Chapter 158

Wen Xiaochun opened the memorial and read it carefully.

The memorial used harsh words to severely accuse the Seventh Prince of detaining the Border Army Supervisory Office, saying that he was defying the imperial power, violating the original intention of establishing the Supervisory Office, and defying the will of His Majesty.

By the way, he also cried to Emperor Chongzhao, saying how difficult it was for the Border Army Inspection Office on the border over the years, and acted like a pitiful person.

After Wen Xiaochun finished flipping through the pages, there was no other emotion on his face except for a faint smile.

"Anyone of us can go to deliver it. After all, it's just a delivery. The rest has nothing to do with the East Factory."

Chen Jian smiled but said nothing.

He has an ordinary face. Upon closer inspection, you can see that his eyes are one big and one small, very asymmetrical.

Cui Rong didn't like him very much because he didn't like his face.

Chen Jian: "Can anyone really deliver it?"

Wen Xiaochun looked up and met his gaze.

They both knew very well that who would deliver the memorial would make a huge difference.

Wen Xiaochun: "Of course."

Chen Jian stood up and brushed off the non-existent dust on his body. "I'd better trouble Master Xiaochun to go. I still have some unfinished business."

After saying that, he left.

Wen Xiaochun frowned slightly, turned around and looked at Chen Jian's back.

This Chen Jian...

Whose person is it?

If it were someone from another prince's faction, they would probably seize the opportunity to attack Your Highness with an impeachment memorial.

After all, His Highness had made great military achievements in the Northern Frontier, and the Second Prince and the Sixth Prince's factions were feeling a little uneasy.

After thinking for a while without any result, Wen Xiaochun entered the palace holding the memorial.

Purple Palace.

Emperor Chongzhao read the impeachment memorial and gradually slowed down his tea drinking.

His first reaction after reading it was not that Qu Watanabe was arrogant and domineering, but——

What did the people from the Border Army Inspection Office do to make that guy so angry?

Everyone was locked up.

The second reaction is inappropriate.

He was the one who set up the Border Military Inspection Office. What's the difference between locking them all up and abolishing them? And the reason for locking them up is so far-fetched.

Emperor Chongzhao: "There should be a limit to your temper. You are still childish." He took another sip of the tea at hand and asked Eunuch Yu to grind ink for him.

"The Supervisory Office should be released. If they made him angry, I will ask the Supervisory Office to apologize to him."

Wen Xiaochun lowered his head and said softly, "I think the Seventh Prince is not a person who likes to be petty when it comes to serious matters."

Emperor Chongzhao paused while dipping his brush in ink.

"What do you want to say?"

Wen Xiaochun quickly said he dared not, then hesitantly said: "I just think that the Supervisory Office is under the control of Prince Ming, but there is no signature of Prince Ming on this impeachment memorial... If it is really the Seventh Prince who is playing tricks, Prince Ming will definitely stop it."

Eunuch Yu looked up at Wen Xiaochun.

The latter was always respectful and seemed to be just saying what he was thinking.

Emperor Chongzhao put down his pen and failed to write the words on the memorial ordering the release of the deceased.

Prince Ming must have been resentful of his brother the Emperor for abandoning him to the frontier for fifteen years, but although there were flaws in small matters, Prince Ming always had a clear mind on big issues.

It is no small matter that all the staff of the Supervisory Office, except Prince Ming, have been imprisoned.

"I'll ask Prince Ming first."

Emperor Chongzhao suppressed all the impeachment memorials and said to Wen Xiaochun, "You are the one who often stays by Cui Rong's side... your name is Wen Xiaochun, right? I remember you. Cui Rong told me about you."

Wen Xiaochun: “Yes.”

Emperor Chongzhao: "Boss...are you responsible for handling Qu Ducang's affairs?"

Wen Xiaochun: "Yes. Your Majesty has a good memory."

Emperor Chongzhao nodded, "How is he doing in Lingbei now?"

"The eldest son went hunting a few days ago, looked at the capital for a while, and then went home to cook."

"Young Master?"

Emperor Chongzhao raised his eyes and said, "You are very courageous."

Wen Xiaochun: "I am a servant of your majesty. Although the eldest son has lost his title, as long as your majesty has not issued an order to sever the father-son relationship, to me, he is the eldest son."

Emperor Chongzhao was not angry, but just put the impeachment letter aside and said, "Looking at the capital from afar? If I had known this would happen, why did I do it in the first place?"

Wen Xiaochun felt a little relieved.

