At dusk, less than twenty miles east of Yongping Prefecture, a carriage stopped on the roadside, and not far away were several cavalrymen in civilian clothes on guard.
"Sire, I will send you here." Cui Changgong, dressed in casual clothes, stood on the roadside and said softly: "Master knows that there is no shortage of you in western Liaoning, so it is not easy to stay any longer." Pointing to the coachman, he said: "This
The coachman is one of our own and can be trusted. The road to the east is bumpy and it is difficult for Xiangu to ride a horse. The coachman will send you to Guangning. The coachman has prepared everything you need for the journey. The road to the east is considered smooth. Please take care along the way.
"
Qin Xiao cupped his hands and said, "Thank you so much, Commander Cui!"
"There is no need to be polite between us." Cui Changgong said with a smile: "If we really want to thank you, it is us who want to thank you. If it weren't for you this time, the boss and I would have encountered something unexpected."
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "You are lucky people and have your destiny."
"It's getting late, you should hurry up and leave as soon as possible." Cui Changgong took out a pendant from his arms. It was small and exquisite, in the shape of a flying bird. He handed it to Qin Xiao and said: "You left in a hurry, and the boss didn't have time to give it to you.
So the boss asked me to catch up and give this pendant to you."
Qin Xiao took it and saw that it was carved from jasper, which was a bit strange.
"If there is any need in the future, you can send someone to Youzhou." Cui Changgong whispered: "When the time comes, as long as the visitor holds this pendant, the boss will be able to confirm the identity. The boss has told me to collect it carefully, and it is really coming.
When times are tough, Youzhou will not sit back and ignore it."
Qin Xiao immediately put away the pendant, bowed and said in salute: "Commander Cui, please tell the boss on your behalf that I am deeply grateful for your care."
Cui Changgong raised his hand and said: "Let's set off early!"
Qin Xiao then got on his horse and followed the carriage. When the carriage started to move, he followed him beside it.
The journey was very smooth. The carriage was fully stocked with everything needed along the way. Zhuque rode in the carriage and Qin Xiao rode on horseback. The carriage was quite spacious and could accommodate two or three people. However, Zhuque was a woman after all. Zhu Danyang considered the expense of Zhuque.
Although he had no physical strength, he specially arranged a carriage, but he obviously felt that it was inconvenient for Qin Xiao to ride in the same carriage with Suzaku, so he prepared a good horse for Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao had been away from western Liaoning for a long time. Although there was an eldest son in western Liaoning and Gu Baiyi was strategizing in Black Mountain, he was still worried. He traveled day and night to get out of Yanguan and arrived at Yuguan in less than a day.
When they arrived at Yuguan, it was already dark. When they arrived on their own territory, Qin Xiao naturally did not need to hide his identity anymore and directly revealed his identity. The soldiers immediately reported Yuguan guard Geng Shao. Geng Shao learned that the general had arrived.
Come and greet in a hurry.
When Qin Xiao entered the pass, he was disguised and even Geng Shao didn't know it. When he saw Qin Xiao coming from the pass, he was greatly surprised.
According to Qin Xiao's instructions, Suzaku and the coachman were settled first, and then Geng Shao arrived at the tent to see Qin Xiao.
"What's the latest news here in Liaoxi?" Qin Xiao took a sip of wine and felt very happy, which relieved a lot of fatigue.
Geng Shao said: "A few days ago, a portion of the Liaodong Army was transferred to Yingping County and stationed in Shunjincheng. The leading general is Zhuangwu General Huangfu Yunzhao!"
Qin Xiao's body was shaken and he said in surprise: "Huangfu Yunzhao?"
Huangfu Yunzhao is a pure Liaodong general. His ancestors were famous generals who followed Emperor Wu Zong in the Bohai Sea expedition. Qin Xiao had heard of Huangfu Yunzhao for a long time and knew that he was one of the best generals in the Liaodong army.
