The third update, everyone will support it—

When the father and son of the Zhang family heard the report, they all changed color slightly. The father and son looked at each other. Zhang Han had already said, "Father, is it because Hezhou is in a hurry and Hu Zongmao sent someone to invite reinforcements?"

Zhang Shuyan had already said to the outside, "Let him wait in the outer hall." Then he said to Zhang Han, "Do you think it was Hu Zongmao who sent someone to ask for reinforcements?"

Zhang Han nodded slightly and said, "There are only two possibilities for sending people here at this time. Either he forced Chu Huan to retreat and sent someone to tell him, just to show his might. Second, the military situation can only be in urgent need of the war. Hezhou City can no longer be defended, so he sends people to ask for help."

"Since that's the case, why do you think he must be asking for help?"

"Father, think that Chu Huan has many troops and horses, and Hu Zongmao would never dare to go out of the city to fight Chu Huan." Zhang Han said softly: "But my father said long ago that with Chu Huan's troops and food and fodder, it should be fine if he can last for about twenty days or even a month. With Chu Huan's advance, and based on the time when the people from Hezhou were traveling this time, Chu Huan was in Hezhou for no more than ten days. It is difficult for him to believe that Hu Zongmao would be able to retreat or even defeat Chu Huan within ten days, so it is impossible to send someone to report the good news."

Uncle Zhang laughed loudly and said, "Han'er, I have said long ago that you have a bright future. Some things can be thought of by using your brain. Keep your calmness and never drink alcohol and corrode your mind." But the smile on his face quickly disappeared, and he frowned and said, "What you said makes sense, but... I'm afraid it may not be coming to ask for reinforcements."

Zhang Han was stunned and said strangely: "Is there any other possibility?"

Zhang Shuyan pondered slightly and then said slowly: "As long as Hu Zongmao did not end the end of the country, he would never ask for help from me. Hezhou was adjacent to Shazhou in the south and Jinzhou in the north. Although Hezhou City was farther from Shazhou than our Jinzhou, if he really asked for help, he would definitely go towards Shazhou, not to our Jinzhou. Zhu Lingyue asked us to raise an army. At a critical moment, Hu Zongmao must have thought of Zhu Lingyue, not to mention Hu Zongmao should be clear that even if we send troops and the two Jin and Hezhous join forces, they may not be Chu Huan's opponent. Only when Tianshan sends troops can he hug Hezhou."

"But in this case, even if Hu Zongmao sent someone to ask for help from Tianshan, would Zhu Lingyue really send troops?" Zhang Han frowned and said, "Father, Zhu Lingyue asked us to raise troops because he did not dare to come forward. Once he sent troops to Hezhou, how could he explain to the court?"

Zhang Shuyan smiled faintly and said, "It is one thing for Hu Zongmao to send people to ask for help, but it is another thing for Zhu Lingyue to send troops. Whether or not to send troops depends on how Zhu Lingyue thinks."

"What does father mean?"

"According to common sense, Zhu Lingyue will certainly not send troops easily." Zhang Shuyan's eyes flashed and he said slowly: "But this is not a fixed number. If Zhu Lingyue sends troops, it is not a rare thing. Although Zhu Lingyue is not fully prepared, in terms of heart, his current strength is definitely not comparable to Chu Huan. If you really want to send troops at this time, Chu Huan will be unable to resist. If nothing unexpected happens, you will soon be able to reach the entire Xiguan area. However, once this is the case, it means that he is completely treasoning."

Zhang Han nodded slightly.

"Tianmen Dao is to disrupt the southeast. Although Lei Guheng is a general and a famous general in the world, the power of Tianmen Dao is too great. The court is empty and has limited support for Lei Guheng. Lei Guheng may not be able to wipe out Tianmen Dao." Zhang Shuyan carried his hands on his back, walked to the window, looked at the rockery in the courtyard, and slowly said: "If it was just southeast, the court could still draw troops to march into the northwest, but the Qingtian King in Hebei rekindled, and Han Santong retreated step by step. Once the Qingtian King really defeated Han Santong, he immediately rushed to Fuhai Road, and then the eastern part of the empire would be controlled in the hands of the Qingtian King...!"

Zhang Han changed his color slightly and said, "If that were the case, the salt road of the empire would be completely blocked. The salt road in the southeast was already difficult to transport salt to the mainland under the turmoil of Tianmen Road. Once the last piece of salt road, Fuhai Road, was occupied by the Qingtian King, and Tianmen Road and Qingtian King sealed the salt road at the same time, the mainland would definitely lack salt. At that time, not only will there be a salt waste in the pass, but our northwest will also be unable to escape the bad luck."

Zhang Shuyan sighed: "You don't think it's important to have salt, but once the salt path is really cut off, it's amazing... So when the court deals with the southeast Tianmen Dao, it will never ignore the Blue Heavenly King. The court has few supplies, so it needs to deal with both sides. Do you think the court still has time to take care of the northwest?"

Zhang Han understood and said, "My father said that even if Zhu Lingyue was not fully prepared, he might take risks?"

"Of course it is possible." Zhang Shuyan nodded slightly and said, "Actually, Zhu Lingyue has not dared to move easily for a long time, so he may not be really worried that the army will be sent to conquer the prison. He is clear about the situation of the court and knows that under the current situation, even if he raises troops to rebel, the court will not have the spare energy to conquer the northwest. Before Chu Huan arrives, do you know what his major trouble is?"

