Jiuxi

Chapter 227 225 [Spoon with bare hands]

Lu Chen has been under a lot of pressure recently.

Although he has grown up very quickly and has received sufficient training in the past two years, whether it is the battle of Jiangbei last year or the fight against the Yan army in Baotai Mountain this year, they are essentially defensive counterattacks. According to the enemy's attack to formulate appropriate strategies.

What he is planning now is a Northern Expedition involving more than [-] troops, a front line spanning hundreds of miles, and mobilizing more than [-] civilians. This is the first time the Qi Dynasty's frontier troops have taken the initiative to attack, and the impact will naturally be extremely far-reaching. If anything happens, A mistake will destroy the border army's more than ten years of hard work and courage.

Of course, Xiao Wangzhi would not leave such an important task to Lu Chen alone. He, the staff of the Governor's Office, and the generals of the Huaizhou armies all needed to plan this matter and brainstorm to determine the final strategy.

It's just that Xiao Wangzhi pays special attention to Lu Chen and has very high requirements for him. Correspondingly, Lu Chen has very high authority. He can not only access all the information of the Governor's Mansion, but can also send the Sutra Weaving Department to install it at any time. The inspector from the Yamen came to inquire about the relevant details.

Offense and defense are completely different, and Lu Chen knows this very well.

An active attack will inevitably have flaws. Unless you have a crushing force that can push it all the way through, you can only make choices and focus. In the past two large-scale wars, Lu Chen used the flaws exposed by the enemy in troop mobilization to find the opponent's weaknesses and then kill them with one strike.

Now Beiyan is on the full defensive, appeasing the resistance forces within the territory such as the Seven Star Gang and Yunfu Village, etc., and at the same time maintaining a defensive posture on the border.

From Dongyang Road in the north of Huaizhou, to Moyang Road in the west of Huaizhou, and then to Jiangbei Road in the west, Beiyan passes through more than ten cities and towns that control traffic arteries on a long border of more than a thousand miles. The pass forms a thick line of defense.

Even if a breakthrough can be achieved somewhere, the follow-up still has to penetrate the opponent's depth step by step.

If the Huaizhou Army wanted to make the Northern Expedition, there were only three routes to choose from.

The first is to go north from Lai'an City, surprise Yongquan Pass and then storm Qingtian City to open the pass into Beiyan Dongyang Road.

The second is to go from the north of Panlong Pass, first capture Xinchang City in the west and Pingli City in the north, and then rush all the way northwest towards Heluo City.

The third is to retain sufficient troops to defend northern Huaizhou, deploy the remaining troops across the ancient road of the Shuangfeng Mountains, cooperate with the Jingzhou Army all the way north, and steadily regain the entire Moyang Road.

Each of the three routes has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is difficult to choose between them.

In the study room, dozens of files are placed on the big case, and two large maps hang on the west wall.

Lu Chen was sitting in front of the case, writing on more than a hundred pieces of paper. On them were summarizing and organizing various information, as well as analyzing the pros and cons of various plans and strategies.

It was a rare clear day outside, and the warm sunshine of early winter shone on the porch. Song Pei moved a small stool and sat outside the door, holding his chin in his hands, feeling drowsy.

The sound of footsteps came quietly, and Song Pei immediately became alert. He looked up and saw Wang Chulong and Jin Shu walking slowly. The latter was carrying a tray with a soup cup and spoon on it.

Song Pei stood up quickly and said politely: "The girl is here."

Wang Chulong glanced at the closed door of the study and said softly: "Mr. Lu has been busy lately. I have a recipe for the ancestral nourishing soup here, so I specially prepared a portion to help him calm down and replenish his energy. Jin Shu, give the soup to Miss Song and we will go back."

Song Pei was not stupid at all, and said gratefully: "Young lady is interested, please wait a moment."

Before Jin Shu came over, she took the initiative to turn around a few steps, knocked on the door, and called, "Master, Miss Wang is here."

After a while, the door opened from the inside. Lu Chen glanced at the tray held by Jin Shu, then looked at Wang Chulong and said, "You are a guest from afar. How can you bother to do these things?"

Before Wang Chulong could answer, Jin Shu said crisply: "Mr. Lu, although my lady comes from a wealthy family, she is not the kind of person who doesn't distinguish between grains and grains. This bowl of nourishing soup was made by her herself. The lady's cooking skills are even better. Even the cooks from our Wang family can’t compare!”

Wang Chulong said helplessly: "Jin Shu, be silent."

Song Pei took the tray from Jin Shu, entered the study and put it on the table. Lu Chen said to Wang Chulong, "Miss Wang, if you have nothing to do, please come in and sit down. I just have something to ask you."

"I don't dare to take it seriously as asking for advice."

Wang Chulong smiled lightly and entered the study with a calm expression.

The two maids were whispering in the corridor. When Lu Chen returned to his room, he only opened the door ajar, but did not close it completely.

Wang Chulong noticed this detail, and after sitting down, he said: "Master Lu, please use the soup first to avoid it getting cold after a while."

"it is good."

Lu Chen nodded in agreement.

This cup of nourishing soup should be made with ginseng, licorice, atractylodes and other ingredients, but I don’t know what Wang Chulong added. It feels extremely sweet in the mouth, without any bitter taste.

The cup of soup was quickly finished. Lu Chen looked at Wang Chulong's expectant eyes and said with a smile: "Miss Wang is good at her craftsmanship. What Jin Shu said is true."

Wang Chulong nodded and said, "It's fine if Mr. Lu likes it. If you don't dislike it, I can do it a few more times. How about it?"

Lu Chen said: "Then Miss Lao Wang will be here." One of them asked directly, the other answered calmly. They are both thoughtful people, and they don't have an overly charming atmosphere.

