Catching Monsters

Chapter 273 Do you dare to send a hero to fight me?

The Duke Zhenguo's Mansion has been extremely bustling these days, with a constant stream of people coming to visit.

As a result, Xu Xiaogang had no choice but to accompany Tao Yuelan to meet guests every day.

Overall, Tao Yuelan was still very satisfied. After all, how could a mother not be happy when her child became successful?

Jiang Yun and Xu Suwen, on the other hand, had some rare time to themselves, so they would wander around the capital every day, eating and drinking.

There hasn't been much going on at the East Pacification Office recently.

Early that morning, Jiang Yun had just finished meditating when there was a knock on the door. He hurriedly got up and opened the door.

The person who came was Xu Xiaogang.

Xu Xiaogang was wearing an official uniform, but there was no joy on his face.

"Are you done?" Jiang Yun glanced at him with a smile and said, "Come in and have a seat."

"I don't have any good tea here. I don't like that. I'll just have to make do with some water."

As he spoke, Jiang Yun poured Xu Xiaogang a glass of water.

After Xu Xiaogang sat down, he said with a helpless look on his face: "Brother-in-law, I have to go to the Ministry of War to take up my post later..."

Jiang Yun advised: "It's a good thing. Don't be so sad. This is a first-class job."

"It's close to home, and the position is not low. Many top scholars have struggled all their lives to become the Minister of War. What else are you not satisfied with?"

Xu Xiaogang shook his head and said in a deep voice: "I am worried about the front line."

"If we let Duke Cheng continue to mess around like this, I'm afraid the Northern Hu will attack again soon."

Jiang Yun heard this and shook his head and said, "I don't understand military affairs, but since His Majesty has arranged this, there must be a reason behind it..."

"Besides, Duke Cheng's ancestors were at least noble military commanders, so they shouldn't be so incompetent."

Xu Xiaogang frowned: "As soon as he arrived in Mushan City, he was eager to arrange his confidants to take away the power of other generals."

"If he does this, even in peacetime, it will arouse the dissatisfaction of the army, let alone..."

"Forget it. I came here for your and my sister's marriage. According to my mother's wishes, since I have returned to Beijing to take up my post, I will hurry up and arrange your marriage."

"Mother said to ask someone to calculate an auspicious date."

"Do I need someone else to calculate an auspicious date?" Jiang Yun smiled and nodded, "I can just calculate a time myself."

……

Mushan City.

Duan Xing and Liu Muyun were sitting in the study of the general's mansion, with more than a dozen letters in front of them.

Duan Xing frowned deeply, these were all resignation letters from senior generals.

"Eunuch Liu, these generals have resigned one after another..." Duan Xing felt a little uneasy. Although he didn't understand military affairs, he knew that if these main generals resigned one after another and left.

I'm afraid something big is going to happen!

Liu Muyun, who was sitting opposite him, couldn't help but roll his eyes and whispered, "General Duan, what are you worried about? In my opinion, it's better for these people to leave so that you can strengthen your control over the Zhenchi Army."

"By then, all these important positions will be your own people..."

"It makes sense."

Liu Muyun reminded in a deep voice: "General Duan, this entire Zhenchi Army has more than 100,000 troops, what a huge profit."

"If these people leave, we can make money. If they don't leave, they will block our way to wealth."

Duan Xing took a deep breath, and at this moment, suddenly, a soldier outside hurriedly knocked on the door.

After the messenger entered the study, he hurriedly said, "Report to the general, the Hu people over at Jianchi Pass have made some movements."

"What's going on?"

"A large group of cavalry has already left the border, and there are still a large number of infantry following behind."

Duan Xing's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Didn't they say that the Hu people were defeated and fled, and that we needed to reorganize the army? How come it's so fast..."

At this time, Jiang Yubo, who had heard the news, also rushed here quickly. He looked hurried and said in a deep voice: "General Duan, the Hu people are attacking. We must immediately close the city gates and guard the city and wait for reinforcements."

Duan Xing asked in a deep voice: "Eunuch Liu, how long can the food in the city last?"

Although his nephew was nominally the quartermaster, the food supply had been handed over to Liu Muyun.

Liu Muyun's heart trembled slightly, he coughed, and whispered: "It should be enough for more than 100,000 people to eat for about three days."

"What?" Jiang Yubo was slightly stunned and somewhat unbelievable, because after the Hu people withdrew their troops, the court ordered the urgent allocation of food and grass into Mushan City.

A large quantity of food should have arrived.

But this batch of food disappeared without a trace?
"Eunuch Liu, you..." Duan Xing turned his head and stared at Liu Muyun with his eyes wide open, also extremely surprised.

Suddenly, he thought of the day when Liu Muyun gave him 20,000 taels of silver...

It turned out to be the money from selling grain.

Jiang Yubo stared at the two men in collusion in front of him, gnashing his teeth and saying, "After this battle, I will go to the capital and tell His Majesty about your deeds."

After saying that, he turned around and left in a hurry, to urgently arrange for the soldiers in the city to defend the city. "Eunuch Liu, Eunuch Liu, at this critical moment, you still dare to covet the money for food?" Duan Xing said anxiously.

