Although Lin Qingzhi could not enter the court, it was also a pity to learn from her father that Princess Singh was finally willing to be given the old emperor who could act as her father as a concubine in order not to affect her mother country, and it was a pity that she was buried in a deep palace in a foreign country in this form at the best age, but after hearing about her performance in the court today, Lin Qingzhi also felt deeply admired in her heart, and it was rare for a woman to have such a bearing.

Time flies, in a blink of an eye it is summer, and this year's summer is hotter than in previous years, the sun is scorching during the day, the whole Luoyang City is suffocating, even knowing that it seems to be unable to stand the hot weather and keep buzzing, the emperor can not stand the scorching weather, the summer retreat moved to the Xishan Palace, the Xishan Palace is built on the mountainside of the West Mountain fifty miles west of Luoyang, the green trees shade the shade, the Weishui goes around the mountain, the emperor even discusses the government in the West Mountain, which can be bitter for the officials of the last dynasty, every day five watches have to get up and freshen up and rush to the West Mountain, Ben came to the Luoyang Palace only half an hour away from this time will be an hour and a half, so the weather is already hot, these courtiers rushed to the Xishan Council Hall was already sweating profusely like taking a hot bath, poor no one dared to complain, after all, if it reached the emperor's ears, the black gauze hat on the top of the head would not be wanted.

At noon, a soaked, dusty man riding a red and brown horse galloped on the official road to Xishan, the horse's hooves galloped, rolling up dust, making the pedestrians on the side of the road cover their noses and avoid it, and the dust raised covered the damp hot and sticky liquid left along the horse's belly, until the Xishan Palace stopped drinking horses and delivered an urgent war report to the emperor, and the soldiers finally fell to the ground.

The emperor who was disturbed and got up before he woke up from a nap was already sleepy and depressed, and at this moment he saw the blood on the neck of the fallen soldier, the wound on his arm was already suppurated, and the pungent smell filled the entire palace, when the emperor finished reading the bloodstained battle report, his hands were already trembling irrepressibly, and he said in disbelief: "Chenzhou was lost, and the 200,000 troops of the Wuchu coalition army broke through the Longhu Pass in southern Xinjiang a month ago, and now it has reached the next section of a hundred miles away from Yucheng, and the city guards will abandon the city and flee, if there is no resistance, they will arrive at Yucheng in the near future, Yucheng is only two days away from Langzhou, if Langzhou is lost, the consequences are unimaginable. After saying that, the old emperor stumbled and fell to the ground.

Zhang Fu hurriedly helped Xiao Jingjiao up, and Emperor Jin took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down and arranged: "Quickly Xuanning Wang, Zuo Xiang and Li Chengqi, the secretary of the military department, and Yan Bi, the secretary of the household department, ordered them to come immediately, and said that there are 100,000 urgent important matters to discuss." ”

Zhang Fu took heavy steps to arrange for someone to pass the decree back to the palace, looking at the old emperor holding his forehead with a painful expression on his face, he was suddenly startled, and after passing the imperial doctor to see, he helped the emperor to lie on the soft couch paved with bamboo mats, and said gently: "Your Majesty, don't worry too much, this country affairs still need you to lead, don't have anything, even if there is a war ahead, you can share it with the strong and capable, you have to focus on the dragon body." ”

"Zhang Fu, you don't have to comfort me, in this entire court, only Zuo Xiang is capable of taking on this position of protection, but after all, he is old, and it is worrying whether he can be as invincible as when he was young. If there are people like him among my princes, there is hope that I will succeed me. The Emperor said with his pale eyes furrowed.

"You are still young, the prince and several princes have more experience, I believe you will be able to take charge alone." Zhang Fu shook a wide fan next to the emperor and said with relief, this old man who has served the emperor for more than ten years looks impartial on the surface, and the emperor will often confide in him some things, and it is precisely because of his impartial style of doing things that he can stand in the deep palace for more than ten years.

