Wu Feng, who was trapped by lust all night, couldn't sleep well. The profound meaning of the word "sleepless" has never been so apt. Wu Feng, who was lying on his bed and couldn't sleep, wanted to get up and rush out several times. Entering the room of Qin Shuangying and Gu Yunxia who were not far from the next door, he decided to deal with the two of them together. However, after thinking about it, he felt that this would damage his glorious image and was not worth the loss, so he had to swallow his anger and drink several bowls of cold tea to suppress the burning desire. , covered with a quilt and endured this difficult night.
Early the next morning, Wu Feng got up to exercise and made some necessary preparations for his visit to the city.
Some expected incidents occurred while entering the city. Several "well-informed" news media learned that the northwest military and political envoy of the empire was about to come to Beijing to meet with the emperor to report on his duties after completing the military mission in Northern Luzon. , immediately sent a super strong lineup to wait in front of the city gate early in the morning, and finally blocked Wu Feng and his party inside the west gate. No matter what Wu Feng said, many reporters still asked Wu Feng to go to Beijing to report on his work after being interviewed. Even though Wu Feng claimed that His Majesty the Emperor was waiting to be summoned as a cover, he still could not make these reporters who were used to seeing big waves give up. In the end, Wu Feng I had to agree to be interviewed by reporters first, but each media outlet was limited to answering three questions, and the total time was limited to one hour.
Fortunately, Wu Feng had experience this time. He always used the excuse that he had no comment on personal issues, which greatly dampened the enthusiasm of reporters. However, given that Wu Feng was "for the sake of national justice, imperial dignity and humanity" "Resolutely marching into Luzon for the sake of righteousness" ("Imperial News" said) is a matter of no small importance, and the detailed process of this matter in the empire is not very clear, so most reporters still focus on this issue.
Wu Feng explained everything one by one, and took the trouble to tell how the local people supported the empire, how the ethnic minorities suffered discrimination and ethnic cleansing, how his own army fought bloody battles to rescue the people from the fire, and the newly established The structure of the local self-government, the vassal relationship with the central government of the empire, etc., all made the reporters excited and intoxicated, which swept away the depression after the imperial army's defeat in the conflict with the Machkhans on the southern front. and holding your breath. There are even many reporters who are experienced in this field and are already secretly thinking about how to use the fastest speed, the most provocative and unconventional topics, and the most detailed and exaggerated content to attract the attention of the imperial subjects who have long been filled with resentment.
An hour passed quickly. Although the reporters were dissatisfied with Wu Feng's reception being so short, they still thought that Wu Feng could spare such precious time to receive the Emperor when he had not yet met with His Majesty the Emperor. Journalists, it is evident that they attach great importance to the news media, and they are still able to accept it.
After agreeing on follow-up interviews, Wu Feng pretended to be reluctant to leave and left the reporters. Reporters from various media also left and returned to their respective offices in an effort to get this top-notch news to the newspapers as quickly as possible. Some have even begun to prepare to accumulate materials for the next solo interview with Wu Feng. They are deliberately writing high-level news and working hard to compete for the "Golden Trumpet Award", the highest award held annually by the Imperial Press and Publication Administration.
Emperor Situ Mingyue has been a little annoyed recently. Although he used the excuse of the defeat on the southern front to purge the factions in the southern military region that were leaning towards his third son Situ Jun, this was not his original intention. No one wanted to see the defeat of his country's army. But since this phenomenon has occurred, someone must be responsible. It happened that Chen Xiangnan and his men had deviated from the track they had arranged, so they had to bear this responsibility.
But this is not what bothers him the most. This person in the northwest is the one who makes him feel most conflicted. Powerful in the northwest, a national hero, the territory is peaceful and the people live and work in peace and contentment, ambitious, ulterior motives, bold, arrogant and domineering. These series of statements seem to be difficult to focus on this one person, which makes him, the emperor of the empire, seem a little embarrassed. The ministers gathered together to attack him, but his two sons defended him vigorously, and even came to fan his own flames. This really put him in a difficult position.
