PS: The writing of these three chapters is not exciting, but the general foreshadowing is almost all in it, so it is quite difficult to write. I guess I will have to look back in the future to see what pits I have dug.
PS2: Greedy people always like to talk about a long list of things they want, such as collections, red tickets, rewards, subscriptions, and monthly passes
Chapter 424: Movements in all directions, northwest, southwest
Mangdang Mountain
Navy General Duan Zheng and Fang Jie walked side by side, looked at the surrounding scenery and said with a smile: "I took a boat to patrol along the river, and I could see hundreds of miles of Mangdang Mountain scenery every day. When I first looked at it, I thought it was similar, but when I looked at it again, I felt it was boring, but you can see As time goes by, the mountain becomes more majestic and majestic. Only when you walk into the mountain do you realize that the charm of the mountain lies not in the distant view, but in being in it. "
Fang Jie said with a smile: "Some people say that they don't know the face of the mountain because they are in the mountain. General Duan is just the opposite. If you don't enter the mountain, you won't know the true face of the mountain."
Duan Zhengruo said thoughtfully: "How can you see clearly if you don't get close? Mountains are like this, and so are people."
Fang Jie smiled and shook his head without comment.
"When I met General Fang last time, I admired you for your strong blood. This time I see you again, I come with guilt in my heart, but I am also full of respect."
Duan Zheng said as he walked: "With only 5,000 troops, we can mobilize all the rebels and the nearly 700,000 left vanguard troops. Without a good plan or a big courage, we can't do it. Even now, I Every time I think about it, I still find it unbelievable. For ordinary people, I would never dare to think about it. Now I finally understand why you stand out from the many young talents in the Yanwu Academy, and even His Majesty is impressed by you."
"There is no dishonest person under a great reputation. I am sincere in my words."
Fang Jie waved his hands and said, "It's just that his temper is a bit reckless. That's probably how ignorant people are fearless."
"If you are ignorant, few people in the world dare to say that they are knowledgeable. Your method of small calligraphy for arithmetic and Pinyin and calligraphy have been implemented in various places in the Sui Dynasty. Do you know how many rural students respect you as their teacher? Do you know that there are How many people who have learned a lot about you are full of praise for you?"
Duan Zheng said: "I travel back and forth all the year round, and naturally I see a little more than others. Those professors in the township and county schools respect you very much every time they mention your name. What you dedicated to His Majesty is not a flowery article. , it is not a grand national policy, but the most practical thing, and I don¡¯t know how many students will benefit from it.¡±
¡°Stop praising me, I¡¯m easily proud.¡±
Fang Jie said with a smile: "I haven't thanked General Duan enough for sending so many winter clothes. I don't even know how to express my gratitude."
¡°There¡¯s only so much I can do.¡±
Duan Zheng sighed: "His Majesty personally marched, and more than a million troops gathered on Hexi Road. A few days ago, His Majesty's order to mobilize the Yangtze River Navy to go north for coordinated operations has arrived. When preparations are complete, I will lead the troops north."
"Are you all leaving?"
Fang Jie couldn¡¯t help but ask.
"Of course not."
Duan Zheng pursed his lips in the direction of Huangniu River: "It's not safe here, how can we transfer all the navy. I want to take away 30% of the warships, and most of them have to stay on the Yangtze River. After all, there is still a fire here, who knows what It's time to start burning. If all the naval forces move north, the natural moat alone cannot stop the ambition in some people's hearts."
?? Ambition is in the heart for ambition.
"Does Your Majesty have any decree to mention this matter?"
"Not only is there, there is also a will to mention you."
Duan Zheng said: "This is why I sent someone to contact you, and then I had to go there myself Counting the days, His Majesty is already in Hexi Road. When he issued the order, he should still be in Chang'an. His Majesty ordered you not to return to Chang'an City or go to Hexi Road to pick you up if he could see you, but he didn't say why. Logically speaking, His Majesty should call you back to be on standby. Why did you specifically tell him not to do so? you go?"
Fang Jie shook his head: "No one can guess His Majesty's thoughts."
"Do you have anything you want me to tell His Majesty?"
