In the fortieth section, Wu Ming couldn't help but feel hot on his face when he heard him say this, and said, "Brother Zuo is too humble......" Just as he was about to say two kind words, Tian Hong outside suddenly shouted loudly again: "My lord! My lord! ”

What's the matter, Wu Ming couldn't help frowning. stepped forward and opened the door, and saw Tian Hong standing outside the courtyard, covered with sweat. He said with a slight reproach: "What's the matter, what a fuss." ”

Tian Hong's face was also a little pale, although it was autumn now, the weather was still not very cool. His whole head was like ice under the scorching sun, and sweat was dripping down without money. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said hurriedly: "The prime minister is supervising the battle on the city wall today, and I want you to rush over immediately." ”

What is Zhu Huai looking for himself? Could it be that he discovered his secret meeting with Zuo Wei? That's a bit of a headache. He grabbed the red night on the table nervously, and said to Tian Hong: "You first find a way to send Lord Zuo back to the barracks, and I will go to the north city wall to have a look now." After he finished speaking, he untied the reins of his horse from the courtyard, led Nanwang and went out.

When he arrived at the water gate in the north, he saw the banner waving on the head of the city, and Zhu Huai's was wearing a military uniform and standing on the city wall with his hands in his hands. The autumn wind was blowing, and the cloak behind him was also hunting, and behind him stood a large group of generals from all walks of life, but they all stood respectfully behind him, and they didn't dare to take a breath. Wu Ming turned over and looked south, handed the reins of the horse to a soldier who met him, then walked to the city wall and stood still, saluted and said softly: "Prime Minister, the lower officials come to pay the order." ”

Zhu Huai turned around, glanced at him, and said, "Lord Wu, you came quite quickly." There were many inexplicable meanings in his words, Wu Ming's heart sank, and he saluted again: "The prime minister is called, and the lower officials naturally have to come as soon as possible, and they don't dare to slack off." ”

Zhu Huai seemed to be very satisfied with Wu Ming's attitude, nodded and said, "I invite you to come today, mainly to discuss with you how to break the enemy, and there is an important thing for you to do." He said this very loudly, presumably all the civil and military forces behind him had heard it, and many of them showed jealousy and envy in their eyes. Wu Ming felt that Rumang was on his back, and said respectfully: "The Prime Minister has an order, even if he is told." The lower officials will definitely do their best to complete it. ”

Zhu Huai didn't say anything, smiled and turned his head, facing Dajiang and said, "You are getting more and more angry, is it so difficult for you to discuss something?" ”

It seems that he really didn't find out about Zuo Wei's entry into the city. Wu Ming's heart was relieved, he took two steps forward, and stood behind Zhu Huai's side. Still replied respectfully: "I don't know what the Prime Minister is looking for me?" The other party stopped talking, just stood on the city tower with his hands in his hands, let the river wind blow strongly, Wu Ming didn't dare to say more, followed behind him, and thought about what Zuo Wei said to him just now. It's September, but it's still hot, and the wind is still blowing from the southeast. If the prime minister really wants to use fire to break the enemy, then he must hurry up, because if it drags on for a long time, when the wind direction changes, this strategy may not work.

The river wind blows head-on, bringing a faint watery smell, and the waves below are rolling, and the light waves crash on the shore, and the sound is gurgling. A golden sun hung high in the sky, sprinkling infinite golden light. On the river, the building ships and fighting ships of the Jiangnan Navy shuttled back and forth, and occasionally one or two giant sailing ships were sandwiched between them, that is, the warships that came to aid the Storm Army. On the other side of the river, you can see countless boats stacked on top of each other. This qiē is like a dream, just looking at this scenery, who would have thought that a big war was about to be staged here, and the blood stained the river.

Zhu Huai suddenly sighed deeply and said, "Wu Ming." ”

He was awakened suddenly, and said with an "ah": "The lower official is here." ”

"The other party claims to be a million army, a million no, I think there are still about 500,000 to 600,000, what do you think should be done in this critical autumn of survival?"

A gust of river wind blew, and Zhu Huai's long hair was also dancing with the wind. It's just that the color is already white, and when you look at the few wisps of flowery hair, you can see the other party's slightly collapsed cheeks. Wu Ming's heart sank, he had always been on guard against him, and he never thought that in fact, the prime minister was exhausted for the survival of the entire Southern Han Dynasty. In this way, I don't care enough about the overall situation.

He thought for a while and said: "Xia Guan thinks that the people of the Heavenly Dao are all on our side, as long as they are under the dispatch of the prime minister, they will be able to win in one battle." ”

Zhu Huai was still staring at Da Jiang, sighed and said, "Wu Ming, the old man believes that you use you, not for Qing'er's sake." So, you don't have to hide from me all the time. What is the insight, but it is okay to say. ”

Wu Ming's heart tightened, he really didn't expect him to suddenly say such words. Listening to the meaning of his words, he was extremely dissatisfied with his perfunctory prevarication. However, although he had doubts about this battle plan, he was not easy to say, and asked a little hesitantly: "The Northern Han Dynasty is powerful, and this month it has been training the naval army day and night. Therefore, we should try our best to find a decisive battle. In the event of a war, we should do our best to avoid mutual attrition with the other side. But it is surprisingly weak, and the soldiers are treacherous. ”

Zhu Huai was slightly moved, and said with an "oh": "In this way, is there any good way for Lord Wu?" Wu Ming gritted his teeth and said softly: "Xia Guan thinks that he should attack with fire." ”

The expression on Zhu Huai's face changed, he glanced at the people standing behind him, and said, "You go down first, and I'll have a good talk with Lord Wu." Everyone responded in unison, "Yes." Then he retreated under the walls. Zhu Huai turned his head and said to Wu Ming: "This matter, is it Liu Ze who sued you?" As soon as he finished speaking, he shook his head again and muttered: "Liu Ze has been eating and living in the Ministry of Industry for the past few days, and he rarely goes out, so it's impossible." Could it be Dai Yu? ”

He was talking to himself here, but Wu Ming was chilled when he heard it, and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "No, it was the thunderbolt car displayed some time ago, and the subordinates smelled the smell of Lord Liu's body and figured it out." Of course, he didn't come up with this, but now in order to stop Zhu Huai from speculating randomly, he can only say it cheekily.

