Chapter 23: Can’t Sit Still

Seeing his hesitation, Zhou Shengchen couldn't help but smile and said: "King Ping Qin is known as 'Ping Qin', but he has no feelings for the land of Qin."

There was teasing and ridicule in his words. Gao Yuchao was displeased and immediately replied with a frown on his face: "What does your highness mean by saying that?! Of course I also heard that there were changes in the six towns to the north, but after all, I was worried - we didn't get If you rashly mobilize troops and horses according to the imperial decree, you may be criticized."

Nodding, Zhou Shengchen said with emotion: "Yes. We fought bloody battles with our soldiers, but the court couldn't understand our difficulties."

"More than that!" At this point, Gao Yuchao also became angry, "He is always suspicious of us."

The two of them were silent. Feng Qiao and Jian Shiyi were listening quietly and did not dare to interrupt.

After a long time, Zhou Shengchen said slowly: "When I was ordered by the late emperor to come to Xizhou, it was to stabilize the country and protect the territory of the Han Dynasty. Now many years have passed and the late emperor has passed away, but the world is still falling apart. It is inevitable that he will go. Uneasy!"

Gao Yuchao sighed loudly and said with emotion: "Because of my meritorious service in the war, I became a king with a different surname. I should have repaid the late emperor for his kindness, but I always felt that I was holding back. Speaking of which, I stood high in the court. Those people are doing things randomly!"

He spoke boldly, but also truthfully.

They are fighting for power in the court, just so that their family can enjoy eternal wealth. How can they remember the reason why countless soldiers fought bloody battles?

And when it comes to the welfare of the people in the world, why do people like Liu Yuan, Zhao Teng, even Liu Wei and Piao Guang care about it? At most, he is just being wise and protecting himself.

"I hope to join forces with King Ping Qin to restore peace to the world and make all people live and work in peace and contentment. But if King Ping Qin is afraid of being reprimanded, I have to bear the responsibility alone, but I cannot just watch the chaos arise and ignore it indifferently." Zhou Shengchen said slowly. said.

The air in the room seemed stagnant. Even though King Ping Qin didn't drink any more hot tea, sweat was still dripping from his forehead.

Wiping cold sweat continuously, he looked at Zhou Shengchen: "Your Highness,"

"You can just be my side soldier. If the court blames you in the future, you can escape the blame by just saying that you were coerced by me." Zhou Shengchen said calmly, "I only hope that in the process of stabilizing the world, I can let the people know , there is also King Ping Qin who is also thinking about them."

Slapping his thigh hatefully, Gao Yuchao stood up straight and shouted: "Your Highness has thought everything about me, am I just so timid and afraid of getting into trouble?! I just follow His Highness' orders!"

"Okay! That's how it should be!" After saying that, Zhou Shengchen took him to the sand table.

The two of them whispered to each other, and King Ping Qin was frightened when he heard it again.

It turned out that Zhou Shengchen said that after the six towns in the north were pacified, he would be allowed to leave a large number of troops and dominate the north.

"Is this possible? The court will not order us to return?" Gao Yuchao asked again doubtfully.

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Shengchen moved his fingers eastward along the Yinshan Mountains to the Pingcheng area, and said: "It may be easy to sweep this place. But we must also know that this area borders the Rouran and other barbarians to the north, so it is very easy for another rebellion to occur. If we don't occupy this place, or the rebels collude with Rouran, we may be robbed by Jin Rong and others from Taiyuan County. By then,"

Hearing this, Gao Yuchao gritted his teeth and said, "Jin Rong wants to take advantage of the free peach! How could I tolerate this dirty villain!"

Jin Rong was an important general in the vassal town who occupied Taiyuan County. His daughter married into the imperial palace in Zhongzhou. She is currently the noble concubine of the young emperor Liu Hui, known as the golden concubine.

This woman, like her father, has a ruthless heart. Because she was not favored, she was looking for every opportunity to rise.

Jin Rong secretly resented that his daughter was not favored, and at the same time he was looking for opportunities to rebel.

Zhou Shengchen's intention was that since Laojun's expedition would achieve special results. For example, occupying more territory and allowing more people to settle down. It can also serve the purpose of deterring people like Jin Rong and others, or simply force Jin Rong and others to rebel as soon as possible in order to eliminate them in advance.

Although King Ping Qin was worried that he might be reprimanded by the court for doing so. But thinking that he was just Zhou Shengchen's subordinate, and that he really should plan further for Beichen, he reluctantly agreed.

"King Ping Qin, there is no need to worry. For example, my king campaigned in the Jianghuai area a few years ago, and there are still many soldiers left there. If this were not the case, wouldn't we have to fight back and forth and travel non-stop!" Zhou Shengchen Having said that, he laughed first.

