Jiuxi

Chapter 293 Chapter 291 [will be outside]

Jiangnan, Yongjia City.

In the main office of the Weaving Department, in the heavily guarded courtyard where confidential information from all over the Qi Dynasty is collected, Yang Jingxuan, who is a bit thinner than an ordinary man, looks at the table. It is the latest battle report from Jiangbei, written by the Weaving Department. It was written by Su Yunqing, the inspector of Huaizhou Prefecture.

Under normal circumstances, whether it was Su Yunqing or other foreign officials, their secret reports would be reviewed and filed by the chief in charge of this courtyard, and then Qin Zheng would decide whether to submit them to the emperor.

Only in urgent moments will reports from foreign officials be sent directly to the palace.

Yang Jingxuan is now fully responsible for the intelligence collection of the Huaizhou Division and directly interfaces with Su Yunqing. Therefore, he is very familiar with the progress of the war in the north of Huaizhou. Although he has basically never left this yamen, he has watched Xiao Wangzhi almost the entire process. Lu Chen attacked the city all the way.

Looking at the handwriting on this secret report, Yang Jingxuan frowned slightly.

After pondering for a moment, he put the secret report into a bag, then stood up and put it into a pile of files that were about to be burned.

As soon as he finished all this, the respectful voices of the maids could be heard outside: "I've seen you, sir."

Yang Jingxuan turned around and saw Qin Zheng walking around the screen.

He quickly stepped forward to salute and said calmly: "Uncle."

Qin Zheng nodded slightly, looked around the room, his eyes fell on the neat and large case, and said calmly: "Did Su Yunqing have a secret report sent?"

Yang Jingxuan was startled, shook his head and said, "My nephew has never received it."

Qin Zheng said nothing, just looked into his eyes quietly.

Now that the frontier army was winning consecutive battles in the north, the emperor was naturally very concerned about the border wars and would ask Qin Zheng almost every day if he had the latest battle report.

Early this morning, Qin Zheng received a report from his confidants. An urgent report from the Huaizhou Division had been sent to the general office, so he made a special trip to the palace, thinking of taking the battle report with him to the palace.

only……

The uncle and nephew looked at each other for a moment, and Yang Jingxuan lowered his head and said: "Uncle, that battle report cannot be sent to the palace, let alone the adults in the court know about it."

Qin Zheng asked calmly: "Why?"

Yang Jingxuan knew very well that his uncle's mind was extremely sharp, so he could only turn around and take out the hidden battle report, then handed it to Qin Zheng's hands, and said at the same time: "The Northern Expedition has reached its most critical moment. If the people above were to know about Lu Chen's risky strategy, they would definitely object strongly, and maybe His Majesty would also change his mind."

Qin Zheng took a quick glance and understood the reason for Yang Jingxuan's worry.

He closed the battle report, looked at his nephew's slightly stubborn expression, shook his head and sighed: "Jingxuan, I don't quite understand why you are so biased towards Lu Chen. If I remember correctly, you have never met before."

Yang Jingxuan never thought about this problem.

The first time he saw the name Lu Chen was in the archived records sent by Su Yunqing the year before last, which recorded Lu Chen's family background and life history, as well as the cadre position that Su Yunqing secured for him.

From then on, Lu Chen rose up in the army and made meritorious deeds for Da Qi again and again.

After a long time, Yang Jingxuan looked up at his uncle with a sharp look: "Actually, my nephew doesn't quite understand. My uncle clearly supports the Northern Expedition firmly, so why won't he spare no effort to support Governor Xiao and Captain Lu?"

"support?"

Qin Zheng shook his head and smiled, and said slowly: "Xiao Wangzhi is now the first-grade governor of Huaizhou and the first-grade Duke of the county. He holds more than 100,000 soldiers and horses of the nine armies of Huaizhou. Lu Chen is a weak man at the age of 10, and has the rank, honor, and They have everything they need, but two years ago he was just the son of a white merchant. Admittedly, these are the rewards given to them by His Majesty, and they have nothing to do with me. But as you have compiled the intelligence of the North in the past two years, you should know that the Warp Weaving Department gave them How much of a boost they were.”

Yang Jingxuan couldn't help but look slightly ashamed.

Qin Zheng's words were not exaggerated in the slightest. The Northern Expedition was progressing so smoothly. Outsiders didn't know how much manpower and effort the Warp Weaving Department had put in. But Yang Jingxuan knew it very well. He also knew that in order to ensure that Su Yunqing had enough manpower, Qin Zheng went north. Send a large number of elites.

Among the four major inspectors of the Weaving Department, Su Yunqing now has far more talents than the other three, and is truly the number one in power.

Qin Zheng continued: "I feel that it is very difficult for the border soldiers and the imperial court cannot hold them back, but have you ever thought about the question, is the decision of Xiao Wangzhi and Lu Chen definitely correct?"

Yang Jingxuan whispered: "But the border army has never been defeated in the past two years."

"That's all." Qin Zheng sighed softly, and then said: "Let's not argue about who is right and who is wrong, but your actions today have violated the Weaving Department's taboo. Don't let it happen again."

Yang Jingxuan lowered his head and said, "Yes, uncle."

Qin Zheng looked at his posture at this moment, and couldn't help but think of his miserable sister, and said in a slightly slower tone: "Do you think that if you hide or destroy this battle report, the palace will not know about the situation in the north? Prime Minister Zuo and others will change. Are you blind? Jingxuan, although the Sutra Weaving Department has the most convenient and smoothest information channels, we are not the only ones, do you understand?"

