Chapter 362: Seeing the State Letter Again

Guangxi Provincial Governor's Office.

"This is the state letter sent by the Annam people; everyone, take a look!"

Zhang Sihan said with a furrowed brow.

He had also heard about the detention of the Annam delegation.

Daring to call themselves the Great Viet Empire without being dragged out for slow slicing, the court had already given the Annam King enough face.

Never imagined that the Annam King would not appreciate it at all and would dare to make trouble.

"Unreasonable!"

"The Annam people are bullying our Great Dayu for having no one!"

"The minister will definitely report to the court and send troops to crusade against the disobedient!"

Provincial Administration Commissioner Jia Bo immediately scolded angrily.

The content of the state letter was too explosive; not only did they consider themselves the Great Viet Emperor, but they also demanded that the Great Dayu release the delegation members and demanded that Emperor Yongning personally go to Thang Long City to plead guilty.

If they did not do as required, they would bring fifty thousand troops to question the Great Dayu.

Although he didn't know where the Annam King got the confidence to threaten the Great Dayu, it didn't affect him expressing his stance.

"Minister Jia's words are correct; the Annam King is rebellious and already has the way to take death.

Fellow colleagues, let us jointly report to the court and ask His Majesty to send troops to crusade against Annam!"

Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Zhou Zhenbang followed closely.

Because he offended people in the early stages, his days in office were always bad, basically in a state of being sidelined.

Not being kicked out was because everyone gave his backing face.

Encountering such a sensitive political issue, naturally, he had to actively express himself.

"Minister Zhou, calm down first; this state letter is too suspicious.

The Annam King just succeeded to the throne, and the internal problems have not been sorted out; under normal circumstances, he should not provoke our Great Dayu.

Send someone to verify it first; it is possible that someone is faking it, attempting to provoke a war between us and Annam."

Zhang Sihan hurriedly persuaded.

The previous delegation case was outrageous enough, and the current state letter is even more outrageous.

He knew the Annam people were ambitious, but ambition does not represent strength.

In recent years, the Annam King has been conquering everywhere and expanding a large territory.

The domestic area has not been digested yet; provoking the Great Dayu at this time has no benefit for them.

The court suppressing the delegation case with cold treatment was also because they saw the problems and didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

"Provincial Governor, this is not the subordinate making a mountain out of a molehill.

The Annam people are arrogant and have never put the court in their eyes.

Internally, the Annam King has always called himself the Great Viet Emperor; these are public news.

Just find a few Annam people to ask, and you can confirm that the Annam King is rebellious.

For a rebellious person, it is possible to do anything bizarre.

If we don't report to the court quickly and prepare for the enemy in advance, once the enemy kills their way over, it will be very troublesome!"

Zhou Zhenbang immediately pressured.

Whether the state letter is true or false, he doesn't care at all.

Even if someone carved a radish jade seal and stamped it, he would treat it as true.

The bigger the matter, the more chance there is to break the current power structure.

Anyway, he has been sidelined; no matter how the situation develops, it won't be worse than it is now.

Deep in his heart, he had already made up his mind. If everyone was unwilling to join, he would poke the matter up himself.

No advantage in ability, then prove yourself in loyalty.

Being an official in the Great Dayu dynasty, persona is more important than political achievements.

"The court definitely needs to be reported to, but the authenticity of the state letter remains to be verified.

In order to ensure nothing goes wrong, in the name of the Provincial Governor's Office, send someone to deliver the state letter to the capital and ask His Majesty to decide."

Zhang Sihan said with a furrowed brow.

His term as Provincial Governor is about to expire.

With the merit of changing soil and returning to flow, promotion is a nail on the board.

After surviving these last two months, either return to the capital to take office or change to a rich province to serve as Provincial Governor.

There are still people in the court who want to push him up to serve as the Viceroy of the Two Guangs.

Like the Marquis of Wuyang, who concurrently holds two major viceroys, it belongs to a special situation in wartime and cannot become the norm.

Once the rebellion is suppressed, they will definitely give up a position.

Similarly, there are three, six, and nine grades of viceroys.

Although there is no specific ranking, everyone defaults to the Viceroy of Jiangnan ranking first.

