son-in-law

Chapter 675

Chapter 675

The ladder was pushed up the wall, bows and arrows flew like locusts, the shouts shook the sky, and there was a faint thunder in the dark clouds in the sky.

More than a month ago, the scene that happened in Bianliang City reappeared at the head of Taiyuan City.

After several months of siege, the Jurchen soldiers recharging their batteries began to launch a general attack on Taiyuan City.

At this time, the grain reserves in Taiyuan City have begun to be stretched.At the end of the year, the soldiers in the city halved the food supply, and the residents halved even more. In the freezing season, there was not enough wood and coal for heating, and many elderly and infirm people died of freezing and starvation. , it was the early spring of Jinghan's 14th year. Although the food was saved a little, no one thought that at this time, the reinforcements were still delayed.

But Zongwang came back.

The news channels in the city were blocked, and no one knew about the news in the capital. Zong Wang said that the Wu Dynasty surrendered and Taiyuan was cut off, so everyone naturally didn't believe it.On the day Zongwang's army arrived, Li Pin and others who were in charge of the logistics restored the food supply for the city defenders. In the past two days, they had a few full meals. Afterwards, the tragic battle of defending the city began again. up.

After several months of siege, as the continuous winter passed, the will to defend the city of Taiyuan did not dry up.During this period of time, the spare no efforts of the members of Zhuji, Cheng Zhouhai and others played a role in the propaganda. All the soldiers knew that if Taiyuan was broken, what awaited them would be a brutal massacre of the city.

On the other hand, since Zong Wang had withdrawn his troops from the south, it also meant that the war in the south had come to an end, and soon, reinforcements from the imperial court would finally arrive.

On the sixth day of February, within the scope of Taiyuan City, spring rain fell, and the chill that penetrated into the bone marrow enveloped the place. The fighting on the top of the city continued. For people, there is also the warmth of hope in the heart.

This afternoon, as the rain intensified, they dispatched elite personal guards to choose places where the Jurchens' defenses were negligent and weak, and to break through for help.

At the same moment, the news that the Jurchens were attacking Taiyuan again was spreading to the south through different channels at the fastest speed.

The first to receive the news, apart from the surviving forces in various state capitals, was the Wu Sheng Army who had rushed northward under the leadership of Chen Yanshu.At this time, the snow in the south was gradually melting, and tens of thousands of cobbled-together troops hurried northward. Under the cold weather and inefficient organization, the speed of the army was less than half of the Jurchen's northward march, and it was only one third of the way to the north. on the way.

Chen Yanshu's mood almost collapsed when he received the news that the Jurchens had launched an attack on Taiyuan.

He led the army for several years. He was originally a civil servant, but later gained the title of being both civil and military.In terms of bloodliness, Yuan was not without it, but the record of Zongwang's army going all the way south had made him clearly realize the reality.

Originally, the Jurchens were strong, and everyone couldn't beat them. He was just one of these generals. However, Bianliang's tenacious resistance, coupled with Wu Ruiying's record in Xiacun, made them all vaguely become victims.As he led the troops to the north, his superiors wanted him to make up for his mistakes. Chen Yanshu also had hope in his heart. If the Jurchens left without attacking Taiyuan, he might be able to regain some of his reputation and face.

That night, he ordered the soldiers under his command to speed up the march. It is said that Chen Yanshu, who was riding on the horse, drew his sword several times, as if wanting to kill himself, but in the end he did not do so.

Wu Shengjun's reaction after receiving the news also turned into a letter asking for help, and he quickly came to the south.

"...The Jurchens are ferocious and powerful, and our troops will fight together with one heart and one mind... I hope the imperial court will send reinforcements quickly..."

The messengers belonging to various forces worked fast, and the news spread.From Taiyuan to Bianliang, the straight-line distance is nearly a thousand miles. In addition, due to the spread of the war, all the post stations were not fully operational, and only half of the snow had melted. On the night of the seventh day of February, the first round of news that the Jurchens seemed to have an intention to attack the city was spread. To Bianliang City.

On the eighth day of February, all kinds of news came to Bianliang like a mountain and a sea.

There is no chance of luck anymore, and the Jurchens storming Taiyuan has become a reality.

On the upper floor of the court hall, various dignitaries hurried into the palace, the atmosphere was so tense that it almost froze, while the folk atmosphere was still normal.Ning Yi waited for the feedback from the court in the bamboo notes. He naturally knew that once the news of Jurchen's attack on Taiyuan came, Qin Yuyuan would gather officials who could persuade him again and make another admonition.

Time is running out, the army must be dispatched.