The status of the Liaodong Army is also second only to Wang Xingchao.
Although he
Although I guessed that after the incident in Kyoto, the Liaodong Army would make some moves, I didn't expect that they would directly deploy troops to Shunjin City.
Geng Shao nodded and said: "It's Huangfu Yunzhao. I heard that the banner of Huangfu Yunzhao has been displayed in Shunjin City."
Qin Xiao frowned, thought for a moment, and then asked: "Do you know the reason for dispatching troops?"
After the rebellion in the three states and seven counties, the imperial court was extremely strict with the local state armies. The mobilization of troops and horses in the states and counties in the Tang Dynasty was even more cumbersome. Unauthorized deployment of troops can be said to be the biggest taboo of the empire. If you are not careful, you will end up...
The consequences of annihilating the nine tribes.
The Liaodong Army has always been stationed in Liaodong County. Even though its duty is to be in the northeast and to maintain the stability of the four northeastern counties and its surrounding areas, mobilizing troops and horses not only requires sufficient reasons, but also the relevant procedures are not simple.
The most commonly used reason was naturally to quell the rebellion. The Liaodong Army was far away in the Northeast, and sometimes it was extremely urgent to quell the rebellion. Although they could not wait for orders from the Ministry of War, they still had to quickly send someone to deliver a memorial to the court, stating the details, and completing all relevant procedures.
The Liaodong Army mobilized troops from its garrison into Yingping County and stationed in Shunjin City. Whether it was mobilizing troops or entering the city in large numbers, it violated the military laws of the Tang Dynasty.
"Counterinsurgency!"
Qin Xiao frowned and said, "Suppressing the rebellion? How to explain it?"
Geng Shao said: "Half a month ago, a rebellion broke out in Changwu County, Yingping County. It is said that a group of people rushed into the Changwu County government office in the middle of the night and started killing. More than ten people, including the county magistrate, were killed, and Changwu
The county's arsenal was also plundered, and the bandits stole more than a hundred weapons."
"Changwu County?"
Geng Shao immediately found a very simple map, pointed to one of the places and said: "This is Changwu County. The most famous thing in the territory is Tianji Mountain. The general should remember it."
Qin Xiao was surprised and said: "Tianji Mountain is in Changwu County?"
Of course he knows Tianji Mountain.
Directly behind Songyang Grassland is Heishan Mountain, and to the northwest of the grassland is Tianji Mountain. There is only a road several miles wide between the two mountains, which is called Heitian Valley.
"Logically speaking, if there is a rebellion in Changwu County, there are two thousand troops stationed in Shunjin City, and they can be mobilized immediately to quell the rebellion." Geng Shao said: "But the defenders of Shunjin City were not mobilized, but the Liaodong Army was in a hurry.
Naidi sent troops to garrison Shunjin City."
Qin Xiao sneered: "They finally took action."
Although the specific situation is still unclear, Qin Xiao has concluded that the so-called rebellion in Changwu County can only be a drama directed and staged by the Liaodong Army. The magistrate of Changwu County and those killed officials were just an excuse for the Liaodong Army to enter the camp.
Pingjun's sacrificed tool.
"How many troops did they mobilize?"
Geng Shao shook his head and said: "I don't know yet. My subordinates only got the news the day before yesterday. The details will not be known until the general returns to the city. However, I heard that there are many people, there must be several thousand people."
Qin Xiaowei nodded, knowing that Geng Shao's duty was to guard Yuguan and firmly control this throat, and he didn't know much about more things.
"Thank you for your hard work." Qin Xiao knew that he could only go back to Guangning to understand the details. He arranged Geng Shao in Yuguan. After all, he still had deep trust in Geng Shaocun.
Geng Shao also knew this well. Although he was unable to participate in other military affairs by guarding the pass and would not have many opportunities to make meritorious deeds in the future, he helped Qin Xiao guard Yu Pass and ensured that this choke point was firmly in the hands of Long Ruijun.
