In just eleven days, the Great Sui Imperial Court lost Yu Wenshu and Zhang Xutuo, two heavy generals, which was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Great Sui army and the Great Sui Imperial Court, especially Zhang Xutuo's sacrifice of the Qingxu Battlefield Dinghai Shen Needle, which directly led the counterinsurgency army in the twelve counties in the south of the Yellow River to be leaderless, and could no longer form an overwhelming advantage over the large rebel army on the local battlefield. It also completely became a paradise for the activities of the rebels, and Yan zhòng threatened the traffic safety of the Tongji Canal between the Jiangdu and the eastern capital, and the remote control command of the northern region of Emperor Yang of Sui was also greatly affected.

Hit hard by our loss of conscience Chen Fuliang, ask yourself, Chen Fuliang knows very well that Zhang Xutuo's sacrifice has a huge relationship with himself, if he didn't deliberately let go of Li Mi in Menghai City, or directly told Zhang Xutuo, saying that he found out the news that the Wagang army would arrange an ambush against Zhang Xutuo in Dahai Temple, then Zhang Xutuo would probably not be sacrificed. So after receiving this bad news, Chen Fuliang, who respected Zhang Xutuo from the bottom of his heart, also cried and fainted twice, washing his face with tears day and night, feeling extremely guilty and sad.

There is no regret medicine in the world, no matter how guilty and sad it is, it is useless, all Chen Fuliang can do is to build a mourning hall for Zhang Xutuo in his own lobby, set up Zhang Xutuo's spiritual seat, kneel down in person to pay tribute, and make up for his debt to Zhang Xutuo a little. What made Chen Fuliang quite relieved and somewhat surprised was that the spiritual hall had just been erected, and the civil and military officials of the Eastern Capital who received the news had already come to the door to hang their filial piety, and almost all the Chinese military ministers in the city had arrived, and all of them, like Chen Fuliang, knelt in front of Zhang Xutuo's spiritual seat and choked with tears, crying silently.

What surprised Chen Fuliang even more was that the saddest person who cried the most among the officials in the Eastern Capital was not himself, but the old general Yun Dingxing Yun, the general of Zuotunwei, who had nothing to do with Zhang Xutuo, kneeling in front of Zhang Xutuo's spiritual seat, our old general Yun cried so much that it was earth-shattering, and he beat his chest and grabbed the ground with his head, crying as if he had lost his loved ones, crying and shouting in his mouth, gambling and vowing to avenge Zhang Xutuo, and his sad appearance compared Chen Fuliang, who wore filial piety for Zhang Xutuo with his sons and nephews. Chen Fuliang was worried that he would cry out when he was old, so he could only come forward to comfort him, but Yun Dingxing took the opportunity to grab Chen Fuliang's sleeve, and cried with tears in his eyes: "Stay behind, stay behind, avenge General Zhang!" We must avenge General Zhang! ”

Chen Fuliang nodded hurriedly, and also swore in front of the spirit to avenge Zhang Xutuo, but our old general Yun cried and said: "Chen Liushou, the old man begs you, please go to the table and allow the old man to lead the Zuotun guard soldiers out of the Tiger Prison Pass and conquer the Wagang rebels!" Although the old man is not talented, he is willing to take the lead, charge into battle, cut off the heads of the rebel thief and Li Mi thief, dig out his heart and liver, and pay tribute to the spirit of General Zhang's old general. ”

Chen Fuliang was really moved, and after finally persuading Yun Dingxing to stop, he retreated to Fang Xuanling's side, Chen Fuliang also wiped his tears and said: "I really didn't expect that General Yun still has such a side, and he is even more heartbroken than me." ”

"If he is not sad, who is sad?" Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly and said in a low voice: "Yuwen Zhuguo unfortunately died of illness before Old General Zhang, General Yun Lao has no backer in the imperial court, General Youyiwei came to Zhuguo and never treated him, Brother Xian, you are the one who came to Zhuguo to personally recommend to stay in the Eastern Capital, and you have the support of Pei Zuoxiang and Wenxi Pei, Old General Yun doesn't cry more sadly than you now, and I beg you to speak in front of Lai Zhuguo in the future?" How can he keep his position as the general of the Zuotun Guard? ”

The little good impression that Yun Dingxing had just established was suddenly gone, and Chen Fuliang couldn't help but curse in a low voice, "Old loach, it's really slippery enough, so you can get in at the slightest crack." ”

