Tantaihuang narrowed his eyes slightly and said slowly: "You didn't expect that we would take this opportunity to attack Dong Qi, and no one else would have thought of it. By marrying Dong Qi, everyone thought that we were going to unite with Dong Qi to attack Northern Han Dynasty, but our real purpose is to make the people of Dong Qi neglect their precautions."
Qi Ning knew that this was a huge secret. He was surprised and asked in a low voice: "Old Duke, is it possible that... our plan for the Northern Expedition is all an illusion?"
"It's not an illusion." Tantaihuang's voice was low: "From the beginning to the end, the imperial court was targeting the Northern Han Dynasty, and the Qinhuai Army led by Yue Huanshan was also formulating a plan to attack the Northern Han Dynasty."
Qi Ning frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said: "What does the old Duke mean to say that our great Chu is planning the Northern Expedition, and everything is being staged for the people of Eastern Qi to see?"
"Not only people from the Eastern Qi Dynasty, but also people from the Northern Han Dynasty, and even people from my Chu country." Tantai Huang said: "If you can't even deceive your own people, how can you deceive cunning opponents."
Qi Ning smiled bitterly and said: "Old Duke, this matter... This matter is really of great importance. I didn't notice any clues before...!"
"This is not surprising. If you can detect the clues, then this plan will fail." Tantaihuang's expression became serious, and he stretched out a trembling hand to hold Qining's wrist: "Three years ago, We have already prepared this strategy."
"Three years ago?" Qining was even more surprised.
Three years ago, the Northern Han Dynasty and the Chu State were fighting to the death on the Qinhuai front line. At that time, the late emperor and Qi Jing were both still alive.
Tantai Huang said: "Since the founding of the country, the most brutal battle with the Northern Han Dynasty was the Qinhuai War. The two countries fought for three years, with each other winning or losing. Both the Northern Han and Chu lost too much manpower. and financial resources, and it is precisely because of this battle that both the enemy and us understand that we are not a country that is about to die. With the current strength of the two countries, it is almost a fool's errand to think of pacifying the other side with a single battle."
Qi Ning nodded slightly, knowing that he had shed countless blood to reach this conclusion.
"The late Emperor knew at that time that if he wanted to conquer the Northern Han Dynasty and unify the world, he must have the right time, place, people and people. All three are indispensable." Tantai Huang said: "If you want to attack the north, you must start spring in March. After that, we must stop before November and strengthen the defense of the occupied areas.”
"What the old man means is that our soldiers in the south will not adapt to the climate in the north after November." Qining asked.
Tantaihuang nodded: "When the two armies are facing off, there are many things to consider, and this climate must be considered among them. In addition, we must master the enemy's geography and have a clear understanding of the opponent's terrain environment, otherwise we will enter the enemy's territory. Just like a blind man.”
Qi Ning immediately thought of Beitang Yu who was under house arrest in the Jiugongchi of Shenhou Mansion.
There is a map of the world in the Northern Han Dynasty. The map of the world was produced by Beitang Yu after a detailed investigation of the terrain in the Northern Han Dynasty. After Beitang Yu was captured, Longtai thought about obtaining it from Beitang Yu. Qi Ning was also sent to lobby for the Huanyu Map, but Beitang Yu naturally knew that once the Huanyu Map fell to the Chu State, it would bring disaster to the Northern Han Dynasty, so it was naturally impossible to tell the details of the Huanyu Map.
Qining knew that this was the age of cold weapons and there was no high technology. It was very difficult to make a detailed map. The Northern Han Dynasty made the map of the world to control the land under its jurisdiction, but the cost must have been It is extremely expensive. Of course, such a map cannot easily fall into the hands of the Chu people.
"Now our country of Chu does not have an advantage in terms of time or location." Tantai Huang said: "Even if there is harmony, our country of Chu may not be monolithic."
Qining thought that the King of Shu in Xichuan was ready to make a move, and a family plotting to cause chaos had just happened in the East China Sea. Above the court, internal strife had never disappeared. Although the civil war was fierce in the Northern Han Dynasty, Chu was also surrounded by dangers.
"The late emperor knew that the Northern Han Dynasty could only be dealt with slowly." Tantai Huang said: "It was just that when the two countries were fighting, the people of Dong Qi sat on the mountain and watched the tigers fight. At that time, we knew that if we let Dong Qi ignore it, sooner or later Something big will happen. Dong Qi people are never honest. Although the king of Dong Qi is not an ambitious person, the Dong Qi twins under him are all evil. The former Dong Qi crown prince Duan Shao came here, and this person's His ambition is far greater than that of his father. If this person one day ascends to the position of the king of the Eastern Qi Kingdom, coupled with the Dong Qi twins adding fuel to the flames, the Eastern Qi Dynasty will definitely become a big trouble."
Qi Ning nodded slightly and said: "What the old Duke said is absolutely true, Duan Shao is not someone who is willing to be inferior to others."
"We must take it easy with the Northern Han Dynasty, but we must capture the Eastern Qi as soon as possible." Tantai Huang said: "The former emperor had already asked us to plan a plan to destroy Qi before the Qinhuai War was over."
Qi Ning thought for a moment before asking: "Old Duke, please forgive me for being bold. I will wait as you said. Of course, the late emperor is not just discussing with you, but I don't know...who else is among them? Is Duke Zhen also there?" Inside?"
"Your father and I." Tantai Huang said: "The Duke of Zhen Guo has always been in charge of logistics preparations. Money, food and horses are all left to him, but he rarely participates in frontline battles."
Tantaihuang's words naturally revealed an important message.
