Qin Zhen nodded, if it weren't for the results discussed, Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing would not let everyone come back.

“…… Mobilize men, horses, grain and grass from all over the country, Ayou took command, and set out on the expedition within ten days. Qin Zhen briefly told Ji Xiaotang the results of the discussions between the important ministers of the DPRK and the central government.

This result was expected by Ji Xiaotang.

"In just ten days, how many men and horses can be mobilized and how much grain and grass can be raised?" Ji Xiaotang then asked. The plan they had originally discussed for the tuntian has not yet been officially implemented, and it will be even more difficult to raise enough grain and grass for the next few years of disasters and famines.

Qin Zhen roughly said two numbers, which were provided by the dignitaries of the various ministries who were summoned to the palace.

To Ji Xiaotang's ears, these two numbers are too thin.

"I don't know much about it, but I don't think that's enough." Ji Xiaotang said.

Qin Zhen nodded, Ji Xiaotang's feeling was not wrong.

"This can be raised within ten days, the Queen Mother and Your Majesty have issued a strict decree, all supplies in the future will be prioritized to the north, and when Ayou leads the troops to set off, he will continue to mobilize people and horses and grain and grass to support."

"That being said, I don't think it's very reliable." Ji Xiaotang said.

It's just that Ji Xiaotang feels unreliable alone, and Qin Zhen also thinks so.

"It's hard for a good woman to cook without rice." Qin Zhen sighed, the current situation in China is like this, he can only do his best.

"In this case, the burden on Ayou's body will be heavy." Ji Xiaotang lowered his eyes slightly.

Qin Zhen glanced at Ji Xiaotang and sighed.

"Who says it's not. However, Ayou has already made a military order in front of the Queen Mother and Her Majesty......"

"He made a military order again?" Ji Xiaotang was taken aback, and quickly raised his eyes to look at Qin Zhen.

"Yes." Qin Zhen smiled bitterly, he also felt that it was very unnecessary for Qi Younian to make a military order now. He promised in front of the Queen Mother and Her Majesty. Even if he doesn't send a soldier to him, he will defend Zhenshan Pass to the death. ”

"National hatred and family hatred." Ji Xiaotang sighed, although he didn't agree, but in his heart he understood why Qi Younian did this.

"By the way, there's one more thing." As Qin Zhen spoke, he took a sip of tea and moistened his throat. "Changning knows about this."

"What did Changning do?" Ji Xiaotang immediately asked.

Qin Zhen nodded.

"Changning wants to marry Qi Younian immediately, just before Qi Younian sets out on the expedition." Changning broke into the main hall of Cining Palace, where everyone was discussing, and his words were very impassioned. even said that before Qi Younian set out, he would leave a little blood for Qi Younian.

Ji Xiaotang narrowed his eyes slightly.

Changning actually began to grow his brain, or, in order to marry Qi Younian. Changning can already ignore everything.

That's pretty crazy. It's a pity that she is not a good match for Qi Younian. It's not just that Qi Younian doesn't like her, Changning's temperament is destined to not be a good wife, especially for Qi Younian.

"Then what did the Queen Mother and Her Majesty say?" Ji Xiaotang asked again.

"The Queen Mother and Her Majesty have both agreed, and they want to marry Ayou and Changning, and the marriage will be completed within three days." Qin Zhen said in a somewhat flat tone.

"What did Ayo say?"

"Xiaotang, you should be able to guess." Regarding this question, Qin Zhen did not immediately give Ji Xiaotang an answer.

"Nope. I couldn't guess. Ji Xiaotang shook his head, "Ayou suddenly encountered such a tragic change. I can't guess what he would have decided. ”

Ji Xiaotang believes that it is possible for Qi Younian to accept it, after all, at this time, what kind of children's affection should be completely unimportant in Qi Younian's opinion, and it is not worth considering at all.

Marrying Changning now has many benefits for Qi Younian.

With the important identity of the horse, Qi Younian went to the north, and there was no need to worry about the follow-up supply, no one dared to slack off in this matter, which was equivalent to asking for the life of the horse master and Princess Changning to be a widow.

Moreover, in this case, even Qi Younian is unpredictable.

Having a woman who can leave a bloodline for him is a good thing, even a must, for himself and for the entire Mighty Marquis Mansion.

Qin Zhen looked at Ji Xiaotang for a long time, and sighed almost inaudibly.

