Later, the Zhou army entered their own camp, and the soldiers naturally went back to their tents to rest listlessly, while Zhang Zangying, Xu Shao'an and other generals gathered in the Chinese army tent to review and discuss countermeasures for this failed siege battle. Although there are different opinions about the reasons for the failure of this attack - considering Zhang Zangying's status, the generals did not attribute the responsibility for the defeat to him, but looked for problems in the fighting spirit of the soldiers, the cooperation of the various arms, the bravery of the defenders, and so on - but one thing is certain, that is, the city of Gu'an will be defeated anyway, and it will be taken down before the arrival of the Son of Heaven's chariot. At this time, the main force of the Northern Expedition of the Later Zhou Army led by Chai Rong was less than two days away from Gu'an, and there was not much time left for the vanguard troops.

Therefore, after deliberately blurring the responsibility for the defeat in the battle just now, everyone agreed that the siege of the city should be stepped up the next day, even if it was filled with human lives, and the city of Gu'an should be taken. As for the specific siege tactics, these veteran generals naturally have a way -- after all, the defeat of the vanguard troops today is due to the idea of underestimating the enemy, which was common throughout the whole army before the war, and Zhang Zangying's erroneous tactics of acting in a bit of a presumptuous manner. If these generals, including Zhang Zangying and Xu Shao'an, were really taken seriously and made careful arrangements, then with the cooperation of the powerful firepower of the "Shenji Army," the capture of Gu'an City would not be an impossible task. So, at the end of the military meeting, the generals had already agreed on the tactics for the next day, and went back to prepare separately.

After returning from the Chinese military tent to his camp tent, Xu Shaoan hastily ate a few bites of food, and then summoned several deputy commanders and envoys of the "Shenji Army" and the commanders of the various battalions -- because Chai Rong valued them, the battalions of the "Shenji Army" were actually at the same level as the "army" of the other forbidden army units -- to his own tent, conveyed to them the decision of the military discussion just now, and demanded that all the officers and men of the "Shenji Army" continue to maintain high morale and confidence in victory, and fight the battle the next day well. The generals and colonels of the "Divine Machine Army" naturally agreed to the promise and immediately went to make arrangements.

After sending his subordinates away, Xu Shaoan called Cheng Fei, who was following him as the leader of the guards, and instructed him to immediately send a report to the committee, making a detailed report on the course of today's siege battle and the subsequent military discussion, hoping to listen to the relevant opinions of the committee, and inquiring about the movements of Xiao Siwen's department, so that he could cooperate more with the actions of the crossing team here.

Cheng Fei, who had also witnessed the whole process of today's siege battle and learned the specific content of the previous military discussion from Xu Shao'an, said with some contempt: "Everyone said that the Great Zhou Forbidden Army was a rare strong army in the world, and said how powerful and invincible it was when it conquered Huainan in the past few years. But when the brothers look at the siege battle today, whether it is the morale and fighting spirit of the soldiers, or the tactics and strategies of the generals, it seems that this is no more than that. An attack that had been advantageous ended with his own initiative to withdraw from the battle and withdraw his troops back to the camp. The most infuriating thing is that the self-righteous Zhang Zangying blindly uses himself for his own sake. Not only did he ignore your correct opinion, but he also did such a ridiculous and bastard thing as shooting at his own people. How can such a person be worthy of being a general of an army. In my opinion, brother, then Chai Rong should let you be the commander of the vanguard. ”

Xu Shaoan raised his hand when he heard this, and reprimanded: "The old twenty-nine is talking nonsense, be careful that the wall has ears." ”

Cheng Fei waved his hand disapprovingly when he heard this, and said, "Why should Starling be so careful. This big tent is surrounded by our own personal guards, and outsiders can't get close. These words came out of the brother's mouth and into the ears of the brother, how could others know. ”

Speaking of this, Cheng Fei paused slightly, and said with some regret: "I think that when our brothers were in Liangxiang, you starling, no matter what you said or did, you were a generous, bold and straightforward master. Why has he been an official in Kaifeng for a few years, and he has become so cautious and timid. The failure of this siege was obviously due to Zhang Zangying's improper command and wrong tactics, but during the military discussion just now, you and other generals made excuses and made up reasons for him, as if it was the fault of his soldiers who did not capture Gu'an City, and it had nothing to do with his ability to command the vanguard at all. ”

Cheng Fei's words made Xu Shao'an feel very uncomfortable, he shook his head and said, "My good brother, do you think my brother and I are willing to do this?" Do you think my brother likes to be in such a state of being cautious and always on guard? Do you think brother, I am willing to cover up and make excuses for that Zhang Zangying? Brother, I have no choice but to do this. ,

Yes, it was my brother who offered to stay in Kaifeng and preside over the work of the 'Kaifeng Detention Center'. However, as soon as the position of the person in charge of the 'Kaifeng Detention Center' comes to the position, someone must do it, even if my brother and I don't volunteer, the committee will arrange for others to do this. Second, my brother and I were really worried about Xiaoyu at that time, I was afraid that the committee would send a brother who was not very familiar with her in Kaifeng, and I couldn't take care of her very well.

It wasn't until my brother and I were named the 'Divine Machine Army' that Du Yu Houhou became the senior military attache of the Later Zhou Dynasty, that I realized that the so-called 'officialdom is like a battlefield' and 'accompanying the king is like a tiger' are not just exaggerated sentences written by literati and ink writers as I used to think. This situation is real, and it is even more brutal and dangerous than the book depicts. What's more, there is also Zhang Yongde, who has always been at odds with our brothers, eyeing him from the side, wanting to kick my brother out of the court at any time. It can be said that if it weren't for my brother, who won Chai Rong's appreciation and Zhao Kuangyin's favor with his familiarity with firearms before he really entered the court, I am afraid that I would have been eaten by my opponents in the mutual tilting and deceit of officialdom.

