Deng She came to the front yard for nothing else, but someone from the Anfeng mission who arrived first.

To be precise, the person who arrived first was not an official of the Anfeng Imperial Court, but the envoy Haidong had sent to Anfeng before. This envoy went to Anfeng and returned to Yidu with Liu Shijiu. After staying in Tai'an, after seeing that he had entered the territory of Yidu, he sued for a crime, and rushed back in advance after the starry night.

There are some things that need to be understood in private with Deng She before Liu Shijiu arrives. Deng Sheping retired from his entourage and only left this envoy indoors. The two sat down to talk.

"When you go to Anfeng, how are you looking at the court figures?"

The messenger replied, "As before, not much has changed. Liu Taibao is still in power, the emperor has a false name, and everything is decided by the Taibao. There are rumors in Anfeng, saying that before, Liu Taibao killed Du Zundao, and Du Zundao and Empress Dowager Yang seem to have something to do with it. Empress Dowager Yang was very dissatisfied with this and was very angry. There have been several times to pry the emperor, wanting to disadvantage the Taibao. And the emperor has probably heard the rumors that Du Zundao had an affair with the Queen Mother, and he is also very dissatisfied with the Queen Mother Yang. Rest assured, let Liu Taibao take charge of state affairs. ”

Empress Dowager Yang, that is, Han Shantong's wife and Han Lin'er's mother.

Du Zundao was originally a scholar, and once said to the Mengyuan court: "Please open a martial arts move to collect the world's wise and brave people." Mazartai, who was the governor of the Privy Council of Mengyuan at the time, then made him a historian. Since Du Zundao knew that he could not do his own policy, he abandoned it. Shiyingzhou, got acquainted with Han Shantong, and then raised his head for the red scarf.

After Han Shantong died in battle, Liu Futong and others welcomed Han Lin'er as emperor, and Du Zundao as prime minister. It was an affair with the Empress Dowager Yang. It is an authoritarian power, and everyone is jealous of it.

Thinking that Du Zundao, so he was able to become the prime minister of the Song regime, but because he had studied books, was a "show talent", and had been a small rafter in the Mengyuan Privy Council, maybe he also had some talent, but how could he be compared with a figure like Liu Futong? Ben has no foundation in the White Lotus Sect, and he doesn't know how to converge, so his natural death is just around the corner. Liu Futong is the head of the Yingzhou realm, his family is very rich, and he is a well-deserved and famous head of the White Lotus Sect in the north. I can't get used to him. Then he ordered the armor to kill him. Liu Futong was originally a flat chapter, and since then, he has become the prime minister, and then the Taibao.

When King Xiaoming first became emperor, there were two prime ministers, one Du Zundao and one Sheng Wenyu. There are also two people in Pingzhang, one Liu Futong and one Luo Wensu. The Governor of the Privy Council is Liu Liu. Liu Liu, that is, Liu Futong's brother. Since Han Shantong is dead, Liu Futong killed Du Zundao again. His younger brother was in charge of the Privy Council. Liu Futong's power is naturally hot. Calling for wind and rain is enough to cover the sky with one hand.

Sheng Wenyu, who is also the prime minister, is also the head of the White Lotus Sect. Seeing that Liu Futong was powerful, he knew that it was difficult and competitive. In the seventeenth year of Zheng, the third year of Longfeng, Sheng Wenyu laid down Caozhou and built Caozhou Province. Soon after, he went to the post of prime minister and was reappointed as the provincial Pingzhang, specially located in Caozhou.

Caozhou, that is, Heze today. in the western part of Shandong. When Liu Futong went on the Northern Expedition of the Third Route, the Middle Route Army was sent from here. The generals Bai Buxin, Dadaoao, and Li Xixi, who invaded Shaanxi, were originally Sheng Wenyu's old department. The following year, in October of the fourth year of Longfeng, Polo Timur led the armies to attack, Sheng Wenyu could not resist it, and Caozhou Province, which had only been newly established for more than a year and less than two years, was declared to have fallen again.

Soon after the fall of Caozhou Province, Sheng Wenyu fell ill and died. He had no children and adopted an adopted son, formerly named Ma Jian, who was only fourteen years old when Sheng Wenyu died. Supported by Sheng Wenyu's subordinates, he led the crowd on his behalf. Now he also lives in Anfeng. There is an official title, serving in the Privy Council, and is a fellow.

Deng She asked the envoy and said, "You are going to Anfeng, have you ever gone to see Sheng Jian?" "Sheng Jian is Ma Jian. He is Sheng Wenyu's adopted son, so he "assumes his surname" and uses Sheng Wenyu's surname.