The last time I went to see His Highness, he said that His Majesty still has some father-son affection for the eldest prince. If he didn't have some confidence in his heart, he would definitely not say that.

Emperor Chongzhao: "You are impartial. Others will probably not take this job seriously when they see the boss in trouble."

Wen Xiaochun: "Your Majesty's orders are not taken to heart."

Emperor Chongzhao said nothing more and told him to go away.

Wen Xiaochun respectfully took his leave.

Inside the palace.

Emperor Chongzhao said: "Ask Cui Rong to come over and present a copy of Wen Xiaochun's file and background."

Eunuch Yu: “Yes.”

-

Even though Emperor Chongzhao suppressed the impeachment memorial, the news still got out.

I know everything I need to know.

Chen Jian avoided people and went to the second prince's residence.

The Second Prince: "Why didn't you tell me about the impeachment memorial in advance?"

Chen Jian said helplessly: "Don't blame me, Your Highness. I really can't get away from it. And even if I tell you in advance, it will be useless."

"It's not all about the memorial," the second prince said calmly, "You and Wen Xiaochun are vying for the position of factory master. One step away may mean a difference between you and your father."

Chen Jian pointed at his face and said, "Your Highness, are you sure that your Majesty will not dislike me when I meet you?"

The Second Prince: “…”

He glanced at Chen Jian and then looked away.

After a moment, he rubbed his temples.

"Forget it, just go."

Chen Jian lowered his head and retreated.

After leaving the Second Prince's Mansion, he went to an inconspicuous little inn and entered the room at the end of the inn.

The Fifth Prince was here, and the tea on the table was still warm and perfect for drinking. It seemed that he had expected him to come over at this time.

"sit."

"Your Highness."

Chen Jian bowed first before sitting down.

"Let Eunuch Xiaochun deliver it. He is very capable and can win honor in front of His Majesty if he seizes the opportunity."

The Fifth Prince: "Well, thank you for your hard work."

Chen Jian: "Your Highness, although you don't need me to climb to the position of the factory master, but..." He hesitated and asked, "Can I know why you help Eunuch Xiaochun?"

The fifth prince was silent.

The memory of when I was nine years old resurfaced in my mind.

The young boy took all the gold, silver and jewelry he could carry and begged the guards in the inner prison to let him in to see his mother, but the guards refused.

It was Wen Xiaochun who passed by and helped him, allowing him to go in to see his mother.

——Even if all you see is a corpse covered with a white sheet.

But he always remembered this kindness.

And...according to Chen Jian, although this eunuch Xiaochun appears to be impartial, he actually cares a lot about Xiaoqi's affairs.

The two combined are enough to allow him to help.

The fifth prince didn't explain much, just said: "He looks kind."

-

There were undercurrents in the capital city, and a few days passed in the blink of an eye.

The weather in May in the northern border area is not hot, but it is very hot and the wind hurts people's faces.

Such weather is very conducive to the drying of the first batch of gunpowder.

Other older versions of gunpowder, because they were mixed together, the components could not be separated, so they could only be processed with adhesives later, pressed into cakes, and then granulated.

In this way, the first batch of gunpowder was completely completed on the fifth day.

On the day of completion, Qu Dubian assembled 50,000 soldiers and, together with Xia Fuyang, led half of the catapults out of the city.

He was riding on a horse, wearing red clothes and silver armor, with his spiky hair swinging back and forth, and he looked like he deserved a beating when he smiled.

"Come on, Lao Xia, let's go give them gifts."

Xia Fuyang laughed and stood beside him, "As you command, Your Highness."

-

Zhongyi City.

After Beijiang occupied the city, it quickly took root and was garrisoned by Zuo Xian Wang.

He has finished studying the biography of the Seventh Prince, and today he is reciting some curses that can break his defenses, which he can use when attacking the city tomorrow.

A clear young voice came through the layers of city walls:

"Zuo Xian Wang! You little dung picker, you have been around for so long, but you are only Zuo Xian Wang. I pity you and allow you to clean the butts of the horses of my Great Zhou soldiers. I will reward you with a horse officer. What do you think?"

"Will you come out or not? If you don't come out, Your Highness will take this as your consent!"

"Yes, can you come out? Our Highness, please be merciful and don't let us wait."

King Zuo Xian: "..."

The soldier outside came in and said, "General, it is the Seventh Prince of the Great Zhou and the man surnamed Xia who are challenging us."

"?" Zuo Xian Wang suspected that he had heard it wrongly, "Are they challenging us to attack the city?"

