Miao Daheng galloped towards the Zhennan Palace, his face as sinking as water.
He noticed something was wrong in Taizhou very early, something big must have happened!
Taizhou is a major salt production center on Yangzhou Road. However, at the beginning of this month, not a single salt ship came from Taizhou.
He reported to the King of Zhennan several times, but the King of Zhennan thought it was because of Fang Guozhen's attack, so he delayed the salt matter and only sent an official to Taizhou to inquire about the situation.
Then, the official never came back, and no news was sent back. Daheng Miao became even more worried. He suspected that something had changed in Taizhou!
At that time, he went to Zhennan Palace and said to Polo Buhua: "Your Highness, there has been no news from the envoy you sent to Taizhou. I will eventually suspect that something happened in Taizhou!"
Polo didn't care, but he waved his hand and said: "Fang Guozhen has been beaten back, what else can happen?"
Miao Daheng said: "As the general said before, it is probably related to Yan Ding!"
Kang Lian sneered and said: "Miao Qianhu has become less and less courageous recently. Even Yan Ding is starting to be afraid!"
Miao Daheng wanted to say more, but Polo Buhua asked him: "Put this aside for now, General Miao. I heard that you have recently recruited more than 500 new soldiers. Is this relevant?"
Miao Daheng said: "It is true, but..."
"I should have told you that Jiangdu has recruited three new rebel armies. Their strength is sufficient and there is no need to recruit more troops. Are you turning a deaf ear to my words?" Polo Buhua interrupted.
"The general is worried that the three rebel armies have evil intentions. Especially Zhang Mingjian, who has been expanding his army, the general is worried that he has disobedient intentions."
"Okay, I have already sent someone to warn Zhang Mingjian and asked him to reduce the number of soldiers to 3,000. You will do the same!"
"Your Highness, those bandits..."
Kang Lian interrupted: "Miao Qianhu, they have been ordered to be safe by the general manager's office, why do you still call them bandits?"
Miao Daheng said: "Zhang Mingjian, Zhang Yangquan and Huang Boyan have all retained their cottages. Judging from the future, they are not sincere in their imperial edicts. They need to take precautions early!"
Boluo Buhua frowned and said, "Is this happening?"
Kang Lian hurriedly said: "Your Highness, after all, they have just been ordered to peace, so it is normal for them to have doubts. As long as we slowly let them return home, I believe they will not want to continue living in Shangaoda!"
Boluo Buhua smiled and said: "Exactly, I don't believe that they are willing to become bandits instead of doing good things like thousands of households!"
Seeing this, Mr. Miao could only resign.
As a result, this morning, the people he sent to Taizhou to investigate the news came back with news that Taizhou had been captured by Yanding!
Miao Daheng first urgently arranged some defenses and sent a large number of scouts to gather information, and then hurriedly headed towards the Zhennan Palace.
After arriving at the palace and reporting, Miao Daheng met Polo Buhua in Nuange.
Miao Daheng was drinking wine while watching the dancers dance, and Princess Zhennan was peeling grapes for him to eat.
Miao Daheng wore armor and entered the Nuan Pavilion, immediately destroying the romance of the whole room.
Polo Buhua has become increasingly impatient with Miao Daheng recently, and frowned: "What's the matter with Miao Qianhu?"
"Your Highness, the general has just received news that a group of saltmen in Taizhou have revolted and have captured Taizhou City!"
With a "bang" sound, the wine glass in Boluo Buhua's hand fell to the ground, and he said: "You...what did you say?"
"Your Highness!" Miao Daheng raised his head and said in a loud voice: "Taizhou City has been captured by the bandits!"
Polo Buhua was all alert, his lips began to tremble, and he couldn't say a word.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Are you okay?" Princess Zhennan shook him gently.
Kang Lian suddenly shouted: "Your Highness, the situation is urgent, and the officials and generals of the General Administration should be summoned immediately to discuss countermeasures!"
Polo Buhua just came back to his senses and shouted: "Yes, yes, yes, go and summon them quickly! Hurry!"
On his way back to Jiangdu, Zhang Yangquan received a summons from King Zhennan.
When I arrived outside the palace, I happened to run into Huang Boyan. He also went back to Huangyazhai today and only rushed over after receiving the summons order.
When the two came to the door of the mansion, the general manager of the palace suddenly greeted them.
"Two Qianhu, you are finally here. The prince and other officials have been waiting for you for a long time. Come in quickly!"
