Hearing of Fang Jing's arrival, Chu Haoran personally led a group of ministers to greet him, Chu Haoxuan, the king of Yong, Wei Dian of Zhongshu, Sun Mingzhi, the imperial historian, Luo Shiyi, the secretary of the military department, Fang Lin, the deputy commander of the forbidden army, and Chu Kun, the leader of the Tianwei.

Look at the Holy Lord Chu Haoyu, and then look at the powerful ministers behind him, how did Fang Jing not know that it was related to Mobei today. Thinking so in his heart, Fang Jing knelt down in front of the steps and bowed respectfully: "Long live Your Majesty, long live your majesty, long live, long live!" ”

Seeing Fang Jing kneeling, Chu Haoran hurriedly stepped forward to support him, and said with a smile: "Old Fang Mo wants to kill his little nephew, get up quickly." ”

Chu Haoran's respect for Fang Jing is not only because of his friendship with the first emperor Chu Tianfeng, and his great contributions to the Great Chu Dynasty, but also because of the teacher-student affection between the two and Chu Haoran's admiration for Fang Jing as a person and an official. Therefore, this respect is completely from the heart, not artificially to win people's hearts.

Looking at Chu Haoran with a smile, Fang Jing opened his mouth and said: "The Holy Lord is lenient and generous, and the old minister is presumptuous. While speaking, Fang Jing stood up with Chu Haoran's support, and then said: "Today's entry into the palace was originally invited by the Queen Mother, and I heard the Queen Mother say that the Holy Lord has been worried recently, so the old minister couldn't help but come over to take a look, I didn't expect there to be so many people, didn't bother you, right?" "Since you can't hide, then go ahead, this is Fang Jing's way of dealing with the world.

Looking at Fang Jing and Fang Dashuai, Chu Haoran smiled and said, "The little nephew is really busy during this time, so much so that he doesn't even have time to see Fang Lao. I heard that the queen mother invited Fang Lao into the palace, so I ordered someone to intercept Fang Lao, one is to see Fang Lao you, and then the little nephew really has a problem and asks the teacher, please! ”

"The Holy Lord is too polite, please!" Half a step behind the saint, Fang Jing even nodded to several ministers one by one to say hello, but seeing Chu Kun with a broken arm, Fang Jing's footsteps paused slightly, and he sighed secretly in his heart. After looking at Chu Kun for a moment, although Fang Jing did not speak, he smiled at Chu Kun.

When the eunuch left and closed the door, the imperial study became extremely quiet, and the breathing sound of several people was inaudible.

Seeing this, Chu Haoran looked at Fang Jing with a smile and said, "Elder Fang, today's little nephew will tell the truth, I invited you to come here to discuss the matter of Mobei." Fang Lin, let's get started. ”

Got up and saluted Chu Haoran, Fang Lin opened his mouth and said, "The minister is presumptuous, carry it up." Following Fang Lin's words, four black-clothed guards walked in carrying a rather large table, and the table was covered by a black cloth, so it was impossible to see what was inside.

Among the crowd, only Fang Jing, who had stayed away from the court, and Sun Mingzhi, who was in charge of the Imperial History Tower, did not know what was in it, but the two of them had been through the wind and waves for a long time, and although they were curious, they did not show any different colors, but when Fang Lin lifted the black cloth to reveal the true faces of the table, the expressions of the two immediately changed.

The earth-brown stone was carved into the shape of mountains and rivers, and with just one glance, Fang Jing could determine that this was the topographic map of Mobei, and the graphic landform was extremely clear, and even marked the places of residence of the major tribes in Mobei, thinking that it took a lot of effort for this stone plate. At this moment, Sun Mingzhi also understood in an instant.

