sbdcsierra Chapter 325 Checking the Military Rations Again
Chapter 325 Checking the Military Rations Again
Yan Zhoudu felt that Emperor Hui was sometimes profound and sometimes confused. Without military rations, even if he sent a god of war to the western border, the soldiers would not be able to win the battle if they were hungry.
Yan Zhoudu cursed Emperor Hui in his heart and said, "Your Majesty, General Guo Yi and General Xue Zecheng are dead!"
"The only person in the court who is familiar with the terrain of Huyu and has won a battle is His Royal Highness Prince Jin. During the three years of war, Jiang Xiaobai led his troops to attack the Platinum Clan who occupied Huyu, and has now been demoted!"
"The Imperial Censor Wang has also led troops into battle."
Emperor Hui heard that Yan Zhoudu blamed him for killing two generals and Jiang Yanqing. He couldn't kill someone else's son and shamelessly ask Jiang Xiaobai to go to the front line to sacrifice his life!
Emperor Hui suddenly thought of Xie Xuhe. If he had followed Xie Xuhe's advice that day, investigated the grain taxes in the surrounding states, integrated the Ten Guards into the Shen Yao Army, and trained them day and night, he could have immediately dispatched military rations.
Sheng An has at least 70,000 soldiers and horses, so he won't be so passive.
Emperor Hui placed one hand on his knee, covering the golden dragon tail embroidered on his robe, and asked, "Wang Huaiyang, who do you think can support Hu Yu, Mu Jingyi or Wang Zhengzhong?"
Wang Huaiyang vaguely felt that this matter was not that simple. The two generals were unjustly killed by Emperor Hui, and then Adehe attacked from the west, and he had never heard of this person before.
But this news was sent urgently over a distance of eight hundred miles.
Adehe was able to destroy two countries with only 3,000 men, snatch tens of thousands of soldiers from the two countries, and defeat General Xue, which shows his profound strategy and extraordinary military tactics. Hu Yu might not be sure of winning.
Wang Huaiyang said, "Your Majesty, Mu Jingyi controls the northern troops, reaching Yuhe in the north and supporting Zhongdu in the south. He must stay in Heyuan. I think Lord Wang is qualified to be the commander of Hu Yu."
Emperor Hui knew the relationship between Wang Zhengzhong and Xue Haiping. Wang Zhengzhong would go through fire and water for the country or for his relatives.
Seeing that Emperor Hui was about to nod, Zhang Zhao interrupted him immediately: "Your Majesty, you can confer the title of Consort Dun on Princess Yuhe, and ask the Consort to send a letter of divorce to Khan Renran, asking him to send troops."
"Huyu is close to the Yuhe tribe in the northeast. The Yuhe war horses will be able to reach Huyu in a few days. Two hundred thousand soldiers and horses are enough to deter Adehe!"
"After we destroy Korensi, we will thank Khan Renran."
Wang Huaiyang knew that Emperor Hui and Xianli formed an alliance so that someone could rescue him when he was surrounded by enemies, but he did not need any help from outside at the moment.
Wang Huaiyang raised his eyes to look at Zhang Zhao, then looked at Emperor Hui: "Your Majesty, this is not possible. General Xue is in need of military rations and a commander."
"Yuhe has evil ambitions and once invaded Dasheng. This move is like inviting a wolf into the house!"
Emperor Hui hesitated again and again: "But there is no military rations now!"
Zhang Zhao said one sentence after another without giving the court officials a chance to speak: "Your Majesty, let Yuhe Khan lead the troops to intimidate Adehe. After the victory, half of Yuzhou's annual grain production will be given as a reward."
Wang Huaiyang was furious when he heard this, and his outstretched finger was pushed back by Wang Xun. He looked at the treacherous Zhang Zhao standing next to Emperor Hui:
"Zhang Zhao, you sent food without permission. Did the people of Yuzhou agree to it?"
"Sir Wang, can you provide us with military rations?" Zhang Zhao looked at Wang Huaiyang with a fake smile. Not to mention Wang Huaiyang, he would not even take Wang Xun and Cui Hengling seriously, as they were the most powerful people in the court and trusted by Emperor Hui at that time.
Wang Huaiyang didn't know why Emperor Hui valued Zhang Zhao so much. Several generations of emperors in the Dasheng Dynasty had never made such a foolish move.
Who was the person who embezzled the military rations? Whenever Taifu Meng, Wang Zhengzhong, Xue Yao and others investigated the case, they were attacked without exception. Even Emperor Ming did not check the military rations at the beginning. The person behind the scenes was so powerful that he could not imagine it.
