Five days later, Liu returned as promised.

Seeing that he was full of interest, I don't know if he made an expression on purpose, or if he really had a good time seeing Tian Feng in Dizhou. Deng She personally went to welcome him into the city, entered the palace of King Yan, and without waiting for him to ask, he took the initiative to tell him the results of the discussion with the ministers of Haidong, and said: "In the past few days, I have traveled back and forth with Liaoyang, Pyongyang, Hanyang Mansion and other places, and I have discussed it with Chen, Wen, and Yao.

"Although I, Haidong, have only experienced a great war and are actually full of internal difficulties, but this south, since it is the holy decree of the imperial court, I, Haidong, as a courtier, should naturally obey it. After initial discussions, the plan is as follows:

"Xuzhou, Jiancheng. and near the land of Chahan. Many of the surrounding cities are now under the control of Chahan. If you want to conquer it smoothly and smoothly in one fell swoop, you will need at least 20,000 to 30,000 military horses. The current army is only in the early 40,000s, less than 50,000. Obviously, not all of these 40,000 people can be dispatched, and at least 20,000 or so must be left behind to defend the place. In this way, the actual number of military horses that we can use in Yidu is actually only about 20,000 people. With 20,000 people to fight Xuzhou, I'm afraid it will not be enough. So, I have an idea. ”

"What thoughts?"

"The big man is back from Dizhou. I don't know if you have ever been in Prime Minister Tian's military camp during your time in Dizhou? ”

"This ,......, because of time, I didn't go down to the barracks to see it."

"Prime Minister Tian Cheng's department is all green and fine. The essence of green and Yan is famous all over the world. Fierce and good at fighting, able to bear hardships and stand hard work. My idea is that Prime Minister Wakata can send 5,000 troops to cooperate with my Yidu army and horses. Then the 20,000 people in our department, plus the 5,000 people in Tian Chengxiang's department, a total of 25,000 people, may be enough to go south. As for the military salary, grain and grass, baggage and other things, I also know that Dizhou is now more embarrassed, and may not have the ability to take measures, for the sake of the court and the emperor, I will be tighter, and Prime Minister Tian's share will also be taken out by me for him. ”

"That is?"

"As long as Prime Minister Tian Cheng has five thousand soldiers, the rest of the things can be prepared by me. There is only one thing, Prime Minister Tian Cheng, as the adults said before, but it is also in the front line. Don't know? Does he have the strength to come up with 5,000 men?

"If he can take it out, it will be half a month at most, and after ten days at least, our two armies will be able to cooperate in battle. If he can't take it out, then I, Yidu, will have to transfer troops from Haidong again. It's a long way, and you have to go by sea. The last time Chahan came to attack, the adults should also know, and it took several months for my Haidong reinforcements to prepare and arrive in Yidu. This time, although the number of military horses that need to be mobilized is not smaller than last time, according to current estimates, it is expected to be difficult to complete in less than a month. That is to say, if Prime Minister Tian is powerless and has no spare strength to help me benefit the capital, the time to go south will have to be postponed. It had to be a month and a half. ”

"If Prime Minister Tian Cheng goes out of the army, His Highness will be able to go south after ten days and a half months; If Prime Minister Tian Cheng does not send an army, the time for His Highness to go south will have to be a month and a half later? ”

"Exactly."

Liu Shijiu frowned, picked up the tea bowl, and took two sips.

When he went to Dizhou, he didn't talk much with Tian Feng, but he just gave Tian Feng a hint in his speech. hinted at Tian Feng, the imperial court was very dissatisfied with the current situation in Yidu.

And told Tian Feng that although he was appointed by the imperial court, he is now also an official of the "Prime Minister of Yidu", but in fact, he has no intention of staying in Yidu for a long time, and soon, he will go back to Anfeng. As for what he would do, "soon, he will go back to Anfeng", he did not say.

just mentioned it vaguely, and the original words of Liu Futong paraphrased probably meant that the prime minister of Yidu recognized by the imperial court was still only Tian Feng and Xiao Mao Pingzhang. There was no mention of Haidong, let alone Deng She. left enough room for Tian Feng to reverie.

