Sima Yi made up his mind to set off to the north, knowing that this road was not easy to walk, and he was tantamount to reneging on his promise to assist King Hui in achieving great things, and he also betrayed Xiao Zhan's trust in him. For him, the Southern Dynasty was just a journey in his life, and even he didn't know how to choose.

Xiao Zhan's bet about Sima Yi and Li Shanye became his reason to stay, or only in this way could he let his heart have a choice, whether to go or stay.

"In the next meeting, according to the gambling contract, I will not return north, but ......" Sima said half of his words by arching his hand, and he couldn't say the rest. Now even if he chooses to stay, he doesn't know in what capacity he should gain a foothold in the Southern Dynasty.

Xiao Zhan smiled with relief: "It's good for Mr. to stay, and in the future, Mr. will assist me, and ZTE is hopeful." ”

Sima Yu didn't say anything, his current situation is very delicate, although it was the empress and King Hui who came to invite him back at the same time, but he knew that in the face of power, there was a contradiction and estrangement between the empress and King Hui after all, just like the empress and the king of the east of the Wei Dynasty, in the end, it was the ministers who occupied the government and the opposition and even subverted the imperial power. It is difficult for him to make a difference between the two forces, and he will even be suspicious of people on both sides, even if the empress and King Hui trust him again, in the end, because of the terrible words of others, they will sacrifice a neutral person like him who has an unfirm position for the sake of the overall situation.

Xiao Ling smiled and said: "Brother Sima decided to stay, this king has discussed with the little emperor's niece on the way here, Brother Sima can officially take charge of the army in the future, responsible for the deployment of the imperial court in Jiangbei, this king will give Brother Sima enough power to dispatch troops and horses, as for how the little emperor's niece wants to entrust you with important tasks, this king doesn't care." In this way, the time is not early, and it is time to leave for Jinling as soon as possible. ”

After speaking. Xiao Ling also seemed to be a little afraid of staying in Yangzhou City, so she went downstairs first. Xiao Zhan still stayed, and his expression was a little complicated when he looked at Sima Yi.

"If Mr. feels that it is difficult to stay, I don't want to force it, and the gambling contract can be stopped." Xiao Zhan said.

Sima Yi shook his head, since he chose to stay according to the gambling contract. is mentally prepared, now that Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ling can work together for their family and country, he is also relieved in his heart, if he leaves, maybe the war between the Southern and Northern Dynasties will show a one-sided situation.

Sima said: "Your Majesty can be forgiving, I am grateful, if there is anything that can be driven by Your Majesty, I should be a dog and a horse." ”

Xiao Zhan smiled and nodded, and said, "If Mr. doesn't want to return to Jinling for the time being." I will stay in Yangzhou first, and I and Uncle Huang will give Mr. convenience, organize the defense of Yangzhou City, and dispatch troops and horses in Jiangbei, everything is decided by Mr. ”

Sima Yi didn't receive the order immediately, and Xiao Zhan was able to hand over the defense of Jiangbei to him so trustingly, which made him a little unacceptable. How to say that he is also a native of the Northern Dynasty, and he is a friend of the emperor of the Northern Dynasty. In the past few years of the Southern Dynasties, he has also acted as a detailed work of the Northern Dynasties, sending a steady stream of news to the North, but just when the Northern Dynasties were about to invade the south. The emperor of the Southern Dynasty and the helmsman of the soldiers and horses did not doubt that they entrusted him with full responsibility for the defense affairs, and their trust in him was a little too much.

Sima said: "Could it be that Your Majesty doesn't have the slightest suspicion about the ministers? ”

Xiao Zhan sighed lightly: "I really have no one else to use, if I don't even believe in Mr., it is better to die as soon as possible." In this situation, if you can have the help of a gentleman. Or there may be a glimmer of life. ”

Sima Yi just gave up his hand again, without any allegiance or gratitude, and was flattered, because even he was very conflicted in his own heart, and he was going to take on the role of being the enemy of his own country.

But in fact, in the final analysis, Sima Yi just hoped that there would be peace between the Southern and Northern Dynasties. If there was no war, not only would the military disaster be spared, but the people of the two dynasties would also be able to live a stable life.

Xiao Zhan turned around and went downstairs, Sima Yi followed behind, and when he went downstairs, the guests and soldiers in the inn below were a little crowded, Xiao Zhan asked the accompanying court lady to hand over the seal and edict to Sima Yi, and let Sima Yi coordinate the defense of Jiangbei. Out of the door, Xiao Zhan glanced back at Sima Yi, nodded expectantly, and then got on the horse and went to the direction of the south gate of Yangzhou under Sima Yi's eyes.

As the winner of this bet, Li Shanye seems to be a little proud, but Sima Yi knows that this old friend is not arrogant and unreasonable, the reason why Li Shanye is doing all this is to help King Hui and Qi Dynasty, in fact, he is also helping him.

