Only then did Qi Ning realize that the old Marquis Jindao, who everyone in the government and the public thought was idle at home, had actually always been aware of the general trend of the world, and had secretly planned a strategy against Dong Qi.
Of course it is impossible for the little emperor to know all this.
But Qi Ning was very strange. The little emperor didn't reveal any clues to him about this matter. This was understandable. After all, the matter was very important. It was reasonable for the little emperor to keep it secret. But Tantaihuang tonight Qining was really surprised to call him over and explain the secrets to him in detail in this extremely secret place.
"Old Duke, you don't know about such a big event...?" Qi Ning hesitated, but Tantaihuang naturally understood the meaning and asked: "Are you wondering why I told you about this?"
"Exactly." Qining said: "The military strategy is simple, and the stakes are so important, junior...!"
Tantaihuang stared into Qi Ning's eyes and said: "There is nothing surprising about this. Although the plan to destroy Qi was planned by the emperor before him, to implement it, now we have to rely on you."
"Me?" Qining was surprised.
Tantai Huang said seriously: "When we planned the strategy to destroy Qi, in addition to the Qinhuai Army as the main force, the Donghai Navy also had to participate, so I and your father were personally involved in the strategy. But now your father is no longer alive, and I am about to die. , we are no longer able to complete such important things as the late emperor ordered, but the great cause of unifying the world cannot be interrupted, so you descendants must shoulder the burden we left behind."
Qining opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Tantaihuang raised his other hand and took out a letter from the quilt. His arm trembled and he handed it to Qining. Qining didn't know what it was, so he hurriedly took it. Tantaihuang said seriously. : "Here is a specific strategic plan, roughly like this. However, a wise commander will not be rigid and do not know how to adapt to the situation. You can take it now. Once the emperor has a decree in the future, you can proceed according to this. deploy."
Qi Ning never expected that such a big responsibility for Tantai Huang would be handed over to him. He only felt that this letter was really more important than Mount Tai. He said with a solemn expression: "Old Duke, it's not... It's not an excuse for this junior. It's just that such an important responsibility is related to the destiny of the country. Junior I have never had the experience of leading an army in combat, and I am not even as good as a soldier on the battlefield. How can I shoulder such a huge responsibility?" He stood up, bowed and said, "Old Duke, please think again!"
Tantaihuang's eyes were deep and he said in a deep voice: "A man must have the ambition to help the world. You are timid before fighting. This is not the style of a well-dressed family. When your father went into battle for the first time, he had no fear and personally beheaded three heads. , bravely championed the three armies. Originally, it was you and Tantai Zhilin who should assist the emperor in completing such a great undertaking. With Tantai Zhilin gone, it is natural that you have to shoulder the responsibility. I have told you to believe in the emperor and be loyal to the emperor. I I also know that entrusting you with such a big thing is really embarrassing for you, but you can't refuse." Suddenly he coughed violently, Qining hurriedly stepped forward and patted Tantai Huang on the back.
"Don't be afraid, the emperor is still here." Tantai Huang showed a smile: "The emperor must be a promising king, and you will definitely leave your name in history by assisting the emperor."
Qi Ning thought to himself that I really don't care if he can leave his name in history, but with Tantaihuang's current state, how could he refuse? He also thought that the emperor was still in charge of this matter, and when the time came, everything would just follow the little emperor's will. If the little emperor was The emperor felt that he was really not suitable to be responsible for this project, and he would choose someone else when the time came.
The most important thing is that most of the government affairs are now controlled by the Sima family. Once a major event such as the attack on Eastern Qi is officially implemented, it will be impossible to hide it from Sima Lan. Will Sima Lan support Qining in presiding over such a military strategy? That's still unknown.
The Sima family has regarded the Jinyi Qi family as their rival, and once Qi Ning takes charge of military strategy, he will naturally have military power. This is certainly not what the Sima family wants to see.
Qi Ning sighed in his heart that Mr. Tantai had entrusted him with such a heavy responsibility, but he didn't seem to have thought about the internal struggle within the Chu Kingdom.
It's just that he naturally couldn't say it directly. At this time, Tantaihuang started coughing again. He was already weak. Telling Qining about such a secret matter tonight had already wasted a lot of energy. He looked like Much weaker than before, Qi Ning said warmly: "I will do my best to take care of the old country's affairs. You are not in good health, so you should rest early. I will go over to visit you another day."
Tantaihuang raised his hand and patted the back of Qining's hand gently, then raised his hand to indicate that Qining could leave. Qining knew that the old man really did not have the energy to continue talking, so he bowed deeply to the old man, backed away slowly, and walked out the door. go.
He put the letter entrusted to him by Tantai Huang into his arms and went out. It was getting light and dawn was approaching. The man in black who was guarding not far from the door came forward and led Qining out.
Qi Ning came out of the back door, but the carriage was waiting at the back door. It took Qi Ning back to the Hou Mansion, waited for Qi Ning to get out of the car, and then left.
Qi Feng and Li Tang had been waiting in front of the Hou Mansion. When they saw Qi Ning coming back, they hurriedly came to greet them. Seeing that Qi Ning was safe and sound, they breathed a sigh of relief. Qi Feng came closer and said, "Master Hou, the third lady has been waiting for you." , I haven’t slept until now.”
