Chapter 630: Zeguo Jiangshan Enters the War Picture (4)
At the end of autumn, Bianliang, with its city gates closed, was still in a tense, anxious and noisy atmosphere.
The Jurchens have not yet attacked the city. It is said that the army gathered outside the city is standing still. There are rumors in the court and the people are restless. Regarding the negotiations, news was once spread to the outside world. Later, due to the increasing number of King Qin's troops, the news was gradually blocked. People are looking forward to this war passing quickly, and some people are also looking forward to the Wu Dynasty army teaching the Jurchens a harsh lesson. However, the matter has always been suppressed at this stage and has not been triggered.
Some people are aware of the chaos in the court. In mid-September, Qin Siyuan's resignation as prime minister caught many people off guard. Among the main war faction, if Li Gang is the flag flying in the front, then Qin Siyuan in the rear is actually the flag bearer who can ensure that the flag does not fall. However, when the situation was tense and Li Gang was unstoppable, Qin Siyuan was removed, which really made it difficult for people to have a good premonition.
However, this time the right phase change came too suddenly, and for a while there was no situation where everyone rushed forward and pushed the wall down. The announcement of the decree by the Golden Palace was also a little shady. It only asked Qin Siyuan to temporarily hand over his duties, and the words he used were somewhat conciliatory. After the matter was settled, many high officials from the court went to the Qin Mansion to visit and comfort him. Even some senior officials who had different political views in the past were actually not happy about his resignation this time.
The Wu Dynasty, which had enjoyed peace and prosperity for hundreds of years, had just gotten rid of the Liao Kingdom, a serious thorn in its side, and in the blink of an eye, troops were approaching the city.
The whole situation is really beyond optimism.
At this time, gathered in the inner hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion were several ministers from the original peace faction, such as Tang Ke, Wu Min and others. They were quite knowledgeable and had a deep friendship with Qin Siyuan. , another example is to say that you calculate it yourself After Qin Siyuan's censor, Zhongcheng Qin Huizhi, issued the order to dismiss the prime minister, many people stood up and tried to block Zhou Zhe's order. Qin Hui was one of them. Of course, although the obstruction was ineffective, the intention always arrived.
"...The meaning of your Majesty's words is not that he really wants to remove Mr. Qin, but because the situation in Taiyuan is sensitive. A few days ago in the palace, the Prime Minister avoided suspicion and said nothing. His Majesty knew that the Prime Minister It's difficult for me to do, but I can clearly see it in my heart..."
"Your Majesty's intentions, Mr. Wu said, I also understand in my heart." Qin Siyuan smiled and accepted the words.
Qin Hui on the side snorted: "So, your lords, you are going to cut Taiyuan?"
"It can't be cut, but it is really risky to simply place your hopes on a battle outside the city. Let’s do it. This is the capital. To put it bluntly, if the city is really destroyed, then there is no need to think about a way out.”
“If the war is really unfavorable, it is natural to think about a way out, but since ancient times, , military-minded It's a waste of time. Before the war starts, if you calculate that you will lose, then there is really no need to fight."
"Qin Zhongcheng is very knowledgeable about military matters, so this battle might as well be fought by Master Qin. I will definitely support you. . It’s just that Mr. Qin must understand that things on the battlefield are not necessarily the same thing as things in the court!”
“How can soldiers use their lives if they cannot work together!”
Wu Min and Qin Hui were about to quarrel. Tang Ke on the side took a sip of tea and turned his head to look at Qin Siyuan: "Ming Gong, my foolish brother said earlier that the war cannot be fought. It's not that we shouldn't fight. What happened today is that This is the reason why we can't fight. In the past few years, the voice of war has increased, and everyone thinks that we have a good opportunity. It’s not my fault for calling Tang a coward. Has Ming Gong seen this now?”
Qin Siyuan cupped his hands and said, “Oh, Brother Qinsou is cowardly… Brother Yu would never have such an idea. You and I have said this many times before, and I know what happened today, but it will never change what I think. Change. As a country, when the opportunity is in front of you, you cannot look forward and backward, do your best, and then obey the destiny. What's more, the destiny is unknown at this time, and there are many variables in the battle formation. After all, Zongwang's army is alone and Zonghan will not leave Taiyuan. There is still a chance."
"What chance is there? Are these old soldiers?" Tang Ke shook his head, "If you don't know the generals, you don't know the soldiers. So what if there are hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of people? Do you think anyone really believes what the impeachment memorandum says is that he is an incompetent general who goes out to fight rashly? In matters of human affairs, since the Jurchen uprising, they have always defeated the greater number with a small number, and guarded the steps to reach the hill. Their 20,000 people defeated the 700,000 Liao people. At this time, outside Bianliang City, in addition to the ever-victorious army, there are still The main force is 60,000, and our Wu Dynasty’s 200,000 people will hunt outside Bianliang City. If Ming Gong truly believes, will our Wu Dynasty have a chance?”
