strait go hand in hand, which is better than the Jizhou army going alone. ”

King Xiangdong thought so, "It makes sense, but you and I are not easy to mention, so we need to find someone to mediate and let Sheng Xuan turn around voluntarily." ”

"I have a staff member under my account, named Qiao Zhisu, who is quite eloquent, and may be useful."

Qiao Zhisu originally went out to take refuge, but after the limelight passed, he was called back and traveled west with the king of Jibei.

King Xiangdong looked at Yin Fu, "Lord Yin respects the old ministers and leaders of the literary world, and he should be very familiar with the Sheng family, right?" ”

Yin Fu was indeed familiar with the Sheng family, but he was reluctant to help, so he arched his hand and said: "It's better to stay in Mengjin for the time being, divide a thousand troops, and lead them by me, and rush to Xijing, at least rush to Tongguan first, to ensure that the gate from Qin is not closed." ”

The king of Xiangdong was helpless, glanced at the king of Jibei, and said: "Lord Yin is not so anxious, okay, you bring five hundred cavalry to think that it is the vanguard, and I will follow with the king of Jibei, it will not be too far, how about it?" ”

Five hundred people is five hundred, Yin Fu was no longer picky, and immediately said: "Okay, please ask the two highnesses to sign an order, and I will lead the troops to set off in half an hour." ”

"This is leaving? It's afternoon, it's getting dark, and Sheng Xuan is visiting, and Lord Yin is missing? ”

"I am a civil servant, and I am not familiar with the Sheng family who led the troops." Yin Fu said perfunctorily.

The king of Xiangdong personally wrote down the military order, stamped it with the king of Jibei, and handed it to Yin Fu, "Lord Yin is careful on the road, don't be too hasty, if there is an accident, Yecheng will lose a lot, and the 100,000 army will not be able to make up for it." ”

"The two highnesses should also be careful, they can't trust the Sheng family, and they must be even more vigilant against the Liang army in the city." Yin Fu surrendered his hand, went to select soldiers, and prepared to go.

King Xiangdong was slightly dissatisfied, "When I was in the Eastern Capital, Lord Yin didn't have such a quick temper. ”

King Jibei said with a smile: "Sending troops to meet the Jizhou army was originally his idea, and he personally led the troops, so he naturally had to be more anxious." What's more, he has been idle for a while, and he has suddenly been reused, of course, he has to do his best. ”

"A loyal servant indeed." The king of Xiangdong has already concluded in his heart that Yin Fu is not suitable for troubled times, and can only be a minister of peace.

At the beginning of night, Sheng Xuan, the commander of the Huaizhou army on the south bank, led a huge entourage through the two cities and came to the Jizhou military camp on the north bank to meet the two kings.

If in the past, the king of Xiangdong and the king of Jibei sat in the tent and waited, but now the situation is different, and the two stand under the camp gate to greet them.

The guests and hosts were very happy to see each other, Sheng Xuan was one of the few generals in the Sheng family, and the king of Xiangdong had known each other for many years.

Wang Dayue of Xiangdong hurriedly stepped forward to help him personally.

Sheng Xuan brought many children of the Sheng family, as well as important generals in Huaizhou, to introduce them one by one, as if the two long-separated relatives met again.

When they arrived at the tent, the guests and hosts were drinking and reminiscing about the past, suddenly laughing and sighing, and the people accompanying the banquet on both sides were all infected, and they were happy and sorrowful.

Qiao Zhisu saw the stitches and slowly led the topic to Xijing, claiming that the two princes were on the verge and the chaos was just around the corner.

The wine was hot, and there was a commotion in the tent, Sheng Xuan leaned over and said to the two kings: "I understand the intentions of the two highnesses, if I can be the master, I will lead the troops to Qinzhou tomorrow, and I will not destroy the traitors and never look back." But I have the title of commander-in-chief, I can only take care of small things, and when I encounter big things, I have to ask for instructions. Alas, the so-called back waves push the front waves, I am too old, in the Sheng family, I have to listen to the words of my nephews. ”

King Xiangdong was deeply touched, and raised his glass and said: "It's really old, I think at the beginning, we also looked down on our elders, but I didn't expect that the same thing would come to my head so soon." ”

Qiao Zhisu said with a smile: "Lao Ji is still ambitious, not to mention that His Royal Highness and General Sheng are in the prime of life, galloping the world, who dares to say that they are old?" ”

The two laughed when they heard this, and the king of Jibei also helped: "I'm not too old, but without Uncle Wang, it's hard to move an inch, and I don't know what to do." ”

Sheng Xuan leaned closer to the King of Xiangdong, as if to whisper, Qiao Zhi retreated into the crowd and toasted the other Sheng family members.

