Chapter 556: Double Happiness! (Thanks to my book friend Tangtang for the tip!)

Yijing, Military Governor's Mansion
Ye Cheng hurriedly walked into Ye Mingsheng's study, handed him a secret report and said:

"Sir, the internal guards have sent an urgent report..."

Hearing the word "internal security", Ye Mingsheng's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and he immediately took the secret report, opened it and read it. Looking at the content above, Ye Mingsheng gradually smiled and said:
"Very good, Yuan Song really didn't let me down! Now this game of chess is completely alive!"

After saying this, Ye Mingsheng pondered for a while, and then instructed Ye Cheng who was standing respectfully beside him:

"Go find Gu Sansi and Zhang Juning! I have something to discuss with them!"

"Yes!"

An incense stick later, Gu Sansi and Zhang Juning, who were summoned by Ye Mingsheng, came to Ye Mingsheng's study. After greeting Ye Mingsheng, Gu Sansi said to Ye Mingsheng with great joy:
"Sir, did you get the news so quickly?"

Listening to Gu Sansi's words, Ye Mingsheng looked at Gu Sansi with some surprise. He did get the news, but the news was that Yuan Song won a great victory in Shunping, Zhao Fuqu died in self-immolation, the Yan army was completely wiped out, and more than 50,000 Yan army soldiers surrendered!

However, Ye Mingsheng obtained this news through his own secret channels, not through the Fengwu Army or the Coordination Office. I believe that even the director of the Coordination Office, Huo San, did not get this news at that time. So how did Gu Sansi know it?
As if he had sensed the meaning behind Ye Mingsheng's words, Gu Sansi was surprised and asked Ye Mingsheng in confusion:
"My Lord, weren't you officially appointed by the imperial court to tour the south? You summoned us here as the Governor-General of Yan and Liao, right?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng realized that Gu Sansi and his information were not the same. Due to financial reasons, the Fengwu Army's intelligence system was still only focused on the north. Even the intelligence network in Anqing was set up by Ye Mingsheng with special funds approved for Xu Zhaojie...
Therefore, the Fengwu Army, which had risen to prominence at a relatively early stage, had not yet extended its intelligence tentacles to Sichuan and Shu where the imperial court was located during the southern tour. This meant that if the Fengwu Army wanted to obtain news from Sichuan and Shu, it had to mainly go through the diplomatic department led by Gu Sansi. This was why Gu Sansi knew the news before Ye Mingsheng.

Although he had just learned the news, Ye Mingsheng still acted very calm and said:
"Murong Hui just returned, and the Murong family has already done the job. It seems that the Murong family is still very efficient!"

Gu Sansi nodded and said with emotion:

"The Murong family actually managed to accomplish this. Their influence in the court and among the noble families is truly unfathomable!"

At this point, Gu Sansi seemed to have remembered something, and reminded Ye Mingsheng in a very obscure way:

"Sir, the Murong family has already shown their sincerity, and our attitude should be more positive!"

Feeling the implication of Gu Sansi's words, Ye Mingsheng did not respond to his words, but changed the subject and said:
"This time, I called you two, Sansi and Ju Ning, mainly to discuss our current financial situation, to see how big the fiscal deficit will be in the future, and how many bonds we need to issue!"

Gu Sansi, who had wanted to urge Ye Mingsheng to make up his mind as soon as possible, became serious when he heard the word "bonds". Just when he was about to say something, Ye Mingsheng looked at Zhang Juning, the director of the Finance Department. As for his job, Zhang Juning, the chief steward of the Fengwu Army, did not hesitate at all and said immediately:

“Sir, because our army made rapid progress in Youyan before, the Yan army did not have time to damage these warehouses when they retreated. In addition, the local faction headed by the Gu family donated money, so we have no shortage of food, cloth, salt and other things. There are nearly 700,000 dan of food in the warehouses…”

"However, because of the two-front war this time, our army has spent too much money. After confiscating the assets of the Yan army and rewarding our meritorious soldiers, there was still more than 800,000 taels of silver left. During this period, we paid the salaries of soldiers from all over the country, the pensions for the disabled soldiers, and the production of a large number of firearms, etc., and we have already spent 300,000 taels of silver!"