Qin Siyuan was silent for a moment: "It's just a war, how can we estimate it like this? If we really want to calculate it like this, if more than 100,000 Jurchens go south, our country will not be able to stop them. Should we simply surrender when they go south?" What?”
“We shouldn’t start the fight lightly,” Tang Ke said, then paused. He paused and cupped his hands, "Foolish brother, I didn't come here today to make such superficial remarks. The battle cannot be estimated like this, and I understand it in my heart. It's just that the Jurchens are strong. When Aguda was alive, he could still win with 20,000 people fighting 700,000. At this time, Aguda Less than a year after his death, Wu begged to buy a new successor, and Zong Wang was the Jurchen army spirit, the son of Aguda. If the battle does not have a satisfactory outcome, it will have a tragic outcome. Tang knows that everyone in the court hopes that after the battle outside the city, Zong Wang will retreat. However, unless Zong Wang is defeated miserably. It’s absolutely impossible to fight together. I want both sides to stop at the same time, but it’s just a fool’s errand...”
He looked serious and paused for a moment: "At this time, his tens of thousands of troops went south. Although they were devastated along the way, the expectation for the war was that our Wu Dynasty would pay compensation and cede territory. If there is a fight outside the city, it will not be easy for Zong Wang to attack the city, but He is never willing to leave lightly, once it is consumed , the strength of our Wu Dynasty will only gradually bottom out, and when the time comes, he will see clearly that our Wu Dynasty will be in danger of ruin!"
Qin Hui said: "Master Tang is being alarmist."
I was accompanied by him because he was also a great scholar. Yao Zunian raised his eyes and said: "After the disaster of the country's destruction is over, it will be a sign of the country's rejuvenation. If you can't grit your teeth and hold on at this time, and let the Jin people eat the marrow to know the taste, will you just live by ceding land and paying compensation?"
“The sudden rise of Jurchens has no foundation, everything is They all come from plundering. One effort will lead to decline, and the other will be exhausted. As time goes by, corruption will inevitably occur. When the time comes, our Wu Dynasty may have a chance..."
Qin Hui sneered: "It's not about competing with others. Better, just who is worse.”
Tang Ke glanced at him: "There are some things before you and me that can't be solved by whether you admit it or not, and it's definitely not a matter of scholarly anger or one or two lives. There are hundreds of millions of people in the world in our hands. , the state affairs are at this point, we will wait You can only act with your eyes in front of you. Brother Qin, you are not here to stir up trouble in front of the Holy One!"
There were many intriguing things in his words, and Qin Hui laughed a few times. Don't speak anymore. Qin Siyuan's eyes were complicated, and it took a long time before he spoke.
"Qinsou, I have always admired your knowledge and foresight. But this matter is not a trade-off, but a matter of belief. You believe in your responsibility to the people and do not want them to suffer too much. I believe Responsibility for a country and a family, unwilling to People, live like this. I always believe that things will turn around if they are not desperate. If everything depends on calculation and weighing, in this court, neither you nor I actually have to do anything. Just live with your calculations.”
"You and I have quarreled over this, not once or twice..." Tang Ke sighed and shook his head, "I know I can't convince you. Steel can only be seen after quenching hard stone. Your idea is not wrong. It's just me. The problem of the DPRK was originally a two-hundred-year-old abuse. To make progress, we must first seek innovation. , Reform is fruitless, and progress is useless. The current situation has caused suffering to the people all over the world, and to the officers and soldiers inside and outside the city... We and other officials are all guilty. "
"If you don't feel the pain. , is there any reason for innovation? ”
"How about the Blackwater Alliance? Where is the innovation..."
In the study, the chatter was the voices of several senior officials sitting and discussing. In this heavy city, it also has a heavy weight. At this time, outside Bianliang City, in the Moutuogang Jurchen camp, the late autumn wind was blowing in. In the military tent, Zong Wang and a group of generals were having a meeting.
"...Commander Nianhan said in his letter that Taiyuan is still in the hands of the Wu Dynasty and is difficult to capture for a while. The Western Army of the Wu Dynasty has moved and is eyeing it. If the West Route Army rashly finds it difficult to move, the Wu Dynasty army will suddenly If we launch an attack, it is very likely to cut off the north-south access. Although Wu Dynasty is weak, there are still a few combatable troops. If all our troops are trapped in the hinterland of Wu Dynasty, , It’s really unwise...”
