Perhaps even God couldn't bear to see Feng Zhen being so smug. He had only taken three days off before he was summoned back urgently.
Feng Zhen was having a wild time. He and Wan Xiu 'er were so intimate that they couldn't wait to be together every day. How could he care about the cold government affairs?
"I've rested long enough," Jiang Pengji said heartlessly. "It's time for you to get back to business."
Feng Zhen argued, "My lord, this is different from what I said before. It's only been three days."
When Li Yun and Shangguan Wan got married, how long was their wedding leave?
This matter had to be treated equally. How could she favor one and discriminate against the other?
Jiang Pengji said matter-of-factly, "Didn't I give you a long leave to handle your wedding?"
Feng Zhen was speechless. Was the time spent preparing for the wedding counted as a part of the wedding leave?
As if she could read Feng Zhen's mind, Jiang Pengji almost rolled her eyes.
How could there be such a good thing in the world?
Feng Zhen's wedding leave was the busiest period before the new year. Jiang Pengji allowed him to take leave and assigned the heavy government affairs to others. She was already being extremely kind. If she let Feng Zhen take another half a month or a month's leave, the others would be resentful.
After the new year, it was spring plowing and training. Everyone was busy. There was no reason for Feng Zhen to stay at home and be lovey-dovey with his lovely wife.
Feng Zhen's request was rejected by Jiang Pengji. He could only resign himself to his fate and go to work. He was as dispirited as a salted fish.
He didn't know if someone was trying to mess with him. Feng Zhen realized that the tasks he took on after he returned to work were troublesome and above average. He had been busy for two days. The dark circles under his eyes that he had painstakingly disappeared reappeared. He looked even more like he had kidney deficiency.
"This bunch of animals …"
Feng Zhen was smiling on the surface, but he was cursing in his heart.
Did he not burn enough incense in his previous life to meet such a bunch of unscrupulous colleagues?
The spring plowing was carried out in full swing. After Jiang Pengji presided over the ceremony, she stayed in the military camp to train the soldiers.
"Is the Duke of Lanting going to attack again this year?"
Teahouses and restaurants had always been the birthplace of gossip and a place for communication. The scholars within the borders of Dongqing who were attracted by the Golden Scale Pavilion loved to stop and stay in these places. They talked about current affairs and the world. If there was anything shocking, the Duke of Lanting might find out and punish them.
Although the possibility of this was very small, one should have a dream as well. The Golden Scale Pavilion's assessment was very strict, and there would always be people who liked to take a different path.
Since ancient times, many famous people had relied on this to be conscripted by monarchs.
As the training became more and more intense, many scholars also sensed that a storm was coming.
"The war just ended last year, and the people haven't had enough rest yet. They shouldn't be mobilizing their troops this year."
Everyone had their own opinions, and the more contradictory the topic, the more interesting it was.
"However, from what I can see, this Duke of Lanting is not someone who likes to settle down." A young scholar sneered and said, "Throughout the Duke of Lanting's road to success, when has he not climbed up by stepping on the bones of his enemies? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this person is a warmonger … "
"Go all out? This conclusion is too arbitrary. The Duke of Lanting was forced by the situation and had no choice but to do so. "
Wei Ci's method of entertainment brainwashing was not something that others could imagine. In order to make the people stick closely to Jiang Pengji, he hired a pen to write a few short and medium-length stories. Most of them were adapted into new plays for the people to watch. Although the characters in the plays used aliases, people with discerning eyes could tell who they were based on at a glance. In response to Jiang Pengji's reasons for mobilizing her troops, Wei Ci also explained the new plays to the people.
The ordinary people could only see the ups and downs of the plot and the awe-inspiring righteousness of the country, while the scholars could see the situation of the storm.
Regardless of whether they believed it or not, the people expressed understanding and support for Jiang Pengji's several expeditions.
Moreover, their Duke of Lanting fought wars, but every time she fought a war, she did not make the people unable to make a living. The military provisions and supplies were all stored in advance. If it did not work, she would open a private warehouse. She never exploited the people wantonly because of the war, nor did she impose any exorbitant taxes.
Jiang Pengji tried her best to protect the people's safety and property interests. How could the people not love and respect her?
"Hmph, ignorant. In recent years, wars have been going on every year … "
Before he finished speaking, someone stood up to refute him.
"This is a little far-fetched. Although I don't like the Duke of Lanting, I can't stand your slander and slander."
The man waved the folding fan in his hand. The wind moved the headscarf on his head, making him look rather dashing.
He continued to speak with fervor and assurance, and the people nodded their heads vigorously. "Since the earthquake in Shangjing, the world has been in chaos. The Tsing Yi Army, the Red Lotus Group, and other evil sects have risen one after another, harming countless people. The Duke of Lanting received orders in the face of danger to expel the two traitors, integrate Wanzhou, form an alliance at the Huangshui River, enter Chongzhou in the north, control Hu County in the south, and integrate the forces of the north of Dongqing to resist the external troubles of the north borderline. After that, the entire north was calm and peaceful. After a few years of rest and reorganization, the Duke of Lanting felt that the time was ripe. Only then did he send troops to the north borderline and recover it in one fell swoop. How can this be called being a warmonger? "
Being a warmonger meant mobilizing troops to fight a war without a sense of propriety and overdrawing one's foundation. Their Duke of Lanting obviously did not do that.
She chose to mobilize troops to the north borderline at a time when their vitality was at its weakest. It was obviously planned, organized, and premeditated.
"… Turning the north borderline into the north province would also greatly damage their vitality and cause them to face the predicament of being surrounded by enemies on all sides. If they showed the slightest bit of cowardice at that time, they would certainly be hunted down and eaten by the heroes. How could they be compared to the magnificent scene of everyone sitting upright in the teahouse and talking with fervor and assurance now? Xu Bei was executed and Zhe and Shanghai counties were conquered. Most of Dongqing is already in the bag. If we don't take advantage of this victory to pursue and attack, it will be difficult to eliminate Huang Song when he has a firm foothold. "
In summary, Jiang Pengji had her reasons for mobilizing her troops.
She mobilized her troops to allow the people in the rear to enjoy peace. Even if they didn't support her, they shouldn't make a fuss.
What was the difference between this and picking up a bowl to eat and then putting down the chopsticks to curse?
Her impassioned speech made many people's faces turn red with shame or ashen. Those who were more thin-skinned directly flicked their sleeves and left.
Even the people could see Jiang Pengji's intention to mobilize her troops, let alone her enemies.
Huang Song's side seemed calm, but in fact, undercurrents were surging in the dark. He was actively training his troops for war and stockpiling food on a large scale. It seemed like he was on the verge of breaking out.
Everyone was preparing for war.
Of course, in ancient times, wars could not be fought at will. They had to choose the right time.
It was inadvisable to start a war before and after the spring ploughing.
In this era, the efficiency and harvest of crops were very low. The staple crops were basically harvested once a year.
In other words, if they missed this year's spring ploughing, then the entire year's harvest would be gone.
In war, not only did it depend on manpower, but it also depended on food and logistics. Once there was no food, how could they fight a war?
The war could only start after the spring ploughing. This was a convention.
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