Kangxi's camp arrived in Longhua in mid-March. That night, he received a military report that Geldan army totaled more than 27,000 people, all of whom were concentrated in the Xilamulun River valley, and were very strong. The charcoal fire burned in the general tent of the camp, and dozens of arm-thick candles illuminated the inside and outside of the tent. Suo Etu, Feiyanggu, Gao Shiqi, and Tong Guogang stood with their swords, looking intently at Kangxi who was looking at the wooden map. In the military tent, only Ah Xiu was a woman, holding ginseng soup and waiting behind Kangxi.

"Feiyanggu, how many soldiers have you stationed in Bahrain?" After a long time, Fang listened to Kangxi and asked, "This place is the enemy's frontal rush, if it is lost, it will endanger the base camp, don't take it lightly!" ”

"How dare a minion neglect the military!" Fei Yanggu bowed and replied, "The original garrison in Bahrain has 15,000, and since the slaves entered Beijing to face the military situation, it has increased to 27,000. Even if Geldan concentrates the whole army to attack, our army is as stable as Mount Tai. "Our army has 140,000 people, and only 27,000 are used for the front of the enemy, which is too little!" Kangxi shook his head and said, "Draw another 20,000 from Suo Etu's right-wing army, make up for it in Bahrain, and all of them will be under the control of Feiyang Gu!" ”

Suo'etu's advance this time was only to cover the battalion, liaise with the Zhuo Suotu department, and block the flank of Geldan. Hearing Kangxi say this, he became more and more unhappy, so he took a step forward and smiled: "The slave is old." Since Geng Jingzhong has not fought again, this time he only responded, and the slave did not have a taste in his heart. Pray that the Lord will grant the slave permission and make another contribution to the master! Kangxi glanced at Suo Etu. Since the southern tour, he has faintly felt that this person who had made great efforts to seize the throne for himself back then had two hearts, but because he had no handle, and because he hindered the love of the crown prince, he did not move him; At this time, how can military power be easily handed over to him? After thinking for a while, he said: "It's good that you are willing to ask for help, but this time with troops, the former enemy commander is Feiyanggu, and you can't fight with him." Even so, you will take these 20,000 people to Bahrain with you. You and Guogang are both at the disposal of Feiyang Gu! ”

"Wow!" Suo Etu and Tong Guogang replied in unison. Feiyanggu didn't expect that there would be two more characters around him before the battle, one was the current minister of the upper study, and the other was the brother of the minister of the upper study, and there seemed to be a Mingzhu case between Suo Etu and Tong Guowei. Since ancient times, generals have led troops, and what they are most afraid of is that the emperor will send a supervisor to intervene. Although Kangxi's arrangement is said that the two are under his control, but the two of them are so prominent, how can they be a minor outsider? He sneered, sighed silently, and said, "Then I have to be wronged." ”

"That's it." Kangxi devoted himself to the military situation, did not think about these things, looked at Mutu and said: "Just looking at the topographic map, I am not sure in my heart, tomorrow on the fifth watch, I will go to the Ulan Butong River with you to watch the enemy's situation." ”

Feiyang Gu listened, one was happy and the other was afraid. Kangxi's visit to the front line was very beneficial to boosting morale; When the holy driver came in person, his worries were also superfluous. But the two armies clashed with each other, and if there was a mistake, how could he explain to the subjects of the government and the opposition? Thinking about it, he said loudly: "Our army is several times larger than the enemy, has been trained for many years, and it is waiting for work at leisure. Geldan Puer jumped off the beam clown, ran thousands of miles to the east, and the number of victories and defeats is uncertain - long live sitting in the camp, if the slave can't wipe out this thief in one fell swoop, please long live the slave's family! "It's not a flat in one fell swoop!" Kangxi's eyes were blazing, "It's to cut the grass and eradicate the roots!" In order to lure the enemy to the east, I have spent so much effort, in case of loss, I will not have the shame to see Jiangdong's father! Feiyang Gu is exempt from discussion, you kneel down, and gather here tomorrow morning to get on the road! ”

The crowd retreated. The big tent became silent, and the ** in the copper pot on the charcoal stove was boiling to the point of foaming white. Kangxi felt a little hot, so he ordered Xiaoxiu to get rid of the dragon coat for him, only wearing a purple robe and sitting on stilts, looking at Ah Xiu and saying, "Ah Xiu, I was still on the northern tour that year, and I saw you here for the first time, do you remember?" ”

"Yes." Ah Xiu's face turned red with shame, "It was also such a night, but it was winter......"

