Wang Hua's originally smiling eyes suddenly froze, and then returned to normal.
"Sit down and talk!"
After taking his seat, Xuanwu gathered the intelligence sent back from Yancheng and reported it to Wang Hua.
"Yesterday, King Zhao's number one general, Zhang Shimei, suddenly sent troops southward. The purpose is unknown. It is expected that there will be tens of thousands of cavalry!"
"Tens of thousands of cavalry!" This is not a small number. Such a cavalry, if used properly, can make the tribe restless on the grassland.
Even in the realm of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it is enough to capture the county and disturb the place. Ordinary city defense troops and regiment training camps cannot be his opponents.
However, the news was not over yet. "Subsequently, King Zhao's general Zhu Shihong led the soldiers of King Zhao's palace to control the nine gates of Yan City. According to the intelligence sent by our informants in the army, all the soldiers and horses in Yan City have been controlled by King Zhao."
"Where are Yancheng Prefect Zhang Bing and Yancheng Captain Xie Gui?!"
One of these two people is the highest administrative officer in Yancheng, and the other is the highest military officer in Yancheng.
Both of them were former ministers of Emperor Taizong and were loyal to each other. After the cabinet's research and deliberation, they were sent to Yancheng.
"It has not been found yet. Ever since Zhu Shihong took control of all the gates in Yancheng, Yancheng has been under martial law in the name of hunting down the Taihang thieves! The Jinyiwei's power in Yancheng has been suppressed by the Jianghu people under King Zhao. "
"besides……"
Xuanwu wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Wang Hua.
"I have sent people to invite the bachelors from the cabinet center and the people from the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion. After that, we will meet for a meeting. Get ready!"
"yes!"
The decentralization and checks and balances of power will inevitably lead to a reduction in efficiency, which is inevitable.
But equally, the thinking and deliberation of many people will make the countermeasures more perfect and feasible.
Everything has a Yin and Yang side.
However, unless it is a talented and strategic king like Taizong of the former Tang Dynasty.
Otherwise, decentralization and checks and balances will definitely beat centralization and dictatorship.
About half an hour later, all the cabinet members were in place, but only two people came to the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion.
Of course, it's not that the Sixth Army Governor's Office doesn't pay attention to it, but that four of the five major governors of the Sixth Army's Governor's Office are remote leaders who only take money and do nothing.
Why are there only five governors in the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion? !
Because the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion was established corresponding to the Sixth Army of the Emperor.
Naturally, there is no problem with the five families of Yulin, Shenwu, Longwu, Shence, and Tiance. They are all big bosses in charge of military power.
But the Changlin Army only had 3,000 men and was reserved for the prince to familiarize himself with military affairs. Why should he be on an equal footing with the other five? !
The person who came from the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion was Wu Keming, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Forest Army.
He was originally just the governor of Liangzhou, stationed in Yongliang.
With the death of Emperor Xizongli, Emperor Linde ascended the throne, and Yang Qingyuan left the center, the court needed a general to control the troops of the divine capital.
This person must have sufficient qualifications, and his ability to lead troops must not be too weak. The most important thing is that he must be loyal to Emperor Linde.
Originally, Cao Xueyang was an excellent candidate, but she was sent to rebuild the Longwu Army, and Cao Xueyang bore too much of the imprint of the Yang Qingyuan faction, so she might not be recognized by the veterans.
Later, Xiaojiu recommended Wu Keming.
He is not only a general stationed in Yongliang, but also the uncle of Emperor Xiaojiu and Linde.
Wu Keming is also a legendary figure. Xiaojiu and Shisan's mother's status in the palace is not very high, and there is no family power behind her, but it can make Taizong feel at ease.
Before Wu Keming was valued by Emperor Taizong, he was just a cavalryman in the Royal Forest Army.
After Concubine Wu was favored by Emperor Taizong, Wu Keming was also promoted to the commander of the Royal Forest Army.
However, this man had great ambitions and was extremely talented in military affairs. He did not become a royal relative in the capital because his sister was favored. Instead, when the Qiang people were in rebellion, he took the initiative to ask for orders and led troops to pacify the Qiang people.
Therefore, Wu Keming sent troops to Liangzhou as a deputy general to quell the Qiang rebellion.
However, in the early stage, the battle did not go smoothly. The general despised Wu Keming because Wu Keming relied on nepotism and rushed forward greedily. Not only did he die in an ambush, but he also lost more than half of his 50,000 troops.
And Wu Keming's glorious moment also started from this time.
At the time of the great defeat, the general died, and when morale was low, Wu Keming first set up an ambush and defeated the Qiang rebels to stabilize the morale of the army.
After boosting morale, Wu Keming deployed 20,000 soldiers and horses in a frontal formation on the plain and defeated the 50,000 Qiang cavalry.
He became famous in one battle, and being able to return from such a team battle is enough to prove his strength!
Then he chased him to the north, beheaded the rebellious Qiang king, and completely put down the Liangzhou rebellion.
