The black wind outside the fire blows the sea, and the rain flies across the river. After nightfall, it suddenly rained heavily, thunder roared, dark clouds were thick, and under the dark night, a slightly chaotic sound of golden armor rubbing was faintly heard in the noisy thunderstorm.

This is the territory of the northern wing of the Yellow River, in the rugged and muddy mountain road, a group of more than 50,000 soldiers and horses are marching in a thunderstorm in the dark night, hurrying south.

Chai Mengshan rode on his war horse, frowning. Looking at the soldiers passing by, the long march made their military appearance and armor messy. Even the ranks were unformed, like scattered sand, and in the darkness of night the army looked like a rabble, as if the enemy could pinch them to death with a little finger.

But Chai Mengshan knew what kind of combat power his army had, and it was by no means something that the enemy could pinch to death by casually stretching out his fingers.

Because they are border troops! They have been stationed in Youzhou for a long time, and for many years they have been at odds with the Turks on the steppe, winning and losing each other. Chai Mengshan can proudly say that the army under his command is not inferior to the strongest Turkic army in the world.

After a long time, Chai Mengshan withdrew the daylight, and looked at the night sky with clouds on the top, and his mood was as gloomy and heavy as this weather.

Did you make the right bet this time? Will this Hundred Refining Master be led to a dead end by himself?

"Report to the general, the 5,000 men and horses of the forward battalion have arrived in Zunhua, and then go forward is Malan Pass, and the forward General Zhao asked the general, can the soldiers and horses forcibly attack the storm?" The spies braved the pouring rain. Kneeling in front of the war horse of Chai Mengshan, he said loudly motionlessly.

"Order, the forward battalion dismounts and rests, and does not attack!" Chai Mengshan gave the order succinctly, and his tone was flat and cold.

The spies answered loudly, and went to deliver orders non-stop.

Chai Mengshan rode on the war horse, suddenly clenched his fists, and his face became resolute.

There was no turning back from the bow, and from the moment the soldiers and horses left Youzhou to drive south, he was already a border army general suspected of rebellion, and only by following the prince with all his heart and helping him seize this great country could he turn from a criminal general to a hero from the dragon, and his official position and land were even more glorious than before.

Strictly speaking, Chai Mengshan is not the prince's descendant, he and the prince are just very simple because of the interests, the prince has been around him for many years, and the gold, silver and jewelry given to him by the prince are enough to fill a room, but these are not the reasons why Chai Mengshan is willing to take the risk of rebelling against the nine clans and raising troops to help the prince seize the throne.

What really moved him was that the envoy of the crown prince asked him to analyze the situation in Beijing, judging from all kinds of signs. The capital has become the prince's bag, and the big and small officials in the capital, including the princes, and even the "emperor, have also become his fish and meat, which has to make Chai Mengshan seriously consider it."

If he didn't follow the crown prince, he would win success as the prince and become the emperor, thinking of the past, what would happen to him Chai Mengshan?

But if you help the prince raise an army to take one, what if he fails? What will happen to him?

Chai Mengshan's life was faced with a multiple-choice question that he had to do, and the topic was difficult.

After thinking about it, he finally gritted his teeth and agreed to the prince's request.

Whether to live with the greatest glory or die in the humiliation of defeat depends on the decisive outcome of the battle five days later.

Malan Pass.

Malan Pass is located at the southern edge of Yanshan, which is the northward direction of the Chinese Dynasty to resist the heavy danger of the northern nomads, and is an important place to defend the pass, and there are heavy troops stationed on the pass.

At this time, the night patrol soldiers on Malan Pass were staring at the dense torches in the distance with great fright, and the roar of horses' hooves that could not be concealed in the thunderstorm made the soldiers on the pass can't help but raise their hearts.

When the army arrived at the pass, it did not make any hostile moves, but simply lined up quietly. Stand motionless under the pouring rain. The torches stretched for more than ten miles from the close, and in the faint light of the fire, the young and resolute faces of the soldiers were like pieces of pig iron, cold and hard, but strong.

"What's going on? Why didn't Ben receive the official letter about the recent transfer of troops and horses? Which part of this is this? General Chen, the chief general of the pass, was called up from the bed, and stood on the pass in anger, staring at the army of tens of thousands of horses under the pass in horror and fear.

