Chapter 469: Guiding Public Opinion

In the end, Song Mo's decree to depose Lü Desheng was blocked by the four great ministers.

Zhang Xian and Zuo Anmin rushed to the palace immediately after hearing the news.

At this time, there were only Song Mo and six ministers in the palace, and even the eunuch was guarding the door of the palace.

"Your Majesty, this decree cannot be issued." Prince Gong advised earnestly.

Xiao Qun also said, "Your Majesty, this decree cannot be issued. Given the current situation in Pingzhou, this decree will anger Lü Desheng. What if he quits and gives Pingzhou to the Xianbei?"

"He dares?!" Song Mo glared.

What is there to be afraid of? Even rabbits bite when they are anxious.

Prime Minister Shen Wan and Shang Shuling did not speak, but they were standing here at this time, and their attitude was already very clear.

What the two did not say was that this was still a good idea. If the emperor did this, combined with the current situation, it might directly force people to rebel.

"You want me to bear this? Look at what Lu Desheng did? One million and two hundred thousand shi of tax grain was robbed by the Xianbei in his Liaoxi County! Longcheng has a salt lake but he did not report it and mined it privately!"

Prince Gong felt a pain in his heart when he thought of the robbed tax grain. These were the fruits of his argument with Lu Desheng a while ago.

The other three ministers of state were also hesitant at this time, muttering in their hearts, could it be that Lu Desheng really had a rebellious heart?

At this time, Zhang Xian whispered, "Your Majesty, I am angry and speak frankly. The responsibility for the robbed tax grain is really not Lu. Lu defended the Xianbei army that attacked Pingzhou. This matter should be blamed on Youzhou Governor Deng Fangyi. If Songzhou had not been lost and Youbeiping County had not been penetrated, Pingzhou tax grain would not have been robbed." As for the salt lake, I dare not mention it, and I have no way to argue.

Song Mo said angrily, "If Lü Desheng had sent more soldiers to escort the grain transport team, why would the grain be robbed?"

Ministers: There must be soldiers to send!

The emperor's words were a bit far-fetched. Now Pingzhou is fighting against the two armies of Xianbei. It is estimated that all the troops are betting on them. Soldiers have to be drawn to escort the grain transport team. Should the city be defended?

In short, Song Mo was determined to teach Lü Desheng a lesson.

In the end, Shen Wan, as the prime minister, could only take a step back and said, "Your Majesty, if you directly cut off the support to Pingzhou, it will be enough to punish Lü Desheng. This decree, suppress it first, and see how the situation develops."

In fact, in Shen Wan's heart, he did not agree with the emperor's cutting off the support for Pingzhou, which might arouse public anger.

As long as they did not make it public, Pingzhou would not know about the cut-off of support. Even if they knew, they could say that it was the court's difficulties. Then there would be no public anger and resentment. He comforted himself in this way.

Finally, Song Mo agreed.

But Shen Wan and the others didn't know that Zuo Yi had come up with a stupid idea to make the people of Pingzhou pay taxes again. Zuo Yi didn't dare to write this in the memorial, but secretly sent a letter to his uncle, asking his uncle to test the emperor's attitude and see if it was feasible.

Zuo Anmin was almost mad at his nephew's stubbornness when he received the letter. At this time, it was important to go back to Chang'an to save his life, and he didn't care about taxes!

He went to the palace this time to see how the situation developed, and to ask the emperor if Xu Junfan and his nephew Zuo Yi could return to Chang'an? But the emperor was angry at the moment, so he didn't dare to speak.

Pingzhou, Liaoxi County, Changli

Xu Junfan and Zuo Yi have not left the post station recently, and have strengthened their defenses.

Since the news that Pingzhou's taxes were robbed and the entire Pingzhou needed to pay taxes again came,

the people of Liaoxi County looked at them very unkindly.

"Lu Wei must have spread the news!" Zuo Yi said bitterly.

