Realm of Power

The rain was pounding on the roof, and it was freezing cold in the dark night.

Although Yu Fenglong, the Prime Minister of Central and Asian countries, is not exactly an old man, the pressure during this period has made him, a prime minister with a civilian background, increasingly feel the breath of winter is approaching, especially in Xinjing, a place in Central and Asian countries, which has been under pressure for many years. The wetland climate and the continuous rain for seven or eight days made Yu Fenlong feel a pain in his whole body. So when someone suddenly shouted at him in the middle of the night, after reading the report in his hand, he even smashed a precious blue and white teacup with one hand. The butler who brought the report had a look of death on his face, and he knelt down at the screen between the inner tents. The servants in the platoon all looked pale and wondered who the Prime Minister was angry with today. No one dared to take a deep breath.

The Prime Minister has been extremely angry in recent days. Three slaves have been dragged out and beaten to death for poor service. Today can only be regarded as unlucky. At this moment, a charming figure walked in from outside. It was A graceful girl was startled when she saw the people kneeling on the ground outside.

The housekeeper who exited the room saw the girl and immediately walked over and said cautiously, "Miss Qianyu, I'm afraid it's difficult to go in at this time. For some unknown reason just now, the prime minister smashed his favorite tea cup."

The girl's beautiful face was slightly moved. She knew how much Yu Fenglong liked that tea cup. It was a porcelain embryo made by Bai Qingqian, a scholar many years ago, and a kiln fired by Li Dongyang, a scholar of literature. There were a total of three hundred pieces inside. , that is, such a finished product was produced. In the eyes of Central and African literati, a tea cup here or there is simply a sacred object dyed with the breath of a literary sage.

Even the Central and African royal family wanted to find this thing. The Li family, the head of the civil service, began to buy it at a high price, but in the end it was nothing. Perhaps because of the war, many people originally disdained money. The rich and powerful families in the country have declined one after another, and the treasures that they had not revealed in the past were all sold off one by one. The Wen Sheng Tea Cup was one of them. It was obtained by a local official and then given to the Prime Minister Yu Fenglong. Yu Fenglong immediately transferred the local official from the regional official to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Central Asia. It can be said that he jumped from the capital to the third level. Not only that, but now, Yu Fenglong actually smashed the Literary Saint's tea cup. One can imagine what must have happened. "You said that my adoptive father smashed the tea cup before the Qingming Rain? But what did someone bring in front of me?"

The girl asked. This girl's name is Qianyu. She is the adopted daughter brought back by Yu Fenglong from the north of the river. She is said to be an adopted daughter, but she has a higher status than ordinary children, but she is only fourteen or fifteen years old. She has become more beautiful than a flower, and her literary talent is also first-class. As for the identity of this girl, Yu Fenglong never talks about it, and the girl never talks about it. Not to mention, it has always been a secret in the prime minister's house. One of Yu Fenglong's nephews once saw Qianyu's beauty and teased her. However, Yu Fenglong broke his legs and threw him out that day. Even his name was changed from Yu Fenglong's. The family tree has been removed. Of course, as a housekeeper who has followed Yu Fenglong for more than ten years, I can still vaguely guess something. "I sent a document, it's from the south." The housekeeper coughed dryly and looked around cautiously. "People from Aden?" Qianyu took a deep breath. This is already the south, and the title is defined as the south. At this time, Zhongbia has a special meaning. That is Luzhou, which is currently occupied by the people from Aden. Now the entire Zhongbia Xinjing, empire and Aden people are all taboo words. At this moment, Prime Minister Yu Fenlong opened the study door with a livid face, Qianyu hurriedly greeted him, Yingying saluted and said "adopted father" "Why are you here?" Yu Fenglong was about to lose his temper, but his expression softened a little when he saw Qian Yu. "Master Tang Yu, the head of the military cabinet, came and said that he had urgent military affairs to discuss with his adoptive father. He is now waiting for his adoptive father in the hall." Qianyu replied cautiously "Yes, this document is in two copies. One is with me, and the other should be in his hands. No wonder he couldn't sit still." Yu Fenglong didn't know what he thought of, and suddenly his mouth widened. When he smiled, he seemed to have a bit of gloating expression.

In the lobby of the prime minister's residence, raindrops hit the steps. Tang Yu sat upright on a chair, but his eyes were looking at the tea on the table. Two stoves with spices were slowly pouring out warm tea. As the youngest head of the military cabinet in the history of China and Libya, Tang Yu didn't even have a trace of peace in his heart at the moment.

