Zhang Yuan and Concubine Li began to hook up.

Originally, Zhang Yuan's power was growing, but Qian Ning was not as good as her cultural level, and because of her low cultural level, she was greedy for life and feared death, and had shortcomings in her personality. Concubine Li was sure that this person could not become a great person.

Therefore, when Qian Ning was so mean and refused to obey the advice, Concubine Li could only turn to cooperate with Zhang Yuan. Although Concubine Li did not regard Zhang Yuan as a partner for long-term cooperation, she believed that the other party was just a villain who was just ambition and liked to show off his power, but in fact she was just a villain who pretended to be a tiger. But as long as the other party held great power, it was worth making friends.

Concubine Li regards her cooperation with Zhang Yuan as a stopgap measure.

It was March 23rd in a blink of an eye.

After four days of traveling, the 120-mile official road from the capital to Juyongguan was officially completed. The army was still very tired.

In Shen Xi's view, this section of road is mostly flat and straight roads, and there is basically no need to climb hills and bends. Two days is enough, but I didn't expect it to double the time than expected.

After entering Juyongguan City, Chen Xi thought about it carefully and realized that the situation was not good. Zhu Houzhao's leadership of troops to fight began to seem less reliable.

Look at Zhu Houzhao again. As soon as he entered the Guancheng, he moved into the guard command post. There was no palace in Juyong Pass. Zhu Houzhao was unwilling to continue living in the camp and suffered, so he chose to live in the official office with the best conditions here.

Chen Xi frequently met local officials such as Li Pin, and summoned Hu Songyue and Wang Ling's generals who had arrived earlier. The generals had simple ideas. They were in the narrow city of Guancheng and had to return to the saints. After all, this time they were accompanied by Zhu Houzhao in person. Seeing the emperor would definitely boost morale. This was also the greatest honor in the minds of the generals.

Unfortunately, Chen Xi could not satisfy their simple wish, because Zhu Houzhao seemed angry, and even Chen Xi went to ask for a meeting by herself.

Originally, Chen Xi wanted to explore the specific combat plan with Zhu Houzhao, but Zhu Houzhao chose to avoid it. Chen Xi could only write what he thought was in the book and prepare to find another time to present it.

That night, Xiao Taozi, the nearby servant next to Zhu Houzhao, came to Chen Xi to send a message.

"...Mr. Shen, please take more responsibility. Your Majesty was infected during the march and was in poor spirits. I am afraid that I will not be able to see you in a short period of time. I wonder when you are going to set off for Datong Mansion?"

Xiao Guozi did not come to convey the order, but asked Chen Xi about his plans.

Chenxi Road: "The military situation is urgent and urgent, so the Japanese officials in Ming Dynasty are ready to set off for Datong."

Xiao Tiaozi was a little anxious: "Are you too anxious? What if the Tatars rushed into the Wai Pass and happened to meet His Majesty's men?"

Chen Xi felt that this was not like the question raised by Zhu Houzhao, but Xiao Taozi was concerned about himself, and he couldn't help but feel sad. "The boy's ambition before was gone, but he disappeared in just four days after he left Beijing. Now even Xiao Taozi's concern for this war is louder than the slogans, and he wants to personally lead the emperor to establish eternal achievements."

Chen Xidao: "Don't worry... So far, there has been no news of the Tatars raising troops to the south. The Great Wall has been built in recent years, and the fortresses at all levels are under high alert. Even if the Tatars go south, there will be beacon towers to send messages, so you can be prepared in advance."

Xiao Zhuozi begged with a bitter face, "If you are not afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of one, Lord Shen, otherwise, you will lead your troops first and escort Your Majesty to Xuanfu all the way, and then send your troops to Datong, look..."

Chen Xi simply wanted to curse.

What is this requirement? Should I come to fight or escort the little emperor to travel around the mountains and rivers?

Just a few days after leaving the capital, the young man who had just patted his chest and said he wanted to go to fight to kill the enemy was completely courageous. He sang the opposite along the way, only caring about eating, drinking and having fun. At this time, Chen Xi finally recalled that Xiao Taozi's words should have been instructed by Zhu Houzhao... because Zhu Houzhao was afraid of death more than anyone else.

