Chapter 874 Crisis in Daliang, Invasion From Five Countries

Princess Pingyang's Mansion!

Although today is not the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhou Chen took the initiative to invite Mei Changsu and Lin Chen to his home for dinner.

Since arriving at the princess's mansion, Mei Changsu has picked up Xiaobao. Xiaobao is now more than half a year old and weighs more than ten kilograms.

Mei Changsu's constitution was very weak, and it was really hard to hold him up. But even so, he was reluctant to put him down, and Lin Chen tried to persuade him to no avail.

"Hey, Chang Su, when he sees your little treasure, he no longer sees anyone else. He is just a child. What fun is there? It's boring."

Lin Chen said to Zhou Chen, as if complaining that Mei Changsu ignored him after seeing Xiaobao, and looked very unhappy.

Zhou Chen said: "That's because you don't understand the feeling of being a father, but that's normal. After all, you don't even have a woman, let alone a child. How can you understand such a profound father-son relationship?"

"Hey, you're exciting me again, you're exciting me again, aren't you?"

Lin Chen said with disdain: "It's useless even if you provoke me, what's wrong with me just not looking for it? I'm so free and happy by myself, why would I find a woman to take care of me, let alone have children?" It’s so troublesome, I’m scared just thinking about it.”

"Oh, you are still a person who fears marriage."

"What? People who are afraid of marriage? Am I afraid? I just think it's troublesome. Okay, forget it. You don't understand even if I tell you."

Lin Chen was very dissatisfied with Zhou Chen's attitude and felt that he was playing tricks on others.

"Construction of your mansion has already begun. It should be ready for living before the year. I told you to leave a place for me during the Chinese New Year. Our old man is not here. It's too boring for me to celebrate the Chinese New Year alone. I'd better come here. I’m here to play with you.”

Although he feels comfortable living alone, it does not mean that he does not want to reunite. It is definitely happier to spend the New Year with familiar relatives than to spend the New Year alone.

Zhou Chen said: "No problem, you can stay in my mansion as long as you want."

Both the Lin family and his son were his benefactors, not to mention that they had known each other for more than ten years. They were also junior brothers, and their relationship was not much different from that of biological brothers.

"Has there been any progress in your Pure Yang Jue recently?"

"There is no progress. I have practiced to the extreme. I can only realize it by myself, but this kind of thing is not so easy to do."

"It's good that you can figure it out. I'm really afraid that you'll get into trouble. It's best to just let nature take its own course."

He knew Zhou Chen's desire for martial arts, so he was worried that in order to achieve a breakthrough, Zhou Chen would affect his emotions and practice martial arts with an impatience, making him more likely to make mistakes.

After a while, Mei Changsu handed Xiaobao to Ziyu and participated in the chat between Zhou Chen and Lin Chen.

"Xiao Chen, there is something I need to tell you. Do you still remember that last year I asked Mr. Zhou to come to the capital to help me? I gave him the chapter annotations of the Four Books and Five Classics that you compiled, and said that I would take you there when I was free. Visit his old man."

Speaking of this, Mei Changsu sighed softly: "It's a pity that there are so many things going on in the capital that we haven't had time for more than a year. Mr. Zhou sent someone to deliver it to me a few days ago. I asked about this in my letter and wanted to invite us to Lingyin Temple, what do you think?"

"Mr. Zhou? That is a highly respected old gentleman." Lin Chen exclaimed.

Zhou Chen did not hesitate and nodded: "Of course I have no problem. Lingyin Temple is not far from the capital anyway. When we are free, the two of us will go there."

"That's great. I'll write a reply to the old gentleman when I get back."

Mei Changsu was very happy. He was a man who always repaid his kindness. When Mr. Zhou came to the capital to help him in the cold winter, he always wanted to repay him.

On this day, Mei Changsu and Lin Chen stayed at Zhou Chen's place until night before returning home happily.

"Urgent report from the army, get out of the way, get out of the way!"

"Report, Dayu raised 100,000 troops, launched a cross-border raid, and Gunzhou was lost!"

…………

Zhou Chen and Mei Changsu hadn't even left for their trip when suddenly border emergency reports came back to the capital one after another. The capital, which had finally been calm for a while, suddenly became chaotic.

One day later, Zhou Chen received a summons from Prince Xiao Jamyan and went to the East Palace to discuss the matter.

After all, the prince is only the prince, not the emperor, so even if Emperor Liang is now ousted, Jamel Xiao will still discuss matters in the Golden Palace only during the court meetings. Normally, matters will be discussed in the East Palace Residence.

Because this incident was so sudden and shocking, the prince quickly invited many officials to the East Palace to discuss matters.

However, there are not many officials who can participate in the discussion. Most of the civilian officials are heads of ministries, and more are the forces of the military. After all, it involves war, and in the end it is the military that has to contribute more.

