Chapter 1340

It was still the large mansion bestowed by Yang Jian previously, only now the plaque at the entrance had been changed to the Residence of the County Duke.

The children, already four or five years old, with the eldest even seven or eight, had been on the road for nearly a month and were incredibly uncomfortable. As soon as they touched the ground, they swarmed into the mansion, chattering incessantly.

Wang Yan hadn't even entered his home yet, nor had he had time to tidy up, when he was called into the Imperial City by those who had been waiting there early on. He went to the Eastern Palace and met the high-spirited Crown Prince Guang.

"Ziyan, haha, it really has been a long time." Yang Guang welcomed him warmly, patting Wang Yan's arm with appreciation.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly in high spirits." Wang Yan flattered him as usual.

After saying a couple of pleasantries like this, Yang Guang said: "War has broken out with the Turks, and the Prince of Han is in command of the troops. You know this, right?"

"I know. The person who delivered the decree said there was an intention to transfer me there. It was you who fought for this, Your Highness, right?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to be a Field Marshal? This time, I will let you command an entire army and have your fill of killing on the grasslands."

Neither of them mentioned that the authority over the navy, which Wang Yan had built single-handedly, had been seized, and that it would be impossible for Wang Yan to return to Yangzhou in this lifetime.

Yang Guang was already the Crown Prince, and Yang Jian was boldly delegating power, letting Yang Guang intervene in state affairs. At the moment, Yang Guang could almost be considered half an emperor. He was already considering his own empire and would not let a powerful minister appear among his subordinates.

Wang Yan asked: "Still going to Bingzhou?"

"Yes, you are more familiar with the situation there. This time, there is also an intention to support the Youbi Tribe. What is your opinion?"

After pondering for a moment, Wang Yan said: "Your Highness, supporting the Youbi Tribe is of no great use; it is just another Dulan, another Tuli. It can only bring temporary stability, but it is difficult to be worry-free forever. Those barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue; they are all people with the hearts of wolves, and they are really not worth it."

"It would be better to wipe out the Turks in one battle. At that time, move some Central Plains people into the grasslands and intermarry with the Turks. After a few generations, the Turks will truly become the subjects of our Great Sui. Moreover, effectively governing the grasslands can also give scholars from humble backgrounds a chance to become officials. If they can endure the hardships of the grasslands, they will certainly be able to accomplish something."

"When these people grow up, they will also be a force for Your Highness to clean up the powerful and wealthy families. They think that without them, there will be no one to be an official? Without them, our Great Sui will be in chaos? Without them, our Great Sui will only be better!"

Yang Guang was very satisfied with Wang Yan's intention to deal with the powerful and wealthy families, but he could not agree with Wang Yan's proposal.

He shook his head and said: "Ziyan, you are thinking too simply. Nowadays, our Great Sui can be said to be surrounded by wolves. Lingnan and Baiyue are not stable, and Tuyuhun has also been making a fuss recently. Last year, my useless younger brother led an army of 300,000 to attack Goguryeo and returned without success, which further fueled the arrogance of the barbarians, who frequently come to invade. Wiping out the Turks is not a task that can be accomplished in a day. In such a situation, it is really difficult to do so."

"I don't know about others, but if Your Highness sends me to take command, all the barbarians can be pacified."

Yang Guang laughed: "I know you have ambitions across the four seas. Don't be impatient; there will be a time for you to display your talents. Your proposal is good. Although we cannot completely wipe out the Turks, we can always start by effectively governing based on the Youbi Tribe. In this expedition, with the ability of you, Wang Ziyan, you will certainly be able to conquer a large territory, and advancing slowly is also possible."

"However, these are all secondary. The main thing is to beat down the tail that the Turks have raised for me and let them honestly be a dog that doesn't bark. It will also save the four barbarians from being rampant and all wanting to stroke the tiger's whiskers of our Great Sui."

"Yes, Your Highness. I don't know when the expedition will start, and what troops I will lead?"

"Don't be in a hurry. Wait for me to discuss your proposal with the ministers. You have traveled a long way by boat and carriage; rest well for a few days first, and wait for the Emperor to summon you. Go back."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wang Yan responded, then left the Eastern Palace and returned home to bathe.

