And in the winter and November of the sixth year, the king of Ming returned to Jiankang, first along the water into Xiangyang, and then in Jiangxia and Lu. Tu Wudang, summoned General Anbei and Sizhou Assassin Shixun to meet.

------------- excerpt from the introduction

All the way quickly, Zeng Hua and his party soon came to Weixing County, when they were in Shangluo County, Gan and Zhang Qu rushed over to see each other, and accompanied Zeng Hua straight into Weixing County, and arrived in the township and county in a few days.

Gan pointed to the front and said: "At the beginning, Sima Xun of Tunnan Township County heard that I was defeated in Henan, so he hurriedly sent troops to the township and county to peep at Weixing County. Thanks to Suiyuan (Zhang Qu) who led the soldiers and horses from Wuguan to show his martial power, Sima Xun returned to Nanxiang in a foolish manner, but he still sent many spies to spy on the situation in Weixing County and tried to misbehave. Later, Mr. Jing Luo led the reinforcements over, and our army suddenly became huge, Sima Xun was immediately afraid, and frequently sent people to show favor to Mr. Jing Luo, who was sitting in Shangluo, but Mr. Jing Luo ignored him. ”

Gan has matured a lot after a big defeat, and he is less talkative than before. When he saw Zeng Hua at that time, he just said "thank you", and Zeng Hua knew that he was grateful that he had taken half of the blame for him. Zeng Hua didn't say much, just replied: "People can be forgiven for making mistakes, but they are not worthy of forgiveness for making the same mistakes." ”

Hearing Gan's explanation, Zeng Hua became interested in this neighbor, and couldn't help asking, "How is this Sima Xun in Nanxiang?" ”

Zhang Qu replied: "Returning to the army master, Sima Xun is politically brutal, whether it is his subordinates in the middle of the government, or the attached Sizhou Haoqiang, as long as his words are against him. Immediately behead him, or tie his bow to a distance and shoot himself. There are more than 10,000 troops in its subordinates, and the good and bad are different, and the grain and grass are all from Nanxiang County, so they are tyrannical and deeply disturb the township. He has been in Tunnan Township for more than two years, and he has changed four county guards, all of whom are unbearable. ”

"So he's such a person? I don't know how to use him in Duke Huan? Zeng Hua was a little strange.

"This Sima Xun is famous for his bravery and martial arts, and he is a rare fierce general. Duke Huan may have to rely on him as a pioneer. So just turn a blind eye. It seems that Gan knows the neighbor next to him very well.

Hear here. Zeng Hua shook his head and stopped talking.

After saying goodbye to Gan and Zhang Qu in the township and county, Zeng Hua led Duan Huan and Feng Liyang to continue to move forward. When he arrived in Wudang, Zeng Hua asked the guards to take his name sticker and invite Sima Xun to come to Wudang to meet.

After Sima Xun received Zeng Hua's post, he immediately had a big head. He has a deep fear of Zeng Hua, a fear of the strong. He had been living in Guanyou Chang'an before, and was raised by Liu Yao's general Ling Huni, and he knew a little about the situation there. And he has been on the middle front line all these years, knowing that the Northern Zhao soldiers are prosperous. So when he heard that Zeng Hua had occupied Guanyou Chang'an like a dead and decaying state, he couldn't believe that this was true for a long time, so he turned from jealousy to jealousy towards Zeng Hua, the assassin of Liangzhou who he had always thought was just lucky.

Sima Xun is famous for his bravery, so you can't suppress him with your literary style or something, and only if you are stronger than him will he obey you.

After receiving Zeng Hua's post and invitation, although Sima Xun was afraid that Zeng Hua would find him to settle the old accounts of the private crime township and county, he did not dare to hesitate for long, and hurried to Wudang with more than a dozen entourages that day.

hasn't entered Zeng Hua's line yet. Sima Xun hurriedly put a thorn on his back. Then respectfully walk inside. As soon as I walked into the hall door, I saw a young man in a green robe, who was Zeng Hua, who had seen two faces in Jiangling before. It's just that he has less impetuousness and restraint, and more wisdom and majesty.

