In the side hall, Xu Ping played with the official seal and quietly waited for the arrival of visitors.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, Xu Ping looked up, and saw a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy following closely behind Tan Hu and walking into the door together.

The boy was dressed in a coarse cloth short, with his trouser legs pulled up high, and his bare feet. The head was hastily knotted in a bun and inserted with a thorn branch, although it was a young man, his rough and dark face was full of vicissitudes.

After entering the room, Tan Hu said to the young man: "Come here and see the lifting officer." ”

The young man stepped forward, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Xu Ping, and said: "Zhou Deming, the third son of the former Qiyuan Prefecture Governor, meet the promotion official!" ”

The Song people kneel down and kowtow from time to time, and make this big salute, then there is really something to ask for someone.

Xu Ping said to the young man: "Don't be polite, get up and speak." ”

The boy thanked him and stood up.

Xu Ping said to Tan Hu: "Pour a cup of tea and give it to Xiao Yanei to drink." ”

Tan Hu left, and Xu Pingcai said to Zhou Deming: "If there is anything, just say it." ”

"The little ancestor was named the governor of Qiyuan Prefecture when Emperor Taizong was ......"

Xu listened quietly.

It turned out that when Tiansheng attacked Qiyuan Prefecture in the fifth year, this little Yanai was young because of his young age, and the old Zhizhou brought the official seal to him, hid it, and escaped that catastrophe. The Jiaozhi people retreated, and Xiao Yanai brought the official seal to contact the old department, and he wanted to think about Dongshan again, but he didn't want the Nong family, which was in full swing, attacked again, and Xiao Yanei's hope was dashed, so he had to flee with the official seal.

Xu Ping summoned local officials from all over the country in Qianlongtong this time, and the momentum was huge, and Zhou Deming quietly rushed over when he got the news, but he wanted Xu Ping to help him go back to Qiyuan Prefecture and regain the position of Zhizhou.

After hearing this, Xu Ping said to Zhou Deming: "Qiyuan Prefecture is located in a remote area, the road is impassable, and if you want to fight there, I am afraid that this little force under my command will not be enough-"

Hearing this, Zhou Deming's tears flowed out: "Shangguan, the whole family of the little one died tragically in the hands of the Jiaozhi people and the Nong family, this revenge is not shared, how can I behave if I don't take revenge——"

As he spoke, he knelt down again.

Xu Ping hurriedly stopped him and said to him: "This kind of major matter should be considered in the long run, and it can't be rushed. In this way, you don't have much place to go, first go back to Taiping County with me, and then make a reason. ”

Xiao Yanei wanted to say something, just as Tan Hu came over with tea, he had to stop, standing aside with a teacup and drinking tea, looking at Xu Ping with his eyes.

The topography of Qiyuan Prefecture is complex, the surrounding mountains are continuous, although there are rivers flowing into the Zuojiang River, but the water potential is turbulent, there are many dangerous shoals, and there are no boats. It is difficult to get there from the Great Song Dynasty, only Menzhou has a road to pass, and then you can reach Guangyuan Prefecture by borrowing Qiyuan Prefecture.

Question: Now that Menzhou is not under the control of the Great Song Dynasty, how can Xu Ping promise this little Yanei? It's easy to say big words, but it's hard to deliver on them. The person has already come again, and Xu Ping has no reason to push him out, after all, when there is really a conflict with Guangyuan Prefecture, this person can still use it.

Wei, Huang, Zhou, and Nong are the four major surnames in Guangyuan Prefecture and Qiyuan Prefecture, and now it is true that the Nong family has the upper hand, but there are also many clansmen with the other three surnames, and it is a big help to use it properly.

With good words to comfort Zhou Deming, Xu Ping finally sent him away, and promised to take him back to Taiping County in a few days, and slowly find a way to restore Qiyuan Prefecture.

Sending Zhou Deming away, Xu Ping sat there in a daze, thinking about his thoughts. He never thought that things would develop to this point, Menzhou actually sent someone to come, and Xiao Yanei of Qiyuan Prefecture suddenly appeared, and the door that expanded south out of Yongzhou opened in front of him.

Menzhou, Menzhou, there is really a door, occupying there, to the west it controls Guangyuan Prefecture, and Tianzhou is sandwiched on both sides, and I am not afraid that I can't tie Guangyuanzhou's hands and feet. To the south, it is directly close to Langzhou, and there are only thirty or forty miles between the two places, which can be reached in one day, and there are no mountains and rivers to hinder it.

Even if Xu Ping didn't understand it anymore, he could guess that the current Langzhou was the Langshan Mountain of later generations, the northern gate of the Red River Delta, the most elite of Jiaozhi, and the place where the legendary Central Plains Dynasty army surrendered as soon as the Jiaozhi King arrived there. However, that was a matter of later generations, and now the road from Yongzhou to there is not passable, and the army of the Central Plains Dynasty that occupies Langzhou has also become the end of the crossbow, unable to face the soldiers of the whole country in Jiaozhi.

But what if you build your way there? Xu Ping only felt his heart pounding, this was choking Jiaozhi's neck, and a punch could hit its heart at any time.

Thinking of such a prospect, Xu Ping became a little excited, inadvertently, could he change history?

Even if he didn't know that Guo Kui marched into Jiaozhi during the time of Shenzong, he was greatly injured by this road, and most of the corporal soldiers in Shenglongfu City were lost due to epidemic and hunger, and they had no choice but to negotiate peace. Just through the terrain, Xu Ping also knew what it meant to have this road for the Central Plains Dynasty. Yongzhou to Shenglong Mansion is only a thousand miles away, you can reach it in a month, the cost of transporting grain can be borne by Guangnan West Road, and there is no need to launch a war against such a small country to shake half of the country, and the loss of military expenses and soldiers makes the Central Plains Dynasty feel unbearable.

