Volume Four, The Year of the Curtain, Chapter 92: Wei, I Worry
The battle in Chengjing shocked the whole world.
The one who was truly shocked the most was, of course, the Tang Empire.
The atmosphere in the court hall was particularly depressing and tense. In the past few days, the empress's officials, who had been silent and low-key, straightened their bodies and stared at the beaded curtain behind the imperial chair.
In the supervision of the Tang Dynasty, Her Royal Highness Princess Li Yu was behind the bead curtain.
Those ministers did not hide the anger in their eyes. The elite of the Northeast Frontier Army of the Tang Dynasty were all gone. Such a thing had not happened for many years. How could the proud Tang people bear this?
Nowadays, the streets and alleys in Chang'an City are full of discussions about this matter, and the accusations against the new emperor and the princess of the prison. Xian Zhilang was forcefully pushed to the position of Zhenbei General by His Highness, and his decision to join forces with the Yan army was also His Highness's arbitrary plan. Now,
Such a disastrous defeat, His Highness is not responsible, who will be responsible?
Emperor Li Hunyuan of the Tang Dynasty, looking at the faces and eyes of these ministers, was so angry that he almost broke the armrests of the royal chair. He wished he could send the Yulin Army to take them out. He just thought about the emperor's sister's explanation before the court, and forcefully
His anger subsided, and then he looked at Mo Han, the Grand Scholar of Wenhua Palace.
"The Imperial Palace of the State of Yan was burned, and the Emperor of Yan was executed...I don't want to make any excuses for General Xian Zhilang and the soldiers of the Northeast Frontier Army. I just want to say that they did not disgrace our Tang Dynasty."
Mo Han said with a gloomy face: "If at this time, any minister wants to criticize the soldiers who died heroically for the country, please forgive me for having to greet his noble relatives on the spot."
This sentence is very vulgar, but it is actually very sophisticated.
Even though the officials of the Queen's faction secretly scolded Xian Zhilang and the generals of the Northeastern Frontier Army like pigs and dogs, no one in the court dared to make irresponsible remarks.
Heroic spirits cannot be insulted after all.
Those soldiers have sacrificed their lives for the country, but there are still people alive who need to take responsibility.
The Minister of Rites came out of the queue, bowed his hands in front of the bead curtain, and said calmly and directly: "I believe that the responsibility for the battle in Chengjing lies with Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness has anything to say?"
It was quiet in the court hall.
Everyone knew that the Queen's faction would not miss this opportunity, but not many people, including the Queen's faction's own officials, could have imagined that the Minister of Rites would directly reveal the matter without giving the emperor and the princess any chance.
After a while, Li Yu's voice sounded from behind the bead curtain.
"All responsibilities lie with me."
"When the war is over, I will pay for it with my life."
"But before that, all of you, your lords, should think clearly about what is the most urgent matter for us in the Tang Dynasty today."
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Because of the defeat in the frontline war, especially the disastrous defeat that many Tang people had never seen in their lives, the atmosphere in Chang'an City was very depressing. Although there was no gloom and gloom, when people in the Tang Dynasty discussed this matter, they were more angry. But in short, it was not too much.
Many people are in the mood to drink and have fun.
The Songhe Tower was still brightly lit today, because a wealthy guest had booked the entire restaurant a few days ago. After the court party was over, the guests gradually arrived, and the excitement began to return.
"Chengjing City was defeated miserably. The soldiers of the Northeastern Frontier Army are fighting their lives in a foreign country, but you and I are gathering in a restaurant. Although our hearts are upright and we are not afraid of right and wrong, and good wine can bring heroes to life, it is absolutely impossible for Mei Ji to do so."
"Lord Zeng Jing still refuses to come? At this critical moment, how can he grow flowers and weed in the mansion with peace of mind?"
"Everyone has his own ambitions, don't force him."
