Fei Yao was a Xianbei native. He came from the Feilian clan of the Tuoba tribe of the Xianbei. After the Feilian clan was transformed into the Fei clan, the original royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the eight surnames of the Northern Wei imperial clan and the Northern Wei imperial ministers were the most noble. The Fei clan could only be regarded as a second-class nobleman with limited power and strength mainly reflected in the military. Fei Yao had martial arts and was good at riding and shooting. He joined the army when he was young. From the Unification War to the border outside the border, he had more than 30 years of military service and made outstanding achievements. Originally, he was going to the battlefield east, but his old illness relapsed and it was difficult to make a move. So he was named by the emperor and stayed in the capital, stayed in Heishi Pass, and was fully responsible for the important task of garrisoning in the eastern defense zone of the capital.

The eastern defense zone of Jingji started from Yanshi, and passed through Heishi, Luokoucang, Hulao, Xingyang, and all the important towns in the eastern defense of Tianqian Pass, all belonged to the jurisdiction of Fei Yao's garrison. Cui Baode, the commander of Xingyang, was specifically responsible for the eastern area of ​​the defense of Tianqian Pass. Therefore, in terms of power, Fei Yao's power was greater than Cui Baode's power. However, the fourth-rank Wu Benlang General was directly under the Wei Mansion. Fei Yao's superiors were the generals and generals of the Wei Mansion, while the commander of the Xingyang Pass was directly under the central government. Cui Baode directly obeyed the emperor. In other words, in the same defense zone, there were two sets of military institutions that had no affiliation with each other, and the rank of the military chief was completely the same. In peacetime, this practice had its own benefits, overlapping powers and restraining each other, but in wartime, this disadvantage would be infinitely amplified and the consequences were very serious.

Cui Baode was from the Choi clan of Boling. His father Cui Peng, Cui Hongdu and Cui Hongsheng were both cousins. They were deeply trusted by the late emperor. They successively served as the general of the gatekeeper and the prepared general, commanding the Imperial Guards and in charge of the guards. After ascending the throne, they also trusted Cui Peng with great trust and were appointed as the general of the left-leading army and the supreme commander of the Central Imperial Guards. After Cui Peng died of illness, his eldest son Cui Baode succeeded him as the title of title and was repeatedly valued by the God of Heaven. This time, the Imperial Guards were entrusted with the important task of guarding the eastern gate of the capital.

Before Cui Hongsheng, the head of the Cui family, went north to Zhuojun to participate in the Eastern Expedition, he made arrangements for how Cui family responded to future changes in political situations. Cui Baode took on some important missions, so he clearly knew that the white-haired thief Li Fengyun was a chess piece in this layout. But what he did not expect was that this chess piece was so important. Not only did it change the situation in Qilu and Henan in a short period of time, it also quickly promoted the changes in the political situation in the Eastern Capital, and this change was exactly what Cui was happy to see.

Fei Yao came in a hurry, and his purpose was not just to compete for military power with the Xingyang Duwei Mansion. Cui Baode knew this very well. Considering the interests of the Cui family, Cui Baode decided to fuel the fire and develop the situation on the front line of Tongji Canal to the direction needed by some people in the East Capital.

So, Cui Baode put down his self-esteem and arrogance of the super wealthy family and took the initiative to go out of the city to welcome Fei Yao, the general of Wu Benlang of the Wei Mansion who was of the same level as him in terms of rank but was very different from him in terms of aristocratic rank, so as to make some hints to the various political forces in the Eastern Capital.

Fei Yao is nearly fifty years old, strong and powerful, and a solemn aura is revealed on his body. He is a typical old soldier. He stood on the deck of the warship and saw Cui Baode standing on the dock to greet him at first sight, and his eyes suddenly showed surprise.

Cui Baode is in his forties, handsome and majestic appearance. Although he is wearing ordinary yellow thin military uniform, his innate noble temperament of aristocratic family still makes him look extremely eye-catching in the crowd.

Fei Yao was very surprised. He had imagined many scenes of meeting two people in the cabin before, but he did not expect that Cui Baode would surrender and personally go to the dock to greet him. This is an attitude, and it is a statement by Cui's family to the current ups and downs of the political situation in Dongdu.

Cui Baode is the backbone of the Cui family of Boling, especially since the death and deposed of one concubine in one family. Cui Hongdu and Cui Peng passed away one after another. Cui Hongsheng had to support the overall situation alone. After Cui fell into trouble, Cui Baode's voice became increasingly strong in the Cui family. Now Cui Hongsheng, the head of the Cui family, is on the battlefield of the east expedition. Cui Hongsheng, the children and former officials who stayed in the capital, were all headed by Cui Baode, so Cui Baode's attitude towards the current political situation is crucial, which is also one of the important reasons why Fei Yao was ordered to rush from the Eastern Capital to Junyi.

Cui Baode's actions were extraordinary, and the positive attitude of cooperation represented by this action was good news for the political group to which Fei Yao belonged.

Fei Yao got off the boat and greeted Cui Baode, very respectful.

Today, the high and low of Middle-earth, regardless of age, talent, or official position, are divided by aristocratic rank. Although the late emperor had abolished the nine-rank Zhongzheng system, the reform was only the system of selecting officials. The division of aristocratic ranks that had been passed down for hundreds of years is the basic part of the politics of aristocratic ranks. It is deeply rooted and has long evolved into an inseparable part of Middle-earth culture. It cannot be affected by the reform of the official selection system. It is impossible to be affected by the reform of the official selection system.

Cui Baode was very reserved. With Cui's proud position in Middle Earth, going to the dock to welcome a nobleman with a lower rank than himself was only a political need. As for the etiquette of meeting, we must strictly abide by the rules of superiority and inferiority, and we must not lose our courtesy and only laugh at it.

