generation hero

Chapter 73 Ji Yang

After Fengcheng was saved, only the southern part of Fenzhou was in danger. Liu Yanping stayed in Fenzhou and Jiang Shishi to prepare to send troops to the south, while Yuan Tang and Feng Cong rushed back to Muzhou after the battle of Fengcheng.

Su Shoukui seized the power in Muzhou by force. Coincidentally, it was Qin Sima who was sent by him to sit in Jiyang.

Because Zhou Xianpei was Yuantang's uncle, and the Zhou family had a close relationship with the Yuan family, he was squeezed out by Su Shoukui's forces. He resigned from the post of prefect early and returned to the manor in Longxiao Mountain to spend his days idle.

It was a frosty, cold and windy day, and the Zhou's manor was desolate. Zhou Xianpei got up early and put on a jacket to teach his two grandsons their homework. Having no interest in chatting, he locked himself in the study in the afternoon.

When the servant came to report the letter, Zhou Xianpei was painting with a brush, and with a trembling of his hand, a little thick ink was added to a landscape painting.

Yuan Tang and Feng Cong pretended to be travelers and returned to Muzhou from Fenzhou. Hearing that Zhou Xianpei was no longer in Jiyang City, they turned to Zhou's manor in Longxiao Mountain.

The servants of the Zhou family all recognized Yuan Tang, and when they saw him, they rushed to deliver a message to Zhou Xianpei.

Zhou's manor was much bigger than Yuan's villa, and the owner's house was built on the mountainside. Before Yuantang went up the mountain, Zhou Xianpei had already come down on a sliding pole.

"It's good to be back, it's good to be back!" Zhou Xianpei held Yuantang's hand as soon as they met, his expression excited: "How did you come back? I heard that you were taken away, so I sent someone north to look for you. The state can't get through..."

"Don't worry, uncle. I'm back now. Thanks to my uncle for helping me take care of my family these days."

Zhou Xianpei said: "What's the matter?"

After a few words, Zhou Xianpei noticed Feng Cong who was with Yuan Tang and Su An warrior as his follower.The people from Su'an looked different from those from Nanxia, ​​Zhou Xianpei recognized him at a glance, with a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"This, this is..."

Yuan Tang hurriedly said, "Uncle, we have something very important to do when we come back this time, so we can't say anything about it."

Zhou Xianpei understood, and said: "Don't worry, everyone in the family can trust it, please go up the mountain first." He also ordered his servants to carefully watch the inside and outside of the manor, so as not to be followed by anyone.

Zhou Xianpei did not bring Yuantang and the others to the welcoming hall, but brought them to Xiaoxuan next to his study to meet friends, and did not let his servants follow him, leaving only two cronies behind.

After entering the room, Zhou Xianpei bowed his hands to Feng Cong first, and said: "The time is limited, Zhou's hospitality is rude, please don't blame your highness."

Yuan Tang said: "What time is it, uncle don't care about these vain rituals, let's talk about business."

Zhou Xianpei smiled and said: "It's important business, and etiquette is necessary." The servant brought the tea set and water, and he cooked it himself.

Yuan Tang told Zhou Xianpei what happened after he took office as Baiyu, talking about the battle of Fengcheng, and about driving Su Shoukui's forces out of Jiyang.

"Liu Changshi has already gone to the southern part of Fenzhou to plan this matter, and the governor of Fenzhou is willing to send troops, but he doesn't know what the situation in Jiyang is like now, so let's go back and inquire first." Yuan Tang said.

Zhou Xianpei was surprised and said: "So you are actually in Fenzhou." He only heard the news of the war disaster in Fenzhou, but he didn't know that Yuantang and the others were there, "Fortunately, the war in Fenzhou has ended, otherwise Su Shoukui might have used it as an excuse. An excuse to send troops to Muzhou."

Feng Cong took the teacup from Zhou Xianpei's hand and asked, "Does the court not care?"

Zhou Xianpei said: "The Empress Dowager passed away, and King Huan also retired. Your Majesty asked Xiao Shanzhi to take over Shangyun. Before he took office, Su Shoukui rebelled."

