Chapter 84: Mixed Blessings

Seeing that Ma Yun had the intention of blaming, Zhao Pu couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, if you don't say something nice foreshadowing first, how can you bear it. Zhao Pu was about to speak, but Zhang Qian on the side said, "Your Majesty, you just woke up, you have to rest well." Don't worry too much about the state affairs outside. Although I don't go out, I can listen to people say that there are rumors everywhere outside that the Great Zhou Emperor Guo Wei was slaughtered by our army, and Liu Chong and the Khitans in Hedong sent troops, and the Zhou soldiers were anxious and had withdrawn from our country. Our Dachu is now turning the corner. ”

"Turning the tide of danger?" Ma Yun's heart was full of bitterness, and if he was negligent, Da Chu would be "in danger". "Hey", Ma Yun sighed heavily: "Is the news outside true or false?" He was depressed, and even the major news of Guo Wei's death didn't seem to pay much attention. Or, for Ma Yun, Guo Wei's death is not good news at all, Guo Wei died, but Guo Rong, a more powerful successor, came out.

Zhang Qian was stunned for a moment, and involuntarily glanced at Zhao Pu, she has been married to Lao Ma's family for several years, although the rules of the Chu State, the harem does not interfere in politics, but after all, she still knows the yamen of the "Wind Catching Room". These rumors outside may be made by Zhao Pu.

Zhao Pu didn't dare to shirk any longer, and said: "Your Majesty, Liu Chong of Hedong cooperated with the Khitan Wuding Jiedu to make a total of more than 80,000 people from Yang Gon's department go out of Baigu (now east of Qi County, Shanxi) and approach Luzhou (now Changzhi, Shanxi). Hebei is shaking, and the white-clothed army has returned to the division! ”

Ma Yun's face sank like water, Zhao Pu's words sounded good news, Hedong sent troops, but there seemed to be another meaning, the white-clothed army had gone all the way south. Ma Yun asked solemnly: "Zhao Aiqing, tell me everything that happened after I was hit by the arrow!" ”

Ma Yun was unusually resolute, so that Zhao Pu didn't dare not answer, but he really didn't want to say it, he glanced at Zhang Qian with the rest of his eyes.

Zhang Qian understood what Zhao Pu meant, and persuaded tactfully: "Your Majesty, now that the country is stable, you... Why don't you wait until you are in good health, and then let Lord Zhao report to you carefully. ”

Seeing their prevarication, Ma Yun became suspicious and said sharply: "Say, I have to listen now!" ”

"Your Majesty. Bianhe... In the battle of the Bianhe River, our army suffered heavy casualties. However, there is also a good thing in this, His Majesty let Wang Quanbin take the form of his own department, Wang Quanbin took advantage of the battle of Bianhe, Zhou soldiers in Bianjing to defend the empty stalls, broke into Bianjing, and broke through the outer city. The great display of our army's military might scared Guo Wei to death, so that the white-clothed army did not dare to go south with all its might. And Zhu Yuanbu was even more invincible in Shandong, conquering Yanzhou and other places in succession. ”

Ma Yun smiled bitterly: "Zhao Aiqing, I want to listen to everything." Don't always say good things. In the battle of Bianhe, how much did our army lose. Shi Da, Li Ergou, Qian Qing, Cao Bin, are they safe? ”

Zhao Pu knelt on the ground and didn't dare to raise his head, Li Ergou was stabbed by Zhao Kuangyin, Shi Da lost his horse east of the Bianhe River, and was trampled by the white-clothed army Zhang Yongde's department and lost his human form; As for Qian Qing, he was trapped alive in Cao County (now north of Shangqiu, Henan), hungry, thirsty and tired without reinforcements, and finally died under Shi Shouxin's knife. Only Cao Bin returned safely to Xiao County.

