In February of the third year of Xiyuan, the imperial examination.

March, palace examination.

April, martial arts.

Comparing the final list of palace examinations and martial arts, Heng Yu found that there was a duplicate name on it - Xie Nian.

Xie Nian of Youzhou, whose courtesy name was Jigui, was a second-class Jinshi in the third year of Xiyuan, and was also the top martial arts scholar in this year.

Youzhou is adjacent to Di Rong, and Jiayan Pass, which is now under the rule of Di Rong, was once the territory of Youzhou. Because of this remote geographical location, there are few prestigious families in Youzhou. The most famous one is the Xie family, where Xie Junxian, the governor of Jiayan Pass, was once located.

Born in Youzhou, the surname Xie, the most important thing is to be both civil and military. Xie Nian's origin is worth paying attention to.

"I want to see Xie Nian." Heng Yu handed the roster back to Xiao Fuzi and said lightly.

Xiao Fuzi took the order and retreated.

That afternoon, Xie Nian came to visit Heng Yu in person. From the main entrance of the palace, he was led all the way to the martial arts venue.

Heng Yu changed his clothes that were easy to move, holding a long sword in his hand and wielding it, and the sharp blade refracted the light in the sun.

When Xie Nian stepped into the martial arts field, his eyes were immediately attracted by the sword light, and he carefully looked at Heng Yu's sword move.

Each sword was not fast, but it was very rhythmic. Xie Nian subconsciously substituted himself and found that these sword moves hit the weak parts of the human body. Even if a few swords dodge, it would be difficult to avoid other sword moves that followed.

The sword suddenly changed strangely. Heng Yu kicked the long halberd beside him, and the long halberd flew into the air. The servant quickly avoided it, and Xie Nian looked at the long halberd flying towards him and subconsciously reached out to take it. Then, a sword light attacked him, Xie Nian blocked the long halberd, and the sword and the halberd collided and rubbed, making a harsh sound.

The sword quickly retreated and then rushed.

Fast speed and tricky angle.

Xie Nian almost subconsciously waved the long halberd and had no time to think. Only in this way could he barely block Heng Yu's sword.

Because subconscious reactions are often the fastest.

Heng Yu's sword moves were too fierce. At this time, Xie Nian didn't care about any offense or offense, and directly fought Heng Yu.

However... it was said that it was a fight, Xie Nian fought and retreated, and smiled bitterly in his heart. He was actually in a state of suppression and could not find any room for counterattack. He could only parry the whole process.

It was obvious that only a few breaths passed, but some cold sweat had already oozed out of Xie Nian's back.

Heng Yu swung the last few swords, took the lead and retreated, shook his sleeves, and calmly.

Xie Nian quickly stopped the long halberd and barely adjusted the rhythm of his breathing to calm himself down. He held the long halberd in his left hand and held his fists in his hands to salute Heng Yu, "Your Highness, King Jin."

Xiao Fuzi quickly stepped up and handed a handkerchief to Heng Yu and Xie Nian.

Heng Yu put the long sword back on the weapon platform, wiped his hands with a veil, and his eyes fell on Xie Nian.

As early as when Xie Nian stepped into the martial arts field, Heng Yu recognized Xie Nian, so he had just tried. After a few moves, he already knew Xie Nian's martial arts skills.

Although Xie Nian can only resist him when facing him, Xie Nian's martial arts are already considered first-class.

After all, his sword moves are not ordinary sword moves, and there is no great comparison to Xie Nian when compared with him.

"Do you know my identity in the restaurant that day?" After pausing, Heng Yu nodded slightly, "I heard that Lord Fang Yinguang and General Xie Junxian were once brothers of the same school and had a good relationship. If it were Lord Fang, it would not be difficult to know my whereabouts that day."

Xie Nian was slightly stunned. He knew that some things could not be hidden from Heng Yu, so he was quite calm. "Your Highness would like to forgive me. I have no intention of offending me. As for General Xie Junxian, he is my grandfather."

He was under the guise of his ancestors and had a position that was neither big nor small, so he called himself a "subject" when facing Heng Yu.

