（o8

[Today's second update is delivered! ] 】

After Lu Xiangsheng left Salmon Island, he went ashore in Dengzhou City. From here he was going to change ships and go to North Korea. When he got off the boat, Lu Xiangsheng suddenly saw a familiar person, and for a moment, their expressions immediately became eager. When that person saw Lu Xiangsheng, his expression was also eager, and then, he walked over to Lu Xiangsheng quickly.

"Boxiang!"

Lu Xiangsheng was the first to shout.

The person who ran to him was his close friend Yang Tinglin.

"Kutai!"

Yang Tinglin also shouted loudly.

When they met, both of them couldn't help but burst into tears. This is the second time they have seen each other after a few months apart. However, this time, the place where they met, the identity they met, and the reason for meeting were completely different. Moreover, before they met this time, the encounters of the two had great ups and downs. It can almost be said that the two of them went around the door of life and death, and then luckily returned to the yang world.

At the end of last year, when Lu Xiangsheng first arrived in Beizhili, he was still relatively tall and arrogant. He met Wang Kun with a loyal and patriotic enthusiasm, and he was not afraid of anything. For more than a month, he tasted a lot of hardships, received a lot of teachings, and began to understand that he could not touch them himself, and these people relied on the emperor's favor to weigh on him like a mountain.

He wanted to fight, but when he was constrained at every turn, his troops were not strong. Without a sufficient number of cavalry, it is impossible to deal with the Tartars, but the cavalry commander under his command, Zu Kuan, did not listen to him. He impeached Zu Kuan and asked for a replacement, but the emperor not only did not support him, but was angry with him, and severely reprimanded him several times, and almost removed him from his post and recalled him back to listen to the inquiry.

At that time, Lu Xiangsheng had not yet woken up to what kind of person he was in the mind of Emperor Chongzhen. At that time, he was often worried, afraid that he would suddenly receive a holy decree to dismiss him from his post and interrogate him, so that his opportunity to serve the country loyally on the battlefield was suddenly in vain. He knows the emperor's temper, who said that he wouldn't give birth to something like this?

When he first arrived in Beizhili, Lu Xiangsheng met in Tartar in Luanzhou, fought a victory, and cut more than 100 ranks. Although this was not a great victory, it made him very happy, and the fear of the enemy that had existed among some of the officers and men for many days began to be reversed a little, and he gathered all the generals and swore to continue to meet the enemy with their blood. At this great dusk, he received the evil news, and he was taken aback, and he couldn't help but sigh.

There are two things in this newspaper that are related to him. One is that Yang Tinglin impeached Zhang Fengyi and Liang Tingdong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and was tricked by the two of them, on the one hand, he was sponsored as the head of the Ministry of War, and on the other hand, he praised the painting in front of the army. He read Yang Tinglin's recital twice. If a month ago, he would have felt so excited, screaming, drawing his sword and dancing, but now he doesn't feel that way, but it makes him deeply uneasy.

Lu Xiangsheng and Yang Tinglin have been friends for many years, and he knows the temper of his old friend very well. Yang Tinglin couldn't hide something in his heart, and he had to say what he had learned. This made Yang Tinglin suffer a lot. Lu Xiangsheng felt that the impeachment of the two military department Shangshu was not a big deal for the time being, but if other key figures were impeached, Yang Tinglin was afraid that it would be bad.

Another thing is that the emperor sent Liu Yuliang to supervise the army, he knew that Liu Yuliang did not understand the military, and he was not the one who fought against the Tartars on weekdays, but Ju Fu would only be submissive and did not dare to assert anything. The Tartar continued to go deeper, and he did not take the blame directly; Once the Tartar retreats, he has to be counted as an assistant inspector.

Lu Xiangsheng deeply felt that when Liu Yuliang was added to Wang Kun and Gao Qiqian to block him, his situation was even more difficult. As a result, the actual situation was even worse than he expected. Because, in addition to Liu Yuliang, there was one more Yang Sichang, and later another Chen Xinjia. These five people are like a big net, completely binding Lu Xiangsheng in the big net, and they can't get out no matter how hard they struggle.

The next day, he received another newspaper, which was like a thunderbolt above his head. Intelligence said that Zhao Guanghuai, the governor of Miyun, had captured a spy Liang Si and confessed that the eunuchs Deng Xizhao, Gao Qiqian, and the Liaodong general Zu Dashou had conspired to surrender to the Tartars. Zhao Guanghuai heard about the emperor according to Liang Si's confession, which caused fluctuations in the hearts of the people in the capital, and the emperor was furious and immediately arrested Zhao Guanghuai in Beijing and imprisoned for the crime.

