The main camp of the Southern Xinjiang Army was in the center of the camp. Jian Xun lived on the outskirts of the camp, but he walked quickly. When he entered the camp, only a small number of people came.
Ning Chuqing was wearing silver armor and sitting on the main seat. In front of her was a wide table with a sand table on it. Behind her stood a map of southern Daqi, which included parts of the area outside of southern Xinjiang.
The atmosphere in the camp was solemn. Ning Chuqing was holding a long sword in her hand and was wiping the blade with cotton cloth. The blade shone with cold light. The edge of the sword was exposed, but her overall aura was very restrained.
Ning Chuqing is very meticulous in his military use and his methods are cunning. Many times a small team can be used as a surprise force in his hands, so every time there is a discussion, people above the rank of commander-in-chief must be present.
Ning Chuqing discovered Jian Xun's arrival almost immediately.
Ning Chuqing and Jian Xun are like two completely opposite sides. Ning Chuqing is accomplished in the use of soldiers and prefers to hide her strength and bide her time, while Jian Xun prefers to rely on his martial arts to defeat ten groups and show his sharp edge.
After fighting on the battlefield for a few days, Jian Xun's aura has changed drastically. He stood in the crowd holding his sword, which was wider and heavier than the ordinary long sword. A sword that drinks blood.
Even the generals of the Southern Xinjiang Army sitting around the sand table couldn't help but glance at Jian Xun frequently.
Many generals couldn't help but murmur in their hearts, is this the little commander who has made a name for himself on the battlefield in recent days? If this trend continues, it won't be long before this person can hold a position as a junior general.
Looking at the history of the Southern Xinjiang Army, the last person to be promoted so quickly was the current General Zhenyuan himself. It is true that heroes have been born since ancient times.
Although there are occasional fights for fame and fortune within the Southern Xinjiang Army, most of the generals are rare heroes and will not stop newcomers from coming forward. The more people who can ride a thousand people, the more securely Southern Xinjiang can be defended.
Of course, even in Daqi's most stringent army, there will still be people who are jealous of talents and talents. Several lieutenants with lower military ranks looked at Jian Xun unkindly.
However, Jian Xun basically didn't care about other people's eyes. Even if he was looked at overtly or covertly, his expression would not change.
About half a quarter of an hour later, the camp was filled with people, and there was even an unexpected person present.
As soon as this man appeared, many generals gasped in shock, and the atmosphere in the camp suddenly became tense.
Jian Xun was looking at the sand table in a trance, simulating the terrain of the subsequent battlefield in his mind. In this suddenly stagnant atmosphere, he looked up at the door with feeling.
The person who came was wearing a black gown, holding a folding fan in his hand, and had a smile on his face. This face was unfamiliar to most people in the room.
Anyone who had seen this person suddenly felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy and did not understand why this person suddenly visited.
The prince's confidant——Pei Yan.
In recent days, the prince has been touring southern Xinjiang, and beside him is a guard battalion commander who looks like a frail scholar.
Pei Yan looks very easy-going, but no one will look down upon him because of his natural smile. Third Young Master Pei is famous all over the world, and his reputation is even louder than that of the prince.
As soon as Jian Xun raised his head, he caught Pei Yan's eyes. If he felt correctly, the other party seemed to be specifically looking for him in the crowd, and nodded to him after finding him.
Jian Xun suddenly felt baffled. He had no friendship with Pei Yan. At most, he had met Pei Yan a few times at the prince's place.
The other party specially greeted him, which seemed a bit strange. Because of the sudden vigilance in his heart, Jian Xun did not return the greeting to Pei Yan, and even turned his head away.
Seeing his reaction of wanting to draw a clear line, Pei Yan was not annoyed and smiled easily.
However, Ning Chuqing frowned immediately when he saw this scene.
When Ning Chuqing brought Jian Xun to the new barracks, he did not identify him. He only said that this man was highly skilled in martial arts and made an exception to recruit him into the Southern Xinjiang Army. This was also for the sake of Jian Xun's future development, so that no one would think of Jian Xun's achievements. They were all obtained by him or the prince's blessing.
