Jiankang, Taicheng.
The end of the Mao hour and the beginning of the Chen hour.
At this time, it was the end of the court meeting. According to Xu Zongwen's suggestion, the Jin court implemented a monthly lunar day meeting. Because it was during wartime, the civil and military ministers of the third grade of Jiankang and above participated in discussions in the East Hall of Taiji Hall every three days.
"The order of the minister, the supervisor of the Zhongshu, and the minister Zuopushe are here to see you." Outside the Qingshu Palace, Hua Fuzi was shouting, and then he saw three people who had been waiting for a long time in the corridor and walked forward to enter the palace.
In the Qingshu Hall, a white coral bead curtain is hung around the imperial bed in the east side hall. Behind it is a brocade tassel tent with nasturtiums tied on it. There are garden bags in the ceramic stamens next to it, and several plants are inserted in them. Winter plum.
There is a graceful figure of a woman faintly inside. Everyone in the world knows that she is the Queen Mother Chen who was in charge of politics behind the curtain. This seemingly powerful and famous woman was only twenty-seven years old at this time.
"I will pay my respects to the Queen Mother!" As soon as Chen Fang sat down, Shangshu Ling Wang Xun, Zhongshu Supervisor Xie Xuan, Shangshu Zuopushe Wangobao immediately stepped forward side by side and bowed their hands in salute.
"Three nobles will be given a seat without any courtesy."
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
After everyone sat down, the serving maids and chamberlains exited the hall one after another. After a while, only Chen, Hua Fuzi and three ministers and five others were left.
"Your Majesty, the Cavalry Army was defeated in Hanzhong, and I wonder if you have ever heard of the loss of troops and generals?" Xie Xuan, the supervisor of the Central Secretary, saw that no one said anything for a long time, so he took the initiative to speak. When talking about the war, it was he who had just retired from the front line. Only veterans will do.
Chen nodded slowly: "I received the military report two days ago. I heard that this defeat even killed General Jianwei Zhang Gui, the general under Da Sima, which is really shocking!"
"Yes, Queen Mother, I didn't expect that one day the Cavalry Army would be defeated like this. It is really rare in the world. This shows that Qin General Mao Xing is indeed powerful, even more powerful than Mao Dang. He is a powerful enemy of our Great Jin Dynasty! Don’t underestimate it!”
The minister ordered Wang Xun to raise his hand and say: "The queen mother please order Huan Shiqian, the governor of Yuzhou, to send troops to assist the great Sima in defeating the enemy!"
"It would be great if Huan Yuzhou could help," Wang Guobao said in a different voice: "But Grand Sima has no intention of doing this. In my opinion, Grand Sima may personally lead the army to attack Hanzhong this time."
"Although Grand Sima did not order Yuzhou's troops and horses to rush to the rescue, the Sizhou governor's office, General Zhengxi, allocated 100,000 shi of military grain from Chen County to be transported to Shangyong..."
Although the Grand Sima has great power, it is indeed unreasonable to privately transfer military rations without notifying the court and not receiving official recruitment documents from the branches, which inevitably leaves some people with a lot to do.
A word that was heart-breaking. With the Northern Expedition of the Knights of the Cavalry, Xu Zongwen's reputation was growing day by day. In addition, he was the Assistant Minister, Grand Sima, and held many positions of power. There were many people in the government and the public who were dissatisfied and jealous of him.
But what made everyone in the hall look at him was that the person who said this was not someone else, but Wang Xun, who had just exchanged birthdays and horoscopes with the Linhe County Government a few days ago.
"The Grand Sima has the power to mobilize the army and horses of the country. The power is the highest among the eight princes. However, the Grand Sima does not use it easily, which shows that the Grand Sima is cautious." of.
"Even though Grand Sima has always been invincible and the Qiaoqi army is invincible, the Grand Sima shogunate did not reveal any information about the peace negotiation with Yan State in advance. Even the alliance letter was changed before it was sent to Jiankang."
After Wang Xun and Xie Xuan, the first colleague who had always supported Xu Zongwen without any opinions - the auxiliary minister and minister Zuopushe Wangobao actually began to attack Xu Zongwen for negotiating peace with Yan without authorization!
"The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and sometimes it is necessary to act in a hurry." Xie Xuan's tone was calm. His body was upright, but the green and black color between his eyes could no longer be concealed.
"Xie Zhongshu's statement is absolutely ridiculous!" Wang Guobao didn't know what medicine he took wrongly. Xie Xuan just said a few fair words truthfully, and he retorted on the spot: "There is no rule without rules, let alone such a military and national event? If all the governors of the local states and counties follow this example, won’t our country, the Jin Dynasty, be in chaos?”
"The imperial court has its own rules, and even those in high positions such as Grand Sima should follow them in everything."
"This Hanzhong defeat resulted in the loss of troops and generals. Although it was Zhang Gui's fault, now that he is dead, the two captains, Lu Min and Feng Zhiyuan, should also be handed over to the Secretary to explain their crimes and reward and punish them appropriately to appease the morale of the army. "
Wang Guobao paused for a moment and finally mentioned the name: "As for the Great Sima, although he has made mistakes that are not understood by others, but since he has a great responsibility, it is enough for the imperial court to issue an edict and reprimand him this time."
"Hmph!" After listening to Wang Guobao's remarks, Xie Xuanqi's beard became messy.
Wang Xun, who was on the side, had already been prepared. He looked at his nose and nose, and he was very quiet. His old face covered with withered lines was still and there was nothing strange about it. It seemed that Wang Guobao's words were not unexpected.
"Cough cough cough..."
"Does Xie Zhongshu have something to say?" Mrs. Chen asked when she saw that Xie Xuan's face was red due to coughing.
