The same world, the same sky, the same night, it was pouring rain in Hanyang Mansion, and the stars were shining in Jinan City. Li Yan was lying on a chair in the courtyard of the General Military Mansion, looking at the night sky in trance. There was a pot of tea on the stone table next to him.
After the matter in Tong was settled, he was ordered to return to Beijing to report on his duties. Of course, he had too many military affairs on hand to just leave like Chang Yu and took Jiang Fa away alone. After arranging the defense of Puzhou, he led his troops back
Jing, the army's marching speed was naturally not as fast as Chang Yu's.
Halfway through, the imperial edict came to replenish the Shandong army and return to Jinan to settle down the troops.
The Shandong General Soldier definitely had a vacancy. How many people were watching after Liu Zeqing's death? Even his old subordinates such as Huabao and others worked so hard just to fill this vacancy, but in the end, Li Yan was the one to fall.
If it fell on someone else, various sounds would inevitably be made, but Li Yan sat down and there was silence.
Because the meaning behind it is so extraordinary and everyone can understand it.
In terms of merit, Li Yan, governor of the Yellow River defense line for more than half a year, did a perfect job in defending the peace talks. In order to cooperate with the negotiating table during the peace talks, he struck through the central and northern defense lines that Li Zicheng regarded as an iron wall and won the greatest victory for the imperial court.
Benefit.
Not to mention his qualifications, after Li Yan surrendered to the imperial court, he first led eight thousand soldiers and horses thousands of miles to aid Ningyuan, and then became famous in one battle, and then followed the eunuch to make plans in the southern and northern wars. It can be said that he has made great contributions and worked hard to achieve the honor of the Zhuguo.
Let’s talk about connections and relationship background again.
Everyone knows that he is a member of the great eunuch and a person that the emperor wants to reuse, because he is regarded as the flag bearer for all kinds of wars at home and abroad in the future!
After more than a month of long journey, he finally led his troops to Jinan, which caused a sensation in the whole city and welcomed him, not only ordinary people, but also civil and military officials and gentry celebrities in the city, because Li Yan was so famous and had an excellent reputation.
However, there is one person missing, the nominal master of Jinan, the King of Virtue Zhu Youjue.
However, some people think that since you are a prince after all, there is no reason to welcome you as a general soldier. Even if you are a Zhuguo, no matter how big the Zhuguo is, it cannot be bigger than the vassal king.
On the same day, the officialdom in the city held a banquet for Li Yan to wash away the dust, but there was still no movement from Prince De's palace.
At this time, some thoughtful people will feel that something is wrong. At least they will send someone to greet him or give him some gifts. If not, they will send an invitation to Li Yan to go to the palace for a meal or something.
No!
Until the third day, nothing!
Li Yan then made a greeting card and handed it over. The guest accepted it and said that the prince was not feeling well and would talk to him another day.
Then someone suddenly realized that it turned out that King De and the new commander-in-chief had nothing to deal with either.
Almost everyone in Jinan knows about the grudge between King De and Liu Zeqing, that is, a powerful warlord pressed a poor new vassal king to the ground and rubbed him, without any power to fight back. The dignified vassal king was in the eyes of the warlord.
It's nothing, not worth mentioning.
Perhaps this incident cast an irreparable shadow on King De?
Otherwise, I wouldn't have heard of anything going on between him and Li Yan, and Li Yan was a Confucian general with an excellent reputation for being elegant and generous.
Soon there was gossip, saying that King De looked down on Li Yan's background and was a thief in the past.
Moreover, there are many people who are fighting for Li Yan. So what if many of the generals in the court were former thieves? Your Zhu family was not born to be the emperor. Taizu was a beggar by birth.
From the court's perspective, that's also a traitor...
Then he began to criticize this prince for being too petty.
And what is the reality?
It's not enough for outsiders.
Only a few people know the inside story. For example, Li Yan quietly entered the palace late at night after attending the reception banquet on the night he returned to the city, and stayed there until dawn.
To put it bluntly, avoid suspicion!
Zhu Youli and Chang Yu have a close relationship, and Li Yan is Chang Yu's confidant. How could they be at odds with each other?
It's just that some relationships cannot be shown openly, just like Chang Yu and Wu Mengming. Privately, they only wear the same pair of underwear, but publicly everyone in the court knows that they are incompatible with each other if they compete for the emperor's favor!
Of course, dealing with this kind of thing is just a piece of cake for Li Yan. He is more focused on rectifying military affairs. Taking advantage of this short period of peace, he has no time and energy to do many things he wanted to do before.
, must be implemented now.
For example, inventory of military losses, inventory of food and pay, surveying and farming of military fields, retirement of soldiers, medical insurance, merit reports of soldiers, replenishment of military equipment, application for military expenditures, soldier training, etc. It is extremely busy.
While he was busy here, he suddenly received a secret letter from Xi'an. Li Yan just smiled slightly after reading it and said to Gu Junen: "No hurry, let him dry before the heat is up."
A few days ago, a gust of wind blew into Jinan, causing Li Yan to frown, and even Gu Junen sighed and shook his head. These people were too impatient.
He was too anxious to eat the hot tofu, let alone the big eunuch. Li Yan looked up at the starry sky with a sneer on his lips. Gu Junen came over and sat down next to him: "The wind has been blowing for more than half a month, but I don't see any sign of Eunuch Chang.
The action is so weird."
"He is missing." Li Yan smiled, and Gu Junen was shocked: "He is missing, then...it won't..."
"It's just hiding in peace. During the time I followed him, almost every time he fought a battle or accomplished an important thing, he would find a place to hide for a few days." Li Yan smiled: "Maybe he doesn't want to do it now.
You know it’s a demonic trend, or you know it and you don’t care at all.”
"I have to say that Eunuch Chang is so arrogant that he can hold his breath," Gu Junen lamented, while Li Yan shook his head and chuckled: "It's not that he is arrogant, but that he has strong self-confidence. The reason why the courtiers are anxious and make trouble now is because they are afraid of him in the future.
The tail is too big to fall off, but they still want to keep it simple. Even at this time, Eunuch Chang is beyond their reach, and they can't move him at all!"
Gu Junen sighed: "We should treat each other with admiration after three days of separation. When he first came to power, his foundation was not stable, and it was easiest to move him. But at that time, the building will collapse, and the courtiers will use him as a shield, and he also has the strength and ability to turn the tide, so
The courtiers don’t want to and don’t dare to move, but now that they have full wings... they can handle him. Who can move the generals, soldiers and horses in this world at their command!"
"Mr. Gu's words are a bit heartbreaking. Those courtiers used this to stir up trouble and create public opinion to restrain him." Li Yan smiled lightly: "I have been following him for more than a year, and I only learned two words." He looked at Gu Junen
:"pattern!"
"The combined civil and military forces of the entire dynasty are not as big as his structure. Just think about the gains and losses right under your nose." Li Yan snorted: "If it weren't for this structure, how could it have made so many rebellious generals willing to use it? If it weren't for this structure,
With this situation, how could the emperor support him at all costs, which is why the Ming Dynasty is in the current situation?"
"General, what do you mean, those people's efforts were in vain this time?" Gu Junen raised his eyebrows: "But the emperor is a bit weak now."
Li Yan smiled: "Even the villagers know that they can't find helpers, let alone the emperor."
Gu Junen nodded: "I guess the imperial edict will come soon."