My Chinese ancestors

Chapter 383 The chaotic court

The northwest is mountainous and seems to stretch endlessly. A valley river flows from north to south, then turns eastward, merges into the Hun River and flows to the sea in the east.

Sitting on mountains and rivers, Daliang Xidu is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is also located on the main road where east and west meet. Naturally, there are post stations along the way. There are also beacon towers among the undulating mountains in the southeast and northwest. In the event of an emergency military situation, While the horse was galloping, the beacon fire had already reached the Western Capital.

Taikang, in the southeast, is located in Shazhou, adjacent to the Western Capital of the Liang Kingdom. The distance is less than [-] miles and can be reached in a few days on horseback. On the official road leading to the Western Capital, it is difficult to see the fleeing herdsmen.

The hills on both sides of the road are barren, with some greenery swaying in the wind.

The originally lush pasture no longer had the cattle and sheep grazing in the past, nor the herdsmen's songs. Instead, there was only a fast horse carrying official documents, galloping in front, and behind it, a cart pulling a coffin, winding around. on the road.

Populus euphratica trees swayed with young branches. Between the light and shadow, under the quaint city tower mottled by wind and rain, figures escaping from the war came and went. In order to ensure the smooth flow of military information in the north and south, the Western Capital closed the north, south and front gates, and only those carrying military information were allowed. Stagecoach in and out.

Only the west gate was open to people who wanted to leave. In the past few days, there were long queues almost every day, and most of the people who fled were wealthy families in the city.

After all, all the poor people have is here.

At a certain moment, the fast horse entered from the south gate and walked straight through the empty streets. It was no longer rare to see Orchid dancing on the street, it was no longer rare to hear the long sound of the piano from the Central Plains, and it was no longer rare to see the bustling Hu merchants from the Western Regions and Central Plains merchants bargaining.

Occasionally, people would pass by, looking hurried and panic-stricken.

Without the prosperity of the past, only the sense of urgency in times of war remains. Galloping war horses or patrolling soldiers can be seen everywhere on the streets.

In the main hall of the imperial city at this moment, the emperor's final military reform has been completed. He organized several tribal soldiers and horses gathered in the Western Capital into the Military Town Division. For example, the Quli tribe in Wuluo Mountain was changed to the Wuluoshan Military Division. , [-] warriors from the selected tribes formed an army, and most of them were unified.

The Tuoba tribe soldiers were also organized into a guard army. They were all [-] sons of the Tuoba tribe who were accustomed to fighting.

One morning, after the drafted military system was put down, the civil servants headed by Ye Ci Ningbie implemented the matter, and then the monarchs and ministers in the court began to discuss the current war between the north and the south.

"There has been no battle report from the north, but Tuoba Zongjue is stationed in the south to block the Xia army for half a month. The general is cautious and knows the military strategy of the Central Plains. After clearing the wall and fortifying the country, he will not care about the gains and losses of the other cities and secure the city. Guarding Taikang is like a rivet on the path of Xia's army."

The speaker was Ye Ci Nongbie. He was originally a conservative and opposed Tuoba Kui's military reform. However, since the Central Plains came back from watching the Emperor of Xia's martial arts performance, and experienced blows on the way, he began to fully support the emperor's military reform.

Tuoba Kui naturally saw these changes, and sometimes he wanted to laugh at the emperor of Xia: "I can't believe it. Without your military exercises, it would be difficult for me to realize my ambitions."

At this moment, he heard that the Xia army in the south was pinned to Taikang and could not advance. He was in a good mood and asked the eunuchs to bring the map, hang it on a wooden frame, and invite the leaders of each tribe to come and watch together.

Tuoba Kui stood up and walked down the imperial steps. He and a group of leaders who came forward stood in front of the map and looked at the mountains, rivers, cities, and military arrangements marked on it.

"The northwest is mountainous. As long as the key roads are guarded, no matter how many soldiers and horses the Xia Kingdom has, it will only become a burden. Does that young emperor of the Xia Kingdom really think that he can win with a large number of people? Do you think my Liang Kingdom is so easy to attack?"

Tuoba Kui in the Jinluan Palace stood in front of the map, looked at the location of Taikang, said something with a smile, and then raised his hand. The small wooden stick in his hand was on the Camel Mountain to the north.

"With Tuoba Zongjue guarding the south, and emerging generals like Tuoba Congwu, I can rest easy."

He continued with a smile: "And Zhaori's [-] soldiers and horses are stationed in Luotuo Mountain here in the north, radiating for more than two hundred miles in all directions. It is almost impossible for Xia's Western Route Army to go south."

"Your Majesty, be careful of the rebels who are rolling over the Hunshan Mountain!"

Ye Ci Nong looked at the map and said something that disappointed the emperor, "The rebels in the hands of Yasunshan are now rampant in the southeast. Recently, I heard that several tribes were annexed by him. From the more than [-] people who raised their troops, they arrived like a snowball. Thirty thousand, they are familiar with the terrain in the northwest, and it is very likely that they will stab Tuoba Zhaori in the back, or go directly to the Western Capital."

"Prime Minister, please don't mention this person. If he dares to attack the Western Capital, I will never ask for it!" Tuoba Kui was no longer as angry as he was the day he heard about the rebellion in Yaxun Mountain.

If the opponent dared to come to Xidu, it would be a good time to test the power of his new army. After all, the opponent was still the original tribesman with inconsistent command. Once the leader was defeated, he would flee in all directions. After defeating him, he would chop off the opponent's heart with his own hands. Fat head.

After thinking about it, Tuoba Kui smiled and waved his hands.