While he was bathing, he heard someone report that Li Jing had come over.

Li Jing was truly a good friend and brother; otherwise, he had just returned today, and there was no way he could have come directly to the house like this. However, the timing was quite coincidental; they had returned at noon, and after a bit of a fuss, it was already afternoon, and it would basically be time for dinner before long.

Wang Yan didn't tidy up either. After bathing, he simply wore a loose and comfortable thin robe, with his hair still wet, and went to see Li Jing.

"Yaoshi, I trust you have been well."

"Thanks to your concern, elder brother, I am very well. Elder brother is still as spirited as ever." Li Jing laughed.

The two chatted and laughed as they went to the dining hall, where the family had long since had food and wine prepared, and they started drinking directly.

Li Jing naturally also saw through Wang Yan's situation. He asked: "The navy that elder brother built single-handedly has been carved up by others. Is elder brother really willing to accept this?"

Wang Yan shook his head with a wry smile. A person's experience determines their attitude. At the moment, Li Jing was asking him if he was willing, but he didn't think that later, when he followed Li Er, he wouldn't even close the gate of his house in his old age.

"Not willing, but it means death. Tell me, how should I choose?" Wang Yan took a sip of wine and said, "Although there is a vast world overseas, I still think of dying in China. Moreover, I was originally a small soldier from the ranks, and now I have reached the rank of County Duke. It is already a blessing from heaven, so how can I be reluctant to let go of power? Just to invite trouble for nothing?"

"However, Yaoshi can rest assured. Even if the authority over the navy is divided by others, elder brother still has some trusted brothers. I can't guarantee anything else, but your Li family's fleet will certainly not be affected."

Relying on the good relationship between Li Jing and Wang Yan, the Longxi Li family had long since integrated their family resources and followed Wang Yan out to sea to make a fortune. It was when the news was just making a clamor in the Great Sui that Li Jing used a letter with quite a bit of shame and embarrassment to request Wang Yan to take the Li family to make a fortune.

Li Jing shook his head: "I'm not worried about this, I'm just afraid that elder brother is not feeling well in his heart."

"That is Yaoshi underestimating elder brother. I originally had nothing, and now I have gained a lot. Elder brother is very content." Wang Yan turned to ask: "Why didn't you bring your wife?"

Li Jing risked great disapproval to marry Hongfu Nu, who was a singing girl in Yang Su's house. He also got to know Zhang Zhongjian, but Wang Yan had never met him.

"She is a bit embarrassed."

"Status not enough?" Wang Yan said with a smile, "What is this? You know I hate these things the most. Status is ultimately spoken with fists. Whoever has the bigger fist has the higher status. Nowadays, among the powerful and wealthy families, who still dares to look down on me? Even if they have cursed me to death a thousand times in their hearts, don't they still have to smile and send me gifts?"

"My family doesn't care about these things either. Those sisters-in-law of yours, there are princesses, imperial concubines of the Chen Kingdom, peasant girls, and daughters of disgraced officials—aren't they all doing well? Go back and tell her to interact more with my family in the future. In this vast Daxing City, the only ones I can trust are you and General Shi. With my status today, I certainly won't be able to take my family into battle in the future, so it's better to interact more."

"Good, I will bring her over later."

Li Jing responded and asked again: "Elder brother, is this time going to transfer you to fight the Turks?"

"That's the matter. I was just called over by the Crown Prince as soon as I returned. He said he would let me command an entire army this time. I'm going to beat the Turks from wolves into dogs." Wang Yan responded with a smile.

Li Jing was now a Vice Director of the Bureau of Equitation under the Ministry of War, responsible for managing cattle, horses, carriages, and post stations, which was a rank-six official position. Therefore, Li Jing could still come into contact with some military secrets, and there were already calls in the court, not just from Yang Guang's faction.

This was fighting a national war. Although the Great Sui could suppress the Turks and beat them, the civil and military officials in the court were also annoyed by the Turks, especially since the defeat against Goguryeo last year, and everyone was not very happy.