Yuan Tang was surprised and said: "What, Your Majesty actually let Xiao Shanzhi go to Shangyun?"

Zhou Xianpei nodded and said: "Your Majesty offended the Wang family, and no one in the court objected. Xiao Shanzhi recovered naturally."

It is conceivable that without the Wang family to contend and without the queen mother to control the government, the Xiao family would flourish in the Southern Xia court.

Feng Cong sipped the tea carefully and asked, "Then Xiao Shanzhi didn't attack Su Shoukui after he took over as Shangyun?"

Zhou Xianpei showed a mocking smile, and said: "Xiao Shanzhi's new official took office. He wanted to take this opportunity to make meritorious service. Fortunately, he gained a firm foothold in Shangyun's military mansion. He immediately asked the imperial court for an order, and His Majesty also agreed. He was elected in Shangyun. It took some time for Su Shoukui to borrow the troops of the Di people, and quickly occupied five cities in Qizhou. Xiao Shanzhi led his troops to the border between Qizhou and Muzhou, knowing that he was invincible, and retreated."

"When Su Shoukui was forced to Muzhou, the court urged Shangyun to resist, and Xiao Shanzhi gathered troops in Muzhou again. He fought against Su Shoukui's lieutenant outside Jiyang City. He lost once and hid one in Jiyang City. Yue, and later ran away at night."

Then Su Shoukui's forces took over Jiyang. After the Di people's civil strife, taking advantage of the withdrawal of the Di people's generals, they took Qizhou and Muzhou as their own. The Zhou family is a big family of Jiyang, and has a close relationship with the Yuan family and King Huan. Wan Li, Su Shoukui didn't want the Zhou family to still be the prefect of Jiyang, so he found a reason to let Zhou Xianpei resign.

Yuan Tang also thought it was funny, Xiao Shanzhi retreated without a fight, and asked again: "After the Di people have withdrawn, doesn't the court want to take back the two prefectures?"

Zhou Xianpei said: "You probably don't know when you come back from Beicheng. There are water bandits in the south. Last month, a group of water bandits took a boat and attacked near the capital. The troops of Shangyun and the capital were all transferred to fight against the rioters. Su Shoukui In the above table, please confer the post of Inspector of the Two Prefectures, the imperial court is worried that Su Shoukui will take advantage of the lack of troops in Shangyun and continue to go south, so Su Shoukui has been awarded the post of Inspector of the Two Prefectures."

Now the Nanxia court is unable to control Qizhou and Muzhou at all, so it can only temporarily let Su Shoukui take control of the two states.

While talking, Yuan Tang's aunt Niu Shi came. Although Zhou Xianpei kept it from other family members, he couldn't hide it from the mistress of the family. Yuan Tang lost his mother, and his father was away all year round. When Yuantang came back from Beicheng, Niu hurried over.

Niu cared about Yuantang, and pulled him to ask him how he was. Zhou Xianpei was too afraid to interrupt his wife. In order not to affect Feng Cong and Zhou Xianpei's continued discussion of business, Yuantang coaxed Niu to go to the main room first, and followed him.

Yuan Tang stayed with Niu Shi for more than an hour, listened to a lot of nagging, took a bath, changed his clothes and ate a full meal before being let go by Niu Shi.

Back in the study, Zhou Xianpei and Feng Cong were still sitting opposite each other in front of the tea table. The hot water in the kettle was steaming, and the white mist swirled between them. The atmosphere seemed a bit serious. Song, Zhou Xianpei asked him with a smile what Niu had said. Yuan Tang felt a little puzzled, but there was nothing unusual in the expressions of the two of them.

Zhou Xianpei promised to lend Zhou's private soldiers to Feng Cong and Yuan Tang, and tried his best to contact the village to help them drive Su Shoukui's people out of Jiyang.

After agreeing on this matter, Yuantang returned to Tanhu Villa.

After a long absence, the scenery in Tanhu Villa is still so peaceful and natural, like a paradise.As soon as he got home, Yuantang stuck to his handicraft workshop. Before he left home, the ammunition developed by the craftsmen was slightly effective. The craftsmen tested it repeatedly, and they had already made a combustion that was put in a bamboo tube and ignited with an iron.// ammunition.

