Seeing that Ling Chong had angered the emperor, Zhong Jishu, the general of the auxiliary state, immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is angry. Even though the prince's words were inappropriate, this report was only one side of the Zhenxi Army, and the old minister suggested that Xue Shouren of Anyuan Zhizhou be recalled immediately to verify whether it was true in detail. ”

"General Zhong is right." Shu Shi'an also stepped forward and opened his mouth. Seeing that Shu Shi'an, who had always been against him, also affirmed his words at this moment, Zhong Jishu couldn't help but show a hint of triumph. Unexpectedly, Shu Shi'an sent his words back in the next sentence, "But this Anyuan returned to Beijing, and Xue Shouren was a starry night, and it would take more than ten days." If the report of His Royal Highness is true, I am afraid that the war between the two countries will be revealed, and if we do not rush to send military salaries and materials, I am afraid that our northwest border will be in danger, and the South Vietnamese community will be in danger......"

"Shu Xiang also said too seriously, it's just a big town that lost some grain and grass and a slap, what if Ling Li lied about the military situation?" Ling Chong was unwilling, and opened his mouth to argue again.

"His Royal Highness the Prince, it is a matter of family and country, and the old minister does not dare to say it lightly. Take 10,000 steps back, even if General Ling Li lied about the military situation, should my 80,000 Zhenxi troops in South Vietnam freeze to death of starvation due to lack of food and clothing?! Shu Shi'an blocked Ling Chong's words, and then said to Emperor Chengde: "Your Majesty, the old minister suggested that while quickly deploying military salaries, grain and grass, Xue Shouren should be summoned back to the palace to report on his work and find out the truth of the matter. ”

Emperor Chengde couldn't be clearer about the discord between Ling Chong and Ling Li. Over the years, Ling Li has guarded the border, and the two have not intersected, but they have nothing to do with each other. He thought that after all, he was a flesh and blood brother, and it was time to leave the matter behind after so long, but he didn't expect that Ling Chong would take revenge on Ling Li by deducting military salaries and grass. As an elder brother and prince, Ling Chong's heart and stomach made him very disappointed.

"There is no need to discuss the matter of grain and grass, it must be delivered immediately." Emperor Chengde affirmed Shu Shi'an's proposal, and he looked around at everyone, "I urgently summoned you here to let everyone discuss how to deal with the large-scale invasion of the barbarians in Xili." ”

The privy envoy Pei Kehuai arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the matter to be dealt with should indeed be discussed after Xue Shouren returns to Beijing. Whether the barbarians were a planned large-scale invasion by the Xili Imperial Court, or a bandit attack due to the lack of food in the cold year, the nature of the two is different, and the way to deal with it is completely different......"

"What's the difference?" Shu Shi'an asked sideways.

"If the former is the case, the Xili court insists on going its own way and ignoring the peace agreement, and war between the two countries is inevitable; If the latter is the case, we can still send an envoy to negotiate and demand compensation from him......"

"Pei Zhiyuan, in the past few decades, have you heard of the precedent of compensation in Xili?" Shu Shi'an asked.

"In the past, there were no more than that, but now that we have 80,000 troops stationed on the border with North Korea, we may not be able to ask for compensation." Pei Kehuai said.

"It is precisely because I have 80,000 garrisons on the border, and the Xili barbarians dare to cross the Wuhua Ridge all the way from Xiqi Pass to Anyuan City, if you don't give them some color this time, I'm afraid that the Zhenxi Army will really become a joke, not only can't control the border, but also waste food, you might as well cut them all!" He Anguo, the general of Zhenguo, has always been a hard-line main battle faction, and he can't help it at the moment.

"Why is General He in such a hurry, the younger generation does not mean to oppose the war. However, once the war between the two countries starts, not to mention the disruption of people's livelihood and the huge consumption of the national treasury, the balance between the four countries must be considered. If I am unknown to the court, what will Bei Lin and Dong Xuan think? ”

"The grain and grass of our army were robbed, and a town was razed to the ground. He Anguo was so anxious that the bruises on his face appeared.

"Didn't His Royal Highness the Crown Prince already say it just now? It is uncertain whether the contents of this report are true......"

……

Emperor Chengde listened to the lawsuit. On the issue of war and peace, since the barbarians of Xili attacked the border, they have been fighting among these courtiers, each with their own opinions. In his opinion, Pei Kehuai's analysis is not unreasonable, but if he shows his attitude, he is afraid that this gang of main fighters will take Shuiyue Palace again.

Emperor Chengde simply waved his hand and interrupted the dispute among the courtiers, "That's it, I'm also lacking, and I'll wait for Xue Shouren to return to Beijing to discuss the matter." Please Shu Xiang arrange for Zhongshu Province to immediately draft a decree, first, to order Xue Shouren to return to Beijing to report on his work, and second, to immediately allocate military salaries to the household department. ”

"Obey." Shu Shi'an received the will and immediately retired.

Ling Chong seemed to have something to say, and Zhong Jishu tugged at his sleeve.

All the generals and ministers bowed and retired. Ling Chong had no choice but to retreat.

After leaving the Funing Palace, after everyone walked away, Zhong Jishu pulled Ling Chong to a corner of the palace wall to talk.

"Your Highness, don't worry, that Xue Shouren is the old minister's person, these days the old minister will arrange for someone to wait at the post station outside the city, if the person arrives, first invite him to sit on the old minister's mansion ......"

Ling Chong's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he praised: "It's still the father-in-law who is smart!" If you can't kill Ling Li's cheap seed this time, you have to let him lose his skin! ”

"Your Highness, be quiet, beware of the wall having ears." Zhong Jishu lowered his voice.

The two leaned in and whispered again before parting.

*********

On the East Street of Suzaku Temple, at the gate of King Zhao's Mansion, there is a carriage with goods running.

Two merchant-looking people carried a black lacquer box and entered the palace at night.

"You can count it, the prince has been waiting for a long time." As soon as the two entered the gate, a handsome man dressed in black came to pick them up with a lantern.

"Young Master Chu doesn't know, it has been snowing heavily in the northwest recently, and the two of us have rushed back with our lives hanging on the ice and snow all the way......"

"The two of them have worked hard, and the prince will reward them heavily!" The man surnamed Chu smiled and reassured, leading the two of them all the way across the courtyard and into the warm pavilion in the east wing.

Outside, the frost, wind and snow, as soon as you enter this warm pavilion, a luscious smell of ambergris will come to your face, which makes people feel like a spring breeze. On the brocade couch opposite the door, a person leaned against a book, looking at a book by the glass lamp next to the couch. The light is bright yellow, reflecting the face of the bookkeeper, the jade light flows, and the starry eyes are like an abyss.

"Lord Wang, Mr. Sun Zhi and Mr. Wang Xiu are back from the west!" The man surnamed Chu stood at the door and bowed.

Hearing this, Ling Zhao put down the scroll in his hand and sat up, "Yugu, please sit down with the two gentlemen and let the kitchen prepare some food to warm up." ”

"Don't worry, Yugu ordered when he went out to pick up the two gentlemen, and he will send them over in a while." Chu Yugu handed the lantern to the maid who was waiting for tea on the side, and led the two to sit down on a chair near the brocade couch.

"An hour and a half ago, my father received a report from An Yuan and was convening a meeting of important ministers. Your report with the Zhenxi Army is also on the front and back, and it is out! Ling Zhao took the jade pot on the wooden table next to the couch, ordered tea in the two white jade cups, and handed them to Sun and Wang one by one.