Chapter 1658: Zhang Hua’s messenger and their meeting
After a long while, Zhang Hua sealed the two written letters.
"Someone is coming!"
"This letter will be sent immediately to the commander-in-chief of the Song Dynasty, Shen Tang! This letter will secretly accept the appointment of Prime Minister!"
The guard carefully put the letter away, and then left quietly! Fortunately, although there were soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty stationed in Lanzhou, Jingyuguan was still in the hands of Xia and Liao soldiers. Otherwise, there would be no news about his army. If you can't even send it out, I'm afraid you'll really be alone.
Two days later, in the Chinese army's tent in Shen Tang, Shen Chou came to report, "Commander, there is a messenger from Zhang Hua, commander of the party's troops and horses, outside the camp asking to see you!"
"oh?"
Shen Tang raised his eyebrows and said, "Bring him in!"
Not long after, Shen Chou and two personal guards led a Dangxiang tribesman into the tent.
"I have met the commander-in-chief of the Song Army. This is a letter written by my commander-in-chief. I asked the villain to submit it to the commander-in-chief in person! And, I am waiting for the commander-in-chief's reply!"
At Shen Tang's signal, Shen Qiu took the letter over and checked it, then hung up the paint and took out the letter paper before handing it to Shen Tang.
Shen Tang watched for a moment and then nodded, "Go back and tell Zhang Hua that I will accept it."
The messenger didn't ask any questions after hearing this, and turned around and left!
"Go and call Bi Zaiyu over!"
Shen Tang said to a personal guard.
About a quarter of an hour later, Bi Zaiyu strode into the big tent!
"Commander, what's the matter?"
Shen Tang clicked on the letter on the desk, "Take a look!"
Before meeting again, Bi picked it up and read it again, then frowned and said, "Commander, what about Zhang Hua who wants to make an appointment with you?
What did he mean?
Or is there some conspiracy?"
"Now this flower has no way from heaven to earth! I think I can't sit still!"
Shen Tang smiled.
"Master, are you going to accept an appointment?"
"Well, of course I want to listen to what Zhang Hua wants to say!"
"You personally take five hundred elites with you and go to the Baishi Mountain area to explore and arrange your spies. The agreed location is the wasteland twenty miles southwest of Baishi Mountain. There is only the Baishi Mountain area around here where you can ambush! Although this is a ghostly possibility. It’s not big, but you still need to be on guard.”
"Including the area around the camp where Zhang Hua is located, there are also many scouts and horses. If their troops and horses make any changes, report them at any time!"
"Don't worry, Commander!"
Bi Zaiyu solemnly handed over his hand and said, "General Mo, go pick out the troops and rush over first! We will definitely investigate clearly within dozens of miles around."
Shen Tang entrusted his family and life into his hands, so he would not hesitate to meet him again.
Two days passed in a hurry, and in the early morning of the third day, Lei Zheng and Shen Chou led a thousand fine cavalry to escort Shen Tang out of the camp, and then headed towards Baishi Mountain.
The Song army's camp was in the Weiyuan Fort area, and Zhang Hua's camp was in Lintao Prefecture. The distance between the two sides was about a hundred miles.
Baishi Mountain is located between the two camps.
Shen Tang led his men and horses all the way to the northwest, leaving Weiyuan Fort, passing Qingping Town, and after walking for half an hour, they arrived at the agreed location!
Almost at the same time, a group of fast horses came from the opposite direction, and their number was similar to that of Shen Tang and others.
After two or three hundred steps, the other side stopped. Lei Zheng immediately stepped forward and asked, "Who is coming? My commander-in-chief, Marquis Zhongwu of Song Dynasty, is here!"
In the queue opposite, a middle-aged man came out on horseback. After walking a hundred or so steps, he raised his hands and said, "Zhang Hua, the commander of the Xia-Liao coalition army, where is the commander-in-chief of the Song army?"
