"Brother Hu, the Five Lakes are doing a lot this year. His Royal Highness the King of Xiang attaches extraordinary importance to agriculture. I heard that he is vigorously dredging rivers and repairing water conservancy facilities. It seems that the Five Lakes will definitely have a bumper harvest of food in the spring." Su Qin finally opened up the topic. The purpose of renovating the rivers in the Five Lakes was not just for agriculture. Su Qin knew this. With the smooth flow of the waterways, the traffic situation mainly based on water transport would not only be greatly improved, but also beneficial to Food transportation, and more importantly, it also greatly improved Situ Biao's ability to mobilize his army. This was Situ Biao's main purpose.
"Yes, Brother Su, although Wuhu is a major grain-producing area, due to the severe drought from last year to this year, grain production has been severely reduced. Even Wuhu's local self-sufficiency is somewhat difficult. We don't have the ability to predict the unknown like you in Western Xinjiang. You can only make up for your shortcomings with hard work." The scholar surnamed Hu also responded with a smile. Before entering into in-depth topics, these government affairs matters can often play a role in easing the atmosphere and connecting the past and the future.
"The preparatory meeting will be held in the afternoon. Although the empire is now a lot more stable externally, there are many hidden worries internally, especially after last year's drought. The northern land is thousands of miles away, and the southern industry and commerce are withered. If this continues, the empire's situation will only get worse. It is getting more and more difficult, and foreign enemies have been spying on the empire. Once they have the opportunity, they will definitely attack the empire. I wonder if Brother Hu has any good suggestions for this meeting of kings?" Su Qin didn't want to go around too much. In the afternoon A preparatory meeting was about to be held, and representatives from Situ Tai, Situ Yuan, and the Imperial Central Committee would all appear one after another. Although Su Qin wanted to wait until the attitudes of all parties became clear before expressing his attitude, he still hoped to be able to communicate with him earlier as requested by the Lord. Situ Biao's group of forces have reached a tacit understanding. Even if they cannot meet at this time, Su Qin and Wang Liao plan to contact Situ Biao's representatives separately after the afternoon to find common ground between the two parties.
"Brother Su is serious. These matters should be discussed by your Highnesses. We subordinates just need to arrange some procedural chores. As for these issues, we should wait until the Highnesses meet before they can discuss them." Let's discuss it." The scholar surnamed Hu considered it for a moment before slowly deducing that it seems that now is not the time to clarify his attitude. The best way is to make peace with him and delay as long as possible. He must also show the other party that his side will never You will be an enemy of the other party, but you can't quarrel with that other party. To grasp the tension in the middle, you really need to think about it carefully, and now is not the time.
Cursing the old cunning man secretly, Su Qin also knew that the other party would not express his attitude so quickly. In advance, the Foreign Affairs Office sent people to Yueyang to contact Situ Biao according to Wu Feng's arrangement. However, the other party has been unwilling to answer this question head-on, which led Wu Feng to deploy the first army in Kansai. The other party's tone has changed some, probably because he saw that the possibility of Situ Tai ascending the throne has increased, and the same is true for Wuhu. Only when the situation is dangerous, we have the will to maintain the status quo, but this idea of maintaining the status quo is just a transitional thing, and a clear attitude needs to be expressed as soon as possible. Su Qin believed that the other party would make a wise decision, but it would still require some mental struggle.
"Brother Hu is right, but we have to prepare for many things in advance. The word "preparation" for the preparatory meeting requires us subordinates to share the worries of the masters and have a forward-looking attitude. I think Brother Hu has probably already had it in mind. Alright." Su Qin nodded with a smile and said calmly.
"Brother Su, I think we don't have to go around. Now I really can't give Brother Su a clear answer, but I think it will be clear to both of us soon, and you don't have to force me anymore." The scribe surnamed Hu faced Su Qin pressed forward step by step, begging for mercy helplessly.
Seeing the other party's behavior, Su Qin couldn't force him any more. He also knew that it would be useless to force the other party now. Without Situ Biao's clear approval, the other party would definitely not leak anything.
Looking at the embarrassed figures of the two people surnamed Hu disappearing on the mottled shore, Su Qin looked calm, while Wang Liao looked thoughtful.
"Brother Su, looking at this look, Situ Biao hasn't made up his mind yet? Or is he intentionally looking like this and asking for a price?"
"Huh, I'm afraid it's both. The strength we show has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that Situ Biao doesn't dare to join the Situ family's alliance camp casually, because once he joins, he will first face the weapons of Western Xinjiang. It may be him, but he is not willing to stand on the same front with us. Once the alliance between Situ Tai and Situ Yushuang is broken by us, I am afraid that his own fate can be imagined. I am afraid that what he hopes most is that we can cooperate with us. The other party keeps entangled and will not stop. This is the situation he is trying to promote, but it is a bit difficult." Su Qin looked at the water shadow and skylight in the distance, the sparkling ripples seemed to be the ripples on the jasper emerald pool, which was really beautiful.
