Zhao Deji asked again: "Yue Peng is so arrogant, how can we make him truly retreat?"
"Your Majesty, why don't you issue twelve edicts in succession to order him to retreat."
Zhao Deji was very curious about this suggestion and asked: "What are the Twelve Imperial Edicts?"
"In order to attract enough attention from him, His Majesty can issue an imperial edict every half an hour. If this continues, how dare Yue Pengju disobey the order?"
Zhao Deji was overjoyed: "Just follow this plan."
Subsequently, Qin Hui drafted and Zhao Deji personally transcribed 12 edicts. Of course, the content of each edict was similar, with slight differences, and the only difference was that the tone was more severe each time. Then, the palace arranged for the express delivery of these 12 edicts with gold letters. The urgent message was sent out.
As soon as Zhao Deji's gold plaque was handed over, an old woman opened her dim eyes in the deep palace, sighed, and suddenly sat up, looking at Tianwei and Wanwan who were waiting beside her.
This person is the Queen Mother. She has reached the last stage of her life. Because she was infected with wind and cold, she lay down and could no longer move this winter.
Tianwei waited by her side every day, and when she saw her suddenly become energetic, she realized that this was the legendary "return of light", and everyone burst into tears.
The Queen Mother asked: "What big events are going on these days?"
Tianwei and others did not dare to tell her about the 12 gold-lettered plaques that they learned from the eunuch, but seeing her worried face, they could only tell the truth: "Brother Ninth has sent someone to send 12 gold-character plaques to Mr. Yue." Withdraw troops from Zhuxian Town..."
The trace of energy on the Queen Mother's face disappeared without a trace in an instant, her eyes slowly closed, and she shed two turbid tears: "The Song Dynasty has no hope of rejuvenation. I am leaving here. I really have no words to see the ancestors of the Song Dynasty." Lie Zong!”
Tianwei and Wanwan cried bitterly.
The Queen Mother stretched out her skinny hand, grabbed her two hands respectively, and said solemnly: "I have no children in this life, so I rely on you two to accompany me in my old age and serve you carefully, better than my own daughter. When I was there, I could still be a little bit better. My blessing, once I leave, you two will have no one to rely on. From now on, please remember: Only by having food and clothing throughout your life can you maintain wealth."
The two nodded in agreement, and the Queen Mother slowly released her hand. When they saw it, they found that she was actually dead.
The two cried loudly, especially Tianwei. In the increasingly intense atmosphere of peace talks, they knew that Concubine Wei Xian was bound to return. Once she came back, what would be her fate? She didn't know whether she was mourning the Queen Mother or mourning herself, she just cried until she almost fainted. After hearing the news, Zhao Deji rushed over and shed a few sad tears. He ordered a large-scale funeral to be held for the Queen Mother, and held a three-month ceremony in the temple. Legal affairs.
Yue Pengju and others marched into Zhuxian Town, which was only forty-five miles away from Kaifeng and was Jin Wushu's last stronghold in Kaifeng. Except for some who were lucky enough to escape quickly, all the other residents were killed by the Jin army, and all the women were reduced to gold. Military camp prostitute.
Just when the Yue Family Army and the Jin Army were about to start a decisive battle, Han Chang sent a secret envoy to pay homage to Yue Peng's army. This man was dressed as a Jin man with braided hair and a left fold, and he was Han Chang's nephew Han Ba.
Han Ba knelt down and saluted Yue Peng according to Han etiquette, and said: "My uncle is tired of the war, and after witnessing the Jin soldiers massacring the people in the city many times, he no longer wants to be driven by the fourth prince, and hopes to reconcile with Xianggong Yue."
Yue Pengju also found out that Han Chang was whipped by Jin Wushu, and asked: "How many troops does Han Chang have?"
"fifty thousand."
Yue Pengju laughed: "The fourth prince only has 100,000 soldiers and horses, how can Han Chang have 50,000?"
