Late at night, Zhu Zeng was thinking about the war and couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

I put on my clothes and left the camp tent. I saw that the snow had stopped. The dome was pitch black like a bowl of ink. The camp ran for dozens of miles, and it was impossible to see the end at a glance.

Everything was silent, and the sound of the rushing bamboo and silk from the direction of the central tent in Xingxun Camp was particularly impressed.

Even though it was so far away, it floated over intermittently.

The battle was about to break out, and there was such a noise that was out of place.

Zhu Zeng listened with his ears for a moment, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Fortunately, I left Xingxun’s camp in time and changed to Le Zhenggong, but I felt a little worried.

When the war was about to come, Xing Xun looked down on the enemy and was so arrogant that he didn't say anything about singing every night. Le Zhenggong seemed to be cautious in retaining his strength in the next battle.

Although he did not say it clearly, Zhu Zeng saw this.

Although the number of coalition forces is said to be doubled than that of Wei Shao's army, it is in a state of crushing strength, but the supreme commander of the coalition forces is one arrogant and the other has secret selfish intentions and is waiting and watching.

If their opponents were ordinary people, it might not be a big deal. The soldiers who were dispatched alone could crush the opponent to death.

But now, the opponent they face is Wei Shao, the overlord of the north.

Although Zhu Zeng had not met Wei Shao, he knew all the rumors about this person clearly.

If Wei Shao was an easy opponent, he would never have reached his current status at just twenty-four or five years old.

No one's territory is obtained by his own hands. Even if he relies on his ancestors, he will win one by one.

Wei Shao is determined to be a terrible opponent.

It’s okay to be Xing Xun. On Le Zhenggong’s side, Zhu Zeng decided to find an opportunity and remind him very much.

Since you have participated in the Northern Expedition, you must do your best to seize this opportunity to annihilate Wei Shao's vitality in one fell swoop, and avoid giving him any chance to make a comeback.

After Zhu Zeng's concern, he turned back to the tent, turned off the lights and went to bed.

When he was worried about the battle situation, there was another person in another tent that was not far from him, and he was sleepless tonight.

As one of the strategists of Le Zhenggong, although Zhang Yan was not smart enough to plan, he had made many contributions to Le Zhenggong over the years and had made many contributions in several key battles in Hanzhong, which had always been highly valued by him.

But now, he feels that his position is at stake.

Zhu Zeng was quickly replacing him and became Le Zhenggong's most valued strategist.

From his standpoint, he naturally hoped that Le Zhenggong would win.

But he also knew that if Wei Shao was really defeated, then from then on, Zhu Zeng's importance in front of the lord would never be replaced.

He felt a little anxious.

I was still holding a candle in the middle of the night, reading a military book in my hand. Suddenly, there was a creaking footsteps outside the tent, and I followed the tent into the tent and said that the guards at the gate had just come to report, saying that a man who claimed to be Rong Yan rushed here late at night to see him.

Zhang Yan was stunned.

Rong Yan was an old acquaintance when he was an official in Luoyang many years ago.

At that time, Rong Yan was appointed as the Tingwei, and was forced to abandon his post and flee because he offended Xing Xun.

Zhang Yan and him were not familiar with each other, but because they were both good at carvings of gold and stone, they had occasional contacts on weekdays.

At that time, I sighed about his situation.

Later, he changed to Le Zhenggong. After many years of separation, he didn't expect that he would come to visit him late at night.

After pondering for a while, he asked someone to take him in.

Rong Yan entered the tent and smiled and said, "I parted with Brother Yiliang's Luoyang for many years. Brother has always been safe?"

Zhang Yan looked at Xu Ying and vaguely guessed in his heart that Rong Yanying came from Wei Shao's enemy camp.

Hesitated for a while.

Hesitated whether he should ask someone to enter and tie him up.

"When my old friend came to visit Xukuo, was it because my brother wanted to tie me up so that I could send it to your master to seek credit?" Rong Yan smiled calmly.

Zhang Yan's face turned hot and she hurriedly said, "Brother Chang Lu misunderstood!"

With the relationship between the two of them in the past, although they are their own masters, they can't do anything to tie up people. Then they said, "I'm afraid my brother Changlu has served Wei Shao. Now the two armies are fighting, I wonder what you are doing when you come to search for them late at night?"