Chen Xi frowned and asked, "Is this your majesty's oral order?"

Xiao Tiaozi looked hesitant, and Chen Xi immediately knew that even if Zhu Houzhao didn't make the words clear, she hinted that Xiao Tiaozi said so.

After a while, Xiao Tiaozi finally gritted his teeth and said, "It's not your Majesty's will."

Chen Xi looked sternly: "I guess it would be the decree of Your Majesty... Your Majesty wants me to accompany you to Passage along the way, so what is the point of the imperial commander personally? I must arrive at Datong Mansion as soon as possible and lead troops out of the Frontier before the Tatars react. Your Majesty's central army does not need to be mobilized before getting the exact information of the Tatars. What are the dangers? "

"I have to escort my marches along the way, so I might as well not fight this battle so as not to go to the battlefield to look forward and backward and backward. That would be a loss of several soldiers to solve the problem!"

Chen Xi did not spoil Zhu Houzhao, and he scolded him.

Chen Xi felt a helplessness in his heart that he hated him for not fighting, but thinking that Zhu Houzhao was originally a flower growing in a greenhouse and he didn't expect him to have much ambitions, Chen Xi felt better... He was always his own student. If he didn't work hard, he would teach him well and not let go.

Small twisting is very difficult.

For Chen Xi, he could use a quit to put pressure on Zhu Houzhao, and a servant like him could only obey his orders.

Chen Xi puts pressure on Zhu Houzhao, that is, puts pressure on him.

Xiao Zhuozi said: "Mr. Shen, don't say the despicable words of retreating. We have arrived at Juyongguan, and all the food, grass, and people have been mobilized. Isn't it a joke for the withdrawal of troops now? Your Majesty wants face, and you also want face. Otherwise, from Juyongguan to Xuanfu, it will be a bit dangerous..."

Chen Xidao: "Your Majesty personally led tens of thousands of troops and horses to set out from Juyongguan. As long as you don't delay on the road, even if you walk a little slower, you can arrive at Xuanfu within three or four days. How could something happen? The one who accompanied Your Majesty was Hu Lian, the new governor of Xuanfu. He once served as the governor of Shandong and made great contributions to the local Xiangma. I believe that Hu Lian can protect His Majesty. After arriving at Xuanfu, the war will almost begin."

Xiao Tiaozi said bitterly: "That villain just went back to report to His Majesty..."

Chen Xi sighed: "Dude-in-law, I am not going to ask you a problem, but Your Majesty's current attitude is obviously lacking in predictions about future wars. As your Majesty's close minister, you should give more reminders to make Your Majesty feel a sense of urgency."

Xiao Zhuozi said with a sad face: "Mr. Shen, aren't you kidding? Where can I have the power to make suggestions to Your Majesty? If you, the ministers of the court, do the advice, do it. The villain is only responsible for spreading the message in the middle..."

Perhaps because he realized that it was useless to talk to Chen Xi, Xiao Guozi hurriedly said goodbye and left.

When Chen Xi was about to return to the door, he was about to turn back to the room when he suddenly found someone peeking nearby. Chen Xi took a closer look and found that it was Tang Yin, the dog-headed master who had just arrived at the job.

Tang Yin asked curiously: "That person just now... is his majesty's close servant next to His Majesty?"

Chen Xi did not answer and asked with a smile: "Why are Brother Tang in the mood to come and take a walk?"

Tang Yin came back to his senses, entered the house with Chen Xi, sat down, and asked, "I just wanted to come over and ask, how will Chen Shangshu arrange this battle?"

Chen Xi was stunned and thought to himself: "Although Tang Bohu is greedy for military merits, he will not be blind. He wanted to know my overall plan as soon as he arrived at Juyongguan. I must be worried that my troops will be extremely dangerous, right? Or maybe he heard some rumors?"

Chen Xi shrugged: "The specific plan cannot be leaked, and it is not time to implement it now. There are still many variables in it. Brother Tang, please forgive me."

