Before the annual holiday was over, Yan Sikong was urgently recalled to the Hanlin Academy.

In the areas near Luzhou Prefecture, which was hit by the heavy snow, people rose up in rebellion on New Year's Eve, with the number of people exceeding 10,000. All of a sudden, memorials came in from all sides, some asking for help, some reporting military intelligence, and some impeaching certain officials for embezzling disaster relief funds or for inaction. After being reported from all levels, the Wenyuan Pavilion was filled up within a few days. They had to assist the ministers in reviewing these memorials.

The Hanlin scholars were talking about it.

"It is said that the money allocated by the imperial court was not enough for disaster relief. When it arrived at the local area, there was very little left."

"Hey, what's new about this?"

"It's just that the people are suffering. I heard that countless people and animals have been frozen to death or injured."

"New Year's Eve is a night for family reunion...tsk tsk..."

Shen Hexuan coughed twice, and the room suddenly became much quieter.

Yan Sikong looked at the memorial in his hand, which was a report of corruption by officials. He needed to refine the essence of the memorial and then hand it over to the ministers, who would discuss and draft their opinions. If there were no Hanlin scholars to do this work, when there were too many memorials, it would be too late to submit them to the emperor the next day. But a rebellion was such a big thing that it could not be delayed for even half a day.

The common people revolted because they were forced to do so. When they would die if they did not revolt, and would also die if they did, all it took was a courageous person to raise his arm and call for help, and there would surely be a large number of people who would respond. They would die if they did not, but if they did revolt, they might still be able to survive. Since ancient times, emperors have regarded disaster relief as a major event, not necessarily because they really felt sorry for the common people, but because they were afraid of rebellion. After all, the fall of every dynasty in history began when the common people were left with nowhere to go.

It now appears that the snow disaster in the south is already very serious. At this moment, it is only near Luzhou. If it is not contained, it will soon spread to other places, and then more people will respond and join in, and it will become out of control.

Yan Sikong made a quick calculation and realized that if the rebels wanted to expand their power and seize all the local areas, they would have to go out. They couldn't go north because it was colder and the Central Plains had strong military forces. Northwest and southwest wouldn't work either because they were too desolate. They had to go southeast. Although the southeast was also affected by the snow, it was not as serious as Huguang. Most importantly, the further southeast they went, the richer they were. If they went downstream by water from Luzhou or Chongqing, this rebel army might really become a force to be reckoned with, and then they would be digging for gold all the way.

If they are not wiped out, Kuizhou will be the first big city they arrive at. Whether they can capture Kuizhou will determine whether they can reach Jingzhou. Jingzhou is the gateway to the southeast and has been a strategic location for military strategists since ancient times. No matter when this rebel army is suppressed, as long as they can reach Kuizhou, they can take advantage of it.

Yan Sikong was busy with his hands, and his mind was full of various thoughts, gradually forming a clear thread for his future plans...

——

On the second morning, the emperor was furious and discussed with his ministers whether to suppress or appease the rebellion. Finally, he decided to appease the rebellion first and at the same time transfer troops from Huguang to support Shu. If appeasement failed, he would suppress the rebellion.

The result of the discussion was exactly the same as what Yan Sikong had thought. This was also the best response strategy at present. As for whether the rebel army could be suppressed, we still had to wait and see. On his side, he had already begun to make preparations and sent Ali to deliver a letter to She Jun, telling him the next plan - to spread rumors about King Liang and Ge Zhong in the capital.

This year was destined to be a restless one. Just when the imperial court was busy with disaster relief and uprising, news came from outside the Great Wall about a traitor: the Oirat were organizing their army and preparing to march out to attack the Jin Kingdom when the weather warmed up.

It is a very gratifying thing for people to see enemies fighting each other, but Da Sheng cannot just sit back and watch and enjoy the benefits. In fact, they have mixed feelings about this hostility.