Rong Yan changed his smile just now, with a solemn expression, and gave Zhang Yan a deep gift.

Zhang Yan hurriedly helped him straight and said, "Why did you give me such a great gift? I'm so sorry!"

Rong Yanfang whispered: "I'm not sure about it. I'm here to join the Marquis of Hanzhong."

Zhang Yan was stunned.

"I don't know anything about it. I abandoned my official position many years ago and joined Wei Shao. I wanted to meet the Lord of the High World to show my life ambitions. However, Wei Shao had a reputation, but he was short-sighted and unwilling to use me. Now I am just a mere march. That's all. Now he overestimated his abilities and wanted to fight against the coalition forces of Xing Xun and Hanzhong Hou with 300,000 troops, which was tantamount to hitting stones with eggs and causing self-destruction. The so-called knowledge of the current affairs is a hero. Now Xun cannot be defeated, Hanzhong Hou is as sunny as the marquis, and the phoenix will surely ring in the next day. I yearn for it. I long for my heart. I hate that I have no achievements in my body, and I have no way to apply for it. Fortunately, I learned that Brother Yiliang is now the Marquis of Hanzhong, and is indispensable. If I suddenly see it, I escaped from Wei Shao's camp at night and defected to Brother Yiliang. I hope to recommend it to me in the face of the old friends."

He took out a piece of parchment and showed it to the desk and said, "I am engaged in the marching and can enter and exit the main account. This is the Wei Shao's combat strategy map that I secretly copied. It lists the military stationing and allocation routes of Li Yang, Fan Jin and Huangchi Grain and Grain Depot in detail. I am willing to present a map to show my determination to serve!"

Zhang Yan looked at the pictures and marked them in detail. He was overjoyed: "I used to be a secret pearl, but now I am turning on the right path. My lord is eager to ask for talent, so how could he refuse to leave?" After receiving the pictures, he immediately wanted to take him to see Le Zhenggong, but was pulled by Rong Yan. He went to the door of the tent and took a look quietly, turned around and attached himself to his ear and whispered: "I have another secret to tell my brother. A few days ago, I eavesdropped on the secret talks between Wei Shao and his military advisor Gongsun Yang outside the military tent. He mentioned Zhu Zeng's name while listening to the words of the two of them. At that time, there were personal soldiers coming along, and I was afraid of being discovered, so I left in a hurry and did not listen to it. I only heard a general idea. Zhu Zeng did not tolerate Xun. After escaping from Luoyang, he seemed to run to Wei Shao first, and was kept by him, and then arrived at the tent of Hanzhong Marquis. I suspected that he was a detailed work sent by Wei Shao!"

Zhang Yan was shocked at first, then ecstatic again, and grabbed Rong Yan's sleeve: "Are you serious about this?"

Rong Yan said seriously, "I dare not be sure because I did not listen to all the conversations between them at that time. But I did have doubts. I didn't want to say anything. But this matter is important, so I hesitated again and again. It would be better to tell my brother first. Brother, you can secretly not announce it and secretly pay attention to Zhu Zeng's actions, so as not to make people's innocence if I make mistakes and ruin people's innocence out of thin air."

Zhang Yan's mood was even more excited than seeing the map just now. He walked around the tent quickly for several times, as if he had made up his mind, clenched his fist with his right hand, slammed his left palm, and said resolutely: "As my brother said, this matter is important, so don't hesitate at all! I must report to my lord immediately and ask my lord to be more careful, so as not to fall into Wei Shao's treacherous plan!"

After saying that, he led Rong Yan and secretly went to the Central Army's tent.

Le Zhenggong was called up.

Zhang Yan led Rongyan to him to explain his purpose, and expressed his praise.

Rongyan stepped forward to pay homage.

The war was about to come, and the two sides conducted detailed exchanges and inquiries. Le Zhenggong had also collected some reports on Wei Shao's marching layout, but most of them were just fragmented.

Just look at the candlelight and look closely at the carriage on Rong Yan's behalf. It is more secretly than the information he knows. The overlapping points are completely consistent, and it is not false.

Rong Yan's reason for changing his investment is reasonable.

I believed it on the spot.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan then told Zhu Zeng about it. He was half-believing and half-doubted. After pondering for a while, he suddenly changed his face and threw the map in his hand, saying, "Wai Shao thinks I am a three-year-old child? You are clearly assigned by him and pretending to surrender and want to use a plan of discord! How can you hide such tricks from me!"