"General Zhang! General Zhang————! ”

Chen Fuliang's secret scolding did not fall, and the cry that was more sad than our old general Yun suddenly came into the mourning hall, Chen Fuliang and everyone hurriedly turned their heads, but saw Guanglu Doctor Pei Renji rushing into the mourning hall with filial piety, and also rushed directly to Zhang Xutuo's spiritual seat and cried loudly, and his sad and sad expression was also not under Yun Dingxing. Seeing this scene, Chen Fuliang, who had already suffered a loss, did not dare to be fooled, first thought about it a little, and then asked Fang Xuanling in a low voice: "Brother Qiao Song, what does Uncle Renji want to do with this out?" ”

"Foolish brother doesn't know." Fang Xuanling was also a little confused, and said suspiciously: "It stands to reason that Dr. Pei doesn't need to please you like this?" Eyeing the position left by General Zhang? It's unlikely, General Zhang's position is not so easy to sit in? Or is it that Dr. Pei is eyeing the position of the general of the Sixteenth Guard Mansion who has vacated his position, and wants to take the opportunity to fight for it? ”

was guessed by Fang Xuanling, when Chen Fuliang stepped forward to answer the salute as Zhang Xutuo's nephew, Pei Renji really grabbed Chen Fuliang's sleeve and cried loudly, crying: "Virtuous nephew, take revenge!" We must avenge General Zhang! Virtuous nephew you are left behind in the eastern capital, shouldering a heavy responsibility, Your Majesty decree does not allow you to leave the eastern capital lightly, the old man is not talented, willing to go out on your behalf, please ask His Royal Highness the King of Yue to send troops to recruit the Wagang thieves, the old man is willing to be the vanguard of the front! ”

Before the words fell, the old general Yun Dingxingyun, who had fallen backer, rushed up again, pulling Chen Fuliang's other sleeve, and also begged Chen Fuliang to ask Yang Tong to send troops to recruit the Wagang thieves, and he was willing to take on this important task. Chen Fuliang was angry in his heart, knowing that these two guys were not well-intentioned, but he couldn't accuse them on the spot, and he could only reconcile in the middle, so it took a lot of effort to temporarily appease these two old people.

On the same day, Yang Tong, the king of Yue, was also accompanied by the two deputy guards Yuan Wendu and Duan Da, and came to Chen Fuliang's home to pay tribute to Zhang Xutuo, and the three of them also shed a few tears in front of Zhang Xutuo's spirit. After entering the back hall, Yang Tong first wiped the tears from his face, and then took the initiative to say to Chen Fuliang: "General, General Zhang sacrificed his life for the country, which is worthy of respect, but after his old man was unfortunately defeated and died, there are no imperial soldiers and horses in Xingyang County who can compete with the Wagang thief army, and the Wagang thief army also directly threatens the safety of Henan County. ”

Chen Yingliang was very hesitant, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Your Highness, with the meaning of Weichen, of course, I want to personally raise troops out of the customs to go to the imperial court to conquer the Wagang thieves, and also to avenge General Zhang's hatred, but His Majesty has a will not allow Weichen to leave his post lightly ....... ”

Seeing Chen Fuliang's tone, Duan Da immediately took over the conversation and said: "Chen Xiongqu, you can't leave your post lightly, but you don't have to personally lead the army to go to the conquest, my plan is that you might as well send an army to the east, stationed in the Baihua Valley west of the Tiger Pass, and be ready to reinforce the defenders of Bishui at any time, as long as the Bishui Tiger Pass is still in our hands, the eastern capital Luoyang can be ensured, so that we can wait for His Majesty's will to make a decision with peace of mind." ”

"This is a safe arrangement, an old man's arrangement." Yuan Wendu rarely stood with Duan Da once.

