Liu Mingzhi understood the meaning of Zhang Kuang's words and didn't know whether he should be happy or angry.
The prestige that I had left among the countries in the Western Regions due to the Western Expedition has been gradually erased in the minds of the generals of the countries in the Western Regions.
Unexpectedly, a national war would re-establish the prestige of the past.
No matter how cold-blooded and ruthless Zhang Mo was when he was guarding the Anxi Protectorate, how unsmiling he was.
However, compared to Liu Mingzhi who almost defeated the Western Regions countries and destroyed them, Zhang Mo's prestige among the generals of the Western Regions countries is still far behind in some aspects.
After all, when Zhang Mo suppressed the Western Regions, he suppressed one country at a time, but the Western Expedition Army led by Liu Mingzhi faced the coalition forces of the entire thirty-eight countries in the Western Regions.
The scenes of Liu Mingzhi bombarding the city gates and riding horses on the joint camp had already left a deep impression on the generals of the Western Regions.
In this national war, Liu Mingzhi commanded his troops to capture Jin in one go, conquering half of the two countries' territories, and reminded all the generals of the past when they were almost killed by the cavalry of the Great Dragon's Western Expedition.
Zhang Mo's ruthless force suppressed local rebellions, while Marshal Liu's decisive attack destroyed the city and destroyed the country.
In this comparison, we can make a decision.
The implication of his arrogant words is that Zhang Mo still wants to use his iron-blooded methods to suppress these soldiers and horses from the Western Regions who dare not obey his control.
But because of Liu Mingzhi's face, he couldn't be so unkind.
After all, the reason why the soldiers and horses of the Thirty-eight Kingdoms in the Western Regions traveled thousands of miles to support the Northern Border War was because of Liu Mingzhi's face.
They are now also soldiers under Liu Mingzhi's command. If he privately punishes those generals of the Western Regions without his cousin's acquiescence, I am afraid that they will be embarrassed if they meet again in the future.
Liu Mingzhi relit a pack of cigarettes and puffed out for a moment. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table and nodded slightly looking at the wildly hopeful expression.
"My uncle's intention is already clear to me. After we discussed it and forgot about my child, I went back to the study and wrote a letter to the generals of the Western Regions to ask them to restrain themselves.
According to the treaty signed that year, the troops and horses of the countries in the Western Regions are under the control of the Anxi Protectorate. Even Zhang Mo's cousin, the commander-in-chief, dares to disobey, which is okay.
Don't worry, uncle, the boy will definitely warn them.
If they dare to behave disrespectfully again, cousin Zhang Mo will deal with them."
Zhang Kuang breathed a sigh of relief silently: "That's good. Since Zhi'er you understand the righteousness so well, my uncle will feel relieved.
Nowadays, the situation inside and outside the court is complicated, and all eyes are fixed on the Dalong Court. Those of us who are ministers must always think about the court in everything."
"Of course the child understands what uncle said, but"
Zhang Kuang looked at Liu Mingzhi's suddenly serious expression, his face slightly condensed, and he glanced at Song Qing opposite him, and found that his nephew also had a faint look of doubt on his expression.
Zhang Kuang looked at Young Master Liu in surprise: "Just what? If Zhi'er has something to say, there's no harm in saying it."
Liu Mingzhi gently stood up from the chair, knocked out the ashes from the pot, returned the pipe to Song Qing, and walked steadily towards the hall door.
Seeing this, Zhang Kuang and the two had no choice but to get up and follow him.
The three people who were talking in the hall were wandering around in the front yard of Liu Mansion in the blink of an eye.
Liu Mingzhi pulled off a plum blossom planted in the courtyard and put it under the tip of his nose and sniffed it for a few times.
"Uncle, eldest brother, you are all generals who personally followed me on my expedition to the north. Others don't understand the current situation of the Jin Kingdom and the Turks. Don't you understand?
