weaving

Chapter 1259 Is it something you and I can discuss?
Mengjin ferry.

While Sun Chuanting, the governor of the three borders of Shaanxi, was waiting for Liu Shizun, a group of troops rushed out from the Yongding Gate of the capital. They rode through the night and had already entered the city of Kaifeng.

At the same time, a messenger also rode into the Yongning Earl's camp in Xinchengji...

"What? Zhang Ruoqi is here in Kaifeng!"

Chen Zhong continued to ask with a puzzled look on his face: "Zhang Ruoqi is now the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, how could he easily leave the capital and come south? Could it be..."

He did not say anything else, but looked at Earl Yongning with a puzzled look on his face. Zhang Cheng said nothing, but handed the letter in his hand to Sun Shixiang beside him.

After a while, Sun Shixiang, who had read the letter, spoke up: "The letter does not clearly state what it means. It is hard to figure out why the Right Assistant Minister came to Zhongzhou at this moment."

Having been with the Earl of Yongning for a long time, Liu Chengzu was no longer as timid as he was before. He often participated in discussions in informal military meetings and actively offered suggestions.

At this moment, he said: "Why bother the Minister of War? Could it be that he was sent to Henan to supervise the army again?"

Chen Zhong nodded in agreement with Liu Chengzu's words, but Sun Shixiang shook his head and said, "Even if Minister Zhang is sent to supervise the army in Henan, the court should have made a public announcement and should not have acted in such a secretive manner."

"It's secret because this matter should not be publicized. But Zhang Ruoqi went straight into Kaifeng City. Now all parties know of his arrival. How can it be called 'secret'?" Hu Yiwen couldn't help but question the word "secret".

Just when everyone was confused, Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng put an end to everyone's discussion with just four simple words: "Why bother with him?"

Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng walked out of the central army tent. He came under the big flag, looked to the south and said, "Our war with the bandits, everything else is unimportant to me!"

…………

That night, Zhang Ruoqi, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War, met with Prince Zhou, the governor Zhang Fuzhen, and the governor of Henan Gao Mingheng, conveyed his condolences, and then hurried south to Xinchengji.

"Brother, how are you?" Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng spoke politely.

Following Zhang Ruoqi's instructions, Earl Yongning dismissed all the people. There were only him and Zhang Ruoqi in the huge central military tent, and not even a single person was left to serve him.

Earl Yongning was not surprised at all. Although he did not know the purpose of Zhang Ruoqi's visit, he guessed clearly what he was doing - it must be on him.

As expected, after a brief greeting, Zhang Ruoqi asked Zhang Cheng very mysteriously what he thought about the military affairs in Liaodong. After several attempts, he finally successfully led the topic to the topic of "pacification".

"The bandits and the Jiannu are both great threats to our dynasty."

Yongning Bo continued Zhang Ruoqi's topic and said, "However, our dynasty is short of financial resources, disasters are constant, and people's livelihood is declining. We are unable to support fighting on two fronts. We should make some choices, prioritize, and concentrate our troops to pacify one place first."

This was exactly the attitude Zhang Ruoqi wanted. He quickly picked up the silver wine pot on the table in front of him and filled a cup of wine for Earl Yongning. He smiled and asked, "In Earl Yongning's opinion, which of the most pressing threats should be attacked first?"

Yongning Bo remained silent, but reached out to pick up the pure gold cigarette case from the table, took out a high-quality cigarette, and first paused lightly on the exquisite cigarette case before putting it to his lips and taking out the fire starter inlaid with pearls and jade. He lit the cigarette and took a deep puff, closing his eyes to enjoy the stimulation brought by the cigarette. After a moment, he exhaled a large puff of light smoke, and then took another puff, completely ignoring Zhang Ruoqi who was left alone.

After a while, he had smoked half of the cigarette before he opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Ruoqi, saying, "Brother, have one too."

Although Zhang Ruoqi had a difficult mission, he also knew that he should not act too hastily. He immediately picked up the golden cigarette box on the table, took out a cigarette, and imitated Earl Yongning, pausing on the cigarette box before bringing it to his own lips.

However, he did not put the exquisite golden cigarette case back on the table, but continued to play with it in his hands. At the same time, he took out the fire starter inlaid with pearls and jade, shook it gently, and then put it to his mouth to light the cigarette, and accompanied Zhang Cheng in puffing out smoke.

"Lord Yongning is really enjoying himself. Even the cigarette box and the tinderbox are so exquisite."

Zhang Cheng couldn't help but smile when he heard this, and said calmly: "They are just small items. If you are not afraid of losing your ambition due to playing with them, I will give you a pair. This way, it will be more convenient to carry with you, and you can also think of me when you see them, and always think of my good brother."

"It would be disrespectful to refuse it... In that case, I would be disrespectful to refuse it!"

"Well, I have no regrets. Since we are related, you are my elder brother. If you like anything I have, you can use it at will."

Zhang Ruoqi looked flattered and quickly put the golden cigarette case and the fire lighter into his arms, but with a smile on his face he kept saying "No, no, no" repeatedly.

However, with this little episode, the relationship between the two naturally became much closer. Zhang Ruoqi was also more relaxed than before. He blew out a smoke ring and continued to ask the previous question: "My Lord, what do you think, should we attack and destroy the bandits first, or the Jiannu?"

Zhang Cheng knew very well that if he did not make a statement since this topic was brought up, it would be difficult to end today's banquet. He immediately replied: "Although both the bandits and the Jiannu are internal threats, the Jiannu are like tinea on the skin, while the bandits are the internal threat. But if we can get rid of the internal threat, why worry about not being able to get rid of the external tinea on the skin?"

"My Lord, what you mean is... that we should eliminate the bandits first?" Zhang Ruoqi's eyes shone with a strange light.

"Of course, if the bandits are not eliminated, the inland areas will be in turmoil, the people will be uneasy, production will be interrupted, freight will be cut off, and taxes and levies cannot be collected and transported. How can we work together to eliminate the Jian Nu?"

"But...if we can't stabilize Liaodong, how can we mobilize troops and work together to suppress the bandits?"

Things have come to this point. Zhang Cheng has a clear idea in his mind. He has already guessed that Zhang Ruoqi's visit is to test his opinion, but he does not want to take the lead in the "Liaodong negotiation" issue.

"Brother, what do you think about this?"

Zhang Cheng looked at Zhang Ruoqi intently, and then continued, "We are the only brothers here, so please speak frankly if you have anything to say!"

Zhang Ruoqi had already found out what Earl Yongning had said, so he stopped beating around the bush. He first glanced at the door of the tent, then lowered his voice and said softly, "Emperor Yongning, what do you think about the negotiation with the Jiannu?"

Zhang Cheng laughed in his heart: "That's why!"

But she pretended to be surprised and asked softly: "Brother, why do you say that? Negotiating with me is not something you and I can discuss!"