Starting from the northern military camp, Sima Jing hurried all the way and rushed back day and night. After entering the imperial city, he directly received the order, unloaded the sword and removed the armor, and then was led to the front hall.

In the hall, Gao Yan and a group of ministers were already waiting there.

As soon as he entered the hall, Sima Jing knelt down and said, "The end will be late, please forgive the emperor." ”

Gao Yan sat directly above the main hall, glanced at him, and said, "I thought that General Sima was guarding the military power and didn't plan to come back." ”

"The last general will not dare."

When Sima Jing heard this, he hurriedly lowered his head and explained:

"The last general was only dedicated to calming the war for the emperor, and never thought of taking the military power for himself. The reason for the delay in returning to Beijing is, firstly, that it is really forced by the war situation, and the Beiguan army must not suddenly lose its commander, and secondly, because-"

"The last general suspects that there are traitors in the army."

Sima Jing said a few words, and everyone present was in an uproar after hearing it. Gao Yan raised his eyebrows, as if he was very interested: "Oh? Get up and talk about it. ”

"Your Majesty." Sima Jing stood up, bowed his head and said: "During the two battles in Beiguan, the Xiongnu army seemed to be clear about the direction of our army's operations, and our army would lose two battles in succession. Therefore, the general suspected that someone had deliberately leaked our battle formation to the enemy. ”

"What does the general mean is that there are people in the army who collude with the Huns?"

"Yes."

Seeing Gao Yan's serious expression, Sima Jing did not recover his anger, nodded and responded.

"Then the general will tell me, who is this traitorous thief hiding in the army?"

Sima Jing looked at the doubts on the faces of Gao Yan and the surrounding ministers, but he hesitated in his heart and did not speak. Just as he hesitated, Gao Yan stared at him and sneered:

"Can't tell? I see, the person who colluded with the Huns is Sima Jingyou! ”

As soon as the words fell, Sima Jing hurriedly knelt down at him again and said:

"The emperor is wronged. The reason why the last general hesitated to say it was because no evidence had been found. In addition to the last general, there are only a few other generals who can get in touch with the battle map, all of whom are important generals in the army. Although the last general was already a little skeptical, he also understood that the general should not be accused without evidence. Before the matter could be investigated in detail, he was ordered to return to Beijing, so still—"

Gao Yan snorted coldly when he heard this, and interrupted him: "According to what the general said, I can't find the traitor, or is it my mistake?" ”

Several drops of cold sweat dripped from Sima Jing's slightly darkened forehead one after another:

"The last general will not dare—"

"Okay, okay, no more talk." Gao Yan waved his hand impatiently, unwilling to listen to him anymore, and turned to look at the ministers and said, "I already know about the leakage of the battle map. ”

When the ministers heard this, they all whispered and discussed.

The emperor is far away in Kyoto, how could he have already known about this? I am afraid that there are already cronies of the saint in the army, and as soon as they find something unusual, they secretly send a message to report it.

And Gao Yan's cronies in the army are another general in the Northern War army - Qin Li.

Qin Li was originally a junior general who fought with Gao Xun, but later made meritorious contributions on the battlefield one after another, and was finally gradually promoted to the hussar general who led the cavalry. After returning to Beijing after the victory, he was appointed by Gao Heng as a three-rank military general in the court, and served as the commander of the army.

And Gao Yan noticed this general, but because of the conversation before he ascended the throne, when the officials were silent, he was the only one who stood up. After ascending the throne, the new emperor's throne was not stable, and the court was sometimes questioned by some old ministers, but Qin Senling has always strongly supported him, so he gradually entered Gao Yan's eyes.

The Battle of Beiguan appointed Sima Jing as the commander-in-chief, and Gao Yan naturally had concerns. So he ordered Qin Li to be the deputy commander of the army, leading 50,000 cavalry, and obeying the commander's orders to fight in the army. In fact, he obeyed the emperor's orders.

The secret report that arrived late that night was from Qin Li's hand. The letter suspected that Sima Jing had colluded with the Huns and leaked the battle map, which really surprised Gao Yan!

He guessed that since he had searched in the south for a long time and still couldn't find Gao Xun, she must have fled north. Maybe in the end, he fled to the border of Beiguan, and didn't know how to collude with the Xiongnu, and then waited for the opportunity to start a war, wanting to rely on the Xiongnu and seize his throne!

As for this Sima Jing, he and Na Gao Xun are friends of life and death, maybe the two have already met. Beiguan's two defeats must also be to help her seize the throne.

Thinking of this, Gao Yan's heart became more and more uneasy.

Gao Xun, don't think that I can't see through your plan, without Sima Jing, I'll see what other plans you have.

Gao Yan looked at Sima Jing, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said:

"Sima Jing, you don't have to quibble. I already have evidence of your collusion with the Huns, and I know all the things you have done. ”

Sima Jing looked at him, but his face was full of doubt: "Your Majesty, the last general has never done this at all, and where is the evidence?" The last general has always been loyal to the court and to Dayuan, even if he puts the knife on his neck, he will never do such a treasonous thing! ”

When the words fell, several ministers on the side echoed in a low voice, all of them did not believe that General Sima was the one who leaked the battle map.