Including Tang Ke, Wu Min and other peacemakers, they also stood on the side advocating sending troops in this time's remonstrance.In addition to them, a large number of senior officials in the court, or the original idle officials, all handed over the papers under the operation of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion.In this more than a month, Ning Yi didn't know how much silver he had sent out, and almost emptied the Youxiang Mansion, including Zhuji's family property, level by level, just to promote this dispatch of troops.

It is estimated that in the few days when the Jurchens arrive in Taiyuan, there will always be crowds of people inside and outside Zhuji. A famous shopkeeper and a lobbyist played by a deacon will go outside to campaign, sending money, treasures, and promising all kinds of things. The advantage is that there are also those who cooperate with Yao Zunian and others to give gifts to more noble places.

At the same time, all kinds of propaganda in the city have never stopped. At this time, it has reached the extreme of warmth. Once the court decides to send troops, the news about the Jurchens attacking Taiyuan will spread out in line with the pace of sending troops, inciting the fighting spirit.And if the court still hesitates, Ning Yi and others are already considering the possibility of countering the political will with the people's hearts - of course, this kind of taboo thing, until the last moment, he doesn't want to mess around.

It was afternoon in a blink of an eye, Ning Yi stood at the window on the second floor and looked into the yard, holding a cup of tea in his hand.His tea is just to quench his thirst, and he uses a large cup. After standing for a long time, the tea is getting colder. Juan'er came to change a cup for him, and Ning Yi waved his hand.

"Is my uncle worried about Taiyuan?" Juan'er asked in a low voice from the side.

"A little bit." Ning Yi finished speaking, but shook his head slightly, "but mainly not."

"Ok?"

"Things in Taiyuan are clear, they are already fighting, and it's useless to worry." Ning Yi glanced slightly to the north, "The situation in Beijing is the problem, it seems clear, but I always feel that something."

"I've heard from several gentlemen that even if they really failed to send troops to Taiyuan, the prime minister's resignation was rejected several times by His Majesty, which shows that his family is in good health. Even if the worst happens, as long as the soldiers of Xia Village can be trained as usual , there may not be no hope of resurgence. And... this time, most of the princes in the court are inclined to send troops, and the possibility of His Majesty's acceptance is still very high." After Juan'er said this, she pursed her lips again, "Well, they said of."

Ning Yi glanced at her, laughed, and after a while, nodded his head: "There may be something behind it, it's just my imagination, and I didn't even see it clearly. Rationally speaking, we follow the steps and do what we should do It has been done, and the feedback is not bad... Wait for the news, the outside of the city is also ready, if it goes well, the troops will be dispatched in two or three days. Of course, before dispatching troops, His Majesty may have a review."

He paused: "The Taiyuan matter is the end of this battle. After the past, it will be a bigger cause. At that time, the Xiangfu and Zhuji will probably be different in scale and nature. By the way, Juan Son, tell me frankly, have you found someone you like in Xiacun this time?"

After he said that, the topic changed abruptly. Juan'er was stunned, her face turned red for a while, and then turned white again. After faltering for a moment, Ning Yi laughed: "Come here, look downstairs."

He pointed to the courtyard downstairs, where there were figures passing by from time to time, and the voices of people seemed noisy and lively in the spring afternoon.

"The people in Xia Village, or they, if there are no accidents, will most likely become important players in the future. Because the next few years or more than ten years may be spent in war. If this country can live up to expectations, they will They can ride the wind, and if they can't live up to their expectations in the end, they...maybe they can also live a life full of praise and tears."

"Fight, fight?" Juan'er stared.

"Well." Ning Yi looked at it for a while, turned around and walked back to the desk, put down the teacup, "Jurchen's southward journey is just the beginning, not the end. If the ears are sharp enough, you can already hear the impassioned melody. "

He smiled and looked at Juan'er who was a little confused: "Of course, just to say, Juan'er, you don't need to listen to this, but it may not be easy for a person to live a good life at this time. the person I like……"

The room fell silent, and he finally stopped talking.

After Juan'er left the room, Ning Yi sat back at the desk, looked at some forms on the wall, collected information at hand, and continued to calculate the next thing.Occasionally someone came up to pass on information, but it was also a bit insignificant. The decision in the court was still undecided, and they might still be arguing.Until about Shen Shi, there was a little confusion below. Someone rushed in, knocked down the staff below, and then ran up.Ning Yi heard these voices clearly in the room, and when the man ran to the door to knock, Ning Yi had already reached out and opened the door.

It was a steward in charge of news in the palace.

"what happened?"

"Accept, received a message..."

Ning Yi frowned, and the manager took a step closer and whispered a few words in his ear.Ning Yi's face changed slightly.

"Really? Didn't say anything over there?"