Qi Ning felt warm in his heart, thought of something, and asked: "By the way, I asked you two to find Miss Xian'er's whereabouts, do you have any news?"
"Master Marquis, we investigated the owner behind the boat and found out that the boat was bought with a huge sum of money half a year ago." Qi Feng said: "That girl Xian'er is not one of her subordinates. I have also met Miss Xian'er, but I have never spoken to her."
"Those people on Miss Zhuo's boat don't know the origin of Xian'er?"
"They did provide some clues." Qi Feng shook his head and said: "But we investigated according to the clues they provided, only to find that those clues have been broken, and those on the boat can't explain why. They are all Zhuoxian The servants hired by Zhuo Xian'er don't know Zhuo Xian'er's true origin at all, so...!"
"So what?"
Qi Feng and Li Tang looked at each other, and Li Tang cautiously said: "Master Hou, almost all the girls on the Qinhuai River can find their origins, but this girl Xian'er seems to have tampered with her origins in advance. If not, If something unexpected happens...!" He hesitated and then said: "That Zhuo Xian'er might be a spy!"
"spy?"
"The Qinhuai River is the place where the most information circulates." Li Tang said cautiously: "If you hang out on the Qinhuai River, you can find out many secrets. In addition, many officials in the DPRK also like to have fun on the Qinhuai River. If someone deliberately wants to get information from those officials, It's not difficult to get information from him...!" At this point, I thought that my Marquis had always been very close to Zhuo Xian'er, maybe Zhuo Xian'er just wanted to get information from this little Marquis. Let’s stop talking about these things, so it’s better not to say more.
Qi Ning frowned and looked a little unhappy. Qi Feng hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Lord Marquis, we will continue to inquire."
Qining just nodded and didn't say much. When he returned to the hall, Gu Qinghan was waiting anxiously. When he saw Qining entering the hall, he breathed a sigh of relief. Qining smiled at her and sat down on the chair. After talking to Tantaihuang tonight, and knowing that Tantaihuang's time is running out, thinking that the situation Jinyi Qi's family will face in the future will be even more difficult, it is inevitable that there will be a trace of worry between the brows. Gu Qinghan is such a shrewd woman, Naturally, he saw it and poured a cup of tea over. At this time, there was already dawn outside, and said softly: "It's almost dawn. You should go and rest early."
Qi Ning took the teacup, took a sip of tea to refresh himself, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered his voice and said: "Sanniang, I'm afraid the time of the old Marquis Tantai is numbered."
Although Tantaihuang had been promoted to Duke of Yiguo, Qining was still not used to changing his words for a while. He also knew that he was approached by Tantaihuang in the middle of the night. Gu Qinghan knew it. If he didn't say anything, it would seem It seemed like he was hiding something from her.
Qi Ning naturally had to keep it secret about Chu State's plan to destroy Qi, and could not reveal it to anyone.
Gu Qinghan's delicate body trembled, her expression suddenly dimmed, and she slowly sat down beside him.
She was not an ordinary young woman, and she knew what it would mean to the Jin Yi Qi family if Tantai Huang passed away at this time.
"How long...how much longer?"
"I can't say for sure." Qining sighed: "It seems that it only lasted two months, or even... shorter!"
Gu Qinghan sighed softly, was silent for a moment, and then said: "The burden on you will be heavier in the future."
Qi Ning smiled slightly and said, "Sanniang, don't worry. The old Marquis left me a great tip. It won't be a big deal." Although he didn't want to hide the news that Tantaihuang would die soon, he didn't want Gu Qinghan either. Worry about this.
"A great idea?"
"The secret must not be leaked." Qi Ning laughed, looked at Gu Qinghan's haggard face, and said softly: "You haven't slept all night, go and have a rest. Women who stay up late are most likely to grow old."
Gu Qinghan glared at Qining and said, "You mean I'm old?"
"Of course not." Qi Ning smiled and said: "Sanniang is young and beautiful. Even a gentleman like me, who is as calm as water, has my heart beating hard every time I see it. How can I say she is old? Even if she is a hundred years old, Sanniang is still young and beautiful. She will also be as beautiful as a flower.”
"Bah." Gu Qinghan spat lightly: "You just like to talk nonsense. I'm not joking with you. Yesterday, the third old man went to Ximen's house. The god Ximen is very easy to talk to. He has already decided on an auspicious day to get married, so he chose September. twenty."
"September 20th...!" Qi Ning pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "Let's do it according to this date." After thinking for a while, he said: "The day after tomorrow will be Pinglin Autumn Hunting. Then I will go with you to Pinglin, Hou. For the government, we rely on Sanniang." He asked, "Yes, Sanniang, how many days did it take for the emperor to go hunting in autumn?"
"I can't say for sure." Gu Qinghan said: "I remember that it usually takes five or six days to get back. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but it doesn't take too long."
Qi Ning nodded, stood up and stretched, and said: "I will go hunting with the emperor the day after tomorrow, so I need to be energetic, but if I don't catch the prey until then, it will be a big joke!"