The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 9: Things Heat Up
In early October, light snow brought Chang'an into early winter.

Zhao came from Tianshui and had a good family background. The land west of Helong has always been a source of high-quality soldiers. Li Ye originally wanted Zhao to contact his brothers and elders to recruit some warriors to Chang'an and fill the Weiwei Temple. This way, he would not provoke the anger and suspicion of Ximen Chongsui and would be able to do things when he had a place to use his skills. Unexpectedly, the situation in Guanzhong suddenly heated up...

Last month, the emperor ordered Li Shunjie, the envoy of Tianwei Army, to be the governor of Huazhou.

After the defeat in the invasion of Jin, Han Jian had seen through the essence of the court, which was strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Now he really refused to obey the imperial edict. He said, "Who is Shunjie? He was just a lackey of the Yang family, and he abused his power." He sent troops westward along the Wei River, and the army went down to Qi, where they held a stalemate with Li Shunjie at Yeshuiyuan.

October 13. Fengxiang Li Maozhen, Bining Wang Xingyu, Fengyi Li Maozhuang and others all submitted memorials.

The tone was exactly the same: "The court does not care about the merits and demerits, but secretly plots and plots. We just watch the princes fight. Huazhou Governor Jian is innocent and should not be replaced. Shunjie is the Wai Zhai Lang, and the traitor Fu Gong and his ilk should be attacked by us together. Then the country will be blessed forever, and the saint will be happy forever."

When the news came, Chang'an was in a panic.

On the 19th, Li Maozhen and others again submitted a petition requesting the execution of Yang Fugong, saying: "This thief has usurped the military and government, bullied his superiors and humiliated his subordinates, and he asks that his entire clan be executed."

When the outer residence officials saw that their father was labeled a traitor to the country, Shannan, Dongchuan, and Longzhou all raised troops to "jointly resist Fengxiang" in the name of attacking Li Maozhen.

The people in the capital were in turmoil, and long queues formed at each city gate. The officials and common people sensed the crisis and were eager to flee to the mountains and valleys to avoid disaster.

……

After making sufficient preparations, Li Maozhen finally launched an action and sent troops to reinforce Huazhou. The cavalry and scouts of Fengxiang Army raided everywhere, penetrated deep into the capital, and once arrived near Xianyang to observe the movements of the court. The various Shen Ce armies stationed in Liquan County and Jingyang County in the west of Beijing were urgently mobilized to prepare to assemble to resist the enemy. After the coup failed, the military envoy Yang Fugong, who had been reclusive for a long time, smelled the doom and sent Li Chan, the chief of staff, to lead the Yaode Army to meet the enemy. As soon as they left Chang'an City, the soldiers were in a fierce mood, and hundreds of cavalry went straight to Fengxiang to surrender to Maozhen.

Upon hearing the news, Yang Fugong personally led his army to station outside the Jinguan Gate.

At that time, Privy Councilor Ximen Chongsui and other eunuchs also strictly guarded the palace to prevent the spread of unrest.

Unexpectedly, Ximen Chongsui's reward was insufficient, and his morale was low. He became resentful and a military riot broke out. The warriors went out from Kaiyuan Gate and looted the East and West Markets, Bosihu Temple, Qianfu Temple, etc. The head monk of Qianfu Temple ordered the gates to be closed, but unexpectedly some soldiers climbed over the wall and entered, killing the monks.

……

Zichen Palace.

More or less affected by the turmoil outside, the atmosphere in the palace was very tense. The attendants were as if they were facing a great enemy, fearing that the chaotic soldiers would break in. The female imperial concubines and palace maids were all ordered not to leave the Ye Ting Bureau. More than a hundred guards were fully armed, not daring to leave their swords and arrows, ready to run away with the emperor at any time. As for the eunuchs, they had no time to care about Li Ye now. The military commander Yang Fugong, the privy councilor Ximen Chongsui, the left lieutenant Liu Jingxuan, the right lieutenant Liu Jishu and other important officials of the Northern Department were all leading troops outside to deal with the unpredictable situation.

Inside the palace.

