Since the Battle of Liangzhou Mansion, the Xuzhou Army was the happiest, whether it was the Tang Army, the Wei Army, or the Government Army, they all participated in it, and they had disputes with each other. Now, the Xuzhou army is fighting two times, and naturally hopes that one of them can be stabilized. Between Xu and Yang, it is naturally impossible. Then, the land of Yanzhou is where their hope lies.

Sure enough, after the Battle of Liangzhou Mansion, the Wei Army, the Tang Army and the Government Army suddenly contradicted each other and fought with each other. And the Xuzhou army naturally hopes that they will fight as hard as possible, so they will honestly shrink the defense line and give the Yanzhou army a, I am very honest, you continue to fight.

But now, after the news of the peace talks between the Tang Army and the deputy general came, these Xuzhou Army light and dark clans who remained in Yanzhou City could not be stable.

Li Fangzong, the commander of the Xuzhou Army, is quite talented. He was specially sent by Li Chi to Yanzhou City, otherwise the two armies were in trouble. In Li Chi's original plan, in the battle of the previous year, the government army and the Xuzhou army suffered a lot of losses, the Tang army benefited, and the Wei army benefited the most. The benefits obtained by the Tang army and the Wei army were all known to the government army. In this case, why don't two disadvantaged forces join forces to fight the enemy? At the very least, there should be a truce.

But with the outbreak of direct contradictions between the Wei army, the Tang army and the government army in the Liangzhou Mansion, Li Fangzong did not have the opportunity to talk with the busy Xu Jie. Li Fangzong hoped that after the government army could not resist the pressure, his side would appear again, so that he could earn more benefits.

Along with Li Fangzong are two other members of the Li clan, Li Fanglin and Li Fangyu, who are the same generation as Li Fangzong, and they are also clan brothers. Li Fangzong presided over the affairs of the open side, and the two of them were responsible for the collection of intelligence in the shadows.

"Fang Lim, has the news been confirmed? Also, have you found the place where the Tang Army envoy stayed? In an ordinary room, the three of them sat on either side of the table with grim faces.

Li Fanglin's appearance is very ordinary, he is definitely a person who will not be noticed when he stands in the crowd, he is not tall, but if you pay a little attention, you will find that this person's eyes are extremely sharp. The slightly taller man sitting with Li Fanglin is naturally Li Fangyu.

Li Fanglin nodded and said, "The news came from Shi Fengziming, the governor of the Governor's Mansion, and it was clearly announced. This can be said to be an official document, and it is generally not fake. In addition, as far as our people know, the news has also reached the Wei army, and there is also a Xiaoguo army official who stayed in Yanzhou City and was in charge of buying and selling salt. As for the envoy of the Tang Army, we have not yet known about the envoy of the Tang Army, but on the surface, it has been determined that he will stay in the Hero Building in the east of the city. ”

"Big brother, what are we going to do now? Do you want to be the messenger of the Tang Army and let them and him completely collapse. Well, by the way, blame the government army again, let them continue to fight, and it is impossible to negotiate peace. Li Fangyu said in a deep voice.

Li Fangzong shook his head and said, "No, whether it is Xu Jie or Tang Xian, they are not stupid. Naturally, they would not believe that Xu Jie would send someone and insist on killing this messenger. Let's not talk about it, the two armies will not fight each other. This Tang army and Xu Jie have not really started a major war, and if they do, they can only let them know that there are other people who are sabotaging, or that other forces do not want to see them negotiate peace. ”

"In that case, let's be a guard. Those who don't want to see peace talks between the government army and the Tang army, except for our Xuzhou army, are this guard army. This guard will not make them suspicious anymore. Li Fangyu continued.

Li Fangzong sighed secretly, this Li Fangyu, engaged in assassination, and it was okay to act underground. But let it analyze the intelligence and specify the plan, that is still a bit worse. However, who made him the Li family. Nowadays, most of the main departments of the Xuzhou Army are members of the Li family, especially some secret departments, which are all members of the Li Chi family. This is also the disadvantage of Li Chi's inability to get talents. There are no strong foreign talents, and they can only rely on clans.

