Slave to Queen: One Night Bride

Chapter 353 Strike
Zhao Deji asked again: "Yue Pengju is arrogant, how can we make him really retreat?"

"Your Majesty might as well issue twelve imperial edicts to order him to retreat."

Zhao Deji felt very novel about this suggestion, so he asked: "What are the twelve imperial edicts?"

"In order to attract his attention, His Majesty can issue an imperial decree every half an hour. How dare Yue Pengju disobey this order?"

Zhao Deji was overjoyed: "That's the plan."

Afterwards, Qin Hui drafted and Zhao Deji personally transcribed 12 edicts. Of course, the content of each edict was slightly different, and the tone was more severe each time.Then, the palace arranged for an urgent delivery of the [-]-point imperial edict to be sent out with a gold plate.

As soon as Zhao Deji's gold plate was handed away, an old woman opened her dim eyes in the deep palace, sighed, and suddenly sat up, looking at Tianwei and Wanwan who were waiting beside her.

This person is the Empress Dowager, she has reached the final stage of her life at this time, because she was infected with the cold, this winter, she lay down and could no longer move.

Tianwei waited by her side every day, and seeing her suddenly cheered up, she knew that this was the legendary "return to the light", and she cried like tears.

The Empress Dowager asked, "What's going on these few days?"

Tianwei and the others did not dare to tell her about the 12 gold medals they had learned from the eunuch, but seeing her worried face, they could only tell the truth: "Ninth brother has sent someone to send the twelve gold medals, asking Mr. Yue Withdraw from Zhuxian Town..."

The spirit on the queen mother's face disappeared without a trace in an instant, her eyes closed slowly, and two turbid old tears shed: "The Great Song Dynasty is hopeless in the end, and the old man is gone. I really have no words to see the ancestors of the Great Song Dynasty." Liezong!"

Tianwei and Wanwan cried even more.

The Empress Dowager stretched out her skinny hands, grabbed the two of them respectively, and said with a sigh: "I have no children in this life. It depends on the two of you to accompany you in your old age. Serve carefully, better than your own daughter. When I am here, I can still be a little Take care, once I leave, the two of you will have nothing to rely on, from now on, remember: Only by dressing and eating for the rest of your life can you maintain wealth."

The two nodded in agreement, the Queen Mother's hand slowly loosened, and the two saw that she was dead.

The two wailed loudly, especially Tian Wei, in the increasingly intense atmosphere of peace talks, knowing that Concubine Wei Xian would return, once she came back, what would be her fate?She didn't know whether she was mourning the queen mother or herself, but she almost fainted from crying.Zhao Deji rushed over after hearing the news, shed a few tears of sadness, and ordered a large number of funeral arrangements for the Empress Dowager, first holding a three-month ritual ceremony in the temple.

Yue Pengju and others marched into Zhuxian Town, which was only 45 miles away from Kaifeng, and it was also the last stronghold of Jin Wushu in Kaifeng.Except for some who escaped quickly by luck, the rest of the residents were all killed by the Jin army, and all the women became camp prostitutes of the Jin army.

Just when the Yue family army and the Jin army were about to start a decisive battle, Han Chang sent a secret envoy to worship Yue Pengju's army.This person is dressed as a golden man with braided hair on the left lapel. He is Han Chang's nephew Han Ba.

Han Ba ​​knelt down and saluted Yue Peng according to the etiquette of the Han people, saying: "My uncle is tired of war, and he has seen Jin soldiers slaughter the people in the city repeatedly, so he doesn't want to be driven by the fourth prince anymore, and hopes to reconcile with Yue Xianggong."

Yue Pengju also found out about Han Chang being whipped by Jin Wushu, so he asked, "How many soldiers does Han Chang have?"

"fifty thousand."

Yue Pengju laughed: "The Fourth Prince only has [-] troops, how could Han Chang have [-]?"

Han Ba ​​didn't dare to brag anymore, so he had to tell the truth that there were still more than 3000 horses.Han Ba ​​said: "My uncle has followed the fourth prince for many years, and he couldn't bear to turn his back on his alliance and turn against him. He only gave up Changge County and retreated before the battle. He didn't want to fight the Yue family army, and asked Mr. Yue to help him."

Yue Pengju said with emotion: "Since this is the case, Han Chang will be fulfilled."

As soon as Han Ba ​​retreated, sure enough, as soon as Song and Jin fought, he withdrew from the entire army in Changge County.When Changge County was empty, Zhuxian Town became an isolated island. Taking this place was equivalent to taking Kaifeng.

On this day, the atmosphere in the army was very enthusiastic, and everyone rushed to tell each other that morale had reached its peak.Yue Pengju said with emotion: "If you take Zhuxian Town and capture Kaifeng, you must have a drink with the lords."

Hua Rong was also very happy. Starting from the Jingkang catastrophe, Kaifeng was occupied by the Jin army, and even the Zhao family's ancestral temple was destroyed. Now, it is about to be recovered, and everyone's excitement can be imagined.

But at this time, the Yue family's army was also facing great difficulties, even if the army rations were eagerly awaited, they could not wait.Naturally, Yue Pengju didn't know that he was being detained by Qin Hui, so he only discussed with his staff and sent couriers one after another to the palace to demand food and grass.But these grains and grasses were all intercepted and seized by Qin Hui.On the eve of marching into Zhuxian Town, the army had only enough food and grass to last for ten days.Yue Pengju ordered the army to reduce meals, only two meals a day, and only chestnut rice porridge at night, and killed the disabled horse mules in the army as rations.

He calmed down the emotions of the lieutenant soldiers, but when discussing with his staff, he could no longer hide his anxiety.

He asked, "How about buying military rations along the way?"

