The base camp of the Western Army, Xingqing Mansion.

The whole city seems a little nervous. The usually lively streets are now extremely deserted. There are almost no people walking around casually on the streets. Although the shops are open, the waiters are standing there dutifully.

At the door, everyone looked listless and lethargic.

The story that the father of Xiao Ding, the commander-in-chief of the Western Army, and Xiao Yu, the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, was arrested by the court and tortured to death in Zhao Prison because of his involvement in King Jing's rebellion has spread in Xingqing Mansion.

In shock, everyone's eyes turned to the south of the city, where the Governor's Mansion was built.

Heavily armed soldiers walked through the street, scanning the surroundings with shuttle-like eyes. The waiters immediately stood up straight and raised their hands to say hello, but after thinking about it, they put them down.

People of all kinds are mixed here in Xingqing Mansion, and people of all ethnic groups can be seen. People do not understand the language, have different customs, and have very different personalities. Therefore, conflicts and fights or even drawing swords to kill each other are common.

of.

People in Xingqing Mansion are used to seeing these things and have long been accustomed to them.

Later, Xiao Ding took control of Xingqing Mansion, but he intensified the intensity of control. The density of sergeants and police patrols on the streets was greatly increased. Once such a thing happened, both parties to the conflict would be arrested indiscriminately, regardless of the reason.

Let's talk about the truth after each has a hard time.

As a result, whether justified or not, everyone still has the habit of rolling up their sleeves and clenching their fists, but fewer people actually take action. After all, neither party will benefit from the action.

The security order in Xingqing Mansion has greatly improved, but the rules for soldiers to patrol the streets have always been there. These days, the density has become even worse.

Although martial law was not declared, in fact it was almost like martial law.

It's not that there is nothing we can do, no one wants to go out.

Because the General Manager of the Western Army has been silent, and Xiao Ding, the General Manager of the Western Army, has not yet returned to Xingqing Mansion.

With the charter, there is nothing to be afraid of, because once the superiors make up their minds, the people will naturally have no choice but to follow them passively. If there is no charter, there will be no rules. If you act rashly at this time, you will easily make mistakes.

If you break the taboo, then you won't even have room to reason.

Ordinary people and petty officials work cautiously and behave themselves, waiting for the big shots to make the final decision.

To put it bluntly, the army, officials, and people in this land really lacked respect for the Song Dynasty in Bianliang, and of course there was no loyalty at all.

The people on this land only respect one thing at the moment, and that is strength.

Whoever has a strong fist will naturally make sense when speaking.

If the fist is strong and can treat the people a little better, then for the people in this land, it will be a windfall and an unexpected blessing.

Xiao Ding's Western Army precisely satisfied this point.

They defeated and drove away Li Xu's Dingnan army and occupied this area. They defeated the Tibetan army in Qingtang. They beat the guys in the Western Regions until they could not find the north. They drove the Liao people far away.

After leaving Montenegro, in terms of force, the Western Army is the strongest force that people on this land have seen in recent years.

More importantly, compared to previous rulers, Xiao Ding was undoubtedly extremely gentle in his treatment of the people.

Xiao Cheng formulated a rough policy framework for him, and Zhang Yuan worked hard to make it more substantial and full within this framework.

Zhang Yuan is an extremely outstanding administrative talent.

The area under the control of the Western Army is vast. If you add up all their spheres of influence, although it is not as large as the Liao people, it is indeed wider than the Song Dynasty. Of course, it cannot be compared in terms of population and financial resources.

There is no comparison.

The vast area and extremely complex population structure make ruling this place a huge problem. If you are not careful, big problems will arise.

But Zhang Yuan did these complicated administrative tasks in an orderly manner.

Xiao Ding used his unparalleled force and personal charm to become the symbol of the Western Army, while Zhang Yuan was behind him to implement everything in detail.

If Xiao Ding is the uncontroversial leader of the Western Army, then Zhang Yuan is now the second-in-command.

Even if you show off your power, you have to move back.

Because Tuoba Yangwei has considerable appeal among the party members, and now there are too many ethnic groups in the Western Army and within the scope of the Western Army's rule, and these ethnic groups, in addition to being convinced by Xiao Ding, are convinced

Zhang Yuan.

Of course, in this area now, the Party members are still the largest ethnic group, accounting for the largest proportion of the population. They are also the main component of the Western Army.

