Wang Qinruo was handling official business in the Privy Council. His confidant Sun Jin hurried over and reported: "Sir, the provisions and the troops are ready!" Wang Qinruo was very surprised, "So fast? I thought it would take at least six or seven days!"
Sun Jin bowed and flattered: "That's because everyone knows that this is a major event assigned by the Prime Minister, so everyone works extra hard and doesn't dare to slack off at all!"
Wang Qinruo smiled and patted Sun Jin on the shoulder. Sun Jin immediately felt flattered, and all the bones in his body seemed to be brittle. Wang Qinruo asked, "Did you do it according to my instructions?" Sun Jin bowed.
He said: "Yes, everything was done according to the instructions of the Prime Minister." Then he took out a pamphlet from his sleeve and presented it to Wang Qinruo with both hands.
Wang Qinruo took the pamphlet and opened it. Several big figures were listed at the beginning: "Total troops: 700,000; grain and grass: 3 million dan; coins: 120 million yuan; cloth: 5 million pieces..."
Wang Qinruo nodded with satisfaction and said to Sun Jin: "Follow me into the palace to meet the saint!" "Yes!"
The two people left the Privy Council, got on their cars, and rushed towards the palace. When they came to a stop in front of the palace gate, they got off the cars. At this time, another official sedan came from one side. Sun Jin recognized it and said:
Wang Qinruo said: "This is the official sedan chair of Wang Xiaozhi, the Minister of Rites."
When Wang Qinruo heard the words, he stopped and waited. After a while, Wang Xiaozhi's official sedan also came to a stop outside the palace gate. Wang Xiaozhi, who looked dignified in official robes, got out of the sedan. The two parties met and exchanged greetings.
Wang Qinruo asked: "Does Your Majesty Wang also want to see His Majesty?" Wang Xiaozhi said excitedly: "There is a letter from Mr. Heng, a businessman in Bianliang, saying that they are fully prepared. They will launch a capture in Tianjing New City when Wang's army goes to the north.
Tianjing New City!”
Wang Qinruo and Sun Jin were overjoyed. Sun Jin smiled and said: "The army and food have been prepared in advance. This is really a double happiness!" Wang Xiaozhi said excitedly: "Everything goes so smoothly. It seems that God's will is on the court.
Fang, this Northern Expedition will definitely be a complete victory! Humph, the time of the rebellious King Yan is running out!" Wang Qinruo and Sun Jin nodded in agreement, and Wang Qinruo said: "Let us inform His Majesty of the good news as soon as possible!"
Sun Jin and Wang Xiaozhi also thought so, and they couldn't wait.
The three of them came to the palace gate. When the captain of the guard guarding the arch saw the three adults coming hand in hand, he quickly bowed: "General, I have seen these three adults!" Wang Qinruo said: "No need to be polite. Please go and report to your majesty, general."
He said that the three of us have something important to ask to see His Majesty!" The captain glanced at the three of them, clasped his fists and said, "The three adults will be waiting for you later, I will report it right now!" Then he turned around and ran into the palace. Wang Qinruo and the others were in the palace.
Waiting at the door.
Not long after, the captain came running back, clasping his fists and saying: "Your Majesty is working in the imperial study room, please come to the three adults!" After saying that, he stepped aside. Wang Qinruo and the other three quickly walked into the palace gate and walked straight towards the imperial study room.
After a while, they arrived at the Imperial Study Room and were surprised to see Taishi Pang also there. The three of them saluted the emperor and said, "I pay homage to your Majesty. Long live your Majesty! Long live your Majesty!"
Zhao Heng smiled and said: "Three beloved princes are of equal height." The three of them said: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Then they stood up, glanced at Master Pang, and nodded slightly, and Master Pang also nodded in response.
Zhao Heng asked: "The three beloved ministers suddenly came together. It must be something important, right?" Wang Xiaozhi said impatiently: "Your Majesty, good news! A letter came from Mr. Heng, a businessman in Bianliang, saying that they have already arrived.
We are completely ready, and we will immediately start to seize the new city of Tianjing as soon as the king's army goes to the north!" Sun Jin quickly continued: "The 700,000 king's army, as well as food, grass and baggage, etc., have been prepared in advance!" Wang Qinruo said excitedly, clasping his fists.
"Your Majesty, everything goes well. Just wait for your Majesty's order, and the army will be able to cross the river and recover the Central Plains!"
