In Bianliang City, in Lu Zhongtian's spacious Prime Minister's Office, several officials were sitting high and low, discussing something. Suddenly, there was a rapid sound of footsteps outside, and a servant rushed in panting. In a panic, he stood at the threshold I tripped over it and almost fell down and bit the mud.
"What are you doing? You bastard, how can you break in randomly? Don't you want to live anymore?" Lu Zhongtian scolded angrily.
"Prime Minister Lu, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, he is here," the officer shouted quickly.
Lu Zhongtian was stunned. Before he could speak, he heard Guo Xu's loud scolding from outside: "Go away, why are you stopping me? I want to see the prime minister, and you guys still won't get out of the way. Can't I even see the prime minister?" Get out of here! What a bunch of dogs."
Lu Zhongtian frowned and stood up. On the table were Deputy Prime Minister Liu Zhenbang, Deputy Envoy of the Third Division Lu Tianci, Kaifeng Prefecture Quan Zhirong Zhu Zhirong, the newly-appointed Front Division Soldier and Horse Envoy Chen Bin, Guards and Horses Division Commander Wang Jun, and Guards Infantry Division Division. The conductor and Yuan Pingping stood up one after another. Then they saw Guo Xu with an angry look on his face swinging the curtain in from the door.
"I will bow before the Emperor." Liu Zhenbang, Zhu Zhirong and others hurriedly knelt down to salute, but Lu Zhongtian and his son did not kneel down. Lu Tianci only bowed his body and saluted, but Lu Zhongtian did not even bow his hands.
"The emperor is not staying in the palace, why did he come to the political hall?" Lu Zhongtian asked with a frown, his old voice filled with majesty and dissatisfaction.
"I still stay in the palace every day without asking anything, right? You don't come to report such a big thing to me? If someone hadn't happened to come out of the palace and saw it, and reported it to me, I still wouldn't know about it. Outside... Prime Minister, who gave the order to prevent the people outside the city from entering the city? Who asked you to shoot arrows at the people? They are all my people, how can you use this method against them? Those are all refugees. People. People were shot and killed at more than a dozen city gates. It is said that thousands of people died. As the prime minister of the imperial court, don’t you know?" Guo Xu shouted angrily.
Lu Zhongtian's eyelids twitched and he said in a deep voice: "It turns out that this is the only thing. Why is the emperor so angry? The order not to allow them to enter the city was issued by an old minister, and the order to prohibit them from disturbing the safety of the city was also issued by an old minister. What's the matter? Is there anything wrong with the old minister’s order?”
"Lv Zhongtian, those are my people, don't you understand? In the face of a powerful enemy, how can we be so cruel to the fleeing people? What are you thinking? Now the four cities are boiling, and the people are about to riot. Yes, do you know?" Guo Xu almost jumped.
"Your Majesty!" Lu Zhongtian shouted sternly: "Please pay attention to your manners. How can you lose your composure in front of your ministers?"
Guo Xu was frightened by his tone, and when he saw Lu Zhongtian's cold expression, his heart beat. Lu Zhongtian became angry, but he did not dare to be presumptuous.
"Your Majesty." Lu Zhongtian's voice softened and he said in a deep voice: "The Emperor's mood can be understood. The common people have come to flee, and they should be allowed to settle in the capital, let alone shoot them. But the Emperor must not forget The emperor also knew that the enemy was at hand. The Jurchen army was about to attack the city as soon as he spoke. The capital has entered a state of full alert. It will soon be a fierce battle that affects the gain and loss of our capital and the survival of the Great Zhou Dynasty. In this At that time, was it wrong for the veteran to ban people from entering the city? These refugees, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, all of a sudden poured into the capital. Wouldn’t it be chaos in the capital? Moreover, it is very likely that a large number of Jurchens would be mixed in among them. Once mixed into the city, they would be Arson to kill people, inside and outside. At this moment, do you want to take such a risk? These people dare to attack the city wall and gate, they are a mob, so what if they are shot? Do you condone them? Your Majesty, think about it carefully, this city gate should Shouldn’t it be opened?”
Guo Xu was stunned and silent.
Lu Zhongtian said: "It is good that the emperor has a heart to love the people, but we must also look at the time. Now that the fire is burning, a woman's kindness is shown, what does it mean? The emperor came to give me a scolding, it seems like
The old minister and others are ruthless and unkind to the people of Zhou Dynasty. Your Majesty, if you say that you want to open the city gate to let these people in, the old minister immediately orders the city gate to be opened to let those people enter the city. But the consequences will be
, if the capital cannot be protected because of this, the emperor will not regret it when the time comes."
