Zhang Xiu sat on the main seat with a solemn expression, the civil official on the left was Jia Xu, the back was Zhong Ci, Zhuge Jin, Chen Gong, Yang Zhuo, and the military general on the right was Zhao Yunwei, only he and Pang De, Zhou Cang, and Gao Shun were four. The rest of the generals are either out or not qualified.

With the defeat of Yuan Shao in the Battle of Cangting, Zhao Yun and Chen Gong also led their troops back to Chang'an, and only he had the right to let Ma lead the troops to the battle.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and this time the Hu people went south, not only a problem for Zhang Xiu's family, but also about the people of the entire Han Dynasty. If the entire state is lost, Hebei will be in no danger to defend, under the front of the Hu people's troops, this situation is very bad for the Han nation.

Zhou Cang couldn't stand the serious atmosphere, and immediately scolded: "Gao Gan, this waste, can't keep the state, what are you eating." ”

Chen Gong sighed and said, "Although Gao Gan is incompetent. However, the fact that the Bingzhou army was defeated in the battle of Cangting is also an important reason. Coupled with Yuan Shao's death at this time, the situation in Hebei is not good. After saying that, he couldn't help but shake his head.

Zhuge Gong has been in Hedong for a long time and has a deep understanding of Bingzhou. At this time, he said: "The state is my Han barrier, if the state falls, the situation is worrying." And Yuan Shaowang died, it is rumored that the three sons of the Yuan family have begun to fight and did not support the annexation of the state, I am afraid that the Yuan family can no longer count on it. Zhang Xiu had already given a death order early in the morning, not to let the Hu people occupy the slightest bit of Han land, so Zhuge Jin said this.

Zhao Yun was silent for a moment and said, "Lord." The only way to do this is for our army to enter the state and fight against the Hu people. ”

Jia Xu sighed and said: "This is not a good opportunity to merge the state, if our army fights with the Hu people, the Yuan family will take the opportunity to attack in the rear, and it will be a great blow to our army." ”

Although what Jia Xu said is a bit exaggerated, it is not impossible, the Yuan family and Zhang Xiu are now enemies, and the Yuan family has always been friendly with Wuhuan, and they once joined forces with the Wuhuan people when they fought Gongsun Zhan. It's good that Zhang Xiu doesn't enter the state, but once he enters the state, it is difficult to ensure that the Yuan family will not collude with Xianbei and the Xiongnu. And Zhang Xiu also knew that the integrity of the third son of the Yuan family was far inferior to Yuan Shao. Historically, he took refuge in the black madness.

Zhong Chai thought for a moment and said: "If you take the state in a war and drive the Yuan family's forces out of the state in one fell swoop, you will have Huguan and Yanmen in hand. Locking the road into the state can prevent the Yuan family from counterattacking, and then you can go all out to deal with the Hu people. ”

Pang De shook his head and said: "Although what Mr. Yuan Chang said is reasonable, the complexity of the terrain of Bingzhou is second only to Yizhou, and the Taihang Mountains run through Bingzhou. And only 20,000 people who can use the foot soldiers in Hedong Shenzhi, only 20,000 people, I am afraid that they will be able to lay down a Shangdang County. ”

Gao Shun, who had always been silent, suddenly spoke: "Not necessarily, there are still 70,000 officials in Chang'an, if these 70,000 soldiers enter the state to fight, the number of troops will be enough." ”

Zhao Yun heard this and said suspiciously: "These were originally the troops of the Yuan family, and their families are all in Hebei. If they are allowed to deal with the old master, I'm afraid

Gao Shun sighed and said, "It is not difficult for this army to deal with the Hu people, but it is not certain that it can completely stabilize the army's morale when dealing with Yuan Jiashun." ”

Now the difficulties are in front of us, if you don't enter the state to fight, with the strong strength of the Hu people, the senior cadres will definitely not be able to hold it. However, if Zhang Xiu entered the annexation of the state to fight, he could not occupy the annexation state in one fell swoop, and he was afraid that the Yuan family would collude with the Hu people, and it would not be enough to occupy the troops in one fell swoop. If you wait for Tai Shici to lead the army back, I am afraid that it will already be winter, and it is difficult to say for sure whether the state will still be in the hands of the Han people.

