Chapter 960
: Peace of Mind for the World
Chapter 960: Peace of Mind for the World
Outside Daliang City,
The flames shot up into the sky, the smoke filled the air, the remaining fires in the east and west camps were still burning, and the choking smoke rose into the sky.
at this time,
The imperial army had already set up two camps outside the city at the upwind side and started cooking. The stagnant army also returned to the camp, leaving only the alert soldiers to patrol around.
At the gate,
Wang Ziteng, wrapped in a robe, had already brought a group of his generals to the camp on horseback. When they arrived at the central tent, they all dismounted.
A group of people, led by Wang Ziteng, shouted towards the door curtain of the big tent;
"The guilty man, Wang Ziteng, wishes to see His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin and Marquis Luo Yun,"
The voice just fell,
The curtain was opened, and Ning Bian, the deputy general beside Luo Yunhou, came out. He looked at the generals in front of him without being arrogant, and clasped his fists and said;
"General Wang, order the governor of Daliang City, General Lu, to say that His Highness and the Marquis have invited you. The rest of you, please wait here."
The words were a little harsh.
The generals who followed him, especially Hu Le and He Yong, were very agitated. Why? Wang Ziteng suddenly turned around, glared at them, and stepped out with General Lu.
"Your command,"
Then they entered the tent together. The two followed behind General Ning. When they stepped into the curtain, their hearts suddenly jumped. They didn't know how the court would deal with the defeated generals. They looked at each other with heavy expressions in their eyes.
around the screen,
suddenly see the light,
inside the account,
Marquis Luo Yun sat high in the main seat, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin still sat in the first seat at the east end. On the west side, two tables and stools had been set up. Apart from these, there was no one else here. This arrangement was obviously prepared for the two of them.
Look at Luo Yunhou again,
He no longer had the leisurely air he had in the capital. Instead, his face was stern and his eyes were deep, giving him a sense of majesty without even getting angry. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin had a calm face and squinted his eyes, as if he was thinking about something. The light on the table inside the tent flickered, reflecting on everyone's faces, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
Wang Ziteng walked in first, clasped his fists and saluted.
"I, the guilty minister, Prince Teng, pay my respects to the Marquis and His Highness."
How could Lu Daiyuan be delayed? It was the same.
"The guilty general, Lu Daiyuan, pays respects to the Marquis and His Highness,"
The two men looked haggard, their eyes were dull, and their bodies were obviously thin. They had changed a lot compared to when they saw them in the capital. Especially General Lu, his hair was completely white, and he looked like an old man. He no longer looked heroic. Zhang Jinyu was startled. It had only been a few days since they last saw each other, and his energy and spirit were almost exhausted.
"Generals, please take a seat and don't be too polite."
Zhang Jinyu nodded slightly, wanting to invite the two to sit down, but they looked dazed and looked towards His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin in the east.
"The two generals don't need to look at me. The court has ordered Marquis Luo Yun to be the commander-in-chief and lead all the troops heading south, including the remaining troops of the two generals. I am only the supervisor of the army."
With the explanation from His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, the two finally understood why Marquis Luo Yun was sitting in the main seat. After saluting, they sat down in the seat at the west end, looking embarrassed and not knowing how to start.
See here,
King Jin smiled and spoke to comfort him first;
"You two old generals, don't be so reserved. This military event is not your fault. The Taiping Sect is indeed difficult to deal with. On the third day of our southward march, the prince and the marquis encountered the elite Taiping Sect that was heading north. It took a day of fierce fighting before we were able to win. However, we also suffered heavy casualties, which shows that they are not ordinary rebels. General Wang, and Lü Jiedu, you two have been guarding Daliang City for a long time and know these rebels best. What should we do next?"
The question asked by the King of Jin was also instructed by Zhang Jinyu. There were some things that he couldn't say, but he also wanted to listen to the opinions of the two veterans and verify what he thought. As the saying goes, three cobblers are better than Zhuge Liang. With three commanders, can't they discuss the best tactics?
Wang Ziteng and the other two leaned back, their tense bodies relaxed a lot. It turned out that they were not convicted, especially His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, who did not have an imperial decree in his hand. It seemed that they could still feel more at ease. Thinking of the high hopes that the emperor had placed on him in the palace, how could he, a defeated general, have the face to do so?
"Your Highness, Lord Marquis, how can a defeated general ask for advice? That battle was so strange."