"Yes, Your Majesty, you can't blame Prime Minister Lu. Prime Minister Lu made the right decision. The city gate cannot be opened easily now. We can't control these refugees at this time. The war is about to begin, and guarding the capital is the top priority.
, Don't think too much about other things." Chen Bin, the military commander in front of the palace, hurriedly agreed. Liu Zhenbang and others also nodded in agreement.
Guo Xu looked at the people in front of him. The people here were the most powerful people in the imperial court at present. Lu Zhongtian and his son were just that. After Chen Bin was promoted from the Imperial City Department by Lu Zhongtian to the commander of the Palace Front Department, he
He completely fell into the arms of Lu Zhongtian. Wang Jun and Yuan Pingping were also the commanders of the imperial army appointed and promoted by Lu Zhongtian. All the power of the entire court was actually in the hands of Lu Zhongtian. In fact, he no longer had any support, so he came here on his own.
It was ridiculous to question Lu Zhongtian and their actions. But I really couldn't sit still in the palace. After hearing the facts that happened outside, I couldn't help but want to ask, but I was too presumptuous.
"Even so, these refugees must be appeased and rescued. Even if they are not allowed to enter the city, we should give them some food and clothing so that they can survive, right? They came to the capital full of hope and expected me to save them.
, the result... the result is like this, what will they think? What kind of impression do I, the emperor, have in their minds?" Guo Xu smacked his lips and sighed.
"Relief? No, we won't give them a grain of food, and we can't give them a piece of clothing. Doesn't the emperor understand yet? After the Jurchens come to the city, we must do a good job
Long-term battle preparations. The veteran has ordered that all food and materials in the city will be uniformly dispatched and distributed by the imperial court. No matter who it is, they must obey orders at this time. The supply of soldiers and horses for the city must be guaranteed. How can it be wasted on those refugees?
To defend the capital is to preserve the state of Zhou Dynasty. Why doesn’t the emperor understand this truth? Your Majesty, veterans and several colleagues have been planning to defend the city day and night for the past few days. We were still discussing things just now, and the emperor is rushing for this point.
Wouldn't it be chilling to come in and accuse us? The emperor should go back to the palace to stay. All matters are planned by the veterans and other ministers. It would be better for the emperor to worry less." Lu Zhongtian's attitude has become extremely tough. With these words
It was like scolding a child who had made a mistake, showing no mercy. In Lu Zhongtian's mind, he had lost his basic respect for Guo Xu.
Guo Xu opened his mouth and was speechless. Even though his heart was about to explode with anger, he could not get angry at all. Lu Zhongtian's idea may be right, but his tone was unacceptable.
"Your Majesty, please stop making trouble. We are almost too busy and exhausted. Why don't you just stay in the palace? Why are you messing around? Hey, it's true." Lu Tianci rolled his eyes and said
.
"Please, Your Majesty, please return to the palace. These ministers will discuss and decide. The Emperor does not need to worry. Under the plan of Prime Minister Lu, I will definitely be able to defend the capital. Your Majesty, just relax. These matters concerning the common people...can't really be done at the moment.
The emperor should understand the kindness of women." Liu Zhenbang and others also agreed.
Guo Xu knew that he had no need to stay anymore, and stamped his feet: "That's all, I won't ask you anymore, I am a woman's benevolent. You won't save me, but I will save you. I will go back to the palace to prepare the royal meal."
I will make a few baskets of steamed buns and throw them to them. I will do my best to help them."
After saying that, Guo Xu raised his feet and left. After leaving the house, Guo Xu clearly heard Lu Tianci's harsh words: "What's the point of pretending to love the people like a son at this time? I don't want to think about what I have done."
The people have hated it to their core for a long time, but now it is too late to save it."
Guo Xu was startled, and the muscles on his face trembled. He stopped and wanted to turn back. But after thinking about it, he stamped his feet and left quickly.
…
In the prime minister's office, after Guo Xu left, Lu Zhongtian acted as if nothing had happened and said to everyone: "Come, come, let's continue discussing things. Where did you talk just now? Chen Bin, you seemed to have mentioned Bai Qi just now.
Really? You said you have something important to report, but what is it? What did Bai Qi do? "
Chen Bin cupped his hands and said, "Bai Qi didn't know how to reflect on himself after he was defeated and returned to the capital. Yesterday the emperor summoned him, and the two discussed for a long time. I heard that Bai Qi suggested to the emperor that he should seek help from Guo Kunlinjue and the others in Funiu Mountain.
