As the last feudal force in the border wall to resist the empire, the King of Pingxi Wu Sangui had reached the end of his journey. When it was internalized, the war machines in the southwest of the empire had already been running at full capacity. Originally, the headquarters of the Southwest War Zone had sufficient war funds, and the proceeds from the settlement of houses in various provinces could also be used by military supplies. Tens of millions of taels of silver were turned into fuel and put into this war engine to allow it to operate at the fastest speed.

More than a dozen new shipyards have appeared on the Pearl River. Craftsmen are making river ships that can directly sail from the Pearl River Estuary to Guilin. Blasting smoke comes from blast furnaces everywhere, and metal in the blacksmith's workshop is flowing. Countless people who have just been lifted from the liquidated objects have joined the workshop. The abundant human resources of Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan and Guizhou, which have been pacified for many years, are being distributed and used quickly under the power of capital. The offensive road formed by the Pearl River as a shipping channel has been opened, and Li Jundu also officially moved the theater headquarters from Wuchang to Guizhou.

Shortly after the arrival of the second year of the Empire, on the large-scale combat map in front of the war zone commander Li Jundu, a scarlet and huge arrow was so eye-catching that it stabbed Chongqing from Guizhou. Under this arrow, there were two mountain brigades as the main force, and the subordinate chieftains were also subordinate to the chieftains who had already surrendered, and the subsequent main force was a main force. Obviously, the plan of the Great Southwest War Zone Command was very simple. Enter Sichuan from Guizhou, capture Chongqing, and cut off the Yangtze River, and assist the main force in Huguang to attack the rebels in the eastern Sichuan area and open up the Yangtze River channel so that the main force could enter the Sichuan Basin smoothly.

Chengdu.

"Superior Guo, how is the situation?" Wu Sangui pinched the corners of his eyes and asked softly. Xia Guoxi heard his voice a little deeper. He looked up and found that Wu Sangui's originally round face had a few edges and edges, his hair was dry and yellow, and his eyes were a little gray, as if he had not had a good rest for several days.

The Prime Minister of Xia knew that Wu Sangui was so empty was not because he was worried about the situation, but because he was drunk and dirty in this palace-like temple during this period. The Prime Minister of Xia was still a little scared. After he had been out for nearly two months, Wu Sangui was like this. Fortunately, he did not delay for too long. The Prime Minister of Xia said in a deep voice: "Prince, I went to Hanzhong during this period, Kuizhou and Chongqing. The situation was not very good. The Eastern Band soldiers repeatedly tried to attack Hanzhong, and there were many secret spies. There were several new numbers in the direction of Kuizhou, and the main force was frequently mobilized. However, the Emperor of Xia thought that the most dangerous thing was the direction of Guizhou. Many chieftains in Guizhou and Chongqing chose neutrality, and many people went to the Eastern Band............."

"Nothing is important. What I asked is that there is a intention to negotiate in the East Fan. Are there any abnormal movements in this matter?" Wu Sangui interrupted Prime Minister Xia.

Xia Guoqiao said in a low voice: "I took people to Guizhou, but I never saw the King of England. Dongfan always delayed it, which was obviously delayed. Beizheng pretended to be a messenger and came back first. However, during Guizhou, I found out a lot of information. Dongfan launched a large-scale recruitment of soldiers in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces for two months. Unlike the previous age limit for recruitment of soldiers at the age of twenty-five, this time it can reach thirty-five years. If you have a military service resume, you will be given priority. It is said that you will recruit 25,000 soldiers. Many veterans from Jin and Shu and other vassals will be recruited. Even the old subordinates of the Qing Dynasty Green Camp should accept it. In addition, Beizheng also obtained information through his old relationship. Although the chieftains who had already participated in the Dongfan received titles and rewards, they did not meet the King of England himself......"

Wu Sangui's eyes lit up: "That's it, that's right. Recruiting veterans must be a stable place. The chieftain cannot see it. It means that the thief is mostly dead. This is Dongfan pretending to be a stance and acts to strengthen the military strength of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, but in fact it is a frustration. Prime Minister, they are not delaying. It is obvious that no one makes the decision. They want to ask the center of the capital."

Prime Minister Xia lowered his head and couldn't help but sigh. He knew that Wu Sangui would think so, but there was nothing he could do. He was about to defend himself and hoped that Wu Sangui would cheer up and prepare for the strong battle, but Wu Sangui yawned and waved his hand: "I am tired, Prime Minister, go first. If there is news from the delegation, come and report it."

