Chapter 739: Picking Chestnuts (Part 2)

On May 20, Gong Dongning and Ouyang Ming gathered their troops; on May 22, Nang Dongning officially took over the seal of the commander from Ouyang Ming; Ouyang Ming led 10,000 soldiers and retreated to Datongwei, not far from Yanjing; on May 25, Gong Dongning reorganized his troops and led 120,000 troops to besiege Xuantong City; on May 27, Gong Dongning began to order the siege; on May 26, Xuantong City was captured, more than 30,000 Dazi were captured, and more than 9,000 enemies were killed. More than 3,000 horses were collected. However, the leader of the Dazi, Duoyan, fled to the northwest under the protection of 1,000 cavalry. Despite this, when the news came, the court and the public cheered, and the ministers submitted petitions to promote Gong Dongning and confer titles on him, and to allow him to present prisoners at the Meridian Gate to demonstrate the power of the Zhou Dynasty.

"So, the war is basically over!" Eleventh Lady put down her needlework and looked at Xu Lingyi with a smile, "Jian'er will be able to return to Beijing soon."

"If the emperor approves Gong Dongning's surrender at the Meridian Gate, Qin Ge'er will definitely come back with him. As for whether he will be stationed outside the city or follow Gong Dongning into the city, that's hard to say. But no matter what, there's nothing wrong with seeing each other secretly." Xu Lingyi was in a good mood. As he spoke, he sat down next to Shiyi Niang, glanced at the white silk tied on the embroidery stand, and said, "This calligraphy screen has been embroidered for many years, why hasn't it been finished yet?"

"Just embroider a few stitches when you have time!" Eleventh Lady smiled.

Xu Lingyi just felt familiar, but didn't take it seriously. He took a sip of the half-empty teacup from Shiyi Niang and said, "I used to think Gong Dongning was brave and good at fighting, but I didn't expect that this guy is quite smart." He was quite emotional.

Knowing that her son was safe and sound, and Gong Dongning was her son's boss, Shiyi Niang was naturally very interested in his affairs: "What do you think about this?"

Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Duoyan fled to the northwest, Gong Dongning did not order a pursuit, and there were 50,000 troops from the Sichuan Dusi stationed in Ganzhou, and Gong Dongning did not order a siege, clearly leaving Ouyang Ming to clean up the mess. It can be seen that he did a good job in guessing the intentions of his superiors. I was worried that he would not be able to adapt to Yanjing, but now it seems that I was worrying too much." As he spoke, he thought of Prince Yong. They had a silver mine together, and Gong Dongning would take good care of him when he entered the capital! There is also the selection of the general of Guizhou, Prince Yong will definitely intervene!

"Gong Dongning is a late bloomer, right?" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "It can be seen that opportunities are also very important for people."

Xu Lingyi nodded and was about to tell her some examples from the military when a servant ran in: "My Lord, hurry to Xuantong Mansion within 800 miles."

Everyone in the outer courtyard knew that Jiang Ge'er was now following Gong Dongning, and was rushing to Xuantong Mansion within 800 miles. Naturally, they did not dare to stay for a moment.

Xu Lingyi was also paying close attention to Xuan Tong's battles. Upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Bring it here." He sat there and started reading.

Eleventh Lady walked over.

But after taking a glance, her face changed drastically and she said in a lost voice: "What does this mean?" The smile also disappeared from Xu Lingyi's face, and his expression became solemn.

The servant saw that something was wrong and tiptoed away. Leng Xiang and the others watched and made eye contact with each other before retreating as well.

The room became quiet.

"It seems that the emperor wants Jin Ge'er to take this opportunity to gain some military merits," Xu Lingyi's sigh was clearly audible, "but this is a bit too much, I'm afraid Jin Ge'er can't handle it..."

Gong Dongning said in the letter that the eunuch of the Supervisory Army had received the secret order from the Emperor, asking him to appoint Jiange'er as the co-governor and to join Ouyang Ming, who was stationed in Datong, in encircling and suppressing Duoyan who had fled west.

The overall situation has been decided. To the west, there are the troops of the Sichuan governor and the Ganzhou garrison. Duoyan has only 1,000 troops, while Ouyang Ming has 10,000 troops. Moreover, as the leader of the Dazi, Duoyan's death or capture is of great significance and can be credited with great merit. Ouyang Ming is not bad, after all, he was a general who conquered the West. Jianger, let alone leading troops, has never been on the battlefield since the beginning of the war. He is just a clerk beside Gong Dongning. Both his experience and qualifications are not enough to be Ouyang Ming's deputy.

This is simply a naked attempt to steal credit!

Even people who didn't know much about military deployment would know what was going on after listening to it, not to mention those battle-hardened generals in the Five Military Commandery and those experienced and scheming officials in the imperial court!

Those historians are not vegetarians!

If I had shown an attitude of seeking military merit from the beginning, it would certainly have displeased those soldiers who were eager to fight. But at least I was sincere in my despicable behavior. Unlike now, I was so despicable and hypocritical that I could not bear it.

Once his character was questioned, how could he survive in the army? Even if he became a general, how could he lead his soldiers?

"Is the emperor trying to harm Jin Ge'er? Or is he trying to promote Jin Ge'er?" Eleventh Lady's mouth was bitter. "Since it's a secret order, can you pretend you don't know? Isn't it said that when a general is away from home, the emperor's orders are not granted."

"It's unlikely..." Xu Lingyi shook his head. "Gong Dongning is going to Beijing soon. He won't make the emperor unhappy at this critical moment. He wrote to me just to let me know the reason and give me an explanation!"

