General Zhou Shizhong was reading a miscellaneous book when suddenly someone outside said in a hurry: "General, urgent military situation!"
After General Zhou heard this voice, he frowned and then said: "Come in."
Soon, a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties walked in with his head lowered, bowed to Zhou Shizhong and clasped his fists: "Dad!"
Naturally, this young man also had a surname of Zhou, his name was Zhou Yuanlang, and he was also the son of Zhou Shizhong.
To be precise, he is Zhou Yuanhu's younger brother.
Originally, Zhou Yuanhu had been stationed at the Huaihe River with his father, and he was regarded as the default successor of the Zhou family. However, he fought many defeats along the Huaihe River, and Zhou Yuanhu made many stupid mistakes, so he was abandoned by Zhou Shizhong.
He rushed back to Yandu to plead guilty.
After Zhou Yuanhu left, the Zhou family didn't send anyone over. It wasn't until the end of last year, when General Zhou was rewarded by the court for "defeating" the Southern Dynasty army. After the New Year, the Zhou family sent another young man over.
On the one hand, it is to expand its influence in the army, and on the other hand, it is natural to train successors for the family. After all, the big piece of the Southern Army has been regarded as a forbidden favorite by the Zhou family. In the future, when Zhou Shizhong gets old, he will still have to have a successor.
Young people from the Zhou family came to take over.
However, in comparison, General Zhou definitely still prefers his son Zhou Yuanhu, who has been practicing martial arts since he was a child and has been with him for many years.
Because the son Zhou Yuanlang in front of him is not particularly strong and is on the thin side.
Zhou Shizhong raised his head, looked at his son, frowned slightly and said, "What's all the fuss about?"
Zhou Yuanlang lowered his head and said: "Dad, there is an urgent military situation. The southerners have gathered a large number of ships in Xiangshui and Lianshui. My son... my son is suspicious..."
Having said this, Zhou Yuanlang himself took a deep breath and whispered: "The southerners may want to go north!"
General Zhou frowned, looked at Zhou Yuanlang, and asked, "I have something to tell you. I don't need you to doubt me."
Because the general snorted and said, "If you want to be suspicious, I should be the one to doubt it."
"yes."
Zhou Yuanlang hurriedly lowered his head and said: "Father, the scouts reported that there are a large number of ships gathering in Xiangshui and Lianshui on the south bank, and the two camps have been moving frequently recently."
Zhou Shizhong glanced at his son quietly and said, "Don't there always be ships gathering in these two camps?"
Now, the Huai'an Army has more ships. Unlike before, when there was a large-scale military operation, the ships had to be concentrated.
Now, on the Huai River near the two camps, there are ships all year round, or in other words, there are naval gatherings.
Zhou Yuanlang cupped his fists and said, "Dad, although there are a large number of ships on weekdays, those southerners don't carry gunpowder and artillery to the ships on weekdays!"
Zhou Shizhong frowned and said, "Did you see it?"
Zhou Yuanlang lowered his head and said, "Yes, there was a hundred households in the scout camp who saw it with their own eyes with their telescopes."
Zhou Shizhong was silent for a while, then silently said: "Go down with the order and prepare for war."
Seeing that his old father was in a low mood, Zhou Yuanlang hesitated and asked, "Dad, are you worried?"
"I'm fine."
Zhou Shizhong waved his hand and said, "Just send the order."
Of course he has something on his mind.
Last year, the army conquering the South suffered a huge defeat. Under the suggestion of Yao Dao Yuzhenzi, he shamelessly reported his merits to the court.
As a result, the document reporting his meritorious service was quickly approved. The court rewarded him greatly, gave him money and land, and planned to marry the unmarried son of the Zhou family to a princess.
But Zhou Shizhong was frightened in his heart.
Because he knows better than anyone that he did not win the battle last year.
More importantly, he also knew that his Majesty the Emperor also knew that he had not won the battle.
Therefore, the entire awarding process was done through the imperial court, and His Majesty the Emperor was not involved in the entire process.
Now, at the imperial court, the King of Da Qi just crossed the Huai River last year and gave the southerners a good beating. But this year has just begun. If the southerners cross the Huai River and fight back...
So how credible is the much-publicized victory last year?
Will anyone in the court pursue this matter?
What's more terrible is, will His Majesty the Emperor, who is already a little angry, pursue this matter?
Zhou Shizhong felt increasingly uneasy.
While I was uneasy, I also hated Shen from Nan'an.
Seeing his old father like this, Zhou Yuanlang could only lower his head and clasp his fists: "Then son, go down and pass the order."
Just as he was about to turn around and go down, he was stopped by Zhou Shizhong.
General Zhou closed his eyes and exhaled a breath of thick air.
"Lang'er, you have been different from your family members since you were a child. You like to read more. My father has a memorial letter for you to write."
Zhou Shizhong's voice was hoarse: "Report to the imperial court, the southerners are coming to attack."