, that is
Great credit.
Qin Xiao rested for the night in Yuguan and set off early the next morning. He did not delay along the way. After arriving in Guangning, he did not return home immediately. Instead, he found an inn and arranged for Suzaku and the coachman to stay.
The coachman had been working hard on the journey and was about to return to Youzhou the next day. Qin Xiao was generous and gave him a silver note of one hundred taels. Naturally, the coachman was flattered.
Qin Xiao arranged for Zhuque, and Zhuque didn't say much. Just as she had said to Qin Xiao before, everything was subject to Qin Xiao's arrangements. Qin Xiao promised that he would find a secluded place for Zhuque to stay in the next two days.
Say goodbye and leave.
Suzaku wanted to help him improve his martial arts skills, so he promised to spare seven days, but before that, he had to deal with all the affairs in western Liaoning.
Huangfu Yunzhao led his troops to Shunjin City, and the rebellion occurred in Changwu County, where Tianji Mountain is located. This was certainly not a trivial matter. Qin Xiao could feel the huge crisis contained in it. If he could not handle the matter quickly, he would naturally
Unable to spare time to receive Suzaku's gift.
Qin Xiao was eager to know what was going on at Huangfu Yunzhao's side, so he went directly to the prefecture's mansion without any delay.
After Long Ruijun entered the city, Qin Xiao originally lived in the Junwei Mansion, but before he came to Beijing, he had ordered Yuwen Chengchao to temporarily take over the position of Junwei. Yuwen Chengchao would be responsible for commanding the troops and horses of Guangning, and Yu Wen
Chengchao moved into the Junwei Mansion, and he looked for another courtyard to live in.
Naturally, we need to find out more about military affairs from Yuwen Chengchao.
When they arrived at the Junwei's Mansion, the sky had already darkened, but Yuwen Chengchao was not in the mansion. Qin Xiao could only send someone to look for him and wait at the Junwei's Mansion.
In less than half an hour, Yuwen Chengchao hurried back, accompanied by the county magistrate Huo Mianzhi.
"General!" Seeing Qin Xiao, Yuwen Chengchao and Huo Mianzhi were both happy and quickly stepped forward to greet him with their hands in hand. Qin Xiao waved his hand and said with a smile: "No need to be polite, sit down and talk first."
After sitting down, before the two of them could speak, Qin Xiao got straight to the point and asked: "I heard that Huangfu Yunzhao has led troops to station in Shunjincheng?"
"Yes." Yuwen Chengchao's face immediately became serious and said: "We have found out clearly that this time Huangfu Yunzhao brought eight thousand soldiers and horses to Shunjin City and took over the military power of the Shunjin City defenders.
That is to say, Huangfu Yunzhao has exactly 10,000 soldiers and horses."
Qin Xiao sneered and said: "They are really impatient to take action. I heard that their reason is to quell the rebellion, but even if the entire Changwu County rebels, they will not need so many troops to quell the rebellion. Their thoughts are already clear.
It’s revealed.”
"General Gu has been stationed on the Black Mountain side, with tens of thousands of horses in his hands." Huo Mianzhi said slowly: "It's only two hundred miles from Songyang Racecourse to Shunjin City. In Wang Xingchao's eyes, Shunjin City must be Gu's."
A piece of fat next to the general's mouth. Long Rui's army unexpectedly entered Guangning City, which has made Wang Xingchao wary. He may have been worried that Long Rui's army would unexpectedly swallow Shunjin City again. The situation in Kyoto has changed, and Wang Xingchao must be worried
We are taking action, so it is better to strike first, and simply enter Shunjincheng quickly to gain the upper hand."
Yuwen Chengchao sneered and said: "Mobilizing such a large number of troops and stationing them in the county without orders from the Ministry of War is treason. Wang Xingchao and the Liaodong Army have already become humble and no longer care about the court. This is already extremely dangerous for us.