The other party shook his head: "I have returned everything..."

"Has the news reached the prime minister's mansion?"

"It has been passed on, but Xiangye is still discussing matters in the palace. The Xiangfu should also pass the news to the palace."

"...I knew there was a problem, but I didn't guess it was at this level."

Ning Yi murmured and said something, but the manager didn't hear clearly: "...what?"

"It's nothing, continue to find people to visit, send it to him to pick it up, find out what else is related to him around, ask them to be lobbyists... No, don't invite people casually, lest the matter expand and startle the snake... Find a reliable one people……"

He made a few hasty responses, and the manager nodded in agreement, and left in a hurry.

Ning Yi stood in the room for a moment.

Before Tong Guan met him, he felt a little uneasy, but the fact that Qin Yuyuan's resignation was rejected made him suppress the uneasiness in his heart, and at this moment, the uneasiness finally emerged.

He had predicted what kind of melody would be in the future, but he never thought that it would become the current development.

In any case, it made him feel a little ridiculous.

……

In the palace, the discussion came to an end temporarily, and the ministers took a rest in the side hall on the side of the Chuigong hall. During this period, everyone was still noisy and debating endlessly.

Qin Yuyuan stood on the side talking to people, and then an official hurried over and whispered something in his ear.

The old man froze slightly, stood there, and blinked his eyes.

It took a long time before he digested the situation, calmed down, and returned his attention to the agenda in front of him.

……

In the evening, Ning Yi's carriage entered the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, stepped over the gate of the side courtyard, and went straight in. When he arrived at the study, he saw Yao Zunian and Jueming.

"How did things turn out like this?"

"It can be big or small..."

"After hearing about this, the monk came back immediately..."

"Someone has been sent in to inform the Prime Minister."

"At such a critical time..." Ning Yi frowned, "It's not a good sign."

Soon after, Qin Yuyuan also came back.

The decision to send troops remains undecided.

During this month, the Prime Minister's Mansion has used all its wealth and power to try to push for the dispatch of troops.Ning Yi has always been in charge of the property of the Xiangfu, and he has intervened in various matters such as gift giving.When it comes to giving gifts and bribes, one has a lot of knowledge, so naturally some people will accept them, and some people will refuse them, but what happened today has a different meaning.

In the palace, the great eunuch Du Chengxi refused and returned the gift from the Youxiangfu.

For hundreds of years in the Wu Dynasty, civil officials have always ruled the world, and eunuchs have little power. After Zhou Zhe succeeded to the throne, he even adopted a strategy of suppressing eunuchs' power. A few small words, or a piece of information, are of great value.

This great eunuch, Du Chengxi, was always cautious. Although he didn't dare to talk nonsense in front of Zhou Zhe, he came to him relatively, and he could be regarded as having a deep understanding of righteousness and leaning towards Li Gang and Qin Yuyuan.On weekdays, he is cautious in accepting some benefits.It is also because of this that in the current situation, he suddenly returned the gift. The meaning and warning in it are quite intriguing.

Before this, everyone thought about the military's problem, Cai Jing's problem, Tong Guan's problem, and all kinds of resistance, but they never thought that the situation would suddenly rise from Du Chengxi's side to the need to return things Degree.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems like a huge, dark metaphor is gradually emerging from everyone's minds.

……

In the palace, Zhou Zhe overturned a pile of notes on the table.

"Wolf ambition!" He yelled, "I knew the Jurchens wouldn't believe me, I knew...they were going to attack Taiyuan!"

The pile of papers pushed down on the table were almost all petitions for sending troops. He stood there, looking at the words on the papers scattered on the ground.

"Wolf ambition, Jurchen..." After a long time, he repeated with red eyes.

When Zhou Zhe walked back to the desk, Du Chengxi motioned to the little eunuch to pick up all the memorials.Zhou Zhe didn't bother, he sat on the chair and leaned against it for a while before opening his mouth in a low voice.

"I was lucky..." he said, "Du Chengxi, you see, I was lucky and suffered a lot..."

Du Chengxi hesitated for a moment: "Then... Your Majesty... why don't you send troops?"

Zhou Zhe stared at him for a while, "You eunuch, what do you know?"

After a short pause, Zhou Zhe raised his head and said in a low voice: "I don't want to lose Taiyuan, let alone lose all my belongings in Taiyuan. And...Guo Yaoshi's lesson from the past. Du Chengxi, the lesson from the past...the fall of the back ...Du Chengxi, you know the lessons learned from the past, right?"

He murmured these words, Du Chengxi lowered his head: "Slaves, servants should not talk about political affairs with His Majesty..."

