Yuan Min's death once again brought a heavy blow to the Guanlong nobles, the Dugu family, the Dou family, the Yuan family, the Yu family, the Li family, the Changsun family, etc. The Guanlong family seemed to see Yang Guang raise a butcher's knife to the Guanlong nobles, in order to preserve their strength, the major families unanimously agreed to temporarily dissolve the Wuchuan Mansion, shrink their forces, and the Guanlong nobles entered a dormant period.

The contraction of the Guanlong aristocracy also affected the attitude of the Wagang army, and Zhai Rang no longer concealed it, but openly fell to the Bohai Society, and the Bohai Society sent Hu Sinian as a representative to enter the Wagang Army.

However, Zhai Rang's fall to the Bohai Society also caused dissatisfaction among some people in Wagang, including Xu Shiji, Wei Zheng, Wang Junke, Wang Bodang, Cheng Yanjin and other civil and military officials expressed strong opposition.

Li Mi is naturally Li Jiancheng, after serving in the Wagang Army for two years, Li Jiancheng gradually has his own power, the Wagang Army implements the tribal system, each general has his own army, Li Jiancheng and Wang Bodang have 5,000 troops, plus Xu Shiji, Wang Junke and other supporters' army, Li Jiancheng's power has reached more than 20,000 people, known as Xizhai, and Zhai Hong, Hao Xiaode's forces are called Dongzhai, the two forces are evenly matched, Zhai Rang is the balance of the two forces.

Early that morning, Li Jiancheng practiced swords in the courtyard, two years of training in the Wagang army made him more and more mature, his character gradually became deeper, not many words, but every sentence was well thought-out, his exterior has changed a lot, except for his parents, brothers and wife, no one else recognizes him.

Li Jiancheng not only has dark skin, but his face has become slender and long, his eyebrows are thicker, and he has a five-inch long black beard, and his body has changed from his previous thinness to become very strong. When he returned to the capital in the spring of this year, no one in the palace recognized him as the original eldest son.

At this time, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the courtyard, and then Wei Zheng's voice was heard, "I have something important to ask to see the eldest son!" ”

Li Jiancheng put away the long sword and returned the sword to its scabbard. Wei Zheng had already walked to the gate of the courtyard, and Li Jiancheng glanced back at him, "Why is Mr. so panicked?" ”

"Childe, the general has decided to go east."

Li Jiancheng smiled faintly, it was not surprising that Zhai Rang decided to go east, last year's Wagang Army failed in the eastward expedition, Zhai Rang would not be reconciled, and Bohai would be next to him, and it was reasonable for Zhai Rang to decide to go east again.

"Childe. If the general decides to go east, our plans for the northern crusade will be put on hold again. ”

"I've thought about it, and I don't think things are so pessimistic."

Wei Zheng wanted to say more, but Li Jiancheng turned around and walked towards the study, "Sir, please come into the room and talk!" ”

Wei Zheng followed Li Jiancheng into the room.

"Sir, please be seated!"

Li Jiancheng invited Wei Zheng to sit down, and let people serve tea, Wei Zheng didn't have the heart to drink tea, he said worriedly: "Since the beginning of this year, there has been no rain in the Central Plains. Dongping County, Dong County, Liang County and Xingyang County are suffering from severe drought, and it happens to be green and yellow at this time. The fear of famine has displaced hundreds of thousands of peasants, and the Wagang army has little food in stock, and if we rush to the east, we will have to face a large number of hungry people, and we will not be able to make ends meet, and then we will fall into a situation of running out of food. If the army had to be withdrawn in the end, the two failed crusades would have lost the reputation of the Wagang army. ”

"Did the gentleman say these things to the general?"

"Of course I did, but the general only said that he would think about it, but he would not answer me directly. I think he's going to come to Childe. ”

Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "I don't think there is a contradiction between the Wagang Army's Eastern Expedition and the Northern Expedition, why can't it be carried out simultaneously?" ”

"I'm afraid the general won't agree."

At this moment, someone outside the courtyard reported: "Childe, the general is here." ”

Wei Zheng didn't expect Zhai Rang to come, he quickly stood up, "Childe, I'll leave first!" ”

Li Jiancheng grabbed him, "Sir, don't avoid it, let's talk to the general together." ”

Zhai Rang walked quickly into Li Jiancheng's courtyard, and before anyone came in, a hearty laugh came, "What a beautiful scenery!" The virtuous brother is really leisurely and elegant. ”

Li Jiancheng walked to the yard with a smile, "It's just boring to plant some flowers and plants, I haven't seen my brother for a long time." ”

"There's been a lot of mess lately."

Zhai Rang saw Wei Zheng behind Li Jiancheng at a glance, and couldn't help but be stunned, and immediately smiled, "It turns out that Wei Senjun is also here, and I just want to send someone to find Wei Senjun, so it's the best." ”

The two talked and laughed and walked into the guest hall and sat down, Wei Zheng also sat aside, Zhai Rang was an anxious man, he didn't have time to greet him, so he said directly: "Since Wei joined the army here, the virtuous brother should know the news that the Wagang army is preparing for the eastward expedition!" ”

"I just heard about it, but the details are not very clear."

