Chapter 308 Wei Yuan's First Northern Expedition!

Zhao Xi's reasons were very just and could not be refuted by the literati.

They tried their best to dissuade Zhao Xi from smashing the stele, in fact, they were worried about the interests of the literati.

Including Wang Anshi thought so.

Wang Anshi wanted to reform, to sweep away the accumulated bad policies, to make everyone able to afford food and housing.

However, he still did not want the interests of the literati to be damaged.

Zhao Xi's purpose of smashing the stele was also very simple.

First, he did not want the literati to have a golden medal of immunity from death and dare to do whatever they wanted.

Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, success has relied on scholars, but failure has also been due to scholars.

Second, he did not want the emperors of the Zhou Dynasty in later generations to be controlled by scholars.

If there must be a villain who opposes the laws of the ancestors, then he can be this villain.

In the future, the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty will have absolute say in the court.

The power of the prime minister must not have any influence on the imperial power.

While Zhao Xi was smashing the stele outside the court hall, Wei Yuan had already arrived at the Duke of Ying's mansion.

At present, Zhang Guifen, as well as his two sisters, Minglan, Mu Ge'er, Chang Ge'er and others, are all here.

So far, even if he returns home, Wei Yuan is still wearing armor.

Because the war is far from over.

Yelu Renxian retreated to Xiangzhou and planned to support the battle of Damingfu. If he wanted to decide the outcome in one battle, it would be best to occupy half of the country outside the city of Bianjing with Tangshui as the boundary.

Wei Yuan certainly couldn't let Yelu Renxian's plan come true, so he had to go out at any time.

At this moment, in the Duke of Ying's mansion.

Knowing that Wei Yuan had returned from the palace, everyone went to greet him.

Including Zhang Fu, who was still weak.

"Uncle!"

"Little brother!"

"."

In the front yard of the Duke's mansion, Wei Shuyi, Minglan and others all greeted Wei Yuan excitedly.

At present, the power of the Loyal and Brave Marquis's Mansion has reached its peak.

Even the siege of Bianjing was resolved by Wei Yuan.

With this merit, all the military families are afraid of the loyal and brave Marquis's Mansion.

Wei Yuan nodded to them one by one, then stood in front of Zhang Fu and bowed deeply:

"Teacher, the student is back."

Zhang Fu nodded heavily, patted his shoulder, coughed twice, and said "good" with a smile.

At this time, Wei Yuan's eyes were focused on Zhang Guifen who was standing behind the crowd.

Wei Yuan had been away from Beijing for nearly a year.

In the past year, Zhang Guifen had endured a lot of rumors and malicious targeting from many military families.

Of course, this was nothing to Zhang Guifen.

But in Wei Yuan's opinion, she was indeed wronged.

The only daughter of the Duke's Mansion should be sought after by everyone, but because of herself, she had to be cautious and careful in this capital.

How could Wei Yuan feel guilty?

Zhang Fu and his wife noticed that Wei Yuan's eyes were always fixed on Zhang Guifen, so they subconsciously made a look at everyone.

Afterwards, everyone found various excuses to leave.

"Uncle, my niece will cook for me today. What do you want to eat? I will cook it right away."

"I will go help Ming girl."

"I am a little tired. I will go to rest for a while."

"."

After everyone left.

Wei Yuan and Zhang Guifen could no longer suppress their longing for each other. They walked towards each other firmly, face to face, and finally hugged each other.

"Sister, you have been wronged this year."

"What grievance? After you left, the brothers Changzhi and others often ordered the soldiers of the Danglu Army to guard our mansion. How could I be bullied or wronged?"

"You girl, you always tell me good news but not bad news."

"Brother Wei"

When Zhang Guifen said this, she suddenly looked up at Wei Yuan.

The latter subconsciously asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Guifen suddenly shed two lines of tears. At this moment, she had thousands of words to say, wanting to explain her lovesickness, but when the words came to her lips, they turned into only a few words,

"Brother Wei, Guifen misses you, misses you."