During the reign of the previous emperor, Sima Lan was only responsible for logistics and was not qualified to participate in military strategy.
But now the person in charge of the Northern Expedition strategy is Sima Lan.
Qi Ning thoughtfully said softly: "The attack and destruction of Dong Qi has always been planned in secret."
"According to the late emperor's plan, if we can't find an opportunity, we can only rest and recuperate." Tantai Huang said seriously: "But once a good opportunity appears, we must seize it and capture Dong Qi and Guan Xi in one fell swoop, so that we can finally pacify the North." Chinese."
"Kansai?"
"Qu Yuangu is guarding Xianyang in Guanxi." Tantai Huang said: "Qu Yuangu's talent is mediocre. If he launches an offensive in Guanxi by surprise, he can hope to capture Xianyang in a short time and then defend Tongguan."
Qining's mind was filled with horror as he imagined what would happen if Chu succeeded.
If the Chu State's plan to seize the east and attack the west is successfully implemented, and not only capture the land of Eastern Qi, but also occupy Guanxi, then the Northern Han Dynasty will face a situation of being attacked from three sides. Guanxi defends Tongguan, and can advance or retreat. The land of Eastern Qi has horses. As a barrier, Lingshan Mountain is also a defensible place, while the main force of the Chu army in the south is in danger of the Huaihe River. In this way, no matter which side the Han army attacks, the other two sides will be attacked. Similarly, once the Chu army launches an offensive , troops can be sent out on three sides at the same time, so the Han army will naturally have to worry about one at the expense of the other, and when the time comes, the offense and defense will be completely in the hands of the Chu army. The Chu army can attack when they want, and defend when they want to.
Even if Chu Huan did not impose large-scale restrictions on the Han Dynasty, his frequent attacks were enough to make the Northern Han Dynasty panic.
"When the late emperor established the crown prince in Dong Qi, he sent Jin Shang, who was still the crown prince, to Dong Qi to start implementing the plan." Tantai Huang said: "If the late emperor was still alive, he would also propose marriage to Dong Qi, and Jin Shang is sent as an envoy Dong Qi, the late emperor wanted the people of Dong Qi to know Jin Shang, and also wanted Jin Shang to meet Princess Dong Qi."
Qi Ning sighed in his heart, secretly thinking that these old guys had really long-term plans. He always thought that the young emperor left Sima Wanqiong and insisted on marrying Princess Dong Qi. His main purpose was to prevent the Sima family from becoming too powerful. Now it seems that, This was one reason to prevent the Sima clan from becoming too powerful, but the most important reason was to implement the late emperor's plan.
Before the emperor died, he would naturally inform his successors of these secret state policies.
"The biggest trouble when seeking to marry Princess Dong Qi is that the Northern Han people will also have a hand in it." After speaking for a long time, Tantaihuang's voice became weaker and his face became darker, but he seemed to have no intention of stopping: "It is naturally impossible for the people of the Northern Han Dynasty to watch the marriage between Da Chu and Dong Qi. Moreover, the people of Dong Qi are cunning and cunning. They have always adopted a balancing strategy. If we ask them to marry us, they may not easily agree, so the late emperor has also done it. Be prepared, if necessary, to give the people of Dong Qi an offer they cannot refuse." At this point, a smile appeared on his lips: "I just didn't expect that things would develop even more smoothly than we originally imagined. Your mission to Dong Qi will not only After bringing back the Princess of Dong Qi, and because of the civil strife in the Northern Han Dynasty, the people of Dong Qi are eager to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their power and proactively ask us for a coalition...!"
Qi Ning said: "Old Duke, does this prove that the people of Dong Qi have fallen into a trap?"
"The two countries are related and are preparing to join forces to attack the Han Dynasty. Naturally, the people of Dong Qi will not think that our target is them." Tantai Huang said: "In addition, before the Dong Qi delegation escorted the princess and arrived in Beijing, we had already done If we are ready, we will definitely marry Duan Shao and betroth him to a young lady from an aristocratic family. At first, we thought about marrying Sima Wanqiong, but later we changed our minds and decided to marry him from Ximen Wuhen or Su Zhen. Choose one of your children to go."
Qi Ning's heart trembled. He originally thought that Longtai's marriage to Duan Shao was just a temporary idea, but now he realized that this was actually part of a plan to annex Dong Qi.
Now that I think about it, if I hadn't been involved in the situation, it would have probably been Ximen Zhanying who married to Dong Qi. According to the plan, no matter who was married to Dong Qi, it would actually be a desperate situation.
"As long as we grant Duan Shao a marriage, the last worries of the people of Dong Qi will disappear." The lights in the room were dim, and Tantai Huang's voice was low: "The two countries are getting closer. No one would have thought that our target would be Dong Qi. In the end, Su Zhen's daughter married to Dong Qi, and Su Zhen personally escorted her there. Everything went as we planned. As expected, the people of Dong Qi were very respectful to Su Zhen, with a small banquet every three days and a big banquet every five days. Su Zhen enjoyed the banquet and had no intention of coming back for a while."
Qi Ning frowned. He knew that after Su Zixuan married to Dong Qi, Su Zhen became proud and became the royal relative of Dong Qi. He also personally escorted his daughter to Dong Qi. The majestic Marquis of Wuxiang of Chu sent his daughter there, so he would naturally let him go. The people of Dong Qi felt full of sincerity and could not have imagined that the Chu State had plotted to annex their country. However, Su Zhen indulged in wine and sex. Being in Dong Qi, he naturally had endless access to fine wine and beauties. He did not want to miss Shu and stayed in Dong Qi. I don’t know. Unconsciously, it actually provided a better cover for the plan to destroy Qi.