The guards in Guyuan City have more than doubled compared to usual, and the main streets and four city gates have been heavily guarded, and the city gates are restricted from entering and exiting.

The gates of the Trilateral Governor's Palace have been repainted in bright red, and the inside and outside of the palace have been cleaned and spotless. There is a new owner in the Governor's Palace, Hong Chengchou is a somewhat particular reader, and the rules of the Governor's Mansion are also very different from those of his predecessor, which is reflected in the eyes of everyone in the Governor's Palace, that is, Governor Hong is very clean, and he can't see a little dust.

Governor Hong's people were also exceptionally clean, and there was never any trace of wrinkling in his official robes.

On the day of the meeting, the high-level officials in the northwest came quite early, and Governor Hong personally sat with him and chatted with a group of high-ranking officials in the northwest. The time was almost the agreed meeting time, but some people had not yet arrived, and Governor Hong was a little disappointed in his eyes.

"Lord Xu, the governor of Shaanxi, has arrived!"

With a loud shout, all the red-robed high-ranking officials in the lobby of the Governor's Mansion invariably poked their heads out of the gate.

Seeing that Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, had a faint smile on his face, he strode in, and behind him, Deng Shuiqing, the envoy of Shaanxi, followed him in.

Xu Liang fell on Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides, strode forward, and congratulated: "Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, congratulates Lord Hong!" ”

Hong Chengchou's whole body seemed to relax a lot, and he reached for the first vacant seat on the left, and said kindly: "Brother Xu is polite, please take a seat." ”

Xu Liang said politely, and after taking his seat, he felt that the eyes of many officials in the hall fell on him, Xu Liang smiled faintly and nodded in response, his eyes turned to the military general wearing silver chain mail, and saw that the military general looked at him, the corners of his mouth were slightly pulled, and he snorted lightly between his nostrils. Looks a little disdainful.

Xu Liang frowned slightly, seeing that the general's eyes were tight, and he didn't seem to be a general in the northwest.

"Everyone!" When Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides, saw that everyone had arrived, he arched his hand and said: "This official is trusted by the emperor and has been appointed as the governor of the three sides. The Governor is honestly afraid. Trembling, walking on thin ice. The situation in the northwest is so rotten, the people's army is everywhere, and bandits are rampant...... Today, the Governor has summoned all of you, firstly, to recognize your faces, and secondly, to discuss the next military action. ”

Governor Hong said slowly, and the officials below nodded from time to time. Xu Liang couldn't help but sigh in his heart: It's really the ass that decides the head, what to say in what position! As the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou is both in words and deeds and personal momentum. Compared with Hong Chengchou when he was the governor of Yansui, it was very different.

Hong Chengchou was much calmer, and between his words, he naturally had the prestige of a local feudal official.

“…… Before that, I would like to introduce you to a general! Hong Chengchou said, pointing to the military general wearing silver chain mail, and said with a smile: "This is Cao Wenzhao, the general of Liaodong!" At the behest of the emperor, he rushed from Liaodong to the northwest to help the governor suppress the bandits and quell the chaos. ”

Cao Wenzhao nodded slightly.

Hong Chengchou smiled and said, "Come, General Cao, this governor will introduce you to our high-ranking officials in the northwest." He said. Hong Chengchou introduced the high-level leaders in the northwest to Cao Wenzhao one by one.

Cao Shen will be for other officials. They all nodded lightly, and when they were introduced to Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, Cao Wenzhao arched his hand and said with a smile: "Others can not know, but the prestige of Xu Liangxu, the governor of Shaanxi, is far away in Liaodong." It's already thunderous, and today we have a fateful acquaintance, and it's really better to meet than to be famous. ”

Xu Liang stared at Cao Wenzhao and said indifferently: "General Cao is polite." ”

Hong Chengchou glanced at Cao Wenzhao in surprise and smiled. Then he introduced the next high-ranking official in the Northwest.

After a cup of tea, after Hong Chengchou introduced the high-level leaders of the Northwest to Cao Wenzhao, he coughed lightly, put his hands on the table, and said in a deep voice: "You should know that the Northwest People's Army has been in turmoil for a long time, and the leaders are Wang Zuogui, Wang Jiayin and Shen Yikui, and the other four young ladies Li Ting and Chuang Wang Gao Yingxiang also gathered a lot of people. Today, we have to work together to come up with a way to defeat the people's armies of several routes. ”

Hong Chengchou's gaze swept over the faces of several high-level officials in the northwest, and the officials who were seen by Hong Chengchou couldn't help but hang their heads. Several high-ranking people in the northwest vaguely looked at Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, who was sitting on the left.

