Although the 'Zhangzhang case' has been dealt with, the matter of the Xirong army approaching the border has not yet been resolved, and the emperor Guo Chun, who returned to the imperial study from Taimiao, immediately issued an order to summon several important ministers of the court to the imperial study to discuss.

"Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think about the affairs of Western Xinjiang? Will Xijon make a big eastward expansion after the beginning of spring? The Emperor asked several important ministers.

"Your Majesty, the minister has already read the military report sent by His Royal Highness King Yong, and Weichen thinks that His Royal Highness King Yong's analysis is very correct, and Xirong will march eastward in the spring next year, and please take precautions as soon as possible." Right Prime Minister Zhao Shi said first.

"Your Majesty, in the last few years, we have been living in peace with the Sijon Khanate, why we are suddenly turning against each other, there must be some misunderstanding in this; It is better to send envoys to Shanzhou to meet Xirong Khan first, explain the misunderstanding clearly, and avoid seeing each other. Zhou Wentai, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, said.

Although what Zhou Wentai said was very vague, everyone heard the meaning of Zhou Wentai's words, which was nothing more than that the unauthorized attack of Yongwang Guo Qi led to the Xirong Khanate's intention to Chen troops on the border, and it was not important whether to negotiate peace, the important thing was to first deduct a big hat for Yongwang Guo Qi to send troops without authorization.

"Weichen thinks that what Lord Zhou said is that it is better to send envoys to the Xirong Khanate to clarify the misunderstanding." Yan Lide, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, said.

"Your Majesty, the minister agrees with Lord Zhao's opinion, and you should prepare early." Liang Bowen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, said.

"Wen Qing, what do you think?" Guo Chun said with a look at Prime Minister Wen Yitao.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that the end of the war is not easy to open lightly."

"Why?" Guo Chun said with anger in his voice.

"Your Majesty, now that the treasury is empty, the imperial court has no money." Wen Yitao said: "Please think twice, Your Majesty! Wen Yitao knelt on the ground after speaking.

"Zhang Aiqing, how many silver taels are there in the household department?"

"Your Majesty, there are still 131,213 taels left in the household department." Zhang Liangzuo, the head of the household department, lowered his head and said.

"Why is there so much money left?" Emperor Guo Chun was shocked: "I have 130,000 taels left in the treasury of Daqi? Zhang Qing, if I remember correctly, this year's autumn harvest alone has more than three million taels! ”

"Three million three hundred and twenty-seven thousand taels." Zhang Liangzuo replied.

"That's right! That's so much money! It's not even the New Year! This money is gone? ”

"Your Majesty, disaster relief alone has cost more than one million taels, as well as military spending, water conservancy construction, border city repairs, etc., and the micro-ministers of this pen have accounts."

"Zhao Qing, how much do you think you need for the military money used this time?"

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that he will get at least seven or eight hundred thousand taels."

"I took 300,000 taels from the introverted, and 100,000 taels from the household department, which was used by the Western Army to rectify military affairs and hoard grain, grass and ordnance; Zhao Qing, you are personally responsible for this matter. Guo Chun thought about it for a while and said.

"No! We're in charge. ”

"Zhou Qing, don't you want to talk to Xirong? Then I will leave the matter of peace negotiation to you, and go to Shanzhou to meet the Xirong Khan. ”

"No! We're in charge. Zhou Wentai said with a bitter face.

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December 30th year of the thirteenth year of Yuanhe.

This is the last day of the thirteenth year of Yuanhe, but the atmosphere in the entire Yongcheng is very cold and heavy, because there is a news from the palace early this morning that Guo Qi, the king of Yong, is seriously ill; Moreover, the heavy armored infantry guards and the first and second mansions of the hussar guards, which were originally stationed in the camp north of the city, entered Yongcheng and took over the entire city defense.

"Brother Wang, have you heard? Our prince has been poisoned. ”

"Lao Xing, don't talk nonsense, be careful that Lao Tzu is not polite to you." Lao Wang said angrily: "The prince is our great benefactor, you dare to wrinkle the prince, Lao Tzu is not finished with you." ”

"Hey, I said you still don't believe it, it's true; The palace has posted notices, saying that if anyone can save the prince, he will be rewarded with 10,000 taels of gold. ”

"How is this possible! If you don't believe me, I'll have to hurry home. Lao Wang exclaimed.

"No, what are you doing so fast!"

"Why do you pray for the prince." Lao Wang glared at Lao Xing Dao.

When he returned home, Lao Wang did not pray for Guo Qi in front of the immortal plaque as he said himself, but took out a cage from the firewood room, stuffed a written note into a small bamboo tube tied to their legs, and released the pigeon; On this day, three pigeons flew out of Yongcheng.

At night, in the bedroom of Guo Qi of King Yong's mansion.

"Have you found it all out?" Guo Qi, who was lying on the bed, asked Leng Yue.

"It has been found out, there are no spies in the palace, there are three in Yongcheng, two in the north camp of the city, and a total of eleven in Yuxian, Chencang, Huangyang and other places." Leng Yue reported.

"Don't startle the snakes first, let them get away with it for a while, and during this time, you should also investigate closely, and if you find any suspicious people, you must monitor them."

"No! The slave and maid understood; Lord Wang, you better take the medicine first! ”

Guo Qi was poisoned, but the poisoning was not deep, and it was not as evil as the outside world said, the reason why Guo Qi released the news that he was seriously poisoned was to see how many spies there were in Yongcheng or the entire Yongzhou; Of course, these spies are not all spies of the Xijon Khanate, and there may be spies from other forces.

Guo Qi took the medicine and just wanted to drink it; stopped and asked Leng Yue: "You just said that there are two of them in Beidaying, who are they!" ”

Leng Yue said two names in Guo Qi's ear, Guo Qi frowned and said, "It's him, how is this possible?" Can you be sure about this? ”

"The prince's matter is true, and the slave and maid dare not say anything."

"This king knows, go down!" Guo Qi's face was a little angry.

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Huangyuan camp, inside the big tent of the Chinese army.

Murong Chui, who was sitting on the handsome chair, said to the generals: "Ladies and gentlemen, this marshal has just received the news that Guo Qi, the king of Yong, has been severely poisoned and sick in bed, and I believe that he will die of poison in a short time, so our army must step up the deployment of troops and dispatch generals, and take advantage of Guo Qi's death and the internal instability of the Yongjun army to break through Huangyang Pass in one fell swoop." ”

"Handsome and wise, handsome and wise......"

"In this operation, our army is divided into two routes, the north route army, and the south route army as the auxiliary; The Northern Route Army was personally commanded by Ben Shuai to attack Yongzhou with 100,000 troops from Wangyang Pass, and the Southern Route Army attacked Yuxian from Chencang under the command of Su Bubie and marched east along Weishui ......"

"No! The last general commanded. "Don't take the order.

After the New Year, although the two armies did not officially start the war, but the suspicion of war has shrouded the entire Yongzhou, from the second day of the Lunar New Year, all the men in the entire Yongzhou have been mobilized, and the township soldiers from all over the country began to assemble in the Yongbei camp.

At the same time, the people who lived in various places also left their homes and went to Yongzhou, Yuxian and other places, fortunately, Yongzhou had built enough houses before, most of the houses were empty, and after these people arrived, they were immediately settled down in pieces, and the originally deserted Yongzhou was overcrowded all of a sudden, and it became lively; And those villages and towns in Yongzhou that have not been built for a long time are not men, and not a single dog can be seen.