allonlinenovel Chapter 304 Frontline Situation
Chapter 304 Frontline Situation
"How's the situation on the front line?"
Chen Qingyun put away his previous thoughts and asked in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, after our army conquered Guangning City, we rested in the city for some days. The next target may be Changzhou City."
This happened just one day after the defense battle of Guangning City. When Zhang Huan returned to the capital from the front line, Guangning City was still peaceful.
After hearing the news, Chen Qingyun felt slightly relieved.
Although the progress of the southern expedition was relatively slow, in the battle of Guangning City, the Yan army only suffered very few casualties and captured the extremely critical Guangning City.
"Pass on my oral order, let Jiangzuo advance steadily, and do not rush into anything rash."
Chen Qingyun ordered in a tone that contained some instructions.
Recalling that in order to pacify Mobei, Jiang Zuo had taken a lot of extremely risky actions and almost lost his life, Chen Qingyun still felt scared.
Jiang Zuo is a man who is sometimes willing to risk his life to achieve his goals.
Chen Qingyun was worried about the situation on the front line almost every day. Sometimes when he picked up the memorial reporting on the war on the front line, he would worry about the current situation in Jiangzuo.
After hearing what Zhang Huan had just reported, Chen Qingyun realized that his worries were unnecessary. He didn't know whether Jiang Zuo was really close to other women. Thinking back to when Jiang Zuo took the Ninth Prince in and out of the brothel, Chen Qingyun suddenly felt helpless.
"I humble my duty and obey my orders."
Zhang Huan leaned forward and said.
Chen Qingyun said: "You should go back to Jiangzhou City first. If there is any important news from the front line, return to the capital immediately to report to me."
Zhang Huan left immediately.
Chen Qingyun put away the pile of memorials on the table, slowly stood up, and a hint of fatigue appeared on his beautiful face.
She slowly stood up and prepared to go to the court meeting.
On the way from Suzaku Gate to Zhonghe Hall, many officials were on their way to court meetings.
Right Prime Minister Lu Jun walked slowly, followed by more than a dozen right-wing officials.
"Your Majesty summoned us this time. Could it be that he wants to discuss the war on the front line again?"
An official whispered.
"We have already commended the soldiers on the front line several times a while ago. This matter should have been over long ago. Moreover, there is no news from the front line at all. What is there to discuss?"
"This war will surely be like the previous ones, with much noise but little rain. It will not last long. The imperial court has invested so much.
"Don't mention it. Even if Jiang Zuo has made a small contribution, His Majesty has praised him many times. In my opinion, if Jiang Zuo enters the capital, he will be the Prime Minister sooner or later."
There had already been rumors in the capital that the reason the emperor gave so many important positions to Jiang Zuo was simply to gild Jiang Zuo's reputation and help him rise to the top and become the prime minister of the cabinet.
Even among some officials in the court, there was already discussion as to whether Jiang Zuo was the empress's male favorite.
"They just captured Guangning City. With all the fighting, I thought they had reached Jiankang City."
Xu Renyou said with disdain.
In his opinion, a small Guangning City was not a significant achievement. Only by successfully recovering the three states in the east of the lake would Jiangzuo be eligible for rewards.
But after all, the decision-making power lies in the hands of the empress. What can these ministers do?
"The battle of Guangning City was won by relying on the Ninth Prince's strength. Do you really think Jiang Zuo has any ability?"
"It is indeed the Ninth Prince's achievement. Even Jiang Zuo himself did not dare to take credit for it, which proves how incompetent he was during this southern expedition."
"If the Ninth Prince hadn't gone, Jiang Zuo might still be trying to please the people of Chen State and do that big business."
"No matter how you look at it, he is just a mediocre scholar. How can he hold such a high position?..."
Among these people, almost all of them are dissatisfied with Jiang Zuo.
After all, Jiang Zuo had previously damaged a lot of interests of the right-party officials, so those right-party officials had long been wishing that Jiang Zuo would be dismissed immediately, or even executed if guilty.
But things went against their wishes. The status of Jiangzuo has become increasingly higher, while the situation of their right party has become increasingly difficult.
"Yes, back then the Prime Minister personally led the army to conquer the State of Chen in the south. That was a great military achievement. The yellow-haired boy from Jiangzuo is just a name with no reputation."
The officials at the side also spoke in a flattering tone. As members of the Right Prime Minister's party, they often kowtowed and fawned on Lu Jun.
The Prime Minister's personal expedition to the south that he mentioned refers to the time thirty years ago when Lu Jun was ordered to attack the State of Chen. After suffering considerable casualties, he successfully recaptured a small city, which was touted as a unique achievement in the world.
Listening to the discussions of the group of right-wing officials behind him, Right Prime Minister Lu Jun looked worried.
The smoother the war on the front line went, the more worried Lu Jun became.
What he was worried about was not that the Yan army would fail, but that he was afraid that the Yan army would really agree to the Chen State, which would then cause a major change in the entire situation.
"You must not underestimate Jiang Zuo. Don't believe a word he reports to the emperor."
Lu Jun spoke in a low voice with a serious expression.
Before this, Jiang Zuo had already deceived Lu Jun once.
He had been causing troubles for Jiang Zuo before, but he had resolved them time and time again. For this reason, Lu Jun had long been wary and suspicious of him.
A person who can gain the trust of the empress is definitely not just a male favorite as others say.
Lu Jun no longer dared to look down on Jiangzuo.
But the officials behind him were different. Their knowledge of Jiangzuo only existed in rumors.
Xu Renyou said: "After several months of preparation, we have only achieved this little success. Prime Minister, you can rest assured that Jiangzuo will not cause much trouble."
Lu Jun said solemnly, "I'm afraid if he really beats us later, we'll be in trouble."
If Jiang Zuo and others were really able to recapture the three prefectures in the east of the lake, Jiang Zuo would surely gain power, and the structure of the court would be rewritten.
The Right Party had almost openly targeted Jiang Zuo before. If Jiang Zuo became an important official in the court, he might take revenge on the Right Party one day.
Of course, Lu Jun didn't want to see this scene.
As he spoke, all the civil and military officials walked into the Zhonghe Hall.
The empress arrived and all the ministers knelt before her.
After a moment, Chen Qingyun looked at the ministers with a dignified look, and then he slowly said: "I am planning to withdraw 40,000 troops from the Six Garrisons to reinforce the front line in the south. What do you think, my dear ministers?"
Hearing this, the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.
Nowadays, the voices of the pro-war faction have already gained the upper hand in the entire court. Anyone who dares to speak out against the increase of troops is going against the emperor.
Of course, no one stood up to oppose this.
At this time, the Left Prime Minister Wei Hong stood up and leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, this decision is quite wise. In the current war between the two countries, it is obvious that our army has the upper hand. If we send more troops at this time, we will definitely be able to expand the advantage on the front line and recover the three states of Hudong for the Great Yan Kingdom!"
Hearing this, Chen Qingyun nodded with satisfaction, then looked around at the ministers and said, "Does anyone else have any suggestions?"
Silence fell.