Li Wanjiang held a formal court meeting in the Qinzheng Hall, where the three princes and all the civil and military officials were present.
Xiao Chen and Dugu Lou were also present. It was said that the last time they attended the official court meeting, Xiao Chen was still standing on top, but now he is sitting below.
The status and status have been greatly different.
The person standing on top now is Gong Shouli. Since he became a real man, he has grown a beard on his face. I don’t know if he did it on purpose. There is always a patch of unshaved green beard on his chin, which shows that he also has a beard. Already a different identity.
His voice has also undergone subtle changes. Although it is still hoarse, it is no longer sharp and sounds much more pleasant to the ears.
"Shengchao..." A voice shouted, rough and melodious.
The first thing discussed in this court meeting was the war with the British.
"The English clowns jumped off the beam and offended my great Zhou Dynasty. I want to give them a hard blow and teach them a lesson to show off the prestige of our country and defend our territory... I wanted to go on a military expedition myself, but it seems that I think too highly of them. Everyone. Who among you is willing to go on an expedition for me?" Li Wanjiang asked in a deep voice.
Everyone looked at each other in shock when they heard this, thinking, Your Majesty, are you serious?
This battle with the English is basically a naval battle. In a naval battle, only the Yanyun Navy can compete with them. Isn't this a settled matter?
Since it was the Yanyun Navy that went on an expedition, the coach would naturally be Xiao Chen. Who else could it be besides him?
If someone else goes, who can have fun?
Unless it's the prince.
Li Yan, the king of Yandang, has been hiding at home. He just came out to do things. The emperor sent him to inspect Yanyunguan in Wolong Pass and he was not in Fengyang.
The conflicts between Fengyang King Li Feng and Xiao Chen were almost semi-open, and everyone knew that they had always been at odds.
Speaking of which, Li Feng personally led his troops to invade Yanyun County last time. It cannot be said that he had public grudges, but private grudges. Even if Xiao Chen didn't care about him, the officers and soldiers of the Yanyun Army could tolerate him. ?
Maybe he would be beaten first before starting a fight with the Englishman... This is all possible.
Since Li Feng could not be sent, it was naturally inappropriate for Li Shi to go. Although Li Shi had taken command and defeated the Russians before, it was because Li Feng was not there, so the emperor had to send him.
As we all know, Li Shi is not good at leading troops in battle. The reason why he won the victory last time was due to Xiao Chen.
Now Li Feng is sitting here. If Li Shi is sent there again, wouldn't that be a public slap in Li Feng's face?
There is another prince who is Li Wanyun. He has no problem leading troops to fight, and he can beat Xiao Chen in terms of prestige and status, so it is fine for him to go.
But the emperor had previously deprived him of his military power, and this time he suddenly summoned him to the capital. It didn't look like he was entrusting him with an important task, but more likely to punish him...
Unexpectedly, it was Li Wanyun who was the first to respond, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go!"
"If Brother Wang goes, I have nothing to worry about!" Li Wanjiang actually agreed happily, "Then I will make you the Grand Marshal of the Conquest of Yi, and control the Great Zhou Navy and the Yanyun Navy... In addition, the garrisons in Jiangnan, Jiangdong, and Minzhou will be controlled by You dispatch! In addition, Dugulou will be appointed as your deputy commander, and he will go on the expedition with you!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked, thinking that the emperor really had an emperor's mind, which was unpredictable, and the ministers would never be able to guess what he was going to do.
But in fact, Li Wanjiang still played a trick of checking and balancing power.
Although he appointed Li Wanyun as the Generalissimo of the Conquest of Yi, the so-called marshal was a temporary title. During the war, he could control the generals stationed in each station. However, after the war, this title was automatically cancelled.
The main force in this battle is the Yanyun Navy, and the actual leader is Dugulou...
So here comes the question, Your Majesty, if you let Li Wanyun go, will Dugulou be willing to obey him?
"I obey the order!" Dugulou immediately stood up and accepted the order, his expression resolute and unhesitating.
Then the question comes again, won't Xiao Chen go? He willingly handed over the entire Yanyun Navy to Li Wanyun?
"Xiao Chen, my dear, the hasty arrival of the English really caught me off guard. The war is coming, and it will be difficult to raise sufficient supplies of military supplies, food and grass. You have to do something for me." Li Wanjiang was affectionate. Look infinitely at Xiao Chenzhen's little love.
"I will do my best and immediately order Yanyun and Yizhou to start raising military provisions and ensure sufficient logistics for the army. If the opportunity is delayed, I will be punished by military law!" Xiao Chen said loudly.
The layout is so high that everyone can look up to it.
"Well, I know you will never let me down, Xiao Chen!" Li Wanjiang expressed his relief, "This battle is related to the fate of the country. We all need to work together to deal with it. Dear friends, please stop working hard..."
The emperor made impassioned speeches, and the ministers listened respectfully.
"My dear friends, after I finish talking about the state affairs, I want to talk to you about my family affairs." Li Wanjiang said, his mouth was dry, he took a few sips of tea, cleared his throat, and changed the topic.
Li Shi and Li Feng suddenly became alert and glanced at each other subconsciously.
All the ministers were also uneasy, thinking that the emperor was planning to announce the candidate for the prince. However, establishing a prince was also a state matter, but it was not entirely a family matter of the emperor.
So is it a slip of the tongue that the emperor said or...
"In addition to the late crown prince Li Xian, the king of Jiangdong Li Shi, and the king of Fengyang Li Feng, I actually have a son named Li Qiu. He lost contact due to the war when he was young. His life and death are unknown. Father and son are connected. I have always cared about him. ." As soon as Li Wanjiang said these words, both Li Shi and Li Feng's hearts skipped a beat and almost stopped.
"Fortunately, the sky has eyes, and our father and son are finally reunited..." Li Wanjiang said with emotion and rubbed his eyes.
Everyone's reactions were different. Li Wanyun, Chen Wenqi, Zhu Xiaochuan, Wu Zicheng, and Wu Zhongze had expressionless faces. Li Shi, Li Feng, Wang Anbang, Lu Jing, Ma Wuming, and Cheng Youwen had serious expressions. Shao Wenzhao, Yu Changlin, Liu Qiheng and all the ministers looked shocked.
"This is really a great thing, congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor!" Xiao Chen directly expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the emperor.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty, Congratulations to Your Majesty." Only then did everyone react and expressed their joy, thinking that Xiao Chen was the one who reacted quickly. Isn't it a great thing for the Emperor and his son to reunite? I should be happy for the emperor, but for some reason, everyone seems a little unhappy...
Li Shi and Li Feng, in particular, showed no enthusiasm at all towards this lost and reunited younger brother after a long absence, and even seemed a bit indifferent.
"Well, I am also very happy. Come on, call my son Li Qiu into the palace!" Li Wanjiang was very dissatisfied with Li Shi and Li Feng's reaction. A trace of displeasure flashed on his face, but it was fleeting, because his younger son Li Qiu had already made great strides. As he walked in, Li Wanjiang looked at him with deep kindness in his eyes...
When Xiao Chen saw Li Qiu, he almost blurted out the sentence "Little Devil". As expected, this Li Qiu was the young leader of the Devil Sect, Mu Ziqiu!
Li Qiu also saw him, raised his head and slightly curved the corners of his mouth, looking very proud.
