254: More Trouble than Success

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Cao Qing and Mu Xing did bring a lot of news. The Tatars were beaten by the Southern Qi two years ago and learned a lesson. Last year, they did not dare to make a big move against Yulin Wei Zhangping Prefecture. At most, they harassed in a small area, robbed a little and ran away, and did not dare to go deep.

But they did not dare to rob the Southern Qi, but robbed the surrounding tribes one by one. Su Xinyi knew that the grassland was in chaos last year, and there were wars everywhere. No wonder Mu Xing complained. Although the caravan was dangerous, it did get a lot of news and exchanged a lot of treasures, such as the batch of horses.

Su Xinyi's expression suddenly became serious. The Tatars did not rob the Southern Qi but robbed the surrounding tribes. I am afraid that this year the Tatars have sufficient food and grass, strong soldiers and horses, and will sharpen their knives against the Southern Qi again.

How much can the tribes on the grassland rob, but the Southern Qi is vast and rich in resources, and Baotianhua has always been a treasure coveted by these grassland men.

Mu Xing was a man who could feed his whole family if he was full. He was willing to accept defeat and followed Su Xinyi. He only listened to Su Xinyi and didn't care about anything else.

But Cao Qing was different. Cao Qing's family was a family general of the Su family. He was influenced by Cao Qing's keenness in war, which made him feel a little heavy. "Sixth Miss, are you worried about Yulin Guard?"

Su Xinyi looked up at Cao Qing and nodded slightly. "The Tatars' wolfish ambitions must be guarded against. Now I'm afraid they will make a comeback."

Su Xinyi didn't remember much about the border war in her previous life, but she occasionally heard a few words. Before she died in her previous life, she didn't hear that Southern Qi had conquered the Tatars.

She felt a little heavy. Her father died in battle for Southern Qi, and it only brought a few years of peace.

She felt heavy just thinking that in a few years, His Majesty's health would deteriorate, several princes would compete with the prince for the throne, the court would continue to waste internal energy, and there would still be such a powerful enemy spying.

What's the point of her father dying for the country? After a few years, the Tatars will come back and it will be the same as before. It's like a vicious cycle.

How many sons of their Su family died on the battlefield? At this moment, Su Xinyi suddenly understood why her uncle didn't do anything. Maybe he wasn't really an honest man, but just pretended to be an honest man...

Su Xinyi hurriedly shook her head. She was frightened by her own thoughts. How could it be possible?

No way.

Su Xinyi sorted out her mood, looked at Cao Qing and said, "You haven't been back for a long time, go back and reunite with your family first, if I have anything to ask you, I will call you over."

Cao Qing has been away from home for so long, he really misses his family, and said with a smile, "Then I will take my leave first."

Su Xinyi nodded, watched Cao Qing leave, then looked at Mu Xing, thought for a while and asked him, "Do you want to live with Zhan Qiao and Wu Shun, or do you want to live outside and feel more comfortable?"

Mu Xing looked up at Su Xinyi with a little surprise, and said almost without any consideration, "I live outside."

"Do you have a place to stay in the capital?"

Mu Xing shook his head, "I plan to buy a small courtyard to live in."

Su Xinyi is going to be the crown princess, it seems that he will definitely have to run back and forth between Yulinwei and the capital in the future, it is better to buy a small courtyard in the capital to live in.

Su Xinyi smiled, "It's fine if you have this idea. You have been with Ma Rude for so long, so you must be wealthy. I don't have to worry about you having no money."

Mu Xing: ...

"But buying a house is not something that can be done overnight. How about I find you a place to live first? It's just right to find you a companion. He is very familiar with the capital, and he has a close relationship with Tian Zao and Bao Datong. You can stay with him for a while, and when you return to Yulinwei, you can bring a letter back to Tian Zao and Bao Datong."

Mu Xing didn't know what to say. This was really plucking feathers from a passing goose. Finding a place for him to live, he also had to help her people take care of her family and bring letters.