With his record and meritorious service, he is completely comparable to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army.
It's just that success is the emperor's relative, and failure is the emperor's relative.
As the younger brother of the imperial concubine and the prince's uncle, it was impossible for him to control one of the five armies before Taizong made a decision on his successor.
What Wu Keming holds in his hands is Wei Changping's life script, but it's not as brilliant.
After Emperor Linde ascended the throne, Wu Keming was transferred to Shendu and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Five Army Governor's Mansion and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Forest Army.
The other person who came from the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion was Yang Nayan.
This man is a member of the first and third lineages of Yong'an. He is very talented. He was once responsible for horse administration on the border. He successively joined Taipu Temple and the Ministry of War. He is currently the governor of the Sixth Army.
He is the spokesperson of the interests chosen by the military in the court. He has no military power and has never led troops, but it is possible that behind him is the collective of the Zhou Dynasty military.
"Your Majesty is here!"
Following the familiar voice of Cao Zhengchun, the young emperor Zhu Zhanque stepped into the palace.
All the big guys in the palace stood up and saluted, "I have met Your Majesty!"
"My lords, please excuse me and please take a seat!"
Although he was not yet in his prime years, the Thirteen already had the majesty of an emperor.
"Wang Qing, you invited me here, but something big happened. Is it Southern Xinjiang?!!"
Thirteen knew that his master had gone to southern Xinjiang to destroy the evil sect and had summoned many masters. Although he knew that his master's martial arts skills were world-class, he still couldn't help but feel worried.
The evil sect that Yang Qingyuan can deal with personally is definitely not someone that can be taken lightly.
Wang Hua hurriedly summoned the top officials of the imperial court. Something big must have happened, and Emperor Linde was most concerned about southern Xinjiang.
"Your Majesty, it's not the southern border, but the northern border!"
Emperor Linde was stunned, "Is it Beigan or Prince Zhao's Mansion!?"
Although Emperor Linde rarely dealt with ordinary specific government affairs, he could see the general trend of the world very clearly.
With Tiance's army here, they generally can't make any big waves. The only two families that can attract such attention from the imperial court are Beigan and Prince Zhao's Mansion.
Although Beigan was defeated by Yang Qingyuan and had Prince Liang's Mansion as a barrier, it was still the largest empire in the northern grasslands.
It has a vast territory, controls millions of strings, strong soldiers and horses, and is savage and warlike.
Any changes that occur are within the understandable range.
As for Prince Zhao's Mansion, that is even more understandable.
Sima Zhao's heart is known to everyone on the road.
"Your Majesty, it's King Zhao who has made some changes."
Emperor Linde had no expression on his face, but he smiled bitterly in his heart.
"This imperial uncle of mine is really planning everything!"
During the Taizong period, Uncle Zhao seemed to be very restless, but Taizong had been in power for many years. At that time, due to the power of Emperor Taizong Wen, King Zhao did not dare to take any action even though he had a disobedient heart.
During the Xizong period, King Zhao began to blatantly expand his power!
When Emperor Linde succeeded to the throne, King Zhao thought about rebellion. However, the situation in the divine capital was complicated at that time. Once an external threat arose, Yang Qingyuan, who was originally forced to leave the capital, would use this as an excuse to stand in the divine capital. Keep your footing.
Moreover, King Zhao did not have the confidence to deal with Yang Qingyuan in a field battle.
That's why King Zhao missed this good opportunity. There were times when King Zhao regretted it afterwards, but it was already the optimal solution based on the situation at the time.
"Having endured it for so many years, Uncle Zhao Wang can finally bear it no longer!? What's the news from Yancheng?!"
Wang Hua looked at Xuanwu. If he hadn't been the commander of Fusi in Beizhen and led the intelligence in the north, he wouldn't be qualified to stand here.
"Your Majesty, Xuanwu! I've met all of you!"
"No gift!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After getting up, Xuanwu reported the information he had received.
Qian Muqian's eyes were lowered. He was now semi-retired. However, Emperor Linde and Wang Hua did not have enough prestige, so they still needed his white jade pillar to suppress the government.
"Captain Wu, what do you think King Zhao wants?!"
When the question came up, we first came to Wu Keming. He was the most knowledgeable person here, so naturally we wanted to refer to his opinion.
"Your Majesty, I would like to request a map of the mountains and rivers of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"allow!"
Due to Eunuch Cao's hard work, a sand table map was pushed to the center of the hall.
"Everyone, please see, this is Yancheng. Zhang Shimei, the general of Prince Zhao's palace, is leading the cavalry southward. There are three possibilities for his purpose!"
Emperor Linde looked at the map and immediately said, "Gaoyang County, Wu'an County and Pingshan County!"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Wu Keming knew that his nephew was knowledgeable about military affairs, but he did not expect that he would be so proficient in it.
"Gaoyang County is the southern gateway to Yan City. As long as Gaoyang is guarded, the south side of Yan City can be protected. If there is a separate regime, Gaoyang is the most stable. Wu'an County is a dangerous resort with mountains and rivers, and it is a battleground for Jizhou's military strategists. , if you want to go south, Wu'an County is the best choice."
