The willows are crossed by the spring breeze, and the pear blossoms are in the late rain and spring. It is better to return to the bird and call someone to hear it.

The western border of Daliang, Lingzhou, and Xingyang City.

The battle last year affected the hearts of all the people in Lingzhou. If the Liang army was defeated, then they would face the ravages of the Western Wu cavalry. Fortunately, the Daliang frontier army fought desperately and eliminated the eight hundred horse bandits who were originally hiding in Qingyu Mountain. Xiwu Rangers, they did not let the Wu army step into Lingzhou.

The shadow of the war gradually faded away, and Lingzhou returned to a stable and peaceful atmosphere. Especially Xingyang City, which was the former capital of the Wei Dynasty. After welcoming the new governor of Lingzhou, this thousand-year-old city began to glow with new vitality.

Although Tang Youzhi is from Kyoto, he has been in the Western Frontier Army for more than 20 years and is no stranger to the customs and customs of Lingzhou. In addition, more than half of the three guards stationed in Lingzhou are from him in Changchun. He was an old subordinate of Gong Daying, so he could easily rule Lingzhou without spending much energy.

In the governor's house, Tang Youzhi was entertaining an important guest.

"Brother Xiao, why is Your Majesty so anxious to summon you back to Beijing?" Tang Youzhi looked at the gentle middle-aged man opposite and asked in confusion.

The middle-aged man is Xiao Jin, the Marquis of Xiangcheng, who previously served as the commander-in-chief of the Hucheng garrison and the commander of the Hucheng camp.

Xiao Jin sighed softly: "The fourth prince committed regicide and rebelled. Fortunately, your majesty, Ji Ren Tianxiang, was not seriously injured. Pei Yue successfully quelled a group of rebellious parties with the support of the important ministers of the two governments. The commander of the Kyoto garrison, Chengyang Hou Zhang Wu, and the fourth prince colluded and failed. He committed suicide on the spot on that day. His Majesty sent a messenger eight hundred miles away to summon me back to the capital to take over as the garrison division of Kyoto."

Tang Youzhi's face was filled with shock and he said in a deep voice: "How dare the fourth prince do this?"

Xiao Jin shook his head and said: "If you are crazy, you can do anything. Brother Tang, I am here today to say farewell to you and to ask you something."

Tang Youzhi said: "Brother Xiao, why should you be so polite? You and I are both generals in the Western Army, so we should watch and help each other. Whatever I know, I will tell you the truth."

Xiao Jin nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "Brother Tang returned to Kyoto before. I wonder who your Majesty values ​​the most now?"

Tang Youzhi thought for a while and said calmly: "Your Majesty's most trusted minister is definitely Silent Cloud, but when it comes to the person you value most at the moment, you actually mentioned his name just now."

"Pei Yue?"

Xiao Jin couldn't help but recall that he had an encounter with Pei Yue on the battlefield south of Hucheng more than half a year ago. Although he spent most of the time guarding the Hucheng during the entire war, his feelings for Pei Yue The observation never stops.

In his opinion, Pei Yue, who is young and powerful, may not be able to last for long. The more flowers are blooming now, the more difficult it will be in the future.

Tang Youzhi nodded and said: "Pei Yue's contributions in the Western Region are unparalleled, and even I owe him a favor. Your Majesty made him a second-class prince, and appointed him the deputy commander of the Beijing Army's North Camp, and the commander-in-chief, Tan Fu. Obviously he is just a transitional candidate. Just now you said that he put down the rebellion in the capital, which shows that His Majesty will attach more importance to him."

Xiao Jin looked calm. He could roughly determine the situation in Kyoto through Tang Youzhi's words. Different from Tang Youzhi's view, he still believed that Pei Yue had a bumpy future. How could Emperor Kaiping allow a handsome man like this to climb to a high position at such an age? Does he live a long life?

However, these speculations obviously do not need to be mentioned in front of Tang Youzhi. He is very aware of the relationship between this person and Pei Yue.

Tang Youzhi also realized this, so he changed the subject and said, "Brother Xiao, who will be stationed in Hucheng after you return to Beijing?"

Xiao Jin responded: "Your Majesty not only sent a messenger, but now another imperial edict should have been sent to Jinshui Camp."

Tang Youzhi understood, and after thinking about it carefully, he said in a complicated tone: "Qi Yunhou Yin Wei is very loyal and is especially good at defense. There is nothing wrong with letting him garrison Hucheng. However, given his qualifications, I am afraid he will not be able to continue to be the camp controller in Hucheng.

"

Xiao Jin chuckled in his heart. The Marquis of Jining in front of him was initially cautious and the most low-key among the commanders of the four border battalions, even though the Longbow Army under his command ranked first in the Western Army. In less than a year, Tang Youzhi's

His mentality has obviously changed. He is now the governor of Lingzhou, who holds the military and political power. Of course, he does not want another Hucheng Xingying Controller who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him in this land.

