Under my order, the entire Qingyang and Jinzhou armies were quickly mobilized and entered the intense pre-war preparation stage. However, the intelligence department brought worrying news. The Yinchuan Prefecture's troops continued to gather towards the border area with Guide, and had reached the size of two divisions, and an unknown number of Sisi Luo Emperor's troops had entered. It is somewhat unclear what the intentions of the area bordering Yinchuan Prefecture are.
Could it be that Sun Yuanliang really wanted to risk the disapproval of the world and join forces with the Sisluo people to invade Guide Mansion? If this is the case, things will be a bit difficult to handle. The armies of Sisiluo and Yinchuan are not as good as the rebels, and their combat effectiveness is not the same. If there is really a battle with my troops, it is difficult to predict who will win and who will lose. For the first time, I felt the complexity of my path forward. Although there were many difficulties in the past, I was able to take the initiative and always find the best solution in complex and ever-changing situations. However, the current situation makes me unable to judge correctly.
Once Sun Yuanliang's army enters Guide Mansion, I believe that in a short period of time, they will be able to defeat the rebel army and completely control Guide. If the situation really turns out to be like that, and with the support of the Sisluo people, I am afraid that I will not be able to do it for a while. There is nothing we can do. And if I go against all odds and go to Guide and Bonan according to the original plan, once Sun Yuanliang and the Sisluo people suddenly go south to raid Qingyang, I have no confidence that the newly formed Third Guard Division can defend Qingyang. This puts me in a dilemma. Sitting on the sidelines, the imperial court's orders cannot be implemented, which will inevitably greatly affect the reputation I have finally built up. Moreover, many ministers in the court have already criticized me. We have obtained the leverage to attack me; if we attack rashly, we may be attacked by enemies from the north. Once Qingyang is lost, all the forces surrounding us may overthrow them and take advantage of the situation. It can be said that I have worked hard. The foundation built through hard work may be destroyed in one fell swoop.
On the one hand, I ordered the intelligence department to continue to make every effort to collect intelligence. At the same time, I also called Ling Tianfang to the mansion to see what he thought of the current situation.
The atmosphere seemed a bit dull. It seemed that Ling Tianfang did not expect Sun Yuanliang to do this. He stood in front of the map and did not speak for a long time.
"Sir, what do you think of the purpose of Sun Yuanliang's troops gathering at the junction of the three prefectures?" After a long time, he asked.
I felt that his words had a profound meaning. After thinking about it, did he have doubts about Sun Yuanliang's purpose of sending troops? Then why did Sun Yuanliang deploy the troops of the two divisions in such a far-flung area with great fanfare
"Tian Fang, do you doubt Sun Yuanliang's intentions?" I asked cautiously.
He nodded silently, "What Sun Yuanliang did is indeed suspicious. During the early confrontation between us and the Luo Bei people, he only sent a division of troops there to show off, and now he suddenly sent an additional one. The army of the division has not entered the territory of Guide, so I suspect that his real purpose is not to march into Guide."
"What do you think?" I was also puzzled by Sun Yuanliang's actions.
"I judge that Sun Yuanliang's intention is to take this opportunity to observe our corresponding actions. If we are afraid that he will attack Qingyang and dare not send troops rashly, thereby delaying time, he can take this opportunity to march to Guide in an open and honest manner, and it can also be said to the outside world It was to relieve the people from the fire and water that we fell into a passive position in public opinion. If he really put down the Guide rebellion, he could completely create a fait accompli by then and let the local gentry elect one of his people to serve as the city guard. At that time, with our strength, we may not be able to deal with Sun Yuanliang in one fell swoop, so we have to accept the reality and swallow this bitter pill, not to mention that attacking Guide will also arouse the dissatisfaction of the local people."
"Then in your opinion, how should we deal with it?" I am very satisfied with Ling Tianfang's analysis, but I still can't think of a better way to deal with it. After all, Sun Yuanliang's two divisions are stationed in the border area against Qingyang. It is always a huge threat. If the threat of Qingyang is not eliminated, my army will not be able to boldly attack and return to Germany.
