"Master Xie, the lower officials are here to ask for sin." In Xie Tong's mansion in Bianzhou, Zheng Fan gave Xie Tong a deep salute, his face full of shame.

Xie Tong sighed deeply, he took a kind of general to escort tens of thousands of prisoners of war who came here to capture more than three months, and dredged the canal of more than 1,000 miles and nearly 2,000 miles in the territory.

Although Zhu Quanzhong's things were hidden, how could they hide it from Zheng Fan and Xie Tong, just a little inquiry to know the reason. Zheng Fan felt that it was all his own fault, and he didn't notice this in time to have the scene of pleading guilty just now.

"Forget it, Brother Zheng, it's not something you can control." Xie Tong helped Zheng Fan up, shook his head, and said with a little interest: "You and I are conceited and qualified, but it's a pity that I didn't count this one." ”

"My lord, what shall we do now?" The pain in Xie Tong's heart Zheng Fan is empathetic, he himself is a very ideal and ambitious person, so he has repeatedly fought against Hu Xiaosi after taking over the Xuanwu Army Intelligence Organization.

"I suddenly felt very envious of Cen Tianshi." Xie Tong did not answer Zheng Fan's words, but inexplicably recalled the past, "It's been ten years since I left Chang'an back then. At that time, he and I were both young people in our twenties, and now we are our own masters, which is a blessing in life. But we didn't have his good luck to meet a master. ”

Xie Tong's words made Zheng Fan also silent for a while, how Li Xuanqing is a person, Zheng Fan, who is in charge of the intelligence organization, may know more than Xie Tong, although he is young, but he does things in a relaxed manner, acts in a very orderly manner, and the most important thing is that he is always consistent, in his opinion, this is a qualified person.

"Why don't we collectively advise the lord tomorrow?" After a while, Zheng Fan said suddenly. But as soon as he finished speaking, he shook his head and smiled bitterly: "This is not a self-confession, alas." ”

"Forget it, let's do our best. As a human minister, how can this disgraceful matter be made public? If these things are announced, how will the people think of our Xuanwu Army? Our foundation will be destroyed overnight. Xie Tong knew Zheng Fan's idea, but he had no way to implement it. Moreover, Zhu Quanzhong's matter is very secretive, if he rashly admonishes, wouldn't it mean that as a courtier, he is monitoring his own lord? This is also the reason why Zheng Fan vetoed himself.

"Forget it, my lord, let's think about how to break the pressure that the Tiance Army has put on us. If the lord has not lost his ambition in the great cause, then it is not a big deal to have a problem with his personal morality. Zheng Fan looked at Xie Tong's pale face and quickly changed the topic.

Zheng Fan's words made Xie Tong secretly shake his head, for him at this time, Zhu Quanzhong was no longer the like-minded lord with him, he could not easily ignore this problem like Zheng Fan. But at this time, I had to comfort myself like this. So after hearing Zheng Fan's words, he calmly asked, "Is there any news about Wang Jian and Li Maozhen who asked you to pass Yang Shouliang and Yang Fugong to contact Sichuan before?" ”

"Yes, Wang Jian and Li Maozhen are very interested in jointly dealing with the Tiance Army, but there is a problem that their strength is not good, so they are unwilling to take the lead against the Tiance Army. Moreover, my subordinates have also reported that the Tiance Army has secretly assembled an army of 100,000 men in Hanzhong, and it has not yet been ascertained what the next move will be. Zheng Fan briefly introduced the intelligence trends during this period and continued: "According to the current situation, the situation should be good, as long as the Tiance Army moves, it will inevitably arouse Li Maozhen and Wang Jian to unite with the other party's Tiance Army, so that the attention of the Western Tiance Army can be contained." ”

Xie Tong nodded and said: "The lord didn't continue to act on the southern front, even if he gave Yang Xingmi a chance to breathe, then the small knots he had won over before would also lose interest in holding together because of the great reduction in pressure, and turn to internal fighting, you have to find a way to provoke Gao Yu and Yang Xingmi to fight on the southern front, as well as the battle between Pei Yili and Yang Xingmi, and the battle between Sun Ru and Qian Bi." All in all, it is necessary to put the south in a fratricidal situation, to provide a safe southern environment for us and Li Xuanqing to separate the winners and losers, and even if the battle for the northern front is lost, the decline of the south will leave us with a way out of the south. When it came to the situation, Xie Tong also seemed to suppress the disappointment in his heart, and became eloquent, "When the time comes, we can break through from the Central Plains, let Yang Fugong attack in Shannan Road, contact Ezhou's road trial and Yuezhou Duhong to find a way to jointly send troops, so that Li Xuanqing's entire southern front will be in the flames of war." ”

"Yang Shouliang and Lu Jian are all moss diseases after all, and Li Xuanqing's main force will definitely be concentrated on our Xuanwu Army at that time. What can you do? Zheng Fan thought about it for a little time and found the problem in Xie Tong's strategy.