"All on alert! Prepare the oil and beat the wood. Archers forward! Prevent the enemy from tackling the problem! Looking at the well-trained army under the pass, General Chen, who was guarding the pass, gave an order without hesitation.

The soldiers were suddenly in a hurry.

Under the pouring thunderstorm, a man suddenly slowly walked out of the closed army, and he was on a horse. Slowly, like a leisurely stroll, he walked alone to the suspension bridge under the pass, raised his head and shouted: "This general is Chai Mengshan, the main general of the border of Youzhou, and he was ordered by the military department to lead his troops to the south to carry out military affairs, please close the switch of General Chen and let him go!" ”

"General Chai, this general has never received an official document from the Ministry of War to transfer troops, may I ask who you are ordering to lead the army south?" General Chen's voice was obviously a little lacking.

Chai Mengshan smiled coldly and shouted: "The general won't say much to you, here is the official document issued by the Ministry of War to the general, you can take it and check it carefully." ”

As he spoke, Chai Mengshan took out a package of oiled paper wrapped things from his arms, held it high in his hand, and shook it towards the close.

It didn't take long for a hanging basket to be put down.

Chai Mengshan smiled, his smile was full of disdain, and as soon as he stretched out his left hand, the general handed over a strong bow. Chai Mengshan hung the oiled paper on the arrow, and then opened his bow to set up the arrow, and the arrow shot out without blinking. With a muffled "bang", it was firmly nailed to the pillar of the arrow tower in Ma Languan.

The guards were all shocked and looked at each other. They all opened their mouths.

I took off the oil-paper bag on the arrow and opened it to see that it was an official document issued by the Ministry of War, and General Chen carefully checked the seal and handwriting on it, and found that this official document was actually genuine.

"General Chen, after the check, can you switch it off and let it go? Ben will have military affairs, if you delay Ben General's time, you can't afford this crime! Chai Mengshan shouted loudly under the pass.

Solemnly folded the official document and put it in his arms. General Chen looked at the dense soldiers under the gate, and finally gritted his teeth and ordered: "Switch!" ”

The heavy and heavy closing door slowly opened in a squeak, Chai Mengshan looked at the closing door, smiled coldly, rode on the war horse, pointed with his right hand, and shouted: "Brothers, enter the customs!" To the south! ”

In the roar of the promise, the soldiers marched neatly and hurriedly, and swept into the pass.

Looking at the Youzhou border army going out of the pass, General Chen of Malan Pass stood between the arrow stacks at the pass, his face was shocked.

"The official document of the Ministry of War on the transfer of troops has arrived in the hands of Chai Mengshan without this pass, this matter is too strange." General Chen muttered to himself.

"No! The general must report this matter to the military department in the capital, tens of thousands of horses are going south, what are they going to do? Looking up at the night sky with thunderstorms, General Chen was in trouble again. The weather was so bad that the pigeons in the army could not be released at all.

"Someone! Prepare your horses and send messengers to the capital! ”

After more than an hour, a fast horse quickly left Malan Pass and chosen

"Liver, the official south, which is different from the border army of Youzhou, galloped away. Who knows the fast horse road. A cold arrow glowing with a glow stopped from the side of the road. Lin shot out, hitting the knight's forehead right on the horse, and the knight didn't even snort, and fell to the ground with his head up.

A small team appeared in the forest, and a sharpshooter in the army slowly lowered his bow and arrows. He turned his head sideways and smiled at a partial general beside him: "General, I shot again." ”

The general nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "General Chai is really clever, knowing that General Chen, who is guarding the pass, will definitely send a messenger to deliver a message to the capital, this is the first messenger?" ”

"The third pound, it's over."

"Well, emergency military intelligence is generally only sent three messengers to deliver, they will not send people again, let's bury the messenger's body and go back to General Chai to report his life."

"Yes!"

Fangfu in the capital.

It was late at night, but Fang Zheng's small courtyard was already busy.

"Ouch! My aunts and grandmothers! It's not moving, it's fleeing! What is the general idea of fleeing, do you understand? Why did you even bring a basin for washing your face? Put it down, put it down! Only bring valuable things, not these chicken bits and pieces! Fang Zheng stomped his feet in the bedroom of the small courtyard and shouted urgently.