The Five Barbarians had thrown China into chaos, and now it was a legitimate dynasty of China again, so everyone's spirit was still very high. The defeat against Goguryeo could not be repeated against the Turks; otherwise, morale would plummet, which would have a huge impact. Where would the majesty of the Celestial Empire be?

So they thought of General Wang, who had the most brilliant battle record, and let him go to beat the Turks and beat them half to death. Even for the battle against Goguryeo last year, some people began to settle old scores, saying that Wang Yan should have been sent last year. He himself could have pierced through the Goguryeo army formation with a thousand or eight hundred elites, and could even have fought to the peninsula.

At the same time, this also led to attacks on the Prince of Han, Yang Liang, questioning his ability to command the army again to attack the Turks, and so on.

This looked like something Yang Guang did, because Yang Liang did not submit to his good brother, and Yang Guang certainly wanted to put eye drops on his good younger brother.

But no matter what, Wang Yan's combat capability was recognized by the ministers of the court, and everyone took it for granted that as long as he went to battle, he would be able to achieve different results. Even if he couldn't win a total victory, on the local battlefield, Wang Yan himself would definitely be able to press the barbarians and beat them.

This was also correct. After all, the battle that made Wang Yan famous faced even worse situations. He developed from 600 troops to 4,000 troops and dared to fight tens of thousands of Turks, and the key was that he won. There was nowhere to reason with that.

It was also after suppressing Wang Yan for so many years, and Wang Yan himself made a breakthrough with the navy, and Yang Guang became the Crown Prince, that it was seen that he could not be suppressed, and at the same time, the navy was carved up, which gave Wang Yan another chance to fight on the battlefield.

From the 9th year of Kaihuang to the 19th year of Kaihuang, Wang Yan also went from 18 years old to 28 years old, walking all the way...

There were not many bumps.

Wang Yan's own strength was still well accumulated, and he didn't really care whether he could go to the battlefield or not. As long as he developed, everyone from top to bottom would be his people, and the result would be the same...

"Elder brother has finally taken command of the expedition. Who knows, after this battle, elder brother will become a County Duke."

"Having a title is enough. Being too high is actually not good, as it will invite suspicion."

"Who in the world doesn't know elder brother's loyalty to the Crown Prince and the Royal Family?"

"Human hearts are easily changed." Wang Yan smiled, "No matter how loyal I am, I cannot stop others from slandering me, and I cannot stop others from framing me. So elder brother is not ostentatious either. I do what I am told to do, live my life steadily, and live a long and wealthy life."

He looked at Li Jing and turned to ask: "I know Yaoshi has strategies in his chest. Do you have the heart to fight on the grasslands and show what you have learned? Now that His Highness is the Crown Prince, there is no struggle for the succession as before, so Yaoshi should have no such worries."

Li Jing nodded. Yang Guang's position as Crown Prince was still very stable.

He also knew what Wang Yan meant. Their personal friendship didn't matter, but going to the grasslands to fight with Wang Yan was different, marking that he had become a member of the Crown Prince's party and had defected to Crown Prince Yang Guang.

Wang Yan said there was no previous struggle for the succession, which also meant that Yang Guang being Crown Prince was better than Yang Yong, and it was impossible for him to be deposed. This was also the consensus of the ministers.

Moreover, after Yang Guang became Crown Prince, he was extensively befriending the ministers and expanding his influence. Over the past two years, Yang Guang had already become very authoritative.

Li Jing pondered for a moment and asked uncertainly: "Is it feasible?"

"Why wouldn't it be feasible?" Wang Yan laughed, "Transfer you to participate in the war with me. You can be a Grand Commander and lead a thousand troops, follow me to kill a few times, and it will be easy to gain some merits. It just depends on whether you are willing to go. If you are willing, I will go and tell His Highness. His Highness certainly won't mind. After all, I am also a Grand General, and such things are just a matter of course."

"Good, elder brother, I will go with you!" Li Jing raised his head and drank the strong wine, very heroically.

Wang Yan laughed: "No need for this, it's as if you are rushing to die. We are fighting this war to live, to live better, not to die. Even if it is a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, what can it do? Slaughtering dragons and tigers is just a matter of course."

