Chapter 152： Mist

In the new year, Zheng Qian came to visit Shen Zhuo to pay New Year's greetings, his posture was almost like that of Hou Men's relatives. Seeing that another year had passed, Yang felt anxious about the two daughters still staying at home. Hearing that Zheng Qian was here, I remembered that this was someone who had come to mention relatives, and it seemed that he had not given up yet.

The Yang family really hoped that Shen Wen saw Zheng Qian's side, and when there was no one, he said to Shen Wen privately: "There is a young man named Zheng who is a civil official. The matchmaker said that his parents are very good, and his mother is loving and loving. I also said that I have never heard my parents quarrel with each other." Yang's family is particularly envious of this. She and Zhenbei Houju are very close to each other, and even if they meet, they always have to quarrel.

Shen Wen remembered that Zheng Qian's parents had not allowed himself to enter the ancestral grave in the previous life, and tried not to show a sneer, but said listlessly: "I feel sick recently, very tired, afraid of the cold, and don't want to do anything."

Yang remembered that Shen Wen had been scared to death twice in the past, so he immediately became frightened and hurried to hire a doctor. She babbled: "Shi Langzhong and Duan Langzhong are not in the city now, so I always feel unsure. It would be nice if Duan Langzhong came to show you."

The doctor came, and Shen Wen held his breath, and naturally diagnosed that the second lady's heart was weak, and it was time to rest. So Shen Wen began to pretend to be ill with humming, basking in the sun weakly and gasping for breath every day.

The Yang family dared not talk about marriage: if Shen Wen is sick, people will complain when they talk about relatives. It is for Shen Wen to take good care of his body.

If the prince was present, he would be more suspicious after fighting against Shen Wen. But the people in the Hou Mansion had never seen Shen Wen's true face. Seeing this second young lady's weak and weak appearance, there was no doubt. After all, Shen Wen fainted twice in the past and almost died. He was in a bad shape, and it has been like this.

Zheng Qian was really anxious: It has been a few months, and he hasn't even caught Miss Shen Er in his hands. Before the Lantern Festival, a message came from the Prince's side, asking him to promise to get rid of Miss Shen Er within a month, but now the inside line of the Hou Mansion handed out a letter, Miss Er had a heart disease again, Yang's because of Shen Er Wen is not in good health, so let's not talk about marriage. As a result, the road to formal marriage would not work, and Zheng Qian had to use other methods.

This morning, when Shen Wen was supported by Xia Qing and walked a few steps in the yard, he looked a little collapsed and asked Xia Qing to take a chair. As soon as Xia Qing turned and walked away, Xia Zi of Wang Zhi's family who had been watching under the eaves walked over and said to Shen Wen with a smile: "Miss, there is a poem party in Beijing. The people that the government knows, that Young Master Zheng will also go..." She said, looking at Shen Wen's face.

Shen Wen smiled awkwardly, then sighed bitterly: "My body... can't leave the house..."

Xia Zi approached Shen Wen mysteriously: "Miss, would you like to see it?"

Shen Wen turned away a little shyly: "Go and see the poetry club, it must be very interesting..."

Xia Zi whispered: "Actually, it's okay for the lady to sneak out without disturbing her."

Shen Wen seemed to be particularly frightened and shook his head: "How come you will be angry!"

Xia Zigang thought Shen Wen disagreed, and Shen Wen whispered: "...Sister Wanniang, Xia Qing, definitely would not agree, and there is no carriage..."

Xia Zi knew that there was still hope, and said with a smile: "Those are easy to say, miss, I have taken care of you in the past, the two of us who are destined, let me make arrangements for you..."

Shen Wen shook his head hurriedly again: "Forget it! I'm afraid..."

While she was talking, Xia Qing came up with a chair, and Xia Zi had to walk away, feeling that this second lady was guilty and courageous, and if she was ready for her, she might just listen.

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On the night of the Lantern Festival, Grandpa Sun sent someone to search the palace where the **** was next to Concubine Xue. The next day, he began to search the palace where Concubine Xue was located. Several of the court ladies and eunuchs of Concubine Xue and Ba Sina were hit against the wall, and those who did not die were tortured. The inspectors started from the living room and checked the items and clothes one by one. Unfortunately, after only a day’s work, the process slowed down because the personnel were transferred to other places. There was no reason for this. The news of Beirong’s attack came out, the emperor. Starting to go to court every day, people have to be sent to collect all kinds of information, and there are not enough reliable manpower.

