On the southeast corner of the Imperial Palace, there is a pond called Tamamo.

In the Orchid Pavilion by the pool, Li Duan stood next to the Gangan, holding a small celadon bowl in his hand.

He took out the bait and sprinkled it into the pool, and saw a group of swimming fish competing with each other, swinging their slender bodies up and down.

"I don't understand."

He seemed to be talking to himself, and the armored military general behind him answered: "What does Your Majesty not understand? ”

Li Duan held a small lamp in one hand, looked up at the clear blue sky, and said slowly: "I thought that after Lu Shen conquered Heluo, he would tie the entire Great Qi court to the military flag of the Ruishi Camp and force me and the Manchu Dynasty to drain the last drop of blood for the border army. Heluo is not just a city for me and Daqi, it symbolizes the legal system and inheritance of Daqi. Before, I was powerless, and I could still deceive myself, but the border soldiers recovered this place, and if Lu Shen insisted on not retreating, I could only do everything to help him. ”

The military general was silent, as if thinking.

A blank look appeared between Li Duan's eyebrows, and he sighed: "He has a reason to do that, because everyone knows that the resistance of the Northern Expedition is great, but he didn't do that." Chen Qingjia, you were born in the Huaizhou Army, and you have fought side by side with Lu Shen, so you should be familiar with him, I wonder if you can solve my doubts? ”

The thirty-year-old military general is Chen Lanyu, the commander of the Southern Ya Zhenwei Army.

He said calmly: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Xiao Dudu and Lu Duwei are both people who know the soldiers, and since they think that the border army needs to rest, this decision is a matter of course. Your Majesty said this, could it be that he was dissatisfied with Lu Duwei? ”

This style of speech is different from that of most officials in the court, and it seems to have the coldness and freedom of the frontier, but Li Duan likes this style very much.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, but I'm very satisfied, so satisfied that I'm a little worried."

Li Duan laughed at himself, turned his head and asked, "Do you know why?" ”

Chen Lanyu lowered his head slightly and said, "I don't know." ”

"You have read the content of Lu Shen's letter before, and you should know that although his words are rough and straightforward, they can be called every word, and almost every paragraph is to the point. In particular, taking the initiative to suspend the Northern Expedition and return the power of restarting to me, this move can be said to have caught the Manchu ministers off guard, and even the left minister had to back down. ”

Li Duan handed the small cup to the palace man next to him, turned around and walked to the stone table and sat down, and said slowly: "How old is Lu Shen?" The age of the weak crown is only. His performance on the battlefield is almost perfect, and that's it, I just think this is Xiao Wangzhi's teaching. However, he can even see the court dispute so accurately, and this time he withdrew to retreat into advance, which won the true meaning of the court dispute. Tell me, should I be happy, or should I be worried? ”

He looked up, his gaze obscure.

Facing the direct gaze of the Son of Heaven, Chen Lanyu said simply and directly: "Your Majesty still can't let go of the rumors of Lu Duwei's life experience. ”

"It's not that I don't have the capacity to tolerate people, the ministers of the court and the central government have more or less some problems, as long as he can work hard for the court, I can turn a blind eye, not to mention that Lu Shen is far better than most people."

Li Duan's tone was light, and he sighed: "But he did so well that it was hard to believe." ”

Chen Lanyu understood the reason why the Son of Heaven summoned him today because he had some connections with Huaizhou Jun, Xiao Wangzhi and Lu Shen.

As soon as he thought of this, he said sincerely: "Your Majesty, the minister does not dare to speculate on Lu Duwei's thoughts, but the minister can guarantee that he is definitely not Yang Guangyuan's bloodline. ”

Li Duan asked curiously, "Why?" ”

Chen Lanyu replied: "If Captain Lu is really the son of the Yang family, Xiao Dudu will not wait until the year before to summon him into the army, let alone let him spend nineteen years in Guangling." With his understanding of Xiao Dudu, he will arrange this matter seamlessly without any flaws. Therefore, the appearance of Lu Duwei was just an accident. ”

Li Duan looked at him steadily, and said for a long time: "I believe in you." ”

Chen Lanyu bowed his hand and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust." ”

Li Duan changed his words and said, "In your opinion, what should I do?" ”

"The minister does not dare to discuss the king."

"Let's be honest, I don't blame you."

