In the early morning of the next day, Guan Shan, the great leader of Qixingzhai, led the cottage to ride 5,000 steps away from Tianqian Pass and went to Taiyuan to return to Shun.

Taiyuan has long been prepared, Wang Xun, who knelt down in front of his deceased father's spirit all night, put on a battle robe and armor on the outside of his filial piety clothes, and led the men and horses out of the city with Yao Gu to greet him. Xu Han and the other generals were waiting for a banquet in the barracks.

Yesterday overnight, hundreds of sergeants escaped. Only one or two hundred people were captured among the planters, and they did not dare to execute lightly, but they were quietly imprisoned, and they were persuaded by a lot of painstaking efforts. The previous time Xu Han ordered the execution of several deserters, which did not play a role in killing one by one, but aroused very bad resistance and rebellion among the sergeants.

In the seed division center that has led the troops for many years, it is understood that these sergeants who have experienced the baptism of the Taiyuan Battle are not soft at all with their blood, gall, and murderous spirit, and they cannot be frightened like ordinary people and soldiers. To deal with this kind of arrogant soldiers who eat soft and do not eat hard, only "convincing people with virtue" and "careful bribery" can subdue them.

After all, Xu Han was a literati and didn't know how to lead soldiers, but he learned the official's "blind command" method, which made the planters very distressed.

When Guan Shan arrived, what awaited him was the "warm welcome" of the Taiyuan Wangshi, a joyful and peaceful scene of singing and dancing.

After receiving Xishan's sacrificial message yesterday, Guan Shan's heart added a trace of gloom, but he had no way to retreat at this point, so he could only go all the way to the end. The scene in front of him made him feel a little relieved, at least he saw an acquaintance worthy of his trust, Wang Xun.

"Guan Zhai Lord, the young general was ordered to come to greet him." Wang Xun immediately clenched his fists at Guan Shan, and said with an expressionless face, "The army has set up a big banquet for the master of Guan Zhai and all the heroes to wash the dust, please go with the young general!" ”

Guan Shan returned the salute, slightly stunned in his heart. Although he and Wang Xun are not very familiar with each other, they have had several encounters during the Battle of Taiyuan, and they also have a little sympathy for each other. But at this moment, Wang Xun was surprisingly indifferent, as if he was conveying some kind of message.

Yao Gu, who was standing next to Wang Xun immediately, said with a smile: "Guan Zhaiism Bo Yuntian is famous, and he has been admired for a long time. See you today, it's comforting! ——In the Lower Western Army Yao Gu, fortunately! ”

"It turned out that the world-famous Yao Jing was slightly fair, and he was disrespectful." Guan Shan returned the salute, and he understood a little bit in his heart: it seems that Wang Xun is just an ornament, and Yao Gu is the general in charge!

"Please—"

Guan Shan and his entourage of 5,000 men and horses, led by Yao Gu and Wang Xun, came to the camp where Wang Shi was stationed. The open-air feast has already been set up here, and it is very rich.

Xu Han led the generals to greet him in person, and he was very enthusiastic. At the banquet, they pushed each other's glasses and exchanged lamps, and the atmosphere was warm and intimate.

Intentionally or unintentionally, Xu Han asked Guan Shan: "This official has long heard that the soldiers of the Seven Star Zhai are strong and strong, and even the invincible Wanyan Zonghan has been defeated. But why are the soldiers and horses brought by the owner of Guan Zhai today scarce? Also, don't see a few other famous leaders? ”

Guan Shan put down the wine cup and smiled slightly: "Xu Xianggong doesn't know, there are seven mountains in our village, and the leaders of the cottage are divided into each mountain, and each of them has set up people and horses, arranged households, and is an independent village. Qixingzhai has a history of decades, and many residents live there with their children, and in a hurry, it is difficult for all the mountains and households to move their families. Therefore, Guan had no choice but to bring some people to defect first. At this moment, the cottage is urgently packing up and ready to go down the mountain at any time, and they will come to Shun one after another. ”

"Oh, I see. Very good, very good. Xu Han nodded with a smile on his face, but there was a burst of annoyance and nervousness in his heart for no reason: Guan Shan is also so cunning, he actually left a way back, and only brought a small number of people to return to Shun! - A thief is a thief, and a thief's heart is not dead!

