Ouyang Rong, who was squatting by the stove and rolled up his sleeves because of the heat, did not look back for the first time.
Learned the news of Khufu's sudden return.
He did not immediately ask Yanrokuro for details.
But Ouyang Rong knew.
Roughly what things will happen.
Because this was the third worst outcome he could think of among the thousands of possibilities he had deduced in his mind.
First of all, Ouyang Rong feels that we need to have a clear understanding of the current situation.
When 1,500 soldiers from Guizhou returned north, a violent mutiny broke out after conflicts were ignited.
Even if it is the tornado caused by the embezzlement of military funds to build the giant Buddha and the cruelty and harshness of the local governor, the two butterflies are slightly incited.
But from the perspective of the imperial rulers, it was essentially a mutiny without any excuse.
There is not even a hint of tenderness.
The real problem is how to quell this unexpected mutiny.
In the previous letter from my mentor Xie Xun, there was a faint mention of the meeting in front of the imperial court, where the Baoli faction, the Wei family, and the neutral courtiers had a fierce dispute. This was the point.
Wei stood from the perspective of the so-called national policy of needing to continue to promote the central government and statues, and from the perspective of preserving Lan Changhao, Wang Lengran and other defectors.
Therefore, he was determined to have returned home maliciously. The local governor had almost no responsibility and advocated violent suppression and cleanup.
The pro-liberation faction, on the other hand, stood against the Wei family due to Ouyang Rong's plea and explanation and their daily routine of attacking the Wei family.
It was determined that the chief officer was cruel and was forced to mutiny. He advocated sending envoys to appease, striving for a peaceful solution, engaging in less fighting, treating the garrison soldiers leniently, and holding certain chief officers accountable.
In fact, neither party denied the nature of the mutiny.
However, in terms of specific qualitative differences, subtle differences deeply affected the subsequent court actions, and the results were also very different.
The final choice of the court, or Her Majesty the Queen, is now known.
A compromise plan of sending envoys to appease the officials without punishing them.
In addition to the neutral faction who did not want to offend anyone, there was also the empress Wei Zhao who was still good at using imperial arts.
Neither side of the dispute is satisfied.
Shen Xisheng and other Baoli court officials were dissatisfied because they felt that they were favoring the Wei family, shielding the guilty officials, and disregarding the king's laws.
Shen Xisheng even quoted the inconspicuous words Ouyang Rong wrote in his memorial that day:
If the main culprit is not discovered and punished severely, it will chill the hearts of people with lofty ideals and cause endless trouble for the Zhou Dynasty.
At the moment, few people care about it.
The two kings of the Wei family also seemed very dissatisfied.
If the mutinous garrison is not suppressed with thunder, wouldn't it leave room for liquidation of Lan Changhao, Wang Lengran and other chief officials in the future?
Moreover, the mutiny of the Guizhou garrison was also closely related to the statue-making in Guizhou.
Lan Changhao, Wang Lengran and other officials involved were probably panicked afterwards and used this as an excuse to deny and evade responsibility, elevating them to the level of boycotting the construction of Buddha statues.
For example, these big-headed soldiers are not rebelling against them. They are clearly slapping you in the face.
All kinds of things.
Wei Jisi, is Wei Sixing an idiot? Can't he see the thoughts of the people below?
of course not.
But as the leader of the faction, there is no right or wrong in his eyes, only the butt.
He was also dissatisfied with the court's compromise plan.
The Guizhou garrison soldiers who took the lead in mutiny by "protesting the statue" were placated and tolerated.
So what should we do if other states in the world follow suit and boycott the statue-making and the Song De Copper Collection?
In the eyes of the two kings of the Wei family, this matter concerns the Wei family's face and dignity.
It is even more important than the fact that the garrison collapsed after the thunderous suppression, which may cause long-term harm to the hinterland of Jiangnan Province.
Since the secessionists interfered, Her Majesty the Queen chose a compromise plan that cannot be changed.
Then the two kings of the Wei family will definitely exert their efforts secretly in other places to regain their position.
So, what can be more powerful than liquidating the garrison troops returning to the north to establish dignity.
Only in this way can we give warnings and secretly resist the central statues, and protect those who violate the rules openly and secretly, so as to prevent the slightest change.
To overcorrect is to overcorrect.
As for the central statue, Her Majesty the Queen has the same interests as the two kings of the Wei family.
Therefore, regarding the Wei family’s subsequent settlement and establishment of authority,
His Majesty probably guessed it, but did not stop it, or even just sat back and watched.
Ouyang Rong has always been afraid of assuming the worst possible ill will in his enemies.
He didn't know much about Hongzhou, but he had already known his character by watching Wang Lengran, the governor of Jiangzhou, with a cold eye.
When you stick your butt out, you know what you want.
