"Your Majesty, you have not eaten for seven days and seven nights!"
In the central part of the wilderness, in Emperor Jing's palace, King Dongxiang Sima Yu and six eunuchs stood respectfully beside His Highness, speaking softly in a low voice, for fear of disturbing the Zhou monarch who was sitting on the imperial chair with his eyes closed and meditating.
The six eunuchs in yellow lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe. They were so frightened that they almost fainted from nervousness.
In these days, hundreds of eunuchs and maidens had been beaten to death with imperial rods for unknown reasons, and many of the imperial guards who were guarding them had also died.
Whether Emperor Jing was a wise ruler has not yet been determined by later generations, but he was definitely not a moody tyrant.
At least, during the years when Emperor Jing was still the prince and after he ascended the throne, he never committed any tyrannical behavior.
But since the news of the failure of the West Route Army came, Emperor Jing seemed to be a different person.
A gloomy and violent aura enveloped the surroundings of the majestic peak, condensing and lingering, as heavy as a mountain.
Dead silence.
Still dead silence.
After King Dongxiang finished speaking, there was no more sound in the huge hall.
The poor eunuchs were so frightened that they were almost incontinent and almost fainted by the sound of their own heartbeats.
King Dongxiang sighed helplessly in his heart. The failure of the Northern Expedition was a huge and unbearable blow to Emperor Jing, the Great Zhou Dynasty, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, and the people of Li.
It is very likely that the Zhou Dynasty, which was originally prosperous, will be depressed for an unknown number of years.
"Ta-ta-ta"
Outside the hall, the sound of rapid and light footsteps suddenly sounded, accompanied by the collision of armor and weapons, from far to near.
Everyone in the hall was shocked at the same time, and their breathing stopped.
Needless to say, the only people who could go straight to the palace at the peak at this time were the imperial guards who came to report the battle situation of the army on the west route.
Sima Yu, King of Dongxiang, looked back and saw an eight-foot-tall Imperial Army captain walking quickly and solemnly, wearing a mighty armor. His eyes were dim, and he was already prepared to be executed.
During these days, every imperial guard who came to report the news could not make it down the peak alive.
The overall situation of the West Road has been decided. Whoever comes to report the news will have the same fate.
"Your Majesty, ten breaths ago, His Highness the Fourth Highness Jade Falcon sent a message with the latest war report!"
The captain of the Forbidden Army knelt down at the foot of the hall, holding a small wooden tube stained with blood in his hands.
"It's not easy for this kid Sima Ye to persist until now!"
Sima Yu looked at the wooden tube in the captain's hand with regret.
As a defeated prince of the Zhou Dynasty, even if he was not at fault, the outcome was already doomed. Even if he could escape from the West Road, he would only be severely punished with blood and iron, and even if he did not die, he would be imprisoned for the rest of his life.
"Your Majesty!"
Eunuch Shang Baojian carefully took the wooden tube, knelt down in front of Emperor Jing, and raised his hands above his head.
"Read it!"
Emperor Jing was silent for a long time, his eyes closed tightly, and finally he spoke faintly.
To this day, no matter how unwilling he is, he still knows that the overall situation has been decided and there is no way to reverse it.
"Old slave obeys the order!"
Eunuch Shang Bao nodded, tremblingly cut open the fire paint on the wooden tube, and poured out two rolls of brocade silk.
He opened a volume and read it subconsciously. As soon as he glanced at it, his open mouth froze completely.
"ah?"
"ah!"
Eunuch Shang Bao screamed in surprise, rubbed his eyes vigorously, put the brocade silk in front of his eyes, and looked with wide eyes.
First he was confused, then he was thoughtful, and then he showed a look of shock.
He eagerly opened the second volume of brocade silk, glanced at it, and immediately raised his head, with unbelievable ecstasy and excitement on his face. He opened his mouth, but he couldn't even utter a single word, as if he was speechless.
"read!"
Emperor Jing frowned slightly, naturally noticing Eunuch Shang Bao's mood swings.
