Chapter 889 The Wind from the North...

Facing Tang Peng's serious question, Yang Chongqing smiled and said:
"This question has been hidden in your mind for some time, Tang Peng, you finally couldn't help but ask..."

Tang Peng did not respond to Yang Chongqing's words but said seriously:
"The court has always been short of money, and it relies on the Prime Minister and a few adults to support it. Now a hundred thousand troops are fighting in Yunbing, and the daily consumption of money, food and supplies is very huge. Although the court is gritting its teeth to support it, our gap is getting bigger and bigger. If we continue like this, sooner or later we will be unable to continue!"

"What's more, the imperial court has been hoping that we can launch a counterattack. Although our army is fighting hard, we are losing soldiers and territory one after another. I am afraid that the imperial court will lose patience!"

At the end, a hint of worry inevitably emerged in Tang Peng's expression. Ever since he acquiesced to Yang Chongqing's plan to abandon Jinyang last time, the court regarded him as a member of Yang Chongqing's gang whether he was willing or not.

And once the court lost patience with Yang Chongqing, dismissed him and let others take over the command, he would inevitably be implicated!
In fact, being implicated is a small matter. He is the hereditary Duke of Chu and the top noble in the Great Zhou. Even if he is implicated, the problem is not big. At most, he will be hidden for a period of time, and he will be able to make a comeback in a few years!

But the problem now is that no eggs are left intact when the nest is overturned·························

Tang Peng used to be very confident about the strategic location of Wei Pass. He believed that with the strategic location of Wei Pass, he only needed tens of thousands of elite soldiers to make Wei Pass an insurmountable natural barrier for the Fengwu Army!
But after seeing the fighting style of the Fengwu Army, Tang Peng had deep doubts about whether Wei Guan could stop the Fengwu Army!
If the Fengwu Army only mobilized 100 heavy artillery pieces to attack, Wei Pass would most likely be safe. But if the Fengwu Army mobilized 200, 300, or even more artillery pieces, would Wei Pass still be able to be defended?
Tang Peng had no idea about the answer to this question, so blocking the Fengwu Army east of Wei Pass was the top priority at the moment!

If the Fengwu Army cannot be stopped in Pingyang and is allowed to reach the city of Weiguan, then Weiguan will most likely be lost. If Weiguan cannot be defended, Luoan will be in the pocket of the Fengwu Army. In this case, even if the capital can be moved to Sichuan, it will only be a prolongation, and the court will be completely finished!
Tang Peng knew very well that although Ye Mingsheng was still pretending to be a minister of Zhou under the guise of clearing the court, his wolf ambitions were obvious.

Once he conquers Luoan, no one will be able to stop him from unifying the Great Zhou, and Ye Mingsheng will most likely directly become emperor.

In this way, he, the hereditary Duke of Chu of the Great Zhou, would be like a phoenix falling to the ground and being worse than a chicken. So now Tang Peng is really worried about the continuation of the Great Zhou...
Feeling Tang Peng's worry at this time, Yang Chongqing also fell into silence.

Looking at the silent Yang Chongqing, Tang Peng also fell into despair. If Yang Chongqing, who was always good at winning by surprise, had no way at this time, then the Great Zhou might really have no hope, and everything they did now would become a desperate struggle of a trapped beast!
Under Tang Peng's gaze, Yang Chongqing sighed and then spoke his true feelings.

"I'm waiting for the wind from the north!"

Hearing what Yang Chongqing said, Tang Peng was stunned for a moment, not knowing what Yang Chongqing was talking about.

However, Tang Peng was also a smart man, and he soon understood what Yang Chongqing was referring to, and asked in a somewhat surprised voice:
"Are you in touch with them?"

Yang Chongqing shook his head and said:
"I killed so many of them. Those barbarians wanted to eat me alive. How could they have any connection with me?"

Hearing this answer, Tang Peng nodded slightly. He also felt that Yang Chongqing could not do it, but hearing Yang Chongqing's words was really shocking, so he had to test it out. After hesitating for a while, he seemed to have thought of something and asked in a low voice:
"Did the higher-ups tell you anything? Are the court negotiating with them in secret?"

