"This boat is really beautiful, although it is different from the boats I have seen before!" Liu Yuanzhen looked at the nearly completed hull in the dock with some surprise, and asked Wang Wenzuo: "Where did you learn this? ?”
"It was built to imitate Hu Shang's ship in Guangzhou!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "It is easier to advance and retreat, and it can also sail against the wind!"
"Oh? Is there such a thing?" Liu Yuanzhen looked at the ship with interest and withdrew his gaze: "Wang Canjun, are you all preparing for the relic? There are no more people who work with such sincerity as you these days. Not much more, don’t worry, when I return to Chang’an, I will recommend you well in front of the Queen!”
Wang Wenzuo was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that the other party thought that he was building the ship in order to obtain the relics. Naturally, he would not explain it, so he hurriedly thanked him and said: "Thank you very much, Liu Lingjian, this is just what a subordinate should do!"
"Haha!" Liu Yuanzhen smiled: "But all your efforts must have been in vain. Did you know? There was already a letter from Chang'an a few days ago!" He continued without waiting for Wang Wenzuo's response: "Her Majesty the Queen learned that the relics After finding out whereabouts, he was very happy and praised me in the letter. In the letter, His Majesty also asked me not to be reckless and damage the Buddha treasure!"
"The collision damaged the Buddha? What does your majesty mean?" Wang Wenzuo asked in confusion.
"Since the Baekje people want to give the relics to the Japanese, don't stop them. Just let them send them to avoid any accidents during the robbery!"
"But if it falls into the hands of the Japanese, wouldn't it be even harder to get it?"
"Hahaha!" Liu Yuanzhen laughed: "Wang Shenjun, you still don't understand! With the power of the Tang Dynasty, who would dare not give her what Her Majesty the Queen wants unless she has disappeared? As long as it is confirmed The whereabouts of the relic is no different from the one in hand!"
Wang Wenzuo opened his mouth wide and was shocked by the domineering nature of Liu Yuanzhen's words, "You'll be mine once you see it." He thought about it and finally decided not to play devil's advocate: "Then I wish Liu Lingjian a great success!"
"That's all!" Liu Yuanzhen smiled and waved his hand: "But don't abandon this ship halfway. Once it's built, if it's really as useful as you said, I'll take it back to Chang'an as a tribute to Her Majesty the Queen. Gift!"
"I obey my orders!"
After sending Liu Yuanzhen away, Wang Wenzuo breathed a sigh of relief. He did not expect that the relic matter would be settled so easily. Regardless of whether Liu Yuanji's promise to recommend him in front of Wu Zetian would be fulfilled in the end, Wang Wenzuo was already satisfied. , In fact, deep down in his heart, he did not want to be involved in the central power struggle at that time. It was really too dangerous.
Sixian City has regained some of its past prosperity. Vehicles and pack animals filled with vegetables, firewood, charcoal and other daily necessities formed a long queue at the city gate. Wang Wenzuo noticed that when he passed by, all the Baekje people on the roadside closed their mouths and bowed their heads respectfully to him, and their eyes seemed to lose a bit of coldness and hatred. Although I don’t know what will happen if I turn my back to them? But this is at least a good start, Wang Wenzuo thought to himself, hoping that his hard work would not be in vain.
When he saw the tall wall of the Duhu Mansion, Wang Wenzuo kicked his mount, and the horse ran over briskly. He jumped off the horse and handed the reins to Sancho. Then he climbed up the steps and asked the military officer guarding the door: "Are you here?"
"In the study!" The military officer said with a smile: "Do you have something to report? Just go there. The Protector has given the order, so you don't need to pass it on!"
"Thank you!" Wang Wenzuo nodded to the gatekeeper and walked to the study room with brisk steps, but in his mind he was thinking about how to get Liu Renyuan to agree to his plan: spring plowing has ended, and there is enough manpower to free up. , he can launch an exploratory military operation, and his target is Unongjin City located in the upper reaches of the Unongjin River. In addition to the capital city of Saxi Fortress, Baekje State has five other important towns, all of which are important towns. Among them, Unongjin City is one of the five. One, and it is the closest to the capital, so it can be said that they are the horns of each other. If it can be captured, the Tang army will have room for maneuver and can get rid of the current dilemma of being trapped in an isolated city.
When Wang Wenzuo came to the door of the study, he heard Liu Renyuan talking to someone. He was hesitating whether to avoid or report first, but he heard Liu Renyuan's voice: "Sanlang, are you here? Very good, come in and talk!"
The study was a bit messy as usual. Liu Renyuan was wearing a fur coat and sitting next to the desk. He was listening to the report of a strange general. Wang Wenzuo frowned slightly. He didn't know him. He must have followed Liu Rengui later. Brought from the country, those generals who followed Liu Renyuan to trap him will definitely not be unimpressed.