Jian Xun had no objection. He had a fight with the generals of the new barracks and immediately convinced everyone.
But now that Pei Yan has come as the prince's confidant, it is not a good thing to be too close to Jian Xun. It seems like he is deliberately causing trouble for Jian Xun.
Ning Chuqing frowned fiercely and realized that Pei Yan seemed to be targeting Jian Xun. Could it be that these two people had some disputes when they were under the prince's command?
But Ning Chuqing had no intention of driving him away for Jian Xun. After all, he was a subordinate of the prince. Wouldn't his doing so make people think that he was arrogant towards the prince?
Ning Chuqing signaled one of his generals to give up his seat to Pei Yan. The general's eyebrows stood up, he stood up reluctantly, and grinned at Pei Yan: "Master Pei, please."
Pei Yan had no idea of humility at all, Shi Shiran He sat down in the seat given by the general.
"Thank you very much."
Pei Yan unfolded the folding fan with a swish, and explained in the eyes of everyone with hidden fear: "Your Highness heard that southern Xinjiang was unstable, so he sent me to express condolences. If the general needs help, Pei will do his best. You don't need to pay attention to me, military affairs are important."
Pei Yan made it clear that the military situation in southern Xinjiang was urgent, and it seemed too irresponsible for the prince not to send someone to take care of him, so he asked Pei Yan to come over for a formality.
The assistant prince has been sent. Although Pei Yan's talents are well known, whether he should be reused depends on Ning Chuqing's wishes.
Pei Yan's words eliminated the tense atmosphere in the camp, and everyone's expressions relaxed a lot.
Ning Chuqing, who was sitting on the throne, glanced at him and knew that the prince had no intention of intervening in the military affairs of southern Xinjiang. After all, it was Ning Chuqing's suggestion to send someone over to express the prince's responsibility.
The prince seemed to have no intention of competing for power and position. Instead of learning more about Southern Xinjiang, the other party was more willing to take his son Ning Xuan to learn Go.
Ning Chuqing put the long sword in his hand into the scabbard. After a soft sound, he said: "Okay. I have called you here today to discuss important matters."
"I believe everyone can see that the enemy's offensive is obviously accelerating. We are so eager for quick success that we are making many mistakes. This is a good opportunity for us."
Ning Chuqing raised his finger and pointed at the sand table in front of him. A young general immediately stepped forward and marked the positions of his own side and the enemy. The Southern Xinjiang Army The advantages are obvious.
This is all due to the civil strife of the Tusi tribe.
It's interesting to say that the chieftain tribe has planted so many details in southern Xinjiang, intending to kidnap Ning Xuan once and for all. They also want to try to provoke a confrontation between the prince and Ning Chuqing, hoping to wait for an opportunity to cause civil strife in southern Xinjiang.
After the plan failed, chaos suddenly broke out within the united chieftain tribe.
The southwest chieftain tribe has always refused to obey anyone. The Peng chieftain can unite multiple tribes with force. However, judging from the current situation, this alliance is not stable. Once the power of the Peng chieftain weakens slightly, the joint leaders will face Risk of replacement.
"The current leader of the Peng family is suddenly seriously ill and can't survive much longer. The people below are tit for tat, and no one is convinced. Maybe before the next wave of offensive, they will decide the winner among themselves."
After Ning Chuqing finished speaking, Everyone also understood that Ning Chuqing wanted to take the initiative and take advantage of the civil strife among the chieftains to bring the southwest into the territory of Daqi.
Everyone's eyes couldn't help but become a little hotter. The fact of expanding the territory made them, the people fighting on the battlefield, jealous.
But in this way, the Southern Xinjiang Army moved south in a large scale, and the rear was empty. Even if the troops were left to defend the city, there would be a risk of being plotted.
For a time, the generals in the camp began to offer suggestions and advice, and the radicals who supported the southern invasion and the conservatives who opposed the southern invasion were quarreling.
