"The White Wolf Army is the troops left behind by General Li from that time."
"He is well-equipped and fights bravely. This is evident to everyone in the court."
"Li Sheyuan has learned the true story of General Li. With them here, Longwuguan will be worry-free."
In the Xiangfeng Palace, Xiang Luowen, the head of the Baiyi Palace, stood in the door of the palace and talked eloquently.
Just when he said this, Lu Chenji stood up again and said in a deep voice: "Master Xiang's words are wrong."
"Although Li Sheyuan has the trust of the White Wolf Army, the Liao people are outnumbered this time and must be on guard."
"Even with the wisdom of General Li back then, the army would be defeated one day. Youdao is to be prepared for danger in times of peace. I believe that we must not be too optimistic about the border war. We still need to make further plans in the court."
This was the first court meeting between the civil and military officials of the Wuyang Dynasty after Ji Qi's death.
It was also the first court meeting without the presence of the emperor since the founding of the Wuyang Dynasty.
Officials from the three government departments and nine departments arrived together. The eldest princess, Shifei Ji, sat on the dragon chair to supervise the country and listen to the government. The three princes stood on both sides to listen.
Recently, there was only one topic on the agenda, and that was the war at Longwu Pass in the Western Territory.
This is a troublesome matter, and how the court should deal with it is not a particularly easy matter to make a decision. Master Ji is very troubled by this. She summoned all the civil and military officials to listen to their suggestions, but this
The court meeting lasted for a full hour, but Xiang Luowen and his party, headed by Baiyi Mansion, and Lu Chenji and his party, led by Guiyu Mansion, had a heated argument because of their different views on the border war.
On the contrary, neither party said anything about how to deal with this matter.
Although the remaining officials from the Longxiang Mansion, Shenhe Department and Tianjian Department did not belong to either camp, they chose to remain silent in a tacit understanding, as if they were watching from the sidelines.
Master Ji was so angry that she had no way to deal with these guys. Secondly, she tried to get them to stop arguing about this matter, but she got no response.
Although Master Ji knew from the beginning that this court battle was very dangerous, and these officials from the Three Prefectures and Nine Divisions were also very experienced veterans of the city, she still couldn't help but feel a little anxious and discouraged at this time, and she looked helplessly.
He turned his head to look at Li Danqing, who was standing at the end, but saw that the other person was looking at his eyes, nose and heart, with no intention of participating in the dispute. On the contrary, when Master Ji gave her a look of help, he looked at her inappropriately.
Master Ji blinked her eyes.
Master Ji was immediately furious. She didn't think this was a good time to make fun of her, but she was helpless that the situation at the moment made it difficult for her to get angry.
The two sides went back and forth, arguing for a long time, until the time reached noon, and there was still no conclusion on where the border war would develop. As for how the imperial court should respond to the issue that Master Ji was concerned about, there was no conclusion at all.
touch.
This court meeting was completely different from what Concubine Ji had imagined where everyone would express their opinions. Instead, it was more like a scene in a market where vendors quarreled and cursed over the price difference of one or two cents.
After the court meeting ended, Master Ji returned to the backyard feeling somewhat tired.
She was really not good at dealing with such a scene. She sat alone in front of the stone table in a pavilion and sighed deeply. Her brain ached a little. She stretched out her hand to rub her temples and looked at the direction with a somewhat hollow look.
In front of him, he seemed to be thinking about something, but at the same time, he seemed to be just in a daze.
She used to always wonder why her imperial brother always stayed in the Mingzhao Palace.
I still don't understand why the imperial brother who liked to play with her so much before became taciturn after he ascended the throne.
She once thought it was because the other person was obsessed with the power of the world. Only now did she suddenly realize how difficult and hot this position was.
She even thought about just leaving, returning to Bailong Mountain, and continuing to be a hermit practitioner, but...
After all, she has royal blood.
This is what she should do.
Thinking of this, she sighed, a little frustrated.
"Auntie." At this moment, a timid voice suddenly came over.
Concubine Ji was stunned and looked up, only to see three figures standing not far away. It was Li Danqing who came over with Ji Yao and Ji Yuzhi.
