That morning, Wu Chengsi did not go to the military camp. Everyone in the government gathered in the lobby, staring closely at Xu Wenqing.
When the black scarf was taken off Xu Wenqing's eyes, she felt a sudden flash of light in the darkness. Overjoyed, she immediately wanted to open her eyes, but she felt a burning pain.
Li Zhiying said hurriedly: "Slow down, you haven't seen the sun for too long, don't be too hasty."
Xu Wenqing nodded and opened his eyes little by little. What he saw was a bright hall, and a beautiful woman beside him was looking at her with concern.
"Sister Li?" Xu Wenqing asked tentatively.
Li Zhiying smiled and said: "Sister, do you feel uncomfortable somewhere?"
Xu Wenqing shook his head and said blankly: "Sister, you are so beautiful."
Li Zhiying pursed her lips and smiled and said: "Silly sister, you are also beautiful."
Xu Wenqing shook his head and looked at Wu Chengsi. After noticing that he was looking at him, he looked away, as if he did not dare to look at him.
Looking around, I quickly spotted another cold-faced beauty.
"Sister Liu?" she asked again.
Liu Lanshuang only nodded, with a cold expression.
Xu Wenqing bit her lip and thought uneasily: "Both sisters are so beautiful, but I can't compare to them. Will the prince not want me?"
Wu Chengsi saw her looking strange and asked, "Wen Qing, what's wrong with you? Are you not happy that your eyes are cured?"
Xu Wenqing waved his hands quickly and said, "No, I'm very happy." He forced a smile.
Although Wu Chengsi was a little surprised by Xu Wenqing's weird reaction, today was the day when Wu Mei held a court meeting, so he had to stand up and said: "You should have a good rest, I am going to court."
After Wu Chengsi left, Xu Wenqing only said that he wanted to go for a walk in the back garden, and then left the back hall.
Walking slowly along the corridor in the back garden, she kept sighing.
Lu Wei couldn't look at it anymore and said, "Miss, what's wrong with you? Isn't it better after your eyes are cured?"
Xu Wenqing glanced at her and whispered: "Of course, it's just...just..."
"Just what?"
Xu Wenqing sniffed and said, "Sister Li and Sister Liu are both so beautiful. How can I compare to them? I'm afraid that over time, the prince will get tired of me."
Lu Wei said: "The two ladies are very beautiful, but Miss, you are not bad either!"
Xu Wenqing shook his head and said, "You don't have to comfort me."
"Who comforted you?" Luwei pulled her to the lake and said, "Look at the lake for yourself, you should be no worse than the second lady."
Xu Wenqing looked down, exclaimed, covered his face and said, "Hey! How could I...how could I..."
Lu Wei said hurriedly: "What?"
Xu Wenqing blushed and was overjoyed: "It turns out that I look like this and have been blind for so long...I almost forgot..."
He looked up at the sky and said with a smile: "The weather is so nice today! Luwei, let's go out for a walk together!"
Lu Wei snorted and said, "No, I want to learn dancing from Sister Qiuchan."
Xu Wenqing hugged her arm and said domineeringly: "No, you must accompany me out!"
Luwei stamped her feet and said, "How could I deal with a young lady like you!"
Xu Wenqing chuckled and said, "Just accept your fate, but don't worry, I will help you find a good husband!"
Lu Wei was so embarrassed that he reached out and grabbed her armpit. Xu Wenqing hurriedly ran to dodge.
The two girls, one behind the other, started running in the garden, and their silver bell-like laughter resounded throughout the back garden.
…
Li Chongyi walked out of the Zichen Hall with a cold face, glanced around, and immediately walked towards Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan.
At the court meeting just now, it was not only established that Li Ji would serve as Zhongshu Ling, Wu Mei also issued several decrees one after another.
First of all, Su Dingfang was appointed as the deputy marshal of the Western Rebellion Army. Su Dingfang had a high prestige in the army, and no one objected to this decree.
Secondly, he issued a decree to let the Yangzhou navy attack the Japanese country the next month.
All the ministers knew that Wu Chengsi had been planning to attack the Japanese country, and the military officials agreed, and only the Yangzhou Navy was sent to fight, so the decree was passed.
However, immediately afterwards, Wu Mei appointed Zhang Jianzhi as the minister of the Ministry of War, Zhou Xing as the minister of the Zhongshu, Wang Bo as the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Lu Zhaolin as the minister of the Ministry of Hubu, Du Shenyan as the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Yao Chong as the minister of the Ministry of Works.
Li Chongyi, Dai Zhide, Hao Chujun, Cen Changqian and other officials came out to oppose it, while Lou Shide, Li Siwen, Qiu Shenji and other officials naturally came out to support it.
