This was the first time the prince had urgently summoned someone, and no one dared to neglect it.
Gu Yanxi ran into Duke Dingguo at the palace gate, and the two of them walked side by side after politely giving way to each other.
"Does the Regent know why you are summoned?"
"I heard it was an urgent report from the front line."
The two looked at each other, and Duke Dingguo sighed, "The tree wants to be still, but the wind does not stop."
Gu Yanxi stopped, and Duke Dingguo stopped too, "Uncle, I have something to ask of you."
Duke Dingguo was stunned for a moment. He hadn't heard this title from the prince for many years. "Just say it."
Gu Yanxi looked at the palace in front of him that was full of history. It was not built when Daqing first built it, but it has been passed down for hundreds of years. Even after hundreds of years of prosperity, it has never been destroyed. No matter how dynasties changed, or how raged the wind, frost, rain and snow were, it stood here quietly. The color might not be as bright as before, but every brick and tile of it has a long-lasting ancient charm.
This place now belongs to Daqing.
He also hopes that it will still belong to Daqing for many years to come.
"When I'm not in the capital, please take care of me a little more."
Duke Dingguo's eyes narrowed, "Do you need to leave the capital?"
"When the late emperor was alive, I had to travel around. Now, how can the Seven Stars defend the capital to the death? It is only a matter of time before I leave the capital."
Duke Dingguo was silent. Yes, the leader of the Seven Stars Division has always been destined to work hard.
"You don't need to worry. The prince is a grateful person."
"I believe in him, but sometimes he is more helpless than anyone else. Being in the royal family, you should know this better than anyone else." Gu Yanxi looked at him, "You don't need to do anything, just help her when she encounters something. She is from the Hua family and has the spirit of loyalty to the emperor. She is the imperial tutor and has a teacher-student relationship with the prince. She and I have a promise to stay together. She and the royal family are inseparable. If she makes any decision, it will definitely not be detrimental to the royal family. When the time comes, please help her."
"I understand what you mean." Duke Dingguo looked at him with a half-smile, his hands behind his back. "In such a big court, we need to rely on the Grand Tutor when we encounter problems."
Gu Yanxi lowered her head and smiled, "All officials in the capital have their own strengths, and those who can sit firmly in high positions are all smart people. I can tell you something without worrying about your anger. When it comes to quick wit, no one can match her, and no one can match the prince's trust in her. I will hand over all the people in my prince's mansion to her. If that time really comes, with this support, half of it will be accomplished. If you can help her a little bit by then, there is no need to worry about not being able to accomplish it."
"Are you so sure that this moment will come?"
"Why does the Seven Stars need to be 100% sure when they act? They will fight if they are 30% sure. The same is true for me. The intentions of the Chaoli tribe are obvious. A war between the two countries is inevitable. There are still remnants of the Chaoli tribe in the capital who have not been dug out. I don't know what their plan is and whether there will be trouble at that time."
Gu Yanxi approached Duke Dingguo and said in a low voice, "The Crown Prince has just been enthroned, and people's hearts are unsettled. Who can you trust? Even if it's my maternal family, Duke Anguo, how can you be at ease?"
Of course Duke Dingguo didn't dare to believe it completely, because of what happened with Princess Ling back then, he also had to be on guard against Duke Anguo taking advantage of someone's illness to kill him, so how could he dare to believe it completely
By now he completely understood what the prince meant. All those twists and turns were just his way of wanting him to be of one mind with the crown prince and the tutor, and not to be on guard against the tutor as he would a thief.
There were footsteps coming from behind, and they both looked over and saw that it was the six ministers coming together.
Several people bowed from a distance, the two men bowed, turned around and continued walking towards the palace.
It was not until they were almost at the Imperial Study that Duke Dingguo softly promised, "I'll take note of what you said. If that time ever comes, I'll think about it carefully."
Gu Yanxi couldn't ask for more. All he wanted was for Duke Dingguo to stand on Ah Zhi's side when things got tough. Now that had made him a little biased.
"Meet the prince."
Without waiting for the two men to bow, the prince helped them up one by one, and exempted the six ministers who followed him from the formalities. He glanced at them and said in a hoarse voice, "General Sun... died in battle."
Someone cried out in a low voice. This was something they had never expected!
Duke Dingguo frowned, "But the Chaoli tribe is invading the border? What is the situation of guarding the pass now?"
"It is indeed the Chaoli tribe that invaded the border. Now the soldiers have retreated to the defense pass according to General Sun's last order." The prince looked at the eastern area on the map, "I heard from the messenger that the other side is very familiar with General Sun. I didn't know that General Sun used to lead the left vanguard himself, but the other side knew it. They are heading for General Sun."
"Is there a traitor?"
"To be verified." The prince turned around, "The problem now is that there is no general guarding the east."
The room fell silent. It would be easy to guard any other checkpoint, except the narrow pass.
The reason why Shouai Pass is the best pass in the world is not because of how strange or dangerous it is. It is just ordinary. What makes it special is that its defense line is very long. Because it is long, it is very difficult to defend.
Moreover, because the Chaoli tribe retreated to an island, as a defensive gateway, it was basic skill for the soldiers guarding the pass to be able to swim. There were still two generals in the court who could fight on horseback. It was extremely rare to have generals who could not only enter the water but also lead the troops to fight on land.
Minister of War Chen Yuanqing said in a dull tone, "Old General Zhu Lin... is already seventy-seven years old."
General Zhu Lin was the former commander guarding the Ai Pass, and he was the only person they could think of at this moment.
Zhu Bowen, the Minister of Finance, shook his head. "The old general is no longer in good health. He was sick before the New Year, and now he can only barely get out of bed."
For a moment, no one spoke.
The prince moved his lips several times before speaking, "I remember that General Sun was personally taught by General Zhu for four years before he was relieved to retire. General Sun is almost that age now. Isn't there a successor?"
"General Sun once submitted a memorial to the late emperor, but..." Chen Yuanqing did not finish his words, but everyone in the room heard it clearly. The late emperor read it but kept it in his pocket and did not give any instructions to General Sun.
The prince turned his back abruptly. He felt sorry for his grandfather, but the kingdom his grandfather was guarding was the Gu family's!
It was his Gu family who let General Sun down!
"We can discuss this matter at court tomorrow." Gu Yanxi spoke in silence, "The morale of the soldiers of the lost general has plummeted, and it is well known that it is difficult to defend the pass. I don't know how long they can hold on. We need to send reinforcements as soon as possible. Minister Chen, how are the new recruits this year?"
Chen Yuanqing was stunned. "There are new soldiers, but if they go to guard the pass, I'm afraid..."
"We don't need them to guard the pass. We can transfer them from other places, such as Jingzhou. I remember that the people there are also good at swimming. We can send new soldiers there to fill the gap."
"Yes, I understand."
Gu Yanxi stopped talking and looked at the prince, "Your Highness, do you have anything else to add?"
The prince calmed down and nodded, saying, "The food and fodder must go before the troops move. Minister Zhu, the household needs must be arranged as soon as possible."
"Yes, I respect your order."
PS: I will try my best to update daily in the next few days. I am too busy during the New Year holidays. There are only a few days left. Girls, please be patient.