In fact, not only Ma Zhou thought this way, many people also had the same doubts about Fang Jun's brazen start of war.
Negotiation is indeed not only a battle of words on the negotiation table, but also a game under the negotiation table. Whoever has a harder fist and whose situation is more favorable will naturally be able to take more initiative. Many times there is back and forth at the negotiation table, but conflicts continue under the negotiation table. This is normal.
However, Fang Jun boldly sent out troops this time. He not only dispatched a few artillery pieces, but also sent armored cavalry directly to the rebel camp outside Tonghua Gate. Regardless of the result, this was already an extremely serious provocation, completely beyond Guan Long's ability. The limit of endurance.
What's more, this great victory turned the rebel camp upside down, and then more than a thousand armored cavalry calmly retreated, leaving only corpses everywhere and endless humiliation for the rebels.
Under such circumstances, who can expect Guan Long to keep his temper and continue to negotiate well?
I don’t know how this guy persuaded the prince to agree to send troops to fight. This shows that Fang Jun’s influence on the prince is really unfathomable...
…
Faced with Ma Zhou's doubts, Fang Jun smiled and said, "If we can't talk about it, then we won't talk about it."
Ma Zhou frowned: No talk?
If there is no negotiation, the two sides will continue to fight fiercely, and both sides will lose. When Li Ji leads his troops to station in Tongguan, if he has other thoughts, the fall of the East Palace is imminent... It is better to negotiate a peace, otherwise the risk will be too great, and the East Palace may not be able to bear it. Take that risk.
However, he knew Fang Jun's behavior very well and did not think that this was a reckless move on his part. It stands to reason that even if Dongneiyuan suffered heavy casualties from a rebel raid, Fang Jun should not immediately send troops to attack the rebels. And if they just want to find a group of rebels to annihilate to vent their anger, they will first bombard them with artillery, and then use armored cavalry to kill the rebels until they are on their backs and their corpses are lying on the ground. This is not just as simple as recklessness or not.
He couldn't guess what Fang Jun wanted to do, but he didn't ask.
A group of civil servants headed by Liu Ji were still discussing how to get in touch with Guan Long, and how to save it in the face of Guan Long's possible rage and even tearing up the armistice contract. The servants outside the door came in and spoke to the scribes and the prince.
There was silence in the hall.
Everyone knows that Yuwen Shiji rushed to Tongguan to try to persuade Li Ji, but it seems that he returned in vain. Otherwise, if he succeeded in persuading Li Ji, there would be no need to come to see the prince now, and the army would have already been escorted over...
The ministers dispersed, and Fang Jun also walked out side by side with Ma Zhou and Li Daozong. Only Cen Wenwen, Liu Jie and other core figures responsible for the peace talks remained in the hall.
Fang Jun walked out of the door and happened to see the dusty Yuwen Shiji waiting outside the door. The two looked at each other, sparks flying.
Fang Jun cupped his fists and saluted with a warm smile: "After all, Duke Ying has grown up, and his body and bones are different from those of young people. How can he bear the burden of constantly traveling to Tongguan and Chang'an? Why not take off the heavy burden on your shoulders and go back to the house to entertain your grandchildren and support your family." Wouldn't it be nice to sit down at my house, play mahjong, and drink some wine during the New Year? Otherwise, in the evening wind and snow, something might happen."
"Hey!"
Yu Wenshi Ji Shengsheng laughed angrily, pointed at Fang Jun, and sneered: "I only left Chang'an for a few days, and you brazenly started a war, discarding the previously signed armistice contract, and even brought infamy on His Highness the Crown Prince. Now you are sarcastic and sarcastic in front of me, which is really unbecoming of a man!"
Fang Jun's smile subsided, his back straightened, and he looked at Yuwen Shiji with squinted eyes: "You can eat randomly, but you can't talk nonsense. You nobles and nobles who enjoy the benefits of the empire not only don't know how to be loyal to the emperor, patriotism, and serve the country wholeheartedly, but instead Driven by the desire for profit, without even the slightest thought of being the king of our family and country, we brazenly raised an army to rebel and conspire against us. How dare a group of rebellious ministers and traitors dare to boss me around in front of me? Bah!"
The surrounding civil servants and generals stood still and stared at Fang Jun angrily at Yuwen Shiji.
After all, Guanlong's rebellion was under the banner of "military remonstrance", which was different from the rebellion. Although everyone had different positions and each stood on the same team, it was not a life-and-death hatred. Shi Yuwenshi and other senior bosses must be given a certain amount of dignity no matter what, otherwise how would they dare to come to see the prince as rebels?
It is really surprising that Fang Jun is so unceremonious in his face.
Yu Wenshi's well-maintained face was full of exhaustion due to the long journey. At this moment, Fang Jun was so angry that his blood surged and his face turned red. He stared angrily and said: "How dare you! Even if your father is here, how dare you fight with me?" Do I talk like this?"
Fang Jun took a step forward and stood almost with Yu Wenshiji. The distance was very close and his voice could be heard. He sneered: "Don't let your qualifications overwhelm others. If you dare to show off your power in the East Palace territory again, believe it or not, I will kill you with one sword." And then start a full-scale war against Guanlong?"