It would be best if both the Oirat and the Jin Dynasty were defeated, but the Oirat was several times more powerful than the Jin Dynasty, so the Jin Dynasty would most likely lose. The Jin people suffered a heavy defeat at Guangning City ten years ago, and they have not recovered much in the past few years. In addition, nomadic peoples do not build cities, so the defenders do not have much advantage. The Oirat conquered the Jin Dynasty not because they were attracted by the Jin people's cattle and sheep, but because they had failed to conquer Datong for several decades and decided to change their strategy and invade from Liaoning.

There is only one Feng Jianping in the world, and there is only one Feng family army in the world. If the Oirat conquers the Jin people, abandons Datong and goes to Liaodong to enter the pass, Han Zhaoxing, a useless man, will never be able to hold on.

Of course, this move by the Oirat also carried great risks. If the retreat was cut off by Feng's army, decades of accumulation would be destroyed in an instant. The Oirat could not have failed to consider this point. This time, the Oirat must have made thorough preparations. It also showed that the power of the Oirat was far beyond imagination, and it could no longer suppress its desire to rule the Central Plains.

This news was still top secret, and it was Yan Zilian who told Yan Sikong. Yan Sikong was confused and went to Feng Mansion to find Feng Ye immediately. He knew that Feng Ye must have received the news.

Feng Ye was indeed worried, and after seeing him, he was not as clingy as before.

Yan Sikong said: "You should have known about it, right? The Wala are going to ask for gold!"

Feng Ye was surprised and asked, "How did you know? Did Master Yan Ge tell you?"

Yan Sikong nodded.

"It seems that Master Yan Ge thinks highly of you."

Yan Sikong was a little anxious: "Let's not discuss this now, do you have any definite news?"

Feng Ye sighed: "The ambition of the Wala is not in Jin, but in Liaodong and the Central Plains. When my father went to Guangning ten years ago, he was worried that if the Wala entered the pass from Liaodong, who could stop them?"

"Prince Jingyuan is far-sighted." Yan Sikong said in a deep voice, "If the Oirat Mongols enter the pass from Liaoning, no one will be able to stop them, and the people of Liaoning will also..." His voice shook uncontrollably.

Feng Ye held his hand and said, "Don't scare yourself. It's possible that the Oirat and the Jin people will both suffer losses in a fight. Wouldn't that be unpleasant?"

Yan Sikong knew Feng Ye was just trying to comfort him. Even a three-year-old who had never read a military book knew that a strong army would win easily, and a few could defeat a large army. The Oirat army had a very good chance of conquering the Jin Dynasty. If the Jurchen Iron Cavalry could be incorporated into their army, they would be even more powerful. He shook his head, "Feng Ye, I can't help but be afraid. I've seen soldiers approaching the city, I've seen wars, I've seen rivers of blood..."

Feng Ye reached out his hand and touched his face: "I understand that you care about the people of Liaodong, but there is no better way at this time. I..." He hesitated, "Father revealed some inside information in the letter he wrote to me. I can tell you, but you must not spread it to others."

Yan Sikong nodded: "Don't worry."

"Father wants to attack the main camp of the Oirat Mongols after they go to war and cut off their retreat. If the attack is successful, the barbarian threat that has threatened Dasheng for decades will be resolved immediately. However, if this is done, Datong's defense will be weak. If the Oirat Mongols divide their forces and bypass Datong to attack the capital, even if the capital's garrison can hold out, my father will be held responsible. So he is in a dilemma now."

"Prince Jingyuan has considered everything carefully. This plan is indeed a dilemma. I wonder if he has succeeded?"

"Not yet. The Oirat will have to wait until spring comes and the grass and water grows back. He may have to report this matter to His Majesty for a decision."

"You are in the capital, but your heart must always be with Datong. You must be eager to fly to help King Jingyuan." Yan Sikong smoothed Feng Ye's hair, looked at this young man who was determined to serve his country, and said softly, "It's hard for you."

Feng Ye smiled knowingly: "Who said that my heart always keeps Datong? My heart is with you now."

Yan Sikong also laughed: "Why are you talking more and more unruly?"

Feng Ye held Yan Sikong in his arms: "It's only like this with you, only with you... I don't need to pretend anything in front of you."

Yan Sikong also hugged him back and kissed his temples gently: "Well, no need."