While Qi Ning and Gu Qinghan were enjoying their world in the wooden house, Emperor Longtai was furious in the palace.
Although Xiao Shaozong's rebellion greatly shocked the court, Longtai did not cause too much trouble subsequently. This was simply because the war on the front line was tense, and he could only stabilize the capital as quickly as possible and with the most peaceful attitude. situation and return their energy to the war on the front line.
At dusk, Lu Xiao, Minister of the Ministry of War, hurriedly entered the palace to ask for an audience and brought an express message that had been rushed back to the capital from 800 miles away from the front line.
Lu Xiao lowered his head and looked very ugly. After reading the urgent report from Lu Xiao, the emperor's expression became serious. He slammed the table and said angrily: "Isn't Yue Huanshan a famous general who has been on the battlefield for a long time? ?Why would you make such a stupid mistake?"
Lu Xiao finally said: "Your Majesty, the few reports Yue Huanshan sent before show that the situation on the front line is very favorable to us. There must be a problem with the food and grass on the Han army. They have been shrinking the front line. Zhong Li'ao's main force refused to Staying on the front line of Zheng County is the only way to Luoyang, so if you want to march into Luoyang, you must capture Zheng County. However, Zheng County has strong defenses and is extremely difficult to conquer. It also forms a defensive shape with the two counties on the left and right. Huan Shan said in the excerpt that Zhong Liao chose to retreat to the front line of Zheng County to set up defenses because he was cunning. If our army attacked Zheng County with all its strength, the soldiers and horses from the two counties on the flanks would probably form an outflank to our army. potential."
Longtai said: "In that case, why not cut off its wings first?"
"The Holy One is wise." Lu Xiao cupped his hands and said: "Yue Huanshan's intention is to break Zhongli'ao's wings first, and then concentrate his forces to attack Zheng County. Chengyi County, located to the southwest of Zheng County, has a weak force, and Chengyi's Dinghe City is relatively weak and easy to conquer, so Yue Huanshan sent Xiao Pingzhi to lead troops to attack Chengyi."
"Xiao Pingzhi's five thousand troops were completely wiped out...!" Long Tai's face turned blue: "Five thousand soldiers were killed so easily...!"
"Yue Huanshan has sent people to Dinghe City to collect intelligence in advance. There are only two thousand defenders in the city." Lu Xiao said: "Xiao Pingzhi is good at fighting hard battles, and those five thousand soldiers and horses are also brave elite soldiers, and Xiao Pingzhi is determined to fight hard." A military order has been issued...!"
"What's the use of the military order?" Longtai threw the urgent report on the table and said angrily: "He has died in the battle, and the military order is just a piece of waste paper. Didn't Yue Huanshan know in advance that there was a problem with the river?"
Lu Xiao said: "The Baishu River has always been very shallow. You can cross the river on horseback. Yue Huanshan was also careful and sent someone to inquire. The Baishu River began to dry up more than ten years ago, and the water level has been decreasing year by year. Many fields along the river have died due to There is a lack of river water for irrigation, and the harvest is not as good as the previous year." He looked solemn and said: "But Yue Huanshan did not expect that Baishu River is a tributary of Baiyang Lake. Xiao Pingzhi crossed the Baishu River and came to the city, so Zhong Liao immediately sent people to seal Baiyang Lake. The other outlets destroyed the dam of Baiyang Lake, so the water in Baishu River surged overnight."
Longtai was a little slumped, his face still extremely ugly.
"When Yue Huanshan learned that the water level of Baishu River was rising, he knew something was wrong and sent troops to reinforce." Lu Xiao said solemnly: "Zhong Li'ao secretly sent troops around Chengyi County, several times more than Xiao Pingzhi. Xiao Pingzhi was ambushed and could only return. We retreated, but our way back was blocked by the Baishu River. There was no time to build a boat to cross the river...!"
Longtai said angrily: "Thousands of soldiers were wiped out. Not only do I feel sorry for those soldiers, but the most important thing is that this battle has greatly dampened the morale of our army."
"Your Majesty, in the final analysis, Yue Huanshan does not have a deep understanding of the terrain in the north." Lu Xiao said: "Our army is pressing forward step by step, but the deeper it goes into the territory of the Han Kingdom, the more disadvantageous it will be to our army. On the contrary, it will be more detrimental to the Han army." The more advantageous it is. Zhongli'ao knows the land of Han very well. As a soldier, the time and place are favorable and the people are harmonious. Zhongli'ao occupies the right time and place and is good at taking advantage of the geographical convenience in the north." He sighed: "With all due respect, this cannot be done either. It’s all Yue Huanshan’s fault. The imperial court still doesn’t have a detailed map of the north. The war map in Yue Huanshan’s hands was incomplete, so the Han people took advantage of it.”
Qi Ning stood up, put his hands behind his back, wandered around, and suddenly asked: "I summoned King Yiheng, why didn't I see him coming?"
"Your Majesty, I heard that King Yiheng has been out of the capital to handle some private matters these days." Lu Xiao said, "I'm afraid he hasn't returned to the capital yet."
Longtai said angrily: "I have something to look for him, but he is busy with his own affairs. Send someone to quickly find him for me." He then said: "Yes, Yue Huanshan is over there, so he is not allowed to enter. Zhongli Ao is not an ordinary person, don’t fall into his trap again.”
"I accept the order." Lu Xiao took a step forward, but hesitated to speak, but his expression became more solemn.