"you! Who is your aunt, am I that old? Changping smiled and slapped him hard, and before it was night, Fang Zheng picked her up from the palace! Returned to the small courtyard and began to pack up her things without saying a word, until now she didn't understand what was going on, but as long as Fang Zheng said it. She obeyed unconditionally, so she seemed unhurried at the moment.

"Husband, many things in the room are what we are used to, you look at this Huzhou brush, as well as this square inkstone, and this guqin" Yanran bit her lip, looking at these things reluctantly, looking very hesitant.

"Aren't you used to using me too? Why didn't you see you take me away in a box? Don't worry, things can't run here, you just go out for a vacation, and I'll pick you up in a few days." Little green, you can't bring the rhubarb, this guy is bigger than me, it's too much space, no, no,"

Seeing Xiao Lu holding the head of the Chinese pastoral dog Rhubarb, and the two big watery eyes looked begging, looking at Fang Zheng and stopping. Fang Zheng couldn't help but have a headache. Look at this mess!

Turning his head again, Fang Zheng's handsome face suddenly collapsed. His nose was sore, and he almost cried: "Sister Feng, which one are you playing?" What is this pile of stuff? ”

Sister Feng didn't raise her head and kept cleaning up. He said neatly: "Didn't you say that you want to go out of the city to rest for a few days?" It just so happens that I plan to settle the detailed accounts of Ruyuzhai for more than a year, calculate the flow, expenditure and input, see how much we have earned, and by the way, I will raise a little bit of money, and after returning to Beijing in a few days, I am ready to open another branch,"

Fang Zheng wiped his tears and pleaded, "Sister Feng." Please, you can rest for a few days, this pile of ledgers is enough to fill a cart, and you can't take it with you

Seeing that the wives were busy, bringing some bulky and worthless things, Fang Zheng couldn't help but pull his hair frantically, then slapped the table hard, and yelled: "Stop me!" ”

After the women were stunned, they suddenly stopped looking at Fang Zheng inexplicably.

Fang Zheng nodded with satisfaction, and the tiger's body was shocked. shouted: "Each person is limited to a small baggage, and no one is allowed to bring more!" Violators"! Did you hear it all? ”

The women were silent.

Long.

"How dare you yell at me?" Changping raised his eyebrows, crossed his hands on his waist, and glared at Fang Zheng viciously.

The women stood behind Changping and stared at him with unkind expressions.

"What" I'll go and see if the carriage is ready" Young Master Fang, who knew the current affairs, immediately smiled well-behaved and flattering, then rolled his eyes and his figure flashed, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Poof" Yanran couldn't help but laugh, and then the women laughed too, after a short laugh. The pretty faces of the girls appeared a little sad.

"Sister, is the situation in Beijing so critical? The husband is a big official of the imperial court, why did he send our family members out of the city? Yanran asked Changping with a bitter face.

Changping bit his lip, shook his head and said: "I'm like you, I don't understand anything, we are women's families, how can we meddle in the affairs of men's families fighting outside?" The husband sent us out of the city precisely to protect us, so that he would have no worries in the capital and do his own thing wholeheartedly. Let's listen to him. Don't burden him. ”

The women nodded in unison, then sighed faintly and began to clean up again.

Fang Zheng walked out of the small courtyard, there were more than two hundred shadow subordinates standing quietly outside the courtyard, Wen Sen and the killer brother stood in front, seeing Fang Zheng come out, Wen Sen stepped forward, and said with a flattering smile: "My lord, the carriage is ready, stop outside the gate of the adult's mansion, and you can leave at any time."

Fang Zheng's face was full of gloom and patted Wen Sen's shoulder. He said in a deep voice: "Lao Wen, we have worked together for more than a year, and I trust you the most, and now that there is a crisis in Beijing, I will entrust the life of the family to you, you have to protect them wholeheartedly, don't let them be hurt." ”

Wen Sen hurriedly said: "Your Excellency, please rest assured, your subordinates will definitely protect people's families desperately, there are thousands of soldiers of the Longwu Army guarding outside the shadow camp, and our well-trained subordinates are protecting you, your lord's family will be foolproof, if there is the slightest mistake, your subordinates are willing to come and see you!" ”

With that, Vincent turned around and ordered his shadow men to get busy.

