After the court meeting, brothers Wang Guang and Wang Mingshan left the palace and went to the General's Mansion, which is adjacent to the southwest of the palace. The people who came to visit today included several officials from the court and subordinate officials of the General's Mansion.
The layout of the front hall of the general's mansion is slightly different from that of other mansions. There is a space deep inside, on a slightly higher wooden platform, with a curtain hanging in front; although it is rolled up at this time, it still seems to cover the huge hall.
, divided into two rooms: inner and outer.
The furnishings in the inner room are also different. In addition to a few banquets, there are also screens, sitting beds, incense cauldrons and other objects, which look more homelike.
However, the windows here are high and small, so the lighting is not as good as outside. The sunshine outside at the turn of autumn and winter is still bright and dazzling. Wang Ling suddenly walked into the dim inner room and even felt that the air was getting colder.
Everyone talked about the affairs in the court for a while. In addition to mentioning Fei Yi and Guo Xun, they also mentioned Qin Zhongming's prediction: Jiang Wei would launch a large-scale Northern Expedition!
Gongyuan said suspiciously: "At the beginning of this year, Youzhou in the Wei Dynasty rebelled, and the Wei army was fighting Soochow again. The Shu people thought they had an opportunity. Jiang Wei just attacked Liangzhou this year, will he really come again?"
Everyone discussed for a while, but the tone was not very sure. It was indeed because there was too little basis for judgment, and there was no relevant report from Yongliang at all.
But no one directly denied Qin Zhongming's speculation, or even laughed at it. Even the subordinate officials of the General's Mansion and officials close to the Wang family now recognized Qin Zhongming's ability and insight.
This is also a different identity and reputation.
Wang Ling couldn't help but remember that in Huainan many years ago, before the Battle of Shaopi, Qin Zhongming thought that Wu soldiers were coming. The situation at that time was very different. Many people wanted to ignore Qin Zhongming's opinion. When Wu soldiers did not come, some people even
Ridiculing Qin Zhongming was just nonsense. Of course, the result was that at the turn of spring and summer of the first year, Wu soldiers really came.
An official from the Shangshu Province who was present said: "Her Royal Highness the Empress Dowager has issued an edict to allow the courtiers to gather for discussion. During the meeting, should we agree with General Wei's speculation?"
Wang Mingshan, the Supervisor of the Zhongshu, said: "Zhongming has already put forward his proposal in court, and we have no reason to assume that Jiang Wei will not make the Northern Expedition, so we think there is no need to oppose Zhongming's opinion."
Pei Xiu and others all nodded in agreement.
Gongyuan said: "Since it is Zhongming's suggestion, if we want to mobilize troops to the Western Front in advance, we should agree to let Zhongming lead the troops."
He hesitated for a moment and then said: "The Shu army has made so many northern expeditions and failed to capture Liangzhou. How can it be so easy? Yongliang has uncles Guo Boyue, Chen Tai, and Deng Ai's men to guard the Shu army. There is no need to worry in Luoyang.
With reinforcements, nothing will happen?"
When everyone heard this, they looked at Wang Ling who was in the upper position one after another.
Wang Ling's eyes flicked over the face of his eldest son, Wang Gongyuan. Gongyuan's expression looked very serious against the backdrop of his thick beard.
Wang Ling knew in his heart that Gong Yuan still wanted to fight for the throne and inherit the Wang family's highest position in the court.
Sometimes Wang Ling thinks that if he were Gong Yuan's age, he might not be able to give up such an idea. However, when it seems that he is about to reach the top, the situation is still very complicated and may be more dangerous than imagined.
Wang Ling looked back at the people in the room. In addition to members of the Wang family, there were also officials from the General's Palace and even officials from the imperial court. Some words obviously couldn't be said clearly in such an occasion. Gong Yuan's words just now were also very clear.
It's euphemistic; but Wang Ling still understands his son after all. He can understand Gong Yuan's thoughts without saying it.
Wang Ling couldn't help but stand up from the banquet, and walked a few steps behind the wooden case with his hands behind his back.
In fact, Gongyuan was not the kind of person who put all his money on the line. He was not as fierce as Sima Yi in risking all his wealth. He could not even make the same decision as Qin Zhongming, who advocated fighting the Sima family with all his strength as he did in Yangzhou last year.
Of course, the situation is different now. Not only are the in-laws having a way out, but they also shared the same hatred and behaved very cautiously.
Qin Zhongming wanted to go out to the capital to lead troops and wanted to use his military exploits to improve his reputation. This was a normal way, but it showed Qin Zhongming's stable attitude.
Wang Ling then looked at Gong Yuan and said, "If Zhongming wants to lead troops to the Western Front, let him go. As long as he gains something, we will give him more food as usual."
Wang Ling's meaning was very clear. Qin Liang had achieved military merit, and it was impossible for him to replace the general for such reasons.
Just as Gongyuan was about to nod, Jia Chong suddenly said: "With the Chinese and foreign armies and military garrison in Yongliang and Liang, and General Wei transferring tens of thousands of elite troops from the Chinese army in Luoyang, can we directly capture Hanzhong?"
Wang Ling was suddenly startled. Winning the military glory of Hanzhong was indeed extraordinary, and he had to think carefully.
