Chapter 483: Warlord

The thirtieth day of the lunar month, Weizhou. (Niu Wen ~ Net)

This day is the traditional Chinese "New Year's Eve", and the evening is called "Chinese New Year's Eve"; At the same time, this day is also the day when Yao Pingzhong and Xu Wei led the soldiers and horses of the southwest to defend Fengxiang and fight desperately against the Jin army; It was also the day when Liu Ziyu, a staff officer of the Xuanfu Disposal Department, arrived at Xu Yuan's "lair" with a letter of appointment.

It is a bit far-fetched to say that Weizhou is Xu Yuan's "lair", although the generals of the Western Army have more or less "warlord" habits, but after all, the army is still the king of the Son of Heaven, not an individual armed force. However, Jingyuan all the way, from the old Xu Jing, Xu Mao, played the Xu Zi flag when he was alive. Xu Yuan, the eldest son of Xu Mao, has been leading troops to fight on Jingyuan Road, and although he has experienced in other places in Shaanxi, he finally returned to Jingyuan and took over his father's class.

Weizhou, as the location of the Yuanjing Yuan Jingluo Pacification Division, has been guarded by the Xu family for two generations, and its influence in this place is incomparable. This is also the reason why Xu Yuanzuo was the North Road Recruitment Division, and after annexing Huanqing 1st Road, he still did not change the location of the Shuaifu and insisted on staying in Weizhou.

As soon as Liu Ziyu arrived in Weizhou City, he immediately went to visit Xu Yuan, but the Xianggong did not see him immediately, but let him stay in the pavilion and dry him up. For several days, the worried Liu Yanxiu came to the door several times but was blocked. He really couldn't figure out whether Xu Yuan was supporting his own troops or passing on other information.

On this day, the chiefs of the Fan clan in Jingyuan will come to visit Xu Yuan. The two generations of the Xu family guarded the town, and the prestige was extremely high, and all the Qiang in the territory called the old Xu Jingluo Xianggong as "Xu's father" and called Xu Yuan "Xiaoshuai". The prestige of the Xu clan is an important force in suppressing the border ethnic minorities.

After finishing his official business, when Xu Yuan returned to the mansion, he learned that Liu Ziyu had come again, but he was still blocked back.

"Dad, this is the fourth time Liu Ziyu has come to the door, and I won't see you again, is it unreasonable?" Xu Yan took the robe taken off by his father and handed it to his family.

Xu Yuan held the tea bowl to warm his palms, and hummed: "Liu Ziyu ran errands for the third uncle this time, and he didn't have a good heart. Ten have **, and they want me to send troops to resist the Jin people. The third uncle was confused, he had been a civil servant for decades, and he forgot about the march and battle. hastily assembled a large army to counterattack, resulting in the defeat of Yanzhou, this responsibility, he must shoulder this responsibility, otherwise how to convince the public? ”

"Although this grandfather is responsible, the front-line command is the business of the ninth uncle, can he not escape the involvement?" Xu Yan was interested in this question.

Xu Yuan exhaled deeply from his nose and sighed: "Old Jiu, it's still a little tender, let the third uncle be a gunman." The well-behaved Tiger Army was stunned and killed and wounded more than half. He also has responsibility, but not for the defeat, but for not trying to stop it before the war. It is estimated that his control is over, believe it or not, now Liu Ziyu is mostly holding a letter of appointment in his hand, and he wants to clean up this mess for his father. ”

"Why? Uncle Zu and Uncle Jiu's bad things, why do you have to ask your father to clean it up? Before the war, his father repeatedly reminded him that he just didn't listen. This time, we will ask for 20,000 people on the North Road, and we will lose all our money, and we will even lose one Zhang Jun, so I will panic," Xu Yan said dissatisfied.

When it came to this, Xu Yuan was angry, put the tea bowl on a few places, and said hatefully: "Zhang Baiying, this handful of birds, actually turned their backs to the enemy, and Lao Tzu's face was not only due to him following me for many years, this donkey day thing"

"Hmph, I don't think he's a sincere person, poke a stick and jump, his selfishness is so heavy that he betrays and surrenders, will it affect our North Road Division?" Xu Yan sat down at the bottom.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment and said, "If someone wants to make an article about this, it's a good thing." But now, in the three-way courtesy, only my soldiers on the north road are strong and strong, and the top is still counting on us, and they won't talk about this. ”

When Xu Yan heard this, he smiled heartily and said: "That's good, no matter how he makes trouble, let's sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and have a good time." ”

Xu Yuan stared at him, frowned, and said, "What is bullshit to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight?" You speak with your brain."

