Door.

Then, the man suddenly reined up his horse on the official road in front of the suspension bridge, looked back, and saw two big characters written on the city gate - Hejian.

Xue Changxiong's heart moved slightly, and he couldn't help asking: "Hejian Hejian, does it mean that Hejian County and Hejian City are sandwiched between the Zhangshui River and the Hutuo River?"

The people around him responded immediately, but then they couldn't help but look at each other in confusion... This manager has been in Hejian for five years, but he only knows what Hejian means now?

Xue Changxiong didn't explain anything. He just sighed and continued to go to the military camp in front where there was obvious commotion.

At this time, it was already bright, and ordinary people were starting to get up and move around. However, the lights in Yecheng Palace, hundreds of miles away, were brightly lit all night, and Chen Bin, the clerical manager who was supposed to take over in the morning, was even brighter.

I got up early in the morning and went to the office area in the front half of the palace. I also ate on the porch in the dining hall on the side of the main hall.

After eating, he seemed to be in a reverie, or maybe he just didn't want to disturb Chai Xiaohe, who was on duty in the main hall, but he did not enter the main hall, but sat in a daze in front of the table in the corridor.

Besides, Chen Bin has always been strict, even a little mean, and the people around him who are in charge of logistics and transportation, such as joining the army and the clerks, have also been busy these days. Seeing this scene, they all walked around.

But there are some who are not afraid. After a moment, Wei Xuanding, who was about to come over for a meal, saw this scene. He didn't even take the food, so he sat down directly, and then said, "Mr. Chen is worried about the battle ahead?"

They are the very few people here in Yecheng who know that the army may cross at night... but they also know that it is possible, but they do not know the army's current situation.

"How could it be?" Chen Bin came back to his senses and couldn't help but laugh. "I am the supervisor of the Hejian camp and the general manager of Daxingtai. No one knows the strength of the two families better than me.

, this battle, if only Hejian, even if the Youzhou people come to help, it is 100% sure... In fact, Duke Wei will know after thinking about it. As early as last year, I suggested to the chief to launch the Northern Expedition in advance, which naturally means that at that time I

I already feel that the odds of winning are extremely high, let alone now?"

Wei Xuanding suddenly realized.

Indeed, no matter what, the person in front of me is the one who has the most say in the outcome of this army's Northern Expedition.

He said it was a sure thing, so it should be a sure thing.

"So no matter what, Hejian is stable?" Wei Xuanding nodded. He wanted to continue asking, but his mind changed inexplicably, and the words slipped away from his mouth, and he just said idle words. "But if you say that,

, the chief can really bear it."

"It's because you can hold back that you are sure of success." Chen Bin said quietly. "I can see it now... To compete for the world, one is merger and expansion, which is what the chief said. It snowballs. It gets bigger and bigger, with a large territory and many people.

, the stronger and more powerful; the other is not to make mistakes, big mistakes, internal affairs and diplomacy, career cultivation, clerical and military force, money and people's hearts, there are so many threads, each one is the key, and as long as one key is broken, everything will happen.

, the snowball will disperse.”

At this point, Chen Bin suddenly sneered, and then gave Wei Xuanding a serious look: "In this matter, the chief is an example, as if he was born to rebel and take over the world. Xue Changxiong is a counterexample. The key to troubled times is that he is born with nothing.

!”

"I was thinking before that Mr. Chen might be thinking about his old friend in Hejian." Wei Xuanding sighed when he realized that he hadn't gone around. "I still want to avoid it."

"After all, it's an old relationship that has existed for many years."

"Is death certain?" Wei Xuanding couldn't help but continue to ask. "Will you really not be overwhelmed by the general trend and just go with the flow? Aren't many heroes like this?"

"I had a dispute with Dou Longtou before. I felt that Xue Changxiong must have faked his surrender, and he felt that Hejian Camp must have really surrendered... Now that I think about it, there is actually no conflict between us, because Hejian Camp is Hejian Camp.

Xue Changxiong is Xue Changxiong." Chen Bin looked complicated. "He must have betrayed everyone this time, and he must have preferred death to surrender... I know him too well."

"That's it." Wei Xuan was convinced, but he was unconvinced in his heart... Not only did he not believe it in his heart, but he also suddenly felt that as long as he knew that victory was guaranteed ahead, Xue Changxiong's life and death would not matter.

