Fu Song

Chapter 250

With the doors and windows closed, the faint din from outside was barely audible, and only Ma Xing and Xiao Ding were left sitting opposite each other in the room, and there was Cheng Gui, who was sitting on the horse. Xing behind.

It's not Ma Xing's study, but a somewhat special living room.A low table, several futons, the two sat facing each other, and there was only a tea table in the middle, which seemed a little more intimate than the kind of sitting on a chair.

After drinking several glasses of wine outside, Ma Xing's face turned red.

He is the appeasement envoy, the highest official on Shaanxi Road, so naturally no one would dare to drink him.But he is going to leave soon, today's banquet is said to be Xiao Ding's welcome banquet, but it can also be regarded as Ma Xing's practical banquet.

All the officials on Shaanxi Road knew that Ma Xing was a thrifty man, if it wasn't for this time to welcome Xiao Ding back, there would be no such banquet at all.When it was time to leave, it might be that early in the morning when everyone arrived at the yamen, the pacifier had already drifted away with his guards and servants.

Ma Xing's family members have already left for a long time.

Therefore, all those who feel that they still have some status and have some dignity in front of Ma Xing will take this opportunity to offer a glass of wine to Ma Xing. They will naturally do it, but Ma Xing can do whatever he wants.

But even when everyone came up to toast, Ma Xing only took a sip, but he couldn't stand the crowd, and he was a little drunk at this time.

Xiao Ding, who was sitting opposite, couldn't see his expression because of his beard.

Looking at Xiao Ding, Ma Xing chuckled: "Changqing, I heard that you are handsome, and you can be called Mr. Pianpianjia. Later, in order to frighten soldiers and enemies, you grew such a big beard all over your face. ?”

Xiao Ding laughed: "That's because I'm too young. With this big beard, people can't see my exact age, and it does look a bit fierce. In the army, being fierce can be respected by others. , handsome is not a good word!"

"Why don't you shave it off now?" Ma Xing asked after pouring a cup of tea for Xiao Ding himself.

This is of course true.

When growing a beard, Xiao Ding was only a general in the Guangrui Army's horse battalion, and his command only led four hundred horse troops. At that time, he naturally needed to use viciousness to suppress his subordinates to make people awe-inspiring.

But now, Xiao Ding has commanded tens of thousands of troops and governed tens of thousands of miles of land. There are probably millions of young and strong people of all ethnic groups under his command. Naturally, viciousness is not something that can be admired.

At this time, it is already dictated by status and power.

Just like the one in Bianliang Palace now, when he ascended to the position of emperor, he was only more than ten years old, and he was still a child. Didn't he also make countless famous civil servants and military generals bow down at his feet, loyal and loyal!

But that one was born well!
The one in front of him was the result of hard work with a knife and a gun.

Of course, Xiao Ding's reincarnation was also a good choice.

Looking at the entire Great Song Dynasty, there are very few people who really started from humble beginnings and rose to high positions. Even Ma Xing has a well-off family and considerable wealth.Over the years, as his official position has become higher and higher, the Ma family has become a big family that can be counted in his hometown.

"I'm used to it!" Xiao Ding said, stroking his beard all over his face, "And growing a beard in the northwest is still beneficial, at least it can protect me from the wind and snow when leading troops to fight in winter."

Several people in the room laughed.

Picking up the teacups, both of them took a sip, but when they put down the teacups, the smile on Ma Xing's face was gone.

"Director Xiao, I, the Shaanxi Road appeasement envoy, knew almost nothing about the military operations of the Western Army in the past few months. I just got a paper report from you afterwards. I think you should give me an answer. This is a military plan." Is it because you are arrogant and domineering, and don't appease this, and don't put the court in your eyes?"

After the greetings are over, it's natural to turn to the business. Ma Xing is the master and the boss, so he naturally wants to take the initiative in this conversation, find out what's wrong, make sense, and then be able to lead the direction of this conversation up.

Xiao Ding didn't think so.

"Bachelor, with all due respect, Xiao, as the general manager of the Northwest March, has the right to specialize in the military. Moreover, military operations are sometimes expensive in a quick word. If you ask for instructions and report everything, it will definitely cause delays." Fighting planes, fighting in the northwest, may be a little different from what you imagined, a bachelor. One day is enough to make the enemy flee hundreds of miles away. And afterward, didn’t Xiao have a written report? For specific matters, Xiao also reported to Bian Liang sent the memorial."

