More than a dozen horsemen galloped into Chang'an City, this is the messenger of eight hundred miles of urgency, their rush is like the fire of war burning in the Central Plains, the horse's hooves are like thunder, breaking the quiet and festive Shangyuan night, the people on Suzaku Street have dodged to both sides, waiting for them to gallop past, but there are many discussions.

The dramatic reversal of the Central Plains battlefield has been widely circulated in the streets and alleys of Chang'an in the past few days, and various versions of the details were born in various restaurants and teahouses, some say that Wei Deqing and the Pei family fought for territory and had internal strife, some say that Cui Qinggong succeeded in buying Wei Deqing's subordinates, and some say that Wei Deqing's subordinates divided the spoils unevenly and killed each other, all kinds of news are mixed up, but no matter what, Cui Qinggong's strong return makes everyone's hearts heavy, Chen Liu, Kaifeng, Xuchang, Bloody news permeated Chang'an City, not only that, but it was also an army that used human flesh as military food, just like the Anshi Rebellion back then.

It should be said that the situation is quite serious, the original grand lantern festival on the night of the Yuan Dynasty was also canceled due to the war in the Central Plains, in the delicate situation, many shrewd businessmen began to go to Longyou and Shuzhong to buy land and buy houses, once the war ignited to Chang'an, the house prices and land prices in these two places will inevitably skyrocket.

Today is the twentieth day of the first lunar month, it happens to be the day of the holiday, most of the ministers are resting at home, the messenger galloped into the Xuanyi Fang like a storm, stopped in front of Pei Jun's mansion, the messenger turned over and dismounted, rushed up the steps and shouted: "There is the latest war report to report to Xiangguo!" The porter did not dare to slack off, and hurried to lead the messenger into the house.

In Pei Jun's study, a tense atmosphere permeated it, Pei You, Wei Ge, Li Mian, Lu Qi plus the master Pei Jun. The five of them are conducting emergency consultations, and now there are two places where the crisis is most serious, one is Luoyang, the eastern capital, and news has come that a scout team from Cui Qinggong has appeared outside Luoyang City. The other is Ruyang County. There are 100,000 Hedong troops there, and at present, there is no food, no news, and even pigeon letters, which makes Pei Jun deeply worried.

To a certain extent, the gathering of the five of them was also a consultation between the Xiangguo Party and the Queen Mother Party before the cabinet meeting, and it was the agreement that the two parties had to reach before Pei Jun negotiated with Zhang Huan. The so-called consensus is to see whether the possibility of a political solution can be found in the Central Plains crisis, in other words, to compromise Choi Kyung-kung to a certain extent.

"Guys, I think the top priority is to slow down the momentum of Cui Qinggong's offensive and let him stop ruining his lives, so I'm going to send someone to negotiate with him to see if a compromise can be reached, what do you think?"

Pei Jun looked at Li Mian, waiting for his reply, Li Mian certainly understood Pei Jun's true purpose. He wanted to withdraw his Hedong Army first, and then throw this mess to the Queen Mother or Zhang Huan, or the three families to share the responsibility, rather than his family to carry the burden independently, but he was afraid that Zhang Huan would oppose the reconciliation, so he let his faction come to negotiate.

Li Mian did not reply immediately, but smiled faintly and said: "We have been dealing with Cui Qinggong for many years, and we should know that he is a person who values practical interests, and without certain substantive concessions, he is willing to agree to a truce." I don't know how much food Xiangguo is going to give him, and what official position is he going to give him? ”

"I have already considered the money and grain, first allocate one million stone grain and 500,000 yuan of taxes from Jianghuai to him, as for the official position, Pei Jun glanced at Wei Ge, and said coldly: "The title and the dissolution of the official are not a problem, as for the position of the cabinet, I think one of us should give it up." ”

Wei Ge's face was swollen red, of course he understood that Pei Jun was referring to him == no one who had no strength among the cabinet members, and he was not the only one. For example, Li Mian, Lu Qi, Cui Yu, but Pei Jun only refers to him. This is obviously accusing Cui Qinggong of his death and resurrection due to the infighting in the Tawei family.