Zhao Guangpu was recommended by Lu Xiangsheng to be the governor of Miyun, and his arrest naturally involved Lu Xiangsheng. Gao Qiqian and Zu Dashou both wrote books one after another for this reason, crying out for themselves. Thinking of Zhao Guanghuai's arrest and Yang Tinglin's resignation, he couldn't help but sigh and said: "The two public dangers will be more difficult for me to live in peace from now on." Oh my! Oh my! The enemy is not terrible, what is terrible is ......" He did not finish his words, and sighed deeply.

Two days later, Yang Tinglin galloped from the chaos to the army. Although a confidant friend came and an extra arm, Lu Xiangsheng was not particularly happy. His situation was indeed getting worse and worse as he had expected, and he began to feel discouraged from everything, and only wanted to die on the battlefield early. It was under such psychological domination that Lu Xiangsheng was able to rescue Gaoyang City without fear of death. With other commanders, who would dare to take the risk to rescue Gaoyang City?

At this time, his troops arrived near Baoding, and there was neither silver nor food and grass. The military department is like a stone sinking into the sea. asked Qingyuan County to prepare grain and grass, but ignored it at all. Lu Xiangsheng wrote a handwritten edict and sent it to the county magistrate of Qingyuan, saying: "If it is delayed again, the three armies will become enemies, and they should be engaged in military law!" Qing Yuan Zhixian Zuo relied on the power of the superintendent army to raise the potential, not only still ignored it, but also instigated the senior supervisor army to write a letter to reproach Xiang Sheng and said: "Under the fortification of my Gongtun army, if I don't advance or retreat, how will the major events in the future be helped?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng led the hungry soldiers to Zhending, hoping to get some help. Unexpectedly, Zhang Qiping, the governor of Zhending, saw that Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian had excluded him, and he also closed the city gate tightly and did not let anyone enter the city. The army is about to run out of food, soldiers can only eat one porridge a day, sometimes not even a meal, have to rely on grass roots, bark and very little miscellaneous grains to satisfy hunger, at first Zhang Qiping promised to receive a day's food, but Lu Xiangsheng sent officials to receive food, from noon to dusk, from the east gate to the south gate, do not open the city gate, from the inside of the word: "It is late, only a thousand taels of silver, no food." Then he took the money down from the head of the city.

The common people in the villages and towns were afraid of both the Tartars and the officers and soldiers, and they fled one after another as soon as they heard that the army was coming, so Lu Xiangsheng got 1,000 taels of silver but had nowhere to buy food. Some of the soldiers, with the acquiescence of the officers, divided into units at night, quietly left the camp and went to the countryside to look for fodder, and there were robberies and acts, so that the common people hated and feared the officers and soldiers more and more. Wherever the officers and soldiers went, the cleaner and farther the people fled.

In the years when Lu Xiangsheng was fighting against the peasant rebel army, he was already familiar with the disturbance of the good people and all kinds of illegal situations by the officials and soldiers. But now he was fighting against the Tartars, and this loss of popular support made him feel frightened and worried. Because he did not dare to question his generals, for fear of provoking unexpected changes, he had no choice but to make a big deal happen, ordered the arrest of two soldiers, and then gathered the whole army and beheaded them in tears.

In order to prevent the enemy from continuing to go deeper, he attacked the enemy camp between Zhending, Julu and Zhaozhou, and often made gains, but only in a disruptive nature, and had nothing to do with victory or defeat. Because of the lack of food and salary, the army was alone, and the morale of the army became more and more shaken. Everywhere there were people sighing and scolding the court, robbery continued, and some people went on errands.

One night, Lu Xiangsheng's old camp was encamped in a dilapidated temple, and he and Yang Tinglin slept on an earthen kang. Yang Tinglin originally came to the army with enthusiasm and wanted to help Lu Xiangsheng, but he was at a loss for a few days. He knew more about things than when he was in Beijing, and he was even more disappointed and dissatisfied with the imperial court, and often asked in his heart: "Is the Ming Dynasty's qi count about to run out?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng sat on the clay kang to deal with some official affairs, and suddenly looked at him and said, "Bofu, you still have to go back to Beijing, the army is not suitable for you." ”

"Boxiang, do you understand? We're almost at the end of our rope. Without waiting for Tinglin to speak, he continued: "I have led troops for many years and have experienced a hundred battles, but I have never encountered such a situation. You see, the brethren are scrawny, and they have to fight and run around every day. Everyone understands that they are waiting for death, either from the blade or from hunger. Nowadays, what makes everyone not scattered is a little heart to serve the country, and the imperial court not only does not know how to encourage morale, but uses various methods to disintegrate the morale of the army and frustrate the enthusiasm of the soldiers to serve the country. If this continues, some people will take risks. As long as a group of men and horses clamored to leave, it would be almost impossible for the whole army not to disintegrate. Boxiang, the situation is difficult, how is it good! ”

