Chapter 31 Rebellion
It would take at least four days to get from the capital to Jizhou, even if we drove at full speed day and night.
Fortunately, the weather is not too hot at this time. Xiao Chongshan's appointment as general in Beijing is a matter of honor for his ancestors. In order to wait for Xiao Chongshan's return, local officials and clan elders will find ways to ensure that the body will not rot even if they spend a little more money. method.
Xiao Chongshan didn't know the identity of the person wearing the filial piety who sent the letter. He wanted to ask him some information, but found that he had already taken a step ahead.
Government affairs are proceeding step by step.
Yan Chen would call the imperial doctor to the palace every night to check his pulse to make sure the dragon's body was fine.
Half a month passed and I felt no physical discomfort.
Yan Chen gradually felt relieved and began to suspect that Yan Qing was deliberately scaring him. Maybe he was not poisoned at all.
After asking the Queen Mother, she found that she had no obvious symptoms, so Yan Chen became more and more relieved.
However, before he could let go of his heart for a day, he was shocked by the sudden news and his face changed drastically.
"Your Majesty!" An urgent report broke the temporary calm in the palace and the noise in the morning. "There is a large-scale military rebellion in the southeast area. It has been found that it is a remnant of the previous dynasty. Please send troops to put down the rebellion immediately!"
Yan Chen's expression suddenly changed: "What?"
All civil and military officials in the dynasty were shocked: "Remnants of the previous dynasty?"
"Reporting to the emperor, it is true that they are remnants of the previous dynasty. The rebel army led by them is the descendant of the most famous general of the previous dynasty, named Feng Tianqi. My subordinates suspect that there should be a master behind him, but this master has never shown up." The report said, "The rebellion under Feng Tianqi is very powerful. The two cities of Fengxiang and Feiyu in the southeast have been occupied by them. The rebellion is very good at winning over people's hearts. After capturing the city, they banned burning, killing and looting. Instead, they treated the local people kindly, and some even The people took the initiative to provide them with accommodation... Your Majesty, if this continues, the consequences will be disastrous. "
"This...why did the rebels suddenly appear?"
"Feng Tianqi? I've never heard of this name."
"In the past, I only heard that the rebels burned, killed, and looted, causing the people to live in dire straits. This is the first time I heard that the rebels treated the people well. It is really unbelievable."
"What's so unbelievable? Those who burned, killed and looted were bandits who only occupied the city. They were greedy for money and material. They are terrible. They are good at regaining people's hearts. It proves that they are well prepared and intend to fight for a long time."
Yan Chen's face was as dark as water, and he held the armrest of the dragon chair tightly, listening to the ministers' words without saying a word. It wasn't until the discussion paused that he said coldly: "The rebels should be punished!"
The ministers shouted that our emperor is wise.
Yan Chen turned to look at Wen Jin, "Wen Qing, who do you think should be sent to suppress the rebellion?"
Wen Jin said: "Although General Xiao has left, several generals under his command are all useful talents. Taking advantage of this opportunity to accumulate military merit, they will be able to better gain the followers of the soldiers in the future."
"I think the regent can also lead troops." Another cabinet minister frowned, "If the rebels are very powerful, I wonder if the generals of the Huben Army will be opponents."
Yan Chen's expression darkened and he asked the regent to put down the rebellion? Is it because he doesn’t have enough power?
"They were brought out by General Xiao personally. It should not be a problem to suppress the rebellion."
"Having never led an army alone on the battlefield, who knows what your skills are?"
"Since they are rebels, their scale should not be large. If the Tiger and Ben Army cannot suppress even this small number of rebels, how will they go to the battlefield to defend their country in the future?"
"Master Xu is right. The regent went to quell the rebellion, and now is the opportunity for General Xiao's generals to gain experience."
Wen Jin quietly lowered his eyes, listening to the ministers' opinions, and was already certain of the outcome in his heart.
It was impossible for the emperor to ask the regent to suppress the rebellion. Even if all the civil and military officials suggested that the regent send troops, it would be useless. In the end, the Huben Army would definitely take over the task.
And this result was what Wen Jin had expected - or it could be said that it was part of his plan.
Yan Chen glanced at the ministers in the palace, and his voice was calm and dignified: "What do you think if Xiao Chongshan is recalled?"