Seeing that she was full of shyness, Kangxi took her into his arms, rubbed her hair, and said, "It's so fragrant!" I smelled you all over my body, and I couldn't smell it when I entered the palace, why did I smell it again as soon as I came out? Ah Xiu raised his face, the bottomless black pupil stared at Kangxi, and said softly: "There are many concubines in the palace, and there is a fragrance of fat powder everywhere, the so-called room of Zhilan, and I don't smell its ......fragrance for a long time" Kangxi picked up Ah Xiu's face, kissed her warm lips, and said with a smile: "Mongolian woman, it is really rare to have your Sinology talent, and it will lead to the canon at every turn!" ”

"There are many Mongolians who are proficient in Sinology!" Ah Xiu snuggled in Kangxi's arms as if she was drunk, squinted her eyes and said, "Geerdan's daughter Zhong Xiaozhen is much more talented than me. Don't look at her father as a jackal, but Xiao Zhen is a good person who understands righteousness, I really envy her......"

"What do you envy her?" Kangxi suddenly remembered that the woman in his arms couldn't forget about another man, and his face couldn't help but change color, "Are you envious that she chose the person she likes?" ”

Ah Xiu was startled, gently broke free from Kangxi, fell to his knees with a thud, and said, "Master! We Mongolians never speak, the master is suspicious of me, I have long felt it! It's just a death, what's there to be afraid of? I escaped from Beijing in my early years, had no relatives, and was helped by Chen Huang, and I wanted to marry him at that time, but he ...... They don't love me. I know the truth from the beginning to the end, follow the master, and treat me with all kinds of kindness, how dare I think of insolence? Her bright eyes were full of resentment, staring at Kangxi Dao, "But Chen Huang has been trapped in prison for a long time, I think the master is not properly handled, you are the Son of Heaven, and you have the heart to tolerate the world, why can't you tolerate a nerd scholar who only knows how to control water?" With that, his long eyelashes fell down, and two lines of hot tears flowed.

Kangxi was inexplicably shocked at first, a concubine dared to talk to herself like this, which in itself was a big rebellion! But Ah Xiu's last sentence also deeply touched him, rich all over the world, noble as the Son of Heaven, but jealous of a scholar, passed on to future generations, what will it become? He was stunned for a long time, sighed and said, "Your words are right and wrong. It's not just Chen Huang who is imprisoned, there are two more. Jin Fu's case is connected with Mingzhu, and it is all under investigation. Now that Tong Guowei, who is newly in, I also have the meaning of overturning the case for Mingzhu. Mingzhu has been in power for a long time, and there are many henchmen in the DPRK and China, and if you are not careful, there will be changes! That's why I took out Suo Etu and Mingzhu on this expedition...... Ah Xiu, this is not your woman's business, so don't talk about it anymore. ”

Xiaoxing stayed overnight for two days, and Kangxi's imperial camp arrived at the front line of Ulan Butong. Kangxi slept well that night, and the next morning he rode a royal horse to the Ulan Butong River to check the enemy camp. The soldiers of the Eight Banners, the Green Battalion, and the Han Army Banner Battalion who moved from Bahrain along the river all knew that they had arrived when they saw the treasure fan and dragon banner covering the sky and the sun.

Kangxi urged the horse to the riverside, pressed the cold hilt of the sword with one hand, and quietly looked at the opposite bank with the telescope in the other, but saw that the opposite bank was densely packed with mountains and waters, and the deer ditches were full of arrays. After frowning and looking at it for a long time, Kangxi put down the binoculars, looked back at the people behind him and said with a smile: "Geldan is worthy of a famous general, and there is no ambiguity in the deployment of troops." It's a pity that I have gone to the wrong path and cannot be helped by God! - Feiyanggu, have all the red-coated cannons of our army been pulled up and placed? ”

"If you go back to Banzai!" Fei Yanggu replied on his horse, "There are forty-three red-clothed cannons in total, and the firing range is more than seven miles. ”

Kangxi nodded, and when he wanted to speak, he heard the three cannon shots of the Chinese army on the other side, which shook the earth slightly, and Su Lun and dozens of other guards surrounded him and protected Kangxi tightly in the middle. Kangxi smiled slightly and said, "Where will it be called?" I look like Geldan is going to come out and speak! ”

It was really Geerdan who came out, and when he heard the shouts of the Qing army on the other side, it was expected that Kangxi was in front of the battle, so he brought dozens of personal guards to the north bank of the river, and saw a group of civil and military generals on the other side of the river protecting a middle-aged man with a lofty bearing in the center, knowing that it must be Kangxi, he put his arm across his chest on the horse, bowed his body, and said loudly:

"Chenbo Shuoketu Khan Geldan to meet His Majesty Bogda Khan Tianyan!"

