Tibet

In Qinghe County, Beizhou, in a field close to Yongji Canal, stands a manor covering thousands of acres. The manor is surrounded by high walls, and there are no villages within 20 miles around, so most people don’t know what’s going on in the manor.

Although some farmers went in to help, they kept their mouths shut and refused to talk about the situation in the manor, with fear in their eyes.

This manor is not only mysterious, but also low-key. The gate of the manor is closed all year round, and no one in Qinghe County has mentioned this manor.

Let’s look over the high wall and find that this huge manor is actually a pasture. Hundreds of horses are walking leisurely on the pasture. In the distance is a building covering more than 20 acres, which is built with carved beams and painted buildings, beautiful and fantastic. There are rockery and ponds inside, beautiful scenery at every step, and dozens of beauties live.

This is a palace of Wei Wang Tian Chengsi. Although Tian Chengsi proclaimed himself Wei Wang, in fact, his various expenses and clothes are comparable to those of an emperor. Only an emperor would have a palace, and he has one, but these palaces are very low-key and mysterious, and the locals don’t know about them.

Tian Chengsi was hiding in the palace in Beizhou at this time, but his eyes were fixed on the distant Shandong.

Tian Chengsi was wearing a white cotton robe, which was just bought from Chang'an. He was tired of wearing fur cloaks, and he also wanted to try this most popular cotton robe in Chang'an. Although it looked a little bloated, it was very warm. Wearing a sheepskin vest outside would make it even warmer.

There was a Hebei sand table in the lobby. Tian Chengsi stared at Qizhou on the sand table, which was Li Zhengyi's capital.

There was a small red flag on Caozhou on the sand table. Guo Ziyi led more than 100,000 Tang troops stationed in Caozhou.

Tian Chengsi only needed to judge from Guo Ziyi's position to know the next move of the Tang army. Guo Ziyi's official position was restored to the defense envoy of Henan Road. The army under his command was constantly increasing and had increased to 150,000 troops.

Tian Chengsi knew that the first person Li Ye wanted to deal with was Li Zhengyi. If he thought about it, once Li Ye entered the court, he would definitely stabilize the south first, eliminate Li Xilie in Jianghuai, cut off the Huai River as the boundary, and stabilize the south of the Huai River.

Then the next step must be to cut off the Yellow River as the boundary. Everything south of the Yellow River must be cleared, and Li Zhengyi will be doomed.

The most difficult thing for Tian Chengsi now is whether to send the Hezong Army to rescue Li Zhengyi. If not, it is written in black and white in the covenant! The four parties signed the contract. If one party is in trouble, the Hezong Army must rescue it. But if it is not rescued, then the Hezong Army will lose its meaning and face the danger of disbanding.

At present, the Hezong Army is stationed in Xiangzhou, but Lei Wanchun also led 50,000 troops to station in Weizhou. Once the army rushes to rescue Li Zhengyi, what will happen to Xiangzhou? Even his own nest Weizhou is in danger.

Tian Chengsi is very entangled in his heart and it is difficult to make a decision.

At this time, Wang Lun, a trusted aide, whispered: "My lord, there is actually a third option. Since there is a name of rescue, but it does not damage the troops."

"What plan?"

Wang Lun smiled slightly, "Wait for the Yellow River to thaw!"

"Great!"

Tian Chengsi immediately gave a thumbs up. It's not that I don't want to rescue. The army has already reached the Yellow River, but it can't cross the Yellow River!

Tian Chengsi just wants to give an explanation to Li Baochen and Zhu Ci. As for Li Zhengyi, let him live or die!

Thinking through this, Tian Chengsi's heart suddenly became light.

In Weizhou, Lei Wanchun led 50,000 troops to Ji County. The army was stationed outside the county, and there were 15,000 people led by Xue Song in the city.

The enemy forces on both sides were the 50,000 combined troops stationed in Xiangzhou.

At noon that day, Xue Song received an invitation from Lei Wanchun to watch the army's polo trials.

