/p>      Qinning finally understood the value of Beitangyu, and even more so why the little emperor seemed so excited to capture Beitangyu.

If you have a universe map, then the overview of the Central Plains will be fully visible, and the benefits to the Chu State will be self-evident.

"Beitang Yu has no right to mobilize a soldier, but the universe map he is responsible for is a priceless treasure." Longtai slowly returned to the library and said solemnly: "To repair the universe map, many dangerous fortresses must be familiar with, and these Beitang Yu must be very clear. I even suspect that Beitang Yu's distribution of troops to the Northern Han people is also clear."

Qi Ning followed the side and nodded, "Emperor, if Beitang Yu could use it for us, it would naturally be like a tiger." After a slight pause, he said softly: "It's just that Beitang Yu is a member of the Northern Han royal family. How could he easily help us deal with our own country?"

"It depends on whether we have the ability." Longtai said: "Beitang Yu is full of talent and has the talent to govern the country. When he was young, his talent was already well-known all over the world. I believe that Beitang Yu at that time must have been ambitious and wanted to show his strength and do something big."

Qi Ning smiled and said, "He was born in a royal family, with full of talents and ambitions, and that's right."

"But he has been suppressed in the Northern Han for many years." Longtai smiled and said, "If he had no complaints about Beitang Huan and his son, no one would believe it." He stared at Qi Ning's eyes and said, "As long as there is a crack, it is easy to tear the gap. Qi Ning, when you were in Dongqi, you had dates with him and were considered an acquaintance. Go back and try to see if there is a way for him to help me Da Chu. If he is really willing to defect to me Da Chu, I will definitely not treat him badly."

Qi Ning knew that this was extremely difficult, but there was nothing absolutely impossible in the world. Although it was difficult, he always had to try it out before he knew the result. He nodded and said, "Don't worry, my elders, I'll go back and test his words." He asked again, "Where is he now?"

"I asked the people from the Shenhou Mansion to guard him." Longtai said: "You take my handwriting and go to the people from the Shenhou Mansion to see Beitang Yu."

Qi Ning bowed and said yes. At this time, he thought of the case of the Black Scaling Camp. Seeing that the little emperor never mentioned it, he didn't know whether he deliberately did not mention it or did not know about it. He was about to ask, but suddenly heard a voice from outside saying, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhenguo is asking for a meeting!"

Qi Ning felt a little nervous. Seeing Longtai looking at him, he pointed to the back of the screen with his hand, which was to signal him to avoid it at the back of the screen for the time being. He nodded and walked around behind the screen, and then heard the voice of the little emperor: "Duke Xuan Zhenguo's visit!"

Qi Ning stood behind the screen and looked forward through the gap. He soon saw Sima Lan enter the imperial study room. The little emperor was sitting upright behind the desk. Seeing Sima Lan come in, the little emperor stood up. After Sima Lan entered the room, he just bowed and did not kneel down. The little emperor had already asked: "Duke Zhenguo, what did you do when you see me?"

"Emperor, the old minister summoned the old minister of the Ministry of Rites before. It will take several days for the wedding to be fully prepared." Sima Lan's voice was slow and he said slowly: "The Prince of Dongqi personally sent a wedding, and he was a guest from afar, so the old minister is preparing to hold a banquet in the mansion tonight. Please invite the Prince of Dongqi. I wonder if the emperor thinks it is appropriate?"

"The Duke of the State thinks it is OK, so I will naturally not object." The young emperor said: "Duke of the State, do you already know the intention of the Prince of Dongqi to send his bride in person?"

"The old minister knows a little." Sima Lan said: "I heard that Dongqi wanted to join forces with my Great Chu to fight the Northern Expedition."

"They really mean this. How should the old Duke think we should answer?"

Sima Lan said: "Emperor, whether to fight or not is a matter of one's own decision, it needs to be considered again and again. Moreover, if it is a coalition force of the two countries, you must be more cautious. The people of the Dongqi have always been cunning, and the Duan family are all two-faced, so you should not trust them too much. The Qinhuai battle between our Great Chu and the Northern Han Dynasty, which lasted for three years, had just stopped shortly. In recent years, Dongqi sat on the mountain to watch the tiger fight. At that time, the people of the Dongqi never thought of joining forces with our Great Chu."

"One time and another time." The little emperor was calm: "Bei Tang Huan is dead, and the civil strife in the Northern Han Dynasty is a great opportunity."

Sima Lan said: "Although Beitanghuan died, we cannot know exactly what the chaos in the Northern Han Dynasty is now, whether people are distorted. In the opinion of the old minister, the more important the matter is, the more we should slow down and not be anxious." After a pause, he said: "The old minister is still worried about whether the Qinhuai Legion is ready for the Northern Expedition."

"Oh?" the little emperor said wonderingly: "What does the Duke mean?"

"The emperor doesn't know anything. As far as the old ministers know, in fact, during the Qinhuai War, the Qinhuai Legion often had bad military disciplines." Sima Lan sighed: "It is inevitable that there will be some chaos in every battle. Although the general of Qi Jingqi is good at commanding troops, it is impossible to inquire about 100,000 troops. Moreover, many generals of the Qinhuai Legion even condoned their subordinates to plunder the people during the war, which was unconventional...!"

"Wait a minute." The little emperor stopped and said, "Old Duke, do you think the Qinhuai Legion's soldiers are plundering the people? Is this true?"

Sima Lan said: "Report to the emperor, since the old minister said this, there will be no falsehood. If the emperor does not believe it, the old minister can provide evidence." He sighed and said: "The old minister does not agree that the key to immediately joining forces with the Eastern Qi to fight the northern expedition is not how strong the Northern Han people are, but whether our Great Chu can fight this battle again at this time."

