Ma Wei did not have much interest in guarding Xiangyang, and was unwilling to disperse the Liang army for this purpose, so he appointed a few generals and allocated only 10,000 troops, while the remaining 10,000 people were requisitioned and transferred by the counties of Jizhou and immediately converged in the eastern capital.

When the Liang army arrived in the eastern capital, there were less than 2,000 soldiers in Jizhou, and it would take at least half a month to get together, Xu Ji hoped to go to Xiangyang first, but the generals adhered to the order of King Liang: they must wait for all the Jizhou soldiers to arrive before they can go to Xiangyang.

Xu Ji had no choice but to stay in the Eastern Capital for the time being and inquire about the news of Xiangyang every day.

Pan Kai, the general of the Eastern Capital, was once "punished" by King Liang because he had a few words with Xu Ji in private, and this time he did not show up at all, and sent more soldiers to serve the guests in the General's Mansion, and if there was a military report, he would immediately send a copy over.

The situation in Xiangyang was extremely chaotic, and the only sure news was that the city had not yet been lost, and He Rong's army had not rushed to support, and Shan Yu seemed to have made up his mind to first capture the entire Hanzhou before solving the problem here.

Xu Ji lived in the eastern capital for ten days, there was snow on the road, the road was inconvenient, and the Jizhou soldiers came more slowly, just over 5,000 people, if it continued like this, I am afraid that it would take another half a month, or even longer, to get together the soldiers.

Xu Ji wanted to go to Xiangyang first, but he was also not allowed, and the old eunuch Gao Shengze also lived in the General's Mansion, and he was called serving Mr. Xu, but he was actually a very competent guard, almost never leaving.

Xu Ji wrote three letters to Ma Wei in succession, urging him to show the importance of sending troops as soon as possible, but Ma Wei only replied one, telling him to wait patiently, and that he would send troops when it was time to send troops, and urged him to contact King Ning and Lou Ji earlier.

In fact, Xu Ji wrote a letter to King Ning and sent someone to deliver it, but he has not received a reply so far.

However, Chen Yi only replied with a letter, he had heard the news of King Liang's sending troops, so he was very humble in his wording, hoping that Xu Ji would come as soon as possible.

On the twelfth day of the Eastern Capital, a part of the soldiers finally set off on the orders of King Liang to supervise the grain and grass on the road, and the rest had to wait for a few more days.

Xu Ji could only continue to wait.

That afternoon, the sky was overcast, and it seemed that it was going to snow again, Xu Ji stood in the courtyard, looked up at the sky, and refused to go back to the house to rest, so Chang Yanzhi had to send the cloak and put it on him—Ma Wei did give him several clothes, but none of them were as warm as this cloak.

Gao Shengze sat in the house and roasted the fire, and let the two eunuchs take turns to come out to monitor.

Xu Ji thought about one thing repeatedly in his heart: which side would be more beneficial this winter.

"Brother Brother, are you waiting to enjoy the snow?"

When Leng Buding heard the title of "Brother Foundation", Xu Ji almost thought that Ma Wei was coming, and suddenly remembered that King Liang had long since stopped calling him like this, so he turned around and smiled: "When did Brother Guo come to Dongdu?" ”

"It didn't take long to ......"

Guo Shifeng strode closer, Gao Shengze ran out of the room, and said in surprise, "How did you get in?" Where did the doorman go? ”

Guo Shifeng said with a smile: "General Pan sent someone to send me over, so the guards didn't stop me." I'm sorry, I was supposed to send the name sticker first, but I'm leaving soon, and I want to meet my brother before I go, so it's rude. ”

Xu Ji didn't care, "Brother Guo is going to Jizhou to see King Liang?" ”

"I see that King Liang has made up his mind, and it is freezing cold, so I won't go to Jizhou, I heard that King Liang has led his troops into Bingzhou, is it true?"

Before Xu Ji could speak, Gao Shengze reminded: "Regarding the whereabouts of King Liang, Mr. Xu had better not say anything. ”

"I don't know anything about King Liang's whereabouts, what can I say?" Xu Ji invited Guo Shifeng into the house.

