Chapter 236 – Drones are (Four)

Xu Fengyen held a horse of the Phantom Cavalry and walked slowly along the edge of the post road. Just like Yang Shenxeng talk with many reservations, Xu Fengyen of course will not tell Yang Shenxeng, he will go to the next place, not the Helan mountains of the army, but to support half of the Northern Liang tax Lingshou, more hidden inside is Xu Fengyen has already met Wang Sui, Xu Fengyen was only with 800 white horses, Wang Sui led the Northern Mang Dongzhizhu Wang Jingchong and several hundreds of the first line of the private army, respectively, separated from the army. Each of them separated from the army and met quietly.

Xu Fengyen did not rush to the horse to Lingshou, into a deep thought, even with the North Mang east line commander-in-chief met, he did not figure out Wang Sui gourd in the end to sell what medicine, obviously Wang Sui took the initiative to ask for this secret meeting, but really met, but Wang Sui did not say half a serious thing, a talk, in addition to chatting about some of the old people of the old things in the spring and autumn, but it is like a relationship not far from not close to the elders saw some of their nephews, but implicitly praised the younger generation at the same time, but the younger generation, but the younger generation, but the younger generation, but implicitly praised the younger generation at the same time, but the younger generation. Only implicitly praised the younger generation at the same time, the old man did not forget to brag about his style, which makes Xu Fengyen very helpless, it is easy to think of those years in the Qingliang Mountain pension Xu Snapdragon. During the period, Wang Sui ridiculed the pattern of Liyang belongs to a crab is not as good as a crab, no matter the court officials talent or literati knowledge is a generation by generation decreasing, but also scolded the two emperors of Liyang are cowards, can’t beat the wild wolves can only beat the family dog, don’t dare to fight with the North Mang, so you have to clean up the remnants of the Western Chu. Although Xu Fengyen did not agree, but listen to the really quite relieved. At the end of the day, Wang Sui patted Xu Fenian’s shoulder and left without another word. From beginning to end, Wang Sui only had one sentence that hit the key point of the current situation, since he Wang Sui was not able to gain any benefits from this trip to the west, then no one would be happy to have a hard time with Northern Liang for a while on the eastern front. Xu Fengyen is clear about the old man’s words, it is not that the eastern front of Beimang is dead, because most of the troops on the eastern front of Beimang who are confronting Gu Jiantang are conservative forces on the grassland, and originally have no thoughts about Beiliang, and are inclined to break the gaps in the two Liao and push straight to Tai’an City, so Wang Sui’s obstruction of the eastern gate of Youzhou may very well be a fatal blow to Taiping and Dong Zhuo on the temples in the two Beijing capitals of Beimang, which would add to their woes.

It was these words that dispelled Xu Fengyen’s thoughts of attempting to kill, accompanying the old man to only talk about the wind and moon, and ultimately did not strike. Therefore this trip to Helan Mountain, can’t talk about any surprises, but at the same time it is not considered a disappointment, for the Northern Liang that is currently hurting from the Liang-Mang war, without bad news, it is already good news. Therefore, Yang Shenxing came to Northern Liang as a deputy governor, as long as it is not holding the heart of certain death to help the court to Northern Liang mixed sand, then Xu Fengyen does not mind to send Yang Shenxing a peace and quiet, and even take the initiative to help the old man to accumulate some merit, so that Yang Shenxing is not too difficult to do. Northern Liang and Xu Fenian are so to Yang Shenxing, and so to Han Lin, the two Huai strategic ambassador.

This kind of patience, of course, can not be regarded as hearty, not to mention that it can not be called a chivalrous spirit.

Xu Fengyen finally turned on his horse, and before whipping his horse forward, he looked east.

The woman at the tea stall was sitting on the bench, looking up at the back of the somewhat scholarly general’s son and his horse, traveling farther and farther along the post road, thinking about the scene of this Jun’er bargaining with herself, and smiled, thinking that this descendant is certainly not from a bad background, but even a few pennies are also concerned about it, so this is a person who knows how to live a good life.

