"Miss Fang is right. Shangguan Jing is indeed short-sighted." A voice suddenly interrupted, and the three of them couldn't help but look up at the door. It was Shangguan Jing.
"Personal grudges are indeed insignificant compared to national peace." Shangguan Jing sighed softly and looked at Fang Zilan in front of him, "But Miss Fang, you also said that you need to pay a price for what you do."
"General Shangguan is right. Fang Zilan has countless lives in his hands. This life no longer belongs to him." Fang Zilan's lips curled up slightly, "I have the consciousness to pay the price, but Shangguan Yun does not. If you want to blame him, blame him for making the wrong choice at the beginning. You guys are on the wrong team."
"It's rare for Miss Fang to be so frank." A trace of astonishment flashed across Shangguan Jing's face. He originally thought that Fang Zilan would not admit it or say that Shangguan Yun deserved it, but he did not expect that she would say this.
But Fang Zilan still curled up her lips, "I wonder if General Shangguan has the consciousness to pay for what he has done?" "It's my fault that the Shangguan family only clung to Yanzhou City for their own personal grudges." Shangguan sighed respectfully. His tone and expression of relief made the three of them stunned.
"I will go on the expedition with Miss Fang this time, but Min'er's child is still young. Can you please ask Miss Fang..." "I know what General Shangguan wants to say." Fang Zilan suddenly interrupted Shangguan Jing's words, "It's just me. May I ask General Shangguan, are there any sixteen-year-old soldiers in the army?"
"Of course there is. According to the age of recruitment in Dajing..." Shangguan Jing replied smoothly, but suddenly stopped. Fang Zilan ignored his reaction and continued, "These soldiers also have parents and relatives, but when the war starts, they have to go to the battlefield. No one knows whether they will live or die. They can all die, so why are you Shangguan's family? Can't?"
"But Min'er..." Shangguan Jing wanted to say something more, but his lips moved but he didn't say it.
"General Shangguan can stay in Yanzhou City, but Shangguan Min can't. Just now in front of everyone, I ordered Shangguan Min to be my deputy general, so I can't go back on my promise." Fang Zilan looked sharp, "The army cannot stand without trust. Please understand, General Shangguan.”
"Miss Fang..." Zhuge Yu, who had been silent all the time, couldn't help but speak out, but hesitantly. He knew that Fang Zilan's words were reasonable, but she couldn't do anything too extreme. She already carried the life of a Shangguan family member. If she added another one, she would be completely at odds with the Shangguan family from now on.
"Master Zhuge, there is no need to persuade me." Fang Zilan glanced at Zhuge Yu indifferently, and then saluted Shangguan with clasped fists, "Since I have a Shangguan family life in my hands, I will treat Shangguan Min well as a price. Bring it back. If General Shangguan still wants to settle Shangguan Yun's account with me then, I will definitely accompany him."
"Since Miss Fang has said this, Shangguan Jing has nothing to say. He can only go to the battlefield with Miss Fang to contribute a small amount." Shangguan Jing cupped his fists and returned the salute. Zhuge Yu and Li Qiyou beside him couldn't help but relax. Fortunately, the head of the Shangguan family is sensible, and Fang Zilan also knows what is important and what is important, so there is no danger at all.
In the early morning of the next day, Fang Zilan and his party left Yanzhou City early and went straight to Kapok Town dozens of miles away, which is where the Jin people are currently occupying.
Fang Zilan glanced at the soldiers preparing for battle by the forest, and then looked at Kapok Town not far away. After thinking about it, she finally called Shangguan Jing and Shangguan Min, "Are you two familiar with Kapok Town?"
The two of them nodded in unison, and Shangguan Min spoke first: "Kapok Town has a flat terrain and wide views. It is rich in kapok. It has always been the most prosperous town on the northern border of Beijing."
"It's rich in kapok?" Fang Zilan frowned slightly, and Shangguan Jing continued on the other side: "Although it's almost midsummer, the weather in the north is unpredictable. It will get cold in less than two or three months. Every year at this time, the Jin people will come to plunder supplies. . But this time I chose Kapok Town, I’m afraid I have ulterior motives.”
"Why did General Shangguan say this?" The question was asked by Li Qiyou who came with the two Shangguan, but it was Zhuge Yu who answered him, "Kapok Town is rich in kapok and is a strategic fortress. The imperial court has always had Send troops to garrison. The Jin always picks border towns with few troops when plundering supplies. The Jin do not dare to invade rashly in places like Kapok Town. Since they are here this time, it means that it is not just as simple as plundering supplies."
Zhuge Yu's words reached Fang Zilan's ears, waking her up. The questions in her heart were more like being confirmed, making her ask involuntarily: "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and the court is unstable. Does the Jin man think there is an opportunity?" Are you ready for a large-scale invasion?"
Although it was a question, she was sure. However, no one dared to directly confirm this judgment for a while. Only Zhuge Yu suddenly answered, "The Zhuge family has been secretly investigating a person these years. I think Miss Fang will be interested." .”
Zhuge Yu suddenly changed his voice. Fang Zilan was stunned for a moment and followed his words and asked, "Is it Chakel?"