In the end, the radical faction gained the upper hand, and Southern Xinjiang had been invaded by the southwestern tribes all year round. If Ning Chuqing had not turned the tide with the support of the Meng family many years ago, Southern Xinjiang would have become part of the chieftain tribe.
Now that there is a chance to counterattack, it would be a heartless coward not to take advantage of his illness to kill him.
"It is our duty to open up new territories for the Great Kai!"
I don't know who took the lead, and the atmosphere was brought to the highest point by shouting one after another.
Ning Chuqing clapped his hands and signaled everyone to be quiet. He made a decision under the eager eyes of those eager to make achievements.
"Then, send your troops south!"
Ning Chuqing looked back, pointed at the map behind her, and arranged the southward offensive in an orderly manner: "Except for some of the troops left behind in the main city of Southern Xinjiang, the remaining nine battalions will go south in three ways..."
Jian Xun's eyes also followed the crowd's look at the map. After listening to Ning Chuqing's plan to go south in an orderly manner, he realized that this man had already made his decision and was just waiting for his subordinates to convince the conservatives on his behalf.
His decision alone is arbitrary. If more than half of the generals agree with his choice, it means he is in compliance with public opinion.
Ning Chuqing's plan was detailed and thorough. During the years of victorious battles, the generals of the Southern Xinjiang Army maintained a high degree of trust in him. No one would refute it, and no one had the ability to refute it and catch the mistakes in Ning Chuqing's plan.
Unfortunately, there was a guy in the camp who didn't follow common sense.
Pei Yan shook his fan and said, "Pei has an additional plan. I wonder if the general is willing to listen to it?"
There was a sudden silence in the originally heated tent.
Ning Chuqing stared at Pei Yan deeply, and the sound of needle drops could be heard in the tent. Amidst the slowed breathing of everyone, Pei Yan's expression did not change, as if he did not feel the tension in the air at all.
Ning Chuqing: "Master Pei, please speak."
Pei Yan closed the folding fan and said without even looking at the map behind him: "You all said just now that you are afraid that sending your troops south will expose holes in the rear, so why not give it a try? Send elite troops to pass through the mountains on the east and west sides, go around to the back of Tusi Village, capture the thieves and capture the king first." "
The main battlefield is restrained by the main force of the Southern Xinjiang Army. Regardless of whether this plan is successful or not, it will disrupt the enemy's layout to a certain extent. . What do you think?"
Everyone looked at each other, and there was silence in the camp.
The prince did not come in person and only sent Pei Yan to show his importance.
Pei Yan didn't say anything since he came to the camp. Everyone thought that the other party was just going through the motions, but they didn't expect that Pei Yan would make suggestions at this time.
And the damning thing is that this suggestion is really effective, making it difficult for people who have a grudge against the prince to refute it.
If this dangerous move succeeds, taking the southwest will be like picking something out of a bag.
Only Ning Chuqing, who was at the top of the table with her hands folded across her chest and a heavy gaze, hinting at anger, did not agree with this proposal.
"Mr. Pei may not know how dangerous the mountains on both sides of the southwest are. If you send troops to pass through these two mountains, it is very likely that the entire army will be wiped out before reaching the chieftain tribe."
Ning Chuqing could also think of this kind of plan, but his battle arrangements have always been conservative, and such desperate measures are rarely proposed. He does not want to watch his soldiers die in vain for something that is almost impossible to accomplish.
"Wealth and honor are found in danger." Pei Yan only said one sentence lightly, but all the generals who attacked him were shaken.
Indeed, the risks of this plan are extremely high, but the benefits are also huge.
If you can take a detour and kill the leader of the southwest tribe, it is not impossible to get this military merit and become a general in one fell swoop.
Before Ning Chuqing agreed, several young generals with mid-level positions immediately stepped forward with stern eyes, "General, I am willing to take a humble position!"
Ning Chuqing held her sword and looked at Pei Yan with a cold look. He wanted to punish the opponent on the spot in the name of disrupting the morale of the military.
