Although Zhao Yu was determined to deliberately defeat and secretly help Xiang Xuan succeed, it was not a failure on the battlefield, because that would lead to many Yingchuan County soldiers who trusted him in vain. Although there might not be a few people who learned the truth, they could not deceive their inner conscience.

This means that Zhao Yu can only choose to start strategically to strive for a "hard to win".

On February 29, when Xiang Xuan was still in charge of the county magistrate's office in Pingyu County and confronted Wang Qing, Zhou Gong and other generals who were stationed in Shangcai County, he suddenly received news from Yang'an County - Zou Bin, the general stationed in Yang'an County, sent someone to send a letter.

After reading the letter, Xiang Xuan's expression changed slightly.

Seeing this, the guard beside him exclaimed: "General, could the Jin army in Yingchuan attack Yang'an?"

“…”

Xiang Xuan shook his head slightly and ordered: "Go and invite General Liu De."

"yes!"

After a while, Liu De rushed to the county magistrate's mansion and arrived at the party room where Xiang Xuan was.

Since leading the troops to Pingyu County last year, Liu De, as a general, was mainly responsible for resisting the Jin army in Yingchuan. Although Wang Qing never showed up, his position next week, Ju Sheng, Le Gui, Xu Qian, Gao Ning and other generals were enough to make Liu De cheer up.

After all, in terms of the ability to command troops, Zhou Gong was better than Liu De, which was thanks to the Yingchuan County Army that has mainly adopted the "defense" so far, otherwise Liu De would not have been able to withstand it.

Fortunately, the Yingchuan County Army currently has not strong desire to attack, and Liu De suspected that the other party was dragged down by the thieves in Woniu Mountain.

"Ship Xiang is in a hurry to summon me. Could it be that there is something important?"

Liu De asked with a smile as he walked into the house.

He didn't even politely and directly asked Xiang Xuan. After all, as a former Changsha Yishi General who was the same period as Xiang Xuan, he had a good relationship with Xiang Xuan, so the two of them naturally did not need to be polite in private.

Seeing Liu De coming, Xiang Xuan, who was sitting behind the desk, handed the letter from Yang'an County to the former, and said, "Zou Feng sent someone in Yang'an to send an urgent letter, saying that in recent days, someone from Woniu Mountain had secretly contacted him, hoping to meet with me and talk about the joint efforts of the two parties..."

"Bandits of Woniu?" Liu De took the letter and smiled. At this time, Xiang Xuan added: "The other party calls himself the righteous master of Nanyang..."

"!"

Liu De showed surprise when he heard this, frowned and carefully read Zou Feng's letter. After a while, he asked Xiang Xuan: "Didn't the Nanyang Yishi, have you been destroyed long ago?"

“…not sure.”

Xiang Xuan frowned and breathed slightly.

The news about Nanyang Yishi Master has always been confusing. Some people say that Nanyang Yishi Master disappeared after being expelled to Woniu Mountain by Wang Yan, while others say that Nanyang Yishi Master is still active in the Woniu Mountain area.

Although Xiang Xuan also heard some rumors, he was not sure what the truth was.

He only knew that if the Nanyang Yishi Master still survived, then the water behind this Yishi Master would probably be very deep.

Just as Xiang Xuan was pondering, Liu De thought, "Anyway, let's meet the other party? If it was Zhang Zhai, then we would have more help. Woniu bandits... No, the Nanyang Yishi can block the encirclement of Yingchuan County Army and drag it back on it. It can be seen that the strength over there is not weak. If we can absorb this team, we will be more confident in dealing with Zhou Hu and Wang Shangde!"

"You're thinking too simple..."

Xiang Xuanmo kept silent and thought with his eyes closed.

The Nanyang Yishi resisted the encirclement and suppression of Yingchuan County Army? Delayed the Yingchuan County Army?

What a joke!

Zhou Hu was able to quickly quell the rebellious generals of the six counties including Jiyin, Dongping, Shanyang, Renjun, Jibei, Jinan, etc. within half a year. Do you think he really took the Woniu bandits, and there was no way to deal with the Nanyang Yishi?

Xiang Xuan might not be sure if he was someone else, but he had dealt with Zhou Hu and knew the power of the bandit leader.

However, after pondering, Xiang Xuan decided to meet with the other party and see what the other party wanted to do.

On that day, Xiang Xuan wrote a letter in person and sent someone to Yang'an.

The next day, on the first day of March, a team of foreigners secretly came to Pingyu County. The leader was no one else, but Dai Qushuai, the Yishi of Nanyang on Woniu Mountain, He Yu.

He Xu and the twenty talented men who were accompanying him arrived at the southern gate of Pingyu County, and were stopped by Xiang Xuan's guards who had been waiting there.

The guard in the leader clasped his fists and said to He Xu: "Is it the Woniu Mountain messenger who came to meet Xiang Shuai?"

"That's right." He Xu was a little surprised, surprised that the other party could see the identity of his group at a glance.

However, after thinking about it carefully, he felt relieved. After all, Pingyu County is currently implementing martial law. Although there are still people coming in and out, they all need to go through strict inspections. More than 20 strong young men like them are really eye-catching, and no wonder the other party saw it at a glance.

Of course, it’s nothing to be seen through. On this land, they are actually the safest party. Xiang Xuan’s Changsha Yishi would not attack them, and Yingchuan County Army...ha.

"Sir Xiang has been waiting for you for a long time. Please follow me."

"Thank you for leading the way."

After a few words, He Xu and his group followed Xiang Xuan and the guards into the city.

While walking, He Hu carefully observed the situation in the city.