Sima Xun hurriedly knelt down and saluted: "General Anxi, Sizhou Assassin Sima Xun pays a visit to Lord Zeng, the general of Zhenbei!" ”

Zeng Hua hurriedly stepped forward to support him and said politely: "Master Sima, why are you so polite? We are ministers of the same court, and we are all relatives, why bother with such a big gift, it is really outside. As he was talking, he saw the thorn strip on Sima Xun's back, and couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Brother Wei Chang (Sima Xunzi), why are you doing this?" ”

Sima Xun was half ashamed, half frightened and said, "Xiaguan deserves to die." Last time, General Qingche (Gan) was frustrated in Henan, and the lower officials wanted to send troops to respond, but who knew that he was confused for a while, and listened to the bewitchment of joining the army to destroy the thieves, and actually sent troops to the township, trying to take Wei Xing from the hands of General Qingche. Xia Guan is really confused, but fortunately, he has lost his way in the middle, and now he has killed the spy who provoked the relationship between me and Liangzhou, and came to the door to personally ask the adult for the guilt. ”

Hearing this, Zeng Hua couldn't help laughing, grabbed Sima Xun's hand and said, "Senior Brother Wei is really a man, straightforward, fast!" Since it's a scheming provocation, it's good to figure it out. I know that Brother Wei is a person, and he believes in others too much, so I have to remember it in the future! ”

Hearing Zeng Hua's words, Sima Xun couldn't help but be overjoyed, he couldn't imagine that this Zeng Hua was blinded by his "incomparably honest" words, so he exposed this matter so easily, and hurriedly said: "It's really a confession!" ”

Zeng Hua removed the thorns on Sima Xun's back one by one, and then pulled him into the hall and introduced his entourage to him one by one: "This is Duan Huan, the sword general of my Zuo Mo, and this is my guard commander Feng Yangli." Duan Huan and Feng Yangli saluted coldly and did not speak.

Sima Xun knew from the majestic figures and striking momentum of these two people that they were unstoppable brave generals, and he, General Anbei, who was famous for his bravery, might not be able to resist many moves in front of these two people.

"This is Li Cun and Li Zhiai of Longxi, and this is Peng Xiu and Peng Qingshan of Jingzhao Ducheng, all of them are my record office." Zeng Hua then introduced the two young and elegant scribes, and the two and Sima Xun only met each other and said nothing more.

Then Zeng Hua cordially pulled Sima Xun to his seat, and ordered his entourage to bring the tea at a low price.

Looking at Sima Xun, who had returned to normal, Zeng Hua said secretly in his heart, Do you think I don't know that your kid is ambitious. If it weren't for Lao Tzu's soldiers and horses in Shangluo, you would have taken Weixing County away. Now I see that I am powerful, so I succumbed, if I was weak, you would have jumped to the head of Lao Tzu, I originally fancied your courage and was ready to find a chance to recover you, but now it seems that I can't do it

, directly pit you hard.

"My lord, why did you go back to Jiankang this time?" Sima Xun asked.

"Brother Wei. I returned to Jiankang this time for two purposes, one is to ask the imperial court to wave the Northern Expedition, and the other is to discuss with Duke Huan to see how to cooperate with him to recover Heluo. Zeng Hua said solemnly.

When Sima Xun heard this, his face couldn't help but change, he became full of expectations, and after a while, he couldn't help but hesitate and said, "Isn't Heluo occupied by the pseudo-Zhou Fujian now?" It is said that he had 100,000 troops, which was very powerful. ”

Zeng Hua shook his head and said, "I have dealt with him. It is impossible to say that he has 100,000 troops. He only concerned 200,000 exiles. With all his might, there were no more than 50,000 soldiers. I fought him several times. Although my loss was not small, I managed to discount half of his soldiers and horses. ”

Hearing this, Sima Xun couldn't help but lower his head to secretly think about it, and then asked, "In that case, why don't you take advantage of the situation to recover Heluo in order to achieve this immortal achievement?" ”

"Wei Chang, do you think I don't want to recover Heluo? It's just that after losing most of my 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers and horses. The replenishment is all new soldiers, and it is okay to tell them to defend the city, but it would be too reluctant for them to let them go to siege the city. So with my current strength in Guan Long, it's okay to be a helper, but as the main force, I can't afford this big responsibility. ”

Zeng Hua's words are half-true and half-false, he has more than 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers and horses, and there are nearly 200,000 soldiers in the infantry army alone, but most of them are new soldiers. Didn't train for long. It's not an elite soldier, and you can really only defend the city, if you fight hard with Fu Jian. The loss is not ordinarily small, Zeng Hua is reluctant. The principle of fighting on the ground of his war has always been that he does not have elite soldiers and does not go to war.