I also sighed sadly in my heart.
Is the war situation already so unbearable?
The West Route Army has been completely wiped out, and Chiluo and Tuoba's army has begun to march towards the central part.
"yes!"
Eunuch Shang Bao was shocked. He quickly cleared his throat, held up the second volume of brocade silk, and read loudly with all his strength: "My son, Sima Ye, bows to my father, a great victory on the West Road!"
"well!"
Everyone in the hall sighed together, really like...?
King Dongxiang raised his head sharply: "You say it again?"
"My son, Sima Ye, bows down to my father, a great victory on the west road!"
Eunuch Shang Bao's voice was trembling, his eyes were moist, he looked at Sima Yu and said excitedly: "Your Majesty, a great victory on the west road, a great victory on the west road!"
"What did you say!"
Emperor Jing also opened his eyes suddenly, grabbed Eunuch Shang Bao's collar with his big hands, and said urgently: "What did you say, say it again!"
"Your Majesty, what a great victory on the West Road!"
Eunuch Shang Bao held up the brocade silk and read loudly: "My son, Sima Ye, bows to my father. A great victory on the west route. Taking advantage of the empty defense line on the west flank of our Liangzhou General Camp, a million-strong army launched a general attack, which completely destroyed the Liangzhou General Camp." After losing the defense, 300,000 of the 450,000-strong army died in battle. They were pursued for ten days and ten nights by the reckless army, and were trapped on the low slopes of the mountains. It was a certain death situation..."
"Didn't you say a great victory?"
Sima Yu, the king of Dongxiang, was stunned when he heard this and couldn't help interrupting hastily.
Emperor Jing also looked suspicious.
How could it be a great victory according to this battle situation?
It would be a surprise if the entire army was not wiped out!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I haven't finished reading yet, don't worry, don't worry!"
Eunuch Shang Bao smiled and continued to read: "But when our army on the west route was about to overthrow, Zhongwu General Jiang Li led an army of 250,000 to rush to help!"
"Um?"
"Jiang Li?"
"Where did he get so many troops and horses!"
King Jing and King Dongxiang were both startled.
Before the Northern Expedition began, Jiang Li clearly arranged for Commander-in-Chief Jiang Li to send 10,000 troops and horses out of Jimingzhan City as a ranger!
"After General Jiang Li entered Beimang, he went deep into the hinterland of the Mang army and successively conquered dozens of tribal camps including the Tuoba royal family. He killed Tuoba Lue, brother of Tuoba Xiongzai, the God of War in Beimang, and surrendered Tuoba Ge and Tuoba Gu, the nobles of the Tuoba royal family. Feng, gather 80,000 Beimang cavalry!"
Eunuch Shangbao read.
"Jiang Li surrendered the Tuoba royal clan's tribe and gathered 80,000 wild riders!"
As if struck by lightning, King Dongxiang was dumbfounded and his eyes trembled violently. In the end, he couldn't help but ran directly to the palace platform, lay down next to Eunuch Shangbao, and looked at Jinbo, for fear that he had heard wrongly.
The Great Zhou Dynasty had been fighting Beimang for more than eighty years, and no general of Great Zhou had ever been able to truly subdue the beast-like Mangqi of Beimang.
Jiang Li only brought 10,000 troops and horses, but he surrendered 80,000?
Emperor Jing was also astonished and confused, as if in a dream.
Eunuch Shang Bao continued to read: "Later, General Jiang Li went to the Chi River Valley on the border of Beimang, met with Fu Di, the mercenary leader of the Western Regions, and others, and reached an agreement to hire 130,000 soldiers and horses from the Western Regions!"
"hiss!"
Even Emperor Jing took a breath of air!
Isn't this gesture a little too big?
Soldiers and horses from the Western Regions.
Why didn't I think of that?
But even if I thought of it, I wouldn't dare to reuse it.
"General Yunhui Jiang Xuanluo left his post without permission. After hearing that the Liangzhou General Camp was attacked, he led his army to return for reinforcements. On the way, he was ambushed by Beimang. Jiang Xuanluo..."
