Li Xia looked at the map for a long time. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became about Li Fen's behavior.
The boundaries of Shandong are no better than those of Sichuan and Shaanxi, and there is basically no danger to defend. So, if Li Fen wants to succeed, the best way is to take advantage of Kublai Khan's northern expedition, go straight to Yanjing, and occupy the Juyongguan Great Wall.
Wang Wentong came to Yanjing to join forces with the outside world, and Shi Tianze raised troops to respond... In fact, Li Fen only had to attack Yanjing silently.
If this is the case, there is no need to send people to Hanzhong to contact us.
However, according to what Wang Xin said, Li Fen wanted to be more secure and hoped that Li Xia would send troops from Guanzhong to attack Shanxi and contain some of the Mongolian troops.
If so, it would be really easy for Li Fen, Shi Tianze and Li Xia to attack Yanjing together and drive the Mongols out of the Central Plains.
But only if the three families have no selfish motives and all work for the public benefit, can this be done?
If the warlords could work together, the foreigners would have been driven out of the Central Plains twenty years ago.
Don’t just make a fortune in silence, but make the one who enters Yanjing first the king?
It can be seen that the situation is by no means so smooth.
For example, Shi Tianze is not trustworthy yet.
Then with Shi Tianze eyeing Henan, Li Fen can't take Yanjing directly. It's better to make an agreement with Li Xia to attack Shi Tianze from both sides and carve up Heluo before talking...
Thinking about this, Li Xia suddenly discovered that Li Fen didn't even send a personal letter.
All this time, only Wang Xun's big mouth has been wagging his lips and instigating persuasion.
Fortunately, I was not fooled by his words.
Just as I was about to write a letter to Li Fen, an official came over to report it.
"Prince, all gentlemen are already in the hall."
"I am going now."
Li Xia put down his pen again and went to the hall to discuss matters with the palace officials.
In fact, Li Fen's incident is just one of many things that he has to deal with.
Not long after, the discussion started again in Guiyin Hall.
"There will be another flood in the Lianghuai area this year..."
"If we want to move people into Sichuan and Shaanxi, refugees often cannot afford to go up the Han River and the Yangtze River. We must continue to send people to organize and send ships to carry them..."
"Since the number of ships required is increasing day by day, Hanzhong and Chongqing will inevitably need to build shipyards..."
"Alas, let's not talk about money, food and labor. I have no experience in shipbuilding. I have to go to Xiangyang and invite some people back..."
"Let's wait for the first lunar month and let people celebrate the New Year at home..."
~~
At night, Li Xia returned to the back house and had dinner, then he remembered that he had not yet written the letter to Li Fen, so he simply asked Tang An'an to write it for him.
He paced and had to reorganize his thoughts.
"First of all, let me express my admiration for his parents. Does An An also know about the deeds of Li Quan, Yang Miaozhen and his wife?"
"I've heard of some."
Tang Anan spread out the paper and ink, and Zhang Wenjing came over and sat down with her belly in her arms, casually talking about old things from back then.
"In the last years of the Jin Dynasty, the imperial court imposed excessive levies and was unable to resist the Mongolian army. Instead, the retreating rebels killed the people. Therefore, people in Hebei and Shandong gathered to revolt, called the 'Red Army'. At that time, Yang An'er, Yidu,
Li Quan of Weizhou and Liu Erzu of Yimeng Mountain were the three main forces of the Red Army.
Later, Yang An'er was besieged by the Jin army and fell into the water and died. The remaining troops were led by his sister Yang Miaozhen. This Yang Miaozhen was really a character. People called her the "Four Lady" and also called her "Aunt". She was good at riding and shooting, and she invented the Pear Blossom Spear.
Known as the invincible fighter in the world. Yang Miaozhen led his troops to join Li Quan, and the two became husband and wife, and together they fought against the Jin, Mongolia, and Song..."
Zhang Wenjing remembered that Zhang Rou occasionally talked about the Li family in Shandong in the past. Although she despised their humble background, Li Quan and Yang Miaozhen were indeed heroes.
