Spring has been in place for a long time, and it is the season when everything is vigorous and restless.

At this time, Jinling City also seemed to be restless. Xu Kuangheng and Liu Jiangsheng and their entourage traveled for several days, and since they entered the south gate of Jinling, they saw the heralds hurrying back and forth from time to time. Without thinking too much, the two of them decided to act in two ways according to Li Yuan's instructions, with Liu Jiangsheng rushing back to the house to pick up the family and leaving the city, while Xu Kuangheng went straight to the Zhou Mansion in the east of the city.

Zhou Zong is still a kind elder, and after Xu Kuangheng respectfully greeted him, he told Li Yuan what he had explained, in his own way, truthfully and tactfully. And as expected, Zhou Zong listened patiently, thought for a while, and then agreed to Li Yuan's requests, such as the requisition of merchant ships and the postponement of the marriage.

Seeing that this strength was not in vain, Xu Kuangheng breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a happy face: "Thank you for staying behind Zhou for the big handsome!" ”

And Zhou Zong just stared at Xu Kuangheng quietly at this time, and then somehow, frowned.

After all, Xu Kuangheng has been immersed in officialdom for many years, so he asked tentatively: "I take the liberty to ask, why is Zhou staying behind?" ”

Zhou Zongchang sighed, seemed to hesitate faintly in his heart, and finally couldn't help but speak: "Xu Changshi, the old man knows that you are a great talent under my virtuous son-in-law, I don't know if you can give the old man some advice?" ”

Xu Kuangheng hurriedly replied: "I can't talk about the pointing, Zhou stays behind but it doesn't hurt, listen to you!" ”

As if he was scrupling about something, Zhou Zong deliberately lowered his voice and whispered: "Recently, there have been messengers from Jiangbei to report that my Northern Expedition army has been repeatedly frustrated under the city of Xuzhou, and Zhou has divided its troops to the south, that Chen Jue has connected six songs, asking His Majesty to send reinforcements quickly, I heard that the general Liu Yanzhen has been seriously injured, and his life and death are unknown!" Three days ago, the old man heard that Guo Wei, the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty, had personally written a letter to send an envoy to Jinling, and the letter was full of humiliating words for my Tang Dynasty, and His Majesty was furious at the court meeting......"

Seeing that Xu Kuangheng was speechless with a face, Zhou Zong continued: "And Guiguan's war is not smooth, Bian Hao and Zhang Luan's army has been defeated by Pan Chongche of the Han State, and now the remnants of the army are shrinking in Chenzhou, begging the imperial court to send troops to rescue!" Alas! The north and south have been defeated again and again, and my Datang national fortune is worried! The old man is heartbroken about this! ”

Xu Kuangheng lightly twisted his long beard and thought for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Then what does Your Majesty mean?" Is it war, or is it peace? ”

"Recently, the two parties of the DPRK and China have fought fiercely, but Your Majesty may have doubled his confidence because of the great victory in the Western Expedition last time, and Guo Wei's words went too far, and now there is no intention of stopping the war! Your Majesty has ordered the requisition of money and food again, and is ready to send reinforcements! ”

Xu Kuangheng shook his head and said: "The north and the south are at war at the same time, and they have suffered repeated defeats!" Not to mention the fatigue of the sergeants and the grievances of the people, in the long run, how can I hold on to the national strength of the Tang Dynasty for a long time? I wonder who Your Majesty is going to send to help? ”

"In the war in Chudi, Your Majesty has ordered Li Jianqi of Tanzhou to send troops to rescue!" Speaking of this, Zhou Zong's face suddenly sank: "And to the north, in addition to dispatching Liu Renzhan's troops to guard the border, Your Majesty doesn't know who proposed to let King Yan lead the army to the north of the Zhou Kingdom!" ”

Xu Kuangheng had probably heard a thing or two, and then continued: "Zhou Liushou is worried about King Yan? ”

Zhou Zong knew that Xu Kuangheng was Li Yuan's confidant, but there was no need to hide it, and said bluntly: "Exactly! The old man grew up watching His Royal Highness King Yan! Although His Highness has been practicing martial arts since he was a child and reading military books, he is young and vigorous after all, and he has never experienced war! Once defeated—"

Xu Kuangheng interjected directly: "If the battle is lost, coupled with the recent rumors that are not favorable to King Yan, I am afraid that King Yan's position will be in jeopardy, and the matter of fighting for the prince will inevitably be blocked, but also?" ”

"Alas!" Zhou Zong was noncommittal and nodded heavily.