"Compared with the Wei Army, our Xuzhou Army doesn't want them to negotiate peace. After the loss of the guards, they can withdraw and leave. Their target is the Yanzhou Army, not the Tang Army, at least not in front of them. If the government army and the Tang army reach an agreement, then where is the direction of the Tang army's southward expansion? It can only be on my Xuzhou side. In other words, it is naturally us who suffer the most. As soon as the action is made, the attention of the Tang army and the government army will turn to Xuzhou. Li Fangzong said in a sullen voice.

"So, not only can we not act, but we have to pray for the safety of this Tang army envoy?" Li Fangyu said with an ugly face.

Li Fanglin said: "I think, we don't have to be excited. Although our Xuzhou army is in this matter, the disadvantage is the greatest. However, the Wei army was absolutely unwilling to be stable on the northern front of the government army. On the southern front, our Xuzhou Army also stopped the pace of action, which can be described as worry-free on the southern front. If there are no external enemies in the north and south, the government army will shift its center of gravity inward, and the pressure on the guard army will be greater. ”

Li Fangzong took a deep breath and said, "In addition to what I said earlier, I'm also worried about Xiaoguo Jun. ”

"Xiaoguo Army? Their current focus is on repairing and dredging rivers, so they probably won't be involved in this. Speaking of which, this Zhao Xun is too arrogant, and he actually fights the river's mind. Don't he know that repairing the river is not a simple matter? Li Fangyu said in a disdainful tone.

Li Fangzong shook his head and said, "No, you only saw the difficulty of repairing and dredging the river, but you didn't see the benefits. Nowadays, the southern part of Jizhou and Qingzhou have just been accepted by the Xiaoguo Army, and for a while, there are many displaced people who are led by the war. It is precisely this Xiaoguo army that has transformed many entangled homeless people into laborers. Besides, this repair and dredging of the river is not a re-excavation of the river, it is much simpler, once this is completed, the passage of the northern river is an incomparable advantage for commerce and trade, and for the transportation of troops. ”

"The northern river, which leads directly to the Yellow River, and then goes south to Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and Yangzhou, if it is connected like this, the warships of the Xiaoguo army can pass anywhere, and the logistics supply of the army is easy. In addition, the naval warships in the eastern seas, one east and one west, formed a flanking attack on the entire eastern land. In this way, will you still underestimate this Xiaoguo army? Why is everyone rushing to divide Yanzhou, not to take advantage of the fact that the Xiaoguo army has no time to look south and rectify the interior, so that they can become bigger and stronger. There is the Qi Wang Army in the south, and the Xiaoguo Army in the north, one south and one north, for us in the middle, the situation is not good. Saying that, Li Fangzong himself was a little decadent.

"Okay, I'll arrange it for the brothers to take it honestly, and don't act rashly." Li Fangyu said unwillingly.

Similar to Li Fangzong and others, after hearing the news that the envoy of the Tang army had arrived in Yanzhou City and wanted to negotiate peace with the government army, Ding Qiang was also angry. immediately issued an order and asked his subordinates to bring people to solve the envoy of the Tang army, but was stopped by Ye Feiyu.

"General, doing this is exactly what Xu Jie wants to see." Ye Feiyu said lightly.

"General, whether Xu Jie wants to negotiate peace with the Tang army or not, once the general makes a move, then, the hatred between the Tang army and the government army will be transferred directly to the Tang army and the Wei army, and even the Wei army and the government army will be added. The three parties are direct, and both sides have enmity with our guards. Once the Tang Army and the Fu Army on the northern front lived in peace, the Xuzhou Army and the Fu Army on the Southern Front would no longer fight each other. Then, the situation of our guards is extremely bad. Think twice! Ye Feiyu continued.

Ding Qiang is not stupid, and after calming down his anger, he suddenly understood.

"Say so. Or to sabotage the negotiations between the Tang army and the government army! Ding Qiang said coldly.