Seeing this, Shen Tang waved his hand to the soldiers and horses around him to be alert, and he rode forward alone to meet them.
But I saw that Zhang Hua was six feet long, but not strong. He was dressed in Confucian clothes and looked like a scholar of the Song Dynasty, with a somewhat elegant temperament.
While Shen Tang was observing Zhang Hua, Zhang Hua was also looking at Shen Tang.
Compared to Shen Tang, Zhang Hua was even more surprised!
He had had various imaginations about Shen Tang, but now Shen Tang still gave him a great impact! The elegance of a scholar and the passion of an iron-blooded warrior were intertwined in one person but did not conflict, making Zhang Hua I was a little dazed for a while.
"Shen Tang, the envoy of the Xuanfu of Sichuan and Shaanxi in the Great Song Dynasty!"
As Shen Tang said that, he immediately turned over and dismounted!
Zhang Hua also dismounted and sighed with a smile, "I have heard of your name as Shen Tang for a long time. When I saw you today, you are worthy of your name! When Marquis Zhongwu was weak, he was relied upon by the emperor, and now he is in charge of several soldiers. Ma, I am ashamed of myself."
Shen Tang smiled and did not answer, but took two steps forward, "Brother Zhang invited me to come here today, isn't it just for a casual chat?"
"of course not!"
The two stood side by side, and then Zhang Hua said seriously, "I wonder what the specific purpose of Marquis Zhongwu is leading his troops to the north this time?"
Just as Shen Tang was about to speak, Zhang Hua continued, "Now that there are only you and me, there is no need for Marquis Zhongwu to say some false words. Although you and I have an agreement, it is nothing more than a joke!"
"Is Marquis Zhongwu trying to annex several lands of the Jin Kingdom, or is he trying to weaken our country, Daxia?
Or is it a bit of everything?”
Shen Tang pondered for a moment, but then said lightly, "Your country's appointment as prime minister and king of Yue is really a great gesture! The Xia, Liao, Jin, Song, and Mongolia were all plotted together. I heard that Zhang Shuaiben The relationship between our clan and the Ren clan is extremely close, Zhang Shuai can’t say that he doesn’t know what I am talking about!”
Shen Tang's words made Zhang Hua slightly shocked at first, and then his expression changed drastically!
For a long time, Zhang Hua didn't know how to speak.
"It seems that I guessed well?"
Shen Tang smiled and sat directly on the floor!
"Are you deceiving me?"
Zhang Hua was shocked and angry.
"What's the difference?"
Shen Tang said nonchalantly.
Zhang Hua took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then sat down like Shen Tang without caring about his appearance!
"Marquis Zhongwu wants to take advantage of the situation and rob him?"
"Wrong! It's just that cooperation will benefit both sides! Moreover, I am not a talkative person, so Zhang Shuai does not need to worry about anything."
"Marquis Zhongwu, please tell me your conditions! Moreover, now that Marquis Zhongwu has strong soldiers and horses, and the entire Lintao Road is under the control of the Song Army, I am afraid that these troops and horses, my commander, are just in your pocket. Since you don't have Taking the initiative to attack, I guess you have a plan!"
"First of all, the things that were previously promised to me need to be delivered as soon as possible. This request is not too much!"
"Can!"
"Secondly, I am indeed plotting the land of the Jin Kingdom. However, I have few major generals under my command, so I still need the help of Zhang Shuai's troops!"
"Okay! As long as Marquis Zhongwu is willing, I can lead my troops to withdraw from Lintaofu Road now!"
Shen Tang waved his hand, "Zhang Shuai misunderstood, and Zhang Shuai doesn't think that Lintao Road still belongs to you, right?"
Zhang Hua's face showed anger, but he was unable to argue.
Indeed, with the troops Shen Tang currently has in his hands, it does not cost much to defeat his troops and occupy Lintao Road.
Even if he only needs to hold on to the border, his troops will be trapped to death.