Su Xinyi asked Mu Xing to wait for a moment. She sat behind the desk and wrote a letter to Zeng Liang. After writing the letter, she said to Mu Xing while waiting for the ink to dry: "Zeng Liang is the boss of Qingjinfang. You should learn how to be a man and do things from him."

He was still despised. Mu Xing couldn't help it. He looked at Su Xinyi and said: "If you think I'm useless, just let me go free."

Su Xinyi was happy, "I didn't tie you up. You can go wherever you want. It's good to be a killer for others. You might as well work hard to find a future. After a few years, when you have some merits, I can find you a job. For someone like you who has a criminal record in the government, it's not easy to turn over. The hardship you are suffering now will pay you back in the future."

Mu Xing frowned tightly, looking at Su Xinyi lowering her eyes and waiting for the ink to dry. He wanted to say that he never wanted to marry and have children in his life. It's more free to be alone. But seeing her serious look of planning for her future, he suddenly couldn't say it.

It's really weird, I've been possessed by her!

Su Xinyi was right, she didn't tie him up, he could go wherever he wanted, but he has always been a man who keeps his promises, how could he break his promises.

"Zeng Liang, right? Okay, I'll go." Mu Xing said with a wooden face, he just wanted to see what was so great about this Zeng Liang Su Xinyi mentioned, why she praised him so much.

He was not convinced!

Su Xinyi put the letter into an envelope, handed it to Mu Xing, turned around and took out a silver note from the drawer and handed it to him, "It's not convenient for me to go out now, it's really lonely for you to be alone during the New Year, this money is for you to eat, drink and play in the capital. Remember to bring Zeng Liang, you two will have fun."

Mu Xing took it with his hand, snorted, and then looked at Su Xinyi, "Okay, I didn't give any discounts for doing things for you, it's also right to eat and drink your food."

Su Xinyi looked at Mu Xing's back as he walked away easily. Even if a person is used to living a pure life, he actually likes liveliness.

Even when she was having the most unsatisfactory life in Pingjing County Prince's Mansion, she would always call the girls around her to eat and drink with her during the New Year and holidays.

Mu Xing has always been arrogant and unconventional. Zeng Liang is just the opposite of him and is very down-to-earth. If they get together, they might have some influence on Mu Xing.

This man was still living a lively and happy life, despite Mu Xing's venomous mouth, but when she went to the grassland twice and she asked him to write letters, he wrote them. Although half of them were complaints, nothing he should do was left behind.

Su Xinyi also hopes that after he washes his hands in a golden basin, he can live a better life in the rest of his life.

Su Xinyi sent them both away, and sat at the table meditating on the Tatar affairs. After the spring plowing, there was the summer harvest, and the summer harvest was a gateway. I wonder if the Tatars would sneak attack on the Yulin Wei Zhangping Mansion.

She couldn't sit still, so she wrote to the prince and informed him of the news.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is always smart and will definitely report to His Majesty to set up defenses in advance.

If their wedding date is really set for April, then the summer harvest will be very close.

Su Xinyi was suddenly shocked. The prince insisted on setting the wedding date in April. Did he also expect the Tatar side?

Su Xinyi couldn't sit still. She was a little upset, so she went directly to her grandfather.

The old man was watering the flowers. When Su Xinyi came in and handed her the kettle in his hand, Su Xinyi watered the flowers for his grandfather.

The sun is nice today, and I don't feel cold anymore when standing in the yard. Su Xinyi was watering the flowers when her grandfather asked her, "Tell me, what are you doing here?"

Su Xinyi didn't know what to say, so she took advantage of the time of watering the flowers to sort out her thoughts. After watering the flowers, she went to face her grandfather and explained the matter seriously.

The old man half-closed his eyes and slowly opened them after listening to his granddaughter's words. To be honest, he was surprised, "Xin Yi, why did you think of this?"

This is not something a little girl can think of.

Su Xinyi read her father's letters countless times in her last life and could almost recite them backwards and forwards. Invisibly, she had been influenced by her father in her thinking and knowledge.

But at this time, in the eyes of the old man, Xin Yi had only been brought back from the countryside for less than two years. This child was indeed very smart. He could learn anything quickly, but military strategy like this could not be learned overnight. of.

