Empress Mi Benji

Chapter 216 Distrust

The state machinery is running, grain, grass and manpower are allocated, and overall arrangements are made to ensure grain production.

No matter how fierce the war is outside, spring plowing and production cannot be delayed, and the occupied areas must be divided into fields, a series of tasks.

It has to be completed before spring plowing, so this New Year can only be spent in busyness. Speaking of which, there are several New Years that have not passed in such busyness.

After the arrangements were made, Zhuang Xun summoned He Heng to see him off, which was relatively personal because the mission was originally hidden.

"Is the old lady still in good health now?" The faction headed by He Heng was Huang Xi and Luo Yuecheng, who were also together this time.

Zhuang Xun first asked with concern about Luo Yuecheng's old mother and treated her like a friend.

"Thanks to His Majesty, I am in good health and have no discomfort. I am happily walking around the streets all day long. I am in good spirits."

Luo Yuecheng's expression was beaming, and his honest old face had many wrinkles.

"That's good. After all, I have to work hard for you again this time. I still have to take good care of your wife, children, and children."

Zhuang Xun looked at Huang Xi and said, "Lao Luo has already found a wife to have a baby. How old is the baby? When will you have a happy event?"

"Your Majesty, only after you clean up the bad couple in your hometown can I step out of the shadows." Huang Xi said with a dark face. He was deeply hurt by the marriage, so he seemed to be afraid of difficulties.

"King Donghua surrendered and has occupied Antai County. Now you can send a message to apprehend the couple."

Zhuang Xun smiled and said that what was difficult to do in the past is now just a piece of cake. The bully who bullied Huang Xi in the past is now nothing more than an ant.

"Your Majesty once said that if you don't return to your hometown if you are rich and noble, you will be like walking at night in brocade clothes. If you don't judge them with your own hands, I feel unwilling to do so. When I return from this crusade against Zhao, I will look for them to settle the matter."

Huang Xi also has his own persistence. His status can also indirectly retaliate against the couple in some ways, but he wants to go back and slap him in the face.

"You should have been allowed to accept King Donghua's surrender, but I didn't think carefully about it. Thinking that Huang Xi had experience in going to Zhao Kingdom, I recruited you."

Zhuang Xun had an apologetic tone. It was his mistake this time. He missed Huang Xi's idea of ​​returning to his hometown in fine clothes. He had been holding this breath for long enough.

"It's nothing. Without His Majesty's support, I would never have the chance to take revenge in my life."

Huang Xi knew very well who he was taking advantage of. If it weren't for Zhuang Xun's shelter and protection, and without Zhuang Xun climbing up step by step, he would have starved to death long ago.

Even if he is lucky enough not to starve to death, he has no chance to improve himself, and naturally has no chance to climb to his current position. If he is not Zhuang Xun's confidant, how can he have the chance to climb up through meritorious service.

"It's an exaggeration. It's my fault this time. I'll make it up to you when you come back. This time I went to harass Zhao. You waited for the non-main force. If the other party has a team coming, just hold it back. Don't be reluctant to fight."

Zhuang Xun apologized and explained that it was easier here. He didn't ask for any achievements from them. It would be good if they could hold back some of Zhao's original conquest of Jing.

Zhao Guo cannot be allowed to feel without any worries. Even if Zhuang Xun does not unify Jizhou, it will not make him feel better.

"I understand, Your Majesty, please rest assured. If the opponent sends troops, we will retreat and rely on the terrain and fortress for defense, or we can retreat directly to lengthen the opponent's supply line and divert the opponent's energy to the east."

He Heng understood the strategic intention and assured Zhuang Xun. Seeing that he understood, Zhuang Xun nodded in approval.

"If the other party mobilizes border troops, they will be well-equipped and avoid fighting. It is a good choice. Our soldiers are not trained enough and the equipment supply is okay. Father-in-law, you can help take care of it."

They followed the training method of Zhao Guoxuan's Army, but the time was too short and it was considered a semi-finished product. The new army was a mix of old and new, making it difficult to lead, so Zhuang Xun repeatedly warned him.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I understand that while I am away, please allow Concubine He to visit her and spend more time with her mother."

He Heng assured Zhuang Xun, and then cared about his daughter and wife, the two people he missed the most.

"I will accompany you then, don't worry."

Zhuang Xun smiled, and the two looked at each other in tacit understanding. Their relationship was not just Weng's son-in-law.

"But if Zhao Guo doesn't respond, you can make more noise. You can discuss the details and I won't interfere. If you have any difficulties, tell me in time and I will find a way to solve it."

With the decentralization of power, Zhuang Xun fully trusted a few generals and allowed them to do whatever they wanted. He didn't know how to micromanage and just watched the performances of his generals.

