Zhurou

Chapter 194 Appease
Hearing Zhao Mingzhi's confession to invite the statue of the emperor, Song Jingren's nervousness did not ease much.

Lu Xianzhang still did not give up, and said again: "Since the statue of His Majesty has arrived, why don't His Highness go south with confidence?"

"There is no need to persuade you to participate in politics. I have made up my mind on this matter." Zhao Mingzhi said calmly, "I only have one question—you two, if Ruo Di's thieves besiege the city, how long can you hold on?"

"Although the thieves have troops to send to us, after all the main force is pointing to Caizhou, and there are also obstacles on the two roads of Gyeonggi, and there are many brave men in the city defense army, and Song Bei and other brave generals are here. Your Highness does not need to worry about defending the city."

Lu Xianzhang saluted.

"There are still [-] elite soldiers left in the capital, and a new city defense army has to be recruited. As long as the Di soldiers don't have a large army to besiege the city, they can resist it for a while."

Compared with Lu Xianzhang, Song Jingren's attitude is obviously conservative.

"What time is it?"

"It depends on the situation of food, fodder, ordnance in the city, and the number of soldiers." Song Jingren stopped talking after saying a few words, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, "This may increase the ambition of others and destroy one's own prestige. I really don't want to lie to Your Highness."

He said: "Three years after Xuanhe, once the thieves have become powerful, it is rare to be unable to attack the city, but the time is just a matter of time. This time, His Highness asked me about the defense of the city. Ruo Ruo Di's army is indeed coming..."

Lu Xianzhang suddenly interjected: "Your Highness, the rebels are heading towards Caizhou, and there are also reinforcements from our side..."

Since he spoke, it was inconvenient for Song Jingren to continue.

Without waiting for Lu Xianzhang to say more, Zhao Mingzhi shook his head and asked, "What if the bandit attack is not going to Caizhou, but the capital?"

There was a sudden silence in the hall.

Lu Xianzhang paused, although he didn't laugh, but his tone was rare with a bit of confidence.

"Your Highness is really overthinking this time." He said, "From the last time I saw Pei Jiedu analyze Di's movements, I already know my weaknesses, so how can I still be complacent? Even if I can't do the math, I will send sentries to report to him earlier. Travel north to east, investigate the movement of Di Bing, and check whether there are any false reports in the replies from various places..."

He first made a self-report, and then said: "This time, Di Bandit's movements have not only been reported from various places, but the scouts sent by the minister have also sent back news one after another. Di Bandit is indeed targeting Caizhou."

Zhao Mingzhi frowned upon hearing this.

Everyone thought that the bandit soldiers marched towards Caizhou, and their ultimate intention must be today's day, and it was the same as last time.

Unexpectedly, in the end, the people of Di could only divert the tiger away from the mountain, and they couldn't even talk about attacking Guo by false means.

"Participating in politics knows that there are many reinforcements along the way, and the emperor is protected by the imperial army. Di soldiers must stop him halfway. Don't the people of Di not know? The capital is far away from Di soldiers at this time, and the hurried march is only a few days away. Sure enough, there is an intention, or turn around. The goal, once the soldiers approach the city, how can the capital hold on?"

"The minister keeps it with his head on his neck."

Lu Xianzhang said categorically.

Zhao Mingzhi was helpless for a while, although he didn't want to speak out, he had no choice but to say again: "What's the benefit of participating in politics and defending the city?"

She stopped talking about the other party's words, but turned to Song Jingren and said, "Once the Di thieves attack the capital, they don't have to reach the city. As long as there is a slight news, there will be countless chaos in the city, even if the statue of Your Majesty arrives." , can only stop for a while, if you arrive later, it may be difficult to enter the city gate, but you will be in trouble..."

Song Jingren was different from Lu Xianzhang, he quickly stood up straight and asked solemnly, "According to His Highness?"

Zhao Mingzhi said: "At this moment, we are just imagining the worst, and it may not come true. The city defense army should make preparations first, and wait until we see Di Bandit's movements clearly."