I don't know what kind of psychology it is because of, Master Ji is not willing to show any weakness in front of Li Danqing.
She quickly put away the fatigue on her face and forced a smile.
"Yaoer, Yuzhi." She stood up and smiled at the two of them.
The three of them also walked up to her at this time, and Ji Yuzhi bowed to her respectfully.
Li Danqing looked carefree and just smiled at him. That look was pretty, but also quite annoying.
Only the little elk stared straight at the fruit plate on the stone table next to Master Ji. He didn't shy away from anything. He stretched out his hand and pulled the corner of Master Ji's clothes, and swirled it in his mouth.
A salivating look.
Concubine Ji practices in Bailong Mountain all year round, and only returns to Wuyang City during the New Year. She does not have much contact with her imperial brother, let alone her nephews.
Regarding Ji Yao and Ji Yuzhi, Master Ji had only met them a few times. She remembered their names and vaguely knew that their life in the palace was not particularly easy. Other than that, she didn't have much impression.
But it was probably because of Ji Qi's death that Master Ji realized to some extent the value of family ties, so she made a special trip to visit her two nephews last night.
Although the conversation is still just superficial polite words, it is more or less
Let Master Ji find out the completely different temperaments of Ji Yao and Ji Yuzhi.
"Sister!" Seeing Ji Yao's appearance, Ji Yuzhi frowned and said hurriedly before Master Ji could react.
In fact, he was somewhat afraid of this aunt.
Even if they met yesterday, the other party's attitude was still mild. However, when they met several times at New Year's Eve banquets when they were young, Master Ji always had a cold look, which inevitably left some resentment in Ji Yuzhi's heart.
What a great impression.
Ji Yuzhi, who was afraid that her sister's reckless behavior would offend Master Ji, quickly spoke out to stop her.
At this time, Master Ji also came to her senses. She smiled, picked out a few of the best fruits from the fruit plate, stuffed them into Ji Yao's hands, and said, "Eat it, if you like it."
, I will ask someone to send more to Yan Huan Palace later."
"I like it!" Ji Yao's eyes suddenly lit up when she heard this. She looked at Master Ji and said hurriedly. At the end, she was still a little worried and warned: "Then you have to keep your word! A scumbag is a puppy."
Ji Yuzhi's heart tightened when he heard this, and he quickly raised his hands and said, "My sister has been innocent since she was a child. Auntie, please don't take her to heart."
Concubine Ji is not a stingy person, so she will not be angry because of Ji Yao's words. On the contrary, it is Ji Yuzhi's cautious behavior that makes Concubine Ji inexplicably feel distressed. Although she has known for a long time that Yan Huan Palace is often suppressed by Xiang Rong.
, but I don’t know how far the other party’s methods go.
She actually had the ability to help Yan Huan Palace in the past, but she just felt that it was Ji Qi's family matter after all, and she didn't want to interfere too much.
Seeing Ji Yuzhi like this today, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty in her heart.
She was about to say something to comfort the two people who were like frightened birds, but then Li Danqing's voice suddenly came from the side.
"Eldest Princess, you are so generous and have a deep heart that can carry rivers. How can you get angry over such trivial things? You don't have to worry."
When Master Ji heard this, she glanced at Li Danqing. Although Li Danqing's words were for her, she didn't know why, but they were clearly good words. However, when Li Danqing said it from his mouth, how did Master Ji hear it and how did she feel?
This guy means something.
She glared at Li Danqing fiercely, but she had just done so, and felt that this behavior seemed too ambiguous, so she quickly made a serious face.
"Your Majesty is very good at discerning people's hearts, but this skill seems to be used in the wrong place." Master Ji said this.
"The prince seems to have forgotten what he promised me."
Li Danqing blinked his eyes when he heard this, and looked at Master Ji with some confusion, as if he didn't understand what the other party meant by this.
"What is the princess talking about?" Li Danqing asked.
Of course, Master Ji knew that this guy was deliberately irritating her, and she was a little angry.
"Li Danqing!"
"If you don't want to help me, just say so! I won't force you!"