"Sangkook is a little wishful thinking, right?" Wei Ge said angrily: "What if Cui Qinggong refuses to negotiate peace?" What if he asks for five million grains or even more? What if he wants to be king? If you have to tie your hands and feet before you negotiate, is it a little unwise for Xiangguo to act? ”

At this time, Pei You next to him said: "Whether the negotiation can be successful will be known until the negotiation is made, if Cui Qinggong offers a lot of prices, there is no way to negotiate, but he must always make a bottom line for the negotiation, otherwise he can't decide things, what's the use of asking him to go?" What does Wei Shot's servant think? ”

"Humph! A small defeat scared to negotiate, is your Pei family's hundreds of thousands of troops for decoration? Wei Ge snorted heavily, stood up and said, "I'm sorry, I still have something to go first." ”

As soon as he reached the door, suddenly there was a rapid sound of running outside the door, and a guard reported loudly: "Report to Xiangguo, there is an emergency military situation of 800 miles." ”

"Let him in!" Pei Jun's heart began to feel uneasy, and he faintly had a bad feeling.

Soon, the guards came in with the messenger, the messenger came in and knelt down and saluted, and the general newspaper was held high, "Report to Xiangguo, Yuncheng emergency military situation." ”

"What's going on?" Pei Jun's voice couldn't help but tremble a little, the military situation in Yuncheng was most likely the news of his Hedong Army.

The messenger slowly knelt down on his knees and said with great pain: "Back to Xiangguo, the Hedong Army was ambushed in Yuncheng and has been completely annihilated!" ”

As soon as Pei Jun's hand was released, the military newspaper slipped and fell to the ground, and he fell straight down.

On the 17th day of the first month of the second year of Yong'an, Cui Qinggong sent a virtual army to pretend to be the main force to feint attack Chenzhou, Pei Jundi 100,000 Hedong Army returned to Luoyang, and when he arrived at Yuncheng, he was ambushed here by the main force of Cui Qinggong at night, Cui Qinggong's headquarters, Ma Dawei's department, and Li Shidao's three armies attacked, the Hedong army was defeated and the whole army was annihilated, more than 40,000 people were beheaded, and countless surrendered people.

After Cui Qinggong defeated Pei Jun's Hedong army, he was so arrogant that he immediately turned around and went north, all the way to Luoyang, the eastern capital.

Syllable! On the shore, Zhang Huan sat on a stool, leisurely waiting for the fish to take the bait, which was in the garden of his back house, and a living spring formed a lake covering an area of more than 20 acres. Behind him, more than a dozen pro-soldiers lined up on the left and right with expressionless faces, like a dozen stone statues.

Zhang Huan had been sitting for more than half an hour, and he was still in high spirits, but he was even happier than his son Zhang Qi. He kept sending a tail of carp to the kitchen in a small bucket.

Zhang Huan stared calmly at the float on the water. Today is the 24th day of the first month, and he knew the news of the annihilation of the Pei Jiahedong Army in Yuncheng a few days ago, not only that, but the 40,000 troops deployed by the Pei family in Pinglu entered the Bohai State to help in the war, he also learned from his brother-in-law who gave him New Year's greetings, although there is no news of Tuoba Qianli, but there is also a great hidden danger hidden in it, but unfortunately Pei Jun did not listen to his advice and laughed it off. (

So. He can't do anything about the Pei family's life or death, from Wei Deqing being killed to Cui Qinggong's defeat of the Hedong Army, Zhang Huan has never said a word, as if he has nothing to do with him.

Of course, it's not that he doesn't want to care, but it's not time for him to make a move.

At this time, the float suddenly sank into the water, and Zhang Huan immediately lifted the fishing rod high, and a silver carp weighing seven or eight flew out of the water with the rod. Struggling in mid-air, Zhang Qi jumped and jumped with joy, reaching out to grab the fishing line.

"Go ahead! Take the fish to the kitchen. Zhang Huan shook his hand and threw the fish in front of him, Zhang Qi grabbed the fish, put it in the small bucket, and ran away happily, Pei Ying, accompanied by a few maids, was walking towards this side worriedly.

"Go sick, do you have time? I'd like to talk to you about it. Pei Ying walked up to Zhang Huandi and whispered.

Zhang Huan smiled. With a wave of his hand to the soldiers behind him, more than a dozen soldiers quietly retreated.

Zhang Huan reached out and took a stool and patted it gently, "Come, sit down and say." ”

Pei Ying sat down, sighed and said, "I just went to see Daddy's condition, and the imperial doctor said that he was very sick this time. ”

Zhang Huan threw the hook into the ice cave again for a long time. Only then did he say slowly: "My father-in-law takes the gains and losses too seriously. How can there be no winners and losers in a war? ”

But Pei Ying's lips moved, but she couldn't speak.

