Chapter 702
We must go . Wang Zhikun did not say these words out loud . He just glanced coldly at the generals in the tent and slapped the table . He said with meaning and heart, "I don't care who these Black Knights belong to . I only know that the winter training order from the Bureau of Military Affairs is clear . The Yanjing Camp's 3,000 troops are to enter Dongyi . No one is to obstruct this!"
The Yanjing troops were just a test . It was a demonstration of the court edging closer toward the Great Prince . Wang Zhikun narrowed both his eyes . A cold light gradually grew in them . Squeezing his voice into an icy thread, he said, "No matter what, the 10,000 soldiers led by the Great Prince are all subjects of the Qing Kingdom . The Great Prince will not risk rebellion to lead these troops to stop us . Thus, the problem at hand is the 1,000 Black Knights spread across Niutou Mountain . In two days, send the Bureau of Military Affairs' orders to move to them . If they refuse to move, it will prove that they are no longer troops of the Qing Kingdom . "
"But the Emperor's attitude toward Sir Fan junior is unclear," a general worriedly said .
If the Yanjing Camp actually fought with the Black Knights, it was the same as officially turning hostile against Fan Xian's forces . The atmosphere inside Jingdou was tenuous . The generals in Yanjing were not sure how the person in the Palace was going to deal with Fan Xian . If he only wanted to give Fan Xian the cold shoulder for a while and Yanjing Camp was difficult, it would be hard to later round out the situation .
The tent was deep in Yanjing . It was actually a very spacious room . It just had a military name . The generals inside the room were all Wang Zhikun's direct subordinates, so they spoke more freely .
The worry the general speaking earlier expressed was actually the same worry in Wang Zhikun's heart . The Emperor had removed all of Fan Xian's positions, but he still had not called him to account for his crimes . Who knew how the situation would develop?
Outside Yanjing, the 1,000 black riders beneath Niutou Mountain carrying a sense of the underworld was indeed a powerful force . However, Wang Zhikun had led soldiers for 20 years, and Yanjing Camp had 100,000 elite soldiers under its jurisdiction . Speaking just of numbers and armaments, they were the leading force among the armies of the five border Roads . It was impossible that they would not break through the seal created by the 1,000 Black Knights .
The problem at hand was that it was impossible for Yanjing to commit its entire army . Once the fires of battle were lit, Dongyi had only surrendered in name . The hearts of its people had not been settled . It might actually create the first civil war in the Qing Kingdom .
No matter what, Wang Zhikun did not dare to bear such a historical responsibility, particularly as his position in the military had practically reached the peak . Regardless of what further achievements he made on the battlefield, at most he would be like Commander Ye and return to Jingdou to become the Head of the Bureau of Military Affairs and make some progress with his reputation . In reality, there wasn't any benefit . For this Yanjing Governor, life had left him very little space to strive for .
Thus, he had to think about his family, direct subordinates, and the future . Although the Emperor continued to regard the world with disdain, the Emperor would eventually grow old . If Fan Xian could survive through this crisis… No, even if Fan Xian did not make it through, once the Third Prince took the throne, given his relationship with Fan Xian, would he tolerate him?
Wang Zhikun's brows were furrowed tightly . After all, he was the commander of an army . He specialized in strategies on the battlefield, but it was difficult for him to notice the details . The concubine choosing event in Jingdou did not make him understand the Emperor's plans . His brows tightened and then relaxed . Finally, he made up his mind . In a cold voice, he said, "We'll move the day after tomorrow . If anyone else dares to obstruct us, seize their weapons!"
All of the Yanjing generals had their own thoughts . They left the tent with worry . They weren't sure if the military action in two days would actually cause conflict with the Black Knights . They also didn't know if the Great Prince in Dongyi would actually lead his 10,000 elite troops back to the east and openly oppose the Qing border armies . All summed up, these generals loyal to the Qing Kingdom were worried that the Qing Kingdom's first civil war would burst forth in the territory in their jurisdiction .
Governor Wang seemed to have made up his mind . But, that night, he went to the Mei manor and found the leading civil official in Yanjing, Mei Zhili .
Mei Zhili was the disciple of Duke Liu . Although he was not very close to Fan Xian, they knew each other pretty well . After listening to Commander Wang's sincere request for advice, Sir Mei only quietly asked him one question .
"Tong'er is still in Jingdou, right?" Ever since Mei Zhili had left the position of Jingdou Magistrate in the fourth year of the Qing calendar, he had come to Yanjing . He had governed it in cooperation with Governor Wang's military rule, interfering very little . Governor Wang deeply understood Sir Mei's judgment and planning . Just speaking from his ability to fully withdraw from the position of Jingdou Magistrate, one could see that he had political skill They got along well in private, so Sir Mei treated the young lady of the Wang family like a junior, only calling her Tong'er .
Hearing the words Tong'er, Governor Wang's expression did not change . But his heart, which had become unusually hardened through the ice and snow on the battlefields, suddenly trembled involuntarily . He knew what Mei Zhili wanted to make clear .
In June, Wang Tong'er had married into Prince Heqing's manor and become the Great Prince's secondary fei . Before this young lady had married, she had been given sincere advice by Fan Xian and disciplined for a number of months . The entire world knew that other than Fan Xian's four disciples, Fan Xian had three other students of noble birth . The first was the Third Prince . The second was the young lady of the Ye family Ye Ling'er . The third was the young lady of Yanjing Governor Wang's manor .
