Chapter 630: Discussion [Bowing in thanks! Bowing again! 41k overdue]

At the end of the Xu hour (around 9:00 PM)

Imperial Palace,

On the palace wall,

Lanterns were hung under the eaves of the high gate tower, and under the lanterns stood the palace guards wearing armor, holding spears and carrying swords on duty.

"Creak."

The wooden door under the gate tower was opened,

Rong Xian, wearing military officer armor, his helmet even worn somewhat askew, stretched and walked out from inside.

"Clomp, clomp!"

The sound of fairly neat footsteps came,

It was exactly a team of palace guards patrolling past while carrying lanterns.

"I have seen the Commander."

The squad leader at the head cupped his hands at Rong Xian while walking.

After Rong Xian nodded, he took his personal guards, who were carrying lanterns, and walked down the brick stairs toward the palace city.

Arriving at the gate under the palace wall,

"Ha!"

"Giddyup!"

The shouting of whipping horses came from inside the palace city.

Soon,

The sound of hooves approached,

Watching the cavalry galloping past through the palace gate, Rong Xian yawned calmly, as if he were used to it, and turned to look at the guard junior officer on duty to the side: "Which batch is this leaving the palace?"

The guard junior officer cupped his hands: "Returning to the Commander, it's the seventh batch."

Rong Xian smacked his lips: "It looks like something big is happening!"

The guard junior officer on the side looked at Rong Xian with some admiration in his eyes.

Rong Xian looked at his subordinate's gaze by the candlelight and asked in confusion: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Commander, looking at your appearance... don't you feel nervous in your heart when you see this situation?"

"This humble subordinate saw the first batch of cavalry leave the palace and it was fine, but these later ones, the more I look, the more frightened I feel; it wouldn't be that the north and Northern Liao have started fighting, right?"

Rong Xian waved his hand: "This doesn't blame you; you only came these two months after all, so you are a bit inexperienced."

"Brother-in-law, listening to what you say, were there even bigger scenes before?" the guard junior officer continued to ask.

Rong Xian glanced at the junior officer sideways and said: "Cough! We are on duty; address me by my rank."

"Yes, yes, Commander!"

Rong Xian looked toward the inner court of the imperial palace and said:

"Before, when my close friend and good buddy, Fifth Young Master Xu of the Xu family, and that fellow Gu Tingye went to Beizhou, the scene was much bigger than this."

"Those few days, at this hour, more than a dozen batches of cavalry were released."

The guard junior officer's eyes were full of surprise: "Good heavens, more than a dozen batches."

Rong Xian nodded somewhat proudly.

"Commander, then do you know what happened today?"

"..."

After being quiet for a moment, Rong Xian widened his eyes: "Military secrets, ask less!"

The next day,

After the sky was bright,

There were many carriages and horses running around in the streets and alleys of Bianjing.

It was the important ministers of the court who had been busy in the palace all night, and by this time, almost all of them had returned to their respective mansions.

After obtaining the Emperor's permission, families in the capital began to communicate news to each other.

Jiying Lane,

Sheng family,

In the school,

Scholar Zhuang sat on the Luo Han chair in front of the screen, looking at his student Sheng Changbai, who was closest to him, with a frown.

At this time, Changbai was looking at the book in his hand, but one could tell from his eyes that his mind didn't know where it had drifted.

Withdrawing his gaze from Changbai, Scholar Zhuang looked at the others in the school, especially stopping a few times on Zaizhang and Xu Zaijing.

Just as Scholar Zhuang was about to speak,

Outside the school,

A gatekeeper servant of the Sheng family walked over quickly.

After standing still at the door, the servant bowed and cupped his hands: "I have seen the Scholar! There is a steward from the mansion of the Kaifeng Prefecture Magistrate, Lord Gu, who has come to visit."

Feeling the gazes of everyone in the school, the Sheng family servant didn't dare to look back, just lowered his head deeper and deeper.