Seeing the faces of the two of them, Fang Lin said in a deep voice: "Since the Holy Lord intended to conquer Mobei three years ago, he ordered the Fourth Master of Tianwei Chu and Weichen to collect the news of Mobei, especially the situation between the various tribes and the map of Mobei. In the past three years, the secret agents of the military department and the spies of the Tianwei have traveled to every corner and every tribe in Mobei, and the ministers made this stone plate based on the information they sent. ”

Nodding, Fang Jing opened his mouth and said, "With this stone plate, I think Your Majesty already knows everything, why don't you say it for everyone to hear?" ”

At this moment, Sun Mingzhi also spoke: "With this map, why worry about the north of the desert? Your Majesty is far-sighted, and the ministers are beyond the reach of the dust! ”

Looking at Sun Mingzhi, who was nearly fifty years old and usually smiling, the Holy Lord Chu Haoran couldn't help but be happy, and said with a smile: "It's rare to hear Sun Qing's praise, and I am even more confident, but these are all the credits of Uncle Kun and Fang Lin, and I don't dare to take credit." Fang Lin, you go on. ”

"Obey the order!" Bowing down to Chu Haoran again, Fang Lin said in a deep voice: "The minister will talk about the general trend of Mobei first. There are hundreds of large and small tribes in Mobei, and the two largest branches are the Tatars and the ancient Turks. The Tatar Department occupies the most fertile Adar steppe in the north of the desert, with a large population, herds of cattle and sheep, and the existence of a generation of grandmaster Bahel, the Tatar tribe has always been eyeing me Dachu. In the nearly 20 years since the founding of our Great Chu, each time the Tatar Department has integrated various tribes to invade our frontiers. ”

After a slight pause at this, Fang Lin continued: "Thirty years ago, after the failure to compete with the Tatars for the Adar steppe, the ancient Turks retreated to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, where the land is no less fertile than the Adar steppe, but much smaller, but the Tianshan Mountains are more treasured, so the wealth is not weaker than that of the Tatars. Now, the relationship between the Tatars and the ancient Turks has improved, especially when I heard that our dynasty is holding a military test, all the tribes in Mobei have smelled the crisis, and the two largest tribes of the Tatars and the Turks plan to marry to resist the might of our Great Chu army, and the time is set for the immortal heaven in April next year. ”

At this moment, a light suddenly flashed in Fang Lin's eyes, and he said, "Immortal Heaven is the supreme god believed in by all the tribes in Mobei, and a grand worship ceremony is held every year, and the holding of the worship ceremony in the Tatar Department has attracted many tribes. The day of the wedding was chosen in the day of eternal life, coupled with the power of the Tatars and the ancient Turks, and when the time came, all the tribes would come. Therefore, the minister thinks that even if we don't take the initiative to attack, Mobei will also wantonly invade our frontier next year. ”

When Fang Lin's words fell, the imperial study fell silent again, even the Holy Lord Chu Haoran did not speak, as if waiting for the ministers to speak.

In the silence, Fang Jing suddenly laughed, and said to Fang Lin: "Since you have a countermeasure, just say it, don't hang everyone's appetite." ”

Smiling to himself, Fang Lin said in a deep voice: "The Holy Lord held the martial arts test to conquer Mobei, and it was also used to confuse the enemy. Now it has entered the wax moon, it is the middle of winter, several heavy snows in Beijing have overwhelmed many houses, not to mention the land of Mobei, if the army is sent at this time, Mobei will definitely not be able to think of it. ”

Staring at Fang Lin, Sun Mingzhi opened his mouth and said: "Although the old minister is not familiar with the army, he also knows that the time and place are right for the war, and it seems that the time and place are right for the war. After a pause, Sun Mingzhi continued: "Or, General Fang has another trick, let's say it together." ”

Nodding, Fang Lin opened his mouth and said: "In such a season, it is naturally not suitable for a large army to fight, but we do not plan to fight with large tribes such as Tatars and Turks, but are ready to send elite troops to encircle and suppress small tribes, cut off their roots, and wait for the weather to warm up next year, forcing Mobei to fight with me." Everyone, please see! ”