Wang Ziteng has actually been thinking back to that day's battle these days, and he always felt something was wrong.
"That day, General Lu, other generals and I discussed the battle formation and decided to break through with the central army. At the beginning of the battle, it was going smoothly. Who would have thought that in the afternoon, the enemy reinforcements suddenly arrived and the left and right wings were the first to collapse, so that we failed."
Sighing, Wang Ziteng felt a little regretful. It was just that little bit short.
Only Zhang Jinyu, who was sitting in the main seat, listened carefully. He could not deny it in his heart. It was just a little difference. Winning was winning, losing was losing. A little difference was the difference between heaven and earth.
"General, I haven't heard the details clearly. The enemy reinforcements have arrived, and the cavalry of the general has been used to contain them. The central army is attacking, why can't the troops on the two wings hold on? You can leave some spare troops. In addition, the battlefield is not far from Linshan County City. Has the county city fallen? Is there anything unusual or wrong? For example, when you attack, the defenders of the county city run away?"
This is also what Zhang Jinyu is going to verify, whether the people in the county city really have ulterior motives. Logically speaking, they have been trapped for so many days, and they can hold on for another day, unless...
Jin Wang Zhou Ding also became interested. What the Marquis said just now was obviously meaningful. He had seen how the battle was fought. If the two wings could not be protected, the central army would sooner or later collapse. So, how did Wang Ziteng arrange the troops?
But Wang Ziteng's face turned red, he moved his mouth, and thought about it. He felt that there was something strange everywhere, so he shook his head and replied;
"My Lord, there is something strange. First of all, Linshan County was captured shortly after the two armies fought. The defeated soldiers went eastwards, and until now, there has been no trace of them. There are at least 30,000 of them, and there are battle formations. The cavalry has already supported the left and right wings. There are really no soldiers to send. The enemy army is too powerful, so we can only retreat."
Although he didn't say much, everyone in the tent understood. He had almost failed to do what Luo Yunhou asked. King Jin sighed secretly. How could he not be defeated if he had nothing?
"My Lord, this battle was not the fault of the commander. The enemy army was large in number and powerful, but most of them were a mob. We thought we could win with one battle, but we didn't expect the enemy army to be cunning and to have ambushed a large number of elite troops. These people were fully armed. If they hadn't been under the banner of the Taiping Sect, I would have thought they were the imperial court's troops. Therefore, the soldiers were already exhausted from fighting that day and had no energy to fight again."
General Lu's eyes turned red, and he stood up and bowed. In this battle, the hard work of two generations of the Lu family was wasted.
Looking at the old general's white hair, his tattered clothes and armor, with faint traces of blood, these were enough for Zhang Jinyu to respect him.
"Old General, don't get excited. Victory and defeat are common in the military. You fought bravely and defended Daliang City, which is a great achievement. What Wang Jiedu just said about the ambush of a large number of elite soldiers should not be groundless. I believe the two Jiedushis are clear about the inner affairs, so there is no need to say anything else."
Zhang Jinyu was a little embarrassed when he saw the two veterans in front of him. Many coincidences had happened, so how could he not be defeated? He winked at King Jin and said that according to the agreement, some words should be said.
"Wang Jiedu, you don't have to be discouraged. This battle is not your fault. You have been worried for so long, it is time to go back and rest. Tomorrow morning, you will lead the palace soldiers back to the capital, leaving only the cavalry and the remaining 10,000 cavalry of the imperial guards. General Lu will still take care of Daliang City."
The King of Jin did not hesitate to arrange the future of the two after getting the Marquis's understanding. Wang Ziteng led the remaining troops of the government army to withdraw to the capital, and Lu Jiedushi rested in Daliang City. The future war had nothing to do with them.
Having said that,
The two people in the tent were obviously shocked, and Wang Ziteng's face was particularly ugly. His Highness wanted him to return to the capital for trial. Perhaps seeing the clues, Zhang Jinyu hurriedly interrupted,
"The two Jiedushi don't need to think too much. After this battle, the generals are exhausted and the government troops are almost wiped out, especially the two government troops in Hexi and Hedong. It's hard to explain how they can stay. It's better for the Jiedushi to lead them back to the capital to rest and command the army left in the capital. Although this battle is a great victory, I'm afraid there will be fish that slip through the net and harass the heartland of the Central Plains. The capital has the imperial guards, but outside the city, the Jiedushi still needs to take care of the overall situation."