"Let's talk, talk, we've been talking for a whole day!" Zhou Zhe stood up, his eyes suddenly became fierce, and he pointed at Du Chengxi, "Look at Guo Yaoshi! How kind I have been to him! Raise soldiers for him, and even crown him king! As for him, he turned around and joined the Jurchen! Xia Cun, not to mention that they only have more than 1 people, the most powerful of them is said to be from the north. Here come the rebels! Du Chengxi, I haven't held this army in my hands, I haven't conquered its heart, and I want to let him out, tell me, should I let it go?"

He spread out his hands: "I have a vast land and rich resources, but I have no soldiers to fight. After finally getting some people to fight, I let them go out. There are so many variables. I want to use them as seeds. After losing Taiyuan, I still have This country has lost its seeds, and I am afraid. In a few days, I will go to review the army, and I will accept their hearts and stay in the capital. What do they want, I will give. I buy bones with thousands of dollars, and I can no longer buy Guo Guo The pharmacist is the same."

"What's more, Taiyuan may not be lost yet." He closed his eyes and muttered to himself, "Jurchen is exhausted, Taiyuan has persisted for several months, who said that it can't persist anymore. I have sent Chen Yanshu north to rescue, and An order has been issued, and he is marching quickly. Chen Yanshu has done his crimes and meritorious deeds. He has always known the advantages and disadvantages. If he loses again this time, I will not let him go. I will kill his whole family. He dare not stop fighting..."

He was nagging, and Du Chengxi listened respectfully. He led Zhou Zhe out the door, and he hurriedly followed.

……

That night, Ning Yi returned to Zhuji, summoned a few stewards, and ordered a few things.Most of them were private arrangements to give gifts in series and get through the joint arrangement. Later, he also issued an order to make Zhuji's propaganda side stop making big moves, and there was no need to consider excessive publicity about Taiyuan.

He sat in the yard and thought about everything carefully, all the ins and outs.In the early hours of the morning, Yue Fei came out of the room and heard a bang in the yard. Ning Yi stood there and waved a tree trunk. It seemed that he was practicing martial arts before.

Yue Fei is a direct disciple of Zhou Tong, so he can naturally see some complicated meanings of this.He came over hesitantly: "Young Master Ning...do you have something on your mind?"

Ning Yi glanced at him: "The things in Taiyuan must still be at war right now."

"Could it be that something happened to the dispatch of troops?" Yue Fei asked tentatively, "Fei heard some rumors about tonight..."

"...It's hard to say." Ning Yi said, "Some things did happen, not like good things. But it's unclear to what extent."

"Young Master Ning... can't solve it?" He asked.

"Hahahaha." After hearing this sentence, Ning Yi was slightly taken aback, and then laughed, "You believe me."

Yue Fei clasped his hands together: "Before the battle in Xiacun, Fei didn't know your master's skills, but after the war, you have become someone Yue Fei admires. Just like what you said in Xiacun, there are some things that cannot be justified and cannot find a way out. If you can't get through, you can't. If Taiyuan falls, the Central Plains will be destroyed, and the Jurchens will come again and drive forward. In this danger, you must not be discouraged. If there is something that needs Yue Fei to do, Fei Bai will not hesitate to die!"

What he said was impassioned and loud, Ning Yi looked at him for a moment, and smiled slightly: "You are right, I will try my best to do what I should do..."

After saying this, he walked over, reached out and patted him on the shoulder, then walked past him and went upstairs.

The next day, although Zhuji didn't deliberately strengthen the publicity, some things happened.The news of the Jurchens attacking Taiyuan spread, and Tai student Chen Dong led a group of people to the imperial city to petition, requesting to send troops.

At the same time, the discussion about whether to send troops or not did not impress Zhou Zhe either. He just quietly listened to the civil and military quarrels of the Manchu Dynasty, and then decided on something that he had intended before: three days later, he would inspect the troops outside the city. Meritorious troops in this war.

Qin Yuyuan begged to see Zhou Zhe in private, and asked to resign again, which was also rejected by Zhou Zhe in a pleasant manner.

He also showed a violent and angry side when dealing with the Jurchens, but only when facing Qin Yuyuan's resignation, the emperor kindly comforted the old man every time.

The battle in Taiyuan continued. Due to the delay in the transmission of information, no one knew whether the city in the north had been broken by the Jurchens when they received the news that Taiyuan City was still safe.

Compared with the quietness and waiting for the development of the situation in the previous month, at present, time also seems to have entered the quagmire, but a hint of malice has appeared, and the further we move forward, the more difficult it becomes.

Three days later, Zhou Zhe inspected Wu Ruiying outside the city...

(End of this chapter)