From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 728

This meal was not in vain. Although there was a small episode of Xiaoying's whirlwind sweeping away the clouds, Zhou Yuan still gained something overall.

Wu Zhong is a talented person who is flexible and capable, and can be reused in the future.

His analysis of the Bozhou Xuanfu Envoy was very thorough, which coincided with Zhou Yuan's idea. Unless there was a big problem in the other party's mind, he would definitely come tomorrow at the latest.

Trusting the court is far more convincing than trusting the three chieftains.

In fact, both of them were right in their guesses. On the morning of the next day, the Bozhou Xuanfu Envoy came in a grand manner.

The reason why it was grand was because he brought 500 elite soldiers with him, and his momentum was very strong.

But the clever thing was that he was very humble. The 500 elite soldiers were outside the city, and he only brought a few personal guards into the city and went straight to the Xuanfu Division.

"I am Fang Qian, the envoy of Bozhou, and I am here to see the Grand Marshal!"

He knelt on the ground and said loudly: "I am honored to be received by the Grand Marshal. I am very nervous and I am still late after traveling all night. Please forgive me, Marshal."

Zhou Yuan looked at his white hair and narrowed his eyes slightly, saying: "Get up and talk."

"Thank you, Marshal."

Fang Qian stood up, bowed slightly, and said respectfully: "Marshal, I have been waiting for a long time."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "It is normal for 500 people to be a little slow. I walked for a whole day with 1,000 people."

Fang Qian said hurriedly: "Marshal misunderstood, I didn't know in advance that the marshal brought elite soldiers, so I arranged 500 people to protect the marshal's safety."

"If the marshal feels uneasy, I will immediately transfer these 500 people away."

Zhou Yuan looked at him and said slowly: "I went deep into the grassland and fought with more than 100,000 Mongolian cavalry. I have seen all kinds of scenes. Your 500 people make me uneasy? Fang Qian, do you think too highly of yourself?"

Fang Qian was so scared that he half-knelt down and said anxiously: "Marshal, please forgive me. I made a mistake and I have no other intentions."

Zhou Yuan He waved his hand and said, "I'm not in the mood to talk to you in an official tone. You've seen the situation in the southwest. The three chieftains are disobedient and always want to do something big."

"Little do they know that I don't care about this bunch of rabble, so I didn't even bring the five military camps here."

"The Bozhou Xuanwei Division has 30,000 troops, now gathered at the western border of Bozhou, eyeing the Yongning Xuanfu Division..."

At this point, he looked at Fang Qian and smiled, "What are you going to do? Are you going to rebel with the three chieftains?"

Fang Qian's face changed drastically, and he immediately said: "I have no such intention! I just analyzed the situation in the southwest and learned that Xuzhou Prefecture was in danger, so I sent troops to the west to support Xuzhou Prefecture."

Zhou Yuan said: "In danger? It seems that you not only think too highly of yourself, but also think too highly of the three chieftains."

"Since I, Zhou Yuan, am here, it is not Xuzhou Prefecture that is in danger, but the three chieftains."

Fang Qian wiped the sweat from his face and said: "Yes... the Marshal's reputation and achievements are well-known, and I admire him very much."

Zhou Yuan looked at him, put away his smile, and his face became serious.

He said in a deep voice: "Do you know why I came to see you?"

Fang Qian said: "I don't know... I think the Marshal must have military deployment."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said: "No, I don't have any arrangements for you, I just want to see you."

"See... me?"

Fang Qian was confused.

Zhou Yuan said: "Over the years, I have met many people. Han Tuo, the Marquis of Annan, who stirred up the two rivers, Zhang Bailong, the founding emperor who swept across the Central Plains, Sheng Ye, the governor of Shenzhou, who massacred Jizhou, and McPherson, the governor-general of Portugal, who occupied Haojing."