Under the dim oil lamp, Li Ye paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.

There is no doubt that "seeking justice" for Han Jian was just an excuse for Li Maozhen to start a rebellion. His real purpose was, of course, to seize the vast territory occupied by Yang Fugong's fake sons. Although Li Shunjie's troops were good at fighting, they only had 10,000 people and were definitely no match for Li Maozhen.

"Captain! Li Maozhen suddenly raised an army to attack, under the pretext of presiding over the relocation of Huazhou to justice, but his real intention is to attack Shannan. Once we join forces with Bin and other princes to defeat Shunjie, this beast will definitely lead his troops to hold me accountable. I wonder if the Privy Councilor, the Military Commissioner, and the Lieutenants of the two armies can resist..." Who would have dared to imagine that these warriors would be so arrogant that they would draw their swords at the slightest disagreement. It is true that if you don't have a strong fist, you will be beaten. How cowardly.

Subconsciously, Li Ye found himself worried about Ximen Chongsui and these evil slaves.

Having to hold your nose and borrow the power of your enemy to defend yourself, is there any more ironic farce in the world than this weird story?

Disaster has suddenly struck, what should we do now?

Want to learn from my brother and flee for refuge? Now Sichuan is occupied by thieves, where else can I run to?

Asking people to come to the capital to defend the king? In Guanzhong, the most powerful thief is Li Maozhen, who dares to touch his tiger whiskers! As for the princes outside the pass, they killed mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and distant water could not quench the thirst nearby...

Or should he follow Chongzhen's example and prepare a rope, then kill his wife and children and then find an old crooked tree to save himself?
In a moment, many thoughts flashed through Li Ye's mind.

Finally, he sat down with a sad face, smiling bitterly: "Is there any emperor in history more cowardly than me?"

The first person to travel through time and space and be eaten by fermented bean curd was a sensation in the entire novel world.

You've been allowed to scold us and imprison us, I hope Ximen Chongsui and his gang of evil slaves can still have some ability, otherwise we'll all be dead.

"If Maozhen wins, he will definitely ask Your Majesty to execute Yang Fugong to help him annex Shannan. Even..." Du Rangneng covered his face and sighed deeply, with an unconcealable gray in his eyes: "By then, I'm afraid something unbearable will happen! Even if Chao Cuo is killed, it will not be able to eliminate the Seven Kingdoms."

"General."

Li Ye was silent for a long time, then stood up from the mat: "Now what can I do? I will never kill Chao Cuo to apologize, so don't mention this matter again. You and I, the king and the minister, should consider this: if the Privy Councilor and others are defeated, and Li Maozhen is at the gates of the city, relying on his power to demand the throne, how can we defend Chang'an? The worst case scenario is that I can fight the Qi bandits to death with a three-foot sword, so what is there to be afraid of?"

Looking at the saint's narrowed eyes, Du Rangneng discovered for the first time that the little emperor had courage: "Defending Chang'an..."

……

Under the pitch-black sky, people shouted and horses neighed, and several long dragons of torches meandered forward.

The soldiers were carrying long spears and making noise, not wanting to march. The colonel rode his horse back and forth to stop them and threatened them with the Ya army, and only then did the troops fall silent.

At the edge of the straight road, a thatched pavilion comes into view.

Outside, dozens of soldiers were standing on a stone table, and the crisp sound of teeth biting bones could be heard from time to time. The military academy staff passing by were all trembling, lowering their heads and running away quickly. Li Maozhen was sitting there, chewing a big bone under the gaze of his men. He was on his way to the battle, and the food was relatively simple. He had just killed two corrupt scholars who opposed him. The chef's skills should be cut off, and the soup he made was a mess! Li Maozhen held a dagger and picked at his teeth while cutting meat.

Everything in this world is fake; only strong soldiers, powerful horses and vast territory are real.

If you don't fight for it yourself, do you expect the court to give it to you for free?

These two evil assistants, don't you think about whose salary they are getting? How dare they oppose my uprising? Cook them.

As for what other people in the shogunate think, Li Maozhen doesn't care. Obedient warriors are rare, but literati who can write are everywhere.

