Jiuxi

Chapter 124 123 [Who am I and return]

The Royal Street to the north of the palace is mostly lined with government offices, and further to the west are a large number of mansions where the clan lives, including a relatively spacious Jianwang Palace.

It was not difficult for Li Duan to have heirs, but only three of them grew up safely. The eldest son, Li Zongchao, was born to the queen. At the age of 22, he was named King Chen.

The youngest son Li Zongjian was also the daughter of the queen. At the age of 17, he was named King Jian.

Li Duan treated the three princes equally without any obvious difference. However, the queen loved her youngest son Li Zongjian more, but it was understandable and did not reach the level of doting.

In the flower hall of the palace, Li Zongjian, dressed in gorgeous clothes, leaned lazily on the back of his chair, looking at Li Yunyi opposite who was drinking heavily, and said slowly: "I heard that you were angered by people some time ago?"

Li Yunyi drank the wine in the glass, shook his head and said: "Don't mention it."

"Is this really happening?" Li Zongjian suddenly became interested.

None of the three princes had the power to interfere in the government affairs. Li Duan invited a great Confucian to teach for each of them. Li Zongjian had a headache when he saw those classics and meanings. It was normal to fish for three days and dry the nets for two days. Most of the time, he was like Li Yunyi. Dudes of similar status hang out together.

He had a more arrogant temperament and was far less calm than the two royal brothers. Because of this, he was often summoned to the harem to be reprimanded by the queen, but the thunder was loud and the rain was small, and the queen could not bear to be too harsh on the youngest son.

Li Yunyi put down the wine cup and sighed.

Li Zongjian frowned and said, "What are you doing, mother-in-law and mother-in-law? Is there anything we can't talk about directly between you and me?"

"It's not that I can't trust His Highness, it's just a bit embarrassing to say it."

Li Yunyi sighed, briefly recounted what happened in Fanlou that day, and finally sighed: "I just want to make friends with the rising stars of the border army. After all, it is difficult to see such brave young people in the capital. He ignored my good intentions. , but instead treated me as a savage beast, and I really don’t know where to reason.”

"boom!"

Li Zongjian slapped the table and said angrily: "My dear, these barbarians from the border have actually bullied you."

"Your Highness, calm down, it's just a trivial matter." Li Yunyi quickly advised.

Li Zongjian shook his head and said: "How can this be a trivial matter? This Lu Chen only made some contributions in the border wars, so he doesn't take you seriously. If he is allowed to make more meritorious deeds, wouldn't he not even be able to attract his attention? Having said that, you have never been so easy to talk to. This barbarian didn't give you face at that time, why didn't you let someone teach him a lesson? Others may not know, but I know there are some top masters around you."

Li Yunyi knew that the young prince was not stupid, but rather clever, so he smiled bitterly and said: "Your Highness, he is a meritorious official who came to Beijing to meet with you. How can I let the guards take action? At this moment, Lu Chen has already entered the capital. When I meet Your Majesty in the palace, if my men inflict some injuries on him and Your Majesty takes the blame, why can’t my old man beat me up first?”

"That's true. My father definitely doesn't like to see this kind of thing. He has to show respect to the governors of the border army."

Li Zongjian had a toothache, and suddenly understood the reason for his playmate's sigh. He was obviously just a small captain who was not worthy of being on the stage, but could affect the relationship between the center of the imperial court and the border troops. He was like a hedgehog, covered in thorns and unable to eat.

He thought for a while and said in a deep voice: "No, I have to help you vent your anger."

Li Yunyi quickly declined: "Although His Highness has good intentions, it is really not suitable to come forward. Moreover, it is my fault that I did not think carefully enough about this matter."

"Okay, let's not talk about these nonsense." Li Zongjian waved his hands and said slowly: "When father has finished handling these matters, I will find an opportunity to call that Lu Chen over and ask him to pour you tea in front of everyone. How about an apology? After all, our father is watching, so we can’t go too far, but it’s not too much to ask him to bow his head and admit his mistake. Even if you don’t want to care about it, you still have to consider the dignity of the left prime minister.”

