Chen Xuan took the case and reprimanded angrily: "You are fighting openly and secretly like this in normal times, so I won't ask too much for the time being, because your previous open and secret battles have not affected our current situation. But now, your infighting has seriously affected us to make the right strategic deployment. You know, now that the puppets have reached a precarious situation, if the situation is not handled well anytime and anywhere, the forces we have worked so hard to manage may be about to come to an end. Can you accept this outcome? Can you really want to lose something big?"

Chen Xuan's words were so heavy that the civil and military officials in front of him suddenly changed their faces, and they knelt on the ground one after another, among which Wang Ren and Xia Cheng's bodies were the most serious, and they trembled and said: "Your Highness, we are negligent, and I ask Your Highness to forgive us."

Chen Xuan didn't pay attention to Wang Ren and Xia Cheng's current words, but turned around and walked to an old man with crane hair and a childish face standing at the head of the right head, this old man's beard and hair were already gray, but he was wearing the most gorgeous and most noble black python robe, it was obvious that this old man was the highest-ranking official in the royal Chen family. This official is none other than Tong Meng, the prime minister in charge of government affairs in the Chen family of the current royal family.

Tong Meng is now nearly in his early sixties, and although he is quite old, his thoughts and ideas are completely beyond the reach of ordinary people. His mind is often able to find the most crucial of the most important things in the most important problems. Now the prime minister's main question to him is not only to use his prestige to deter Wang Ren and Xia Cheng, but more importantly, to hope that Tong Meng can give him a better opinion.

At the beginning, Tong Meng was the previous monarch of the country who left the country, that is, when Chen Xinyu's father first ascended the throne, he was already a very high-status official in the country, of course, he didn't know the current status of prime minister at that time. But he was still young after all, and many things were done relatively young and recklessly. One of the most notable things was that he strongly opposed Chen Xinyu's father's move of the capital out of the city and out of the control of the royal Chen family. Because he thought that it was not a very wise move to move the capital out of this place rashly at this time, but at that time, Chen Xinyu's father had made up his mind, and it was no longer something that Tong Meng could stop. Because of this incident, Tong Meng was imprisoned by Chen Xinyu's father and almost executed in prison. At that time, Chen Xuan's father, Chen Yong, the head of the Chen family of the royal family at that time, had a good relationship with Tong Meng, and privately rescued Tong Meng with the help of the power of the royal Chen family. Chen Yong, the head of the Chen family of the royal family, entrusted his son to Tong Meng before his death, and assisted Chen Xuan with three other ministers step by step towards the great cause of their royal Chen family.

Time has passed, and now nearly fifteen years have passed, Chen Xuan has also changed from a relatively young teenager to a middle-aged man, and Tong Meng has also become an old man with a childish face. However, Tong Meng's sharp observation and ability to see through the surface to the essence still did not change, and now Chen Xuan still trusted him very much, relying on him as his confidant. And Tong Meng is also because of his own self-cultivation, even if he is now nearly seventy years old, he is still in good health, although he has a lot of wives and concubines, but so far he has been able to cope with it freely, which is not a simple thing.

At this time, Tong Meng was also thinking about the reason why Qi State dispatched troops on such a large scale now, and he probably also had a guess about it. So, just as Chen Xuan asked him this question, Tong Meng arched his hand and said, "Your Highness, the information we have obtained now is not complete, so it is difficult to make a very simple judgment. But what the old minister can be sure of is that now the Qi State must have privately contacted the country and prepared to dispatch troops to attack the territory of our royal Chen family from two aspects. Although we successfully thwarted the offensive of leaving the country because of this battle on the Viku Plain, we also know that Empress Chen Xinyu of Shengde hated our royal Chen family because of her father, and she always felt that her father's death was the work of our royal Chen family. Therefore, she will definitely attack us by any means she has the opportunity. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to restrain the departure of the country with the help of the original agreement, and there is no need to think about this. Lao Chen is a little strange that the goal of Qi is obviously to attack Qicheng, but why is the current Qi army not left near Qicheng, there are only 10,000 troops here in Qicheng, and there are only 15,000 people stationed in Xiaoguan. In this way, there are no 50,000 troops, so, there are still 25,000, where did the main army of the Qi State go?" Speaking of this, Tong Meng arched his hand again and said, "Your Highness, I am more than 50% sure that the main army of the Qi State must have advanced along the coastline, and only take the Thorn City, where the garrison is not enough. Once Thorn City is lost, our last turnaround point may not be His Highness, so we have to think about the current result."

Tong Meng's words hit the nail on the head, and it was obvious that he had directly said all the words clearly, and the surrounding civil and military officials had already understood the meaning of Tong Meng's words, and the clear reason was that Tong Meng was also a person who had lived for nearly seventy years after all, and his observation and experience were incomparable to other officials. Even Chen Xuan had to admit that now Tong Meng's sight was much farther than his own.