Sima Xun's face became even more happy, and he hurriedly arched his hand and said, "My lord! This time I went to Anlu and Jiankang, and I also asked to explain one or two to Duke Huan and the imperial court for the subordinate officials. Xiaguan Gong, according to General Anbei and Sizhou Assassin History, has been vacant in Nanxiang for many years, and he has not been able to make half an inch of credit for the imperial court, which is very ashamed. In this Northern Expedition, the officials were willing to be the vanguard, open the way for the Duke of Huan and the imperial court, and take Heluo first. ”

Hearing this, Zeng Hua's face became more smiling, and he was even more happy in his heart. This kid, when you hear that Heluo Fujian's strength is not strong, you hurry up and grab it, do you think you can grab the hot one? Just with the 10,000 rotten potatoes and stinky sweet potatoes in your hand, you want to fight with Fu Jian, you think that people eat dry rice, and this old self will suffer if you are not careful, you think you can beat him, you really want to see how you die.

Zeng Hua nodded and replied: "Senior Brother Wei, you are both a famous general of our dynasty and a clan, who can take on this vanguard task of recovering Heluo?" ”

Sima Xun's words suddenly made Sima Xun smile, and his face turned into a flower.

After breaking up from Wudang, Sima Xun immediately returned to Nanxiang to sharpen his palms and prepare for the upcoming Northern Expedition. And Zeng Hua and his entourage went straight to Jiangxia through Xiangyang and joined Huan Wen in Jiangxia and Anlu.

"Gong Huan, you're a little older! But it's still so bold and magnificent! As soon as Zeng Hua saw Huan Wen, he knelt down and prepared to make a big salute. How dare Huan Wen accept his gift, he hurriedly supported him, and did not receive Zeng Hua's gift. Zeng Hua also took advantage of the situation to hold Huan Wen's hands, looked at Huan Wen carefully, and said slowly for a long time.

Huan Wen was also emotional, looked Zeng Hua up and down a few times, and then said: "Xuping, I haven't seen you for a few years, I can't imagine that a kid back then is already a hero who is famous all over the world today." ”

"This is not even Huan Gong and Mr. Zhenchang hand in hand!" mentioned Liu Yi Zenghua was a little sad, but he still forced a happy face. At this time, he found that an acquaintance was missing: "Hey, what about Mr. Yan?" ”

Hearing this, Huan Wen's face was gloomy, and he bowed his head for a long time before saying, "Uncle Yan has passed away due to illness in August. ”

Zeng Hua couldn't help but look hurt, tears rained down, and he choked up and said: "Why are talents always jealous? Mr. Zhenchang and Mr. Uncle Yan are two great sages, and they have insight into heavenly knowledge, and it seems that they can really only be admired by mortals such as us. It's just that they are gone, how can we listen to the teachings and understand things again! ”

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but be surprised. At this time, a young man in his teenage years wearing a gray plain robe came over, bent down to Zeng Hua and bowed his hand and said, "Thank you to the people of Zhenbei for praising the family so much, Fang Ping, the unfilial son of the Yuan family, is here to thank you." ”

Huan Wen introduced: "This is Yuan Fangping, the heir of Mr. Yan, who is sixteen years old today. ”

Zeng Hua hugged Yuan Fangping, looked at this young man who was over fifteen years old and self-reliant, and sighed secretly in his heart, Yuan Qiao has always been erudite and literate, and he once annotated "Analects" and "Poems", and there are many articles that have been praised for a while. This Yuan Fangping seems to be a son following his father's business, so he is naturally not an ordinary person. Immediately, I had the heart to solicit.

Zeng Hua asked, "Fang Ping, are you married?" ”

Yuan Fangping Shiran said: "Jia Yan was already unwell in June, so he married a family for the student. ”

"In this case, Fang Ping has succeeded Uncle Yan, I want to make Fang Ping the general of Zhenbei, I don't know if it is allowed?" Zeng Hua arched his hand and asked Yuan Fangping. Yuan Fangping was stunned for a moment, and his eyes couldn't help but turn to Huan Wen.

