Do you know: I have a different surname: Wang, uncle Minglan.

Chapter 347: The two sides are in a fierce struggle

On the second day of the second month of the third year of Kaiwu, the dragon raised its head.

On this day, Wei Yuan and Zhao Xi discussed matters in the Xuanzheng Hall all night.

The main content is about the Northern Expedition next year.

Wei Yuan said that in the next year's Northern Expedition, they could try to recapture Yunzhou, and through Yunzhou, gradually divide and nibble away at the entire Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

In fact, this strategy was mentioned by Fan Wencheng back then, but the army of the Great Zhou couldn't even get out of Yanmen Pass at that time, let alone attempt to split Yanyun and gradually erode it.

Wei Yuan's statement also means that the best outcome of the Northern Expedition next year would be to capture Yunzhou.

Zhao Xi said: "Master Wei, after preparing for a year in advance, can't we expand our results?"

Wei Yuan shook his head and said, "To recover Yanyun, I have thought that we need to launch at least three or four northern expeditions, each time taking one state or one place, gradually nibbling away and planning, so as not to extend the battle line too long, so as to be invincible."

This is the safest way.

If you don't care about casualties or costs, it is not impossible to launch several large-scale battles even if there is a risk of defeat.

However, the consequence of failure is that all efforts will be wasted.

Wei Yuan knew very well that he had missed the opportunity to achieve his goal in one fell swoop, but he could not tell the world that he had missed it.

Hundreds of thousands of troops resisted the Liao army's southward advance and traveled across most of the Central Plains. Under the circumstances at that time, this huge army was comparable to the "army of the founding of a country" in terms of ambition and sharpness.

Now, with the completion of a series of military reforms, theoretically, the combat effectiveness of the five major battalions of troops will surely increase, but no one knows what the reality is.

At this moment, Wei Yuan saw that Zhao Xi looked a little lonely, so he had to speak again:

"In the next year's Northern Expedition, in addition to Yunzhou, I will try to conquer Weizhou if possible. If we can recover all the lands of the two states, it will be of great help to the third Northern Expedition in the future."

To put it bluntly, the biggest goal of the Northern Expedition next year is to capture Yunzhou, followed by Weizhou.

As long as these two states can be captured, Wei Yuan's Northern Expedition will be considered a success.

In practical terms, this was the first time that Wei Yuan led a large army out of Yanmen to fight, and it should be the first Northern Expedition.

But after the end of the Central Plains War, Wei Yuan went north to continue to expel the enemy, and even forced the enemy to give up the three states of Yanyun. Therefore, that time was defined as the first Northern Expedition by people from all walks of life.

The next campaign will be the Second Northern Expedition next year.

"What should we do with Xixia?" Zhao Xi asked.

After Wei Yuan's Northern Expedition, if Western Xia took the opportunity to attack Zhou, it would be another troublesome matter.

"During the Northern Expedition next year, I will not mobilize a single soldier from the Western Camp. I will only use the Northern and Eastern Camps."

"By then, Zhong Yan will have full command of the Western Camp, and Yanbian will be safe."

Wei Yuan thought through everything that might happen.

"Master Wei, if we launch the Northern Expedition next year, you will have a lot of responsibilities in the next two years. You will have to run the Military Academy and dispatch supplies from all over the country to prepare for the Northern Expedition next year."

"Do you need any help? I have asked the six ministries to support you at all costs."

Although Zhao Xi was still young, he knew one thing very well: throughout the country, in the past or for a long period of time in the future, no one except Wei Yuan could recover Yanyun or even suppress Western Xia and Liao.

Wei Yuan said: "I have ordered the soldiers of the Eastern Camp to be stationed in batches with the Northern Camp in the Yanmen Pass area. If there is no major disaster this year, we should store food and grass at the front line as early as possible to prepare for any disaster."

In the Northern Expedition next year, he would follow the example of Huo Qubing and attack by surprise.

By the time the Liao army reacted, the Battle of Yunzhou had already begun.

February 6, the third year of Kaiwu.

Su Che returned to Bian Jing from the Jurchens.

Along the way, it can be said that there were no dangers.

Before Su Che entered the Pass, many idle warriors of the Liao Kingdom wanted to assassinate him, but they all failed.

Wei Yuan guessed that failure was inevitable and the Liao Kingdom just wanted to regain some face in its home court.

Su Che also talked a lot about the Jurchens.
"Since the death of Emperor Daozong of Liao, the Jurchens' attitude towards Liao has basically been to follow orders but not announcements."

"Originally, the Khitans had placed many officials in the Jurchens' ranks, but they were all controlled by the Jurchens."

"Now, within the Liao Kingdom, the two major clans, Xiao and Yelu, are also fighting fiercely. The Jurchens live on the grasslands, and their people grew up riding horses. Once they grow stronger, they will immediately threaten the Khitans."

The largest ethnic group in the Liao Dynasty was the Khitan.

