Before the situation reversed, an episode occurred that scared Zhu Houzhao to death. One night, the rebels launched a fireship raid and set fire to an armored warship on which Zhu Houzhao was riding.
Before that, Zhang Yin asked Zhu Houzhao to stay away from the battlefield and not get close to the front line of the battle. But Zhu Houzhao has never been a person who is willing to be calm. His boat has always been at the front to join in the fun. According to him, this is called leading by example to boost morale. However,
This caused great trouble to Zhang Yin, because the emperor liked to point fingers and had to worry about his safety, so he couldn't do it at all.
That night the rebels' fire attack caused the imperial navy to lose one armored warship and three ordinary warships. Zhu Houzhao was fine, just frightened. But taking this as an opportunity, the accompanying courtiers tried their best to persuade the emperor to leave.
He went to the battlefield and returned to Beijing to ensure safety. In addition, the winter was approaching, and if he did not return to Beijing, the wind and snow would block him, and he would not be able to return to the capital this year. Only then did Zhu Houzhao reluctantly return to the capital accompanied by Jiang Bin and others.
go.
As soon as Zhu Houzhao arrived in the capital, he heard the news of success. Wang Shouren, who had taken office, surrounded Wei to rescue Zhao and pretended to attack Nanchang Mansion. Zhang Yin led his army to fight to the death at Pukou for more than 20 days, blocking Zhu Chenhao's navy outside Nanjing. People from all over the country
Soldiers and horses were quickly gathering in Nanjing City. Under such circumstances, Zhu Chenhao chose to retreat from Nanchang Prefecture to save his old nest.
Zhu Houzhao was very happy when he heard the news, but at the same time he seemed a little disappointed.
Jiang Bin watched his words and knew what Zhu Houzhao was thinking. After getting the imperial troops to break through Anqing and Jiujiang, fight the rebels in Poyang Lake, and land infantry have completed the encirclement of Nanchang Mansion, Jiang Bin decided to share the worries with the main force.
.
That evening, when Zhu Houzhao was bored and watching the snow falling in the back hall of Qianqing Palace, Jiang Bin came up to talk to him.
"Your Majesty, in the battle of Poyang Lake, the imperial navy defeated the rebel navy, and the land troops and horses completed the encirclement of Nanchang Mansion. The situation has been decided. Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor. The traitor Prince Ning will be put to death soon."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said: "Yes, I can finally live in peace. It's only happened in the past half month. Unexpectedly, Wang Shouren is really capable, and Zhang Yin is really a general. In the final analysis, it is the Protector's vision.
They are vicious, know people well and use them well. Wang Shouren and Zhang Yin are both unknown people. I didn't know they had such great abilities. I am really ashamed."
Jiang Bin smiled and handed over a hand stove to warm Zhu Houzhao's hands.
"Your Majesty, isn't that your wise and powerful man who knows how to use others well? By the way, who is the Protector of the Country? He is the Emperor's minister, he is capable, and it is not the result of the Emperor's trust in him and his experience. The original Protector of the Country
Isn’t he also regarded as a dandy by others? It’s because of the emperor’s discerning eye that he is where he is today. After all, isn’t it that the emperor is so powerful?”
Zhu Houzhao laughed and said: "Jiang Bin, if you say this in front of the Protector, he will definitely scold you. Do you dare to expose his background?"
Jiang Bin said: "I am not disrespectful to the Lord Protector. But in front of the Lord Protector, I also have to tell the truth. He dares to say that he is where he is today without the trust and cultivation of the Emperor? In my mind, the Emperor
He is the most powerful person in the world."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said nothing. Although his words sounded useful, didn't they deceive himself and others? Even though he liked to hear compliments, he knew they were lies.
"Your Majesty, it's just that you don't take action. If Your Majesty takes action, these counter-insurgency matters will not be caught easily? Your Majesty only gives the ministers the opportunity to make meritorious service. For example, when Zhu Chenhao rebelled against the rebels this time, others thought it was Wang Shouren and Zhang Yin.
They are powerful, but in fact, they don’t know that the emperor
The emperor is the one who plans the strategy. If the emperor wants to, he can immediately lead the army to conquer Nanchang City, capture Zhu Chenhao alive, and let the people of the world see the emperor's wisdom and martial arts. It will definitely stop some people's mouths, thinking that the emperor has this idea
There is nothing you can do." Jiang Bin continued with a smile.
Zhu Houzhao was stunned and keenly captured some details in Jiang Bin's words.
"Some people in the imperial court are very mean-mouthed. After receiving the good news, they immediately thought of the emperor's wisdom. Instead, they said that as soon as the emperor left, the fight against the rebellion went smoothly. They said it as if the emperor was going to get in the way.
Yes. These people really have no vision and no conscience.
"The emperor took the lead and took great risks to participate in the battle and almost lost his life. It was under the emperor's encouragement that the soldiers regarded death as if they were home and had high morale. But in the end, they were arranged in this way, and all the ministers were worthless for the emperor." Jiang
Bin looked at Zhu Houzhao's face and continued to explore.