"I thank your Majesty for your great trust. We will definitely accomplish our goal and contain some of Zhao's main forces in the east."

At this point, like a military order, He Heng made a promise to Zhuang Xun.

"Is it a containment? Directly attack the capital of Zhao State, steal Zhao State's song and dance team, and dance for His Majesty."

Luo Yuecheng listened to Zhuang Xun's speech to avoid the war, and also assured that he had heard from Huang Xi that the Zhao Guo Song and Dance Troupe danced beautifully, and Zhuang Xun liked to watch it.

"Hahaha..." Several people laughed, knowing that it was impossible, but they felt that Luo Yuecheng was straightforward and pure in mind.

"If it doesn't work this time, just next time. Next time, your Majesty is the emperor who wants to unify the nine states."

Luo Yuecheng was not annoyed at being laughed at. He spoke righteously without reflecting on the humor of his words at all.

"Idiot, His Majesty's troops have already reached Jinyang City of Zhao State, so you just want those few dancing girls?" Huang Xi said with a smile.

"Yes, it must be Mrs. Jiang or something."

Zhuang Xun joked that he couldn't hit Jinyang after all. In front of a few old brothers, he put down the burden of pretending and smiled happily.

"Yes, Mrs. Jiang and Master Qingluan are in the Kingdom of Zhao. If the Zhao Kingdom is attacked, please help His Majesty snatch them away."

Luo Yuecheng realized something in a trance, everyone laughed even more happily, and the air was filled with a pleasant atmosphere.

Zhuang Xun couldn't say that he and Mrs. Jiang had a deep hatred. At least from Mrs. Jiang's perspective, he was no longer a good person.

"If you see Mrs. Jiang again, don't listen to her. Her interests are not with us, and don't try to persuade her to surrender. Just do whatever you want and don't be deceived by her." However, when it comes to Mrs. Jiang, Zhuang Xun still reminds a few people. Please take precautions to avoid being defrauded by information scammers.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The last time she coaxed you to go to the Kingdom of Zhao, our brothers knew that she was not a good person. Your Majesty could only treat her with a concubine. You won't listen to what she says."

Luo Yuecheng spoke quickly and assured Zhuang Xun that he had always been so honest in terms of loyalty.

Huang Xi knew the experience of Zhuang Xun Zhao Guo, who was later rescued by "Mrs. Jiang", so he scolded: "Come on, how to deal with it depends on your majesty's decision. Why are you worrying so much? Listen to your majesty." Enough."

But Zhuang Xun said not to trust Mrs. Jiang, and he would be obedient. I don’t know what happened between Zhuang Xun and Mrs. Jiang, but it wasn’t pretty anyway.

Luo Yuecheng wanted to talk back to Huang Xi, the enemy's quarrel pattern, Zhuang Xun quickly changed the topic to prevent the two from starting to argue again.

"This time Jin Yiwei is exchanging intelligence with you. They have been embedded in Zhao State in advance, but the time is too short, so it should have no effect. You cooperate with each other and promote our policies to the people, especially the army, which is the beneficiary. Let them speak more .”

Zhuang Xun leaned back on his chair, mobilizing all the power he could mobilize, and he firmly believed in one thing: if you do something good, you must speak out.

If you do good deeds without leaving a name, you will be replaced by some bastard. Good deeds that can withstand discussion should be vigorously publicized.

No matter how ignorant the people of Zhao were, they knew that if they had enough food and clothes to change with King Xia, they would have a mass base and would not face much resistance.

This technique is particularly useful when dealing with the people of Yu and You. It unites everyone who can be united to deal with big families. It can be regarded as a flexible application of the dragon-slaying technique learned from childhood to college.

"Understood, we have learned this trick a long time ago. Those people know that the land can be divided. If they are happy, they will send food and eggs."

Luo Yuecheng was very comfortable with this feeling, and he felt as if the king's master was going out to fight and the people were welcoming him with pots of food and drink.

"So pay attention to discipline. It's because the soldier's family didn't get land, and they didn't get rewards after the war. Those who are found to have done evil will have to be dealt with by military law. It's not the uncle who spent so much tax money to support him."

Zhuang Xun emphasized that as an earthling, although he knew the cruelty of war, he still hoped that his soldiers could be like the army in his hometown, even though he knew it was impossible.

First of all, he himself is the emperor, and the army belongs to him and serves him. His nature is feudal, so just follow the Yue Family Army.

"The soldiers trained by General Li should all understand this. When selecting, they also selected the sons of good families and received education."

He Heng said it very easily, Zhuang Xun can make benefits, live a relatively simple life, promote talents in any way, give good treatment to officials and soldiers, do not be stingy with rewards, and inspect the administration of officials. Officials will be less corrupt and not corrupt, and they will get what they want. Naturally, it is a good army.

