When Zhang Huan was first in southern Xinjiang, he showed some air of an old fox, and he did not have a strong sense of responsibility. He would not take responsibility if he could not bear it, and he would not accept anything he could shirk.
After the Southern Expedition, Zhang Huan returned to Chang'an in triumph and immediately became Minister of War.
Everyone thought this would be another starting point for him, but what they didn't expect was that Zhang Huan regarded this position as his end.
If you have something to ask the assistant, I'm busy!
This is Zhang Huan's daily life at the Ministry of War.
When discussing matters in the DPRK, Zhang Huan would not open his mouth even if he could. Some people teased him that he was practicing the habit of keeping his mouth shut.
Moreover, even if Li Mi named him to express his opinion, Zhang Huan would always respond with a vague answer, just like an old Hutu.
In this situation, the two ministers of the Ministry of War, especially the most senior Zheng Yuandong, became acting ministers.
After the news of the loss of Yangling Pass came, Li Mi ordered the Ministry of War to take the lead in strengthening Tongcheng's city defense.
Zhang Huan said he was ill... Tongcheng was a little damp, and he had an attack of rheumatism, making him unable to walk.
As a result, Zheng Yuandong was forced to take over the matter.
It was said that it was the defense of Tongcheng, but in fact it was the defense of the entire Yizhou that had to be taken care of. Zheng Yuandong was very busy because of this.
On this day, he had just returned to Tongcheng after a long journey, when Zhao Sanfu's people came to look for him.
"What did you say?" The weather was strangely dry, and there were two small bubbles at the corners of Zheng Yuandong's mouth.
"Emergency."
"knew."
Zheng Yuandong quietly went to the agreed wine shop later in the evening.
Zhao Sanfu was kneading dough inside, preparing to make biscuits.
"Your way of kneading the dough is a little fake." Zheng Yuandong picked up a Hu pancake, opened it and took a look. There was a scary amount of mutton inside. He sighed: "If everyone makes Hu pancakes like you, it will be a big loss.
die."
"It can be sold more expensively." Zhao Sanfu put the dough under the big bowl, rubbed his hands, and walked over.
"What's the matter?" Zheng Yuandong was eating Hu cake.
"I heard a few veterans mention the Battle of Fangzhou that day. They said they could hold out for at most half a month, but is that so?"
Zheng Yuandong nodded, "If the defenders are warriors who have fought in hundreds of battles, it's hard to say. But you also know that there has been no fighting in Shu for many years. How can those soldiers fight in hundreds of battles? It can only take half a month at most."
"So, the day when Chang'an's army will approach the city is not far away, but we have just recruited three generals, but none of them are in charge. How will we respond then?"
Zhao Sanfu kneaded the small dough in his hands casually, "Old Zheng, if you want to make meritorious deeds, you have to find a way!"
"The name of your mirror can now stop children from crying at night. Those generals are afraid that it is a temptation, so how can they dare to accept it?"
"Is it my own fault for co-writing? But you also know that if I don't act more fiercely, those bastards from Tianma camp will surround me and kill me in an instant!"
Zhao Sanfu had a headache.
Zheng Yuandong chewed the mutton and felt it was a bit old, "Don't overcook it next time."
"I didn't bake this."
"Who is that?"
"Brother below."
"good!"
Zheng Yuandong put down half of the Hu cake in his hand and said: "I am now responsible for inspecting the city defense. This is an opportunity. You have gathered the manpower over there. Once the time comes, just follow my arrangements."
"My manpower here still has to watch over the false emperor." Zhao Sanfu lowered his voice, "If the false emperor runs away, the emperor will be unhappy."
"Where can he run?" Zheng Yuandong clapped his hands, "Sichuan is just a den, and he can't run away with so many people. But if he is traveling in a light carriage, he is delicate and expensive, so he will definitely worry about something going wrong on the road. So, feel free
.”
"Half a month!" Zhao Sanfu said: "In another half month, we will have to call someone else, Your Majesty. Old Zheng, the ambition of you and me to assist the Zuo Emperor will not be realized in this life."
"You have a relationship with the emperor, so you don't need to worry about your future." Zheng Yuandong broke off a piece of roasted Hu pancake and ate it. The smell of mutton combined with the taste of Hu noodle pancake was surprisingly fragrant.
"What about you?" Zhao Sanfu asked.
"I..." Zheng Yuandong swallowed the food, "I don't want to enter the court anymore, it's best to go outside."
"north?"
"The South is also here!"
"What are you doing in that place?"
"kill!"
"How long have you been holding this in?"
"In the past six months, I have been feeling that I have become very violent. Drinking tea, reading, and drinking are of no use. After thinking about it, I am actually eager to try to kill someone."
"How much resentment you have!" Zhao Sanfu said with a smile.
"Having thought about it for half my life, everything was in vain after the identity of the one in Northern Xinjiang was revealed." Zheng Yuandong stood up, "You keep an eye on those people here, and I will take care of the rest."
"Half a month, there are still seven or eight days left." Zhao Sanfu said: "We must hurry up."
Zheng Yuandong returned to the Ministry of War, and Zhang Huan was still recovering from his illness. It was said that the rheumatism was getting worse.
But it's been so dry these past few days that it's frustrating.
Zheng Yuandong knew that Zhang Huan was not optimistic about the situation in Shu, so he withdrew. In this way, even if the emperor captured Tongcheng, they would not do anything to him because of their experience of fighting side by side.
They are all good at protecting themselves wisely!
As soon as Zheng Yuandong picked up a document, he saw Zhang Huan rushing in.
He looked serious, as if he had encountered something big.