"In addition, we have set aside 200,000 taels of silver as advance funds for expanding two divisions. Currently, there are only 300,000 taels of silver left in our army's treasury. If the current war continues for more than half a month, our army will not be able to pay military salaries and pensions!"

Looking at Zhang Juning who looked like he was suffering, Ye Mingsheng smiled slightly. He knew it was not easy for Zhang Juning to be the God of Wealth. The Fengwu Army's shops were getting bigger and bigger, and all places were asking for money. The money Zhang Juning had saved had to be spent before it could even warm up. At most, he was now a passing God of Wealth!
Gu Sansi, who was standing by, became more and more serious after listening to Zhang Juning's story. Although he knew that the Fengwu Army had spent a lot of money on disaster relief and war during this period, he did not expect that there was only this much money left in the treasury. However, despite this, Gu Sansi still held a different opinion on Ye Mingsheng's idea of ​​issuing bonds. He organized his words and suggested to Ye Mingsheng:

"Sir, we can first liquidate the Ma family and make up for the financial deficit from them. The Ma family has been operating in Youyan for generations and is very wealthy. If we squeeze all their money out, we will definitely have hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, which is enough for us to tide over this difficult time. As for the issuance of bonds, I think we should be more cautious..."

"The Luobei people in the north have not been repelled yet, and the traitor Zhao Fuqu in the south has not been eliminated yet. In addition, because of the Ma family's affairs, the relationship between us and the local faction has been a little sensitive recently. If we ask them to pay money at this time, it may be counterproductive!"

Listening to Gu Sansi's concerns, Ye Mingsheng smiled and nodded and said:

"Of course the Ma family must be liquidated, but just two days ago Yuan Song won a great victory at Fuhugang. Zhao Fuqu burned himself to death and the main force of the Yan army surrendered. Yuan Song's troops are currently heading towards Zhuo County. I think we can take Zhuo County in a few days, and I can be worthy of the title of Governor of Yan and Liao!"

"As for the Luobei people, they have been in contact with the Yan army for a long time. The reason why they are still unwilling to retreat is that they want to attack our army from both sides with the Yan army. Now that the Yan army has been completely annihilated, it's time for them to wake up from their sweet dream. They will retreat soon!"

When these words came out, Gu Sansi was shocked at first, then he bowed to Ye Mingsheng with some shame and said:

"The Marshal is very thoughtful and far-sighted. I am the one who is worrying too much!"

Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng waved his hand and said:
"Think twice about what you said. What you said was all wise words for the country. It's just that you didn't know the news!"

After comforting Gu Sansi, Ye Mingsheng instructed Zhang Juning:

"The General Staff will present you with a list of rewards. Please calculate it as soon as possible, and then calculate the total amount of the various expenditures of the Chief Secretary. This time, the bonds will still be issued in the name of Dadongsheng Company!"

“Shansi, you also need to do a good job of ideological work among the localists. You need to get them to actively subscribe to Dadongsheng’s bonds and make due contributions to the future well-being of the people of Youyan…” “Yes!”

"Yes!"

After carefully discussing some specific details with the two, Ye Mingsheng ended the meeting and asked Zhang Juning and Gu Sansi to return to their respective posts to implement the work.

After lunch, Ye Mingsheng planned to take a short nap so that he would have more energy to deal with the work in the afternoon. However, things did not go as he wished. Just as Ye Mingsheng lay down on the bed, a man in gray clothes, led by Ye Cheng, came to Ye Mingsheng. Seeing this man, Ye Mingsheng had to sit up on the bed and waved his hand to signal Ye Cheng to leave.

After Ye Cheng left and only Ye Mingsheng and the man in gray were left in the room, Ye Mingsheng asked in a deep voice:
"what happened?"

The man in gray replied in a hoarse voice:

"Your Excellency, Miss Murong Qingwu was poisoned and nearly killed in the mansion seven days ago!"

Ye Mingsheng's eyes flashed with coldness when he heard this, and he immediately asked:
"Who did it?"

"The Cui family planted a secret agent in Murong's mansion!" The gray-clothed man answered truthfully:

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng raised his eyebrows and asked:

"The one you talked about last time?"

"Yes!"

Hearing this answer, Ye Mingsheng frowned slightly and asked again:

"Why did Cui Shao attack Murong Qingwu?"

