Just as Wang Xiu was about to rest, there was a hurried knock on the door outside, and a hurriedly dressed Fengge official rushed to the prime minister with an urgent report in his hand, and raised his hands up: "My lord—"

Wang Xiu's expression tightened, took out the letter, unfolded it and read it hastily.

Her fingers slowly grasped the paper and said, "The news that Xiao Miao received? ”

"Yes. After General Xiao received the military report, he immediately passed it to Feng Ge and asked the prime minister and the three divisions and Jiuqing to go to the military mansion. ”

The three divisions are Situ, Sikong, and Sima. The Great Sima is also known as the Taiwei, the highest military leader of the Eastern Qi Dynasty, and is currently vacant.

Wang Xiu asked again: "Have you ever presented it to Your Majesty?" ”

"Someone has already gone."

Wang Xiu nodded. She put on her clothes, reached out to straighten her belt, took two steps out of the military newspaper, and just stepped out of the threshold, she suddenly coughed sharply.

Wang Heng stepped forward and handed over the handkerchief. The prime minister covered his lips with a handkerchief, and his chest shook like thunder, then he vomited a mouthful of blood, closed his eyes tightly, cleared the dizziness from his mind, pressed his knuckles heavily into the paper, and only raised his head again for a long time, and walked out in cold silence.

It reads:

"The three princesses of Xianbei drove the cavalry Tiefu to slaughter Xuzhou, and the king of Xuzhou abandoned the city and fled."

Mournful (2)

Chapter 70

Xuzhou Mu, Wang Zhen.

Pastoral means "stewardship". This is the highest magistrate in Xuzhou, who was born in Langya Wang, and is the cousin of Prime Minister Wang Cheng and the cousin of Wang Heng. He is mediocre and honest, careful in everything, and although he can't take on big things, because of his birth status, he was promoted as a state pastor by the Central Minister...... Her political performance has been mediocre, and nothing has changed in more than ten years.

But for a local official, mediocre political performance is enough to make a living in peace.

No one would have thought that on this New Year's Day, this cold winter day, the northern nomadic tribes who had been fighting for so many years would regroup and lead the iron horse to invade Xuzhou. Perhaps they had already digested the spoils of war, or perhaps it was the movements of Eastern Qi that made the leaders of the Xianbei tribe feel uneasy...... In short, the Xianbei cavalry of only 800 broke through the gate of Xuzhou City.

Xuzhou Mu fled without a fight, and walked over the wall from the state pastor's mansion, and now there is no trace. The local officers and soldiers did not even face the enemy, threw away their armor, turned around and ran, and let the enemy occupy Xuzhou City without blood.

One of the largest tribes in Xianbei called itself "Xia", and since the various tribes of Xianbei in Donghu rebelled against the Han, there have been frequent regime changes in the northern lands, one after another. Today's largest "Xia Kingdom" integrates several other tribes, and the three princesses of the Xia Kingdom, Tuoba Ying, are brave and good at fighting, and are a victorious general, she broke through the city of Xuzhou, and eyed the prosperous Langya, Qinghe, and Lanling, where General Xiao's hometown is located.

These counties are all the roots of the big clans, and the scholars who have already experienced a relocation of the capital can no longer bear the shame of Nandu. Once this matter spreads, when the day dawns, the world will inevitably shake.

Xue Yuxiao met Li Qingchou in front of the military mansion.

Li Qingchou was obviously called up in a hurry. Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, with a few strands of broken hair in her ears, and she wore a dark blue cape. She turned over and dismounted, took the lantern in the hand of the attendant with her own hands, greeted Xue Yuxiao and walked with her, and said as she walked: "What's the matter?" You know what? ”

Xue Yuxiao is the daughter of Lord Sikong, and when the general passes the news to the third division, he may reveal more.

"War." Xue Yuxiao replied briefly.

Li Qingchou soon realized that the only thing that could allow General Xiao to gather everyone in the military government overnight was war. Her heartstrings tightened, and the pace of both of them couldn't help but be a little faster, and they entered the discussion together.

The lights in the hall were bright, and the two generals, Xiao Miao and Huan Chengfeng, sat on the seats, and the top reserved a place for the prime minister. They did not put the emperor first, but reported the matter to the three divisions first. After a short time, the three divisions and nine secretaries arrived one after another, and the captains and subordinates of the military government all looked nervous.