Ye Feiyu said: "General, there is another party that also hopes that the peace talks will fail!" ”

Ding Qiang was stunned for a moment, and then said: "You mean Xuzhou Army? That's right, if the government army and the Tang army live in peace, then the Xuzhou army is within the target of the Tang army and the government army. In this way, Xuzhou is in danger. Ye Feiyu, what should we do? ”

Ye Feiyu said with a smile: "We don't do anything, come to think of it, the current officials of the Xuzhou Army stationed in the city are also waiting for our statement." If you want to take advantage of us, how can there be such a good thing. Compared with us, the situation of the Xuzhou army is more dangerous. General, the Xuzhou army is the same as us, but they don't want to take a stand first, they want us to be the vanguard. ”

Ding Qiang said in a deep voice: "Since this is the case, let's see who can hold on for a long time." But what if we don't act on either side? Do you want to sit back and watch their peace talks succeed? ”

Ye Feiyu said: "General, peace talks can't be solved at one time. You must know that the Tang army killed a lot of government prisoners. Even if you want to make excuses, you need to negotiate many times. Besides, there are still a lot of interests at stake, and without a proper division, it is impossible to talk about it. ”

…………

"Young master, Xu Jie has announced the news of the envoys of the Tang Army, and now, the envoys of the Tang Army stationed in this building have all moved to the post station not far from the Governor's Mansion." Wei Dong whispered.

Zhao Xun put down the military book in his hand and said, "What is the reaction of the outside world?" No matter what the Tang army says, he also has a lot of hatred with the government army, and he will never be without a trace of abnormality. ”

Wei Dongdao: "The ordinary soldiers did not have any overreaction, according to the intelligence from the spies in the government army, it should be Xu Jie's focus on the Wei army. After all, in recent days, the guards and the government army have fought many times in the city, large and small. As for the people, although some people are dissatisfied, they also know in the official notice that the government will compensate the families of those soldiers who died in the hands of the Tang army. ”

Zhao Xun sighed and said, "No wonder Xu Jie would let his subordinates dare to confront the Wei Army head-on a few days ago, it turns out that he has long had the idea of living in peace with the Tang Army. By the way, how are our people preparing? ”

"One qiē ready! Want to shoot at the guards? ”

Zhao Xun shook his head and said in a deep voice: "No, it's to do it to all the forces!" Let's act, be careful. Remember, even the officials we who stayed in the city and were in charge of the salt trade had to do it. The guards must kill a few, and the rest of the forces can be seriously injured. ”

"All the action plans at the same time?"

"Well, at the same time, let's mess up this Yanzhou City first." Zhao Xun said in a deep voice.

…………

"Big brother, the guards have not taken any action, tomorrow is the date of their peace talks, should we just wait?" Li Fangyu said urgently.

Li Fangzong sat quietly in a corner, his brows furrowed, as if he hadn't heard Li Fangyu's words.

When Li Fangyu saw it, he immediately sighed anxiously. If it weren't for Li Chi's explanation, Li Fangzong would be the main one in Yanzhou City, and he would have already brought people to the Tang Army envoy at the post station.

"Fang Yu, don't be impatient!" Li Fanglin looked at his restless cousin, frowned and said coldly. At this moment, how can frizziness solve the problem?

"Guards...... Guards...... What a guard, they have the same plan as us! It's not going to be easy! Li Fangzong rubbed his eyebrows and frowned.

Li Fanglin said suspiciously: "Big brother, should we continue to delay with the guards?" Although we are anxious, they are the same. ”

Li Fangzong smiled bitterly: "It's the same, but we don't dare to bet!" ”

Li Fanglin was stunned, yes, he didn't dare to bet. Ding Qiang is a general of the guards, even if the peace talks between the government army and the Tang army are successful, at most, it will be to divide the Yanzhou provinces equally with the government army. However, the Xuzhou army can't. No one could figure out Tang Xian's plans. To negotiate peace with the government army, it is the Xiaoguo army in the north and the government army in the south, and if you want to expand, you can only go to Xuzhou in the southeast corner. Then, the Xuzhou army will add another enemy, not to mention, it will become an enemy on all sides.

In addition, Ding Qiang can decide for himself, but they are only resident officials sent by the Xuzhou Army. They could not afford the responsibility of peace talks between the Tang Army and the Fu Army.

"What then? Are you just sitting here and waiting? Li Fangyu said urgently.

"Big brother, why don't we join forces with the guards?" Li Fanglin said in a deep voice.

Li Fangzong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "What are we?" In the eyes of the guards, they are traitors and rebels! Ding Qiang just wanted to, but he didn't dare to join forces with us. Otherwise, his position as a general will not be kept! ”

"It doesn't work, it doesn't work...... Alas......" Li Fangyu was even more impatient when she heard it.

