"Ms. Xu, Wen Shuai, and Marquis Jingsheng are all drinking in my house!"
When Xu Wei came out of the palace, Zhu Zhi, who was waiting outside the palace gate, came to greet him.
Xu Wei looked up and saw that the crescent moon had risen over the east palace wall tower. Together with his entourage waiting nearby, he followed Zhu Zhi to Zhu's Mansion. When he was approaching Zhu's Mansion, he saw the chariot of Wuwei County Prince Zhao Yi driving from the other side of the long street.
Come.
Xu Huai, Zhu Hang, Wen Hengyue, Qian Zerui and others have been waiting in Zhu Mansion for a long time.
After bringing Xu Wei and Wuwei County Prince Zhao Yi to the study and sitting down, Qian Zerui couldn't wait to ask: "Is there any improvement in the move to the south?"
Xu Wei sighed and shook his head and said: "Because Xu Hou opposed moving south, Zhao Fan, under the instruction of Zheng Huaizhong, almost unabashedly stirred up troubles between Xu Hou and Chushan in Xiangyang. This has clearly stated the Zheng family's position - Your Majesty
At this time, I really don’t want to force the Zheng family too much. At this time, King Huai also understood what was going on and clearly supported the southward move. His Majesty had left us in the palace before, and the main discussion was about the deployment of the southward move!"
"There's still no improvement at all!" Qian Zerui sighed in frustration.
Among the many civil and military officials in Xiangyang, Qian Zerui, Xu Wei, and Wen Hengyue were the most firmly opposed to the southward migration.
The experience of holding on to Taiyuan made them deeply realize how important it is to have the determination of the Manchu civil and military and the Vietnamese military and civilians to break the boat when the mountains and rivers are broken and the country is about to collapse.
They were all worried that moving south would not only shake the morale of the generals who still insisted on fighting the Hulu soldiers at this time, but also might weaken the will of the Vietnamese subjects to resist the Hulu.
At this point, the thoughts of Zhu Hang and Hu Kai were not as firm as those of Qian Zerui, Xu Wei, and Wen Hengyue; while the thoughts of Zhao Yi, the king of Wuwei County, were much more uncertain.
Zhao Yi even felt that Xu Huai's words at the court banquet today were too fierce, so after the court banquet, he first excused himself from having something to do and returned to the prince's palace. He waited until he learned that the palace meeting was over, and then rushed over to gather with everyone.
After the maid brought the tea, Xu Wei told everyone the many details of the palace meeting. Then he looked at Xu Huai and said: "...Although the palace meeting mentioned that Chu Mountain should also guard Wuyang and Ye County,
Xiangcheng, but Your Majesty is still worried that Chushan may not be able to withstand such great pressure, so I asked you to ask first..."
"Xu Huai and the people of Chushan will never shirk when ordered by the imperial court! Wuyang, Yexian, Xiangcheng, and Chushan can defend both!" Xu Huai said.
"The move to the south is a foregone conclusion. Even if we leave a few soldiers and horses in the mountains south of Heluo to contain the enemy, it will be limited. This autumn and winter, there may be hundreds of thousands of soldiers advancing towards Huaishang. Chushan only has so many troops.
, how to guard?" Zhu Hang said anxiously, "Your Majesty must be worried that King Huai, Zhou He and others will bully you, so he asked Mr. Xu to come over and ask first!"
"People like King Huai and Zhou He still want to watch Chushan's show. You must not fall into their trap!" Qian Zerui said.
"What I said at the court banquet today was from the bottom of my heart,"
Xu Huai stood up, walked to the threshold and looked at the moonlight in the courtyard, then turned around, looked at everyone and said,
"As long as it is beneficial to the country, I, Xu Huai, will not dare to resign even though I will be shattered to pieces. The army and horses in Chushan are currently weak, and there will most likely be a larger-scale attack by powerful enemies in autumn and winter. But if I, Xu Huai, are afraid of danger and avoid danger,
Just like Zheng Huaizhong, how could you go to Taiyuan's aid in the first place? Xu Gong, Qian Langjun, you and Wen Shuai, what determination did you have to defend Taiyuan City? Xu Gong, Qian Langjun, you
Stop trying to persuade me. I must take over the defense of Wuyang, Ye County, and Xiangcheng. I want the world to see once again that as long as you have the ambition to burn the cauldron and sink the boat, even hundreds of thousands of captive soldiers are nothing in front of Chushan.
