The Grandmaster Strategist

On the 16th day of the first month of the first year of Tongtai in the Southern Chu Dynasty, Pei Yun, the commander of Dayong's imperial army, mistakenly entered Hanyuan. Zhe liked his generosity and stayed for a drink and had a long talk in secret. Soon after, Pei broke off the marriage and married another, which everyone laughed at. He is righteous and ruthless, but he is wise and decisive later. However, being a wise man is a disgrace to a wise man.

--"History of Chu in the Southern Dynasties Biography of Jiang Suiyun"

I turned around and saw a young man in gray clothes with an extraordinary appearance and a calm face. He was being stopped by two guards. There was a somewhat confused look in his eyes, as if he didn't understand why this remote place was so tightly guarded. The two guards had their swords out of their sheaths, and the situation was tense and tense. Although the two guards didn't look down on him, he was not a real assassin, so he didn't resist. When I looked over, he was saying in a deep voice: "Two brothers, Pei Yun, the commander of the imperial army, went to the palace for a banquet this time. He just walked around because he didn't like to make noise. He didn't mean to trespass. Please forgive me. I know this is a forbidden place. '

The two guards looked at each other, both doubtful. If we talk about his popularity, he really looks like a general, but the aura emanating from his whole body is not only very tough, but also every move he makes is like a master. Feng Feng, if this person is really malicious, then how can I have the face to return to His Highness?

I have recognized Pei Yun, but I didn’t expect that King Yong was really good at winning over people. Pei Yun, the commander of the North Camp of the Forbidden Army, was only a fourth-grade general. Although he had an important duty to defend the capital, he was not qualified to participate in the feast of King Yong’s Mansion. People like him With this status, he was only allowed to send a congratulatory gift, but he probably wasn't even qualified to sit at the table. Now that he suddenly appeared in the palace, I'm afraid His Highness King Yong made the post specifically. Thinking of this, I smiled slightly and asked, "Let me help His Highness. Instead of letting him attend the banquet in the side hall where even King Yong can't see him, it would be better to keep him here." Thinking of this, I said loudly: 'Don't be rude, this is General Pei Yunpei, and my subordinate is Sima Jiangzhe of Tiance Commandery. '

When the two guards saw me speaking, they bowed and left. Pei Yun came over and saluted and said, 'Thank you, Mr. Jiang, for relieving the general from the siege. 'He looked at me with a calm and cold look, which was strange. Since I entered Yong, all the officials who met me have either curiosity, evaluation, or contempt in their eyes. However, I regard this person as an ordinary person, and I can't help but feel disappointed. I was even more curious about him, so I smiled and said: "The general must have disliked the noise in the front, so he walked around in the back. The same was true for the lower official. Then he lived in Hanyuan. It was fate that we met. The general went to sit in the garden. How about sitting? '

Pei Yun said hesitantly: 'His Highness's banquet will begin soon, I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for the general to stay here. '

I smiled lightly and said, "General, it's not rude just to not attend, and the seats outside are not interesting. So, if you like, General, if Suiyun is about to eat, please stay here for a drink. Your Highness, I'll go there by myself." Suiyun is there to take care of you. '

Pei Yun's heart moved. Although it was an honor to receive an invitation from His Highness King Yong, it was very uncomfortable to be among those officials. Besides, he could only attend the banquet in the outer hall anyway. It was really meaningless. If it wasn't for Yong, In response to the king's post, all he had to do was send a congratulatory gift. The man in front of him was much more cheerful than those officials. His residence was so heavily guarded. I'm afraid King Yong valued him very much. Then he wouldn't be rude to Yong when he was invited. Wang, in comparison, staying in Hanyuan is a good idea.

