Niu Jinda asked worriedly: "How to reward meritorious people?"
"That is a matter for the imperial court. Everyone should report their merits in detail and report them to the Ministry of War truthfully. No concealment or suppression is allowed. It must be truthful and accurate. It is not easy for the soldiers to make meritorious service. The imperial court will reward them with silver afterwards. But what everyone wants most is
The rewards are not silver rewards, but promotions. Once you let me know that someone deliberately concealed something, underreported it, or even took it for yourself, don't blame me for killing you." Qin Huaidao solemnly reminded him.
"Obey the order." The generals responded solemnly in awe.
A commander who can take credit for his soldiers and report it truthfully is worthy of everyone's following.
Many times, it has become an unspoken rule to conceal credit for one's achievements and place it on close associates.
Qin Huaidao disdained drinking the blood of soldiers and hated this kind of behavior the most. He greeted everyone in advance, looked around with sharp eyes, and added: "The army is fighting one after another. We are tired of men and horses. We will stay here to rest for three days. General Niu and General Shi,
Pay close attention to training your troops and horses. The pro-military army is responsible for detecting all disturbances within a fifty-mile radius. The Chinese army is responsible for garrisoning the camp. The four armies at the front and rear are responsible for cutting down trees and building siege equipment. There must be no mistakes. Go ahead."
"Obey the order!" Everyone accepted the order suddenly and stood up to leave.
Qin Huaidao spread out the map and looked at the direction of the black city. The city was strong, with food and people. It was not easy to conquer. What would Li Jiancheng do next? How to do it?
As night falls, a gust of wind blows, opening the door curtain and causing the map to fly.
The bonfire also surged higher in the wind and crackled loudly.
"wind?"
"fire?"
Qin Huaidao caught a faint hint of inspiration and thought about it carefully.
After a while.
Su Dingfang brought some stewed horse meat and some wild vegetables. Qin Huaidao dealt with a few of them casually and asked: "The rebels are hiding in the city. They are very likely to go south. They will reach Yunzhong through the Great Wall, and they may even go to Shuozhou to enter the Tang Dynasty."
In the hinterland, we need to go straight to Chang'an. We must hold back the rebels and prevent the war from burning into the hinterland. Do you have any good ideas?"
"This... I didn't expect it for the moment." Su Dingfang said awkwardly.
"No need to be modest, just say what comes to mind."
Su Dingfang hesitated for a moment and said: "The Jinhe River is located to the east of Heicheng, from north to south, and then detours to the west. It can be regarded as surrounding most of Heicheng. If it is intercepted from the upstream and the water is introduced into Heicheng, the water will not
It’s too big, but it only takes a few days to soak the Black City, and the city will loosen.”
"Water soaking the city wall?" Qin Huaidao thought for a moment and said, "Although doing this will damage the city wall, it will also damage farmland and residences, affect the future lives of the people, and cause endless troubles. The rebels should be killed, and the people are innocent. This plan
Although it’s good, Master Wang and I can’t use it, what if it’s a fire attack?”
"Fire attack?" Su Dingfang was stunned for a moment, then began to think deeply.
Qin Huaidao stopped asking questions and fell into deep thought.
After a while, Qin Huaidao waved his hand and said: "Go and rest, there are still three days left, don't be in a hurry, settle down for patrol."
Su Dingfang said goodbye and left, and Qin Huaidao fell into deep thought again. Fire attacks can also harm Tianhe, so he needs to be cautious.
The stars are densely covered and the night breeze is blowing.
The army gradually calmed down, and soon snoring broke out.
…
Chang'an City, the Protector's Mansion.
A luxurious carriage came slowly and stopped at the entrance of the mansion. A palace maid got out of the carriage, walked up and said to the gatekeeper: "This slave is ordered by Princess Yuzhang to pick up He'er and have a talk."
.
The gatekeeper was a member of the village protection team. He looked at the other party warily. He had never seen him before. Then he looked at the carriage. Yuzhang often rode in it. He asked cautiously: "Why is the princess's maid Xiao'e not here?"
The palace maid hurriedly explained: "Today we are hosting a banquet for friends. Sister Xiao'e is helping out and can't get away. I specially ordered my servants to come over to greet me. I also asked Mr. Lang to report something."
"Waiting." The gatekeeper couldn't tell whether it was true or false, so he glanced at his companion and hurried in.
Not long after, He'er followed him out, glanced at the palace maid, and asked in surprise: "Who are you?"
"My maid, Xiaofen, is here to welcome you on the order of the princess. The princess is hosting a banquet at the house to invite friends from all over the world. Sister Xiao'e couldn't leave, so I asked my maid to come over. Please get in the car with me, so that the princess won't be in a hurry."
Yes." The palace maid quickly explained, her attitude was respectful and sincere, and she couldn't see any flaws.
He'er hesitated for a moment, but the carriage could not be faked, and no one dared to use the princess carriage. He nodded and got into the carriage. The carriage started slowly and moved forward.
The palace maid walked closely behind the carriage, walking with her head lowered, without any abnormality. When passing a shop, she made a hidden gesture, and the person guarding the door nodded and left in a hurry.
