Behind the low-hanging curtain of Jinxiang Hall, several ministers standing outside could see figures walking back and forth inside.
Wang Pu clasped his fists and said: The Liaoxi Fort in the northeast has not yet been built, but it has been besieged by the Khitan army. Another person from the Military Department reported to the Privy Council that the tribes in the northwest have appeared near the Yellow River. I am afraid they are plotting something big.
The figure inside was Fu Jinzhan, she held her hands in front of the ribbon, frowned and said nothing. Jingniang next to her had just reported a secret message: it was confirmed that Guo Jin was recruiting soldiers in Shouzhou and was making secret preparations.
These things would be urgent matters under normal circumstances, but Jinzhan couldn't care less now. What she was most concerned about seemed to be something that everyone was avoiding: Li Chuyun's 50,000-man army was approaching Tokyo.
After a long time, she finally spoke: Envoy Wang, please come to Yangde Hall to discuss matters.
"As you command," said Wang Pu.
When Wang Pu entered the Yangde Hall from the door of the study in the East Hall, he saw two people beside Fu Jinzhan, a eunuch Cao Tai and a Jing Niang.
Wang Pu looked around and said, "Queen, I heard that the eldest son of the Fu family has come to Beijing."
Fu Jinzhan frowned and said: Even if Zhao Xu was summoned to the capital, what would be the use? For a while, could he have any role in the imperial army
Wang Pu was stunned and nodded thoughtfully.
Fu Jinzhan dropped two more memorials on the table and raised her chin slightly. Cao Tai immediately stepped forward and silently passed the things to Wang Pu.
Wang Pu unfolded them and read them. One was a handwritten letter from Wei Renpu, reporting that there was no unusual movement in the army and that he would return to the capital in accordance with the order of the Privy Council; the other was a letter of request for merit from Li Chuyun, reporting that the Hexi army had defeated the coalition forces of the Dangxiang tribes in Feng'an.
After reading it, Wang Pu immediately bowed and said: Li Chuyun had already read this letter when Wei Renpu sent it.
Oh, Fu Jinzhan thought about it and nodded slightly.
Wang Pu saw this and thought that the Queen had figured out the reason. Li Chuyun's return time was almost twice as long as his departure time to the northwest, which was obviously delayed. It can be boldly assumed that Li Chuyun had long been suspicious, so it was difficult for Wei Renpu to send a letter out of the camp privately; and from the content of the letter, there was no mention of the reason for the delay, so Wei Renpu's letter was a public letter.
Li Chuyun's memorial was not a request for merit, but a warning. Wang Pu added.
After hearing this, Jinzhan said coldly: It is reported that Luo Yanhuan met with Zuo You in private and sent people out of Tokyo. If not, he had an affair with his good friend Li Chuyun. Li Chuyun already knew that the emperor was unconscious and bedridden, and he had not attended court for a long time.
Wang Pu pondered and said: "From this memorial of Li Chuyun, although he has the military power temporarily, he does not want to take risks. He is just warning the court that he has just made military achievements and has done nothing wrong. If he is moved at this time, it will make the Queen lose her virtue. With the Queen's prestige, it is not easy to win the support of the people to be a regent. Killing a general without authorization may cause instability in the court."
Wang Pu said calmly: I think, judging from the current situation, the real trouble is that the court may have internal strife in the future. However, after all, tens of thousands of elite troops have gathered in Tokyo, so we should be cautious.
Jinzhan was silent for a long time, and then said: "Wait for Li Chuyun to arrive in Beijing, let Yang Biao control the defense of Tokyo, order the four cities to be under martial law, and deploy the inner palace guards at the west gate. Order Li Chuyun and the front camp military office to transfer the guards to the north gate parade ground and the imperial guards to the west gate parade ground, and divide them into two groups. Then transport silver and copper coins from the inner treasury, reward the soldiers, and ask the various armies to hand in armor and weapons, and disband in batches to enter the city from the south gate."
Wang Pu was immediately surprised and said: As long as the army clears the weapons first, the danger can be avoided. However, this will make Li Chuyun even more suspicious.
Jinzhan said in a trembling voice: I can't care about so many things
Wang Pu frowned and said: Queen, please think twice.
Jinzhan said coldly: I have thought it over before I sent anyone with the imperial edict to bring Li Chuyun directly into the imperial city.
Fu Jinzhan didn’t know if she had done anything wrong, but maybe she had.
She thought carefully about Wang Pu's warning and was fully aware of the consequences. She was not willful, but she could not get over the hurdle in her heart. The past when the crazy chaotic soldiers directly rushed into Li Shouzhen's palace was like a shadow, which deepened her impression in countless nightmares.
Almost everyone has weaknesses. That incident was not just a memory for Jinzhan, but a nightmare deep in her heart.
Although Wang Pu and herself had thought about it many times from beginning to end, they felt that Li Chuyun was unlikely to take such a risk; but in the current situation, the general in the city was the brother of the general with the troops, and the court officials had a vague relationship with the general, which made Fu Jinzhan very worried.
Wang Pu also hinted to her that Wei Renpu's letter could not be sent out without permission. Who knows if those warriors have set up some kind of trap
She thought of many possible schemes that her opponent might have set up, but they were all guesses. She was in the palace and had no idea what was going on in the army.
Deep down, the people Fu Jinzhan distrusts the most are warriors, because they are unreasonable with swords and guns. But the ridiculous thing is that she has a very good reputation among warriors and has a reputation for forgiving and trusting soldiers.