The atmosphere in the hall became solemn for a while. While Zhang Xiu was bowing his head and pondering, a shadow turned out of the back hall and called in a timid voice: "Husband." ”

When Zhang Xiu and his subordinates heard this, they all frowned. Zhang Xiu did not send someone to guard the door of the back hall, and generally speaking, women did not dare to come in when Zhang Xiu was discussing with everyone, even Chen Yao and Cai Yan. Zhang Xiu heard this familiar voice, raised his head and saw that it was Chen Yao, and instead of being gentle, he asked with a cold face, "What's the matter?" ”

Chen Yao obviously knew that she had angered Zhang Xiu, and she was even more timid, so she didn't dare to speak. At this time, another shadow turned out of the back hall, and Zhang Xiu saw that it was Cai Yan, and her face became even more ugly.

Cai Yan ignored Zhang Xiu's face, walked up to Chen Yao and said, "My sister knows that my sister doesn't dare to say it, now it's a matter of the safety of my Han people, so my sister should take it out." If the husband blames him in the future, his sister will bear it. ”

Zhang Xiu knew that Cai Yan would not say such things for no reason. Suppressing the displeasure in his heart, he asked in harmony, "What is the matter?" ”

Chen Yao was still timid, but with Cai Yan's support, she still took out a letter from her sleeve: "Husband, this is a letter sent by my brother." Originally, this letter was for her husband, but the guards outside the door did not let him in, so they came to look for Yao'er."

Zhang Xiu frowned and took it: "Okay, you guys go back first." ”

Cai Yan saw Zhang Xiu put it down: "Husband, this letter was sent from Bingzhou, and now it is in danger, please take a look at it." Zhang Xiu heard this, and raised her eyebrows. Although Zhang Xiu had already made a rule that his family was not allowed to interfere in politics, there was also a priority in the matter, and after hearing Cai Yan's words, he immediately opened the letter.

Cai Yan saw Zhang Xiu open the letter, exhaled lightly, pulled Chen Yao and said to Zhang Xiu: "Husband, let's retire first." Zhang Xiu only said "um" and didn't speak again.

After turning out of the front hall, Chen Yao was still very worried and asked Cai Yan: "Sister, will the husband be you" Before she finished speaking, she heard Zhang Xiu laugh in the back hall: "God help me!" ”

Cai Yan heard it and said with a smile: "It's okay anymore, sister, let's go and prepare dinner together." Chen Yao listened, and nodded slightly.

Let's say that Zhang Xiu laughed more than he could stop laughing after reading the letter, and everyone also heard Cai Yan say that what the letter said was related to the matter of merging states. Zhou Cang's temperament was more anxious, and he immediately asked, "Lord, what is the happy event?" ”

Zhang Xiuyang Yang, who is the current state in his hands? ”

Zhuge Jin was more familiar with Bingzhou, and after thinking for a while, he said: "It seems to be a person surnamed Chen." But its reputation is not obvious, only know that it is with the high cadres into the state, and even the high cadres are down. ”

Zhang Xiu laughed and said: "This person's surname is Chen Xiaomingsong, and the word is Junheng." He is the only son of Chen Yi, the former Jincheng Taishou. ”

After Zhang Xiu's words, Pang De, Gao Shun, Zhuge Jin, Yang Fu and others were all puzzled. Only Jia Xu smiled at the corner of his mouth, and his face was full of energy. Zhao Yunjun also showed a smile on his face, and Hu Chechuan behind Zhang Xiu was in his mouth, and his face showed an extremely surprised look.

