Hua Rong was startled, but still looked cheerful: "Okay, I only bought some odds and ends and spent 100 guan. I will give you the remaining 600 guan."
"No, you keep it and I'll think of something else."
"What can you think of? How can I spend so much money on my own? I have rice and food at home, and I don't need to buy anything."
"No, you have to leave a hundred pieces of pocket money."
"It's really not necessary. I have nothing to spend money on." When she saw her husband insisting, she said, "Let's do it this way. It's enough for me to keep fifty guan. Anyway, it won't take half a month, and you still have your salary."
Yue Pengju let out a long sigh: "I'm sorry for Sister Seventeen."
She casually went to serve the tea, took advantage of the situation and pushed his hand away, and said with a smile: "Are you thirsty? Let's drink a cup of herbal tea. The weather is hot. Is there any movement from Yang Mo's army? How long will it take to win?"
Yue Pengju wiped the sweat from his forehead, took the herbal tea, took a sip, and said, "I'm waiting for the best opportunity. Maybe, after the Qiao Niang matter is solved, our chance will come."
She picked up the cattail leaf fan next to her and fanned him, saying, "Haha, it won't be long."
"Sister Seventeen, you are tired too. Take a rest early."
"Well. If your eye disease is not cured, please rest early and I will read for a while."
"Okay. Then I'll go to bed first."
That night, Hua Rong had been sitting quietly in the study. At midnight, Yue Pengju opened his eyes and found that she had not come back either.
Zhang Jun was supervising the division in the military camp. At that time, the news of the victory over Yang Mo on land and water really made him excited for a while. He was busy awarding awards to the meritorious soldiers and making a fuss. But then, Yue Pengju made no move or initiated any action. No attack, no military action.
He asked Yue Pengju from time to time, but Yue Pengju did not have a clear timetable for the general attack. He was born as a Jinshi, and now as a minister of the imperial court, he was respected in literature and military. Naturally, he was not willing to ask Yue Pengju every day, but he was happy to summon Yue Pengju's subordinates. Li Ruoxu, Xue Bi, Sun Ge and other scribes became his guests, but they could not give him more military information.
One day, Zhang Jun and the main officials on Jinghu South Road drank sour plum soup to relieve the heat and discussed the military situation. Two soldiers stood next to him and fanned him. He was still sweating profusely and said: "The weather is too bad. The heat is really unbearable. I have been here to supervise the army for more than a month, but I can't see the key to defeating the enemy. It's like being in a fog."
At that time, many generals wanted to blackmail the court into allocating more money for food and troops. Whenever the military situation was urgent, they deliberately held back their troops. Xu Yi, the prefect of the state, suspected that Yue Pengju was also a stubborn enemy. My husband made it clear."
While they were talking, an official came in to report that a gold-lettered plaque had been delivered to him. It turned out to be an imperial edict from Emperor Zhao Deji, ordering Zhang Jun to return to Lin'an to discuss autumn defense matters. The Jin army was accustomed to attacking the Song Dynasty in the autumn season, when the horses were high and the horses were fat. Habitually known as "Autumn Siege" for many years, Zhao Deji was frightened by Jin Wushu's army. Seeing that the summer was half over, he was eager to prepare for the Jin army's attack. He thought that if Yang Mo's army could not be put down for a while, he would wait until Let’s talk about it next year.
Zhang Jun showed the edict to Xue Bi and others, and Xue Bi said worriedly: "Now there is a severe drought, soldiers, and fires around Jinghu Lake. I am afraid that there will be no money and food left after autumn. This time, Xianggong Zhang and Xianggong Yue personally conquered Hunan. It is not advisable to return without success. After the severe drought, it will be difficult for the people on this road. If we come back next year, I am afraid that we will not be able to provide money and food. It is better for Xianggong Zhang to summon Xianggong Yue to come and see what arrangements he has made."
Zhang Jun heard this politely and immediately summoned Yue Pengju to the governor's office to discuss the military situation.
Yue Pengju brought his subordinate generals Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Yu Peng and others to the Governor's Mansion. Zhang Jun greeted everyone and sat down, showed Zhao Deji's hand, and said straight to the point: "The Holy Master taught me to return to the palace as soon as possible." , to arrange autumn defense matters. I wonder if Yue Taiwei has a chance of winning in a decisive battle with the water bandits? "
Yue Pengju took out a large map from his sleeve and spread it on the desk in front of him. He said, "This is what I have discussed with the generals. I respectfully ask Mr. Zhang to read it. This is the final result."
Zhang Jun took a look and saw that many mountains and rivers were outlined with ink lines on the map, including Qingcao Lake, and the locations of the thirty-three remaining strongholds of Yang Mo's army were also marked. He couldn't see what this meant. , but he didn't want to show that he didn't understand, lest he be looked down upon by these generals, so he said: "I think although Yang Mo was defeated, he has a deep nest and may not have an opportunity to take advantage of it. It's better for Lieutenant Yue to temporarily withdraw his troops and arrange for Dajiang The defenses upstream will be prepared for a large-scale attack in the next autumn and winter. In this case, I must return to the court and obey the order."
Yue Pengju said: "There is no need for the next year. I would like to ask Xianggong Zhang to leave more time for his subordinates. Yue Pengju will defeat the water invaders within eight days and will not delay Xianggong Zhang's return to the court."
Zhang Jun was shocked when he heard this and asked, "Surely Lieutenant Yue didn't make a big promise?"
Li Ruoxu couldn't help but said: "Captain Yue has already discussed this with his family. Mr. Zhang needs to know that Commander Yue has never been a person who talks shamelessly."
Yue Pengju explained: "If you use water bandits to attack water bandits, you will definitely succeed."
