After listening to Liu Bowen's words, Zhang Yangquan was slightly stunned and thought about these words in his heart for a while.
Because Zhu Yuanzhang defeated Chen Youliang head-on, he subconsciously wanted to use a head-on confrontation.
However, if you think about it carefully, Zhu Yuanzhang did not use this method because he had Zhang Shicheng behind him. He was worried that the two families would be attacked from both sides, so he had to fight quickly.
Zhang Yangquan does not have such hidden dangers, so seizing Chen Youliang's weaknesses is indeed the best way.
Thinking of this, he smiled and raised his glass: "Mr. Liu's plan for the Western Expedition is exactly what I want. Come on, let me toast you!"
Liu Bowen raised his glass and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the two had a drink, Yang Sanqiang suddenly entered the back hall and said, "Your Majesty, news just came from Honglu Temple. Chen Youliang has sent someone over!"
Zhang Yangquan raised his eyebrows and said: "We were discussing how to deal with him, and he sent people over. What do you think is the purpose of Chen Youliang sending people over?"
Song Lian smiled and said: "They must have learned that Zhu Yuanzhang was coming, so they also sent people here to form an alliance with our army!"
Zhang Yangquan pondered slightly and said, "Mr. Song, do you think we should form an alliance with him?"
Song Lian hurriedly said: "No!"
"Oh? Why?"
"Your Majesty, the purpose of our army's western expedition is to unify the south of the Yangtze River. If we form an alliance with Chen Youliang, we may be burdened by the alliance in the future and be accused of betrayal when we use troops. This is one of them."
Zhang Yangquan nodded: "Yes, we do have this trouble."
Song Lian continued: "Chen Youliang has never been trustworthy. After forming an alliance with such people, we still need to be on guard against him at all times. It is better not to form an alliance and to be hostile to him. This is the second choice."
Zhang Yangquan asked: "Is there a third point?"
Song Lian said sternly: "If we form an alliance with Chen Youliang, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zuo Junbi will definitely restore their alliance. The two of them are at odds with each other, but our two families are on guard against each other. This battle will be difficult to fight!"
Liu Bowen praised: "What Brother Song said is absolutely true!"
He cupped his hands towards Zhang Yangquan and said: "Your Majesty, not only should we not form an alliance with Chen Youliang, we should also send people to show our favor to Zuo Junbi and let him stand by and watch."
Zhang Yangquan touched his chin and said, "Will Zuo Junbi stand by and watch?"
Liu Bowen smiled and said: "Zuo Junbi is famously arrogant, but now he has been abandoned by Zhu Yuanzhang, and he must be angry in his heart. As long as we send someone to show our kindness and tell him how powerful he is, he will most likely watch from the other side!
Zhang Yangquan thought for a while and said: "Then let's follow what Mr. Liu said. When does Mr. Liu think we should send troops?"
"The sooner the better!"
Liu Bowen said flatly: "Not long after Zhu Yuanzhang captured the Third Army in Huizhou, his footing is not yet stable. As long as we and Chen Youliang attack from both sides, he will definitely be defeated!"
In fact, another reason why Liu Bowen is so urgent is because he heard the news this morning that Dong Tuanxiao was dismissed from office.
Song Lian came here to discuss the matter with him.
Unlike Zhang Yangquan, they did not know that Liu Futong's Northern Expedition would fail.
I just feel that without Dong Tuanxiao, Mao Gui may soon conquer Jinan. When the time comes, he will cross the river and conquer Dadu, and Liu Futong will be able to turn around and deal with Jiangnan!
Therefore, after discussion, the two of them felt that troops must be used as soon as possible.
Zhang Yangquan frowned and said: "I understand what you mean, sir, but when a large army goes on an expedition, it needs to gather food and grass in advance. And winter is not suitable for large armies to fight!"
Liu Bowen hurriedly said: "To deal with Zhu Yuanzhang, we don't need too many troops. We only need to prepare 30,000 elite troops, and wait for the opportunity to attack when Zhu Yuanzhang deals with Chen Youliang."
Zhang Yangquan pondered and said: "You mean we should deal with Zhu Yuanzhang first in the winter, and then deal with Chen Youliang in the spring next year?"
Liu Bowen nodded and said: "That's exactly it."
Zhang Yangquan took a deep breath and said: "Okay, I will discuss this matter with the generals and make a decision as soon as possible!"
……
Zhu Yuanzhang stood next to the big stone lion outside the palace, looking up at the sky.
There have been many rainy days recently, the sky is always gloomy, and Zhu Yuanzhang's mood is also the same.
When he came here this time, he had thought of some words to persuade Zhang Yangquan not to attack him for the time being.
However, I don’t know what went wrong. After the boat dance five days ago, Zhang Yangquan seemed to have forgotten about him and never came to see him again.
