Li Yecheng shot arrows, and Guan Shirong galloped to Luyang.

Pan Cheng has more than 10,000 people, plus Ding Zhuang, who is coerced, not to mention more than 20,000 people. Guan Shirong only brought 4,000 people, and he couldn't fight them hard, so he needed to outwit them.

He analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of friend and foe, and believed that although Pan Cheng was outnumbered, he lacked food and grass, and was far inferior to the elite army he led. Therefore, he followed the advice of his staff, and did not rush to fight a decisive battle with Pan Cheng, but ambushed his troops forty miles outside Luyang City, died down, and waited for a good opportunity.

The tactic he adopted coincided with Li Ye's tactics against Shijiabao, and it was exactly the same, both of which were a "drag" trick. Use the fortified city to exhaust the enemy's morale. Wait for the enemy to get tired and your own energy is enough, and then wait for the opportunity to attack.

On the first night of another attack by the Shijia Treasure Department in Huihe City, outside Luyang City, Guan Shirong ambushed the troops.

It is a valley with high mountain walls on all sides, overgrown with towering trees. The forest is lush, and the turquoise leaves shade the sky. The soldiers put away their flags and hid here. They brought dry food, and even when they were eating, they did not smoke from cooking. In order to prevent Pan Cheng from discovering and sending troops to raid, Guan Shirong put the only hundreds of cavalry outside the valley and hid them in another cover location, which became a corner and could respond to each other.

Guan Shirong is also an old soldier.

Compared with the generals of Haidong, he is not brave or wise. Deng She once commented, saying that he had a unique stable character. Raise troops to fight, face the enemy in battle, and arrange all kinds of peace and stability everywhere, not seeking merit, first seeking no fault. The reason why he was able to succeed Qing Qianxing and take over the position of the head town of Liaoxi was that in addition to his old qualifications, he acted steadily, which was the main reason.

But that's not the time anymore.

Seeing that these rising stars such as Yang Wanhu and Zhang Xiao'er are occupying more and more important positions in the army, and at the same time, the situation in Haidong is thriving and developing better and better, Guan Shirong's mentality of "not seeking merit, first seeking no fault" has also slowly changed.

At the beginning, Fengzhou fled, Deng She Yongping raised troops, and there were six people under his command who were the most powerful. Wen Huaguo, Chen Hu, Huang Donkey, Li Monk, Luo Guoqi, Guan Shirong. Deng She's ability to quickly pull up a team of men and horses in Yongping was precisely because he used the old department of the six of them as the foundation.

Up to now, Haidong has 100,000 military horses.

The six generals at the beginning, because of their respective identities and choices, had different life experiences. Wen Huaguo and Chen Hu needless to say, one fought in Goryeo, the other sat in Liaoyang, and their status was the most prominent, which can be said to be under Deng She alone and above 10,000 people in Haidong. Brother Huang Donkey took refuge in Guan Duo and has been dead for a long time, so there is no need to say it.

Just talking about the other three, Luo Guoqi successfully transformed, from Wu to Wen, and now he is a political governor, an envoy to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and is also in charge of the officer training corps, and is in charge of shipbuilding matters. In this decisive battle against Goryeo, he was responsible for escorting grain and grass and protecting the grain route. One person has several terms, and the spring breeze is proud.

Since Monk Li changed his attitude and was loyal to Deng She, he has obviously become more and more important. Not only was he the only one of the three who directly participated in the decisive battle of Goryeo, but like Wenhuaguo and Zhao Guo, he was in charge of the front-line battle, and he had already served as the commander of the Dingdong Command Division.

You must know that the five officials in front of Deng She's tent are all the elite of the elite, and they are not cronies and cannot be their superiors.

Although Monk Li's current official position is just a Privy Council, it seems that it is inferior to Guan Shirong. Guan Shirong's official position is the deputy of the Privy Council, which is one level higher than him. However, judging from the fact that he had gained Dunshe's trust, his future was bound to be limitless in time.

I heard that not long ago, he flooded Wenchuan on the front line, and made a great contribution. Deng She's rewards and punishments are strict, and perhaps Monk Li's promotion is already close at hand.

