"Your Majesty, the military situation is urgent. The Xia army suddenly invaded our territory and captured Jianchang Prefecture overnight. The northern counties were exposed to the Xia army. The situation is critical. Your Majesty, please make an early decision!" Cheng Bushi said loudly.
Xiao Chengduan was sitting on the dragon chair. When he heard the news, his head hung down and shook slightly, as if he was trembling with anger.
"Down in one night? Jianchang Mansion is such a dangerous place. The founder of the Xia Kingdom was the founder of the Xia Kingdom. He also returned here in defeat. As a result, it fell into my hands and was defeated in a battle? Who can tell me how it happened?
What's going on!" Xiao Cheng stood up suddenly and shouted angrily.
Although Xiao Cheng had not been in power for a long time and did not have enough prestige, he was unable to withstand his previous methods, which made all the officials fearful.
This anger caused all the officials to tremble and kneel on the ground, shouting:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for your oversight!"
"Your Majesty is aware that there are hidden secrets in this matter!"
The one who dared to stand up and speak at this time was Ma Minwen.
Xiao Cheng didn't speak immediately and covered his face with his eyes, making it difficult to see his expression.
Amidst the uneasiness of all the officials, Xiao Chengcai said in a cold voice:
"explain!"
Ma Minwen stood up and said:
"Your Majesty, there are rumors that Jianchang Mansion fell so quickly. It was not entirely due to the negligence of officials and the inability of the army. It was because some of them acted as insiders, which led to the fall of Jianchang Mansion overnight!"
"Seriously? There are actually people who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country? Please tell me clearly!" Xiao Cheng suppressed his voice and said coldly.
Ma Minwen lowered his brows and said:
"Your Majesty, I don't know whether it's true or not. I just received news that this time the Xia Kingdom used the monks of Baiyan Temple in Jianchang Prefecture as internal agents, and that's why they broke into the city so easily."
Xiao Cheng frowned and said:
"Baiyan Temple? I remember that Baiyan Temple is also a royal temple and is enshrined by the royal family. How could it do such a thing?"
Ma Minwen lowered his head and said in a deep voice:
"I can't tell the truth from the false, but this news has spread throughout the city in just one day, and the people are talking about it. The Buddhists have a special status in our country of Yun, and we must give an explanation to the people!"
Xiao Cheng stood there, silent for a long time, then sat down dejectedly and said in disbelief:
"How could this be? The royal family has never owed anything to the Buddhists in its history!"
"Your Majesty, the Buddhists encourage people to do good and cultivate the great path of merit. How could they do such a thing? There must be someone who is obstructing it and wants to disturb the people's hearts. Please don't be fooled!" Qu Cheng stood up at this time and said:
Right words.
The officials who were kneeling on the ground in the palace couldn't help but their eyelids twitched when they heard the three people's performance.
Why are you thinking about this? There is something wrong with it!
Xiao Cheng, who was sitting on the dragon chair, heard this and quickly made a surprised expression, nodded repeatedly and said:
"That's right! What Qu Qing said is right! It must be a means to disturb the hearts of our soldiers and civilians. It's really abominable!"
At this time, Ma Minwen spoke again:
"Your Majesty, regardless of whether this matter is true or not, the Buddhists must give an explanation to calm the minds of the people!"
Xiao Cheng pondered for a while, nodded repeatedly, and said:
"Yes, it makes sense. Tomorrow I will go to Ganye Temple in person and ask Abbot Hui Chi to come forward and act like a Buddhist!"
Having said this, Xiao Cheng stopped continuing the topic and said loudly:
"Cheng Bu Shi!"
Cheng Bushi took a step forward, bowed and said:
"I'm here!"
"I want to make you the general who controls the north, leading 60,000 troops and horses to help the northern counties. Do you dare to take on this important task?"
Cheng Bu Shi's face was serious, he leaned down and said:
"I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"
Xiao Cheng nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Ma Qing, Qu Qing!"
