When Xia Xun arrived at the Jinshen Hall with Mu Si, Zhu Gaoxu had already gone in first. The emperor did not deal with the music in the main hall of the Jinshen Palace, but in a small study room where the Jinshen Hall usually rested. Seeing this scene, Xia Xun thought: "I only met the courtiers in the small study, and I don't think there will be a few people." ”

After Mu Sitong, Xia Xun went in and saw that there were not many people in the study. Jin Zhong, the secretary of the military department, Xu Jingchang, the prince of Dingguo of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, Zhang Fu, the British prince, and Zhu Gaoxu, the king of the Han Dynasty, were all present, and there was a man dressed in military clothes standing in the center of the study.

Two rows of seats, the innermost window by the window of a royal book case, one corner of the case is piled up with some documents, the other corner is erected a pair of ivory carved auspicious goddess of the arm, the case also lies across a side of purple jade Ruyi, a gourd-shaped incense burner, is wafting with the fragrance of curling.

Behind the imperial book case is a yellow silk cushion of the imperial chair, behind the imperial chair was originally an eight-fan screen, but now it has been removed from the side, lù out of a square tuǐ horseshoe foot Huanghuali couch, on the top of the Shu finely woven mat, Zhu Di is wearing a civilian clothes, a head is tied to wipe the forehead, reclining on a large pillow, is lying on the side on the couch, listening to the military general.

Xia Xun came in, and before he could give a salute, Zhu Di waved his hand lightly and said, "Sit down and listen to him!" ”

"Yes!"

Xia Xun agreed, and Xu Jingchang, the Duke of Dingguo, had already smiled and signaled to him, and there was a seat next to him. Xia Xun didn't say much, and the British public Zhang Fu and the military department Shangshu Jin Zhong gestured with their eyes, and they saluted each other, and then went to the seat and sat down. Neishì quietly brought the tea, and quietly retreated, and the king of Han sat at the top, his eyes did not squint, as if he had never seen him come in.

I only heard that the fourth-rank military attache was still telling: "...... Jian Ding is the former official of the Chen family, when my imperial court soldiers and horses attacked Jiaozhi, he had led the way, and called on the old department to help my heavenly soldiers attack the Li clan from the land and water, my court in Jiaozhi set up three divisions, states and counties, the emperor Longen, he was named the commander. Because our court did not reinstate the descendants of the Chen family, Jian Ding was not convinced, so he hung up the seal and fled, absorbing the old department in Huazhou and recruiting several scattered Annan rebels to raise the flag and rebel.

This is a simple self-established country, the country is called Da Yue, called the king of Rinan, taking advantage of the opportunity of the British army to return to the north, conquer Xianzi Pass, and choke the main road between Sanjiang Mansion. At that time, Huang Fu, the political envoy of Jiaozhi, had prayed to the emperor for reinforcements, and the emperor passed down a decree in the northern expedition, ordering Mu Sheng, the prince of Qianguo, to send 50,000 troops to recruit Jiaozhi again. General Mu Sheng fought with Jian Ding, Jian Ding feinted defeat and left, General Mu Sheng was afraid that he would escape into the mountains and it would not be easy to chase him, so he hurriedly chased after him, not wanting to ambush in the middle, General Mu Sheng was in danger......"

Zhu Di snorted coldly when he heard this, and said lightly: "Defeat is defeat, don't put gold on his face, let's talk about the next thing!" ”

The military attache was a little embarrassed, and his tone paused, before he said, "General Mu Sheng...... In a hurry, more than 10,000 casualties have been lost, and many armor and firearms have been left behind, all of which have fallen into the hands of the Annam rebels. General Mu Sheng's whole army fought again, but it could ...... Jianding's victory in the first battle made the Chen officials respond, Deng Xi, Ruan Shuai and other Chen ministers rebelled one after another, some signed their own official titles, killed the generals, burned the house, still played the Chen banner, and some stood up as kings, and my Annan defenders took care of one and lost the other, and it was difficult to control, so General Mu Sheng ordered the end to return to Beijing, and then move with the emperor to ask for help! ”

When Zhu Di heard what he said, he waved his hand with a calm face, and the military attache hurriedly bowed and retreated. If you take out one of them in this study, the officials are so big that they crush him half to death, not to mention that there is a real dragon lying inside, it is really difficult for him to speak. It wasn't until he left the study that he gasped for a few breaths, only to feel that Venus was appearing in front of him, but it was because he was overly nervous and out of breath.

As soon as the military attache retreated, Zhu Gaoxu, the king of Han, said angrily: "My father set up a county in Jiaozhi because the Chen family was the queen and should be invited by the military and people of Annan. Since the imperial court has governed Annan as an inner county, it has treated the former ministers of the Chen family well, most of them have been crowned with official positions, and they have also sent an edict to visit Annan Ming Jing erudite, virtuous and upright people to enter the court as officials, but these barbarians, self-righteous and unscrupulous, seem to be so stubborn, the court should immediately send an army to be requisitioned! ”

Zhu Di glanced at Xia Xun, Xia Xun's eyes immediately fell, this silent exchange was because when Zhu Di intended to take Annan as the inner county, he wanted to give this great achievement to Xia Xun, but Xia Xun proposed to conquer Annan and settle Annan, and suggested that the emperor support the puppet and govern Yidi with Yidi, Zhu Di was very unimpressed.

As a result, Annan really fought smoothly, and the process of fighting can be described as devastating, but as soon as Zhang Fu's army left, the rebel flags of the rebels were spread high everywhere, which fulfilled Xia Xun's previous prediction. But now, even if it proves that he is right, it is impossible for the imperial court to withdraw troops at this time, of course, the actual interests need to be taken into account, the dignity of the country is also an interest, it is not an economic interest, but a political interest, and it can only be fought at the moment, and it is impossible for him to take the opportunity to withdraw the army.

