At the Xianyang Inn, the two assassins returned to the inn and reported the situation last night to Murong Wenmu.
"Reporting to the Hall Master, their surroundings are very loose and there are almost no guards. Dozens of female guards are deployed in the house. From what I can see, the defense in the house is very tight, but we found a loophole in the other side. There is a lake in the house, and the lake is accessible.
You can dive into the house from the bottom of the water."
Murong Wenmu nodded and asked: "What I am most concerned about now is, have you been discovered by the other party?"
The two assassins looked at each other, and the leading assassin said: "Probably not!"
"What do you mean it shouldn't be? Is there really?" Murong Wenmu asked sharply.
The two of them shook their heads like rattles, "Definitely not. When we left, we didn't see them searching, and there was no chaos."
"Really do not have?"
"Humble job guarantee!"
The two assassins did not dare to tell the truth. They knew the consequences of telling the truth. Moreover, they were not sure whether the other party had discovered them. They escaped in time without leaving any evidence. It is very likely that the other party thought they were two night herons.
Murong Wenmu nodded, "Go draw a map and draw down everything you see and hear."
After the two assassins left, the shopkeeper Li Lu asked in a low voice: "The hall master thinks they didn't tell the truth?"
Murong Wenmu nodded, "They actually let it slip. I didn't tell them that there were female guards inside, so how did they know? They also knew that the female guards were all deployed in the house. It must be these female guards who ran out of the house.
Found them."
"If they are discovered, how can they escape?"
Murong Wenmu said coldly: "This is what I'm telling you. Chen Qing has no intention of preparing for an assassination. His personal guards are all in the front house. When they come over, it will be too late."
"So what do we do now?"
"Now we can only tolerate it for the time being and wait until their defenses gradually relax before we consider taking action."
At this point, Murong Wenmu's eyes became cold and stern, "As for those two bastards, I'll take care of them later!"
The Western Army's preparations for war are still continuing, but the public opinion to attack Xixia has spilled over to Lin'an. News that Chen Qing was preparing to lead his army to attack Xixia and requested the court's support reached Lin'an, which immediately caused an uproar in the government and the public. This news shocked countless low-level officials and ordinary people.
We are all very excited. Ten years after the Jingkang disaster, we finally waited for the day of counterattack. Whether it was the attack on the Jin Kingdom or the attack on Xixia, it was an exciting event.
At this time, another news came out from nowhere. The Western Army defeated the Jin soldiers on the Shaanxi Road, annihilated 70,000 enemies, and captured the Jurchen royal family Wanyanhelisha and Wanyanqi. This news simply made Lin'an excited.
The people beat gongs and drums to celebrate the victory of the Western Army.
At dawn, the court meeting in Daqing Hall is still going on. The court meeting is held once every five days, and all officials above the seventh rank will participate. The content of today's court meeting is how to respond to Chen Qing's request.
The light in the Daqing Hall was dim, and hundreds of courtiers stood on both sides of the hall. Above the tall Dan Si, Zhao Gou, who also had a gloomy face, sat.
Zhao Gou got much more information than ordinary people and ministers. He already knew that the negotiations between Chen Qing and the Kingdom of Jin had broken down.
Going beyond the court and negotiating with the Kingdom of Jin without permission was already annoying, but what made Zhao Gou even more crazy was that Chen Qing actually wanted to exchange the former crown prince with two Jurchen royals, Yanhe Lisa and Wanyan Xiyin.
Zhao Chen, although the negotiation was unsuccessful, when the news came, Zhao Gou exploded on the spot and overturned all the tea cups, inkstones and memorials on the imperial case to the ground. This was the first time since Liu Miao's incident that he
Such a loss of temper, such a rage.
The former prince Zhao Chen must be related to the succession of the throne. Anything related to the succession of the throne is against Zhao Gou. Moreover, Chen Qing still made this request without permission without reporting it to him at all. This made Zhao Gou feel murderous.
It's just that he hides it better now, and the officials don't know his state of mind.
"Ms. Zhang, please introduce the situation first!"
