Battle office.

When Pei Chengyi arrived here again, Li Jundu had already been waiting. Seeing that King Ying was not as fanatical as before, Pei Chengyi couldn't help but feel a little shocked. Most of the plan for the Five Routes Northern Expedition proposed at the Imperial Front Meeting that day was written by Li Jundu, and the winter attack proposed by Pei Chengyi did not integrate into it. Originally, King Ying was satisfied, but he never thought that the plan was not passed at the Imperial Front Meeting, and the concept of winter attack was mentioned again.

"Your Highness." Pei Chengyi took the initiative to say hello.

"General, don't need to be polite." Li Jundu smiled and said, "I thought the plan for the fifth-Road Northern Expedition would be passed, but I never thought that the emperor was so worried about avoiding the Manchu and Mongolian tribes from fleeing west. It seems that I had underestimated your proposal before."

Pei Chengyi said: "It's just a lucky person."

Li Jundu was not polite and said, "In the past two days, I personally asked a few Mongolian ministers. According to their statement, the grasslands in winter are inconsistent with ice and snow. Some years will cause snow disasters, with heavy snow, and some years, there will be no snow for many years. But whether the weather is beautiful is not done by manpower. I am worried that if we march in winter, it will be inconvenient to carry horses on cars and horses. If we encounter snowless weather, we should not get water at will. The Northern Expedition is about to be impatient. We can't wait for the weather this year, so let's wait for next year."

Pei Chengyi nodded. He had been planning this matter for the past two days, and had already been thinking about it. He said: "The grassland is wide, and the east and west are thousands of miles away. The weather is different from each other. We cannot generalize it. In the end, we will think that it is better to choose a key breakthrough. The Northern Expedition of the Five Routes, the Western Route Army has the most responsibilities. Whether it can take advantage of the winter weather, it is only possible to look at the Western Route Army. If you take care of the Five Routes, it will be difficult to achieve it."

After hearing this, Li Jundu's eyes were full of praise: "I mean that too. Come on, General Pei, please sit down, let's discuss it carefully."

Pei Chengyi sat down and said, "Although the emperor intends to advance in winter, it is not that simple to advance in winter. Should you advance in snow or advance in snow? Can Your Highness have a decision?"

Li Jundu expressed his thoughts: "I mean after snow, that is, in the mid-to-late December of the sixth year of the empire or the first month of the seventh year of the empire, the scale of the Western Route Army can be adjusted according to the thickness of the snow. If the snow is too thick, the advance army can be sent. If there is no snow or little snow, the Western Route Army can be directly set out. And it is also conducive to the cooperation of other routes. Although the Western Route Army advances first, it is conducive to blocking the retreat of the Qing court, if the other four routes, especially the Central Route Army, lag too much, it is easy to cause the Western Route Army to go deeper. If the Qing army sieges, there may be a major change."

Pei Chengyi thought carefully and felt it was reasonable, and said, "Since that's the case, we can report to the emperor in this way and the emperor decides."

Li Jundu nodded, waved his hand, signaling the staff and servants next to him to stay away, and said, "The general has been on the grassland for a long time and has a deep understanding of the facts and geographical environment of each tribe. During the Northern Expedition, when the general was by the emperor, I, as a son, would be relieved."

Pei Chengyi looked at Li Jundu's behavior and knew that he was insincere and must have hidden some cleverness, so he didn't dare to speak up. He just kept praising King Ying's filial piety. Seeing that he didn't let go, Li Jundu simply said: "General Pei, the five northern expeditions, the Western Army has the most responsibilities. I will lead the Western Army. What do you think?"

After hearing this, Pei Chengyi immediately understood what Li Jundu meant. Although the Western Route Army was going to set out from the Yunzhong Appeasement Zone, everyone knew that the most suitable person to lead this army was Pei Chengyi. Li Jundu just flattered him, just to let him follow Wang's patriarch and free up the position of the commander of the Western Route Army. If this position is empty, Li Jundu will have a great chance.

"Your Highness is joking. I, a small general, dares to argue with the Northern Expedition, especially when choosing generals and employing people, that is the emperor's choice. I think it's good, but the emperor may not think it's good, right?" Pei Chengyi said without any loss of water.

"If the general is willing to give me advice in front of the emperor, I will give you a good reward." Li Jundu simply made the words clear.

