Early on the next morning, Xiao Cheng sent away Yang Dayan, who was leading the troops to harass the Li army, without stopping, and took the remaining troops under his command and headed straight for Shicheng County.
Shicheng County is located in the southeast of Xiushan County. The two are both important border counties, but they are not too far apart.
Originally, this Shicheng County was an important border town of Yun State. However, after the Yongzhou War, the Yun State border suddenly moved hundreds of miles eastward. Although this Shicheng County is no longer an important border town, it has gained the land of four new states.
All necessary materials are supplied from here, and its importance has not diminished but increased.
Xiao Cheng led his troops and traveled day and night for two days before arriving at the gate of Shicheng County.
The old Taiwei Tao Ai, who received the news in advance, had already led many officials to wait for a long time.
"I, please pay homage to Your Majesty!" A group of officials, led by the old lieutenant, knelt on the ground in unison.
Xiao Cheng turned over and dismounted, helped up the old lieutenant who was kneeling at the front, looked at the old lieutenant's wrinkled face and gray hair under the iron helmet, and said warmly:
"Lieutenant's hard work has made great achievements, so why should he be so polite?"
Tao Ai's face was solemn and he said solemnly:
"I have been entrusted by Your Majesty and have been awarded the high title of Taiwei. In this way, it is my duty to protect the territory for Your Majesty! It is natural for me to perform my duties!"
Xiao Cheng nodded and said:
"What the Taiwei said is reasonable. If all the civil and military officials are as the Taiwei thinks, I won't be so tired! Okay, everyone, get up! It is also a meritorious service to assist the Taiwei in guarding Shicheng County. When everything is completed
, I will reward you all!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All Shicheng County officials shouted in unison.
"Okay, I personally led the troops and horses. After two days of hasty march, the men and horses are tired. Please help me settle down!"
"yes!"
Not long after, Shicheng County officials led Xiao Cheng's mixed army into the city for repairs.
Seeing everyone disperse, the old lieutenant, who had a solemn face just now, looked around and said:
"Before, there were officials in front of me, so I couldn't say much. Now your Majesty is surrounded by close confidants. Is your Majesty willing to listen to what the old minister has to say?"
Xiao Cheng smiled when he heard this, nodded and said:
"Old Lieutenant, why do you need to hesitate? Just say it!"
The old lieutenant cupped his hands and said bluntly:
"As I just said, I am a Taiwei, and my duty is to defend the territory for Your Majesty and the Yun Kingdom. As for Your Majesty, as the army of a country, your duty is to handle the affairs of the government and coordinate the officials!"
When the old lieutenant said this, he already seemed to be a little superior, and his words became more and more urgent:
"Your Majesty came to the battlefield in person, and yet he went into battle and charged into the battle, regardless of the dangers of his body! Do you know that the battlefield is dangerous? If something unexpected happens, what will happen if you surrender your ministers, the officials in the court, and the entire Yun Kingdom? All the officials and officials in the government and the public will do so.
How can a man of insight be willing to offer his loyalty to you when he sees that you don’t value your own safety so much?”
Xiao Cheng's brows jumped and he subconsciously looked at the golden finger panel.
[Golden Emperor Card, Overlord of Western Chu—Xiang Yu
…
Self-respecting ministers - 1,...; 2,...; 3, ministers whose intimacy is lower than 70 and whose intelligence (force) is higher than 80, loyalty -1
...]
Good guy, it turns out that this negative effect should be here!
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he smiled bitterly and said:
"The lieutenant's lesson is very reasonable, but I also have my own difficulties! Now I have many trustworthy generals in my hands, and most of them have been sent to the north to resist the Xia Kingdom's invasion. The troops and horses I have in my hands now are all fighting from the east.
The people who came from the west can be called a mob. They rescued Xiushan County a few days ago. If I hadn't personally gone into battle to boost morale, the Li army might not have been able to withdraw safely in the end!"
These words are really not Xiao Cheng's excuse for himself.
There are only three thousand imperial troops under his command.
Although the Miao soldiers obeyed his orders, there was a subtle estrangement between them and the Forbidden Army and the monk soldiers, making it difficult for them to cooperate in combat.