In extraordinary times, Xue Rengui attached great importance to the protection of He'er. A team of village guards followed behind the carriage. There were ten people in total. They were all carefully selected experts. They always kept a certain distance from the carriage to ensure that the carriage was within sight.
While observing the surroundings vigilantly.
When passing through a block, a funeral procession came out of the fork in the road, all wearing sackcloth and mourning. Many people burst into tears. The strongman carried a coffin and walked forward, passing behind the carriage and separating the people of the village guard team.
The members of the guarding team suddenly became anxious and rushed forward one after another. However, there were too many mourning teams and they were too dense. They did not get out of the way. Instead, they cursed and pushed each other, blaming the guarding team for rushing into the funeral team. The guarding team realized that something was wrong.
He was not polite, he started a fight, rushed out of the funeral procession, and saw that there was no sign of a carriage anywhere.
Looking at the long street, the village guarding team suddenly felt cold and panicked.
The team leader immediately said: "Go and watch the funeral team with four people. Find out their details and return home quickly. Be careful. You two go to Commander Xue and Steward Jia to report the situation. The rest of you will follow me."
Everyone knew that something serious was going on. He'er was pregnant with the young master's child. If something happened, it would cost everyone's life to explain, so they all hurriedly left with cold faces.
Dui Zheng gave himself a hard slap and rushed forward with the others. Soon he came to the Zhuque Gate. This gate was the only way to enter the imperial city. He was blocked by the Imperial Guards and did not dare to force his way through.
, Ninja explained angrily: "General, we are the slaves of the protector of the country. We have something important to ask to see Princess Yuzhang."
"A person from the Protector?" The other party looked at the captain and didn't recognize him, so he asked, "Do you have any credentials?"
"This..." Duan Zheng didn't know what to do. He claimed to be a domestic slave just because he wanted to be taken seriously by the other party, but he was not a real domestic slave. Where is the proof? He quickly explained: "There is no proof. The matter is urgent. Please inform me.
"
"Who will believe you without proof? Get out of here, I'll kill you if I make any more noise." The other party shouted impatiently. The gate of the palace is a solemn place and cannot tolerate anyone's provocation.
The team members protecting the village were eager to protect the master, and they were also anxious. They were thinking that there might be an opportunity to make things worse, and they would take action. At this time, a man came out, and the inner guard of the imperial army bowed and saluted: "I have seen Mr. Fang."
It was Fang Xuanling who came over, nodding and humming in return.
When the captain heard that it was Mr. Fang, he thought he knew his young master, so he quickly shouted: "Does this Mr. Qin know my young master, Mr. Qin?"
"Who are you?" Fang Xuanling looked at the other party.
The captain was ready to risk his life and explained: "I am a servant of the Protector's Palace. I have an urgent matter and I want to see Princess Yuzhang. I also ask my husband to help me."
"Duke Protector? Princess Yuzhang? What happened?" Fang Xuanling frowned.
The captain was not sure about the relationship between the other party and his young master, but he had no other choice but to treat the horse as a doctor. He quickly explained: "A palace maid came to the door in Princess Yuzhang's carriage to invite her. She said it was Princess Yuzhang who was hosting a banquet for her friends.
After leaving He'er's house, I accompanied him to protect him, but was blocked by a funeral procession. After that, the carriage disappeared. I was worried that there was some fraud and wanted to see Princess Yuzhang for confirmation."
When Fang Xuanling heard about this, he also realized that something was wrong. Even if the funeral convoy was a coincidence, the carriage would not disappear so quickly unless it was intentional. What is even weirder is that Concubine Wei is having a banquet in the harem, so Yuzhang will definitely go over to help. Where is it?
No time to invite friends?
The matter was so important that Fang Xuanling did not dare to neglect it and warned: "Wait, I will go in and ask, and I will come out soon."
"Thank you, Mr. Xian!" The team member felt Fang Xuanling's nervousness, and knew that he was asking for the right person, so he felt reassured.
After waiting for a while, Fang Xuanling and Yu Zhang hurried out.
Yuzhang often visited the Duke Protector's Mansion and knew the captain, so he asked eagerly: "He'er is not here with me, and I didn't ask anyone to pick him up. What happened?"
"ah--"
Team Zheng's expression changed drastically. Although he had already suspected it, he couldn't help but trembled when he heard the truth. He was completely panicked and said quickly: "A person who calls himself Xiaofen drove a princess carriage to the door. He is also dressed like a palace maid."
"Xiao Fen? There is no such person." Yu Zhang also panicked and looked at Fang Xuanling for help.
Fang Xuanling nodded knowingly: "Don't worry, I'm going to see the Holy One now."
"It's better for me to go. I have a husband to go to the Duke Protector's Mansion to take charge of the overall situation." Yu Zhang left in a hurry and went straight to the direction of Ganlu Hall.
"Go back to the mansion and ask someone to notify Duke Wei to come over." Fang Xuanling also knew that Qin Huaidao was away and the Duke Protector's Palace needed someone to take charge of the overall situation, so she hurriedly got into the carriage.