"The Imperial Post has sent an order to the whole country, and I believe Yinchuan and Taixuan have also received it. At present, your Excellency has assumed the post of Military and Political Envoy of the Northwest and is in charge of the military and political affairs of the entire county. Your Excellency can issue orders to Yinchuan Mansion, just say that the Sisluo people He is active in the border area and intends to plot evil. To ensure the safety of Yinchuan, order the Yinchuan Prefecture's security forces to return to Shifu City to strengthen defense. In addition, your Excellency can also order Taixuan Prefecture to withdraw a division to move westward in the name of the military governor of the northwest county. Put pressure on Sun Yuanliang." Ling Tianfang said this after careful consideration, "Sun Yuanliang has always been cautious, and he can be said to be a cunning man. He will not know what the people of Heathrow are planning, he will Carefully consider the pros and cons.”
Ling Tianfang is right. Although the Sisluo people have had a close relationship with Sun Yuanliang for many years, the two sides actually exploit each other and depend on each other. The Sisluo people always want to swallow up the Yinchuan Mansion, but under the management of Sun Yuanliang, the Yinchuan Mansion is like It is as big as an iron barrel and has an elite guard force of three divisions. The Hessi Luo people are also very scrupulous. If Sun Yuanliang is pushed into a hurry and he re-enters the arms of the empire, the Hesi Luo people will lose the opportunity to step into the heart of the empire. If you lose one foot, the gain will outweigh the loss. Without absolute certainty, the Sisi Luo people are not willing to take this risk.
And Sun Yuanliang was also well aware of his current situation. Although the empire recognized his dominance over Yinchuan Mansion on the surface, he was secretly trying to find ways to take back actual control. Facing the pressure from the empire, he had to borrow the help of the empire's old enemy Sisi Luo. To use human power to counter the empire, on the one hand, he also tried his best to make good friends with the empire on the surface to prevent the empire from finding an excuse to attack. At the same time, he also secretly expressed to the empire's senior officials that once the empire made other unfavorable moves against Yinchuan, he would consider turning to Yinchuan in an all-round way. The people of Hesthro, even if they were traitors who betrayed their country for glory, forced the empire not to press too hard. He also cleverly used the balancing power between the Empire and the Heathrow people, so that his power not only did not collapse between the two forces for more than ten years, but also remained as stable as a mountain.
"But His Highness the Sixth Prince has not arrived yet, and the seal of my military and political envoy of Northwest County is still with him." After untying this knot, I suddenly felt relaxed, and the remaining minor issues could be easily solved. Much more.
"How can someone who wants to achieve great things just stick to trivial details and just order the craftsmen on the street to make one? No one has seen what this thing really looks like now." Ling Tianfang replied with a smile.
After receiving the urgent secret letter from Qingyang's messenger, Sun Yuanliang, the city guard of Yinchuan Prefecture, who carefully read the letter, had walked back and forth in the meeting hall of the city guard's house for more than ten times, with a slightly hunched figure in the autumn day. Under the dim afterglow, it looks a little older. The officials sitting on both sides of the hall knew that the Lord Castle Guard had encountered a difficult matter, so they all sat silently aside, fearing that they would interrupt the Lord Castle Guard's train of thought.
"Brother, you're walking around like this without saying a word. What's the trouble? Tell me and let everyone help you refer to it." Some people couldn't help it anymore and finally broke the silence.
Sun Yuanliang knew without even thinking that the person speaking was his fourth brother Sun Yuanhui, and only he could interrupt his thinking without restraint.
He stopped and thought silently. This kid Li Wufeng actually picked up a chicken feather as a command arrow, and the order was issued just as the messenger appointed over there arrived. Do you follow his orders or not? This is really a headache. If he ignores it, then the painstaking efforts he has spent over the past ten years to keep a low profile and avoid open conflicts with the empire will be in vain. Disobeying orders from superiors will be slapped on him. Although he is not afraid now, from now on the empire will find an excuse and can do it at any time. He used this excuse to start a war, especially the newly appointed warmonger Li Wufeng. However, under the threat of Li Wufeng's army, it is still unknown how sure he is of quickly winning Guide. But I feel unwilling to give up such a good opportunity in vain.
Seeing that his eldest brother ignored him, Sun Yuanhui was not angry. He just had such a short temper, "Brother, please say something!"
Sun Yuanliang slowly turned around and glanced at him. Seeing that his brother was in a bad mood, Sun Yuanhui wisely stopped talking.
