In the Lanxin Pavilion of Huanxiu Tower, all the candidates criticized the shortcomings of the imperial examination and made an appointment to go to Yonggong Mansion to express their feelings.
The scholar was angry, scolded Fang Qiu, and talked loudly. There was no secret at all. The speaker had no intention but the listener did. The discussion of Liu Kang, Lu Qia and others was overheard by the maid A Tao on the side.
At the beginning of the year, when the banquet had dispersed, A Tao cleared away the remaining banquets and did not go back to his residence in the northwest corner. Instead, he walked directly through Lanxin Pavilion to the last courtyard.
There are five entrances into the courtyard of Huanxiu Building, and the last one is the residence of the proprietor. Few people know that the proprietors of Huanxiu Building are Wei Shu and Xu Xuan.
Shortly after Wei Shu and his wife came to Xiangyang from Jingkou, Ding Quan found Xu Xuan and asked him to use the brothel to collect intelligence for the Department of Commercial Affairs. Xu Xuan had long been unwilling to be a brothel owner, so Ding Quan's wooing suited him and he readily agreed, and was granted the post of Chief Register of the Seventh Rank Commercial Information Department as he wished.
After the opening of Huanxiu Building, a lot of useful information was collected, and Xu Xuan was soon promoted to the rank of Sixth Grade Business Information Department Dianshi.
Under Yang Anxuan's instruction, more than ten brothels such as Jiankang Mingcaige, Guangling Yanguangju, Jiangling Miyunyuan, Chang'an Chunxiangyuan, Luoyang Songzhu Pavilion, etc. were opened one after another. Each brothel had several secret business affairs departments. guard. Xu Xuan manages these dozen brothels and is responsible for receiving and analyzing the information sent by them.
Xu Xuan and his wife usually live in the fifth courtyard of Huanxiu Building. Huanxiu Building is long enough, facing the street on both sides, and the innermost courtyard opens to the street on the other side. Most people will not realize that the house with the Xu Mansion sign is actually the same as the house. Huanxiu Building is one.
There are six Business Affairs Departments in Huanxiu Building. On the surface, they are madams, three are disguised as maids, and two are prostitutes. Most of the dancers, geishas, and musicians do not know that this is the dark spot of the Business Affairs Department. .
A Tao was ostensibly the maid in the building. Today, a large group of scholars came to Lanxin Pavilion for a drink. Madam Zhu Niang remembered that Xu Dianshi told them to pay more attention to the words and deeds of the test subjects these days, so she sent A Tao to inquire.
After finding out that the failed candidate was planning to go to Yonggong Mansion to cause trouble the next day, A Tao went straight to Xu Xuan's residence to report it. Xu Xuan was the director of the Department of Commercial Affairs, and Wei Shu took care of her husband and children at home. However, Ding Quan heard Yang Anxuan comment on Xu Xuan and his wife and thought that Wei Shu's talents were superior to Xu Xuan's.
So Ding Quan tactfully asked Wei Shu to give Xu Xuan some advice and check for any leaks. Wei Shu was regarded as a non-staff member of the Business Information Department, and she was also given the status of the seventh-grade director.
After hearing A Tao's report about the unusual movements of Liu Kang and others, Wei Shu first spoke: "This matter is extraordinary. Xuan Lang will report to Commander Ding overnight."
Xu Xuan always listened to his wife's words and immediately got up to change clothes and went to the Commercial Affairs Department. In order to hide from others, Yang Anxuan set up the Commercial Information Department in the Gold Market in the middle of the West City. On the surface, it also had the functions of understanding commercial conditions, regulating prices, and coordinating merchant disputes.
Ding Quan lives in the back house of the government office. Due to the special nature of the Commercial Information Department, someone still notifies Ding Quan of urgent reports even at night.
Hurrying to the official residence, Ding Quan learned from Xu Xuan that the failed candidates were going to cause trouble, and that paying attention to the candidates' movements was the main priority for the master during this period of time.
