It only took half a day to find out that Chen Fuliang took Huoyi Jiancheng, and Duan Lun, who was sent by Li Jiancheng to help Li Er, did not dare to continue to go south, and as soon as he arrived in Lingshi, he hurriedly stopped, and rushed to repair various fortifications to block the Bird Mouse Valley.

From the expedition to the final breakthrough of Huoyi City, basically annihilating the main force of Li Erjun, it only took more than 20 days before and after the Daxing Sui Army, the speed was amazingly fast, not to mention, and always bullied Li Erjun with the momentum of hanging, so that Li Erjun did not say that he fought back, and he couldn't even do it if he wanted to defend the city, and finally escaped to Huoyi to get a chance to breathe, and spent countless efforts to strengthen Huoyi City, and as a result, it took only half a day to be taken by the Daxing Sui Army, and the 30,000 main forces that were finally put together by the dismal management disappeared. also took in a large number of local villagers.

The strong posture of the Daxing Sui army shocked the world, greatly stabilized the internal affairs of Guanzhong, and also made those civil and military officials who were dissatisfied with Chen Fuliang's forcible support of Yang Xingji's succession no longer dare to have any thoughts of resistance. At the same time, the harvest of the land and city is also quite huge, and the two large counties of southern Jinnan were recovered in one breath, and the most important grain producing areas in southern Jin were all taken into Chen Fuliang's arms, in addition, Li Gui, who was lonely in the east of Jiang County, also couldn't wait to send his eldest son Li Qing to meet Chen Fuliang, Bi 7 respectfully invited Chen Fuliang to send troops to take over Changping, so that Chen Fuliang picked up a county again.

Wencheng Taishou Zheng Zeng in the east of Linfen County refused to surrender, but in a small Wencheng county, there were only a few thousand local township soldiers who lacked equipment and training, and they were not even qualified to let Liu Heimin make a move, let alone the main force of Chen Fuliang, and at the same time, Longquan County in the north of Wencheng also simply accepted Chen Fuliang's envoy to surrender, and Yi Zhi accepted Chen Fuliang's command order, so that Zheng Zeng had no hope of figuring out the Guò Mountain Trail and Li Jiancheng, and Chen Fuliang was even more difficult to pay attention to Wencheng. just ordered Wang Xingben to go north from Fenyin to crusade against Zheng Zeng, and sent a son of the Pei family to lead 3,000 troops to help Wang Xingben, and by the way, he trained the newcomers.

After adjusting the personnel arrangements of the counties in southern Jin, replenishing some troops to Liu Heimin and redeploying the army in southern Jinnan, before the snow fell, Chen Fuliang returned to Guanzhong with 40,000 main forces. As a result, the main force had just returned to Hedong, and before he had time to cross the Yellow River, Wang Shichong's second son Wang Xuanshu had already come to Chen Fuliang with letters and gifts, and on behalf of his father, he congratulated Chen Fuliang and praised Chen Fuliang's extermination, and also took the opportunity to directly ask Chen Fuliang to form an alliance.

Chen Fuliang didn't mind signing an alliance with his father-in-law that could be torn up at any time, and he also took the opportunity to ask Wang Xuanshu about the war situation in the Central Plains, and learned about the latest situation of Yu Wenhua and Li Mijun, but what made Chen Fuliang a little puzzled was that Wang Xuanshu actually introduced that after Yu Wenhua took Liyangcang, he just forced down Jijun where Liyangcang was located and Dongjun next to it, and then there was no new action. At the same time, Li Mi's side only concentrated on holding the Tiger Pass and Luokou Cangcheng, and did not attack Yu Wenhua or Wang Shichong again.

