Chapter 41 third quarter

Ma Zheng's narrative and analysis are clear and reasonable. When Ma Zheng left the Western Army, he was only a mid-level officer and had no experience in commanding major battles, let alone a strategic point of view to understand the overall situation.But he was a sober, common-sense, matter-of-fact soldier.Now he spreads out all the facts he has witnessed and heard, and writes them one by one in his home letter according to his own ideas, hoping that they can understand the truth of the facts and make efforts to improve the situation. Obviously, he represents the common opinion of the vast majority of officers and soldiers in the Western Army. How much information they have and how deep their thoughts are, but the basic opinions are the same.How different was this view from the view of easy victory held by the ministers of the court and the sensitive citizens of Tokyo!Ma Kuo and Liu Qi clearly saw this gap and understood the possible harm caused by the latter.They really want to do their best to reverse the underestimation of the enemy and blind optimism that generally exist in the rear.But how powerless they are!When an infectious disease spreads and becomes a disaster, it will develop to the culmination of the disaster at an unexpected speed. It will take a certain amount of time and a lot of effort to stop and extinguish it. In particular, it will take effect gradually by relying on the joint efforts of patients who have been infected with germs and viruses and awakened after suffering from it.Otherwise, it will be difficult for even a good doctor to be caught off guard.

Things should start from the bottom up; taking advantage of an opportunity to meet with you, Liu Kai tactfully explained Ma Zheng's analysis and narration to the officials.Guanjia himself is also an infected and spreader of Shengli Disease, and I am afraid that he is still a serious patient who will hardly wake him up. Liu Qi has the ability to express his opinions simply and clearly. His brief memorials made the wise officials fully understand his literal and further implicit intentions, but he still got nothing.He got ambiguous answers, a conscious ambiguity.After listening to Liu Kai's performance, the officials nodded frequently and said: "The situation on the front line, Qing's performance is detailed, and I already know it."

But what's next after knowing it?He didn't make it clear that even the current situation of Liu Kai's condemnation was noncommittal.It seems that being an official also has his difficulties. Some things are not easy to express clearly, and can only be expressed in an ambiguous attitude. Then Liu Kai euphemistically mentioned the official's original promise, expressing his willingness to serve the front line. This was another problem that made the official difficult. He pondered for a while and said: "I promised you to go to the front line a few days ago, and I will take care of it."

But Liu Qi understood that "Let's wait and see" is a mantra of the officials. Although the words are euphemistic, the meaning is clear and negative.If he said "to be discussed", there is still room for discussion.When he said "Let's take care of it", there was no room for redemption. The officials also felt very sorry to see the disappointment of Liu Kai, who he had always trusted.As if wanting to make amends, he suddenly said the following unexpected words: "I used Tong Guan to preach and appease Bei Dao, but unexpectedly he has been very insane lately, and he has many mistakes, which is in line with my high hopes. I have done it yesterday Cai You was appointed as the deputy envoy of Xuanfu, named full-time civil affairs, in order to monitor Tong Guan so that he would not dare to do anything wrong. You are a sensible person, I wonder if you can understand the mystery of this."

"The official scriptures are very clear," Liu Kai thought deeply for a while, and expressed his thoughts bluntly, "It's just that I'm afraid that the two of them will go, which will hinder the cultivation of teachers more, and will not benefit the overall military situation. .” "You don't have to worry too much about this. Since I use the way of teachers to control the capital, how can I not trust it? It's just that there are ancient sayings that 'soldiers do not fight' and 'stop fighting and fight'. If you can defeat others without fighting , Wouldn’t it be wonderful! You can pass this idea on to Master Zhong.” Then the official said affectionately, “Military affairs are your specialty, and I also need competent people around me to prepare for consultants. Qing will stay in the capital for the time being, serving me at my side, if there is an urgent need on the front line, it will not be too late to let Qing go out!"

After Liu Qi returned home, he told Zhao Long and Ma Kuo how he and the officials had dealt with each other.They all felt sorry for Liu Kai's inability to go to the front line, and everyone comforted him. Qiniang noticed what Dad said: "Things on the front line are changing rapidly, and everything can be decided in advance! My nephew has a strong heart for serving the country, so he will always go to the front line anyway. Even Uncle Yu, at this age, he is overestimated and unwilling." Although these were words of comfort to Brother Liu Kai, it was the first time that Qiniang heard her father say that she would like to go to the front line.She took a deep look at Dad, as if she had discovered a big secret in his heart.

Then they talked about Cai You.Everyone couldn't figure out why the officials told Liu Qi about the strange relationship between Tong and Cai.But everyone agrees on this opinion. How can the frivolous, frivolous, and incompetent Cai You "supervise" the cunning, cunning, and secretive child?When the two of them were together, either Tong Guan would leave Cai You aside from afar, or the two would help each other and work hand in hand, the third result would not happen.What they were afraid of was Liu Qizuo's right sentence, that the two of them would join forces to deal with Zhong Shidao and put even more pressure on Zhong Shidao.

At this time, Zhao Long suddenly told a joke that was popular twenty years ago with great interest.It's a joke, but it's true: "At that time, you were still pregnant in Niangyi, and you hadn't landed!" Zhao Long once mentioned Erniang's mother, and then pointed to Mrs. Liu Qi and said, "You were just a baby at that time!" At that time, Cai Jing had just entered the government from the Imperial Academy, and he was in the midst of triumph.After eating for a day, he suddenly thought of trying the talents of his sons. "You wait for it every day," Cai Jing asked, pointing to a bowl of white rice, "Do you know where it comes from?"

"Cook the cooked rice with raw rice." Cai Kuang replied quickly. "This bowl of rice is clearly cooked with white rice." "Good answer!" Cai Jing nodded in approval, "But where did the white rice come from?" "It was moved out of the granary." This time it was Cai Tao who took the lead. "No! Wei'er saw the rice poured out of the mat bag with my own eyes." Not to be outdone, Cai Shu corrected his brother. "What are you saving?" Cai You, who is good at distinguishing appearance and color, saw "Lang Ba"'s uneasy expression, and hurriedly corrected the mistakes of the two brothers, saying to them, "You have become a habit of sloppy trousers, so you only need to save food and open your mouth. I don’t know that the material resources are difficult and the place is not easy. Today I will teach you a lesson, white rice is pounded out of a mortar.”

"At that time, we were all in the army. I laughed and hurt my stomach when I heard this. I laughed at the children of those civil servants who were not working hard and didn't know the five grains." Zhao Long added, "Who knows that in a few days, Cai You He has been promoted to Zhongshu Sheren, so everyone calls him 'Jiuzi Sheren'." "Now the situation is reversed," Liu Kai couldn't help laughing, "Jiuzisheren don't have to flatter Lao Tzu anymore, but the old ones have to serve Jiu Zi's son." "Now the Bachelor of Jiuzi is going to Hebei to serve as the deputy envoy of Xuanfu," Mrs. Liu Kai continued, "I'm afraid that the common people in Hebei will be put to death with a pestle in the mortar, which will cause the common people to suffer!"

"At a time when the military affairs are in a state of disarray, it is not the imperial court's failure to send such people to Xuanfu Beidao!" Ma Kuo sighed. "Where are the common people willing to teach him to die with a pestle?" Zhao Long returned to his anger at the dignitaries, and said angrily, "I heard that the righteous people in Hebei gathered together to attack the city and attack the state, focusing on killing Corrupt officials. Cai You has done a lot of injustice and accumulated grievances. Once he is captured by righteous people, he will be killed in a mortar and pestle, which will be very satisfying!"