When it came to business, everyone in the imperial study became serious.

The empress said: "Although the current situation in Suiyang is temporarily stable, in the future, the war will definitely start again." ”

Several people present knew in their hearts that what the empress said about the future war was a war against the grassland.

The Eight Sages said: "What Your Majesty said is true, the grassland is a big trouble for my Sui Yang after all, and it must be guarded against. Now, the grassland has changed greatly, but Sui Yang is not allowed to go to war now, otherwise, it is still possible to decide the outcome of the war. ”

The words of the Eight Sages King made Wang Xiaolai stunned: "The grassland has changed greatly? What's the situation? Why don't I know? ”

The empress glanced at Wang Xiaolai: "It's nothing, it's just the same as you speculated before, after Huyan Zhuozhuo was defeated, Shenshan brother Shuming wantonly agitated the grassland herdsmen, and the limelight was directed at Huyan Zhuozhuo, who was angry, gathered his army, and went to fight Shenshan." ”

"Hit, hit the sacred mountain?" Wang Xiaolai was stunned.

The empress nodded, then looked up at the Eight Sages King: "I also heard what the imperial uncle said. ”

Wang Xiaolai turned his head to look at the Eight Sages King again.

The Eight Sages King shrugged: "Don't look at me like this, now the grassland is like this, it's a mess." ”

"It's a pity, this should have been a good time for us to send troops." Liu Maolin probed his breath and said.

The empress tapped her temples with her hand: "That's why I thought about forming an air force to see if I could get a piece of the pie." ”

"Your Majesty, no!"

Two opposing voices sounded at the same time, and the empress looked up and was stunned, seeing that the Eight Sages King and Wang Xiaolai both shouted like this.

It can be said that now that the two major military chiefs of Sui and Yang have the same words, the empress still has to listen to why.

"Your Majesty, we are in a situation where we are negotiating peace with the grassland, it is useless to send troops, and moreover, it will be realized."

Wang Xiaolai and the Eight Sages King glanced at each other, and when they saw the former nodding and smiling at themselves, Wang Xiaolai took a deep breath and said his thoughts.

The Eight Sages King also nodded: "The minister's opinion is the same as that of the general, since we have already negotiated peace with the grassland, we can't easily send troops, if we send troops, it will definitely be a decisive battle, if you just want to get a piece of the pie, then forget it." ”

Liu Maolin stroked his beard under his chin and said, "If you fight a decisive battle now, it is not something that Sui Yang's finances can afford. ”

The Eight Sages said: "But now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the status of the Divine Mountain on the grassland has always been extremely high, Huyan Zhuo Zhuo dares to risk the world's disapproval to attack the Divine Mountain, his soldiers must be unwilling, if we send troops at this time, the success rate is extremely high." ”

The empress hesitated when she heard this, and looked up at Wang Xiaolai: "Little Laizi, what do you think?" ”

Wang Xiaolai shook his head: "My opinion is the same as that of the Eighth Prince, Huyan Zhuozhuo's attack on the Divine Mountain is undoubtedly to give us a chance, but in terms of details, I have some differences with the Eighth Prince." ”

The empress asked, "Tell me carefully." ”

"What the Eighth Prince wants is to send troops while Huyan Zhuozhuo and Shenshan are at war, but what I want is to wait for Huyan Zhuozhuo to use troops after taking Shenshan."

"Why?"

"First, if we send troops now, the division will be nameless. If we wait for the fall of Mount Kinabalu to send troops, we can do so under the guise of revenge for Mount Kinabalu. Second, if we use the sacred mountain as a gimmick, we can also get the support of the herdsmen, although not to mention how they can help us, at least, not to let the herdsmen stand on the opposite side of us. ”

Liu Maolin nodded: "What the general said is reasonable. ”

Wang Xiaolai said: "The most important thing is the third one. ”

Both the Empress and the Eight Sages looked up at him.

Wang Xiaolai said: "Your Majesty, didn't you just say that we are here today to discuss the formation of the Air Force." ”

The empress nodded: "Yes, for the battle of the Western Frontier, you broke the enemy in six days, relying on the mobility of the hot air balloon, I feel that it is necessary to put this on the agenda." ”

The Eight Sages King and Liu Maolin also nodded.

Wang Xiaolai smiled: "The western border is still full of petty fights, and there is an air force signboard on the head of the Ming, but in fact, it is mainly cavalry, which is completely different from the air force I imagined." ”

"The Air Force you imagined?"