After hearing this, Tang Anan asked softly: "You only mentioned that Yang Miaozhen admired Li Quan, but didn't mention that he admired Li Fen, right?"
Li Xia said "hmm".
Tang An'an understood the idea and started writing.
"Brother Songshou is favored. The Jin Kingdom lost its unification and lost its troops to foreign captives. The commander-in-chief stood up in cloth robes, raised his arms and shouted, and the Shandong rebels responded in unison. He is truly an unparalleled hero.
In the past, Chen Sheng was the one who sang favoritism, and Liu Jidi was behind the sword, and the Han Dynasty flourished. Now the Rong and Di are rushing across the Central Plains, tigers are devouring the Central Plains, and the Red Coat Army is the leader. There must be a hero who starts a business and travels all over the world.
Morality is not alone.”
Li Xia looked down, nodded with satisfaction, and continued dictating.
"It is not a secret that you, Li Fen, want to rebel against the Mongols. Now there are still rumors that there is a Li Yao in the south who rebels against the Song Dynasty, and there is a Li Yao in the north who rebels against the Mongols.
There are advantages to open separatism, but you should think clearly about who is your friend and who is the enemy. The historian has been loyal to Mongolia for nearly forty years, how can he be willing to rebel easily, destroy the achievements of forty years and be inferior to you and me?
?
Since you are so blatant, how can you expect Kublai Khan not to know your ambitions and to let Wang Wentong take charge of the central government and seize Yanjing for you to coordinate internally and externally? If you want to achieve great things, how can you rely on the hands of others?
Kublai Khan will not defeat Ali Bu so quickly, but he may take some time to solve his worries first. If you start an attack now, the time may not be good. It is better to wait for another three or two years and build up your troops. Then you and I will work together.
Attack Henan..."
All in all, Li Xia believed that Li Fen did not have the strength to start a war with Kublai Khan now, so it would be better to wait for another two years of development here to support each other.
After Tang Anan finished writing the letter, Li Xia read it, took it and sent it to the front office to send it to the Military Intelligence Department, and try to find a way to courier it to Shandong as soon as possible.
When passing by the Flower Hall, I heard Han Qiaoer chattering to Gao Mingyue about her experiences on the way to Chongqing Mansion.
…
"On our return trip, brother Li also took us back to Qingfu County?"
"Is everything okay over there?"
"Yeah, it's changed a lot. Although it's a county, it's bigger than some prefectures. Uncle Fang joked that it's the 'Southern Capital of Sichuan'."
Han Qiaoer counted on her fingers, but she also told Fang Yankai and Li Xia the reasons why Qingfu County was prosperous.
"That year, Brother Li moved a large number of refugees from Chengdu to southern Shu. He also educated the mountain people, built the city of Zhaotong, expanded the Wuchi Road, withdrew the soldiers and civilians from Lingxiao City, and merged with Dali. In addition, the wars in recent years have not affected southern Shu. The Southern Silk Road
After the restoration, merchants from the north and south increased... What a tremendous change."
Gao Mingyue thought for a while and asked: "After the New Year, Fang County Magistrate has been in Qingfu County for six years, right?"
"Seven years later, he arrived in Qingfu County more than a year earlier than Brother Li."
"Didn't the officials recommend him for promotion?"
"Brother Li said, it's not that he doesn't want to recommend Uncle Fang, but because the trade route with Dali is there, no one can replace Uncle Fang. When talents become available in the future, his contribution will not be forgotten."
"Yeah." Nian'er also said: "The official also said that Qiao'er is helping to remember. If he forgets, no one will forget Fangzhi County."
Han Qiaoer nodded vigorously and continued: "Later we passed through Chengdu and visited Marshal Liu. He seemed to be very ill..."
"Yes, I have to ask my father and eldest brother to take Liu's sister-in-law to Chengdu as soon as possible." After Gao Mingyue said this, thinking that Li Xia might have to go to Gongchang in person again, she whispered: "I'm afraid your brother Li won't be able to go to Chengdu next year."
Stayed at home for too long."
"Ah?" Han Qiao'er was very reluctant for a moment, but she said firmly, "It's better if you're not at home. You won't force me to do morning exercises anymore."
