In the Sui army camp in Shanyang County, several soldiers with a scout hurriedly came to Fang Xuanling's big tent, "Qiqi military division Peng Cheng has sent intelligence!" ”

"Come in!"

The scout's name was Xie Zhiping, a brigade commander and Shen Guang's henchman, who followed Shen Guang into Pengcheng and was sent back by Shen Guang to deliver the letter.

Xie Zhiping walked into Fang Xuanling's tent quickly, but saw the commander Zhang Xuanzheng and the military advisor Fang Xuanling discussing military affairs in front of the map.

He hurriedly knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See the commander, see the military advisor!" ”

"Get up!"

Xie Zhiping took out a wax pill and presented it to Zhang Xuan, "This is the information sent back by General Shen. ”

Although Fang Xuanling is in charge of intelligence, it does not mean that Zhang Xuan cannot overstep his authority to ask, he is the coach and has more power.

Zhang Xuan stepped forward to take the wax pill, and crushed the wax pill casually, revealing a very small note, which was densely filled with words, all about Meng Haigong's troop deployment, weapons and equipment and other key information.

Zhang Xuan looked at the side carefully, handed the note to Fang Xuanling, and asked with concern, "How is General Shen's situation?" ”

The note was too small to write information, and Shen Guang's own situation was not said on the note, but as the commander of the first army, he was very concerned about the safety of his subordinates.

Xie Zhiping hurriedly replied: "Commander Qiqi, everything is going well with General Shen, he has already contacted Liu Shenggong and received his help." ”

"What kind of help did you get?" Jang Hyun suddenly became interested.

"Liu Shenggong has a protégé named Xiahou Bo, who was originally the chief bookkeeper of Donghai County, and his handwriting is very beautiful, and he is deeply respected by Meng Haigong, and he has become a soldier under his account, and our intelligence is obtained from him."

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment and then asked, "Is this Xiahou Bo reliable?" ”

"General Shen had a deep talk with him. General Shen said that this Xiahou Bo was forced to do things, and he was very willing to cooperate with us. ”

At this time, Fang Xuanling next to him asked again: "How is the situation in Pengcheng?" ”

"Qiyu military division, the security in Pengcheng is fine, basically there is no burning, killing and looting. It's just that the people's taxes are too heavy, and a curfew is implemented as soon as it gets dark, and only special pass cards can travel, this Xiahou Bo has a pass card, and he came to see General Shen at night. ”

Fang Xuanling nodded, "I know, let's rest in the afternoon!" I'll let you bring it back if you have any information. ”

Xie Zhi bowed in parallel and retreated.

Fang Xuanling smiled at Zhang Xuan at this time: "Isn't the general worried about that Xiahou Bo?" ”

Zhang Xuan nodded, "I'm really worried about him, he actually has a night pass." It shows that Meng Haigong attaches great importance to him, and he was just a small official in the past, but he was just a protégé of Liu Shenggong, if he wants him to give up power and help us, is he willing? ”

"The general doesn't have to think too much, although this Xiahou Bo helped us, he didn't give up power, in fact, he didn't lose anything. And it is human nature to leave yourself a way back. ”

"Maybe the military advisor said too much, but I was too worried."

Fang Xuanling smiled slightly. "If the general cares, it's chaos."

Fang Xuanling said what Zhang Xuan was thinking, Chen Xu's death has always made him feel very uncomfortable, he didn't want his old subordinates to suffer misfortune again, he didn't agree with Shen Guang to go to Pengcheng in person, but Shen Guang repeatedly asked for his life, so he had to agree.

Jang Hyun sighed. "Maybe I'm worried too much, don't say it, what does the military advisor think of the thief army?"

Zhang Xuan received urgent information last night that a 5,000-strong Meng thief army appeared in Suyu County, north of the Huai River, and was heading for Huaiyang County. Zhang Xuan was discussing this matter with Fang Xuanling, and Shen Guang's information arrived.

Fang Xuanling said with a smile: "Shen Guang's intelligence also mentioned this matter, it was commanded by Meng Haigong's henchman Luo Bingqian, I can be sure that this army is here to test us." ”

"Why temptation?" Zhang Xuan asked again.

"It depends on whether we have any intention of entering Xuzhou, or just to defend Meng Haigong from going south, and even I suspect that Meng Hai Guild has a subtle hint."

"Strategist, please make it clear!"

Fang Xuanling laughed, "Meng Haigong may think that we are worried that he will go north to Qingzhou and camp troops on the Huai River, so he will give us a hint that as long as we and him do not violate the river water, he will not go north to Qingzhou, and we will be safe and sound." ”

"But if that's the case, why didn't he just send someone to make it clear to me, in case I couldn't understand his hints?"

"Some things are boring when they are explained thoroughly, and both parties can understand!"