Zhang Yangquan asked Qin Lingjun to stay outside the palace. Huang Boyan also whispered a few words with Lu Qing, and then they entered the palace together.
As soon as I arrived in the lobby, I saw the officials in the General Manager's Mansion talking incessantly. Everyone was panicking, like ants on a hot pot.
Boluo Buhua's face was pale. Although Kang Lian kept saying words of comfort at the side, his fair and fat face was still full of fear.
Taizhou is only about 150 miles away from Jiangdu. If you march quickly, you can kill it in three or four days. Since the Red Turban Uprising, Jiangdu has never been as dangerous as it is now.
Bo Luo Buhua saw Zhang Yangquan and two people coming in and hurriedly said to Huang Boyan: "General Huang, Taizhou has been captured by the rebels. What should we do?"
Huang Boyan looked extraordinarily calm and calm, and said solemnly: "Your Highness, can you tell us the details of Taizhou?"
"General Miao, tell General Huang quickly!"
Miao Daheng said in a deep voice: "According to reports from the front, one night two days ago, a saltman named Zhang Jiusi led hundreds of saltmen to attack Taizhou City. The saltmen, cloth sellers, and trackers in the city responded from the inside, and cooperated with each other from the inside.
Captured the city."
Huang Boyan frowned and said: "The Taizhou defenders were able to repel even Fang Guozhen, but they couldn't fight against a bunch of salt soldiers?"
Polo Buhua said bitterly: "It is precisely because of dealing with the Fang thieves that the strength of the defenders has been greatly reduced, so we should give these traitors a chance!"
Zhang Yangquan secretly shook his head, Fang Guozhen was a pirate, and of course the people of Taizhou would work together with the defenders to repel them.
However, Zhang Shicheng is a native of Taizhou, has a long-standing reputation, and with proper planning, he can succeed in one fell swoop.
Polo Buhua asked anxiously: "General Huang is willing to lead the army to regain Taizhou?"
Sun Hong hurriedly came out: "Your Highness, the situation in Taizhou is currently unclear and it is not appropriate to send troops. We should send someone to inquire about the situation before proceeding."
Kang Lian followed: "Yes, we don't have many troops, so it's better to be cautious."
Another civil servant said: "Since they are just a bunch of salt men, and they are just a little dissatisfied, it is better to send someone to surrender them, and you can also use them for your own use!"
Miao Daheng said angrily: "You are talking nonsense. If you surrender in the event of an uprising, you will only chill the hearts of the soldiers and make the rebels happy!"
Kang Lian snorted coldly and said: "Is Miao Qianhu absolutely confident in taking back Taizhou? If the attack fails, can you bear the consequences?"
Bo Luo Buhua suddenly remembered Miao Daheng's reminder to him before, and scolded: "Kang Lian, shut up. Miao Qianhu said before that something would happen in Taizhou, but it was you who made such noise in my ears that I didn't take it seriously!
”
Boluo Buhua obviously threw the blame on Kang Lian, but Kang Lian happily accepted it, cupped his hands and said: "It's because of the incompetence of my humble position that I misled Your Highness. Please forgive me!"
Polo Buhua waved his hand, turned to Daheng Miao and said, "General Miao, what do you think we should do?"
Miao Daheng said: "The last general is willing to lead three thousand light cavalry, rush to Taizhou day and night, and not give the thieves any chance to develop, so as to recapture Taizhou in one fell swoop!"
Polo Buhua hesitated for a while, and then turned to Huang Boyan again after being silent for a while.
"What does General Huang think?"
Huang Boyan said solemnly: "Back to your highness, the general thinks that it is okay to attack Taizhou City, but not too hastily, so as not to be ambushed by thieves. The best strategy is to recruit soldiers and send people to Taizhou to investigate at the same time, and then raise a large number of troops to recapture Taizhou.
!"
Polo Buhua said happily: "Okay, this will be foolproof!"
Miao Daheng said anxiously: "Your Majesty, if you give the rebels time, they will definitely grow rapidly. You must not miss this opportunity!"
Zhang Mingjian smiled and said: "There is a saying in the art of war that only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you be victorious in every battle! Miao Qianhu is so impatient, isn't he afraid that his horse will make a mistake?"
Zhang Yangquan watched with cold eyes, knowing that both Huang Boyan and Zhang Mingjian wanted to make the bandits self-respecting and take the opportunity to strengthen themselves.
He also had this thought, so he didn't say anything.