Not to mention, Pingyu County is really good under the rule of Changsha Yishi. At first glance, it still looks peaceful, which makes He Yu nodded secretly.

After a while, He Xu and his group arrived at the county magistrate's mansion in the city.

After glanced at the plaque of the county magistrate's palace, He Xu's face showed a strange look and asked the guards with a smile: "Did General Xiang take the position of county magistrate of Runan?"

"No." The guard in the leader didn't know what He Yu meant, and replied in a straightforward manner: "This mansion is still hosted by Yang Han, the governor of Runan County, and Lord Yang. However, for the sake of communication convenience, Xiang Shuai borrowed a corner in the mansion as the coach..."

"Oh?" He Xu asked in surprise: "Xiang Shuai still appointed former officials from Jin State to govern Runan?"

The guard probably was impatient and did not answer He Xu again. He just raised his hand and made a gesture of invitation: "Supervisor Xiang is waiting for the envoy in the mansion, please!"

Seeing this, He Xuan didn't care. He laughed and walked into the mansion. Then, under the guidance of the guards, he arrived at the party where Xiang Xuan was.

At the same time, Xiang Xuan was carefully observing the battle reports and news sent by all parties in the party room. Suddenly, a guard walked in and reported to him: "Xiang Shuai, the messenger from Woniu Mountain has arrived."

『Are you here?

Xiang Xuan raised his eyebrows and stood up immediately. He happened to step into the party room at this time. Xiang Xuan, who was about to hold his fists and bow, was slightly stunned.

He thought it would be Zhang Zhai, but he didn't expect it to be.

"I'm a little familiar."

With a clasped his fists at the other party, Xiang Xuan tentatively sceptically.

Obviously, although the person who came was not Zhang Zhai, he felt that he had seen this person before.

This is not surprising. After all, He Xu is an old man next to Zhang Zhai.

Hearing Xiang Xuan's words, He Qi smiled and folded his fists and replied, "I didn't expect that Xiang Shuai still remembers it?... In the next sixteenth, when Zhang Qu's envoy took me to Changsha to visit Guan Shuai, I was fortunate to meet Xiang Shuai..."

"oh."

After hearing what He Yu said, Xiang Xuan gradually recalled that he had indeed seen He Yu back then.

Suddenly, he couldn't help but feel a little moved.

When Zhang Zhai visited Changsha, several charity troops south of the river had not yet sent troops to attack Jin. At that time, the commander of the Changsha charity troops was still Guan Shuo, and Xiang Xuan was just a general under his command. Unexpectedly, in just six or seven years, the Changsha charity troops were almost destroyed.

"Please sit down by the envoy."

"Thank you, Xiang Shuai."

A moment later, Xiang Xuan's guards brought tea, and Xiang Xuan looked up and down at He Xu. He said with some meaning: "Xiang had thought that the person who came would be Zhang Qu'er... Haha, Xiang just said casually, don't be surprised."

"A casual talk?"

He Xu snorted in his heart.

Although he is not old and is only twenty-nine years old this year, don’t forget that he has followed Zhang Zhai Gan Yishi since childhood. After Zhang Zhai went to Taishan County a few years ago, he had to shoulder the burden of the entire Nanyang Yishi. Under the heavy burden, both his cunning and vision are far better than his peers. How could he not hear Xiang Xuan’s implicit?

To put it bluntly, Xiang Xuan just thought he was young and not enough to take on heavy responsibilities.

Of course, this is actually not a big mistake. Compared with Xiang Xuan, who is 41 years old, He Xu, who is nearly 29 years old, is indeed too young.

"hehe."

He Qi, who felt despised, smiled dissatisfiedly and said calmly: "What Xiang Shuai said is very true. If it weren't for the reason, this time it would be Zhang Qu's envoy to negotiate with Xiang Shuai..." After a pause, he added with a smile: "He Qi is not talented, and is entrusted by Zhang Qu's envoy. He is now serving as the acting commander of the Nanyang Yishi. If Xiang Shuai has anything, he might as well say it to him, and he can also make decisions."

『Uh?』

Xiang Xuan was slightly stunned, with a little surprise on his face, both surprised that He Xu who came this time was actually Dai Qushuai of Nanyang Yishi, and also surprised that Zhang Zhai's so-called "there is a reason for this".

He tentatively said, "Zhang Qu, is there something delayed?"

"Well..."

He Xu deliberately showed a hint of embarrassment of being inconvenient to tell him.

Seeing this, Xiang Xuan understood. After nodding slightly, he smiled and said, "Since He Shuai can make the decision, it's naturally okay."

He paused, then looked at He Xu and asked, "... Can Xiang understand that this time, He Shuai even wanted to see Xiang, not Zhang Qu's envoy?"

He Xu thought for a moment and nodded: "It can be said that."

"oh……"

When Xiang Xuan heard this, he looked at He Yi for a few seconds, and then asked quietly: "Isn't He Shuai coming to see Xiang this time, what advice do you have?"

He Xu smiled with his fist and said, "I dare not give advice... I learned that Guan Guan had risen to this point, so he came to join us intently, hoping that our two righteous troops would join forces to work together to plan a great cause!"

After hearing this, Xiang Xuan was not surprised at all, but he did not rush to agree, because in his judgment, this Nanyang Yishi Master had a considerable problem.

He asked quietly: "Your army...please forgive Xiang for saying frankly, I wonder how many troops your army still has now?"

"The elite troops were nearly 10,000, and the miscellaneous soldiers were more than 10,000." He Xu replied proudly.

"That's what about 20,000 people?" Xiang Xuan narrowed his eyes when he heard this, and the sense of suspicion in his eyes became stronger.
To be continued...