After Zhou Yuanlang heard this, he sat opposite his old father, lowered his head and said, "Dad, last year the Southern Army suffered a defeat, didn't they?"
Zhou Shizhong suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhou Yuanlang.
"Why do you say that?"
"My son has been in the Conquering South Army for some time, so he can see some clues."
Zhou Yuanlang paused and continued: "Moreover, the southerners dared to attack so blatantly even before spring has begun, which shows that our expedition to the southern army must have suffered some losses last year."
Zhou Shizhong nodded silently at first, and then said: "If you have anything to say, just say it."
"father."
Zhou Yuanlang lowered his head and said: "My son thought that if he really suffered a loss last year and reported credit to the imperial court, then this time when the southerners attack, he cannot directly report to the imperial court."
General Zhou looked at his son, whom he disliked because of his bookishness, and asked, "What should we do?"
"Just write a secret memorial to Your Majesty."
Zhou Yuanlang whispered: "The direction of the matter should be left to your Majesty to decide."
General Zhou was silent for a long time, then stood up silently and said: "You sit here and write, for your father to go to the Huaihe River to inspect the battlefield."
Zhou Yuanlang bowed his head respectfully: "Yes."
………………
Three days later, this letter written by Zhou Yuanlang was sent to the Imperial City of Yandu and delivered to the hands of His Majesty the Emperor.
This year, His Majesty the Emperor's health has become even worse.
Except for one appearance on the night of New Year's Eve, he locked himself in the palace at other times. Except for a few prime ministers, almost no one could see him.
On this day, after Emperor Yongping received the secret message from the front line, he opened it and read it, and then sat in silence for a long time without speaking.
After an unknown amount of time, His Majesty the Emperor said slowly: "Go and summon Yan Li to the palace."
The eunuch below immediately bowed in response, and half an hour later, Prime Minister Yanli entered the palace.
All the systems of Northern Qi were imitated from Da Chen, so they also had a place similar to a meeting hall, called the Meeting Office.
In the Northern Qi court, only by adding the word "big scholar" could one enter the meeting room to discuss affairs. Adding the word "daoshi" was equivalent to worshiping the prime minister.
Now, there are three prime ministers in the Northern Qi court.
Among the three people, there is only one Han Chinese, and that is Yan Li.
And Yan Li is not the chief.
According to the rules of Daqi, the Prime Minister of the Council must be Zhenren Zhuli. Even if he joins the Council later, Zhuli's rank must be higher than that of the Han Prime Minister.
But I can't stand the strict etiquette and can work.
Therefore, although Prime Minister Yan does not have the title of prime minister, he is already handling most of the affairs of the council.
As for Prime Minister Zhu Lizhen, who wears the title of Prime Minister...
Right now it's just a name.
After Yan Li entered the palace, he quickly saw Emperor Yongping. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully: "Old minister Yan Li, I would like to pay my respects to your majesty..."
His Majesty the Emperor was afraid of the cold, so the room was filled with stoves. He looked at the gray-haired prime minister in front of him and sighed silently: "Prime Minister Yan, please get up."
Yan Li then stood up and stood with his hands down.
His Majesty the Emperor winked at the eunuch beside him, and the eunuch immediately handed Zhou Yuanlang's letter to Yan Li.
After Yan Li finished reading, His Majesty the Emperor said expressionlessly: "The Southerners are becoming more and more rampant. Can Prime Minister Yan give you a regulation?"
Yan Li looked at the emperor carefully, then lowered his head slightly and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, what happened now..."
"By now…"
The old prime minister sighed and said, "It seems that we can only defend for a while."
The emperor coughed twice and said nothing.
Yan Li lowered his head and said: "Firstly, the treasury has no money to continue the war. Secondly, even if the treasury squeezes out the money to increase troops in Huaihe, it will just repeat last year's story."
Emperor Yongping remained silent again.
The anger in his heart could never be calmed down.
In the sixty or seventy years since the founding of Da Qi, how has it ever suffered such a loss? Have you ever been so angry?!
He coughed a few more times, wiped his mouth, and said, "I need Prime Minister Yan to raise some money to prepare for the military."
Yan Li immediately understood, he lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty's holy life is approaching, I would like to take the lead and honor your Majesty's one hundred thousand taels of silver..."
This word means to pluck the official's wool.
"You can't use my birthday as a cover to raise money."
The emperor waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "If this method doesn't work, just go back and think about it slowly."
"Come and see me again after you think about it."
"yes."
Yan Li bowed his head respectfully and retreated.
After Prime Minister Yan left, Emperor Yongping coughed violently again. After coughing for a while, he wiped his mouth with a white square handkerchief, and his eyes were filled with scarlet red.
Emperor Yongping looked at the blood coughed up on the handkerchief and clenched his fists tightly.
"Li Er!"
His voice was hoarse, his whole body was shaking with anger, and he roared in a low voice.