The reason why Fang Yuan did not express his position in public was that he wanted to find out the thoughts of the military and government, gentry, and wealthy businessmen in Suzhou Prefecture, and second, he was actually hesitating.

The total number of troops that the Manchus could mobilize would never exceed 100,000, and the elite of this invasion was as much as 40,000, accounting for half of the total strength of the Manchus.

These 40,000 Manchu elites were enough to fight another battle of Songjin with the Ming army.

The Xuanjia army, which is less than 3,000, wants to face 40,000 Manchu elites, no matter how you look at it, it is a moth to the fire and will kill itself.

From the perspective of military strategy, it is a very wise move not to send troops, not only Fang Yuan, but also Sun Chuanting and others, who are guarding Gyeonggi, also have the abacus that they will naturally withdraw after feeding the Manchu Tartars.

From a political point of view, the bureaucrats, gentry, and wealthy merchants of Suzhou Prefecture did not agree to send troops to the king. If you forcibly take the three guard sergeants north, it is estimated that there will be a mutiny before you are halfway there. Even if it was barely brought to the capital, it was also defeated in a battle.

But Chongzhen's almost unreserved trust, the life and death of the Ming Dynasty, is a factor he can't help but consider. If Fang Yuan was self-respecting and unwilling to send troops to the king, Chongzhen, who regarded Fang Yuan as a savior, would be completely desperate, and the fall of the Ming Dynasty would be a foregone conclusion.

Fang Yuan's heart was hesitating, struggling, and he couldn't decide for a while, so he could only take a few days off, stay in the plum garden of Canglang Pavilion, and meditate on the plum blossoms in the garden.

On this day, the snow began to pass, and the warm sun showed its head.

Xiao Yuan was not in the house, so he took a few girls from the independent accounting team to the petition office where Jinyiwei was stationed to check the outstanding Tian Fu.

Fang Yuan lay among the flowers in the plum garden, smelling the fragrance and bathing in the rare winter sunshine.

The brocade guard guarding the Canglang Pavilion came to report, and Liu Ru asked to see him outside the Canglang Pavilion.

"What is Liu Ru here for?"

Fang Yuan was slightly stunned, he was angry about Liu Ru's behavior of tricking him into letting go of the Qian clan a few months ago, plus there were a bunch of troubles, he really couldn't arouse the interest of seeing the beauty, so he ordered Jinyi Wei to block Liu Ru outside the Canglang Pavilion.

Half an hour later, Fang Yuan woke up from a nap, and remembered Liu Ruis again, so he invited Jinyiwei to ask, and Liu Rushi was still waiting outside the Canglang Pavilion.

Fang Yuan was also very curious about what tricks she was playing when she wanted to see her, so he asked Jin Yiwei to take her to Mei Garden.

Fang Yuan was still lying in the plum blossom bush, watching the plum blossoms intently, but the corner of his eyes had already seen the willow that had entered the plum garden.

Today's Liu Ru is wearing a green bottom print, a full-length robe, and a snow-white flawless coat, compared with the summer and autumn clothes a few months ago, the willow in winter clothes is a little less charming, a little more Chu Chu lovely.

In addition, after waiting outside the Canglang Pavilion for an hour, the pink face was slightly red, which made people feel pity.

Seeing the pity of the beauty, Fang Yuan's anger gradually subsided, he leaned down, his eyes fell on a brocade box on her slender hand and asked, "Mrs. Qian, I haven't seen you for a long time, Qian Qianyi is still hiding in Zhejiang?" ”

He asked knowingly, Jin Yiwei had planted eyeliner in the Qian Mansion before, Qian Qianyi had never returned to Hongdou Villa at all, and Liu Ru lived alone in Hongdou Villa these days.

Liu Ru put the brocade box in front of him, just sat sideways beside him, and showed a charming smile, "Lord Fang, I haven't seen you for a long time, are you still angry?" ”

Fang Yuan still didn't understand the purpose of her trip at this time, looking at her slender and slender figure, he couldn't help but feel a thought, secretly thinking, if she forcibly asked for her body in the plum blossom bush like this, would she obey herself in the future?