The day after the Lantern Festival, the prince decided to report the war in the north to the emperor, using this to distract the emperor and cover up the incident of Concubine Xue Gui during the Lantern Festival as soon as possible. He asked him to pass the memorial brought by Wang Zhi to the reception area, saying that he had been entrusted by a soldier, and that the soldier had died of serious injuries. The prince picked it out and gave it to the emperor.

As soon as the emperor read it, he frowned and sat upright. After reading it several times, he asked: "It's already a month ago. Is there a new memorial?"

The prince shook his head: "Not yet. It seems that Zhenbeihou wants to be sent in an emergency, but the person who sent the memorial is said to have died on the way, and was sent into the palace by a passerby."

The emperor scolded: "Beijing's wolf ambition! I also married my own daughter to them!"

The prince stirred in his heart and sighed: "I want to come to the Four Emperor Sisters to make a lot of efforts for peace between the two countries. As soon as she died, Bei Rong sent troops."

The emperor frowned angrily, and asked after a long while: "There is surplus food."

The prince shook his head: "The treasury has been in shortfall for a long time, and the harvest of one season can't really fill the losses of previous years."

The emperor also understood that this was true, and sighed: "At this time, it depends on the strength of Shen Jiajun, the Zhenbei Hou, and I will go up and say something tomorrow."

The prince retired. The emperor was upset, and Grandpa Sun hesitated. The emperor asked Grandpa Sun impatiently: "What do you want to say"

Grandpa Sun hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, the matter about Fei Xue...someone has confessed..."

The emperor nodded with a sullen face, and Grandpa Sun said in a low voice: "It's the prince, it should be from last year's Qixi Festival. The most recent one was to prepare for the New Year's Eve banquet..."

The emperor patted the table, and he was patted on the memorial. There was a move in his heart: This time is too coincidental. As soon as Fei Xue came out, the frontier memorial arrived. Could it be that the prince concealed this memorial and kept it until today and thought of the prince's performance that day, the emperor felt a chill. Recalling that Concubine Xue Gui said that the prince let her poison her, the emperor gritted his teeth and said to Grandpa Sun: "Ask, if anyone had poisoned her."

Grandpa Sun agreed and let the interrogation continue. But the things that were given to the emperor were given to Concubine Xue by the prince himself, and Concubine Xue had never faked the hands of others, but she had put powder on her sleeves and went down to the food. The eunuchs and palace ladies were beaten to nonsense, but to their death they did not give a reliable and consistent confession.

The next day at the court meeting, the emperor told the prince to read the memorial handed to Wang Zhi by Ji Wenzhao, telling the military situation of Beirong and the weakness of Shen Jiajun. Zhenbeihou asked the court for reinforcements...

As soon as the prince finished reading, the three princes red-faced and saluted: "Father! The imperial court should immediately raise troops to support Zhenbeihou!"

The prince sneered and said: "The court has provided relief to the victims for years, wherever there is money and where there is food!"

The three princes said loudly: "No money, no food! Then let all the ministers to raise food and money!"

The prince cutly said: "It is unreasonable! Even if everyone sells their property, they may not be able to buy food."

The third prince didn’t want to bother with the prince, and turned to the emperor and said, “Father, please sell my mansion and raise money for Zhenbeihou!”

The emperor was very upset. He felt that he didn't kill Zhenbeihou, but kept him to guard the door. How could he not perform his duties properly and let Beirong call the prince to do dirty things and dare to deny it so bluntly, saying It's not a gadget to hide the military information indefinitely! And the three princes eat inside and out, and have to use royal things to fund their least favorite people. There is really no good thing! ...

His face was dark and he didn't make a decision, and the ministers quarreled up.

The courtiers immediately divided into several factions. One faction supported the three princes and wanted to raise food immediately to support the border. One faction supports the prince, saying that there is no money or food at all, and that Zhenbeihou should stick to it. There is also a faction of masters: Don’t say anything, and send envoys to talk over it quickly, and it is best not to fight, because it hurts the people and money, the people can’t stand the toss. Another faction advocates to wait and see, maybe Bei Rong is just bluffing and retreating soon...

There was a fight in the court for a whole day, and there was no result in the evening. The argument continued the next day, and the next day...Four days later, the memorial issued by Ji Wenzhao during the siege also arrived in the capital. It says that nearly 400,000 troops of Beirong have passed through the border, and Shen Jiajun will defend Yancheng to the last breath...

The three princes are going crazy. Every day he quarrels loudly and wants to send troops quickly. He doesn't care what words to modify, and repeats just a few words: If there is no reinforcement, if Zhenbeihou collapses, it will be the time when the country is destroyed!