The envoy replied, "Sheng Jian, Shouchun people." He is a fellow countryman. The minister remembered the instructions of the lord, and the day after going to Anfeng, after seeing the emperor and Liu Taibao, he prepared a generous gift and went to meet Shengjian. also followed the instructions of the lord, and did not talk much to him, just chatted about Fengyue and talked about old things in his hometown. It's also a good conversation. Although Sheng Jian is young, he is not an unreasonable person. ”

Shouzhou is not far from Anfeng, and the two places can be described as townships. In the Sui period, the governor's office of Shouzhou was placed. In the Tang Dynasty, it governed Anfeng, Shouchun and other counties. During the Song Dynasty, Shouzhou was governed by both Shouchun Mansion and Anfeng Army. Entering Mengyuan, it belongs to the Anfeng Governor's Mansion, and governs Shouchun.

The Song regime moved the capital to Anfeng, and Haidong sent envoys, of course, it was best to choose a local who was familiar with Anfeng's situation. After selection, the selected envoy was not only from Shouzhou, but also from the old department of Guan Duo, and many of Anfeng's civil and military generals were already acquainted. Therefore, although in terms of the cleverness of the mouth, this person is far inferior to Fang Congzhe and others, but in addition to the reason for his strong connections, this person also has an advantage, his appearance is vicissitudes, and his appearance is very honest. Therefore, Haidong sent people to Anfeng many times before and after, and Deng She was the one who was chosen to lead the team.

Deng She nodded and said, "Although Sheng Pingzhang died, there are still a lot of old people in Anfeng. If you have a good relationship with Shengjian, it will always be useful sooner or later in the future. Then he asked the envoy and said, "There are many outstanding people in Anfeng." When you go to Anfeng, have you ever had any contact with the celebrities in the court? ”

"Supervising the imperial historian Ding Guozhen, only to argue and reputation. Straightforward and outspoken, there are civil and military talents. In Anfeng prestige is known. The minister is going to Anfeng now, entrusting people and going to the relationship, and he has met with him. ”

"Ding Guozhen?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"The Man of the River."

In the river, that is, the area of Yongji, Shanxi.

Deng She groaned slightly and said, "Yes, Ding Guozhen in the river." Earlier, when I was still in the Liaodong Red Turban Army, I had heard of his name. Guan Duo was also full of praise for him. How? He's now promoted to Overseer? I remember that at that time, although he was famous, his official position was not obvious. ”

"This person has literary talent and martial arts. When Chahan attacked Bianliang, he wrote to Liu Taibao, put forward several discussions, and praised the defense of Bianliang. Because of his merit, he became the superintendent of the imperial history. But....... ”

"But how?"

Then he went to visit him, and spoke to him for half an hour. Listening to his words, he didn't seem to be too satisfied with the Anfeng Imperial Court. Although his official position was promoted by Liu Taibao; However, looking at his expression, he didn't seem to have much respect for Liu Taibao. I seem to be very interested in our Haidong. ”

"How is one interested?"

"In the conversation between the minister and him for half an hour, at least more than eighty percent of the time is he asking the minister."

"What did you ask?"

"Ask me about the territory of Haidong, and ask me about the national strength of Haidong. Ask South Korea, ask North Korea. Ask me Yidu. Ask how the lord's demeanor is, and ask me about the handsome character of Haidong. The lord repelled Chahan, and the most he asked his ministers was the battle of Yidu. He seems to be most interested in the army of our Haidong. ”

"How did you answer him?"

"The lord is wise and martial, talented and benevolent. Everyone knows it. There is no need for the minister to boast more, he has actually heard the name of the lord for a long time, and he has heard it like thunder. I, Haidong Junyan, Mr. Hong and Mr. Yao, are like Wolong and Phoenix Chicks. General Wen and Chen Zhu are like Guan, Zhang, and Zhao Yun. In fact, there is no need to talk about this by ministers. Bearing in mind the lord's instructions, the minister did not boast too much, but objectively told him a few words about the daily anecdotes of the gentlemen and generals. South Korea, North Korea, the minister does not know much. But according to those who know to him, tell him the truth. Ding Guozhen was greatly impressed by the various measures implemented by the lord in these two provinces, such as the 'Han and Li families'. Call it 'Yanwang Weiqi'. ”

"Haha." Deng She smiled, not complacent because of this, "Didn't you say that he was most interested in my Haidong army?" What did you ask? How do you answer? ”

"He asked a lot of questions. Some asked about the number of our army, some asked about the equipment of our army, some asked about the financing of our army, and some asked about the proportion of elite and local tuntian troops in our army. And asked whether firearms are used in our army? Then I asked what were the number of beauties and Jurchens in our army? There is also a question about how much was won in the battle between our army and Chakhan? How much self-inflicted? He also heard about the establishment of a military academy by the lord, and made a very detailed inquiry about it. ”

Deng She bowed his head and thought: "This Ding Guozhen has indeed raised a lot of questions, covering almost all aspects of my Haidong Army. If I truthfully answer his questions, will An Feng know the truth of my Haidong? He motioned for the envoy to continue to see how he answered Ding Guozhen at that time.

