stormy clouds

In the Queen's Palace, Mrs. Yongchang Hou wiped her tears, "Why do you think mother let Wei'er go like this, I really feel in my heart."

She grabbed the skirt with her hands and hammered her chest, "Queen, you have always loved Wei'er, please go to the Hou Mansion and talk to the old lady, so that Wei'er can come back."

Mrs. Yongchanghou really had no choice, she didn't close her eyes all night yesterday, and entered the palace at dawn today, she was very anxious and didn't sleep all night, she looked very weak.

The empress looked at her personal nanny calmly, and the nanny understood, and retreated quietly with several maids in the hall.

In the huge hall, it became more and more quiet.

Only then did the queen gently persuade: "Sister-in-law, mother is right, Wei'er is the son of Marquis of Yongchang, and he has the responsibility to protect the people of Qi, so let him go!"

Mrs. Yongchang Hou's lips trembled, her face was pale, "You also think Wei'er should go to the battlefield?"

On weekdays, the queen loves this nephew the most.Because of this, she thought of going to the palace to ask for help.

"Mother, Jingshu has returned to Lindu, and Zichu is injured." The queen did not directly answer Mrs. Yongchanghou's question, but talked about Princess Anjun.

"What's going on? Is Zichu seriously injured?" Mrs. Yongchang Hou raised her head and asked.

The Queen's eyes became darker, "It is said that Zi Chu was injured by an arrow when he was patrolling the city with Prince An, and the injury was serious. Madam Changping Hou's guards brought him to seek medical treatment from Dr. Xu."

"My mother is getting old, I don't want her to know." The queen said.

"Zi Chu is not as old as Wei'er, and he can still patrol the city with the king of An Jun. Wei'er comes from a family of military generals. Doesn't my sister-in-law think that he will live in peace and prosperity all his life?

In fact, there is nothing wrong with thinking like this. Who doesn't want to enjoy prosperity and wealth in peace and stability for the rest of their lives?It is only to blame that Xia Guo suddenly sent troops. It may be difficult for anyone who wants to be unscathed in this troubled world. "

Mrs. Yongchang Hou blushed slightly, and said in a low voice: "I don't have such an idea, I just think Wei'er is still young, wait for him to grow up..."

The queen did not speak.

Mrs. Yongchang Hou put her mind away, and raised her head to look at the queen.

The empress's originally thin face became paler, and she couldn't hide the faint blue color under her eyes. It seemed that she hadn't slept well for a few days.

Why did this good day suddenly end like this? Mrs. Yongchang Hou is a little irritable. Xia Guo's wolf ambition is really abominable.

"Sister-in-law, Wei'er is the son of the Marquis of Changping, and this day will come sooner or later." The queen said lightly, "You don't have to worry too much, didn't your father and brother come here like this, and now my brother is still guarding Jiangnan What about the people of one side?"

Mrs. Yongchang Hou didn't know how she returned to the mansion, she just felt that sometimes she was enlightened, and sometimes she was in a daze. When she arrived in the mansion, there was no sign of Zhou Wei.

On the fifth day after Xia Bing besieged Lindu, all the markets in Lindu were closed.

The people were panic-stricken. Some people who were originally poor and had no food in their homes could no longer sit still. They went to the market one after another, hoping to find something to do and bring back some rations for their families.

The city was restless, but the Xia soldiers outside the city were not in a hurry to attack the city. They just camped outside the city gate. Apart from daily exercises, they had three meals a day on time, so they were leisurely.

Duke Qin stood at the gate of the city in his armor and heaved a sigh of relief. As long as they don't attack the city, they can surround it if they want to. As soon as Muhou comes back, Lindu will be relieved.

He turned around and went down the tower with heavy steps. As soon as he reached the city gate, he saw a group of armored guards stepping forward. The sun shone on the silver armor, shining golden light, very mighty.

Qin Guogong squinted his eyes and saw the young man in the head, tall and straight, with a handsome face like a girl, but wearing a white armor, he looked heroic.

"Zhou Shizi, this is not a place where you can mess around, why are you here to join in the fun?" Duke Qin said slowly.

His eldest granddaughter was promised to Zhou Wei, but Mrs. Yongchang Hou refused to come to discuss the marriage date on the grounds that her son was still young.Cheng An Bo's mansion was very anxious about Cheng An Bo's son's marriage, so he invited a matchmaker several times to discuss marriage.

Duke Qin had no choice but to marry off his second granddaughter first, and now the eldest granddaughter is still at home.

This is not common in Qi country.

Although Qin Guogong is dissatisfied, since his granddaughter has promised Zhou Shizi, if there is not a big change, it will not be easy to withdraw the engagement after all.

"My lord, I'm not here to play," Zhou Wei said seriously, "Lindu is under siege, so we naturally have the responsibility to protect it."

Duke Qin has a headache. Xia Bing is brave and good at fighting, but he can only defend and not attack. Even if he has the courage to raise a child like Zhou Shizi, he is afraid that facing Xia Bing will be like a sheep.

But there was no slightest contempt on his face, but he said solemnly: "Currently Xia Bing is only camping outside the city, and there is no sign of attacking, Zhou Shizi will go back first, and when the old man needs you, you will not be too late."

Zhou Wei cupped his fists and said, "My lord, Lindu has been under siege for five days, and it's winter, and the people in the city are still struggling, imagine there are still many refugees outside the city, what should they do with their food and drink?
If they can't stand it anymore and turn against each other, how can Lindu survive? "

Qin Guogong blushed slightly, "Young Master Zhou is worrying too much. What good can the people of Qi State do if they take refuge in Xia Guo?"

"If a person wants to survive, what can't be done?" Zhou Wei said.

"Are we going to take the initiative to meet the enemy?" Qin Guogong asked, "Your Majesty Zhou knows that now in Lindu City, apart from the officers and soldiers guarding the city, they are the palace guards. Although these people are usually in the army, most of them have never been on the battlefield. To meet the enemy is like hitting a stone with a pebble.

In case of defeat, it will give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of. Tell me, is it advantageous to fight or to defend? "

"My lord has forgotten that there are so many nobles in the city, and there are not a few soldiers in the families of these nobles."

Duke Qin smiled wryly, how could he not know this, this is now, for the sake of the safety of his own mansion, how could the nobles in the city be willing to lend out the mansion soldiers?
"If in a few more days, Xia Bing sees that Lindu is empty and dispatches troops, and the people are uneasy, how can Lindu be defended?" Zhou Wei's questions one after another startled Duke Qin.

In the past few days, he secretly observed that Xia Bing had added a lot of tents. Although he was old, he was not confused. He knew what it meant.

But at the moment, he doesn't dare to act rashly, he just wants to wait for Marquis Changping to come back, when the time comes, there will be a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and the siege of Lindu will be resolved.

However, Zhou Shizi mentioned a problem that he had never dared to take seriously. If the Xia Kingdom increased its troops, or the refugees outside the city rioted, the consequences would be disastrous.

Qin Guogong's eyes were not so determined.

"According to the prince, what should we do now?"

"Get out while the enemy is not prepared." Zhou Wei said, "Welcome the refugees from outside the city into the city, and the imperial court will open a large granary to raise them. Those who are willing to join the army will join the army, and those who don't want to join the army will have two meals a day. This not only enriches the army , and less worries.”

Qin Guogong took a serious look at Zhou Wei. He always thought that Zhou Shizi was a dude in the capital. Now it seems that this view can be changed.