Although the emperor was a little guilty, he felt that the third prince was too impatient! It's not his turn to jump up and down in national events! Young people just can't hold their breath! There have been incidents of Bei Rong's infringement in the past, and each time it passed without any danger. If Zhenbeihou collapsed, it would naturally be the country's collapse, but will he collapse? Shen Jiajun has always been strong, so asking for help also meant to take the opportunity to demand military supplies and want to grow... The emperor was a little worried.

The prince insisted that he had no money, and the Ministry of Household took out the account books. There was indeed no money and no food, and he still owed a lot of salary and money to buy goods. He also repeatedly emphasized that the Shen Jiajun in Zhenbeihou was the strongest army in the DPRK, and who could be better than them. If they can't do it, then the others will not do it. We should believe that Shen Jiajun can win!

Those ministers who said wait and see didn't say anything, but the negotiable peace faction spoke louder: Since there is no money and food, Zhenbeihou said that Shen Jiajun was not in the enemy, so hurry up and make peace! Don't let Bei Rong fight further south...

The three princes returned to the mansion angrily, and said to Master Ye and Shen Zhuo: "They want to subdue the country! That villain! For his own selfishness, he even ignored the country!"

Shen Zhuoxin said that he was indeed the king of subjugation, but at this time he could only say: "Don't worry, we can start recruiting volunteers."

Da Young Master Ye was in chaos. This is a war, and the intrigue between officials and civil servants is different. He also said: "Yes, your Royal Highness can advise the emperor to let the court inform the people of spontaneous resistance to the enemy."

The three princes furiously attacked the table: "Let the people spontaneously! If the people can resist the enemy, why do they want the soldiers! Let the civilians resist the soldiers of the North Rong, don't they go to death!"

Shen Zhuo knew the next steps, and said: "But the court still has to issue a document so that the soldiers can rebel, otherwise the name is not right. It is better to have a righteous soldier than no one."

The three princes agreed, and the next day, the three princes made an additional suggestion, asking the court to issue an order to resist the enemy. This kind of two-piece mouth touch without spending money is easy to do, the emperor agreed, but added some restrictions.

After the imperial meeting, the Ministry of Defense issued conscription orders to various places, but let people raise their own military needs. The imperial court neither gave weapons nor pays for the army. The imperial court ordered officials to lead it. As for where to gather and how to mobilize, it was very vague. At the same time, the soldiers from all over the country, who had been disbanded, were recruited to reassemble and prepare to meet the enemy.

The emperor and the prince, even the three princes, did not expect that such a few words like a piece of empty paper received a huge response.

People from all sides have been waiting for this document, and the capital was boiling overnight.

In the past few months, the theory of strong soldiers and defense against the enemy has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and articles written in various places have long been overwhelming. Scholars and scholars have been calling for the court to support the border and provide military supplies. Now that the court is letting go, how can you not be happy

People everywhere in the capital began to sing the heroic deeds of Shen Jiajun, and praised his contribution to the country. Suddenly, the soldiers became the loveliest people, and many young people were clamoring to join the army to support Shen's army.

The news was spread to various places extremely quickly, and the veteran officials in the field, led by Yan Jing, immediately began to act: sent students to the wealthy households to raise grain, grass and silver, recruit volunteers, expropriate grain and grass...

The prince did not like such a strong reaction. In order to stop Zhenbeihou’s request for help, the prince asked him to remove the important station from Yancheng to the few remaining stations in the capital, and stop sending any emergency military information to Zhenbeihou!

When the volunteers led by Zhang Yunming and Song Fuzi approached the Jiangnan area, they received news of the imperial conscription. Song Fuzi immediately let others play the banner of "Resisting the Enemy Righteous Soldiers", and then let other teams gradually join in to the family of Zhang Yunming’s grandfather Li went.

Li's business was all over the ground in Jiangnan, and Zhang Yunming hadn't arrived yet, the old official Li had long been informed. A few hundred miles away, Zhang Yunming's merchants delivered grain and silver. When they arrived in the city of the old official Li, Zhang Yunming's team was already full of materials, food and grass.

The last time he came, it was Zhang Yunming and Zhang Yunzheng who came to buy grain. This time, the old official Li greeted him at the gate in person. When Zhang Yunming saw him, he went up to pay the gift of the younger generation. Old official Li said hurriedly: "Okay, okay! Don't be so polite."

Zhang Yunming sighed for a moment when he saw that his grandparents were much older than many years ago. They have recruited refugees in the south for so many years, made crossbows and arrows. Most of the old officials of Li secretly mobilized silver to support them. If they can win in the future, at least one-third of them will benefit from the powerful old officials of Li and the Li family. Money background, so he respects the old official Li very much.

