The personnel preparation of the crossbow army is very fast, but the specific organization and training will still take time. After all, many soldiers are recruited from the Sanhe area and do not know how to recognize flags, drums and military orders, let alone change freely in the formation.
The formation is ready. Fortunately, this is just a crossbow army, not as complicated as the cavalry or armored soldiers. According to the estimates of Chen Chong and Guo Huai, it will take about two to three months for this crossbow army to be put into the battlefield. In
During this period of time, Guo Huai stayed temporarily in Taixue in the south of the city.
On this day, after Guo Huai, Chen Chong, Guan Yu, and Wei Yan inspected the progress of the training, they dined together in Taixue. Even during the meal, they did not forget to talk about military affairs, even if the food on the table was already gone.
Leng, they all still have more to say. In view of the current shortage of officers, Chen Chong has the idea of setting up a martial arts hall in the capital. This can specifically recruit some army sergeants or poor soldiers, which can not only speed up the reconstruction of the Shanglin Army, but also improve the officers.
Quality. Everyone here is a martial artist, so they naturally agree with this.
When the meal was over, Chen Chong stopped staying. He wanted to ask about this year's field rent. In the past few days, Chen Chong proposed an agenda at the court meeting, which would allow farmers to pay rent in the form of mulberries in the spring, so as to alleviate the problem.
The autumn tax not only lightened the burden on farmers, but also maintained the rations of the frontline sergeants. The rest of the people also had their own busy schedules. Guan Yu wanted to count the armor and weapons in Hebei, and Wei Yan went to supervise the recruitment in Hanoi. The people soon
After they were all dispersed, Guo Huai sat in the house for a while, planning to read military books for a while. After taking a nap for a while, he continued to train in the army.
Unexpectedly, someone came to visit at this time. Guo Huai went out to look around and found that it was Wu Zhi, an old friend of Beifu. Wu Zhi was from Jiyin, Yanzhou, with a humble background, but he was very knowledgeable and was highly appreciated by Chen Gong in his early years, but later Cao Cao
After independence, he was loyal to Cao Cao and his son and engaged in literature. Later, after the fall of the Eastern Dynasty, he switched to the imperial court and then served as some idle officials in Jinyang. It was at that time that Guo Huai met Wu Zhi. Unexpectedly, they did not see each other for two years.
He actually moved to Beijing.
There are many happy events in life, but the most touching thing is the reunion of old friends. Guo Huai asked Wu Zhi to come in and take a seat, and at the same time asked his entourage to make tea for him. While waiting, the two of them set up the chessboard and played with each other.
While playing chess, they chatted. Wu Zhi said that he was transferred to Henan last year, but he served as a minor official like the county magistrate. It was only this year that he was transferred to the Yin Mansion in Henan to work as a literary rafter. Although his official rank was average
He may have been transferred, but he has become a Beijing official, and may become prosperous in another two years.
After he finished speaking, Guo Huai chatted about his experiences in the past two years, focusing on the experience of the Battle of Jianye. After all, this was the country's biggest defeat in the past ten years. And due to the government affairs
It was busy and involved a large number of people. The Chancellery had not yet issued a specific announcement, so many people in the court did not understand the process. At this time, Guo Huai, as a party involved, talked about it. Wu Zhi listened with great interest and asked for details from time to time.
, Guo Huai had also been depressed about this for a long time, and he wished he could just talk about it, and they chatted for almost an hour.
When Guo Huai finished speaking, Wu Zhi lifted the chess piece but did not drop it. After hesitating for a moment, he said to Guo Huai: "Bo Ji, who do you think is primarily responsible for the failure of this war?"
Guo Huai didn't know why, so he naturally said: "In this battle of Jianye, our army failed in the front and could not quickly break through the Stone City, and in the back we could not retreat early, and Huang Gongheng could not resist the enemy on the river, which eventually led to a catastrophe. The responsibility for the failure naturally lies with us.
Me and the two generals Zhou and Huang."
However, Wu Zhi just smiled, then looked around the room, and after confirming that there was no one else, he leaned forward, with his elbow almost pressing on the chess scale, and then lowered his voice and began to say: "Don't you think it was caused by His Majesty's return to Beijing?"
Is it a defeat?"
Guo Huai was shocked when he heard this. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand and lowered his voice and yelled: "What are you talking about? Is this something you and I can say? Once word gets out, it will be a serious crime of slandering the emperor!"
Wu Zhi moved Guo Huai's hand away and said with a smile: "You and I can talk in private. Do you think I am the only one who feels this way? The whole capital has gone crazy." Then he acted mysteriously again.
With a pensive look on his face, he widened his eyes and said, "And everyone secretly said that there is a big conspiracy here!"
Guo Huai's face was full of suspicion. He unexpectedly heard about some conspiracy, and immediately retorted: "What conspiracy can there be about defeating the battle? Could it be that you said that His Majesty killed his wife himself and hoped that the army would be defeated?"
"Hey!" Wu Zhi shook his head, leaned his upper body back, and said slowly: "It's not that His Majesty has any conspiracy, but that someone is secretly planning a conspiracy to force His Majesty to return to the capital!"
Guo Huai still couldn't believe it, but after hearing this, he felt that it did make some sense. After all, when the emperor said he wanted to return to Beijing, there were no signs at all, and the military report of encountering the enemy on the front line came too late, making it too late.
Withdrawing troops, it seems that there is indeed a pair of invisible hands controlling it. Wu Zhi's suspicion, sometimes he was confused at the time?
Wu Zhi then explained: "First of all, who is the Queen Mother? How could someone who dared to go directly to the Xiongnu tent to sit in the Huns' tent as the late Emperor pressed forward to suppress the battle, but not know the disadvantages of the Emperor leaving the army? Even if the Queen Mother cares about it, she will be in chaos. She doesn't know.