Because the military regime is limited to the eastern capital, Duan Da's proposal is indeed the safest approach, and Chen Fuliang also agrees with it, but Chen Fuliang has another point in mind, so after Chen Fuliang thinks about it a little, he said: "What Dr. Duan discussed, it is indeed safe, but I think there is one more thing, that is, to welcome back the rest of General Zhang, the soldiers under General Zhang's command are all elite men who have experienced a hundred battles, and any one of them is extremely precious. They will certainly continue to play a huge role in the counterinsurgency battlefield. ”

Duan Da was born in the army, and knew the importance of elite soldiers to the army, and of course agreed immediately after listening to Chen Fuliang's words, Yuan Wen didn't understand military affairs but knew that the more troops, the better, and he also had no opinion, and also said: "What the general said is extremely true, we can garrison the Baihua Valley while asking His Royal Highness Yue Wang to send down a decree, to comfort the rest of General Zhang's old generals, and also persuade them to move to Hujiao Pass, meet with our Baihua Valley garrison, and supply grain and grass and military supplies from our eastern capital, Then I asked His Majesty to allow us to incorporate the rest of General Zhang's troops nearby. In this way, we can not only not violate the laws of the imperial court, but also absorb the old department under the command of General Zhang, and at the same time ensure the safety of the Tiger Prison Pass and the Eastern Capital. ”

Chen Fuliang wanted to incorporate the elite old department left by Zhang Xutuo, the biggest problem was that the Eastern Capital decree could not restrain the soldiers and horses of the twelve counties, and after listening to the compromise and safe construction of Yuan Wendu, he naturally immediately agreed, and Yang Tong, the king of Yue, did not hesitate to agree to come forward by himself to appease and recruit the rest of Zhang Xutuo, and this plan was unanimously agreed. However, when discussing who to send to lead the army to reinforce the Tiger Prison Pass, Chen Fuliang made a difficulty, and after thinking about it again, he couldn't make up his mind, so he could only say to Yang Tong: "Your Highness, two seniors, please consider this candidate carefully, and make a decision tomorrow." ”

"Why?" Yang Tong shook his head and said, "General, why don't you have a time when you can't make a decision immediately?" ”

"Because the opponent is too dangerous this time." Chen Fuliang smiled bitterly and said: "Your Highness, the two seniors, it's not that I boast, there are not many people who can deceive me on the battlefield, the dog-headed military master of the Wagang thief, Li Mi, is the only one, this traitor's cunning and poisonous Cheng dù is absolutely unimaginable, and the Tiger Prison Pass is too important to have the slightest accident, so Wei Chen must carefully consider the candidate for reinforcing the Tiger Prison Pass, and cannot give Li Mi any opportunity to rebel against the thief." ”

Seeing that Chen Fuliang said solemnly, Yang Tong, who had always trusted Chen Fuliang, didn't say anything more, and immediately agreed to discuss the candidates for sending troops the next day.

sent Yang Tong and the others away, and worked in Zhang Xutuo's mourning hall for a long time, until it was dark and closed, Chen Fuliang summoned Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng, Yuan Tiangang, Changsun Wuji and other cronies into the back hall, and while having dinner with them, he told them about the candidates for reinforcements to the Tiger Prison. As a result, Wei Zheng and Yuan Tiangang were both happy when they heard it, and said, "Stay behind, what is there to hesitate about in this matter?" It's not the same who to send? ”

"Who said it's the same for whoever you send?" Chen Fuliang rolled his eyes and said, "It's a big trouble here, you are all suitable candidates, but with your official status, how can His Royal Highness King Yue agree with me to send you to take on this important task?" Send someone else, what if he abducts Ambassador Zhang's old department? ”

"Kidnapping? How to run away? Yuan Tiangang asked suspiciously: "Aren't the civil and military officials in the Eastern Capital Court now under your control?" ”

"The civil and military affairs of the Eastern Capital are under my control, but I still have an emperor on my head." Chen Fuliang explained: "Ambassador Zhang sacrificed his life for the country, in order to continue to pacify the thieves, His Majesty will definitely appoint a new ambassador to arrest and organize the soldiers and horses of the twelve counties to continue to pacify the thieves. In this way, if the officials we send are not of sufficient prestige and weight in front of His Majesty, and it is not easy to attract His Majesty's attention, then it is very likely that His Majesty will not allow us to incorporate Ambassador Zhang's old department. ”

"If the officials we send are of high rank, prestige, and seniority, and have enough weight in front of His Majesty, then the trouble will be even greater." Chen Yingliang said gloomily: "The people we sent to join Ambassador Zhang's old ministry are enough, maybe His Majesty's decree appoints this person to replace Ambassador Zhang and preside over the Henan Arrest War, wouldn't it be equivalent to letting him kidnap the rest of Zhang Dashuai's troops when the time comes?" ”

