Do you know: I am Yuan Wenshao

Chapter 313 Retreating to Advance
The confrontation drill on the second day was not at all what Yuan Wenshao expected. The two troops of the Chinese army were drawn and the opponents were the troops commanded by Zhongjinghou and Gu Tingye.

The first ones to start were the Chinese army and Gu Tingye's front army.

The weapons in the hands of the soldiers were all made of wood and were wrapped in cloth.

According to regulations, the cloth wrapped around the weapons will be stained with two colors of lime before the start. Those who leave lime marks on their bodies are considered dead in battle.

The sound of drums and horns sounded, and after it stopped, the soldiers of both sides, led by the generals, formed a military formation and attacked each other.

The generals on both sides commanded their armies to constantly change their formations, and the killing was inextricable.

From time to time, soldiers were hit and retreated leaving lime marks.

Both sides continued to reduce their numbers, and around one stick of incense, there were already thousands of soldiers 'killed' on both sides. Even so, the soldiers on both sides were still brave and fearless, and their momentum was like a rainbow.

When Yuan Wenshao saw this scene, he shook his head secretly.

If the army was as brave as it was during martial arts exercises, the Xixia and Liao Kingdom would have been destroyed long ago.

With two thousand men on each side, more than a thousand were killed, which is estimated to account for 12-30% of the total strength.

Even so, the soldiers were still brave and not afraid of death.

But on a real battlefield, an army that suffers more than ten percent casualties without collapsing is considered an elite soldier.

Those who do not collapse even after casualties exceed 30% are the best among the best.

In the history of ancient wars, armies that did not collapse despite more than 30% casualties can be said to be very rare.

As the saying goes, defeat is like a mountain falling.

In cold weapon warfare, there are actually very few frontal casualties. Most of them were trampled to death in the chaos after the rout.

In ancient history, there are many cases where more defeated less.

Like the Battle of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu's 30,000 cavalry defeated Liu Bang's army of more than 500,000.

In fact, Xiang Yu defeated the army in front, and the formation of the army behind was overwhelmed by the rout, so naturally they could only run away.

Now it is a drill. The soldiers know that there is no danger to their lives, so they are naturally unstoppable.

Once a general feels that this is the true combat power of his army, it will be very scary on the battlefield.

All military generals with a little common sense know this, but Yuan Wenshao is not actually worried.

What he was most worried about was Zhao Zongquan.

Don't look at Zhao Zongquan who has been a regiment training envoy for many years and led troops.

But he has never fought in a war, and at most he only suppressed bandits.

The only time was probably the time to suppress the rebellion.

But those mobilized that time were the elite of the western suburbs camp.

Although the soldiers in the western suburbs camp were somewhat neglected in training and most of them had never even been on the battlefield, there were still a few battalions who were veterans who had been on the battlefield.

In addition, the rebels in the city did not receive effective command at that time, so it was so easy to put down the rebellion.

Yuan Wenshao looked at Zhao Zongquan in the stands, hoping that Zhao Zongquan would not misjudge his own strength and make some bad choices.

Half an hour later, the winner had been decided on the field. There were more than 500 people left in the Chinese army, while Gu Tingye's army was completely wiped out.

In the next few games, Yuan Wenshao did not watch at all. Even if the rear army came on the field, he didn't care much.

Not surprisingly, it was the two armies of the Chinese army and Yuan Wenshao's rear army that won the final victory.

After the martial arts performance, the officials praised Shen Congxing and Yuan Wenshao, the governors-general, without any mention of punishment.

He also ordered to reward the soldiers.

……

After watching the martial arts performance, Zhao Zongquan felt more confident.

Now that the army is strong, horses can be obtained from the Western Regions.

Mainly able to form a certain size of cavalry, it is not impossible to recapture the sixteen states of Yanyun.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zongquan became even more eager for money.

Whether it is setting up cavalry or fighting a war, money is needed.

It is imperative to conduct a thorough investigation into the salt affairs.

On the day he returned to the palace, Zhao Zongquan summoned a group of confidants to discuss a thorough investigation of the salt affairs.

In the morning of the next day, King Huan Zhao Ceying came out and said: "I would like to report to my father, salt, wine, tea and iron. It is our dynasty's main priority. Nowadays, the salt tax is unclear, and the actual amount paid has been reduced year by year. Last year, the salt tax was only found in the founding of the country." At that time, it was thirty-four out of ten. If the court continues to let things go, the salt tax will continue to decrease. Now that the national treasury has no balance every year, it has become a basic practice to eat grain at the same time.

If things continue like this, if there is a war or natural disaster, how will the court have the money to deal with it?

I sincerely request my father to issue an order to thoroughly investigate the salt affairs! "

Zhao Ceying's words silenced the court, and many people were aware of Zhao Zongquan's actions during this period.

But officials in the DPRK and China knew very well that the salt affairs were too involved.

Most of the Zhou officials came from Jiangnan. Jiangnan is the area hardest hit by the proliferation of illegal salt.

