Inside the blacksmith's shop.

Squatting by the fireside, Ouyang Rong, who rolled up his sleeves hotly, did not look back for the first time.

Learned of Khufu's sudden return.

He didn't immediately ask Yan Liulang for details.

But Ouyang Rong knew.

Roughly what it will be.

Because it was the third worst outcome he could think of among the thousands of possibilities he had deduced in his mind.

First of all, Ouyang Rong feels that he needs to have a very clear understanding of the current situation.

The return of 1,500 soldiers from Guizhou to the north was a violent mutiny after the contradictions were ignited.

Even if it is a tornado that is subtly instigated by the embezzlement of military salaries to build the Great Buddha and the brutal and harsh treatment of the local governor.

But from the point of view of the rulers of the court, it was essentially a mutiny, without the slightest excuse for embellishment.

It is not possible to have half a bit of warmth.

The real question is only how to quell this unexpected mutiny.

In the previous letter from his mentor Xie Xun, the faintly mentioned meeting of the Emperor after the cane, the Baoli faction, the Wei clan, and the neutral courtiers had a fierce dispute over this.

Wei stands in the interest position of the so-called national policy of continuing to promote the center and statues, as well as the perspective of protecting Lan Changhao, Wang Lengran and other refugeers.

Therefore, it was determined that it was a malicious return to the hometown, and the local governor was almost not responsible, and advocated violent suppression and cleanup.

The Baoli faction stood on the opposite side of Wei under Ouyang Rong's intercession and daily practice of attacking Wei's.

He was characterized as a brutal and forced mutiny, and advocated sending envoys to pacify and strive for a peaceful settlement, with less fighting, leniency for the soldiers, and accountability for some commanders.

In fact, neither side denied the nature of the mutiny,

However, in terms of specific qualitative characteristics, the subtle differences deeply affected the ensuing imperial court measures, and the results were also worlds apart.

The final choice of the Imperial Court, or Her Majesty the Empress, is now known.

A compromise that sent the envoy to appease, but did not punish the chief.

In addition to the neutrals who don't want to offend anyone, there is also the female emperor Wei Zhao who is still good at using imperial techniques.

Neither side of the fray is satisfied.

Shen Xisheng and other courtiers of the Baoli faction were not satisfied, because they felt that they were biased in favor of the Wei family, shielded the criminal ministers, and disregarded the royal law.

Shen Xisheng even quoted the inconspicuous words written by Ouyang Rong in the recital of the book that day:

If the main culprit is not found and severely punished, it will chill the hearts of people with lofty ideals all over the world, and there will be endless troubles in the Great Zhou Society.

At the moment, few people care.

And the Weishuang also seemed to be dissatisfied.

If you don't thunder to suppress the mutiny, wouldn't there be room for liquidating Lan Changhao, Wang Lengran and other chief officials in the future?

Moreover, the mutiny of the Guizhou soldiers is also strongly related to the statue of Guizhou.

Lan Changhao, Wang Lengran and other officials involved panicked afterwards, and used this as an excuse to deny and evade responsibility, and raised them to the level of resisting the construction of Buddha statues.

For example, where are these big-headed soldiers mutiniing to protest against them, they are clearly slapping the prince in the face.

And so on.

Wei Jihei and Wei Sixing are stupid people, can't they see the careful thinking of the people below.

Of course not.

But as a faction leader, there is nothing right or wrong in his eyes, only his ass.

He was also dissatisfied with the compromise plan of the imperial court.

The Guizhou soldiers "protest statues" took the lead in mutiny, and they could all be appeased and tolerated.

So what should other states in the world do to resist the creation of statues and resist the raising of Songde copper?

In the eyes of the two kings of the Wei family, this matter is related to the face and majesty of the Wei family.

It is even far more important than the fact that the soldiers broke up after the thunder suppression, and it may impact the hinterland of Jiangnan Province for a long time.

Since Her Majesty the Empress has chosen a compromise plan due to the interference of the Conservative faction, it cannot be changed.

Then the two kings of the Wei clan will definitely exert their forces in other places to find the field.

So, what could be more majestic than liquidating the soldiers returning to the north.

Only in this way can we beat the warning and secretly resist the central statue, and the yang and yin violators, so as to prevent the slightest progress.

To overkill is to overcorrect.

As for the central statue, Her Majesty the Empress and the two kings of the Wei family have the same interests.

Therefore, for the liquidation and Liwei of Wei's afterwards,

His Majesty probably guessed it, but he didn't stop it, and even sat idly by.

Ouyang Rong has always been afraid to speculate on the enemy with the worst malice.

On the Hongzhou side, he didn't know very well, but he knew his temperament coldly for the king of Jiangzhou.

As soon as you pout your ass, you know what you want.

So he discussed with the Xunyang Royal Mansion how to protect people in disguise.

