Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

After discussing with Di Qing, Lu Ci encouraged him a few more words before leaving the house and looking for Cao Wei.

Through the hazy mist, Di Qing fixedly watched his leaving figure.

It wasn't until the door was closed that he couldn't see at all, then he closed his eyes and quietly pondered his own thoughts.

Lu Ci went straight to the city wall all the way, and really found the restless Cao Wei.

Cao Wei had a dead grass in his mouth that he didn't know where to pick up, and he was chatting with the guards at the city gate. When he heard Lu Cilai's movement, he spat out the grass with a 'pooh' sound, grinning. He smiled and said, "Lu Qinzhou, why are you teaching your son so fast today?"

Lu Ci knew that Di Qing looked steady and silent, but he had a lot of self-esteem, so he didn't take his jokes, and only smiled back.

Cao Wei was inexplicably permeated by his laughter, and couldn't help but put away his teasing expression, coughed lightly, and walked closer seriously.

Although this time the expedition lasted for a month, it was not long enough to fight against the enemy. Most of the time was spent on counting the results of the battle and traveling between different tribes.

The reason why it went so smoothly was thanks to the official Zhao Heng's farce of cultivating immortals: not only did Song Min become leisurely and undisciplined, but also unintentionally paralyzed the vigilance of the surrounding forces, only Song Song Ting regards him as a weak, incompetent, rich and bully lamb.

What's more, since the Emperor Taizu's several northern expeditions, all of which were defeated, the Song court no longer had that kind of sharpness.Even the frontier state capital on the edge of the town has gradually replaced the chief executive with a thin and weak civil servant.

Usually, they were the only ones who would wantonly harass and ask for money. How could they have imagined that Song Ting, who had just beaten Tubo to death, would suddenly become so morale that he would not even talk about benevolence and righteousness, and go straight to war with them?

Cao Wei didn't care about their frightened questioning.

If it weren't for Lu Ci's strong request, he would not be bothered to read out the reasons for the crusade several times every time he went to a place, but launched an attack without mercy.

It's just that after the charges were read out, Cao Wei categorically ignored their futile excuses—it was originally a big black pot that Lu Ci personally forged, so it's good to be honest?

Just let these bastard tribes who are used to being arrogant and domineering in the past, and taking advantage of the fire, also taste what it means to be ineffective every day.

Because Cao Wei used to pay attention to the speed of his troops when he went to battle, and the exchange of information among the tribes on the grassland was not well-informed, so that Cao Wei wiped out the few tribes that were scheduled. The news made everyone break out in a cold sweat.

However, Cao Wei didn't realize that there was something proud about this record: the Song Army's morale was already high, and it was caught off guard, which gave it a rare advantage in numbers.

If he can't win this fight, I'm afraid he won't be able to keep his old face.

Therefore, when reporting to Lu Ci, he only briefly mentioned the results of the battle, but he was full of praise for Di Qing who played a great role.

Lu Ci knew what Cao Wei was implying, and after listening to him with a smile, he said, "Thank you, General Cao, for taking care of the younger brother recently. The future of the younger brother is at stake. Your Highness also has arrangements...General Cao will know in the future."

Although the matter of Di Qing's admission to Zhiju is basically a certainty, but after all, the horoscope has not been written, and it is more than two years later. No matter how much Lu Ci trusts Cao Wei, it is difficult to reveal too much.

Cao Wei was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help sighing: "What a man who attains the Tao alone, how can chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!"

Speaking of Li Chao alone, he has honed himself in the frontier army for many years and accumulated military merits solidly. Although it is not as stunning as Di Qing's one-shot dominance of the enemy, the accumulation is quite a huge number.

To put it bluntly, this battle of the [-] cavalrymen in Tubo was far from thrilling and light-lifting.

Li Chao has never encountered a chief who deliberately made things difficult for others. He climbed slowly all the way up, but so far he is still inconspicuous.

Like Di Qing, who can make everyone in the temple look at him differently with that one arrow, most likely he cannot get rid of Lu Ci's special status in His Highness's heart.

Although he also developed a love for Di Qing and appreciated it very much, he heard that the other party not only didn't need to worry about himself, but that he had a bright future, and he contacted Li Chao and others who were still unknown... Cao Wei It is inevitable to feel a little complicated.

Lu Ci and Cao Wei have different ideas.

He knew that even though Di Qing might be more or less "stained" at this stage, but in terms of leading troops and fighting, the opponent is a general who will be famous in history in the future, and there is actually no need for him to do anything extra.

He was not arrogant and hypocritical, he just smiled and said: "In the future, I can only repay His Highness's love by striving to be a good Bole and discovering a few more horses that cover a thousand li."

Cao Wei was amused, knowingly and understandingly no longer entangled in this temporarily unsolvable topic, and started talking about other things.

After the last welcoming banquet, Lu Ci once again mentioned the movement in Xixia: "In my opinion, Li Deming has maintained these faces for many years, bowing his head and bowing his head, dormant and forbearing, while being cruel and greedy, openly plundering. I really think about the role of connecting the past and the future."

Cao Wei was noncommittal: "What do you say?"

Lu Ci said: "There is neither natural disaster nor man-made disaster, but Xixia has been crying to the Song court for poverty, repeatedly and brazenly asking for all kinds of nonsense. Why are they so short of money?"

