Chapter 132: Pig Escape Method
Liu Zheng was dumbfounded.
He hurried to help Zheng Yuxing and said, "General, you must not do this!"
Zheng Yuxing had guarded the northern border for decades and had a very high prestige in the army. Wouldn't it be embarrassing for him to kneel down to him? In front of such an old general, Liu Zheng naturally couldn't be arrogant.
Zheng Yuxing stood up, his eyes red: "My lord, you don't know that after today's battle, the Xiongnu will not dare to invade the Central Plains again for five years! This can save the lives of many of my brothers!"
"Thank you, Master Liu!"
One hundred thousand troops, thank you again.
The sound echoed in the grassland for a long time.
Liu Zheng was filled with regret. Since ancient times, the invasion of the Huns has always been a major disaster in the Central Plains. It is a disaster that cannot be completely eliminated. Even if we win a battle this year, they will come again in a few years.
The fundamental reason is that there is too little food on the Huns’ grasslands, and their social structure and civilization are not well developed.
Of course, it is not really impossible to remove - if one day, the Central Plains can conquer the Xiongnu grasslands, all this will be over.
But for thousands of years, no one has been able to do it.
Liu Zheng sighed, "General Zheng is devoted to the country, and the heaven and earth can bear witness to that. Zheng just happened to be there at the right time, it's not worth mentioning!"
The army of more than one hundred thousand people thanked Zheng Yuxing again before being called up.
For a time, Liu Zheng became a hero of the Liangzhou army.
Crown Prince Xie Fang looked at the scene from the side with a gloomy look in his eyes. The Third Prince Xie Ling also had a calm smile on his face, but in fact, he probably had all kinds of curse words running through his mind.
Everyone is thinking of ways to win the hearts of the people and the military.
But this time no one did it, allowing one state to get the upper hand?
Xie Ling was cunning after all, and he also congratulated him. Crown Prince Xie Fangze couldn't help but sneered, "This victory at Rongshan Pass was achieved by the joint efforts of many forces. I will reward you on a certain day. I will ask for your credit!"
He laughed out loud.
When everyone heard this, they were overjoyed and knelt down to pay homage to the prince.
Xie Fang was very proud, glanced at Liu Zheng, and snorted lightly. It seemed that he had finally regained some face in the scene.
Liu Zheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The army set up camp there, and the logistics troops brought all kinds of wine and meat, and they reveled for three consecutive days.
Liu Zheng sat in his tent, watching his generals eating and drinking heartily, and he was very happy. It was normal not to drink during wartime, but after victory, of course, wine was necessary.
These days, the 200,000-strong army did not leave and stayed at Ruogu Pass, which is closest to the grassland, because everyone was waiting for rewards.
Three days later, the news of the great victory finally reached Beijing.
The soldiers in the Jinghua post station who were in charge of communications rode at full speed all the way and did not even have time to drink water for the entire day.
Obviously, despite the tense situation on the border, Beijing was still prosperous, with merchants from all over the country and Beijing people wearing brocade clothes. Occasionally, there were teahouses and restaurants, where storytellers talked about the war with the Huns.
We lose every year anyway.
After the defeat, the compensation was extorted from the people of the vassal states all over the country, which had little impact on the people in Beijing. They were also used to the defeat against the Xiongnu.
"Failed again this year?"
"Haha, I heard that the King of Qin is already on his way to the negotiations."
"Another compensation?"
“Drink, drink!”
Unexpectedly, at this moment, soldiers from the post station came riding on horseback.
"Victory!"
"Great victory!"
"Great victory at Rongshan Pass!"
"The Hun army lost 100,000 men!"
He ran all the way, roaring with a hoarse voice, and his voice was filled with unspeakable excitement.
"What?"
"What won?"
"The Hun army lost 100,000?"
The people in Jinghua were all stunned. If this person was not wearing the official uniform of the Longyan Dynasty and holding a flag that could not be disguised to convey information, they would have thought this was a joke, this was a dream!
"Victory!"
"Big victory!"
"Dragon Flame is mighty!"
The crowd was in an uproar.
Many people rushed to the streets, crying with joy. After all, they were all Longyan people. They were usually numb because they really couldn't win. In fact, who doesn't want the Longyan Dynasty to win, who doesn't want the country to be strong?
Several elderly people were in tears. They walked onto the street, hugged each other and cried.
Finally won!
They have been waiting for decades!
The news reached the palace.