Gao Yuchao immediately grinned and said that he was even more timid and not as far-sighted as King Xiao Nanchen.

The two had discussed and decided on the time and order of sending troops to the north.

When walking back to the main hall, Zhou Shengchen ordered: "I will go to the north today for an inspection. General Feng will stay in Guanzhong to provide support."

Military advisor Xie Chong came in and was surprised at first when he learned about this. When he heard that King Ping Qin also sent troops generously, he silently nodded in approval.

After the arrangements here were completed, King Ping Qin was busy going back to mobilize his troops and generals. After saying goodbye to him, Zhou Shengchen went back to his study and continued to teach Miao Shiyi.

But whether he was playing the piano, practicing calligraphy, or reading, Yan Shiyi seemed absent-minded and a little flustered.

"Eleven, what's wrong with you?" Zhou Shengchen asked patiently.

After staring at him for a long time, Shi Shiyi's eyes turned red and tears fell one after another.

She pursed her lips tightly and bowed before him seriously.

"Get up quickly, I told you not to pray repeatedly like this." Zhou Shengchen said quickly.

Jian Shiyi sat up straight and wiped his tears with a handkerchief. It seemed like raindrops falling from the eaves on a rainy day, and her tears could not be wiped clean.

"Are you worried about me when I said I was going to send troops?" Zhou Shengchen asked softly.

Nodding vigorously, Jian Shiyi looked at his normal expression and almost didn't cry loudly.

"Miss Nao, His Highness is going out. It's unlucky for you to cry like this." Cheng Xi warned carefully.

"Chengxi, don't scare her, go out and wait." Zhou Shengchen said unhappily, Chengxi quickly apologized, got up and left.

It took a long time for Jian Shiyi to calm down slightly, and he gestured: It is said that the apprentice will never leave the master again. Since the master is out, I should be by your side. Therefore, Eleven will go with the master.

Seeing her saying these words seriously with a sad look on her face, Zhou Shengchen resisted the urge to touch her head.

"Eleven, listen to my master. You have not left my master and are still living in the palace. I promise that I will not let you leave me." Zhou Shengchen said comfortingly.

Jian Shiyi nodded first, and then continued to beg.

"This time we went out to the north. It's stormy and snowy there, and your body is still fragile. How could I let you take such a risk? You said you would be obedient, right?" Zhou Shengchen said softly. persuaded.

Jian Shiyi thought for a while, then continued to signal: Master cares about me, and I am grateful to my disciple. He also said that I was young, but weren’t my senior sisters and senior brothers following their master to fight in all directions when they were very young?

Facing Jian Shiyi's inquiry, Zhou Shengchen had no choice but to explain patiently: "They are all orphans, so I have to keep them with me. You are different. You are the first disciple officially accepted by the master."

When he said this, Nao Shiyi nodded silently, but someone came into the room and said unhappily: "Master is really partial."

Zhou Shengchen and Jian Shiyi turned around and saw Feng Qiao arranging military matters and coming to report back. She said this after hearing Zhou Shengchen's words.

He could only smile, and Zhou Shengchen explained again: "Isn't what I said the truth? You also know that Eleven is still young, so why are you talking so much?!"

Feng Qiao shrank her neck, quickly took Jian Shiyi's hand, and said comfortingly: "When Shiyi grows up, I will definitely persuade Master to take you with him!"

It was a fact that he couldn't follow him this time, so he had no choice but to nod his head with reluctance.

This little girl has been subjected to excessively strict requirements since she was a child, but now that she is here with Zhou Shengchen, she feels even more warm.

Seeing that the separation was imminent, she had to stay by Zhou Shengchen's side almost every hour of the day, never leaving even half a step.

Zhou Shengchen finished his official business and came to the room next to him to visit her.

Ji Shiyi, who was practicing calligraphy, quickly asked to bow again, but he grabbed his arm and said, "Don't be too polite."

Nao Shiyi smiled sweetly and gestured: "Master is going on an expedition, but my disciple is reluctant to leave."

After a moment of silence, Zhou Shengchen took a scroll from the secret of his sleeve, handed it to her and said, "Every time I go on a battle, I have to print the seal of the captured enemy general on the scroll. I will leave this one to you first. ."

Jian Shiyi waved his hands quickly, not daring to accept such an expensive gift.

"You keep it for me." Zhou Shengchen put the scroll in her hand.

Nao Shiyi bowed slightly and gestured: Master will bring back such a scroll to Shiyi every time he comes back from an expedition.

"I promise you," Zhou Shengchen promised seriously, "from now on, the Wang Army will only win battles!"

The various ministries have already moved in batches towards the Great Wall in the north. Zhou Shengchen has made an appointment with King Ping Qin and is ready to set off.

Nao Shiyi couldn't send him far away, so he simply found a long ladder and climbed to the roof of the palace hall.

