Chapter 254: All parties' calculations (4000 words two in one chapter)
Zhao Xun obviously believes in his own eyes more than other people's mouths.
When the officials from the Jiaofang Division reported to Zhao Xun the result that there was no such person, Zhao Xun's first reaction was to search the files himself.
But this idea was quickly suppressed by him because there were too many files.
Even someone like Zhao Xun, who had once been able to navigate the archives with ease, was a little unable to withstand it.
Forget it, Zhao Xun finally chose to believe in Jiaofangsi.
The Jiaofang Secretary really had no reason to deceive him, nor did he have the courage.
"It seems that Jiang is still old and hot...my teacher really didn't lie to me."
Even if Zhao Xundang leaves the Jiaofang Division and goes to Qinglian Temple, he believes that his mentor Qinglian Taoist Master Wu Quanyi will definitely gain something.
Zhongnan Mountain, Haoran Academy.
Shan Chang sat alone in the bamboo tower with a serious look on his face.
Long Qingquan was waiting respectfully at his side.
He had never seen the mountain leader so serious.
In my impression, the mountain leader always has a smile on his face.
It's so abnormal all of a sudden, something big must be happening.
Long Qingquan didn't dare to disturb him and quietly stayed by the mountain leader's side.
In this way, no matter what the mountain leader's instructions are, he can respond promptly.
"Lao San, what would you do if one day as your teacher you have to fight a fierce battle with the top three in the world and you don't know who will win and who will lose?"
"mountain chief"
Long Qingquan was stunned for a moment and didn't know how to answer.
"Can you defend the academy? Together with the boss and the second child?"
"It's okay."
Long Qingquan said very unconfidently.
"Don't be nervous, I'm just joking with you."
Shan Chang's face became relaxed, as calm as the spring breeze.
"It doesn't matter if I'm the top three in the world. It doesn't matter if I'm the top three in the world combined. As long as I don't want to lose, I won't lose. In a fight, I'm the best in the academy."
How domineering this is.
After hearing this, Long Qingquan couldn't help but be shocked.
Yes, this is the kind of momentum that academy people should have.
"The war is about to begin recently, and your junior brother must be very busy. You senior brothers and sisters, if you can spare your hands, go and help."
"Uh, yes."
Even though Long Qingquan was arrogant in front of others, he was as docile as a cat in front of the mountain chief.
"This time, the Demon Sect, the Western Buddhist Sect, the Eastern Yue Sword Pavilion, even the Southern Barbarian Witch Gu Masters, and the Eastern Sea Monster Kingdom have all entered the scene, which is really quite interesting."
"I want to see what kind of waves these guys can make."
The mountain chief clasped one hand behind his back, looking proud.
Chang'an, Prince Qi's Mansion.
King Li Xiang of Qi is mixing incense.
His compatriot Li Yan, King of Yan, had just been assassinated, but Li Xiang didn't feel any emotion in his heart, let alone sadness.
He was even a little happy.
Because although the good-for-nothing King Yan Li Yan poses no threat to him, King Yan is actually a real princeling.
The princeling party and the Qi royal party have been fighting openly and covertly for many years, and both parties have tried their best to recruit resources from all parties, including courtiers, military generals, and nobles from the royal family.
These princes and grandsons may not have much ability themselves, but their status is outstanding.
Their support will give a lot of points to the contenders for the throne.
Of course, who will win in the end depends on the on-the-spot performance.
King Yan has been on the side of the East Palace from the beginning.
King Qi knew this very well.
Although they are blood brothers, as long as their interests are opposed, they can draw swords against each other and fight to the death.
Of course, King Qi would not attack King Yan directly.
Firstly, that was too obvious, and secondly, in his opinion, King Yan was not worthy of him taking action himself.
However, King Yan died suddenly, and King Qi was still very happy.
In this way, the princeling loses a wing and an arm.
But who assassinated King Yan? King Qi Li Xiang was very curious about this.
Are they his brothers and princes?
Or the Dukes of the DPRK?
Or is he a careerist hiding in the dark?
"What does my son think?"
King Li Xiang of Qi turned to his son Li Jianye.
He has always been cultivating Li Jianye as his successor, and he teaches with words and deeds without hesitation.
Li Jianye also performed very well, with extremely strong learning ability and high understanding.
"Reporting to my father, my son thinks that it may really be the work of the northern barbarians."
Li Jianye thought about it again and again and said cautiously.
He thought about this question for a long time.
For him, timing speaks for itself.
Barbarians from the north moved south, and monsters wreaked havoc in Chang'an.
Everything indicates that a war is coming.
