Wang Xiang said, "There are no more than five or six roads in Shanxi. The Yellow River is a natural barrier to the southwest."

“One route goes south from Pingyang to Xin’an, another goes southeast from Tianjing Pass to Huaiqing, another goes east to Licheng and Shexian, and another goes northeast to Pingding and Jingjing. As for Yanmen Pass in the north, the bandits will never dare to come out.”

Beyond Yanmen Pass lies the grassland, where the Northern Yuan Tatars are as fierce as wolves and tigers.

In winter, they only have the chance to freeze or starve to death.

The White Lotus followers have already tested this path for them with their lives.

"If troops are stationed along the Yellow River to prevent the bandits from fleeing, and troops are divided to the west to guard the four routes so that they cannot return to the east, then the main general can lead the main army to confront them. In this way, they will be in a difficult situation, unable to advance or retreat, and will be captured without a fight."

After Wang Xiang finished speaking, he felt smug.

He was merely throwing out an idea to get the ball rolling.

Next, it was time to replace the generals.

This is a way to earn military merit.

If the person recommended by Chief Minister Li is appointed, he will inevitably be promoted and given a higher rank after the bandits are wiped out.

The chaos in Ningxia has already set a precedent for this path.

When he finally holds both the power of prime minister and the power of the military, Li's power will surely surpass that of Yu Qian, the great hero who defended the capital!

Lu Xingjian's voice was calm:

"My fellow officials, do you have any objections?"

No one stepped forward.

Many people, however, said, "I second that suggestion."

Lu Xingjian said: "Issue an edict to severely reprimand the Commander-in-Chief, ordering him to strictly supervise the Deputy Commanders in their patrols, punish past mistakes severely, and order any officers or soldiers who retreat in battle to be executed according to military law."

"Those who cause further accidents will be severely punished. The Ministry of War will search for and recommend capable officers and report their names."

The Prime Minister was anxious.

this?

Shouldn't the most crucial change of leadership be done now?

Li Dongqian gestured for him to calm down.

A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.

Without changing generals, this banditry will not be quelled.

Let's see who can hold out the longest.

Lu Xingjian still dispatched an additional 1,000 officers and soldiers from the Beijing garrison to fight the bandits under General Zhang Jun, and each soldier was rewarded with two taels of silver.

He also ordered the re-selection of 10,000 people, who would then be appointed as generals and placed under his command.

As Su Wanwan gradually recovered, her first priority was to return to the Su family to see her father, Su Nan, and she also brought Yan Ge'er and Yang Ge'er with her.

Su Nan has woken up, but is still very weak.

“Father…” Su Wanwan looked at Su Nan’s sunken cheeks and graying temples, and burst into tears.

She became empress, but her father never enjoyed any benefits; instead, he frequently encountered misfortune.

Finally, Liu Jin was killed, and then came Chief Minister Li.

The enemies are endless.

"Wanwan, do you regret it?" Su Nan asked weakly, her deep affection unintentionally revealed.

Su Wanwan nodded with tears in her eyes.

Su Nan's gaze swept over Yan Ge'er and Yan Ge'er.

She sighed softly.

"There's no way to avoid it; things have to be done the way they should be done."

"The Su family will always be your strong support."

Su Nan was advising Wanwan, but he was also advising himself.

In recent years, the Su family has been keeping a low profile in order to protect themselves.

First it was Liu Jin, then it was Li Dongqian.

Since it's no longer possible to keep a low profile, it's better to step into the limelight.

Su Wanwan wiped away her tears: "Father is right."

Yan Ge'er and Yan Ge'er were completely confused. What kind of riddle were their mother and grandfather playing?

Why can't they understand at all?

...

Su Wanwan had lunch at the Su family's house.

My cousin, Su Wanying, is already seventeen years old, but she is still not engaged.

Su Wanwan asked, "Your family wrote in a letter saying you refuse to get married, why?"