Zhang Yuan's current position is similar to that of the chief assistant of the Song Dynasty. In addition to military affairs, he has to take care of everything.

And he expanded his power and completely separated from the army, becoming Zhang Yuan's auxiliary and deputy.

When Tuoba Yangwei walked into Zhang Yuan's hall, he saw Zhang Yuan sitting by the fire, baking steamed buns with the crackling firewood. This is Zhang Yuan's hobby. He always likes to bake soft steamed buns.

Tear off the hard browned pieces and chew them.

Li Xu built a splendid palace with golden walls in Xingqing Mansion, originally intending to live there after he proclaimed himself emperor. Of course, before he could crown himself, he was defeated by Xiao Ding.

Xiao Ding, who became the new owner of Xingqing Mansion, did not live in this palace, but settled in a nearby military camp. The later Western Army General Manager's Mansion naturally settled here. All

The institutions all handle official business in a large row of bungalows.

"Would you like a piece?" Looking at Tuoba, who was sitting across from him, Zhang Yuan stretched out the browned bun in his hand in front of him.

Tuoba waved his hands in a presumptuous manner: "You are so relaxed, and you are still in the mood to drink and have fun? The manager's father is gone, how can I see you looking so happy?"

Zhang Yuan laughed: "You can't frame me like this. I'm still very sad. However, I have never seen Xiao Jixiang, so this sadness, which is a feeling of loving the house, will pass in a moment."

Already."

"So when you think about the possible consequences of this, you become happy." Tuoba raised his eyebrows in a show of authority.

"Speaking of which, I'm afraid you are happier than me!" Zhang Yuandao: "This is what you dream of! The general manager is afraid that he will have to raise a banner to rebel now, and under the current rule of the Western Army, both the army and the people

, all with party members as the main body.”

"So you are a guy who has been desperately trying to introduce various ethnic groups in the past two years to balance the power of ethnic groups?" Tuoba said in awe: "Actually, you are overthinking. I am loyal to the manager."

"Loyalty is not something you say with your words, it must be guaranteed with the system!" Zhang Yuan curled his lips: "What Xiao Erlang said is very reasonable. Because loyalty has prerequisites, no matter how loyal a person is, he will definitely

Changes occur due to changes in conditions. Only the system is eternal and will not cause problems due to any unexpected changes or the increase or decrease of feelings."

"Speaking of Xiao Erlang, I miss him very much." Tuoba said with great authority: "Brother Zhang, I'm afraid you won't believe me. When it comes to people I admire, the first person I admire is Xiao Erlang, and the second is the manager.

Ah! Now we have laid this foundation here, and the real founder is this person."

"Xiao Erlang is also the most amazing person I have ever met in my life. He seems to know everything and knows everything. The more you talk to him and the deeper you talk, the more you will feel this." Zhang

Yuan sighed and said: "It's a pity that he is not here, otherwise, I wouldn't have so many worries."

"He went to the southwest and did some great things there. But now that this happened, I don't know how he will deal with it!" Tuoba said in awe.

"We are worrying blindly!" Zhang Yuanyi smiled: "Xiao Erlang is not a person to worry about. A few years ago, when he planned everything here, he seemed to have expected that one day we would turn against the Song Dynasty.

He went to the southwest, how could he not be prepared for changes? You have seen his level of planning."

"Sometimes plans fail to keep up with changes. Just like this time, who would have thought that the accident would come like this?" Tuoba said proudly. "Fortunately, we have been making preparations, otherwise, we would have been caught off guard."

These two people are very happy about the current changes.

For Zhang Yuan, he wholeheartedly wanted to be a famous minister who could govern the world. Unfortunately, although he was talented, he could not even pass the Jinshi level in the Song Dynasty. He wasted half his life and did not want to become a swordsman and pen official.

He could make a living by educating students. At that time, Xiao Ding invited him several times to serve as a master, but Zhang Yuan was only willing to help out, but refused to join the army.

Until Xiao Cheng found him.

Until Xiao Ding came to the northwest.

Only then did Zhang Yuan come out of the mountain.

Because he saw something hidden in the deepest part of Xiao Cheng's plan.

It's not easy for outsiders to understand, and it's not something ordinary people can understand, but he understood it.

As a result, Shi is now the general manager of the Western Army, but he actually manages an area larger than that of the Song Dynasty.

But all this alone cannot satisfy Zhang Yuan's ambition.

