Li Xuanba wanted to develop peacefully in Jiangdu, recuperate and wait for the opportunity, but some people obviously did not want to watch him grow, after all, the Jianghuai area was a rich place, and the forces attracted were not the Nan Sui family.

After the death of Yang Guang, Shen Faxing led 60,000 elite soldiers to connect Yuhang, Biling and other counties in the name of crusading against Yu Wenhua, and after Yang Gao became the emperor, Shen Faxing was called a minister, but he stared at Jiangdu with fierce eyes, which can be said to be Sima Zhao's heart. However, since Yang Tong came to Jiangdu, Shen Faxing has been much more honest, and even sent envoys to express his friendship.

Compared with Shen Faxing, Li Zitong is much more direct, he garrisoned Hailing, a stone's throw away from Jiangdu, Yu Wenhua and the front foot just left, he often harassed Jiangdu, so that the people did not dare to go out of the city, and could only barely survive by storing grain.

"The city wall of Jiangdu is strong and thick, Li Zitong did not dare to attack the city rashly, so he deliberately delayed the time to wait for Jiangdu to run out of grain and grass, and his intentions can not be described as sinister." Chen Ling is old, and he also enjoys the treatment of sitting in the court, and when discussing how to protect the people from harvesting rice, he said respectfully: "If there is no harvest this time, the people are only afraid that they will not survive this winter, and the stakes are very high. ”

Li Jing and Yuwen Chengdu have already led the army back to Jiangdu, and Nan Sui and Li Zitong have the strength to fight, but Li Xuanba suggested that the army guard Jiangdu, and only send more than 10,000 soldiers to escort the people to harvest rice, which falls in the eyes of others, and undoubtedly feels that Li Xuanba is too arrogant.

"The soldiers of the Xingyang Army are brave in battle, and they can all use one as ten on the battlefield, Li Zitong is not more than 100,000 people, and Xuanba sends 10,000 troops is enough." Li Xuanba's answer was indeed very arrogant.

When Chen Ling heard this, he couldn't help frowning, if it weren't for Yang Tong still sitting on the dragon chair, he was afraid that he would get up and reprimand Li Xuanba fiercely, the reason why he was able to maintain his composure was because he believed that Yang Tong and other civil and military officials would not approve of Li Xuanba's idea.

"The strength of the Xingyang Army. I do know that since Zhou Guogong is so confident, then you will lead the army to protect the people and collect grain. Yang Tong hesitated for a moment, the corners of his mouth curled evilly, quickly returned to normal, and said with a smile: "The safety of the imperial court is pinned on you." Don't let me down. ”

Although Yang Tong's smile was fleeting, it still fell in the eyes of many people, and the hearts of those officials of the Jiangnan Shi clan sank, and secretly said Could it be that His Majesty had the intention of taking the opportunity to get rid of Zhou Guogong? They wisely chose to keep silent and wait for the situation to develop.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks what Zhou Guogong said is inappropriate." Li Jing came out of the ranks, ignored Li Xuanba's angry eyes, bowed down and played: "The art of war is cloudy: arrogant soldiers will be defeated." Zhou Guogong did not understand the strength of Li Zitong's thief army, so he made such a decision rashly. Weichen really disagreed. ”

"General Li, do you believe in this father's ability?" Li Xuanba said in a cold voice.

"Childe, your move is indeed too risky." Fang Xuanling flashed out from behind Li Xuanba, whispered to Li Xuanba, and then bowed down to Yang Tong and said, "Your Majesty, I hope you will withdraw the edict and think about it in the long run." ”

"Zhou Guogong, even the Shangshu and Zhongshu Orders of the Ministry of War do not approve of your decision. I think you need to rethink. Yang Tong said lightly.

Li Xuanba glanced at Li Jing and Fang Xuanling coldly, and arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty." Weichen only needs 5,000 soldiers, and he will be able to protect the people! When Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling and others heard this, they surrounded Li Xuanba and persuaded them with gossips, but Li Xuanba was unmoved and looked at Yang Tong calmly.

"Good! Zhou Guogong really has courage! The smile on Yang Tong's face was even stronger. He clapped his hands and praised: "The soldiers of the three armies are chosen by you at will, and I will give you 8,000 elite soldiers, and I will definitely stop Li Zitong from attacking!" ”

"Weichen obeys the order" Li Xuanba replied, and then turned to Yuwen Chengdu and Pei Yuanqing and said: "Two generals, you each choose four thousand soldiers. Out of town in three days! If someone fails to arrive, military law will deal with it! ”

Yuwen Chengdu and Pei Yuanqing were silent for a long time, looked up at Yang Tong, but saw Yang Tong looking at them gloomily, and replied helplessly: "Obey the edict of Zhou Guogong." ”

"Your Majesty, since there is nothing to do, Weichen will retire first." Li Xuanba nodded with satisfaction, arched his hand casually towards Yang Tong, and without waiting for Yang Tong to speak, he strode out of the hall.

Yang Tong's face became even more ugly, and the hand on the dragon case was clenched into a fist, and he suddenly realized something, withdrew his fists, and ordered to retreat

"It's really loyal and treacherous, I thought that Zhou Guogong was a loyal minister, but I didn't expect to turn his face with His Majesty for a servant, the court is really eventful!" Out of the main hall, an old minister sighed, and all the officials of the Jiangnan clan around him were around.

"Lord Ming, do you know that the servant girl of Zhou Guogong is not a real servant, but the concubine of Zhou Guogong. Your Majesty has reached the age of marriage, and it is a matter of course to choose a concubine, but Jiangdu is as beautiful as a cloud, but His Majesty has taken a fancy to the maidservant, and Zhou Guogong will naturally feel that this is His Majesty's provocation. Another middle-aged minister replied.

"Even if that maid is the concubine of Zhou Guogong, since Your Majesty takes a fancy to it, then he should also endure the pain of love." Someone said dissatisfiedly: "During this period of time, he appeased the people, rebuilt the national prison, and made the court have vitality, but in the end, for a woman who was not enough, he caused discord between the monarch and the minister, which is really stupid." ”

"Lord Lu should be careful when he speaks, the wall has ears." The middle-aged minister from before made a silent gesture, looked at the distant Zhongyong Mansion faction, and said: "What you just said, if it falls into the ears of Zhou Guogong, the consequences will be unimaginable, he even dares to contradict His Majesty, what are you counting in his eyes?" ”

"Thank you, Lord Qi, for reminding me." The official, surnamed Lu, arched his hand as a sign of gratitude.

"Zhou Guogong intends to lead 5,000 elite soldiers against Li Zitong, and His Majesty will give 3,000 more, which seems to be thoughtful, but in fact it has no effect." The group walked and chatted, and Master Ming sighed: "Fighting head-on with 100,000 thieves, what is the difference between 5,000 and 8,000?" Unless Zhou Guogong sneaks attack, it would be good if half of these 8,000 soldiers could come back. ”

"The imperial court has conscripted Li Zitong many times, but he is still alive and well, which shows that this person has some ability in leading the army, and Zhou Guogong wants to sneak attack, how easy is it to say?" A general frowned and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of the imperial court, why don't we go to the Zhongyong Mansion together to persuade Zhou Guogong?" ”

"He didn't even listen to the advice of Zhongshuling and others, how could he listen to you?" Someone shook his head and said, "Besides, if we persuade Zhou Guogong back, I'm afraid that some people will be unhappy." ”

"After all, the imperial court is His Majesty's imperial court, although Zhou Guogong has worked hard, we can only stand on His Majesty's side this time." The Ming Lord sighed again, shook his head, and said, "I'll wait and see what happens." (To be continued.) )