Chapter 166: Northern Expedition

After talking a few more words, Qin Lei brought the topic back to the military affairs of the two provinces. He smiled and asked Xu Dancheng, "After Shannan is pacified, you should go back. What do you think about the reconstruction strategy of Orphan?"

Xu Dancheng quickly put down his chopsticks and said respectfully: "The prince's strategy is broad and has a long-term vision, and his subordinates admire him very much."

Qin Lei laughed and said, "What do you think of Xu Fu? It's better to ask now. It's not good to hesitate when he returns to Shannan."

Xu Dancheng said a little embarrassedly: "There are indeed a few questions to ask the prince."

"speak."

Xu Dancheng thought for a while and pondered: "The reconstruction strategy says that the Fuxing Yamen will allocate 10 million taels for reconstruction in Shannan in five years. As a consideration, Shannan will cancel the domestic tax card and showdown taxes for various names. Follow the unified industrial, agricultural and commercial taxes determined by the Fuxing Yamen. We are worried that this will be difficult to implement."

Qin Lei nodded when he saw the other three people, knowing that they had no confidence in their subordinate officials. He glanced at the four people and asked slowly: "What is the name of the funding of the Fuxing Yamen?"

I need to reverently answer: "Borrow."

Qin Lei nodded and smiled and said, "Since it's borrowing, you have to pay it back. How do you plan to pay it back?"

The four of them looked stunned, and Zhuo Wenzheng said embarrassedly: "Is there going to pay back?"

Qin Lei said with a funny look: "Why don't you return it?"

Qiao Yuanshan said: "Isn't this Fuxing Yamen openable? Why do we still have to pay it back?"

Qin Lei realized a few days ago that he had a lot of secrets about the Fuxing Yamen, and ignored the feelings of the four governors about this yamen. In their eyes, since it is a yamen, it belongs to the government affairs system of the two provinces, so the money from the Fuxing Yamen is the money from the government, so how can there be a reason to pay it back?

If you haven't discovered this problem, and waiting for Qin Lei to return to Zhongdu, the officials of the two provinces that occupy 40% of the right to speak will definitely regard the Fuxing Yamen as their own money bag, and ask for it at will without giving any reward. There is no need to do such a thing, just once, the Fuxing Yamen that you have worked hard to collapse. After all, the deliberations will not be so stupid that they are regarded as fat sheep and have to persist.

Qin Lei still looked at Qiao Yuanshan with a smile, and said without any rush, "Can Mr. Qiao agree?"

Then he asked Zhuo Wenzheng: "Can Lingzun agree?" Of course, Xu Dancheng would not escape the questioning.

Qu Yanwu, who thought he had nothing to do with him, was also said by Qin Lei: "Do you want to completely annoy all the clans in the south?"

The four of them were speechless when Qin Lei asked. Yes, no one would use their own money to the government for use in vain. Besides, the rules are very clear. The Fuxing Yamen is not the owner of the 70 million taels of silver, but they are just keeping all the matters together.

Seeing the four of them falling into deep thought, Qin Lei said earnestly: "I think the biggest beauty of this revival yamen is that it provides a communication platform between the government and the gentry, which makes possible the misunderstandings and estrangements between the two sides possible to coordinate in advance."

After a pause, he said seriously: "But all this must be based on fairness and mutual trust. You are both parents and officials of the two provinces, and the major discussions of the Revival Office. You must measure the relationship between the two parties, otherwise this office will become a decoration and your relationship with the gentry will deteriorate even more."

The four of them said yes, and Qu Yanwu asked tentatively: "So we must strictly implement what conditions?"

Qin Lei nodded and said, "Not only that, Fuxing Yamen will also supervise the expenditure of each amount of money and the implementation of specific terms. As long as they think that the government's expenditure is unreasonable or even corruption, they have the right to refuse to pay the next period of money."

