Shi Heng glanced at Li Qing resentfully, feeling dissatisfied.
"Your Majesty, I was once a border guard general. When it comes to fighting, I am still better than Marquis Yongqing. Please trust me, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Jianshen was a little hesitant. Judging from the superficial data, Shi Heng was indeed better than Li Qing.
Seeing this, Shi Heng raised his eyebrows at Li Qing proudly: You are the supervisor!
Li Qing shrugged and said: "Your Majesty, please think carefully. He is an offensive general. It's okay to let him command 8,000 men. But if we really want to fight... 50,000 to 60,000 troops, do you think he can command them all?" ?”
"That's too much!" Shi Heng was annoyed, "I'm just that unbearable, right?"
Li Qing smiled and said: "You can fight, but you are so useless at directing the battle."
After weighing the pros and cons, Zhu Jianshen still maintained the original verdict because Li Qing reassured him that although Li Qing was not a good character and was lazy, he had always done things safely and had never made any mistakes.
"Ahem...Okay, the emperor has kept his promise, how can he go back on his promise?" Zhu Jianshen interrupted Shi Heng who was about to speak again and said, "That's it, I will ask the Ministry of Revenue to make preparations later, um... Shi Aiqing took the greatest credit this time..."
Some personal words and rewards relieved Shi Heng's resentment to a great extent.
…
Out of the palace.
Shi Heng said solemnly: "Why do you have to steal this from me?"
"Of course it's just in case." Li Qing said with a smile, "Well, there is a high probability that we won't be able to fight anyway. Besides, wouldn't it be more fun to actually fight and charge into the battle?"
"Hmm... That's true." Shi Heng's face softened a lot, and he said in a low voice: "But you have no experience in commanding large-scale battles. Fighting is no better than other battles. If you really encounter trouble, you may not be able to match me."
"Just be at ease." Li Qing said with a smile, "When have you ever seen me show off my talent? Well, this time it's my fault. I invite you to my house for a drink."
"That's pretty much it." Shi Heng said gloomily: "Actually, I'm not angry at all. At our status, if we want to go further, the most we can do is pursue the title of Duke after death. It doesn't matter whether we have merit or not. ;
It's just that your words are too irritating. No matter what, I am also a border guard general, so I can't be as miserable as you said. "
"Haha... It's my fault. I'll punish myself with three drinks in a while." Li Qing nodded with a smile.
Shi Heng grinned in amusement, then suddenly stopped, and hummed: "Besides, you have no experience in commanding an army. If you encounter that situation, I will do it, and I will give you the credit."
"This won't work." Li Qing shook his head and refused.
"I'm doing this for your own good."
"I know, but...you can doubt my character, but you can't doubt my ability." Li Qing said, "Without diamonds, I would not take this porcelain job."
Shi Heng scratched his head, not understanding what a diamond was, but thinking about it carefully, Li Qing really had never been pushy.
"Okay, then I won't compete with you."
"Well, let's go have a drink."
…
Small courtyard.
Li Hong cooked a table of dishes and prepared good wine. He planned to drink it with his godfather, but unexpectedly a guest came.
As a junior, he was naturally not qualified to drink at the same table with his elders. He could only study military tactics and sharpen his guns in battle.
"Is this your godson?"
Li Qing nodded: "How is it?"
Li Hong hurriedly put down the military book and stepped forward to greet him again: "This junior has met Marquis Wu Qing."
"No need to be polite." Shi Heng nodded slightly, "Your godfather and I have been friends for many years. Let's sit down and have a drink."
"How can a junior go beyond the rules?" Li Hong declined, smiled and stepped back, showing off his fists in the courtyard.
Shi Heng drank a glass of wine and asked, "Sir, are you sure you want to take him with you?"
"Young people, there's nothing wrong with seeing the world." Li Qing didn't shy away from it, "He's motivated, and as an elder, he can't be easily attacked."
Shi Heng hesitated to speak, but finally couldn't hold it back and said:
"With all due respect, it's better not to let him come to the officialdom. As far as your character in the officialdom...it's easy to say anything while you are there. If you are gone, someone will have to take it out on him."
Li Qing nodded: "Whether he can enter the officialdom is another matter, but if he is blocked, he will have troubles for the rest of his life. You also came here when you were young, so you should be able to understand the psychology of young people."
Shi Heng was stunned and said no more.
Li Qing poured him a glass and asked: "You said before that the leader of Vala, Choros Boyantemur, is old and exhausted. What is the specific situation?"
"I guess it won't last long." Shi Heng said with a frown, "The Wara tribe is not very stable internally. Once he dies, there will probably be chaos. Today's Wara tribe is powerful, but it is also extremely unstable."
Shi Heng raised his neck, drank the wine in the glass, and continued: "It is said to be the Oara tribe, but now there are many more native people in the grassland than the Oara people;
Although the senior generals are all Oara people, it is still difficult to guarantee that no one will have different intentions after Boyan Timur's death. "
Li Qing put down his chopsticks and asked: "You have been to Wala and have a certain understanding of its situation. Do you think... once trouble occurs, will it shake the foundation of Wala?"
