Because of the temporary information, this small meeting in the Manlu Palace was extended for another hour. It was not until sunset that the Emperor let several prime ministers and two ministers leave.
Because the prime ministers were all very young, when they left, they either held their hands on their waists or supported each other.
His Majesty the Emperor, quietly watched these ministers leave.
He sat alone on the throne of the Manlu Palace for a long time, motionless.
It wasn't until the sky completely darkened that he closed his eyes tiredly and lay down directly on the soft couch, his voice was lazy.
"clever."
Eunuch Gao had been waiting nearby. Hearing this, he lowered his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty."
The emperor didn't even open his eyes and asked, "What's going on with Shen Qi recently?" Fei
Eunuch Gao lowered his head without thinking: "Return to your Majesty."
"When Dr. Shen first arrived in Huai'an, the few battles he fought were very hard. But after he dragged the Huaihe Navy to the end, although there were still battles in Huai'an, the pressure was much less."
After Gao Ming paused, he said: "It has been more than two months since the Coastal Dusi took over Huai'an. More than 5,000 of the original 20,000 Dusi have been injured. However, the Dusi recruited troops in Huai'an and also recruited There are more than 2,000 people, and the current military strength in Huai'an is about 17,000."
"In recent days, because the Qi people have been unable to attack Huai'an for a long time, the fighting along Huai'an has been much less than last month..."
The emperor opened his eyes and put his hands behind his back. He turned to look at Eunuch Gao and said, "Gao Ming, I want to take a look at Huai'an Mansion."
"Go and take a look at the Huaihe defense line."
Hearing this, Eunuch Gao was so frightened that he knelt on the ground with a plop, kowtowed and said: "Your Majesty, this slave will never dare to make the decision, slave..." Fei
When the emperor heard this, he smiled dumbly: "Okay, I didn't let you make the decision."
Having said this, the emperor said helplessly: "I... was just thinking about it."
"The ministers in the court are easy to persuade, but my mother will not allow me to go to the front line no matter what."
The Queen Mother is still young now.
Although the Queen Mother has returned most of the "monarchy" to His Majesty the Emperor over the years, as His Majesty's biological mother, the word "filial piety" is enough for her to become half an emperor in Dachen.
The emperor rubbed his temples and sighed: "But I really want to go to the north and have a look."
At this point, the emperor said slowly: "Go and send the news about the reinforcements of the Northern Qi Dynasty to Huai'an Mansion immediately and send it to Shen Qi." Fei
At this point, the emperor thought for a while and continued: "Since the war in Huai'an has eased a lot, I will send him another letter and tell him to ride a fast horse back to Jiankang. I want to see him. Him, tell him something."
Gao Ming breathed a long sigh of relief.
If the emperor insists on asking him to get him out of the palace and take him to Huai'an, as the emperor's personal servant, he can only obey. However, when the emperor returns to Jiankang, the Queen Mother will at most scold this biological son, but he " The evil servant who abducts the emperor will most likely die under the boards of Kunde Palace.
As a result, the great eunuch bowed his head deeply, knelt before the emperor, kowtowed and said, "I obey my command."
The emperor glanced at him and said: "Send it as an expedited way and ask Shen Qi to come back quickly so as not to miss the front line."
Eunuch Gao bowed his head again.
"My slave understands." Fei
…………
Jiankang is less than four hundred miles away from Huai'an. The urgent documents from the imperial court were delivered to Mr. Shen at noon the next day.
At this moment, Master Shen is recruiting soldiers.
After receiving the secret document from the court, he frowned and read it, then without hesitation, immediately went to the prefect's Yamen, where he found Zhang Jian.
"Brother, I have to leave Huai'an for a few days."
Shen Yi paused and said, "There is still fighting on the front line. It is not appropriate to reveal my departure to avoid affecting morale."
"Therefore, I want to leave secretly." Fei
After Shen Yi thought for a while, he said: "In the past few days, I have told others that I am sick. If others come to see me, they avoid seeing me. If it is Xue Wei, Ling Su, well..."
Mr. Shen hesitated and added.
"And Su Ding."
"If these three people come to Huai'an to see me, senior brother will come forward and tell them that I have gone out to do business, and I will be back in two or three days, or in four or five days."