After a few words in the hall, Li Xia was going to the front office, while Tang Anan helped Zhang Wenjing over to sit down.
Tang Anan was a little surprised when he heard Han Qiaoer complaining about morning exercises.
Because just now, she secretly told Li Xia that she had recovered from her illness and that she should work hard with him to keep fit. Li Xia praised her.
Naturally, I don’t like to do morning exercises in the cold weather...
Tang Anan was just thinking about something when he turned his head and looked at Han Qiaoer.
Han Qiao'er didn't know what she was thinking of, so she hugged Nian'er and whispered.
Since these two little girls went on inspection tours with Li Xia, they have become inexplicably better. They often wear the same hairstyle, and they always like to sleep together these two nights because it is cold in winter.
Tang Anan thought that what Han Qiaoer said at this time was "There is a traitor among us who likes morning exercises..."
Later, while Gao Mingyue was talking to Zhang Wenjing, Nian'er ran over and whispered something in Tang Anan's ear.
"Girl, will you come to Concubine Han's room tonight?"
Tang Anan was stunned when he heard this. Li Xia was at Zhang Wenjing's place last night, and she should be at Han Qiaoer's place tonight.
The next moment, Han Qiaoer also sat over and whispered: "Sister An'an, how about we make Brother Li so tired that he can't get up? Let's drain his energy so that he won't have the energy to do morning exercises tomorrow..."
"We? Use up all his energy? Okay... okay..."
~~
In the second year of Xianding and the second year of Zhongtong, it finally came to an end in a relatively peaceful situation.
For Li Xia, this is indeed the easiest year in this life.
During the New Year's Day, a letter was also sent to Shandong along with the spies heading east.
~~
In the blink of an eye, it was the tenth day of the first lunar month of the third year of Zhongtong.
Shandong, Yidu.
Several fast horses came from the north.
Li Yanjian looked up and finally saw the newly built Yidu City in front of him.
Since the Mongols occupied North China, all princes were prohibited from building city walls. Only Li Fen built the city defenses of Yidu in the name of defending the Song Dynasty, and also dug deep ditches and trenches.
When Li Yanjian saw this magnificent and fortified city, he took a deep breath and drove his horse forward.
Soon, cheers erupted in Yidu City.
"The Crown Prince is back! The Crown Prince is back!"
Li Yanjian went all the way to the provincial governor's office and met his father Li Fen, his brother Li Nanshan, his cousin Yang You and other relatives, which was quite lively.
"I have met my father! My grandfather said that now that he has gained people's trust and is in charge of the central power, he can easily take Yanjing for my father as soon as the army arrives. This is my grandfather's personal letter to my father."
"Okay! Okay! My son is finally home..."
After talking about these recent developments, Li Fen sat back at the desk and first read Wang Wentong's letter, looking relaxed and satisfied.
After he put away Wang Wentong's letter and put the letter from Hanzhong back on the table, he began to frown again.
"Father, what are you looking at?"
"Wang Xun really made his own decision." Li Fen said: "I want to take Yanjing on my own, so why should he contact Li Xia of Sichuan and Shaanxi on my behalf?"
"Contact Li Xia? This... is unnecessary."
"But Wang Xun left without saying a word."
Li Yanjian was also stunned and said: "How could my uncle be so unwise? He left Yanjing earlier than the child. Counting the time, it turned out that he went directly to Sichuan and Shaanxi? It's unwise."
Li Fen seemed to be suspicious of something, thinking deeply in his heart, who else could tell Wang Xun to find Li Xia?
But in the end, he thought that Wang Xuan was always a smart person, so he shook his head.
"He's always been like that."
Li Yanjian asked: "How do you plan to reply to Li Xia?"
"Li Xia actually asked me to wait for him for three years and two years. He is simply overestimating his ability. I wish I could scold him, but it is not easy to tear down your uncle's position. I will write back and ask Li Xia if he is willing to surrender.
Bar."
After Li Fen finished speaking, he dropped the paper letter in his hand with disdain.
"The rest will be discussed after Yanjing is captured..."