Ming politicians

() Liu Tiehan was really convinced, and completely surrendered to Su Tiancheng.

He set fire to the cottage and handed over all the wealth accumulated over the years to Su Tiancheng. Unfortunately, in Su Tiancheng's view, these properties were indeed a little small, 200 taels of gold, 3000 taels of silver, and [-] taels of grain. There is nothing left.

Following Su Tiancheng, these meeting gifts are indeed too few, and Liu Tiehan himself feels a little embarrassed.

The brothers in the cottage have left a long time ago, especially since Su Tiancheng came to Mengjin County for disaster relief, many people have gone to help dredge the silt and get paid. Seeing that they can survive the famine, they will go home honestly I don't want to live a life of licking blood.

The situation in Henan gradually settled down, and Liu Tiehan also distributed a lot of silver taels. The brothers who were willing to go home took all the silver taels and went down the mountain. Everyone wanted to live a peaceful life.

Knowing that Liu Tiehan has occupied the mountain for more than three years, but only accumulated these wealth, Su Tiancheng nodded slightly.

It seems that the reward of Brother Xiaoqiying must be returned to Jiangning County before it can be resolved.

On September [-]th, the large army arrived at Shuicheng in Guide Mansion.

One day later, everyone can leave Henan and enter Nanzhili. There are two roads to choose, one can take Fengyang Mansion, pass Chuzhou, and return to Yingtian Mansion, or take Luzhou Mansion, pass Hezhou, and return to Yingtian Mansion .

Everyone's mood has obviously improved, and they left for more than two months in a blink of an eye. When they left, it was still midsummer, and it was already late autumn when they returned to Nanzhili.

Su Tiancheng discussed with the officers of the Xiaoqi Battalion and got everyone's opinions.It is better to go from Luzhou Mansion, the road is shorter.Can save a day or two of time.

On this day, the time for everyone to set up camp was a little earlier. At You hour, the large troops set up camp. They had to rest well, recharge their spirits, and return to Nanzhili.In the eyes of everyone, entering Nanzhili is considered to be going home.

The place where the camp is set up is less than [-] miles away from Shuicheng County, and it takes only about a quarter of an hour on a fast horse.

After leaving Mengjin, the team did not enter any city.They all marched along the official road, as if they had unified their thinking. None of the officials in Henan came forward to receive them. All of this was within Su Tiancheng's expectation.

Traveling is still hard work.The bumps on the horse's back are a waste of energy.

Su Tiancheng sat in the tent, closed his eyes and meditated. After eating, he was ready to rest.

When the officers of Xiaoqi Battalion came in.His expression was a little panicked.

"My lord, it's not good. It's not good..."

The sergeants of the Xiaoqi camp had never been so flustered before. Su Tiancheng stood up abruptly. Could it be that he was about to leave Henan, and would encounter some major event? The bandits in Henan did not dare to mess with Xiaoqi camp. Activities, as for the Houjin soldiers, they are all in the north, and it is impossible to come here.

"Why panic, what's the matter, speak slowly."

Su Tiancheng's composed expression stabilized the officer's heart to a certain extent.

"My lord, the scouts came to report and found a large group of people in front and behind. These people are not the army of the imperial court, nor the soldiers of the local inspection department."

"Oh, how many troops do they have, what is their general purpose, have you figured it out?"

"The general has sent scouts to investigate again, but the general predicts that these troops are targeting us."

"Why did you only find out now?"

"The last general also finds it strange, I haven't found it before."

"I see. Inform all the brothers and strengthen their vigilance. If there is any new situation, report it immediately."

Deng Hui and Liu Tiehan entered the tent.

Su Tiancheng has been thinking for a few minutes, he is a little confused, who are these people, who dare to deal with the sergeants of the Xiaoqi Battalion, and when he is about to leave Henan and return to Nanzhili, could it be said that it is Henan? The bandits in the territory? Ordinarily, the bandits don't have such guts.

Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win a hundred battles. Under the current situation, it is difficult to figure out the situation by relying on the scouts of the Xiaoqi Battalion. It seems that we still have to rely on Deng Hui and Liu Tiehan.

"Deng Hui, Liu Tiehan, the scouts have just detected. There are a large number of people in front of us and behind us. I don't know what the purpose of these people is. Tomorrow we will leave Henan and return to Nanzhili. At this time, There can be no accidents, according to your experience, are these people targeting us, who are they, could they be bandits?"

"I think that it can't be bandits. The bandits in Henan Province wish the Xiaoqiying camp could leave one day earlier. Du Laosan's huge power will be wiped out in front of the Xiaoqiying camp. No one should ask for trouble. "

Deng Hui was very sure of what he said, but Liu Tiehan didn't speak.

"Liu Tiehan, what do you think?"

"My lord, I can't say, but I can take my brothers to investigate. These brothers of mine still know a little about the terrain here. We are also familiar with the local situation, so they won't arouse their suspicion."