Wang Ziteng's face looked much better after he said it more tactfully. He thought of the battles his generals had gone through. It was true. There were no soldiers left from the Hedong and Hexi counties. Even if he returned to Beijing, he would not be able to explain to the governors Zeng and Chu. When he thought of this, he felt an unbearable headache.
"Yes, Lord Marquis, we will return to the capital tomorrow and confess our crimes to the court. But I have one question for you. Lord Marquis, will you spare any of the generals of the imperial army?"
Wang Ziteng was a little hesitant. Hongnong Dianwei Hu Le and Sizhou garrison commander He Yong were both brave warriors. Wouldn't it ruin their future if they were taken back? "Yes, take them all back. Except for the cavalry, the rest of them should go back and rest."
Zhang Jinyu was not used to those people. Regardless of whether they were really brave or not, how could he dare to use them just because their names were so brilliant? Besides, Jia Lian and Wang Ren were both his close relatives and it would be inappropriate to keep them. It would be better to take them back and hand them over to the court and the emperor for disposal.
Seeing that the Marquis was so determined and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin did not stop him, Wang Ziteng also knew that the matter was a foregone conclusion and could not be changed. He nodded to General Lu, and the two stood up, clasped their fists, and said;
"In this case, I will follow the Marquis's instructions and return to the capital tomorrow. Goodbye."
After saying this, he saluted and turned away.
He walked straight out of the tent, as if he still had some resentment. After the others left, King Zhou Ding of Jin could no longer sit still and asked;
"My Lord, is it not a good idea to reject the two military governors so bluntly?"
"Your Highness, there is no joking in the army. Didn't I tell you before that the reason why we don't go into the city to rest is because of the discouragement of the defeated soldiers. Once the discouragement of the defeat spreads, the morale will drop greatly. How can we fight the next battle?"
Zhang Jinyu was extremely cautious about this. In the past, when he heard that defeat was contagious, he thought it was a joke. But today, he realized that it was not a joke. There are only a few people who can create miracles in adversity. Looking at the past and present, how many people can have the spirit of burning their boats and crossing the river?
"My Lord, what you said is absolutely right. The military books say that soldiers who have aged should not be used. What a pity."
His Royal Highness Prince Jin was quite regretful. They were all veterans who had fought in hundreds of battles. It would be a pity to let them go. Perhaps seeing His Royal Highness's intention, Zhang Jinyu laughed.
"Your Highness, there is no need to feel sorry. The so-called veterans are new soldiers who have fought in many battles and have become veterans. It may be a good thing to leave these people back, so that the old can lead the new and rebuild the government army."
"It's true!"
The two people in the tent had finished their discussion.
outside the account,
The generals of the various armies had been waiting anxiously for a long time, and began to whisper among themselves. General Dong of Hexi and General Peng of Hedong had long hoped to withdraw.
In the Beijing camp, it seemed that only Jia Lian regretted coming out. It would be great if he stayed in the capital. His previous ambitions had long since vanished. Seeing his uncle enter the big tent and not come out yet, he felt a little uneasy. Could it be that the court punished them and asked them to continue to fight on the battlefield? Thinking of this, he could no longer remain calm and asked quietly;
"Brother, do you think we can go back this time? Many of our brothers have died in Daliang City. Why not take this opportunity to return to the capital?"
Jia Lian had made up his mind to find a way to go back. He no longer wanted to stay here in fear. He was not that brave. There were less than a dozen personal soldiers left by his side, and they all died on the city wall. This time he went back not only because he wanted to live a peaceful life, but also because he wanted to arrange the funeral for his personal soldiers.
"What? Go back, brother Lian. How can you have such an idea? You and I have worked hard until now, but we haven't made many contributions. And my uncle has been defeated at this time. If the court investigates these crimes, our contributions won't be enough to make up for them. It would be better to take advantage of the opportunity of Marquis Luo Yun's coming here and make up for it with some contributions."
Wang Ren shook his head. He was still thinking about his military achievements. Although his achievements were enough, he didn't know if they were enough to exchange for a general position after his uncle's defeat.
Seeing that his elder brother was still unwilling, Jia Lian became even more worried. As for the others, Hu Le, the commander of Hongnong County, was impatient. Seeing that no one was moving, he wanted to get up and go in. As soon as he moved, he was stopped by He Yong.
"Brother Hu, don't be impatient. Marquis Luo Yun is different from others, and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin is still inside. If you rush in, the consequences will be unpredictable."