Seeing the four people's faces tight, Qin Lei knew that these officials who had always been arbitrary must be a little uncomfortable with being supervised by the Fuxing Yamen.

Qin Lei still said patiently: "Every province has a censor who supervises the censor, why can you accept it? The reason is that they cannot interfere with your power. The same is true for this revival yamen. They can only supervise and cannot point fingers at you. If even this condition cannot be met, people will not be the sucker."

After pausing, Qin Lei said sternly: "Let me tell you clearly. If the Lone King had not proposed this condition, everyone would not have paid the money! Why should they use the money to waste it for you in vain?"

When a few people thought, this is indeed the reason. Besides, their own family is a big discussion, and there is no reason not to feel sorry for their own money. After looking at each other, Qiao Yuanshan smiled embarrassedly at Qin Lei and said, "What the prince taught me is that my subordinates have considered it inappropriately."

Qin Lei still needs to appease his left and right arms. He smiled at the four people and said softly: "Our table occupies 60% of the power of talk and has absolute control over the Fuxing Yamen. So this Yamen is not fighting for power with you, but has to give you greater power. At least, you can order the gentry of the two provinces. What else are you not satisfied with?"

The four governors then turned their worries into joy, and said something like "suddenly" and "subjectives are stupid" and so on, which was considered to be wrong. Qin Lei just wanted to use this yamen to hold the south firmly in his hands. As for the others, just let it go.

Two days later, Qiao Yuanshan and Xu Dancheng rushed back to the south of the mountain with their subordinates. There were five days left to seed. If they could not appease the people in time and organize summer harvest, the harvest of this season would be completed.

The observation team of Fuxingyamen will be on the way with them. They will be responsible for giving back the situation in Shannan to the deliberation bureau to decide when to allocate the first loan.

Shortly after they left, Qin Lei was about to set off. The second phase of the battle had begun. Yang Wenyu's army overtook Shannan and drove the Maitreya Cult to the Fancheng area of ​​Xiangyang. He would join Qin Youcai to lead 10,000 infantry troops northwards, expel the Maitreya Cult entrenched in various places, and then lift the encirclement of the Xiangyang Lake Naval Army. Finally, together with Yang Wenyu's army, he would encircle the Maitreya Cult in Xiangfan area.

On the eve of the war, Ruolan was reluctant to leave and put up Qin Lei's carry-on luggage over and over again, filling seven large boxes.

Qin Lei sighed, "Ruolan, I'm going to fight, not moving. There's no need to bring this toilet, right?"

After hearing this, Ruolan thought carefully for a while, shook her head firmly and said, "No, otherwise what should I do if I get up in the middle of the night? It's deeper and heavier outside, and I'll catch a cold."

Qin Lei asked again with a 'oh': "What about this wooden barrel? How troublesome is this big guy carrying this?"

Ruolan said seriously: "After running around for a day, I will definitely be exhausted. I will take a hot bath and sleep more at night." As she said that, she said excitedly: "In fact, it doesn't take up any space. I have put your basin, foot basin, and buckets in each one, and they are stuffed into this bathtub..."

Seeing Qin Lei's dull look, Ruolan stopped the work in her hand, and her eyes were red and said: "If I don't follow you, you can't take your body seriously."

Qin Lei gently pulled Ruolan's soft and boneless body, hugged her in her arms, and comforted her softly: "How could that be? I will take good care of myself, and Isn't there Yun Shang to follow?"

It doesn't matter if he doesn't say it. As soon as he mentioned this, Ruolan's heart felt infinite sorrow. Her eyes, which were already filled with water vapor, finally shed tears.

The two went south all the way, sleeping together every day, and their relationship was no longer as good as before. Seeing Ruolan crying, Qin Lei took out a handkerchief from his arms, carefully wiped away the tears from her face, and asked softly: "Who made my little Ruolan unhappy?"

Ruolan thought to herself, who else is there except you, an enemy? She forced herself to get up from Qin Lei's arms, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and whispered: "I just can't bear to leave Your Highness, not for anything else."