What the old official Li thought was that when the two children came here, they offered to buy food for themselves. At that time, the price of food was only a few dollars in twos and threes! Five years later, two taels of gold! At that time, I paid a million taels of silver and bought a huge amount of food. In the past five years, the famine saved the family assets and saved countless people. This is equivalent to a life-saving grace. In addition, seeing Zhang Yunming black and thin, not the white appearance before, made him very distressed, so he also showed great care for Zhang Yunming.

Zhang Yunming couldn't bring the volunteers into the city, so Master Song led the volunteers to camp on the Li's farm outside the city, and followed the old officials into the city to meet his grandmother and other relatives. The two got into the donkey cart together, and the official Li asked, "Why didn't your brother come? I miss him very much."

At that time, the old official Li still wanted Zhang Yunzheng to come to Jiangnan to live with him. Naturally, this did not happen, but the old official Li kept it in his heart. Zhang Yunming also worried about Zhang Yunzheng in his heart. He rushed to the capital in such a hurry to tell his father Zhang Yunzheng's situation earlier. During this period of time, the more he thought about it, the more worried he became, but he couldn't bring a letter to Ping Yuanhou to talk about Zhang Yunzheng. He wanted to meet Ping Yuanhou to make it clear in person that maybe he could leave early and go to Zhang Yunzheng to help him. Of course, he couldn't tell the old official Li, Zhang Yunming could only say vaguely: "He is busy elsewhere."

During the march, there was a noise outside, Zhang Yunming immediately looked out of the car window, and saw a team of government officials yelling over a team of prisoners. Zhang Yunming didn't know if they were looking for him, but he kept staring at them and disappeared before he took it back. look.

Old official Li whispered: "That's from the Xue family, do you remember the Xue family?"

Zhang Yunming shook his head blankly. Old official Li reminded him: "The time you and your brother came to Jiangnan, I also introduced his grandchildren to you. His granddaughter is very beautiful."

That happened so many years ago. Zhang Yunming had no impression, and shook his head again.

Old official Li said: "Then the girl entered the palace. It was Concubine Xue. It was very beautiful these years. But the day before yesterday, she was ransacked. She said that Concubine Xue was killed by witchcraft in the palace."

Zhang Yunming left the capital for a few years and didn't know what was going on in the palace, oh, he didn't know that Xue Guifei's troubled life was caused by him and Zhang Yunzheng, and it ended sadly without their knowledge.

When they got off the car at Li Mansion, they saw a bald middle-aged man standing outside the door with a smile, but Zhang Yunming did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly said, "I have seen Xiaoyao Gong."

The old official Li smiled and said: "A man who is so much younger than me will be called to me in front of me."

Xiaoyao said, "Hey, don't think I am younger than you, but in terms of appearance, I am much older than you! Look, my hair is gone!"

Old official Li joked: "You worry about your hair every day, so how can you get away with it!"

Several people laughed.

Zhang Yunming knew that Mr. Xiaoyao often sent letters to his father, and he also knew the old officials of Li. He had been hired heavily by old officials of Li. When he came to Jiangnan, he always came to Li's mansion for a meal. Seeing him here, Zhang Yunming suddenly had an idea and pulled Xiaoyao Gong and said, "I really have something to look for you."

A few people entered the Li mansion. After meeting with the relatives, Zhang Yunming and Xiaoyao and the old official Li entered the side hall of the old official Li. The old official Li asked the servants to guard outside and shut the heavy one with their own hands. The hall door said: "It's quiet here, you can talk."

The three of them sat down, Zhang Yunming looked serious, and said to Xiaoyao: "You have to find my brother."

Duke Xiaoyao shook his head and said: "Your father asked me to stop you here, and then protect you all the way back to Beijing, lest the emperor kill you, I have to listen to your father."

Zhang Yunming lowered his voice and said, "You have heard how many Bei Rongs have come here."

Duke Xiaoyao didn't understand Zhang Yunming's solemnity, and replied: "I heard that there should be more than 300,000 to 400,000."

The old official Li said: "Shen Jiajun is less than that half..."

Zhang Yunming raised his hand and said, "What I am doing now, don't tell the outside world."

Neither of them spoke. Looking at Zhang Yunming, Zhang Yunming whispered: "There are 400,000 Beirongs north of Yancheng. They will divide their troops, and hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers will bypass Yancheng from the northwest and go straight to the inland... "

Duke Xiaoyao and old official Li exclaimed at the same time: "Really!" "How come!"