A thousand pieces of gold are easy to get, but a general is hard to find. Why is it so hard to find?

Not all soldiers can be generals.

But now Xin Yi has taken the prototype of raising a cup to become a general. The old man was so surprised that his cloudy eyes became clear at this time.

Su Xinyi said: "I got a lot of my father's notes from my grandmother and mother. I will open them when I have time. They record a lot of things, most of which are related to the frontier."

She was telling the truth, but the only difference was that she had studied for many years in her previous life, but less than two years in this life.

After listening to Su Xinyi's words, the old man didn't know what to say. There is always a kind of person in this world who can understand things at a glance and never forget them.

His youngest son is Xin Yi, who also looks like her father.

The old man's expression became serious. The child was so smart, so it was hard to fool her with words. He looked at her and said, "Tatars have always been a serious concern of Southern Qi. From the founding of Southern Qi to the present, there have been dozens of wars." , not to mention countless small frictions. If you want to completely solve this problem, you must either annihilate the Tatars in one fell swoop or support another grassland tribe to compete with them. But neither of these two points can be done now. "

Su Xinyi listened carefully. Her father also sighed in the letter. She looked at her grandfather, "The grassland is too vast. The Tatars know the terrain well. Once a war starts, it is indeed impossible to completely wipe them out. Once they penetrate deep If we go deep into the grassland alone, we will be annihilated by the enemy in one fell swoop.”

The old man's eyes lit up as he listened to his granddaughter's words, "Yes, your father knew he couldn't do it, but he still did it, and in the end he lost the bet. It's best to go deep alone. The grassland is too deep, too dangerous, and extremely dangerous."

Su Xinyi looked at his grandfather solemnly and said, "The only way left is to separate, but this is not easy to do."

"So, Tatar is like the disease of scabies, which will always come back after being eliminated."

Su Xinyi was silent. With such a big problem, even the imperial court was deeply troubled by it, and her grandfather had no solution, so what could she do?

Su Xinyi felt very heavy and looked at her grandfather, "What about this year's summer harvest..."

Grandfather shook his head.

Su Xinyi shut up.

The grandfather and grandson looked at each other, and for a moment they didn't know what to say.

Su Xinyi's mind was filled with thoughts about whether the Tatars would take the opportunity to seize grain during the summer harvest. Such a situation had never happened before, but what could she do?

She found that she couldn't actually do anything.

Thinking of Sister-in-law Ying, Shi Baihu, Yuan Zongqi, Mangui, Jiang Dalin and others whom she met when she was at the Yulin Guard, all of them were men. Less help.

Although they are not big people, it is these little people that constitute the most powerful combat force in the border area.

She also thought of Xie Guan, the commander of the Yulin Guards, and Guo Hong, her colleague, and Zhuo Jing, a military officer she had come into contact with who was more involved in farming. Thinking of Zhuo Jing, she couldn't help but think of Li Ran's experience under him.

Li Ran often said, "If you want to farm cattle, you have to queue up. Everyone wants cattle, but there are so many cattle. Just wait, wait, and wait slowly. It will take a long time, but you can always wait."

Su Xinyi thought of Li Ran's face when he said this, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

"What are you laughing at?"

Su Xinyi listened to her grandfather's inquiry and explained the matter.

The old man also laughed, "I remember that when I was young, I also stayed in Yulinwei, but I left after only a few years. I counted all the prefectures and counties where we fought with the Tatars. I almost visited every place. All passed by.”

"Grandpa is great." Su Xinyi said.

The old man laughed, "Who didn't have passion when they were young? It's just that passion alone is not enough. People must have brains. Having brains is not enough. You have to learn to endure. Xin Yi, do you understand? "

Su Xinyi seemed to understand, but she didn't seem to understand. She looked at her grandfather and said, "I will remember these words, grandfather."

"You are a good boy. I'm afraid your wedding date will be brought forward."

Su Xinyi looked at her grandfather in surprise, "Advance? Isn't the wedding date not yet decided?"

