The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 587 Refusing to Send Troops
Jia Huan watched the cavalry of Sun Chengzong and others go away until they disappeared from his sight, and then he withdrew his gaze.

Xing Wei licked his slightly cracked lips and whispered worriedly, "We are a group of demoralized defeated soldiers. There is nothing we need in the city. If the Jiannu army attacks, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on for even a day."

"We'll just have to act according to circumstances!" Jia Huan said calmly, "If it's true as Zu Tianshou said, the main force of Nurhaci's army is still in Jinzhou, and they shouldn't be at the gates of the city within three days."

Xing Wei felt relieved after hearing this, but Sun Chengzong asked them to hold on for five days, which meant that reinforcements would take at least five days to arrive. I hope everything will be safe and sound during these five days.

When Jia Huan found Zu Tianshou, the latter was directing the deployment of troops. The soldiers under his command were listless and had no fighting spirit. They even refused to salute Jia Huan, the imperial envoy. He probably wanted to express his dissatisfaction in this way!
After all, they could have retreated to the safety of Shanhaiguan, but now they were forced to guard the isolated city of Ningyuan. Without logistical supplies and support, they would be in danger of death if the Jin soldiers came.

"I am honored to meet the Imperial Envoy!" Zu Tianshou saluted Jia Huan with his fists clasped. The people below him might not be sensible, but he, the lieutenant general, could not be ignorant. After all, the Imperial Envoy represented the Emperor. Being disrespectful to the Imperial Envoy was a contempt for the Emperor's authority, so he still had to put in some superficial effort.

Jia Huan nodded and said politely, "General Zu, please come inside and talk." After that, he walked towards the inside of the tower.

Zu Tianshou frowned, threw the whip in his hand to the guard, and followed Jia Huan into the city wall.

To be honest, he didn't like the young man in front of him. He was obviously young, but he "pretended" to be mature and calm. This kind of person is the best at dealing with things. I'm afraid of pretending to know when I don't, and giving orders blindly. It's great that you won six prizes in a row, but studying and fighting are two different things. Talking about war on paper can kill people.

Zu Tianshou muttered to himself as he entered the tower, clasped his fists and said, "Master Jia, what advice do you have?"

Jia Huan asked directly: "How many days of food are left?"

"Not much. It definitely can't last five days. Maybe it will be eaten up in three days." Zu Tianshou answered vaguely.

Jia Huan's face darkened and he cursed, "Bullshit, is it three days or five days? Is this how Wang Huazhen answered when he asked you? Or are you looking down on this imperial envoy and deliberately being perfunctory?"

Zu Tianshou was stunned for a moment. He did not expect that the well-mannered Jia Huan would actually use foul language to curse. He could not help but feel embarrassed and a little annoyed. He said calmly, "I dare not. Logistics has always been managed by the quartermaster, so I am not very clear about it."

"Then call the quartermaster." Jia Huan said decisively, his eyes were sharp as if they had substance. Zu Dashou's heart trembled a little. Anyone who could show such a look was not an easy person to deal with. He could not help but put away his contemptuous attitude and quickly asked someone to call the quartermaster.

The quartermaster hurried into the tower and saluted, "Greetings to the Imperial Envoy and the Lieutenant General."

Zu Tianshou asked, "How many days do we have enough food to last? Please tell the Imperial Envoy in detail."

The quartermaster said cautiously, "If we use normal rations, we can only last for two days. If we save a little and only eat one meal a day, we may be able to last for four or five days. However, we are running low on arrows and ammunition. We have less than 300 arrows, 20 kilograms of gunpowder, and less than 200 lead bullets."

Zu Tianshou took the opportunity to shake his head and said, "Your Excellency, given our situation, it is difficult to hold out for five days. If the Jiannu army attacks, we will definitely not be able to hold out. Why not..."

Before Zu Tianshou could finish his words, he was stared at by Jia Huan fiercely and immediately swallowed his words back.

Jia Huan said calmly: "Since Lord Sun asked us to hold out for five days, even if there are no conditions, we must create conditions to hold out. If there are no arrows and ammunition, then prepare more bricks, stones and logs, tear down all the houses in the city that can be demolished, and move all the bricks and stones to the top of the city for use. As for food... I will find a way."

Zu Tianshou sneered in his heart, think of a way? Can you conjure up food?

