Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 408 The relationship has fallen out!

After being shocked, Li Changzuo reacted quickly and ordered the entire army to return for assistance.

As the trumpets sounded, there was a panic in the Song army camp. The soldiers hurriedly packed their bags, led out their horses, and at the urging of their generals, marched quickly towards Tongzhou.

When Zheng Chaozong learned that Li Changzuo had returned to help, a sneer appeared on his face. He decisively ordered: "The whole army will pursue!"

The Jingsai Army was like a tiger emerging from the mountains, biting the Song Army's tail tightly.

When the Song army reached Wild Boar Valley, there was deathly silence all around, with only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the trees.

Li Changzuo suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart. He was about to order the entire army to be on alert, but it was too late.

In an instant, shouts of killing came from all directions, and Zheng Chaozong's ambush troops emerged like gods descending from the sky.

The defeated Song army soldiers suddenly became chaotic, trampling on each other, and screams were heard everywhere.

Li Changzuo's warhorse was hit by an arrow, and its front hooves were raised high, throwing him heavily out.

Upon seeing this, his personal soldiers desperately rushed forward, using their bodies to block the rain of arrows for him, and hurriedly dragged him out of the chaotic battlefield.

At this time, Li Changzuo's armor was in disarray, his face was covered with dust and blood, and his eyes were full of despair and unwillingness.

Looking at the chaotic battle situation behind him, he knew in his heart that this rescue mission not only failed, but also caused heavy damage to the Song army.

When the defenders of Fangzhou and Huazhou on the east bank of the Yellow River heard the news that Tongzhou had fallen and Li Changzuo had suffered another disastrous defeat, they were terrified and immediately ordered the city gates to be closed and retreated inside the city.

At this point, Wen Yanbo's carefully arranged "star-studded" defense system was easily torn apart like fragile paper.

When the news reached Hezhong Prefecture, Wen Yanbo was sipping tea in his study. When he heard the news, the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a "bang", breaking into pieces.

His face was terribly gloomy, with veins bulging on his forehead. He paced back and forth in the study, muttering to himself, "My lifelong reputation has been completely lost today!"

However, the situation did not stop deteriorating.

After taking Tongzhou, Su Yun quickly reorganized his troops and prepared to march south and head straight for Chang'an.

Zheng Chaozong continued to lead the Jingsai Army to pursue Li Changzuo and expand the results of the battle.

The land of Guanzhong is shrouded in war clouds, and a major battle that will determine the fate of both sides is sweeping in like the haze before a storm.

In Chang'an City, people were in panic and the streets and alleys were filled with a tense atmosphere. Everyone knew that a greater crisis was approaching this ancient city.

Li Changzuo's defeated army poured back into Chang'an like a tide, and the city became increasingly chaotic.

Li Changzuo was covered in dust, with blood and dust mixed together on his armor. He went to pay a visit to Wen Yanbo, surrounded by a group of defeated soldiers.

When Wen Yanbo saw the defeated general Li Changzuo, his face suddenly turned ashen, his eyes seemed to be spitting fire, and in front of all the soldiers, he shouted angrily: "Li Changzuo, in order to defend Ziwu Ridge, you mobilized a large number of troops from Tongzhou, which caused Tongzhou to fall and caused the war situation to take a sharp turn for the worse. According to the military order, you will be dismissed from office from today and await your punishment!"

Li Changzuo fell to the ground with a thud, his face full of despair.

However, when this order was issued, the generals in the army were in an uproar.

A young general stepped forward and shouted, "If it weren't for Minister Wen's forced withdrawal of troops, leaving Tongzhou empty-handed, how could Tongzhou be lost so easily?

How can we let General Li shoulder all the responsibility? "

Everyone echoed the sentiment and was outraged.

The white-haired veteran general Cao Kun was furious. He drew his sword with a swish and pointed it at Wen Yanbo, shouting at the top of his lungs: "My wives and children are all in Guanzhong, but now they are going to be buried with you because of your selfishness! Today, I must demand an explanation!"

Wen Yanbo's blood rushed up, and he spurted out a mouthful of blood with a "wow" sound, and his body was on the verge of falling.

Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers rushed forward to help.

At this moment, the eyes of Wen Yanbo's trusted generals flickered, revealing a hint of something strange.

Wen Yanbo, who noticed something strange, became more and more uneasy.