He briefly explained his plan, but Zhang Jun was dubious and said, "In that case, I will stay in Tanzhou for half a month to watch Lieutenant Yue and other soldiers defeat the enemy."
Yue Pengju said calmly: "Except for the day of coming and going, within eight days, the lower official must offer Yang Mo, Zhong Ziyi to the governor's office. During this period, the lower official should also invite all the adults to participate in a small banquet."
"Oh? What kind of banquet?"
"A simple feast."
Zhang Jun is still dubious, but he can only say: "I hope Lieutenant Yue will succeed immediately and win the battle."
Although Hua Rong no longer participates in her husband's military deployment, she is by no means a blind woman. She has always paid attention to it. She learned that although her husband seems careless these days, in fact, he has worked hard and carefully deployed. Now, Everything is ready, all we need is the east wind.
She originally wanted to go shopping, but it was hard for a clever woman to make a living without rice, and she couldn't buy anything. She just wandered out every day. When her husband summoned Zhang Jun, she was still a little worried, so she went home early. As soon as she got home, she saw her husband and Li Qiaoniang. They were talking and laughing. Li Qiaoniang's voice was soft and soft, while her husband was smiling happily. She didn't know what was going on in her mind. These days, looking left and right, she always felt that her husband was looking at Li Qiaoniang affectionately, as if two people were really in love with each other. Men and women in love.
She stood for a while and sighed in her heart. She was a few years older than Peng Ju, and she was a faded flower. Maybe she really wasn't worthy of Peng Ju.
While she was in a trance, she heard Yue Pengju's cry: "Sister Seventeen, come back and pull me."
She gathered herself up and walked in, but Li Qiaoniang bowed shyly and took the opportunity to leave.
These days, Yue Pengju was concerned about the family's money and food for some reason. He always asked her if it was enough and told her not to be frugal. He said that she would just spend it all because her salary was coming anyway. Because she only had 50 guan of money, and she was afraid of Pengju. Ju found that the money had been spent, and it was difficult to raise money. Therefore, she could only pawn a few good clothes and jewelry she owned, but it was still a drop in the bucket. She worried about money every day, and gradually, I can't even feel the sadness anymore, I am so numb with anxiety.
Yue Pengju looked at her clothes. Before he could speak, he heard a loud voice at the door: "Yue Pengju..."
Her expression changed, and she almost gritted her teeth: "King Qin, why are you here?"
Yue Pengju disagreed: "I invited him here."
Hua Rong watched with helpless eyes as King Qin came in and sat down opposite her. King Qin looked at her and met her eyes, a little surprised. A few days ago, he saw her wearing such beautiful light green silk. Shirts, today, are ordinary home clothes, and they are the kind of common clothes worn by ordinary people.
Although it was just a change in clothing, he felt vaguely uneasy. These days, he stayed in and around Tanzhou City partly because he admired Yang Mo's big ship, just like a drunkard who sees fine wine and wants to get the real key technology of shipbuilding. So that he could go back and expand his power. Another reason was that he was worried about Hua Rong's change. But he followed Hua Rong's request and did not dare to get too close to her, and he didn't know what happened.
Hua Rong saw that he kept looking at her, his face as gloomy as a summer cloud.
King Qin had no choice but to look away, but Yue Pengju chatted and laughed with him: "I want to use a weapon in this battle with Yang Mo. King Qin, do you have any experience?"
"Haha, I'm the best at this..."
The two of them talked like this for a while. King Qin didn't stay long because of Hua Rong's expression, and stood up to leave. Just as he was about to leave, Yue Peng said with a smile: "King Qin, I invite you to come to the banquet tomorrow."
"Oh? What kind of banquet?"
"Ordinary family dinner."
King Qin looked at Hua Rong, and his face was about to burst into tears. But at this moment, things changed, and he actually smiled instantly: "King Qin, just come."
King Qin had not seen her smiling face like this for a long time. He felt that something was wrong with the boss, so he nodded and agreed.
As soon as King Qin left, Yue Pengju stood up, but seeing his wife's face gloomy, he was surprised and said, "Sister Seventeen, what's wrong with you?"
Hua Rong could no longer suppress the humiliation in her heart and almost shouted: "Why did you invite King Qin? Why? You know that he is my enemy... "
Yue Pengju said patiently: "King Qin is not your enemy!"
Not the enemy! However, how could a person like King Qin be embarrassed to witness his "beloved man" whom he chose to rely on for life, happily marry another woman, take a concubine and have children
When Hua Rong saw the disapproving smile on her husband's face, she felt a chill coming up from the soles of her feet, as if he was not a lover, but a hypocritical and heartless devil. For a while, she wanted to suppress the humiliation in her heart, but she couldn't suppress it no matter what. If you don't want to go down, say loudly: "No, I firmly do not agree to invite him!"
"Why not? He is also our friend. Sister Seventeen, you don't have any tolerance at all?"
Is he warning himself of jealousy
"Sister Seventeen, you need to know that this is a girl sent by the Emperor and the Queen Mother. I can't refuse, so naturally I have to actively prepare for it..."
She could refuse before, but now she couldn't. She still stubbornly said: "No."
Yue Pengju said in a deep voice: "Sister Qi, I relied on you in everything before. This time, you have to rely on me."
She also raised her voice: "I won't agree."
"I make the decision! It doesn't matter if you don't agree. What's more, you yourself just agreed to King Qin."
Hua Rong was furious and pointed at his nose: "Get out, get out today!"
Yue Pengju smiled half-heartedly: "Sister Seventeen, this is the official's tent!"
She was startled and then realized that it was her who should leave, not Yue Pengju. This was his territory!
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she swallowed them alive and said slowly: "Okay, I'm leaving."