Heng Yu threw the handkerchief back to Xiao Fuzi, "He is both literary and martial, and he is worthy of being a descendant of the Xie family."

Xie Nian still kept holding her fists and bowing without replying.

"Originally, I was just meeting the descendants of the Xie family, but since you intend to contact me in advance, I will ask another question, what is your purpose in contacting me in advance?"

"Your Highness is intended to recover Jiayan Pass and strait Di Rong, and this is what I wish. There is no particularly outstanding general in the Qing Dynasty now. I hope your Highness can give me a chance." Xie Nian said honestly.

"Your Majesty can give you what you want." After hearing Xie Nian's words, Heng Yu's casual expression slightly restrained and finally became serious.

"There are too many people who want to be loyal to Your Majesty." Xie Nian stood up straight and did not hide his ambitions. "I have observed that the court is now raising energy and may make big moves at any time. If I don't make any other choices, when our court fights against Di Rong, I will still be a young general who cannot stand out. However, the Xie family's grudges are so I hope to avenge them, so I choose to contact Your Highness."

Heng Yu smiled, "Does Lord Fang know that you think so?"

"Maybe I know, maybe I don't know. All of this is my own choice after all."

After more than thirty years of his ancestors, it was enough to help him find out the whereabouts of King Jin that day. No matter how many there were, Xie Nian would not force him.

"I can help you and arrange you to the border. The origin of the top martial arts scholar is worthy of being a fifth-rank military general. Now Di Rong keeps making small moves, so you can seize the opportunity to climb up. As for loyalty to me, there is no need to be. I don't want to waste a handsome talent."

Being loyal to him is indeed very beneficial in the early stage, but when Xie Nian climbs to a certain height, if someone notices this, it will be difficult for him to climb up.

A look of gratitude flashed across Xie Nian's handsome and tough face, but he didn't say much, but just kept the help of King Jin in his heart and bowed down respectfully.

"An excellent general needs to be tempered in blood and fire. Hatred is the driving force, but you should not be blinded by hatred. Go and take back Jiayan Pass and use the blood of General Di Rong to pay tribute to General Xie's spirit in heaven." Heng Yu glanced at Xie Nian, hoping to see Xie Junxian's shadow from him.

But in just a moment, he shook his head and denied the idea.

If Xie Nian and Xie Junxian really have similarities, then it is probably that face.

As for the others, the young general who has not yet led his troops to the battlefield is really nothing compared to a tiger sharpened in blood and tears.

However, Xie Nian is worth looking forward to.

Moreover, there are indeed no outstanding generals in China now. Xie Nian is willing to go to the bitter and cold border, so what if he accomplishes Xie Nian?

On this side, when Xie Nian left the Jin Palace, he couldn't help but look back a few times. It only took half an hour from the time he stepped into the Jin Palace to the time he left.

Such a straightforward and open-minded and powerful martial arts, this King of Jin is really hard to see through.

But what does it matter if he can't see through it? The King of Jin has agreed to what he wants to ask for.

That's enough.

By the end of May, Xie Nian's appointment was officially released.

He will follow the team of the Ministry of War to escort weapons to Youzhou, where he will experience the hardships and climb up.

Three years have been enough for the imperial court to distribute corn seeds to many suitable areas for planting, and to comprehensively promote corn planting.

The Arab merchant did not find potatoes or sweet potatoes. Heng Yu felt it was a pity, but it was already good to find corn. He gave the merchants who helped find it a good commission and asked them to search for it. If he found him, he would definitely be rewarded with a lot of money.

Benefits can make people take risks. Even if it is difficult to cross the sea, many businessmen decide to go overseas more often. Maybe they can't find potatoes and sweet potatoes, but other strange things can also be sold in Daqing. Those dignitaries like all kinds of strange things the most.

During the past three years, Daqing has been recuperating, and it is really a refuge from God. It has been a good weather and has not encountered any major disasters.

In the winter of the sixth year of Xiyuan, when the snow in the imperial capital could have buried pedestrians' knees, the border reported that it had been reported that it had not been seen in decades. Many of the sheep sheep were frozen to death. Now their tribes are frequently moving, and it seems that they have the idea of ​​going south to attack Youzhou.

