Jiuxi

Chapter 927 Chapter 925 [Who can turn the tide]

Perhaps few of the ministers in the palace are well versed in military affairs, but they understand the simplest truth: the Qi army's defense line is currently under pressure everywhere.

For example, in the western and northern parts of Dingzhou, the Zhenbei Army, Laian Army, Feiyun Army, Ningyuan Army and even the Seven Star Army are all elite troops who have fought in hundreds of battles. They once followed Lu Chen to build his career and won many victories on the battlefield. Naturally, they are not the kind of people who fear the enemy or are afraid of fighting. However, at the moment, they have less than 70,000 people in total, but they have to withstand the attack of two Jing armies with a total of 150,000 to 160,000 people. It is impossible for them to have spare energy for maneuver.

The same is true on other battlefields.

This is a very easy arithmetic problem. The mobile forces that Lu Chen can mobilize are getting fewer and fewer, which means that it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to use unexpected strategies on the battlefield.

If he tried to use a trick to deceive the world and transfer the garrisons in other places to the predetermined battlefield, the Jing army would just go straight in and completely destroy the three states in Jiangbei.

In the final analysis, Emperor Jing used a grand strategy this time. He did not care about the gains and losses of a single place, nor the survival of a single army. He relied on his superior military strength to lock most of the elite Qi troops on the defense line. Now he led an army of more than 100,000 troops that had been gathering strength since the start of the war to the south, with the determination to defeat ten opponents with one force and settle the overall situation.

South of Teng County is the border of the three states in northern Jiangnan. Emperor Jingdi set up a battlefield here, and his intention is self-evident.

Jing's army could go east across the Lei Ze Plain and invade the heart of Dingzhou.

They can go southeast to attack Tongshan City and Qingtian City, and go south to ravage Huaizhou. Today's Huaizhou does not have the Lai'an defense line that Xiao Wangzhi spent ten years to build.

You can go southwest through Xinchang and Shiquan, go straight south along the western foot of Shuangfeng Mountains, and then turn towards Pingyang.

Emperor Jing's use of troops this time could not be said to be strange or dangerous, but this move made the Great Qi extremely uncomfortable.

After a while, the already noisy court became even more noisy, and more and more court officials stood up to support the peace talks. After all, Qing Yugong was already sharpening his sword outside Pingyang City, and Emperor Jing was coming to lead the army in person. Even if Lu Chen had three heads and six arms, what would it matter? Could he turn beans into soldiers out of thin air?

This time, even Xue Nanting and Xu Zuo found it difficult to suppress the turbulent momentum.

They certainly did not support seeking peace, and they also knew that seeking peace was not that simple. Emperor Jing would not give up until he had taken the three states in northern Jiangnan this time. Once they lost Jingzhou, Pingyang Prefecture and Huaizhou, Da Qi would be a lamb to be slaughtered in front of Jing State.

The problem is that the situation is indeed very dangerous. Lu Chen has not made any move for several months. If he could gather a large number of troops to repel Jing's army, the court would not have become like this.

Although the prime minister is extremely powerful, it is impossible for him to forcefully go against the officials. After all, those people are actually the foundation of maintaining the prime minister's authority, and they keep talking about peace instead of surrendering to the State of Jing, so it cannot be said that they are damaging the dignity of the Great Qi.

Sitting on the throne, Li Daoming, who was only six years old, looked at the ministers in the hall with red faces and angry necks. There was no panic on his young face, and his clear eyes showed an emotion of confusion.

Beside him, the graceful and elegant Empress Dowager Ning had a calm look in her eyes, as if she did not want to interrupt the advice of those ministers who advocated peace, so the rebuttals of Li Jingda and a few others were quickly drowned out by the waves.

"Your Majesty, the Director of the Textile Bureau Su Yunqing wants to see you!"

The slightly sharp voice of a eunuch actually suppressed the noise in the hall.

Queen Mother Ning said calmly, "Announce."

After a moment, Su Yunqing strode into the Chongzheng Hall.

The civil and military officials in the court had complicated feelings about this important official who commanded thousands of spies in the Weaving Bureau. On the one hand, they knew that Su Yunqing was Lu Chen's man in a sense, and he had been suppressed and stripped of power for a long time in the past two years. Perhaps he would abdicate in the near future.

On the other hand, he was in charge of the Sutra Weaving Bureau, and no one wanted to provoke this spy who was destined to be purged by the royal family.

After Su Yunqing bowed, Queen Mother Ning asked, "What important matter do you want to report, Su Qing?"

Generally speaking, officials from the Weaving Bureau rarely appeared at court meetings. After all, they were the eyes and ears of the royal family, equivalent to the emperor's personal army. From the appointment and dismissal of officials to the payment of salaries, they were independent of the court, and few civil servants liked them.

If the situation today happens, something big must be happening.

Su Yunqing said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the Jingzhou Yamen of the Textile Bureau discovered a problem with the latest batch of grain and fodder supplied to the border soldiers ten days ago. At the same time, a batch of grain and fodder that was originally scheduled to be sent to Dingzhou suddenly caught fire in the temporary warehouse in Taixing Prefecture. Another batch of military equipment that was originally scheduled to be sent to Huaizhou in late October was suddenly lost in Xinzhou."

After hearing these words, all the civil and military officials in the court fell into silence.

Queen Mother Ning slowly stood up.

Su Yunqing continued, "Your Majesty, the reports from the governor's offices of the various states in Jiangbei and the border military governor's office should be on their way to the capital. This matter must have been known to the Prince of Huai'an."

In the hall, one could hear a pin drop.