"The minister doesn't know much about my Haidong army. I also remember the explanation of the lord. Whoever is involved in the army, he will answer him with a maximum of five points out of ten. Therefore, the minister is false and real. Speaking of the specific number of our Haidong army, the minister replied to him a general number, only saying that there were about 100,000 including the Tuntian army.

"Equipment and military rations, the minister did not serve in the Privy Council, so naturally he did not know much about this. There were also beauties and Jurchens, and the ministers replied to him, accounting for about three or four percent of the whole army. The elite of our army was the five Ya of Haidong and the two Ya of Yidu, and the minister replied that the army of seven Ya was a total of seven Ya and suffered a lot of losses because of the battle of Yidu, and now there are less than 40,000 people left. In the first battle of Yidu, our army suffered losses and self-losses. The minister exaggerated the gain, and did not say a small self-damage. He also asked about firearms. The minister replied with no clarity. ”

Although the losses of Haidong's elite Qiya are large, they are far from the share of only 30,000 or 40,000 people, not to mention about 50,000 people. After being replenished a while ago, all the offices were already full. In this full Qiya alone, there are more than 60,000 soldiers. Coupled with the local garrison army and the Tuntian army, the total number of troops in Haidong is more than 100,000. Deng She did not let the envoy tell the truth because he was worried.

If Haidong is too strong, will it attract Anfeng's suspicion?

Moreover, Anfeng now has Chahan in the north and Zhang Shicheng in the south, and there are strong enemies on both sides. If this envoy goes to Anfeng, when it comes to it, Haidong's elite soldiers are strong, and there are nearly 200,000 people. Will King Xiao Ming immediately come over with a holy decree as soon as he hears it, ordering Deng She to select the elite King Qin to assist Anfeng in defense?

Even if it won't, will it be the next edict ordering Deng She to go south with all his might, so as to open up the road with Anfeng? If there is really such a holy decree or edict, of course Deng She can refuse if he refuses, but instead of this, why not give An Feng the opportunity to issue the holy decree and edict at all?

Therefore, before the envoy sent the envoy, Deng She repeatedly explained, don't brag, don't brag about Haidong. If you should answer truthfully, you can answer truthfully. If you shouldn't answer truthfully, give a discounted answer. Deng She was very satisfied with the envoy's answer and praised him twice. Seeing that the envoy had been talking for a long time, his mouth was a little dry, he let the tea go, and asked, "Are you going to Anfeng, have you gone to visit Liu Pingzhang?" ”

Liu Pingzhang, Sha Liu Er. Although he went back to Anfeng, the position of Pingzhang in Liaoyang Province, he still held it. The envoy took a sip of tea, hurriedly put it down, and replied respectfully: "Before going to see Sheng Jian, the first person the minister visited was Liu Pingzhang. ”

"What did Liu Pingzhang say?"

Liu Pingzhang accepted all the gifts sent by the minister. The minister asked him, did the court still intend to marry the lord? He replied very cheerfully, saying that Liu Taibao was very dissatisfied with the lord. He also spoke bluntly and rebuked the lord. He said,......, he said,......。 This made the ministers look at Deng She and swallowed.

"What did he say? Let's just say it! ”

"Yes. Liu Pingzhang said that the lord had no intention of setting up a concubine, but he heard that An Feng wanted to marry the lord, and then he hastily set up a concubine. It's too 、......,, too obvious, he said. It is not surprising that Liu Taibao was dissatisfied with this. He also said that Liu Taibao was furious in private and asked the lord if he thought his daughter was ugly? He also told those close to him that the lord was disloyal to the court. ”

"Anything else?"

"Something else? ......Without. Sha Liu Er's original words were very long, quoting a lot of angry words from Liu Futong's anger. There are also curses. This envoy did not dare to say in front of Deng She, and replied, "No", using the Spring and Autumn brushwork. Deleted some unpleasant words.