At this time, the northern barbarians must really want to disrupt Chang'an City.
As long as the city of Chang'an is in chaos, the overall defense of the Zhou army will also be in chaos.
Following this, the war will develop in a direction that is beneficial to the northern barbarians.
In this way, the northern barbarians' chances of winning will be greatly increased under the internal and external attacks.
How can we disrupt Chang'an City?
At this time, killing ten thousand ordinary people is not as straightforward as killing a prince.
"It's not easy, it's not easy, my son has grown up."
Li Xiang showed the smile of a kind old father.
"I also think that the northern barbarians are more likely to become monsters, because they benefit the most."
"Father, what should we do now?"
"Just wait and see what happens."
Qi King Li Xiang said calmly.
"The most important thing you need to learn is to remain calm."
Qin Tianjian.
Yuan Tiangang looked at the pond water as thick as sand in a daze.
He is observing phenomena.
It is said that the best way to observe phenomena is stargazing, but he disagrees.
As long as your mind is stable, you can observe cause and effect in everything.
Tao follows nature, and this is what it means.
It's just that as an expert in observing phenomena, he couldn't see clearly this time.
"There are too many people involved, which muddies the waters."
Yuan Tiangang sighed.
"Master, maybe we can wait and see?"
"Can't wait any longer."
Yuan Tiangang shook his head and said: "Your Majesty ordered me to use the Grand Observation Technique. I can't hold it off forever."
"Why does my mentor care so much about Emperor Xianlong's opinion?"
"After all, I am also the Imperial Master of the Zhou Dynasty, and I will seek my own government in my position."
Yuan Tiangang said leisurely: "Besides, if I don't take action this time, and the mountain chief doesn't take action either, it's impossible for Zheng Jie alone to defend Chang'an."
"Can't we defend it even with a large formation?"
Li Chunfeng felt a little unbelievable.
"After all, the formation is just an auxiliary. In the end, it still depends on the person."
"If people can't hold on, the big formation is useless."
"This disciple is willing to be a pawn for the master."
When it comes to loyalty to Li Chunfeng, there is absolutely no problem.
Yuan Tiangang knows this very well.
"Well, when necessary, I will give you important tasks as a teacher."
Yuan Tiangang did not point it out directly, but said leisurely: "The variables are too great this time. Maybe one battle can determine the fate of the country in the next ten or decades."
After a pause, Yuan Tiangang walked to the window and looked at the bright moon and sighed: "So Chief Shan, you have to take action this time no matter what. Not for others, even for your disciple, you can't just sit idly by.
.”
Ashina Zhuo watched proudly as the cavalrymen under his command carried buckets of trophies into the camp.
The wolf nature of the northern barbarians is fully demonstrated at this moment.
Who said that the cities in the Central Plains are impregnable and that the nomadic tribes on the grasslands are difficult to conquer?
That's because the prairie people have not shown a truly strong desire to attack!
Once the grassland people started fighting, not to mention the two-legged sheep of the Central Plains Dynasty, even the heavenly soldiers and the future could not stop them.
Of course, the largest city they have not yet attacked is Chang'an.
It is said that Chang'an City has a population of two million. Chang'an City is rich and full of gold. You can pick up gold just by picking it up.
The girls in Chang'an City are all juicy and have skin that can be broken by a blow, just like a hard-boiled egg.
Chang'an City brings together goods from all over the world, including spices from the Western Regions and pearls from the East China Sea.
There are ginseng and deer antlers from the mountains in the north, as well as delicious lychees growing in the south.
As for the palaces in Chang'an City, they are even more densely packed.
Ashina Zhuo felt that the city of Chang'an was like a dazzling pearl to him, appearing and disappearing.
But it is precisely because of this that it shows its otherworldly charm.
He must win this great city this time.
But even though he is now full of confidence, he still cannot order the attack on Chang'an at the moment.
He did not order the siege of Chang'an not because he lacked confidence, but because the time had not yet come.
He had to wait until the people in Chang'an City were in panic and everyone was in danger before taking action.
At that time, the efficiency is the highest, and it is easiest to show the prestige and style of the prairie people.
"Great Khan, the south and west should have started taking action."
A confidant raised his fists at Ashina and reported the incident.
"very good."
Ashina Zhuo laughed loudly.
He had waited too long for this day.
Several armies are coming, and the Central Plains people cannot take care of both ends. No matter which direction or link goes wrong, the consequences will be fatal.
"I hope the sky will open its eyes and allow the Zhou Dynasty to be destroyed and the people of the Central Plains to become our slaves and work for us from generation to generation."
"For this I am willing to dedicate the prairie people's most loyal and pious heart."