The city of Lingshou is full of joy. This kind of celebration from the top to the bottom, the spring breeze and rain in general, the people of the city do not know why the city is suddenly lively again, naturally speculate is not outside the Liangzhou Pass and Youzhou Hulukou fought a big victory, but there has never been any accurate information circulated, who can not be sure, but this period of time can often see the dignitaries, especially the generals of the family’s big figures drunk, rare is different from the past between the peers! Will be seeded children of the snuggle red and green to drink and talk about joy, this time more than across the generations of the family or several families to celebrate together, some of the usual needle sharp local families, now in the restaurant narrowly met, but also did not have the atmosphere of cross swords, a laugh over. In the twilight, a number of riders just stepped on the point of the door into the city, straight to the Lingshou Buyei Song Yan’s mansion, the concierge is a clever person, saw that a few riders are not armored, but is not like the ordinary luxury family escort, but to be able to waist suspension of the cool sword of the army sharp soldiers. Song Yan, who was informed by the concierge, quickly stepped out, saw Xu Fengyen standing on the street with his horse, and froze, Xu Fengyen let a horse be vacated for this Lingshou political bigwig who respected legalism, and the two riders slowly drove to the assassin’s residence which was still some distance away, Song Yan looked excited, and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, did you really win the battle?”

It seems that not only outsiders like Yang Huchen find it unbelievable, even Song Yan, a member of Beiliang’s own family, does not dare to believe the spies’ reports from the border, as Xu Fengyen did not announce the great victory of the border with great fanfare in Beiliang Dao for some unknown considerations, even Song Yan, such a high-ranking official with the third rank of power, can only be informed of the final results of the three battlegrounds from the humble spies’ reports that are as stingy as gold.

Xu Fengnian nodded his head and said, “A disastrous victory.”

Song Yan suddenly reddened his face, his lips trembled, this bone-crunching man of letters who could straighten his back even when he first met His Highness the Prince, was unable to speak for a while.

Xu Fengyen sighed: “There is still a battle to be fought, but within half a year there should not be too much fighting, the border army can take a breath for the time being, but next you Lingshou is going to be burnt to a crisp, it will only be more hectic than before.”

Song Yan laughed: “Compared to the other three states, only Lingshu is far away from the smoke, we when the peace officer, busy is nothing. I’ve only heard of those who died in battle on the sands, but I’ve rarely heard of those who died of exhaustion in the officialdom.”

Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, looking at the bustling streets that were also noisy at night, said softly, “Xu Beihao is going to step down from the post of assassin of Lingshou, and take over the post of assassin of Liangzhou from Tian Peifang’s hand, but the position vacated by Xu Beihao, Lord Song, you …….”

Xu Fengyen did not finish his words, Song Yan was silent, neither showing a look of resentment and resentment, nor saying some generous words as a civilian minister who only seeks the well-being of the people and not high office.

Xu Fengnian some helpless, said: “thousands of scholars to cool, as some foreign scholars private slander, so far, are doing something sesame green beans size of the official, as a waist of ten thousand yuan of gentry casually give alms to the roadside beggars, does not comply with the reasoning of the thousands of gold to raise a scholar. Although song dongming did on the north liang road deputy strategic ambassador, ranked from the second rank, but after all, song dongming is not strictly to liang scholars, such as outsiders rumors, song dongming more with xu bei hoven huangfu ping and so on similar to me xu fengnian only by personal preference to promote up of the beloved one.”

Said here, Xu Fengyen smiled to himself, “now Beiliang won the war, according to reason, it is time to seal the official wish, urgent need to give these wailing soldiers a hope, Beiliang, after all, there are only four states, the official hat is so much, already in the various Yamen stuffed with a lot of foreign soldiers, I can’t possibly chase away the local officials in Beiliang to give them to vacate the seat, unsuitable, on the I had to come up with a gimmick with the high position of a full third rank of Assassin of Lingzhou. Originally, with Lord Song’s ability to govern political affairs, he is of course the best candidate to be the next Assassin of Lingshou.”