Yuan Tiangang nodded, and said: "Listening to the left-behind guards, this matter is a bit troublesome, and the people sent are not enough, and His Majesty does not agree with us to incorporate Ambassador Zhang's old department, which is familiar with the Henan battlefield, or to canonize the ambassador to arrest him, then we will be empty." The weight of the people sent is too large, and if His Majesty appoints him as the ambassador to arrest him, then we still can't get Ambassador Zhang's elite old department, and we can only watch them being taken away by others. ”

"Therefore, in order to protect and make good use of the elite old department left by Ambassador Zhang as much as possible, I must choose this candidate carefully." Chen Yingliang concluded: "This person must be weighty enough to let His Majesty rest assured that he will take over Ambassador Zhang's old department, and he must be obedient and reliable, even if he is appointed by His Majesty to arrest the ambassador to take over the heavy burden left by Ambassador Zhang, he will be obedient and obedient, and use various means to gradually hand over the elite remnants left by Ambassador Zhang to us." ”

"Two choices, Yun Dingxing and Pei Renji." Fang Xuanling, who had always been silent, suddenly spoke, and said: "Yuwen Zhuguo passed away suddenly, Yun Dingxing lost his backer in the court, in order to protect himself, he must find another backer, virtuous brother, you are his best choice, give him a little hint, don't worry about him being disobedient." However, Yun Dingxing's weight is a little insufficient, and he has never liked him when he comes to Zhuguo, His Majesty may not let him take over from Ambassador Zhang to preside over the rebellion in the twelve counties, although you can recommend it, but once Yun Dingxing does anything wrong in the future, he will be affected more or less and have to pay some price. ”

"Dr. Pei Renji Pei has enough weight, and with the support of Pei Zuoxiang, there is a great possibility of replacing Ambassador Zhang." Fang Xuanling continued: "But Doctor Pei's ambition is a little big, and he is your elder brother, so it is difficult for him to bow down to you." ”

Chen Yingliang nodded silently, admitting that he still couldn't make Pei Renji obediently obey his orders, and he was thinking about Liu Changgong, Baye Gang, Wei Anshi and Duan Da and other candidates in his heart, and quickly vetoed them one by one, either they were not reliable at all, or they were even more disobedient. At this time, Yuan Tiangang put forward the candidate of Wang Shichong quite whimsically, but immediately shook his head and said: "It's even more impossible, with Wang Shichong's virtue, how can he spit out the fat that he ate in his mouth?" ”

Chen Fuliang smiled, and said in his heart that you know it's good, my old man is this virtue. However, after Yuan Tiangang mentioned Wang Shichong, Chen Yingliang also immediately remembered that in history, Qin Qiong, Luo Shixin and other old Zhang Xutuo departments were indeed controlled by Wang Shichong for a time, and then naturally remembered that after Zhang Xutuo was martyred in history, it was indeed Pei Renji who took over Zhang Xutuo's old department, but because of the existence of a certain-stirring stick, Pei Renji was forced to surrender to the Wagang Army with Zhang Xutuo's old department.

Thinking of this, Chen Fu's conscience couldn't help but give birth to a thought, and secretly said: "In that case, why don't you let history develop according to the normal process?" First let the-stirring stick hold Pei Renji's hands and feet, so that Pei Renji can't realize his ambitions and get out of my control, and then I will personally go out to kill this-stirring stick, and further buy the army's heart, and it is logical to incorporate Zhang Xutuo's old department! ”

gave birth to this idea, and thought about it for a long time, feeling that the possibility of directly absorbing Zhang Xutuo's old department was very small at the moment, and it was even more impossible for Emperor Yang of Sui to hand over the eastern capital and the twelve counties of Henan to himself for control, Chen Fuliang made up his mind, and slapped the table and said viciously: "Let Pei Renji go!" ”

"Brother Xian, have you made up your mind?" Fang Xuanling asked, and said: "Let me remind you again, Dr. Pei's ambition is not small, and there is a lot of estrangement with you, if he is allowed to go, the old department left by Zhang Dashuai will be eaten by him, and I am afraid it will be more difficult for him to vomit it than Wang Shichong." ”

"Think about it." Chen Fuliang nodded, and said: "Brother Qiao Song, after eating, you go to see Doctor Duan Daduan, tell him about my decision, and then ask him to come forward and recommend Xiao Huaijing, the counselor, to serve as the supervisor." As for the exchange, his baby son-in-law Zhang Zhi can be transferred to the Ministry of Civil Affairs with a fart oil crotch. ”