Wei Yuan said: "It seems to be similar to our guess. You met Wanyan Wugunai this time. What does he think about the alliance?"

Su Che said: "The Jurchen leader said that as long as our army goes out of Yanmen and attacks Liao, they will not join Liao and become enemies of our army."

Wei Yuan nodded as expected and said, "They don't dare or are not eager to form an alliance with us. They are probably worried that we will go astray. However, in time, they will understand that we and they have a common enemy."

Su Zhe asked, "What is your next plan, Lord?"

Wei Yuan said: "Maintain close contacts with the Jurchens, secretly provide them with money and weapons, and teach them how to forge iron tools. It would be best if we could let them grow rapidly and completely disrupt the entire Liao Kingdom."

To do so is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger.

But Wei Yuan was confident enough that he could completely defeat the Jurchens before they got out of his control.

It is for this reason that he cooperated with the Jurchens unscrupulously.

Su Che said: "I am familiar with the Jurchens. If you need me, I can go to Jurchens again at any time."

Wei Yuan patted his shoulder and said earnestly: "Don't worry, you will have to deal with the Jurchens in the future. By the way, on this trip, you can see the Jurchens. Are there any rising stars worth paying attention to?"

Su Che shook his head and said, "After all, I have only been in the Jurchens for about half a month, so I don't know much about most people. Judging from their faces, I haven't found anyone with the appearance of a hero."

Wei Yuan nodded. "You have worked hard on the journey. Take a good rest in the next few days. Afterwards, write a note about what you have seen and heard about the Jurchens and submit it to us."

Su Che bowed solemnly and said, "Yes."

Mid-February of the third year of Kaiwu.

Zhang Fu returned to Bianjing from the three states of Yanyun.

That night, he chatted with Zhang Fu until late at night, and all they talked about was the situation in Yanyun.

When meeting Zhang Fu this time, Wei Yuan clearly felt that the other party's health was not as good as before.

There is a sense of weakness everywhere.

Wei Yuan specially wrote a letter to Zhang Xiaomei who went to the south to practice medicine, asking her to return to Beijing as soon as possible to help Zhang Fu recuperate.

Wei Yuan's current status has completely surpassed Zhang Fu's status during his peak period.

But the person Wei Yuan couldn’t do without the most for his current status is Zhang Fu.

Therefore, he didn't want anything to happen to Zhang Fu.

He hoped that Zhang Fu could live to see the day when Yanyun was recovered.

However, the strategy of nibbling away at the enemy's territory meant that it would take a long time to recover Yanyun.
-
The spring examination is considered to be over around the beginning of April.

After taking the palace examination, all the candidates were anxiously waiting for the court to announce the results.

At this time, in the Xuanzheng Hall.

Su Shi was reviewing the examination papers with Wang Anshi and Zhao Xi to determine the final rankings. He recognized Zhang Bangchang's paper at a glance and recommended it to Zhao Xi.

"Sir, I believe that this person's answer can be ranked among the top three."

Strictly speaking, Su Shi did not cheat.

Instead, the questionnaire for the palace examination was set by Zhao Xi, and it was about the encroachment on the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

After Wei Yuan talked about this with Zhao Xi, he spent a whole day teaching Zhang Bangchang these things.
"The questionnaire for the palace examination should be jointly selected by many university scholars and finally selected by the emperor."

"But next year we will be heading north to fight. The emperor is determined to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. This imperial examination is the first since the emperor ascended the throne."

"I guess there's a 60% chance that it's going to be about Yanyun, a 30% chance that it's going to be about reform, and the other 10%... I can't guess."

"Today I will talk to you about some of the problems in Yanyun, as well as the direction of reform. I have asked Haizhou to teach you."

"You should have a rough idea of ​​whether you can make the right bet or not. Even if you can't guess right, you should be prepared."

Therefore, Zhang Bangchang prepared multiple backup plans, and with the help of Su Shi's recommendation, he handed his test paper to Zhao Xi step by step.

Zhao Xi looked at the test paper with a frown on his face.
"The paper written by this candidate actually coincides with some of the ideas of the guard!"

“I didn’t expect that among these students, there would be such a talented person with such insight!”

"This person should be the top scholar!"

Su Shi bowed and said, "This examinee is Zhang Bangchang, the nephew of Master Wei."

Hearing this, Zhao Xi suddenly realized, "No wonder this person knows the situation in Yanyun very well!"

Wang Anshi said, "Your Majesty, it is not surprising that Master Wei's nephew knows about Yanyun. I am afraid he is trying to take advantage of the situation."

Su Shi withstood the pressure and said, "Prime Minister Wang, what you said is wrong. The imperial court selects scholars according to the situation. The greatest national policy of our dynasty in the future is to recover Yanyun."

"Under such circumstances, no matter whose nephew he is, he should be a talent that the country needs to pay attention to."

Wang Anshi wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Zhao Xi, "I think Zhang Bangchang is good, so let's make him the top scorer of this year's exam!"

