Yuan Yao has always been calm. Although he is worried in his heart, his face is as calm as water.
"The enemy army is probably less than 20,000, so there is no need to panic. Jing'an (name of Yuan Heng) issued an order everywhere: prepare more rockets, powerful crossbows, large shields, and fire extinguishers, and just guard the city.
…”
Yuan Heng agreed with a loud voice and went to deliver the order. Yuan Yao bowed to Xi Kangsheng again: "We invite the county official here to discuss strategies to pacify the enemy. But we don't want strong thieves to invade, but we want to burden the county official and stay for a few more days.
Give me a helping hand..."
It has been more than half a year since Gaozhao was pacified. Most of the surrendered troops have been summoned to the fertile fields and returned to Yuan Yao's command. Now only the refugees are left, and they can be resettled separately. Fortunately, Gaozhao is well prepared and has a lot of food and grass left, which can last for a while.
time.
The method of resettlement has already been decided, and it is just a matter of following the cat and the tiger. And with Yuan Shun, Yuan Zhao and other clans as assistants, there is no need for Xi Kang to do everything personally and pay attention to these trivial matters?
What he should worry about is whether the surplus grain in Six Towns, Northland and other states can last until the autumn harvest. If it is not enough, will the refugees rise again.
But now that the imperial court is unsustainable, it is useless for Xi Kang to worry. It is also uncertain whether these six towns and Beidi will still have the surname Yuan in a month or two.
Therefore, we can only do our best and obey fate. Whether Xi Kangsheng returns to Wuchuan and other towns will not help matters.
Yuan Yao left him here, which was better than nothing. At least Xi Kangsheng knew Xihai and Li Chengzhi well, which was far better than him...
Xi Kangsheng hurriedly returned the gift, "The commander-in-chief's words are serious, but when given, Xi must not dare to disobey!"
"good!"
Yuan Yao nodded heavily, "It's already dark, and the enemy is still more than a hundred miles away, so we won't knock on the gate tonight, and it will be around noon tomorrow anyway. It's better for the county magistrate to rest early.
It’s also good to keep your spirits up!”
Xi Kangsheng followed what was good and said: "That's exactly what it should be!"
The two said goodbye to each other and left the Guan Yamen. As soon as Xi Kangsheng arrived at his residence, he suddenly felt blessed: Li's Tangqi was unparalleled in the world, and even Hu Qi's scouts were unable to do anything about it.
There is no return.
When it comes to riding skills, compared to Rouran and Tuyuhun, the riding skills are far behind. So how did Yuan Heng's subordinates find out so clearly that there is such a big difference in their troop strength?
Could it be that the West Sea shows weakness to the enemy in order to lure the enemy deeper?
But if you think about it carefully, it doesn't seem like it.
Even Rouran's nearly 200,000-strong army was defeated in Daqi. No matter how arrogant Yuan Yao was, he would not dare to scratch his beard. He would definitely be careful and cautious.
Thinking about it this way, Xihai seems to be a plan to attack the east and attack the west, secretly crossing Chencang, and the one who wants to go south is the main force?
Surprised and doubtful in his heart, Xi Kangsheng stopped and wanted to go to Yuan Yao to discuss it. But he turned around and was suddenly stopped again.
Even if he guesses it right, what can he do?
Is it possible that Yuan Yao can still divide his troops and rush to support Yuan Cheng? If Xihai takes advantage of his plan and counterattacks Gaoque and Woye, wouldn't he be shooting himself in the foot?
At that time, it is unlikely that Yuan Cheng will laugh: Xi Shangshu is a famous general in vain, but he is as afraid of Li Chengzhi as a tiger, so the six gods have no master, and everything is chaotic, so as to make a big mistake...
Forget it, who cares whether Yuan Cheng dies or not?
Thinking like this, Xi Kangsheng snorted coldly, turned around and entered the bedroom again.
But he didn't know that Yuan Cheng had also received the letter and quietly left back to Luoyang...