"If my son loses his words for a while, don't blame my father." Xu Yan apologized, but he still had a smile on his face. Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered something, and said, "By the way, Dad, the news from Jingzhou says that the Jin army has entered Fengxiang Mansion." ”

Xu Yuan shook his head: "Expected." The army was defeated so badly in Dunzhou that it was unable to hold the defensive line at all, so it could only shrink its forces. I estimate that your ninth uncle will guard Fengxiang and block the way of the Jin army to Shu, and Fengxiang will have a vicious battle. Liu Ziyu came here to appoint me as the commander of the capital on behalf of the Xuanfu Disposal Department and sent troops to Fengxiang to help in the war. ”

"If you don't go, who loves to go, we finally have today's scale, in case we go out and lose, who will be the loser?" Xu Yan said with a stiff neck.

Xu Yuan did not answer, from a military perspective, if Fengxiang was lost, the Jin army would definitely use it as a base and go out to conquer. To the south, you can attack Sichuan, to the west you can map the Qinfengxi River, and to the north, it is Jingzhou, our defense area. And the state is next to Jingzhou. Personally, the Lord is more complicated.

In my own generation, excluding my cousins, I have five cousins. When my father was alive, he often said that the second uncle was a sincere gentleman, but the third uncle had a delicate heart. Therefore, his long house is very close to the second uncle's family, and the third uncle, if he has the opportunity to meet, he will give his son and nephew a gift, and that's it. The ninth brother must be difficult in Fengxiang now, if I don't help him, it's really hard to say whether I can defend the city or not. Moreover, Xu Cheng is also in his ninth uncle's army, which makes people embarrassed.

After thinking about it for a long time, he suddenly said, "You personally go and ask Liu Ziyu to come over to the house." ”

Xu Yan didn't seem to understand, and said suspiciously: "Dad, please Liu Ziyu?" ”

"Well, don't delay this year's affairs until next year, let him come, I want to see what the third uncle wants to say." Xu Yuandao.

"Dad, that Liu Ziyu is the son of Liu Tao, who has always been clever, if he sees his father, he will definitely encourage him to lobby," Xu Yan reminded.

Xu Yuan was a little impatient: "He said his, the soldiers and horses are in my hands, can he still pull them away?" Let him come" Xu Yan didn't say anything, and immediately went out of the house to the pavilion to meet Liu Ziyu.

When I arrived at the pavilion, on this Chinese New Year's Eve, where else did officials live here? Therefore, it was extremely deserted, and when Xu Yan led the people there, he bumped into Liu Ziyu at a single table, pouring himself a drink in the canteen, enjoying himself. He then walked over, threw the horsewhip on the table, and said loudly: "Staff Officer Liu, the young general is on the orders of his father, Shuai Jun, please come over to the house and leave." ”

Liu Ziyu saw such rudeness, and thought that he couldn't ask to see Xu Yuan for days, so he said lukewarmly: "This Chinese New Year's Eve, gather together, the next official is afraid that it is not good to disturb, right?" ”

"You're a man...... If you want to go, you will go, where is the nonsense? Let's go, let's see what you want to say, huh. Xu Yan said impatiently.

Liu Ziyu frowned, he had seen Xu Yuan's second son Xu Cheng in the Tiger Shuai Army, and he had a good impression. I didn't expect this Xu Yan to be so unbearable. There must be a father and a son, it seems that this time Xu Yuan is not so easy to say. But Fengxiang's situation is critical, Zijin Tiger is defeated with remnants, I don't know how long it can last, no matter how difficult it is, it will have to be hard-headed.

Therefore, he didn't care about Xu Yan, and after calmly drinking a glass of wine, he got up and said, "There is Lao Xiaoshuai to guide the way." ”

Xu Yan retrieved the horsewhip from the table, twitched it on his thigh again, and glanced at Liu Ziyu again before turning around and leaving. When Liu Ziyu saw his behavior, he became more and more disgusted.

Everyone got on their horses and went to Xu Yuan's mansion. Xu Yan and others deliberately deceived Liu Ziyu's civil servants, and galloped wildly in the market, which shocked the people to avoid it one after another, leaving Liu Ziyu far behind.

When he arrived at Xu's mansion, Xu Yan had already disappeared, leaving only one person to greet him, Liu Ziyu was deeply ashamed, but he could only endure the heavy responsibility here, and after the report, he had to enter the mansion.

At that time, Xu Yuan took off his armor and changed his clothes, sat in the flower hall to roast and drink tea, and after Liu Ziyu stepped into the threshold, he bowed and said: "The lower officials have seen the courtesy." ”

"Sit down, I am busy with official business for days, and I can't see each other, don't blame Counselor Liu." Xu Yuan said casually.

Liu Ziyu did not express any opinion on this topic, and after taking a seat, he first told Xu Yuan about the situation of the Song and Jin armies. The Yanjin army has occupied Fangyao Erzhou and Jingzhao Yifu, and now the main force is stationed in Fengxiang, and is fighting for the city with Xu Wei and Yao Pingzhong, and the situation is very critical.