"If Your Majesty is not at ease, when the border war is over, you can summon Captain Lu back to Beijing to report on his work, and the minister thinks that Captain Lu will definitely not delay."

Chen Lanyu's expression was calm and calm.

Li Duan secretly praised in his heart.

At this moment, the great eunuch Lu Shizhou tiptoed into the Lan Pavilion, bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, the three generals Li Xiang, Xue Xiang, Guo Shumi, and Wang Liu Li have arrived at the East Warm Pavilion of the Wenhua Palace. ”

Li Duan said to Chen Lanyu: "You go back to the Beijing camp, and I will summon you to the palace to talk after a while." ”

"Obey."

Chen Lanyu bowed and retired.

……

"See Your Majesty."

Li Duan walked into the Dongnuan Pavilion, and the six important ministers saluted in unison.

"No courtesy."

Li Duan said concisely, with a calm and firm expression.

Li Daoyan said first: "Your Majesty, Lord Cheng Xu in the imperial history has already led more than ten capable officials to set off, and they will rush to the border to assist the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion and start wartime negotiations with Jingguo. ”

Li Duan said: "Good." ”

The negotiation was invited by Lu Shen, and the center was actually not optimistic, because the strength of Jingjun was still strong, and it was hard to imagine that Emperor Jingguo would take the initiative to concede because of the daughter of a county king.

It's just that no one is willing to refute Lu Shen on such a trivial matter, anyway, no matter whether it can be negotiated or not, Daqi will not have anything to lose.

Xue Nanting, the right minister, said again: "Your Majesty, regarding the title of the Duke of Huaizhou Governor Xiao Wang, after the ministers and others have discussed, they will temporarily plan to be the Duke of Rongguo, please make a decision." ”

"Rong Guogong?"

Li Duan's face showed a deep expression.

This title is not good or bad, and it belongs to the middle grade in the national public title.

Li Duan raised his eyes and looked at Xue Nanting, probably understanding the reason why the ministers chose this title.

One is literal, and the other implies the intention of sharing glory and loss and sharing the same weal and sorrow with the country.

Thinking of this, Li Duan nodded and said, "Good." The book intends to send the reward and honor guard to the frontier according to the regulations, and give a mansion to the country in Beijing. In addition, the text was announced to the world, so that the people of Daqi knew Xiao Wangzhi's exploits and the court's praise for him. ”

The two prime ministers should step down at the same time.

Li Duan said again: "Xiao Wangzhi's parents are no longer alive, and his wife was named the Duchess of Yipinguo, and his eldest son Xiao Lin was named the captain of the light car, and he was given a purple gold fish bag and promoted to the governor of Taiping Prefecture. The second son, Xiao Hong, was named the captain of the cavalry and was promoted to the commander of the Guangling army of the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion. ”

This is the shadow of the wife.

The reward given by Li Duan was not out of line, so none of the six important ministers objected.

After this matter was settled, Li Duan said to everyone: "Regarding the preparation of the Dingzhou Governor's Mansion, I want to listen to the thoughts of the audience's family, and the focus is who will serve as the Dingzhou Governor. ”

In fact, as early as some time ago, when Lu Shen had not yet led his troops to approach Heluo, the DPRK had already confirmed that Xiao Wangzhi was about to recover the entire territory of Dongyang Road, and the personnel appointment of that vast territory had been put on the agenda.

The first to determine was that Dongyang Road was restructured into Dingzhou, and the first Dingzhou assassin was held by Chen Chun, the former waiter of the Ministry of Rites, but the more important position of Dingzhou Governor has always been unresolved.

The reason for this is that the ministers couldn't guess Li Duan's thoughts, and several candidates for veteran martial arts were vetoed by the Son of Heaven.

Some people speculated that the Son of Heaven might be interested in Lu Shen, and then felt that this conjecture was too bizarre.

No matter how much credit Lu Shen has, he is too young, and letting a junior in his early twenties serve as the coach of the road may cause criticism in the government and the opposition.

The privy envoy Guo Congyi cleared his throat and stepped forward to play: "Your Majesty, the minister recommended General Li of Nanya to serve as the governor of Dingzhou. ”

At this time, Li Jingda was standing at the end of his trance.

Since last year, Xu Wen's treason with the enemy under his command was investigated and punished, the presence of this Nanya general in the court has been decreasing, and he can only continue to experience the majesty of the general in Nanya, and occasionally try to find trouble with Chen Lanyu, but he has never succeeded.

