Li Yong was stunned when he heard this, "Didn't you often blame the prince for not accepting advice? Before Huaiqing... Didn't you blame the prince for not following good deeds and missed a good opportunity to check and balance the Yongli Dynasty?"

Mao Xiang looked at Li Yong strangely, and after a long time, he laughed and said, "Brother Zhongfu believes that if the prince adopts Xiang's advice and ignores the Great Western Army of Jin... what do you think?"

"Although your advice is unfair and generous, after careful consideration, it is indeed a good strategy. It can prevent the Yongli Dynasty from advancing north unscrupulously, and also prevent wars between the two dynasties in the short term... But I was thinking, if the prince really did this, what is the difference between Li Chuang and Zhang Ni?"

Mao Xiang laughed and said, "Brother Zhongfu knows me... the kingly way and hegemony are indeed desirable. But if Prince Huaiqing adopted Xiang's advice, then I really asked to let go. Brother Zhongfu, accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger!"

"You mean..."

"Yes." Mao Xiang said, "The prince may not be a wise king, but he may be a benevolent and righteous king... It is better than after the world is unified, the birds are hidden, and the rabbits are dead and the dogs are cooked."

A shout came from afar, "Mao Xiang, Li Yong, what are you looking at?"

Although Mao Xiang is just an aide, the prime minister's gatekeeper is also a third-rank official. Now Li Yong is the governor of Xuzhou Prefecture. If he dares to call him this, there should be no one else in the entire Xuzhou city.

Mao Xiang, Li Yong looked at each other and smiled, and quickly turned around to salute, "I have seen His Highness the King of Wu."

"What are you looking at?" King Wu frowned, "Can the registered household registration list of Xuzhou be sorted out?"

Li Yong replied, "I have sorted it out and placed it in the prince's study... I just saw that the prince was discussing military affairs with all the generals, and did not go in to disturb me."

"How did the people in the city...especially those big families who returned to the city and the rich families' comforting?"

"Return to the prince, basically comforting him... In fact, this matter is not difficult. After this battle, the population in Xuzhou City dropped sharply by more than 20%, and there was no occupation by the Manchus. Many of the uninhabited land and houses were vacant. As long as these large tribes and wealthy families were placed back and given corresponding fields."

"Then... don't have any complaints?"

"Resentment?" Li Yong chuckled, "More than 80% of the people in the city have become vested interests under the prince's decree. It is already thankful that the big family and rich families can recover some losses... What's more, if our army Hu Ben is stationed in the city, how dare you complain?"

Wu Zheng nodded and grinned, "It's so good... But Xuzhou is restored, no matter the rich or poor, they are all people, and they can still convince people."

"It's... obey the prince's orders and convince people with reason!" Li Yong bowed and said.

Wu Zheng turned his face and looked at Mao Xiang and said, "I haven't seen you all the way since Huaiqing. Why... Is he holding a grudge against me and hiding from me?"

Mao Xiang had a calm face and looked resentful, saying, "You can't hold a grudge against the prince, and you don't dare to do it either. It's just that the prince is confident in military and national affairs. Xiang feels that his talents are insufficient and he is ashamed of himself. He is discussing with Brother Zhongfu whether he is asking the prince to release Xiang...even if he is a county magistrate."

Li Yong looked at Mao Xiang in surprise, thinking that he had seen a ghost.

Wu Zheng heard this and pointed at Mao Xiang and said, "Don't give me this... You Mao Xiang was... uh, you named him."

Wu Zheng almost said the three words "Grandpa Mao". Fortunately, he responded quickly and stopped in time.

But even so, Mao Xiang had heard it and asked, "I dare to ask the prince, is it someone who recommended Xiang to the prince?"

Wu Zheng quickly changed the topic and coughed dryly, "What are you looking at here?"

As he said that, Wu Zheng walked up to the window and stretched his head.

Li Yong quickly stepped forward and said, "I just saw the prince discussing major issues with the generals and just wander around the mansion."