It’s just a paper tiger!”
"Good!" Wen Hengyue clapped his hands and praised.
"I was originally worried that the impact of the southward migration would be too difficult to predict," Xu Wei nodded and said, "Xu Hou can stick to Huaishang as a rock, and presumably he can minimize the impact of the southward migration!"
"I want to go see His Majesty now to clarify my intentions, and I would also like to ask Mr. Xu to work hard to accompany you!" Xu Huai said.
…………
…………
"At today's court banquet, I couldn't control my temper, but every word I said came from my heart. I also firmly believe that everyone in the Chu Mountain has the ambition to destroy the cauldron and sink the boat. Although the brutal captive soldiers are several times larger,
, it’s not something to be afraid of!”
Xu Huai knelt in the hall and said earnestly,
"Your Majesty, please allow your ministers to also guard Wuyang, Ye County!"
To be honest, if Chushan wants to guard Wuyang and Ye County at the same time, the resistance does not come from people like Zhou He and Gao Chunnian.
After moving south to build the new capital of Ye, the strategic status of Huaishang will decline, at least not as high as that of Nanyang and other places in the south.
This also means that the overall support Huaishang can receive will be correspondingly weakened, but the military pressure it faces will increase sharply due to the southward withdrawal of Heluo troops.
Not to mention Zhou He, Gao Chunnian, Wu Wenche and others who have been full of opinions and wary of Chushan people since Shougong County, Xu Huai can guarantee that Zheng Huaizhong is absolutely willing to throw the entire Huaishang defense line to Chushan.
Only Chushan, who "overestimated his own capabilities", suffered a huge defeat under the attack of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Only in this way can they prove that their withdrawal from Heluo was the most correct choice and the true mature way to build a country, rather than the "fear of the enemy and timidity" that Xu Huai accused.
The real resistance to Xu Huai's desire to defend Huaishang alone was actually that Emperor Jianji and Zhu Hang, Xu Wei, Qian Zerui, Wen Hengyue and others were really worried that Chushan's defense line defending Huaishang would be under too much military pressure, which would lead to too tragic casualties.
.
Xu Huai mainly told Emperor Jianji, Zhu Hang, Xu Wei, Qian Zerui, Wen Hengyue and others to listen to what he said at the court banquet, so as to dispel their thoughts of dissuasion.
"You get up and sit down to talk. We, the emperor and our ministers, do not need to adhere to such customs." Emperor Jianji walked to the palace and helped Xu Huai up. He shook his head and said, "I asked Mr. Xu to see you because I was afraid that you would
Accept this! I'm not doubting your ambition, but I'm just afraid that you will really risk everything and fight with the captive soldiers, both of you will lose - you are the only soldiers I can use, and Chushan is the strongest. Chushan.
If the mountain is crippled, it will be like breaking my arm! Besides, resisting the barbarians is not the business of the Chushan family!"
"Although I am not afraid of death, I will not take the lives of 300,000 to 400,000 people in Chushan lightly to argue with Zheng Huaizhong, nor will I harm the imperial government's national plans because of personal grudges."
Xu Huai insisted on kneeling in the hall to speak and said,
"It is difficult to change the move to the south, and moving south will inevitably severely damage the morale of the Vietnamese soldiers and civilians. Resistance is like sailing against the current, not retreating. This principle also applies to the Heluo soldiers and horses. The Heluo soldiers and horses withdrew from Pinglu and other places
, once the willpower is relaxed, it must be fully rested to recover. Therefore, instead of guarding Huaishang with Zheng Huaizhong, I would rather shoulder the responsibility to ensure that Huaishang is foolproof this winter. Otherwise, Huaishang will be hit hard again this winter, and I will
It is really hard to imagine how shaken the morale of the generals and soldiers was. In addition, what the minister said at the court banquet about strong crossbows and Lu Jin's theory was definitely not nonsense just to target Zheng Huaizhong. The truth is that it is absolutely impossible for the soldiers to surrender this winter.
