Beiyan, Heluo City.

As the reckless bandits in Baotai Mountain turned into a militia group accepted by the government, the matter seemed to be calm, but there was a strange atmosphere in the government and the opposition.

Before last year, the Northern Yan had always had a strategic advantage over the Southern Qi, and the Huaizhou and Jingzhou armies of the Southern Qi could only hold the defensive line and could not surpass the Lei Chi.

However, when the Jing Dynasty withdrew its army and shifted its focus to the Zhao State in the west, leaving only tens of thousands of troops in Heluo City to control the situation, the true strength of the Yan army was gradually exposed, and crushing defeats followed.

In the Huaizhou offensive last spring, the Dongyang Road in Beiyan lost troops and lost generals, and then it was played by the Qi army, losing nearly half of the territory of Moyang Road, and Chen Jingtang, Zhang Junsi and Chen Xiaokuan and other generals were demoted one after another.

Up to now, more than 20,000 officials and soldiers have not even been able to take down a group of bandits, and they are forced to make peace with each other.

The magnates in the city didn't know the details of the Seven Star Army, nor did they know that the terrain in the mountains was extremely complex, and in their eyes it was just mountain bandits and thieves, and as a result, the official army was almost defeated, which could be seen as a group of mud that could not support the wall.

If Jing Jun is still here, how can such a situation occur?

Perhaps in the eyes of the officials and people of Southern Qi, such an idea is too absurd, but under the encouragement of well-intentioned people, this theory is very popular in Heluo City.

The combat effectiveness of the officials and soldiers is low, the court officials are mediocre, and even the Son of Heaven is drunk and ignores the government and politics, and similar rumors are rampant.

As for the fiasco in the past two years, Jingjun also participated, but this kind of thing was deliberately ignored by the idle men who spread rumors on the streets.

It seems that as long as you throw yourself into the arms of the Jing Dynasty in the north, these problems will be solved.

In the turbulent undercurrent, some people cheered for the emperor of the Jing Dynasty, some people wandered around and watched secretly, and some people had empty ambitions but could only call in vain.

Of course, there is no shortage of people who take the first step in troubled times.

Wang's mansion, the fragrance of Lanxue Hall is curling, although it is the middle of October, it is still warm as spring.

"It seems that I still underestimated that Lu Shen."

Wang An opened his mouth faintly, with a complicated smile on his face.

He naturally belonged to the one who took the first step, and when Lu Shen was still training in Baotai Mountain, he was ready to release goodwill to Southern Qi and was ready to turn around in time.

However, taking the first step does not mean that he will be successful, he thought that after the topographic map of Dongyang Road was sent, he would definitely be regarded as a treasure by Xiao Wangzhi, and the marriage between Wang and Lu went smoothly, and the Wang family could get a lot of benefits, and then reached more cooperation with the south.

Who Cheng thought that Xiao Wangzhi didn't say anything, but the secret letter sent by Wang Jun was like a basin of ice water poured on his head.

Wang Cheng, the elder brother sitting opposite him, frowned and said, "This is Lu Shen's idea?" Is there a possibility, this is Xiao Wangzhi deliberately pinching us, and Lu Shen is just a cover. ”

Although if there is no accident, that Nanqi Wuxun named Lu Shen will become his son-in-law, and he has already inquired about this person's life before, Wang Cheng still does not feel that the other party has so much power to directly decide such an important matter.

Wang An got up to add tea for him, in this hall, in addition to the two brothers, there was only Wang Chulong, who was sitting quietly and listening, and the maids and servants were all retreated, and there were also masters in the clan center guarding outside, and they would not leak a word.

The clear tea flowed, Wang An turned the pot back, and said lightly: "Brother still doesn't know enough about the situation in the south. Since Lu Shen's sudden rise last year, Xiao Wangzhi's attitude towards this young man has been obviously different, and I suspect that this has something to do with Lu Shen's father, Lu Tong. Of course, Lu Shen has now gradually gotten rid of his father's protection, whether it is the several battles last year or what he has done in Baotai Mountain this year, it is enough to prove his ability. ”

Wang Cheng sighed lightly: "He is so young but so difficult, he is not a good-looking character." ”

Perhaps because he was too loyal to Lu Shen, Wang Jun did not do any polishing when he relayed it, and sent Lu Shen's original words to the north word for word.

