Shangyuan City, Changle Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Prince Ning Weiyuan finally waited for the person he wanted to see.
A captain who escaped from the Leizhou border army.
After learning that the western state capital had fallen, he was shocked but did not forget to take action. In addition to suggesting to the Ministry of War to immediately mobilize the garrison troops from several nearby states to support Suzhou, he also sent his own elite guards to Leizhou, making sure to get there first. Before the Gaoguo troops took control of the local traffic arteries, they brought back a general or official who knew the local situation.
At this time, there is no point in asking letters. He must personally find out the reasons for the change from the people involved.
It would be best if you have your own cronies in the army who can report the news, but since these people failed to convey the news to Gyeonggi as soon as possible, their experience will definitely not be optimistic.
"Kow, kowtow to His Highness the Crown Prince." The visitor knelt down and said tremblingly.
"Who does your name lead the troops under?" Although the personal guard had already reported it to him, Ning Weiyuan decided to ask again - he believed that few people in the world would dare to lie in front of him.
"Back to Your Highness, Du Qi, a humble official, was working with General Zuo at that time..." This man's teeth were shaking violently. He probably thought that he was not going to die soon - as a border soldier, he failed to guard the border. On the way to escape, he was killed by the prince. If someone is caught, one can imagine the fate. "No, but that's not what General Zuo did alone, Your Highness!"
Is it not his fault alone? Ning Weiyuan's heart sank. It seemed that the guards had not found the wrong person this time. "Get up and talk. I don't have to kill you, as long as you tell me everything you know."
The captain's face was shocked, and then he was overjoyed, "Yes, I will never hide my humble position!"
"Do you know what General Zuo was doing at that time?"
"I know! He and General Ba made a pincer attack plan. They planned to divide the troops into two groups and set the joint attack location at Baixi Lake. But for some unknown reason, the battle plan was stopped midway. General Zuo sent someone to inform General Ba. , led the army back to the gray grassland area, and set up camp saying that they were waiting for another army."
Was this how the specific situation was originally arranged
I can't see any problem. Ning Weiyuan thought to himself that the so-called waiting for response should be the final interception. "Then what?"
The captain opened his mouth and felt his tongue was a little bitter. Until now, he still couldn't believe that the scene was real. "Then... a heavy armored cavalry force that I had never seen before attacked us. They had no flags and were large in number. , and…will not accept surrender.”
"Heavy armored cavalry?" Even though he had been taught to keep his emotions and anger secret since he was a child, the prince couldn't help shouting, "Where did the cavalry come from?"
The situation of Gao State and Qi State is similar. They are not good at horse warfare. The horses in the army are mostly used by scouts. What's more, most of the area in Leizhou is not suitable for cavalry combat. Why did a heavy cavalry force suddenly appear
His first reaction was that the other party was lying.
But soon, Ning Weiyuan thought of an incredible possibility.
"Are the weapons they used long spears with curved blades?"
"Your Highness, that's exactly what it is!"
The prince slammed the chair!
—"Xu Guo's Iron Cavalry".
That's why this person said that it was not General Zuo's fault alone. Under normal circumstances, what Zoan did was completely within control. Without Ba Xingtian, Leizhou Mansion would be under greater pressure at best. With an army of nearly 30,000 people and a fortified city, it was impossible for Gao Guo to capture it in an instant.
He could already imagine the scene at that time - it was impossible for two legs to run over four legs on a flat place? As long as Zoan starts to retreat, he will face a defeat. Will most people be chased and killed by the cavalry? And without the city defenses of the two border armies? Naturally, it became a decoration.
It's just that Ning Weiyuan couldn't figure out the reason why Xu Guojun would appear at the border. Gao and Xu join forces to annex Qi? This is simply not realistic. Xu State does not border Qi State, even if it conquers several states? That's just a wedding dress for Gao Guo. Can the other party still occupy Daqi's territory across a country
What's more, he had never heard of any rumors of an alliance between the two countries.
It would have been incredible if they didn't fight first.