Song Yan finally opened his mouth to speak, without any hiding, on the contrary very straightforward, asking, “Your Majesty, if my humble servant fails to become an assassin in Lingzhou, can I go to another state?”

Xu Fengnian also said frankly: “After Tian Peifang was promoted to Deputy Secretary of Strategy, Xu Beihao will take over, this is the nail in the coffin. The current assassin of Liuzhou is Yang Guangdou, and the next one will be Chen Xiliang without any surprise, and it can only be Chen Xiliang, in the Liuzhou that has experienced a series of wars, to put it bluntly, I am willing to let Lord Song transfer to Liuzhou, and I guess it will be difficult for you to convince the public, and this has nothing to do with the magnitude of your Song Yan’s ability to rule. As for the state, may as well be honest with you, the ambition to build a career in the sand Hu Kui is indeed soon to return to the border army, but the next assassin candidate, but there is also to talk about, the state compared to Liangzhou, more military light, or Tian Peifang a few years ago would not be so stifled, complaining that he is a vase assassin, when he struggled to operate to want to come to the state to serve in this Lingzhou, is the northern Liang officialdom known to everyone a matter of fact. This time Liang and Mang war, the Youzhou side contributed extremely much and suffered the most deaths and injuries, it’s not good for you to go to Youzhou.”

Song Yan smiled bitterly and said, “If Your Majesty says so, my humble servant will die. It’s good to talk about it, no need to hang on to that mind all day long.”

Song Yan know very well, Liangzhou Liuzhou Youzhou can not go, and Lingzhou non-but this time not up, in the opening of the official precedent of buying horses, in the future may still not be suitable for Song Yan’s chair, because Lingzhou will certainly become the placement of the best place to go to the Liang scholars, do not hear the drums of war do not see the smoke of wolves outside of the river, naturally suitable for dancing and ink readers, the northern Liang may be the formation of a stabilized northern generals and southern prime ministers. Situation, so Song Yan is particularly worried, he is not a pedantic man, although not the kind of too keen on fame and fortune of the officials, but also never foolhardy loyalty to anyone. Show ambition, after all, is to be directly linked to the size of the official hat on top of the head. Imagine Zhang Julu if it is a clear water government office of the minor officials, and how can single-handedly create today’s Liyang power?

Xu Fengyen gently exhaled a breath, did not turn his head to look at Song Yan, “Three years, if I can hold out until three years from now, what I promised you at the beginning, I can only do it. If …… if you feel aggrieved, taking advantage of this time just as Yang Shenxing entered Liang, I can let you get out of the Northern Liang officialdom and head to Tai’an City.”

Xu Fengnian calmly said, “This is not me testing you, since Xu Snapdragon, Bei Liang has not had the habit of playing with the temple’s mind, on this piece of land, there are not many reading seeds, where can they withstand the tossing and turning, if they can come out one is one, even if they blossom in the wall and smell outside the wall, they won’t be stopped, and even less will they be hacked off with a Liang knife.”

Song Yan’s body slightly leaned back, his shoulders gently undulating with the horse’s back, lazily said, “If I, Song Yan, go to Tai’an City, will the Zhao family’s son of heaven be able to go hand in hand with me? Can’t he? Will he come here to explain to me personally because I can’t get promoted? Even less, right? I Song Yan knee can not say how hard, but at least in Beiliang do not have to go to the court every day to kneel, day after day, year after year, there is no end, a scholar, standing as an official, always more comfortable than kneeling as an official, not to mention that I am this official, is not small. Of course, if one day the Zhao family son of heaven let people come to me and say, Song Yan ah, the court six ministries lack a minister, or you will first let it go, and then let you go to the province and the door of the province as the main official, to ensure that into the coffin when you can have a Wenzhen what posthumous, I guarantee that I will be moved, I’m afraid that even if the king stops me then, I also want to cry two, three hanged.”

