Qiu Xiaozhong's heart was beating wildly, he swallowed hard, and waited for Zhang Liang to ask: "What does Duke Yun mean by this?"
Zhang Liang was very calm. While holding the pot and pouring tea, he smiled calmly and said: "What can I mean? I don't mean anything! I'm just complaining about the current situation in the military during a casual chat. There are a lot of rumors in the military right now.
The morale of the military is unstable. Not only you and I know it, but the British public also knows it. Some people can keep their composure, but some people may not..."
Although he clearly knew that Zhang Liang's words contained bewitching intent, Qiu Xiaozhong could not help but feel nervous and excited.
The situation in Guanzhong is always affecting the nerves of the Guanlong people in the Eastern Expedition. It was a little better when I first heard that Changsun Wuji secretly sneaked back to Chang'an to start a rebellion. After all, the Guanlong families suddenly took action, and the East Palace could not prepare for it. The victory was
It’s all here in Guanlong.
However, as the war in Chang'an dragged on, the troops of more than 100,000 Guanlong families were unable to do anything to the East Palace Sixth Army, which only had tens of thousands of troops. This naturally made the Guanlong people nervous.
Especially when Fang Jun suddenly abandoned the Western Regions, traveled thousands of miles and suddenly appeared in Guanzhong to help the East Palace, it became even more nerve-wracking. When Fang Jun won consecutive victories and the news of Guan Long's retreat came, he became even more panicked.
, couldn't hold it back.
Everyone knows what a tragic situation the Guanlong clan will face once Changsun Wuji's military remonstrance fails...
Qiu Xiaozhong's foundation lies in Guanlong. If Guanlong collapses, not only will his strength be damaged, but he will also be implicated endlessly, and his future will be ruined. Returning to his hometown as an official is almost the best end. If he is slightly involved, he will be exiled to the army at least, or exiled at worst.
The body and head are in different places.
At this moment, Qiang suppressed his nervousness, looked around, leaned forward and asked in a low voice: "Does Duke Yun know anything?"
Zhang Liang laughed loudly, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "What can I know? I am from Xingyang, what does Guan Long have to do with me? It's just that many rumors have been floating around recently, so I'm just talking about them in my spare time. That's right.
Brother, you might as well pay more attention to it, and you should also appease the morale of the soldiers in Zhongguanlong, help the British people solve their problems, and share some of the pressure."
Qiu Xiaozhong secretly resented the fact that this guy leaked some truths and shied away completely. It was really abominable that he was so slippery.
However, he also understood what Zhang Liang meant. Even Li Ji was gradually unable to suppress the rumors that had arisen in the army recently. Obviously, it was not just the soldiers below who were complaining, but maybe someone was secretly adding fuel to the flames, and the purpose was also
It's self-explanatory.
Guanlong soldiers could no longer hold back...
Is this planning to plot against Li Ji? While Qiu Xiaozhong was excited, he was also a little angry: I am also from Guanlong and a senior general in the army. Those generals who were born in Guanlong secretly conspired and actually excluded me. Now
Or do you get the details from outsiders?
Simply excessive!
He was angry for a while, and then he was shocked: Even Zhang Liang knew about this, so Li Ji was not unaware of it. Thinking of Li Jing's ability, Qiu Xiaozhong felt a chill in his heart. It seemed that he had to talk to Guan Long.
The soldiers are reminded not to fail in their uprising and be suppressed by Li Ji instead...
*****
Almost at the same time, the Chinese army's tent was opened.
Li Ji stood in front of the window wearing a scholar's gown, with his back straight and his hands behind his back, looking at the snow-swaying Taihang Mountains in the distance with his deep eyes.
The tent door opened, Cheng Yaojin walked in through the curtain, gave a perfunctory salute, and then sat carelessly on the chair in front of the desk, saying in a rough voice: "I wonder what the British minister has ordered when he summons the last general? I have an order.
I issued the order directly, and all generals will comply with it. If nothing happens, I will go back, and the hot pot is still cooking on the stove."
His words and deeds were casual, and he did not treat the other party as the commander of an army at all...
Li Ji turned around and couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw Cheng Yaojin's virtue.
This was because of my own tough attitude when the army marched to Yecheng a few days ago...
However, he has a close friendship with Cheng Yaojin, and he knows that although the other person may seem careless and indulgent, in fact, he considers every word and action, and is by no means as simple as it seems on the surface. If anyone thinks that this person is a big boss, he will probably be punished if he turns around.
A big loss.
After returning to the desk and sitting down, facing Cheng Yaojin, Li Ji frowned and said: "You can be regarded as a veteran who has gone through many officialdoms. You should be alert and steady in your heart. How come you are still in a mood right now? What kind of situation is it now? I don't know.