In fact, everything was just her act. The more she was wary of some people, the more she had to pretend. She was considered a very smart woman, but she was still a woman, not a Wu Zetian who appeared only once in thousands of years. How could she deal with a warrior like a powerful ruler
Jinzhan did not sleep that night.
The next day, she went to Jinxiang Hall and Yangde Hall and issued an edict to summon Duke Yang Biao. Dukes usually did not attend court, so it took a long time to wait for Yang Biao to enter the palace. Jinzhan waited anxiously for a long time, and before she knew it, she fell asleep while sitting with her head supported by her arms.
Half asleep and half awake, she suddenly saw a group of fierce-looking soldiers in armor rushing in. She couldn't tell whether she was in Li Shouzhen's mansion or in Tokyo. The warriors were screaming wildly, and some were even laughing. Jinzhan was extremely scared and wanted to use death to escape the unbearable panic and fear.
She woke up suddenly and found that her vest was covered in cold sweat, her chest was beating like a drum, and she had difficulty breathing.
A voice said: Your Majesty, Prince Yang Biao has been ordered to meet you and is waiting outside the palace.
Jinzhan looked blank, and after a while she spoke: Xuan.
Soon, a heavy sound of footsteps was heard, and Yang Biao, wearing military uniform and armor, walked in, clasped his fists and said: "I pay my respects to the Queen."
Jinzhan was still frightened, but her expression and posture had returned to being dignified and calm. She said calmly: "It is said that the Duke of Fuguo and the official family swore an oath of brotherhood. When they swore brotherhood, they should have said that they did not ask to be born on the same day of the same month of the same year, but to die on the same day of the same month of the same year."
Yang Biao suddenly knelt heavily on one knee on the ground and said firmly, "To protect the official family and his descendants, Yang will die even if his blood and brains are torn into pieces. If he blinks an eyelid, he will be a traitor."
The harsh words made Jinzhan feel a little nervous. She took a deep breath and said: "The emperor is lucky to have loyal ministers like the Duke of Fuguo." After she said that, she picked up an imperial edict with a jade seal on it and said, "Duke of Fuguo, please accept the order. The Privy Council will also issue a military order to you."
Yang Biao got up, looked at the floor, leaned forward to take the things with both hands, and bowed suddenly: "Whoever dares to approach the palace must step over my body."
Then Jinzhan summoned Han Tong, Dong Zunhui and others separately and gave them instructions one by one.
Tokyo Daliang, this city has staged many changes of dynasties. The sudden martial law has shrouded the entire city in terror.
The order to close the city gates and impose martial law was undoubtedly the direct cause of the increased panic among the people.
Tokyo had not lit a beacon fire for many years. In recent years, wars were still frequent, but they always occurred outside the country, and martial law at the city gates almost never appeared again. Even when large-scale decisive battles took place in Youzhou twice, Tokyo did not impose martial law. Now, the gates of the inner and outer cities have been closed one after another.
The palace guards in brand new armor rode on tall horses and marched in neat formation on the Imperial Street. The footsteps of the infantry shook the city. The news of the closure of the city gates was spreading among the people, and shops everywhere were closing one after another. The usually bustling and crowded Tokyo City gradually became sparsely populated, and no one knew where so many people had gone.
At this time, outside the West City, on the post road and in the city, there were armored soldiers everywhere, with men and horses rushing around and flags like clouds.
When the troops reached the city, they found the gates were closed and stopped. Those who arrived later had to move to both sides. Tens of thousands of people slowly arrived outside the city walls. In a short time, there were huge crowds of people and the scene was extremely terrifying.
Li Chuyun rode his horse forward between the arrays and saw with his own eyes the closed city gate.
It was an exception that the city gates were closed in the morning.
Li Chuyun's heart skipped a beat and he felt very disappointed.
Li Gong. Zhong Li, who had come with him, called out calmly, and nothing more happened. The surrounding generals were also present, looking at the city gate in confusion.
Not long after, he saw someone coming from the city gate. Li Chuyun squinted his eyes and saw clearly that it was only the Minister of Rites Lu Duosun and a few officials riding horses. He then waited on his horse.
Greetings to the founding duke. Lu Dosun and the others approached and saluted on horseback, then dismounted.
Li Chuyun pointed his whip at the city gate, his face showing displeasure: Minister Lu, what do you mean
Zhong Li and the other generals looked at the newcomer in silence, feeling a little solemn for a moment.
Lu Duosun said: The Queen Mother’s decree and the Privy Council’s order.
Li Chuyun and others immediately jumped off their horses to perform the ceremony.
Lu Duosun unfolded the imperial edict with auspicious clouds on the back and said loudly: "The Privy Council ordered that the founding duke and the soldiers of the Hexi Army defeated the Tangut rebels in one fell swoop and served the country with great merit. The court will reward according to merit, and the reward money has arrived at the South Gate. The rewards will be given first, and then the officials will be promoted. There are too many soldiers in the Hexi Army, and there will be confusion. The Front Camp Military Office will transfer the imperial guards to the open area of the military camps in the Ximen Parade Grounds, and the guards will be sent to the north. The court officials and the civil and military officials in the army should not be confused when discussing the distribution of rewards.
Li Chuyun stepped forward, took the imperial edict with both hands and said: "I will obey your order." After that, he looked back and said to Lu Duosun, "There are too many people. Deputy Envoy Wei is not here. I will send someone to find him and tell him."
Lu Dosun nodded calmly: We have to tell the chief officer of the former camp military office, and he will be in charge of this matter.