His evil reputation had spread throughout the interior of China, and now he had written a petition to the emperor, frightening the people of Chang'an and the officials and ministers of the court. Whenever he thought of this, Li Maozhen felt very happy. Damn the imperial court! Damn the saint!

I have brought tens of thousands of people to the outskirts of Chang'an to hunt. Are you afraid? He began to doubt his own brain. Why did he treat these bird people with such respect when he was young? It is a shame to call a eunuch without balls "father". I am not wise!
This time, the army will first kill Li Shunjie and then destroy Yang Fugong.

There is so much fertile land in Guanzhong, why should it be occupied by the descendants of this dead eunuch?

It would be even better if we could kill a prime minister to liven up the atmosphere!

"Pooh! Ugh... burp..." Li Maozhen spit out a fishy smell and touched his big belly.

Just as I was about to say something, the sound of horse hooves came closer and closer.

The guards all looked over, and soon a tall knight pulled the reins, turned over and bowed, saying, "General! The envoys reported that the vanguard scouts have entered Huazhou. Li Shunjie and Han Jian fought in Yesuiyuan. Shunjie's troops were strong, and Han Jian had retreated to Xiagui. The Shen Ce Army deployed in Liquan, Huyi, and Fuping in the northwest of Beijing, with deep trenches and high fortifications, and burned villages and towns, driving the people into the camps. Our army has captured very little."

"Did Yang Fugong send out all his capable troops?" Li Maozhen threw the big piece of meat in his hand, his eyes were full of ferocity, and he bared his teeth: "How dare you offend me!"

The knight hurried away. "General!" Someone else immediately squeezed in and said, "An envoy from the imperial court."

"say what?"

"Order the general to withdraw his troops. The Grand Commandant said, don't destroy your reputation for a small gain. You must know that the Prince of Longxi will not sit idly by."

"Humph!" Li Maozhen rolled up his shiny sleeves and wiped his hands. "Withdraw troops? This old man has always been suspicious of me and other ministers. This time, let him open his eyes and see the world. Also, submit another memorial to the emperor and tell him that if Yang Fugong and Ximen Chongsui, who are causing harm to the country and the people, can be executed, I will withdraw troops. Wasn't the little emperor very tough when he beat Li Keyong? He won't do as I say, right?"

"Hahaha! What a saint of the Li family! That Li is not like this Li." The generals also laughed and took out their swords to cut the "pot soup".

As for Li Keyong, no one took him seriously.

No matter how brave and skilled in fighting the Black Crow Army is, can they really fight their way from Taiyuan to Qishan?

……

The morning light is refreshing and the Wei River flows quietly eastward.

However, within ten days, densely packed felt tents were erected on both sides of the river, and the local residents had already fled.

"The cavalry will go ahead and cross the bridge, and the infantry will quickly wade through the shallows!"

"As long as the disabled are still alive, carry them on your back."

"Go, tread water!"

"After crossing the bridge, burn it!"

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves roared like thunder, trampling on the snow and raising a cloud of dust.

Soon, a large group of knights appeared on the other side of the river.

"Gee!" Some rushed onto the pontoon bridge, while others whipped their horses and waded through the shallows to find a suitable position for the infantry behind them.

Soon, a large group of soldiers rolled up their trousers as they walked, and under the command of the cavalry, they stepped into the water from various openings like dumplings. They used their spears as poles and thrust them in every two steps to avoid stepping on the mud. Hundreds of cavalry had gathered on this side of the river, shouting and galloping to support the infantry. In less than an hour, more than 4,000 soldiers crossed the river one after another. The bridge was set on fire, and black smoke rose to the sky.

"Unfortunately, we failed to obtain it. Let's charge into Huayin and grab one!"

"Who said the Cai people are invincible?"

"..."

Looking at the other side of the Wei River, I don't know who started shouting and cursing, expressing the low and regretful morale at the moment.

