There has been nothing for many days, and the court situation has gradually stabilized, and above the Dazhao court, the scene of verbal swords and swords is staged every day.

It was the early dynasty again, and the ministers were still on the way to the Taiji Palace, but they heard a very rapid sound of horses' hooves coming from the long street behind them, and the people on the horse shouted loudly: "Eight hundred miles northwest of the urgency, all pedestrians get out of the way!" ”

shouted several times, and his tone was very eager.

When the ministers heard this, their hearts were all in a daze, and they trotted all the way to the Taiji Palace.

In the Taiji Palace, the ministers were silent. Only the 100,000 soldiers of the Ministry of War hurriedly said: "Your Majesty! A few days ago, the Northern Qin, Uighurs, and Tiele joined forces to raise troops to commit our Great Zhao! The defenders were caught off guard, and when the report was issued...... Zhenyuan Pass has been lost, and the defenders have been wiped out! ”

Before the words fell, the ministers were shocked.

The emperor instantly took the case, and said sharply: "Zhenyuan Pass is the gate of my Great Zhao Country, and if Zhenyuan Pass is out of line, Great Zhao is in danger!" The 168 military mansions in the northwest are powerless to resist, what do I want them to do! Where is the general of the Ming Ce Army!? ”

The emperor's angry voice echoed inside and outside the main hall, but no one answered.

After a while, the hussar general He Fangping clenched his fists and said: "Your Majesty, the general of the Ming Ce Army has returned to his hometown a few days ago, and the new candidate has not yet been decided. ”

"Why not!" The emperor was immediately furious, and asked sharply: "Who is in charge of the Ming Ce Army now!?" ”

Why not? Many people know why, of course, because He Fangping and Li Zhizhang are still fighting, and both sides are still stumbling on each other, trying their best not to let the other party's people go up. Although everyone knew it, no one stood up to speak.

At this time, Li Zhizhang, the general of the auxiliary state, came out: "Your Majesty, the Ming Ce Army is now in charge of the deputy general Gongsun Ji. Does Your Majesty want this person to be a great general? ”

"Gongsun Ji?" The emperor shook his head and denied, "This person is only good at talking on paper, if you want to go to the northwest, you need to choose another candidate!" ”

Li Zhizhang's eyes turned left and right, bowed down and said, "There is a candidate for the minister, I don't know ......."

"Say!"

Li Zhizhang immediately said loudly: "Wang Zhaoling, the general of Jinwuwei, was born in the northwest and is in the prime of life. Over the years, the army has been strictly governed and led the army well. The minister implored His Majesty to make him the general of the Ming Ce Army, and immediately lead the army to the northwest to recover Zhenyuan Pass! ”

After Li Zhizhang finished speaking, the emperor looked at He Fangping again, "What does He Qing think of Li Qing's proposal?" ”

He Fangping pondered for a moment, and Fang said, "The minister thinks that this may be a good proposal. ”

The emperor heard that He Fangping did not express any objections, so he waved his hand and agreed, "Quasi-play." He looked at Wang Zhaoling again, and directly ordered, "Wang Zhaoling, I have named you the general of the Ming Ce Army, and you will immediately organize your troops and horses and go to the northwest, and you will inevitably defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!" If you lose this battle, come and see you. ”

Wang Zhaoling knelt on one knee and clenched his fists to receive the order, "Minister, lead the order!" ”

Xi Yan lowered his head and listened quietly, with an imperceptible sarcasm on his lips, at such a time, the two generals were still thinking about the struggle for power.

It is a taboo for soldiers to change generals in battle, and the most appropriate way to do this time is to issue an edict to recall the general of the original Ming Ce Army. Li Zhizhang struck first and snatched the position of the general of the Ming Ce Army into his own hands. Although He Fangping pushed the boat along the river, he secretly harbored a ghost in his heart, and only hoped that Wang Zhaoling would be defeated, so that he could use this to suppress Li Zhizhang.

Xi Yan pondered the intentions of the two generals and secretly shook his head in regret. Xi Yuanshan, Situ He and others also showed expressions worth thinking about.