Fang Zheng walked in front of the killer brother again, looking at the killer brother with a cold face, Fang Zheng's face was heavy. Panting and sighing: "Brother Killer, we have known each other for more than a year, and you are the one I trust the most." Now, "Oh, where are you going?" I'm talking to you, what is your attitude? ”

The killer brother's head tilted slightly, and he said coldly, "You just told Vincent about this." Same. ”

Fang Zheng was embarrassed, scratched his head and said, "Really? I just said exactly the same thing? ”

Vincent nodded vigorously beside him, and said with a look of grievance: "My lord, didn't you just say that the person you trust the most is me?" How did he become him in the blink of an eye? ””

In front of the Fang Mansion.

Master Fang's eyes were red, and he refused to board the carriage for a long time, and Mrs. Fang's eyes were red and swollen from crying. Grabbed Fang Zheng's sleeve and refused to let go.

"Zheng'er, is the situation in the city so critical? Do we have to get out of the city and take refuge? Old Man Fang's chest rose and fell, and his tone was quite excited.

"Dad, you should go out for a trip, I'll pick you up in a few days, don't worry, it'll be fine." Fang Zhengqiang smiled and comforted.

"Then why don't you go out of town with us?"

"The child has the emperor's order, and he really can't go. Don't worry, the child will be safe, there are hundreds of guards around the child, you and your mother take care of yourself, don't worry about me"

"Husband" hugged him tightly from behind with a pair of slender hands, hugging him tightly, for fear that Fang Zheng would let go of his hand

Fang Zheng turned around, looked at his wives, and said with a smile: "Take care of your parents, I will go to the camp to pick you up and return to Beijing in a few days, you must be obedient, so that I have no worries, understand?" ”

The women were so crying that they couldn't speak, and they covered their faces and kept nodding.

"Husband, you must live well. Although I don't know how dangerous it will be this time, you must know that you are the pillar of the Fang family. It is our only reliance, if something happens to you, our sisters will never live alone! Chang looked at Fang Zheng calmly, gritted his teeth and said seriously.

All the women nodded at the same time, with a determined look on their pretty faces.

"Don't worry, I've prepared the fastest horse at the back door of the house, if the time is not right. I will not hesitate to run away. Don't stay for a moment""

Three carriages carried the Fang family's family members, escorted by shadows, and drove out of the city.

Fang Zheng watched the carriage gradually move away, suddenly his nose was sore, and tears fell, once it fell, he couldn't stop it anymore, for a while. His face was already full of tears, and Wen Sen, who was on the side, felt sad for a while.

"Don't be sad anymore, I'll see you again in a few days, my subordinates will definitely send my adult's family back, my lord, it's just a few days away, don't be reluctant"

Fang Zheng whimpered and mourned, "Am I reluctant? What a sight! I'm lamenting that I've suffered misery, and my life is drifting, woo,"

"Huh?" Vinson was shocked, "This Lord Fang's mind is really unfathomable, and it is incomprehensible."

Fang Zheng wiped his tears and was still crying: "You talk about it." Tell me that I am the emperor's favorite son-in-law. Why did he leave me in the most dangerous part of the capital? I also wanted to pay close attention to the city defense army: "Woo, an army of more than 50,000 people, what are they going to do?" The emperor is obviously sending me, an innocent and helpless little sheep, to the mouths of a group of wolves, "Woo, is this like words?" It's too bullying."

"My lord" Lord is really" Wen Sen wanted to comfort and pat himself on the back, but after thinking about it for a long time, he couldn't come up with any gorgeous words to praise Lord Fang, and finally stammered: "It's really emotional!" Quack, quack"

The prince's mansion is solemn tonight, the guards in the palace are heavily guarded, the arrows are out of the bag, the knife is out of the sheath, and the guards are strictly patrolling all over the palace.

On the steps in front of the door of the prince's apse, he looked up at the night sky covered with dark clouds and heavy rain. His heart was as heavy and depressed as the bad weather.

"Tomorrow, my father will go out of the city to worship the heavens. Maybe "Tomorrow will be a good day." The prince looked at the night sky and muttered to himself, his handsome face covered with gloom.

