Xu Ling is a giant in the literary circle of the Southern Dynasties, and he is also one of the few talents in Chen Guo who can provoke the beam, to remove this person, Chen Ji actually has a mustard in his heart, but this is a last resort under the pressure of the times.

He needs such a scapegoat to bear the residual strength of the failed Northern Expedition for him, not that he really disagrees with Xu Ling's proposition - the Northern Expedition was agreed upon, and it would have been impossible to carry it out without Chen Ji's approval.

Of course, Chen Ji did not take revenge for Gao Wei's behavior of picking peaches back then, he chose the Northern Expedition because of the natural and irreconcilable contradictions between Chen and Northern Qi.

It must be known that there was a feud between the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and this feud was basically rooted in the contradiction between the North and the South: first, since the tyranny of Hulu was swept away one by one, and Tuoba Xianbei unified the north, the two dynasties of the north and the south, one proclaimed to be Chinese orthodoxy (Southern Dynasty), and the other claimed to inherit the Jin Dynasty (Northern Dynasty), and the two sides derogated each other, which was a contradiction in Taoism; Second, the Northern Qi was powerful and wealthy, and although the territory of Southern Chen was vast, the land under its territory was sparsely populated, with barbarians and natives everywhere, and the Chen State had a natural demand for territory and population, while the Northern Qi blocked Southern Chen's pursuit of land and population, which was a fundamental contradiction.

After Xiao Qi and Xiao Liang, the Southern Dynasties were actually not very enthusiastic about the Northern Expedition.

But only the latter point is enough to be the reason for Chen Ji's big move - Chen has no land, no shelter, and no population!

Jiankang hangs alone on the edge of the Yangtze River, and the north of the Yangtze River is full of Qi people's territory, and there is no cover! So much so that when Chen Baxian was in power, the Northern Qi Dynasty entered the Kou twice, and the Southern Dynasty fought back passively, although in the end it was a big victory, but this feeling of life and death at any time against the opponent still made people extremely uneasy, and after the Qi State steadily suppressed the Zhou State, Chen Ji's uneasy feeling became more and more intense.

And then there's the population.

Hou Jing's rebellion not only collapsed Xiao Liang, but also caused Chen Guo, as his successor, to lose a large area of territory and people that could be inherited.

Yuwentai took the opportunity to seize Bashu and Jiangling, and the brothers Gao Yang and Gao Yan realized it later, but they also annexed Huaibei and Huainan, and nearly 10 million people were divided up by Zhou and Qi!

Although there are many remaining states and counties in the Southern Dynasty, the population is very poor, and the remaining population is mainly concentrated in the Jiangdong and Jiankang Gyeonggi areas.

After Chen Ba founded the country first, after a long period of recuperation, the population of Chen State is far from recovering, and it is so low that it is difficult to imagine that such a large country as Chen Guo has a population of only three or four million!

It can be said that if it weren't for the fact that there were many famous generals in Chen's army, and there were many fierce soldiers who dared to fight and could fight in the wars of the last days of Xiao Liang, Chen's basic plate would have been unable to hold it a long time ago......

Therefore, the combat power of Chen Guo's army is indeed considerable, and his real fatal wound is the defect of national strength!

The defeat in this battle not only shattered Chen Ji's ideal of recovering Lianghuai, but also exhausted the strength accumulated by Chen Guo for more than ten years, and Chen Guo no longer had the capital to support a Northern Expedition...... Now, not only to calm the anger generated by the defeat in the country, but also to find a way to deal with Gao Wei and eliminate this war as soon as possible, then, whether from the overall situation or from the small situation, Xu Ling must be degraded!

Chen Ji sat quietly for a long time, until the sun shone through the window, and he realized that it was already afternoon.

On the edge of the pillar, Chen Shubao and a few brothers were still burying their heads in the shape of quails, whether their heads were falling down, obviously a little sleepy, the chamberlain carefully glanced at Chen Ji's face, stepped forward and gently patted Chen Shubao's shoulder: "His Royal Highness the Prince...... His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ......" Chen Shubao suddenly came back to his senses, and as soon as he looked up, he saw his father Tieqing's face, he hurriedly got up and bowed down, and even these brothers woke up one after another, and they did the same.