Chang Yanzhi burned the charcoal, the room was very warm, Xu Ji and Guo Shifeng took off their cloaks and thick robes respectively, sat down to talk, Gao Shengze followed up by himself, and sat at the door with a stool.

"I wrote a letter to King Ning a few days ago." Xu Jidao.

"Well, King Ning received it, and King Ning said that he was not good at writing, and he was afraid that he would not understand the letter, so he asked me to come over and reply verbally."

"Brother Guo made a special trip for this matter?"

"Haha, that's not it, I'll see if the Eastern Capital still has the strength to attack Huaizhou, to be honest, I'm disappointed. Let's not talk about it first, the younger brother invited King Ning to send troops to help defend Xiangyang, King Ning said that he knew the importance of the battle of Xiangyang, but he lacked skills, not to mention that there was a Xi family between him and Xiangyang, and there was a Sheng family behind him. ”

Xu Ji smiled, knowing that this was just an excuse, the power of the Sheng and Xi families was not small, and even if King Ning was lucky, it would take a year or two to defeat these two strong enemies.

"The Sheng family crossed the river?" Xu Ji asked.

"The Sheng family is hoarding troops along the river, and they haven't crossed the river yet, so it's estimated that it's going to be soon. King Ning and I guessed that the Sheng family was probably going to join forces with the Xi family to attack, one side directly attacked Stone City, and the other side dragged the Ning army, so that our army could not take care of each other, but the two sides were negotiating, so they did not take action for a long time. ”

"It must be. How does King Ning plan to respond? ”

"What else? The Ning army has already invaded Jingzhou, and will not retreat until it takes Jiangling City and defeats the Xi army. Guo Shifeng suddenly laughed.

"Brother Guo must be full of confidence, so he can laugh out loud."

"What I'm laughing at is that King Ning and King Liang coincide, and they both leave their wives and children in the rear city, but they will never go back for their wives and children."

Gao Shengze at the door coughed and reminded the two of them not to judge King Liang.

Xu Ji said: "Which wife did King Ning leave behind?" ”

"King Ning has only one wife, surnamed Luan."

"What about the one with the surname Niu?"

"The Luan family is a concubine, and the Niu family is a concubine, both in Stone City, taking care of King Ning's children together."

Xu Ji nodded, "King Ning must have thought that Stone City would definitely be able to defend it. ”

"The Sheng family is full of loyalty and filial piety, but there is no general, and they are unwilling to invite another master, although there are many soldiers, there is no need to be afraid, King Ning is not worried about Stone City, but the eastern capital is ......"

Gao Shengze couldn't help but say: "The two of you chatting is, how to guard the Eastern Capital, King Liang has his own arrangements, and the two of them don't have to worry about it." ”

Guo Shifeng nodded again and again, "Manager Gao is right. When will Brother Ji go to Xiangyang? ”

"Let's wait for another two or three days, everything is decided by King Liang."

"When Brother Brother arrives in Xiangyang, send someone to send me a message, King Ning and I both hope to keep in touch with Brother Brother from time to time."

"Of course, it's just that the road is not smooth, and I don't know the whereabouts of King Ning, so the letter may arrive later."

"Chen Aicai's subordinates have a staff member, named Yu Liu, who is my old friend, this time he went north with the army, and got in touch with me, Chen Aicai also respected King Ning, and corresponded from time to time, and his brother entrusted him with a letter, which will be delivered to King Ning in time."

"Brother Guo knows all over the world, and he can use it at this time."

"Strategists, sometimes giving advice is secondary, and it is more important to know and recommend people."

"Especially when the Lord himself can give advice."

