The white water fox stroked the newly replaced tiger skin seat in the inspection hall of the Tiande Army, and his heart missed the opportunity more and more. Earlier, he sent two teams back to the camp, and the order was changed from "surveillance" and "killing" to "protection" and "ensuring safety." But Qu Chuji's uncle and nephew disappeared without a trace as if the world had evaporated.

Many things in the world are like this, you don't know how to cherish them when you hold them in your hands, and you regret them when you lose them.

Liu De of Hedong crossed the Yellow River at night and garrisoned outside the east city, and the white water fox sent someone to contact, and the envoy sat in the guest tent for a long time and drank a stomach of tea, but finally Zhike sent him back on the grounds that Liu Desan had itchy bodies.

"What! The body is itchy and you cross the river to do what? Tiandejun is suitable for recuperation? The white water fox thought indignantly, when facing a wise and powerful opponent like Liu Desan, the white water fox felt his own insignificance. Sometimes he even thinks, why should I let go of the good Khan and come here to suffer? It is also a great joy of life to simply set fire to the city of Zhongshou, but still go back to herd sheep and horses, and gallop on the prairie with blue sky and clear water.

However, the white water fox also knew in his heart that he was now stuck in the fish in the net, and the fish scales were stuck in the wire net, so he could only rush forward, but there was no way back.

The white water fox was thinking about Qu Chuji, but now he has become Yang Hao's guest. On the night when the White Water Fox planned to attack the surrendered city, Qu Chuji took Qu Qingquan out of the camp and went west. Prior to this, Qu had never faced Yang Hao and his Xining army. In his opinion, Yang Hao is no different from those large and small feudal towns, supporting the army and respecting himself, separating the localities, recklessly fighting the army, and fighting endlessly, if there is a difference, that is, other feudal towns are all popular and spicy, riding horses, holding beauties, listening to small songs, and thinking about the ambition of expanding the territory and dominating the world.

But what about this Yang Hao, he was worried about the clothes and meals of those people under him all day long. It is also to open coal mines, run factories, persuade farmers and mulberries, and camp all day long, thinking about the word "food and drink", without the ambition to expand the territory and sweep the world. "This is simply a mediocre talent!" This is Qu Chuji's judgment on Yang Hao at the beginning. But when he learned that although the officials and soldiers of Fengzhou were poor, they could rest with the people, pay off the meager taxes and even exempt the people, he became a little interested in this young man. Later, when Qu Qingquan told him in detail about Yang Hao's life history and the important government in Fengzhou, Qu Chuji's attitude took a 180-degree turn. He was eager to meet this young man who was implementing a new deal in troubled times.

The reason why Qu Qingquan recommended Yang Hao to the teacher so hard was not on a whim. He and Guan Suo once studied together in Taiyuan, and their relationship with each other was also passable. In the hearts of many people in Hedong, the image of Qu Chuji is that half-human and half-god Zhuge Liang, even better than Zhuge Kongming. As a native of Hedong, Guan Suo also admired Qu Chuji, and when he found out that Qu Chuji's uncle and nephew were ordered to the White Water Fox camp, he strongly recommended it to Yang Hao. He tried his best to get into a relationship with Qu Qingquan, lured him to profit, moved him with affection, and finally said that Qu Qingquan abandoned Hedong and switched to Fengzhou.

Although Qu Qingquan has done a lot of foreshadowing, although Yang Hao treated him with great courtesy, he still refused Yang Hao's employment and refused to take up the position of Xining Army Staff Division tailored for him by Yang Hao.

The reason for Qu Chuji's resignation is very sufficient: he has been in Hedong for many years, and he has treated himself well from top to bottom, how can he be ungrateful and turn to others to become enemies of the old master? However, Qu Chuji did not close the door without saying a word, he promised to stay in Fengzhou to recuperate for a period of time, and recommended his student Qu Qingquan to serve under Yang Hao's account. This shows that Qu Chuji is a strict and upright person, and he also has to observe and understand Yang Hao to decide whether it is worth serving him.