I could tell by the look on Pei Yun's face that he had made a promise, so I said loudly: "Go and tell His Highness that I am staying, General Pei." '

A guard bowed in response. I stepped forward and took Pei Yun's arm and said, "General Pei, please come in quickly. Does Zhe deeply admire the general's martial arts?" '

Pei Yun was a little shy and was pulled to the flower hall by me. It was almost noon. Two servants brought food and wine and asked them to leave as usual. I picked up my chopsticks and pointed at the dining table and said, "General Pei, Zhe is from the south." , so His Highness specially found a chef from Nanchu to cook. Please try it and see if you are used to it. '

Pei Yun looked at the small dishes on the table, which were filled with light side dishes that were full of color, flavor and flavor.

He only tasted a few mouthfuls and was full of praises. Although he was a meat-loving person, these dishes were all famous Nanchu dishes. He still ate them very happily. Seeing that he liked them, I poured another glass of wine for them. He said: "This is my famous Southern Chu wine, Peach Blossom Dew. It is brewed from the finest honey-filled peaches from Southern Chu every autumn. I didn't expect to be able to drink this wine here. This is because an old friend of mine specially brought it from Southern Chu." Chu brought it and just delivered it yesterday. '

Pei Yun took a sip and felt like drinking nectar. The wine was mellow. However, he had a strong temper and didn't like this soft wine. He couldn't help frowning. I saw it and chuckled: "It seems that General Pei doesn't Do you like this wine? I heard that there is a kind of roasted knife in Dayong Border Pass, which is extremely spicy and the general likes it. Pei Yun suddenly became happy and said, "Sir, are there any burning knives here?" This wine is rare in Chang'an. '

I walked to the corner of the flower hall, where there was a boxwood cabinet. I took out a small wine jar from the lower floor. Although this small wine jar was not big, it contained at least ten kilograms of wine. Although it didn't take much effort for me to get it, it was not easy. Pei Yun quickly came over to take the wine jar, and when he mentioned it to the table, he couldn't help but glance at the cabinet. There were some small wine jars, food boxes and the like inside.

Opening the mud seal, Pei Yun immediately smelled the blazing aroma of wine that he would never forget. He took a deep breath, then eagerly poured the wine into the large wine bowl I handed over, and drank it seriously. Taking a big mouthful, the familiar throat-piercing pungency made him feel as if he had returned to the border. He sat weakly on the chair and raised the wine bowl again. The wine flowed down his throat, but tears almost fell from his eyes. Thinking of the bloody battle at the border, Rob Ze Deep love is such a happy and carefree life. Now in the capital, despite the splendor and wealth, there is no one close to me. Pei Yun wanted to go back to Border Pass, but thinking of his father's old figure, Pei Yun closed his eyes tightly and endured the pain in his heart.

I didn't expect Pei Yun to be so excited, but I soon understood his intentions. It seems that the greatest wish of the commander of the Imperial Army is to return to the battlefield. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about this, and no one can make him abandon it. Isn't it the father himself who is grieving the loss of his beloved son and is in such a dilemma? But seeing him in such pain, I suddenly thought of something. If he had an heir, it shouldn't be difficult to go back to the battlefield, so I asked, "General Pei, what is your age this year?" '

After all, Pei Yun was a disciple of a famous sect. He quickly calmed down, raised his head and said, "Master Lao, please ask, I am twenty-three years old this year." '

I asked again: ‘Is General Pei married? '

Pei Yun shook his head in dismay and said: 'My father arranged a marriage for me, but I have always been reluctant, so I have not married yet. '

I asked doubtfully: 'Why is this? Your Majesty must be eager for your grandson. Since the general is filial to his parents, he should get married early? '

Pei Yun glanced at me. Although he felt a little familiar, but for some reason, he had an inexplicable affection for the young man in front of him. It cannot be ruled out that it was because of the altar burning knives, but he still felt very relaxed, and those The matter had been in my mind for a long time, and I wanted to find someone to talk to, so I opened my mouth and said, "You don't know, my martial arts practice is not suitable for getting married before I have a small degree of success. However, at the beginning of this year, my master said that I can get married." Yes, but this is not the main reason. The most important thing is that my fiancée has a special status, and the teacher is very dissatisfied. '

