Xiao Yuanche let out a long sigh, and said with a heavy and confused look in his eyes: "The war is intense, food and grass are tight, and our army is gradually exhausted. If we fight, we have little chance of winning. If we retreat, there will be no place for me, Xiao Yuanche, in the world."
....Now we are in a dilemma. That boy Su Ling has been in Bohai Sea for a long time, but nothing happened, and there is no news. According to Boning's report, the Bohai Shadow Division seems to be in trouble. I'm really afraid of Su Ling..."
Guo Baiyi also had this worry in his heart, but he understood that now Xiao Yuanche was at a loss and was confused. If he held the same argument as him, he might not have to fight this battle again.
He then said: "My lord, although Su Ling has always been arrogant and unruly, he has always been prudent when it comes to important matters. In addition, he has his own destiny. My lord, please don't worry too much. Besides,
, my lord has already sent Bonin to lead the people from the Shadow Division to investigate. We have been there for a few days now, and I think there will be news back soon!"
Xiao Yuanche nodded and said thoughtfully: "I hope it is as Bai Yi said... Oh, Wang Pi's family must be comforted and more money can be sent from my house as compensation...
...After all, he was acting under orders... He also died unjustly... We can't forgive him, but we have to forgive his family..."
One sentence brought Guo Baiyi's thoughts back to two days ago.
In fact, since Su Ling left, the situation in the old Zhang city has become more and more serious. The army is exhausted and it is increasingly difficult to maintain food and grass.
Deng Tan, who was in charge of grain control in Nanzhang, his eyes were red. He tried his best, but the grain and grass he raised was still a drop in the bucket for the huge army.
Wang Pei, the grain officer in charge of distributing grain in the army, was worried. Seeing that grain and grass were in short supply, he did not dare to make his own decisions, so he secretly came to report to Xiao Yuanche.
In addition to him and Xiao Yuanche, Guo Baiyi was also present.
Xiao Yuanche thought for a long time and had no choice but to discuss with Guo Baiyi.
Finally, Xiao Yuanche ordered Wang Pei to mix sand and soil into the army rations, and when distributing the rations to the sergeants, use small buckets instead.
Wang Pei was shocked and said bluntly that he couldn't do it.
Xiao Yuanche angrily scolded him and told him that if he did this, Xiao Yuanche would bear all the consequences. If he did not do it, he would die on the spot.
Wang Pei felt helpless and knew that he would die, so he cried and bowed to the ground. Xiao Yuanche also covered his face and stood with his back, saying no more.
After Wang Pei left, the next day during the day was the day for the distribution of grain.
Wang Pi had no choice but to make a sudden decision and mixed the general's grain with sand and soil, and changed the big bucket to distribute the grain into a small bucket.
The consequences of this can be imagined.
The entire army of Xiao Yuanche's soldiers was in a state of panic, almost causing disaster at Xiaoying Camp. Fortunately, the lieutenant general suppressed the soldiers with his iron fist.
However, Wang Pei was outraged by this incident. Led by Xia Yuanrang, Xu Jinghu, Xiao Zizhen and others, Wang Pei was arrested and Xiao Yuanche approached to question him.
Xiao Yuanche pretended not to know the matter and asked Wang Pei why he was like this. Wang Pei only said that he just wanted to die quickly and said nothing more.
Xiao Yuanche couldn't bear it, but he had no choice but to order Guo Baiyi to take full responsibility for handling the matter.
At noon today, Wang Pei was outside the camp gate, asking to behead in front of all the soldiers. Guo Baiyi took care of the next matter of dividing the grain.
When the food was divided again, the bucket was much larger than usual, and the soldiers in each battalion received much more food than usual. The soldiers in the camp cheered and cheered, and their morale became high again.
Guo Baiyi waited until nightfall, then dragged his tired body forward to report to Xiao Yuanche.
Guo Baiyi's mind slowly recovered, and then he raised his hand to Xiao Yuanche and said sternly: "My lord, I can't bear the death of Wang Pu... But when something big happens, you should give up. For the sake of the overall situation, Wang Pu's death is
He is dead, and he will not have any resentment against his lord... He is a grain official. If he works peacefully for the rest of his life, I am afraid that his family will not miss too much of the lord's reward...
