The stone lion outside the government office showed a mighty look after being washed by the rain.
Wei Xue was a veteran of three dynasties and was a capable man. Since taking over the rebellion against the governor, he has been actively preparing for war. And Emperor Wanli's edicts also kept urging him.
"Capture the culprit, pardon the remaining party members, let them be dealt with at their own convenience, and show the favor and authority of the court without delaying the military plan." These words were repeated in his mind.
Once the rebels collude with the Tatars and cross the Yellow River, the northwest of the Ming Dynasty will be in danger. Now the rebel army is divided into three groups. One is led by Li Yu and rushes to Lingzhou. The other is led by guerrilla Zhao Wu and goes to Mingshazhou. He personally leads a group of troops to station in Huamachi, a military important place, in order to provide support. The three places are composed of The power of holding the corner.
Rain dripped from the eaves, falling silently on the stone slabs. There were two people sitting in the main hall of the government office. The one sitting on the Grand Master's chair in the main hall was Wei Xuezeng. The person sitting next to him was Ye Mengxiong, the governor of Shaanxi.
Wei Xuezeng was over sixty years old, wearing a blue silk shirt, and his brows were full of worry. In addition, I have been suffering from wind and cold these past few days. The whole person has lost a lot of weight.
Ye Mengxiong first greeted his superior, and then said straight to the point: "I'm sorry that I don't agree with the recruitment matter mentioned by the minister."
Wei Xuezeng slightly closed his eyes and murmured: "What do you think of the male omen?" Ye Mengxiong pressed the armrest and said loudly: "Your Excellency should know what the Holy One means."
Wei Xuezeng said: "I know very well what the Holy One said." Ye Mengxiong said slightly dissatisfied: "Why do you still pursue the policy of appeasement if you know it well?"
Wei Xuezeng frowned slightly and said slowly: "Mr. Omen, you should know that when swords and weapons are used together, life will be ruined. You and I have heavy weapons in our hands, and we are both decisive people in killing. And by my age, you should understand that being too murderous is not a problem." A good thing."
Ye Mengxiong said: "But sir, you should know that what the Holy Lord wants is to put an end to the rebellion as soon as possible. Why should we be merciful to rebellion?"
Wei Xuezeng opened his eyes and glanced at him, and said: "I know that many people in the court are opposed to the recruitment. But in my opinion, they have ulterior motives. I think that since the Longqing mutual trade in the Ming Dynasty, the border has been peaceful for decades, and the people have Live and work in peace and contentment.
When there is no war in the DPRK, how can generals gain military merit and be promoted? Only by allowing rebellion to truly become rebellion can they have a chance to climb up. "
Ye Mengxiong said: "It is true that what my lord said is true. The policy of appeasement will only make the rebellious and despise the court, and then repeat it. Forgive me for speaking frankly, your lord's move will only bring disaster to yourself."
Wei Xuezeng walked away after hearing this, and Ye Mengxiong had no choice but to walk out in anger. After returning to the camp, he drafted a memorial and reported it to the court.
But it was said that Wei Xuezeng's secret envoy had arrived in Ningxia and came to the post house at night. The emissary's name was Sun Huai, and he was a very alert man. He first visited Xu Chao and Liu Dongyang, and then came to Kuaibai's mansion.
The lights in the flower hall were brightly lit. After Kuaibai dismissed his surroundings, Sun Huai took out the governor's secret letter and handed it to Kuaibai. It turned out that Wei Xue had made a counter-insurgency plan to kill each other. The letter to Kuai Bai stated that he had outstanding achievements and was a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty.
In the Xu Dynasty, Liu Dongyang's people were really a rebellious party. As long as he got rid of these two people and opened the city to welcome them, he would recommend the father and son of the Kuai family to high officials and generous salaries in the name of the governor.
After reading the letter, Kuaibai burned it immediately. He smiled and said to Sun Huai: "With the care of Lord Bu Tang, I will definitely capture these two thieves to repay his kindness." Sun Huai said immediately: "That's it. Lord Bu Tang has repeatedly said that the old general understands righteousness. What I saw today was true.”