Pei Chengyi waved his hand: "I dare not, I dare not, the last general dare not take on this important task. But the last general thinks that Your Highness and the emperor are father and son. Your Highness have been in charge of military affairs and are famous for his reputation over the years. This national war, the emperor should use it himself. Why should the last general speak? The last general is so slight, so he is afraid that his highness will fall in love with him wrongly."

Seeing that Pei Chengyi would not agree no matter what, Li Jundu raised his eyebrows and snorted coldly: "This war is related to the century-old foundation of the empire. The Western Army is the most important thing. The general is not ignorant of it. If you don't help me, don't make any mistakes in the country. Seventy thousand troops are handed over to Huangkou's child. This is to bet on the national fortune!"

Pei Chengyi then realized that King Ying believed that he was the prince's party and was afraid of making suggestions to the emperor, so he handed over the Western Army to the prince to lead the prince. Pei Chengyi naturally would not do this, but he didn't want to argue and stood up straight: "Your Highness underestimated Pei. Pei was promoted by the emperor, so he can do this today. How can he harm the country and the people? Say goodbye!"

Pei Chengyi threw down this, turned around and left. Li Jundu looked at his upright back and murmured: "It turns out that he is a strong man. He is a party or a non-party person. It seems that he cannot listen to others' nonsense."

Imperial study room.

Li Mingxun sat opposite Li Dingguo on the kang and said, "The capital in this winter is cold. I haven't been overwintered in the south for many years. I miss it very much. Dingguo has been in Nanjing in recent years, and the winter is very comfortable."

Li Dingguo smiled, picked up the wine pot and put it on the two of them, and said, "Although Nanjing is warmer in winter than in the north, it is also very cold this month, and it is wet and cold, which is not easy to live. I heard that Shenjing is better, but it is also very difficult. If we talk about a place with a refreshing climate in winter, I think Kunming is better. It is like spring all year round. Unfortunately, the emperor cannot enjoy the comfort of Spring City. But I have to wait until the burden on my shoulders, I still want to go to Kunming to enjoy my old age. At that time, the emperor should not be held responsible for me. I have not sold the Qin Palace in Kunming. When Jundu was in charge of the southwest, he lived there. I heard that he had contributed to me a lot."

"You have a good idea, but is the burden on your shoulders so easy to remove?" Li Mingxun smiled and drank the warm wine and continued, "You just want to hand over your errands so much, don't you think about it for your descendants?"

Li Dingguo shook his head, looking a little lonely: "I don't want to think about it anymore. You know all my sons, I don't want to think about it anymore."

Li Mingxun suddenly felt regretful and shouldn't mention this matter. Li Dingguo had many children, but none of them really became powerful. This was nothing. After all, when he reached his level, his descendants were too capable, but they might not have the opportunity to show their talents. But Li Dingguo was a special one after all. After all, a large-scale liquidation after the establishment of the empire, a storm of old accounts was set off at the end of the liquidation. After all, the capital surrendered without a fight. Many senior officials of the Qing court surrendered.

Most of the people who fought against Li Dingguo in 2019 became prisoners. These people provided a lot of information about that year, especially the secret collusion between the Three Feudatories of the Southwest and the Qing court, including Li Dingguo's two sons, who had secretly communicated with the Qing court and wrote letters and other evidence. Li Dingguo's heroic life was swearing to fight the Qing Dynasty to the death. He never thought that his son would do such evil deeds. This not only made him lose face, but also couldn't get rid of his grudges in his heart, and he was always alienated from his sons.

(In the original history, after the death of Dingguo, Li Sixing and other sons surrendered to Shun Manchu Qing Dynasty, became the chief commander, and served as the general of Ningxia.)

Not only Li Dingguo, but Li Mingxun also minded this. He has never used Dingguo's sons over the years, and he just won't hold him accountable and will inherit the title of King Rong in the future. However, when this matter was brought up, Li Mingxun simply said another thing: "Dingguo, the Security Bureau sent a message about your youngest son. Siye may still be alive and is now imprisoned in Mobei."

"Really?" A light flashed in Li Dingguo's eyes.

Li Dingguo's youngest son Li Siye was captured during Jierharang's conquest of Yunnan, but the Qing court promoted that he surrendered voluntarily. When the Qing court gave up the capital and fled to the north of Mobei, Li Siye disappeared. He thought he was dead, but recently he received news that he was taken to the north of Mobei.