My lord, it’s not easy for you to do this...Don’t blame yourself!”
Xiao Yuanche was speechless and sighed.
Only then did Guo Baiyi look solemn and said sternly: "Baiyi has a word to remind brother... Wang Pi's death has been finalized. The Lord can only think more or less about the injustice of his death in his heart, but
Don’t say anything to anyone that Wang Pi doesn’t deserve to die... My lord, you must understand that Wang Pi neglected his duties, violated our military discipline, and was the cause of death. This fact cannot be changed at any time!"
Xiao Yuanche nodded helplessly and said: "This matter is over. How can I not know the meaning of Bai Yi's words... Bai Yi can rest assured..."
Guo Baiyi nodded and said: "In this way, Baiyi can feel relieved..."
Xiao Yuanche slowly closed his eyes, closed them slightly for a while, and said calmly: "Since Wang Pi is dead, there must be a successor... Who do you think Baiyi can succeed..."
Guo Baiyi frowned slightly. Normally, Xiao Yuanche didn't need to worry about this little grain official, but he got it out in the open and asked Guo Baiyi specifically.
What does the Lord mean by asking this question?
Guo Baiyi couldn't figure out Xiao Yuanche's thoughts for a while. After thinking for a while, he said with a helpless smile: "For a while, Baiyi really couldn't think of a good successor..."
Xiao Yuanche slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Guo Baiyi with deep meaning. Fang said calmly: "I have a candidate in my heart. When I say it, Baiyi will take all the details..."
He paused and said, "Do you still remember the fire in Jizhen Lane?"
Guo Baiyi didn't understand what Xiao Yuanche meant by suddenly mentioning this matter, so he nodded and said: "There was a fire in Jizhen Lane, Longtai..."
When he said this, his heart suddenly turned over, and he already understood who Xiao Yuanche's successor grain officer was.
He tried his best to restrain his surprise, raised his head and asked: "Could it be that the eldest brother wants to..."
"That Tan Jing's son, Tan Baimen, who used to work for Jian Shu... came with the army?" Xiao Yuanche didn't explain clearly, he just asked casually.
Guo Baiyi was shocked in his heart, but he did not show it. He only answered: "In the Zizhen camp, it is said that he killed the enemy bravely and is now a centurion."
Although Guo Baiyi didn't notice anything on the surface, he felt a little cold in his heart.
Prime Minister, brother! It seems that you are still not going to let go of the people related to Tan Jing. What is the grain officer? It's nothing more than boiling potatoes. Letting Tan Jing's son Tan Baimen do it is tantamount to killing him.
....
Although Guo Baiyi understood in his heart, he did not say it out loud.
Xiao Yuanche said indifferently: "That's very good... Such young people deserve to be specially trained. I would like to let Tan Baimen be the grain officer... No!"
Xiao Yuanche's eyes flashed, and after thinking for a while he said: "The centurion's position is higher than the grain officer... If you can't wrong him, just add the word "general" in front of the grain officer!"
"General Grain Officer? What do you mean, brother, let Tan Baimen be the chief grain officer in charge of the army's grain and grass? Although he is in charge of grain and grass... but the general grain officer's position is the same as that of a general... so As soon as he came, Tan Baimen..."
Xiao Yuanche looked at Guo Baiyi with deep meaning, smiled and said: "What? Baiyi thinks the candidate I mentioned is inappropriate..."
"No! No..." Guo Baiyi paused and said: "That's not true, it's just that since Tan Baimen joined the army, they have been fighting... this matter of supervising and distributing food. .....I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with it..."
Xiao Yuanche didn't know what Guo Baiyi meant, and said calmly: "No one is born to be able to do everything... For example, I have been the prime minister, and I have done a good job... I can't , can he learn..."
Guo Baiyi nodded and said, "In that case... Baiyi understands!"
