Smoke rose outside Shuofang City, and from time to time scouts came back to report the military situation. Ren Xuan was so anxious in the lobby of the Taishou Mansion that he kept chanting: "The Xiongnu are going to attack the city, the Xiongnu are going to attack the city." "Send a servant to hurry up and ask the lieutenant to come over to discuss the matter.

The lieutenant came in a hurry, Ren Xuan became even more nervous, and couldn't help but tremble.

The two sat down, and Ren Xuan didn't care about greetings, and asked, "How many defenders are there in the city, and can you hold it?" ”

The lieutenant was very calm and replied: "After the Monan Xiongnu was named a minister, the imperial court has been reducing the garrison over the years in order to save expenses, and there are only 3,000 cavalry and less than 8,000 foot soldiers in Shuofang. I'm afraid there are more than 100,000 people who control the strings of the Huns."

"How could the Huns have so many soldiers?" Ren Xuan asked puzzled.

"The Huns are both soldiers and civilians, usually grazing, once Shan Yu gives the order, they will pick up the knife and kill it."

Ren Xuan shook his head and sighed, and asked again: "What about the defenders on our Great Wall?" ”

"It's all Tuntian troops, taking turns on duty, and calling the police in distress."

"That's how it's good, that's how it's good." Ren Xuan was so anxious that he stood up again and turned around.

"Do you sit down, I get dizzy." The lieutenant said angrily.

"Good, good, good. Can we hold the city? Ren Xuan sat down with his waist bent, staring at the lieutenant, his eyes full of anticipation.

Du Wei thought for a while, and said slowly: "This matter is very strange. Captain Jilusai reported that King Youxian came with his troops and kept saying that he was here to get the grain allocated by the imperial court. However, we did not receive orders for the allocation of food, and there was no surplus food in the barracks. Could have spoken well and made things clear. But our soldier here released a cold arrow and wounded the Right Virtuous King. The Huns were angry, so they captured Jilusai and threatened to capture Shuofang. ”

Ren Xuan was puzzled: "I have not received an order from the imperial court to allocate winter food to the Monan Xiongnu." ”

Du Wei said: "The imperial court has allocated food to help them in the past. However, it is still the end of summer, there is no disaster in the grassland, and the tuntian millet has just begun to be harvested, how can the imperial court allocate grain at this time? ”

The two of them looked at each other, both wondering what the hell was going on.

Ren Xuan asked again: "Then who released the arrow?" ”

"I also checked, it's a pawn who only joined the army two days ago."

"What about people?"

"Dead in battle."

Ren Xuan sighed and shook his head helplessly.

Du Wei frowned, and said with a puzzled expression: "After King Youxian captured the Jilu Stopper, I sent someone over to reprimand him for his treachery. But the right king said that we were here to provoke the trouble, and said that a few days ago, someone saw the general of Duliao Fan Mingyou inspecting the Great Wall and preparing to attack them. ”

"Maybe I'm mistaken." Ren Xuan was a little weak-hearted, and turned his face to look out the door.

"I think so too, why don't I know that General Duliao is coming to Shuofang. But the Huns said that those people had seen General Liao in the Western Regions, and they would not admit their mistake. ”

Ren Xuan didn't dare to speak, and complained to Fan Youming in his heart, can't he stay in the house well, he has to climb the Great Wall, and now he can't tell. He digressed and asked, "What do we do now?" Do you want to get some food for them first? ”

Du Wei glanced at him coldly: "You have extra food?" ”

Ren Xuan said, "Think of a way." ”

"Now the autumn grain has not been harvested, and there is no surplus food in the people's homes. Besides, you can't just give what you want. Without the instructions of the imperial court, we cannot make decisions without authorization, and there is no trivial matter at the border. ”

"How is that?" Ren Xuan lowered his head and sighed.

The lieutenant did not have much contact with the newly appointed Taishou, and a look of contempt appeared on his face as he looked sluggish.

Ren Xuan only cared about his thoughts, and did not notice Du Wei's expression. He hesitated again and again, and said weakly: "We still have to be ready for battle. ”

The lieutenant sat up straight with a serious expression: "The end of the war has started, you and I have the responsibility to defend the land." I will lead my army to hold the city, even if I fight to the last soldier. ”

Ren Xuan was stunned for a moment, and seemed to be infected, and said: "This mansion also coexists and dies with Shuo Fang." After a moment's hesitation, he leaned in and asked, "What do I need to do?" ”

Du Wei was so strange, and while looking at him, he thought, you are too guarded, and you don't know what your responsibilities are. But after thinking about it, Ren Xuanyuan was a Beijing official, and it was understandable that he was panicked when he encountered such a major event not long after he arrived. So he patiently said: "I am duty-bound to defend the city. However, as soon as the military supplies are met, it is expected that the Taishou will be dispatched. In addition, it is necessary to send officials to the streets to maintain order, check suspicious people, etc., and beware of spies. Especially the people who have come from outside the city in recent days. ”

Ren Xuan didn't know the bottom in his heart, and nodded again and again after listening.