Calculating the time, this guy should arrive in the next two days. Let's wait and see how he explains himself after he arrives. Situ Mingyue leaned on the armrest of the royal chair, absentmindedly listening to His Highness's new Vice Minister of Imperial Intelligence, Zhou Baozhong, report on the secret peace talks between the Milanese and the Machikhans, while thinking about it.
"Due to successive defeats on the battlefield, as early as half a month ago, calls in Milan for an end to the war and negotiations with the Machi Khans began to rise. In their court, the peace faction headed by Deputy Prime Minister Nelson repeatedly appealed to King Louis X One suggestion called for negotiations with the Machi Khans, but it was not until ten days ago that the Second Corps of the Kingdom of Milan was severely damaged by the eastern cluster of Machi Khan troops that Louis XI agreed to Nelson's suggestion, and Nelson was responsible for negotiating with the Machi Khans. secret negotiations."
The person who reported the situation was a tall and thin middle-aged man. He was Zhou Baozhong, the new deputy minister of the Imperial Intelligence Service. He was originally the director of the National Security Agency under the Imperial Home Affairs Administration.
Due to the successive failures of the empire's intelligence system, which was responsible for the defeat of the empire's southern front, Situ Mingyue dismissed Hopkins from his position as the former deputy minister of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, and submitted it to the Supreme Court of the Empire for trial. He appointed Zhou Baozhong to replace him, and Tie Neng, the minister of the Imperial Intelligence Service, was also fined for one year and was not allowed to discuss politics in the palace for one month. Ma Zhengfeng, the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau of the General Administration of Military Affairs, who had the greatest responsibility, was dismissed from all his posts, deprived of his title and noble status, and was directly thrown into a prison cell to await the verdict of the court. His entire family, wife, children, and children were also assigned as slaves and directly Send slaves to the market for auction in the nature of official slaves.
Seeing that His Majesty the Emperor was a little distracted sitting on the imperial chair, Zhou Baozhong cleared his throat and continued to report: "The negotiations between Nelson and the Maci Khan are progressing very quickly. It seems that the Maci Khan does not want to get too involved in the war on the Eastern Front. According to reliable reports, According to intelligence, the two sides have reached an agreement, and the specific content is still unclear, but several major clauses such as the withdrawal of the Machi Khans from Milan, the withdrawal of the armies of both sides from the border areas, and the restoration of trade and diplomatic relations between the two sides should be its main contents."
Situ Mingyue finally returned her attention to the front: "So, the Machihan people can concentrate on dealing with us?"
"That should be the case. It is said that the Milan people are also very dissatisfied with us. They think that we did not invest enough troops and put too much pressure on their front, which led to their failure." Zhou Baozhong answered cautiously.
Situ Mingyue didn't speak for a long time, just thinking silently. Seeing that His Majesty the Emperor was deep in thought, Zhou Baozhong didn't dare to say anything more, and just waited quietly.
"Very good, I understand. Please step back first. It's going to be an early morning meeting. I need to get ready." He waved his hand gently and signaled Zhou Baozhong to leave. Situ Mingyue leaned on the back of the chair tiredly.
Zhou Baozhong bowed silently and resigned.
As the morning bell rang, the ministers who had been waiting outside the Qinzheng Hall filed into the hall to prepare for a new day of court proceedings. Emperor Situ Mingyue, who was dressed in formal attire, was already sitting on the Kowloon Throne facing south and facing north. His face was no longer tired and he looked energetic.
"My dear friends, please report the report as soon as possible." After glancing at His Highness and his ministers, Situ Mingyue seemed to be in a better mood.
"Your Majesty, I have your Majesty, Zhou Baozhong." Following Situ Mingyue's instructions, Deputy Intelligence Minister Zhou Baozhong was the first to go out.
"speak."
Zhou Baozhong briefly repeated the contents of the morning report. This information immediately aroused discussions among the ministers in the palace.