Are Zhuge Kongming and Pang Shiyuan at the Chancellery still unclear? Normally, this letter would never be sent out. Even if it were sent out, Zhuge Kongming always puts the overall situation first and would advise His Majesty to take advantage of the situation to withdraw the troops. What happened?
?Listening to what you said, His Majesty just received a letter urging him to return to Beijing. There is no other content in it. Isn’t this strange? Is this in line with the practice of the Secretariat?"
Guo Huai lowered his head and stared at the black and white chess pieces, listening carefully to Wu Zhi's every word.
Wu Zhi added: "After your majesty left, he handed over the affairs of the entire army to the governor of Zhou Dynasty. Huang Quan and you will be co-counselors. The army of 200,000 was stagnant in the south of the Yangtze River. You said that it was already very difficult to fight in the continuous heavy rain.
It is indeed normal that the battle was defeated, but as for the loss to this extent? The most terrible thing is that after Wen Zong died, Jiangnan and Jiangbei lost contact. This seemed to be caused by Wu Jun's strict defense, but the Yangtze River is so long, and the river surface
How come it’s so wide that even a boat can’t get through it? You and I have both been on the battlefield, so we should know that it’s hard to guard against scouts. But Wu Jun did it, isn’t it strange?”
Wu Zhi paused for a moment and observed Guo Huai's reaction. Guo Huai just kept flipping the chess pieces, turning them all upside down. Wu Zhi thought for a while and continued: "And the strangest thing is the issue of casualties. Governor Zhou is like this
Duo Zhi, even though he was in danger, he was already at the riverside, and there were soldiers guarding him to the death. It was impossible to win, but escaping was always okay, right? In the end, he didn't escape, and he didn't even find his body. And he didn't find his body.
He is not the only one who has no corpses. Hundreds of thousands of troops are dead! Who is the last person who survives to take control of the situation? They are all the Prime Minister's people!"
With a "pop" sound, Guo Huai hit the chess piece in his hand on the chess scale.
"Zhou Buyi is dead, Huang Gongheng is dead, Li Mancheng is dead, Jia Liangdao is also dead, and the ministers that your Majesty has promoted and promoted over the years are almost wiped out in the first battle! Logically speaking, these people should be the ones who go to Huainan to take charge of the overall situation, but now
But Zhuge Kongming took the lead. As far as I know, you were sent to Xiangyang this time because the Prime Minister was dissatisfied with Sima Zhongda and wanted you to restrain him so that his son Chen Hanzhen could take charge of the overall situation. You said no
Is it weird?"
"Then you mean, who killed Zhou Buyi?" Guo Huai raised his eyes and stared at Wu Zhi.
Wu Zhi felt furious for a while, but he had a heavy responsibility and would not give up halfway. He continued to answer: "I think the person who can tell the news of Zhou Buyi's death is the most suspicious."
"You mean Deng Shizai?" Guo Huai asked.
"It's very possible." Wu Zhi added: "Don't forget, Deng Shizai's current home is in Yingchuan. He once changed his name to Deng Fan, saying it was to pay tribute to the Prime Minister's ancestor Wen Fan Gong. It is very likely that he is the Prime Minister's pawn.
!”
He added: "After Zhou Buji's death, it seems that the country suffered a loss, but the prime minister has lost a serious problem! If Zhou Buji had not died and had made great contributions to destroying the country this time, his achievements would be as much as those of the prime minister.
I'm afraid that all the armies of the five provinces will be under his control, and the post of prime minister will also be indispensable in the future. Then, after decades of hard work, wouldn't the prime minister end up empty-handed?"
Guo Huai shook his head and said: "Impossible. Jianye's defeat, what good will it do to him?"
Wu Zhi reminded: "What he wants is to fail in this battle, and he may not have expected a big defeat. After all, a 200,000-strong army will die like this in one battle. Who would have imagined it? As long as Zhou Buyi and others die,
Your Majesty has no one available. Look, isn't he back in power now and taking charge of the government? And he is still staring at Sima Yi. Why? Isn't it because Sima Yi is not his? And the reason why he can use you
, it’s also because you are from Beifu and are not considered His Majesty’s people!”
When Guo Huai heard this, he couldn't help but broke out in a cold sweat, but he was a little doubtful. After all, the plot was too bizarre, but it still seemed to make some sense. Guo Huai pondered for a long time, and finally said: "But the Prime Minister has not been greedy for these decades.
Power and position don’t care about fame and fortune. The reputation of being a virtuous person is known all over the world, and he is the sworn brother of the late emperor! Although what you said has some truth to it, I still can’t believe it!”
Wu Zhi leaned over and said: "There are no real saints in this world. They are just people who are just seeking fame. The more serious and self-disciplined he is on weekdays, the more he may have a bigger conspiracy in private. Uncle
Did Ji forget Wang Mang? He has been pretending to be a saint for decades, but he still showed his flaws! I think the prime minister is getting better soon!"
Speaking of this, Guo Huai also reacted. He stood up suddenly, turned his back to Wu Zhi and said: "Ji Zhong, you have said so much, I'm afraid you have a plan! Who do you belong to?"
Wu Zhi said with a smile: "Bo Ji, I am not anyone's, I am just a loyal minister of the country. I hope you can understand the overall situation, work for the Tian family, and prevent national traitors from happening before they happen."
These words could not help but attract Guo Huai's attention. He turned around slowly and asked: "Tianjia, which Tianjia?"
Wu Zhi patted the chess scale and said softly: "Of course it is the prince's family."