With the Marquis of Wuyang's merits, the one who resigns will only be the Viceroy of the Two Guangs.

Of course, it is also possible to resign from all of them and be transferred directly back to the capital to take office.

Anyway, the position of Viceroy of the Two Guangs will definitely be vacant.

Privately, Zhang Sihan had long ago started planning that if he could serve as a Viceroy for one term and then be transferred back to the capital to take office, the probability of entering the cabinet would increase greatly.

For civil officials, entering the cabinet is the highest pursuit.

If a great war breaks out at this time, he, the Guangxi Provincial Governor, is the person in charge of the front line and simply cannot be transferred away.

The Annam people are not weak, and the main force of Guangxi is on the front line suppressing the rebellion; it is easy to suffer losses if the conflict is intensified at this time.

If they lose the battle, he is the first person responsible.

At that time, let alone promotion, I fear he won't even be able to keep his current position.

It is just that the Annam people's provocation cannot be ignored.

The state letter was sent through official channels; even if it is an internal problem of Annam, it is the Annam King's pot.

Referring to past precedents, for the sake of the Great Dayu's face, the lightest is to depose the Annam King's throne.

The Annam King is not stupid and will definitely not sit and wait for death.

If handled seriously, both sides will inevitably fight.

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to throw the problem to the emperor.

Considering the overall situation, the Great Dayu dynasty should not launch a great war in the south at this time.

If the emperor suppresses the state letter himself, then it has nothing to do with him.

As for the threat in the state letter, it will not happen in a short time.

In the era of farming, troops are sent after spring plowing is completed.

By that time, he should have been transferred away, and the follow-up is the trouble of the new Provincial Governor.

……

Outside Hangzhou City, after tossing and turning for a month, the imperial armies of the Two Guangs and Min-Zhe successfully completed the rendezvous.

While exchanging greetings, the news brought by the messenger broke the conversation.

"Governor, good news!"

"General Jing sent a victory report that the main army successfully conquered Suzhou City, beheading..."

The specific combat records, at this time, no one cared anymore; everyone only remembered that Suzhou City was taken.

Sitting on the two prefectures of Yangzhou and Suzhou, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River reached the court's hands.

The conditions for recovering Nanjing were all mature, and the Nanjing Battle could be officially launched next.

However, the atmosphere in the room was a bit awkward.

Conquering Suzhou is a good thing, but the timing of the victory report is truly too sensitive.

On the issue of recovering Nanjing, there has always been a dispute over the route.

The Marquis of Wuyang advocated using Yangzhou as a fulcrum to launch a river-crossing operation to forcibly seize Nanjing.

The Duke of Cheng advocated intervening from Suzhou and pushing flat directly on land.

The opinions of both sides are feasible in military terms, and it is difficult to distinguish which is better.

The two sides argued endlessly, mainly because of interests.

Whether it is the Marquis of Wuyang or the Duke of Cheng, there is a group of little brothers behind them, and everyone wants the great merit of recovering Nanjing.

Whoever grabs the right to speak has more initiative in the subsequent battle.

Sending the victory report of recovering Suzhou at this time is more like a demonstration.

Mature politicians will not engage in such low-end methods.

Facing the behemoth of the civil official group, the nobility group must huddle together to have the capital to gamble with them.

Compared to the competition for military merit, the struggle for the right to speak in the court is everyone's core interest.

Against this background, the nobility faction must maintain "fighting without breaking."

Any practice that intensifies contradictions is not allowed.

"The old man just arrived in Hangzhou and received the victory report of recovering Suzhou; it seems the rebel army's death date is near.

Duke, when are you prepared to take Hangzhou City?"

The Marquis of Wuyang asked with a smile.

The implication is very obvious.

No matter whether you fight from Suzhou or Yangzhou, it is fighting in the Southern Zhili.

As the Viceroy of Jiangnan, presiding over the war in his jurisdiction is justified.

If you really want to grab the leading power, then push flat from Zhejiang; then the commander of the main army will naturally be none other than the Viceroy of Min-Zhe.

"Imperial Uncle, Hangzhou Prefecture is not easy to fight; the rebel army inside is all guys who are smelly and hard.

If you want to take Hangzhou, I fear it will take some time.

