Haedong, Pyongyang.

The wind in the early morning is chilling. A large number of reinforcements rushed to Haidong had just left for a few days, and the city suddenly became a little deserted. The military camp that was temporarily set up outside the city was not demolished in time because of the rush of time, and tens of thousands of people were once stationed and noisy, but now it is empty. From the top of the city, the silence is unpleasant. Occasionally, the north wind swirled by, rolling up the snow all over the ground and all kinds of debris left behind by the soldiers, and swayed into the sky. But soon, the wind passed, and they all hit the ground again. Only the sassy military flag on the head of the city, which corresponded to it alone.

Although the reinforcements have crossed the sea, the tension left behind still hangs over the city. In recent days, residents have been involuntarily cautious when they go out and talk. Their caution was not only for the Yidu war far overseas, but also for the Liaodong region in the west.

Polo Timur Tun had a heavy army in Yixing Prefecture and claimed to have 300,000 foot cavalry. Even though there is an exaggerated element in it, it is a huge threat to Liaodong and even Haidong. In a way, the Polo threat is even more far-reaching. After all, the city of Pyongyang is mostly inhabited by Koreans.

Although Deng She has been vigorously promoting the policies of the Han and Li families for more than a year, and has indeed given some economic benefits to the low-level people of Goryeo, in the end, the time is still short, and they cannot be completely supported by them.

In addition, after the First World War in South Goryeo, Deng She has moved all the old and young Goryeo relics from the former Goryeo Wangjing and Hanyang Province to Pyongyang many times in a row. For them, it is even more fearful that everyone is looking forward to it in their own hearts, and the sooner Yidu is defeated, the better. Therefore, they don't care too much about the war in Yidu, but more have the mentality of gloating and seeing it defeated.

But Liaodong is different.

If the Chifeng line could not stop Polo, the Mongols would inevitably drive eastward. If it is good when Goryeo does not lose the country, at least there are soldiers and horses along the Yalu River. On the bright side, there may be a chance to fish in troubled waters. Unfortunately, the situation is very different now. In order to support Yidu, most of Haidong's military horses were transferred, and if Liaodong was not Polo's opponent, the fate of Goryeo could be imagined.

To tell the truth, compared with the softer or more hypocritical ethnic policy of Dunshe, whether it is the ordinary Goryeo people or the old and young, they are even more unacceptable to the barbarism and rudeness of the Mongols. At least, the slogan put forward by Dunsher is: "Han and Li family". The Mongols, on the other hand, regarded the Koreans as completely alien and inferior aliens.

Of course, this is only the idea of most Koreans, and it is not excluded that there are a small number of original pro-Yuan factions that are different. Just yesterday, on the third day after Wenhua Guocai went to sea, Yao Haogu received a secret report from Wang Laode, the secretary of the General Administration, saying that a small number of Koreans began to connect privately. The content of the tandem is unknown, and it is expected that it is nothing more than a move to regain the country with the help of the Mongols.

Earlier, Deng She had a plan to send Xiao Mao Pingzhang to Liaoyang, and then transfer the old king of Goryeo to Yidu. But because the war started too quickly, he only had time to send Xiao Mao Pingzhang away, and didn't bother to pick up Wang Qi. Therefore, Wang Qi is still in Pyongyang. A snake can't be without a head. The snake has a head here, and this is not a small matter and needs to be dealt with carefully.

On this day, Yao Haogu summoned He Guangxiu.

Yao Haogu was originally in Pyongjang, the province of South Korea, but he came to Pyongyang not long after Munhwa went to Yidu and Pyongyang was the key point of north-south transportation.

On the South Korean side, Fang Buzhen is now temporarily supervising. Fang Buzhen may not be smart enough, but he is straight enough. He even dared to spray Deng She in person, let alone some local villains? Be bold enough to dare to kill. Such a temperament is certainly not enough to be in charge of the local government for a long time, but in a short period of time, especially in the current situation where South Goryeo needs to be forced to control, he is the most suitable candidate.

More importantly, he is Yao Haogu's confidant. Only by replacing him can Yao Haogu rest assured.

He Guangxiu's face was haggard, he was loyal to Deng She, he was worried about the war in the past few months, he couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, and he lost two or three laps of weight. Walking on the road slowly, it seems that a gust of wind can blow it away. When he came to enter the hall, he knelt on the ground, strengthened his spirits, saluted Yao Haogu, said hello, and said: "Xiaguan He Guangxiu, I have seen Lord Pingzhang." ”

"Prime Minister He, please get up."

