When the recruitment began, it was already the middle of spring. And at this time, a big event happened in the north.

Since Li Congjing returned to Youzhou, everything has been a little stable, there is no war outside, no political strife inside, and the military intelligence department seems to be idle. However, the occurrence of this incident shows that no matter whether the situation is stable or not, the military intelligence department, which is one of the trump cards in Li Congjing's hands, has never had a moment of laziness and slackness.

The MI sent back news from the steppes that they had found the son of the long-missing yellow-headed chieftain on the steppe.

In the past, the Huangtou and Stinkbo tribes on the grasslands in the western part of the Northern Desert were dissatisfied with the cruel rule of the Khitan, and they raised troops in anger and launched a struggle against the Khitan. However, due to the small strength of the two tribes of Huangtou and Stinkbo, in less than half a year after the incident, they were defeated by the Khitan Western Expeditionary Army led by Yelubei, and the two chieftains were killed by Yelubei's army.

After that battle, the two tribes, the cattle and sheep, the goods, and the pastures fell into the hands of Jerubi. However, before Yelu Bei digested the results of the battle and brought all the two places under his control, Yelu Abaoji ordered Yelu Bei to aid Yelu in the east and attack Yingzhou. Because of this, when the two places carried out the transfer of power in Yelubei and Yeludeguang, there was a weak period of suppression. The son of the yellow-headed chieftain, who was already defeated and on the run, was a lost dog, and was in danger, but he was able to save his life and escape the pursuit of the Khitan army.

Now half a year has passed, Mu Gehua, the son of the yellow-headed chieftain, was actually found by the military intelligence department.

The Military Intelligence Department's search for Mukohua was not an accidental adventure, but a deliberate search for a long time.

In the autumn of the first year of Tongguang, when Li Congjing escaped from the Yelu Bei camp and returned south with the Junzidu, he left a lot of military intelligence lineup, so that they could pay close attention to the conquest of Yelu Beixi. Soon after the Battle of Bianguan, Li Congjing received news that the son of the Huangtou chieftain had been able to escape. For this reason, he ordered the Military Intelligence Service to search for Mukohua as much as possible.

Huangtou and Stinky Bo, since the army and the Khitan are fighting, it can become Li Congjing's ally to deal with the Khitan, because of the late north, before the Huangtou and Stinky Bo two troops started, Li Congjing did not contact it and participated in a big move, and he missed the opportunity for the two troops of Huangtou and Stinky Bo to raise troops, and did not make good use of it, so that it was beneficial to himself, Li Congjing has always been very sorry.

Although the two tribes of Huangtou and Stinky Bo are weak and cannot compete with the Khitan head-on, they are grassland tribes after all, and if they are foreign aid, the significance is very different, and the role they may play is immeasurable. If it can be used as a springboard to extend his influence to the grassland, it is not impossible for Li Congjing to make the Khitan backyard catch fire, or to plot it from behind, or to provoke turmoil in the grassland.

At present, although the two main forces of Huangtou and Stinky Bo are destroyed, they can also have a plan with the son of their chief.

Li Congjing remembered something.

Temujin went from being the son of an exiled tribal leader, wandering the steppes and starving, to being able to regain control of the Mongols and dominate the world. Why was he able to "make a comeback"? Admittedly, Temujin was eloquent. But in addition, especially in the early days, the reason why it was able to win widespread recognition and support was because of its own "aristocratic" status and chieftain blood.

This shows the importance of the word "prince".

Now, as long as Mu Gehua is alive, if he has the opportunity, he himself is a thousand troops.

After getting the news from the Military Intelligence Department, Li Congjing asked the Military Intelligence Department to find a way to secretly invite Mu Gehua to Youzhou.

A few days later, Li Congjing held a banquet at the mansion with the etiquette of receiving "old friends" and entertained Mukowa, who was dressed in disguise and followed the sharp soldiers of the Military Intelligence Department to "worship the pier".

Mu Gehua is in his thirties, a typical grassland man, with a strong body, a rough and bold temperament, a tiger-like demeanor, simple and direct speech, although he is dressed in Han clothes, a clear-eyed person can see at a glance that he is different from the Han people.

"Mu Gehua of the Huangtou clan, I have seen General Li." Mu Gehua bent down and stroked his chest, and greeted Li Congjing very politely, "Thank you very much, my friend, for being able to lend us a helping hand when we need help the most, and the yellow head will always remember this kindness." ”

Mu Gehua's words are not hypocritical.

Since the defeat of the Yellow Head Army, Mu Gehua, as the son of the chieftain, has been pursued and killed by the Khitan troops, and has been fleeing all over the grassland. All the tribes of the grassland, now either loyal to the Khitan, or afraid of the Khitan, do not take in Mugehua, because these days, he has had a very difficult time, saying that hunger and cold, hunger and hunger are light, they are always facing the pursuit and killing, including not only Khitan soldiers, but also other grassland tribes, because of the Khitan order, or in order to curry favor with the Khitan, and encircled and suppressed it. In the past six months, it has been extremely difficult for Mu Gehua to survive completely, which shows his will and talent.

