Soon after, a series of mutiny occurred outside of Yihe City. Deputy General Le Dian led one thousand elite soldiers to kill until his hands were limp. In the end, he could not even bear to raise his blade. It was a spear-wielding man who was extremely unfamiliar to Youzhou who took his place. Soon after, the two captains of Youzhou were on the verge of rebelling and had to leave their camp to demonstrate in the capital of Youzhou. Huangfu Jin's personal soldiers had no choice but to increase from one thousand to three thousand. They continued to fight amongst themselves, and there was no suspense in the outcome. The heads of the two captains were hung on the city walls of Yihe City. More than half of the Yihe River nobles either knelt on the streets outside of the general's residence to 'force the emperor to abdicate', or fled out of the city and allied with their in-laws and nobles outside the city, using various methods to forcefully pressure that person. Without exception, all of the nobles within the city were stripped of their official positions, all of their belongings confiscated and sent to the army. It was to the point that there were even people from the personal camp of Huangfu Jin and Le Dian that had defected. At the end of the spring of the first year of Xiangfu, this great upheaval from top to bottom of Youzhou showed no signs of subsiding. Because of the self-righteous and violent retaliation of Youzhou's military and government, it actually attracted the eight thousand Great Snow Dragon Cavalry of Liangzhou! They penetrated deep into the heart of Youzhou. In addition, the three thousand personal soldiers that Wang Zhi of Lingzhou had recently added were all mobilized, heading straight for the border of Youzhou! Not to mention the Tongmen Pass Captain Xin Yinma, who had never left his seclusion, also led six thousand elite cavalry out. Apart from this, Beiliang Protector General Chu Lushan personally mobilized troops, ordering Ning Emei to lead half of the Iron Stupa heavy cavalry and two thousand White Feather crossbow cavalry to set up camp on the west side of Youzhou, eyeing covetously like a tiger watching its prey.
If one said that Huaihua Great General Zhong Hongwu was once the shadow master of more than half of Lingzhou, then Youzhou, from the border army to the army within its borders, could be considered the personal bodyguards of Great General Yan Wenluan. Youzhou, which was said to have eight hundred general families, the vast majority could be considered the disciples and grand disciples of this old general. Their increasingly fierce resistance finally made an old man overseeing the border unable to sit still. However, he did not muster a large force to lead troops south. Instead, he traveled lightly and noiselessly to Yihe City of Youzhou. The carriage stopped outside the city. The old man, who was blind in one eye, walked alone into the city. Walking on the streets brimming with killing intent, the old man walked all the way to the residence of the general reeking of blood. The old man originally thought that the young madman would arrogantly refuse to meet him, or even cleanly capture him, the commander of the Beiliang infantry army, or at the very least, hang him out in the cold for several days and nights before letting him in. However, the old man guessed wrong. The young man was sitting alone on the steps outside the residence, as if he had been waiting for him all this time.
After Ren Tu's death, the old general, whose prestige in the Beiliang army was unparalleled, questioned, "Hsu Fengnian! Why? "
Hsu Fengnian folded his hands in his sleeves, not looking at Yan Wenluan, who had wanted Xu Xiao to ascend to the throne. Gazing at the end of the street, he calmly said, "In the past, I heard a saying that Lingzhou's surname is Zhong, Youzhou's surname is Yan, and only Liangzhou's surname is Xu. Xu Xiao never took it to heart. I know this. You, Yan Wenluan, know this, but Zhong Hongwu might not know this. This is because when Zhong Hongwu heard that the court not only intended to cultivate his son, Zhong Chengxin, but also made him a great general, and that as long as West Chu rose up in rebellion, Zhao Shi promised him that he could lead troops for the Duke of Huainan, Zhao Ying, to take a share of the spoils, so he began to fan the flames in Youzhou, wanting to drag you down with him so that he could take advantage of the chaos to escape from Beiliang. These days, I had the falcons keep an eye on you, but you never made a move. In the end, you only entered Yihe City alone. "
The old general angrily said, "Even the great general can live his life without rebelling against Liyang, so naturally, I will live my life without rebelling against Beiliang! What kind of dog is that Zhong Hongwu? How can he be mentioned in the same breath as me?! You, Hsu Fengnian, are so impatient that you want me, Yan Wenluan, to pack up and scram from the border so that your trusted aide can occupy my position?! Do you really think that Yan Wenluan is hogging the position of infantry commander and not retreating because he is greedy for power? Do you, Hsu Fengnian, really think that this position is something that anyone can sit on? That anyone can sit on it steadily? If not for the fact that I respect you, Hsu Fengnian, for having the guts to not accept that bullshit imperial edict and finally doing something that did not disgrace the great general, I would have already led a hundred thousand troops to the south. At that time, the cavalry and infantry would be divided. What kind of King of Beiliang are you?! What will you use to resist the restless Beimang Iron Cavalry?! "
Hsu Fengnian smiled, "I know that the old general will not do that."
