Qin Zhen nodded. If it weren't for the discussion, Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing wouldn't have let everyone come back. ￠￡,

"...Mobilize people and food from all over the country, Ayou takes charge, and goes to war within ten days." Qin Zhen briefly told Ji Xiaotang the results of the discussions made by the important officials in the court.

This result was expected by Ji Xiaotang.

"How many people can be mobilized and how much food and grass can be raised in just ten days?" Ji Xiaotang asked again. The strategy of military farming that they had originally discussed has not yet officially started to be implemented, and now that the famine has been in trouble for many years, it is even more difficult to raise enough food and grass.

Qin Zhen roughly said two numbers, which were provided by important officials from various departments summoned to the palace.

To Ji Xiaotang, these two numbers are too thin.

"Although I don't understand a lot, I think that this alone is far from enough." Ji Xiaotang said.

Qin Zhen nodded, Ji Xiaotang's feeling was not wrong.

"This can be raised within ten days. The Queen Mother and His Majesty issued a strict order. In the future, all supply will be given priority to the north. When Ayou leads troops to set off, he will mobilize people and food to support him again and again."

"Although that's the case, I always feel that it's not very reliable." Ji Xiaotang said.

Why is Ji Xiaotang alone feels unreliable? Qin Zhen also feels so.

"It's hard to cook without rice." Qin Zhen sighed. The situation in China is like this now, so he can only do his best.

"In this case, the burden on Ayou will be heavy." Ji Xiaotang lowered his eyes slightly.

Qin Zhen glanced at Ji Xiaotang and sighed.

"Who said no, but Ayou has already issued a military order in front of the Queen Mother and His Majesty..."

"He issued another military order?" Ji Xiaotang was shocked and quickly raised his eyes to look at Qin Zhen.

"Yes." Qin Zhen smiled bitterly. He also felt that it was unnecessary for Qi Younian to issue a military order now. "He promised in front of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty that even if he did not send him a soldier, he would still guard Zhenshan Pass to death."

"National hatred and family hatred." Ji Xiaotang sighed. Although he did not agree, he understood in his heart why Qi Younian did this.

"By the way, there is another thing." Qin Zhen said, then took a sip of tea and moistened his throat. "Changning knows this."

"What did Changning do?" Ji Xiaotang asked immediately.

Qin Zhen nodded.

"Changning wants to marry Qi Younian immediately, just before Qi Younian goes to the expedition." Changning broke into the main hall of the Cining Palace where everyone was discussing affairs. He was very passionate and even said that he would leave some blood for Qi Younian before Qi Younian goes to the expedition.

Ji Xiaotang narrowed his eyes slightly.

Changning actually started to grow his brain, or, in order to marry Qi Younian, Changning could have ignored anything.

This is really infatuated, but unfortunately she is not a good match for Qi Younian. It is not just that Qi Younian doesn't like her. Changning's temperament is destined to be a good wife, especially for Qi Younian.

"What did the Queen Mother and Your Majesty say that?" Ji Xiaotang asked again.

"The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty have agreed to ask for marriage to Ayou and Changning, and get married within three days." Qin Zhen said in a flat tone.

"What did Ah You say?"

"Xiaotang, you should be able to guess." Qin Zhen did not immediately give Ji Xiaotang an answer to this question.

"No, I can't guess.⊥," Ji Xiaotang shook his head. "Ayou suddenly changed so tragically, I can't guess what decision he would make."

Ji Xiaotang believes that Qi Younian may accept it. After all, at this time, what kind of love a child should be completely unimportant in Qi Younian's opinion and is not worth considering at all.

Marrying Changning now has many benefits for Qi Younian.

With the status of the prince-consort, Qi Younian arrived in the north. There is no need to worry about the subsequent supply. No one dares to slack off in this matter, which is equivalent to asking the prince-consort to live and asking Princess Changning to be a widow.

Moreover, even Qi Younian will be unpredictable to go to war in this situation.

Having a woman who can leave her blood for him is a good thing for himself and the entire Weiwu Marquis Mansion. It can even be said to be a must.

Qin Zhen looked at Ji Xiaotang for a while and sighed almost inaudible.

"Ayou did not agree." Qin Zhen told Ji Xiaotang that Qi Younian's attitude was very firm. He had previously rejected Empress Dowager Han's accusation on the grounds that he was still observing the system for the eldest princess. This time, Qi Younian had more sufficient reasons.

Why did the Huns do their homes before they were destroyed?

Qi Younian did not say whether he liked or not. He just said, like Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing that he would not consider getting married until he drove the barbarians from the north back to his hometown and restored peace on the border of the Qin Dynasty.

Qi Younian also asked Emperor Longqing and Empress Dowager Han to arrange other marriages for Changning as soon as possible. Changning is his cousin and is not young anymore and can no longer delay.

Qi Younian said that he could not bear this responsibility.

Such a rejection may be said to be tactful, but it is also decisive.

However, Changning was also determined to marry Qi Younian, and Empress Dowager Han wanted to win over Qi Younian's intentions with marriage.

"Maybe, Ayou doesn't have to get married before going to the battle this time, but he and Changning..." Qin Zhen paused at this point, "but he was a destined couple."

Even if the two of them will become a couple in the future, their marriage will be certain.

