King Lu of Linzhou did not dance and cry as Xi Yan suspected, although the situation in Linzhou was worthy of his tears.
Linzhou is still muddy in winter, because it rained and snowed a few times soon after winter started.
The rain and snow not only made the roads muddy, but also caused several fires, both large and small, caused by the densely built residences for heating.
When it was learned that Fengzi of Ankang Mountain was leading an army of 100,000 to attack Linzhou for King Zheng, many people rushed to the city and there were several chaos. Some people were trampled to death, some were killed because of fighting, and there were also people running around Linzhou. The bandits took the opportunity to plunder.
Linzhou fell into muddy chaos inside and outside the city, and it took several days for the government to use troops and horses to stabilize order.
Sitting in the main hall, King Lu did not cry for the unfortunate people, nor did he cry for the crisis in Linzhou. Compared with before, there was no sadness on his face.
"Linzhou has reached its most critical moment." The emperor looked solemn, "Daxia has also reached its most critical moment of life and death."
The emperor stopped crying, and neither did the ministers in the palace.
"Your Majesty, a hundred thousand troops have been assembled." Zhang An and Wang Lin stepped out and shouted loudly, "We will defend Linzhou on all sides."
"Governor Xiang has personally led troops to set up defenses outside Linzhou." Cui Zheng said, "There are also guards from Shannan Province, Henan Province, and Hedong Province gathered on standby."
The eunuchs put the map on the sand table, and several military generals demonstrated to the ministers that An Qingzhong set out from the capital and attacked Linzhou from which side, there would be guards to defend it.
The military generals each held a flag and fought fiercely on the sand table. The ministers looked at it carefully and focused. They were nervous in times of crisis and cheered in times of victory.
After a demonstration, everyone had a clear understanding of the movements of Linzhou soldiers and horses, Wei Dao soldiers and horses, and the rebels.
"The rebels in the capital are coming fiercely, and even Shi Chao, Ande Zhong and others are helping in the southeast of Beidi, but we, Linzhou, are not unable to guard against it." Cui Zheng said, "They have a hundred thousand troops, and we also have a hundred thousand troops. They attack over long distances. Come, we will sit back and wait, not to mention that the rebels have to beware of attacks from the Mobei Zhenwu Army, Huainan Road, Jiangnan Road, and Southeast Road Guards."
Zhang An and Wang Lin heard this and patted the powerful general's belly: "We will just wait for the rebels to surrender. Linzhou is the burial place of a hundred thousand troops."
The emperor stood up and said, "Bring me my long sword."
Two eunuchs came over carrying a long sword. This was the long sword that King Lu used to kill the rebels immediately outside Linzhou. It has been placed in the palace.
The emperor easily picked up the sword and said: "I will personally lead the army."
The ministers were astonished: "Your Majesty, as the emperor, must not take risks."
The emperor stood the long sword in front of him, his face was no longer sad, and his eyes were no longer wandering. Standing in the high hall, it was impossible to look directly at him for a moment.
"If Linzhou is gone, how can I have the dignity to be the emperor of Great Xia?" He said, "I will live and die with Linzhou."
Cui Zheng went out with a wat tablet in his hand. He did not persuade His Majesty, but said: "I will live and die with Linzhou!"
If Linzhou is gone, these people will either lose their lives or their achievements. Without either of these two things, living will be like death. The ministers were sad and angry, and without any hesitation, they all saluted: "I and Linzhou are together." Life or death!"
The emperor raised his sword: "Kill the thief!"
The deafening roars in the court hall spread throughout Linzhou, and the passion for war was conveyed to every common people. Civil servants began to conduct censuses of the population, and the walls were fortified and the fields were cleared. Soldiers and horses galloped in Linzhou. The atmosphere was so bright that the emperor, wearing armor and holding a sword, rode on horseback and left the palace. Crossing the main street gate to the military camp to personally supervise the battle reached its peak.
There was excitement inside and outside Linzhou, but the palace of King Lu was quiet as usual.
The sounds of chirping and chirping came from the Queen's Palace in the harem.