At the same time, to prove that he is right, he must be more cautious and modest, and never look smug. Cao Cao loves talents, but Kong Rong, the head of Jian'an's seven sons, is arrogant and arrogant, too showy, which makes Cao Cao extremely hateful, and in the end, he didn't end up in a different place? A person who wants to prove that he is more intelligent than his boss is definitely not a truly intelligent person.

Zhang Fu, Xu Jingchang, and Jin Zhong obviously also know that there is only one way to send troops at the moment!

Daming just set up a county there, and someone rebelled, and this side immediately changed course, what is that thing called? The dignity of the Ming court is about to be lost. Therefore, now is not the time to discuss whether it is reasonable to set up counties in Annam, except to send troops, the Ming Dynasty has no second choice. Even if the successive wars have just ended, the burden that has just been lifted on the shoulders of the people will become a heavy burden because of this decision.

"Send troops ......, send troops ......"

Zhu Di muttered to himself, bent his fingers and tapped his knees lightly, and suddenly stopped with his fingers for a while, and said: "Mu Sheng has already suffered a defeat, who should be sent to conquer Annan again?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu immediately bowed his hand and said: "Father, the son is willing to take command and send troops to conquer Annan." As long as you give your son 100,000 troops, your son will be successful, and the heads of those traitors will be presented to the emperor! ”

"I think it's not appropriate!"

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Gaoxu's cheeks tightened, just listening to the voice, he knew that it was Xia Xun, even if he didn't listen to the voice, who of the few people present would dare to contradict him in person? Is it Zhang Fuhuan, Jin Zhong or Xu Jingchang? They don't dare, only Xia Xun, only this damn Xia Xun!

Sure enough, it was Xia Xun who stood up slowly, Xia Xun said: "Bing, it must come out; Battles must also be fought! However, last year's expedition to Annam, sending hundreds of thousands of troops, the northern expedition to Tatars, and another 200,000 troops, although the Western Regions did not fight, hundreds of thousands of troops were waiting for them, people were fed by horses, city defenses were strengthened, and equipment was built.

For this reason, the total number of conscripts and servants exceeded one million, and how many young and strong laborers were taken from the farmland? The consumption of the imperial court is huge, and the people are unbearable, so the minister thinks that this conquest, from the means, should be suppressed and appeased, instead of beheading the head of the thief chieftain, the deep mountains and old forests, the smoke and swamp land, if you escape, it is more difficult than the grassland desert, and it is difficult to give full play to the advantages of our many generals. ”

Zhu Gaoxu just made bold remarks, just to impress his father's heart, hearing Xia Xun say this, he gritted his teeth with hatred, but he hurriedly smiled on his face, and said modestly: "What the prince said is very true, Xiao Wang is eager to fight, and he is indeed reckless." If it is used to suppress and appease, reduce the number of casualties, and quell the rebellion, Xiao Wang will naturally do it. ”

Xia Xun smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness's intentions, the minister naturally understands. However, His Royal Highness has not yet understood the words of the minister! ”

"Oh?"

Xia Xun said: "The British Duke has just returned from Annan, and he is familiar with the geography and customs of the mountains and rivers there, and he is more familiar with the methods of fighting the Annan soldiers. ”

Zhu Gaoxu smiled dryly: "Auxiliary Guogong, the British public conquest of Annan, this has just returned to Beijing, and before he has rested, he has to take command again?" I can't be so unkind. Moreover, this king learned the art of war at a young age, and he has fought with his father for many years, and if he is confident that this king will lead the army, he can also pacify Annam. Doesn't this make the small countries of Siyi laugh at me, and the Celestial Empire will no longer be available except for the British Duke? ”

Xia Xun said expressionlessly: "The country is tired, and it is not time to train the army!" ”

Zhu Gaoxu's face changed, and he said with great light: "This king is in charge, is it training soldiers?" ”

Xia Xun said: "Regarding His Royal Highness's martial arts, the minister naturally has no doubts. If you talk about the art of war, not only is the emperor a hundred times high, but even all the adults here, including Your Royal Highness, are much more clever than Yang Xu. When it comes to soldiers, the minister is not as good as His Royal Highness, and the minister can only talk about the Tao on paper here. ”

Xia Xun smiled and said: "But the minister thinks that the British Duke has fought with the Annan people, which is knowing oneself and knowing the other; The British won consecutive battles and established an undefeated reputation in the Annam army, which was a precedent; With these two advantages, it is naturally easier for the British to win than His Royal Highness the King of Han. The minister just said so much, in fact, he just wanted to show that if we win a day earlier, we can save countless money and food; If we fight one less battle, there will be many more young and strong farmers in the fields to plant seedlings and farm! The emperor is sympathetic to the people, and he should be able to understand the hard work of the ministers! ”

Zhu Gaoxu was furious in his heart: "The hard work of the fart! Mess with me again and again! ”

Xia Xun looked at his iron-blue face, and a trace of ridicule flashed in his eyes: "Do you want to make great achievements, do you want to shine in history?" It's about my birds! I can let the people get some benefits, so that I can be supported in vain, light car leather belt, brocade clothes and jade food; Do you use the fat and ointment of the people and the white bones to pile up your military exploits and nourish your strength to compete for the throne? I just don't want you to be in charge of the army alone! The two of us have already spent it, and we didn't just make opponents today, what are you staring at! ”

Zhu Di lowered his eyes, thought silently for a while, and then turned his questioning gaze to Zhang Fu.

Zhang Fu suddenly looked embarrassed......!.