Now that a new battlefield has been opened, there is no need to waste time on Hangzhou City.

After taking Nanjing, the rebel army's morale will collapse, and it will not be too late to turn back to recover Hangzhou, Nanchang, Jiujiang, and other places."

Jing Guoliang responded without changing his expression.

The price of attacking the city is much higher than normal combat.

If too many troops are lost here in advance, then the subsequent war, they can only act as supporting roles.

"The journey was exhausting, and everyone is tired; it is better to discuss military affairs tomorrow."

Seeing the smell of gunpowder getting stronger, Li Mu hurriedly came out to call a halt.

Deep in his heart, he had already started cursing.

If he had known he would encounter this scene, he should have refused the Marquis of Wuyang's retention two days ago and returned directly to the Two Guangs.

At this time, the imperial army occupies an absolute upper hand in strategy; unless the rebel army can open a hang, it is impossible to turn the tables.

The destined ending, whether he participates or not, the final result is the same.

Coming over was mainly considering being at the door; not visiting his own father-in-law, it wouldn't be reasonable.

The sentiment was there, but he became a sandwich cookie.

In this regard, he should learn from the Marquis of Zhenyuan and hide far away in advance.

"That's good; let's stop here today.

Tomorrow, I, on behalf of the Min-Zhe officials, will wash away the dust for everyone!

Wenzhu, arrange for someone to take the ministers to rest."

Jing Guoliang nodded and said.

Choosing to shelve the problem is not only giving his son-in-law face but also making up for the victory report just now.

Status and position reached his level; he had long since lost the possibility of going further.

Military merit and the like are purely dispensable.

Fighting for the right to speak is fighting for the interests of the little brothers below.

The more noisy the quarrel, the bigger the fuss, the more it can prove that he is a good boss.

Let the Embroidered Uniform Guard see it and pass the news back to the capital, which can also reassure the emperor and the officials.

However, this kind of fighting must grasp the degree.

If you really want to fight for the leading power with all your strength, the place where the conflict breaks out will not be in the public eye.

Usually, when encountering big things, they are decided in small meetings.

Mature politicians know that anything that can be discussed on the table is not that important, at least not urgent.

……

A gathering broke up in discord; as a son-in-law, Li Mu stayed behind.

"Have you really made up your mind to manage Annam?"

Jing Guoliang asked with a furrowed brow.

His son-in-law going to the poor mountains and bad waters to fight, he, this father-in-law, doesn't care, but taking his precious daughter with him, he, this old father, is not comfortable.

If it weren't for considering that the Li family has two Marquises, and Li Mu's influence in the army is too great, impacting the Jing family's status, he would have stood up and opposed it long ago.

"Father-in-law, the son-in-law is too young; staying in the court will make many people uncomfortable.

The emperor's temper, you know.

In case one day, suddenly because of something, he looks at the son-in-law unpleasantly, the consequences are unimaginable.

In order to eliminate hidden dangers, taking a step back is a better choice."

Li Mu said frankly.

Youth is an advantage, but it is also a drawback.

When the emperor is young, few will regard meritorious officials as a threat.

Especially the merits he personally promoted, they will be regarded as confidants.

Now Li Mu enjoys the confidant treatment.

From entering the officialdom to the present, he has always been rising steadily.

When it was time to be promoted, he was never blocked, and he was even promoted out of turn many times.

Once the emperor reaches old age, the situation will change.

Most monarch-subject suspicions occur when the emperor is in poor health.

Of course, these are just superficial reasons; what really made Li Mu decide to flash was that he was not optimistic about the future situation.

The internal ills of the Great Dayu have already accumulated a pile.

Superimposed on the natural disasters of the Little Ice Age, if Qin Huang and Han Wu were in Emperor Yongning's position, they would be equally helpless.

Staying in the court, the future is not to send troops to suppress the rebellion, but to be on the way to suppress the rebel army.

Working hard on the front line, the army's money and grain are often owed, and they have to suffer the emperor's suspicion and the officials' squeezing.

The ready-made scripts are all those that have appeared in history.

"Since you have made up your mind to live a hard life, then I will not stop you.

However, before pacifying Annam, you cannot take your family with you.