Tonight, there was a gathering of officials from the Queen's faction at Songhe Tower. They probably thought they had nothing to hide and were aboveboard, so they did not do anything to cover it up.
The Minister of Rites looked at the people at the banquet, frowned slightly and said: "The most important issue in our gathering today is the matter of Eastern Xinjiang. I wonder if you have any opinions on what His Highness said at the court meeting?"
An official sneered and said: "A life in exchange for it? What's the difference between this and the shrew in the city who gambled his life and swore an oath? Your Highness has stayed with the barbarians in the wilderness for a long time, how did you learn this trick?"
The Minister of Rites scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about? Shut up now."
The official apologized, but still refused to give in. He said: "I would like to ask your lords, in the history of the Tang Dynasty, is there any precedent for an emperor or a governor to die because of a defeat in the front line? Since there is no such thing, Your Highness said this.
What do you mean? In order to block the mouths of everyone in the world? After the war is over, are you and I really going to force the palace to accuse her and want her to die? This is really ridiculous to the extreme!"
The Minister of Taichang Temple gently stroked his beard, thought for a moment and then said: "However, by doing this, Your Highness can at least relieve the resentment of the officers and soldiers... Now that the country is in critical condition, His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness's next measures are quite appropriate. Gushan
It is considered safe for the troops of the county and the North Camp to move eastward."
The previous official sneered: "It's just a way to treat a headache and a sore foot. Who doesn't know how to tinker? If you ask me, if Eastern Xinjiang is empty, you can also use the Southern Army. Your Highness is determined to use Gushan.
Who among the three prefectures doesn’t know that she wants Hua Shanyue to defeat the Yan army so that she can earn some face for her to come back."
After hearing this, the Minister of Rites frowned even deeper and said: "The Southern Conquest Army is far away at the edge of the forest, separated from Qinghe County by mountains and ridges. We can only go around the Shannan Road, which is a long way, and wait for the Southern Conquest Army to arrive.
Go to the eastern border and fill the gap left by the northeastern frontier army. The Yan army may have already reached Chang'an City."
The official was startled when he heard this and stopped talking.
"Master Li said something before, and I think that is the key point. Now that the country is in a critical situation, any disputes should be resolved within the court. We, the emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty, should work together to deal with the outside world."
The Minister of Rites looked at the people at the banquet and gave ardent instructions.
Someone said worriedly: "But when will the Queen and the Sixth Prince be able to return to Chang'an?"
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The party at Songhe Tower ended quickly, and the officials from the Queen's group finally decided to be quiet for the time being, waiting to get through this difficult time before discussing the rest.
However, through the attitudes of those officials, including the court's arrangements for the empty defense in Eastern Xinjiang, and the anger of the people in Chang'an City, it can still be seen that today in the Tang Dynasty, from the emperor to the ministers and then to ordinary people, although they are sad and angry at the outcome of the Battle of Chengjing
, but still firmly believed that Datang would not fail.
Zhuge Wuren has resigned from the position of director of the Tianshu Office, and he also attended the party at Songhe Tower. However, this person usually behaves a bit sinisterly and sinisterly, and everyone does not want to deal with him. Now he has resigned from his official position.
, inviting him to the meeting is just for the sake of the Queen. Who will say anything to him?
Zhuge Wuren knew very well what the ministers thought of him. He did not show any resentment. He just seemed more silent than usual.
In his opinion, these ministers only talk rhetoric and have no idea what the important point is at the moment.
Why did the Tang army face a disastrous defeat? Why was the country in danger?
It is precisely because the brother and sister in the palace are not in the right position and are stupid. As long as the queen and the sixth prince can be welcomed back, the Tang Dynasty will be prosperous and all problems will be solved.
After leaving Songhe Tower, Zhuge Wuren did not return home, but walked towards the imperial city. He knew that in the past few days after resigning, there were practitioners following him in the Nanmen Temple, so he did not deliberately cover up his whereabouts.
