The July sun shines brightly on the earth, and in the metropolitan area of the Tang Dynasty, there is a strong man standing beside a cracked farmland with a sad face. The corn seedlings in the field are withered and yellowed, and the high temperature and drought have made these crops lifeless, and the river water that he has brought from three miles away can't save the life of the crops.
"Pops! Abba! His Lordship has issued a conscription order!" A boy of eight or nine years old ran out from a small village in the distance, shouting at the strong man from a distance.
"His Lordship issued a conscription order?" The strong man raised his head, he licked his dry lips, and there was a doubt in his eyes, why would there be a conscription in this kind of disaster year?
"Yes, Abba, Abba's family has also received the draft order, and Abba shouted at me to inform Abba quickly, to repair the armor today and go to the lord tomorrow." The boy's face had a vegetable color.
"There's really going to be a war, huh?" The burly man's spirits lifted as he thought of something.
The vassal states of Great Qin did not have many standing armies, and once the war was over, they let the feudal lords of each place recruit people from each household according to the roster, and of course, the ancestors of the people on the roster were all aristocrats.
This stout man and the boy's mouth Aber is a brother, although the ancestor is a nobleman, but to their grandfather's generation of the family has declined, to the brothers when they split up the family, each family has only three dozen acres of land.
Faced with the Lord's conscription order, the strong man dared not delay, packed up his farming tools and hurried home with his son to inquire about the situation with his elder brother.
"Brother, did the Lord Lord's summons say where it was a crusade?"
The burly man's older brother, who was in his forties and had white hair, was sorting out rusty weapon armor that had been left behind by his ancestors.
"It doesn't say where to conquer, it only tells us to take dry food and weapons and armor to the Great Metropolis. Ah Di quickly go back and prepare, tomorrow morning we brothers will move together to go to Dadu to listen to orders."
The burly man took a look at his older brother with gray hair, opened his mouth, but still asked, "Brother, the conscription order is for one person from each family, brother is already old, why don't you let your nephew go forward to build his career?" For the sons of downtrodden nobles like them, military service was often the best way to revitalize the family.
The white-haired man looked at his brother and smiled bitterly, "This time, we don't even know which vassal state we are conquering against, my brother feels that there is a danger, your nephew is only seventeen, my brother doesn't want him to have an eventuality."
The white-haired man's meaning was that he didn't favor the war waged by the Tang Lord this time, his son was still young, he didn't want his son to go to the battlefield and meet with misfortune. Although he was very old, but he met the conditions of the conscription order, for this kind of war that was not sure of victory or defeat, it was better for him to go and enlist, if he died on the battlefield, with his son who had already grown up, the family would still be revitalized one day. On the contrary, losing his only son, the family would have no hope.
"Brother, is this expedition not a good idea?" The strong man was full of enthusiasm to go to the battlefield to earn military achievements to revitalize his family was struck, he did not go to the battlefield, but his elder brother was recruited by the King of Tang twice, participated in two battles against other lords, can be said to be an experienced veteran, a few slaves in the family are the trophies of the two battles, dozens of acres of fields in the family of the strong man's brother are relying on the cultivation of these slaves, the family's conditions are much better than his.
"Unfavorable weapons, insufficient food, and poor morale are the major taboos of conscription." The two wars that the man with white hair originally participated in, the fiefdom lords opened the mobilization work first, but there was no explanation for this conscription.
"Brother take the able-bodied slaves with you as auxiliary soldiers." The burly man listened to his older brother's analysis and was downcast.
"No, my brother will only bring the thinnest slaves forward, the robust slaves will have to be at home to plant the fields." The gray-haired man shook his head, and added to his brother, "There is dry food for the march that my brother has prepared, and the bit of food that you have at home, keep it for your sister-in-law and children to eat and feed, your sister-in-law will take care of them after we leave."
At that time, there were no logistics for army operations, and dry food and weapons and armor were provided by the soldiers themselves.
The burly man's eyes glistened with tears, "Thank you, big brother!"
"Alas, you and I, brothers, will only have to take care of each other when we arrive at the battlefield, I hope you and I can return safely." The florid white man let out a long sigh, he felt an aura of death permeating his country, which made him pessimistic. He took thin and weak slaves as auxiliary soldiers to the battlefield, and left the strong and healthy slaves at home to farm the land, he hoped that if he and his brother had an eventuality in the battlefield, his family would not starve to death because of the lack of labor to grow corn.
The news of conscripted soldiers walking in an endless stream on avenues all over the Tang Kingdom soon had Huang Zhong's scouts laid out in the Tang Kingdom sent back by flying pigeon.
"Tang conscripts soldiers to help Ripple take over the throne? That's impossible, isn't it? Is the Lord of the Tang Kingdom that stupid in the head?" Zheng Yuming didn't quite believe that the Tang Kingdom's Lord's would directly send out soldiers to help Ripple Ji in a bright manner.
A lord of a vassal state to send troops to help another vassal state commoner son to fight for the throne, how to say is not a bright and open thing, if this happened in the time when Qin Tianzi can still control the vassal states, Tang Congress will be issued by the emperor of the vassal crusade order to requisition.