Emperor Linde paused, "Then Wu Qing thinks which of the three places is most likely to be Zhang Shimei's purpose."
The wooden stick in Wu Keming's hand pointed to a familiar place name, "Pingshan County!"
Thirteen was very familiar with this place, because his master was sent to serve as an official for the first time in Pingshan County, and Thirteen was deeply impressed.
"Why is this?!" Emperor Linde asked. In his opinion, this place should not be the most likely.
Wu Keming explained to everyone, "Currently, we don't know whether Prince Zhao's Mansion will still raise troops to rebel or separatist forces. But occupying Pingshan County will allow Prince Zhao's Mansion to take the initiative no matter which way it takes. Pingshan County is It is an important place in Jizhou and is close to Jinyang, the state of Bingzhou. You can attack when you advance, and you can defend when you retreat."
Yang Nayan on the side added, "Another point is that this place has never been within the scope of King Zhao's influence. Because of Yang Hou's relationship, Pingshan County has a high degree of support for the imperial court. After the snow disaster in Yong'an in the 19th year, Pingshan County formed The large-scale cotton clothing production industry chain and its wealth are undoubtedly the first in Jizhou."
This was the policy set by Yang Qingyuan that year and continued by the next Pingshan County Governor, Zhao Jianfeng.
Three years later, Pingshan County's tax revenue has become the top three in Jizhou. Five years later, Pingshan County has abundant resources and people, and it has become the first county in Jizhou. Zhao Jianfeng was also promoted to the governor of Quanzhou and the governor of Minzhou one after another due to his meritorious service.
Yang Nayan once raised horses in Bingzhou and Jizhou, and was very familiar with that generation. Taking Pingshan County not only gained a strategic location, but also made a huge supplement to the economy of Prince Zhao's Mansion.
"Your Majesty, Governor Cao's Longwu Army is currently stationed in Jinyang. To the east of Jinyang is Yangquan, and to the east of Yangquan is Pingshan County. Zhang Shimei is here. He can attack Longwu Army when he advances, and monitor Longwu Army when he retreats. The movement of the military forces is indeed a masterstroke.”
Li Chengguang, Minister of the Ministry of War and Grand Scholar of Wuyingdian, also spoke in agreement.
Seeing that many people agreed, Emperor Linde also nodded. Although he was taught by his mentor, he was just talking on paper. There was definitely a gap between him and these famous generals and capable ministers.
Thirteen should keep in mind that no layman should guide an expert. As the superior, he only needs to raise problems and let his subordinates solve them.
While everyone was discussing, Cao Zhengchun suddenly reported, "Your Majesty, Mr. Di Zhiyuan, the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment, has asked to see your Majesty, claiming that he has a hundred thousand urgent matters!"
Cao Zhengchun's words caused everyone present to fall into temporary silence.
Di Zhiyuan is the person in charge of the Criminal Department and has a high level of authority, but he has not yet reached the level to participate in this high-level central meeting.
And even if he becomes the Minister of Justice, as long as he does not join the cabinet, the matter discussed today will have nothing to do with his authority!
"Have you ever told him that I and the ministers are discussing something?"
"My servant said it, but when Master Di heard it, not only did he have no intention of retreating, but he even more strongly demanded to meet the Holy Spirit."
"..."
Thirteen may have a good impression of Di Zhiyuan, not only because he is under the master's command, but also because Di Zhiyuan is an upright, selfless and adaptable person. He is proficient in criminal law and solves cases like a god.
Just when he was in trouble, Qian Muqian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesty, I believe that Mr. Di is a loyal and upright person who is devoted to the public good. He is witty and talented, and he is not a person who doesn't know how to advance and retreat. Even though he knows about His Majesty's affairs, he must still have something important to do to see Your Majesty!"
Although Qian Muqian is no longer in charge, no one can deny his status as the elder of the four dynasties and the chief assistant of Linde.
One word determines everything.
With his support, Di Zhiyuan was led to the palace by Cao Zhengchun.
"Your Majesty, Di Zhiyuan, is here to see you. There is indeed a reason for my arrogant behavior today. Please forgive me!" Although I have a good relationship with the emperor, public affairs are public and private affairs are private. The first thing Di Zhiyuan did when they met was to apologize.
"It's okay!" Emperor Linde motioned for him to get down, and then said, "Di Qing is so urgent, but what's the big deal!?"
When Di Zhiyuan entered the hall and looked around at everyone, he had already guessed the content of the discussion.
The military has the Sixth Army Commander's Office, and all the cabinet ministers are here, what else can be discussed? !
"Your Majesty, six doors below the Ministry of Punishment have received a secret report. Prince Zhao's Mansion paid 300,000 taels of gold to purchase the whereabouts of Marquis Yang from the Tianji Tower, a powerful force in the world of Jianghu. He is extremely cruel!"
One word shocked everyone!
…