I was moved in my heart and asked: 'Whose daughter is the general's fiancée from? '

Pei Yun smiled bitterly and said, "She is the daughter of Xue Ju, the minister of the Ministry of Industry. The two families were originally close friends. She and I got married on the fingertips. We were childhood sweethearts and we had the same affection. But when I was nine years old, I went to Songshan to learn martial arts. When I was sixteen, When I came down from the mountain, I learned that she had actually joined the Fengyi Sect. After the master learned about it, he personally summoned me back to the mountain. The first Master of the Discipline Academy, Cihai, told me personally that if I get married to her, although Shaolin would not be able to stop her, but From now on, I can no longer see the magic of Shaolin. He asked me to think carefully, so I am still unwilling to consummate the marriage. I have wanted to break off the engagement several times, but they have not agreed. My father-in-law said that my daughter has not been immoral. If I break the marriage for no reason, I must go to the emperor. Comment. My father has been pressing me hard lately. If I hadn't resisted with death, I would have been forced to get married long ago. '

I thought to myself, it seems that Shaolin really has a deep quarrel with Fengyi Sect. Your Highness’s information is correct, and Pei Yun said it so easily. It seems that Shaolin doesn’t mind turning against Fengyi Sect. But I asked verbally: "This official doesn't understand. Marriage is a matter of parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. It is a matter of course for the general to get married. Why does your sect forcefully obstruct it? Isn't this right?" It is contrary to human ethics. Does the general regard the magical skills of the sect so seriously? '

Pei Yun lowered his head and said: "Although the general is obsessed with martial arts, he is not a heartless person. If she were just an ordinary woman, I would rather be chased by my master to regain my martial arts than lose it. It's just that I went there seven years ago when I first returned to Chang'an." I paid a visit to my father-in-law and met her once. She has become very powerful. She is not as innocent as she was when she was a child. Although now she has a one-of-a-kind appearance and temperament, and she has practiced martial arts well, I feel that she is always leaving. I am far away. Although her smile is sweet, it is difficult for me to fall in love with her. Moreover, she always gets together with women of similar status, either going out for hunting or wandering, or enjoying herself in the city of Chang'an. Although I am not one of those women. I can't see my wife being an outstanding person, but I still hope that she can support her husband, raise her children, and serve her parents. In fact, when I came back from the border two years ago, I originally wanted to stop thinking about martial arts and get married as soon as possible so that my parents could have fun with their grandchildren. However, when I saw her again, my dissatisfaction did not subside at all. She is indeed beautiful and outstanding. , very talented, but what I want is a good wife who is willing to support each other. When we get married in the future, she will serve my parents for me, and I also want to go back to the battlefield and serve the country, but she can't do it. Every time we meet, she either talks about world affairs or the affairs of the world. I really don’t want to marry a wife like this. '

I looked at Pei Yun silently, knowing that everything he said was from the bottom of his heart. For a warrior on the battlefield, what he needs is not a beautiful person in a picture, but a good wife who can run the family. Fengyimen probably didn't expect that Let's face it, not all men like wives who are stunningly beautiful and talented but are not good at dealing with daily necessities.

Thinking of this, I smiled lightly and said: "Actually, the general is overly concerned. There are no parents in the world who do not prefer their children. If the general and his relatives explain the principle of marrying a wife and marrying a virtuous man, the old man will understand. If it is because of the in-law family's refusal, the general will You might as well marry a concubine outside first, and after giving birth to a child, will the parents in the hall still be angry when they see their grandson? '