"Greedy again will cover a layer of cover cloth, will not be so directly out of the army to let the king of Wu to change the reserves." Chu Zhaohui hand to see is Yu Kui from the king of Wu Wangdu hand back information, the king of Wu from six copies of the beginning of rarely summoned ministers, Jiang Dafu recruiting action even more accelerated.
"Although the King of Wu is not in good health, his remaining power is still there, and most of the people in the royal capital are loyal to the King of Wu. Even if Ripple Ji has brought in the Western Sima, together with the private soldiers in the hands of Dr. Jiang, she still has no chance of winning against the King of Wu. If the Tang Kingdom rises up to help in this way, isn't it putting Ripple Ji in a desperate situation? No matter how stupid Ripple Ji is, she wouldn't let Lord Tang send troops to help when she doesn't have control of the royal court." Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui speculated about the Tang Kingdom's intention to send troops, and the more they speculated, the more they felt that the situation was confusing.
Chu Chaohui listened to Zheng Yuming's speculation and suddenly smiled, "Not bad, the most important thing for Ripple Ji is to master the royal court first, the troops in the hands of the King of Wu is a big taboo for her, I think that the Lord of Tang has sent out his troops this time to make the comparison of the royal court's troops change."
"Are you saying that Lord Tang's main purpose in sending troops against Wu is to move away the troops in the hands of the King of Wu, leaving the King of Wu's court empty of troops and making it convenient for Ripple Ji to act?" Zheng Yuming slapped the table, Ripple Ji, this woman's tactics are really something.
Chu Zhaohui nodded his head with approval in his eyes, "Not bad, if the Tang Kingdom sends out troops to commit a crime, the King of Wu will only send his most trusted troops to intercept, and I'm sure that the Huben under the jurisdiction of the Western Sima won't be on the list of those who will be intercepted."
Zheng Yuming frowned slightly, "In that case, when the royal court army rushes to the border, King Wu will be in danger."
The trip to the king's capital at the Harvest Festival, King Wu was nice to Zheng Yuming, and the thought that this old man might have met an untimely end made Zheng Yuming's heart a little hard to bear.
"If the King of Wu does not die, the situation will not change." Chu Chao Hui's face was pale, he approved of Ripple Ji's rebellion from the bottom of his heart, and hoped that Ripple Ji would take out both the King of Wu and Crown Prince Zhao in one fell swoop.
"Should we go and confer with Wei Shen now?"
"No! When the royal court army mobilizes, we'll discuss countermeasures with Wei Shen."
Chu Zhaohui vetoed it flatly, and waited until the Tang army pushed into the Wu border and the Wu army went forward to counterattack, it was more reasonable to discuss it with Wei Shen. Otherwise, it would appear that he and Zheng Yuming were too smart, and people who were too smart would not be liked, they would only be defended.
After Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui speculate and analyze Ripple Ji's intentions, Zheng Yuming intensifies the movement of combat supplies, and Chu Chaohui intensifies training for the army, rotating the troops to the Su Plain for military exercises. The stewards of Nambu and the valley feel a mountain rain coming.
In August, the Lord of Tang organized his army and personally led 10,000 soldiers towards the border of Wu. When the King of Wu received the urgent report from the border, he was immediately furious, and originally wanted to let the Hussar General lead the army to return the attack, but the Hussar General was too old, and after Ripple Ji persuaded him, he sent the South Sima and East Sima to lead the army instead. Wu Wangdu stayed in the North Sima, who was from the family of the Hussar General, and the West Sima, who defected to Yi Ji.
After Wei Shen received the latest information, he immediately sent someone to Nambu to summon Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui to Dacheng to discuss strategies.
The backyard of the Ulsan government, the courtyard where Gong Ziguang lived, there came out a burst of beautiful zheng sound, zheng sound is elegant, melodious and long, such as complaining like a cry, the person who heard the sound felt that the music is moving, but also a kind of sadness and unbearable feeling. The person who played the guzheng is the artist Xin.
"Xin is not only good at konghou, but also zheng music." This piece of music played by artist Xin resonates in Gong Ziguang's heart; his feelings for Zheng Yuming are just as expressed in this piece, deeply in love and hopeless.
Artist Xin looked up at Gongzi Guang with a glint in her eyes, "As long as Gongzi likes it, Xin will play any instrument for Gongzi."
"Ugh! My favorite won't be heard again in the future." Gong Ziguang closed his eyes, and the figure of Zheng Yuming playing the guzheng on the sacrificial stage of Wu Wangdu came back to his mind; it was a perfect performance for the ages, and could not be replicated again.
The light in Artist Xin's eyes went out, and he lowered his head and hung his eyes, his eyes as lifeless as dead ashes.
"Xin accompany light with meals." Gong Ziguang looked at the pitiful appearance of artist Xin with her head bowed, and could not help but speak out to pacify her, Gong Ziguang was preoccupied with Zheng Yuming, and his favorite music was no longer konghou, but zheng sound, and had not summoned artist Xin for a long time.