He added: "Unfortunately speaking, once there are signs, the city can give orders to allow people to leave and not to enter..."

"Your Highness!"

Hearing her statement, both Lu and Song exclaimed in unison.

Song Jingren said: "At this time, it is forbidden to enter or leave, otherwise the people in the city will flood out, and no one will guard the city anymore!"

Lu Xianzhang also said: "Your Majesty knows that His Highness is kind-hearted and does not want to force the people, but if they are allowed to go out of the city at will at this time, it will not only be harmful and useless to defend the city, but also very dangerous to the people themselves. city."

Di Bing drove the people of the Jin Dynasty to attack the city ahead, causing the defenders to be in a dilemma. Too many things have happened in the past.

According to Zhao Mingzhi, the capital is allowed to leave but not to enter, and the people who heard the news must have fled in panic.

But how can the two legs of the old, the weak, the sick, and the family dragging their mouths run faster than the four legs of the strong and strong?

At that time, if he was chased away by Di thief for a while, he would definitely be unable to escape, and would become a burden on the city defense, and end up as an accomplice of the thief.

"Compassion does not command soldiers." Song Jingren said, "Your Highness, please think twice."

Zhao Mingzhi said: "I don't have any authority, but I just speak out on my own. As for whether to listen or not, and how to act, it's up to you to decide."

Her tone was gentle, she took a step back first, and said: "It's just that today is different from the past - since the Xuanhe period, the imperial court opened the city on its own, and the losses in the capital are hard to calculate, and the people were killed and injured countless times. If Di soldiers attack the city again, and the yamen still hide it, where is the law of the court, and what is the faith of the Tian Family?"

"What's more, His Majesty has just ascended the throne..."

Zhao Hong ascended the throne not long ago, he was already young and easily looked down upon by others, if Beijing and China continue to act like this, how will the people of the world think about it, you can know without asking.

"There is nothing wrong with closing the city and locking the door, not allowing entry or exit, but doing so will easily arouse the rebellious hearts of the people in the city."

Zhao Mingzhi said again.

In fact, many cities were captured so quickly in the past, apart from the fact that the defenders were few and weak, it was also because the people divided themselves and the officers and soldiers into two sides to oppose each other.

……

Lu and Song not only couldn't persuade Zhao Mingzhi, but when they left the hall and talked about the frontline war, it was difficult for them to persuade each other, and they even insisted on their own words.

Song Jingren has a criminal record, so Lu Xianzhang naturally used and guarded against him. He saw Zhao Mingzhi's tough attitude in the palace, so he restrained himself more. Once he left now, when the two faced each other, he stopped pretending, saying: "Song prepares , Your Highness is naturally concerned about the people, but with the situation outside the city, you and I cannot sit idly by and wait for the outpost to reply tomorrow. First, we must explain to His Highness early, and second, we must make plans to send him out of the city. When the time comes... ..."

Although the former is soft, he can't be convinced by Lu Xianzhang, he heard the other party's words at this time, he still said euphemistically: "This matter is not an official business, and no one else can interfere, since His Highness has already spoken, why bother to be disobedient when participating in politics? "

When Lu Xianzhang heard the words, his expression changed suddenly, and he said: "This statement is wrong. Is it a private matter of the family?"

He added: "If Di Bandit really attacks the city, His Highness will have a problem..."

Song Jingren only smiled wryly, and said: "Participating in politics is worrying about Di people attacking the city, so why bother to persuade Your Highness to go south?"

He said again: "Besides, if there is no His Highness sitting and guarding, how can we appease the people?"

Seeing that Lu Xianzhang's expression changed, Song Jingren hurriedly said again: "Although participating in politics, he went out of the city and sent back a lot of news, but he couldn't believe it - the scouts in the army can't be served unless they are experienced. , but with its ability, it is rare to go to the front, even if there are soldiers in front, it is difficult to distinguish the number and direction..."

(End of this chapter)