"He was really captured, not surrendered." Li Mingxun said bluntly knowing Li Dingguo's concerns.

"So what? People are in the hands of the Qing Dynasty, but they are treated as a card that threatens you and me, afraid..." Li Dingguo said, tears flashing in his eyes.

"I mean, get him back." Lee Mingxun said.

"How do you get it back?" Li Dingguo asked.

Li Mingxun said: "Swap the prisoner! I also discussed Ah Hai. The Northern Expedition is not a trivial matter, and you must make sufficient preparations. Therefore, political negotiations are essential. Perhaps it is possible to use the replacement of prisoners, negotiations and other matters to relax your vigilance. Since the combat office has decided on a plan for the winter march, we can do other articles this summer and autumn. I am planning to send a delegation to the north of the Mo River, and the replacement of prisoners can also be used as one of the conditions."

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid the Tartars lions will speak loudly!" Li Dingguo said: "What if they ask to replace Shunzhi?"

"Of course, I can't exchange Fulin, but if they dare to take this matter for it, I will tie Li Siye's life to Fulin. If they dare to kill Li Siye, I will kill Fulin." Li Mingxun showed a cruel look on his face, and he was determined to keep Li Dingguo's bloodline.

"In this way...If Li Siye can really come back, I..." Li Dingguo wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, feeling a little at a loss.

Li Mingxun waved his hand: "You and my brother don't say this, I really have a question to ask you what you mean."

Li Ding Guodao: "Master, I should know everything."

"I am over fifty years old and have been in the military service all my life. At this age, the royal family felt that they were unable to do anything. Sometimes the scenes of twenty years ago always popped up in their minds, but they couldn't remember what they ate for breakfast. I'm so old..." Li Mingxun sighed.

Li Dingguo immediately understood the emperor's problem, which was the matter of choosing an heir.

"Hasn't Junhua been chosen?" Li Dingguo asked. He remembered that the emperor had always been very determined on this issue.

Li Mingxun handed the combat plan that he had just handed over to Li Dingguo and said, "Looking at the masterpiece of the child of Junde, thinking about his past, I always feel that it is a pity to let him be a free prince. He looks so much like me, and it looks as if I look at him in a mirror. I can't help but think, if I were Junde, could I endure the rest of my life of mediocrity?"

"It's a pity, but this is also impossible. A country cannot have two masters. The merits of the King of the Kingdom are the world's most outstanding, but the Congress and the cabinet may not support it. In fact, I can say responsibly that there will be no one supporting it except the Senate. The House of Assembly has always been worried about this. King of the Kingdom is too arbitrary in doing things. Many people are worried that if he becomes the emperor, he is the real master of the nine fives, and he will be like a word..." Li Dingguo said.

Li Mingxun didn't know about this. The empire did have an emperor, but it did not implement the imperial system. If the British king ascended the throne, it would probably become an imperial system in the end. This is something Li Mingxun has always been worried about.

Li Dingguodao: "I think the emperor can have a good talk with Jundu. With his prestige in the army and among nobles, he will take over my squad and take charge of the Senate in a few years. At least he has something to do and can show his ambitions..."

Li Mingxun waved his hand, obviously not considering this option. He asked: "Is it better to participate in this Northern Expedition or not?"

"Hasn't he already participated? This plan was formulated by him." Li Dingguo was surprised.

Lee Mingxun said: "I'm talking about leading troops."

Li Dingguo took a deep breath and said bluntly: "It is best if only one of the princesses and the kings of England follow you in the north, and this person should be your heir."

Li Mingxun nodded: "I understand what you mean. Actually, Nanjing doesn't like Jundu, right?"

Li Dingguo thought about it and gave an answer that was more unexpected to Li Mingxun: "It's not that he doesn't like it, but that he's afraid. The King's degree makes people feel more terrified than the emperor."

"The dragon-slaying hero has become an evil dragon, what a pitiful child." Li Mingxun said with emotion.

Li Dingguo looked at the lonely emperor. The two of them were sympathetic and worried about their children. But compared to their own incompetent children, the emperor's worries were that the children were too excellent. He did not speak powerless words of comfort, but said: "Master, you are the hero of dragon slaying. Fortunately, you did not become an evil dragon, which is also the luck of the imperial subjects."
Chapter completed!