Lu Zhongtian said to Guo Chongjin: "In this situation, in fact, the success of counterinsurgency is a sure thing, and the performance of the two princes is remarkable, and the purpose of experience has been achieved. Overall, the eldest prince's performance was amazing, while Guo Xu's performance was a little disappointing. But because of this, it is even more necessary to be cautious about the performance of the two princes. The emperor's intention is just to experience and inspect the two princes, but this is easy to be over-interpreted and associated with other things. It will lead to some confusion in the thinking of the DPRK and China. Treat the two princes with a bowl of water and be impartial. It is also unfair that this counterinsurgency must not lead to a situation in which one person is suppressed and one person is exalted. ”

Lu Zhongtian also said: "Although the performance of the two princes is different, we should also take into account the different pressures faced by the two, compared to the small county towns of the five counties and the battle of the bandits that are not organized, Guo Xu is obviously facing the absolute main force of the bandits, if he blindly blames after being frustrated, this is extremely unfair to the two princes, and it will cause Guo Xu to be emotionally depressed." If you give up on yourself, it will not be contrary to the original intention of the experience. ”

Lu Zhongtian finally suggested: "The two princes need to be experienced, and they don't need to be too high for the winners, and they don't need to punish the losers too much, but give him the opportunity to let him be brave and regain his confidence." Therefore, it is necessary to increase Guo Xu's troops, rather than let the King of Jin lead the army eastward. If King Jin's soldiers and horses entered, it would make Guo Xu think that the court had lost confidence in him and only trusted King Jin, which would not be an experience, but a blow. If that's the case, I'm afraid that King Huai will be in a state of collapse from now on, which the emperor absolutely does not want to see. ”

Originally, these strong words were easy to see, and the battlefield only looked at victory and defeat, where there were so many twists and turns. The arrangement of this counterinsurgency itself is to see which of the two princes has the greatest ability, just to distinguish between the high and low. This was originally the intention of Lu Zhongtian and Guo Chong. But now this remark is actually very shameless. But who told Guo Chong to favor Guo Xu from the heart. When a person loses his sense of justice, there is no reason to make many decisions.

Although he was very disappointed with Guo Xu's performance in Yingtianfu, Guo Chong didn't want Guo Chong to slump and sink like this. What's more, Guo Chong doesn't like Guo Mian from the bottom of his heart, who is not good with him at all. Once it was originally an arrangement to give credit to Guo Xu, Guo Mian rushed out to disrupt the situation, and Guo Chong was also quite embarrassed in his heart. Don't say it, in his heart he still hopes to help Guo Xu.

So Guo Chong got off the donkey, followed Lu Zhongtian's suggestion, gave Guo Xu 10,000 troops, and ordered Guo Mian to stick to the five counties and cooperate to quell the rebellion.

Because of this, Guo Kun did not dare to directly attack Xingren Mansion. Even if the soldiers and horses are gathered in Wanting County, they have actually crossed the line a bit. But in order to quickly reinforce Xingren Mansion, they can only play a side game. Fortunately, although Wanting County belongs to Xingren Prefecture, it also borders Dongming County in northern Beijing. If theoretically speaking, it can also be said that the garrison is at the junction of two counties.

However, if you want to enter Heungin Province, you need a premise. That was when the defenders of Heungin Province sent out an invitation to ask for help from the Kyohoku army. In this case, it would not be against the Holy Decree to send troops to Heungin Mansion to participate in the battle. Allowing Xingren Mansion to fall, and not saving him when he dies is a bigger crime.

With such restrictions, Guo Kun and Lin Jue could only camp in Wanting. On the day of the camp, Guo Kun wrote a handwritten letter and sent someone to Xingren Mansion to the prefect Liu Mengyuan and the commander of the Guangji Army Wu Yongbo. Let the two of them come to Wanting to meet King Jin and themselves. In fact, I hope to talk to them face-to-face about how to work together to defend the city.

However, two days after the letter was sent, there was no response. Liu Mengyuan himself didn't come, and he didn't even send a reply, like a mud cow entering the sea. When the scouts found out that thousands of the vanguard soldiers and horses of the bandits were about to arrive at the city of Xingren Mansion, Guo Kun and Lin Jue knew that time was running out, and if they didn't finalize this matter, the follow-up would be very tricky. Perhaps the entire plan to stop the bandits will not be carried out. So the two discussed and decided to go to Xingren Mansion in person.

When the vanguard of the bandits arrived outside the eastern city of Xingren Mansion, Guo Kun and Lin Jue also arrived outside the gate of the western city with more than 100 cavalry. Liu Mengyuan, the prefect who received the report, and Wu Yongbo, the commander of the Guangji Army, hurriedly came to welcome the two into the city.

Guo Kun rode into the city with a straight face and came to the palace. After the simple greeting was over, Guo Kun scolded his head: "What a big pie, Governor Liu, I sent someone to send a letter to ask you to go to Wanting, but please don't move your big driver." Do you look down on King Jin and look down on me? No, your Liu Governor's Mansion is unattainable, so I will lick my face to see you. It's good that you, Governor Liu, didn't turn me away from the city. I want to thank you for letting us in. ”

Liu Mengyuan and Wu Yongbo were frightened. Although it is said that both of them are not controlled by Guo Kun in their official positions. But Guo Kun is a little prince after all, a noble royal relative, which cannot be offended.