"Yes, Prince." Xia State responded. Seeing that Wu Sangui looked really bad, Prime Minister Xia State said again: "Prince, millions of people in the southwest, hundreds of thousands of children under the vassal are counting on Prince. Prince must cherish his body. He has been away from his post for two months. He feels that the prince has lost weight and is not energetic..."

Wu Sangui casually said: "I understand, I understand, go, go."

Prime Minister Xia had no choice but to leave the hall, while Wu Sangui clapped his hands, and two women in light clothes and thin clothes walked out. He handed Wu Sangui a cigarette gun. Wu Sangui lit a mouthful, let out a pleasant and satisfied moan, and sighed: "Friendly, comfortable..."

Two women pinched their shoulders and rubbed their legs, which made Wu Sangui even more satisfied. He asked, "That man said just now that I have lost weight and have bad spirits. What do you think?"

"I am in front of the prince every day, and I feel that the prince's dragon horse spirit is even better than before."

"Yes, yes, I also feel that the prince is full of energy and angry..."

"Hahaha, I said it well, I feel that I have improved a lot of strength and my spirit is even better."

Prime Minister Xia walked out and heard the sound of Wu Sangui playing with the woman inside, and he regretted even more and more that he gave the woman to Wu Sangui. He originally wanted to be more useful. He relieved Wu Sangui's depression of repeated failures, but he never thought that it was wrong. When he left, Wu Sangui clearly performed a ritual and prayed to gods and Buddhas. He also told the temple host to persuade him, how did he become like this now?

"How did the prince become like this in the past two months since I was not here?" Xia Guoqian asked the guards.

The guard said, "Hasn't the prince been like this all this time?"

Xia Guojin asked: "Why is the Western woman I sent to the prince gone? And there is no sound of chanting scriptures in the temple. What happened?"

"Oh, you said this. General Ma Bao recommended several tantric masters to the prince. Do you know that these masters are well-versed in Buddhism and understand the secret techniques in the room. The prince likes them very much, so he drove away all the original monks! And the prince also obtained several secret medicines and strange medicines, which were extremely useful, especially the blessing and longevity ointment..." The guard talked about some changes in Wu Sangui, and the prime minister of Xia was shocked.

"Is that Fushou cream offered by Ma Bao?"

The guard shook his head: "It shouldn't be. General Ma only presented medicine once. He has been in southern Sichuan for the past two months, and it is a business deal."

"I understand, let's go back." Xia Guoxiang said. He thought about it for a while and hurriedly left.

When the guard saw him walking away, he spitted on the ground: "Ah! What should I use as a slave? I will just call you and wield it. If it is not for the sake of your prince's son-in-law, who will ask you? If you think I am your slave, how can you be half of the etiquette of General Ma?"

The guard said, touching his body, a few pieces of cold and hard metal came from Ma Bao, but it really warmed his heart.

At this time, the shift guard arrived and asked, "Who are you scolding to yourself?"

"Call a dog." The guard said casually, then explained a few words, then went back to his room. He spread out the paper and pen, and wrote down all the performances of Xia Guoxiang's return today and what he heard. It was simply inconsistent and his words were also erroneous, but the key was the truth. After writing these, he left the temple from the side door, came to a pickle shop, bought pickle, and handed the letter to the shopkeeper.

When the shopkeeper heard that it was about Prime Minister Xia, he smiled, took a pickle jar and said, "Mr. Chen, you have been so worried. This is what my master prepared for you. One hundred taels of silver. When the master reads the letter, there will definitely be rewards."

The guard surnamed Chen laughed and put away the silver and said, "I don't care about these things. I have a sincere relationship with Lord Ma. I have done the things he asked me to do. In addition, you sent him a message and asked me to arrange the people I have placed. It only cost 200...280 taels."

"Yes, I will definitely send the message."

Guizhou.

"Your Highness, you have a secret letter."

"Yeah." Li Jundu put down the official document in his hand, took the letter from the guards, glanced at it, and turned to the intelligence consultant: "Isn't Tan Hong from Chongqing the one who has been in contact with us the most during this period? Why did Ma Bao suddenly take the initiative?"

The intelligence consultant said: "Prince, Tan Hong has also mentioned repeatedly that his reaction was echoed by Ma Bao, and the two of them advanced and retreated together."

