In the blink of an eye, it has been the seventh year of Tianxuan.
The goshawk soars above the snow-dusted sky, occasionally emitting a chirp that makes the world feel lonely.
The rolling mountains, peaks and valleys were all covered in snow, and the Huihe River, which stretched for hundreds of miles on the land of Yunshuo, was completely missing.
There is only ice and snow between heaven and earth, endless ice and snow.
The city walls, towers, courtyards and streets of Shuozhou are also covered with snow, as if a huge seal of ice and snow is located in front of the mountains and rivers - at this time, Shuozhou has few people and the city is vast. Looking down from the sky, the top of the city
Hundreds of soldiers on duty were covered with snow and stood motionless like sculptures most of the time.
More than a hundred riders galloped out of the west valley, shattering the loneliness of heaven and earth, and quickly arrived in front of the south city gate.
The south city gate slowly opened, and just when this group of cavalry was about to enter the city, several cavalrymen were galloping towards Shuozhou City from the south.
The leading knight reined in his horse in front of the city gate and looked south hesitantly.
Lu Xiong reined in his horse in front of the city gate, dismounted and came to see Xu Huai.
He saw that the armor of many people behind Xu Huai was stained with blood, and there were still arrows that had not been taken out in the gaps in the armor and on the horses. They had obviously returned from a fierce battle.
Although so many people were chatting and laughing as usual, and many people recognized Lu Xiong, and they all nodded or said hello loudly, showing that their morale was very high, but except for the horses with many flight attendants, none of these people had anything to gain next to their saddles.
Seeing the enemy's head, Lu Xiong asked doubtfully: "Xu Huai, where did you just come back from?"
"In the past few days, mountain tigers have been coming out of the Western Mountains and harassing Shuozhou. This time we detected in advance that there are mountain tigers coming out to cause trouble. Of course, we have to be enthusiastic and greet them halfway!
"Xu Huai said to Lu Xiong with a smile.
Mountains such as Heituo Mountain, Monkey Mountain, Datan Mountain, and Heibao Mountain to the west of Shuozhou serve as the remnants of the Luliang Mountains, stretching for hundreds of miles to the north until they join the main chain of the Yinshan Mountains in Fengzhou.
On the map of Yunshuokan, this mountain range is collectively called Xishan. Xishan is a relatively typical plateau terrain with few high mountains. The various Tibetan tribes that have lived here for thousands of years are collectively called Shanhu people.
Xishan borders Guanchuan Mountain in Lanzhou to the south, Huihe River Valley to the west, Yinshan Mountain to the north, and the Yellow River to the west.
The Yellow River to the west of Xishan Mountain is the eastern section of Dajiziwan. It is the section of the Yellow River along the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain from west to east that is blocked by Xishan Mountain and then turns to flow south.
In this section of the Yellow River, the Hetao Plain to the north is controlled by the Dangxiang people in Xingqing Prefecture and Xiazhou, and in the south is Fuzhou and Linzhou controlled by Dai Viet. Piantou Village, one of the three fortresses, is located on this section of the Yellow River.
Although the Shanhu tribes have been vassal to the Khitan for a long time, the special geographical location of Xishan has determined that the Shanhu tribes have been trying to get their way from both sides for a long time and are prone to speculation.
This also determines that if one of the three parties has something to do, even if the other two parties will not send troops directly, they will try their best to make some fuss through the Shanhu tribes.
Seventeen years ago, the Khitans launched a brazen border provocation southward and invaded the Qing Dynasty, and were defeated by the Jingsheng Army. Although the two sides quickly ceased fighting, the Jingsheng Army and the Tianxiong Army also withdrew southward, and the Huihe River Valley was
It was returned to the Khitan, but the Khitan's military strength in the Huihe Valley declined severely, and the Shanhu tribes frequently launched rebellions with the instigation and support of the party members.
Brothers Cao Shixiong and Cao Shili rose up because Xiao Linshi had to rely on the strength of the Han army to suppress the Shanhu rebellion.