Before leaving, he also gave Tian Feng a slight mention of the imperial court's desire to promote the southeast of the sea. Why just "slightly mentioned"? Because Tian Feng is now trapped in one place, he can't protect himself, and it is definitely unrealistic to expect him to go south. Therefore, Liu Shijiu didn't say much to him. But he never expected that as soon as he returned to Yidu on the front foot, Deng She told him on the back foot that if he wanted to send the army south as soon as possible, he had to go to find Tian Feng again. He pondered for a long time and said: "If there is no Prime Minister Tian to send out the army, and Yidu can send out, there will only be 20,000 military horses?" ”

"Not bad."

"20,000 troops and horses, isn't it enough to go south?"

"It's not that adults don't know about military affairs. A few days ago, when the adults first came to my Yidu, didn't I also say that you once went into battle with Liu Taibao to kill the enemy. You should know that 'soldiers, the major affairs of the country, the way of death and life, and the principle of survival, must not be ignored'! Since it is a major matter for the country, once you decide to go to the army, you must be completely sure of it, and if you say less, you must have a chance of winning by seven or eight points, right?

"The army of Shicheng, let's not talk about it. Chahan's army, how elite? Around Xuzhou, there are many Chahan military horses stationed. And our army went out of Yidu to Xuzhou, and it was more necessary to pass through the defense area of Chahan on the way. What does it mean to be 'behind enemy lines'? This is 'behind enemy lines'! How could 20,000 people! ”

Deng She took out a stack of papers, handed it to Liu Shijiu, and said, "This is the battle plan that I have just drawn up in Yidu Academy. Adults, please watch it. Maybe after reading it, adults will understand a little bit about it. ”

Liu Shijiu unfolded it and looked at it, and saw that it was written in great detail. He and whose battalion are the vanguard, what is the battalion and whose battalion are the two wings, what is the department, whose battalion is the rear, and then what is the battalion and whose battalion are the main force. He Bu and Who's battalion served as the main attackers; And who is responsible for the response? Who else is responsible for escorting food and baggage, and who is responsible for monitoring the cities around Xuzhou. There are still people who do not need to participate in the main attack, nor do they have to be responsible for the response, but only responsible for watching the rear of the army and shouldering the heavy responsibility of responding.

There are all kinds of things, and after some calculations, it's not really as Deng She said, there are absolutely no 20,000 or 30,000 people.

Deng She got up, walked to his side, pointed out and explained, and said that if the military horses were really not enough, how many people could be reduced here, and how many people could be reduced here. But even if you strip down these less important areas, there will still be at least 25,000 people, which is barely enough.

Liu Shijiu is indeed a little familiar with military affairs, he looked at it again and again, and said, "That's the case. I wonder what His Highness's plans are? Prime Minister Tian is there, will His Royal Highness send someone to say, or will I go on another trip? ”

If you want to transfer troops from Haidong again, then, according to Deng She's words, you will have to wait at least more than a month before you can go south. And if Tian Fengken is willing to go to the army, it will only take half a month at most to go south. Which one should I choose? Needless to say, and no need to think about it, of course it's the latter.

As soon as Liu Shijiu said this, it meant that he agreed to Deng She's request to also ask Tian Feng to join the army.

"Adults are tired of driving, you might as well take a rest first. Don't tell you that the matter of going south is decided, and I am also very anxious. It's February now, and New Year's Day has just passed, and the weather is still cold. Moreover, the battle of Yidu has just ended, less than three months. If we send out the army now, maybe it will have some unexpected effects, which will be of great help to me to capture Xuzhou. Yes, in my opinion, it coincides with adults. It is precisely because I think that it would be best if we could strive to go out of the army within half a month.