Lu Chen put the soup cup back on the tray and asked, "Miss Wang, have you ever seen Qing Yu Huaijin with your own eyes?"

"Princess Yongping?"

Wang Chulong frowned slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I often hear the elders in the family talk about this Princess Jingchao."

"I am very interested in this woman's life and temperament. Although the army has information about her, it is not very detailed. I would also like to ask Miss Wang to tell you something."

"Okay. Qingyu Huaijin is the eldest daughter of Qing Yugong, the marshal of the southern courtyard of the Jing Dynasty. She has been deeply favored since she was a child. It is said that Emperor Jing treated her as his own, which created her cold and aloof character. She is in When she was in Heluo City, she lived in Zhuoyuan, which was the former residence of Yang Guangyuan, the commander-in-chief of Jinghe. There were many capable people around her. Although she had no official position, she could command the civil and military officials of the DPRK and China at will, even the police officers. All the attendants in the office, including Wang Shidao, must obey her instructions."

Wang Chulong spoke unhurriedly, and seeing that Lu Chen was listening with great concentration, he continued: "My uncle said that Pang Shigu, the privy envoy, obeyed Qingyu Huaijin's words, and the commander-in-chief of Jingjun who was stationed in Heluo City was planning. Liang Hu, Liu Ke and the daughter Lu Huan were also under his control. She was only twenty-two years old this year and had the power to mobilize nearly half of the Yan army. Perhaps because Emperor Jing and Qing Yugong were too doting on them, Qing Yu Huaijin She is quite arrogant, and she has suffered setbacks at the hands of Mr. Lu many times this year, so I think it will be a big blow to her."

Lu Chen will not be complacent because of this, because judging from Beiyan's various subsequent arrangements, the young princess has not lost her mind yet.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly said: "Qingyu Huaijin, is there anyone or anything you particularly care about?"

Wang Chulong stared carefully and said softly: "The only people she cares about are the close relatives of the Qingyu family. As for things... I have never heard that she has a special love for things that are difficult to give up. But I once heard my uncle say that Emperor Jing once I have made a great wish that if the southern expedition goes well in the future, I will give Heluo City and the vast territory to the south to the Qingyu family as a fief."

"manor?"

Lu Chen's heart moved slightly and he repeated it subconsciously.

Wang Chulong looked at him curiously.

Lu Chen calmed down and changed the topic: "Young lady, you said before that the guard general of Pingli City and the military commander Zhu Zhen of Moyang Road can be used by me?"

Wang Chulong nodded and said: "Yes. But other than that, our Wang family has no other help in the army."

Lu Chen looked at her with bright eyes and asked, "Can Miss Wang contact Manager Zhu directly?"

Wang Chulong had already received Wang An's authorization before he came. Furthermore, if the Wang family wanted to change their family, they had to establish merit before they could be qualified to negotiate, so he responded: "Okay, I wonder what Mr. Lu wants me to do?"

Lu Chen said calmly: "I hope General Manager Zhu can replace Xinchang City's guard general with his confidant."

Wang Chulong had read the geography of the border, and of course he knew that the two strong cities of Xinchang and Pingli were like a pair of fists clamping down on Panlong Pass in Huaizhou. If the Huaizhou army wanted to attack northward from Panlong Pass, they would not be able to bypass these two cities no matter what. city.

Now that the guard of Pingli City is a member of the Wang family, Lu Chen asked her to send a message to Zhu Zhen to replace the guard of Xinchang City with one of his own. Could it be that he planned to let the Huaizhou army go out from the north of Panlong Pass and march all the way Heading northwest towards Heluo City?
  According to her understanding of Lu Chen, such a bold move that was willing to take risks was indeed something he could do.

Thinking of this, she didn't ask any more questions, but said with a bit of curiosity: "This matter should be able to be done. Later I will ask someone to take the token to Moyang Road to find Manager Zhu. Mr. Lu, are you planning to let him go?" The army raided Xinchang and Pingli?"

She would not object to Lu Chen's plan, but this matter had to be done normally, at least without letting outsiders see anything strange.

The generals of those two cities can secretly release the water, just to take out the Wang family, because Heluo City is still firmly in the hands of Jing Chao, and the Wang family will definitely be killed by the Jing Chao Princess if they are exposed at this time.

Lu Chen was very aware of her concerns and said with a smile: "Miss Wang, don't worry. When we attack these two places in the future, I will definitely cooperate with the general opposite so that no one will doubt your Wang family."

Wang Chulong felt relieved, and soon he came to his senses, and said with a little confusion: "Master Lu, aren't you going to take these two cities first?"

Lu Chen shook his head and said frankly: "First of all, it will take time for General Zhu to replace the generals. If we keep standing still, after he changes the generals, we will immediately attack and seize the city successfully. Qing Yu Huaijin or Wang Shidao can see the weirdness in it. I will definitely follow the clues and find your Wang family. Furthermore, I need to convince all the big figures in the puppet Yan that Xinchang and Pingli are well defended, and our Huaizhou Army will not seek a decisive battle with the Yan Army in that vast terrain."

Wang Chulong thought for a moment, then quickly smiled and said: "It seems that Mr. Lu has a perfect plan."

“There’s no such thing as a foolproof plan.”

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at the topographic map hanging on the wall, his expression calm and calm: "But this time I should be able to give the north a surprise."

"surprise?"

Wang Chulong tasted the word with great interest.

Lu Chen turned back to look at her and said with a smile, "It can also be said to be frightening."

Wang Chulong couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle, his eyes sparkling.

When she was in Heluo City, she was used to seeing the men in her clan scheming and scheming. Now that she saw Lu Chen using the human world as a chess game, she suddenly felt that this was what men did.

(End of this chapter)