In the Golden Palace, the noise suddenly started because of this sudden news.

"Di Rong has become a major concern for the Qing Dynasty. I also ask Your Majesty to issue an order to send troops to promote the prestige of the Great Qing Dynasty." Fang Yinguang began to express his opinion first.

In recent years, the Qing Dynasty's treasury has become richer little by little, and its national strength has begun to increase. The Ministry of War has developed a powerful weapon like Zhuge Shenhou. The cabinet has always maintained a reconciliation attitude, mainly for consideration of national strength. However, now the Qing Dynasty has the power to fight, and these ministers of the cabinet are willing to fight.

He ordered the Ministry of Revenue to escort the grain and grass, and ordered the Ministry of War to prepare weapons. The general policy of the main battle had been decided. Pei Hengyong spent a morning to arrange all the general matters.

After the morning court, Pei Hengyong did not return to his bedroom, but walked slowly to the Imperial Garden on the cleaned stone road, dripping with heavy snow on the goose feathers.

"Your Majesty, do you want to hold an umbrella..." The eunuch general held an umbrella in his hand and followed Pei Hengyong, in a hurry.

Pei Hengyong waved everyone away, raised his hand and tightened his cloak. He walked around the pavilion covered with snow, walked down a few steps, and came to the best-growing plum tree in the entire imperial garden, and admired the red plum blossoms blooming in the cold storm.

The red plum blossoms flutter, tremble, and bloom.

"How long will this war last?" he whispered suddenly.

"It's not difficult to win, but the difficult thing is to completely conquer Di Rong."

A familiar voice came from behind.

Pei Hengyong looked back.

Heng Yu held an umbrella in his right hand and an umbrella in his left hand, wearing a brown cloak, and walked to Pei Hengyong in the wind.

The face that grew more and more as time brewed, was bloodless because it was blown by the cold wind, but it also brought out a bit of thrilling handsomeness that was different from the past.

Heng Yu handed Pei Hengyong the umbrella he brought from the eunuch in his hand to Pei Hengyong. He held the umbrella in his hand and admired the plum tree with him.

Pei Hengyong stretched out the umbrella, and the snowflakes that fell on him were blocked by the umbrella. He did not shake off the snowflakes that had already fallen on his body, and let them melt away little by little and sink into his cloak.

"The cabinet only wants to win this battle, so it's better to recover Jiayan Pass back, but the eighth brother wants to completely fight Di Rong and break up. Now the whole court supports fighting this battle, but after the recovery of Jiayan Pass, the ministers may not be willing to continue fighting. That's the most difficult time." Pei Hengyong sighed softly.

"Di Rong surrendered to the Central Plains during the previous dynasty. Later, the previous dynasty declined, and Di Rong immediately clawed the previous dynasty. The disaster of Di Rong has lasted for hundreds of years."

"I have been preparing for so long. If I want to fight, I will eliminate future troubles forever."

The last sentence was loud and resolute until Pei Hengyong lost his words for a moment.

"What a perfect way to avoid future troubles." Pei Hengyong's hesitation in his heart dissipated with Heng Yu's unwavering attitude.

"It took only thirteen years for Taizu to fight south and north to establish the Qing Dynasty. Can it be difficult to destroy a small Di Rong? Is it rare to be able to fight the princes and unify the world?" Pei Hengyong smiled happily. After sitting on the throne for a long time, he always weighed the pros and cons. A man who had been on the battlefield was not as passionate as his eighth brother.

This is not possible.

The Zhuge divine crossbow developed by Heng Yu's contribution drawings, as well as other magical weapons, played a powerful role in the battlefield.

Good news came in January, but in just three months, all the lost cities were recovered except for Jiayan Pass, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

In the past three months of good news, the name Xie Nian spread throughout the imperial capital and began to emerge in front of all forces.

The four words "use of war is like a god" are the best summary of him.

"I am worthy of being a descendant of General Xie Junxian." This sentence is frequently mentioned by some old ministers.
To be continued...