Eunuch Shangbao paused for a moment and was about to continue reciting when King Dongxiang snatched the brocade silk and recited it himself: "Jiang Xuanluo was cowardly and abandoned his army to flee, leaving more than 50,000 horses to fend for themselves. It was Jiang Xuanluo who General Li ordered his elite troops to support him and rescued 45,000 people from the Yi Army!"
"The traitor and traitor—Jiang Xuanluo!"
Emperor Jing was so furious that he slapped the emperor's chair with his big hand and cursed angrily: "As the commander of the Yi Army, he committed a heinous crime. Not only did he not repent and save his life, he actually abandoned his subordinates and fled for his own life? The crime is unpardonable and the body will be broken into pieces." I don’t understand the hatred in my heart!”
"Your Majesty, don't be angry, let's be happy!"
Sima Yu, King of Dongxiang, read: "Jiang Li gathered all the troops and horses, started from the northwest border, attacked for more than a thousand miles, and directly invaded the hinterland. All camps of the northwest Mang tribes such as Chiluo and Tuoba were captured by General Jiang Li. Take this as a threat... All the millions of troops in Beimang will surrender, and the Ximenmang plains will become my land of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"All the land in the northwest belongs to me, Great Zhou?"
Jinghuang stood up abruptly, walked quickly to the map of the north and looked at the vast territory in the northwest of Mangzhou.
Expand your territory!
What an achievement.
Even if it is only a nominal occupation, it is enough to be recorded in the annals of history and will be sung throughout the ages.
"Jiang Li, what a Jiang Li, he is indeed my Qilin son of Great Zhou!" Emperor Jing sighed.
"Your Majesty, there is another letter, but it is a message from Jiang Li!" Sima Yu, King of Dongxiang, said.
"Read it, read it quickly!"
Jinghuang turned around quickly.
"My minister Jiang Li paid homage to the Holy One. Although the northwest Mang army has been surrendered by our Liangzhou General Camp, the Mang people have been entangled with each other for a long time. It will be difficult to truly surrender in the short term. If Da Zhou wants to command and control the northwest wilderness, it will be inevitable." We need to spend more military power, manpower, and financial resources, and the northwest of the wilderness is far away from the Great Zhou Dynasty, so it is not wise to take direct control!"
"I proposed to set up a Protectorate in the northwest of Beimang and send elite soldiers to station there to intimidate the various tribes in Beimang. At the same time, I gradually influenced them with a gentle policy. I was good at making opinions and promised Tuoba Ge, a nobleman of the Tuoba tribe, to be the Khan of the Northwest. I did not inform the Holy Emperor in advance. I understand that this is my fault, but in order to completely eliminate the danger of recklessness and integrate the wilderness into our great Zhou Dynasty, I sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to grant your permission..."
King Dongxiang closed the brocade and silk, and his mind could not be calm for a long time.
He was born into a royal family, and had been taught by famous Confucians, martial arts masters, civil servants and generals since childhood. He had served in the army for more than 20 years. If he was in Jiang Li's situation, he might not even be able to catch up with him.
He really used his own efforts to turn the tide, save the situation of the Northern Expedition, and stabilize the northwest.
but……
Although many strategies and behaviors are suspected of being overreaching.
Especially the act of promising Tuoba Ge to be the Northwestern Khan of Beimang...
"Your Majesty, I think that although Jiang Li's promise to Tuoba Ge is inconsistent with the Chao Gang, it is urgent and forced by circumstances. It is a last resort..."
Sima Yu, King of Dongxiang, whispered: "Please don't blame me, Your Majesty, and looking at the overall situation, this decision is completely consistent with the court's strategy!"
"Why should I blame Jiang Li? If it weren't for Jiang Li, the Northern Expedition would have been ruined. More than 300,000 Zhou soldiers died on the battlefield, and I am also at fault!"
Emperor Jing waved his hand, with no displeasure on his face: "Jiang Li deserves to be rewarded. If I still stick to these trivial forms at this time, how will I be different from the faint king?"
