At the time of the big uprising, taking advantage of the aftermath of killing chickens and setting an example for monkeys, before people with ulterior motives jumped out, Emperor Hongwei immediately issued an edict, and the twelve guards of the Beijing Division were dispatched to appoint Xiao Jinwu as the front-line commander to fully preside over the war.

Liu Yi succeeded Xiao Jinwu and went to the six southeastern provinces to take over the post of commander of the border army on the southern front, responsible for monitoring and resisting the hundreds of thousands of elites of the Southern Dynasty who were still in the Northern Qi.

Because Xiao Jinwu took away all the border troops that could be drawn out when he left, there was no force capable of maneuvering on the southeast front except for the first-line border troops.

Emperor Hongwei specially appointed Wang Shunde, the eunuch of the imperial horse supervisor, as the supervisor of the army, and handed over the command of the two pro-armies of the Son of Heaven to Liu Yi, and transferred 50,000 local garrisons from the Central Plains to Liu Yi's command.

However, although the court was ambitious, Emperor Hongwei certainly understood that this war was a battle of national fortune, and once the war was unfavorable, the northern kingdom would suffer a great loss of national strength at least and ruin the country at worst.

Since Wuling was born, although the wars between the north and the south have not been frequent for more than ten years, the northern country has never won a victory, but has lost troops and suffered continuous losses.

The name King Wuling is like a nightmare hanging over the head of the northern kingdom, tormenting Emperor Hongwei all the time.

Now that the Northern Kingdom has just recovered a little vitality from the defeat of Jingyang, the Southern Dynasty has made a comeback again, and Xu Rui, the only one who has defeated the Wuling pro-army, is deep in Xichuan, and he does not know whether he is alive or dead.

Everything made the powerful Emperor Hongwei weak from the bottom of his heart, and even he was not 100% sure that he would be able to win this battle.

After the early dynasty dispersed, Emperor Hongwei left Liu Yi alone, who was about to go on an expedition.

In the south study, the monarchs and ministers sat opposite each other, and they did not have the sharpness of the court meeting, but their faces became more and more solemn.

"Tell you the truth, with your lifelong experience as a horse, what are the chances of winning this battle?"

Emperor Hongwei stared at the map and asked in a deep voice.

Liu Yi didn't hesitate at all, opened his mouth and said: "Maybe thirty percent, maybe fifty percent......"

Emperor Hongwei immediately understood what he meant.

There is only one person in the gap between thirty percent and fifty percent, that is Xu Rui, if Xu Rui is still alive, then the northern country has at least a fifty percent chance of winning, but if Xu Rui has died in Xichuan, then the northern country will only have a thirty percent chance of winning.

"A little Xu Rui, does it really have such a big effect?"

Emperor Hongwei raised his head and looked at the gorgeous palace dome in a daze, as if he was asking Liu Yi, as if he was asking himself, and more as if he wanted to forcibly convince himself not to care about Xu Rui's life and death.

Liu Yi lowered his head and didn't speak, he knew that Emperor Hongwei, who had been humiliated by King Wuling on his head as soon as he ascended the throne, definitely knew the horror of King Wuling better than anyone else, and he also knew the value of Xu Rui better than anyone else.

If it weren't for this, Emperor Hongwei would not have been so attentive to Xu Rui, let alone indulged in him so much.

It is true that Xu Rui's intelligence and temperament are very much liked by Emperor Hongwei, but he is an eloquent emperor after all, and his simple love is not enough to entrust him with important tasks.

Looking at Xu Rui's ability to get the wind and the rain now, you can see how much Emperor Hongwei values his talent.

After a long time, Emperor Hongwei sighed, and his eyes were a little more fierce.

"It's been nearly twenty days since there was no news of the Apocalypse, if Xichuan has really fallen, what do you think is the chance that Xu Rui is still alive?"

"He's 10 out of 10 alive!"

Liu Yi's face was gloomy, but his tone was very firm.

