Don't worry, why do you think the foster father can hold the military power at the border all the time? Is it because I, Cai Nan, have great ability to lead the army and fight? In my opinion, the ability is not small, but it's really not that great. It's slightly inferior to Lu Sheng and Xu Gong. The reason why he was promoted all the way up and became a Jiedushi is actually because of two people, one is a general and the other is a general. "
The last sentence sounds like nonsense, but Cai Bo knows that not only is it not nonsense, but also contains rich meanings, which can not only make people jaw-dropping, but also creepy.
The first great general refers to Gu Jiantang, the benefactor of the adoptive father, the second great pillar of the Liyang Dynasty. The second general is Xu Xiao, the old Liang king who was scolded as the Spring and Autumn Rentu.
Cai Nan said in a low voice: "But even if I feel sad, I, Cai Nan, only respect the old emperor Zhao Li and the first emperor Zhao Dun, and have no other thoughts of treason. Why? It's very simple, they Great, no matter what the reason is, after all, he can still suppress the two great generals, suppressing the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, Zhao Li can make Xu Xiao willingly help his old man fight the world, and help Li Yang fight Beimang to defend the world until his death , after his death, let us General Gu wear official robes instead of iron armor, and sit on the bench for twenty years in the cramped office of the Ministry of War. Zhao Dun is not bad either. When Zhang Shoufu died, Bi Yan'er died obediently. After Zhao Dun's death, he also left a large fortune to the present day. It's a pity that although Zhao Dun had personal grievances, it was generally harmless to state affairs, and it fell into Zhao Zhuan's hands. , I can’t grasp the scale, but you can’t say that the young emperor is really wrong for this kind of thing. The world is like this. Emperor, Beiliang probably didn't even have the idea of sending troops to Guangling, but Zhao Dun would have delivered the imperial decree to us earlier, so he definitely wouldn't be so coy."
Cai Bo hesitated and said, "Although I don't have a good impression of the young emperor, if it were me, I'm afraid I would only do worse."
Cai Nan hummed, "Zhao Zhuan is not bad. As long as he is given time, he may do better than his father and grandfather. But after all, he is still a little tender. In addition to the current temple, once Bi Yan'er died, Tan Tan Weng seems to be the same. , I guess I'm almost disheartened, although there is still a Qiyang dragon left to us by the late emperor, but compared to this Shangyin Academy who came out of the mountain halfway, especially Yuan Benxi's mentor, Zhao Zhuan Naturally, I trust Chen Wang who I single-handedly promoted more. Unfortunately, while trusting the trust, at the critical moment, I don’t pay too much attention to Chen Wang’s opinion, because Chen Wang is young, and the emperor is also young. There is no Xu Xiao in the Northwest. Bei Mang immediately called, and the temple lost Yuan Benxi and Zhang Julu, so problems arose. I guess if Zhao Zhuan was more magnanimous in the matter of water transportation, then Xu Fengnian's inexplicable dispatch of troops would at least be superficial. , For example, send someone to ask for an imperial decree from Tai'an City. It's just that the young emperor still hopes to use our Lianghuai frontier army to weigh the weight of Beiliang's iron cavalry to see how much water is in it. Now it's all right, a mess, and the court There is no such thing as a tinkerer like Bi Yaner... As long as I think about this in the past two days, I will feel less sullen in my heart."
Then Cai Nan sighed and said, "If Qi Yanglong and Huan Wen don't say a few words of justice at this time, Li Yang, who is in a good situation, may really be in trouble."
Cai Bo didn't know the answer.
Cai Nan didn't explain anything, and her hoarse and deep voice was a bit vague, "This time, the adoptive father rescued his life from the gate of hell. After thinking about it, I should tell you something, but the adoptive father did not." Really think it through, you can figure it out for yourself.”
Cai Bo leaned forward, lowered his voice and said, "Father, tell me, I'll listen."