In this battle, the imperial court was completely defeated and the troops were routed like a mountain. Yuan Cheng was scared to death and doubted whether Gao Ying would kill him with a thousand swords to satisfy his hatred. But he thought carefully and returned to the capital.
.
What if I don’t come back?
If it had been anyone else, he would have gritted his teeth, abandoned the Jingzhong family, and gone to Li Chengzhi regardless, and still managed to survive.
Just like Yuan Yu!
But he, Yuan Cheng, has long been regarded as the enemy of the ninth generation by Li Chengzhi. If he surrenders, what good end will he end up with?
If he could really survive, Gao Zhao would have done it long ago, so how could it be his turn?
Therefore, it is not a gamble that he or she can only die. Now is the time when the imperial court is in crisis. As long as Gaoying still has a trace of reason, even for the purpose of calming people's hearts, he will never do anything to him.
It's just that this defeat was not his fault, Yuan Cheng. And Gao Ying resented him and gnashed his teeth, but he was ashamed to say the reason: after all, it was Yuan Ying who initiated the plot to murder Li Chengzhi, Gao Ying approved it, and instructed Gao Zhaoyu to secretly cooperate.
No matter how you calculate it, this main crime cannot be placed on yourself...
Therefore, on the night when he learned that Xihai had sent more troops to Longxi, Yuan Cheng immediately set off, covering a distance of eight hundred miles in a hurry, running fast day and night without stopping.
In just one day and one night, Yuan Cheng arrived in the capital. Everyone seemed to be shaken to pieces, and it was even more like a serious illness. When he got off his horse, he could not even walk, and he was carried into the palace.
Today is not the day of the dynasty. Each minister belongs to his own department and each has his own responsibility. In addition to the minister's orders, the prime minister and other ministers, there are also assistant ministers on duty in the Shiqian Hall.
It happened to be Taiwei Yuanquan.
Hearing the urgent report from the city gate, it was said that King Ren Cheng had traveled thousands of miles in one day. When he dismounted from his horse, he was as angry as a gossamer. Yuan Quan just sneered.
If Yuan Cheng hadn't acted, he would have dared to cut off his head and play it as a ball...
Since a month ago, the bell has been rung once every three days, then once a day, or even several times a day. All the bad news brought to the capital was bad news. I don’t know whether Gao Ying was afraid or impatient, and ordered that no matter what the news, no more news could be heard.
Ring the bell.
But what ordinary people don't know is that the ministers still know everything. They know that Murong Xiao and Cui Yanbo were defeated, and Rouran also returned in rout. Now only Cui Yanbo leads more than 70,000 remnant troops, and Yuan Yao leads 200,000 newly surrendered troops.
I have struggled to support Longxi and Woye.
Reports asking for help came every day, and reports asking for food were reported three times a day. It was just that the enemy had arrived and food was running out. If the court did not come to help, even the river might not be able to be defended.
But it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, and now the imperial court is too weak to make a good plan.
Whenever she goes to court, the Queen Mother either yells or scolds, or cries and howls, which is what Chen Yuanying, Gao Zhao, and Yuan Cheng are guilty of harming the country. Day after day, after listening to it for a long time, it is inevitable that she will become a little annoyed.
But at least I know that the current disaster of destroying the country is all caused by these three people's jealousy of the virtuous and the persecution of loyal ministers.
Therefore, even though they are members of the same clan, Yuan Quan really doesn't have a good impression of Yuan Cheng. Now that he sees him acting coquettishly, he is even more disgusted.
However, they are all people who have become refined through cultivation. Even if they are not happy, they will not show it on their faces. Yuan Quan pretended to be concerned for a few words, and asked Huangmen to help Yuan Chengyu wait in the side hall, saying that he would personally present it to the Queen Mother.
When he arrived at Zhaoyang Palace, he informed Qin Song, and Gao Ying asked him to enter. When he entered, he saw that the Queen Mother and the Emperor were sitting upright in the palace, with Liu Fang and You Zhao below them.
