Winter has arrived and snow covers thousands of miles.
Ordinary people can't even go out, so they can only stay at home and survive by storing grain and some pickles.
The twelfth lunar month of winter is not a good day to send troops to fight.
Marching, transporting food, and fighting are all extremely difficult.
However, an imperial decree was issued, ordering Hu Zong, the governor of the northern border, to go to Tongzhou Guards Station to review the fifth military camp that had just completed its assembly.
It's called reviewing the army, but it's actually the final preparation before the war.
With all the generals ready, the Northern Expedition was about to recover Yunzhou City.
"Congratulations to Commander Hu."
"An army of three hundred thousand, all composed of our elite wolf soldiers from the southwest of the Ming Dynasty."
"The wolf soldiers are fearless and extremely brave. They are the pinnacle of the combat power of our Ming army."
"Commander Hu has 300,000 wolf soldiers, enough to dominate the world!"
The eunuch who delivered the order had a flattering look on his face and respectfully handed the imperial edict to Hu Zongxian.
At this moment, Hu Zongxian, although he has been restored to his official position, is still dressed in civilian clothes, as if he is an old farmer who has just returned from working in the fields.
The eunuch who passed the order thought: Why does this man have no official authority at all? The first person in the Ming army has this kind of virtue. Is there really no one left in the Ming Dynasty?
Hu Zongxian glanced at the eunuch indifferently. How could he hide the contempt in his eyes?
But he was not angry, but just picked up a note.
This is the spiritual stone ticket from Rishengchang Bank. You can exchange it for 500 high-grade spiritual stones upon seeing the ticket.
"It's hard work for my father-in-law to make a trip, but Hu feels guilty, so he can only invite his father-in-law to have a cup of tea to express his apology."
The eunuch who delivered the order skillfully took the ticket, squinted his eyes and looked at it, and he was immediately elated!
Five hundred spiritual stones?
Although most of the jobs such as carrying out orders and running errands are rewarded, they are usually paid in silver. It is extremely rare to use spiritual stones, let alone such a large denomination.
"It is said that Hu Zongxian is a member of Yan Song's party, which is indeed true."
"The strict party is rich."
"The last time I went to Xuge's hometown to convey the order, I was only given three baskets of tangerines. The more I think about it, the angrier I get!"
The eunuch who passed the order opened his eyes when he saw Qian. Looking at Hu Zongxian at this moment, he suddenly felt that he was extraordinary and unpredictable.
Even the gray coarse cloth on Hu Zongxian's body has a layer of hidden meaning of merit and fame.
The eunuch who delivered the order was in a good mood and repeatedly expressed to Hu Zongxian that when he returned to the palace to return his duties to Emperor Jiajing, he would definitely say a few nice words for him in front of His Majesty.
Hu Zongxian forced his smile and did not expose the other party's fault. He respectfully sent the eunuch who represented the emperor out of the house.
"Congratulations, sir, on regaining military power!"
When Hu Zongxian returned home, he saw a group of family members and servants kneeling on the ground. Their faces were full of joy, as if they had finally survived all the hardships?
Hu Zongxian froze.
He stared at his family for a long time, finally feeling that he had nothing to say and even sighing was unnecessary.
"Change for me."
The imperial edict urged him to leave immediately and rush to Tongzhou Guard Station.
at the same time.
The news that Hu Zongxian had received the imperial edict and was about to take over the 300,000-strong army of the Fifth Army Camp was known to all the leading figures in the Ming Dynasty.
Yan Mansion, Xu Mansion... also includes Beiting Lane and Fan Mansion.
"Dad! Your Majesty has finally issued an official edict!" Yan Shifan's face was filled with joy. "As long as we take back Yunzhou City, our family's annual income can increase to this amount!"
He made a gesture, but Yan Song didn't even look at it.
The old chief assistant slowly said: "Yan Shifan... remember, most of every penny earned by my Ming Dynasty must be handed over to the emperor. You... can't be too greedy."
"cut!"
Yan Shifan looked unhappy after hearing this.
But in front of his father, he did not dare to speak his true feelings.