, anyway, not everyone can enter the place he is going to.
He went to the palace guard's office.
Xu Chongshan is now the head of the Tang Palace Guards Department. This calm elder who has dealt with Ning Que many times is still as honest and amiable as before, until he saw Zhuge Wuren's face like a poisonous snake.
"Zhuge, is it inappropriate for you to appear here again?"
Xu Chongshan looked at Zhuge Wuren and said. His expression was slightly solemn and alert.
Zhuge Wuren said: "I think no matter how inappropriate it is, it will not be more inappropriate than you appearing here."
Xu Chongshan frowned and said, "I don't know what you are talking nonsense about."
Zhuge Wuren smiled and said: "I mean, there is nothing more strange than the fact that a master of the Demon Sect serves as the chief guard of my Imperial Palace in the Tang Dynasty."
Xu Chongshan's eyes slowly narrowed, and a cold light flashed through him.
Zhuge Wuren didn't seem to see his reaction. He walked straight to the chair and sat down. He lifted his front and shook off the non-existent ashes. He said calmly: "Sometimes when I think about it, I really admire you people. You are so practicing.
It is a magic sect technique, but how could it be hidden from the eyes of so many people and become a martial arts master? General Xiahou seemed to have obtained some kind of technique from the Xiling Temple back then. Could it be that you also learned it?"
At this time, Xu Chongshan became calmer. He poured a cup of tea and drank it slowly, but ignored him.
Zhuge Wuren looked at him and continued to admire: "The Demon Sect is really powerful. It was wiped out by Mr. Ke and was hunted all over the world by the Xiling Temple, but it can still retain so many people... The people who made this plan back then,
It should be the legendary Lotus Throne, right? Tsk tsk, if this big man could live to this day, and if General Xiahou hadn't been killed by Ning Que, wouldn't it mean that the palace of the Tang Dynasty would be completely controlled by you?"
Xu Chongshan smiled slightly and said: "You know that no matter what you say now, no one in Chang'an will believe it, so you can tell your purpose now."
Zhuge Wuren slowly suppressed his smile, stood up, stared into his eyes and said: "I don't know what the relationship between the Queen and the Demon Sect is, but I can be very sure that both Xiahou and you are the Queen's people.
And I am also a woman, so we should do something together."
Xu Chongshan was silent after hearing this, and after a moment he said: "What do you want to do?"
Zhuge Wuren said: "Since you are the empress's son, then... you should know what to do."
Xu Chongshan said slowly: "You want me to die?"
Zhuge Wuren said: "Now the Huangren are about to be exterminated. If the Tang Dynasty is destroyed again, there will no longer be a place in the world that can accommodate you, the remnants of the Demon Sect. Since you are always going to die, why is it more meaningful to not die?"
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Ma Shixiang stood on top of the earth wall and watched the sky.
The sky in the wasteland was very gloomy, and it had been like this for many days in a row. It seemed like it was going to rain, but it never did.
The battle report of the defeat of the Northeastern Frontier Army in Yan Kingdom has already reached Weicheng. The late emperor's coffin is still in Helan City and has not yet returned. The empress and the young prince don't know when they will return to Chang'an. The sky over the entire Tang Empire is cloudy.
It is densely covered, just like Weicheng. The wind and rain are coming but we don’t know when they will come.
Ma Shixiang's expression was very solemn, but it was not because of the difficult situation that the Tang Dynasty was facing now. He was just the most ordinary low-ranking general on the frontier, and he had no qualifications or means to worry about the entire empire.
He was ordered to garrison Weicheng, and it was Weicheng that he needed to worry about.
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(There are also some that are revised and updated after eating. Saving the manuscript seems not difficult, but if you update two or three chapters every day, you will find that the food you spent several autumns saving has disappeared.
, that feeling... I feel so empty and anxious.) {PiaoTian Literature www.PiaoTian.com thanks all book friends for your support, your support is our greatest motivation}