If the western border of Lingzhou is compared to a human body, the Hucheng captured from Xiwu is like an outstretched fist. With its dangerous geographical location, it can guard the east-west thoroughfare and enter Gaoyang, which is vast and flat.

Plains, retreat can protect you

The four camps behind him. This alone is enough to illustrate Pei Zhen's contribution back then. Therefore, after his death, no one objected to the Kaiping Emperor's pursuit of the title of Duke. Even the Qingliu censors felt that the title of a Duke was too big.

Not pretty enough.

It's just that Daliang has never been an example of people with the same surname as kings. During the founding of the country, people such as Lin Qingyuan and Pei Yuan did not enjoy such honors, and those thoughts could only be imagined in their hearts.

It has been thirteen years since Hucheng returned to Daliang, and neither the imperial court nor Lingzhou have slacked off their support for this place.

Money is needed for money, people are needed for people, and food and grass are piled up in the city. Even if Xiwu mobilizes the whole country to attack, it will be difficult to capture Hucheng with brute force. Even if the city is besieged, it will take at least several years. If

Any sane coach would know what a stupid decision it was to bypass Tiger City and attack Lingzhou directly.

Because Hucheng is not just a city, there are also hundreds of thousands of tiger warriors stationed in it.

This was a nail that kept the Western Wu court awake all night, piercing deeply into their hearts.

After Pei Zhen died of illness, Lu Min took over Hucheng. In the seventh year of Renxuan, Lu Min was transferred back to Kyoto to serve as a military commander in the Xifu, and then Xiaojin, the Marquis of Xiangcheng, took over as the head coach of Hucheng.

Xiao Jin was also born in the family of the founding prince, and his ancestor Xiao Wending was the Duke of Xiangguo, one of the nine founding princes.

He is forty-two years old this year, younger than Gu Liang, and is the golden age in a military general's life. Although they are both the founding princes, Xiao Jin has never shown his inclination in terms of position, whether it is with Gu Liang as the other.

The representative Dingguo family is still represented by Lu Min

The Chengguo lineage, or the new nobleman Wang Pingzhang was the leader, Xiao Jin's relationship with either party could only be considered acceptable. Perhaps this was the reason why Emperor Kaiping decided to use him to garrison Hucheng. After all,

This emperor has been steeped in checks and balances his entire life.

Hucheng is located on the south side of Dingjun Mountain. It is actually built around the mountain, leaving only the thousands of cliffs to the north. There is also a small group of elite soldiers stationed on the mountain.

The reason why this city is extremely difficult to break is because even if it is besieged by a large army, the water source flowing from the top of the mountain cannot be cut off. Coupled with the two extremely tightly guarded granaries, it is enough to support the survival of the soldiers and civilians in the city for three years.

Outside the city, the east, south, and west sides are all flat areas. The sight is extremely broad, and the enemy has nowhere to hide. It can be said that you can advance, attack, retreat, and defend.

The architectural layout of the city is simple and clear. There is a military camp in each of the four cities, and the Jieshuai Mansion is located in the center.

Xiao Jin's official position was called Hucheng Camp Temperance, so he was called Jieshuai. This was also the second camp established by Daliang outside Chengjing, which shows the importance of Hucheng's status.

In the back hall of Jieshuai Mansion, Xiao Jin sat behind the case, calmly listening to the report of the young man opposite.

There are some stories circulating in the Daliang Army that the officers and men talk about in private, such as Gu Liang is unparalleled in domineering, Lu Min is cunning, Wang Pingzhang has great achievements, etc., but most of the rumors about Xiao Jin focus on his appearance.

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Logically speaking, a military commander who has been on the battlefield all year round, even if he is not a muscular man with a round waist and round face, will still have a weather-stained face to describe the vicissitudes of life. However, Xiao Jin's face is as handsome as a crown jade. Even in middle age, he still looks like a handsome young man.

Xiao Jin did not feel complacent or angry because of this, and still took it calmly. Just then, listening to the young man's words, his handsome face had a gentle expression, and he did not deliberately show an attitude of calmness and self-power.

After the other party finished speaking, Xiao Jin nodded slightly, and then said warmly: "Counting the days, you will be back in Kyoto soon."

