There is only an alley between the Anxian County Government's Office and the General's Office, which can be reached in a hundred steps.
"Master He, what do you think Master Mei will discuss with us if he is anxious to find us?" Guo Zimu sat beside the tea table and asked sideways. The soldiers of the Salt Transportation Department had just left, and Guo Zimu walked out the door. However, they were not going to the Salt Transportation Department, but the neighboring County Government.
He Houtang leaned on the armchair, closed his eyes and thought, and said after a while: "Mei Siyuan has never let you and me get involved in the salt administration. There is only one thing that can make him so angry!"
"What's the matter?" Guo Zimu put down his tea cup and asked urgently.
"Border defense matters!" He Houtang said firmly.
Guo Zimu looked suspicious and asked: "Isn't there Xu Ding'an in the border defense? What are you and I doing for?"
"The matter to be discussed today will definitely be something that Xu Ding'an's outpost cannot withstand!" He Houtang said nervously, "Shatuo Kingdom has violated the border!"
"Ah! How is this possible?" Guo Zimu was shocked, "We didn't hear anything!"
He Houtang kept tapping the armchair with his palms, muttering something silently, and suddenly asked Guo Zimu: "What are the instructions from His Highness King Yi before you take office?"
Guo Zimu replied: "His Royal Highness told me that Mei Siyuan is neither an enemy nor a friend, but also an enemy and a friend. It is okay for me to work with you to check and balance him, but not to restrain him. You want me to perform my duties well."
"Yes, His Highness told me the same thing." He Houtang nodded. He took a deep breath and said to Guo Zimu: "In that case, let's go. This matter is not trivial. Go and listen to what he has to say."
"That's right!" Guo Zimu said. The two of them left the County Government Office through the main and side doors, and took their entourage to the Salt Government Office.
When Mei Yuanchen arrived at the gate of the Salt Government Office, Haitang had already gotten out of the carriage and was standing in front of the door. "Haitang, you're finally here, but I'm so worried!" Mei Yuanchen came to her in the air like a thunderbolt, and when the voice fell, Haitang found that one of her own hands was held by him. Thinking that the Taoist priests of Zhenwu Temple and the soldiers in front of the gate were still here, Haitang was happy and ashamed, and said angrily: "Why don't you have a formal appearance? You just grab people's hands when you meet them!" After saying that, he hurriedly pulled his hand away. come out.
Only then did Mei Yuanchen realize that there were many people here, and he looked embarrassed. He smiled awkwardly and greeted several senior brothers and nephews: "Brother Zhankong, senior brother Zhancheng!" However, in the crowd, Taoist Zhanren was not found. The two nephews, Du and Zhijian, asked, "Where are senior brothers Zhanren, Zhidu and Zhijian?"
Taoist Zhankong looked serious and said to Mei Yuanchen, "It's not urgent to discuss this matter in detail. Where is your father? We have something very important to report to him!"
Although Mei Yuanchen didn't know what was going on, he also guessed that this matter was no small matter, so he replied: "Two senior brothers, please come with me. My father is in the study, I will take you to him." Then he turned around and said The soldier said, "Take Haitang and some of your nephews to Gu Bantou and ask him to arrange a place for everyone." Finally, he looked back and said to Haitang with a smile, "You go see your mother first. I have told her about you." It's my business. Once I'm done with my business here, I'll go find you."
Mei Yuanchen, Zhan Kong and Zhan Cheng went to the study, but did not find Mei Siyuan. After several inquiries, they found out that Mei Siyuan had gone to the right side hall, so they hurriedly took their two senior brothers there.
"Lord Mei, this official is definitely not trying to mess with your face. The matter is serious, so I forgive you for not obeying your order!" Guo Zimu's face turned red and he shook his head.
Mei Siyuan pointed at his face and cursed loudly: "Guo Zimu, are you such an official? I have made it very clear to you that I alone will bear the consequences. If the emperor blames me, Mei Siyuan will I will protect you with my head on my neck. If you don’t believe me, I will write you a letter of apology and use the seal of the Salt Government Secretary. What else do you want! Now, Shatuo has led an army of 200,000 to invade the territory. Xu Ding'an led 28,000 people to intercept it. You are also a military attache, so you are so cowardly and afraid of death!"
Seeing Mei Siyuan's upright face, Guo Zimu really didn't know how to refute, so he had to reply: "Sir Mei, before I took office, the emperor personally issued an order to teach my subordinates to fulfill their duties and protect the peace of the country. I am the resident general, and I am not responsible for supervising civil strife. By the way, it is your duty to protect the millions of people in Jinzhou City, and I will never forget it! Your Majesty, I am now ordering me to lead troops to help General Xu. If after the garrison leaves the city, Shatuo separates his troops and attacks Jinzhou. Who will guard the city? Aren't the lives of these millions of people not life? Master Mei, if you want me to mobilize troops, you can! But please get an explicit order from the Ministry of War, otherwise, I will never be able to do it!" Guo Zimu is a full-time military general of the third rank, and can be regarded as a high-ranking official. He was scolded by Mei Siyuan just now. At this time, he was angry, and his words were no longer respectful.