"Three years ago, Zha Keer was just a fierce and aggressive soldier, inconspicuous at all." Zhuge Yu said and walked between Shangguan Jing and Fang Zilan. After hearing his words, Shangguan Jing nodded in agreement, "Master Zhuge said that. Yes, there was indeed no such person as Chaker three years ago, when the leader of the Jin people was Huyan Khan."
"But just three years ago, Huyan Khan died suddenly overnight. Chakel rose to replace Huyan Khan and became the new leader of the Jin people. Does Miss Fang know why?" Zhuge Yu continued what Shangguan Jing said, with the last sentence But asked Xiang Fang Zilan.
"Zhakel found the murderers of Huyan Khan and killed them." As if out of control, Fang Zilan heard her own voice say this answer. Shangguan Min who heard the words was shocked, his eyes A flash of admiration flashed through his mind, "General Fang actually knows about this?"
"I did some homework before coming here." She answered smoothly. In fact, even she herself didn't know why she knew about this.
"No one knows whether the Seven Wolves of Beiyuan killed Huyan Khan, and it's even harder to say whether it was Zhakel who killed him." Zhuge Yu added meaningfully, but Li Qiyou looked confused after hearing this. , "If not, how could the Jin people recognize Chakel as their leader?"
"I wonder if your lord has noticed the difference between Huyan Khan and Chakel when we just mentioned it?" Shangguan Jing put it bluntly, and then Li Qiyou realized that they had always called Chakel by his first name. , and Huyan Khan has the honorific title of Khan.
"What do you mean?" Li Qiyou asked in a daze, and Fang Zilan sighed helplessly, "That's what the prince meant. But I'm curious, what does Master Zhuge mean when he says it's hard to say?"
"Not everyone can be killed by the Seven Wolves of the North Plains." The person who answered her was Shangguan Jing. He recalled as he spoke, "Back then, the Seven Wolves of the North Plains roamed the northern border for several years, committing all kinds of crimes including killing and stealing. Even a wanted warrant could never catch them, let alone an ordinary soldier."
"Not to mention disembowelling them, cutting off their heads and hanging them on the gilded city for several months until they turned into withered bones." Fang Zilan continued softly, and Zhuge Yu looked at her deeply, "Miss Fang knows that. clear."
"It's something that everyone knows about in the market, so it's not very clear." Fang Zilan looked a little colder, and Zhuge Yu didn't delve into it, "The Zhuge family made an interesting discovery. He didn't do the Chuckle thing alone. Yes, there is someone behind his back, and this person is also a powerful person in Beijing."
"Is Mr. Zhuge going to mention this nonsense again?" Li Qiyou frowned slightly. This was not the first time he heard what Zhuge Yu said. When his father, Emperor Ningshun, was still in power, the Zhuge family mentioned it. However, there was no evidence and the matter was finally settled. Grandma also said that this was just a gimmick created by the Zhuge family to preserve their reputation.
"My lord, do you know that this nonsense has caused everyone in the Shangguan family and the Huangfu family to be in danger?" Shangguan Jing laughed at himself, without any displeasure in his expression, and Zhuge Yu just smiled, "General Shangguan is magnanimous, and General Huangfu is smart and will not go any further. The Zhuge family will not target the two people in the north, but they will not give up easily."
"No wonder Master Zhuge accompanied me this time. It turns out he had other plans." Fang Zilan smiled coldly, while Zhuge Yu still smiled calmly, "My official official is Miss Fang's military advisor. This is your Majesty's appointment and I dare not fail to do so." From. The rest is just selfishness, no different from others."
As soon as Zhuge Yu said this, no one spoke. Fang Zilan secretly sighed that Zhuge Yu had hit the nail on the head. None of them had selfish motives, but he, Zhuge Yu, was the first to admit it. This was his magnanimity as Mr. Zhuge It was even more confident that there was nothing he could do, which made her respect and fear him at the same time.
Thinking about this, she felt a little dazed. The respect was true. Why was it so scary? Vaguely, she always felt that she seemed to know something about the Northern Territory, but at the same time she seemed to know nothing and was completely confused.
"General Fang?" Shangguan Min couldn't help but shout when she saw Fang Zilan was distracted. She turned back to look at the young man next to her, "What's the matter?"
"Kapok Town is right in front of us, General Fang..." Shangguan Min didn't say any more, but she knew exactly what he meant. The enemy was right in front of her, and she, the commander, had not yet announced the battle plan.
"The terrain of Kapok Town is flat and it is not easy to set up an ambush. We can only fight head-on." Fang Zilan thought for a long time before saying this. After finishing speaking, he quickly looked at Shangguan Jing and Zhuge Yu. Among the few people, they were the only ones who were experienced in the battlefield and the other was a strategist. , she naturally wanted to know their opinions.
Zhuge Yu didn't say anything but nodded slightly to express his approval, while Shangguan Jing's tone was a little more serious, "The Jin people are good at fighting, and now they have the upper hand in Kapok Town. This battle is probably going to be a tough one."
"There is no way to avoid it." Fang Zilan's lips curled up slightly, "What's more, the enemy is facing us, so we must fight with all our strength."
"Miss Fang is right." Li Qiyou looked at the Jin army not far away, "Our trip is to quell the chaos. What do we have to fear from the righteous army?"
"In that case." Fang Zilan suppressed a smile, pulled out the sword from the sheath, and pointed the sword's edge directly at the sky, "We must do our best."
