#580 - Fame on a piece of paper, thousands of mountains in the wind and snow (I)

The next day.

Taichu Year 1, November 13th.

For the later generations of Da Ning, today was an exceptionally special day from any perspective.

What would happen tonight would not only directly change the landscape of Da Feng, Da Ning, and even the entire world, but would also leave a heavy mark on the history books forever.

Future generations studying history would have no way to avoid this day, and strategists would repeatedly ponder and deduce everything that happened tonight, attempting to find the most reasonable explanation for the motivations of everyone involved.

Among them, the most famous was a strategist named Tan Tong, who wrote "The Strategy of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances." The book extensively reconstructed the entire process of the "Lingbo Pavilion Peace Talks" and used a large amount of space to analyze the strategic decisions and on-the-spot responses of everyone involved, including Wei Changtian.

With this book, "The Strategy of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances," Tan Tong rose all the way to Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, which in turn led the Tan family to become another major aristocratic family after the Wei family a century later.

Of course, all of this is a story for later.

At least at this moment, only a few people knew what would happen in a few hours.

No.

It should be said that these people only had a general prediction of what would happen tonight.

And before midnight arrived, they did not actually expect the situation to develop to that extent.

It can only be said that everything seemed to be within reason, yet also beyond expectation.

At Wei time (1-3 PM), there were still four hours before midnight.

After noon, Wei Changtian did not go out, but stayed in the main tent, exchanging messages with Chu Xianping.

Around the beginning of Shen time (3-5 PM), he called in Wei Zhaohai, Yu Qi, and Du Chang, and the four of them continued to hold a "closed-door meeting" for more than half an hour.

"It's still early, don't worry."

Turning his head to look at the sun that was just beginning to set in the west, Wei Changtian casually replied, "You don't have to do anything, just stay in the military camp with Zhang San."

"Du Chang will take care of the other matters."

"..."

Yang Liushi opened her mouth slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded gently.

"Yes, this servant will listen to Young Master."

"Well, don't worry, nothing will happen."

Wei Changtian comforted her, paused for a moment, and then suddenly smiled, "I guess we'll be able to go back soon."

"Go back..."

Yang Liushi was stunned, and instantly understood what Wei Changtian meant.

It seemed that the latter wanted to settle everything tonight.

"Young Master, this servant will wait for you to come back."

"Okay."

Wei Changtian nodded and turned to go back to his tent.

However, after walking a few steps, he turned back, looked at Yang Liushi, and said seriously:

"Liushi, it's been a long time since I promised to marry you, right?"

"Yes."

Yang Liushi was stunned, then covered her mouth and smiled, "It's been more than a year."

"Is that so?"

Wei Changtian touched his nose, his expression a little embarrassed: "It's my fault, let's get this done first when we go back."

"Hehe, Young Master seems to marry a new concubine every time after completing a major event."

"Uh, is that so?"

"Yes, Young Master married Miss Xu after the Liu family was destroyed, and Miss Liang after the Battle of Shuzhou."

"Now that you mention it... it seems that's really the case."

"So, is Young Master going to do something big this time too?"

"..."

"Naturally."

Beginning of You time (5-7 PM), dusk.

Huailing City Government Office.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has taken care of everything you ordered."

In the quiet room, Li Huaizhong stood beside Ning Yongnian, who had a blank expression, the atmosphere was oppressive and tense.

However, Ning Yongnian's tone was quite calm.

"Where is Wu Ding's body now?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, General Wu's coffin is temporarily stored in the army, guarded day and night by a team of personal soldiers."

"Well, Wu Ding fought for my Da Ning all his life, he should not be buried here, he should return to his hometown."

Ning Yongnian shook his sleeves: "When we go back, I will build him a general's tomb unprecedented in history to comfort his spirit in heaven."

"..."

Return to his hometown.

Li Huaizhong lowered his head, understanding the meaning of these words very well.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say, so he just echoed, "Your Majesty is benevolent."

But Ning Yongnian seemed not to have heard this flattery, and kept silently watching the sunset outside the window, until a long time later, he suddenly asked a strange question.

"Old Li, I believe that I have never taken a wrong step, but now I have fallen to this point."

"Why do you say this is?"

"..."

Hearing this question, Li Huaizhong's eyes couldn't help but widen slightly.

Naturally, he didn't dare to answer directly, so after holding back for a long time, he tentatively said in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, as General Wu said before, everything is still uncertain..."

"No need to say these comforting words."

Ning Yongnian turned his head, and there was actually a trace of confusion in his eyes: "Old Li, it is said that the bystander sees clearer than the player."

"Perhaps it is because I am in the game that I cannot see clearly, you just tell me the truth."

"This..."

Li Huaizhong looked up at Ning Yongnian.

Looking at the unprecedented sadness on the latter's face, he finally gritted his teeth and stopped pretending, but seriously gave his answer.

"Your Majesty, perhaps you were too hasty."

"Intentionally instigating the conflict between the Liu and Wei families, killing Xu Shixing to force the Xu family to rebel, and launching a counterattack against Da Feng before the domestic situation was stable..."

"But you must know that the Liu, Wei, and Xu families are all deeply rooted, and Da Feng is even a powerful country, how can Your Majesty cope with them at the same time?"

"This old servant doesn't know why you are so eager, but only knows that you wouldn't have acted like this before."

"You should know the reason for this yourself."

"..."

Strictly speaking, this was the first time Li Huaizhong had spoken to Ning Yongnian like this.

After listening, the latter fell into deep thought, and the confusion on his face was gradually replaced by bitterness.

In fact, Li Huaizhong was right.

Although from the result, the Xu family and the Liu family were indeed destroyed, and Da Feng did lose the national war, every step he took seemed to have achieved his goal with surprise and danger.

But on closer thought, every step also left hidden dangers more or less.

If his appetite was smaller and he slowly sought it, the current situation might be completely different...

Recalling the Qi Luck Yellow Dragon that descended from Tianmen on New Year's Eve last year, Ning Yongnian suddenly shook his head with a wry smile.

He thought it was a great opportunity, but now it seems that it is not the case.

Is it virtue not matching the position?

Ning Yongnian didn't want to admit this point no matter what, but he still couldn't help but think in his heart.

And this self-doubt came to an abrupt end when the new moon rose in the east.

"Knowing mistakes and being able to correct them" is a recognized excellent quality, and it also applies to emperors.

However, emperors of all ages may know their mistakes and correct them, but they must never admit their mistakes.

Moreover, as things stand now, regardless of right or wrong, all Ning Yongnian can do is continue to move forward at all costs.

"Old Li, what time is it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is Xu time (7-9 PM)."

"Xu time, there are still two hours..."

Ning Yongnian seemed to sigh softly.

"Issue an order to close the city gates."