Mei Siyuan slapped the case and scolded: "If we don't resist Shatuo's army in Mianzhou, once Xu Ding'an's troops are wiped out, Shatuo's army will definitely march eastward, and Jinzhou will bear the brunt. How can it be spared? At this time, you and Xu Ding'an are joining forces. It may not mean that there is no strength to fight. If all the soldiers at the outpost are killed in the battle, and Jinzhou City is isolated and helpless, how can your 22,000 garrison resist the enemy? Can Jinzhou be defended? "
Guo Zimu's eyelids twitched, his mouth trembled, and he finally said: "Master Mei, although you are the chief officer of Anxian, you have no right to issue military orders. Before taking office, I issued a military order. It can be seen that the military orders are like mountains, and they are absolutely true." After seeing the military order, no matter how reasonable your words are, I will forgive my subordinates for not obeying the order!" Obviously, Guo Zimu agreed with Mei Siyuan's words, but he had many worries in his heart and did not dare to send troops easily.
"Guo Zimu!" Mei Siyuan shouted with anger, his eyes were split.
Mei Yuanchen was leading his two senior brothers to the hall on the right when he suddenly heard Mei Siyuan's call. He was startled and rushed in. He called from afar, "Dad, what happened?"
By the time Mei Siyuan, He Houtang, and Guo Zimu reacted, Mei Yuanchen was already standing beside Mei Siyuan, looking at He and Guo with a cold look on his face.
Guo Zimu was shocked and thought to himself: "I heard a few days ago that Mei Siyuan's young master has extremely high martial arts skills. I never expected that he would reach such a state!"
"Chen'er, why are you here? Oh, who are these two Taoist priests?" Mei Siyuan was asking when he saw two Taoist priests Zhan Kong and Zhan Cheng arriving and asked instead.
Zhan Kongxing stepped forward and glanced at He and Guo next to him, seeming a little concerned. Mei Siyuan also glanced at the two of them and sighed helplessly: "What's the matter with the Taoist Master? But it's okay to say that these two are the chief secretary of Anxian County and the resident general, so there is no obstruction."
Zhan Kong was overjoyed and said, "That's the best!" He and Guo were surprised when they heard this, and gathered around him. Just listen to Zhan Kong's words: "Pindao is Zhan Kong, a Taoist priest of Zhenwu Temple. He was ordered by the head brother to come to protect Master Mei. When passing by Luanzhou, he rescued a postman from Anxian Post who was washed away by the water. It was learned that the Shatuo Kingdom led an invasion of 200,000 troops and captured Tianmen City and Yanzhou one after another. General Xu Shen at the outpost had already led troops to intercept them. He knew that the enemy was strong and we were weak, and it would be difficult to sustain for a long time, so he sent The post soldiers looked around for help. The post soldier was almost washed away by the water. After being rescued, he was too weak to walk, so we left him in Luanzhou. Pindao made his own decision and sent his junior brother and nephew to Fuyang. Reported to the outpost and the capital."
"Oh, such a coincidence?" Mei Siyuan was shocked and said, "I just found out about this and was discussing it with the two adults."
Zhan Kong said happily: "That's great! When will the military camp at the station send troops?"
Guo Zimu looked embarrassed and did not dare to speak. Mei Siyuan replied: "General Guo refused to send troops because he had not seen the military order!"
"Absurd!" Zhankong scolded, "As a Taoist priest, I know that 'if you are outside, your orders will not be accepted'. At such a critical moment, how can you use 'the military order has not yet arrived' as an excuse?"
Zhenwu Temple is a national temple, and the emperor at that time was very respectful to them. Guo Zimu was scolded by Zhan Kong and did not dare to reply. He only held his hands and said: "Master Mei, it is difficult to reach a conclusion on the matter here. I will go back and make preparations first." Come on, when the military order arrives, I will immediately break camp and rush to help."
He turned around and was about to leave, but found Mei Yuanchen blocking the way. Thinking of his ghostly skills just now, Guo Zimu shuddered in his heart and asked: "What are you going to do next? I am a third-grade military general!"
Mei Yuanchen's face was cold, he clenched his fists and said, "You don't deserve it!"
"Chen'er, don't do anything stupid!" Mei Siyuan warned hurriedly, fearing that Mei Yuanchen would kill Guo Zimu in anger.
Hearing Mei Siyuan's words, Guo Zimu felt a chill run down his spine, and he could no longer hide the fear on his face. He backed away and said, "Mr. Mei, what are you going to do? Don't do anything wrong!"
Mei Yuanchen suddenly asked: "How many horses are there in the military camp?"
Guo Zimu was stunned and said slowly: "More than 44,500 horses."
"Okay, since you dare not send troops, lend me 4,500 cavalry to the Salt Government, and we will go to the rescue of General Xu. You are afraid of death, but our Mei family is not afraid!" Mei Yuanchen suppressed his anger and said coldly He said coldly.