Wang Xiaolai nodded: "What is the advantage of the Air Force?" It is the absolute dominance of air to ground, and if you want to do this, you must have the help of gunpowder, and now, gunpowder has not been developed, and the formation of the air force is only a prototype. ”

"Are you planning to wait for gunpowder to be developed before declaring war on the steppe?" Empress Dao.

Wang Xiaolai snorted: "Isn't this what we have discussed before, after Huyan Zhuozhuo has pacified the sacred mountain, at that time, our gunpowder has also been developed, and the air force is dispatched, cooperating with the ground army, Huyan Zhuozhuo, who has lost the support of the herdsmen, can be said to be a smooth push, and the probability of victory is greater, and we can also take advantage of this time to cultivate and recuperate." ”

The empress looked down and pondered.

Wang Xiaolai shrugged his shoulders: "Of course, as for whether to fight or not, it is still up to Your Majesty to decide, I just put forward a better suggestion." ”

The empress looked at the Eight Sages King and Liu Maolin.

Both of them bowed their heads in thought.

The empress smiled: "Okay, since that's the case, then I'll listen to you, as for the first commander of the air force, Xiao Laizi, do you have any good candidates?" ”

Wang Xiaolai sighed: "Well, Your Majesty, you can pick it up." ”

"How about you?"

Wang Xiaolai glared.

The empress explained: "In terms of familiarity with hot air balloons, it is difficult for Sui Yang to find someone on a par with you, so let you be the commander of the air force, I can rest assured." ”

The Eight Sages King and Liu Maolin heard the empress's words, and their faces showed a little sorrow.

"No, no, no." Wang Xiaolai shouted directly.

The empress was stunned: "Why?" ”

"No, Your Majesty, you know that I am a person, and I am used to being lazy. To tell you the truth, I want to hand over all the military power in my hand now, and you still put me in charge of the Air Force, isn't it embarrassing? ”

Empress: "···"

"Then you say a candidate."

Wang Xiaolai made another difficulty: "Your Majesty, you better see for yourself." ”

The empress was amused: "You let me see it myself, I let you do it if you don't do it, what's the use of watching it yourself?" ”

As soon as the words changed, the empress suddenly said, "What do you think, how is Shen Xiping?" ”

"No, Lao Shen is too careless, and besides, you let him be the vanguard officer of the front department, and you let him be the commander of the Air Force, no, no."

"What about Liu Mianyi?"

"Although Lao Liu is not as careless as Lao Shen, he often makes brain twitches, and he may go crazy when his temper comes up, no, no, no."

"What about Ning Xi?"

"Ning Xi is superb in martial arts, and he is a first-class candidate to be a cavalry commander, and the air force is a little inappropriate."

The empress said the names of a few more people, but no matter who she said, they all had something to do with Wang Xiaolai to a greater or lesser extent.

The Eight Sages King and Liu Maolin both saw that the empress wanted to promote Wang Xiaolai's protégé.

But Wang Xiaolai didn't know what to think, the empress said one, and Wang Xiaolai refused one.

In the end, the empress laughed angrily: "This is not good, that is not good, you can talk about it, who is the right person to be the commander of the air force." ”

Wang Xiaolai sighed: "General Zhendong, how is Cai Bingwen?" ”

The empress looked at Wang Xiaolai and didn't speak, just Wang Xiaolai's thoughts, the empress had almost figured it out.

"Cai Zhendong is calm, although he is a good candidate, but the commander of the Air Force is not suitable for him." Empress Dao.

Wang Xiaolai spread his hands helplessly: "Then only Captain Yulin will collapse." ”

The empress sighed, and she also saw that Wang Xiaolai just didn't want the position of commander of the air force, so she said: "Okay, just collapse." ”

When Wang Xiaolai heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

It's just that without waiting for Wang Xiaolai to take a breath, the empress said directly: "I plan to establish a military academy in Daxing City, with Uncle Huang and Xiao Laizi as the chief officers of the military academy, responsible for the teaching and learning of officers." ”

Wang Xiaolai: "!! ”

Looking at the Eight Sages King again, the latter looked like he had known it for a long time.

"Xiao Laizi, now, you shouldn't shirk anymore, right?" Empress Dao.

Liu Maolin also kept giving Wang Xiaolai a look and made him accept it.

There was no way, Wang Xiaolai could only hold his fists and say: "The minister obeys the order." ”

The empress smiled and waved her hand: "Okay, since this is the case, starting tomorrow, I will order the establishment of a military academy in Wengcheng, as for the candidates for military cadets, Xiao Laizi, you and Uncle Huang will start the selection." ”

"Yes."