Xu Mansion.
"Father, Hu Zongxian has resurrected and Yan Dang has regained power in the army. How can you sit back and ignore it?" Xu Fan was anxious.
Beside him stood two young officials.
It seems that the two men's official robes are not of high rank, but they are the most vocal figures in the Ming Dynasty.
Just because their official positions are censors.
The censor Zou Yinglong and the censor Lin Run.
Lin Run said loudly: "Teacher, we would rather die to remonstrate than let Hu Zongxian go!"
Zou Yinglong also took a step forward and stood side by side with Lin Run to show that they were of the same mind.
"Confused!"
Xu Jie shouted angrily.
"Dead admonishment, are you trying to trap His Majesty in injustice?"
Lin Run and Zou Yinglong were stunned when they heard this, and after thinking for a moment, they understood the reason.
Literary officers die in admonishment and military officers die in battle. This is a model of loyal ministers since ancient times.
However, once a civil servant dies because of his advice, it is tantamount to declaring that the emperor is a foolish king who does not listen to loyal advice.
Sacrifice your father's reputation to gain a good reputation for yourself?
Even if Lin Run and Zou Yinglong really meant this, they didn't dare to admit it.
The two of them knelt down and shouted, "Guilty!"
Xu Jie breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the two students were still obedient.
"That's all, I know you have good intentions."
"But you two don't have to do anything about this."
Lin Run and Zou Yinglong looked at each other, still kneeling and refusing to get up.
They neither agreed nor refused, and both remained silent. This was obviously to ask Xu Jie for an accurate answer.
"snort!"
"Are you also the copper peas that cannot be steamed, boiled, pounded, stir-fried or crackled?"
When Xu Jie said this, the two of them just lowered their heads and continued to kneel.
"well!"
Xu Jie felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.
Although he is the leader of Qingliu and the leader of Xu Party, his control over his subordinate officials is far less than that of Yan Song.
The members of the strict party wished they could be Yan Song's sons, or even their dogs.
Yan Song told them to go east, but no one would dare to go west.
"That's all."
"I guarantee that Hu Zongxian will never have a chance to take over the army."
"Master Zou, Master Lin, are you satisfied now?"
Xu Jie also has a temper.
He felt weird and was extremely dissatisfied with the performance of the two students today.
The two of them also knew that they were threatening their mentor and had lost their duty as students, so they both bowed their heads and worshiped.
Boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
Lin Run and Zou Yinglong's heads hit the floor, making a solid muffled sound.
Xu Jie didn't ask to stop, and the two of them kept touching their foreheads until their foreheads turned red and the floor was stained with blood.
"Father, both senior brothers have realized their mistake. Your Excellency?"
At this time, Xu Fan knew that he should stand up.
As soon as he opened his mouth to advise, both parties would be able to reach a new level.
"Stop knocking."
As soon as Xu Jie opened his mouth, Lin Run and Zou Yinglong stopped.
Obviously neither of them liked this kind of self-abuse behavior.
Xu Jie personally bent down to help the two of them up, and said with a wry smile: "Fortunately, you are also well-educated people. Could it be that you can see the harm of the Strict Party's growth, but I can't? For the sake of the emperor and the Ming Dynasty, I will never allow Hu Zongxian Take control of the army again."
"Teacher!"
Lin Run and Zou Yinglong had tears in their eyes, both looking generous and excited.
But Xu Fan couldn't help but wonder, maybe they were crying in pain?
…
…………
Outside the capital.
Hu Zongxian rode forward, followed by only a few servants.
He declined Yan Shifan's proposal to lead hundreds of officials to see him off, saying that he would not bother your lords because he was guilty.
Yan Shifan recently had a heated fight with the new oiran of Yanbo Huafang, and it just so happened that it was better to do less than to do more.
Therefore, when Hu Zongxian, the governor-general of the Northern Expedition, was ordered to leave the capital, it turned out to be unimaginably cold and lonely.
Coupled with the cold winter season and snowflakes all over the sky, Hu Zongxian seemed to be walking on a dead end.
