Chapter 686 Meeting the Saint
Money makes the world go round.
Money can also allow Jiang Tangwen to see Mr. Li who is recuperating from illness.
Mr. Li had gray hair and was as thin as a crane, but his eyes were as sharp as lightning, so sharp that people dared not look up at him.
For some reason, as soon as Jiang Tangwen saw Lord Li, he knew that Lord Li and Grand Tutor Tong were completely different people.
In a flash, Jiang Tangwen changed his mind about stating his purpose directly, and instead told Li Ge Lao that he was an envoy from Western Xia and wanted to see the emperor.
Lord Li looked at Jiang Tangwen deeply, then lowered his eyes and served tea to see the guest off.
After Jiang Tangwen and the others left some gifts, they left the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Boss, why didn't you just tell him your purpose?" Shen Che felt sorry for the gift he gave out.
That's a box of gems, so expensive!
According to the plan, this box of gems was to be used as a deposit to bribe Lord Li.
But Jiang Tangwen gave it away as a meeting gift.
Jiang Tangwen whispered, "Everyone says that Lord Li is incorruptible and upright. He loves fame so much. If we tell him our purpose, he will definitely not agree."
Shen Che was dumbfounded: "Then we came here for nothing?"
Jiang Tangwen raised his lips and said, "How can it be in vain? Didn't he refuse openly? Let's wait patiently. If we can successfully meet the emperor, it means that Lord Li is willing to cooperate with us."
Jiang Tangwen did not say what the result would be if he failed to meet the emperor successfully, because he felt that Lord Li would definitely agree.
Sure enough, within five days, eunuchs came to inform them to prepare for an audience with the emperor and taught them the etiquette of the audience.
Under the temptation of money, the eunuch also told them a matter of some importance.
At the court meeting, Lord Li mentioned the visit of the envoy from Western Xia and wanted to set a time for the emperor to visit, but was refuted by Grand Tutor Tong.
Grand Tutor Tong said that he had not received any official request from the Western Xia side, so he could not confirm the identities of Jiang Tangwen and others as Western Xia envoys.
The two sides argued for a while, and finally the Emperor of the Great Zhou made the final decision and summoned Jiang Tangwen and others privately without following the normal official procedures.
After Jiang Tangwen sent the eunuch away, he had a clear understanding of the camps in the Zhou court.
Grand Tutor Tong was not as opposed to Duke Yun as he appeared to be.
Lord Li is not as impartial and selfless as rumored, but whether he is targeting Duke Yun or because of money requires further observation.
The Great Zhou Palace was even more prosperous than Jiang Tangwen had imagined, and every blade of grass and every tree exuded an atmosphere of luxury.
Along the way, Shen Che looked around without blinking. He thought Wantong City was the most prosperous, the most solid and the most beautiful city.
The imperial palace in Wantong City is a place where only gods can live.
But compared with the Great Zhou Palace, one is in the sky and the other is underground.
The young emperor summoned them to his imperial study.
Jiang Tangwen first flattered others and then explained his purpose.
"Huh? Cooperate with you, Tubo?" The young emperor fell on Jiang Tangwen with cold and indifferent eyes, as if he was looking at an ant.
Xixia was defeated by the Great Zhou many times. What qualifications does it have to discuss cooperation with the Great Zhou?
As for Tubo, it is indeed a trouble, but it is not an unsolvable problem.
What made the young emperor angry was that Xixia and Tubo felt that they could not defeat Gu Nanxi?
The young emperor was too lazy to listen to Jiang Tangwen's presumptuous words. He just felt that he had lost his mind. Why did he agree to meet them just because he opposed Grand Tutor Tong?
What a waste of time!
The young emperor waved his hand, wanting the eunuch to take Jiang Tangwen out, when he heard hurried footsteps outside the palace.
"Report! Eight hundred miles, urgent!"
…
Twenty miles outside Xinzheng County, Xie Yunzhang led the central army and joined forces with a thousand vanguard troops.
Although Xie Yunzhang looked like a Confucian scholar, he was very strict in disciplining his troops.
When setting up camp every day, Xie Yunzhang would ask in detail how to build the fence, how to dig the trench, and how to place the spikes.
Xie Yunzhang led his men to inspect the military camp, observing whether the bows and spear shafts were intact, and whether the soldiers could adapt to winter marches and whether their bodies could withstand it.
Even relieving oneself anywhere in the camp will be strictly investigated!
The soldiers in the camp didn't quite understand when General Xie became so picky. He was told where to poop, couldn't drink raw water, and had to wash his hands every day. His demands for details were outrageous.
Xie Yunzhang said confidently: "Details determine success or failure. You should be satisfied soon. Do you know how much we spent to get these details from Yunzhou? Yunzhou soldiers do this every day. If they can do it, you can do it too!"
The soldiers had nothing to say, or perhaps they wanted to say something but did not dare to.
The officers' eyes were shining, their ears were erect, and their big eyes were scanning the barracks like searchlights.
This is the secret of Yun Guogong's military management! I have learned it!
After inspecting the military camp, Xie Yunzhang summoned the middle and senior military officers to the main tent to arrange tomorrow's siege.
"Our target is not Xinzheng County, but the entire Henan County! Don't rush forward recklessly. According to the information from the spies, there are only 3,000 defenders in the county. Excluding refugees and farmers, there are less than 1,000 soldiers who can actually fight. You have to take it easy when the time comes."
The atmosphere in the main tent was relaxed.
Our own military strength is almost ten times that of the enemy, and we have both the men and the supplies.
Taking over Xinzheng County was a sure thing, and everyone was thinking about how to take it beautifully, and who should get this heaven-sent credit?
"General, let me go! We have to win the first battle. Most of my men are veterans, so we will definitely finish the battle quickly and well!"
"General, let me do this small task! With the general in charge, this is a good time for the new recruits to practice."
"Didn't you hear the general say that we should save our strength to attack the county behind? The spies said that the female general is in Xinzheng County. It's such a tough bone that I should take on!"
"Come on! You're just trying to steal the credit!"
A group of officers clamored to take advantage of this weakling, and even started fighting.
Finally, Xie Yunzhang made the decision and asked his deputy to take the lead to get the first blood. He must crush the rebels' psychological defenses with his momentum so that they would not have the will to resist!
At the same time, in Xinzheng County, Yuanniang also received information that Xie Yunzhang was stationed outside the city.
It looks like there will be a big battle tomorrow.
"Is the wall repaired?"
Yang Lan: “It’s fixed.”
"Brothers, have a good meal tonight, go to bed early, and stay alert for a tough battle tomorrow."
Yang Lan hesitated to speak.
He just took a walk around the camp, and his uncle in the village advised him not to hesitate and not to think about surrendering at any time. As long as they can survive this difficult time, the entire Hulu Village will stand up!
Although this is true, Yang Lan's heart trembled when she thought of the densely packed soldiers on the opposite side.
"General, when will the people sent by Li Mingde arrive?"
Yuanniang sighed: "It should be soon."
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