manynovel Chapter 1110: Military Law is Ruthless
Chapter 1110: Military Law is Ruthless
Chapter 1110: Military Law is Ruthless
The ministers in the emperor's bedroom all had solemn expressions.
The emperor threw the memorial to the emperor and was furious. He wanted to confiscate the property of hundreds of officials on Fuyan Road and exile them.
If it weren't for Zhang Yue and Wang Gui's dissuasion, and citing the ancestral system, he would have given up the idea. However, the emperor's condition became even more serious because of this.
As the ministers left the hall, Cai Que said, "My two prime ministers, I have something that I have not yet reported to Your Majesty. These are two new poems written by Zhang Shunmin."
"The thousands of willow trees under Lingzhou City were all cut down by the government troops for firewood. When I return to Yuguan someday, what will I pick to give to the travelers?"
"On the Lingzhou Road on the edge of the vast sea, nine out of ten soldiers never return. The bones are like sand and snow, general, please don't go up to the Wangxiang Terrace. I wonder how you will deal with it?"
Zhang Yue read the poem and thought to himself, "Aren't you rubbing salt into someone's wounds? Tens of thousands of soldiers died on the battlefield, and you are just making sarcastic remarks over there."
Zhang Yue took the memorial and looked at Wang Gui's opinion, but he didn't expect that Wang Gui also looked back at him.
Zhang Yue said: "Let's put this matter aside for now."
Cai Que said, "Let Prime Minister Zhang know that Zhang Shunmin has repeatedly spread rumors about the defeat of the Fuyan Road army, which has shaken people's hearts. If we don't investigate, I'm afraid that people will imitate and ridicule him in the future."
Zhang Yue asked, "Will arresting Zhang Shunmin help shut up others?"
Cai Que continued, "Then we have to stop him from talking. Without a leader, no one will spread the news of the failure of the Western Expedition. Otherwise, once public opinion arises..."
Zhang Yue hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to stop Zhang Shunmin from speaking because he had an ulterior motive.
The defeat in the Battle of Fuyan Road was a stupid thing done by the government in the past. Although it was not good for Zhang Shunmin to spread it among the people, it also allowed him to completely absolve himself of responsibility.
In this way, he will not be blamed for military defeat in the future.
Therefore, Zhang Yue did not agree with Cai Que's decision.
Zhang Yue asked Xue Xiang: "Now the news of the defeat in Fuyan Road needs an explanation. The figures reported by Yu Chong are too shocking."
Xue Xiang immediately understood Zhang Yue's meaning and said, "Prime Minister, Yu Chong said in the battle report that only 30,000 people returned to Yanzhou. I don't think so. They only returned to Yanzhou, and some were lost along the way. They were not wiped out by the Dangxiang."
"I think the loss is no more than 50,000, so we can use 30,000 casualties as a guideline if anyone asks about it."
Feng Jing was displeased when he heard this and said, "Is that so? Covering up a defeat as a victory is something that has been despised in every dynasty."
Zhang Yu nodded and said, "It is common to exaggerate military achievements and conceal casualties. For example, Chen Qianzhi's Northern Expedition was also like this."
Zhang Yue said: "In this way, we can let the Daxiangguo Temple and Wuyue Temple in Bianjing be used as Taoist temples or water and land ceremonies to comfort the fallen soldiers."
"This money was paid by the imperial court. It is clear that Your Majesty truly loves the people and the soldiers."
Yuan Jiang said: "We are currently using troops against Xixia, and there is still a lot of money to be spent. Should we save some money?"
Zhang Yue looked at Yuan Jiang and said, "I think this money should be spent wisely, and we should not let the soldiers down."
At the same time, Zhang Yue said to Cai Que, "If Zhang Shunmin continues to talk nonsense and say these inappropriate words after the ritual, it will be his own fault."
Tsai confirmed that it was.
The ministers nodded, and Wang Gui and Feng Jing did not express any objection.
Being in a position of governing the country, Zhang Yue felt that "one morality" was indeed necessary.