"Brother Sima, congratulations on your promotion." Li Shanye smiled and hugged his fists in congratulations.

Sima Yu smiled bitterly: "Your Excellency made fun of it." ”

"How can it be a joke, now the defense of the entire Jiangbei is in the hands of the Sima brothers, even if there are not many soldiers and horses in Jiangbei, there are forty or fifty thousand soldiers and horses in each city combined, I may also call the Sima brothers a general."

Sima Yu seemed very embarrassed, he now suddenly became the person in charge of Jiangbei's defense, but the soldiers and horses were not directly under his control, he was only in charge of defense as a civilian official similar to the overseer, it would be a bit of an exaggeration to say that he was a general, but if King Hui could really completely attribute the dispatch of soldiers and horses to his control, then his real power might be greater than that of the general.

As a military advisor, Sima Yi only gave advice to King Hui in the Southern Dynasty in the past few years, and never really led the troops, which was an experience in his life, but what he had to face was the surging soldiers and horses of the Northern Dynasty, as well as his friend Han Jian. None of this was what he wanted to face, even if he had power in his hands, he was not the slightest bit happy, and his heart was even heavier.

When Sima Yu turned around and returned to the inn, everyone in the inn, from the shopkeeper to the guys, and those guests looked very frightened, why so many officers and soldiers suddenly came just now and they didn't understand why, and Sima Yi, one of the parties to the incident, actually stood in front of them as if it happened, which made the people present even more puzzled.

"Childe." Huan'er was also very scared, and walked over and looked at Sima Yi with a clear gaze, not knowing where to go.

Sima Yu sighed: "Let's stay in Yangzhou for the time being, don't be in a hurry to go north, and I'm not in a hurry to go back to Jinling." ”

"Hmm." Huan'er nodded, anyway, she had made up her mind to follow Sima Qian, and now she will follow Sima Qian wherever she goes, she is not even afraid of the hard work of the road, and it doesn't matter what else is.

Sima Yi was a little hesitant. The shopkeeper came over and said, "This ...... Guest, what are you...... It's ......"

"It's nothing, I won't bother anymore, and then I'll leave." Sima Yi knew that the people in the inn were afraid of trouble, and seeing that he was involved with the people in the government, he naturally didn't dare to keep him anymore. This is meant to drive away customers.

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a noise outside, mixed with the roar of horses' hooves and the shouts of officers and soldiers, and the Taishou of Yangzhou City and the generals who led the troops came to greet Sima Yi in person, and the people in the inn knew that this young man who did not seem to be amazing was really not small.

"Yangzhou is too shou Suihua, and I have seen Sima Xiangguo." A middle-aged man in his forties dressed in an official uniform bowed when he came up, as if he regarded Sima Yi as a Shangguan.

But in fact, Sima Yi only hung on the name of the right minister, and never exercised the power of the right minister. It's just that this time Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ling went to Yangzhou together. In addition to retaining Sima Yi's appointment of Sima Qi's power to coordinate the deployment of troops and horses, it also officially announced Sima Yi's official position in the court, and Sima Yi's identity as the right minister of the Qi Dynasty to coordinate the defense of Jiangbei, and be fully responsible for the dispatch of Jiangbei troops and horses, and complete all matters related to the defense of the first line of defense after the future war with the Northern Dynasties.

In this way, all the officials and generals in Jiangbei, no matter how big or small, were dispatched by Sima Yi. Sima Yi's power is not small, the most important thing is that. Sima Yi could even choose to fight or not to fight, because of his official position as the right minister, it was impossible for the Qi Dynasty to even send a civilian supervisor to supervise him, which was tantamount to letting his power go, which was also the trust of the empress of the Southern Dynasty and King Hui in him.

Sima walked out of the inn and nodded slightly to Sui Hua. Said: "There is Lao Sui Taishou, and there is nowhere to settle down when I first arrive in your land." ”

Sui Hua said with a smile: "The right minister came to rectify the military affairs in person, and the lower officials will naturally arrange it properly, so he asked Sima Xiangguo to temporarily settle down in the Taishou Mansion." ”

Sima Yi thought about it, and it could only be like this for the time being. He turned to Li Shanye and said, "Sir, are you going together?" ”

Li Shanye said happily: "No need, I'm just reckless, let's go back to Jinling City first, if there is anything else, I will definitely come to visit in person." ”

After saying that, Li Shanye left alone, Sima Yi didn't expect that in just a short period of time, his life experience changed again, and he didn't know how to deal with himself after returning to the Northern Dynasty, but now he also got rid of the worries in his heart, but he had to worry about the military affairs of the Southern Dynasty again.