"Then I look forward to your performance. I also hope that Zhao State will not annex Jing State and Zheng State so quickly. We can annex Cheng State before we have time and turn harassment into the main attack."

Zhuang Xun sincerely wished him the best. He could only wish well in this matter. He felt that he was already fast enough. The map was so big. Climbing to his current position was like riding a rocket. He climbed straight up and took every opportunity he could. , is already the best situation.

It's a pity that King Jing died too early. If he could hang his life for two more years like King Yu, the situation would be very different. This can be regarded as Zhao Guo's destiny.

Every country has its destiny. Zhuang Xun can understand this sentence more and more. The luck of the monarch blessed by the emperor's lineage will not be too bad.

Zhao State is so powerful that even if it is a castle in the air separated from the bottom, it is still the strongest in the world. For example, they are all slave societies. Why is the Shang Dynasty the most powerful? All countries are governed by aristocratic families. Zhao State does the best.

As a result, the State of Zhao has a fortune that far exceeds that of other countries. It regards the life of King Jing as a contest of national destiny. Then the State of Xia, State of Jing and the State of Zheng can no longer suppress the State of Zhao.

In other words, the luck of the countries in the world allows King Jing to live until the day he dies, because all countries do not want King Jing to die, and the current Zhao country is as powerful as a rainbow.

"General Li is a great talent. He will be like this. If I change my ministers, I will not have the confidence to deal with Grand Master Li." He comforted Zhuang Xun to give him confidence and said modestly at the same time.

He Heng was a Confucian general. The more he read military books and applied them, the more challenging he felt to deal with Li Pingyuan. After studying Li Pingyuan's tactics, he had another Li Rusi to compare with.

He was not afraid, but it was certain that Li Pingyuan was a difficult opponent to deal with. He was indeed more unwilling to deal with Li Pingyuan than to deal with an elite force that Zhao might send.

"But to be honest, General Li is dealing with her father after all. I don't care, but many people in the army have some criticisms of her."

When it comes to Li Rusi, Luo Yuecheng's words become cautious and he cannot speak frankly. Although he is naive, he is not stupid. The cat-like relationship between Zhuang Xun and Li Rusi is so naughty that he can follow Zhuang Xun all the way here. Understandable.

"What criticism?" Zhuang Xun frowned.

"It's just that I feel that General Li is disloyal. He knows nothing. When General Li used his body as a bait to protect His Majesty, you escaped from the pursuit and search by King Qinghe, where were these people?"

Huang Xi said unhappily that he was convinced by old people like Li Rusi. Not to mention having seen the scene of Li Rusi charging in the army, he would have sincere admiration.

However, Zhuang Xun's subsequent expansion was too fast, with more new generals admitted, and more people questioning Li Rusi, because Li Rusi was more of an executioner, suppressing the family.

The reason for doing this in the past was that Li Rusi was Zhuang Xun's wife. Her killing of the aristocratic family was equivalent to Zhuang Xun's killing of the aristocratic family, lest someone would hold a grudge and frame her as a minister. Now that Li Rusi's identity has been transformed into a minister, there are voices of doubt. Yes, some are related to the original aristocratic families.

There are also some generals who were added after Zhuang Xun's expansion. Zhuang Xun accepted surrender all the way. There were no tough battles in the follow-up. Basically, the enemies surrendered on their own initiative. They generally had not seen Li Rusi's bravery in going into battle to kill the enemy, so This also led to questioning Li Rusi's achievements.

"Don't say that. Many people have good intentions. Many people are even grateful for His Majesty's kindness. They doubt General Li's loyalty and suspect that General Li has charmed Your Majesty."

He Heng conveyed the view of some people that few people were prejudiced against Li Rusi because of her massacre of the aristocratic family, and most of them were because of the embarrassment of her identity.

Zhuang Xun nodded slightly. He had expected this situation before. As long as Li Rusi fought a few big battles and won, these voices would disappear.

Victory can suppress all opposition and make people follow blindly, but Li Rusi's military exploits are too few, too few, and it is not as good as Zhuang Xun's ability to suppress people, because Zhuang Xun also has the ability to conquer Hengdu, and his skills The sword monster Youwang, collapsed into a layer of pass.

The most worthy thing to do was to attack the King Cheng's palace with less, which can only be said to be a small battle. The subsequent suppression of the family rebellion cannot be said to be a large army battle.

"Are there many people who have objections?" Zhuang Xun asked after pondering.

"Many, General Li used to live in the palace for a long time. Many people think that he got to his current position because of His Majesty's gift. They don't understand General Li's talent."

He Heng said euphemistically, causing Zhuang Xun to think deeply.

(End of this chapter)