National color raw owl

Chu Huan's eyes shone brightly when he heard Pei Ji say that he wanted to build an army, but he quickly frowned. Pei Ji asked, "Could it be that the second brother thinks it's not the right time?"

"Brother misunderstood." Chu Huan shook his head and said, "Brother is right. If you want to establish a foothold in Xiguan, if you don't have an army in your hands, you will be unable to move an inch, and you can even be said to be slaughtered...!" After a pause, he smiled wryly. : "It's just that my younger brother doesn't know anything about army building, and...to establish a guard army, it will cost a lot of money. Although the military salary of the guard army is responsible for the local finance, the current household department department is poor and white. It is a fantasy for the department to take out silver as military expenses."

"Arabian Nights?" Pei Ji was taken aback, and asked in surprise, "Second brother, what is Arabian Nights?"

Chu Huan knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he could only explain, "It's what idiots are talking about."

"So that's how it is." Pei Ji said with a smile: "Second brother, if you really want to talk about it, in fact, the second brother has been very lucky since he arrived in the northwest. The once-in-a-century plague, because of the appearance of senior brother and Master Chabo, has been solved. There is no big problem, and now there is a problem with military funds for building the army, which has actually been solved."

"Brother, you mean... the property that was transported from the customs just now?" Chu Huan said: "There are indeed a lot of property transported this time, but... these are all private property...!" Pei Ji was afraid that he might misunderstand, and explained: "Of course the eldest brother understands that it's not that the younger brother is reluctant to part with these belongings, but that the empire has laws and the army's military pay is provided by the imperial court and local finance. If private funds are used to build the army, it is tantamount to rebellion...!"

"Of course I understand this point." Pei Ji smiled and said, "Building an army with private property, no matter which dynasty or generation, is not allowed by the law. It's just why the second brother didn't think about it, this time it was transported from the pass. The belongings, except for the second brother's confidants, no one knows that there are second brother's belongings in it, and those who know the situation just think that it is the property brought by Miss Su."

Seeing that Pei Ji was calm and relaxed, Chu Huan knew that Pei Ji must have a plan in his chest, and said, "Does the elder brother have any clever strategies?"

"This batch of property has been sent to the Governor's Mansion this time. The second brother may as well say that these properties are Miss Su's property. Miss Su is originally from the Northwest. Now Xiguan is waiting to be rebuilt. Miss Su cherishes her homeland in this critical time. I want to contribute to the reconstruction of my homeland." Pei Ji supported his beard and said calmly: "The property of Miss Su is donated to the government." [

"Donation?"

"Exactly." Pei Ji smiled and said, "If it's just a donation, I'm afraid people from the Department of Household Affairs will come to pester you, so just make it clear in the name of Miss Su that this batch of property is used to donate to the government to mine salt mines. Isn’t my brother about to set up a new salt bureau? It’s very good, take part of this batch of property and donate it directly to the new salt bureau. Since Miss Su is donating for the purpose of mining salt mines, then donate silver to the new salt bureau, then It's also a matter of course, even if the Department of Household Department is unwilling, he can't find fault with it."

Chu Huan couldn't help admiring the adaptability of the rationing, and clapped his hands: "Brother, this is really a good idea. This can not only solve the problem of the cost of building an army, but also solve the problem of building a salt farm."

"Second brother, this time you really want to thank Ms. Su. The money she sent was really timely. If the construction of the saltworks starts with the financial resources of the seven surnames of Xiguan, it will inevitably be infiltrated by the seven surnames of Xiguan." Pei Ji said seriously. Said: "Of course the seven surnames in Xiguan must be used. They are local gentry, and a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. What's more, they are not skinny camels now, and they still have strong connections in Xiguan. At present, the second brother must We must make good use of these relationships, but having said that, we must both use and guard against the seven surnames in Xiguan... The second brother needs to use their power to gain a firm foothold in Xiguan, and at the same time they also need to use the strength of the second brother to make a comeback and rely on each other , but they must not let them take the initiative, especially the mining and salt production. The second brother can hold it in his own hands as much as possible, and can use the seven surnames of Xiguan to open up sales, but it is best not to let them make salt. Infiltrate."

Chu Huan understood Pei Ji's worry and nodded slightly.

"Brother, to build an army requires recruiting new soldiers. Recruiting new soldiers in Xiguan is not difficult, but weapons and equipment are a big problem." Chu Huan said in a low voice: "Brother doesn't know, I checked the treasurer of the Ministry of War. Speaking of which, Xiguan has just gone through a great battle, and the most indispensable thing is equipment, but do you know the current situation in Hyogo?"

Pei Ji laughed and said, "Did the second brother think that Zhu Lingyue would leave you something when he came to take up the post? You still expect Hyogo to store things for you?"

Chu Huan sighed: "Actually, my younger brother didn't think about how many things can be left behind, but what is left now is shocking... There is no set of armor in the armory, and only a small part of it is left. It's just a spear and a shield...!"

Pei Ji frowned, "Hyogo doesn't even have a piece of armor?"

