The night was already dark, the hustle and bustle was over, and when the music was over and everyone was leaving, Zhao Qiaoyun toasted Chen Qing with two glasses of wine, but she was still a little overwhelmed by the alcohol. Two maids helped her onto Chen Qing's carriage.
"Auntie, aren't you going together?" Chen Qingxiao asked.
"I still need to clean up and come back later. Sir, please send Qiaoyun back."
"Do not worry!"
Chen Qing got on the carriage, but found that Zhao Qiaoyun's personal maid was not there.
"Auntie, where is Xiaoman?"
"She went back to get her coat, don't wait for her, you go back first!"
Chen Qing ordered, "Let's go!"
The carriage started and drove smoothly towards the mansion. Li Qingzhao watched the carriage go away and sighed softly in her heart. She painstakingly created conditions for her young apprentice. In her opinion, one teapot should be equipped with four tea cups.
Chen Qing already has three tea cups around her. Whether Qiao Yun can become the fourth tea cup depends on her own fate.
The carriage was very quiet, and the moonlight flickered. Zhao Qiaoyun sat on the soft chair with a pale face. Chen Qing looked at her delicate face and long eyelashes, and couldn't help but feel a trace of pity in his heart.
He remembered when he first saw her, so thin and frightened in her eyes. She was a majestic princess of the Song Dynasty, but she seemed like an abandoned kitten.
Chen Qing gently moved her hair away from her face, but suddenly felt a hint of coldness. It turned out that two tears fell on his hand.
Then tears rolled down from her slightly closed eyes like broken pearls, and her chest heaved violently.
Chen Qing felt a pain in his heart. He gently stretched out his arms to hug her and leaned her on his shoulder. Zhao Qiaoyun lay on Chen Qing's shoulder, tears bursting out. The grievances he had held in his chest for the past three years were all poured out at this moment.
Chen Qing gently patted her thin shoulders, soothing her painful heart.
"Master, is it really impossible for me?" Zhao Qiaoyun wiped away his tears and summoned up the courage to ask.
Chen Qing looked at her sad and beautiful eyes, his heart softened, and he nodded, "Give me some more time, I will think about how to deal with the court."
Zhao Qiaoyun snuggled obediently on Chen Qing's shoulder. She knew that her identity was the biggest obstacle. This was not because she did not admit it, but because the facts were there.
The carriage gradually slowed down, and Zhao Qiaoyun's personal maid, Xiaoman, held a large cloak in her hands and looked anxiously towards this side.
"Qiaoyun, here we are!"
Zhao Qiaoyun immediately sat up obediently, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and returned to normal tranquility.
Chen Qing nodded secretly. Compared to Zhao Qiaoyun, who was sensible and well-behaved, the Yu sisters were still a little more willful.
Chen Qing suddenly discovered that Zhao Qiaoyun was a very good candidate for female secretary.
........
Hanzhong has been completely controlled by Chen Qing's army. Liu Cui led an army of 20,000 to Hanzhong. The garrison defenders along the pass surrendered. These puppet Qi troops were treated poorly and suffered discrimination. Now the Jurchen army has been completely wiped out.
How could they be willing to die for the Jurchen army?
The soldiers opened the pass gates one after another and surrendered. Some generals tried to stop them, but were killed by the angry soldiers. Liu Cui occupied the entire Hanzhong almost without a fight.
At this time, Hanzhong was completely controlled by the Xihe Army, and Wu Zhang's army was still south of Jianmen Pass. The newly built Eagle Pass to the north of Jianmen Pass was originally controlled by the puppet Qi army, but now it has become the Xihe Road Song Army.
control.
Wu Gao's army could no longer take a step north, which made Wu Gao very angry, so he sent someone to Jingzhao to deliver a message asking Chen Qing to withdraw from Hanzhong.
On the tower of Jianmenguan, Wu Gao was looking at the north from afar, his eyes solemn.
The envoy has gone to Jingzhao a long time ago, but has not seen any results so far. Chen Qing took the initiative to write a letter requesting an interview with him, but actually wanted to interview him. So what role did the envoy play?
It was rumored that Chen Qing was already in a semi-separatist state. Wu Qi believed it to be true. He felt it deeply himself. The Western Army was far away from the imperial court. The mountains were high and the emperor was far away. It was difficult for the imperial court to control it. If the army could solve its own military salary and food
The problem is that basically the imperial court has nothing to do with it. Whether or not to support the army and stand on its own depends entirely on the loyalty of the general to the imperial court.
In fact, when Zhu Shengfei was extremely difficult for them, Wu Jie also quietly persuaded his brother to make decisions independently and not be controlled by the Xuanfu Division. This was actually a precursor to supporting the army and becoming self-reliant, but his brother Wu Jie refused to accept it.
When Liu Guangshi came to seize power, Wu Ga once again thought of supporting the army and becoming independent, but this time he was stopped by his brother's letter to persuade him.