"Your Highness, you will go out of Beijing tomorrow with the emperor and the officials of the court, so rest early tonight." Fan Rui bowed and said.

The prince shook his head slowly: "Sir, life and death depend on tomorrow's battle, do you think that at this time, can you still sleep?" ”

Fan Rui didn't dare to answer, and bowed silently.

"Where are the border troops of Chai Mengshan?" The prince asked with a frown.

"The weather is bad, and the military report has not been able to convey." Fan Rui also frowned, "Count the days." General Chai's headquarters should be almost outside Xuzhou City."

"I hope he won't make any mistakes, otherwise the great cause of loneliness will fall short," the prince frowned uneasily.

"Your Highness, your private army has left the mountains and forests and is camping in the south, and tomorrow as long as Your Highness gives an order, they will quickly pounce on Shenlie Mountain. Exterminate the forbidden army in the shortest possible time and surround the Shenlie Mountain. ”

The crown prince loosened his brows slightly, nodded and said, "What about Qin Chong's city defense army?" ”

"There is nothing abnormal in the city defense army, I heard that Fang Zheng will lead the city defense army to garrison the capital, but in the next opinion. The city defense army was firmly in the hands of General Qin. Fang Zheng couldn't mobilize a single soldier at all."

The crown prince nodded, a trace of fierceness quickly flashed in his eyes, and he said gloomily: "Send someone to strictly control Qin Chong's mansion, if Qin Chong's person has signs of instability." Libei held his family hostage and forced him to submit! ”

"Yes." Fan Rui was taken aback and hurriedly responded.

Everything was arranged, and the prince's heart seemed to be a little lighter, and he smiled: "Since you can't sleep." How about Mr. and Lone relate the battle of tomorrow on the map? ”

"Dare to disobey."

The apse was lit with arm-thick red candles. The empty apse was illuminated, and the prince and Fan Rui were pointing to the map in the candlelight, constantly laying out. Drill, fight, until the three watches ring. The night deepened.

"Who is hiding behind a screen?" Fan Rui suddenly shouted, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes.

The prince was startled and quickly looked up at the screen.

I saw that behind a screen embroidered with a hundred birds and a phoenix on the left side of the apse, a slender figure walked out tremblingly, glanced at the prince with a white face, and then pounced, and knelt down, not daring to make a sound.

"Sisi? How long have you been standing behind a screen? The prince asked sharply.

"Your Highness, Si Si Lai, seeing that the night has been three watches, I want to ask Your Highness to go back to the palace to rest earlier" Si Si Jiao's body trembled, and replied in a trembling voice.

"Did you hear what I said to Mr. Fan just now?" A somewhat complicated look flashed across the prince's face.

Sisi's face became more and more pale with fright, and he hurriedly shook his head and denied: "Your Highness Mingjian, Sisi was heard by Mr. Fan when he walked behind the screen, and Sisi really didn't hear a word. ”

Fan Rui stared at Sisi who was kneeling, a fierce light flashed in his eyes, and then looked at the prince. He said in a low voice: "Your Highness, don't leak the slightest rumor about this matter, it's better to "

As he spoke, Fan Rui turned his palm into a knife, and everything was facing down.

The prince looked at Sisi fixedly, and his face changed in a myriad of ways, sometimes fierce, sometimes hesitant, sometimes reluctant. Of course he understood what Fan Rui meant, but "

"Get up and stand down." After thinking for a while, the prince finally said lightly.

Sisi hurriedly stood up, trembling, and slowly retreated.

"Your Highness!" Fan Rui said hurriedly, cold sweat broke out slightly on his face.

The prince waved his hand and said, "Sisi."

Sisi's delicate body shook again when she heard this, stopped her retreating body, and stood motionless, like a sheep waiting to be slaughtered, waiting for the prince to decide her life and death.

The prince looked at her coldly, and only after a while did he speak: "Tomorrow, Gu will accompany his father to the Burning Mountain to worship the sky, you can go with Gu." ”

Si Si for a while, and then her face was full of joy, and Ying Ying bowed down and said, "Yes." ”

Fan Rui looked at the prince in disappointment, and his heart suddenly sank rapidly, until the bottomless abyss"