Zhao Heng did not show any excitement, but looked embarrassed. Seeing that the emperor's reaction was not at all what they expected, the three of them were stunned and looked at each other. Zhao Heng glanced at the three of them and said: "
I am very touched and appreciate the three beloved ministers who have dedicated their lives to the court and me. However, the situation is a little different now, and I am a little undecided!"
The three of them were all surprised when they heard that the emperor's words seemed to be retreating. Wang Xiaozhi said urgently: "Your Majesty, now is a great opportunity to expedition to the Central Plains in the north and eliminate the traitors. Your Majesty has always thought so! Why?
,how……?"
Zhao Heng sighed and said in a helpless tone: "Time is destiny!"
Wang Qinruo and the other three were confused and looked at each other. Master Pang said to the three of them: "Not long ago, I received a report from a secret agent that the Khitan army of 600,000 was defeated at the foot of Yanjing City. More than half of them were lost and they have retreated to Tanzhou!..."
Wang Qinruo and the other three were shocked when they suddenly heard such news. They looked as if they had seen a ghost. Wang Xiaozhi couldn't help shouting: "This is impossible, this is absolutely impossible!!" The other two people also didn't believe it. Wang Qinruo didn't believe it either.
He frowned and said, "This must be false news! The Khitan Protector King Ye Qi Hucheng is a terrifying figure who can make a child stop crying. His military strength is three times that of Yan Yun's army. How could he fail?"
Taishi Pang said: "Yeqi Hucheng is a person who can make children stop crying, but King Yan is a person who can make ghosts cry and gods howl! King Yan is unparalleled in wisdom and bravery, and Yan Yun's army is the most brave in the world. It is no good to defeat the Khitan army.
Weird!" Zhao Heng couldn't help but show fear in his eyes.
Wang Qinruo looked at Taishi Pang and sneered: "Master Shen, why does he speak as if he is Yang Peng's subordinate?" Taishi Pang felt shuddered, snorted and said, "I'm just seeking truth from facts, Mr. Wang, please don't change the subject!" Wang Qinruo said to him.
Zhao Heng cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, this matter is really strange. I believe that the so-called news of the Khitan army's defeat must have been fabricated by some people with evil intentions!" Zhao Heng couldn't help but become suspicious and looked at Master Pang.
Seeing that the emperor was suspicious, Taishi Pang quickly said: "Your Majesty, this matter is absolutely true. How dare I risk the disapproval of the world and end my term? I would never dare to deceive the emperor even if I have the courage to do so.
Why!" He turned around and glanced at Wang Qinruo, and said angrily: "This kind of thing will be confirmed in a short time. No matter how stupid I am, I will not falsely convey military information!"
Zhao Heng felt that what Taishi Pang said was very reasonable, and couldn't help but believe Taishi Pang. He couldn't help but sigh and murmured: "The Yanyun Army is officially a tiger and wolf army! Such fierce Khitan people, six hundred thousand can't defeat them.
Two hundred thousand!!"
Wang Qinruo and the other three frowned, they still couldn't believe this was true. Wang Qinruo thought: "Even if the Khitans are defeated, the Yanyun Army in the Yanjing area will not be able to go south in a short time! In addition, the Japanese are attacking Hebei and Huaibei. Maybe the Japanese can defeat the Yanyun Army, but as long as the Japanese can succeed, the Yanyun Army will still be doomed!" Sun Jin and Wang Xiaozhi nodded, feeling that what Wang Qinruo said was very reasonable. Wang Xiaozhi said harshly: "These deviants You guy, God will not help you, the only way is to die without a burial place!" Wang Xiaozhi, a Taoist guardian, seemed to hate Yang Peng more strongly than others.
Grand Master Pang sighed and said with a wry smile: "I'm afraid this is impossible to achieve!" Wang Qinruo and the other three were stunned, and Wang Xiaozhi asked anxiously, "What do you mean, Master Shen?"
Shen Yuqiu glanced at Zhao Heng and said: "While receiving news of the defeat of the Khitans, I also received news from the Japanese! Alas, the Japanese navy was ambushed by the Yanyun cruise fleet, suffered heavy losses, and fled. Back to Goryeo! The 200,000 Japanese army that invaded Hebei fought three battles with the 200,000 Yanyun army led by Yanyun general Xiang Danian. They were defeated in three battles. The losses were not small. The Yanyun army was trapped in a hill. .The Japanese army that originally attacked Chuzhou learned that the Japanese army in Xiaoshan was in a critical situation, so they gave up attacking Chuzhou and went north to support them. Now the Japanese army is in a very bad situation."
