Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

Chapter 364
When Feng Hengshi rushed to Shanxi, Jia Ying was already leading the army to Helin under the guidance of the guide.

Of course, it was not without twists and turns. The composition of the Western Army was complicated. It had gone through three governors successively, and each of them left their own direct descendants.Lan Tianyu has been running the Western Army for more than ten years. Although he has left, some of the old troops still hold the real power. It was a gift from Lantian Jade to Jia Ying, conveyed by Lanshu in Beijing.

What is left is Wang Ziteng's achievements in the Western Army over the years, such as Ningxia Left and Right Zhongtunwei, Yulinwei, Suzhouwei, Liangzhouwei, Jingbian and Dingbian Second Battalion, with a total of more than [-] troops .

Another example is the Jinglu Guard left by Yang You, with more than [-] people.

The last ones are Jia Ying's direct descendants, Hunan Army Camp and Shandanwei, which originally had a total of more than 2 people, but after a big defeat, there are now less than [-] people left in the headquarters.

Only these 20 soldiers and horses arrived near Hami with Prince Teng Beizheng, who claimed to have [-] troops. The influence of the soldiers and horses on the Northern Expedition Army cannot be described as great.

It would take a lot of effort to integrate these four forces together. The destruction of Heer's Department caused quite a storm, and there were many opponents of the camp leaders. These people were basically the direct descendants of Wang Ziteng. Who in the army didn't know that Sa Chu Rengui had formed an alliance with Governor Wang, and Jia Ying's intentions were too obvious.

However, when Sa Chu Rengui's bloody head was placed in front of everyone, the voice of opposition finally died down. The combat power of [-] Liaodong iron cavalry was enough to overcome any dissatisfaction.

Jia Ying was about to tell them that even without the support of the Western Army, his trilateral governors could still sit still.

From Hami to Helin, the distance is thousands of miles, and the middle is full of desolate pastures. It can't be seen at a glance, and the army will lose its way if it is a little careless. It will not return to the established route for ten and a half months.On the marching road, we could still vaguely see the feces residues left by livestock, or the traces of herdsmen’s activities, but the tribes along the way had already migrated to far away after receiving the news that the war was coming, or they were forced by Agu Jin. The order was moved to the outskirts of Helin to defend the royal court.

Ordinarily, the officers and soldiers of Daqian went deep into the grassland for nearly a thousand miles, occupying most of the grassland in the south. The royal court of the Huns should have taken action a long time ago. Unfortunately, the destruction of the right royal family is not only a loss of troops, but also a disagreement within the royal court. At least, this gave the dry army time to recuperate.

If King Youtuqi hadn't been in the midst of internal struggle, Wang Ziteng would not have taken the Western Regions so smoothly, and the officers and soldiers would not have dared to go deep into the hinterland of the grassland easily.

"Wow!"

An eagle's cry broke the silence of the sky. Jia Ying, who was on horseback, raised her head and slowly stretched out her arms. A bird of prey with a wingspan of two meters swooped down from the sky and landed on Jia Ying's arms smoothly. On top of it, Jia Ying's clothes were lightly pecked at Jia Ying's clothes with a dull long beak, as if he was begging for credit.

"Second Master, it's only been a while, and Cang Qing has completely changed. With a little taming, we will have an extra eye on this grassland." Xi'er said with a smile.

"Giggle!"

Seemingly understanding Xi'er's praise, Cangqing held her head high and let out a clucking sound. At the same time, her fluttering and beautiful feathers and her young and tall figure were particularly eye-catching.

Jia Ying glared at Xi'er: "Leave it alone, I let it go out with the falcons of the herdsmen to explore the way, and after a while, it ran back by itself, what's the use of it. If it continues like this, Sooner or later, pluck the hair and eat it in stew, hum."

"Jia Huan!"

Jia Ying yelled without looking back, and with a slight shake of her arm, Cang Qing fluttered her wings and landed on the shoulder of Jia Huan who was running forward. This is not the first time that I will starve in the next few days.