Some time ago, after listening to a waiter talk about artist Xin give up Konghou, change to practice zheng sound, only then summoned artist Xin into the house to play music, artist Xin is no loss of music wizard, practicing zheng instrument is only half a year, playing level in the city of Dacheng zheng sound artist is second to none. When Duke Guang thought of Zheng Yuming, he would call the artist Xin to play zheng music in his house.
Artist Xin slowly raised his head, determination in his eyes, he smiled faintly towards Gongzi Guang, "Yes! It is enough for Xin to be able to accompany Gongzi around, his heart's desire is enough."
Gong Ziguang suddenly felt that Artist Xin's words were odd, but looking at Artist Xin's demeanor, it was full of smiles and tenderness in his eyes.
Wei Shen summoned not only the two Zheng Chu, but also Wei Ren and Wei Ci. Wei Shen decided to push Gong Zi Guang to the throne of Wu Kingdom, after the development of the economy in Dacheng, recruiting more standing soldiers, sent people in the capital of the King of Wu and ministers to intensify contact, especially Hussar General and Wen Zai there to move closely. Because Wei Shen had arranged many secret agents in the capital of Wu, the news of Tang's invasion of Wu's borders, and the Eastern Secretary and Southern Secretary of the capital leading troops to counterattack, soon reached him.
"Councilor Zheng, Chu Sima, the King of Wu has not been well lately, and the Tiger Talisman Order was sent from his bed. Now that half of the royal court's army is gone, will Ripple Ji take advantage of the opportunity to rebel?" Wei Shen didn't know that Ripple Ji had a deal with the Tang Lord, but he knew that Ripple Ji's ambition to install her son on the throne hadn't changed, and with the change in the royal court's military strength, Wei Shen was sensitive to the fact that there would be changes in the royal capital city.
"Lord Wenzai! Chu feels that Ripple Ji will most likely choose just this moment to strike." Chu Chaohui was the first to stand up and voice his opinion.
Wei Ren felt that Chu Chao Hui was a little too sure: "Is this time a good time?"
"Because of the Tang's advance, the royal court's troop strength has been reduced by half, Ripple Ji has the private soldiers of the Western Sima and Dafu Jiang in her hands, comparing to the Northern Sima and the royal palace's tiger cardinals, Ripple Ji has the upper hand, and it is the perfect time for her if she coerces the King of Wu and sends out an army to edict the killing of the Crown Prince."
Wei Ci retorted, "The Hussar General is still in the royal capital, he won't let Ripple Ji have his way."
Chu Zhaohui shook his head: "Hussar General hands no soldiers, if he led the army to the border, then Ripple Ji rebellion, Hussar General will not hesitate to lead the army to kill back to the capital, this is also Ripple Ji does not let the Hussar General army, and the East Sima and the South Sima two generals, only to listen to the King of Wu Tiger Dispatch, Ripple Ji as long as the King of Wu control is control of the two armies, the two Sima not see Tiger Dispatch, will not return to the capital at will, so that Ripple Ji in the King's rebellion without worry. The two Secretaries of Departments don't see the tiger symbol and won't return to the king's capital at will, so that Ripple Ji will have no worries when it comes to rebellion in the king's capital, and as long as she gets rid of the Northern Secretaries of Departments and Hussar generals, Crown Prince Zhao will be the meat on the chopping board, slaughtered at Ripple Ji's will."
"It's a pity for the Hussar General." Wei Ren sighed.
Zheng Yuming and Chu Chaohui were both silent, they would not go to save the Hussar General first, if they saved the Hussar General, in case Crown Prince Zhao did not die, the Hussar General would be the hardcore Crown Prince party, in that case, the Hussar General would instead be the first obstacle to Gong Ziguang's ascension to the throne. However, Chu Chaohui had already given Yu Kui instructions that if Crown Prince Zhao was killed first, both the Great General of Hussars and the Northern Sima would have to be rescued with all their might, as they would have Gong Ziguang as their first choice after they ran out of lords to throw themselves at.
When Zheng Chu and the two of them were playing a small calculation, Wei Shen was also playing the same calculation. Because this matter is not bright and open, the three people are unspoken.
"Lord Wenzai! After Ripple Ji got rid of the thorn in her side, Gongzi is her next target to deal with, I think Ripple Ji is most likely pretending to be King Wu's edict to frame Gongzi, in addition to that, she is sending assassins to carry out the assassination." Zheng Yuming worried about Gongzi Guang's personal safety.
"En! The old man has predicted that now that the duke is not going out of the mansion, it will not give the assassins sent by Ripple Ji a chance to work against the duke."
Wei Shen was very pleased with Zheng Yuming's concern for Gong Ziguang, after getting the news from the royal capital, Wei Shen added Huben guards in the Ulsan House, and the entrance and exit of Gong Ziguang's backyard personnel were carefully checked, and those who went to see Gong Ziguang should not think of bringing a little sharp weapon in, his Gong Ziguang would be very safe under such close protection.