Jia Huan pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked: "General Zu, you have been stationed in Liao for a long time. Do you know where we can get food near Ningyuan City?"

Zu Tianshou almost laughed out loud. I thought you were so capable, but you turned out to be a scholar leading troops. He just had wild thoughts. He laughed and said, "This is a bit difficult. Ningyuan is an isolated city now. The people of Liaoxi have all moved to the pass. There is not a grain of wheat, a chicken, or a dog left. Where can we get food? Oh, there are a lot of fish in the sea, but they are not easy to catch. There may be wild beasts in the mountains, but we have nearly two thousand brothers here. Even if we kill a tiger, it will not be enough for a meal, unless... we go to Nurhaci to borrow food, hahaha!"

Zu Tianshou thought he was humorous and laughed out loud. The quartermaster next to him couldn't help laughing as well, but when he saw that Jia Huan had a calm expression and didn't laugh, he forced himself to hold it back.

Zu Tianshou slowly stopped laughing under Jia Huan's indifferent gaze. He restrained his smile, coughed lightly and said, "It was just a joke. I hope Master Jia will forgive me!"

Jia Huan said calmly: "Nurhaci's main force is far away in Jinzhou. If it were closer, I would like to borrow some food from him."

Zu Tianshou curled his lips secretly, bragging, you kid is still pretending, he laughed dryly and said: "If Lord Jia really wants to borrow grain, there is a place where you may be able to borrow it, it depends on whether you dare to go and borrow it."

"where?"

"Stir-fried flower department!"

…………

Shanhaiguan.

In the Liaodong Jinglüe Yamen, Xiong Tingbai was playing Go with the military supervisor Xing Shenyan. The latter whispered, "The two imperial envoys have been out for two nights and haven't returned. Sir Xiong, can you send someone to pick them up to avoid any accidents?" Xiong Tingbai snorted coldly and said, "They insisted on going. Even if something unexpected happened, it was their own fault. Why should I meddle in their business? I will continue playing chess."

Xing Shenyan frowned: "That being said, they are imperial envoys after all. If something unexpected happens and the emperor holds us accountable, I'm afraid both you and I will be blamed."

Xiong Tingbai said impatiently, "Are you going to leave or not? You keep talking so much. If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility. It has nothing to do with you, Old Xing."

As soon as he finished speaking, a personal soldier came in and reported: "The Imperial Envoy Sun is back."

Xiong Tingbai's eyes flashed, and he threw a chess piece in his hand back into the chess box, humming, "It's back!"

Soon, Sun Chengzong came in, exhausted, followed by Wu Sangui and four other guards. However, the deputy imperial envoy Jia Huan was nowhere to be seen. A strange look flashed in Xiong Tingbai's eyes, and he asked with a hint of sarcasm, "Where is the kid named Jia? Did he confess?"

Xing Shenyan quickly stood up to greet him, and asked in confusion, "Why don't you meet Deputy Envoy Jia?"

Sun Chengzong replied, "Vice Envoy Jia is in Ningyuan City and did not come back with me."

Xing Shenyan was stunned for a moment. Xiong Tingbai looked a little unnatural. He snorted coldly and said, "No wonder he has been gone for two days and two nights. He has gone deep into Ningyuan. Lord Sun is very brave. But why did Jia Huan stay in Ningyuan? Does he think he has a long life?"

Sun Chengzong said solemnly: "Nurhaci did not continue to advance westward after capturing Jinzhou, so Ningyuan City is still there. Deputy Envoy Jia is now guarding Ningyuan. It is not too late for Lord Xiong to send troops to help immediately."

After hearing this, Xing Shenyan and Xiong Tingbai were shocked. Nurhaci was still staying in Jinzhou and not heading west? Was their decision to give up Ningyuan a mistake?
"Nurhaci's temporary decision not to move westward does not mean that he will not move westward in the future. Moreover, Ningyuan is currently an isolated city and cannot be defended at all. Sending troops out of the city to provide assistance at this time is undoubtedly tantamount to seeking death. I will never do such a stupid thing." Xiong Tingbai flatly rejected Sun Chengshou's proposal, obviously unwilling to admit his mistake.

Sun Chengzong suppressed his anger and said, "It was a big mistake for Lord Xiong to abandon Ningyuan in the first place, and now refusing to rescue is even more wrong. Lord Xiong, you must not be confused again. You can still make up for it by sending troops now."