It was all caused by that report. The people of Aden agreed to advance north. This was originally a good thing. Now the biggest pressure facing Zhongbia is from the empire in the north, especially since the empire just helped the Yelu family defeat the north last month. In the royal court, the army was gathering, and the troops were on the front line of the river. Originally, the empire sent Lu Yangyu to Xinjing to negotiate loans. Tang Yu thought that it could at least be slowed down. Who knew that a group of civil servants headed by Prime Minister Yu Fenlong suddenly They launched an attack and not only put the imperial envoy Lu Yangyu under house arrest, but also secretly negotiated with the people of Aden. As a result, the empire's 80,000 cavalry went south and occupied the important town of Huizhou. Tang Yu was also a little helpless for these civil servants who were willing to die. Since ancient times, civil servants have suppressed military power. Even he himself has always been squeezed out by these civil servants. But this time, even if it offends the entire civil servant group, Tang Yu will never agree.

What a joke, just ask China and Biya to completely give way to the north, and ask the Central and Biya court to redeem Luzhou with grain!

Luzhou belongs to Zhongbia, so how can there be any redemption? What's more, the Aden people looted and killed countless people in Luzhou for two months. It is already good that the Zhongbia side did not ask the Aden people for compensation, but they dared to beat them up. If If the Central and African court really agrees to this agreement, it will be a shame to the entire Central and African military. This time, no matter what, we must let the prime minister abolish this agreement.

Soon, Prime Minister Yu Fenglong walked in from the outside with a solemn face. After a few words of greeting, Yu Fenglong's eyes flashed on his seat, playing with a string of glazed jade beads in his hand, with a faint twinkle in his eyes. Ling Li asked, "Tang Yu, as the head of the Military Department of the Zhongbia Court, tell me the truth. If the Zhongbia Court goes to war with the Aden people, what are our chances of winning?" "If it's just the chance of winning, it's only 60%. If we want to trap the Aden Army in Central Asia, I'm 80% sure."

Tang Yu was not polite. He had already thought about this when he came, so he answered decisively. "When I was in Deyang, I personally saw the elite equipment of the imperial army from the Oubaluo area. The Aden Army also came from the Obaro area. , no matter how powerful it is, it will never be stronger than the imperial army. Moreover, the expedition of the Aden army, which seemed to be a fierce invasion, was delayed in a small Luzhou for two months. This was because the main force of the Luzhou army was outside, otherwise I would be afraid You can't even enter Luzhou, like this The Aden army, no matter how strong it is, only looks good. On the contrary, many of our troops are already as vulnerable as before. The hundred thousand imperial troops are all elites who have experienced bloody battles with the grassland and the imperial army. The repairs have been completed, and the 60,000 Luzhou family troops are also red. With an eye on killing them back, there are also private armies entangled with clans in several provinces near Luzhou. The total number of large and small is twenty to thirty thousand, and there are also some so-called volunteer troops. Our total strength is more than two hundred thousand. , it is also a local battle, occupying the right time, place and people.

"It seems that you have already thought about this problem, so I will open up and say that it is not a problem to fight against the Aden people with the military strength you mentioned, but if you take away the troops that defend the northern empire, how many troops do you have to fight against the Aden people? Fight?" Prime Minister Yu Fenlong picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, his eyes narrowed.

Tang Yu looked embarrassed. What he just said did not take into account the defense of the empire going south. Yu Fenglong put down the tea cup in his hand, with a half-smile on his lips, and suddenly said, "As the head of the military department, Mr. Tang Yu has the power to control The army in the court is so biased towards the Lu family, I'm afraid it will be bad. What does the prime minister mean? "Tang Yu's face turned green and he couldn't sit still." Isn't it? "Yu Fenglong pretended to be surprised, paused, and then said slowly." The Lu family has not stopped in the Zhongbia court since Luzhou was defeated. In the end, although they forced the court to withdraw the Luzhou army, they still had The court is also very dissatisfied with Luzhou's delay in fighting. Although I know that Mr. Tang Yu is also public-minded, I don't know what to do outside. After all, it is said that the Tang family has given you a lot of benefits, and even sent the eldest daughter of the Lu family to the Tang family. Master Tang Yu is so biased against the Lu family, and even wants to use all the military power of the Zhongbia court. Fighting for the Lu family and retaking Luzhou was the day when the eldest daughter of the Lu family married into the Tang clan. Although I know this is false, I'm afraid it's not good."

"This is all nonsense!" Tang Yu's face turned livid.