So I discussed with the Prince of Xunyang how to protect people in disguise.
However, not everyone has Ouyang Rong's meticulous logic and clear understanding.
For example, these mutinous garrison soldiers in Guizhou,
At the beginning of the previous mutiny, Ouyang Rong observed their movements and guessed that the leading generals of the mutinous garrison did not understand the "mutiny" nature of their mutiny and return to the north.
They did not hijack ships and disturb the people, but returned home with their heads down like honest people. You can see the idea behind this.
It is an emotion similar to that of a willful child who runs away from home and feels resentful.
The real danger behind this mutiny was not understood.
The leading generals, namely Cai Qin and others, may be a little hesitant, not really wanting to rebel, but expressing some kind of helplessness and dissatisfaction, just to make a fuss and attract attention.
I hope that the "big family" in the imperial court will understand their intentions and recover them.
Moreover, leading so many garrison soldiers back to the north together also wanted to focus on one method without blaming the masses.
As everyone knows, in the eyes of the two kings of the Wei family, 1,500 garrison soldiers and 1,500 households are just a series of numbers, not as many as the slaves, maids, and tenant farmers in their palace.
Personally speaking, these days, Ouyang Rong really hopes that these garrison troops returning to the north can continue to maintain this naive mentality.
The game behind the scenes was left to him and the rebels who sympathized with the garrison.
Because, in a game between two parties, if one party is less suspicious, a lot of things will be saved.
Prevent the situation from slipping into a "lose-lose" situation.
Not long ago, Khufu went to comfort him as an envoy, and the good news came back one after another, which made Ouyang Rong breathe a sigh of relief at that time.
Ouyang Rong had contact with Khufu.
It stands to reason that a eunuch with such a martial and heroic temperament is very suitable for appeasing the garrison soldiers.
With the emperor's personal envoy here, the situation should be stabilized.
But the news that came back in the past two days was worse than the last.
Especially the petition submitted by Cai Qin and other generals.
The situation between the Beigui garrison and Hong and Jiang prefectures is suddenly tense and heating up rapidly.
After Ouyang Rong saw the application, he had a keen insight immediately.
This change in the attitude of Cai Qin and others is a complete 180-degree turn from before.
I don’t know if Khufu did something wrong.
Or there was some incident or news on the way back north that stimulated them,
Or was he provoked and bewitched by an ill-intentioned master, and a certain layer of window paper was pierced?
It can be seen from that petition that Cai Qin and others have clearly understood their situation.
We clearly understand the essence of this mutiny, which is actually a mutiny.
Mutiny out of anger is also mutiny.
It's not much different from rebellion.
Since it is a rebellion, there are only two ways to go except victory.
Recruitment.
and surrender.
However, Cai Qin and other garrison soldiers had previously laid down their weapons in Tanzhou Prefecture and followed Khufu back to Hongzhou without saying a word. In the eyes of a discerning eye, this was actually the same as surrender.
For those who surrender, the court can choose any method of disposal.
They can be treated leniently, punished severely, or they can be killed like Wang Lengran who secretly prepared.
It only depends on the will of the victors, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
Recruitment is different.
Recruitment is a compromise between both parties.
The party being recruited can impose conditions.
Surrender is not an option, there is not much room left.
One fact is that Cai Qin and other mutinous garrison soldiers did not know that Ouyang Rong, Prince Xunyang and others were sympathetic and could preserve their power.
But they know clearly and unmistakably that the culprits who were cruel and harsh and forced them to rebel are still in office and have not been held accountable.
This is also something Ouyang Rong has been worried about before.
Once Cai Qin and other garrison generals clearly understood the nature of the rebellion and their own situation, a chain of suspicion would naturally form.
The situation will quickly slip somewhere and be extremely difficult to recover.
The two claims above in the petition they submitted not long ago are the result of this chain of suspicion.
It was also the declaration of status that Cai Qin and others changed from surrender to recruitment.
They want to recruit people, not surrender.
As for how Hongzhou and Jiangzhou will respond to them after receiving the petition...
Ouyang Rong was silent.
He only knew that even the garrison soldiers returning from the north had honestly followed Khufu to surrender "innocently", and Wang Lengran was secretly preparing troops, hoping to frame them for rebellion and catch them all in one fell swoop on the day they entered the city...
What's more, I have now received that threatening petition.
Wang Lengran should be sneering and sharpening his sword.
Because of this, I was extremely annoyed by some of Ouyang Rong's measures to throw cold water on him in the past few days.
This is Jiangzhou.
As for Hongzhou, what will be the choice?
Although he sent a warning in the name of Jiangzhou Hall a few days ago, he received no reply.
But now, the news of Khufu's sudden return has actually told Ouyang Rong the answer.
Just like a leaf knows the autumn...
"knew."
