The Red Mansions Across the Four Seas

Chapter 376

In the 14th year of Yuanheng, June [-]th of the year of Wuyin was an unforgettable day.

June [-]th is the day when Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva became enlightened.

Among the folks, this is a relatively important day. There are huge crowds of people in the temple and the incense is at its peak.

However, in the court, it was gloomy.

Many of the ministers who participated in the early court that day could no longer remember how they walked out of the Forbidden City.

For many years, Emperor Yuanheng, who seldom got angry in court, became furious and scolded almost all the ministers.

The princes and ministers were all silent, for fear that the emperor's knife-like gaze would fall on him.

There are different opinions about how the court was dispersed later.

Some said that the emperor was tired of scolding and left by himself. ,

Some said that the great eunuch Dai Quan forcibly dragged the emperor away.

Others said that it was the King of Beijing and Bachelor Ji who persuaded the emperor to leave.

The news that Xiao Daozhong, Li Yuan and others requested to convict Jia Min has also become a topic of discussion.

However, the painting style at this time suddenly took a big turn.Jia Min, who was firmly opposed to the war before, has once again returned to the center of public opinion.

Regarding the matter of punishing him, of course, nothing will be done.

It is said that Xiao Daozhong closed his door at home for three days after that, refusing to go to the yamen on the pretext of illness.

Wan Xintang, Minister of the Household Department, locked himself in the office every day when he arrived at the yamen, and saw no one.

University scholar Luo also claimed that he could not get sick, and there was no one in sight for several days.

Li Yuan has been drinking medicine at home to recuperate since he fainted in the court that day.

Entrusted by Li Yuan, Cheng Shilang is currently acting as the head of the Ministry of War.

It is said that it is acting in charge, but in fact, there is no big deal now.North Wendura was defeated across the board, and has no contact with the Ministry of War at present.

Han Tiankui, deputy commander of Zhengbei, came to the memorial, saying that he should have retreated to Ninggu Tower and was building a defense line to prevent the Tatars from invading Ninggu Tower and Shengjing.Prepare to fight to the death with the Tatars in Ninguta.

It is said that after the emperor read the memorial, he tore the memorial to pieces on the spot.

Anyone who knows a little bit knows that Ninguta is more than 2000 miles away from North Vendura. The Tatars defeated the imperial army. As the deputy commander, you ran to the rear more than 2000 miles away to build a defense line.The meaning, everyone understands.

There was no news from the front line, but news from the prefectures and counties along the line from Bukui to Ningguta kept coming.

It is said that the soldiers who were defeated from North Wendura continued to harass the states and counties along the way, looting the people, raping women, murdering and setting fire.There was even a group of rout soldiers who captured a county government office and killed the county magistrate.

A military defeat turned into a military disaster.

The military disaster is easy to handle. After all, there are not many people, they are all scattered soldiers. It won't take long for the governments of various places to calm down.

What people are most worried about is the Tatars going south.

One hundred thousand prairie cavalry, no one can be.All the way south, burning, killing, looting, gold and silver, livestock, cattle and horses, women and children are all the objects of their robbing.

Another huge hidden danger is those exiles of Bu Kui.

If Bukui was captured by the Tatars and the exiles were released, another disaster would follow after the military disaster.

Although the news of the Tatars going south and rebellion has not yet spread, it is only a matter of time.It's just one day earlier and one day later.

Jingying Jiedushi Wang Ziteng has led 5000 people to set off for Shengjing, where he is going to intercept the Tatars.

Although the imperial court strictly blocked the news, the news of North Wendura's defeat spread throughout the imperial capital.

It's just that people are worried about the eyes and ears of the government and the Jinyi Army, so they dare not discuss it publicly.

I dare not discuss it in public, but I can't stop people from discussing it at home.

This time to participate in the war, almost all the soldiers from the major families in the imperial capital went, and the soldiers who led the soldiers were all children of each family, and they were very concerned about who they put in.

Although there is no definite news yet, the disastrous defeat of the 15 army has already made people dare not have much hope.

At this time, people's biggest expectation is to hope that a miracle will happen and that their family members will be spared.

At least, let the bad news come later and hope longer.

Because Jia Min was firmly opposed to this war, people thought that the Jia family was the luckiest person in this disaster.While envious, it is inevitable to be a little jealous.

Then I got the news that four disciples of the Jia family also participated in the battle, which made people feel that they were not the unluckiest one.

After learning that the prince and Princess Chang'an were also missing, people felt even more that they were not the most unlucky ones.

Even the prince and princess are like this, what else can I say?As a result, the resentment against the emperor's decision to go to war disappeared.

Then people sympathized with the royal family.

The prince and princess are said to be missing.I'm afraid it's just words of comfort.

In the chaos of war, they were either killed in battle or captured, what other results could there be?
If he was still alive, the letter would have been sent back long ago.

At Yinshizheng, the ministers gathered in front of the Forbidden City as usual.

