Zhong Youpeng saw that Wang Feng suddenly and solemnly proposed that he had something important to discuss with him, and immediately put away the idea of chatting, and asked, "I don't know if the virtuous son-in-law has anything to discuss with the old man?" ”

Wang Feng didn't speak immediately when he heard this, but looked at the people waiting in the room. Zhong Youpeng naturally understood what he meant, and the people waved their hands and said, "You don't have to wait to serve here, let's go down." ”

The subordinates knew that the master was going to talk about private matters, so they dared to rub it off, so they hurriedly retreated. Although Zhong Shiwen, who was sitting next to him, didn't know what his brother-in-law wanted to say, he could guess that it was a very important thing, so after the subordinates left the central hall, he also got up and came to the door to look and make sure that all the subordinates had stayed away, and then returned to the house to listen to what his brother-in-law wanted to say.

Seeing that the people had retreated, Zhong Youpeng made a gesture of invitation to Wang Feng and said, "There are no outsiders here, so if the virtuous son-in-law has anything to say, just say it." ”

Wang Feng got up again and saluted Zhong Youpeng, then sat down and said: "Speaking of which, it's not that the son-in-law wants to discuss anything with his father-in-law, but that the son-in-law's cousin Wang Kunjun has a big deal and hopes that the father-in-law can help, and asks the son-in-law to be a lobbyist to persuade the father-in-law to agree." ”

I heard that Wang Kunjun had something to help him and sent Wang Feng to be a lobbyist, and Zhong Youpeng's interest was immediately attracted. He asked quietly, "Oh, it turned out that Chao Yilang had something to ask the old man for help." I don't know what the old man needs help with? ”

Because Wang Kunjun was once named the court's courtroom by the emperor of Liao, Zhong Youpeng used this title when referring to him. On the one hand, this is a respect for the other party, and on the other hand, it is also to see what Wang Feng said solemnly, and he used this title to turn the small talk between the two families just now into a formal conversation.

Wang Feng didn't care too much about this, he still said according to the haode plan he had conceived before: "Presumably my father-in-law also knows that my son-in-law's starling Xu Shao'an is now an official in the Zhou State in the south. ”

Seeing that Wang Feng did not directly say that Wang Kunjun wanted to help him, but pulled it to Xu Shaoan, who had not been seen for many days, Zhong Youpeng was very puzzled. But he didn't show it on his face, but replied according to Wang Feng's words: "This old man naturally knows." Listening to Qi'er, the virtuous son-in-law's starling brother was very valued by the emperor of Zhou because of his repeated military exploits in the southern expedition to Huainan in the Zhou State, and now he is the defense envoy of Caizhou in the Zhou State and the envoy of the forbidden army Shenji Army, and he was given the military officer of General Xuanwei from the fourth grade. General Xu is young, he already has such a status, and his future will be limitless! ”

Speaking of this, Zhong Youpeng paused slightly, and then pretended to be puzzled and said: "The virtuous son-in-law originally said that Chao Yilang had something to ask the old man for help, and then he mentioned General Xu again, is it possible that the matter of the old man asking the old man for help is still related to General Xu?" ”

Wang Feng nodded and said, "My father-in-law guessed well, the reason why my cousin wanted to ask my father-in-law for help was because my son-in-law's starling brought a letter from Kaifeng, and the letter revealed an important news. ”

"What's the important news?" Zhong Youpeng asked with concern.

The son-in-law's starling brother said in the letter that Chai Rong, the emperor of the Zhou State, had always been concerned about the "child emperor" Shi Jingjiao of the Later Jin Dynasty ceding the land of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun to the Khitans, and he was always worried about the Han people of Youyun who were exploited by the Khitans. Therefore, after pacifying Huainan, he put all his thoughts on the north, intending to raise an army to the north, recover the homeland of the Han family, and save the people of Youyun from fire and water. Wang Feng implemented his persuasion plan step by step.

Hearing Wang Feng say that the emperor of the Zhou State was going to go north to attack Youyun, Zhong Youpeng couldn't help but be shocked. However, this tremor was only fleeting, and then the previous calm and peace were restored.

It's just that Zhong Youpeng, an old and sophisticated person, can deal with it calmly, but his son Zhong Shiwen is far from being as high as his city, and after hearing what Wang Feng said, he immediately blurted out: "The emperor of Zhou wants to go north to attack Youyun?" Brother-in-law, do you know when Emperor Nachai will go on a northern expedition? ”

Seeing this, Wang Feng sighed at his father-in-law's calmness, and replied to Zhong Shiwen: "The specific time is not good. Not only does the younger brother not know, but the younger brother's starling doesn't know either. However, according to the younger brother's starling brother in the letter, after Chai Rongnan returned to Kaifeng from Huainan, he accumulated grain and grass, prepared utensils, mobilized men and horses, trained soldiers, and began to make full preparations for the Northern Expedition. The Shenji Army led by the younger brother Starling was regarded by Chai Rong as a weapon in his hands, and he did not dare to slack off in the slightest, and practiced day and night. ,