"Please come in."

"Yes, Scholar!" After the Sheng family servant finished speaking, he walked outside quickly.

Scholar Zhuang stood up, unfolded his folding fan, and said: "Everyone, let's read the books first."

As he spoke, he walked out from behind the table and walked outside.

Just as Scholar Zhuang left the school, Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and others began to whisper to each other.

"Yuanruo, when will your servant Buwei come back?"

Qi Heng shook his head: "Second Uncle, Buwei went to my maternal grandfather's house when I came to the Sheng family; by rights, he should be back by now."

Changfeng, who was behind Qi Heng, interrupted: "Little Duke, can Buwei really find out what happened in Northern Liao?"

Qi Heng nodded, turned around from his left side, took the opportunity to look at Minglan, and said: "As long as my maternal grandfather knows, he will definitely tell Buwei."

Gu Tingye on the side nodded with a smile: "That's good!"

As he spoke, Gu Tingye looked outside and said: "I don't know what the steward from Lord Gu's mansion is looking for Scholar Zhuang for."

Changbai, who was at the front, looked at Scholar Zhuang's back and then looked at his brother-in-law Zaizhang.

Looking at Zaizhang's expression, Changbai thoughtfully looked at Xu Zaijing again.

Subsequently, Changbai turned around, looked at the book on the table, and nodded lightly as if he had made some decision.

After a long while,

The sound of footsteps came,

When everyone looked outside,

It was Qi Heng's servant Buwei, walking from outside the courtyard with a slight bow.

Seeing Buwei,

Gu Tingye and Changfeng's eyes lit up.

After Buwei entered the school, everyone only asked two questions.

"Cough."

A light cough came from outside the school; Scholar Zhuang was frowning, his face solemn, hands behind his back, and his eyes full of thoughtful expressions as he walked back into the school from outside the courtyard.

Gu Tingye and the others also hurriedly stopped talking and looked at Scholar Zhuang.

Looking at Scholar Zhuang's face, Gu Tingye turned his head and exchanged glances with Xu Zaijing, his eyes full of the meaning: "Jing Ge'er, something big wouldn't have happened, right?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head lightly, not knowing if it meant "I don't know" or "No."

Walking to the Luo Han chair and sitting down, Scholar Zhuang looked at everyone in the school, his gaze sweeping over Buwei at the very back, his brow relaxing slightly, and he said: "Everyone, I think you must have already known that a big event happened in Northern Liao recently."

Xu Zaijing and the others nodded one after another.

"Then, does anyone know the specific reason?" Scholar Zhuang asked.

Gu Tingye and the others all shook their heads, while Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang just looked at Scholar Zhuang.

"Just a moment ago, a friend of mine sent someone to pass on the news about the reason for the Northern Liao matter."

As soon as Scholar Zhuang said this, everyone in the school looked over.

Changbai straightened his body, looking like he was listening attentively,

Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and Changfeng looked at Scholar Zhuang with disbelief in their eyes.

The expression of "Scholar, tell us quickly" was about to "shout" out from their eyes.

Scholar Zhuang waved his folding fan, signaling everyone to be calm, then looked at Buwei in the back and said: "That personal servant of Yuanruo is called..."

"Scholar, he is called Buwei," Qi Heng shouted.

"Right! Buwei, I heard from Yuanruo just now that you went to the Marquis of Xiangyang's mansion; do you know the ins and outs of the matter?"

Buwei stood up, bowed and cupped his hands in a salute: "Returning to the Scholar, the Old Marquis told this humble one some things."

Scholar Zhuang nodded and said: "Good, you tell us what you know first."

"Yes, Scholar."

Buwei bowed and agreed, then bowed and saluted Xu Zaijing and the others, saying: "The Old Marquis said that the Northern Liao Zhao family and the Mongol tribes..."

Listening to Buwei's narration, everyone in the school, except for the Xu brothers, showed surprise.