But thinking about it, Liu Ruyi's Zhenlie, whether it is recorded in the history books or Fang Yuan's own eyes, is absolutely not false. If she was forced to do something she didn't want to do, I'm afraid she would kill herself immediately!

Fang Yuan suppressed the idea of forcibly possessing her, and asked again, "Mrs. Qian, let's talk about something!" ”

Liu Ru opened the brocade box, and inside was a porcelain bowl with multiple layers of cotton cloth to keep warm, and the porcelain bowl contained a small snack that made Fang Yuan feel excited at first sight-crab roe crisp.

Liu Ru pursed her lips and chuckled, "Lord Fang said that he likes to eat crab roe crisp, and in order to make Lord Fang dissipate his anger, the concubine made some of them herself and sent them to the door." ”

Fang Yuan didn't believe that she would suddenly come and send some poisoned crab roe crisp, this kind of poisoning method would only make people cry and laugh.

Since Liu Ru doesn't say what she wants, she can help her, anyway, there are beauties to appreciate, and she is not depressed.

Fang Yuan took a snack and stuffed it into his mouth, it was still a familiar taste, it was delicious!

Liu Ru said unhurriedly, "If Lord Fang is not angry, the concubine really has something to ask." ”

Fang Yuan stuffed another snack, and asked, "Mrs. Qian, but it doesn't hurt to ask, I will never hide it if I can answer." ”

Liu Ru asked lightly, "I heard that the Manchu invasion is imminent, and the holy decree of the capital has also arrived in Jiangnan, so that Lord Fang will send troops to Qin Wang, what is Lord Fang's plan?" ”

Fang Yuan suddenly became vigilant, Liu Ru suddenly came to the door to ask about military affairs, was it for Qian Qianyi, or did the Donglin Party listen to the news?

Seeing his doubts, Liu Ru chuckled and said, "If the concubine is to listen to the news for the Donglin Party, is this too obvious, is it really a fool for Lord Fang!" ”

Fang Yuan thought about it for a while, and said, "I'm still hesitating." ”

Liu Ru was stunned and asked, "What is Lord Fang hesitating about, is it because he is afraid of the Manchu Iron Cavalry and does not dare to go north to King Qin?" ”

Fang Yuan was slightly stunned, Liu Ru is using the agitation method? Could it be that her calculation is to make the Xuanjia Army and the Shenji Battalion go north to King Qin, and fight with the Manchus to lose both, so that the Donglin Party can recover the lost territory of the state capital again?

Liu Ru saw his thoughts at a glance, and said with a heavy face, "Lord Fang, did you pat your chest in front of Emperor Chongzhen and promise to fight against the Manchu Iron Cavalry?" Have you promised in front of the wealthy businessmen in Suzhou that only you can keep the Jiangnan side safe? Did you brag in front of your concubine that only you could repel the Manchu invasion? ”

"Emperor Chongzhen is willing to support you, and the officials and wealthy merchants in Jiangnan are willing to tolerate you to share a piece of silver, all because they regard you as a savior. When it came to the Manchu invasion, you were timid, what was the difference between you and those warlords? Could it be that those were all lies that you sold and boasted about in order to get to the top? ”

"If you really don't dare to fight the Manchu Qing, why should Emperor Chongzhen, the officials of Jiangnan, and the wealthy merchants support you? If they all withdraw their support for you, why should you gain a foothold in Jiangnan? Is it because you have 3,000 Xuanjia Army, Shenji Battalion, and Jinyi Guard? ”

Fang Yuan was startled, although Liu Ru is words were scolding, it was a word that woke up the person in the dream.

Without Chongzhen's support, the Suzhou government could justifiably refuse to carry out any of Fang Yuan's orders, and the so-called tax revenue would immediately come to naught; Without the support of wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan, Fangyuan's military base and military factory would be a big joke; In addition, Fang Yuan and the Donglin Party are fighting to the death, and the gentry class will never support Fang Yuan.

When the Manchu Qing Dynasty went south to conquer Jiangnan, it was with 100,000 iron horsemen, as well as the support of traitor forces such as Wu Sangui, Guanning Group, Zuo Liangyu Group, etc., that the south was completely pacified.