He forced himself to stay calm and ordered everyone to be quiet, trying to stabilize the situation, but the discontent in the army was like a raging fire that was difficult to extinguish.

That night, the city of Chang'an was dead silent, with only the footsteps of patrolling soldiers echoing in the empty streets.

However, on this seemingly peaceful night, a betrayal quietly took place.

After some secret planning, the two commanders of Yongxing Army decided to lead their troops to join Jingsai Army.

They took their elite troops and quietly opened the city gate under the cover of night, and rushed towards the Jingsai military camp.

The news soon reached Wen Yanbo's ears. He slumped in his chair, his eyes empty, muttering to himself: "It's over, it's all over..."

At this moment, he knew that the situation was completely out of control, the Guanzhong defense line was on the verge of collapse, and Chang'an was in danger.

At the same time, Su Yun and Zheng Chaozong were overjoyed to learn that the two commanders had surrendered.

Su Yun immediately decided to launch a general attack while the Chang'an defenders were in panic.

For a moment, the Jingsai army approached Chang'an like a surging tide, and the shouts of killing shook the earth.

In Chang'an City, the people were terrified, with cries and shouts intertwined.

The soldiers defending the city were in low morale and were at a loss as to what to do in the face of the impending attack.

Wen Yanbo tried to muster his strength and organize a defense, but his former majesty was gone and the soldiers seemed slow and hesitant in carrying out his orders.

……

The atmosphere inside the Bianjing Palace was so solemn that it was suffocating.

Empress Dowager Gao sat back on the phoenix chair. After hearing the news of the defeat in Guanzhong, her face turned pale in an instant.

In order to distance herself from the matter, she angrily denounced in public: "Wen Yanbo, you are old and incompetent, and you have ruined the Song Dynasty!"

The voice echoed in the hall, and the ministers lowered their heads one after another, not daring to make a sound.

Han Zhongyan saw this and immediately stepped out, cupped his hands and suggested: "Empress Dowager, the most urgent thing is to use Zhang Qie.

He is resourceful and will surely turn the tide of the battle.”

Before he could finish his words, Wang Yansou of the Shuo Party hurried out and said in a panic, "Your Majesty, you must not do this!
Su Ni is Zhang Qie's nephew, and he may be suspected of collaborating with the enemy. He should not be trusted!"

There was a sudden buzz of discussion in the court, and the ministers split into two factions, each holding their own opinion and arguing endlessly.

Just as everyone was arguing, Zhao Xu, who usually kept silent, suddenly stood up and said loudly: "I want to lead the expedition myself!"

When these words were spoken, the whole court was shocked.

All the civil and military officials in the court looked at the young emperor again at this time and found that the child from the past had now grown into a handsome young man. Some old officials seemed to see the young Emperor Shenzong in a trance!

Upon hearing what Zhao Xu said, Empress Dowager Gao's face suddenly changed. Zhao Xu's move was naturally intended to take back the power that he held.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to stop him, she saw Zhao Xu's firm eyes that did not allow for any doubt. Empress Dowager Gao suddenly became hesitant.

The Empress Dowager Gao's eyes were as sharp as torches as she scanned the faces of the ministers one by one. She saw that although Lu Dafang, Fan Chunren and other ministers were shocked by Zhao Xu's words about leading the army in person, there was no anger on their faces.

In an instant, her mind became as clear as a mirror. She realized that the party that she had worked so hard to build had never really existed.

There is actually only one party in the court, and that is the literati group.

For this huge group of literati, there is essentially no difference whether the emperor is in power or she is ruling from behind the scenes, because the operation of the regime always depends on their assistance and support.

Thinking of this, although Empress Dowager Gao felt a little unwilling, she had to face reality.

When Empress Dowager Gao thought of Han Qi's past with Empress Dowager Cao, she couldn't help feeling complicated.

When Renzong passed away, Yingzong succeeded to the throne. However, Yingzong suddenly became insane at the beginning of his reign and had difficulty governing the country. Empress Dowager Cao had no choice but to rule the country from behind the curtain.

At that time, undercurrents were surging in the court, and a rift was growing between Emperor Yingzong and Empress Dowager Cao. Thanks to Han Qi's mediation and persuasion, the relationship between the two palaces was eased.