Zhu Huai breathed a sigh of relief, with a look of appreciation in his eyes, and said, "Master Wu is really sensitive, do you think this plan is feasible?" Seeing that Wu Ming looked like he wanted to say something, he hurriedly added: "There is something to do, but it's okay to say it, although it is said on paper, it is not appropriate in the end." But any plan must first stand up to one's own scrutiny. Otherwise, it will be full of loopholes and will definitely fail. ”

Wu Ming secretly said in his heart: "This battle is related to the survival of the Southern Han Dynasty, since he said so, he can't say that he can only dissuade desperately." ”

He pondered for a long time before he said, "The technique of fire attack is based on the power of nature. The power is naturally great, but in order to succeed, two conditions must be taken, the first must be the time of day, the weather must be dry, and the wind direction is self-interested. The so-called 'fire sometimes, fire someday.' The time is the dryness of the sky,' that's the truth. Now is the time of high autumn and crisp weather, and the wind direction has not changed, it is still southeast wind, and the time is already on our side. Secondly, there must be certain conditions for the implementation of fire attacks, but the battlefields of both sides are on the river. This restricts the spread of fires in the first place. Once some of the ships are on fire, the other side can scatter in all directions. So this external factor is not present. ”

Speaking of this, he bowed and said: "Therefore, the lower officials feel that it is inappropriate to pin the opportunity to defeat the north on the fire attack, and ask the Prime Minister to think differently." ”

Zhu Huai looked Wu Ming up and down for a long time, and finally stopped on the red night that he hung on his waist: "Lord Wu, no wonder the red night wants to recognize you as the master." Although sometimes you are still confused, but the words 'great wisdom and bravery' have gradually manifested themselves in you. ”

In fact, these were also pondered by Wu Ming after reading "Twenty-four Questions on Marching Strategy" combined with the "Thirty-six Strategies" of the earth, and he just wanted to persuade Zhu Huai to give up this risky idea. Unexpectedly, he was praised by the prime minister of the dynasty. He was also a little smug in his heart.

Zhu Huai suddenly smiled slightly: "Lord Wu is really thoughtful, I won't talk about the second point for the time being, I invite you to come here today, but there is still an important thing for you to do." Wu Ming was taken aback, and bowed respectfully: "The prime minister has an order, and the subordinate officials should obey it." ”

"Really?" A hint of a playful smile flashed in Zhu Huai's eyes, and he said loudly: "Wu Ming takes the order!" Wu Ming's heart sank, and he said: "The lower official is here." ”

Zhu Huai took out a volume of documents from his arms, solemnly handed it to him, and said: "You immediately take a boat to the north shore, hand over this war letter to Li Tie, and say that I wish Huai's head is here, and invite him to come and pick it up tomorrow." ”

"What, what?"

Wu Ming almost thought that he had heard it wrong, and he spent a long time talking about it, thinking that even if this first powerful minister of the Southern Han Dynasty did not listen to his advice, he would at least take some time to think about it. That knows that things backfire, and the other party does the opposite, and even fights a decisive battle tomorrow, and has to go to the war book himself? Zhu Huai seemed to be very satisfied with Wu Ming's current appearance, and said slowly: "What, is Lord Wu unwilling?" Rest assured, the two countries will fight each other and will not be killed. He Li Tie has always cherished feathers, even if he hates you like bones, he will definitely let you come back with all your beards and tails. ”

Wu Ming couldn't cry or laugh, and couldn't help but protest: "Prime Minister......" Zhu Huai waved his hand and said with a smile: "Didn't you say 'There is a time when you get angry, and there is a day when you catch fire.'" The time is dry. After a while, the wind will change and the autumn rain will arrive. Even the time is gone, as the saying goes: 'It is better to hit the day than to hit the day, and it is better to hit the day than today', today you will go to issue a war letter, and tomorrow on the Hanning River, the two sides will have a fierce battle, and the winner will be decided. ”

Seeing that Wu Ming was still depressed, Zhu Huai's face was straight, and he said, "Lord Wu, this battle is a matter of social safety. The old man is not the kind of person who is rigid and self-serving, and I have a deep meaning in this arrangement. Let's not break it for the time being, and when you come back after sending the war book, if you still have questions, it's not too late to discuss it. ”

Hearing him say this, Wu Ming had no choice but to suppress his doubts, and saluted stupidly: "The lower official obeys the order." Zhu Huai nodded and said loudly: "Someone." A soldier immediately ran up from under the city wall, saluted, and said, "Yes." Zhu Huai waved his hand and said, "Go, arrange a fast boat for Lord Wu, send him to the other side, and issue a war letter." ”

The soldier glanced at Wu Ming with admiration, and saluted, "Yes." Then he bowed to Wu Ming and said, "Lord Wu, please come with me." ”