The chill in Beijing is not too strong yet, but the heavy snow in the north is already covering the sky.
Xu Zhiqiong stood at the top of the city, looking at the snowy scenery of Shuangxiong Pass.
The Double Bear Pass is different from the ordinary dangerous pass. The ordinary dangerous pass is to set up a pass in a dangerous place. The Double Bear Pass is between two mountains, from north to south, with two passes set up. Between the two passes
, forming a medium-sized city.
The reason for this design is that the geographical location of Shuangxiong Pass is very good. It is located on a traffic thoroughfare with stretches of cliffs on both sides.
The pass facing the north is called the front pass, and the one facing the south is called the back pass. Once the front pass is lost, the back pass can still fight independently and continue to resist the enemy. With a city sandwiched in the middle, it can also ensure the supply of the pass.
It is a pity that the prefect of Yongzhou does not understand military affairs. At the beginning of the war, he felt that the geographical location of Shuangxiong Pass was convenient, so he directly used up the food supplies at Shuangxiong Pass, and recruited a large number of civilians from Shuangxiong Pass to join the battlefield.
Shuangxiong Pass soon became an empty city.
If Shuangxiong Pass had sufficient supplies, Chu Xin's battle would not have been so painful.
But even if supplies are lost, the value of Double Bear Pass is extraordinary.
Chu Xin once said that in terms of military value alone, Shuangxiong Pass is worth half of Yongzhou.
But just because Shuangxiong Pass is so special, if it is captured by Tunu, it will be difficult for Daxuan to fight back, and the possibility of regaining Yongzhou is basically lost.
The main force of Tunu's army was stationed in front of Shuangxiong Pass. Although he had been mentally prepared, Xu Zhiqiong was still quite shocked when he actually saw the 100,000-strong army.
In his previous life, Xu Zhiqiong had seen tens of thousands of people. During grand festivals, on streets, in scenic spots, and even at stations, Xu Zhiqiong had experienced the oppressive feeling of being shoulder to shoulder.
But to Xu Zhiqiong at that time, those people were not dangerous, but the 100,000 people in front of him wanted Xu Zhiqiong's life at any time. They wanted to kill people. They wanted to kill everyone in Shuangxiong Pass.
The murderous intent of 100,000 people concentrated together, making Xu Zhiqiong feel the fear he had not seen for a long time.
Not only Xu Zhiqiong, everyone said that the third grade can withstand thousands of troops, but Liang Jixiong can feel the shock every time he faces the enemy camp.
Chu Xin said to Liang Jixiong: "Second Elder, I tell you the truth, within ten days, Tunu will definitely attack the city in a large scale. When Niegulai was alive, Tunu still harbored illusions and wanted to trap three people to death through a two-sided siege.
A dangerous pass,
Now that Nie Gulai is dead and the southern part of Yongzhou has returned to our great propaganda, Tunu will definitely attack Shuangxiong Pass if he does not want to return empty-handed from this battle."
The prince asked: "But with all the current military strength, how long can it be defended?"
Chu Xin said: "Then it depends on how to defend it! If we just defend this dangerous pass, our current military strength can last for a month. Even if the front pass is lost, we can still hold it for another month after retreating to the back pass."
"But just guarding the border is not a long-term solution!" The prince looked at the enemy formation and fell into deep thought.
What he said is right. Sticking to dangerous passes will not change the situation of the war and will only waste precious troops.
The prince asked again: "If you want to defeat Tunu, how many troops are needed?"
Chu Xin said: "It depends on how to win. If we just frustrate him and force him to retreat temporarily, another five thousand people will be enough. But Tu Nu will not leave Yongzhou.
If you want to drive Tu Nu out of Yongzhou, you will need at least 30,000 troops. Once Tu Nu gets his troops in order, they may come back.
If you want to severely injure Tunu and severely weaken his vitality, you will need at least 50,000 troops to kill his general and annihilate 70% of his army. This will prevent Tunu from committing another crime in Daxuan for ten years.
If we want Tunu to repay his blood debt with blood, we should have a hundred thousand troops to directly attack Tununan Royal Province and force Tunu to cede the land so that they will never dare to look directly at me again."
These words made Liang Jixiong's blood boil. He pointed at the map and asked Chu Xin: "If this dangerous pass is captured, can the Nanyuxing Province be obtained?"
"Although you can't get the whole territory, you can get at least 40% of it."
"Forty percent is fine!" No wonder Liang Jixiong was so excited. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Daxuan has successively ceded the territory of two states to Tunu. Daxuan has always suffered, but this time he finally has a chance to turn around.
Everyone was discussing happily, but the prince remained silent.
Liang Jixiong asked: "Yuyang, what are your concerns?"