After Yingzong recovered from his illness, Han Qi used clever and tough means to urge Empress Dowager Cao to withdraw from power and return power to Yingzong, allowing him to take power personally.

Now, a similar scenario seems to be happening again.

She had been ruling the country from behind the scenes for many years, wholeheartedly working to stabilize the Song Dynasty and the Zhao family's rule. But now Zhao Xu wanted to lead the army in person. How could she not understand the deep meaning behind this?

He just wanted to use the opportunity of leading the army in person to completely break free from his control and take back the power that belonged to the emperor.

Empress Dowager Gao thought to herself, after years of painstaking efforts, is it really going to fail at this moment?
She looked up and saw Zhao Xu standing tall in the court, with unquestionable determination in his eyes, which was somewhat similar to the Emperor Shenzong of that year.

The ministers in the court still stood respectfully, but their thoughts were difficult to fathom.

Empress Dowager Gao knew very well that the current situation was no longer the same as before. Although she seemed to be in power, she was actually isolated.

If Zhao Xu were forcibly stopped from leading the army, it would not only be difficult to succeed, but it might also intensify the conflict and make the situation even more out of control.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Gao took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

She forced a smile and said slowly, "Since Your Majesty has such a lofty ambition, I will fully support you. However, the matter of leading the army in person is of great importance and cannot be sloppy in the slightest.

We still need to discuss carefully and make a comprehensive plan to ensure that there are no mistakes. "

Zhao Xu heard this, and although he knew that the Queen Mother Gao's move was just a delaying tactic, he saw that she did not strongly oppose it, and he also achieved his initial goal, so he nodded slightly and said, "The Queen Mother is right, I will definitely act cautiously.

However, the war in Guanzhong is tense now and time is running out. I hope you can come up with a feasible plan as soon as possible."

At this time, Han Zhongyan stepped out again and said, "Your Majesty, I think the most urgent task is to stabilize the situation in Guanzhong.

The matter of Zhang Qie still needs further consideration.

Now we can dispatch other generals to lead elite troops to rush to Chang'an as soon as possible.

At the same time, he sent people to Chang'an to appease the garrison and the people and stabilize the morale of the army and the people."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the court nodded in agreement.

However, Wang Yansou looked worried and said, "Although what Lord Han said makes sense, the situation in Guanzhong is out of control now, and hastily mobilizing troops may not be able to solve the urgent problem.

Moreover, the people in Chang'an are in a panic. If the problem cannot be fundamentally solved, even if reinforcements arrive, it will be difficult to reverse the situation. "

After hearing this, everyone fell silent.

At this time, Zeng Bu, who had been silent, stood up and said, "My Lords, in my opinion, we should mobilize troops to help and try to alienate the enemy.

Although Su Yun and Zheng Chaozong are powerful, they are not a united front.

You can send people to infiltrate the enemy's camp, spread rumors, create conflicts, and cause chaos within the camp.

This may help our army gain a turning point."

Zhao Xu's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said, "Your Excellency Zeng, this is a brilliant plan.

Just as you said, I will send someone to handle it immediately.

At the same time, the mobilization of troops cannot be delayed.

Han Aiqing, please quickly select good generals and elite soldiers and rush to Guanzhong as soon as possible."

Han Zhongyan took the order and withdrew.

Empress Dowager Gao looked at the people busy in the court and felt mixed emotions.

She knew that she was powerless to stop Zhao Xu from personally leading the expedition, nor could she control the development of the situation. Now, she could only hope that this war would have a good outcome, otherwise, the Song Dynasty would be doomed.

In fact, at this point, the regime had a smooth transition. If the court meeting ended in this way, it would have become a good story in future generations.

In other words, it would even be a great blessing for the Song Dynasty.

However, perhaps the Song Dynasty was destined to face a great disaster, and Cheng Yi suddenly stood up.

Cheng Yi, dressed in a Confucian robe and with a stern look on his face, strode out, first bowed to Zhao Xu and Queen Mother Gao, and then said in a voice as loud as a bell: "Your Majesty has come of age, and you should personally take charge of the government.

The Queen Mother has been ruling the country from behind the scenes for a long time. Now the war is getting intense. Only if Your Majesty takes sole power can you make decisions quickly, coordinate all parties, and save the Song Dynasty from danger."

