Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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“General Cao should ask for more…” Xu Jiao said, then smiled meaningfully, but stopped talking abruptly.
Cao Fushui wanted to hear her say more.
She just didn’t say anything.
Anyway, she was not in a hurry, it was Cao Fushui who was in a hurry now.
Cao Fushui didn’t know what she was up to, and he was furious. “Why don’t you just say it!” When Xu Jiao was halfway through her words, Cao Fushui felt as if a fish bone was stuck in his throat. He knew that the other party was deliberately trying to bait him, but he couldn’t help but take the bait. But the other party just didn’t speak and seemed to be suddenly interested in the sand table in his tent. While holding the whip in her hand, she walked around the sand table with interest, looking at it as she walked.
Cao Fushui was furious.
The key point was that she looked at it carefully and asked from time to time, “What is the difference between General Cao’s green flag and red flag? What about the yellow flag? And the black and white flag?”
Regardless of whether Xu Qinghe was dismissed from office or not, or whether he was in the court or not, he was always the most trusted minister around the emperor, and the person who knew the emperor’s temper and thoughts best.
He submitted a petition for increased military pay but nothing happened for a long time. The emperor neither said yes nor no, nor did he send anyone to ask. The petition was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no news at all.
The only person who came to ask was Xu Qinghe.
Cao Fushui was unsure whether Xu Qinghe’s coming to Beiguan City was the emperor’s intention or his own, so he could only answer her patiently.
As a result, the other party was thick-skinned enough to ask about the flag and then the logo, and then the scale…
Cao Fushui was so angry. You came all the way to Beiguan City just to see my sand table!
Finally, when Xu Jiao was about to speak again, Cao Fushui seized the opportunity and said first, “Please teach me, Prime Minister!”
Xu Jiao did not turn around, but pointed the whip in her hand at Beiguan City on the sand table, “General Cao, look, Beiguan City has such a large hinterland, and it borders Bal, and there are only a few cities around it, and most of it is desert…”
Before Xu Jiao finished speaking, Cao Fushui’s face had already drooped. Damn it, before you kept pretending that you don’t understand the sand table! There is not a single word written on the sand table. People who can’t understand the sand table will not be able to point to Beiguan City so accurately.
Cao Fushui couldn’t help but assess Xu Jiao again.
Xu Jiao sighed, “But on the contrary, the border between Nanshun and Cangyue and Changfeng is naturally separated by the Tuojiang River, which is considered a natural barrier, so the soldiers stationed in Cizhou are mainly naval forces. Therefore, in addition to Cizhou, most of the garrisons in Nanshun are distributed in the northeast, northwest, southwest, and southeast. The borders in the northwest, southwest, and southeast are stable and have little friction. Only the garrison in Beiguan City where General Cao is stationed borders Bal. Therefore, except for the garrison in Cizhou, most of the garrisons in Nanshun are under the command of General Cao. That’s why I said that you asked for less, General Cao. You should ask for more, at least more than the total of the garrisons in the northwest, southwest, and southeast…”
Cao Fushui’s face tensed, “What exactly does Prime Minister Xu want to say?”
Every word the other party said was true, but the last sentence told him that his troops exceeded the total number of troops stationed in the other three places, which was clearly shocking!
Xu Jiao continued to use her whip to point at the vast area north of Beiguan City, and say leisurely, “The Bal tribe is brave and good at fighting. They live by following water and grass. There are many tribes in the country. Today, one tribe invades the south, and leaves in two days. Another tribe comes the next day. The neighboring countries suffer a lot from them, especially when it comes to winter, they will frequently go south to harass. Among them, Yanhan, Changfeng, and Cangyue have it the worst. Nanshun is located in the south, and the Bal tribe is the least accustomed to the climate here. General Cao, if you look through the history of the neighboring countries for more than a hundred years, you will know that the probability of Bal going south to harass Nanshun is the smallest, less than one twentieth of the other neighboring countries…”
Cao Fushui’s face became increasingly embarrassed, “What exactly does Xu Qinghe mean?”
Xu Jiao picked up the green flags on the sand table and inserted them one by one towards the northeast (Beiguan City garrison), northwest, southwest, and southeast, which made Cao Fushui’s face become paler and paler.
Xu Jiao finally finished planting them, and she did not forget to count them specially, but one could tell with the naked eye that the Beiguan garrison had the most green flags. Even though the Beiguan city had the largest hinterland, its density was higher than the other three locations, not to mention that the total number crushed the other locations.
After counting, Xu Jiao said, “General Cao, look, there are no border frictions in the northwest, southwest, and southeast. The garrisons in these places are used to maintain the stability of the country. Once something happens in the country, it will be difficult to mobilize the garrisons in these places. Only the garrisons in the Beiguan City have surplus and can be dispatched…”
“Speak human language!” Cao Fushui’s face was extremely embarrassed.
Xu Jiao smiled and said, “So, General Cao, no matter how much military pay you ask for, His Majesty will give it to you. That’s why I just said, General Cao, you asked for less, you should ask for more…”
“Xu Qinghe!” Cao Fushui had been holding back his anger, holding his sword tightly with his hand, trying not to lose his temper, but now he could not help but draw out his sword!
His words just now were clearly a disguised way of saying that he was threatening the emperor with a large army!
How could he say such things casually!
Cao Fushui was now completely annoyed.