Zhang Yunming nodded and said, "It is this path of soldiers and horses that my father and I are going to block in the future. And now, my brother has set up an ambush in one place and wants to intercept them first..."

The two people exclaimed again: "How did he stop...!"

Zhang Yunming also said: "He has fewer than five hundred people."

The two almost shouted: "How can this be done!"

Duke Xiaoyao stood up and cursed: "That overbearing bastard! You know how to do it! This is not..." He didn't dare to say that he would die.

Zhang Yunming said: "So you have to go to him, go right away, there are more than 20,000 people on my side, and there will be more when I approach the capital in the future, and the emperor can't help me."

Duke Xiaoyao frowned, and Zhang Yunming said, "I will tell my father that he will agree with me."

Xiaoyao knew that Ping Yuanhou preferred Zhang Yunzheng, otherwise he would not let himself teach him for ten years. Although he used to scold Zhang Yunzheng, but that was his apprentice after all. Now he is in danger, Xiaoyao Gong immediately became anxious, he said : "You tell me the place now, I will leave early tomorrow morning."

The veteran official Li was also nervous. He liked the grandson who looked a lot like him, but he could not have an accident. He said to Xiaoyao: "If you need anything, you can bring it directly from the house. Do you want a horse?"

Xiaoyaogong said, "No, I'm too lazy to take care of it before I walk fast." He was upset and motioned to Zhang Yunming to tell the address. Zhang Yunming knew the place of the wine cellar, so he told Xiaoyao about the place and drew a picture. Xiaoyaogong looked at the area and understood the urgency of the matter better. Sure enough, he left at dawn the next day and never saw Zhang Yunming again.

The Li family assembled vehicles for the volunteers. When Zhang Yunming and Master Song left Jiangnan, the volunteers were all assembled. There were more than 20,000 people, all in black and light armor. They were very neat and more powerful than those of regular troops.

Xiaoyao Gong traveled day and night. In early February, when he arrived near the wine cellar village where Zhang Yunzheng was located, people had already been seen hurriedly fleeing south on the road, saying that Bei Rong had come.

The North Rong West Route Army led by He Duo, the eldest son of Tugu Khan, did come all the way.

He Duo also grew up fighting the Tugu Khan in the north and south, and he also believed that bloodthirsty violence was the basis for victory, but he was a bit more calm and cunning than Huo Luo's bravery.

He led this cavalry-based army to the northwest through the mountains to the plains. The troops stationed in the west have not been supplied by the court for many years, and the stationed troops are in a barren land. The army is already weak and dare not stop Hedo at all. There is no military resistance from this army.

In line with the common strategy of all the invaders in history, Heta let the soldiers burn, kill, loot and looting along the way. On the one hand, he frightened the enemy and on the other hand, he replenished military supplies. It is winter now, and it is reasonable to say that the people should be at home, but he found that people in many places are running out and food is scarce. Fortunately, his soldiers have an average of two or three horses per person, can drink horse milk, and if there is no food, they can slaughter the horses. There should be no supply problems in a short time. Of course, this is not a long-term solution. Hedo hopes to enter the prosperous plains as soon as possible without worrying about food.

In just over a month, He Duo was already close to a thousand miles away. It can be said that the direction of the commander is invincible, and the villages and towns passed by are all flags. Fortunately, because of the guidance of the descending soldiers, the Beirong army found a guide, threatened with his family, and asked him to point out a shortcut through the mountains to the Central Plains.

Heta always asks to contact Tugu Khan to report his progress. The smooth progress on his side made Tugu Khan somewhat less depressed.

After the Lantern Festival passed, Tugu Khan resumed the attack on the city, but after only two days of attack, it stopped again. Someone sent the head of Fire Luo, and it also brought news that the East Road army had been defeated back to the grassland.

Tugu Khan is angry! Huoluo is the second son, the prairie eagle he saw growing up on the battlefield. Although his body is not as good as before, he is still a sturdy Beirong, his son! How could the Southern Dynasty people be killed! I heard that the head was still hung in front of the battle! This shame must be washed away with the blood of the whole city!

He wanted to call He Duo back and attack Yancheng together. But Heta is striving for victory and should not give up. Therefore, Tugu Khan was not in a hurry to attack the city, he wanted to fight steadily. Once the West Route Army successfully entered the Central Plains, he would have won the war. Here in Yancheng, it is a revenge that is determined to be won. He besieged the city before the New Year's Eve, and it has been almost a month now. After another month of besieging, the city will run out of food, and then attack again, it will inevitably be broken.

