The white-faced and beardless eunuch had a hint of hesitation in his eyes, and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, there are indeed such rumors that have spread from Jiannan Road, whether it is true or not, the slave maid does not know. ”

Emperor Zhou's face was gloomy and fell silent.

Of course, he could see such a clumsy discord plan.

But.

Shan Xin's strategy of sticking to the city and not going out in the past few months really disgusted him.

In his eyes, Qianguo is just the smallest country, and it is useless except for a larger area.

Grain, grass, silver, and troops are all inferior to the imperial court!

It's just that relying on the advanced weapons, they are rampant in the territory of the Great Zhou, which is really rampant!

Shan Xin sat on an army of 200,000 and wiped out the rebels in just three months.

It stands to reason that morale is at full strength, and it may not be impossible to drive the white army back to Qianguo with a single blow.

At this time, he chose to stick to Jianbei Road.

Three months ago, the news came back to Jingshi, and he was able to tolerate it.

After all, Shan Xin doesn't know enough about Bai Qi, so it's not a bad thing to be cautious.

However, now that three months have passed, and still sticking to the city, isn't it equivalent to giving up more than a dozen prefectures in Jiannan Road and Yongzhou?

That's it.

Emperor Zhou looked at the eunuch on the side and ordered, "Let Wang Zhi see me." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The eunuch saluted and turned to leave.

A moment later.

Wang Zhi, the eunuch of the celebrant and the commander of the East Factory, came to the front of Emperor Zhou, stood upright, and saluted respectfully: "Slaves and maids see Your Majesty!" ”

Emperor Zhou looked at him and asked, "Does Dongchang have a single new living record?" ”

Wang Zhidao: "Back to Your Majesty, only last month." ”

"Show it to me."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhi saluted, turned around and left, and after a while, he took the living records of the East Factory about Shan Xin.

Emperor Zhou stretched out his hand to take it and browsed it from top to bottom.

The more I looked, the more gloomy my my face became.

Seeing the end, he finally couldn't bear it anymore, slapped the table, and said angrily:

"The commander of the 200,000 army is just drinking tea and painting every day! What do I want him to do! ”

Wang Zhi stood in front of him, his body trembled, and he stopped talking.

Emperor Zhou was in a state of anger and didn't notice this, but said: "Wang Zhi, do you think Shan Xin can take on the heavy responsibility of resisting cadres!" ”

As the admiral of Dongchang, Wang Zhi should not interfere in the government affairs, and he is not qualified to evaluate the dignified general Zhennan.

But since His Majesty the Emperor asked, he could not pretend that he did not hear.

He hesitated for a moment, then replied:

"The slave doesn't understand military matters, but the slave thinks that since General Shan can make the rebels frightened, he should have some skills."

When Emperor Zhou heard this, he frowned invisibly.

It's just such a subtle action, but Wang Zhi is keenly aware of it.

He didn't hesitate at all, and then said: "The slave maid also thinks that the soldiers of the Qianguo country may not be stronger than the rebels in various places, but General Shan chose to stop, a little too cautious. ”

The voice fell.

He clearly saw that Emperor Zhou's brows relaxed, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart.

"I heard that after the cadres captured Jiannan Road, they re-registered and allocated fields according to 20 acres for men and 10 acres for women.

Wang Zhi hurriedly said: "Back to Your Majesty, there is indeed such a thing." ”

After receiving an affirmative answer, Emperor Zhou actually felt a little emotional.

The court fell into the current situation, and the root cause was his implementation of the New Deal, and the rebellions in various places were mainly due to the equal tax on square fields and the apportionment of land into the mu in the New Deal.

It did harm the interests of the gentry, but in any case, the land was returned to the gentry.

When the cadres came, they did even more desperately, directly distributing the gentry's fields to the ordinary people.

I don't know if the gentry of Jiannan Province experienced such a thing and regretted the rebellion back then.

Thinking of this, Emperor Zhou looked at Wang Zhi and asked with some curiosity: "How did the gentry of Jiannan Dao deal with it?" ”

In any case, some of Bai Qi's subordinates were soldiers of the Jiannan Provincial Guard, and these people were under the control of the gentry.

When Wang Zhi heard this question, his expression became a little strange, and he replied: "As far as the slave maid knows, on the second day after the Qianren issued the proclamation, a group of gentry were raided, and the remaining gentry obediently gave up their fields and did nothing. ”

After receiving such an answer, Emperor Zhou was stunned at first, and then showed a trance.

The gentry's reaction can only be said to be unexpected and reasonable.

"It turns out that the best way to deal with these gentry is to kill them directly."