Longtai saw that Lu Xiao seemed to have something to say, and said, "Lu Aiqing, if you have anything to say, it doesn't hurt to say it."
"Your Majesty, you mentioned King Yiheng, and I suddenly remembered that in the past two days, there have been some rumors in the capital... in the streets of the capital." Lu Xiao said cautiously.
"Rumors?" Longtai asked: "What rumors? About King Yiheng?"
Lu Xiao said: "Exactly. According to popular rumors, King Yiheng... is not... not a bloodline of the Qi family!"
Longtai's body trembled and his color changed: "Who is spreading rumors?"
"It's difficult to find out the origin of the rumors." Lu Xiao said: "I don't know who posted notices about the rumors about King Yiheng in some places in the capital. Although the people of Kyoto Prefecture quickly tore up those notices, the rumors still spread. I heard that Tie Zheng has investigated the matter and strictly prohibits people from spreading rumors, but... there are still some people talking nonsense in private...!"
Long Tai's eyes flashed and he murmured: "Xiao Shaozong, you won't make people peaceful even if you die."
Lu Xiao heard clearly and said suspiciously: "Sir, are you saying that these rumors come from Xiao Shaozong?"
Longtai waved his hand and said: "These rumors that slander the pillars of the imperial court are really audacious. If we continue to spread the word, these rumors must be stopped immediately. If anyone continues to slander wantonly, immediately...!" At this point, he paused. Thoughtful.
Lu Xiao said softly: "Your Majesty, it is better to guard against the people's mouth than against the river. If there are such rumors in the market, they should be investigated and dealt with strictly. However, if a big fight is made, it will make people think that these rumors are not necessarily false. Ignore them and live a good life. After a while, no one said anything more."
Long Tai pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Lu Aiqing, does anyone really think these rumors are true?"
"Of course it's a lie." Lu Xiao said: "It's just that some people are stupid and dull, and they are like rain when they hear the wind. Your Majesty, you don't need to care too much."
Longtai was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Please step back first."
After Lu Xiao withdrew, it didn't take long for the queen to bring a palace maid into the imperial study. Seeing the queen, Longtai's originally solemn expression finally softened. He showed a smile, walked over to meet the queen, supported the queen and said, "Let's go." Have a good rest and don't move around. If you really need to talk to me about something, just send someone over to tell me. Why come over in person?" He gently stroked the queen's abdomen and whispered, "Don't make him work too hard."
The queen said angrily: "The emperor knew that my concubine was pregnant, so he only started to care about him. I don't care about him."
After Xiao Shaozong's rebellion was put down, the previous order was quickly restored in the palace. The queen was naturally welcomed back to the palace from Sima's Mansion. After returning to the palace, a major event that made Longtai extremely happy was that the queen already had a child. Pregnant.
This was of course a great joy for Longtai, but just after the rebellion, Longtai did not publicize this great joy to the outside world. Even within the palace, not many people knew about it.
Longtai helped the queen sit down, and the queen said: "The emperor has not rested very much these days. Although state affairs are important, you must also pay attention to your health. I have asked someone to prepare some ginseng soup that can replenish energy. The emperor will drink some." She summoned the palace maid to bring the ginseng soup and poured a bowl for Longtai herself. Longtai took the soup bowl without using a spoon and drank a few sips. Seeing the emperor like this, the queen turned her face away, and her eye circles turned slightly red.
Seeing this, Longtai hurriedly handed the soup bowl to the palace maid, held the queen's hand, and said softly: "What's wrong? The queen... why are you crying?"
"No." The queen forced a smile and said: "Concubine... I just think that the emperor is good to me, so... 1"
Longtai took the brocade handkerchief from the queen's hand, helped her gently wipe away her tears, and said softly: "You are my queen, so I will naturally treat you well."
"But... the emperor is not wary of my concubine." The queen sighed softly: "Your Majesty, my concubine is the princess of Qi. Da Qi was attacked and destroyed by Chu. The emperor's brother... The emperor's brother was also under house arrest in the capital. Could it be... Has the Emperor never suspected that I would be unfaithful to you?"
Longtai smiled and said: "Before you entered the Chu State, you were the princess of the Qi State, but after you set foot in the Chu State, you will be the queen of my Dachu State." He stroked the queen's belly and his eyes shone brightly: "If you give birth to a prince, Then he is the crown prince of my country, and will be the emperor of the country in the future. I only know that you are my queen. In this case, how can I doubt my queen?"
The queen smiled, took the soup bowl from the palace maid's hand, took the soup spoon, and said: "Then I will serve the emperor to drink the soup."
Longtai drank less than half of the bowl and then said: "The Queen will go back early. I'm done with my work and will go over immediately."
The queen nodded slightly, but stopped talking. Longtai looked at his words and looked in his eyes, and said softly: "Is the queen still worried about Marquis Changle?"
The queen smiled bitterly and said: "I heard that Shen Tuluo had committed suicide, and I was only worried...!"
"I have asked people to prepare a palace for him. Although he cannot leave the capital, he is still indispensable for glory and wealth. Queen, don't worry." Longtai said: "I also ordered people to bury Shentu Luo properly. He is from Qi State. The Grand Governor, as a soldier, ended up in this situation. With his temperament, it is not surprising that he finally made this choice."
The queen knew that some things were a foregone conclusion and could not be changed. She hummed softly, thought of something, and asked, "Does your Majesty know that there are rumors that King Yiheng is not a bloodline of the Qi family?"
Longtai frowned: "There are also rumors in the palace?"