Unexpectedly, Mao Xiang shouted loudly: "Your Majesty cannot do anything to keep the sword covered with dust..."

Li Yong was very anxious when he heard this, but he had no time to stop him, so he stomped his feet in a hurry.

Wu Zheng turned around, looked at Mao Xiang for a while, and said, "Are you talking about it, I am so lonely that you are covered in dust?"

Mao Xiang snorted lightly, and didn't answer, just staring at Wu Zheng.

Wu Zheng suddenly laughed and said, "Okay, okay... What a sword covered with dust, okay, then I will ask you, see if you are a real sword or a gold or a jade?"

"Please give me advice!"

"Well... our army captured Xuzhou and pointed at Yanzhou. Now it is attacking Ziyang. Let me ask, if Ziyang cannot capture it for a long time, how should our army deal with it?"

"Is the prince worried that our army will be unable to achieve the best of its achievements with few attacks on the masses?"

Wu Zheng sighed lightly: "Yanzhou is known as a 100,000 army. In addition to Chen Zhiyuan and 20,000 people, Dorbo still has 80,000 troops. It is indeed difficult for him to attack Chen Sheng only by Chen Sheng's troops in the north... Besides, the army led by Oboi has already gone south to reinforce, and there is not much time left for Chen Sheng. It is difficult to capture Ziyang in such a short time!"

Mao Xiang laughed and said, "The prince asked Xiang, our army has been attacking Ziyang for a long time, how should we deal with it... But Xiang thought that Ziyang City is the real gold and jade outside, and the shattered clouds are among them!"

"What's the solution?"

"The army of Yanzhou is known as one hundred thousand, but the elite troops of the flag that are truly affiliated with Dorbo are less than 20,000. Except for the 30,000 new troops of Shaoxing Boshenzhi, most of the rest are Han flag troops stationed in Beijing... Let me ask, could the Qing emperor tolerate an extra country under his eyes and nose? The reason why the Qing court tolerated Dorbo occupying the three prefectures of Yanzhou was simply because he was forced to do so by the prince and had no energy to deal with the Dorbo forces in Yanzhou. However, the prince had previously met with the Qing court and had the intention of peace talks. The Northern Expedition Army attacked Yanzhou was also one of the deals secretly reached by both sides. How could the Qing court sit idly by?"

"What do you mean is that the Yanzhou army is not worth worrying about?" Wu Zheng asked sneered.

Mao Xiang said: "A army called for 100,000 people, once it is ordered to go out several families, it will be a mess. Although Dorbo was a famous family, he was young after all, and with the short time of Chengsi, his prestige was not enough to shock the arrogant soldiers and generals left by Dorgon, and he could not capture the hearts of the people. As long as the Qing emperor issued a secret order, the city of Ziyang would be in chaos. At this time, our army's attack could be achieved overnight, and the momentum of plowing the courtyard and sweeping the caves to plow Yanzhou... Therefore, I dare not assert whether the Yanzhou army is not worth worrying about, but I can assert that our army can definitely achieve its contribution... The prince asked me, how to deal with it after a long time can't be captured, so I don't have to answer."

Wu Zheng laughed. Mao Xiang had some skills in looking at things. In fact, Wu Zheng dared to let Chen Sheng attack the crowd with a small number, which was to judge that the Qing court would "help". Otherwise, if the Northern Expedition Army really wanted to break through Ziyang alone, it would be easy to ask the gods to send the gods. If the Northern Expedition Army relies on Yanzhou and refuses to leave, wouldn't the Qing court lose its teeth and swallow it?

Therefore, once the Northern Expedition Army sends troops, the Qing court will definitely launch ahead of time. Only by controlling Ziyang City can the Northern Expedition Army return in vain.

In other words, the Qing court's plan was to use the external forces of the Northern Expedition Army to trigger a crisis and fear in the city. In this way, the civil and military officials who were originally swaying between Yanzhou and the court had to make a choice.
Chapter completed!