The Child Emperor

Mancang is a large city with three layers of city walls, from the inside to the outside, one layer is shorter than the first layer, and the outermost layer is only as high as one person, and it is an earth wall, but in conjunction with the moat, it can still greatly hinder the enemy's attack. In short, the protection of this city far exceeds that of ordinary cities.

As the name suggests, a large amount of grain and grass is hoarded in Mancang City.

In order to prepare for emergencies, Da Chu built several grain-hoarding cities on the basis of the legacy of the previous dynasty, which are distributed in all parts of the south, south, and northwest. Mancang is one of them, located in a small town more than 200 miles north of the capital. On the plain, the city is densely covered with granaries and pastures. Once the world changes, the entire Guanzhong area can last for ten years with the food in the city alone.

Since Taizu fixed the tripod, there have been several crises in Great Chu, and Mancang has also been prepared to open warehouses several times, but they all ended in failure. Except for regularly processing old grain and supplying a small amount of grain and grass to various armies, it has never been opened on a large scale. The warehouse, even if there are many hungry people, has nothing to do with the full warehouse. Its responsibility is to support the court during the turbulent period, and there are other measures for disaster relief.

Mancang was not on the only way to return to Beijing. It was several dozen miles to the east. When Chai Yue commanded the northern army to return to the south, the first goal was not the capital, but the city of hoarding grain.

When the army really returned to the capital, Chai Yue didn't know what to do, and he couldn't really fight the southern army, so he chose Mancang, which not only solved the problem of food and grass for the winter, but also watched the incident in the capital and waited for the next step of General Zhenbei.

The vanguard army, led by the governor Cai Xinghai, totaled 3,000 people, went straight to Mancangcheng.

Outside the city, Cai Xinghai ordered the entire army to stop five or six miles away, and only brought dozens of soldiers to call the door, claiming that he was the grain officer of the Northern Army, and came to collect the grain for this month, and the rear was full of labor for transporting grain.

The Chu army guarding the city is still relatively cautious. This year has not been peaceful. There are starvation and riots everywhere. In the past few months, Mancang has been attacked three times. The officers went out of the city and carefully checked the documents of Cai Xinghai and others. The seal of the army chief Sima, the officer complained: "Can't you send someone to support us just to get food?"

Cai Xinghai laughed and said: "Who doesn't look forward to lying in Mancangcheng and sleeping, but the court doesn't speak, it's useless to think about it."

The gate of Mancang opened wide, Cai Xinghai sent someone to the inner city to hand over documents, and he stayed under the outer city gate, waiting for the arrival of the "grain transport" team.

The three thousand Northern Army galloped up, and the guard officers were stunned.

In less than half an hour, Cai Xinghai had occupied the warehouse, and politely asked the city officials to continue working, "You are the masters, we are the guests, it is like a heavy rain, we come under the eaves to shelter from the rain, what are you doing in the house? Don't ignore us, just pretend we don't exist."

But this group of guests had knives and guns. The 3,000 vanguard troops alone surpassed all the defenders in the city. The officials didn't understand, so they had to nod their heads in agreement and hid in the yamen to work, really pretending that the soldiers of the northern army did not. Existed, but quietly sent people to report the situation to the county governor and the capital.

The northern army arrived one after another, half of them stationed in the city, and half of them camped near the official road dozens of miles away. .

On the second day after the army camped, the envoy of the southern army arrived and warned the northern army to return to the north of Shenxiongguan immediately. Liu Kunsheng had already prepared a letter and asked the messenger to bring it to the chief of the southern army, Cui Hong. In the letter, he claimed that the northern army was exhausted. The Southern Army went outside the Great Wall to switch defenses.

On the third day, the news said that the southern army was heading north, occupying various fortresses.

On the fourth day, letters from the capital floated like snowflakes. There were questions from relevant ministries, inquiries from various noble families, and more orders. Some directly ordered the Northern Army, and some ordered friends and relatives who were familiar with them. They performed their duties faithfully, returned outside the Great Wall, and made meritorious deeds by killing the enemy.

Chai Yue did not stop the messenger, but hinted to the generals that the capital had been controlled by the Southern Army, so everyone agreed that the requirements for the Northern Army were the same as Cui Hong!

On the fifth day, the messenger of the Grand Sima of the Northern Army arrived, carrying a letter from the champion Hou. The messenger also verbally stated to the generals that the capital was electing a new emperor, and the champion Hou ten was sure.

In the eyes of the soldiers of the Northern Army, this was all the result of the Southern Army’s coercion. Some people felt that things were not so simple, but it was the snowy season in Saibei, and the grain and grass were unsustainable. No one wanted to leave the big granary behind them and go Defend a lonely city.

"The Huns have negotiated peace with General Zhenbei. They have already gone north for the winter. What are we doing outside the Great Wall?"

"The imperial court is not running smoothly, and the support outside the fortress has been insufficient. The warehouse is full of food, and only a little is willing to send each time. If the northern army goes out of the fortress again, will it not starve to death outside?"

At this time, the soldiers of the Northern Army were like a rebellious teenager. They had dissatisfaction in their hearts and felt that they had been wronged. After being criticized by all parties, their dissatisfaction did not weaken, but instead rose.

In particular, Chai Yue and Liu Kunsheng were helping fuel the flames. One of them was a general admired by the whole army, and the other was the commander of the Northern Army who held the Great Sima Seal. It was easy to gain the trust of the soldiers.

With a large number of letters, there are countless rumors in the North Army Camp. Now everyone knows that the princes are fighting for the throne, and they know that the champion Hou and the Zhenbei General are both participants. They are very happy and feel that no matter who becomes the emperor , is good for the Northern Army.