What he said was that the national crisis was looming, and Guo Kun could not just sit back and watch. He said that he already knew that he had done something wrong in some of the previous things. He said that there were powerful enemies outside and national thieves inside, and the country and the country were not safe. He asked Guo Kun and Lin Jue to come with troops.
Rescue, he can abdicate to Xian Yun Yun. In short, he said a lot of crazy things. Bai Qi seemed to be preparing to leave the city early this morning. The humble official stopped him on the grounds that Prime Minister Lu had ordered that the city gate was not allowed to be opened. He took
The name of the Privy Councilor came to press me, but I ignored him and had him and his entourage detained."
"What?" Everyone in the seat was shocked.
After Chen Bin was promoted to the palace commander, he actually wanted to fully control the emperor and his ministers and servants, so every move of the emperor would be detected by Chen Bin. Bai Qi was originally transferred to the capital from the border town by Guo Xu himself
The promoted confidant was the only high-ranking general in the army who was not part of Lu Zhongtian's faction. However, Bai Qi's repeated defeats had left Bai Qi disgraced. After his defeat back to the capital, Bai Qi asked for death penalty, but Guo Xu forcibly pardoned him.
Lu Zhongtian didn't want to force Guo Xu to go to extremes, so he didn't insist. Now that Bai Qi had no troops and power, there was nothing to keep him. But he didn't expect that he and the emperor secretly plotted this matter.
"It's unreasonable. It's too abominable. Bai Qi is a general who always loses in battles. I didn't expect that he has a trick behind his back. He must be eliminated." Wang Jun, the commander of the Ma Army, said angrily.
"Isn't it? There are powerful enemies outside and national thieves inside? Who is the national traitor? Does this refer to Sang scolding Huai? Who is this slandering? Does it refer to Prime Minister Lu?" Liu Zhenbang added fuel to the fire.
"Just kill that bitch. Dad, why are you so polite now? Just kill that Bai Qi. Hehe, the little loach still wants to make a big splash? If it weren't for my father, would he, Guo Xu, be the emperor?
Now he is ungrateful, isn't he? He has pissed us off and he can't even be an emperor. Go ask Lin Jue, Guo Kun and others for help? Isn't this a big joke?" Lu Tianci also said loudly.
"Shut up!" Lu Zhongtian's face was extremely gloomy. Of course he understood what this meant. Guo Xu had completely separated from himself. Lu Zhongtian actually didn't care about this. What made him angry was that Guo Xu actually wanted to ask
Guo Kunlin felt that they asked for help, which was what made Lu Zhongtian the most angry. In Lu Zhongtian's heart, Lin Jue was already his number one opponent, the number one person he wanted to get rid of. Guo Xu actually wanted to collude with Lin Jue and the others secretly. This was already
It's beyond his bottom line.
Everyone hurriedly shut up and looked at Lu Zhongtian quietly. Lu Zhongtian walked slowly and said in a deep voice: "There is no need to make this matter public. No one is allowed to reveal it to the emperor. Just pretend that they don't know about Bai Qi's detention.
Does anyone else know?"
"Not yet. I personally led people to block them at the city gate and captured them directly. Only the defenders at the city gate knew about it, but they were our people." Chen Bin said hurriedly.
"That's good, tell them not to talk too much. Anyone who talks too much will be killed. As for Bai Qi... just
Kill him. By the way, see if there is any letter on him that the emperor asked him to take out of the city. It will also be evidence in the future." Lu Zhongtian said.
"I humbly obey my orders!" Chen Bin said with cupped hands.
Lu Zhongtian took a long breath and sighed: "I originally put my heart towards the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch. I, Lu Zhongtian, have worked hard and devoted myself to the great Zhou Dynasty. How could I have expected that I would be so jealous. Now that the enemy is facing us, Sheji
Piao Yao, Your Majesty... he is still doing these things, which is really chilling. I... really feel it's not worth it."
Yuan Ping, the infantry commander of the guards, said in a low voice: "Yes, Prime Minister Lu is holding the situation by himself. It is really unethical for the emperor to do this. If you ask me, since the emperor is unkind and unjust, we should simply abolish him and establish a new emperor.
It will also save you trouble later.”
Everyone's hearts jumped, and they all looked at Lu Zhongtian.
Lu Zhongtian waved his hand and shouted: "Yuan Ping, don't talk nonsense. The emperor is unkind, how can we, the ministers, be unjust? You defend my heart, and I am grateful. I just want you to understand that I am wholeheartedly thinking about the country, the country, and the country.
The emperor is suspicious of me, and it is not my fault. Don’t bother to think about the future... the future.... Right now, you have to think about how to protect the capital. If internal chaos is caused by this matter at this moment, it will be greatly detrimental to the defense of the city.