Wang Qinruo and the other three were so shocked that they were speechless for a long time. A feeling of fear could not help but arise in their hearts. They felt that the Yan Yun Army entrenched in the Central Plains was simply an invincible monster! Anyone who dared to challenge it would not end well! Wang Qinruo and Sun Jin couldn't help but become discouraged, and their previous eagerness for Yanyun's destruction couldn't help but fade a lot; but Wang Xiaozhi became even more angry, feeling that if Yanyun was not destroyed and Yang Peng was not killed, then the Han people would have no future. ! At this thought, he cupped his fists towards Zhao Heng and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that if Yanyun is not defeated, the Song Dynasty will face annihilation sooner or later! The previous plan should not be changed. Since the army and baggage are ready, we should immediately Cross the Yangtze River and march northward to the Central Plains!"
Zhao Heng frowned and said: "The Khitans and Japanese have been defeated. How can our family be the opponent of the Yanyun Tiger and Wolf Army? If Yang Peng is angered and the army comes across the Yellow River, it will be very bad! "
Wang Xiaozhi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, don't worry! The current situation is still not good for the Yanyun Army! Although the Khitans and Japanese were defeated for a while, the armies of the two families were still fighting fiercely with the Yanyun Army. The main force of Yanyun was contained, and in a short time It is impossible to escape in time. Our army can attack Shanxi and Jiangbei in two directions at the same time according to the original plan. With the assistance of loyal people loyal to the court, we will surely sweep the entire Central Plains in one fell swoop! In this way, Yanyun's army and people will inevitably be greatly affected. The Khitans and Japanese might be able to turn defeat into victory! Your Majesty, this is a critical moment that affects the future and destiny of the Song Dynasty. Please make up your mind!"
Zhao Heng felt that what Wang Xiaozhi said seemed reasonable and couldn't help but hesitate.
The attention turned to Tanzhou. The Khitan army is currently stationed in Tanzhou, waiting for backup before attacking Yanjing. Yeqi Hucheng paced back and forth in the tent anxiously. He was waiting for the Queen Mother's reply. Outside the tent Suddenly there was the sound of hurried footsteps. Yeqi Hucheng quickly stopped and looked outside the tent. He saw the captain of the personal soldiers rushing in, kneeling and saying: "Your Majesty, your Majesty's messenger has arrived and is waiting outside the tent. !" "Let him in quickly!"
The captain of the soldiers responded and ran out of the tent. A moment later, he led a middle-aged officer in, who was dusty with work. As soon as the middle-aged officer saw Yeqi Hucheng, he bowed and said, "I have met the King Protector of the Country!"
"
Yeqianhucheng said: "No need to be polite, where is the reply from the queen?" The messenger carefully took out a small wooden box wrapped in yellow silk from his arms and presented it with both hands. Yeqianhucheng quickly picked up the wooden box and
He opened the wooden box and took out the letter inside. He handed the wooden box to the captain of the soldiers at the side, opened the envelope, took out the letter paper, unfolded it and read it.
His face suddenly changed, and he frowned and said, "What do you mean, my dear? You have sacrificed so many soldiers, and you want to give up halfway! In this way, these 400,000 soldiers and horses will be in vain!" He looked at the messenger suddenly,
The look in his eyes was very sharp, and when the messenger saw this, his heart trembled.
Ye Qian Hucheng asked angrily: "Who are the people who are making slanderous remarks around the Queen?" The messenger didn't know how to answer for a moment. If he named several people, wouldn't it mean that these people were around the Queen?
Are you making slanderous remarks in front of me? If those high-ranking adults knew about this, wouldn't it mean that you would have to live in a miserable situation if you were a junior official? When Ye Qi Hucheng saw the messenger looking hesitant, he became even more annoyed.
shouted: "Say!"
The messenger was startled and couldn't help but said: "This, the official was not present for this matter. I don't know who said it. I only know that the empress discussed it with the Minister of Rites, Mr. Zhang Chang and Mr. Xiao Tanjing, before summoning the official.
a long time!"
Yeqi Hucheng snorted angrily. The messenger was frightened and lowered his head in a hurry. Yeqi Hucheng said angrily: "All national affairs are ruined in the hands of these scholars and useless nobles! I really want to kill them!"