Tang Yin showed a look of embarrassment on his face, and he wanted to speak but stopped. Chen Xi asked curiously, "Why did Brother Tang ask this? Did he know what news?"

Tang Yin said: "I heard that Shangshu Chen would not accompany His Majesty to Xuanfu, but rushed to Datong directly. This... is puzzling... Xuanfu has been a place that must be fought for by military strategists since ancient times, and it is also the throat of defending the capital and defending foreign invasions. At the same time, the court's money and food are mainly placed in Xuanfu. What is the map for going to Datong?"

Chen Xi looked at Tang Yin, and Tang Yin was also looking at him, as if he was full of doubts that needed someone to answer.

Tang Yin had long known that it was not easy to beg for food by Shen Xi, and Chen Xi would not be idle. He had been defeated by Shen Xi several times.

Chen Xi thought about how to speak, and then said: "Your Majesty will raise an army from Xuanfu, while I am ready to lead troops out of Datong and go deep into the grassland."

Tang Yin stood up in surprise when he heard this, widened his eyes and asked, "Does this mean that Shangshu Chen used his own men and horses as bait to lure the Tatars south, and his Majesty's central army, plus the troops from the northern frontier, surrounded and annihilated the Tatars in one place?"

Chen Xi smiled: "Brother Bo Hu's question is a bit whimsical? The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, and the grasslands are vast. It is not a good strategy to lure the enemy into depth... However, if the Tatars advance according to the situation that Brother Bo Hu said, it would be okay for us to deal with it like this!"

Tang Yin did not talk to Chen Xi and paced back and forth in the room.

When Chen Xi saw Tang Yin's reaction, he knew that using lies to deceive Tang Yin would not have any effect. It might be possible to deceive others, but it is difficult to deceive Tang Yin.

"Tang Bohu usually seems to be pedantic, but he rarely makes mistakes in the overall situation. He is a keen person with a keen sense of smell. But he is usually addicted to wine, color, calligraphy and painting, and he has no chance to show it."

Watching someone walking around in front of him, even if the partner is Tang Bohu, who is famous for historic history, was very boring for Chen Xi. After a while, he took the initiative to break the silence and asked: "Brother Bohu feels dangerous, you might as well leave by yourself. Anyway, you are just an aide I hired and you don't need to be responsible to the court, let alone a deserter."

Tang Yin glanced at Chen Xi, his expression gloomy and sunny.

Chen Xi thought to himself: "You have thought of the danger of this trip. I don't need to hide it. Now it's time for you to make a choice... Danger and opportunity coexist. You either follow me or go back to Beijing. Although it is dangerous to go to war, the rewards are great. If you become a deserter, you will not be separated from your career. We may also have to break our gratitude."

Tang Yin's face was full of embarrassment, and after a while, he made up his mind: "Why are you the one who is greedy for life and fears of death? But... After leaving the border, the grassland and the desert were deserted and vast, and the conditions were extremely difficult. In the next scholar, he was unable to adapt to it without the power to tie a chicken."

Chen Xi laughed in her heart, and with Tang Yin's speechless manner, Chen Xi could certainly hear the strong hint in his words: "I can go to war with you, but I want to stay in Datong Mansion and don't want to go out of the gates with you."

Chen Xi was pretending to be confused before, but this time he did not give Tang Yin any face and said directly: "If you can't adapt, you won't force it. If Brother Tang wants to make a fortune, you still have to take a certain risk. Wherever you go, Brother Tang must appear as my personal aide. Otherwise... Brother Tang would better leave as soon as possible, because the battlefield is not within the territory of my Ming Dynasty, but on the vast wasteland!"

Tang Yin frowned and looked at Chen Xi with a complicated expression.

Chen Xi said again: "Your Majesty needs to lead troops to Xuanfu alone. Juyongguan is where two groups of people divide their troops. I will go to resign from Your Majesty tomorrow morning. If you ask Brother Tang to answer tonight, it is really difficult. Why don't Brother Tang go back and think carefully? Let me tell you whether you are going or staying tomorrow?"

Chen Xi gave Tang Yin time to think fully.