Xiao Miao pressed her temperament, waited until Prime Minister Wang and Xue Sikong arrived, got up and bowed, and let the prime minister sit on the head, and then said: "Xuzhou City is lost." ”

These five words made many people on the field gasp - behind Xuzhou City, it is the county where the wealthy major scholars are located, and there are many people there, and the hoarding of grain and silk is innumerable. If this land is lost, half of Dongqi's arms will be cut off, and I am afraid that he can only bow down to the Xianbei Donghu clan.

No one spoke for a while, and several eyes converged on General Xiao.

Xiao Miao continued: "The state pastor has run away, and this news was sent back by the county guard of the neighboring Qinghe County. The officers and soldiers there did not engage them, and when they heard the sound of iron hooves, they fled and surrendered. ”

"The state shepherd abandoned the city and fled, ignoring the people, and should be beheaded." Xue Zeshu said, "Arrested." This is a fugitive, and wherever she flees, she will not be killed. ”

This is Wang Xiu's cousin. When Wang Xiu heard this, he didn't stop it, but just took a sip of tea in silence.

"In these years, we have hardly won a single victory in the war against Lei Xianbei." A military adviser from the military government said, "Local officers and soldiers have no desire to fight. Not to mention defending the city, seeing the billowing dust and smoke brought by the iron cavalry is frightened and weak, not to mention the place, even the majestic sixteen guards of the military government rush to the battlefield on weekdays, and there are also a large number of sergeants who will be frightened by the prestige of the cavalry. ”

She was right.

Duan Yan and Duan Feng were in the field, but they did not say anything to refute.

Jingwei is to a large extent the most elite and best-equipped group. But they are responsible for the stability of the imperial city, responsible for accompanying the capital and the surrounding situation, in fact, they rarely really go to the battlefield and lack actual combat experience. In recent years, the important positions of the Sixteen Guards have been regarded as a noble and gilded place by the scholars, and there are many vegetarian people in the corpse seats.

"The Western Army can send troops." Xiao Miao said.

"The Western Army is stationed in Xining Prefecture, and once it is withdrawn, the Xiongnu will immediately find out." Huan Chengfeng, who had been groaning, said, "Far water can't quench your thirst, I propose...... Let the Sixteen Guards Go, let the military government move, and recapture Xuzhou City. ”

There are more than 16,000 people in the Sixteen Guards. Although they can't go out of the nest, together with the guards of the generals and captains, they can form a team together, and there are 20,000 people who can go out on the battle. Although the Xianbei tribes are strong in battle, the tribes are scattered and have not been unified for a long time, and there are not so many people brought by Tuoba Ying.

"How can this be?" Yuan Fangtuo frowned and asked, "Many girls from various families are serving in Jingwei, Huan Chengfeng, do you want them to go too?" ”

Huan Chengfeng stared at her expressionlessly: "Can't you?" ”

Yuan Fangtuo's breath was stagnant, and he said: "The aristocratic woman has not been on the battlefield, and she will only delay the big event." ”

"Yuan Fuqing." Huan Chengfeng called her official position, "Are you afraid that you will delay a major event, or are you afraid that the cowards stuffed in by each family will not be able to be used, and they will abandon the army and flee on the battlefield like Wang Zhen, be killed by military orders, and lose your life?" ”

Yuan Fangtuo said: "I don't dare to say that I am afraid that these juniors will lose their lives, but I am afraid that I will miss the urgency of your military government." ”

This statement is not entirely unreasonable.

Huan Chengfeng smiled when he heard this, turned his head and looked at the people in the military mansion, there were many women of the scholar clan who were just idle and had never been on the battlefield, and at this moment, they were swept by her gaze, and they all bowed their heads and held their breath without saying a word.

Huan Chengfeng looked at Li Qingchou and Li Furong below, the two uncles were brave and incomparable, they were godsends, and although she and Xiao Miao's daughter were inferior, they were by no means greedy for life and afraid of death. She turned her head to look at Xue Yuxiao, Xue Yuxiao's newly appointed general, sitting at Huan Chengfeng's hand.

"Yuxiao, do you think this is not feasible?" She asked directly.