Zhu Houzhao slammed the copper stove on the table with a bang, and his face was a little gloomy. It would be fine if Jiang Bin's words were false, but they were all true. He had also heard some rumors outside. Don't talk about the outside world.
Well, that day in the Queen Mother's Palace, the Queen Mother actually thought the same thing in her words. What she said: The Emperor should have returned to Beijing long ago. The ministers can just do the war. Why are you in the way?
What does it mean to be in the way? How hurtful are these words? Zhu Houzhao, who prided himself on his martial virtues and was always keen on marching, fighting, riding and shooting, thought he was a handsome man who led the army in battle, but he ended up with these comments, which really made him a little angry.
This time, Zhu Chenhao's rebellion hit him in the face again. Before, he insisted that Zhu Chenhao was a good person and loyal to him. Wang Shouren and others were dismissed from their posts because they complained about Zhu Chenhao's misbehavior.
.My face really hurts.
Wouldn't Zhu Chenhao's rebellion further make himself a laughing stock in the world, causing those civil servants who already looked down upon him to ridicule him privately? The reason why Zhu Houzhao has been unhappy recently is because of these things.
"Your Majesty, calm down. I deserve to die. I shouldn't talk nonsense. I just don't want to see those people pointing fingers at the Emperor behind his back. I feel sorry for the Emperor." Jiang Bin knelt down and kowtowed, and said in a deep voice.
Zhu Houzhao frowned and looked at Jiang Bin and said, "What's the use of saying all this? I know what they think of me, I know what the world thinks of me, and I have a clear conscience."
Jiang Bin said: "Your Majesty, I boldly suggest that your Majesty lead a personal expedition, conquer Nanchang, and capture Zhu Chenhao alive. This will show the Emperor's wise and mighty demeanor, stop those mouths that spit shit, and let everyone in the world know the majesty of the Emperor."
"
Zhu Houzhao's throat rolled and he looked at Jiang Bin and said, "Is this...appropriate? If I go now...do I think I am stealing the credit from Wang Shouren, Zhang Yin and others?"
Jiang Bin said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please don't worry too much. How can this be a grab for credit? What kind of credit do you want, Your Majesty? Just appease them and reward them later. Besides, they haven't succeeded in suppressing the rebellion, so how can they achieve anything? Nanchang City is so easy."
Was it captured? That was Zhu Chenhao's home base, and they might suffer a big loss. The emperor's personal expedition was actually a risk. If it fails, the emperor will bear the reputation, but if it succeeds, they will benefit."
Zhu Houzhao nodded slowly. It's not that he didn't understand that Jiang Bin's words were lies. In the current situation, Zhu Chenhao was already a turtle in the urn, and there was no chance to reverse the situation. However, Zhu Houzhao needed this reason, because only in this way could his imperial commander personally conquer
Only when it is meaningful can you become a final character.
He, Zhu Houzhao, personally put down the rebellion and captured Zhu Chenhao alive. This was so full of martial virtue and so wise and powerful.
As a result, far away from Poyang Lake and around Nanchang Prefecture, Wang Shouren and Zhang Yin, who were actively preparing to attack the city and complete the final battle, received the imperial edict years ago.
The imperial edict stated that in view of the cold weather and the fatigue of the troops and horses, the attack on Nanchang Mansion was of great importance and could not be missed, so it was necessary to make complete preparations. The emperor decided to personally drive the expedition and command the siege later in the year to ensure that nothing went wrong.
The imperial edict required Wang Shouren and others to restrain their troops, station themselves on the spot for rest, besiege Nanchang Prefecture, and impose a blockade on Nanchang Prefecture. They would wait for the arrival of the Holy Emperor before launching an attack.
After Wang Shouren and Zhang Yin received the imperial edict, they really couldn't laugh or cry. It was obvious that the emperor wanted to interfere with something that could be accomplished overnight. It was the most ridiculous thing in the world. But of course Wang Shouren understood Zhu Houzhao's thoughts. The emperor did this just for himself.
It was just a matter of putting gold on his face, changing his excuses, and satisfying his desire for success. Although he found it ridiculous, as a minister, Wang Shouren could only do as he was told.
As a result, more than 100,000 soldiers and horses had to be stationed outside the city in the twelfth lunar month of winter, suffering from the cold. In more than a month in early February, as many as a thousand soldiers died of frostbite.
Finally, at the beginning of February, the Holy Emperor went on an expedition with great splendor. The Emperor gave himself the title of 'Generalissimo of the Counter-Rebellion Soldiers and Horses', and led the Han generals all the way to the camp to slowly and loudly publicize his personal expedition to quell the rebellion. It was enough.
It took more than twenty days to finally arrive in Jiujiang Prefecture.
Wang Shouren also breathed a sigh of relief. This matter could finally be over soon.
…
At nightfall, Wang Shouren and Zhang Yin led the generals to Jiujiang Prefecture in a warship and met with Zhu Houzhao. At the same time, they received news that the return fleet of the Protector Zhang Yanling had passed Anqing and was heading upstream to Jiujiang.
We estimate we can arrive there tomorrow afternoon.
Wang Shouren was very excited because he could finally see this old friend whom he cherished. He wanted to see him so much.