Zeng Hua turned to Huan Wen Shili and said, "Duke Huan, please cut your love!" ”

Huan Wen couldn't help but smile bitterly. You kid didn't dig people from me. It seems that this time it was another "looting". But there is still a lot of place where I rely on others. Moreover, the more people who moved to him from his own house, the closer the relationship between Yongzhou and Jingzhou became, and there was no harm in all benefits. Huan Wen also knew Zeng Hua's hardships, he knew that Zeng Hua was famous all over the world, but his reputation among Jiangzuo celebrities was not obvious, so there was no problem in recruiting Jiangyou's talents, but the conquest of Jiangzuo's celebrities was not so smooth. If he doesn't dig from himself, he really hasn't gone anywhere to find it, like the famous Hao Long and Luo You, who were all dug up from Huan Wen later.

Huan Wen had no choice but to nod and said: "Xuping's expedition to Fangping is really something that Huan can't ask for, and Yongzhou is the place where he can make great progress, and it is just right for Fangping." ”

Yuan Fangping then fell into his heart, and gave Zeng Hua a salute and said: "Fang Ping obeys his fate!" "Zeng Hua is a famous minister of Zhongxing, a great hero in the recovery of Xijing, and he is a well-known person who loves people like his life, just look at going out of Huanwen Mansion

Say. Chang'an is a good place to make a big difference.

"This is very good, Fang Ping can continue to guard filial piety in Anlu, and when I come back from Jiankang, he will return to Chang'an with me." Zeng Hua has arranged it now.

Huan Wen then introduced the personnel who followed him one by one. Wang Sima Wuji and other old acquaintances met one by one, sighing and sighing, followed by Huan Wen's new army and others. These people were all a little frightened and trembling in front of Zeng Hua, a famous minister. But the last one in the introduction is different.

I saw that this soldier who was called by Huan Wen to be Deng Yao was majestic and heroic, and he bowed generously to Zeng Hua Leilei: "Deng Yao has seen Lord Zeng? ”

Now Zeng Hua's eyes are poisonous, and he knows at a glance that this Deng Yao is not a layman, but how can such a talent be put to the end. Zeng Hua's puzzled eyes couldn't help but glance at the newly recruited subordinate, Yuan Fangping.

Yuan Fangping was stunned for a moment, hesitated for a moment and quickly said: "Deng Yao's character should be far away, he is the son of the famous general and the late Pingnan general Deng, who is extremely brave and powerful, and his anger covers the time, and the people of the time called him Fan Xu. Last year, there were Jiao in the water in the north of Xiangyang City, often harmed by people, and then drew the sword into the water, Jiao wrapped around its feet, and waved the sword to intercept the Jiao several sections and came out. In the end, Yuan Fangping's voice became lower and added, "Fang Ping and Ying Yuan have always been close, so they know one or two. ”

Zeng Hua understood Yuan Fangping's words, this Deng Yao was not very happy under Huan Wen for some reason, and Yuan Fangping, who had always been good with him, hoped that Zeng Hua could also dig Deng Yao to Chang'an to show his ambitions.

Zeng Hua turned to Huan Wen and said: "Duke Huan, Brother Ying Yuan and I hit it off at first sight, and I want to use him as a general, and I also ask Duke Huan to cut his love." ”

When Huan Wen heard this, what else could he do except smile bitterly, this kid simply regarded his Jingxiang as his mother's family, and if there was anything suitable, he would pack up and go back to Chang'an, he had been cut off once today, and he didn't care about this time.

So Zeng Hua officially recruited Deng Yao to join the army for the Zhenbei General's Mansion, asked him to arrange a family room, and after Zeng Hua returned from Jiankang, he and Yuan Fangping set off for Chang'an together.

That night, after the reception banquet, Huan Wen invited Zeng Hua to the secret room for talks, and sat with Huan Wen's three younger brothers, Huan Yun, Huan Huo, and Huan Chong.

Looking at this dazzling Huan family army, except for Huan Mi, the younger brother of Huan Wen who does not use the land, Huan Wen's younger brothers have all arrived, it seems that this Huan Gong is really virtuous and does not avoid relatives, and he is still a brother when he fights tigers!

"Xuping, how is the situation in Heluo now?" Huan Wen asked straight to the point.