Several palace maids in coarse cloth dresses ran in cheerfully: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
The shouting did not interrupt the queen's weaving. Her hair was half whiter than before, and she was wearing the same coarse clothes. At first glance, she looked like a village woman.
"What are you shouting for?" she said, with the shuttle in her hands skillfully. "Your work is done? Don't be playful."
The palace maids kept saying "Mother, the rebels are going to attack Linzhou." "Mother, it is said that there are 100,000 troops." conveying the latest news.
The queen looked calm and seemed to only have eyes for the piece of cloth that was about to be woven: "The rebels have not breached the palace gate for a day, but the cloth still has to be woven."
Perhaps they were used to it. After experiencing the time when the Lu Palace was besieged by rebels, everyone no longer panicked when they heard the rebels were attacking again.
The maids once again kept saying, "Don't worry, Madam." "We can't defeat you." "We also have many soldiers and horses." "Your Majesty has gone to the military camp in person."
Hearing this, the Queen's weaving hand stopped, and her expression became panicked: "Your Majesty has gone to the military camp?"
After all, it was the deep love between husband and wife. The Queen was worried about Your Majesty, and the maids hurriedly said to comfort her, "Your Majesty said that he would live and die with Linzhou", "Don't worry, Your Majesty, he is not going to fight in person" and "Your Majesty is going to the military camp to supervise the war."
The queen smiled, but her smile was a little sad. She looked at the maids with pity and sadness in her eyes.
These maids are not the maids she was familiar with before.
After King Lu ascended the throne, all the original maids and eunuchs in King Lu's palace were gone. Most of them died in the battle to defend the city. The remaining ones were more or less injured due to their experience in the battle. Your Majesty was kind and gathered them together.
He was kept in a side hall of King Lu's palace.
Two years have passed, and almost all of those people are dead. It was the medicine she personally delivered.
What can be done? Her husband is shameless, and Daxia cannot be shameless. The fewer people who know about the escape from King Lu's city, the better.
Now the eunuchs and maids in the palace are all from the imperial palace in the capital.
After such a arduous journey from the capital, the emperor could not bear to leave them without a fixed place, so he asked them to stay in the palace. In this way, the Lu Palace seemed to have the atmosphere of the late emperor and the capital palace.
These maids traveled from the capital to Linzhou, but they grew up enjoying the bliss of the world with the late emperor and his concubines. Apart from that, they did not know the dangers of the world. They regained their innocence and innocence within a year in this smaller palace.
"It turns out that the situation is so serious." The queen said, putting down the shuttle, "You go and call the third prince, and I will send him to the military camp."
The queen gave birth to five children, but only three survived in the end. This third son was actually the eldest son.
However, King Lu did not only have three sons, there were other sons born and raised by the concubines in the palace.
The maids immediately understood that it was the best filial piety for the prince to stay with his father at this time. After all, he would be the prince in the future.
They happily went to inform the third prince. The third prince had seen the queen put on military uniform and left the palace, but she did not go to the military camp, but went to see Cui Zheng.
Cui Zheng did not follow the emperor to the military camp, and now it is even more indispensable for him to be in charge of the court at this time.
The third prince came in, stepped back, and bowed to Cui Zheng: "The Queen Mother asked me to ask the Prime Minister if there is anything you need me to do."
Cui Zheng looked at this prince who was less than twenty years old. Although his appearance was not as good as that of King Lu and his behavior was a little timid, his eyes were ignorant and somewhat pure.
"You don't need to go to the military camp, just stay here with me." He said, "Your Majesty's presence in the military camp is enough. If you go there, you will not add glory, but will only add chaos."
The third prince Nuonuo responded, but couldn't help but say: "The Queen Mother also said that the Prime Minister will stay with me."
He originally thought that what his mother said was wrong. The prime minister would send him to the military camp so that father and son could fight.
Cui Zheng looked at him without saying anything, and called an official to take the third prince to do something. The third prince left, but the eunuch who accompanied the third prince remained in the house.
"What other instructions does the queen have?" Cui Zheng asked him.
The eunuch stepped forward without saying anything and handed over a letter. Cui Zheng opened it in front of the eunuch. The letter was very simple, with only one sentence.
"If His Majesty disappears again this time, the Prime Minister should stop looking for him."