"After the ceremony, leave the class and send them to the bridal chamber!"
The praisers shouted loudly, and Han Qi'an, who was already forty-three years old at the time, felt a little shy. He lowered his head and led his bride towards the backyard with the colorful ball ribbon.
Along the way, the wedding ladies brought sacks for them to step on, which meant "carrying on the family lineage."
The banquet started in the front yard. It was not a big event, just a few tables were simply set up.
Li Yong smiled and toasted to the tables where Kong Xian was sitting.
"Congratulations! Kong Tuan has found a good sister-in-law."
"Same joy, same joy..."
Halfway through the banquet, Shi Jun, the highest-ranking transfer envoy, left first because he was busy with official duties.
Afterwards, Kong Xian also got drunk.
Li Yong then allowed the other guests to drink and helped Han Chengxu to the study.
"Yining finally got married, can Mr. Han feel at ease?"
"It's a lot of peace of mind." Han Chengxu laughed heartily and wiped his eyes, "Thankfully, Alang made the decision."
"It's a pity that it happened to be a war, so it wasn't lively enough, and Feiyu wasn't there either."
Han Chengxu waved his hand and murmured: "It doesn't have to be lively, it doesn't have to be lively... As long as the Kong family doesn't feel aggrieved."
Li Yong nodded.
As a bystander, he could see most clearly that Han Qi'an was unwilling to continue his marriage.
But this kind of thing is not up to one's will.
The Han family experienced the disaster of the Jin Dynasty and the war, and the members of Han Chengxu's lineage withered. Now that they have become prosperous again, what the old man wants to do must be to pass on the legacy.
Han Qi'an's second marriage was to Kong Xian's sister. It was said that Li Xia was in charge of the marriage, but Gao Mingyue was behind it. He found out that Kong's marriage was delayed due to the war, and he stayed with his brother until the 24th in Yunding City.
age……
Kong Xian, the pacifying envoy of Lizhou West Road, married Li Xia, a counselor of the shogunate. If something happens in the future, it will definitely affect Kong Xian's choice.
The so-called "connections" and marriage are always the most effective ways for families to take root in the local area.
Then gradually the roots become intertwined, forming a towering tree that is difficult to shake.
Even he, Li Yong, would have to marry into a certain force if necessary...
"The Kong family will not feel aggrieved. Yin Ning is Feiyu's number one adviser. Now, we have recovered Longxi." Li Yong helped Han Chengxu sit down in the study and said with a smile: "Shi Jun also agreed to marry my daughter to my eldest son.
"
Han Chengxu stroked his beard and pondered, wondering: "Now it seems that Mr. Li still thinks that Liu Heima will not agree to marry his daughter?"
"I have my own way." Li Yong smiled mysteriously and did not answer directly.
Han Chengxu understood and said with a smile: "No wonder you adopted the eldest son's son with this intention in mind."
"The patriarchal clan is the most important thing."
"Gong Li has far-reaching plans."
"It's not a far-reaching plan." Li Yong laughed at himself: "I thought about it a few years ago, it just happened to happen."
"At that time, Liu Heima will not be able to blame Mr. Li." Han Chengxu said with a smile: "Who knows that he has refused before."
Li Yong walked to the door, took a look outside, called his confidants to guard the yard, and then sat down.
"Mr. Han thinks Liu Heima can join him?"
"Looking at the time, whether he is in Fengxiang or Jingzhao, he should have received the news, so it will not be difficult to deduce the situation in Longxi."
"Now that the results are known, it is very simple to extrapolate. Taking control of one side is the most basic skill." Li Yong said: "However, I am afraid that these Mongolian rebels are still immersed in the great dreams of the Spring and Autumn Period in the past and are unwilling to admit that their military strength is weak.
"
"The Mongolian army has been victorious for too many years and will never be convinced."
"That's good." Li Yong said: "We have weaknesses. In just a few years, we have recovered too much territory too quickly, with a small population and insufficient strength reserves. It is already difficult to take Longxi."
