Time passed by unknowingly, and it was already October in the blink of an eye. Because this period in the late Ming Dynasty was in the famous Little Ice Age, the temperature dropped very quickly.
In the east of Jinzhou City, Liaodong Province, the study room of the back office of the Governor's Mansion seemed very quiet in the night. An occasional cough could be heard very clearly.
Finally, an old voice sounded: "Master, how about we return to De Mansion?"
"Well, why are you returning to Defu?" Yuan Keli, the governor of Liaodong, heard the words of his hometown Afu, put down the brush in his hand that was marking official documents, and looked up at Afu and asked.
Ah Fu's face was heavy and he said worriedly: "Master, the weather in Liaodong is extremely cold. You have started to cough again now. I am worried about your health."
Yuan Keli smiled slightly, removed his feet from the charcoal basin, stood up, stretched greatly, and said: "No need to worry about Ah Fu, it's just a cough occasionally."
After listening to Yuan Keli's explanation, Ah Fu didn't feel relaxed at all. He was still so heavy. He looked at Yuan Keli, whom he had grown up with, and said again: "Master, you were seriously ill this year. Although you were cured by the imperial doctor,
But I remember that the imperial doctor said that I need to take good care of my body. If I am attacked by wind and cold again, I am afraid it will be difficult to cure. But recently, I have heard you cough many times..."
Yuan Keli couldn't help but sigh in his heart when he listened to Ah Fu's nagging. He didn't know his physical condition. At this time, it was best to return to his hometown in Henan to rest.
"Ah Fu, there's no need to say anything more. You've been with me for so long, you should know what I want." Yuan Keli started walking back and forth in the study room, stretching his arms to relax his muscles.
"Master, even if the entire Liaodong is recovered, your own body is not as important as yours!" Ah Fu advised as he looked at Yuan Keli who was walking back and forth.
"Afu, you still don't understand. Master, I have been battling with the Jianlu people in these years. I originally thought that there was no hope of solving the Jianlu issue in this life, and I couldn't see the moment when Liaodong was restored."
When Yuan Keli said this, he suddenly stopped, turned to look at Ah Fu, and continued: "But suddenly, in less than two years, the situation of Ming Dynasty against Jianlu has been reversed.
. This gave me hope of defeating the Jianlu and regaining Liaodong. How could I be willing to leave Liaodong at this time!"
Ah Fu was not moved by Yuan Keli's words at all. In his eyes, no matter how big the matter was, it was not as important as the master's health: "Master, you can go back to Henan first to fully recuperate your health, and then return to Liaodong."
Yuan Keli smiled after hearing this, walked to his desk, pointed to some documents on it and said: "Look, these are the reports of our army's night-time encounters with Jianlu Tanma in recent times. The scope of Jianlu Tanma's activities is getting wider and wider.
They are getting smaller and smaller, and they are becoming more and more afraid of encountering our army at night. Now the number of people they send out every time is also constantly increasing."
Having said this, he looked up at Ah Fu and said with a hint of joy on his face: "In the past, when Jianlu was riding a horse, he dared to gallop outside Jinzhou City with just a few horses. Comparing this, you know what this means.
What?"
Before Ah Fu could answer, Yuan Keli answered his own question: "The Jianlu are afraid! Over the years, the Jianlu have been winning battles against the Ming Dynasty, which makes them extraordinarily brave when they confront our army.
In their eyes, our soldiers are no longer human beings, they are all their military achievements, and they are vying to fight with our army. At that time, the Jianlu were really difficult to defeat!"
"But now, the courage has been lost, and the Jianlu are nothing more than barbarians. On the other hand, our army no longer needs to force the troops to attack, they will volunteer to fight on their own. Based on this, I am very optimistic about next year's war!
"
After saying so much in one breath, Yuan Keli felt his throat itchy and couldn't help coughing again.
When Ah Fu saw it, he quickly picked up the warm teapot from the table on one side, poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to the master.
After Yuan Keli took it, he took a sip, held it in his mouth for a while to moisten his throat, and then swallowed it.
Then he handed the cup back to Ah Fu and continued: "I also know that I am ill, but the war will be next year. No matter what, I have to persist for another year. Otherwise, I will not see victory, so I will return to my hometown.
, will also be worried.”
"Alas..." Ah Fu couldn't help but sigh after hearing this.
Yuan Keli faced Ah Fu, looking at the worried look on his face, and felt warm in his heart. He continued to say to Ah Fu: "And I'm worried about the current situation, if I'm not here to watch, I'm afraid there will be
The success fell short."
Upon hearing this, Ah Fu retorted: "Aren't there new troops from the Beijing camp? They are brave and ruthless."
After hearing this, Yuan Keli shook his head and said: "No! That Beijing guerrilla Zuo Liangyu is prone to killing, greedy for power, and unstable. He is not a handsome man who can stand alone. And the slave chiefs should not be underestimated. They are all cunning. If Zuo Liangyu
If you go up against the slave chiefs, especially Huang Taiji, Dorgon, or Jierhalang, you will definitely suffer a big loss."
Ah Fu was unwilling to give in. He thought for a while and found another reason to refute: "Then there is still the youngest Sun Ge. If he leads the army, he will never be fooled by Jianlu!"
Yuan Keli nodded first, then shook his head and said: "Sun Ge is always prudent, so he is the best choice to lead the army. But Shanhaiguan is very important to our Ming Dynasty, before the Jianlu are destroyed, and we cannot do without him.
"
Speaking of this, Yuan Keli concluded: "In next year's war, our Guan Ning Army must be watched by me, otherwise I will not be relieved no matter what."
"Master, why don't you ask the court to appoint a stable person..."
Before Ah Fu could finish his words, he was interrupted by Yuan Keli: "No! Who in the court leads troops better than me? Who is familiar with Liao affairs? I can't think of one!"
At this point, Yuan Keli became slightly excited, and he said decisively: "I will be there for the fight next year, no matter what!"
Then his tone softened again and he said to Ah Fu: "I promise you, when the war is won next year and the three Ming armies gather in Shenyang, I will definitely retire and return to my hometown in Henan to recuperate. Is that okay?"
Seeing that the master had made up his mind, Ah Fu knew that his persuasion was of no use, so he could only nod his head and said: "Master, it's very late now, so you'd better go to bed early! At least take care of yourself so that you can wait until next year's war."
Yuan Keli looked at the official documents on the table, shook his head and said, "It's just a little bit. I'll have a rest after approving it."
After finishing speaking, he sat back at the desk and started working again.
In fact, there was another reason in his heart that he did not say out loud. It was that his hope of cultivating Taoism had been extinguished by Zhong Jinwei. All kinds of puzzles in the sky and on earth were explained by Zhong Jinwei, which made Yuan Keli feel that those things about gods were after all.
It's a fictitious thing.
Therefore, he cherishes his remaining time very much and must decide the outcome with Jianlu in his lifetime. Only when he sees victory in the war next year will he retire and return home with peace of mind.