As soon as these words were spoken, the court seemed to be thrown into a deep pool with a huge rock, and a thousand waves were stirred up in an instant.

Zhao Xu's eyes lit up and he subconsciously straightened his back. The desire for power that had been suppressed by Empress Dowager Gao for many years was now stirring like a volcano about to erupt.

Empress Dowager Gao's face suddenly became gloomy, just like the sky before a storm, terrifyingly gloomy.

Originally, she had planned to gradually delegate power to give herself some time to properly deal with the court changes brought about by the new king's accession to the throne.

However, Cheng Yi's urgent proposal, like a sharp blade, ruthlessly disrupted her plan.

Queen Mother Gao's face was gloomy, and her nails almost dug into her palms. Cheng Yi's words were like a sharp dagger, piercing directly into the power defense line she had carefully constructed.

If she returned the power to Zhao Xu all at once as Cheng Yi said, she would immediately fall into a difficult situation of being surrounded by enemies on all sides.

After years of ruling behind the scenes, she has woven an intricate web of power in the court. Many officials have relied on her promotion and protection to gain a foothold in the court.

Once power is delegated, these confidants will abandon her without hesitation for the sake of their own careers and turn to the new power core Zhao Xu.

Take Wang Yansou for example. He is usually respectful and obedient to me, but once the power changes hands, he will most likely take the lead in distancing himself from me in order to maintain his position.

In order to please Zhao Xu, he even exposed his past decision-making mistakes and pushed her to the forefront of public opinion!

During her time in power, she inevitably suppressed some political forces and offended many people.

Once she loses power, these hostile forces will inevitably seize the opportunity to take crazy revenge on her.

Although they did not impeach her in the court, listing her past "crimes" and demanding her punishment, they would not only destroy her reputation but also put her life in danger.

But as the empress dowager who ruled the country from behind the scenes, she enjoyed a luxurious life, with a magnificent palace and palace maids and eunuchs surrounding her.

Once she loses power, her material treatment will be greatly reduced, her palace may be reallocated, the number of servants around her will be greatly reduced, and her life will go from extremely luxurious to simple and deserted. The huge gap will make it difficult for her to adapt.

However, those are still secondary. The most crucial thing is that her reputation after her death may be seriously damaged. Once she is forced to give up power, the newly-empowered Zhao Xu and his supporters may instruct historians to discredit her.

The historians would attribute the crises faced by the Song Dynasty, such as the defeat in the Guanzhong War, to her mistakes in governance, leaving her with a bad reputation in history books as a fool who had brought disaster to the country, and being spurned by future generations!

The more Empress Dowager Gao thought about it, the more horrified she felt. The resentment and anger in her heart surged like a tide.

She looked up at Zhao Xu, and saw that his eyes revealed unprecedented determination and ambition. Some of the ministers in the court looked hesitant, while others were eager to please the new emperor.

Queen Mother Gao suddenly felt horrified. At this moment, she understood that she had to make a decision, otherwise what awaited her would be an abyss of no return!
Just as she was daydreaming, she suddenly heard Wang Yansou loudly retort: ​​"Cheng Yi, what do you mean?
Since the empress dowager took power behind the scenes, she has devoted all her energy to the preservation of the Song Dynasty.

Now that the country is in danger, you are trying to sow discord between the two palaces. What is your intention? "

Han Zhongyan frowned slightly, cupped his hands and said: "Sir Cheng, the war in Guanzhong is extremely urgent right now, and the first priority should be to discuss strategies to defend against the enemy.

The issue of power ownership is of great importance and needs to be carefully considered and not acted rashly. "

After hearing these two ministers whom she relied on speaking for her, Empress Dowager Gao suddenly felt a little more confident.

But Cheng Yi was not moved at all, he took a step forward, his eyes were like torches, and his words became more and more fierce: "My lords, if you don't make a decision, you will suffer the consequences.

Now that the enemy is approaching, the decision-making of the court is delayed due to the obstruction of the Queen Mother.

If Your Majesty is not allowed to take sole power immediately, the Song Dynasty will be in danger!"

Empress Dowager Gao was so angry that her whole body was shaking violently. The wrinkles on her face were twisted with anger, and the veins on her forehead were bulging. Her hands, which were usually well-maintained, were now clenched into fists, with white fingertips.

"Cheng Yi!"