From a literary perspective, Zhang Shunmin's poem is similar to "Poor bones by the river, still the person in the spring boudoir's dream." It is understandable that you have resentment in your heart that needs to be vented.
But you are wrong in this situation.
Now the whole court is about to unite to attack Xia, and you, Zhang Shunmin, are lamenting the passing of time. What your poem means is that the soldiers died in vain.
How devastated their families were after hearing this. Who would send their children to join the army in the future?
Therefore, it is necessary to use "one morality" to unify "ideology". Holding rituals for the fallen soldiers is "one morality", and the purpose is to unite the upper and lower levels.
If it were in the past when he was an ordinary official, Zhang Yue might have felt that he should let people speak, and Zhang Shunmin himself felt that he was "telling the truth", so there was nothing wrong with it.
But now that he is in the phase, his perspective has changed.
At the end, Zhang Yue concentrated and said, "Since the money has been spent, we should erect another monument to commemorate the fallen soldiers of Xixia in our dynasty. We should offer sacrifices at all times of the year. We can do this slowly. We should also think carefully about where to erect it. This matter must be treated as a major event."
Speaking of this, Zhang Yue's face became somewhat solemn.
But the ministers were all new to the idea of erecting a monument and did not know what it meant.
Wang Gui glanced at Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue looked at everyone and asked, "I want to let everyone in the world know that the soldiers of Fuyan Road died for the country. They are the loyal souls of the country. What do you think?"
Seeing that Zhang Yue had put such a big accusation on someone, all the ministers agreed.
After several days of negotiations, with the support of Xue Xiang and Zhang Qie, Zhang Yue has gained more and more say in the prime minister's meeting.
All the ministers dispersed.
Wang Gui and Yuan Jiang were walking together.
Wang Gui said: "Zhang San's tactics are really amazing. He has been the prime minister for only three or four days, but he has gradually taken control of the discussion in the court. It will be no matter how long it takes for him to become like Wang Anshi in the past."
Yuan Jiang said: "Yes, I can't even say a few words. Zhang San doesn't take me seriously now."
Wang Gui said, "So you and Feng Dangshi, one openly and the other secretly, are both trying to trip up Zhang San in the matter of using troops against Xixia."
Yuan Jiang said: "Cai Que is the same. The emperor wants to continue to use the army against Xia, so he used the punishment of Zhang Shunmin and the confiscation of officials in Fuyan Road to curry favor with the emperor."
Wang Gui shook his head and said, "But Zhang San won't take up any arguments from you three."
"It's about honoring the fallen soldiers and erecting a monument."
"Do you think he wants peace or war?"
Yuan Jiang said: "Zhang San took the initiative to continue to use troops against Xia, but he did not show it on his face to avoid being criticized. He used the name of erecting a monument and commemorating the soldiers to win people's hearts and test their intentions."
"Today he used Xue Shizheng and Zhang Zhifu's words. As the prime minister, he had the final say, and this way he was invincible."
Wang Gui said, "That's right. Although Zhang San came to power later and blocked you and Feng Dangshi from taking the position of prime minister, the state affairs are more important now. Let's wait for the news from Jingyuan Road first."
Yuan Jiang said, "Prime Minister, rest assured. At this time, we are prioritizing state affairs. But just now you saw that Zhang Zhifu always follows Zhang San in everything, let alone Zhang Zhi?"
"The Zhang family is so powerful because His Majesty is using them. In fact, we are far away from Mingsha, but if something happens to Mingsha, going to Zhangzhi is like cutting off an arm of Zhang San."
"They are uncle and nephew, one is inside and the other is outside... It's incredible."
……
Huanzhou.
Shen Kuo sent another envoy to the city to plead with Yu Chong.
The messenger said, "Emperor Shen asked me to inform the commander-in-chief that tens of thousands of troops from Xihe Road have arrived. Together with the troops from Huanqing Road, they will be able to lift the siege of Mingsha City."
"Shen Jinglüe said that the Huanqing Road leads out of Weizhou and cuts off Xixia's retreat. If that doesn't work, we can retreat back to Huanzhou."