Although he wanted Pingzhou to pay taxes again, he had to ask the emperor for permission. But now, it was obvious that the news had leaked.

Xu Junfan did not say anything. The people of Pingzhou were tough and had little respect for the imperial power. The current situation was not favorable for them. If possible, he planned to return to Chang'an.

At this time, the news that Pingzhou might need to pay taxes again was spreading like wildfire.

The common people were not happy. This time, the taxes were collected based on high production. Now they had to collect them again?

They were fighting in Pingzhou! Obviously, they were going to be surrounded, and food became a vital material to ensure their survival.

At this time, the court did not say that they would exempt them from taxes, but they actually wanted to forcibly collect their food?

At this time, another piece of news came that the court directly cut off the support they were going to give to Pingzhou.

"Is this true?"

"Yes, we have received accurate information. Lord Lu requested the court to support some weapons, but was rejected."

The common people were speechless.

Indeed, weapons are very sensitive in normal times, but what time is it now? Are they still reluctant to give up weapons? Are they going to let them fight the Xianbei people with bare hands?

For a time, the common people were filled with indignation.

"How can the court do this?"

"Everyone doesn't know that our emperor has provided soldiers and food to the North Border and Bingzhou, and has also raised support for Youzhou, but has only cut off support for our Pingzhou!"

"This is really outrageous! The court has provided support to the North Border, Bingzhou, and Youzhou, why did it miss our Pingzhou? Are we in Pingzhou not the people of Dali?"

"Why are you so harsh on us?"

Since ancient times, people have always been worried about inequality rather than scarcity.

This news, coupled with rumors of another forced collection of taxes and grain, further aroused public anger.

"We work hard day and night, pay taxes every year, and this is the result we get?"

"That's right, this court is rotten to the core. Not only can it not shelter us from the wind and rain, but it also makes things worse for us!"

"Hey, what are we? Haven't you seen the Qin family, the Duke of Zhenguo, who have guarded the border for generations, and what happened in the end? Just because the prince died in the northern border when he went north to visit the troops, the whole family was exiled to our Pingzhou."

"Wasn't there a rumor that the Qin family colluded with the enemy?"

"Do you believe this? Anyone could colluded with the enemy, even the Song royal family could, but the Qin family couldn't!"

"Why?"

"Think about it, the Qin family has guarded Beijing for generations, how many sons died at the hands of foreigners, and how many foreigners died at the hands of the Qin family. It can be said that the Qin family and foreigners have an irreconcilable blood feud. Under such circumstances, how could the Qin family colluded with the enemy?"

The right and wrong are in the hearts of the people, and the people have their own scale in their hearts.

"But the prince died in the northern border after all."

"Yes, so General Qin Yue died to apologize, and before his death, he severely damaged the Qiang and Hu tribes. Isn't that enough? But it was useless, and the Qin family was still exiled."

"So, the Song imperial court treats the Qin family like this, not to mention us common people."

"This world is really bad."

"Look, it's only been two or three years, and the northern border has been lost without the Qin family."

"Do you know why we Pingzhou can hold on for so long?"

At this time, the people of Pingzhou all knew that the four places were attacked by the Xianbei, and the other three places were broken, but only their Pingzhou was still holding on.

"Maybe the gates and walls we rebuilt are strong enough?"

"Our soldiers are also very brave."

"These are the important reasons why we can defend the city, but there is one thing that everyone doesn't know."

"What?"

"I heard that the generals who are helping to defend the city are the sons of Qin Yue, the Marquis of Zhenbei."

"Is it the Qin family who was exiled to Pingzhou?"

"Yes, when they were in the northern border before, they were all young generals."

"No wonder our Pingzhou was able to hold out for so long without the gate being breached this time. It turned out that the battle-hardened young generals of the Qin family were defending the city." You know, Jinyang in the northern border was the first to be breached.

What's wrong with being a little proud?

"You don't know, Qin Sheng, the youngest son of General Qin Yue, is the son-in-law of our Lord Lu."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Yes."