Emperor Hongwei shook his head: "You are my general, and I want the truth, not the emotion." ”

Liu Yi said: "The minister is not emotional, and it is not because the minister and Xu Rui are like father and son, please think about it, that kid is so cunning, can you imagine him suffering?" ”

Emperor Hongwei was stunned for a moment, and his mind instantly recalled that Xu Rui was engaged in wind and rain in the capital, wantonly amassing money, especially when he turned his hands and made Wang Yi disgraced, and suddenly felt extremely funny.

"Yes, I hope I underestimated him this time, as long as this kid is still there, I will never allow the iron cavalry of the Southern Dynasty to wreak havoc on my northern territory, and I will have three points of confidence out of thin air in this battle."

Saying that, Emperor Hongwei's face turned grim, and he said to Liu Yi: "In this Southern Front War, I sent Xiao Jinwu to preside over the overall situation, he is younger than you, and he has always been your junior, you have to think through this matter." ”

Hearing this, Liu Yiyan hurriedly kowtowed and said: "Rest assured, the great kindness of the saint to the minister, the minister remembers it in his heart, this war is related to the fortune of the country, our army is at a disadvantage, and it needs the momentum of young people, Xiao Jinwu is less than forty, and it is the time when the edge is revealed."

And the old minister is old and frail, more than steady, and lacks momentum, and the army of the Southern Dynasty who monitors the situation in the southeast is very suitable. ”

What Liu Yi said was indeed from the bottom of his heart, in fact, he still didn't say two sentences, first, Xiao Jinwu mobilized the army without asking for an order this time, although it was said that he was dedicated to the country, but after all, he gave people a handle, and there will be endless troubles in the future.

Emperor Hongwei transferred Liu Yi to the southeast, which was to keep him and Xiao Jinwu far away, which was actually his protection politically.

In addition, Liu Yi led an army in the southeast, once Xiao Jinwu's battle was unfavorable, or even the whole army was annihilated, Dawei at least had a sufficient amount of Dinghai Shenpin, perhaps capable of turning the tide.

These two considerations can never be put on the table, so Emperor Hongwei can't say it, and Liu Yi can't mention it, so he can only tacitly say it in this way.

"Since you understand my painstaking intentions, then go, I have entrusted the country to you!"

Emperor Hongwei picked up the teacup, looked at the tea leaves flying up and down in the boiling water, and said suddenly, I don't know what he was thinking in his heart at this moment.

Liu Yi solemnly bowed to the emperor, and after that, he didn't say much and slowly withdrew from the south study.

The huge south study was quiet again, and only the lonely figure of Emperor Hongwei was left in the empty hall.

For a long time, Emperor Hongwei regarded this loneliness as a symbol of supreme power, not only did not feel uncomfortable, but enjoyed it, but today he suddenly became a little bored with this feeling.

He didn't call Wang Shun, he strode out of the study alone, and just pushed open the door to see Qi Xiagong standing at the door in despair.

She looked at Emperor Hongwei in a daze, a pair of big watery eyes trying to choke out tears, not to let it slip down, like two crystal and sad gems.

Princess Qixia is exquisite, it is the first time for Emperor Hongwei to see her like this, and the heart of being a father seems to have been slashed with a knife, and her heart hurts.

"Father, do you have any news of him......"

Princess Qixia muttered, and every time she spit out a word, her heart would feel like she had been pricked by a needle, and it hurt so much that she couldn't breathe.

She couldn't finish a short sentence, and the big tears of the bean slipped silently from her eyes, and even she didn't understand why she was so sad.

Perhaps the hardest thing is not sadness, but contradiction, no one is more eager to know Xu Rui's news than her, and no one is more afraid of knowing Xu Rui's news than her.

She told herself that no news was good news, but without news, her soul seemed to fly away suddenly.

She still has a lot to say, a lot of things to do, recalling the official parting that day, she suddenly regretted that because she was too thin-skinned, she didn't accompany him for a while, even if it was just a short part.

The more I thought about it, the more my heart hurt, and the more uncontrollable the tears became, falling down "click, click, click".

Suddenly, a big strong hand gently grasped her hand, and it felt as if she was back in her childhood, as long as she was held by this big hand, she felt that there was nothing in the world that could frighten her.