And Fang Yuan wanted to forcibly control the tens of millions of people in Suzhou Mansion, Yangzhou Mansion, Changzhou Mansion, and Songjiang Mansion with only 3,000 soldiers, isn't it a fool's dream?

Fang Yuan suddenly said, "What does Mrs. Qian mean is that not only does she have to go to King Qin, but she must also play a prestige and make a name for herself?" ”

Liu Ru smiled lightly and said, "Lord Fang finally understands that this battle must not only be fought, but also must be fought vigorously and beautifully. As long as he can win, Lord Fang is the mainstay of the Ming Dynasty and above the ten thousand people; As long as it can win, it will be able to make the forces in Suzhou completely die; As long as he can win, Lord Fang will have the prestige of Suzhou Mansion and even the Four Mansions. Otherwise, everything that Lord Fang was currently running seemed to be brilliant, but it would come to naught at any time. ”

Such a passionate word came out of the mouth of a delicate woman of hers, and it had a taste of reverberation.

"Could it be that Liu Ru didn't come to the door today to test, but to give advice for himself?"

Fang Yuan was not sure if this speculation was wishful thinking for the time being, and asked tentatively, "If our Yuan really wins this battle, the Donglin Party will be completely destroyed, and Qian Qianyi will definitely die, Mrs. Qian naturally hopes that our Yuan will be defeated, right!" ”

Liu Ru said solemnly, "Lord Fang is really wrong, I sincerely hope that Lord Fang will be victorious and return triumphantly!" As long as Lord Fang has the ability to defeat the Manchu Qing Dynasty, no matter whether the struggle against the Donglin Party is won or lost, the peace of the Jiangnan side will definitely be preserved. Don't I even have this vision? ”

Fang Yuan had to admire her long-term vision and extraordinary insight beyond the party struggle, if there was such a virtuous helper by her side to give advice, she would not fight alone in the future.

The beauty was close at hand, the more Fang Yuan looked at it, the more excited he became, and he couldn't help but hold her cold hand in his palm and squeeze it gently, "Mrs. Qian, I want ......"

Liu Ru struggled hard, retracted the hand she was pinching, and looked at him with a smile, "What does Lord Fang want?" ”

Seeing that she reacted so strongly, Fang Yuan couldn't figure out her mind for a while, and said, "What I want, Mrs. Qian should know it." ”

Liu Ru snorted and chuckled, "The concubine body is now a human sword, and I am a fish and meat, Lord Fang can do whatever he wants, why do you want to ask the concubine's thoughts?" ”

Fang Yuan simply boldly picked out his thoughts, and said lightly, "If you only get people, but you can't get hearts, you will be boring." ”

"Lord Fang, the concubine has taken her leave!"

Liu Ru still had that smile on the corner of her mouth, took the brocade box and put it on her arm, and walked out noncommittally.

When she reached the door of the plum garden, she turned around and asked Fang Yuan, "How old is Lord Fang?" ”

The beauty looked back in the snow, this situation and this scene, the beauty was like jade, Fang Yuan was stunned, and reported his age, "Twenty-two years old." ”

Liu Ru groaned and said, "The concubine is twenty-four, since the concubine has been taken out of the money gate, Mrs. Qian or something will be exempted!" In the future, we will be commensurate with sisters and brothers, so it is not abrupt Lord Fang! ”

In the Ming Dynasty, non-blood men and women were commensurate with sisters and brothers, and the ambiguous flavor in them can be understood by taking a look at "Golden Vase Plum" and "Dream of Red Mansions".

Fang Yuan took advantage of the situation and called, "Sister Liu, do you really think that I can defeat the Manchu Iron Cavalry?" ”

Liu Ru smiled at him, "Brother Fang, from the time you burned down the Qianyun Tower, to the time you subdued the Liangshan Liukou while talking and laughing, you can always surprise me, and this time, I believe it will be no exception." When you return triumphantly, I will come back to drink with you. ”

Fang Yuan looked at her departing back, and the scene of the beauty looking back and smiling in the snow had been deeply imprinted in his mind, and in his heart, it could no longer be erased.