"The emperor has a decree that I coordinate the military horses of Haidong and Yidu. Since Prime Minister Tian is the Prime Minister of Yidu, he is also within the scope of my control. Before the adults came back, I had actually sent someone to Dizhou to send the plan I had just told the adult to Prime Minister Tian. It had been two days since the messenger had left for Dizhou. It is estimated that Prime Minister Tian will receive my secret letter tonight or tomorrow morning. That is, within two or three days, his reply will be delivered. When that time comes, after reading what he said in his reply, I will invite the adults to come and discuss it together. My lord, do you think so? ”

Liu Shijiu pondered again and again and said: "Prime Minister Tian Cheng's army is on the front line. I went to Dizhou this time, although I didn't leave his military camp, but I also heard him say that his current military strength is only about 10,000 people. All of a sudden, His Highness wanted to ask him if he wanted to leave five thousand people. In my estimation, Prime Minister Tian Cheng will inevitably find it difficult. A secret letter, I'm afraid I won't be able to convince him.

"In this case, I will also write another letter, and ask His Highness to send someone to send it to him.

"An Feng is in a critical situation now, although His Highness knows a little, but he will definitely not know it to me. I can tell Prime Minister Tian Cheng in detail about the critical situation An Feng is in now on this secret letter. Tian Cheng's loyalty to the imperial court, the imperial court is still very relieved. There is such a two-pronged approach. His Royal Highness wants to ask Prime Minister Tian Cheng about 5,000 fine soldiers, maybe it will be a little bit done. ”

I was really dozing off, and I just had a pillow delivered. Deng She pushed the boat down the river, agreed, and took advantage of the situation to say: "Prime Minister Tian's military strength is a little insufficient now, and I also know about this." Now reminded by the adults, I suddenly feel that a secret letter is really not enough to convince him. Please write the secret letter of the adult. I'll write him another letter. Three letters should be enough. ”

Liu Shijiu nodded in agreement.

He immediately got up and summoned the clerk of the mission, but he refused to write in Dunshe's presence, but confessed his sin, turned back into his room, and closed the doors and windows. After a long time, the letter was written, sealed carefully, and then came out again and handed it to Deng She. Deng She's second letter to Tian Feng was also written. He chose a messenger and sent it to Dizhou as soon as possible.

Seeing that it was not early, Deng She had already prepared a banquet and invited Liu Shijiu politely.

Liu Shijiu laughed and said, "Since I came to Yidu, I haven't done an inch. In order to save An Feng, he worked even harder for His Highness to go south. However, His Royal Highness is very hospitable and courteous, and the big banquets and small banquets are continuous, which is really ashamed of me. "He's in a good mood. Originally, it was expected that Deng Sheding would push back. But he never expected that he would agree to go south so easily. Looking at Deng She again, Liu Shijiu felt more and more cordial the more he looked at it. Secretly raised his thumb in his heart and thought: "They all say that King Yan is cunning, but these people have lost their eyes." His Royal Highness King Yan is obviously a loyal minister who can't be bigger! ”

Deng She smiled slightly, his words were kind, and said, "Why do you say that? The adult has become the prime minister of Yidu, so how can he say 'hospitality'? A few days ago, when the adults first arrived in Yidu, they were in a hurry, and the next day they were transferred to Dizhou, and I didn't have time to introduce you to the officials of Yidu. From now on, you will all be colleagues. The matter of going south has been decided. At tonight's banquet, I will not talk about anything else, but only about the friendship of colleagues.

"......, my lord, please first."

Liu Shijiu was not polite, smiled, and turned around to leave the hall. When he went out of the hall, he suddenly heard the hurried footsteps, hurriedly turned his head to look, and almost collided with a person. He took two steps back, saw that the person who came was sweating profusely, looked anxious, and didn't bother to make amends with him, so he bowed slightly, and then entered the hall.

