"Dead?" Qi Ning was stunned: "Does Guogong have conclusive evidence?" ”

Sima Lan smiled faintly and said, "If there is really conclusive evidence that Beitang Phantom Night is dead, the current situation is not what it is now. ”

Qi Ning bowed slightly, understanding Sima Lan's words.

"Beitang Showa and Beitang Hao must be incompatible." Sima Lan said solemnly: "When Beitang Huan died, these two people were in Luoyang, but in comparison, Beitang Hao's strength in Luoyang was much stronger than Beitang Zhao, according to reliable information, after Beitang Huan's death, Beitang Hao immediately received the support of many people, wanting to get rid of Beitang Feng and Beitang Zhao, who were threatening him, and then inherit the throne steadily." ”

Although Qi Ning and the Sima family have been-for-tat, they are at least on the same front in the face of the Northern Han Dynasty, and said: "When Beitangfeng was in Eastern Qi, he was worried about being chased and killed, and it seems that he has indeed been hunted down and killed since then. He pointed, but didn't say much in detail.

Sima Lan bowed his head and said: "If there is no mistake in the news, the person who chased and killed Beitang Feng should be Beitang Hao." Beitang Hao sent someone to assassinate Beitang Feng, in Luoyang, it is said that a trap was laid to kill Beitang Zhao, but Beitang Zhao was very cunning, and he didn't know how to escape from Luoyang, and then disappeared without a trace. ”

Qi Ning did eavesdrop on some information about these two princes from Beitang Feng before, it is said that Beitang Zhao had been trained in the Northern Frontier Border Army, and even made military achievements, this person should have maintained a good relationship with the border army, and Beitang Hao is good at winning over the ministers of the DPRK and China.

"Beitang Zhao escaped, whether it is for personal revenge or for the throne, it is bound to compete with Beitang Hao." Qi Ning thought thoughtfully: "Can the Duke of the Kingdom have news of Beitang Feng?" ”

He felt a little strange in his heart, according to the calculation of time, if the Beitang Wind went well, he should have arrived in Xianyang, guarded by the two masters of Fire God Monarch and White Feather Crane, and no one should be able to stop him on the road.

With Beitang Feng's temperament, once he arrived in Xianyang, he would inevitably immediately ask Qu Yuangu to lead his troops out of the battle and enter the customs to compete for the throne, but so far, there seems to be no news from Xianyang.

"The only thing that Beitang Feng can rely on is Qu Yuangu." Sima Lan's eyes were deep, and his voice was soft: "Although Qu Yuangu is not a powerful character among the generals of the Northern Han Dynasty, he is not a stupid person, and he should still understand the trick of sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight." ”

Qi Ning said: "Xianyang, do you want to wait for Beitang Showa and Beitang Hao to divide the winner?" ”

"At least wait for them to fight." Sima Lan chuckled and said, "The cranes and mussels compete, and the fishermen just benefit." Staring at Qi Ning, he asked, "Does Jinyi know why the old man wants to talk to you about this today?" ”

"Please also ask the prince to teach!"

"The world is divided into three, and the Qi country is weak, but the Northern Han is a strong enemy of my Chu country." Sima Lan said slowly: "When Emperor Taizu raised his army, he wanted to unify the four seas and set the world, so I always have to divide the victory and defeat between the Great Chu and the Northern Han Dynasty. Fu Xu said: "Beitang Huan died suddenly, and the Northern Han Dynasty fell into a battle for the throne, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my Great Chu, no matter what, it can't be missed." ”

Qi Ning nodded slightly, he still couldn't figure out the true intentions of this old fox at this time, and knew that listening more and talking less at this time was the best choice.

The carriage has already begun to rush to the capital, the speed is not fast, there is an official road outside the city, so the carriage is not bumpy, Sima Lan said without hurry: "The marriage with the Eastern Qi is to prepare for the Northern Expedition to the Han Kingdom, and the Jinyi Hou does not disgrace the mission and successfully takes back the princess of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, which can be said to have made a great contribution to the preparation of the Northern Expedition to the Han Kingdom." ”

Qi Ning smiled slightly, still silent.

"Even if the Northern Han Dynasty fell into civil strife, it had a vast territory, a lot of talents, and strong soldiers and horses, which was not easy to deal with." Sima Lan's expression was grim: "If you want the Northern Expedition to succeed, not only must you grasp the opportunity, but the most important thing is that my Chu State has enough strength to give the Northern Han a fatal blow, otherwise everything can only be on paper." ”

"Does Guogong think that my current strength of Da Chu is not enough for the Northern Expedition?"

Sima Lan raised her hand, stroked her beard and asked with a smile, "What do you think of Jinyi?" ”

"I don't dare to say anything." Qi Ning said with a smile: "The major military affairs are extraordinary, the Guogong is an old minister of the imperial court, and such a major event can only be a national important weapon like the Guogong." ”

Sima Lan laughed and said, "Jinyi is too humble." His eyes were deep, and he said softly: "Soldiers, the sharp weapons of the country, victory or defeat are unpredictable." When Emperor Taizu raised troops, there were less than 10,000 soldiers, and there would be no more than 100 soldiers, but he still swept south of the Yangtze River and built our Great Chu Empire. Now my Dachu has hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers and fierce generals, compared to the army back then, it can be said that there is a difference between heaven and earth. If you use the momentum of the year and the front of my Dachu today, you will be invincible. ”

Qi Ning heard the words of the old fox and let out an "oh".