"What's the use of having more people? I have more than [-] soldiers and horses under my command. Both sides of the Xia Kingdom's soldiers and horses are blocked. I gave him ten courages, but he didn't dare to come, so he just scraped together some soldiers and horses here and there. He has no fighting power at all in front of soldiers and horses. He can only flatter you. This kind of rat in the hole can only do some shady things. Since the Emperor of Xia is rare, it is good to give him this kind of jester."

The old eunuch who was close to the emperor twitched his lips. He had advised the emperor before that the other man was just a villain and could only flatter others.

Of course, after what happened, he never mentioned his advice that day. After all, it was a slap in the emperor's face.

"What your Majesty said is true. As long as the two armies of the Xia Kingdom are firmly anchored in the north and south directions, the rebels from Yaoshan will never dare to come to the Western Capital." The speaker was the leader of the Miqin tribe. The Xia army is unable to provide food and fodder, and once it retreats, it will be our opportunity to turn defeat into victory, and the rebels are waiting to be wiped out by Your Majesty."

Tuoba Kui looked at the map and laughed. He turned around and gave an appreciative look to the Mi Qin tribe leader who understood what he was thinking.

"Mi Qin is a cloth man. He has made progress in studying the Central Plains knowledge in Dadu recently. However, things on the battlefield are changing rapidly and should not be underestimated. But I still believe in the ability of the two clan generals Zong Jue and Zhao Ri. They guard the two important roads in the north and south. It's still very safe." Prime Minister Nocimi lowered his head and said nothing. He was relieved that the emperor could still be so confident at such a critical moment. It was better than the group of emperors from Qi who came to the door of their homes and didn't want to refuse. enemy, but surrender.

What a disgrace to the emperor.

Moreover, Tuoba Zongjue and Tuoba Zhaori are both generals of the clan, so there is no need to worry about them surrendering, and they are not young and energetic generals. As long as they hold on to the city walls and hold on to the key roads in the mountains, even a million Xia army will not be able to pass through. .

While thinking about it, a group of leaders, as well as civil and military officials, bowed their hands to Tuoba Kui and said: "Your Majesty is wise."

As soon as the word 'Sheng Ming' was spoken, an orderly horse came galloping towards me from outside the main hall. Without waiting for the horse to stop, he jumped on his horse and hurried up the stone steps. He raised his hands and shouted outside the main hall: "Your Majesty, Taikang." Come to expedite the military situation!"

"It's a good thing it came in time. I want to see what surprise my uncle has sent me."

Tuoba Kui said with a smile, raised his hand and asked the eunuch at the door to take the military information and bring it in. He then strode up the imperial steps, sat on the dragon chair, dusted off his dragon robe, and sat upright to let the eunuch read to him. listen.

The old eunuch who received the information opened the letter. He glanced at the writing on it, and his old face suddenly changed. He hesitated for a long time without speaking.

"You do!" Tuoba Kui said with a smile, but at this time his brows were slightly frowned.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

The old eunuch swallowed his saliva, hesitated for a moment, and finally plucked up the courage to speak: "It's a letter from the general. He said... Tuoba Congwu ignored orders and went out of the city to fight... with Ximu Langluo, The two were beheaded by the Xia generals."

The smile that the emperor had on the dragon throne suddenly froze. He twisted his neck with difficulty, looked at the old eunuch, and said, "Bring up the letter."

How could this happen...my martial arts...

His mind was a little confused, and intermittent words kept coming to his mind. After a moment, he took the letter from the eunuch, took a glance at it, and felt like the world was spinning.

The words that came to mind were immediately shouted out.

"My humerus, my Congwu..." Tuoba Kui is actually only a few years older than Tuoba Congwu. In terms of seniority, the other person is his nephew, and they grew up together.

This time, he was asked to follow the prudent imperial uncle Tuoba Zongjue to Taikang, Jiancheng City, for the purpose of cultivating him so that when the older group of clan generals left, there would be no successors.

"Congwu...my nephew..."

He held the letter and shook it. Fortunately, he was quite powerful, so he could not stabilize his body. However, the group of civil and military leaders and tribal leaders below were so surprised that they couldn't open their mouths from ear to ear.

They also did not expect that Tuoba Congwu, who was quite capable, would die in battle.

"I...I want to hold Tuoba Zongjue accountable...Why didn't he look after him well? How did he become an uncle!" Tuoba Kui suddenly yelled angrily on the dragon chair. At this moment, he pulled the coffin. The car has entered the palace and is parked outside the palace.

He stood up suddenly and strode out of the palace door. From a distance, he saw two coffins placed on the carriage. He immediately beat his chest and cried loudly. However, not long after, the news of Taikang's fall and Zong Jue's capture came. He was still sad. Tuoba Kui, who had regained his strength, glared and fainted in the court hall.

"His Majesty--"

"Hurry up and tell the imperial doctor!"

"Slippers! Take off your shoes quickly and let His Majesty smell the smell of your feet..."

"Hurry and call the Queen Mother!"

Ye Ci Nongbie looked blankly at the crowds of people in the court, his eyes could no longer see the light.

After a long time, when the emperor woke up, the first thing he did was to summon everyone from Fengpintang. They were all first- and second-grade Ouchi masters, and they had been acting as Tuoba Kui's secret sentinels.

"The emperor is definitely unable to assassinate, but those generals who command the army always have a chance. No matter what method you use, you can get rid of the leading generals of Xia Kingdom for me to avenge this."

……

at the same time.

The street fighting in Taikang City has basically come to an end. The emperor's chariot entered the city gate and arrived at the government office. The Liang clan general named Tuoba Zongjue was tied up and captured by Zhao Yun. He was dragged to kneel down in front of Su Chen. .

(End of this chapter)