Chapter 109: Yanbei Military Situation
On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, General Yuheng had been married for only two months when an urgent military intelligence came from the northern border, saying that Di Rong had colluded with the Chiyan clan further north and assembled an army of 300,000 to attack Yanbei City. Zhang Junyu tried his best to resist, but the enemy and us were outnumbered, the war was tense, and Yanbei was in danger, so he requested reinforcements from the court.
Inside the Qinzheng Hall.
Emperor Sheng Yuan felt dizzy for a moment when he saw the urgent war report from 800 miles away. Di Rong and Chi Yan clan had always been at odds with each other, but now they are colluding with each other! There are 300,000 troops, but Yanbei only has 100,000 garrisons now, which is three times the number. How can Zhang Junyu resist?
"Sir Li, where can we send reinforcements now?" Emperor Sheng Yuan was asking the Minister of War Li Xian.
Li Xian hurriedly stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, the Youzhou garrison and Xuzhou garrison, which are closest to Yanbei, can integrate about 60,000 troops. In addition, the western border is now peaceful, so General Yang can send 80,000 troops to reinforce."
When everyone heard that 140,000 plus the original 100,000 in the North, a total of 240,000, they still did not have the upper hand in terms of numbers. Moreover, the North lived a nomadic life, had countless horses, and had very powerful cavalry. This battle would definitely be difficult.
Emperor Sheng Yuan looked at the people below him with different expressions, his brows gloomy, and said: "As a deputy general, Zhang Junyu may not be able to command more than 200,000 people. Who else can take charge?"
“This…” All the civil and military officials below were submissive and did not dare to speak.
To integrate the troops of several parties, if the generals were not able to convince the people, it would be even more difficult to fight if the troops were not united. Therefore, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
They could see clearly what the boss was thinking. But if General Yuheng, who was stationed in the northern border all year round, did not take action in this battle, who would be able to win?
Minister of War Li Xian thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, General Yang from the Western Territory may be able to take on this important task..."
Emperor Sheng Yuan frowned but said nothing.
Seeing this, Right Prime Minister Hua Shulan stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, General Yang must guard the Western Border for a day and cannot leave his post. Although the Western Border is safe now, there is no guarantee that they will not take advantage of the situation. Moreover, Di Rong and Chi Yan are brave and good at fighting, and General Yang has little experience in fighting cavalry. I am afraid it will be difficult for him to defeat the enemy with a small force!"
More importantly, Jiang Ming'an had accumulated a lot of prestige in the North. Although General Yang Tianyou of the West was of the same rank as Jiang Ming'an, he might not be able to quickly subdue the North Army if he went there. But he couldn't tell the emperor this.
"Prime Minister Hua is trying to boost others' morale and destroy his own prestige!" Li Xian said, "I, General Yang Tianyou, have been stationed in the Western Territory for more than ten years. I have made many outstanding achievements and made Feng Xi and Dayu in the Western Territory behave themselves. How can I not be able to take in these little Di Rong and Chi Yan clan?!"
Hua Shulan said: "This is a different time. As the ancients said, we should adapt to local conditions and people. How can we generalize the war situation in the north and west?"
Emperor Sheng Yuan said in a deep voice: "Then according to what you said, who should be sent to lead the troops?"
Although Hua Shulan was a veteran in the court, he still had some literary spirit. He did not bother to weigh the pros and cons and said, "I think that now that the tiger talisman has been found, we should send General Yuheng back to the northern border to take charge of the situation..."
There was complete silence for a moment.
Emperor Sheng Yuan was obviously in a bad mood. He was silent for a long time before he cursed: "Are the rest of you being kept by the court just to eat and do nothing? Sending Ming An to lead the army just after his wedding makes me look like I am being too harsh on my meritorious officials!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" The ministers were innocently reprimanded and knelt down together.
"Xie Cong, what about you?" Emperor Sheng Yuan cast his eyes on his eldest son. His son had some talent in leading troops, and as a prince, he had a noble status, so he would naturally have a deterrent effect by subduing those people.
Xie Cong is now the general of the Shenshu Camp, one of the three major camps in the capital, and he leads 60,000 men to protect the safety of the imperial city. Previously, he only participated in large and small battles as a deputy general, and now he is asked to lead the war in the northern border as the commander-in-chief, and he is nervous. And if he leaves the capital for a long time, the Shenshu Camp is afraid that the power will fall into the hands of others...
“This… Father… Your Majesty… I am your son…” Xie Cong was sweating on his forehead. This matter concerned the safety of an entire country, how could he treat it lightly?
Seeing Emperor Sheng Yuan's dark complexion, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and bow, "Father, I am willing to lead the troops!"
Emperor Sheng Yuan's expression softened a bit after hearing this. "Well, you are indeed my good son! Go back and make preparations. In three days, you will lead 10,000 elite soldiers from the Shenshu Camp to Yanbei."
After all, he loves his son so much that he now has an army of 250,000.
He then said to Li Xian: "The reinforcements from Youzhou and Xuzhou in the western border are urgently dispatched by Lord Li. They must reach Yanbei within seven days!"
"Yes! Father!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The two of them responded in unison.