After the two of them took their cases, they sat very upright. There were pens, inks, paper, and inkstones on the cases. You could even see the wet ink that had been sprayed on them, but there was no writing on the paper.
It was clear that before he entered the palace, Liu Fang and Cui Guang were still busy writing. After hearing that he asked for an audience, they hurriedly put away the documents.
Although I don’t know what these two people wrote, it must be the intention of conferring the title to the Queen Mother. Now that he is so taboo about himself, Yuan Quan has already guessed at least 70%.
It's all Yuanying and Yuan Cheng's fault. The empress dowager now treats the clan like a scourge.
Of course, it was also because the Queen Mother had lived in the deep palace for a long time that she was blinded, cowardly and incompetent. She always followed what others said and had no decision.
First, he had great trust in his foreign relatives and favored Gao Zhao and Li Chengzhi. After the two led the army, they also favored the clan and listened to false beliefs. After Gao Zhao rebelled and Li Chengzhi fled, he worried about gains and losses, thinking that the clan was harming the country.
Han Chen was reused again?
The so-called day and night, capricious, nothing more than this.
If one were to uproot a tree and find its roots, and investigate immediately, the Queen Mother's fault must be at least 70%...
Thinking secretly in his heart, Yuan Quanlang said in his voice: "Queen Bing, King Rencheng has arrived at the palace and has something urgent to report to His Highness..."
Urgent note...it was Yuan Cheng who sent it in person?
Gao Ying was startled, and her body couldn't help trembling. But after just a few breaths, her face remained as usual, and she asked coldly: "But where did you lose again? That's all, let's come in first..."
It is said that a dead pig is not afraid of being scalded by boiling water. Even if it is bad news, you will become numb after hearing it too often.
Someone from the palace went to announce it. As soon as Qin Song moved away, he heard Gao Ying say: "By the way, Gao Zhao is also here to announce..."
Qin Song took the order and left. Gao Ying ordered his chamberlain to bring in some tables, soft felts and low stools, and gave Yuan Quan to sit at the foot of the steps.
Not long after, Yuan Cheng was carried into the main hall.
Taking a closer look, it is indeed as Yuan Quan said: his face is withered and sallow, as if he has been seriously ill.
Gao Ying showed no pity, a look of disgust flashed across his face.
Yuan Cheng knelt on the couch, forced himself to gather his strength, and bowed to Gao Ying: "I have seen... I have seen... the Queen Mother... I have seen... Your Majesty..."
The voice was so soft that even Yuan Quan, who was nearby, couldn't hear it clearly. He could only say two or three words without being out of breath. His throat felt like it was being pulled from a windbag, making it hoarse, hoarse, and extremely harsh.
"Is your energy really like a gossamer?"
Gao Ying suppressed a sneer, his face gloomy, "If it is unsustainable, don't hold on, it is better to go back home and seek medical treatment as soon as possible...or take advantage of this leisure time to accompany the princess..."
Yuan Cheng's heart was shocked, and an indescribable feeling of fear spread throughout his body.
Even if the Empress Dowager hated him to the core, he would still come to Beijing to report urgently, so that she would not even ignore the military situation and send him back to the palace.
What's more, what does this sentence "take advantage of this leisure time to spend a good time with the princess" mean? Is it possible that you want to imprison yourself in the house?
Yuan Cheng was so frightened that he almost couldn't pretend anymore: "I... am not at this... level... I am just traveling day and night for more than a thousand miles, causing... the displacement of the Qi and the organs... so it is so difficult."
…”
"Oh I got it?"
Gao Ying said leisurely, "I thought you were not going to miss the New Year, so I wanted to inform the Huizong Mansion to arrange funeral arrangements with you..."
Yuan Cheng was even more frightened, and instantly broke out in cold sweat. Although he used to be full of quick wits and eloquent, now he was dumbfounded and speechless.
Gao Ying was so hysterical that he didn't even bother to cover it up?
In the next breath, will a strong man enter the palace and send himself to prison?
