Huan Rong

In July of the first year of Ningkang, the urgent report of Di Kou's southern invasion arrived in Jiankang.Arriving at the same time, Yang Liang, the governor of Liangzhou, asked for reinforcements.

Less than three days later, the above forms from Jingzhou and Youzhou were sent to the three provinces. The Jiankang court had not been stable for a long time, and then there was another thunderstorm.

"Di Kou invaded Hanzhong from the south, and sent troops from the prefecture to defend him!"

No matter what happens in normal times, in the face of foreign enemies, most civil and military forces in the DPRK and China can stand objectively, with the stability of the border as the main consideration.

"Liangzhou is bordered by Di Kou, and Luoyang is separated by the Wei River. The bandits occupy the prefectures of Yinping, Wudu, and Fufeng, and stationed thousands of armored soldiers. Now the bandits are raising their troops to commit crimes in the south. If Hanzhong is not guarded, the counties and counties of Liangzhou will be in danger. The adjacent Yizhou and Jingzhou are in danger!"

"King Tuyuhun is insidious and cunning. When the opportunity arises, he will definitely send troops to plunder money, food and people!"

"In the past, Duke Xuanwu attacked the Di Kou in the north, restored Hanzhong, relocated three thousand people, and consolidated the border. The Hu thieves were afraid of Duke Xuanwu's prestige and did not dare to invade the south easily. Not long after the death of Duke Xuanwu, the Di Kou brazenly sent troops. , thinking that there is no one in Jindi!"

Xuanwu is the posthumous title of Huan Wen.

In the tenth year of Yonghe, he led [-] cavalry in the Northern Expedition to the former Qin Dynasty, captured the former Qin general alive, and repelled the former Qin Huainan King.Later, because the Di people increased their troops and the food and grass were not enough, they were forced to retreat back to Jiangling.

After this battle, the Di people finally realized that the Eastern Jin Dynasty was not as weak as imagined. After Zu Ti, there were still generals who could lead troops.Since then, Liang, Jing and others have knocked against each other from time to time, but no major wars have occurred.

Now that Huan Wen is dead, Di Renxuan went south at this time, and the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty had to sigh, no matter what Huan Yuanzi was when he was alive, his presence would be a deterrent to the Hu people in the north!

And Xi Chao said that he joined the army under his tent in the past, adding a sense of embarrassment about the past.

After returning to Jiankang, Xi Chao was very low-key, never speak out unless necessary, and kept silent most of the time.As a result, most people forget that Xi Shilang has a strategic mind and was once praised for his outstanding talent.

Today, when discussing the matter of bandits invading the south and sending state soldiers to defend against the enemy, Xi Chao swept away the silence in the past and got up to talk freely.Even the civil and military officials who had a rift with him were unavoidably agitated by his words, and the younger ones even had blood surging, wishing they could put on their armor and lead their troops to the north immediately.

Xie An was silent, his expression moved slightly.

Wang Tanzhi glanced at Xi Chao and frowned slightly.

Xi Yin was under the Son of Heaven and the head of all the officials. Seeing that it was his cheating eldest son who spoke, his hand holding the wat board tightened subconsciously.

Taking a panoramic view of everyone's reactions, Xi Chao continued: "The thieves and bandits are greedy and cruel. When they enter the land of Hanzhong, they will burn, kill, loot and do all kinds of evil. Thousands of people will die. Send it, the imperial court should send troops to help."

"The Northern Army is stationed in Yangzhou, and the Western Army is stationed in Wuchang to defend the eastern and western gateways of Jiankang. They cannot be easily transferred. Moreover, the two are far away from Hanzhong, and the transfer of troops will delay time."

"Jingzhou is bordered by Di bandits. It's a last resort. We can't divide our troops to help, lest the bandits take the opportunity to attack the side. The neighboring Yizhou is exhausted. Last year, there was a natural disaster and there was not enough food and fodder. We also need to guard against Tuyuhun, so we can't move lightly."

At this point, Xi Chao paused, raised his voice slightly, and finally showed his true meaning.

"The two prefectures of Weiyou and Henan have abundant food and strong soldiers, and they can rush to help Hanzhong and relieve the crisis on the border."

The picture is poor and the dagger is seen, and the hall is silent.

Huan Rong has food, money, and soldiers, and this time he took the initiative to show up, saying that Fayou and Yuzhou soldiers are a matter of course.It's just that the court, the Chinese and the military have their own thoughts, especially those who are at odds with the Huan family, and they really don't want to see the Huan family's power grow further.

Today, the Huan family controls the four prefectures of Jing, Jiang, Yu, and You, Huan Chong leads the Beifu Army, Zhen Guyu, and Huan Huo and Huan Rong's combined state soldiers number over ten thousand.