Deng She smiled: "Although I haven't met Liu Taibao, I know that he has a bold personality. If he had been furious at it, he would have said more than that. I'm not surprised to scold me for being bloody. If you don't say it, I'm not going to be angry about it anyway. So, did Liu Pingzhang promise to help me say something? ”

This made the minister Guan Duo's former minister, and Sha Liu Er is also very familiar, he said: "A few years ago, Liu Pingzhang traveled thousands of miles from Liaoyang to King An Fengqin. The military horses he brought with him suffered a lot of damage along the way. When it came to Anfeng, Anfeng's army was mostly Liu Taibao's descendants. The supply of daily supplies is already very tight. The money allocated to him, whether it was ordnance or food, was not enough for him. Liu Pingzhang said,......。 ”

"Say what? You have something to say, you don't have to squeak and whine. ”

"Yes. Liu Pingzhang put forward a condition. He said that as long as the lord could transport a batch of ordnance and food from Yidu, he would give it to him. Let him do anything. ”

Before Sha Liu Er went to Anfeng from Liaoyang, it was Deng She who killed Guan Duo. He had taken this opportunity to blackmail Dunshe. At that time, the meaning of what he said was similar to what the envoy is relaying now, to the effect that as long as Deng She can meet his conditions, help him go back to Anfeng. The killing of Guan Duo was covered up by him for Deng She. He also sent a messenger for this purpose, and if he wanted to say more or less, he would "ask for a price all over the sky". Dunshe is too much. The man was not annoyed, but said, "Wait for you to 'pay back on the spot.'" ”

Thinking of the past, Deng She laughed and said, "Liu Pingzhang, he is really a wonderful person. How much did he offer? The envoy replied with a number. Deng She frowned and asked, "This is him asking for a price again, do you have to 'pay the money on the spot'?" ”

"Liu Pingzhang's temper, the minister also knows a little. Immediately discounted him and returned him a tenth. Liu Pingzhang was unwilling. Bargain back and forth. In the end, it was decided, and it was one-fifth of the original number. "Cut down four-fifths of the way with a knife, this Sha Liu Er is really a "sky-high asking price".

"That's pretty much it. It's just that now Liu Nineteen is almost here. Even if I agreed to him, it would take at least half a month for the ordnance and food to be transported to Anfeng. If Liu 19 brought it with him, there would be a holy decree from the emperor to give marriage. What should I do? ”

Liu Pingzhang said that as long as the lord is willing to agree, he can show some sincerity first and help the lord in advance to do the activities. Moreover, he also said that even if he failed to give the lord the marriage this time, but in the future, will it be useless for the lord to ask him for help? ”

Dunshe remembered a word: "Put a long line and catch a big fish." ”

Sha Liu Er brought the army from Liaoyang to Anfeng, although there were losses on the way, there were at least tens of thousands of people left. In Anfeng, it is true that it can be regarded as a major force. He was Liu Futong's general, but now Liu Futong's descendants have suffered heavy losses, and his status has risen sharply. As for the report after the envoy came back from Anfeng several times ago, he suddenly had a posture that he was unwilling to obey Liu Futong's dispatch and clearly wanted to stand on his own. That Sheng Jian, Sheng Wenyu's adopted son, has a good relationship with him. Solidarity with each other. Although the combination, alliance, and strength formed between them are still far from enough to compete with Liu Futong, compared with before, and even compared with when he first arrived in Anfeng, his status and influence are indeed substantial, and he has already greatly improved and expanded.

This is also one of the reasons why Liu Futong refused to allocate him armaments and food in full and in sufficient amounts.

Therefore, Sha Liu Er's status in Anfeng is getting higher, and it is indeed as he said, even if he can't help this time, "there are people in the court who are good officials", it is estimated that in the future, Deng She will still have trouble him.

Deng She was stingy when he should be stingy, and the gifts sent by Zhexi, inlaid with beads and treasures, he was reluctant to use them, and gave them to his subordinates and the backyard; Be generous when you should be generous, although Haidong is also short of food, although Haidong is also short of armaments, he doesn't have to think about it, he made a decision on the spot, and said: "That is, the order is given, and the life and benefits are raised by provinces." According to Liu Pingzhang's request, according to this amount, it was prepared as soon as possible, and it was sent to Anfeng. ”

"Yes."

"......, I only gave it to Liu Pingzhang, for fear that the court would have opinions. Prepare the next one, not more ordnance and food, but more gold, silver and jewelry. Liu Pingzhang is still the Pingzhang of our Liaoyang Province, and the ordnance materials given to him are in the name of Liaoyang Province. He didn't say that it was given to him, but that he was asked to hand it over to the court. If he is willing to sacrifice to the court, he will not care about our affairs. And the other gold, silver, and jewels that I have prepared can be in the name of Haidong Province, in my name. Directly dedicated to the imperial court. ”

Deng She glanced at the envoy and said, "This matter will be handed over to you." "The envoy took the order.