He integrated and adjusted the army, placing elite soldiers at the back, using ordinary sergeants to consume arrows when attacking the city, and when the opponent is exhausted, let the elite soldiers attack and must win.

Bei Rong had been around for more than ten days without fighting, and the inside of Yancheng also took a breath of joy.

In the Chinese Army, Zhenbeihou increased the hope of victory after a month of hard defense: the 30,000 elite soldiers have not moved at all, the new weapons are useless, and the food is sufficient. Isn’t Yancheng also consuming the other side? Endurance

However, Ji Wenzhao wrote another memorial, in which he described Yancheng's plight, saying that the soldiers were seriously injured and had insufficient food. Hope the court will send support as soon as possible!

Zhenbeihou somewhat disagreed, and asked Ji Wenzhao: "Why the emperor has not agreed to our request many times before issuing memorials? It can be seen that the imperial court cannot send reinforcements. Besides, our army can fight each other out, so there is no need to beg."

Ji Wenzhao said to Zhenbeihou: "Master Hou, at this time, the enemy outside the city is now in a weak position. If reinforcements come, it will be able to disperse the forces of the North Rong and give our army more chances of winning. It happened, but I can’t tell you). Moreover, such a war will never happen in a hundred years. Since the war begins, we must seize the opponent and fight to death! Completely wipe out the opponent’s main force! Therefore, the more troops, the better, where can I be reserved and not open to me. If you are in the court, crying and rolling on the floor! Just give me soldiers! Anyone! Even the volunteers! If there is a response from the outside, we will attack from the city, and we will have more guarantees of victory, Beirong. The side is more threatening. Lord Hou, how can we not beg the emperor to send troops?"

Zhenbei Hou laughed, signed and stamped the memorial, and sighed slightly: "The literati is great, and if you use your tongue, I have to listen to you as much as you work." It wasn't a complaint in his tone. During this time, Ji Wenzhao coordinated to defend the city next to him, and he also saw Ji Wenzhao's strategy, and he was indeed a master of gambling.

Ji Wenzhao hurriedly comforted Zhenbeihou: "It will be clear if you listen to it at the same time. The specific military affairs still have to be mobilized by Lord Hou."

Zhenbeihou smiled bitterly: "You are really not humble."

Ji Wenzhao took the memorial and retired. When he went to his house, he saw that there was no one around, he carefully kneaded the memorial into a ball, and wiped it twice on the sole of the shoe. After unfolding it, he felt that it was not enough. The clothes he was wearing had blood stains on it, soaked with water, and then wiped the memorial, and then the memorial was sealed. People were asked to ask Shen Yilai to go to the side courtyard to find Shen Jian and Zhang Ding.

After the two parties met, Ji Wenzhao gave the memorial envelope to Zhang Ding, and said: "This is a memorial for the court. I will let General Shen break through and send you to you. You must drive day and night to the capital as soon as possible."

Zhang Ding took it, and Ji Wenzhao continued: "You have to meet the prince's people and tell them that Zhenbeihou is seriously injured and probably can't survive. General Shen failed to break through and was killed by an arrow."

Shen Jian knew that this was something in Shen Wen's dream, and sighed.

Zhang Ding laughed, "I am best at talking nonsense."

Shen Jian remembered the death of the fourth princess, and said: "I have to give the fourth princess's blood book to the prince, and tell him about the fourth princess."

Ji Wenzhao shook his head: "The news we sent was that the people who were going to block the east road were dead, so I definitely can't say it directly. In this way, I write a note that it was shot by Bei Rong during the siege of the city."

Someone outside the courtyard said: "General Shen is here!" Ji Wenzhao went to see Shen Yi. Shen Jian said to Zhang Ding: "Go and let the people of Pingyuanhou spread the same news along the way."

Zhang Ding responded and left. In the evening, a few carrier pigeons flew up and headed south.

Two days later, at night, the south gate of Yancheng quietly opened. Shen Yi led the men and horses, and took advantage of the darkness to kill from Beirong’s garrison. Zhang Ding and a small group of people were sent to the edge of the Beirong encirclement, watching them ride horses. After running away, he turned his horse's head and killed him back to Yancheng.

Tugu Khan got the report: A cavalry had torn open the encirclement while the night was breaking through, and a small group of people ran out. But the Northern Rong cavalry quickly surrounded, but the Shen Jiajun cavalry could not beat it, and retreated to Yancheng.

Tugu Khan thought that this was a signal of the city's dying struggle, and he sent his command to prepare to attack the city again.

