Chapter 989 Self-written scroll is cold

  Zhang Jingqiu stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of worry.

  The afterglow of the setting sun falls faintly on the window lattice, and leaves mottled shadows in the room through the window paper of the window lattice.

   Zhang Jingqiu was a little disappointed when he failed to enter the cabinet, but he also knew that the emperor had tried his best.

   Ye Xianggao and Fang Congzhe's indifference towards him became the biggest obstacle on his way to the cabinet, and likewise, he failed to gain the firm support of northern scholars like Qi Yongtai.

  Qi Yongtai even supported his other surname, Zuodu Censor Zhang Huaichang, to enter the cabinet. Of course, Zhang Huaichang was not recognized by Ye Xianggao and Fang Congzhe, and he was not the emperor's favorite figure.

  However, he no longer has the heart to think about joining the cabinet. The more cruel and difficult reality before him is the crisis of the empire from all directions.

  At this time, the emperor seemed to be showing signs of deteriorating health, and had not been in court for several days, which also made the cabinet and the six chiefs a little anxious.

This uneasiness has even spread to the common people. The most obvious reaction is that in the capital city, "Today's News" published some content with ambiguous semantics, but the rumors were immediately refuted, but Zhang Jingqiu knew that this was after the Ministry of Rites put pressure on "Today's News". the result of.

   Yang He uploaded bad news from Yunyang Ren.

  The Jingxiang refugees are far from being as docile as imagined, and their lives are not as peaceful as reported by local officials. There are conflicts and conflicts with local officials, and undercurrents are surging.

  With the cooperation of Long Jinwei, the Yunyang Governor's Yamen has discovered that Bozhou has secret contacts with some leaders of refugee groups in Yunyang Mountain, which makes Yang He feel frightened.

  Another disturbing sign is that it seems that even the White Lotus Sect has spread in Ankang and the Hanzhong Mountains, but the Huguang and Shaanxi Procuratorates know nothing about it.

   This made Yang He very angry, and he has already written to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, requesting the Metropolitan Procuratorate to send a censor to thoroughly investigate the dereliction of duty of the Procuratorate of Huguang and Shaanxi.

   But is now the time to focus on investigating these officials for negligence? Even Zhang Jingqiu felt that Yang He's letter was not up to standard. Of course, this may be Yang He's gesture, and he should make preparations to shirk responsibility for the White Lotus Rebellion that broke out in Jingxiang in the future.

  Zhang Jingqiu recalled Feng Ziying’s reminder of leaving Beijing to return to Yongping. The other party paid special attention to the threat of the White Lotus Sect. At that time, both he and Chai Ke felt that it was a bit exaggerated.

   But now it seems that the other party's worries are correct. The more likely something goes wrong, once the White Lotus Sect is implicated, the intensity of its outbreak crisis may increase exponentially.

  The news sent back by Geng Ruqi may be regarded as a little comfort to Zhang Jingqiu.

Immediately after he took office, he began to form the Minzhuang, and quickly formed a Minzhuang of up to 8,000 people, but there was a shortage of weapons and armor, and these untrained Minzhuang could only be used as a battalion in the future. It is difficult to go directly to the battlefield with supplementary troops.

   But can it deal with Yang Yinglong's chieftain army in Banzhou? Zhang Jingqiu was deeply worried.

  Zhang Jingqiu doesn't trust Wang Ziteng very much, nor does he trust Denglai Army too much.

Letting Wang Ziteng go to Denglai is actually a compromise, otherwise it will not be enough to reduce the influence of Niu Jizong and Wang Ziteng on the Beijing camp. Whether it's coaxing, luring, or deceiving, if you get out of the capital, you've solved a big problem.

  What about Kebanzhou?

Zhang Jingqiu was getting more and more headaches. He wasn't sure whether Wang Ziteng was willing to put down the Bozhou Rebellion sincerely. From the fact that the other party was marching slowly in Huguang like a snail, he could feel his resistance and dissatisfaction with this matter. patient.

   "My lord." The sound of footsteps woke Zhang Jingqiu from his contemplation, and Chai Ke came in.

   "Zi Shu, come sit, how is the situation?" Zhang Jingqiu motioned Chai Ke to take a seat.

"It's not good." Chai Ke didn't talk nonsense, "The news from the Shanshan Chamber of Commerce and the Zhifang Secretary are similar. The tribes of the Outer Khalkha should go west. It is said that they have passed the Hara River and are heading to Hushi. Ha and the Xiaoxingzhou area are advancing, and it is estimated that they will reach the north of Chaohe Station soon." Chai Ke's tone was a little low.

Zhang Jingqiu stood up, walked to the edge of the big wall, and opened the covering curtain. A huge map was hung on the wall. His eyes searched directly above, and finally locked on: "There may be some How many? Where are they planning to break in from?"

"It's hard to say." Chai Ke also walked to the edge of the wall, "So far, there is no sign of the division of troops in the Outer Khalkha, but the information obtained by the scouts is also fragmented, and the situation is changing at any time. If they cross Hushi On the line with Dongzizidian, it is possible to drill in along the Tanghe River from Huangyakou, where the river valley is suitable for them to break in, but it is also possible on the side of Dashuigu, which is the closest to enter."

"Is it possible to break through from Xuanfu?" Zhang Jingqiu frowned, "I have repeatedly reminded Niu Jizong that although the possibility of their side is relatively small, he should not be careless. Please come and sit in Yongning in person. I feel like he's a little bit offended."