Cai Nan said calmly: "Defend the Xu family in Beiliang in the open, guard against Chen Zhibao in the dark, be your general at the border, and great things can be expected." This is the only secret that the general has given me Cai Nan for so many years. The letter is a verbal message, not written on paper."
Cai Bai's pale face instantly became whiter, but soon a sick flush appeared.
Cai Nan closed her eyes and said exhaustedly: "After dying once, I found out that now, after looking at it, the young man surnamed Xu is still interesting, and everyone else is just like that. By the way, Baier, when will you wait?" After I really get the imperial decree of being a loyal uncle, you can lead the army. As for whether you can be a Jiedushi, it depends on your own ability, and the foster father can't help you much. Don't persuade me, My adoptive father, maybe I think it's meaningless."
Cai Nan stopped talking and just opened her eyes.
There is faintly the beating drum of the Spring and Autumn War in my ears, the gunpowder smoke of the Spring and Autumn War in my eyes, and the recklessness of life and death when I was young in my heart.
…
During the reign of Yonghui, the world only knew that there was Zhang Lu and Gu Lu in the temple, but it did not know that there was a half-inch tongue counselor who lived on the edge of the palace city. In the current year of Xiangfu, civil and military officials still don't know that there is an extra blind resident in a secluded house not far from Yuan Benxi's residence. His surname is Lu Mingxu. daily life.
On this day, a young man with a special status came to Lu Xu's residence. The former was both a guest and a host, because although Zhao, who was surnamed Zhao, was the guest of this small courtyard, he was the host of Liyang.
Today's son Zhao Zhuan was not wearing a dragon robe, a green shirt with a jade belt, and was sitting opposite Lu Xu, who had secretly become the spy of the court.
There is only a box of chess pieces on the table without a chess board. This is a small habit of Lu Xu. Whether he is flipping through the book or thinking, he will keep a box of chess pieces by his hand.
Zhao Zhuan's tone was indifferent, with some accusations in his words, "Sir, why didn't you just order Zhao Gou to stand still along the way? He even ordered the local people in the Jianghu not to show their faces and stop the Beiliang cavalry?"
Holding a handful of cool chess pieces, Lu Xu's five fingers moved slightly, creaking slightly. Facing the angry reproach of the king of a country, this blind young man who had become the center of the dynasty overnight said slowly, without expression: "Leave!" Yang's face is not on such insignificant matters, but His Majesty's face is on the border wars between Liangliao, Beiliang and Lianghuai. If His Majesty thinks that anyone in the world can tolerate it, except Xu Fengnian, Therefore, it is very simple for Lu Xu to act on his will. The big man Zhao Gou has died in various places, but he is still a huge force in the local area. On the way to the south of the Liangqi Army, every province, every prefecture, every county, every county, some people came forward, and some people died under the swords and horseshoes of Beiliang, what's the problem?"
Zhao Zhuan was silent, but the resentment between his brows remained undiminished.
Lu Xu stretched out his arm, and a chess piece leaked from the palm of his hand and fell on the table, "From the real point of view, we can talk about the wealth of a family and the army, and from the point of view, let's talk about the hearts of the people, the army, and the general trend of the weather. Regardless of the future harvest, everything is important now. It is a bit less. The Northern Liang cavalry marched south this time. Although it is under the banner of Jing Nan to quell the chaos, in the hearts of all civil and military officials, it is the ambition of the wolf. In the eyes of the people of the Central Plains, it is the domineering behavior of the young vassal king. The current situation, the worst situation, is that Xu Fengnian colluded with Western Chu, regardless of the war in Beimang, and reached an agreement with Cao Changqing to divide the Central Plains equally. , the name of the country is still Chu, and the emperor’s surname is Xu, after all, it’s still a field that doesn’t flow to outsiders. Right?”
Zhao Zhuan nodded sullenly and said, "It's exactly as Mr. said."
Lu Xu smiled and said, "Just having said that, Your Majesty asks himself, will Beiliang turn against him?"
Zhao Zhuan shook his head and said, "That's not true. One hundred thousand soldiers from Beiliang died outside the pass, and only ten thousand cavalry went to Guangling. Beiliang will not rebel."
