Li Chengdao's soldiers and horses arrived outside the city, and Hou Qi conducted another reconnaissance and reported that all the troops defending the city had withdrawn to Linhu City, and there were no ambush within fifty miles.
After confirming that there was no ambush in Zhongwucheng, Li Chengdao immediately captured the city.
Standing on the city wall and looking north, Li Chengdao was puzzled. Why did Long Chen take the initiative to withdraw his troops?
"He is luring the enemy deeper and deliberately pretending not to be there."
Li Chengdao made this judgment.
After concluding that Long Chen was luring the enemy deeper, Li Chengdao immediately ordered the seizure of the surrounding grain and grass and sent it all to Qingren County.
When the news reached Qingren County, Guitai read Li Chengdao's battle report and sneered: "Long Chen, I really think I am easy to deceive."
Li Chengdao easily defeated Zhongwucheng, but Gui Tai also felt that this was a plan to lure the enemy deeper, and he must not fall into Long Chen's trick.
"What's going on in Zhangcheng?"
He Mengsheng knelt on the ground and immediately replied: "We are still deploying troops secretly. I think Long Chen's target is still Zhangcheng."
Guitai said coldly: "Huh, if you want to attack the east and west, I will close the door and beat the dog."
"From today on, I will practice in seclusion. Unless Long Chen attacks, you can handle the rest by yourself."
He Mengsheng immediately kowtowed and asked, "Who will handle the affairs in the city?"
Guite is in seclusion, Li Chengdao is in Zhongwucheng, Liu Feibai is in Zhangcheng, and there is no one in charge of Qingren County.
Guitai thought for a moment and said, "You'll be in charge."
He Mengsheng was stunned for a moment. He was just a bodyguard, but he was actually asked to take charge of military and political matters.
"Thank you, Holy Son, for your love, but I don't understand military affairs. I'm afraid..."
Guitai said coldly: "The military and political affairs are their own to deal with. I only ask you to keep an eye on those ministers. Anyone who dares to escape will be killed."
He Mengsheng immediately bowed and said, "This slave accepts the order."
After withdrawing from the palace, He Mengsheng announced that the ghost body was in seclusion, and Qingren County was temporarily under his command.
When the officials and generals in the city heard that He Mengsheng was commanding them, they were in an uproar.
...
Jinling City.
Yin Shan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, followed Liao Houqi into the imperial study, and Li Zhaoliang stood at the door to greet him.
"Thank you, Lord Yin, for your hard work."
Yin Shan was tattered and dirty, and looked very embarrassed. Li Zhaoliang stepped forward to support him and greet him.
When he saw Li Zhaoliang, Yin Shan cried with joy and said: "Old minister, I pay my respects to the emperor."
Li Zhaoliang helped Yin Shan up and said passionately: "Yin Shangshu, without courtesy, please sit down and talk."
Liao Houqi helped Yin Shan sit down, and the palace maid brought tea.
"Yin Shangshu has worked hard all the way."
This was the first minister to escape, and Li Zhaoliang was very happy.
There were soldiers and petty officials who escaped before, but these people were of too low a rank to demonstrate their orthodox authority.
Yin Shan is different, he is the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and the meaning of coming back is completely different.
Yin Shan burst into tears and said: "The old minister and Duan Shangshu fled together. They were chased by ghosts on the road. Duan Shangshu was killed. The old minister also almost died on the road and never saw his face."
After the two escaped, He Mengsheng chased them all the way. Duan Juncai, the Minister of Household Affairs, was unlucky and was shot dead by He Mengsheng with an arrow. Yin Shan jumped into the river and escaped back to Jinling by luck.
After Li Zhaoliang heard this, he was very sad and comforted: "It's good that Yin Shangshu comes back. You are always my old minister, and I have to rely on Yin Shangshu."
"Draw up the decree and appoint Yin Shan as a cabinet minister, with the first grade."
In order to win over people's hearts, Li Zhaoliang immediately gave Yin Shan the position of cabinet minister.
There is already a new Minister of Industry, and it is impossible for Li Zhaoliang to abolish the new Minister. Doing so will discourage other people and cause dissatisfaction.