He shouted loudly and called people to tie Rong Yan inward, and pushed him out to behead him outside the gate.

Zhang Yan was shocked and hurriedly begged for him in every possible way.

Le Zhenggong didn't say a word, and his expression was gloomy.

Rong Yan was tied up by Le Zhenggong's personal soldiers and pushed him out, but he didn't argue. He laughed wildly all the way and pushed him to the gate. The executioner's sword and axe were already covering his neck, and he was still laughing non-stop.

Le Zhenggong asked someone to bring him back and said coldly: "Diet to the point of death, and it's still here! What's the power of our army? But I have always respected the tough guys. Even if you do it carefully, you can still see me. If you come from the real trick, I can spare your life!"

Rong Yan stopped laughing, raised his head and said coldly: "Since you don't believe me, what else can I say? It's a pity. I heard that you, Tiger, Long Tao, Fei Ying and Teng Mao, are the unparalleled rulers. When a man is born, he should make achievements as his first priority. He yearns for his love and takes the risk of stealing Wei Shao's paintings and carriages to come and vote for fame. I don't want you to be suspicious, but you are just a false reputation! It's far worse than Wei Shao! I misunderstood someone, it's too late to regret it! If you want to kill, kill me, do you think I'm afraid?"

"Lord! I can guarantee my life. Brother Changlu is definitely not Wei Shao's careful work! He only expressed his doubts in front of me, and tried his best to prevent me from suing him, so as not to accidentally hurt Zhu Zeng's innocence! I can testify for Changlu!"

Zhang Yan was by her side, and she was overwhelmed with excitement.

Le Zhenggong stared at Rong Yan for a moment, and the haze gradually faded. He suddenly laughed, picked up the map he had just thrown from the ground, stepped forward, held Rong Yan's arms tightly with both hands, and said happily: "It's just me just a test! The long road is a true hero, and my heroic spirit is ruined! I have another good minister in the future, and God is blessing me!"

Rong Yan smiled and performed the ceremony of worship again. Le Zhenggong granted him an official position. Zhang Yan was anxious and reminded: "Lord, Zhu Zeng's affairs should not be delayed. You should immediately catch him and come and ask questions!"

Le Zhenggong pondered.

The reason why I abandoned Luoyang and helped Xiang Xun's Northern Expedition was that I listened to Zhu Zeng's plan at that time.

The war was imminent and Wei Shao was at a disadvantage. At this critical moment, a surrender suddenly came and spoke up and brought news that Zhu Zeng was doing it in detail.

It is really suspicious, because it was just a deliberate test.

Although I believe Rong Yan is sincere to come to join me at this moment, I still believe and doubt after all when I say something about Zhu Zengxi.

Or, he doesn't want to believe it.

Then he said, "Chang Lu said just now, but he didn't hear the whole story of Wei Shao and Gongsun Yang clearly. There is no need to disturb people. I have my own concerns."

He also told Rong Yan not to show up in the next few days.

Although Zhang Yan was unwilling to accept that he wanted to capture Zhu Zeng immediately to expose his face, he did not dare to say anything again. So Yu Rongyan retreated.

The next day, Le Zhenggong summoned Zhu Zeng to the big tent, without mentioning the incident last night, only asking about the combat strategy, as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing.

Zhu Zeng never dreamed that he had been targeted. Listening to Le Zhenggong and asking about the battle, he listed the mistakes of Xun's military management and tried his best to urge him not to underestimate the enemy, and to concentrate his troops here and prepare for a major battle.

Le Zhenggong agreed on the surface, but he secretly suspected it in his heart.

After a few days, the blizzard stopped. Le Zhenggong stepped up his preparations. But early in the morning, he heard a hustle and bustle outside the tent.

Le Zhenggong came out of the tent and saw Ding Qu carrying a long halberd in his hand, leading a team of followers, as if he was about to enter. He was stopped by his own child Le Zhengjun.

The two sides were tense and the struggle was about to break out.

Although Ding Qu is known as invincible, he is arrogant and arrogant. Now that Xun is honored to be emperor, he has been awarded the title and is even more arrogant.

The conflict between the two armies a few days ago was caused by Ding Qu sending people to force his own firewood.

Fortunately, Xun became emperor, and since he followed him to send troops, he could not turn against him.
To be continued...