Looking at the research results of his own workshop, Yuan Tang thought that he could finally drive it once.

On the morning of the ninth day of October, Yuan Tang and several of his private soldiers dressed up as Zhou Xianpei's servants and followed Zhou Xianpei into Jiyang City.

Liu Yanping and Jiang Shishi mobilized troops from Fenzhou to surround a fortress set up by Su Shoukui at the junction of Fenzhou and Muzhou. Qin Sima had to send [-] troops from Jiyang to support him, and he was still in Jiyang.

Yuan Tang wandered around the city for a few days, exploring the deployment of Jiyang City's defenses thoroughly. Although the number of troops in the city was reduced, Qin Sima's defenses were not relaxed at all, and the guards were tightly guarded.

On the night of October [-]th, Yuan Tang led fifty private soldiers from the Zhou family and the Yuan family to attack a tower in the northwest corner, and set fire to the tower with incendiary bombs made by his home workshop.Yuantang and the others attacked from inside the city. The tower guards were unprepared, and the wooden tower quickly ignited. The flames in the northwest of Jiyang City soared into the sky, attracting soldiers on the city wall to rescue them. Northwest corner city defense.

At this moment, Yuan Tang and the private soldiers took down the city gate, opened the city gate, and Feng Congcha led 500 people who ambushed outside the city to enter the city. He is a native of Jiyang and is very familiar with Jiyang.

Some of the soldiers staying at Jiyang were originally Zhou Xianpei's Jiyang garrison, and they were not loyal to Su Shoukui, so they could easily be persuaded by Zhou Xianpei's people to defect.

Therefore, they quickly gained control of the gate of Jiyang City, and the people who sealed Cong went straight to the city where Qin Sima was.

Yuan Tang was guarding the city gate and met Qin Sima who was about to leave the city. Qin Sima deeply regretted not killing Yuan Tang at the beginning, so he didn't care to escape for a while, so he immediately raised his knife to kill Yuan Tang.

Yuan Tang led a small number of troops, and took the city gate by igniting the towers to surprise the city wall defenders. He also had to divide people to guard the wooden fence on the city wall, so as not to be counterattacked and lost to the number of Qin Sima and his personal guards.He was forced to the horse path on the city wall. When he was in danger, Feng Cong and two hundred Zhou's private soldiers arrived. Qin Sima saw that something was wrong, got on his horse and ran out of the city.

Feng Cong boarded the city gate, Yuan Tang also ran up, and saw Qin Sima's men rushing out of the city.

Feng Cong pointed his bow at the bottom of the city, the night was dark, standing on the city gate and looking down was like looking down at a pool of deep water, dark and deep, Yuan Tang set up the bamboo tube, slammed it into the hollow bamboo tube with a soldering iron, and threw the bamboo tube towards Outside the city gate, sparks exploded in mid-air, illuminating the sky behind Qin Sima.

Feng Cong plucked the string and let the arrow fly, the arrow feather turned into a shooting star and flashed by under the firelight, Qin Sima fell down in response, leaving behind a mess of hoofs and horses.

Su Shoukui's capable general was killed in Jiyang. He immediately mobilized troops to counterattack Jiyang. Muzhou is the ancestral home of Zhou and Yuan.Qin Sima is dead, Su Shoukui sits in Baiyu himself and refuses to leave easily. The soldiers and horses who stayed in Muzhou have no leader, and finally they are defeated and withdraw from Muzhou.

Pang Xingzhu and the Su'an people who went south with Yuan Tang finally came to Jiyang from Fenzhou. After retaking Jiyang, Zhou Xianpei took on the post of prefect, and he came forward to temporarily resettle the refugees and Su'an people.

Yuantang invites Mulu to live in Tanhu Villa.By the end of the twelfth lunar month, Su Shoukui's forces were basically driven out of Fenzhou, Liu Yanping also returned to Muzhou from Fenzhou, and Yuan Tang held a banquet at Tanhu Villa to cleanse the dust and celebrate their achievements.

When they were seated, everyone pushed Cong to the upper seat, and Mu Luhu sat on the left side of the head.