Lu Xu threw a few more chess pieces on the table, "Since this is the case, then the imperial court should not force Beiliang to rebel, and at the very least, don't come out on your own. Let Beiliang and Beimang fight to the end. Guangling Caoliang, you want Then I will give it to you, the hero who died in the battle, Xu Fengnian, you can’t be ashamed to ask the court for it? But the court will also give it to you. Maybe you don’t have enough troops for the second battle of Liangmang? The Lianghuai Festival envoy Cai Nan’s army , the imperial court will lend you. Cai Nan is not enough, Jizhou also has the soldiers and horses of the two lieutenants Han Fang and Yang Huchen, and I will lend you together."
Zhao Zhuan frowned.
Lu Xu calmly said: "The imperial court should not focus on how to guard against Beiliang, but how to separate Beiliang from the Xu family, and don't hope that the second generation of the Xu family will still be disloyal to the imperial court and will not oppose it." , but to think about how to make the young and strong generals of Beiliang not have the slightest disobedience, and let them and the whole Beiliang Dao sincerely believe that Beiliang is Beiliang in the territory of Liyang, and the Xu family is just helping the court Manage Beiliang, even if there is no Xu family iron cavalry in Beiliang one day, but even if Liangmang's war is unfavorable, everyone in Beiliang, from officials to common people, has a way out, Beiliang has no place to stand, then the court will let them Peace of mind retreat to Lianghuai, retreat to Shuzhao, and even retreat all the way to Jiangnan."
Zhao Zhuan frowned slightly, "It really doesn't matter if the Xu family rebels or not?"
Lu Xu laughed dumbly and said, "Remember, Your Majesty, it's still too early to make Beiliang's Xu family into a source of water. One depends on the careful operation of the imperial court and is willing to give up some things to Beiliang. The other depends on the upcoming Liangmang." Consumption, three depends on the support of the people in Beiliang to tilt the court, the court can no longer recognize him as an uncivilized northern Liang barbarian, and can't restrain Liangdi scholars on the matter of imperial examination fame. Four depends on Beiliang officials who have a foothold in the temple. Sun Yin, Yao Baifeng, and Jin Lanting can’t be the only ones. Five rely on Liyang, let Xu Gong, Lu Shengxiang, and Song Li, who are innocent and useful generals, come to the fore, end the Guangling war quickly, and stop thinking about dying To reduce the power of local military generals, when the water is clear, there will be no fish. Once the generals are completely silent in Liyang, and the army of Beimang is still in the north, they will not be hurt at all. In the end, they still only rely on the Xu family's iron cavalry to fight? Then the previous "four relying", Isn't it a joke?"
Zhao Zhuan picked up the chess pieces that had been dropped from Lu Xu's hands one by one from the table, held them tightly, and fell into deep thought.
Zhao Zhuan subconsciously imitated the actions of the blind youth, and the chess pieces in his palms rubbed against each other, "In the final analysis, sir, do you want the court to retreat in order to advance?"
Without hesitation, Lu Xu said something rebellious, "I want His Majesty to advance by retreating."
Zhao Zhuan smiled mischievously, it was strange that the young emperor was obviously not angry.
Lu Xu suddenly asked: "Isn't it surprising, Your Majesty, that Zhang Julu and Yuan Benxi couldn't think of such a crude way to draw salary from the bottom of the pot?"
Zhao Zhuan's heart was shocked, he laughed and said: "I only know that Mr.'s handwriting is not superficial."
Lu Xu let go of his palm, and the chess pieces fell to the table, "The two seniors just couldn't think about it. I believe that all the plans of the two at that time were mainly aimed at the two people in Beiliang, not Xu Fengnian. The same prescription is used in different places. place, the effect is quite the opposite."
Zhao Zhuan asked incredulously, "Who else could there be besides Xu Xiao?"
Lu Xu raised his head, expressionless.
Zhao Zhuan suddenly said, "Chen Zhibao!"