Zhang Jian nodded silently at first, then looked up at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "The war in Huai'an has finally calmed down. It's not like last month when you slept on the bank of the Huai River eight out of ten days. At this time, you should take good care of yourself." You are just resting in Huai'an, why do you want to go out suddenly?"
Mr. Shen did not speak, but pointed to the sky.
Zhang Jian understood immediately and asked, "What happened?"
Shen Yi shook his head and said, "I don't know if something happened."
He looked at Zhang Jian and said in a deep voice: "Brother, tomorrow another hundred thousand taels of cash will be escorted to Huai'an Mansion and temporarily stored in my imperial envoy's office. I will issue a document for you. You can use the cash as you wish."
Zhang Fuzun was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "What do I need your money for?"
"conscription."
Shen Yi said slowly: "In the past few months, military recruitment has been entirely voluntary. Now there are only more than 2,000 people. During military training, a group of people have to be eliminated. I don't know how many will be left in the end."
"I need a massive conscription."
Shen Yi said in a deep voice: "At least, replenish the capital to 20,000 people as soon as possible." Fei
Starting from September, after the fighting on the Huaihe front line slowed down, Shen Yi began to personally recruit soldiers. However, because the front line was still fighting, the efficiency of recruiting soldiers was really not very high.
Hearing this, Zhang Jian was silent for a while, then nodded and said: "Okay, if you are not here for a few days, I will help you keep an eye on it to ensure that no one will cause trouble."
He asked: "When will you leave?"
"It's urgent up there."
Shen Yi said: "I have already asked people to prepare the horses, and we will set off back to Jiankang in a while."
He looked at Zhang Jian and asked, "Senior brother, do you have a letter for me to take back to Jiankang?"
The Zhang family has all gone back to their hometown with the old Prime Minister Zhang Jing, but Zhang Jian’s family, his wife and children are still living in Jiankang.
Zhang Jian shook his head slightly: "You are in a hurry, so I won't bother you. I want to write a letter back, so I can go through the official post."
Shen Yi nodded, and after telling Zhang Jian something, he left the magistrate's office, mounted his horse, and hurried back to Jiankang with about a dozen followers.
Because the emperor was in a hurry, Shen Yi and others followed the official road and changed horses along the way at the official post, and only slept for more than three hours that night.
They set off at noon, and by the evening of the next day, they were about to enter Jiankang City before the Jiankang City Gate closed.
After entering Jiankang, Shen Yi first went back home and said hello to his wife, children and brothers. Then he washed up and put on a brand new fourth-grade official uniform.
By this time, it was completely dark.
While Lu Ruoxi was helping Shen Yi tidy up his official uniform, he asked, "How can anyone come into the palace so late? Otherwise, why don't you go there early tomorrow morning?" Fei
Shen Yi shook his head and said helplessly: "His Majesty summoned me back urgently. I have to be urgent at this time. I will go to the palace first. I estimate that I will be back in about an hour."
At this time, the Shen family had prepared a carriage. After Shen Yi got on his carriage, he came all the way to the gate of the imperial city.
At this moment, the gates of the imperial city have been closed.
Fortunately, a young eunuch was already waiting at the gate of the imperial city. After welcoming Shen Yi, the young eunuch took Eunuch Gao's waistband, opened the imperial city gate and the palace gate, and led Shen Yi to the gate of Ganlu Palace.
In the Manna Hall, the lights are brightly lit.
Mr. Shen took a deep breath and walked in. After seeing His Majesty the Emperor, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Shen Yi, kowtow to Your Majesty."
At this moment, His Majesty the Emperor was reading at night. After hearing Shen Yi's voice, he directly threw the book aside, stood up in person, walked to Shen Yi, and reached out to help Shen Yi up.
"Gao Ming, give Shen Qing a seat."
Eunuch Gao immediately moved a small pile and placed it behind Shen Yi.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After Shen Yi sat down, His Majesty the Emperor looked at Shen Yi up and down, and then said with emotion: "Shen Qing seems a little haggard after not seeing her for several months."
Shen Yi bowed slightly and said, "I should devote myself to Your Majesty..."
The emperor patted him on the shoulder, smiled slightly, said nothing, but walked back to the soft couch and sat down.
"Shen Qing."
After sitting down, he looked at Shen Yi with bright eyes.
"Qi people are anxious..."
He lowered his voice, and there seemed to be some excitement in his voice.
"I suspect that Emperor Yongping of Northern Qi..."