Yu Chong remained unmoved and said to the messenger: "I have always followed a set of rules for marching. I will not fight if my soldiers are not well trained, if there is an enemy behind me, if my weapons are not complete, if there is insufficient food and grass, or if there is a deadly situation ahead."
"Now, my Huanqing Road has transferred all the troops, horses, money and food to you for your Jingyuan Road. I only have 3,000 war horses left. How can you expect me to fight?"
"Please go back and tell Shen Jinglue that if he does not know the importance of the three armies, he cannot be in charge of the three armies! He is just a scholar who can only talk about military affairs on paper, but I have killed people in Maozhou, pacified the barbarians, and won battles! It is not his turn, Shen Kuo, to teach me how to use troops."
The messenger said: "Marshal, Marshal!"
The messenger urged him, but Yu Chong said indifferently, "I'm tired," and returned to the inner hall to drink tea.
At this time, someone reported: "General, a letter from the Secretariat has been delivered!"
"The letter from the Secretariat?"
Yu Chong was surprised that the Zhongshu Zhazi was equivalent to the Tang Dynasty's Tang Tie.
It was a post issued by the prime minister in the name of the Secretariat. In many cases, the Tangtie was even more important than the imperial edict. After Emperor Taizong, the Tangtie was renamed as Zhazi. Although it was not as important as before, its status was still second only to the "imperial words".
"It's a note from the new prime minister!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Chong asked anxiously, "Who is the new prime minister? Feng Dangshi or Yuan Houzhi?"
“It’s Zhang Duzhi!”
Yu Chong raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and immediately took the note and read it.
"What Shen Kuo said is that border defense is a matter of urgency and cannot be delayed for even a moment. If the generals do not take responsibility for their own actions and make decisions according to circumstances, they will lose a lot of opportunities in the face of danger."
"The court has now assigned the command to Han Zhen, the acting Privy Councilor, who will be in charge of the six military governorates. Before that, you can handle it as you see fit. If you are found to have missed the opportunity and caused trouble, you will be punished without mercy! Military law is ruthless, please obey!"
When Yu Chong saw the words "definitely punish without mercy", his face changed. Finally, he looked at the "signature", which was exactly the two words "Zhang Yue" with the seal of the Secretariat on it.
This is the letter that Zhang Yue sent to Yu Chong in his own name.
Yu Chong held the letter from the Secretariat in his hand, paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, pinching his brows to calm himself.
Faced with the letter from the Secretariat, Yu Chong had ten thousand reasons but dared not disobey.
Thinking of this, he immediately lifted the curtain and walked out. When Shen Kuo's messenger saw Yu Chong, he had just thought of several sets of words in his mind, and wanted to persuade Yu Chong to change his mind one last time.
But Yu Chong stepped out and said, "You don't have to say anything. I have decided to send troops to Mingsha City!"
The other party was surprised when he heard this, thinking, how come this Yu Jinglie changed when he came in and left? How strange!
But Yu Chong said: "I have always used the method of striking back after the enemy is attacked. Although I am slow in my work, my foundation is extremely solid. If I don't move, it's fine. But if I move, it's like thunder."
"I can send out troops today and capture Weizhou and attack Mingsha's flank within five days. If I fail, I will obey your orders."
"Yes, yes." The messenger almost cried for joy.
Yu Chong said: "I offended you with my words today. When you meet Shen Jinglie, don't mention it to me!"
The messenger hurriedly said, "How dare I say that, Marshal? In fact, you are a great commander of the army and have mastered the essence of Sun Tzu's Art of War. I have always admired you!"
"Oh? What's the essence?"
The messenger thought to himself, I was just saying it casually, why did you take it seriously?
The messenger said: "It is fast as the wind, slow as the forest, invasive as fire, and immovable as a mountain."
Yu Chong smiled and said, "Very good, very good."
The messenger secretly thought, if you didn't send troops, I would have thought you only knew the last sentence.
(End of this chapter)