Fang Jie took out a memorial from his arms: "This memorial has been written for many days, but I just can't send it out. Since the general is going north to go to the Holy Spirit, please help me take it there. Your Majesty asked me to stay, or you think I can If I want to make a difference here, I will just settle down and settle down in Mangdang Mountain."
"We can't stay in the mountains forever"
Duan Zheng glanced at Fang Jie and said, "If you need anything else, just ask me. Now that I'm going north, I don't know why I always feel that my life will end here. I'm used to being arrogant. , although there are not many people who can look up to you because they have accomplished nothing, you are not one of them.So I thought about what I can do to help you more while I still have the ability. As expected, you have also heard that the richest team is the Navy. There is no shortage of these winter clothing supplies in the Navy, but I know you are short of them. If I'm not wrong, you led your men and horses into the mountains because you didn't want to go back to the left midfield"
"Did you discover something?"
he asks.
Fang Jie was silent for a while and said: "Your Majesty sees far and clearly than anyone else. Even if I didn't find anything, he should have made arrangements."
Duan Zheng looked around and suddenly lowered his voice and said: "I mean you are smart, and you guessed it During these days, I heard that at least six guardsmen in Jiangnan moved to the south, and their actions were very secretive. If It¡¯s not that I have a good relationship with the Navy Admiral in private, I don¡¯t know about this either. In addition, there is news It is said that the 300,000 soldiers brought by His Majesty are also deployed in the far south"
"That's why I have to admire you."
Duan Zheng said sincerely: "You have no information in Huangyang Road, and you can actually decide to withdraw from the left vanguard based on your own speculation. It is not easy. For ordinary people, who would dare to lead thousands of people into the rebel territory?" I won¡¯t come out, and these thousands of people may not be very loyal to me. Anyway, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±
Fang Jie sighed: "I have to do this as a last resort when I am forced here."
"If nothing unexpected happens, what His Majesty should seek when mobilizing troops in the northwest is a quick victory."
Duan Zheng lowered his voice and said: "Everyone knows now that Luo Yao is unreliable. Your Majesty will not give the rebels a chance or give Luo Yao time. At first, Your Majesty had no intention of sending the Yangtze River Navy to the north. Now that the decree has suddenly come down, I guess So your Majesty plans to cross the river in a big way, and then seek an opportunity to fight the rebels. If everything goes well, your Majesty may not go directly south"
"General"
Fang Jie was stunned for a moment, hesitated for a while and asked: "Some people say that the foundations of the Sui Dynasty have been touched, and the world will be in chaos. What do you think?"
Duan Zheng¡¯s expression changed. He didn¡¯t expect Fang Jie to directly ask such treacherous words. How could he understand that Fang Jie had guessed from what he said that His Majesty was going to cross the river in a big way The emperor's body was probably almost unable to hold on anymore, otherwise why would he be in such a hurry?
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"Chaos does not mean touching the fundamentals."
Duan Zheng was silent for a while, sorting out his words: "The Great Sui Dynasty was in chaos, and we ministers were not at ease. But you have to know that the centuries-old foundation of the Great Sui Dynasty is very stable. Not to mention that Li Yuanshan occupied the northwest, even if Luo Yaozhen occupied it In the southwest, you can compete with the whole country, but there is no chance of winning. Your Majesty is in the prime of life and is a once-in-a-lifetime sage. Even if some clowns come out, how can they be your Majesty's opponent?"
Fang Jie held back and did not continue to ask.
Duan Zheng obviously doesn¡¯t know that His Majesty is terminally ill. If he knew, he probably wouldn¡¯t have the confidence to do so. Fang Jie didn't want to destroy this self-confidence. If everyone among the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty thought and believed like Duan Zheng, the Sui Dynasty would not collapse so quickly.
"Is there anything else you want me to talk to?"
Duan Zheng looked at the memorial in his hand: "If you can trust me, bringing a few verbal messages will be far more effective than what's on the memorial."
Fang Jie paused for a while and then asked: "Pei Yan, Huangmen's minister, has he joined the army?"