After Buwei finished speaking, Scholar Zhuang waved his folding fan to signal Buwei to sit down and said: "He said it very well; what I know is also like this."

"Scholar, this, this is too bizarre! The Lu Long Zhao family was entrusted by the Northern Liao imperial clan to negotiate peace with the Jin Kingdom; for the Mongol tribes to do this, doesn't it mean they don't put the Northern Liao imperial clan in their eyes?"

Before Scholar Zhuang could ask a question, Gu Tingye was the first to speak.

While speaking, Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing with eyes full of consultation and agreement.

It was a matter of exchanging glances, but looking at Xu Zaijing's expression, Gu Tingye hesitated and said: "Jing Ge'er, you wouldn't have known about this long ago, right?"

Xu Zaijing nodded lightly with an apologetic look in his eyes: "I knew a little bit earlier than you, Second Young Master. It involves secrets; if the palace doesn't speak, I can't say much either."

Gu Tingye nodded helplessly, then turned to look at Scholar Zhuang.

Scholar Zhuang put down the folding fan in his hand, picked up the teacup and took a sip, and said: "Regarding this matter, everyone, if you have anything to say, feel free to speak your mind."

Qi Heng frowned and said: "Scholar, the student thinks that for the Mongol tribes to dare to do this, they simply view the Northern Liao nobles and generals as nothing!"

Gu Tingye shook his head and said: "Yuanruo, I heard that before the Mongol tribes sent troops, Northern Liao fought the Jin Kingdom time and time again with more against fewer, but they were defeated time and time again! The Northern Liao old Emperor was chased and killed by the Jin Kingdom army; it's only natural that people don't put their noble families in their eyes."

"But it is important that they don't take the Northern Liao imperial clan seriously."

After the two finished speaking,

Changbai, sitting in the front, said: "Scholar, the matter has already happened; the student feels that we should be more concerned about what will happen next and how the Northern Liao imperial clan will handle this matter."

Zaizhang looked at Changbai with great appreciation and said: "Scholar, the student feels that Changbai is right."

Changfeng, sitting behind Qi Heng, also joined in: "Scholar, the Lu Long Zhao family is a family of Northern Liao generals; such families were almost killed off, and other noble families in Northern Liao will inevitably feel sad for them! It is a good time to win them over."

Hearing this, Scholar Zhuang rarely nodded at Changfeng with appreciation.

Seeing this scene, a smile appeared on Changfeng's face.

Scholar Zhuang looked at Xu Zaijing behind Gu Tingye and said: "Zaijing, all the classmates have spoken; why are you silent?"

Xu Zaijing sat and bowed slightly, saying: "Scholar, the student is thinking about what will happen next, just as Changbai said."

Scholar Zhuang smiled slightly and said: "Oh? Then what have you thought of?"

Listening to Scholar Zhuang's words, everyone in the school looked at Xu Zaijing.

At this time, Minglan could also openly stare at Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing said: "Scholar, the student is thinking that this time the peace negotiations between Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom have failed, and we can know about the Lu Long Zhao family matter in Bianjing; I think the Jin Kingdom knows about it even earlier than us."

"Negotiating peace, negotiating peace; given the current situation and the Jin Kingdom's military edge, I think Northern Liao is the side that will make concessions and abandon part of its territory!"

Qi Heng looked at Xu Zaijing with confusion and said: "Jing Ge'er, why would you make such a guess?"

Before Xu Zaijing could speak, Gu Tingye smiled: "Yuanruo, the Jin Kingdom and our Great Zhou are separated by the sea; there is no land connection. Hehe, Northern Liao is different!"

Qi Heng suddenly realized and hurriedly nodded: "Second Uncle is right; it was I who thought wrong! Now our Great Zhou's northwest strong army is gathered, with strong soldiers and sturdy horses; if there is a slight chance of war, we must recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Qin Yan Yun!"

