Rumors are flying all over Lin'an City, and everyone is talking about Chen Qing's capture of Bashu.
In the lobby on the second floor of Hukou Restaurant, the drinkers were all talking about Zheng Huan.
A drinker spitted and said: "In my opinion, Chen Qing still thinks that the official position is too small. Usually they are Xuanfu envoys of Sichuan and Shaanxi. How can there be only Xuanfu envoys of Shaanxi? There is also a Duke of Jing who became the Duke of Qin. It's not just one time
Is it something? Chen Qing must be dissatisfied. Since the imperial court refuses to re-enforce the seal, he will play a big game!"
Another tall and thin drinker sneered: "You are simply ignorant, you don't understand anything, you are just talking nonsense here!"
The drinker immediately said angrily: "You know, then what do you think the reason is?"
The tall and lanky drinker drank the entire glass and filled it up again before he said calmly: "Do you think the war is fought with soldiers? Wrong! The war is fought with money and food. Why should Chen Qing?"
Capture Sichuan because Shaanxi Road cannot support his army of hundreds of thousands. Every day when you open your eyes, there are hundreds of thousands of mouths to eat. Every month on salary day, the families of hundreds of thousands of soldiers are waiting for the rice to be cooked. Chen Qing
Are you in a hurry? Shaanxi Road was squeezed dry by the Jin soldiers again. He could only get money and food from Bashu, so when he captured Shaanxi Road, I predicted that his next target would be Bashu."
"nonsense!"
The drinkers jumped up one after another, "You predict that his next target will be Hedong Road."
"You must have heard wrong, I'm talking about Sichuan!"
"So many people remember it! How could I hear it wrong? You are talking about Hedong Road. You also said that we will attack Pujin Pass in vain and actually attack Taiyuan."
"I never said anything about Pujin Pass!"
Everyone was quarreling. At this time, there was a rapid sound of horse hooves on the street, and someone shouted: "Get out of the way, emergency military situation!"
When everyone came to the window, they saw a few messenger soldiers galloping from a distance on horseback. People on the road got out of the way, and a cavalryman shouted: "Sichuan Emergency Military Situation!"
Everyone looked at each other, this should be the official military situation.
Emperor Zhao Gou has also been restless these days. He also heard gossip about Chen Qing's occupation of Bashu. Although the ministers advised him not to believe these unfounded rumors, there is no smoke without fire. If Bashu is safe, how could it suddenly appear?
These news?
Zhao Gou vaguely guessed that something might have happened in Bashu, which made him even more anxious.
In the imperial study, Zhao Gou was discussing with Zhang Jun, Qin Hui and other prime ministers measures to consolidate the occupation of Jianghuai.
Due to the east-west attack by Yue Fei and Han Shizhong, Li Cheng lost more than 10,000 troops in Hefei, so he abandoned Luzhou and retreated to Shouchun. The armies of Yue Fei and Han Shizhong were joining forces to attack Shouchun. Li Cheng's defeat was determined and he retreated away from the Huaihe River.
It's already a matter of time before the frontline comes.
Zhang Jun said: "Weichen believes that we can rely on the Huaihe River for defense, especially the most important strategic places, which must be guarded with heavy troops. One is Shouchun and the other is Chuzhou. Weichen recommends Wu Gao to guard Chuzhou.
As long as Chuzhou holds the front line, Yangzhou can be saved."
Zhu Shengfei snorted, "Wu Gao colluded with Chen Qing in Hanzhong, had no responsibilities, and had to guard Chuzhou. Does Mr. Zhang think it's appropriate?"
Zhang Jun immediately glared at him and said: "If you hadn't repeatedly asked for Wu Gao's dismissal, how could Bashu have fallen? Don't I know Wu Gao's ability? If he defended the Jianmen Pass, the Shaanxi army would not be able to fly over."
There was a sudden silence in the official room. Zhang Jun's angry rebuke revealed a piece of news that spread wildly in the court: Chen Qing had captured Bashu.
Zhao Gou's face suddenly became very ugly, and Qin Hui said coldly: "Mr. Zhang, please speak carefully. There is no definite news about the situation in Bashu!"
As soon as Qin Hui finished speaking, a eunuch reported at the door, "Guan family, Li Hui sent someone from Jiangling Mansion to send an urgent military report!"
