Yangzhou City, this ancient city has been located on the Canglong River for hundreds of years. The ancient city walls always exude its unique heritage.

As an important place in the south of the Yangtze River, Yangzhou's beautiful scenery is amazing. Now is spring. The city is full of beauty, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, and the clear water and blue sky make people forget to leave. No wonder it is spread all over the world that there is heaven above and green below.

The aristocratic families in the south of the Yangtze River are different from the families in the north. The Qi Dang who made their fortune from the north relied on their military power and military exploits to gradually enter the court and occupy the central position. Among them, the Chang family and the Nangong family are the representatives.

The aristocratic families in Jiangnan relied on their accumulation of wealth to cultivate Jiangnan scholars who passed the imperial examination and became officials in the court. They supported each other in the court, thus forming a huge civil servant group.

The Chu Party refers to the community of interests composed of the huge wealthy families near Qingyang. This group of people holds official power in the court and also controls a huge amount of wealth locally.

It can be said that it is not the current imperial court that dominates everything in Yangzhou, but the Zhao family that has bowed down the Jiangnan family. Compared with the Xue family, the Zhao family is now more obvious as the leader of the Chu Party.

Standing somewhere in Yangzhou City, the Zhao Mansion covers an extremely large area and is made up of numerous Jiangnan gardens. It is also the center of power in several nearby states. Almost all nearby local officials are recommended by the Zhao family and then appointed by the imperial court.

Not even the Yuwen family can interfere.

If the Yuwen family forcibly sends one of their own to govern in Yangzhou, they will find that no order issued by that person will be implemented in Yangzhou.

Deep in the Zhao Mansion, there is a wooden house with Jiangnan characteristics. The outside of the wooden house is planted with green bamboos, and the bamboo shadows overlap, which is quite charming.

The floor of the wooden house is covered with a layer of silk tapestry, which was donated to the imperial court by the Yangzhou Weaving Department. On top of the carpet is a couch made of golden nanmu. An old man with white hair is leaning on the couch, wearing purple clothes.

He was wearing a robe, lying barefoot, with a letter beside his hand.

This man was the father of two brothers, Zhao Zhonghai, the official minister of the dynasty, and Zhao Zhongtian, the governor of Hefu County. He was also the person with the highest status in the Zhao family, Zhao Kexing.

This old man has been in the temple for decades. The Zhao family was almost completely destroyed at the hands of Zhao Kexing's father. After the young Zhao Kexing entered the court, he organized political parties and strife, and used ruthless methods to eliminate political opponents.

The Zhao family led to glory and established its position as the leader of the Chu Party.

The old man was a figure of the same period as Xue Jiaxue Shen Shen and Yuwen Hongru of the Yuwen family. Even when he retired and returned to his hometown, he single-handedly sent his eldest son to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. His methods were extraordinary, and his mental depth was even greater than that of Yuwen Hongru.

Don't give in too much.

After reading the letter, Zhao Kexing squinted his eyes and thought deeply. His purple robe naturally drooped and fell onto the carpet. After a while, the old man still didn't open his eyes and said softly: "How powerful is the Fuzhou Army?"

Standing outside the carpet was Ding Hui, who had rushed back from the front line to deliver a message. Hearing the old man's voice, Ding Hui quickly raised his hands and bowed his head and replied: "Without the Tengjia soldiers, the combat power of the Fuzhou soldiers is only slightly higher than that of our Yangzhou army."

, are not invincible. Their elite cavalry is also restrained by the Liangzhou army and horses, so they cannot deal with us. Although we suffered heavy losses this time, the Fuzhou army also killed one thousand enemies and suffered eight hundred losses."

The purple-robed old man frowned slightly. The Yangzhou Army was already a tough soldier carefully trained by the Zhao family. Compared with the ordinary army in the Jiangnan states, their combat power was more than a bit stronger. Unexpectedly, they now faced the loss of the rattan soldiers.