"The possibility is indeed relatively small. The tribes of the Outer Khalkha are not familiar with the situation here, and if they enter from the Xuanfu side, they will have to break through the inner Great Wall. It stands to reason that the possibility is not high, but the Xuanfu soldiers should be properly strengthened on the eastern front. There should be no problem." Chai Ke also relieved Zhang Jingqiu, "Niu Jizong is also a veteran, and he doesn't even understand the rules. I think he often returns to Beijing. Now it's a tense time, so he should go back to sit in town. .”

   "I hope, I always feel that he is a little absent-minded. I feel that the tribes of Waikalkha are unfamiliar, and it is impossible to go to Xuanfu. Let me be careful of Chaohe Office."

  Zhang Jingqiu recalled the conversation with Niu Jizong with some unpleasantness. Wu Xun and Wu Xun are really different. People like Feng Tang are much more humble, while people like Niu Jizong and Wang Ziteng are extremely arrogant and difficult to deal with.

"He's right." Chai Ke smiled, "The most dangerous thing is the Chaohe River. You Shigong has asked his younger brother You Shilu to sit in the Shixia camp in person, so that he can take care of Baimaguan-Gaojiabao. —Fengjiabao-Huangyakou-Shitangling line, but Dashuigu is too far away, I asked You Shigong to gather heavy troops in Bohai and Huairou to prevent breakthroughs."

   "That's the only way to go." Zhang Jingqiu couldn't help sighing, "If the Beijing camp can be used, why is it so?"

  Chai Ke chuckled, "My lord, if the Beijing camp can be used, the emperor probably won't let the Beijing camp leave the capital."

  The two of them smiled knowingly.

  The emperor’s various dissatisfaction and dislike for the Beijing camp are no secret to the two of them. The generals are unreliable, the soldiers are lazy, but the number is so large, and food money is wasted. It can be said that the biggest burden of the Ministry of War is the Beijing camp.

From Zhang Jingqiu and Chai Ke's point of view, even if it is all abolished, there is no problem, and they even want to applaud, but this can only be thought about. Without this power, the entire capital city will become blank, and no one can accept it. Of course, it's not realistic.

   "Zi Shu, if this happens, the pressure on the east of Ji Town will be greater." Zhang Jingqiu seemed to remember something.

"You Shigong is really under a lot of pressure. The emperor sent him an edict, asking him to ensure the defense line of the capital and prevent the Mongols from attacking the capital city. He is now in a state of desperation and has been complaining that Denglai's army should not be allowed to go south. Put it here in Ji Town." Chai Ke smiled wryly, "The main force of the Chahar people is not moving fast now, and they are still on the Luan River line, but our scouts have already seen a small group of Mongolian cavalry on the Baihe and Liuhe tributaries of the Luan River. ,..."

"The Chahar people are divided into two groups?" Zhang Jingqiu was a little puzzled. The Baihe River and the Liuhe River are two major tributaries in the middle reaches of the Luanhe River. One flows into the Luanhe River from west to east, and the other flows into the Luanhe River from southwest to northeast. "Have you reached the Baima River?" ?”

   "It probably hasn't arrived yet." Chai Ke shook his head, "But I'm worried that the Chahar people are paralyzing us. Once we reach the front line of Baimachuan, it will be difficult for us to judge their main attack direction."

"The soldiers came to block the water and cover it with earth. I told You Shigong to throw the Beijing camp to the east. His main energy should be on the line from Qiangziling to Da'ankou. I feel that the focus of the Chahar people is still We will make a breakthrough at this line." Zhang Jingqiu pressed his hands on the wall, his eyes wandering.

   "My lord, are you really planning to give up Yongping Mansion completely?" Chai Ke sighed.

"It can't be said, there are tens of thousands of people in the Beijing camp, even if clay sculptures and wood carvings are placed there, tens of thousands of horses can start to play a role, right?" Zhang Jingqiu pondered for a while, "Let You Shigong move westward quietly and focus on The line between Lihe and Xishui, the line of Malanyu, Shimen Town, and Yutian must be ensured, and the troops should be deployed reasonably,..."

   "What about the Beijing camp?" Chai Ke was surprised.

   "Let them go up and garrison the front lines of Zunhua and Santunying. If the Neikalkas break through from Yongping Mansion, the Jizhen Army will fight with them." Zhang Jingqiu said coldly.

   "This..." Chai Ke burst into cold sweat, "My lord, I'm afraid..."

"Zishu, don't think so much. The people from Neikalkha and Horqin are here to fight the autumn wind. They won't confront us head-on. They are more likely to go south. I asked You Shigong and Feng Ziying to say it too. If we can’t keep An’s side, we will retreat to Lulong, as long as we can keep Lulong, as for other places, let’s see how the situation develops.”

  Zhang Jingqiu's indifferent words made Chai Ke speechless. It seems that this Lord Shangshu is going to faithfully implement the emperor's decision, completely weaken the capital camp, and at the same time absolutely ensure the safety of the capital city.

  It’s okay to abandon the Beijing camp, but it’s a bit cruel for Yongping Mansion to let it go like this, although Chai Ke also admitted that the existing troops are indeed difficult to support the defense system of Yongping Mansion.

  Finally, Chai Ke nodded. He planned to come down and immediately write a letter to Feng Ziying, reminding Feng Ziying that a gentleman cannot stand under a dangerous wall.

  (end of this chapter)