Catching Monsters

Chapter 268 Return to Beijing Immediately
In the imperial study, Xiao Yuzheng was in a very good mood when he heard that the Hu army at the front line had retreated. He felt refreshed these days.

At the same time, there was a knock on the door outside the imperial study.

"Come in."

Feng Yu pushed open the door, walked back with a faint smile on his face, and Liu Muyun followed behind him.

When he saw Feng Yu, Xiao Yuzheng had a big smile on his face, but he could see Liu Muyun following behind him.

Xiao Yuzheng frowned slightly: "Why are you back?"

"Didn't I ask you to be the military supervisor at the front line?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Muyun knelt on the ground with a sad face and said, "Your Majesty, please ask someone else to take over the job of military supervisor. I really can't do this job."

He wiped his tears, his lips moved slightly, but he still gritted his teeth and endured it.

"It seems that you feel a little aggrieved at the front line?" Xiao Yuzheng was in a good mood. He smiled and said, "Okay, get up. If you feel aggrieved, you cannot return to Beijing at will without my order."

Liu Muyun's lips moved slightly, and he sighed and said, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhenguo just won a victory, and I shouldn't say anything, but..."

"The Duke of Zhenguo is so bold and reckless. I only gave him some suggestions, but he snatched the imperial edict from my hand and sent me, the military supervisor, to the front battlefield."

"Fortunately, I am lucky enough to be able to come back alive to see Your Majesty."

"If I continue to stay in Mushan City, I'm afraid my life will be in danger."

When listening to other words, Xiao Yuzheng's expression did not change, but when he heard that Xu Xiaogang snatched Liu Muyun's imperial edict.

His face darkened: "Xu Xiaogang snatched the imperial edict from you? Liu Muyun, you can't say such nonsense."

"It is absolutely true, Your Majesty. At that time, I was on the city gate and said that I was the imperial envoy sent by Your Majesty, and I also took out the imperial edict."

"But Xu Xiaogang ignored it and took away the imperial edict directly."

"With so many eyes watching, how dare I say anything nonsense?"

Listening to Liu Muyun's words, Feng Yu's face was calm. He didn't say much, but stood aside.

Xiao Yuzheng's face darkened slightly. At the same time, Liu Muyun couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, now that the Hu army has retreated, I think it would be better to replace it with Duke Duan Xing to lead the Zhenchi Army."

"No matter what, Xu Dingwu is still in the Hu army, and he is Xu Xiaogang's father, so there are always hidden dangers."

"just in case……"

"Shut up, you dog slave. Xu Xiaogang is at the front line and just won a battle. You want me to remove him from his post? How will the army view me? Are you suppressing a meritorious official?" Xiao Yuzheng glared at Liu Muyun with a gloomy face and said, "Get out."

Liu Muyun trembled slightly and could only nod in agreement.

Not to mention the grudge between him and Xu Xiaogang in Mushan City, now on the front line, Xu Xiaogang is preparing to retake Jianchi Pass.

If Xu Xiaogang could retake Jianchi Pass, his achievement would be so great that he might even start to investigate the problem of lack of food and military pay in the Zhenchi army.

He, Liu Muyun, is the first one to get into trouble.

But seeing that Xiao Yuzheng got angry, he didn't dare to say anything more and left the imperial study.

After Liu Muyun left, Feng Yu poured tea beside him and said, "Your Majesty, calm down."

"Alas, this bunch of slaves, except for you Feng Yu, none of them makes me worry." Xiao Yuzheng sighed, took the tea handed over by Feng Yu, took a sip, and slowly asked: "You also went to Mushan City this time, what exactly happened?"

Feng Yu then recounted in detail what he had seen and heard, including that there was indeed not much food in Mushan City and that the meteorite was taken away by a mysterious man. Even the ability to repel the Northern Hu army was largely due to this mysterious man.

After listening to Feng Yu's words, Xiao Yuzheng looked solemn and asked, "Was the meteorite taken away by that mysterious person?"

"Yes." Feng Yu nodded slightly and said, "It seems that the mysterious person may know the function of the meteorite."

Xiao Yuzheng fell silent, took a deep breath, and whispered, "Draw a portrait of that person and ask the Jinyiwei to check who this person is. If you can find him, please come to the palace. I want to see him."

He is still obsessed with the legend of immortality contained in the meteorite.

"Yes."

Then, Xiao Yuzheng narrowed his eyes and said in a cold voice: "As for the case of Mushan City's grain, order the East Pacification Office to secretly investigate and handle it. All corrupt officials, once discovered, will be dismissed and the main culprit will be beheaded in public."

As an emperor, Xiao Yuzheng knew very well that if only the court officials were corrupt, it would be fine, but if they extended their influence to the military, it would be a big disaster.

Finally, he rolled his eyes and asked calmly, "As for what Liu Muyun said about Xu Xiaogang, what do you think?"

What he asked about was, naturally, the matter of seizing the imperial edict.

You know, Baiyun Temple ended up like this just because it burned the plaque written by Xiao Yuzheng himself.

Even the Sixth Prince was completely left out because of this incident.

Snatching the imperial edict from the imperial envoy is a big deal at any time.

Feng Yu was silent for a moment, and then helped Xu Xiaogang to say, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the Duke of Zhenguo is a cautious person and is loyal to Your Majesty. Of course, I believe that Liu Muyun would not dare to lie to Your Majesty about this matter."