As he spoke, Fang Lin picked up a pair of wooden sticks and pointed at the stone plate and said, "The result of the discussion between the ministers and Your Majesty is that the two elite divisions of the Yue cavalry captain and the forbidden army will each send five thousand elites to enter Mobei first and sweep through the surrounding small tribes. The forbidden army took the western route, crossed the Tamogan Desert into the Kangxi grassland, and then followed the Ulunbei River to the important town of Umut in Mobei to join the army. ”

After drawing a line on the map, Fang Lin continued: "This road is nearly three thousand miles, the Tamogan Desert is deserted but easy to get lost, and after entering the Kangxi grassland, there are more tribes, plus the tribes around the Ulunbei River, I am afraid there are dozens, so this road is a bloody battle." ”

After a slight pause, Fang Lin moved the stick to the east and continued: "The Yue Cavalry took the eastern route, crossed the Red Flame Mountain to reach the Chishui Lake, and then went up the Arag Mountains to the Solenge Plateau, which is the belly of the Adal Grassland. The biggest difficulty along the way is at Chishui Lake. ”

Drawing a circle of Chishui Lake, Fang Lin emphatically said: "Chishui Lake is one of the few lakes in Mobei, and the surrounding land is fertile and lush with vegetation, which has always been the object of contention among various tribes, and is now occupied by the three tribes of Keliebu, Zashuyier and Donghu. ”

As he spoke, Fang Lin deliberately pointed to a few points carved with tents on the stone plate, and then said: "Moreover, there are nearly ten small tribes around these three major tribes, and after the Yue cavalry enters Chishui Lake, the first thing is to completely annihilate these tribes, and not let the news reach the Tatar Department, and then reach Solenge along the Arag Mountains." ”

Pointing the wooden stick at the Solenge Plateau, Fang Lin said in a deep voice: "According to the expected marching speed, the Vietnamese cavalry captain will be able to reach here in April next year." At this time, the army had been assembled on the front line of the border pass, starting from Shanhaiguan, Hujiao Pass and Duyi Fort respectively, and finally the army was pressed into the Adar steppe in unison, forcing the Mobei tribes to fight with us, while the Yue cavalry captain destroyed the Tatar department as much as possible. ”

When Fang Lin's words fell, everyone didn't speak, but thought about the advantages and disadvantages, success or failure. The people who sat down were all important ministers, and most of them were from the military, and they were very familiar with the situation in Mobei and their own homes, and they could detect the key to success or failure.

After a moment of silence, Luo Shiyi, the secretary of the military department, opened his mouth and said slowly: "The advantage of this battle is to take it by surprise, cut off its roots before the Tatar department can react, and then force Mobei to fight with me with the military formation." The disadvantage lies in the fact that the army is too dispatched and the grain and grass lines are too long, so it is necessary to fight quickly, and moreover, it can only be won and not defeated. ”

Suddenly, there was silence again. In the deathly silence, Fang Jing opened his mouth and said with a smile: "For the commander, don't say victory, think about defeat first, you have been in charge of the army for many years, how can you not understand this?" Speaking of this, Fang Jing let out a chuckle that seemed to be a smile, and then said: "Although there is a saying that you will die and then live, but in the end it is a helpless move, now that our national strength is prosperous, the army is strong, and we take the initiative, why do we want to take risks?" ”

Hearing Fang Jing speak, Chu Haoran couldn't help but smile, nodded and said, "Elder Fang has any high opinions, please make it clear." ”

Shaking his head and laughing, Fang Jing clasped his fists and saluted Chu Haoran, shook his head and said: "Gao Jian can't talk about it, but there are a few doubts, if it is inappropriate, please don't blame the saint." ”

Looking at Fang Jing, Chu Haoran smiled and said: "Elder Fang has seen the outside, asking Elder Fang to come is to give insufficient guidance in order to correct it, if Elder Fang has no opinion, Haoran will be angry!" ”

Nodding, Fang Jing was not polite anymore but said directly: "That old minister will speak bluntly today." ”