SFS Chapter 304: Food and Grass Lost
Chapter 304: Food and Grass Lost
When the emperor first heard Chu Ci's submissive answer, he felt a little better and his tense expression relaxed a little.
But I never thought that this so-called obedience was just an appearance.
The emperor's face suddenly darkened like a dark cloud, and anger suddenly surged from his heart. He shouted angrily: "But what? I want to hear what Princess Yixin has to say?"
"Your Majesty, are you sure you want me to tell you?" Chu Ci never expected that the emperor would point the finger directly at him. For a moment, he was full of doubts, and stretched out his finger as if he couldn't believe it, pointing it directly at himself.
The emperor became even more furious when he saw this. His eyes widened as he shouted angrily, "You are not kidding."
Hearing this, Chu Ci immediately relaxed. "Your Majesty, shouldn't such a shameful matter be investigated slowly and privately?"
"You have already been humiliated once before, and now you are making such a big fuss about it, are you trying to lose face again?
"With such behavior, where will the majesty of the emperor be?"
Chu Ci's move of turning the tables completely stunned not only Fan Jingrui standing by, but also the Emperor, Prince Li and Marquis Wucheng. They were all dumbfounded and at a loss as to what to do.
However, if we think about it carefully, we have to admit that Chu Ci's accusation does make sense.
After all, even if we can’t find out who assassinated Tongxuan, what can we do?
Is it right to watch the dignified emperor being deceived by a fake Taoist priest, causing unrest in the court and the precarious situation of the Great Zhou?
So, Prince Li took the lead and bowed solemnly, then said respectfully: "Your Majesty, it is rare to be confused!"
Even Wu Chenghou had to endure the emperor's murderous gaze, grit his teeth, clasp his fists and bow deeply, and said in a firm tone: "Your Majesty, the most important thing right now is to find out those rats hiding in my Great Zhou. They are like termites, eroding the foundation of my Great Zhou bit by bit. If they are not eradicated in time, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Your Majesty, can any one or two people make decisions for you, the emperor?
How disgraceful! Do you still have the law? Do you have any respect for the emperor?
"What if I insist on seeking the truth?" The emperor looked around with a fierce gaze, as if burning with anger. His expression was majestic and he seemed to see through everyone present.
Chu Ci would never admit it, "Uh, it's not me." His eyes were evasive and his voice was a little panicked.
Feng Yan relied on the Feng family's special status and wanted to take on everything...
However, remembering Chu Ci's earnest instructions to him before entering the palace, he hardened his heart and gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, you know clearly in your heart that Feng Yan really does not have that ability."
"You, you all, are great." The emperor was furious, his chest heaving violently, his face flushed red, but he couldn't find a suitable way to ease this embarrassing and angry situation.
At this moment, the urgent news that came from eight hundred miles away was like a life-saving straw, saving the emperor's shaky dignity.
"Announce——" As soon as the emperor's order was given, a soldier covered in blood and in a disheveled state was hurriedly led in.
I saw that the soldier's armor was tattered and bloodstained, and his face was covered with dust and fatigue.
After entering, the soldier did not stop for a moment. He was out of breath and said in a trembling voice, "Northern Frontier is in danger!"
"The Tatars suddenly and brazenly invaded our border. General Zhenbei and his soldiers fought hard to kill the enemy and shed blood." The soldier's voice was filled with tears, as if the tragic scene was still before his eyes.
"But we didn't expect that when victory was imminent, the deputy general Wu Junan suddenly betrayed us and stabbed the general in the back with a dagger coated with poison. As a result, the army was leaderless, the morale of the army was in chaos, and the border town suffered extremely heavy losses." At this point, the soldiers were already crying.
"Wu-Jun-An!" The emperor almost gritted his teeth, uttering these three words one by one. There was no other reason, Wu Jun-An was a "person" that the emperor had specially planted in the Zhenbei Army at the suggestion of the King of Qi.
The emperor never imagined that the person he trusted would do such a heinous thing.
"Call for the Minister of the Interior Xing Zhang, the Prime Minister Li Zhu. The Minister of Revenue Shen Cong..." The emperor was about to say the Minister of War, when he suddenly remembered that the Minister of War was the Marquis of Wucheng Zhao Zhi in front of him.
"Lord Zhao, you stay. Uncle, the matter is extremely urgent, so you guys should leave first!" At this time, the emperor no longer had the heart to fight with Chu Ci and the others, his mind was completely occupied by the war in the northern border.
"Yes, we'll take our leave!" Prince Li and his men looked at each other, then bowed together and said in unison.
However, this does not mean the end, on the contrary, it is just a beginning.
Ever since the terrifying 800-mile express message came from the northern border, the Great Zhou seemed to have suddenly fallen into an endless nightmare, with thunder and danger everywhere.
For a time, the entire situation was extremely tense, and even the number of ordinary people bustling on the streets of the capital was noticeably smaller.
There was really no other way. In just half a month, all the officials in the capital who could be sent out to handle affairs were sent out by the emperor without hesitation to provide emergency assistance.
Faced with such a chaotic situation, Jingzhao Yin could only advocate the use of severe punishments in troubled times.
At this time, anyone with a little bit of brains would not foolishly rush into the muzzle of a gun. This can be considered a form of order amidst the chaos.
However, no one expected it.
Just when everything was slowly getting back on track.
The second letter was sent urgently over 800 miles, like a drop of boiling water dropped into a boiling oil pan.
In an instant, the entire capital city was plunged into excitement.
There was no way, this news was too horrible. A full 500,000 dan of military rations disappeared without a trace overnight.
You must know that food and supplies must be sent before the army moves. Since ancient times, no matter how superb the military skills of a general are, he cannot win a battle without sufficient supplies.
"How long can the Zhenbei Army's food and grass last now?" Even though the emperor was very skilled in cultivating his Qi, he still found it difficult to remain calm when he heard this news, which was like a bolt from the blue.
"Your Majesty, the Zhenbei Army is now using the food and fodder that they have stored on a daily basis."
"According to the normal schedule, the food and supplies should arrive in three days."
"However, this situation has arisen now. Therefore, the Zhenbei Army's food and grass can only last for seven more days at most." The Minister of Revenue quickly calculated in his mind and gave an answer that made everyone feel depressed.
But this war had to be fought and won. Therefore, the emperor looked solemn and immediately ordered in a stern voice: "I don't care what method you use, even if you try every possible means, you must raise funds as soon as possible."