"In other words, Gong Dongning also thinks this is inappropriate?" Eleventh Lady said in a deep voice.

Xu Lingyi said nothing.

Eleventh Lady suddenly became annoyed: "Is there no other way? We can't just watch Jin Ge'er follow Ouyang Ming to the northwest like this, right?" Xu Lingyi thought for a while and said, "Go to Princess Dujiang's mansion! Talk to the princess and see if she can persuade the emperor. Since it is a secret order, it will make sense to assign someone else when the time comes." He added, "I'll write a letter to Gong Dongning and ask him to delay for two days." Eleventh Lady also thought it was a good idea, and even thought that if she couldn't get the princess to agree, she would go to the palace to ask the empress. In short, Jin Ge'er must not be allowed to go.

Unexpectedly, when she saw the princess, she smiled and said, "I knew my aunt would come to see me!" There was a hint of pride in her smile.

Eleventh Lady was stunned: "Could it be the princess..."

"My third brother said that my uncle is thinking about his eternal reputation. He doesn't care about Jian Ge'er. Then we will take care of it." The princess nodded, her eyes smiling into crescent moons. "When my third brother told the emperor about this, the emperor didn't agree to let Jian Ge'er be a Tongzhi, saying that he was young and only wanted him to be a centurion. It was not until I went to the palace to ask my mother that she personally told the emperor that he agreed." As she spoke, she took Eleventh Lady's arm. "My aunt came at the right time. The war a few days ago It was not favorable, and the palace was trembling with fear. Now that the big thing has been decided, my mother and the Empress Dowager were relieved, and summoned me and the Third Princess to the palace to talk. We went to the palace together, so that my aunt could greet my mother and the Empress Dowager, and I could also meet the Third Princess. Speaking of which, it was the Third Princess who helped me go to the palace to ask my mother for help from the Emperor! Otherwise, how would we know all this. "Knowing that it was not the Emperor's intention, Eleventh Lady felt relieved. But looking at Princess Jiangdu's excited face. She knew that she couldn't say anything at this point - whether it was Prince Yong, Princess Jiangdu, or even Prince Yong's wife, they all meant well. The last time they refused to let Qing'er return to Yanjing, it was already a bucket of cold water on Prince Yong and Princess Jiangdu. If they refused again, it would inevitably make them feel disheartened.

"Fortunately, I am dressed neatly today." Eleventh Lady smiled. She thanked Princess Jiangdu and went into the palace with her.

The Queen Mother did not mention speaking up for Jin Ge'er. Instead, she asked about his marriage: "He is not young anymore, why don't you do anything? Last time when I was looking for a match for the Seventh Prince, I thought the daughter of Kong Wenjie, a lecturer in the Imperial Academy, was good and about the same age as Jin Ge'er. I will invite her to the palace someday, and you can come and see her!"

"I wonder how old Miss Kong is this year?" Shiyi Niang said with a smile, "We have read the marriage fortune for Jian'er. It said that a difference of three or four years in age is best!"

In this way, Jiange'er can get married a few years later.

"Is that so?" The Queen Mother was a little disappointed. "Ms. Kong and Jin'er are the same age!"

The Queen Fang Jie'er was also present. She glanced at Eleventh Lady with a smile and said, "Mother, if that's the case, then let's marry Miss Kong to the Eighth Prince! Speaking of which, the Eighth Prince is also of marriageable age..."

The Queen Mother nodded slightly and told Huang Xianying: "Invite Concubine Song to come tomorrow. See what she thinks."

Huang Xianying replied respectfully, "Yes," and also glanced at Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help feeling uneasy.

Could it be that everyone thinks this girl is good, but because I am stubborn in my opinion, I lose a good marriage?

She thanked the Empress Dowager somewhat uneasily.

"Jian'er is from my mother's family," the Queen Mother said with a smile. "I will naturally take his affairs to heart." Then she asked about the health of the Lady Dowager.

Everyone talked about some family matters. Seeing that it was getting late, Eleventh Lady stood up and said goodbye.

Princess Jiangdu is also going back home.

The Queen Mother and the Empress personally escorted them to the warm pavilion, while Ying Xianying escorted them all the way to the palace gate.

Eleventh Lady first saw Princess Jiangdu off. Then she said goodbye to Huang Xianying and asked about Miss Kong in a subtle way: "Did I do something inappropriate?"

"The Queen Mother is determined to find a matchmaker for Jin-ge!" Huang Xianying said with a smile, "She thinks Miss Kong is good, and she is going to keep her for the Sixth Young Master on the pretext that Miss Kong is young," she said with a chuckle, "However, since the wife of the Marquis of Yongping said that the Sixth Young Master should find someone who is three or four years younger than him, the Queen Mother has an idea in mind, and will definitely find someone that will satisfy the wife of the Marquis of Yongping."

Eleventh Lady was ashamed.

"Aunt, please explain a few words in front of the Queen Mother." She bowed to Huang Xianying.

"Madam Yongping, don't worry about it." Huang Xianying said with a smile. "The Queen Mother loves the Sixth Young Master to the core."

After all, the palace gate was not a place to talk, so Eleventh Lady said a few humble words and went back into the lotus garden.

"Not to mention Princess Jiangdu, even the Queen Mother won't work."

She told Xu Lingyi about her entry into the palace.

"The Emperor is very filial to the Empress Dowager." Xu Lingyi thought for a while and said, "I will go see Elder Chen tomorrow to see if there is any chance of a turnaround!"

"That's all we can do!"

Both husband and wife were preoccupied and did not fall asleep until the late night.