Zhang Ding and others ran out for nearly two hundred miles before taking a break, and then found the soldier who had left the city according to the address left by the soldier who had left. Zhang Ding asked the others to disperse and hide first. He went to the soldier himself, gave him a secret letter to the prince, and then described to him the tense and dangerous situation in Yancheng, and strongly praised him for running in time.

Before leaving, the soldier asked, "Is Yancheng really as miserable as you said?"

Zhang Ding sighed deeply: "Brother! If I hadn't had this errand to send memorials to the capital, I would probably die in it! Bei Rong attacked the city every day and killed too many people. You don't know! But this matter You can't just say anything! Yancheng is very strict, everyone can only say good things. If someone tells the truth, they will shake the army's heart and ask! Don't say that I said it!"

The two bid farewell, and Zhang Ding took two or three sergeants to the capital and rushed to the outside of the capital. He completed the task by giving the lacquered seal to the imperial post.

The others stayed there, followed the soldier who sent the letter, and saw that he had given the letter to the next home, and removed him. A few days later, Ping Yuan Hou also asked people to remove all the Crown Prince's information points around Yancheng that had been discovered. Since then, the Crown Prince has lost the news of Yancheng.

Chen Lichang and a few students from Yan's Academy went to the government to rush into the plains, so that the people quickly prepared to respond to the enemy. Unfortunately, not many officials in the yamen responded. Fortunately, the reputation of Yan's Academy is so great that Yan Jing has been in contact with various academies or famous schools this year. He usually mentioned the threat of Beirong’s invasion many times in his correspondence, and everyone was somewhat psychologically prepared. Now that some wounded soldiers have really retreated, it can be seen that Bei Rong is not far away. The students came out to lobby the squires. These local tyrants and landlords are not government officials. Their home is here. If Bei Rong comes, the loss will be huge. As a result, local wealthy households contributed money and hurriedly established villages and soldiers. If Huo Luo brought the cavalry over, these people would definitely not be able to stop it. But now Bei Rong is coming over with more than a few thousand herdsmen's miscellaneous cards, and the two sides are half a catty, how many can get through.

County magistrate Luo also heard the message that Bei Rong had arrived. He didn't want to wait here to be beaten, so he cleaned up and took his family on the boat to the south to avoid the wind. Before leaving, I sent a memorial, capitalizing on how fierce Bei Rong was, how Shen Jiajun was defeated, and Chen and Shen Jiajun had no intention of resisting, leaving the people in danger and disregarding it!

Ever since Hong Er went out to sea when he met the storm and survived, he became an official ship steer. Hearing that Bei Rong was coming, he was going to fight madly. The Li family’s shopkeeper Zhou gave him the cart and food. He took a dozen people to join the rebels. Hong Laoduo cried and chased him for three miles. He scolded Hong Er all the way and didn’t call him back... …These are foreign words.

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Since the Lantern Festival, when the news of Bei Rong's invasion came out, in the following ten days, rumors of various colors came crashing, testing the nerves of the people in the capital every day.

Hou Pingyuan was preached from north to south, saying that Bei Rong was too powerful, and Shen Jiajun could not stop it, and the entire army was almost wiped out. Zhenbeihou was seriously injured, probably killed in battle, and the eldest son and second son of the Shen family were also lost to the enemy...

There was also worrying news from the northwest. Beirong moved quickly after entering the country. If it is not blocked, it may soon enter the plain area and the capital will be dangerous...

The emperor has no leisure now, and he has to read the urgent news from all sides every day.

The station from Yancheng to Beijing had been withdrawn a long time ago, and now it is completely unreasonable! The news of Shen Jiajun is all based on hearsay, not optimistic, and some even say that the father and son of the Shen family are dead! What is more reliable now is the northwest area, where the post can also transmit information. The news that can be sent is not good either! What do you say that the army of Bei Rong is known as one million. It has entered the northwest from three roads. Yancheng in the north is under a heavy siege. The situation in the northeast is unknown. There may be Bei Rong troops coming out of the mountains at any time and heading south...

The emperor was deeply angry! It is said that for a while, Shen Jiajun has claimed to be the country's bronze wall and iron wall for many years, but now it seems that it is simply vulnerable! Reports from various parties all said that when the Shen Jiajun came in Beirong, he looted the rich villagers around Yancheng. As soon as Beirong arrived at the border, the Shen Jiajun soldiers did not confront Beirong at all, so they retreated across the board and hid in Yancheng. city! After this, the emperor Yancheng’s eyeliner couldn’t get any news. Only the news from the outside said that Beirong was attacking the city continuously, and that Yancheng was just defensive and did not attack and counterattack... This kind of useless military commander really deserves it. They are worthy of being killed... But the emperor was also a little flustered. The father told him at that time that the "day of the destruction of the Shen, the time of the country" left by the warlock, will it come true!