Not to mention the monk soldiers who were coerced by Xiao Cheng out of righteousness! Not only were they dishonest, but they also had different intentions!
If Xiao Cheng didn't take action, maybe the Li army would have retreated calmly!
After hearing what Xiao Cheng said, the old lieutenant's expression improved slightly and he whispered:
"I understand your Majesty's difficulties! I just hope that your Majesty will put safety first in the future!"
Xiao Cheng laughed twice and tried to cover it up.
At this time, the old lieutenant's face was serious again and he said:
"Your Majesty came at the right time. Two letters were sent from the border troops, but Your Majesty still needs to read them!"
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng nodded and said:
"good."
The old lieutenant led Xiao Cheng to the Shicheng County Sheriff's Yamen, first took out a letter, held it in both hands to Xiao Cheng, and said:
"This is a letter from Tong Tianhua, general of the border army, and thirteen generals, requesting your majesty to grant the border army permanent control of the four states!"
Xiao Cheng frowned and said in a deep voice:
"really?"
The old lieutenant nodded.
Xiao Cheng's face sank, he opened the letter and scanned it ten lines at a time.
After reading it, Xiao Cheng sneered and said sharply:
"absurd!"
This condition is almost absurd to the point of being unreasonable.
The four states are not the first priority.
The Yun Kingdom's hundreds of thousands of border troops are an elite force built with decades of savings. If they agree to this request, they will almost turn the border troops, which cost an unknown amount of national power, into the private soldiers of these generals.
Such a request made Xiao Cheng laugh in anger.
When the old lieutenant saw this, without saying a word, he took out the second letter and gave it to Xiao Cheng, saying:
"Your Majesty, this is a letter secretly sent by Zhendong General Shi An."
He paused and then said:
"In the letter, General Shi made it clear that Tong Tianhua instigated many generals with such rebellious and unethical words. The border army generals were firstly afraid of a liquidation by the central government, and secondly, they were also moved by his remarks. Many people have been bewitched by him.
General Zhendong did not dare to move lightly, so he could only try his best to control the various units of the border army!"
In fact, there were some words that the old lieutenant did not say. But Xiao Cheng already understood in his heart after reading Shi An's letter.
In the letter, there are constant hints that there is someone behind Tong Tianhua.
Tong Tianhua was the first to provoke and took the initiative.
Shi An knew that his prestige was not enough to overwhelm the border troops, so he restrained himself. He was afraid that due to his impulsiveness, he would lose the trust of the border troops and be unable to control the border troops, which would eventually lead to the disintegration of this elite group of Yun Kingdom.
Xiao Cheng's eyes sharpened and he said:
"This man's intentions are so vicious! The idea of permanently suppressing the Four Prefectures is not his idea at all. What he wants is to tie the border troops to Yongyong Prefecture in times of national calamity. It is best to fall apart and cease to exist!
"
The old lieutenant nodded and gritted his teeth and said:
"That's true! The person who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes is really hateful! He can be killed!"
At this time, Xiao Cheng suddenly said:
"Do you still have an impression of Tong Tianhua?"
Wang Xiao, who was dressed as a Forbidden Army and had been waiting behind Xiao Cheng, nodded and said:
"Remember, this man was originally a surrendered general from Bagan, a small country in the south. Seeing that he took the initiative to serve and was quite resourceful, I stayed in front of the tent and listened. I never thought that I don't know when I would be won over by the monks!"
The old lieutenant was startled by Wang Xiao's voice. He looked up suddenly and stared for a while before saying unsurely:
"Wang Xiao?"
Wang Xiao chuckled, saluted the old lieutenant, and said respectfully:
"The old general stopped wanting to see me more than ten years ago. It's normal for him not to recognize me!"
At that time, the old Taiwei was Wang Xiao's benefactor. However, since Wang Xiao took sole control of the government and sidelined the royal family, he vowed never to see Wang Xiao again.
Seeing Wang Xiao, the old lieutenant looked shocked. He turned his head and looked at the two of them several times. He couldn't figure out how the two got involved.