Hong Chengchou looked at Xu Liang as he came, smiled and asked gently: "Lord Xu, you are the governor of Shaanxi, more than sixty percent of the Northwest People's Army is gathered in Shaanxi, how to break the enemy, what can Lord Xu do?" ”

Xu Liang smiled, looked at the red-robed high-ranking officials in the room, and said: "Lord Governor, I laughed, although the lower official is the governor of Shaanxi, but the lower official is young and lacks knowledge, and it is okay to catch a few little thieves, but there is no way to deal with these people's troops who gather tens of thousands of people to walk the streets and alleys at every turn." ”

Hong Chengchou frowned and looked at Xu Liang, obviously dissatisfied with Xu Liang's answer so evasively. However, when Xu was able to attend the meeting today, Hong Chengchou was already a big surprise, and he didn't dare to expect too much for a while, so he smiled and nodded.

Laugh at! Unexpectedly, as soon as Xu Liang finished speaking, someone in the hall suddenly let out a contemptuous laugh.

The officials in the room followed the sound and discovered the source of the laughter: Cao Wenzhao, a general of Liaodong.

Hong Chengchou looked at him in amazement.

Xu Liang asked unhappily, "Why is General Cao laughing?" ”

Cao Wenzhao met Xu Liang's gaze and replied with his head held high: "When General Ben heard the governor make such a wonderful remark, General Ben was very vigilant, so he laughed. After that, Cao Wenzhao bowed his hand to the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, and said loudly: "The governor doesn't have to worry, the Northwest People's Army is a rabble, not worth mentioning!" When the general came to the northwest, there were still 1,000 Liaodong iron cavalry accompanying him, and the governor gave Cao three months, and Cao would definitely quell the civil unrest in the northwest. ”

Cao Wenzhao squinted at Xu Liang, and then said: "As for the Shaanxi Governor's Yamen, he only needs to abide by his duties and manage the local thieves." The affairs of the people's army do not need to bother the governor at all. ”

Swish! All the officials in the hall looked at Xu Liang and paid attention to Xu Liang's expression. Cao Wenzhao's words, a clear-eyed person can tell at a glance that this is a contempt for Xu Liang.

Hong Chengchou looked at Xu Liang with a worried expression. Cao Wenzhao, the general of Liaodong, signaled: "General Cao is joking, the Northwest People's Army has two or three hundred thousand people, with the cavalry under General Cao. It is not an easy task to exterminate the people's army. Everything has to rely on the strong support of the Shaanxi Governor Yamen. ”

Hong Chengchou was worried that Cao Wenzhao's words would be too full and make Xu Liang unhappy, so he blindly made peace with the mud to ease the atmosphere.

However, Cao Wenzhao did not seem to appreciate it. He waved his hand confidently and said, "Don't worry, Lord Governor! The cavalry under this general is an elite soldier who fought bloodily with the Tartar soldiers in Liaodong! It is more than enough to deal with a mere tens of thousands of people's troops. ”

"Uh......" Hong Chengchou glanced at Xu Liang worriedly, and sneered: "General Cao is too optimistic. ”

"What? The Governor has no faith in General Ben? Cao Wenzhao seemed to be more serious, and asked directly.

"Uh, no."

Xu Liang looked at Cao Wenzhao scrutinically, and after looking at it for a while, he stroked his palms and smiled: "General Cao has such ambitions, and this official admires him very much. This official will definitely wait for the good news of General Cao's victorious return in Chang'an City. ”

Cao Wenzhao lifted his chin slightly.

Hong Chengchou's face changed, and he said to Xu Liang in a sneering manner: "Lord Xu." General Cao: That's a joke. ”

Xu Liang said: "But this official is serious. ”

Hong Chengchou saw that the situation was not right, so he smiled awkwardly, and then diverted from this sad issue.

The next meeting was a little dull, because of Cao Wenzhao's words, Xu Liangxin felt uncomfortable for a while, and basically didn't listen to a word about Hong Chengchou's next policy of governing and reassuring the people.

After the meeting was adjourned, the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, saw Xu Liang pat his ass and prepared to leave. couldn't help but say something, and pulled Xu Liang into the backyard.

Although the backyard of the Governor's Mansion does not have the water pavilion like the Jiangnan Garden. But the trees are shady, the spring is full of joy, and it is also quiet.

Hong Chengchou and Xu Liang walked side by side, entered an octagonal pavilion, and each stood next to the barricade.

"Xu Liang, we've known each other for almost four or five years, right?" The two stood in silence for a while. Hong Chengchou sighed lightly and asked.

"It's been almost five years." Xu Liang sighed with emotion and nodded.

"At the meeting just now, there were some things that the governor didn't say." Hong Chengchou said: "Although the emperor transferred Cao Wenzhao and Guanning Tieqi to help the governor, the people's army is strong. With the strength of Cao Wenzhao alone, it is simply impossible to pacify all the forces of the people's army in a short period of time. ”

"Didn't General Cao say it, everything has him and his Guanning Iron Cavalry!"

Hong Chengchou stomped his feet lightly, stared at Xu Liang and said, "This governor knows that Xu Liang has heavy troops in your hands. With a Cao Wenzhao and Xu Liang, the pacification of the Northwest People's Army is just around the corner! ”

Hong Chengchou looked at Xu Liang eagerly, "Brother, the northwest is now my master." You and I join forces, and we have the final say in this northwest sky. ”

"Not interested." Xu Liang said directly.

