A group of cavalry ran fast on the trail south of Lingchang County, stirring up billowing yellow dust, and soon they ran to the city of Lingchang County, and the cavalry shouted to the city: "We have an urgent military situation, we want to see His Royal Highness King Xun!" ”

The gates opened, and the cavalry rushed into the city.

Lingchang County is located in the west of Wagang Mountain, and it is also the stronghold of the army of Yang Qing of King Xun to besiege the Wagang army, since the failure of the Wagang army to march into the Central Plains, including Zhang Xutuo, Yang Qing and Pei Renji, the siege of the three Sui armies on Wagang Mountain lasted for nearly a year, during which it experienced more than 30 fierce battles of all sizes, and the Wagang army was never able to defeat Zhang Xutuo's army and could not break the siege of the Sui army.

However, the one-year siege also did not defeat the Wagang army, because Yang Qing secretly sold grain to the Wagang army at a high price, so that the Wagang army passed through the difficulties again and again, and the Wagang army not only did not decline, but became stronger and stronger day by day.

At present, Yang Qing's army controls the three counties of Lingchang, Baima, and Yincheng, Zhang Xutuo controls the two counties of Kuangcheng and Weicheng, and Pei Renji controls Weinan County, and the three armies of 60,000 horses surround Wagangshan.

The order of King Qin, the son of heaven, finally broke the balance of the siege of the Wagang army, because Yang Qing sent his eldest son Yang Wen to lead an army of 10,000 to Taiyuan Qinwang, so that there was a gap in the southwest corner of the Sui army's encirclement, Zhang Xutuo discovered this gap in time, and immediately sent troops to fill the defense of the southwest corner, it was this seemingly ultra vires move that led to a fierce conflict between Zhang Xutuo and Yang Qing.

In front of the county government hall, Yang Qing listened to the report of the cavalry scouts with a sinking face, and hated him so much that his fists slowly clenched, and one of his grain convoys was intercepted by Zhang Xutuo's army on the way to deliver grain to Wagang Mountain on the southwest defense line, and 5,000 stone of grain and 100 grain delivery villagers were seized by Zhang Xutuo.

"Zhang Pifu deceived me too much!" Yang Qing finally couldn't help but scold.

At this time, his eldest son Yang Wen said: "Father, the child went to ask Zhang Xutuo for food, and ordered Zhang Xutuo to withdraw from our defense line. ”

Yang Qing was extremely annoyed, but also very scared. The grain cart was detained by Zhang Xutuo, which is equivalent to catching the evidence of his secret communication with Wagang, once Zhang Xutuo reveals this matter to the saint, he is afraid that he will not be able to eat and walk around.

Although Yang Qing hated it very much, he also had to give in to Zhang Xutuo, he thought for a while and said to his eldest son: "You go and discuss with Zhang Xutuo and let him let our people go." I will give him the 5,000 stone of grain, and as long as he is willing to let him go, I can give him another 5,000 stone of grain. ”

Yang Qing is very aware of Zhang Xutuo's current predicament, due to the outbreak of locust plagues in the south and east of Dongjun, which swallowed up thousands of hectares of military land of Zhang Xutuo's army in Weicheng County, Zhang Xutuo's military rations have not lasted long, and he gave him 10,000 stone of military rations.

"Remember, discuss with Zhang Xutuo carefully, and try to soften your attitude. Let him understand that I am willing to compromise with him. ”

"Father rest assured, the child will discuss it with him."

Yang Wen bowed and hurried away, Yang Qing looked at his son away, he was upset for a while, this was a mistake of his, Zhang Xutuo made up the siege gap in the southwest corner, but he forgot to inform the manor to suspend the delivery of grain. As a result, Zhang Xutuo grabbed his handle, and he was afraid that he would have to take precautions for this matter. First pay a lot of money to Yu Shiji, thinking of this, he ordered: "Go and call the second son quickly!" ”

The second son is Yang Qing's second son Yang Ji, who is responsible for Yang Qing's relationship in the capital, and he happened to come back to report to his father in the past two days, not long after. Yang Ji hurried over and bowed to his father, "The child sees his father!" ”

"Let me ask you, did Yu Shiji give him the money this year?"

"I gave it at the beginning of the year."

"Very good, you go back to the capital immediately. Raise 3,000 taels of gold from the basement of the capital to Yu Shiji, and do it immediately! ”

Yang Ji was stunned for a moment, "If Yu Xiangguo asks, how can the child tell him?" ”

"You don't have to worry about this, I will write a letter for you to bring to him, you just give him the gold, and I will write whatever I have to say in the letter."

"Remember, child!"

Yang Qing immediately wrote a letter and handed it to Yang Ji to rush back to the capital to find Yu Shiji......

