Qian Song

Chapter 128 Loyalty
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Seeing the face of the man in front of him clearly, Niu Meng's first reaction was to call his own soldiers in and arrest him.

But before Niu Meng could speak, the man sat across from Niu Meng, and said with a smile: "Niu is a hero, is he afraid of having two bowls of water and wine with Xiao Ke?"

Will Niu Meng be afraid?
This is Grandpa Niu's territory?
Grandpa Niu told you to die at the third watch, but Hades dare not keep you until the fifth watch!

Thinking of this, Niu Meng said loudly: "The restaurant, serve another pot of wine with Grandpa Niu, that pot stinks."

As soon as Niu Meng finished speaking, a pretty woman who seemed to be made of water came up.

——She is the reason why Niu Meng comes to drink in this tavern these days.

After the pretty woman poured a bowl of wine for Niu Meng, Niu Meng drank it down in one gulp, and then slammed down the wine bowl: "Speak quickly if you have something to say, and let go if you have farts. Grandpa Niu is still waiting for Ambassador Ma's head to make a wine bowl." .”

That's right.

The person in front of him was Ma Kuo who had been sent to the Huben army.

Who would have imagined that Ma Kuo would sneak into Jinling City after eating Xiongxin's leopard guts, and even dare to appear in front of Niu Meng openly!
Ma Kuo unhurriedly poured himself a bowl of wine and said, "What does Niu Dutong think of the sudden stop of the wind?"

Hearing Ma Kuo mentioning this strange incident, Niu Meng's heart tightened, but he insisted: "I will stay here, who can care about Mr. Feng?"

Ma Kuo said with a smile, "Xiao Ke doesn't agree with it. In Xiao Ke's humble opinion, it's God's will."

"God willing?"

Niu Meng murmured in his heart.

Seeing that Niu Meng didn't speak, Ma Kuo went on to say, "My army has entered the two Zhejiang provinces, everyone must have known about it?"

As a senior general of the Huben Army, Niu Meng naturally knew that the Song army attacked Hongzhou by surprise and captured Jiangzhou, defeating Fangla's 20 troops several times. The two gates lasted until the Song Army's reinforcements entered the Liangzhe area without any pressure.

Ma Kuo said leisurely: "Since ancient times, when the northern army crossed the river, the southern army was bound to be defeated..."

When the North and the South confront each other, the Southern Dynasty is always the loser, especially in this period without Lao Zhu's history.

It can be said that there is no example where the South can unify the North.

In this way, it is actually a bit biased. The Northern Dynasty naturally has its own advantages, but the Southern Dynasty also has its own advantages.

There are powerful cavalry in the north, but in front of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, the cavalry is not as useful as the navy, so Cao Cao, Fu Jian and others fell into the hands of the navy of the Southern Dynasty.

The northern army's land combat capability is very strong, and they also have a strong cavalry advantage. In terms of the combat effectiveness of the army alone, it is indeed much stronger than the southern army.

The Southern Dynasties basically relied on infantry and naval forces. In the process of confronting the Northern Dynasties, relying on their advantages in waters, they could actually withstand the attacks of the Northern Army.

The evidence is that the Huben navy blocked the Song army for several months by taking advantage of the natural danger of the Yangtze River.

But what if the advantage of this water area is gone?
You know, although the Huben navy is very strong, after crossing the Yangtze River, there are no waters suitable for the navy to operate, and the battle still has to return to land warfare.

In this way, will the Huben army still be the opponent of the Song army?

You know, Fang Layi's army, which seems to be about the same combat strength as the Huben army, has not won a single battle after facing the real Song army.

Niu Meng bluffed and said: "Why are you talking about this with Grandpa Niu, to instigate against Grandpa Niu, is Grandpa Niu that repeated villain?!"

Ma Kuo shook his head: "No, Xiao Ke just feels unfair for Du Tong."

"Unfair?" Niu Meng asked, "What do you mean?"