Hearing the sounds of a sword being drawn inside the tent, outside the tent, the garrison soldiers and Xu Jiao’s guards also drew their swords and pointed them at each other, as if they were at loggerheads with each other.
Peng Qinyun, who was far away, was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out.
Just as he was hesitating whether to go forward to help, the surrounding garrison drew their swords and looked at him.
Wow, they really drew their swords.
Peng Qinyun stepped back consciously.
This seems not as safe as Fancheng Prison!
Outside the tent, the two sides were in a stalemate, but no further movement was heard. Neither side dared to go inside, nor did they dare to put away their swords.
Inside the tent, Xu Jiao walked forward slowly and used her whip to push Cao Fushui’s sword back to its original place. “I haven’t finished talking yet, General Cao, don’t get angry so quickly…”
Cao Fushui glared at him.
In fact, he also knew that Xu Qinghe was a close minister of the emperor, so he didn’t dare to do anything to Xu Qinghe! He drew his sword not only because he was angry, but also to scare him!
But this guy clearly didn’t look scared.
Cao Fushui finally realized that he was so angry that he had lost his mind. Xu Qinghe had been the emperor’s companion since he was in the East Palace[1], and now he had been in the position of prime minister for several years. He had seen all kinds of battles! How could he be timid!
Cao Fushui put away his sword with a “whoosh”, and took the opportunity given by the other party.
Although Cao Fushui’s face was gloomy, he slowly calmed down in his heart. In fact, he began to back down. Xu Qinghe’s words just now made people angry at first. He just wanted some military pay, so how could it be considered as threatening the emperor! But after thinking about it carefully, it was not unreasonable. If Xu Qinghe could think so, why wouldn’t the emperor think so?
Cao Fushui’s face changed from angry and gloomy to gradual unease, and he recalled his earlier suspicions again. Did Xu Qinghe come to Beiguan City on his own, or was he instructed by the emperor? There were some things that the emperor was not convenient to say, so did he let Xu Qinghe say it?
Cao Fushui’s face turned gloomy, and he replied, “If you want to say it, say it quickly.”
But the previous anger was clearly no longer in his eyes.
Xu Jiao had already walked back to the sand table. This time, she took the red flag that she had said was the enemy’s flag and planted it squarely at the Beiguan City garrison. Cao Fushui’s face immediately turned pale, “Xu Jiao!”
Cao Fushui almost couldn’t help but stab towards him with the sword again!
However, Xu Jiao held the whip and pointed it at Cao Fushui’s nose, and Cao Fushui was stunned.
Xu Jiao said sternly, “The total number of troops stationed in your Beiguan City is greater than that of the three garrisons in the southwest, northwest, and southeast. Now you are asking for military pay, not to mention threatening the emperor. If His Majesty gives it to you, won’t the troops stationed elsewhere be jealous? If His Majesty does not give it, aren’t you afraid that Beiguan City will be restrained by Bal, and there will be unrest in the country? Should the court be constrained by Beiguan City? If Your Majesty is narrow-minded, he may think you have so many soldiers and so much military pay, but you are still out of control. If one day you turn your spearhead against the capital, guess whose head will fall first, can Your Majesty feel more at ease in such a situation?”
Cao Fushui’s face suddenly turned pale, and his hand holding the sword paused.
Xu Jiao stepped forward and said, “The reason why the Southwest wants military pay is because they want to recruit the Nanman tribe and include them in the Southwest garrison. There are causes and consequences to this matter, but before a conclusion is reached, this information will not be released. General Cao did not even find out the causes and consequences, but he was jealous of the Southwest garrison’s request for pay, and he submitted several memorials in succession, causing the most trouble. Throughout history the one who has suffered the most has been the first to stick his head out in front of the emperor? Isn’t that right, General Cao?”
Cao Fushui was stunned when he heard this, especially the last part about “the first one to stick his head out”, which made him so nervous that he swallowed his saliva.
He just felt that the military pay had increased too little in recent years, and the soldiers at the border had some complaints.
But in fact, no matter how much the pay was, there would always be complaints.
Cao Fushui didn’t think so much at the time.
But after Xu Qinghe said this, he began to feel scared. He joined the army to serve his country with all his heart, and if he was to be implicated because of such trivial matters, “Then… what do you think we should do, Prime Minister?” Cao Fushui softened his tone, changed his address back to Prime Minister, and discussed with Xu Jiao, “Should we submit a petition to withdraw our earlier request for military pay?”
Xu Jiao smiled and said, “General Cao, the military pay is still needed.”
Cao Fushui looked at her and said, “Prime Minister, please teach me.”
….
Cao Fushui and Xu Jiao came out of the tent together, and the surrounding garrison soldiers and guards put away their swords.
Cao Fushui bowed respectfully to Xu Jiao and said, “Thank you, my Lord. Your whereabouts have been kept secret this time. I will not send anyone to see you off. I will say goodbye now.”
Peng Qinyun was so shocked that his jaw dropped. They were so tense just now, but now…
But when he saw Xu Jiao coming out of the tent, Peng Qinyun quickly picked up his chin and came forward, “Master Xu, are you okay?”
“Get on the camel.” Xu Jiao said calmly.
Only after he got on the camel did Xu Jiao feel his feet go weak.
The baby was scared to death! Cao Fushui, that shaggy lion dog, actually drew his sword to scare her!
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[1] East Palace is the residence of the Crown Prince.