Pei Yun's heart moved. If he wanted to use martial arts as an excuse to delay the marriage, he might not be able to do it. I saw his look and understood that he was willing, but there were still obstacles, so I said: "The general has repeatedly asked to break off the engagement, but the other party refused. The general's reasons for breaking off the engagement must not be sufficient, and he does not want to offend the Yue family. When the time comes, the general might as well He said that he had unintentionally formed a bad relationship with another woman outside, but he couldn't ignore it. Even if the other woman had great background reasons, he couldn't stop the general from taking a concubine. If they broke off the engagement in anger, it would suit the general's wishes. If you insist on marrying your daughter off, how can outsiders interfere with the affairs between the couple? As long as the general dotes on his concubine, and the two elders in the hall love their grandchildren, I'm afraid it won't be long before the noble lady will propose 'harmony and divorce'. '

Pei Yun couldn't bear to say: 'Although this plan is good, I'm afraid it will hurt people too much. '

I said calmly: "Although it hurts people for a while, the general's unmarried wife must have many suitors. If the general reluctantly marries a wife he doesn't like, he and his wife will be at odds in the future. He will not be able to be filial to his parents and will not be able to educate his children. This is against the law." In terms of human relations, if Miss Xue is a virtuous and kind woman, and the official said this, it is a bad marriage, and the crime is unforgivable, but Miss Xue must--'

I didn't say any more, but seeing that Pei Yun's face turned red and white, I must have said something right. There are some disciples of Fengyi Sect who don't like to be in public. Besides, the atmosphere of Dayong is open, and even women from common people's families don't know how to open doors. There is no way out, let alone those wealthy women who come from noble families.

After a while, Pei Yun had calmed down and thanked me with a slightly red face. I smiled and said, "General, all worries are gone today, so why not drink a few more drinks." 'Pei Yun raised his glass in toast, and I poured a glass of peach blossom dew. I can't bear to burn the knife.

The heart-to-heart talk just now made the two of us get closer, so our words became less restrained. Pei Yun talked about military matters with great interest. He was once a brave general under the command of King Qi, so many of the things he talked about were related to King Qi. , although King Qi is not a famous general, he is brave and fearless, and is willing to listen to the opinions of his staff, so he is also respected by the soldiers in the army. Pei Yun also respects him very much when talking about him. It seems that King Qi should not be underestimated. In the past, both of them The failure to attack Xiangyang for the first time was really because Xiangyang was heavily defended and his troops did not have an overall strategic goal. I once heard King Yong say that the troops were sent by His Highness the Crown Prince. I think he despised King Qi because of those things. It's true that he was unfairly accused. As long as the King of Qi is given a few good staff, the King of Qi can be on his own and guard one side.

When we were having a very lively conversation, I heard the music of a banquet coming from in front of me. Even though I was separated by many houses, I could still hear it vaguely. I knew that a banquet had already started at King Yong's place, so I smiled and said, "Today I I prevent you from attending His Highness's banquet, but you are not at a disadvantage. You must be very satisfied with the wine I have here. '

Pei Yun smiled and said: 'Thank you Master Jiang for the burning knife. If it wasn't too abrupt, I would have carried away the entire jar of wine. '

I was about to answer when suddenly a low moan came from my ears. I felt a shiver in my heart. I listened carefully and heard another rapid breath, accompanied by the sound of broken bones. Oh my God, someone was sniping at the guard of Hanyuan. Guards, I forced myself to calm down. I know the general location of the guards around me. The two killed guards should be very close. The other guards are a hundred steps away. I heard such a small voice. missing. I glanced at Pei Yun, but he didn't notice it. Then I heard the sound of someone pushing open the garden door. I think Pei Yun noticed this sound, but he just concentrated for a moment. I looked at his expression and said There was nothing unusual. It seemed that he thought he was Han Yuan's servant. I put down the wine glass. How could someone kill the guards in Hanyuan? I judged that the guards in other directions had probably been killed, otherwise no one would have noticed that someone entered Hanyuan without permission. Looking at the time, it was right when the feast was going on in front, and most of the guards were on guard in front, so that's why he broke in so easily. What should I do? I don't have the strength to restrain the chicken. Let's see if Pei Yun is reliable. After all, he was once a subordinate of King Qi.