Speaking from the heart, brother, I really don't want to play tricks and flatter with others, I don't want to do one thing to others in front of me and one thing behind my back, and I don't want to talk only eight points and keep going around in circles with others. But after all, my brother is now a military general of the Later Zhou court, a member of the Later Zhou bureaucracy, and many things are not something I can do if I want to. Now that I have entered this system, I have to abide by the rules of the game of this system, and I have to do things in a way that is acceptable to this system. Otherwise, even with Chai Rong's appreciation and Zhao Kuangyin's maintenance, it is impossible to stay in the court for a long time. ”

After listening to Xu Shao'an's heartfelt words, Cheng Fei realized how much helplessness and crisis were hidden behind his starling's seemingly glamorous identity, and how much sacrifice and effort Xu Shaoan had to make in order to maintain this identity. flattering bosses like Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin; I never dare to really communicate with my colleagues, and most of the time I say things against my will; Always be careful when speaking and doing things, lest you say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, and your opponent will catch the handle. In Cheng Fei's view, Xu Shaoan's life is simply suffering. Therefore, after a moment of silence, he comforted Xu Shaoan in a very sympathetic tone: "I didn't expect the starling to have such a hard time in Kaifeng, and I have really wronged you in the past few years." ”

Speaking of this, Cheng Fei stood up, saluted Xu Shaoan respectfully, and said apologetically: "Brother Fang, I blame the starling brother, brother is not here to compensate you." ”

Seeing this, Xu Shaoan hurriedly stretched out his hand to hold Cheng Fei's arm and said, "The twenty-ninth brother is serious. You and I are brothers, how can there be so much that is not compensable. Come, come, sit down and talk. ”

Cheng Fei sat down again, and then continued: "However, in my brother's opinion, this kind of 'hard life' of starling is about to come to an end. Now the eleventh brother has led the 'Flying Dragon Army' and the 'Security Army' to leave the 'Liangyuan', and the main force of the Youyun Liao Army led by Xiao Siwen is divided into two routes. As long as Xiao Siwen continues to go south to fight a decisive battle with the Later Zhou army, the goal of our army in the south to annihilate him in the field will be assured to be achieved. After eliminating Xiao Siwen, if the side of Youzhou City can succeed smoothly, then there will be no suspense in this Youyun War. At that time, our brothers will have a place to base and have the strength to resist the harassment of the Khitans against us, and there will be no need to leave any 'back roads' for themselves on the side of the Later Zhou court. And starling, you can resign from Chai Rong and return to Youzhou to work with your brothers, and you don't have to abide by any bullshit officialdom rules. ”

Xu Shaoan has no objection to Cheng Fei's estimation of the war, but he does not fully agree with his later statements of "resigning from Hou Zhou's official position and returning to the crossing team". He shook his head and said, "I'm afraid things are not as simple as you said. Even if we can successfully annihilate Xiao Siwen's troops and occupy Youzhou City, it will only be the first step to complete the entire 'foundation building jihua'. Next, we not only have to face the counterattack of the 100,000 troops led by the 'sleeping king' of the Liao State who came to reinforce them, but also send the 100,000 Hou Zhou troops out of the land of clouds in a way acceptable to both sides. In a sense, the return of the Zhou army to the south after the 'gift' was far more complicated and difficult than blocking the 100,000 reinforcements of the Liao State. ,

When the time came, my brother and I, as the members of the regiment who had the closest relationship with the Later Zhou court and had the deepest understanding, were naturally arranged by the committee to do a lot of mediation and communication on both sides. Even if the Later Zhou army can leave the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun peacefully, it does not mean that my brother's work in the Later Zhou court can be over. First, in my brother's opinion, if our brothers can reach a compromise with Chai Rong, then the most likely way is to be like those powerful and capable of fighting against the imperial court, becoming a prince who 'listens to the tune and does not listen to the announcement' and divides one side. In that case, there is also a need for an intermediary to communicate between the two sides, so that the two sides can communicate well. And among our brothers, my brother and I are probably still the best candidate.

Second, although Xiaoyu is now the imperial concubine, as long as Chai Rong is there for a day, no one will be unfavorable to her. Moreover, Chai Rong of the Northern Expedition did not fall ill at Waqiaoguan as recorded in the history books of his previous life. But Chai Rong's health is not good after all, even if he can escape this time, it does not mean that he will be able to live a hundred years and live for a few more decades before he dies. Once this guy hangs up after a few years of survival, and that Zhao Kuangyin or other important ministers of the court with heavy troops in his hands, and plays a 'yellow robe and body' drama like in his previous life, then as one of the emperor's favorite concubines, Xiaoyu's situation will not be very good. Rather than my brother and I worrying about her every day in Youzhou, it is better to continue to be the person in charge of the 'Kaifeng Detention Center', so that I can grasp her situation at any time, and I can feel comfortable in my heart. ”

Cheng Fei, who Xu Shao'an said, nodded again and again, admiring the other party's courageous character in his heart, and couldn't help but sigh at his sincere and persistent feelings for Lin Xiaoyu - even if this dedication is destined to have no results.

Just when Cheng Fei sighed in his heart, the voice of the guard came from outside the tent: "Eighth Master, Twenty-ninth Master, there is news from the 'Liangyuan' side." ”