Married Thrice to Salted Fish

The scenery of the northwest frontier is quite different from that of the capital city. The beginning of winter is soon to be cold and the wind is like a knife, and the sky is full of frost.The sun sets on the mountain and the sand is like snow, and the wild geese cry and the lonely city closes.

Last winter, Xixia took Yongliang from Dayu, humiliated and killed the general, and threatened to slaughter the city.Today, one year later, the scenery of the frontier fortress remains the same, but the people inside and outside the city have already switched offense and defense.Dayu's army set up camp outside the city a month ago, and they have been standing still for a month, recharging their energy and recharging their energy, just for the final battle.

The days of recharging your batteries will always be boring compared to the time of siege.After raising him, a certain hot-blooded boy couldn't bear it anymore.

"General, we have been rectifying our troops for a month." This is Wu Youyuan's third call for battle within ten days. The morale is boosted, and this is a good time to go all out and take Yongliang directly. If there is any further delay, the soldiers will inevitably slack off, and the stockpiled food and grass will be in a hurry."

Gu Fuzhou folded his arms and looked at the northwest terrain on the sand table, silent.

"General Wu's words are wrong. The law of war says, 'The first is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the army, and the next is to attack the city. The method of attacking the city is a last resort.' How can it be compared to the small counties of Guangyang and Langu." The speaker was Shi Pei, an old man in the Northwest Army, and he was a fourth-rank general Xuanwei.

Gu Fuzhou glanced at Shi Pei.This man was known to love his soldiers like his son, and even after many years of fighting, he still mourned every soldier's casualties.For Shi Pei, reducing the casualties of our army is the top priority, he would rather win less beautifully, but also protect the soldiers under his command.This is a noble character, Gu Fuzhou appreciates him very much.

Wu Youyuan retorted: "Siege is difficult. But it is difficult to siege today. Wouldn't it be difficult to siege after a while? Since it is a matter of time, why not solve it quickly?"

Gu Fuzhou patted the center of his eyebrows, and said: "Yuyuan, hot blood is a good thing, but your blood is too hot, mosquitoes will burn their mouths after drinking your blood."

After staying in the Northwest for a year, Gu Fuzhou didn't bother to maintain his aloof personality, so he came here at will.After Wu Youyuan and the others were shocked, they gradually accepted General Gu's new personality design.They heard from veterans in the Northwest that General Gu's body had been poisoned, and his temperament had changed drastically since he recovered his life from Lord Yan.General Gu at that time was outrageous, but now he is pretty good, at least he doesn't sleep in all day long.Fortunately, no matter what kind of character the general is, he will not lead them to defeat.

Wu Youyuan can still listen to Gu Fuzhou's words.He said: "But please enlighten me, General."

"You forgot how General Zhao got lost in Yongliang last winter."

"I haven't forgotten." Wu Youyuan said quickly, "Last year, General Zhao was trapped in Yongliang, the road was blocked by heavy snow, and food and grass could not be delivered. When the ammunition and food were exhausted, General Zhao opened the city gate and fought to the death, losing to Xixia The elite will die in defeat."

Gu Fuzhou said: "You still don't understand?"

Wu Youyuan's intelligence is all focused on the art of war, when Gu Fuzhou said this, he understood, his eyes lit up, and he said: "The general wants to waste his food and grass like last year, forcing them to open the door for war?"

Gu Fuzhou nodded and said: "Without Guangyang, Langu, Zhuoxian and other counties, Yongliang's grain roads have been sealed off, and no matter how big it is, it is an isolated city. We have a steady supply of grain and grass, and the Xixia army in the city can only sit and eat. .As long as there is a momentum of confrontation, the casualties of our army can be reduced by at least half when we attack the city again."

Shi Pei agreed with Gu Fuzhou's words: "It's wonderful to treat a person with his own way. Xixia brought all the food and grass from Guangyang and other counties to Yongliang, plus what was originally in Yongliang City Hoarding, they can last up to [-] days. It has been a month now, wait for half a month, the enemy army will either starve to death, or open the city to meet the enemy like General Zhao, the army will be confused, and our army has already recovered After being sharp for two months, are you still afraid that you won't be able to win Yongliang!"

Wu Youyuan pondered for a while, and also believed that reducing energy consumption was the best policy, but he still had doubts: "Xixia needs food and grass, and we also need food and grass. The key to the trend of energy consumption is that we can consume more energy than Xixia."

Gu Fuzhou turned to Shen Huaishi: "How long can our food and grass last?"

Shen Huaizhi said: "It's less than ten days. However, Imperial Physician Lin said in the letter that a large amount of grain and grass in the south of the Yangtze River has gone northward by water at the beginning of the month, and it will be delivered to the camp in a short time after arriving in Guizhou."

Shi Pei excitedly said: "This time is definitely enough!"

"The premise is that the grain and grass can be delivered smoothly." Gu Fuzhou weighed it up and said, "Huai Shi, please go back to Guizhou and personally escort the grain and grass to Yongliang."