The little emperor frowned slightly and asked, "Does the old Duke feel that we are powerless to fight the Northern Expedition?"

"Three years of Qinhuai War, almost hollowed out the national treasury." Sima Lan said solemnly: "The emperor also knows that there is not much money in the Ministry of Revenue now. Once the Northern Expedition is required, a large amount of money, grain and equipment will not be able to be fully raised in three to five months. This money and grain is fine. If the whole country is devoted to tightening the belt, it may be possible to barely support it. However, it is hard for the old minister to say whether the Qinhuai Legion can still use its lives for the three armies."

The little emperor sneered: "A hundred thousand army, eating military rations and holding military pay, if they go to the battlefield, why can't they use their lives?"

Qi Ning didn't hear Sima Lan answer immediately. Through the gap, he saw Sima Lan hesitating. After a moment, Sima Lan sighed and said, "The emperor did not go to the front line, I don't know. The Qinhuai Legion has a mixed army of 100,000 people, and because of different backgrounds, many generals were divided into different sects. When Qi Jing was alive, they could barely maintain a balance. Those generals did not dare to cause any trouble. However, after Qi Jing passed away, Yue Huanshan temporarily took over the position of the front line general, but could no longer suppress the situation of the Qinhuai Legion." He took two steps forward, and his voice was lighter, saying, "Your Majesty, the chaos in the Qinhuai Legion has been born, and the old minister has always been worried that something would happen."

"You mean someone is dissatisfied with Yue Huanshan?"

Sima Lan said: "Emperor, General Qi is indeed selfless. The largest force in the Qinhuai Legion was actually the first group of village party children to follow the old Marquis of Jinyi. They were all born in Jiangling, Jingzhou. Jinyi Qi family followed Emperor Taizong and fought south and north. They were the number one general under Emperor Taizong. They conquered cities and territory and recruited many surrendered soldiers and generals. These people were not too late to follow the old Marquis of Jinyi, and their status in the Qinhuai Legion was second only to the Jiangling Party."

The little emperor frowned slightly and did not speak.

"After that, the old Marquis of Jinyi led his army to attack Xichuan, and promoted a group of people from the surrendered generals of Xichuan. These people followed the old Marquis of Jinyi at the latest." Sima Lan said slowly: "After the old Marquis of the old Marquis of Jinyi, Qi Jing continued to command the Qinhuai Army. He promoted another group of generals from the army. When the old Marquis of Jinyi was alive, these people charged forward with Qi Jing. They were considered to be the direct generals of Qi Jing. They were not of high origin, but they were very loyal to Qi Jing. Yue Huanshan was one of them. They were deeply trusted by Qi Jing and have always been valued by Qi Jing."

The little emperor finally said: "What the Duke of the State means is that there are conflicts between these people?"

"The most valued by Qi Jing and made contributions in the Qinhuai War were mostly the young and strong generals promoted by Qi Jing." Sima Lan said: "The Jiangling Sect, which was most valued by the old Marquis of Jinyi, was not as valued as before when Qi Jing was commanding the troops, so he had some complaints. When Qi Jing was alive, those veterans could barely be suppressed, but once Qi Jing died, Yue Huanshan temporarily served as the general. Many veterans in the army were dissatisfied, and they would inevitably have intrigue."

The little emperor sneered: "Do they dare to ruin the military discipline of our Great Chu soldiers for their own selfishness?"

Sima Lan sighed: "Emperor, the factional dispute between the Qinhuai Legion did not appear overnight, but was a conflict accumulated over the years. The old minister was worried that these people would sooner or later destroy the Qinhuai Legion. If they go to war with the Northern Han Dynasty, the consequences would be unimaginable once the backyard caught fire. Therefore, the old minister thought that the Northern Expedition was inevitable, but before the Northern Expedition, the Qinhuai Legion would have to be rectified, otherwise it would be a mess of sand."

Qi Ning could hear it clearly behind the screen and sneered in her heart.

The Qinhuai Legion had factional struggles, which may not be fake. After all, since Sima Lan took it out and put it into a slightest way, this is naturally the case.

But this old guy brought this matter out, it would never be as simple as rectifying the Qinhuai Legion. This person wanted to put his hands into the front-line army, and his heart was obvious.

"The Duke of the State thinks how to rectify it?" Long Tai pondered for a moment before asking solemnly.

Sima Lan said: "The old minister is also thinking about how to rectify the Qinhuai Army, but the old minister is not from the army after all, and it is not easy to speak out in the military affairs."

"From the beginning, the Qinhuai Legion was in command of Jinyi's family." The young emperor thought for a while and said: "As far as I know, Qinhuai Legion is still in awe of Jinyi's family, but the old Marquis of Jinyi and Qi Jing have both passed away. They have to send people to rectify the Qinhuai Legion. Only by sending Qi Ning can we send."

As soon as the little emperor finished speaking, Sima Lan sighed: "Your Majesty, the old minister thought so at the beginning. Although Qi Ning was young, this trip to Dongqi was thoughtful and talented. The old minister also thought that Qi Ning was considered young and promising. If he really wanted to send to the Qinhuai Legion, he might be able to stabilize the situation of the Qinhuai Legion, but...!" Shaking his head and said: "The old minister just knew something, and only realized that Qi Ning might not be good at governing the military and commanding the army at all."

Qi Ning immediately sneered at the corner of her lips, and she had guessed what Sima Lan was going to say.
Chapter completed!