Compared with himself, in the past year, he has done nothing and has hardly made any credit that can be taken. Although he is in the position of deputy cardinal, he does not have much real power, and this time he rescued Luyang, and the people and horses he brought were actually borrowed from Li Ye. People, who doesn't have a bit of utilitarianism? As the saying goes, people are more angry than people. Compare with others and make a judgment. Guan Shirong is inevitably worried.

A while ago, he was in Li Ye's army, listening to the discussion of the young and strong officers, and guessed that this time he conquered the capital of Goryeo, and the good news was sent to Anfeng, and King Xiaoming would give Deng She some rewards.

Deng She has already achieved the provincial prime minister, from a product. It is certainly impossible to transfer him to the central government. As far as local appointments are concerned, there is no way to be promoted. Following the old example of Shandong, Jianghuai and other places, Wang Shicheng and Tian Feng of Shandong established themselves as kings; Zhu Yuanzhang of Jianghuai was also proclaimed Wu Guogong by his generals as early as five years ago. The Anfeng court maintained a tacit attitude towards this. In this case, will King Xiao Ming simply send a hat of "king and duke" to Deng She to wear on his head?

Compared with the territory, Deng Shebu has two provinces, which are much larger than Shandong and Jianghuai. Don't talk about "gong", being a "king" is more than enough.

Of course, it is also possible that King Xiao Ming will not crown Deng She as king, however, since there is already such a discussion in the army, what difference does it make if he is willing to seal it or not? can be like Wang Shicheng, Tian Feng, and Zhu Yuanzhang, all the generals will support and establish themselves as kings.

The officers even began to discuss what should be called Wang. Some say it should be called King Yan, and some say it should be called King Liao. Some say that it should be called King Haidong. Some take into account Haidong and Liaodong, saying that they should be called the King of Liaohai. Those who have a little more insight know that the fewer words in this prince, the more noble they are. One word, also known as the king of one word, is the most glorious. They countered that the latter two were impossible.

The discussion was very interesting.

If it is really as they say, Deng She is the king, and the military under his command will naturally rise. Guan Shirong doesn't want to be eliminated from the competition and squeezed out of the core of power at this critical moment. He couldn't sleep late at night, put on a short coat, pressed his sword out of the tent, and suppered independently, looking up, a bright moon was hidden in the woods on the top of the mountain. When the night breeze blows, the lush leaves rattle.

"Why don't you sleep late at night?"

Most of the soldiers camped. Next to his tent, there were two smaller tents, specially built for the staff he had recruited. When the staff heard the movement, they raised the curtain, and when they saw that it was Guan Shirong, they hurriedly walked out. Among the generals of Haidong, there are many staff members. This is also a temporary trend, find two scholars and put them in the tent, even if they are not used, at least they can decorate the façade.

Guan Shirong did not hide it, and said: "The fierce battle in Southern Goryeo is in full swing, and the battle in Liaodong has started again. Shijiabao's attack on western Liaoning was very urgent, and Pan Cheng's department, although there was a shortage of food, Wuzi could hold on. Our unit has been stationed in this mountain for many days, and has not yet received a good opportunity. The siege of Luyang is difficult to solve. I was so worried about it that I couldn't sleep at night. ”

The staff member smiled knowingly and said, "What the adults are worried about is not only the siege of Luyang, right?" ”

"What do you think, sir?"

"Pan Cheng, the momentary anger is difficult to last. The ultimate victory must be ours. The longer our army stays in this mountain, the greater the results of future battles. What's there to worry about? Our army was less than 4,000 men, and 20,000 of them were defeated. Such a great achievement is really much stronger than that of the generals of South Goryeo. ”

A thousand households do not necessarily have a thousand people.

It is divided into upper, middle and lower levels. There were no more than 700 troops in the upper 1,000 households, 500 in the middle 1,000 households, and 300 in the lower 1,000 households. Deng She's five yamen in front of the tent are all of the best specifications, and some are much more than the top ones. Guan Shirong brought 4,000 households, and the actual amount of troops was more than 3,000 people.

Therefore, the staff had the saying that "with less than 4,000, the other 20,000 will be defeated."