His heart was pounding with fear, and he didn't dare to breathe, for fear that Ye Qi Hucheng would remove his head in anger.
Ye Qian Hucheng was pacing back and forth, looking very irritated and annoyed. He suddenly stopped, picked up the letter on the desk and read it. Suddenly an impulse surged in his heart, and he murmured: "From ancient times to the present, the generals will be outside the country."
You have not accepted your orders! I, Ye Qi Hucheng, do not have to obey the orders of the imperial court!" However, as soon as he thought about it, a problem came. Although he had more than 500,000 troops in his hands, most of them had already been in the previous army.
I was discouraged during the battle. If I continue to fight, I am afraid it will be difficult to perform satisfactorily. This is not the most serious problem. The most serious problem is that since the empress has ordered a truce, I am afraid that the backup and supplies will not be available.
Now, if we don’t have backup, we can just pay it back. If we don’t have supplies, how can we continue to fight this battle?
There is another problem. Xiao Salihe, West, Butler and the Mongolian generals are afraid that they will not obey my orders. As a result, I will only have about 200,000 troops at my disposal. This small number of troops can
What are you doing? Thinking of this, Ye Qian Hucheng couldn't help but feel discouraged. With a sudden movement in his heart, he suddenly realized that he, the general who commanded the entire army of the Liao Kingdom, seemed to have been largely ignored by Xiao Salihe and other generals!
Ye Qian Hucheng frowned, feeling shocked and confused. Then he felt that he must be overly worried. If the Empress Dowager really wanted to evade her, why would she appoint herself as the commander-in-chief of the southern expedition? He shook his head and put these thoughts aside.
Forgot to forget.
He glanced at the messenger and said, "I want to discuss this matter with the generals first. You can go down and rest." Naturally, the messenger did not dare to have any objections, so he agreed and withdrew.
Ye Qianhucheng said to the captain of the soldiers: "Gather all the generals!" The captain of the soldiers agreed and ran down.
Soon after, all the generals gathered in the big tent and paid homage to Yeqihu City. Yeqihu City sat on top, glanced at the generals, and said: "In this battle, our army has already paid a heavy loss of 400,000 yuan.
The price! I am determined to fight Yanyun to the end, and I will not give up until Yanyun is destroyed!" After hearing this, the generals couldn't help but look at each other, worried. The Mongolian general Lakshen snorted coldly and said: "The Yanyun army is a fierce tiger.
They are evil wolves, and destroying them is not as easy as just talking!"
Ye Qi Hucheng glanced at Lakshen and asked angrily: "Are you afraid of them?"
Lakshen said: "I'm just telling the truth! The Yanyun Army is so powerful, it's useless even if you say they are incompetent!" Then he glanced at Yeqi Hucheng and said loudly: "Not long ago I took over
The king should have received the order from the empress! The order from the empress is for the army to stick to the current area. The court wants to negotiate peace with Yanyun, and no one is allowed to act rashly! What did Ye Qian Hucheng say just now? Did he want to disobey the empress?
Order?" Most of the generals were still unaware of this matter, and after hearing Lakshen's words, they couldn't help but start talking.
Ye Qian Hucheng was very angry and secretly frightened. He did not expect that the Empress Dowager actually sent a letter to Lakshen. At this moment, Xiao Salihe, West, Butler and other Mongolian generals came one after another.
Said: "The last general has also received the order from the Queen Mother, and the content is the same as what General Lakshen said (the queen ordered our troops to rush to Xijing Road)."
Ye Qian Hucheng couldn't help the anger in his heart and shouted: "I am the commander-in-chief of the Southern Expedition, and my words are orders. Do you dare to disobey military orders?"
All the generals were impressed by his momentum and couldn't help but lower their heads. Only Lakshen looked directly at Yeqihu City without fear and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the commander-in-chief of the Southern Expedition was only appointed by your empress. Your Majesty's order is not that big."
Your Majesty! Since your Majesty has ordered a cessation of war and peace, we must obey! If the king does not obey your Majesty’s orders, he is disobeying military orders. Disobeying military orders is treason, and everyone will be punished!"
Ye Qihu was furious, he pulled out his machete with a clang, slapped it on the table, and shouted: "I want to see how you kill me!!" Lakshen held the handle of the knife tightly and stared at Ye Qihu.
The atmosphere at the scene was very tense and could be said to be on the verge of breaking out.