Zhu Yuanzhang repeatedly thought about the scene that night. He clearly showed his kindness to Zhang Yangquan many times and even revealed his intention to surrender.
According to his plan, Zhang Yangquan should invite him over the next day and propose a solicitation straight to the point.
But after waiting for several days, Zhang Yangquan didn't send anyone over at all.
Zhu Yuanzhang finally couldn't hold it any longer and said that Zhang Yangquan wanted to force him to surrender, so he came over early this morning to ask for a meeting.
However, he felt that this guess was not accurate, so he was full of uneasiness.
At this moment, there was the sound of footsteps, and the palace guard who went to report came back.
"Marshal Zhu, my king is not feeling well. Please come back another day."
Zhu Yuanzhang's heart sank, he turned and left the palace without saying anything.
All the way back to the small courtyard where Guo Zixing and Ma Xiuying lived, Ma Xiuying greeted them as soon as they entered.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Without saying a word, Zhu Yuanzhang strode into a room on the east side, locked the door, lay on the wooden bed, and stared at the ceiling silently.
Whenever he encounters a great dilemma, he will lock himself up alone, see no one, and silently think about ways to break the situation.
Ma Xiuying has long been used to it. She silently walked to the steps outside and sat down, quietly waiting for her husband to cheer up again.
Every time the sun rises and sets, Zhu Yuanzhang will not eat or drink when he falls into this state, but Ma Xiuying will never skip a meal.
No matter how much she has no appetite, she will force herself to eat, because at this time Zhu Yuanzhang needs someone to take care of him the most, and she must ensure her physical strength to take good care of him.
As night fell, Guo Zixing suddenly walked out of the main room and sat down next to Ma Xiuying.
After a long while, he seemed to want to say something, but finally he let out a long sigh, got up and left again.
Ma Xiuying felt even more uncomfortable, knowing that her adoptive father still had not forgiven her husband.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
One of Zhu Yuanzhang's personal guards opened the door, and a scribe came in.
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He came to Ma Xiuying, glanced at the room, and whispered: "Madam, hasn't the commander come out yet?"
Ma Xiuying shook her head and asked: "Is there any news?"
The scholar's name was Feng Guoyong. After Li Shanchang left, he became the civil servant Zhu Yuanzhang relied on most.
"My subordinates heard the news that Tianwan Army sent an envoy and wanted to form an alliance with Jiangdu Army, but Jiangdu Army rejected it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sound of tables and chairs clashing in the room.
With a "clang", Zhu Yuanzhang opened the door and said with stern eyes: "You said Jiangdu Army rejected Tianwan Army's alliance?"
Feng Guoyong said hurriedly: "Yes."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Come in and talk." He turned to Ma Xiuying and smiled, saying: "Madam, I'm hungry!"
Ma Xiuying smiled slightly, took out a few cakes from her arms, and handed them over.
"I have prepared it for you!"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, laughed twice and then coughed.
Ma Xiuying hurried up, stroked his back, and said angrily: "You know how to torment yourself and make others worry about you!"
The three of them entered the house. Zhu Yuanzhang ordered his personal guards to guard the outside of the house, and then asked Feng Guoyong for details.
Feng Guoyong said: "My subordinates also heard from people in the tavern. I only know that Jiang Dujun refused to form an alliance. I don't know the specific reason."
He hesitated for a moment and said: "Commander, I don't think Jiangdu Army wants to join forces with Tianwan Army to deal with us!"
Zhu Yuanzhang ate a piece of cake in several mouthfuls and drank another sip of tea, his eyes shining brightly.
"You are wrong. They rejected Chen Youliang because they already planned to unify Jiangnan!"
Feng Guoyong said blankly: "Then even us..."
Zhu Yuanzhang said flatly: "We are naturally within the scope of their unification, which is why they don't see me!"
Feng Guoyong said in confusion: "But didn't you show your intention to join Jiangdu Army? Why didn't they try to persuade them to surrender first?"
Zhu Yuanzhang licked his fingers and sighed: "We made the mistake of being under the lamp this time. I always feel that I am in a dangerous situation. If I join the Jiangdu Army at this time, they should not doubt it."
"However, outsiders don't know our internal situation and think that I have won several battles and am gaining momentum. It is impossible for me to surrender sincerely at this time!"
Feng Guoyong clapped his hands and said: "Yes, that makes sense!"
Ma Xiuying raised her eyebrows and said: "Then let's go back and see the outcome with them on the battlefield!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he smiled and said: "Madam, since Zhang Yangquan wants to deal with us, why doesn't he just hold me captive?"
Ma Xiuying thought for a while and said: "He is a man of his word. Since he promised to let you take me away, he doesn't want to break his promise!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Yes, this person has the ambition to dominate the world, so he values his reputation most. We can just take advantage of this!"
Ma Xiuying was stunned: "How to use it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were sharp: "I have to ask Chen Youliang for help!"