69novels Chapter 286
Chapter 286
Zhou Yuan's strategy was successful. He knew very well that he could not save himself with just a memorial from the Duke of Zhenguo. After all, even if Song Wu went back to cry for his parents, the Duke of Zhenguo could not personally go to the court to plead for mercy.
To make these cabinet ministers shut up, there must be progress in a practical sense, and the best reason is naturally military merit.
Provoke them with exaggerated bets and drag the matter until after the military exercise. As long as you win, you can naturally keep your title.
If you can't win, then we'll talk about it later.
Zhou Yuan said: "Are you worthy of fighting me? To be honest, it's not that I, Zhou Yuan, look down on you, but you don't know how to fight at all."
"How about this, I will send out 2,000 elite soldiers from the five military camps, and you can find them yourself, even 20,000."
"I will give you 2,000 against your 20,000, a ten-fold difference, so it's a bit interesting."
Knowing that it was a provocation, the military merits couldn't swallow this breath. If they didn't fight, they would never be able to raise their heads in this life.
"Damn you! Zhou Yuan! Stop being so arrogant! If you lose, what will you say!"
Some military heroes cursed angrily, and the court officials around them were also particularly concerned about this issue.
Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice: "If I, Zhou Yuan, lose, you don't have to chase me away. I will take the initiative to resign and go back to Yunzhou, so as not to ruin your mood by staying in Shenjing."
"But if I win..."
Qiu Huan said coldly: "With a ten-fold difference in military strength, can you win? Do you really think we are all good-for-nothings!"
Zhou Yuan said: "Excuse me for being blunt, but in my opinion, you are good-for-nothings."
"Damn it, stop arguing, just fight, I can't stand it anymore."
"Your Majesty, I would like to have a military exercise to compete with Zhou Yuan."
Empress Zhao Jing frowned, and she was really worried.
She looked at Zhou Yuan and narrowed her eyes and said, "Lord Zhongwu, you have to think carefully. The five military camps have been defeated for the past year, and their morale is low and their combat effectiveness has been greatly reduced. Under such circumstances, do you still want to fight one against ten? This is a losing situation."
Zhou Yuan said with strength, "Your Majesty, the way of using troops is unpredictable. How can the number of people determine the outcome? I am willing to fight against 20,000 troops with 2,000 people."
Empress Zhaojing said, "Okay, since you agree, I will not spoil your nature. "This is a big gamble. If Zhou Yuan loses, the Duke of Zhenguo will have nothing to say. He will be stripped of his title, dismissed from office, and sent back to Yunzhou." "If Zhou Yuan wins..." At this point, Empress Zhaojing looked at the military heroes and said coldly, "There is no need for me to punish you. You have no face to live." Qiu Huan said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, we have ten times the force, but we can't beat this young boy. We have no face to work for the Holy Lord. .”
Empress Zhao Jing said: “In this case, I will grant your approval. Zhou Yuan, you decide the venue and time of the military exercise.”
Zhou Yuan said: “The military exercise should not be too far away, so as not to mobilize troops and increase internal friction.”
“I suggest that the military exercise be held within a range of 50 miles on both sides of the Chaobai River, from Tongzhou in the north to Jinmen in the south.”
“The method is very simple. Capturing the opponent’s commander or defeating the enemy’s main force will be considered a victory.”
“The time will be set... five days later!”
Qiu Huan said in a deep voice: “No objection, I agree.”
Empress Zhao Jing took a deep breath and said: “Approved, prepare for the military exercise today. I and the ministers will watch the battle in person. Perhaps the Duke of Zhenguo will also be present. Everyone should prepare well.”
“Dismissed.”
……
After many days, Zhou Yuan returned home again, but everyone did not give Zhou Yuan and Zhao Jianjia the opportunity to talk to each other.
As soon as Zhou Yuan entered the house, Wang Ang, Xiong Kuohai and others had already arrived, and Xue Ningyue and Li Yu'an also came.
Qu Ling and Wanyan Daichan followed closely, and finally even the Minister of Revenue Liu Jing came.
Seeing this room full of people, Zhou Yuan also had a headache.
"Qingyuan, Moxiang, you go to prepare tea, Ziyuan, you go to the kitchen to help a few maids prepare dishes, Mingrui, you go buy a few pots of good wine, the house has never been so lively."
Everyone was busy, and Zhao Jianjia also had the demeanor of a lady, suppressing her emotions and smilingly asking everyone to take a seat.
Zhou Yuan clasped his fists and said, "Lord Liu is here for the first time, please take a seat!"
Liu Jing waved his hand and said, "The guest should follow the host's wishes. I am not here to show off. Why do I have to say so many rules? Please take a seat."
He looked at Zhou Yuan and said solemnly, "I don't come here for no reason. I came here to ask you what you think. With 2,000 against 20,000, it is clearly a losing game. Why do you do this?"
"Do you, Zhou Yuan, really want to retreat and return to Yunzhou to be a son-in-law?"
Zhou Yuan looked at the others and smiled, "You all don't know it, do you?"
Qu Ling rolled his eyes and said, "It has spread all over Shenjing that Lord Zhongwubo Zhou has done this forTo keep the title, you have to challenge the old military honor with 2,000 against 20,000. The people were amazed at Lord Zhou's courage and said they would cheer for you. "
Xue Ningyue smiled bitterly and said, "Even my mother knows about it. She asked me to come here to ask about the situation. She doesn't know how to fight, but she knows how to count. How can you fight against an enemy ten times your number?"
Lord Wangwang knew Zhou Yuan and asked in confusion, "Does Lord Zhou have a perfect plan?"
Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Don't be curious, there is no plan at all. We can only take it one step at a time."
"Anyway, if you win, you will make a lot of money, and if you lose, you will not lose money. What should I worry about? "
Wanyan Daichan was about to open her mouth to sneer, this was already her habit, but subconsciously she saw the Virgin Mary sitting next to her, and quickly closed her mouth, as if sitting on pins and needles.
She really didn't understand how Zhou Yuan had such a good relationship with the Virgin Mary, that was the best in the world! The real best in the world, why did he...
Now Wanyan Daichan is very passive, it's not appropriate not to come, after all, this is the Virgin Mary's task, come... The feeling of sitting at the same table with the leader is really uncomfortable.
Liu Jing said in a deep voice: "What plan, even if the Duke of Zhenguo comes, there is no way to fight this kind of war."
"Zhou Yuan, I still suggest you go and ask His Majesty, say something good, no matter what, just keep the position of the commander of the North City Army."
"After all, you are in the emperor's heart, and His Majesty still has some feelings for you."
"If you leave, there may not be anyone who can control the nine major gangs, and then where will I find my money? "
Zhou Yuan laughed and said, "Sure enough, Lord Liu only sees money!"
Liu Jing said, "Nonsense, if you are short of money every moment, you will be like me."
Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said, "Everyone, I am not completely unsure, but everything is still uncertain now, so I can't answer anything."
"But as long as this battle is won, I can completely establish my position in the army, and the disadvantages of shallow foundation will no longer exist."
"It will be my turn to suppress bandits in the Central Plains later."
"This gamble seems to be for survival, but it is actually for advancement."
Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan's eyes flashed with cold light, and he said in a concentrated voice: "I have never regarded Wu Xun as an opponent. My recent goal is Zhang Bailong in the Central Plains."