"My dear friends, what do you think of this matter? Just say it." Situ Mingyue's face darkened and she glanced at the ministers who were whispering among each other.
The hall suddenly became quiet, and no one spoke for a while.
Finally, Minister of Military Affairs He Zhiqiu's slightly hunched figure appeared in the middle of the hall, "Your Majesty, I have something to report." Since the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, Hawkins, and his subordinates were all thrown into the sky prison by His Majesty the Emperor, let him He Zhiqiu, who had been in officialdom for decades, also felt deeply about the unpredictable power of God. He did not want to speak, but it was related to the fate of the frontline troops. He knew that even if he did not speak, the Emperor would still point his finger at him in the end, so he had to take the initiative to speak out. List.
"He Aiqing, tell me your opinion." A rare smile appeared on Situ Mingyue's gloomy face.
"If the Milan people cease war with the Machi Khans, it will have a huge impact on our southern front. At present, the Mahads and Andakos have actually compromised with the Machi Khans, and their armies have not moved at all. In addition, With the truce of the Milan people, there is no pressure on the eastern front of the Machikhans. Their elite Yulin Corps will definitely move westward, which will pose a huge threat to our troops on the southern front. The Nanyang Alliance rejected our offer It requires that we still maintain normal economic and trade relations with the Machi Khans, and several countries in the east have also resumed economic exchanges with the Machi Khans. Our economic sanctions are actually of no effect."
"Keep talking." Situ Mingyue said expressionlessly.
"The Machi Khans have stabilized the situation in the occupied area after occupying the Yue Jing Kingdom, and there has been no riot or uprising as we imagined. Now there is intelligence that the Machi Khan occupying army stationed in the Yue Jing Kingdom has a The division is moving east, probably preparing to join their own domestic battlefield. The ethnic minority riots in Sanjiang County have not yet subsided, but I suspect that even if they subside, Lin Guoxiong will not accept the empire's order to cooperate with the operations of the Southern Military Region. Maybe I will find another excuse to deal with it." He Zhiqiu's voice became deeper and deeper.
"What do you think?" Situ Mingyue's tone contained no emotion.
"I think it should be carefully considered. The morale of the troops on the southern front is currently not high, and the troops on the new front line are not familiar with the situation and are relatively tired. It is not suitable to conduct a large-scale battle." He Zhiqiu mustered up the courage to express his opinion and carried a message on his back. But he was sweating profusely.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Situ Mingyue did not express his opinion, but his sinister eyes lingered on the faces of other ministers.
"Dear ladies, do you have any other opinions?" Situ Mingyue's emotionless voice echoed in the hall.
"I agree with Master He. Now our army on the southern front does not have any advantage compared to the Machi Khans. The Machi Khans now have no worries and can concentrate on dealing with our offensive. I am afraid that we will be very difficult in the short term. It is difficult to win. The Spring Festival is approaching, and after the Spring Festival is the busy season of spring plowing. If the war continues, I am worried that it will affect the agricultural harvest in the Wuhu region this year." The person listed was Qin Yuedong, the Imperial Minister of Agriculture. A senior senator, he has served as Minister of Agriculture for twelve years. He is also known for his integrity in the court and has high prestige.
The Five Lakes region is the most important granary of the empire. There has always been a saying that "the five lakes are ripe and the world is full." The six prefectures in the Five Lakes region are all fertile and fertile fields. After hundreds of years of reclamation, its grain output accounts for 10% of the entire empire. The grain output is about half. The grain it produces not only supplies the empire, but is also exported in large quantities, earning a large amount of gold coins for the empire. It has an irreplaceable position in the empire.
Qin Yuedong's words immediately aroused the reaction of many ministers. In the past two years, the entire empire suffered from drought and grain revenue dropped sharply, forcing the empire to use its grain reserves. It has not yet been replenished. Last year, it suffered floods and the grain harvest was not good. As soon as the words came out, even Situ Mingyue couldn't help but frown slightly.