Wang An is in a high position, Wang Chengnai is a big family in the literary world, and both of them have a high reputation in the north, how could they have been taught by someone who pointed their noses like this?

What's more, the other party is just a young man who has just turned twenty.

Wang An was indeed a little depressed in his heart, but he had always been good at hiding his emotions, and when he heard this, he smiled and said: "It's not surprising that young people are strong-blooded, why should my brother mind?" ”

"Naturally, I won't bother with him."

Wang Cheng smiled and snorted, as if he had inadvertently glanced at Wang Chulong, and saw that her face was still quiet, so he relieved his heart.

Wang An smiled slightly, and said slowly: "This is a lord who doesn't see rabbits and doesn't scatter eagles." However, this also has advantages, the stronger his ability, the greater the probability of success in this step. If you can't hold your breath or are happy to see the hunting heart, it will definitely be bad in the future. ”

Wang Cheng recognized this, but he had a question in his heart that he had been holding back for a long time, so he asked at this moment: "Actually, I don't really understand, why did you take this step?" ”

The Yan army was not the opponent of the Southern Qi border army, which was proved last year, but the main force of the Jing Dynasty has not made a move, which is also a problem that needs to be considered.

When the Jing Dynasty completed the annexation of Zhao, they would be free to clean up the south.

In the eyes of Wang Cheng and even most of the magnates in this Heluo City, Nanqi will definitely not be able to compete with the Jing Dynasty, and Heluo City may soon change to a real owner, so why not continue to be the guests of the Jing Dynasty at that time?

Therefore, Wang An decided to turn around, so that Wang Cheng could not understand it.

Wang An thought for a while, and said unhurriedly: "There are three main reasons. First, the Southern Qi was more tenacious than I imagined, and Li Duan was able to stabilize the strength of the border army in such a passive situation, and he could also promote the increase of the Jiangbei Fourth Army, which seemed to have a lot to do. The strength of the Southern Qi border army is also stronger than my inference, not to mention the famous marshals Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun, and a budding young man like Lu Shen can also be regarded as a famous general seed. ”

Wang Cheng nodded convincingly.

Wang Chulong, who was sitting at the bottom, raised his head slightly, and his eyes showed a bit of curiosity.

Wang An continued: "Second, the Jing Dynasty has implemented the way of secret assimilation over the years, and there are indeed many young people who have stepped into the officialdom and the army who yearn for the Jing Dynasty, but judging from the reaction of the people, even if the people of the North have no good impression of Qi Guo, they also do not like the Jing Dynasty. On the other hand, brother, haven't you noticed that the strength of Jing Jun has dropped a lot now, and it is no longer invincible in the world fifteen years ago? ”

Wang Cheng frowned slightly and said: "But judging from the battle in the north, the offensive of the Jing army is almost devastating, and the Zhao State has no strength to fight at all." At most, it only takes half a year for Jing Jun to pacify the entire territory of Zhao. ”

"Zhao Guo was frightened by Jing Jun fourteen years ago, and it is just that Emperor Jing deliberately kept it until now."

Wang An revealed the truth in one sentence, and then sighed with emotion: "This is also the third reason I want to say, the ambition of Emperor Jing Dynasty is too great. After the capture of Heluo City, the best choice for the Jing Dynasty was to occupy the land of Jiangbei, but Emperor Jing wanted more than just so much territory. He supported our small court, and acquiesced in Zhao Guoguo's continued breathing, just to let the Jinglian people seize the time to have children and prepare to dominate the world. ”

He held up four fingers and continued: "In more than ten years, the Jinglian clan has increased by more than 400,000 households. This looks good, but it still can't support Emperor Jing's ambitions. I have watched the Jing Dynasty act over the years, and I have roughly figured out Emperor Jing's thoughts, he is ready to take the Zhao State first and then replace the country, and then the army will go south in three ways to pocket the Jiangbei land of our Yan Dynasty. After that, it was to take the seven parts of Shazhou in the west, enter Huaizhou in the east, and finally solve the problem of Southern Qi to dominate the world. ”

Wang Cheng bowed his head and said, "So you think his idea is unrealistic?" ”

"Yes."

