Snap, snap, snap...
The leather whip struck Zheng Sheng's back one after another, and the clothes on his back were dyed blood red.
Zheng Du's face was also twitching, but he didn't dare to express his anger.
Because the person standing in front of him was Zheng Man, the head of the Zheng family, "Heiyun Mountain could have been the arm of the Zheng family, but you pushed it away."
"My nephew was negligent!" Zheng Du quickly handed over.
"Just careless? You are too impatient. I put you in Xingyang because I wanted to practice. It's a pity that you have been worried about not going to Yecheng for so many years." Zheng Man's tone was full, but every word was heavy. .
Cold sweat broke out on Zheng Du's forehead, "My nephew doesn't dare. My nephew will send someone to contact Heiyun Mountain to discuss the in-laws."
"He has become powerful, how can he give in?"
"Nephew, nephew..." Zheng Du wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "nephew will write to the court now, requesting the army to come and cut off Black Cloud Mountain in one fell swoop!"
Zheng Man sighed, "Hey, in just seventy years, our Zheng family has become so weak."
Since the Han and Wei dynasties, the Zheng family has repeatedly produced two thousand dan members. By the Western Jin Dynasty, the Zheng family had reached its peak.
But after the peak, what ushered in was decline.
"The battle for the throne in Yecheng is getting more and more intense. The Zheng family should not be in the front. Instead, they should accumulate strength, recruit heroes, and prepare for future changes. In addition, all the men in the family who are more than twelve are married, and travel is strictly prohibited. Hunting, half day studying literature, half day practicing martial arts.”
This generation cannot do it, so Zheng Man can only place his hopes on the next generation.
Jie Zhao's internal and external troubles are getting worse day by day, and anyone with a discerning eye can see that.
A secret report came back from Yecheng that Shi Hu's health was deteriorating, and his sons were not virtuous.
Therefore, Zheng Man has always kept a distance from Pengcheng King Shi Zun and Donghai Princess Zheng Yingying.
The Zheng family is undoubtedly ambitious, but its ambition is not to stand on the cusp of changing dynasties, but to prevent the Zheng family from being swallowed up by the waves.
"Well, send five thousand stones of food to Heiyun Mountain, and pick some good weapons to send up. To ease the relationship, in the future... if something happens, we can take care of you."
Not to mention the distant ones, let’s talk about the nearby Fangtou. Pu Hongxiong’s talents are known far and near, and all his nephews are heroes, much better than the Shi family.
There is also Yaotou Yaozhong, who has forty-two sons.
Both of them are not just Qiang and Di tribes. Each of them has gathered a group of scholars to assist them.
Zheng Du said: "We just had a battle with them... I'm afraid they will hold grudges."
"The one fighting them was not the Zheng family, but Zhang Yu, the governor of Yuzhou. The Lord of Heiyun Mountain is a smart man and knows that the Zheng family is not his enemy."
Yecheng.
The battle report from Xuanyuan Mountain came all the way from the south and entered Sikong Mansion.
More people are paying attention to this war than imagined.
The failure of the governor of Yuzhou to suppress the bandits was naturally not a trivial matter.
"So Bo Wu refused on the spot?"
The door of Sikong Mansion is extremely gorgeous, but the inside is relatively simple, with no luxurious decorations. There is a wooden table and a soft mat. Sitting on the mat is Jie Zhao Sikong Li Nong.
Zhang Liang, a confidant, said: "Yes, he also persuaded Sikong to reuse it."
"Do you think this child can be used?" Li Nong's eyes flashed.
"My subordinates feel that this son is closely connected with the Beggar Army. If he rises in the future, it will definitely bring disaster to Sikong. We should get rid of him as soon as possible before he rises!"
Li Nong hesitated.
Apart from being Shi Hu's confidant, the biggest reason why he was able to stand firm in the court was because of the support of the begging army behind him.
In August of the fourth year of Jianwu's reign in Zhao Dynasty (338), it was Yu Liang's Battle of Zhucheng. Shi Hu fought with all his best troops, and all other armies were victorious. Only Li Nong was defeated by Li Yang, the prefect of Jingling. .
This defeat was criticized by many people in the Jie Zhao court, claiming that they had secretly communicated with the Jiangdong court and were unwilling to sacrifice their lives.
It caused quite a stir.
Shi Hu appointed him as envoy Chijie, supervising the military affairs in western Liaoning and Beiping, general in Zhengdong, pastor of Yingzhou, and guarding Lingzhi.
