Shenxiongguan is the northernmost gateway to the capital. Once it is broken through, the enemy will be able to drive down. Although there are several barriers on the way, they are not as easy to defend as Shenxiongguan.
This pass is in danger, and the capital is shaking.
However, the following news made everyone a little relieved. From Broken Iron City to Shenxiongguan, most of the journey was a mountain road. No matter how many enemy troops there were, they could not swarm in. After the initial shock, the guards and soldiers, Finally stabilized the military's heart and position, for three days in a row, day and night, blocked the attack again and again, and then the enemy stopped the offensive.
Cui Hong personally conquered the Western Regions as the Minister of the Ministry of War, and the daily affairs of the Ministry of War were handed over to the servant Lai Bingwen.
Lai Bingwen was criticized for his character, but his ability was no problem. He received the news of Shenxiongguan's distress only half an hour earlier than the emperor. When he was summoned, he had already formulated a detailed response plan.
Cui Hong did not take away all the southern troops, and the remaining tens of thousands of people all went to Shenxiongguan. It was they who stabilized the military's morale at the most critical time and kept this crucial checkpoint.
Many ministers suggested that troops should be dispatched from Mayi City to support Shenxiong Pass as soon as possible, but Lai Bingwen objected, "Shenxiong Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, the enemy army cannot come in full force, and it is difficult for the Chu army to form an army. No matter how much it is, there is no benefit. The least is three or five days, and the most is ten days and a half. If the enemy cannot attack for a long time, it will inevitably turn its head. The next target is most likely Mayi City. The army of Mayi City cannot be moved, but should be increased. soldier."
The emperor accepted Lai Bingwen's suggestion and sent Chen Xiao to help defend Shenxiong Pass, while Lai Bingwen went to Luoyang to personally mobilize troops from all over the country to support Mayi City and the Great Wall passes.
The old general Fang Daye recaptured Liaodong before his death, and solved a big hidden danger. There were many border towns and each other's horns, which became the most firmly guarded area in Da Chu. Therefore, the Chu army did not need to divide troops into many places, and could exclusively guard Shenxiongguan and Mayi City.
The guard of Mayi City is Chai Yue, who has a large number of soldiers and a wide range of troops, especially the elites of the Northern Army, who are the most powerful. thump.
Everything was arranged properly. As long as Cui Hong led the army back, the Chu army would launch a counterattack before and after the winter.
It has been more than ten days since Concubine Shu gave birth to the prince, and the emperor finally had time to take a closer look at his son's appearance and comfort the weak Concubine Shu.
"It has been confirmed that your brother is still alive. He is in Huzhu City and will be back soon."
Deng Yun smiled, "He's so lucky, but I don't think he will come back."
"Your prediction is not accurate, the dream you had before was wrong." Han Ruzi smiled, looking at his sleeping son, thinking that his mother should be satisfied this time.
"Dreaming is a dream. What I said this time is not a prophecy, but my brother's temper. As long as the battle is not won, he will not come back."
Han Ruzi frowned slightly, "There are only a few hundred soldiers in Tiger City, and there are only one or two thousand soldiers in the Western Regions. What will General Deng do to win the battle?"
"Didn't Master Cui lead an army in the Western Regions?"
Han Ruzi shook his head, "That army wants to come back to defend the northern border and cannot stay in the Western Regions. Mrs. Cui will never agree to divide the army to General Deng."
"Oh, I don't care anymore. My brother has been stubborn since he was a child. When he was smart, there seemed to be nothing in the world that he couldn't do. When he got angry, he was a complete idiot, doing ridiculous things that made people laugh and cry. They are separated by thousands of mountains. Wan Shui, I can't control him, I'm afraid it will be difficult for His Majesty to make him obey."
Deng Yun sat on the bed, reached out and stroked her son's little face gently, and said lovingly, "I only care about him now, I didn't expect little things to be so cute."
"I want to go on a personal expedition." Han Ruzi tentatively said.
Deng Yun looked up at the emperor, "Your Majesty must give the prince a name before leaving."
Han Ruzi laughed and felt that Deng Yun's temper was a bit like her brother.
"Shh, don't wake him up, little things are only so cute when they're asleep." Deng Yun immediately reminded that she only had children in her eyes, no brother, and no emperor.
Han Ruzi went to Qiuxin Palace again. This is also the child's territory. Princess Rujun can walk, but she is still so lively. As soon as she sees her father, she rushes up and babbles nonsense.
Han Ruzi couldn't help but like this daughter, so he immediately hugged her in his arms, teased for a while, and said to the queen, "I want to go out in person."
Cui Xiaojun kept smiling and watching. Hearing this sentence, the smile on his face suddenly stiffened. After a while, he said, "Does this have to be the case?"
"The soldiers of Great Chu are fighting bloody battles on the front line. I can't always sit in the palace and wait for news. Moreover, this battle is very important. If the battle is lost, or if the stalemate cannot be fought, the Huns who are watching the battle in the north are likely to fall to the enemy's army because of this, and the two enemies will join forces. Great Chu is in danger."
"If your majesty thinks it is necessary, then go ahead, just... just make sure to plan carefully."
"Yes, most of the elites of the Chu army are in Mayi City. If we can't win this battle, it will be even more dangerous for me to sit in the palace, and it will also affect you."
Cui Xiaojun smiled, then sighed, "Why is your majesty always so difficult?"
"You should be glad that at this difficult time, Da Chu is the emperor."
Cui Xiaojun laughed again, came over, took the princess from the emperor, and said softly, "Jun Ru, do you hear me? The emperor is a great emperor."