Wang Huaiyang looked at Emperor Hui and asked, "How could 340,000 dan of grain disappear out of thin air?"
"A big reward will always attract brave men. Your Majesty, please offer a reward of 1,000 taels of gold and pardon the crime of those who know the truth. If you don't have money, you can sell the treasures in the harem to find food. The first priority is to defend the western border."
Wang Xun and others naturally supported Wang Huaiyang. If they could find the military rations, it would not only solve the urgent problem, but also make a great contribution.
Emperor Hui didn't want to wait until the day when the enemy was at the gates of the city, and there was also the worry of Mu Jin'an in the north. He kept some rationality in his folly: "Just follow what Minister Wang said."
Zhang Zhao looked at Wang Huaiyang with cold eyes. In which dynasty was there a minister who was twenty years old?
But there were two in Dasheng. Emperor Ming promoted Jiang Yanqing and Wang Huaiyang, who were indeed more capable of supporting the country than the important minister Cui Hengling.
In addition to the silent confrontation, the depressing Xuan Zheng Hall is also filled with strong voices of suspicion, doubt, calculation and control.
In the past it was just an internal fight, but now that the enemy is attacking, they have to re-evaluate the situation.
The news of the huge reward was delivered to Qizhou by express horse. Cui Fengchun saw that the visitor was Wang Huaiyang, so he received his cousin in his mansion.
Wang Huaiyang saw that Cui Fengchun's mansion was low-key and simple, with many pines and bamboos planted. The furnishings in the house were lower than the standards expected for a governor. The servants were a bit old, there were no beautiful maids, and there was pork on the table.
Wang Huaiyang and Cui Fengchun are rare upright young men from aristocratic families. They have a deep friendship and share the same ideals. But now Cui Hengling is domineering and corrupt, and Cui Fengchun lives in fear every day and has no face to face Wang Huaiyang.
He lowered his head when talking to Wang Huaiyang: "Huaiyang, Your Majesty is willing to offer a reward of a thousand gold? I have searched Qizhou for several months and have not found any military rations."
Wang Huaiyang knew that if Cui Hengling was punished, he and Cui Fengchun might not be able to escape. No one could bear to watch everyone in the family die.
As long as we can find military rations to resolve the crisis, at least some people can be saved.
Wang Huaiyang was polite and courteous: "Cousin, Lin Huaisheng once bought grain at a high price. Where is the tax money in Qizhou? If we find out the tax money, we can buy grain. Which official in Qizhou did Lin Huaisheng have close contact with?"
Cui Fengchun had been the governor of Qizhou for less than a year. The grain supply was a huge hole, and the tax money was even more. He knew that this matter would affect him one day.
Cui Fengchun was not the kind of person who would wait for death in ignorance. He investigated cases every day and even interrogated the people in the city. However, when he pieced all the clues together, they were not as useful as the evidence of a thief stealing a purse!
Cui Fengchun's hair had turned much whiter, and he said truthfully, "Huaiyang, I have interrogated all the officials. Lin Huaisheng was dissolute and mean, but he was cautious in his actions. He used the elders of the Lin family, and they are all dead!"
"However, Lin Huaisheng once sent several supervisors to Fengqi in Qizhou to supervise the construction of the Zhangqu Canal. Mu Xiang entertained the supervisors, and those supervisors spent their days lazily, and returned after staying in Fengqi for half a year."
Wang Huaiyang recalled that Mu Xiang, in order to please Emperor Hui, advised Dasheng to refuse trade with Xique at the palace banquet, which turned against Mu Jinan.
Mu Qingyin and Zheng Shu both passed away. Mu Xiang was so sad that he became as thin as a bag of bones. He would take leave from time to time in the court.
Now, if Mu Jinan dares to act rashly, Emperor Hui will definitely chop off Mu Xiang's head. Mu Xiang is even more frightened than Cui Fengchun!
Wang Huaiyang instructed Cui Fengchun to quickly post the reward notice and ride as fast as he could to Jinzhou, southeast of Qizhou, and also instructed the governor Song Yue to offer the reward.
Also traveling with them was Yan Zhoudu. The two continued to head towards Yuzhou, southeast of Jinzhou. This was the place where the demoted rebel king Shuochang ruled.
When Mu Jingyi needed reinforcements for the battle against the Southern Kingdom, King Shuochang did not send a single soldier, and Emperor Ming took this opportunity to seize King Shuochang's military power!