Sure enough, Jia Ying said in a cold voice: "Put it in a cage, starve it for three days, don't feed it, don't feed it, don't let it sleep, if it can't learn the skills, it's a waste, and the waste is not qualified to live here of."

Said, Fang sideways said to Jia Huan: "Take care of him, next time it doesn't have a long memory, and you will be punished."

Jia Huan also looked like a dead father, but he didn't dare to disobey Jia Ying's orders. He saw with his own eyes that his second uncle just waved his hand, and an alcoholic general in the camp was dragged to the gate They beheaded and sacrificed to the flag outside, and everyone didn't even have a chance to intercede.

He had no doubt that what his second uncle said would count. He had only been in the army for a long time, and he had already been beaten five or six times. As a personal guard, everyone else rode a horse, but he could only rely on With two legs, if he is lucky, he can take a carriage to transport grain. If this continues, his life will be lost before the Northern Expedition is over.

When Jia Ying had gone far away, Jia Huan stroked the blue and white feather crown and dragged the words sadly: "We are both in the same disease, you have to work hard to succeed, otherwise you, Brother Huan, will die before you leave school." gone."

As he said that, he looked around like a thief, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he secretly took out a piece of dried meat from the cloth bag on his waist and stuffed it into Cang Qing's mouth. These dried meat was the only thing Jia Ying gave him. , Unfortunately, he was reluctant to eat, so he quietly fed it to Cang Qing.

Accustomed to eating delicious Cangqing, he naturally looks disgusted with these tough and tasteless jerky, but the situation is stronger than Ying, and Ying has to bow his head under the eaves.Poor, it's still an inexperienced baby.

"Sangong, is there any news about King Suzhong's army?"

Sang Gong is also an old man when he started his career in Huguang, a Hunan army camp. He was originally a Naxi warrior, and later he was promoted to the first battalion of guerrillas.

"It's been three days, and we've passed the agreed place, but there's still no news. If we go any further, and there's no boundary sign, I'm afraid we'll lose contact. My lord, do you want the army to camp on the spot? We'll wait until the two sides get in touch." Is it too late to hurry?"

Jia Ying listened, and first asked, "How is the situation ahead?"

Sangong replied: "There have been Huns roaming around all the time. They are one person and two horses, and they are familiar with the terrain. Our people chased them several times, but there is no news. Also, according to the herdsmen, according to the migration of tribes along the way Judging from the traces left behind, these tribes left for no more than three days at most, but the grassland is too big to find them, and if this continues, our logistics supply will become a problem."

In the expedition to the grassland, the biggest enemy is not the cavalry of the Huns, but the supply of food and grass and how to distinguish the direction so as not to lose the way.

"Did you come here every night?" Jia Ying asked with a frown.

Sang Gong shook his head: "This place has already crossed the vast sea, which is the Mobei area. Our spies can't run so far. In addition, there is no news from Xiuyiwei. Their spies seem to be in trouble."

Jia Ying was also lost in thought at this time. Talking about war on paper and actually fighting are completely different things. Now that the friendly army can't be contacted and the enemy is nowhere to be found, the army seems to be in a dilemma. Although Jia Ying has long been prepared for this situation, But when things came to an end, I still felt a headache.

Jia Ying is not worried about the general marching direction. Whether it is the West Route Army or Yang You's Central Route Army, the army is equipped with a compass. The most helpless thing is the endless green Grassland prevented the two armies from joining forces.

Nor is the compass omnipotent.

The marching route of the army is constantly changing, and the angle of the compass relative to Helin's position is also constantly changing. This has extremely high professional requirements for the user's operations on the map and the use of the compass. Yang Youna The one sent by the side was a second knife, so Jia Ying couldn't help worrying.

The point is, even the herdsmen on the grassland, without the tribe as a reference, dare not say that they will be able to tell where the army has gone.

It can be seen that Agujin did not fail to respond. He probably wanted to rely on the depth of the hinterland to drag the army down, especially after passing through the vast sea, until Helin, the water source became more and more scarce. Who would have thought that in this grassland? In the depths, there will be an endless desert.