Pei Yun looked at Jiang Zhe strangely, why he suddenly fell silent and looked a little strange. He couldn't help but gather his strength just in case, but at this moment, there was a slight sound of footsteps in his ears. The sound of snow accumulating in the garden made Pei Yun's heart tremble. He could tell that the person who came was extremely skilled in qinggong. Judging from the sound, I'm afraid there would only be a small hole left in the snow. Could it be that he was a master of Prince Yong's Mansion? Well, Pei Yun thought so, but for some reason he didn't feel it was the case, because he didn't look like someone from Prince Yong's Mansion who was so cautious. He looked at him and saw that he didn't have any weapons with him. Although he was good at fists and kicks, it would be good to have a weapon. He immediately He whispered to Jiang Zhe: "Master Jiang, someone is coming outside. It doesn't seem to be from the palace. Do you have any weapons here?" '

I glanced at Pei Yun. It seemed that he could be trusted. My life depended on him for the time being. The person who came here might have bad intentions, but there was nothing around me that could alert the guards in front of me. Those who were killed There is a bronze whistle on the guard, but it is impossible for me to get it. I don’t know if Pei Yun can stop the people outside. If no one arrives in time, I am afraid my life will be over.

I didn't hesitate and took out a dagger from the cabinet. It was the only weapon in this room. Although the hairpin on my head was extremely sharp, I didn't expect Pei Yun to be able to use it.

Pei Yun frowned, handed me the dagger and said, 'Keep it for yourself. 'I looked at this exquisite dagger with a wry smile. This was originally a knife used to cut meat. If it were used by a master, it might be able to chase souls and kill people, but what's the use of it on me? But I still accepted it. Since Pei Yun was very good at boxing and kicking, he wouldn't be able to use it if I gave it to him. At this time, someone outside the door said softly: "Mr. Jiang, Your Highness knows that Mr. Jiang does not want to come to the front for the banquet, so he sent a subordinate to bring you wine." '

Pei Yun relaxed and glanced at me awkwardly, as if he felt that he was too sensitive, but I pulled him and shook my head. He couldn't be from King Yong. His Highness knew my habits and would never send a stranger. It would be normal for him to send Xiao Shunzi back to deliver wine, but it would be impossible for a stranger.

I said calmly: 'Who is that outside the door? Please come in and talk. '

The door opened quietly, and a middle-aged man wearing a guard's uniform walked in. His appearance was plain and forgettable. I knew at a glance that he was not from Prince Yong's Mansion, and I smelled two kinds of scents on him. One was the smell of cooking fumes from the kitchen, and the other was the faint smell of blood. Looking at him, I asked coldly: 'Are you the cook from Nanchu who came recently? '

The middle-aged man was stunned, and Pei Yun also looked at me strangely. I ignored their surprise and asked coldly: 'Why do you want to kill me? Who ordered you to come? '

Pei Yun immediately stared at the middle-aged man closely, his eyes full of warning.

The middle-aged man's expression suddenly changed from peaceful to ferocious and cold. In an instant, the mediocre guard disappeared, and what appeared in front of us was a cold-blooded killer. Pei Yun took a step forward and stood in front of me.

The middle-aged man suddenly laughed and asked: 'How did Jiang Zhuangyuan know that I was a killer? '

My expression turned bleak, and I said calmly: 'I know you, you have a vicious hand and an evil heart, the number one killer in the Southern Chu army. You used to take orders from Prince De Zhao Jue, but now you probably take orders from Rongyuan, right? '

The middle-aged man's expression became serious, and he said coldly: 'No wonder the prince died. If Jiang Zhe surrenders to the enemy, he will definitely try his best to kill him. '

Hearing this, I couldn't bear it any longer. A mouthful of blood gushed out from the corner of my mouth. I sat down slowly and closed my eyes.