"I obey the order. I already have a candidate in my mind. I will ask Your Majesty to issue an order tomorrow to send them to three places as envoys."
Mr. Fang, the right prime minister, cupped his hands and then said,
"Your Majesty, since this matter has been discussed and decided, let's continue discussing the war at hand.
Nie Chen roared in with an army of 400,000 people. Ren's military headquarters only had 200,000 people, no match for Nie Chen. Our army had to retreat to Wang'an County, the northern county of Gyeonggi County, and defend the city to resist Nie Chen's army.
Then, Wang'an County and the capital formed a horns, taking care of each other. If Nie Chen dared to abandon Wang'an County and go straight to the capital, then our army could attack from both sides and beat him to pieces. "
However, when Mingxuan heard this, he immediately shook his head like a rattle and said,
"No! Absolutely not! Our army must not retreat. If our army retreats, the soldiers and people will think that we are afraid of Nie Chen. They will think that we are incompetent and have low morale. We must not retreat.
We must defend Nanhe County and block Nie Chen in Hanzhong County so that he cannot join forces with King Ping Xiwang. Otherwise, once Nie Chen enters Gyeonggi County and joins forces with King Ping Xiwang, he will definitely surround us.
What we have to do now is delay and delay until the other two kings raise their troops to contain the enemy's main force.
Absolutely no retreat is allowed. "
"But, Your Majesty, Nanhe County is not in our hands now. How can we defend Nanhe County? Is it possible for our army to station on the plains and fight in the field with Nie Chen?"
Nie Chen had a large number of people and various heavy weapons. He was stationed in the plains and fought in the field. His end...how could his end be better than that of the second prince? "
Originally, Mr. Fang didn't want to mention this sad thing, but seeing how persistent Mingxuan was, he had to risk his life to persuade him to remind him.
Sure enough, Mingxuan was furious and said,
"Don't mention Wu'er. Wu'er has already died miserably. Do you still want to pull him out and whip his corpse?
Ren Jun must not retreat, and our army must not bow to the enemy. He orders Ren Jun to continue attacking the city tomorrow and must capture Nanhe County. If he hadn't been so slow in walking, how could Nanhe County be lost!
Okay, let’s not discuss it anymore, it’s settled like this, send someone to inform Ren Jun now, no, send him a letter from Fei Ge, telling him to capture Nanhe County within one day! No mistakes! "
Seeing how tough Mingxuan was, Mr. Fang couldn't say anything more, so he could only bow his hands and leave with Zheng Sanlang.
Mingxuan and Mingwen stayed in the imperial study to draft the edict, while Mr. Fang and Zheng Sanlang walked outside the palace.
Zheng Sanlang whispered,
"Right Minister, it is not feasible for the emperor to do this. The death of the second prince has caused the emperor to fall into great sorrow and he is unable to make a correct judgment.
Our army has been reduced by a full 200,000 people. Nie Chen's army now has 400,000 people, and Ren's army only has 200,000 people. Although I am not familiar with military affairs, I also know that with 200,000 people versus 400,000 people, the odds of winning are not good. Let Ren Jun withdraw and defend the capital together. "
Zheng Sanlang said this not out of the idea of winning the war at all, but because he wanted to save his own life.
In his opinion, Nie Chen and Ji Kun must hate him to death because he defected to the enemy country and killed his old master. Whether it was for revenge or to appease the people's anger, they would definitely kill him after breaking the city.
Only an army of 400,000 people in the capital can protect his personal safety.
Mr. Fang sneered and said,
"Then why did Mr. Zuo Xiang say nothing in the imperial study just now? If you join me in admonishing His Majesty, maybe His Majesty will change his mind."
Zheng Sanlang said with a bitter face,
"Oh, my right minister, you are the emperor's favorite minister who has been with you for decades. I am a surrender minister and a foreign minister. I have no right to speak."
Mr. Fang snorted coldly,
"Huh, in your position and planning for politics, as the left prime minister, your duty is to assist the emperor in governing the world and resisting enemy forces. The right prime minister is in charge of political affairs, and the left prime minister is in charge of the military. As the left prime minister, you don't say anything about these military matters. Is it appropriate for me, a right minister, to say this?
I think you are just afraid of death and do not dare to risk your life to dissuade you. You allow the emperor to persist in your wrong views! "
Mr. Fang is very shameless towards this left prime minister who betrays his country and seeks glory, even though he just made some suggestions on betraying his country and seeking glory in the royal study.
But can't he be so double-standard?
Zheng Sanlang said with a bitter face,
"Oh Mr. Fang, what's the use of talking about this now? Let's talk about what to do in the next war."
Mr. Fang also sighed and said,
"Well, the emperor must have sent a message to Ren Junfeige, so what can I do? I can only tell Ren Jun the detailed information about the enemy army so that he can be mentally prepared.
As for how to fight, let him make his own decision.
However, the county seat held by 50,000 enemy troops cannot be defeated in one day. I don't think it can be defeated in two days. "
…
After Mingxuan and Mingwen conveyed their orders to Ren Jun, they discussed and drafted the edict. Finally, Mingxuan said to Mingwen,
"Wen'er, if the day really comes when Nie Chen and Chen Wujiang arrive at the city, before they besiege the city, I will have my personal guards escort you back out.
You go back to your hometown in Taiyuan County first to avoid the limelight, and then come back after we have retreated from the enemy.
If... I mean if, if the city is broken and I die, you will be over there in Taiyuan County, supporting the troops of Qi State, and asking the people of Qi State to help you take revenge. Do you understand? "
Hearing this, Ming Wen knelt on the ground with a thump and said in shock,
"Father, that is absolutely impossible. No matter what, I cannot abandon my father and live alone. I must defend the capital with my father, defeat the enemy, and swear to live and die with my father."
Mingxuan pulled him up and said,
"You child, don't kneel down and cry every time. You are the crown prince of Han Dynasty, the heir apparent, and the one who will be the emperor in the future. It's not okay to be so weak.
Get up and listen to me. You are a scholar. You have been reading books about saints and sages. You have never fought any wars. You don’t know how to fight. It is useless to stay here. It will only make me worry.
I sent you away just as a precaution. If we implement the plan according to our plan, there will be no mistakes. I will not die. This world will still belong to our Ming family.
Just think of it as going back to your hometown to worship your ancestors and relax, that's all.
Besides, that day hasn't come yet. Maybe their two armies were attracted back by the two kings' armies before they even got here?
When the time comes, we will recruit troops and wait for the opportunity to fight again, and we will definitely destroy them.
You, don't just study all your life and know how to be filial. Your father, I don't want you to be filial. I want you to live and live well. It's better than anything else. Do you understand? "