Xue Yuxiao said: "The Western Army is in Xining Prefecture, the Huan Army is in Fuzhou, thousands of miles away, how to put out the fire?" And the number of local armies is insufficient, so we will inevitably lead the army to help. I think...... What the general said was very good, so let the sixteen guards go, since they are elite, then do what the elite should do. ”

"Good! What if there are people who are cowardly and have delayed military aircraft? ”

Xue Yuxiao said lightly: "All deserters will be beheaded by the prison officer." ”

"Good!" Huan Chengfeng praised again, looked at Yuan Fangtuo, and asked Wang Xiu to adjudicate, "Please draw up the decree!" ”

Wang Xiu didn't move, only asked: "Who is the prison officer?" ”

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

In ancient warfare, there would be a special team in the army, called the "War Inspector", which specialized in killing soldiers who escaped from the battle. The Overseers were at the rear of the line, and if someone turned around while the overseers were charging, they would be killed on the spot. However, in many cases, this kind of "dirty work" is extremely difficult to carry out, and if the deterrence is not enough, it will immediately cause civil strife and cause a counterattack, and the head of the war overseer, that is, the "supervisor and beheader", will often be respected by other generals, and even secretly hold a grudge.

When Wang Xiu asked this, Li Qingchou saw that everyone was silent, and immediately got up and spoke: "I am willing to take this position." ”

When she got up, Li Furong was about to get up, but she was pressed back by a look from Da Si Nong.

This "prison beheading" is likely to kill the nobles. If the iron mask is selfless, he will inevitably be deliberately embarrassed by many people after returning to Beijing, and if he does things unfairly, the sergeant will do the opposite. It's definitely not a thing that benefits from it.

Huan Chengfeng was about to nod, but Xue Yuxiao beside him said abruptly: "You are not a pioneer, why do you want to be rear?" It's really a treasure in the dust. ”

Li Qingchou said: "I will be fair, regardless of whether the high or the low, and the violator will be beheaded." If there were no overseers, the army would not have been able to charge forward at all - as far as I know, the sergeants stationed in the local area were extremely greedy, and every battle had to be rewarded with money, and if one person was killed in battle, he would immediately cut off his left ear and turn back to ask for merit, and if the reward was scattered into the battle, the people would rush to loot regardless of the war, so you can imagine what kind of victory such an army could make? ”

This is all what Li Qingchou saw with his own eyes a few years ago.

Xue Yuxiao said: "Please set Uncle Zhan as the left vanguard and Uncle Yongwu as the right vanguard." Xue is willing to receive the matter of beheading. ”

Dingzhan is Li Qingchou's title, and Yongwu is Li Furong's title.

Everyone was slightly stunned when they heard this, and they all looked up. Wang Xiu coughed lightly and did not speak. Xue Zeshu raised her lips and smiled, and said, "Could it be that someone will come to me for trouble?" Yuan Fangtuo, if the younger generation of your family is beheaded by my daughter, will you cry and scream, and you will be inseparable from me? ”

Yuan Fangtuo said coldly: "Don't be short-sighted. As long as General Xue Xiao doesn't declare his personal vendetta, it is. ”

Xue Zeshu laughed, looked around, and looked at the few people sitting in the military seat below, but trembling like chaff. Ding Zhanbo's background is not high, even if she is fair and selfless, they are actually not very afraid, and naturally there is a way to make it difficult for Li Qingchou to move an inch.

However, Xue Yuxiao is different. She is a beloved minister, a brave general, and the daughter of the Xue family. She had been assassinated several times by the local authorities when she was prosecuting, and she was still unscathed and famous, this person was like a dark cloud hanging over her head for the Jingzhaoshi girl, and she was completely "someone else's child", which was terrifying.

When Xue Sikong's gaze swept over, a person suddenly bowed his head and kowtowed, and said: "The lower official is shallow in learning, and he is unbearable to lead the Wei Mansion, so he asked the general to resign." ”

As soon as these words came out, several other people suddenly bowed their heads and resigned, and before they could go on the expedition, they deserted in front of everyone.

Xue Yuxiao yawned, propped his chin and looked over, and said softly: "It's too cunning to resign before I even wear a sword." Not only would it be disappointing to say such things, but it would also disgrace you, and your names. ”

She glanced at the few people who had resigned, stretched out her finger and pointed at Duan Yan, and said, "Duan Fengjiang, your immediate boss has resigned, and you still haven't taken the seal?" ”

Duan Yan suddenly raised her head and saw the gaze of the two generals and the three divisions and nine qing. As a member of the Hanmen clan, everyone had no objection to this sentence, Duan Yan's heart jumped wildly, she stepped forward and stretched out her hands, the nobleman who was in the Zuo Wuwei Mansion actually took off the official seal ribbon and handed it to her.

