Emperor Ming Fengyunlu

Volume VI The Battle of the Northern Frontier

Chapter 2 The two armies are fighting against the DPRK

Section 2: A dilemma

In the evening of the next day, after Li Ruhua finished handling the official duties of the Ministry of War, he changed into civilian clothes, took a car to the outside of the Yamen of the Ministry of War, found an inconspicuous street corner and stopped, and quietly waited for Huang Jiashan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, to come out.

It didn't take long for Li Ruhua to see Huang Jiashan and Li Linbin walking out of the yamen of the military department with a smile and a smile, and were about to board the carriages parked outside.

Li Ruhua hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "Huang Shangshu, Master Li, we haven't seen each other for a few days, how are the two adults lately?" ”

Huang Jiashan smiled and said in return: "It's okay, it's okay, I don't know if anything is wrong with Li Shangshu?" Li Linbin on the side also smiled and gestured.

Li Ruhua said with a smile: "Haha, that's the case, yesterday one of my protégés sent a jar of aged wine, I thought about it, it's really boring to drink alone, so I came to invite Huang Shangshu to come to my house, taste it together, and enjoy the moonlight beauty by the way." ”

At this time, before Huang Jiashan could reply, Li Linbin said with a smile: "Haha, since Li Shangshu is invited, the old man will not bother, and will leave first." ”

After speaking, Li Linbin turned around to leave, Li Ruhua hurriedly grabbed him and said: "Of course, drinking and chatting is good when there are many people, Master Li will go together, go together!" Don't excuse yourself, haha. ”

"Since Li Shangshu is invited, then the old man is better than obeying his fate if he is respectful." After speaking, Li Linbin took advantage of Li Ruhua's inattention and secretly gave Huang Jiashan a look.

Huang Jiashan saw it at a glance and said quietly: "Li Shangshu is very warm, then Master Li and I will be bothered, and we must come to visit." ”

"Okay, tonight, the old man is waiting for the two adults at home." After speaking, Li Ruhua left in a car.

Huang Jiashan looked at Li Ruhua, who was walking away, and said to Li Linbin with some doubts: "I didn't want to go to Li Ruhua's house to drink, why did Lord Li ask me to agree?" Do you see something? ”

Li Linbin said: "My lord, that Li Ruhua is famous for not going to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, and he suddenly wants to invite you over for a drink today, he must have something important to discuss." Now that the Han Wei Army has just won a big victory, the situation in Liaodong has been temporarily stabilized, Li Ruhua is the head of the household, what can he talk to the adults at this time? ”

Huang Jiashan's face suddenly changed greatly: "Han Weijun's money and food!" ”

Li Linbin said with some concern: "I think the household department is estimated to be unable to open the pot again, so Li Ruhua may just want to discuss the withdrawal of the Hanwei army with adults." ”

"Can the Hanwei army withdraw now?" Huang Jiashan said with some annoyance: "Once the Han Wei army withdraws to the pass, the victory of the thousand mountains will be in vain!" Thousands of soldiers of the Qi family army and the white pole soldiers died in vain! ”

Li Linbin also couldn't stop sighing, and said: "My lord, the only way to do it now is to see what Li Ruhua says, and then see how to dismantle it." ”

In the evening, Li Ruhua's mansion.

"No! Absolutely not! The army suddenly retreated, what if the Jiannu army followed? In case something happened to the Han Wei army on the way back, who would be responsible for this? Liaodong is still missing! Huang Jiashan roared angrily, the sound almost lifted the roof, and the table full of delicious food was squeaked by Huang Jiashan.

Li Ruhua looked aggrieved and said, "Huang Shangshu, do you think I want to do this?" If there is a little way to do it, I won't make this decision! Now the money and food of the household department is only enough for the Hanwei army to fight for another month, and if the army is not withdrawn after a month, tens of thousands of soldiers can only ask for food all the way back to Guannai! ”

Huang Jiashan asked: "What about the money! I remember that when His Majesty first ascended the throne, there was still a lot of surplus in the household department, how long has it been until now? Where did all the money go! ”

When Li Ruhua heard this, he also shot back loudly: "Don't say anything else, just say how much silver did the military department take from me?" The Qi family army and the white pole soldiers were requisitioned to Liao, and the 60,000 Han Wei troops were requisitioned to Liao, and the two Liaodong Economic Strategy Xiong Tingbi and Yuan Yingtai urged the general to ask for money and grain. Natural disasters continue to occur in all provinces across the country, and everywhere they are asking for money from me, the head of the household, and the yamen of the state capitals and the general generals of the general army are scolding my ancestors all over, and I am really out of line! ”

For a while, Huang Jiashan and Li Linbin were like deflated balls, sitting on the chairs and sighing.

Li Ruhua continued: "I don't hide it from the two adults, about the withdrawal of the Hanwei Army, Elder Ye Ge already knows, and has already agreed, and will write to His Majesty to ask for an edict in the near future." ”

Li Linbin vaguely felt that something was wrong when he heard this, and asked, "Li Shangshu, since Ye Ge has already agreed, what else do you want to discuss with us?" ”

Li Ruhua smiled bitterly and said: "Ye Ge always agreed, but Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch of Shang Shufang, disagreed!" Gonggong Wei insisted on not allowing the Han Wei army to withdraw to Guannei, and insisted on asking our household department to continue to raise money and grain, and continue to fight the Liaodong War. It's not good for Ye Ge Lao to go directly to His Majesty by going over to Gonggong Wei, after all, it's ...... now."

