Yipin Tang

Chapter 46
"Oh!"

Hou Junji was very angry. This was already the fifth cup he had broken. The servant girl stood aside tremblingly, hesitating whether to continue serving tea. A plump and beautiful woman opened the door and waved to the servant girl. He lowered his head to pick up the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground.

"I don't know who offended the master?" The woman didn't seem to be afraid of Hou Junji at all, she sat down beside him and asked with a soft smile.

Hou Junji took a deep breath and sighed: "Han Niang, I'm afraid I won't be able to win the post of commanding the army in Gaochang."

The woman named Han Niang frowned when she heard the words: "Who else will command the army in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty besides the Lord? Could it be that Han Niang made a mistake?"

Hou Junji glanced at Han Niang with a complex expression and said, "It's not because His Majesty let others command the army, and Han Niang is not wrong."

"Oh?" Han Niang asked curiously, "Why is that?"

The servant girl who was picking up the broken porcelain heard the conversation between the two of them and quickly speeded up the cleaning. Han Niang glanced at the maid and said, "Okay, don't clean up now."

The servant girl bowed her head and left with the broken porcelain pieces she had packed as if she was amnesty. After going out, she took the door behind her and breathed a sigh of relief.

Han Niang's status in Duke Lu's mansion is a bit special. Originally, she was just a fireworks girl who was given to Hou Junji.In Chang'an City, it is very common for nobles to give maidservants to each other, but this Han Niang is not simple. She has become Hou Junji's most trusted person within half a year after entering the mansion, and she even shared joys and sorrows with Hou Junji. Even the eldest lady in the mansion can't compare to her position in Hou Junji's heart, even the two young masters in the mansion would call her Aunt Han when they saw Han Niang, such a strange woman is a kind of a person in the eyes of the maids in Lu Guogong's mansion. Legendary character.

After the servant girl left, Han Niang looked at Hou Junji with flickering eyes and said, "Among the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, the best candidate to lead the army to conquer Gaochang is Li Jing."

Hou Junji felt a little uncomfortable when he heard this, but he had to admit that he was indeed inferior to Li Jing. Before that, he had always been Li Jing's second-in-command, and he was the most clear about Li Jing's unpredictable way of using troops. , His Majesty obviously knew Li Jing's ability, so he asked him to supervise and train Baiqi.

Han Niang also saw that Hou Junji was not happy, and said with a smile: "You don't have to be angry, sir, there is probably only one person like Li Jing in the entire Tang Dynasty, besides..."

Hou Jun asked in a concentrated voice: "Besides what?"

Han Niang squinted her eyes and smiled: "Besides, even if Li Jing has great abilities, His Majesty will not use him again."

Hou Junji frowned and said, "Before you said that Your Majesty would not let Li Jing command the army to conquer Gaochang, but now you say that Your Majesty will not use him again. What is the reason? If there is anyone in the Tang Dynasty who can command the army, I will be convinced. Then there will be only Li Jing."

"Master, you know that the greater the credit, the better it is not all a good thing, especially Li Jing, because his surname is Li."

Although Hou Junji was born in the army, he has also read a lot of books under the supervision of Han Niang in the past few years. Hearing what she said at this time, he understood the deep meaning in it. Li Shimin, who commanded Li Jing's army, was always on guard against him, and it actually meant that he was Li Jing's deputy.

"Sweeping all the poplars and falling flowers, the emperor has no head, the sunset shines on the dragon boat, and the Huanghuai River flows against the current." This nursery rhyme was well known at the time, but it has been so many years, and the country of Tang Dynasty has long been stable and stable.

Seeing the suspicious look on Hou Junji's face, Han Niang knew what he was thinking, and said with a slight smile, "The most important thing in this world is His Majesty's thoughts."

Hou Junji nodded thoughtfully. He still trusted Han Niang's words very much. If it wasn't for Han Niang, he would not have been promoted so quickly in the past few years.

"Then Yuchi, what about Qin Shubao and Mr. Cheng? Even the King of Hejian can lead the army." It was Han Niang who swore that if His Majesty wanted to conquer Gaochang, she would let her lead the army. That's why Hou Junji was in the Taiji Hall. Without giving in, he competed with Cheng Yaojin for the position of commanding the army.

Han Niang stroked Wusi from her temples and smiled lightly: "General Yuchi has won the three armies bravely and won His Majesty's trust. His Majesty is the most reassuring to entrust him with the task of defending the Imperial City of Gyeonggi. As for General Qin, he is wise and brave compared to General Yuchi." He is more suitable for commanding the army, but now that he is suffering from an old disease, does the master still look like he can ride a horse to fight?"

"What about Mr. Cheng and King Hejian? Both of them are very close to His Majesty and they are in their prime." Han Niang's analysis has convinced Hou Junji, but he is still curious why she is so sure of Cheng. Yao Jin and Li Xiaogong couldn't compete with themselves.

"The king of Hejian is extravagant and bold. During the time of Gaozu, he made great achievements in military affairs. However, he has rarely participated in the war since the suppression of Fu Gong Er's rebellion. Now His Majesty is in power. In order to avoid suspicion, he is now content to be the prince of Anping and govern the people. Although his eldest son Li Chongyi has quite the demeanor of his father back then, but he lacks qualifications, it is naturally not his turn to conquer Gaochang."