It's still Zhou Cang. The anxious son asked first: "Lord, please don't sell Guan Zi, tell me what's going on." ”

Zhang Xiu laughed and said to Hu Che'er behind him: "Old Hu, you can tell Lao Zhou." ”

Hu Che'er smiled innocently, scratched his head and said: "Song Gongzi is the elder brother of the master's mother, and their brother and sister were rescued from Jincheng by the lord alone. ”

When everyone heard this, they exclaimed in unison, "It's him!" "Chen Yao has an elder brother, and everyone has heard of it. After all, Tai Shici is a native of Qingzhou, and he has no relatives with Zhang Xiu, and it is a matter of curiosity for everyone to come to Nanyang to be like-minded. Therefore, the people who voted under Zhang Xiu's command will basically inquire about this news, and then they will know that there is such a person.

But there was no news from Duodong, especially after the Son of Heaven arrived in Xuchang. Cao Cao recruited Kong Rong to Xuchang. Chen Song was nowhere to be found, and there was no news for several years, that is, Zhang Xiuluo knew his whereabouts. I don't want to send a letter again, but I have become a don't drive in the state, and I am deeply heavy.

Zhuge Jin was the most calm, and after hearing the news, he hurriedly asked: "Lord, isn't it a state in this way?"

Zhang Xiu nodded and said, "Yes, Junheng has arranged for his friend Guo Zhun to go to the party to meet our army." It was received in Taiyuan County, so that our army could lock the Huguan and prevent the Yuan family from entering Yizhou. After these two counties are determined, the senior cadres in Yanmen County are not worried. ”

Zhuge Jin smiled when he heard this: "Sure enough, it is the Lord of Heaven, and now that the Hu army is invading Shangjun and Xihe County, the 70,000 Guandu soldiers can be sent into these two counties to deal with the Hu people." These two places are mountainous, which is not conducive to the Hu cavalry fighting, and our army suddenly attacked, which can drive the Hu people back beyond the Great Wall with a thunderous force, and the lord led the army to take Shangdang and Taiyuan. ”

Jia Xu nodded and said: "What Ziyu said is true, I think that since Jun Heng sent a letter to ask the lord to send troops, I am afraid that he already has a strategy to deal with the high-ranking cadres, and the little lord can sit and annex the state." In this way, dealing with the Hu people is no longer so restrictive. ”

Zhang Xiu heard this, smiled and asked, "Wenhe already has a good plan?" ”

Jia Xu nodded and said: "The Xianbei people and the Xiongnu are cruel by nature, if you start a war with them in Bingzhou." The people of Bingzhou are only afraid that they will suffer heavy casualties, and the Hu people are short of food, so it is difficult to guarantee that these Hu people will not use the people as dried meat. ”

When the generals in the field heard this, a cold light flashed in their eyes. Especially Gao Shun, as a native of Bingzhou, hated the Hu people who entered the Kou. Moreover, the people of Bingzhou may also be made into dried meat, which makes the murderous aura hidden in Gao Shun's heart burst out. When Zhang Xiu, Zhao Yun and Pang De saw it, they couldn't help but look sideways. Gao Shun, who has always been serious and silent, would behave like this, which is not only unexpected, but also reasonable.

Zhang Xiu heard this and asked: "Wen He thinks that the battle between Ben Jiang and the Hu people should not be fought in Bingzhou?" ”

Jia Xu nodded and said, "Not bad!" The cavalry under the lord is unparalleled in the world, although there are many Hu cavalry. However, it must not be the opponent of the main duke, plus there are crossbow carts and bed crossbows and other equipment, plus our army has its back to the Great Wall, and has not penetrated deep into the grassland, so it is easy to advance and retreat, so it is thought that this battle should be fought in the prairie.