Especially all the military princes, as long as they were in the capital, were all called over by Jamel Xiao.

When Zhou Chen came to the East Palace, many people had already arrived. Many civil servants and generals greeted Zhou Chen after seeing him, but some ignored him.

A Marquis of Wu Cheng who had been abandoned for more than ten years was suddenly re-established. In fact, many people looked down on Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen dealt with the crowd and consciously walked next to Mu Nihuang, who he was most familiar with.

Mu Nihuang's expression was serious and she didn't say a few words after seeing Zhou Chen. She was also worried about the current situation.

Jamel Xiao, who was sitting in front of the case, carefully read the several urgent military reports sent to him, his brows furrowed and his expression solemn.

Jamel Xiao didn't put down the letter until everyone arrived.

"The military situation is urgent. The number of troops available to the imperial court is 170,000. How are the military supplies and equipment?"

The people from the Ministry of War immediately saluted and replied: "Your Highness, the armor of the approximately 20,000 troops marching to Taiwan is incomplete. Now that the Ministry of War has prepared it, it will be available soon."

Jamel Xiao asked again: "What about money and food?"

Shen Zhui, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, immediately replied: "Your Highness, since I received the first urgent report, I have started to raise military resources. I have already thought of several ways. As long as Your Highness agrees, I will start to implement them."

Jamel Xiao had great trust in Shen Zhui and immediately said: "No need to elaborate, just get it right, hurry up and do it."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The equipment, money and food are all secured, and the next thing is the most important thing.

Jamel Xiao stood up, glanced at all the princes and military princes in the hall, and asked: "What do you think, military princes?"

Many of the military princes present were elderly. They all looked at each other in confusion, but no one spoke. Instead, many sighed and shook their heads.

Jamel Xiao looked very dissatisfied, and when he was about to speak, someone walked out.

"Your Highness, now that the war has started, it is really difficult to deal with it comprehensively at this moment. I still advocate peace. It is best to send someone to the front line to discuss it first."

As he said this, before Jamel Xiao said anything, Mu Nihuang, as a handsome female coach, couldn't help it.

She only heard her coldly sarcastic voice: "Peace? Only civil servants have always advocated peace, and military generals have led battles. How come we in Daliang have turned it around? When the war just started, the military princes leading the troops want to advocate peace?"

The speaker explained to Mu Nihuang: "Princess, this is not because I am afraid of fighting, but we only have 170,000 soldiers. We have to face Da Yu, Donghai, Bei Yan, and Ye Qin at the same time. This force is really insufficient." ah."

As for Nanchu, although the war has not started yet, troops have been stationed outside the pass, so the 100,000 troops in the southern border must not be moved.

But Jamel Xiao interrupted coldly: "There is no shortage of troops. What is really lacking is the coach. As long as there is a coach who is worthy of the big task, this limited force can exert super strong combat power."

One hundred and seventy thousand soldiers may not sound like much, but Jamel Xiao has calculated in his mind that both Donghai and Ye Qin are just small countries. As long as both sides choose the right leaders, one side can handle up to about 30,000 soldiers. The real threats are Dayu and Bei. Yan.

Dayu's 100,000 troops and Beiyan's 50,000 cavalry were the real threats to Daliang.

But Jamel Xiao is still confident that the 170,000 troops sent to Donghai and Ye Qin can at least be 112,000 soldiers divided into two parts. It should be barely enough, but the prerequisite is that they have sufficient capabilities. coach.

"Fellow military lords, now is the time for you to share the country's worries and build up your military exploits. I wonder which Qing family would like to take the initiative to volunteer?"

For a long time, no one dared to answer Jamel Xiao's words. The main reason was that most of these people had not been on the battlefield for more than ten years. They were suddenly asked to lead troops on the battlefield. They really did not have the confidence, let alone this war where they were besieged by various countries. , it looked very dangerous at first glance, so no one dared to come forward.

As a result, these military princes avoided Jamel Xiao's eyes one after another. Jamel Xiao was angry and called his names one after another, but he was still pushed away.

Zhou Chen stood on the edge, silently watching the shirk of these military princes, feeling funny in his heart, and feeling sad for Jamel Xiao.

It might be a bit too much to say that everyone is useless, but none of them can really stand up to the stage now. They are known as the strongest pillars in all countries, but these people are the only ones left in the military. It is really ridiculous and sad.

Jamel Xiao angrily rebuked, and finally proposed that he would go to the battlefield in person, which frightened all the civil and military officials and hurriedly stopped him.

Now the capital cannot do without Jamel Xiao, especially the officials who are thinking about Jamel Xiao and are even more unwilling to let him leave. Once Jamel Xiao leaves, His Majesty in the palace will definitely cause trouble. By then, before the external stability is stable, there will be internal chaos. .

Jamel Xiao had no choice. No one was willing to take the order, so what else could he do.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered to Zhou Chen, who had been standing on the edge without saying a word, and his eyes lit up.

