Chapter 1671: War of words

Chen Guanfu entered the Secretariat, and Marquis Pingjiang remained in the Northwest to command the troops.

Emperor Yuanding did not agree no matter what.

The former could be compromised, but the latter absolutely could not be compromised.

He turned against Xie Changling on the spot, almost pointing at Chen Guanfu's nose and cursing the Chen family as rebellious subjects.

Chen Guanfu completely disregarded the Emperor's life and death, saying sonorously: "My father works hard for the country, giving his all until his heart stops. His greatest wish is to guard the Northwest until he dies, never letting the Hu people take a single step. My father is a loyal official of the Great Gan, and his loyalty can be witnessed by heaven and earth. This minister dares to ask Your Majesty, why suspect a heavy official who has made contributions to the country? If Marquis Pingjiang has ulterior motives, I dare to ask Your Majesty, among the civil and military officials in the court, who else dares to say they are loyal officials? They are not worthy!"

"Balancing the Marshal of the troops, lifting the military power of the commander after the war, letting the war zone return to normal, and letting the people rest and recuperate, this is an eternal rule. Official Chen, don't be unreasonable! His Majesty is not suspecting, but sympathizing with Marquis Pingjiang for being old and frail, and he should return to the capital to retire and enjoy family happiness. Letting the old Marquis continue to worry about the country's major military affairs until he dies without peace, this is the true harsh treatment."

As expected, Zhao Jichong, as the Emperor's lackey, was the first to stand up and charge for the Emperor.

He spoke with justification, counting his treasures, citing examples, and displaying the foundation of many years of reading. It seemed he wanted to crush Chen Guanfu from the perspective of scholarship.

Emperor Yuanding felt comfortable immediately.

In the past, he faced the ministers alone.

After ascending the throne for more than a year, finally someone shared his worries and worried about what he worried about.

He was refreshed and his attitude was peaceful. "Official Chen misunderstood me! How could I not know that the Marquis is a heavy official of the country and the Dinghai God Needle of the Northwest. However, the Marquis has been in the Northwest for more than ten years; in his twilight years, how could I have the heart to let him continue to suffer in the Northwest."

Chen Guanfu was impervious to oil and salt, standing firm in his position.

The Emperor wanted to cross the river and tear down the bridge, taking away the military power in the Marquis's hands; that was absolutely impossible.

The Chen family started with military merit, and military merit is the foundation of their standing; how could they let the Emperor manipulate them?

He said solemnly: "Your Majesty, please see clearly! The Chen family only has loyal officials, and my father plans for the country with all his heart, not sparing his body. Your Majesty's kindness, this minister accepts on behalf of my father. However, compared to retiring, the Northwest is more important. I hope Your Majesty will allow my father to continue to stay in the Northwest to cut and reorganize the troops!

Various problems in the border troops have accumulated for a hundred years, and it is time to take advantage of the great victory to reorganize them. Missing this opportunity, I am afraid we will have to wait another hundred years. By then, what the border troops will become, and whether they will still be the strongest troops of the court, is hard to say. The corruption of the border troops and the weakening of combat effectiveness are not just talk, but problems that truly exist. In this regard, the Minister of War knows best."

Emperor Yuanding was so angry he died.

He remained silent, his eyes venomous, and in his heart, he was extremely hateful towards the Hou Fu and the Chen family. If there was a chance, he would definitely eradicate the Chen clan.

Zhao Jichong, as a lackey, worried about what the Emperor worried about, and decisively retorted to Chen Guanfu.

"Reorganizing the border troops is the concern of the Ministry of War; don't bother Marquis Pingjiang. Official Chen, don't be self-righteous."

Chen Guanlou sneered, mocking: "Official Zhao doesn't understand military affairs, only reads sage books with all his heart, and his brain is read stupid; I don't blame you."

This is a personal attack!

Zhao Jichong was furious. "Is Official Chen dissatisfied with this old man?"

Chen Guanfu smiled half-heartedly, mocking without concealment: "Not so! This official just doesn't have the patience for someone who doesn't understand but pretends to understand, thinking that after reading a few military books, he can stand high and point fingers, and then give the Emperor bad ideas. Dare I ask, if an accident happens and the border troops mutiny, can you be responsible? Is your head worth that much money? Enough to be cut a few times!"