Qin Lei thought about it again and knew where the problem was, so he couldn't help but curse himself for being speechless. He pulled the girl back into his arms and said warmly: "Xiao Ruolan Moduo thought that you can't take women when marching and fighting. This is an iron rule, and you can't violate it."

Ruolan couldn't help it after all, and she shouted Ruomos and said, "That Yun Shang..."

Qin Lei laughed and patted Ruolan's perky little butt, which made the girl blush and crawled into Qin Lei's arms, but she was not obedient, and the little awkwardness disappeared. Qin Lei then hugged her tightly and said in a whisper: "Little Lanlan..."

Such a disgusting title, only Ruolan, who was fascinated by Qin Lei, can accept it safely without getting goosebumps. She changed into a comfortable position in Qin Lei's arms, and her little nose hummed: "Well..."

Qin Lei grabbed her nose and said softly: "Tell you a huge secret. Only the two of us know. You have to help me keep it."

Ruolan buried her head deep in Qin Lei's arms and said in a muffled voice: "Don't tell Ruolan anymore. Ruolan remembers his words too hard, for fear that he would leak out when talking in his sleep at night."

Thinking of the respectful little palace maid who would say some sweet and greasy love words now, Qin Lei couldn't help but laugh proudly. After not waiting for Qin Lei's article, he heard his lewd laughter. Ruolan finally couldn't help but lift Qiongshou and looked at Qin Lei with her eyes in her eyes.

The summer shirt was thin, and the girl's angered body was tired of Qin Lei's arms for a long time, which had already made Qin Lei's heart grow grass. At this time, Ruolan looked at her affectionately, and it was like a little spark throwing into the boiling oil and burning.

Qin Lei roared lowly, picked up Ruolan across the waist, threw her hand onto the soft big bed, and before the girl's slender body fell, he pounced on her like a wolf.

This is exactly: the candle shadow sways, because I am a long time ago, I will let you sympathize with you; I will be so popular with the waves, and I will sleep with my neck.

Ruolan had long been unconscious of the darkness. She felt that she had been dead and dead countless times, until Xianghan lay in Qin Lei's arms with relish, and she didn't even want to move her fingers. Qin Lei, who was infinitely satisfied, stroked Ruolan's smooth arm and said apologetically: "Little baby, I'll tell you the cloud..."

Before the word "Shang" came out, Ruolan gently covered Qin Lei's mouth. She didn't want to hear other women's names at this time. After a long time, she said quietly: "I am becoming less and less content."

Qin Lei's heart tightened and comforted softly: "There are so many beautiful women in the world, and I can't marry them all home. Don't worry, I have no other intentions to Yun Shang." He originally wanted to say, I would not be sorry for you and Shi Yun, but he felt shameless, so he swallowed it forcibly.

Ruolan pursed her lips, held back the tears that were about to leave again, and murmured: "I know that only a good person like me in this world can care for a maid so much. I also swear to serve you carefully for the rest of my life and not make you angry. But the better I treat you, the more I put my heart on the prince, the less content you will be..."

As he said that, he raised his head with difficulty, and said with tears in his eyes: "Master, don't treat Ruolan like this. Maybe you are more fierce and cold to me, and I will know that it's better..."

Qin Lei hugged the little girl who was thinking about it again and said in a gentle voice: "Do you know what Gu likes Ruolan the most?"

Although he didn't raise his head, the girl's crystal round little ears stood up.

"Gu likes Ruolan's kindness the most, and she will not hide anything from me. There is no burden to be with you. Only with you, Gu does not have to carefully calculate, and he will release him in every way, tremble and walk on thin ice. You are my safe haven, do you know?" Qin Lei said seriously.

Ruolan was immersed in a huge sense of happiness, hugged Qin Lei tightly, and murmured: "Your Highness, Your Highness..."

The next morning.

