Sui Hua said with a little confidence: "If you go back to Sima Xiangguo, there are now 30,000 defenders in Yangzhou City, and everyone can go into battle to kill the enemy and defend the territory." ”

Sima Yi shook his head and said: "The next question is how many soldiers and horses can go out of the city to fight, according to the rules of the imperial court in the past, under the condition of stabilizing the city defense, the number of soldiers and horses that can be dispatched in Yangzhou City is 13,000 men and horses, and the remaining soldiers and horses are either new soldiers, or can only be stationed and cannot move far. ”

Sui Hua thought about it, Sima Yi's words should be very reasonable, if the soldiers and horses can go out of the city, there are indeed more than 10,000 horses, as for whether it is 13,000 or 14,000, he has not calculated it carefully. From the beginning of Sui Hua's tenure as the Taishou of Yangzhou, his mind was to consolidate the city defense of Yangzhou, and not to lose what he had gotten in his hands, and he really didn't care about whether to go out of the city to fight. Yangzhou is the first line of defense against the north, unless the Southern Dynasty takes the initiative to send troops, and in today's situation, it is very difficult to even defend, and sending troops is almost like a fantasy.

Sui Hua said: "What Sima Xiangguo said is extremely true. ”

Sima Yi looked at the bustling flow of people outside, and almost the remaining more than 60,000 people in the city poured out to see the two military officials in the city, after all, this was also the person who was concerned about the lives of their Shen family.

Sima Yu said: "Since there is no problem, Sui Taishou might as well prepare to dispatch these thirteen thousand men and horses, ready to go on a long journey at any time, and that's all I have to say next." ”

Rao is Sui Hua had conjectures about Sima Yi's surprise, but he didn't expect that the first military order Sima Yi issued to him was to recruit troops and horses to go on the expedition. When to go to the expedition, where to conquer, the war has not yet begun, and even the soldiers and horses in the north don't know which direction they are coming from, so they lightly say that they will send troops, could it be that Sima is crazy and is ready to take the initiative to attack before the northern soldiers and horses officially go south?

reminds me of a secret decree that Sima Yi had received from the imperial court before. Sui Hua still asked cautiously: "Sima Xiangguo, what kind of military order did you get from Your Majesty or King Hui?" ”

Sima looked far away, and said in a very indifferent tone: "Not yet." ”

Sui Hua sighed lightly: "Then the lower official is not good at obeying the order, this Yangzhou is different from other places, Yangzhou is located in the north of the Yangtze River, with the river as a barrier. In fact, it is also isolated from the territory of our dynasty, if the northern soldiers and horses go south, our Yangzhou soldiers and civilians have no other way but to defend the lonely city, if you speak lightly, I am afraid that the rear can not be defended. ”

Sima Yi glanced at Sui Hua and said: "Sui Taishou is also loyal to his duties, but what I said to Sui Taishou is to let Sui Taishou prepare this batch of soldiers and horses, so that when the imperial court orders the troops, Sui Taishou will be caught off guard." When the time came, the fighters were delayed. ”

Sui Hua thought about it for a while, and then he accepted the order. But he still didn't think so.

After that, Sima Yi did not have much interest in inspecting military affairs, so he turned his horse and headed in the direction of the Jiangbei Military Affairs Yamen. When the people left, Sui Hua was still riding on the horse with a puzzled face, Sima Yi's words were too unbelievable, he originally wanted Sima Yu to supervise more military affairs, so that he could ask the court for soldiers and food, but now he listened to Sima Yu's words. He didn't have a bottom in his own heart.

"Sui Taishou, the right phase of him...... Is there a command? ”

I saw Sima Yi leaving. Sui Hua's generals gathered around, and one of the lieutenants, Li Yuan, asked.

Sui Hua shook his head slightly, and said with a questioning expression: "He asked us to organize our troops and horses, and be ready to go out of the city for an expedition at any time." ”

One sentence made the generals present a little uproar, and Sui Hua said: "It's not appropriate to talk here, and we will discuss it when we return to the Taishou Mansion." Tonight there will be a banquet in the Taishou Mansion. There are not too many people to invite, and civil officials do not need to be invited, just generals at all levels who are not on duty, they must be there. ”

Li Yuan asked, "Then do you want to invite him to come?" ”

Sui Hua said: "We want to discuss things, what do we ask him to do?" Do what I tell you to do! ”

After speaking. Sui Hua went to the direction of Taishou Mansion with a somewhat menacing tone, he had some anger in his heart, he was played by Sima Tuan Tuan for more than two months, and he still didn't know the intention of Sima Yi to be sent to Jiangbei, although Sima Yi was considered a celebrity around the empress and King Hui, but such a person was very dangerous, and if he was placed by his side, he could become a hidden danger at any time.

In the evening, the generals at all levels in Yangzhou City came to the Taishou Mansion one after another. Compared with the banquet in the Taishou Mansion on the Shangyuan Festival, the banquet in the Taishou Mansion this time is much more low-key, a total of more than a dozen generals, all of whom are figures in Yangzhou City who have actual military power, Sui Hua is confident that he can fully mobilize these people with his prestige, and Sima Yi still can't mobilize these people even if he is in the name of the Jiangbei Defense Commander.