Hong Chengchou was anxious, and shouted urgently: "Could it be that you, the governor of Shaanxi, are just watching the situation in Shaanxi continue to deteriorate?" Indifferent?! ”

Xu Liang glanced at him lightly, patted the wooden railing lightly with one hand, and said indifferently: "Shaanxi is not my Xu Liang's Shaanxi, the situation is corrupt, and the first person to feel distressed should be the emperor and the court." Besides, now the court is wary of me and Xu Liang Baiqian, suppressing it everywhere, none of the officials recommended by this official have passed, and recently I am not even ready to allocate the food and salary of several guerrilla generals' camps! The court treats me like this, Lord Hong, what do you use to ask me to send troops to quell the chaos? ”

Hong Chengchou was silent, for He Zhun, Lu Chengyuan, Deng Shiyou and other officials to take office, the Shaanxi Governor Yamen every few days to write a fold, I heard that the fold was piled up half a foot high. And the pronouns of He Zhun and others have not been removed. If it weren't for the deaths of the Shaanxi officials selected by the court last month, I am afraid that the whole of Shaanxi would return to the arms of the court.

Hong Chengchou pondered for a long time, suddenly looked at Xu Liang, and asked, "What if this governor can help you put these people in the right position?" ”

Xu Liang replied very simply: "Then I can assure you that there will be no more civilian troops in Shaanxi Province." ”

"Okay, that's it. Tomorrow you will gather your forces and go into battle with Bendu! Hong Chengchou laughed loudly.

Xu Liang glanced at him and said faintly: "Lord Hong can't help but laugh too early. Whether this official sends troops or not depends on how well Governor Hong's conditions are implemented. ”

Hong Chengchou was stunned for a moment, and said sadly: "Xu Liang, you still don't believe in this governor? ”

"I don't believe anyone, I only look at the facts!" Xu Liang replied in such a way that Yang He, the governor of the three sides, was dumbfounded.

Xu Liang thought for a while, and then said, "In addition, I also asked Lord Hong to help me do something!" ”

"What's the matter?"

Xu Liang turned around and walked in the direction of the outer courtyard.

"What the hell is going on, you wait for the official's letter!"

Xu Liang walked out, and Hong Chengchou's face changed in the small pavilion.

When Xu Liang walked out of the inner courtyard gate, he passed by Cao Wenzhao, a Liaodong staff general who was about to enter. Cao Wenzhao didn't pay attention, and he didn't mean to greet Xu Liang, so he went in directly.

Xu Liang stared at Cao Wenzhao's back for a while, strode out, and after meeting with Deng Shuiqing, the Shaanxi envoy, he called a Tsing Yi guard before getting into the carriage, and ordered in a deep voice: "Check Cao Wenzhao, the general of Liaodong." I always feel like this guy isn't very kind to me! ”

After sitting in the carriage and thinking for a long time, Xu Liang was still sure that he had indeed not offended this Liaodong general who came from afar before, but as soon as he entered the house in the governor's yamen, this Cao Wenzhao saw that he was not pleasing to the eye, and Xu Liang was determined to figure out the situation. He is not afraid of many enemies, but he does not want to offend people inexplicably.

Cao Wenzhao's approach made Xu Liang have no head.

After returning all the way to Chang'an City, Xu Liang sent a secret letter to his leading generals, asking all armies and battalions to prepare for war in an all-round way.

Cao Wenzhao boasted that he would be able to quell the civil unrest in the northwest in three months! Xu Liang decided to gather the army and open his eyes to see how this General Cao was so powerful that he quelled the civil unrest in the northwest in one fell swoop!

For the details of Cao Wenzhao, the people of the Tsing Yi Wei Archives searched all the files, but they did not find any records related to Cao Wenzhao, a general of Liaodong, and for Cao Wenzhao, Tsing Yi Wei's file is incomplete. So this matter finally fell to Jin Yiwei.

This glorious task fell to Duan Zhigang, the deputy of the Jinyi Wei Xi'an Institute.

To say that Jinyiwei's work efficiency is much better than that of Tsing Yiwei. Duan Qianhu received the task, and in five days, he received news about Cao Wenzhao, a general in Liaodong.

The materials were placed on Xu Liang's desk, Xu Liang flipped through them casually, and then said in surprise: "This person has no family background, and he can become a general in Liaodong at a young age, it's not easy!" This thing can't be fake, right? ”

Duan Zhigang said with a smile: "My lord, it's absolutely true." To say that this General Cao, although he has a low background, he is a figure who has been killed on the battlefield for a long time, and has followed Xiong Tingbi, Sun Chengzong, Yuan Chonghuan and others, it is not a fluke that he can rise up! ”

Xu Liang looked at it and hummed lightly.

This is the commander of the patrol who entered the house, looked at Xu Liang and stopped.

"What?" Xu Liang asked.

"Young master, the news from the secret agent of Tsing Yi Wei is that Wang Jiayin, one of the three major people's army forces, was killed by Cao Wenzhao!" (To be continued.) )