The so-called details are how many troops are out? Where is the direction? What is the end goal?

Zhai Rang didn't want to say too much, but said vaguely: "This Eastern Expedition will not fight Jiyin County again, and will mainly attack Dongping County, Jiyin County and Liang County, these three counties do not have many troops, and we should be able to capture them in one fell swoop." ”

Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment and asked, "Does my brother think the time is ripe for the Eastern Crusade?" ”

"It should be said that now is an opportunity, the Great Sui Emperor has just gone to Jiangdu, and the 100,000 Xiaoguo army has also followed south, Luoyang's troops can only protect themselves and cannot rush to support, in addition, the Flying Eagle Army is also preparing to attack Langya County again, and our troops will be unimpeded!"

"It is indeed an opportunity, and if my brother has already decided to send troops, I will not object."

"But there's a problem!"

Zhai Rang glanced at Wei Zheng, and said: "As Wei Senjun said, this year's drought in the Central Plains, we must have enough food to relieve the victims, so I think, whether the virtuous brother can lead the army to attack Liyangcang, this is also the intention of the virtuous brother's northern expedition, with enough food, our Wagang army will sweep the Central Plains, what do the virtuous brothers think?" ”

Li Jiancheng is no longer Wuxia Ameng, he immediately understood Zhai Rang's deeper meaning, since the main force is going to the east, then he must also leave Wagang, lest he take advantage of the emptiness of Wagang to launch a mutiny, what attack on Liyangcang is just an excuse.

But despite this, Zhai Rang's suggestion was still in line with Li Jiancheng's wishes, and his father proposed to him more than once to let him establish a foundation in Hanoi County as soon as possible, but he had been delaying it for more than a year and could not delay it any longer.

Thinking of this, Li Jiancheng said happily: "Since my brother has an order, I can't obey, and my younger brother is willing to share his worries and solve problems for his brother." ”

"Good! That's a good brother! ”

Zhai Rang didn't expect Li Jiancheng to agree so happily, he patted Li Jiancheng on the shoulder with relief, and immediately said: "I give Brother Xian five days to prepare, and after five days, Brother Xian can lead the army north, I wish Brother Xian success!" ”

Zhai Rang said goodbye and left, and Wei Zheng, who had been silent, said to Li Jiancheng: "This must be Zhai Hong's instigation!" ”

"Why do you say that?"

"Zhai Hong wants to borrow a knife to kill people, and use the Sui army guarding Liyangcang to cause us to suffer heavy losses and weaken our strength, Gongzi, Liyangcang has 10,000 garrisons, it's not easy to fight!"

Li Jiancheng was silent for a moment and said: "Whether Zhai Hong wants to borrow a knife to kill people, or Zhai Rang is not worried that we will stay in Wagang, all in all, I have to face it, if we can capture Liyangcang, of course, it is the best, if we can't capture it, we are ready to turn to Hanoi County to avoid the Sui army's suppression of Wagang." ”

Wei Zheng was puzzled and asked, "Why did Gongzi say that the imperial court had purged us?" ”

Li Jiancheng sneered and said: "The eastward expansion of Wagang has directly cut off the back road for the Son of Heaven to return to Beijing, will the Son of Heaven let go of the Wagang Army?" I have always suggested that the Wagang army should keep its head and develop in a low-key manner, but Zhai Rang finally couldn't withstand the repeated agitation of the Bohai Society and began to expand its territory. ”

Wei Zheng heard that Li Jiancheng was reasonable, and he couldn't help but be a little worried

Zhai Rang returned to the Zhongyi Mansion where he lived, and as soon as he walked into the courtyard, Zhai Hong greeted him and asked impatiently: "How is it, did he agree?" ”

"He readily agreed, and he will send troops in five days!"

Zhai Hong didn't expect that General Li Er would agree so happily, and he had some doubts in his heart.

"Second brother, could it be that he doesn't want to fight Liyangcang at all and directly pull the Wagang Army away?"

"No!"

Zhai Rang shook his head, "Li Gongzi is not such a person, since he said that he wants to fight Liyangcang, he will definitely keep his word, and even if he is selfish, Xu Shiji and they may not agree, so I am not worried." ”

"But what if he really takes down Liyang Cang?"

Zhai Rang glared at him fiercely, and said very unhappily: "It is a great thing for Li Gongzi to take Liyang Cang, we will not worry about food, and the army will increase rapidly, you are still afraid that he will take Liyang Cang?" What the hell do you think? ”

"I'm just afraid that he will be arrogant, and I don't mean anything else!" Zhai Hong hurriedly explained.

"I don't know what you're thinking?"

Zhai Rang snorted heavily, turned around and walked away quickly.

Zhai Hong secretly cursed twice, and hurried to his Dongzhai, he was also about to prepare for sending troops. (To be continued......)