When he arrived at a long pavilion ten miles outside the city, Hu Zongxian saw from a distance that there was someone in the pavilion.
Seven or eight heaters were placed around the pavilion, melting the surrounding snow.
A brazier was burning in the pavilion, and a copper hot pot was set up on the stone table.
The silver charcoal burns, causing the water in the pot to boil continuously, emitting warm white steam.
A pot of wine is being cooked on the brazier.
"Master Hu, we meet again."
Hu Zongxian smiled bitterly, turned over and dismounted.
He looked at the young man in the pavilion with complex eyes, and after a long time he said: "How should I call you? Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty? Duke Jin of the Great Chu Dynasty?"
Hu Zongxian's accompanying family members all looked surprised and alert when they heard this, but they were waved by him to relax.
"It's too troublesome. Just call him by his first name. Just call me Fan Li."
Today, Fan Li doesn't have any disguise, he shows his true colors.
How about Ming Dynasty?
What about the emperor's feet in the capital?
He Fan Li dared to cook wine and hot pot to see Hu Zongxian off.
Accompanying Fan Li were Yu Shenzi and Jing Wudi.
The supervising director personally cooked the wine, and the Taiyuan Hospital took the lead in adding coal and charcoal.
Both of them were practitioners in the Hedao realm, but they volunteered to do menial jobs as servants.
Hu Zongxian looked deeply at the few people, shook his head and said: "I alone can capture you all. Leave immediately. I can pretend that I didn't see anything."
Fan Li didn't feel angry at all after hearing this, and was even quite happy.
"So, is Brother Ruzhen planning to take action?"
"If you don't do anything, would you like to sit down and have a drink?"
Hu Zongxian saw that he was not getting enough food and salt. After holding it in for a long time, he finally smiled helplessly.
He stepped into the pavilion and sat down opposite Fan Li.
"What's the point?" Hu Zongxian asked: "Today I have been trusted by the emperor to command the army. Are you trying to convince me to abandon my official position and treason with you and go to Da Chu... or Da Jin based on your sharp tongue? It's simply joke!"
To this day, Hu Zongxian does not even know where the so-called Great Jin Kingdom is.
"Brother Ruzhen misunderstood."
Fan Li poured a glass of hot wine for Hu Zongxian and filled a glass for himself.
He did it first as a courtesy, put down his glass and continued.
"Brother Ruzhen has a dangerous future. For the safety of your brother, I came here to warn you."
Hu Zongxian was stunned when he heard this!
The future is dangerous?
"You think I will lose?"
"That's right! Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia are all geniuses of the world, and the Three Kingdoms Alliance should not be underestimated."
"But there is no need to go on this expedition!"
"The Ming Dynasty's wolf soldiers are unparalleled in the world, and my governor is even more unparalleled now...no one can restrain him."
"With the bravery of the wolf soldiers, I am also far better than those three people in terms of cultivation. I am confident that I can retake Yunzhou for the Ming Dynasty!"
As he spoke, Hu Zongxian's spiritual energy surged throughout his body!
He didn't want to kill Fan Li, but wanted to prove his strength!
"Your Majesty." Jing Wudi whispered from the side: "Nineth level of Hedao realm."
At this moment, Fan Li couldn't help but feel moved.
"While you were imprisoned in the imperial edict, you actually broke through?"
Unimaginable!
It’s unimaginable!
Jin Yiwei's prison was the most feared place of death for the subjects of the Ming Dynasty.
Even though Hu Zongxian was given preferential treatment during his imprisonment in the imperial edict, it is incredible that he broke through in one fell swoop.
It can only be calculated that this person is far superior to ordinary people in terms of talent and ambition!
"Yes, this governor has reached the ninth level of Hedao Realm, Great Perfection."
Hu Zongxian restrained his spirit and rarely showed a smile on his face.
"how?"
"Do you still think my future is dangerous?"
Fan Li fell silent.
After a long time, he slowly spoke.
"Brother Ruzhen, it's okay if you don't make a breakthrough. If you make a breakthrough, they won't let you go..."
Hu Zongxian’s eyelids twitched!
them?