This group of troops was the Tianwei Army under Li Shunjie, who had made great achievements in battle over the years and was very brave. This time, they crossed the river and attacked, and made Han Jian's troops complain bitterly. Just when everyone thought that they were about to defeat Han Jian and make a fortune by supporting the army, they received an order to withdraw. Huazhou was the best county in the world. Under Han Jian's management, the people were rich and the Tianwei Army was eager to go in and plunder. Who would be willing to withdraw at this time? Li Shunjie sent people to urge them several times before calling back this group of killers. As a result, morale plummeted and complaints were everywhere.

In the military camp, Li Shunjie knelt with his sword in hand.

In the end, he couldn't hold it back anymore. He drew his sword in a flash and chopped the table in front of him into pieces.

"ah!"

After missing Huazhou, Li Shunjie's face was twitching violently, and his eyeballs seemed to be squeezed out, which was very scary. He raised his hands to the sky and screamed a few times, and then a few resentful words came out of his mouth: "How dare you, thief Li Maozhen, harm me!"

A group of warriors sitting below were pounding swords and breaking arrows, looking ferocious.

"All our families are in Chang'an and Wannian. If the Qi bandits break into the city, the army will collapse." These generals spoke without any rules or taboos.

"Li Maozhen has 100,000 infantry and cavalry coming east, and although the capital has tens of thousands of Shen Ce troops, it sounds very formidable, but don't we know what kind of people they are? Expecting them to defend Chang'an is wishful thinking!"

"Where did that jerk get an army of 100,000? At most 50,000. Damn, there isn't a single good man among those Hebei slaves, they're all thieves!" Li Maozhen was a successful soldier in Chengde. At this moment, the soldiers were filled with hatred and he cursed whatever he thought of.

"Even if there are 50,000 people, and they besiege the city and fight all night, how long can they hold out?"

"Chang'an, the city is nearly a hundred miles in circumference. Even if all the men and women were recruited as able-bodied men, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to fill the city!"

"I don't believe this beast really dares to attack Chang'an!"

"How could it be false? The emergency messenger sent by the court last night said that the thief Li was already fighting the Shen Ce Army in the Xianyang area. Qizhou, Taiheguan, Fengtian, Wugong, and everywhere else are collecting food and grass. Do you think Li Maozhen is playing a joke with the court?"

"He has submitted a petition to the emperor asking him to kill Yang Fugong. Isn't it just for the old villain's territory?"

"If a saint could kill the old thief, how could he be imprisoned and wait for us to rescue him?"

"If you don't think of a solution, once Chang'an is lost and the men start to make a fuss, will the Marshal still be able to keep his head?"

"Bang!" Li Shunjie hit the wall with the back of his knife, interrupting the demonstration of the generals.

Back then in Fengxiang, he should have killed this guy together with Li Changfu, then there wouldn’t be the crisis today.

"There's no need to say more about the current situation." Li Shunjie stood up and said, "I've dealt with Li Maozhen before. He's two-faced, hypocritical, and cunning like a fox. This time we're in a dilemma. I thought about it, and this is the only way to go."

"The whole army is in Chang'an. What else can we do if we don't return to defend the king? Once we defeat the rebels, the sage will reward us handsomely."

He had fought for more than ten years and had seen all kinds of battles. He was not afraid to go back this time. But he was reluctant to leave Huazhou, which was about to come to him. He was not sure about defending the city with the Shen Ce Army. But the reality was that his sons' families were in Chang'an. If he didn't care, he might not see the sun tomorrow. What could these people not do when they got angry?

"Let's break camp! Head straight to Chang'an. If the enemy harasses us, ignore them." Li Shunjie waved his hand tiredly.

Li Maozhen, Yang Shouliang, Yang Shouzhong, Li Maozhuang, Wang Xingyu, Wang Xingyue...

Li Shunjie kept repeating these names, and was so angry that he was fuming. The vast Guanzhong area was either Li's ally or the old thief's territory...

……

Changan.

Scouts from the Fengxiang Army have arrived one after another, and there is no doubt that Li Maozhen will be here soon.

The candlelight in the Penglai Palace flickered, shining on the face of the saint who was sitting alone on the couch, making him look a little eerie.

(End of this chapter)