In the final analysis, all the losses Shen Yi suffered in Huai'an for more than a year were due to the lack of troops on hand, which was why he was defeated by the Qi people. Sometimes he could not look at both ends.
If there is a Northern Expedition next year, then 30,000 Huai'an troops will definitely not be enough, and even 50,000 Huai'an troops may not be enough.
But if there are 50,000 people, Shen Yi will have the confidence to occupy a big city north of the Huaihe River and fight the Qi people based on the city. In this way, he will have a foothold, and he will not have to fight against the Qi people even if he defeats the Qi people.
He retreated in embarrassment.
After the emperor agreed to the matter, he lowered his head and took a few mouthfuls of food, and complained casually: "I woke up early in the morning and heard them quarreling, and I have been hearing it till now. I am suffering to death, these days in the imperial city,
It's really not as good as Shen Qing to be happy outside."
At this point, the emperor looked at Shen Yi and said with emotion: "You and I are the same age. You can lead the army outside and step into the realm of Huaibei, but it will never be possible for me to see those scenes."
Shen Yi put down his kuaizi, lowered his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, it's hard work on the battlefield."
"I am on the frontline battlefield. Sometimes I cannot get a sound sleep for several days, let alone take a shower and wash my face. After a few days, I look like a savage, and I am out of shape."
"Qing Shen worked hard, I know that."
The emperor looked at Shen Yi and sighed: "You usually like to sleep, but I heard from people in the Di newspaper department that you sometimes didn't sleep for three or four days in Huai'an, and your eyes were red from the sleep, and you couldn't walk steadily.
"
"Actually, on the battlefield, it's not that I don't even have time to sleep. It's just that I think too much about myself, and sometimes I can't sleep all night long."
Mr. Shen silently exhaled and lowered his eyebrows and said: "The lives of thousands or even tens of thousands of people sometimes depend only on my thoughts. The burden in my heart is so heavy that even if I close my eyes, I can't sleep."
The emperor took two mouthfuls of rice, nodded and said: "Anyway, the battle in Huai'an this year was fought beautifully. I am very satisfied. Let me know what you think about next year."
Shen Yi lowered his head silently and said nothing.
Eunuch Gao waved his hand very sensibly, and most of the palace people in the back hall dispersed, leaving only two or three palace people still waiting in the palace. Shen Yi knew that these were probably the emperor's confidants and could not leak secrets, so he paused
After a pause, he asked: "Your Majesty, I dare to ask, how do you plan to deal with the Zhao clan?"
The emperor was drinking soup at the moment. Hearing this, he could only put down the soup bowl silently. He was silent for a while, looked at Shen Yi, and said helplessly: "There are no outsiders here, so I won't hide anything from you."
"Originally, I made up my mind to call Zhao Lu and his family back to Jiankang at the end of this year, and not allow them to leave Beijing next year. How to deal with it then? It's okay to hold him accountable."
"but…"
He glanced at Shen Yi and said quietly: "But a few days ago, Shen Qing, you went to look for Zhao Lu, right?"
Shen Yi lowered his head silently: "Yes, I have made an appointment with General Zhao in private."
The emperor narrowed his eyes and answered, "Tell him to let him lead his troops north, right?"
Shen Yi nodded silently.
The emperor rapped the table in front of him with his knuckles and said slowly: "In the past two years, the Huaihe Navy has been stagnant and has almost suffered repeated defeats. I could have removed the Zhao family's position, but
This time, the Huaihe Navy sent troops northward, destroyed four cities, killed thousands of Qi troops, and retreated safely, which was also a great victory, and the news of their success has been sent to the court before you."
"This is a serious military achievement."
The emperor lowered his eyebrows and said, "It's not easy for me to deal with them now. At least within a short period of time, I can't find any suitable reason to deal with them."
Mr. Shen took a deep breath and whispered: "Your Majesty, if the Huaihe Navy had not moved at that time, your Huai'an Army would probably have very little left. I will try my best to preserve this army as much as possible."
The seeds for the future Northern Expedition."
"As for other things, I haven't thought much about it."
"I understand."