Sixteen or seventeen years later, Yue Yan resumed border provocations, and the party members in the west were once again ready to take action. Troops and horses gathered in Xiazhou in large numbers. At the same time, the Shanhu tribes in the Xishan area were more active than before.
In the past month or so, no Khitan soldiers and horses were seen coming from the direction of Datong or Yingzhou, but the cavalry of the Shanhu tribes came out from the Western Mountains at regular intervals to attack Shuozhou.
These mountain barbarians raided Shuozhou several times, raising the banner to recapture Shuozhou under the orders of Xiao Xinhan, who was left behind in Xijing.
However, this time, Xu Huai could not confirm whether the people behind the restlessness of the Shanhu tribes were Dangxiang people or Chihu people.
Although the Chihu people concentrated their main troops and horses to the east of the Xianbei Mountains at this time, and tried their best to attack the Khitan hinterlands such as Shangjing (Linhuang Prefecture), Zhongjing (Dading Prefecture), and Tokyo (Liaoyang Prefecture), the Chihu people's sphere of influence was still limited.
Having arrived at the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain as early as five or six years ago, it is difficult to guarantee that the Chihu people, who currently have the main goal of annexing the entire territory of Khitan, must not have contacted the Shanhu tribes south of Yinshan Mountain.
Of course, before the main force of the Chihu people's cavalry turned south, Xu Huai was not afraid of being defeated by Cao Shixiong. The 8,000 Qing Shun troops led by Cao Shili were defeated and abandoned, and had to surrender to the Khitan Shanhu Zhuge again.
What serious trouble can this cause?
No matter whether the Shanhu tribes are behind the Shanhu tribes are reckless Dangxiang people or Chihu people who have already planned to conquer Yunshuo, since they are willing to help the tiger, Xu Huai doesn't mind using them to sharpen the blades of the Tongbai soldiers, and by the way, he can take it from their hands.
Grab more scarce war horse resources.
Xu Huai told Lu Xiong about the two recent conflicts between Shuozhou and the Shanhu people, and also expressed his suspicion that the reason for the unrest among the Shanhu tribes this time was probably not the Dangxiang people, but the Chihu people.
"The imperial court has just received a new decree, and Prime Minister Wang Zhen specially asked me to come over and speak to you." Lu Xiong said.
"Has the responsibility for the Tianxiong Army's defeat in Datong finally been clarified?" Xu Huai asked.
"How can we clarify this confusing account? In addition, the officials did not seem to have much impact on Cai Qing's royal family and the assassination of Yue Hailou this time. Ge Boyi seized the Marquis of Wei Yuan and was demoted to Jinzhou for observation
The envoy led the Ge family to move to Bianjing. Liu Shizhong served as the envoy of Xuanfu and the envoy of Hedong Economic Strategy. Cai Yuanyou, Wang Zhenxiangong, Wang Fanlangjun, and Zhu Hanglangjun all have to return to the capital under the imperial edict this time! " Lu
Xiong said.
"Mr. Zhu Hang is also ordered to return to Beijing this time? Will Guo Zhongxiong continue to inform the Lanzhou military?" Xu Huai asked in shock.
The Holy Family of Cai Qing was flourishing, and Yue Hailou assassinated Ge Boyi. As long as the Cai Clan was cut off early, the foundation of the Cai Clan might not be shaken. Xu Huai had already expected this.
Dai Viet has always admired the art of checks and balances. No matter how favored a minister is, the DPRK and China will basically not let him control all the military and political power in one direction.
Under Dai Viet's current regulations, even if the Cai clique controls the situation in Hedong at a higher level, Wang Zhen and Wang Fan should be extremely confident in trying to get Zhu Hang, who has made great achievements, to go out to Lanzhou and control the troops on the west wing.
thing.
Therefore, Xu Huai confidently told Xiao Linshi very early that they could make a substantial push for a truce and an end to the war on the west wing.
He had no idea that Zhu Hang would also be recalled to Bianjing this time.