At this time, it was the dry season, and the two were only seven or eight feet apart. The deepest part of the clear Ulan Butong River is just over four feet, and the pebbles at the bottom of the river can be clearly seen. Kangxi was so close to the enemy, everyone hung their hearts high. But I heard Kangxi say coldly: "You are also Khan, I am also Khan, why talk about 'audience', why be polite?" Besides, Jungar is in the western frontier, thousands of miles away, what are you doing with your troops in the territory of King Horqin? I want to learn! ”

"You are the Great Khan of the Son of Heaven, and I am the Little Khan of the tribe." Geldan was stunned by Kangxi's words that were neither soft nor hard, swallowed his saliva and said with a wicked laugh, "I asked the Shangnan Dorji Lama to turn to the Great Khan the year before last, and Geldan has never been outside the Chinese emperor. The subjects of my tribe have always respected the legal system of the Great Emperor and do not dare to act rashly! ”

"Don't dare to act rashly?" Kangxi suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, "...... It's really a wonder in the world! Er was a minister, but without asking for a request to annex the four divisions of Zungar, annexed the three tribes of Khalkha, and claimed that tens of thousands of soldiers ravaged the Shanxi and Eastern Mongolian tribes, and said that he 'did not dare to act rashly'! Since ancient times, there have been countless traitors, who can match your wanton behavior? ”

"Great Khan!" Ge Erdan put away his smiling face, interrupted Kangxi's words and said, "Why bring up the old things again? Tushetu Khan contacted the Mongol kings of Mobei, repeatedly harassed my Dzungar, plundered our arms, and killed one of my nephews. Why are you taking sides with Tushetu Khan? If you are not a king, you can naturally not be a minister! ”

Kangxi smiled coldly: "This is your excuse for calling a soldier a criminal?" What is your credential for saying that I am partial to Tushetu Khan? Geldan pointed at Ah Xiu behind Kangxi and said sharply: "That woman is Princess Baori Longmei of Tushetu Khan!" That's the living credentials! ”

"Thief!" When Ah Xiu heard this, he couldn't help it anymore, it was the enemy who was extremely red when he saw each other, and he glared and scolded, "You evil wolf on the grassland, owl!" You pay back my father, and you pay back my tribe......" Her voice was hoarse and poignant, and everyone shuddered when they heard it. Geldan waved his hand, and more than 20 of his own soldiers who accompanied him shot over with arrows and bows, and Su Lun had already stepped forward with his guards waving his sword, dancing like a silver ball, and the broken arrows and feathers flew one after another, where could Kangxi be hurt by a single hair? Kangxi was furious, and pointed his whip at Geldan and said, "Which general will fight for me first?" ”

"The slave is willing to go!" Before he could finish speaking, one of the guards behind Kangxi suddenly flashed out and replied.

When Kangxi looked at it, it turned out to be Zhang Yuxiang, a guard who was hunting on the way to the north and was so frightened by the tiger that he sat down. He looked at himself with a pleading look, and Kangxi nodded. Zhang Yuxiang's eyes were red, he thanked him, and tore open the robe on his body with a "brush", and the snow-white body was tattooed with indigo, but it was not a dragon or a tiger, a flower or a cloud, and the word "shame" was constantly on his head! Zhang Yuxiang was shirtless, roared, jumped into the river and jumped to the opposite bank, completely desperate, and the people on both sides of the strait were stunned. Kangxi hurriedly instructed Wu Dan: "Release arrows to cover!" Go over a little more, beat the arrogance of this bastard! As soon as the words fell, more than 40 people in Goshha, who were guarding the Chinese army, also stripped their upper bodies and rushed over. As soon as Geldan saw that the comer was not good, he was busy with more than 100 guards rushing over to fight, and immediately, the drums on both sides of the Ulan Butong River rang out in unison, the sound of killing moved the sky, and the sound of cheering and shouting sounded like boiling porridge.