"Whether it's nonsense or not, please answer me, Mr. Tang Yu. After removing the troops defending the empire, you still have some confidence in winning!" Yu Fenglong took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice, " I don’t need 80%, 60%, or even only 40%..."

"this"

Tang Yu didn't know how to answer for a moment. The empire's 80,000 cavalry occupying Huizhou is equivalent to knocking on the door to the south. They may continue to penetrate deeper into the river at any time. In the big river behind Huizhou, there are still 100,000 imperial troops watching. The empire The army is one behind the other. Once spread out, it will be an unstoppable situation.

Just to defend the empire, the 100,000 elite troops in the hands of the Zhongbia court did not dare to move. The remaining ones who could fight were the 60,000 Luzhou Army who were already red-eyed. The so-called miscellaneous troops near Luzhou actually meant that No one knows how effective it will be on the battlefield. Such a combination of troops, equipment and experience cannot be compared with the Aden people. If he wanted to fight against the 200,000 Aden regular army, not to mention 40%, I'm afraid it would be even 20%, but Tang Yu didn't expect that Prime Minister Yu Fenglong would see this big loophole at a glance. He originally wanted to put it first Prime Minister Yu Fenglong was perfunctory. Anyway, Yu Fenglong was a civil servant and not a military official. How could he really understand the secrets inside? Who knew that the other party was obviously waiting for him here?

"It seems that you don't have any confidence. Then there is nothing to discuss about the Aden Army's northward march, because we have no room for bargaining at all." Yu Fenglong stood up and sighed longly. If Tang Now that Yu can give him a little confidence, he may consider redeeming Luzhou without food, but Tang Yu obviously has no confidence.

"Master Prime Minister, after signing this agreement, aren't you afraid of being infamy for thousands of years?" Tang Yu suddenly stood up and glared at Yu Fenlong. Although Tang Yu was from the Tang clan, he was an alien among them. He had always been flattering this man. The prime minister who started his career was dissatisfied. When he was in Deyang, he once scolded the eighteenth generation of Yu Fenglong, who was considered a piece of meat among the military officials. However, it was obvious that this was of no use to the old gangster who had experienced many ups and downs.

"Still infamy for eternity? It's really touching and scary!"

Yu Fenglong's old eyes widened, his body trembled slightly, and he sat down on the bench with a wry smile, saying, "I am the prime minister of the Central Bian court. If it really comes to me, what can I do? Since the military cannot be relied on, then I can only give in and let the Aden people go north to fight the empire to the death. You must know that Luzhou, as an important town in the southern coastal area, is not only the backing of Liucheng Port and the flow of materials, but also the only way for the Central Bian court to transport taxes from the southern provinces to Xinjing. The Aden army occupied Luzhou for two months, which is equivalent to cutting off the taxes transported from the south to the north. There is a Liucheng Port in front, and if it is delayed too long, when winter comes, the provinces are afraid that they will really not be able to If the imperial taxes are transported north, what will the entire Central Asian imperial court eat and use? What will the 100,000-man army use to feed? Everyone says that I, Yu Fenglong, am not good enough to suppress the empire and please the Aden people. In fact, who knows the trick here? The imperial army has not yet gone south. As long as there is meat to give, they will not really bite people. The Aden people have strangled the imperial court's throat. Every day that passes, the throat is tightened. Only if Luzhou is opened one day earlier, the imperial court will have the possibility of holding on. Otherwise, I am afraid that it will not be able to hold on for a month! "

Boom, a silver light flashed, shining on Tang Yu's pale face. Looking at Yu Fenglong's depressed face, he felt for the first time how incompetent he was. Will he be infamous for thousands of years? At least Yu Fenglong took back Luzhou for the imperial court and opened up the vital point for the imperial taxes to enter Xinjing, but what can he do as the head of the military cabinet!

It was no secret that the court had a fiscal deficit. In fact, even the 100,000 elite generals from Zhongya had gone to the military cabinet several times to make a fuss because of the drastic cut in military spending in July. Who would be willing to stay as a soldier without pay, not to mention that the imperial army could march south at any time and they could be sent to push back against the 80,000 cavalry of the empire at any time. The military morale was turbulent and there were deserters every day. In order to raise the military pay, Tang Yu had done his best. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance had been knocked over, and he even encouraged some military generals to block the doors of civil officials, but the effect was not obvious. As Yu Fenglong said, if Luzhou was not taken back, the court would be finished, and the army would be finished. What was the point of leaving a bad reputation for thousands of years then?