The army pressed on the territory, and Chang'an became an isolated city.
Emperor Xianlong knew this very well.
In other words, the reason why this situation occurred was due to his decision.
Emperor Xianlong ordered the city of Chang'an to be under martial law, and the connection between Chang'an and the surrounding cities was cut off under the strong walls and clear fields.
He ordered the Gyeonggi Provincial Government to mobilize troops and gather all its strength to defend the capital.
This is tantamount to sucking blood, sucking all the blood from the prefectures and counties around Chang'an.
The surrounding states and counties that lost their ability to defend themselves naturally allowed the prairie barbarians to do whatever they wanted, without any power to protect themselves and fight back.
But Emperor Xianlong didn't care.
All he cares about is Chang'an's safety, or rather his own safety.
"Your Majesty, in accordance with your order, the Jinwu Guards, Shence Army, and Longwu Army have been assembled."
Zheng Jie, the chamberlain supervisor, said very respectfully.
Compared with other imperial troops, these three armies are the true direct descendants of Emperor Xianlong, and they are the elite among the elite.
Emperor Xianlong was able to protect himself because of these three armies.
As long as he held these three armies firmly in his hands, Emperor Xianlong could sit back and relax.
"Um."
He responded softly, his expression quite solemn.
"Yuan Jianzheng has already begun to use the Grand Observation Technique. The spies are being caught one after another, so I guess they are going to take action."
Even though Emperor Xianlong was not a son of man, he was actually very clear-headed.
"They are besieging instead of attacking. They are just calling for reinforcements at the encirclement point. They hope to use this to consume more of our effective forces."
Emperor Xianlong sneered: "But they ignored one thing, that is, our military strength in Dazhou is several times that of theirs, and our reserve force is endless."
"Press down on one side and get up again on the other."
Emperor Xianlong exhaled a breath: "Now it seems that the only variable is the academy. It has been so long and the academy has not expressed its position. Daban, can you tell me what the chief is thinking?"
Zheng Jie's eyes flickered a little, and he said leisurely: "Your Majesty, how can I know what the mountain commander is thinking? But I guess that at the last moment when life and death are at stake, the mountain commander will still take action."
Emperor Xianlong frowned: "Why did he have to take action only then?"
"Because this way can highlight the importance of the academy and the importance of its principal."
Zheng Jie lamented: "There is no way, the academy is not dependent on the imperial court, let alone subordinate to the imperial court. So the imperial court cannot order them."
This sounds more or less helpless.
But Emperor Xianlong had to hold his nose and admit it.
As long as the academy does not remain neutral, as long as the academy is biased towards the imperial court, that is great.
"Let's leave aside the academy side for now. How is the investigation of Zhao Xun's case going?"
"I ordered him to track down the murderer who assassinated King Yan, but now it seems that he has not even seen the shadow of the murderer."
Emperor Xianlong could not get angry at the academy or the mountain chief, so he could only bully Zhao Xun.
"Zhao Xun has been running around these days. It seems that he even invited Taoist Priest Qinglian."
"That's all. Seeing that he is still trying his best, I will give him a little more grace."
Although Emperor Xianlong said this, in his heart he wanted to take advantage of Zhao Xun's relationship and identity.
After all, there are not many people in this world who can make both Daomen and the Academy care so much.
"Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered something, which may cause some trouble."
"explain."
Emperor Xianlong uttered one word calmly.
"His Royal Highness Prince Yan has passed away, and the entire Prince Yan's palace is in chaos. Princess Yan has been crying all day long. How to arrange the family members of the Prince's Palace?"
Emperor Xianlong frowned when he heard this.
What Zheng Jie said were just minutiae, and he really didn't bother to think about it.
"I actually forgot about it."
For a king who claims to be a wise and powerful king, the family members of a mere heir are actually not worth mentioning at all.
Not to mention the death of King Yan, even if a few more princes die, it will only scratch the surface for him and will not have much impact.
What's more, he himself doesn't have much favorable impression of King Yan.
But the timing is very delicate.
The northern barbarians moved south in large numbers, monsters and beasts were rampant, and the Demon Sect was born.
People are in panic, and countless Xiaohui will take the opportunity to jump out and act like monsters.
In these troubled times, Emperor Xianlong had to show his benevolent and compassionate side.
Even if it's just a show, he has to do it.
"I will send people to comfort them and reward them with some gold and silver. In addition, please ask Prince Yan's Mansion to come to the palace."
Emperor Xianlong said calmly: "I will tell her some things personally."
"According to the decree."
Zheng Jie responded without hesitation.
No matter what Emperor Xianlong decided, he would comply without hesitation.