After hearing this, Xu Yuan did not comment, but only asked: "At the beginning, the Xuanfu Prime Minister placed the troops directly under him, claiming that there were police at different times and could respond quickly. Where are the direct troops now? ”

"Xu Hong and Xu Sheng led 20,000 troops to guard the area of Dasanguan and Shangyuan, and prevented the Jin people from entering Shu." Liu Ziyu replied truthfully. Unexpectedly, Xu Yuan highlighted a sentence, and Liu Ziyu was taken aback

"Is it to prevent the Jin people from entering Shu, or to ensure the peace of Xuanfu?"

When Xu Shao moved the Xuanfu Disposal Division to Chengzhou, bordering Shudi, Xu Hong and Xu Sheng guarded the Dasan Pass, and it did have the role of protecting the Xuanfu Disposal Division. But priorities need to be clear, how can they be confused? This Xu Zhaoyu is Xu Xuanfu's own nephew, how can he say such a thing?

"There is no matter of Xuanfu Disposal Division moving to Chengzhou, and the Great Scattered Pass must be guarded, why did you say this?" Liu Ziyu asked rhetorically.

"Hmph, before the army was assembled, Ben Shuai repeatedly admonished not to move lightly. The boss ignored it, and if there was such a defeat, tens of thousands of soldiers were folded in Yanzhou, which was something that had not been done in the Western Army, which made people feel distressed," Xu Yuan said with a little anger.

I don't know if it's because his question is irrefutable, or for some other reason, Liu Ziyu didn't defend this issue. Seeing this, Xu Yuan continued: "Today's chaos is rampant, and the northern Yi is rampant, so the court relies on only the Western Army. The defeat of Yanzhou, the bad impact of which is not in Shaanxi."

Liu Ziyu was still silent, he knew that he would never be able to say clearly when he was entangled on this issue. Xu Zhaojiao and Xu Xuanfu each looked at the problem from their own standpoint, and there would never be a unified result.

"This time the Jin army invaded, there was originally only one way, and there was no move in Shaanxi. This is precisely the time when the Western Army is recuperating and recuperating, and as long as the troops are well trained, and the money and food are saved, after a few years, when the time is ripe, there will be much to be done to carry out a counteroffensive. Now it's like child's play, how can it be undefeated? ”

After a burst of complaints, Liu Ziyu did not refute, defend, or express any opinions from beginning to end. Xu Yuan rested for a moment before asking, "Yan Xiu is here, what is the matter?" ”

Liu Ziyu took out the appointment letter from his side, got up and stepped forward and said: "According to Xu Xuanfu's order, the marshal is appointed as the commander of the Xuanfu disposal department, in charge of the army, and presiding over the Jin military. ”

Xu Yuan showed a smile on his face, and as expected, the third uncle really worshiped me to clean up the mess for the capital control. When Liu Ziyu presented the letter of appointment, he didn't take it, but said with words: "How can Xu be virtuous? Dare to take on this important task? ”

Liu Ziyu was not embarrassed, put the appointment letter on the coffee table next to the other party, and took out another object and said: "This is a letter written by the Xianggong Xuanfu, please ask the Xianggong to look at it." ”

He could not accept the letter of appointment, but he was not easy to refuse Xu Shao's handwritten letter, so he took it with both hands, and did not shy away from it, so he immediately opened it and read it. Liu Ziyu returned to his original seat and did not look at him until he finished reading the letter.

In the letter, Xu Shao persuaded from three levels: justice, personal feelings, and Xu Yuan's own interests. Let Xu Da take over the command of the capital and lead the army to help the war. The wording was very gentle, and he did not say anything about the North Road Recruitment Division resisting the order and not sending troops a few days in advance. Xu Da looked at it, and his face was cloudy.

Seeing this, Liu Ziyu took the opportunity to speak: "The meaning of recruiting the Xianggong and Fengxiang in Shaanxi is clearer than the lower officials. If Fengxiang is lost, the Jin army's forward base will advance 800 miles from Yan'an. If the other party has a firm foothold in Fengxiang, he can map all of Shaanxi to the west, attack Sichuan to the south, and to the north, it is a defense area to recruit the prime minister. Today, Yao and Xu recruited the remnants of the army to hold on, and the situation may not be guaranteed, so don't say that the minister does not send troops, that is, the troops are sent a few days late, and the situation may also change greatly. The stakes are clearly discerned. ”

Xu Yuan looked at him when he heard this, and said lukewarmly: "People say that Liu Yanxiu can speak well, and he is known as Tiezui in the Xuanfu Disposal Division. ”

Liu Ziyu's face did not change, and he laughed loudly: "Since ancient times, anyone who is a lobbyist has to the point and has something to say. If not, it will blow into the sky, how can it work? The subordinate is here, and it is definitely the order of the boss, but what is said, which one is not about Jingyuan, not about the whole of Shaanxi? ”

Xu Yuan was speechless for a while, put away his uncle's letter, and muttered: "The previous dispatch of troops, the entire army of my North Road Expedition Division was annihilated, which was a great blow to morale, and the dispatch of troops was not in a hurry. "I can't make up my mind right now, so let's drag it out for now.