.Everyone, I have only one request, or rather a request. I want you to fully obey my command. I will definitely protect Bianliang City. As long as you listen to me, I will definitely protect you."
Everyone bowed and saluted, and said in unison: "Those in humble positions have sworn allegiance to Prime Minister Lu without any second thoughts."
Lu Zhongtian nodded slightly and said: "Okay, let's go and do things. I want to stay alone for a while and think of better strategies to defend the city."
…
After the Battle of Baimadu, the Jurchen army quickly conquered Huazhou and Weicheng, captured Changheng County, and officially set foot in the capital. On the 23rd of the first lunar month, the Jurchen army captured Fengqiu, the last county town north of Bianliang, and then rested on the spot.
Make final preparations for the attack on Bianliang.
Wanyan Aguda certainly hopes to attack the city as soon as possible, but he must be fully prepared to attack Bianliang and not act hastily. After a heavy snowfall, the battle across the river was won with the help of the weather, but everything has its advantages and disadvantages.
The heavy snow has also made the roads muddy and difficult to travel. It is difficult for the army's supplies and vehicles to arrive. Moreover, it is almost February now. If the preparations cannot be completed quickly, when the weather gets warmer and the river ice thaws,
Baima Ferry will not be able to cross the river directly on the ice, which will be even more troublesome.
However, the good news is that the problem of reducing the number of the army to only 180,000 people, which had caused Wanyan Agu great anxiety before, has been solved. Along the way, the Jurchens actually captured many soldiers and horses of the Zhou Dynasty.
Those who were injured and could no longer be used were naturally killed. Those who were not injured were all used as laborers and hard labor in the army. They helped to repair roads and push carts and move things, which had some effect. But the war was imminent, and these coolies did not continue.
It was necessary to stay because they would consume food and fodder, and they would also be a destabilizing factor in the army. Therefore, many Jurchen generals suggested killing them all on the spot.
Wanyan Agu was also inclined to do this, but Li Guochou firmly disagreed. He said that he was confident in persuading these people to join the Jurchen army. Although these people are not as powerful as the Jurchens, they can at least be used as human shields.
Cannon fodder. Wanyan Agu asked Li Guoqiu to handle this matter. As expected, more than 40,000 surrendered troops from the former Zhou Dynasty were willing to join the Jurchen army. Li Guoqiu's method was very simple. Those who are willing will live, and those who are not willing will be allowed to live.
Kill them. Most of these soldiers are greedy for life, otherwise they would not be able to surrender. Only a small number of them were forced to surrender. Therefore, the vast majority of them joined the Jurchen army in order to survive.
In addition, another surprising thing also gave the Jurchens an additional 20,000 to 30,000 young and strong recruits, but it was the young and strong people of the Zhou Dynasty who took the initiative to vote.
Originally, Wanyan Agu thought this was a fraud. When the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty saw the Jurchen army, they were as frightened as mice when they saw a cat. They fled far away. How could they surrender? Many of his soldiers and horses were slaughtered along the way.
They should hate this city to the core. How could such a thing happen? As a result, after asking, they found out that these people fled to the capital city of Zhou Dynasty, but were turned away. Hundreds of thousands of people crowded into the city.
In addition, the Zhou court was not only indifferent, but fired arrows at the refugees who tried to storm the city gate, killing thousands of people.
These people were angry, and this anger turned into hatred. Their request was very simple. As long as the Jurchens could give them food and allow their families to survive, they were willing to follow the Jurchens into Bianliang. They didn't care who
The masters of the world, they just want to survive. In fact, many of them are the remnants of the Qingjiao Rebellion. After the Qingjiao Rebellion, almost every family in the counties in northern Beijing was affected. After some relief and
preaching, but the thoughts in many people's minds were deep-rooted, and the remaining hatred in their hearts for the imperial court's suppression of the Qingjiao suddenly burst out at this time. Although there were only a few people in this category, they also made the Jurchens more numerous at critical moments.
Nearly 30,000 new soldiers were recruited.
During the few days of rest in Fengqiu, the Jurchen army recovered to a strength of twenty-five. With more than 70,000 cannon fodder troops, Wanyan Agu thought it was enough. Everything was ready, Taiyuan Prefecture
The defending Liao army had urged the Jurchen army several times to take action quickly, and they were almost unable to hold on. Under this situation, Wanyan Agu issued an order to march to Bianliang.
In the early morning of the 29th day of the first lunar month, in the open wilderness outside Bianliang North City, countless cavalrymen came overwhelmingly and soon covered the ground with a radius of more than ten miles. The Jurchen army finally arrived at Bianliang City.