In the middle of the big tent, Wanyan Zongwang, the second son of Aguda, is sitting on the commanding position, with a calm and powerful aura. Wanyan Zongwang is sitting on the seats around him. Mu, Wan Yanchang, and the Han army all commanded generals such as Liu Yanzong, Sai La, Shu Liesu, and Huoli Gai, and Guo Yaoshi and others who had surrendered were also at the bottom.
“I have issued several orders for the West Route Army to go south to support, but looking at the situation, Nianhan is unwilling to come over for the time being.” After letting people convey Nianhan’s meaning, Zong Wang He opened his mouth and said, "Now some people say that our army has gone deep alone, and the Wu Dynasty has stationed hundreds of thousands of troops, claiming to be millions, blocking the path of the Yellow River, and they want to force them to surrender to me..."
When he said this, he raised the corner of his mouth and smiled slightly, and there was a group of laughter around him.
"People from the Wu Dynasty, clowns." Zong Wang waited for a moment, a trace of ferocity flashed in his eyes, and hit the table in front of him with his fist, "My Jurchen army never fights smoothly! People from the Wu Dynasty never fight smoothly!" A mere 200,000 people gathered by the Yellow River. They didn't dare to advance or retreat. They actually thought that our army would be afraid of the negotiation conditions I had given them, but of course they would not respond. "Yes, now that we are sure that Nianhan will not come, we don't have to wait any longer!"
He stopped talking and raised his hands: "Brothers, let's imagine how to do it outside Bianliang City. Defeat their million-strong army!"
When these words were heard in the camp, a piece of intelligence was coming from the north with the fast horse and entered the capital.
******************
When entering the noisy courtyard, Yue Fei saw the back of Ning Yi leaving expressionlessly.
The sounds of quarrels were still coming from the yard.
"...I just left without saying anything! Executioner! Ignorant villain! The great country of Wu Dynasty was brought down by people like you..."
Swearing inside This voice is that of the county magistrate named Yu Wenfeng. A few days after arriving here, Yue Fei has figured out what Ning Yi and others are responsible for, which is to evacuate all civilians and food near Bianliang while the army is gathering. Although on the surface, Zhu Ji It's just the coordination and errands. In fact, there is the support of the Prime Minister's Office behind it. This part is the main force that promotes the progress of the entire Jianbi Clearing.
Especially when the Jurchen soldiers are approaching the capital and everyone is busy with their own affairs, it seems that only Ning Yi and others are constantly doing these things based on relying on the army.
However, in the current environment, many people cannot understand this kind of thing. Yu Wenfeng was an official who knew the background. Because he opposed the relocation of residents in the county, he came to stop it. However, Ning Yi only issued orders through the court channels and did not bother to negotiate with him. Two days ago, Yu Wenfeng resigned from the post of county magistrate and came to curse people all day long. Ning Yi directly promoted the opponent's deputy to the top, and promoted the implementation of the entire plan without hesitation.
To be honest, after staying here these days, Yue Fei admires Ning Yi's toughness and the efficiency of work inside and outside the courtyard, but he is also like Yu Wenfeng when it comes to the current strong walls and clear fields. , a little puzzled.
The abuse inside continues: "...I only know how to do this foolish thing. Have you ever known the suffering of the people! They are forced to leave their homes. Winter is coming. Where will they live? What will they eat! Do you know, let them stay where they are? , there is still a glimmer of hope... What are you doing? I know you well. I know you. A gentleman talks but does not take action——"
Yu Wenfeng was originally a child of a big family in Beijing. As he spoke, he was Wenren Fujiu dragged him out by his collar. He wanted to fight with Wenren Buer, but there was no match for him: "Stay where you are, you are stupid because of your reading. Is the wall of your small county city ten feet high? The Jurchens can capture the city in less than an hour." Come down, they will be wolves and you will all be meat!”
He threw Yu Wenfeng out of the door, and Yu Wenfeng got up dancing: "The soldiers and people in our city are united and willing to die with the city. If the Jurchens want to take it, they have to pay the price. You can let those who want to leave go. How can we ignore public opinion and force people to move——"
He said that he was about to rush in, but Wenren Fuji held his face and pushed him out: "I will die with your mother! If you want to die, let you die? If this battle continues, the only ones left here will be women. The breadbasket of real people! You are all qualified. The enemy!"
"We have millions of troops from the Wu Dynasty, how long can this battle last? And how can you move all the millions of people around Bianliang? What a waste of time, how many people are tired on the road? Being killed by the Jurchens, how can you sleep at night without fear of being killed by evil spirits..."