"Thank you, Your Highness."

A smile appeared on Li Yunyi's face, and he said leisurely: "In a few days, I will let the Su family prepare well and have a few drinks with His Highness. How about it?"

"Don't come." Li Zongjian also laughed and said angrily: "The last time I heard her play a song, I don't know who leaked the news to the palace, and I was called by the queen to be disciplined for half an hour. Again. Or you don’t have to pretend, it’s not like I don’t know that Gu Waner and Su Qianyu are your cash cows. The words “Qinghuanren” are worth a lot of money, and it is the confidence for them to become courtesans. You are not willing to touch them, so why bother? Pretending to be generous in front of me."

"Although it is true that the servants can earn more money, if His Highness likes it, it will be a blessing they have cultivated for several lifetimes." Li Yunyi said sincerely.

Li Zongjian said leisurely: "The most indispensable thing in my palace is beauties. Why bother provoking some oiran and irritating my mother for nothing. If you really want to repay me, you might as well find some interesting fun. Just do what happened last time." Not bad.”

Li Yunyi said with understanding: "I understand, your Highness, just rest assured."

The smile on Li Zongjian's face grew thicker, and he asked curiously: "Are you really going to let go of the Gu Waner matter?"

A frosty face appeared in Li Yunyi's mind, and he sighed: "What if I don't give up? If I go to find trouble with Lu Chen, my grandfather will at most give me a scolding. If I get into trouble with that crazy woman again, my grandfather will definitely kill me." Grounded for a few years.”

Li Zongjian hummed: "These barbarians from the border are all arrogant. Sooner or later, we will deal with them."

Li Yunyi raised the wine cup and said: "Your Highness, calm down, there will always be opportunities in the future."

"it is good."

A sharp look appeared in Li Zongjian's eyes, and he drank the wine in one gulp.

……

In the Hall of Wende, Li Duan quietly looked at Lu Chen who was thinking, without saying anything to urge him.

"Your Majesty, I still want to return to the border." Lu Chen finally gave a slightly stubborn answer.

In fact, this kind of scene is not common in the relationship between monarch and ministers. Most ministers have no right to refuse the emperor's appointment, let alone a young and low-ranking general like Lu Chen.

However, Li Duan was not the late emperor who insisted on ruining the country in the north more than ten years ago. In the past 12 years, he faced the complicated court structure, overcoming obstacles step by step with great difficulty, and had already developed the habit of listening to the opinions of his ministers.Lu Chen was also an old official who was smooth and smooth in his official career. His vitality and outspokenness were the deepest impression on Li Duan.

Li Duan smiled and said, "Are you worried that you won't be able to fulfill your ambitions if you stay in the capital?"

Lu Chen knew the difference between uprightness and arrogance. He lowered his head and replied: "Your Majesty, although I have made some meager achievements, it was just a flash of inspiration, and it was all thanks to the teachings and advice of the two governors, Xiao and Li. I I have no talent for reading and writing since I was a child, I couldn’t even pass the government examination, I don’t understand the rules of officialdom, and I have a straightforward temperament and I’m not good at socializing. I’m afraid that staying in the capital will cause trouble to His Majesty from time to time.”

Li Duan thought of this young man's performance in Fanlou and couldn't help but nodded: "You are very honest."

Lu Chen said sincerely: "Another point, I still have a lot to learn in the military. If I can continue to stay with Governor Xiao, maybe I can continue to improve myself. Your Majesty is determined to make the Northern Expedition. For people like me who are in Huaizhou For the people who grew up on the border, this is undoubtedly extremely encouraging news. Instead of staying in the capital, I would like to charge forward on the border and contribute to the realization of His Majesty's long-cherished wish."

"Very good. If all the ministers in the DPRK and the Central Government think as you do, why should I worry about failing to achieve my great cause?"