Li Mi's reaction was expected by Chen Fuliang, and Li Mijun, who was greatly injured, now had some difficulties in trying to protect himself, let alone counterattacking Liyangcang or Huo and Wang Shichong. Yu Wenhua's actions Chen Fuliang is a little incomprehensible, although Liyang Cang is the largest granary north of the Yellow River, but the grain storage is far less than Luokou Cang, and Li Mijun has been occupying the grain storage for a long time and can only go in and out, it stands to reason that even if there is still some food, it must not be much, and at the same time, several counties around Liyang Cang have already been played by thieves from all walks of life, and it is impossible to use it to gain a foothold, as long as the Yuwen brothers have a slightly normal head, they must quickly choose the next target, seize a decent land city foothold, or seize the granary supply, Open the road back to the west.

Under suspicion, Chen Fuliang asked Wang Xuanshu again: "Brother Xuanshu, then your detailed internal line, have you heard about Yu Culture and what are your plans for the next step?" Or did Yu Wenhua concentrate his scout forces and focus on which one of the offensive targets? ”

"This ......, there is." Wang Xuanshu's answer was a little hesitant, and he hesitated and said: "Our army has carefully probed Yu Culture and the news in the army, saying that Yu Culture is ready to fight the Tiger Prison Pass first, seize Luokoucang, and then enter the Eastern Capital, or bypass the Eastern Capital and directly attack the Guanzhong. However, it ......, but this is just a rumor and has not been confirmed yet. ”

staring at Wang Xuanshu with sharp eyes, until Wang Xuanshu stared at him with a weak heart, Chen Fuliang said: "To tell the truth, you and Xue Ji are brothers and sisters born to the same mother, for the sake of your sister and your nephew, and also for the sake of Brother Xuanying who quietly helped Wuji and Zixiao and their mother and son, I don't care about you, I will give you a chance to tell the truth again, if you dare to lie to me again and deliberately conceal important military information from me, you will be responsible for the consequences." ”

Wang Xuanshu hesitated for a moment before he said: "Brother Xian, don't blame, I didn't tell the truth just now, in fact, our detailed work has found accurate information, Yu Wenhua has decided to fight Hanoi first, and has also sent a messenger to force Zheng Qianxiang, the Hanoi guard of Li Mi's thief army, to surrender, if Yu Wenhua and that side did not delay time, maybe they are already fighting Hanoi now." ”

After that, Wang Xuanshu hurriedly added: "Brother-in-law, don't get me wrong, it's not that my father deliberately wanted to deceive you, but that the court officials in the Eastern Capital were worried that you would take advantage of the fire and rob and take the opportunity to force us to surrender to you, so I strongly persuaded my father to hide this news from you for the time being." ”

"It's Wang Renze's straw bale idea, right?" Chen Fuliang asked unceremoniously: "Yu Wenhua and preparing to fight Hanoi, I heard that I have taken Jinnan, Yu Wenhua and without Li Erlang's thief army, I can't continue to go west to Hedong, and I will definitely have the idea of going south from Heyang, when the time comes, you will bear the brunt, and you can't do it without asking me." You want me to help you, but you're afraid that I will take the opportunity to force you to surrender, or take the opportunity to extort your land and city, so you want to hide it from me, so that I feel that I can stab Li Mi traitor in the back, and first deceive me into forming an alliance with you, and when I lead the main force east into Luoyang, I will find that it is too late to be fooled, right? ”

Wang Xuanshu didn't dare to say anything, but Chen Fuliang was full of hatred, and said, "Why is my father-in-law so confused? Wang Renze didn't want to think about this straw bag, even if I was fooled for a while, could it be that my scouts were all eating dry rice, and wouldn't send me news about Yu Wenhua? Even if it's a little later, I can still go back to the division, what good can he do but make me angry? ”

Wang Xuanshu's personality is barely loyal to the rest of the Wang family, and after being scolded by Chen Fuliang and his face turned red, he could only tell the truth: "Brother-in-law is wise, yes, it was the idea of the starling, but he asked me to do it in private, my father didn't know about it, my father just asked me to tell you the truth, and asked you to send troops to help us." After all, we are not only relatives, but also have a cold heart. ”