"My mother can't move away for a million dollars...How can you still come if you don't move? I’ll really hit you again——”
The two were entangled for a while, and the expression on Wenren Buer's face became fierce. He punched the wall of the yard and knocked away some earth and rocks. When Yu Wenfeng saw that Wenren Buer was really angry, he just sorted himself out. Yiguan cursed and left. Wenren Fujiu gritted his teeth, then walked back while stroking his broken fist. In this courtyard, he and Ning Yi are both the ones in charge. However, Ning Yi usually gives people a calm and indifferent feeling. He is always serious when doing things and wears a cynical smile most of the time. , likes to joke, but just now, Yue Fei could see that this person was really angry.
The two of them were not familiar with each other, so they greeted each other, and Yue Fei said, "I just saw Mr. Ning leaving. He seemed worried. Did something happen?"
Wen Renfuer was silent for a moment, sighed slightly, and nodded: "Ah, indeed... there is bad news."
He did not continue talking. In fact, these days are full of all kinds of bad news. , Yue Fei couldn't think of how much news could be worse.
Qin Shaoqian lifted the table out of the Wurui Camp tent with one hand and sat there with his hands clenched in fists and his face gloomy. In his right hand, there was a letter.
When Ning Yi came in, he saw this scene.
He hesitated for a moment and stepped forward. Qin Shaoqian had a bandage on his head, looking over with one red eye, gritting his teeth.
"I lost one eye - I can see more clearly!"
"A letter from Mr. Qin?" Ning Yi looked at the letter in his hand.
"Father said that he resigned voluntarily!" Qin Shaoqian handed the letter to Ning Yi, still gritting his teeth when speaking, "In order to avoid suspicion, even if the emperor did not issue an imperial edict, he still wanted to Please resign, so... please don’t act recklessly!”
He smiled coldly: “I How can you act recklessly? It's just a war, but there is no need to fight now!"
Ning Yi lowered his head to read the letter, Qin Shaoqian took a long breath and put a fist on his forehead: " I'm blind! My brother is still in Taiyuan, his life and death are unknown! They... actually want to sue for peace!"
Ning Yi read the short letter, handed it back to Qin Shaoqian, and found a chair beside him to sit down.
"Mr. Qin may have had the idea of resigning, but this time it was Cai Jing who stood in the way. He... deliberately brought up the matter of the eldest brother of the Qin family in Taiyuan before the Holy One, and emphasized to the Holy One that this matter must be done It will not affect the Prime Minister, so the Holy One does not have to worry too much. Besides..."
Before he finished speaking, someone was anxious. He hurriedly said outside the camp: "Report! Urgent report from Taiyuan!"
Qin Shaoqian said: "Come in!"
The man opened the tent door and came in. It was Xu Xiaohu, the deputy general beside Qin Shaoqian. He glanced at Ning Yi, nodded slightly, and then said: "Taiyuan battle report, the Western Army was defeated."
Qin Shaoqian was slightly stunned...
In the late autumn of Jinghan's thirteenth year, at Tianmen Pass near Taiyuan, Zhe Keqiu and Liu Guangshi led an army of 40,000 to engage in a day-long fierce battle with Zong Han's troops. Near Jiaocheng, people were trapped and horses were exhausted, and they were defeated by the Jin army's night attack. They suffered tens of thousands of casualties and retreated to Fenzhou.
The defeats of Zhe Keqiu and Liu Guangshi meant that no more troops could break the siege of Taiyuan in a short period of time.
On the evening when the news came, the Jurchen army had just made plans for the next phase of the battle. As night fell, Zong Wang walked in the camp with his hands behind his back. Behind him were several generals such as Guo Yaoshi.
“As soon as this news comes, the Wu Dynasty court should be anxious.” Guo Yaoshi said, “Perhaps they are already discussing the matter of peace.”
"It's just a victory or defeat thousands of miles away." Zong Wang smiled, "Are the people of the Wu Dynasty really like this?" The information is good, just wait a day or two before someone comes to ask for peace."
"The terms of the previous peace negotiation. But in order to wait for Nianhan's army to move south and join together, the strength of our Jurchens is not based on the weakness of our enemies." Zong Wang looked at the brightly lit camp and said slowly, "Whether they are at peace or not, the previous agreement remains unchanged. ."
He said: "...We will fight."
"Yes!"
All the generals said together.
******************
The sky is bright and clear.
Xue Changgong ran up the city wall, warning that the smoke had been lit next to it.
In the distance, the Jurchens pushed siege equipment and surrounded...
On September 14th, after more than ten days of calm, the city wall of Bianliang finally came under violent attack again...
Imperial Palace, Wende Palace. Zhou Zhe sat on the throne and looked seriously at Li Chu below.
"When you go this time, you must negotiate a peace agreement, and you must also use your words to strive for the greatest benefits for our Wu Dynasty..."
"I obey the order!"< br>
Li Chen, who looked upright, accepted the order, with a look of generosity in his eyes. (End of chapter)