Then. Zhang Qi came panting with a small bucket, "Daddy, that fish was accidentally dropped into the river by my sister." ”

When I ran closer, I found that my mother was also there, and I was surprised and happy: "Mother, when will you come back?" ”

Pei Ying touched the back of his head lovingly, and said with a smile: "Go ahead!" Mother and Daddy have something to talk about, you go to Aunt Ping, she just came from Chengdu, see what gift she brought you? ”

"Pingping is back?" Zhang Huan asked in surprise.

"Just came back, I met her at the door."

Pei Ying watched her son run away, and she turned the topic to her father again, "Go sick, Cui Qinggong is in trouble, my father's pressure is too great, can you help him?" ”

Zhang Huan was silent, and after a while, he smiled faintly: "Did your father-in-law ask you to come to me?" ”

"He didn't say it, but I know he wants to ask you to send troops, and that's what he gave you."

Pei Ying beckoned, a maid stepped forward with a long brocade box, Zhang Huan took the box and opened it, and saw that it was a short sword with a simple shape, he slowly pulled out a section, the sword body was extremely thin, flashing with a chill.

"This is the Fish Intestine Sword!" Zhang Huan blurted out that he had heard that Pei Jun had a fish intestine sword that was dedicated to assassinating King Wu, and he immediately understood what Pei Jun meant, and begged him to send troops by giving away the sword.

At this time, Pei Ying sighed again and said: "I heard that the eldest brother said that the second uncle has already returned to Ye County to transfer troops, and Cui Qinggong can't be allowed to take Luoyang no matter what." ”

Zhang Huan was stunned, and he hurriedly asked, "When did this happen?" ”

"Listening to the tone of the eldest brother, it seems that it has been many days, and even the second brother has followed."

Pei Jun saw that her husband's face was solemn, and she asked with some fear: "If you get sick, nothing will happen again, right?"

Zhang Huan shook his head slowly, "It's hard to say now. ”

After speaking, he stood up and said, "I want to rush back to Longyou immediately, you can help me clean up." ”

"But

Pei Ying grabbed her husband's arm and said in a panic: "Don't let me worry!" ”

Zhang Huan patted her cheek with a smile and said softly, "Don't worry! Actually, I've already deployed it, and I'm just waiting for the best opportunity. ”

"But Ping Ping just came back." Pei Ying suddenly remembered Pingping.

At this time, Zhang Huan had already walked away, and he only heard him smile from a distance: "You take care of Pingping, it's not peaceful outside." Just stay at home. ”

An hour later, Zhang Huan, escorted by more than 1,000 personal soldiers, left Chang'an and galloped westward, and he had a premonition. Tuoba Qianli is also waiting for the best time. And Pei You returned to Hebei to transfer troops, maybe this is the time that Tuoba Qianli is waiting for, and similarly, the time is ripe for him Zhang Huan to make a move.

Two days later, Zhang Huan arrived in Kaiyang County, where the military and political leaders of Longyou had been waiting in advance, not only the officials of Longyou, but also the 80,000 elite troops who had returned from Anxi and the 140,000 troops mobilized from Longyou and Hehuang. A total of 220,000 troops gathered in Kaiyang County.

Zhang Huan entered Kaiyang City, turned over and dismounted in front of the palace, and several generals who had been waiting here greeted him, and knelt down together to give a military salute, "The last general will see the governor!" ”

The first two are Wang Siyu and Cao Hanchen, who were transferred back from Anxi, and they haven't seen each other for a few months, Zhang Huan feels that he has been separated from them for a few years, so he hurriedly helped them up, Zhang Huan looked Wang Siyu up and down, and saw that his temperament was a little more stable than before. smiled and punched him in the shoulder socket and said, "You can't endure hardship in Anxi, can you?" ”

Wang Siyu shook his head and said with a smile: "How come? When Cui Qinggong is killed, I still have to go back. ”

"What about you?" Zhang Huan looked at Cao Hanchen again and asked, "How is the situation over there with Broken Leaves?" ”

Cao Hanchen served as the envoy of the Broken Leaves, and this time he returned to Beijing to prepare for the beginning of the spring to receive a group of immigrants to the Broken Leaves, and happened to encounter the war in the Central Plains, he saw the Governor asking each other, so he hurriedly said: "Back to the Governor, the Broken Leaves are very calm over there, and the big cannibals have not counterattacked." Instead, they fought two battles with a small group of Qarluqs, killed more than 1,000 enemies, and then fled north. ”

"Well done." Zhang Huan patted him on the shoulder and said: "The vitality of the Qarlu people has been injured, and a large-scale invasion cannot be done, that is, to prevent the sneak attack of their small army, and when Pei Mingyuan comes back from Da Shi, if you can reach an agreement with Da Shi, you should concentrate on exterminating the Qarlu people." ”

"The last general obeys!"