Yizhou has already voted for the Huan family, and the governor of Yizhou can hold the official seal, all thanks to the recommendation of the Huan family.

Ningzhou also had good relations with the Huan family.

The families behind the officials in the state and the tyrants in the counties and counties are all connected with the Huan family.Not to mention anything else, just doing business with Youzhou every year, and the profits gained from it add up to an astronomical figure.

Of the states and counties in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, only Liangzhou is still resisting.

The thorn made Yang Liang never bow his head, let alone accept the olive branch thrown by Mrs. Huan.

However, today is not what it used to be, with soldiers approaching the city, the situation cannot be overestimated.

Once the Di people go south, once Hanzhong is captured, both Jingzhou and Yizhou will face the iron heels of bandits.Jingzhou can still protect itself, but Yizhou is hard to say.

More importantly, less than a year after the Son of Heaven ascended the throne, the turmoil in the court has just stabilized. If the border states and counties are taken over by bandits, how will the world evaluate it?

All the people will be chilled!

The Jin family was trying to survive in the cracks, and they were in dire straits.With further decline in reputation, there is no guarantee that a second Huan Wen will not appear immediately.

Sima Yao looked down at the ministers, feeling anxious and cold for a while.

To be honest, he didn't want Youzhou to send troops, and he didn't want Huanrong's power to grow further.He is still dreaming of taking control of the court and pocketing all the silver and grain in Youzhou.

However, things cannot be realized by imagination alone.

He moved uncomfortably, glanced at the Queen Mother behind the screen, and moved his eyes forward again, and landed on Xie An and Wang Tanzhi, who were calm and calm. He came out, his face flushed red, and he was about to make a sound when he heard the eunuch beside him cough lightly.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Xi."

A word that hits the ear is like a ladle of cold water poured on the head, instantly cooling the heart.

Sima Yao clenched his fists, his face turned from red to white, he bit his cheek hard, and finally suppressed his irritability, and did not have an attack.

It wasn't that he suddenly became enlightened, but that he understood that he couldn't bear the consequences.

Sima Yao didn't hear a word of Xi Chao's words after that. He only knew that as Xie An and Xi Min expressed their views successively, the opinions of the court tended to be unified. Yin, with Huan Rong as the general who conquered the west, led the state soldiers to help Liangzhou.

How helpless.

Sima Yao remained silent for a long time, and suddenly realized that being a successful puppet was a hundred times or even a thousand times more difficult than he imagined!

The action of the three provinces was very fast, and soon after the court meeting was over, the drafted imperial edict was sent to the Tai Chi Hall.

Sima Yao sat blankly in front of the screen, watching the eunuch spread out the bamboo slips and presented the jade seal, his anger suddenly soared, and finally erupted on the spot, swept the bamboo slips away, smashed two jade objects, and kicked the eunuch hard. on the person.

"You dare to bully me!"

The eunuch didn't dodge, he got kicked twice, coughed a few times on the spot, and staggered back a few steps.It's just that in the process of retreating, he still held the jade seal carefully, not daring to let go easily.Another eunuch threw himself on the ground to catch the spread bamboo slips.

"you……"

Sima Yao wanted to do it again, when there was a sound in front of the hall, followed by the eunuch's maidservant kneeling on the ground.

Immediately afterwards, the door of the inner hall was pushed open from the outside, and the Queen Mother stepped in.

Seeing the mess in the hall, the Queen Mother just twitched the corner of her mouth and said, "The officials are so angry."

There is no need to order, a servant girl will immediately remove the broken jade on the ground, and ask the queen mother to move to the seat.

Sima Yao couldn't get rid of his anger, his chest seemed to be on fire, but he had to suppress his anger, and he went forward to salute.

"Mother."

"En." The Queen Mother asked the eunuchs to present the bamboo slips, briefly read the content, and said calmly, "The military situation is urgent and cannot be delayed. Now that the imperial decree has been drawn up, let's seal it."

"promise!"

The eunuch held up the jade seal and covered it with the imperial decree.

During the whole process, no one asked Sima Yao at all, and he was allowed to stand aside and grit his teeth.

"Mother, I did not agree!" Sima Yao said forcefully.

The Queen Mother still ignored him, and ordered the eunuchs to send the imperial decree to the three provinces, saying: "Order the servant to copy it and tell Prime Minister Xi."

The eunuch retreated under orders, and only then raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth when he exited the palace gate.

The eunuch who was traveling with him took out a pottery bottle, stuffed it casually, and said in a low voice: "Take a pill first, at least it lasts for a while. When you come back from there, you can seek the doctor's pulse."

"Thank you."

"No need." The eunuch who gave the pottery bottle said with a smile, "We are all serving the Empress Dowager, as long as we are loyal, the benefits will never be less."