"Your Excellency...... Your Excellency ......" At this moment, an anxious shout came from outside the house,

Li Fangzong frowned slightly, before he and Li Fanglin and Li Fangyu entered the house to discuss the matter, they had already explained that they should not be disturbed casually, how could it be like this?

"What's the matter? Didn't the eldest brother say, don't disturb, are you itching? Before Li Fangzong could speak, Li Fangyu scolded coldly.

The person outside the house said urgently: "My lord, the three adults, not the little ones who don't know the adult's explanation." But...... It's that something big is happening outside, and it's about us! ”

Li Fangzong listened to the anxious voice of the attendant outside the house, and his heart couldn't help but pause, and said, "Come in!" ”

The door of the house opened, and he said with an anxious and panicked face: "My lord, Lord Li, Lord Liu and more than ten officials have been attacked in the east of the city!" Most of the more than 30 guards who accompanied him were killed. ”

"What?" Li Fangyu said angrily: "Who is it?" Who is really bold? ”

Li Fangzong hurriedly asked, "What about people?" ”

"It's back, five adults were killed and seven were seriously injured, and now they are being treated!" The attendant said urgently.

"Let's go down and take a look, I always feel like something has happened that we don't know about."

As soon as the three of them walked out of the front hall, they asked a thick bloody gas, and on the ground, there were still blood stains left by the wounded.

"Come on, let the people who went out today come over with minor injuries." Li Fangzong shouted urgently. Now, what he needs most is to know what happened before.

Moments later, a guard with a white cloth wrapped around his arm and chest appeared in front of Miri.

"Subordinate...... Subordinate Wu Gang, I've seen adults! ”

"Wu Gang, what happened to you? Why was it attacked? Also, why did more than a dozen officials go out together? Li Fangzong said gloomily.

Wu Gang said in a deep voice: "The subordinates don't know, the subordinates only know that Lord Shi Qing invited the adults to go out together, as for the reason, the subordinates don't know very well!" When we reached Sai Yuen Street, we were stopped by a group of wagons hauling goods, and we were assassinated. The opponent is extremely strong, and the subordinates think that they are not ordinary people, but army warriors, and they cooperate very well with each other. In addition, they have bows and crossbows, and it is because of the appearance of crossbow arrows that we have suffered heavy losses. It wasn't until the shouts of the surrounding people summoned the sentry guards of the government army that the assassins left in an instant. ”

After a pause, Wu Gang continued: "My lord, one of my subordinate brothers, when he was dying, took a crossbow from the assassin, according to the investigation...... It was found to be a guard configuration! ”

Li Fangzong's brows furrowed even more, the officials of his own department were sent after the year after the year with the permission of Xu Jie, it stands to reason that if the guards do it, it will be better at that time. Now, the guards are on the same front as themselves, and they will never do it to themselves again, in that case, it will do the defenders no good. But the assassin has the guard's crossbow arrows in his hand, and the crossbow arrows are not ordinary things, no matter where they are, they are all things in the army, and they are checked quite strictly, and each bow and crossbow has a corresponding number. This thing is too lethal, and all forces are not allowed to go out.

More than ten officials were killed, and their tasks in Yanzhou City could not be carried out at all, these people, each of whom had their own direction of responsibility, were now all gone, even if they were looking for someone to take over, they would not be able to find anyone for a while. Not to mention, even if you find someone, you also need to be familiar with the situation in Yanzhou City for a while. But now, what Li Fangzong lacks is time.

"What about Shi Qing? Where are you now? Get him for me now! Li Fangzong said sharply. Perhaps, this Shi Qing is the insider inside.

"My lord, Lord Shi Qing was killed on the spot in the place of assassination, and the body has been brought back." Wu Gang whispered.

"Damn it!" Li Fangzong was stunned and said angrily.

"Big brother, this shouldn't be the work of the guards!" Li Fanglin said in a deep voice.

"I know that it was either the Guards or someone on the other side that we didn't know about. But now, we don't know who did it. Originally, we were busy with peace talks now, but I didn't expect that it would suddenly make a mess for us. Li Fangzong said hatefully.