Where is this cavalry now? How long can Suzhou hold on? Ning Weiyuan's mind was spinning rapidly - the accident has happened? Instead of regretting the decision you made? It's better to think of any way to save the situation. anyway? This news must be conveyed to the Ministry of War and frontline troops as soon as possible, telling them that Gao Guo may not be the only enemy. At the same time, the Privy Council should also take action and mobilize local officials to go to Suzhou to respond to the enemy.
Speaking of the Privy Council House, he suddenly thought of a person.
Was this plan proposed by the emperor’s younger brother after all? Where is the risk of leakage? It's all done by him, is there even a slight possibility...
Thinking of this, Ning Wei looked at a personal guard from a distance, "My biological brother? Where is he now?"
The latter cupped his hands and said, "Still the same as usual? Stay in the thermal pavilion on the west side of the square."
Not in the Privy Council Palace
Ning Weiyuan stood up from his chair and said, "I'll go see him."
…
When the prince pushed open the door of Nuan Pavilion, the second prince was concentrating on painting a picture.
The sudden sound of the door pushed him visibly startled, and a ball of ink suddenly appeared on his pen, "Your Highness, why are you here?"
Ning Weiyuan walked up to him with an angry look on his face and grabbed his collar, "It's not all those good things you did! It's just to deal with a Ba Xingtian, and now even Leizhou has been lost. I just got the news that Xu The state is also involved - Xu state!" He emphasized, "Are you sure that no one else knows the news except the person who handled it?"
"Xu Guo? It's impossible. Even if the news is leaked, it won't be leaked to Gao Guo's neighboring countries." Ning Qianshi opened his hand, "And you can't blame me entirely for this, right? I will follow you that day I’ve explained it before, I can’t touch the army, and I do all the other errands myself, and you know this too—how did I know that Leizhou was gone like that?”
It's not that he's eager to prove or defend, but he's trying to shirk responsibility. His imperial brother really doesn't look like he knows the inside story.
But having said that, Ning Weiyuan didn't really believe that his second brother could make things so troublesome. This test was just a casual question. In the final analysis, the second prince who was far away from the court could not get any benefit from this matter.
If something unexpected happens to my father, the beneficiary will be him who has already established himself as the heir apparent; if he repels the invading army of Gao Kingdom later, his prestige in the military will be able to rise to a higher level; even if Qi Kingdom is forced to cede territory and seek peace, or even be subjugated. , what can the second prince get from it? I am afraid that even the current status cannot be maintained.
Since there is no benefit, why would the other party do it
Everything they have is ultimately based on the royal bloodline.
"Once Suzhou is lost, Youzhou will not be protected. If Youzhou is gone, the enemy will be able to reach Shangyuan City." Ning Weiyuan looked at his second brother coldly, "This matter is not a trivial matter, I will ask my father to let him The Privy Council assists the armies of various states in blocking the Gaoguo troops. Are you also a member of the Privy Council? Now is a good time for you to make contributions. "
"Your Highness...Brother, what do you mean by this?" Ning Qianshi looked surprised, "You don't want me to leave Shangyuan and go to a ghost place like Suzhou, do you?"
"That is my Daqi territory, not some ghost place!" The prince raised his voice a little, "Since the founding of the country by Taizu, the princes and grandsons have always had the tradition of fighting for the country. I believe that when my father hears your request, he will definitely It will be very gratifying.”
Ning Qianshi opened her mouth, but couldn't pick up the words for a long time.
"Your Highness, someone is looking for the Second Prince outside." The guard walked into the greenhouse to remind him.
"What do you want from him?"
"She said... she came to him for a drink." The guard whispered, "A bit younger than the second prince, and wearing the alchemist's uniform of the Privy Council Palace, maybe he is his friend?"
Drinking and painting? It's quite a leisurely moment.
"Then, I won't bother my second brother."
"Your Highness, I have already avoided you, do you still want to drive me away?" Ning Qianshi said in a deep voice.
"How can this be called rushing... I just want to train you so that you can share my worries in the future." Ning Weiyuan shook his head, turned around and walked out of the greenhouse.