As a result, Chen Xuan fell into deep thought, and Tong Meng's words were already very clear. He also agreed with Tong Meng's words, it is very likely that the Qi army will directly dispatch troops from here, sticking to the coastline of Shenghai and directly attacking Thorn City. And Chen Xuan now knows the situation in Thorn City, Zhao Ling led the five thousand troops in Thorn City to escort the first batch of new weapons on the way home. The defenders of Thorn City were only 5,000 men left, and it was impossible to resist the attack of the 25,000 Qi army. And whether it is the loss of Qicheng or Thorn City, it is an unacceptable consequence for the imperial Chen family. It is clear that the situation has reached a point where a crisis may arise at any time, and it is up to them to deal with the current problem.

Chen Xuan thought for a while, but after thinking about it, he turned around and asked Tong Meng in front of him: "Then according to the Prime Minister's opinion, what should we do now to find a way to get out of this predicament in front of us?"

Tong Meng had already expected that Chen Xuan would ask him this question, and he couldn't help but glance at the military attachés opposite him who didn't have any brains now, and then, Tong Meng turned around and said loudly: "Your Highness, the old minister has thought about the reason for this, and it is estimated that once we divide our troops and fight, we may be defeated by each one." His Royal Highness understands that Qicheng has been controlled by the Wang family since ancient times, and with the development of these years, the foundation of the Wang family is all over the place, including the great general Wang Ren in front of him, who is the son-in-law of the Wang family. If His Royal Highness listens to the old minister, it will be enough to send General Wang Ren to lead 5,000 troops south to support Qicheng. It is believed that General Wang Ren is enough to hold Qicheng, this is because the Qi army on the Qicheng side is not the main force, only 10,000 troops. In this way, we cooperate, and Qicheng also has 10,000 people to defend, which can ensure the safety of Qicheng. ”

"Then, against the main army of the Qi State that is advancing eastward to attack Thorn City, there are not many ways we can do now, I have two paths, please choose for yourself!"

"Let's hear it!" Chen Xuan nodded, the most urgent thing for him now was to learn some solutions to these problems in front of him from Tong Meng's mouth, maybe in this way he could solve the current dilemma. Internal and external troubles pressed on him at the same time, which really made him a little unable to think about it.

Tong Meng stretched out two fingers, and now even the original whispering voice in the entire Taiji Hall could no longer be heard. Everyone in the hall was listening intently to the words of Tong Meng in front of them. "The first thing is to immediately send a message to General Zhao Ling, asking him to lead the five thousand troops carrying new weapons to rush back to Thorn City overnight to garrison. I believe that with 10,000 troops and new weapons, coupled with the ability of General Zhao Ling, we will be able to save Thorn City without losing it; second, we will abandon Thorn City and withdraw all the troops of Thorn City back to garrison Luoxin County, so that although we have temporarily lost Thorn City, I believe that as long as we defeat Qi State, it will not be a problem to take it back. ”

"Actually," Tong Meng continued, "I don't think our real enemy now is actually the Qi State, the Qi State sent troops to two places at the same time, it seems that the formation is very large, but in fact, there is a bit of a bluff feeling in it. After all, it was the first time they had fought here, and the unfamiliarity with the place was a big no-no for the march. In addition, they have just occupied Xiao Pass, and the logistics supply line has not yet been fully established, so the threat to Qi is not great for us. I think the most important thing is the attitude of leaving the country now."

Chen Xuan stood up, slowly withdrew his hand, and said with a smile to Tong Meng in front of him: "I understand what the prime minister means, and I also understand Chen Xinyu's character, she is a person who must be revenged, especially when she thinks that we assassinated his father, and the hatred between her and us will only grow endlessly over time, and even now it has reached a situation where we don't share the sky." Although the military strength of the country has suffered heavy losses, we still must not take it lightly and pass on my orders!"

"Yes!" The civil and military officials in the audience knew that now Chen Xuan must have some conclusions. Sure enough, Chen Xuan said loudly: "General Wang Ren, lead the 5,000 troops of the Northern Battalion to the south to reinforce Qicheng, and at the same time issue a pigeon letter ordering the general Zhao Ling to immediately transfer back the army to reinforce Thorn City, and try to ensure that Thorn City cannot be lost." General Xia Cheng, commanding 10,000 people in the Beida Camp, reinforces Xicheng in the starry night, and defends the departing army from capturing Xicheng, but remember, don't rush into the army, just camp on the border line of the Viku Plain, and then wait for news from our side, and then consider whether to enter the country and leave the country" "Now, I hope you can work together with me to tide over this difficulty!"

"Obey Your Highness's orders!"