In the midst of surprise and doubt, Yuan Cheng suddenly had a clear understanding in his heart: things have happened so far, and it is not an exaggeration to say that "there are signs of the destruction of the country". Gao Ying will not admit that it is all due to her incompetence.
There will definitely be a scapegoat.
And after counting, it seems that no one is more suitable than him...
Yuan Cheng knew that he would definitely die, but it would be sooner or later. No matter how fast he was, there was nothing he could do, so he could only accept his fate. But the crime of "bringing harm to the country" was so serious. If he was really found guilty, how could his family be saved?
In a hurry, he cried out and actually shed tears: "The guilty minister... is terrified..."
"Even when the building is about to collapse and the country is about to be destroyed, I still don't see you coming to the capital to carry out the memorial. Why do you need to be afraid?"
Gao Ying sneered and said, "Tell me, where did you lose now?"
"My lord... I am going to report to the Queen Mother..."
Seeing the ferocious light in Gao Ying's eyes, Yuan Cheng suddenly spoke more eloquently, "Ten days ago, the Western Sea Army forcibly crossed the river. I and Cui Xianzi fought repeatedly and lost, so I could only obey Raoyang County Duke (
Yuan Yao) ordered to retreat to Longguan...
Three days ago, we suddenly received news that another Xihai Jingqi came from the north. One of them went to Gaoqueguan via Dazhi, and the other went south along the river and would arrive in Longxi soon... At this point, we will leave to Hexi.
, the total number of enemy troops in Longxi and Fertile Field is nearly 100,000..."
"Boom!"
Gao Ying's expression changed, he picked up the soup cup on the desk and smashed it down. However, his accuracy was too bad, the soup cup was still four or five feet away from Yuan Cheng, and finally it fell to the hall and broke into pieces.
Goodbye Gao Ying, Teng fell back and almost fell over.
"Your Majesty, please calm down... Your Majesty, please calm down..."
In the past two months, Gao Ying has been acting like this from time to time, almost going crazy. Qin Song is not as frightened as he was at first, shaking all over and unable to stand. Instead, he held on to a few steps with a certain composure.
Gao Ying, who was about to faint, kept calling out urgently.
"Calm down my anger...how do you want me to calm down?"
Gao Ying roared angrily and pointed at Liu Fang, "You proposed to Gu Jian that you could rule across the river with Li Chengzhi... Now that even Longxi has been lost, and seeing that the enemy is about to enter the pass, where can the river come from?
Could it be that we let Gu divide the Jing River (South Yellow River) with him and rule it?"
Liu Fang hesitated to speak, and finally sighed secretly and lowered her head: "The humble minister is guilty!"
Gao Ying is almost crazy and has no sense at all. At this time, other than pleading guilty, no matter how much he says, it is useless.
Yuan Quan's pupils shrank, and he looked at the pen and paper on the case again: The reason why he was behind his back was because he was discussing this deal?
Gao Ying really dares to think about it?
They thought that since Hexi had fallen into the hands of Li Chengzhi, they would never be able to take it back, so it was better to use it as a favor. If Li Chengzhi could be temporarily stabilized, the court would be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
After that, Guanzhong and Hedong can be used as the base, and the six towns and the north are gradually stabilized. If they can rest and recuperate for a few years, they may not be able to compete with Li Chengzhi again.
But unfortunately, the Queen Mother took things for granted.
Li Chengzhi has already eaten something in his mouth, so why do you need to reward him again?
The strength of the West Sea is indeed a bit scary: in just a few days, even the river has been lost. Will it be less than half a month before we hear the news that Li Chengzhi's troops have crossed Longshan and entered Guanzhong?
I also didn’t expect that Liu Fang and You Zhao were both capable officials in governing the world. How could they come up with such a bad idea?
Looking at the troubled faces of the two, Yuan Quan had some doubts: Could it be that the Queen Mother was repeating her old tricks, like forcing Yuan Cheng to borrow troops from the Hu tribe? It was obviously her idea and she had to force it on Liu Fang.
?
The Queen Mother's methods of deceiving her ministers and chilling their hearts are really not ordinary clumsy...