In the blacksmith shop, looking away from the dancing flames in the furnace, Ouyang Rong clapped his hands, stood up, and passed by the anxious Yan Liulang.
"Let's go."
Ouyang Rong's face was calm and he didn't ask any questions.
Yan Liulang, who wanted to speak, was stunned and had no choice but to follow.
Arriving at the main hall of Jiangzhou Hall, Ouyang Rong saw Hu Fu, Wang Lengran, and even Yuan Huaimin.
All officials of modest rank in Jiangzhou's lobby were summoned urgently.
It's really not a small matter.
"Ouyang Changshi! Why did you come here?"
Everyone said anxiously like ants on a hot pot.
Ouyang Rong walked into the main hall and looked at the oncoming Khufu. He couldn't help but take a second look at the fair face that had lost its beard.
And the sword on his waist.
After thinking for a while, he asked with concern: "What's wrong with Ambassador Hu?"
Khufu didn't know whether he was asking about the beard or something else. His face was anxious and he said in a bitter tone:
"It's over, it's all over. Cai Qin walked halfway and suddenly gathered his troops in the middle of the night with the intention of rebelling. He almost killed the Zajia family that night... The Zajia family escaped."
Ouyang Rong nodded and asked directly: "How is Hongzhou?"
Khufu nodded and said anxiously:
"By the time the Zajia family rushed over the mountains and ridges to Hongzhou, it was already too late. The garrison had already approached Hongzhou unimpeded, broke through the strict pass, and occupied the terrain... Governor Zhu sent his officers and men to attack."
Ouyang Rong nodded: "What's the situation now?"
Khu Fu, Yuan Huaimin and others couldn't help but look at Ouyang Rong a few more times.
As if surprised by his calm expression, the weak-headed official seemed not surprised at all.
Ouyang Rong was silent. Since Khufu could survive and come back alone, there were only two possibilities:
Otherwise, Hongzhou has been lost and he fled in a hurry.
Otherwise there was a conflict between Hongzhou and the garrison. Hongzhou had already made a decision, the situation was irreversible, and he came to ask for reinforcements.
The former was the second worst situation he could think of.
And the latter is the third worst situation.
As for the worst situation... Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.
With the current news that Hongzhou City was still there, he was actually very relieved.
Hu Fu shook his head: "I don't know yet, but when the Zajia left, the people in Hongzhou City were panicked. Governor Zhu had just sent troops out of the city. The Zajia came to inform the Governor Wang to rush to Hongzhou's aid!"
Khufu's suggestion was the same as Ouyang Rong's suggestion not long ago.
Wang Lengran suddenly turned ugly and said coldly:
"Why are you so anxious? There are only 1,500 people. There are more than 3,000 elite soldiers in the two Zhechong mansions in Hongzhou. If we recruit more troops and horses, we can even have over 10,000 troops. They can still defend the city. In a short time, there are
What to be afraid of?
"It's the thieves who should be afraid."
Khufu looked worried and said:
"Mr. Wang doesn't know that those garrison soldiers entered Hongzhou without committing any crime all the way. They marched in large numbers in the name of Zhechong Captain, Coach Envoy, and Zhechong Changshi, holding the banner of severe punishment for both humans and gods. They were very popular with the fellow villagers along the way.
Sympathy for indignation.
"In response to this, the Hongzhou lobby continued to ban, but in Hongzhou City, people began to panic, and some people fled.
"When Governor Zhu learned about this, his face was heavy. He warned the Zajia family that civil war is different from foreign wars. It is easy for rebels to grow, not to mention the difficulty of using people's morale. Hongzhou City may be in danger, so the Zajia family should come to ask for help quickly..."
Everyone fell silent immediately.
The families of the 1,200 Hongzhou garrison soldiers all live in Hongzhou, and this time the garrison soldiers returned with the excuse of returning to their hometowns. The Hongzhou government did not take any action, and the people's support was unimaginable.
Ouyang Rong said directly:
"If Hongzhou is lost, the gates of Jiangzhou will be wide open, and Lip Han Teeth will be destroyed. Xunyang City can only defend by danger, and it will be useless to leave too many soldiers in the third fold to attack the mansion.
"Both Governor Zhu and the Hongzhou Military Government are unable to withstand it, and the Jiangzhou Military Government can still fight back. Does Mr. Wang have such a general who can use his troops like a god and support a building that is about to collapse?
"Run for help as soon as possible. While the situation is still intact, don't treat the officer's words as child's play."
After a pause, Ouyang Rong added:
"Don't worry, Xiaguan and the palace will not escape, and there is no need to set up defenses. Xiaguan will arrange logistics in Xunyang City and wait quietly for Mr. Wang to come back."
He said it so straightforwardly that everyone looked at him sideways and immediately admonished him together.
Being urged by everyone, Wang Lengran felt embarrassed and hesitated on his face.