Zhao Mengqi not only wanted to welcome Li Zengbo, but also gave him a banquet on behalf of Zhao.
On the way to Prince Yan's Mansion, Li Zengbo looked out the car window in ecstasy.
What you see is a scene that is completely different from what you remember. Everything is so prosperous, full of vigor and vitality, and the faces of passers-by are also filled with excitement and longing.
In just over a year, such earth-shaking changes can take place here. King Yan is really a wise man!
In fact, what he saw and heard when passing by Pingjiang had already amazed Li Zengbo, but now he had to marvel at King Yan's talent again.
Li Zengbo came from a famous family. His grandfather was the prodigal prime minister Li Bangyan. His father was a civil servant, but he was responsible for military responsibilities most of the time.
When he was young, he followed his father in official travels to various frontier places. He stayed in the southwest, especially Sichuan, for the longest time. He did not leave Sichuan until he was thirty-one years old and his father became an official.
During this period, he worked as an adviser to the Sichuan envoys for four or five years and accumulated a lot of experience in military and political affairs.
When he was thirty-three years old, he officially entered the official service and served as the magistrate of Xiangyang County, Xiangyang Prefecture. It was still considered a frontline area. Later, he basically did not leave the military after going around and over, and experienced all three major defense zones of the Song Dynasty.
The person he most admired was Xin Qiji, who took him as a life example and yearned for a heroic career. Therefore, he pursued success and led the army to resist the Mongolian invasion for a long time, becoming a mainstay of the Song Dynasty.
Whenever the mountains and rivers are in turmoil and the borders are in danger, he is proactive and strives to protect his home and country, but the reality often makes him feel powerless and even helpless.
He is in his fifties this year. His long career as a commander has made him more and more aware of the country's situation, and the mentality of the whole country has made him more and more discouraged about the future of the world, and his decline is getting worse.
However, when he witnessed the changes brought about by King Yan, especially after meeting King Yan himself, his already dead heart seemed to be stirred up again.
Perhaps, there is still hope in the future...
Li Zengbo was thinking a lot, and Li Xi was already resentful in her heart. She couldn't help but say, "Dad, why did you let the traitor go so easily just now? Even if you couldn't really hurt him, you should let him lose face and suffer a lot." People are laughing at you!”
When Li Zengbo was awakened, he didn't expect that his daughter was still obsessed with personal grudges. He stared at her for a long time until she started to look panicked.
"Why are you so stupid? It seems that Tianyi's self-destructive temper is also a result of your mother-in-law's habit! Alas... It's strange that my father is so focused on state affairs that he has neglected to educate you. "
As he said that, guilt appeared on Li Zengbo's face, and then he was worried that his daughter would not understand and do something stupid, so he had the patience to explain it to her.
"You have already learned how King Yan uses his methods. I don't need to say more, but this is not the most important thing. The key is his character! You have also seen his actions just now. He is not afraid of the edge of a knife, regardless of life and death. , such a character is the most terrifying, you will never know how crazy he can be."
Li Xi disagreed, "He's just determined that you don't dare to really hurt him. It's just an act."
"Oh, sure!? Rationally speaking, I really don't dare to hurt him, but what if? Human behavior is not always controlled by reason. To take a step back, if you dare to test your conjecture with life and death, you can't It is definitely not something ordinary people can do. For example, everyone believes that tiger poison cannot eat its seeds, but if I, the father, put a knife in front of your daughter's neck, would you be afraid?"
"...No, I'm not afraid." Li Xi's eyes flickered.
Li Zengbo shook his head and smiled, "You will be afraid, but King Yan is really not afraid at all. My eyes will never be wrong. Such a person has unparalleled confidence and persistence. Even an ordinary person, or Just beat him to death with a stick, or don't mess with him at will, otherwise you will only have endless death, not to mention, he is the future master of the Song Dynasty, and his words can make blood flow for thousands of miles."
"The respect he gave me was not due to rules or moral etiquette, but because I was still useful to the country and to him."
"As a father, I would like to advise you once again to put out your hatred as soon as possible. If the Xu family still has resentment, it would be best for you to reconcile. If not, my Li family will have no choice but to sever any relationship with you. Do you understand?"
Hearing his father's heartless words, Li Xi's head was buzzing, and he was so lost that he could no longer say a word.
Prince Yan's Mansion is not far from the pier, and he arrived as soon as he spoke.
A sumptuous but not extravagant banquet had been prepared long ago. Li Zengbo's family and staff were having a banquet in the main hall, but he himself and King Yan came to a pavilion in the middle of the lake.
There was only one Qiu Yue accompanying him, "Chang Ru, we haven't seen each other for many years, so we have to get drunk today."
The two old men were very familiar with each other and had fought together many times. They were considered close friends of life and death.
After drinking a few glasses of strong wine, the two of them talked about some past wars, both of them lamenting.
Li Zengbo sighed with emotion, "Time is not forgiving. In a blink of an eye, we are all old. It is time for me to retire like Brother Shanfu and return to Lao Linquan to have grandchildren."
At first, Zhao Mengqi didn't talk much, just smiled and drank with him, but he laughed when he heard this.
"Haha, Mr. Li, I'm afraid you are a bit insincere..."
Li Zengbo's face sank and he said angrily, "Why can't my words be sincere?"
"I remember that Prime Minister Li wrote a letter ten years ago, 'Pray for the early release of Yi Leng and release him into the fields.' Until now, I haven't seen you really retreat." Zhao Mengqi laughed.
Li Zengbo laughed angrily, "Your Highness, do you mean that the old minister is greedy for power?"
Zhao Mengqi hurriedly waved his hand, "No, no, Prime Minister Li misunderstood. I mean, you may be really tired in your heart and tired of the military life, but if the country is in danger, you always take the world as your responsibility, repeatedly shoulder the heavy burden, and serve the country." He does not hesitate to sacrifice himself, but he is truly loyal and courageous, a role model for all generations."