The old man smiled and said, "What do you mean by undecided? Those people from the Ministry of Rites came here just to find out what they were talking about, and they already knew it. But now that you are talking about this matter... Well, don't wait for His Majesty to call you. Today I'll ask someone to see you."

Having said this, the old man looked at Xin Yi, "Do you know why grandpa did this?"

Su Xinyi shook his head.

The old man looked at her and said, "You were involved in the caravan incident. Now that your men have returned to Beijing early, do you think you can hide it from His Majesty?"

Su Xinyi understood that what his grandfather meant was that after they got the news, they should take the initiative to report it back to His Majesty, so as not to be suspected by His Majesty.

Moreover, according to my grandfather's wishes, he should have taken the initiative to mention the early wedding date. If the prince's wedding is in April, the whole country will be watching the prince's wedding, and it is inevitable that border affairs will be ignored. This is not a good thing.

If their wedding has just been held, and the Tatars knock on the side, they will inevitably be labeled as ominous. By then, both she and the prince will be in a difficult situation.

It is hard to say whether she and the prince will be angered by His Majesty if the war does not go well.

But if the wedding date is advanced to February, there is still some time before the summer harvest, enough for the court to make preparations, and if the Duke of Qi takes the initiative to report the matter, His Majesty will also take credit for it.

If the Tatars really succumbed during the summer harvest, no one would blame her and the prince for this matter.

Grandpa... is amazing.

Su Xinyi truly admired him, and he couldn't help but think that if his grandfather could have lived a few more years, maybe the situation of the Duke of Qi would not be so difficult later.

Su Xinyi came out from her grandfather's place with many thoughts on her mind. She simply went back to the study and took out the map that Mu Xing and Cao Qing had sent back and looked through it again. She felt a little unsure.

On the other hand, the emperor also received a request for an audience from the old Duke of Qi. This was a bit surprising. The old Duke of Qi was an old man and would never go out. This time he took the initiative to ask for an audience. The emperor was really surprised.

Hu Siyi was waiting on the side, seeing that His Majesty looked good, and felt slightly relieved.

"Hu Siyi."

"The slave is here."

"Go to the Duke of Qi's mansion in person and ask the old Duke of Qi to enter the palace tomorrow."

"yes."

Hu Siyi was the most trusted general manager around the emperor. Normally, only His Majesty's right-hand man and trusted ministers would go there in person to convey information like this.

After Hu Siyi left, the emperor sat behind the imperial court and pondered. This old guy came to the palace for some reason. What about Wu Daohong?

not necessarily.

Wu Daohong's matter has been cleared of suspicion by the Duke of Qi, but the so-called murderer has not been caught yet. According to him, huh, this murderer cannot be caught.

When the emperor thought about Wu Daohong, he couldn't help but think about Su Yi's injury. The Duke of Qi didn't say a word about Su Yi's injury, but he absolutely did not believe that Wu Daohong's injury had nothing to do with them.

It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. For him, the emperor, it's not a big deal. If the kid fights below, as long as it doesn't cause a big disturbance, he, the emperor, won't care.

It's just that the person behind Wu Daohong...

The emperor chuckled, thought for a moment and called someone in, "Prince Xuan."

Yan Junchu was discussing matters at the Ministry of Household Affairs. He rushed over immediately after hearing the call. When he entered the main hall, he stepped forward and saluted, "My son, I pay homage to my father."

The emperor didn't even raise his head. "Would you like to get up? How is the affairs of the household department?"

"Most of the account books have been checked, and there are basically no major problems." Yan Junchu said after thinking.

"Jiang Jun is in charge of the household department. He has always been cautious in doing things. I can trust him." The emperor looked up at the prince and said.

Yan Junchu couldn't help but wonder when he heard his father's words. His father rarely directly said whether he trusted a minister or not. Today's words made him a little cautious. As soon as his mind changed, he said: "Father said it." Yes, Mr. Jiang is doing his duty faithfully, at least I haven’t found any mistakes in the account books so far.”

"Don't talk about this, I came to you to ask you something. The court will be held in a few days. What are your plans for your marriage?"

