Speaking of this, Zhou Ping understood why this Xin family brother was so humble to him and so kind to him. I feel that I have made great contributions to Tong Guanyi's party, as if he is already a rising star of the party, and at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, when the party struggle was so fierce, he naturally had an unusual attitude towards "his own people".

"Brother Zhou, anyway, all the people in this pavilion are their own, and a certain family will say something from the bottom of their hearts!" Xin Xingzong looked slightly drunk: "A certain family just heard in the Jingfu room that you were going to Yingzhou, you have already made a big contribution to Yanjing this time, why risk your own life again?" I put a sentence here today, if the position of the commander of the Shengjie army within five years is not Brother Zhou's, I Xin Xingzong will dig out this pair of eyeballs and pay them to Brother Zhou! ”

"Brother Xingzong's words are serious!" Zhou Ping couldn't help but smile bitterly when he heard this, of course Xin Xingzong's words were a bit exaggerated, but if he stayed under Tong Guan, it would be no problem to mix all the way to Lingzhi after three or five years, but the problem was that staying in the Shengjie army would also mean that he basically lost his influence on the upcoming battle of Liao. If he had just returned from Yanjing, he was still full of confidence in the victory of the battle against Liao (there were many internal contradictions in the Liao side, and as soon as Ye Luchun died, the fragile political balance would be broken), but after he came back, this confidence gradually weakened, the reason is very simple, the Great Song Dynasty is also full of internal contradictions, and those at the top level, whether they are the main battle or the main peace, are more focused on not dealing with external enemies, but dealing with internal enemies.

"It's a worse world!" Zhou Ping couldn't help but look up to the sky and sighed.

Around the end of the day, the nightlife of Tokyo's high society was coming to an end. Those who were exhausted by alcohol and femininity staggered out of the ornate gatehouse with the help of their companions. Behind them, the voices and greetings of the women in the crowd were heard, and from a distance, their gorgeous costumes and the lanterns on the gatehouse were all in a colorful way.

"Brother Zhou, let's meet again another day!" The Xin brothers smiled and sent Zhou Ping to a sedan chair, and only when the sedan disappeared from the corner not far away did the two get into their carriage. In the swaying carriage, the faces of the two brothers of the Xin family became gloomy, and after about half a sound, Xin Qizong's voice broke the silence: "This Zhou Juncheng's ambition is not small!" ”

"Huh!" Xin Xingzong laughed: "So what, let's talk about it if I can come back alive from Yingzhou." There are some things that only living people can do! ”

"Brother taught me a lesson!" Xin Qizong nodded. After being silent for a while, he suddenly said, "Some things still need to be prepared first, brother, are you right?" ”

Xin Xingzong didn't answer, he closed his eyes. There was only the sound of the two brothers breathing evenly in the carriage.

The next afternoon. Zhou Ping came to Tongguan's mansion. Obviously, the captain of the Shengjie military academy on duty had already known about the incoming boss, and politely let Zhou Ping into the tea room inside the gate to rest. When the pass came in, Zhou Ping met Tong Guan at the top of the courtesy. Tong Guan was in a good mood and asked, "How did Juncheng have a good time in Fan Lou last night?" ”

Zhou Ping was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Invited by the two officials, the last general will not dare to refuse." ”

"Hehe, it's the Xin brothers! But you still have to be careful, don't let the crows of Yushitai catch the handle, Cai Yuanchang has been a little angry these days, don't touch his moldy head! ”

"Thank you Xuanshuai for reminding me, the lower officials will definitely be cautious in their words and deeds!"

"That's not necessary, you're a martial artist, and a lot of things can't be put on you!" Speaking of this, Tong Guan smiled proudly: "Besides, even if it is an official family, it will look at the old face of a certain family!" ”

"Thank you Xuanshuai for your love, the last general will be smeared with liver and brain, and it will be difficult to repay in case!" Tong Guan barely shouted: "With me covering you, you'll be safe!" Zhou Ping had no choice but to care whether it was greasy or not, and hurriedly expressed his loyalty, this old-fashioned drama was sung a few times, and he could finally turn to today's topic - Yingzhou.

"Shuai Xuan, the lower official is here today to ask you for permission to respond to the state!" Zhou Ping was about to elaborate on the purpose of his trip. saw Tong Guan raise his hand and interrupt his words: "Juncheng, since you must go, you naturally have your reasons." In this way, you first go to my Shengjie army to take office, and pick some capable soldiers to drive out. ”

"Thank you Xuanshuai for your kindness! However, if Xuan Shuai allows, the last general wants to raise some utility! ”

"Utility?" Tong Guan frowned, the so-called utility is a special kind of soldier in the Northern Song Dynasty, somewhat similar to modern volunteers, generally young people with surplus wealth and outstanding martial arts bring their own weapons and armor to enlist as soldiers, generally serving as reconnaissance, vanguard and other special tasks. Soldiers who play a role in the role are paid more generously, and there is no need for tattoos, and their social status is higher than that of ordinary soldiers, but the number is very small, and it can only play a supplementary role.

"Juncheng, all the soldiers in my Shengjie army are selected from the northwest armies, although they are just ordinary soldiers, they are no less effective."