"Okay, Liu Tiehan, take a few brothers to find out the situation, be careful, if you can't find out the situation, come back immediately, don't force it."

The atmosphere in the Xiaoqi camp seemed tense. Everyone didn't know what kind of opponent they were facing.

This kind of emotion is very annoying. The origin of the other party is unknown, and it is impossible to figure out the exact number of troops. After all, the Xiaoqi Battalion only has more than 100 soldiers, and the people brought by Liu Tiehan are less than 300. The opponent is two groups of troops, front and rear. If it is aimed at the Xiaoqi Battalion, it is ready to attack from both front and back.

Under such circumstances, no one dares to be sloppy.

Several officers from the Xiaoqi Battalion sat in Su Tiancheng's tent, and everyone was silent.

After discussing for a long time, all kinds of situations have been guessed. I just don’t know who these people are. .

Su Tiancheng has some ideas, but he won't say them out. This involves conflicts among officials.

The guard this night was very strict.Everyone has lost the joy of going home.

When it was approaching Zishi, Liu Tiehan and others came back.

when entering the tent.His expression was very solemn, obviously he had sensed something.

Several officers of the Xiaoqi Battalion were all in Su Tiancheng's tent, and they also knew that Liu Tiehan and others went to check the situation, but unexpectedly returned in the middle of the night.

"My lord, we already know something."

"Don't rush. Take your time."

"The front and rear groups are together. They are rogues from Shanxi."

Su Tiancheng stood up in shock, not only him, the faces of several officers also changed, the bandits followed here, you know.Coming from Shanxi, it is almost necessary to cross the whole of Henan. This is not so easy to do. There are too many mysteries in it.

Rogues are not so easy to deal with, compared with bandits.Rogues have gone through wars and have rich experience.

"Liu Tiehan, have you really figured it out?"

"I figured it out, their leader is called Fang Ming, and I only found out about this situation by accident. It was a coincidence, the person who led them. He had some fate with me before, and told what he knew. Moreover, they It has been several days since I arrived in Shuicheng, and I have always been active near the official road, neither harassing the government nor robbing the people."

"Oh, you mean they're just waiting for us."

Liu Tiehan nodded, but did not answer.

"How many people are there in total, have you figured it out?"

"They have a total of 2000 people, including 200 cavalry, divided into two groups. In the Yingzui Valley in front of us, there are 200 people waiting, including 800 cavalry. Behind us, there are [-] people."

"Where is Eagle Mouth Valley?"

"Yingzui Valley is the junction of Henan and Nanzhili. It is under the jurisdiction of Suzhou in Nanzhili. When you reach Yingzui Valley, you are considered to have entered Nanzhili."

Inside the tent, it was very quiet, 2000 people, although not many, but everyone knows the fighting power of the rogues, not to mention the rogues who came all the way from Shanxi, they can cross Henan and come to Shuicheng safe and sound, it is not easy up.

Everyone looked at Su Tiancheng.

After thinking for a while, he spoke.

"Since they are rogues, we must face them carefully. We must not be negligent. The rogues are used to fighting on the move. They came from Shanxi and traveled thousands of miles. It is not easy. It seems that they have spent a lot of money and must kill us. Ah, the people in ambush ahead are in Yingzui Valley, which means that this group of rogues don't want to attack in Henan Province, otherwise they won't wait until now, and the place to attack will be in Yingzui Valley. Let's take a good rest today and tomorrow Slow down the schedule, set off at Chenshi, rest at Shenshi, and pass through Yingzui Valley in the middle of the night."

No one spoke.

"Since there are no other opinions, let's go down and make arrangements. Don't disclose the relevant arrangements for the time being."

The officers of the Xiaoqi Battalion left, while Deng Hui and Liu Tiehan stayed.

"Liu Tiehan, what else is going on, you can talk about it now."

Liu Tiehan looked at Deng Hui, gritted his teeth and spoke.

"My lord, Fang Ming is a follower who doesn't stick to mud, and he is also the best brother. He came to Henan this time to deal with the lord. They have already come here, but the lord is helping the disaster. They have no chance to do it."

Su Tiancheng frowned.

"Liu Tiehan, there are two questions, do you know?"

"Excuse me, my lord?"

"First, since Fang Ming wanted to avenge the non-stained mud, he must have prepared carefully. He didn't have the courage to wait for them to go to South Zhili. I came to Henan to help the disaster. Although the news spread widely. , but it is impossible for ordinary people to know my name, how did Fang Ming know?"

"Secondly, why didn't Fang Ming attack in Henan? He had to wait until I left Henan and entered Nanzhili before doing so. Moreover, we didn't go back to the capital as usual, and went directly to Nanzhili. There are even fewer people who know the news. , how did Fang Ming know and be able to prepare in advance?"

Deng Hui and Liu Tiehan's complexions were a little pale. Su Tiancheng's question revealed some information faintly, and it was impossible for them to know it. Perhaps this was also a question that Su Tiancheng focused on and did not ask them to answer.