Li Jundu handed the letter to the intelligence consultant and smiled and said, "Since Tan Hong represents Ma Bao, why did Ma Bao suddenly come to the door and say that he could enter Bashu only when he met me, he could wipe out the Wu bandits and pacify the southwest."

Several staff officers took a look and said, "It's not credible, prince, so as to avoid fraud. Things in Guangzhou should not happen."

Obviously, the staff officers did not know that Li Jundu was pretending to be assassinated, but the guard said, "It seems that Ma Bao is very sincere. We have to choose both the time and the place, but the number of people is limited."

Li Junduo pointed at the head of the guard and said, "You go see Ma Bao's person and ask him why Ma Bao is so sure. If he doesn't know, let him go back and ask Ma Bao. If he knows, tell him immediately, otherwise I won't see you."

The chief guard hurriedly went, and soon came back, saying, "Your Highness, that guy said, Ma Bao is sure to kill Wu Sangui and mess up the Western vassal."

Li Jundu laughed, no wonder Ma Bao dared to say such a big talk. He already understood what Ma Bao meant. Pingxi Fan is now fighting the idea of ​​promoting peace with war and trying to use the mountains and ridges around the Sichuan Basin to block the imperial army. However, with the imbalance of the power balance between the two sides and Li Jundu's large-scale surrender and rebel, Pingxi Fan has been shaken and divided. In addition to the common wish of retreating and wealth, only Wu Sangui, the vassal lord, was left. As long as Wu Sangui died, Pingxi Fan immediately split up. Whether it was fighting or admiring, it would be smoother than before.

"I originally thought that I would prepare for the spring and summer seasons, and take advantage of the rising water in autumn and less sickness in winter to march again. I never thought there would be such a chance." Li Jundu smiled, and he immediately ordered: "If you ask someone to tell Ma Bao, I will agree to meet him. Just in Bijie. I will withdraw the troops there first and only bring one hundred guards."

Half a month later, when Li Jundu arrived in Bijie, there were not many people in this small town, but he had been waiting in the restaurant in the city until noon, and no one reported to see Ma Bao's team. But at noon, Ma Bao was dressed as a merchant and appeared in front of Li Jundu with only two followers.

"General Ma is so brave!" Li Jundu praised.

"Your Highness's young hero, I can't stand it, my old man, you praise me." Ma Bao agreed, but his eyes were always staring at Li Jundu and looked at him.

Li Jundu smiled, patted his strong chest, put his hands on the table and put his arm wrestling look and said, "If the old general suspects that I come with injuries, how about a fight with me?"

Ma Bao was slightly stunned, and Li Jundu smiled again: "If the old general thinks this is a child's game, I have a few good bows here. Why would the old general compare my bow skills?"

Ma Bao shook his head and sighed, "I dare not, I am here this time because I want your highness to give me a family of thirty-one lives."

"I want to know that Wu Sangui is good to you and even saved your life. Why did the general want to do such a rebellion?" Li Jundu asked.

Ma Bao's face suddenly turned pale and suddenly turned red, and he said, "I have always wanted to die for Wu Sangui for life, but that guy has long lost his fighting spirit and hid in other courtyards all day long. He seeks gods and Buddhas for all military and political affairs. It is not the act of a wise ruler, nor is it a heroic act. Why should I be pedantic?

Your Highness, King Ying, I am willing to eliminate this bandit for the New Dynasty and save the people of the southwest from suffering. But I also ask Your Highness to reward me for me. I am not greedy for power and do not want titles and official positions. I just want to take my family to live in Southeast Asia and not cause trouble anymore. What about?"

Li Jundu smiled and knew that Ma Bao was being frightened by the liquidation. He wanted to go to Nanyang to avoid settlement in the autumn. He had expected that, with a wave of his hand, the head guard sent a stack of documents. Li Jundu said: "There is a kiln photo here. It is a tin mine mined for five years near Penang in Nanyang, and several dry shares of colonial companies. In terms of several things, there are also dividends and profits of 70,000 to 80,000 taels of silver a year. If the veteran general can do something for the empire, these will be yours."

"What's the matter?" asked Ma Bao.

Li Jundu said directly: "There are still many former Ming royal families in Chengdu, especially the Yongli family. The general needs to find a way to protect their family. I can also give an explanation to the queen and the prince."
Chapter completed!