"Hmph, maybe we should take some action, otherwise dragging things out like this is not an option." Wang Liao raised his eyebrows and said.
"No rush, I discussed it with His Highness on the way. His Highness's opinion is that it's okay to delay. We also need time to take a breather. It's not just the rest of the army, but also some of our arrangements in the interior of the empire are not yet in place. , still needs to be further improved. In terms of finance, too much has been consumed in the past year. The Ministry of Finance has been complaining about hardship for months. With the aid and assistance provided by foreign countries, I am afraid that the money earned from selling grain will only be enough. We can still sustain it, but we still need to digest a lot of places. Fortunately, we still occupy a lot of favorable locations and people. Otherwise, it would be really troublesome to have indigestion like the Machikhan people." Su Qin considered his words, " However, His Highness also said that it cannot be delayed for too long. After too long, we have taken a breath, and the enemy is also recovering. I originally thought that this year will be a disaster year, but it seems not like it. Only some areas are affected by the disaster this spring. Many places have already had bumper harvests, and who can tell clearly in spring?"
"Then His Highness's opinion is that we should take action before the harvest in the spring?" Wang Liao was not unclear about this kind of military issue, but he had always been unwilling to ask about things that he should not know, so he did not deliberately understand it.
"Well, that's what it means. His Highness is not sure whether he is hesitant or undecided. He has never made a clear statement on who to choose as the first target. Maybe he wants to wait until after this meeting to confirm."
Su Qin was also somewhat wavering on this issue. In his opinion, Situ Biao was undoubtedly the weak one in the middle and the most suitable for annihilation and annexation. However, Situ Biao's people in the Wuhu area were still good. Attacking Situ Biao would not only completely defeat Situ Biao. The alliance with Situ Tai and the others will also unite the Situ family and the great nobles of the empire with the landlords, aristocrats, and industrial and commercial forces in the five lakes. This seems to be somewhat inconsistent with His Highness's strategy of division and disintegration of winning over some and attacking others. . The second is Situ Tai. Although Situ Tai has strong military power, attacking him will not lose too many points in the hearts of the people, and he may even win some praise. However, the disadvantage is that Situ Tai not only has strong military power, but also becomes desperate in the end, like Doton and the Japanese may directly intervene with force, or even trigger a domino of external forces' intervention. This is probably what His Highness is worried about, and the Empire's Central Department and Situ Biao may also join in at a critical moment. This battle may be It will become protracted, which is also something Wufeng doesn't want to see.
Su Qin and Wang Liao still can't figure out what their master's inner thoughts are, so what exactly is Li Wufeng thinking
"Yue Xin, tell me, if we don't enter Beijing, will Situ Yushuang be so anxious that he can't sleep?" Standing at the gate of the camp and looking into the distance, only a blurry line of the towering city wall can be seen in the clear weather. Black lines, Wu Feng held the thick wooden stake of the camp gate with interest, and the rough bark was slightly prickly.
"I'm afraid it's not just her who is anxious in the end. Everyone wants to understand the other party's intentions or get some kind of commitment or form some kind of alliance through this meeting. Even we are no exception. This meeting really needs to be so silent. Abortion, do you dare to say that only she would hope for it?" Lin Yuexin pursed her lips and smiled, and said leisurely, "Things must have an outcome, what is supposed to come will always come, so why should we be afraid?"
"Fear, is there anything in the world that makes Li Wufeng afraid? I just don't want to let the entire Tanghe Empire turn into ruins in my hands. After all, it is the crystallization of the civilization of our Tang people for hundreds of years. I can do it at the smallest cost. If you want to get it, then why destroy it? Of course, there is an exception when there is no other way." Wu Feng waved his hand, and a stone suddenly flew out from his hand, shooting dozens of meters away, and laughed loudly.
"But what method do you have to break the current chess game?" Lin Yuexin was not overwhelmed by the other party's bold words and asked with a slight smile.
"Yue Xin, everyone is ambitious, but some people can control their ambitions very well, while some people cannot see through the things behind their ambitions. What do you think Situ Biao is thinking about now, forming an alliance with his brother? No matter what the final outcome is, he has no share in the throne, and it is even impossible for him to separatist power and become a prince. But let's not form an alliance. If we really want to destroy Situ Tai, I'm afraid it will be his turn next, and he won't I can't see it. What do you think we should do now? Stay neutral, encourage us to fight Situ Tai, and wait for an opportunity to join one side? Doesn't he have other ideas?" A mysterious smile appeared on Wu Feng's face.
"Oh? You mean he has other ideas?" Lin Yuexin raised her beautiful eyebrows.
"Yue Xin, you seem to have forgotten that there seems to be a very important guy between Situ Tai and Situ Biao." He clapped his hands with great joy.
"Cheng Dayou?!" Three words jumped out of Lin Yuexin's mouth.