It means that if he doesn't want to fight the Jin people, he will go north to deal with Murong Xianbei.
In September of the same year, Li Nong and Zhang Ju, the general who conquered the north, led 30,000 troops to attack Fan City of Yan State. There were only 1,000 defenders in the city, which was a sure thing. However, Yue Wan, who was guarding Fan City, took the lead and defended the city.
Li Nong and Zhang Ju attacked with 30,000 men for more than ten days before retreating in defeat.
After two consecutive defeats, Li Nong himself felt that he would definitely die, but Shi Hu still did not punish him.
After so many years, Li Nong figured out the way.
The more mediocre one is, the less threatening one is.
Moreover, Jie Zhao needs an obedient but not ambitious person to lead the begging army.
"Get rid of it quickly? Who can be sent to get rid of it? Who can get rid of it?" Li Nong said quietly.
"You can give him an official position and go to Yecheng to serve him. As long as he leaves Heiyun Mountain, life and death will not be up to him."
"If this is true, I'm afraid that the morale of the army will be lost in the future."
"Since we can't get rid of him, we should win over him as soon as possible. Heiyunshan and Fangtou are too close, and we can only fear that they will be used by others."
However, Li Nong still had a hesitant look on his face, unable to make a decision. After pondering for a long time, he said: "We will discuss it later. There has been an undercurrent in Yecheng recently, so it is better not to cause any complications."
The fight between Prince Shi Xuan and Taiwei Shi Tao was no longer an undercurrent, but blatant, causing a stir in Yecheng.
The subordinate sighed secretly, "It is precisely because of the undercurrent that we made preparations that morning."
Li Nong waved his hand and was about to speak when suddenly there was a noise outside, "The prince has arrived!"
It is not a good thing for Shi Xuan to come at this time.
Li Nong has always avoided getting involved in the fight between the two.
"Sikong, where is Sikong?" someone yelled, approaching quickly and pushing the door open.
"See His Highness the Crown Prince." Li Nong quickly saluted.
Shi Xuan's eyes turned to his subordinates, and he said aggressively: "Forgive me, it turns out that Sikong and General Zhang have secret discussions."
"The prince is laughing. Why are you secretly discussing the recent affairs in Yuzhou?"
"That's such a coincidence. This is why I came here alone." Shi Xuan stepped into the house and frowned when he saw how simple the house was. "I heard that the thieves in Black Cloud Mountain come from begging for work." Under the military gate."
This posture is clearly for the purpose of raising an army to investigate the crime.
"Your Highness is unaware that the begging army does not belong to the same sect."
"This is natural, but Gu also heard that Guangzong also sent food to Heiyun Mountain, and after Heiyun Mountain captured Jijia Fort, he sent twenty-three carts of property to Sikong. I wonder if this is the case? "Shi Xuan had a mocking look on his face.
After the defeat of Ma Qiu, Shi Hu was bedridden, and the ministers began to choose sides.
But there are also people who stay out of it.
Shangshu Ling Wang Mo, Sikong Li Nong, Shizhong Wang Yan, Liu Qun and other Han officials remained indifferent.
The world belongs to the Jie people, but most Jie people only know how to fight and cannot govern, so they have to use scholars.
During the rise of Shi Le, a gentleman's camp was set up to accommodate northern scholars.
Without Zhang Bin's advice, Jie Zhao might not be where it is today.
"I didn't expect the prince to be so well-informed. Yes, I have indeed provided food and grass and accepted their property. If they are guilty, the prince can deal with me directly." Li Nong looked at Shi Xuan calmly.
Such a straightforward admission made Shi Xuan suspicious.
If the relationship is really stalemate, it will force Li Nong to Shi Tao's side.
In fact, he doesn't care about Heiyun Mountain or Zhang Yu, the governor of Yuzhou. All he cares about is the throne!
Li Nong was not an ordinary civil servant or general. Behind him was Guangzong. Just like Fu Hong and Yao Yizhong in Fangtou today, he had the support of an ethnic group.
The Jie people in Yecheng, the beggar army of Guangzong, the Di people in Fangtou, and the Qiang people in Jitou all together constitute the basic base of Jie Zhao.
In terms of strength, Guangzong's beggar army is the largest force in the North!
Shi Hu was so cruel that he didn't dare to touch Pu Hong, let alone him, the prince, to touch Li Nong.
This trivial matter is nothing to Jie Zhao.
"Sikong Yan is serious, Gu Jue has no such intention, absolutely no such intention." In the end, Shi Xuan still had to find a way to get off...