Kuai Bai also gave Sun Huai gold and silver, hoping that he could speak kindly to the Kuai family and his son to Governor Wei. After Sun Huai left, a fierce expression appeared on Kuai Bai's face, and he sneered: "How can you hide this mere estrangement plan from me?"
The next day, he invited Xu Chao, Liu Dongyang, and Tu Wenxiu to discuss matters at his house. Kuai Bai picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, and said slowly: "General Liu, do you know why I invited you here today?"
Liu Dongyang's eyes flickered on Kuaibai's face and said: "The old general invited me here, naturally to discuss important matters." Kuaibai put down the tea bowl, looked at Liu Dongyang and said: "Yes, I want to lend you a head. I wonder if you can give it to me." No!"
Liu Dongyang was startled when he heard this. He stood up quickly and put his hand on the handle of the knife. Kuai Chengen, who was sitting at the bow of the bow, also panicked and said, "Shuai father, brother Liu and the child are close friends for eight worships. Why did the handsome father say this?"
Kuaibai stared at Liu Dongyang's face and said calmly: "Cheng'en, how about handing over the heads of you, my father and my son to General Liu?" Liu Dongyang was at a loss at first, and then suddenly realized and said: "General, someone must be sowing discord. You are thinking evil. I’m waiting for something big.”
He bowed and said, "Oh? Who is he?" Liu Dongyang looked at him and couldn't help but feel guilty, so he told the truth about Sun Huai sending the secret letter. Kuaibai stroked his chin and beard and said, "General Liu, it's rare for everyone to treat each other with sincerity."
Liu Dongyang couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat as he watched the swordsman and axe-hand retreat behind the curtain. He knew that his talents were not enough to deal with this chaos, so he bowed and said: "Old General, Dongyang is too young to take on a big responsibility. I also ask the old general to sit in Ningxia to prepare for the army."
Kuaibai pretended to decline, but agreed after the persuasion of his son Kuai Chengen and Tu Wenxiu.
Kuaibai was overjoyed, but his face was as calm as water. He said slowly: "Now the imperial court has sent a large army to attack. If we can't join forces, we will be killed by the officers and soldiers.
The city of Ningxia was so impregnable that even the army could not conquer it for a while. The most urgent task is that we still have to unite with the Tatar reinforcements to help. The rabbit was frustrated in the previous effort, so he probably won't act rashly again. Only by asking Shunyi King Zailike and other tribes to send troops can we fight against the Ming army to the end.
Wenxiu, you tried to spread rumors that King Shunyi was preparing to raise an army. Cheng'en, please bring more generous gifts, meet with Zaiseng and ask him to send troops as soon as possible. Only by muddying the waters can we maintain the current situation. "
The army led by Wei Xuezeng had been confronting the rebels for a long time, but without any results. Japan invaded Korea again, and the war in Liaodong became tense. The imperial court removed him from the post of governor and replaced him with Ye Mengxiong.
Ye Mengxiong was extremely happy to get Shang Fang's sword. On this day, he summoned General Ma Gui to discuss strategies to defeat the enemy. Ma Gui was demoted for being greedy for ink, and was recommended by Ye Mengxiong, so he got the job to fight against the rebellion. Now that he is under Ye Mengxiong, he should try his best to repay his kindness.
Ma Gui is from Datong, Shanxi Province, and also served as the commander-in-chief of Ningxia. He also has some friendship with Kuaibai, and Ye Mengxiong summoned him for this purpose. When Ma Gui came, Ye Mengxiong was looking at the map intently.
Ma Gui stood there motionless. After a long while, Ye Mengxiong raised his head and said, "General Ma, please sit down quickly." Seeing Ye Mengxiong standing, Ma Gui said hurriedly: "I don't dare to do this."