Huan Chengfeng didn't look any further, and continued to urge: "Prime Minister, you can draft a decree now, right?" ”

Wang Xiudao: "The household department is responsible for the logistics of sending troops, Si Nongqing, and the transportation of grain and grass......"

Li Jingyao said: "Our two daughters of the Li family have gone to the battlefield, and the prime minister is still afraid that I will not be able to hide my secrets?" ”

Wang Xiu nodded lightly and ordered the prime minister to draw up a long history. At this moment, the glorious guard of honor was lit up outside the military mansion, and under the palace lamp of the attendants, Xie Fu stepped into the hall and said to Wang Xiu: "Wang Situ is too tired, I forgot that there is no seal of me, and the seal of the Fengge Shangshu Order alone is not enough to pass through the world." ”

The people stood up and saluted.

As long as there is no matter to ask the emperor, there is no need to bow down when you see each other, but just get up and give up.

Wang Xiu's face was calm, but his lips were a little pale, and he didn't seem to be in good spirits: "When the ministers are ready, I will ask Your Majesty to make a decision." ”

"Really?" Xie Fu looked around, "What important things you have discussed, how have you counted me in it?" All the virtuous ministers have worked hard for the sake of the Great Qi and the country, forgetting to die and forgetting to die, but they have completely forgotten to ask my opinion. You want to mobilize the Jingzhaowei Mansion and let the Sixteen Guards go to Xuzhou, if you wait for the prime minister to draw up a will, I'm afraid I don't even have to say a word, just hang your head and seal it, right? ”

Wang Xiu really thought so.

As long as Feng Ge passes this matter, there will be pressure from the scholars and officials. It was difficult for Xie Fu to refuse strongly.

Wang Xiu didn't want to give the emperor room to maneuver.

But the emperor is not without ears and eyes in the military palace, for example, before she arrives, she knows that everyone is going to call the Sixteen Guards Mansion. While they were deliberating, an attendant had been sent to deliver the news.

"The Sixteen Guards are not allowed to move without permission." Xie Fu said, "If there is another chaos a year ago, and there are bandits in the suburbs of Beijing who rebel, can there be a second lady like Xue San who is unpredictable and helps Weifu to suppress the chaos?" ”

She sat beside Wang Xiu, glanced at Xue Yuxiao, and quickly retracted her gaze, "Prime Minister...... There are also two generals, so it's better to choose another way. ”

"There is Ziweiwei in Beijing guarding the palace, why should Your Majesty be afraid." Wang Xiudao.

"I'm not afraid." Xie Fu said, "Ziwei guards are only a thousand people, guarding the palace day and night, and there is no one left, not to mention the entire Jingzhao." ”

"The ministers will leave 6,000 people for Jingzhao to garrison." Wang Xiu continued, "The remaining 10,000 people, together with the three generals' personal troops, the captain's personal guards, and the military government's command, a total of more than 25,000 people, went to recover Xuzhou. ”

Xie Fu didn't dwell too much on this issue, and instead said: "In our battle with the Xianbei tribe, there is no one in a hundred victors, and the sergeants often flee. This is different from the suppression of bandits, who are in the country, and the generals are not afraid, but externally, especially in the battle with 'Xia', since I ascended the throne, I have not heard of any victories. ”

Wang Xiu said: "Your Majesty, could it be that the fish bones are blocked in the throat, and I will never eat fish again when I swallow it with blood?" ”

Xie Fu said: "Doesn't the prime minister know that the chance of winning is slim? Daqi is no longer the Qi of the past! There is only half of the country left, and I don't want it to be buried in my hands. ”

Wang Xiu replied: "Your Majesty sits firmly in the capital, and you don't see blood, what are you afraid of?" ”

She stared at the young emperor. This is the "Ming Lord" personally chosen by her and Xue Zeshu, but at that time when the wind and rain were gloomy and turbulent, Xie Buregret was not this set of rhetoric at all, in the court of the first emperor and under the scrutiny of the ministers, the princess Xie Buregret openly refuted the first emperor's "peace" policy.

But at that time, Dongqi's defeat had just begun.

Xie Fu was silent for a moment and said, "I don't want to negotiate peace anymore because of defeat. We exempt ourselves from the battle, rest with the people, negotiate terms with Xia, and return to Xuzhou, which is the best policy. ”

Li Jingyao glanced at the two Li juniors below, and looked back and said, "If it is easy to negotiate peace, it is indeed more frugal than sending troops." ”