The floating clouds are flickering, the wind and clouds are in the middle of the clouds, the clouds and shadows inside and outside the city of Ezhou are overturned, and the coolness of autumn is accompanied by gusts of breeze to make people feel inexplicably chilly.

At dawn the next day, Zong Zheng came out of the tent, the black lines under his eyes were faint, and he looked closely, connected to the camp, the cooking smoke curled, and the soldiers were burying the pot and cooking.

Zong Zheng felt a little dizzy, so he walked along the camp tent, and unconsciously came to Zhang Rou's camp tent, Zhang Rou just finished discussing the matter of going north with Dong Wenbing, and when he sent Dong Wenbing out of the camp, he saw Zong Zheng, and shouted to Zong Zheng: "Mei Shaoxia." ”

When Zong Zheng heard the shout, he looked up and saw that it was General Zhang and General Dong, so he stepped forward to greet him and said, "General Zhang, General Dong." ”

Zhang Rou politely invited Zong Zheng to the camp tent, Zong Zheng thought that General Zhang and General Dong were both veterans, and they must know the rivers and lakes and the national court situation very well, so he wanted to take this opportunity to chat and ask the two about some things to solve the doubts in his heart. Then he said to the two of them politely,

"The two generals are seniors, and the juniors have many doubts in their hearts and are about to ask the two, I wonder if the two generals are willing to answer the doubts in the hearts of the juniors?"

Dong Wenbing wanted to leave, but seeing Zong Zheng's sincere pleading, thinking that Zong Zheng was a distinguished guest, how could he not agree to such a request, so he readily agreed.

Zhang Rou was naturally willing, and hurriedly invited: "It's not a place to talk outside, let's go in and talk!"

The three of them entered the tent in turn, and sat down around the empty seats.

The tent furnishings are simple, except for the bed and the knife holder, there is no other conspicuous thing, Zhang Rou was born in the Central Plains, the tea of the Central Plains is very obsessed, the tent must burn a pot of hot tea at any time for tea, therefore, there is a pot of hot tea boiling in the tent, and the spout is spraying white heat, which makes people enter and can't help but be full of warmth.

Zong Zheng saw the two generals sitting still, thinking that the two generals were busy with military affairs, so he bluntly said the subject, so he said: "The king has already told me about dividing his troops to go north, and I am planning a proper plan for the king, but I have some doubts in my heart, the two generals have rich qualifications, and I hope to be able to guide the maze." ”

Zhang Rou and Dong Wenbing couldn't help but be quite surprised when they heard Zong Zheng mention the division of troops to the north, this matter is a strategic plan, it is a very secret matter, the king will tell such an important matter, and let Mei Shaoxia plan and strategize, he must be very trustworthy Mei Shaoxia, and Mei Shaoxia must also be outstanding.

Zhang Rou and Dong Wenbing looked at each other, and after they suddenly understood, the surprise on their faces subsided, and they turned to flat, after all, they were veterans who had been on the battlefield for a long time and had rich experience.

"In this case, if Shaoxia has any questions, even if he asks, if General Dong and I know, we will tell each other calmly. Zhang Rou is modest and steady, and speaks politely and politely, although he is a veteran of the battlefield, he has the demeanor of an elegant scribe.

Dong Wenbing nodded slightly, expressing his willingness to tell him calmly.

Zong Zheng had no scruples, so he asked calmly: "Both of them should be from the Central Plains, they are really Han, why don't they serve the Song lord, but help the Mongolian foreigners?"

Zhang Rou and Dong Wenbing were stunned by this question, if it wasn't for Zong Zheng saving Kublai Khan, the two would have to suspect that Zong was a spy in the Southern Song Dynasty, but since the king told him about going north, he naturally trusted Zong Zheng, and Zong Zheng asked about it, there must be a reason, and the two didn't think too much.

"Mei Shaoxia is also Han, so why did he save the king?" Dong Wenbing asked rhetorically,

Zong Zheng heard Dong Wenbing's meaning, and hurriedly explained: "Don't misunderstand the two generals, since I asked, I have my own reasoning, and it is a matter of planning, I must be cautious, if there is something offended, I hope that the two generals Haihan." ”

Zhang Rou stroked her beard, looked calm, and said in a calm tone: "That's right, General Dong and I were indeed from the Central Plains, but at that time, most of the Central Plains had been ruled by the Jin people, and after the Mongols destroyed the Jin, we also considered the question of where to go." Zhang Rou said this, got up and took the pot of tea that had been boiling, and poured two cups of hot tea for Zong Zheng and General Dong.

Zhang Rou pointed to the hot steam bubbling on Zongzheng's cup and continued: "The troubled times are like boiling water, when the boiling water pours out, the water vapor is swirling, so that people can't see the tea in the teacup clearly, everyone in the world is like this, floating eyes on the troubled times, but forgetting the most fundamental thing, for the people who taste tea, the most important thing is not to see the color of the tea, but to be able to taste the charm of tea." ”

Zong Zheng was a little confused by Zhang Rou's words, not that General Zhang Rou was so broad and profound, nor that Zong Zheng was not highly perceptive, but that Zong Zheng was not familiar with the world and did not know much about the major events in the world, so it was difficult to understand the implied meaning of General Zhang Rou.

Some things are like this, only after experiencing and experiencing them thoroughly, can we appreciate and feel the charm in our bones, and we can really increase our experience and knowledge. After all, Zongzheng was born in the fairy forest, and if he has been away from the world for too long, he will inevitably be born too ignorant.