Seeing the fighting spirit of the soldiers, the prince was reluctant to speak. He waited for an opportunity to take Liang Jixiong aside and whispered: "Second brother, we can't even gather an army of 10,000, so what else do you want to do with an army of 100,000?"
Liang Jixiong said: "I know this matter myself. I will return to the capital tomorrow and must get these 100,000 troops out."
"What if I can't come out?"
"If we can't send troops, I will capture the emperor and die together with him on the city wall to comfort the Yongzhou soldiers!"
The prince blinked and looked at Xu Zhiqiong.
Xu Zhiqiong remained silent.
The second brother was impulsive again.
You want to catch me, but can you catch me?
…
In Longtu Pavilion, Gongsun Wen placed the five memorials in front of Yan Anqing and asked Yan Anqing to draft the imperial edict.
The first memorial was the proposal from the Ministry of Civil Affairs to appoint Zhou Kairong as the bachelor of Longtuge.
After Gongsun Wen was promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he immediately reinstated Zhou Kairong to his post. He still served as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a fifth-rank official. The Bachelor of Longtuge was also a fifth-rank official, seemingly with a post (a false title).
But Daxuan's cabinet was set up in Longtuge, and becoming a bachelor of Longtuge meant that Zhou Kairong entered the cabinet.
The next four memorials have the same content, they all recommend officials to serve as bachelors of Longtuge.
And these people are all disciples of Gongsun Wen.
There are only seven cabinet ministers in total. Gongsun Wen wanted to appoint five more, but Yan Anqing, the chief minister of the cabinet, naturally would not agree.
"Has Your Majesty read these memorials?"
Gongsun Wendao said: "If Your Majesty has not read the memorial, how can I send it to the cabinet?"
Yan Anqing read the memorials one by one and asked: "The memorials have always been sent by the Chief of Ceremonies, why are they sent by Gongsun Shilang now?"
Gongsun Wendao: "The situation is urgent. Your Majesty asked me to deliver it personally."
Yan Anqing did not ask any more questions, picked up paper and pen, and immediately drafted an edict, rejecting all the candidates proposed by Gongsun Wen and not appointing them.
Gongsun Wen glanced at the ticket and sighed: "Old Yan Ge, why are you doing this? Letting these five people join the cabinet is actually His Majesty's will."
Yan Anqing said: "I wonder where the imperial edict is?"
"Your Majesty only gave oral instructions."
"Since there is an oral instruction, please call Chen Bingbi, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, to be a witness."
Gongsun Wen looked at Yan Anqing with a cold look in his eyes.
An aura of awe suddenly struck Yan Anqing, causing Yan Anqing to take several steps back.
Yan Anqing stood firm and coughed lightly.
Two disciples came to the back, one on the left and one on the right, each using their awe-inspiring righteousness to fight Gongsun Wen.
Gongsun Wen sneered: "Do these two boys also want to stop me?"
Yan Anqing smiled and said, "You are so polite, Minister Gongsun. Let me ask, who else in Daxuan can stop Minister Gongsun?"
The words were sarcastic, but also somewhat helpless.
Yan Anqing's two disciples are both at the sixth level of Confucianism. They just learned how to use Haoran Zhengqi. Their veins popped out and their bodies were trembling. They were already at their limit. As long as Gongsun Wen exerted a little force, he could kill these two disciples.
But Yan Anqing didn't panic, because this was Longtuge.
Longtuge is part of the imperial palace. In the palace, Gongsun Wen did not dare to go too far.
Sure enough, Gongsun Wen stopped.
He took the edict drafted by Yan Anqing and tore it into pieces in front of Yan Anqing.
"Mr. Yan Ge, do you think that without the cabinet, Daxuan's government affairs will come to a standstill? I draft an edict myself and ask Chen Bingbi to approve it for me. Why not?"
Yan Anqing said: "Are you trying to break the rules of your ancestors?"
"It's time to change the rules. The cabinet is so powerful that even the Holy Emperor doesn't take it seriously. It has become a long-standing shortcoming in the court. If the long-standing shortcomings are not eliminated, where will the emperor's power lie?"
Gongsun Wen took the memorial and turned around to leave.
Yan Anqing gritted his teeth and said, "How rampant this thief is!"
Gongsun Wen was indeed arrogant, but Yan Anqing could only grit his teeth secretly.
Everyone in the court is in danger. If there is any disobedience, the Confucian scholars will come to the door that night, insult, beat or even kill people. They will do anything.
Longtuge has become Yan Anqing's last refuge, and now he doesn't even dare to return home.
Gongsun Wen drafted an edict himself, went to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, placed it in front of Chen Shuncai, and asked Chen Shuncai to approve it.