Emperor Jing's eyes fell on the map of Mangzhou again. He pondered for a long time and said: "Drawing the edict, Jiang Li is an expert in strategy and loyalty. He has a military crown and thousands of troops. He turned the tide and established a plan for the expansion of the territory of the Zhou Dynasty. For his meritorious deeds in this world, he is now canonized as the second-grade general of the auxiliary country. He is waiting to be worshiped and given the title of Zhenjun.
"The northwest of Mangyuan is our twenty-eighth province of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Since Jiang Li gained it, let's call it Li Province. Anmang Dufufu was established. Jiang Li was the first Duhufu Jiedushi, in charge of the military and government of the province. power.
"Confess Tuoba Ge as the Khan of the Northwest, and all tribes of the Mang tribe in Li Province will be under his command and under the jurisdiction of the Anmang Protectorate!"
"The Anmang Protectorate has an army of 100,000, selected from the remaining troops of the original Liangzhou General Camp. The fourth prince, Sima Ye, failed to lead the army and led the remaining troops in Liangzhou to join the Central Army. The culprits are recorded. Let him take the blame first and make meritorious service. We will punish him after the Northern Expedition is over..."
"Marquis of the Zhenjun, Governor of the Protectorate!"
Everyone in the hall was secretly shocked when they heard this.
Although they knew that Emperor Jing would reward Jiang Li generously, they did not expect that it would be so generous.
This almost sealed the entire northwestern part of Mangzhou to Jiang Li.
Although Tuoba Ge is nominally the Great Khan of millions of people, everyone knows who the real King of the Northwest is.
"Your Majesty, is the reward for Jiang Li too heavy?"
Sima Yu, the king of Dongxiang, was a little worried.
This is not only a situation where Jiang Li may support his troops in the future, but also the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty may have disputes.
He was only sixteen years old and was appointed as the governor of a province.
This kind of status and power has almost reached the limit and pinnacle of a minister.
"If Jiang Li is not appointed as the governor of the Anmang Protectorate, who among the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty can protect Li Province for me?"
Emperor Jing sat back on the imperial chair again and said: "How could I not know that this is actually a risky move? But today, only if the province is stabilized can I continue to carry out my great cause of the Northern Expedition without any worries!"
"Your Majesty, you have thought carefully!"
Sima Yu, King of Dongxiang, nodded, but was still a little uneasy: "Although Marquis Zhenwu and Jiang Li are father and son, they are in the same situation. If Marquis Wu knew..."
"What can I do if I know? Jiang Xuanluo was recommended by him. The West Route Army was defeated miserably, and more than 300,000 Zhou soldiers died in vain. Is it enough to punish Jiang Xuanluo alone for this crime?"
Emperor Jing said calmly: "I remember that Marquis Wu has outstanding merits and deeds, and if Wu Zhen is not punished for his crimes, it would be an extrajudicial act of mercy!"
"What the Holy One said is absolutely true!"
King Dongxiang nodded.
At this time, another captain of the imperial army walked in quickly outside the hall and reported to Emperor Jing: "Your Majesty, Jiang Xuanluo, the commander-in-chief of the West Wing Army and General Yunhui, fled back from the northwest and is now trying to attack at the foot of the peak. Your Majesty takes the blame!"
"Jiang Xuanluo?"
Emperor Jing smiled coldly: "He actually knows how to come back? What does he want to do when he comes back? To show his loyalty!"
"Your Majesty, General Jiang Xuanluo said that he knew that his sin was unforgivable, but the main responsibility for the failure of the West Route Army was not with him, but with Jiang Li!"
The captain of the Forbidden Army raised his head and said respectfully: "General Jiang Xuanluo said that General Zhongwu Jiang Li has completely disappeared since entering the wilderness, and there is no trace anymore. As the commander of the west wing army, he should pay attention to all minor changes and abnormalities before going to look for them." Jiang Li’s location, now that I think about it, it is likely that Jiang Li did it deliberately to attract him to leave the duty area, which led to the defeat of the West Road!”