Han Chang hurriedly rushed between the two sides and urged: "Your Majesty, calm down, General Lakshen, calm down! We are all our own people, why should we be like this?" Lakshen sneered, "The Protector King does not regard us Mongolians as his own.
People!" Yeqi Hucheng said coldly: "I think you Mongolians are not convinced and were defeated by me! Boy, if you have the guts, challenge me to a duel and see how I kill you!"
Lakshen drew his sword out of its sheath, stared at Yeqi Hucheng like a wild beast, and said fiercely: "Yeqi Hucheng, we Mongols are not afraid of you!" When the generals saw the two of them, they were ready to take action.
Some were gloating about the misfortune, and some were worried. Han Chang said hurriedly: "If the two start fighting, I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain in front of the queen, and the queen will definitely blame her! Both of them are great people. If they are punished, it will not look good.
!”
Thinking that his parents, wife and children were all in the hands of the Queen Mother, Lakshen couldn't help but frowned, and his desire to fight was reduced a lot; Yehuhu City was worried that the king would really punish him. In that case, Yehuhu
The prestige of the city could not help but be tarnished, and the desire to seize the opportunity to kill Lakshen could not help but diminish a lot.
Han often saw that the murderous aura of the two men had subsided, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly said to West and Butler: "General Lakshen is a little uncomfortable. Please help the two generals take General Lakshen down to recuperate!" The two understood that Han
Chang's intention was that he immediately stepped forward and dragged Lakshen out of the tent.
Ye Qian Hucheng looked at Xiao Salihe and several other generals who had received the king's order alone, and asked coldly: "What do you say?" The generals looked at each other, Xiao Salihe bowed bravely and said: "
Since your Majesty has given orders, we can only act according to your orders, but we cannot disobey your orders. Wouldn’t that be a traitor?”
Ye Qian Hucheng slammed the table with a bang, Xiao Sali's heart trembled, and his head dropped even lower. Ye Qian Hucheng wanted to have an attack, but found that he couldn't. Although he looked down on Wang Jun's wife,
Queen Mother Shuang, she is the master after all. If you don’t obey the master’s orders, you will indeed be a traitor!
Ye Qi Hucheng was very depressed and was silent for a long time. He turned to the captain of the personal soldiers and said: "Send someone to tell the empress that we, Ye Qi Hucheng, obey the empress' will!" After hearing this, the generals couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Everyone was really worried about him.
If you do something outrageous in anger, everyone will be implicated, and life, death, misfortunes and fortunes are really unpredictable!
Among the large army in Tanzhou, 150,000 soldiers and horses were divided to rush to Xijing Road, while the remaining soldiers and horses continued to garrison Tanzhou.
At about the same time, Yang Peng received the envoy from the Liao Kingdom. The envoy from the Liao Kingdom clasped his fists and bowed: "Your Majesty accepts King Yan's proposal and is willing to restore old friendship with him. The two families will stop fighting and never invade each other again!"
Yang Peng smiled and said: "Your empress said the same before." The envoy was very embarrassed and said quickly: "This is all instigated by the Japanese, please ask King Yan Haihan!" Yang Peng said calmly: "Whose idea was it?
It’s not important now!” He glanced at the envoy and asked, “What does your empress dowager want to talk to me about?” The envoy said, “You are a humble person with a humble official position, how dare you negotiate with the King of Yan on behalf of your empress!
I came here specifically to inform King Yan that I hope both sides will cease fighting immediately. As for the specific negotiators, they are on their way!" Then he took out a red lacquered wooden box, held it up with both hands, and said: "This is our country.
The Empress Dowager’s handwritten letter, please read it to King Yan!”
Wang Kai stepped forward, took the wooden box, opened it, took out the letter, and forwarded it to Yang Peng. Yang Peng picked up the letter, opened the envelope, took out the letter paper, unfolded it and read it again. He put down the letter and smiled, as if mockingly.
Said: "Your mother-in-law is really good at business. If she becomes a businessman, she will definitely become a rich man!"
The envoy was secretly worried, swallowed uncontrollably, and asked cautiously: "Could it be that the King of Yan does not agree?" Yang Peng said: "You took advantage of the huge natural disaster in Yanyun to invade on a large scale, causing serious damage to the sixteen states of Yanyun.
Huge destruction and heavy casualties, the Liao Kingdom must provide us with satisfactory compensation."
What happened after all? Let’s hear the details next time.