Although the younger brother's starling is only a god army, because he is familiar with firearms drills and combat methods, he is often called by Chai Rong to ask for the right question. Because of this, he has a good understanding of what Chai Rong is thinking. Therefore, although he did not know the exact time of Chai Rong's northern expedition, it was speculated based on the current situation of the Zhou court and the forbidden armament war, and the time for the Zhou army to go north should be from the end of this year to the beginning of next year. ”

"At the end of this year, at the beginning of next year, that is, we will have to wait for about a year" Zhong Shiwen muttered, and said with some disappointment, "This time is not short, can't Emperor Chai go on an earlier Northern Expedition?" ”

"Confused" Zhong Youpeng reprimanded, "Although the land of clouds was ceded to the Khitans by the Later Jin Dynasty, whether it is the taxes paid or the grain harvested here, it must account for more than half of the Khitan country. How could such a critical place be easily handed over. It can be said that the Zhou army's northern expedition to Youyun is almost equivalent to a national war for the Khitans. Although the Khitan Emperor is known as the 'sleeping king', he has always ignored the government and only knows how to drink and hunt, but this is a big war related to his country, no matter how stupid and unreasonable he is, he will not sit idly by. In the eyes of his father, he will not only send a large number of soldiers to help, but he is even likely to drive a personal expedition and fight to the death with Emperor Chai, who also likes to go to the battlefield in person. ”

Zhong Shiwen was taught a lesson by his father, so he naturally nodded his head again and again, and didn't dare to say more. After hearing this, Wang Feng thought a little more highly of his father-in-law, because the other party's analysis was basically the same as what Zhang Weixin told him about the situation recorded in the history books of his previous life. According to what is written in the history books, after learning of the Northern Expedition of the Zhou Army, the "sleeping king" who has always only known about drinking and hunting, ordered Xiao Siwen to stay in Nanjing to lead the army to resist the enemy, and on the other hand, he drove the expedition in person and led the army to the rescue. It was only because Chai Rong suddenly fell seriously ill and the Zhou army retreated south, and the two emperors failed to face each other on the battlefield.

Wang Feng's understanding of this battle comes entirely from the history books of his previous life taught by Zhang Weixin, which is basically a copy of books, but Zhong Youpeng's understanding is based on his understanding of current affairs and his own analysis and judgment. His grasp of the general trend of the world and his understanding of the Liao court and the Liao emperor are not up to a grade higher than Wang Feng.

However, admiration is admiration, and what should be said is still words. So, after Wang Feng fully agreed with Zhong Youpeng's analysis, he continued: "The brothers-in-law also think like their father-in-law. Although our brothers had been living abroad, it had only been four or five years since they returned to Middle-earth. But what flows in our bodies is still the blood of the Han people, and what we yearn for in our hearts is still my Han family. Especially in the past few years, I have heard, witnessed and even experienced the oppression and exploitation of the Han people by the Khitans, and I have long hated the greed and arrogance of the Khitans.

Therefore, after receiving the news sent by the younger brother Starling, our brothers felt that the Chai Rong Northern Expedition was not only a blessing for the people of Youyun Han, but also a good opportunity for us to get ahead and make contributions. When the Zhou army arrives, our brothers want to help them with the strength in their hands, make immortal feats, and create a foundation for themselves in the land of clouds. It not only saves the people of Youyun Han from fire and water, but also fulfills his wish to glorify his ancestors and be prosperous and rich. ”

Although Wang Feng's words were a little vague, Zhong Youpeng still heard the plan of Wang Feng and his brothers - to take the opportunity of Chai Rong's Northern Expedition to start an incident, and in the future Youyun War, he would get a reward from Chai Rong by virtue of his contribution to the war, and have his own place in the sixteen states of Youyun, so as to sit on glory and enjoy wealth and prosperity.

For Zhong Youpeng, Wang Feng and his brothers can have this intention to make contributions. If their plan can succeed, then not only can they drive away or even kill their enemy Xiao Siwen, but they can also be appreciated by the emperor of Zhou and create a meritorious achievement. Not to mention anything else, just for the sake of his daughter's future life of glory and wealth, he should also support his son-in-law and his brothers.

It's just that as a person who has been up and down in officialdom for many years, and has experienced the thrill of being framed for rebellion a few years ago, Zhong Youpeng will not do anything just on impulse, but will carefully consider and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. What's more, this kind of thing is equivalent to rebellion, and it is a major crime of raiding the family and destroying the family, and it must not be decided easily. Therefore, he quickly calmed down his slightly excited mood because of Wang Feng's words, and asked cautiously: "The virtuous son-in-law and the brothers of the virtuous son-in-law are indeed people with great ambitions, and the old man really did not misunderstand you and others at the beginning. It's just that, as the old man said just now, the battle of Youyun is almost the same as the national war. Although the brothers of the virtuous son-in-law have official status, they are only some loose officials who have neither office nor power. With their status, they are said to be soldiers, but they are afraid that they will not even be able to mobilize the officials in the county. In this case, what can the virtuous son-in-law and his brothers use to win merit for themselves? ”