Braving the heavy snow, Zhou Zheng set off from the capital and rushed to Shanhaiguan.

This year's snow was exceptionally heavy, and the carriages trudged the road, barely taking an hour to rest, and not only people, but also horses and others could not stand it.

When they arrived at Yongping Mansion, Zhou Zheng and others rested temporarily and met with officials at all levels in Yongping Mansion.

Zhou started from Yongping Mansion, and almost all the people here are his descendants, so they naturally rushed to meet him.

Zhou Huaipi, the prefect of Yongping Mansion, sat in front of Zhou Zheng and carefully introduced the situation of Yongping Mansion.

Zhou Huaipi is also from Jiujiang Pavilion, a few years later than Zhang Heyi, Kou Huaiyi and others, and his career development is much slower.

Zhou Huaipi's ability to go to Yongping Mansion, Zhou Zheng's base camp, also illustrates the relationship.

Zhou Huaipi said: "My lord, the reform of Yongping Mansion is quite thorough, land, official governance, military reform, taxation, agriculture, commerce, etc., are carried out very smoothly and thoroughly, and the lower officials are confident that they will be able to completely complete the reform within five years, so that Yongping Mansion will have a new look......

Zhou Zheng drank hot tea, nodded and smiled: "The Imperial History of the City Patrol has written me a very detailed inspection report, you have indeed done a good job, and you will consolidate it for another two years." ”

Two years of consolidation, it goes without saying.

Zhou Huaipi immediately smiled and said, "Don't worry, my lord, the officials will do their best and never hold your adults back!" ”

Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea and said, "Hmm." In addition, Yongping Mansion is also the closest place to support Liaodong, starting next year, the imperial court will focus on building, and the investment will be very large, involving all aspects, you have a psychological preparation. ”

Zhou Huaipi was not surprised, but said cautiously: "My lord, what are the aspects?" ”

Zhou Zhengdao: "First, it is the layout of the economy of Yongping Province, including agriculture, commerce, industry, etc. The second step is the ordnance, which is more complicated, as you will know later. The third is traffic, and the roads in Yongpyeong Province will be renovated. Roughly these three points, the imperial court will summon you to Beijing next year and talk to you carefully. ”

Zhou Huaipi was entrusted with a heavy task, his expression was solemn, and he said: "Remember. ”

Zhou Zheng waved his hand and said, "Get familiar with it, when you enter Beijing in the future, local experience is also very important." ”

Zhou Huaipi nodded in a deep color and responded heavily.

Zhou Zheng chatted with Zhou Huaipi for a while, and then set off for Shanhaiguan.

It was already dark when I arrived at Shanhaiguan, and in Shanhaiguan, Fang Yizao, the governor of Liaodong, was already waiting.

Sitting in the side hall of Shanhaiguan, Zhou Zheng and Fang Yizao were chatting.

Fang Yizao said with a smile: "My lord, Liaodong is currently divided into two, the military is under the management of Lord Lu, and the civil affairs are under the control of the lower officials, but it is also a tacit understanding, and there is no fighting." ”

Fang Yizao's words were obviously showing his attitude and explaining some of the voices of the imperial court.

In the past, there were many disagreements between the officials of the military and political circles in Liaodong, and they fought back and forth, which was simply a tradition, which began in the Wanli period, and the governors of Liaodong in previous dynasties were like this.

The discord between the chief generals and chief officials of Liaodong was also one of the important reasons for the defeat of Liaodong.

Zhou Zheng nodded and said, "You don't have to worry about this, I know it in my heart." Let's talk about the situation in Liaodong. ”

Fang Yizao relaxed at this time, and said: "My lord, at present, Liaodong is setting up a prefecture and dividing counties, registering the population, and reclaiming wasteland...... There is no action north of the Great and Small Ling River for the time being, and the biggest problem at present is that Liaodong is extremely unstable, and second, the population, and the ministers are trying to find a way. ”

Liaodong is a land of a hundred battles, from Wanli to the present decades, it is undoubtedly difficult to normalize.

Zhou Zheng listened silently for a while, and suddenly said: "Do you think that next year's Northern Expedition of the army is feasible?" ”

Fang Yizao was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Jianyu is indeed the biggest threat to Liaodong, and only by eliminating Jianyu can Liaodong develop." But forgive the courage of the officials, and it is not so easy to solve the problem. First, Liaodong is vast and sparsely populated, and it has been built and operated for decades, and it is about to fight a decisive battle, and they are not surprised that they have recruited 100,000 military ministers. Second, they may not be able to fight a decisive battle, if they can't do their best in one battle, then Liaodong will return to the Chongzhen period, and the adults will be wasted for many years of hard work. ”

Zhou Zheng glanced at him and picked up the teacup.