"The army stays in a battalion of officers and soldiers, waiting for the follow-up army of food and grass, and then sends a team of nights to go along the vast sea to Yidu, and tell King Suzhong, don't rush forward, it doesn't matter if you slow down, the marching distance of eighty miles a day, Half a month is enough to arrive at Helin, and our decisive battle with the Huns will not drag on for too long, as long as we reach Helin, there will be no doubts about the outcome of this battle."

Helin further north, even if it is a completely barren land, where the wind and snow are extremely cold, under the current conditions, it is not enough for the survival and development of large tribes. No matter what foundation, they have no way to retreat.

What Jia Ying wants to do is not to drive out all the Huns, but to occupy Helin and announce the death of the old Khan Batu Wendusu to the tribes in the grassland, which means that the royal court that should not exist again is gone Without the ability to rule the grassland, without an object of allegiance, without a hero, the grassland will become a mess again.

Of course, the best ending is to wipe out Agujin and his sons, but this possibility is very small, the grassland is too big.

"In addition, send more people to find the heirs of King Youtuqi of the Huns, and ask Shu Kanglu to summarize the surnames of the Mongolian and Yuan tribes, especially those whose ancestors have had noble glory. These people will be of great use to us in the future. These seven Wan Dajun, I will leave 3 troops to garrison various important places, one for deterrence, and two for suppression, after Feng Jicai takes office, let him start compiling the family register immediately, without delay."

"My lord, if we leave 3 troops to garrison Monan, will the troops be too scattered?" Sang Gong worried: "The soldiers and horses of the Western Army's northern expedition are already a little insufficient. If we leave another [-] troops, if we encounter the main force of the Xiongnu .”

Jia Ying understood that Sang Gong was worried, and said: "There are not many soldiers, but good soldiers. Besides, the supply of food and grass for the [-] army is also a problem. If it is not worried about problems in the rear, I think [-] soldiers are too many."

According to the news from Shuwudu before, the number of soldiers and horses in the headquarters of the Xiongnu is only 50. The home of the Ministry, there are even fewer left.On the big side, there are only [-] troops from the Western Army. If Jia Ying is not wrong, Yang You will also choose to travel lightly.

This number is impressive enough.

The reason why only [-] people were left was because they were worried about what would happen to the Mongolian and Yuan tribes. Although the possibility was very small, to ensure a way out, the troops and horses of the headquarters had enough advantages, and even if any accident happened, it was enough to deal with it.

"Your officer understands." Jia Ying's words were authoritative enough for them, the veterans of the Hunan Army camp.

"But who should stay behind?"

Jia Ying thought for a moment and said, "Wei Datong informed the rear army to lead the Hunan Army camp to stay. In addition, Liu Tianbao also led a battalion of soldiers and horses to support him. Let the Baoan Battalion, Dingbian Battalion and Suzhou Guard stay behind. It will be controlled by Wei Datong."

Ningwu Pass.

Since Jin Dairen arrived in Ningwu as an imperial envoy, he naturally asked the prince to visit Wang Ziteng who was sick on the couch. Zhao Guangbei was disturbed by Wang Ziteng's illness these days and somewhat lost the patience to monitor him, so he only showed his face before leaving up.

"Governor Wang."

"Brother Yucheng? Shuzi Teng was rude, and he was seriously ill, so he couldn't go down to greet him in person."

Looking at Wang Ziteng who seemed struggling to speak, Jin Dairen sometimes even had a flash of doubt in his heart.

"Could it be that Governor Wang, who has made great achievements in battle, is really seriously ill?"

After thinking about it, You Zi Gu denied this doubt.

Before leaving, although Yang Jing didn't explain everything to him, he still told him that he could spend a while with the prince. If the sun was really declining, Yang Jing would not take such a big risk.

Probably in the eyes of the other party, he is still an outsider.

"Master Wang is feeling better?"

Wang Ziteng's face was pale, and he said weakly: "I'm dying, I just want to see the holy face before I die. Your majesty entrusted me with a big task. If I can't deliver the order, I will die with regret."