Sure enough, the official news they had been waiting for finally arrived...
"Send it up!"
A eunuch came in and presented a military report to Emperor Zhao Gou. This was an urgent military report sent by Li Hui from Jiangling Mansion.
Zhao Gou's hands were trembling a little, and he slowly opened the memorial. Not only was it the same as the gossip, but it was even more extreme. Chen Qing's army not only occupied the entire Sichuan area, but also took away all the taxes and grain of more than 5 million yuan from last year.
Occupy.
Zhao Gou's face gradually turned purple, his hands began to tremble violently, and the rage in his heart could no longer be contained.
"That's too much!"
He slammed the memorial to the ground and pulled it with one hand. The pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table were overturned to the ground together with dozens of memorials. Zhao Gou stood up and walked to the window, his chest heaving violently.
Everyone could feel the emperor's thundering anger. Only when Liu Miao rebelled would they see him so angry. This was the rage after being touched by others.
At this time, everyone could only remain silent, no one wanted to touch the emperor's evil scale again.
At this time, Zhao Gou turned around and said coldly to the people in Zhong Shushe: "Draw up the decree!"
Qian Xun, a member of the Zhongshu family, quickly spread out the paper, and Zhao Gou said with a chill in his voice: "I accepted Lu Yihao's resignation as prime minister, and was relieved of all his positions and titles. He was ordered to retire from office. Lu Qingshan was removed from the post of Suzhou general magistrate and demoted to
County Lieutenant of Pingyang County, Wenzhou."
After a pause, Zhao Gou continued: "Appoint Liu Guangshi as the military envoy of Sichuan. He immediately led his 100,000 troops to the Three Gorges Road to recover Bashu. He was controlled by Li Hui, the Sichuan and Shaanxi Xuanfu envoy, and Yue Fei sent 30,000 elite troops.
Anyone who enters Guanzhong from Shangzhou, attacks Jingzhao, takes back Sichuan or captures Chen Qing alive will be crowned king!"
Zhang Jun still lowered his head and said nothing, but his eyes narrowed.
The edicts that seemed to be breaking the news were missing a key link: the officials did not dismiss Chen Qing from office.
This is interesting
Yue Fei was in Guangzhou at this time. When the emperor's decree was conveyed to him, he was really helpless. Among his 100,000 troops, 70,000 troops were deployed on the Jianghuai line, and 20,000 troops were deployed on the Nanyang line to defend the Jin soldiers. Only Xiangyang remained.
Ten thousand troops.
Now the emperor asked him to send troops to Shangzhou to attack Jingzhao. How should he respond?
Yue Fei was very heavy-headed and was pacing back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his hands. At this time, counselor Xue Bi smiled and said: "General, when you are unsure about something, why don't you ask me?"
"Sir, do you have any good suggestions?" Yue Fei asked.
"I first need to know the general's attitude. What does the general think of the emperor's edict?"
Yue Fei sighed and said: "I should obey the emperor's edict, but I also know that it doesn't make any sense!"
"How to say?"
"Regardless of whether we should attack or not, first of all, can I win? I only have an army of 100,000, and Chen Qing heard that there are 200,000 troops, as well as excellent soldiers and armor, well-trained troops, experienced in hundreds of battles
The general's morale was high, but first of all, I lost in terms of strength.
Secondly, I am traveling a long way, how can I guarantee the logistics? Do I, Yue Fei, need to be like the Jurchens, burning, killing, looting and seizing the people's food along the way? I can't do that, so how can I solve the logistics problem?
Third, how many troops should I send? I can only send 20,000 troops at most. Can 20,000 troops capture Wuguan? What I’m afraid of is that 20,000 troops will be blocked in Shangzhou and disappear without a trace in the end.”
Xue Bi nodded and smiled: "It seems that the general is very awake!"
Yue Fei nodded, "It's not a good thing to be too sober. I really don't want to take a trip into this muddy water."
Xue Bi smiled slightly and said: "The edict did not specify how many people the general should send. I guess the officials also knew that the general could not spare the manpower. I suggest that the general send 10,000 people and try to delay the time in Wuguan until Liu Guangshi's defeat. Once the news comes, or until it snows heavily, the troops can retreat."
Yue Fei understood, waiting for changes. Although this was not his style of doing things, it seemed to be the best way at the moment.