"Ayo didn't agree." Qin Zhen told Ji Xiaotang that Qi Younian's attitude was very resolute, he had previously rejected Empress Dowager Han's marriage on the grounds that he was still guarding the system for the eldest princess, but this time, Qi Younian had a more sufficient reason.

The Huns have not been destroyed, why should they be at home.

Qi Younian didn't say anything about liking Changning or not this time, he just said like Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing that he would not consider marrying until he beat the northern barbarians back to his hometown and restored the peace on the border of Great Qin.

Qi Younian also asked Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Han to arrange other marriages for Changning as soon as possible, Changning is his cousin, and he is not too young to continue to delay.

Qi Younian said that he could not bear this responsibility.

Such a refusal may be said to be euphemistic, but it is also categorical.

However, Changning's intention to marry Qi Younian is equally resolute, and Empress Dowager Han's intention to use marriage to envelop Qi Younian is the same.

"Perhaps, Ayou doesn't have to get married before this expedition, but he and Changning ......" Qin Zhen paused here when he said this, "but they are a destined couple." ”

Even if the two of them will become a couple in the future, their family affairs are certain.

The ladies of the Weiwu Marquis Mansion already knew the bad news on the front line, and also knew Changning's generous statement, and the Qin family was very moved, and they had accepted Changning in their hearts.

Ji Xiaotang temporarily removed Changning from her mind, and she continued to ask Qin Zhen about other things.

"Mighty Waiting ......"

"The Queen Mother and Your Majesty have issued an order to take Weiwu Hou into Beijing for treatment on the same day." The body of the eldest prince of the Weiwu Marquis Mansion will also be transported back to Beijing at the same time and buried in the ancestral tomb of the Weiwu Hou.

After the funeral of the eldest princess Qin Min, the mighty Houfu also had to handle the funeral of the eldest son.

This is still an optimistic expectation, and everyone hopes that the seriously injured Wei Wuhou will recover.

As the two were talking, they heard Qin Ying on the low couch next to them let out a low moan~ moan. It seems that he is not sleeping well, and at the same time he turns over.

"Why is Ying'er sleeping here?" Qin Zhen wanted to ask this sentence just now.

"Ying'er is very sensible at a young age. The next person does not know anything. told her about the Mighty Marquis Mansion. She is worried, and is here with me waiting for you to come back. Ji Xiaotang said softly.

Qin Zhen's gaze became more gentle.

"Ying'er's temperament is very similar to her mother."

Qin Zhen rarely mentioned Princess Qi in front of Ji Xiaotang, but he didn't deliberately avoid it. What reassured and made Qin Zhen happy was that Ji Xiaotang didn't mind this matter.

Because of Qi Younian and Qin Ying, Ji Xiaotang has a good impression of Princess Qi, who has never met before.

After Qin Ying turned over, there was no sound. It's sleep in the past. Anyway, she's just a child.

Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen lowered their voices a few points further.

"After Ayou goes north, what strategy has the imperial court set?"

"The Queen Mother and Her Majesty want him to hold on. In the current situation, it is not easy to hold Zhenshan Pass. Qin Zhen said. Not only did Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing think so, but also the important ministers of the court who were summoned to the palace also unanimously thought so.

"So, no one talked about peace talks?" Ji Xiaotang lowered his head. Pondered for a moment. Then he raised his head, looked at Qin Zhen and asked.

"There have been proposals for peace talks." Qin Zhen also looked at Ji Xiaotang, he didn't think Ji Xiaotang's words were general. "But it was quickly overruled."

The person who proposed the peace talks was Zheng Mian, the head of the household department.

And everyone thinks that the dignified Qin Shangbang and the barbarian peace talks with the Northern Barbarians are really too cheap. Moreover, if there are peace talks, it will definitely increase the prestige of the Northern Barbarians. extinguished Great Qin's sharp energy.

There are even some impassioned people who can't even hear the word peace talks. It's as if whoever proposes peace talks is a soft bone and a traitor.

Since the founding of the country, Great Qin's attitude towards the Northern Barbarians has always been tough, and there have been no peace talks at all.

"According to the prince's opinion, what does the Queen Mother think of the peace talks?" Ji Xiaotang suddenly asked again.

"Hmm," Qin Zhen groaned, "After Zheng Mian proposed peace talks, I also secretly and carefully observed the Queen Mother. In my opinion, the Queen Mother is biased towards peace talks. ”

However, because everyone else was opposed, especially Qi Younian and Qin Lin, who were the most fiercely opposed, Empress Dowager Han did not mention the peace talks again in the end.

