In May, Lin 'an was shrouded in the blazing summer light. In the hot weather, everything seemed bright and beautiful. The sun shone on the square courtyard, and the cicadas chirped on the sycamore trees.
The lords and lords passed through the corridors of the Imperial Palace and hurried through the shade. In the room outside the Imperial Study where they were waiting for an audience, the eunuchs led the palace maids to bring in sour plum soup with ice. After everyone thanked them, they each took a cup to cool off. Qin Hui sat on a stool in the corner of the room, holding a porcelain cup and a small spoon, drinking mouthful by mouthful. His sitting posture was upright, and his expression was calm. As usual, not many people could tell what he was thinking, but they could not help but feel that he was upright.
Qin Hui was the kind of person who, at first glance, made people feel that he was a person who was fair and selfless, a savior of the world and the people.
Not long after, a summons came from outside. Qin Hui stood up solemnly, cupped his hands to his colleagues around him, and smiled slightly. Then he left the room and walked toward the imperial study.
Since a few days ago, when Black Flag kidnapped Liu Yu and wrote a blood letter to surrender to the Wu dynasty, many officials in the Wu dynasty's court were indeed stunned for a moment. But no one who could reach this step was mediocre. At least on the surface, the hot-blooded slogan and the despicable rebuke of the traitors immediately supported the Wu dynasty's reputation.
The news of the "return" of the Central Plains could not be sealed. With the first wave of news, both Black Flag and the radicals within the Wu dynasty began to take action. News about Liu Yu had already spread among the people. Most importantly, Liu Yu had not only sent a blood letter calling for the Central Plains to settle down, but also a famous official in the Central Plains, who was also an old official of the Wu dynasty, had accepted Liu Yu's request and brought a letter of surrender to Lin 'an to ask for the return.
Liu Yu's surrender to the south was an overt plot. Even if all the clues were analyzed clearly and Black Flag's actions were made public, the people in the Central Plains who were loyal to the Wu dynasty would not care. In the ten years under Liu Yu and the Jurchen rule, the people of the Central Plains had been plunged into misery and suffering. Now that it was right before their eyes, anyone could see that there would not be a better opportunity. This included the people within NMAU right now. All they wanted was for the Northern Expedition to succeed as soon as possible, to recover the Central Plains, and even to break through Yanmen Pass and directly attack the Yellow Dragon.
Even if there was poison in this steamed bun, the starving people of the Wu dynasty still had to eat it, hoping that their bodies' antibodies would resist the poison.
In the past few days, even if the higher-ups in Lin 'an were astonished, surprised, and fanatical about this matter, there were also reprimands and sighs about Black Flag. But most of the discussion was about how to deal with it since things had become like this. As for the great fear buried behind this matter, no one spoke of it for the time being. Everyone understood, but it was impossible to say it out loud. That was not within the scope of discussion.
Qin Hui entered the imperial study and exchanged a few words with Zhou Yong, after which he dismissed his attendants.
"… Today, I came to let Your Majesty know that recently in the city of Lin 'an, although there are cheers about the recovery of the Central Plains, there are also many people calling for troops to eliminate the malignant tumor of Black Flag. After hearing the inside story, many knowledgeable people all said that in order to fight with the Jurchen, Black Flag must be eliminated first, otherwise it will lead to a great disaster in the future … "
"But now the disaster of the Jurchen is imminent. Turning around to fight the Black Flag Army, is it not a little bit of pursuing trifles while neglecting the essentials …" Zhou Yong was a little hesitant.
"It is precisely because the battle with the Jurchen is imminent that we need to eliminate Black Flag first. First, now that the Central Plains has been recovered, although it is the desire of the people, in this matter, Black Flag, who is content to stir up trouble in a corner, will probably benefit the most. Ning Liheng is the best at managing and growing slowly. When he killed the late emperor and fled to the northwest, we did not take him seriously. On the other hand, because we are facing the Jurchen, Black Flag is also on the Han side, so we did not use all our strength to eliminate them, allowing him to have these years of peace. But this matter is enough to show that Ning Liheng is a wolf's ambition. "
Qin Hui cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, ever since the Southern Expedition, under Your Majesty's leadership, our Wu Dynasty has been working hard to achieve its current prosperity. His Highness, the Crown Prince, has done his best to revitalize our military and created a few powerful armies to fight against the Jurchens. But think about it, when our Wu Dynasty and the Jurchens fight on the battlefield, the Black Flag Army will interfere from behind. No matter who wins or loses, I'm afraid that the final victor will not be our Wu Dynasty. Before this matter, we may still have some hope, but after this matter, in this humble subject's opinion, the Black Flag Army will become a great disaster. "
The Black Flag Army has become a great disaster … Zhou Yong thought from behind his desk, but naturally he would not show it on his face.