Xie Tong glanced at Zheng Fan, nodded, and continued with a smile on his face: "I have already arranged, when the time comes, let Ge Cunzhou lead an elite army to attack from near Luzhou, if the situation on the eastern front is superior, take advantage of the situation to occupy Taiyuan Mansion, if the eastern front is unsatisfactory, turn to the vicinity of Shaanzhou, rush to Chang'an, mobilize the main force of the Tiance Army to help, we can annihilate the enemy in the rescue." ”

Xie Tong's words made Zheng Fan stumble for a while, if this grand strategy is to be implemented, the tactical feints and army movements that need to be done are too large, and they need to be considered systematically. However, the battle with Li Xuanqing basically represents the final battle of northern China, so it is also worth considering the dispatch of the entire Xuanwu army. Thinking of this, Zheng Fan persuaded Zhu Quanzhong to stop going south and admired the five-body surrender when Xie Tong was captured in Xuzhou.

"And I also inadvertently got a secret about this canal repair." Xie Tong thought for a while, and suddenly walked to Zheng Fan's side and whispered: "The secret weapon used by the Tiance Army on the battlefield last time was a recipe for the alchemy of the Taoist priests, I have brought it back, you immediately arrange the most secret manpower to test, and be sure to come up with the specific method of use before the big war." Xie Tong took out a thin piece of paper from his arms and handed it to Zheng Fan, and said solemnly: "Brother Zheng, this is a major matter related to the life and death of our Xuanwu Army, no one can say it before it is used, not even the lord, do you understand?" ”

"Please rest assured, Zheng Fan will take the head guarantee." Zheng Fan's words made Xie Tong nod and continued: "I heard that this thing is very powerful and is not suitable for experiments in the city, you go find a hidden place." ”

Xie Tong sighed and said: "We have done everything that can be done, and the rest depends on who this providence belongs to the Tang family and who will eventually fall into the hands of the Tang family." ”

Xie Tong's mood today is very bad, and the sigh from time to time also makes Zheng Fan on the side rush to a trace of gloom, and after taking over this important mission, he walked out of Xie Tong's mansion and walked back, at this time and in the middle of August, Bianzhou City has become a little prosperous because of the canal trade in the previous stage, and all kinds of goods from the north are constantly being sold in the streets and alleys of Bianzhou. Originally, Zheng Fan didn't bother to ask at all, but when he looked at the goods that appeared in front of him from time to time, he was suddenly startled, realized what was wrong, turned his head and hurried back to Xie Tong's mansion again.

"I understand what Brother Zheng means, but this is no longer the time to think about this." Zheng Fan gave a general overview of the trade situation during this time, but this matter itself was Zhu Youshu in charge, so he only knew a rough idea. However, Xie Tong only understood the intention of Li Xuanqing's move with a slight reaction, so he smiled bitterly: "Li Xuanqing has found a good time for the merchants in his jurisdiction, at this time, we can't spare the time and energy to deal with these businessmen, and since we are in charge of this matter of the fourth prince, how should you and I interfere?" I heard that during this time, the fourth prince has increased the tax revenue of the treasury by a large margin, and the lord is very happy about this, how can we interrupt this interest? ”

Xie Tong's words made Zheng Fan stunned for a moment, and then he understood the crux of the problem, and he could only smile bitterly and nodded: "According to what Mr. said, I can't interfere in this matter, forget it, since this is the case, I won't interfere, maybe I can still give Li Xuanqing an illusion, we didn't see through his actions, and provided some suddenness for supporting Chuanzhong." ”

Zheng Fan's words were just wishful thinking, and even he knew this himself, his opponent was not a person who was stronger than himself, how could he not know his actions. Thinking of this, Zheng Fan felt a little powerless.

"You can't ignore it at all, your men have to secretly spy on these merchants, and if it's just a simple business, don't leave him alone. In addition, arranging for some of our own businessmen to participate in it will not only provide one more intelligence channel, but also earn some money. Xie Tong comforted Zheng Fan with rare words.

"In that case, I'll go back and arrange it next horse." Zheng Fan nodded and left. And Xie Tong looked at Zheng Fan's departing back and was silent for a long time, and his emaciated figure changed, as if he was about to fall down at any time.

