Li Wenjin felt that this trip might have been in vain, and he certainly couldn't expect anything major.
However,
He had found his nephew this time. It would be good if the child became an official, enjoying wealth and prosperity, and living without worry, which was much better than them, mere warriors… He thought Uncle Yu would be very happy too…
Alas,
How can one truly understand the affairs of this world?
With this thought,
He pondered for a moment and said, "Indeed, those refugees from the strongholds were truly pitiable. Alas, the ground was covered in blood. No one knows if it was a natural disaster or man-made… Fortunately, Lord Zhu and Vice Minister Liang provided timely disaster relief…"
These words were intentionally ambiguous, implying to Lord Zhu: We are talking about the Tartar invasion, not the natural disaster you downplayed… What you do depends on your conscience!
But Ma Fang did not have so many roundabout thoughts. He was displeased upon hearing this—
Hmph!
Brother Second has been a commanding general for so many years, and his words are becoming more and more unyielding! Why not speak directly? Damn it, he's just like those effeminate civil officials in the Grand Secretariat, talking in circles… What is there to be afraid of? Why be so hesitant?
The various expressions on their faces,
Zhu Mo naturally saw them.
He simply wanted to test their reactions to the casualties of the common people.
The first step had already been tested: these two were not accustomed to lying and were very disgusted with the familiar routines of officialdom. This, he believed, was the reason for their dejected expressions.
Next, it should be the second step.
Zhu Mo immediately upped the ante:
"Haha, you are too kind! Commanding General, you are too kind… It's just that I have a point of confusion… Are the people of Xuan and Da inherently wicked? It is also common for them to rob each other after a disaster, but the people of Xuan and Da… Hehe, are they perhaps too cruel? Even in disaster, they do not help each other, but instead kill each other and plunder, leaving the ground covered in blood… Alas… it truly opens one's eyes. As Zhuzi said, the clear are above, and the turbid are below, a truly profound saying…"
This?
What the hell~~
Damn it~
Inhuman!
It was the Tartars who killed them, and he actually, actually whitewashed it like this?
Simply damnable!
Ma Fang's face immediately turned red, and he was about to jump up and curse. If it were anyone else, he would have drawn his sword on the spot.
And at this moment, Li Wenjin stomped hard on his foot, still suppressing his anger, and forced a smile as he replied to Zhu Mo, "Reporting to Lord Zhu, the people of Xuan and Da are no different, uh… we do not know all the actual situation…"
At this moment, even Li Wenjin began to doubt—
Has this child already defected to the Yan family? Or is he truly born with a cold heart? How could he speak of the disaster-stricken people like this? Is not everyone born of parents? Has not everyone been raised by their elders? Has this child become like this due to suffering since childhood?
Thinking of this, Li Wenjin felt a bit disheartened, always feeling that he had let down Yu Dayou and Yu Xiaomei. After becoming sworn brothers, he had finally found his lost nephew, only to find that he was such a person!
But Zhu Mo was quite happy,
Because,
He had already seen—
These two, one warm and one cold, were both full of spirit!
Ma Fang was hot-blooded. As soon as he heard the distorted words, he immediately flew into a rage. He was a passionate character. As for Li Wenjin, although he maintained his composure, the sorrow and deeper righteous indignation in his eyes had already betrayed him. Furthermore, his words left room for maneuver, indicating that he possessed both courage and wisdom, making him a worthy general.
Looking at their dejected expressions, with righteous indignation constantly showing, it meant that they had long been suppressed by Ge Jin and his group…
All of this indicated—
These two could be used!
However, Zhu Mo, having experienced the dangers of his trip to Jiangnan, had become more cautious in his views. He was not in a hurry to state his intentions, but wanted to test them once more. He said carelessly,
"You are both in charge of troops… But now, disaster relief is the priority. After you return, immediately allocate some of your troops to help the disaster victims build temporary shelters… Also, the relief funds might not be enough. The soldiers should also chip in some grain to feed the people… You, you are unwilling?"
He looked at them with surprise, feigning confusion.
Hiss~~
Damn~~~
As soon as these words were spoken,
The two felt a chill run down their spines!
They felt that this person in front of them was even more sinister and malicious than Ge Jin and Yan Shifan…
One must know,
The night before Ma Fang came to the capital, he led his trusted personal guards and fought fiercely for a hundred miles, barely driving the Tartars out of the outer fort. The border at this time did not suffer from too many people and excessive grain consumption, but from a shortage of troops, making it impossible to organize defenses!
This damned civil official had no idea that the proud and fierce generals in Datong were completely disobedient. Even if there were thousands of troops, they would be useless! The proud and fierce generals certainly did not lack grain, but where could the old frontier guards who truly fought have any surplus grain? Sometimes, two men shared a set of armor!
The current situation was precarious. If not for the fact that Anda Khan dared not advance too deeply and lacked logistical support, it would have been an easy matter to march all the way to Beijing!
Moreover, the Yan family's military pay had been withheld for the past ten years! The soldiers on the outer frontier had all fled. Where could there be any extra troops?
The court cared nothing, and yet they came to mock them?
This,
This person was even worse than Yan Shifan!
Ma Fang, always a hot-blooded man but not reckless, felt a chill to the bone after his rage subsided, sensing that the capital had truly become dark and hopeless…
"Could it be that the Great Ming is nearing its end…? And the final fatal blow is actually coming from our sworn nephew…?"
Li Wenjin, with his more refined mind, was even more turbulent at this moment—
This child,
If they acted according to his words, Xuan and Da would be directly ruined! Once Xuan and Da fell, the Tartars could besiege the capital at any time, and the Great Ming would be in name only… Thinking of this, their faces became solemn. They exchanged glances, their thoughts completely aligned—
It cannot be done!
Even if it means offending him, it absolutely cannot be done!
This was a matter of the survival of Xuan and Da. If this child were to be used by them, and if they colluded internally and externally, seizing the opportunity of scattered military morale to launch an attack, it would be the second siege of Beijing! By then, let alone them, would this child not be executed along with his entire clan?
https:/
Thinking of this, they felt they had no retreat.
Li Wenjin immediately replied with a solemn expression,
"Lord Zhu, this matter is absolutely impossible to carry out… Sir, you may not know, but over forty days ago, the Tartars invaded during heavy snowfall. They reached Xuanfu Town on this side, and the rear reached Datong Prefecture! Xuanfu was fine, but the military preparedness in Datong had long been lax and was merely a formality. Commander Ma and I, the deputy commander, worked day and night to rally the garrison troops and fought bitterly for several days. Only two days ago did we finally drive the Tartars out of the outer fort. Commander Ma had not slept for three days and three nights, and his body was covered in wounds! Sir, the frontier troops absolutely cannot be withdrawn further, otherwise, otherwise… Alas!"
Ma Fang was filled with rage at this moment. He glared fiercely at Zhu Mo,
With a crackle,
He tore off his outer garment, revealing his cotton-padded clothes, which were soaked red with blood. With such wounds, it was evident at a glance that they were recent, from the last day or two.
At this moment,
Zhu Mo no longer had any doubts. These two were indeed loyal ministers and worthy generals!
They were willing to go all out to protect the disaster victims and defend Xuan and Da, which certainly meant they were usable individuals. They must have been ostracized by Ge Jin, which made them timid… And the so-called disaster in Xuan and Da must have a very terrifying secret behind it…
He immediately became solemn and bowed deeply to the two, saying in a deep voice, "You are both loyal ministers and worthy generals. Please accept Zhu's bow!"
Ah?
The two were instantly stunned!
This?
This…