Emperor Zhou was silent for a long time, and then asked: "The soldiers of the Jiannan Daowei Station, as well as the families raised by the gentry, do not have any resistance?" ”

Wang Zhi hesitated for a moment and replied: "After Bai Qi captured Jiannan Road, he dismissed Sancheng's guards on the spot, and Sancheng was incorporated into logistics, and only Sancheng was really used for combat. ”

Speaking of which, after a pause, he continued:

"And the guards of the guard have all been given their own fields."

There is no doubt that the soldiers who were assigned to the fields were eager for Jiannan Dao to be led by the Qianguo forever, so how could they make a counterattack.

“”

When Emperor Zhou heard this, he was speechless for a while.

After thinking for a while, he showed a solemn look on his face, and said in a deep voice: "Let the Hanlin Academy draft an article, which says that after the Qianren captured Jiannan Dao, they burned, killed and looted, and did all kinds of evil, and all the fields were occupied by the Qianren and published in the Great Zhou Monthly. ”

There is no doubt that such an article has two sides.

On the one hand, it is equivalent to admitting that the eldest princess of Zhou surrendered to the enemy, and the army she commanded was actually the army of the Qianren, and the land she captured was actually occupied by the Qianren.

Before that.

The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty actually did not know the essence of this war very well.

I only think that there are rebels in Jiannan Dao, and in the name of Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, they are confronting the imperial court.

On the other hand, it will make the gentry and the common people of all provinces resentful of the cadres, actively respond to the call of the imperial court, donate people and money, and facilitate future wars.

At the same time, it will send a signal to all countries that from now on, Zhou and Qian will officially go to war!

"The slave understands."

When Wang Zhi heard this, he hurriedly saluted.

Zhou Huang sat on the dragon chair, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then he didn't know what he thought, and his expression became a little complicated, and he looked like he wanted to say something.

Seeing this, Wang Zhi immediately had a guess in his heart, and the only one who could make His Majesty want to stop talking was Her Royal Highness the eldest princess.

As soon as such a thought came to mind, I heard Emperor Zhou speak slowly.

"Can the East Factory find out the identity of the woman in Yanbei Mansion?"

Wang Zhi hesitated for a moment, and decided to answer truthfully: "Back to Your Majesty, several spies all feel that the appearance of the woman in Yanbei Mansion is the same as the portrait of Her Royal Highness the eldest princess. ”

Although this sentence does not give an affirmative answer, it is not much worse.

When Emperor Zhou heard this, he couldn't help but sigh.

In fact, as early as two or three months ago, when he heard the news that the eldest princess led the army to the king, he already had a rough judgment.

After all, three years ago, his means of seizing the throne really broke this sister's heart.

It is also human nature that she wants to take revenge on her with the help of Qianguo's army.

It's just that Emperor Zhou didn't expect that the Empress of Qianguo and the Prime Minister of Qianguo really followed his sister's advice and were bold enough to send troops to invade the Great Zhou.

They didn't expect that they would allow their sister to leave Chang'an and set foot on the land of the Great Zhou.

In this way, his sister does have some means.

Side.

Wang Zhi saw Emperor Zhou's stunned face, hesitated for a moment, and said: "The spies sent by the slave maid, after all, have not seen the true face of Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, and they can't judge a person's identity just by looking at the portrait.

The slave maid has led the commander of Dongchang for many years, and has seen many people with similar appearances, as long as they dress up a little, they can fascinate the eyes of people next to the lake.

Therefore, the slave maid felt that as far as the evidence she had so far was not enough to determine that the woman in Yanbei Mansion was Her Royal Highness the eldest princess. ”

These words are well-founded and convincing.

Emperor Zhou glanced at him, wanted to say something, but felt that it was unnecessary, but said: "Let the Hanlin Academy draft an article again, just say that Emperor Qianhuang imprisoned my eldest princess of Great Zhou, and in the name of the eldest princess, blatantly invaded my Great Zhou, which is really not a human king!"

Together with the previous article, it was published in the monthly magazine of the Great Week. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhi saluted respectfully.

Emperor Zhou sat on the dragon chair, pondered for a while, and finally made up his mind, looked at Wang Zhi, and commanded with a solemn face:

"Go to the cabinet, let the scholars discuss it, write an essay on the Qianguo, and announce it to the world at the right time."

At this point, there is no point in not going to war, it is nothing more than a fig leaf covering the faces of the imperial courts, which is harmful and unprofitable.

Wang Zhi saluted again: "The slave understands. ”

"Let's go down."

"The slave and maid are gone."

After Wang Zhi left.

Only Emperor Zhou and the palm print eunuch who served beside him were left in the Qianqing Palace.

The atmosphere fell silent.

I don't know how long it took.

Emperor Zhou couldn't help but think of the tall and slender figure in his mind, looked in the direction of Chang'an, and let out a leisurely sigh.