Tian Yi, an aide, said from the side: "Capital, I'm afraid Chen Qing will not return Hanzhong."
"Why?" Wu Gao glanced at him.
"Actually, the reason is very simple. He needs Hanzhong as a buffer. He will definitely be worried that when we send troops to attack Hedong, we will take his base from behind and seize Guanzhong and Jingzhao."
"How can it be?"
Wu Gao said dissatisfied: "Am I the kind of person who doesn't care about the overall situation? He went to fight the Jin soldiers, and I stabbed him in the back. Then am I not in the same party as the Jin army?"
"The general may not. What if the court transfers Liu Guangshi back? Chen Qing will definitely be worried about this."
Wu Gao nodded. The staff was right. He didn't know how to do it, but it was hard for others to tell, especially someone like Liu Guangshi who could do anything. How could Chen Qing not be on guard?
"What do you think, sir?"
"Actually, I want to say that since I can't take Hanzhong back, I don't need to meet Chen Qing. It will cause some unnecessary trouble. Someone is keeping an eye on the capital!"
Of course Wu Gao knew who Tian Yi was referring to, Lieutenant General Li Qiong, Liu Guangshi's confidant. When Liu Guangshi was transferred, he did not take him away, but left him in Bashu to become his deputy general and also became his deputy general.
He has a big thorn in his side.
Needless to say, it goes without saying that there is always a conflict between yin and yang. The key is that his existence means that Liu Guangshi has not given up on Bashu and wants to come back, so Wu Gao has always been wary of him.
Wu Gao pondered for a while and said: "Since we have made an appointment for an interview the day after tomorrow, we still have to talk. Since I have a clear conscience, what do I have to worry about?"
"I'm afraid that the emperor is fatuous, will listen to slander, and will transfer everyone away."
Wu Gao laughed, "Actually, I don't want to stay in Bashu anymore. Chen Qing has captured the Shaanxi Road, and Bashu has become the rear area. There is no point in my staying here. I might as well go to the front line of the Huaihe River to fight against the Jin and kill the enemy."
Seeing that Wu Zhang had made up his mind, Tian Yi stopped trying to persuade him. After all, he was just worried, and Chen Qing had already arrived in Hanzhong. He could not refuse to meet Chen Qing because of worries. This was a serious breach of trust and would have serious consequences.
........
In the morning, three thousand cavalry escorted Chen Qing to Xicheng. Xicheng County is located at the southern entrance of Jinniu Road. It has a very important strategic position and is currently controlled by Chen Qing's army.
Chen Qing was very familiar with this county town. He had been there many times. The city was not big and there were less than 2,000 permanent residents. After the Jin soldiers occupied Hanzhong, most of the residents evacuated south, leaving only some old and weak people.
Just when Chen Qing arrived in Xicheng, the sound of horns was heard in the distance, and Wu Gao came with more than 300 soldiers.
"Wu Dutong, long time no see!"
Chen Qing smiled and stepped forward to greet him. Wu Ga also smiled and stepped forward. The two of them hugged each other warmly.
"In just two or three years, the strategic commander has started to fight against the situation in the northwest. It is impressive and admirable!"
Chen Qing shook his head and said sincerely: "The tug-of-war in the northwest has been going on for six years, and we have annihilated hundreds of thousands of Jurchen troops. We also paid a price of 100,000 people. Without these accumulations, how could I have won?"
Wu Gao sighed, "Although this is the truth, people only look at the results and ignore the process. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go to the city first!"
The two rode into the city and came to the county government office, where they met.
The seats have been arranged, and there are two people sitting against the wall, who are responsible for recording their conversations and finally forming a memorandum. After all, this is a negotiation between the chief generals of the two armies.
The two sat opposite each other at a table, and someone served them tea.
Chen Qing was the host. He said slowly: "Today I invited Wu Dutong to come for discussion. The main reason is to talk about clearing up trade routes. I plan to demolish Eagle Pass. It will affect the normal passage of caravans too much. I hope Jianmen
The pass was also opened, allowing the Taurus Path, which had been interrupted for half a year, to return to normal."
Wu Gao nodded, "This is not a big problem. I ordered the roadblocks to be removed ten days ago and normal traffic to resume. The caravan's passage will not be subject to any difficulties or interrogations."
"There will be several official and merchant teams passing through, and I hope Wu Dutong will not be embarrassed."
"No, as long as it's a caravan, whether official or private, the Taurus Road will be open to all."
After a pause, Wu Gao continued: "But what I want to talk about today is the ownership of Hanzhong. I am the military envoy of Yongxing Army, and the place I am in charge of is Hanzhong. Now that the Jin soldiers have retreated, can my army take over Hanzhong?"
?”
Wu Gao spoke very frankly, not at all subtle, and directly asked Chen Qing for Hanzhong.