Queen Mother Ning narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "There must be no problems with the logistics supply of the border troops. Didn't I remind you of this?"

Su Yunqing bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty has repeatedly reminded me, how dare I forget it? In the past month or so, the Textile Bureau has indeed discovered some clues and has been trying its best to investigate the mastermind behind the scenes. We already have some clues, but we didn't expect these people to be so bold and reckless. They actually dared to mess around with the logistics supply of the border army. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"What's the point of me punishing you now?" Queen Mother Ning's eyes darkened slightly, and she asked in a cold voice, "Who on earth committed such a heinous crime?"

Su Yunqing said with shame: "According to the evidence currently in the hands of the Textile Bureau, the masterminds of this case are the Lulin Han family and the Huaicheng Qiu family. These two families are local prominent families and have connections with the spies of Jing State. As for the people in the court who helped them arrange the details, they were headed by Zhu Ruiqian, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, and there were also 12 officials from various departments. Your Majesty, this is only the evidence that has been discovered so far, and it is not ruled out that other officials and dignitaries are involved."

With a "thump", Zhu Ruiqian, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, fell to his knees. He no longer had the righteous demeanor that he had when he reprimanded Li Jingda just now. His old face had turned pale and he kept begging for mercy.

The other twelve officials named by Su Yunqing also kowtowed profusely.

Queen Mother Ning ignored her. She looked around at the ministers in the palace with a stern gaze and said, "I once told you that if anyone disrupts the overall situation of the resistance, I will never forgive them. Do you think that I dare not kill people because I am a woman in the harem?"

"Your Majesty, I was confused for a moment. Please—"

Before Zhu Ruiqian could finish his words, he heard Empress Dowager Ning sternly say, "Guards, take these thirteen people away. Once the officials have investigated their crimes, announce it to the world and execute them by slow slicing!"

Thirteen officials were dragged away like dead dogs.

All the civil and military officials in the court dared not say a word. Wang An, a Hanlin scholar, looked at the miserable state of these people. Naturally, he had no sympathy in his heart, but he felt a little strange.

Queen Mother Ning continued, "As for the Lulin Han family and the Huaicheng Qiu family, since they dared to collude with the enemy country at such a difficult time for the country, they must pay the corresponding price, Prime Minister Xu."

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Xu Zuo immediately came out and said, "I'm here!"

Empress Dowager Ning said without question: "You will investigate this case personally. I have only one request. No one involved in the case, regardless of their status or family background, should be spared. You must punish them severely!"

Xu Zuo said solemnly: "I obey your order!"

Empress Dowager Ning narrowed her eyes slightly, glanced at the solemn-looking Minister of Personnel Qu Hongyi, and said, "Mr. Qu's family."

"The minister is here."

"I know you are loyal, but you should understand one thing. In this crisis, the court cannot have a second voice. I am shallow and not as well-educated as you, but I also know that if the skin is gone, the hair will fall off. The soldiers of the frontier army are fighting for their lives on the front line, but the court is kneeling in the rear to seek peace. This will only chill the hearts of all the soldiers. Who will still sacrifice their lives?"

Queen Mother Ning stared at Qu Hongyi's increasingly ugly face and said word by word: "Beg for your remains."

Hearing these merciless words in front of all the civil and military officials, Qu Hongyi was already disheartened. He seemed to have aged more than ten years in an instant. Even though he was reluctant to give up his position as a heavenly official, he could only bow and say hoarsely, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness."

It was unknown what Queen Mother Ning was thinking. She did not continue to rebuke Qu Hongyi, but looked at the civil and military officials in the palace and said, "My dear ministers, I know why you are worried. I also know that the current situation is very unfavorable to Da Qi. But no matter what, it is better now than twenty years ago, right?"

All the ministers could not help but remain silent, and some important ministers even looked ashamed.

Twenty years ago, the Great Qi was in turmoil. Heluo was lost and Jiangbei was overthrown. Emperor Gaozong Li Duan went south with only his wife and children. The Jing army was invincible with its momentum.

At that time, countless people felt that the Great Qi was about to perish, and countless people secretly surrendered to the Jing Kingdom.

Queen Dowager Ning took a deep breath and continued, "Did Emperor Gaozong, Prince Dongyang, Duke Li Wenzheng, Duke Wei, Duke Rong, and Prime Minister Xue ever think of surrendering to the bandits? They worked hard and diligently to finally achieve the current national strength of the Great Qi. Are you going to let down their lifelong efforts?"

"How dare we!"

The ministers responded immediately, some even burst into tears.

Empress Dowager Ning said sternly, "You are all knowledgeable people, far better than a woman in the harem like me. I don't need to say more. You should understand that helping people in need is the backbone of society!"

She glanced at the Minister of Personnel Qu Hongyi, who had originally placed high hopes on her husband. This was one of the most trusted ministers of her husband. There was a bit of heartache and disappointment in her eyes. She said loudly: "A scholar must be magnanimous and resolute. I hope you will remember this in your heart!"

"I will obey His Majesty's teachings!"

All the ministers were convinced.

After hearing these words, Qu Hongyi's face turned pale, his body shook, and he fell to the ground.

Empress Dowager Ning ordered people to carry him out of the hall, then took two steps forward, looked at the civil and military officials in the hall, and said very firmly: "Send the order to Huai'an County Prince Lu Chen, Jiangbei military affairs will be decided by him alone. I, the emperor, the officials in the court, and the people of Jiangnan are his strongest backing. I hope the border soldiers will work together to defeat the powerful enemy and enhance the prestige of our country!"

"Da Qi will win!"

An extremely uniform shout rang out in the hall, without a single noise!
(End of this chapter)