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Brother Xian is smart, with this-stirring stick, Dr. Pei's heart will always be higher than the sky, and his life is thinner than paper." ”

Chen Fuliang smiled and said without blushing: "It's not for Ambassador Zhang, his old man has always loved his subordinates, and I don't take care of the soldiers he left, who will take care of them?" It is better to let them suffer a little than to let them be defeated on the battlefield by others. ”

So, at the next day's meeting in the Eastern Capital, Chen Fuliang publicly recommended his uncle Pei Renji to lead the army to reinforce the Tiger Prison Pass, presided over the various matters of the incorporation of the rest of Zhang Xutuo, and listed the three major advantages and seven advantages of Pei Renji's position, Yun Dingxing, who volunteered to take this position, looked depressed, but he didn't dare to attack, Pei Renji listened to it with a dazzled smile, and for the first time gave birth to the idea of letting his daughter make a partial house for Chen Fuliang, as a result, Yang Tong finally let Pei Renji get his wish once, nodded and agreed to Chen Fuliang's recommendation, Send Pei Renji to lead an army of 10,000 to the Tiger Pass for reinforcements.

Pei Renji soon couldn't laugh, because Yang Tong had just finalized this matter, and Duan Da, the deputy left-behind guard, immediately jumped out again, under the pretext that the army around the Tiger Prison Pass was complicated, and there would be three armies in the Eastern Capital Army, the Xingyang Army and Zhang Xutuo's old department.

Hearing Duan Da's recommendation, Pei Renji's face turned a little pale, and when he hurried to see his distant nephew, he saw Chen Fuliang's expression in a dilemma, in order to avoid suspicion, he did not oppose or support, and the other deputy left-behind Yuan Wendu was also noncommittal, seeing that Yang Tong agreed to Duan Da's recommendation, Pei Renji's face suddenly became even paler, but our little Uncle Xiao Guo smiled in his heart, gritted his teeth and said: "Pei Deben, feng shui takes turns, today it finally transferred to me, wait and see!" "Come out."

"Think about it." Chen Fuliang nodded, and said: "Brother Qiao Song, after eating, you go to see Doctor Duan Daduan, tell him about my decision, and then ask him to come forward and recommend Xiao Huaijing, the counselor, to serve as the supervisor." As for the exchange, his baby son-in-law Zhang Zhi can be transferred to the Ministry of Civil Affairs with a fart oil crotch. ”

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "Brother Xian is smart, with this-stirring stick, Dr. Pei's heart will always be higher than the sky, and his life is thinner than paper." ”

Chen Fuliang smiled and said without blushing: "It's not for Ambassador Zhang, his old man has always loved his subordinates, and I don't take care of the soldiers he left, who will take care of them?" It is better to let them suffer a little than to let them be defeated on the battlefield by others. ”

So, at the next day's meeting in the Eastern Capital, Chen Fuliang publicly recommended his uncle Pei Renji to lead the army to reinforce the Tiger Prison Pass, presided over the various matters of the incorporation of the rest of Zhang Xutuo, and listed the three major advantages and seven advantages of Pei Renji's position, Yun Dingxing, who volunteered to take this position, looked depressed, but he didn't dare to attack, Pei Renji listened to it with a dazzled smile, and for the first time gave birth to the idea of letting his daughter make a partial house for Chen Fuliang, as a result, Yang Tong finally let Pei Renji get his wish once, nodded and agreed to Chen Fuliang's recommendation, Send Pei Renji to lead an army of 10,000 to the Tiger Pass for reinforcements.

Pei Renji soon couldn't laugh, because Yang Tong had just finalized this matter, and Duan Da, the deputy left-behind guard, immediately jumped out again, under the pretext that the army around the Tiger Prison Pass was complicated, and there would be three armies in the Eastern Capital Army, the Xingyang Army and Zhang Xutuo's old department.

Hearing Duan Da's recommendation, Pei Renji's face turned a little pale, and when he hurried to see his distant nephew, he saw Chen Fuliang's expression in a dilemma, in order to avoid suspicion, he did not oppose or support, and the other deputy left-behind Yuan Wendu was also noncommittal, seeing that Yang Tong agreed to Duan Da's recommendation, Pei Renji's face suddenly became even paler, but our little Uncle Xiao Guo smiled in his heart, gritted his teeth and said: "Pei Deben, feng shui takes turns, today it finally transferred to me, wait and see!" ”