Han Ba did not dare to brag anymore, so he had to tell the truth that there were still more than 13,000 troops. Han Ba said: "My uncle has been following the Fourth Prince for many years and could not bear to betray his alliance and turn against him. He only abandoned Changge County and retreated when the battle was about to begin. If we fight against the Yue family's army, please ask Mr. Yue to help us."
Yue Pengju said with enthusiasm: "If this is the case, Han Chang will be fulfilled."
As soon as Han Ba retreated, sure enough, he withdrew his entire army from Changge County when the Song and Jin Dynasties fought. Once Changge County was empty, Zhuxian Town became an isolated island. Capturing this place was equivalent to capturing Kaifeng.
On this day, the atmosphere in the army was very lively. Everyone rushed to tell each other, and morale had reached its peak. Yue Pengju said with enthusiasm: "If we take Zhuxian Town and Kaifeng, we must have a drink with you."
Hua Rong was also very happy. Since the Jingkang disaster, Kaifeng had been occupied by the Jin army and even the Zhao family temple had been destroyed. Now, it is about to be recovered. You can imagine how excited everyone is.
But at this time, the Yue family army was also facing great difficulties. Even if they were eager to get the rations, they could not wait. Naturally, Yue Pengju did not know that he was intercepted by Qin Hui, so he only discussed with his staff and sent one express after another to the palace to urge for rations. However, all this food and grass was intercepted and seized by Qin Hui. On the eve of the march to Zhuxian Town, the army's food and grass could only last for ten days. Yue Pengju ordered the army to reduce their meals to only two meals a day, and they could only have chestnut rice porridge at night. They also killed disabled horses and mules in the army for food rations.
He calmed the emotions of the lieutenants, but when discussing with his staff, he could no longer conceal this anxiety.
He asked: "How about buying military rations along the way?"
Zhu Fu shook his head: "The captives have been trapped for a long time, and there is obviously not much food and fodder for the soldiers, horses, and even if they are captured, they will not be able to last for long. And to buy food and fodder, how easy is it to support these 80,000 horses? Now the war is in chaos and the two rivers are trapped. How can there be time? ?”
Yu Peng said angrily: "Now that Qin Hui is covering the sky with one hand, everyone says that he is the spy of the fourth prince. He must do everything possible to hinder the great cause of resisting the Jin Dynasty..."
Li Ruoxu pondered for a long time, and then whispered: "Since ancient times, heroes have been out there, and if they are either rabbits or dogs, they will be cooked..." After all, he still did not dare to say the words "yellow robe and body". He returned to Lin'an to deal with it, and he understood the emperor's thoughts better.
The staff retreated, and Hua Rong came in with a bowl of steaming chestnut porridge and said softly: "Pengju, you haven't had dinner today. You won't be able to endure it for a long time."
Yue Pengju shook his head, and when he saw his wife's eyes were sunken, he sighed: "Sister Seventeen, if you follow me, you will suffer hardship all your life!"
Hua Rong was shocked. Pengju actually said that for a lifetime! She suddenly had an extremely terrible and ominous premonition in her heart, but she forced herself to calm down. She put down the rice porridge and walked behind him, stretched out her hands to massage his shoulders, and smiled sweetly: "Pengju, I am very happy when I am with you. How come? Enduring hardship?”
He turned around and gently hugged his wife's waist from behind, with a very deep voice: "Sister Seventeen, I have been in the army for more than ten years, from an ordinary soldier to a high position as a military governor. I have never done anything wrong in my life. But for you, I can't let my wife have a stable life! Sister Seventeen, we must win the final battle in advance. I promise you that I will resign from my job to accompany you. Even if it is farming and flowering, I will not let you and your son suffer any more..."
Hua Rong's eyes turned red and she was about to burst into tears. Her husband's words had already revealed a terrible despair about the future. He didn't dare to tell his staff, only to himself. Fortunately, Yue Pengju couldn't see her expression. , she still smiled, buried her head gently in his neck, rubbed him affectionately, and then slowly said: "Pengju, it will be fine, it will definitely get better."