But when she saw Jian Xun also taking a step out of the crowd and asking for help, Ning Chuqing suddenly understood why Pei Yan did this.
Are these two crazy? Does the prince know what Pei Yan is planning?
Unlike Ning Chuqing's anxiety, Jian Xun was very calm. He had seen the map of the southwest, and he had even been to dangerous places like Shu many times. He was at least half sure about going to the southwest.
If you succeed, you can soar into the sky.
Pei Yan played with the folding fan in his hand, as if he didn't care about the passionate crowd in front of him. His deep eyes fell on Jian Xun from a distance.
He knew that Jian Xun would definitely go, but whether he could come back alive was still unknown.
Ning Chuqing took in everyone's expressions and felt ridiculous in his heart, but he could not ignore the wishes of his generals. After everyone expressed their agreement one after another, he explained the pros and cons to the generals and let them choose to stay or stay.
Anyone who wants to take this road of narrow escape is welcome to do so.
The main city of Southern Xinjiang, the temporary Prince's Mansion.
Ning Xiuyun and Ning Xuan were playing chess in front of the stone table. Ning Xuan took the black piece and thought hard, muttering: "Get down here... No no, get down here..."
Ning Xiuyun propped up her chin and waited for him to think about it, but hid heart palpitated for no reason. He loosened his hand and the white piece he was playing with fell back into the chessboard.
Ning Xiuyun frowned, feeling extremely flustered, as if something beyond his control had happened.
"Shen Qi, hasn't Shen San come back yet?" Ning Xiuyun asked softly.
Shen Qi: "Not yet, but it should be soon."
Because the battle line has been stretched across the river, the main camp of the Southern Xinjiang Army has advanced several miles to the southwest. There is a river in the middle, from the camp to the main city of Southern Xinjiang, it also takes a lot of time to go back and forth.
Shen San was sent by Ning Xiuyun to investigate the movements of the Southern Xinjiang Army. He and Pei Yan were secretly and secretly together. Ning Xiuyun did not trust Pei Yan, so Shen San was allowed to follow him to be prepared.
Shen San is working hard and will rush back to the main city of Southern Xinjiang by night at the latest.
Ning Xiuyun asked again: "Did he bring the things I asked him to bring?"
Shen Qi packed his luggage a few days ago and found a Meng family badge in the package. Thinking of the Meng family's business all over the world, she asked Shen San to bring that thing to Jian Xun, what if it can be used?
Shen Qi was stunned and said: "It's with you. Don't worry, Your Highness, the commander will definitely hand that thing over to Mr. Jian intact."
She didn't know if it was Shen Qi's misunderstanding, but she felt that today's prince was a little anxious, and he repeatedly Check with her to see if the plan went wrong.
Ning Xiuyun responded and absentmindedly played chess with Ning Xuan. For the first time, Ning Xuan actually won the game.
Ning Xuan looked at the result on the chessboard with his mouth wide open. He couldn't believe that he could actually win.
Ning Xiuyun was also a little distracted. He praised Ning Xuan a few words and said, "It's almost night, Xuan'er should go home."
"Um... ok." Ning Xuan was not excited about winning the chess game yet. However, he looked at the chessboard with some reluctance, but he still followed the guards of the General's Mansion obediently.
Ning Xiuyun watched Ning Xuan leave, holding his forehead with one hand and feeling a severe headache.
He sat in front of the stone table for a while, and then waited for Shen San and Pei Yan.
There were two people, one in front and one behind. Shen San looked as cold as ice, while Pei Yan looked in a good mood while shaking his folding fan.
When he reached Ning Xiuyun, Shen San knelt down and saluted. Pei Yan lifted up his clothes and knelt down too.
Ning Xiuyun's heart skipped a beat, as if the ominous premonition just now had come true.
"What do you mean?" He asked hoarsely with a lump in his throat.