In most cases, they would attack the city in the northern border, and then the Great Zhou would counterattack. If they won, they would retreat, and if they lost, they would continue to counterattack.

Soldier: “Yes.”

It is true that the Great Zhou is preparing to attack the city.

King Zuo Xian could no longer sit still, so he ordered his troops to be mobilized and went to the city wall at the rear gate to take a look.

The Great Zhou army was a black mass, with several rows of catapults in the front, as well as shieldmen and archers, fully prepared for a siege.

There are just too many shieldmen, which is a bit unnecessary.

Zuo Xian Wang thought of Jizhigla's instructions and sneered, "We didn't take the initiative to look for you, but you took the initiative to come out. It's just right, so I don't have to bother calling you out."

Qu Dubian raised his eyebrows: "You want to see me so much, and I'm the only thing on your mind. You can't sleep because you miss me so much."

King Zuo Xian: "..."

Xia Fuyang coughed lightly: "Let's not say that. It's really disgusting to have it appear in his mind."

Qu Watanabe said seriously: "Yes, that's right, the key is that he doesn't look good either."

Zuo Xian Wang laughed angrily: "You brought all these soldiers to challenge me, but you think you are very capable just because you won a battle. Boy, the battlefield is not your palace."

"You were sick when you were a child. Even if you get well for a few years, you will always be sick. You may die any day. You'd better go back to your capital and enjoy yourself!"

After he finished saying this, Qu Dubian didn't say anything, but Xia Fuyang's eyes became cold and frosty.

"Don't worry, I'll die after you," Qu Dubian deliberately acted arrogantly, "Last time I killed the Right Wise King, I handed him over to the military doctor and the coroner for autopsy. Left Wise King, you've worked together for so long, do you want to see his bones?"

Zuo Xian Wang's face suddenly darkened.

"Boy, you are looking for death."

The city’s defenses are ready.

Even though Zuo Xian Wang was angry, he did not rush out directly, but chose to defend himself.

"Are you really not going to lead the army out? If you don't, you will never have another chance to come out."

Qu Dubian smiled slightly and took a few steps back on his horse.

"Shieldmen ready, archers ready, catapults ready."

The oversized shield bearers in the Great Zhou army immediately raised their shields. The archers hid behind the shields and shot at the people on the city. Gunpowder was tied to the stones of the catapults.

The gunpowder is ignited and thrown out to fire.

King Zuo Xian didn't care too much and ordered his men to defend in the usual way. After all, both sides had gunpowder and they all knew its power.

Although gunpowder is powerful, this dosage will only injure people, not kill them. After taking defense, the danger level will be further reduced.

Then--

Boom! !

Continuous and huge explosions sounded around me, and a small piece of the city wall, which was originally quite solid, was blown away.

The soldiers defending the wall were blown away by the scorching air wave that broke through his side. They only had time to scream before falling to the ground, breathless, with expressions of fear on their faces.

"Them! Their gunpowder is different from ours!"

"Why are they so powerful?!"

"God, is this thunder from the sky?"

"Help! Help me, ah——"

boom!

The new version of gunpowder is several times more powerful than the one currently used in Northern Xinjiang.

In terms of the sound of the blast, the power of the explosion and many other aspects, they are not on the same level.

Zuo Xian Wang's breathing froze for a moment.

He turned his neck stiffly and faced the young man in red clothes and silver armor under the city wall.

The boy seemed to have a complicated feeling about the bombing, as if he couldn't bear it, but it was just his illusion. Because the next second, the boy said something that shocked the Northern Frontier soldiers in the city even more:

"Your northern border gods have abandoned you. Leave our city as soon as possible and surrender to us for a chance of survival!"

Qu Dubian ordered: "Attack the city!"

A hawk flew over the battlefield, and the increasingly lush grass covered the corpses.

In Zhongyi City, the battle flag of the Northern Frontier was fiercely broken and the flag of the Great Zhou was replaced.

-

Summer of the twenty-fourth year of Chongzhao.

The seventh prince Qu Dubian developed a new gunpowder and took Xia Fuyang, the son of Marquis of Changping, with him to lead the army to counterattack. They captured a city in the northern border and drove the enemy thirty miles away. The army's morale was greatly boosted and its prestige spread throughout the northern border.

Three days later, General Nisen returned to the western garrison and captured West One and West Two cities.

At this point, all the cities occupied by Northern Xinjiang were recaptured.

The Great Zhou continued its offensive, with its sword pointed directly at the royal court in the northern border.