"The words of slaughtering dragons are taboo, elder brother, it is better to say less."

"It's just the two of us, what does it matter? Come, drink, cheers!"

Li Jing was still loyal to the monarch and loved his country, and also reminded his good brother to pay attention to his words. But he didn't know that his good brother was really holding a dragon-slaying knife and was going to do dragon-slaying things...

Drinking with Li Jing until midnight, the next day Wang Yan went to tell Yang Guang about transferring Li Jing to his subordinates. Yang Guang naturally had no more words and agreed to this matter very simply, helping Wang Yan operate, and also bestowed Li Jing a set of armor and weapons.

After another two days, Wang Yan was summoned into the palace.

It was not to see Yang Jian alone, but a large group of people who were advising on military secrets, including Yuwen Shu, Pei Ju, and others.

At this time, civil and military affairs were not separated, and one could not be enfeoffed without military merit. Those who could rank in the court, not to mention how well they could fight, were certainly able to fight. They all had some martial arts and understood some military strategies.

It was also at this time that Wang Yan's specific position was decided: he was to be the Field Marshal of Yanmen, commanding 20,000 troops, and the army would go out from Yanmen.

Summoning him over, the main purpose was that everyone wanted to know to what extent he could fight. This was not to force him to sign a military order, but to coordinate with the overall war situation and make adjustments and arrangements.

The reason was that the grasslands were too vast, and the battle line was stretched too long, from Bingzhou all the way to Liangzhou, from the north all the way to the northwest, spanning more than a thousand miles. The battlefield military situation and transportation were not smooth, and it was easy to have big problems.

The role of the Field Marshal is also here: to serve the overall situation, be flexible, and solve local problems, thereby affecting the overall situation.

Wang Yan's combat capability was too strong, and his command ability had also been tested. No one knew what level he could achieve with 20,000 Great Sui elites, and what impact it would have on the war situation.

So they wanted to know what was the minimum level Wang Yan could achieve, so as to mobilize other routes to cooperate.

It was just cooperation.

After transferring Wang Yan to participate in the war, famous generals who had been famous for many years like Yang Su and Shi Your Majesty were also overshadowed and had to serve as foils for Wang Yan. Wang Yan's achievements in military affairs had already caught up with Wei and Huo. He hadn't surpassed them because the Turks hadn't been wiped out.

Wang Yan naturally told the truth and gave them a bottom line.

The 20,000-strong army he was given to command had only 7,000 cavalry, and the rest were infantry. He guaranteed that after this battle, the minimum result would be that the infantry would all be riding horses.

With this, everyone had a count. The spoils of more than 10,000 horses must at least be that the Turks were killed or injured by 30,000, and the scope of operations must cover half of the grasslands. Combined with Wang Yan's past battle records, the number of Turks killed or injured would have to go up quite a bit. With this total calculation, Wang Yan himself would be able to handle 100,000 Turkic troops.

The total strength of the Turks was only a few hundred thousand, and that was in a state of all people being soldiers. Wang Yan defeating an army of 100,000 was basically equivalent to crippling the Turks.

For a time, everyone was very happy, and everyone wanted to win.

No one said what would happen if they lost. After all, Wang Yan's battle was the most dangerous, and if he lost, Wang Yan wouldn't be able to come back either.

Wang Yan didn't care about these things; he just looked at Yang Jian's face and gave Yang Guang a thumbs up.

Yang Jian's complexion was very bad, and he was visibly weak. Compared to when Wang Yan was enfeoffed in the past, it could be said to be a sharp turn for the worse, and it looked like he didn't have many years to live.

Yang Guang was still ruthless.

Sitting in the position of Crown Prince, Yang Guang's ambition could not be controlled. He was not willing to wait for his father to die slowly, not willing to be Crown Prince for more than ten years, and wanted to ascend to the throne as soon as possible to display his great ambitions, so he could only be sorry to Yang Jian...

?? Daily thanks to the good brothers who gave rewards, monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and silently read the book for their strong support!

? (End of chapter)