Nowadays, not only all the officials in Jiangnan are involved, but more than half are still involved.

Among the court officials, many people did not accept the filial piety of Jiangnan officials.

The implications were so extensive that even some upright officials in the court fell silent.

Zhao Zongquan originally thought that some people would agree with Zhao Ceying's proposal to conduct a thorough investigation of the salt affairs, but as a result, no one from the civil and military officials of the court spoke up.

The anger in his heart can be imagined.

Zhao Zongquan suppressed the anger in his heart and said calmly: "The matter of salt tax is a chronic disease. It is unclear and chaotic. It has not happened in a day. Now, it is time to inquire. Dear gentlemen, have you Who is willing to go for me?"

However, the court was still very quiet, with all the civil and military officials lowering their heads slightly, and no one spoke.

Seeing this, Zhao Zongquan became even more angry. Although he had never counted on these people, but seeing that there was not even a single official in the civil and military dynasty to share his worries, he wished he could order all these people to be dragged down and executed.

"Salt tax is a major event in the world, and governing the Qingming Festival is an eternal problem. Could it be that, considering the feelings of relatives and colleagues, none of you are willing to check the salt affairs for the court and the world?"

Zhao Zongquan almost pointed at the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty and said, don't think I don't know, your relatives and friends are all involved.

The expressions of the officials below were different. Those who had not received benefits were naturally not afraid, but those who had benefited were a little panicked.

They originally thought that if no one said anything, Zhao Zongquan would retreat if he felt the pressure.

However, looking at Zhao Zongquan's appearance, he had no intention of giving up, as if he was determined to investigate the salt affairs.

In the queue of civil servants, an official standing at the front turned his head and winked at the official behind him.

The official understood, walked out, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, will the Taichang Liyuan be able to copy your Majesty's imperial edict honoring the late King Pu as a relative in the near future and make it known to the world?"

Zhao Zongquan was silent for a long time before he suppressed the anger in his heart and said: "We are discussing the salt affairs now. If the Qing family has other matters, we might as well go to court to discuss it in detail!"

"Then I have nothing to say." After saying that, he retreated.

Zhao Zongquan stood up angrily, pointed at the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and shouted: "If something goes against your will, will you abandon the court?"

You usually open your mouth for the sake of the country but keep your mouth shut for the people, and you are full of carelessness. Now you are allowing moths to devour the world. Are you treating the people of the world right? "

"Your Majesty, please order Han Zhang and Grand Prime Minister Han to go!" an official from the Yushitai came out.

Han Zhang led the crowd to force the Queen Mother, which had already caused many people to have objections to him.

In the eyes of many officials, it is a good thing for them to fight between the Queen Mother and the officials.

After all, the Queen Mother is fighting with the officials and needs to win them over.

They will naturally benefit from this.

But Han Zhang firmly stood on the official side.

Now in the eyes of many people, Han Zhang has become the official's hawk for the sake of power.

The officials had not long since ascended the throne, but they had the confidence to thoroughly investigate the salt affairs. They would not believe it without Han Zhang's support.

In this case, let Han Zhang investigate and see if he dares to investigate.

If Han Zhang dares to take this job, he will definitely offend those officials in the DPRK and the local areas who have benefited. It is not even known whether he can return to Bianjing.

If Han Zhang doesn't accept it, he will annoy the officials.

When Han Zhang heard this, he turned around and looked at the official who spoke with a gloomy expression. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Zhao Zongquan sneer and say: "There is no need to be sarcastic at Yushitai. There is no reason for a prime minister to thoroughly investigate the salt affairs in the world."

Facing Zhao Zongquan's cannibalistic look, the Yushitai official said in a panic: "I...I don't dare. Although there are quite a few shortcomings in the salt service, it is not as serious as His Highness King Huan said. If it is really so serious , the world will never be as peaceful as it is now. Therefore, in my opinion, it is better to leave the matter of a thorough investigation of the salt tax for now and just order officials from various places to investigate. If there is no change, it will not be too late to conduct a thorough investigation."

"Haha."

Zhao Zongquan laughed loudly, and then stopped after a while, and said sarcastically: "The great things of the world are discussed in the court. The salt tax is related to the world, to the treasury, to the borders. It is such a big thing, but you tell me to let it go? Such words , how do you, an official in the court, say this?
I tell you, I have to do things without your Yushitai. The treasury must be replenished and the frontiers must be recovered! Even if I personally inspect the salt, I still have to figure out this account. "

"My son, please order me!"

Seeing that the time was almost up, Zhao Ceying came out and said: "Please allow me to go out for training and investigate the salt affairs!"

"Yes!" Zhao Zongquan agreed directly without giving the officials a chance to refute.

Zhao Zongquan did not expect these officials to thoroughly investigate the salt affairs.

In other words, he didn't trust these officials at all.

Zhao Zongquan had already guessed that if he proposed a thorough investigation of the salt affairs, no officials would agree.

