What else can Pei Hongce say, Chen Yingliang not only saved his life, did not put on the shelf of a life-saving benefactor, but also made a big gift to him to ask for service, if Pei Hongce refuses again, then he may not even be able to afford the word 'human'. Therefore, Pei Hongce did not refuse, and immediately put his hands on Chen Yingliang, and said with a wry smile: "Little brother Yingliang, you are willing to devote yourself to serving the country under my command, of course I can't ask for it, but you must also understand that I am a person who has just suffered a big defeat, and the bare-bones general of the 8,000 army who fought so much that I am the only one left, has lost my teacher and humiliated the country, and it is difficult to protect myself, and you are now under my command, I dare not guarantee you any official position." ”

"Nonsense, of course I know this, if I don't even understand this, wouldn't I have been the captain of the criminal police for two years for nothing? You are in trouble now, but if you make a comeback, I will give you charcoal in the snow, even if I don't want to be underdeveloped. Even if you fall to the end, I, a subordinate who will never abandon you when you are in trouble, can at least have a loyal reputation, and it will be much easier to take refuge in other powerful people! ”

sneering in his heart, Chen Yingliang's mouth was as good as smeared with honey, and he said with an unusually sincere expression: "My lord, please rest assured, Xiaosheng is alone, just to have a place to stay, to have an opportunity to serve the country, whether there is an official position or not, Xiaosheng doesn't care, and he doesn't dare to ask for extravagance." ”

Listening to Chen Yingliang's beautiful words, Pei Hongce, who had just escaped death, was also quite satisfied, praised a few words, and then prepared to lead Chen Yingliang back to the eastern capital, but at this moment Pei Hongce was so tired that he couldn't even lift his feet, so he temporarily sat on the side of the road to rest, and asked Chen Yingliang: "Do you have dry food and water?" I haven't eaten a bite of food or drunk a sip of water since morning. ”

"Yes, yes." Chen Yingliang hurriedly agreed, hurriedly took off the water bag from the horse, and took out two pieces of wheat cakes bought in Shaanxi County, and held them in front of Pei Hongce together, Pei Hongce was not polite, took the dry food and water and gobbled it up, ate in a hurry and choked on the dry wheat cake, and quickly poured water into his mouth, Chen Yingliang, who was good at pleasing his boss, also quickly beat Pei Hongce's back, and it was also until Pei Hongce recovered to normal, Chen Yingliang asked curiously: "My lord, what is going on with today's battle situation?" Of the 8,000 soldiers and horses you brought, how could you be the only one left? ”

"They were all harmed by Da Xi's kindness, and by the fools under me!"

Chen Yingliang didn't ask, as soon as he mentioned this, Pei Hongce was full of anger, and after Pei Hongce introduced Chen Yingliang to know, it turned out that when Pei Hongce led the army to fight with Yang Xuangan's rebels early this morning, it was Luoyang Ling Da Xi who led the Sui army to meet with the rebel Yang Jishan's team on the south bank of Luoshui, but the two armies had not yet fought, and the timid Da Xi was the first to take the lead in fleeing, and he led the five thousand Sui army to collapse instantly, most of them surrendered to Yang Xuangan's brother Yang Jishan, and the rest were all deserted as deserters. Quickly and cleanly.

In this way, the morale of Pei Hongce's troops who faced Yang Jishan on the north bank of Luoshui was naturally greatly affected, although Pei Hongce, who had never experienced the battlefield, was also quite smart, and ordered the soldiers to build fortifications to resist the footsteps of the rebels, and took a defensive position to meet the arrogant Yang Xuangan rebels, but I don't know how many years the morale of the Sui army in the eastern capital who had not experienced the war was already very low, and then affected by the rout of the Sui army's Daxi Kindness Department, the morale and fighting spirit were completely collapsed. The rebel team led by Yang Xuangan's other younger brother, Yang Xuanting, broke through the defense line with a single charge, and the 8,000 army was instantly dispersed.

Not to mention, Pei Hongce, who was born as a civilian official, was really a little backbone, he was not discouraged after the first defeat, he retreated three or four miles and immediately organized a rout to re-arm, but unfortunately the generals and soldiers under his command were more than one uncompetitive, the rebels charged again, Pei Hongce's team immediately collapsed again, Pei Hongce organized the team to rebuild the defense line again, or was defeated by the rebels with a charge, so repeated five times, five battles and five defeats, and later Pei Hongce still wanted to organize the defense line for the sixth time, but the Sui army soldiers under his command quit, Either rushed to surrender to the rebel army, or threw down his weapons and armor and fled for his life, and in the end, only Pei Hongce, a bare-bones commander, was forced to flee for his life, and was chased by the rebel cavalry, if it wasn't for Chen Yingliang who happened to rush to Bai Sima Ban to join the army, Pei Hongce, who was injured on his horse, would definitely have to lose his life, and was even captured by the rebel cavalry.