Shen Huaizhi said: "I'm leaving now."

After the agreement, Gu Fuzhou and Wu Youyuan confronted each other about the amount of ordnance needed for the siege.Seeing this, Shi Pei couldn't help but said: "The general returned to the northwest this time, and there are really many changes."

"Huh? How to say."

Shi Peidao: "Two years ago when the general was in the Northwest, he had a headache when it came to discussing matters. General Zhao made decisions on everything. How can it be like this now, where there is no big or small matter, and everyone just asks."

"I can't help it, I really want to win." Gu Fuzhou said with a low smile, "I can't die."

The war in the northwest has reached its final juncture. Lin Qingyu has not closed his eyes for three days because of the batch of grain and grass transported from the south of the Yangtze River to the northwest.That batch of grain and grass can support the Northwest Army for at least a month.Now that everything is settled, he can finally feel at ease.

When he walked out of the Ministry of War, Lin Qingyu realized that it was snowing outside at some point.The snow was not heavy, but it made his eyes sore.After being in a trance for a while, he took a step back and bumped into the Minister of the Ministry of War.

The Minister of the Ministry of War is under thirty, he can be regarded as a young talent, and he is also a distant relative of the Queen Mother, so he naturally stands on Lin Qingyu's side.In the past few days, Lin Qingyu has done the food and grass business together with him.Seeing Lin Qingyu's pale face, he thought that Lin Qingyu was worried about the war in the northwest, and said: "General Gu has already recovered several cities around Yongliang, forming a siege and suppressing situation. It is only a matter of time before Yongliang is recovered. Imperial Physician Lin doesn't have to worry, this battle, Dayu will surely win."

Lin Qingyu nodded: "I hope so."

The Minister of the Ministry of War smiled, and said in a gentle manner: "It's snowy and the road is slippery. Shall I send Imperial Physician Lin out of the palace?"

Lin Qingyu said concisely: "No need."

Although the Minister of the Ministry of War was a little disappointed, he didn't force it: "Then Imperial Physician Lin is careful on the road."

After Lin Qingyu had walked a few steps, someone from Ci'an Palace sent a message that the Empress Dowager invited him to Ci'an Palace for dinner.In the past year, he has eaten at Ci'an Palace more times than the "big filial son" Xiao Jie.For this reason, there was a lot of gossip in the palace, and some people even said that the queen mother accepted Lin Qingyu as her adopted son and treated him more affectionately than the emperor.

But Lin Qingyu knew that the reason why the Empress Dowager was so close to him was because Prince Huai, who was mentally incompetent, would only laugh at him alone.The Empress Dowager invited him to Ci'an Palace, most of the time it was just for Bo Xiaoli to smile.

When Lin Qingyu arrived at Ci'an Palace, he saw the emperor's sedan chair parked outside the palace.He asked Laifu: "The emperor is here?"

Lai Fu said: "The emperor came to pay his respects to the queen mother, and he is currently playing with the little prince in the snow in the back garden."

In the back garden, two royal brothers were squatting in the snow to build a snowman.To be exact, Xiao Jie was the only one making the pile, Xiao Li couldn't do such complicated things, he could only rub the snow into small balls and carefully put them away.Xiao Jie kept talking to him, but he didn't respond at all.

Aunt Xiujiao, who was standing by, saw Lin Qingyu and said with a smile, "My lord, look who is here."

Xiao Li raised her head, saw Lin Qingyu, was stunned, and smiled instinctively.

It was the first time for Xiao Jie to see Xiao Li smiling, and he couldn't help saying: "Sixth brother, you are really good-looking..."

Lin Qingyu wanted to kneel down to Xiao Jie.Xiao Jie's eyes dodged a little: "Doctor Lin doesn't need to be too polite."

Lin Qingyu said: "It's cold outside, don't let the prince play for too long. The prince's snow cape is already wet."

Nurse Xiujiao hurriedly said: "This servant will take the prince to change into a snow cloak."

Aunt Xiujiao took Xiao Li to leave.Xiao Jie secretly looked at Lin Qingyu, as if he wanted to but didn't dare to.Lin Qingyu asked: "Does the emperor have something to ask my minister?"

Xiao Jie shook his head, nodded again, summoned up his courage and asked, "Doctor Lin, you, will you harm Zhen and A Rong?"

Lin Qingyu looked at him and said expressionlessly, "Eunuch Xi said something to the emperor."

"Arong said that you and General Gu are not sincere to me, and he wants me to stay away from you." Xiao Jie scratched his head and said hesitantly, "But I don't think you are a bad person."

Lin Qingyu sneered: "Your Majesty has been with Eunuch Xi for many years, yet you don't believe his words?"

Xiao Jie waved his hands again and again: "I, I don't believe it. I just don't think you will do this..."

Lin Qingyu interrupted: "Your Majesty, as a grown man, don't you have the ability to judge yourself? Today, if I say that I will not harm you and Eunuch Xi, you will let go of your guard against me?"