"It's just that I also know in my heart that the chief has defeated him so openly and repeatedly. According to his character, I am probably convinced." But Chen Bin, until now, I can't feel happy if I don't say some things. "

He could have surrendered to the chief and accepted his subordinates, so that at least he could survive the troubled times safely, but because he still had me, he couldn't lower his head, so that when he stood in the middle of the river, he could not cross in front or behind, and in the end he could only

To die in a foreign country... I can't help but feel a little emotional."

"That's it." Wei Xuanding came to persuade him. "But if this person is someone who can't let go, even without Manager Chen, he might not be able to let go because of Dou Longtou... Why do you have to hang it on yourself?"

"How come I don't know?" Chen Bin finally couldn't help but take a deep breath. "No matter how I think about it, I feel that he is asking for death and deserves to die! Not to mention anything else, just for him.

Stubborn, one person cannot bow his head, there will always be thousands or even more people who will die for him, but for this matter, he will die unyielding! Only humans are not grass and trees, they know what they know, but they still cannot calm down..."

Wei Xuanding finally stopped talking. He understood that it was impossible for the manager to recover before the news of Xue Changxiong's life and death came.

On the other side, Xue Changxiong had already arrived at the military camp four or five miles south of the city, and then started killing people... There were only four to five thousand people in the south of the city. The two generals were both natives of Hebei, but there was only one Ning Dan, who was standing

Xue Changxiong's side was trembling... The entire camp, facing the authority of the Grand Master and the power of the general manager, actually bowed their heads and listened, not daring to speak anymore.

After killing more than 30 noisy people, Xue Changxiong finally said: "The whole battalion is moving. Let's set off now. Enter the city first and look for General Murong to assign a queue to prepare to cross the river."

The two generals immediately bowed down and said they obeyed the order, and then immediately organized their troops to enter the city first and join the order of crossing north, without daring to slack off in the slightest.

And Xue Changxiong also immediately stood up and left, but did not enter the city, but turned to the east of the city... Yes, during the gap between the killings, there was some trouble on the east side of the city, and considering that there were only two or three thousand people in the east of the city,

, naturally it’s easy to catch.

That is to say, not long after Xue Changxiong left, several horses galloped to the camp in the west of the city.

The situation of the camp in the west of the city is different from other places. First of all, Boling and Xindu counties are to the west of Hejian, so the troops naturally gather here; secondly, in the original plan, the troops came from the southwest, so whether it is for defense

It is still convenient to adapt, and the troops here are quite strong.

In fact, the number of soldiers and horses in the camp in the west of the city is over 10,000. Correspondingly, the number of generals and assistants here is also the largest, and the sources are also the most mixed.

Under such circumstances, it is common sense for these people to pay attention to Xue Changxiong's reactions and movements.

Back to the present, several cavalry came to the camp in the west of the city and dispersed. Two of them went straight to the military office in the camp. They came to a large flag with high characters and dismounted together. Then one walked to the ramming earth general platform, and the other

Go to the Chinese military tent behind the general platform.

Soon, a young general walked out of the military tent and went up to the general stand. When the sun shone, he saw that his face was livid.

"Uncle, is the general manager really going to break his promise and attack someone secretly?" The young general came to the general platform and found a person. He obviously lost control of his words.

"The general manager can't pass that hurdle." The general standing on the general platform is none other than Gao Zhan, the current third-ranking figure in the Youzhou Army.

Gao Zhan was an important figure in the Hejian Camp from the beginning. After Dou Pi died in battle, and the Hejian Army recruited local soldiers from Hebei, his status became even more obvious... Now he is naturally the backbone of the Xiying.

As for the person who called him uncle, it was not Gao, but Tie. He was called Tie Zicheng. He was a descendant of Gao Zhan's wife's family in Xindu. Now he is also a general and is used as a confidant by Gao Zhan.

use.

"This hurdle, that hurdle, what kind of man is born in this world...Who doesn't know that he just can't hold back his face to face Chen Sima?!" Tie Zicheng pointed out.

Gao Zhan was silent for a moment, then corrected seriously: "No matter what, it was Chen Sima who did something inappropriate..."

"I don't think so." Tie Zicheng turned away. "What happened to Chen Sima was that General Xue was ruthless and unfair!"

Gao Zhan sighed: "The superiority and inferiority are all there. At that time, Chen Sima was a minister, and the manager was the king. If a minister rebels against the emperor, it is always the minister's fault..."