Fei Yao was just respectful in front of Cui Baode, and in front of a group of low-class officers such as Yingyang Mansion and Junyi County Government officials, he was arrogant and did not hesitate.

After the banquet, Sima of the Duwei Mansion introduced Fei Yao the situation east of Tianqian Pass.

The drought is getting worse and worse, and the Great Henan and the north are suffering. The number of people affected is increasing, and there are more and more rebels raising flags to rebel. This is the direct reason for the rapid deterioration of the situation in Henan. The thieves in southwestern Shandong, led by the white-haired thief Li Fengyun, led their troops to the Central Plains, burned, killed and plundered along the line of Ji and He,

The capture of Jiyin, opening warehouses and grain were added, attracting millions of disaster victims, and then carrying these victims to kill Tongji Canal directly, causing the situation in the capital to suddenly become tense. Now all the thieves in southwestern Shandong have all entered the Tongji Canal line and launched a full-scale attack on the waterway about 400 miles from Junyi City to Songcheng, the capital of Liangjun County. The Tongji Canal is in danger of being cut off at any time. Once the waterway of Tongji Canal is interrupted, the first thing that will be affected is the Eastern Expedition. If the Eastern Expedition encounters an unexpected accident, all military and political officials on the Tongji Canal line will pay a heavy price for it.

After the Sima of the Duwei Mansion finished speaking, the lobby fell into a long silence. The atmosphere was dull and stagnant, and the air seemed to become hotter. The officers in the armor all sweated profusely, but no one dared to raise their hands to wipe the sweat. Even the sound of breathing was suppressed, for fear of disturbing the two officers who were lying on the upper seat.

"Duke Anyang, is there any news about Duke Hua?" Fei Yao suddenly asked.

Duke Anyang is Cui Baode, and his full name is Duke Anyang County. This title comes from his father Cui Peng, who inherited the first-rank high-ranking title as the eldest son. Duke Hua is Wei Baoluan, the governor of Jiyin County, and he inherited the title of his father Wei Shou.

"I heard that he is in Fengqiu, Dongjun." Cui Baode said, "Jiyin is in a fall, and he cannot refuse to blame. If he fled back to the capital, he would be imprisoned, so he could only stay outside the guards and wait for an opportunity to counterattack in order to make the merits and punishments.

Fei Yao thought for a moment and asked again, "Recently, has the Zheng family of Xingyang sent someone out of the customs?"

Cui Baode glanced at Fei Yao meaningfully and said nothing.

Wei Baoluan's grandfather was Wei Xiaokuan, a famous general of the Middle Land. He had three wives and concubines. One of them was from the Zheng family of Xingyang, who had sons Wei Zong and Wei Shou, and Wei Baoluan was Wei Shou's son. Marriage between wealthy families is a conventional means of alliance. Although the Wei family of Guanzhong and Zheng family of Xingyang belong to different political groups and have different interests, the marriage relationship between the two families will inevitably promote cooperation between the two parties when interests are consistent. In the current situation, the two families have common interests. Wei Baoluan needs to protect Jiyin to protect his career, and the Zheng family of Xingyang needs the stability of Henan to maintain his own interests, so the two families must cooperate. If Wei Baoluan wants to make a contribution and counterattack Jiyin, he must get help from Zheng family of Xingyang.

However, Fei Yao’s solemn question is worth pondering the meaning behind it.

Cui Baode shook his head, "The disaster in Dongjun is serious, and he can't take care of himself. The war in Liangjun is everywhere, and it is in danger. Duke Hua is isolated and helpless, and he is powerless, and he is helpless, and he is helpless."

Fei Yao had no expression on his face, but a trace of solemnity flashed through his eyes. He originally intended to use the cooperative relationship between Zheng and Wei Baoluan in Xingyang to test Cui Baode's view on the current crisis. Although Cui Baode did not directly answer him, his words clearly revealed the meaning of helping Wei Baoluan. Cui's helping Wei Baoluan was actually helping Zheng in Xingyang, and helping Zheng in Xingyang came from the overall interests of the Shandong aristocratic group, which was in line with Cui's interest demands.

"For the Wei Dynasty, ensuring the safety of Tongji Canal is the first priority."

Fei Yao did not hesitate and decisively expressed his position. I came to Junyi and came to Tianqian Pass to prevent it. There was only one goal, which was to ensure the smooth flow of Tongji Canal. As for suppressing the rebellion and suppressing the thieves, it had nothing to do with me.

Cui Baode shook his head again, "The rebels came overwhelmed by countless victims. With the current garrisoning force on the front line of Tongji Canal, it is difficult to ensure the smooth flow of Tongji Canal."

Fei Yao heard that Cui Baode meant that Tongjiqu wanted to guard the garrison, and suppress the rebellion and suppression of thieves, and had to take into account the interests of all parties, but this conflicted with his mission in this trip.

After pondering for a moment, Fei Yao asked, "Duke Anyang, did Zhu Yingyang from Liang County send envoys to ask for help?"

"I haven't received a letter of help yet." Cui Baode frowned slightly, probably guessing that Fei Yao's purpose of rushing to come was roughly the same as his previous inference. There are more and more undercurrents in the east capital, and the game between the top leaders is gradually becoming clearer. All parties are deliberately or unintentionally pushing the situation to a more dangerous direction. Some deliberately "raise bandits" and some ignore disaster relief. Everyone seems to have forgotten that the increasingly serious natural disaster is killing innocent lives unscrupulously, and millions of expedition soldiers on the battlefield of the east expedition were also in danger.

"If the rebels cut off the Tongji Canal, it will take a lot of trouble to open it up again." Cui Baode tentatively said, "I think that although the Yingyang of Liang County has not yet asked for help, we should send troops quickly to prevent problems before they happen.
Chapter completed!