"How about not watching?" Qiu Jinglan asked calmly, "Should I ask Commander Wang not to give them a reward? Or should I give them a more generous one? Let's..." There was a silence at this point, "We have the manpower It’s almost broken, why bother bringing your belongings? If you want a reward, what can you get at hand now?”
Ruan Yi said bitterly: "It was all intentional by the Jiang family! If they had arrived earlier at Xiaoshashan, how could so many of our people have died?! Along the way, they also... "
"The Jiang family doesn't run a charity. Although they said they had negotiated the remuneration in advance, how could they not do anything about such a big thing?" Qiu Jinglan was not very angry and said very indifferently, "We have many people. It’s limited, the power is inferior, and it can’t be calculated. How is it possible not to suffer a loss?”
"But now Commander Wang clearly wants to win over those dozen generals. In that case, they won't need the young master!" Ruan Yi reminded in a deep voice, "Will they still support the young master in the court as they promised before? ?! Even though you still have Xue Xiang to rely on, if Queen Mother Gu falls, will Xue Xiang’s position be as important as before?”
Qiu Jinglan narrowed her eyes and glanced at her confidants who had grown up together since childhood: "Do you really think that by giving those people some benefits, Wang can win over all the dozen generals behind them?"
Ruan Yi said: "There must be some who are truly loyal to the old general and are loyal to you, but the Jiang family is really powerful..."
"Have you forgotten that I wasn't the one guaranteeing the Jiang family, and those envoys didn't say anything?" Qiu Jinglan had already taken off her armor, glanced at the blood stains on her snow-white middle coat, and while undressing, she walked towards the table where the medicine was placed. He said calmly, "There are smart people among those people, more than one or two, and these smart people have already convinced everyone else! So at least for now, don't worry. No matter how many benefits the Jiang family gives, they can't turn people away." win over."
"...?" Ruan Yi came over to change his dressing. He said nothing, but his tense face was full of confusion.
Qiu Jinglan explained calmly: "The Jiang family intends to get involved with the Zhenxi Army. This is why they spend so much money to help me take revenge. Those dozen generals are willing to serve as internal agents. In addition to thinking about the kindness of their grandfather and father, they have nothing more to do. Kuang Shihan has been squeezing them out over the years. If they were not very capable and willing to deal with Kuang Shihan, the most important thing is that without them, Kuang Shihan alone would not be able to control the Zhenxi Army... In short, they are also weighing Make a choice under the circumstances and have something to seek, instead of just seeking revenge for your grandfather and father without caring about anything!"
He frowned slightly due to the stimulation of the medicinal powder, and cold sweat gradually oozed from his black hair. After the severe pain passed, he continued to speak, "The problem is that the Jiang family is not an ordinary family. They started with martial arts, and most of their close friends are under their command. In the army, although the Zhenbei Army is run as hard as iron, it may not be able to recruit enough people with military knowledge to replace the generals of the Zhenxi Army. By then, what will these generals do today? "
Ruan Yi stopped his hand and said happily: "Young man, I understand! In order to prevent the Jiang family from succeeding in their plan to replace them with their own people, these generals will stick to you unswervingly no matter how the Jiang family tries to win over them?"
"You still think too wonderfully!" Qiu Jinglan sneered, "How old am I? Regardless of age, any of these generals can be my elders. Just say that they have been in Western Xinjiang for so many years, come and go in the wind and snow. I have sacrificed my life and blood to get where I am today! If my grandfather and father who brought them out and had a friendship with them were here, they would be able to show mercy to me, take care of me, and support me... But Why should you obey me? If I am a Jinshi at the age of 18, will I be able to kill more people than my subordinates when I go to the battlefield?"
Ruan Yi was stunned and said, "Then they just asked you to speak for the Jiang family..."
"That's just for the Jiang family!" Qiu Jinglan said disdainfully, "The Jiang family needs me as a cover to conquer the Zhenxi Army! And these generals of the Zhenxi Army also need my cover to reject the Jiang family, or Awaiting price! ”
After exhaling, Qiu Jinglan narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "So just watch, after this is done, these people who sent messengers here today will definitely try their best to ask for credit for me! Even if it is impossible to directly If you win the position of General of Zhenxi for me, you will definitely find a way to get me a high position in the army! In this way, when the Jiang family wants to replace them in the future, I can speak for them - and then I must also speak for them. Talk to them! Otherwise, without their support, even if I continue to stay in the army, I will not be able to escape the fate of being sidelined!”