Zhu Fu shook his head: "The captives have been trapped for a long time, and there is obviously not much food and grass for soldiers and horses. Even if they are seized, they will not last long; and to buy food and grass, it is not easy to support these 8 horses. Now that the soldiers are in chaos and the two rivers are trapped, how can there be time? ?”

Yu Peng said angrily: "Now that Qin Hui is covering the sky with one hand, everyone says he is the fourth prince's spy. He must do everything possible to hinder the great cause of fighting against gold..."

Li Ruoxu pondered for a while, and then said in a low voice: "Since ancient times, the heroes are away, if they are not cooked like rabbits and dogs..." After all, he still dare not say the word "yellow robe and body".

All the staff retreated, Hua Rong came in with a bowl of steaming chestnut rice porridge, and said softly: "Pengju, you haven't had dinner today, you won't be able to survive this for a long time."

Yue Pengju shook his head, seeing his wife's sunken eyes, he let out a long sigh: "Sister Seventeen, you follow me, and you will suffer all your life!"

Hua Rong's heart was shocked, for a lifetime, Pengju actually said for a lifetime!Suddenly, she had a terrible and ominous premonition in her heart, but she forcibly calmed down, put down the rice porridge and walked behind him, stretched out her hand to massage his shoulders, and smiled sweetly: "Pengju, I am very happy when I am with you. Suffering?"

He turned his back and gently hugged his wife's waist from behind, and said in a very painful voice, "Seventeenth sister, I have been in the army for more than ten years, from an ordinary soldier to a high-ranking Jiedu envoy, and I have never felt guilty in my life. But for you, I can’t let my wife have a stable life! Sister Seventeen, we must win the final battle ahead of time. I promise you, I will resign to accompany you from now on. You and your son must not suffer any more..."

Hua Rong's eyes turned red, and she was about to shed hot tears. Her husband's words had faintly revealed the terrible frustration about the future. He didn't dare to say it to his staff, but only said it to himself.Fortunately, Yue Pengju couldn't see her expression, she still smiled, buried her head lightly on his neck, rubbed her face affectionately, and then slowly said: "Pengju, it will be fine, it will definitely be fine."

Yue Pengju held her hand tightly without saying anything.

At the same time, Jin Wushu was also anxious like an ant on a hot pot, he couldn't even drink the wine, and his temper became more and more violent, forcing the soldiers to come up with a plan to defeat the enemy every day.Although he had sufficient estimates of Qin Hui's loyalty and Zhao Deji's timidity, he was also worried about Yue Pengju's disobedience and aggressiveness. Based on his understanding of Yue Pengju, it was not impossible for Yue Pengju to do it, otherwise, he would not have disobeyed twice in a row.At this last moment, will Yue Pengju disobey his orders?

In the morning of this day, Yue's army had a big meal and gathered in a large open area to make the final pre-war mobilization order.As soon as Yue Pengju opened his mouth, unexpectedly, there was an urgent delivery from the palace, which was Zhao Deji's first golden letter requesting to retreat.

Yue Peng held the minister ceremony and received the gold medal, as if he had been slashed from the heart, his face was ashen.Yu Peng, Zhu Fu, Li Ruoxu, Zhang Jiefu, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui and others all gathered around. When they saw it, they all turned pale with shock, as if they had fallen into a cold ice abyss.No matter how good the staff are usually able to plan, they are at a loss here.

Hua Rong stood in a corner, didn't go up, and didn't even dare to look at her husband's face.

Half a lifetime of hard work is ruined once.

Twelve golden plaques came one after another. On this day, Yue Pengju kept receiving the golden plaques. Every half an hour, he bowed in the direction of Lin'an and read Zhao Deji's tiresome repetitive orders. Can't do anything else.

After receiving the last gold plate, he also received news that the imperial court had cut off the supply of food and grass to the Yue family army.

..................................................................

This urgent delivery was originally made by Qin Hui first, but Qin Hui secretly made an edict, intercepted the food and grass, and made careful arrangements on purpose. After Zhao Deji's order came down, he openly announced the news to Yue Pengju.

Under the double blow, Yue Pengju almost collapsed, his legs and feet were numb, and he couldn't stand up even with the support of two golden soldiers.Hua Rong silently walked from the corner to help him, but her own hands were also weak, and she put her hands on his waist limply, and she was also on the verge of falling.

All the staff and important generals gathered in a large earthen house, only an extremely dim oil lamp was lit on the table in the middle.

The crowd was furious, Wang Gui, Zhang Xian and others couldn't help shouting at Qin Hui.

However, apart from cursing Qin Hui angrily, none of them dared to speak out against the real mastermind behind it—the present emperor.

Zhang Xian said: "At this point, no matter what, we can't retreat in front of the battle. It's better to continue..."

Xu Qing also said: "If Kaifeng cannot be captured this time, wouldn't our Northern Expedition be ruined?"

Among them, Niu Gao, who has the most violent temper, was so angry that he almost jumped up: "I must catch the fourth prince..."

Dong Xian also cursed loudly.

Only Wang Gui didn't say much, just sat quietly.

According to the bravery of the army in battle, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Niu Gao, Xu Qing, and Dong Xian are known as the five tiger generals, and they are also the absolute main force of the Yue family army. Insisting on dispatching troops, he said: "Wait for the next official to draft a memorial, and ask His Majesty to suspend the withdrawal..."

Zhang Jiefu shook his head: "As soon as this memorial is up, no matter how fast it is, it will take 12 days to go back and forth. There is no food and grass, and we will not last until that time. Besides, I don't know if His Majesty will agree..." He looked at the case table The [-] gold medals, as if Zhao Deji rejected the ironclad evidence.

Yue Pengju and his wife sat in the middle, not saying a word from the beginning to the end.

(End of this chapter)