The night was sultry and the autumn wind was quiet. After the secret encounter with Luqiao Mountain, Su Wenfang left the military camp from the side. Looking back, the Wu Xiang Army's camp stretched out in a solemn and orderly manner, with neat military majesty, and the light of the torches seemed to reflect the sea of stars in the sky.
The situation has become complicated. Of course, this complicated situation has emerged a few months ago, and now it has only made the situation a little more advanced.
Although Su Wenfang was well prepared, his scalp was numb.
"Lu Qiaoshan's attitude is ambiguous. It seems that he is trying to drag out the enemy. If this can bring down the Chinese army, of course he will be happy to see it."
A group of people left the military camp on horseback. On the way, Su Wenfang chatted quietly with Chen Tuozi, who was accompanying him. This once ruthless hunchback swordsman was already fifty years old. He previously served as Ning Yi's personal guard, and later led the military law team within the Chinese Army.
, his status in the Chinese army is not low. Although Su Wenfang is Ning Yi's in-law, he also respects him quite a bit.
The old man with half a century of hair could no longer see the sharp edge he once had, and his eyes were much gentler than those many years ago. He tightened the reins, nodded, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Who are the soldiers of the Wu Dynasty?
In no mood?"
"I have considered whether he would sit back and watch the situation develop, or even push for a leader. But before I thought about it, scholars like Li Xiannong insisted on causing trouble. Wu Xiangjun has been dealing with us for a long time, and he may not dare to follow it to the end, but now it seems
, Lu Qiaoshan’s thoughts may not be like this. He looks smiling, but he may have a bottom line in his heart.”
"It means..." Chen Tuozi looked back and saw that the dim light of the camp was already behind the mountain in the distance. "The current behavior is fake. Does he really want to force himself?"
Su Wenfang nodded: "Of course I'm not afraid, but after all, there are 100,000 people, Uncle Chen."
"Then it's time for people in the south to see some ups and downs."
"I still hope his attitude can change."
To the north and south, each place has its own situation. For three years, the southwest has been peaceful, and although the life of the Chinese army has not been too good, compared with the bloody battle at Xiaocanghe, it can be said to be calm. Especially after the opening of trade routes
, the Chinese army's tentacles of power extended along the trade routes, covering the four Sichuan Gorge roads. Su Wenfang and others were acting outside, and the army and the government turned a blind eye, which was not considered dangerous.
However, this time, the imperial court finally gave an order, and Wu Xiang's army followed suit. The nearby government also began to implement a high-pressure policy against the Black Flag Army. Su Wenfang and others gradually shrank, turning their activities from overt to covert, and the form of the battle began to change.
clear.
Whether Wu Xiangjun will take action or not is the most critical part of the overall situation.
***********
On a sultry night when autumn tigers are raging, the bean-like lights are still on. Under the lights is a letter that is still being written:
"The wise brother Cang meets like this:
I have received your letter from my brother. I know that the situation in the south of the Yangtze River is going well, and everyone is united to fight against the Jurchens. I have a virtuous prince and a virtuous prime minister in our dynasty. I am very relieved. If this continues, the revival of our Wu dynasty can be expected.
My brother came from the southwest. People were ignorant and the situation was difficult. However, with the help of all the wise men, the situation was finally overcome. Everyone in the southwest knew the evil of the black flag. The public sentiment was raging and the attack was expected. Brother Cheng Maoxian met the nun in Liangshan.
The chiefs of the clan knew that righteousness was very effective, and today the barbarians also know that the world has righteousness, right and wrong. Even in the barbarian land, there are righteous men who attack the black flags and burn their fields and rice, cut off their trade routes, and the black flags are small.
People are trapped in the mountains, panicking. Brother Cheng Maoxian served in the Wu Dynasty and made great achievements in the world. My brother is ashamed to compare.
Although the situation is clear now, hidden dangers still exist. Wu Xiang's army in Luqiao Mountain is self-respecting and has two sides. It is difficult to understand its attitude. It has also had contacts with the black flag bandits in the past. But now under the heavy orders of the court, Lu
In the name of generals, they only stationed troops outside the mountains and refused to advance. Such people may be naughty or rough, and it is difficult to plan for major matters. I will discuss with all the wise men and do not sit down and wait for them. No matter what Lu Zhi's thoughts are,
He must be persuaded to move forward and fight Black Flag Tangtang.
Fortunately, when we come to the west this time, we are not only the Confucian sages, but also warriors and heroes who know the great things that are wrong. What we do is because of the prosperity of the Wu Dynasty, the prosperity of the world, and the peace of all living beings.
If there is a calamity in the future, I hope that my wise brother will send money and property to the homes of the following people, so that their descendants and brothers will know why his father and his brother risked his life and death. Just because the family and country are in danger, it cannot be a crime of filial piety.
