The autumn wind was blowing in September, but the weather was quite cool.
Du Qi handed over the government affairs of Yizhou to Liu Zhengxi and took Mordor, Liu Jian, and 300 elite cavalrymen led by Ma Yuan to Guazhou.
While Du Qi was heading to Guazhou, Fu Junheng was the first to receive the letter sent by Du Qi in the Guazhou Provincial Governor's Mansion. He hurriedly entered the study room to report the situation to Su Dingfang.
After standing still, Fu Junheng respectfully said, "Governor Su, Du Qi of Yizhou sent a message to you. He wants to meet you at the border between Guazhou and Yizhou to discuss important matters."
After Su Dingfang heard it, he put down the writing brush in his hand and asked, "Did he say what the matter is?"
"He didn't say!"
Fu Junheng shook his head and said, "Du Qi just wants to see you and ask you to go there to discuss matters. I don't know what the specific matter is. "
Speaking of this, a dissatisfied look flashed across Fu Junheng's face. He said in a deep voice, "Du Qi is too arrogant and self-righteous. If he wants to discuss matters with Governor Su, he can come in person. Why should he ask you to go to the border? In my opinion, Du Qi did it on purpose. I don't recognize him as the Ping Xi Wang. "
Fu Junheng didn't like Du Qi.
Because Du Qi was independent of the Tang dynasty and the territory he conquered was Du Qi's. To some extent, Du Qi was an enemy country.
This was Fu Junheng's perception.
Du Qi was young, yet he became the Ping Xi Wang and ruled over a region. Even countless people in Guazhou had a very good evaluation of Du Qi. They even said that Du Qi was the reincarnation of the God. Fu Junheng was even more disdainful and looked down on Du Qi's means of creating rumors.
It was meaningless to deceive the people.
Such means were indeed a bit despicable.
Su Dingfang looked at Fu Junheng with interest and didn't say anything. Su Dingfang had a good personal relationship with Du Qi, but he would not ask Fu Junheng to be like him.
Moreover, Fu Junheng was hostile to Du Qi, so Fu Junheng would help him govern the place with all his might.
He wanted to surpass Du Qi.
This was Fu Junheng's motivation, so Su Dingfang didn't beat Fu Junheng up from the beginning to the end.
Su Dingfang lightly said, "Chief Fu, no matter what Du Qi is, he's still the Ping Xi Wang of the Tang dynasty. If you want to suppress Du Qi's limelight and prove that Du Qi is just so-so, you have to make political achievements in Guazhou. As long as he could surpass Du Qi in governing Guazhou, he would be able to prove that Du Qi was just so-so. Otherwise, you have to hide your thoughts in your heart. "
When Fu Junheng heard Su Dingfang's words, a bright light flashed in his eyes. He said, "Please rest assured, Governor Su, this humble one will complete your arrangement and won't let Guazhou fall behind Du Qi."
Su Dingfang smiled and said, "This official believes in you."
In fact, Su Dingfang really didn't believe that Fu Junheng could be compared with Du Qi when it came to governing the place. It should be known that Du Qi's ability was first-class in the whole Tang dynasty. Whether it was the retired emperor Li Yuan or the current emperor, they all praised and even relied on Du Qi.
Fu Junheng rolled his eyes and suddenly said, "Chief Fu, Du Qi is developing his strength in the west of Guazhou, and there's even news saying that his strength is very strong. This humble one thinks that since we're meeting at the border this time, it's better to show our strength and intimidate Du Qi a little. "
Su Dingfang asked, "How do we intimidate him?"
A fierce look flashed in Fu Junheng's eyes. He said, "Simply intimidating him is a contest between generals, as well as a confrontation between soldiers. So when we arrive at the border, we can compete in the name of learning from each other. "
Su Dingfang's eyes showed a thoughtful look.
This might be an opportunity.
An opportunity to beat the soldiers under his command. After Su Dingfang established himself in Guazhou and wiped out the bandits in Guazhou and Shazhou, both Fu Junheng and the soldiers in the army were more or less arrogant, because there was no one in this area who was a match for him.
Su Dingfang thought of this and said in a deep voice, "Okay, you can arrange it when the time comes."
"This humble one obeys!"
Fu Junheng immediately responded.