Guan Shirong sighed and said, "Mr. said he was joking. Even if our army wins a big victory, it will only quell civil strife, how can it be compared with the expansion of the territory of the generals of South Goryeo? The words of the staff member struck his heart, and he sighed and paced with his hands in his hands. The moonlight lengthened his shadow, and he became more and more anxious and irritable.

"Your Excellency's statement is false. The generals of South Korea opened up the territory and expanded the territory, although they worked hard and made great achievements. However, their credit is all death. The adults rescued Lu Yang and defeated Pan Cheng, but it was a living achievement. Compared with the two, it is not possible to do tricks. ”

"What do you mean, sir?"

"General Zhao captured Wang Jing, General Wen took most of the Saikaido, and General Li flooded Wenchuan. They have opened up thousands of miles for me in the east of the sea and won millions of people, is the credit a big deal? Big, of course. But their merits can be clearly written in the merit book, how to reward them, and there is military law to follow. Therefore, although their merit is great, it is the merit of death.

"Not so with adults. The adults broke 20,000 with 4,000, which seems to be nothing compared with the thousands of miles of territory opened by the generals of South Goryeo. But may I ask my lord, what if this is not worth mentioning, but it is the prime minister's henchman? ”

Guan Shirong stopped and thought thoughtfully: "You mean?" ”

"Not bad. is talking about Pan Cheng below. Today, the prime minister has two provinces, but the name is only the prime minister of Haidong Province. Who is Pingzhang of this Liaoyang Province? It's Pan Cheng. May I ask you, sir, what do you think the prime minister will think? ......, Pan Cheng reversed and lowered the tartars. Based on the following inference, it is expected that when the prime minister learned the news, he liked to be more angry. What a great opportunity? It's just time to remove this roadblock.

"Who is the one who moved the roadblocks for the prime minister? It's Pan Cheng himself. Who was the one who pacified Pan Cheng? It's you, adult. What kind of credit is this? The surface is light but the truth is heavy. Perhaps, adults will not get much reward for this, but the good days are yet to come. As long as you can iron and iron this matter, and the high-ranking officials will be rewarded in the future, do you still need to worry? ”

Guan Shirong Huo Ran woke up, and he looked at the staff member with admiration. There are many people who read books. He suddenly perked up and said in admiration: "Sir is really talented. Hearing you say that, my heart is much brighter. 'Iron the paper to do this',......。 What should I do before ironing? ”

"Without it. Just one word. ”

"Which word?"

The staff member slashed: "Kill!" ”

He then added and explained: "Pan Cheng can cast a tartar, which is nothing more than a way to live. In order to survive, he can even cast a tartar, and once he is poor, he may surrender to the adults again. Whether he descends or not, the adults must not agree. Leaving him behind doesn't he add to the blockage of the prime minister? After all, he was appointed by the Anfeng Imperial Court to be the Pingzhang of Liaoyang Province, and he was on an equal footing with the prime minister. The prime minister has no right to dispose of him unless he is handed over to An Feng.

"Handing it over to An Feng, isn't it just reminding King Xiao Ming that Pingzhang of Liaoyang Province is vacant? How will he react? Maybe they will kill Pan Cheng, maybe they won't kill Pan Cheng. It doesn't matter whether you kill Pan Cheng or not. The crux of the question, will King Xiao Ming send another Liaoyang Province Pingzhang over because of this? Sha Liu Er, but stay in Anfeng. He is also a genuine Liaoyang Pingzhang. ”

"Liu Pingzhang? He probably won't come, right? He traveled thousands of miles to Anfeng to rescue him, how could he come back? ”

"One time, another time. When he went to Anfeng to rescue the driver, did he ever think that one day, the prime minister would be able to sit on the land of two provinces? If he wants to come back, it's fine. He won't come back, even worse. Will King Xiao Ming appoint another Liaoyang Provincial Pingzhang out because of this? ”

"Another appointment of a Liaoyang Provincial Pingzhang to come out?" Guan Shirong was a little confused, he didn't quite understand, and humbly asked for advice.

"Have you ever heard of Yan Zhongji?"

