The military situation was urgent. Xu Huai and the others had eaten for the night and could not just go back to rest. They also had to accompany King Jing Zhao Tuan to inspect the four cities.
King Jing understood that it was not easy for Qian Shangduan to travel for days and asked him to rest first, but Qian Shangduan still insisted on supporting his already exhausted body and limped along to the patrol camp.
Ling Jian, Yu Gong, Yu Zheng, and Han Wende were stationed directly in the war tents and towers on the city wall. Zhou Shu and Chen Jin were stationed in the Beicheng and Xicheng barracks; Liu Shiwang's auxiliary troops and Tongbai Mountain soldiers
, were stationed in the barracks to the left and right of the palace.
The soldiers of the mausoleum guarding army were all carefully selected. They were all tall and tall, much braver and braver than the skinny soldiers selected in the county. Their armors were also complete and could even be said to be gorgeous. There were also soldiers in the city.
There are hundreds of fat and docile horses, but the soldiers guarding the mausoleum usually practice all kinds of beautiful ceremonial formations. The swords, bows, halberds and crossbows are mostly for decoration, and few of them can be said to be proficient in bows and horses.
Now that the troops and horses defending the city have just been adjusted, there is no chance to sleep in the war tents or towers. With the help of piles of bonfires on the city wall, the military officials are urging the soldiers to seize the time to familiarize themselves with various offensive and defensive weapons.
Zhou Shu, General Chen Jin, was considered to be a general in the army guarding the mausoleum. At the same time, he was doubtful that the army guarding the mausoleum was dismantled and torn into pieces. He couldn't say he was very excited in front of King Jing Zhao Tuan.
However, Ling Jian, Yu Gong and others suddenly stood up among the soldiers. Deep in their hearts, they were grateful to King Jing Zhao Tuan and desperately wanted to show their performance in defending the city. At this time, they did not dare to relax at all.
After accompanying King Jing Zhao Tuan on his inspection of the city, it was already dark. There were also clusters of bonfires on the banks of the Yiluo River. From time to time, small teams of captives roared and approached the city. They shot two arrows suddenly, but Xu Huai could not keep an eye on him from beginning to end.
At the top of the city, he also returned to the garrison to rest first; Zhang Xin, however, was more diligent than Xu Huai and did not dare to go down to the top of the city easily.
The Tongbaishan soldiers were stationed in an independent barracks in the city. It was originally the place where the clan guards and horses were stationed. It was quite spacious:
There is a small school yard for soldiers and horses to train, a barracks, and a public house where generals are on call. The generals' quarters are also quite neat. There are also stables that are spacious enough, and five or six hundred war horses can be driven into them and kept there without any problems.
"The soldiers guarding the mausoleum are still just superficial. They have no training in offensive and defensive weapons. Why don't you select dozens of veterans to join each team for guidance?" Although the man was very tired, but the situation was like this, Lu
Xiongye didn't want to rest, so he sat in front of the brazier and asked Xu Huai.
Lu Xiong has been in the army for many years. Although he has never held a prominent position, he is more familiar with the most basic offensive and combat methods in the army than anyone else. Otherwise, he would not be able to guide everyone during the bandit rebellion in Tongbai Mountain. He knew Xu Wujiang,
Xu Xin'an, Tang Pan and others were both teachers and friends.
When he and Xu Huai accompanied King Jing on a tour of the city just now, they naturally saw a lot of things that he didn't understand, but there were some things he would only ask Xu Huai privately.
At this time, those sitting around the brazier in the public hall were Xu Huai, Wang Ju, Guo Junpan, Xu Wujiang, Zhou Jing and others.
Xu Wujiang also saw that there were many shortcomings in the soldiers and horses defending the city, but Xu Huai did not do what he could to make up for it.
Xu Huai took a long iron drill, stirred up the charcoal fire in the brazier, and said: "Gongxian is not difficult to defend. If the soldiers cannot capture Gongxian in ten days, they should consider building a base at Hulao Pass."
Blockade line, and when the time comes to attack Hulao Pass, it is the Western Army's business, we can't do everything..."
"This doesn't seem to have anything to do with what I said, does it?" Lu Xiong asked in confusion, "Add some veterans to defend the city. In the next battle to defend the city, the casualties should be greatly reduced.
!”
Xu Huai waved his hand to the guard standing in front of the corridor, indicating to close the door, and opened a stream of sparks, and then asked Lu Xiong: "I said, what if something bad happens to the emperor today? Who does Mr. Lu hope that the new emperor will be King Lu?"
, or King Jing?”
Lu Xiong was slightly startled. Xu Huai said that defending the city was not difficult, and then turned the topic to the issue of establishing a direct descendant. Of course, he ignored the many confusions he had seen just now and asked what the problem was, and said:
"I don't have much contact with King Jing, but I also feel that King Jing is an open-minded person. And the defense of Gong County is related to the eastward advance of the Western Army. King Jing doesn't seem to have any thoughts on these details. I don't think you
Need to worry more.”
"..." Xu Huai smiled and said, "I also think that King Jing is much stronger than King Lu. Simply to protect Gong County, I shouldn't tie myself up, but my concern is not with King Jing; I have never
I never cared about anyone."
"It's not about worrying about a certain person, but worrying about a certain type of people?" Lu Xiong asked.