Manager Zhou trotted up to the soldier and said solemnly, "This matter must not be taken lightly!"
The soldiers knelt and said, "General Manager Zhou, we really won! A great victory , a great victory! The Xiongnu will not be able to fight again for at least five years!"
Chief Eunuch Zhou was astonished, and then waved his hand, asking a few eunuchs to invite the soldiers to the prison yard, and then he poked his eyes a few times, holding the military report, and ran while tearing his clothes, shouting in a shrill voice: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, victory news!"
"The dragon's grace is so great that it moves heaven and earth. The Dragon Flame Dynasty is invincible!"
"Your Majesty, I am here to congratulate you! Your Majesty, may God bless Long Yan, long live His Majesty!"
The old emperor, looking at the Chief Steward Zhou who was kneeling on the ground with tears in his eyes, and reading the military report, finally couldn't help laughing: "Good, God bless Long Yan, God bless Long Yan! Chief Steward Zhou, I am very relieved!"
"All civil and military officials, be holy before the palace!"
"yes!"
An hour later.
In the Golden Palace.
The old emperor smiled broadly, his face rosy.
All the civil and military officials knelt down and kowtowed: "God bless Long Yan, the dragon's grace is great!"
"Long live the emperor!"
The old emperor laughed loudly: "Everyone, please stand up!"
"The Xiongnu lost 100,000 men this time, and will not be able to fight again for five years. The soldiers at the front have worked hard and made great contributions, so they should be rewarded!"
Everyone agreed.
"As a reward!"
The old emperor suddenly asked: "How to reward?"
The Golden Palace suddenly fell silent and fell into deathly silence.
yes.
How to reward?
After all, in all these years, in the wars against the Huns, the Longyan Dynasty had never gained any advantage... but this time, a hundred thousand troops were lost... Ah, this is totally unprecedented. While being happy, the civil and military officials also felt it was quite ironic that Longyan, known as the strongest country, was so miserable.
No wonder the entire capital, and even the entire dynasty, felt as if they were dreaming when they heard the news, and were as happy as if it were Chinese New Year.
The Grand Secretary came out tremblingly: "Your Majesty, this great victory must be due to the blessing of God on Long Yan, and the grace of the dragon is great. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has made great contributions in commanding the front line, which is a great achievement!"
The old emperor smiled coldly and did not comment.
A few days ago, the news that Crown Prince Xie Fang lost 80,000 soldiers was still a hot topic in public opinion. Now that he has won a battle, does that mean it is his credit?
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Third Prince has made great contributions, so he must be rewarded!"
"Your Majesty, Prince Lu also..."
The chatter begins.
Rewarding soldiers is a big deal. It is not only to stabilize the morale of the army and encourage soldiers to defend the , but also to show the style of a great country to suppress the scoundrels. Since ancient times, there have been great victory rewards and small victory rewards. Ancient people attached great importance to these etiquette. Therefore, the Longyan court, which had not won a great victory in the past thirty or forty years, was also excited at this time.
After all, this is the first time in so many years, right?
Various officials began to make suggestions.
Someone said, "Your Majesty, such a great victory, according to Longyan Zulu, all the generals will be promoted one level! The soldiers will be recorded for their military merits and rewarded with good farmland and cloth!"
Someone else said, "This is a great victory that Long Yan has not seen in a hundred years. How can one level up be enough? At least two levels!"
There are many different opinions.
Anyway, no matter what, rewards and condolences to the dead soldiers are definitely indispensable.
But the imperial court didn't care. How much money could be spent on a great victory? If the princes of the whole country could chip in, everything would be enough.
The old emperor was also very happy and nodded. "Of course, a full reward is necessary, but it is also important to reward according to merit. I should have gone to confer the award personally, but I am not in good health, so I will have General Manager Zhou go on my behalf. The Ministry of Rites will immediately prepare the ceremonial guards for the award. The Minister of Rites Gu Shufeng, the Minister of Personnel Cui Hong, and the Assistant Minister of War Jiang Chao will discuss the award together!"
When everyone heard this, they gasped.
The big bosses from three of the six departments are all going!
Even Chief Steward Zhou, who usually never left the palace, had to go.
What kind of ceremony is this, what kind of posture is this, and what kind of treatment is this?
Most officials have only seen this in their lifetime.
"As you wish!"
"Long live the emperor!"
Soon, one carriage after another was prepared in Jinghua.
Several big guys gathered together and studied all night in order to come up with a reward strategy.
Manager Zhou has been sitting firmly in the prison these days.