"It's a high-sounding thing. Sima Jing, you are first suspected of colluding with the Huns, and then you refuse to surrender the military power, just one of them is enough to make me take your head! ”

Gao Yan looked at the ministers, waved his hand, and ordered loudly:

"Someone is coming, Sima Jing, the former commander of the Northern Army, secretly colluded with the Huns, intending to rebel against the imperial court, and now he is being put in prison and waiting to be released!"

"Your Majesty, think twice!"

As soon as these words came out, many ministers knelt down and pleaded, and even the right minister on the side stood up and objected:

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that this matter is afraid that it is a trick of the Huns. The battle in the north is difficult to quell, and if General Sima is really imprisoned at this time, I am afraid it will be exactly what the enemy wants. ”

"Don't worry, I have temporarily handed over the Northern War Army to the leadership of Deputy General Qin. How? Do you all think that I can lead troops to fight in the Great Yuan Kingdom, and he is the only one left, Sima Jing? ”

The right minister was choked, and another minister stepped forward and said:

"Your Majesty, the old minister really doesn't believe that General Sima will be a traitor. The old minister thought that this matter still needed to be carefully investigated, and he could not be convicted of it. ”

"The Emperor's ......"

"That's it! I said that I have evidence in my hands, are you doubting me one by one? Don't forget that I am the emperor, in this world, I have the final say! ”

Gao Yan was more and more annoyed by the left and right ministers, and with a wave of his hand again, he forcibly let the guards take away Sima Jing, who was kneeling on the ground.

As for Ye Xiuying in the General's Mansion, because she was once a close confidant around Gao Xun, she is now a nail in Gao Yan's eyes. Gao Yan took the opportunity to take advantage of this reason and put the two of them in prison together.

In one day, Sima Jing, who had just returned to Beijing, was thrown into prison, and the general's mansion was removed from the guards. Perhaps the emperor is still hindered by the identity of the old general, in the huge mansion, except for a few subordinates left, only Sima Cheng is left.

The General's Mansion, which was originally really magnificent, now looks extremely downcast.

Hey, it's hard to predict.

General Sima was imprisoned, and the news spread out of the palace and on the street, and even the people of Kyoto couldn't help but sigh:

This emperor, I'm afraid he is a little confused!

For several days in a row, the opposition of several old ministers of the previous dynasty could not be stopped. And this news has already been secretly spread in the harem.

Inside the Yongning Palace.

In the inner sanctum, incense was lit through a dark curtain. The intricately carved windows are ajar, revealing the snow on the plum blossom branches outside the window.

On the warm collapse by the window, a fine gray mink fur was placed. The palace maid on the side gently took the mink fur and casually closed the slightly open window.

"Jinqiu, you don't have to turn it off."

In front of the collapse was an embroidered picture, and a pair of thin white hands shuttled between them, bringing up the gentle voice of the person sitting on the couch:

"The scenery outside is good, and the main palace doesn't feel cold."

"Yes."

Jin Qiu turned around, carefully added another fire to the small furnace in the hall, and continued to stand aside.

The new firewood soon began to burn, and the subtle sound was extremely clear in the quiet hall. The occasional wind outside the window could not disperse the sandalwood that filled the hall, and at some point, it began to fall again with fine snow outside.

After a long time, the calm was finally broken by the voice of the palace maid outside.

"Niangniang, Concubine Yi is asking to see you outside."

Song Yuyan's embroidered hands paused lightly and continued the action just now.

The snow outside the window began to fall a little faster, and Jinqiu turned around and added some fire to the furnace that was about to burn out.

The embroidery in front of her has begun to take shape, Song Yuyan took a break, put down the needle in her hand casually, and tilted her head and said:

"Please let her in."

Song Yuyan turned around, closed the window on the side, put on a mink fur, and sent Jinqiu to make a pot of tea.

Then he picked up the needle and thread again, and saw the white mulberry entering the hall.

"The concubine has seen the queen's mother."

Bai Sang lowered his head, leaned over in front of the collapse, and saluted silently.

Song Yuyan didn't react.

Bai Sang paused for a long time, and finally spoke softly:

"The concubines came to ask for something."

Song Yuyan still inserted needles on the embroidery again and again, and passed through it with her backhand, with light and skillful movements.

Bai Sang never got up, and her combed hair bun exposed her snow-white neck, but it looked a little thin in this winter day. She paused, her voice growing lower and colder:

"Yes, about General Sima."

Song Yuyan glanced up, continued the movements in her hands, and said expressionlessly:

"Doesn't Concubine Yi know that the harem is not allowed to inquire about the affairs of the court?"

Bai Sang lowered his head and didn't respond for a long time.

The hall fell into silence again, until Jinqiu pushed the door into the hall, quietly poured the brewed tea into two cups, and placed it on the desk next to the warm collapse.

Song Yuyan stopped moving, picked up the jade cup on the desk, blew it gently, slowly drank the tea in the cup, raised her eyes and said:

"Are you—have a troubled conscience now?"