If the plan is successful and you can inherit Annam, the garrison must be chosen with good weather.

Don't blame me, this father-in-law, for being nosy; Yating has never suffered, and she cannot adapt to the harsh climate.

Moreover, there is a child in the belly, which cannot withstand the tossing."

Jing Guoliang said seriously.

For the sake of the Jing family's interests, Li Mu wanting to jump out, he naturally supports it.

But besides clan interests, he is also a father.

When staying by his side, he doesn't feel it; once he goes far to Annam, it will be difficult to see him again.

"Father-in-law, in fact, Annam is not as bad as you expected.

After so many years of development, it has long since ceased to be the barbaric land where miasma was rampant.

In terms of natural conditions, it is even a few points stronger than Guangxi."

Li Mu's explanation is destined to be in vain; in Jing Guoliang's eyes, Guangxi is equally a poor mountain and bad water, and even Guangdong cannot enter his eyes.

In the mainstream concept of the Great Dayu, the Two Guangs have always been places for criminal exile, and privately they are called Lingnan by everyone.

Personally arriving in Guangdong and seeing the prosperity of Guangzhou City only slightly reversed the impression.

The current Two Guangs region, besides Guangzhou Prefecture, really has no big cities that can be taken out.

Even Guangzhou Prefecture, compared to the capital, is also a Nanjing short.

"Hmm!"

"You have a count in your heart."

"Whether it is the generals under my command or the generals under the Marquis of Wuyang, they are almost all your old subordinates; supporting either side is inappropriate.

Tomorrow's welcome banquet, find an excuse to decline.

Subsequent great battles, directly start on two lines, and everyone has a chance.

How much military merit can be obtained depends on their own ability.

I heard that the Annam people are making trouble again in the south; you hurry back to Guangxi to preside over the overall situation and don't get involved in the subsequent troubles."

Jing Guoliang thought for a while and said.

As the head of the old-brand nobility, even if he is willing to be inferior, the founding nobles will not agree.

The Marquis of Wuyang, who has made great military achievements, is also unable to make concessions now.

Without external intervention, the struggle for the position of commander will not have a result.

Against this background, acting separately is the best choice.

Acting separately, Li Mu's value is reflected.

Whichever side he helps command, the probability of that side obtaining military merit will increase greatly.

They are all their own people; the palm and the back of the hand are all meat; helping either side is inappropriate.

"Father-in-law, rest assured; the son-in-law received secret news that the Annam people are about to invade Guangxi.

The request for help from the Guangxi Provincial Governor's Office will arrive at the front line before long.

At that time, the son-in-law will take this as an opportunity to go back and preside over the overall situation."

Li Mu answered with a smile.

Calculating the time, the latest state letter sent by the Annam people is already on the way to the capital.

Falling into the eyes of traditional scholar-officials, the provocative language is a war ultimatum.

From the outbreak of the war, there is only the last fire left.

If the news of the Annam army invading spreads, then this war, the court doesn't want to fight but has to.

"The finishing work, do it steadily, don't leave flaws."

Jing Guoliang couldn't help but urge.

If he didn't know the situation, just looking at the things that happened now, it was the Annam King who was ambitious and tried to challenge the Great Dayu's hegemony.

But for those in the know, the Annam people's approach is full of flaws.

Mouth-talking and truly sending troops to invade are two completely different concepts.

In the past, the Annam people were restless, limited to hooking up with Guangxi Tusi.

During the White Lotus Sect rebellion, such a good opportunity, they didn't send troops.

How could they jump out to make trouble when the rebel army was about to be extinguished?

If they really make trouble, they would send troops directly to catch the Great Dayu by surprise.

Repeatedly provoking, fearing that the Great Dayu side is not prepared, it seems too childish.

In fact, Li Mu also wanted to do it seamlessly, but he couldn't command the Annam army.

The current conflict is nothing more than his arranging people to replace the state letter.

The specific operations were all completed on the Great Dayu side.

Relying on his power, there are plenty of people willing to sell their lives.

Changing to the Annam side won't work; they don't buy the account of him, this Marquis of Hanshui.

Those spies planted there can only collect intelligence; wanting to be an official is impossible.

They are not a rebel army that is short of talent and accepts everyone.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 363 =====