A bottle of Dukang was ordered, and the three of them each poured a glass. Qi Chongli smelled it and praised: "The aroma is strong, it is indeed a good wine!"
After a drink and some food, the topic gradually turned to the military power struggle between the Governor's Mansion and the Xuanfu Division.
Xiang Ziyi said: "I heard that according to Xuanfu's intention, a headquarters will be set up above the Governor's Office and the Xuanfu Division, and the military power will be controlled by the headquarters. How can this be done? This headquarters is based on the Xuanfu Division, with the Governor Isn’t it just in name?”
Chen Yuyi said: "Although I am the staff officer of the Xuanfu Division, I have not been in charge of military affairs in the past few years. I can't explain this clearly."
Qi Chongli asked curiously: "Since you are a staff officer, how can you not be responsible for the military? If you are not responsible, who in the Xuanfu Department will be in charge of military affairs?"
Chen Yuyi said: "The Xuanfu Division has three staff officers. Chen Qiudao and I are both in charge of civil affairs. Only Wang Ruohai is in charge of military affairs."
Qi Chongli said: "I see. So, the Xuanfu Division still focuses on civil affairs."
Chen Yuyi shook his head: "Of course not. However, the military affairs of the Xuanfu Department are mostly under the Staff Office under the supervision of Wang Ruohai. Of course, under the rule of Xuanfu, it is mostly different from other places in the imperial court. It is not surprising that you don't understand."
Qi Chongli turned sideways, approached Chen Yuyi, and said, "The most worried thing about the Commander-in-Chief coming here is that the military power is in the hands of Xuanfu. I am just signing up. What do you think of this matter, the staff of your Xuanfu Department?"
Chen Yuyi was silent for a while and said: "Although I am not familiar with the military, I still know the basic human affairs. Since the time of Xiangyang, Xuanfu has devoted countless efforts to this army. Recruitment, training, selection, and so on, I don’t know how much energy has been spent. In the past few years, we have experienced the Battle of Jingmen and rescued Shaanzhou several times. Every time Xuanfu was on the front line, we were on the front line. Last year, when we marched north to Luoyang, the world attracted attention. This army is Xuanfu It can be said that the generals at all levels were single-handedly selected by Xuan Fu. For such an army, the governor brought more than twenty of you to the north, how dare you expect military power?"
Qi Chongli was silent, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Xiang Ziyi said: "The governor is appointed by the imperial court to control the various armies and horses. Without military power, how can we talk about control?"
Chen Yuyi shook his head: "The governor controls the troops and horses, as long as Xuanfu obeys the orders. There are too many things to think about if you want to control the army below."
Qi Chongli and Xiang Zichen looked at each other and understood what Chen Yuyi meant, so they kept silent and never mentioned the matter again.
On June 16, Wu Jie, Liu Qi and Guan Shigu arrived in Luoyang and met with Zhao Ding.
The three of them entered the Governor's Mansion together, arrived at the official hall, and saluted together.
Zhao Ding hurriedly ordered to take a seat. Said: "Three generals are coming to Luoyang at a rapid speed. I am very relieved. Where are your troops and horses?"
Wu Jie said: "We are gathering towards Hezhong Mansion. Follow the commander's orders!"
Zhao Ding nodded: "Okay, okay! This war will attack Taiyuan from Jinzhou. After you arrive at Hezhong Mansion, you must get on the boat quickly."
Wu Jie said: "There are Wang Xuanfu's ships on the Fen River. If we want to take the boat, we need Wang Xuanfu's permission."
Zhao Ding said: "I will order Wang Xuanfu to arrange this matter. You just need to be prepared."
The three of them crossed their arms and obeyed.
Zhao Ding said: "This time the troops came to Jinzhou, how many people did you bring with you?"
Wu Jie said: "Liu Fufu and General Manager Guan each have 18,000 people, and I have a little more, 23,000 people."
Zhao Ding said: "Although it is not much, it is still a big force. With you here, I feel more at ease in this battle."
Guan Shigu said: "I wonder where the governor has arranged for us to station ourselves? When the war breaks out, where will we fight?"