Yang Chongqing shook his head and said:
“Tang Peng, you are the hereditary Duke of Chu. Your foundation and connections in the court are much stronger than mine, who comes from a humble family. How could I know news that you don’t know…”

Tang Peng felt that there was some truth in what he said, but he was also puzzled as to why Yang Chongqing would wait for the wind from the north if that was the case.

As if he had seen Tang Peng's doubts, Yang Chongqing said in a deep voice:
"You should know that the Golden Horde almost annihilated the Robe people last autumn. If Ye Mingsheng hadn't suddenly given the Robe people a large amount of military aid, the Golden Horde would have been the overlord of the grassland now."

"The Qipchaks are the most vengeful people. Ye Mingsheng ruined their good fortune, so they have become enemies with Ye Mingsheng. Moreover, they probably don't want to see Ye Mingsheng unify the Great Zhou, so I guess they will take action!"

“No matter how powerful the Cumans’ attack is, it is basically certain that the Fengwu Army’s logistical supply will be cut off by the Cuman cavalry. Once the logistical supply is interrupted, the Fengwu Army’s firearms will become like fire sticks and will not be able to function. This is our last chance, and we must seize this opportunity to survive!”

After listening to Yang Chongqing's words, Tang Peng thought about it carefully, and hope appeared in his eyes again!
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Yijing, Ye Mansion

In a side room, Gu Sansi with a serious expression looked at the brother and sister Ye Jingren and Ye Xingtong in front of him. The brother and sister also stood obediently under the stern gaze of the master, not daring to be careless.

"Master Jingren, recite the first chapter of the University!" Gu Sansi ordered in a deep voice:

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingren also recited obediently:
“The way of the university is to manifest the illustrious virtue, to love the people, and to stop at the highest good. Only when one knows the stop can one be determined, only when one is determined can one be tranquil, only when one is tranquil can one be at peace, only when one is at peace can one consider, and only when one considers can one achieve… Those whose roots are disordered and whose ends are orderly are not good. Those who value what they value but despise what they value have never existed. This is called knowing the root, and this is called the ultimate knowledge.”

Jingren's recitation was very smooth at the beginning, but as he got to the later parts, he would get stuck and pause. Although he managed to recite the entire first chapter, his recitation was not very smooth, which undoubtedly made Gu Sansi's expression even more stern.

Jingren also knew that his performance was not very good, so after reciting it, he looked at Gu Sansi with some trepidation, and Gu Sansi said in a deep voice:
"Master Jingren, the first chapter of this university only has 256 words. I gave you three days, and you still memorized it like this. This is absolutely inappropriate!"

After saying this, Gu Sansi took out a piece of wood from his sleeve and said:

"Master Jingren, please extend your hand!"

Looking at the wooden board in Gu Sansi's hand, little Jingren showed some fear on his face. After hesitating for a moment, he stretched out his right hand.

Looking at Jingren's little hand, Gu Sansi was not polite either. He hit Jingren with three sticks. Jingren grimaced but did not dare to cry out in pain. Seeing his elder brother being beaten, Ye Xingtong on the side could not bear it.

On the first day of class, Gu Sansi set a rule for him that he was not allowed to cry out in pain when being beaten with a stick, otherwise he would be hit one more time.

After hitting him three times, Gu Sansi asked again:
"Master Jingren, three days ago I told you the meaning of the first chapter of this university. Now repeat it to me!" Ye Jingren, who was rubbing his hands vigorously, listened to Gu Sansi's words and continued:
"Yes, sir, the meaning of this first chapter is that the way of university is to preach virtue and to love the people..."

Compared with the original text he recited before, Jingren's retelling of the meaning of university was even more far-fetched, and he didn't know what to say halfway through.

In response, Gu Sansi hit him five more times without any hesitation, but this time, Gu Sansi asked Jingren to use his left hand.

After beating him, Gu Sansi asked helplessly:

"Master Jingren, where have you been having fun these three days?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingren whispered:

"I didn't go anywhere crazy, I just caught fish and played in the mud with Jingxuan in the back garden!"

After saying this, Xiao Jingren also spoke with some grievance:

"Mr. Gu, I memorized the homework the day you told me to do it. My mother also tested me, but later..."