Although He Yong was impatient, he knew the importance of the matter. The prince and the marquis were discussing matters in the tent. If they barged in and lost their manners, they would not just be scolded.
Just as everyone was thinking about their own things, the curtain was opened, and Wang Ziteng and Lu Daiyuan came out with gloomy faces. Before they had taken a few steps,
Everyone rushed over and wanted to ask, but Wang Ziteng stopped them with his eyes.
"Go back. Tomorrow morning, all the troops will be mobilized and return to the capital together."
After saying this, he and Lü Jiedu mounted their horses and left the camp first. The people behind them who had not yet reacted were at a loss as to what to do. What did this whole army return to the capital mean? Only Jia Lian looked overjoyed. He hurriedly pulled his elder brother's sleeve, mounted his horse, and hurriedly chased after them.
After the person left, everyone finally reacted and mounted their horses to chase after him. However, they did not look as happy as Jia Lian, and their hearts were heavy. It seemed that the prince and the marquis should not have left them behind.
What is the will of the court?
After everyone caught up on horseback, they surrounded Wang Ziteng. Hu Le shouted loudly,
"Marshal Jie, please walk slower. What's going on? Why do you want us to go back to the capital? Could it be that the Marquis..."
Wang Ziteng immediately scolded him for his careless words.
"What nonsense! How can you discuss these things? Just now, General Lu and I were in the tent. The prince and the marquis did not blame us. They only told us to go back to the capital to rest and be careful of those stragglers of the Taiping Sect who went north to cause chaos in the heartland of the Central Plains. You should also take the palace soldiers back to rest. As for the rest, we will make a decision after we return to the capital and see His Majesty."
The words were clear, and all the generals were silent. How could they have so many soldiers to go back? He Yong was even more unwilling to accept it. He had risked his life and property, but ended up like this. He was unwilling to accept it.
"General, can't we stay here and continue to kill the enemy? We have fought hard until now, and suffered heavy casualties. Now we are going back in disgrace, and our hard work is not recognized. If the court blames us, then all these days, our brothers, will have died in vain."
He Yong's face flushed, and he spoke sincerely. Even the two generals in Hexi and Hedong felt sad. How would he explain to his elder brother when he returned this time?
Wang Ziteng remained silent and smiled bitterly.
"The fault of this battle is all mine. I, Wang Ziteng, will bear all the responsibility. I will not let my brothers suffer any loss even if I have to give up my official robe. I have already submitted a memorial to commemorate your meritorious service."
These days, Wang Ziteng has experienced life and death, and he has the deepest feelings. For many soldiers, life and death are determined in a moment. If it weren't for them fighting to the death, he might have stayed on the battlefield. This time when he returned to Beijing, he had already put life and death aside.
Seeing the commander's determination, all the generals fell silent. Hu Le's face flushed and he shouted:
"General, you are blaming us. We have all discussed this battle together. How can we let you take the responsibility alone if we lose? I am not talented enough, but I am willing to go with you."
"Marshal, I will go with you,"
"And I'll go with you!"
With each shout, Wang Ziteng's body shook violently, tears streaming down his face, he murmured;
"Okay, okay, okay."
"My Lord, why didn't you say something to comfort the two old generals just now?"
The King of Jin was also upset. The two veterans had done their best for the court. Although they were defeated, it was not their fault. If they returned to the capital like this, they would be upset. If the court punished them, wouldn't it be disheartening?
Zhang Jinyu slowly picked up the tea bowl and took a sip.
"Your Highness is kindhearted, and I am very pleased. The court has its own laws, and merits are merits and faults are faults. How you generals deal with it is a matter for the court and the emperor. As the commander-in-chief of the army heading south, my goal is to recover the entire territory of southern Beijing.
To put it bluntly, Your Highness, this time's suppression of them is just a replica of the suppression of the White Lotus Sect. No matter how strong the imperial army is, even if they can suppress them temporarily, they cannot suppress them forever. The merits and demerits of the world are in the hearts of the people. "
Putting down the tea bowl in his hand, Zhang Jinyu muttered to himself, if people's hearts are not there, even if they win every battle, they dare not fail once, while the so-called rebels are just the opposite, they are defeated repeatedly, but they revive again and again.
"My Lord, I have learned your lesson."
The King of Jin looked solemn, and he stood up and bowed deeply to Marquis Luo Yun who was sitting in the main seat.
(End of this chapter)