Hearing this, Wang Anshi hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this cannot be done. This person is the nephew of the Grand Tutor. If all the candidates in the world knew about this, what would they think? Even if we are recommending talented people, we should avoid relatives!"

Zhao Xi frowned and said, "I just don't understand. Even if he is the nephew of the Grand Tutor, so what? Master Wang, you taught me before that we should promote the virtuous regardless of our relationship with them. Why are you saying this now?"

"Besides, don't you have a few students and former officials in this imperial examination?"

After a pause, Emperor Zhao saw that Wang Anshi looked pale, so he comforted him, "I understand what Master Wang meant. How about this? I will select Zhang Bangchang as the runner-up. Do you have any objection to this?"
-
The moment Zhang Bangchang became the runner-up, Wei Ruyi almost fainted with joy.

That night.

Wei Yuan's eldest sister and second sister, each with their family, went to the Marquis' Mansion for a reunion, and most of them were drunk.

Especially Wei Yuan.

When Sheng Changbai passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, Wei Yuan was far from being as out of control as he is today.

After all, Sheng Changbai is not Wei Yuan’s biological nephew, but Zhang Bangchang is!

Today, everyone lives in the Marquis' Mansion.

When they went to rest one after another, the drunken Wei Yuan called Zhang Bangchang to the study.

Wei Yuan patted Zhang Bangchang's shoulder happily and laughed:

"Good boy! You lived up to everyone's expectations! You really made me, your uncle, proud!"

Zhang Bangchang bowed and said, "Thanks to my uncle."

Wei Yuan waved his hand and said, "Logically speaking, as the runner-up, you are destined to go to the Hanlin Academy to edit books and be cultivated as a seed for the future prime minister."

"But, since you have become the runner-up, there will definitely be rumors in the capital. If you want to have a chance to succeed in the future, you must not stay in the capital!"

Zhang Bangchang was not surprised. In fact, the moment he became the runner-up, he had already anticipated his future path.

"Uncle wants me to go to the North?"

If he continues to stay in the capital and endure the rumors, he will forget about maintaining his qualifications and reputation.

It would be better to be sent out from the beginning, make some achievements in other places, and then return to the capital.

By then, no one could hinder Zhang Bangchang's promotion.

He guessed that he would go to the North next because, in the North, especially in Daizhou, Wei Yuan's reputation almost surpassed that of the emperor.

Wei Yuan's power has already penetrated into every corner of the north.

However, Wei Yuan's answer surprised Zhang Bangchang.
"Go to Yanbian and start as a county magistrate. After three to five years, I will make a few death squad members of the Western Camp commit some crimes, and you can use this as an excuse to bring the case against me."

"From now on, I will fight you till death."

Till death?

Zhang Bangchang smiled bitterly, "Uncle, this is not appropriate. Not to mention those assassins, if my mother knew about this, she would probably break my legs."

Wei Yuan said in a deep voice: "It has to be this way. Now, your uncle is in a high position among the ministers. The court will never tolerate a civil official who has close ties with me ascending to the position of prime minister."

"You are different from Sheng Changbai. Sheng Changbai is Wang Anshi's disciple. In the final analysis, Sheng Changbai is much closer to him than to me. But you are my nephew, and this relationship is destined to be unbreakable."

"You must act like you are at odds with me. Only in this way can you become the ruler in the years to come."

"Not only that, from now on, you must obey Wang Anshi in everything, oppose me in everything, and listen to the words of those literati and scholars in everything."

"As long as you become the Prime Minister, my Hou Mansion and your Zhang family can help each other and stand firm."

"Today, you must keep these words that your uncle said to yourself. Don't tell anyone, even your mother, your father, your aunt, or your future wife."

"Half of the future fortune of our two clans will be entrusted to you!"

Making Zhang Bangchang the runner-up was just one of Wei Yuan's chess pieces for the future situation.

As the saying goes, all that goes up must come down.

Wei Yuan didn't want, and wouldn't let, such a thing happen in the Marquis Guanjun's Mansion.

Therefore, some planning should begin from now on.

Zhang Bangchang bowed solemnly and said, "Please rest assured, uncle. As long as I am not the prime minister, I will be at loggerheads with you or my brother Zhuang until death."

After that, Zhang Bangchang wrote a letter with his seal engraved on it. The content of the letter was the alliance between him and Wei Yuan today.

Although the relationship between uncle and nephew is strong, there are too many people who turn fake into real. In order to prevent any changes in the future, or Zhang Bangchang wanted to reassure his uncle, in short, no matter what the reason, he gave the letter to Wei Yuan for safekeeping.

It is equivalent to handing over one's life and property to Wei Yuan.

He believed that his uncle would never harm him.

However, Wei Yuan's next action also surprised Zhang Bangchang.

After reading the letter, Wei Yuan simply burned it.
"You and I are uncle and nephew. There is no need to do this."

"If the Guanjun Marquis's Mansion encounters disaster in the future, I also hope that you can live well."

"Because you are my nephew."

(End of this chapter)