Lu Zhishan also nodded: "That's right. How many soldiers does Zhao Jingting have under his command now?"
"General, there are only 50,000 Cullen's army on the surface, but there are already 130,000 in secret. Those soldiers are all natives of the northwest. They are honest, simple and physically strong. They are the best candidates for recruitment, and we If you treat the soldiers well, work during the busy farming season, train during the slack farming season, and receive military pay, then the soldiers will be grateful and loyal to the general." Du Heng added, "It's just that it's not convenient for General Zhao to show up often, most of the time. Xie Lun is training troops, and our northwest base is now very large."
Lu Zhishan was very satisfied: "Zhao Jingting is a good soldier in training, and now he has brought Xie Lun out again. He never disappoints."
Du Heng smiled and said: "Given time, this little General Xie will surely dazzle us."
~~~~~~~~~~~
The fourteenth day of the first lunar month in the twenty-third year of Jiasheng
Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Uncle Cheng Yuan braved the heavy snow to enter the palace to ask for an audience, but was blocked by Zhao Ruhai from the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Uncle, Long Live Master and Prince Baojun are discussing government affairs in the imperial study. I'm afraid I won't have time to see you today, so please come back." Zhao Ruhai persuaded Uncle Cheng Yuan to go back first.
Uncle Cheng Yuan could not suppress his grief and anger. He shook his head and said, "Since Long Live Lord is not free now, I can just wait outside."
"Uncle, why are you doing this?" Zhao Ruhai sighed, shook his head, and ordered a young eunuch to hold an umbrella for Uncle Cheng Yuan to protect him from the snow, and then he turned back to the main hall.
Zhao Ruhai carefully opened the curtain and went in. The atmosphere in the imperial study was a little solemn. Lu Mingwei sat upright and stared at the memorial on the table. Lu Zhihe, the king of Baojun, was waiting on the side carefully, not even daring to breathe.
"Long live my lord, Uncle Cheng Yuan has arrived and is waiting outside the palace. Do you think..." Zhao Ruhai said with some embarrassment.
"No! No! Let him go back!" Lu Mingwei frowned and said impatiently. He paused and then softened his tone, "It's freezing cold today, and Uncle Cheng Yuan is already old. It's hard to send someone to help him." Send it back to your house.”
"Yes, I obey." Zhao Ruhai agreed with some hesitation, then bowed and retreated.
Uncle Cheng Yuan's face was a little sallow, maybe because he was frozen, and his lips were pale. Zhao Ruhai couldn't bear it, so he went over to persuade him: "Uncle, I really don't have time to see you today, just forget it." Even if we stand until dark, we won’t be able to see the Long Live Lord. You’d better go back.”
Cheng Yuanbo trembled and said: "Then... that little girl...'s bones..."
Before he finished his sentence, Uncle Cheng Yuan was already bursting into tears and could no longer speak.
Zhao Ruhai sighed and whispered: "Uncle, you have been cautious all your life. It is a wrong idea to say goodbye. It is pitiful that Princess Heshuo died in a foreign country, but uncle, you are more than just a princess, aren't you? You can't just do it for the princess. Think about one person, right? After all, the deceased has passed away, and uncle should think about the living people more. "
Uncle Cheng Yuan's face froze, and his eyes became even more sad. After a while, he wiped away his tears and said in a hoarse voice: "Thank you, father-in-law, for your advice."
"My uncle's words are serious," Zhao Ruhai said hurriedly, taking the handkerchief and handing it to Uncle Cheng Yuan to wipe his tears, while calling his apprentice Xiao Anzi in the corridor, "Tell a few people to lift up Ruanjiao and send the uncle back to his house alive." inside."
"Yes, I obey."