Shen Sandao: "This subordinate is incompetent. Mr. Jian joined an elite force on the way to Nanshan with the intention of sneak attack on Peng's chieftain's village. As soon as the two teams entered the mountain, they lost contact with the scouts at the rear. There has been no news for half a day. This trip is extremely dangerous. A narrow escape from death. My subordinates failed to stop Mr. Jian from taking risks, so please punish him."
Almost after hearing Shen San's words, Ning Xiuyun cast his cold gaze on Pei Yan.
A narrow escape from death. What a narrow escape.
Ning Xiuyun gritted his teeth: "Pei Qing has really given me a great gift."
Pei Yan didn't mean to hide it at all. He curled his lips and smiled slightly, looking vaguely crazy. He said, "I have come to apologize, and I will wait. Your Highness is disappointed."
Pei Yan openly admitted that it was his plan that put Jian Xun in danger without saying a word to defend himself.
"You all go down. If you have anything to say to Pei Qing alone," Ning Xiuyun stood up and looked at Pei Yan condescendingly.
Pei Yan looked at him with a smile in his eyes, even with excitement that made Ning Xiuyun gag.
Why is he happy? Looking for a dangerous place in the depths for Jian, is it possible that he will die in the dangerous mountains and rivers without a burial place?
There is no reason for this.
There was a "buzz" in Ning Xiuyun's mind, and the string called reason was instantly broken. When he came to his senses, he had already pulled out Shen San's saber, placed it on the side of Pei Yan's neck, and said in a cold tone : "Pei San, if he doesn't come back alive, I want you to be buried with him."
Shen San retreated with his guards, leaving only Ning Xiuyun and Pei Yan silently confronting each other in the yard.
Shen San's sword was too sharp and drew a bloody mark as soon as it came into contact with Pei Yan's neck.
"It's natural. I will die without regrets." Pei Yan's cheeks turned slightly red, and he tilted his head slightly. Blood beads slipped from the edge of the blade. This turned out to be a gesture of extreme attachment.
Ning Xiuyun's hand holding the handle of the knife was trembling. Jian Xun didn't know whether he was alive or dead. He was filled with rage and wanted to cut off Pei Yan's neck.
Pei Yan was stared at by his cold eyes, without any fear of death. He sighed: "Wei Chen has known for a long time that His Highness has a relationship with Mr. Jian, but Wei Chen has never understood why you are interested in Jian. The love is so deep that he would give the best thing in his hands to the other person."
Pei Yan had long known the prince's outrageous thoughts, but he finally found a monarch who was willing to bow his head and be loyal to him, how could he hope to watch the other party abandon the throne and loyal ministers like worn-out shoes.
Ning Xiuyun smiled sarcastically: "What does this world mean to me, so why not give it to him?"
"Yeah, why do you care about the mere throne..." Pei Yan stared at the person in front of him closely and asked.: "I don't know why you are determined to die, but Your Highness, do you think that if you die and give up the throne, Jian Xun will be happy!?"
"Your Highness, wake up! Jian Xun has no intention of being an emperor at all. Isn't this just wishful thinking on your part!?"
"Today His Highness is in pain and anger because he doesn't know whether Jian Xun is alive or dead. What will Jian Xun think if he knows that His Highness died for him in the future? You are so cruel to let him Living alone, doing everything to hurt him in the name of doing his best."
"Your Highness, do you love him or hate him?"
Pei Yan's questions echoed in his ears, Ning Xiuyun's heart was shaken, and his thoughts were shaking. They all froze for a moment.
He couldn't help but think about Pei Yan's words. Was he wrong to give up the throne to Jian Xun? He just wants to give Jian Xun the best thing he can give, is it wrong?
In Ning Xiuyun's past and present life, the only thing he definitely held in his hands was power and status. He was a winner in the vanity fair, but there was no trace of tenderness in his life, which was filled with entanglements of interests.
These were the only things he could offer, and the throne was the best gift he could think of giving to Jian Xun.
He is always going to die. He is older than Jian Xun and weaker than Jian Xun. Even if the two of them can stay together for a while, he will die first. Maybe it is still when love is at its deepest, but fate always takes him so ruthlessly. Take away everything you have.