Xiao Jie puffed up his cheeks, as if he was angry: "I asked you kindly, why did you say that?"

"Then I'll tell the emperor, I won't—not before the general returns." Lin Qingyu said calmly, "Believe it or not."

What Lin Qingyu said was something tacitly shared with Xi Rong, and it was harmless to tell Xiao Jie.But Xi Rong didn't seem to have informed Xiao Jie of the current situation, otherwise he wouldn't have a terrified expression: "Then when General Gu comes back, will you, will you..."

Lin Qingyu said: "The emperor should ask Eunuch Xi what he will do to the general when he returns."

Xiao Jie was stunned, and murmured: "I'm going to ask him..." Then he ran out.

Xiao Jie returned to the bedroom, and looked for Xi Rong all over the palace: "A Rong! Where is A Rong?"

An eunuch said: "Eunuch Xi is out of the palace today, and he said he has something to go back to the mansion."

"Then I'm going out of the palace too." Xiao Jie said indifferently, "Hurry up and prepare for me."

Xi Rong didn't have a mansion in the past, so he lived wherever Xiao Jie lived.Later, Xiao Jie selected a mansion for Xi Rong out of thousands of choices, and gave it to him as his mansion.This house was originally the residence of Xiao Jie's aunt, Princess Pingchang.Princess Pingchang is the most beloved little sister of the first emperor, and her princess mansion is naturally extremely luxurious.Unfortunately, Princess Pingchang passed away due to illness at a young age, and the house remained empty until Xiao Jie came to the throne to usher in a new owner.

At this time, the doors and windows of Xi's study were closed, and Xi Rong was having a secret conversation with a mysterious visitor.The guest was wearing a cloak and a hood, and when he spoke, he spoke with a straight voice and a little deliberateness.

The visitor was not kind, so Xi Rong didn't dare to take it lightly, and asked: "Your Excellency is seeking to see you now, are you here to seek peace, or to seek death?"

The man in the hood said: "I am here to negotiate a deal with my father-in-law in place of the military advisor."

"Oh?" Xi Rong stared at the man closely, "Is there any deal, you don't talk to the court, come talk to me."

"Gu Fuzhou killed my crown prince. I don't know how many heroes of Xixia died under his gun. The Xixia people wish they could eat their flesh and drink their blood." One cannot die well."

Xi Rong's eyes were cold and cold: "Yongliang is an isolated city, which is already in Dayu's pocket, why should you take the initiative to send it back."

The hooded man said, "If Your Excellency is willing to help our military division, besides Gu Fuzhou, Dayu's army will die at most 3 people. But if you insist on attacking forcefully, we will definitely defend to the death. At that time, Dayu will say nothing more. Lost [-] soldiers and horses. With Gu Fuzhou alone, exchanged for [-] soldiers and horses, plus an intact Yongliang City, what do you think?"

Xi Rong said calmly: "Gu Fuzhou only came out of Dayu in a hundred years. Except for him, who can keep the peace in the Northwest. How can his life be bought by a city."

The hooded man whispered: "But the question is, does Eunuch Xi want Gu Fuzhou to return to the capital alive?"

Xi Rong's tone was dangerous: "How do you say that?"

"If Gu Fuzhou dies in battle, the legendary beauty imperial physician will be left with nothing but skin without her husband's help." The hooded man said with an ambiguous expression, "Our king has always been sympathetic to the beauty, and I heard that the beautiful imperial physician After the deeds of the past few years, I am yearning for it, and I really want to see what the beauty who can fascinate Gu Fuzhou looks like. If Eunuch Xi can send the beautiful imperial doctor to the Xixia Kingdom for him to enjoy, the two countries will build a "good relationship between Qin and Jin" ’, isn’t it also a good talk.”

Xi Rong sneered and said, "Even if you have learned a few words of Central Plains dialect, you'd better not use it indiscriminately. 'Qin and Jin are good' doesn't mean that."

The man in the hood smiled and said: "Eunuch Xi just understands what I mean. Once Gu Fuzhou dies, the grievances between the two countries are over, and Xixia can guarantee that there will be no more trouble. If Gu Fuzhou's life is exchanged for the peace of the Northwest, is this a deal worth it? Father-in-law Knows better than I do."

Xi Rong asked: "Since it's a business, what do your military advisers want to get from me?"

In the shadows, the man in the hood smiled with a sure chance of victory: "What the military advisor wants is very simple, nothing more than..." The man in the hood dipped his fingertips in tea and wrote the word "Liangdao" on the table.

Xi Rong was silent for a long time, and said, "I see."

The man in the hood got up and bowed like the Central Plains people: "So, I will wait for the good news from my father-in-law."

"Go out the side door. Don't let anyone see you."

"It's natural."

After the man in the hood left, Xi Rong sat alone in thought, when suddenly he heard a voice from outside: "Your Majesty?"

Xi Rong's complexion changed suddenly, and he opened the door suddenly, Xiao Jie's pale face came into view.