Chapter 20 Who Dares to Fight!
"Youzhou?"
"How is Youzhou City now? Is there any specific news?"
Upon hearing this, the messenger hurriedly reported: "Your Highness, Hu Keerhan has unified most of the tribes in the northern grasslands. This time he is leading a total of 300,000 troops to the south, including 200,000 cavalry."
"The Youzhou garrison commander Lai Ji organized 100,000 soldiers and horses to defend the city with the people of Youzhou for three days. By the time the news came out, Youzhou City had already fallen!"
"General Lai Ji died in battle, and 100,000 soldiers died for their country!"
Xiao Yan was furious when he heard this. With a hundred thousand soldiers and the entire city's population, they only held out for three days and were completely wiped out.
Upon hearing this, all the ministers were shocked and angry, and all the generals requested to go to war.
"Didn't the Xiongnu invade without any signs of trouble? Where are the scouts in Youzhou City?"
"Do you feel that we have been slacking off because of too many peaceful days?"
Xiao Yan was angry at this time not because he blamed the soldiers defending the city, but because he was heartbroken!
Those are the soldiers of the Great Zhou. They are someone’s husband, someone’s son, and someone’s father.
"My Great Zhou army won't defend the city for only three days, right?"
"Why was the city breached so quickly? Do you know the reason?"
"this……"
The messenger was hesitant to speak, shrinking back in fear.
"Just tell me, why?"
Thinking of the soldiers who died in the battle and the civilians who were massacred, the messenger gritted his teeth and told the truth.
" Your Highness, defending the city for ten days is not a problem, but our weapons are inferior to theirs!"
Although Xiao Yan knew that the metallurgical technology of that era was not very good, it didn't mean that he couldn't even go into battle and kill the enemy, right?
"Why is it not possible? Are all our soldiers holding firewood sticks?"
Xiao Yan keenly sensed that the atmosphere in the court was not right, and there must be something fishy!
"Your Highness, we are holding damaged equipment and cannot fight the enemy. We might as well be holding firewood sticks!"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was shocked.
The soldiers were fighting bravely at the front and were carrying damaged equipment.
"Didn't the Ministry of War send out new equipment?"
The messenger finally couldn't bear the pressure anymore.
"Your Highness, please make the decision for our Youzhou soldiers!"
"The damaged equipment was transferred to us by the Ministry of War. The bows and arrows they sent us didn't even have arrowheads. They just sharpened wooden sticks and sent them to the camp."
"This has caused 100,000 soldiers and civilians in Youzhou to die at the hands of the Xiongnu. Your Highness, please make the decision!"
After crying and shouting, the messenger fainted!
"Call the imperial physician for treatment!"
"You are really good officials of my Great Zhou. You have done a great job. You dare to touch the money of the border defense. You really don't know how to live or die!"
"Where is the Minister of War ?"
At this time, a tall and thin official stood up.
"I am here!"
Xiao Yan's face was expressionless at this moment. His soldiers thought it was a problem with their equipment , but 100,000 of them died on the battlefield.
This price is simply a shame for the Great Zhou.
"If your Ministry of War cannot give me a reasonable explanation today, then you should go down and explain to those 100,000 soldiers and the people of Youzhou!"
The Minister of War could no longer stand at this point. He actually knew nothing about such a big thing.
"I was not aware of this matter. It was my oversight!"
"But please give me some time. I will investigate this matter thoroughly!"
The Minister of War Yang Zhi is a neutral person. He does not support anyone, but he has to express his stance on this matter no matter what.
The Ministry of War is very important and has powers different from others, namely, the power to dispatch soldiers.
This right is very important. As long as it is combined with the half tiger token in Your Majesty's hand, you can dispatch soldiers across the country, which means military power.
Yang Zhi knew that Hu Zhenghe had been trying to win him over, and if he allowed him to take control of the military power at this time, then the Great Zhou would be really finished.
I'm afraid Hu Zhenghe and his people have done something fishy, so I need some time.
"Okay, I'll give you some time, but if you can't find out anything, go and explain it to the soldiers yourself!"
Yang Zhi did not dare to refuse: "Yes, I will obey your order!"
Xiao Yan glanced at every military general. Fighting against the Huns was of vital importance, and a general was crucial.
"Who dares to fight? Fight back the lost territories of our Great Zhou, and drive those damned Huns back to the desert!"
As soon as these words were spoken, hundreds of generals knelt down upon hearing them!
boom!
"I'll fight you!"
Let’s not talk about military achievements at this time. When the country’s survival is at stake, a soldier must be courageous.
"Okay, very good. You are all men of courage, but courage alone is not enough."
"The Xiongnu are a group of beasts that drink blood and eat flesh. I will not only drive them into the depths of the desert, but I will also make sure they will never be able to rise again!"
Hu Zhenghe narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Yan who was sitting on the dragon throne.
If it were an ordinary person at this time, he would probably have been too scared to speak, but Xiao Yan was able to mobilize the generals' deep patriotism.
Such a person is absolutely terrifying, which further strengthened Hu Zhenghe's determination to get rid of Xiao Yan.
"Your Highness, I recommend Wu Ping to go and fight against the Xiongnu!"
At this time, even if you cannot obtain military power, you still need to make achievements.
As long as the military power is obtained by one of our own people, even if they do not rebel, they can lay a foundation in the hearts of the people. This is very important.
The people are like a pool of water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.
"Oh? Since it was recommended by the Prime Minister, you should give a reason!"
Hu Zhenghe explained, "Your Highness, Wu Ping was previously the garrison commander of Youzhou and has fought dozens of battles with the Xiongnu!"
"I know the Xiongnu quite well. I dare not say that I will exterminate them all, but I will never allow them to invade the border of my Great Zhou."
Xiao Yan sneered: "Humph, if you just want to expel the Xiongnu from the country, then it's fine!"
"Who else has recommendations?"
Hu Zhenghe did not expect that Xiao Yan would be so disrespectful to him and directly rejected the person he recommended without even a second thought.
The ministers also knew the people recommended by Hu Zhenghe. If even Wu Ping was not competent, no one would be able to do it!
At this time, the court was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"Since none of you are talking, I will recommend someone!"
"Where is Li Guang?"
All the ministers frowned when they heard this.
"I will be here!"
Xiao Yan looked at Li Guang who was full of confidence and said: "If I ask you to fight against the Xiongnu, what will you do?"
Hearing this, Li Guang looked at Xiao Yan in disbelief.
"If I am allowed to go into battle, I will definitely wipe out the Xiongnu and prevent them from ever rising again!"
Hu Zhenghe sneered when he heard this.
"Never to stand up again? General Li, have you ever fought against the Huns? Don't let yourself be scared to the point of peeing your pants when you meet them!"
Li Guang glared at Hu Zhenghe with dissatisfaction and said, "Then how about the Prime Minister go there? The Prime Minister is very talented, and he must have a way to deal with the Xiongnu!"
Hu Zhenghe didn't expect that a small commander of the imperial guards would confront him so directly and without any mercy.
"General Li, now is not the time to show off. It would be a shame if you ruin your future!"