"Of course it's Xiao Huanzhang." Zhang Han immediately said: "Although Zhu Lingyue intervened in Beishan affairs during the war, Xiao Huanzhang seemed to be very cooperative, but Xiao Huanzhang's vitality in Beishan was not damaged and his foundation was extremely stable. If Zhu Lingyue wants to dominate the northwest, Xiao Huanzhang must step over the mountain."

Uncle Zhang smiled faintly and said, "Although Xiao Huanzhang is a nail in Zhu Lingyue's eyes, it is not Xiao Huanzhang who truly regards Zhu Lingyue as a confidant, but Gan Hou!"

"Gu Hou?" Zhang Han was stunned, "Northwest Army?"

Zhang Shuyan nodded and said, "Yes, don't forget that although the Northwest Army suffered defeat under the hands of the Xiliang people, this does not mean that the Northwest Army is a group of cowards. On the contrary, the combat effectiveness of the Northwest Army has always been beyond doubt." After a pause, he thoughtful and said, "Think about it yourself, Xiao Tianwen, the king of the South Court of Xiliang, has been eyeing the Central Plains for many years. He has long had military power in Xiliang, and the people of Xiliang have not wanted to attack Qin in the south for a day, but why did they endure for many years and dare not take action?"

"It's because of the cold smile!" Zhang Han said immediately.

Zhang Shuyan nodded first, then shook his head again, and said, "It's because of Fenghan's smile, but it's not because of Fenghan's smile."

Zhang Han didn't understand it for a moment.

"Because Feng Hanxiao, that's because only Feng Hanxiao can suppress the Northwest Army. He can clench the 100,000 Northwest Army into a fist, and only Feng Hanxiao can easily and easily let this fist move forward and retreat." Zhang Shuyan stared at Zhang Han and said: "Feng Hanxiao has been commanding the Northwest Army for nearly 20 years. He has been wise in his hands. The 12 commanders of the Northwest Army, which is not a powerful general who crawled out of the dead, and only Feng Hanxiao can suppress them. The Northwest Army has been trained under his command for nearly 20 years. Do you think this army will be a group of cowards?"

Zhang Han sighed and said, "No of the four generals is not a famous general who is the only one. Feng Hanxiao's Northwest Army guards the border and after the founding of the country, the people of Xiliang dare not attack on the ground. He is indeed an amazing person."

"But the people of Xiliang were afraid of Feng Hanxiao because of the 100,000 warriors under his command." Uncle Zhang said seriously: "The soldiers of the Northwest Army are like wolves and tigers. Even if the people of Xiliang have 100,000 cavalry, they dare not act rashly, which shows the strength of the Northwest Army. If it weren't for Feng Hanxiao's sudden killing, if it wasn't for the internal part of the Northwest Army, if it wasn't for the court's failure to determine the Northwest Commander in time, if it wasn't for Xiao Tianwen who seized the best opportunity, if it wasn't for the various units of the Northwest Army fighting on their own..." His speed of speech accelerated, with regret on his face, and sighed: "The people of Xiliang could not break through Yanmen Pass, and the Northwest Army would not be able to suffer such a defeat."

Zhang Han understood, picked up the teacup, handed it to Zhang Shuyan, and said, "What my father meant is that Zhu Lingyue was still afraid of Gan Hou's 40,000 Northwest Army?"

Zhang Shuyan took the teacup, took a sip, then put it down, nodded, "The 40,000 Northwest Army commanded by Gan Hou now are all Feng Hanxiao's foundation. Gan Hou himself is also a brave and good general. Now the Northwest Army has established its commander and has a 40,000 army. Do you think Zhu Lingyue can't be afraid? He has been reluctant to take action because of the existence of the Northwest Army, coupled with a cunning Xiao Huanzhang, if Zhu Lingyue is not sure, how dare he do it easily? So while he is managing Tianshan Mountain, he uses Dongfang Xin and others to control Xiguan, and then suppressing Xiao Huanzhang. If Chu Huan had not appeared, Xiguan would have been controlled by him. Xiao Huanzhang could not be supported by him, and sooner or later he would be dealt with by Zhu Lingyue. At that time, he will naturally not be afraid of Tian Hou."

"So why did my father say that he might take action this time?"

Zhang Shuyan's eyes flashed and said, "Just because he doesn't take action, Chu Huan may control the entire Xiguan. At that time, the northwest will be truly three-legged, and Zhu Lingyue's ambition will be even more difficult to achieve." After a pause, he lowered his voice and said, "He promised us that the Northwest Army will not act rashly. In other words, he is likely to have reached some kind of agreement with Marquis Tian. As long as Marquis Tian does not move, he will take the lead in defeating Chu Huan and taking Xiguan. It is much better than watching Chu Huan grow bigger in the northwest."

Zhang Han looked like he suddenly realized, and said, "If Zhu Lingyue really sent troops, then we?"

"Of course we must obey Duke Zhu's orders." Zhang Shuyan smiled, "Don't forget that we are Duke Zhu's people. Duke Zhu has an order, so we should follow it."

Zhang Han laughed loudly, feeling that his father was indeed far-sighted, and immediately showed doubts. He asked: "Father, Hezhou sent someone to come to report to the victory or to ask for help, so why did he come?"

Zhang Shuyan had already gotten up, tidy up his clothes, and said, "Then I can only let the envoy tell us what Hu Zongmao wanted to do."
Chapter completed!