Yao Haogu is not like Hong Jixun, he has no frame for his subordinates and is very approachable. He Guangxiu helped him up, looked at it a few times, and said, "Prime Minister He has been clearing up a lot recently, but what's going on?" He Guangxiu sighed, stood up along Yao Haogu's arm, and said, "I'm worried about Yidu, how can I not lose weight?" Yao Haogu said: "The more urgent and dangerous the autumn, the more you and my courtiers must pay more attention to their bodies. Only in this way can we help the lord share his worries. We can't just stop there. Otherwise, wouldn't there be no one to help in the great cause of the Lord? Prime Minister He, are you right? ”

"What the adults say, the truth is good. But there is no way to get rid of the worries in my heart. ”

He Guangxiu was reprimanded by Deng She several times, and his temperament gradually changed from flamboyant and outwardly to introverted and deep. And because he saw that Deng She vigorously advocated the study of the generals, he actively responded to the call, and he also mixed into the hall without incident, and followed the master and son. As soon as a person reads a book, the so-called "belly has poetry and books from China", the external performance is completely different, giving people a very different perception, speech and demeanor, quite progressive.

Yao Haogu said: "Prime Minister He is brave and loyal, I know it!" I have asked you to come today to discuss an important matter. ”

Ha Guangxiu said: "Please show me." Yao Haogu invited him to sit down and instructed the maid to serve tea. In the afternoon, although it was sunny, it was cold inside. He also ordered the servants to put more coals in the charcoal basin, and the temperature rose slightly. Yao Haogu said: "Yesterday, I received a secret report, saying that the old Goryeo officials in the city have been a little restless in recent days because they saw the war raging in Haidong. Prime Minister Ha is in charge of the internal and external affairs of Wang Qi, the old lord of Goryeo, so I would like to ask you if Wang Qi has been abnormal recently? ”

"Wang Qi? If you want to say that it is abnormal, it is not. Don't hide it from adults, although the lower officials are incompetent, there is no problem in watching individuals. Although in the name of the lord, whatever he wants, the lower officials will not do it. However, since Zigong went to Yidu, Xia Guan can guarantee that he has never seen an outsider. Not only has he never seen an outsider, but even the royal mansion where he lives, he hasn't been able to go out more than half a step! ”

"What about the servants in the house?"

"Xiaguan arranged hundreds of guards outside the mansion, working in three shifts, twelve hours a day. Don't talk about people, it's hard for birds to enter! The eunuchs and palace maids who served him had absolutely no chance of contact with the outside world. Even if the procurement of ingredients, daily affairs, etc., are all handled by the officials themselves without pretending to others. So, adults can rest assured. ”

Speaking of this, He Guangxiu remembered something and said, "It's been about a month, but there was a time when a eunuch wanted to sneak out." However, he was immediately discovered by the lower officials and killed on the spot. Subsequently, the lower officials strengthened their precautions. Roll call every day. You can guarantee that no half of the people will be able to get out of the mix. After saying that, he asked, "What did your lord say, why are the remnants of Goryeo in the city restless?" ”

"It's just that because I see that I am being attacked on both sides, I have some different thoughts."

When He Guangxiu was worried about the war in Yidu, he gritted his teeth when he heard the words and said, "A bunch of unfamiliar dogs!" The lord can be said to be benevolent to them, moved to Pyongyang, and entertained them with good food and drink, but did not appreciate the pictures, but secretly had different intentions. He stood up, slapped the case, and said, "Xiaguan please order, this is to order the Qi Mansion Army, and arrest and behead these dogs!" ”

The "government army" Yunyun, that is, the hundreds of guards guarding Wang Qi's residence. Although he does not have great military power now, the hundreds of people in this government army are still counted as his subordinates and are under his dispatch.