The prince also heard the rumor that Zhenbeihou had died, and he couldn't believe it in ecstasy. For so many years, he has been waiting for such a day longingly, could it really come, he dare not think! Can't believe it!

A letter came from the eyeliner of the Zhenbei Houfu. Yang fainted in the hall on the spot when he heard the rumors. The second Miss Shen cried so much that she couldn't open her eyes. Miss Shen was crying and beating on the martial arts field, and she practiced until It's dark. Shen Zhuo was retired from the third prince and went home and guarded the Yang family all night. The old lady sat under the altar and chanted for a day. ...

It seems that it is true that the prince's hope has risen...

Finally, a secret message from Yancheng came from his contact point: Zhenbeihou was seriously injured and probably died! In order to confirm, he asked his staff to ask the people who had returned from Yancheng some time ago and whether the person who sent the news in Yancheng was reliable. The staff asked Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi thought that Zhang Ding, who had been recruited by him, would have a contribution, so he tried his best to say how he had placed someone in the Chinese army. This person usually freely enters and exits the Chinese army compound and is absolutely reliable.

Hearing what the staff said, the prince had some letters, and he almost shed tears of joy. At this time, the station outside the city sent a memorial from Zhenbeihou and a private letter to the prince.

The prince opened the letterhead to him with a bit of surprise, and when he saw the blood book, the prince's overflowing happiness disappeared! He stared at the words of blood written by the four princesses on a piece of clothing for a long time, only feeling cold and trembling. This is his dear sister, his brothers and feet of the same blood, golden branches and jade leaves, and the noble family of heaven, just withered in a distant foreign country. Although she did not say it, she must be devastated! The prince remembered the nightmare he had in the past, the tragic situation of the four princesses in the dream, the blood on her face... the prince wailed hoarsely, but couldn't cry.

The east palace was still quiet, no one dared to come in to comfort the prince. The **** standing at the door was close to the post, afraid that the prince would notice him.

The prince gritted his teeth in pain: These are the faults of Zhenbeihou! The fault of the three princes! Without them, how could I want the Fourth Princess and Fan! If there is no Miss Shen Er, how could the four princesses lose the picture! If she hasn't broken the picture, she will definitely be able to marry a good family!

The prince said silently in his heart: sister, don't worry! I must avenge you! Kill all the men in the North Hou Mansion and Ping Yuan Hou Mansion in the town, and sell all the women into prostitutes! I want them to repay you for your suffering!

When he went to court the next day, the prince had already suppressed the sadness and joy in his heart, and he was very calm on the surface.

At the court meeting, all court officials talked a lot about the military report at the border. Many people also heard rumors from the market that Zhenbeihou was dead, but the military newspaper did not say. The emperor circulated the memorial to all court officials. Everyone found that Zhenbeihou’s signature was vain and weak, and the memorial was full of dust, creases and blood stains, and they felt bad. The memorial to the emperor should be clean and tidy. How could it be blood-stained? This situation is probably because Zhenbeihou can no longer write a copy, and the subordinates can only send this memorial... Zhenbeihou seems to be really ugly... …

After seeing the memorial, the three princes said: "Father! Please Rong Hai'er uprising soldiers to go to the north to provide reinforcements for Zhenbeihou!"

The emperor rebuked, "What more is the town of Beihou! Now that Bei Rong has killed him from the northwest, it can be seen that he has no resistance at all!"

The prince sighed: "Zhenbei Hou has won the trust of his father for so many years..."

The three princes said angrily: "In recent years, the imperial court has not sent munitions, no food and grass, what can Zhenbeihou do to resist Beirong! It is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice!"

The emperor said: "Presumptuous!"

Some ministers said: "The imperial court has no food or money, how can it send military supplies"...

While everyone was arguing, someone reported: "The emperor, Ping Yuanhou is outside the palace, asking to see the emperor. He said that he would rebel and go to the north to reinforce the town of Beihou and resist Beirong!"

As soon as he said this, the court became quiet.

Hou Ping Yuan was a military commander in the past, but now when the country is in danger, he has stood up, and it seems that he is still bloody.

The emperor frowned, doubts and expectations in his heart. Since Ping Yuan Hou received the lesson that day, he has not been out of the mansion in these years, and he is quite honest. It's just that this person is really not an honest person... But now no one else comes out to fight the enemy and has to use him. The emperor motioned for people to take Ping Yuanhou to the court.