"I didn't expect His Highness to have such a high opinion of the veteran." Li Zengbo accepted the flattery calmly, but lowered his head and sighed, "It's a pity that the veteran is really beyond his ability now. I can't carry this responsibilities in the world, let alone my family." Unfortunately, there is a scoundrel who has brought disaster to the country and the people. How can he still dare to talk about protecting the homeland and the country..."
This old man is joining my army.
Zhao Mengqi rolled his eyes in his heart and did not want to beat around the bush, "I think there must be another reason why Prime Minister Li wants to become an official this time. Your grandson's matter is just an excuse, right?"
"Oh... Then what do you think the real reason is, Your Highness?" Li Zengbo pretended not to agree, but he really wanted to know what King Yan would think.
"It's just that Prime Minister Li is becoming more and more disappointed with the current situation," Zhao Mengqi shrugged and continued, "Prime Minister Li has always wanted to change the situation where we are passively being beaten. He hopes to be more proactive in cracking down on the invasion of foreign enemies, and even hopes that we can be more proactive in cracking down on the invasion of foreign enemies. To be able to rise up, we no longer limit ourselves to defense, but take the initiative to attack and restore the Central Plains."
Li Zengbo was stunned. He didn't expect that King Yan actually guessed the thoughts hidden in his heart.
He has always had this idea, but because he knew the specific situation of the country and knew that this idea was too inappropriate, he never expressed it. He just worked quietly and tried his best to gain time and space for the country to change.
But over the past few decades, the country's power has become increasingly decadent, making him more and more desperate. Otherwise, how could he, a mature and important commander-in-chief, give up his ambition because of a grandson.
"Your Highness...how did you know?"
"Guess." Zhao Mengqi smiled, relaxed the atmosphere, and said, "Actually, I personally think that the surprise attack on Dali plan proposed by Prime Minister Li last year is still feasible. It is a pity that a bunch of short-sighted rats tied your hands and feet, and the plan was aborted. , I think Li Xiang must be very unwilling."
"Really unwilling!" Li Zengbo didn't hide it, and even looked a little indignant. "Those people only want to keep their own one-third of an acre of land. They have no big picture in their eyes. They are all selfish, but they talk high-sounding. As long as it doesn’t conform to their ideals, they will attack them arbitrarily.”
"Now the Mongols are mediating with me, forming a flanking attack on our territory from two sides, and Sichuan is even attacking from three sides. Once the Mongols find a breakthrough point and cut off the connection between Sichuan and Jingxiang, then even if there is terrain in Sichuan, it can be Yes, after being surrounded, without the support of the imperial court, it will fall sooner or later. Once Sichuan falls, Jingxiang will not be able to be protected, and our empire will fall!"
"Originally, not long after the Mongols attacked and destroyed Dali, they actually did not gain a firm foothold. Moreover, the Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan returned north with most of his forces. The number of Mongolian troops remaining in Dali was only about 10,000. A great opportunity for the army.”
"The terrain of Dali is like that of Shu, which is not conducive to cavalry. The biggest advantage of the Mongolian army will be weakened. Our army only needs to use its rich experience in mountain warfare and join forces with the remaining forces of Dali, as well as barbarians such as Wumeng, Lugao, and Ayong. , even if the Mongolian army cannot be eliminated, it can still make the Mongolian army in Dali exhausted and have no time to invade our territory, which can be regarded as a disguised solution to the threat of the Mongolian attack from two sides."
"It's a pity that those gentry and guards in Shu are cowardly and incompetent. They talk about using troops outside the territory. They are putting the cart before the horse. Damn it, they are putting the cart before the horse. They know the whole story. But the imperial court only wants the stability of the place and does not want to cause trouble. I actually agreed with their fallacy..."
"If we miss the best opportunity now, even if the court changes its tune and agrees to use troops in Dali, it may be difficult to achieve any substantial gains."
Perhaps because of drinking, Li Zengbo used the words mentioned by King Yan to vent out the depression that had been accumulated in his heart for a long time. After speaking, he picked up the wine bottle and poured it directly into his mouth, as if he wanted to extinguish the anger in his heart.
Qiu Yue quickly grabbed the wine bottle, "Chang Ru, you called yourself old just now. Why, are you in a hurry to lie down on the couch now!?"
It's okay to be angry in your heart, but I'm afraid you really have given up.
Zhao Mengqi smiled secretly, "Well, I still disagree with what Mr. Li said!"
"Well!" Li Zengbo's eyes widened angrily, his eyes were red and sparks were flying, "What do you mean by your highness? Do you also think that the old minister is whimsical and unrealistic!?"
"No, no, no! Don't be impatient, Mr. Li. You look like you're trying to eat someone."
Zhao Mengqi also started teasing, with a look of needing a beating, which made Li Zengbo's teeth itch, "If Your Highness can't give me an explanation today, don't blame me...me..."
I really couldn't think of any effective threat, so I was stuck.
Fortunately, Zhao Mengqi explained in time, "I mean, it's actually not too late. According to my estimation, the Mongols are still in preparation for a full-scale attack, and it should take another two or three years. In the meantime, if we take appropriate measures, Maybe we can use the Mongolian army in Dali to make a fuss..."
It took him half an hour to tell all his thoughts to Li Zengbo, "So please ask Li Xiang to take charge of Jingnan and Guangxi again. I will try to give you the greatest support in terms of money and food policy. In half a year, I will be able to send a division of the Eastern Wei Army." , as the mobile force in the hands of Prime Minister Li."
Li Zengbo was extremely excited, "Is your Highness serious about what he said!?"
"Seriously! More real than pearls!"
