Misty rain and heavy flowers accompany the king's return

Kneeling on the ground were King Yue, King De, and Yun Mo.

Shen Luo kept the expression on his face unchanged, the old god was there, for fear of laughing out loud and being picked out by Emperor Qianyuan again.

Emperor Qianyuan looked at the three people below, did not express his opinion, but waited and watched.

"Your Majesty, the matter in the northwest is of great importance. The two princes can go there later to show their attitude and patrol the northwest as a deterrent. I am not talented, and I am willing to go far ahead of time to investigate the northwest and find out the enemy's situation and banditry. Clear." Yun Mo said, his words were so sincere that it was really hard to refuse.

"Well, the northwest is dangerous, Yun Changkong, what do you think of your son going?" Emperor Qianyuan asked with a smile.

Yun Changkong went out: "He is the son of the minister and a minister of the country, so I have nothing to say."

Emperor Qianyuan looked at the two kings: "This is also safe, otherwise the Tuna people will despise us too much, and our swords will be unsheathed before their sabers are displayed. There are still two. It seems that there is something wrong. You can arrange it. It’s about the gathering of salt tea in the imperial capital!”

After finishing speaking, Emperor Qianyuan looked at Qian Yueran: "Yueran will rest at home for a while, and when Yancha gathers, you will take [-] imperial forest troops to the northwest."

Qian Yue knelt down: "Thank you, long live."

All of a sudden, Shen Luo ran in a hurry, afraid of being caught, and called for questioning.

Before he sat down, Prince Qi cited Wen Hao to jump into the carriage: "Let's go, it's too hot today, it's better to take the carriage. I have to take the carriage tomorrow, and I won't take a sedan chair anymore."

Shen Luo waved his hand: "Guard Feng, let's go, I'm hungry, I didn't eat well in the morning."

Citing Hao laughed, watching the carriage leave the palace gate.

"Why don't you ask me why I didn't rush to go to the northwest today." Ci Wenhao asked.

Shen Luo looked at him: "Your Highness is wise, this is clever, everyone thought that the Northwest is a good move, maybe the water inside is so deep that people can drown."

Citing Wenhao was taken aback: "Isn't what you said today ordered by the emperor?"

"I made the bag, to fool the emperor." Shen Luo said, took out the teapot from the car, there were two cups of tea, and handed one cup to Prince Qi.

"My lord, where are you going?" Nie Xingfeng asked.

"Go to the newly opened Yanyun Tea House in Nancheng, have a cup of tea and have some snacks." Shen Luo said: "Send someone to arrange a private room."

"Understood!" Nie Xingfeng waved his hand, and the well-trained guards rode away.

"What do you think about the affairs in the northwest?" Citing Wenhao knew that Shen Luo's words were true, but he just lamented the purpose of Emperor Qianyuan's arresting him today.

"At this time, something happened to Yancha, and going away is still very similar to 20 years ago. Even if it wasn't the Tuna people's conspiracy, the person who dared to set up this trick is not an ordinary person. What does he want to do? Who is he going to use?" Shen Luo thought I want to talk about it.

"Who do you think has such great ability? More than 1000 guards were killed quietly." Prince Qi naturally has his own information and knows some details.

"You don't suspect it's the Qingyang Army?" Shen Luo asked.

"I thought about it, Lan Lingwei can go to the loess gully after passing through Jiangyou Mountain." Ci Wenhao said: "I think about it, only they can have such a strong momentum."

Shen Luo thought of Lan Fulang's words: "It may also be the Tuna people."

"How to say?" Citing Hao asked.

"If I were a native of Tuna, I would provoke trouble first, and if I had a reason, we could advance, attack, retreat, or defend, so that we could not argue with each other. Then I would use the court's princes to kill one or two. On the edge of Qingyang, let the court and the court Conflict in Qingyang. Even if there is no conflict, they can still launch an attack when the court is in a state of depression. Qingyang has some scruples, and will not rush to resist, but will only protect his own territory. Then the Northwest will be in chaos." Shen Luo finished speaking, Look at Citing Wenhao: "You said, even if Yun Mo died in the northwest, what would happen to the court?"

"Then you have to be paranoid, any fire may catch you." Ci Wenhao said vigilantly.

Shen Luo thought about it: "The key person is the Northwest General Town, Zhuo Yifan, Duke of Yasukuni who holds a military power of 20. He has the power and energy to subvert the Northwest."

The two got off the bus together in Nancheng, the bustling market was quite large, and the mule carts transporting earth, stone, waste and wood shuttled back and forth, and the faces of the people were full of enthusiasm under the busyness.

Shen Luo and Ci Wenhao sat down together, ordered a pot of fragrant tea, and ordered some snacks.

Two bowls of soup dumplings with crab roe, deep-fried spring rolls stuffed with chives, thick hairtail steamed in pepper water, dipped in vinegar and garlic.