Xie Xuan calmed down and hurriedly explained: "I just have a gas problem, it's okay, cough cough... it's okay."
"Xie Zhongshu hasn't reached his destiny yet, right?"
"I spend my time in vain, forty-two times."
"This Qi disease is extremely cumbersome. Xie Zhongshu still needs to take care of himself."
"Thank you, Queen Mother! But I don't agree with what Zuo Pushe said just now." Xie Xuan squinted at Wang Guobao, who was sitting across from him, and snorted: "As the saying goes, if the soldiers and horses go ahead before the food and grass are used, the emperor's life will be in vain. More What’s more, the Northern Expedition and the Western Expedition that Grand Sima is now presiding over is a golden opportunity to regain our lost territory in the Jin Dynasty, wash away the loss of the two capitals, and honor the shame of the two emperors’ northern expedition!”
"How many years has it been? Have you forgotten the story of Yongjia? Now that Luoyang and Chang'an have been recovered, and the mountains and rivers are about to be unified, the imperial court will reprimand the leading generals because of a small defeat?"
"Isn't this move a disloyalty to the rebel army?"
Xie Xuan slowly stood up and walked to the middle: "Don't you see that the land of Huaibei has shed the blood of many soldiers of our Jin Dynasty."
"Don't you see that the water of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River has mixed with blood and tears how many children of our Jin Dynasty have been mixed? Are the innocent souls who were massacred by the barbarians not the spirits of the same clan?"
"North and south of the Yangtze River, the Central Plains, Jianghan, how many heroic men fell under the arrows of the barbarians during the Northern Expedition, and how many knowledgeable people were buried in the belly of the ship. Which seven-foot-long man from the Han family does not yearn for the Northern Expedition to regain the lost land in the Central Plains?"
Xie Xuan covered his chest, which was where his heart and lungs were, and where his illness was.
It was seven years ago that the Qin army launched the Battle of Xiangyang. Xie Xuan was ordered to lead Gao Heng, the prefect of Dongguan, and He Qian, the general of the rear army, to station in Sikou.
At that time, Longxiang General Dai Lu, who was stationed in Pengcheng, was besieged. Xie Xuan and He Qian went diving to investigate the enemy's situation. Unfortunately, they were discovered by Qin army sentries. The accompanying young general Tian Hong was captured and committed suicide. In order to avoid pursuit, Xie Xuan took drugs while absconding. There was so much river water that I fell asleep for three days and three nights, and suffered from lung disease ever since...
"Since our Jin Dynasty moved its capital to Jiangzuo and established the country Zuo, the Northern Expedition has never stopped. Our ancestors were Ti Yuliang before us, and Yin Hao and Huanwen after us. Now today Wei Huo is surrendered to our Jin Dynasty. The achievements of the Northern Expedition can only be achieved by Xu Xiao. become!"
"The heroic cavalry army is Xu Xiao, and Xu Xiao is the heroic cavalry army."
"The Queen Mother must not listen to Zuo Pushe's words and blame Xu Xiao for a temporary defeat!"
"Isn't Xie Zhongshu too biased?" Wang Guobao's face turned green and red for a while. He was already so angry at Xie Xuan's words.
"This -" Xie Xuan's words carried so much weight that Chen began to pause. She was a little hesitant about the Northern Expedition.
"The Queen Mother is not suspicious of people, but she is not suspicious of people she employs!" Xie Xuan reminded from the side.
"Xu Xiao led thousands of troops from the southeast into the Central Plains, a place where soldiers and horses were strong. He fought dozens of battles, large and small, with no small setbacks, and then entered Luoyang. The success of his conquests has not been as great as it has been since my dynasty." Xie Xuan's eyes became more solemn. , talking about the heroic cavalry army retaking Luoyang, the blood in his hands was brimming with blood, and the blood flowing in his body was like a river. He was so excited that he couldn't control himself!
Xie Xuan looked at Mr. Chen, his face full of sincerity, and he increased his tone: "If you want to quell the Central Plains, no one but Xu Xiao can do this!"
"Xu Xiao's general strategy was to defeat and capture Gai Po, Mu, Wei, and Huo Zhiya. Xu Xiao was alert and realized that he had served filial piety. Not only did he foresee his old kindness, but also he was cautious and solemn, and he would be able to carry out his ambition and revive the Jin Dynasty. !” Xie Xuan choked up as he kept repeating the word Northern Expedition.
"Cough cough... cough cough cough..."
Xie Xuan's intermittent coughing made Xie Xuan's voice start to become hoarse, "The Queen Mother, please think twice about issuing an imperial edict and reprimanding me!"
In the end, Xie Xuan fell to his knees!
"Why is Xie Zhongshu doing this?" Seeing this scene, Wang Xun could only stand up and prepare to make peace with him, "It's very cold on the ground, so let's get up and talk first!"
"Xie Zhongshu, Xie Zhongshu, Commander-in-Chief?" Wang Xun left the table in person and helped Xie Xuan get up, but even after calling several times, there was no response from Xie Xuan.
"Thank you Youdu, thank you Youdu!"
Wang Xun's hand touched Xie Xuan's shoulder, and the latter fell to one side!
"How's Xie Zhongshu doing?" Seeing Xie Xuan's eyes closed, his limbs weak, and his robes in disarray, Ms. Chen began to panic.
Wang Xun stepped forward tremblingly, stretched out his shaky old hand and got close to Xie Xuan's body. He breathed a little and then immediately retracted in fear.
"Mother, Queen Mother, I'm afraid Xie Zhongshu has already gone!"
"This!" Ms. Chen couldn't hold it any longer. She slumped on her seat and trembled out a few words: "Quickly pass it, quickly pass it to the palace doctor."
