Wei Jing's decisive actions certainly made Shao Qing feel at ease and strengthened the love between the couple, but they inevitably brought about practical problems.
If Shi Nu is rejected, what should we do if Shi Zhuo, in anger and suspicion, rejects the alliance?
Don't forget that there is an envoy from Prince An in the Pingyang County Magistrate's Office.
Once Shi Zhuo sides with Prince An, the Tanggu Road will undoubtedly be blocked.
How would the Yizhou army leave the Central Plains?
If we force our way through, even if we succeed, we will have to pay a heavy price, right?
This painful price is not just a word on paper, it is the lives of the soldiers, paved with their blood.
When Shao Qing thought deeply about this, his heart skipped a beat, and then started beating wildly, and a strong sense of guilt came over him.
She was worried and restless.
She is persistent and has a bottom line in love, but these can never be exchanged for the lives of soldiers.
Otherwise, otherwise...
"Don't be afraid, Aqing. It won't happen." A steady voice interrupted her thoughts.
The lights were still on, and Wei Jing saw his wife say something, and her face turned pale at a speed visible to the naked eye. His heart tightened, and he kept asking questions. Only then did Shao Qing grab his collar and told him with a pale face.
"Don't mention that Shi Zhuo has many hidden worries. If I reject his daughter, he may not dare to reject her outright."
Wei Jing hurriedly asked, "Even if we really don't form an alliance with Pingyang, how can we be sure to lose troops and generals?"
Shao Qing murmured: "But haven't we discussed it over and over again? Pingyang is the only smooth road, right?"
"We don't necessarily have to form an alliance with Shi Zhuo."
Wei Jing made his position clear and straightforward, and then said: "Didn't you read the ancient books last year and found that there was an ancient road in the east of Hanzhong? We have sent people to try to find it, but we don't know whether we can find it."
This happened last year. Shao Qing was recovering from an illness and was bored, so he read a lot of storybooks. After reading them, he felt that he was tired of the same old routine and turned to reading travelogues, regardless of whether they were ancient or modern, new or old, as long as they were interesting and novel.
Wei Jing immediately collected a lot of travel notes. Shao Qing did not read all of them. He just flipped through them briefly and only continued reading when he was interested.
Among them was a travelogue written by a man named "瘄罗". It was very old and, judging from what was described in the book, it must be at least seven or eight hundred years old. Luo was from Yizhou and loved traveling to explore the mountains and rivers. This travelogue records his travels in Hanzhong area.
It mentions the east of Hanzhong, the area bordering Pingyang County. In addition to Tanggu Road, there seems to be another ancient path. Because of the dangerous paths mentioned above, there are few people and the scenery is magnificent. By climbing to the top of the mountain and crossing the steep cliff, you can get out of Yizhou and reach Yuanzhou.
This is definitely not Tanggu Dao.
Tanggu Road is actually a dry river valley, narrow and long, with stone walls on both sides that have been smoothed by water. The terrain is like the bottom of a narrow sky, and there is no need to climb high peaks or cross steep cliffs.
The Taizu of the previous dynasty ordered the migration to Yizhou. When a large number of people from the Central Plains moved in, they discovered the Tanggu Road, which has been used for seven or eight hundred years. That was why Shao Qing judged at that time that this Luo was a person who lived at least seven or eight hundred years ago.
It is not uncommon for a dangerous path to be abandoned and gradually forgotten when there is a relatively easier way to go. Shao Qing didn't care at all at the time. It was only later when they talked about Pingyang County and discussed the benefits repeatedly that one day she suddenly had an idea and remembered it.
Just this ape continent?
This place name cannot be found on the Pingyang regional map, and I don’t know if this ancient path really exists?
But it must be said that this is also an idea. Wei Jing immediately sent his confidants to the eastern part of Hanzhong County to investigate carefully.
It has been nearly two months, but unfortunately there has been no progress.
Shao Qing frowned: "It's just an ancient travelogue, and I don't know if the ancient path exists."
Even if it really exists and they find it, whether it is suitable for marching is a big question. After all, half of the exit channels currently in use are simply impassable for marching.
Wei Jing said: "If Pingyang really cannot leave, we will build warships, train the navy, and go down the Yangtze River to take Jingyang directly."
The Yangtze River waterway, once there are navy and warships, will become the best channel for export. It is unstoppable and unstoppable, and no other channel can compare with it.