She hugged Wei Yuan tighter, fearing that all this was just a dream, and when she woke up, Wei Yuan would leave.

Wei Yuan no longer responded, just hugged her quietly.

Enjoying the soft body and refreshing body fragrance of the beauty in his arms.

Later.

The Duke of Ying held a banquet, and even invited Zhang Yi, the father of Sheng Hong and Chang Ge'er.

The family was happy.

During the meal and drinking, no one talked about the current war.

Because they all knew that the war was not over.

And from now on, the person responsible for leading this war is Wei Yuan.

The danger was realized the moment Wei Yuan stepped into the imperial city with blood all over his body.

Wei Yuan and Zhang Guifen sat next to each other, the former occasionally talking about what he saw and heard in Jiangnan.

This made the latter imagine a lot.

On this day of family reunion, Zhang Guifen also tactfully did not talk about Xie Yuying.

After the meal, Wei Yuan first sent Zhang Fu back to his room. On the way, the latter asked earnestly:

"Yuan'er, how far do you want to fight this battle?"

The former did not hide anything, "I want to fight a few big battles in the Central Plains, destroy the main force of the Liao army as much as possible, let the old general Qin Lie hold back Yelu Yixian, create opportunities for our army to go north, and take the opportunity to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun."

The Liao army's southward march is also an opportunity for the Great Zhou.

Zhang Fu asked again: "Where is the main battlefield?"

For a commander of his level, as long as he knows where the main battlefield is, he can clearly understand the plan of the entire battle.

Wei Yuan said truthfully: "Damingfu, Xiangzhou, Mingzhou, Baozhou, Dingzhou."

"Among them, Damingfu, Xiangzhou, and Mingzhou have deployed a large number of troops at the same time, fighting on three fronts at the same time, so that Yelu Renxian and Yelu Xinxian can't take care of each other."

Zhang Fu was shocked and stood there in a daze. After a moment, he came back to his senses and looked at Wei Yuan with a slightly surprised and relieved look,

"Even in the heyday of my teacher, I dare not fight like this. You are a contemporary military saint."

Wei Yuan immediately bowed and said: "Teacher, you are too kind."

Zhang Fu said: "When will we set off?"

Wei Yuan said: "Tomorrow."

Tomorrow?

Zhang Fu sighed: "Accompany Guifen."

Wei Yuan nodded.

Since Zhang Guifen married Wei Yuan, everyone has felt some changes in their eyes.

The most obvious thing is that Zhang Guifen has lost her former agility and playfulness.

After sending Zhang Fu off, Wei Yuan returned to the backyard and saw Minglan sitting in the pavilion admiring the moon.

Wei Yuan walked slowly and quietly behind her, patting her right shoulder.

She subconsciously turned to look to the right, and Wei Yuan stood on her left, which scared her directly.

"Uncle!"

Minglan called out, puffing her mouth, and was really scared just now.

Danju, who was guarding her, hid aside and covered her mouth and laughed.

Wei Yuan touched the back of her head and said with a smile: "In a blink of an eye, our Ming girl has grown up so big."

Minglan sat in a daze on the chair, "In a blink of an eye, so many years have passed."

Wei Yuan asked curiously: "Why don't you go to rest so late, and sit here?"

Minglan turned and looked up at Wei Yuan, "Uncle will go to war soon?"

The latter nodded.

Minglan worriedly said, "The Liao bandits are as fierce as wolves and tigers. Can my uncle win?"

In her heart, her uncle has always been an invincible hero.

She has a mysterious confidence in Wei Yuan.

But at this time, her confidence in Wei Yuan was somewhat shaken.

Jing Jie'er and Zhuang Ge'er are still young.

The Liao army marched southward, unstoppable all the way, shaking the Central Plains

If anything happened to her uncle

She didn't dare to think about it anymore.

Wei Yuan flicked Minglan's head very easily and said with a smile: "Little girl, why are you asking so many questions?"

