"Even now, Jie Li refuses to leave. He really won't shed tears until he sees the coffin."
On the observation platform closest to Huai'an City, Su Dingfang secretly used a long tube to look at Huai'an City for a long time. After that, he quickly put away the long tube and sighed with his hands behind his back.
Hou Junji had just climbed up to the observation deck and wanted to get close to Su Dingfang. When he heard Su Dingfang's words, he couldn't help but said: "Maybe Jie Li feels that he still has the strength to fight..."
Su Dingfang lowered his head and glanced at Hou Junji. After Hou Junji had completely climbed up to the lookout, he sneered: "Xiaoguan failed, Yanzhou failed, Suizhou failed again, and even Shizhou and Weizeguan failed."
Failed.
In addition, nearly 100,000 soldiers and horses were damaged, and they were no longer able to move south. If they continued to fight, they would not gain anything and would only increase consumption.
Does Xie Li not even understand this?"
Hou Junji approached Su Dingfang and said with a smile: "Maybe he really doesn't understand..."
Su Dingfang laughed self-deprecatingly: "Then he is not worthy of being the Khan of the Turks. I, the Tang Dynasty, have been bullied by this kind of enemy for several years. It is because of my incompetence."
Hou Junji said funnyly: "You can't say that. The Turks just took advantage of the Tang Dynasty to quell the civil strife. It was because the Tang Dynasty had no spare power to conquer them, so they were allowed to be cruel.
Now that the Tang Dynasty is unified, I have enough power to conquer them.
Naturally, I want them to repay everything they have done to me, Datang, a hundred times a thousand times."
Su Dingfang nodded in agreement, then stared at Hou Junji and said, "I heard that General Hou is an outstanding person. Why are you uncharacteristically echoing my words today?"
Hou Junji looked embarrassed.
In his early years, he relied on his family's wealth to have neither knowledge nor martial arts. He was quite boastful and would often brag to others about how brave he was.
After joining Li Shimin's command and seeing a real hero, he realized how arrogant he was.
From that time on, he began to practice martial arts diligently and read military books. In just four years, he practiced martial arts to a very high level, and he also mastered many military books.
It was at this time that he felt that he had the capital to compete with real heroes.
The reason why Li Shimin never promoted him or reused him is also related to this.
"Does the Duke know that although Hou Junji learned martial arts in his early years, he knew nothing about it?"
After being embarrassed for a while, Hou Junji asked Su Dingfang with a wry smile.
Su Dingfang looked surprised.
Hou Junji continued: "In his early years, Hou Junji was conceited and used to talk big words. After learning archery for four or five years, he became one of ten and thought he was invincible.
It wasn't until I arrived at the Prince of Qin's Mansion and saw the bravery of the Prince of Qin and the wisdom of Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others that I realized how arrogant I was.
It is precisely because of this that although Hou Junji has followed the King of Qin for a long time, he has never been reused, and his official title is only among the county sons."
Su Dingfang looked at Hou Junji in disbelief. It was hard to imagine that Hou Junji's archery skills were so poor before he entered Prince Qin's palace.
Archery is a martial art that all martial arts practitioners must learn.
If Hou Junji is so poorly trained, then I'm afraid his other martial arts skills are also very poor.
But today's Hou Junji cannot be said to have the courage to be unstoppable by ten thousand men, but he can still advance and retreat freely under the siege of seven or eight soldiers. He is also quite accomplished in the art of war and strategy.
】
In other words, Hou Junji's current abilities were all acquired in the past few years.
This is very surprising.
After all, whether it is learning martial arts or studying military strategies, it is a long-term effort.
It takes the same effort as grinding a needle with an iron pestle, and grind it slowly.
Many people have practiced martial arts for more than ten years, but they still can't achieve anything good. Many people have read military books all their lives, but they still can't apply what they have learned.
Hou Junji was able to practice martial arts and learn military strategies well in such a short period of time. He must have worked hard that ordinary people can't imagine, and he also had talents far beyond ordinary people.
These are all worthy of Su Dingfang being moved by.
After all, Hou Junji learned it, Su Dingfang also learned it, and he knew the hardships involved.
"Now that I have joined the service of His Highness the King of Qi, I have been favored by His Highness the King of Qi and entrusted with important responsibilities, so that I can fully demonstrate my talents and fulfill my ambitions. The Duke of Qi is a confidant of His Highness the King of Qi, so Hou Junji naturally hopes to get close to the Duke of Qi.
His Majesty the King can quickly attract Hou Junji as his confidant."
Hou Junji sighed and expressed his thoughts. He did not hide it or hide it. He just said openly that he would be Li Yuanji's confidant.
Su Dingfang said in astonishment: "You shouldn't say this to me, you should say it to Your Highness."
Hou Junji smiled bitterly and said: "Hou Junji would like to tell His Highness, but the question is, will His Highness believe it?"
Su Dingfang was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "That's true..."
Hou Junji was born under Li Shimin and had been with Li Shimin for a long time. Although he was recruited by Li Yuanji to fight on the battlefield and achieved some meritorious deeds, it is still difficult to tell whether he is loyal or traitorous.
If he suddenly ran up to Li Yuanji and told him that he wanted to be Li Yuanji's confidant, Li Yuanji would definitely not believe it.
The wry smile on Hou Junji's face became even thicker, "That's why Hou Junji wants to be close to the Duke. I hope the Duke can say a few good words to Hou Junji at the appropriate time."