Yang Tinglin jumped down from the kang and said in frustration: "I'm also worried that I won't be able to support it for long." When the two armies are facing each other, life and death are in the breath, how can the soldiers be able to fight with their stomachs? At present, there is only one way, which is to move troops to the three prefectures of Jinan, raise grain and grass, rest and recuperate, and wait for half a month later, to find the enemy for a decisive battle. Otherwise, if you are hungry and tired, you will inevitably be the enemy of the tiger and wolf, and you will inevitably be destroyed, what good will it do to the country? ”

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head, smiled bitterly, and did not make a sound.

Yang Tinglin continued: "Although the three prefectures of Jinan have also suffered from banditry and drought, they are not very broken, and the people's hearts have not been lost. If the army can be moved widely and smoothly, and the soldiers and people can be called, not only will there be no shortage of food and grass, but soldiers and horses will also gather everywhere. In the past, the Jin people went south, and the righteous people of Taihang Mountain rose up, formed a village to protect themselves, and confronted the Jin. Helplessly, the Southern Song Dynasty court decided to make peace, so that Yue Fei's plan for the Northern Expedition could not work, and the fathers and elders of Taihang Mountain and southern Hebei wept bitterly and despaired, and they were sincerely hated for the ages, and they were sad to say. Fair life to Yue Shaobao self-encouragement, why not inherit Yue Shaobao's will, contact the fathers and elders of the three provinces of Jinan, and jointly resist the captives? The people of the three prefectures in Jinan, not only to save the country, but also to protect the family, will be able to respond to the wind and fight for the public. ”

Yang Tinglin's remarks are indeed the best military policy at present, but this point did not move Lu Xiangsheng's heart, but his impassioned feelings deeply moved Lu Xiangsheng. Lu Xiangsheng was silent for a while, sighed and said, "Boxiang, although your idea is the best policy, I really can't use it. I can only use the next strategy and send someone to Mianzhu to cry for Qin Ting. ”

The meaning of Mianzhu is Liu Yuliang. Liu Yuliang is a native of Sichuan. Because he is a cabinet minister, everyone must respect him, and they cannot continue to call him by his name or name, but by his place of origin. Qin Tingzhi's cry is about to complain to Liu Yuliang.

Yang Tinglin asked in surprise: "Since it is the best policy, why not use it?" ”

"Still don't understand?" Lu Xiangsheng suddenly felt a tingling pain in his chest, stood up, paced back and forth with his head down on the side of the kang for a few steps, and then continued: "In the past month, the cardinal and the right to deceive the lord, sparse and expose the attack, look around at the Chinese and foreign people, ambush the crisis, to blame each other, the younger brother to treat the sinful body, temporarily control the military affairs, often do not know when to arrest, if the division is moved to Guang, Shun, then the court will be punished with the crime of fear and cowardice, within a few days there will be a cavalry coming, instead of dying in the West City, why die on the battlefield?" ”

Yang Tinglin said in a deep voice: "However, even if the public does not hesitate to die on the battlefield, what is the benefit to the country? ”

Lu Xiangsheng said helplessly: "But it is enough to ask for a clear conscience and live up to the emperor." ”

Speaking of this, Lu Xiangsheng's heart was full of grief and gloom, and he tried his best not to let tears roll down the corners of his eyes. He turned his back on the candlelight and paced back and forth again.

Yang Tinglin punched the table and said loudly: "Is the country going to die in the hands of this group of people?" I don't believe ......"

Lu Xiangsheng turned his face sharply and shook his head at Yang Tinglin, not letting him continue. At this moment, the shadow of Li Qi, the investigator of Dongchang, came to his heart, he was not worried about himself, but worried that his friend would say something dissatisfied with the imperial court, and someone would add branches and leaves to the capital. He took a step in front of Yang Tinglin and whispered, "Brother Boxiang, I want to ask you to go to Baoding, how about it?" ”

Yang Tinglin said excitedly: "Of course I am willing to serve. However, do you want me to go and cry to Mianzhu as Qin Tingzhi? I don't think I'll be able to get his help. ”

Lu Xiangsheng said bitterly: "Do your best to obey the destiny of heaven." You have some dealings with him in Beijing, and you may touch his heart by explaining to him the difficult situation in the army. I've said it's the way forward, but there's only one way to go. ”

