In Bianliang City, in Lu Zhongtian's spacious prime minister's office, several officials sat high and low, discussing something. Suddenly, there was a hurried sound of footsteps outside, and an errand rushed in breathlessly, stumbling on the threshold in a panic, and almost falling and gnawing on the mud.

"What? Bastards, how can you break in indiscriminately? Don't want to live anymore? Lu Zhongtian reprimanded angrily.

"Lu Xiang, Lu Xiang, the emperor, the emperor is here." The messenger hurriedly shouted.

Lu Zhongtian was stunned, and before he could speak, he heard Guo Xu's loud scolding from outside: "Go away, what are you doing to stop me?" I want to see the prime minister, but you won't get out of the way. Can't I even see the prime minister? I don't care about you! A bunch of dog stuff. ”

Lu Zhongtian frowned and stood up, Liu Zhenbang, the deputy minister on the seat, Lu Tianci, the deputy envoy of the third division, Zhu Zhirong, the governor of Kaifeng Mansion, Chen Jue, the new envoy of the soldiers and horses in front of the palace, Wang Jun, the commander of the Guards Horse Division, and Yuan Ping, the commander of the Guards Infantry Division, all stood up one after another. Then they saw Guo Xu, who was full of anger, flicking the curtain through the door.

"The ministers knock on the emperor." Liu Zhenbang, Zhu Zhirong and others were busy kneeling and saluting, but Lu Zhongtian's father and son did not kneel, Lu Tianci only bowed his body and saluted, but Lu Zhongtian did not even bow his hand.

"The emperor is not staying in the palace, why did he come to the political hall?" Lu Zhongtian asked with a frown, the old man's voice was full of majesty and dissatisfaction.

"I still stay in the palace every day and don't ask anything, do I? You don't want to report such a big thing? If someone hadn't just left the palace and saw it, and reported it to me, I wouldn't have known it. Outside...... Prime minister, who ordered the people outside the city not to enter the city? Who told you to shoot arrows at the people? They are all my people, how can they be used in such a way? Those are the people who have fled. Civilians were shot at more than a dozen city gates, and it is said that thousands of people died. Don't you know that you're the prime minister of the court? Guo Xu shouted angrily.

Lu Zhongtian's eyelids jumped, and he said in a deep voice: "It turns out that this is just this matter, why is the emperor so angry?" The order not to let them enter the city was given by the old minister, and the order to prohibit them from disturbing the safety of the city was also given by the old minister. How? Is there anything wrong with the minister's order? ”

"Lu Zhongtian, those are my people, don't you understand? At the moment of the great enemy, how can we do such a vicious attack on the fleeing people? What's going on in your mind? Now the four cities are boiling, and the people are going to riot, you know? Guo Xu was almost jumping.

"Your Majesty!" Lu Zhongtian shouted: "Please pay attention to your demeanor, how can you lose your posture in front of your courtiers?" ”

Guo Xu was frightened by his tone, and when he saw Lu Zhongtian's cold face, he also beat the drum in his heart. Lu Zhongtian was angry, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous.

"Your Majesty." Lu Zhongtian's voice softened, and he said in a deep voice: "The emperor's mood can be understood, the people have fled here, and they should be let into the capital to settle down, let alone shoot them." But the emperor should not forget the situation in front of him. The emperor also knew that the enemy was at present, and the Jurchen army was about to come to the city as soon as he spoke, and the capital had entered a state of full alert, and it was about to be a vicious battle that would affect the gains and losses of our capital and the survival of the Great Zhou. At this time, was it wrong for the old minister to forbid the people to enter the city? The number of these displaced people is as high as hundreds of thousands, and they are pouring into the capital at once, isn't the capital in chaos? Moreover, it is very likely that a large number of Jurchen works will be mixed in among them, and once they infiltrate the city, they will set fire to kill people, and the inside and outside should be combined. At this moment, is it necessary to take such a risk? If these people dare to storm the gates of the city walls, they are mobs, so what if they are shot? Do you condone them? The emperor thinks about it, should this city gate be opened? ”

Guo Xu was stunned and silent.

Lu Zhongtian said: "It's good that the emperor has a heart to love the people, but we also have to see when." Now that the fire is burning to the eyebrows, but the kindness of the woman comes, what is this? The emperor came and counted, but it seemed that the old ministers and others were ruthless and unkind to the people of the Great Zhou. Your Majesty, if you say that you want to open the city gate for these people to enter, the old minister immediately orders the city gate to be opened and let those people enter the city. But the consequences arising from this, if the capital is not protected because of this, the emperor will not regret it at that time. ”

"Yes, the emperor can't blame Lu Xiang, Lu Xiang's decision is right, the city gate can't be opened easily. At this time, these refugees will not be managed. The big war is about to begin, and defending the capital is the first priority, so you can't think too much about other things. The commander of the soldiers and horses in front of the palace hurriedly echoed Chen Jue. Liu Zhenbang and others also nodded in agreement.