The officials in the East Palace were all startled. Ma Zhou was so close. They quickly grabbed Fang Jun's sleeves, but instead of pulling him, they hugged his waist and pulled him aside.
No one knows what this Bang Chui is thinking. Since he dares to brazenly start a war with Guan Long, it is not impossible to kill Yu Wenshi and completely break down the peace talks between the two parties at this moment...
"you you you……"
Yu Wenshiji's face turned red with anger, and he pointed at Fang Jun with trembling fingers. He was so angry that he couldn't speak.
Fang Jun snorted: "You know the truth, if you dare to talk too much, I will keep this face today and don't take it away!"
Yu Wenshiji angrily cursed: "You are not the son of a man!"
He only dared to say this. If he scolded him harshly, who knows if this stick would disgrace him...
The servants were sweating coldly. When they saw Fang Jun being pushed away by Ma Zhou and others, Yu Wenshiji was still standing in the distance panting and moaning. They hurried forward and said: "Master Ying, please say a few words. His Highness is waiting to summon you."
"This stick is not a man's son!"
After repeating this sentence over and over again, Yu Wenshi and himself felt bored. They suppressed their anger, straightened their clothes, and followed the chamberlain into the palace to meet the prince.
…
Ma Zhou took Fang Jun away and went to Neizhong's door. He smiled bitterly and said, "You have to change your temper. I don't know when you are fake and when you are real."
Logically speaking, there was no need for Fang Jun to quarrel with Yuwenshiji, but he just did it. So Ma Zhou was not sure whether he would seriously kill Yuwenshiji with one blow...
Fang Jun said with a smile: "It's just to suppress the old guy's momentum. Although I will not participate in the negotiations, I will not be stingy when I can give some help."
"Ah……"
Ma Zhou sneered, noncommittal.
Just after taking a few steps, a general wearing armor walked quickly towards him. When he got close, he knelt down on one knee and performed a military salute: "Commander, please greet the Duke of Yue."
Fang Jun nodded: "Get up and talk."
This is Li Jing's nephew and his deputy general Li Dazhi. He is just over 30 years old. He has a strong body and a capable face, and is highly valued by Li Jing.
"Here."
Li Dazhi stood up, and Fang Jun nodded to Ma Zhou. Ma Zhou went back to the Yamen Office to work, and Fang Jun followed Li Dazhi to the Tai Chi Palace.
From the inner gate to the south, passing by the Acacia Hall and Jingfu Terrace, and passing by the Ziwei Hall from the lakeside, you can overlook the Shujing Hall to the west, which was originally Princess Changle's dormitory. It has been destroyed by the war. Half of the majestic palace collapsed, leaving only ruins. , very dilapidated.
Fang Jun stopped, looked at the dilapidated Shujing Palace, and asked, "Did the rebels suddenly arrive here?"
This is still the inner city, not far from the inner gate. It is surrounded by palaces and lakes, which shows how fierce the battle was at that time.
Li Dazhi looked at Shujing Palace with lingering fear: "That was a battle a month ago. The rebels launched a fierce attack like crazy. A group of rebels entered the palace from Jiayou Gate. It was the last general who was ordered to do so. We intercepted them, established a camp step by step based on the various palaces, and used thunder and other firearms to finally defeat the enemy, and Shujing Palace was also destroyed in that battle."
Fang Jun nodded, walked forward, and arrived at the Yuehua Gate, the temporary commander's tent of the Sixth Commander of the East Palace. Across the wall was the Ganlu Hall, the residence of His Majesty Li Er...
There are buildings for garrisoning imperial guards under Yuehua Gate, which are arranged north and south along the palace wall between Yuehua Gate and Yiqiu Gate. At this time, they have been commanded as the command center of the Sixth Army of the East Palace. Soldiers and officers are coming and going. in a hurry.
To the north is the Ganlu Gate, and inside the gate is the Ganlu Hall. To the south, you can see the majestic roof of the Liangyi Hall.
A few days ago, the East Palace had a truce with the rebels, but the Sixth Army of the East Palace did not dare to slack off. They took the time to repair the fortifications and replenish the ordnance. Last night, Fang Jun brazenly raided the Tonghua Gate rebel camp, causing the situation to suddenly become tense. All the members of the East Palace Sixth Army went into battle. , beware of the rebels taking revenge and attacking Tai Chi Palace again.
In the duty room next to Yuehua Gate, Li Jing, dressed in cloth, was sitting on his knees at the table in front of the window, making tea. When he saw Fang Jun entering, he said casually: "Sit down for a while, the tea will be ready soon."
Fang Jun looked at the simple furnishings in the room, nodded with a smile, lifted up the hem of his robe, and knelt down opposite Li Jing.
The charcoal fire was raging in the small red clay stove, and the flames were licking the bottom of the kettle. The water in the kettle made a slight sound. Li Jing focused his eyes on the kettle, watching the white gas spurting out from the spout, and suddenly asked: "Do you want to put the kettle into the pot?" Are everyone in the East Palace pushing into the abyss of eternal destruction?"
(End of chapter)