Listening to Jingren's words, Gu Sansi also spoke for him:

"Just playing, playing, and forgetting about it?"

Upon hearing this, Jingren lowered his head in shame. Seeing this, Gu Sansi sighed lightly. In his opinion, although Jingren was not as talented in studying as Jingxuan, his talent in studying was also on the average level among his peers, especially in memorizing things very quickly.

But he was just too playful. He would catch birds, catch fish, play in the mud, fight crickets, play with walnuts, etc. He would try everything.
Because he loves to play, although he has good talent, he does not put his energy into the right direction, so he always has a gap in his studies.

Although he was somewhat disappointed, when he thought of Ye Mingsheng's entrustment and his own responsibilities as a teacher, Gu Sansi sorted out his emotions and continued to tell Jingren seriously:
"Master Jingren, you didn't say this just now: Only when the mind is right can the body be cultivated, and only when the body is cultivated can the family be in order, and only when the family is in order can the country be governed, and only when the country is governed can the world be peaceful. I will repeat it to you again, and you must remember not to memorize it by rote, but to understand its meaning."

“The meaning of this paragraph is that only when you have good self-cultivation can you manage your family well. Only when you manage your family well can you manage a country well. Only when you manage the country well can the world be peaceful and stable…”

Little Jingren nodded, not quite understanding, and then he seemed to have thought of something and spoke directly:
"Mr. Gu, then my father didn't manage the country well, right?"

Facing Jingren's question, Gu Sansi was a little surprised, but he still denied it:

"Nonsense! Under the leadership of the Marshal, the people of Fengwu Army are well governed and the people are happy. The whole country is prosperous and peaceful. The Marshal is a wise ruler!"

Although these words sounded a bit corny and seemed to be flattering Ye Mingsheng, they were what Gu Sansi really thought. Due to the crazy slander of the powerful and wealthy families, Ye Mingsheng had a very bad reputation among the literati, and was on par with other tyrants and incompetents such as King Zhou of Shang, Qin II, and Emperor Yang of Sui.

However, a large number of ordinary people who have lived a happy and healthy life because of Ye Mingsheng's implementation of the new policies are praising Ye Mingsheng's kindness.

Gu Sansi, who had always followed Ye Mingsheng, also saw all of this. Although Ye Mingsheng was still nominally a minister of Zhou at this time, in Gu Sansi's eyes, Ye Mingsheng was the best emperor, even the Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi could not be more superior!

Just when Gu Sansi was about to ask Xiao Jingren why he asked this question, Xiao Jingren tilted his head and said in confusion:
"Mr. Gu, didn't you just say that only by managing a family well can a country be managed well?"

“My mother often cried secretly by herself, and scolded my father for being heartless…”

Hearing this, Gu Sansi was also somewhat surprised, because it involved Ye Mingsheng's family affairs, and as an outsider, it was not something he should be involved in, so he didn't know how to explain it to Xiao Jingren. After hesitating for a while, he could only speak vaguely:
"This is a matter for adults. Master Jingren, you are still young and don't understand. All you need is that your father is a great and wise ruler. Millions of people have lived a peaceful and prosperous life under your father's rule. Many people in the folk are praising your father's kindness!"

Hearing what Gu Sansi said, little Jingren's expression was full of reverence, and he spoke to himself:
"My dad is so awesome!"

After patting Little Jingren's head, Gu Sansi nodded and said:
"The Marshal's achievements in civil and military affairs are unmatched in the entire history books!"

"Master Jingren, it won't be long before our Fengwu Army will be able to unify the entire Great Zhou. At that time, we will usher in an unprecedented prosperous era, with thousands of nations celebrating and paying tribute to us!"

"We are fortunate to be the witnesses and first-hand witnesses of this grand event!"

At the end of his words, Gu Sansi's expression showed a hint of expectation and longing, as if the prosperous era he described was right before his eyes.

After being immersed in it for a while, Gu Sansi came back to his senses and earnestly instructed Xiao Jingren:

“Sir Jingren, the Marshal is destined to be an emperor throughout the ages. He will be written in history books and revered by future generations. As the Marshal’s eldest son, you should study hard and inherit his civil and military skills in the future. You must not indulge in fun and bring ruin to the Marshal’s prestige…”

(End of this chapter)