Hearing this, Tie Zicheng laughed ferociously: "Just take a step back and say that it was Chen Sima who betrayed him. He can't lose his face, but why did he drag us Hebei people to die with him?!"

This time Gao Zhan did not refute, but remained silent.

"Uncle." Tie Zicheng said further after seeing this. "Chen Bin was the Prime Minister of Nanya who was in charge of Tai'e. Wang Fubei was also promoted to the top leader by virtue of his military exploits. Feng Gong was also the deputy governor of Xingtai.

...I'm not saying that it's okay if you leave, uncle, but in any case, I can say that Chief Zhang is a man of magnanimity and employs people regardless of their origins, right? No matter what, when we get to Yecheng, we are not like a tree without roots and water without a source.

Right? With your local foundation and prestige in Hebei, you are guaranteed to be a general like Wang Fubei, and there is no end to your potential. Why hang yourself here for this general manager?"

"Zicheng." Gao Zhan listened carefully and finally spoke. "I know that because of Feng Gong, you have a lot of contact with the gang, and I also know some of your truths. The overall situation is like this, and I will not forcefully cover it up...

But the problem now is that everything must not only focus on the future but also on the present, not only the interests but also the successes and failures... First, Mr. Xue has the golden sword in his hand, and he wants to kill every fish and kill the net, but if we want to force ourselves, we may do the same thing instead.

That net; secondly, no matter what, he was kind to me."

"But if we don't do anything," Tie Zicheng said with the same sincerity. "Aren't we afraid that our network will be dismantled by the army? The current military morale, even if we cross the river, it will be scattered, right? And then we only need to cooperate with the helpers

After handing over the weapons, the big leader, the leader's treatment will be gone. I'm afraid that if the gang is killed by the law, the brothers may not hate the gang, and they won't find Xue Changxiong to hate, but they will only hate us! Uncle only

Do you consider the kindness of knowing Xue and you, regardless of the feelings of robes and nobles, and the friendship of fellow countrymen?"

Gao Zhan was finally moved. Just as he was about to say something, he was suddenly startled, but he immediately got off the general platform and walked towards the central army gate.

Tie Zicheng also became solemn, and then immediately followed up with his sword, because under the bright morning sun, he saw with his own eyes several cavalry galloping straight towards the Chinese army from the southeast side, and there were no blocking posts along the way.

After a while, Xue Changxiong rode his horse to the camp gate of the central army, but did not dismount, but also stopped Gao Zhan from saluting further: "General Gao, why hasn't the West Camp started yet?"

Gao Zhan stood under the horse, bowed his head and faced each other: "To be honest with the manager, everyone thought that they were going to surrender. Today, they suddenly ordered a counterattack. Naturally, people are upset, especially there are many Xindu people here in Xidaying. Their hometowns are all

Being occupied by the army makes us even more uneasy."

Xue Changxiong was expressionless: "So we can't send troops?"

Gao Zhan was startled and raised his head to speak.

"Then tell me, who is blocking the dispatch of troops?" Xue Changxiong suddenly became impatient. "Is there such a person among the generals?"

Gao Zhan was stunned for a moment, and finally raised his head to look at the other person, but did not speak.

The two looked at each other, and Xue Changxiong suddenly smiled: "No?"

"General Manager, I will immediately urge the troops to set off to the north." Gao Zhan said solemnly. "Please do not implicate innocent people... Please note that even if some people are slightly dissatisfied, it is only human nature."

"Humanity is humaneness, and military affairs are military affairs." Xue Changxiong nodded, but his meaning was obviously non-committal. "No matter what, set off immediately, we must cross the border within an hour!"

"General manager." Gao Zhan gritted his teeth. "I can only try my best to push forward. Whether we can fully cross depends on the condition of the pontoon bridge, the order of the troops, and whether the army blocks the attack... I don't have a direct one-hour military order.

Dharma connection.”

Xue Changxiong smiled again, and using his true energy, he turned sideways and pressed the opponent's shoulder: "Old Gao, tell those restless generals that when it comes to entering a palace, no matter whether we are the enemy or ourselves, you have to be more careful...

Especially now that the gang has Daxingtai, Zhang Xing is no longer the king, and his thoughts are different from before. If someone betrays the enemy and causes us to kill each other, even if he is lucky enough to escape from me, he will be punished when he gets to the gang.

It is despised; on the other hand, if you can be a loyal minister who starts well and ends well, even if you are captured in battle, you can still stand upright... Don't you think so?!"
To be continued...