Zeng Hua didn't dare to fool Huan Wen, and said bluntly: "Now Fu Jian is recuperating in Heluo, this person has great ambitions and great talents, once he is given time, this Heluo will definitely be managed by him." Therefore, if the imperial court wants to recover Heluo, the beginning of spring next year is the best time, and if it is delayed again, I am afraid it will be even more difficult, and the chances of winning are not great. ”

Huan Wen couldn't help but be silent when he heard this, and only asked after a while: "How many soldiers and horses does Xuping still have?" ”

"I have fought hard many times in Pseudo-Zhao, Liangzhou, and Fu Jian, and my strength has been greatly damaged. Moreover, there are Xianbei Xiongnu in the north and Liangzhou in the west, and there are too many places for defense, and the troops used for Kwantung are no more than 20,000 or 30,000. ”

Hearing this, Huan Wen was a little relieved, he was still a little worried that Zeng Hua's strength was too strong, and his Northern Expedition would fulfill him at that time. Now it sounds like this Zeng Xuping is really unwilling to use his strength for Heluo.

Huan Wen continued: "After I heard about the rebellion of the Shi clan in the north, I went to the imperial court many times to ask for a teacher to pass through the Central Plains. But it's been more than a year, and the court just doesn't approve it. I know that it was the imperial court that relied on Yangzhou Yin Hao to resist him. I know Yin Hao's personality, although he is the same celebrity as Zhenchang, but he is far less than Zhenchang, he is a person with great ambitions and talents, I am not afraid of him. ”

Speaking of this, Huan Wen sighed and said, "But with me alone, the Northern Expedition and recovering Heluo is simply a wishful dream." Now the opportunity is rare, but the court is still delaying, how is this good? ”

Zeng Hua smiled: "Why is Duke Huan so worried. Why didn't Duke Huan move to Wuchang (now Echeng, Hubei)? ”

"What do you mean?" Huan Wen's eyes lit up when he heard this suggestion.

"Duke Huan, if you move to Wuchang and ask for the Northern Expedition again, Jiankang will be shocked. Then his best way to deal with it is to send Yin Hao out of the Northern Expedition, and then take Huan Gong Jingxiang as a partial division. As long as these two groups of people and horses go north together, so that Fu Jian can divide the troops and horses, who is the main teacher and who is the partial teacher, how can it be manpower? ”

After listening to Zeng Hua's words, Huan Wen couldn't help laughing: "Is it really not humanly possible?" ”

On the second day, Huan Wen gathered 40,000 soldiers and horses, went down the river, and passed the Jiangdong and said: "There is no other provocation in the country, so they have to hold each other for a long time, although there are traces of monarchs and ministers, they are only detained, and the eight state scholars are not used for the country." repeatedly begged for the Northern Expedition, but did not listen to the edict. Today, 40,000 soldiers went to Jiankang to ask for their lives. And Zeng Hua followed the army and continued to march eastward.

Seeing the banner covering the sky and the swords and guns strict, Huan Huo couldn't help but ask Zeng Hua proudly: "Lord Zeng, what do you think of Jing Xiangjun?" Can you catch up with your army? ”

Zeng Hua smiled: "The Jingxiang army is the most elite in the world, how can I compare with the remote division of Guanlong." ”

Huan Wen next to him knew Zeng Hua's ability, this Jingxiang army was stronger than other armies, and it still relied on the one-and-a-half-trick method of selecting and training troops that he "stole from him". Now Huan Huo is actually showing off his military strength in front of Zeng Hua, isn't it Confucius selling books at the door, Guan Yu playing with a big knife in front of him, thinking of this, Huan Wen couldn't help but hurriedly drink Huan Huo.

Zeng Hua went with the army to Wuchang, and then said goodbye to Huan Wen and went straight to Jiankang.

Seeing Zeng Hua's back, Huan Wen suddenly felt that a faint depression in his heart suddenly disappeared, and his thinking seemed to be suddenly clearer. Suddenly, Huan Wen slapped the railing of the boat and said loudly: "It's broken! was calculated by this Zeng Xuping again. ”

Huan Yun, Huan Huo, and Huan Chong hurriedly asked, "Brother, why is this?" ”

"Xuping asked me to move to Wuchang and threaten Jiangdong. In this way, when he goes to Jiankang, he can blackmail me into respecting myself and have the capital to bargain with the court. Huan Wen said with a smile.

"Xu Ping, you are still the same old man, or even I am calculating, what else in this world is not calculated by you?" Huan Wen looked at the Zeng Huazao boat that disappeared in the distance, and said with a long smile.