Even so, the hundreds of people who accompanied him that day are now less than 100 people left, and all of them are yellow and thin, obviously malnourished, and they can't hold on for a long time at first glance. If it weren't for the fact that the MI found them and took them to Youzhou this time, who knows how long they could survive in the grassland?

Li Congjing returned the salute and said with a smile: "There is a saying in the Central Plains, 'Wouldn't it be nice to have friends from afar?'" Ben Shuai has long heard that Mu Gehua is a warrior admired by thousands of people on the grassland, and when he sees it today, it is really extraordinary. You and I are thousands of miles apart, but it is a blessing to see each other today! ”

"The people of the dead dare not speak bravely." Mu Gehua is very respectful, modest and cautious, "But the general's name has already spread all over the grassland, although Mu Gehua is thousands of miles away, but he listens to the people around him talk about you every day." Mu Gehua has long wanted to see the general, and today he got his wish, which is really the kindness of Immortal Heaven! ”

Li Congjing laughed and invited Mu Gehua to sit down.

During the banquet, accompanied by Wei Dao and Zhang Ziyun, Li Congjing saw that Mu Gehua was followed by a person, burly, with bright eyes, not angry but mighty, very surprised, and invited him to take a seat.

The man said angrily: "The master is here, and the slave will not sit." After just five words, he stopped saying half a minute.

Li Congjing didn't think it was a pestle, but praised it: "Standing like a strong pine, not moving like a mountain, a real warrior!" ”

Mu Gehua thanked him, turned around and whispered to the man: "Xinu, since General Li asked you to sit, you will sit down." ”

Xinu didn't say a word, the urn answered, and he took a seat after bowing to Li Congjing.

Li Congjing was even more surprised, and glanced at Mu Gehua who was restrained, although the other party had not eaten for a long time at a glance, but in the face of the table full of delicacies, he didn't seem to have seen it, and didn't take a second look. Li Congjing looked at Xinu again, he didn't squint, and his whole energy was focused on Mu Gehua, as if he was on call at any time.

Li Congjing remained silent, but a gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Come, please drink this cup!" Li Congjing raised his wine glass and greeted Mu Gehua. Mu Gehua hurriedly raised his glass and drank with Li Congjing.

At the moment, the guests and hosts talked happily and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Halfway through the banquet, Li Congjing asked Mu Gehua, "Jun is from the grassland, I don't know how the grassland is now?" ”

Li Congjing's words were asked broadly, and the meaning was not very clear, but Mu Gehua's identity was there, Li Congjing asked, and he had his own words of response, saying: "The grassland Khitan is strong, the Northern Desert grassland is in the hands of the Khitan, and to the west of the Northern Desert, there are still many tribes that are in their own ways, and their power is weaker than that of the Khitan." In the territory of the Khitan, the eight chieftains lost their power, and half of the northern desert was Khitan cities, and the Khitan power was already stable. ”

Li Congjing nodded in understanding, and then asked: "The Khitan is so strong, why did your ministry raise troops and compete with it before?" ”

Mu Gehua's face did not change, and he said excitedly: "The Khitan is brutal, and the people of this tribe are not happy, so they do not hesitate to fight to the death. ”

Li Congjing shook his head, as if he disapproved of Mu Gehua's words, and said: "It is unwise to know that you can't do it; Because of unwisdom, the army was raised, so the army was defeated in less than half a year. Not only has you lost the glory of the past, but now you are also forced to die at the end of the world, and the day is not safe, isn't it sad? People are valuable in having self-knowledge, when they know how to advance and retreat, and know honor and disgrace, so that they can keep their whole body name. ”

"Respected general, as the son of the chief, Mu Gehua can't keep the people in the clan grazing and living in peace, and can't let the clansmen not be oppressed, so he can enjoy a moment of glory, how is it different from digging his own grave? Mu Gehua once heard the Central Plains saying, that people have no long-term worries, although Huang Tou is unable to build a country to resist the Khitan, but there is no lack of heart to advance and retreat with the people! Mu Gehua's words were eloquent. I don't know if he drank too much wine, his face was a little flushed, and his emotions seemed to be gradually excited.