Zhang Jun walked out of the line, saluted the emperor, and said calmly: "Your Majesty, ministers, Chen Qing's letter was received five days ago. It is a memorial sent by flying pigeons. He
He will take advantage of the weakest period of Xixia in the fall and winter of this year to launch a northern expedition against Xixia. However, his troops and money and food are slightly insufficient. He hopes that the imperial court will support 50,000 troops and 400,000 guan. In addition, he strongly condemns Liu Guangshi for betraying the imperial court. His crime cannot be forgiven.
I am willing to send troops to cooperate with the imperial court to exterminate the traitor Liu Guangshi."
At this time, the newly appointed Privy Councilor Zhe Yanzhi came out and said: "I would like to add one more point, why Xixia is at its weakest now. The reason is that the civil war has lasted for nearly two years. The Liao general Xiao Heda rebelled against Xixia.
, established a separate regime and fought with the Xixia court for two years. According to the information we received, the Xixia standing army only had less than 80,000 troops, taxes dropped sharply by 70%, the treasury was empty, and the population lost at least 40%. This is the time.
Xixia is at its weakest since the founding of the country. At the same time, the Jin Kingdom has been weakened by the defeat on the Shaanxi Road, and the Jin soldiers on the Hedong Road are unable to support Xixia. This is indeed a good opportunity to attack Xixia."
"This is taking advantage of others' danger, which is not what a gentleman would do!"
The great scholar Qi Yuanlu walked out of the queue and saluted: "Your Majesty, I have just spoken to you in my heart, and I won't say it out loud. Please give me your permission!"
Zhao Gou nodded quietly, "Yes!"
Qi Yuanlu glanced at everyone and said slowly: "I heard wrong just now. I thought the Western Army was going to attack the Jin Kingdom. I was happy in my heart. This is a good thing! But later I understood that it turned out to be an attack on Xixia or Xixia.
I might as well not mention this while others are in danger, lest anyone accuse me of being pedantic.
But I don’t understand what benefit it will bring to us to attack Xixia. Most of it is desert Gobi, and the national treasury is empty. Millions of people have become hungry, and we have to provide relief. Do we only want those counties by the Yellow River?
Tell me, everyone, what does fighting Xixia mean to us? What are the benefits?"
Qin Hui laughed dryly and said: "How can there be no benefit? Xixia will never be destroyed and will always threaten Xihe Road. Only by destroying Xixia can we have a worry-free future."
There was an uproar in the court, and officials secretly discussed. Qin Hui's intention was very clear. Destroying Xixia would only reduce the pressure on Sichuan and Shaanxi, and would not be of any benefit to the court.
Zhang Jun was dissatisfied with Qin Hui's tone. He refuted Qin Hui without hesitation: "Qin Xianggong must not have such narrow-minded ideas. Sichuan and Shaanxi are Sichuan and Shaanxi of the Song Dynasty, and Xihe Road is also the Xihe Road of the Song Dynasty. To destroy Xixia
There is nothing wrong with relieving the pressure on Xihe Road. Besides, conquering Xixia has always been the dream of Emperor Shenzong. It is also a comfort to our ancestors that we can realize Emperor Shenzong's dream."
At this time, Xu Yun, the right admonishment official, came out and said: "Your Majesty, the admonition court has received a large number of private petitions in the past two days, totaling more than 4,800 letters. Most of the private petitions hope that the imperial court will support the Western Army.
Attack Xixia and wash away a hundred years of humiliation with blood."
"Your Majesty, I am opposed to this!"
"Your Majesty, I firmly support aiding the Western Army!"
There was a quarrel in the main hall, Zhao Gou frowned, and the palace supervisor shouted, "Quiet!"
The hall fell silent instantly, and Emperor Zhao Gou said slowly: "The court meeting only discusses the pros and cons. It is a very important matter and needs to be carefully considered. In addition, I appreciate the clear attitude of Governor Chen Xuan towards Liu Guangshi. It is just to suppress the rebellion of the imperial court."
If you have enough ability, you don't need his help, so the Prime Minister can stay and disperse the dynasty!"