The Fuzhou Army was still at a disadvantage.

"In your opinion, if we want to capture Fuzhou, how many troops will be needed?" Zhao Kexing slowly opened his eyes and asked seriously.

Ding Hui was able to become the deputy general of Yangzhou with the support of the Zhao family, not only because he was loyal to the Zhao family and devoted himself to his duties, but also because Ding Hui, who had worked his way up from the bottom of the army, did have some talent for leading troops.

mediocrity.

Ding Hui, who lowered his head, raised his eyebrows and answered: "Fuzhou City has been run by King Fu for many years. The city has high walls and strong walls, and there must be sufficient reserves of food, grass and weapons. And there are at least 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers and horses in the city. If you want to break the city,

, at least more than 100,000 soldiers must be deployed to attack the city by force."

"More than 100,000." Zhao Kexing underestimated, and then said in a very calm tone: "I'm afraid that if we take Fuzhou City, these more than 100,000 horses will also suffer heavy losses, right?"

"Yes." Ding Hui nodded without thinking.

This is obvious. Thirty thousand Yangzhou troops attacked a Taizhou city and so many people died, let alone trying to capture Fuzhou. It was impossible without paying tens of thousands of lives.

"Okay, I understand, you can go down first." Zhao Kexing waved his hand casually, and then warned: "Stay in Yangzhou for now, and I will tell you when it's time for you to go back."

"No!" Ding Hui didn't object at all, and walked out of the wooden house backwards with his head bowed.

Ding Hui said that he was now the deputy general of Yangzhou, a dignified fourth-rank military general of the imperial court. Zhao Kexing, who retired from old age and returned to his hometown, sitting on the couch, was just a white man. But Ding Hui was extremely respectful and did not even raise his head from beginning to end.

After a while, it is enough to show the high status of the Zhao family in Yangzhou.

Zhao Kexing sat alone in the house, rubbing his head with his hands, thinking about something.

The letter sent by Zhao Zhongtian was in the hope that his father could send reinforcements so that he could earn more credit in the future attack on Fuzhou and ensure that he could enter the court and serve as the Minister of War.

It was not the old man who made the decision to join forces with the Shangguan family. The eldest son was Zhao Zhonghai, who naturally became the head of the Zhao family after Zhao Kexing resigned and returned home.

Zhao Kexing did not interfere too much with the behavior of his two sons, but allowed them to develop. This was also a kind of experience for them.

Now Zhao Zhongtian is in trouble on the front line, because he knows that the Yangzhou garrison is only worth 50,000, and he took 30,000 with him. The remaining soldiers in the city simply cannot satisfy Zhao Zhongtian's need to get a share of the Fuzhou battle, so he only

I can write to my father for help.

"Come here!" Zhao Kexing shouted softly, but his old body sounded particularly energetic.

"Old Patriarch!" A half-ricket old man suddenly appeared from the door of the wooden house and stood respectfully outside the door.

This seemingly old and useless old man is actually Zhao Kexing's personal butler. He has been with Zhao Kexing for decades. Even the Zhao Zhonghai brothers respect the old butler very much in the Zhao family.

"Send a message to the wealthy families in nearby states and ask their heads to arrive in Yangzhou within three days and tell them that I have something to discuss." Zhao Kexing said calmly.

"No." The old housekeeper nodded slightly, his expression calm.

Zhao Kexing stood up from the couch, stood barefoot on the carpet, and stretched quite happily: "Get the car ready, I want to go to Qingzhou in person, right away!"

"No! I'll do it right away." The old housekeeper bowed and took a few steps back. Then he changed from a rickety figure to a fast and agile pace, and walked quickly inside the Zhao Mansion.

[Author's digression]: Dear friends, try to catch up on updates when you have time. It is related to Luoyu's income and writing enthusiasm.

However, most of the readers are students, and they still focus on their studies. They will read it when they have free time.
Chapter completed!