From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 996

The way back is still long. We set out on March 21st and headed south without stopping.

After all, it is the end of March, and even here, it is gradually getting warmer.

The glaciers are melting, and the fish are poking their heads out of the water.

The snow on the ground has melted, and the green grass has sprouted light buds. In summer, they must be lush and full of vitality here.

When I went there, the willows were swaying, and now I am thinking about it, the rain and snow are falling.

Zhou Yuan had similar feelings.

Especially when he saw green buds sprouting on those dead branches.

The remaining snow seemed to be the best nutrition for them.

"Will we come back?"

In the dark night, the tent was stained with flames, and Huang Taiji suddenly spoke, looking at the bare branches and white snow.

Zhou Yuan was silent for a long time before he said, "The bare branches are stained with white snow, reflecting the yellow light, like messy and twisted dead bones. Listening to the sobbing of souls and the songs of thousands of families, perhaps they will sigh that the world is beautiful. After all, it will also bud, not long after that."

He looked at Huang Taiji.

His face was illuminated by the fire, the flames swayed, and his face was also cloudy.

He said word by word, "We will come back, not long after that."

"At that time, everything here will come alive."

Huang Taiji stayed where he was.

He seemed to be stiff, and nodded heavily after a long time.

He didn't speak, as if he was adjusting his mood, panting, and holding his breath.

Finally, he looked at Zhou Yuan, his eyes burning: "Go for a walk?"

The ground around was flat, the snow had melted, but it was pitch black.

The two walked forward slowly.

There was no destination, just a simple walk.

Walked out of the area illuminated by the flames and into the dark world.

Huang Taiji's voice was very calm: "After the negotiations, the other side will inevitably take more radical actions. A large number of expedition teams will gather around Guhewei to complete the assembly of troops."

"They are not defensive enough against us, I will beat them to pieces."

"Before their reinforcements arrive, I will start to deploy defenses tightly, east to the Asu River Basin, including Yimahewei, Xingkai Lake, Asu Riverwei, west to Inner Khalkha Moyuerhai, including the southern foot of the Harawen Mountain, Sayihewei, and Tuduhewei."

"Connect the east and the west to form a tight defense line, deploy defenses in Guhewei and Harlanchengwei, Forming a north-south depth."

"Set up supply starting points in Jianzhou and Sanwanwei to continuously transport military supplies and soldiers."

"We, the Jurchens, will sacrifice the strength of the entire tribe to fight against the northern invaders."

"I don't know how long we can hold out, but I hope that the reinforcements from the Jin Dynasty will arrive before we die."

Zhou Yuan nodded seriously and said, "I will arrange it."

"What about the Jin Dynasty?"

Huang Taiji suddenly said, "The Jurchens have their own defense strategy and strict deployment. What about the Jin Dynasty?"

"What is the goal of the Jin Dynasty? What is the strategy?"

Zhou Yuan was a little confused for a while.

Huang Taiji said: "You want to build Dajin into a giant, and you want Dajin to dominate the east of the world and have no rivals in the world."

"So what is your strategy?"

"Is it still the Nine Frontiers era? Do we still have to rely on the important towns along the Great Wall for defense?"

"How to defend the northeastern border of Dajin, the northwest, the north, and the future Jurchens?"

"Should we set up guards? Set up a protectorate? How many soldiers should be trained? How to reform? How much food and military expenditure are needed every year?"

"What kind of equipment should they be equipped with? Armor? Cloth armor? Cotton armor? Spears, broadswords or muskets?"

"What about the southwest? Is that plateau still left alone? Is it still based on the U-Tsang Dusi? In name, it means orthodoxy? "

"After the reform of the aboriginal system in the south, will it be necessary to maintain troops for a long time? Will it be necessary to expand the territory to the south across the border?"

"What about the sea? Is there a defense chain at sea? Where is the guarantee along the coast? Relying on those battleships and cruisers to run back and forth?"

"Korea, Sandao, Jinmen, Leiden, Songjiang, Ningbo, Hengzhou, Dongfan Island, Qiongzhou Island, are there docks in each place? Are there standing troops? Are there warships?"

"If a strong enemy invades, do you have a complete maritime defense system?"

"How do you ensure the conduct and expansion of maritime trade? What is your policy towards Siam, Johor, and Annan? Alliance or conquest?"

His face was glowing.

He stared at Zhou Yuan and said word by word: "Five years, ten years, twenty years, no matter how long it takes!"

"You have to consider these things. You have to let Dajin move forward step by step."

"The ocean is too big, the world is too big. I look at that precious world map every day. I know we are behind, and you have to catch up, or even surpass us."

"Then, don't rely on intuition and fate to do these things. Don't just rely on yourself.Go and work hard. "

"Build up the system of Dajin, let countless people help you do things, make detailed plans for each sector, and let everyone become part of the great defense line."

"At that time, this huge country will not need you all the time, and you can really be idle."

At this moment, Zhou Yuan even thought about not letting Huang Taiji die.

But he suddenly realized that at this point, Huang Taiji's life and death were no longer decided by him.

This is a man who is destined to die.

With him killing his brother and sister, with him deceiving his clansmen for greater benefits, and with his subsequent defeat, he has no reason to live.

Zhou Yuan could only look at his glowing face, and then look up at the sky.

The dark sky, I don't know when, has become a crescent moon and stars all over the sky.

He said slowly: "I understand what you mean. After the war in the north, I will formulate a detailed five-year plan or a ten-year plan, formulate a strategy, and put everything into practice. "

Huang Taiji nodded and walked back slowly.

The road gradually became clearer because the stars were shining on the earth.

He looked at the road under his feet and suddenly stopped again.

He looked back at Zhou Yuan and said, "What is the answer?"

Zhou Yuan said, "When I leave the Yehe tribe, that's when you can take action."

"Okay!"

He responded and continued to walk forward, his body stumbling and a little unstable.

He suddenly looked back again, his eyes were red, and they were full of tears.

He gritted his teeth and grasped Zhou Yuan's hand.

His voice was low, but it seemed like he was roaring: "Zhou Yuan! Will you treat them equally!"

"After the Jurchens become the people of Dajin, will you treat them as real compatriots!"

"They will make trouble, be unreasonable, and even rebel, and do many things they shouldn't do."

"Will you waver! Do you still treat them as compatriots! "

At the end, his voice was almost choked.

The emotions he suppressed in his heart almost burst out.

No one knows how much he has to bear.

Zhou Yuan looked at him with a burning gaze, and said word by word: "I will treat them as compatriots."

"I will treat them the same way I treat the Han people, and I will treat them equally, without any injustice."

"I can do what I say. "

Huang Taiji gradually loosened his hand.

He nodded, but the tears did not fall in the end.

He turned around and murmured: "Then I am relieved, then I am relieved..."

Under the starlight, he walked towards the fire with heavy steps, step by step, very steadily.

Zhou Yuan clearly saw that his expression returned to calm, and his eyes became cold and indifferent.

It was as if the person who almost cried just now was not him at all. He could hide everything in his heart, ignore his feelings, and choose the most rational way.

He obviously had detailed thoughts and visions for the future, but he knew that he could not see it.

His people can see it.

This is the meaning of it all.