Seeing that Master Ji was really angry, Li Danqing smiled and said quickly: "The eldest princess has misunderstood. How can I, Li Danqing, be the kind of person who doesn't keep my word?"
Concubine Ji was simmering with anger. How could she believe Li Danqing's words? She sneered and said, "You just want to see me make a fool of myself and are waiting for me to beg you!"
There was an evil spirit in Master Ji's words. The little elk on the side was holding a melon and fruit in her hand. She looked at Li Danqing and then at Master Ji. With her brain, it was difficult for her to understand the "love-hate relationship" between the two.
"Qiu", he simply lowered his head and ate the fruits, ignoring what was happening outside the window.
"The eldest princess has really wronged me." He quickly defended: "Only since I promised the eldest princess yesterday, I have been working hard and sleeping, thinking about how to help the eldest princess. Other than that, there is nothing
Nothing else on my mind."
But at this moment, how could Master Ji believe his words? She snorted coldly and said: "Then how do you explain your inaction in the court today?"
Li Danqing said without changing his expression: "Eldest Princess, it's not that I haven't done anything, but it's just that it's not time yet?"
"When the time comes, when do you think the time will come?" Master Ji asked.
Li Danqing did not answer her question, but asked: "Why does the eldest princess think Xiang Luowen and Lu Chenji were quarreling today?"
Concubine Ji was stunned. Seeing that Li Danqing's expression was serious and not joking, she thought seriously for a while and then said: "I will not establish a new king and will oversee the country alone. In their hearts, I am the one who has cut off their path."
, they naturally have a grudge against me, and their behavior today seems to be deliberately trying to embarrass me, and is even suspected of forcing me to have a baby."
But Li Danqing waved his hand and said: "The eldest princess is too worried."
"Both Ji Quan and Ji Fei are of course very ambitious. They have coveted the throne for a long time. The eagles and dogs on both sides can be said to have dreamed about the power of supporting the dragon."
"But there is an ancestral system in Wuyang, so the eldest princess is not qualified to succeed to the throne. Besides, although the eldest princess has a noble status, she has no foundation in the court. If she really has any unrealistic ideas, then
They can handle it too."
"As for Ji Fei, if it hadn't been for the appearance of the eldest princess yesterday, Ji Quan might have ascended the throne at this moment. I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to bear grudges against the eldest princess yet. As for Ji Quan, although the eldest princess ruined his good deeds
, but he also understands that his biggest enemy has always been Ji Fei's party. At this juncture, the two sides have long been on the same side. In their hearts, they are always thinking about how to put each other to death, and how they dare to provoke others.
enemy?"
"After all, at this time, once you offend a force that is not involved in this matter, it is equivalent to pushing it to the other party."
"They can't do such an unwise move."
Although Master Ji was reluctant to admit it, she
I have to admit that what Li Danqing said makes sense.
But she was still a little puzzled. At that time, she said confusedly: "If this is the case, then why in the court today, the two sides never mentioned how to deal with the Liao army. Instead, they were just arguing about whether the White Wolf Army could cope with it.
Liao people."
"Elder Princess, you can't just take things in this world at face value, and we are in a place as big as Wuyang City." Li Danqing raised his head and spoke seriously.
Li Danqing's attitude of being a teacher made Concubine Ji feel itchy, but in order to understand what was going on, Concubine Ji still suppressed the anger in her heart and listened patiently.
"Whether it's Ji Fei or Ji Quan, now they are still thinking about how to get rid of each other and lay the foundation for their own succession to the throne."
"Today's dispute in the court seems to be just a disagreement between the two sides on the situation at Longwuguan, but it is actually about their next move."
"What do you mean?" Master Ji frowned and asked in confusion.
"Eldest Princess, remember, when you encounter similar things in the future, you have to think about the consequences of doing so and the impact on all parties. Many times, seemingly insignificant decisions actually have far-reaching consequences. If you want to make something happen,
To understand their intentions, you have to look at the current situation and think about their next step, or even the next few steps, so that you can have the capital to gain a foothold in the court." Li Danqing said slowly.