"Your Majesty, in the battle of the Bianhe River, Wang Quanbin's troops broke the outer city of Bianjing, and later Li Chongjin crossed the river and arrived, which made Wang Quanbin's troops fall short, otherwise, he is very likely to capture Guo Wei alive. After that, he reorganized his army and retreated in the direction of Tangzhou, bringing back about 6,000 men and horses. General Cao Bin Cao categorically abandoned Songzhou and led his men to retreat to Xiao County and hold Xuzhou. Zhao Pu said, secretly glanced at Ma Yun, who knew that Ma Yun was also staring at him, Zhao Pu quickly lowered his head and continued: "Other... The rest of the men and horses, Li Ergou's Second Guards Division was wiped out in Qingcheng Town, and General Li fought... Die; The newly changed 209th and 210th Divisions were under heavy pressure, and most of them mutinied, besieging General Shi in Hexi, and General Shi also... also died in battle; The 30,000 army that crossed the Bianhe River did not have enough rest, and the white-clothed army rushed over, and General Qian fought and left, and finally was trapped near Cao County, and died in the battle of food starvation. . . ”

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Zhang Qian shouted anxiously.

When Ma Yun heard that he had lost so badly, he fainted to death. Zhang Qian hurriedly pinched his acupoint, and after waiting for a while, Ma Yun woke up faintly, his expression was dull, and there was no trace of brilliance in his eyes. Zhang Qian was frightened, and hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, who can be without fault if you are not a sage, how can you fight a war, how can there be a truth of winning a hundred battles." Although we lost this time, we will win next time. Just like when I practiced martial arts since I was a child, I also lost more and won less, but after so many years, haven't I become more victorious and less losing? ”

Zhao Pu glanced at Zhang Qian, this lady really can't persuade people, no matter how simple the war between the two countries is, it can't be compared to a fight. He didn't answer Zhang Qian's words, and started another stove to persuade: "Your Majesty, in the opinion of the minister." Although we lost, Pseudo-Zhou also won miserably. We were defeated. But a year later, the treasury was abundant, and it was all up to me to expand the army and train the troops. Although the Zhou army was victorious, the grain, grass and ordnance were burned to the ground by our army, and the situation became increasingly difficult. The four countries worked hard together, which made him even more unguardable. If this goes on for a long time, the pseudo-Zhou will inevitably not be able to hold on. Besides, although we seem to have lost 70,000 horses, we really lost less than 40,000 men and horses, but starting from Dangshan, we killed no less than 100,000 Zhou soldiers. Zhao Pu's words are also all true, most of the large amount of grain and grass captured by the Chu army in Songzhou existed east of the Bianhe River, but the white-clothed army came too fast, and the Chu army was defeated too quickly, so the grain and grass was equivalent to changing hands in the Chu army and returning it.

"How is Zhu Yuan? Have you given up on the newly conquered places? Ma Yun asked again.

Zhao Pu said: "General Zhu heard that the white-clothed army was going south, so he took the initiative to evacuate. All the land that has been acquired ... Gave up. However, he brought back 100,000 people. Your Majesty, as long as there are people, we will recover soon. "Zhu Yuan originally fought quite smoothly in Shandong, conquering Caozhou, Yanzhou and other places one after another, and seeing that the whole of Shandong was about to fall into the hands of the Chu army, the news of the defeat came back. The white-clad army went south. Zhu Yuan, as a senior general of the military, of course understood that the Huaihe defense line was empty and abnormal, and if he was attacked by the white-clothed army to Huainan, then... That Da Chu Ke is really going to be in danger. So, he went south overnight, and finally stabilized Xuzhou and Haizhou, and stabilized the Huaihe River defense line.

"What about Ding Sijin? How is the middle line of our army going? ”

"General Ding led this army back to Tangzhou, and the defense line on the middle line was still as stable as a rock." Zhao Pu said. Because Ding Sijin was cautious in his use of troops, Wang Yin on the opposite side was also a type of general, the strength of the two people's armies was equal, and they fought for two months, winning and losing each other, and they did not make much progress. Hearing the news of Ma Yun's defeat, Ding Sijin retreated to Tangzhou on the one hand, and sent Ni Kefu back to Huainan on the other hand to stabilize the situation in Chuzhou and other places.

"What about the Western Front?"

Master Li led the army to recover Jinzhou and seriously wounded Gao Huaide, the general of the Zhou army. As for the Shu army, the Shu army was defeated in Guanzhong and had already retreated to Hanzhong. Zhao Pu said.