Sima Lan sighed and said, "It's just that today's Great Chu is no longer as brave as it used to be. The old man is not saying that the state affairs of my Chu State are weak now, but that there are not many famous generals in my Chu State who can fight well. If Ling Zun is still alive, such a change in the Northern Han Dynasty is a God-given opportunity for my Chu State to conquer the north, and it will definitely succeed immediately. ”

Qi Ning asked, "Is the old prince saying that Yue Huanshan can't lead the troops to the Northern Expedition?" ”

"Jinyihou, for us, the Northern Han Dynasty is a gate that will not fall." Sima Lan said slowly: "Although it is broken, it is not easy to tear it down. Stretching out a hand, opening five fingers, and making a push motion forward: "With this palm, you can't push to that door!" ”

Qi Ning looked at Sima Lan's hand, and saw Sima Lan slowly pull that hand together and clench it into a fist: "But if you can clench it into a fist and slam it into that door, you will definitely be able to knock down the Northern Han in an instant." After a pause, he said solemnly: "Whether my Chu State has the strength to succeed in the Northern Expedition depends on whether this hand can be clenched into a fist. ”

Qi Ning smiled: "Guogong, could it be that my Da Chu is not a fist now?" In the court, the government is auxiliary to the government, the government affairs are clear, the soldiers in front use their lives, brave and good at fighting, and they are only stronger than the Northern Han Dynasty. ”

A smile appeared on Sima Lan's lips, and she asked rhetorically, "Does Jinyi Hou really think that my Da Chu is an iron fist now?" Leaning forward slightly, he stared at Qi Ning and asked, "The king of Huainan has rebelled, the rest of the party has not been purified, and the situation between the DPRK and China is still turbulent, how can it be regarded as concerted efforts?" ”

Qi Ning let out an "oh" and said with a smile: "The king of Huainan has been ambushed, even if there are a few remaining parties, they can't make big waves." ”

"A thousand miles of embankment was destroyed in an anthill." Sima Lan sighed: "If my Chu State can't be condensed into a fist, I must not easily start a war against the Northern Han." Looking at Qi Ning's eyes, he said: "Ling Zun's long-cherished wish in his life is to be able to plant the banner of my Chu State on the head of Luoyang City one day, and you inherit the title of Ling Zun, so naturally you want to help Ling Zun fulfill his last wish." ”

Qi Ning sighed: "This is not only my father's last wish, but the wish of everyone in the Chu State. ”

"So the old man is talking to Jinyihou today, just hoping that you and I can work together to assist the saint." Sima Lan said solemnly: "The old man followed Emperor Taizong to conquer the world, hoping that one day the world will be unified, and the people of the world will be free from war and live and work in peace and contentment. ”

Qi Ning said with a solemn and respectful look: "The wish of the Duke of the Kingdom is also the common wish of people with lofty ideals in the world. ”

"I know there is some gossip in the DPRK." Sima Lan sighed: "Some people say that the Sima family is in power, and some people secretly say that the old man has a heart of disobedience, hehe, Jinyihou, do you also see it this way?" ”

Qi Ning didn't expect the old fox to ask so bluntly, and immediately smiled: "The old man is loyal to the country, so why bother with those crazy words." Being in a high position, it is inevitable that someone is gossiping behind his back, but I am now in charge of the Criminal Department, and if there are still rumors in the future and wantonly slander the old man, I will definitely not tolerate it. ”

"Jin Yihou can have this insight and understand the old man, and the old man will be at ease." Sima Lan smiled and said: "The old man is over seventy years old, his health is deteriorating, and he may be a little arbitrary in his daily life, but everything is also to be able to do his part in his lifetime to help Dachu pacify the north and unify the four seas." Fusu smiled: "Even if you are misunderstood, as long as you can achieve what you want, it will be worth it." ”

Qi Ning bowed his head slightly, and said, "Do your best, and then die!" ”

"Well said." Sima Lan clapped his hands and smiled: "Do your best, and then die, that's it." Jin Yihou can understand the old man's heart, which makes the old man very happy. He actually stretched out his hand to hold Qi Ning's wrist, and said earnestly: "The old man is old and won't live long, and the future of this Dachu will be supported by young talents like Jin Yihou." I only hope that Jinyihou can assist the old man, maintain the dynasty, eliminate traitors, and work together to make the Northern Expedition! ”

"Since you should be loyal to the court with the old prince." Qi Ning is colored.

"Okay, okay." Sima Lan smiled and said: "With brocade clothes waiting for this, the old man is even more at ease." For the great cause of the Northern Expedition, the old man does not care about his personal reputation, as long as he works together with the old man, the old man will definitely treat each other with sincerity, but if someone in the court wants to block the great cause of the Northern Expedition, the old man can't let him do anything wrong no matter what, even if he fights for his life, he must complete the grand cause of the first emperors of my Great Chu! ”

Qi Ning withdrew his hand quietly, and said solemnly: "Loyalty to the court and the emperor is the duty of a courtier, and helping the emperor on the Northern Expedition is also what a courtier should do." My mind is the same as that of the old prince, as long as I am loyal to the emperor and sincerely go on the Northern Expedition, I will be a fellow believer, otherwise I will ......! He smiled faintly and didn't continue.

Sima Lan stared at Qi Ning's eyes, and suddenly laughed, but Qi Ning also laughed, and the laughter of the two came out of the carriage, and the ministers who followed near the carriage all looked at each other, not knowing why.