Xu Feng Nian laughed loudly, “Lord Song ah Lord Song, then you won’t be able to think about it, Miss Song’s looks are not bad, but she really hasn’t come to the point of wreaking havoc on the country, not to mention her academic talent, people Yan Ge Lao is better than you in the matter of having a daughter.”

Song Yan very nonchalant cold snort.

To the assassin’s residence, Xu Beihao or that day big frame, learned that the king of northern Liang in person, not to mention the rise of a large open ceremonial door, is to show a face are owed, Xu Fengyen had to go to the study with Song Yan, fearful of the house steward carefully pushed open the door of the room, only to see that has not yet taken off the official robes assassin’s lord is sitting in a chair to deal with political affairs, chaotic study, the books are scattered all over the place, Xu Fengyen stooped down to pick up one of the books, Song Yan smiled and walked away. book, Song Yan smiled and walked to the window to open the window to get some air. Waiting until Xu Fengyen almost finished organizing the study, Xu Beihao put down his pen, rubbed his wrist, looked up and glanced at Xu Fengyen, the latter smiled and said: ”Now Qingliang mountain Song Dongming and Bai Yu fairy fight, although they are both literati with status and cultivation, can’t make a big storm, but after all not too reassuring, this is not thinking of letting the assassin lord to go to liangzhou to be a peacemaker, in liangzhou assassin’s s identity to help me keep an eye on it.”

Xu Beihuan blandly said, “Let’s not mention whether those two will have a problem in their hearts, let’s just say this mess in Lingzhou, you don’t want to let Song Biejie, who is familiar with the area, to be the assassin, and just to pacify the scholars who are going to Liangzhou, and hand it over to an outsider, do you really think that there won’t be a single mistake at the end of the day?”

Xu Fengnian laughed, “Then what do you say?”

Xu Beihao got straight to the point: “Did Li Gongde say that he would resign as the ambassador of the Jingliu, and that Song Dongming would take his place?”

Xu Fengnian nodded and said, “Said so, he meant not to be the ambassador of the Jingliu, only to keep the false title of governor of the construction of the new city outside the Liangzhou Pass, but I didn’t agree to it.”

Xu Beihao laughed coldly, “What, afraid of being said to unload the donkey? Chilling the hearts of the old ministers of Northern Liang? Or are you worried that Hanlin Li’s side won’t be able to say anything?”

Xu Fengnian smiled without saying anything.

Xu Beihao was vaguely angry and said in a deep voice: “A Lingzhou Buyei, not small!”

Xu Fengnian shook his head, “It’s not small, but it’s not big enough either.”

Xu Beihuan said, “Then let Lord Song become the Assassin of Liangzhou, I’ll just take up an idle position at Qingliang Mountain, and it’ll help you act as a check and balance just the same.”

Xu Fengnian still shook his head and threw a look to Song Yan who was watching the fire from the other side.

Song Yan gloated, “Your Highness, under the sky, there are still people who don’t want to be an assassin but are willing to be an officer, this is not difficult for Song Yan. Besides, the governor of Liangzhou is much more expensive than the governor of Lingzhou. I can’t say these words against my will. Besides, it is obvious that Xu is going to make a great career, but if I get involved, I will lose my position and go to Liangzhou to sit on the bench, and my position will get smaller and smaller, and when Xu comes back to his senses, the love that he has saved up these days will be gone. In public and private, my humble servant will not help the king persuade the assassin lord.”

After Song Yan interrupted, the original tense atmosphere in the study was gone, and Xu Beihao probably vented his long pent up whining and resentment, quickly recovered his mindset, collected his sharp edges, and said, “Is it that you can’t believe in Song Dongming, or you can’t believe in Bai Yu? Or neither of them?”

