Han Jian explained some things to Mrs. Luo and Zhang Xing, and hurried back to the East Prince's Mansion. The person who summoned him to the palace had just arrived.

This is not a single summoning by the empress, but a routine summoning. Whenever something major happened in the court, the empress will routinely summon the princes and ministers around Luoyang City to the palace to discuss matters. Han Jian, as the Eastern King, is also among the summoning.

Han Jian was ordered to enter the palace and went directly to Ye'an Pavilion. There were many ministers in Ye'an Pavilion. The majority of people were from the Privy Council and the Ministry of War. Among these people, Han Jian glanced at him and only saw an acquaintance. This person had some "personal grudges" with him. He was Sun Shaoqian, the general of the Dongwu Guard, and the father of Sun Bao, who was killed by Lin Xiaoyun. The General of the Twelve Guards belonged to the Privy Council. Now that the Xianbei people are heading south, the defense of the capital is important. The twelve Guards in Luoyang City are also going to the palace to wait for dispatch.

The empress sat upright after the Dragon Case, and Han Jian was not noticeable at that time. Han Jian came in, and the ministers of the Privy Council were still continuing. Han Jian heard it. The ministers of the Privy Council were mainly talking about the defense situation of each department and lineup north of the Yellow River in the Wei Dynasty, where was there garrison, and how many people were there for the local garrison troops and regiment training. Judging from Han Jian's situation, it was almost impossible for the court to use local soldiers and horses north of the Yellow River to block the "Xianbei cavalry". Han Jian was also very clear that these so-called Xianbei cavalry were actually the soldiers of the Northern King. The Northern King must have made a lot of preparations before rebellion. Local officials from all walks of life in Hebei must have been bribed. Under the mighty force of the Northern King's troops to move south, it was difficult for the local army in Hebei to form an effective blockade.

The Wei Dynasty's army had combat capabilities, only the four kings' soldiers and horses, among which the Northern King had the most excellent soldiers and horses. Not only were the weapons excellent, but they also had rich combat experience. The imperial army had abundant soldiers and horses in name, but most of them were local armed forces that had not experienced actual combat. Even if they were gathered together, they could not defeat the Northern King.

Han Jian received the news that "Xianbei invaded the south" almost at the same time as the court. At the same time, Mrs. Luo's people also confirmed that the scouts who went south were not Xianbei scouts, but the scouts of the King of the North, that is, the soldiers who went south were undoubtedly the soldiers of the North King. This news is more accurate than the news currently in the court. When Han Jian heard the ministers of the Privy Council, he talked about the Xianbei people from beginning to end. When he mentioned the Northern King, he also said that the Northern King's troops were cut off, just as the people in the Privy Council did not know that it was the Northern King's rebellion.

Even Han Jian could easily think of something that the Privy Council, the officials who had been immersed in the court for more than ten years or even decades, would not have doubts? They just dare not break the window paper. As long as this window paper is broken, it means that the court will go to war with the Northern King, which will also mean that the Wei Dynasty will fall into civil strife. Now outside the Wei Dynasty, there are many enemies around it. The internal situation is not very stable. At this time, the Northern King's rebellion is an opportunity. The court cannot summon the troops of the Western King, the Eastern King and the Southern King to serve the king at the same time, because these troops will also resist other foreign enemies.

Han Jian listened to the people from the Privy Council, but he was wondering where the Yanning Prince had gone now? The Yanning Prince was just in charge of escorting money and grain to the north because the escort was the baggage, so he would be very slow. It was impossible to go to the territory of the Northern King. Han Jian thought, could the Yanning Prince give money and grain to the Northern King on the spot and directly defect to the Northern King as the "loyal minister" of the Northern King? Han Jian felt that things would not be that simple. Han Jian felt that the Yanning Prince was ambitious and had a deep wisdom. Even if he might have helped the Northern King raise money and grain in the capital before, he might not be willing to serve the Northern King. The Yanning Prince can be said to be a person that the Queen and the Northern King cannot control, and his political stance would be a bit special.

Han Jian thought. Will the Prince of Yanning want to be the emperor himself?

According to the Privy Council's estimate, the Xianbei people knocked down to the south this time, as many as 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers and horses, which also made the civil and military ministers present worried. Han Jian saw that Prince Kang looked ugly, and seemed to be worried about his fate. Then he naturally glanced at Han Jian. Han Jian had thought that Prince Kang always saw something wrong with him, and he also looked over at this time. What did he want to do?

After the people from the Privy Council reported the report, the queen nodded slightly and asked directly: "At the current speed of the Xianbei people, how many days can I reach the Yellow River?"

The Queen's question was so direct that the people in the Privy Council could not answer. The Ministers of the Privy Council had been talking for a long time before, and they all arranged the defense line on the north bank of the Yellow River. Now the Queen seemed to deliberately not mention the Hebei defense line and directly asked the Xianbei people when they would reach the Yellow River.

