As the sun sets, the heat gradually dissipates, the evening breeze gradually rises, and the air becomes cooler.

In the pavilion in the back garden of Yang Jun's mansion, Yang Jun leaned on a reclining chair made of thin bamboo to enjoy the shade, and several maidservants around him played fans. The faint fragrance of the incense burner on the side blows with the breeze and penetrates into the nostrils, making people feel peaceful and happy.

Yang Jun squinted and enjoyed this comfortable moment, he hadn't been so stable in a long time. Since the defeat in Xijin Mansion, Yang Jun was agitated, extremely depressed, vomiting blood and falling into a coma. It wasn't until I arrived in Bazhou that I came to my senses. After that, he immediately returned to the capital for healing.

The cause was actually the disease of anger and heart, and the good situation collapsed overnight, especially the death of He Chuanzong, which made Yang Jun's heart ache. The battle situation collapsed, and the feeling of powerlessness suddenly made Yang Jun angry, causing him to vomit blood and fall into a coma. Yang Jun is not a person who can't stand things, he has experienced many difficult moments, and he has also experienced too many victories and defeats, so it stands to reason that this is not the case. But as soon as he was old, he was physically and mentally exhausted from the battle, and he couldn't withstand such a blow. Second, this battle is too important. Yang Jun certainly understands what this defeat means.

Lang Zhong warned Yang Jun to recuperate at home, and not to worry too much about it, otherwise the condition may worsen, and this kind of anger is difficult to heal, and there is no good cure, only one way to recuperate. This is the same as Yang Jun's thoughts. Yang Jun didn't do this for his own illness, but because of the situation. If he leads his army to fight and returns with a crushing defeat, there will be an uproar in the government and the opposition, and there will inevitably be many people who accuse him. At this time, I must keep a low profile and survive this difficult time. It is good for people to make their illness bigger, and one can give them a reason to stay behind their doors, not to attend any court meetings, and to refuse to be visited by anyone. Second, this is also an emotional card. Although he was defeated, he was going to die for the sake of Da Zhou, and the court at least had some compassion. There is no merit, at least there is hard work.

Because of this, although Yang Jun was already conscious and his body was slowly recovering after returning to Beijing, he stayed at home and closed his door to recuperate. All the people who came to visit were told that Yang Shumi's condition was so serious that he could not see guests on the bed, and he had to recuperate. Including his subordinate officers and his close associates, they were all turned away.

Of course, Yang Jun was still quite tormented and blamed himself in his heart, and he couldn't sleep all night reflecting on this defeat. In the end, Yang Jun still believed that this defeat was not his fault, but that he should not have reacted to this war from the beginning. It was the emperor's stubbornness that led to a series of consequences later, from the moment the emperor decided to go north, in fact, defeat was inevitable. Therefore, if you really want to be held responsible, it is the responsibility of the emperor. And I, in fact, have done it to the extreme.

He seized Zhuozhou by himself, forcibly crossed the Sanggan River, and almost took Xijin Mansion. I've done everything I can. The Liao army is too powerful, they are not only strong in cavalry field battles now, but also have learned the means of defending the city, and they are no longer the Liao army that can only fight with cavalry in their impressions. Their combat tactics have also improved rapidly, and they are already an army that can attack and defend and use the art of war. If the only mistake in this battle is that neither he nor his generals paid attention to this point, and they had the heart to underestimate the enemy, so in the battle of Zhuozhou City, Han Gang lost nearly 10,000 soldiers and horses in the siege of the city. On the way to advance to Xijin Mansion, he was ambushed by the other side and lost a large number of soldiers and horses. When attacking Jinfu, he did not expect that the other party already had the means to defend against the skyrocket. Overall, though, it's the decision itself, not the operation, that is at fault.

The situation after the defeat is indeed very worrying. Yang Jun also understood that although the Liao people were victorious, they were not yet able to swallow the Great Zhou. He actually wanted to go to the imperial court, and he didn't have to worry about the intimidation of the Liao people at all, because they themselves actually suffered heavy losses in this battle. In addition, there are also Jurchens in the north, and they have not yet left the strength to really pose a threat to the Great Zhou. As long as the Jurchens are not destroyed, they are actually powerless to go south. However, Yang Jun breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that the imperial court and the Liao people had begun to negotiate peace. If the imperial court wants to negotiate peace, it will definitely succeed. He had anticipated this from the beginning. However, at such a time, Yang Jun would not come out to say such things.

Yang Jun knew that Guo Xu must be very worried now, he wanted to keep his throne and ensure that the Sheji country of the Great Zhou would not be attacked by the Liao, so he would definitely not take the slightest risk, and he would definitely make peace. It is inappropriate for me to come out and make suggestions at this moment, and it will attract the wrath of the whole court. At this moment, pretending to be sick and not talking is the best countermeasure.

Of course, Yang Jun also considered the question of the responsibility for the defeat, even if he thought that the responsibility was not on himself, but he also understood that this time he had to give an account to his superiors. However, how to minimize the responsibility for this defeat and not have too much impact must be considered. Yang Jun didn't want this to become a target for attacking him and being used by those who opposed him. Especially Lu Zhongtian, he is afraid that he has already riveted his strength to make a fuss about this matter. Therefore, he must find a suitable solution, and he must obtain the emperor's understanding under the condition of ensuring that he will not be attacked too much, so as to ensure that his position cannot be shaken.