Xu Huai nodded and said: "The person who can really determine King Jing's chance of winning is not a certain person, but a certain type of person. It may be a bit complicated to say this. Let's start with the specifics. Although I stayed in Bianliang for a long time
It’s very short, but Wang Xiang left me in Bianliang, Wang Boqian, Wang Qiyong and others refuted it. There are various reasons, subtle, I actually understand them even if Wang Xiang and Mr. Lu don’t tell them. Tongbai Mountain banditry, I have to use tricks.
Seeking survival. The bandits left Tongbai Mountain in dilapidated condition. The men were gone from ten to three or four, and their vitality was severely damaged. I followed Wang Xiang northward. One of my purposes was to gather more Tongbai Mountain from this doomed defeat of the Yan war.
The man returned home and tried his best to help the people of Lanzhou go south, in order to accumulate strength for the Hehuai War that may last for many years. I have calculated in every possible way, and I have a clear conscience. I am worthy of the military exploits I made in Lanshuo.
Anyone, but my various calculations are seen as having ulterior motives in the eyes of others, but I am the son of Wang Xiaocheng. I dare say that Zhang Xin and Qian Shangduan must also have ideas about this. Ling Jian, Yu Gong and others, I
Arrange the old soldiers to go in. Mr. Lu, you know that I am here to defend the city. King Jing has a broad mind and will not care about these minutiae. But after defending the city, can Zhang Xin and Qian Shangduan recognize that Ling Jian, Yu Gong and other troops can
Definitely rely on King Jing as a direct descendant? Of course, Qian Shangduan, Zhang Xin has the idea of fighting for King Jing, and will do everything possible to win over Ling Jian and others, but back to the original question, what can really determine who King Jing is?
The winner is not a certain person, but a certain type of people. After King Jing defended the city, he relied on Ling Jian, Yu Gong and others as his direct descendants. If in the eyes of a certain type of people, Ling Jian, Yu Gong and others were regarded as
If it’s not pure, does that mean we are hindering King Jing?”
"Do you want to use the battle to defend the city to build a pure lineage of troops for King Jing, so as to compete for the title of heir?" Lu Xiong asked blankly.
"..." Xu Huai nodded and said, "If you don't do some things, you may cause unnecessary casualties, but if you do some things, even if you don't care what other people think, just Qian Shangduan, Zhang Xiner
When people have doubts, the negative impact is difficult to estimate. I can put it more bluntly with Mr. Lu. The matter of fighting for heirs is not as long-term as everyone thinks. It is not even something that can be discussed in the long term. It is likely that it will be discussed this time.
When the Chihu people are expelled from Hehuai, these problems will become more acute. Qian Shangduan, Zhang Xin and others have doubts, but it seems that they will not directly hinder anything, and they are not even likely to directly conflict with us.
Contradictions, but as long as they have doubts, they will become hesitant in promoting the fight for heirs..."
Lu Xiong understood that what Xu Huai wanted to eliminate was actually Qian Shangduan's worries.
There were many concubines in the harem, and the official family had more than ten heirs.
No matter whether it is the prince or the people around the prince, it is impossible for him to have no idea about that position.
King Jing and Qian Shangduan are definitely not exceptions.
But now that the prince has been established, and the official family favors the three princes born to Queen Duanshu, even if others have ideas, they will only bury them deeply in their hearts and dare not express them easily.
Qian Shangduan was a member of Prince Jing's Mansion and was the head of the civil servants in Prince Jing's Mansion. On the one hand, he was a close official of Prince Jing's Mansion. On the other hand, he was sent by the imperial court or officials to the Prince Jing's Mansion to advise and monitor King Jing's words and deeds.
people.
Qian Shangduan also became very subtle.
If he wants King Jing to fight for the throne, then he is the direct descendant of King Jing; if he does not want King Jing to fight for the throne, if there is any trouble with King Jing, he has the right to dissuade him, which will become a big obstacle.
Qian Shangduan originally had opinions about Xu Huai, which anyone with a discerning eye could see.
It would have been more beneficial to defend the city if Xu Huai had deployed hundreds of old soldiers and placed them among the soldiers and horses defending the city, but in Qian Shangduan's eyes, he had ulterior motives.
After defending the city, Qian Shangduan would only advise King Jing to return to Bianliang quickly.
However, Ling Jian, Yu Gong and other tribes are always pure and can be relied upon and controlled by King Jing. Will Qian Shangduan's mind undergo a subtle change, and will he want to strive for the merit of being a dragon?
Xu Wujiang patted his forehead and said: "This Qian Shangduan was very harsh on you for encouraging His Highness to come to guard Gong County along the way, but after we met, he was very polite to you. I thought he was just a Pili Yangqiu person."
Well, I didn’t expect the root to come from here!”
"There are still many things that need to be improved in the deployment of the city defense. Next, Uncle Seventeenth and Master Lu may need to spend more time beside His Highness!" Xu Huai said, "As for these words today, Master Lu will reply
After Bianliang, you can tell Mr. Wang Fanlang, but there is no need to make it clear to Wang Xiang... Wang Xiang is too straightforward, and this kind of overly gloomy calculation tells him that it only adds to the burden on his heart! "
"..." Lu Xiong smiled bitterly and nodded.
He knew that Wang Fan had his own selfish intentions, that he had the merit of being a dragon, and that he might have a good relationship with Xu Huai, but for Wang Zhen, who had always regarded the establishment of a direct descendant as an imperial family matter, he really wanted to know the twists and turns in this.
It may not necessarily dissuade Xu Huai, but it will definitely cause him to have more heart problems.