Su Dingfang thought about it seriously and said with emotion: "You and I are ministers of the same palace, and we work for His Highness together. You don't have to be so condescending in front of me.
I can see that you are a good man who knows his shame and is brave.
You shouldn't humiliate yourself like this.
Although I can't help you become His Highness's confidant now, I know what kind of person His Highness needs and I know what to do to become His Highness's confidant.
I will tell you one by one later.
You and I will treat each other as brothers from now on."
Hou Junji cupped his hands with a grateful look on his face and said, "I hope my brother can give me some advice."
Su Dingfang said dumbfounded: "You and I don't even know who we are, yet you actually call me brother."
Hou Junji said: "It's just a title, why should brother care about it?"
Su Dingfang nodded and said: "That's right...Then I will tell you what kind of person His Highness needs and how to become His Highness's confidant."
Hou Junji clasped his hands as if listening to the instructions.
Su Dingfang continued: "His Highness may seem to be less intelligent than His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the former King of Qin, but in fact he is hiding his clumsiness. Please don't show your cleverness in front of His Highness in the future.
Otherwise, if His Highness starts to care about you, you will suffer the consequences."
Su Dingfang nodded and said: "His Highness likes people who work for him in a down-to-earth manner and people who follow him wholeheartedly. You will know who the most favored person under His Highness is."
Hou Junji understood the meaning of Su Dingfang's words almost instantly, but he still flattered him, "It's my brother!"
Su Dingfang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's Yu Wenbao."
Hou Junji pretended to be surprised.
Su Dingfang continued: "If you or I make a mistake, His Highness will definitely pursue it to the end. Whether or not we will show mercy depends on how much weight you and I have in His Highness' heart.
But Yu Wenbao is different. Since he followed His Highness, although he has not made any big mistakes, he has kept making small mistakes.
Apart from reprimanding him, His Highness hardly gave him any substantial punishment.
The reason why His Highness loves Yu Wenbao so much is because Yu Wenbao thinks of His Highness wholeheartedly, and he will meticulously complete the tasks assigned to him by His Highness.
Even if it offends the Holy Face, I will not back down."
Hou Junji looked embarrassed.
Because of Li Yuanji's affairs, he could not do such a thing to confront Li Yuanji's father, Li Yuan.
Su Dingfang smiled and said: "You don't have to feel embarrassed, because not only you can't do things that offend the holy face, but I can't do it either. Yu Wenbao has Yu Wenbao's way of living, and naturally we also have our own way of living.
We don’t have to learn from him, and he can’t become us.
What you have to do under His Highness is to meticulously complete the things His Highness tells you and do it to perfection. As time goes by, even if you don't want to become His Highness's confidant, His Highness will definitely make you his confidant."
Hou Junji nodded heavily.
Su Dingfang continued: "Also, you must be loyal to His Highness. Only in this way will His Highness dare to take you as his confidant. If you are not loyal to His Highness, even if His Highness thinks highly of you, no matter how great your achievements are, His Highness will not dare to take you as his confidant."
You take him as your confidant."
Hou Junji solemnly bowed to Su Dingfang and said: "Young brother, I have learned the lesson. It is just that it is easy to complete the things assigned by His Highness, but it is difficult to show your loyalty to Your Highness."
This thing is invisible and intangible. Although it has a certain effect by speaking, it is not very effective.
Su Dingfang reached out and patted Hou Junji on the shoulder, and said seriously: "Then it depends on what you do..."
Loyalty can still be expressed through actions.
Hou Junji nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more on this topic.
Su Dingfang had told him enough. If he asked again, he would be ignorant.
In fact, he understood many of what Su Dingfang said, he just didn't know what Li Yuanji wanted.
In addition, he needed a bridge to show his loyalty to Li Yuanji and someone to help him speak well in front of Li Yuanji, so he approached Su Dingfang.
Afterwards, the two men talked about tomorrow's war.
They discussed how to attack Huai'an City tomorrow.
Not long after, Luo Shixin and Yin Kaishan also arrived, and the four of them sat together to discuss.
The discussion lasted until the moon was at its zenith, and then the discussion ended.
Before leaving, Luo Shixin paused for a while. After Hou Junji and Yin Kaishan left, he asked Su Dingfang, "I just saw Hou Junji coming to see you alone, so I dragged Yin Kaishan to see you together."
Su Dingfang sighed lazily: "You and my brother, I won't thank you anymore."
The reason why Luo Shixin did this was because he was afraid that Hou Junji would talk to Su Dingfang about sensitive topics, which would cause Li Yuanji to misunderstand.
After all, Hou Junji's label of being a Qin royal party has not yet been completely removed.
"I don't need you to thank me, as long as you know the appropriateness."
Luo Shixin said simply and prepared to leave.
Su Dingfang stared at Luo Shixin happily and said, "Don't you want to know what Hou Junji said to me?"
Luo Shixin shook his head without hesitation: "I don't want to know!"
Su Dingfang laughed and said, "You are smart. You don't care about other people's business, and they won't mess with you. Hou Junji is just an official fan who has been in Prince Qin's palace for a long time, and he came to me just to gain some support.
You are not as smart as me, so stay away from him in the future to avoid being plotted by him."
Luo Shixin glanced at Su Dingfang, was too lazy to talk to Su Dingfang anymore, and walked down the observation deck.
"Hahaha……"
Su Dingfang laughed loudly after Luo Shixin left.
He could clearly distinguish between those who regarded him as a true brother and those who regarded him as a false brother.