Xiao Yuanche then waved his hand and said with a more relaxed expression: "By the way, we must not relax on what Mr. Su said before he left. We must send someone to take charge. I remember he said that we must prevent Jizhou from sinking and digging. The tunnels connected the wells in various places in Jiuzhang City, and then attacked us. Shortly after Su Ling left, we found these signs. If it weren't for the great craftsman Yang Jun who was in charge, I'm afraid this Jiuzhang... So, The things Su Ling said when he left must not be vague..."
Guo Baiyi nodded and said: "It's natural. Yang Jun is still in the army, and he still needs to take care of the city defense... Now Shen Jizhou wants to use other methods to invade Jiuzhang, but I'm afraid it will be in vain. .. ....”
Xiao Yuanche smiled faintly and said: "Baiyi, what are you thinking about Mr. Su? What he said is basically true... Sometimes, I am really curious, who is he?" How to think about so many things..."
Guo Baiyi also smiled and said: "Isn't this good? Isn't this just the pillar of talent chosen by God for the Prime Minister..."
Xiao Yuanche suddenly sighed and said: "Alas! If we knew that the Bohai Sea was so difficult, we shouldn't have let him go in the first place..."
Guo Baiyi shook his head and said: "My lord, Su Ling was very firm at that time, and even stated that his going here is related to the outcome of the war. We don't allow it, and he has to find a way to go alone. By then, we don't even have preparations. Then Su Isn't Ling more dangerous... Now we just hope that Boning will come back soon and see what Su Ling has to say."
Xiao Yuanche nodded and said: "Bai Yi, based on your understanding of Su Ling, do you think he will want us to retreat, or will he insist on fighting to the end?"
Guo Baiyi thought for a while, shook his head and said: "This elder brother is making things difficult for Bai Yi...Su Ling's ideas have always been unreasonable...Bai Yi really doesn't know... "
Xiao Yuanche glanced at Guo Baiyi, and then said calmly: "That's all, let me ask another question. If Su Ling also wants to retreat... then does Baiyi think this soldier should be retreated or should not be retreated? Woolen cloth?"
Guo Baiyi's heart trembled, and he thought secretly, Brother, I can't see through you more and more. You already have the answer in your mind, why do you still ask me to tell you... I miss you and I, from now on. I have never been so hidden... But today, brother, what you did is indeed making Bai Yi feel a little cold...
Xiao Yuanche seemed to feel that he was being a little too deliberate, and then laughed and said: "Bai Yi, don't worry too much, there are just the two of us here, just tell us what you have to say."
Guo Baiyi nodded and said word by word: "Baiyi thinks that it doesn't matter whether it is Su Ling or Baiyi, or whether Su Ling or Baiyi wants to retreat or not..."
"Oh?" Xiao Yuanche asked with a puzzled look in his eyes.
"The battle with Shen Jizhou is something that the lord has been planning for a long time. If we win today, the northern territory of the Jin Dynasty can be determined if we win. If we lose, everything will be empty talk. However, even if we lose this time, if the lord wants to achieve great things, Sooner or later, we will have to fight with Shen Jizhou, so this stumbling block cannot be bypassed no matter what..."
Guo Baiyi paused and then said: "Your lord is our lord, so your lord must make up his mind. Whether to retreat or fight depends on your words. Su Ling and I only plan how to retreat after your lord gives the order. It’s up to you how you fight... This is also our duty... As for the rest, Su Ling and I... can’t control it..."
After speaking, Guo Baiyi slowly raised his head and looked at Xiao Yuanche.
But Xiao Yuanche seemed to be asleep, his eyes were closed, his face was expressionless, and he didn't say a word.
After a while, Xiao Yuanche opened his eyes and said casually: "I think he was tired... I fell asleep for some reason... Let's wait until Boning brings back the news about Su Ling and we will discuss it later." !”
At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the room, and Xiao Yuanche and Guo Baiyi moved at the same time.
The footsteps were very fast, but Xiao Yuanche couldn't wait any longer and said loudly: "What's the matter? Tell me quickly!"
"Report! Report to my lord! Lord Bonin is back! He is waiting outside the cabin!"
Xiao Yuanche and Guo Baiyi looked at each other and said loudly: "I have already said that when he comes, he will see me immediately. Why are he standing outside? Let him in quickly!"