The female family members of the Weiwu Hou Mansion had already learned about the bad news on the front line and also learned about Changning's generous statement. Qin was very moved and had accepted Changning in his heart.

Ji Xiaotang temporarily moved Changning away from her mind, and she continued to ask Qin Zhen about other things.

"Majestic Hou..."

"The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty have issued an order to take Weiwu Hou to Beijing to heal his wounds today." The body of the eldest son of the Weiwu Hou Mansion will also be transported back to Beijing at the same time and buried in the Weiwu Hou's ancestral tomb.

After the funeral of Taichang Princess Qin Min, the Weiwu Hou Mansion also had to hold the funeral of the eldest son.

This is still an optimistic expectation, and everyone hopes that the seriously injured Virgin Hou can recover.

As the two of them were talking, they heard Qin Ying on the low couch next to him making a low moan, as if they were not sleeping soundly, and at the same time they turned over.

"Why is Ying'er sleeping here?" Qin Zhen wanted to ask this sentence just now.

"Ying'er is very sensible at such a young age. The servants don't know anything, so they told her about the Weiwu Marquis Mansion. She is very worried and will wait for you to come back with me." Ji Xiaotang said softly.

Qin Zhen's eyes were even gentler.

"Ying'er's personality is very similar to her mother."

Qin Zhen rarely mentions Princess Qi in front of Ji Xiaotang, but he does not deliberately avoid it. What made Qin Zhen feel relieved and happy was that Ji Xiaotang didn't mind this matter either.

Because of Qi Younian and Qin Ying, Ji Xiaotang has a good impression of Princess Qi, who has never met before.

After Qin Ying turned over, there was no sound again. She fell asleep.∮, no matter what, she was just a child.

Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen lowered their voices a little further.

"What strategy did the court decide after Ayou go north?"

"The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty want him to stick to it. It is not easy for him to defend Zhenshan Pass in the current situation." Qin Zhen said. Not only did Empress Dowager Han and Emperor Longqing think so, but the important officials in the court who were summoned to the palace also agreed this way.

"So, no one talked about peace talks?" Ji Xiaotang lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then raised his head and asked at Qin Zhen.

"Someone has proposed a peace talk." Qin Zhen also looked at Ji Xiaotang. He did not think that Ji Xiaotang's words were general. "But they were quickly rejected."

The person who proposed the peace talks was Zheng Mian, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Everyone thinks that the great Qin Shangbang and the barbarians' peace talks with the Northern Barbarians are too expensive. Moreover, if the peace talks, it will definitely increase the prestige of the Northern Barbarians and destroy the Qin's spirit.

Some people even have passionate people who cannot listen to the word "peace talk", just like anyone who proposes peace talks is a corrupt person and a traitor.

Since its founding, the Qin Dynasty has been tough in its attitude towards the Northern Barbarians and has never had any peace talks.

"In the view of the prince, what is the Empress Dowager's view on the peace talks?" Ji Xiaotang suddenly asked again.

"Well," Qin Zhen pondered, "After Zheng Mian proposed the peace talks, I also secretly observed the empress dowager carefully. In my opinion, the empress dowager prefers the peace talks."

However, since everyone else opposed it, especially Qi Younian and Qin Lin, the most fiercely opposed it, Empress Dowager Han did not mention the peace talks in the end.

"Then the prince thinks that peace talks are feasible?"

"The Qin Dynasty founded the country and had many conflicts with the Northern Manchus, and there was never a peace talk." Qin Zhen said.

"I know. But the situation is different now, peace talks are our only way out." Instead of letting Qi Younian take people with their blood to fight the Northern Barbarians desperately. "Prince, put aside the emotional factors and think rationally, is this the truth?"

Qin Zhen pondered for a while before nodding.

He couldn't help but admit that what Ji Xiaotang said was correct.

"I think many of the adults who were summoned to the palace also understood this truth." For example, Han and Xie must have seen the situation clearly. The reason why they did not mention peace talks and did not agree with Zheng Mian was because of the Qin Dynasty's tough tradition of the Northern Barbarians. The two parents cherished themselves and did not want to be praised and criticized for this.

On this day, Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen talked almost all night until it was dawn and the two reached a consensus.

"In this matter, there must be someone who takes the lead." Qin Zhen said while drinking strong tea.

"The prince doesn't have to be this leading man. The two old masters have kept a low profile for many years, and it's time to do some effort." Ji Xiaotang said lightly.

"Xiaotang, what do you mean..."

"The prince asked Mr. Han and Mr. Xie to come forward. The two important officials who are aiding and paying attention to themselves but ignore the dangers of the country. I am also embarrassed for them." Ji Xiaotang raised his eyebrows slightly.

Qin Zhen smiled without feeling it.

"Okay, I'll talk." Qin Zhen agreed happily. As long as the two cabinet masters, even if only one of them proposed a peace talk, Empress Dowager Han would definitely agree with the flow. "However, there is another person who is afraid it will not be easy to convince."

"The prince is saying...Ayou?" Ji Xiaotang asked.

Qin Zhen nodded: "That's right."

Qi Younian has dual ambitions of national hatred and family hatred, and vows to fight the Northern Barbarians to take revenge. This is indeed the most difficult to convince.

"The prince can't convince him?"
To be continued...