I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 68 Datong Town Gaoshanwei
June, the 43rd year of the Jiajing reign.

Gaoshanwei, Datong Town.

"Shi Liang, Hukou Valley is ahead." Hu Zongxian said while riding on a horse, pointing to the border pass ahead.

Pan Jixun raised his hand to cover his brows and looked out for a while, then sighed, "The terrain is indeed dangerous."

Hu Zongxian said excitedly: "Yes. This is the main road connecting Datong and Xuanfu. The imperial court has set up three guards here, Gaoshan, Yanghe and Tiancheng, with heavy troops guarding it."

Pan Jixun sighed: "Ruzhen has put in a lot of effort. The military discipline along the way out of Juyong Pass was strict and orderly, and the pass was repaired and renovated."

"Well, to be honest with you, Brother Shi Liang, the more I patrolled in Xuan Da these days, the more frightened I became. It was so shocking that I couldn't sleep at night. The west of Xuan Da looks calm, but in fact, there are many hidden reefs and whirlpools."

Pan Jixun replied: "That's why the emperor sent you here. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also has high hopes for you."

They are all core members of the Crown Prince's Party, so they are not so reserved in their words.

Hu Zongxian said, "I am not afraid of anything else, but I am afraid of disappointing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's expectations of me."

"Ruzhen is too modest. We are all well aware of the complicated situation in the southeast. Ruzhen was able to defeat the enemy with his own strength and took drastic measures to eliminate the Japanese threat, pacify the area, and bring peace to the people. His contribution is great.

Shanxi and Xuanda, no matter how complicated they are, can they be more complicated than the Southeast? Ruzhen should not underestimate yourself. "

Hu Zongxian said quickly: "Brother Shi Liang, as the prince's tutor, is also aware of the situation. The suppression of the Japanese in the southeast is very dangerous. If the prince had not proposed the establishment of a coordination office, the supply of food and money for the suppression of the Japanese would have been difficult to continue."

Pan Jixun nodded, knowing the trick.

The Japanese invasion has deep connections with the Southeastern families.

In order to prevent Hu Zongxian from successfully suppressing the Japanese pirates, in addition to accusing him of being a minion of the Yan Party, cutting off his food and wages was also an important means.

After all, the aristocratic families and the local officials in the southeast are very closely connected, and it is very easy for them to do something secretly.

“Later, the prince asked me to build a navy to patrol the outer seas, cut off the root of the Japanese pirates, and strangle the lifeline of the maritime merchants. In addition, I killed more than 20 local families headed by the Five Aristocratic Families that had ties with the Japanese. This temporarily frightened those bastards.

But I know that the most important thing is that His Royal Highness has stabilized Lord Xu in the court."

Pan Jixun nodded in agreement.

Xu Jie was the leader of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Party and a representative of the Southeast family. He was also shrewd and cunning, and his power was deeply rooted in the court. If he took action, Hu Zongxian, who was far away in the local area, would definitely not be able to withstand it.

Thanks to the prince's fighting wits and courage, he first took advantage of the old but experienced Yan Song to help.

Then he brought the Jin Party headed by Gao Gong into the cabinet to suppress Xu Jie, forcing him to deal with Gao Gong's party and leaving him with no energy to deal with Hu Zongxian.

Pan Jixun thought of this and couldn't help but sigh: "First it was the Jiangsu and Zhejiang faction, and now it's the Jin faction. Ruzhen is in trouble, and the prince is also in trouble."

Hu Zongxian was also very emotional, "Fortunately, the emperor is sympathetic and sent Zhang Shuda to inspect the Ji-Liao front, and sent Shiliang to inspect the Xuan-Da-Shanxi front. If it were any other censor, he would find fault with everything, and Zili and I would not be able to do anything."

The emperor now made it clear that he was determined to pass the throne to the crown prince, which gave Hu Zongxian and Pan Jixun great confidence.

"Let's go to Hukou Valley to have a look, so that Shi Liang can have a good look at the beauty of the Beisai Pass."

"it is good!"

The group arrived at Hukou Valley, but saw an unexpected scene.

The hundreds of soldiers guarding the pass bid farewell to the four fully armed soldiers.

"Don't worry, brother. We will help take care of the old and the young at home!"

"Although it's difficult for everyone, if everyone saves a little, we can support the families of the four brothers. You can go with peace of mind!"

"Please give our regards to General Liang Qian!"

"It's hateful. We have families to support us, and we can't die with General Liang Qian!"