Seeing that Master Ji's frown deepened as she listened, Li Danqing probably knew that for Master Ji, who had never participated in court affairs before, he wanted to understand the twists and turns in this in a short period of time.
Going around is not an easy thing.
He did not give in, and then said: "Xiang Luowen believes that the White Wolf Army is safe and sound at Longwuguan, while Lu Chenji believes that the war at Longwuguan is tense."
"Elder Princess, think about it carefully. If you agree with Xiang Luowen's speculation, what should the court do next?"
Concubine Ji thought for a while and said: "Of course we will maintain the status quo, and at most we will send more grain and fodder..."
"Then what if you agree with Lu Chenji's speculation?" Li Danqing asked again.
Concubine Ji's frown deepened a little. She was a little confused about what Li Danqing wanted to say, so she just continued to answer: "Of course we have to send reinforcements to ensure that Longwuguan is safe."
Li Danqing continued: "The next step to figure out what will happen between the two is to figure out the impact of this situation on the two."
"There are four imperial guards in the capital. Among them, the three imperial guards of Shenhu, Qinglong and Qingluan have close contact with Ji Quan. Only the Xuanwu Army is not involved in this matter. In this Wuyang City, Ji Quan has enough advantages.
And if the war at Longwuguan becomes tense, and the imperial court wants to mobilize elites to go to Longwuguan for rescue, does the eldest princess think there is any other army in the Wuyang Dynasty that is more suitable than the four imperial guards?"
"But if we retreat ten thousand steps, even if Ji Quan and his party refuse to let the guards leave, then apart from the guards of the royal capital, who else can compete with Wu Yang Dynasty's army?"
When Master Ji heard this, she finally figured out what was going on. A look of clarity appeared on her face, and she said at this moment: "That is of course the Red Dragon Army of Southern Xinjiang!"
Li Danqing nodded with satisfaction after hearing this, showing a teachable look.
Master Ji's concubine saw it, and her heart was filled with hatred, but she still endured it. After all, Li Danqing's analysis was indeed reasonable.
"The Red Dragon Army is stationed in southern Xinjiang, nearly ten thousand miles away. If it gets the order from the imperial court, it can have legitimate reasons to set off from southern Xinjiang. And Longwuguan is only a thousand miles away from Wuyang City. With the level of the Red Dragon Army, it can use all its strength to
It only takes three or four days of marching to arrive. If Ji Fei really wants to do something, as long as the Red Dragon Army is here, they will have a lot of room to maneuver."
"So, today's dispute in the court seems to be just their disagreement about the form of Longwuguan, but in fact it is such a struggle that is related to their lifeblood. Therefore, both sides will pay every penny and will not give in."
Master Ji nodded secretly, but then looked at Li Danqing and asked: "Then why do you know this so much that you don't go to court today to point it out, wasting a whole day's time?"
Hearing this, Li Danqing smiled and said: "Elder Princess, do you know what is most important to an emperor?"
"Benevolence? Diligence?" Master Ji replied somewhat strangely.
Li Danqing smiled and said: "It's majesty."
"If I do these things, they will think that the eldest princess is just a puppet. But if it is done by the eldest princess, you can tell them that their skills and your skills will also make them realize that the eldest princess is not just a puppet.
A monk with outstanding talents, he can also become a role that cannot be ignored in the court."
"Establishing prestige is the first step that the eldest princess needs to take to accomplish what you want to do."
Li Danqing's sincere words made it impossible for Master Ji to doubt the other party's motives.
She took a deep look at Li Danqing and said sincerely: "Thank you."
But then she thought of something again and asked confusedly: "But, the border customs are tight, aren't they worried that if this continues, something will go wrong in Longwuguan, and the nest will be overturned without any eggs left intact?"
Li Danqing smiled bitterly and said: "From the moment we participate in the battle for the right to inherit the throne, both parties are destined to be in a fight to the death."
"No matter how difficult it is for them to face foreign enemies, they can choose to live in an ignoble way."
"But facing each other, they can only face each other with swords."
"Your Highness the Princess."
"Since you choose to participate in it, put away all your illusions and use the worst possible thoughts to speculate on your enemy."