In the early years of the Mengyuan Dynasty, there were four Han dynasty marquises. Yan Zhongji is the queen of the Yan family in Dongping, and his reputation is prominent, and Guan Shirong has heard of it. He nodded.

The staff member then said: "This Yan Zhongji has made a tune. It is sung like this: 'It is better to live ten years less, and to have no rights for a day off, and to die obediently when you are a husband.' One day, the sky will follow people's wishes, and Saitianwen will raise 3,000 guests. 'A great husband cannot live without power for a day. Power is delivered to the door, who doesn't want it? If King Xiao Ming is in the eastern province of our sea, pick one person out and let him be the Pingzhang of Liaoyang Province. For example,......"

He pointed left and right, but didn't say it thoroughly: "These two, one is more powerful than the other, and they have a friendship with the prime minister's father-in-law, and their henchmen and old departments are all over the army. No matter how they respond, whether they take over or not, it will inevitably cause a deep rift between them. Isn't that worse than sending a flat chapter? ”

Guan Shirong said: "This ,......, won't stop here." ”

"It's cold in the heights. My lord, you and I can't guess the thoughts of the superiors. Anything is possible. ”

The staff member invited by Guan Shirong was originally a broken scholar, just like the relationship between Hong Jixun and Deng She, he only had Shirong in his eyes. Guan Shirong gave him wealth and wealth, and he was his food and clothing parents, and his future was closely related to Guan Shirong's status. It has nothing to do with Dunshe. Therefore, he has always spoken boldly and never shied away.

Guan Shirong heard him say similar things a lot, and he was not surprised, nor was he surprised. He thought for a moment and said, "Sir has a point. Looking around, seeing that there was no one outside, he lowered his voice and said, "I have a matter that I have hesitated for a long time, and it is difficult to make a decision, and it is difficult to sleep and eat." Please sir teach me. ”

"Your Excellency, please speak."

"Sir just said that the old troops of those two are all over the army. I also have some old units, and now I serve in various armies, and some of them are slightly literate and ink, and they have been transferred to local areas even earlier. Every New Year's holiday, they come to visit. Although my official position is not high, many people have gone out of their way to bribe me, hoping to gain benefits.

"I look at the actions of the lord, and I don't seem to like the courtiers to be too close to the old ministry and other officials. But he had to completely cut off contact with the old ministry and other officials, and if something happened, no one would help. How to grasp the degree of this? How to balance the proportions of this? ”

"Why is it so difficult? During the New Year's holidays, the old ministry comes to worship, which is a human favor. No matter how wide the prime minister is, he will not be angry because of this. The old ministry came to worship, let him worship. If you ask for something, it doesn't hurt, just put away the bribe, just go to help. Then, adults can find an opportunity to pretend to be casual and mention it to the prime minister. That's it. ”

"That's it?"

"That's it. The more natural it is, the more it seems that adults have no scheming.

"At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Xiao He, with the respect of Xiangguo, bought land on a large scale, owed the land to the people, and destroyed his reputation, which made Han Gaozu satisfied. The former Song Dynasty Taizu taught the heroes of the dragon to buy more homesteads and seek for their descendants. The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it. Sometimes, a courtier with a stain and a selfish desire is more pleasing to the Lord than a courtier who is upright and honest. ”

"Xiao He? Former Song Taizu? ”

The staff told Guan Shirong these two stories. Guan Shirong suddenly realized, increased the amount with his hand, and said happily: "Fortunately, I have a husband." Otherwise, I don't know how many things I would have done wrong! ”

The bright moon shifted, gradually sinking westward.

Unknowingly, the two talked to each other for a little while. Guan Shirong was in good spirits and unconsciously tired. The slight spring breeze blew from the treetops, and his cloak rattled, neither hot nor cold, but even more refreshing. The problem that had plagued him for many days was suddenly solved, and he was relieved. instructed the soldiers to prepare hot wine, and pulled the staff to continue the night talk.

Outside the valley, there was a sudden noise of people and horses.

——

1, the king of one word.

Taking the kings of the Yuan Dynasty as an example, the most honorable king, awarded the gold seal beast button, and the enclosed country has only one word, and is also called "the king of one word". The king of two words is second-class.