"Weren't you very happy when I gave you 20,000 taels of silver yesterday?" Liu Muyun frowned.

"Where did the grain go? Let's buy it back quickly." Duan Xing said.

Liu Muyun lowered his voice and said, "The grain has been delivered to the vicinity of Mushan City. Who is the person who spent a lot of money to buy the grain?"

"Hu, Hu people?" Duan Xing was stunned. At this moment, he finally understood why the Hu people reorganized their army so quickly and attacked again.

You know, it takes at least half a month to collect food and fodder from the grassland and transport them over.

No wonder the Hu people made a comeback so quickly. It turned out that they gave the military rations that should have been given to the Zhenchi Army to the other side.

"You are confused!" Duan Xing clenched his fists, wishing he could draw his sword and chop the eunuch down.

Although he came here with the dream of getting promoted and making money, his ancestors were nobles after all, and he also wanted to replicate their success, win a great victory on the front line, and restore the glory of the Chengguo Mansion. Duan Xing had no choice but to do it.

Liu Muyun frowned and said, "General Duan, don't forget that you also had a share of the money. Why do you make it sound like I took all the money for myself?"

These words made Duan Xing's throat choke and he was unable to speak.

Liu Muyun said worriedly: "What we should be concerned about now is not whether Mushan City can be defended. If Jiang Yubo goes back to Beijing and files a complaint with the emperor, will we still be alive?"

Duan Xing waved his hands repeatedly: "This matter has nothing to do with me, I..."

Liu Muyun said in a cold voice: "Your nephew is the quartermaster, and the signatures are all signed by your nephew. You say it has nothing to do with you, can Your Majesty believe it?"

Duan Xing shuddered, took a deep breath, and asked, "Then according to your opinion, what should we do?"

Liu Muyun's eyes flashed with cold light, and he said in a deep voice: "Jiang Yubo, including these senior generals, none of them can survive, send them all out to attack the Hu army, take the initiative to attack!"

"When they die on the battlefield, no one will know this secret."

At this time, Jiang Yubo and a group of senior generals had gathered in the main hall to discuss the tactics of defending the city.

Soon, Duan Xing, with a sullen face, and Liu Muyun walked in from outside.

"General Duan, we have about 110,000 troops still able to fight right now, in my opinion..." Jiang Yubo watched the two men attacking, suppressed his temper, and talked about his plan.

There was no other way. Any military order would need Duan Xing's approval and be stamped with the military seal before it could take effect.

Unexpectedly, Liu Muyun on the side said slowly: "In my opinion, this Hu army is nothing more than this. The huge momentum is just bluffing."

"We must take the initiative to attack them while they are just leaving Jianchi Pass and take control of the situation."

Listening to Liu Muyun's words, Jiang Yubo said: "There are too many Hu cavalry, we..."

"This is the imperial edict from His Majesty. I am the military supervisor and I have the highest authority." Liu Muyun slowly took out an imperial edict, raised it above his head, and glanced at the generals present: "I will allocate 20,000 elite soldiers to you. All of you will attack and defeat the Hu army that has not yet gained a foothold."

The faces of the generals present all darkened, and one of them even said bluntly: "Master Military Supervisor, are you going to let us die?"

Liu Muyun stared at the other party and said slowly: "Don't you understand the four words 'military orders are as heavy as mountains'?"

"Or are you a coward who is afraid of death?"

"If you don't even have the courage to charge and kill the enemy, how dare you stay here?"

The man's face turned red and he clenched his fists, trying to argue.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yubo beside him raised his hand to stop him, staring straight at Liu Muyun, sighed, and said: "There is not much food in the city, and defending the city is indeed not the best solution."

"There is no need for 20,000 elite soldiers. I will go to meet the enemy alone. The rest of you stay behind."

Liu Muyun opened his mouth slightly and wanted to say something else.

Jiang Yubo said with a resolute look: "Eunuch Liu, I know what you mean. That's enough. Don't go too far. Otherwise, if we get upset, it won't look good."

He knew that Liu Muyun wanted to use this method to get rid of him, but he also didn't want to implicate other senior generals present.

Mushan City needs this group of senior generals to stay so that the most basic command system will not collapse.

Hearing this, Liu Muyun took a deep breath and said slowly: "Okay, I wish General Jiang can defeat the enemy. I will personally welcome you."

"General Jiang..."

"Brother Jiang..."

Many of the generals present were brought up by Jiang Yubo himself, and many of them had received his favor and friendship.

Go alone to meet the enemy?

The senior generals present knew all too well what the consequences of doing so would be.

It's nothing but seeking death.

But right now, the highest power in the Zhenchi Army is in the hands of Duan Xing and Liu Muyun.

Duan Xing remained silent and sullen during this time.

That's all there is to it.

Soon, the tightly closed gate of Mushan City slowly opened. Jiang Yubo, wearing armor and riding a war horse, rode alone towards the Hu army that had already begun to besiege the city.

Jiang Yubo rode alone on horseback, heading towards the Hu army, and shouted loudly: "Zhenchi Army Jiang Yubo! I heard that the Hu people are all first-class heroes. Do you dare to send heroes to fight me?"

(End of this chapter)