He would not force others to go with him. It was impossible for Tang Yin to tie him up with a rope. He was simply a rebellious prodigal son. Tang Bohu's reputation in history was not about how knowledgeable he was, but his unruly madman's standard, which was unique in the hundreds of years of history of the Ming Dynasty.

Tang Yin looked at Chen Xi with a very painful expression, obviously he was undecided.

Chen Xi advised again: "Brother Tang should go back and carefully measure. The war is not a joke. It is really hard to get out of the frontier. You may lose your life at any time. Even if you win a battle, it is still hard to say how many soldiers will be sacrificed in the army in the end. The only thing that can be guaranteed is to take Brother Tang to serve in front of the tent and will not send you to charge. Besides... Haha, let's share the joys and sorrows, do you think?"

Tang Yin shook his head: "Rong Zaixia goes back and think about it...Shangshu Chen, he will leave."

After coming, he had a very different attitude, and Tang Yin almost escaped from Chen Xi's room.

...

...

Early the next morning, Chen Xi went to see Zhu Houzhao.

As Chen Xi said before, this time he would resign directly and lead him to go there, no longer walk along with Zhu Houzhao, and spend only his time.

Chen Xi would rather go ahead quickly than march with Zhu Houzhao. He valued the result of this war more. He was very different from Zhu Houzhao's attitude of winning, which was good but acceptable to defeat.

However, Chen Xi waited outside the Longqing Guard command post for nearly half an hour and was not summoned. Just when he was anxious, Qian Ning walked out of the gate.

"Mr. Shen, it's been a long time since I was gone."

When Qian Ning saw Chen Xi, he took the initiative to come forward to say hello, which made people feel that he was coming out to deliver a message on behalf of the emperor.

Chen Xi frowned: "Please ask the commander of Qian to come in and send a message. I must meet the saint as soon as possible and discuss the matter of sending troops."

Qian Ning smiled and said, "Your Majesty is tired all night last night. Now he is using breakfast. Let Bei Zhi come out and tell me. Maybe it will be done in a while... Haha, in fact, Your Majesty doesn't want to see Lord Shen. Lord Shen should know it clearly..."

When Chen Xi heard this, he was too lazy to talk to Qian Ning again. This person has never been a positive person in history. Even if he gained power for a while, he was still replaced by a new slander. He was a villain with only ambitions but no scheming and ideals, and his achievements were extremely limited.

Qian Ning said: "If Lord Shen wants to continue waiting, it may take a long time. Why not go back first? In another hour or two, your Majesty will be full and drink, and it will not be too late for Lord Shen to come back to see you again."

Chen Xi asked with a stern face: "I want to talk to Your Majesty about the important matters of the military and national affairs. What qualifications are you, the commander of the Jinyiwei, here to be accustomed to the Jinyiwei? Whether your Majesty sent you out to spread the message, please go there. I am too lazy to talk nonsense to irrelevant people!"

Chen Xi had a bad attitude and did not need to worry about his ex-mother, the commander of the Jinyiwei who was just listening to the leopard room. As the deputy commander of the army this time, he did not need to please such villains at all.

Qian Ning originally felt that he had entered the house and was unprecedentedly close to the peak of Quanli. Who knew that he was treated coldly at Shen Xi and felt that he could not bear to worry about his face.

Qian Ning shook his sleeves and said, "Since that's the case, Lord Shen will continue to wait here... Humph, Bei Zhi's kindness was regarded as a donkey's liver and lungs." After saying that, he left, Chen Xi could only stand outside the gate of the guard command post and watched Qian Ning disappear behind the door.

This made Chen Xi very speechless. No matter how humble Qian Ning's identity is, or if Chen Xi doesn't take the other party seriously, Qian Ning has the opportunity to see him at any time, but he, a first-rank official of the dynasty, could only stand outside the door and work anxiously.

Chen Xi had a pretty good temper and waited patiently outside the gate of the guard command post.

As Qian Ning said, Zhu Houzhao was silent and had no intention of summoning him for a while. Leaving seemed to be the best choice, but in order to show his respect for the emperor, Chen Xi could only continue to wait.
To be continued...