Looking at the mountains and rivers

Jian'an City.

In the water pavilion facing the lake in Moxue Pavilion, Yang Yan and Wen Zhi sat facing each other on both sides of the chessboard. The chess pieces on the board were black and white, black pieces occupied most of the corner, and white pieces were in the middle of the board, which seemed to be under siege.

Wen Zhi picked up the chess pieces and put them on the board: "East Nine South Fourteen."

Yang Yan held down the chess stick in front of him, looked at Wen Zhi and smiled slightly: "Lan Yu used to think that I couldn't see, and let me play a few moves, but now not only refuses to give up, but presses her every step of the way, it's almost cornered me. "

Wen Zhi only looked at the chessboard: "I used to be blind, I didn't know that the young master is good at the game, if I give up again, I will be rude to the young master."

Yang Yan chuckled, picked up the white piece and squeezed it in his hand, but didn't put it on the chessboard for a long time.

Wen Zhiwei was a little surprised. Yang Yan seldom took long exams when playing chess, and he never wavered like today. He suspected that Yang Yan's mind was not on the chessboard, so he tentatively asked: "Liangzhou, it doesn't seem to be very big recently. Taiping?"

Yang Yan squeezed the chess piece and smiled: "It wasn't too bad at first, until the news that I was named the Northwest Governor reached there a few days ago, the nobles of Donghu began to be unable to sit still." The thin roll of bamboo paper was pushed in front of Wen Zhi.

Wen Zhi looked down, and frowned slightly: "At present, the Northwest Governor is only an empty title and has no military power. They are so flustered, and they must be afraid that Duke Tuoba will pass on the position of Patriarch to the young master." He sighed vaguely It means, "Speaking of which, I don't know how long Duke Tuoba's body can last."

"The two imperial doctors sent earlier have arrived at the grandfather's mansion, but the grandfather is old, and Tuoba's poison is dangerous. I am afraid that the imperial doctor will not be able to recover." Yang Yan said calmly, " The soldiers and horses of Donghu and Bagui are all gathered in Liangzhou now, and they will probably rise up when grandpa dies."

"As expected, they have mobilized their troops." Wen Zhi nodded and pondered.

It was dusk now, and a pigeon whistle sounded in the distance, and the flock of free-range pigeons outside the water pavilion flapped their wings and flew towards the direction of the whistle.When the pigeons slanted across the sunset, they cast a moving shadow. Wen Zhi raised her head to look at the group of pigeons, and said with a low smile, "The Tai'an Palace still doesn't know anything about these news, and it's thanks to these things that you have seized the opportunity. Little things that carry messages."

Yang Yan also raised her head and looked in the direction where the pigeons flew by: "These pigeons were brought by Mr. Han. There were not so many pigeons at first, but there were only a few of them."

"Actually, I have always wanted to ask you, young master. When you were not in power, you lived in the deep courtyard. Even if Mr. Han had the insight to help you, but this is so vast, how did you find people from those remote places to pass on the news?" Woolen cloth?"

"In the early years, in order to curb the invasion of foreign enemies, Prime Minister Wu Ya made a decision to set up feudal towns for defense, but he could not let these feudal towns have military power to do whatever they wanted, so they set up eyeliners in each feudal town. Most of these eyeliners held inconspicuous positions in the army, but All of them have keen intuition and extraordinary knowledge, and they are all students of Prime Minister Wuya." Yang Yan said, and finally made a move, and said with a smile, "Does Lan Yu feel at this moment that I am not good at games, but that I am well-informed by someone who is good at it?" Chess game, and then let me hold the piece, it really took a huge advantage."

Wen Zhi shook her head: "With the talent and learning of Prime Minister Wu Ya, he spent half his life working hard to set up a game, and he would never hand it over to ignorant people. I think that he chose the young master after thinking for a long time."

Yang Yan tapped the chessboard lightly, and said in a low voice: "Then Lan Yu thinks, how did I play this game, whether I will lose to Prime Minister Wu Ya, and your expectations?"

Wen Zhi was startled slightly, he sat up straight, lowered his head and said, "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, young master's game of chess is not good."

"Why?"