But after a while, Wang Ling shook his head without hesitation and said: "Emperor Wu (Cao Cao) went to Hanzhong to fight and talked about that place when he came back. Nanzheng (Hanzhong County) is the prison of heaven, Qinchuan
The road is just a five-hundred-mile stone cave. Hanzhong cannot be captured easily."
Everyone agreed and soon reached a consensus.
Wang Ling thought more about it later and felt that Jia Chong's words were just a flash of inspiration and had not been carefully considered.
Not only was Hanzhong easy to defend but difficult to attack, but Qin Zhongming did not say that he wanted to attack Hanzhong. His appeal was obviously just to counterattack Jiang Wei.
Judging from the way Zhong Ming has been acting and the attitude he wants to express, he should not do such a thing as building a plank road in secret. If he really wants to attack Hanzhong, he will definitely discuss it with the Wang family first.
What's more, for such a big goal, a lot of people need to be mobilized and deployed. If we don't reach an internal agreement first, the situation on the front line will become very complicated. That kind of situation is not conducive to tackling difficult problems at all.
After everyone had discussed the business, they bowed and said goodbye one after another, and did not stay at the General's Mansion to have a meal. The three sons talked about family affairs for a while and then left.
The person who came in from the back door immediately was not Mrs. Bai, but Mrs. Bai, Wang Ling's concubine for many years.
Mrs. Bai walked over quickly carrying a big bowl, put it on the wooden table in a hurry, took away the cloth for her hands, and said with a smile on her face: "I cooked by myself and stewed a chicken for you. It was soft and tender."
It’s fragrant, please try it.”
"Okay, okay." Wang Ling also smiled.
Wang Ling calmly glanced at the open back door and vaguely noticed a figure outside. Maybe Mrs. Bai was here too, but Mrs. Bai wouldn't let her in.
The little thoughts between women were as clear to Wang Ling as she didn't want to expose them. Mrs. Bai thought that Bai was favored because she could cook things according to Wang Ling's taste, so she followed suit.
But Mrs. Bai obviously didn't understand the situation.
At this time, Mrs. Bai really started to slander her, and whispered: "With a status like Bai's, she has only been in the general's palace for a short time, so how can she be trusted? I have been with the general for more than twenty years, so I will naturally think about him."
How could Wang Ling not think of those things? Of course he had observed the Bai family. In fact, most women are always willing to find ways to survive. Now Wang Ling is the Bai family's support.
However, Wang Ling didn't say much, and just sighed: "It seems that not much time has passed, but it has really been more than twenty years. I was in my fifties at that time, already over half a century old, and you are still very young."
Mrs. Bai said: "When I followed you, I was younger than the Bai family now."
Wang Ling smiled reluctantly and said: "At that time, I felt that I was already old. I occasionally miss the years when I was young and energetic, but unexpectedly, now I miss the time when I was in my fifties. In my fifties..."
As he pondered, recalling the situation at that time, he could at least make Mrs. Bai's belly bigger. She was indeed at a good age.
So Mrs. Bai thought that the current Wang Ling was just because Bai's cooking was delicious, which was completely wrong. She thought that Wang Ling would not have such thoughts at such an old age, but in fact, she just had no idea about Mrs. Bai.
Compared to Mrs. Bai, who was too familiar and had no feelings for her, the first thing that attracted Wang Ling to Mr. Bai was when they first met in the former Tutor's Mansion.
At that time, Wang Ling seemed to suddenly have a magical self-confidence. As Sima Yi's wife, the crying and begging Bai made Wang Ling feel that he was okay again. He still remembered that he took Bai to a side room and couldn't wait to
He ordered Bai to escape. Unfortunately, he failed in the end because he was too old.
But the feeling of being ready to move still made him throb like an old tree in spring. It felt very good to feel like there was still hope.
Wang Ling took the chicken soup served by Mrs. Bai and asked, "Is Mrs. Bai outside the door?"
Mrs. Bai was stunned for a moment and said nothing.
Wang Ling said: "She's here, just let her in."
Mrs. Bai could not disobey Wang Ling's wishes, so she could only say: "Here."
Sure enough, Mrs. Bai also cooked porridge and rice at this time, and brought it when she entered the house. Wang Ling smiled and said: "The chicken is delicious, but just eating meat is not enough, you also need to eat two bowls of porridge and rice.
"
Mrs. Bai immediately showed a very interesting expression, vaguely happy and a little resistant. Yes, this is the energy.
Her resistance was due to her status. Sometimes when Wang Ling wanted to touch her body, she would have the same expression.
Wang Ling could feel that she was not disgusted with Wang Ling's wrinkles and spots on his skin, but just because of the shame of serving her second husband, and Wang Ling was still her ex-husband's mortal enemy. Even with such an identity obstacle, Bai still half-heartedly wanted to get it.
Wang Ling's favor and wanting to share Wang Ling's wealth and status are how much he admires Wang Ling's power, prestige and magnanimity.
Of course Wang Ling knew that Bai's attitude was entirely due to his status as a general, otherwise no one would like a man of seventy or eighty years. If he were just an ordinary person at his age, he would definitely be abandoned by young and beautiful women.
.
But he doesn't care about the woman's covetousness, and he can't care about it. After all, power is what he has now.
Wang Ling vaguely felt that he still had a chance to regain his lost abilities, which could make Bai's belly bigger. By then, Bai could legitimately share the Wang family's wealth, and Wang Ling's abilities would be envied by senior officials and people in their seventies.