Ma Kuo provocatively said: "Li Dadu Dudu started his family, half of which came from the Dutong. Today, the Dutong only has an army of [-], which is similar to Zhao Han'er's generation, but not as good as Su Dong's generation. Li Cunjin has a million troops. , how many people are similar to Dutong?"

It was really hit by Ma Kuo. Niu Meng has always cared about it. He is just like Zhao Haner, a ball player who can't beat a fart with three sticks, and now even Su Dong, a junior, can Controlling an army of [-], [-] more than him, made Niu Meng very uncomfortable.

In fact, Niu Meng has always hoped that Li Cun can give an order to let him take charge of the entire northern theater, let him control Zhao Haner, Su Dong, Liang Zhen and others, instead of letting him fight with Zhao Haner, Su Dong , Liang Zhen and others are of the same rank and status.

Just like what Ma Kuo said, Niu Meng felt that when Li Cun rebelled, he was the one who recruited half of Li Cun's troops so that Li Cun could be what he is today.

it is good.

I won't talk about that.

Starting from Li Cun to fight the world, which battle is he not rushing to the front?

How come he is still not as fierce as Su Dong?

Okay, you, Li Cun, in order to deter Fang Layi's army, and to arrange a support army for our Jiangning Mansion, can expand the establishment of the eastern part of the Soviet Union, but why can't you give an order to let me be Niu Meng to control the eastern part of the Soviet Union, so that even now Han Bie, the guy who commanded 3000 horses, dared to call me Niu Niu, old man, when Grandpa Niu was in charge of all the cavalry in the Huben Army, you were still the coach of the Han family village!
In fact, Niu Meng has always been brooding about this matter, but Li Cun's prestige is too strong, so Niu Meng dare not show it.

Ma Kuo is very accurate in seeing people.

When he came to Huben Army last time, Ma Kuo felt that Niu Meng was different from other generals in Huben Army.

How to describe it, Ma Kuo felt that Niu Meng did not have the kind of enthusiasm and sunshine that are common in the generals of the Huben Army.

So Ma Kuo specifically inquired about Niu Meng's background.

When Ma Kuo learned that Niu Meng used to be the armed leader of the landlord Fang Youchang's family. After that, Ma Kuo felt that Niu Meng could be turned against him.

Later, Ma Kuo secretly observed Niu Meng several times. He saw that Niu Meng liked to wear gold and silver waists and jade belts. When others called Niu Meng by affectionate nicknames, Niu Meng was unhappy. He just smiled happily, and Niu Meng was never full of longing and yearning for the future like other soldiers of the Huben Army.

At that time, Ma Kuo concluded that Niu Meng, who was greedy for money and power, was not a staunch rebel, but just a speculator who had no choice but to follow the trend.

That's why Ma Kuo dared to instigate Niu Meng after Zhao Song's situation was reversed.

Now, seeing that Niu Meng was moved by his words, Ma Kuo said again: "I heard that brother Ling died fighting for the Huben army?"

Hearing this, Niu Meng frowned and said, "Don't hesitate, just speak your mind."

"it is good."

Ma Kuo said bluntly: "You have only three daughters and no children, and your younger brother died in battle without an offspring. If they are all unified and killed in battle, the Niu family will be wiped out."

"you!"

As soon as Niu Meng heard that Ma Kuo had healed his biggest pain point, which was not having a son, he immediately became angry.

Ma Kuo pressed his hands down, signaling Niu Meng to be safe and not to be impatient, and then said: "You have led the crowd to rise up suddenly, and you have achieved fame and wealth. Now the good thing has been accomplished, and you will see the good harvest. If you are recruited by the imperial court, you will help the imperial court." When the army crossed the river, the imperial court enshrined the capital and the governor of the two Zhejiang provinces. He guarded the two Zhejiang provinces for generations. He honored his ancestors and enshrined his wife and son. The prosperity and wealth of the whole life were at his fingertips. When he was here, he all followed the example of Li Cun and took more than a hundred concubines. , the Niu family has no successor?"

After a pause, Ma Kuo's voice became stern: "If not, when the old and small business managers call, and Tong Xuanfu attacks back and forth, they will all die, let alone the Niu family."