The young man was startled, as if he had not thought about this problem at all.

Xiao Jin smiled and said: "You have been to the border for two years and don't you miss home? In Kyoto, you are the eldest son of Dingguo who is cheered by everyone and has also received a title. You are no better than those ignorant boys. I originally thought that you would go directly to the capital camp to practice, but instead

I didn’t expect that you would insist on coming to the Western Region and cause a lot of trouble to Ning Zhong and the others.”

The young man is Pei Rong's eldest son, Pei Cheng. Compared with two years ago, he is now taller, taller and stronger, with a light beard growing on his lips. When he left Beijing, Pei Cheng still had a bit of a dandy temperament.

After two years of experience at the border, his demeanor has become much calmer.

The Ning Zhong mentioned by Xiao Jin is the current coach of Guping Camp.

Pei Cheng looked puzzled and said: "Jie Shuai, where does the disturbance come from?"

Xiao Jin said kindly: "It would be better if you didn't inherit the title. There are countless noble disciples in the frontier army. Even if you have a special status, you only need a little care. But before you left the capital, you were a third-class Dingyuan

Uncle, how will the four coaches arrange your military duties? What's more, you are Uncle Pei's eldest grandson and the flag bearer of Dingguo's generation. After all, their identities are different, so they will naturally find it difficult."

Pei Cheng understood, and then curled his lips slightly.

Xiao Jin added: "They pushed each other and finally pushed you to come to Hucheng. Fortunately, you did not let me down. You have done well in the past two years."

In the third year of Kaiping, Pei Cheng came here. He first served as Xiao Jin's personal soldier in Jieshuai Mansion for half a year, and then took charge of the capital alone. Although he only had 500 people under his command, many soldiers were envious because he was subordinate to

At Jingyu Camp. This camp is personally commanded by Xiao Jin, specializing in

He is responsible for spying on the battlefield and is the first-class elite among the 100,000 troops in Hucheng. Pei Cheng has led 500 rangers and has been crisscrossing the Gaoyang Plain for the past year and a half, fighting dozens of warriors from Xiwu.

This time, a lot of gains were made and a lot of very important information was discovered.

Hearing Xiao Jin's praise, Pei Cheng smiled happily, scratched his head and said, "Jie Shuai, I like life in the military very much, so I don't want to go back to Kyoto."

Even though he has a much calmer demeanor, he is still essentially the frank and straightforward eldest son of Dingguo, and there is no sharp edge in his words.

Xiao Jin obviously appreciated this, nodded and said: "You are born to be a pure soldier. But are you aware of some things in Kyoto?"

In the past two years, Pei Cheng has received many family letters from Pei Yun. The contents are similar, and they all contain common greetings.

However, he said with complicated eyes: "I know everything that happens in Kyoto."

There is no airtight wall in this world, not to mention that when Pei Cheng left the capital, he took six of his playmates from childhood to adulthood, such as Yin Wei's son Yin Dao. These people are now under his command, so how could they not know that they have been in Kyoto for the past two years?

What happened?

Xiao Jin was silent for a moment, then sighed with emotion: "Your concubine is in Lingzhou now."

Pei Cheng frowned slightly, and the past between him and Pei Yue suddenly came to mind. In the past two years, he was galloping on the Gaoyang Plain, but he also knew the changes in Pei Yue. He knew that he went into the mountains to suppress thieves, became a viscount, prepared to build a business, and became famous.

Kyoto, and of course personally sent their father to Shanglin Prison.

He thought carefully about how to face these things, but he still couldn't decide who was right and who was wrong.

For him, right and wrong are very important.

After being silent for a long time, he shook his head and said: "Now that Pei Yue has broken out of the house, he is no longer my concubine. Commander Jie, please rest assured that my personal affairs will not affect military affairs."

Xiao Jin sighed softly: "I know your character, so I am a little worried. The wind in Lingzhou is not right. I believe you can analyze it from the clues. The people of Xiwu will definitely make big moves recently."

Pei Cheng said solemnly: "If they dare to come, then we will kill them all."

Xiao Jin nodded approvingly, but the worry in his heart became more intense.

It is absolutely impossible for there to be only external enemies in this world. Many times the storm that destroys a dynasty is brewed from within.
Chapter completed!