King of Song

Chapter 621
Wang Gui, who stayed behind in Xijing, led a group of people out of the city, planning to block the road in the name of arresting spies and intercept Zhao Zhao, the king of Qin.Although he was unwilling to choose so early, the emperor had orders, and he had to obey them, at least he had to show himself.

But at this moment, news was suddenly received that cavalry appeared within twenty miles of Luoyang.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little tense, where did these cavalry come from?The mobilization of troops in the Song Dynasty was very strict, and they all required orders from the Privy Council.If the normal army is transferred, there is no reason not to inform myself that Luoyang is staying behind.

Could it be that Zhao Zongsheng mobilized to stop Zhao Zhao?As for making it so blatant?

Wang Gui was full of doubts, Zhao Zhao was important, and this inexplicable soldier was even more important.Or, is there any connection between the two?
Before Wang Gui blocked the intersection, the cavalry had already rushed forward. After seeing through the firelight that it was the Song Army's uniform and flag, Wang Gui was a little relieved.Between Guanluo and the hinterland of the Central Plains, it is naturally impossible to have foreign cavalry?
So these people are probably related to King Qin?Wang Gui was puzzled, stopped the cavalry, and asked loudly: "This officer is Wang Gui who stayed behind in Xijing, who are you waiting for? Why are you running so late at night?"

"We are soldiers of the Western Army. We have come to protect His Royal Highness King Qin, and we have important military reports!"

Western Army?Wang Gui's heart skipped a beat. He concluded that these people were related to Zhao Zhao. He thought they were intercepting Zhao Zhao's army, but he didn't expect that they were the Western Army protecting Zhao Zhao.

"Father, why did the Western Army appear here?" Wang Zhongmao said in a low voice, "Could it be that Zhao Zhao mobilized troops without the permission of the Privy Council? This is a serious crime!"

"Be more cautious, don't talk nonsense!" Although Wang Gui didn't know what was going on, he didn't dare to cover his hat indiscriminately.According to the Empress Dowager, Emperor Renzong ordered that the King of Qin be stationed in Chang'an and take charge of military and government affairs in the Northwest, so he had the power to mobilize the Western Army.It's just that the Western Army suddenly appeared in Luoyang, what is Zhao Zhao going to do?This made him have to be cautious.

Raid the two capitals and directly mutiny?
Under the light of the fire, one could probably see that the opponent was only two or three thousand cavalry, too few troops, and it didn't seem like he was making a big move.However, there is no way to know if there will be reinforcements in the future. After all, these cavalry come and go like the wind. I only got the news when I was twenty miles outside Luoyang City. The speed is not so fast!

"Who asked you to come? Do you have any military reports?" Wang Gui asked in a deep voice.

"We came here by ourselves. The Western Army got the news that Xixia was about to assassinate His Highness King Qin, so three thousand soldiers spontaneously formed a guard to protect His Highness King Qin." The leading general of the Western Army replied: "As for the military situation, I'm sorry, Lord Wang. This is a secret and can only be reported to the officials, the King of Qin, or the Privy Council!"

"I see that you are talking nonsense, and you are obviously plotting something wrong?" Wang Zhongyu was a little impatient.

When the soldiers of the Western Army on the opposite side heard this, they were agitated, and the sound of cursing came clearly.Wang Gui frowned, and said in a low voice: "Be careful with your words, don't talk nonsense!"

Sure enough, there was another sound of horseshoes. Wang Gui listened carefully, but it came from the east behind them.

"Who is planning to do something wrong?" Before the person arrived, a loud question came.

Illuminated by many torches, dozens of riders galloped rapidly, and the first one rode a white horse, galloping like lightning, and soon arrived in front of him.

"King Qin!"

Wang Gui hesitated for a moment, and soon recognized Zhao Zhao.There is a difference between the monarch and his ministers. Wang Gui pulled his son forward to salute.Wang Zhongyao was a little unhappy, but he dared not disobey.

"Master Wang?"

"Chen Wanggui has met His Royal Highness King Qin!"

"My lord, please stand up!" Zhao Zhao asked, "What is your lord doing here late at night?"

"Oh! I received the news that an unidentified cavalry suddenly appeared outside Luoyang City, so I came here to investigate!" In front of Zhao Zhao, Wang Gui dared not say that King Pu Zhao Zongcheng ordered the interception.

"Who are they? Have you found out?"

"They claim to be soldiers of the Western Army!"

"Oh?" Zhao Zhao responded, stepped forward and said, "My king, Zhao Zhao, who are you waiting for?"

"See King Qin!"

As soon as Zhao Zhao revealed his identity, the three thousand cavalry dismounted and knelt down in unison, their movements uniform and majestic.Seeing this, Wang Gui couldn't help being shocked. This alone shows Zhao Zhao's prestige in the Western Army.Furthermore, it can be seen from the military appearance and military discipline how elite the Western Army is.

"Free gift!"

Zhao Zhao asked: "Why are you here? You know that without an order from the Privy Council, it is against military discipline to act casually."

"We knew it, but we heard that the Xixia people wanted to assassinate His Highness King Qin, and we were very anxious. Three thousand brothers spontaneously organized to protect His Highness, and at the same time, there was an emergency military report."

"Oh? What military situation?"

"Your Highness..." The leading soldiers of the Western Army obviously hesitated.

"It's okay, just here, say loudly, Mr. Wang and the people present are all loyal ministers and righteous men of the Song Dynasty!"

"Yes!" the general said: "Western Xia raided Suizhou, and our army was attacked in many fortresses by the Wuding River. Xixia intends to launch a large-scale attack on our border. Please support the imperial court... The soldiers of the Western Army heard that Emperor Renzong and The officials all have their intentions. His Royal Highness Qin Wang is stationed in Chang'an and presides over the military affairs of the Northwest, so he is here to invite His Highness Qin Wang to go to the Northwest to preside over the overall situation as soon as possible!