Silently remembering the characteristic of Wang Shichong's loving nephew Wang Renze, Chen Fuliang did not continue to attack, but just thought about it and said: "Yes, if Yu Wenhua enters Hanoi and goes south from Heyang, your situation is very dangerous, and I really can't stand idly by." However, I am not in a position to form an open alliance with you now, nor can I directly send troops to help you. ”

Wang Xuanshu was anxious when he heard this, and said that Chen Fuliang blamed him for the crime of deliberate deception, and hurriedly apologized to Chen Fuliang again, and begged Chen Fuliang to pull his father-in-law in the relationship between relatives. Chen Fuliang waved his hand and said angrily: "Listen to me, I didn't do this because I blamed you for not telling the truth, but for other reasons." ”

After drinking his wife and brother, Chen Fuliang said again: "I can't form a direct alliance with you, it's morally unjustifiable, I support Emperor Yining, you support Emperor Tai, there are no two days in the sky, and there are no two lords in the people, if we openly and directly form an alliance, wouldn't there be two emperors in the Great Sui River?" How can my father-in-law and I explain to the rest of the world? And how do we explain to the two imperial courts under our respective commands? ”

"It's the same thing to send troops directly to help." Chen Fuliang said casually: "Although I sent troops to fight against Yu Wenhua and have a legitimate reason to avenge the emperor, I still can't directly form an alliance with you and live in the same camp and eat with the same horse spoon!" So I can send troops, I can only fight with each of you, secretly communicate with each other, and help each other, but I can't openly form an alliance! ”

Wang Xuanshu finally turned his worries into joy, and hurriedly asked Chen Fuliang when he would send troops and how many soldiers and horses would be sent to help Wang Shichong, and Chen Fuliang comforted: "Don't worry, most of the Kunhan Road is controlled by our army, from Tongguan to Hangu Pass, my soldiers and horses are more than 25,000 people, as long as my father-in-law is in need, my forward can rush to the eastern capital to help in five days at most." As for how many follow-up main forces to dispatch, this matter can be talked about slowly, and when we determine whether Yu Wenhua and the thief army really crossed the southern invasion of Luoyang, and how many soldiers and horses there are, then I can decide how many main forces to send reinforcements. ”

Wang Xuanshu was overjoyed, and hurriedly thanked Chen Fuliang for his kindness, and his brother-in-law called him very affectionately, and quickly took out the letter written by Wang Xueji to Chen Fuliang, Chen Fuliang looked at his little wife's handwritten letter, and asked casually: "What is the relationship between my father-in-law and Li Mi's traitor, and are there any messengers or letters to communicate with each other now?" ”

"Nope." Wang Xuanshu shook his head and replied truthfully: "Since my father was forced to clear the side of the monarch, Li Mi has never sent anyone into the court without seeing him, nor has he sent any official letter back to the Eastern Capital, completely severing the connection with the Eastern Capital Imperial Court. Later, after he was defeated and fled back to the Tiger Prison, his father took into account the truth that his lips were dead and his teeth were cold, and sent an envoy to contact Li Mi, but the envoy was driven back without seeing Li Mi, and Li Mi's thief army gave a reply that his father was in power, and His Majesty was involuntary, so they did not listen to the edict issued by their father in the name of the emperor. ”

Chen Fuliang nodded unexpectedly, and suddenly asked a strange question, "In the Eastern Capital City, is there too much cloth to run out now?" ”

"How does my brother-in-law know?" Wang Xuanshu was stunned at first, and then remembered that the eldest grandson Wuji had escaped from the Eastern Capital not long ago with the secret help of his brother Wang Xuanying, so Wang Xuanshu nodded and said: "Yes, there is only a shortage of food in the Eastern Capital City now, not cloth, and there is a lot of silk to be used as a rope to draw water, and when the firewood is insufficient, it can directly burn cloth for cooking." ”

Speaking of this, Wang Xuanshu suddenly misunderstood what Chen Fuliang meant, and hurriedly said: "Brother-in-law, is there a lack of cloth and silk in Guanzhong?" If so, just ask, the foolish brother will ask his father to do his best. ”

