Chapter 535 That's Not Certain
Cao Youwen also said with a serious expression: If we forcefully cross the river and advance to Hedong, Lai Chuanfang's army will become a thorn in the eyes of the grassland empire and a thorn in the flesh. It is hard to guarantee that they will not be attacked by the northern barbarians. If the Han army of several families in Hebei unites, it will be a force of 200,000 to 300,000 people. However, the Shi family army is enough for Chuanfang and his men to deal with.
After hearing the analysis from the two veterans, Zhao Feiyan frowned and looked at Zhao Yulin.
After asking everyone to take a sip of wine, he said: Not necessarily.
He said: Admittedly, we suffered heavy losses in last year's war, so it was a bitter victory. However, the Prairie Empire also lost their Phosphorus State Group.
The most important thing is that the grassland empire first lost the support of Tubo, then lost the Hexi Corridor, and now has lost most of the Hetao Plain. More than half of the fertile grassland on which they depend for survival is gone, including a lot of losses in cattle, sheep and horses. They also need to squat down, lick their wounds and recover their vitality.
Everyone at the table listened to his humorous speech, nodding their heads and savoring the wine in their cups.
He went on to say: Your friend must want to do something big now that he has become the Khan. However, that guy just took the throne, and his troops were completely lost in last year's war. He wants to mobilize all the troops of the empire to go south and fight us, but he cannot decide alone.
First of all, the Badu Group in the West would not agree. The Mengge and Hubili Groups in the East would also wait for a price. Without a proper distribution of the empire's power, Mengge would definitely not listen to him.
Furthermore, these jackals have fought with our Shenwei Army before, and they know how powerful our New Song Army is. If a single military group wants to go south to fight us, they must weigh their own strength. And it is very difficult for them to unite as one, as they all have their own agenda.
Therefore, Zhao Yulin judged that it was unlikely that the Mongolian army would march south in large numbers this year. We should take advantage of this rare opportunity to recuperate, put a lot of effort into propaganda, and strive to gather all the anti-Mongol forces in Hebei to make the final blow to recover the Song Dynasty.
Cao Youwen and Meng Gong were both inspired and thought what Zhao Yulin said made sense.
Old Cao said very easily: If that's true, that's great. I will no longer go to the border and will stay at Taijian Hall.
Meng Gong then said: He had commanded an army of 100,000 to cross the Yellow River and easily recapture Hedong, which was his wish, so he decided to resign from his position as deputy director of the Central Academy.
Zhao Feiyan was immediately stunned and asked Meng Gong in surprise how could this be possible? Meng Gong was in his prime, so this was absolutely impossible.
Lao Cao smiled and said that the king should agree to it. Meng Gong had fought with him in Guanghuo Street in Qinling Mountains, but he was unable to do so even with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. It was a good opportunity for them to come to Taijian Hall to have tea and chat.
Meng Gong did not care that Lao Cao had exposed his shortcomings, and said with a laugh: "Great, I will talk to Brother Yulin about it when I come back, and then I will go to have tea with Cao Gong."
Wouldn’t the king disapprove?
Zhao Feiyan then woke up and realized that these people all knew about it.
She said with a smile: Since Lord Meng has made up his mind, I will follow the general's decision. In the future, the general needs to continue to give me more advice.
Meng Gong immediately said humbly: Your Majesty, you are too kind and too modest. I will definitely do my duty faithfully and do my part well.
The drinking party ended here, and Zhao Yulin and Feiyan said goodbye and left. As soon as the woman got on the carriage, she fell into his arms and asked him why Mr. Meng quit.
He said that Meng Gong had fought against the Mongols on the Jinghu front in his early years and had suffered countless injuries. He was about to retire when he was still in Jiankang Prefecture. This time he led an army of 100,000 to attack Hedong. He had already satisfied the life of a great general and certainly didn't want to do it again.
He told Feiyan the story of the martial arts competition between Lao Cao and Meng Gong in Guanghuo Street on the top of Qinling Mountains. Zhao Feiyan held her stomach and laughed so hard that she couldn't stop. She couldn't imagine that a great general, a king, or a great god, would actually pick up a sword and play with it happily.
Zhao Yulin also said happily: Fortunately, he asked Guigu's master to reduce the weight of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade for Meng Gong by 20 pounds, otherwise, Old Meng would not be able to control himself when wielding the sword, and he might break his waist.
Feiyan listened and laughed so hard that she covered her stomach again.
When I got home, the women and children were still drinking tea and chatting in the warm room.
Wu Jing ran over and called him "Daddy, Daddy", asking him to attend the opening ceremony of the Huaxi Village Beggar Chicken. She pouted and said that the little mother had worked so hard, and that her daddy didn't even go to see her when he came back. Huaxi had changed a lot.
He said with a smile: Huaxi Village has his good girl to help, why does it need him as a father? It will only cause trouble.
The women and children were delighted. Chen Liu and Zhu Fugui were still calling him to go and take a look. Chen Chen spoke up and asked his brothers and sisters to take their younger brothers and sisters to the small flower hall to eat and play, as the adults wanted to discuss state affairs.
A few cute kids stuck out their tongues and ran away screaming "Yeah".
Chen Chen coughed twice and said: She said first that Hulan wanted to take the child back to Yibin to recognize his ancestors, and I have to supervise my brother to get things done, and Chengdu Prefecture will let Zhidi temporarily act as the prefect.
He said: Yuqi, come back too, there are hot springs in the new town.