Because too many people in the capital came to him...all kinds of gifts, all kinds of explanations, just wanting to find a good future for their own children who were far away in the Liangzhou Army. Who wouldn't want to seize this opportunity?
…
at this time.
Deep inside the palace.
Zheng Fu lay sideways in the fairy tent, looking at the letter in her hand, and smiled faintly: "The whole Longyan is jumping for joy and jubilation. It seems that the front line is also very lively... The prince has made great contributions? Haha, if it weren't for the Yinzhou Army, he would be the biggest sinner in this battle!"
No one responded to her.
She laughed at herself, "But after all, the Yinzhou Army is also under the Liangzhou banner. That old villain Chen Ping has been loudly promoting his ability to manage the army and his ability to identify talents. He even went so far as to commend Liuzhou Tongdu for the sake of the crown prince. You know, he and the two fathers and sons were disgusted with each other some time ago!"
Still no one answered.
Zheng Fu was furious, she turned over and shouted: "Are you all a bunch of deaf people, or dumb?"
The palace maids knelt down in fear, for they had no idea of the intrigues and oppression that were going on.
Zheng Fu's eyes flashed with murderous intent: "This Liu Zhoutong is really a tough guy! Zheng Yuxing wanted to promote him and keep him in the Liangzhou Army, but he actually refused! He didn't even give face to my son Xie Ling! Could it be that he really wants to side with the prince?"
"Haha, if that's the case, then you can't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Call Manager Zhou to me!"
"Yes, madam."
…
Rested for seven days in a row.
Liu Zheng sat firmly in his tent. No matter who invited him to a banquet, he would not go.
First it was the third prince, then the crown prince, and then Prince of Lu, Chen Ping, and Zheng Yuxing.
Zheng Yueru was depressed: "Brother Liu, the Third Prince has invited you three times. You have refused repeatedly. Aren't you being too disobedient to His Highness?"
Liu Zheng chuckled, took out a brocade bag from his pocket and handed it to Zheng Yueru.
Zheng Yueru looked down and was stunned.
Qingyang Suo asked Liu Zheng to carry this lucky bag with him before he set out.
The words inside are very simple.
"If we win a great victory, we will go home to rest."
"Don't go to Jinghua lightly!"
Zheng Yueru took a deep breath: "The military advisor is worried..."
Liu Zheng smiled and said, "Seven days is about enough. We won't wait for the reward. We will set off for Yinzhou tomorrow! As for the reward, let them deal with it!"
Not only did Qingyang Suo remind him, he actually understood it as well.
Since ancient times, the matter of conferring rewards has been extremely complicated, and is related to the open and secret struggles between various factions. At this time, Liu Zheng should not be involved at all. His performance this time was too conspicuous, and the crown prince, the third prince, must force him to make a choice.
But no matter which side he leans towards, what awaits him is the abyss!
This is not what Liu Zheng wants.
So, he planned to leave.
What he was most worried about was that if Jinghua wanted to call him back after receiving this reward, it would be irreversible. Empress Zheng Fu had lost face because of him last time. If an imperial decree was issued to keep him in Jinghua, wouldn't that mean Liu Zheng's death?
Zheng Yueru stared at Liu Zheng blankly.
Once again, she was shocked by Liu Zheng's calmness and foresight.
What kind of person is this?
Logically speaking, the Yinzhou Army made the greatest contribution to the victory at Rongshan Pass, so naturally the reward should be the most generous. If it were given to ordinary people, they would have to wait here for the reward no matter how long it took.
However, Liu Zheng didn't care...
This is not something that ordinary people can achieve with their willpower. There are very few people like Liu Zheng who can be so free and easy in the face of huge temptations.
The next day.
Liu Zheng came to Zheng Yuxing in a hurry early in the morning and said anxiously: "General Zheng, the Yinzhou Army must leave first today!"
Everyone was shocked and tried to dissuade him.
The most crucial reward is coming soon, and everyone is eager to hear what kind of reward they can get, but you want to leave first?
Crown Prince Xie Fang and Third Prince Xie Ling couldn't understand.
Zheng Yuxing frowned: "Why are you so anxious, sir?"
Liu Zheng wiped away his tears and said, "Yesterday, Yinzhou sent me a letter saying that the sows at home were having difficulty giving birth. I have a deep affection for livestock, and they won't give birth without me. Farm and livestock matters are a matter of national importance, so Liu Zheng has to go back!"
Everyone.
All stupid.