There was a fierce quarrel between the two sides, but in the end because Liu Qixian, Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan remained neutral again, these decrees were passed.
Li Chongyi was filled with indignation. He strode forward to block Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan, and said with a sullen face, "Why didn't you come out to object to the meeting just now?"
Li Chongyi was very senior in the court. If Li Zhi had not been worried about handing over the household department to others, he would have been promoted to the position of minister.
Therefore, although Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan were of high rank, they respected him very much.
Li Jingxuan said: "Li Shangshu, what do you want us to oppose?"
Li Chongyi said: "Can't you see the purpose of the Queen Mother? She placed her confidants in the six ministries just to control the government!"
Li Jingxuan said lightly: "Li Shangshu is too alarmist. The person appointed by the Queen Mother is not the chief official."
Li Chongyi said angrily: "Don't pretend to be confused. She let these people enter the Sixth Department just to keep abreast of the various decisions of the DPRK and China so that they can intervene!"
Pei Yan sighed and said: "Li Shangshu, you are the one who is really pretending to be confused, you and I both know the purpose of Her Majesty the Queen Mother!"
Li Chongyi said coldly: "What do you mean by this?"
Pei Yan said: "As soon as His Majesty ascended the throne, he overturned all the policies of Her Majesty the Queen Mother. We did not want to damage His majesty, so we did not come forward to oppose it."
Li Chongyi said: "You should not have objected in the first place. Since His Majesty has ascended the throne, major political affairs should be handled by him!"
Pei Yan said in a deep voice: "Brother Li, can you honestly tell me, which one is better, the Queen Mother's strategy for governing the country or His Majesty's strategy for governing the country?"
Li Chongyi looked slightly panicked and said: "Your Majesty has just come into contact with government affairs not long ago, so he may not be as skilled as the Queen Mother, but as time goes by..."
Pei Yan's face darkened and he said: "Li Shangshu, we both respect you very much, so we told you what's in our hearts, but you haven't been honest with me at all. I don't think we need to talk about it anymore!"
Li Chongyi's face couldn't help but change, and he said slowly: "Yes, all the strategies your Majesty has revised are not as good as those of the Queen Mother."
Pei Yan said seriously: "This is the reason why the two of us did not come forward today. We do not want to openly oppose His Majesty, but we also hope that Her Majesty the Queen Mother's strategy of governing the country can be maintained."
Li Jingxuan said: "I hope Li Shangshu will explain something to His Majesty for us and two, and take our leave." After saying that, they both turned and left.
Li Chongyi stood there, silently watching the two people leave.
After this court meeting, Wu Mei's power in the court increased greatly, and Wu Chengsi focused on military affairs, even going to court less often.
Half a month passed and the period of national mourning finally ended.
On the morning of this day, in the commander's tent of Xidu Camp, after Wu Chengsi sat in command, Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui sat on the left and right respectively.
In the middle of the commander's tent, fifty officers crowded the tent, including Meng Huailiang, Guo Yuanzhen, Chen Zi'ang and Wang Xiaojie.
Su Dingfang stood up, walked to the fifty people, and shouted loudly:
"You guys, listen up! Next, Commander-in-Chief, I and General Xue will tell you the strategy for attacking Japan, and then you will go to Yangzhou and convey the strategy to the Yangzhou Navy. Do you understand?"
The fifty officers all said excitedly: "I understand!"
Su Dingfang glared and said, "You guys understand what the hell!"
Wu Chengsi was secretly amused. Originally, he thought Su Dingfang was rude in court, but after working with him in the military camp for half a month, he realized that he had tried his best to restrain himself in court.
All the officers looked confused.
Wang Xiaojie said loudly: "Deputy Commander, we really understand what you said. I wonder what you are talking about?"
Su Dingfang let out a laugh and grinned: "Boy, what's your name? How dare you talk back to me?"
"General Wang Xiaojie doesn't dare to talk back to the deputy commander, but he feels that in the military camp, if you understand, you understand, and if you don't understand, you don't understand. If you don't understand something, you must ask!"
Xue Rengui, who had been sitting still, glanced at Wang Xiaojie when he heard this.
Su Dingfang laughed and scolded: "Good boy, you are still talking to me. Come over here and I will tell you what that fart finger is!" After speaking, he clenched his fists.
Wang Xiaojie was not afraid and strode over.
Su Dingfang had a slight smile in his eyes, then straightened his face and said in a deep voice: "Let me ask you, if I just want you to deliver a message, do you need to send so many people?"