The emperor has not gone to court for five consecutive days, and I don't know if he will go to court today.

Although they don't know if they will go to court, they still come every day.

Not only did they come, but they also came earlier and more neatly than before.Even those who were sick and unable to go to court before came here with their sick bodies.

Now is the time when the emperor is furious, and no one would think that at this time, someone would catch the handle and become the unlucky person for the emperor to vent his anger.

At the end of Yinshi, the great eunuch Dai Quan finally came out.

"Everyone, the emperor is not in good health today, so let's go away."

The ministers were helpless, so they dispersed one after another.Only Beijing Jing Wang Shui Rong and Ji Dashi were left at the end.

When he came to a small tree, Shui Rong stopped.

"Is this the place where Huaiyuan knelt down to make a petition?"

"Yeah, it seems like it was just yesterday. These days, I keep thinking of this scene, vividly in my mind. Alas, if I had listened to Huaiyuan's words that day, it would not be like this. I hate a bunch of villains, Huaiyuan has already lost his official position I’m still unwilling to let him go. Why did you shut up this time? A treacherous minister is harming the country.”

Every time he thinks of this matter, Master Ji feels indignant.

"Hey, don't be too angry, Grand Master. Not to mention others, even I was skeptical of Huaiyuan's words at the beginning. It's just that the situation is critical now, so we need to think of something."

"For the current plan, even the emperor is helpless, what can we do?"

"Where is Huaiyuan now?"

"According to my former book boy, he is in Zhili. Because several brothers in his mansion are going to North Wendula to earn military service, he objected, and had a bad fight with the elders in the family, so he went to his hometown. Now in Zhili to one of his buddies."

"There is nothing left and right, how about you and I go to Zhili?"

"I've wanted to go a long time ago, but I couldn't keep Huaiyuan that day, and I was too ashamed to see him. How can I go now? I understand what you mean, it's useless."

"Why did the bachelor make such a statement?"

"During the first lunar month, Huaiyuan once talked to me that he couldn't beat the Tatars now. If he wants to defeat the Tatars, he needs at least a year of preparation before he can fight. There is no guarantee Definitely win."

"I don't expect him to defeat the Tatars, but at present, His Royal Highness and Princess are missing, there must be a result."

"In the past, Huaiyuan was able to pacify South Wendura and gain a firm foothold in Bukui, all thanks to his army regiment. Now Huaiyuan has no soldiers, and Bukui is doomed. Even if Huaiyuan is found, what can he do? ?”

"I also know that this matter is difficult, but how will I know if I don't try? Huaiyuan is familiar with Wendula's situation, even if it's just to listen to his opinion, it's good."

"Just looking for Huaiyuan at this time, how can you and I talk about it?"

"If the emperor can't say it, why can't we say it? At this moment, we are needed as courtiers to share the emperor's worries and sorrows. Why should we care about face?"

"Forget it, I'll get rid of my old face and walk with you."

"It is said that Liu Changfeng and Xiu Tonggui are also friends with Huaiyuan. Do you want to call them too?"

"Alright, let's call the two of them to go to Zhili together tomorrow."

"Then it's settled."

"It's a word."

The failure of the Battle of North Wendura has put the current situation in an awkward and delicate state.

The hard-line combatants headed by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs disappeared, but this did not make the current situation develop in a good direction.

The voices of the anti-war faction were weak, only Wang Ziteng and Jia Min; two people.

After Wang Ziteng was reprimanded by the emperor, he never spoke out.After Jia Min made a strong opposition, he was deprived of his fame, demoted from his post to a civilian, and disappeared from the imperial capital.

Therefore, whether it is the main combat faction or the anti-war faction, the current voices have disappeared.

However, the problems caused by the fiasco in North Wendura have not disappeared, but have become more and more serious.

The most serious problem is the problem of the Tatars going south.

The Tatars had already occupied the South Vendura Grassland. As long as they captured Bukui, they could go all the way south. On the way forward, there was an endless plain, and there were no natural dangers to guard against.

This kind of plain terrain is precisely the most suitable for making use of the specialties of grassland cavalry.

In the entire Northeast, there is no decent army at present.Goryeo, which had a heavy army before, lost its elite in the Battle of North Vendura.

If the Tatars wished, they could even go further south, all the way to the sea.At that time, even the vassal state Goryeo will be threatened.

Once the Tatars occupy Shengjing and point their swords towards the west, the goal is the imperial capital.

The problem is that, apart from the Northwest, there is currently no decent army in the entire North.

Of course, on the roster of the Ministry of War, the number of troops is still huge.

However, these are basically some guards and local group training.Although the number of posts is huge, the vacancies are huge, and there are not many people at all.

There are already some people who, due to years of slack armaments, lack of training, backward equipment, have little combat effectiveness.

What's more, these troops are basically infantry, and fighting against the well-equipped and powerful [-] Tatar cavalry can only be used as a target for others.

This kind of war is no longer a war, but a unilateral massacre game.

(End of this chapter)