Zhao Ding waved his hand and said: "This matter is not urgent. I will have my own reasons when you arrive in Jinzhou."
Guan Shigu couldn't help but frown after hearing this: "I heard that Wang Xuanfu has mobilized 150,000 soldiers and horses on the front line of Jinzhou. If we don't make arrangements in advance, we will have nearly 60,000 people. I'm afraid we won't know where to live when we get to Jinzhou. . Furthermore, with nearly 60,000 soldiers and horses, eating and drinking is not a trivial matter, and it seems that we must rely on Wang Xuanfu's help."
Zhao Ding said: "I will discuss this matter with Wang Xuanfu, you don't have to worry."
After hearing this, Wu Jie, Liu Qi and Guan Shigu looked at each other and began to feel worried.
Everyone can see that according to Wang Xiaolie's arrangement, there is no room for three people in Jinzhou. They are not needed in the Taiyuan battle. Zhao Ding wanted them to come, more because he wanted to control a military force himself, not because he needed it on the front line.
War command is afraid of this. There are several leaders and military orders are not unified. Each leader has his own ideas, and command is often not for victory, but for other purposes.
Sixty thousand troops were not a small number. When they arrived at the front line, not to mention other things, just providing them with military rations was enough to make Wang Xiaolie uncomfortable.
Seeing that the three of them stopped talking, Zhao Ding said: "You are new to Luoyang, so go to the post house and have a good rest. I will wait for you to discuss it with Wang Xuanfu, and then I will take care of you."
The three of them left the Governor's Mansion together and outside the door, Wu Jie said, "Why didn't Liu Fufu say a word when I met the Governor today?"
Liu Qi said: "The governor came to us. It seems that he didn't discuss it with Wang Xuanfu. He just wanted to have more soldiers and horses in his hands. Sixty thousand soldiers and horses is no small matter. There are so many mouths to eat and drink. This matter came to Wang Xuanfu There, it’s just a quarrel.”
Wu Jie said: "What are you saying about comfort? We have 60,000 soldiers and horses coming. Doesn't Wang Xuanfu know?"
Liu Qi said: "Of course I know. But who can I talk to? No matter how unwilling I am, I can only keep it in my heart. Under Wang Xuanfu's rule, we have food and drink, and we are already Amitabha. If we want to go to Jinzhou again, we still need Wang Xuanfu I'm afraid it won't be easy to provide food and grass."
Wu Jie nodded. He looked at the sky and said, "It's still early, let's go have a drink at the bar. I heard that Dingxianglou in Luoyang has the best taste in the world, and also has the famous wine Peony Spring, so I'd like to try it."
After asking for directions, the three of them arrived outside Dingxiang Tower. Instructing the restaurant to prepare a table of dishes for his entourage, he went to a small pavilion in the backyard.
The three of them sat down and the waiter handed them a menu. Asked: "Do you three have a favorite dish? A favorite wine? I'll ask the chef to prepare it early."
As soon as he got the menu, Wu Jie's eyes lit up. This menu is actually in color, and each dish has a graphic drawn by a master craftsman, which is lifelike, and the name of each dish is written below. Just by looking at the menu, you can tell that this restaurant is extraordinary.
Seeing the boy waiting aside, Wu Jie said: "You first bring two bottles of Peony Spring, and we will order the rest of the dishes slowly."
The boy smiled and responded. He said: "When you guys are ready, just call me. The little one is right outside the door."
Seeing the waiter go out, Wu Jie said to the two of them: "This restaurant is amazing! Look, even the menu is so exquisite. I have never seen it before!"
Liu Qi and Guan Shigu looked at the menu and were amazed.
Looking at the dishes above, I have never seen most of them. The three of them didn't know whether the dishes were good or bad, so they ordered some familiar ones and some expensive ones.
Wu Jie called the boy in, ordered the food, and told him to come quickly.
The waiter said: "Three guests, the dishes you ordered do not include cold dishes for wine. You want to drink, how many do you want to order?"
Wu Jie slapped his head: "I was so impatient that I forgot about it! I know the taste here best, please order some for us."
