The imperial envoy sent by the court was just left aside.
"General Shi, if you continue like this...it will be difficult for me to report back."
The imperial envoy reminded in a low voice: "Now that the emperor is ill, all court affairs are handed over to the second prince. Although this is the second prince's idea, it is also tacitly approved by the emperor. If the second prince blames me..."
"Then let the Second Prince hold me accountable!"
General Shi was serious, his face tense, and he spoke in a deep voice: "I have been stationed at the northern border for more than 20 years! Now the northern barbarians are strong, with powerful horses and sophisticated weapons. Are they looking at us?"
"In recent years, the soldiers recruited are all old, weak, sick and disabled. There is no manpower and no food. It is not easy to guard the northern border. Tell the second prince that I am unable to take on this mission!"
"General Shi, please..."
The imperial envoy looked unhappy and wanted to persuade him again.
However, he was interrupted by General Shi, who said, "Sir, when you go back, can you please tell the Second Prince when he will replenish the food and fodder that should have been sent to the Northern Army?"
"The Northern Army is in short supply of food and fodder this time. If it weren't for the support of the people of Beiguan and the surrounding states, I'm afraid the soldiers of the Northern Army would have to go to battle on an empty stomach."
"Being hungry is a small matter, but if we lose the war and the Northern Barbarians take the opportunity to break into the heart of Dayong, it will be a big deal! May I ask why the Second Prince is delaying the delivery of food and fodder? Is he planning to hand over the territory of Dayong to the Northern Barbarians?"
"General Shi's words are serious..."
The imperial envoy was sweating profusely and did not dare to let General Shi continue speaking.
He quickly responded, "I will tell the Second Prince exactly what you said when I return."
He is a close confidant of the Second Prince.
Fearing that the Second Prince would leave a bad impression on the general stationed there, he hurriedly tried to make amends: "General, don't be angry. This matter is not the Second Prince's fault. Previously, there was a turmoil in several states around the capital, and many officials who were sent to catch a cold suffered. Even the Marquis of Jinyang lost his life because of this. His Majesty was also seriously ill because of this incident, so the Second Prince was ordered to take charge."
"It's not that the Second Prince has withheld food and fodder from the Northern Army. It's just that the situation is difficult right now and it's hard to raise food. The Second Prince has been so worried that he hasn't had a good sleep for several nights."
General Shi had no way of verifying how accurate this statement was, nor did he want to think about it.
He only knew that when the northern border was in the most difficult time, the imperial court did nothing, but it was His Royal Highness King You who came from thousands of miles away with men and food.
General Shi didn't want to guess how selfish King You was and what his intentions were.
He only knew that King You saved tens of thousands of people in Beiguan City and stabilized the morale of the army stationed in the north. Compared with the one who was supposed to sit on the throne and shoulder the heavy responsibility but was bedridden, and the one who now holds power but looks like a villain, only His Majesty King You is the one who truly cares about the people.
Shi Zhiheng is loyal to Dayong and will not turn against King You when it is not right for him.
But this does not mean that he is willing to be a knife in the hands of a mediocre king.
Shi Zhiheng would never do such a thing as killing the donkey after it has done its work or repaying kindness with enmity!
"Lin Cong, send this gentleman away." General Shi ordered.
The deputy general beside him took a step forward, and his broad shoulders directly blocked the imperial envoy's gaze towards General Shi.
Seeing that he was about to be forcibly asked to leave the tent, and not knowing whether he would have the chance to see General Shi again, the imperial envoy hurriedly said: "The Northern Barbarians have withdrawn their troops now, and King You only has 5,000 troops. You only need to send 20% of the Northern Army's troops, which is enough to encircle them and capture King You!"
General Shi was silent for a moment and lowered his eyes.
The imperial envoy thought he had persuaded him.
Just as he was about to give some more advice or paint a rosy picture for the Second Prince, he heard General Shi suddenly speak.
"Lin Cong, send him to the North Gate Military Intelligence Department."
"General Shi?" The imperial envoy's eyes suddenly widened. Isn't the Beiguan Military Intelligence Department a place that specializes in investigating intelligence, arresting and interrogating criminals?
Just when I was about to ask why they were sending me there, I heard General Shi speak in a cold voice, saying,
"I suspect this man is a Northern Barbarian spy."
"Otherwise, why did you ask me to withdraw my troops and give the Northern Barbarians an opportunity to take advantage of us?"
"Call the military intelligence officer, Lord Lu, to interrogate this man thoroughly. Take him away!"
"Yes, General." Deputy General Lin Cong simply raised his hand and grabbed the imperial envoy's arm behind his back, holding it tightly and escorting him out of the tent.
"General Shi, this is unfair!"
"I came from the capital, how could I be a spy from the northern barbarians? This is all a misunderstanding. Please listen to my explanation..."
The imperial envoy kept saying "it's unfair" but was finally silenced by Lieutenant General Lin and sent to the Military Intelligence Department.
This is not a tight-lipped one.
The reason he was given this job was because he was related to the Ling family behind the second prince.
When he was urgently dispatched, the capital had not yet known the news that Beiguan City had been rescued by King You. He thought this was a good job, after all, the Northern Army had a full 100,000 troops, while King You had only 5,000 men. Wouldn't it be easy to capture King You?
Who would have thought that the job I thought was lucrative, turned out to be one that could get me killed!
Before the Military Intelligence Department could use torture instruments.
The imperial envoy explained the purpose of his trip clearly, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
He indeed had no connection with the Northern Barbarians, but the purpose of this trip was not as simple as it seemed.
On the surface, the Second Prince only had King You, who had violated court laws and mobilized troops without authorization, escorted back to the capital. But in reality, he had already ambushed assassins on Yue Heng Mountain.
As soon as the team escorting King You passes through Yue Heng Mountain, they will let the killers pretend to be bandits and take away King You's head!
The results of the Military Intelligence Department's investigation were not only reported back to General Shi, but also sent to Qi Xu's desk.
Wei Yunlan, who was brought to the camp outside the city by Feng Ping along with little Jiayan, heard the result of the interrogation.
He raised his eyebrows and said, "Jinghong, aren't you worried that General Shi will really obey the imperial order and escort you back to the capital?"
"General Shi would not do that." It was precisely because Qi Xu knew General Shi's character that he dared to lead his troops on the front line at this critical juncture and reveal his trump card.
He was certain that General Shi would not do anything to harm Dayong.
As long as what he does is beneficial to Dayong, General Shi will remain neutral and not hinder him even if he does not support him.
Moreover, he did leave a way out for himself.
Qi Xu was unwilling to gamble on people's hearts.
The abandoned village west of Beiguan City was the retreat he left for himself. As long as the situation changed, he could escape from there.
This is also the reason why he asked Tianshu Pavilion to guard the stone chamber and several secret passages.
The secret passage that the barbarians failed to dig was taken over by Tianshu Pavilion.
As long as the crisis at the North Gate was resolved, he could take the Wei family and the second prince Huyan who was taken as a hostage and temporarily escape from the place of trouble.
But now, it seems that this step is no longer necessary.
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