Yuan Tang and Yuan De were only in charge of military affairs and other military affairs. Sometimes when they returned to the Yuan family's mansion in Jiyang City, Feng Cong was nowhere to be seen, and they were often told that Feng Cong was still in the city.Whether in Fenzhou or Muzhou, the Su'an warriors contributed a lot, and Feng Cong was the main general in several battles.After Feng Cong came back, Liu Yanping did not discuss many things with Yuan Tang, but went directly to Feng Cong, probably seeing through Yuan Tang's lack of self-motivation and useless nature.

Not only Liu Yanping, but also Zhou Xianpei often discussed with Feng Cong about scheduling and marching arrangements during the war, and even Ling Mufeng also liked to join Feng Cong.Although he didn't say it clearly, Yuan Tang could tell that these people had decided that Feng Cong was the leader, both openly and secretly.

The diva borrowed from the Zhou family hummed a small tune softly, like a whisper, and everyone relaxed, pushing glasses for a change.Yuan Tang also asked people to hold a banquet outside to comfort the various private soldiers and Su'an warriors who fought the enemy when they recaptured Muzhou, and there was a lot of drinking outside.

After drinking some wine, Liu Yanping couldn't help talking about Qizhou again. The Liu family was in Qizhou, so it was not easy for him to hold back his thoughts and plan for such a long time.

Since the start of the Jiyang war, the Nanxia court and Shangyun Mansion have never sent anyone to inquire about Jiyang. Muzhou has been settled, and Zhou Xianpei intends to submit a form to the Nanxia court years ago. Firstly, it shows that Muzhou has refused to leave Su Shoukui. To rectify the name of Muzhou.Zhou Xianpei was formerly the prefect of Jiyang, Liu Yanping had the post of Baiyu Changshi, Yuan Tang joined the army, and Feng Cong was once awarded the title of Qi's domestic history. As long as the imperial court issued an edict to recognize Muzhou, marching troops to Qizhou in the beginning of spring would be for the imperial court to recover Qizhou As the name goes, Liu Yanping can also use this to contact the big families in the Qizhou countryside, and at the same time frighten Su Shoukui.

Everyone agreed with Zhou Xianpei's suggestion, Ling Mufeng stood up from the table, and said: "It's good to say what Zhou Taishou said, but I think that if the name is to be justified, it must have a name and a banner. Your Highness is Qi's internal history, and internal history has always only As for internal affairs, the long history and joining the army are only Bai Yu's long history and joining the army, so why is it justified to lead the troops to recover Muzhou?"

Feng Cong gently put down the wine bottle, Liu Yanping stroked his beard, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Ling Mufeng said: "For all civil and military affairs of the general association, the post of governor is indispensable. Why not ask His Highness to be appointed the governor of the two states."

The room was silent for a moment, only the singer's sweet singing echoed the hustle and bustle outside, Liu Yanping's smile deepened, Zhou Xianpei leaned towards Pingji calmly, and the two looked at each other with a little tacit understanding, Liu Yanping said : "Sir, what you said is not bad."

As the host, Yuan Tang had been poured with wine by everyone before, and now he was so hot and dizzy that his eyes were a little blurry. He saw Feng Cong clenched the wine bottle tightly, his eyes were dim, and he couldn't see Feng Cong clearly. Zhou Xianpei said, "It's a rare feast today, let's not talk about it, let's go ahead and drink."

The atmosphere warmed up again, Zhou Xianpei called his servants to arrange dancers, the cheerful music overwhelmed the voices outside, and the colorful dresses of the dancers fluttered around, making Yuan Tang dizzy.

At the banquet, the families who had a good relationship with the Zhou family and the Yuan family and who had contributed in the war came to toast one after another. There was a family member who wanted to be a matchmaker for his family and wanted to marry the prostitute daughter of the family to Feng Cong.

Yuan Tang was dizzy, so he excused himself to change clothes and leave the banquet, and simply went back to his room to recover the corpse.

Not long after he lay down, Zhou Xianpei followed him, nagging him by the ear, all he said was to make him, the host, pay more attention. Seeing that he was really drunk, he had no choice but to go out and greet the guests for him.