Therefore, Li Zhaoliang promoted Yin Shan to be a cabinet minister.
Yin Shan was overjoyed and stood up to worship, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. I will never give up even if I die."
Li Zhaoliang took Yin Shan's hand and comforted him: "Mr. Yin Ge will go home and see his family first. After he has rested, he will go to court tomorrow. I am waiting for Mr. Yin Ge to assist in government affairs."
Yin Shan was so moved that he cried: "I regret coming back earlier..."
Li Zhaoliang also sighed and sent someone to take Yin Shan home in a carriage.
After the people left, Li Zhaoliang immediately sent people to spread the news about Yin Shan's return to the dynasty, showing that he was the orthodox dynasty and that Li Chengdao had already deserted his relatives.
...
Yanmen Pass.
As night fell, the heat of the day gradually dissipated, Long Chen rode his horse to the front of Fengsha Tower.
The surroundings were dark and desolate, but lanterns were hung on the Fengsha Tower, and the sounds of singing and laughter could be heard, making it look particularly lively.
Long Chen, wearing a silk hat and black clothes, dismounted in front of the door and was immediately greeted warmly by the waiter.
"Your Majesty, please stay at the hotel. It's a hundred miles away. We are the only good hotel. Please come."
Yanmen Pass is located at the junction of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and the barbarians. It is quite chaotic here. It is very common to wear a silk hat to cover your face. The waiter is not surprised.
Long Chen threw out a piece of silver and said: "If you want good horse feed, give me a room, and wine and meat will be delivered to the room."
The waiter took the money and it was substantial, so he knew he had given a lot.
"Don't worry, sir. It's definitely the best material. Please follow me upstairs first."
The waiter enthusiastically led the way. Long Chen walked into the inn. The lobby was already full. Waiters were running back and forth with plates of food. Diners were exchanging cups and cups with noisy voices. On a high platform in the middle, a woman in luxurious clothes was playing and singing a pipa.
The frontier fortress cannot be seen to be desolate.
After Yeluhong was killed by Long Chen, Tuzhi served as the barbarian chanyu. The barbarians were afraid of Long Chen, the borders were clean, and there were many business travelers, so Fengshalou's business was very good.
After going up to the second floor and walking in the corridor, Long Chen quickly scanned down and found no suspicious person.
"Sir, your room."
Long Chen didn't say what room he wanted, so the waiter directly gave him an upper room.
The owner who can give so much silver reward must live in the best room.
Long Chen entered the room, closed the door and sat down.
Not long after, the waiter brought food and wine, and Long Chen took off his hat.
After drinking some water, Long Chen took out the dried meat and ate it slowly.
Dong dong dong...
The door rang three times, and Long Chen responded: "Come in!"
The door opened and Feng He and three others walked in.
"Greetings, sir."
The three of them saluted, and Long Chen motioned to sit down and talk.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Long Chen saw that Feng He was as tanned as Bao Gong, so he knew that this job was hard work.
Feng He chuckled and said, "Then..."
Long Chen turned around and asked Gan Xin: "Tell me about the situation there."
Feng He's smile froze. He wanted to take the opportunity to ask Long Chen for money, but Long Chen ignored him.
Gan Xin explained the situation in detail, and Long Chen took out a map and spread it on the table. This was the grassland map given by Tu Zhi.
"Mark the location."
Gan Xin and Mo Lin looked at it carefully for a long time, then pointed to a place and said, "It's probably right here."
Long Chen saw a special mark on it, which was a forbidden area specially marked by Tu Zhi, and it said White Bone Mountain.
"Huh? He specifically marked it on the map. Did he already know it?"
Feng He looked at the markings on the map and asked strangely.
Long Chen shook his head and said: "Impossible, how could he know the ghost's lair? He specially marked it. It should be because this place is special and a taboo place for them."
There is no way Tuzhi knows the location of the ghosts' meat and vegetable garden. They don't even know the existence of the ghosts.
"It takes about seven days to get here from Yanmen Pass."
Long Chen calculated the time, and that was probably it.
Gan Xing said: "At the end of summer, the grassland is likely to snow as soon as a cold wind blows. We must seize the time."