"Everyone, I just received a letter from Qingyang. The newly appointed Military and Political Envoy of Northwest County, Mr. Li Wufeng, sent an order saying that there has been something unusual in the Hexiluo people in the north of our country. In order to ensure the safety of Yinchuan, he requested the second and third security divisions of our government. The regiment was withdrawn from the southeast to garrison in Yinchuan Fucheng to prevent unexpected events. What do you think of this matter?" Sun Yuanliang looked as if he was still in an ancient well, and lightly introduced the content of the letter.
There was an immediate buzz in the hall, and Sun Yuanhui was the first to jump up, "What? You want us to withdraw our troops and go back to the city? Are there any changes in the Sisluo people again? It's none of his business if the Sisluo people are doing something strange? He is obviously We must not be fooled by the threat our troops pose to him.”
Many people in the hall also agreed with Sun Yuanhui's opinion, but many others remained silent, obviously not agreeing with Sun Yuanhui's opinion.
Sun Yuanliang's eyes passed over the people in the hall again, and finally stopped on a middle-aged man in linen clothes. "Tinggui, what do you think?"
The middle-aged man in linen is his chief think tank Zhou Tinggui, a middle-aged man who looks inconspicuous. Since Sun Yuanliang launched the coup eighteen years ago, he has been following Sun Yuanliang and advising him. His contribution to Yinchuan Mansion's ability to stand firm between the two giants of the Sisluo Empire and the Tanghe Empire is indelible.
"Sir, what do you think of the mobilization of our northern Sisi Luo army?" Zhou Tinggui did not directly answer Sun Yuanliang's question, but asked him a question instead.
Sun Yuanliang was startled, then began to think. After a while, he raised his head. He seemed to be talking to himself or asking everyone in the hall, "We learned that two more divisions from Nuremberg will go south in three days." What happened before has already reached the border area with Taixuan Mansion and our Yinchuan Mansion. In addition, the Sisluo army originally stationed in the border area already has nearly three and a half divisions of troops. Do they have other purposes?"
"I suspect they are just drunkards. The elite troops of three and a half divisions are enough to sweep through Guide Mansion, but they are still hesitant and say nothing about cooperating with us. If they want to take Guide Mansion alone , our Yinchuan Mansion and Taixuan Mansion are sandwiched between the Heathrow Empire and the Guide Mansion. It is like an enclave that cannot be maintained for a long time. Although Kidman is annoying, he is by no means mediocre. He will never consider it. Less than this. In this case, his purpose of stationing such a large number of troops in the border area is somewhat suspicious. I think he will not use such a huge force to help us deter Li Wufeng. Such a large-scale troop mobilization is definitely It needs to be approved by the central government of their empire, so I have reason to suspect that they want to use our troops to return to Germany to attack Yinchuan!" The last sentence was like a huge thunder that struck the hearts of everyone present.
"But the Heathrow Empire has always been on good terms with us, and General Kidman has always had a close relationship with you. Master Zhou, are you a little unfounded?" asked a fat-bellied guy. He was Yu Deli, the financial officer of Yinchuan Prefecture.
"Huh, in the face of national interests, it is too naive to talk about benevolence, morality and personal feelings, Mr. Yu." Zhou Tinggui sarcastically mocked Yu Deli. In his opinion, he actually proposed such a ridiculous reason. It's really I don’t know what’s in his head. Maybe this guy’s head is thinking about how to make money all day long and can’t accommodate anything else.
Sun Yuanliang fell into deep thought again. After a long time, he slowly rubbed his forehead and said, "I can't believe that Li Wufeng's information is so fast and accurate. It should not be underestimated. Tinggui, what do you think?"
"Just sell a favor to Li Wufeng, withdraw the two divisions, and send a letter to Kidman at the same time, saying that we have changed our plans and are willing to cooperate with them. Whether we march into Taixuan or Guide, we are willing to fully cooperate, but we only cooperate. ! The conditions are not mature this time. If it is enforced, trouble will occur. Just wait for the opportunity." He sighed softly, how many more opportunities are there? Li Wufeng, the powerful neighbor to the south, is getting more and more powerful and his ambitions are becoming more and more exposed. I am afraid that the situation will become more and more difficult in the future.