"The little prince is angry, the little prince is angry. Xia Guan is too busy to spare time. Originally, I wanted to write a reply, but I was too busy to reply. Please also ask the little prince to forgive his sins. Liu Mengyuan hurriedly bowed and said.

He didn't say anything, he found a reason, Guo Kun was even more angry. This is clearly an excuse, can you be busy with a letter and don't have time to reply? Obviously, it is to neglect this matter and snub yourself.

"I don't believe you, Lord Liu, are busy eating and sleeping, how long did it take to write the letter? You have to find a reason and find a reasonable one. Guo Kun said angrily.

"Little prince, it's really not a reason to go down. The army of bandits is coming, and we have been busy preparing to meet the enemy for the past few days. Don't hide it from the little prince, Xia Guan hasn't closed his eyes for three days, and he is just hungry and chewing the dough. I even came in this office for the first time in three days, and the rest of the time I was in the city. The soldiers and civilians in the city can testify to this, and ask the little prince to find out. Liu Mengyuan said in a deep voice.

"Little prince, you can testify to Lord Liu, Lord Liu didn't close his eyes for three days and three nights, and he didn't go down to the city. If you hadn't come at this moment, he would still be in charge of the fortifications at the head of the city. Wu Yongbo, who was thin on the side, said loudly.

Lin Jue looked at Liu Mengyuan's appearance from the side, he was indeed bearded, his face was haggard, his eye sockets were deep, his eye bags were drooping, and there was a smell of sweat on his body. Standing there, the whole person staggered and couldn't stand still, obviously very tired.

Guo Kun frowned and said, "So, it's really wrong to blame you." What are you all busy with? So hard? Don't even have time to sleep and eat? ”

Liu Mengyuan arched his hand and said: "The bandits are menacing this time, and it is found that there are probably forty or fifty thousand people who are coerced by the people. In our city, there are only less than 4,000 Guangji troops and less than 1,000 regimental soldiers. The disparity in numbers is too great, and even high walls and deep trenches may not be able to stop their attacks. So we have to be prepared. Gather a large number of materials at the head of the city, dig deep trenches outside the city, and strengthen part of the city wall facilities. It is also necessary to recruit young people in the city to participate in the defense of the city. So far, more than 7,000 young people are willing to participate in the defense of the city. In this way, you can be sure that you have enough people. There are other things that need to be arranged in advance, such as ......"

Guo Kun waved his hand and frowned: "What you said about these things, do you want to tell me that you plan to defend the city by yourself?" By your thousands of men, plus some people? But the ragtag army of more than 10,000 people wants to hold Xingren Mansion? Fifty or sixty thousand people against the attack of the bandits? ”

Liu Mengyuan arched his hand and said: "Guarding the Xingren Mansion is the duty of the lower officials, and the lower officials have no shirk of their responsibilities. ”

Guo Kun shouted: "What I'm asking is that you plan to do it yourself?" Think you can hold on? ”

"If you can't keep it, you have to keep it, and swear to live and die with the city." Liu Mengyuan said.

"You're a fool, I won't ask you, you don't know anything about war. Commander Wu, you are the general who leads the army, you answer me. With the men of your city at present, will you be able to hold this city? Guo Kun raised his chin and asked Wu Yongbo.

Wu Yongbo stepped forward and arched his hand, frowned and said softly: "This...... I'm afraid it's not easy. ”

"What's so easy? I asked you if you could hold it. Guo Kun shouted.

Wu Yongbo's body was shocked, and he said in a deep voice: "I can't hold ...... back."

Guo Kun sneered: "It's okay that you didn't lie. Do you want to defend the city with such a small number of men? It's a dream. I don't know what you guys think. Governor Liu, you are really whimsical. After working for so many days, the result of not sleeping for three days and three nights is that you can't keep this city. Governor Liu, you can go back and get a good night's sleep, we will guard this Xingren Mansion for you. As soon as my 9,000 army arrives, the city is solid, do you still need to work so hard? I came to you today to tell you about it, and I know that you can't keep it, so we have come. Isn't this a send-off? You don't have to be grateful to us, our duty is to quell the rebellion and kill the bandits, hahaha, now you can rest assured. Governor Liu, if you write an official letter to me, you will invite my army to enter the city to rescue, and within half a day, my 9,000 forbidden troops will enter the city and keep and defend the city. ”

After Guo Kun said this, Wu Yongbo was overjoyed and said: "This is great, the little prince is willing to help us, and my Xingren Mansion will be safe." Lord Liu, I have long said that the army of King Jin arrived in Wanting to help us defend the city, but you don't believe it, saying that they may not make a move. You see, now that you are waiting for your own words, what else is there to say? Lord Liu hurried up some official documents and invited them into the city. ”

"Shut up! The official is in charge of this matter, what do you have to say? Liu Mengyuan frowned and shouted at Wu Yongbo.

Wu Yongbo was stunned, a little embarrassed and didn't know what to do. Liu Mengyuan is the prefect and the highest local governor. Although the Guangji Army is under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council, the prefect has the right to give orders in an emergency, and Wu Yongbo has to obey Liu Mengyuan's orders at this moment.

"Little prince, your kindness has been appreciated by the lower officials, but the lower officials may not be able to ask you to help. First, the lower officials thought that we could hold the city and not help the forbidden army. Secondly...... Secondly...... It's also not in line. The little prince rest assured that the lower officials will do their best to defend the city, and the lower officials and the commander Wu have different views, and the lower officials feel that the city will definitely be defended. Liu Mengyuan bowed and said.