When the women's families gather together, it is inevitable that the parents of the east and the west will have shortcomings. The women's families of officials are not exempt from this custom. If there is any trouble in the backyard of a house, word will spread quickly.
Zhao Yuanren asked casually: "What rumors have you heard?"
Mrs. Sun came over and whispered a few words.
Zhao Yuanren's whole body was shocked, and his eyes suddenly widened: "Where did you hear this from? It concerns the emperor's face and the dignity of the royal family. Such things must not be talked nonsense."
Sun said in a low voice: "Mrs. Zhou told me this quietly. She also specifically asked me not to tell anyone. We are the only two here, so I dare to whisper a few words. Whether this matter is true or not, I
I don’t know either.”
Since Xu Jing and Zhao Xiyan came to the capital, the relationship between the Zhao family and the Zhou family has become much closer, and the Sun family often visits the Zhou family.
Today is the ninth day of the new year. Mrs. Zhou held a small banquet and sent an invitation to Mrs. Sun. After the banquet, Mrs. Zhou privately talked to Mrs. Sun about the rumors in the palace. Mrs. Sun was also shocked.
Zhao Yuanren finally recovered from the shock, his brows almost knitted into knots.
There is no storm without fire. What Madam Zhou said has a nose and an eye. If you think about Emperor Yongming as a person... this is most likely true.
God!
Fortunately, Yue Ya'er escaped.
"Whether this matter is true or false, it has nothing to do with us." Zhao Yuanren whispered: "You can just pretend that you have never heard of it, and don't mention it to anyone."
Mrs. Sun nodded: "Don't worry, I know the importance."
Zhao Yuanren felt inexplicably angry and couldn't help but curse in a low voice: "Wars are going on everywhere, the treasury is empty, and the people are in dire straits. I don't know how many people will freeze to death in this heavy snow. The emperor still has such leisure... Humph!"
Foolish king!
…
In the palace, Fuyou Hall.
Emperor Yongming sneezed heavily.
Eunuch Jiang hurriedly came forward with a warm towel and helped the emperor wipe the corners of his mouth.
Emperor Yongming sneezed again, and spittle splashed into Eunuch Jiang's face: "Who is saying bad things about me behind my back?"
Eunuch Jiang didn't even have time to do it, so he responded with a shy face: "The emperor is so busy with state affairs that even the New Year is unsettled. He summons ministers to the palace every day to discuss political affairs. Who dares to say that the emperor is half-hearted?"
Not even a word, I have to shut him up even if I risk my life."
Emperor Yongming felt relieved physically and mentally by this flattery and laughed.
In fact, Emperor Yongming didn't want to deal with state affairs at all. However, the battle reports came one after another, even when the road was blocked by heavy snow. This shows how fierce the war was.
The ministers were so anxious that they went to the palace one after another. The so-called "calling ministers into the palace every day to discuss political affairs" was just to put gold on Emperor Yongming's face.
Eunuch Ma looked down upon Eunuch Jiang's shameless flattery. He had read history books and saw the current situation of the Jin Dynasty more clearly, and he was quite worried.
If the Jin Dynasty were destroyed, these rootless servants would not even have a way to survive, let alone gain any wealth or power.
Xiao Xi'er, the chamberlain, quietly came over and whispered a few words into Eunuch Ma's ear. Eunuch Ma nodded briefly and immediately stepped forward to report: "To inform your Majesty, a battle report has been sent from Jizhou."
Emperor Yongming frowned when he heard the word "Jizhou".
Gaopeng, the loyal and brave Marquis Gaopeng, who was brave and good at fighting, led his troops to Jizhou to quell the rebellion, but failed to win a quick victory. Twenty thousand cavalry were dragged in Jizhou. Every day, the number of soldiers and horses was eaten, drank and chewed, which was a terrible number. The imperial court was very difficult to supply food and grass.
An official document has been issued ordering all counties in Jizhou to supply military rations to the army.
