The weather at the end of May was a cool time in the North, neither too cold nor too hot. The breeze blew through the treetops in the yard, and the leaves made a rustling sound.
But in the room, Du Shiyuan couldn't feel any coolness. The sweat from his forehead kept gathering into sweat beads, leaving a disturbing itching on his cheeks, but he had no intention of wiping it away.
After a while, Du Shiyuan whispered in a hoarse voice: "Why is this..."
The middle-aged man sitting opposite had an expressionless face and snorted coldly, "When the knife is placed on your neck, it will be too late to regret."
Under the dim candlelight, Du Shiyuan's body was trembling slightly, and he could even hear the slight sound of teeth clashing. To be fair, he first followed Gao Manzheng to rebel against Yuan Junzhang, and then killed Gao Manzheng and surrendered to Yuan Junzhang. He really didn't want to
If you rebel again...it's already a blessing to be able to live in peace and contentment.
Du Shiyuan also knew that compared with him, these former colleagues who joined Daizhou were dissatisfied... It was not bad at the beginning, and the estrangement and vigilance were acceptable.
But then, the true nature of these people who had held military power for a long time was revealed. Although they did not kill people or loot goods, they became more and more arrogant. The most important thing is that Daizhou, Xinzhou and other places actually did not allow officials to take over the land.
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Li Shan was not stupid, and knew that this rule would definitely not be implemented. What he did not allow was that members of aristocratic families and officials, big and small, could turn wasteland into farmland and occupy abandoned farmland, but they were not allowed to occupy farmed farmland.
But these Yuan Junzhang's old troops... outside the Great Wall, not to mention occupying the fertile fields that have been cultivated, might even snatch and kill other people's cattle.
In a conflict, Fang Renyu, the governor of Xinzhou, captured Guo Ziheng's bodyguard, who had joined the army in Sitian, Xinzhou and trampled on pedestrians.
Du Shiyuan glanced at Guo Ziheng opposite, you are dissatisfied...but I am still quite satisfied.
If you want to rebel, why take me with you?
But the next moment, Du Shiyuan understood that it was definitely not because of the Turks' arrival that Guo Ziheng was thinking about it. He must have contacted him a long time ago, because a familiar figure appeared at the door of the room.
Yuan Junzhang was born as a personal guard and is now the deputy general manager of the cavalry, Niu Bin.
Niu Bin led thousands of elite cavalry into the pass and garrisoned Guoxian County, but Su Dingfang scattered his troops into mixed groups... In short, Niu Bin had no real power for a long time.
Nowadays, wars are raging and gunfire is rising in Yanmen. It is said that Niu Bin, who had been staying in Dai County, suddenly appeared in Guo County. This cannot be a coincidence.
It is true. Last year, Guo Ziheng's brother Guo Ziwei was killed by Yuan Junzhang because he had secretly collaborated with the Turks. He was already dissatisfied. Now that the local control in Daizhou is very strict, the psychological gap is too big, and his own bodyguard was punished and killed with a stick.
At this moment, a merchant from outside the Great Wall found him.
I have to admit that in history, Su Dingfang had the record of breaking through the Turkic king's tent as early as the early years of Zhenguan, but it was not until the reign of Emperor Gaozong that he could realize his ambitions. He was not politically provocative, or was too insensitive.
During the battle, Su Dingfang quickly drove Niu Bin, the most important figure in Yuan Junzhang's old army in Daizhou, back to Daixian County without arranging any warning measures. After knowing that the Turks came north from Taiyuan Prefecture through Loufanguan,
There was no one to keep an eye on or even detain people like Guo Ziheng and Du Shiyuan.
If it were Li Shan, he would usually be kind and generous, but at this time, even if he didn't act immediately, he would have to keep one eye open while sleeping.
However, Li Shan also made arrangements in advance. Although Niu Bin was the deputy general manager of the cavalry, he did not have military power. Guo Ziheng was transferred to a civilian position, and they only had dozens of personal guards around them.
This is also the reason why Niu Bin and Guo Ziheng rushed to Guo County and forced Du Shiyuan... Du Shiyuan was appointed as the general of the hussars and was in charge of the Chongfu. When such a war was in full swing, he had military power.
As for Zhechong Prefecture around Guoxian, Wutai, and Dingxiang, a considerable part of them are veterans who were laid off from Yuan Junzhang's old ministry.
That's why Guo Ziheng and Niu Bin wanted to drag Du Shiyuan into the water. Now in the south of Nao County, the Turks and the Tang Army are fighting. As long as they are stabbed in the back tomorrow, the Tang Army will inevitably collapse. Next...glory and wealth are indispensable, and there is no need to hold your breath to look at people's faces.
You know, the Turks were promised to Niu Bin, the governor of Yunzhou... Well, although Yunzhou is still in the hands of Tuli Khan, Jieli Khan is sure of breaking through Yanmen Pass.
After a long silence, Du Shiyuan stood up with difficulty and said, "Brother Niu, please give me your instructions."
Niu Bin showed a proud smile and said, "The first thing is to arrest Magistrate Guo County, and the second thing is to protect the grain depot."
Li Yiyan, the magistrate of Nao County, was born in the Li family of Longxi, and was a Jinshi in the same discipline as Li Shan. He had not been in office for more than two months, but the Turkic cavalry came rushing in. Both men and horses were exhausted, and they must be supplemented by food and grass.
Guo Ziheng said: "Early tomorrow morning, we will sign an official document and summon the government soldiers to go south."
Du Shiyuan hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. He knew very well that if he didn't agree, he would be killed in the next moment... If it wasn't for his own survival, why would he have killed Gao Manzheng and surrendered Ma Yi last year?
Yanmen Pass was already under attack from both front and rear, and tomorrow the Tang army under Zhu Yichen would also be under attack from both sides. This strike would be unjust.
The guards outside the door began to leave one after another. The three of them sat in the house and waited quietly. The sound of fighting rose and fell. Not long after, a big man with the smell of blood on his body broke in and said, "The county magistrate escaped!"
"What?" Niu Bin's face changed slightly, "You have been keeping people watching, how could you let him escape?"
"After entering the county government office, I couldn't find him anywhere. I asked my brothers and they found that he left the city through the south gate."
The kind of political acumen that Su Dingfang did not have, Li Yiyan, who served as prime minister in history, definitely had it. This descendant of the Li family in Longxi was keenly aware of the abnormality, but did not leave because he would be punished for abandoning the city during the war.
When the rebels took action, Li Yiyan first tried to set fire to the granary, but when that failed, he immediately diverted his way out of the city through the south gate.
Niu Bin's face showed a ruthless look, "Let people go out of the city to pursue... We can't wait any longer. We must immediately summon the soldiers and distribute ordnance. We will leave early tomorrow morning!"
At this moment, Li Shan in Guji Town was squatting on the ground, picking up a grass root and chewing it out of boredom. He was really bored now. There were more than ten thousand Turkic cavalry surrounding the village. It was impossible to break out. He could do it on his own.
After doing everything that can be done, the next step can only depend on God's will.
However, after such a long time, what comforted Li Shanchao was that the scouts reported that neither Mayi nor Yanmen Pass had been breached.
If the Turks really use the Dao Tower to disturb the pass, Su Ding can stop it and ensure that Yanmen Pass is as stable as Mount Tai, then the Turks' retreat is necessary.
If Su Dingfang failed to stop him and Yanmen Pass was breached, the Turkic cavalry outside the village would be in a hurry to loot the place, and he would be able to escape... However, the previous year's efforts would be in vain, and the day to return to Chang'an would be over.
Not having a good time.
But Li Shan didn't know that this moment was the most dangerous night in Daizhou.