Qin Hui paused. "Second, these past few years, the Black Flag Army has been stationed in the southwest. Although it is difficult for them to develop rapidly because of their remote location and the surrounding areas are barbarian lands, we have to admit that Ning Liheng is indeed accomplished in the so-called Dao of Investigating Objects. The firearms made in the southwest are not inferior to those made by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. The Black Flag Army has sold a lot of these firearms, but within the Black Flag Army, the weapons they use are certainly the best. If we have the opportunity to seize their research on the Dao of Investigating Objects, wouldn't it be more worthwhile than privately buying them from them? "
"Indeed, although they have been fleeing the entire time, the Black Flag Army has never been an opponent to be looked down upon. It is also because they have considerable strength that our Wu dynasty has been unable to unite and encircle and annihilate them these past few years. But at this moment, just like the situation in the Central Plains, the Black Flag Army has already reached the edge of annihilation. After lying low for three years, Ning Liheng has once again made his move. If we can't stop him, I'm afraid he will truly expand wantonly. At that time, regardless of the outcome of his battle with the Jin Kingdom, our Wu dynasty will find it difficult to establish itself. Moreover, in a three-way game, there will always be alliances. Your Majesty, the Black Flag Army this time is admittedly vicious. We have no choice but to accept the Central Plains' scheme, and the Jurchen people have no choice but to respond. But think about it, among the Jurchen people's upper echelons, which side do they truly hate? "
"Beloved subject refers to …"
"If we want to attack the southwest, I believe that not only will the Jurchen people clap their hands in glee, they may even provide assistance in this matter. If we attack the Jurchen people first, the Black Flag Army will certainly stab us in the back. But if we attack the southwest first, on the one hand, we can first sharpen our troops and unify the authority of the various commanders before the true battle. On the other hand, we can obtain the southwest's firearms and the study of things. This will only further increase our strength and give us more confidence in facing the future calamity of the Jurchen people. "
"That makes sense …" Zhou Yong subconsciously grabbed the hem of his dragon robe and leaned against the back of the chair behind him.
"If the rear is not peaceful, how can we fight on the front? A wise sage once said that in order to resist foreign aggression, we must first pacify the interior. This is a famous saying. "
"But … if …" Zhou Yong thought for a moment, then hesitated. "If we can't take down the Black Flag Army in a short time, what will we do? Won't the Jurchen people be the ones to reap the benefits …"
"Forgive this humble subject for speaking bluntly." Qin Hui cupped his hands and bowed. "If the strength of the Wu dynasty really can't take down the Black Flag Army, Your Majesty and I will wait for the Jurchen people to attack. Apart from stretching out our necks and waiting to be executed, what other choice do we have?"
Zhou Yong placed one hand on the table with a thud. After a moment, the emperor wagged his finger and pointed at Qin Hui.
"That makes sense," he said. "We will … consider it."
Naturally, such a matter could not be answered directly. But Qin Hui knew that although the emperor in front of him was timid and indecisive, he had still spoken his mind. He slowly bowed and left.
As he walked through the palace, the sun was still blazing. Qin Hui's heart relaxed a little.
In order to resist foreign aggression, we must first pacify the interior. This was his most rational and clear-headed judgment. Of course, there were some things that could be discussed directly with His Majesty, but there were some thoughts that could not be expressed aloud.
Over the years, most of the officials in the court had avoided talking about the Black Flag Army. Among them, there were old officials of the Wu dynasty who, like Qin Hui, had seen that man's disdainful glance at the throne room in Bianliang. "A bunch of good-for-nothings." After this evaluation, Ning Liheng killed the noble Son of Heaven in front of everyone like he was slaughtering a chicken. After that, his many actions in the northwest and southwest, after careful consideration, were indeed like a shadow hanging over everyone's heads, unable to be erased.
If the Wu dynasty wanted to prosper, this shadow had to be swept away. Since ancient times, there had been countless outstanding and talented people. However, even the Hegemon-King of Western Chu could only commit suicide in the Wu River. Dong Zhuo and Huang Chao, who had once been insufferably arrogant, had also fallen on the road. Ning Liheng was very powerful, but he could not truly become the enemy of the world. Qin Hui had this belief in his heart.
To achieve this, the thoughts of the Wu dynasty had to be unified. This war was a good opportunity and also a crucial point that could not be ignored. Because compared to the Black Flag Army, the Jurchen people were even more terrifying.
The Wu dynasty could not defeat the Jurchen people. This was a rational judgment that could be seen by those who had experienced the previous war. In the past few years, they had publicized to the outside world how powerful the new army was. Yue Fei had recaptured Xiangyang and fought several battles, but in the end, he was still not mature enough. Han Shizhong had used Huang Tiandang's name to skyrocket, but what was Huang Tiandang? They said that they had besieged Wu Shu for dozens of days, but in the end, it was just a great defeat for Han Shizhong.
They had publicized the enemy's small setback as an unparalleled victory. The combat power of the Wu dynasty had once been so pitiful. Now, even if they fought, they probably had no chance of winning.
The Jurchen people were barbaric and worshiped force. It was too difficult to ask for peace. But what if they created a common enemy that both sides hated? Even if they still resisted on the surface, was it possible to give a buffer between the Wu dynasty and the Jin state in private?
Was it possible to use the opportunity of the Black Flag Army to secretly send a message to the Jurchen people? Would the Jurchen people slow down their march south for this "common interest"? Would they give the Wu dynasty more time to breathe and even a chance to talk to them as equals in the future?
These things were not impossible. Moreover, if the whole country really used all its strength to conquer the southwest, the elite soldiers left behind in such a cruel war and the weapons seized would only increase the strength of the Wu dynasty in the future. There was no doubt about this.
The country was in danger and the people were in danger.
This was the only way.
Walking out of the palace, Qin Hui narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. The powerful ministers and officials who had once dominated the Wu dynasty were gone. Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Qin Siyuan, Li Gang … they had all left. The responsibility of the world could only fall on the shoulders of those who had stayed behind.
At this moment, the prosperity of Lin 'an before him was like Bianliang.
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