"Wu Chenghou."

Zhou Chen didn't expect that Jamel Xiao would call him at this time, so he immediately stepped forward.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Wu Chenghou, you are from the Red Flame Army, and you even participated in the bloody battle with Dayu. What do you think?"

Everyone's eyes fell on Zhou Chen, and several people showed disdain. They didn't think that Zhou Chen, the recently rehabilitated Marquis Wu Cheng, could achieve anything.

Zhou Chen's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly: "Your Highness, I don't have any ideas. I only have one sentence: if the soldiers come, we will block it, and if the water comes, the earth will cover it."

"This time all the countries sent troops at the same time. They must have been well prepared and even secretly united to carve up the hinterland of our Central Plains in Daliang. This war is different from the past. It cannot be settled by ceding a few pieces of land; so I tried to use the main force to divide it. It is basically impossible to quell the war through peace, and it will only make the other party worse."

"Blindly giving in will only put Daliang into a more dangerous situation."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone shouted dissatisfiedly: "Huangkou kid, what do you know? You only participated in one war and lost. What qualifications do you have to make such unreasonable opinions?"

Zhou Chen looked coldly at Duke Heng, the representative of the military lord, who was also the one who just said he wanted to make peace.

"Back then, our 70,000 Red Flame Army almost completely wiped out the 200,000 Imperial Army of Dayu. So in the eyes of Duke Heng, such a record was called a defeat? Then I wonder what record Duke Heng could achieve? Tell it to me, a child with a yellow mouth?"

"You, you, Marquis Wu Cheng, would not dare to speak to me like this even if your father was alive."

Duke Heng angrily rebuked that his position as Duke was hereditary. Although he had served in the army and participated in several wars, he had no record of success at all. Naturally, there was no way to stop Zhou Chen. Mouth.

Zhou Chen sneered and said: "Being angry will hurt your body. The war has not yet started. Duke Heng, don't be angry and hurt your body first. If I can't participate in the war because my body is hurt by anger, then I will be guilty of a big sin."

"you you……"

Listening to Zhou Chen's unabashed ridicule, Mr. Heng Guo was so angry that he was speechless.

Mu Nihuang had just mocked him, and he didn't dare to refute, but Zhou Chen actually dared to mock him, which he couldn't stand.

"Okay, Duke Heng, please stop talking now. Marquis Wu Cheng, please continue."

Jamel Xiao interrupted their conversation. He was also dissatisfied with Duke Heng, but now was not the time for internal strife.

Zhou Chen didn't look at Duke Heng again, and continued: "My idea is of course to lead the battle. I have experience fighting Dayu, and I am among the top ten on the Langya List. If His Highness trusts me, you can send me to Bei. I can issue a military order, and as long as I, Zhou Chen, am still here, I will never let Dayu occupy half of Daliang's land."

Everyone present was shocked. When the military princes were retreating, Zhou Chen not only stood up, but also dared to issue a military order. If nothing else, his courage was better than that of the military commanders present. Hou is much stronger.

Those military princes who had a sense of self-respect and honor were all stunned at this time and did not dare to raise their heads.

Although Jamel Xiao also marveled at Zhou Chen's courage, he did not quite believe in Zhou Chen's ability. He admitted that Zhou Chen's martial arts was so strong that he was rarely an opponent.

But fighting on the battlefield is different from competing in martial arts, especially when tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of troops are facing off against each other.

Zhou Chen participated in the bloody battle that year, but he was not the head coach, not even the general. In addition, he did not have any outstanding record, so Jamel Xiao was naturally uneasy.

"Wuchenghou is worthy of being a military prince of Daliang, and his courage is commendable."

As soon as Jamel Xiao finished speaking, Shen Zhui immediately said: "Your Royal Highness, Marquis Wu Cheng is indeed a role model for our generation, but war is not a child's play and should be carefully considered."

Zhou Chen rolled his eyes and looked, this is a smart man, he can talk a lot, he is much better than that Duke Heng.

"What Shen Shangshu said is true. The matter is of great importance. I really need to consider it carefully. That's it for today. Everyone goes back first. If you think of any feasible method, report it to me immediately. This war is related to our Daliang. Life or death, I hope you will help me to avoid this difficulty together."

"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Everyone left the East Palace. Before leaving, Duke Heng glared at Zhou Chen and snorted dissatisfied before leaving.

"Fuck, you must be sick."

Zhou Chen was speechless. How could this old man become the Duke of the country with such little power? It is indeed a blessing accumulated by our ancestors.

Mu Nihuang walked over slowly: "Brother Lin Shu must have received the news, too. I will go to Su's house with you."

After saying that, she took the lead and left without waiting for Zhou Chen to reply.

"Oh, I didn't say..., forget it, just go."

Zhou Chen looked helpless and could only follow.