Minglan also covered her head as usual, "How old is my niece? Not young anymore!"

Wei Yuan looked at Minglan seriously, with a kind smile on his face, and said earnestly:

"You have to attend the coming-of-age ceremony, and your uncle may not be able to catch up."

Minglan's eyes flashed with a moment of loss. In fact, she had already prepared for this matter. She forced a smile,

"Uncle can not come, but he must give his niece a big gift, hehe."

Wei Yuan flicked her head again,

"You know how to trick your uncle. Ask your aunt about the gift."

Minglan pouted.

She didn't really want a gift.

Because for her, the best gift she had ever received in her life was the hairpin that Wei Yuan gave her.

"When we were having dinner today, I saw your mother coughing from time to time. Has she not recovered yet?" Wei Yuan asked.

Minglan shook her head, "My aunt often asks the imperial physician in the palace to check my mother's pulse. Every time, she prescribes a lot of medicine, but after all, it depletes her vitality."

Wei Yuan sighed and said, "When I was a child, your mother, your aunt, and I were the ones with the best health."

After chatting for a while, Wei Yuan was about to leave.

Minglan suddenly stood up and stared at Wei Yuan's back. For some reason, she suddenly shed two lines of hot tears and said with a smile in her tears:

"Uncle! You must win!"

Wei Yuan did not turn around and left directly, "Okay."

Minglan wiped the tears from her face.

Danju walked up, "Miss, what's wrong with you?"

Minglan held Danju's hand and murmured, "I don't know what's wrong, my heart is in a mess, I always feel that my uncle is going to the war this time..."

She didn't dare to say anything more.

She was like Wei Yuan's daughter.

How can a child not worry when his father goes to the war?

Danju said, "Uncle has made great contributions to the army and is a hero of the time. He will definitely return safely."

Minglan nodded gently and said nothing more.

Perhaps her premonition was right.

In this battle, Wei Yuan will meet the strongest opponent since he joined the army. It is not an exaggeration to say that he will survive a life-and-death struggle.

Wei Yuan came to Zhang Guifen's boudoir.

Jing Jie'er and Zhuang Ge'er were both here.

He saw that Zhang Guifen was coaxing the two children to sleep, so he did not dare to move too much and quietly walked behind her.

Zhang Guifen noticed something and smiled, "In the past, they would have fallen asleep at this time. I don't know why they are not sleepy today."

Wei Yuan sat in front of her, looked at the children lying on the bed, and smiled, "Maybe they are waiting for me."

After that, he took over Zhang Guifen's action of rocking the bed and coaxed the two children to sleep himself.

This was the first time for him, as a father, to coax two children to rest.

Zhang Guifen said, "You came to the Imperial City covered in blood that day, and scared a lot of children. Even those who were seven or eight years old cried when they saw you. Only Sister Jing and Brother Zhuang smiled when they looked at you."

When Wei Yuan walked past them, she and Minglan each held a child and lifted them high, wanting Zhuang Ge'er and Jing Jie'er to see their father with their own eyes.

"How can a child be afraid of his father?"

Wei Yuan said.

Zhang Guifen said, "I have been afraid of my father since I was a child."

Wei Yuan smiled, "To be honest, I am also afraid of your father."

Zhang Guifen chuckled, causing the two children to laugh.

Wei Yuan pretended to be evil and looked at them fiercely, "Don't laugh."

The two children really stopped laughing.

Zhuang Ge'er just didn't laugh, but Jing Jie'er was about to cry.

Wei Yuan looked at his precious daughter, his heart was about to melt, and he quickly picked up Jing Jie'er and coaxed her.

Zhang Guifen held Zhuang Ge'er.

Jing Jie'er was very strong. When Wei Yuan held her, she subconsciously grabbed Wei Yuan's beard and pulled it.

Wei Yuan felt a little pain.

Zhang Guifen scolded, "Let go!"