"It seems not. Your Majesty has ordered Pei Yan, the Huangmen Minister, Zong Lianghu, the Minister of War, and Niu Huilun, the academician, as assistant ministers. These three people should not leave Chang'an. The prince is young, and most of the court affairs are decided by these three people. "
"Then there's no need to bring any message."
Fang Jie smiled.
"you mean?"
Duan Zheng asked in confusion.
"It's nothing The reason why I didn't send the memorial out was, firstly, because I couldn't send it out, and secondly, because I was afraid that if I sent it out, His Majesty might not be able to see it in time. Since you are the one who took it there, I have nothing to worry about."
"you mean¡¡"
Duan Zheng¡¯s expression suddenly changed.
"I don't mean anything?"
Fang Jie pretended not to know what he meant.
There are some things that it is better to let the other party guess than to say it directly. If Fang Jie said outright that he suspected Pei Yan of colluding with certain people, Duan Zheng might not be willing to believe it. Moreover, Fang Jie didn't understand the intricate interpersonal relationships in the court. Duan Zheng only got closer because he admired his courage. Who knows who he was closer to in the court?
Duan Zheng glanced at Fang Jie, thoughtfully.
"Let's say goodbye."
Duan Zhengping clasped his fists in retaliation: "I have already talked to the Yangtze River NavyMilitary King Yiqu has mentioned to you that if you need help from the navy for anything, you can directly send someone to see the general. At least you still have some respect. "
"Thank you!"
Fang Jie cupped his fists and sent each other off.
Duan Zheng took a few steps away, turned around and smiled and said, "I hope one day I can fight alongside you."
Fang Jie nodded and bowed deeply.
Duan Zheng strode away. Neither of them thought that after this separation, they would never see each other again. This person who briefly appeared in Fang Jie's life and helped him came and went like a shooting star. When Fang Jie thought of this person again, all that was left was memories.
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Langru Mountain
Cui Lueshang rushed into the village with a tired look on his face. He didn't even have time to take a sip of water before he went straight to look for Yang Kai, Prince of Xu County. When they arrived at the Chinese army's tent, they found that none of the guards were guarding outside. He asked a sentry who was patrolling by and found out that Prince Xu and Li Xiaozong had gone to survey the terrain in person.
The rebel West Camp has a large force and is led by General Meng Niuer under Li Yuanshan. This man is one of the Seven Tiger Generals under Li Yuanshan, and he is well versed in leading troops. Its weight is still on top of Yinpo Mountain.
The Sui army in Langru Mountain has been looking for opportunities to raid the rebel west camp these days. Because of the news brought back by Cui Lueshang, King Xujun Yang Kai was more wary of Li Xiaozong, so he held off and did not use troops. Two days ago, news came that the imperial army's anti-rebellion army had arrived at Hexi Road. Li Xiaozong mentioned this matter again, intending to respond to the imperial army from a distance. King Xujun also felt that the time had come, so he went out to investigate in person. He had been gone for three days.
Cui Lueshang originally planned to go back to rest, but suddenly a thought came to his mind. After asking where King Xu was going, he took his own soldiers and left the camp again.
The rebel west camp is not far from Langru Mountain, and it only takes three days to ride on horseback. According to calculations, Prince Xu and the others have just arrived. Cui Lueshang felt uneasy and always felt that he should go see Yang Kai as soon as possible.
After leaving the camp, we walked day and night. On the morning of the third day, we could already see the tall watchtower in the rebel west camp in the distance.
"Everyone, get out and be careful."
Cui Lueshang ordered: "Look for a high place. If you want to observe the movements of the West Camp, the higher you go, the clearer it will be. Once you find the prince, come and tell me immediately."
His soldiers immediately dispersed and disappeared quickly.
Cui Lueshang looked at the rebel camp in the distance, and suddenly felt uneasy in his heart. I don't know where this uneasiness comes from, I just feel like I'm holding a breath and can't let it out.
He didn¡¯t know that in a dilapidated village less than thirty miles away from where he was, Yang Kai, Prince of Xu Commandery, was waiting for the scouts to come back and report.
Yang Kai stood behind a low wall, looking in the direction of the rebel camp.
"Prince"
Li Xiaozong walked over from behind and called out softly: "We should retreat further, it's too dangerous here!"