The captain said this, glanced at Emperor Jing's expression covertly, and continued: "Moreover, General Jiang Xuanluo suspects that Jiang Li may have defected to Beimang. Even the West Wing Army's defense was empty, and it was Jiang Li who leaked the secret!"
"Did Jiang Xuanluo really say that?"
When Emperor Jing heard this, he laughed angrily: "What a eldest son of Zhenwu Marquis Mansion, but the brothers are fighting each other to such an extent. I really want to see him!"
"I'll call him now!" the captain said quickly after hearing this.
"You stay!"
Emperor Jing's face was expressionless, but he pointed at the captain of the imperial army who originally sent the fourth prince and Jiang Li to summon him: "I am happy today. I will make you the deputy captain of the seventh-grade Yihui. Go and press Jiang Xuanluo up for me!"
"I accept your order!"
The captain of the Forbidden Army was overjoyed and quickly thanked him.
I thought it was a certain death situation, but in the end, not only did I save my life, but I was also promoted to a higher level.
He naturally knew that this was all because of Jiang Li.
I can't help but feel a lot more fondness for this newly-in-waiting of Da Zhou who I have never met before.
He stood up and turned away. When he passed by his comrades who were kneeling on the ground and didn't understand why, he couldn't help feeling a little pity in his heart.
Even he could tell that this fellow captain of the imperial army must be from Marquis Wu.
As a Forbidden Army guard who was only responsible for reporting information, this comrade really spoke too much.
and……
The captain of the imperial army shook his head and walked away quickly.
Less than a moment later, Jiang Xuanluo, who was covered in blood, escorted Jiang Xuanluo, who was covered in blood, into the hall together with several forbidden soldiers.
"Your Majesty, the sins of the guilty ministers cannot be redeemed. The army on the West Route has been wiped out. I have an unshirkable responsibility!"
Jiang Xuanluo's body was covered in blood, his armor was covered with dense knife marks and arrow holes, and there were many injuries on his body. His hair was disheveled and he looked exhausted.
He broke away from the imperial troops who were escorting him, staggered and fell in front of Emperor Jing, crying: "Your Majesty, I know that I have committed countless sins. I personally led 50,000 wing troops to rush to the rescue, but I was ambushed by the reckless army. I led the fifty thousand soldiers to fight hard for several days, until the end of the battle. I wanted to die to apologize, but I fainted from exhaustion and was rescued by my sergeants. If it were not for the entrustment and hope of the fifty thousand sergeants, I would have been shameless. See Your Majesty!"
"Entrustments and hopes?"
The corners of Dongxiang King Sima Yu's mouth twitched uncontrollably. If the news of the great victory had not arrived, the West Wing Army originally commanded by Jiang Xuanluo would still have more than 40,000 people alive, and he would have almost believed Jiang Xuanluo's performance.
With such good acting skills, it would be a pity not to become an actor!
"I am extremely evil, but the 50,000 soldiers are innocent. They all died in the battle. They will bear the guilt until their death. They cannot be freed from it. They are ashamed of the Holy One and have no face for their families. Therefore, they entrust their last hope to me. I hope I can help them get rid of their guilt, and the heroes’ souls can return to Dazhou with peace of mind!”
Jiang Xuanluo cried bitterly and knelt on the ground, his body trembling from the uncontrollable pain.
"But it's hard for you!"
Emperor Jing smiled.
"Your Majesty, it's not difficult for me. I deserve to die for my crime, but the 50,000 winged troops are really innocent. I am not greedy for life, I just want to wash away their guilt for them!"
Jiang Xuanluo raised his head, wiped the tears on his face with his arm full of knife wounds, and said: "I am willing to enter the beggar's death camp and use my body as a sinner to atone for the sins of the 50,000 winged troops. Until they are completely free of all guilt, they will kill themselves." To repay the grace of the Holy One.”