After the words fell, she placed the jade cup, and quickly chuckled:

"This palace has forgotten, where can a person like you have a conscience."

Now the emperor is gullible enough to believe what others say, causing chaos in the former army. Isn't this qiē all due to you? ”

Bai Sang lowered his eyes and didn't know how to speak for a while.

She knew that she was already a sinner, who had harmed too many innocent people for her own selfishness, and she was ready to go to hell after death.

Sima Jing and Ye Xiuying, she naturally believed that they were innocent.

She wanted to rescue the two of them, but she also knew what Gao Yan was afraid of, and if she went directly to Gao Yan, it would definitely backfire. So after thinking about it, in the end, I could only make this decision, maybe Song Yuyan could try to persuade the emperor.

And Ah Xun, would she really unite with the Huns in order to take revenge, intending to attack her own country?

She didn't believe it anyway.

After being silent for a long time, Bai Sang nodded lightly and said with a wry smile:

"Yes, thanks to me."

Song Yuyan didn't expect her to admit it so happily, with a cold face, and mocked:

"Yes, how can the throne that comes from calculation sit firmly. Besides, the emperor has no ability to govern the country at all. ”

"So, I-"

"Don't worry, Sima Jing, you don't need to say it, this palace already has a plan in his heart."

When Bai Sang heard this, he stopped speaking.

What Song Yuyan thinks in her heart should be the same as herself.

They naturally hope that their country will always be prosperous and stable.

On the night of the second day, Gao Yan finished his political affairs and went to Yongning Palace to have dinner with Song Yuyan as usual.

During the banquet, Song Yuyan saw that Gao Yan was always pleasant, and after taking a bowl of soup for him, she asked, "The emperor is in a good mood today." ”

"Come, Yu Yan, you can sit too." Gao Yan took Song Yuyan and sat down beside him, took a sip of wine, and said with a smile: "Naturally happy, I just got the news, and my Beiguan army finally won a battle, hahaha!" ”

"Congratulations to the Emperor." Song Yuyan also smiled lightly: "If General Sima knew that he had won the battle, I am afraid he would be as happy as the emperor." ”

When Gao Yan heard this, he put down his wine glass, but he still had a smile on his face:

"Suddenly mentioning Sima Jing, do you want to say something to me?"

"It's not a big deal, the concubine just has some doubts in her heart."

"Huh?"

Gao Yan turned his head and glanced at Song Yuyan, as if asking her to continue.

"The concubines know that all the generations of Sima Mansion have been loyal ministers, and General Sima has always been loyal, but now he is suddenly accused of rebellion, among them, I am afraid that there will be any hidden secrets?"

When Gao Yan heard this, his face suddenly turned cold: "What, Yu Yan, you don't believe me either?" ”

Song Yuyan said with a smile: "How can it be, the emperor is the heaven of the concubines, and the concubines naturally only believe in the emperor." ”

Gao Yan didn't answer, and asked instead, "I heard that Bai Sang went to your Yongning Palace yesterday?" ”

Song Yuyan nodded, and said slowly as usual: "The emperor also knows that the concubines have a good relationship with Bai Sang, and they often talk about boudoir words together. ”

Seeing that Gao Yan nodded and didn't ask any more questions, Song Yuyan finally let go of her heart.

Now that Sima Jing has just been recalled, he has won a battle. At this moment, I am afraid that the emperor is becoming more and more unable to listen to what others say, and Sima Jing's matter can only be taken slowly.

However, because of the victory, Gao Yan trusted General Qin more and more, and directly handed over the position of commander to him. I thought that I would be able to repel the Huns in one fell swoop, but I didn't expect that a few days later, there were other accidents.

According to the emergency report, the military rations were burned, and now there is not much left.

It is said that the news of Sima Jing's imprisonment reached the army, causing dissatisfaction among some veterans in the army who had followed Sima Jing for many years, so they simply burned the food in the army.

Now the remaining military rations are not even half of the original. There are too many soldiers who don't have enough to eat, and they can't fight at all.

However, the Xiongnu army took advantage of this opportunity to break through the northern border in one go, and occupied the city of Qizhou in just a few days.

When the emperor learned of this, he immediately ordered the states to temporarily collect grain, and then people led troops to the rescue.

But the other generals who stayed in the court were no longer willing to take the initiative to lead their troops north.

Who knows if after leading the army and leading the soldiers, will he be inexplicably recalled to Kyoto by the emperor, and then lightly accused of rebellion and become the second Sima Jing!

Just when Gao Yan was anxious, he finally stood up alone.

This person happened to be Qin Li's cousin - Qin An. Qin An is a person who talks about his talents, whether it is leading troops or fighting, he is just mediocre. Over the years, he has relied on the relationship of his cousin Qin Li, and he can be regarded as a military attache position in the DPRK that is less than the upper and more than the lower.

Now I must see my cousin in dire straits at the moment, and I don't want to stand idly by.

So in the end, Qin An and another general, the two of them led 100,000 elite soldiers, with a large amount of military salaries, grain and grass, and went to help the war again.