However, it is not easy to build a naval warship. It will definitely take a long time.
If everything goes well, it will take at least two or three years.
Shao Qing looked up at him and murmured, "I've been gone for two or three years. I don't know what's happened in the Central Plains. What if..."
A lot of things can happen in two or three years. What if, what if a winner is decided and the chaos is settled? Then, what should we do?
Wei Jing was very confident: "Don't worry, this chaos will not be settled in just two or three years."
Even though the Central Plains is in chaos and the Great Chu Dynasty is on the verge of collapse, the major forces have actually entered a rather delicate balance now, and it is not easy to completely defeat the other parties.
Unless a powerful force emerges and breaks this balance. But no one can be sure that the chaos can be ended in a short period of time. Two or three years is nothing.
His strategic vision was always accurate, and Shao Qing felt somewhat relieved. However, he still felt that two or three years was too long, and he was always afraid of unexpected changes.
She frowned slightly, Wei Jing held her face, pressed his thin lips gently on it, and whispered: "Didn't you say that even if my mother and brother were in heaven, they wouldn't want me to spend my life only seeking revenge?"
"I think you're quite right."
He put his forehead against hers, looked into her eyes, and said softly, "I also think I did the right thing. I still have you."
There is still a chance for revenge, but she can never do it again.
It was not the first time that he made such a decision, but it was the first time that he was so calm, with a peaceful expression and a focused gaze. His sincerity was fully revealed in just a few words.
Plain and sincere.
At this moment, Shao Qing was really moved, her emotions surged, her chest was full, her throat choked for a moment, and she said in a hoarse voice: "Okay."
She hugged him tightly, feeling his big hands stroking her back again and again, and talking to her in a low voice.
"It would be great if we could find the ancient path. Shi Zhuo is wavering, suspicious and untrustworthy. He is definitely not a good ally."
The news of secretly increasing troops at the pass was true and not something Wei Jing had made up.
He narrowed his eyes. If there was another way, he would go straight out of Pingyang County, annihilate Shi Zhuo in one fell swoop, and completely take Pingyang County as his first base outside Yizhou.
"If we can't find it, then we will continue to attack Shi Zhuo."
Wei Jing's voice was steady, and his hands were still gentle. "Shi Zhuo is in a difficult situation. If he doesn't form an alliance with me, then he can only choose Wei Ping. Wei Ping is coming with great momentum and his ambitions are hard to hide. I'm afraid Shi Zhuo will find it hard to believe."
Even if there is no marriage, there is still room for mediation.
Even if Pingyang County really wasn't feasible, he gave up the idea and turned to the Yangtze River waterway, concentrating on the navy.
"Don't worry, Ah Qing. I'll take care of everything."
"Um."
He coaxed her softly and patted her gently. Shao Qing's heart gradually settled down. She felt his thin lips falling on her forehead and kissing her gently.
"Go to sleep."
"Um."
…
Shao Qing fell into a deep sleep in this broad and safe embrace. When he woke up the next day, he opened his eyes and met Wei Jing's gentle and focused gaze.
"Husband."
Shao Qing felt that he was resurrected with full health on the spot. right! If that doesn't work, then she can just wait and take the Yangtze River waterway. Anyway, her man won't share his money with other women, not even in name.
Suddenly full of energy and fighting spirit, she turned over and sat up, kissing him hard on the lips, "You are mine!"
Wei Jing was overjoyed and responded quickly, "Of course, I am Ah Qing's."
He really wanted to stay with her for a while, but unfortunately Shao Qing refused to cooperate. He was urged to get up, wash up, eat, and then go straight to the study room.
Let’s discuss Shi Zhuo’s matter first. As for the ancient Yangtze River waterway, there is no rush to talk about it.
Everyone agreed that Shi Zhuo must be very unhappy to be rejected, but he might not immediately surrender to Prince An. There was still room for discussion on the matter, so we had to wait and see.
Let’s wait for Shi Jun to return to Pingcheng to report the news, and then see how Shi Zhuo reacts.
…
Yes, that’s right, Shi Jun returned to Pingyang.
Being rejected in public, he felt humiliated and was angry at Wei Jing's attitude. The next day, Tian Mengmeng said he would go back to report to his father and left in a hurry without waiting for a response.