Jing Jie'er was very afraid of her, and gradually she didn't dare to pull Wei Yuan's beard.

Wei Yuan said like a protective child, "It's okay, it doesn't hurt, Jing Jie'er can pull it if she wants."

Zhang Guifen rolled her eyes at him, "If Jing Jie'er is as arrogant as Rong Feiyan and the others when they were young, blame you."

Wei Yuan laughed and said, "My daughter, Wei Yuan, should be arrogant."

Zhang Guifen said, "What about my son?"

Wei Yuan's face suddenly froze, and he said very seriously, "If my son dares to be a playboy, break his legs!"

At this time, Zhuang Ge'er, who was held in Zhang Guifen's arms, seemed to understand what he said, and burst into tears.

Zhang Guifen hurriedly coaxed him, "Don't cry, don't cry, your father is joking with you, if he dares to break your legs, you can let grandpa break his legs."

After saying this, Zhuang Ge'er seemed to have found someone who could support him, and gradually stabilized his emotions and stopped crying.

Zhang Fu liked his grandson and granddaughter very much.

When Zhang Guifen was young, Zhang Fu was very strict with her.

As the saying goes, the older generation is closer, and Zhang Fu was as strict with Zhang Guifen as he was with Jing Jieer and Zhuang Geer.

After putting the two children to sleep.

Zhang Guifen helped Wei Yuan undress and take a bath.

During this time, Wei Yuan did not say a word, and Zhang Guifen did not say anything either.

When Wei Yuan sat in the bathtub, Zhang Guifen personally wiped his body carefully, and her eyes were always fixed on his skin.

Wei Yuan asked curiously: "It's not like you haven't seen it, but have you thought about it?"

Zhang Guifen rolled her eyes at him, "Let me see if there are any new wounds on your body."

Wei Yuan smiled and said: "Don't worry, the armor given to me by His Majesty is invulnerable to swords and guns, and it's hard to have any skin injuries."

Zhang Guifen was startled and subconsciously said: "No skin injuries, but internal injuries?"

Wei Yuan held her hand, "If there were any internal injuries, how could I go home today?"

Zhang Guifen was relieved.

After a while,

Wei Yuan couldn't help it and asked, "Don't you want to ask about Xie Yuying?"

Zhang Guifen asked back, "Do you want to tell me?"

Wei Yuan said, "If you ask, I will tell you."

Zhang Guifen said, "If you don't tell me, I won't ask."

Wei Yuan was amused by her and said seriously, "After all, she has a child from our Wei family. I want to take her to Bianjing in the next few days."

Zhang Guifen nodded without saying anything.

Wei Yuan said, "You find a house in the capital and let her live there."

Zhang Guifen frowned and said, "Don't let her marry?"

Wei Yuan shook his head, "The timing is not right. Besides, whether to let her marry or not depends on your order as the head of the family."

Hearing this, Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "It's okay to let her marry. I'll wait until she arrives in Bianjing and see. Besides, it's a period of national mourning now. You have a special status and it's not appropriate to take a concubine at this time."

Wei Yuan nodded and said, "Madam is right. According to the rules, should the children she gave birth to be adopted by you?"

Zhang Guifen shook her head and said, "It depends on her wishes. I have enough headaches with Zhuang Ge'er and Jing Jie'er."

This was a polite refusal of Wei Yuan's words.

If the children born by Xie Yuying were raised under Zhang Guifen's name, they would be legitimate sons and daughters.

She didn't want to cause any trouble in the future because of the children born by a concubine.

Besides, everyone has selfish desires.

Not only do Jingjie and Zhuangge enjoy the privileges and life granted by the Loyal and Brave Marquis Mansion, but they also have the support of the Duke of Yingguo Mansion.

Why should the children who are not her own enjoy the resources of the Duke of Yingguo Mansion?

This is something Zhang Guifen does not want to see.

Wei Yuan did not say anything.

When the two came to the bed, the fire was raging and it was out of control.