As Li Yuan's right-hand man, Xu Kuangheng knows that Zhou Zong has a close connection with King Yan, and it is normal to have this worry, but there is always a little strange today, he Xu Kuangheng has never figured out, Zhou Zong is the founding minister after all, although he retired from the court, but the former protégés and former officials are all over the world, why make a special trip to ask his little Wuping Changshi?

After a moment of silence, Xu Kuangheng said calmly: "Zhou Liushou, please forgive me for speaking bluntly, King Yan is going north, but do you need my marshal to send troops to help?" ”

Hearing this, Zhou Zong was stunned for a while, swallowed his saliva and said, "Xu Changshi knows me!" Today, everyone in the Tang Dynasty knows that my son-in-law is a famous general, if he can send troops to help, maybe His Highness's situation will be better! The old man is about to ask His Majesty for this matter......"

Xu Kuangheng didn't have time to think about it, and waved his hand and said: "Zhou stays behind, it's difficult for the handsome man at the moment!" Although the commander is called Wei Sheng's unified army, and he is also the envoy of Wuping, but the right wing of Wei Sheng is still in the hands of Li Jinquan, and the left wing is taken away by Chen Envoy. Even if you send troops north, a few thousand soldiers and horses will face the powerful Zhou State, I am afraid it will not help!

Don't hide that you stayed behind, and this trip to Jinling was ordered by the commander to ask the imperial court to allow Wuping to expand the army! ”

Seeing Xu Kuangheng take out a letterhead from his arms, Zhou Zong said hesitantly: "Xu Changshi, can you let the old man take a look?" ”

Xu Kuangheng handed it over with a smile: "Zhou stays, please!" Before it was sent to the Privy Council, it happened that the letter had not yet been sealed......"

After talking for a long time, Xu Kuangheng felt a little dry, so he turned his head to signal, and the maid on the side hurriedly stepped forward to add tea. After Zhou Zong read it carefully and fell into contemplation, Xu Kuangheng spoke first: "Zhou stays behind, the marshal has made it clear in the letter, my Wuping army expansion is really a last resort!" There are enemies in the north and the south, it is difficult to move without soldiers, and it is difficult to defeat the white blade empty-handed! ”

Looking at Xu Kuangheng's unhurried appearance, Zhou Zong seemed to have a little calculation in his heart, and said calmly: "Li Lang is an old husband and a virtuous son-in-law, and he does his own affairs!" The expansion of the army will be handed over to the old man! ”

Xu Kuangheng smiled faintly, and then asked: "Zhou stays behind, the commander has an order, and he must return to Langzhou as soon as possible!" Therefore, I dare to ask, how long will it take to achieve this? ”

Zhou Zong threw up the sleeves of his robe and replied decisively: "The old man will enter the palace immediately." ”

"Thank you for staying behind for the big handsome!"

"Xu Changshi, what about sending troops?"

Xu Kuangheng explained earnestly: "Zhou stayed in Mingjian, if the imperial court explicitly ordered Wuping to go north, how could the marshal dare not obey the order? But even if the imperial court allows the expansion of the army, the marshal will need time to train the new soldiers, if the troops are sent in a hurry, I am afraid that the king of Yan will be mistaken! ”

"Xu Changshi's words are reasonable, the old man also went to the battlefield with the first emperor back then, so he naturally understands."

Xu Kuangheng lingered for a moment, and continued: "Zhou stays behind, there is another question below, if the marshal sends troops north this time, after all, the road to the Zhou country is far away, and if the war is in a stalemate, this time and again, the marriage between the marshal and Ling Ai is afraid that it will be postponed again, and if it is delayed here again, I am afraid that it will be criticized......"

"Well, it's the old man who didn't think about it, and this wedding date really can't be delayed anymore! What about the long history, in your opinion? ”

Xu Kuangheng got up and arched his hand and said, "The marriage between the two families is important!" Without further ado, please leave Zhou to write a letter to the next one, stay in the next horse and return to Langzhou, and ask the handsome to come to greet him immediately! ”

Zhou Zong nodded again and again, and immediately decided: "This is very good!" The old man asked the housekeeper to carry the little girl's dowry, followed by him, and sent it to Langzhou ......"