After listening to Pei Hongce's introduction, Chen Yingliang finally believed in the World War II jokes about the army of the noodle country - it turns out that there is really such a funny army in this world! Surprised, Chen Yingliang couldn't help but ask: "My lord, how many rebels are there in the rebel team that is fighting with you?" ”

"You ask me, who do I ask?" Pei Hongce's answer made Chen Yingliang almost angry, and replied confidently: "The king of Yue and the eastern capital stayed in Fan Zigai, and just sent me to lead 8,000 troops to meet the rebels' vanguard Yang Jishan, and didn't tell me how many troops the enemy has. ”

"Then sir, you didn't send scouts to scout the enemy's troops?" Chen Yingliang asked in disbelief.

"This ......." Pei Hongce hesitated for a moment, and then replied with a bitter face: "I sent it, but it was the first time I went to the battlefield, and I forgot to explain the situation of the enemy's troops to be reconnoitred by the scouts, and only let the scouts reconnoiter the enemy's movements and tell me the enemy's location." ”

After that, Pei Hongce added with a wry smile, "But even if you explain it, it is useless, the right military guard who stayed in the eastern capital has not fought for more than ten years, and those veteran elite soldiers were also brought to Liaodong by the emperor before, and the current scouts have never been on the battlefield, so they may not have the ability to find out the number of enemy troops." ”

Chen Yingliang rolled his eyes, and began to worry about whether these old soldiers in the Eastern Capital could block the attack of Yang Xuangan's rebels, but after thinking about it, Chen Yingliang felt that this was not necessarily a good thing for him, because the more rookie and incompetent the defenders of the Eastern Capital, the more chance Chen Yingliang had to show his strength, right?

At this time, Pei Hongce had almost rested, and at the same time, Chen Yingliang's dead horse was able to get up again, and Pei Hongce began to lead Chen Yingliang back to the Eastern Capital. On the way back to the city, Pei Hongce had to ask Chen Yingliang about his origin, Chen Yingliang told the truth about his family history, and also explained that he was recommended by Fang Xuanling to prepare to join the army in Liaodong, but he just concealed his feud with the Chai family in Daxing - the old Chai family is a gate valve, Chen Yingliang has just joined Pei Hongce's command, and he is not sure whether Pei Hongce dares to confront the Chai family for himself, in order to avoid extraneous branches, Chen Yingliang naturally needs to temporarily conceal the matter of the Chai family.

What surprised Chen Yingliang a little, after listening to his self-introduction, Pei Hongce looked a little surprised, and said: "You are the grandson of Chen Wandi, the former prince of Xuchang County?" In this case, I may be close to you. ”

"A little student and an adult?" Chen Yingliang was also a little surprised.

"Yes, it's possible to get married, just stay away." Pei Hongce replied: "I am a member of the Wenxi Pei family, there are some people in my clan who have some in-laws with the Taiyuan Wang family, I remember that your grandfather Chen Wandi had a sister or a younger sister, and he married into the Taiyuan Wang family, so I may have a relationship with you." ”

"This guy is from the Wenxi Pei family?" Chen Yingliang's joy is not trivial, Fang Xuanling mentioned the Guanlong gate valve when chatting with Chen Yingliang, and once told Chen Yingliang, saying that Wen Xi Pei's family is the current Guanlong first gate valve, and there have been twenty-two prime ministers and thirty-six generals since the Han Dynasty! At present, Pei Gui, the first favorite minister in front of Emperor Yang of Sui, is the twenty-second prime minister of the old Pei family! Therefore, Fang Xuanling repeatedly warned his good brother Chen Yingliang that it may not have much to do with a small gate valve like the Chai family, but don't go against the Wenxi Pei family!

Under the surprise, Chen Yingliang, who is good at pulling relationships and friendships, did not hesitate, and immediately knelt down to Pei Hongce on both knees, and said loudly: "Uncle is above, please accept the three bows of the little nephew Chen Yingliang!" ”

After all, for the sake of glory and wealth and promotion and wealth, Chen Yingliang really kowtowed to Pei Hongce three times, but Pei Hongce was angry and funny, and said with a smile: "What are you anxious about?" I haven't found out what kind of kinship you have, so you're in a hurry to kowtow? Speaking of kinship, in fact, you and ......, but forget it, you and my son are about the same age, and it's not wrong to call me uncle, and we will be called uncles and nephews in the future. ”

Chen Yingliang was overjoyed, and hurriedly bowed to see his uncle again, Pei Hongce also picked up Chen Yingliang and called him a virtuous nephew, so a pair of uncles and nephews who had just met were freshly baked, as for how long this uncle-nephew relationship can last, that is a question that only God can know.