Han Chengxu sighed: "There is nothing Alang can do. Meng Ge's attack on Shu is the only opportunity to regain Hanzhong; Hundu Hainan is the only opportunity to regain Longxi. We can only seize it."
"Yes, our infantry is not conducive to fighting on the plains, and it is impossible to attack Guanzhong."
Han Chengxu smiled and said: "Alang has always had the same idea, which he calls 'defensive counterattack'. Therefore, although I don't know the information, I still dare to assert that the key to regaining Guanzhong is to let Liu Heima attack Longxi."
"In this way, we don't have to fight on the plains, and our weakness will be gone." Li Yong said: "But what if Liu Heima doesn't attack Longxi?"
"Then just wait." Han Chengxu said: "Just give Alang time to completely stabilize Longxi. Then absorb the prisoners. In one or two years, we can gather a cavalry force from Longxi."
Li Yong nodded.
"This is the benefit of Feiyu's planning for more than half a year. Even if the enemy is calm enough, there is actually nothing we can do about it."
"It won't work if we attack, or if we don't attack, the enemy has no way to break the situation."
The two looked at each other, and Li Yong laughed at himself: "Looking back half a year ago, I said that Feiyu was dealing with tigers and wolves. This plan was difficult to achieve. I feel ashamed."
"The only difficulty is to give up the timing of Hunduhai. If it is too early, it will not be enough to severely damage the enemy forces in Guanlong. If it is too late, if Hunduhai is defeated, no one can beat the Mongolian cavalry. Alang grasped it very accurately."
"Luckily, both sides suffer losses."
Han Chengxu disagreed and said: "Let's talk about the report to Lin'an."
He picked up a piece of paper, handed it over, and started talking again.
"In March, Alang reported that there might be a civil war in northern Mongolia, and the defense of Hanzhong would be strengthened." In April, nothing happened. On May 9, Alang and Wang Liangchen met by chance on Qishan Road. In mid-May, he reported this
A 'little victory'."
Li Yong took a look at it and asked: "It's only the 28th. Is it too early to report to the court to regain Longxi?"
"What does Mr. Li mean?"
"The report of the victory in Qishan in mid-May will not be received by the imperial court until at least mid-June. The reward for meritorious service will be in mid-July. We should wait for the reward to be finalized." Li Yong calculated and said slowly: "Then what?
...We will retaliate for the victory of regaining Longxi after mid-June."
"That's fine."
Han Chengxu shook his head, feeling helpless.
Song Ting's reaction was always so slow, so slow that he couldn't adapt.
It's not a matter of distance.
For example, a year after Mongolia sent troops from Haranhelin to destroy the Dali Kingdom, the Song Dynasty was still discussing whether to send troops to support... So how could it be the reason for the journey?
"When the time comes, Feiyu would like to recommend Wang Jian to guard Longxi."
Han Chengxu's eyes lit up, and he pondered for a moment: "Wang Jian has made the first move to kill Brother Meng. Does the imperial court dare to use it?"
Li Yong raised his hand and pointed to the sky, sighing: "That's why I have to change.... After changing it, many things will become easier."
"Okay, okay, what Alang lacks most right now is a general who can guard one side... But Wang Jian is probably loyal to Song Ting, right?"
"That's why I say don't rush to deliver the good news. Just delay it if you can. It will give Feiyu more time to take control of Longxi." Li Yong said: "Hanzhong will be separated by then, and Wang Jian will not be able to avoid us when he comes to the imperial court."
"You can delay it, but if you delay it for a long time, you may be suspected. In addition, you also need military exploits to get benefits from the Song court."
"Don't worry, Mr. Han, I will know how to handle this."
"Then I'll leave this matter to Mr. Li."
Li Yong nodded and said: "One thing I've been worried about lately... Feiyu underestimates the role of certain things."
"What did Mr. Li mean?"