Every time I heard Han Niang's analysis of the general situation in the court, Hou Junji always had a feeling of clearing away the clouds and mist, and he laughed heartily, caressing Han Niang's body and said: "Han Niang's wisdom is probably the same as that of the eldest grandson Wuji. It's a great blessing in life to have Han Niang."

Han Niang grabbed Hou Junji's groping hands and said coquettishly: "Han Niang is just a woman, how dare she compare with the ministers of the court, but fortunately, the master has pity on her and will do her best for the master. I only hope that the master will not let you down in the future." Miss Han."

Hou Junji was aroused by Han Niang's shy look, he pulled Han Niang into his arms and smiled, "Don't you know how I treat you?"

Han Niang smiled and said, "I know how the master treats me, but Haitang..."

Hou Junji's expression changed when he heard the words: "That girl has been spoiled by me since she was a child, she will be sensible when she grows up. Hearing you say that, now only old man Cheng is left, but besides his three-handed axe, what else does he have?" Can be compared with me, His Majesty Zheng Gaochang will naturally choose me instead of him."

Seeing that Hou Junji didn't want to say more about Haitang, Han Niang stopped mentioning it and said with a smile: "My master would be wrong if he didn't think about it because of another matter. The post of commanding the army in Gaochang is about to fall into Duke Lu's hands, His Majesty is not very close to Duke Lu, so how can such an opportunity to gain military merit not be thought of him."

Hou Junji's face darkened, and he couldn't help being angry when he said this, Cheng Yaojin didn't know what he could do to get Li Shimin's kindness the most, that is, he roared loudly or even fought in the Tai Chi Hall, and at most he was reprimanded by Li Shimin afterward After a while, he is probably the only one in the entire Tang Dynasty who can get this holy family, and the princes and princes dare not be as presumptuous as him.

"Since His Majesty is so close to him, why do you say that he can't compete with me?"

Han Niang said with a smile: "Because of His Majesty's kindness to him and the matter of the Consort Captain a few days ago, he will definitely not be allowed to lead the army to Gaochang this time."

Hou Junji's eyes lit up, but he soon became dejected: "What's the use of talking so much, it's useless now."

Han Niang frowned slightly: "Could it be that something went wrong with the conquest of Gaochang?"

"Things are basically the same as you calculated. I also feel that His Majesty intends to let me lead the army to go to Gaochang, but today His Majesty completely cut off the idea of ​​​​conquering Gaochang, so the post of commanding the army is out of the question."

After listening to Hou Junji's words, Han Niang said in amazement: "With Baiqi and horseshoes this time, it is the best time to conquer Gaochang. How could Your Majesty stop the idea of ​​conquering Gaochang? How can we contain the Turks if we don't conquer Gaochang?"

Sure enough, Han Niang also knew that His Majesty's conquest of Gaochang was actually a Turk.Hou Junji sighed inwardly, only Changsun Wuji guessed His Majesty's real thoughts in the Tai Chi Hall before.

"The conquest of the Turks was broken in the hands of an ignorant child!"

Seeing Hou Junji's gritted teeth, Han Niang became even more curious about how an ignorant child could influence His Majesty's decision, and it was an imperative military and national event to conquer Gaochang.

"Who is the ignorant child the master is talking about?"

Hou Junji thought of Wang Xiang who was pointing at him impassionedly in the Tai Chi Hall, his face turned livid and said, "Wang Zixin!"

"Wang Zixin?" A strange look flashed in Han Niang's eyes: "But that Wang Zixin who is the white fox?"

Hou Junji asked puzzledly: "Have you heard of him? But being a white fox is nothing. The horseshoe was presented by this person, and the Quyuanli that His Majesty sent to be promoted in various states and counties a while ago was also made by him. Ignorant boy Relying on superficial merits, he dared to talk nonsense in the Taiji Hall, and even pointed fingers at the matter of conquering Gaochang, but His Majesty was confused by him!"

Han Niang's face changed several times. She knew what kind of person Li Shimin was like than Hou Junji, and she definitely wasn't someone who could be easily fooled. Since it made him change his plan to conquer Gaochang, there must be a special reason.

"Master, what did Wang Zixin say that His Majesty actually gave up the idea of ​​conquering Gaochang?"

"The ignorant children are afraid of the war and speak out that Gaochang will waste the people and waste money, and they also utter wild words that there is a way to completely solve the Turkic troubles without using weapons."

This time, Han Niang was not curious but surprised, did she completely solve the Turkic crisis without using weapons?I'm afraid neither Changsun Wuji nor Fang Xuanling would dare to say such a thing!
"I don't know what method he said?"

Although Hou Junji was reluctant, he still explained the method proposed by Wang Xiang. The more Han Niang heard it, the more surprised she became on her face.

After listening to it, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "What a captive strategy! After decades of not using a knife or a gun, I'm afraid the entire Western Regions will become a captive place for Datang!"

Hou Junji said with a grim expression, "You also think this method is feasible?"

Han Niang put away her previous laziness and softness and said solemnly: "This plan is very bad, and it is also very poisonous. Turkic nobles may be able to resist the temptation of captivity, but most nobles have no need to refuse. The most important thing is that ordinary Turkic people cannot If you refuse such a temptation, the Turkic leader may see through this trick and have no way to deal with it, so it is no wonder that His Majesty gave up his plan to go to the Turks."

Hou Junji's face became more and more ugly: "Is there no other way?"

Han Niang hesitated for a moment, leaned closer to Hou Junji's ear and whispered something, and a savage smile appeared on the corner of Hou Junji's mouth.

(End of this chapter)