At this time, a eunuch came to report, "Your Majesty, Huan Guohou please see!" ”

"Huan Guohou?" The emperor reacted for a moment, and immediately ordered, "Quickly Xuan!" ”

The military marquis who has not been in the court for many years suddenly asked to meet, and many courtiers have begun to whisper, "Huan Guohou is the most familiar with the military affairs of the northwest, but he has been away from the government for many years. ”

Outside the hall, an inner supervisor pushed a wheelchair and slowly walked among the hundred officials, across the hall steps, Xi Luan arched his hand and said: "Minister Xi Luan, see Your Majesty!" ”

Xi Yan looked at his brother, and only heard Xi Luan say: "The minister heard that the enemy knocked on the gate in the mansion, so he came to ask for a meeting." ”

"What is Huan Guohou's opinion?" Seeing that it was Xi Luan coming, the emperor's complexion soothed slightly.

"The minister thinks that the Ming Ce army alone is not enough to solve the crisis in the northwest." Xi Luan's voice was clear, and he said, "The Zhenyuan Pass has been broken, and the Western Regions Coalition Army can take advantage of the Zhenyuan Pass to drive straight into Xiajin." Therefore, the minister thought that he should send another person who was familiar with the military affairs of the northwest to the northwest to integrate the forces of various military offices, take the lead in recovering Shuiluo, and force the coalition forces back into the pass. Relying on Shangjin and Huai'an, the convenience of supply between the two prefectures is steady and steady. The Ming Ce army crossed the Zishui River, made a detour to the Jialu River, and cut off the enemy's retreat from the flank path, thus annihilating them in one fell swoop. ”

This argument is refreshing, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty all cast admiring glances at Xi Luan, only He Fangping said with a hesitant face: "Huan Guohou's words are conclusive, but how can you know that Jialuchuan has a trail leading to the Zhenyuan Pass?" ”

Xi Luan was still unfazed, and said quietly: "Twelve years ago, the King of Liao and I were besieged in the Zhenyuan Pass, and it was because we discovered this trail that we were able to escape, so I was very impressed. It's just that the trail is rugged and difficult, and the team passes quite a test. ”

Hearing Huan Guohou say this, the court suddenly fell silent, everyone knew what happened in the Zhenyuan Pass twelve years ago, and everyone knew that the people who were alive back then are all prominent ministers today...... It can be said that the Zhenyuan Pass back then was the place where the blood pool hell was. It was precisely because of that time that Xi Luan, who was only twenty-four years old at the time, was able to be crowned a marquis.

But Xi Luan's proposal made the emperor think about it for a long time......

It was not that the emperor did not believe in Huan Guohou, nor did he oppose this method of warfare. It's just that over the years, the military affairs of the Northwest have been in the hands of the Jing family. If Jing Yuan is still alive, he may still be a good candidate. But now that the Jing family has been destroyed, people who are familiar with the military affairs of the northwest and reassure themselves...... It's just too little.

Thinking of this, the emperor's eyes as he looked at the Manchu civil and military forces were full of confusion.

After a while, the emperor spoke again: "Situ Zhu...... You are now the secretary of the Ministry of War, and you once went to the northwest to quell the turmoil, although you have not been to the northwest in these years, but you have been in the Ministry of War. If I let you go this time, would you be willing to take on this heavy responsibility? ”

Situ Zhu almost did not hesitate to bow to the ground, "The minister will live up to His Majesty's trust!" ”

"Well," the emperor bowed slightly, "Since the Liao King and Huan Guohou quelled the Shuiluo Rebellion twelve years ago, although you have not had much contact with the military affairs of the Northwest, you have never really stayed away, and you must not be unfamiliar." Assist the Ming Ce Army in this matter...... You're going to have to do it. ”

Speaking of this, the emperor squinted at Situ Zhu, "Situ Zhu, speaking of which, you also have a share of credit for quelling the Shuiluo rebellion back then." Now go to the northwest again, and make meritorious deeds again. ”

"Yes," Situ Zhu saluted again, and then took the order.

After retreating from the court, Xi Yuanshan asked Xi Luan, "You have ignored the government for many years, why did you pour it out today?" ”

Xi Luan bowed his head slightly and responded: "When the national disaster is at the head, eat the monarch and solve the worries for the monarch." ”

Xi Yuanshan also agreed with his statement, so he didn't ask any more questions, but said: "I wanted to go to Hefu for your brother in the next few days to propose marriage, but now it seems that this marriage has to be postponed." ”

Before Xi Luan could speak, Xi Yan objected first: "Father! I don't agree with ......"

"Shut up," Xi Yuanshan scolded, "I'm talking to your eldest brother, what are you talking about!" Go back to your Begonia Courtyard. ”

Xi Luan smiled slightly, and said casually: "It doesn't matter if you slow down or not, it's up to you to decide this matter after all." ”