"Governor Wang's auspicious person has his own heaven, I believe it will get better, and he will take care of him with peace of mind."

Jin Dairen exchanged greetings, and then said: "This time I came to Shanxi, I was ordered by the imperial court to thoroughly investigate the case of smuggling firearms at the border. Jin, who is new here, is very careful, lest he fail the grace, so he is specially here to ask the king. The governor, it's just... looking at it now, it's being rude."

Wang Ziteng raised his limp hand and waved it lightly: "Brother Yucheng, between you and me, what is not abrupt?"

Pointing to Jin Dairen and himself, he said, "You and I both work for the imperial court, and we know everything."

"I heard that not long after Brother Yucheng left Beijing, the imperial court appointed Mr. Heng Shi as the governor of Shanshan and Shanxi. He was given a sword and has the right to make arbitrary decisions. Brother Yucheng thinks that Feng Hengshi is on this trip. What is the matter?"

He was still panting, but after hearing this, Jin Dairen couldn't help cursing inwardly, "Old fox!"

This is seriously ill, and he still knows the affairs of the court well. Even he didn't know this news until he arrived in Ningwu.

"Governor Wang means that Feng Hengshi is also here for this matter?"

Wang Ziteng didn't answer directly, but said: "This is the imperial envoy and the governor's, and they all rushed together."

Jin Dairen also understood the meaning of Wang Ziteng's words at the moment. Feng Hengshi came here shortly after his imperial envoy left Beijing.But Feng Hengshi is not theirs, so it can only be Fu Donglai's.

It's just that the emperor bestowed a sword and arbitrary power, which is a bit intriguing.

"So, I'm afraid there will be variables in this matter."

But Wang Ziteng said: "This case involves the previous new defeat of our frontier army, and it was done by me. I have paid attention to one or two. Several Jin merchants in Shanxi have intricate relationships with each other. They have been entrenched in Shanxi for many years. Stable, if you want to thoroughly investigate and prosecute, I am afraid that the army of the Northern Expedition will be affected. However, Yucheng's purpose is not to investigate and prosecute these people. He only needs to find out the truth and report to His Majesty. I am afraid that the news of your arrival has already alarmed many people. , it’s better soon than later.”

In Wang Ziteng's words, which Jin Dairen pondered carefully, there is no mention of Shanxi officialdom, let alone the Fu family, but he pays special attention to Shanxi merchants.

Jin Dairen naturally understands that these wealthy merchants are the direct participants in the smuggling of firearms, but their purpose is not for these merchants. How could Wang Ziteng not understand the order?
After thinking about it again, I understood again.

Back then when Lin Ruhai was managing salt in Yangzhou, he once asked Shanxi merchants to exchange military rations for salt imports. Over the years, at least [-]% of the frontier army's grain and grass arrived at the border through merchants, which saved the court a lot of expenses. Know it beforehand.

Now if we do anything to Jin merchants, it will definitely affect the Northern Expedition. This is the last thing the emperor wants to see. Feng Hengshi and Fu Donglai will not fail to understand this.

In this way, Feng Hengshi should have reservations about Shanxi merchants during his trip.

What Jin Dairen was worried about before was that Feng Hengshi would compete with him for the right to handle the case. After all, he has no arbitrary power.

The implication of Wang Ziteng's words is to let him bypass the Fu family and the officialdom, only investigate the affairs of the Shanxi merchants, and finally report the results to the court. No matter what, Lai couldn't get rid of the responsibility, and he could also avoid confrontation with Feng Hengshi.

As for how to deal with the aftermath after finding out the facts, and even how much impact it will cause, he doesn't need to worry about it.

A good trick is Xiang Zhuang's sword dance.

"It's just hard to get evidence." Jin Dairen said again.

Wang Ziteng sneered in his heart. He understood that Jin Dairen didn't want to completely offend the officialdom in Shanxi and make a fuss. The investigation of the case could not avoid the intersection with the local government. When someone blocked it, he would investigate or not. .On the contrary, the one or two shortcuts I seek from myself save trouble and achieve my goal.