The old general was so angry he almost wanted to act and slap this cunning brat to death.
Hsu Fengnian patted the steps beside him and indicated for the old general to sit down and chat. Yan Wenluan snorted coldly. Hsu Fengnian did not insist and continued, "My master and Bi Yan have fought for the latter half of their lives. Does the old general know what my master admires the most about Zhang Julu?"
When Li Yishan was mentioned, Yan Wenluan's emotions calmed slightly.
In the entire world, Li Yishan was the most worthy of Beiliang.
While Yan Wenluan was the backbone of Yang Cai Zhao Changling's faction, she did not show any disrespect to Li Yishan who did not work together due to their different paths.
Hsu Fengnian said softly, "It is not that Zhang Julu made the Zhao Family prosper as Old General imagined. It is not that he held the power of the court alone, but before he rose to power, he moved his parents and family to Great Peace City. He did not give anyone a chance to criticize Zhang Julu. Because this Grand Secretary knew back then that as long as he became the head of the officials in the world, no matter how clean he was, he still had his family, relatives, and children. Once the two sides were thousands of miles apart, there would be people who would use his name to do whatever they wanted. Even if everyone in the court could only criticize silently and not accuse him, the spirit that supported Zhang Julu's rule of the world would weaken. So this is what my master admires the most about Zhang Julu. Looking back at our Beiliang, Xu Xiao, my master did not expect all of you to have the breadth of mind and vision of Zhang Julu. Before Xu Xiao died, he was still worried and told me to have a tolerant heart, to tolerate other people making mistakes. In the past, I did this. In the Lingzhou officialdom, I endured and did not kill anyone, not one. "
Yan Wenluan's expression was still gloomy, but it was a bit better than before.
Hsu Fengnian continued, minding his own business, "But I realized that Xu Xiao was not wrong, but he was not completely right. The Beiliang under our feet belongs to the Xu family in name, but in the end, it belongs to the people of Beiliang. I, Hsu Fengnian, actually do not mind how you disregard the law and discipline. As long as you fight for my Xu family on the battlefield, it is enough. I can be the King of Beiliang with a clear conscience. Who knows, I might even be able to leave my name in the annals of history. Not to mention the official history, perhaps there will be a few good words in unofficial history. Everyone says that since I put my head on my belt to conquer the world, then I deserve to rule the world. I, Hsu Fengnian, did not say that you should not enjoy life. But enjoying life is not wrong, right? Cherishing life is not a bad thing, right? Old General, why don't you and I just treat it as speaking with conscience to Xu Xiao? Youzhou, Lingzhou, and Liangzhou, how many of these generals treat the common people as human beings? I did not stay behind closed doors at Mount Qingliang and make sarcastic remarks. Instead, I personally walked around Youzhou and only then did I walk step by step to Yihe City. In truth, I would like to say to all the officials of the Northern Liang Path, whether you relied on your own abilities to become an official, or relied on your parents' contributions to become an official. If you want to enjoy life, then go ahead and enjoy it. Don't harm others too much. However, these words cannot be made known to the public. Moreover, even if I said these words to Zhong Hongwu with all my sincerity, he would only think that it was an unfunny joke. What could I do? He sought his own death, so I could only let him die. Oh, that's right. The one who reported Zhong Hongwu was none other than the County Chief of Longqing County, his son, Zhong Chengxin. "
Yan Wenluan's expression was uncertain.