Zhang Guifen was tormented by Wei Yuan all night.

She even lost the energy to get out of bed.

Moreover, after a sleepless night, Zhang Guifen was tired and sleepy. She gradually fell asleep at dawn.

At this time, Baozhu came to help Wei Yuan and Zhang Guifen wash.

But she saw that Wei Yuan had put on armor and made a gesture to her to keep quiet.

Baozhu immediately understood and stood aside, bowing her head and saying nothing.

Wei Yuan sat on the edge of the bed, kissed Zhang Guifen's cheek affectionately, stroked the hair and white skin scattered on her cheek, and smiled unconsciously.

Suddenly, a guard stood in the courtyard and bowed loudly, saying: "General Wei, General Chen has assembled the army to smother the enemy and is ready to go at any time. Your Majesty and all the officials are waiting in the court."

Wei Yuan quickly winked at Baozhu.

Baozhu walked out of the house and said to the guard: "Please wait for a moment, brother soldier."

The guard clasped his fists.

In the room, Wei Yuan held Zhang Guifen's slender hand firmly, looked at her peaceful face, thoughts swirling in his heart, and murmured:

"Sister, we have to take over our homeland, and we have to fight the war. I have to worry about your family affairs."

After saying that, Wei Yuan stood up suddenly, turned around and walked out of the house.

However, after taking just two steps, he stopped again. He wanted to turn his head and look at Zhang Guifen, but he was worried that he would be worried about something in his heart and would not be able to devote himself wholeheartedly to the war. He wanted to fight with Yelv Renxian, who was at the peak of his strategy. war.

So, after only hesitating for a moment, he left directly.

When the guard saw Wei Yuan approaching, he immediately clasped his fists.

Wei Yuan stood in the yard, turned his head and looked into the house, then sighed and left without looking back.

When Baozhu returned to the room, he saw that Zhang Guifen had "awakened", wearing only a thin shirt, standing in front of the door and window, quietly watching Wei Yuan leave.

Seeing this, Baozhu said: "Madam, are you not asleep?"

Zhang Guifen shook his head.

Baozhu said: "Today the imperial court posted a list, appointing the Lord as the general manager of the Northern Expedition. Today he will lead the troops to fight the Liao army. Madam, won't you go see him off?"

Zhang Guifen covered her mouth, tears falling uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

She didn't dare to let her cries get out.

She was worried that Wei Yuan was not far enough to hear.

Zhang Guifen took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and murmured:

"The opponent the Marquis encounters this time is different. The Marquis must go without distractions and worries."

She is a general and a tiger girl, and a few days ago she heard her father talk about the terrible things about Yelv Renxian.

Therefore, she understands the things in between.

Baozhu didn't understand, frowned, and said to himself: "It's different? Aren't they all Liao soldiers? What's the difference?"

That day, Zhang Guifen heard Zhang Fu talk about it.

It can be said that Mr. Yelvren at this time was at the peak of his power and impeccable in terms of his mind and layout.

Even if he and Wei Yuan join forces, they may not achieve better results.

But now, Wei Yuan is leading the army alone, and no one can fight alongside him.

He needs one person to face the Liao army coach Yelu Renxian.

How could Zhang Guifen, as a fierce general, not know that when faced with such a powerful opponent, she must be focused and respond at her best.

She was worried that because of herself, because of Brother Zhuang and Sister Jing, and because of this family, Wei Yuan's mind would be confused.

A battle between commanders of their level, with slightly inferior character, would be a drastic change when reflected on the overall battlefield.

Therefore, Zhang Guifen did not fall asleep. Last night, she temporarily arranged Brother Zhuang and Sister Jing to stay in Minglan's room.

She will not let things at home affect Wei Yuan now.

According to later historical records, on April 2, the eighth year of Jiayou's reign, Wei Yuan led his army for the first time in the Northern Expedition.

This was the beginning of a long-standing shift in Zhou's external strategy from defense to offense.