Then. Hu Yong hurried down the steps. His face was a little heavy, and he seemed to have a tube of pigeon letters in his hand. Seeing that Zhang Huan had arrived, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Governor, news has just come from Luoyang. ”

"What's the matter?" Zhang Huan knew from Hu Yongdi's face that it would not be good news.

"It is said that Cui Qinggong's local general Li Shidao defeated the 50,000 Hebei army that came to the rescue of Luoyang in Hanoi, and Yang Yuanhe, who stayed in the eastern capital, has surrendered the city to Cui Qinggong." Speaking of this, Hu Yong sighed and said helplessly: "Luoyang has fallen. ”

"This is what I expected, maybe Cui Qinggong will be the emperor because of this!" Zhang Huan sneered, walked up the steps quickly, and turned back to everyone: "Without further ado, notify everyone to come to the meeting immediately." ”

The room was steaming, and two huge sand tables were put together, one was in the Central Plains, and the other was in Hedong and Hebei, and dozens of high-ranking generals and officials from Longyou were surrounded around the sand table.

"Everyone, the chaos of the Tang Dynasty is about to rise, it is the time when our Longyou Army is turning the tide, the Central Plains has been peaceful for a long time, and the soldiers cannot fight, so Cui Qinggong can also be rampant for a while, and now everyone in the world is waiting for us to make a move, the time has come, it is the time for the monarchs to calm the chaos and establish meritorious achievements for the country."

Zhang Huan glanced at everyone, and finally his gaze stopped on He Lou Wuji's face, and he said solemnly: "How is it, are you ready?" ”

He Lou Wuji was demoted to Zhonglang General by Zhang Huan, he had long hoped to be able to make meritorious service to atone for his crimes, and when he saw Zhang Huan looking at him, he immediately responded loudly: "We are fully prepared, just waiting for the governor to dispatch." ”

"Good!" Zhang Huan nodded, then pointed to the Guanzhong area with a wooden pole and said: "We already have 60,000 troops stationed in Guanzhong, and I will now add 30,000 troops to Chang'an Wannian County to protect the safety of the Beijing Division." ”

"Governor, will Pei Jun allow us to garrison the Beijing Division?" Hu Yong next to him suddenly asked.

Zhang Huan glanced at him and said with a slight smile: "Don't worry!" In the past, he may have been taboo, but now that I am willing to send troops into Beijing, he can't ask for it. ”

After that, he said to Li Su, the envoy of Weizhou soldiers and horses, and Wang Xianhe, the envoy of Jingzhou: "These 30,000 troops will be led into Beijing by the two of you, and they will go tomorrow." ”

The two of them knelt down in unison and saluted, "The last general will obey the order!" ”

Zhang Huan nodded, and then pointed to the Fanyang area in the north with a wooden pole and said: "I have received information that our old opponent Tuoba Qianli is very likely to invade from the Fanyang area, so I am ready to divide the troops into two routes, one is led by me personally, Wang Siyu is the deputy general, and crosses the Yellow River from Hancheng to Luoyang to quell the rebellion of Cui Qinggong, and the 80,000 troops who came back from Anxi are the main force, and the other way

Zhang Huan looked at He Lou Wuji, and then smiled faintly and said, "Led by General He Lou, I will go to Yan'an County first to wait for my news." ”

He Lou Wuji only felt a choking hot current rushing to his nose, he stepped forward and knelt down, and said in a choked voice: "My subordinates will definitely live up to the high expectations of the governor." ”

Zhang Huan helped him up and instructed: "Sending troops to Hebei is an extremely sensitive matter, so you must not be impulsive, you must act according to my instructions, do you understand?" ”

"The words of the governor are remembered by his subordinates

Zhang Huan patted him on the shoulder, and said to Hu Yong and Luo Guangzheng: "The matter of logistics support will trouble you two." ”

The two of them replied solemnly: "Please rest assured, I will do it with all my heart." ”

After Zhang Huan finished instructing, he put away the wooden pole, and smiled at everyone: "Actually, I came back with just a few words, and I can send someone to send a letter, but the old grudge between me and Cui Qinggong to burn back the military food has not been over, so this time I want to personally settle that period of public case with him, everyone listened to him talk about the past, and they all laughed, and suddenly, a soldier at the door flew in and reported: "Governor, the Queen Mother's decree has arrived." ”