"I hold the black, and the young master holds the white. I was originally behind, but I missed a good opportunity in the middle game and failed to cut off my back in time. Even if I regained the situation a little bit later, but now I am trapped in a corner, and it is difficult to turn around. .”

What he said was blunt, which was quite different from the past. Yang Yan raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Is Lan Yu blaming me for something?"

Wen Zhi took two steps back and bowed her head to him: "I don't dare, I'm just scared." He said in a low voice, "A while ago, the right servant shot Li Zhui who was demoted for treason and died in prison. The family was greatly shaken, and they naturally refused to sit still, so they plotted the case of Taichang Temple, saying that the sacrifices were negligent and violated the etiquette system. They arrested a large number of officials under the son, even brother Shitong..."

Yang Yan nodded and said: "I guessed that you were going to bring this up. This time in the case of Taichang Temple, Liu Shitong was convicted and imprisoned. He was punished with a stick and almost died. You have been friends with him for many years, so naturally you feel sorry for him."

"I'm not just for the sake of arguing with my brother, but I'm worried that the Taichang Temple case is just the beginning. After that, they will definitely try their best to cut off the young master's wings until they get rid of the young master."

Yang Yan pondered for a moment: "To this day, did I go wrong?"

"Young Master was wrong from the very beginning!" Wen Zhi shook her head, "If we had followed our original plan and revealed Yang Jue's crimes of deceiving the king and killing his father after he was promoted to the Zongzheng position, the families who supported him would naturally do so. Humiliated, but not as domineering as today. The young master took a wrong step, and he was naturally restrained every step of the way, unable to easily compete with the family."

Yang Yan was noncommittal, just nodded: "Then, which step did I take wrong?"

"The young master chose the wrong ally!" Wen Zhi said coldly, "Master Xie has a deep thought, and his ambition is very different from the young master's. He is not willing to submit to the family, but he will not be willing to be with the poor. What he wants is monstrous Power, what you need is to cover the sky with one hand in the court. When the weather in the White Deer Pavilion is complete, he will have many disciples, and he will never be attached to the young master. Now that the young master wants to deal with the family, joining hands with him is actually tantamount to seeking skin with a tiger."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Yan laughed suddenly: "You say I'm seeking skin from a tiger, how do you know it's not him seeking skin from a tiger?"

Wen Zhi's expression changed slightly, she held onto the chessboard and was about to speak when she saw Yang Yan still smiling, pointing to the chessboard with her finger: "Lan Yu, it's your turn."

He looked down at the chessboard, and couldn't help but tremble in his heart: "This..."

Judging from the situation in the chessboard, Yang Yan's chess strategy is not erratic, but the layout is too deep, and the clues did not appear until now.Wen Zhi stared at the chessboard in a daze for a long time, his expression gradually became serious, and he said in a low voice, "My lord, I lost."

Yang Yan raised his eyebrows: "Now that the victory is not decided, you will admit defeat?"

Wen Zhi smiled wryly: "Although the outcome is not yet decided, but within ten steps I will be trapped to death by the young master, it is better to admit defeat earlier."

Yang Yan shook his head and smiled, and pushed the chessboard away, his pupils were like water, shining brightly: "Lan Yu, now you should understand that it doesn't matter whether I am caught late or miss a good opportunity, as long as I win the game in the end It's me, that's enough."

Yongan seven years, June 24.late at night.

The tall city wall of Panmenguan stands quietly, and the dancing torches cast shadows on the top of the city, like a giant beast crawling in the dark night.It was already past the third watch, and the soldiers on duty gradually became tired, their eyelids were heavy, and they unconsciously lowered their heads and fell asleep.There was a person sitting silently on the highest part of the city wall. The night in the northwest border was still surprisingly cold in midsummer. There was no bonfire on the side of the person, and a thin layer of frost had formed on the leather armor on his body.He exhaled lightly in this cold night, and slowly moved his finger joints.

"I remember it's not your turn to be on duty tonight, why are you coming to the city again, can't you let go?" The voice came from behind him, with a slight smile.

Wei Changxuan didn't look back, just looked ahead and said, "I'm very tired, but I can't fall asleep anyway."

