Zongwu: Start as Jinyiwei, invincible and powerful!

Lin Fan was originally planning to chat with Zhuge Zhengwo and ask about Wuqing's situation, but when he saw the urgent report from the border, his eyes couldn't help but flash slightly. He said a few polite words to Zhuge Zhengwo and then said goodbye and left.

After leaving the palace gate, Lin Fan was about to return to the Northern Pacification Office when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura approaching.

Lin Fan's mind moved slightly, and he found a secluded place to stop.

"This subordinate hides the sun to pay his respects to the master!"

Soon, a familiar figure appeared in Lin Fan's sight. It was the Luowang Tiantian killer Yanri.

In addition to its assassination capabilities, Luo Wang also has outstanding intelligence capabilities.

Lin Fan sent out a stream of Qi through the air, helped Yanri up, and said, "No need to be so polite, but what's the urgent matter?"

Yanri clasped his fists and said, "Reporting to the master, Luowang has received news that the imperial army on the northern frontier of the Eastern Expedition to the Sui Kingdom was defeated by the coalition forces led by Li Shimin, the second son of the Li family, and Dou Jiande. They lost more than half of their troops and were almost forced out of the original borders of the Sui Kingdom."

Lin Fan raised his brows slightly and asked, "How's the commander of the northern army? Also, is Li Jing okay?"

Yanri clasped his fists and said, "Commander-in-Chief Ban Qing was seriously injured and unconscious, and was rescued from the chaos by General Li Jing's troops. General Li Jing's troops suffered relatively small losses, and he himself only suffered minor injuries."

"I'm glad Li Jing is okay," Lin Fan nodded slightly and said, "Any other news?"

Yanri said, "Also, the war on the southern front is progressing smoothly. General Meng Tian took advantage of the internal strife in Wagang Village to defeat the main force of Wagang Village and captured Generals Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin. Both of them have surrendered."

Lin Fan smiled slightly and said with satisfaction, "Meng Tian did a good job, and you guys at Luowang have worked hard to gather information. By the way, as I instructed you to do, have you found any news about Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui?"

Yanri clasped his fists and said, "The two and their families have been captured by Luowang and are being sent to the capital."

"Oh? It seems that they are not doing this voluntarily," Lin Fan said with a smile.

Yanri said, "Yes, they were originally planning to join the Li clan, but were found by Luowang's men on the way. They were presented with a letter of recruitment from General Meng Tian, ​​but they refused. So Luowang's men had no choice but to take them away by force."

Lin Fan has not directly expressed his desire to be independent now, so when recruiting people, he generally does not expose himself unless necessary.

"It's okay, let's talk about it after they arrive in the capital." Lin Fan didn't care about this. "If there is nothing else, you can go down first."

"Subordinates resign!"

Yanri bowed and then turned and walked away.

After watching Yanri leave, Lin Fan continued to head towards the Beizhenfusi Yamen.

"See the Commander!"

When the Jinyiwei of the Northern Pacification Office saw Lin Fan coming, they hurriedly saluted respectfully.

Lin Fan nodded casually and went directly to the office of the Northern Pacification Envoy.

"Your Excellency, the Commander, is here to greet you! I am late in receiving you, please forgive me!"

Lu Liren, the Northern Pacification Envoy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ran out in a hurry and bowed respectfully when he saw Lin Fan.

"Okay, let's go in and talk," Lin Fan waved his hand, interrupting Lu Liren and walked straight into Lu Liren's office.

Seeing this, Lu Liren did not dare to delay and followed him in.

"Sir, I wonder when you returned to Beijing?" Lu Liren asked cautiously after entering the room.

Lin Fan casually said, "I just arrived today. After entering the palace to see the emperor, I came to the Northern Pacification Office. What's going on?"

Lu Liren said, "I have no other intentions, I was just asking casually. By the way, sir, the matter concerning Lord Zhou has been handled."

"Oh? Zhou Meng was promoted to Southern Pacification Envoy?" Lin Fan raised his eyebrows slightly and said.

Lu Liren responded, "Yes, sir. The official appointment is just waiting for your signature."

After saying that, Lu Liren took out a letter of appointment.

Lin Fan glanced at it casually and found that it was indeed the appointment letter for Zhou Meng's promotion to the Southern Pacification Envoy. After confirming that it was correct, he used the seal directly.

"That's well done," Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction, then continued, "Has there been any activity from Zhang Julu lately?"

Lu Liren said, "Zhang Julu himself is relatively well behaved, but it seems that there are spies from Xiliang who are also trying to gather information about Zhang Julu."

"Sent by the King of Xiliang?" Lin Fan's brows moved slightly, and he seemed to be somewhat interested.

"Please forgive me, sir. In order to avoid alerting the enemy, we have not yet been able to confirm the mastermind behind the spies," Lu Liren said cautiously after hearing this.

"It's okay, just investigate carefully. If anything goes wrong, it has nothing to do with me," Lin Fan said casually, waving his hand.

"Yes, I understand," Lu Liren responded respectfully after hearing this.

Lin Fan deliberately asked again, "Any recent news from the East and West Factories?"

When Lu Liren heard Lin Fan's question, he reported to Lin Fan in detail some news about the East and West Factories.

Overall, nothing major.

Afterwards, Lin Fan asked a few more questions casually and left the Northern Pacification Office.

When leaving, Lin Fan also took Shi Zhixuan away from the Northern Pacification Office.

Speaking of which, he had placed Shi Zhixuan next to Lu Liren for some time.

"You should also know the news from the Northern Pacification Office, right?" After leaving the Northern Pacification Office, Lin Fan asked Shi Zhixuan.

"Yes," Shi Zhixuan nodded in response.

"These are not allowed to be leaked for the time being. In addition, I plan to recommend you to serve as an official in the court. What do you think?" Lin Fan said after pondering for a moment.

Shi Zhixuan's ability to govern is still very good. Lin Fan plans to arrange more of his own people to enter the court of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

For example, Zhang Juzheng before, what surprised Lin Fan was that Yu Huatian directly stuffed him into the Eastern Palace, and now he has become the prince's tutor.

Although his rank is not high, he is still considered half a prince's teacher.

When the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, Zhang Juzheng will surely rise in status and gain a good position.

Shi Zhixuan said, "I will follow Lord Lin's instructions in everything."

Shi Zhixuan has now accepted his fate. Lin Fan is so powerful that he has no chance of competing with him.

Moreover, Shi Zhixuan had similar experiences when he was an official in the court, so he was not unfamiliar with it.

Hearing Shi Zhixuan's words, Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction.

……

As the report of the defeat on the northern front reached Beijing, the atmosphere in the entire Yong'an City suddenly became somewhat tense.

Not only the officials in the court, but also the common people in the capital have become much more low-key in the past few days.

Because the Emperor's anger is brewing over the capital.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed since the report of the defeat on the northern front was submitted to Beijing.

That day, Lin Fan had just finished reporting at the yamen when a eunuch from the palace came to convey the emperor's oral order, asking him to enter the palace to discuss matters.

Lin Fan did not refuse. Soon, he followed the eunuch and entered the palace again.

The main hall of Yong'an Palace in the imperial palace.

At this time, the emperor sat high in the first seat, and below him were the Minister of Personnel Zhang Julu, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of War and others.

After Lin Fan finished greeting the emperor, Emperor Zhu Shou asked, "Minister Lin, you have personally been to the battlefield before. What do you think of the Sui army's combat effectiveness?"

"Now, many people in the court, both civil and military, are advising me to hold back on the defense of the northern front. What do you think, Lord Lin, is it better to defend or continue the offensive?"