The lights in the governor's Yamen were brightly lit.
As soon as Pan Xiguang came back, he went directly to the back office. The servants brewed a cup of hot tea for him and brought it to him.
Sitting on the Taishi's chair in the back office, he held hot tea in his hand and looked thoughtful.
After almost a cup of tea, a middle-aged man wearing a long gown came in from the outside.
"Dong Weng was so anxious to send someone to call the students, but what happened?"
The middle-aged man was Pan Xiguang's aide. When the governor sent someone to find him so late, he knew that something important must have happened.
"Sit first." Pan Xiguang pointed to the seat next to him.
Staff Zhu carefully sat on an empty seat at the bottom.
Pan Xiguang leaned back and said, "I just met Master Xie on the wall of the North City. I asked someone to take him into the city."
"I heard that the student was on his way back. Is Dong Weng hesitating whether to stay in Yangqu?" On the way here, Staff Zhu had already learned something from the Chang Sui beside Pan Xiguang.
Facing his staff, Pan Xiguang did not hide anything and said directly: "You guessed it right. I am indeed hesitant about whether to stay in Yangqu."
"The students thought they were not allowed to stay," Zhu said.
After hearing this, Pan Xiguang looked at his staff, "Tell me about it?"
"Tianmen Pass is the barrier for Yangqu. If this pass is lost, it will be difficult for Yangqu to block the fierce army of bandits. Although there are reinforcements sent by the imperial court to support them, with the marching speed of the imperial troops and horses, even the Shenwu closest to Yangqu I'm afraid the guards won't be able to arrive in a short time, at least before the bandit army besieges Yangqu." After Zhu said, he glanced at the look on Pan Xiguang's face.
Pan Xiguang nodded and motioned for the other party to continue.
Staff Zhu continued: "A strong city like Tianmen Pass cannot withstand the bandits, let alone Yangqu. The most important thing is that Yangqu does not have enough troops to defend the city, so we want to rely on Yangqu to resist the bandits." With a large army, it is basically impossible to delay until reinforcements arrive.”
"Where do you think I can retreat to after leaving Yangqu?" Pan Xiguang asked.
At this time, Staff Zhu understood that his boss had already considered leaving Yangqu. He pondered for a moment and said: "You can retreat to Qingyuan County first, and then retreat to Liaozhou or Qinzhou through Qingyuan County. Reinforcements will be almost ready by then." It’s time.”
Pan Xiguang fell into deep thought.
After a while, he said: "If I leave Yangqu, how will the court explain?"
"Dong Weng is the governor of Shanxi, not the governor of Yangqu. He can leave Yangqu and go to other places. Liaozhou or Qinzhou are all on the border of Shanxi." Zhu Liao said.
Pan Xiguang tapped his fingers lightly on the wall of the tureen.
Staff Zhu did not urge him. He still needed the other party to make his own decision on whether to leave Yangqu.
However, he has decided in his heart that no matter whether the other party wants to leave Yangqu or not, he will not stay in Yangqu anymore. The bandits can break through Yanmen Pass and take Tianmen Pass all the way so quickly. If he continues to stay in Yangqu, he will only fall into the hands of the bandits. .
He could not leave his life to the thieves to decide whether to live or die, and he was not a local official in Shanxi and had no responsibility to protect the land. At worst, he could go back to his hometown and lurk for a few years after leaving, and he could still come out to do things in the future.
"Pan San, go make arrangements, leave all the useless things, bring some changes of clothes, and leave Yangqu overnight with me when you are ready." Pan Xiguang told his long follower.
I made up my mind to leave Yangqu.
Staff Zhu, who was sitting at the bottom, secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Pan Xiguang decided to leave Yangqu. He no longer had to bear the charge of deserting his master and running away.
The long entourage withdrew from the yamen.
"If Dong Weng is determined to leave Yangqu, there is no need to be in such a hurry. He can wait until dawn before leaving." Zhu said.
Pan Xiguang waved his hand and said, "I can't wait any longer. When I saw Mr. Jie Shigong, he told me that there were thief cavalry chasing him all the way from Tianmen Pass. If my prediction is correct, the thief cavalry should be near Yangqu. When they arrived, At dawn, I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave even if I want to.”
"The thieves are here so soon." Staff Zhu's eyes widened unexpectedly.
He originally thought that the bandit army had captured Tianmen Pass and would have to wait a few days before coming to Yangqu. Unexpectedly, the bandit cavalry had already arrived first.
Pan Xiguang said: "That's why I have to leave during the night, otherwise the thieves don't need many cavalry. Only a hundred or so people can completely block my way out of Yangqu."
"I also ask Dong Weng to allow the student to go home, pack his things and go on the road with Dong Weng." Staff Zhu stood up from his seat.
Since he was leaving, he naturally had to take all his belongings with him.
Pan Xiguang nodded and said: "Go back quickly. Don't bring useless things. You can't take too many people out of the city this time. If there is too much noise, I won't be able to leave either."
"Student understand, the student will return home after simply cleaning up." Staff Zhu saluted Pan Xiguang, and then hurriedly left the back office.
"Dozens of horsemen came from outside the city. The leader looked like the General Jiefang. They were clamoring to enter the city. The general guarding the city did not dare to open the city gate privately, so he sent me to see Pan Fujun." Send the message. The person explained his purpose of coming.
The person at the door was shocked when he heard what the other party said. The lantern in his hand almost didn't fall to the ground, and he said: "Quick, come with me to see Pan Fujun."
When Mr. Jie Shigong came back from Tianmen Pass, even if he was just a concierge, he knew that something big had happened.
The door was opened to allow one person to enter, and the person delivering the message was let in, and then he took the person to the place where Pan Xiguang usually rested.
Behind the Yamen is a courtyard where people can live. Every governor of Shanxi usually lives in the courtyard behind the Yamen.
There were female relatives living in the backyard. The concierge did not go directly to the backyard to see Pan Xiguang, but went to the small courtyard where Chang Sui lived next to Pan Xiguang.
"Master Pan, is Master Pan asleep?"
The porter stood outside the window and shouted softly, tapping the wooden window gently with the hand that was not holding the lantern.
"Who is it?" Chang Sui's confused voice came from the room.
The porter said hurriedly: "Something happened, Mr. Pan. The soldiers guarding the city sent news that General Jie has returned and is waiting outside the city to enter the city."
"Who did you say is back?" The attendant in the room seemed not to hear clearly and asked again.
"Commander Xie who went to guard Tianmen Pass." the concierge replied.
The room was lit by oil lamps.
It didn't take long, and Chang Sui walked out of the room while putting on his clothes.
"Master Pan, this is the letter he sent." The concierge pointed at the person he brought.
Chang Sui took a look and said: "You go back first, I will take this person to see the master."
Those who serve as long followers are people who are close to them. They are either boys who grew up together, members of the same clan, or neighbors who have a good relationship with each other.