The waiter said: "For the three of us, please order a plate of soy sauce beef, a plate of white chopped chicken, a plate of sweet and sour lotus root slices, and add a cucumber mixed with shredded chicken. How about that?"
Wu Jie said: "Okay, okay, come up quickly."
In the blink of an eye, cold dishes and peony spring wine were brought out. Wu Jie asked the boy to go out, and the three of them poured wine.
Raising his wine glass, Wu Jie said: "I have been to many places, and there is no other wine that has the scent of peony in spring. It is really the best taste in the world! It is difficult to get to Luoyang today. We must be drunk today or not come back!"
After saying that, the three of them drank it all.
The three of them drank a few drinks and ate a few pieces of beef. Wu Jie put down his chopsticks and said, "It would be great if Governor Zhao wanted us to come to Jinzhou. But we all know that it would be great if we came to Jinzhou." , it’s not Zhan Taiyuan who needs us, but Governor Zhao who needs us, which is not good. What do you two think about this matter?"
Guan Shigu said: "Wang Xuanfu has been fighting for several years and won every battle. Who dares to say anything? Salihe has been fighting in Shaanxi for many years, and the three of us have been suppressed. There is nothing we can do. Last winter, Salihe The main force was completely annihilated by Wang Xuanfu's regiment. Who doesn't admire him? In the battle of Taiyuan, Wang Xuanfu must be the commander to ensure victory! I have no objection to Governor Zhao, but Governor Zhao's fight for military power is not a good thing. .”
Wu Jie nodded and said to Liu Qi: "To appease you, you haven't spoken since you arrived in Luoyang. This is not good. Now the three of us are grasshoppers on a rope, and no one can escape. Tell everyone what you think." listen."
Liu Qi put down his chopsticks and said: "Captain Zhao wants to fight for military power. To be honest, I don't think highly of him. Who is Wang Xuanfu? From Xiangyang to Luoyang, he governs dozens of states in three directions. Governor Zhao relies on a few scholars to do it." To seize his military power? It’s not a joke! It’s really hard for us to be human beings when we are sandwiched between the two of us!”
Wu Jie sighed: "That's what I said to appease you. Governor Zhao went to Luoyang. To be honest, the best way is to cooperate with Wang Xuanfu. The victory in Taiyuan is also a credit, isn't it? Now we have to fight for military power. It will be difficult for us. .”
Guan Shigu drank a glass of wine, ate a few pieces of beef, and said, "Brothers, what do you think we should do?"
Wu Jie said: "For now, it's best for us to avoid offending both sides. If Governor Zhao asks us to go to Jinzhou, we will go to Jinzhou. But along the way, we must obey Wang Xuanfu's instructions and must not make our own decisions." . When we get to Jinzhou, let’s see how the two of them fight.”
Liu Qi shook his head: "From Hezhong Prefecture to Jinzhou, we have to take a boat all the way. The boats are all from Wang Xuanfu's army. How can we go there if he doesn't arrange it?"
Wu Jie said: "If Wang Xuanfu doesn't make arrangements, we will wait at Hezhong Mansion!"
Liu Qi said: "Where is the food and grass? Even if Hezhong Mansion is waiting, the soldiers under my command also need to eat."
Wu Jie smiled: "From Jingzhao Mansion to Hezhong Mansion, when did Wang Xuanfu cut off our food and grass? Don't worry, at least we won't lack food in Hezhong Mansion."
Liu Qi said: "We are 60,000, which is not a small number! Wang Xuanfu prepared for the battle in Taiyuan, but he did not prepare food and grass for us. If we eat, Wang Xuanfu's army will be short of some food and grass. How will we make up for it then?"
Guan Shigu said: "Fortunately we came now. Knowing that the food and grass were short, Wang Xuanfu would definitely find a way to make up for it. If we delayed for another two or three months, it would be difficult for us to reach Hezhong Mansion. If the food and grass were insufficient, Wang Xuanfu would only Afraid of looking ugly."
Wu Jie and Liu Qi couldn't help but shake their heads together after hearing this.
(End of chapter)