Xue Song is the grandson of Xue Rengui, a nobleman in Chang'an. He has been obsessed with polo since he was a child. When the Ministry of War announced last year that the polo competition would be resumed this year, Xue Song was immediately excited. He wanted to personally select a polo team.

Xue Song came to the military camp outside the city excitedly, and he was invited to the big tent by Lei Wanchun's personal soldiers.

"General Lei, when will the polo players be selected?" Xue Song asked excitedly.

Lei Wanchun smiled and said, "We have to wait a while, why don't I invite Envoy Xue to have a glass of wine first."

Xue Song was a little surprised, and asked with a smile: "General, it's wartime now, can I drink?"

"It doesn't matter if I drink a glass occasionally, in fact, I just want to talk to Envoy Xue!"

"Talk?"

The smile on Xue Song's face gradually disappeared, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes, "General, are you going to set up a Hongmen Banquet for me?"

"I have no ill intentions, Envoy Xue can leave at any time, I won't stop you."

"Really?"

Xue Song turned and left, and was about to When approaching the tent door, Lei Wanchun said calmly: "It's not me who wants to talk to the envoy, it's His Royal Highness the Regent who wants to talk to the envoy!"

Xue Song stopped and turned around and asked: "What does the Regent want to talk to me about?"

"With this attitude, you should leave! It's better not to talk."

Since the Regent was mentioned, Xue Song knew that he couldn't leave the tent. He walked back again, sat down and said: "General, this attitude should be okay!"

Lei Wanchun sat opposite him, poured him a glass of wine, and handed him two volumes of appointment letters.

Xue Song opened the appointment letters, one of which appointed him as the Minister of the Honglu Temple and the Duke of Anyang County, and the other appointed him as the Governor of Xiangzhou. Both were written by Li Ye.

"Envoy Xue can choose one of the two."

"What do you mean? The second Tian Shengong?"

Lei Wanchun nodded, "There will be no more vassal towns in the Tang Dynasty, and there will be no more Jiedushi."

"So the regent wants to take away my military power?"

"It is not that the envoy is deprived of his military power, but that he is reassigned as a civilian official and the army returns to the imperial court."

"What about my brothers and sons?"

"My brother, please go home and rest! If your sons are willing, they can continue to serve as generals in the Tang Dynasty and become my subordinates."

Xue Song narrowed his eyes and sneered: "What if I don't agree? Will the swordsman come in?"

Lei Wanchun said sincerely: "Of course not. Xue Shijun can leave at any time, but it's a pity that he gave up this opportunity."

Xue Song became a little confused, "If I hold Ji County, can you attack it?"

Lei Wanchun took out another letter of allegiance and unfolded it. On it was a list of more than thirty names and fingerprints of those who were willing to be loyal to His Highness the Regent.

Xue Song's face turned pale. Except for his brothers and several sons, the other generals were all on top.

"This this."

Xue Song gritted his teeth and said, "You are so despicable!"

"Xue Shijun thinks this is despicable?"

Lei Wanchun sneered: "Guo Ziyi has an army of 100,000, and he also handed over the army to the court. Lai Yi, Ma Lin, Zhang Boyi, and Tian Shengong all have tens of thousands of troops, and they are all loyal to His Highness the Regent. ?Are they all stupid?

Like your generals, they are all aware of current affairs. I am afraid that you are the only one who is stupid. Just like Tian Shenyu, the whole family was wiped out in the end. It is a pity that your grandfather's great reputation was destroyed by your hands. "

The letter of allegiance in front of him shattered Xue Song's last chance. He knew that as soon as he walked out of the camp, the generals in the city would start to rebel, and they would never give him a chance to return to the city to settle matters.

The cruel reality finally made Xue Song, who was obsessed with power, finally wake up. He thought of the scene of his own murder and the lifelong fame of his grandfather, General Xue.

Xue Song's back was suddenly dripping with sweat. He quickly knelt down on one knee and clasped his fists, saying, "Thank you, General, for being alert. Xue Song almost made a big mistake!"

Lei Wanchun nodded, "Two letters of appointment, Xue Shijun chooses!"

Xue Song sighed, "I'm tired too, so I'll go back to Beijing and be the minister of Honglu Temple!"