Xiong Tingbai snorted coldly and said, "Ridiculous! Ningyuan City is not defensible in the first place. What's wrong with me abandoning it?"

Sun Chengzong said angrily: "Ningyuan has high walls and deep fortresses. You have sufficient troops under your command, and you have coordinated with the defenders on Juehua Island. You also have the Liaoxi defense line as support behind you. Your logistics are safe and you can completely stop Nurhaci's army. However, you retreated first and abandoned the Liaoxi Corridor. Isn't this a mistake?
Moreover, it has now been confirmed that Nurhaci did not advance westward at all. As the governor of Liaodong, you hastily abandoned the land to protect yourself without even understanding the enemy situation. You have not only failed in your duty but also lost territory. You should be killed!

Sir Xiong, you must immediately send troops to support Ningyuan and recover the lost territory, so that you can make up for your mistakes. Otherwise, it will be too late to regret when you are attacked by swords in the future. Don't make the mistake! "

Xiong Tingbai's face darkened, and he said sternly: "Sun Chengzong, don't spread rumors to confuse the people. I am ordered to guard Shanhaiguan and protect the capital. I will never step out of Shanhaiguan. If Jia Huan doesn't want to die, let him get back here!"

Sun Chengzong was so angry that smoke was coming out of his head. He drew out the Shangyan sword and shouted, "Xiong Tingbai, I order you as an imperial envoy to send troops immediately. No mistakes!"

Xiong Tingbai said contemptuously: "Your imperial sword cannot control me. My order is to guard Shanhaiguan. Unless the emperor issues an order now, I will never let the soldiers go out to die in vain. Come, ask Lord Sun to leave!"

A team of personal soldiers immediately rushed in and shouted, "Please ask Lord Sun to leave the governor's mansion."

Sun Chengzong was so angry that he trembled. Finally, he sighed and said, "Xiong Tingbai, in order to cover up your own mistakes, you refused to rush to Ningyuan's aid. This is a crime upon crime. I will definitely report you. When you go to hell in the future, don't blame me for being cruel!"

Xiong Tingbai's eyes twitched, and he said coldly: "If you want to participate, then do so. It's all up to you. I have a clear conscience!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Sun Chengzong said three good words in a row, turned around and left the Liaodong Military Governor's Mansion angrily, and immediately mounted his horse and headed towards the capital, preparing to meet Emperor Qiansheng in person to file a complaint against Xiong Tingbai.

The military supervisor Xing Shenyan's face turned pale, he slumped down in his seat, and said bitterly: "Master Xiong, this is over!"

Xiong Tingbai said coldly: "Why are you panicking? Only Sun Chengzong is allowed to impeach, but I, Xiong Tingbai, am not allowed to write a letter to defend myself?"

"But Nurhaci did not advance westward, but we chose to abandon the city and enter the pass. This was indeed a mistake. If Jia Huan had defended Ningyuan City, it would have made us even more wrong."

Xiong Tingbai said confidently: "Nurhaci is ambitious and will never stop. It is only a matter of time before his army reaches the city of Ningyuan. Jia Huan has no soldiers or food, so how can he defend the city? He is just a lamb to be slaughtered. If he wants to die, let him die.

Since we have already retreated into the pass, there is no reason for us to leave. Moreover, all the defensive fortifications on the Liaoxi Corridor have been destroyed. Ningyuan is an isolated city. If we run into the Jiannu army at this time, it will be tantamount to suicide. By then, let alone Ningyuan City, I am afraid that even Shanhaiguan will be lost, and you and I will become the eternal sinners of the Great Jin Dynasty."

Xing Shenyan was startled when he heard this, but he stopped talking. Compared to Ningyuan City, Shanhaiguan was naturally more important.

As for Sun Chengzong, after leaving Shanhaiguan, he rushed all the way, traveling day and night, and arrived in the capital in the evening of the next day. He immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor and reported the situation on the front line to Emperor Qiansheng.

After hearing this, Emperor Qiansheng was shocked and angry. He immediately summoned civil and military officials to discuss the matter. In the end, it was decided to arrest Xiong Tingbai immediately and have Sun Chengzong temporarily take over the post of governor of Liaodong, responsible for guarding Shanhaiguan and sending troops to support Ningyuan.

(End of this chapter)