Sheng Xuan didn't just speak to the king of Xiangdong, his eyes were fixed on the king of Jibei, "Congratulations, the prince is about to ascend the throne, and with this Mingjun, Tiancheng's prosperity is imminent." ”

The king of Jibei said lightly: "The revival of Tiancheng is in the king, but also in the ministers and the people, if it is unpopular, it will be useless to ascend the throne, and it will cause trouble." ”

"With two highnesses in charge, how can the new emperor be unpopular?"

King Jibei said with a smile: "Since ancient times, there is no reason for a son to be called the emperor and a father to be a minister. Fortunately, there is also Uncle Wang to assist the new emperor, and I really don't need to run, but Uncle Wang has worked hard. ”

King Xiangdong shook his head and said: "The new emperor should use the new ministers to calm the world with his sharp spirit, and I will also retire, and when the new emperor needs it, he will occasionally come out to support a scene, so that the old ministers should not be too arrogant." ”

Sheng Xuan said with a smile: "The two highnesses are too humble, without the two kings in charge, Yecheng is tantamount to abandoning his arm." The hearts of the people in the world are the two highnesses. ”

The king of Xiangdong took the opportunity to say: "What people want, my uncle and nephew often hear about it, but they rarely see it with their own eyes." ”

Sheng Xuan understood what he meant, and said in a low voice: "If the two highnesses really have the intention of pacifying Qin, it is better to stay here for a while, within three days, I will definitely let Huaizhou understand the situation, and allow me to lead the troops back to Qin, and then the two armies will advance side by side, wouldn't it be good?" ”

"Three days...... It's been too long. "Xiangdong King Road.

"It's okay for two days, it's really not good, I'm fighting to die, taking the crime of trespering with my life, and I have to lead troops to help the two highnesses. To be honest, if Yecheng had let the two highnesses lead the army during the first western expedition to quell the chaos, Xijing would have been captured long ago. ”

The two kings glanced at each other, and the king of Xiangdong said: "Okay, then two days, we will wait for the news of General Sheng." ”

Sheng Xuan was overjoyed and toasted with a glass.

The guests from Huaizhou did not say their goodbye until midnight, and the Liang army left a passage for them to return to the south bank.

Qiao Zhisu never had a chance to participate in the conversation, and after the banquet, he learned the news from the king of Jibei that he was going to stay for two more days, and vaguely felt that it was inappropriate, "Mengjin is still a few days away from Huaizhou, don't say two days, it's three days, Sheng Xuan can't contact his family, who to ask for instructions?" ”

"Mr. Qiao doesn't have to worry too much, the Sheng family also sent someone out to answer, stationed on the border of Huai and Luozhou, not far from here, and you can go back and forth in two days. Although Sheng Xuan is not the head of the Sheng family, he is old and has high prestige, even if he has no life, he can also dispatch troops. ”

"The imperial court means to let His Highness go west to support as soon as possible, and it would be a good thing if the Huaizhou Army could make a decision immediately, but it seems inappropriate to let His Highness wait here for two days."

"Wrong? Hey, how can Mr. Qiao learn the tone of King Xiangdong? Don't worry, isn't Lord Yin already set off? Just two without delay. ”

Qiao Zhisu recently took refuge in the King of Jibei, and he didn't fully trust each other, so he couldn't say anything, so he had to smile and say: "Your Highness is right, if you can bring the Huaizhou army, the Jizhou army in front will definitely be greatly encouraged, and will never retreat." ”

"That's right, I will send someone to deliver a letter to Yin Fu and the Jizhou army in Xijing early tomorrow morning, don't talk about waiting, just say that the Huaizhou army will change their minds, so that they can be down-to-earth."

Qiao Zhisu's heart turned, and he arched his hand and said: "I am willing to take a trip, and I don't have to set off tomorrow morning, I may be able to catch up with Lord Yin, and he will announce the good news to the soldiers in front of him, which can boost morale." ”

"It's okay, then it's hard Mr. Qiao."

Qiao Zhisu brought less entourage and more horses, went out of the camp before dawn, ran for nearly 100 miles, and did not catch up with Yin Fu, but saw a strange thing.

There was a military camp on the side of the road, which was supposed to be the temporary town of the Jizhou Army to supervise the road.

The weather was fine, Qiao Zhisu saw the flags fluttering in the camp from a distance, and when he got closer, he saw that many flags were actually embroidered with the word "beam".

Their whereabouts were also discovered, and a group of soldiers galloped towards them, and the leader shouted: "The Liang army is here, and those who come are dismounted and stand by!" ”

Qiao Zhisu was taken aback, and the faint uneasiness in his heart suddenly turned into a huge panic.