With a sigh of relief, Xu Ping picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea to calm his mood.

The road has been repaired to Siming Prefecture, so simply build more than a hundred miles forward and lead to Pingxiangtong.

As for the future, who can predict the future?

It's the end of the month, and the moon doesn't come out for a long time, only the stars dot the night sky, and the silver glow sprinkles on the earth, shrouding the flowers and trees like a dream.

Xu Ping paced lightly in the garden, thinking about the situation he was facing now. The Yongzhou garrison has been much stronger than when he came, and now there are nearly 4,000 people in the Zuojiang Province area. More than 1,000 people are distributed in Guwanzhai and Yongping Zhai and the attached inspection village, Taiping County plus the 1,000 people brought out by themselves, a total of more than 2,000 people, these troops plus the newly built township soldiers, to deal with the subordinate barbarians is enough.

But use this little force to provoke Jiaozhi and Guangyuan Prefecture? Xu Ping shook his head.

Four or five thousand troops were dispatched in the whole army, without considering logistics and cover, and it was probably enough to deal with Guangyuan Prefecture, but it was far from enough for Shangjiaozhi, no matter how it was calculated. Even if the road to Menzhou is built, it will take 20,000 or 30,000 soldiers to reach the city of Jiaozhi. Coupled with logistics and transportation, plus defensive retreats, it is estimated that more than 30,000 troops and 10,000 or 20,000 people can have the confidence to take a risk.

Xu Ping didn't have so many troops in his hands, although he was excited just now, he finally calmed down after being blown by the cold wind in the backyard. No matter how big the belly is, how much to eat, and if you have too much appetite, you will be killed.

Let's honestly build the road to Pingxiang Pass first.

There was a light breeze in the night, bringing a chill of coolness. The kerosene lamp hanging from the nearby tree glowed yellow-white, attracting some unknown flying insects to spin around constantly.

The night was quiet and peaceful.

At this moment, Tan Hu ran in "oh, oh, oh".

"What's so alarming?"

Xu Ping was awakened from his contemplation and asked in a deep voice.

Tan Hu crossed his hands and saluted: "Official, Luo Baihuang Zhixian outside asks to see, saying that he has something important to report!" ”

Xu Ping frowned: "What's the matter?" When did you choose to come here on these two nights? Did you ask him what it was? If it doesn't matter, let's wait until tomorrow! ”

"I have asked about it, and Huang Zhixian said that it is a major matter, and 100,000 is urgent!"

"Okay, let him wait for me in the side hall, I'll be right there."

Tan Hu took the order and left, Xu Ping stood in place and thought for a while, but couldn't think of anything. Luo Bai is on the edge of Taiping County, and now that the road is open again, Huang Zhixian should swallow it back into his stomach if he has any careful thoughts. Now it's too late, Xu Ping's knife has already seen blood, and he doesn't care about one more of him.

Thinking about it, Xu Ping shook his head and walked to the side hall.

Huang Zhixian stood there tremblingly, heard footsteps, looked up and saw that it was Xu Ping coming in, his legs trembled, and before he could speak, he knelt on the ground.

Xu Ping frowned and shouted, "If you have something to say, stand up and say!" What's going on tonight, it's like someone broke your knees, and you're also a registered official, what kind of system have you become! ”

"The lower officials don't dare! This time the sin is too great, I just beg Shangguan to spare my dog's life! ”

Xu Ping had already heard that something was wrong, and said in a deep voice: "Don't beg for mercy first, let's talk about what's going on." As soon as you come in, you have to die or live, is it possible that you are old and confused and want to rebel? ”

Huang Zhixian peeked at Xu Ping and said cautiously: "Although the little one doesn't have that mind, he is bewitched by others, and he is afraid that he will really get on the edge." ”

Hearing this, Xu Ping's face turned cold, he sat down on the chair, looked at Huang Zhixian who was kneeling in front of him, and slowly spoke: "Say, what's going on?" The clearer it is, the better it will be for you! ”

"I don't know where to start—"

Xu Ping changed color suddenly: "If you don't know, go back and figure it out!" Come here in the middle of the night, spitting and spitting, are you here to entertain me?! Don't think that you can hide it if you don't say anything, don't say it tonight, and when the matter is revealed in the future, you don't need to say it! ”

At this time, the cool breeze came up, and there was already the coolness of autumn, but beads of sweat appeared on Huang Zhixian's forehead, and they dripped onto the green bricks under his knees.

Gritting his teeth, Huang Zhixian said: "The matter has to start from a few months ago when Shangguan wanted to implement the Kuoding Law in Zuojiang Road. In those days, several of us close local officials often discussed together, and we all felt that if we wanted to protect our wealth, we had to make Shangguan's law unenforceable......

Next, Huang Zhixian told the story of how several local officials discussed, how to contact, and finally planned to attack Luo Bai's military camp to cause a riot, and how to cooperate with Jiaozhi.

In the end, Huang Zhixian sighed: "Since the matter was decided, I can't sleep every night, I only feel that this time I have caused a big disaster, but I can't make up my mind to get out." After thinking about it, today I made up my mind to report to the official. I am old, and I also know that this disaster is not small, and I dare not ask the official to let me live, I only hope that it will not affect my family. These days, I have sent my son to his father-in-law, he doesn't know at all, and I hope that Shangguan will be merciful! ”

Hearing this, Xu Ping's face was already iron-blue.