Chasing King

The new house given by Emperor Zhaowu is located in a very good part of the city. Although it is not very luxurious, it is rich enough. It is impossible for the princess to live in his humble house when she is married.

Yan Si Kong was not in a hurry to move over, because there was Xie Zhongren's eyeliner in that pile of servants. However, he took Ali to make an inspection first, and told the housekeeper some things, such as his habits, such as making a darkroom in his study. In addition, it's quite close to Shen Hexuan's home. In the future, he doesn't need Ali to send food and clothing to Mrs. Shen, and the housekeeper can do it for her.

On the way back, Yan Sikong said with a smile, "Ali, do you like that grand house?"

Ali shook his head.

"Why?"

Alibi rowed: so many people, I don't know which is the good and which is the bad.

"Everyone is bad." Yansi empty light way.

Ali looked at him blankly.

"It's not good to postpone it again and again. Before the Chinese new year, we have to move there. Remember, don't trust anyone there. Everyone needs dikes. If there is any disturbance, please report it to me immediately."

Ali nodded.

"There's one more thing I need you to do."

Ali looks at him.

"After moving to a new house, where there are housekeepers and many servants, you won't be the only one around me, but I only believe in you, so you will still serve me closely. I want you to start acting stupid."

Ali stares at Yan Sikong.

"I know you are not stupid. Although you can't speak, you know everything in your heart." Yan Sikong patted ah Li on the shoulder, "but you have to pretend to be stupid. You don't have to be too stupid. You just have to be mentally incomplete. Those people will relax their vigilance against you. On the one hand, it won't be too difficult for you. On the other hand, it's convenient for us to explore the situation. Can you?"

Ali nodded hard.

Yan Sikong stares at the empty front with deep and distant eyes: "I have a premonition that this year will not pass smoothly. I ask you to exchange gold and silver for silver notes just to be on guard against unexpected needs. You can sneak out of the city sometime and hide them in a safe place."

-

when Yan Sikong heard the news, Emperor Zhaowu had ordered the Ministry of war to issue a list of reducing the armaments of Datong, and Feng Jianping's assessment also came as scheduled. These two seemingly unrelated things happened to collide with each other, which actually had countless connections. It seemed that if the former could not satisfy the emperor, the latter would not satisfy the Feng family. However, arms reduction means military expenditure reduction, and military expenditure reduction means military force reduction, which will inevitably touch the lifeblood of Feng family. No one can predict that Feng Jianping will give way a little.

Yan Sikong always thinks that Feng Jianping shouldn't go back to court. From the moment he stepped into the capital, everything was passive. But now it's too late to say anything, so we can only wait and see.

After discussing with Yan Zilian and Feng Jianping, Yan Sikong gave Liu an a well ordered list of topics. However, Liu An was forced to give it to Feng Jianping for a long time. He was afraid that he would be instructed to make plans until there was a clue of arms reduction.

Although Yan Sikong finished the task temporarily, he didn't dare to relax at all. However, there are still some people who are more anxious than him now. That is Feng Chuang, the right servant of the Ministry of war who is acting as the Minister of the Ministry of war. He was given such a bloody task when he went to battle without warning. The throne of the Secretary of state has not been hot for a few days, and now he is on pins and needles.

When Wen Yuchi was in Beijing, he did discuss the armament issue of Datong with his left and right ministers, but before he made a decision, he went back to his hometown to worry about it. Therefore, Feng Chuang could only speculate on the basis of Zhang Yushi's Memorial and Wen Yuchi's attitude, and came up with an approximate figure of reducing 100000 armaments for discussion with Yan Zilian.

Yan Zilian discussed with Feng Jianping for the first time.

Feng Jianping flatly refused: "100000? If we cut our armaments by 100000, we will reduce our military spending by 1 million taels in a year. Even if we cut off our military spending and cut down on food and clothing, we will also cut off 60000 or 70000 people. How can we resettle these 60000 or 70000 people? "

Yan Zilian comforted: "don't worry, general. At that time, Datong raised 300000 troops to resist the warlords. Now that the warlords are defeated, it's time to stop fighting, pacify the people and recuperate. The soldiers of Datong killed the enemy and plowed pears. They had been producing grain for many years. In fact, they didn't worry about food and drink. Reducing 100000 armaments doesn't mean disarmament. They can reduce armour, firearms and supplies. If the war in Datong starts again one day, the National Treasury will lose any part of it. They dare not lose military expenditure. "

"Mr. Ge, are you pretending to be confused Feng Jianping said in a deep voice, "if you just feed people, can you work hard for you? It's better to have 300000 dogs. "

Yan Zilian's face changed slightly.

Feng Jianping's momentum is turbulent. Sitting on one side, Yan Sikong feels that his heart is being oppressed. He is worthy of being the first general of Dasheng. Just a little displeasure is frightening.

Feng Jianping also said: "even if it's a dog, there must be rewards and punishments. Can people be better than dogs? What about salary? What about the reward? If it's hot, it's necessary to reduce heat and repel mosquitoes. If it's cold, it's necessary to burn charcoal and add clothes. If it's sick, it's necessary to treat it. If it's dead, it's necessary to treat it. Which one doesn't need money? If we want to reduce our armaments by 100000, we can only do it through disarmament. If we want to raise our troops for a thousand days and use them for a while, and if there is another war at the border in the future, can the soldiers be called in at once? ""General." Yan Zilian said in a low voice, "don't worry. It's not that you really want to cut so much. Feng Shilang just wants me to discuss with you. He estimates that this newspaper will satisfy your majesty, especially Xie Zhongren. He probably can't pick a thorn, but he also knows that you can't agree, so don't step back..."