The emperor also knew that Zhang Fu could not give him practical advice, so he didn't say much, leaned on the couch and pretended to sleep, only to see that after a while, the guards outside the palace came in to report, King Ning, Zuo Xiang and the military department Shangshu, the household department of the four people have arrived, the emperor stood up from the couch and said: "Hurry up."

After a few people came in, they were already soaked, and the people who listened to the edict had roughly said why, and several people knew that it was because there were crimes in southern Xinjiang, so they were all heavy-faced, and after the salute, the emperor handed the blood-stained battle report to a few people, and after a while, he said directly: "Xuan a few people came because the Wu Chu coalition army invaded my southern Xinjiang, the Dragon and Tiger Pass was lost, and the next section guard will abandon the city and flee, if it will arrive in Langzhou within half a month at the current speed, if Langzhou is lost, it can drive straight into the hinterland of my Great Jin, then it is dangerous." ”

Lin Chengde said with a sad face: "Three months ago, Wu increased troops on the border of Chu State, it was originally under the guise of attacking Chu State, and actually wanted to collude with Southern Chu to invade my Jin State. ”

"The ambition of the wolf son of Wu State, disturbing the sight of my Jin State with his own envoys, and then sending troops unexpectedly in southern Xinjiang, the insidious means are despicable, and the sons and daughters are willing to go together, please allow your father." Xiao Mufeng knelt on the ground and said earnestly.

The emperor did not answer Lin Chengde and Xiao Mufeng's words, but swept his eyes to Li Chengqi, the secretary of the military department, and asked: "The ministers will use all means to gather soldiers, and the 200,000 soldiers of the Protector Army plus 100,000 of the Red Feather Battalion can be called, a total of 300,000 can be mobilized, and the ministers will strive to assemble within five days, but, all this needs to be supported by enough grain and grass." After Li Chengqi finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Yan Bi, the head of the household department.

"Your Majesty, last year, there were floods and droughts in various places, the harvest was not good, and now it is not yet the autumn harvest season, the national treasury is only 20 million taels of silver, and the grain storage is only less than 20,000 stones, if necessary, it can only be transferred from the state capitals, but I am afraid that the time for this transfer will be ......" Yan Bi hesitated and hesitated.

"Zuo Xiang, this is a long way to go to southern Xinjiang, 300,000 soldiers, how much grain and grass do you need to be enough?" The emperor also knew that there was no point in losing his temper at this time, so he could only try his best to think of a solution, and his eyes were full of hope when he looked at Lin Chengde.

"300,000 soldiers will go to southern Xinjiang in half a month at the earliest, and if they don't fight a protracted war, they will need at least 30,000 stone of grain and grass." Lin Chengde pondered in his heart for a moment.

"Lin Bi, I give you five days, no matter what method you use, you must find a way to gather 30,000 stones of grain and grass for me, if you can't do it, come and see you." Xiao Jingjiao said sharply, Lin Bi on the side was full of panic but didn't dare to defend himself, because the emperor became more and more moody as he grew older, and at this time, he was asking for hardship when he hit the muzzle of the gun.

The emperor has not replied to Xiao Mufeng's request to join the army, so Xiao Mufeng on the side showed eagerness, Lin Chengde turned his face and glanced at him, leaned over and knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, the minister has an idea, I don't know whether to say it or not." ”

After getting the emperor's permission, he said slowly: "This time Wu Chu co-invaded my Great Jin, the minister thinks that all the soldiers should not be gathered in southern Xinjiang, the Khitan has been eyeing me for a long time, if you come to attack at this time, there are only 100,000 soldiers in the north, not to mention that the Khitan is brave and good at fighting, if a large number of soldiers and horses rush to southern Xinjiang, then far away water can not quench the thirst, then the Great Jin is in danger, so the minister asked to call 200,000 soldiers and horses of the Protector Army, and the Red Feather Battalion will not be called for the time being, please allow the emperor." ”

The emperor, who stroked his beard and pondered, said firmly after a cup of tea: "According to the will of the left minister, the left minister will be the general of the southern expedition, and the national protection army will be at your disposal, and the troops will be sent to southern Xinjiang in five days." ”