After asking the Anfeng court, Deng She said again: "Xuzhou is obtained by Zhang Shicheng." Xuzhou is in the northeast of Anfeng. I listened to the messenger who came back from western Zhejiang, saying that Zhang Shicheng had only recently won Haozhou last month. Haozhou is also northeast of Anfeng, and it is even closer to Anfeng, only a few days away. And the east of Anfeng, not far away is Gaoyou. It was Anfeng who had fallen into Zhang Shicheng's semi-encirclement.

"You are going to Anfeng, how is the morale of the people of Anfeng?"

Haozhou is the place where Zhu Yuanzhang started his career. Last month, it was obtained by Zhang Shicheng. The envoy replied: "When the news of the fall of Haozhou came, the minister was in Anfeng City. An Feng was shocked up and down. The emperor and Liu Taibao discussed secretly overnight. The minister also inquired about some news from Liu Pingzhang. Although he did not tell the ministers about the specific inside story. However, the emperor and Liu Taibao were greatly shocked by this, but there must be no doubt. Liu Pingzhang revealed that it seems that the emperor gave an edict to Wu Guogong. I don't know what was written. The minister's mission was completed, and he returned to Yidu, and was ordered by the lord to send Anfeng again because of the marriage. During this second mission, the minister heard another news. ”

"What's the news?"

"It is said that Wu Guogong sent Xu Da to lead the army north, and judging by what his soldiers are pointing to, it seems that it should be Gaoyou."

Deng She has been on the battlefield for a long time and has rich experience, pulled over the map, and immediately understood Zhu Yuanzhang's intention to fight Gaoyou, he said: "Siege Wei to save Zhao!" ”

Gaoyou is where Zhang Shicheng made his fortune. Zhang Shicheng defeated Haozhou and semi-surrounded Anfeng. Maybe it was the reason for King Xiaoming's edict, or the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang also wanted to take revenge on Zhexi, so he chose to attack Gaoyou as a counterattack. First, a tooth for a tooth. Second, laying Gaoyou is equivalent to cutting off the connection between western Zhejiang and Haozhou and other places, which also reduces the pressure on Anfeng.

Deng She clapped his hands in admiration and said, "What a plan! "Ask the envoy," Haozhou fell, and Anfeng was shaken. The imperial legation came at this time. To tell you the truth, not only am I worried that the imperial court still wants to give me marriage, but I am even more worried about whether the imperial court plans to transfer my Yidu army south? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang has gone north. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang attacked Gaoyou, it may not necessarily be because of King Xiaoming's holy decree, maybe the bigger reason is to take revenge on Zhang Shicheng. However, no matter what, Zhu Yuanzhang has already moved, and it is Xu Da who is dispatched. If the Anfeng mission came this time, it would also bring such a holy decree to Deng She. Zhu Yuanzhang hit Gaoyou; Ordered Deng to take Xuzhou.

What should Dun Sher do?

There are strong enemies outside Haidong, and Jinling is not easy. Zhu Yuanzhang is Chen Youliang in the west and Zhang Shicheng in the east, if you talk about pressure, it is not necessarily lighter than Deng She. But he, at least on the surface, was ordered to go out of the army. What about Haidong? If King Xiao Ming really made such a holy decree, and according to Deng She's inference, it is very likely that King Xiao Ming would make such a holy decree, because this can be regarded as an exchange condition for no longer giving him marriage. Dunsher could refuse to give marriage; Anfeng stepped aside. Since An Feng had already given in one step, he ordered Deng She to go south. So, can Deng She continue to disobey and refuse to go south again?

So, if King Xiao Ming really made such a holy decree, should Haidong obey the decree?

First of all, if you want to fight Xuzhou, you need to pass through the territory of Chahan. Secondly, just borrowed grain from western Zhejiang, swore that he would make friends with western Zhejiang, turned around, and went to capture Xuzhou in a big way, which was too untrustworthy and would fall into the notoriety of a repeated villain. Therefore, according to Dunsher's original intention, he did not want to obey the order. However, he first refused to marry, and then refused to go south. But it also tarnishes the reputation of loyalty. Go?

He stared at the envoy for an answer.

——

1, Du Zundao knew that he couldn't do his own thing, so he abandoned it.

There is also a saying that Du Zundao was "dismissed from his post by Sha Tai".