Wang An took a shallow sip of the teacup, adjusted his sitting posture slightly, and said slowly: "If the stall is too big, there will definitely be problems inside the Jing Dynasty." This time, it was easy for them to annex the Zhao State, and the next attack on the Dai Kingdom in the northwest would inevitably run into a hard nail. For the Jinglian people, who have been on the road of expansion, continuous victories can naturally maintain their vast territory, but if they are stuck at some point, this large and fragile empire is very likely to fall apart. ”

Wang Chengyou sighed and said with emotion: "Listening to this analysis, I know that the four words of prosperity and decline are not false, and it is rare that you can see through the joints." ”

This sentence made Wang An's expression darken, and his tone was slightly gloomy: "Brother, we are just taking advantage of the situation, and we don't have the courage to go up the tide after all." Now he can only seek the acceptance of others, and it was because he was worried about the rise and fall of the family that he took refuge in the Jing Dynasty. The world says that the Gaomen clan is extremely rich, but they don't know that inside the high courtyard wall, there is already a rotten smell. ”

Wang Cheng looked at him fixedly and sighed: "Actually, this is the real reason why you want to change your course?" ”

"Sort of."

Wang An laughed at himself and said: "Zhai Lin Wang's family has been inherited for hundreds of years, and he can endure humiliation and commit himself to the enemy for a while, but he can't be a dog of a foreign race with all his heart, otherwise how will the historian write in the future?" Since the foolish brother took over this kind of family business from his father, he had to bow his head in order to protect the family, and now he has to seize the last chance. ”

"But I always feel that Nanqi may not be the final winner."

Wang Cheng lightly twisted his short beard and muttered: "Although the border army of Southern Qi is getting stronger and stronger, you and I both know that the situation in the Southern Qi court is not much better than that in this Heluo City. ”

"Take it one step at a time." Wang An's eyes flashed with a look of exhaustion, and he said slowly: "The icing on the cake is for everyone, and it has weight in the snow." ”

Wang Cheng nodded and asked, "Then are you ready to make a move?" ”

Wang Anying said: "For Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun, the first battle of the Northern Expedition is very important. Now that Lu Shen has made his attitude clear, I think this is also Xiao Wangzhi's opinion, so we will help him. Dongyang Road is stuck on the only way for the Huaizhou army to go north, and only by helping them capture Dongyang Road will we have the qualifications to sit down and talk in the future. ”

Wang Cheng didn't ask how to do it, although Zhai Lin Wang didn't have the ability to openly argue with the imperial court, it was not difficult to settle down on a small Dongyang Road.

"One more thing." Wang An frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice: "If you go down this step, you can't turn back, our Wang family needs to send someone south to be responsible for the central liaison, and at the same time, you can also make decisions on the spot." In the future, if everything has to rely on back and forth to deliver information, it will not only be time-consuming and laborious, but also may delay major events. ”

When Wang Cheng heard this, he fell into deep thought.

This candidate must be within the inner circle of the Wang family, and at the same time he must have quite outstanding abilities, and he also needs to gain the trust of those people in the south, especially Lu Shen.

After all, Wang Jun is a partial disciple, and he has long been disconnected from the Wang family's main sect after many years of emigration, and he doesn't know much about the affairs of the north, and it is difficult for Wang An to really trust this junior who was taken under Lu Shen's command.

Just as the two brothers were thinking, a gentle voice sounded beside them.

"Uncle, Daddy, let me go."

Wang Chulong got up slowly, his face was calm, and his tone was soft but firm.

(End of chapter)