Cao Wei frowned, and then heard Lu Ci say coldly, "It's probably because he went to raise soldiers."

Instead of raising troops through war, raising a huge army during peacetime can easily bring down a country's state affairs.

Even the Song Dynasty, which can be regarded as extremely rich in history, was not spared, not to mention the lack of its own economic foundation and a nomadic party project?

This forced Li Deming to look for a way to make money, and he did not hesitate to lead the army himself, masked and plundered various caravans.

Cao Wei said in a deep voice: "I have heard that his third son, Yuan Haowen, has strategy and courage in martial arts. Those who fight in chaos will not affect the Song Dynasty."

Lu Ci sneered: "Let Dangxiang fight with Tubo, and the Song Dynasty watch the fire from the other side. This idea seems good, but everyone must know the truth of the cold lips."

If Dangxiang annexed Tubo and gathered the surrounding tribes, it would become a colossus, and it would not be a powerful enemy that Song Dynasty, who had been afraid of war for a long time and had been cutting flesh and raising tigers all the way, could resist.

Cao Wei sighed, "Isn't it?"

But what can he do?

However, Lu Ci was no stranger to the name Li Yuanhao.

From the extremely distant and boring history books, he vaguely remembered the pitiful impression that the other party was a 'big brainy idiot'.

But obviously, Li Yuanhao can be included in the annals of history, not only because of his stupidity, but because of some evil deeds hated and despised by historians.

Lu Ci asked calmly, "General Cao, has he ever seen Li Yuanhao with his own eyes?"

Cao Wei said with regret: "I sent people around to inquire about his whereabouts, and all I know is that he walks around Yanbian City from time to time. He has been there several times, but he has never been seen."

Naturally, Lu Ci knew exactly what Cao Wei regretted - if Cao Wei bumped into him, it would not be just a "look and see".

If Li Yuanhao is really a rare character with a heroic generality like the rumors, then even if Cao Wei doesn't kill the other party on the spot, he will at least let the other party take off a layer of skin to avoid future troubles.

Seeing Lu Ci's pensive look, Cao Wei's eyelids twitched immediately, and he couldn't help reminding: "Xixia is different from those small tribes. Once a war breaks out, Da Song will definitely be hurt. Just make up a reason like you did before."

Lu Ci said innocently: "In the eyes of General Cao, am I actually such a reckless person?"

The corner of Cao Wei's mouth twitched.

Reckless?

More or less cunning and shrewd.

Lu Ci smiled: "I was just thinking about the reason why General Cao failed to 'encounter' Li Yuanhao several times."

Three times and four times, it can't be a coincidence.

It may be that Dangxiang had been prepared for a long time, and he had placed people in Song Ting's office. He was well informed and avoided Cao Wei.

It may also be that Da Song's grasp of information is too late, and even Li Deming's proud son's movements are not clear.

Lu Ci found out this shortcoming, and he was not in a hurry, and continued: "In short, instead of playing with them every year, it is better to save the money and train with them."

Because of the insight into the Han people's "central land, Wuhua Shangguo", they must show generosity and benevolence, and understand that the treasures given back will always be more than received, so that the barbarians who pay tribute will taste the sweetness one after another. He came to 'work' again and again, and got a large number of rewards, including some military supplies that were in short supply in the country.

Even if a road card is set up, it is useless to Li Deming, who often brings missions to and from the Song Dynasty.

That doesn't work.

Lu Ci thought, since Da Song pays attention to the comings and goings of each other, why not just let Dang Xiang frequently move at the border and keep testing their bottom line?

Cao Wei was stunned, and instinctively said: "Isn't it still the same?"

Lu Ci said without hesitation: "No urgency. I will first collect evidence of the party's conspiracy to rebel and present it to the crown prince."

This can't be done by him opening his mouth like a child's play, there must be strong evidence that he can no longer blind the "Master and" faction in the temple.

If he can't do it in one year, he will use it for a few more years.

It can always be done.

——Da Song still has time.

Although Cao Wei didn't know exactly what Lu Ci was planning, it was not difficult to guess the general idea.

After all, this man looks gentle and handsome, but he is extremely iron-blooded against foreign enemies, and he is more eager to sharpen his sword than him. What he said just now was not just mere words.

Cao Wei held back his curiosity, and asked in a low voice, "If you can't collect it, how do you take the next step?"

"It's only the work that hasn't been done properly, where is there any intelligence that can't be collected?" Lu Ci took it for granted, "If General Cao is really right, then wait until the battle is ready, and plant it immediately."

Didn't Li Deming go to and from the territory of the Song Dynasty every year, not to mention taking away a large number of rewards, and taking the opportunity to sell military supplies?

If Song Ting could still turn a blind eye to the military supplies alone, it would be absolutely impossible to turn a blind eye to intercepting a large number of confidential military reports among the large quantities of goods carried by Li Deming.

However, letting Li Deming, who is a diligent porter, fall down is just to scare the snake, it can't weaken the party's strength, and it also gives Li Yuanhao a reason to tear his face and take revenge openly.

Da Song is not ready yet.

Besides, compared to Li Deming, Lu Ci wanted to deal with Li Yuanhao first.

Looking at Lu Ci's still gentle smile, Cao Wei's mouth twitched.

Sure enough, this person's heart is very dark!