"Why don't you suspect that it's the Qingyang army?" Ci Wenhao took a bite of the spring roll, which was delicious, and continued the topic just now.

"It's too obvious, and their position is in the cracks. I really can't think of two phases fighting. What are their benefits?"

Citing Wenhao looked at him: "Aren't you afraid that others will benefit?"

Shen Luo buried his head in eating the soup dumpling and poured it with balsamic vinegar. It tasted delicious: "Why wait until now when we could have done it 20 years ago? No matter how bad it is, it's not this way. It's the side of the Qing emperor who asked for a crown prince to stir up trouble among the princes." Let's talk about Dou. Now that everyone is staring at the northwest, how many chances are there to fish in troubled waters?"

Citing Wenhao nodded, imitating him to pour vinegar into soup dumplings.

"A Luo is right. I don't know why the kid from the Yun family is in such a hurry. He doesn't know it's dangerous?" Ci Wenhao shook his head.

"My lord knows that they are somewhat dissatisfied with the completion of the southern city. They still want to make new achievements, and even don't hesitate to steal them." Shen Luo made no secret of his opinion of Yun Mo: "But this time, it's a dangerous move. ,unless?"

"Unless they are sure." Citing Hao ate the soup dumpling in a big gulp, picked up a hairtail fish, and bit it down, it was extremely delicious.

"Why are you so impatient about this matter, and invite you to go without discussing it with Dad?" In the Yun Mansion, Yun Changkong looked at Yun Mo dissatisfied.

"Father, I want to help King De." Yun Mo explained.

"Nonsense, do you know how difficult things are in the northwest? The emperor sang with Shen Luo today and threw out the solution to tell us that he is not helpless, but wants to see who will solve this matter." Yun Changkong thought of Shen Luo's eloquent talk, but he still didn't believe that those were all his abilities.

"Is it so hanging?" Yun Mo was a little puzzled.

"What do you think? The reason King De is going is because his salt and tea team was wiped out, and he arranged a large number of salt merchants from the production area to come out with the help of the flood in the same city and county last time. The purpose is very simple, to make up for his own Loss of fiefdom salt tax."

"What about King Yue?" Yun Mo remembered that he was the one who knelt down with him almost immediately.

"Naturally he is even more extraordinary. Not to mention how many of his people are in the merchant's salt team, at least they are all related to him. He is the one who guides the salt." Yun Changkong sighed: "The emperor's previous tax reform , It is beneficial to many parties. The tax of the court has risen, but the price of salt has not risen, so they can only rely on export. So don’t look at the three kings who lost their fiefs, and the money they earned in private is not less, or even more, that is, without the military power of the fief .”

"The emperor cleverly took away the prince's autonomy without reducing the tax." Yun Mo also came to his senses.

Yun Changkong glanced at him: "So, the matter in the northwest seems to be very simple. Who knows what is going on. There is also an unpredictable King Luo. The water in Qingyang is deeper than the capital of the emperor."

Yun Mo thought for a while: "Who does Father think is the most suspicious?"

"King Yue." Yun Changkong said: "Of the three kings, he is the most ambitious, and although he accounts for a large proportion of the salt and tea border trade, he is not indispensable. Compared with King De, he can afford it. So we Seeing the troubles in the Northwest, he is the best to reap the benefits, and he can also strike late and get Tuna's support."

Yun Mo sighed: "Father, the imperial capital is in full swing right now, if my son doesn't chase after him, I'm afraid he will fall behind. Among other things, even Song Ran has already started trial, and it's the imperial capital's Housing Department yamen again. , and the trial of the case again, I think there is a possibility that he will be the governor of the imperial capital in the future."

Yun Changkong snorted coldly: "This man surnamed Shen can make calculations. This person should not be underestimated, let alone the emperor will teach him from behind."

"Why is the emperor doing this?" Yun Mo still couldn't understand this point.

"The emperor's mind is the most difficult to guess. They will make several preparations. If the three kings are not suitable, isn't it just a nephew's successor? Don't pay too much attention to it. As I said, Guowei is powerful, but his Not everyone dares to take the position, Taifu? Humph, it's not that he went to the Gongyuan for the elderly." Yun Changkong said: "You envy Shen Luo, but you can't see his loneliness after reaching the summit."

Yun Mo weighed it in his heart after hearing this, and it was difficult to make a choice for a while, he didn't want to lag behind others, but also couldn't restrain the silence in front of him, that's why he was like this today.

Shen Luo finished his work in the imperial government office in the afternoon, so he let people tell him that Qian's family invited him to a banquet in the evening.

Shen Luo thought for a while, and asked someone to go home to say hello.

Qianda General's Mansion, not far from his home, accompanied by Song Ran, walked through the lobby and entered the backyard.

This was the first time here, and Shen Luo had prepared some Huzhou specialties.

Qian Xiaoran was waiting for them in the small courtyard. In the open space in the distance, there were weapon racks. It was obvious that this was a martial arts hall.