Han Ruzi's letter arrived a little later than the others. Not one, but a dozen letters were sent to different people. Some generals who thought they were not familiar with General Zhenbei also received the letter. After that, his letters came almost every day.

The content of the letter is similar. First, review the arduous battle of the Northern Army in Ironbreaker City—most of the Northern Army came later, but they did stabilize the military at the most critical moment—and then expressed their understanding of the behavior of the Northern Army returning to the south. , and finally claimed that he had a good relationship with the champion Hou, and the two might come to the North Army together.

"Champion Hou and General Zhenbei will join forces to fight for the throne, one will be the emperor, the other will be the prime minister, or the military governor." Similar rumors spread immediately, and even Mancangcheng, dozens of miles away, heard about it, defending the city. Officials could no longer turn a blind eye, walked out of the yamen, condolences to the soldiers of the Northern Army, and quietly inquired about the secret information of the capital.

Champion Hou and General Zhenbei have not arrived yet. After the Northern Army has occupied the warehouse for half a month, it happens to be the first day of the first month of the lunar month, the second year of Wuwei. Although the emperor in the deep palace is about to be forgotten, the court has never issued a decree. Still celebrating New Years as usual.

The censor of Zuo Cha, Xiao Sheng, who was trapped in the North Barracks, regained his freedom on this day, and immediately set off on the road to the capital, bringing with him hundreds of followers and guards, as well as what he had seen and heard in the North Barracks. Most of the soldiers of the Northern Army did not understand the truth of the fight for the throne, and the target of their support was still the Champion Hou, but in Xiao Sheng's eyes, the Northern Army had already deteriorated and had completely turned to General Zhenbei, and he had to remind the Champion Hou to be careful.

In the capital, although Champion Hou publicly claimed in Qinzheng Hall that he would go to the North Army with Juan Hou to confront him, he never made the trip. It is also unsafe to have no trusted confidantes, and also have to pass through the Confederate territory that is waiting for you on the way.

Han Ruzi often urged him, but he was not in a hurry. Champion Hou didn't set off immediately at that time, so he knew that this person was stern and not to be afraid of. He was delayed and could not go to Hangu Pass to see General Han Xing, so he had to wait until the next year.

On the first day of the first lunar month, Han Ruzi sent people to bring many gifts to the palace. They were given to the Queen Mother, his mother Wang Meiren and his wife Cui Xiaojun, and even Cui Taifei, the mother of the King of the East Sea, also had a share.

Except for Cui Xiaojun, no one else returned the gift.

The Champion Hou was still hesitating, and the No. 1 Minister's recommendation was not received, but Han Ruzi and Yang Feng were not idle. They analyzed the situation every day and began to win over the teachers and students of Guozijian and Taixue.

"If there is no accident, the prime minister will be appointed, and the successor will be one of the two censors. The censor of Zuocha is in charge of the capital, and the chance is greater, but the censor of the right inspection, Shen Mingzhi, is also the minister appointed by Emperor Wu. Xiao, he supports the champion, that is, he is determined to win the position of prime minister, and he will have a fight with Xiao Sheng." Yang Feng had been assisting the champion before, but his status declined in the later stage, and many things were not eligible to participate, and he could only rely on guesswork.

"If the champion marquis ascends the throne, Yin Wuxian has made a great contribution, will he give up the position of prime minister and return to his hometown?" Han Ruzi couldn't guess the details of Yin Wuxian.

Yang Feng guessed, "This is exactly where Yin Wuxian's old traitor slips, and his plan is probably like this: let go of the air, claiming that after the champion Hou ascends the throne, his wish has been fulfilled and he is old, and he will hand over the Prime Minister's Yin, and then hinted a little, so that the two censors felt that they might take over the position of prime minister, so they competed to do things for the champion and make great contributions."

Han Ruzi knew right away, "Yin Wuxian didn't do anything, just relying on a promise for the future, he made the two important ministers fully support the champion, and the failure is the responsibility of Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi. It is harmless to Yin, and he will not hand over the seal of the prime minister at all."

"He will pay, but the champion Hou will not agree." Yang Feng has seen this kind of push trick between monarchs and ministers a lot.

"Can you sow discord between Shen Mingzhi and Xiao Sheng?"

Yang Feng shook his head, "We still have to start from scratch."

Yang Feng made a list of as many as 100 people, all of whom were doctors or disciples of Guozijian and Taixue, famous scholars all over the world, and unknown young scholars.

Han Ruzi first sent people to various houses to send worship posts, but the result was not optimistic. Most people responded, but without exception, they refused to visit or be invited to Juanhou's house. One word: Mo Lai.

Yang Feng did not give up, as soon as he entered the first month of the month, he sent gifts to each family.

Things turned around on the fourth day of the first lunar month. The day before, Xiao Sheng, the censor of Zuo Cha, returned to Beijing, causing a commotion in the court. Come uninvited, come to visit Juan Hou.

Guo Cong once taught classics to the emperor, and together with Liu Kunsheng, he gave the Great Ancestor Sword to the Great Governor Han Xing.

A few days ago, Guo Cong quietly returned to the capital. Not many people knew about it. After staying at home for a few days, the first person he visited was Marquis Juan, who he had avoided before.

This Confucian scholar, who was very vague and capable when he was teaching the scriptures, was straightforward during this visit. He greeted each other and entered the study. After entering the study, he said, "For the sake of the great Chu Jiangshan, please withdraw from the battle for the throne."