Lu Xu's words became more and more shocking, "In the early years, no one would have imagined that Xu Fengnian would succeed in hereditary succession, but with two great talents, Mr. Zhang Shoufu and Yuan, they could still make up for it. It's a pity that the late emperor didn't give Zhang Julu a chance, and neither did you, Your Majesty. Give Mr. Yuan a chance."
Zhao Zhuan's face was gloomy.
Lu Xu "looked" at the young emperor, "Actually, Your Majesty came to Xingshi to inquire about the crime this time, and he was furious why I, Lu Xu, dared to "cut first and then play" after taking power in Zhao Gou, and arbitrarily granted Cai Nan the title of Loyalty Uncle?"
Zhao Zhuan laughed instead, "In the beginning, I was really frightened and angry, and even thought of killing someone, but after hearing Mr.'s digressions, I was relieved a lot, but I don't want this to happen again. "
Lu Xu shook his head calmly and said: "There will be no more. Your Majesty's trust in me is almost exhausted. After all, Lu Xu only has one head."
Zhao Zhuan stopped his hands and said with emotion: "Sir, I can promise you, as long as you wholeheartedly plan for my Liyang, even if you commit a capital crime one day, I will tolerate it once! If you don't believe me, I can tolerate it!" Go to the ancestral temple and swear to the ancestors of the Zhao family... "
Lu Xu hurriedly waved his hands and smiled: "No, Your Majesty is a good emperor, I'm sure of that. Otherwise, Lu Xu, a blind man who is destined to be unable to advance in his official career, would be willing to come to Tai'an City?"
Zhao Zhuan asked in a low voice: "Sir, I also know that some questions should not be asked, and in the history books, whenever a courtier answers the question of the monarch, he has never had a good end, but I still hope that Mr. can be honest with each other."
Lu Xu said indifferently: "Since your Majesty doesn't have many princes yet, you should ask me in the temple, who can succeed Qi Yanglong as the chief assistant of this dynasty? Do you tolerate that chief assistant under your nose? Growing up to be an emperor like Zhang Julu who has no political opponents in the court? If you ask this question, does it mean that your majesty is not even willing to rest assured about Chen Wang? Then your majesty is really a loner."
Zhao Zhuan said sincerely, "It's not that I don't believe in Chen Wang."
Lu Xu was noncommittal, and said to himself: "Chen Wang is the only candidate, there is no doubt about it. Yan Chiji, Sun Yin, Fan Changhou, Li Jifu, each of these five people has fatal flaws, and they are not as good as Wang Wang's 'perfect' Chen Wang. In the transitional stage before them, such as Yin Maochun, Zhao Youling, Han Lin, etc., the chief assistant of the 'short-lived ghost' who was only three or five years old, is not worth mentioning."
Zhao Zhuan spread out his palms and looked down at the chess piece, "I'm suddenly enlightened."
Zhao Zhuan suddenly raised his head and smiled and said, "Sir, do you have any chess pieces for me?"
Lu Xu smiled and said, "No more."
Zhao Zhuan clenched his palms tightly, stood up and said, "Then I will accept these chess pieces."
Lu Xu stood up, "Then I won't give it away."
Zhao Zhuan laughed and said: "It is not necessary to send me out, but the chess pieces will continue to be sent in the future, so that the two of us, the monarch and his ministers, will sit face to face again at the end of our lifetime like today, slowly count those chess pieces, and say something. Talking about the old things, putting them back into the box one by one, it’s not so pleasant!"
Wait until Zhao Zhuan leaves quietly.
The maid Xinghua who followed Lu Xu to the capital from Jing'an Palace suddenly found that her husband was sitting upright, but at some point there was a lonely chess piece on the table, which was not given to the emperor Zhao Zhuan.
She asked curiously, "Why did you keep one for yourself?"
Lu Xu said softly, "It's not for me, it's for someone."
The woman is terrified.
Lu Xu stretched out his finger and lightly pressed on the chess piece, "Repay it with a national soldier!"