Three days later.

At the behest of Emperor Zhou, the Hanlin Academy's articles soon spread throughout the Zhou Kingdom.

The whole Zhou Kingdom, whether it was the gentry or the common people, was all resentful.

Qianguo: What is that?

The smallest country that paid reparations to the imperial court a year ago!

His Majesty the Emperor was benevolent to them, not only took the initiative to stop the war, but also married Her Royal Highness the eldest princess!

As a result, it was exchanged for the grace of the dry people, and the revenge will be taken!

Imprison Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, send troops to invade in the name of Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, take advantage of the danger of people, and capture Jiannan Road.

In the land of Jiannan Road, burning, killing and looting, all kinds of evil.

These dry people are just brutes!

A bunch of pigs and dogs are not as good as something!

After the anger, many people pointed the finger at the generals who led the troops in the imperial court.

"What do those generals eat! On weekdays, he received a lot of money, and when he used them, he hid one by one and became a shrunken turtle! ”

"Didn't the imperial court send 200,000 troops to quell the rebellion! Where are these 200,000 troops? Don't hurry up and destroy those dry people! ”

"Although Lao Tzu has no money and no food, if the court fights with the Qianguo, Lao Tzu will definitely rush to the front!"

"Our Great Zhou soldiers are strong and strong, and it is a shame to let the Qianguo occupy the land! Wretch! ”

"Burning, killing and looting, doing all kinds of evil, just eight words, how many wives are scattered behind it, flesh and blood are separated, and the dry people are barbarian!"

After almost a year of development.

Although the Great Zhou Monthly is not as popular as the Jiangyue tabloid, it has also penetrated into every corner of the Zhou Kingdom.

Whether it is a storyteller in a teahouse or a poor and sour talent on the side of the road, they will read the newspaper at a fixed time.

Every time you read the newspaper, you can attract a large number of people to watch, and when you read it, you will receive some rewards.

When you get tired of reading, someone will take over.

Therefore, even though the people of Da Zhou were illiterate, they still knew about the atrocities of the cadres in Jiannan Road, and they were filled with righteous indignation.

Some well-informed businessmen listened to it and subconsciously retorted.

"How did I hear that after the Qianren captured Jiannan Province, not only did they not slaughter the city, but they gave the people land?"

In this way, it often attracts a group of people to attack before it is finished.

"The news published by the imperial court can still be fake?"

"A group of barbarians in Qianguo, expecting them not to slaughter the city, they have already burned high incense and divided the fields? You've got a lake in your head, right? ”

"At this time, you are still speaking for the Qianren, you are a Zhou person, or a Qianren!"

"Zhou Rape! Cheap! Bah! ”

Although the people are angry, there are different opinions in the court.

Some people feel that the Qianren should indeed make a tough counterattack when they capture Jiannan Road, but the other side should be cautious if they have weapons such as artillery.

After all, knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent is invincible.

Some people also feel that the imperial court has an army of 200,000 in Jianbei Province, and Bai Qi has only 50,000 troops under him, even if he has artillery in his hand, he cannot be the opponent of the imperial court!

The two groups of people argued endlessly in the court, each with its own reason.

Emperor Zhou never expressed his attitude.

It's just that.

A few days after the meeting, news would spread in the newspapers that some of the princes in the court did not approve of counterattacking the Qianguo with the strength of the whole country.

Although it is a rumor, it is very accurate.

There is no doubt that the ministers who do not approve of the counterattack against the Qianguo will suddenly become the ones who are lost by the public, and they will have no choice but to express their attitude in the newspapers.

Within a few days, there was only one voice left in the entire court, giving a tough counterattack to the army of Qianguo!

Hence this.

It has become a logical thing to withdraw and replace the new order.

The one who took over Shan Xin to command the 200,000 army was Zhao Ping, the Marquis of Jing'an, who had led his troops to capture Yongzhou!

The news of the change of generals in the Zhou State soon spread to Jiannan Dao.

In the camp of the great army.

Bai Qi is still studying the map as usual.

It's just that this time, what is in front of him is no longer just the map of the southern part of the Zhou Kingdom, but the map of the entire territory of the Zhou Kingdom!

"Capture Jianbei Dao, there is a plain behind it, and the only remaining threat is the Tiger Army!

The day of the destruction of the Tiger Ben Army is the time when the Zhou State falls! ”

Bai Qi thought so, and a fine light burst out in his sharp eyes.

Right now.

A slightly excited voice came from outside the door.

"Humble to see the general!"

"Enter!"

The general walked into the tent, looked at Bai Qi, showed excitement on his face, and arched his hand:

"General! News came from the first village that the enemy's main general was replaced by Zhao Ping from Shan Xin! ”