Wei Tianqing frowned and said: "The imperial court already has a suspicion of you, if I really leave, your situation will definitely be even more dangerous." ”

"You don't have to worry about me." Qiao Mingtang sneered: "I have been saddled for him for so many years, if he is really so ruthless, I have nothing to say." Looking at Wei Tianqing, Wen Yan said, "But I still have one more thing to entrust to you." ”

"What do you command?"

"Madame has followed me for so many years, if there is a real accident, Madame is afraid that she will also be implicated." Qiao Mingtang sighed: "After you leave tonight, don't go far, I have found a place outside the city, you go there and wait first, and tomorrow I will let Mrs. go to meet you, only say that Mrs. is going home to visit relatives, after you meet Mrs., you will protect Mrs. to leave, never come back." ”

"Your Excellency!"

Qiao Mingtang waved his hand and said, "You don't have to say more, I have already arranged it." As long as you leave, I don't have to worry about the future, and there is nothing to worry about. Tianqing, the safety of Madame will be entrusted to you in the future. ”

Wei Tianqing smiled and said, "My lord, do you think I will leave?" Escort lady, you can arrange for someone else to do it, I will never leave. My lord is already in danger, if I leave at this time, what face will stand between heaven and earth? Adults don't need to persuade me, I will never leave adults alone. ”

"Tianqing, why are you so stubborn." Qiao Mingtang sighed.

Wei Tianqing said: "Since I have entered the prison, I am already waiting for death, and this life is no longer important, unless I am an adult!" He hesitated, but he didn't say anything.

"Unless what?"

Wei Tianqing sighed, "Unless the adults want to leave here, I will naturally follow the adults and protect the adults to leave safely." ”

"Leaving Cloud Mountain?"

Wei Tianqing said: "My lord, the imperial court is suspicious of you, why do you want to stay here?" With all due respect, Feng Poyu dares to show off his might in front of adults, he must already know the attitude of the imperial court towards adults, if the emperor still trusts adults, with the friendship between adults and the emperor for so many years, no matter how bold Feng Poyu is, he will not dare to be so presumptuous in front of adults. Since he doesn't even pay attention to adults, it can be seen that the court really doesn't trust adults anymore! ”

Qiao Mingtang picked up the wine glass and drank it all, his expression looking very gloomy.

"In that case, why should you stay?" Wei Tianqing smiled bitterly: "My lord, the troubled times are in charge, why don't you just retire, leave Yunshan with your wife, and never ask about the world again!" ”

"Tianqing, I know what you want." Qiao Mingtang sighed, "Why don't I want to be like this?" But do you think at this time, I can leave Xishan alone? Feng Polu's arrogant soldiers are undisciplined, and now that I am still in Yunshan, they are already very arrogant, if I really abandon it, this Yunshan will be turned upside down by them, and it will be the common people who will suffer at that time. As an official, although I did not benefit the people, Coco could not come to an end, abandon them, and put them in dire straits. ”

"My lord, do they dare to kill the people?" Wei Tianqing's expression was cold.

Qiao Mingtang sneered: "People in troubled times are not as good as dogs, in order to achieve victory, they naturally do everything. Feng Poyu was short of food in the army, and he had already made a statement, if I couldn't raise enough food and grass, he would take matters into his own hands. The barbarians are already fierce and brutal, and this Feng Poyu is also a murderous character, what do you think will happen once they do it? ”

Wei Tianqing was shocked and said, "My lord is saying that they will set up for plunder?" ”

"It's a habit in their bones." Qiao Mingtang smiled bitterly: "So even if I want to leave, I can't leave at this time." As long as I stay here, they still have some scruples, otherwise! Shaking his head, he picked up the jar and poured another bowl for himself.

Wei Tianqing groaned slightly, and then said softly: "My lord, there is a sentence, I don't know whether to say it or not." ”

"There's nothing to worry about." Qiao Mingtang said: "Between you and me, there is nothing to say." ”

"My lord, with all due respect, although Chu Huan's Northwest Army rebelled, after they attacked the city, instead of plundering it, Qiu did not commit any crimes." Wei Tianqing said: "No matter what Chu Huan's intentions are, but it has played a role in winning the hearts of the people, if we are not popular with the people at this time, we will let Feng Poyu's troops plunder, even if they really pile up money and food in the barracks, but without the support of the people, they can only be defeated by the Northwest Army in the end." The adults have been in Yunshan for many years, and their reputation has spread far and wide, but once a looting incident occurs, even if it is not the intention of the adults, the people will connect the adults with the barbarians, and the names of the people who have been cleared for many years will also be ruined. ”

Qiao Mingtang smiled bitterly: "It doesn't matter if you don't know your name, the important thing is to be able to let the people of Yunshan escape this catastrophe." ”

"My lord, could it be that we can't supply money and food anymore?" Wei Tianqing asked in a low voice, "If you give them some food, will they still make trouble?" ”