In the Qing Kingdom, the most weight was given to filial piety and then respect for one's teacher . Given the relationship between the Yanjing manor and Fan Xian, those 1,000 Black Knights beneath Niutou Mountain became somewhat complicated . Wang Zhikun glanced at Mei Zhili and said after a moment of silence, "There is an edict from the Palace and an order from the Bureau of Military Affairs . Even if this will cause discussion later, this matter has to be done . "
"You misunderstand me . " Mei Zhili looked down . It had been many years since he had escaped the political whirlpool in Jingdou . He had not planned on being involved in this major event . However, he was born a Duke and had too strong a connection to Yi Guipin and the Third Prince in the Palace . Although he was now in Yanjing, if he wanted to run in the future, it will still probably be very difficult . This was why he was speaking so plainly in front of Wang Zhikun .
"The teacher and pupil relationship between Sir Fan junior and Tong'er must be considered but most importantly . " Mei Zhili sighed and looked at Wang Zhikun . "You want to send troops toward Dongyi, but all those with eyes can see that the Great Prince is no longer listening to orders from Jingdou . Tong'er is the secondary fei of the manor . Have you considered this problem? If the Great Prince establishes himself as king in Dongyi, even if you gathered 100,000 soldiers and conquered Dongyi, what is Tong'er to do in his manor?"
Wang Zhikun had guarded the borders of the Qing Kingdom for many years and had suffered his share of hardship . When he reached 40, he had a daughter . Naturally, he loved her like a treasure . Her nature became arrogant and willful . This was what caused Wang Tong'er's bad mannerisms . It was fortunate that Fan Xian had forcefully squashed out Wang Tong'er's bad temper . Each time he thought of this, Wang Zhikun secretly felt rather thankful toward Sir Fan junior . However, now that Mei Zhili raised his point, he said in a daze, "Did Sir Fan junior predict this situation long ago? Was that why he facilitated the Great Prince to marry Tong'er in his positions as an official of the Taichang Temple, much to the surprise of everyone?"
Thinking of this, Wang Zhikun's heart chilled . He had not thought that the little Duke would think so far and deep . It truly chilled one's heart .
Wang Zhikun's position was awkward . Although Yanjing Camp was powerful, its blade was pointed toward Dongyi, which was already the Great Prince and Fan Xian's realm of power . Yet, these two young nobles also had an unbreakable connection to Wang Zhikun . One was his son-in-law, and the other was his daughter's teacher .
Mei Zhili thought for a moment and then said, "As for what Sir Fan junior was thinking at the time, there is no point for either of us to guess . However, I must remind you that the problem now is that the Palace has also thought this, yet the Palace has still not done anything to Yanjing . "
He raised his head and glanced at Wang Zhikun . "If Sir Fan junior had discerned the situation in advance, then it can only be said that he looks far and deep . Governor, you hold the fort in Yanjing, yet you target Dongyi . If the Emperor suspects your effort, regardless of who he switches you out for, it will probably be difficult for them to pull together the heart of the Yanjing Army . Thus, the safety of Dongyi would be a little better .
"My life and livelihood demonstrate my loyalty to the Emperor . If Fan Xian wants to use this, it won't work . " There was no anger in Wang Zhikun's words .
Mei Zhili nodded and said, "It's clear that Sir Fan junior's plans this time have not worked . Jingdou has yet to take action against Yanjing . The Emperor is, in the end, a wise ruler and has sufficient trust in you . Perhaps the Bureau of Military Affairs' military order and the Palace's secret edict were actually a test the Emperor gave you . "
Wang Zhikun paused and offered him a salute . "Thank you for the advice . "
Mei Zhili's expression remained serious . He slowly said, "Are you really not going to think about Tong'er? About the discussions under heaven? If you can bring down Dongyi in one battle, then you are a meritorious official of the Qing Kingdom . Once civil war starts and the fires of war are burning, pressure from all sides will pour onto your body . "
"But what is there to be done? If I really hold back the soldiers and do nothing, that would be a betrayal of the Emperor's trust in me," Wang Zhikun said heavily with a twitch of his brows . "The clash in Jingdou will eventually land on the battlefield . As the Emperor's official, there are many things that have to be done . "
Mei Zhili looked at him calmly . After a moment of silence, he said through gritted teeth, "To say something not befitting an official, this is, after all, the matter of the Emperor's family . You and I, those who are officials, should be loyal to the Emperor . If a civil war does break out in the Qing Kingdom, how do we explain it to the people of the world? The incident in Jingdou should land on the battlefield . However, both Sir Fan junior and the Emperor clearly did not want this instability to go too deep and far . Otherwise, the Emperor would keep leaving air for Sir Fan junior, and Sir Fan junior would not stay so well-behaved as a man of leisure . "
"The both of them are guarding that bottom line . When you lead out troops in two days, you must also remember this bottom line clearly . There could be coercion and invasion . If blood does flow like rivers, I think being different is not wise . It might not be the result the Emperor wanted . "
"But the opposition is the Black Knights . Those bastards of the Overwatch Council don't understand what it means to retreat . " Wang Zhikun continued with his eyes closed . "The appropriate action is too difficult to grasp . You must attack but not actually . You can't destroy the Emperor's grand plan . You must also prevent the situation from becoming too severe . "
Speaking of this, Governor Wang took a deep breath . He had spent his entire life in the shadows of knife light . He had never run into such a complicated situation . Hit if something needed to be hit . That was the most simple solution, even if the other party was Fan Xian or the Great Prince . But, if the east of the Qing Kingdom became a mess, the Emperor would be unhappy again .
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