Zhang Yuxiang has been looked down upon since he was pulled out by Kangxi and wore a flower feather. He waited forgivingly, and secretly practiced martial arts and practiced courage for seven years. As soon as he came out today, he was unstoppable. When crossing the river, an arrow has been hit in the shoulder and leg, Zhang Yuxiang endured the pain and was silent, and pulled out and threw it into the river with his hand...... More than 40 shirtless men behind him swarmed up and fought with the guards of more than 100 people in Geldan! Kangxi saw that there was a huge disparity between the crowds, and he was so nervous that he grabbed Feiyanggu. Feiyanggu smiled and said: "It's okay, although the lord's move was a little hasty, but it coaxed Geerdan not to be distracted, I have ordered the left-wing Nian Qianyao to lead 4,000 people to copy it from the upstream, and if you don't do it, you just beat him up today!" ”

At this moment, the fighting on the other side is so tense that people can't breathe, the wildly jumping war horses are jumping vertically and horizontally, the fierce Mongolian warriors and the Manchu and Han warriors are wielding snowy knives to fight each other to the death, and there are bursts of chilling collision sounds between the blood blades, some of them have been cut off their hands and feet, some have been cut off the Tianling cover, the blood flowers are colorful like rain, scattered on the grassland of the spring cold, and the war horses that have been cut down are convulsing in pain. Zhang Yuxiang's eyes were red, his face was full of sticky blood, and he was yelling and slashing and chopping, and the sergeants on both sides of the strait saw it straight. He was so brave and fearless that even some people in the Gerdan tribe applauded him.

Suddenly, a whimpering horn and an urgent gong sounded in the midst of Geldan's army. Pegasus in the Chinese military tent reported: "Lord Boshoketu, the Qing soldiers have come from the west road!" ”

"How many are there?" Geldan was in a daze, and was surprised when he heard something change in the rear, and hurriedly asked, "Whose soldier is it?" ”

"There are four or five thousand people, who are Qing soldiers with the surname Nian, ...... from the upstream"

Before he could finish speaking, Geldan shouted: "What does Ghentre eat?" In broad daylight, they were told to rush across the river! Then he turned back to the guards who were fighting, and shouted, "My warriors, don't fall in love with the battle, go back to the camp!" At this time, there was a loud killing on the north bank of the Ulan Butong River, and the entire front camp of Geldan was panicked. Nian Qianyao led 4,000 cavalry to rush into Geerdan's camp, killing people when he saw them, lighting fires when he saw yurts, and soldiers were everywhere in the black smoke, and there were pools of blood everywhere...... Kangxi looked at it with a telescope for a long time, put down his hand, gasped heavily, and sighed: "One will succeed and ten thousand bones will wither, but it is a pity that Geldan acts against the sky, although there are strong soldiers and fierce generals, the hearts of the people are not in line with the same orders!" Feiyanggu didn't have this compassionate heart, and turned around and ordered the flag officer of the Chinese army: "Order Tong Guogang to lead an army of 5,000 to defeat the middle battalion of Geerdan's former army, and force him to retreat to Jingfeng, so that our whole army can establish a foothold on the north bank of the Ulan Butong River!" ”

Kangxi didn't pay any attention to it, got off the horse, gently rubbed his swollen legs, and walked towards Zhang Yuxiang, who had just returned from crossing the river. Of the more than 40 warriors, only thirteen returned alive, and the wounds on their bodies were still oozing blood because they had just been washed with river water. Zhang Yuxiang's body was full of arrow wounds, his left arm had been cut off and wrapped in a white cloth, and his right hand was holding a severed arm and half a sword, staring at Kangxi with hard support. Kangxi approached him and said, "Live up to my lesson, good example, I will give you back a three-eyed flower!" ”

After Zhang Yuxiang heard this, he was dizzy, and his tall body fell to the ground with a thud. That night, after receiving a battle report, the Geldan battalion on the north bank of the Ulan Butong River had retreated on all fronts, and the area around Jingfeng had shrunk. Kangxi immediately ordered the Longhua base camp to be moved to Bahrain, and sent the Heilongjiang general and the Wolf Blind Department to the east to aid Zhuo Suotu, blocking the road of Geldan to the east, and ordered the Gansu general Daniel Zhang to lead his troops north to Yikezhao in order to prevent Geldan from fleeing west. All the arrangements were stopped, and he ordered to use his own royal car to send the dying Zhang Yuxiang to Fengtian for treatment and recuperation.