……

……

When Han Jian learned that Sima had stayed in the Southern Dynasty and had been appointed as the commander of Jiangbei by Xiao Zhan and King Hui at the same time, it was already ten days later. At this time, it is the fourteenth day of the first month, and the people of Luoyang City are preparing for the Shangyuan Festival in the coming day, whether it is in the city or in the palace, they are full of festive joy.

The soldiers and horses in the north returned to the south, and the soldiers around Luoyang could go home for the festival and settle down first, and then regroup after the festival. As for some of Jiangdu's soldiers and horses, they have also gone south, and at this time everything seems to be a truce after the war, and it seems that the whole country will also have a long time to recuperate, waiting for the next day to dominate the mountains and rivers.

Han Jian learned the news through the information channel of the intelligence system, almost when Han Jian learned that Sima Yi was going north, and at the same time learned that Sima Yi was left behind and was entrusted with important tasks, Han Jian's heart was very complicated, he had already made all the preparations to raise troops to the south, but after Sima Yi insisted on staying, his determination was a little shaken.

Confronting Sima on the battlefield was not the result he wanted to see. In his mind, maybe Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ling used his relationship with Sima Yi's friends to let Sima Yi take on the responsibility of Jiangbei's defense, but they actually wanted to watch them kill each other.

"Xianggong, the lights are all lit up outside, and the aunts and sisters are also waiting for you to come over, why are you still here?"

Yang Li'er appeared at the door of the study, and Han Jian retracted his expression when he heard the voice, folded the letter in his hand, and threw it into the brazier.

Only then did Yang Li'er realize that Han Jian had something written on his face, and said with concern: "Xianggong, it may not be the right time for the concubine to come, isn't there something to deal with in the court?" The concubine will retire. ”

Han Jian got up and said, "It's not a big deal, today's affairs of the government have been disposed of, just a little ...... Annoyance. ”

Yang Li'er smiled lightly and said, "That's good, Xianggong should go over early, my aunt and those sisters are in a hurry." ”

Han Jian didn't leave with Yang Li'er immediately, but motioned for Yang Li'er to walk over. He was depressed in his heart, because Sima had a special identity, he couldn't let the people in the court know about this matter for the time being, so no one could discuss it with him, and Yang Li'er, as a pillow person, could often discuss some things with him.

Han Jian sat down again, letting Yang Li'er sit on his lap. Yang Li'er's face was still a little blushing, and she said, "If you are seen by those sisters, how bad is it?" ”

"What are you afraid of, old husband and wife, it's not like they haven't seen it."

Han Jian insisted on bringing Yang Li'er over, and then sighed and said: "Originally, I received a letter from Sima Yi, saying that he was about to leave for the north and return to Jiangdu. ”

Yang Li'er smiled: "This is a good thing, didn't Xianggong say it before, I hope this old friend can come back sooner?" ”

Han Jian smiled bitterly: "It's a pity that the world is impermanent, I just got the news, Sima not only can't come back, but he was also appointed by the emperor of the Southern Dynasty as the right minister, directly responsible for the dispatch of troops and horses in Jiangbei, which is clearly to make him my enemy." ”

The smile on Yang Li'er's face faded, and she nodded and said, "It turns out that Xianggong is worried about this." But the concubine is really not judged, or Xianggong, an old friend, is also forced to stay in the south? The prime minister should send someone to try to ask him what he means. ”

Han Jian said helplessly: "It doesn't look like it's necessary." He should have made up his mind to stay, he doesn't know what he thinks, he is also from Jiangdu, will I treat him more badly than the emperor of the Southern Dynasty when he comes back? This government and the opposition are in short supply when they are short of manpower, and after he comes back, he can be a very popular minister. Even if he doesn't want to face the old people of the Southern Dynasty head-on, I can arrange for him to guard the rear, or let him rest for a while, and everything will follow his wishes. Alas! ”

Finally, Han Jian let out a long sigh.

Yang Li'er heard the indignation in Han Jian's words, even if she was a member of Han Jian's side, she couldn't judge the relationship between these two old friends. Han Jian and Sima Yi can be said to be small, growing up together, before Han Jian went to the Southern Dynasty, Sima Yi could only be regarded as a follower of the East King at most. But who knew that in just over three years, Han Jian had changed from the king of the east to the emperor, and Sima Yi had also changed from a young man who had nothing to do to a strategist around King Hui.

Yang Li'er said: "This kind of thing, the concubine is ...... Don't dare to say it casually. Who knows what he thinks? Perhaps, even he himself does not know? ”

Han Jian smiled and said, "Qi'er, you can comfort people, but how can it sound, it seems to be perfunctory?" ”

Yang Li'er stood up and said: "Perfunctory, perfunctory, the concubine only knows that she can't invite the princess over, and the aunts will take the concubine's body for the knife." (To be continued......)