Seeing that he had been worried, Du Wei was relieved: "We will immediately report to the imperial court with an urgent report of 600 li, and then send messengers to Wuyuan County, Yunzhong County, and Xihe County to ask for reinforcements, and at the same time gather the Tuntian army as a reserve, Shuofang will not fall." ”

When Ren Xuan heard him say this, he wanted to be at ease, and the two discussed some preparation measures. After sending off the lieutenant, Ren Xuan turned around and ran to the courtyard where Fan Minh You lived.

Fan Mingyou was also restless, anxiously waiting for Ren Xuan to come over. As soon as I saw him coming, I quickly pulled him into the house and asked what was going on.

Ren Xuan explained the reasons for this in detail.

Fan Mingyou pondered for a long time and asked, "You really haven't received a letter from the imperial court?" ”

"Nope." Ren Xuan said affirmatively, and then added: "I open and read all official letters from the imperial court as soon as I receive them, and I dare not delay." There was no official letter of disbursement of food. ”

Fan Mingyou pondered for a long time, and suddenly realized that this was the means that the Huo Fu messenger said to sit on a few charges. "Just to sit on a few charges, they actually provoked a border war." He thought it was incredible.

Ren Xuan remembered Du Wei's words again, and said angrily: "You climbed the Great Wall that day and were seen by the Huns, saying that you were preparing to attack them. ”

Fan Mingyou couldn't cry or laugh, and shook his head again and again. At this time, he already had the bottom in his heart, and this battle was a bluff, so he asked: "How is the commander deployed?" ”

Ren Xuan said the deployment of the commander, and Fan Mingyou said: "The commander is right, Shuofang will not fall." You just do as he says, but the six hundred miles are urgently changed to ordinary post keepers, and the content should be written gently, emphasizing or causing misunderstanding. Now Huo Shan is still in charge of the book, and if the report is delivered to him first, he will deal with it. After thinking for a while, he said: "Send someone to Mo Nan Dan Yu Longting again, and say that the matter of allocating food has not yet received the approval of the imperial court, or there is a misunderstanding." The parties should not escalate the situation. ”

Ren Xuan said worriedly: "I shot and injured the Right Xian King, I'm afraid the Huns won't give up." ”

Fan Mingyou disagreed: "Getting along in harmony is the overall situation, and the Monan Xiongnu Shan Yu is also an understanding person." It is estimated that the right Xianwang made his own decision and captured the chicken deer stopper. However, they decided that the imperial court wanted to allocate food, and it was not easy to refuse in one go. After I return to Chang'an, I will talk to the great Sima Huo Yu and ask the imperial court to allocate some food in the past. ”

He picked up the bowl and took a sip of water, his expression relaxed, and said, "This matter will slowly subside in a few days." ”

When Ren Xuan heard him say this, he was in a much better mood, and then he felt a sore back, so he supported his waist with both hands, straightened up and twisted a few times, and said, "I'll go and tell the lieutenant, don't be so nervous." ”

Fan Mingyou almost jumped up when he heard this, slapped the water bowl on the table, and raised his voice and said: "No, the war preparations that should be done still have to be done." What I just said must not be leaked, you can know it yourself, and let others do what they do. ”

Ren Xuan was startled and looked at him blankly.

"However, you must take care of the captain, and you must not take the initiative to attack." Fan Mingyou didn't want to be too clear with him, so he admonished.

Although Ren Xuan still had many questions, he also understood that Shuo Fang would not fall, so he relieved his heart and said goodbye.

"What's going on?" Ren Xuan walked out of the yard and muttered. After a busy day, he was also tired, so he went straight home.

Ren Xuan's family stayed in Chang'an and only brought a concubine to take office. After returning home, the concubine untied his clothes and changed into a Yanju Zen robe.

Ren Xuan sat comfortably in front of the lacquer table, and the concubine put the dishes on the table the same way, and poured wine. Ren Xuan saw her blushing and fluttering, and she was also emotional, and took her into his arms. In this hot summer, the concubine was only wearing a wide-sleeved Zen robe, Ren Xuan hugged her tightly with his left hand, and his right hand reached into his sleeve, and he walked around the delicate body. After a while, the two were emotional, lingering for a long time.

Ren Xuan was in a good mood and took a sip of wine. The concubine put on her Zen clothes, moved over and poured the wine full, and said, "Lang Jun, I saw you sad in the morning, but what's the matter?" ”

Ren Xuan waved his hand and said, "It's okay, it's okay." He told him about the conflict between the border and Pham Minh You.

The concubine frowned tightly when she heard this, hesitated for a while, and said, "Lang Jun, this matter is really strange, I'm afraid Huo Fu can't get rid of it." This is not a trivial matter to provoke a border dispute, and we should not mix too much into it, so as not to fall into it. ”

Ren Xuan nodded again and again: "That's what Madam said, so I don't ask, let them toss." The two of them drank together, and they drank drunkly.

"When Fan Mingyou will escort Chun Yuji back to Chang'an, I will be relieved." Ren Xuan drunkenly closed his eyes and muttered, lay down in the arms of the concubine, and then fell asleep.