The eunuch holding the imperial decree nodded his head, he couldn't stand the pain, temporarily handed over the imperial decree to others, opened the clay bottle on the spot, and took a pill the size of a fingertip.Feeling a little better, I immediately quickened my pace, not daring to delay any longer.

In the Tai Chi Hall, Sima Yao's nostrils flared. After a few breaths, the anger on his face finally faded, and he returned to his usual simple and honest appearance.

The Queen Mother looked at him with a deeper sneer at the corner of her mouth.

"Official, do you know why I am here?"

"I don't know, please ask the queen mother to clarify."

"I heard someone report that the official family went to the side hall and released that sinful slave?"

As soon as this remark came out, Sima Yao shuddered.

"My queen, Li Shuyi finally gave birth to me, please forgive me."

"Li Shuyi?" The Queen Mother put away her smile, "I clearly remember that she was demoted for a crime, when did she call herself Shuyi?"

Sima Yao's lips were pursed into a straight line, and his cheeks were tense.

"I also heard people say that the government housed the sinful slave in the Tai Chi Hall?" The Queen Mother lowered her expression, "Government house, self-willedness is not such a willful law!"

Sima Yao opened his mouth to argue, but there was a burst of noise and crying outside the palace gate.

Immediately afterwards, two burly palace maids dragged Li Lingrong, no matter how much she struggled, they never let go, forcibly dragged her into the inner hall, and pressed her to kneel in front of the Queen Mother and Sima Yao.

"Azi, Azi, save me!"

Li Lingrong was originally born in a bad manner, and has nothing to do with beauty.After spending these days in the side hall, her face is covered with wrinkles, she looks like an old woman.

Looking at the mother and son in front of her, the Queen Mother couldn't help sneering.

"Officials, punishing her is the will of the first emperor. Do you want to violate it?"

Sima Yao looked at the Queen Mother, then at Li Lingrong who was weeping, and finally made up his mind and turned his back.

"Azi?!" Li Lingrong couldn't believe it, he was so shocked that he forgot to cry.Two lines of tears hung on his face, and he looked at Sima Yao in disbelief, "You don't care about me anymore?"

"A mere criminal slave, how dare you call the officials like that?" The Queen Mother said coldly, "Slap your mouth and send it back to the side hall."

The maids and eunuchs agreed in unison, and dragged down Li Lingrong who was crying again.

It is not known whether it was intentional, but from the inner hall to the outer hall, and then to the stone steps in front of the hall, no one stopped her mouth and allowed her to cry loudly.After crying, her voice was hoarse, almost inhuman.

Sima Yao stood there in a daze, looking blankly at the people in the hall, and suddenly realized that in Taicheng, he seemed to be really alone.

"Officials."

When the Queen Mother made a sound, Sima Yao subconsciously shivered, looking at the former with obvious fear.

"The previous dynasty has the rules of the previous dynasty, and the rear palace has the rules of the rear palace." The Queen Mother smiled, not affected by the previous events in the slightest, "The official family is as close as the crown marriage, and it is reasonable to advance and retreat. Such things should not be repeated. Do it, otherwise, if it spreads to the court and the people, how will the people of the world view the official family?"

Bearing the name of disloyalty and unfilial piety, you can't wash it away until you die!

"No." Sima Yao promised in a low voice, his hands shaking violently.

He finally understood that the court was not in his hands, and so was Taicheng.

The father was able to divide the courtiers, suppress the Empress Dowager Chu, and once held Taicheng in his hands because he had been the prime minister for many years, held power in his hands, and was the elder of the Jin family, so he had a natural advantage.

If it were him, Xi Yin could abolish him, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty could regard him as a puppet, and the Queen Mother... Sima Yao swallowed, his lips began to tremble, and the Queen Mother could even kill him silently!

Thinking of this, Sima Yao almost collapsed to the ground like a deflated ball.

He knew in his heart that today was just a warning.

Who will be dragged down next time?

Taicheng is in the hands of the Queen Mother, and the reason for the sudden death of the emperor is really easy to find.Even if he died, there was still Sima Daozi who could continue to be the puppet.

With him or without him, it's really not bad.

"Mother, my son will obey the mother's teachings, and never dare to forget!"

Sima Yao was scared, really scared.

Recognizing my own position and situation, the anger in my heart dissipated without a trace, and all that was left was fear.

He even started to envy Sima Yi.

The latter can still leave Taicheng in one piece. Although the title has been lowered again and again, and he will not be free for life, at least he doesn't have to worry about being killed all the time.If it was me, it was really unknown whether I could leave Taicheng alive.

Sima Yao's forehead was sweating, and his lips were pale.

The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction. From the beginning to the end, her emotions did not fluctuate much, which made Sima Yao even more afraid.After she left the Taiji Hall and returned to Changle Palace, Sima Yao dared to breathe a sigh of relief.

