You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 45 Buying People
On Fuyan Road, a small troop of cavalry was galloping past, their horses were very tall.

The leading knight carried a blue flag, which was the banner of Xuan Shuai Tong Guan's yamen.

These cavalrymen all wore embroidered hats with interlocking tassels, brocade robes, and rhinoceros horn belts. The entire Shengjie Army consisted of carefully selected tall and strong men.

In particular, Tong Guan's personal guards not only had to be good fighters, but also had to be orphans and young men without any connections.

Then he would select those with the means and ability from among these people, and send them down to recruit soldiers and gradually build his own private army.

The entire Shengjie Army only knew of Tong Guan, not the Emperor, let alone the military families in the Northwest; they didn't take them seriously at all.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as a commander currently stationed on the Yokoyama front.

As the victorious troops swept past like the wind, the Yanqing soldiers on the road scattered and couldn't help but mutter curses behind their backs: "These bastards, they've forgotten the foundation of our Western Army, and they've become dogs for spineless cowards. Let's see how they get out of this mess!"

This time, Tong Guan ordered five armies from Shaanxi to launch an attack to offer New Year's greetings to the emperor.

Other military leaders ignored him, but Liu Fa of the Xihe Army did, and thus died on the front lines.

With such a crushing defeat, everyone thought Tong Guan was doomed, so all the members of the Western Army were waiting to see their victorious army make a fool of itself.

Several knights from the victorious army surrounded a dashing young man who was not yet thirty. He was also dressed in brocade robes and jade belts, wearing a turban with embroidered patterns, and his face looked travel-worn.

He was none other than Yang Keshi, Tong Guan's confidant and former head of his personal guards.

His task differed from Chen Shao's; he had more to do, mainly negotiating with several military leaders to completely suppress the matter.

So many people have died; we must offer some comfort.

Upon arriving at the residence of Lord Liu, Yang Keshi dismounted and stepped inside.

Liu Yanqing was the actual commander of the troops in Fuyan Road and was considered a senior military leader in the Northwest, but the combat effectiveness of his troops had always been criticized.

In recent years, he has also been very close to Tong Guan, which has caused some resentment among the Western Army. They feel that Old Liu is confused, not following the old and young generals Zhong, but instead following Tong Guan, which has disrupted the foundation of the Western Army.

The old and young Zhong generals, along with their capable subordinates like Yao Pingzhong, were deeply disgusted by Tong Guan's attempts to sow discord within the Western Army, his recruitment of Liu Yanqing to replace the old Zhong general, and his establishment of the Victorious Army to poach the elite and courageous soldiers of the Western Army. The Western Army's century-old military foundation was deeply entrenched; they would not allow it to be easily destroyed!
Therefore, Tong Guan did not try to win them over at all, but instead focused on winning over military leaders like Liu Yanqing.

As for the die-hard Western Army, we'll have to rely on Liang Shicheng to put pressure on them. Even if you cause a huge uproar, not a single word will reach the Emperor's ears.

The residence of Liu Yanqing, the old master Liu, is divided into five courtyards, with the outermost courtyard resembling a military camp.

The main hall had a foyer, with a white tiger screen in the center. Yang Keshi walked around the screen and entered the main hall.

In the main hall, a tall man dressed in a brocade robe, wearing a black gauze hat and a jade belt was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.

The man was in his fifties, with fair skin and a long beard. He didn't look like a military commander, but rather like a scholar-official.

Upon seeing Yang Keshi enter, Liu Yanqing quickly asked, "Has Commander Xuan returned?"

"Commander Xuan is already on his way."

Liu Yanqing complained inwardly that Tong Guan had caused a huge disaster, ruining the promising situation in the Northwest, and yet he was still able to spend the Lantern Festival in Bianjing before leaving.

He's got a really big heart!

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. People are in a state of panic, and countless soldiers have fled the front lines. Most of the fortresses and strongholds built in the past few years have been taken away by the Xia bandits. If Commander Xuan doesn't return to take charge of the overall situation, the situation will be in grave danger!"

Yang Keshi patiently told him about Xuan Shuai's actions in Bianjing and the promise made by the reclusive prime minister Liang Shicheng.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yanqing felt as if a storm was raging within him, and he could not calm down for a long time. He was a veteran general, and he had never heard of anyone in the Song Dynasty's hundred-year history who could deceive the heavens after such a defeat.

Once again, Liu Yanqing felt the power of Tong Guan and his ilk.

"In that case, I feel relieved."

Liu Yanqing smiled, but felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The lives of his soldiers in the Northwest were nothing in the eyes of those big shots in Bianjing.

As soon as Yang Keshi came out of the lobby, he saw a person standing at the door.

"That is?"

"It's the third young master of the Liu family."

Yang Keshi nodded and stepped forward, but Liu Guanglie quickly stopped him, saying with a smile, "I have long admired Brother Yang's name. Today, since you have come to my residence, I must do you the honor of joining me for a drink."

Yang Keshi's victorious army was somewhat bewildered.

Liu Guanglie laughed and said, "Shao-ge'er is my maternal uncle's cousin."

Everyone suddenly realized what was going on and became closer to each other. Yang Keshi and the others had an excellent relationship with Chen Shao, especially during their time in Bianliang. Chen Shao was generous, had a free spirit, was willing to spend money, and was meticulous in his work.

Yang Keshi often spoke up for Tong Guan in secret, otherwise Tong Guan wouldn't have valued and promoted him so much.

Inside the best restaurant in Fuzhou, Yang Keshi's face was flushed from drinking. Then, Liu Guanglie clapped his hands, and his men brazenly brought out a plate of gold ingots.

"What does this mean?"

The dazzling golden light was so captivating that it was impossible to look away.

However, Yang Keshi remained rational; with such a large sum of money, there must be an ulterior motive. His position was crucial; there were things he could do and things he couldn't.

Liu Guanglie laughed and said, "I was asked to do this. Shao Ge'er is in the Hengshan area and wants a soldier from our Fuyan Road camp. This money is to buy him a spot in the Shengjie Army."

Upon hearing this, Yang Keshi was immediately relieved and very happy.

He felt a little guilty that he could get so much gold so easily.

"It's just a transfer order. How could I refuse Shao-ge'er's request? Take this gold back quickly and tell Shao-ge'er that if he continues to be so distant, the brotherhood among us will inevitably grow cold!"

Although he said that, his eyes kept glancing at the gold cake. Liu Guanglie smiled and gave it to him, and finally even pretended to be annoyed.

Yang Keshi reluctantly accepted it.

He was truly delighted. This money was too easy to earn. It was just a matter of transferring a soldier from Fuyan Road to Chen Shao's command. The Fuyan Army itself had no objections. Liu Guanglie personally took charge, and he only needed to have the Shengjie Army issue a transfer order.

It's nothing, Shao-ge'er, that can be done with just ten or so strings of cash!

What kind of bird soldier is worth this much gold? This plate of gold could be exchanged for at least three to five hundred coins.

Yang Keshi even suspected that this was Chen Shao's way of indirectly helping him out.

"What's this man's name?" Yang Keshi said with a smile, "Brother Shao is our own brother, we can't treat him poorly, let's get him settled today."

"Of course, of course. This man's name is Han Shizhong."

(End of this chapter)