Chen Chen immediately said, "Yes, and Sister Yuqi, let’s supervise together."
Ma Linger laughed and said that it depends on whether our king allows it. If the king doesn’t allow it, no one can leave.
Zhao Feiyan asked him: Why don't you wait a few days before leaving?
Zhao Yulin said that they should go early and come back early, as there was nothing big happening in Chengdu for the time being, so they would go to Xinshi Town and stay there for a few days before returning.
Zhao Feiyan asked him: If Lord Meng resigns on the first day of court, who will take over?
Yangjin smiled and said: This is Feiyan trying to keep me, it's simple, I will say this is a serious matter, we can discuss it after Commander Zhao comes back.
The girls laughed immediately.
Yangjin suggested to Yuqi that they should open a fast delivery route directly through the Dali Kingdom through Shunfengsi, and inform Dali that Yulin brother should get the information of Thang Long Prefecture as soon as possible, and the new Song Kingdom wanted to taste the fresh fruits there.
Zhao Yulin immediately gave Yang Jin a look. This woman was giving him another task. Couldn’t he take a break?
Zhao Feiyan immediately said that she didn't have such an idea. There were fresh fruits everywhere. She could offer them to the ladies along Guangnan West Road, and she would also like to have some.
Ma Linger said solemnly: Yangjin is not here for us to eat the fresh fruits of Shenglongzhou, she is just testing the waters. Seeing that Brother Yulin is going to Xinshi again, she wants Dali to allow us to set up a post station and postal route in its borders.
Zhao Yulin thought it was inappropriate to provoke Dali's fragile nerves too early, as that would make them extremely nervous. A small country like Dali is too weak, and they are always on the alert of our every move. If we are not careful, they will make mistakes in judgment and react excessively, which will make us lose our way.
Yangjin asked him disdainfully: What are you afraid of?
It’s just a small Dali.
At worst, they just won’t agree. What else can we do?
We might as well give them a mention.
Isn’t this how the grassland empire used to play tricks on the Lin’an court?
While everyone was still talking, he noticed that Hu Lan's expression had grown dim.
Zhao Yulin said: If we don't do such things, he will be convinced and ask the Dali Kingdom to return to the big family of the New Song Kingdom.
He told Feiyan: After nearly ten years of fighting, our New Song Kingdom and the Grassland Empire have won more than they have lost, the ruler has worked hard to govern the country, the country is unprecedentedly united, and has gathered strong financial resources. However, the Grassland Empire is still a loose group of kings.
The strength of the two countries is increasing and decreasing. Comprehensively speaking, we have already surpassed the grassland empire and are not afraid of any enemy. Yangjin is considering taking the initiative to attack. We can do something, but it is not advisable to take action too early.
The sisters can discuss the specifics of what to do. It is better to discuss state affairs in the court. As the head of state, he should make decisions when necessary. There is no need to wait for all the officials to gather in the court before making a decision.
Zhao Feiyan was overwhelmed when she heard that the New Song Kingdom where she sat had inadvertently become a powerful country.
Yangjin looked at Feiyan and said proudly: Brother, what I mean is that the country is now more stable than ever before, you can play with me as you like, the country will not be over, do you understand?
Zhao Yulin didn't argue with the sisters. He pulled Hu Lan and asked her to go see Xiao Guanglan.
Not long after the two of them left the house, Ma Ling'er blamed Yangjin for mentioning the grassland empire in front of Hu Lan.
Yangjin said with full reason: Hulan just didn't get over that hurdle. She has married into our Zhao family but still considers herself a subject of the grassland empire. She should be clear that she is a Mongolian of the New Song Kingdom.
Otherwise, how can we manage the northern grasslands that our Shenwei Army has won back with blood and lives in the future?
The girls immediately fell silent.
At ease, Wu Yuqi told Zhao Feiyan that she would no longer be the general manager of Shunfengsi, and would always stay by Brother Yulin's side.
She said that her sisters didn't know that the battlefield was too dangerous and her brother was a fearless person. At the critical moment, her brother pointed his gun directly at the hot air balloon of the Grassland Empire and did not stop until the enemy's balloon passed overhead. He was lucky enough to survive because the guard captain Ke Zhenxie and others protected him with their bodies.
Yangjin said angrily that of course she knew that the thunder bomb had a huge amount of explosives and would be destroyed if it hit the body. Victory was hard-won.
That's why she wanted to wake up Hulan. In the future, her brother would definitely ask her to go back to the grassland to gather all the tribes there. Only she could pacify the grassland.
The next day, Zhao Yulin set off back to Yibin with Wu Yuqi, Chen Chen and Hu Lan.
Early spring | The water level was low, and the official ship was sailing cautiously on the river. Several women were talking to their children in the cabin, like passing the parcel.
Zhao Yulin stood at the bow and asked Zuo Liangchen, "Have all of Hua Cai's guards been settled?"
Liangchen told him that they had all been resettled, and those who were willing to stay would join his guard, and the injured brothers would be transferred to local garrisons according to the rules.
Lu Huacai died in the battle of Nailong Mountain, and most of his guards were also killed or wounded. Zhao Yulin asked them to be incorporated into his own guard and settled them like his own guard brothers .
He asked Liangchen to pay attention and make sure all the brothers who voluntarily returned to their hometown were settled and kept in touch with, and any of them who had difficulties should tell him.
Liangchen nodded in agreement and told him that Madam Ma Ling had specially paid for the expenses to ensure that the brothers would have a smooth life when they returned home.