"Of course I can't sleep. You made a ten-day agreement with General Balie, and today is the seventh day." Yu Chifeng sat beside him, with his feet hanging on the city wall, swaying leisurely , "If you want me to say, Ashina Nur might be tired too. He had captured Ganzhou and plundered a lot before, and now it's nothing to lose an empty city. Maybe he really brought his troops back to Yazhang went."

"No." Wei Changxuan shook his head, "There has been movement in the past two days. There are traces of cavalry on the Cang Yuyuan. There are about a thousand people, like Yan Yu's vanguard Qingqi."

"Well," Yu Chifeng nodded, "What are you going to do if Ashina Nur really comes? That Prince His Royal Highness hasn't sent a message that you should fight Ashina Nur face to face like this. Do you dare to say that you will win a battle?"

Wei Changxuan laughed helplessly, his eyes were a little blank: "Actually, I have no idea. I always feel that this battle is like a big gamble."

Yu Chifeng looked at him in surprise: "Big bet?"

Wei Changxuan sighed and said, "You know that the few battles I have experienced before have made some achievements, but they were not a direct confrontation between the two armies. This time I have led so many soldiers and horses alone, and my heart is really sinking. I can't breathe."

Yu Chifeng smiled, and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't worry, although you didn't lead many soldiers, I can see that you are expected to lead troops to fight. If it wasn't for this, General Balie wouldn't be at ease. Leave the whole army dispatch to you. Besides, whether you win or lose this time, we will be with you, and you are definitely not alone.”

Wei Changxuan withdrew his gaze from the front, turned around to look at Yu Chifeng, and said in a low voice, "Thank you very much."

"Thank you." Yu Chifeng shook his head, looked down, saw the saber on Wei Changxuan's waist, and couldn't help but let out a "huh". Familiar eyes: "This knife is the one Chen Shao used to have, right?"

Wei Changxuan stretched out his hand to touch the handle of the knife, and nodded slightly: "Yes."

Yu Chifeng also stretched out his hand, and held Wei Liang's handle together with Wei Changxuan: "He...is still with us."

"Report—" Suddenly a torch shone behind them, and the soldiers ran to the top of the city wall in stride, "You two generals, there is an urgent report!"

"What's the matter?"

"Yan Yu's army did not cross the Kulun River north, but returned from the west by detour, and now they have arrived at Cangyuyuan."

Wei Changxuan and Yu Chifeng looked at each other at the same time, "Here we come" in their eyes.

"Also," the soldiers frowned slightly, "the scouts just returned and brought an old herdsman with them."

"Herder?" Yu Chifeng was a little surprised.Although the two countries are at war now, the area around Cangyuyuan is rich in water and grass, and it is a good time to herd sheep. It is inevitable that some bold herdsmen will drive their flocks to graze near Panmen Pass, and the garrison inside the pass will rarely drive them away.

"This old herdsman seems to be a meticulous worker. I still don't know how to deal with it. Please show me the two generals."

Wei Changxuan had already stood up, he shook his head to Yu Chifeng: "Go, go and have a look."

"Didn't the general say that these herdsmen are all from poor families, why did you arrest him?"

"He's not a sheep herder at all!" The voice that spoke was firm, "Look at his hands, the palms of herdsmen will grow such calluses? These are obviously calluses that have been worn out by holding a saber all year round. He is a Yan Yu. cavalry!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone became vigilant, and several soldiers immediately stepped forward and bound the old man, and searched him from head to toe.

When he found nothing, he heard a scolding from the tower: "What are you doing?"

When everyone looked up, they saw two generals walking down the tower one after the other. When the old herdsman saw Wei Changxuan in silver armor, his cloudy eyes lit up and he stood up abruptly.The soldier behind him kicked him in the crook of the leg: "Be honest!"

Wei Changxuan walked up a few steps, shouted back the soldiers, and looked down at the old man: "Do you recognize me?"

The old herdsman nodded vigorously.

Wei Changxuan's heart moved, and he said behind him: "Take him to the tent, General Yuchi and I will interrogate him personally."