"Can General Zhang say it clearly, I still don't understand?" Zong Zheng said bluntly, looking at Zhang Rou with a confused expression.

Zhang Rou did not explain what Fang Cai said, but talked about the current situation, his eyes were deep, his face was solemn, and he said,

"Since the shame of Jingkang, the entire Song Dynasty is either a traitorous minister, or the emperor is mediocre and incompetent, and finally the government is clear, the emperor is wise, but it is quite a disaster of military rebellion, and the people actually suffer a lot; Western Xia and Dali swept away like clouds, and the Mongol Song Dynasty had become a general trend, and senseless resistance would only increase the killings, and would only bring greater casualties to the people. ”

After listening to what Zhang Rou said, Zong Zheng was quite touched, the war will inevitably have casualties, the money and food consumed come from the people, which of the soldiers who fought is not from the people's home, once killed, there will be another widow's family, thinking of the tragic war in Diaoyu City, remembering that he planned to destroy Meng Ge's grain and grass, Zong Zheng felt a little self-blame and sadness.

"According to General Zhang, can Mongolia bring happiness to the people?" Zong Zheng couldn't help but ask,

Before Zhang Rou could answer, Dong Wenbing couldn't hold it back, and replied before Zhang Rou: "Not necessarily." ”

Zong Zheng was very surprised by Dong Wenbing's answer, and couldn't help but repeat: "Not necessarily?" His eyes were full of doubts and incomprehension.

Zhang Rou was also stunned by General Dong's answer, and also cast a puzzled look at General Dong, Dong Wenbing looked at Zhang and Zong, and continued,

"The reason why I say not necessarily is because it depends on who is in charge of Mongolia, who can ascend to the throne of the Great Khan, and truly control the overall situation of Mongolia. ”

As soon as Dong Wenbing's words came out, Zhang Rou suddenly became enlightened, and knew Dong Wenbing's intention to say that Dongzong was making suggestions for Kublai Khan's fight for Khan, and immediately echoed,

"What General Dong said is very true, if our prince inherits the throne, he can protect the well-being of all the people, and if the king of Mobei inherits the throne, then the world can only continue to be in chaos. ”

Zong Zheng asked, "How do you say this?"

Zhang Rou explained: "The first Khan had already passed the throne to our prince before his death, but now the prince's younger brother Mobei King secretly usurped the throne and wanted to call the Khan in Helin, this time he sent someone to assassinate the prince, if the prince died, it would be the king of Mobei as the Mongolian Great Khan, and at that time, the people of our Great Song Dynasty will suffer, because in the eyes of the King of Mobei, there are only the interests of the Mongolian clan, where will care about the life and death of our Great Song people." ”

"And our Mo Nan King is different, he has been influenced by Sinology and Confucianism since he was a child, and he has a good way of governing the country and the world, he is a prince who puts the people first, and the Mongolian army will burn and rob everywhere he goes, but our prince has never been like this, Mei Shaoxia imagines, if such a prince ascends to the throne and dominates the world in the future, how can he not treat the people of the world well?" Dong Wenbing took Zhang Rou's words and said in a deep tone,

Zhang Rou agreed: "What General Dong said is very true, I am also determined to help the king of Mo Nan, and swear to follow him, if this time, the prince can not successfully win the throne, I will also live in seclusion, and there is no other will." ”

Zong Zheng looked at the sincere eyes of the two, remembered the conversation with Kublai Khan last night, and changed his opinion of Kublai Khan a lot, but when he thought of the Valley of Beauty, he still felt resentful, and he didn't dare to believe what Zhang and Dong said.

On the way from the Beauty Valley to Ezhou, Zong Zheng has been hearing the people chanting the name Jia Nidao, after inquiry, only to know that Jia Nidao is the prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, the power minister of the prosperous time, this time the appointment is in charge of the defense of Ezhou, the key to the success or failure of the bureau he laid is also in this person, therefore, Zong Zheng did not dare to be careless, or decided to ask Zhang and Dong again two veterans for further confirmation.

"What do the two generals think of Jia Rudao?" After a period of silence, Zong Zheng took a sip of tea and asked again,

Zhang Rou heard Zong Zheng mention Jia Rudao, and thought that it must be related to his strategy, so he evaluated this person truthfully and objectively, Zhang Rou said,

Jia seems to be a civil official, but in charge of the military position, therefore, less courage, but so happy, and quite greedy for money in private, this time he was ordered to be responsible for the defense of Ezhou City, but it can be seen that there are some means of defending the city, but after all, it is not a climate, too conservative, or he has always been too comfortable He is a little greedy for life and afraid of death, and lacks the heroism of a general. ”

Dong Wenbing did not comment on this person, but added: "Nowadays, how many people in the Southern Song Dynasty are not like this? There was some dissatisfaction and harshness in the words.

After listening to what Zhang Rou said, Zong Zheng had another chance of winning the situation he was planning.

Subsequently, Zong Zheng and the two generals talked about the relationship between the Central Plains martial arts and the Mongolian and Southern Song Dynasty courts, after some detailed chats, but solved a lot of questions in the heart, although not to find out all the doubts in the heart, but at least the overall pattern of the imperial court and the rivers and lakes martial arts has a preliminary understanding.

After drinking tea again and again, the words that should be asked have been almost asked, Zong Zheng listened to the explanations of the two veterans, felt a lot more at ease, and bowed and thanked him, and returned to his camp to rest in peace!