Chapter 362: Journey
Su Qingwan and Lu Jing expected the Huainan war to go more smoothly. In the early spring, they had already reached the capital of Xilin. The King of Xilin raised the flag to surrender, and half of Xilin's troops were tied up in the southwest. After the army led by Su Nianqing and Ningyuan Hou broke through the defense line, it was too late for the southwest garrison to withdraw. The King of Southwest would also lead the army to press forward step by step. The surrounding small countries could not afford to provoke Dayuan, and no one offered a helping hand. The famous generals of Xilin were either slaughtered or captured, and morale plummeted. The King of Xilin asked for surrender several times, but was rejected!
Xilin had provoked disputes several times, and they had long since lost their patience. In order to protect the security of the southwest and Huainan areas, they had to capture Xilin's territory and refuse to negotiate. Xilin had no other choice but to fight to the death or surrender.
Su Nianqing's army besieged the capital of Xilin for ten days. The city was cut off from food and water, and the people complained bitterly. Winter passed, spring came, and the army stationed outside the city, waiting for the white flag to be raised in the city.
When the news reached the capital, the officials were excited. The problems that had troubled the southwest and Huainan border for hundreds of years were solved. It was like God's help. More than a decade ago, the King of Huainan had written several times, wanting to capture Xilin, but the royal family refused because they had no reason to do so.
In terms of military strength, the combat effectiveness of the troops led by Su Nianqing today is far inferior to that of the King of Huainan more than ten years ago. In terms of strategy, Su Nianqing may not be the best, but he has a group of veteran generals such as Ningyuan Hou and General Chen to assist him. He is young, courageous, and decisive. After taking several cities in succession, the morale of the Xilin army was weakened. With the help of the King of Southwest who helped him divert half of Xilin's firepower, Su Nianqing can be said to be a god of war who has descended to the earth and is invincible.
At that time, the royal family was not willing to let Dayuan destroy Xilin. Once Xilin was destroyed, the fertile land of Xilin would be taken advantage of by Huainan. Huainan's fiefdom was adjacent to Xilin. This territory nominally belonged to Dayuan and was Dayuan's territory, but the actual control must be in Huainan. Emperor Taizu also left a will, not allowing the royal family to withdraw the fiefdom under any name. As long as Dayuan existed, the King of Huainan would exist, so the royal family could not watch Huainan grow and expand its territory, which became their biggest concern.
The situation is different now. The eldest princess supports Xilin's destruction. After all, the King of Southwest is a member of the royal family. He has been operating in the southwestern fiefdom for so many years and can contain Huainan to a large extent.
Su Qingwan married in the capital, and the situation was favorable to the royal family. The old ministers had some opposition voices and were also worried that Su Nianqing would become too powerful, but Su Nianqing was still in his early twenties, and Huainan was not as prosperous as it was a decade ago, so the voices of opposition were not as sharp. The destruction of Xilin was a great joy for Dayuan, and everyone from the court to the common people were beaming with joy.
Lu Jing is going to Xilin. The victory in Huainan has been decided, and he has to take several ministers to negotiate and take over many matters in Xilin. I'm afraid he will be busy for a while.
Su Qingwan's baby is already seven months old and it is difficult for her to travel far. Otherwise, she would have wanted to follow Lu Jing to Xilin.
Lu Jing was actually reluctant to travel far. In three months, Su Qingwan would be giving birth, and he wanted to be with her. However, the Xilin territory was a piece of fat meat, and anyone who went there would be entangled, and it would end up in a mess. He had to go with someone close to the emperor. Although Lu Jing was married to Huainan, his attitude was very clear. He was the regent entrusted by the late emperor. If he protected Huainan, the censors would tear him apart.
Therefore, Lu Jing had to handle all matters in Xilin, and he had to take most of his confidants with him.
He was worried about Su Qingwan staying alone in Beijing to give birth.
Su Qingwan chuckled, "I'm not a spoiled girl who lives in seclusion. You can go to Xilin without worry and help Nianqing. I haven't seen Nianqing for a year. I don't know if he is okay or if he was injured in the battlefield this year. If you go to check on him for me, I will feel at ease. I don't trust anyone else."
"But you're about to give birth, and I'm worried!"
"There are doctors in the mansion, imperial physicians in the palace, Qingyun and Liyue are by my side, what do you have to worry about?" Su Qingwan had already ordered someone to help him pack his luggage, and said with a smile, "Xilin is a long way away, maybe when you get there, Nianqing will have already conquered the capital of Xilin. If you handle government affairs as soon as possible, you may be able to come back to accompany me in the birth of my child."
Lu Jing and Su Qingwan both knew that it would take more than a month to go back and forth, and Lu Jing might not be able to make it in time, but she didn't want to say anything discouraging. State affairs were more important, and she was in good health, so she would surely be able to give birth smoothly.
"Zi Yu, don't worry about me. The child and I will be waiting for you to come home in the capital."
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