"The cloth in Guanzhong is a little lacking, but it is barely enough." Chen Fuliang said casually: "You send a fast horse back to report to your father-in-law, and ask him to send a messenger to contact Li Mi's thief army as much as possible, asking for cloth to exchange food with Li Mi's thief army, winter is coming soon, Li Mi's thief army lacks cloth to make clothes for the winter, and will definitely not refuse this request." In this way, you can not only alleviate some of the urgent need for food shortage, but also re-dredge the contact with Li Mi's thief army, which will be very beneficial to the next war against Yu Culture and General. ”

Wang Xuanshu was overjoyed when he heard this, and while beating his chest and complaining about why he hadn't come up with such a good idea before, he hurriedly picked up his pen and made a book, preparing to send someone back to report the matter to Wang Shichong. However, what Wang Xuanshu didn't expect in his dream was that Chen Fuliang said casually: "Yu Wenhua and Li Mi are both soldiers and horses, and my father-in-law is trapped in a lonely city, and it is difficult to do so." In this way, count me as honoring my father-in-law, and I will give you a sketch of the artillery in a moment, and you will have the messenger bring it back with you, and let the father-in-law copy it according to the map to defend against the thief army. ”

With a bang, Wang Xuanshu fell directly to the ground, and after opening his mouth and stammering for a moment, Wang Xuanshu suddenly jumped up again, rushed up and grabbed Chen Fuliang's hand, so excited that he even stammered a little when he spoke, and said tremblingly: "Brother-in-law, you are really a good brother-in-law of a foolish brother, and a good son-in-law of my father, Sister Xueji can marry you, it is really a blessing for our Wang family!" ”

Chen Fuliang smiled modestly and urged Wang Xuanshu to write a letter and arrange a messenger quickly, Wang Xuanshu thought about it for a while, but said: "No, I don't worry about such an important thing as an artillery sketch, the foolish brother will go back in person, and the foolish brother will go back with the artillery pattern in person, and report this great news to his father in person!" ”

Chen Fuliang smiled and agreed, and asked Wang Xuanshu to rest in the guest room temporarily, waiting for him to prepare letters and artillery drawings, but after Wang Xuanshu, who had mentioned that he didn't dare to take the initiative to mention artillery, walked away, Sun Fujia, the new staff, immediately jumped up and asked with an unbelievable face: "Prime Minister, do you really want to give Wang Shichong the artillery pattern?" That's our housekeeping magic weapon, are you so willing to do it? ”

"I can't do it if I don't want to." Chen Fuliang smiled and said: "My father-in-law's situation is too difficult, just one Li Mi is enough for him, if Yu Wenhua really crosses the river from Heyang and goes south to the east, then it will be even more difficult for him to parry, if he doesn't hurry up to strengthen his strength, if there is really something wrong in the east, he is unlucky, and we will also suffer." ”

"Of course the lower officials understand this truth." Sun Fujia nodded hurriedly, and said anxiously: "But Wang Shichong is not only your father-in-law, Prime Minister, but also the enemy of our respective unifications, now he has helped Wang Shichong with artillery, what will he do if he uses artillery to deal with us in the future?" ”

Chen Fuliang laughed loudly and said, "Fu Jia, you are really a kind person, why don't you want to think about it, no matter how stupid I am, I won't guard against this, right?" ”

After laughing, out of the need to cultivate cronies, Chen Fuliang beckoned Sun Fujia to the front, and whispered in his ear: "What I am going to give Wang Shichong is a pine cannon with much less power, which can also kill people, but the power and range are much smaller, he has it in his hand, and it will definitely play a big role in the defense of the city, which can help him defend the eastern capital, and consume the strength of Yu Wenhua and Li Mi and the two traitors for us." You can also make Yu Wenhua, Li Mi and his father-in-law think that the power of artillery is not too much, and then when we personally take action and suddenly dispatch real artillery, what will be the result? ”

