OBS Chapter 271 Summoning the King of Qin Back to the Capital
Chapter 271 Summoning the King of Qin Back to the Capital
In the imperial palace of the capital, Concubine Li Xian peeled a grape and put it into the emperor's mouth, saying with a smile: "Your Majesty, this grape has been stored in the ice cellar for more than half a year, and it is still quite fresh. The people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs really put a lot of thought into it."
The emperor ate the sweet and sour grapes and frowned slightly, "Xianfei, has the Princess of Qin been behaving well these days while she is studying etiquette in Yayan Pavilion?"
Concubine Li Xian put down the grapes in her hand and giggled, "That silly princess! She is just a piece of mud that can't be pasted on the wall. She has learned the court etiquette for so many days, but she still acts silly from time to time.
Yesterday I sent Madam Liu to check on her, and she actually dozed off the stool while learning how to sit. Empress Song was so angry that her face turned red and she threw her sleeves back to the Buddhist temple to chant sutras.
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, and couldn't help but smile and shook his head after listening, "No wonder people say geniuses are idiots in some aspects. This silly princess is a genius in tinkering with all kinds of new things and learning medicine, but her words and deeds are like an idiot like a child. It's really fate!"
Concubine Li Xian curled her lips and said, "Silly Princess is worse than a child. Look at the princes and princesses in our palace. They all know how to behave properly, have noble manners, and speak politely at a young age."
The emperor opened his eyes and smiled, boasting: "They are my sons and daughters. Of course, they are all very smart and dignified since childhood."
"Yes! It's all because of your noble bloodline that was passed down to them." After flattering him considerately, Concubine Li continued, "Your Majesty, when it comes to intelligence, the princes and princesses are all good, but when it comes to being dignified and prudent, the third prince Heng'er is the one who follows you the most."
The emperor's face turned serious!
"Xianfei, you should suppress this thought in the future. I don't plan to appoint a crown prince now!"
Concubine Li Xian was shocked, and quickly said with a smile: "I didn't mean that. I just praised the emperor's son. Mothers in the world think their children are good, so they can't help but praise their children. I was talking nonsense, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
How could the emperor not understand Concubine Li's thoughts? He also understood that which mother would not want her own son to succeed to the throne so that she could gain status through her son?
Moreover, after the eldest son went crazy and was placed under house arrest, the second and fourth sons were gone, and among the princes, the third son was the most suitable to inherit the throne.
But now he is in good health and in the prime of his life, and he cannot bear to hear that someone is plotting against the throne that sits on him so early.
After hearing Concubine Li Xian's modest apology, the emperor's expression softened. He reached out and patted the back of her hand, "My beloved concubine, you should know that my favorite child now is Heng'er, and my favorite concubine is you. As long as you and your son behave yourself and don't make trouble, I will not treat you unfairly."
The emperor had given a firm word, and Concubine Li Xian, feeling reassured, was so surprised that she immediately stood up and knelt to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your favor to me and Heng'er. We, mother and son, will behave ourselves and make Your Majesty worry-free!"
The emperor pulled Concubine Li up with satisfaction, and was about to say a few more words of favor to Wen Chun when he heard Wang Jie'en's voice outside.
"Your Majesty, there is urgent military information coming from Shu and the border. Lord Chu, the Privy Councilor, and Lord Ding, the Minister of War, are waiting to see you in the Imperial Study."
The emperor immediately let go of Concubine Li, stood up and walked out.
"Farewell to His Majesty!..."
The emperor ignored Concubine Li Xian and the palace maids and eunuchs who were kneeling to see him off, and hurried to the Chuigong Palace, with a bad feeling in his heart. Urgent military information came from Shu and the border. Shu was taken so quickly? There was another war at the border?
When the emperor saw the solemn expressions of Privy Councilor Chu Zhaofu and Minister of War Ding Conghui who were kneeling on the ground to welcome him, his heart skipped a beat. It seemed that the news was not good news that would bring pleasant surprises.
"My two dear ministers, please stand up and take your seats." The emperor said this and went straight to the imperial desk and sat down.
"Tell me! What's the urgent military situation?" The emperor asked without looking at the military report on the imperial desk.
Chu Zhaofu reported: "Your Majesty! Pan Mei, the commander of the rebellion suppression army in Western Shu, has sent an urgent report from 800 miles away. General Li Mo, the golden eagle and divine arrow, led 20,000 elite troops to attack Jiangyou Pass via the Yinping trail but failed, and the entire army was annihilated. Commander Pan Mei led 40,000 troops to attack Jianmen Pass, but lost 10,000 soldiers, but failed to achieve success!
The Tanguts are causing chaos at the western border, and the Liao army at Yanmen Pass in the north is trying to counterattack and seize the pass. The Tanguts and Khitans are conspiring to support each other and jointly invade our Song Dynasty!"
The words of Privy Councilor Chu Zhaofu were like three heavy hammers, hitting the emperor's heart one by one!
: "How could this be? The Western Shu rebels are just a mob. The 60,000 troops led by Pan Mei and Li Mo to suppress the rebellion are all elite troops. How could they...?" The emperor was so heartbroken and frightened that he could not say anything.
Minister Ding said in a deep voice: "Pan Mei requested the court to send troops to support him. General Liu at the western border and the father and son of the Yang family at Yanmen Pass can hold out for the time being."
"Send troops to support? We are just going to Shu to quell the rebellion, but half of the 60,000 elite troops were lost in just a few days. How did Pan Mei fight this battle? Where can I get troops to support him!" The emperor was instantly furious.
Minister Ding suggested calmly, "Your Majesty, calm down. It seems that we have made a wrong prediction. The Western Shu rebels are very powerful. We can draw 20,000 cavalry and infantry from the imperial guards in the capital as reinforcements. However, I think the commander who will lead the army to suppress the rebellion must be His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin."
Chu Zhaofu also spoke up, "I also think that facing the easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack terrain of Shu and the powerful fighting force of the rebels, if we want to quickly suppress the rebellion and guard against the invasion of the Tanguts and Khitans, only His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin can lead the victory."
The emperor was annoyed!
Qin Wang, Qin Wang, can the Song Dynasty's war only be replaced by Qin Wang Zhao Defang? How can I let him go to Xishu to perform extraordinary feats and win the hearts of the army!
He picked up a memorial thrown on the desk. This memorial from the King of Qin requesting to be transferred back to the capital was not approved yesterday.
Now, the Western Shu army that was suppressing the rebellion suffered heavy losses in the defeat, and the western border and the Yanmen Pass in the north are being invaded by the Dangxiang and Khitan peoples. If the King of Qin, who has a large army in Yizhou, has any more ideas, what will happen?
"The chief commander of the 20,000-man army to support Shu was Wei Ji, the commander of the cavalry, who was to leave the capital immediately.
"Send the Prince of Qin Zhao Defang and his Moyun cavalry back to the capital to wait for orders."
The emperor had already made up his mind, and Privy Councilor Chu Zhaofu and Shangshu Ding had no choice but to bow and accept the order.