"Your Majesty, Duke Wei has arrived!"
Yuan Qing walked in quickly, followed by Duke Wei Peng Huaichu who hurried into the palace.
As soon as Peng Huaichu came in, he found that Lin Zhang and Lin Xie were both in the hall, and Zheng Baishi was standing beside him. Outside the hall gate, there were also the chiefs of the Ministry of War waiting. It seemed that something big was going to happen, Peng Huaichu He bowed nervously, "I don't know what your Majesty's order is for summoning the humble minister late at night?"
Yan Han didn't want to speak, he glanced at Lin Zhang and motioned for Lin Zhang to explain.
Lin Zhang then told about the news that the soldiers under Luo Xiucheng in Yingzhou brought the golden feather arrows to report, and during this period, Yan Han subconsciously looked in the direction of the door.
Zhao Yu hadn't sent anyone back to report the news yet, Yan Han absolutely didn't want to let Yan Chi's matter remain unresolved when the Beifu army was making trouble.
"What?! The Beifu army has actually attacked Yingzhou?! But... but there is no news from the queen and the prince!"
Peng Huaichu obviously did not expect such a big event to happen in the middle of the night, Lin Zhang said, "The empress and the crown prince have been missing. A fire broke out in the south of the city tonight, and two people were burned to death on the spot. At present, it is initially suspected that one of these two people is the crown princess. If the Crown Princess is really not alive, it is very likely that the Empress and the Crown Prince have already left the capital, and the Beifu Army probably got the news a long time ago, and they traveled from the northwest to the south for the sole purpose of directly attacking the imperial capital."
Peng Huaichu's heart trembled, "This...the current garrison in the capital is only 50,000, I'm afraid..."
Yan Han said with deep eyes, "The Marquis of Anyang led Jinzhou's soldiers and horses to Yuanzhou, and they will arrive in the capital in five days. The garrison in Luozhou has now sent a transfer order, and it will be four or five days before they arrive in the capital. .”
Four or five days... It only takes two days to travel from Yingzhou to the capital...
Peng Huaichu hurriedly said, "Then what does His Majesty mean?"
Yan Han narrowed his eyes, "Now there are only two strategies, one is to lead the patrol battalion and the soldiers and horses stationed outside the city to Yingzhou for reinforcements, leaving only the imperial guards to guard in the capital city, and the other is to garrison all the soldiers and horses in the capital, Waiting for the Beifu army to arrive at the capital, it will not be a problem to defend for ten or eight days."
Peng Huaichu didn't dare to speak when he heard it. The first plan was a bit desperate. Now there are only 20,000 imperial guards in the capital, 10,000 soldiers in the patrol battalion, and 20,000 soldiers in the garrison. Those who have been on the battlefield are very few. If only more than 20,000 people are sent to reinforce Yingzhou, Yingzhou City may have already been captured in Yingzhou. There are more than 20,000 people left.
Although the capital city was impenetrable, the Beifu army was attacking it with all their strength, and they really didn't know how many days they would be able to defend it.
But if the second strategy is used to let the Beifu army hit the gate of the capital, what will be the royal family's face? How can the capital stand up to the flames of war
The best result is to use the first strategy to disperse the Beifu army in Yingzhou after reinforcing Yingzhou. However, the two people who reported the letter did not speak clearly. Who knows what is going on in Yingzhou now
Peng Huaichu was confused for a while, looked at Yan Han and Lin Zhang and said, "Your Majesty is right, there are only two paths, so I ask His Majesty to decide how to choose."
Yan Han also knew that Peng Huaichu didn't dare to make such a big decision, and Peng Huaichu had handed over military power for several years, and now he couldn't think of a better way, he pondered for a moment and said, "Send a letter to Luozhou immediately, and send another 800 people Li Jia urgently sent an order to the Marquis of Anyang, telling him to come to the capital at full speed."
Lin Zhang responded, and Yan Han said again, "I prefer the first strategy. Ge Yang has already gone north. If the Beifu army sends all the soldiers and horses south, it will be tantamount to abandoning Cangzhou. Therefore, I suspect that they only have 20,000 to 30,000 troops. The sword came from a slanted front, since it is so, Yingzhou cannot be defeated in a short while."
Yan Han quickly made up his mind. After being an emperor for many years, Yan Han's determination was unquestionable, "Let people from all departments of the Ministry of War come in, arrange a vanguard team before dawn, and send 5,000 people to rush to Yingzhou at full speed. Find out the military situation in Yingzhou in a short time, and the rest of the people must leave Beijing before noon."
There are still more than two hours before dawn, and an army of more than 20,000 people must be arranged to fight. During the period, the military supplies, military commanders, etc. involved are very complicated issues, and a decision must be made within an hour. It is time to dispatch troops and generals to arrange arrangements, so that they can set off according to the time Yan Han said.
Yuan Qing went out to announce people, but just as he left, he saw a bodyguard from the Imperial Guard walking quickly, "Eunuch Yuan! Princess Gong asks to see Your Majesty—"
Yuan Qing was taken aback, "What? Who are you talking about?"
The imperial guard was dripping with sweat, "Princess Gong, old concubine Gong!"
Yuan Qing was shocked on the spot, and didn't come back to his senses for a while, "You mean... the king... the princess..."
Ever since something happened in Prince Gong's mansion, the concubine has stayed behind closed doors for many years, and never entered the palace even during New Year's Eve. The last time she went out was the day of Prince Rui's funeral. Why did the concubine enter the palace at such a late night? This idea not only floated in Yuan Qing's mind, but also everyone around who heard his words were shocked!
"You... you wait a moment... I'll report right away."
Yuan Qing didn't dare to delay, but for a moment he forgot the head of Xuanzhao Military Department, turned around and entered the hall.
"Your Majesty... Princess Gong is asking to see you outside the palace gate. Your Majesty, see you, or not?"
Yuan Qingcheng was terrified, and as soon as these words fell, everyone in the hall was startled. Everyone looked at Yuan Qing with open eyes, almost suspicious of auditory hallucinations.
Turning around, the emperor's expression also changed slightly, but in such an emergency, no one thought that the emperor would meet this princess who never went out.
"Lin Zhang, take everyone to the side hall to discuss."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked again, the emperor actually wanted to see Princess Gong! To leave behind such an urgent military situation to see this princess!
"Yes, Weichen is going now..."
Lin Zhang turned around and went out, Peng Huaichu was stunned for a few moments and hurriedly followed out. After they finished walking, Yan Han looked at Yuan Qing slowly, "Xuan."
Yuan Qing nodded, turned around and went out to give instructions to the imperial guards. When they left, Yuan Qing stood under the eaves and became startled.
At this time, all the courtiers outside the hall followed Lin Zhang to the side hall, and only Yuan Qing and his young apprentice Wang Fu were under the eaves of the steps.
Wang Fu cautiously stepped forward and said, "Master, why is it that at this time, the princess has entered the palace, and your majesty still..."
Yuan Qing turned to look at Wang Fu, Wang Fu was startled, and quickly swallowed the rest of his words.
Yuan Qing withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath, "In this palace, don't say a single word that shouldn't be said. You and I are but His Majesty's slaves, and we don't need to distinguish all the reasons." Qing looked at a starlight approaching from a distance and ordered, "Let the waiters go farther away, what they see and hear later, it's right to pretend that I am blind and deaf."
Wang Fu frightenedly agreed, and didn't dare to ask any more questions.