Guo Xu looked at the people in front of him, the people here are the most powerful people in the court at present. Lu Zhongtian's father and son are okay, after Chen Jue was promoted from the Imperial City Division to the commander of the front division of the palace by Lu Zhongtian, he completely fell into Lu Zhongtian's arms. Wang Jun and Yuan Ping were also appointed and promoted by Lu Zhongtian as commanders of the forbidden army, and all the power of the entire court was actually in the hands of Lu Zhongtian. In fact, he didn't have any support anymore, and he came to question Lu Zhongtian how ridiculous their actions were. But I really couldn't sit still in the palace, and I couldn't help but want to ask when I heard these things happening outside, but I was too self-conscious.

"Even so, these refugees have to be appeased. Even if you don't let them into the city, you should give them something to eat and wear, so that they can support themselves, right? They came to the capital full of hope, hoping that I would come and save them, but the result was ...... What will they think in their hearts? What is the impression of me, the emperor, in their minds? Guo Xu smacked his lips and sighed.

"Relief? No, not a grain of grain will be given to them, not a single garment will be given to them. Doesn't the emperor understand? After the Jurchen soldiers came to the city, we had to do a good job

Long-term combat readiness. The old minister has already ordered that all the food and materials in the city will be uniformly dispatched and distributed by the imperial court, and no matter who it is, they must obey the order at this time. The supply of soldiers and horses to defend the city must be guaranteed, how can it be wasted on those refugees? To defend the capital is to protect my Great Zhou Sheji, why doesn't the emperor even understand this truth? Your Majesty, the old minister and a few colleagues have been planning to defend the city day and night for the past few days, and we are still discussing things, and the emperor rushed in to accuse us of waiting for such a point, isn't it chilling? The emperor still went back to the palace to stay, everything was planned by the ministers and ministers, and the emperor had to worry less. Lu Zhongtian's attitude has been tough to the extreme, and his words are like scolding a child who has made a mistake, without any mercy. In Lu Zhongtian's mind, he has lost his basic respect for Guo Xu.

Guo Xu opened his mouth and couldn't speak, even if he was about to explode with anger in his heart, he couldn't attack at all. Lu Zhongtian's idea may be right, but his tone is unacceptable.

"Your Majesty, don't make trouble, we're all too busy to die and tired, can't you stay in the palace well? What's the mix? Hey, really. Lu Tianci rolled his eyes and said.

"Please ask the emperor to go back to the palace, these ministers will be decided after discussion, and the emperor doesn't have to worry about it. Under the planning of Lu Xiang, the ministers will definitely be able to hold the capital, and the emperor will be relaxed. The things of these people...... At present, it is true that there is no kindness of women, and the emperor should understand. Liu Zhenbang and others also chimed in.

Guo Xu knew that he had no need to stay, so he stomped his feet and said, "That's it, I won't ask you anymore, I'm a woman's kindness." You don't save it, but I want to save it. I went back to the palace and went back to the imperial dining room to make a few baskets of steamed buns and throw them to eat. I will give to them as best I can. ”

Guo Xu said that he raised his feet and left, and after leaving the house, Guo Xu clearly heard Lu Tianci's harsh words: "What does it mean to pretend to love the people like a son at this time?" I don't want to think about what I've done. The people have long hated it, but now it is too late to save it. ”

Guo Xu's body was stunned, the muscles on his face trembled, and he stopped and wanted to turn back. But after thinking about it, he stomped his feet and walked away quickly.

……

In the prime minister's office, after Guo Xu left, Lu Zhongtian said to everyone as if nothing had happened: "Come on, come on, continue to discuss things." Where did you go? Chen Jue, you seem to have mentioned Bai Qi just now, right? You say you have something important to report, what is it? What did this Bai Qi do again? ”

Chen Jue arched his hand and said: "Bai Qi didn't know how to introspect after he returned to the capital after his defeat, the emperor summoned him yesterday, and the two discussed for a long time. I heard that Bai Qi suggested to the emperor that he should ask Guo Kunlin Jue of Funiu Mountain for help. What to say, when the national disaster is at hand, Guo Kun can't sit idly by. said that he already knew that he had done some things wrong before, and said that now there are strong enemies outside and national thieves inside, and the country and society are not protected. If Guo Kun and Lin Jue are asked to bring soldiers and horses to the rescue, he can abdicate and let Xian Yunyun go. In short, a whole lot of crazy things were said. Na Bai Qi seemed to be preparing to leave the city early this morning. He was stopped on the grounds that the city gate was not allowed to be opened. He pressed me in the name of Privy Councillor, but I ignored him and had him and his men detained. ”

"What?" Everyone in the audience was stunned.