He paused and then said: "I have actually made all arrangements, leaving thousands of troops and horses as scouts to patrol closely to prevent the military situation from being discovered by Chiluo and Tuoba. It is absolutely impossible for the West Wing Army to guard against the secrets of the void. If it’s leaked, it must be someone other than a traitor!”
"Do you suspect that the traitor is Jiang Li?" King Dongxiang showed a sympathetic smile.
"I don't dare to say it. I just have this vague speculation and suspicion. After all, only his army and horses are missing!"
Jiang Xuanluo looked cautious and fair.
"Jiang Li's whereabouts are somewhat secretive, but I do know his whereabouts and motives!"
Emperor Jing threw two small scrolls of brocade silk in front of Jiang Xuanluo and said with a smile: "I understand your feelings towards the fifty thousand men who died in battle, but I just wonder if they will be very moved if they know your deep affection."
"Jiang Li's whereabouts?"
Hearing this, Jiang Xuanluo felt slightly refreshed. He quickly picked up the brocade and looked at it eagerly.
He was really curious about Jiang Li's whereabouts.
However……
"Great victory on the West Road!"
Jiang Xuanluo looked at the handwriting of the fourth prince Sima Ye and felt it was unbelievable that the fourth prince was even more outrageous and bold than him in order to avoid responsibility for his crimes!
A great victory?
What a joke!
When he fled all the way to the middle of Mangzhou, he saw from a distance the scene of the Mang army surrounding and killing the soldiers and horses of the Liangzhou general camp.
If that miserable scene could be considered a great victory, he would have been able to unify Kyushu.
The Fourth Prince must also be acting.
Jiang Xuanluo took a deep breath and continued reading calmly, just to find more things that would benefit him.
I also felt a little calm in my heart.
At the very least, he told a few words of truth, but the Fourth Prince was really full of nonsense!
But as he watched, his expression became more and more uncomfortable.
Because some of these things really match up.
For example, he abandoned his troops and fled for his life alone.
"Impossible, how could this be true, how could someone be so defiant!"
Jiang Xuanluo's hands were shaking more and more. He grabbed the second volume of brocade and looked at it. The expression on his face gradually turned into endless fear and anger.
Fear of impending punishment.
Angry at Jiang Li's methods and luck.
Why.
How could he do it?
Is he worthy?
Are you worthy of such an unparalleled feat?
A remnant of the previous dynasty, a bastard who has the least sense of existence in the prince's mansion.
A bastard who can be crushed to death with one finger.
This is not fair!
"Your Majesty, this is completely unbelievable. How can such important military information be determined based on just one word!"
Jiang Xuanluo said loudly and urgently: "It must be a lie. It must be a way for them to delay their culpability. It cannot be trusted, Your Majesty!"
"Are you saying that my son cannot be trusted, but your words can be trusted?"
Emperor Jing shook his head: "Originally there was still a trace of intolerance in my heart, and I didn't want Marquis Wu to lose his eldest son at such an age, but now it seems that as an important minister of the country, he was so incompetent in raising his son, and raised such a disaster like you. Son of the country.
"If all the ministers of my great Zhou Dynasty were like this, how could we talk about the peace of the country and the peace of the people, and the ten thousand-year imperial legacy!"
Emperor Jing waved his hand, stopped Jiang Xuanluo who was still trying to defend himself, and said in a cold voice: "Don't worry, I won't act out of emotion, and I will definitely convince you. I have already sent an order to Marquis Wu, ordering him to come to Mangzhou immediately, and personally After review and decision-making, it will be up to him to decide how to deal with you!"
"I will also order Jiang Li, the envoy of the Anmang Protectorate of Li Province, and the Marquis of the Zhenjun, to come and confront you face to face. Who is right and who is wrong will be decided at that time!"
"Jiang Li, the Marquis of the Army!"
Jiang Xuanluo didn't know when the Great Zhou Dynasty had an additional Li Province, but the words Jiang Li, the Marquis of the Zhenjun, were like a heavy hammer, which directly hit him out of his wits and collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Li?
Why did he become a marquis?
Is he worthy?
(End of chapter)