"Is there something important?" Zhang Huan asked.
"No." Zheng Yuandong said.
"That's good." Zhang Huan sat down and said, "Cheer up."
Have you lost your mind?
Everyone felt something was wrong.
Then, there was a noise outside.
The sound is getting louder and louder.
"Fangzhou has fallen."
Zheng Yuandong's eyes had a glint in his eyes and he glanced at Zhang Huan.
Fangzhou has fallen, and the end of the false emperor is not far away. What will people do once they fall into despair?
Find a scapegoat.
No wonder Zhang Huan returned to the Ministry of War director seriously. It turned out that he had received the news early.
Zheng Yuandong looked at the officials with stunned expressions.
It was as if the sky had fallen.
Not long after, a chamberlain came over and said, "Your Majesty has summoned me."
Zhang Huan stood up with support on his bed, "Old Zheng, give me a hand."
Zheng Yuandong went over to help him, and the two of them slowly left the military headquarters.
They saw Yang Songcheng, saw Zheng Qi...
Everyone's expressions were numb.
It reminded Zheng Yuandong of those death row inmates before their execution.
When he saw Li Mi, he looked quite calm, even with a mysterious smile.
"Fangzhou has been lost." Li Mi said, "Yang Ni is about to attack Yizhou. The Ministry of War will give you some information."
Zhang Huan coughed dryly, and Zheng Yuandong left without hesitation, saying: "Your Majesty, I have just inspected various places, and the morale of the soldiers is high. If we can encourage them more, I think it will be better."
——Give money!
Li Mi nodded, "As a reward."
When Zheng Yuandong returned to work, Li Mi said: "Follow up, Zheng Qing will take a closer look at the city defense."
"yes!"
I looked at the city defense more, but it didn't say anything about coordinating the defense. In other words, Zheng Yuandong was just a supervisor.
Li Mi said: "Yang Ni is the most vicious person. After the Southern Zhou Dynasty was conquered, he said that anyone who opposed the New Deal would not be hired. This is ridiculous. What do you think?"
——Don't think that you can gain glory and wealth by joining Yang Ni. You are all traitors in his eyes and will never be hired. So, go for it! At least don't cause trouble.
"The Yizhou defense line is still unbreakable!" After Li Mi finished speaking, there was silence in the hall.
"Guozhang." Li Mi called his name, "If you have nothing to do, go up to the top of the city and have a look."
"Yes." Yang Songcheng responded.
"My lords, it's okay. Let's go up to the top of the city and have a look!" Li Mi smiled happily.
"yes!"
This is kidnapping.
When you get to the top of the city, you fight with swords and guns, and you deserve to be killed. So, in order to save your life, you and others are thinking of ways to do it.
This method, without making a fuss, put the officials into a situation of coexistence and death with Tongcheng.
The methods are great, but a little bit unlike the master.
"Let's break up!"
Li Mi stood up.
Zheng Yuandong left the palace and went to the city head.
The sky is dark, and the dark clouds are dark or light, like mist, layer upon layer.
"Zheng Shangshu, can we defend it?" a general asked.
If the generals don’t have confidence, how can ordinary soldiers have confidence?
Zheng Yuandong nodded, "Your Majesty has divine blessing."
"Yes! God's blessing!" The general breathed a sigh of relief, "The gods of Shu are quite effective. They may not be able to help us later."
"Exactly." Zheng Yuandong walked down the city wall, and several young men were driven in from the city gate by the sergeants.
A bad boy said dissatisfiedly: "Have your head cut off! Be careful of thunder and crackling."
Boom!
There was a faint sound of thunder.
At the top of the city, a sergeant said, "The gods of Shu only protect those who bring peace to Shu."
…
"Your Majesty, Fangzhou has been destroyed."
Zhao Dongping brought this bad news, but the King of Yue calmly closed the book in his hand, "Then, the time has come."
"Your Majesty, you must be cautious about this matter!" Zhao Dongping said: "If the city is destroyed, Your Majesty and the Supreme Emperor will not be able to escape because of their old grudges. But your Majesty will not."
After all, Li Mi and his son also left behind two sons who were filial to the emperor.
In the same way, Li Xuan should do the same.
If you don't move, you won't die.
"Do you think it's okay to let a prince who has been very close to the East Palace go to live in Chang'an and never leave the house again?" The King of Yue asked with a smile.
"You're still alive after all."
"But I would rather die!"
The King of Yue smiled and said: "For so many years, I have been pretending to be weak. Even after my big teeth were knocked out, I am still weak. But who is willing to pretend to be a grandson? If possible, I would like to raise an army to kill those bastards. From now on.
From top to bottom, not a single one is left!”
He didn't say who those bastards were, but Zhao Dongping knew that no one from Li Mi to Yang Songcheng could escape.
"Are you determined to take action?" Zhao Dongping sighed, knowing that he could not stop the King of Yue.
"Yes! And the sooner, the better." King Yue's eyes were filled with sparkle, "Do you know? Li Xuan must capture Aweng and Aye alive, otherwise it will be unfilial."
Zhao Dongping didn't know this.
"You have not been involved, so naturally you cannot understand this kind of friendship. Ye Niang was poisoned and he has never experienced Ye Niang's love in his life. This kind of hatred is irreconcilable. If Aweng and Aye die, he will regret it for the rest of his life.
.”
"Do you want to..." Zhao Dongping was a little creepy.
"That's right." The King of Yue grinned, the dentures in his mouth dangling.
"I will kill one and imprison the other. Li Xuan can only negotiate peace with me, otherwise, I will make his life miserable!"