"The officers and soldiers of the old camp fort and the inspection department of the partial pass, the two parties, one is a participant and the other is an insider, the officers and soldiers of the old camp are probably still obeying orders, and the general Kong Lingxi who is stationed at the partial pass is a member of the Kong family. If you want to investigate, you can do it freely. Although I have returned to Beijing under the order, I am still the governor of the Nine Frontiers, and the deputy commander of the Nine Frontiers, Yang Bin, and I are old acquaintances. If there is any difficulty, I can come forward on my behalf."

"So thankful for the Governor-General."

Five days later, Feng Hengshi, governor of Shanxi and Shaanxi, rushed to Shanxi. The shadow of the famous tree made Shanxi officials even more anxious.

The chief secretary's back office.

Wang Bifu took off his official hat and knelt in the hall, while Feng Hengshi had a stern face and sat in the main seat in the hall.

"Are you guilty?"

"I know the crime, and I am willing to pay for it with my life." Wang Bifu was overwhelmed, and then said again: "It's just that these things are all done by the lower official alone, and have nothing to do with the teacher. I hope Lord Feng will clearly investigate."

Feng Hengshi tapped on the table, looked at Wang Bifu in the hall, with a blank expression on his face, and asked after a while: "You can tell the truth, which is somewhat responsible. It's just that you keep saying that Fu Donglai didn't know, then Fu Donglai didn't know." Where is home?"

"The Fu family."

But Wang Bifu was speechless, if it wasn't for the Fu family, how could he have fallen to this point.

Thinking about it, he raised his head decisively and said: "Heng Shigong, my teacher said that you should be the number one person in this world. My teacher also said that if there were no accidents in Huguang, you should be the number one person now." He is the leader of the New Deal."

"You should understand that my mentor has devoted all his life to the New Deal. If the reform fails because of this, the consequences will be unimaginable! I dare not quibble about the crimes committed by the subordinate officials. I only hope that you can always look at the overall situation. For a comprehensive round, the next official is willing to bear it all."

"You bear?"

Feng Hengshi looked at the other party with cold eyes, and said without any sympathy: "Can you feel if your neck is thick enough, can you bear it?"

"grown ups."

"That's it."

Feng Hengshi raised his head to stop him, and asked, "How's the investigation going on, Mr. Jin?"

"Pianguan General Kong Lingxi was imprisoned. I heard that even Governor Wang showed up in a sick body. Just seeing how Mr. Jin behaves, it doesn't seem like he is here for Mr. Fu Ge."

"Kong Lingxi? From the Jin merchant Kong family?" Feng Hengshi raised his eyebrows.

Wang Bifu nodded and said: "That's right, it's because of Kong Lingxi's status as a general in Pianguan, plus the local aristocrats, that even Yang Bin, the deputy commander of Pianguan, has to be afraid. Good luck, he is a key figure in this case, I didn't expect to be targeted by Jin Dairen so soon. However, looking at Jin Dairen's appearance, it seems that he has no intention to continue to investigate."

No need to think about it, Feng Hengshi can also guess that Wang Ziteng must have made great efforts in the middle, but Wang Bifu is really stupid, and he still thinks that Jin Dairen will not target Fu Donglai.

He is a censor of the Zuodu, so of course he is not qualified to be the second assistant of the court. He only needs to stir up this matter and bring it to the court.

Feng Hengshi wished that Jin Dairen would get to the bottom of it, so that he could gain some initiative. Fu Donglai asked him to come for the same purpose. Unfortunately, the other party did not go as Fu Donglai expected.

All actions under Jin Dairen's eyes are placed above the frontier army, and the situation has not expanded, which makes it difficult for him, the governor, to intervene. After all, the other party is investigating the case in a legitimate manner.

People avoid you at all, so how can you fight?
"Since you know this, do you have evidence?"

"Yes, there are some customs clearance documents, because the checkpoints along the way require the approval of the Chief Secretary. Therefore, the lower officials kept a copy, which also included some accounts and directories, but these were verified by the lower officials privately. Originally. Originally. I want to report it to Elder Fu Ge." Wang Bifu lowered his head in shame.