He was excited because this was a chance to suppress Du Qi, and also a chance to test Du Qi's strength. In fact, Du Qi and Su Dingfang had joined forces to wipe out the bandits in the territory. There were few opportunities to fight along the way. Wei Shuyu and Su Dingfang were appointed smoothly, and Du Qi went straight to the west, so the soldiers under Su Dingfang's command did not know much about Du Qi.
Moreover, Fu Junheng only joined later, so he did not know about Du Qi's strength, so he had the intention to compete.
Fu Junheng said, "Provincial Governor Su, this humble one will arrange it immediately."
"Go!"
Su Dingfang nodded.
After Fu Junheng went to arrange things, about an hour later, Su Dingfang mobilized a thousand soldiers and led Fu Junheng and the others to the west, heading straight to the border between Guazhou and Yizhou.
The two sides went in opposite directions and met at the border in the middle of September.
When the two armies met, they set up camp in their respective formations.
Du Qi traveled lightly. After all, he only had three hundred cavalrymen. However, the soldiers under Du Qi's command were well-equipped. Their warhorses were of the highest quality, and their armor was forged by the Manufacturing Institute. Apart from that, everyone's sabers had been replaced with new weapons forged by Tang Zhongsheng and the craftsmen. The blades were sharp and could cut through iron like mud.
Du Qi and Su Dingfang's relationship was quite good. When the two armies met, Ma Yuan, Mordor, and the others were in formation at the back, while Fu Junheng led a thousand soldiers at the back.
Du Qi and Su Dingfang sat facing each other under a canopy in the middle.
In front of them was a table.
There was a pot of wine and a simple plate of braised mutton.
Du Qi filled Su Dingfang's cup with wine. He raised the wine bottle and said: "Brother Su, I haven't seen you for several months. You're even more imposing and high-spirited. Now you're working in Guazhou and taking care of Shazhou's military affairs. That's pretty good. "
Su Dingfang returned the toast and said with a smile: "Ping Xi Wang, you're flattering me. Compared to Ping Xi Wang, my insignificant achievements are really not worth mentioning. Ping Xi Wang is in Yizhou. You've set up an entrance exam, exempted agricultural taxes and corvee labor. You've also helped the people and developed the economy. The people's lives are getting better day by day. I'm envious of you! "
"Although I have the heart, I'm unable to do what Ping Xi Wang has done. Speaking of which, I'm a few years older than Ping Xi Wang. But when it comes to the ability to govern a place, as well as the ability to march and fight, Ping Xi Wang is far superior to me. "
"You can say that you're my senior."
"I actually hope that Ping Xi Wang can take care of me, so that Guazhou can get some opportunities and enjoy happiness together with me!"
This was Su Dingfang's real thought.
Following Du Qi was not a bad thing.
Su Dingfang thought that it was inappropriate to be like Fu Junheng, who looked at the sky from the bottom of a well and thought that he was infallible. In the Tang dynasty, the former Crown Prince Li Jiancheng underestimated Du Qi and eventually died. The former Patriarch of the Wang family of Taiyuan, Wang Zongzhou, underestimated Du Qi and ended up in a miserable situation. The former Turkic Kingdom was torn apart by Du Qi.
He did not want to be an enemy of Du Qi. That was something only a fool would do. Obviously, following Du Qi would benefit him. Why should he be an enemy of Du Qi? What's more, Su Dingfang remembered his teacher Li Jing's instructions before he left, that he could not be an enemy of Du Qi.
He believed in his teacher's judgment.
Du Qi smiled faintly and said unhurriedly, "Brother Su is too polite. But since Brother Su has mentioned it, if there is anything I can help with, I will not decline."
"I can help, I can help!"
With a bright smile on his face, Su Dingfang said: "Ping Xi Wang's Yizhou is now purchasing grapes on a large scale. There are also many grapes in my Guazhou. "
"In addition, there are many other fruits in Guazhou. The people of Guazhou have no channel to sell them."
"But Ping Xi Wang's subordinates can buy and sell them."
"If Ping Xi Wang's shops can buy these fruits and grapes, so that the fruits in the people's fields will not rot, it will be the best. After all, the weather this year is good, there are many grapes, and the price is quite cheap. "
Su Dingfang said: "If Ping Xi Wang can buy them, it will be a blessing."
Du Qi said: "Since Brother Su said so, it's naturally no problem."
Su Dingfang said: "Thank you!"
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