Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 748 - 619: The Blessing of Shared Dreams_1

Chapter 748: Chapter 619: The Blessing of Shared Dreams_1

Half a moment later, when Li Xuan finally emerged from the back of the marquis’s mansion, he found the Marquis of Guanjun with slightly darkened circles under his eyes and a few scratches on his face.

Due to the lingering Wuyi of the heavenly level, Li Xuan was unable to recover for a moment.

Knowing the cause, Yu Jie could only pretend not to see, his face expressionless, he asked, "Did Marquis Guanjun just meet with Princess Changle?"

The mention of this made Li Xuan feel awkward, but he replied calmly, "Yes, I met with the princess, and we discussed state affairs for a while."

Yu Jie couldn’t help but sneer in his heart. The way Li Xuan looked just now didn’t seem like he was discussing political affairs.

If it were his younger self, after witnessing the scene just now, he would definitely have formally accused Li Xuan and Princess Changle of misconduct.

But he is no longer an Imperial Censor, nor a ritual officer, nor a Kedao official, but the Minister of War, the most powerful since the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty.

Yu Jie knew that as soon as this impeachment document was submitted, the court would become even more chaotic.

Because of Prince Xiang’s treason case, the officials of the Great Jin Dynasty have already lost their heart for state affairs. If another scandal breaks out, the court won’t be able to calm down for the next three to five months.

In addition, Yu Jie had some suspicions about the ’adultery’ between these two people, knowing it was related to the attack on Yu Hongchang half a year ago.

So, Li Xuan couldn’t really be blamed for this matter.

In private, Yu Jie could only advise the parties involved, "May I ask when Marquis Guanjun plans to marry the princess? It’s not a solution to drag it on."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

He really hadn’t done anything today. He was innocent.

The key was that Yu Hongchang wouldn’t let him. In the past half a month, although Yu Hongchang gave him some good face under his offensive, for some reason, she wouldn’t let Li Xuan touch her body.

So today, Li Xuan put in a great deal of effort, coaxing Yu Hongchang into a state of total confusion. But before he could make a move, he was interrupted by Yu Jie.

"How to put it?" Li Xuan scratched his face, "I have probed His Majesty’s intentions, but His Majesty seems unwilling."

His so-called probe is actually for ’both wives’, that is, both rooms, meaning two principal wives.

Even three rooms is possible, but it’s a pity that most of the branches of the Li family have no worries about continuation, which deeply troubles Li Xuan, and he is thinking about recognizing more distant relatives of the Li family.

Li Xuan is still dreaming about having three wives and four concubines, a blessing of uniformity. He seriously considered it, it is okay for him to be a son-in-law, but he cannot be restricted.

He owes too many love debts and doesn’t want the few girls around him to end up with no results.

But as one might expect, His Majesty didn’t give him a nice face, he just left with a black face and then punished him for a month’s salary.

"His Majesty is unwilling?" Yu Jie furrowed his brow, his face showing confusion, then he shook his head slightly, "I will inquire of His Majesty about this."

Yu Jie believes that he cannot listen to one side. This Marquis Guanjun, although a Neo-Confucian scholar with Haoqi Liuli, is by no means a true honest gentleman in the real sense.

He seldom lies, but he can play with people in his hands with ’truth’.

Next, Yu Jie follows Li Xuan to the camp of Shenji right and left camp.

For the convenience of training, Li Xuan has combined the two major camps. Apart from a part of the left camp soldiers who need to be stationed in the palace, the rest are trained here.

And Yu Jie is quite satisfied with his inspection along the way.

Although this Marquis of Guanjun spends a lot of time on women’s bellies, his control over the Shenji right and left camp is indeed extraordinary.

Except for those eight thousand newly recruited soldiers, the rest of the soldiers can skillfully master the firing technique of the ’rune flintlock rifled gun’, and meet the standard set by Li Xuan - firing ten times within a hundred breaths.

And even the Shenji’s Right Camp, which Li Xuan has controlled for less than a month, seems to be getting the hang of the ’linear shooting’ and ’hollow square formation’ during training.

Only in the aspect of ’bayonet technique’ is it a little crude. The method of using the gun’s bayonet is similar to that of the spear, but there are minor differences. These Shenji Right Camp soldiers still need some time to master it skillfully.

The key is that Li Xuan can command each part of the Shenji Camp as if they were his own arms, and has great prestige in the eyes of the soldiers.