"Xuan Shuai's personal guards are naturally all tigers and wolves!" Zhou Ping first patted Tong Guan's fart, and then changed the conversation: "But in the end, if you go to Yingzhou here, you must first sneak through Baigou, not only to be fierce and good at fighting, but also to be familiar with the local customs and customs, to be able to adapt to changes, and to win many northwesterners in the army; Besides, I have just taken office, and I have not yet concluded my kindness with my subordinates, so I am afraid that I may not be able to get his death! ”

"Hmmm! In that case, it's up to you! Tong Guan smiled: "The money and armor you need, you just have to report it!" ”

"Thank you Xuanshuai!"

After getting Tong Guan's consent, Zhou Ping returned to his residence and immediately called Xue Liangyu. The reason why he refused to choose to draw people directly from the Shengjie army and wanted to recruit the utility by himself In addition to the two that he said, there was another unspoken one - if he remembered correctly, Yue Fei's earliest military entry was to recruit as a dare soldier in the first expedition to Liao, if he took this opportunity to take him under his command, as the saying goes, "a thousand troops are easy to get, and one general is hard to find", it would be a big profit.

"Liangyu, you go to Brother Yue's hometown immediately, and use whatever means you use to dig him up, understand?"

"Yes, but where am I going to meet next?"

"Go to Zhendingfu!" Zhou Ping hurriedly took off his official robe and said loudly: "This time, we are going to poke a hole in the sky!" ”

The majestic Taihang Mountains stretch from Wangwu Mountain on the border between Henan and Shanxi provinces in the south, and like a giant dragon, it winds all the way northeast to the shore of the Bohai Sea, separating the North China Plain from the Shanxi Plateau. Since the Northern Song Dynasty did not have the Yanshan Mountains, the natural geographical dividing line between the farming and nomadic peoples of Northeast Asia, it was particularly important for the Han dynasty, which had its capital in Bianliang, to control the mountain passes connecting the east and west sides of the Taihang Mountains. Generally speaking, the core of the Northern Song Dynasty's defense west of the Taihang Mountains was Taiyuan, while the North China Plain east of the Taihang Mountains consisted of three towns—namely Hejian, Zhending, and Zhongshan—and only by controlling the Kongdao connecting the eastern and western foothills of the Taihang Mountains could the Song army maneuver between the Shanxi Plateau and the North China Plain and implement a strategy of elastic defense. Therefore, Zhending Mansion, which is located on the eastern road of Taihang and controls the mouth of Jingchengkou, has its own special position among the three towns of Hebei, because even if the enemy army from the north captures Hejian and Zhongshan, as long as Zhending and Taiyuan are still in the hands of the Song army, the enemy army will not dare to move southward - otherwise the Song army can cut off the enemy's rear road and make it fall into a dilemma of not being able to advance or retreat. It is also for this reason that the Hebei Bow and Arrow Society was the most prosperous in this place at that time, and when the Liao Campaign was about to be launched, Liu Tao, who was then the staff officer of the Xuanfu Division of Hedong and Hebei, recruited the people's army in Zhending Mansion - "Dare Warrior".

When Zhou Ping and his entourage arrived at Zhending Mansion, it was already the beginning of May in the fourth year of Xuanhe. This made his mood even more urgent, and after he arrived at Zhending Mansion, he hurried to visit Liu Tao to prepare for the recruitment of warriors.

"In this way, General Zhou wants to recruit heroes in Zhending Mansion?" Although Liu Tao is a civil official, he is a middle-aged man with a strong physique and a resolute expression, and he took the notebook presented by Zhou Ping and didn't look at it, just put it aside.

"Exactly, the current border situation is tense, Zhending Mansion must have the fine work of the Liao people, if it is in the name of the villain to recruit the effect, I am afraid that it will leak the news, it is better to recruit people from the daring soldiers of the Xianggong, and please ask the Xianggong for permission!"

"General Zhou is thoughtful!" Liu Tao looked at Zhou Ping at the bottom, and his mood was very conflicted. He had already heard of the reputation of this martial artist in front of him, and in his opinion, a martial artist like Zhou Ping was just a "fortunate villain" who brought the country into danger for his own selfish interests, and as a minister with rich political experience, he did not agree with Tong Guan's strategy of linking Jin and Liao to Liao. But in fact, his career has been firmly linked to the matter of cutting Liao, which makes him feel extremely irritable.

"It's a small thing!" Liu Tao flicked his finger and asked, "It's just that I don't know how many people General Zhou has raised?" ”

"Eighty is enough! Our family already has forty people on hand, and no more will be able to command it! Zhou Ping smiled: "If possible, it's best to have done mule and horse and salt tea business!" ”

"Mule and horse, salt and tea business?" Liu Tao frowned: "These are all forbidden trades!" ”

"Exactly! I'm going to disguise myself as a smuggler, and if I thank you for that, I'm fine! “

"I see, General Zhou is very thoughtful!" A smile appeared on Liu Tao's serious face.

After Zhou Ping said goodbye, a young man came out of the back hall, saluted Liu Tao so-so, and said with a smile: "Father, how is this General Zhou?" The child heard that this person is brave and resourceful, and he is a rare talent! (To be continued......)

PS: It's really uncomfortable to be sick, and it's not all well, forgive me!