"So what does the prince think is peace talks feasible?"

"Great Qin founded the country, and there were many conflicts with the Northern Barbarians, and there were never peace talks." Qin Zhen said.

"I know. However, the situation is different today, and peace talks are the only way out for us. "Instead of letting Qi Younian take people to fight with the Northern Barbarians with all their blood." Lord Wang, put aside the emotional factor and think about it rationally, isn't this the truth? ”

Qin Zhen pondered for a long time before he nodded.

He couldn't help but admit that what Ji Xiaotang said was correct.

"I think many of the adults who were summoned to the palace also understand this truth." For example, Han and Xie must have seen the situation clearly. The reason why they didn't mention peace talks, and they didn't echo Zheng Mian, was because of Daqin's tradition of being tough on the Northern Barbarians, and the two pavilion elders cherished themselves and didn't want to be praised and belittled for this.

On this day, Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen talked almost all night, until the sky was about to dawn, and the two reached a consensus.

"There must be someone to pick the lead in this matter." Qin Zhen said while drinking strong tea.

"The prince doesn't have to be this picker. The two pavilion elders Taoguang have been in obscurity for many years, and it is time to make some efforts. Ji Xiaotang said lightly.

"Xiaotang, what do you mean......"

"The prince looked for Han Ge Lao and Xie Ge Lao and asked them to come forward. The two auxiliary ministers, cherish themselves but ignore the danger of the country, and I am also ashamed of them. Ji Xiaotang raised his eyebrows slightly.

Qin Zhen didn't feel it.

"Okay, I'll go tell you." Qin Zhen happily agreed. As long as the two elders, even if only one of them proposes peace talks, the Empress Dowager Han will definitely agree to come down smoothly. "However, there is another person, who is afraid that it will not be easy to convince."

"The prince is saying...... Ayo? Ji Xiaotang asked.

Qin Zhen nodded: "That's right." ”

Qi Younian has dual ambitions of national hatred and family hatred, and vows to take revenge in a bloody battle with the Northern Barbarians, which is indeed the most difficult to convince.

"The prince can't convince him?"

"I used to have a try, but now I ...... Ayou won't listen to me more than two sentences. Qin Zhen smiled bitterly. Xiaotang, you have to do this. It's not you. ”

Qin Zhen believes that there is only one person in the court who can persuade Qi Younian to negotiate peace with the Northern Barbarians. That is Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang sat there and didn't say anything for a long time.

"Xiaotang, don't worry, I won't be too careful."

"I know." Ji Xiaotang said softly, "I'm just a little embarrassed. ”

Qi Younian wanted to temporarily put aside the hatred of his father's serious injury and his eldest brother's death in battle, and negotiate peace with the enemy. Ji Xiaotang couldn't do without the slightest hesitation.

However, hesitation is hesitation, and what should be done must be done.

We must make peace. And you have to let Qi Younian, the coach, approve of the peace talks from the bottom of his heart.

"I'll convince Ayo." Ji Xiaotang said solemnly.

The husband and wife discussed it, only took a short rest, and then got busy.

Qin Zhen went out and went to meet Han Ge Lao and Xie Ge respectively. Ji Xiaotang didn't have to go out. Qi Younian came to the door by himself.

"Lord Shizi is here to visit Ying'er." Ji Xiaotang listened to the report of the waiter, and nodded.

"Back to the princess, that's not what the prince said." The chamberlain hesitated, but said. The chamberlain told Ji Xiaotang that Qi Younian made it very clear to the people on the door that he was here to see Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang sighed slightly, and then smiled.

At that time, she had told Qi Younian that she would always treat him as a friend. Qi Younian obviously remembered this sentence. Ji Xiaotang couldn't refuse a friend's visit. Even if the legend goes out, to those things of the past. There are bound to be some rumors.

"Please come to Duofuxuan to speak." Ji Xiaotang ordered to go down.

She wants to see Qi Younian, there is a difference between men and women, so it is naturally not good to be in this inner room. Fortunately, Qin Zhen had already ordered that even his Yin'an Palace, as long as Ji Xiaotang used it, it could be used.

In this palace, Ji Xiaotang, the princess, has the same power as the prince Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen went out, and it was naturally very convenient for Ji Xiaotang to use Duofuxuan.