"This... possibility is not very high, at least in the short term." Shi Heng analyzed, "They themselves are also aware of the problem of Wala, and have taken many preventive measures to prevent it from being backlashed;
Many of the people brought back this time were restless tribes selected by Oara, which greatly alleviated their internal conflicts. "
Shi Heng pondered: "I think that after Boyan Timur's death, there will be a certain degree of turmoil in Oara. It will definitely not be as united as it is now, but it will be far more than falling apart."
After a pause, he continued: "I stayed in the Oara camp for a few days and found that neither the Oara people nor the locals in the grasslands have any hatred towards the Ming Dynasty."
"Because of trade?"
"Yes." Shi Heng nodded, "Actually, they are not stupid. People will die in war. They want to do business with Ming Dynasty."
Li Qing nodded slowly and said, "Is there any news about the Tatars?"
"I don't know about this." Shi Heng shook his head, "The grassland is vast, and it is impossible to kill them all. In addition, due to the internal instability of Oara, the pursuit was not too deep. I only heard Boyan Timur say that within ten years, Tartar can't catch his breath."
"That's good." Li Qing felt a little relieved and said with a smile: "This time we go to the Hetao mainly for construction. It is expected to take a lot of time. At least we won't be able to come back during the Chinese New Year this year."
Shi Heng smiled bitterly: "I know this well. Alas... I used to think that I would retire this year and spend my remaining years at home. Now I see, I have to postpone it."
He is indeed old, both physically and mentally. This time when he came back from the grassland, his condition has obviously declined a lot.
Shi Heng had made great contributions to the country, and Li Qing didn’t want him to be too busy in his later years. He thought about it and said:
"When everything is done step by step over there, you will come back and leave the rest to me."
Shi Heng was moved, but hesitant: "You are not young anymore."
"It's okay, I'm in good health." Li Qing raised his glass with a smile, "Here, drink."
"That's true, you are indeed in good health, and you really live up to the saying: the harm will last for thousands of years..." Shi Heng muttered, clinking glasses with him, and downed the drink in one gulp.
The two chatted while drinking, and it wasn't until the end of Shen Shi that Shi Heng said goodbye and left.
During this period, Li Hong had been boxing in the courtyard.
As soon as the people left, he squeezed up and said happily: "Godfather, when should we set off?"
Li Qing stretched out: "It will probably take a few days. After the emperor summons the tribal leaders and gives them benefits, we can set off."
After a pause, "You have to think about it. If you go, you won't be able to see your sister Wanqing for at least a year, or even longer."
Li Honglue hesitated and said very manly: "How can a man only think about the love of his children?"
Li Qing sneered, curled his lips, and said nothing more.
…
~
Ten days later, Li Qing and his party set off to join the large army outside the pass.
On the day before leaving, Zhu Jianshen led his ministers to send him outside the city to show his respect. However, his face remained dark, probably due to heavy bleeding.
The tribal leaders were all smiling, and it seemed that they got what they wanted.
Li Qing didn't know the specific situation, and he didn't bother to care about such trivial matters.
Three days later, the group left the customs and continued to advance north...
After leaving the city, Li Hong has been in a state of excitement.
At this age, it was the first time for him to step out of the Central Plains and see the scenery outside the Ming Pass.
Desolate, vast, and endless as far as the eye can see... This visual impact was very strong, making his whole body fall into a strange kind of excitement.
I have the urge to ride a horse and gallop...
And this feeling became more and more intense, making it difficult for him to control himself.
"Daddy, can I... go have some fun?" Li Hong was about to make a move.
Li Qing was surprised: "How to have fun?"
"Go run, go gallop..." Li Hong said with great interest, "This is so spectacular, it would be a pity not to gallop!"
"Pfft..." Li Qing couldn't help but feel happy, "Okay, we're still far from the main force. Go crazy if you want, and don't leave the team's sight."
"Hey, that's good." Li Hong was overjoyed.
He turned the horse's head, kicked the horse's belly and walked out of the team, then galloped...
"Drive~"
The horse galloped, and Li Hong followed the horse's movements, rising and falling slightly. The late autumn wind blew on his face, which was cool and pleasant, and he felt extremely happy.
"Hahaha...happy, happy...!"
At this moment, he was high-spirited and unruly...
Shi Heng looked at this scene and sighed: "It's better to be young!"
Li Qing smiled: "I thought you would say he was frizzy."
"Huh? That's what young people should do, run, jump, and gallop on horses..." Shi Heng said with a hearty smile, "Young people have to be frivolous, have a violent spirit, and have momentum."
Li Qing nodded with a smile, looked at Chi Chang's godson with pleasure, and whispered to himself: "Yes, young people must behave like young people, and I was like that back then...
It's great to be young. "
"Yes, it's great to be young." Shi Heng agreed. "If I were twenty years younger, I would have to...well, I am getting older after all."
He looked at Li Qing and teased: "You have a very strong body. Why don't you go have some fun and relax?"
"Let's forget it." Li Qing shook his head.
Shi Heng was puzzled, "I think your health is fine!"
Li Qing took a deep breath and said softly: "My body is not old, but my heart is already old."
…