"This is the situation. The Baekje people have begun to mobilize, but the goal should be-"
"I understand!" Liu Renyuan interrupted the general's report: "Please step back first. If anything happens, I will naturally send someone to notify you!"
"Yes!" The general responded, smiled at Wang Wenzuo, bowed and stepped back. Liu Renyuan's eyes turned to Wang Wenzuo, and he hesitated: "Sanlang, I heard that you have been very close to Liu Yuanzhen recently?"
"It's true! My friend Liu An is of the same race as him, so——"
Liu Renyuan waved his hand and interrupted Wang Wenzuo's explanation: "You don't have to explain. I just want to tell you that this person has evil intentions. You must not get involved with him, otherwise you will suffer harm!"
"yes!"
Liu Renyuan was stunned when he saw Wang Wenzuo being so cheerful: "You answered readily, why didn't you ask me if Liu Yuanzhen had a bad intention?"
"The Protector is an honest man. If he has a grudge against someone, he must shoot him with his bow instead of using clever words to harm him!"
Liu Renyuan was stunned. His face was like solidified beeswax, showing a stunned expression. After a few minutes, he shook his head and smiled bitterly: "If I were as straightforward as you said, how could I survive today? But you That’s right, I really don’t like talking about people behind their backs, but, but—”
Seeing Liu Renyuan's embarrassed expression, Wang Wenzuo did not ask further questions. He knew that if the other party was willing to tell him, he would naturally do so. Otherwise, no matter what he said, the other party would still not tell him.
In the end, Liu Renyuan restrained his desire. He waved his right hand a little irritably, as if he was resentful that he couldn't pour out all the things in his chest: "I can't tell you the reason, but you remember, no matter what Liu Yuanzhen promised you, No matter what the benefits are, you must not do anything for him, otherwise you will suffer harm, remember?"
"My subordinates will definitely remember the words of the Protector!"
"Okay, okay!" Liu Renyuan showed a smile: "Sanlang, why did you come to my place today?"
"Captain, my subordinates are here today to attack Xiongjin City!"
“Wongjin City?
"Exactly!" Wang Wenzuo told his reasons and plans for attacking Xiongjin City, but he did not reveal the plan completely. In this world, the more you talk, the fewer choices you have.
"What a pity, what a pity!"
Wang Wenzuo had a bad feeling, as if a thief had discovered that there was nothing in his wallet. He hurriedly asked: "Guardian, you haven't listened to my plan yet!"
"Sanlang, I believe you have a good plan, but now is not a good time!" Liu Renyuan spread his hands: "We have bigger troubles now!"
"A bigger trouble?" Wang Wenzuo had an ominous premonition. This should be related to the stranger just now. He was thinking about how to sneak around, but Liu Renyuan saved his worries.
"Baekje and Goguryeo are attacking Silla's Sukcheon City from the north and south. The situation is extremely critical. If Sukcheon is lost, Silla's strongholds in the Han River Basin will be separated, and the whole situation will be completely different!" Liu Inyuan said! : "If we just sit back and watch, I'm afraid the imperial court will not let us go!"
"Suchuan City?" Wang Wenzuo thought for a moment and immediately understood. According to Tang Gaozong's deployment, the task of Silla and the Tang army stationed in Baekje was to deliver supplies to the Tang army on the southern route across the sea to Pyongyang, and the starting point for these supplies was Xinluo. Luo is a prefecture and county in the Han River Basin. Obviously, the north-south pincer offensive of Goguryeo and the Baekje Restoration Army was to cut off Silla's arm before the Tang army crossed the sea. Liu Renyuan could still say that he was not strong enough to transport grain to Pyongyang, but if he sat back and watched Shuchuan fall, the siege of Pyongyang would fail. That absolutely cannot escape the sanctions of military law.
"Captain, please forgive me for speaking frankly. At present, we are insufficient in attack and more than adequate in defense. Xiongjin City is only a day's journey away from me, and there is a river connecting it. We have continuous crossbows, which are very effective in water warfare. Even if we attack Xiongjin, we will not win. It’s not a big defeat, but Ren Cun, Zhou Liu and other thieves’ lairs are different. The terrain is steep and the journey is long—”
"Sanlang, I know what you mean, but to the imperial court, we are partial teachers, do you understand?" Liu Renyuan spread his hands: "What are partial teachers used for? You don't need me to tell you, right?"
"The main force is taking the blame!" Wang Wenzuo slandered, but his face was extremely serious: "Then when will we send out troops?"
"It will probably take another month!" Liu Renyuan looked at the sky outside the window: "Spring grass is blooming!"
Wang Wenzuo nodded. Although Liu Renyuan did not finish his words, he already understood: the Tang army's horses, which had just survived a winter on hay, were too thin and unbearable to drive. This is undoubtedly a big disadvantage for the Tang army with thousands of war horses. Although a month's delay is not enough to restore these war horses to their best condition, they will definitely be much stronger than they are now.