You also understand that I have no intention or time to mess around with you. If it affects the overall situation, even you, don't blame me for being ruthless."
These words are considered very serious. If anyone else was warned like this by the Prime Minister of the dynasty, they would be so frightened that they would break out in cold sweat and lose their mind. But how could Cheng Yaojin be afraid?
"Ah!"
He sneered, raised his bearded chin, and looked at Li Ji with a rebellious look on his face: "The overall situation, the overall situation, the overall situation is nothing! I am just a leader in war. I only know how to charge into battle and fight to the death. Who knows?"
Do you really understand the bullshit overall situation? Don't talk about the overall situation all day long, as if you are superior to others. Either tell your overall situation clearly, or issue military orders pretending to be your chief lieutenant. How dare I disobey it?
"
"..."
Li Ji was so angry that his nose was filled with smoke. He patted the table and said angrily: "How can you talk?"
"Hey! What's the matter, the British Lord wants to chop off my head for the crime of speech? Even if it doesn't work, the law of the Tang Dynasty clearly states that 'the speaker is not guilty'. As long as I don't rebel, even Your Majesty can't
This is a crime!"
Cheng Yaojin's eyes were as wide as copper bells, and he spoke eloquently without fear.
Li Ji was so angry that he rubbed his temples and said helplessly: "I won't mess with you...haven't you noticed that rumors are spreading in the army recently and morale is unstable?"
Cheng Yaojin picked up the teapot on the desk, poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and said disapprovingly: "The rebels started their troops for nearly three months, and fought from winter to the beginning of spring. There were countless casualties in the battles, the country was in turmoil, and the imperial capital was overthrown.
As a result, we, the hundreds of thousands of imperial elites, have not yet returned to Chang'an... How could there be no rumors in the army? However, you, the British Lord, are so prestige and tyrannical that you can easily suppress some discussions, so it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter.
"
He admired Li Ji very much, but he was extremely dissatisfied with the series of measures taken on the way back to Chang'an, especially the procrastination of the army in returning to Guanzhong. In his opinion, Li Ji took advantage of it.
power for his own personal gain.
The news of His Majesty's death is currently only known to a few people at the highest level in the army, but God knows how long this news can be kept secret!
Once this news leaks out, the entire army will inevitably undergo drastic changes. The most terrible thing is that if the rebels in Chang'an City win, the Prince of the East Palace will inevitably die.
It is true that the prince does not have your majesty's wisdom, talent, and strategy, but no matter how coward he is, he is still the prince who has been consecrated by your majesty and the heir to the empire!
Before His Majesty has no choice but to issue an edict to depose the Crown Prince, as soon as Your Majesty dies, the Crown Prince will be the new emperor of course! You, Li Ji, have deployed hundreds of thousands of troops but are standing still, sitting back and watching the Crown Prince fall into danger and doing nothing. What the hell do you want to do?
Li Ji felt that he couldn't get entangled with this bastard, otherwise he might take the topic far, so he immediately said calmly: "I just want to ask you, in your eyes, am I loyal to His Majesty?"
Cheng Yaojin was slightly stunned. Although he didn't want to look good on this guy with a "treacherous" look, he still nodded and said, "I have never doubted this."
"That's good,"
Li Ji's face was solemn and he said slowly: "If I told you that all my current actions are based on His Majesty's will, would you believe it or not?"
"..."
Cheng Yaojin was speechless for a moment, his eyes looking up and down at Li Ji in confusion.
His Majesty’s will?
His Majesty has passed away, and the coffin is placed in the tent behind the Chinese army tent. Zhu Suiliang usually accompanies him day and night and is responsible for all affairs... At this time, you tell me that it is His Majesty's will?
However, based on his understanding of Li Ji, this man did not have great ambitions, nor was he involved in any conspiracy to usurp the throne. So if what he said was true... wouldn't it mean that His Majesty had anticipated Chang'an before his death?
Because of the situation, do you have some entrustments or orders to Li Ji?
Feeling inexplicably surprised, he frowned and asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"
Li Ji breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Although he used his strong tactics to intimidate the entire army, he could not always get the military commanders to impose a ban. The rumors that emerged in the army showed that some people could no longer bear it and were unwilling to continue to sit back and watch the Chang'an rebellion.
I want to participate in it and reap the benefits.
Among them, Guanlong soldiers are naturally the main ones, but they are definitely not limited to Guanlong soldiers...
If he had Cheng Yaojin's sincere cooperation, he would be able to steadily control the entire army, suppress those with ulterior motives, and carry out the orders given to him by His Majesty step by step.
He took a deep breath and finally asked: "If there is a rebellion in the army, can you stand on my side?"