The two brothers of the Qian family smiled when they saw Shen Luo cupping their hands.

"Why isn't the general here?" Shen Luo asked.

"He spends most of his time in the general camp of the Imperial Forest Army." Qian Xiaoran said: "The training, logistics, and deployment of two 10,000+ people are all troublesome."

Shen Luo nodded, and sat down with them on the water pavilion in the small courtyard, shaking the paper fan loosely, looking at the sword bamboo in the courtyard: "When will Brother Yueran go back?"

"Wait for the salt tea caravan to meet in the imperial capital." Qian Yueran said.

Shen Luo stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Mr. Shen's words in the court today made people suddenly enlightened. Combined with your actions in the imperial capital, you are really young and promising. Why are you so restless when you come to my house?" Qian Yueran jokingly said, her eyes secretly observing A sinking look.

"Why doesn't General Qian think that someone taught me what I said today?" Shen Luo glanced at him, and the moment their eyes crossed, both of them felt something.

"I am good at observation. Today, when the lord speaks, although his expression is free, but his eyes are clear and sharp. I think the lord is a person with quick thinking." Qian Yueran said.

Shen Luo listened and smiled: "The general has been guarding the northwest?"

"Yes, my residence is the Northwest Gate, next to Qingyang County." Qian Yueran said.

"Lan Lingwei, how is your combat ability?" Shen Luo asked curiously.

Qian Yue was taken aback for a moment: "Master Shen is actually interested in this? But yes, Lan Lingwei is too famous. How should I put it, they are different from us, even different from any army in our country."

"Why?" Shen Luo was surprised.

"The cavalry of the Tuna people is very powerful. Their horses are very different. They are tall horses. They are far stronger than our country's northwest war horses in terms of endurance, speed, and physique. Therefore, in terms of cavalry, our army dare not Contrary to this, since the founding of the country, our country has used infantry combined with chariots to fight against Tuna, and used formations to fight against enemy cavalry." Qian Yueran said: "But the Lan Lingwei is different, they have 15 people The powerful cavalry regiment is astonishing."

"There are 15 cavalry?" Shen Luo couldn't believe it.

"Don't think that Qingyang is the same as the Northwest. Qingyang is a strange place in the Northwest. It has the Tianyou Mountains, abundant water sources and forests, as well as vast pastures. Therefore, there is never a shortage of pastures to nourish the huge cavalry. Legion."

"It's no wonder Qingyang was able to resist Tuna's attack with his own strength." Shen Luo sighed.

"That's not exactly the case. Before they fought on both sides, the emperor attacked from three directions, and the 30 army divided into three groups to attack Tuna. The people of Tuna couldn't care less, so it was difficult to gather a large army for a decisive battle." Qian Yueran said: " But of course, I dare not deny that King Luo uses his troops like a god, and Lan Lingwei's strength is also extraordinary."

Shen Luo nodded, and couldn't help feeling: "How long has the general been in the northwest?"

Qian Yue was stunned for a moment: "It's been seven years. I joined the army at the age of 15 and stayed in the Imperial Forest Army for two years before going."

"A young man left home, defending the country and guarding the border, the north of the Great Wall was bitterly cold, and the sky was full of wind and sand. The ancient roads were smoky and dusty, the deserted mounds were lonely, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and the flames of war." Shen Luo couldn't help but think of the situation in the northwest.

After listening to Qian Yueran, she sighed softly: "It is said that Master Shen is very talented. When I saw him today, he also has a kind of sentiment that only frontier poets have. It is really admirable."

Shen Luo smiled slightly: "It's just a feeling that although the country is big, it can't defeat the enemy without fighting, and the sword is so sharp that it can overwhelm the enemy's ambition."

"Master Shen actually believes that there are things in the world that can be won without fighting?" Qian Yueran said disdainfully.

"Hey!" Shen Luo laughed: "There is only one possibility of not fighting, that is, every battle must be won, and the enemy and us are so disparate that no enemy dares to move."

Qian Yueran also had a funny expression: "Is this kind of thing possible?"

"Maybe?" Shen Luo returned.

Qian Yueran took out a book, which was Shen Luo's "Reading Answers with the Imperial Companion".

"I just wanted to ask Mr. Shen about the strategy of frontier defense in this answer." Qian Yueran said.

Baili Songran took a sneak look at Qian Xiaoran, and asked with his eyes, "Didn't you mean to eat?"How did it match up? '

Qian Xiaoran blinked her eyes, "I didn't know, you listen, big brother is not a person who is aimless."

"This is just a policy theory. The defense of the frontier fortress should be adapted to local conditions, make the best use of the situation, and vary from time to time." Shen Luo said.

"It turned out to be unpredictable, so how did it change?" Qian Yueran asked, how much did he know that this person's detached position in Dafeng in the future, a friendship debate would not make him and him enmity, more could make himself It is a kind of political bet that the family has a little choice in the future.