Zhao Kuangyin continued: "In the battle of Lingzhou, I saw that the emperor was in a critical situation, and I resolutely disobeyed the order to rescue the emperor. It's just that I don't know if the emperor has really forgiven me because of this, and I blame me for being confused for a while, but I came up with such a ridiculous plan and presented the wooden board to the emperor. ”

Zhao Kuangyin really regretted it, he said with annoyance: "I knew that the emperor would reward me with the position of inspection when he returned to Kaifeng, why should I make such a decision?" ”

Wang Pu said leisurely: "Start with a mistake at the beginning, and then cover it up with one mistake after another, until it is out of control." Now, I just want to ask you, what exactly is the intention? ”

Zhao Kuangyin pondered for a moment, raised his head and said resolutely: "Please tell the emperor that I have made up my mind." ”

Wang Pu was taken aback, go? Wang Pu asked nervously, "Where are you going?" ”

Zhao Kuangyin said: "I have made an appointment with the Yishe brothers in the forbidden army, and on the grounds of preventing the Bu army from attacking again, I will send troops to the west, and after reaching Cizhou, I will go north and be stationed in the five states of Dingnan. ”

Wang Pu was furious and said, "You want to split the Zhou Kingdom?" ”

Zhao Kuangyin said: "Wen Bo is angry, I don't have the heart to break with the emperor, I just want to know if what Chen Tuan said is true, one year or two years at most, if the emperor is still alive, I will return the forbidden army to the emperor, and then go to Huashan with Chen Tuan to cultivate, and never ask about the world for the rest of his life; If it is really as Chen Tuan said, then I will fight for the world for myself. ”

Wang Pu glared at Zhao Kuangyin in astonishment, is this still the jealous and generous Zhao Kuangyin? Is this emperor's position really so magical that he can't even ignore his brotherhood for many years?

Wang Pu still wanted to persuade in his heart: "If you really take this step." There's no going back. ”

Zhao Kuangyin said angrily: "Life is short, I don't want to lose the emperor." Wen Bo should have known that the eldest son of the emperor's knees was killed by Emperor Yin. The second and third sons died early, and now only the fourth son, Chai Zongxun, is only six years old, if the emperor unfortunately dies young, do you and I really want to support a six-year-old child who has not dried his milk? I'm not reconciled, and Wen Bo doesn't have to persuade him anymore. ”

When Wang Pu heard Zhao Kuangyin's words, his heart was also shaken. It's not that he is unwilling to support the young master as Zhao Kuangyin said, but Wang Pu is really worried about Chai Rong's body. If it is really unfortunate by Chen Tuan's words, then Zhou Guo is afraid that he will be in danger.

Wang Pu saw that Zhao Kuangyin had already made up his mind to leave. Then he opened his mouth and asked, "How many forbidden troops do you want to lead to determine the difficulty?" ”

Zhao Kuangyin thought for a while and said, "About 80,000 forbidden troops. ”

Wang Pudao: "The five states of Dingnan are already vast and sparsely populated, and after several years of war, they are even more poor, with 80,000 forbidden troops. How are you going to feed them? Do you want to be like the Hu people who beat grass and grain to the people? ”

Zhao Kuangyin is not a fool. He is also worried about this matter, it is difficult for the five states to pay taxes and simply cannot feed the 80,000 forbidden army, and when it is really a last resort, he can only rely on looting the surrounding states and counties to survive the day, since the end of the Tang Dynasty, isn't the army surviving like this?

Wang Pu saw that Zhao Kuangyin was silent, and he persuaded: "If you really have the intention of going, in my opinion." Bring fewer people to go, one is that the Zhou State is going to go on a northern expedition to block divination. Taking away too many forbidden troops will inevitably affect the Northern Expedition, no matter what, you are all from the Zhou Kingdom, brothers and brothers, you should understand the principle of external resistance; Second, if you really want to take 80,000 troops to the west, the emperor will not give up, so you will immediately tear your face, which is not good for the emperor or for you; If you really make a living by plundering the people, your reputation will become unbearable, and if you want to achieve something in the future, I am afraid it will be impossible. ”

Zhao Kuangyin saw that Wang Pu was reasonable, so he asked: "According to Wenbo's opinion, how many people should I take to the west?" ”

Wang Pu thought for a while and said, "Thirty thousand." ”

Zhao Kuangyin immediately shook his head and said: "Absolutely not, the 30,000 forbidden army does not need to be defended against foreign humiliation, even if the emperor suddenly attacks, I can't protect myself." This is a no-go. ”

Wang Pu persuaded: "You don't have to worry, I will guarantee this matter with a head, and I will let the emperor let you go west." ”

Zhao Kuangyin looked at Wang Pu suspiciously, but still shook his head.

Wang Pu thought for a while and said: "Otherwise, you lead 50,000 forbidden troops to Cizhou, if the emperor does not send troops to embarrass you, then leave 20,000 forbidden troops in Cizhou, and you lead 30,000 forbidden troops to the north to make it difficult, how about it?" ”

Zhao Kuangyin thought about it and felt a lot more relieved, so he responded: "This is feasible, but I am afraid that the emperor will embarrass the 20,000 forbidden troops left behind." ”

Wang Pu comforted: "The emperor is determined to go on the Northern Expedition, even if he is embarrassed, he will not attack the 20,000 forbidden troops at this time, and after the Northern Expedition, if the 20,000 forbidden troops can survive, they must have already made military merits. ”

After getting along for more than ten years, Zhao Kuangyin still understands Chai Rong's character, so he nodded and said: "In this case, I still have to discuss it with the Yishe brothers, and after deciding, I will go back to you." Don't worry, I don't have any intention of embarrassing you. ”

Wang Pu laughed at himself with a wry smile: "I believe this." I'm just a helpless scholar, what's the use of killing me? ”

Zhao Kuangyin, who was just about to get up, thought about it and sat down again, after all, he still remembered his friendship with Wang Pu over the years.

Zhao Kuangyin opened his mouth to persuade: "Wen Bo, I know that you are a loyal person, but you must know that there are Liao and Zhubu in the north of the Zhou Kingdom, and there is the Ming Kingdom in the south. ”

Wang Pu replied weakly: "The emperor of the Ming Kingdom has an agreement with the emperor, and it is impossible to take the initiative to attack the Zhou State. The Liao State has been defeated by the Ming State, and it may not be able to ease its breath for decades, as long as the Northern Expedition is successful, the Zhou State will be able to revitalize. ”

Zhao Kuangyin sneered: "I know very well the agreement between the Ming Kingdom and the emperor, there is a premise for not taking the initiative to attack, that is, the emperor's lifetime. Presumably, the emperor of the Ming Kingdom also knew that the emperor was not long in life. ”

Wang Pu's heart was shocked, and it was really possible for Zhao Kuangyin to say this. The agreement between the emperor and Baili Wuji really has this sentence, but this agreement is when Taizu collapsed, could it be that Baili Wuji already knew that the emperor would not be long in life at that time? Wang Pu shook his head unconsciously, and said, "Impossible, this agreement was made by Taizu when he collapsed the sky, how could the Emperor of the Ming Kingdom know about it five years ago?" You are talking nonsense. ”

Zhao Kuangyin smiled and said, "Wen Bo didn't believe it, so I didn't say it." However, in the future, if Wenbo has nowhere to go, the place of difficulty will be waiting for Wenbo at any time. ”

Wang Pu shook his head and said resolutely: "The Tao is not the same. As long as you lead your army to the west, the day you leave will be the time when you and I will break off our righteousness. Even if I die in the chaos, I will never make it a step forward. (To be continued......)