In a mansion in the east of the city, Qiu Yue and Song Nan sat opposite each other and talked. Qiu Yue looked half seriously ill, his face was ruddy, and he was in good spirits.

"Marquis Song, are you really going to do it? Now I only have 500 guards in my hands, and all the men and horses have been allocated to reinforce the West Cliff, but the old thief still has 3,000 palace guards in hand, is it a little longer? ”

Song Nan shook his head and said: "I can't wait, I've been in your personal guard camp for ten days, the more I wait, the greater the chance of exposure, once exposed, I will fall into a passive place; In addition, all the soldiers and horses in the city have been evacuated, and these three thousand guards and old thieves will not be transferred from the left and right under any circumstances, and now is the time when the troops in the city are the weakest. ”

Qiu Yue nodded and said: "I originally wanted to wait, since the Shenji Battalion arrived on the other side of the West Cliff, I originally planned to delay for a few days so that the Shenji Battalion would consume some more He Jin's soldiers and horses, because once we make a move, the soldiers and horses of the West Cliff will definitely withdraw reinforcements, and then we will be a little embarrassed." But since the Hou Ye has decided to do it, let's go straight to the palace after dark? ”

Song Nan smiled and said, "General Qiu, I know your concern, we are indeed a little short of manpower, but now is the best time to attack; You know what? In my opinion, it is unlikely that the Shenji Battalion will go out to quell the rebellion, and the attack suffered by the defenders of the West Cliff yesterday will not be there today, tomorrow, or even in the future, because the officers and soldiers on the opposite side are not the Shenji Battalion at all. ”

Qiu Yue was stunned and said, "How is it possible? Heavy artillery bombardment, fierce artillery fire, more than 4,000 casualties in half a day, not the Shenji Battalion, where did such fierce artillery come from? ”

Song Nan waved his hand and said: "Do you know, this kind of counterinsurgency is not the turn of the Shenji Battalion to go out, unless the emperor is in distress or the shape is in danger, otherwise the Shenji Battalion will never be lightly dispatched; Jingying is the last reliance of the imperial court, and Shenji Camp is the last hole card of Jingying, how can it be played lightly? As for why there is such a fierce artillery bombardment, I can only tell you that the Shenji Battalion is not the only one in the Beijing camp that has a Zhankou general, and the other newly built Beijing battalion also has dozens of Zhankou General cannons. ”

"Oh? And which of the soldiers and horses of the Beijing battalion was also equipped with such expensive artillery? ”

Song Nan smiled and said: "It's not a configuration, but there are dozens of doors, if I don't make a mistake, it's my Shenshu camp that has arrived; If my memory is correct, I still remember that there were more than 20 general cannons hidden in the Shenshu camp. Yes, yes, Jiang Bin and Xu Tai can come up with a strategy of artillery bombardment to attract troops in the city to move the tiger away from the mountain, but it is difficult for them. ”

Only then did Qiu Yue remember that the Marquis of Song in front of him was not only the commander of the Jinyi Guard, but also the commander of the newly built Shenshu Battalion in the capital, and he also commanded a soldier and horse of the Beijing camp; As for why this Shenshu camp also dared to hide the doubt of a giant cannon, there is no need to get to the bottom of it, how can a person of his identity figure figure figure out what is going on in the Beijing camp.

"General Qiu, there are only more than 20 Zhankou generals in the Shenshu camp, and there are less than 300 artillery shells, since it caused such a momentum yesterday, I am afraid that it has already run out of shells, and the general can only withstand dozens of fires, and now I am afraid it has become a pile of scrap metal. He Jin was frightened yesterday, but I estimate that today and even later, the rebels in West Cliff will no longer have the risk of being overwhelmed by artillery fire. If this continues, the rebels will understand that the officers and soldiers on the other side will no longer be able to threaten them, and the army will be partially withdrawn to the city, and then we will be faced with more than just 3,000 royal guards. In view of this, we must take advantage of this great opportunity to hurry up, if we can level Ningxia Town in one fell swoop, the Xiya rebels will become a lonely army without an owner, and the army's heart will be in chaos, and overnight, the rebellion can be quelled. ”

Qiu Yue got up and arched his hand: "I understand the humble position, Master Hou will give the order." ”

Song Nan smiled and was about to speak, when he heard the sound of footsteps outside, and someone called softly: "Master, there is something to report." "That was the voice of the housekeeper in Qiu Yue's mansion.

Qiu Yue turned to the door and asked, "Come in and talk." ”

The old butler bent his waist and lifted the curtain to come in, and said in a low voice: "Master, someone from the palace said that he wanted to visit the master's illness, and he also brought two Langzhong from the palace. ”

Qiu Yue's face changed and said, "Who is here?" ”

"It's Sun Jingwen and Zhou Ang, and they are accompanied by more than a hundred palace guards."

