At the beginning of September of the first year of Yuan Shuo, Li Guang led 30,000 troops out of Hexi, intending to capture the Hun Hun evil king and Hutu king stationed in Hexi in one fell swoop.

After Li Guang led the main army into the Hexi grassland, when he got lost (Note 1), he was attacked by the Han general Zhao Xin (Note 2), who had rebelled against the Han and defected to the Huns, and the Hun evil king Hutu. The two sides fought fiercely for more than two hours, and Li Guang's army was outnumbered and led the people to retreat.

In this battle, Li Guang suffered heavy losses.

When the news of Li Guang's defeat in Hexi and Zhao Xin's surrender to the Xiongnu reached Chang'an, Liu Che was furious, the court was shaken, and the whole country was shocked!

Many ministers took the opportunity to write letters one after another, advising them to stop the unnecessary war with the Xiongnu and to renew the alliance between the two sides, so as to avoid more sacrifices.

At the same time, a group of ministers led by Prime Minister Xue Ze and Ji Di made a statement to Liu Che together, pointing the spearhead directly at the institutional support of the Xiongnu conquest - the cultivation and warfare system, and demanded the abolition of the new law of cultivation and warfare!

Dou Fei Dongfang Shuo and others argued on the basis of reason, but it was difficult to defeat four hands with two fists, and it was worth Li Guang's defeat, even if Dou Fei was eloquent, he was extremely embarrassed by the imposing conservatives for a while.

In this regard, Liu Che just said that victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers.

The next day, Qin Cheng met Liu Che, and the two had a deep talk for a long time. No one knows what it is about.

But after that day, Qin Cheng never went to the Northern Army barracks again, and stayed at home all the time.

Three days later, General Qin's mansion.

In the pavilion, the sound of the piano was curling, Qin Cheng was lying down, his eyes were slightly closed, and in front of him, Bai Xinxin was caressing the piano for him. While stroking the piano, Bai Xinxin sang:

"I wandered to the east and did not return. I'm from the East, and it's raining less. If you win, you will also apply it to Yu. Ewi is in the room, and the cockles are in the house. The town is a deer farm, and it shines at night. Don't be afraid, Yi Kehuai is also ......"

After a song, Qin Cheng opened his eyes and smiled: "Xin'er, your piano skills are getting better and better, and your singing voice is even more fascinated by your husband, I really don't know what time it is!" ”

Bai Xinxin stood up with a chuckle, walked to Qin Cheng's side and sat down, rubbed Qin Cheng's shoulders, and said tenderly: "As long as the general likes it, Xin'er will stroke the piano for the general every day." ”

"Then I can't bear it." Qin Cheng took Bai Xinxin's hand and put it in the palm of his hand to play, "If such a beautiful hand caresses the piano every day, wouldn't it be a tyrannical thing?" ”

Bai Xinxin gently leaned his head on Qin Cheng's shoulder, and said softly: "Whatever the general says, Xin'er listens to the general." ”

"Haha!"

The two of them were here with tenderness, and suddenly a servant ran over in a panic, "General, Captain Ting has brought someone here." ”

"Zhang Tang?" Qin Cheng wasn't surprised, Bai Xinxin wasn't surprised, she just glanced at Qin Cheng worriedly, Qin Cheng patted her hands and said, "Let's go, let's take a look." ”

Zhang Tang stood in the hall with his hands in his hands, and the people from the Tingwei Office were waiting outside the hall, Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin walked into the hall one after another, hugged their fists to Zhang Tang and said, "Zhang Tingwei, don't come unharmed." ”

"General, you and I meet again." Zhang Tang returned a salute, and then said directly: "Zhang Tang is here today, it is on the order of His Majesty, because you are suspected of using swords and soldiers indiscriminately in Minyue and behaving in accordance with the rules of the ministers, colliding with the King of Huainan and disrespecting the royal family, which has been a big crime, and now I ask the general to go with the lower officials and cooperate with us to find out the facts." After that, he arched his hand again, "Please also ask the general not to embarrass the subordinates." ”

"Of course." Qin Cheng smiled calmly, "In this way, it will be hard for Zhang Tingwei to drink a cup of tea." ”

Zhang Tang waved his hand, "It's okay, the lower officials are already used to it." As he spoke, he made a gesture of please, "General, please!" ”

"Good!" Qin Cheng agreed, turned to Bai Xinxin and said, "Wait for me at home." With that, he turned around and walked out of the mansion with Zhang Tang.