Yao Haogu smiled: "Prime Minister, please calm your anger." Although the main force of our Haidong has already crossed the sea, tens of thousands of elites are still stationed. There are only a few city fox society rats, there are no soldiers and horses, and there is no popularity, even if they have different aspirations, lend them courage! What kind of wind and waves can be stirred? I'm telling you this just to give you a heads up. Today is no longer than in the past, and Wang Qi must be more vigilant! Don't be negligent. ”

Yao Haogu stopped at the point, and there was no elaboration below. The implication is that if He Guangxiu didn't look at Wang Qi and taught him to run away, a small storm might become a big storm. Ha Guangxiu understood, sat back in his chair, and said, "The next official will take care of it." He asked, "But those old and young people are just left alone?" ”

Yao Haogu groaned and said: "Now that the war in Yidu is in full swing, if you don't care about it at all, it will naturally not be successful." This matter should be sparse rather than blocked. Don't make big moves. The action is too big, and it will inevitably disturb the people. It is not beautiful to provoke a backlash and give the thieves an excuse to stir people's hearts. ”

"What do you mean?"

"Salute first, then soldier! Prime Minister He, you are a beauty, nominally the prime minister of the affairs inside and outside the Goryeo Palace, and you are closest to Wang Qi. You have to come forward in this matter. ”

"How?"

"Summons the old officials of Goryeo and go to your house for a banquet. During the feast, a verbal warning can be given. Let's just say that our Haidong reinforcements have crossed the sea, and the siege of Yidu will be solved soon. Liaodong Chen Pingzhang was clever, and Polo Timur would definitely withdraw his troops to the west in the near future. It's best to scare them back. ”

"If you can't go back?"

"I can't say it, I really ask the government army under the command of Prime Minister He to show his majesty!" The cold wind outside the hall, the courtyard is sweltering, Yao Haogu's understatement, murderous and awe-inspiring. Just because he is kind to people doesn't mean he doesn't have an iron fist. Xiao Ren is a thief of great benevolence, he turned his eyes to the outside sky, looked at the towering pavilions in the city, sighed leisurely, and said, "This official is not a person who is easy to kill, and it is not my wish to flow into a river of blood." I just hope that these people will not be too ignorant of current affairs. ”

"Liaodong Chen Pingzhang, clever calculation? But my lord, so to speak. On the side of Polo Timur, the troops were stationed in Yixing Prefecture, eyeing the tiger. Seeing that the snow will melt, the road will be opened. Indeed, I am in serious trouble. ”

Yao Haogu smiled and said, "Polo's meaning is not in Liaoyang. It is menacing, but in fact it is waiting and seeing. As long as Yidu and our side do not fall behind, he has nothing to worry about. He Guangxiu said: "The lower officials are stupid. Yao Haogu explained: "If Polo wants to attack me, he can't wait for today. He sat back and watched, but he was hesitating. Ha Guangxiu asked, "What are you hesitating about?" Yao Haogu stretched out two fingers and said, "I don't want Shandong to fall into the hands of Chahan, this is one of his hesitations." Whether or not to take advantage of the stalemate in the Yidu war and take the opportunity of Chahan's inability to review to return to Datong and provoke Jining is the second indecisiveness. ”

Ha Mitsu was thoughtful.

Yao Haogu said again: "I have written a letter and sent it to Chen Pingzhang quickly." After asking him to see it, if he thought it was feasible, he signed his name and forwarded it to Polo. Ha Guangxiu became interested and asked, "Xiaguan is bold, I don't know what is the content of the adult's letter?" What are you writing about? ”

Yao Haogu knew that he was a close confidant of Deng She, and he did not hide it, so he took out the draft and handed it to him. He Guangxiu entered the school hall and read for a few days, but most of them were crowded, but they didn't recognize many words. Yao Haogu wrote cursive again, he took it and looked at it, it was great to be able to recognize one out of ten words, embarrassed, and said: "My lord Mobao, the official is shallow, and it is difficult to recognize it all." "It's still crepe. Yao Haogu smiled, took it again, and read it to him:

"General Wen came in late autumn and stationed in Yixing. The middle of winter is coming to an end, and I still hesitate. I don't know what it means?

"I have heard for a long time that the general is a hero in the world, although I am a savage in Liaodong, I admire the surging river. With my lack of talent, I tried to analyze the reason why the general did not advance: Chahan, Henan, rose up with cloth clothes, took advantage of the chaos to use force, and in a few years, he covered up the six points of the northern country. Fang Jinyi is in full swing, if Shandong gains for it, it is bound to be like a tiger with wings, and the general trend of the world can be known. Where do the generals go from here? Liaodong is like chicken ribs. And although our Haidong is weak, there are also strong troops, and the general will inevitably lose his troops because of this. It was its general who hesitated.