Zhang Xuan paced back and forth in the big tent with his hands in his hands, and finally he stopped in front of the map, staring at Donghai County on the map, and he said slowly: "But the military advisor must understand that I didn't wave my army north because he wanted to attack Qingzhou. ”

"I know that the general wants to take Donghai County and open up the passage between Jiangdu and Qingzhou."

"So what should I do?"

Zhang Xuan's confused gaze fell on Fang Xuanling, "Do you continue to attack Donghai County, or stay in the Huai River to confront Meng Haigong and seek Meng Haigong's so-called will?" ”

"If the general can't decide, then it's better to let the Son of Heaven make a decision for the general."

Zhang Xuan understood what Fang Xuanling meant, no matter how Wei Zheng swore that he would take full responsibility, but once his army really entered Xuzhou, he still had to obtain the consent of the Son of Heaven.

Zhang Xuan nodded silently, "I understand what Mr. means." ”

After the news of the unfortunate death of the general Zhang Jin reached Luoyang, it caused a great shock in the government and the opposition, Zhang Jin was quite popular, and had great prestige in the military, and his unfortunate death made the Xiaoguo army fall into grief, and at the same time made the military very indignant, and asked the imperial court to send heavy troops to exterminate Meng Haigong and avenge the general Zhang Jin.

At the same time, Zhang Jin's death caused another kind of panic in the civilian system, Meng Haigong controlled the four counties of Xuzhou, whether it was Qingzhou in the north or Yuzhou in the east, there was no danger to defend, once Meng Haigong took advantage of the victory to attack, the entire Central Plains would be finished.

For a while, there was a lot of discussion between the government and the opposition, and there was even a voice of moving the capital to Chang'an.

At dusk, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate of Dou Mansion, and Dou Yan, who was waiting at the gate, hurriedly greeted him, the door had been opened, and a guard carefully helped Pei Ju to get out of the carriage, Dou Yan hurriedly stepped forward to support Pei Ju, "Pei Gong beware!" ”

Pei Ju asked with concern, "Has Ling Zu's situation improved a little?" ”

Dou Yan shook his head, his expression was gloomy, Pei Ju sighed, "All living beings, whether they are emperors or civilians, no one can escape that level, as long as you don't do it, I think you can have no regrets, you all want to open it!" ”

In fact, Dou Qing has been seriously ill for more than a month, and he has been blocking the news before, and only the children of the Dou family know, so Dou Yang hurriedly rushed back to the capital from Jiangdu, which is the reason, but the shopkeeper Wang didn't know, and thought that Dou Yang was going back to report the situation in Jiangdu.

It wasn't until Dou Qing's condition deteriorated in the past few days that the news spread out, and many old protégés came to visit, and even Yang Guang, the son of heaven, was alarmed, and specially sent Yang Tong to visit Dou Qing for him.

Pei Ju followed Dou Yan into the mansion, and came to Dou Qing's ward, where the inner hall outside the ward was full of Dou clansmen, as well as Dou Qing's grandsons Li Shimin and Li Xuanba.

When everyone saw Pei Ju coming, they all got up and saluted, and Dou Qing's second son, Dou Ting, walked quickly to greet him, and his voice couldn't help but choke a little, "Thank you Pei Gong for coming to visit my father." ”

Pei Ju patted him on the shoulder and comforted: "Virtuous nephew, please mourn, can I go to visit Ling Zun?" ”

Dou Ting wiped away his tears, "Please come with me." ”

He took Pei Ju into the ward, the ward was filled with a pungent smell of medicine, and there was a smell of death, I saw Dou Qing lying on the sickbed, his whole face and eyes were sunken, his face was sallow, like a skeleton, his eyes were closed, he was unconscious, his breath was very weak, and several concubines sitting next to him were secretly wiping their tears.

Pei Ju visited for a while, and saw that it was impossible to talk to Dou Qing anymore, so he sighed secretly, and withdrew from the ward, he walked into the courtyard, stopped and asked Dou Ting, "Has the imperial doctor come to see it?" ”

"Several imperial doctors sent by the Holy Lord have seen it."

"What do they say?"

Dou Ting cried: "They all agree that my father has only been in the past two days. ”

"How so? When I saw him at the beginning of the year, although he was not in good spirits, he was still healthy, why did he suddenly do it" Pei Ju sighed.

"The imperial doctor said that my father was depressed, so his condition has been going back and forth, and it has been gradually deteriorating, and my father himself knows it, so he rushed back to the capital from Chang'an this time, in fact, he just wanted to explain some future affairs.

Speaking of this, Dou Ting finally cried bitterly.

Pei Ju patted him on the shoulder, "Virtuous nephew, please mourn and change, if you have any difficulties, you can come to me, I will definitely try my best to help." ”

Dou Ting was grateful in his heart, and kept sending Pei Ju out of the gate, Pei Ju got into the carriage, and immediately commanded loudly: "Enter the palace!" (To be continued.) )