Feng Ziying's eyes suddenly sharpened and she stared at Wang Wenyan.
Wang Wenyan, however, was not afraid and remained as usual, calmly saying: "My subordinates have also wanted to ask you a question for a long time. What do you think of the future situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
"Wen Yan, your topic is a bit big, so big that even I don't know how to answer it for a while." Feng Ziying said calmly: "What do you want to say, just the two of us, we can always tell the truth openly, right?"
"Sir, you should also feel that after the Jiangnan rebellion, as well as the constant pressure from the Liaodong and Shanshan rebellions, the pattern of civil and military control is changing. Although the court is still working hard to maintain this pattern, the power of military commanders is increasing day by day. It is an indisputable fact that this trend will be strengthened." Wang Wenyan said every word.
Feng Ziying was slightly shocked. It seemed that the other party was also aware of this.
The Northwest Army led by my father has become a decisive force after the First World War in Shandong, and may have become a major hidden danger in the eyes of the court.
On the one hand, the imperial court had to let Sun Chengzong lead the northern front army, and took advantage of the situation to integrate the first part of the Jizhen Army and the first part of the Jingying Army plus the defeated Shanxi Town Army.
According to common sense, now that the Battle of Shandong has ended, Sun Chengzong's northern army should be disbanded and returned to reconstruction.
For example, although one part of the Jizhen Army led by You Shilu should be returned to the Jianji Town Army, two units of the Fifth Army Battalion of He Huchen and Yang Zhaoji should be returned to the Beijing Camp, and even this army should be reorganized and integrated from the defeated army of Su Shengdu in Shanxi Town. This army should also be returned to Shanxi Town. After all, Shanxi Town is now seriously damaged.
But now the court has no such intention. Why? On the one hand, the good reason is that there are changes in Jianzhou Jurchen, so that this army can live on the front line of Jingdong and Liaodong, and can reinforce Liaodong at any time. On the other hand, there is also a vague factor to prevent the Northwest Army, but I am afraid that the latter is not known to the civil servants of the DPRK and China. Everyone said it tacitly.
In addition, he still felt that it was not enough, and was worried that the Northwest Army would not be able to lose its tail, and would even rather accept Chen Jixian's Huaiyang Army "anyway", even if Chen Jixian was allowed to take Jiangnan, so that Dad and Chen Jixian could restrain each other.
Feng Ziying felt that the princes in the court did not think that her father was unreliable, but that he and his group of warriors were unreliable.
Liu Dongyang, Liu Baichuan, and Tu Wenxiu, these are all unruly and ambitious people, and these people are very good at fighting and have high prestige in the military. Once they lose control and really cause chaos in the Central Plains, that would be heaven. The imperial court could not even dedicate many troops to deal with such a big disaster, which is why both Sun Chengzong and Chen Jixian's armies were retained.
As for Chen Jixian, the same is true. If he really wants his father to lead the Northwest Army to fight and destroy the entire Jiangnan and Jiangbei, with the current financial resources of the imperial court, it will really collapse.
In order to ensure victory in the Battle of Shandong and the subsequent pacification of Jiangnan, the towns of Liaodong, Jizhen, Xuanfu, Datong, and even Shanxi and Yulin have begun to owe food and wages. If they are given, they must be replenished before the end of the year. To put it bluntly, if the situation gets worse this year, not to mention Jiangnan, Northland will collapse first, and the border troops in these towns will first rebel.
"Well, the current situation is not peaceful. The border troops and the guards are fighting everywhere. The warriors do have more power. This is true." Feng Ziying nodded.
"But can this trend be reversed in a certain period of time in the future?" Wang Wenyan continued: "I find it difficult for my subordinates. The Jurchens in Jianzhou, Liaodong, the Chahar people outside the border walls of Jizhen, Xuanfu, and Datong, and even now The honest and obedient Tumut people are a little bit ready to move. For a long time to come, the border towns in the North will be further strengthened. But among the civil servants, except Sun Chengzong who can barely lead the army, who else is there? Xiong Tingbi The fighting in Huguang was like shit. How long have Yang Yinglong and An Zing been fighting? Sun Chengzong and Geng Ruqi left him with such a good foundation, but he was still stretched thin and forced Wang Ziteng to leave Huguang easily..."
Feng Ziying frowned. Wang Wenyan was too harsh, but in fact Xiong Tingbi was pretty good. If Yang He had continued to be there, it would have been even worse.
There are only a few civil servants who can fight in the first place. They don't lead soldiers themselves. They are given great powers temporarily and want to make a bunch of warriors obey orders willingly. How can it be so easy?
Chai Ke put down the rebellion in Ningxia, then
It was because he was also the Minister of War, and had his father to help him, and the court also fully supported him, that he was able to win this battle.
Now that there are fires everywhere, the court cannot deal with one place with all its strength and can only deal with it everywhere. Naturally, the battle in Huguang and Sichuan will not be so easy to fight.