This time was too critical, and Yang Jun had to act cautiously. So he cowered in the house, actively probing the movement outside, while thinking hard about the solution. But obviously, the best of both worlds is difficult to find in this situation, and Yang Jun is even ready to make some regressions, as long as he ensures that the core power is not lost, he is willing to bear some superficial concessions and punishments.

The night is as cool as water, and the pavilion is breezy. At the angle at which Yang Jun reclined, he could see the sky full of stars twinkling. Yang Jun's heart was very quiet, and his body was very comfortable, so he decided to get a good night's sleep. It's been a long time since he's slept peacefully, and every time he sleeps lately, he's dreaming of the fiasco of the Battle of Xijin Mansion, hoping that he can sleep peacefully at this moment, and those nightmares won't come and disturb him.

Soon after, Yang Jun really fell asleep. The snoring was loud, and the saliva from sleep flowed down his beard. It shows that he is sleeping deeply. It had been a long time since he had slept so soundly.

However, Yang Jun, who was sleeping soundly, was soon woken up, and someone pushed him awake.

"Master, master, wake up, the emperor has come to visit you."

Yang Jun is dreaming, this time it is not a nightmare, but a dream that he is leading the army to conquer Xijin Mansion. He rode his horse and charged forward with a gun, invincible, and his body was as vigorous as when he was a teenager. Yelu Zongyuan threw away his armor and fled on his horse. He was bending his bow and shooting an arrow, and an arrow was about to hit the back of the heart of Yelu Zongyuan, and when he shot him off his horse, he was awakened.

"Get out of the way." Yang Jun didn't open his eyes, and waved his hand to slap him. There was a snap, someone screamed, and suddenly there was a dead silence all around.

Yang Jun also became a little sober, and when he opened his eyes, he saw several maidservants fanning next to the bamboo collapse kneeling on the ground with fear on their faces, but their eyes did not look at themselves, but at the position on their sides. Yang Junhu turned around suspiciously, and then he saw a person with his face covered standing beside him, looking at him with fire in his eyes.

The next moment, Yang Jun bounced up like a spring, knelt on the ground regardless of the image of his bare feet, kowtowed to the man and shouted: "The old minister should die, the old minister should die, the emperor ...... Emperor...... How did you get here? The right old minister is ...... Did you beat the emperor? ”

Guo Xu stood there, his face burning with pain. Yang Jun is a military general, although he is old, the strength in his body is still there. Guo Xu, who was slapped with gold stars in his eyes, wanted to cry in pain. I was so good that I didn't die, I just poked my head and bowed my body to wake Yang Jun up in person, but now it was like I was sending my mouth up to Yang Jun to smoke. I took a solid hit. If it weren't for Yang Jun's illness, this slap would have cost Guo Xu a few teeth.

Guo Xu came in a low-key manner tonight, and when he came to Yang Jun's mansion, he learned that Yang Jun was enjoying the cool in the back garden, so Guo Xu asked people not to report it, so as not to disturb Yang Shumi, and he came to see Yang Jun in person. Guo Xu actually wanted to surprise Yang Jun to see if Yang Jun was sick and dying as he said. It turns out that Yang Jun is very good, and his body is still vigorous when he comes down from the bamboo collapse, and this slap is enough to choke on him.

The hot pain slowly faded, and Guo Xu's anger slowly subsided. After all, he came in person tonight for a purpose. If you take this slap, you will take it, and that is nothing. As long as Yang Jun can be persuaded to agree to his request tonight, this slap will be the price.

"It's okay, it's okay, Aiqing get up quickly. Aiqing's illness has not healed, how can she move violently. Get back to the couch. Guo Xu waved his hand and smiled.

Yang Jun hesitated for a moment, and suddenly his body slumped as if he had changed, and while confessing his guilt, he asked the maid to support him. You have to do a full set of plays, and you are a person who is 'seriously ill and has not recovered', how can you act so quickly. He is a person who can't even walk on the road.

After the maidservants helped Yang Jun up to the bamboo collapse, Yang Jun said weakly: "The emperor forgives the sin, the minister is really inconvenient, so he can only be disrespectful." Your Majesty, please take a seat, why is it so late today that the emperor is in the minister's mansion? Is there something wrong? ”

Guo Xu sat down on the stool, looked at Yang Jun and sighed: "Hey, Yang Aiqing is sick like this, it's all my fault." It was I who wanted to join forces with the Jurchens to conquer the Liao, and Yang Aiqing still led the army at an age, so he became like this, which is my fault. In my heart, it was extremely uncomfortable. During this time, I was very busy, and I always wanted to visit, but I was not free. Today, I have come to visit Aiqing. ”

Yang Jun was stunned, and there were some doubts in his heart. Guo Xu actually said such a thing, and directly admitted that it was his fault, which he didn't expect. Guo Xu really thinks so in his heart? When did he become so wise?

"The emperor must not say that. It is a matter of classification for the old minister to share the worries of the emperor, and it is also the duty of the old minister to lead the army. It's a pity...... Ay. The old minister is incompetent. This northern expedition returned with a feather and failed to live up to the expectations of the emperor and the court. The old minister blamed himself for wanting to die during this time, and he only felt ashamed of the emperor and the whole week. The old minister can't wait for this disease to get better, and he will die. Yang Jun said with a sigh.

The two monarchs and ministers blamed each other for their responsibilities since they met, and if this is spread, I am afraid it will be a good story. But it's a pity that all the words spoken by the two are insincere. From the outset, the conversation set the tone for mutual deception. It also indicates that all the conversations that follow will be a hoax.