Yue Pengju held her hand tightly and said nothing more.
At the same time, Jin Wushu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. He couldn't even drink wine, and his temper became more and more violent. Every day, he forced the soldiers to come up with plans to defeat the enemy. Although he was loyal to Qin Hui, Zhao Deji's courage was Xiao, had enough estimates, but he was also worried that Yue Pengju would disobey orders and advance. Based on his understanding of Yue Pengju, it was not impossible for Yue Pengju to do it, otherwise, he would not have disobeyed orders twice in a row. At this last moment, would Yue Pengju disobey orders
On this morning, the Yue family's army had a good meal and gathered in a large open space to make the final mobilization order before the war. As soon as Yue Pengju opened his mouth, unexpectedly, an urgent delivery from the palace came, which was the first golden letter from Zhao Deji asking for the withdrawal of troops. .
Yue Peng held a ministerial ceremony and received a gold medal. His face was as pale as earth as if he had been stabbed in the heart. Yu Peng, Zhu Fu, Li Ruoxu, Zhang Jiefu, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui and others all gathered around and took a look. Everyone was shocked, and they felt as if they had fallen into the cold ice abyss. Even though the staff were usually able to plan, they were unable to do anything at this point.
Hua Rong stood in a corner, not going up, and she didn't even dare to look at her husband's face.
Half a lifetime's hard work was ruined in one day.
Twelve golden plaques came one after another. On this day, Yue Pengju kept receiving the golden plaques. Every half an hour, he made a courteous salute in the direction of Lin'an and read Zhao Deji's tiresome repeated orders. Can't do anything else.
After receiving the last gold medal, he received news at the same time that the imperial court had cut off the supply of food and grass to the Yue Family Army.
… …
Qin Hui originally sent this urgent delivery first, but Qin Hui secretly corrected the edict and intercepted the grain and grass, and deliberately made careful arrangements. He waited until Zhao Deji's order came down before publicly announcing the news to Yue Pengju.
Under the double blow, Yue Pengju almost collapsed, his legs and feet were numb, and he could not stand up even with the support of two Jin soldiers. Hua Rong walked silently from the corner to help him, but her own hands were weak, and she put her hands on his The waist is soft and soft, and it is teetering on its own.
The staff and important generals were all gathered in a large earthen room, with only an extremely dim oil lamp burning on the table in the middle.
The crowd was furious, and Wang Gui, Zhang Xian and others couldn't help but rise up and scold Qin Hui angrily.
However, apart from scolding Qin Hui, no one dared to say anything about the real mastermind behind it - the current emperor.
Zhang Xian said: "Now that things have come to this point, we can't retreat in the face of the battle anyway. It's better to continue..."
Xu Qing also said: "If we cannot capture Kaifeng this time, won't our Northern Expedition be ruined?"
Niu Gao, the most grumpy among them, was so angry that he almost jumped up: "I must catch the Fourth Prince..."
Dong Xian also cursed loudly.
Wang Gui, however, didn't say much and kept sitting quietly.
According to the bravery of the army, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Niu Gao, Xu Qing, and Dong Xian were recognized as the Five Tiger Generals, and they were also the absolute main force of the Yue Family Army. At this time, Zhu Fu and others saw that they were noisy and shouting. Insisting on sending troops, he said: "I will draft a memorial later and ask your Majesty to postpone the withdrawal of troops..."
Zhang Jiefu shook his head: "Once this memorial is published, no matter how fast it is, it will take twenty days to go back and forth. Without food and grass, we will not be able to hold on for that time. Moreover, I don't know whether His Majesty will agree..." He looked at the table on the table. The 12 gold-lettered plaques are like ironclad evidence of Zhao Deji's rejection.
Yue Pengju and his wife sat in the middle, saying nothing from beginning to end.