"Yes." Chu Huan looked solemn, "It is said that before I arrived at Shuoquan, there were [-] sets of armor in the warehouse, but they were called by Dongfang Xin to the Pingxi Army."

Pei Ji raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Don't you think this is a good thing?"

Chu Huan thought for a while, came to understand, and said softly: "Brother, do you think there is something to do in the middle?"

"It's not just articles, there are big articles." Pei Ji smiled and said: "Dongfangxin and you are already very different, tit for tat, even if the common people don't know it, but in the officialdom of Xiguan, everyone knows that you and Dongfangxin are as powerful as water. Huo, Dongfang Xin and Dong Shizhen are all focused on making trouble for the second younger brother, so the second younger brother naturally can't bear it all the time."

Chu Huan sighed: "I don't want to be patient, my little brother. When I first came to Xiguan, I haven't figured out many things. In this environment, I always have to be more cautious."

Pei Ji smiled and said: "Second brother knows how to be cautious, that's great, but the opponent is aggressive, second brother can take advantage of his position, find an opportunity, and show them a little bit of color. Sometimes they use offense as defense, but intentionally Unexpected results." [

"Defense with offense?" Chu Huan said with a smile, "Brother is good at the art of war. It seems that this art of war is not only used on the battlefield." He touched his chin, pondered for a while, and said: "Since the Holy One wants to use me to disrupt the Northwest To check and balance Zhu Lingyue, naturally I don't want to see me being restrained everywhere, building a new army, but don't bother the court to take money, and let the local donations solve it, I think the Holy Majesty should be happy to see it."

"At least for now, the emperor will definitely support you in building a new army." Pei Ji said: "The emperor does not want to see Zhu Lingyue grow stronger, but with the current situation in the northwest, he is willing to see you grow stronger. The new army in Xiguan is originally To deal with Zhu Lingyue and build it, the sword is aimed at Zhu Lingyue, which is of course what the emperor wants to see."

"So if you write to the imperial court at this time, begging the imperial court to send a batch of equipment for building the army, the emperor should support it." Chu Huan thoughtfully.

Pei Ji stroked his beard and nodded, "If you have an insight into the whole situation, you will know your own advantages. If you know yourself and the enemy, you can deal with it calmly. The emperor used you to check and balance Zhu Lingyue in Xiguan. If you don't want the court to ask for something, I'm afraid the old emperor will be surprised. Some words The emperor won't tell you the truth, but he knows that with your ingenuity, you will soon understand his deep meaning after you come to the northwest. As long as you understand his meaning and have no dissenting intentions, you will actively check and balance Zhu Lingyue. Of course he knows too. Without the help of the imperial court, you first rely on your own strength to check and balance Zhu Lingyue. It is a fool's dream... It is what you call a fantasy, so he may have been waiting for you to ask the imperial court for supplies. If you have not reached out for a long time, I am afraid you On the contrary, that suspicious old emperor thinks that you have other intentions and will become Zhu Lingyue's gang."

Chu Huan was very lucky at this time. Chu Huan didn't think he was stupid, but he couldn't see through many political matters at a glance. He was lucky to have someone like Pei Ji by his side. Having said that, he has already explained the whole situation clearly. As Pei Ji said, if he has an insight into the whole situation, knows his own strengths and weaknesses, and knows himself and the enemy, he can deal with it calmly.

"The little brother opened his mouth like a lion and asked the court for supplies." Chu Huan felt that his mind was clear at this time, and suddenly realized many things, "I don't care how much he can give, but I want as much as possible here."

"Exactly." Pei Ji laughed and said, "Second brother has always been generous, so don't be petty this time, and open your mouth to the court. The more you want, the more the old emperor will feel that you are trying to muster up your strength." It is in your interest to have a big fight with Zhu Lingyue."

Chu Huan figured it out. Although he knew that his current situation was still not optimistic, he was still in a good mood. He poured the wine and was about to drink it all with Pei Ji, but the voice of hatred like blood came from outside the door: "My lord, I'm back."

Chu Huan recognized Qiu Ruxue's voice, stood up immediately, and said, "Brother Qiu, come in quickly, there is still wine, let's have a few drinks together."

Qiu Ruxue entered the room, dressed in gray robes, wearing a bamboo hat, took off the hat, first bowed slightly to Pei Ji, he already knew that Pei Ji was Chu Huan's sworn brother, and he knew that Pei Ji was unpredictable Speaking of other things, Qin Lei, who followed Pei Ji day and night, looked very thin, but he suffered a big loss for Qiu Ruxue, a swordsman who has been in the world for many years. He was even more in awe, not daring to lose courtesy. Seeing Chu Huan's call, he sat down beside Chu Huan. Chu Huan had already asked, "How is the situation? Did you find out clearly?"

When Qiu Ruxue saw that Chu Huan was asking in front of Pei Ji, he definitely had no scruples, so he didn't have to hide it, and said in a low voice, "My lord, we have found out that she is in the city!"