Just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, an accident happened. This accident came from Zhang Jun, who actually refused to send troops to the Central Plains.
Zhang Jun was not a fool. For such an important decision as sending troops to the Central Plains, the emperor neither issued an edict nor passed a resolution through the political hall. In short, the court and officials did not know about it at all.
However, the officials secretly ordered themselves to send troops by hand, obviously intending to make themselves take responsibility. When Chen Qing carried out revenge, the officials would blame themselves. It was Zhang Jun who sent troops without permission.
Naturally, Zhang Jun refused, but he would not openly refuse the emperor Zhao Gou. He used a trick and asked one thousand of his soldiers to pretend to be infected with the epidemic. They were carried out by military doctors in public, and then told the entire army that an outbreak had occurred in the army.
The epidemic requires all soldiers in the army to take medicine to prevent it.
For a time, the entire army was in panic, and soldiers kept fleeing the camp.
Soon, Zhao Gou received news that an epidemic broke out in Zhang Jun's army and he was unable to go to the Central Plains. At the same time, he also received a reply from Zhang Jun, "There was an epidemic in the army, and 10% of the people fell ill, and a large number of soldiers fled. If we use troops at this time,
, will lead to the collapse of military morale and even provoke a mutiny. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Huaixi Army to send troops at this time. Your Majesty can send other troops north to complete the great cause.'
Zhao Gou was so angry that he threw two cups and yelled, "What the hell! I spent so much money on food to feed him, and he raised an army for a thousand days, and he only used it for a while. If I want to use my army, just do this trick for me, and I will raise him."
A dog even knows how to guard the door! What’s the use of raising a waste like him?”
This time Zhang Jun also harmed Qin Hui's fundamental interests. Although Zhang Jun gave Qin Hui a large amount of bribes every year, no matter how much money he paid, it was not as important as Qin Hui's life. Forcing Chen Qing to withdraw from Shandong Road was a matter of Qin Hui's life.
An Wei, Zhang Jun actually refused to obey the order, and even finding ten thousand reasons could not eliminate the hatred in Qin Hui's heart. He had spoken for Zhang Jun before, but at this moment, he just wanted to kill this bastard with one knife.
"Your Majesty, things are not that simple."
Qin Hui said gloomily: "I'm afraid the matter is more serious than what we saw."
Zhao Gou slowly calmed down. He glanced at Qin Hui and said, "Qin Xiangguo, please tell me in detail."
Qin Hui said calmly: "The excuse Zhang Jun made is very poor. You can see through it at a glance. If there was an epidemic, given his nature, he would have asked the court for money and medicine long ago. He would not be allowed to perform his tasks before calling it an epidemic."
, it’s obviously a disguise, and His Majesty has seen through it.”
"Yes! His little trick can't be hidden from me."
Qin Hui added: "On the surface, he is afraid of the Western Army, afraid of fighting Chen Qing, and afraid that he will bear the responsibility in the end. He is timid and incompetent, which fits his image very well. There seems to be no problem, but Weichen knows,
This is just an appearance and it is easy to cover up the truth."
"What is the truth?"
"Your Majesty, when Liu Guangshi saw Chen Qing separatizing Sichuan and Shaanxi, he also followed Chen Qing's example and separatized Jinghu South Road, including Yue Fei, who also secretly colluded with Chen Qing and ignored His Majesty's will. They all had the same reason, ambition.
With ambition, everyone wants to be Chen Qing's second. Doesn't Zhang Jun, who occupies Jianghuai, have no ambition? Your Majesty, Zhang Jun is also secretly colluding with Chen Qing!"
Zhao Gou sat down slowly and looked at Qin Hui in shock, "Qin Xiangguo said that Zhang Jun and Chen Qing secretly colluded. Is there any evidence?"
"Your Majesty, has Zhang Jun ever explained where so much fuel for his army came from?"
Zhao Gou had a feeling that he was just waking up from a dream, yes! If Zhang Jun and Chen Qing had not been secretly connected, where did the fuel in his army come from? He actually ignored such an obvious and easy thing.
Zhao Gou was dissatisfied and blamed him: "Why didn't Qin Xianggong tell me about this earlier?"
Qin Hui knew a lot of things! In the past, Zhang Jun gave him money, bribes worth tens of thousands of yuan every year, and all kinds of unfavorable news and reports. Qin Hui suppressed them all for Zhang Jun.
But now, Zhang Jun dared to harm his own vital interests, and Qin Hui also wanted to give Zhang Jun a little shame.
"Your Majesty, I once asked Zhang Jun where the kerosene in his army came from. He said it was bought from the black market. Officials in Yan'an Prefecture secretly sold kerosene. When the kerosene flowed into the black market, he could buy it.