When Qu Qingquan first arrived, he showed a different kind of insight. He asked Yang Hao: "With the strength of the general, the surrender of the city is just around the corner, why can't the general move forward, doesn't he have other plans?" Yang Hao replied: "To be honest, last night I was ready to capture the city and end the civil strife of the Tiande army." But I didn't expect that Baishui Fox and Wang Ben would start in advance, and when our troops came to the city, they saw that the Zhenwu army had also arrived outside the city, so they postponed. ”

Qu Qingquan said: "I have heard for a long time that during the battle of Fengzhou in the past, the general once explained Shixiong, is this matter true? Yang Hao nodded, and said, "It's just a small favor." Qu Qingquan asked again: "In the eyes of the general, how is Shi Xiong?" Yang Hao thought for a while and replied: "Brave champion of the three armies, brave and loyal." Qu Qingquan shook his head and said, "The previous comments are in favor of the students, but the last two words are inappropriate." Shi Xiong is a generation of heroes, he only has heaven in his eyes, except for heaven, he is only loyal to himself. ”

Yang Hao was taken aback when he heard this, and asked, "What Mr. means is that he is not here to be sent by Liu Shuai. Qu Qingquan said: "Shi Xiong has the ambition to ascend to the sky, isn't he living under the people for a long time?" He had long wanted to fight for a piece of territory for himself, but he saw that the situation of the Tiande army was confused, so he didn't do it for a while. Now that the situation is becoming clearer, he marches westward. This person is both wise and brave, if he wins the Tiande Army, it may not be a good thing for the general in the future. ”

Cheng Keling on the side asked in surprise: "This person can take the rank of general among thousands of troops, this ability is not simple." Qu Qingquan smiled and said: "This is a hero, and he can't fight with it." However, this person attaches great importance to righteousness, and if he can use skillful strength to collect it for his own use, it is really a beautiful thing like a tiger with wings. Yang Hao hurriedly said: "Please sir, plan." Qu Qingquan didn't answer directly, he smiled, but asked: "After the general calmed down the middle of the forest, which side of the east, west, north and south was the most tight?" Before Yang Hao could answer, he asked himself again: "Hedong Town in the southeast and Shuofang Town in the southwest are still tighter in the southeast than the southeast. After all, Shuo Fang has Xia Sui to restrain him. The southeast direction, on the other hand, is unobstructed. ”

Yang Hao nodded, suddenly realized, and blurted out: "Linzhou." ”

Qu Qingquan laughed when he heard this. Cheng Keling couldn't understand why the two laughed, but asked Qu Qingquan: "Speaking of Shixiong, what's the matter with Linzhou?" ”

Yang Hao replied on behalf of Qu Qingquan: "What Mr. means is to try to let Shi Xiong go to defend Linzhou and defend the southern gate of Fengzhou for us. ”

Yang Hao secretly felt glad in his heart, if he hadn't listened to Guan Suo's words to invite Qu's uncle and nephew, he would not have thought of this plan anyway. Although Linzhou is a small city, it is located at the north gate of Guanzhong, and is located at the key point of the north-south trade road, which is the place where many forces converge. Hedong, Shuofang, Xia Sui, Guanzhong Shence Jun and himself are all staring at this place.

Whichever side sends troops to capture this place will cause a series of reactions, which is why the Linzhou magistrate was able to divide one side with hundreds of native soldiers. However, not long ago, the Hedong Army was stationed in Linzhou in a grand manner, quietly breaking this delicate balance. The Shence Army in Guanzhong turned a blind eye, and Shuo Fang and Xia Sui did not see any movement.

They did have a reason not to move, after all, the entry of the Hedong Army into Linzhou did not pose a direct threat to them, but it was different for Fengzhou. Sending troops from Linzhou to the north, you can reach Feng'an within three days, except for some small military villages, which are almost unobstructed. This is also an important reason why Yang Hao did not dare to send troops after the civil strife of the Tiande Army, and he could not advance after sending troops.