Judging from the situation in the court, His Majesty is very interested in gathering troops for the northern expedition in the coming year, but the situation in the two countries is really as recorded in the military records and as read out by the Minister of War in front of the civil and military officials of the court.
A situation that collapses in one blow?
I'm afraid you still have the civil and military officials of the court, and even His Majesty takes it a little too naturally."
The two of them were shocked. Looking at Young Master Liu's somewhat heavy expression, they suddenly became suspicious.
They looked at each other silently and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.
It is an indisputable fact that the Jin Kingdom and the Turks captured half of the country. If it were not for the difficulty of supplying food and grass, the two countries would have fallen under the dragon's iron cavalry.
Why did Liu Mingzhi say that the current situation is not like this?
Zhang Kuang and Song Qing lowered their heads and began to ponder, thinking about the meaning of Liu Mingzhi's words.
Song Qing's expression still had a hint of doubt. Zhang Kuang seemed to understand something and looked at Mr. Liu with a clear understanding.
"Zhi'er, are you talking about the Kingdom of Jin and the Turks' strong walls and clearing of the country?"
Liu Mingzhi smiled faintly and turned to look at Song Qing who was asking: "It seems that you understand something, uncle. Under our offensive, the troops of the two countries fought and retreated along the way. Although half of the country fell,
But have you ever estimated how much the two countries’ real strength has been lost?”
Song Qing, who was listening to the words of the two people, also became excited and looked at Liu Mingzhi suddenly: "Although we captured half of the Jin Kingdom, we killed only the soldiers from their various states and cities. We really participated in the southward invasion of the border areas.
There are not many elite teachers.
The Kingdom of Jin is retreating and seeking perfection!
About 80% of their true elite should still be retained.
In particular, the food and grass in their various state capitals were either burned to the ground, or were carried away before we arrived.
If this is the case, doesn’t it mean that the power currently preserved by the two countries can still have a great impact on our Dalong’s northern border!”
Liu Mingzhi looked at Song Qing's confused expression and nodded with a chuckle.
"It seems that you have understood, brother. Jin Guo has kept the country clear and gave up most of its territory seemingly in vain. However, they have retained their elite strength to make a comeback.
This was the case with the Jin Kingdom, and the same was true with the Turks.
The Turkic soldiers and horses killed by Marshal Yun, Marshal Nangong and others were just small tribes that had no time to contact the Royal Court. The real big tribes had already followed the Royal Court to the north towards Yinshan Mountain.
We are in dire straits of food and supplies, so what if we capture half of the two countries' territories? In the end, we have to give them back in vain.
In this way, half of the country was lost, but the two imperial courts preserved their strength. After we withdraw from the captured territory, we can immediately return to rest and recuperate."
Liu Mingzhi looked at the shocked expressions of the two people, crushed the plum blossom in his hand into a piece of mud, lowered his head and smiled bitterly.
"Wild fire, in spring.
If we work together and pay a certain price, we can kill the troops of the two countries that are unable to retreat, and completely eliminate the possibility of their resurgence.
This laid the foundation for unifying the world.
However, God is not as good as man, and I have never imagined that the Northern Expedition failed not because of the enemy's strong military strength, but because of our own people.
This may be God's will.
Heaven will not destroy the gold, but the two countries are in conflict. Even if we mortals rack our brains and work hard, what can we do?"
Zhang Kuang came back to his senses, his eyes narrowed and he suddenly took a breath of cold air.
"If there is no epidemic after the heavy snow next year, and His Majesty raises his troops to march north, if the commander-in-chief is changed and he fails to understand the key, wouldn't it be possible that the troops of the two countries will show weakness to the enemy and be caught off guard by a combined attack? There will be a risk of complete defeat?
"
Liu Mingzhi sneered twice and looked deeply at the snow on the courtyard wall.
"Uncle, you really know how to put it nicely. Are you really a fool to be the commander-in-chief of the Jin Kingdom? If they take advantage of this opportunity, the Northern Expedition Army will be completely defeated.
It’s not impossible for the entire army to be annihilated!”