"Your Majesty, you must not do this!"
"General Xiao has great filial piety. If he is called back at this time, in addition to being criticized, the world will also think that Dayong has no one to use. Wouldn't the rebels become more arrogant and domineering, increasing their arrogance?"
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
The ministers all knelt down: "Your Majesty, please think again!"
"You have thought carefully, but I am confused." Yan Chen said in a gentle tone, "Wen Aiqing, Xu Aiqing, Li Aiqing, Wang Aiqing, please go to the Imperial Study Room to discuss this matter in detail after the court."
The few young princes in the palace never spoke. They looked at Wen Jin, who had been entrusted with important tasks by the emperor, with deep eyes and meaningful expressions.
It was said that Wen Jin and Xiao Chongshan were the emperor's civil and military confidants. One was a powerful minister and the other a military commander. They were the emperor's right-hand men, and these right-hand men were also secretly scheming with each other.
I wonder how true or false this guess is?
There have indeed been a lot of things happening in the DPRK recently, one after another, leaving people with no time to react. Who is responsible for this?
Arriving at the imperial study, Yan Chen asked several cabinet ministers for their opinions as usual. After everyone else made their statements, Yan Chen looked at Wen Jin and said, "What do you think, Qing Wen?"
"General Xiao's ability to lead 200,000 Tiger Soldiers is not his own ability. The most important thing is that he can know how to use people, just like the emperor, who has absolute trust in loyal and capable subordinates." Wen Jin said slowly and unhurriedly, "After General Xiao left, he divided the power of the Tiger Soldiers into four parts. Each general is responsible for the training of 50,000 Tiger Soldiers. They each obey the emperor. In time, the emperor can formulate a training plan to let them compete with each other to see which general has stronger combat effectiveness."
Yan Chen nodded slowly.
"But the rebels came too untimely, and it is urgent to suppress the rebellion. There is no time for so many people to practice now, and it is impossible for the four generals to suppress the rebellion at the same time. They can only let the four of them learn from each other to see who has higher skills. In this way, leading the troops to suppress the rebellion can also make people convinced and let the emperor feel at ease."
After all, this is an opportunity to make meritorious deeds. In addition to promotion and reward, the prestige in the army will also be deepened after suppressing the civil strife.
The ability of a commander is never just a matter of words, but a matter of swords and knives. Only those earned on the battlefield are solid merits.
Yan Chen thought what he said was feasible, and asked the opinions of several other adults, and they all agreed: "Master Wen is right, and this is the only way for the time being."
After all, military generals are more arrogant, and usually no one obeys anyone else. The four generals were brought up by Xiao Chongshan, and they must be a little arrogant. Whoever is sent will cause dissatisfaction among the other three.
Besides, we can't rashly choose a general. What if we choose the wrong person and lose to the rebels?
"Who can be responsible for this matter?"
Wen Jin pondered for a moment: "It can be handed over to Prince Duan."
"Prince Duan?" Yan Chen's expression changed slightly, "Why?"
He originally planned to let Wen Jin take full charge of this matter, but he didn't expect him to propose that Prince Duan take over this job.
Wen Jin said calmly: "Prince Duan is idle anyway, and it is his job to share the worries and work of the emperor."
Why?
Naturally, it was because Prince Duan was a thorn in Yan Chen's side...Okay, this young emperor does have to guard against a lot of people. In the final analysis, he is stubborn and suspicious, and these are inherited from the previous emperor.
In addition to the four princes who are eyeing him covetously, the regent Prince Yan Cang who is powerful in the court, the eldest princess Yan Qing who behaves rebelliously and does not take the emperor seriously, and several brothers are also on his guard.
If you think about it carefully, it is tiring enough to be an emperor. There are not many people in the court that he can trust.
Yan Chen understood Wen Jin's meaning after a little thought, and a deep luster flashed in his eyes: "In this case, let Prince Duan take charge of this matter."
If Prince Duan can select a suitable general and successfully suppress the rebellion, then all the credit will go to the Tiger Guards. If the general he chooses fails to suppress the rebellion, then Prince Duan will share the blame with them.
No matter how you calculate it, you will not suffer a loss.