After Chen Jue was promoted to the palace marshal, in fact, it was to fully control the emperor and his close ministers, so the emperor's every move would be detected by Chen Jue. Bai Qi was originally Guo Xu's confidant who was transferred from the border town to the capital at the beginning, and he was also the only remaining senior general of the non-Lu Zhongtian faction in the army, but the repeated failures had made Bai Qi lose face. After returning to the capital after being defeated, Bai Qi pleaded for the death penalty, but Guo Xu forcibly pardoned him. Lu Zhongtian didn't want to force Guo Xu to go to extremes, so he didn't insist. That Bai Qi now has no soldiers and no power, in fact, there is nothing to keep. Unexpectedly, he and the emperor secretly conspired about this matter.

"How can this be justified, it is so hateful. Bai Qi is a often defeated general in this fight, but he didn't expect that there is a set of people who play yin behind his back, and this guy must be except for him. The commander of the Ma army, Wang Jun, said angrily.

"Isn't it? There is a strong enemy outside, and there are national thieves inside? Who is the national thief? Does this refer to Sang scolding Huai? Who is this slandering? Could it be that you mean Lu Xiang? Liu Zhenbang added fuel to the fire.

"Dogs, slaughter them. Daddy. So far, what are you polite? Slaughter that Bai Qi. Hee-hee, the little loach still wants to turn over the big waves? If it weren't for my father, would he Guo Xu be the emperor? Now ungrateful, isn't it? annoyed us, he can't be the emperor. Go and ask Lin Jue Guo Kun for help? Isn't that a big joke? Lu Tianci also said loudly.

"Shut up!" Lu Zhongtian's face was extremely gloomy, and of course he understood what it meant that this happened. Guo Xu has completely centrifuged himself. Lu Zhongtian actually didn't care about this, he was annoyed that Guo Xu actually wanted to ask Guo Kunlin for help, which was what Lu Zhongtian was most angry about. In Lu Zhongtian's heart, Lin Jue was already his number one opponent, and he was the number one person he wanted to get rid of. Guo Xu actually wanted to secretly collude with Lin Jue and them, which was beyond his bottom line.

Everyone hurriedly shut up and looked at Lu Zhongtian quietly. Lu Zhongtian paced slowly and said in a deep voice: "There is no need to make a noise about this matter, no one is allowed to show his mouth when the emperor is there." Just don't know. Does anyone else know about Bai Qi's seizure? ”

"Not yet. The lowly man personally led people to the gate of the city to block them, and took them down directly. Only the defenders at the gates knew, but they were our people. Chen Jue said busily.

"Well, tell them, don't talk too much, whoever talks too much will kill him. As for Bai Qi...... direct

Kill it. By the way, let's see if he has any letters from the emperor that the emperor brought him out of the city or something. The future is also a proof. "Lu Zhongtian said.

"Obedience!" Chen Jue arched his hand.

Lu Zhongtian let out a long breath and sighed: "I originally turned my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch." I, Lu Zhongtian, have worked hard for the sake of Da Zhou, how could I have expected to be so suspicious. Now that the enemy is present, the society is shaking, and the emperor is ...... It's really chilling to still do these things. Old man...... I don't think it's worth it. ”

Yuan Ping, the commander of the guard infantry army, said in a low voice: "Yes, Lu Xiang is holding the situation alone, and it is really not authentic for the emperor to do this." If you want me to say, since the emperor is unkind and unjust, he will simply abolish it and set up a new king, which will save you trouble later. ”

Everyone's hearts jumped violently, and they all looked at Lu Zhongtian.