Su Wanying lowered her head, "Does Sister know Li Liang, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?"

After thinking for a while, Su Wanwan nodded, "It seems there is such a person."

Su Wanying said resentfully, "This Li Liang studied with my grandfather when he was young. Later, he became an imperial censor. He wanted to curry favor with our Su family, so he betrothed his daughter to my brother Chengxue."

"Later, when Li Liang's father passed away, Li Liang had this matter engraved on his epitaph, saying that his granddaughter was betrothed to Su Gong's grandson, Chengxue. This is engraved on stone and cannot be erased."

"As a result, after my grandfather resigned from his official post and returned home, he broke his promise, made the excuse that his daughter was ill, returned the betrothal gifts, and married his daughter off to someone else."

"My grandfather taught us that nothing is more important than a teacher, nothing is more important than marriage, and nothing is more important than integrity and a sense of shame."

"Now that the Su family is in decline, and I have a past of wandering in the brothel, I am afraid that if I encounter such a wolfish family, I will suffer endless hardships. It would be better to stay at home and take care of my elders."

Su Wanwan snorted coldly:

"I never knew there was such a shameless person as Li Liang who would humiliate our Su family like this."

Su Wanying was stunned for a moment.

After not seeing her for several years, my sister's expression and demeanor were very different from before.

It has become much sharper.

That simple sentence carried a hint of menace.

She tugged at Su Wanwan's sleeve: "Sister, I'm not complaining to you, I just want to say, please don't force me to get married, okay?"

Su Wanwan sighed softly, "As long as your sister is here, she will naturally consider your needs. If you want to get married, then get married; if you don't want to get married, then stay."

"If anyone in the Su family speaks ill of you, you will be sent to the palace to keep me company."

Su Wanying was somewhat tempted.

I'm under a lot of pressure from my family to get married.

Especially her second uncle, who specially brought her to the capital this time, wanted to find her a good marriage and make up for the Su family's debt to her.

However, she still shook her head: "Second Uncle is not fully recovered and needs someone to take care of him. Servants can never compare to family."

Su Wanwan felt a lump in her throat.

In terms of filial piety, she didn't really fulfill her filial duties to her father.

Wan Ying, on the other hand, seems more like her father's daughter.

Su Wanwan hugged Wanying: "Once Father is fully recovered, will you come to the palace to stay with me? I can't take care of your two nephews, they need someone to look after them."

Su Wanying nodded, "I miss my sister too."

...

Su Wanwan stepped out of the Su family gate and saw a crowd surrounding a carriage waiting at the gate.

Lu Xingjian lifted the carriage curtain: "Are you tired? Get in the car and go home."

Yan Ge'er was overjoyed and climbed onto the carriage while calling for his father.

Yan Ge'er paused, stood next to Su Wanwan, looked up at her expression before taking any action.

Su Wanwan patted Yan Ge'er's head and said with a smile, "Go ahead."

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly; Yan Ge'er was truly a sensitive child.

Even though she did raise Yan Ge'er well.

But when it comes to blood ties, she always feels closer to Yan Ge'er.

Many times, we may not have taken Yan Ge'er's feelings into account.

This child is quite sensitive, and it's clear that she's not as affectionate towards Lu Xingjian as she is towards her.

After the carriage started moving, Su Wanwan asked, "Now that you're here, why don't you go in and see my father?"

Lu Xingjian scratched his head. "I am responsible for my father-in-law's injury. I will apologize to my father-in-law once the culprit is caught."

He had been harassed by people in southern Jiangsu and carried a lingering resentment in his heart.

They turned back as soon as they saw the Su family's gate.

Su Wanwan: "..."

"Even if you dare to plead guilty, no one dares to accept it."

She recounted how Li Liang had broken off the engagement.

Lu Xingjian frowned. "How could a human being do such a thing? How can this person still hold an official position?"

Su Wanwan asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Lu Xingjian looked at her and said, "Whatever you wish to do, my wife."