Rather than doing this, it would be better for him to arrange everything early.
Like father, like son. Ning Xiuyun didn't realize that he had an ignorant arrogance and wanted to control Jian Xun's life, but Pei Yan saw it clearly.
Pei Yan noticed Ning Xiuyun's wavering, and continued: "Your Highness, if you stay in a high position for a long time, you will not learn how to empathize with others. If you don't come down personally, how will you know what is in the heart of the person you love most? Think about it."
Ning Xiuyun may be able to figure out eighty-nine points of people's hearts, but love is like a confusion. If you are stuck in it and are manipulated by it, you will lose your reason when thinking.
Ning Xiuyun let go of his hand and the long knife fell to the ground. He murmured in a low voice: "What do you know... In the mere ten days between me and him, there is nothing that has to do with you..."
From then on From the first day they met, Ning Xiuyun showed all his unsavory sides to Jian Xun. He was gloomy, casual, scheming, lied, and would do anything to achieve his goals, even if it was deception, as long as he could get Jian Xun. Nothing is impossible to find.
Even the little cowardice and pessimism he had in his two lives was used on Jian Xun.
Jian Xun is too young. Young people have unstable temperaments. It is common for them to be in love with each other. It is normal for them to do some outrageous things in a moment of emotion.
For example, talking to him sincerely, such as bringing a betrothal gift to Zhuangzi and saying that he would stay with him forever.
Pei Yan's expression was very sarcastic, and he said: "Your Highness, are you insulting Mr. Jian, or are you insulting yourself."
Ning Xiuyun held his forehead and felt a dull pain in his temples.
He found it very ridiculous. It turned out that deep down in his heart, he had never believed in Jian Xun's love for him and was worried about gains and losses.
Because he always believed that it was calculated by him, as false as a mirror in a mirror.
Ning Xiuyun had to open his bloody wounds and recognize this reality late at night when he had completely lost contact with Jian Xun.
It's really... like a joke.
Ning Xiuyun stood indifferently and spent dozens of seconds to collect all the overflowing emotions from his body. His eyes gradually calmed down like a deep pool as he stared at Pei Yan in front of him.
Pei Yan is like a fanatical believer.
This person didn't care at all about Jian Xun's identity or who Ning Xiuyun fell in love with. He only knew that Ning Xiuyun was his chosen monarch, and he couldn't let Ning Xiuyun go astray.
Pei Yan would not let Ning Xiuyun give up the throne easily. He would not allow it and was willing to pay the price with his life.
If Ning Xiuyun killed him in anger today, it would make Ning Xiuyun realize the reality, and he would be considered a well-deserved death.
Ning Xiuyun flicked his sleeves and said with murderous intent: "Since you are so eager to defend the border, go to the front line tomorrow."
"I obey the order." The smile on Pei Yan's lips grew bigger and bigger, and he lowered his voice. He laughed softly, but he was the victor in this confrontation despite his embarrassment.
Ning Xiuyun looked at Pei Yan, who was covered in blood in front of him, and scolded him as "madman."
But he was woken up by the madman's scolding.
Ning Xiuyun turned around and looked at the white jade chessboard on the stone table, which shone brightly under the moonlight.
Ning Xiuyun sat down at the stone table. His jawline was tense, his lips pursed into a straight line, and he reached out to pick up the clouds on the chessboard one by one and put them back on the chessboard.
Jian Xun will be back.
He will be waiting for him here.
___________________________
Fall off the horse in the next chapter! ! !
I feel a little regretful after writing this chapter. The character of Pei Yan is a bit underwritten. His attitude towards the prince has changed from a passerby to a poisonous Wei, so he does extreme things here. In the comments of the previous chapter, I asked about the relationship between the prince and the prince.
Who Jian Xun ascends to the throne is the core issue between the two. The prince has a kind of unconscious arrogance. He doesn't know whether he wants to give Jian Xun what he wants. He has been the dominant one in this relationship for too long.
As I said at the end of the last chapter, dominance will not disappear, it will only shift√