Gu Tingye nodded with a smile.

Scholar Zhuang took a deep breath with some longing and drank some tea.

Xu Zaijing also smiled and said: "Yuanruo is right; the Jin Kingdom is the side about to get benefits, and with the Mongol tribes making such a fuss, I think they didn't get any benefits either."

"With the Jin Kingdom sharpening their weapons and resting their troops, seeing that Northern Liao and the Mongol tribes have such a rift, they are going to open their mouths and bite a piece of meat off Northern Liao."

"I think the Jin Kingdom will also, as Changfeng said, increase their efforts to recruit Northern Liao's general families."

Scholar Zhuang put down the teacup, stroked his beard and said: "Zaijing, then do you think there will be people in the Northern Liao state who will defect to the Jin Kingdom?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Scholar, there will be people who will defect, and there won't be few!"

Gu Tingye's eyes rolled, and he clapped his hands on the side, saying: "Jing Ge'er is right! In that case, wouldn't the east of Northern Liao fall into a mess?"

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "The best situation is exactly what you said, Second Young Master!"

"Therefore, Scholar! The student thinks that at this time, our Great Zhou should take advantage of this situation and let the Northwest Army move forward and press in! If Northern Liao doesn't want to fight on both the east and west sides, I think..."

Before Gu Tingye could continue to clap and agree, Xu Zaijing shook his head again and said: "I think our Great Zhou must first win a victory; the object of Northern Liao's peace negotiations will be our Great Zhou!"

Gu Tingye and Qi Heng looked at each other and asked in confusion: "Jing Ge'er, why isn't it directly negotiating peace with our Great Zhou and then ceding Huanzhou to us?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingye and said: "Second Young Master, Northern Liao will only know if they can beat us after fighting a battle, and whether they should negotiate peace and cede territory."

"Only when they know that if they don't negotiate peace and cede territory, they may face the danger of national destruction, will they talk to our Great Zhou about this matter."

After thinking about it, Xu Zaijing added: "After all, things you can't get on the battlefield, you won't get at the negotiating table either!"

Changfeng nodded repeatedly, saying: "Jing Ge'er is right! I think we can also unite with Jin to destroy Liao; that is also an excellent move!"

Hearing this,

Scholar Zhuang, sitting in the front, looked at Xu Zaijing's expression and said: "Zaijing, why does it look like you don't quite agree with what Changfeng said?"

Qi Heng, who was also nodding, turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing in confusion.

Gu Tingye looked back at Xu Zaijing and said: "Jing Ge'er, I think Changfeng makes some sense!"

Xu Zaijing took a deep breath and said: "Our Great Zhou can destroy Liao by ourselves; why should we pin our hopes on the Jin Kingdom?"

Looking around, Xu Zaijing looked at Changbai, who also turned his head, and said to Gu Tingye: "Second Young Master, before, when the Jin Kingdom envoys came to Bianjing, we witnessed their skills on the polo field!"

Gu Tingye shook his head and said: "Jing Ge'er, those were just the elite soldiers and warriors around the Jin Kingdom nobles; not everyone is that powerful!"

Xu Zaijing said: "Second Young Master, we cannot think of the enemy as weak!"

Gu Tingye thought of the Jin Kingdom warriors he had witnessed on the polo field and nodded: "Jing Ge'er, what you say makes sense!"

After reacting, Gu Tingye added: "Jing Ge'er, you said the Jin Kingdom is an enemy?"

"A future enemy," Xu Zaijing added.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 631 =====

Xu Zaijing said: "Second Brother, we must not think of the enemy as weak!"

Gu Tingye thought of the Jin State warriors he had seen on the polo field earlier and nodded: "Jing Ge'er, what you say makes sense!"

After realizing it, Gu Tingye added: "Jing Ge'er, you said the Jin State is an enemy?"

"A future enemy," Xu Zaijing added.

(End of chapter)