"He called those 'superstitions.'"
Han Chengxu nodded and said: "Yes, even when he was celebrating the talisman, even though he was called Pluto, he still underestimated the use of ghosts and gods to Miao Jiang. He said that the Yi soldiers in the commander's mansion were also conquered by the mistress using Asha.
.Alang... is too rational, but he doesn't know that it's easier to confuse the world."
"I heard that the Li Family Dragon Palace is in Gongchang, and I sent two letters to him asking him to go and offer sacrifices."
"What did Alang say?"
"He said he understood and would go as soon as he was done. This obviously didn't pay enough attention. I'm afraid he thought I wanted him..." Li Yong stopped talking and said solemnly: "This should be the first thing he wants to do after arriving in Gongchang.
Great things to do.”
"Yes, this is an important name for laying a foundation in Longxi." Han Chengxu felt deeply, nodded and said: "The most important thing in the country lies in sacrifice and military affairs."
"I came to persuade him about this matter, but I might get twice the result with half the effort. Please ask Mr. Han to write a letter to persuade him... who?!"
When Li Yong heard something moving in the courtyard, he turned around and shouted, and then heard an announcement coming from the courtyard.
"Mr. Li, Sir Jiang has something to ask you."
Jiang Fan drank a few drinks at the banquet, his face was a little red, but he was not drunk. When he saw Li Yong returning to the hall, he immediately stepped forward and said something.
"Mr. Li... took him back. He should be able to arrive in Chenggu County tomorrow."
"Did you get it?" Li Yong was quite surprised, "How can I get it?"
"Let me tell you this...at the beginning of the month, Liu Zongshen, the magistrate of Xunzhou, held a banquet to celebrate Duke Wu's birthday. At the banquet, the people we arranged for Duke Wu secretly changed the wine. Later, it was discovered that the wine prepared by Liu Zongshen contained highly toxic substances.
His liver and gallbladder were split, and he did not dare to let Duke Wu stay in Xunzhou anymore, so he faked his death that night and secretly moved Duke Wu out of Xunzhou..."
Li Yong couldn't believe it.
If he had not heard it with his own ears, it would be difficult for him to believe that the party struggle in the temples of the Song Dynasty had become so fierce.
This kind of poisoning is rare in the green forest.
"Fake death? What about Wu Gong's fame in his lifetime?"
"There is no way. Liu Zongshen is the governor of the state, and there are only four of us going to Xunzhou. We had to make this move out of desperation."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Jiang. I will go to Chenggu Wharf to welcome you tomorrow."
"Yes." Jiang Fan bowed his hand and went back to the banquet to drink as if nothing happened.
The next evening.
Li Yong went down the river, and the small boat met the big ship at the Han River.
After boarding the ship, he turned into the cabin and saw an old man sitting there holding a book and reading... Li Yong couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Are you crying?"
"In his lifetime, Gong was famous all over the world, with peaches and plums all over the world, but now he is...alone, traveling from Xunzhou to Hanzhong..."
Looking back on Wu Qian's life, he won the first prize at the age of twenty-two, his two brothers were among the prime ministers, and his children and disciples served as officials innumerable.
But now, his disciples have been relegated to other places, and all his staff have been dispersed... His wife has also passed away long ago, and he was already alone when he arrived in Xunzhou. What's more, he faked his death and escaped thousands of miles away.
When Li Yong thought about this, he couldn't hold back his tears.
Wu Qian just smiled bitterly and said: "Isn't this the kidnapped by you? In fact, it's better if I die, so as not to affect the future of my children."
He actually didn't want to be saved. If he lived to be sixty-five, even if the party struggle failed, he would have lived to the top of his life. Living anonymously in the world would be different from death to him.
Li Yong saw the helpless look in Wu Qian's eyes and quickly comforted him.
"Please don't be discouraged, Duke Wu. Let's see how we recover Guanzhong and the three capitals..."