As soon as he entered the army tent, Wei Changxuan stepped forward to untie the old man's shackles.Yu Chifeng held the sword hilt at his waist vigilantly, and asked suspiciously: "Are you sure he is someone sent by Ashina Jilian?"

Wei Changxuan shook his head: "I'll ask him that."

Yu Chifeng had no choice but to change Yanyu's dialect and asked the old man: "Since you are not a herdsman, what do you want to do near Panmenguan?"

The old man didn't answer, but suddenly reached out to touch his hair.

Yu Chifeng was startled, he had heard about people hiding tiny daggers in their hair for assassination, so he immediately pulled out the long sword from his waist.

Wei Changxuan quickly grabbed his wrist: "Wait."

What the old herdsman pulled out from his hair was not a dagger, but a rolled thin leather that was dirty and dark, and suddenly looked no different from the old man's dirty braids.

Yu Chifeng reached out to pick it up, but the old man didn't give it to him, but handed it to Wei Changxuan.

The handwriting on the leather was a bit rough, but it was written in the Central Plains characters. Wei Changxuan knew Jilian's experience when he was young, so he was not surprised, so he just read it carefully.

It turned out that he lost Panmenguan and Ganzhou City that day, Ashinanur suspected that he was captured on purpose, he refused to let Jilian get involved in the war, and found an excuse to send him back to Yanzhou. Yu Yazhang, he wrote this letter hastily on the way to be dispatched.

Yu Chifeng watched Wei Changxuan's frown tightened from the side, and couldn't help asking, "What did he say in the letter?"

"Ashina Nur pretended to retreat this time to dispatch more troops. He also summoned the tens of thousands of troops under General Yan Yuzuo's account. When those troops came, they would have 10 more troops than us. In addition, not only does he know the strength of our army like the palm of his hand, he even knows that Duke Tuoba has not recovered from his illness, so he has seen through all our false tricks."

Yu Chifeng became impatient: "Did the Jilian's letter say what Ashinanur's tactics and layout are like in this battle, and are there any weak spots that we can use?"

Wei Changxuan shook his head solemnly: "Jilian has been sent back to the tooth tent, and Ashinanur is very scheming, so it may be very difficult to find out this person's plan now."

Yu Chifeng wanted to speak, but Wei Changxuan coughed lightly and said: "The old man must have been exhausted after coming here in the starry night, you ask them to bring some tea and rice."

Yu Chifeng met his eyes, and nodded after a moment: "I'll go get ready."

Not long after he left the tent, a soldier came in, he was the head soldier of the local East Hu Army, and he was holding wheat cakes that are common in the army, and a few pieces of dried meat.He lowered his head and put the things in front of the old man, and then he was about to leave the military tent, but was stopped by Wei Changxuan: "Wait."

The gang leader was stunned for a moment, and had to stop. Wei Changxuan quickly walked up to him, and pulled off the white cloth on his belt: "What are you doing with this? Didn't you say you can't let the wind out?"

"But..." The Eastern Hu soldier looked excited, and seemed to want to say something, but Wei Changxuan stretched out his hand to stop him.

"If the order continues, whoever wears the filial belt privately will be dealt with by military law." The voice of these words was extremely low. After Wei Changxuan finished speaking, he waved away the soldiers and turned to look at the old herdsman, only to see the old man bowed his head He was munching on wheatbread with squinting eyes, as if he didn't hear what they said.

After releasing the old herdsman out of the city, Yu Chifeng said to Wei Changxuan: "Didn't you say that he was sent by Jilian, why did you show him this scene?"

"He is a man of Thorns, but he may also be from Ashinanur." Wei Changxuan looked at the back of the old herdsman riding away, "If not, how could Ashinanur let him be like this? It easily crossed the grassland and came to us."

Yu Chifeng sighed: "When General Yanyu Zuo's men arrive, the situation will be even more unfavorable to us. If they believed the scene just now, they might really think that Duke Tuoba died of illness and we just kept it secret. But... ..." He was full of doubts, "Ashi Nanur is so suspicious, will he really disrupt the plan and lead the army to attack the city?"

"Yes or no, we will know tomorrow." Wei Changxuan said, and blew out the candle held high in his hand.