The emperor touched his palm and said: "I also know that at that time, Huai'an's army was pressing on the border. You had to ask Zhao Lu for help for the sake of the overall situation."
"So, I don't mean to blame you."
His Majesty the Emperor shook his head slightly and said in a helpless tone: "It's just that now, there is really no reason to touch them. If they are directly called back to Jiankang for questioning, I'm afraid it will shock the government and the public."
Shen Yi nodded silently and said nothing.
He understands that the emperor has the emperor's difficulties, but he also understands that the so-called emperor's mind is the way to balance.
He Shen Yi... or rather the Huai'an Army is now too strong. The reason why the emperor left the Huaihe Navy behind may not be for the purpose of pursuing balance in the army.
However, this kind of thing was too taboo, and it was impossible to talk about it directly in front of the emperor. Even if Shen Yi figured it out, he could only pretend not to know.
As for the two-year agreement he made with Zhao Lu...
As a certain prime minister once said, important matters in the court cannot be decided through bets between individuals. Even if Zhao Lu recognizes it when the time comes, there is nothing that can be done if the court does not recognize it.
To be precise, it depends on whether the emperor is willing to accept the bet.
When the emperor saw Shen Yi's appearance, he immediately smiled and said, "Shen Qing hasn't said yet what you think of next year's Northern Expedition."
Shen Yi raised his head and looked at the emperor. After thinking for a while, he lowered his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I think that if you want to do the Northern Expedition, you need at least 100,000 troops. Even if the Huai'an army is expanded to 50,000 troops next year, the number will not be enough."
."
The emperor touched his chin and said: "With only one Huai'an army, it is indeed difficult to conduct the Northern Expedition. What does Shen Qing think if the eastern and western armies go north together next year?"
From the perspective of Huai'an, the East and West Routes refer to the armies of Lianshui County and Xiangshui County.
But the east and west routes mentioned by the emperor obviously did not refer to the east and west lines of Huai'an, but to the east and west sides of the entire Huaihe River.
In other words, the western front is the Huaihe Navy, and the eastern front is Shen Yi's Huai'an Army.
Master Shen looked up at the emperor and shook his head decisively: "Your Majesty, I will never go north with Zhao Lu!"
The emperor smiled and said: "Because of personal grudges?"
Shen Yi shook his head: "Because if there is any danger, General Zhao will never come to rescue me. He may in turn guide the Qi people to join the Huaihe Navy in the Northern Expedition. I am determined not to go."
The emperor nodded, indicating that he understood.
"In this case, let's all think about it again. Anyway, there is still almost a month until Shangyuan. You and I, the emperor and my ministers, should think carefully about the Northern Expedition. We can make a decision before spring."
Having said this, the emperor paused. He looked at Shen Yi and said, "Shen Qing, I think it is appropriate for the Northern Expedition next year."
Shen Yi lowered his head silently and said: "Back to your majesty, I also think that next year's Northern Expedition is appropriate, because the Qi people have suffered a lot of damage over the past year or so. If they fight well next year, they can drive the Northern Qi army further north.
Go, and when the time comes to capture one or two big cities in Huaibei, we will have a chance to regain Shandong."
Hearing the words "recover Shandong", even His Majesty the Emperor couldn't help but feel excited. He looked at Shen Yi with bright eyes: "Shen Qing thinks, if I send the imperial army to the Northern Expedition next year, how long will it take to recover Shandong?"
?”
"I don't know."
After Shen Yi replied these four words, he lowered his head slightly and said: "However, I want to go to the north next year to try it, but I don't have an idea in my mind about how to try it or how to fight. After Your Majesty allows me to go back, I will slowly
Think about it for a while."
The emperor stood up from his chair and walked to Shen Yi.
Shen Yi also quickly stood up and stood with his hands down.
The emperor walked up to Shen Yi, first patted Shen Yi on the shoulder, and then looked at Shen Yi quietly, his voice hoarse.
There was some unconcealable excitement in his hoarseness.
"Shen Qing, if we can regain Shandong..."
"I promise you to be a prince and rest with the country...!"