"General!" Xiao Rong'er ran over, shouting as she ran, very anxious and panicked.

Bai Xinxin grabbed Xiao Rong'er who ran over, held her down and told her not to move, and looked at Qin Cheng with everyone and left.

The next day, when Li Guangjun's army had not yet returned to Chang'an, a shocking news came out of the court: Qin Cheng, the general of Zuo, was imprisoned because of his improper behavior in handling Minyue affairs, which caused great sequelae and was rude to the king of Huainan and collided with the royal family. Moreover, it is rumored that he colluded with the Xiongnu and conspired with the enemy.

Two pieces of bad news from the military in quick succession caused an uproar in the government and the public.

The Han army, after successive victories against the Xiongnu, ushered in a major setback and blow for the first time!

When Qin Cheng was imprisoned, the military camp of the Northern Army shook. But what puzzled many people was that none of the nearly 100,000 Northern troops who stayed in the camp rushed out of the barracks to ask for the life of General Zuo, who had brought them great honor and prospects.

But it is rumored that the 100,000 Northern Army gave Liu Che a company roster to intercede for Qin Cheng. Nearly 100,000 people have made a book, and the books are loaded with several carts!

At this point, the situation in Chang'an has changed abruptly, the situation is unpredictable, and the world is panicked.

Court Lieutenant Bureau.

Qin Cheng followed an official to the main hall. In the main hall, Zhang Tang sat majestically in the first place, and his solemn face said business. To his left, a young hook-nosed official sits, and to his right, an imposing old man.

After Qin Cheng stood still, Zhang Tang opened the book on the desk, glanced at Qin Cheng, and said, "Today, on the orders of His Majesty, this court captain asked the general a few questions, and asked the general to answer truthfully. ”

Qin Cheng stood in the middle of the hall and said, "Captain Tingwei just asks." ”

"In April this year, the general was ordered to go to Minyue to solve the Minyue matter, and when he passed through Huainan Kingdom, why did he injure the envoy sent by the king of Huainan to offer condolences?" Zhang Tang's tone was like reading.

"It's not an injury, but it's actually a martial arts exchange between the warriors of the two sides, and the envoy of the King of Huainan is invincible, which causes some bruises." Qin Cheng said lightly, "All the officials present in this matter can testify. ”

"Qin Cheng, Hugh is talking nonsense!" The old man on the right side of Zhang Tang scolded, "It is clear that you deliberately instigated the two sides to fight, and made a plan so that the envoy of the King of Huainan did not dare to make a move and could only be beaten, so how can you talk about it?" ”

Qin Cheng didn't pay attention to the old man at all, and just looked at Zhang Tang calmly, "Tingwei, you can move on to the next question." ”

"You ......" When the old man saw that Qin Cheng actually regarded him as air, he was extremely angry and was about to speak, but he heard Zhang Tang already continue to ask: "When the general sent troops to Zhangzhi outside the city of Wulongjiang, when the situation in Minyue did not deteriorate significantly, why did he send troops to capture Zhangzhi City without authorization?" ”

"Tingwei ......" The old man obviously didn't expect Zhang Tang to ignore him, and his angry old face turned red.

"At that time, the situation in Fujian and Vietnam had deteriorated." After Zhang Tang asked, Qin Cheng continued, "I waited for a few days in Wucheng and stationed on the side of the Wulong River for a few days, but the king of Dongyue did not come to explain the situation, which is already disrespectful. Moreover, the king of Dongyue is using troops against South Vietnam, and has been attacking Panyu City for a long time. This general sent troops to govern the city, in order to avoid the city of Panyu being breached, and South Vietnam ceased to exist, which was the need of the times! He asked, "Do you have any questions?"