After getting into the relationship with Pei Hongce's uncle and nephew, Chen Yingliang also followed Pei Hongce back to the Anxi Gate of the Eastern Capital, this time Pei Hongce came forward to call the door, the city gate defenders naturally did not dare to make trouble, and quickly opened the city gate to meet Pei Hongce, and asked Pei Hongce about the results of the battle, and then there was to look at Chen Yingliang with surprised eyes, Pei Hongce, who had just suffered a big defeat, had no psychology to inquire about the battle situation, and led Chen Yingliang to go straight to the imperial city of the eastern capital, and went to the imperial city to meet Yang Tong, the king of Yue, who was sitting in the eastern capital instead of Emperor Yang of Sui, and Fan Zigai, who stayed behind, to report the war.

Led Chen Yingliang from Xuanren Gate into the Eastern Imperial City without hindrance, and then through the Chengfu Gate all the way to Chongguang Gate, during which Chen Yingliang has been wearing the people's cloth clothes, but there is the Eastern Capital important minister Pei Hongce led, the palace gate guards just asked a little, and they were immediately released, and at the same time, thanks to Pei Hongce's introduction, Chen Yingliang's glorious record of saving Pei Hongce on the battlefield quickly spread throughout the guard team of the Eastern Imperial City, causing all the guards to look sideways at Chen Yingliang, and they were all surprised that Chen Yingliang, who was still childish on his face, could make such a great achievement.

After arriving at the heavily guarded Chongguang Gate, Pei Hongce didn't dare to lead Chen Yingliang straight in, and obediently made a request to the guards guarding the gate according to the rules, and also roughly said the situation of the counterinsurgency and introduced Chen Yingliang's identity, after the guards entered the inner report, Pei Hongce, who was full of worries after entering the imperial city, was also more worried, and after thinking for a while, Pei Hongce even whispered to Chen Yingliang: "Virtuous nephew, I will enter the palace to see Queen Yue in a while, if anything happens, you will go to the workshop in the east capital and Xicheng, Find my son Pei Xingfang, tell him about my relationship with you, and help him take care of the funeral for me, he is two years younger than you, and he hasn't gone through many ups and downs, you have to help him more. ”

"Uncle, what do you mean by that?" Chen Yingliang was taken aback.

"Virtuous nephew, uncle thought about it carefully, and felt that he might be sorry for you this time, you saved me, but I can't repay you anything." Pei Hongce replied with a sad face: "Uncle has a hunch, I'm afraid this time it will be more auspicious." ”

"Won't it?" Chen Yingliang was shocked: "Victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers, uncle, you have a small setback by chance, will His Royal Highness King Yue push you out of the palace gate and behead you?" ”

"His Royal Highness King Yue won't kill me, he's only nine years old, and he doesn't understand anything." Pei Hongce's expression was even more mournful, and he lowered his voice and replied: "The key is that Fan Zi Gaifan stays behind, now the military and political power in the Eastern Capital is in his hands, and it is up to him to decide whether he will kill or take it, uncle, I usually have a lot of discord with him, and this time I lost so badly, I'm afraid he won't spare me." ”

Chen Yingliang opened his mouth, but he didn't think Pei Hongce's words were exaggerated - because Chen Yingliang himself used such a means to clean up the deputy who peeked into his position as the captain of the criminal police brigade. After thinking about it for a while, Chen Yingliang hurriedly whispered: "Uncle, the little nephew dares to say a word, even if you usually have a lot of discord with Fan Liushou, in fact, it doesn't have much to do with it, and it's still too late to make friends now-hasn't my uncle heard such a sentence, sacrifice your wealth to save your life?" ”

"You mean, bribing Fan Zigai?" Pei Hongce asked in a low voice, and seeing Chen Yingliang nodding, Pei Hongce suddenly smiled bitterly and said in a low voice: "If you want me to die faster and more miserably, persuade me to do so." Fan Zigai, that old thing, is well-known for being honest and honest, never accepts bribes, and can't see these methods in the officialdom, my uncle and he usually have a lot of discord, just because my uncle is also on the errand of the prison, in charge of the civil affairs of the court, the old thing always suspects that my accounts are wrong and wants to check the accounts, but I have tried to block them. ”

"Blocking the audit? This guy is really a corrupt official. Chen Yingliang also smiled bitterly.

Chen Yingliang's wry smile was not finished, and his face immediately changed, because inside the Chengfu Gate, a team of palace guards with bright armor had already walked out, and they walked straight in front of Chen Yingliang and Pei Hongce, and then the captain of the guards led by him said loudly: "Under the order of His Royal Highness the King of Yue and Fan Liu, escort Pei Hongce into the meeting!" Master Pei, offended. ”

After that, the captain of the guards waved his hand, and the two guards immediately took out ropes to tie Pei Hongce, Pei Hongce's face was like earth, but he didn't dare to resist, and he obediently tied his hands and arrested. And the captain of the guard turned to Chen Yingliang again and said, "You are the young man who saved Master Pei Hongce Pei, right?" Please come with us, Fan stays behind to see you. ”

"Yes, please lead the way." Chen Yingliang politely arched his hand, glanced at the pale Pei Hongce again, and muttered in his heart, "This guy, I shouldn't save him in vain, right?" ”