, kowtow here.
Those who are participating in it today include: Jiangnan hero Zhan Shao, Hangzhou headhunter Lu Xuanzhi, Jiaxing Jianmingzhi..."
The lights flickered, and Long Qifei's pen wandered around. The book contained names one by one. He knew that these names might leave traces in future generations, allowing people to remember how many people had gone on many dangerous adventures in order to prosper the Wu Dynasty.
Dedicate yourself and put life and death at risk.
After writing the letter, he attached some banknotes and just sealed the envelope and sent it out. After walking out of the study, he saw some people waiting outside. These people were both civilized and military, with firm eyes.
"... In the southwest, it is not the most important thing that the black flag is strong. However, after the Wu Dynasty went south to hunt, the army became stronger. Wu Xiang's army and Luqiao Mountain could truly cover the sky with one hand. Although the prefect assisted in this matter,
But it is so powerful that you must not be unaware of it, so Long said one last thing, if anyone quits, he will never hold a grudge..."
The night wind whimpered and passed by.
************
In the early morning of the second day after negotiating with Lu Qiaoshan, Su Wencong sent members of the Huaxia Army into the mountain to convey Wu Xiangjun's attitude. For three consecutive days, he negotiated intensively with Lu Qiaoshan.
There was not much progress in the negotiations. Lu Qiaoshan came over with a smile every day to chat with Su Wenfang, but he refused to back down on the conditions of the Chinese army. However, he also emphasized that Wu Xiang's army would never really be an enemy of the Chinese army.
, he stationed his army on the outskirts of Liangshan and had nothing to do every day, which is the evidence.
The surrounding officials' pursuit of the Black Flag Army became more and more intense, but this was also to implement the court's order, and Lu Qiaoshan felt that he didn't have much to do.
"The most important part of this matter is still in the capital." One day during the negotiation, Lu Qiaoshan said, "Your Majesty has made a determination and an order. How can we, as officials and soldiers, disobey it? The Chinese army and the DPRK
Many adults in the hall have contacts, mobilize these people, and if they cancel this order, the siege of Liangshan will be solved. Otherwise, we will have to continue like this stalemate. Business is not done, but it is more difficult than before. Dear envoy,
, it’s good that there is no war, everyone is already having a hard time... As for the situation in Liangshan, Mr. Ning should defeat the Mangshan tribe first no matter what. With the strength of the Chinese army, wouldn’t this matter be easy?
…”
Lu Qiaoshan was apologetic and embarrassed every day, vividly displaying the image of a bureaucrat who didn't want to do anything. Speaking of the situation in Liangshan, the Mangshan Department was broken into pieces, and the Chinese Army, as an outsider, also seemed to be confused about it.
He was helpless. Su Wenfang didn't know much about what was going on in the mountains, but he already felt the tension growing day by day. He heard Ning Yi tell the story of boiling frogs in warm water.
"Lu Qiaoshan doesn't have any good intentions." When I talked about the whole thing with Chen Tuozi that day, when Chen Tuozi persuaded him to leave, Su Wenfang shook his head, "However, even if he wants to fight, he will not kill the envoy without authorization and stay here to waffle.
It's safe, but there's nothing you can do if you go back to the mountains."
When he said this, Chen Tuozi naturally nodded in agreement. The gray-haired old man didn't care about being in danger, and in his opinion, what Su Wenfang said was reasonable.
The next day, the person who negotiated with Su Wenfang was Zhi Junhao, a staff member in the army. The two sides discussed various details, but the matter could not be settled after all. Su Wenfang had clearly felt the other party's delay, but he could only
Talking here, in his opinion, it is not impossible for Lu Qiaoshan to give up his confrontational mentality. As long as there is a chance, it is worth his efforts here.
Not long after returning home that afternoon, Su Wenfang was thinking about the new rhetoric he would use tomorrow, when there was a sudden noise outside the courtyard where he lived.
The sounds of swordsmen clashing suddenly rose up. Some people shouted, some yelled, and some screamed. He was only slightly stunned. Chen Tuozi had already walked in through the door.
Xue, grabbed Su Wenfang and said: "Let's go -" Su Wenfang was dragged out.
Su Wenfang had no martial arts skills, so he was stumbling along the way. Inside and outside the courtyard, including Chen Tuozi, there were a total of seven soldiers of the Chinese Army. Most of them had experienced the battlefield of Xiaocanghe, and they were all armed with weapons at this time. Outside the courtyard,
, the sound of footsteps and galloping horses was already heard, many people rushed into the yard, and some shouted: "I am Jiangnan Li Zhengdao -" and was killed by the sword.
Chen Tuozi dragged Su Wenfang and ran towards the secret passage that had been predetermined as an escape route. The flames were already burning in the rear.