Chen Shubao was glared at by his father, his heart was in a mess, like a deer, his mind was turning over and over again, thinking about the words of waiting, what his father would ask, how to answer to satisfy his father, and so on...... When he was silent, Chen Ji said coldly: "The prince also heard the words of Mao Xi and Chun Yuliang before, what do you think?" ”

Chen Shubao's scalp was numb from his father's knife-like eyes, and he didn't dare to look at him, so he only lowered his head silently, and his voice was like a mosquito: "Son...... Minister, the minister thinks that what Mao Xi and Chun Yuliang said makes sense, before dealing with Gao Wei, we have to stabilize the interior, at this time we can only sacrifice Xu Ling, but we can't raise the morale of others too much, we should get the land, we need not to let an inch of land! ”

Chen Ji stared at him, the corners of his mouth slowly pulled out a shallow bend, Chen Shubao thought that his father was satisfied, and he had just escaped a catastrophe in his heart, who knew that the emperor would say next: "That's it?" It's just a rehash of the same old tune, and I want to know what you'd think if you were me. If you are not in the near future, you will sit in my position, facing the menacing situation of the Northern Captives, how will you face it? ”

"Minister...... Minister......"

Obviously, this proposition is too large and complicated, and the prince, who is good at literary style, is obviously not scratching his head, Chen Shubao knelt below, and the wording was worded for a long time, but it was a useful sentence except for "minister" and did not say it.

Chen Shuling and Chen Shujian brothers quietly glanced at each other, and they all secretly sneered in their hearts.

Chen Ji sighed deeply, and his tone was filled with disappointment and sarcasm that could barely be concealed: "In recent days, the whole dynasty has been praising the prince's virtuous ability, I am really happy to hear it, I really believe it, I think that after a hundred years, you can stand up to the door and stand on the pillar, at least you are also a king who keeps the success, and can protect the ancestral inheritance. ”

Chen Shubao was uneasy, and Chen Xu's eyes became more and more angry and disappointed: "You have been smart since you were a child, and you have suffered with me in the Zhou Kingdom, and I and your mother have a preference for you more because of this matter, who would have thought that you would be so uncompromising...... Do you think I don't know, you and Mr. Jiang feasted guests every day, drank all night, Kong Huan asked to replace Mr. Jiang several times, and Wang Kuo was reappointed as the head of the palace, but I didn't agree because you didn't want to, I didn't want to refute your face. ”

“…… Banquet guests I also temporarily understand that you have grown up and want to gather your own team, so you turn a blind eye to these...... But now look at it, your kung fu is all in raising customers and drinking and writing poems, when it comes to the way of the emperor and governing the country, there is no growth at all, come to think of it, your name of virtuous ability is also advocated by Mr. Jiang and those disciples for you - prince, you are really 'virtuous'! ”

Chen Shubao was in a cold sweat, Chen Ji's chest rose and fell, and he stared at him coldly: "Come on, strip the authority of President Jiang, abolish it as a commoner, and blast out all the fat powder and people raised in the East Palace!" ”

The prince was about to defend, but he was nailed to the spot by Chen Ji's eyes, "You have been the prince for so many years, how disrespectful Yu Jun's father is, and how disrespectful Yu is the elders of the court, if you dare to stop me, I will simply abolish you!" ”

The last line of defense in the prince's heart was broken and he collapsed to the ground.

Chen Ji got off the dragon couch, walked around the same place twice, and said again: "...... You are so old, you should understand things, Gao Wei was put on the throne by his Lao Tzu in his early tens, walking on thin ice, conscientious, and in a few years, he has governed the country stronger and stronger, are you missing a brain than him? I know that you are smart, you must use your wisdom to the right path, learn hard, how to be a good emperor, don't let me down again......"

When it comes to this, if Chen Ji is unhappy, maybe he will really abolish the prince on the spot, Chen Shubao didn't dare to say more, he only promised to say yes.

That's it?