The first battle was successful, and everyone in the Qing military camp was elated. The governor of Zhili sent people to send 3,000 fat pigs to the army. Feiyanggu ordered that all battalions were not allowed to drink alcohol in order to prevent Gerdan from stealing the camp. From time to time, the wails of pigs and sheep were heard in the camps. The soldiers were slaughtering pigs and sheep to celebrate the victory, but only Mingzhu was the most lonely and miserable. He was a sin and a loose minister, and although he was on the march, he was not allowed to participate in the cardinal, and he was not needed to charge into battle. The people who followed him as "guards" were all specially selected by Suo Etu from the Internal Affairs Bureau, and although they were humble and polite when they met, their hearts were separated by the ocean, and no one even had a word to say. The pork assigned to his name was already cooked by the soldiers, exuding a rich aroma of meat, but Mingzhu didn't want to eat a bite, and ordered everyone: "You just eat it, I'll walk around." He walked out of the tent step by step and walked towards Kangxi's imperial camp.

Here is really heavily guarded, a radius of four miles are covered with bright yellow curtains, set up east, west, south three royal gates, twenty-one patrol police battalions are spread around, three steps and one post, five steps and one sentry are all strange Yulin army, do not follow the holy decree not to say that they go in, a little closer will be detained and investigated. Mingzhu opened his eyes to see, the lights and candles in the imperial camp were brilliant, there was silence, and few people went in and out. He sighed and was about to step back, but saw Wu Dan coming out of it. Mingzhu hurriedly turned her face and stepped back unhurriedly.

"Is it Ming-sama?" Seeing that he was evasive, Wu Dan stopped Mingzhu, "Is there something wrong?" ”

Mingzhu nodded slightly bitterly and said: "Wujunmen, you are auspicious ......" "What a military gate, don't talk about it!" Wu Dan smiled, "If you want to be happy, you still call me a donkey!" We have been stirring horses and spoons in a pot for several years, and we will not look at you from time to time, so we will follow those sycophants to practice you, if you have something, just say, I will naturally help if I can! "Mingzhu never took Wu Dan in his eyes when he was in power, and Wu Dan didn't buy Mingzhu's account, but now when he heard Wu Dan's words, tears almost rolled out. Mingzhu was about to speak, but he closed his mouth when he saw Nian Qianyao and a group of tooth generals following Suo Etu. When Suo Etu saw it, he stood up and said with a smile: "Old Ming, it's been a long time!" Is there anything going on at the royal camp this morning and evening? ”

"I walked here, met Lao Wu, and chatted a few words." Mingzhu said alertly, "I haven't seen the emperor for a long time, and I'm really worried about it in my heart, I don't know if the emperor's holy body is safe?" Suo Etu frowned, suddenly smiled, and said, "The emperor's body is strong!" You have nothing to do now, but you are enviable, and you don't need to worry so much. I am commanded to speak, and if you have anything to do, come to me and tell me. We have been friends for many years, and we will not treat you badly. So he went away.

This sentence sounds more sad than heart-wrenching. Mingzhu has been humiliated a lot, but he doesn't care much, Wu Dan is already so angry that his face turned pale, and he looked at Suo Etu's back sideways and took a sip of "bah", and said: "Lao Ming, I know you want to see the emperor." I'm afraid it won't work at this time. As soon as the discussion was over, the emperor was tired for a day, and he was afraid that he was sleeping with his mother-in-law in his arms. If you want to see the Holy One, you have to wait for the opportunity, and I will naturally speak for you. It's worse for you to touch the mold at this point, isn't it? ”

"I'm no longer willing to go back to work." Mingzhu coughed lightly, her face flushed, and she took Wu Dan's calloused hand and said, "Brother, you treat me like this, I feel sad and regretful, I didn't treat you well at the beginning, otherwise I would have been released to be the governor." Cough...... What do you do now? I knew I couldn't see the Holy One, but there was one important thing: Geldan's escape route to the northwest had to be guarded by troops. In case this place can't be completely wiped out, let Geldan escape Zhao Modo, and it will be difficult to capture it again. After saying that, he couldn't help but be gloomy, shook Wu Dan's hand again and walked away.