In the end, Ruolan did not ask why Qin Lei took Yun Shang north, but the haze that had been entrenched in her heart for a long time disappeared. Her relaxed mood made her more bright and radiant, making Yun Shang, who had listened to her instructions, secretly laugh.

How could Yun Shang, who is well versed in medical science, not know why Ruolan’s rosy and delicate face came from? This understanding made her afraid to look at Qin Lei’s equally energetic handsome face.

But I couldn't help but want to see it.

After much persuasion, the number of boxes loaded on the car was reduced to five, but the big wooden barrel was still stuffed into it by Ruolan.

After watching the car ready with his own eyes, Ruolan put on a black and powerful armor inlaid with gold for Qin Lei, and then hung a black cloak embroidered with a huge golden dragon. The girl's movements were so pious and careful, as if a young wife was sending her husband to war, fearing that her husband's armor would not be well worn and could not withstand the enemy's sword; for fear that her husband's robe would not be well tied up and could not resist the coldness that was late at night.

Although he was reluctant to leave, Ruolan still held back her tears and gave Qin Lei a smile before leaving.

He left Qingcui Villa with this affectionate smile, and also took away all the girl's feelings.

Jingzhou City Grand Campground.

This time there was no traffic, only swords and guns; this time there was no bustling with cars and people coming and going, only the murder of soldiers on the battlefield.

Qin Lei, dressed in military uniform, stood on the earth platform with the golden sword of the emperor, and looked at the tens of thousands of soldiers ready to go below the stage. On the other side of the earth platform were thousands of Jiangbei elders who came to see him off. Among them were the wives, children and parents of the soldiers, but more were the people and gentry of Jiangbei Province. They were looking forward to Jiangbei to restore peace day and night. When they heard the news that Zhennan Army was going to fight the northern expedition, they came from all directions to see the king's army off.

After a long time, he whispered loudly: "The soldiers of Zhennan Army!"

"Here!" Under the leadership of Bo Shang Saiyang and Qin Youcai, more than 10,000 men responded to Qin Lei at the same time.

The loud voices went straight into the sky, revitalizing the spirit of the gentry and the people who saw them off.

Qin Lei nodded with satisfaction, stretched out his right hand, pointed straight at the crowd who were seeing off on the right, and shouted loudly: "Do you know who these are?"

Without waiting for someone to answer, Qin Lei continued to yell: "They were the people who saved every grain of food and took out every copper plate 17 years ago. With just one saving power, they supported your father and brother against the Southern Cong for nine months."

The Qin people were martial, and most of the soldiers in the army had sons to inherit their father's business. Therefore, almost everyone in this Zhennan army had fathers, brothers and relatives, and they were killed in that heroic battle. Among the people who bid farewell, there were countless elders who had experienced that scene back then.

As soon as Qin Lei said this, a feeling of soldiers suddenly lingered in everyone's heart. There was a feeling of blood connection between the person who saw him off and the person who went to war.

"But now, our common enemy, Nan Chu, was insidious and inciting chaos in the territory of Daqin. They pretended to be the name of Maitreya, deceived the public, incited the rebellion of the religious people, and turned our common home into a hell on earth! What should we do?"

"Suppress the rebellion! Suppress the rebellion! Suppress the rebellion!" For the first time, I heard that there was a shadow of the Southern Controversy behind the Maitreya Cult. I roared at the soldiers of Zhennan Army and the people of Jiangbei who hated Nan Chu to the core.

"Yes! Suppress the rebellion! Use the enemy's blood to pay tribute to the relatives who died in vain! Awaken the lost people!" As he said that, he shouted with the greatest strength: "Pick up the flag!"

Bo Shang Saiyang, wearing silver armor, shouted loudly when he heard this: "Get order!" He held the two high flagpoles firmly with both hands. He raised his waist and pulled up the Yujiang military flag of Zhennan Army from the wooden stake and carried it on his shoulders.
Chapter completed!