Qiu Yue looked at Song Nan suspiciously and said, "Master Hou, is there a leak, these two guys came with the palace doctor to expose me for pretending to be sick." ”

Song Nan pondered for a long time and said: "Don't panic, they came just in time, they didn't come, I have nowhere to look for them, since they are sent to the door, let's take him under the knife." The twenty or so I brought with me are next door, and when I make a little arrangement, you can let him come here to meet. ”

Qiu Yue said: "Do you want to do it?" They had more than a hundred guards with them. ”

Song Nan said: "So what? See what I look at and act. ”

Qiu Yue gritted his teeth and nodded, turned to the housekeeper and said, "You go and invite them to meet in the study, and say that I am in a slightly better spirit, and I will read in the study." After that, you go and inform everyone in the house to put down their work and hide in the room, not to show their heads, no matter what happens, don't show up, and you have to take care of Madame, young master, and Miss. ”

The old butler arched his hand and said, "Don't worry, the old slave understands." ”

Sun Jingwen and Zhou Angyou walked into the courtyard of the Qiufu study with a smile, a hundred guards and two Lang Zhong of the palace followed behind, and after stepping into the door of the study, the old housekeeper of the Qiufu next to him stopped, pointed to a room under the corridor with a curtain hanging and said: "My master is studying in that study, and the two adults will go by themselves, and the old slave will order someone to get some tea to serve." ”

Zhou Ang waved his hand impatiently and said, "Let's go, let's go, it's none of your business." ”

The housekeeper bowed down and gently closed the courtyard door; Sun Jingwen glanced at this small courtyard, the courtyard was very quiet and simple, and it could not be compared with any courtyard in the palace, the half-human high wall was covered with residual snow, the gourd vines in the corner were withered and broken, a few thin gourds hung on it alone, and a few birds were flying around and chirping, and the situation was a little desolate.

"Lord Qiu's study courtyard is really shabby, people are sick, and the house is also cold, it's really sad." Sun Jingwen said lightly.

Zhou Ang was very indifferent to Sun Jingwen's sour words, and ordered the guards around him to stand guard in the courtyard, while he strode to the door of the study, shouting: "Lord Qiu, are you there?" ”

Qiu Yue's cough came from inside the curtain: "I'm here, is it Mr. Sun and General Zhou?" Please come inside. ”

Sun Jingwen and Zhou Ang glanced at each other, opened the curtain and stepped into the room, after the table, Qiu Yue was sitting precariously, holding a scroll in his hand, looking at the two of them with blazing eyes, Zhou Ang was slightly stunned, hugged his fists and smiled: "Lord Qiu is good, it turns out that Lord Qiu's illness has been cured, hiding at home to serve Guan Gong and study hard in the Spring and Autumn Period." ”

Qiu Yue put down the scroll and said with a smile: "General Zhou said that he laughed, the two adults, please sit down, my body is numb and I can't stand for a long time, so I can't stand up and salute the two of them, and the two adults are not to blame the power for being rude." ”

Sun Jingwen took two steps forward suspiciously, stared at Qiu Yue's face carefully, and said, "Is it so strict?" I saw that Master Qiu's face was ruddy and energetic, and he didn't look like he was seriously ill. ”

Qiu Yue smiled: "When did Mr. Sun master the art of orpiment?" I'm sick in my heart, and it's strange if I can see it outside, I can't get up for eight or nine days, but today I'm in a little better spirits and get up and walk. ”

Zhou Ang frowned and said: "Yes, yes, Mr. Sun, you don't understand, some diseases are more and more spiritual, just like the citrus produced in the south that I eat in my house, the appearance is bright and attractive, and after peeling it off, it is a mess inside, I estimate that Lord Qiu is also in this situation, the appearance is spiritual, but the internal organs are not light." Also, didn't it be said that there was a return to the light before the person was about to die? Many people who have been sick for a long time can suddenly go down to the ground to eat and laugh, which is an ominous sign. ”

Sun Jingwen couldn't cry or laugh, and secretly scolded Zhou Ang for his lack of morality, even if Qiu Yue was nothing in front of the prince, he couldn't say such vicious words to his face.

"Don't be surprised by Lord Qiu, General Zhou just says what he wants, and he has no malicious intent."

Qiu Yue didn't seem to care, and said with a smile on his face: "Where is it, General Zhou is famous for being open-mouthed, in fact, he is right, Qiu may really die soon." ”

A few days ago, the prince also praised our Ningxia town for leading troops to fight against Lord Qiu, but unfortunately he suddenly fell seriously ill. No, I was ordered to bring two good doctors to diagnose and treat Lord Qiu, prescribe the right medicine, help Lord Qiu recover as soon as possible, and share the worries of the prince. ”

Sun Jingwen said that he turned around and shouted to the two Lang Zhong standing behind him: "Why don't you go and ask General Qiu about it, so that you can carefully diagnose and treat it, and you will be rewarded for curing." ”

The two Lang Zhong only walked forward with the medicine box and arched their hands: "General Qiu, the old two will show you the disease, the adults stretched out their hands, how about I wait for the first pulse?" ”

Qiu Yue waved his hand and said: "Don't bother the two miracle doctors, I know my own illness, my illness is not cured, why bother." Mr. Sun, General Zhou, thank you for your care for me, and you don't have to spend your energy on me, a dying person. ”

Sun Jingwen and Zhou Ang looked strange, looked at each other, Sun Jingwen smiled and said: "The famous doctors have all been brought, it's better to take a look, otherwise how will I explain to the prince when I go back?" ”

Qiu Yue said: "Thank you for your kindness, it's really unnecessary." ”

Zhou Ang laughed and said, "How? I guessed right, Lord Qiu is pretending to be sick at all, I said this a few days ago, you don't believe it, and the prince doesn't believe it. Lord Qiu's body is well-known in the Ningxia army, and he doesn't let go of a fart rolling in the snow for thirty-nine days, if you say that you are wounded by a knife or an arrow, I still believe it, if you say that you are killed by the cold breeze and cold, the ghost will believe you. ”

Sun Jingwen's face was gloomy, and he looked at Qiu Yue coldly and said, "Lord Qiu, is what General Zhou said true?" ”