Actually, it’s very simple to lead soldiers well, provide sufficient food, clothing, and wages, and then ensure fairness, being able to do this will make the soldiers willing to serve.

Li Xuan, however, goes one step further on this basis, working hard on organizational strength.

He knows that the biggest difference between ancient and modern armies, apart from weapons, is the difference in ’organizational power’.

Having toured around, Yu Jie has a good understanding of the combat power of Shenji’s Right and Left Camps.

Next, he and Li Xuan jointly requested an audience with the Emperor, and they talked on the platform.

The ’platform’ is located behind the rear gate of the Jianji Palace, on a not so large stone platform.

This is the place where Emperor Taizong consulted ministers about military and political affairs, especially inquiring local lords and generals about military affairs.

Yu Jie spoke with the aid of a large map, "Since our initial great victory in the thirteenth year of Jingtai, the offensive and defensive situation between Jin and Meng Wu has returned to the state before the thirty-ninth year of Zhengtong.

But now, our Jin army’s morale and combat power are far stronger than they were during the Zhengtong Era when the military system was broken. Therefore, I believe that the people of Meng Wu have no strength to invade Xuanfu and spy on the capital city. Their target is most likely to raid Datong, Taiyuan, or Hetao."

The Emperor Jingtai agreed, "So, in your opinion, if the people of Meng Wu really invade in March, how should our Jin fight?"

Yu Jie bowed and said, "In my opinion, in this battle, we should not retreat even half a step. It is best to plan an annihilation battle within our own territory, and continue to consume Meng Wu’s national strength.

"Therefore, I have prepared to advance the seven regiments of the ’Ten Regiments’ and the ’Three Thousand Camp’ to standby in Taiyuan. I propose that Your Majesty personally hunts in Taiyuan and stays with me here. In this way, no matter where the Mongols’ forces point to, our Great Jin Dynasty can react in time."

The seven regiments of the ’Ten Regiments’ account for one hundred thousand soldiers. The ’Three Thousand Camp’ is the elite cavalry unit of Jingying, also consisting of ten regiments, totalling thirty thousand cavalrymen.

—— This makes up half of the essence of Jingying.

In fact, Yu Jie’s intention was not to passively defend. He wanted to take the initiative to attack and strike into the prairie.

However, because of the Battle of Tumu Fort, the court ministers had a deep fear of marching into the prairie.

If Yu Jie even slightly reveals this intention, he will face enormous opposition.

"What about the Capital City?"

The Jingtai Emperor asked again: "I have already had someone checked the Weisuo Institute of Chengde, and a significant change is indeed imminent. Once more than two hundred thousand corpse iron cavalry from the Tai Grand Emperor of Liao’s mausoleum arrives, it will pose a huge threat to the Capital City. The distance from here to the Capital City is just less than fifteen hundred kilometers."

Yu Jie had already prepared his answer: "From the Weisuo Institute of Chengde to the Capital City, they either have to pass through the Gubei Pass and then travel south, or they have to go through the Xifeng Pass. These two pass cities can be guarded by the Marquis of Guanjun and his Shenji right and left camp, and assisted by the nearby army of Weisuo, to assure absolute safety."

The corners of Li Xuan’s lips were twitching. He knew in his heart that Shaofu Yu Jie still did not believe in the field ability of ’Shenji right and left camp’.

The more this person valued, the stronger the firepower, the Shenji right and left camp had.

Those ’Rune flintlock rifled guns’ used to defend the pass city do indeed have great advantages.

But Li Xuan hoped more to be able to lead the army to actively march to the Weisuo Institute of Chengde and to eliminate the root of turmoil in the Weisuo Institute of Chengde in advance.

He had already raised the matter with the Emperor three times, but was rejected by the Emperor each time.

The Jingtai Emperor, just like Shaofu Yu Jie, did not think highly of the field ability of the all-firearm ’Shenji right and left camp,’ especially their combat power when facing cavalry.

So, Li Xuan didn’t bother to speak anymore, knowing that these two wouldn’t believe him or agree.

"Very well!" The Jingtai Emperor slightly nodded: "I will issue an edict to the cabinet that the Marquis of Guanjun Li Xuan will temporarily hold the position of the ’General Zhenji’, leading the defense from Shanhai Pass to Juyong Pass. The command of all the Weisuo in north Zhili will be given to him.