With the arrival of the generals, the banquet was set up, and there were only two tables, with the generals above the staff level at one table, and some strategists and middle and high-level generals at the other table. As the initiator of the banquet, Sui Hua sat on the main seat, and his face was a little dignified, which made the atmosphere of the banquet a little depressing.

At the beginning of the banquet, Sui Hua stood up with a wine glass and said: "You must have heard that today Sima Xiangguo inspected the military affairs of Yangzhou and walked some places in Yangzhou City, but all the places he was entrenched in were places like Nancheng and Dongcheng, and it seems that Sima Xiangguo had no intention of fighting in Yangzhou. He is, after all, a northerner. ”

The generals and strategists present listened with bated breath, as if they wanted to seize power. But Sui Hua suddenly changed his words and said: "But before Sima Xiangguo parted, he had another entrustment, saying that he wanted to rectify the soldiers and horses in my city, and dispatched more than 13,000 soldiers in addition to the daily guards, ready to go on a long journey at any time. What do you think about this? ”

Sui Hua held a wine glass in his hand, but he didn't mean to toast, but asked questions to the people present.

Although the generals present are marching generals, but there are few who really have combat experience, Yangzhou has not been in the war for 20 years, although the people present said that they had experienced in that war, but at that time they were also fledgling, and now the leading side of the army is to use the art of war and strategy to govern the army and march, in the end it is still on paper.

Zuo Sima General He Zhe said: "Sui Taishou, what Sima Xiangguo means, does the imperial court have the intention of taking the initiative to send troops north?" Two years ago, the imperial court also had a discussion of sending troops, soldiers and horses crossed the river in the north, and chaos occurred in the DPRK and China, is it ...... This time is similar to the one two years ago? ”

A strategist named Zhou Si said: "Now that the imperial court can't protect itself, my Yangzhou City has almost been abandoned, and the internal troubles of the King of Linjiang have not been lifted, how can I have the ability to send troops to the north?" Even if the troops are dispatched, the Northern Dynasty is now stationed in Jiangdu and Yuzhou, and there are hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses so far. If you send troops, it will be not much different from the death of the country. ”

He Zhe seemed to be a little unconvinced, and said: "If the new emperor of the Northern Dynasty succeeded to the throne in the first year, if the people of the Northern Dynasty also thought so, then now the Northern Dynasty may have lost its territory to Xianbei barbarians." Dangerous moves. If it weren't for the emperor of the Northern Dynasty who took the initiative to attack when he was weak, how could he establish an immortal meritorious career, but instead make the Xianbei people who were as strong as they were wiped out? ”

Zhou Si replied angrily: "Listening to He Sima's meaning, he admires the emperor of the Northern Dynasty quite a lot, is it that as soon as the soldiers and horses of the Northern Dynasty arrive, they are ready to abandon the city and surrender to be the traitor?" ”

"You ......" was originally a discussion of the meaning of Sima's words, but later on, it became two people, or two people with two thoughts, arguing. There were even personal attacks.

Sui Hua shouted: "Enough! ”

After all, He Zhe is a martial artist, not as eloquent as Zhou Si, but he still recognizes the reason for death, since he has been wronged, he may be with the Northern Dynasty stone, he wants to fight for clarity. But seeing Sui Hua's gloomy face, he finally shook his hand and put the wine glass back on the table.

Sui Hua said: "You are the humerus in my Yangzhou City, and the soldiers and horses of the Northern Dynasty will be killed in the future." It is also necessary to wait for the left and right to work hard to protect the city. But now that the foreign enemy has not arrived, you quarrel with yourselves. What's the point? Now what Ben Taishou is asking you is, what exactly does Sima Xiangguo's words mean, since you said that the imperial court intends to send troops to the north, why has Ben Taishou not received any decrees from the imperial court so far? ”

Originally, he felt that the imperial court was going to take the initiative, and it was not easy to guess casually without real evidence.

At this moment, a person at the end of the seat walked out. Respectfully saluted Sui Hua and said: "The Lord Taishou is above, and the villain has a few words, I don't know whether to say it or not." ”

The people present were either generals or strategists, they were all conceited and high-minded people, and the title of Sui Hua was also commensurate with his official position. There is no adult or villain, but this person's figure itself is a little obscene, and it doesn't seem to be anything unique, and even when he walked out, few people present remember what his name was. I just remember that Sui Hua seemed to have introduced him before, as if he was an unambitious person from the north.