At the street entrance outside, chaos had spread. Long Qifei watched excitedly as the round-up in front finally started. The knights rushed into the courtyard, the horses galloped densely, and the sound of roaring could be heard. This was the first time he had presided over such an operation.
, the middle-aged scholar's cheeks were all red, and then someone came to report that the resistance inside was fierce and there was a secret passage.
"Catch them, catch up with them... the secret passage must not be far away, catch up with them -" Long Qifei shouted in panic.
The secret passage was indeed not far away, but the cooperation and fighting of the seven Black Flag Army soldiers was terrifying. More than ten knights who rushed in were almost killed on the spot in the courtyard.
The first Black Flag Army soldier died at the entrance of the secret passage. He was seriously injured and tried to stop everyone from following, but failed.
The second Black Flag Army soldier died at the exit of the secret passage, slightly delaying the pursuers for a moment.
The distance spanned by the secret passage was only one street. This was a temporary emergency residence, and large-scale civil engineering projects could not be carried out originally. With the support of the Zizhou prefect, Long Qifei mobilized a large number of people, and Chen Tuozi rushed out dragging Su Wenfang.
He was discovered and more people surrounded him. Chen Tuozi let go of Su Wenfang, picked up his two knives and rushed into the narrow alley nearby. Although his hair was gray, the two knives in his hands were so vicious that he almost fell down with every step he took.
Next person.
"Follow me." Chen Tuozi shouted, fighting all the way with four Chinese soldiers, and in the blink of an eye, a street stood out in the chaotic situation.
Another Chinese soldier fell down on the way, and the others were more or less injured.
"Uncle Chen, go back and tell your brother-in-law the news..."
"Go back!" the old man yelled.
"I can't leave. The news is important." Su Wenfang dragged his leg that had been hit by an arrow. His whole body was shaking. He didn't know whether it was because of pain or fear. He almost cried and repeated, "The news is important..."
"
There were more people rushing forward. The old man looked back and cried out sadly: "Brothers, please accompany me to kill -" He walked ahead like a cheetah. When he rushed out of Su Wenfang's sight, Su Wenfang was standing straight.
When we walked under a tree on the roadside, several Chinese soldiers were still fighting. Someone fell down on the way forward. Two people were still guarding Su Wenfang. Su Wenfang shouted: "Stop! We surrender!"
One of the Chinese soldiers refused to surrender, rushed forward, and was stabbed to death by a spear in the crowd. The other saw this scene, slowly raised his hand, threw away the knife in his hand, and several gangsters took it
Walking over in shackles, the Chinese soldier swooped down, grabbed the long knife and swung it out. The knights did not expect that he would fight so hard in this situation, so they handed over the knife and spear and pierced him on the spear. However,
The soldier's last knife also penetrated the neck of "Jiangnan Hero" Zhan Shao. He covered his neck with blood flying, and died a moment later.
This last Chinese soldier was also beheaded the moment he died.
Su Wenfang looked at the corpses of everyone, trembling and collapsed under the tree. His leg was shot by an arrow, the pain was unbearable, and tears flowed out. In the alleyway not far away, Long Qifei came over and looked at
The knights and policemen who were killed and wounded along the way turned pale, but soon after they saw Su Wenfang captured, their moods improved a little.
Even Chinese soldiers can be frightened and cry.
He led everyone to catch Su Wenfang and called a doctor to treat him. After a while, Wu Xiang's army came, led by an angry Lu Qiaoshan, who came and surrounded the town, not allowing anyone to leave.
Long Qifei was asked to hand over to the place near the military camp, even the law enforcement of the Zizhou Prefecture should not reach out.
More scholars began to flock here, accusing the army of trying to protect the Black Flag Army bandits.
On this day, the confrontation between the two sides lasted for a while. Luqiao Mountain finally retreated. On the other side, Chen Tuozi, covered in blood, was walking on the way back to Liangshan. The pursuers came from behind...
Su Wenfang was shackled and escorted back to Zizhou. The difficult days had just begun.
Long Qifei sent the letter to the capital:
"...Our major event has just begun. If things go well, Wu Xiang's army will have to turn against the Black Flag rebels. This incident is very popular. Tens of martyrs have sacrificed their lives. Although they have to make sacrifices, it is regrettable after all...
…
...If the matter is not decided yet, we will petition General Lu again so that Wu Xiangjun cannot delay and perfunctory. For the sake of the family and the country, this matter can no longer be delayed. Even if we sacrifice ourselves here, we will not hesitate...
"
Many more generous words followed.
Lu Qiaoshan returned to the military camp and was silent for a long time, rarely communicating with Zhi Junhao about the impact of this incident.
In the mountains of Liangshan, a huge storm has been brewing and is about to explode...