Xu Fengnian moved a chair and sat down, “I can’t talk about who I suspect, but with Orange you staying at Qingliang Mountain, I can feel more at ease outside of Beiliang Pass.”

Seeing Xu Beihuan staring at him without turning his eyes, Xu Fengyen was a bit weak, “Chen Xiliang refused to leave Liuzhou, he clearly wants to put down roots there, I really can’t do anything about it.”

Xu Beihao smiled, “Your Highness is really good at pinching soft persimmons.”

Xu Fengyen resentfully didn’t say anything.

Song Yan’s face was odd, the relationship between the king and Xu Beihao Chen Xiliang’s two people was really worth pondering over. Otherwise, listening to this tone of Xu assassin, how is it like a woman who is competing for the position of the first wife at home.

Xu Beihao suddenly face eased up, “Liuzhou is not easy. That big battle where each side’s victory or defeat was only a hair’s breadth away, both sides took out the objects in their suitcases.”

Especially on the Bei Liang side with inferior strength, not to mention the 30,000 Dragon Elephant Army all put into the battlefield, in addition to the two towns of Liuzhou outside of Qingcang, together with the Liangzhou cavalry that rushed to reinforce at a rapid speed, even Liu Wenbao and Sima family Chai Dongdie’s 4,000 western private soldiers that were temporarily assembled, as well as the 20,000 monks from Mt. Ruutuo that were urgently mobilized by the Six Pearls Bodhisattva, all surfaced one by one, and even the 10,000 hidden elite cavalry of Cao Wei had to turn around to reinforce Liuzhou, which made it incredibly thrilling to be able to survive. It was only then that the bloody battle was won in an incredibly thrilling manner. It can be said that the absence of any of the troops will lead to the fall of Liuzhou, not to mention the ability to draw out a few thousand cavalry into the center of the battlefield after the war, and the North Liang Guanwai cavalry left and right, and ultimately succeeded in forcing Dong Zhuo to give up the intention of jade and stone to burn, if it is only the unilateral North Mang in the Hulukou all the troops, Dong Zhuo has already pulled out the nail of the city of the tiger, Dong Zhuo can be completely disregarded, and continue to advance to the south.

Therefore, it can be said that the original most irrelevant flow state, is the Xiangfu two years of this Liang Mang war of the real winners and losers.

Xu Beihao stood up and stared at Xu Fengnian, “You should be clear, even if I hoarded grain before the war, and ‘borrowed grain’ from the neighboring areas of Beiliang through various means during the war, and didn’t even let go of Western Sichuan, if you want to win the next war, not to mention that the imperial court is restricting the transportation of grain, as long as the Liyang If we want to win the next war, not to mention the imperial court restricting the transportation of grain, as long as Liyang does not support Beiliang, then the result will be that the war will not be impossible to fight, but we, Beiliang, will die a lot more, maybe 30,000, maybe 50,000, or maybe even more. Bei Liang, what to do?”

Xu Fengyen sat quietly in his chair, silent for a long time, and finally spoke, “After I leave this study, I will set out on a trip to Tai’an City.”

Song Yan’s face changed dramatically.

Xu Beihao violently slammed his fist on the book case and became furious, “You Xu Fengnian can afford to lose this face, but I, Beiliang, can’t! Tiger Head City Liu Yunu! Wang Lingbao of Liuzhou! Tian Heng of Youzhou! I, Northern Liang, cannot afford to lose face with the tens of thousands of heroic souls who died in battle!”

Xu Fengyen silently got up and silently walked out of the study.

Song Yan wanted to say something, but in the end it was just a sigh.

Xu Beihao roared at that back, “Beiliang Iron Cavalry, even North Mang’s millions of soldiers and horses can be stopped! Is it hard to beat the two Huai of Liyang?!”

There was no stopping step.

In the shadowy corridor, that not-so-old back was slightly hunchbacked.