To break this situation, Shi Xiong's intervention was far better than his own appearance, and Shi Xiong's expulsion of the Hedong Army to occupy Linzhou was nothing more than turning Linzhou back into its original vacuum state, and it had no real impact on all parties. What's more, Shi Xiong is a new face, and it won't stimulate Qiu Shiliang's nerves. In Yang Hao's view, it was Qiu Shiliang who decided the status and belonging of Linzhou, not Liu Qingling or Wang Chongwen.

After attacking the city and failing to rescue his own people, Wang Ben's mood was extremely bad. He shut himself up in the cabin alone, without eating, drinking, or seeing anyone, and meditated on the reason for his defeat. Xiong Lindai knocked on the hatch, since he saw Xiong Lindai in Wuliuwan, Wang Ben fell in love with this young man, and Xiong Lindai was also willing to accompany him, both as a guard and as a staff officer.

"General, Yang Hao of the Xining Army has sent a messenger."

Oh, Wang Ben was surprised, "Please." ”

The messenger sent by Yang Hao is named Wang Zheng, if he climbs hard, he will also be related to the Wang family of the Tiande Army five hundred years ago. Although he was only a small school, Wang Ben did not slack off in the slightest, he put on his official uniform and greeted the cabin door. Wang Ben is a five-rank court doctor who is enshrined by the imperial court, although he is an idle official, he is a hundred times stronger than those self-appointed wild officials.

Wang Zheng was a little flattered, but he was born in the army, and he didn't know how to be hypocritical and polite, so after seeing the ceremony, he said straightforwardly: "My general invites the second general to talk about it in the embroidery pavilion in the west of the city tomorrow." After that, he handed over a handwritten letter from Yang Hao. first opened his mouth to invite himself to the appointment, and then presented Yang Hao's letter, Wang Ben understood that there should be something else in this letter.

Wang Ben opened the envelope and read it in front of Wang Zheng, and after reading the letter, he thought for a while and said: "Please tell General Yang that Wang Ben will go to the appointment on time tomorrow." ”

When Xiong Lindai sent Wang Zheng off the boat, Wang Ben put Yang Hao's letter on the lamp and burned it to ashes. When Xiong Lindai returned to the cabin after sending Wang Zheng away, Wang Ben was looking at the map with both hands behind his back, this map was drawn by Wang Ben himself, with the city of Zhongshou as the center, the mountains and rivers within a radius of 500 miles, and the prefectures, counties, villages and towns were clearly described. Xiong Lindai was about to speak, when he suddenly found a cloud of hot ashes on the table, so he swallowed back the words that came to his mouth.

Wang Ben sighed softly, as if talking to himself, and as if asking Xiong Lindai: "In the letter, Yang Hao proposed that the three of us join forces to expel Baishui Fox and Liu Desan from Hedong to help me recover the Tiande army. The condition is that the three of us make a secret covenant and form an alliance. He gave up Xiao Chang'an to Shixiong to garrison the army, and I will bear eighty percent of Shixiong's military expenses in the next five years. Do you say I can agree to this condition? ”

Xiong Lindai couldn't help but ask: "What can Yang Hao get by doing this?" ”

Wang Ben turned around, his eyes were shining, and he praised: "Good question, the benefit he got is that Shi Xiong helped him garrison the south gate, and I defended the west gate for him." In this way, Fengzhou can be guaranteed for ten years. ”

Xiong Lindai nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "If the article of mutual protection of joint forces is added to the secret agreement, it will be fair and reasonable." In addition, the five-year military expenditure statement is too general, and it is better to determine the amount. ”

Wang Ben smiled noncommittally, stared at Xiong Lindai's eyes and asked, "Do you also think this discussion is very reasonable?" Xiong Lindai said: "If you can use this to quell the rebellion, it will be a blessing for the people of heaven." ”

Wang Ben nodded silently and said, "Okay, you go to the embroidery pavilion with me tomorrow." ”