After stroking his beard and thinking for a moment, Ding Quan asked, "Do you all recognize who encouraged Liu Kang to cause trouble?"
Xu Xuan replied: "The most active ones are Jiangzhou Examiner Lu Qia, Yizhou Examiner Du Qiang, and Yanzhou Weidu, especially Lu Qia, who strongly encouraged Liu Kang to go to Yonggong Mansion and threatened to invite friends to go there. .”
Ding Quan called out loudly: "Let Shen Chang come here."
As the Business Information Department played an increasingly important role and had more and more personnel, Yang Anxuan regulated the organization of the Business Information Department.
The Commercial Information Department has two envoys on the left and right. Ding Quan, the left envoy, is in charge of domestic intelligence; Huang Fu, the right envoy, is in charge of foreign espionage. Both the left and right envoys are fourth grade.
Take Zuo Si as an example. Under the Zuo Si envoy, there are two people, Zuocheng, with rank five, to assist the envoy in handling official affairs.
The specific affairs are divided into four places: clothing, food, housing, and transportation. There are five ranks of Fusi, who have extremely powerful powers. Luo Guang is now the Fusi of the place of residence, responsible for delivering news; Xu Xuan is the sixth-rank Dianshi of the residence, and the Dianshi Below them are the seventh-rank master bookkeeper, the eighth-rank warriors, officials, etc.; the ninth rank are the strong men, scribes, and some running handymen.
Although she is a woman like A Tao, she has the status of a strong man among the secret guards. In addition to the official salary of 300 yuan per month in Huanxiu Tower, she also receives the salary of a ninth-grade secret guard officer. Under the rule of Yang Anxuan, the salary of the ninth rank was one hundred stones, and the salary of secret guards was doubled, two hundred stones, and money and rice were withdrawn.
Or the silk is left to one's own free will.
In addition, both divisions have squad offices, which are responsible for external operations, punishing traitors, interrogating female cadres, etc. They have heavy responsibilities and have the largest number of personnel. Shen Chang is the squad commander.
Xu Xuan picked up the tea cup and drank water, thinking in his heart, did Ding Sishi call Shen Fu Si because he wanted to attack Liu Kang and others?
With little effort, Shen Chang came to the official house, saluted Ding Quan with clasped fists, and nodded slightly to Xu Xuan, who hurriedly stood up and returned the bow.
There are many rumors in the Commercial Affairs Department about this Approval Division, saying that he is thoughtful, ruthless, and skilled. He is a person who must not be offended in the Commercial Affairs Division.
Shen Chang, who had just turned 30 years old, looked rugged and strong. He was wearing a black robe and stood expressionlessly in the hall. The candlelight seemed not to reach his side. qδ.net
Seeing that Shen Chang had no intention of sitting down, Ding Quan briefly introduced the situation and said: "Shen Fu Division, the failed examiner is trying to cause trouble. Send someone to watch Liu Kang, Lu Qia, Du Qiang, Wei Du and others. Find out if there is anyone from the Imperial Military Intelligence Department behind them."
Shen Chang said in a deep voice: "Yuzheng is preparing to report to Commander Ding. In the past few days, my subordinates have discovered a lot of strange things. They have confirmed that the six test subjects are too active and are most likely spies of the Military Intelligence Department. We are following them to find out a place." Stronghold. Yu has ordered people to monitor them and arrest them at any time."
Ding Quan clapped his hands excitedly and said, "Well done, wait for Yu's order and take action at any time."
Shen Chang nodded and said, "Does the envoy have any other instructions?"
Seeing Ding Quan wave his hand, Shen Chang took two steps back, turned around and left the official house, disappearing into the darkness. Xu Xuan swallowed and realized that he was holding his breath nervously.
Ding Quan looked at Xu Xuan and said, "Brother Xu, Liu Kang is staying in Huanxiu Tower. You should go back and pay close attention. If the Shenfu Division sends someone to contact you, even if you cooperate well, Brother Xu will not be forgotten when discussing his merits afterwards." .”