"Of course, there are also two generations of emperors of the Jurchens, Nurhaci and Huang Taiji, as well as Sabdan, the Great Khan of Mongolia, and Bartu, the Khan of the Khoshut tribe."

"All of these opponents of mine have great ambitions, vision and strategy. If they are to be called heroes, they may all be considered heroes."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan stared at him and said coldly: "I want to see if you want to be a hero too."

Fang Qian trembled, and felt that his heart was about to jump to his throat, and he didn't dare to stand up at all.

His voice was shaking: "Marshal! Duke! I... I am just a local official, working honestly for the court, and I dare not have any other thoughts!"

"Mobilizing the army under my jurisdiction to the west is purely to prepare for supporting Xuzhou Prefecture. When the marshal's order comes, I can arrive at the first time."

"Marshal, I am loyal to the court."

Zhou Yuan looked at him and said nothing.

The atmosphere in the room became frozen.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Yuan suddenly laughed out loud: "Haha! Don't be nervous, Lord Fang, I was just joking with you, get up and talk."

Fang Qian got up trembling, his whole bodyHe was sweating. It was the first time he met Zhou Yuan. But the murderous aura on him was indeed from the battlefield. It was really frightening.

Zhou Yuan said: "The crisis in the southwest involves ethnic issues and the unity of the Great Jin, so it is relatively complicated."

"But complexity does not mean great difficulty. If I don't care about ethnic unity and just send troops to kill them all, there is no need to think so much."

"Dozens of Portuguese cannons fired at those rebels. Can those mobs still hold their swords steady?"

Fang Qian trembled and said: "Yes, yes, the marshal is right."

Zhou Yuan said: "It's just that it's a civil war after all. I can't use such cruel means, otherwise your majesty's face will not go through."

"So next, your mission is here."

Fang Qian swallowed his saliva and said quickly: "Please tell the Duke, I will go through fire and water."

Zhou Yuan said: You personally lead 20,000 troops to the southeast, directly attack Zhenyuan Prefecture and Xinglongwei in Guizhou, and join Ji Shan's Huguang Army. "

"After the reunion, with Ji Shan as the main general, unify the forces, and directly attack Guiyang to the west, cut off the firewood, and raid An Fuman's hometown. "

"This task is very simple, I believe Lord Fang will not refuse."

Fang Qian hurriedly said: "I obey your order, and I will take Zhenyuan Prefecture and Xinglongwei in the shortest time."

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked at him, smiling: "Lord Fang, the court has just defeated Mongolia and Donglu, and you must not go down the road of no return at this time of reconstruction."

"This commander gave you a chance, and I will not give you a second time."

"Do you understand?"

Fang Qian trembled and nodded continuously.

His voice was dry and he panted heavily, saying, "Thank you very much, Marshal. I will definitely...complete the mission."

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "The military situation is urgent. You should return to Bozhou now."

"Yes."

Fang Qian stood up slowly, bent over and retreated carefully.

After leaving the Xuanfu Division, he quickly got on his horse and rushed out without looking back.

"Go! Retreat!"

At his command, five hundred elite soldiers immediately followed him eastward.

The sturdy deputy general rode beside him and couldn't help asking, "Sir Xuanweishi, what's the situation? What did that Zhou say?"

Fang Qian swallowed his saliva and gritted his teeth and roared, "He... he seems to know everything. I... I can't hide in front of him. It seems that I have been seen through."

"Too terrible, this person is too terrible. I have said long ago that we can't do anything reckless. How many big battles have they fought in the south and the north? Even Mongolia was defeated by him, what are we?"

"Anyway, I dare not rush into this muddy water."

"Be obedient and go to fight Zhenyuan Prefecture, maybe you can save your life."

There was still sweat on his face, and his mood was still restless. Thinking of the scenes just now, the other party was obviously very young and didn't say anything harsh, but he really couldn't stand this kind of pressure.

"No more fighting, no one can pull me in!"

He made up his mind to turn back.