If he had been in office for many years and proposed a thorough investigation of the salt affairs, officials would definitely have volunteered. The final result of the investigation was just to arrest a few unimportant characters to deal with him, and there would still be no results in the salt affairs.

But now that he has been on the throne for less than a year, these officials want to give him a blow in this way.

This was in line with Zhao Zongquan's wishes. After all, Zhao Ceying was the prince. If he had asked Zhao Ceying to inspect the salt affairs from the beginning, the officials would have had reasons to object.

Zhao Zongquan simply took advantage of retreat and asked all the officials first to take advantage of this humiliation.

When no one in the civil and military circles of the dynasty came forward, it was natural for Zhao Ceying to come forward to ask for help.

The officials in the DPRK and China were not fools, and they realized at this time that they had been fooled.

Originally, they thought that this would allow Zhao Zongquan to retreat.

Who would have thought that Zhao Zongquan didn't count on them at all.

If they send others to investigate, they can still do something. Zhao Ceying is the son of Zhao Zongquan. They say that the Tian family has no relatives, but now the official family has not established a heirloom. Even if they show favor to Zhao Ceying, Zhao Ceying, in order to show off in front of Zhao Zongquan, It's impossible to agree to it.

On the contrary, Zhao Ceying will investigate this matter very seriously.

At the thought of this, many officials began to panic.

However, Zhao Zongquan did not give them a chance to speak at all, ordered Zhao Ceying to thoroughly investigate the salt affairs, ordered Shen Congxing and Qi Guogong to accompany him, and announced his withdrawal from the court.

Yuan Wenshao and Gu Tingye left the hall together. Seeing no one around, Gu Tingye whispered: "This is really a smart move by the officials."

"Yes, retreating in order to advance made those people relax their vigilance. However, the salt affairs are very involved, so the matter may not be that simple." Yuan Wenshao said.

"Wen Shao, I'm afraid you're overthinking it. The officials asked Uncle Shen to lead troops to accompany them. Even if they jump over the wall in a hurry, they can't stop it." Gu Tingye said.

Yuan Wenshao said angrily: "No matter how big or small, you call me Wen Shao? I call you eldest brother-in-law!"

"Hey, I said you've had enough." Gu Tingye glared.

He is older than Yuan Wenshao and has always been a friend.

Suddenly Yuan Wenshao became the eldest brother-in-law, and he felt awkward no matter what.

The crowd had no choice but to shout, but there was no way he could shout in private.

"You're not yelling, are you? Then I'll ask my wife to talk to Sixth Sister later." Yuan Wenshao said.

"Okay, stop joking. What do you think those people will do?" Gu Tingye asked.

"Uncle Shen Guo is Prince Huan's uncle. The glory and wealth of the Shen family also belongs to Prince Huan. He knows that this is a dangerous place, so he will do his best to protect Prince Huan. Those people also know this. So those people must not Uncle Shen will be asked to go." Yuan Wenshao said.

"But they have no ability to change the official's decision." Gu Tingye said.

Yuan Wenshao shook his head and said: "They can't change the official's decision, but as long as Uncle Shen Guo gets a lawsuit and delays it for a while. And a thorough investigation of the salt affairs is already imminent and has to be launched, and the official can only Can be replaced."

"I understand Uncle Shen Guo. He is not a random person. Some small things will not affect anything." Gu Tingye said.

"Uncle Shen Guo won't do anything if someone catches him, but is he related to the Shen family?" Yuan Wenshao asked in return.

"this…"

Gu Tingye was stunned. He didn't say anything stupid like saying that other people's affairs had anything to do with Shen Congxing.

In a clan society, Shen Congxing is also partly responsible for what other members of the Shen family do.

If the matter is serious, Shen Congxing will be in quite a lot of trouble.

"No, I have to report it to the officials." After Gu Tingye finished speaking, he hurried away.

Yuan Wenshao looked at Gu Tingye's back and shook his head.

It was already too late at this point, the handle was already in someone else's hands.

There was no need to use it before. After all, Shen Congxing was the uncle of the state, and this matter could not sway him.

On the contrary, if the matter is brought out, Shen Congxing and the officials will be offended.

Things turned out exactly as Yuan Wenshao had guessed. Less than an hour after going to court, the memorial to impeach Shen Congxing's son for borrowing money and killing the people was delivered to Zhao Zongquan like snowflakes.

Zhao Zongquan initially thought it was framed by those people in order to prevent a thorough investigation of the salt affairs.

However, someone was sent to investigate and found out that this was the case.

Although the Zou brothers did this in the name of Shen Congxing's son, so what.

The family of the person who was forced to death had already gone to Kaifeng Mansion to report the crime.

Now Bianjing has been rumored a lot.

Before the matter was clarified, Shen Congxing could not even leave Bianjing, let alone follow him to check the salt affairs.

Otherwise, once someone publicizes it, he may become a absconder in fear of crime.

(End of this chapter)