He wants to make a name that will go down in history.

To spread his power, all he wanted to do was build a country with party members as the main ethnic group. Now, he also saw hope.

Although both Zhang Yuan and Xiao Ding are sparing no effort to make the population composition of the Western Army more diverse, the Dangxiang people joined early, occupy a higher position, and their status is slightly higher than that of other tribes. In the Western Army

Among them, the only ones who can compete with the Dangxiang people are the Song people.

I am also very satisfied with the promotion.

Think about the past, a low-level official from the Song Dynasty could order him around, and a seventh-grade censor could make him want to die!

Now, in the prison of Xingqing Prefecture, Zhongcheng, a censor of the Song Dynasty, and a magistrate of Yan'an Prefecture are still imprisoned!

These two men were immediately arrested and thrown into prison on the day the news of Xiao Yu's death reached Xingqing Mansion.

"In three days at most, the General Manager will be back!" Tuoba said with authority. "Are you looking forward to the General Manager's decision?"

Zhang Yuan laughed: "The imperial court has already made a decision for the general manager. Zhang Chao's intention of arriving at Shaanxi Road has been expressed clearly enough. If the imperial court has no intention, why let Zhang Chao come? There are nearly 100,000 soldiers on Jingji Road and Hedong Road.

Horses, Bianliang soldiers and horses have also begun to mobilize, Qin Feng Road has begun to gather troops, the general manager doesn't respond, just wash your neck and wait for the court to chop it off?"

"What do you think the official of the Song Dynasty was thinking about?" Tuoba Yangwei really couldn't figure it out.

Zhang Yuan shook his head: "Xiao Yu's death must be a very complicated matter. From the standpoint of Zhao Song's official family, he definitely does not want him to die, but on the opposite side of him, there are many people who want him to die.

.”

"Liao people?"

Zhang Yuan spread his hands: "There is no evidence. Maybe it was the Liao people, maybe it was other enemies. Who can say for sure? But Xiao Yu died in the imperial edict, and the officials of Zhao and Song Dynasty were the ones who fell into the crotch of their pants anyway, right?

Even shit is shit!"

"Yes! The last bit of mutual trust between the Zhao Song official family and Xiao Ding will be lost because of this. The Zhao Song official family will be suspicious of Xiao Ding, and of course Xiao Ding will not trust the Zhao Song official family. Ordinary people's suspicion of each other affects only individuals. This

If two people are suspicious of each other, tens of thousands of people will be affected."

"If you want to wear the crown, you must first bear its weight!" Zhang Yuan said calmly.

"Will it fail?" Tuoba Yangwei was a little unsure.

"Success and failure always go hand in hand, and this time, I'm afraid what we have to face is not an enemy!" Zhang Yuan put the last piece of browned steamed bun into his mouth. "Song and Liao will become ours.

enemy."

"If we fight with the Song people, shouldn't the Liao people sit on the mountain and watch the fight between tigers and reap the benefits?" Tuoba Yangwei was a little unconvinced.

"This is common sense, but there is another possibility." Zhang Yuan took a deep look at Tuoba Yangwei and said: "The Liao people will think that we are a greater threat now than the Song people."

Tuoba Yangwei took a deep breath.

"No way?"

"So the best result is to work with the Song people to cripple us first." Zhang Yuan said unhurriedly: "But we have to ensure that we still have a certain strength to continue to fight with the Song people. It is best to force

We have to bow our knees to them."

"They had a good plan!"

"If these plans started from the day Cui Ang took office as the Hebei Road pacifier, Yelujun would be too terrible." Zhang Yuan said solemnly: "If this person becomes the emperor of Liao, it would be great if he became the emperor of Song Dynasty.

We, too, are probably all living on tenterhooks. Such a plan with one link inside the other is truly astonishing."

"It must have been an accident, Manager?"

"In the past, the Liao people's plan was Li Xu!" Zhang Yuandao said: "Li Xu had already surrendered to the Liao and was named the King of Pingxia. As a result, Li Xu collapsed and the general manager came. But now this result, I'm afraid Yelu Jun will change it.

I like it, because Manager Xiao is much more powerful than Li Xu."

"How to break the situation?"

"For us, whether it is the Song Dynasty or the Liao Dynasty, except for defeating the Baihui, we will lose in any other competition!" Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "So what we can do now is
Chapter completed!