This is a difficult question to answer. First of all, the north bank of the Yellow River is a general concept. The north of Luoyang is north of the Yellow River, and the north of the Hetao area is also north of the Yellow River. The locations of the two are thousands of miles away from the border. Which one did the Queen ask?

Of course, if nothing unexpected happens, the Queen asked when the Xianbei people would reach the Yellow River Ferry north of Luoyang.

Furthermore, the empress asked "at the current speed of the Xianbei people's marching", which is still an unsolvable problem for the Privy Council. Now we only know that the Xianbei people went south and the number of soldiers and horses of the Xianbei people was guessed. Whether the Xianbei people conquered the Beiwang's border defense line south, or did the Xianbei people bypassed the Beiwang's defense line south through some methods, this is still to be confirmed. At this time, the Xianbei people mentioned that the marching speed of the Xianbei people was completely guessing out of thin air. In addition, there were local troops in Hebei to block it, whether the Xianbei people directly took Luoyang, or fought one city by one, and in the end it was just a robbery and would not come to the Yellow River line, it is all unknown. Based on everything above, only ghosts know when the Xianbei people will come.

The officials of the Privy Council thought about it and reported: "It can be as short as ten days, and it can be as long as one month to prepare."

This answer made the civil and military ministers present relieved. Ten days and half a month, or even one month, were prepared, and that time was enough to set up a river defense line north of Luoyang. As a natural danger, the Yellow River could also withstand the pace of the Xianbei people going south.

Han Jian couldn't help but sighed secretly after hearing this. The people from the Privy Council were a little deceiving.

The one who came was not Xianbei cavalry, but the soldiers of the Northern King who were eyeing Luoyang City. For more than ten or twenty years to prepare for today's rebellion, the Northern King naturally had infiltrated the local forces of Hebei long ago. The route chosen by the Northern King would definitely be fast and not hindered. If the light cavalry went south, the Northern King's troops could be placed on the north bank of the Yellow River within four or five days. The problem now is how to resist the Northern King's troops crossing the river and moving south, rather than making some unnecessary defenses in Hebei.

The Yellow River has been diverted several times. Today, Luoyang City is less than twenty miles south of the Yellow River Crossing. Once the Northern King successfully crosses the river, it will face the north wall of Luoyang City.

Four or five days was the fastest time that Han Jian expected to move south. Han Jian knew that this was the worst estimate. The Northern King would generally not go south because it would expose his back and give the local army in Hebei an opportunity to take advantage of the opportunity. Even if the Northern King could bribe some local officials and local generals, there would still be troops loyal to the court. Especially the imperial court had several important military cities in Hebei. In this case, it was improper to choose a southward strategy without supplies and a backbone, which was a bit of a desperate bet. The Northern King was strong and did not need to fight like this. Furthermore, even if the Northern King dared to go south, there was also a way to cross the natural danger of the Yellow River. Without supplies, the Northern King wanted to conquer a solid Luoyang city, which was simply a dream.

Han Jian boldly speculated that if the Northern King really went south, there was only one explanation, that is, the Northern King had a way to enter the city. As long as the army was approaching, the Luoyang City defense line would be vulnerable. There was only one explanation, that is, there were people from the Northern King in the city defense and garrison. If this was true, it would be similar to the Jingnan Campaign that Han Jian was familiar with.

Han Jian was still a little heavy. No matter how much the King of Northern has eliminated the power in the capital, there will always be fish that missed the net. But now, in order to be cautious, the Queen has handed over the city defense to some trustworthy children of aristocratic families. Could it be that King of Northern has bribed the aristocratic families in Luoyang City in advance?

I have to be careful. Han Jian thought.

The Queen was very dissatisfied when she heard the reply from the people from the Privy Council, because the Queen was basically thinking about it as Han Jian thought. The Hebei defense line would not form any obstacles on the way the Beiwang troops headed south. The focus now is the river defense line.

The queen expressed her solemn expression: "I ordered all prefectures and counties in Hebei to cut wood and burn boats on the front line of the Yellow River, and would not go down the river. If there is any violation, it will be punished for the crime of Tongfan!"

The Queen's order was quite tough, which shocked the ministers present. In the eyes of these ministers, the Xianbei people had four lines of defense to the south, first of which was the Beiwang defense line of the Great Wall, and then the Hebei defense line. No matter how fragile the Hebei defense line was, there were several military cities, and there were troops stationed in it. No matter how rampant the Xianbei people were, they had to be careful of these major military cities. The third line of defense was the turn of river defense. Now the Queen was so cautious about river defense, these ministers would wonder whether it also represents the fourth line of defense, that is, Luoyang's city defense must also be on guard against them?

"Your Majesty, that place in Hebei..." The people from the Privy Council requested the report again.

The queen was silent for a moment and said, "The order was sent to all parts of Hebei, and we should stick to the city without going out. We should not be greedy for merit and advance rashly. We should focus on the Yellow River defense line. In addition, we should transfer Anhui and Daoling troops to Luoyang to speed up our guard."
Chapter completed!