Hu Zongxian rode forward and shouted, "What's going on?"

The four soldiers who were about to leave the border in tears turned around and saw Hu Zongxian in a scarlet robe, followed by hundreds of officers and soldiers. It was obvious that he was a high-ranking official. They were surprised and delighted, and a little hope rose in their despair. They quickly knelt on the ground.

"Sir, please save our captain." "I am the Minister of War, Right Censor-in-Chief, Governor-General of Shanxi, Datong, and Xuanfu military affairs. What's going on?" Hu Zongxian asked.

The four soldiers showed expressions of ecstasy and kowtowed quickly.

"To reply to the minister, we are soldiers under the command of Liang Yong, the captain of the Gaoshan Guard. The day before yesterday, Liang Yong received a military order from the vice commander's office of the Gaoshan Guard, asking him to lead fifty light cavalrymen to patrol the border and investigate the movements of the northern barbarians.

After receiving the order, General Liang led us out of the pass. Unexpectedly, we were ambushed by thousands of northern barbarians the day before yesterday afternoon. General Liang saw the opportunity quickly and led his brothers to escape to a dangerous hill. Taking advantage of the fact that the northern barbarians had not surrounded us, he asked a few of us to run out from the back mountain and ask for help from Gaoshanwei.

We didn't want to be discovered by the Northern Tartars on the way, so we fought and fled, losing two brothers. We made a big detour and finally escaped into Hukou Valley last night. We went to Gaoshanwei overnight and asked for help from the deputy general.

As a result, he was driven out by the deputy general's personal guards, who accused us, General Liang Qian, of attacking without authorization.

God knows! Going out for inspection is a matter of life and death, who would be willing to go out? Without military orders, we stay in the pass, who would be willing to go out!

"Master, please, please save our General Liang. He is a good official. He treats us like brothers. We cannot bear to see him die in the hands of the northern barbarians."

Listen to the four sergeants take turns speaking.

Hu Zongxian turned around and asked the garrison at Hukou Valley.

"Is this possible?"

"To reply to Minister Hu, we dare not let anyone out without a military order, not to mention that General Liang Qian has led fifty cavalrymen out of the pass."

This is tantamount to implicitly admitting that Liang Yong left the country on military orders.

Now the deputy general in charge of Gaoshan, Yanghe and Tiancheng guards has refused to acknowledge him. There is something fishy going on.

"What is Lin Zhengbiao doing!"

Hu Zongxian cursed angrily and then appointed his generals.

"Dong Yiyuan, Chen Wu, the two of you, follow my order and immediately mobilize a thousand light cavalrymen. These four people will lead the way and rescue Liang Yong. Don't fight to the death. Saving lives is the most important thing."

"Yes!"

"Brother Shi Liang, let's go to Gaoshanwei City now."

"it is good!"

Hu Zongxian and Pan Jixun, with hundreds of guards, quickly entered the Gaoshanwei City.

This is a small castle, which is used purely for military purposes. It is also a grain storage center for the surrounding military settlements and a commercial center for the area.

Outside the city, there are a large number of wooden houses and earthen houses built by the people themselves, as well as tents and shacks. In the middle are more than a dozen shops selling furs, cloth, grain, salt, copper and ironware as well as daily necessities.

Camels were lying in groups of three or two on the open ground, horse-drawn carriages were parked in a haphazard manner, and the most eye-catching thing in the commercial area was a banner: Qi County Hengyuantai.

Hu Zongxian saw this, frowned, turned to Pan Jixun and said: "The last time I came here, I told Lin Zhengbiao that trade on the border would not be banned, but I asked him to tidy it up and not make it like a beggars' gathering.

You didn't listen to me! You must have other thoughts in your mind."

Pan Jixun knew that the situation in the Nine Borders was complicated, especially the three towns of Shanxi, Datong and Xuanfu close to Shanxi, and nodded silently.

Hu Zongxian took Pan Jixun straight into Gaoshanwei City and headed straight for the deputy general's mansion.

As soon as I entered, I heard the sound of stringed instruments and loud shouting coming from inside.

"Another bowl! Let's all toast to General Lin!"

"it is good!"

Amid the chaotic cheers and flattery, there was the giggles of several women.

"The soldiers are half dead in the battlefield, while the beauties are still singing and dancing in the tent!"

Hu Zongxian turned to look at Pan Jixun, muttered something angrily and ashamedly, and rushed in with his personal soldiers.

(End of this chapter)