However, not everyone has such meticulous logic and clear cognition as Ouyang Rong.

For example, the mutinous soldiers in Guizhou,

At the beginning of the previous mutiny, Ouyang Rong observed their whereabouts and guessed that the leading generals of the mutiny did not understand the essence of their "mutiny" in returning to the north.

They did not hijack ships and disturb the people, but returned to their hometowns like honest people, and they could see the thoughts.

It is a sentiment similar to that of a wayward child running away from home and being indignant.

The real danger behind this mutiny is not understood.

The leading generals, that is, Cai Qin and others, may be a little hesitant, not really wanting to rebel, but expressing some kind of helplessness and dissatisfaction, making a fuss and attracting attention.

It is hoped that the "patriarch" of the imperial court will understand their intentions and then chase them back.

And to lead so many soldiers to return north together, he also wants to focus on a law that does not blame the public.

As everyone knows, in the eyes of the two kings of the Wei family, 1,500 soldiers and 1,500 families are just a string of numbers, and there are not as many slaves and servants as tenants and farmers in the name of one of their palaces.

Selfishly speaking, these days, Ouyang Rong really hopes that this group of soldiers returning to the north can continue to maintain this naïve mentality.

The game behind it was left to him and the Protectors who sympathized with the soldiers.

Because, in the case of a game between the two sides, if one party is less suspicious, many things will be avoided.

Prevent the situation from slipping into a "lose-lose" situation.

Not long ago, Khufu went to comfort him as a lieutenant envoy, and the good news that came back one after another made Ouyang Rong breathe a sigh of relief at that time.

Ouyang Rong had come into contact with Khufu.

It stands to reason that this kind of eunuch with a martial arts temperament is very suitable for appeasing the soldiers.

With this Son of Heaven's personal envoy here, the situation should be stabilized.

But the news that came back in the past two days has become worse and worse.

Especially the petition submitted by Cai Qin and other generals.

The situation between Beigui and Hong and Jiang Prefecture is suddenly tense and heating up rapidly.

After Ouyang Rong saw the petition, he immediately had a keen insight.

This change in attitude of Cai Qin and others is simply a 180-degree turn compared to before.

I don't know if Khufu did something wrong,

Or is there some event or news on the way back to the north that stimulates them,

Or was he provoked and bewitched by a master with bad intentions and pierced a certain layer of window paper?

It can be seen from that petition that Cai Qin and others have been clear about their situation.

I clearly understood the essence of this mutiny, which was actually a mutiny.

A mutiny is also a mutiny.

It's not much different from rebellion.

Since it is a rebellion, there are only two ways to go except victory.

Zhao'an.

with surrender.

And Cai Qin and other soldiers laid down their weapons in Tanzhou Mansion before, without saying a word, and followed Khufu to return to Hongzhou honestly, in the eyes of discerning people, it was actually no different from surrender.

For those who surrendered, the imperial court could choose either way of disposing of them.

It can be treated leniently, punished severely, or killed like Wang Lengran, who prepared secretly.

It depends only on the hearts of the victors, like lambs to the slaughter.

Zhao'an is different.

Zhao'an is a concession and compromise between the two sides.

The party who is recruited can put forward conditions.

Surrender doesn't work, there is not much room for it.

One thing is that Cai Qin and the other mutinous soldiers did not know that Ouyang Rong, Xunyang Wangfu and others sympathized with and could preserve their forces.

Instead, it is clear and unmistakable that the culprits who are brutal and harsh and persecutive against them are still in power and have not been held accountable.

This is also something that Ouyang Rong has been worried about before.

Cai Qin and other generals will have a clear understanding of the nature of rebellion and their own situation, then a chain of suspicion will naturally form.

The situation will slide down to a certain point, and it will be extremely difficult to recover.

The petition they filed not long ago, the above two claims, are the result of this chain of suspicion.

It is also the identity announcement of Cai Qin and others who have changed from surrender to Zhao'an.

They want to be reassured, not surrendered.

As for Hongzhou and Jiangzhou, which received the petition, how will they respond to them......

Ouyang Rong was silent.

He only knew that even the Beigui soldiers had honestly followed Khufu to surrender "naively", and Wang Lengran was secretly preparing troops, wanting to frame them for rebellion on the day they entered the city, and wiped them out......

Not to mention the fact that he has now received that threatening petition.

Wang Lengran should have sneered and sharpened his knife.

Therefore, he was annoyed and ashamed of some of Ouyang Rong's cold water measures in the past few days.

This is Jiangzhou.

As for the Hongzhou side, what will be the choice.

Although he issued a warning in the name of the Jiangzhou lobby a few days ago, he did not receive a reply.

But now, the news of Khufu's sudden return has actually told Ouyang Rong the answer.

It's like a leaf knowing autumn......

"Got it."