Li Congjing still shook his head and said again: "Jun's ambition and courage are certainly commendable, but because of his momentary bravery, the tribe was ruined by a strong saber, and this commander thought it was not a wise move. According to this handsome, the person who knows the times is Junjie, the husband has something to do and does not do, for the name of the king, if he returns in the face of difficulty, he is bound in front of Yelu Abao's fuselage, or he can be used by the Khitan, to the worst, and he can also ensure that he has no worries about food and clothing, and there is no need to suffer from sleeping in the open and being displaced as he is now. ”

In these words, Li Congjing analyzed the situation very clearly: the Khitan is powerful, and it is not something that the yellow head can compete with, instead of fighting with the Khitan, being chased and killed everywhere, and the day is not safe, it is better to "change the past" and bow to the Khitan, if so, with the identity of Mu Gehua, maybe it will be enabled by the Khitan to calm people's hearts. If Mu Gehua surrenders, Abaoji will at least not kill Mu Gehua in order to show his mind and for the needs of the rule. In this way, the most unfortunate, Mu Gehua was "house arrested" by the Khitan all his life, but he had no worries about food and clothing, and he did not have to suffer as he does now.

When Mu Gehua heard this, he got up violently and said impassionedly: "Yelu Abao killed my tribe, killed my people, slaughtered my brothers, and humiliated my chief, causing the yellow head to suffer an unprecedented disaster. After that, he left the table, saluted Li Congjing, and said proudly when he got up: "Today, thanks to the general's kind treatment, Mu Gehua is grateful, if he has the opportunity in the future, Mu Gehua will definitely have something to repay and leave!" ”

With that, he took Xinu with him, and without looking back, he strode out the door.

During the banquet, Wei Dao and Zhang Ziyun glanced at each other, and then looked at Li Congjing together.

Li Congjing smiled, stood up, and stopped Mu Gehua, who was about to leave this place.

The next day, the Jiedu envoy's mansion, Li Congjing's east study, Wei Dao, Zhang Ziyun and Li Congjing sat opposite each other.

Li Congjing smiled and asked Wei Dao and Zhang Ziyun, "What do you think of Mu Gehua?" ”

Wei Dao's status is higher, Zhang Ziyun asked him to say it first, and he took the time to say: "Sharp and introverted, well-behaved, modest and cautious, but in his heart, he is actually resolute and strong, with hot blood and strong bones, and he seems to have revenge." ”

Last night, Mu Gehua was about to leave because he and Li Congjing were "unhappy in talking" and were suspected of not conspiring with each other. Li Congjing stopped him, praised Mu Gehua's pure heart, and invited him to stay for a drink, which was the last banquet until midnight, and the guests and hosts dispersed happily. Now, Mu Gehua and dozens of others are temporarily staying in the Jiedu Embassy's mansion.

Zhang Ziyun agreed with Wei Dao's analysis, he said: "As the son of the dead clan, in the predicament that the grassland tribes did not accept it, but instead sent troops to chase and kill, it is not easy to escape for half a year without dying, which shows Mu Gehua's ability." During the banquet, I looked at the people around him, all of them had a heroic spirit, especially the one named Xinu, who seemed to have the courage of ten thousand people, and obeyed Mu Gehua's words, and throughout the banquet, his eyes never left Mu Gehua, nor did he drink, and the meaning of protection was very obvious. fled in half a year, there were only dozens of people left around him, and he could still get his entourage to be treated so loyally, Mu Gehua was very human! ”

Li Congjing smiled and said: "It's not a human being, but if it can't be used by me, what if it's a hero?" ”

Zhang Ziyun was silent, Wei Dao didn't like to hide it, and said bluntly: "Mu Gehua, this grassland Yi clan, if you can't use it for me, in order to avoid future troubles, you should kill it!" ”

Li Congjing smiled and said nothing.

When Wei Dao saw Li Congjing's appearance, he said tentatively: "During the banquet, the military marshal once tested Mu Gehua with words, and judging his reaction, words and deeds, the military marshal thinks that this person can be used?" ”

"During the banquet, Ben Shuai tried Mu Gehua three times, and at the beginning of the Khitan was strong, he tried his courage; Then test his mind with personal glory and wealth; Third, try its wisdom with the current situation. If you have the courage, you dare to continue to be the enemy of the Khitan; The mind is tenacious, so that he can not care about the temporary honor and disgrace, will not be moved by financial power, and will not change his will for revenge; Wisdom is very good, so we can know what to do and what not to do, and how to do it. Only with these three can we become our friends and conspire with the Khitan! Li Congjing said lightly.

Zhang Ziyun leaned over slightly, revealing curiosity and concern, "Then with Mu Gehua's answer and reaction, Gongzi thinks, is this person available?" ”

Li Congjing was calm and unhurried: "The first glance is acceptable. However, those who seek great things must not determine allies because of temporary intentions and friendships on several sides, and must be familiar with their temperament, otherwise they will not succeed in major affairs, and they will be even more tiring and tiring to themselves. ”

Zhang Ziyun immediately came to his senses, "In this way, it remains to be seen." The military marshal settled it in the guest house in the house, which not only shows the meaning of closeness, but also has this intention, right? ”

"Yes, yes."

Wei Dao suddenly said: "If you really want to use this person, the lower officials think that there is still one thing to try, and you need to try it first." ”

"Why?"

"His heart treats the Tang Dynasty."