"Guo Zhongxiong was transferred to deputy envoy of economic strategy, Wang Fanlangjun recommended Cao Shixiong to go to Lanzhou, and the court decided to merge the Qing Shun Army into the Tianxiong Army, and Cao Shixiong will also lead the Tianxiong Army..." Lu Xiong said.
"What! It was Wang Fanlang who recommended Cao Shixiong!"
Xu Huai looked at Lu Xiong dumbfounded, and after a long while he asked painfully,
"Three thousand Tongbai Mountain soldiers are really so insignificant in the eyes of Prime Minister Wang Zhen. Didn't you come over to inform us about such an important matter until it was a foregone conclusion?"
"Ms. Wang Zhen and Mr. Zhu Han didn't agree with it at first, but Mr. Wang Fan insisted on it." Lu Xiong said guiltily.
"Since Mr. Wang Fanlang has determined in his heart that everyone in Tongbai Mountain will drag the Wang family into a place of eternal disaster, and is even afraid that Mr. Zhu Han will be too deeply involved with us, he must drag Mr. Zhu Han back to Bianjing. I
There is nothing more to say," Xu Huai stood under the city gate, closed his eyes, and said slowly, "Master Lu, please come back. I will apologize to Master Lu alone in the future, but I will not invite Master Lu in today.
Shuozhou City—Go back and tell Mr. Wang Fanlang that this is my, Xu Huai’s attitude!”
Lu Xiong was stunned for a while. He knew that Xu Huai would be dissatisfied if he didn't talk to Xu Huai at all about recommending candidates for the post of governor of Lanzhou. However, he did not expect that Xu Huai's reaction would be so strong that he was not even allowed to enter.
Shuozhou City takes a breather.
Xu Xin'an and Yin Peng were both stunned.
They were very dissatisfied with Wang Fan, but since the Tongbai Mountain Bandit Rebellion, Lu Xiong and Lu Xiong had become both teachers and friends, and neither of them had ever blushed. However, they did not expect that Xu Huai would become so angry that he would not recognize any of his relatives.
It’s time to drive Lu Xiong away directly.
Look again at Xu Huai standing facing the city wall, holding his sword in his hand, the veins on the back of his hand and behind his ears are twitching, and no one dares to come forward to persuade him.
"Master Lu, please go. From now on, the Wang family will take the Wang family's Yangguan Road, and we will take our single-plank bridge!" Xu Huai waved his hand, without intending to turn his head to look at Lu Xiong again. He gritted his teeth and said, "If you don't leave, I'm afraid I will control you."
I will order you to be detained! See you in the future!"
Seeing Xu Huai's determination, Lu Xiong faced Xu Xin'an in embarrassment. Yin Penggong cupped his hands, got on his horse, turned around and galloped south with his entourage, and soon disappeared in the heavy snow.
"Master Lu is gone?" Xu Wuqi got the news from Xu Xin'an and rushed out in a hurry. Lu Xiong could no longer be seen. Seeing that Xu Huai was still standing motionless in front of the city gate, he walked over and asked, "Cao Shixiong is here to send Shuo."
Zhounan has great achievements; in the Great Tongbao War, only Cao Shili fought with the most courageous troops and killed many enemies. Even if Cao Shili finally escaped with Ge Huaicong, the blame should not be traced to him... This appointment by the imperial court
Any questions?"
"Master Wang, Zhu Hang and others are all confused about this matter! They are so confused that they are ruining things!" Xu Huai punched the city wall hard, and then he couldn't control himself and started to curse, "Khitan's Han army
, when did the Han generals consider themselves to be the people of Dai Viet? When did they have loyalty to Dai Viet? Didn't they tell the lie a hundred times or ten thousand times before they took it seriously! Cao Shixiong, Cao Shili betrayed the old master
, they had hesitated to raise the butcher's knife against their old master, but was their hesitation out of their hearts? At this time, couldn't you still see that they were speculators through and through? And the Tianxiong Army was defeated so miserably in Datong, absolutely
It will not make them more loyal to Dai Viet, it will only prompt them to surrender without hesitation when the Red Hu cavalry goes south..."