Sitting in the inner hall, looking at the low-browed, seemingly respectful eunuchs and palace maids, he couldn't help laughing sarcastically.

Fortunately, he thought that he could bear it, survive Xi Yin, plot against Huan Rong, surpass the previous emperors, and take power in the court!In the end, it was just a dream.

Waking up from the dream too quickly, seeing that he was an ant under the thumb, he began to envy Sima Yi.

crazy?

Be a lunatic and at least survive!

What about him?

What should he do?

As the sun was setting, Sima Yao sat blankly, not moving for a long time.

Jiankang City, Qingxili, an ox cart drove across a long road, crossed two streams, and stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

The healthy servant driving the chariot put away his long whip, jumped off the chariot neatly, stepped forward and knocked on the assistant's head.

The gatekeeper responded, seeing that it was Xi Chao who came, he couldn't help being surprised, and immediately reported to the front yard.

Everyone in the court knew that Xi Chao was an official in Huanwen, and he broke with Xi Yin, and the relationship between father and son was almost incompatible.Xi Yin even bypassed his eldest son and directly handed over Jingkou to Xi Rong, which shows that the relationship between father and son is really difficult to reverse.

After Xi Chao returned to Jiankang, except for a visit on the day he entered the city, he never went to the prime minister's mansion again.Counting with my fingers, this is the second visit in half a year.

When Xi Yin learned that, his complexion darkened immediately, and he didn't want to see him, but he quickly changed his mind and ordered someone to take Xi Chao to the main room.He would like to see what the intention of the unfilial son came to the door this time.

At the same time, Youzhou ordered three thousand soldiers from Qi to prepare warships and prepare to go west along the waterway to reinforce Hanzhong.

The imperial court's decree is still on the way, but time does not wait for anyone, Huan Rong accepts Jia Bing and Xun You's suggestion, and sends troops first to repel the Di people.

"Assassin Yang asked for help first, and the Hanzhong army is in dire straits."

"If you are in a hurry to follow the power, Duke Ming is in charge of the military forces in Youzhou and Yuzhou. It is not inappropriate to send troops first. Even if someone criticizes you, you can argue with reason. And when the news spreads, the world will praise Duke Ming, but he is the one who provokes , will be reviled by the people."

Huan Rong didn't speak.

What Jia Sheren meant was clearly expecting someone to take the opportunity to provoke, in order to set off Huan Rong's "selflessness" and "concern for the country and the people".Obviously, the previous dark fire did not satisfy him very much. When he found an opportunity, he had to pile up firewood in Jiankang and continue to put Taicheng on the fire.

For some reason, Huan Rong suddenly sympathized with his opponent.

When I met Jia Bingzhi, who had learned the true biography of a poisoner, I really had to kneel if I didn't want to.

The state soldiers were assembled, and another fifty military vehicles were transported onto the military ship.

Gongshuchang and Xiangli brothers played their strengths, and Wuche made more internal improvements.Seeing "thousands of arrows fired together" once, Huan Rong felt a chill down his spine.

Such a big killer, combined with the humanoid weapon that is screaming and ready to do meritorious service, and the military formation trained by Gao Yi, he has the confidence to invite Di people to drink a pot, and drink a pot well!

Envoy Huan was about to show his muscles, and Qin Jing, who was far away in Changli, also took action.

After receiving the news brought back by the black eagle, Qin Jing decided to stop recuperating from his injuries and look for an opportunity to lead his troops to the expedition.

"It's been more than half a year, and the injury is no longer serious." Qin Jing stroked the black eagle standing on his shoulder, and faced Qin Qi's slightly uncertain gaze, Qin Jing smiled, "Brother, don't worry, the letter is sent to Xihe. Father will definitely nod his head in agreement."

"How many soldiers are you going to bring? Do you need to ask my father to send more troops? Or are they transferred from other counties?"

"No need." Qin Jing shook her head, brushed the eagle's feathers with her slender fingers, causing the latter to puff up its breast feathers and let out a satisfied cry.

"No need?" Qin Yu frowned.

"One thousand Xianbei under Ranhu's troops is enough. What's more, Di Kou borrowed the grassland, why can't I?"

"Borrow the grassland?" Qin Yu became more and more confused, "Brother, if you act like this, even if you can capture the county, you may not be able to occupy it."

Ranhu's troops are indeed good at attacking, but they are not as good at defending the city.Leading them to attack Diqin, of course, can solve the battle quickly, but the follow-up is troublesome.

"I didn't intend to attack cities and land," Qin Jing raised the corners of his mouth, his temples were black and his lips were blood-colored, "It's just for one thing."

"What's the matter?"

"kill."

Qin Yu's eyes widened, and he gasped on the spot.