Ruan Yi didn't say anything for a long time, and then said after a while: "So both sides have no good intentions towards you, Young Master..."
"It's not ill-intentioned, it's just that everyone has their own position." Qiu Jinglan said indifferently, "Originally, after my grandfather was defeated and my father died in the battle, although there was pressure from Queen Mother Gu, these The old troops didn’t even have private care and greetings - of course, because the most loyal ones were also killed - how loyal do you think I would expect them to be? Now that they are willing to do something, the weight of old friendship is probably not even 1/2. , It’s just for profit!”
Ruan Yi smiled bitterly and said: "Okay, they want to use you as a puppet, but how can the Jiang family agree? By then, won't you be roasted on the fire? If you are not careful... "
"Since I have already anticipated their plans, how could I not be prepared?" Qiu Jinglan said calmly, "That commander-in-chief was sent by Qin Guogong, so he naturally thought about the entire Jiang family. But Qin Guogong is old. There are many conflicts among the different rooms of the Jiang family. Once he dies, the Jiang family will definitely be divided! A single room in the Jiang family may not have the appetite of Duke Qin! "
"Young master, what do you mean?"
"Four bedrooms are cheaper!" Qiu Jinglan said happily, "Who told my only sister to marry a fourth bedroom? When Shihan and his son are killed, I will arrange for someone to contact Jiang Jiujiu... The four of them There is only one of Fang Nengyong's children, Jiang Jiujiu, who is destined to serve in the Zhenbei Army; his direct cousin Zhuang Rong is a civil servant, let alone in charge of the Zhenxi Army, and he might not be able to serve in Shazhou. Lose half of his life! Although his close friend Oubicheng is tactful, smart and loyal to him, he is far from me in terms of age and talent. He probably won't be able to be the governor of Shazhou! There are only a few of them. So if he doesn’t support me in Zhenxi Army, who else can he go to? His capable but ambitious uncles and cousins?”
Ruan Yi hesitated and said, "But he is not the head of the fourth house of the Jiang family yet, right?" Jiang Tianchi and his wife are still there, okay
Jiang Yashuang doesn't have the talent to take charge of the West-Suppressing Army. Jiang Tianchi's men may not be able to find such people, right
"Think about it from the perspective of the fourth room of the Jiang family!" Qiu Jinglan sneered, "If Kuang Shihan didn't have the support of Empress Dowager Gu, he would have harmed my father and defrauded the entire Ruan family. In order to win over him, Queen Mother Gu did not care about his illegitimate son Kuang Qingwu, so she sent her young daughter, Princess Xingkang, to the throne. But in just ten years, Queen Mother Gu had to ignore Kuang Qingwu. Even though he knew Princess Bishang, he made a fuss about marrying Princess Ningtai, and continued to degrade Princess Changping—not to mention being groveling, but it is always a fact to endure it again and again! "
He narrowed his eyes and said, "No matter how loyal the subordinates under the fourth branch of the Jiang family are now, once they take control of the Zhenxi Army, how can they not have the intention to be on an equal footing with the Jiang family, or even compete with them?! Even these people If they don't think so, wouldn't their confidants and family encourage them to do this? People's thoughts will always change with their status and power. No matter how great the kindness is, they can't prevent such changes, oh, still. With time and distance, former loyal subordinates can become ambitious opponents!"
Ruan Yi was silent.
"So when it comes to controlling the West-Suppressing Army, the Jiang family's first consideration is their own children, followed by children like nephews, and thirdly children by in-laws... they will never send someone they have trusted for many years!" Qiu Jinglan said calmly, " After all, the closer you are, the more secrets you know, and the better you understand the old master. The reason why Kuang Shihan succeeded in murdering his grandfather's family and his father was not because his grandfather treated him like his own son. He was too fond of both the Ruan family and the Qiu family. understood?!"
If the four members of the Jiang family do not plan to send military henchmen to take over, they can choose who to support, and Qiu Jinglan is really the most suitable person - after all, Jiang Tianchi's in-law family is from a scholarly family, and they have never considered abandoning their writing and joining the army; The two half-sisters didn't have any sons, so the cousins were even more distant from him, not as close as Qiu Jinglan!