After speaking, he got up and walked to the picture hanging aside. Pointing and saying: "The combined forces of the Central Xianbei and the Southern Xiongnu have entered the annexed state, and if the army of the lord comes out of the northern county of Liangzhou, it can go around the back of the Hu people." At that time, the foot soldiers have already entered the annexed state, as long as the foot soldiers are fast enough to force the Hu people who have crossed the Great Wall back to the Great Wall, our army can form a flank attack on the Hu people in this battle. ”

Because of Chen Song's letter, the situation in the originally most troublesome state was immediately clear, and Zhang Xiu was not afraid that he would be punished by the Kwantung scholars at this time, and he had a lot of reasons to refute. And Zhang Xiu will not care too much about the verbal criticism of the Kwantung scholars, as long as the people and the poor scholars have no opinions, he Zhang Xiu will not pay attention to it.

The situation on the side of Bingzhou is clear, and everyone is naturally happy. At this time, Yang Zhuo spoke: "Lord." The Western Regions should also send troops to support, the Western Xianbei army invaded the Western Regions, although there are mountains to block from the grassland into the Western Regions, but the Western Xianbei troops are too many. If Bodao can't keep it out of the Western Regions. At that time, I am afraid that the entire Western Regions will fall. If Xianbei controls the trade routes of the Western Regions, the situation is worrying. ”

After listening to this, Zhang Xiu nodded silently and secretly calculated the strength in his hand. Huaxiong's Liangzhou Corps was stationed along the Great Wall and was basically immobile. The 50,000 Qianghu cavalry that can move are horses, as well as 50,000 thundercloud cavalry and 30,000 flying feather bow cavalry. The 25,000 Breaking Front Battalion and the 3,000 Bloody Blade Battalion have not yet returned, and there are also 1,000 Pangulis in Chang'an, 80 soldiers who control the crossbow cart and bed crossbow, 70,000 Guandu soldiers, and 20,000 foot soldiers in Ma Dai in Hedong are available.

After the silent calculation, Zhang Xiu had a plan in his heart, and ordered loudly: "Ling Ming, order you to go to the north immediately, let Meng Qi lead 20,000 Qiang Hu cavalry into the Western Regions, in case of Xianbei in the west, and the remaining 30,000 Qiang Hu cavalry will be temporarily led by you, and defend in Liangzhou first." Wait for Ben's order. ”

When Pound heard this, he replied in a loud voice: "No! ”

To support the Western Regions, Ma Nai is the best candidate. But because Ma Nai is a person from the Western Regions, he has a very high prestige in the Western Regions, and he can stabilize the hearts of the countries in the Western Regions. Moreover, the horse is also familiar with the geography of the Western Regions, and although there are only 20,000 people on horseback, Zhang Xiu is convinced that the horse can definitely win.

After a pause, Zhang Xiu continued to order: "Zilong." You led 50,000 thundercloud cavalry and 8,000 crossbowmen to Beidi County, and after the general's order was issued, he and Ling Ming and Huaxiong each led the cavalry out of the prairie. Directly behind the Hu people's coalition forces. ”

Zhao Yun replied excitedly: "No! ”

Zhang Xiu nodded and said, "Order Ma Dai again, let him immediately pass through the Kei Pass and enter Shangdang County." After taking down Shangdang, he immediately divided his troops to defend Huguan, and then entered Taiyuan County. There was a pause. continued: "This general led 70,000 soldiers of the Chang'an Corps into Shangjun first, accompanied by Hu Che'er, Gao Shun, Zhou Cang, Wang Chang, and Huo Du. After the return of Ziyi and Xiaozhi, he led the Breaking Blade Battalion, the Blood Blade Battalion, and the Wan Fei Yu Bow Cavalry from Hedong into the state to support the general. This war Wenhe and Ziyu were military advisors with the army. Gongtai and Yishan went to Beidi to help Zilong, and the affairs of Chang'an and the allocation of grain and grass were handed over to Yuan Chang, and Wenyuan was ordered to send troops into Huai County to strengthen the defense and not relax. ”

After Zhang Xiu's order was issued, everyone went out together and responded in unison: "No"