The man in gray hesitated for a moment and said:
“There is no definite evidence yet, but I suspect Cui Shao may have realized the Murong family’s intention, so he wanted to take the initiative to prepare for a rainy day…”

Ye Mingsheng nodded slightly when he heard this, and after waiting for about half a cup of tea and seeing that Ye Mingsheng still didn't speak, the man in gray asked tentatively:
"My lord, do you need me to do anything?"

Ye Mingsheng did not answer his question, but continued to ask:
"Did Murong Yuliang have any reaction?"

The man in gray thought for a moment and said:
"Murong Yuliang seems to have sensed something and has been investigating secretly at home. The Murong Mansion is now relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside!"

Listening to the answer given by the man in gray, Ye Mingsheng nodded and said:

"In that case, have your people keep quiet and try their best to ensure Murong Qingwu's safety!"

"As ordered!"

After receiving Ye Mingsheng's order, the man in gray bowed and quietly retreated.

After the man in gray left, Ye Mingsheng pondered for a while. After a while, he sat alone in the study with a hint of hesitation on his face. After a while, he made up his mind, quickly wrote a note, then tapped the table lightly, and walked into the room immediately after waiting for Ye Cheng outside.

Handing the written note to Ye Cheng, Ye Mingsheng said in a deep voice:
"Go to the General Staff Headquarters and give this to He Jingyun!"

"Yes!"

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Three days later, fifty miles away from Yuyang, Luo Bi's camp
Looking at the latest intelligence in his hand, Arsalan’s big hands that could shoot tigers and kill wolves couldn’t help shaking. He didn’t want to believe that this was actually true, but his reason told him that the thing he least wanted to see actually happened...

As a Luobi man, he broke the trend of Luobi not going south on a large scale for more than ten years and concentrated more than 70% of the entire Luobi military force, thinking that he could extort some benefits from the fight between Ye Mingsheng and Zhao Fuqu and re-establish his authority in the clan. However, he never expected that the Zhou vassal surnamed Ye was so stubborn that he would rather fight on two fronts than compromise with him!

This put him, the Khan Luobi, in a difficult situation. In the face of Ye Mingsheng's toughness, his dream of blackmail was completely shattered. As the voices for war in the tribe grew louder and louder, he launched a war to force Ye Mingsheng to surrender, which seemed to be the beginning of a nightmare.

First, more than 50,000 Luobi cavalry encountered obstacles everywhere in the Yuyang area, suffered many casualties but did not get much. Then, his planned surprise attack on Yijing City and humiliation of Ye Mingsheng's 10,000 Luobi cavalry were completely wiped out under the siege of the Fengwu Army, which made Arsalan feel real pain.

At that moment he began to realize that his risky war might be a mistake. Their casualties would far outweigh their gains. Although he had begun to regret it, Arsalan did not want to bear the consequences of defeat. He was like a gambler who lost money and was eager to make it back. He sent his strategic reserve to attack Jizhou, hoping to defeat the Fengwu Army in one fell swoop. However, things did not develop as he had imagined...
Even though he had tried his best, the defense line of the Fengwu Army was still as solid as a rock. On the contrary, the casualties of the Luobi people began to gradually increase, and they began to fall into the quagmire of war in Youyan. At this point, Arsalan still insisted on continuing, hoping that Zhao Fuqu could open up the situation in the south and force Ye Mingsheng to surrender to the Luobi people in order to shrink the front line!
However, the news he received a day ago surprised him greatly. The Yan army was completely wiped out, and more than 50,000 Yan soldiers surrendered to the Fengwu army. In his eyes, Zhao Fuqu, the fierce tiger of the Great Zhou Dynasty who had prevented the Luobei people from moving south for more than ten years, committed suicide by burning himself, and his heroic reputation was completely wiped out!
After getting this news, Arsalan knew that he had completely lost in this strategic game, but he wanted to leave in a dignified manner to preserve the last dignity of the Robe people. However, he did not expect that at this critical moment, the thing he was most worried about finally happened. The two Tiger Divisions and three Eagle Divisions of the Cumans, with nearly 100,000 troops, attacked the Elunqin steppe. The Cumans' move was to take advantage of your illness to kill you, and they wanted to completely exterminate the Robe people!
Although Arsalan was prepared for this, he didn't know how long the remaining troops could hold out, so the best plan now was to end the battle with the Fengwu Army as soon as possible and return for support...
(End of this chapter)