"Xi Xia invasion?"

Zhao Zhao was surprised immediately, and murmured: "In this way, we must hurry back to the northwest as soon as possible, and leave immediately after I return to Bianjing to bid farewell to the official family and my mother."

"His Royal Highness, the military situation is urgent, and I'm afraid there is no room for delays!" The general said: "Xixia is eyeing a tiger, and a large-scale attack may be possible at any time. The Western Army has no leader. The soldiers are waiting for you to go back as soon as possible to take charge of the overall situation."

"That's it!" Zhao Zhao pondered for a moment, then turned around and said to Wang Gui, "My lord, the Northwest Army is in an emergency situation. It seems that this king has to leave for Chang'an immediately."

Wang Gui whispered: "Does Your Highness ask the officials and the Privy Council first?"

Zhao Zhao said in a deep voice: "It stands to reason that this should be the case, but the situation on the front line is changing rapidly, and there is no room for too much delay. I am afraid that it will be too late to return to Bianjing. I can only report the details to the officials and the Privy Council after arriving in Chang'an, or Please help me to report to the official first!"

"I'm afraid this is inappropriate?" Wang Gui declined in a low voice.

"Well, it's a bit embarrassing, my lord!" Zhao Zhao seemed to be very understanding, and said, "Going to Chang'an to preside over the military administration is the will of the father and the officials. The delay a while ago is due to the concern of the officials. Let the king rest and pay a visit to the mausoleum." Worshiping the ancestors; now that the military situation is urgent, it is my king's duty to guard the border, so naturally there can be no further delay, and this king should report to the officials himself."

Without waiting for Wang Gui to speak, Zhao Zhao said again: "However, there is something that I'm afraid I will trouble Mr. Wang."

"His Royal Highness King Qin please give me instructions!"

"Tonight, the Yongchang Mausoleum suddenly caught fire. Immediately afterwards, there was an assassin who assassinated me. Presumably they were the Xixia assassins that the soldiers said. I killed a few people on the spot, but the rest fled. I chased them all the way, and they disappeared here." Zhao Zhaodao: "The Xixia people are so bold that it's fine to assassinate this king, but they even set fire to the Emperor Taizu's mausoleum. The crime is heinous and unforgivable! This king will go to the northwest to fight Xixia and seek justice; as for the pursuit of the assassin, we have to entrust Your Majesty Wang."

"The assassin committed a heinous crime. Since he escaped to Luoyang, it is the minister's duty to hunt him down." Wang Gui didn't refuse, and he couldn't refuse at all, so he had to agree.

"Then there will be Lord Lao Wang." Zhao Zhao cupped his hands and said, "Then I will go on the road and rush to Chang'an."

"Father..." Wang Zhongya reminded in a low voice with a serious expression.

"Who is this? Oh? Brother Zhongyu, we used to swim in the lake and drink together..."

"Don't dare, it's really an honor for the dog to drink with the King of Qin!" Seeing his son's unconvinced look, Wang Gui was very annoyed, he hurriedly apologized, and at the same time patted his son on the back.No matter what, you can't offend Zhao Zhao face to face!
Wang Zhongyu said with a smile: "Why should the King of Qin be in a hurry, the road is difficult to travel in the dark, why not stay in Luoyang tonight, and then go on the road after dawn!"

"That's great, but the military situation is on fire, so I dare not delay for a moment!" Zhao Zhao said with a smile: "Thank you, brother Zhongyu, for your kindness. I have been fighting in the northwest for a long time, and I am used to traveling at night, so it's okay!"

"still……"

"My lord Wang, I'm leaving!" Zhao Zhao interrupted directly, and followed him with his relatives unceremoniously.Three thousand cavalry immediately guarded King Qin in the center.

Wang Zhongyao wanted to say something more, but seeing the cold blades of the soldiers of the Western Army, he could only shut up silently.It wasn't until the sound of horseshoes went away that he whispered: "Father, do you just let them leave like this?"

"Otherwise what?" Wang Gui asked coldly.

"Obviously, this was all premeditated by Zhao Zhao. He actually mobilized troops selfishly... and the Yongchang Mausoleum is on fire. It's very strange!"

Wang Gui said in a low voice: "Haven't you heard? The soldiers of the Western Army came here spontaneously, why did they say that they dispatched troops privately? As for the fire in Yongchang Mausoleum? For..."

"Father, it's clearly..."

"Zhong Yao, remember, misfortune comes from your mouth, you must be cautious in your words, otherwise you will cause death." Wang Gui was a little disappointed with his son's frivolity.

"Okay, then let's keep him for one night at least, Fei Ge pass the letter to King Pu, let him make a decision!" Wang Zhongmao said angrily, "Now that he's gone like this, how can father make a deal with the government?"

"Can you keep it? If you don't have these three thousand cavalry, you can still protect them as a name. Now? It can be seen that the three thousand cavalry are elite, brave and loyal to King Qin. Do you dare to force them to stay?" Wang Gui said: "You Haven’t you heard? The military situation in the Northwest is urgent, if we are a little careless, we won’t be able to keep people from telling us, and we will be charged with delaying the military situation.”

"But..." Wang Zhongya was very unconvinced.

"Can you keep him? Even if you mobilize all the Luoyang defenders, who would have the guts to attack the King of Qin? Believe it or not, he killed someone on the spot?" Wang Gui asked coldly. Thinking of Zhao Zhao's smiling eyes, Wang Zhongguo shuddered.

"As for how to explain to the officials..." Wang Gui was silent for a moment, then sighed: "It's a little troublesome!"

(End of this chapter)