When Xie Tong and Zheng Fan were discussing the next move of the Xuanwu Army and the strategic considerations of the Tiance Army, they were far away in the General Staff Building of the Tiance Army in Chang'an, and Yang Tiancheng and Xu Tianxiang, who had secretly returned from the front line, were working together to plan the Sichuan Raid. But as with the previous considerations, the Sichuan Raiders are not worth mentioning for any of the two, but there is no way to solve the troublesome problems.

"Xue Yang, you've been in Hanzhong for almost a year, tell me, what are your insights on the marching road?" Yang Tiancheng carefully explored whether there was a suitable road on the map, and asked Xue Yang, the acting general of the group army who had rushed back from Hanzhong.

"The last general thinks that the battle in central Sichuan must be lightly armed and aggressive in the current situation, cross the Qinling Mountains before the opponent has time to react, and at least reach the ancient camp of Qishan, so as to occupy this strategic place that is conducive to defense and not conducive to attack, so that we can contain Li Maozhen's throat out of Sichuan." Xue Yang has become a lot more mature after running in the various branches of the group army during this time, and he stepped forward to answer when he heard Yang Tiancheng's inquiry.

Xu Tianxiang nodded on the side, but he didn't say anything, just glanced at Yang Yi, who had never spoken, and didn't know what he was thinking.

"The last general still has an immature idea, and I want to ask the chief of staff and the chief of the division to review it." Xue Yang gritted his teeth and suddenly stepped forward and said.

"Oh, what do you think?" Yang Tiancheng glanced at Xue Yang curiously and said with a smile: "I don't eat people, just say anything you want." ”

"I want to imitate Deng Ai in history, Yin Ping is dangerous, go south from Chengzhou, lead the army along the western front to break through, bypass Wenzhou and Longzhou, and lead the army to appear from Mianzhou. At the same time, the main force of the army attracted the enemy along the meridian valley to the area north of Jianzhou and Langzhou and south of Xingyuanfu, so that the appearance of the partial army in the hinterland of Sichuan would inevitably make Li Maozhen panic, and quickly draw troops from the front line to help, and we could annihilate the enemy on the way. Xue Yang thought about it and began to explain his plan little by little on the sand table.

In fact, this strategy is not worth anything, Deng Ai defended Chengdu in one fell swoop after the Yin Ping danger in history, and forced Liu Chan to surrender within three days. He now wants to replicate the scene as well.

Xu Tianxiang and Yang Tiancheng glanced at each other, and suddenly smiled and said: "It seems that the days in Hanzhong during this period of time have not been in vain, considering that things no longer blindly rely on force, and they have a good understanding of the strength comparison and dynamics of the enemy and us." Seeing Xue Yang being said, he was a little embarrassed and smiled: "Okay, I won't tease you." Your plan is good, but there's so much you need to do, so—"

Seeing Xue Yang hear himself pause, his eyes looked straight at him, and he simply stopped hanging his appetite and said: "Your Director Yang is going to go to Hanzhong with you in the near future, as for whether your idea will be agreed, it depends on the will of the lord and the follow-up intelligence from Xuan Yingwei's side." ”

"I agree." Xu Tianxiang just finished speaking, Li Xuanqing's clear voice came from outside the hall, and then Li Xuanqing walked in with Hu Xiaosi.

"Xue Yang looks good." Li Xuanqing stopped everyone from saluting, and smiled at Xue Yang: "I have done a good job during this time, I agree with your plan, but you still need to communicate with the General Staff to formulate a feasible battle plan." ”

"Please rest assured, Xue Yang swears to take Sichuan, saddle the horse for the lord, and never give up." Xue Yang was also very excited when he saw Li Xuanqing agreeing with his idea, and hurriedly stood up and bowed to receive the order.

"Well, I'm not here to tell you that." Li Xuanqing helped Xue Yang up and glanced at Xiao Si, who stepped forward and said with a smile: "Brothers, what I want to say is that there has also been a change on the side of the Xuanwu Army, and Zheng Fan and Xie Tong have also started to arrange in Sichuan after returning to Bianzhou, so everyone must hurry up, and they can't lose to the Xuanwu Army." ”

"Okay, Xiaosi, the movements of the Xuanwu Army were discovered by you so quickly, you have no way to divert their attention?" Before Hu Xiaosi finished speaking, Yang Tiancheng pursed his lips and smiled: "I heard that your Xuan Yingwei has arranged all the eyeliner in Zhu Quanzhong's bedroom, can this matter still stump our General Hu?" ”

"I'm here to remind you to get ready, who says I can't handle them?" Hu Xiaosi suddenly said in annoyance.

"Do you really have a way?" This sentence made Xu Tianxiang also interested, and he came over and smiled.