Sui Hua glanced at the man, pretending to be humble and asked, "I don't know what Mr. Dou thinks?" ”

This person is the guest of the Wei Dynasty Southern Palace, and is also a very important military advisor under the South King's hand Dou Sheng, in the South Wangfu and the West Wangfu at war, the East Wangfu forced Yang Luochuan to surrender, and Yang Luochuan was placed under house arrest in Luoyang, Yuzhou began to be in power by the Marquis of Zhennan, and the status of the Dou Sheng was not as good as before, and more than half a year ago, the East Wangfu and Xianbei were at war, but after the annexation of Yuzhou by the method of striking the east and attacking the west, Dou Sheng did not choose to belong to the East Wangfu, but went south to Yangzhou and became a staff member of Suihua.

But after all, Dou Sheng was from the Northern Dynasties, and Sui Hua only reused him because of Dou Sheng's reputation in Yuzhou, waiting for an opportunity to get more military information about Yuzhou, and he did not intend to reuse him. Therefore, Dou Sheng did not have much opportunity to come out and make suggestions.

Dou Sheng bowed his hand again and said respectfully: "The villain thinks that Sima Xiangguo's intention is that the Northern Dynasty will send troops to the south, and will never take Yangzhou all the way, but will bypass Yangzhou and cross the river directly, or cross the river by boat to Jiangjiang and Jiangxi, or take a detour to the sea and land from other places, which is possible." At that time, there will be military disasters and wars in all parts of the Qi Dynasty, and the imperial court will inevitably order me to send troops to Yangzhou City to assist or Qin Wang, which is what Sima Xiangguo means by letting the Lord prepare to use troops. ”

After Dou Sheng's words were finished, the people present couldn't help but discuss. It's not that what Dou Sheng said is reasonable, but what Dou Sheng said is very weird, or a blind guess without any basis.

Even Sui Hua didn't believe that what Dou Sheng said was true, and now that Chen Bing of the Northern Dynasty was in Yuzhou and Jiangdu, and the troops were heading south, Yangzhou seemed to be inavoidable. Dou Sheng said that the Northern Dynasty was going to attack Jiangxi first, and whoever it was would take advantage of the contradiction between the Southern Dynasty court and the King of Linjiang, so that the three parties would become horns with each other, and the best strategy would be to use troops against the South, but if B Chao directly sent troops to Jiangxi, it would be like helping the Southern Dynasty to exterminate the forces of the King of Linjiang.

Sui Hua nodded slightly and said, "Mr. Dou's words are not unreasonable, do other people have other opinions?" ”

He said that Dou Sheng's words made sense, but on his face, he clearly didn't take it seriously. Dou Sheng didn't seem to care much, he respectfully stepped aside, no matter what others said, he didn't go up and make any comments casually.

At this time, in another part of Yangzhou City, in the Jiangbei Defense Yamen, where Sima Yi was located, Sima Yi was playing against Li Shanye, and this time the two were playing Go. Even if Sima Yi felt that his chess skills had improved, he still couldn't compete with a national player like Li Shanye, and he was completely defeated after the middle game.

"It seems that Brother Sima, you are a little absent-minded." Li Shanye smiled and looked at Sima Yidao.

Sima Yi glanced up, and said with a normal face: "It is Mr. Qi's superb chess skills, and it seems that he has made progress to this step today." I didn't expect my husband to still use chess to entertain me. ”

Li Shanye said with a smile: "The closer this war is, the more complicated your heart should be, Brother Sima." In the past, they were just caught between the two dynasties, but they didn't have to offend each other, but now they have to choose between them, and it is difficult for you, Brother Sima. ”

Sima Yu didn't speak, and he was indeed a little uneasy recently, especially when he guessed that Han Jian would bypass Yangzhou and send troops elsewhere. Although Sima Yi has not guessed where Han Jian will use troops against the south as a breakthrough, one thing is certain, as long as he Sima Yi is in Yangzhou for a day, Han Jian will definitely not drive his troops and horses to Yangzhou City, Sima Yi does not want to be a head-on enemy with Han Jian, why does Han Jian want to meet Sima Jian with this good friend?

The more this is the case, the more entangled Sima Yi's heart becomes. When the war came to repay the favors, I realized that not everything in this world was without mercy.

Sima Yu sighed: "Mr. said before that he would go back and figure out the emperor's plan to send troops, but I don't know if it can be settled now?" ”

Li Shanye smiled bitterly: "It's hard to say, it's hard to say." If it is someone else's words, there will always be clues to follow, but the emperor of the Northern Dynasty is not bound by the law, but there are rumors that the Northern Dynasty will still use Su Tingxia as the candidate to lead the troops south, but I don't know what the emperor of the Northern Dynasty is considering, aren't you afraid that the local soldiers and civilians of the Southern Dynasty will learn about Su Tingxia's evil deeds and will fight to the death? ”

Sima Yi casually dropped the chess pieces and said, "Or it's just a trick, and it may not be accurate in the end." ”

"Not really." Li Shanye said, "This is the most puzzling part. However, I have heard that there is a knowledgeable person in Yangzhou City before, or he has some unique views on this matter. ”

Sima Yi asked, "Who?" ”

Li Shanye replied indifferently: "The staff of the Nanwang Mansion, the famous man of Yuzhou, Dou Sheng." (To be continued......)