Chen Shuncai was very dissatisfied. He did not expect that Gongsun Wen would bypass the ceremonial supervisor and directly circulate the edict.
He patiently read the edict, but after just reading two sentences, he felt something was wrong.
This is not a Cabinet note, nor does it have the Cabinet's seal.
What kind of edict is this?
"Is this an edict prepared by the cabinet?"
Gongsun Wen answered directly: "The chief minister of the cabinet, Yan Anqing, was jealous of talents and abilities, suppressed dissidents, and refused to draft an edict."
Chen Shuncai put down the edict and sighed: "There is no cabinet to draft the edict, but how can we ask our family to approve it? This matter needs to be discussed in detail with all cabinet ministers."
Gongsun Wendao: "The emperor should decide the affairs of the government, so why does everything have to go through the cabinet?"
Chen Shuncai smiled: "Shilang Gongsun, is this your first day as an official? Daxuan has had such rules since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Do you think..."
"This rule should be changed!" Gongsun Wen interrupted Chen Shuncai.
"How to change it? Should your minister of official affairs draft the edict instead?" Chen Shuncai's tone changed.
Gongsun Wen looked indifferent, as if he didn't think he had done anything wrong: "It is the duty of the official department to recommend good people to the court!"
"Don't beat around the bush with us!" Chen Shuncai sneered, "Recommending talents is under the control of your staff, but the recommendation is a matter of the cabinet, why do you get involved?"
Gongsun Wendao said: "Chen Bingbi, you have been with the emperor for a long time, but you have never seen the cabinet violate the emperor's will several times? Do you feel no injustice for the emperor? Do you not want to share the sorrow for the emperor?"
Chen Shuncai said with a smile, "Shilang Gongsun thinks highly of our family. Our family only serves the Holy One wholeheartedly. We never make assumptions about His Majesty's intentions. I hope that Shilang Gongsun will know what is right."
Gongsun Wen nodded and said: "I don't know what to do, Chen Bingbi. When you asked me to punish the traitors and help the emperor reorganize the court, Gongsun Wen is weak in virtue and unable to bear the heavy responsibility. Please choose another capable person for Chen Bingbi!"
After Gongsun Wen left, Chen Shun breathed a sigh of relief.
Good to go, finally gone.
Gongsun Wen has lost control. If he doesn't leave, Chen Shuncai should drive him away!
But Chen Shuncai still simplified the problem. How could Gongsun Wen give up the power he had finally obtained with great difficulty?
At dawn the next day, a group of officials sat in front of the palace, demanding that the cabinet be deposed and power returned to the emperor!
Where did these officials come from?
Some of them are Gongsun Wen's disciples. Since Gongsun Wen joined the Ministry of Civil Affairs, in just a few months, he has trained a group of disciples to become officials.
The other group were officials who were frightened by Gongsun Wen's attack. Under coercion, they could only follow Gongsun Wen's disciples and go to the palace gate to put pressure.
There's trouble, there's big trouble this time!
Chen Shuncai was helpless and ran to the queen for help.
The queen was taking care of the garden with her maids, and said with an impatient look: "When it comes to important matters in the court, you always ask me what a woman is doing?
Besides, His Majesty has always hated the cabinet, so wouldn’t it be a good thing to take this opportunity to abolish the cabinet?”
"But we can't let Gongsun Wen make the decision on this matter."
"If he doesn't make the decision, who will? You were the one who found him in the first place! If you can't trust him now, just dismiss him. If those officials come to make trouble for you in the future, I'll see who else can help you resist!"
The queen strongly supported Gongsun Wen, but Chen Shuncai had no idea for a while.
After returning to the Supervisor of Ceremonies, Chen Shuncai thought hard for a long time, trying to find a perfect way to stabilize the situation.
I didn't expect the solution, but I heard the report from the chamberlain: "Zhou Kairong wants to lead the ministers to break into the palace and meet the Holy Emperor!"
Chen Shuncai said angrily: "What on earth are you trying to do!"
He hurriedly came to Xuande Gate, but saw that Zhou Kairong led a group of officials and had already dispersed the guards in front of the gate.
"Kill the ministers, clear the emperor's side, and return power to the emperor!" Zhou Kairong led the crowd into the palace gate.
Chen Shuncai was dumbfounded. How should he deal with this situation?
It's easy to kill them, but these are all ministers of the DPRK, so how will it end afterwards?
While hesitating, he suddenly heard a loud noise and a pit appeared on the ground. Zhou Kairong and a group of ministers all fell into the pit.
"You little bastard, I told you that I didn't want my face, but you still dare to make trouble in the palace!"