Yang Jingxuan's heart trembled, and she immediately understood the true meaning of his words, and replied honestly: "Uncle, my nephew is aware of his mistake."

Qin Zheng nodded slightly and said no more.

On the way to the palace, he sat in the carriage with his eyes closed and the contents of the battle report emerged in his mind.

This Lu Chen was so bold. Xiao Wangzhi actually agreed to his idea. Didn't they consider what kind of turmoil this would cause in Beijing?

When he came to the East Nuan Pavilion of Wende Palace and paid homage to the Emperor, he immediately felt the left prime minister Li Daoyan glance at him.

Qin Zheng naturally understood the meaning of this look.

After reviewing the case, Li Duan asked with a smile: "Qin Tiju, is there any progress in the battle in the north?"

The aftermath of the Leize victory gradually dissipated, and everyone in the government and the public was looking forward to the Huaizhou Army successfully regaining Dongyang Road and completing the feat of regaining a large part of their homeland for the first time in fourteen years.

Because of the outstanding performance of the frontier troops, Li Duan's reputation soared and all government orders were passed smoothly. This was a rare situation in the past, so he was in a particularly happy mood. Even the haze of rumors about Lu Chen's life experience could be temporarily forgotten.

Qin Zheng lowered his head and eyebrows, coughed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, Su Yunqing, the Huaizhou inspector of the Warp Weaving Department, is here to report today. After the great victory of Lei Ze, the main force of Huaizhou Governor Xiao Wangzhi continued to advance northward, gradually sweeping away The strongholds outside Ruyin City, the capital of Dongyang Road in the Qing Dynasty, are currently besieging Ruyin. At the same time, Xiao Wangzhi appointed Lu Chen, the captain of Ruishiying, as the chief general of the West Route Army, leading the Ruishiying, Lai'an Army, Feiyun Army, Panlong's army continues to advance westward, even conquering Qingliuguan and Raoyang City, and is approaching the old capital."

There was silence in the hall, and you could hear a pin drop.

When Qin Zheng was talking about the first half, Li Duan and several important ministers nodded frequently. However, when he finished talking about Lu Chen's movements, everyone's expressions changed slightly.

"Your Majesty, Lu Chen has been dazzled by the previous victory. He underestimates the enemy and rushes forward. The arrogant army will be defeated!"

Wang Yan, the general in charge of the Sixth Army in Beiya, immediately came out to report the report, his tone was sonorous and powerful.

Nanya General Liu Shouguang, who once stood up to support the Northern Expedition, looked solemn and said slowly: "I second the proposal."

Privy Envoy Guo Congyi sighed lightly: "How could Xiao Wangzhi agree to such a risky decision? As long as they advance steadily and step by step, the road to regaining Dongyang is within easy reach, so why do they need to take risks and open up a battlefield on the Western Front?"

Several Wu Xuns who held military power immediately expressed their dissatisfaction with Lu Chen and Xiao Wangzhi, and they did not even need the civil servants to quote scriptures. This time, the Right Prime Minister Xue Nanting did not support the border troops, mainly because Lu Chen's idea was really unexpected.

Li Duan listened to everyone's opinions and did not directly give his own opinion.

The four words "Return to the Old Capital" have been shouted by the court for many years, and everyone knows it. However, in the court, especially in the minds of these important ministers, it is actually a very sensitive and embarrassing topic.

Of course, the current problem is not the trouble of moving the capital, but that these military officials do not believe that Lu Chen can conquer Heluo.

In the disturbing silence, Li Duan looked at Privy Councilor Guo Congyi and asked expressionlessly: "Privacy Councilor Guo is not optimistic about this battle of the border army?"

Guo Congyi said sternly: "Your Majesty, I absolutely do not doubt the abilities of Xiao and Lu, but I believe that everything must be based on the actual situation. With the current strength of the Huaizhou Army, it is a little reluctant to take the Dongyang Road, let alone We need to consider how to deal with Jing Chao's counterattack. At this time, Lu Chen is taking part of his troops to risk attacking Heluo. Even if Lu Chen's military leadership skills are unparalleled in the world, he can capture Heluo with only tens of thousands of troops. How can he hold on?"

Li Duan said: "I can mobilize the troops from Nanya to go north."

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, this is too late."

Guo Congyi looked solemn and said sincerely: "First of all, Yongjia is more than two thousand miles away from Heluo. It will take at least two or three months for Nanya's troops to rush over. This period of time is enough for Puppet Yan and Jingguo to react and use Retake Heluo with absolutely superior force. Secondly, I support Xiao Wangzhi in regaining Dongyang Road because this place is connected to Huaizhou and he can calmly formulate defensive measures. Heluo is different. At least our government is not yet capable of taking Heluo. , Gyeonggi Land, Dongyang Road and Huaizhou are connected together."

Li Duan's eyes couldn't help but become obscure.

Guo Congyi continued: "Finally, these inferences are based on Lu Chen's ability to regain Heluo. I am not optimistic that he can accomplish this, because there are tens of thousands of Jing's troops in Heluo City, which is more than enough to defend the city. . If Lu Chen’s West Route Army is held back, our army will have no time to rescue him in a short period of time. Once he is surrounded by the enemy or even defeated, this will shake the situation on the border and may even lead to total defeat, and the previous The victory is given away!"

Li Duan was silent for a long time and said slowly: "What do you want me to do, Privy Council?"

Guo Congyi took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "I have the courage to ask your Majesty to send an order to Lu Chen, ordering him to immediately lead his army back to Dongyang Road and assist Xiao Wangzhi in regaining the whole territory. At most, he only needs to hold Qingliu Pass!"

(End of this chapter)