"Absurd!" Zhao Jichong was furious, scolding the other party: "According to you, without Marquis Pingjiang in the Northwest, the border troops cannot be reorganized? Where do you place the court and the Ministry of War? Official Chen, this old man reminds you, the Northwest is the Great Gan's Northwest, and the border troops are the Great Gan's border troops."

"Official Zhao, I also want to remind you, you have no evidence, maliciously misleading His Majesty and the ministers of the court, causing the ministers to suspect Marquis Pingjiang's loyalty; you deserve to die!" Chen Guanfu's eyebrows pressed down, his momentum aggressive.

Both sides were at daggers drawn, looking like they would fight if they didn't agree.

Xie Changling frowned, preparing to persuade them.

He didn't expect Emperor Yuanding to be one step faster. "Presumptuous! Official Chen, threatening and intimidating Official Zhao in front of me, what is the reason?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister is not threatening or intimidating. Reorganizing the border troops, this matter sounds simple, as if it can be done just by controlling money and food. In reality, it is extremely dangerous. Official Zhao doesn't understand military affairs, let alone what kind of existence the border troops are, spouting nonsense, clearly harming the country and the people. Once the border troops mutiny, the harm is several times more terrifying than the Hu people. On this matter, Your Majesty can consult the Minister of War; this minister has not exaggerated in the slightest, it is all seeking truth from facts."

Chen Guanfu was neither humble nor arrogant, his words were sharp, and every word was putting eye drops on Zhao Jichong.

Zhao Jichong gritted his teeth, wanting to rush up and tear Chen Guanfu apart. But he was stopped by a look from Emperor Yuanding.

Emperor Yuanding took a deep breath, suppressing the heat in his heart and the desire to kill to vent his anger. "Ministers, on the matter of reorganizing the border troops in the Northwest, do you have any ideas?"

The Minister of War stood out without hesitation, presenting facts and speaking data...

Talking about how harmful the border troops are and how dangerous it is, the Emperor didn't understand. After all, there was no personal experience.

Then present data!

From farmland, grain, military equipment, local public security, military and political aspects, people's livelihood and economy, take out practical data.

To avoid the Emperor thinking too much, he also turned over the data from twenty years ago, before the Northwest war started, and compared it with the current data, knowing that the Northwest had long been rotten.

When fighting, the border troops were indeed very brave, the most capable army of the court.

When at peace, the border troops were the greatest harm to the entire Northwest region, none other.

The horse bandits, bandits, and mountain bandits there, when they met the border troops, also had to bow their heads and pay tribute.

Cases of border troops harming the local area were piled up on the desk of the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War had a sum of military expenses every year, which was harmed by these trivial matters.

"The border troops have a wild temper, don't listen to orders, and act on their own. The military heads of the border troops in various places are comparable to warlord heads, acting recklessly, occupying mountains as kings, occupying people's farmland, and bullying the people. Over the years, because of the war, these people were restrained during the war, and the local area was still peaceful. Once they rest, the local area will suffer. The border troops have reached the point where they must be reorganized.

Prime Minister Yu also wrote several times that if the border troops are not reorganized, twenty years later, these border troops will become veritable local warlords, and then threaten the court. At present, to reorganize the border troops, only Marquis Pingjiang, who has the momentum of a great victory, can control the situation. Otherwise, the border troops can swallow the people of the Ministry of War alive!"

"They dare!" Emperor Yuanding was furious, immediately smashing a teacup.

He never expected that the strongest troops under his rule would be in such a state, listening to the tune but not the announcement, all rebellious subjects. Also playing the local warlord set.

"Marquis Pingjiang has been in the Northwest for so many years, hasn't he reorganized them?"

"Your Majesty misunderstood. It is precisely because Marquis Pingjiang has been reorganizing and controlling them for many years that the border troops have not gone their own way. The autumn offensive last year could be a great victory! Marquis Pingjiang spent more than ten years of effort, and these border troops were barely gathered together to cooperate with the court's offensive strategy, not dragging the friendly forces down." ===== CHAPTER 1672 =====