Lu Zhongtian waved his hand and shouted: "Yuan Ping, Hugh is talking nonsense, the emperor is unkind, how can we be unjust as courtiers?" You maintain the old man's heart, and the old man is grateful. The old man just wants you to understand that the old man is thinking about the country and the society, and it is the emperor's suspicion of the old man, not the old man's fault. Future...... Future...... don't bother to think about it. Right now, we have to think about how to keep the capital. If there is internal chaos because of this matter at this moment, it will be greatly detrimental to the defense of the city. Everyone, the old man has only one request, or rather a request, I want you to obey my command with full authority, the old man will definitely keep Bianliang City, as long as you listen to me, the old man will definitely protect you. ”

Everyone bowed in unison and said in unison: "The lowly rank swears allegiance to Lu Xiang, and there is no second heart. ”

Lu Zhongtian nodded slightly and said, "Okay, let's go and do things." The old man wanted to stay alone for a while, thinking of a better way to defend the city. ”

……

After the First Battle of Baimadu, the Jurchen army quickly conquered Huazhou and Weicheng, captured Changheng County, and officially set foot in the land of Gyeonggi. On the twenty-third day of the first month, the Jurchen army conquered the last county town north of Bianliang, and then rested on the spot to make final preparations for the attack on Bianliang.

Of course, Wanyan Aguda hopes to be able to attack the city as soon as possible, but the attack on Bianliang must be fully prepared and cannot be hasty. After a heavy snowfall, the battle to cross the river was won with the help of the weather, but everything had advantages and disadvantages, and the heavy snow also made the roads muddy and difficult to navigate. The supply of the army and the arrival of the supply vehicles were difficult. Moreover, it is almost February, and if the preparations are not completed soon, when the weather warms and the river ice thaws, Hakubato will not be able to cross the river directly from the ice, which will be even more troublesome.

However, the good news is that the problem of reducing the number of troops that had caused Wanyan Agu's great anxiety to only 180,000 men has been resolved. After attacking along the way, the Jurchens actually captured a lot of soldiers and horses of the Great Zhou. Those who were injured and could not be used were naturally killed, and all those who were not injured were used as labor and hard labor in the army, helping to rest the road and move things, which also had some effect. But the big war is imminent, and there is no need for these coolies to continue to stay, they have to consume grain and grass, or an unstable factor in the army. Therefore, many Jurchen generals suggested killing a hundred on the spot.

Wanyan Aguda was also inclined to do this, but Li Guoqiu resolutely disagreed. He said he was confident that he would persuade them to join the Jurchen army. Although these people are not as strong as the Jurchen people, they can at least be used as meat shield cannon fodder. Wanyan Agu asked Li Guoqiu to do this, and sure enough, more than 40,000 soldiers from the original Great Zhou were willing to join the Jurchen army. Li Guoqiu's method is very simple, if you want to live, if you don't want to kill, most of these soldiers are greedy for life and afraid of death, otherwise it is impossible to surrender. Only a small part was forced to surrender. Therefore, the vast majority of people joined the Jurchen army in order to survive.

In addition, another surprising thing also made the Jurchens have twenty or thirty thousand more young recruits, but it was the young and strong people of the Great Zhou who took the initiative to vote.

Originally, Wanyan Agu Da thought that there was fraud in this matter, and the people of the Great Zhou were as frightened as a mouse when they saw the Jurchen army, and they were as frightened as a mouse when they saw a cat. Along the way, their own soldiers and horses slaughtered several cities, and they should hate them to the bone. How could such a thing happen. As a result, I found out that these people had fled to the capital city of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but they were turned away. Hundreds of thousands of civilians crowded outside the city, and the Great Zhou court not only did not respond, but instead fired arrows at the refugees who tried to storm the city gates, shooting thousands of them.

These people were angry in their hearts, and this anger turned into hatred, and their demands were simple, as long as the Jurchens could give them food and their families could live, they were willing to follow the Jurchens into Bianliang. They don't care who is the master of the world, they just want to live. In fact, there are many people who are the remnants of the original Qingjiao rebellion, after the original Qingjiao rebellion, almost every family in Jingbei counties was affected, and although after some relief and preaching, many people's thoughts are deeply rooted in their minds, and their hatred for the imperial court's suppression of Qingjiao suddenly burst out at this time. Although there were only a few people in this category, they also added nearly 30,000 new recruits to the Jurchens at a critical time.

In the few days that the Qiu was resting, the Jurchen army recovered to a size of twenty-five. With more than 70,000 cannon fodder soldiers and horses, Wanyan Agu Da thinks that it is enough. Everything is ready, and the Liao army that is holding on to Taiyuan Mansion has urged the Jurchen army to hurry up several times, and they are almost unable to support it. Under these circumstances, Wanyan Aguda issued an order to march into Bianliang.

In the early morning of the 29th day of the first lunar month, on the open wilderness outside the northern city of Bianliang, countless cavalry came overwhelmingly, and soon covered the ground within a radius of more than ten miles. The Jurchen army finally approached the city of Bianliang.