Xu Xuan stood up with a smile and saluted, "Thank you, Secretary Ding. When you have time, go to Huanxiu Tower to drink and listen to music. I will treat you wholeheartedly."
After sending Xu Xuan away, Ding Quan returned to the official residence, wrote down the key points on paper, and then drove towards Xiangyang City with a few personal followers.
The city gate is closed at Haizheng and opened at Maozheng. At this time, the city gate is already closed. However, if there is an emergency, you can call the gatekeepers. Small baskets hang down from the city wall. Ding Quan first puts down his bronze medal, and soon two large baskets containing people hang down from the city wall.
Captain Jin, who was on duty, knew Ding Quan, the envoy of Shangqing Zuo, and when he saw that he had come to the city overnight, he thought there must be something big going on, so he ordered two horses to be prepared. Ding Quan thanked him and galloped towards Duke Yong's Mansion. There was a night curfew, so there were no pedestrians on the street, and the shops on both sides had lanterns hanging on them, so it was flowing smoothly.
There were people on duty day and night outside the gate of Yonggong's mansion. Ding Quan dismounted his horse and walked towards the palace. He said to the waiting clerk: "I sent someone to inform Yonggong, saying that I have something urgent to see you."
Su Xu smiled and said, "It's a coincidence that Secretary Ding has arrived. Duke Yong is discussing matters in the lobby and has not yet rested."
It was already midnight, and the lord had not rested at such a late hour. Ding Quan felt nervous, maybe the lord had already known that the failed candidates were going to cause trouble.
Four lantern trees illuminated the lobby brightly, and most of the civil and military personnel of Yonggong Mansion were present, talking about the urgent report sent by Meng Longfu.
Ten days ago, tens of thousands of light cavalry from the Xia Army suddenly appeared thirty miles southeast of Anding City and attacked the Yong Army's convoy transporting baggage.
Liu Hong, the general of the Yong army who led the army, saw that the Xia army was numerous and knew that it was impossible to defeat them. He ordered the gunpowder transported to be ignited, and the food and cotton clothes transported by the escort were burned. Thousands of kilograms of gunpowder, a thousand pieces of cotton clothes, 50,000 stones of corn, and some tents and other materials were reduced to ashes. .
Liu Hong led his army to Anding City and fled, leaving only more than 300 of the thousands of people who accompanied him into Anding City. Guo Gong, the prefect of Anding, closed the city gate tightly and reported his concerns to Kuai, the governor of Ji County, Tianshui, and Meng, the governor of Chang'an City. Two days later, a large number of Xia troops appeared outside Anding City, and Xia troops also appeared in Xinping County.
Yang Anxuan established Qinzhou and placed the five counties of Anding, Lueyang, Tianshui, Yinping and Wudu under Qinzhou. Chang'an, Jixian, and Anding are distributed in a triangle, and Anding is far to the northwest. Once the war breaks out, both Xia and Qin armies will most likely choose Anding County as their breakthrough point.
Considering that Kuai En was about to confront the Qin army, Qinzhou had insufficient troops, and cities such as Lueyang and Linwei were far away from Anding City, Yang Anxuan ordered Fu Hongzhi to garrison Chiyang. Chiyang is located in the north of Chang'an. You can go from Jingshui to Qixian County, Xinping County, and to the north.
Dijun and Fengyijun.
After Meng Longfu received the urgent report from Anding, he ordered Sima Fu Hongzhi to lead eight thousand troops to rush to the aid of Qixian County, Xinping County.
In Ji County, Tianshui County, Kuai En was silent when he saw the Xia army's attack on Anding City. He received intelligence reports that there were many new troops and horses in Yuandao, Zhongtao, and Xinxing City in Nan'an County of the Qin State, indicating that they were heading eastward. . If he sends troops to rescue An Ding, he may fall into the trap of diverting the tiger away from the mountain, so he can only secure Tianshui and Lueyang first.