Chen Shuling, who was kneeling on the side, had a faint look of unwillingness on his face, and was racking his brains, preparing to explode Chen Shubao's fierce news in front of his father, Chen Ji suddenly named: "Shuling, I heard that you told people outside that I don't like Shubao, and I intend to make you the prince?" And say you're like me? Chen Ji's tone could not hide his sneer, "I want to ask, what do you look like me?" Who did you hear that I wanted to make you the crown prince? ”

Now the one who stammered became Chen Shuling, "Son...... Erchen is drunk, and said it casually. ”

"Hmm...... Say it casually. Chen Ji looked up at the beam and nodded.

"Don't say it casually in the future," he looked at Chen Shuling, and there was no trace of joy or anger in his expression, "Even if it is drunk and speechless, it is difficult to guarantee that this is not your heart......

Chen Shuling's face turned pale, and his body trembled slightly.

“…… Wait for you to go out of the palace gate, go directly to the fiefdom, prepare dry food, and don't have to stay in Jiankang for dinner, if you dare to turn back, I will break your legs. If I suddenly die one day, with the heart of Uncle Bao, I will not do anything to you, and there will always be glory and wealth. In short, there is no edict, and there is no return to Jiankang - do you understand?! ”

The words of Chen Ji in the front were quite calm, and the last sentence directly became murderous.

Chen Shuling was directly frightened and fell to the ground, which was the same as Chen Shubao before, Chen Ji's eyes flashed a faint pain, but he still said coldly: "You are reckless, you don't have a brain, you are not suitable to be a prince." I am for your own good, and you will understand when you have children in the future...... Now, you, and you, get out of here......"

Everyone immediately dispersed, only Chen Shuling was still kneeling there in a daze as if he had lost his soul.

Chen Shubao walked to the door, quickly turned back, pulled him up and left...... Dead silence returned to the small pavilion, and the attendants lowered their heads and hid in a place where the sun could not shine. After Chen Ji dealt with these things, he only felt tired, national and family affairs, and the world's affairs, the wisps were entangled in his mind, and they were beaten to death, and he couldn't find the answer.

In the future, where should Da Chen go?

……

"Heh, what's the use of showing off your might? Since then, Chen Guo can only be a fish and a lamb to be slaughtered. ”

When he heard the news that Chen Ji ordered Chun Yuliang to train soldiers and horses in Xuanwu Lake, Gao Wei only sneered lightly, and the news in front came up layer by layer, and when he arrived in Yecheng, the Huainan offensive and defensive battle had entered the stage of sweeping the tail, Wang Lin grabbed the stone beam, and then stopped advancing, Fan Yi was driven out of Jiangbei by He Ruobi, although the soldiers and horses from Henan and Huaibei were still in a steady stream, but the two armies had entered a stalemate stage.

Among them, the most eye-catching is Wei Xiangyuan and Yu Wenshu, who drove straight into Jingzhou and captured Jingzhou, although they still failed to hold on under the pressure of Chen troops from all walks of life, but it also greatly increased the prestige of the Northern Dynasty, which was enough to make Gao Wei out of this evil breath in his heart...... Most of the main force of Wu Mingche's Chinese army was annihilated, and Chen Guo was already seriously injured and could no longer stop him.

As for the 100,000 troops paraded on Xuanwu Lake, in his eyes, the sense of presence was as low as air, and it was just a bluff to listen to the numbers.

It's ridiculous that Chen Ji has been looking forward to reviving the majesty of the Southern Dynasty all his life, but "morality is not as good as literature, and wisdom is not enough to catch martial arts", and he has made mistakes in basic judgments...... This person is a good hand in governance, strictly speaking, he can even be regarded as a Ming Jun, but the situation is like this, what can he do? The unification of the north with the south has become a foregone conclusion, and anyone who dares to resist will be wiped out.

In this battle, most people saw that Huainan was protected, and they rejoiced about it.

But Cushman thought a little further, after this battle, Chen Guo was no longer able to fight against the Northern Dynasties, and could only survive.

The luck of the Southern Dynasty has since ended, and the hundreds of years of struggle and thousands of miles of great rivers and mountains can already vaguely see its end at night.