Wang Xiaojie was stunned: "No need."
Su Dingfang said: "Then why did the commander select you all?"
Wang Xiaojie frowned and thought hard.
Su Dingfang looked around: "Does anyone know?"
One person said loudly: "The commander-in-chief hopes that we can thoroughly understand the combat strategy. In addition to conveying the combat strategy to the Yangzhou Navy, we must also ensure that they fight according to the strategy without making mistakes!"
Su Dingfang raised his thick eyebrows, looked at the man and said, "What's your name?"
"This is Guo Yuanzhen!"
Su Dingfang nodded and scanned everyone one by one.
"Guo Yuanzhen is right, this is the reason why you were selected! Next, you all opened your ears for me.
When the commander finishes speaking later, if anyone can’t understand the essence of this battle, just go back to your own camp and don’t have to go anywhere!”
All the officers said in unison: "Yes!"
Su Dingfang kicked Wang Xiaojie in the butt and said, "What are you still doing standing here? Go back to the queue!"
Wang Xiaojie said loudly: "Yes." He strode back to the team.
Wu Chengsi stood up, came to the crowd, and said in a deep voice: "First of all, you must know the purpose of our battle this time!"
All the officers pricked up their ears, and their bright eyes were fixed on Wu Chengsi.
Wu Chengsi said slowly: "Japan is an island country with limited resources. As long as this country becomes strong, the first thing that comes to mind is expansion and invasion!"
"So, the Japanese country's troubles are a thousand-year trouble. Even if we defeat them once, they will show their fangs to us again when they recover. So what do you think we should do?"
All the officers shouted in unison: "Destroy them!"
Wu Chengsi said loudly: "Yes, the purpose of this battle is to eliminate the Japanese country and incorporate it into the territory of the Tang Dynasty!"
After a pause, he slowly said: "But the Japanese country is not weak, and it is located on a remote island. It is not easy to completely defeat them. I, Mr. Su and Xue Jiaoxi discussed it for a long time and finally came up with a way to destroy the Japanese country.
Three-step plan!”
Wu Chengsi walked behind the handsome case, pulled a long rope, and a huge sheepskin map slid down.
He pulled out his long sword, pointed to the southwest of the Japanese state, and said: "The Japanese state has a total of sixty-eight lingzhi kingdoms. Each lingzhi kingdom is equivalent to a state in our country, but the actual size is about the same as a county."
"Our first step is to defeat the Japanese navy, then capture Kyushu Island in the south of Japan, and use it as a base to slowly operate."
When Meng Huailiang saw that Wu Chengsi had stopped talking, he asked: "Commander, what are the next two steps of the plan?"
Wu Chengsi said: "When you go this time, you only need to complete the first step."
Chen Ziang added: "Commander, if we can understand the last two steps of the plan in advance, we can move the situation in a direction more favorable to the subsequent plan!"
Wu Chengsi looked at Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang, and when he saw both of them nodded, he said, "Okay, the last two steps of the plan were proposed by Xue Jiaoxi, so let him explain it to you."
Xue Rengui stood up, came to everyone, and said in a calm tone: "The second step is to manage Jiuzhou Island and eliminate all opposition forces.
The third step is that after Bae Duhu's Andong Army captures Silla, they will attack the Japanese Kingdom from the north. At that time, the Yangzhou Army will march north from Kyushu and advance in two directions to completely wipe out the Japanese Kingdom!"
Su Dingfang added: "You all remember, when dealing with barbarian countries, you don't have to talk to them about benevolence, justice and morality. Whoever dares to resist a little bit, just one word, kill! The more people you kill, the more afraid they will be of you!"
All the officers were very excited after hearing this and shouted: "I understand!"
Xue Rengui frowned and said: "When foreigners fight, military discipline must be strict. Although they are foreigners, they must not bully and humiliate them wantonly and corrupt military discipline!"
The officers were stunned and looked at Su Dingfang, because there was some conflict between the two military orders.
Wu Chengsi thought to himself: "This is the difference between Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui."
Both of them are gods of killing and never blink an eye when killing people, but Su Dingfang is more casual and Xue Rengui is more principled.
On the battlefield, it might be difficult for the two to tell the winner, but Su Dingfang had some flaws in handling the results of the battle.
When he conquered Baekje, it was because he launched troops and plundered, which caused local resistance, and he was eventually driven out of Baekje.
Wu Chengsi spoke up: "You must remember that no matter where they go, the Tang Army must be the most disciplined army. Military discipline is more important than anything else. Do you understand?"
Su Dingfang touched the bridge of his nose and said nothing.