At least everyone knows that Qiu Jinglan treats her younger sister Qiu Yilan like a treasure. As long as the Jiang family doesn't treat their 19th young lady badly, Qiu Jinglan will definitely not disrespect the Jiang family when she thinks about her sister's situation. !
But these are the Fourth Fang of the Jiang family - Ruan Yi frowned: "But Qin Guogong is still here, will he let the Fourth Fang take down the Zhenxi Army? After all, the Fourth Fang has already taken down the Zhenbei Army!" The Fourth Fang is too powerful. What are you eating and drinking in the other rooms
"Isn't there still a court?" Qiu Jinglan disagreed, "Jiang Tian'ao is an official who worships the deputy prime minister. In terms of wealth, he is even more wealthy in the eyes of ordinary people than Jiang Tianchi, the general of Zhenbei! Moreover, it is useless for Qin Guogong to object. First of all, those who just sent the messengers The generals will not move in a short period of time, otherwise the generals in the Zhenxi Army will feel uneasy and even regard the Jiang family as their enemies! Secondly, with their support, it will not be difficult for me to gain a foothold in the Zhenxi Army; Third, once I have established my footing and Jiang Jiujiu is secretly supporting me... do you think it will be that easy for Qin Guogong who is far away in Beijing to touch me? "
He sneered, "In terms of city government, my mentor Xue Xiang is not under Qin Guogong! Do you think that without Empress Dowager Gu's line to contain the Jiang family, my mentor can not work hard to cultivate me, lest the Jiang family burn bridges?! After all, Jiang Tianao has been jealous of his mentor for a long, long time!"
Ruan Yi thought carefully for a while and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that the young master has a backup plan. I have always felt that the Jiang family is so prominent and there is no way they should bully the young master!"
Qiu Jinglan was about to answer when a subordinate ran in panting and reported: "Sir! News from Shazhou City - Mr. Leshan has entered the city. Kuang thief only sent a few soldiers to see him off. Kuang thief's father and son and his bodyguards are not here. in!"
"Okay! Okay! Okay!!!" Qiu Jinglan was overjoyed and stood up suddenly. Regardless of the excessive movement, she broke the wound that Ruan Yicai had bandaged for him again. She clapped her hands and shouted, "Pass my order! Everyone pack up immediately, Don’t worry about the pursuers and return to Shazhou immediately!”
His joyful words contained seemingly endless anger and joy, "Within three days, I will sacrifice my heart and soul to their souls in heaven at the place where my father, uncle, and cousins died in battle!!!"
"This subordinate is willing to serve as the young master's vanguard. I will fight to the death against Kuang's thief and offer sacrifices to the late prince and the Ruan family!" The subordinate knew that this was Qiu Jinglan's long-cherished wish and immediately prostrated himself and asked for a fight!
Ruan Yi followed suit, "I am willing to serve as the master's vanguard, swear to the death to defeat the thief Kuang, and sacrifice to the late prince and the Ruan family!" The shouts came out one after another, and the sound shook the snow valley!
"Fortunately, the surrounding mountains are not high, otherwise there would be big trouble..." Commander Wang and several subordinates stood in the distance, squinting at the "Tianya" people packing their things in an orderly manner, preparing to fight back to Shazhou, murmuring He said, "It's just an assassin organization, but it has such a momentum... Xihe Palace is indeed a famous founding family of the country!"
One of his subordinates smiled and said: "You are not just doing things for our Jiang family... as a pawn, Qiu Jinglan is the pawn of our Lord Duke!"
"Be careful!" Commander Wang's face turned cold. "We will still need him now, especially in the next period! Have you all forgotten the Duke's instructions?"
The man was startled and quickly apologized.
"Let's go help too. Remember, Qiu Jinglan wants this battle. The limelight and all, especially the Kuangs and his son, let him do whatever he wants!" Commander Wang stood up, tightened the cloak on his shoulders, and said slowly He said, "He wants to sacrifice his ancestors and cooperate fully... While he is busy with this, I can find out all the details of the Zhenxi Army! Don't miss the important event of the Duke!"
"Yes!" Everyone agreed in unison - and then walked towards the people in "Tianya" who were already busy not far away.