Hua Shulan looked at the people below and sighed silently in his heart.
Inside the Princess’s Mansion.
Jiang Yuyan also heard about this. She glanced at Jiang Mingan intentionally or unintentionally, and saw that he looked normal. After lunch, he even invited her to play a game of chess with great interest.
But Jiang Yuyan soon discovered something was wrong.
The coach was good at making plans, and Jiang Mingan was a great chess player. In comparison, she was just a lousy chess player, but he made many mistakes this time. It was obvious that his mind was not on this at all.
Jiang Yuyan sighed.
Since ancient times, as a general of a country, they may not be loyal to the emperor, but defending the territory and protecting the people is their mission engraved in their bones. I am afraid Jiang Mingan is also worried about Xie Cong's command this time...
"Are you worried about the war, husband?" Seeing that he had not made a move for a long time and seemed to be in a trance, Jiang Yuyan could not help but remind him.
"Your Majesty is afraid of my Jiang family. Even if I have the intention, what's the use?" Jiang Mingan threw the black piece in his hand back into the chess box. "Thinking too much will only add to your troubles..."
Jiang Yuyan lowered her eyes. The relationship between the emperor and the generals was one of dependence and wariness. Since ancient times, there were few cases of harmony between the emperor and his subjects. How many generals could finally retire and spend their old age in peace? Only one or two out of ten!
If Jiang Mingan was an ordinary person, he could have quit his job and become a wealthy idler, at least his life would not be in danger. But he still had the integrity and responsibility of a general in his heart. As long as he was still alive, he would sacrifice his life for Dayue.
Jiang Yuyan suddenly felt fed up with Emperor Sheng Yuan. What a loser! She also felt sorry for Jiang Mingan. Her general really pierced her heart...
Early the next morning.
Jiang Yuyan didn't inform anyone and just brought Xiaowu into the palace by herself.
Emperor Sheng Yuan was very happy to see her coming alone, but when he heard that she came for Jiang Mingan's matter, his face immediately fell.
"Did Jiang Ming'an ask you to come and plead with me?"
"Don't blame me, Your Majesty," Jiang Yuyan said softly, "Ming'an didn't know about this. I wanted to see Your Majesty on my own."
After hearing this, Emperor Sheng Yuan's expression eased a little.
Jiang Yuyan said: "I have heard that the famous Madam Jiang in the capital said in Weiyang Palace that every man has his share of responsibility for the rise and fall of a country. Although I am a weak woman, I know that this war is of great importance.
Although the eldest prince is wise and brave, my husband is more familiar with the northern border. If he can help the eldest prince and serve Dayue, it will be an honor for our family."
Emperor Sheng Yuan said in a low voice, "How could the princess be willing to give up her newlywed husband?"
Jiang Yuyan raised her eyes to look at the emperor and said firmly, "I am willing to do so, Your Majesty. As a general, this is his responsibility."
There was silence in the imperial study for a moment.
Jiang Yuyan encouraged herself and thought that she should give the emperor another strong dose of medicine.
"Your Majesty, the old general and his wife in the General's Mansion are both old. They are just enjoying their retirement and will not leave the capital. If Your Majesty is still worried, how about adding me? I'm sure Your Majesty has heard how much General Yuheng likes me. As long as we are in the capital, Ming'an will be loyal to Your Majesty and Dayue until his death." Jiang Yuyan knelt down and said solemnly.
This is a bold statement, basically equivalent to saying that you can take our family as hostages, and he will not dare to act rashly even if he has a large number of troops.
Emperor Sheng Yuan stared at the woman in front of him for a long time, and found that he could not see through her. For a moment, he did not know whether he was melancholy or something else, and said coldly: "Princess, you dare to say anything because I love you!"
He whispered again: "How could I touch you?" His tone was desolate, like the falling yellow leaves in late autumn.
Jiang Yuyan's scalp felt numb, and she didn't know if what he said had worked.
"Ming'an is my nephew after all. We are one family, so why should I worry about him? It's just that I feel sorry for his newlywed life!"
Emperor Sheng Yuan spoke in a calm tone, but he did not seem unhappy at the moment.
Jiang Yuyan sensitively caught this change of mood and said, "Your Majesty is merciful! I, your wife, and I thank your Majesty for your kindness, but we cannot afford to make any mistakes in Yanbei. Otherwise, Di Rong will be able to attack Shangjing City in less than a month. How can the eggs remain intact when the nest is overturned? By then, we will all be fish on the chopping board. I hope your Majesty will think twice and allow Ming'an to return to the northern border!"
Emperor Sheng Yuan was silent for a moment, staring at her brain and pondering, "I didn't know that the princess had such insight and broad-mindedness. She is indeed a bit like that Jiang..."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind! How can I compare to Madam Jiang!" Jiang Yuyan's heart trembled when she heard this and said modestly.
The imperial study was quiet for a while. Finally, Emperor Sheng Yuan pinched his brows tiredly and said, "Princess, please go back first. I have my own ideas."
Jiang Yuyan wanted to say something else, but she saw Eunuch Li in the imperial court constantly making eye contact with her.
Jiang Yuyan had no choice but to leave first.
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