What Fang Yizao said, it is also what Zhou Zheng and the Ming court are worried about, if Jianyu does not fight a decisive battle, in fact, it is the same as Zhu Di's five expeditions to the desert, and he can't do his best, Jianyu will come again sooner or later, and make another battle of Salhu, and the Ming Dynasty may not be able to come to the Northern Expedition again.

Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea and said, "Well, I know, has Lu Jiandou returned to Jinzhou?" ”

Fang Yizao said: "I should go back, Lord Lu went to Guangning Zhongqian to investigate the enemy's situation before." ”

Zhou Zheng nodded and said, "The reason why I put you back is that I don't worry, you have been working hard for two years, and when Liaodong is stable, I will let you go back to Beijing." ”

Fang Yizao smiled and said: "What did the adults say, the lower officials are not doing things for promotion, this Liaodong has the only good situation for decades, how can the lower officials not be dedicated?" ”

Zhou Zheng smiled with relief in his eyes and said, "I'll put it aside, when you want to go back to Beijing, just tell me directly." ”

Fang Yizao leaned over, smiled and did not speak.

Zhou Zheng stayed at Shanhaiguan for one night, and the next morning, he rushed to Ningyuan.

The current Ningyuan City is not a few years ago, the city has doubled in size, the city walls are full of black cannons, and the soldiers are full of morale and awe-inspiring.

Zhou Zheng rested in Ningyuan for a while, chatted with Man Gui stationed in Ningyuan City for more than half an hour, and then went to Jinzhou.

It was already evening when he arrived in Jinzhou, and Zhou Zheng arranged for a group of people to rest, and took Liu Liuzhen and Zhou Dewei into the side hall.

Lu Xiangsheng and Lu Xiangguan, Cao Bianjiao and others accompanied, and everyone gathered around the charcoal stove, eating hot pot, and talking about things casually.

Lu Xiangguan ate the meat, trembled the corners of his mouth, and said, "Dingguo Gong's northeast is too cold, especially this year. I just came back from Quang Ninh with my eldest brother, and further north, I can freeze on the ground when I pee......"

Everyone was almost coarse, but they didn't feel rude, and looked at him with a smile.

Lu Xiang looked at Zhou Zhengdao: "Dingguo Gong, from the situation that my eldest brother and I investigated, combined with the intelligence of the Military Intelligence Department, the situation of Jianyu is definitely even worse." They were in serious shortages of food and clothing, and I heard that many people were killing horses to satisfy their hunger. ”

Jianlu is a fishing and hunting nation, the strongest force is the cavalry, the importance of horses is self-evident, to the point of killing horses to satisfy hunger, the situation of Jianyu is indeed very bad.

Zhou Dewei was eating, and when he heard this, he raised his head violently and said, "Then, can you go on a northern expedition next year?" ”

When everyone looked over, they all knew that it was Zhou Zheng's own nephew, but they didn't think it was wrong.

Lu Xiang looked at Lu Xiangsheng, who had been silent, shook his head and said, "I can't see it, no matter how bad Jianyu is, it doesn't mean that it will be destroyed." Dingguo Gong knows best, how many times he has been beaten, how many people have died, and Jianyu has never broken his muscles and bones. ”

Here, Zhou Zheng fought the most with Jianlu, and he also fought the most fiercely, which was to fight with his life and exchange his life with Jianlu.

Cao Bianjiao glanced at Lu Xiangguan and buried his head in eating the dishes in the bowl.

Zhou Dewei put down his chopsticks, looked pensive, and then said: "Then we can't wait, when Jianyu gets through, we will have more trouble, and take advantage of his illness to kill him!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng raised his eyes to look at Zhou Dewei quietly, and his eyes moved to Zhou Zheng's face again.

Zhou Zheng held the bowl, chewed the mutton in his mouth, and said: "Let's just discuss, there is no final, anything can be said, there are no taboos." ”

Lu Xiangguan came over with some understanding, looked at Zhou Zheng, and said tentatively: "Dingguo Gong, you, have you decided to go on the Northern Expedition?" ”

Zhou Zheng sandwiched a piece of meat for Zhou Dewei, his gaze slid over Lu Xiangsheng's face, and said with a smile: "No." Didn't you say it, there are no taboos, you can say whatever you think. ”

Zhou Dewei listened, his heart became more and more excited, and his eyes looked at Lu Xiangsheng.

He knew that his second uncle came to Liaodong this time to listen to the opinion of this Jiliao Inspector. This person's opinion is very important, and even influences the decisions of his second uncle and the imperial court.

He said that the Northern Expedition, the imperial court would definitely agree, and if he objected, the imperial court would definitely hesitate.