Li Duan's mind was slightly agitated, and his eyes turned to the map hanging on the wooden frame again, and he pondered: "Just now you mentioned the two places in Jiangbei. Judging from your experience of participating in the whole war and watching with your own eyes, which one is more suitable as a breakthrough?"

Lu Chen said calmly: "Your Majesty, I think Dongyang Road is more suitable."

"Why?"

Li Duan was slightly puzzled.

Although he lives in a deep palace, because of the support and trust of Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun, he is no stranger to the situation on the border.

The area to the north of Huaizhou that borders Beiyan Dongyang Road is separated by two dangerous points, Qingtian City and Yongquan Pass, making it difficult for the army to move northward calmly.Moyang Road to the west is completely different. The vast area here has developed roads, and now it occupies seven cities in Jiangbei, forming a large occupied area. Going north from this direction should be a better choice.

Lu Chen responded: "Your Majesty, the southeastern area of ​​​​Puppet Yan Moyang Road has been lost. It seems that our army has an advantage. However, after suffering this big loss, the enemy has deployed heavy troops on the northern front. On the surface, our army has many options if it goes north. , In fact, this is not the case. Gein’s offense and defense are not fixed and may change at any time. At the moment, our army’s main task is to stabilize the defense line.”

"You mean, marching to Moyang Road requires a lot of troops?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

“What’s different about Dongyang Road?”

"The gateways of Dongyang Road are Yongquan Pass and Qingtian City. There are few attack targets, which seems to be detrimental to our army. However, as long as we bite off these two hard bones, we can advance steadily and gradually. This is completely different from Moyang Road. The simplest example is that if our army captures a city on Moyang Road, we must be prepared for possible enemy forces from all directions, and we will definitely need a large number of troops to maintain the front line."

Li Duan finally understood that although he often exchanged letters with Xiao Li, the speed of information circulation in this era was too slow, and he could not just use the eight-hundred-mile horse. Such communication efficiency was really low, and many problems were solved. It is difficult to get a detailed answer.

Unlike Lu Chen in front of him now, he could clarify the problem in a few words.

He said slowly: "So what you want to say is that by laying down a pass or a city on Dongyang Road, our army can accurately predict the enemy's counterattack route and make correct responses."

"Your Majesty Shengming."

Lu Chen gently flattered him, and then gave his second reason: "To the north of Dongyang Road in Pseudo-Yan, there are many grassy gangs composed of Qi people from the North. They live in the mountains and fields. For the Puppet-Yan imperial court He and the Jing Dynasty’s army refused to obey, these are all forces that can be united.”

Li Duan's eyes lit up and he said approvingly: "What a great idea. If we can arouse the people of the North to show their attachment to Daqi, the territory of Puppet Yan will definitely have no time to take care of itself, and the Dongyang Road will definitely be in a situation where the head and tail cannot care about each other."

Lu Chen pointed out that he did not go into too much depth on this matter.

Li Duan was very satisfied with today's summons. Not only did Lu Chen make him feel the rare freshness and naturalness, which was completely different from the turbidity and dullness in the court, but the young general's vision and performance also made him feel unexpectedly happy.

It is indeed a pity that such talents stay in Beijing.

He stared at the terrain of Jiangbei on the map, nodded and said: "As you said, the border is a more suitable place to display your talents. I will also summon you in the next period of time, but you don't have to stay at home. If you want to go to various places in the city to relax, your trip to the capital is not in vain."

The so-called obedience made Lu Chen feel relieved. The emperor's words obviously told him that he would not stay in the capital for too long. As for his arrangements, he had not yet made up his mind.

He said calmly and calmly: "I obey your order."

Li Duan smiled slightly, shook his head and said: "You don't have to be polite in front of me from now on. Go back and rest. When the imperial court is held at the end of the month, I will give you a gift."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness, and I will take my leave."

Lu Chen bowed and immediately retreated out of the hall.

Li Duan looked at his back and nodded slightly.

(End of this chapter)