Wei Chen believed it, so he did not pursue the case, but two things happened not long ago, which made me begin to suspect that Zhang Jun and Chen Qing were colluding."
"What two things?"
"One thing is that someone at the checkpoint on the canal reported that merchant ships carrying Western Army clearance cards had existed before, but they used to be under the banner of Zhang Jun Trading Company.
The second thing is that an official reported that the Wanshi ships of the Western Army from Quanzhou were docked in Dangtu County for supplies. You must know that Dangtu County is a wharf that Zhang Jun spent money to develop, and the Western Army ships specifically docked in Dangtu County.
People are suspicious."
Zhao Gou glared at Qin Hui, "Why do I never know about these things?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The reason why Wei Chen did not tell Your Majesty is because Wei Chen only made a guess and there is no evidence, because not only the Western Army faked Zhang family merchant ships, but also many merchant ships were also counterfeiting.
The Western Army ships docked in Dangtu County, perhaps because the supplies in Dangtu County are the cheapest. These are all possible, so telling His Majesty something without evidence is to sow discord between Your Majesty and the ministers. This kind of thing is extremely unreasonable.
Can’t do it.”
Qin Hui said with a serious face, and Zhao Gou believed it. After a moment of silence, Zhao Gou said coldly: "I will never tolerate people who are eating my food and smashing my bowl. You will be responsible for the affairs of Tu County."
When people go to investigate, they must find out the real reason why Western military cargo ships have to stop in Dangtu County."
"Wei Chen must send someone to investigate closely!"
After a pause, Qin Hui said again: "But Zhang Jun refuses to send troops to the Central Plains, what should we do?"
Zhao Zaozhao thought for a while and said: "If he is willing to send troops northward, I will be happy, but if he really refuses to go northward, I have no choice. But if we can use this as an opportunity to find out the truth behind Zhang Jun's collusion with Chen Qing, and prevent
Zhang Jun's betrayal at a critical moment, I think is a greater gain."
Zhao Gou's worries are certainly justified. If Zhang Jun leads an army of 200,000 to support Chen Qing at a critical moment, that will be the most terrifying thing and deserves his attention more than seizing the Central Plains Road.
Qin Hui was really helpless. Zhang Jun refused to send troops, and even the emperor had no choice. Qin Hui was a clever woman who could not make a meal without rice.
The confrontation in Jinan Prefecture has lasted for more than ten days. Both sides are very cautious and are unwilling to engage in a decisive battle easily. If the opponent only has tens of thousands of troops, then Chen Qing will directly use large iron fire mines to blow down the city wall, rush into the city, and fight the Jin soldiers.
But at present, the Jin army has more than 100,000 troops. Even if it relies on its superior strength to defeat the opponent in the end, it will be a tragic victory. The Western army will pay the price of tens of thousands of deaths. Not only the army, but also the people in the city will suffer disaster.
That morning, Wanyan Wushu sent a soldier to declare a challenge. When Chen Qing opened the challenge, Wanyan Wushu actually proposed a one-on-one challenge. Two out of three battles would be possible. He bet on the weapons of the two generals. Wanyan Wushu was willing to use them.
The Xia Guojian he wears comes to make a bet.
Chen Qing immediately signed his consent, and then said to the soldier who issued the challenge: "Go back and tell your prince that I have a pair of bronze bows and iron arrows, which are one of my weapons. If he wins, I will give him this bow and arrows.
"
The soldier bowed and left.
Zhang Xiao smiled and said: "It seems that there is something wrong with the morale of the Jin soldiers."
Chen Qing nodded, "I feel the same way. A fire destroyed Jin Bing's morale. Wanyan Wushu wanted to boost his morale through a duel, but the question is, what if he lost?"
Zhang Xiao smiled slightly and said: "Didn't His Highness see his scheming? He will lead his army to challenge us in front of our camp tomorrow morning. If he wins, he will make a big announcement to boost morale. But if he loses, he will definitely
If you conceal the information, you will lose at most one sword."
Chen Qing chuckled and said, "If it's really Xia Guojian, I'm looking forward to it!"
The best swords forged in Xixia are all called Xia Guojian, but the most famous Xia Guojian is the famous sword presented to the Song Dynasty by Xixia Jin. It can blow hair sharply and cut iron like mud. It later became the sword of Emperor Zhao Huan.
Generally speaking, Xia Guojian refers to this sword. After Jingkang, this Xia Guojian became Wanyan Wushu's portable sword, and he actually took it out for bets.
Of course, Chen Qing's bets were not low. Bronze bows and iron arrows were the most precious treasures in the world given to him by Zhou Tong. Chen Qing had been carrying them around in battles, but he had never used them.
However, what Chen Qing is concerned about now is not the bet, but that he sees a rare opportunity.