"But the Duke of Zhenguo may have his reasons."

As he spoke, Feng Yu also noticed that Xiao Yuzheng's brows were slightly frowned. He realized that he did not mention what Xiao Yuzheng was most concerned about.

As someone close to Xiao Yuzheng, he instantly guessed what Xiao Yuzheng wanted, so he suggested, "However, snatching the imperial edict is indeed disrespectful to His Majesty." "It's just that the Duke of Zhenguo just won a victory..."

Xiao Yuzheng said calmly: "Xu Xiaogang is still too young after all. I am still a little worried if such a large army as the Zhenchi Army is loyal to him."

"Maybe."

"It just so happens that the Duke of Zhenguo won a victory and promoted him to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, which is also considered a high promotion. The Zhenchi Army will be taken over by Duke of Chengguo Duan Xing. This way, everyone will be happy."

Feng Yu's heart moved slightly. He knew that Xu Xiaogang was now arranging the matters of retaking Jianchi Pass at the front line.

He took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhenguo is now preparing to take back Jianchi Pass."

"Now that the Northern Hu army has retreated and has not yet regrouped, it is the best time to take back Jianchi Pass."

Xiao Yuzheng shook his head slightly and said slowly: "Since the Northern Hu army has collapsed, wouldn't it be the same if Duan Xing were to go?"

"Xu Xiaogang's victory over the Northern Hu army is already a great achievement, so we should let others also make some contributions."

From the emperor's perspective, Xiao Yuzheng did not want to see the Zhenchi Army being too loyal to Xu Xiaogang.

If he could get Duan Xing to place some of his confidants there to split the Zhenchi Army, he would feel at ease.

"Yes." Feng Yu knew that Xiao Yuzheng had made up his mind and that no amount of persuasion would have any effect, so he nodded and agreed.

……

"What? The court sent a message asking Xu Xiaogang to return to Beijing?"

At the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, Jiang Yun just came back and heard the news. A look of surprise appeared on his face.

In the courtyard, Xu Suwen and Jiang Qiaoqiao were sitting in the yard, eating fruit.

Xu Suwen handed Jiang Yun a piece of melon and said, "Well, we notified our Duke's Mansion immediately, saying that Xiaogang had made great contributions and he would be promoted to the Minister of War."

In terms of rank, Xu Xiaogang was promoted to the Minister of War when he was in his early twenties, and became a high-ranking official in the imperial court. This is a good thing that many powerful families could not ask for even if they burned incense and prayed to Buddha.

But this is not the case for the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

A family of meritorious generals still has to lead troops outside to have real power.

For many meritorious generals, the decline of their families began when they were no longer able to lead troops outside.

Jiang Yun took a bite of the melon in his hand, somewhat confused about what Xiao Yuzheng was thinking.

It doesn't make sense to change the commander immediately after a victory on the front line.

Jiang Qiaoqiao, who was standing next to him, said directly, "Perhaps the Emperor is suspicious of Brother Xu Xiaogang. Aren't there many such plots in operas?"

Xu Suwen raised his hand and gently tapped Jiang Qiaoqiao's forehead: "Don't talk nonsense, Xiaogang won the battle, how could His Majesty be suspicious."

At this point, Xu Suwen took a deep breath and smiled bitterly: "That's good. Ever since Xiaogang went to the front line, mother has been worried every day. If I return to Beijing, I can always be with mother."

……

Mushan City.

In the general's mansion, Xu Xiaogang and a group of generals were standing in front of a map, analyzing how to attack Jianchi Pass.

Suddenly, news came that Duan Xing was on the way to take over the Zhenchi Army and asked Xu Xiaogang to prepare to return to Beijing immediately.

"what?"

Xu Xiaogang was stunned. He looked at the soldier who came to deliver the message, took a deep breath and said, "Isn't this nonsense? The fortifications of Jianchi Pass are hastily built by the Hu people. We must fight back within half a month to a month."

"If it takes too long, the Hu people will repair some fortifications and try to capture Jianchi Pass. I'm afraid..."

"You continue to discuss how to attack Jianchi Pass. I will go write a letter to His Majesty!"

Xu Xiaogang looked anxious, took a deep breath and said, "Even if you want to dismiss me, I have to take Jianchi Pass back first!"

After saying this, he hurriedly wrote a letter and sent it to the capital.

Jiang Yubo's face also looked grim. He came to find Xu Xiaogang and said, "General, all the generals, let's write a joint letter to persuade His Majesty and send it to the capital immediately."

Not long after, in the imperial study.

Xiao Yuzheng looked at the two letters in front of him, his face livid, and said calmly: "Feng Yu, take a look, Xu Xiaogang claimed that he would talk about it after he conquered Jianchi Pass."

"The Zhenchi Army, 27 senior generals and 123 mid-level generals, actually wrote a joint letter to me."

"how?"

"Threatening me? Could it be that the Zhenchi Army has really become the Xu family's private army?"

"Only Xu Xiaogang can fight at Jianchi Pass? Others can't fight?"

"Let Liu Muyun take my imperial edict and accompany Duan Xing on the trip in person. Make sure Xu Xiaogang returns to the capital immediately!"

(End of this chapter)