Yan Junchu's heart skipped a beat and he looked up at his father who spoke seriously, "All sons listen to their father."

"It's you who wants to marry a wife, but you still don't have an idea? Tell me."

Yan Junchu was silent for a moment before speaking: "My son, I just feel that it is too hasty if less than one year is given from the marriage proposal to the wedding?"

"You don't have to look at how old you are. I had you when I was your age."

Yan Junchu:......

Facing his son's speechless and depressed look, the emperor couldn't help but sigh and said, "You and County Master Yong'an get along very well, so why are you so inactive when it comes to the wedding date?"

"It's not that my son isn't active, he just thinks it's too fast."

"It's not up to you. I will ask the Ministry of Rites to urge the marriage again. It will take some time for the three books and six rites to be implemented. Calculating the time, it is quite tight." The emperor estimated that the wedding would be in April. He looked at his son and said, "The Lantern Festival is coming soon. Don't be like a piece of wood. Then you will take Lord Yong'an to visit the lantern market. After I got engaged to your mother, I wasn't as boring as you. Lord Yong'an is a bit stronger, but in the end I am also a woman, can I not be happy if I buy a lantern for a little girl and hold it in my hand? "

Yan Junchu:......

He always felt that his father's attitude towards Xin Yi was particularly tolerant, which was not like his father's temperament.

Although he was the prince, he remembered clearly that his father had not been very partial to him since he was a child. Others said that his father valued him, but he was the only one who knew that he was named crown prince in order to sit on the throne. How much effort and hardship he has put in to get this position.

Now why does he feel that his father is a bit conniving towards Su Xinyi, as he is towards King Rong, because of his father-in-law?

Many things went through Yan Junchu's mind at the same time. He looked at his father helplessly and said, "Son, I know. Don't worry, I will do it."

He had originally planned to ask Xin Yi to visit the lantern market. The annual Lantern Festival was indeed a day that many lovers looked forward to.

The emperor looked at his son's unmoved face. This child looked nothing like him. He thought that after he got engaged to his mother, he was thinking about how to marry someone as soon as possible. At that time, he was not a prince or an emperor, but just an inconspicuous person. Just the prince.

At the beginning, he did not expect that he would be the one who would eventually take the throne.

In the blink of an eye, most of this life has passed.

The emperor thought of his wife, looked at the prince again, sighed slightly in his heart, and waved to him, "Go."

"My son, please retire." Yan Junchu's expression when he looked at his father changed instantly, and he seemed to be a little more melancholy.

"Wait a minute." The emperor suddenly called to his son, "Don't let King Rong follow you on the Lantern Festival. If you fail to succeed, you will fail. It's not worry-free at all."

"Yes." Yan Junchu responded with a smile.

"Okay, let's go." The emperor thought of his other sons, then looked at the prince, and finally settled on Prince Rong's face that needed a beating.

Yan Junchu withdrew his eyes from his father's face, bowed and turned around and walked out.

After leaving the main hall and walking down the steps, I saw Yang Jin running over in a hurry, "Your Highness."

Yan Junchu strode forward and asked as he walked, "What's going on?"

"Cao Qing and Mu Xing, who are with Lord Yong'an County, have returned to Beijing."

Yan Junchu paused, "When did it happen?"

"last night."

Yan Junchu nodded slightly, "I know."

"In addition, I received a letter from the county master here." Yang Jin did not take it out in the palace, but just replied in a low voice.

Yan Junchu's footsteps quickened, "Let's go."

After returning to the East Palace, he took the letter from Yang Jin, entered the study and opened it. He lowered his head and read a few lines, and couldn't help but pause in his steps.

"Your Highness?" Yang Jin looked at His Highness with a not so good look on his face, thinking that something had happened, and couldn't help but tense up.

The prince raised his head and looked at Yang Jin, "How about what I asked you to do?"

Yang Jin nodded, "My subordinates are all ready. I'm just waiting for a word from His Highness."

Yan Junchu looked down at the letter in his hand, and then said slowly: "Let's do it."