Zhang Xutuo currently has 20,000 troops in his hands, stationed in Weicheng and Kuangcheng respectively, and the Wagang army for more than a year of competition, he won more and lost less, and the Wagang army was frightened, but although he also wanted to go into the mountains to suppress the bandits, but suffered from the lack of troops, and Yang Qing refused to cooperate with him, he had to take the method of long-term siege, when the Wagang army was cut off from food, they were naturally difficult to support.

During this time, Zhang Xutuo's mood was really bad, and two things that happened in a row brought him a heavy blow, one was the outbreak of locust plague in Weicheng County, which gnawed thousands of acres of military fields and wheat seedlings cleanly, and his military rations have always been more difficult, so he counted on this summer harvest to replenish military rations, but this locust plague completely cut off his hope for summer harvest, and it was too late to replant, and his military rations could only last for twenty days, which made Zhang Xutuo very anxious.

But at this time, the army he sent to fill the gap in the southwest caught the team that had been secretly transporting grain to the Wagang army during the patrol, and captured 5,000 stone of grain, which made Zhang Xutuo very angry, this grain team turned out to be Yang Qing's people.

Although Zhang Xutuo had long heard that Yang Qing secretly sent food to the Wagang army, he had no evidence, and he complained to the imperial court, but he was also reprimanded by the imperial court because he had no evidence, and now he has obtained all the stolen goods.

And from the interrogation, he learned that Yang Qing had transported at least 100,000 stone of grain and tens of thousands of catties of pig iron to the Wagang Army this year, and secretly recruited thousands of soldiers for the Wagang Army in Xingyang County, all of which entered Wagang Mountain from the direction of Yucheng controlled by Yang Qing.

Zhang Xutuo's lungs are about to explode, no wonder they have besieged the Wagang army for more than a year without any effect, no wonder the Wagang army is getting stronger and stronger, it turns out that Yang Qing is supporting them behind the scenes, not only giving food, but also pig iron, and recruiting soldiers for them, is this still the army of the Sui Dynasty?

He fought hard with the Wagang army, suffering thousands of casualties, but in the end, Yang Qing stabbed himself in the back.

He must not give up on this matter, he must report this matter to the court and to the saint, and he will never allow this moth of the Great Sui to exist.

In the military office of Kuangcheng County, Zhang Xutuo was writing a letter to the imperial court to report the matter, and at this moment, a soldier came to report, "General, the eldest son of King Xun asks to see you!" ”

Zhang Xutuo was furious and waved his hand, "I don't see!" ”

Jiang Ming, who joined the army next to him, persuaded: "After all, it is King Xun who is suppressing bandits on the Western Front, and he still can't turn his face on the surface, so the general should see it!" Let's see what King Xun has to say. ”

Zhang Xutuo held back the anger in his heart and shouted: "Bring him to me!" ”

Not long after, Yang Wen was led up by the soldiers, Yang Wen was named the Duke of Xingyang County, and he will inherit his father's prince in the future, he is also an extremely arrogant person, if it weren't for his father's repeated instructions to let him lower his posture, Zhang Xutuo was so rude, he would have brushed his sleeves away.

Yang Wen also restrained the dissatisfaction in his heart, and walked up to the hall and bowed, "See the general!" ”

"Is there anything Yang Gongzi looking for me?" Zhang Xutuo asked bluntly.

Yang Wen glanced at Jiang Ming, who had joined the army, Jiang Ming immediately wanted to retreat, Zhang Xutuo shouted angrily: "Why do you want to go, I Zhang Xutuo has nothing to do with outsiders!" ”

Jiang Ming smiled bitterly and stood aside, Yang Wen was helpless, so he had to laugh and say: "My father asked me to deal with the matter of the five thousand stone grain, and my father was worried that the general would have a misunderstanding, so I came to explain the situation." ”

"What do you want to illustrate such a simple thing?"

"I want to explain that the 5,000 stone grain is actually my father's aid to the general, and we know that the general's military food is insufficient, so."

"You don't have to explain anymore, I won't release people, if there are any special circumstances, you go and explain to the Holy Lord."

Zhang Xutuo's face sank like water, and he said in an unusually firm tone: "I, Zhang Xutuo, have always been above board, although my military rations are insufficient, but I will not betray my conscience, I will not betray the court, Yang Gongzi, please go back!" ”

Yang Wen didn't expect Zhang Xutuo to be so unreasonable, he was so angry that he trembled all over, and said angrily: "Zhang Xutuo, don't toast or eat and drink!" We have done our duty, what more will you do? ”

Zhang Xutuo said coldly: "Take the court's fortune, take the grace of the saint, but secretly do the betrayal of the court, you are still the Great Sui royal family, even my soldiers are ashamed of you, I might as well tell you clearly, I have sent the person away, I am writing a report to the saint now, you think about how to explain it to the saint, come on, blast me out!" (To be continued.) )