Dai Guang hurriedly expressed his desire to catch up and explain to Shi Zhuo in person.
Wei Jing did not agree. Shi Zhuo did not seem to be a generous person, so it would make little difference whether he explained or not. He only sent a message to Pingcheng, ordering him to keep a close eye on news from the county governor's office.
As for Shi Jun, he rode his horse day and night and returned to Pingcheng. When he told Shi Zhuo about it, Shi Zhuo became furious on the spot.
"Yang Ze, you bastard, you are bullying me!"
After all, the Shi family is a famous family with a history of hundreds of years. Although Yang Ze now occupies Yizhou and is very powerful, he is, after all, from a poor family. There is no female partner of the Shi family that he cannot match.
His wife Shi Zhuo didn't think that their daughter couldn't do it, and now he has agreed to the position of concubine, but Yang Ze still wants to refuse? !
He was surprisingly angry: "This guy has a humble background, but he is so arrogant. He is definitely not magnanimous. If we form an alliance with him, we will be inviting a wolf into the house!"
Shi Zhuo said angrily, "I don't have to have him. Guo Chun persuades me every day that the son of Prince An can't be inferior to a boy from a remote countryside."
He just agreed to King An and waited to see how Yang Ze would respond!
Shi Zhuo roared in anger and said on the spot that he would call Guo Chun. Tian Shang and other counselors tried to persuade him, and even Shi Jun spoke up. Although he had a bad impression of Wei Jing, it did not mean that he agreed with King An.
Shi Zhuo was persuaded to calm down, but he was still furious and said coldly, "Let's put the alliance aside for now. No one is allowed to mention it again."
Although Prince An is ambitious, he won't be able to do anything in the short term. He won't form an alliance, so let's see what you, Yang Ze, can do?
snort!
Yang Zeruo comes to beg, okay, didn’t you say that you have a wife and disdain Shi’s daughter? Then divorce your wife first and then talk.
By then, the Shi family daughter will not marry you!
Shi Zhuo was furious and cursed Wei Jing. He put the alliance on hold and never mentioned it again. In his daily life, his attitude towards Guo Chun seemed to soften a little.
Wei Jing received the letter the next evening.
In order to shorten the distance of communication and grasp the development of the situation in time, Wei Jing and his trusted aides went to Hanzhong immediately and are currently not far from their own checkpoint on Tanggu Road.
The news will reach you in just over a day.
Shi Zhuo's scolding was not limited to the study, so his talk of divorcing his wife was also leaked. When Wei Jing saw it, he was immediately furious.
These words touched his sore spot, and at that moment he truly wanted to kill Shi Zhuo.
The alliance is not something you can put aside just because you want to.
Wei Jing snorted coldly, immediately called Han Xi over, gave him some instructions, then turned around and ordered his men to speed up the search for the ancient trail.
Han Xi took the order, quietly left Pingyang County, sent messages one after another, and went to the southern border of Pingyang in person.
During the time when Wei Jing decided to form an alliance with Pingyang, he did not just wait for the other party's reply. He also made a lot of arrangements in case of emergency.
It’s really useful now.
Soon, Shi Zhuo received a letter that suspected scouts from Yizhou were found in Pingcheng, especially near the county magistrate's office. They were ready to take action and fled in a hurry after being discovered.
He just snorted coldly, angrily rebuked Yang Ze and ordered a strict search, but his subordinates reported again that they accidentally discovered that these people did not seem to be from Yizhou, but more like another group of people in disguise, who deliberately revealed their traces.
Another wave of people?
Shi Zhuo and his companions immediately thought of Prince An.
Soon after, Shi Zhuo received another secret report that suspicious people had been spotted at several checkpoints and important towns bordering Nanling County to the south of Pingyang, and that they were suspected of trying to spy on the defenses of the checkpoints and the number of soldiers.
King An!
Was this an attempt to alienate him from Yang Ze, destroy the alliance between Pingyang and Yizhou, and send Guo Chun to lower his vigilance, in order to wait for an opportunity to attack Pingyang County? !
This surprise was very small.
Shi Zhuo's clothes were soaked with cold sweat. He immediately called his eldest son and wrote a letter to him: "Hurry, go to Gucheng immediately!"
…
Shi Zhuo changed his mind, and Wei Jing's plan succeeded, but he was not so interested in it now.
Because the ancient path described in the book was actually found.
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