Sun Fujia suddenly came to his senses, and while expressing his admiration to Chen Fuliang, he asked curiously: "Prime Minister, if Yu Wenhua really goes south from Heyang to fight the eastern capital, will our army keep its promise to send troops to help, or will it hold the Hangu Pass and Kuo Han Road, and watch the fire from the other side to reap the benefits?" ”

"Yu Wenhua and if you really go south from Heyang to fight the eastern capital." Chen Fuliang replied categorically: "Then I will not only immediately send troops to the Eastern Capital to help Wang Shichong, but also personally lead the army forward!" ”

Sun Fujia's eyes widened again, and he asked cautiously: "Prime Minister, can the lower official ask the reason?" ”

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Chen Fuliang asked with a smile, and said: "The lie is that I am a filial son-in-law, and I can't sit back and watch my father-in-law fall into crisis and see death without help, and I am determined to help him at any cost." ”

"And what about the truth?" Sun Fujia asked curiously.

"The truth is for three reasons." Chen Fuliang replied: "First, Wang Shichong is my father-in-law, although he and I have had a lot of disagreements, but on the whole, he is barely good to me, and I am a little sorry for him, so I have to repay his kindness once anyway." ”

"Second, the former emperor was as kind to me as a mountain, and Yu Wenhua killed him, of course I have to try my best to avenge him and repay the kindness of His Majesty the first emperor to me."

The high-sounding words were said, and the reason for the lack of a word in Liyi Lian was found, and Chen Fuliang finally showed his fangs, and said with a smile: "Third, Yu Wenhua and those Guanzhong soldiers under his command can fight well, elite and brave, and most of the war horses they rode were still hard to grab from the Turks in Yanmen County, how could I be willing to let them cheaper than others?" ”

At the same time that Sun Fujia, who had gradually been damaged by Chen Fuliang, Chen Fuliang frowned again and said: "But it is not so easy to exterminate Yu Wenhua, there is another variable in this matter is Li Mi, Yu Wenhua and took Liyang Cang as he wished, and must have captured a lot of family members of Li Mi's thief generals, maybe Li Mi's only son was also arrested by Yu Wenhua." If Yu Wenhua and his gentle strategy against him, and Li Mi sees me sending troops east to help Wang Shichong, maybe he will stand on Yu Wenhua and his side and suddenly give us a knife. ”

"How do you deal with that?" Sun Fujia hurriedly asked.

Chen Fuliang was silent, and after thinking about it for a while, Chen Fuliang said: "Two points, first, I have to strive for an alliance with Li Mi and join forces to crusade against Yu Wenhua; Second, I need someone to pretend to be Li Erlang's envoy to represent Li Erlang's envoy to Yu Wenhua and the thief army. "My heavenly grace."

The high-sounding words were said, and the reason for the lack of a word in Liyi Lian was found, and Chen Fuliang finally showed his fangs, and said with a smile: "Third, Yu Wenhua and those Guanzhong soldiers under his command can fight well, elite and brave, and most of the war horses they rode were still hard to grab from the Turks in Yanmen County, how could I be willing to let them cheaper than others?" ”

At the same time that Sun Fujia, who had gradually been damaged by Chen Fuliang, Chen Fuliang frowned again and said: "But it is not so easy to exterminate Yu Wenhua, there is another variable in this matter is Li Mi, Yu Wenhua and took Liyang Cang as he wished, and must have captured a lot of family members of Li Mi's thief generals, maybe Li Mi's only son was also arrested by Yu Wenhua." If Yu Wenhua and his gentle strategy against him, and Li Mi sees me sending troops east to help Wang Shichong, maybe he will stand on Yu Wenhua and his side and suddenly give us a knife. ”

"How do you deal with that?" Sun Fujia hurriedly asked.

Chen Fuliang was silent, and after thinking about it for a while, Chen Fuliang said: "Two points, first, I have to strive for an alliance with Li Mi and join forces to crusade against Yu Wenhua; Second, I need someone to pretend to be Li Erlang's envoy to represent Li Erlang's envoy to Yu Wenhua and the thief army. ”