It is difficult for people standing at the foot of the mountain to understand the true meaning of monopolizing the scenery.

Of course, Tang Youzhi's change was human nature, and Xiao Jin would not deliberately sarcastically say it. He nodded and said: "Your Majesty has decided to cancel the post of camp control in Hucheng."

"Cancel?" Tang Youzhi frowned slightly.

After the Western Army was streamlined, Emperor Kaiping transferred Xiao Jin back to Kyoto. As a result, the commanders of each battalion of the Western Army were Qiyun Hou Yinwei, Nan'an Hou Su Wu, Runan Hou Liu Dingyuan, and even Tang Youzhi himself. These people all tended to

Defense rather than offense. It is conceivable that Wu Xun, who succeeded Su Wu in charge of Jinshui Camp, also had this style.

Xiao Jin said leisurely: "The great cause of conquering Zhou is already unstoppable."

Tang Youzhi felt a pang of regret in his heart.

He is now a first-class prince. If he can participate in the battle against Zhou, he may have a chance to break through that hurdle and become the second real prince besides Wang Pingzhang.

"Brother Xiao might have the opportunity to go south and make contributions." Tang Youzhi said with a smile. He remembered what Pei Yue had said before leaving Beijing, and he hid his disappointment well.

Xiao Jin smiled and shook his head and said: "Don't you know, Brother Tang, that Gu Liang and I have never dealt with each other? According to His Majesty's layout, Gu Liang is definitely the best choice for the head coach of the Southern Army, so he will not let me find Gu Liang.

trouble."

Tang You said: "Brother Xiao, there is no need to be too modest. His Majesty's trust in you is probably not weaker than that of Silent Cloud. Otherwise, he would not have asked you to go back and take over the Kyoto garrison after the rebellion broke out. Brother Xiao has been guarding Hucheng for nearly ten years.

Years of meritorious service, as long as Wei Guogong does not object, is actually enough to be promoted to Duke."

"Brother Tang is so complimentary."

Xiao Jin shook his head repeatedly, but a complex emotion surged in his heart.

The two chatted for a while, and Xiao Jin stood up to leave. Tang Youzhi sent him outside the gate of the Governor's Mansion.

Before leaving, Tang Youzhi glanced at the young general standing at the foot of the steps, smiled at Xiao Jin and said, "Brother Xiao, have a pleasant trip, please take care of yourself."

Xiao Jin cupped his hands and said, "Brother Tang, please stay. I hope we can meet in Kyoto in the future."

"I hope so."

"Farewell."

"please."

Xiao Jin took the riding whip from the young general and rode away with more than 200 soldiers.

After leaving Xingyang City, Xiao Jin looked at the young man beside him and said with emotion: "Your concubine has been promoted so quickly that is rarely seen in the world. He is the head coach of the Beijing Camp at the age of eighteen."

The young man is Pei Cheng. His current official position is commander. Although it is not as exaggerated as Pei Yue, commanders in their early twenties are also very rare in Daliang. He has been with Xiao Jin for more than three years, and he has no respect for this marquis.

I know my temperament very well and know that this sentence is not deliberately mocking myself.

Thinking of the third child who was talking eloquently in the concierge of Dingguo Mansion, Pei Cheng said calmly: "Pei Yue is not a thing in the pond. In fact, I am not surprised at all."

Xiao Jin looked at his expression, nodded after a moment and said: "It's a good thing to be able to calm down. In fact, what makes you worse than him is just opportunity. When you return to Beijing and you advance to the Forbidden Army, I will advise Your Majesty to let you go south to lead the army alone.

"

Pei Cheng was slightly startled. Looking at Xiao Jin's expectant eyes, he quickly calmed down and said seriously: "The general will definitely live up to the high expectations of the Marquis."

Xiao Jin said softly: "Don't worry, His Majesty will definitely reward you when you return to the capital this time. Although he will not be granted the title of Marquis for the time being, he will be promoted to the first rank."

He suddenly remembered Tang Youzhi's words that were neither light nor heavy, but meaningful.

Daliang had always been cautious, even stingy, about the titles awarded to dukes and princes. Xiao Jin had never thought about such things as dukes.

However, Tang Youzhi's words aroused his interest.

His ancestor, Duke Xiang Xiao Zhi, was also an outstanding figure of his generation, but no one in his descendants could recreate the glory of his ancestor like Pei Zhen.

only……

Xiao Jin sneered silently.

What are Tang Youzhi and Pei Yue planning? Do you think that one sentence and an illusory Duke can make me go against Wang Pingzhang?

You guys underestimate me too much.
Chapter completed!