This case should have been difficult, but Wang Bifu's conscience was not at ease, which saved him a lot of trouble.

After seeing the evidence, Feng Hengshi also fell into deep thought.

"What should I do?"

It's impossible to hide the past, and he wouldn't do it, he just didn't want to see Fu Donglai get implicated and cause Xinzheng to fail.

It's just that Jin Dairen's approach made him a little helpless. Now it seems that he can only find a way to minimize the impact.

"Wang Bifu, if I want you to lead troops to raid Fu's house, what should you do?"

"My lord, this."

"My lord, the Fu family can't move, please think again, my lord." Wang Bifu kowtowed.

"Government and business collusion, corruption and perverting the law, why can't you move? Is it just because the surname is Fu, can you make an exception?"

"Your Excellency, you should know that this is not what it means to be an official."

Feng Hengshi said: "This is also what Fu Donglai meant."

"How is this possible?" Wang Bifu said in disbelief.

Feng Hengshi sighed in his heart, Fu Donglai did a really great job, and not everyone in the Fu family participated in this matter. With his status as the cabinet assistant, the emperor would give him extra mercy. Unfortunately, if he did that , I am afraid that the New Deal will not survive.

He needs to use the rundown of the Fu family in exchange for the approval of the emperor, the officials, and even the people of the world for the New Deal.

When Chao Cifu didn't even want his family because of the New Deal, isn't that not fair enough?
To be honest, such a choice is a bit selfish, it preserves Fu Donglai's reputation of being dedicated to the public, and he does not hesitate to kill relatives.But only in this way, people in the world will not use Fu Donglai's personal virtues to criticize the New Deal.

Things have come to this point, there is no extra choice.

On the third day after Feng Hengshi rushed to Shanxi, the famous Fu family entrenched in Shanxi was mobilized by officers and soldiers.

The high-ranking family, the management of several generations, collapsed in an instant.

Shanxi Chief Envoy Wang Bifu, Procuratorate Envoy Fan Dongdong, Taiyuan Prefect Hao Shiren, Lu'an Prefect Fu Zhe, Liaozhou County Magistrate Fu Ping, Huozhou County Magistrate Fu Haitang, Chief Secretary Huang Shangyi Zuo Zhengzheng, and Procuratorate Secretary Qianshi, etc., a total of 36 officials. He was dismissed and imprisoned.

Shanxi officialdom ushered in a major earthquake, which was the result of Feng Hengshi's efforts to restrain himself in order to take the overall situation into consideration.

The only ones who are stable and stable are the big surnames of Shanxi merchants. After a few days of frightening, they found that Feng Hengshi had no intention of doing anything to them, so he boldly went to the governor's office to ask the reason. When it comes to logistics and food, the intention is self-evident.

Feng Hengshi was not polite either, and asked someone to carry out the stack of incriminating evidence prepared by Wang Bifu on the spot. The reason for carrying it out was that these account incriminating evidence was a big box.

In fact, Wang Bifu didn't hand over so much to Feng Hengshi. Except for the upper two floors, the bottom one was blank, but the people in charge of the Shanxi merchant family didn't know how many things Wang Bifu had mastered, and used them to bluff People are enough.

Feng Hengshi's purpose is also very simple, he will not hold each family accountable for the time being, but if anyone dares to threaten the army with food and grass, then he doesn't mind copying a few more.

After sending these people away, Feng Hengshi did not feel at ease.

The real crisis has not passed, and it is not in Shanxi. The dispute between the court may have just begun.

Beijing.

Feng Hengshi copied the news that the court's second assistant's lair was in Shanxi. Once it spread, the whole city was shocked, especially all the officials in the court wanted to know Fu Donglai's attitude towards this.

But to their disappointment, Fu Donglai was on duty in the cabinet as usual, like a normal person.

Just when everyone was wondering if there was any hidden secret in it, the memorials of Jin Dairen and Feng Hengshi entered Beijing one after another.

(End of this chapter)