Standing on the ridge of the house, she looked at the majestic royal army, led by the majestic king, swimming towards the northwest like rolling iron streams.

When the countless flags were no longer visible, she sat silently on the roof of the house, staring at the sunset in the distance in a daze.

I don't know how long it took, Cheng Xi climbed up to the roof carefully and said worriedly: "Miss Nao also has to think about this slave. If something happens to you, I will definitely not survive in front of His Highness."

Jian Shiyi's mind was at a loss, as if he hadn't seen her or heard her words.

The news that the king's army was gathering to the north was finally learned by the imperial court.

The young emperor Liu Hui was surprised. General Liu Yuan and chamberlain Zhao Teng were both angry at the news.

"How could King Xiao Nanchen mobilize his troops on his own without the approval of the court?" Zhao Teng said with a frown.

Prime Minister Liu Wei thought for a long time and finally said it: "He was only acting within the jurisdiction, and it was not anything too outrageous."

Liu Yuan listened on the sidelines. After frowning and thinking, he looked at Miao Guang over there: "Master, what do you think of this matter?"

For these people who were just fighting for power and profit in a cruel and bloody way in the court, Piao Guang was also sad and helpless.

With an expression of indifference, he coughed a few times and said slowly: "What the prime minister said is absolutely true. King Xiao Nanchen is active in the area under his jurisdiction, and there are reports that he is conducting military training. His king's army is not even needed. The imperial court is a grain of rice, so we don’t have to worry about it.”

After hearing this, Liu Yuan and Zhao Teng admitted in their hearts. The two looked at each other and continued their words and deeds of persecuting loyal ministers.

Not long after, an urgent military report suddenly came from the north of the Yellow River, saying that the Yinshan camp had rebelled and looting had begun nearby.

The whole court was immediately panicked, and Liu Yuan and Zhao Teng had no choice but to temporarily stop the persecution and ask for countermeasures.

The ministers had no idea and hated what these two people did, so they all just stood by and watched.

Liu Yuan and others were angry, and they heard news that other major towns in the north were rebelling one after another.

Everyone gathered in front of the map and sand table, and according to the military report, they were all stunned.

There are highlands to the north. If these rebels unite and move south, how can they resist it?

The six towns of Woye, Huaishuo, Wuchuan, Fuming, Rouxuan and Huaihuang were a line of defense set up along the Yinshan Mountains and the north of the Yellow River to Pingcheng during the reign of the late emperor.

If this line of defense is lost, the barbarians such as Rouran from the north can march straight in. Either from Guanzhong or from Taiyuan County, the situation in Beichen will be in chaos.

When everyone was anxious, Liu Yuan saw that Cao Guang's eyes were still slightly closed, and he couldn't help asking angrily: "The Grand Tutor is the most noble person in the court. Don't you have any suggestions at this time?"

Nao Guang coughed a few times and said slowly: "King Xiao Nanchen quietly sent troops to the Great Wall area a few days ago. Perhaps he had already detected that there was something unusual happening in the six towns. In this case, he was already prepared."

After hearing what he said, Liu Yuan and others quickly checked the map.

Sure enough, if King Xiao Nanchen immediately sends his troops northward, with his victorious ability and reputation, he will definitely be able to frighten and defeat the rebels.

Liu Yuan couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief and said silently: "King Xiao Nanchen is indeed wise."

This is the court's guess, but whether this is the case can only be confirmed after the battle reports are returned.

Just when everyone was waiting anxiously, a scout came rushing to report: "King Xiao Nanchen suddenly sent out troops and immediately defeated the rebels who were heading south to the Great Wall!"

Before the little emperor Liu Hui had time to ask, Liu Yuan rushed to ask: "How?"

"Also combined with King Ping Qin's troops, the king's army merged into one place and quickly launched a counterattack! The rebels could not resist and had already retreated to the Yellow River line in the north!" the scout replied.

"Where are the other faces?" Little Emperor Liu Hui got the opportunity and asked quickly.

"We need to investigate again!" the scout replied and quickly returned to the front line.

The people in the court were silent for a long time, and then they all cheered together, praising King Xiao Nanchen for his wise determination and fighting like a god.

"Wait a minute." Zhao Teng said coldly, "How could King Ping Qin appear near the Great Wall? That's not his line of defense."

Liu Yuan thought about it and said, "That's right! Could it be that he crossed the court and obeyed King Xiao Nanchen's orders?"

The ministers were really angry as they listened: Without the resolute counterattack of those two people, how could we still be calm in Zhongzhou? The fact that King Ping Qin can appear there shows that he, like King Xiao Nanchen, is extremely loyal and brave!

But they didn't dare to say it out loud for fear of getting into trouble. Everyone's eyes turned to Piao Guang again.