The princess said loudly: "Can't afford it! Can't afford it!"
Han Ruzi was always able to get support from the Empress, and her confidence increased a little, and she came to see her mother, the Empress Dowager Cining.
Prince Qing became a little older, learned some rules, saluted his father, called "Father Emperor", retreated to his grandmother's side, and gave his hand to his grandmother. The biological mother, Tong Qing'e, stood on the other side of the queen mother, as respectful as a maid.
Han Ruzi chatted a few words, and once again brought up the matter of the imperial expedition.
Mrs. Ci Ning was expressionless at the back, turned her head suddenly, and said to Concubine Hui Tong Qing'e, "Do you think this is a good idea?"
Tong Qing'e was obviously stunned. She didn't expect that she would be asked, and replied in a low voice, "I don't understand military affairs, so it makes sense that Your Majesty wants to go on an expedition."
"Your Majesty is not only the emperor, but also your husband and the father of your children. If you are going to leave you to go to the battlefield, you have nothing to say?"
Tong Qing'e's face was slightly red, and she didn't dare to speak.
Prince Qing suddenly said loudly, "Father is not allowed to go!"
Empress Dowager Ci Ning smiled and touched the eldest grandson's head, picked it up and handed it to Concubine Hui Gui, "You are so honest, no wonder Your Majesty is pleased. You mother and son should go back first, and I will speak to His Majesty."
Tong Qing'e's face turned red again, and she hurried away with her son in her arms.
Empress Dowager Ci Ning also kicked out the eunuch and the palace maid, and there were no outsiders in the room. She said, "Your Majesty is not too young, why are you still a child?"
"This is not a child's temper." Han Ruzi explained his thoughts in detail. The most important reason is that Da Chu must win this battle in Mayi City, otherwise, the Huns will all surrender to the enemy.
The Empress Dowager Ci Ning listened quietly, "There are no ministers in the court, so your Majesty has to go to war in person? Besides, isn't there Chai Yue in Mayi City? That is the military general your Majesty trusts and admires the most. "
"Chai Yue has the talent of a general, but he is cautious in nature, and he fights with integrity. He is not good at using strange tricks. If it is to deal with the enemy who knows the basics, he is enough. The gods and ghosts are a strange enemy. The Western Regions attacked, but moved the army to Broken Iron City. This group of enemy troops is very cunning. I am worried that Chai Yue will not be able to handle it. Moreover, the military situation is changing rapidly.
"I understand Your Majesty's mood, but... Your Majesty is not a general, right? Can the imperial expedition be better than Chai Yue's command?"
It was his mother who dared to say such a thing, Han Ruzi smiled slightly, "The two armies compete, the brave one wins, even if I can't command better, at least I can boost morale and make the soldiers of the Chu army fight bravely."
Empress Dowager Cining pondered for a long time, "Your Majesty will not forget about Jincheng, right?"
"I will never forget it for a lifetime."
"Well, what did the ministers say?"
"I haven't made this clear to the minister."
Empress Dowager Cining was silent for a while, "Your Majesty has always acted arbitrarily, why did you remember to ask my opinion first?"
"My son is away, and my loving mother is worried. I am old and understand the difficulties of the Queen Mother, so I hope to reassure the Queen Mother first."
"Hey, Your Majesty is at risk, how can I be at ease? But I can't help you with what Your Majesty must do, but I can't stop it. Go down and ask the ministers for advice, they must be better than me, an old woman. "
This is considered an agreement, and Han Ruzi bowed and said, "Thank you, the queen mother."
Although her son was a little stubborn, she never rude in front of her. Empress Dowager Cining was both relieved and sad, but her face remained calm, and she said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, the palace is guarded by me, and there will be no problem. Your Majesty said before. The incident that has happened has already become a bit of a mystery, and when His Majesty returns to court in victory, we may be able to see the result."
Empress Dowager Ci Ning secretly investigated the truth of Si Di's death, which was related to the safety of the harem. She was very concerned and deliberately transferred Jing Yao back to the palace, trying to get to the bottom without attracting attention.
"Don't work too hard, the queen mother." Han Ruzi said goodbye.
He is indeed more mature than before. Since the minister may use the power in the palace to obstruct the emperor's personal expedition, he simply obtains the consent of the queen mother and others. There are no internal worries, and then he can concentrate on the outside world.
The next afternoon, Han Ruzi told Zhao Ruosu of his decision, "Will the minister object?"
"Of course I will object. Below the Great Ancestor, the Emperor of Chu has only had three imperial expeditions, Emperor Lie twice, and Emperor Wu once, but the enemies are all weak, and they have not even encountered any enemies. The so-called expeditions are just going through the motions. There are many unpredictable encounters with powerful enemies, and this is what the ministers are most worried about, even the small ministers, they must also oppose it.”
Han Ruzi regarded Zhao Ruosu as the representative of the minister, and said sternly: "Rules and conventions depend on the survival and continuation of the imperial court, but what about unexpected crises? Can they still be solved with rules and conventions? As you have all seen in the official document, the enemy army is not only huge in number, but also in the strength of its armour and equipment, and its equipment is not weaker than that of the Great Chu, and the surrender of the Huns is reasonable."
Han Ruzi paused and continued: "The Great Chu will fight against another Great Chu, and it may be the Great Chu in its heyday. Do you have ready-made rules and conventions that you can use?"
Zhao Ruosu knelt down and kowtowed, "Wei Chen is willing to go out with His Majesty."