Eunuch Ma came with the battle report. No matter how foolish and ignorant Emperor Yongming was, he had to cheer up and take a look.
After reading it, Emperor Yongming's face darkened again and he threw the battle report to the ground. The fat on his face kept shaking with anger. He rarely took the initiative to give an order: "Pass on my oral instructions and immediately summon the six ministers to come to see you."
After reading for a while, he added: "Let General Murong come too, and summon Wu Anbo to come too."
"Call the prince here and discuss the matter together."
…
It is certainly not good news that can make Emperor Yongming angry.
During this New Year, almost everyone in the Ministry of War lived in the government office. Chen Shangshu's eyes were red from the exertion, and he was the first to enter the Fuyou Palace.
Emperor Yongming gritted his teeth and said angrily: "This Zhongyonghou! I have put so much trust in him in vain. He actually suffered a defeat. The Xiaoqi camp suffered heavy damage. A total of three thousand cavalry were killed! I will chop off his head!"
Chen Shangshu's expression also suddenly changed. He took the battle report from Eunuch Ma. He was shocked when he saw it.
The loyal and brave Marquis, who had fought countless battles and was good at everything, suffered a huge defeat, with as many as 3,000 casualties.
This is a cavalry that costs millions of silver every year to raise! Each cavalry has two horses, and the military salary is enough to support ten ordinary soldiers.
With such damage, not to mention Emperor Yongming being furious, even the Minister of War felt his heart bleed after seeing it.
Soon, the Minister of Revenue and others also came, and they looked grim after reading the battle report.
Imperial Guard General Murong Yao and Nancheng Army and Horse Commander Wu Anbo entered the palace one after another, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also entered the Fuyou Palace. After reading the battle report, they all looked solemn.
Emperor Yongming's chest was heaving, and his face was like a cloud: "You all tell me, what should we do now?"
Chen Shangshu said solemnly: "The defeat of Jizhou cannot be entirely blamed on Marquis Zhongyong. Marquis Zhongyong led the troops to fight in the front, but the people behind him kept rebelling. Just like putting out a fire, one place is extinguished, and another one breaks out. The army comes back and forth.
Running around, even if it is made of iron, it cannot withstand such a toss. It is reasonable to suffer defeat."
The truth is always a bit harsh.
Emperor Yongming's face turned gloomy: "According to what Chen Shangshu said, there will be no end to the war. One defeat is nothing, but the next one will lead to defeats one after another. All 20,000 of my cavalry are dead, and I can't blame anyone."
.”
Chen Shangshu bowed his head and apologized: "I made a mistake. Please calm down, Your Majesty."
Emperor Yongming said angrily: "I don't want to listen to this nonsense. I now want you to discuss a countermeasure."
Among the six ministers, Chen Shangshu was in charge of the Ministry of War, and he was also the civil servant who really understood war. Chen Shangshu was scolded bloody, and the other ministers also fell silent.
What else can be done?
We can only continue to increase our troops.
Then the problem comes back again.
Deployment of garrisons from various states and counties is a method. However, the number of garrisons ranges from several thousand to 10,000, and the number of troops is limited. With such deployment of troops, if there are more civil unrest, who should be sent to quell the chaos?
The capital has a total of 100,000 troops. Now Zhongyong Hou has led 20,000 troops to quell the rebellion, and Zhongyong Hou has taken another 20,000 troops away. The 30,000 Imperial Guards must not move, leaving only 30,000 elite troops from the Iron Guard Battalion.
The army is about to be dispatched, who will lead it? Where will the military pay, food and grass come from? A quick victory is good, but what if the 30,000 troops are also delayed and another mob attacks the capital?
These have been hotly debated in court for months.
His Royal Highness the Prince suddenly took a step forward: "Father, the war is raging, we can no longer hesitate. Please send troops to Jizhou immediately for reinforcements. I am willing to lead the troops to Jizhou in person."