"I'm here!" they both responded in unison.
"I will entrust the operation of grain and grass and the supply of materials to you two!"
"After receiving the order, I will do my best to live up to His Majesty's important responsibilities!" Ma Minwen and Qu Cheng shouted in unison.
Xiao Cheng glanced at the ministers in the court and sighed slightly in his heart.
There are still too few people available!
--------------------------
"Where do these rumors come from?" Hui Chi frowned and said with anger in his eyes.
Huikai also lost his usual calm and calm look, and said with a puzzled expression:
"I don't know, but it has already spread throughout Zhongqing City! It is said that Jianchang Mansion was destroyed, and it was the monks of Baiyan Temple who acted as insiders, and it was easily captured by the Xia army."
Hui Chi was so angry that he laughed and said in a hateful voice:
"Jianchang Mansion was breached, and my Buddhist family did not contribute much at all! Those rats in Jianchang Mansion are stupid and incompetent, but they will find ways to evade it!"
Huikai lowered his eyes with an incomprehensible expression and said:
"I'm afraid it's not that the local officials want to shirk responsibility. After all, they don't have the power in Beijing to spread this rumor throughout the capital overnight..."
"Then who else would..."
Hui Chi was about to ask, but was suddenly stunned, then showed a ferocious look on his face, gritted his teeth and said:
"You mean, it's the little emperor's handiwork?"
Huikai nodded and said in a deep voice:
"We are inseparable! Abbot, you still underestimate the current emperor. It seems that he has become wary of us."
Hui Chi frowned and said:
"Then we should..."
Before they finished speaking, there was a sudden knocking sound at the door of their meditation room.
The two looked at each other, and Huikai immediately stopped talking and shouted:
"Come in!"
A little monk about the same age as Hui Chi, holding a small wooden box in his hand, walked in cautiously, performed a Buddhist salute to the two of them, and then said:
"Master, abbot, the palace has just sent someone to deliver the news that Your Majesty will come to the temple to worship Buddha and pray for blessings tomorrow morning."
When Hui Chi Huikai heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned.
The two of them just felt that Xiao Cheng had discovered their and others' intentions and became defensive.
But he never expected that when he turned around, Xiao Cheng would actually come to the door himself? Did he deliberately test it, or did he really not notice it?
"By the way, there is also this, which was sent by General Zhendong." The young monk said again.
Hui Chi lowered his head, still thinking about the reason for Xiao Cheng's sudden arrival.
Hui Kai smiled gently, reached out to take the wooden box, nodded and said:
"Okay, the abbot and I already know, you can go down first!"
The young monk bowed again, exited the meditation room, and carefully closed the door.
When the young monk left, Hui Chi couldn't help it and said anxiously:
"What do you mean, little emperor? Is this a deliberate test?"
Huikai frowned and pondered, then relaxed again and said:
"Let's see! He came to worship Buddha. Isn't this an opportunity for us to test him?"
Hui Chi had a sullen face and said nothing, but his heart was already beating a little.
"Master, you said that if the little emperor finds out, then we..."
When Huikai heard the words, he suddenly raised his head, stared at Hui Chi closely, and said word by word:
"My Buddha pays attention to cause and effect. Since the abbot has made up his mind before, the fruit has already been planted!"
Hui Chi was stared at closely by Hui Kai, feeling slightly embarrassed and did not dare to continue talking.
Seeing that Hui Chi gave in, Hui Kai said no more, lowered his head and opened the wooden box sent by Shi An. When he saw the bloody beads in the wooden box, Hui Kai's old and turbid eyes suddenly stared, revealing
A look of shock and anger.
"What's wrong?" Hui Chi couldn't help but approached and asked.
In an instant, Huikai closed the wooden box with a snap, his expression returned to calmness, and he said:
"nothing!"
Hui Chi frowned, but in the end he didn't dare to ask any more questions.