Do you know: I have a different surname: Wang, uncle Minglan

Minglan listened to what Wei Shuyi said, but she didn't think too much.

She just felt that her mother was sad because of her marriage.

After leaving Sheng's house, Minglan and Gu Tingye went to Guanjunhou Mansion.

These days, Wei Yuan has been idle at home.

First, because the first batch of students of the Military Academy are about to graduate, he, as the nominal chief priest, must attend their graduation ceremony.

The Military Academy is located in Yanmen, Daizhou. The journey is thousands of miles away, and it will take a long time to go back and forth.

It's also good to stay at home and accompany your family during this period.

After going to the Military Academy, you can also go to the three states to take a look and prepare for the war next year.

Second, the military reform in the court has been completed, and Wei Yuan doesn't need to worry about some minor details.

As for Wang Anshi's reform, to be honest, it has little to do with Wei Yuan, and he doesn't want to stretch his hands too far.

Since there is nothing to do in the court, Wei Yuan is also relaxed and wants to rest for a few days.

At this time, Zhang Guifen was already packing for Wei Yuan.

Chunyi Pavilion.

Wei Yuan looked at the huge courtyard that had been completely renovated, and was very satisfied. He smiled and said to Zhang Guifen beside him:

"I'm afraid the courtyard in the palace is just like this."

Zhang Guifen glared at him, "You dare to say anything."

Wei Yuan said, "There is no one else, what are you afraid of?"

The people around him had been dispersed by Wei Yuan long ago, so he said some things.

Zhang Guifen said, "How long do you think it will take for the Northern Expedition next year?"

Wei Yuan thought for a while, "At least two years, at most five years."

Zhang Guifen frowned and said, "It will take that long?"

The first Northern Expedition, which drove the Khitans out of Yanmen Pass, didn't take that long!

Wei Yuan explained: "The first Northern Expedition was a national effort, and it had to be a quick victory. Otherwise, how would the people in the south of the Yangtze River, who were heavily taxed by the court, survive? How would the people in the north survive?"

"For this Northern Expedition, the court prepared for a year in advance, so it could be done slowly. There was no need to charge at all costs."

There were only a handful of officials in the court who really cared about the people.

Everyone was thinking about their own little piece of land.

In the first Northern Expedition, no one cared about how many soldiers and civilians were killed or injured, and what the specific number was.

They only cared about success or failure.

But Wei Yuan had seriously considered that issue. In the entire Northern Expedition, about five million soldiers and civilians were killed or injured.

Many counties in the north had been slaughtered, and every family was in mourning, and no one was perfect.

Those were all living lives.

In addition, during the war, in order to keep up with the money and food, the court imposed taxes in Hangzhou, Suzhou and other places for three or four years.

Originally, the people there, even those living at the bottom of society, could eat meat during festivals.

What about now? Being able to eat enough is already a blessing from the ancestors.

Wei Yuan didn't want such a thing to happen again, otherwise, what was the meaning of his high position?

Just to make his family continue? If it was really for this, from now on, he would have achieved it by doing nothing.

In the past few days, he has also been thinking about what he will do next.

Recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun is one.

Eliminating the threats of Xixia, Liao and even the entire foreign land, and trying to maintain a long period of peace on the border is one.

There is also leaving a family business for Zhuang Ge'er.

What else?

That is to think more about the people of the world.

In the second northern expedition, try to reduce casualties as much as possible, and try to fight that battle by farming in leisure time and raising soldiers in wartime. In this way, the lives of people everywhere can be better.

Wei Yuan didn't have much in mind. If he could really accomplish these things, it would be worth his life.

While he was chatting with Zhang Guifen, Tian Zhen came to report that Minglan and Ningyuan Hou had arrived.

Hearing this, Zhang Guifen frowned and said in confusion: "Isn't today the day for them to return home? Why are they here?"

Wei Yuan was also curious and told Tian Zhen to invite them to Chunyi Pavilion.

Later, Zhang Guifen looked at the vast courtyard and said sadly: "It cost a huge amount of money to build this extremely luxurious courtyard. If you are a descendant of a noble, I am afraid you will be scolded for ruining your family business."

In fact, many courtyards and attics of Chunyi Pavilion have not been built yet, and it will take at least another year and a half.

Wei Yuan said: "Fortunately, we are the generation of Jianye."

While talking and laughing, Gu Tingye and his wife had already arrived here.

Seeing the two of them talking and laughing, Minglan came behind them with the intention of teasing them, and asked with a smile:

"Uncle, aunt, what are you talking about? So happy? Do you want to give me another cousin?"

Zhang Guifen glared at her, "You are already a new bride, but you are still so unruly."

After a pause, she deliberately put on a serious expression and asked, "Today is the day you should return home, why are you here?"

Minglan pretended to be wronged and said, "Could it be that you can't come here after getting married tomorrow?"

"Forget it, since uncle and aunt don't welcome you, then leave tomorrow."

Wei Yuan laughed and said, "It's your aunt who doesn't welcome you, I didn't say that."

Zhang Guifen pinched Minglan's arm, "You damn girl, you just make fun of me."

Minglan dodged quickly, "Good aunt, spare me!"

Since Gu Tingye and his wife have come, there is naturally no reason to let them leave again.

Wei Yuan asked the kitchen to prepare some wine and food.

