In the battle of the Kolko Division, more than 19,000 cavalry were killed and wounded, more than 20,000 surrendered, and only about 3,000 people were able to escape back to the royal court, but 12 out of 10, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the entire army was annihilated.

Such a big movement naturally can't hide from other people's eyes, and it can't be hidden.

Although since Wei Chi's death, Huang Hanji's four divisions have cut off the connection between Zhongdu and the royal court, and Xu Lin no longer interferes in the affairs of the grassland, but this does not mean that he does not care about the situation of the grassland.

The Governor's Mansion of the Central Capital.

Since Wei Chi's death, no one else could enter Xu Lin's study, except for the necessary tables and chairs, there were only two weapon shelves and a bookcase left in the empty study, and there was nothing else, and the huge study room was even more deserted.

There was a brief map of the grassland on the desk, and Xu Lin sat alone behind the table, holding the secret letter that had just been sent back from the grassland in one hand, referring to each other.

The Kolco Meadows, the Hills, the Huang Hanji Division, and the royal court were heavily marked with ink pens.

Xu Lin glanced at the letter paper in his hand, frowned slightly, and used his pen to connect a line between the hill and the Kolco meadow. It was a straight line, and then he connected two lines between the hill and the Colco meadow, one arc and one curved like an earthworm.

Xu Lin looked at the three lines, was silent for a while, and said to himself: "The royal court is defeated, only 3,000 people escaped from the 50,000 cavalry, if the princess is willing to defend, she can still divide the grassland into one south and one north, and two grasslands, if you insist on fighting again, I am afraid that the royal court will not be able to hold it." ”

"It's ridiculous that I can't even get food for a westward expedition. A mocking sneer appeared on Xu Lin's face, "Lin Yuan is dead, only one wife and one daughter are left, if Lin Yinping relies on the Taoist Sect to win the royal court, it is inevitable that he will not be able to be the master, according to the meaning of Autumn Leaves, when the Xiao family's son becomes the king of the grassland, the princes of the Eastern Capital will inevitably have to make a big move again, the older he gets, the more confused he becomes." ”

Xu Lin sits in the capital, the familiarity with the grassland is naturally far better than others, Daozong entered the grassland this time, of course, it is not the bitter cold land of the grassland, what Daozong has always wanted is the Central Plains, Qiuye began to win him over after Xiao Yu was accused of Lin Yinping's horse, and naturally it was also in order to take over the grassland smoothly, and use the grassland as a springboard to plot the Central Plains, so that in the future, it is almost a certainty that Qiuye will support Xiao Yu to ascend the grassland throne in the future, and a person whose mother was forced to die by Emperor Dazheng sat on the grassland throne, just by imagination, you can know what kind of attitude the court will be, and it will be too late to be in a hurry, so this person, you still have to look far away.

Thinking of this, Xu Lin felt bored, he said that no matter how much, he couldn't say that he couldn't move the princes of the court to take out half a cent of silver, so he has been a cold bystander to the grassland all these years, and he has never said more than half a cent in the court. As the old saying goes, the fourth-class people in the world are the first-class people who have the ability and no temper, the second-class people who have the ability and the temper, the third-class people who have no ability and no temper, and the fourth-class people who have no ability and a big temper. Xu Lin has become a first-class person with ability and no temper, and has been praised by the princes of the court as quite elegant, and has won the title of Confucian general.

A general is a general, why bother with a general?

In this world, scholars look down on the people who farm, the craftsmen, the merchants, and now the warriors.

I wonder who they can afford to look up to?

Xu Lin smiled coldly and rolled up the map on the table. One day, when the soldiers come to the city, cry a few words about the king's mediocrity, the traitorous ministers are in charge, and then die for the country, leaving a name of loyalty and martyrdom through the ages, it is a good plan, but what is the use of this for the world?

Traitorous ministers mislead the country, mediocre ministers mislead the country, and "loyal" ministers who only seek fame also mislead the country!

......

Anguo Mansion.

Xiao Lie's study is also not allowed to outsiders, but contrary to Xu Lin, there is now one more person who can enter Xiao Lie's study.

Xiao Lie glanced at the message sent back by the secret guard, and said: "There is news from the grassland, the royal court has been defeated, and only 3,000 of the 40,000 iron horsemen have escaped. Your eldest brother has benefited a lot this time, Autumn Leaves did not show up, and he has full authority to preside over the affairs of the Taoist Sect, what do you think?"

Xiao Jin, who was sitting opposite Xiao Lie, thought for a while and replied: "In my opinion, Qiu Ye's move is because of the Tianshu Peak Lord, the Dao Sect is indeed internally unstable, and he has to go back, and secondly, he also takes the opportunity to establish prestige for the eldest brother, so as to help him ascend to the throne in the future, after all, even if the royal court is defeated, the nominal grassland throne is still Lin Yinping's." If you want to shut up those Taiji, you have to work hard early. ”

Xiao Lie nodded and said: "Lin Yuan is dead, the red lady thinks very well, there is Xu Lin outside, there is Molun Temple inside, and it is not easy to deal with an empty princess, but there is a saying that planning is in the sky, and it cannot be said that the red lady's means are poor, but the women's family has a narrower horizon, and the luck road is not very good." ”

Xiao Jin smiled lightly and did not speak.

Xiao Lie has been in the court for more than ten years, and he has been the governor of the secret guard, and he is naturally very accurate about these, but he has never mentioned these to outsiders in the habit he has developed over the years, but since he wants to teach his son, he can't hide it, as for whether the eldest son who is put outside and stocked in the future will be able to produce or the younger son who is captive at home, it depends on everyone's luck.

"Although the princess got a big advantage this time, it is still not as good as the royal court on the whole, it is considered to be divided into two grasslands with small hills as the boundary, and the four royal courts each account for half. Although the Daoist sect is internally unstable, it is not something that the Molun Temple can counterattack, and it has generally maintained an undefeated situation, and there will be no wind and waves on the grassland for a while. ”

Xiao Jin raised his head and asked, "Houjian's side?"

Xiao Lie smiled indifferently: "Don't worry, if this barbarian outside the Saiwai is to keep to himself and take care of his sheep, he can still be called a big trouble, but if he learns from the Central Plains to establish a dynasty, he is obsessed with the world of flowers, greedy for comfort, and he will not be prepared for war in less than a hundred years.

"Let's talk about the Demon Sect, the previous generation of the Demon Sect Leader has disappeared since the battle with Shangguan Xianchen Qinghe, I am afraid that he has already died, and the remaining five elders have been fighting for the position of the sect leader. Now there is more self-defense than enterprising. No worries. ”

Hearing this, Xiao Jin smiled, "The child understands." ”

Xiao Lie casually turned the superstition into a cloud of flying ashes, "Now that you understand, the next thing is how to do it, some things still have to be tasted by yourself, and you will never be able to listen to them." ”

Xiao Jin lowered his head and lowered his eyebrows, "Yes." ”