"First of all, we need to have military power in our hands before we can make plans. If we don't have soldiers in our hands, no matter how hard we think, we can't withstand the swarming of the bandit army." Yao Guang said filially.
Zhu Su nodded. He couldn't agree more with what Monk Dao Yan said.
No matter how smart the mantis is, can it stop the rolling wheel? A strategy without its own strength is nothing more than a clown jumping off the rails.
It is said that one force can defeat ten societies, but there are always people in the world who are empty talkers, conceited and arrogant, and underestimate their strength. But they don't understand that their own strength is actually the basis for showing their resourcefulness.
The Wu Wangwei brought by Zhu Su and the soldiers of the Duke's Mansion brought by Chang Mao totaled only two hundred. It was enough to escort Zhu Su along the way. But it's really hard to use to counter rebellion.
"Secondly, we need to find ways to control floods and appease the people." Yao Guangxiao continued.
"Thieves take advantage of the floods and hide among the people."
"If the floods subside and the people's hearts return, there will no longer be a place for those people."
"The heart of the common people..." Zhu Su touched his chin. According to Wei Guan, the fundamental reason why Suzhou people miss Zhang Shicheng is Lao Zhu's strategy of "heavy endowment". But Zhu Su didn't know much about this, and he always felt that with Lao Zhu's temperament, he would not vent his anger on ordinary people in Suzhou just to vent his anger.
"These are things for later. In short, we should first find out whether the Suzhou Battalion can fight." Zhu Su said. He turned to look at Luo Guanzhong: "Mr. Luo, you are a native of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Do you know anything about this Suzhou camp?"
Because the topic just now involves Luo Guanzhong's old master, Luo Guanzhong has remained silent. At this time, when he heard Zhu Su calling him, he raised his hands and said, "Your Highness, the Suzhou Guard Commander has not been in office for a long time, and I don't know much about him."
"I only know that this person's name is Yang Lu, and he was originally a subordinate of the Marquis of Jiangyin. Last year, the Marquis of Jiangyin was ordered to quell the rebellion of the Western Barbarians and recommended this person to the Governor's Office."
"This person has just been appointed as the commander of the Suzhou Guard."
"Marquis of Jiangyin? Wu Liang?" A short but very capable man appeared in Zhu Su's mind. Wu Liang, the Marquis of Jiangyin, was a pioneer in Lao Zhu's tent, and he belonged to Lao Zhu's most loyal direct lineage.
With this kind of relationship, if Zhu Su comes forward, maybe Yang Lu will be easier to talk to.
"Amitabha, don't worry, Your Highness." Yao Guang said filially. "We will soon find out what kind of person Commander Yang is."
"His Royal Highness is staying at Shen Yuan. As the commander of the First Guard, he must see him."
As soon as I finished speaking, I heard footsteps outside, and then the dog's figure appeared outside the door:
"Your Highness, the Suzhou Guard sent someone to pay homage to you. They are outside the door now."
Several people looked at each other, and Zhu Su said to the door: "Bring him in."
After a while, a man in military uniform walked in. Seeing Zhu Su sitting in the main seat, he knelt down on one knee and gave Zhu Su a military salute:
"Li Yansong, the last general of the Suzhou Guards, comes to see His Highness the King of Wu!"
"Having learned that His Highness and Duke Zheng are visiting Suzhou, my Lord Commander has sent me an invitation, asking His Highness to have a banquet in our guardhouse tonight!"
"Oh?" Zhu Su, who was in charge, frowned.
"Who is this Yang Lu? When Your Highness and I came to Suzhou, he rushed over to see us and sat in the guardhouse asking us to see him?" Zhu Su only looked unhappy, but Chang Mao was immediately angry. His face turned red, he pointed at the hundreds of households and cursed.
"... My commander is supposed to come to see the prince and the duke, but there is a battle in the garrison recently. According to our Ming Dynasty's military law, whenever there is a battle, the commander is not allowed to leave the camp easily." This Suzhou garrison hundred households obviously obeyed the instructions, although He lowered his head in fear, but he replied quickly.
"I have no choice but to do this, my commander-in-chief. I hope that the prince and the duke will not be surprised."
"I just drove the boat out for a spin, what a bird fight!" Chang Mao was about to scold him again, but Zhu Su reached out to stop him.
"In that case, Li Baihu will go back. I and Duke Zheng will go to the banquet tonight!"
"...Yes. I will retire at the end."
With Zhu Su's approval, Li Baihu clasped his fists and saluted again, then walked out backwards.
Seeing him disappearing outside the door, Chang Mao was still angry: "Bah! What the hell!"
"What kind of bird chart does a guard station commander put up?"
"Let's have a bird fight..."
"It seems that the Suzhou Guard Commander is not as easy to manipulate as originally expected." Zhu Su narrowed his eyes slightly.
Regardless of whether the "military law" was an excuse or not, just looking at the way Baihu responded, it was clear that Commander Yang must not have taken his teenage prince to heart.
"Brother Chang, it seems that tonight, you and I have to sing 'Going to the Meeting Alone'." Zhu Su said.
"Hmph, I'm sorry he doesn't dare to hold a Hongmen Banquet. If he's just a dirty thing, I'll just twist his head off!" Chang Mao said fiercely.
…
As night fell, two carriages appeared on the streets of Weiqian Street in Suzhou on time.
Suzhou Guard Commander Yang Lu was already waiting at the door of the Suzhou Guard Command Post Yamen.
As soon as the two carriages arrived, they hurriedly led a crowd of thousands of households to welcome them. With a smile on their face, they said enthusiastically: "Suzhou Guard Commander Yang Lu greets His Highness the King of Wu and Duke Zheng!"
"The visit of His Royal Highness and the Duke to the Imperial Guard really makes the Imperial Guard shine brightly!"
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Zhu Su, who was wearing a Yishan crown and a scarlet prince's python robe, stepped on the small stool beside the carriage and got off the carriage.
He glanced at Yang Lu lightly: "Commander Yang has such great official authority. Instead of going to pay homage, I will be forced to come here."
The atmosphere suddenly stopped. Yang Lu and his generals knelt down on one knee to plead guilty and said: "Your Highness, forgive me. I really don't dare to violate military law, so I have no choice but to do this."
"If there is any negligence, I will definitely bear the blame in the future. I only ask Your Highness to calm down!"
"Your Highness, please calm down!" The generals behind him also said in unison.
Zhu Su stared coldly at the group of generals who bowed their heads to apologize. After a few breaths, he suddenly laughed and said: "Haha, General Yang practices his own actions and abides by military laws."
"I only have admiration in my heart, but how can I blame you?"
"General and other generals, please get up quickly! Let's go into the camp. To be honest, I am already very hungry in my belly!"
As he said that, he reached out to help Yang Lu.
"Thank you, Your Highness, I dare not trouble Your Highness!" Yang Lu stood up and turned around to pay homage to Chang Mao, who was getting off the carriage over there: "I have finally met the Duke."
"Hmm." Chang Mao nodded stiffly. Despite Zhu Su's prior instructions, his face still looked a little unhappy.
Yang Lu, however, still looked enthusiastic, as if the stiffness on Chang Mao's face and Zhu Su's power just now were not there, and he repeatedly invited the two of them inside for the banquet. Zhu Su nodded, led Di Meng and several of his personal guards, and strode into the Suzhou Guardhouse.
(End of chapter)