"And there is the will of the Son of Heaven, if you can't Liaodong, it will be difficult for the general to return. It was its general who hesitated and could not retreat. This is the so-called: it is difficult to advance, and it is difficult to retreat. The general's dilemma is clear to me. However, at this time, what is the best strategy?

"I am also shallow, stealing for the general's plan: Bichahan, with eyes and ears. With the wisdom of Emperor Shizu, there is still the Ahmad Rebellion, and the lesson is not far away, how can it be repeated? If Shandong is obtained by Chahan, then not only the general, but also the world of the Yuan family, where will it go? The loyal man of the general, do you not know which is more important?

"Yes, the general is above the policy, not advancing, but retreating. Taking advantage of Chahan's use of troops to benefit the capital, he raised 100,000 tigers and waved troops to Hebei and Shanxi. Hebei and Shanxi are determined, and the generals are determined. The general is determined, and the yuan room is determined.

"Even if it doesn't work, you and I can also be the story of the Three Kingdoms. Chahan, strong Wei also. The general, Jiangdong Sun Quanya. The head of my family may be Liu Bei. I am willing to make an alliance with the general and kill Chahan together. If it happens, why not fight the Central Plains again? If the general obeys, please retreat. Ya doesn't want to, but please come to the west, I should be a member of the East of the Sea, do my best to be a good family in Liaodong, and compete with the general! Who wins and who loses, let God know. ”

Today, Emperor Yuan has been on the throne for more than 20 years, and his prestige is not low, and Polo is not a member of the Golden Family, so he may not blatantly usurp the throne, but Fang Jin's heroes are fighting for it, and it is clear that in the troubled times. Even if he didn't dare to seek the usurpation of the throne and be a powerful minister, Polo would definitely have it. The four words "Story of the Three Kingdoms" are the key to Yao Haogu's letter, and it is speculated by common sense that nine times out of ten he will just say what is on Polo's mind and get his approval.

He Guangxiu nodded again and again, admiring Yao Haogu very much. Thinking of what he had just said, he was not surprised, and said: "Your Excellency's letter is reasonable and well-founded, and it is really a wonderful and good text. Xia Guan didn't understand something. asked, "Why don't you just sign the money in the name of an adult, but sign Chen Pingzhang's name?" "I don't know. I don't know what Yao Haogu meant by this move.

Yao Haogu said with a smile: "Chen Pingzhang guards Liaodong and is Polo's opponent. If you don't sign his name, how can you sign the name of the official? Signing Chen Pingzhang is justified. ”

He Guangxiu thought about it, and it was the same thing, so he admired it even more, and said: "Adults are as careful as hair. Xiaguan heart takes it orally. "His temperament is very exposed and showy, although he is now somewhat restrained, he still does not get rid of his nature. If he were to change him to do this, he would definitely not let others get dirty. Yao Haogu's "convincing mouth" that does not attach importance to false names is indeed true.

He didn't know that Yao Haogu's refusal to sign himself actually had another meaning. Since ancient times, how many people have had a good end? From Munhwa to Pyongyang, the whole of Goryeo was under his jurisdiction. This kind of power is too great. Although it is only temporary, but several times Haidong important ministers, Hong Jixun, Wen Huaguo, Chen Hu, who can have such a prestige? Rulership over the land of a nation, and the order shall come out from one man. It's not done well, it's wrong. It's too good, it's still wrong.

Therefore, although he is a royal family, he still makes suggestions for Haidong with the same dedication, but he is unwilling to take too much credit. He was willing to write the letter to Chen Hu. If it really happens, it will be Chen Hu's work. Those who are in a position of great power and enjoy a great name need to try to concede their power a little, so as not to arouse suspicion from the lord and cause the evening to be out of control.

It is precisely from this meaning that in order to share the fame and power, he also invited Ha Guangxiu to discuss with him how to deal with the small number of Koreans in the city. Since Ha Guangxiu has no doubt about this, the two of them made a charter and prepared to implement it.

The sun is setting in the west, and the twilight is sparse. The gates of Pyongyang slowly closed, and soldiers blew their horns on the towers of the fortified city. The majestic sound of the horn dispersed into the four fields, startling countless perched birds in the forest and wild ducks by the water. The river is long, and the mountains are silent. Winter is deep, and the war in Yidu, after a short stalemate, has entered another fierce confrontation.