Liu Ziyu knew that he was hesitant and hesitated, so he hurriedly said: "If it is too late to recruit the prime minister, Yao Zhaojiao and Zhang Du will lead 60,000 troops to attack Dunzhou, and only 10,000 people will return, and Xu Zhao's 20,000 troops will be greatly injured." Now the guards in Fengxiang City are all remnants of the defeated generals, how can they afford it? ”

"Yao Pingzhong Guanzhong was promoted to the little lieutenant and fought for many years. Xu Jiu is my brother, and Feng Xiang is safe for a while. Xu Yuan insisted on not taking a stand. You want to trick me, Yao Pingzhong, I don't know, Lao Jiu's army was also strong at the beginning, even if he handed over a part of it, and folded a part of it in Dunzhou, it shouldn't be a problem for his current troops to defend the city. How can it be so dangerous as you say?

Liu Ziyu thought secretly, the other party must have his own plans, and no matter how much he asks for it at this time, it will be useless, so he will no longer persecute. It is only said that he is waiting for news at the pavilion.

After he left, Xu Yuan was in a dilemma for a while. If you don't go, if you violate moderation, you can't talk about it in public or private. Go, the Jin army is coming with all its might, and the outcome is unpredictable. If you lose again, you have to get in. I'm afraid that the North Road Discussion Division is now the only force that the Jin Army is afraid of, and if he also breaks down, then the general trend is gone, and everything is over.

Jingyuan Road originally had 50,000 elite soldiers, and later continued to expand, and the old department of Huanqing Wang and Quduan, with a total strength of more than 100,000, was the head of the three-way division. Even if Zhang Jun loses money, Xu Yuan still has nearly 80,000 male soldiers in his hands, and his strength cannot be underestimated. Most of his troops surround Weizhou on three sides, placed in the four places of Deshun Army, Zhenrong Army, Yuanzhou, and Jingzhou, and it is very easy to support Fengxiang. But the problem is that the odds of winning are not great, and I can't afford to take this risk.

"Dad, what did that guy say?" Xu Yan waited for Liu Ziyu to leave, and immediately appeared. What he cares about most now is that his father was not moved by Liu Ziyu's words.

Xu Yuan didn't answer, pointed to the appointment letter and letter on the coffee table, and let his son read it for himself. Xu Yan hurriedly stepped forward, first saw the order to appoint his father as the commander of the capital, threw it aside, and picked up his uncle's autograph and read it carefully. After reading it, he persuaded: "Dad, forgive me for saying bluntly, Xu Xuanfu is planning for himself." He wanted to make up for his mistakes and block the Jin army outside Qin Feng's gate, so that the losses would not be too miserable. He made this calculation, but he didn't take into account that in case of defeat, from now on, Shaanxi still has the capital to confront the Jin army? I think that soldiers, we must not go out at this time, we protect ourselves, we are already contributing to Shaanxi's anti-gold resistance"

His last sentence caught Xu Yuan's attention, turned his head, looked at his son in surprise for a long time, and then turned back to ponder and was silent.

Seeing this, Xu Yan struck while the iron was hot: "The Jin army is at its peak, and what they hope for is that the main force of Jingyuan will go south and fight a decisive battle with it." In one fell swoop, the uncle and the ninth uncle of the Western Army have already folded most of them, and the Jingyuan soldiers cannot afford to lose, Dad, no matter whether he comes hard or soft, we must have a rice bowl in our hearts. ”

When Xu Yuan heard this, he put his hands behind his back and looked up and sighed: "It's difficult, if you refuse to send troops, and Feng Xiang is lost." Don't say that the Xuanfu Disposal Division, even Zhenjiang is here, and he will also have opinions on me. Although our family has guarded Jingyuan for decades, this world is still the world of the official family. ”

Xu Yan obviously lacked experience in facing this kind of problem, and said disapprovingly: "The official family is far away in Zhenjiang, and at this time, the Jin army is afraid that the attack is very urgent, how can it take care of Shaanxi?" ”

Xu Yuan thought about it and felt that it made sense. Originally, the Jin people only attacked the Central Plains and then threatened Jiangnan, and it is unknown whether the official family is still in Zhenjiang at this moment. The mountain is high and the emperor is far away, and Zhenjiang is in Shaanxi, which is beyond the reach of the whip. However, if the North Road Counsel Division doesn't make any moves, it still can't be said, what should I do, I can explain to the above, but I don't have to fight to the death with Jin Jun? Come to think of it, there is only one way to go.