At this moment, he suddenly heard Guo Congyi mention himself, he raised his head a little dazedly, and looked at the Son of Heaven with a calm look.

"Guo Congyi, you are an old immortal!"

Li Jingda scolded angrily in his heart, he didn't let go of the good general, and went to the frontier to fight with Jinglian?

What's more, he didn't know that the border army was Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun's territory!

The imperial court does not want Xiao Wangzhi to be in charge of the military power of the two places alone, and the governor of Dingzhou will inevitably have to tear up with Xiao Wangzhi, and it is indispensable to compete in secret, no matter who goes to Dingzhou, he will have to shed his skin.

If those old people who are idle at home don't repair it, my dignified Nanya General ran to grab food with Xiao Wangzhi?

You're sick!

Li Jingda secretly scolded, and at the same time quickly used his brains, no matter what, he had to refute Guo Congyi's sudden attack, but before he could come up with a suitable reason, he saw Li Duan's head and said, "Hmm...... That's a good idea. ”

Li Jingda was stunned.

Guo Congyi said: "Hou Yu, the governor of Chengdu, has worked hard and has the ability to lead the troops, and the minister recommended Hou Yu to succeed him as the general of Nanya. ”

Li Duan groaned: "Hou Yu...... Wang Qing's family, Liu Qing's family, what do you think? ”

Neither Wang Yan nor Liu Shouguang objected.

Among the several border military governors in Daqi, in addition to Xiao Wangzhi in Huaizhou and Li Tianrun in Jingzhou, only the Chengzhou Governor's Mansion often had wars because they had to deal with the attacks of the seven departments in Shazhou.

In terms of qualifications, military merits and age, there is indeed no one more suitable than Hou Yu to take charge of the Sixth Army of the Southern Ya.

Li Duan said: "Then it will be played according to Guo Shumi." ”

In fact, he felt a little pity in his heart, originally Guo Congyi proposed Li Jingda as a candidate, and he wanted Chen Lanyu to temporarily take the position of General Nanya, but Guo Congyi immediately said Hou Yu's name, so that he could not forcibly arrange it.

Compared with Hou Yu, Chen Lanyu lacks a lot in all aspects.

"Your Majesty......"

In a peaceful atmosphere, Li Jingda's slightly trembling voice sounded.

Li Duan's prestige followed, squinted slightly, and said, "Could it be that Li Qing's family doesn't want to worry about me?" Or do you think the position of governor of Dingzhou is unworthy? ”

Li Jingda squeezed out a reluctant smile, and hurriedly said: "How dare the minister!" I am willing to share your Majesty's worries! For Daqi to protect the territory and the people! ”

Li Duan praised: "Very good, the Qing family is worthy of being my minister." ”

At this point, Li Jingda could only bow down to receive the thanks, but in his heart, he greeted Guo Congyi's maternal elders over and over again.

The candidate for the governor of Dingzhou has been determined, but the matter is not over yet, after all, it is impossible for a governor to have only one commander of the governor, and the arrangement of generals, troops and garrisons under his jurisdiction, and even the appointment of subordinate officials of the governor's office are very troublesome things.

These details were naturally drawn up by the Privy Council, and Li Duan only needed to review them for the final time.

Guo Congyi and the others were a little puzzled in their hearts, the Son of Heaven seemed to have forgotten someone?

Even if Lu Shen's current age is not suitable for taking charge of the army, he can't still be the original Shanyang County male and Rui Shi battalion captain, which obviously can't convince the border army generals.

Xue Nanting was also surprised, so he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, about Lu Shen, the commander of the Ruishi Battalion—"

"Don't worry."

Li Duan seemed to have been prepared, and said gently: "I have decided to seal Lu Shen as the Marquis of Shanyang, and this reward will be announced to the world together with Xiao Wangzhi's canonization decree. I told the people of Beijing on the tower that day that I would never treat every soldier of the border army badly. But all those who have made military achievements will be rewarded, and Lu Shen will naturally not be an exception. ”

"In addition to this marquis, I also have a few generous rewards, and I will give him in person when he enters Beijing."

A faint smile appeared on the lips of the Son of Heaven, which made people unpredictable the deep meaning.

(End of chapter)