Naturally, the program is good.It's just that in the Song Dynasty, all the generals have been controlled by civil servants over the years, and everyone is used to it. In the past, those generals who guarded one side, in order not to cause trouble for themselves, basically let the civil servants decide and completely gave up the right of autonomy .

Because the military generals have been timid over the years, and they are unwilling to bring great disasters in the future for the sake of temporary convenience.

Xiao Ding is not afraid of these.

After being refuted by Xiao Ding, Ma Xing suddenly came to his senses, the position of Northwest Marching Chief really does not need to follow his own lead in everything.My own restrictions on him are based on the design of the imperial court system, and more on logistics supplies, etc., but this is completely useless to Xiao Ding.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Li Xu could have been destroyed a long time ago, why must he procrastinate? There are many battles, and there are many dissents in the court."

"Let Li Xu go, of course it's for more benefits!" Xiao Ding smiled and said: "Scholar, if you don't destroy Qingtang blind medicine and Mu Zhan, let them grow up, sooner or later, Tubo will come back again." It has become the confidant of the Song Dynasty. These Tubo people are entrenched on the plateau and have a geographical advantage over us. They are condescending, and they can fight when they want, and they can leave when they want. It is extremely difficult. Think about it, it is the time of the Tang Dynasty However, there is nothing we can do about the previous powerful Tubo. We can only win them over by means of marriage. How can we let them grow up now? Xia Yao and Mu Zhan are both Tubo royal families, and they have great appeal. Naturally, we want to take advantage of their wings Weifeng, destroy them."

"But they ran away!" Ma Xing said dissatisfiedly.

"I let them go on purpose." Xiao Ding said: "The land of Qingtang is too big, and it is a plateau, it is not easy to organize a battle, and these Tubo people are scattered everywhere, it is impossible for me to garrison for a long time to clean them up, If we let these two people go, they will definitely have to recruit soldiers and subordinates again. When he has a certain scale, I will go to sweep them again. This is easier than me looking for them everywhere on the plateau too much."

"Are you so sure?" Hearing Xiao Ding's plan, Ma Xing couldn't help laughing.He naturally has no sympathy for these foreigners.

"The most difficult thing is the first time. From now on, only one general will be enough!" Xiao Ding said proudly: "The current blind medicine, Mu Zhan, is no longer worthy of my own shot."

Ma Xing was silent for a moment, then said again: "What's your plan next?"

"Advance into the Western Regions!" Xiao Ding said without hesitation: "Whether it is the Uighurs or the Uyghurs, they cannot be allowed to form an influential force, and they have established small regimes one by one in these places. They must be destroyed. Bachelor, I will not hide from you, I want to restore the territory of our Han people in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and what Tang people can do, we Song people can naturally do."

"There are already a lot of ginseng in the imperial court. You are good at starting the war, and the killing is too much." Ma Xing said: "And you know the official's mind, and sent you to the northwest for the strategy of the three-way attack on Liao. Now you don't have to deal with the Xijing Road, The Liao people on the road to Beijing, but headed all the way to the Western Regions, the officials must not like it."

"If I don't clarify these forces, how can I deal with the Liao people on Xijing Road and Shangjing Road with all my strength?" Xiao Ding asked back: "Those censors in the imperial court never leave their homes, and they don't know the situation here at all. I'm afraid they don't even know where the Xizhou Uyghurs are, and they don't even know how close the Uyghurs are to us. Not to mention the strength of these people, they have already posed a great threat to us. They really think that our enemy is only Is it a Liao country? The bachelor has been in the northwest for a long time, so he shouldn't be as ignorant of it as they are?"

Ma Xing raised his eyebrows, but he didn't speak.

"Furthermore, who said that there is no Liao people in the Western Regions?" Xiao Ding continued. "If the Western Regions are pacified and these barbarians are brought under the command of our country, firstly, the Silk Road can be re-opened, which can solve the problem of military expenditure in the northwest, and secondly, these barbarians can also be recruited into the army. It is natural for them to be the forwards to start a war, and after a few battles, it will be easier for Guochao to think about what to do in these places in the future."

Ma Xing nodded slightly, he naturally understood what Xiao Ding said.

"Xiao Ding, I understand what you said, I just want to know one thing!" Ma Xing stared at Xiao Ding and said.

"Scholar, please speak up!"