What does Fan Li mean?
On the way to Tongzhou Health Center, besides Fan Li, is there anyone else waiting for him?
"Speak clearly!" Hu Zongxian said solemnly.
Fan Li looked at him, smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Brother Ruzhen, are you deceiving yourself and others? With your wisdom, you don't even understand this truth?"
"The stronger you are and the more soldiers you have, the more some people will look forward to your death."
Snapped!
Hu Zongxian squeezed the wine glass with great force in his hands!
Daming, who doesn’t want him to become stronger? Don't you want him to take charge of the army?
His Majesty?
No, with Feixing Dali, Emperor Jiajing hoped Hu Zongxian would win a great victory and regain Yunzhou.
Strict party?
He is the first person in the Ming army, and he has always been regarded as a strict party member.
Nowadays, it is Yan Shifan's best tool to make money. How can Yan Dang hope that he will die?
"Xu Jie..."
Hu Zongxian spoke slowly, but shook his head firmly.
"Dang Xu... no, Qingliu... they are all gentlemen. Even if they are a little pedantic and don't know the way to change things, sooner or later they will understand that I, Mr. Yan, do everything for the sake of the Ming Dynasty."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Fan Li eagerly, hoping that his thoughts would be recognized by the other party.
Yes, agreed.
Hu Zongxian suddenly realized that everything he had done for the Ming Dynasty had never been understood by the officials of the Ming Dynasty.
Perhaps, only Fan Li can understand him.
A thousand pieces of gold are easy to come by, but a confidant is hard to find.
"Ah?"
Fan Li sneered.
His smile directly chilled Hu Zongxian's heart.
"Brother Ruzhen, why should you deceive yourself?"
Hu Zongxian's hands trembled, and his heart also trembled.
"Don't you want to admit it?"
Fan Li stretched out his hand and pointed into the distance.
"This road goes straight to Tongzhou, but I bet you can't reach the Tongzhou Guards Station, and you will be intercepted and killed halfway."
"If I'm wrong, I'm willing to surrender and have you beheaded in front of the army to sacrifice the flag!"
Hu Zongxian suddenly stood up.
He glared at Fan Li, but didn't know how to refute.
"Why should Duke Jin be overconfident?"
"We, the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty, are united as one! This governor is going to fight for the country, and my colleagues in the DPRK and China will never be able to hinder it!"
His voice was loud, but it was dry and empty, as if he lacked confidence.
Fan Li only asked: "If I am right, will Brother Ruzhen be willing to serve as an official in the Jin Dynasty? Not long after the founding of the Jin Dynasty, all military affairs... I will entrust them to you."
This was the first time that Fan Li regarded himself as the Emperor of the Jin Dynasty in front of Hu Zongxian.
Hu Zongxian looked at him in disbelief!
Is this a showdown?
As a minister of the Ming Dynasty, even if he took action against Fan Li immediately, he would still be fulfilling his duty as a minister.
However, I already owed Fan Li a favor, a huge favor!
"Bet? Or not bet?" Fan Li's voice gradually became colder, and his whole aura suddenly became majestic.
"you……"
Hu Zongxian felt that his throat was as if he had swallowed sand, and he was so dry that he could not make a sound.
Hu Zongxian was deeply involved in the party strife in the Ming Dynasty. How could he not know it?
But national affairs are not enough to make the party give in?
If he was assassinated, who else in the Ming Dynasty could lead the army in the Northern Expedition unless Emperor Jiajing personally led the expedition?
How could the Qingliu officials force the emperor to go on a personal expedition in order to profit from the party struggle?
Hu Zongxian never believed it.
The figures of Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng, and many honest officials emerged in his mind.
These are all honorable men and moral role models.
Hu Zongxian took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "Okay, Emperor of the Jin Dynasty, this game... I, Hu Zongxian, bet on it."
Now one chapter is added every day, but the word count is 4,000 words, don’t get me wrong.
In terms of total volume, it is the same as the previous double update with a single chapter of 2,000 words, and there is no lazy reduction in updates. If you don’t like it, I can restore the same single chapter with 2,000 words.