Guan Shan smiled quietly, "Guan heard the bad news of the death of Wang Dutong Immortal before going down the mountain, and his heart was very sad. I don't know where the mourning hall of Wang Dutong is, Guan wants to go to the memorial in person. ”

Knock on the mountain and shake the tiger!

Guan Shan's move undoubtedly shows that he is fully aware of what has happened in Xishan and Taiyuan these days - secretly warning Xu Han not to play any tricks!

Xu Han's hand shook, and the wine in the wine cup accidentally spilled. He hurriedly put down the wine cup to cover up the past with a smile, and said, "The master of the village is really a righteous man. After the banquet, how about inviting the owner of Guan Zhai to go to the mourning hall to pay tribute to Wang Dutong? At that time, it is also good to read out the official family's seal to the lord of the village in public. ”

"Okay—thank you Xu Xianggong!"

After the banquet, Xu Han and others took Guan Shan to the mourning hall erected in the army and paid tribute to the king. Then read out the official family's title to Guanshan - General Zuo Weiwei (fictitious) and Taiyuan Prefecture soldiers and horses, and Zuo Dujian under the command of Hedong Xuanfu Division.

The 5,000 men and horses brought by Guan Shan were placed in the depths of the core of Wang Shiyingtun - wrapped in the heavy encirclement of Wang Shi, and the two nearby tribes were the pro-Xun Western Army of Yao Gu and the two generals in the seed division. With such an arrangement, there is no fear that Guan Shan will make any trouble at this time.

Wanyan Xiyin, an important prisoner of war brought by Guan Shan, was handed over to Xu Han. Xu Han immediately sent someone to place Wanyan Xiyin in the yamen of the Taiyuan prefect, and he personally watched it, lest there be any more chaos. Only wait for the imperial court to send an envoy to officially send Wanyan Xiyin back to the Jin Kingdom.

Then, in the name of hospitality, Xu Han invited Guan Shan to enter Taiyuan City as a guest, and arranged for him to rest in the pavilion, isolated from his people.

Guan Shan has always been very calm, and there is no excesses or abnormalities, and Xu Han's nervous mood has relaxed slightly. However, Guan Shan's calmness and atmosphere, coupled with his awe-inspiring spirit of not being angry and righteous, made Xu Han a little uncomfortable for no reason.

"A thief, but he is so arrogant in front of us and other court officials, hateful!" Xu Han had no good impression of Guan Shan from the bottom of his heart. But he can only put these things aside for the time being, because Qixingzhai doesn't seem to be as easy as he imagined. Although Guan Shan came, he obviously still had a hand. There are at least 10,000 or 20,000 horses in the current Qixing Village watching. If the trouble is not good, if this group of people unites with Xishan, it will be an even greater disaster!

Xu Han began to hate Guan Shan so much that he dreamed about how to kill the leader of the Hedong Green Forest, and completely annex Qixingzhai and dismantle Qingyun Castle in one fell swoop.

In the early morning of the next day, in the mourning hall of Qingyun Hall.

Chu Tianya knelt in front of Wang Yu's spirit and burned the paper unhurriedly, while listening to the spies who came back from Taiyuan and reporting the news.

"In this way, the master of Guan Zhai has arrived in Taiyuan, and among those who were assigned to receive him, there is indeed Wang Xun." A sneer appeared on Chu Tianya's face, "It seems that Xu Han is also poor in donkey skills." had no choice but to start mourning for Wang Yu, and was forced to use Wang Xun. ”

"I understand Wang Xun's temperament. If he didn't slaughter Xu Han with his own hands, he wouldn't be at ease as a ghost. Ma Kuo, who was also burning paper on the side, said, "Now that he is so compromised and obeyed by Xu Han's punishment, he must have another plan." ”

"Xu Han is not stupid, he will not trust Wang Xun. If it weren't for the purpose of stabilizing the Guan Zhai master, where would he risk using Wang Xun again. Chu Tianya said, "Since he is taking a risk, he must be on guard." Only if Wang Xun moves slightly, it is very likely that his life will be in danger. ”

"Possibly." Ma Kuo nodded, "There is no one who can be sent out by the official family to do things." Although Xu Han still had some reputation for being upright and upright before, under the pressure of the official family and the imperial court, he would also admit that his relatives were ruthless. Wang Xun is the son of Wang Yu, the hero of the anti-Jin resistance, and the important person who first started with us, we must find a way to save him. ”