Before leaving, Zhou Xianpei suddenly remembered something, turned around and said: "There is one more thing I want to remind you. Although you and Your Highness have shared adversity, it was all in the past. In the future, you can't keep your old righteousness and be ignorant of etiquette."

Yuan Tang turned over on the couch, Zhou Xianpei sighed: "Forget it, let's talk about it when you sober up, lest you wake up and forget."

Zhou Xianpei left, and the servants who served him were also sent out by Yuan Tang, turned around a few times, Yuan Tang felt uncomfortable and had to ask someone to prepare water for a bath, after tossing for half an hour, he lay back on the couch, the lights went out, and the wine After the energy was over, Yuantang stared at the top of the Yunshan embroidered tent in a daze.

After an unknown period of time, the door opened, and Feng Cong entered the room in his unlined clothes with his hair loose, his body freshly soaked in hot water, and found that the room was dark, so he walked lightly.

Feng Cong covered Yuan Tang's forehead with one hand, and Yuan Tang opened his eyes. Although the lamp was not turned on, Yuan Tang's eyes were still bright at night.

"Did you wake up or haven't slept all this time?" Feng Cong asked in a low voice, in the dead of night, his voice fell into Yuan Tang's ear.

Yuan Tang gave way to the bed, vacating half of the space, and said lazily, "I've been lying down for a while, are you all gone? Thank you and uncle for helping me greet the guests."

"It's gone." Feng Cong said, "Are you really drunk?"

"I was drunk just now," Yuan Tang straightened up and fell down again, covering his eyes with his hand as if dizzy, "I feel better now."

Feng Cong lay down beside him, turned over to face him, just looked at him and didn't speak.

Yuan Tang could feel Feng Cong's sight and breathing even when he was blindfolded, neither of them moved, they were quiet for a moment, Yuan Tang wanted to turn over but was hugged by Feng Cong.

"Don't move yet, listen to me," Feng Cong said, "The matchmaker's good deed, I've already declined."

Feng Cong's attitude was very sincere, Yuan Tang moved, Feng Cong said again: "This kind of thing will never happen in the future, I can guarantee it. Look at me, there is no parental restraint, no family, but you, With so many people in the clan, and your uncle is in charge, will they run off to get married someday?"

"Of course not!" Yuan Tang sat up, but saw Feng Cong staring at him and smiling. Although the tent was dark, he could feel that Feng Cong was smiling.

Feng Cong's complaining tone made Yuantang want to laugh, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up when he thought so.

Feng Cong pinched his cheek and said, "Still laughing."

Yuan Tang hesitated for a while, and asked, "Will you accept Mr. Ling's suggestion and submit a letter to the court?"

People have returned to Nanxia, ​​Feng Cong has to face everything in Nanxia.Yuantang has a family in Muzhou, even if he has no backing in the court, he is not afraid that he will not have a foothold.Feng Cong was in a completely different situation. The emperor wanted to kill him back then, but he might not be able to take care of him now, but he would not let him go easily.

Now that they are far away from the capital, Muzhou is gathering troops to attack Qizhou. Everyone respects Feng Cong as the leader. This is the best time to find an identity for Feng Cong. Muzhou needs a righteous name, and so does Feng Cong.

Only in this way, Feng Cong will become a thorn in the emperor's eyes.

Feng Cong didn't care, and leaned into Yuan Tang's ear and said, "Don't worry, no matter what happens in the future, what you just said will count."

Yuantang's ears were itchy, and he wanted to push him away: "Who told you this?"

But Feng Cong came up again, buried his head on Yuantang's shoulder, and said softly, "It's fine as long as you believe in me." His voice seemed tired, but the strength in his hands to hold Yuantang's shoulder was weak. loose.

Yuan Tang said, "Okay, I believe you."

The brocade quilt is warm and soft, which breeds not only sleepiness, but also charm. I don’t know who will be emotional first, stirring the warmth in the brocade quilt into enthusiasm. The curtain is like smoke, and only when it moves with the wind will the gentleness leak from the concealment. , and the rest are left in the haze.