"Haha, in my brother's words. Alas, it is not easy to be a strategist nowadays, and it is difficult to gain a foothold if there are not many things. ”

The two chatted, talking about the situation in the world, but they didn't mention King Liang, Gao Shengze listened at first, and slowly slacked off, sitting there and napping.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xu Ji stayed for dinner, Guo Shifeng insisted on leaving, "No, I've seen Brother Ji, the task of my trip is over, I will go to the city before dark, and go back overnight to return to King Ning." The next time we meet, we must get drunk with my brother. ”

Xu Ji sent the guests to the gate, and while Gao Shengze was not too close, Guo Shifeng whispered: "King Ning is thirsty for talent, and Brother Ji cares." With that, he laughed and said goodbye.

There was snow in the air, Xu Ji stood at the door and watched Guo Shifeng get in the car and leave, and only turned around and returned to the house after a long time.

Chang Yanzhi was cleaning up the tea set in the house, "This Mr. Guo is very friendly, nothing important, and he came to visit his son." ”

Xu Ji was uneasy in his heart, thought for a while, and said, "Please come over?" ”

"Huh? Hasn't Childe seen enough of him? "Chang Yanzhi went out to find someone.

Gao Shengze lived next door, but he waited for a while before coming over, and said in the house: "Mr. Xu has something to do with me?" ”

"Well, it's important."

"If it's another matter of sending troops to Xiangyang, don't tell me, King Liang has already made arrangements, who dares to disobey his orders? I can't help it. ”

"It's not about sending troops. I'm thinking, King Liang ordered General Gao to spy on me, and he has always sent others to spy on General Pan, right? ”

Gao Shengze's face sank, "King Liang values the friendship of his old friend and sent me to serve Mr. Xu, how can I say that it is 'surveillance'?" King Liang treated General Pan like a close relative, and handed over his wife and children to him for protection, and there was no such thing as 'surveillance'. ”

"Is Mr. Gao 'serving' me?"

"That's what King Liang asked me to do."

"Then can I order Mr. Gao to do something?"

Gao Shengze's face was even more gloomy, "If you want something, Mr. Xu just speak." ”

"Please ask Mr. Gao to inquire, General Pan has had any abnormalities recently."

"Mr. Xu, what do you mean by that? King Liang treats you very kindly, but do you want to design to sow discord? Did Guo Shifeng hint at something to you? I knew he wouldn't come for nothing. ”

"Chief Manager Gao is right, Guo Shifeng will never come for nothing, and he rushed to the Eastern Capital, but he did not go to see King Liang, carefully calculated, the real purpose must be to persuade General Pan to betray King Liang."

Gao Shengze was stunned for a moment, "I remind Mr. Xu, what you say now, I will write it down as it is, and report it to King Liang in the future." ”

"Send someone to inquire, if I guess wrong, it will not hurt you, if you guess correctly, you can make a great contribution, so that King Liang will be impressed by you, and you will rely on it from now on."

Gao Shengze snorted, "If General Pan learns about it, I can't afford to offend." ”

Gao Shengjie turned to leave, and soon the footsteps of the eunuch running were heard outside the house, and he still sent someone to inquire.

Chang Yanzhi laughed quietly: "Gongzi guessed correctly, King Liang also left a 'servant' person by Pan Kai's side." ”

"Inevitably."

"But to say that Pan Kai betrayed King Liang...... Childe guessed a little too much, right? If Guo Shifeng is weak-hearted, why did he come to meet his son and arouse your suspicions? ”

"Pan Kai and Guo Shifeng saw that the soldiers sent by King Liang were delayed in leaving, so they were weak and came to me to inquire about the situation."

"I'm still hard to believe."

"When you understand Guo Shifeng like me, you will know that there must be a conspiracy for him to come to the Eastern Capital."

"When Gongzi understands Pan Kai better, he may know that it is impossible for him to betray King Liang."

Xu Ji was silent for a while, and said with a smile: "If it was in the past, I wouldn't dare to say it, but a few things that have happened recently are connected, and I am ninety percent sure that I can convince General Pan that he has different ambitions, and Guo Shifeng's ability will not be worse than mine." ”

Chang Yanzhi thought that he had learned a lot from Gongzi, but at this time, he couldn't think of anything that could make Pan Kai change his loyalty.