The urgent report was sent to Yonggong Mansion. The officials on duty saw that it was a military situation and hurriedly reported it to Yang Anxuan in the back house. When Yang Anxuan learned that the Xia army was attacking Anding County, he summoned Wang Zhen'e, Xin He and other civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures.
Wang Zhene was once the governor of Northern Yongzhou and was most familiar with the situation. He analyzed that the Yong army's destruction of Qiu Chi and the defeat of the Qin army caused Helianbobo's uneasiness, so he wanted to take advantage of the inconvenience of the Yong army's dispatch in the cold weather to seize Anding County.
"Anding City is far to the northwest. No matter whether troops are sent to rescue from Chang'an or Ji County, it will be at least ten days later. If there is a snowstorm, which is the most terrible, we don't know how many days we will be detained." Wang Zhene pointed out the location of Anding City on the map.
Yang Anxuan said in a serious tone: "The Xia army is mostly light cavalry. They move around like the wind and are flexible. The northern territory of Beiyong is sparsely populated and the terrain is flat, which is suitable for light cavalry. The Xia army can easily control the aircraft."
"We must also be prepared for the Qin army's flanking attack," Wang Zhen'e reminded: "Qifu Chipan was very ambitious. Within a few years of taking the throne, he destroyed Nanliang, seized a large area of Tuyuhun, and forced Juqu Laitan to retreat. Although After being thwarted in Tianshui, our army had no choice but to make a five-year non-fighting agreement, but this person will never be willing to surrender. Maybe the Xia Kingdom's attack on Anding County this time is a secret agreement between Qin and Xia."
Yang Anxuan nodded and said: "You are right about suppressing evil. We are unwilling to surrender to Chi Pan. Kuai En is stationed in Ji County, Tianshui County to confront the Qin army. It is not appropriate to divide his troops and go north. Zhongdu (named by Fu Hong) led 8,000 reinforcements there. Qixian, if we can arrive at Qixian as scheduled, Xinping County will be safe. Anding and Xinping counties have sufficient food to support them until June of next year. It is freezing in the north, so it is better to defend than to attack. If the Xia army wants to break the city It’s also difficult. The troops stationed in various places are intensifying their training. In just two months, General Fool will recruit another 30,000 soldiers and horses to gather in Chang’an, and then he will personally go to quell the Xia Kingdom.”
After the summer harvest, Yang Anxuan took advantage of the opportunity to transport cotton clothes and baggage to continuously send troops to Chang'an City. At present, the regular troops in Beiyongzhou, Qinzhou and Puban exceeded 80,000.
There are 25,000 troops stationed in Qinzhou, 12,000 troops and horses are stationed in Ji County, Tianshui County, and 5,000 troops are garrisoned in Anding City. The remaining 8,000 troops are scattered in Lueyang, Wudu, and Yinping.
There are 40,000 troops in Beiyong Prefecture, 6,000 troops in Chang'an City, 14,000 troops in Chiyang City, 5,000 troops each in Xinping and Beidi, and 10,000 troops in Fengyi County;
Puban, Yishi and other cities in Hedong County have 15,000 soldiers and horses. Puban has to directly face the more than 20,000 Wei troops in Anyi City, and the situation is not optimistic. Fortunately, in the past three years, Wei State has suffered from successive droughts and insufficient food. The army has no supplies and the Wei army has not moved.
In total, Beidi has assembled nearly half of Yang Anxuan's combat power, plus the county troops in various cities, the number is more than 120,000, but they are distributed in Beiyong, Qinzhou, Puban and other places, and they must defend the (Western) Qin Dynasty separately. , Xia, (Northern) Wei and other enemies still seemed a little stretched.
After deliberating for more than an hour, the results were not optimistic. Most people believed that Anding City would be difficult to defend.
Just as Yang Anxuan was looking at the map with a gloomy expression, Yu Ying came forward and reported, "My lord, Envoy Ding of the Commercial Information Department has something important to report."