Liu Shijiu followed, and when he saw this coming, he ran to Deng She's body and whispered two words in his ear. Deng She frowned slightly, his lips moved, because his voice was too quiet, and he didn't know what to answer. I saw him raise his right hand again and slash down gently. The visitor bowed and said loudly, "Yes!" I respect the decree of the Lord. "Striding out again. The anxious look when he entered the hall also changed his murderous face at this time. At the door of the hall, this person saluted Liu Shijiu again and turned away.

Liu Shijiu couldn't help but be curious, waited for Deng She to come out, and asked, "I don't know who the right person to enter the hall is?" ”

"Don't you know? Yes, the other day the adult came, he happened to have something to do, and he couldn't go with me to greet the adult. This person is my Yidu left and right Si Du Shi, named General Liu. and the punishment is now in charge. ”

When I saw him enter the hall, I looked anxious. I don't know what happened? ”

"It's not a big deal. However, three or two thieves do not measure their own strength, and cause chaos in the place. Killed two teams of vendors. I've already asked General Liu to go to Yan Ban. ”

"Three or two thieves?"

"Adults also know that there are constant wars in Yidu, and in Shandong, the folk customs have been fierce since ancient times. Isn't the famous Liangshanbo also in Shandong? Therefore, there are quite a few ruffians, because the war has fallen into the grass. It doesn't hurt much, but it is really annoying to harass the vendors a lot. ”

"I see. However, although it is said that it is a thief, it cannot be left alone. Why didn't His Highness think about completely exterminating it? ”

"I actually had a plan to wipe it out completely. I just haven't been able to spare time. Haven't you decided to go south again? For the time being, I had to slow down a little longer. ......, this is all a trivial matter, and there is no need to talk about it. Your Excellency, please go first. It's important for me to introduce you to my colleagues, a little bit of thieves, why bother mentioning more? It didn't affect the interest of adults. Deng She bowed and said with a smile.

Liu Shijiu didn't think much about it. The world has been in turmoil for a long time, and there are already many thieves everywhere. This kind of thing is not uncommon. He also smiled and said, "It's better to be respectful than to obey." "Go first.

The two of them went to the banquet venue by themselves.

Deng She's ingenious design, Liu Shijiu unknowingly, has gradually entered into it. Yidu and Haidong are actively preparing for war, and they will not talk about it here, but only talk about Fang Congzhe. Since leaving Yidu, the starry night is also a journey. He was originally a weak scholar, not a martial artist, but it was also difficult for him, he traveled two hundred miles a day, and he rarely said a hundred miles at night. Hardly sleepless, ten days later, he entered Polo's territory. Another day or two, came to Datong.

This time it's not the same as the last time. Last time he was an envoy, Luo Guoqi was the envoy, and this time, Fang Congzhe was the envoy. This time, it was not to borrow grain, but purely to persuade Polo. Therefore, there were not many members of the mission who accompanied him. In order to protect Fang Congzhe's safety, Deng She still sent three thousand followers.

Come into the city of Datong. Looking at the scene in the city, if Suzhou is prosperous and luxurious, Datong is murderous.

Datong rejects Yin Mountain in the north, controls Heng Mountain in the south, locks the Great Wall inside and outside, and is the key point of Jin, Hebei and Mongolia, and has been an important military town in the north since ancient times. Historically, the invasion of nomads was to break through from Datong, and then attack Jin and Hebei, thus dominating the Central Plains. Since the former Liao built the capital of Beijing, the number of Nanjing Youdu Mansion; Meng Yuan won the world, and also took Beijing as the capital and renamed Dadu. The strategic position of Datong is even more important, becoming the gateway to the northwest of the capital, condescending and commanding.

The Polotun army is the same, and the Mengyuan court of the capital is regarded as "the capital is hidden". The status of Datong can be seen probably. It is true that the key is sent, but in fact, the gate of the Central Plains. If you have Datong, you can ensure the stability of Jinji; If you lose the same thing, you will be like a hinterland.