Hsu Fengnian gazed into the distance and bit his lip. "Not being able to manage Youzhou well is Huangfu Xi's fault, as well as your fault, Old General. Of course, if we are unable to defend Beiliang in the future, in the end, it is still my fault. "
The old man hesitated for a moment, then walked up the steps and sat down a few steps below Hsu Fengnian's feet.
Hsu Fengnian suddenly smiled and said, "I heard Xu Xiao say that back then, Old General dreamed of riding a horse, just like how you entered the Imperial City of Northern Han, swaggering into the Imperial Palace of Great Peace City."
The old man with his back to the King of Beiliang cracked his lips into a soundless smile.
Hsu Fengnian said softly, "Old General, you can forget about this. However, a few days ago, I entered an out-of-body state and traveled to the Imperial Palace of Beimang. That place is not much inferior to Great Peace City. Old General, why don't you take a step back and settle for the next best thing? Let's strive to ride a horse there and raise the whip? "
Yan Wenluan turned his head and asked, "Truly?"
Hsu Fengnian replied with a smile, "I only have this thought. As for whether or not I have the ability, Old General, do you truly believe that I can do it alone?"
Yan Wenluan stared blankly for a moment. He lowered his head and cursed, "Motherfucker, he's just like the Great General when he was young! Back then, he lied to me and said that as long as I followed him, I would be able to ride a horse until my butt was polished clean. This old man really foolishly took the bait … "
Yan Wenluan paused for a long time and then raised his head to look at the sky. He murmured, "But the Great General did not lie to me, did he?"
The old man retracted his gaze and suddenly stood up. He said gravely, "If that day really comes, even if I, Yan Wenluan, am too old to ride a warhorse, I hope that the King of Beiliang can have someone carry me there. If I am already dead, since the King of Beiliang has agreed to carry the coffin for that old soldier of the Fish Drum Camp, Xu Yong Guan, then you would not mind carrying the coffin for Yan Wenluan once, right?"
Hsu Fengnian also stood up and said calmly, "Hsu Fengnian thanks Old General Yan."
The old man walked down the steps and turned around to face Hsu Fengnian. He raised his hands and shouted, "Cavalry of the Fish Drum Camp, Yan Wenluan, Xu Yong Guan, and his comrade, greet the King of Beiliang!"
The old man then turned and left. He left the Yi River, Youzhou, and headed for the border.
Hsu Fengnian sat back down on the steps and rubbed his cheeks.
Xu Yanbing, who was beside him, said emotionally, "At the Battle of the Western Wall, the Fish Drum Camp only had sixteen men left. Even I did not know that Yan Wenluan was one of them."
Hsu Fengnian nodded and said, "Xu Xiao did not mention it."
Xu Yanbing said, "Beimang, why don't you count me in?"
Hsu Fengnian laughed and said, "It is not like we are snatching a wife. What is there to snatch?"
Xu Yanbing dismissed it with a laugh. He sat down near the King of Beiliang. His eyes were firm as he said slowly, "Don't worry. With you here, Beiliang will have more than three hundred thousand cavalry."
The two of them were silent for a long time.
Hehe, the girl had unknowingly sat behind Xu Fengnian, and for some reason, the stalk of the sunflower that had been following him like a shadow had disappeared. She rested her chin on her hands and quietly watched his back.
"Beiliang has millions of households. How many of them are wrapped in iron clothes and withered bones?"
Xu Yanbing began to clap his knees and sing.
He was full of passion.
Which young man did not envy the green-robed man who walked the Jianghu with a sword?
Which young man did not want to fight for fame in the yellow sands?
"Good man, do not say that the heroes of the world have fallen into your trap.
Little Lady, don't hide your feelings of adoration deep in your stomach.
Come, come, come, let's see who is beating the Beauty Drum.
Come, come, come, let's see who is the butcher of the Yang Realm.
Come, come, come, let's see who will fight for the throne with me … "
# # Fight for the throne
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