"You are as straight as the king of the Northwest now. Jingzhong has the idea of ​​sending you back, are you willing?"

Xiao Ding was silent for a moment, and said: "I'm afraid that as soon as the general leaves the northwest, this place will be hidden in chaos again. No matter who has this idea, it is absolutely malicious. In the eyes of the general, the person who made this suggestion , might as well transfer him to the northwest, let the wind and sand here wake him up."

Staring at Xiao Ding, Ma Xing sighed, knowing it was such a result.Xiao Ding's words were already an obvious threat.

"I don't know what the bachelor wants to know?" Xiao Ding picked up the tea and drank it down.

"I will explain to the court why you can't go back." Ma Xing said indifferently: "But how will you prove your loyalty to the court?"

"Loyalty is not something you say, but something you do." Xiao Ding said coldly: "Li Xu talked sweetly to the court back then, and on Shaanxi Road, he was full of praise. What is the result?"

"What's the difference between you and him now?" Ma Xing said sharply, "In my opinion, your current power is even worse than his."

"The country will live up to me, and I will live up to the country!" Xiao Ding picked up the teapot, got up and poured a cup of tea for Ma Xing: "Scholar, you lost your temper. This is not the posture of a prime minister. You recruited Li Du and appointed him as a minister." Is the Duling Jurisdiction on Shanxi Road just for this thought?"

"Naturally!" Ma Xing said: "I released you as a tiger, so I naturally wanted to build a chain for you. Li Du is the chain I prepared for you. Xiao Ding, the country will not fail you, and you will not fail the country. I remember this word!"

"If you break this oath, five thunders will strike you, and you will die!" Xiao Ding said solemnly. "Xiao Ding made a promise, and everyone in the world knows it."

"Okay, I'm going to Hebei. At that time, you are in the northwest and I am in Hebei. We can cooperate with each other to deal with the Liao Kingdom, and get back the face we lost last year!" Ma Xing stretched out his hand.

Xiao Ding smiled and reached out to shake his hand: "Xiao is lucky, the bosses he met in this life are all great people, the same is true for King Jing, and the same is true for bachelors. Without your support, Xiao Ding would not be where he is today."

"I only hope that on the day when I ride the crane westward, I won't regret supporting you recklessly!" Ma Xing said. "Xiao Ding, let's do it and cherish it! Don't let us become enemies one day. Tell me, what else do you want me to do for you, before I leave, I will definitely do it for you!"

Xiao Ding said: "I understand the bachelor's intentions, I really have something to ask the bachelor."

"you say!"

"Now Xiao is indeed the only family in the northwest, but if he wants to subdue the barbarians and defend the country's borders, the current situation must be Xiao's success. If there is another person, the northwest will inevitably fall into chaos again. All of this, Bachelors have to know!" Xiao Ding thought for a while: Ma Xing nodded slightly.

"The current situation in Bianliang is even more clear to the bachelor." Xiao Ding suddenly said: "I hope the bachelor will express his attitude and support King Jing!"

Ma Xing was startled, subconsciously shook his head and said, "How can ministers get involved in the battle for the position?"

"The battle for the throne is also a battle for the future of the Great Song Dynasty. Do scholars also want to be wise and protect themselves? If the king of Chu takes the throne, I'm afraid the world will be in turmoil!"

Ma Xing took a deep breath.

"The King of Chu is not a fool. Even if he comes to power one day, he will only win over you. With you, the Xiao family is as stable as Mount Tai!"

"When King Chu takes power, the matter of defeating Liao will come to naught. He is not someone who can accomplish great things!" Xiao Ding said disdainfully. "Bachelor, you are in Hebei, and I want the Northwest. We both express our attitude, and the officials have to pay attention."

"I won't promise you this matter!" Ma Xing stood up: "Ma is loyal to the Song Dynasty, loyal to the official family, and Ma will do his best to anyone who becomes an official. Your duty. Xiao Ding, give me five years, and I will definitely let Hebei reappear as it was when King Jing was there, and by that time, Great Song will once again have the power to defeat Liao."

Xiao Ding sighed, but unfortunately, he could not win Ma Xing's support after all.

"Bachelor, you don't have to rush to refuse this matter, even if you go to Hebei, you can think about it again!" Xiao Ding said: "I will always wait for the bachelor's reply."

"Has King Jing sent someone to contact you?" Ma Xing asked.

Xiao Ding smiled and didn't answer.

(End of this chapter)