All the officers nodded in agreement. Guo Yuanzhen, Meng Huailiang and others all thought: "It seems that the commander-in-chief agrees more with Xue Jiaoxi's words, so we must take Xue Jiaoxi's words as the standard."
Wu Chengsi added: "There are only more than 20,000 Yangzhou naval forces, and the other 10,000 Zuowu Guards cavalry will not participate in the battle this time. Therefore, we are at a disadvantage in terms of numbers."
The conversation changed and he said: "However, our army has two major advantages! First, our soldiers are more elite, and second, our weapons are more powerful."
"So in the next three days, I hope you can thoroughly understand the new weapon of artillery. If you can't do it, you don't need to go to Yangzhou!"
The officers said: "Yes!"
Next, Wu Chengsi and the others told everyone in detail a series of plans on how to defeat the Japanese navy and capture Kyushu Island.
After all the plans were explained in detail, Wu Chengsi said: "I have ordered the Shenhuo Battalion to bring over ten artillery pieces and place them in a valley to the north of the camp. You will live in the valley for the next few days and get familiar with the artillery!"
All the officers looked happy and responded in unison.
These fifty people are indeed the best talents selected from the army.
After three days, everyone can not only clearly understand the range, weight, and reloading time of the artillery, but also clearly explain the function of each part of the artillery.
On the first day of February, Wu Chengsi appointed Meng Huailiang as staff general and led 49 other people to Yangzhou.
There were also 3,000 left-wing guards accompanying him, responsible for transporting 130 artillery pieces, five carts of shells, and ten carts of gunpowder.
After Wu Chengsi returned to the commander's tent, he felt quite regretful.
Originally, he wanted to personally command this war against the Japanese, but now the situation between North Korea and China is uncertain. Although Wu Mei is good at political fighting, the series of restrictions left by Li Zhi are still very effective.
If he leaves Beijing, things may change in the DPRK.
After leaving the military camp, he was about to go home when he suddenly saw Su Qingjie coming quickly and said in a deep voice: "Commander, the Qianniu Guards who were sent to capture the Tubo people are back."
Wu Chengsi's expression condensed and he said, "Have they gained anything?"
Su Qingjie said: "General Cao said that Qianniuwei originally chased them all the way to Yongzhou, but no trace of them was found. Later, a female prisoner from the Ministry of Justice who was away on official business discovered the group of Tibetans in a village."
"Female catcher?"
"Yes, the female arrester was patrolling Yongzhou and found that villagers from nearby villages were frequently missing, so she secretly investigated and found that villagers in one village were secretly harboring Tibetan people."
Wu Chengsi thought to himself: "That female arrester must be Zheng Lingxuan. I heard Di Renjie said that she took the initiative to be transferred to patrol and often went out of Beijing to patrol."
Su Qingjie said: "The female catcher went to the Qianniu Guards and informed them of the situation, and then the Qianniu Guards raided the village. They could have killed all the Tubo people, but who knew that a group of Jianghu people suddenly came and rescued the Tubo people!
"
Wu Chengsi raised his eyebrows: "Jianghu people?"
"Yes, those Jianghu people are highly skilled in martial arts, and their leader is extremely accurate with his arrows. The leading Qianniu Guardsman will be shot to death by him, and the female catcher will also..."
Wu Chengsi lost his voice and said: "She is also dead?"
Su Qingjie was slightly surprised and thought to himself: "Why does the commander care so much about the female prisoner?" He said: "The female prisoner avoided the vital point, got injured, and returned to the capital with Qian Niuwei."
Wu Chengsi didn't ask any more questions, ordered someone to fetch his mount, and rode back to Chang'an City with Su Qingjie.
After entering the city, Su Qingjie returned to the Jinwu Health Department. Wu Chengsi and his personal guards came to Zheng Lingxuan's courtyard and knocked on the door. The person who opened the door was a middle-aged woman.
"Who are you looking for?" the woman asked.
Wu Chengsi said: "I am a friend of Miss Lingxuan, is she at home?"
The woman asked again: "What is your name?"
"Wu Chengsi."
The woman turned her head and shouted: "Daughter, a man named Wu Chengsi came to you and said he is your friend!"
Zheng Lingxuan's voice suddenly sounded in the courtyard: "Aunt Wang, please come in quickly!" There was a hint of surprise in the voice.
The woman was startled and asked Wu Chengsi: "Are you... are you an official?" She heard that His Highness was a big shot in the play, and her face became more respectful.
Wu Chengsi smiled slightly and said: "Aunt Wang, let me in."
Aunt Wang hurriedly got out of the way and kept saying: "Please... please come in quickly."