readytorunbook Chapter 305 The capital is anxious
Chapter 305 The capital is anxious
The capital was also very concerned about the battle situation at Hushan Pass.
As soon as Hongfeng County was breached, observers sent news to the capital.
As a result, within just a few days, the barbarian army of 70,000 to 80,000, under the banner of an army of 100,000, marched out of Hongfeng County, heading south, aiming directly at the capital.
The entire capital was in chaos. Many wealthy families panicked and quickly packed up their property, taking a group of servants and guards with them, and hurried south.
The entire capital was filled with cries and chaos.
Emperor Wu was also shocked when he heard the news. He was still busy like an ant moving house, collecting supplies from everywhere and preparing a warehouse for himself in the south.
Of course, what was more important to Emperor Wu was that he was also wondering whether Lao Liu could hold out at Hushan Pass for a year.
If Lao Liu could hold out at Hushan Pass for a year, the barbarian army would have to retreat.
Doesn’t that mean he doesn’t have to leave the capital?
After all, leaving the capital and fleeing to the south was, to put it nicely, a southern tour, but to put it bluntly, it was a way to escape.
How could he have a good life in the south? He would be despised to death by a group of vassal kings.
Who knows how he would be called a tyrant in history.
If you don't have to go to the south, no one wants to go.
But it has only been a short time, and the barbarian army is almost reaching the capital, only a few hundred miles away.
Emperor Wu immediately convened a court meeting.
The entire court was in chaos.
Emperor Wu asked, "Who has a good plan to repel the enemy?"
Everyone was dumbfounded by this question, because the ones coming were 100,000 elite barbarians, and the barbarians themselves advertised their presence as 100,000.
After all their efforts, there were only 40,000 soldiers left in the capital.
Of course, Emperor Wu also has 20,000 royal guards, who are even equipped with the best weapons and equipment, and their winter clothes are the first to be distributed.
Those are the Emperor Wu's life-saving guards. How could he be willing to fight to the death with the 100,000 troops following him?
As soon as the good strategy of repelling the enemy was mentioned, everyone fell silent.
The Martial Emperor glanced around and frowned, "Aren't you usually very talkative?"
"Why don't you say anything at this time?"
"Could it be that you feel that you are incompetent?"
Who dares to get involved in this? No one has any idea.
But the second prince gave these talkers a slight look.
Someone immediately stepped forward and saluted, "Your Majesty, the barbarians have now conquered the defenses of Hushan Pass, and their army is heading straight for the capital. This clearly means that the Sixth Prince is holding on to Hushan Pass at a disadvantage."
"I suggest that the Sixth Prince be immediately dismissed from his position as commander of Hushan Pass and be brought back to the capital."
"That's right." Someone else stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince was unable to resist, causing disaster to the entire capital. This is a serious crime and he should be severely punished."
A group of people were clamoring that the Sixth Prince must be severely punished.
The other ministers were speechless. What the hell time is it now? Why are you punishing the Sixth Prince so severely?
Is your brain full of shit?
But these people with big mouths don't care about that. They just say what they need to say.
Anyway, it was the Sixth Prince’s ineffective resistance that allowed the barbarians to break through the Hushan Pass defense line, and the army was already heading straight for the capital.
At this time, it would be unreasonable for you, the Sixth Prince, not to be unlucky, right?
Emperor Wu's face was gloomy, his hands clenched tightly, and he asked in a cold tone: "Prime Minister, what do you think?"
The Prime Minister is also speechless. What do I think?
At this point, how can I watch it?
He had no choice but to stand up and bow, saying, "Your Majesty, I think the most important thing right now is to quickly defend the capital."
"The barbarian troops rushing over from Hongfeng County are only a small group. The tens of thousands of troops in the capital can still resist them. Then we can quickly transfer some troops from Hushan Pass to the south to repel them."
The Prime Minister had just finished speaking.
Immediately, the mouth cannons accused: "Prime Minister, how could you do this? Does that mean the culprit, the Sixth Prince, is innocent?"
The Prime Minister was too lazy to pay attention to these empty talkers. They were nominally upright people, and apart from being good at talking, they actually had no effect in the court.
The Prime Minister also had his own followers, and someone immediately stood up and said, "The Sixth Prince's crimes are not something we should talk about now."
"What's important now is the defense of the capital. Do you want to leave the capital undefended and allow the barbarian army to break through?"
One of the mouthpieces immediately said, "Defending the capital is certainly important, but punishing the Sixth Prince won't affect the defense of the capital."
The vanguards also accused: "The Sixth Prince is at Hushan Pass commanding the army to resist the barbarians."
"If the Sixth Prince is captured now, who will command the defense of Hushan Pass? Will you go?"
"If Hushan Pass is breached again, the 400,000 barbarian troops will march straight in. By then, the capital and the entire Dawu Kingdom will be gone."
Both sides insisted on their own opinions and refused to give in.
Emperor Wu slammed the table and said angrily, "That's enough, stop talking nonsense."
The whole audience finally quieted down.
The old emperor looked at the group of veteran generals and nobles and asked, "Who among you is willing to go to Hushan Pass to replace Lao Liu?"
When asked this question, a group of people immediately shook their heads.
Each of them bowed and said: "Your Majesty, we are incompetent."
What a joke! They have all heard about the current situation at Hushan Pass.
The Sixth Prince stubbornly held out at Hushan Pass, and it is said that he suffered heavy casualties. Now the army is in disarray, and they have recruited prisoners, trained them again, and sent them to the battlefield not long after.
Moreover, a considerable portion of the money and grain was intercepted by the old emperor and sent to the southern camp.
What's more, it was said that winter clothes were not fully prepared, and many soldiers fought against the barbarians in thin clothes.
Hongfeng County was captured because the soldiers had no winter clothes and were full of wounded soldiers.
Moreover, the barbarian troops have now entered the interior and are heading towards the capital.
If we want to repel these detachments, we must mobilize the troops from Hushan Pass.
This was simply adding insult to injury for Hushan Pass, which already had few main force troops.
This hot potato is a complete mess, who would dare to take it?
Whoever receives the order will die. At that time, he will be the greatest sinner of the Great Wu Kingdom, and even the confiscation of property and extermination of the clan will be the least of his punishment.
When Emperor Wu asked this, none of them went.
The old emperor knew very well that these old guys were all very smart and would be happy to fight a simple battle.
Some dukes are even too lazy to go to simple battles. They have already become dukes. If they go up one level, can they be crowned kings?
The old emperor looked into the crowd again, watching the second prince in the fun.
He was very angry now. They were a bunch of big talkers who couldn't give any advice and were just talking nonsense.
But according to the rules of the court, the old emperor's face must be maintained.
"Second brother, are you going to Hushan Pass to replace the sixth brother?"
When the old emperor asked this, everyone looked at the second prince in the crowd.
The second prince was just watching the fun just now. He was hoping that the sixth prince would be caught.
Then he will be thrown into prison, given a good beating, and never come out again. Then he will have a chance to make a new start.
But now the old emperor suddenly asked this question.
The Second Prince was stunned by the crowd for a moment before he immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Father, I, your son, don't understand military affairs. If I were to go, I wouldn't ruin your plans."