After enticing him for profit and playing both hard and soft ways, Ma Kuo said frankly: "After I finish speaking, everyone will be killed or cut to pieces, so please listen to me."

Seeing Ma Kuo's attitude of looking down on death, Niu Meng couldn't help hesitating.

What Ma Kuo said actually touched Niu Meng's heart everywhere.

At the beginning, when He Shi, Lu Yi and others persuaded Li Cun to accept the imperial court's offer, Niu Meng actually agreed, but he didn't show it.

When Niu Wei died in battle last time, Niu Meng was thinking that if Li Cun agreed to accept the imperial court's recruitment, then Niu Wei would not have died in battle.

The key point is that the Song army has entered the two Zhejiang provinces, and the natural danger of the Yangtze River is no longer there.

So many heroes throughout the ages have not been able to do it, defeating the south and unifying the world, can Li Cun do it?

Moreover, what made Niu Mengzuo mutter is, why did the wind stop suddenly? Could it be a warning from God?

It was impossible to succeed in attacking the north from the south, but now they have lost the natural danger of the Yangtze River on which they rely for their lives, and God will not help them. I am afraid that the Huben army will not turn from prosperity to decline, right?

Seeing that Niu Meng had already started to calculate gains and losses there, Ma Kuo smiled and said: "If Du Tong has not made up his mind yet, he can go home and think carefully, Ma Kuo's head is in this tavern, and Du Tong can come and get it at any time. "

Then, Ma Kuo reminded: "However, Du Tong should be quick rather than slow, otherwise, if someone else sacrifices Jiangning City, Du Tong will miss the opportunity."

"Anyone else wants to dedicate the city?!"

Niu Meng hesitated again and again, and did not choose to kill Ma Kuo. He said to himself, anyway, Ma Kuo was in his hands, and he could kill him whenever he wanted. Don't worry, first think clearly about whether to vote for Song or not.

After returning home, Niu Meng locked himself in the room and weighed the pros and cons.

Niu Meng felt that Li Cun was a very powerful person, and he might really be able to do things that others couldn't.

But Niu Meng felt that what Ma Kuo said made sense.

This made Niu Meng hesitate.

It happened at this time that Fang La led an army of millions to fight against the Song army and was defeated by the Song army. Fang La's generals Zheng Mowang and Qiu Daoren died in battle, and Fang Wuxianggong was captured alive. Returning to Qingxi, Fang Layi's army is gone.

This incident shocked Niu Meng very much. He felt that the uprising was over, and the next one to be defeated by the Song army would definitely be the Huben army.

After hesitating again and again, Niu Meng went to the tavern again.

Seeing this, Ma Kuo knew that the matter of instigating Niu Meng's rebellion had come to an end, and then he promised Niu Meng a lot of benefits, including the tavern proprietress that Niu Meng has always missed.

Niu Meng then rebelled.

Li Cun doesn't like those naughty city soldiers, that is, those street thugs.

But Niu Meng is very similar to these urban soldiers, he especially likes those "heroes" who are strong in martial arts and show loyalty.

In the early days of the Huben Army, when the rules and regulations were not yet comprehensive, Niu Meng asked Zhang Shi a lot of "heroes" to form a battalion of personal guards.

It is normal for generals to have personal guards, not only Niu Meng, but other generals also have personal guards.

The personal guards are often the direct descendants of the generals. When Li Cun promotes generals, he likes to be promoted from his own personal guards.

Without it, close also.

Zhang Shi didn't think much about it at the time, and even Niu Meng didn't mean anything else, but he liked this kind of soldiers better.

Later, Niu Meng's personal guards followed Niu Meng and made a lot of contributions.

Niu Meng is thick on the outside and thin on the inside, knowing that the personal guards are his last line of defense, so he treats the personal guards very well.

For example, once someone gave Niu Meng a golden basin as a filial piety, Niu Meng tore up the golden basin and distributed it to all his personal guards, saying that if he had Niu Meng, there would be his brothers.

Niu Meng's approach suits the appetite of these "heroes".