In the blacksmith shop, his eyes moved away from the dancing flames in the furnace, Ouyang Rong clapped his hands, stood up, and passed by Yan Liulang, who was in a hurry.

"Let's go."

Ouyang Rong's face was calm and he didn't ask more.

Yan Liulang, who wanted to speak, was stunned for a moment, so he had to follow.

Coming to the main hall of the Jiangzhou lobby, Ouyang Rong saw Hu Fu, Wang Lengran, and even Yuan Huaimin.

All the officials with a slight rank in the Jiangzhou hall were urgently called.

It's not a small thing.

"Ouyang Changshi! How did you come. ”

Everyone was like ants on a hot pot, and they said urgently.

Ouyang Rong walked into the main hall and looked at the oncoming Hu Fu, the white face that had lost his beard, he couldn't help but look at it twice.

And the waist knife at his waist.

After thinking about it, he asked with concern: "What's wrong with Envoy Hu." ”

Khufu didn't know if he was asking about the beard or what, his face was full of anxiety, and he said in a bitter tone:

"It's over, it's all over, Cai Qin walked halfway, and suddenly gathered troops in the middle of the night, intending to rebel, and almost slaughtered the miscellaneous family that night...... The miscellaneous family escaped. ”

Ouyang Rong nodded and asked directly, "How is Hongzhou?" ”

Khufu nodded and said hurriedly:

"When the miscellaneous family crossed the mountains and mountains to Hongzhou, it was already late, and the soldiers had approached Hongzhou unimpeded, breaking through the strict pass and occupying the terrain...... Zhu Dudu sent his soldiers to crusade. ”

Ouyang Rong nodded: "What is the situation now." ”

Hu Fu, Yuan Huaimin and the others couldn't help but look at Ouyang Rong a few more times.

seemed to be surprised by his calm face, and this weak crown long history didn't seem to be surprised.

Ouyang Rong was silent, since Khufu could live and rush back alone, there were only two possibilities:

Otherwise, Hongzhou would have been lost, and he would have fled in a hurry.

Otherwise, Hongzhou had a conflict with the soldiers, Hongzhou had already made a decision, and the situation was irreparable, so he came to ask for reinforcements.

The former was the second worst situation he could think of.

And the latter is the third worst situation.

As for the worst-case scenario...... Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.

In the current news, Hongzhou City is still there, and he is actually very relieved.

Khufu shook his head: "I don't know for the time being, when the miscellaneous family left, the people of Hongzhou City were panicked, and Zhu Dudu had just sent troops out of the city, and the miscellaneous family came to inform Wang Tingshi and hurry up to help Hongzhou!" ”

Khufu's suggestion is the same as Ouyang Rong's suggestion not long ago.

Wang Lengran's face suddenly turned ugly, and he said coldly:

"What's the hurry, it's just 1,500 people, there are more than 3,000 elites in service in the two Zhichong Mansions in Hongzhou, and then the soldiers and horses can be levied and sent out, even more than 10,000, and they can still defend the city, in a short time, what is there to fear?

"It's the thieves who should be scared."

Khufu said with a worried face:

"Lord Wang didn't know that those soldiers, into the territory of Hongzhou, all the way to the autumn without committing any crimes, they held the name of severely punishing the indignation of the people and gods, the coach, the long history of the Zhichong, the name of the march, along the way very much the sympathy and indignation of the fathers and villagers.

In this regard, the Hongzhou lobby has been repeatedly banned, but in Hongzhou City, people began to panic, and some people fled.

"When Zhu Dudu learned of this, his face was heavy, and he warned the miscellaneous family that the civil war is different from the foreign war, and the anti-thieves are easy to grow, not to mention that the morale of the people is difficult to use, and Hongzhou City is afraid of danger, so let the miscellaneous family come to ask for help......"

The crowd fell silent.

The families of the 1,200 Hongzhou soldiers were all in Hongzhou, and this time the soldiers returned under the pretext of returning to their hometowns, and the Hongzhou government did not take care of them, and the people's hearts could be imagined.

Ouyang Rong said directly:

"If Hongzhou is lost, the door of Jiangzhou will be wide open, and the lips and teeth will die. Xunyang City can only be defended according to the danger, and it is useless to leave too many soldiers who rush to the mansion in the third fold.

"Governor Zhu and the Hongzhou Military Government can't resist it, and the Jiangzhou Military Government can't fight back, does Lord Wang have such a general who uses soldiers like a god and supports the building?

"Hurry up to help, take advantage of the situation that there is no erosion, don't look at the official's words as child's play."

After a pause, Ouyang Rong added:

"Don't worry, the lower officials and the palace will not run, and there is no need to fortify. The lower officials will dispatch logistics in Xunyang City and wait for Lord Wang to come back. ”

said it so bluntly, everyone looked sideways and immediately admonished together.

Urged by everyone, Wang Lengran couldn't hold his face, and his face hesitated.

(End of chapter)