Yang Tinglin said: "When to leave? ”

Lu Xiangsheng said: "The matter is extremely urgent, and the sooner you leave, the better." You've been working very hard these days, so how about a night's rest tonight and tomorrow's five-day shift? ”

Yang Tinglin thought for a moment and said firmly: "Since the military situation is so urgent, I will leave tonight." Please hurry up and write a handwritten letter, which will be presented to me in front of me, and then move it with words. ”

Lu Xiangsheng hesitated again, and said hesitantly: "You still have to sleep for one night." ”

Yang Tinglin said resolutely: "No, without further ado, just go." ”

Lu Xiangsheng arched his hand, expressed his gratitude, and said earnestly: "Boxiang, you are too hard!" I will never forget your kindness! ”

About the third watch, Yang Tinglin took Lu Xiangsheng's handwritten letter and went out with one of his family members and the four reliable soldiers assigned to him by Lu Xiangsheng. Lu Xiangsheng sent him out of the camp and shook hands and asked each other to cherish them. Yang Tinglin rode his horse and walked a few steps, feeling very uneasy, and turned the horse's head again, Ding Ning said: "The public is responsible for the safety of the country, don't make a desperate bet." Jinan is the old rule of our father, and the people's hearts are available, so I hope to pay attention. ”

The "old governance" he mentioned has a special meaning, Lu Xiangsheng once served as a daimyo soldier and served as the prefect of the daimyo mansion, which can be regarded as governing the Ji Mansion. It is still relatively well-established in the Daimyo's Mansion. Yang Tinglin meant that if the situation was not right, Lu Xiangsheng would immediately move to the Daimyo's Mansion, where no matter what he did, it would be safer.

Lu Xiangsheng nodded, and said in an impassioned tone: "Brother, go quickly, don't think about your brother." Since the husband promised the country with his body, he did not dare to take it privately. The principle of benevolence and righteousness is a little known. reported Jun En with a death, and his younger brother still thought that he had little ear. ”

He watched the six horses go away in the dim starlight, and then it was a while before turning back to the camp. He was already determined to die on the battlefield, thinking that this farewell to his old friend might be the eternal secret, and his heart was a little sad. Knowing that Liu Yuliang would not give him any assistance, the reason why he sent Yang Tinglin was of course to hold the idea of "doing his best to obey the destiny of heaven", but more importantly, he wanted to send Tinglin away and save a useful talent for the country.

Yang Tinglin has no way of knowing this last thought. In fact, not long after Yang Tinglin returned, Lu Xiangsheng was arrested and imprisoned. Then, Yang Tinglin wrote a letter to impeach Yang Sichang, and as a result, he was also kicked out of the capital. In the end, the two went their separate ways and came to the Tiger Benjun together, and came to Zhang Zhun's command. Looking back on the past, both of them are embarrassed.

……

"Boxiang, I really didn't expect to meet you here."

Lu Xiangsheng said with a sigh.

"I can't think of it either."

Yang Tinglin also sighed.

"Where is Boxiang going?"

Lu Xiangsheng asked suddenly.

"Where Jiutai goes, Boxiang will go."

Yang Tinglin said.

"What do you mean?"

Lu Xiangsheng didn't react.

Mo Yu introduced beside him: "Commander Lu, Lord Du Du has appointed Yang Tinglin as the prefect of Liaoyang. Before officially taking up his post, he temporarily served as the military aircraft counselor under the command of Lu. ”

Lu Xiangsheng said in surprise: "Liaoyang prefect? What kind of job is it? ”

Mo Yu's eloquent introduction said: "The Governor decided to divide Liaodong into three parts, divided into three prefectures, including Guangning, Liaoyang, and Shenyang, with the prefect in charge of civil affairs, and the prefect of Dengzhou Prefecture at the same level. The area under the jurisdiction of the prefect of Liaoyang mainly includes Haizhou Wei, Gaizhou Wei, Fuzhou Wei, Jinzhou Wei, Dingliao Youwei and other places. ”

Lu Xiangsheng pondered for a moment and understood. This is Zhang Zhun whipping him behind his back. You see, your good friend, Yang Tinglin, has been appointed as the prefect of Liaoyang Prefecture, and now these lands are still in the hands of the Tartars, if you Lu Xiangsheng don't work hard to take these lands back, your friend, who is the empty prefect, can only act as this illusory military aircraft counselor.

After a moment of silence, Lu Xiangsheng lifted his spirit and said loudly: "Okay! Bo Fu, let's go out immediately, let's go to North Korea first to see the situation! ”

Yang Tinglin said with a serious expression: "After the original Jiutai! ”