Chapter 1149

Because of these trivial matters, Chen Wuji was trapped in Hezhou for more than ten days, not a moment of leisure.

When he finally had time to go out, spring seemed to have already arrived.

If following the solar terms, this year's Beginning of Spring actually occurred before the year's end, but just after the Beginning of Spring, people's perception of spring was not that clear; now, the feeling of spring is especially intense.

The wind is gentle, the air is bright, and all scenery seems to have been overlaid with a warm, cheerful filter.

In the south, people find it hard to distinguish the four seasons by the cyclical sprouting of leaves and plants; the most intuitive way seems to be simply feeling it.

Chen Wuji brought the women of his household out of the city to enjoy an outing, playing wildly for two days.

After sitting long in the city, returning to nature, Chen Wuji simply enjoyed himself.

As for mountains and wilderness, to him, the closest description is probably just being close to them.

On the day of returning to the city, he received a new round of memorial submissions from the Huihe, as well as a very special letter.

Xie Fengxian and Cao Mu again tore through the hastily erected Huihe defenses, their blade tips pressing straight toward the Huihe royal court.

Qian Fugui and Feng Linchuan on the northern front also did not lag much.

They are now just one step away from the Huihe royal court, except they encountered the Huihe king's most elite direct lineage, which stalled their advance.

The Huihe king originally conquered his realm with this direct lineage; now, they have become his last trump card.

As for Yang Pojun on the eastern front, he remains the slowest in progress.

He encountered the largest counterattack since the campaign against the Huihe began, forcing him to abandon speed and continue with steady, solid advances.

In fact, regarding the eastern front, the Huihe king has already given up on it.

He openly told the major tribes: if you still wish to conceal your strength, then continue hiding it; anyway, the royal court is already at the end of its rope—better we all die together.

As a result, this one move of breaking the pot and smashing the sink actually ended up making him strike gold.

The various tribes, after totaling up, actually fielded an army of 140,000.

Though not a regular army, the numbers are huge!

When this enemy, nearly four times their own strength, appeared on the battlefield, Yang Pojun, even if he saw the enemy's immaturity, had no choice but to retract his blade's sharpness; moreover, such raw recruits often are the most unreasonable.

The Huihe now retain less than one-third of their territory, and Yang Pojun is also guarding against their dying counterattacks.

Overall, the Huihe War has progressed to this point and can truly be described as remarkably swift.

If no mishap occurs, the five generals of Yang Pojun will, because of this battle, erect for themselves a magnificent monument.

As for the slowness on a certain front, that is only relative.

Chen Wuji read the memorial submissions, ordered people to summon Wei Zhonghe and Zhuge Xun, then picked up the letter sent from the north.

The messenger was Gao Jianshen, Military Governor of Zhenning Army under Da Yu.

This man is one of the renowned generals of the current Da Yu dynasty, long stationed guarding the northern borders, with outstanding military achievements, called by the people the living Great Wall of northern Da Yu.

Gao Jianshen's letter is written tactfully, first lavishly praising Chen Wuji's achievements against the Qiang and Huihe, then proposing the idea of jointly urging Chen Wuji to loyal service.

As for Chen Wuji's domestic military affairs, he mentioned not a single word.

"Sir, someone here has given me a difficult problem!"

Chen Wuji raised his hand and handed the letter to Xu Zengyi.

The person on duty at the tent today is Xu Zengyi.

As the chief strategist and first Assistant Officer of the cabinet, Xu Zengyi enjoys many privileges; duty at the tent should by rotation not fall to him, but he himself volunteered for it.

"It's actually a letter from General Gao!" Xu Zengyi read the letter, his expression slightly moved.

"General Gao is an upright man; he led the Zhenning Army in guarding the northern borders for half a life, even if demoted, he bore no resentment, wholeheartedly serving the state—such a person deserves admiration."

Chen Wuji felt a headache: "It's precisely because I know what kind of person he is that I feel this headache!"

"Talking about loyal service at this time is indeed somewhat superfluous." Xu Zengyi said.

"The Emperor is still alive; loyal service can be discussed at any time, but why bring it up now? Knowing it has no meaning, yet he insists on occupying the moral high ground."

Xu Zengyi smiled: "If the lord agrees, it's fine—another nominal title isn't bad. Our army crossing the great river, advancing deep into Zhongyuan, still needs a long time; this period is enough for many things to happen."

"I worry I'll dig myself a pit." Chen Wuji said.

Xu Zengyi slightly nodded: "My lord overthinks; this pit will certainly not fall on the lord."

"My lord, are you really this certain?"

"My lord is the emperor-appointed Marquis Zhenyuan, moreover has a princess married in; His Majesty the Emperor, to deliver the imperial edict and princess to my lord's presence, has gone to great trouble. Once these matters are made public, they become a model of ruler-minister harmony—who would dare say no?"

"Indeed, this point was overlooked."

"My lord should accept this matter now, thus occupying the moral high ground."

"Then let's accept it, first see what they do. General Gao wishes to win over the feudal lords to loyal service, but those who come will likely be those with hidden motives; I, such a person, have impure thoughts—how pure could they be?"

Xu Zengyi nodded: "Probably only someone as purely good as General Gao would truly believe in it."

Chen Wuji picked up his brush to begin writing a reply to Gao Jianshen.

This letter, he must write personally.

Even if the attitude toward loyal service is perfunctory, Chen Wuji still holds deep respect for Gao Jianshen personally.

"Sir, are there any other urgent matters today?" Chen Wuji asked casually.

Xu Zengyi picked up the two memorial submissions on his right, placed them on Chen Wuji's desk: "There are two more things; General Chen Bushi sent a memorial stating that the affairs of the Lingnan prefectures and Shendu should be settled. He worries my lord, with one mind on the northern expedition, will forget the trivialities at home."

Chen Wuji scoffed: "How could I forget such large places? They're not just plots on barren mountains—this is what he had the nerve to say."

"Tell him I'll handle it; let him decide for himself. He still has troops—sixty thousand stationed in Nan Jun and the Tuntian Wei, not left there to idle; whenever he deems the timing right, he can mobilize at any moment."

"Also, remind my third uncle: the Gu Qi land should be made into a county. Prioritize the Nan Jun populace willing to migrate there, give them preferential treatment, such as doubled land, etc. —you two discuss this later. If there are outstanding performers in the Tuntian Wei, they can now be assigned accordingly."

Xu Zengyi accepted this: "If Gu Qi land becomes a county, how should the Tuntian Wei be handled?"

"These three Tuntian Wei are too special; they should continue to be retained."

Currently in Qiang Land, there are three Tuntian Wei, all under military administration.

Although they are also reclamation and garrison units, in substance they are penal colonies.

"There is also one matter: Fu Jiuyou of Bai Sha Jun sent someone to deliver an envelope, saying he wishes to discuss the matter of forming an alliance; this is his envelope." Xu Zengyi said.