Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang looked unkind, Empress Zhou looked at her with a cold glint in her eyes, and said with a worried look on her face: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with this concubine?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was about to speak when he suddenly remembered that Chongzhen had strictly ordered the harem not to be extravagant unless it was an auspicious day due to military pay issues. He thought that the two dishes of meat and fish in front of him were specially prepared by Empress Zhou.
Seeing that Queen Zhou was beautiful, her skin was as white as snow, just like the person in the painting, but she was wearing plain clothes and no hairpins. She couldn't help but feel weak in her heart, and said with some guilt: "Queen, you have suffered!"
Empress Zhou thought that Zhu Yuanzhang would be angry, but when she heard these words, she was shocked in her heart. The grievances she had felt over the years could not help but surge up. She suppressed her grief and said: "I am not bitter. I am a common concubine. I am blessed by heaven and can accompany your majesty." You are so lucky!"
"It's just that I can't bear to see His Majesty worry so much these days and nights. I just hate that I'm stupid and can't share your worries. I feel really ashamed..."
When Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhou Hou's words, he couldn't help but look a little dazed, as if the person in front of him was not Zhou Hou, but his queen Ma Xiuying, and he was filled with emotions for a while.
This dinner, which originally seemed very boring to Zhu Yuanzhang, became very warm after this misunderstanding.
Coupled with Zhou Hou's warm welcome and soft words of advice, Zhu Yuanzhang ate even more happily and even made an exception to drink some wine.
After dinner, Queen Zhou kept looking at Zhu Yuanzhang affectionately.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little confused when he saw Zhou Hou's voluptuous figure and skin as good as snow under the lamp.
However, he suddenly remembered that the person opposite him was the wife of a junior, and he immediately felt uncomfortable. He hurriedly left Kunning Palace under Zhou Hou's resentful eyes on the grounds that there were still military affairs to deal with.
After Zhu Yuanzhang returned to Dongnuan Pavilion, he wanted to have a good night's rest. Unexpectedly, the young eunuch came in and reported that Liu Wenbing and Shen Zhanran were outside asking for an audience.
In desperation, he had to steel himself and meet the two of them.
After Shen Zhanran came in, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang's face was ruddy and smelled of alcohol. After presenting the plan to reward the soldiers, he winked at Liu Wenbing and prepared to resign.
I don’t know if Liu Wenbing didn’t see his look, or he was really worried about the situation of the war. After presenting the reward plan for Wu Sangui and other generals, he started talking about the rebels.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Wang Chengen to serve him a cup of strong tea, and then talked with him in detail.
Upon seeing this, Shen Zhanran also participated after hesitating for a while.
"Mr. An Guo, do our cavalry still have the strength to fight?"
After analyzing the battle situation, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Liu Wenbing again.
Liu Wenbing hesitated for a while and said: "Our cavalry was formed in a hurry. After this battle, we have lost more than 2,000 people. Only your Majesty's newly formed 1,000 Tiger Camp and 2,000 heavily armored cavalry are left."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then looked at Shen Zhanran and said, "Shen Qing, you came from Li Jing's side. Do you know how many horses he has raised?"
Shen Zhanran bowed and said: "Due to the rush of time, Mr. Li has only raised more than two thousand horses, and there may only be more than a thousand horses that can go to the battlefield."
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a while and said: "We remember that Jin Yiwei still has more than a thousand horses, so it should be about the same."
Hearing this, Shen Zhanran asked tentatively: "Is it possible that Your Majesty is preparing to relieve the siege of Baoding?"
A look of panic flashed across Liu Wenbing's face, and he hurriedly spoke to dissuade him: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable. The reinforcements have different ideas now. If Your Majesty sends troops out, I'm afraid they may have second thoughts!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "What kind of second thoughts can they have? Do they still dare to unite with the rebels and besiege the capital?"
"And even if they have this intention, planning will take time. The Baoding rebels only have 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers, and they are exhausted from long battles. We can defeat them with one blow, and the round trip only takes two or three days, so we can't miss any major event."
When Liu Wenbing heard that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to lead the expedition in person, he hurriedly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, not to mention that you are a man of ten thousand gold, and you should not go into dangerous places personally."
"Once you leave the capital, there will be no one in the capital to take charge of the overall situation. People will definitely be in panic, fearing that all their previous efforts will be wasted. Your Majesty, please think twice!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he sighed and said: "We are also worried about this, so we have not made a decision for a long time."
"But at this moment, the rebels have not retreated, and the reinforcements have different ideas. Baoding is the key to this battle, and we have to go there in person."
Liu Wenbing shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, Baoding is in the middle between Liu Fangliang and Ma Chongxi. Even if we break the siege, it will be difficult to achieve anything."
"Your Majesty might as well wait a little longer for Li Guozhen to lead Jiang Yu, Wang Chengyin and others to form a pincer attack on Li Zicheng, and they will be able to defeat the rebels in one fell swoop."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, looked at Shen Zhanran and said, "Shen Qing, what do you mean?"
Shen Zhanran was silent for a while and said: "Although Baoding is under attack from the rebels, once Baoding is relieved, Ma Chongxi will also be attacked from both sides."
"And by then the news of Li Thief's defeat has spread. Ma Chongxi will not dare to fight for a long time, so that Huang Degong can march north."
"I heard that Huang Degong was from the Beijing Army and was loyal. If he comes, he will also be a deterrent to Wu Sangui and others."
"It's just that what Duke An Guo said is reasonable. The preservation of the capital depends entirely on your majesty. Once your majesty leaves the capital, the capital will easily change."
After Shen Zhanran finished speaking, he glanced at Liu Wenbing as if unintentionally.
After listening to Shen Zhanran's story, Liu Wenbing understood the key and immediately knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, although I am not talented, I am willing to go to relieve the siege of Baoding for Your Majesty. Please give me your permission!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was interested in him, but when he saw him volunteering, he was overjoyed and hurriedly helped him up and said, "Dong An Guo, we know you are loyal and brave, but this trip is unusual and you have only experienced war, so we are still a little worried! "
Liu Wenbing heard this and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, although I have not commanded the troops, I often practice battle formations with Pingxihou on weekdays, and I have made a lot of progress recently with your Majesty's instructions."
"If your majesty is not at ease with me, you might as well ask Ping Xihou to accompany me. If the two of us cannot break the siege of Baoding, we will raise our heads to see you!"
After Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to think deeply, he said: "Ping Xihou has never commanded the cavalry, but Li Ruolian performed well in today's battle, and the Jinyi Guards are also needed for this trip."
"According to our wishes, you and he might as well lead six thousand cavalry to relieve the siege of Baoding overnight. What do you think?"
Liu Wenbing thought for a while and said: "Yes, Commander Li is indeed more suitable than Marquis Pingxi. I have no objection. I just took all the cavalry away. If something happens in the capital, wouldn't your Majesty be too passive?"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Don't worry, Duke An, as long as you can break the siege of Baoding, the generals will not dare to act rashly!"
"But you must be careful on this trip and must not encounter Liu Fangliang's army."
"Furthermore, if the situation changes, you can directly send your troops south to make peace with Huang Degong. You cannot return to the capital to avoid being surrounded by rebels..."
After Liu Wenbing took note of Zhu Yuanzhang's instructions, he hurriedly left Dongnuan Pavilion.