Li Ruhua didn't say any more, but Huang Jiashan and Li Linbin both understood.

Hearing this, Huang Jiashan and Li Linbin both felt very novel: "The eunuch leader who was scolded by 10,000 people actually advocated continuing to counterattack Liaodong, and the Donglin courtiers who were all righteous men and gentlemen in the eyes of the world actually advocated the retreat of the army?" Who would believe that? ”

And Li Ruhua also briefly said Wei Zhongxian's words yesterday, and then said: "Father-in-law Wei asked me to go to collect donations from civil and military officials, wealthy families in the capital, and relatives of the emperor. I did it today, and tomorrow I have to be outside the noon gate! ”

Huang Jiashan thought about it carefully, shook his head, and said: "Li Shangshu, although I understand your difficulties very well, I will not agree to the withdrawal of troops from Liaodong no matter what!" I am the secretary of the military department, I only think about whether the soldiers can win the battle, as for the matter of money and food, please think of a way again. ”

Li Ruhua's face turned red and said: "I have already thought about everything I can think of, but I really have no tricks." Huang Shangshu, withdrawing the Hanwei army is the only choice now, as long as the main force of the Hanwei army is not lost, he is not afraid of rampant Jiannu, and he is not afraid of no firewood to burn, think about it again? ”

At this time, Li Linbin said: "Li Shangshu, I think this is the case tonight, as for the withdrawal of troops, our military department will not agree." ”

After speaking, Huang Jiashan and Li Linbin got up together, and left directly regardless of Li Ruhua's retention.

After Li Ruhua sent the two away, he immediately sent someone to send a message to Ye Xianggao overnight, telling Ye Xianggao about Huang Jiashan's refusal to withdraw the army.

And after Huang Jiashan and Li Linbin left, they also walked slowly all the way and continued to discuss the affairs of Liaodong.

Huang Jiashan said: "I never thought that Wei Zhongxian would oppose the withdrawal of the Han Wei army to Guannei. ”

Li Linbin also said: "I didn't expect it either. However, this also shows that although Wei Zhongxian is not a good type, he is still reliable in terms of major rights and wrongs. ”

Huang Jiashan was a little noncommittal, thought for a while, and said, "Master Li, do you think we will inform Mr. Liu?" I'm afraid that if the withdrawal of the army becomes a foregone conclusion, General Liu will be caught off guard, after all, the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers are at stake, we must be cautious! ”

Li Linbin nodded and said, "Then I will go back to the yamen overnight, and send someone to send the news out before dawn." By the way, do you need to send a message to Tongzhou Town? ”

Huang Jiashan thought for a while and said, "It's okay, send someone to pass on the word." ”

In the next few days, there was an undercurrent surging in the capital, and the news that the Han Wei army was about to withdraw to the customs was spreading among the civil and military officials, and even ordinary people had heard of it, and there was a lot of discussion in the streets.

On this day, Ye Xianggao, the head of the cabinet, arrived in Tongzhou City, and Yuan Mingxuan and Sun Yuanhua, who stayed in Tongzhou Town, led all the officials of the General Military Office out of the city for ten miles to greet them.

Under the guidance of Yuan Mingxuan and Sun Yuanhua, Ye Xianggao inspected the situation of Juntun and Mintun, and went to the general division of Zhangjiawan Village to check the situation of military preparation. The crowd watched all day and did not return to Tongzhou City until evening.

After returning to the General Soldier's Mansion, Ye Xianggao said with relief: "Okay, with the hard work of all the gentlemen, all the affairs of Tongzhou Town are in order, no wonder General Liu can go north with peace of mind and break the Jiannu." ”

Yuan Mingxuan and Sun Yuanhua hurriedly said a few polite words.

Ye Xianggao took a sip of tea and said casually: "You generals Tongzhou Town is so good, and has accumulated so much grain, grass, and military equipment, I think General Liu will be very happy when he comes back, and he will be full of confidence when he goes north again in the future." ”

Yuan Mingxuan and Sun Yuanhua were stunned when they heard this, and hurriedly asked, "What does Elder Ge mean?" ”

Ye Xianggao was slightly stunned, and said with a smile: "Oh? Haha, it's nothing, the old man is just chatting, haha. ”

After speaking, Ye Xianggao put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Okay, it's not too early, the old man will go back first." You must make persistent efforts to govern Tongzhou Town for General Liu and the imperial court. ”

After Yuan Mingxuan and Sun Yuanhua sent Ye Xianggao away, they were very unsteady in their hearts, and they always felt that Ye Xianggao had something to say, and the joy of the victory of the thousand mountains dissipated a lot in an instant.

The two looked at Ye Xianggao's guard of honor, who was gradually moving away, and was just about to return to Tongzhou City with everyone, when they suddenly saw a person and a rider appear on the other side of the official road.

Yuan Mingxuan said: "Mr. Sun, look, that person seems to be a family member of Lord Li Linbin's house, I have met several times before. ”

Sun Yuanhua hurriedly looked over and said, "It's true! Not good! It seems that the war in Liaodong has really changed! ”