After completing the adjustment of military equipment in Hehuai and other places, the offensive operations have great flaws and flaws. Even if ten times the number of troops and horses invade Huaishang, I am sure to repel them. This is by no means overestimating my own capabilities.
If I find it difficult to resist, I will never be ashamed to speak in front of His Majesty! Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"
"Sit down and talk." Emperor Jianji's expression softened a little, and he helped Xu Huai up, and sat on the brocade couch with Xu Wei and asked, "Are you willing to guard Ye County and Wuyang, and you are not competing with Zheng Huaizhong for his morale?"
"Although I am not ashamed of Zheng Huaizhong's secret dirty deeds, how dare I play trivial matters with military affairs?" Xu Huai said, "I followed His Majesty to guard Gong County. At that time, I expected that the disaster of Chihu would be inevitable. I have learned the art of war.
At first, he was taught by the generals of his father's department, and then he studied under Wang Zhenxiangong. When he was young, he also trekked through the mountains and rivers of Chuhuai to observe them. At this time, he was assisted by his uncle and others to confirm the line of Qinling, Funiu, Chuhuai and Huaihe River.
, is actually the best place to resist the Hulu. As for how Chushan can resist the enemy, I, my uncle and others have deduced it countless times in their free time. I cannot guarantee it, at least until the Hulu reorganize the military and political affairs in Hehuai.
, Chushan must be worry-free!"
"It would be best if you are sure to guard Huaishang," Emperor Jianji nodded slightly, "I heard about the discussion in Xiangyang a few days ago, and I also know that you are wronged. However, what Zheng Huaizhong is doing,
I probably have the thought of accompanying you like a tiger. If something happens, you would rather stir up the storm in secret than tell me about it. I also have a headache, so you can rest assured. In short, everything is clear in my heart."
"Your Majesty is wise - although I am not ashamed of Zheng Huaizhong, I have never worried that Your Majesty will be deceived by traitors!" Xu Huai said.
"Haha, don't say it so harshly!" Emperor Jianji still tried his best to ease Xu Huai and Zheng Huaizhong's thoughts, and said, "Xu Xiang should have told you about the southward migration. In your opinion, it's better to
what should I be aware of?"
Xu Huai said: "What worries me the most is why I strongly oppose abandoning Heluo lightly. Abandoning Heluo lightly will make the Japanese troops no longer have flank threats in Hehuai. Once they can't attack them, there will be dangers in the mountains and rivers to defend."
In the Chushan Mountains, the strategic focus may completely shift to Jianghuai. Your Majesty went to Jianye to supervise the generals to train their troops and horses, and not to rest for a day!"
"Initially, Hu Kai belonged to Zheng Huaizhong and after he withdrew to Nanyang, he also guarded Wuyang, but he was worried that you and Zheng Huaizhong would not be together," Emperor Jianji said. "Now Chushan alone guards Huaishang, how should Zheng Huaizhong's troops arrange it? What suggestions do you have?"
"Commander Hu must have considered this matter carefully. If I make an arrogant comment, I will be criticized by Zheng Huaizhong!" Xu Huai said.
"If you tell me, it won't be of any concern to you," Emperor Jianji said. "Are you still worried that Prime Minister Xu and Senior Officer Qiao will come to Zheng Huaizhong and tell you the secret?"
"Your Majesty said this to ask the veteran to resign!" Qiao Jien stood beside Emperor Jianji and said with a smile.
"Zheng Huaizhong's troops retreated to Nanyang to rest and recuperate. Your Majesty should let them also guard Shangzhou. Even before withdrawing south, Zheng Huaizhong should be urged to make every effort to open up the plank road between Lu's and Luonan in the upper reaches of Luoshui River, and make Zheng Huaizhong's troops stay in Shangzhou.
A group of soldiers and horses guard the Lu family, and Yang Lin's troops guarding Yiyang in the upper reaches of the Yi River serve as horns to contain more enemy troops!" Xu Huai said.
"Shangzhou," Emperor Jianji sighed with emotion and said, "I know!"