Not only is the status important, but also the folk customs of Shanxi, compared with Shandong, it is not much better. It is also fierce since ancient times, and the customs are still martial. In the Five Dynasties, the Later Han Dynasty established Shanxi. Shanxi, because it is in the east of the Yellow River, is also known as "Hedong". Later Han Dynasty Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan had a famous general under his command, called Guo Wei, when Liu Zhiyuan did not get up, he once said to Liu Zhiyuan: "The mountains and rivers in Hedong are dangerous, the customs are still martial, and there are many war horses. Quiet is diligent, moving is Xi military, this overlord's capital is also, why worry? "Honestly! Po Luo is entrenched in Datong, occupies half of the land of Shanxi, and his power is far beyond the outside of the Saiwai, although it may be slightly inferior to Chahan, but compared with the world's heroes, he actually occupies a pivotal position.

Fang Congzhe and others came to Datong City, but because of the urgency of the task, they didn't have time to watch the characters carefully, and they didn't have time to find relationships, they didn't have time to slowly get on the line with Polo, and they didn't have time to rest. went directly to Polo Mansion and voted for a famous post. He bribed the gatekeeper and asked him to deliver it to Polo as soon as possible.

Polo received the name post, opened it and saw that there was only one line of words on it: "The guest comes from the east, there are thousands of miles of land, and he wants to dedicate it to the public." ”

"Guests from the East"? Where is it to the east? Haidong. Seeing that Polo said this in such a loud tone, he couldn't help but be curious. That is, the order was sent to the house to meet him.

Fang Congzhe left Shi Sanqian and the others, taught them to wait outside the house, and said: "It is important to come to Datong for more than ten days. If Polo can be convinced, the lord can achieve great things. If he can't convince Polo, then it may be difficult for the lord to do anything. Congzhe has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and whether he can convince Polo in the end is a matter of one move.

"The princes are waiting outside the house. If it is possible, then I will come out in an hour at most. If it can't be done, then Polo is different from Shicheng, he and I Haidong are enemies, and I think that our Emperor Song is his enemy who killed his father. Polo is also murderous, and he is even more different from Shicheng. And rude and unwritten. I want to fight in Fengzhou back then, and slaughter thousands of people in Liaoyang. and the last time I went to western Zhejiang, it was just to borrow grain; This time I came back to Datong, but the purpose was to provoke. The nature is getting more and more different. Whether I'll be able to get out of this door is hard to tell. After an hour, if I don't see me come out. Princes, please return to Yidu. Don't have to wait for me any longer. ”

The wind rises on the street, and the stratus clouds change color.

Shi Sanqian and others, all generous and mighty men, since they were ordered to come, how could they be afraid of death? They all said: "Gong, please enter." If you come, you will come together, and if you go, you will go together. If we don't come out, we won't go first. ”

Fang Congzhe said: "No. This trip is not about your life, but also about national affairs. If you die, it will be easy; It is difficult for the princes to trek through mountains and rivers, and then go back to Yidu and tell the lord about this. Polo will chase and kill along the way. From the philosophical scholars, this so-called: 'I will do what is easy.' 'The heroes of the public are the so-called: 'Those who are in trouble, please do it.' And for one hour. Remember! Remember! ”

In front of Polo Mansion, a group of soldiers stood with guns, their armor black as clouds, their guns as bright as a forest, and the sunlight projected down and reflected on them, reflecting a cold light.

Fang Congzhe's words were reasonable, and when the three thousand people looked at each other, they replied: "If the public says so, it is like the public's words." Limited to one hour. Please enter. ”

The wind is Xiaoxiao, the gun is cold, Fang Congzhe said goodbye to everyone, held his head high, and strode in. Shi Sanqian and others saw his figure gradually disappear away, disappearing into the Polo Mansion deep in the garden, and never looked back.