"While I am stationed in Taiyuan, Changle Princess will serve as Jianguo, responsible for the defense of Beijing, and assisted by Marquis of Wuqing Liang Heng, Marquis of Yuanzhen Cao Yong, Left Shilang of the Ministry of War Shang Hong."

These three people, two military and one literary, all gained high appreciation from the Jingtai Emperor.

There’s no need to mention Marquis of Wuqing Liang Heng, Marquis of Yuanzhen Cao Yong was a northern general, a stalwart of the emperor’s party among the Jingnan nobles.

Thirteen years ago, when the Jingtai Emperor acceded to the throne, this person actively supported him, so the emperor has always relied heavily on him.

He also held the position of Tongzhi, the commander of the imperial camp, and the Five Armies Camp was led by him.

But since the Jingtai Emperor’s eighth year in power, Marquis of Yuanzhen Cao Yong fell seriously ill and could not manage affairs.

He was of advanced age, reaching 135 years old, and most likely entered the ’half heavenly human’ state already.

As for Left Shilang of the Ministry of War Shang Hong, although he was close to Prince Yi, the Jingtai Emperor trusted his high moral character and overall vision.

To some extent, Shang Hong is more reliable than those stubborn and disrespectful generals.

For this very reason, Shang Hong has kept his distance from Gao Gu and Xiao Ci’s party, taking pride in being an independent official.

Li Xuan objected at once, "Your Majesty, Shaofu! Don’t forget Liaodong. The Mongols have always coveted the territories under the jurisdiction of our Liaodongdu Division and the Jurchen tribes. Marquis of Wuqing Liang Heng is a brave and strategic man. It’s a waste to keep him in Beijing. It would be better to let Liang Heng stay in Liaodong to prevent any misfortune and also to threaten the Mongols from the flank. We can call Commander Zhu Guoneng from Xuanfu into Beijing to replace him. I heard that half a year ago, Zongbing Zhu also reached the heavenly level."

When the Emperor and Yu Jie are both stationed in Xuanfu, Beijing is bound to be empty. How can he leave such a big heart trouble as Marquis of Wuqing Liang Heng in Beijing at this time?

The Jingtai Emperor and Yu Jie looked at each other, both showing a helpless look.

They were somewhat unable to understand Li Xuan’s hostility and vigilance against Liang Heng,

However, after a moment’s hesitation, the Jingtai Emperor still gave a slight nod: "Still under the advice of Marquis Guanjun."

In their few words, they have roughly set the strategy for the end of March.

Li Xuan had things to take care of, so he left the palace in a hurry soon after.

At this moment, Shaofu Yu Jie looked worried as he turned to the Jingtai Emperor, "Your Majesty, do you know about the private affair between Marquis Guanjun and the Changle Princess? It is not feasible for them to remain like this. For the sake of the state and the court, Your Majesty might as well let them get married soon."

The Jingtai Emperor’s face took on a pensive look and he sighed wistfully, "Marquis Guanjun has tested my attitude on this matter and I have firmly refused."

Seeing the surprise on Yu Jie’s face, he explained in a low voice, "Precisely for the sake of the state and the court, I cannot let them get married. Shaofu, you do not know, according to several well-known doctors, including Jiang Yunqi, if I do not take a period of careful recuperation to treat old injuries, I will likely have a short lifespan.

Therefore, I anticipate that I will be in seclusion intermittently for the next ten years. During this period, Hongchang will have to act on my behalf as the Jianguo, handling court affairs. In addition, there is my grandson, Yu Youlong. My son Jianji has been unconscious and has no wife.

While my empress has been living alone in another palace due to the matter of dethroning the Crown Prince. She spends her days with an ancient Buddha in a green lamp and does not deal with worldly affairs; Concubine Hang is ignorant and easy to be manipulated. Therefore I want to give my grandson also to Hongchang to nurture and grow up."

Shaofu Yu Jie fell into thought upon hearing this.

The Jingtai Emperor looked afar in guilt, "But if Hongchang and Li Xuan marry, can the courtiers tolerate her in control of Jianguo? Can they tolerate her nurturing the grandson? Can they tolerate Marquis Guanjun in control of military power? So, before Youlong turns eighteen, I can only let them bear these difficulties."

In fact, there was another reason he didn’t mention, related to Youlong’s background and his birth father, he can’t allow this marriage to happen under any circumstances.

So, the Jingtai emperor held Hongchang responsible for this. Also, for this reason, he turned a blind eye to the affairs between Hongchang and Li Xuan. If he also interferes and limits them, wouldn’t he be cruel?