After giving the order, Ji Xiaotang also cleaned up a little, and took people to Duofuxuan.

In the main hall of Duofuxuan, Qi Younian was sitting on the back chair, and when he saw Ji Xiaotang coming in, he immediately stood up and greeted him.

"Xiaotang ......" Qi Younian is still the old name.

A familiar call made Ji Xiaotang's heart slightly warm, and he paused at his feet.

"Ayo ......"

The two greeted each other briefly, and sat down in the main hall.

Ji Xiaotang couldn't help but look at Qi Younian carefully, Qi Younian was wearing a stone blue arrow-sleeved robe, still dressed in a conservative manner, and he hadn't seen him for a few days, his eyes were a little deep-set, and his face was more angular.

Speaking of which, Qi Younian is not yet twenty years old, and this age is too young for what he is facing and about to face.

"Ayou, the festival is good." Ji Xiaotang said first.

Qi Younian has several brothers, although he is a little different in age from them, but his relationship is quite good. Regarding the death of the eldest brother, Qi Younian was obviously sad.

"The sister-in-law cried for three days and three nights, the water and rice did not enter, and some of the nephews and nieces fainted from crying, not for them, the sister-in-law was going to follow the eldest brother." Qi Younian's tone did not fluctuate, but the more he did this, the more people felt that he was deeply hurt.

And for such pain, any verbal comfort seems weak.

"Master Hou will be safe." The two were silent for a long time before Ji Xiaotang said again.

Obviously, this can be said to be the most important thing that is currently pressing on Qi Younian's heart.

Qi Younian nodded heavily.

"Father will be safe."

It's actually a bit cruel to say, Wei Wu Hou was seriously injured, and he couldn't be well healed in the north at all, but if Qi Younian didn't go out to guard Zhenshan Pass instead of him, this Hou Ye would be lying on the sickbed and would have to guard Zhenshan Pass.

Because if you are someone else, you don't have enough ability and prestige at all, but in this case, you can still boost morale and lead the remnants to hold Zhenshan Pass.

"Xiaotang, I will go on an expedition to the north in a few days, during this period, I still have a lot of things to do, I am afraid that I will not be able to find time to see you, so I ......" So he came to King An's Mansion as soon as possible, but he didn't come after asking Qin Zhen when he went out.

Even if Qin Zhen was at home, Qi Younian could go to the door generously and say that he had come to visit Princess An.

"I know, Ayou......" Ji Xiaotang suddenly paused, and for a while, a thousand words, I didn't know how to speak.

She is not a person who is clumsy in words, but she doesn't know how to comfort Qi Younian at the moment.

"Ayo ......"

"Xiaotang, I understand." Qi Younian immediately understood, "Xiaotang, you don't have to comfort me. The boy of our Qi family, on the day he was born, was ready to die on the battlefield. ”

"Ayo, it's not this that I'm trying to comfort you. The men who died on the battlefield were brave and immortal, and they were ignorant and unconscious, but what about the people who remained......"

It is the living who bears this heavy pain.

Qi Younian was also silent.

"Xiaotang, this kind of thing is a common thing for the men and women of the Qi family." After a long time, Qi Younian said again.

This seems to be Qi Younian comforting Ji Xiaotang, not Ji Xiaotang comforting Qi Younian.

There are some pains that others are destined to not share.

"Ayo, no matter what, you have to remember that I am always here."

"Yes." Qi Younian nodded, so he came to see Ji Xiaotang today.

When he saw Ji Xiaotang, his mood was miraculously calm.

"Ayou, I have something to tell you about your expedition."

"Xiaotang, if you have anything to say, just say it."

"Ayou, what are you going to do when you get to the north?" Ji Xiaotang asked.

"Naturally, it is to regroup, and it is not a way to stick to Zhenshan Pass after all, and it is the best policy to attack and defend." If it was based on a moment of righteous indignation when he was in the palace at that time, the current Qi Younian was obviously thoughtful.

"I also think that holding on is not the way to go, and I am in favor of attacking and defending. But are you going to go offensive all the time? ”

"Yes, until the barbarians are driven back to their homeland." Qi Younian is categorical.

"Then have you ever wondered if our troops, as well as food and grass, can support your strategy?"

"There will be difficulties, but I will succeed." Qi Younian's eyes were shining, as if he was swearing to Ji Xiaotang. (To be continued.) )