Ye Mengxiong smiled and said: "General Fan Ma ambushed the Tatar army and won a complete victory. The good news reached the court, and Long Yan was very happy. He will be promoted to an official rank just around the corner." Ma Gui said knowingly: "The lower official is just a rough man, and he has been cultivated by the Lord! "
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Ye Mengxiong said: "You have been the commander-in-chief of Ningxia and have dealt with Kuaibai. How can you tell me about this person?" Ma Guidao said: "Kuibai is a Mongolian nobleman who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty during the Jiajing period. There are three thousand Cangtou soldiers under his command. , brave and good at fighting. He is arrogant, but he is never ambiguous in fighting." Ye Mengxiong smiled faintly and said: "Then do you have a way to get him out of the city?" Ma Gui rolled his eyes and immediately understood what Ye Mengxiong meant, and immediately said: "The minister wants me to lure him out of the city to reminisce about the past, and then..." As he said that, he He gestured with his palm.
Ye Mengxiong nodded and said slowly: "If you capture Kuaibai, not to mention reinstating the official position, it is not a problem to be granted the title of marquis." Ma Gui's heart moved, but he also knew that Kuaibai was a cunning old man and would never be easily fooled. .
Moreover, in the past, when he was the commander-in-chief, Kuai Bai treated him quite well, and he was always treated with wine, meat, gold and silver. Ma Gui still hesitated to take action against him.
A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, and he said immediately: "Okay, I will go and deal with this matter now." Looking at the back of Ma Gui walking out, Ye Mengxiong shook his head and said: "If I really hope that this kind of strategy can kill Kuai Bai That would be too naive.”
But it was said that after Magui returned, he wrote a letter and asked a brave soldier to deliver it to Kuaibai. Kuaibai and Ma Gui had a close friendship in the past. When an old friend sent him a letter and invited him to come, he knew it was a trap, but he still wanted to meet him for a while.
Three days later, he came to the appointment on horseback with a dozen or so guards who were highly skilled in martial arts. Ma Gui also came on horseback, with a big "Ma" character written on the big flag behind him.
When they met, neither of them got off their horses. Kuaibai wore a brocade hat, his temples were gray, but his eyes were bright. He cupped his hands and said, "General Ma, it's been a long time." Ma Gui also slapped him and said, "Where, where, the old general's demeanor is as good as before."
Kuaibai said: "You and I haven't seen each other for several years, but we are mortal enemies when we meet." Ma Gui's heart moved, and he knew that the old fox was not so easy to deceive, so he smiled and said: "Why did the old general say this?"
Kuaibai smiled and said: "Is it Wei Xuezeng's idea? He asked you to lure me here. The conciliation is fake, killing me is the real thing. General Ma, am I right?" Ma Gui said: "Old General, you are serious. . Ma came today just to reminisce about old times."
Kuai worshiped and said, "It's not easy for General to put a head on my neck. Listen!" A warrior next to him blew a whistle when he heard this, and heard countless ambush soldiers responding in the distance.
Ma Gui told him what he was thinking, and said calmly: "Yes, I came today to kill you. But because of the friendship between you and me, Ma is in a dilemma." Kuaibai said: "Okay, you can say this. Our friendship is in vain." Then he asked the guard to take out a wine bag. He took a swig and then threw it towards Ma Gui.
Ma Gui took the wine bag, took a sip and said, "Good wine! Brother Kui, listen to my brother's advice and make a living as soon as possible." Kuai Bai raised his head and laughed and said: "Brother Ma, do you think I still have a chance to survive? Emperor You think I don’t know the imperial edict, he wants the heads of father and son. As for me, if you surrender, you will die, if you don’t surrender, you will die, so why don’t you fight to the death?”
Ma Gui said: "That's it. Brother, I have nothing more to say." As he said that, he turned his horse's head and led his troops to retreat. Looking at Ma Gui's retreating figure, Kuai Chengen said: "Commander Father, why don't you kill this man when you get this good opportunity today?"
Kuai Bai asked, "Do you think Ma Gui is a vegetarian?" Kuai Bai choked on his words, and Kuai Chengen fell silent. Kuaibai said: "I came to the meeting today to let you know that the court will not appease you. We have already embarked on this road and can only go all the way."