Chu Tianya nodded and said, "I guess Wang Xun's current thoughts are probably to endure humiliation and wait for the opportunity, and want to attack Xu Han." But he was too weak to succeed, so he had to wait for the plan to unite with Guanshan and take action. But Xu Han will definitely stare the two of them to death. If they do anything, they will be killed! ”

Ma Kuo frowned worriedly, "Brother Wang Xun has a strong temperament, and sometimes he is a little impatient. I'm worried he's going to have an accident. ”

"It shouldn't be okay for the time being." Chu Tianya said, "First, Xu Han wants to use him to appease the Shengjie army, and second, he is also afraid of alarming Guanshan and Qixingzhai." This time, Guan Shan only brought a few people to join him, and the rest of them would be a serious illness for Xu Han. He didn't dare to move Wang Xun and Guan Shan. Otherwise, we will definitely force the victorious army to mutiniate with the Taiyuan military patrol, and Qixingzhai will completely break with it and reach an alliance with me to fight against it together. ”

"So, now we're at an impasse?" Ma Kuo said, "We mourn, and Xu Han also mourns; Wang Xun and Guan Shan are in Taiyuan, we are jealous, and Xu Han does not dare to act rashly. What's next? ”

Chu Tianya threw a few pieces of yellow paper into the brazier page by page, pondered for a moment, and said, "Wait! ”

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait, someone is the first to break the game." Chu Tianya said, "Now it's like a few fires wrapped in a layer of paper, and on the eve of the storm, it's always surprisingly quiet and depressing. There will be people who can't help but jump out and break the deadlock first. But the person who strikes first will definitely pay a big price. Our Qingyun Castle must calm down. This time, the last strike! ”

Ma Kuo nodded and exhaled softly, and also threw a few pages into the brazier, "Listen to you." ”

In the next few days, as Chu Tianya said, it was unusually calm.

Xishan and Taiyuan, both ends are mourning for Wang Yuju. Every day, people go to Xishan to defect, and their strength continues to grow; With Wang Xun's appearance and the efforts of the division to appease him, the desertion phenomenon has finally been alleviated. After Guan Shan took office as the commander of Taiyuan Soldiers and Horses, he did not receive any actual work, and he was dealing with the banquets and congratulations of Xu Han and the officials and generals every day. After Wang Xun was pushed out to deal with Guanshan and the army, he could only stay around Wang Yu's mourning hall every day, and he was stared at to death, which was like house arrest.

Xu Han inquired and urged the people of Qixingzhai to come down the mountain to return to Shun every day, but it had no effect. Guan Shan found various reasons to explain, so that Xu Han was tired of it, but it was not easy to attack.

At the same time, the habitual cautiousness and blind command of the officials and the imperial court flared up again. When they sent an envoy to take over Yan Xiyin's escort to the Jin Kingdom, they did not forget to vigorously urge Xu Han to do his best to solve the affairs in Hedong and then return to the court.

More than 100,000 troops have been stranded in Taiyuan, and the official family is like sitting on pins and needles!

Xu Han ran out of time. He didn't want to, and couldn't continue to go around in circles with Guan Shan. So, he gave an ultimatum to Guan Shan - within five days, all the people of Qixingzhai must come to join him!

"In such a hurry, I'm afraid it's hard to do." Guan Shan replied.

"If you can't, the official can't help it." Xu Han's attitude is very tough.

"If not, what if not?" Seeing that Xu Han was not good, Guan Shan was actually prepared in his heart, so he was not afraid to go straight with him.

"Guan Zhanzhi doesn't have to look at this official so coldly, this is the deadline given by the imperial court, and this official is also acting on orders." Xu Han said coldly, "If it is not overdue, it will be regarded as a non-compliance with the decree." What is the result, do you still use this official to say? ”

Guan Shan was silent.

"Guan Xuan, in the face of such a major right and wrong, it is better to be firm in your beliefs, and don't fantasize about stepping on two boats with one foot." Xu Han persuaded him with a pleasant face, "The official family and the court are sincere enough to recruit you." But if you keep wandering and hesitating, are you not guilty of God's grace? Guan Xuanzhi, think about it again! If you figure it out, go to Haosheng and persuade those brothers in your cottage. ”

"Guan, I know."