Qiao Mingtang said: "Tianqing, I won't hide it from you, in the warehouse, there is indeed food and money, these tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, supporting them for three or five months, that's not a problem." ”

"Oh?" Wei Tianqing hurriedly said, "In that case, why is your lord?" ”

"That's the crux of the matter." Qiao Mingtang said solemnly: "After they arrived in Yunshan, I have allocated a batch of grain, which can support at least half a month, but it has only been ten days now, Feng Poyu has been out of grain in Xuancheng, and since three days ago, he has come to urge grain, that is to say, to support half a month's grain, on the seventh day, Feng Poyu said that the grain and grass are insufficient. ”

Wei Tianqing frowned, and Qiao Mingtang continued: "Even if the barbarians have a big appetite, they can't consume grain and grass so quickly. Because of this, I thought of a strict question. ”

"What do you mean?"

"Chu Huan's Northwest Army is extremely strong in combat, and you and I have already learned it." Qiao Mingtang said softly: "Although the barbarians are fierce, if they really want to fight with the Northwest Army, they may not be opponents. I have already learned that the Liaodong side has begun to assemble towards Yanshan, and look at this situation, the red refining power has also reversed, and is ready to attack Hexi from east to west! ”

Wei Tianqing had been in prison for a long time, and he didn't know anything about the situation outside, and he was taken aback when he heard that Liaodong actually sent troops.

"If nothing else, Hexi is almost unable to continue to increase troops to Yunshan, and with the current soldiers and horses in Yunshan, even if they are not defeated by the Northwest Army, they can only reach a stalemate." Qiao Mingtang's eyes flickered, "In this way, no one can say when this battle will end, if we continue to supply them with grain and grass, at their consumption rate, at most three months, the grain and grass in our inventory will be completely consumed by them!" ”

Wei Tianqing bowed slightly: "If there is really a stalemate, the war may not be able to end in three or two months." ”

"If the grain and grass are exhausted, once it is beaten by the Northwest Army, and even there is a siege, then what?" Qiao Mingtang sighed: "I have to plan for the long term. ”

"I see." Wei Tianqing suddenly realized, "Adults have a long-term vision and take precautions!" ”

"Therefore, in this situation, the supply of soldiers, horses, grain and grass cannot be solved by us alone, and Hexi must also find a way." Qiao Mingtang said: "Last time I was defeated, there are still not many remnants of the defeated soldiers who returned to Yunshan, and the total number of soldiers and horses under my hands is only two thousand now, if there is no food and grass, we will have nothing on hand." ”

Wei Tianqing frowned and said, "But if you don't supply grain and grass, Feng Poyu will never give up." ”

"That's nature." Qiao Mingtang smiled bitterly: "That's why I can't sleep day and night these days, and Feng Poyu may be in trouble at any time, so that's why I want you to leave with your wife." ”

Wei Tianqing didn't speak, and after a slight groan, he lowered his voice and said, "Isn't there a better way for adults?" ”

"A better way?" Qiao Mingtang sighed: "What good way can it be now?" Unless! Then he smiled and waved his hand, "That's just a whim." ”

Wei Tianqing leaned forward and said, "If your Excellency has any good ideas, just say it, let's see if I can help." ”

"There's nothing you and I can do." Qiao Mingtang smiled bitterly and said: "Unless Feng Poyu dies of a sudden illness now, and the barbarian soldiers have no leader, the imperial court will not be able to dispatch generals for a while, and we will take over the military power and strictly restrain the barbarian soldiers and horses, so there may be a turnaround." Now the imperial court is counting on Feng Poyu to quell the rebellion in Xishan, whatever Feng Poyu says to the imperial court, the imperial court will answer, no matter what we say, the imperial court will not take it to heart, unless the situation in Xishan is again in our hands, the imperial court may be able to listen to me! Shaking his head, he said: "But this is just wishful thinking, Feng Poyu is strong and strong, how can he die of illness!" ”

Wei Tianqing frowned slightly, was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Qiao Du, Wei has followed you for many years, and he has long entrusted this life to you. ”

Wei Tianqing is not a stupid person after all, at first he thought that Qiao Mingtang was really upset, but as soon as Qiao Mingtang said this, Wei Tianqing already knew it and knew Qiao Mingtang's thoughts.

Qiao Mingtang glanced at Wei Tianqing, slightly embarrassed, got up, walked to the prison door, looked out, and made sure that there was no one around, then came back, sat down again, approached Wei Tianqing, and said in a low voice: "Tianqing, since this is the case, I won't hide it from you." You're the only person I can trust right now, and the only person I can help me through this right now. ”

"Is Qiao Du going to kill Feng Poyu?" Wei Tianqing's expression was cold, and he lowered his voice and said: "Feng Poyu is a counterinsurgency general sent by Hexi, if he kills him lightly, but he dies in Yunshan, I am afraid that it will be difficult for my lord to escape his crime." ”