"Why should the commander-in-chief blame me?" Liu Qi shook his head repeatedly. "With the current situation, if I don't say anything, will there be no chaos? Besides..."
"What's more?" Qu Duan stared at the chaotic army below and responded perfunctorily.
"Besides..." Liu Qi sighed in the back. "General, let's be honest. Based on what happened in Guanxi that day, it's really hard for you to ask for a big banner, but you can't stop the people below from going further, right? Even for me, although I don't expect to get a governorship, how can I not want to establish merits and ask for grace from the emperor so that my brother can have a good result? He is just a pardoned civilian now, and he feels that he is a shame to the family. Moreover, is it only our cavalry that is like this? I don't believe that Wang De doesn't want his eldest son to have a bright future, and doesn't want his second son to return to the army and get a favor! Although it's difficult for you, we are all the same!"
Qu Duan sighed when he heard the words, knowing that the other party was telling the truth, and said no more. The cavalry below continued to advance in chaos.
Not to mention Qu Duan who rushed to send troops thousands of miles away after receiving the news, let's just talk about Emperor Zhao in Taiyuan City. Although he was relieved of his military responsibilities due to Wu Jie's arrival, he was still very busy in the few days after the New Year.
First of all, you still have to participate in military meetings and talk about military affairs on paper.
Secondly, in addition to military discussions, Emperor Zhao has been traveling around with his close ministers and consultants these days to comfort the troops.
For example, on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Emperor Zhao had a meal with the wounded soldiers who were placed in the city after washing his hands. Not only that, in the afternoon, after he sent Wang De to lead his troops to attack Dingxiang and Yanmen in the north, he gave up the inner city and returned to the camp outside the city.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, he went up to the city again and participated in the city defense repair activities, carrying soil and repairing the city with Yang Yizhong.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, he personally inspected the laborers' camp, comforted the laborers who were supporting the front, and even wrote a Chinese letter for an old Dangxiang soldier, reminding the soldier's wife to be careful of the calf in the cow's belly at home.
There are many different kinds of behavior.
Of course, all of this was accomplished under the watchful eyes of countless close ministers, guards, and many Southeastern consultants who were good at writing stories... Wherever he went, he was accompanied by more people than a full command camp.
All I can say is that as long as Emperor Zhao himself is not embarrassed, then it will be others who will be embarrassed.
"To lose the battle."
Back to the present, on the afternoon of the fourth day of the first lunar month, after a tour of the military camp, Zhao Jiu, who received the news, entered the city to attend the military meeting. When he saw Wu Jie, Han Shizhong and others, he blurted out something shocking.
"Why do officials say this?"
After a strange silence, Wu Da, with a yellow face, took the initiative to talk to the official.
"Taiyuan City was captured too easily, and the soldiers are arrogant." Zhao Jiu avoided the main seat and sat aside, speaking calmly.
"I do have this concern." Wu Jie laughed when he heard this. "But please judge wisely... I am arrogant, but it is also true that Taiyuan City was captured so easily and the overall situation is in your hands. There is a reason for my arrogance... Besides, in a war like this, victory or defeat is common. As long as it does not affect the overall situation, some things are just like that."
Zhao Jiu thought about it and found nothing to refute. Moreover, he always trusted Wu Jie and his generals in military matters. So he did not say more about the matter and just asked about the military situation seriously: "I heard that Yelu Ma Wu was unwilling to surrender even if he was offered a head in exchange for his life?"
"So that the emperor will know." Wang Yan came out from the side and replied sternly. "Not only did they not want to surrender, they also sent back the envoy's head instead of the equivalent head."
"What on earth does he want as a Khitan?" Zhao Jiu sneered. "With the capital he has, if he goes to Western Liao, Yelu Dashi can make him the King of the Northern Courtyard, which is only a little lower than some people with the surname Xiao, and stronger than Yelu Yudu! On the contrary, if he stays in Jin, will the Jurchens treat him sincerely?"
"It's hard to say about this kind of thing. As long as you can hold on, you don't care about life or death." Li Yanxian, who was standing by with his hands behind his back, couldn't help but interrupt. "War is like a tide, with huge waves and mud and sand all over the place. The difference between people is this breath..."
"That makes sense." Zhao Jiu was also thinking about it, but for some reason, he only said this and didn't say anything more.
In addition, Wang De led an army of 20,000 to the north to attack Dingxiang and Yanmen, while Han Shizhong, Prince of Yan'an, and Li Yanxian, Ma Kuo, Wu Jie, and Wang Yan all stayed in Taiyuan City to take charge. At this time, they were all in front of the emperor, and they could see that the emperor was speechless. Although the hall was full of people, they didn't know how to respond for a while.
After a moment, Zhao Jiu realized that he had affected the atmosphere and shook his head. He stopped expressing his feelings and continued to ask about the military situation: "Yelü Ma Wu is unwilling to give way, so what about Salihe who is trapped in a dead end?"
"Reporting to the emperor." This time it was Li Yanxian who reported... Obviously, these generals had a tacit understanding, and each had their own responsibilities and division of labor in front of the emperor. "Sa Lihe remained silent and closed the city to defend it."
"He doesn't believe that Taiyuan has already fallen?" Zhao Jiu frowned.
"There is no reason not to believe it." Li Yanxian said sternly. "The heads of several Meng'an and dozens of Mouke in Taiyuan City were sent to him, and there were also reinforcements sent to replace Deputy Commander Li to lead the Tangut Light Cavalry to besiege the city. He should not have believed it..."
"That's just pretending to be dead." Zhao Jiu didn't know whether to laugh or get angry. "This kind of person is common... blocking his ears, not surrendering or fighting, sitting and waiting to die... knowing that if he continues like this, no matter what the result, I can't forgive him, and Wushu can't forgive him either, but he still dares not move... Is that what you mean?"
"I'm afraid that's the case." Li Yanxian said concisely.
"It's also a problem." Zhao Jiu was also somewhat helpless. "What else? East, west, south, north, so what?"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