"Old man." Feng Jianping narrowed his eyes and said, "if we really cut down our armaments, wouldn't it make the eunuch party happy? What do you want me to do when you want me to fight against the castration party, to support the crown prince, and to disarm and fill the national treasury? "

At the end of the day, Feng Jianping's tone was sharp. Yan Sikong and Feng Ye were on the side, but they didn't say a word. Yan Sikong didn't even go to see Feng Ye. He knew that Feng's father and son were dissatisfied with Yan Zilian, so he could only avoid the burning eyes.

Yan Zilian said, "why did the general say that? It's your Majesty's decision to reduce armaments. We can only mediate as much as we can. Now I'm tied up with the general. Is there any reason why I don't think about you and my family? Without you, how can the crown prince's position as crown prince be stable? But if you cut a little, Xie Zhongren will bite to death. I'm afraid your majesty is also sad. I advise you in this way, just for your own good. "

The plane of the seal sword said with no expression: "that old man thought, how should this matter be?"

"Each step back." Yan Zilian said in a low voice, "but I advise the general to have a bottom in his heart. Since you choose to return to the court, you can't retreat completely. Don't be the thorn in your Majesty's heart."

Yan Sikong was cold all over, and it seemed that there was something invisible climbing on his back, which made him panic.

Feng Jianping pondered for a moment, looked at Feng Ye, opened his mouth, and finally did not open his mouth. After a long time, Feng Jianping said: "fifty thousand. If we reduce our armaments by 50000, we will not be able to achieve disarmament. "

Yan Zilian shook his head: "general, I don't want to bargain with you, but I'll tell you for sure that it will cause your Majesty's dissatisfaction."

Feng Jianping clenched his fist and said nothing.

"The general hasn't returned to Beijing for nearly 30 years. He has been with swords all day. He thinks that he can survive in the most ferocious and dangerous place in the world, but he forgets that on the temple, swords are invisible, defenseless and equally deadly." Yan Zilian sighed heavily, "what I said today is really from the bottom of my heart. The general doesn't know his majesty or the eunuch party, but I understand. Think twice about the general."

Feng Jianping breathed a sigh of relief, full of vicissitudes: "elder Ge, most of those soldiers have left their hometown. They eat in the sandstorm and drink in the snowstorm with me outside the pass. Some of them have not been able to go home for several years, some of them are disabled, some of them have died in a foreign land, and their bones are hard to find. They are loyal to their country, and their hearts and minds are ruined. How can we get rid of them?"

"The general has a point, but there is no room for maneuver." Yan Zilian advised, "the general still needs to plan for himself and his son and make a decision early."

Feng Jianping held his forehead wearily and said in a dumb voice, "80000."

Yan Zilian nodded: "the general is willing to make this sacrifice, I am glad, I will go to persuade your majesty."

"If we cut down our armaments, then I will be too weak. Don't you worry that the eunuchs will take advantage of the opportunity to make trouble?"

"I am worried all the time, but if the general also has an accident, we will have no hope, and the prince will also be in danger. For today's plan, we should help the general through this disaster first."

Feng Jianping waved his hand: "it's all right. Everything depends on me." He said in a soft voice, "I have been stationed in Datong for more than 30 years for your majesty, and I dream of beating Wala and clearing the border. Now I have a chance to realize it, but..."

Yan Zilian also sighed heavily: "general, I have been an official for more than 40 years. From a small Imperial Academy to a cabinet minister, I once wanted to do a great cause that will be recorded in history forever. Now that I am in my twilight years, I realize that human power is not superior to heaven. I try my best to overcome the torrent. You and I are just a drop in the ocean, just try our best."

Feng Jianping said with a bitter smile, "just try your best."

Yan Zilian stood up and said, "I'm going ahead."

"I'll see the teacher off." Yan Sikong then stood up. He glanced at Fengye and motioned for Fengye to come to him, but his eyes stayed for more.

When Yan Zilian was sent to the hospital, Yan Sikong said in a low voice, "teacher, is the reduction of armaments really so serious?"

"It's estimated by Mr. Feng. It's hard to say how far it is from the expectation of his majesty and Xie Zhongren. His majesty didn't act so aggressively in the past. It should be said that he didn't care much about most things, but he was very determined about the issue of Datong armament. Do you know what that means?"

Yan Sikong nodded: "Your Majesty feels the threat."

"Yes, if you can make your majesty feel threatened, you should know what outsiders think of Fengjia. The teacher did all this in order to save Fengjia. In an unusual situation, breaking hands and feet is also a last resort. If Fengjia falls down, we will be engulfed by eunuchs sooner or later."

"Students understand." Yan Sikong couldn't judge for a moment whether the situation was as serious as Yan Zilian said. After all, Emperor Zhaowu praised and cared for Feng Jianping. At least on the surface, he was not suspicious. But he always reminded himself that to speculate on a person's intention, it's not how he said it, it's how he did it. Maybe Yan Zilian didn't filter it, it's more than 40 years The ups and downs of officialdom made him particularly keen.If so, the situation of Fengjia

Yan Sikong didn't dare to think about it any more.