The relationship has always been very good... Nikan Wailan turned out to be a member of the Jurchen tribe. Li Yongfang's thoughts were flying. How did he answer this question?

The key is that I don’t know the emperor’s purpose.

But at this moment, I must give an answer as soon as possible. Fortunately, Nikan Wailan has been naturalized in the Ming Dynasty, otherwise he would have thought he had colluded with foreign leaders.

Li Yongfang said carefully: "Your Majesty, I am not actually friends with Nikan Wailan. I just met him before. He often brought his tribe members to Fushunguan for transactions. Over time, he became familiar with each other, that's all."

"How many troops are there to guard Fushun Pass now?" Zhu Yiliu asked again.

"When you go back to Your Majesty, it was six hundred before, but later it increased to two thousand." Li Yongfang replied. This question was simple and the answer was just a matter of fact.

"According to General Li, is two thousand enough?"

"This..." Li Yongfang hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but look at Li Chengliang again. He was not up to him to decide whether he had enough troops. Shouldn't he ask General Li?

"If there are enemy troops attacking and the situation is urgent, if there are no other reinforcements, General Li believes that two thousand troops can defend Fushun Pass?"

"..." Li Yongfang's head was a little big. He was already scared, and there was no standard answer to the questions asked by the emperor. How could he answer them?

Is it possible to defend? But I don’t know how many enemy soldiers come. If I can’t defend, I will be slapped in the face in the future? With the geographical location of Fushun Pass, the possibility of foreign invasion is too high.

But let him answer that he can't defend himself? What else should he do, a guerrilla general?

So, Li Yongfang was stunned again, not knowing how to answer, and sweating profusely.

Zhu Yiliu has been carefully observing Li Yongfang's expression changes, and then said:

"It would be easier to answer this question. If the Mongolian or Jurchens dispatched 30,000 elite troops to attack Fushun City, General Li knew that he could not defend the people, and the price of defending the city was to destroy the city and the people were destroyed, and even the entire Fushun City would become a ruin. In this case, how should General Li choose?"

There were 10,000 horses running by in Li Yongfang's heart. If it weren't for the current emperor, he would have jumped up and cursed.

How did he answer this hypothetical question?

What exactly does the emperor want to do?

Test him?

The key to this hypothetical question, what does the emperor want to test him? How should he answer?

Even though you know that you can't defend it, if you resist stubbornly, you will face the disaster of massacre of the city and you will die; but if you give up resistance, you will surrender to the enemy, and you will inevitably be criticized by thousands of people as a coward.

How to make a choice?

The key is how the emperor hopes to make a decision? Should he cherish his people or his reputation? If the emperor cherishes his people than cherishes his reputation, he can only open the city gate and surrender, otherwise he can only choose to die in battle.

What does the emperor think?

Li Yongfang had a headache like a splitting, and she felt a buzzing sound in her head. It was too difficult.

"It's just two choices." Zhu Yiliu said in a hurry, "If you don't abandon the city and surrender to protect the city's people, or resist until death, the result will be that all the soldiers and city's people will survive and die together with General Li. To be honest, which General Li prefers?"

In desperation, Li Yongfang said: "Your Majesty, I am forgiven for being honest, I don't know how to make a decision."

Zhu Yiliu still said unhurriedly: "General Li guards Fushun and is responsible for the safety of a city. The soldiers and the people who follow you are, life and death are all in your hands. If there is really an enemy soldier who attacks you, you need to make a decision as soon as possible. How can you not know? If you don't know, what should you do if the soldiers and the people who follow you are?"

Li Yongfang's forehead was covered with sweat beads as big as soybeans, and she was restless and depressed.

Zhu Yili looked at Li Yongfang and suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Seeing General Li sweating profusely, I believe he is very conflicted at the moment. Should he cherish his reputation or the lives of his soldiers and the people under his command? It shows that General Li is a kind person. This is very good, very good!"

Li Yongfang forced a smile, but couldn't tell whether the emperor praised him or mocked him.

Wang Xianggan and Li Chengliang didn't seem to hear it, but they had already answered the questions the emperor asked Li Yongfang just now.

I just don’t understand why the emperor asked? I came to see Li Yongfang specifically, was it just to ask this hypothetical but very likely problem?

What is its purpose?

Li Chengliang may know less about the emperor, but Wang Xianggan knew that the emperor was meticulous and had purpose in everything he did, so he was by no means asking casually.

Zhu Yiliu didn't continue asking questions, and at this moment he seemed to have got the answer he wanted.

Jump to the next topic: "General Li, has the transaction volume in Fushun Guan Quochang been more common recently?"

Li Yongfang finally breathed a sigh of relief. The few questions the emperor asked just now made him feel so uncomfortable. When asked about the deal, he felt much more relaxed.

After all, this question can be answered based on facts and does not have to output his own opinions.

"Reply to Your Majesty, the trading volume in the market has shown a significant upward trend recently, and the trade volume has increased significantly. I believe this is because Your Majesty encourages trade."

"Then General Li thinks it is a good or a bad thing?"

"..." As soon as I relaxed, why did I ask questions with my personal opinions again?

However, this question seems to be much less difficult than the previous one. After all, it is Your Majesty’s decision to encourage trading.

Li Yongfang hesitated for a moment and replied: "Your Majesty, this is a good thing according to my opinion."

"Why do you think?"

"It can not only increase national fiscal revenue, but also promote integrated exchanges among all ethnic groups."

"The switch-to-switch trading undoubtedly gives the enemy the opportunity to understand us, and our shortcomings and even secrets will also be exposed to the enemy. In this regard, General Li thinks how should we improve it?"

"..." Li Yongfang was almost speechless again, and after a moment of contemplation, "I think there are pros and cons in the world. As long as the pros outweigh the cons, you can insist on doing it."

"You mean that the benefits of switching trading outweigh the disadvantages?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Relying on what the emperor advocated, Li Yongfang finally made sure of it.

"General Li should know how important the status of Fushun Pass is to Liaodong, right?"

"I know." Li Yongfang nodded.

"Are you willing to continue to guard Fushun Pass, or are you willing to follow me back to Beijing to become an official?"

"Your Majesty, this..." Li Yongfang was stunned. He wondered whether the answer just now made the emperor satisfied or not? If he was satisfied, he would be promoted, if he was not satisfied, he would be demoted. Is it not that his Majesty is satisfied with him or not?

But is His Majesty satisfied with him or not? He didn't realize it at all. Should he answer now or not?

"If you want, say you are willing. If you don't want, say you are unwilling. Follow your heart." Zhu Yiliu said, "Let's just treat it as a level transfer."

"I am willing." Li Yongfang replied. As long as he is not demoted, he will definitely be willing to become an official in the capital.

"Okay, I understand." Zhu Yili stood up and "take me to the Fushunguan trading venue to see it."

"I obey the order." Li Yongfang stood up and found that his clothes were all wet.

...

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Chapter completed!