"Not mentioning Xiong Tingbi, let's just talk about the specific situation of this court. Outside the northern wall, foreign enemies are watching, and the interior is not stable. The Shanshan Rebellion subordinates have investigated and found that the White Lotus Sect has actually infiltrated. Fortunately, there are still people in Shaanxi. Good calculation, but Zi Jinliang, Xu Conger and Zhang Cunhou's rebels all have the shadow of the White Lotus..." Wang Wenyan said with certainty: "I can conclude that there will definitely be trouble in Shanxi, Beizhi, Shandong in the second half of the year. , Nanzhi, both are possible, Beizhi and Shandong are more likely..."
"Under this situation, even if the imperial court successfully takes Jiangnan, I'm afraid it will have to rely on the Northwest Army, Huaiyang Army, and even the Jingxiang Army, which are currently in the mainland, to deal with this. I haven't yet Even if Wang Ziteng’s Denglai army is still in Jiangxi, how to solve this problem is a big problem.”
Feng Ziying rubbed her face with both hands and had to admit that Wang Wenyan's analysis of the current political situation still had some insights.
Once the White Lotus Sect breaks out in Beizhi or Shandong, and places like Liaodong, Jizhen, and Xuanfu are restrained by the Jurchens and Mongols, and cannot send out troops at all, then who will shoulder the heavy responsibility of countering the rebellion? I'm afraid there are only the Northwest Army and the Huaiyang Army. If Wang Ziteng continues to struggle in Huguang, Jiangxi and cannot find a good countermeasure to solve it, Xiong Tingbi may not be able to defeat Wang Ziteng, which will be another trouble.
"Sir, I don't know what you are thinking about in the future. Maybe you think that you have solved the chaos in Shaanxi and can return to the capital in peace and contentment. Maybe you can become a Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, or the Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, but I I feel that even if you take the position of Minister of the Palace, you may not be able to do it for a long time. I am afraid that the court will have to give you the most difficult job in the end, but whether you are asked to deal with the Jianzhou women or the Chahar people , or Fengzhou Bailian, it is also possible that you will be asked to deal with the Bailian rebellion in Shandong Province, or even asked to go to Jiangxi to deal with Wang Ziteng. If you do not have enough military power, that is absolutely impossible."
Wang Wenyan spoke more and more freely, "My subordinates look at what you did in Shaanxi. You can't interfere too much with the border army, but Ma Jinbao is convinced of you now. There are also the mountain-breaking camp, the city-destroying camp, and the sudden front camp." , plus Modren and Zhao Qianshan who are stationed across the border in Puzhou, my subordinates feel that you are setting up a plan, so they dare to think that in this case, for example, send Qiu Zixiong to Shanxi Town. If Beizhi or Shanxi want to Let you solve the problem, and you will have an army in your hands. "
Feng Ziying didn't expect that Wang Wenyan would see through every bit of her arrangement. Although she didn't intend to hide it from the other party, she didn't deliberately make it clear, but in Wang Wenyan's eyes, it was simply written in black and white.
"Wen Yan, you are far-sighted." Feng Ziying sighed, "Yes, I also feel that the situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty is not optimistic. The Jiangnan Rebellion seems to be an internal strife within us, and it does not seem to have caused much turmoil, but
The biggest problem with this kind of internal strife is that it consumes our own strength and gives opportunities to internal and external enemies..."
Wang Wenyan understood what Feng Ziying meant. The Great Zhou Dynasty was in internal strife, but the internal and external enemies took the opportunity to grow stronger. If the enemies could choose the right time to attack at the same time, then the Great Zhou Dynasty would be in trouble.
"So it is very necessary for your Excellency to hold on to the military power. After all, the court now treats you more like a fire brigade. Whenever there is a problem, your Excellency will be the first to deal with it. But what we have to face are almost all disasters, civil commotions, If there are not enough troops to deal with difficult matters such as rebellion or even invasion by foreign enemies, we will definitely be cowardly and unable to deal with it."
Feng Ziying laughed, "Wen Yan, is that it? Is there anything else? I think there is still something unfinished in your words."
Wang Wenyan took a deep breath and nodded: "In addition to what I just said is considered from your own perspective, the other issues are the Feng family, including your father."
Sure enough, Feng Ziying expected that Wang Wenyan would not fail to see the deeper intentions. He had been by her side for so long, and she had been training manpower in the army since Yongping Mansion. How could it be such a simple purpose?
"go on."
"The current situation of the Feng family
It's very subtle. I feel that there are two ways to go. One is that your father can choose the opportunity to retreat and tease your grandson. After all, your father is in his early fifties. It is not too old to say that he is old, but he is not too young either. As long as your father... After retiring, I believe that the imperial court will definitely change the position of General Shenwu. It should not be a big problem to make him a marquis. It is not impossible to even give it to a Duke. Anyway, it is a false title. "
Wang Wenyan said with a smile: "In this case, my lord, you can work hard on the road of civil service. With the support of Mr. Qi Ge and others, your influence among the scholars in the north will help you join the cabinet and become the prime minister after thirty years. It’s a matter of course, and it’s normal to be the first assistant in the future.”
"Well, it seems that this idea is not bad." Feng Ziying nodded leisurely, "Countless scholars may not be able to achieve my current position in their lifetime, let alone join the cabinet and become the chief minister. It seems that I should be content. Le is right, this choice is the most appropriate no matter how you look at it, Wen Yan, what do you think? I think you think this is the next best thing?"