Emperor Hongwei pulled Princess Qixia forward slowly, Princess Qixia raised her head and looked at the emperor, as if she had a thousand words, but she didn't know where to start.

The sun shone on Emperor Hongwei's face, and he suddenly showed a bright smile.

"Qingwu, don't you know him yet? That bastard can't die, I promise you that at most half a year, he will definitely appear in front of you in a dead rage, and you can't get rid of him, so don't bother him when the time comes. ”

Princess Qixia looked at her father, who seemed to be coaxing a child, and was slightly stunned at first, and then laughed out loud.

For some reason, at this moment, she seemed to see some naughty guy standing in the distance and waving to her with a smile, and the haze that had been blocking her heart for days disappeared in an instant.

"yes, you'll be back, right? I believe in your ......"

Princess Qixia followed the emperor's gaze into the distance, and the bright sunlight illuminated the earth in a crystal light.

At night, in front of the Liao Palace.

The King of Liao patted Wang Yi on the shoulder and solemnly explained: "You need to pay attention to two points in this war.

First, if the battle situation is unfavorable, the general must not be greedy for merit, try to let others consume the Southern Dynasty, you are the only general in the army on my side, even if the whole army is destroyed, you have to bring the people and horses back safely, remember to stay in the green mountains, not afraid of no firewood.

Second, if the battle situation is favorable, try to get as much credit as possible, and this king will speak for you, and within three years, you will have great hopes of replacing Xiao Jinwu, who gave people the handle, and become the real first general of the young generation. ”

"Thank you for your love, the last general will live up to his mission!"

Wang Yi bowed down with his fists and slammed towards the King of Liao.

"Go, this king is waiting for you to triumph!"

The King of Liao waved his hand, Wang Yi straightened up, turned over and jumped on the war horse, and gradually moved away surrounded by several henchmen.

King Liao looked at his back, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

"Dashuai, it's finally our turn to go out this time."

Among his henchmen, Zuo Meng, who had been beaten to death by Xu Rui, sneered and said.

Wang Yi glanced at him, snorted coldly, and said secretly in his heart: "Yes, it's finally Ben Shuai's turn to come out, this time not only do you have to beat Nanchao Dog back, hum, Xu Rui, you owe me, I also have to take it back with interest!" ”

Yuwang Mansion.

"Fourth brother, you don't have to persuade me again, this time I have made up my mind, and I will go to the palace to beg my father and emperor in a while, saying that I will go with the army to fight, even if it is just to be a captain!"

King Su gritted his teeth and said word by word, his face full of perseverance with a little childishness.

King Yu looked at him deeply, shook his head helplessly, took out a book from his arms and handed it over.

"Hey, what is this?"

King Su was stunned for a moment, and asked suspiciously while taking the fold.

King Yu said: "I know that I can't persuade you, this is my promise to my father to promote you to be the marshal adjutantant." ”

"Really?"

King Su was overjoyed, and hurriedly opened the fold, and sure enough, it was exactly the same as what King Yu said, King Su was suddenly excited, hugged King Yu and said: "Thank you fourth brother, younger brother, I can finally join the army, hahahaha!" ”

King Yu finally ripped him off from himself, and said helplessly: "The son of a daughter can't sit down, you are good, where is the danger but where do you want to go, your fourth brother and I can't help you, but remember to be careful, you must come back alive!" ”

King Su nodded again and again: "Fourth brother, don't worry, I will be victorious this time!" ”

Looking at King Su's pure smiling face, King Yu didn't know what he remembered, and let out a long sigh: "Let's go, go to see my father when you can still open the palace gate, otherwise you will have a happy time." ”

"Thank you, fourth brother, when you come back and call Xu Rui, let's ask Tianlou to have a drink!"

King Su said with a smile and pulled King Yu to the stable.

On the eighth day of the fifth month of the seventeenth year of Hongwei, 400,000 elites of the Great Wei Dynasty went out of Changxing and headed for the front line.

(End of Volume III)

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