This made Niu Meng very close to his personal guards, to the extent that Li Cun, Kong Lengzi, Zhang Goudan and others could be compared.

Moreover, these personal guards really worked for Niu Meng, and one of them discovered that a servant next to Niu Meng had been secretly watching Niu Meng's every move.

Niu Meng then arrested the boy.

After the torture, Niu Meng knew that this young man was a spy of Wu Desi, who was responsible for keeping an eye on Niu Meng.

This incident made Niu Meng very uncomfortable, feeling that Wu Desi, and even Li Cun behind Wu Desi did not believe him.

But Niu Meng didn't dare to show it.

So, Niu Meng bribed the Wu De Division's spy, telling him not to report this matter, and to keep some words in the future, "Report good news but not bad news."

After going back and forth, Niu Meng bribed the spy of the Wu De Division, and then he stopped staring at Niu Meng at all.

Because of this trivial matter, Niu Meng treated his personal guards even better, and no matter where he was transferred, he would bring this battalion of personal guards with him.

As the former No. [-] figure in the Huben Army, everyone must give Niu Meng some face. Even if this matter came to Li Cun, Li Cun would let him go.

Now that Niu Meng wants to vote for Song, he must first discuss it with the heroes of his personal guard camp.

When the group of "heroes" in the guard camp heard this, they all slapped their chests loudly, saying that we will go wherever the commander-in-chief goes.

They also killed several supervisors who wanted to tip off the news.

The next day, Niu Meng issued an imperial edict saying that Li Cun had an important event to announce, and asked all the generals and supervisors above the rank and above of the Jiangning Mansion defenders, including the navy, to come to him to listen to the "imperial decree", and then Niu Meng's personal guards The battalion captured all these generals and supervisors.

Afterwards, Niu Meng replaced these generals with cronies to command their army, hoping to completely control the defenders of Jiangning Mansion.

However, some of Niu Meng's cronies were killed by low-ranking soldiers of the Huben Army after their purpose was exposed, and some of the troops saw that Niu Meng had rebelled, and either dragged the army or ran away in a boat However, only a small number of Niu Meng's cronies can rely on the fact that some troops or generals on large ships are not successful in seizing the army.

There was even a deputy general named "Dong Zhu" who organized more than 1000 people and wanted to break into Jiangning Mansion to rescue the generals and supervisors who had been captured by Niu Meng.

It's a pity that because Niu Meng destroyed the command system of the Jiangning Mansion's defenders, the Jiangning Mansion's defenders could only fight on their own and could no longer resist the Song Army's navy and transport the Song Army's horses across the river.

Every batch of troops transported by the Song Army is Liu Guangshi's department.

The entire army of this army is composed of cavalry troops, marching very fast, and it didn't take long before they reached the Jiangning city.

Seeing this, Dong Zhu, who was still trying to figure out a way to enter the city, could only take the 1000-odd people and flee to the Guangde Army in a hurry, and reported to Su Dong.

Han Bie's department, which was closest to Jiangning Mansion, reacted quickly, and their horse troops were so mobile that they didn't even arrive for an hour before Han Bie led his personal guards and horse troops to Jiangning Mansion.

Hanbeol's department ran into Liu Guangshi's department head-on.

The two horse armies fought desperately under Jiangning city. In less than half an hour, hundreds of horses were killed or injured on both sides.

Just as Han Bie's department was about to fight Liu Guangshi's department to the end, the Song army of Huang Di's department also went to the city of Jiangning.

Seeing this, Han Bie knew that the general situation was over, he sighed, and led his army to flee to the Guangde army and join the Eastern Soviet Union.

It wasn't until someone ran to Zhenjiang Mansion that Zhao Han'er knew that Niu Meng surrendered to the enemy and the Song army crossed the river. Zhao Han'er hurriedly fortified the walls and cleared the country, preparing to defend Zhenjiang City to the death, and at the same time sent his tiger and ben water army to rescue Jiangning Mansion.

But it was too late, because at this time the Song army had already crossed the river with 10,000+ troops...

……

(End of this chapter)