"Nonsense!" The old man stood up excitedly, pointed at Qin Cheng and scolded.

"Next question." Zhang Tang nodded and continued to say to Qin Cheng: "After the general enters the Minyue Royal City, ......"

"Tingwei!" The old man scolded the case, "You ask the case like this, you don't care about the right or wrong of the criminal's words, you just want to be perfunctory, the old man has never seen or heard of it!" You know, you're derelict in your duties! ”

Zhang Tang was not annoyed or angry, but just glanced at the old man indifferently and asked, "Am I the presiding judge or are you the presiding judge in this case?" ”

"......" Even though the old man was trembling with anger, he was speechless.

"Since I am the presiding judge, I will preside over the questioning." Zhang Tangmian said expressionlessly.

The old man said angrily: "Tingwei asked the case like this, and the old man was not convinced!" The old man wants to report to His Majesty! ”

Zhang Tang casually made a gesture of please, "Please." ”

"You...... How unreasonable! The old man was furious and immediately walked away.

The hook-nosed young official next to him glanced at the old man, and then at Zhang Tang, and the meaning in his eyes made people unable to understand it for a while.

"Let's move on." Zhang Tang spoke, as if he was asking for the opinions of young officials, and as if he was just announcing, "The general ......"

The questioning lasted less than two quarters of an hour before ending with a question and answer between Zhang Tang and Qin Cheng. Zhang Tang put away the book and said to Qin Cheng: "That's all for today's questioning, the general can leave." ”

Qin Cheng smiled and hugged his fist to Zhang Tang, and then left with the official who had brought him before.

Not long after returning to the cell, Qin Cheng sat down, and without taking a sip of water, Zhang Tang followed.

After Zhang Tang entered the prison, he glanced at the small cases and books in the cell, and bowed his hand to Qin Cheng: "The general has been wronged. ”

Qin Cheng returned the salute, "In prison, what grievances can you talk about?" ”

Zhang Tang sat down on the side of the small case and said to Qin Cheng: "The general knows, who are the two officials on the left and right sides of the official just now?" It seems that he has completely forgotten that the greeting with Qin Cheng just now has not been finished.

"I don't know, I can guess some." Qin Cheng said, "I just don't know if I'm right." ”

"Since the general can guess, then the lower official doesn't have to explain." Zhang Tang said naturally, "The general should know that there are people outside who don't want you to go out now, but they abound. ”

"Since Ting Wei said so, I guess you and they will not think the same way." Qin Cheng smiled, "It's enough for me to say this." ”

Zhang Tang shook his head and said something that was a little unpleasant, "Xia Guan has no idea. ”

Seeing that Qin Cheng was a little puzzled, Zhang Tang added: "Your Majesty's thoughts are the thoughts of the lower officials. ”

"Haha......" Qin Cheng laughed when he heard this.

"The situation in Chang'an has changed abruptly, the whole country has attracted attention, and the general is still laughing when he is in prison?" Zhang Tangqi said.

"It doesn't matter." Qin Cheng stopped laughing, "The main drama hasn't been staged yet, don't worry." ”

"Oh?" Zhang Tang was even more curious, "I wonder if the general can tell the lower officials?" ”

Qin Cheng shook his head, "Don't say it, don't say it." Seeing that Zhang Tang was finally a little depressed, he said, "But I have something to ask Brother Zhang for help." ”

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Note 1: In history, Li Guang attacked the Xiongnu and got lost twice, the latter time was in the decisive battle of Mobei, and after that time he got lost, Li Guang cut himself.

Note 2: In history, after Zhao Xin rebelled against the Xiongnu, he was named the second king by Yi Zhixi, and used his sister wife, Zhao Xin later advised Yi Zhi to move to Mobei to exhaust the Han soldiers.