During this time, Wei Yuan told Gu Tingye one thing,

"It was originally planned that the second phase of the Military Academy would be held in the second half of the year, and your name would be on the list."

"But the Northern Expedition is imminent, and after much thought, I decided to appoint you as a military lieutenant general. What do you think?"

The positions during marching and fighting are very different from ordinary positions.

The so-called position of a military lieutenant general is actually a vague concept, which can be big or small.

When he talked about this, Minglan's face became obviously nervous.

And Zhang Guifen, who was sitting next to her, kept patting her back of the hand gently, as if to comfort her.

To be honest, since the end of the national war, there have been too few places where military generals can gain merit.

Moreover, Gu Tingye has not fought the Liao army seriously.

With such an opportunity, he naturally did not want to miss it.

"You can go to the Military Academy anytime, but there are not many opportunities to go to the Northern Expedition."

As he said this, he stood up suddenly and bowed, saying, "I am willing to go!"

Hearing this, Minglan's face suddenly turned bad.

However, it was not easy for her to refute the decision made by her uncle.

Moreover, this was an opportunity to make achievements. It was difficult for many generals in the Great Zhou to go.

Now, Wei Yuan put this opportunity in front of the couple, and they should not have the intention to refuse.

However, they were newly married, and the quilt was not warm yet, and they had to watch their husband go to the war. Who would feel good about it?

Zhang Guifen smiled and said, "We are a family, why are you so formal? Sit down quickly."

Wei Yuan glanced at Minglan, "Ming girl, fill up the wine for your uncle."

The latter did so.

Afterwards, Wei Yuan said earnestly: "If you come from the military, it is very difficult to gain a foothold in the capital without military merit. Even if you have a hereditary title, you cannot guarantee eternal wealth and honor."

Gu Tingye agreed deeply.

Minglan nodded repeatedly, "Uncle is right."

In the third year of Kaiwu, in early July, Wei Yuan set out for Yanmen, Daizhou.

He arrived at the Military Academy around mid-July.

The first batch of students were mostly generals from Daizhou, and there were also several brothers from the Zhong family.

Wei Yuan attended the graduation ceremony and delivered an important speech,

"I hope that in the next few decades or even a hundred years, when future generations mention the generals of the first term of the Military Academy, they will sincerely give you a thumbs up and praise you."

"And you will also shoulder the responsibility of prospering the Military Academy, and let the world see how different the generals who came out of the Military Academy are."

"."

It took a full quarter of an hour to get to the stage of awarding the graduation medal.

Chen Daniu has worked hard recently and finally memorized some superficial military tactics.

To be honest, when Chen Daniu learned those military tactics, he felt that he could learn by analogy.

He is a veteran who has experienced many battles. Even if he has not read any military books, he can fight several battles based on his intuition.

The reason why Wei Yuan asked him to come was that he wanted him to become a "regular general" after leaving the Military Academy, and he could no longer lead troops in battles in the wild way before.

After the graduation ceremony, Wei Yuan and Xu Changzhi went to Yingzhou again.

The last time he went to the three states, Wei Yuan felt that the three states had been occupied by foreign races for too long and had lost the support of the people, so he lost interest in continuing to visit Yingzhou.

This time, after two years of recuperation, the local people gradually accepted the jurisdiction of the Great Zhou.

After Wei Yuan and others went to Yingzhou, the governors of the three states also came one after another to meet him.

In the eyes of many local officials, Wei Yuan is now a well-deserved powerful official and a great leader.

His words can really change the fate of many people.

For example, if Wei Yuan said that you did a good job in Yingzhou, it would be a great achievement for that person.

However, Wei Yuan did not want to get involved too much in what these local officials did.

He simply met them in a hurry, said a few words, and let them go back.

Because, what he and Xu Changzhi said next should not be known by too many people.

On the top of Yingzhou City, Wei Yuan held a nearby topographic map, pointed to several steep mountain roads in the distance, and slowly said to Xu Changzhi beside him:

"Next year's Northern Expedition, you lead one group of soldiers and march from here to Yunzhou and Weizhou, and I lead another group of soldiers to attack Yunzhou."

"I have already thought about it. You will be the deputy commander, Chen Daniu and Guo Hao will be the vanguard, Liang Da will be the general of the front army, and Xiao Yuming and Shen Qing will be the commanders of the middle and rear armies respectively."

Xu Changzhi frowned and said, "Why don't I attack Yunzhou? The terrain of Yunzhou is too steep. Brother Wei is the commander of the three armies, and it is not easy to move lightly."

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "I am the commander of the three armies. Wherever I appear, it means that the main force of our army is there, and the Liao army will pay attention to it. Put all your efforts on me, and buy time for you to seize Weizhou."

"If all else fails, we will retreat to Huanzhou and fight a protracted war with the Liao army."

"Come on, follow me to Huanzhou again."

Liang Da, who was following the two of them, said: "General Wei, General Xu, there are Liao cavalrymen near Huanzhou recently, so let's not go there, right?"

Hearing this, Xu Changzhi glared at him, "Do you think my brother and I are afraid of this?"

Wei Yuan laughed even more and said, "If the enemy can go, I can go too."

"What's more, the flag on the top of Huanzhou City is "Zhou", not "Liao."

"You and the Liao army have to fight several battles every year. Why do you seem to be afraid of the Liao army?"