She shouted, her voice sharp enough to cut through the noise in the court.

"You are nothing but a corrupt scholar, yet you dare to speak nonsense here, alienate the relationship between me and your majesty, and disrupt the stability of the court!

During these years of ruling the country from behind the scenes, I have been working day and night, worrying about the Song Dynasty. Which decision was not for the sake of our ancestors, the country, and the people?

Now you are confusing right and wrong and deceiving the Holy Spirit. What is your intention? "

Zhao Xu looked at the furious look of Empress Dowager Gao. Although his desire for power became more intense, he still pretended to appease her on the surface. He stepped forward and said, "Queen Dowager, please calm down. Minister Cheng also cares about the country, but his words were a bit extreme.

The current situation is critical, so we should focus on discussing strategies to defend against the enemy."

In fact, what he said was just a delaying tactic after weighing the pros and cons. Deep down, he strongly agreed with Cheng Yi's proposal and wanted to take over the power of the government immediately.

Cheng Yi knelt on the ground with a plop, but his tone remained firm: "Queen Dowager, Your Majesty! Every word I say is from the bottom of my heart, without any selfish motive.

Now Chang'an is in danger and the people in Guanzhong are in dire straits. Every moment of delay will bring more crisis to the Song Dynasty.

Although the Queen Mother cares about the country, many decisions still need to be discussed at various levels. As a result, countless opportunities for war are lost.

Only when Your Majesty holds the power can you act decisively and quickly mobilize resources from all sides to repel the enemy and save the Song Dynasty from disaster."

Wang Yansou was so angry that his face turned red. He took a big step forward, pointed his spear at Cheng Yi, and roared, "Absurd! If you do what you said and rashly hand over the power of the government to Your Majesty, and if a wrong decision is made and the war situation worsens, can you bear this eternal sin?

The Queen Mother has been in charge of government for many years and is very experienced. Under her leadership, we still have a plan to deal with it. How can you mess up the foundation of the court because of your few slanderous words! "

Zhao Xu looked at Wang Yansou with a somewhat cold look in his eyes.

At this time, the ministers in the court were divided into two factions, and the quarrel became more and more fierce.

Most of the officials who supported Cheng Yi were young and energetic, eager for reform. They believed that Zhao Xu's personal rule was the general trend and only in this way could the Song Dynasty be saved from danger.
Most of those who supported Empress Dowager Gao were old officials in the court. They were used to handling government affairs under the leadership of Empress Dowager Gao and were worried that the change of power would cause turmoil in the court and make the situation even more out of control.

Zhao Xu's eyes swept across everyone's faces, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

He longed for power and wanted to prove himself. Cheng Yi's proposal was like a timely rain, giving him hope of regaining power.

But he also knew that Empress Dowager Gao had been in power at court for many years and had extensive influence. Any rash action might lead to a greater crisis.

But now that Cheng Yi has exposed the matter today, he must move forward bravely and cannot delay any longer!

Zhao Xu took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. His face showed a calmness and determination that was inconsistent with his age.

He took a half step forward, his eyes like torches, slowly scanning the court, his voice low but firm: "My fellow ministers, please stop for a moment.

Although what Cheng Qing said today was a bit abrupt, it also hit the nail on the head.

I am already an adult, and I should take responsibility for my ancestors and the country.

The war in Guanzhong is critical. If I miss the chance to fight because of the uncertainty of power, how can I face my ancestors and the suffering people in Guanzhong!"

When Empress Dowager Gao heard this, her heart skipped a beat and her face turned pale and red.

She stared at Zhao Xu, her lips trembling slightly. She was about to open her mouth to refute, but Zhao Xu did not give her a chance and continued, "Queen Mother, you have been ruling the country behind the curtain for these years, working hard for the Song Dynasty, and I am grateful to you.

But now that the country is in crisis, the only way to break the impasse is to act decisively.

I have made up my mind. I cannot delay the expedition any longer. Once I lead the army to resolve the crisis in Guanzhong, I will discuss state affairs with the Queen Mother in detail. "

These words seemed to save face for Empress Dowager Gao, but in fact they had unilaterally announced his own decision.

After hearing what Zhao Xu said, Cheng Yi's eyes flashed with relief. He kowtowed heavily and said, "Your Majesty is wise! This is a blessing for the Song Dynasty and the people!"

The young officials who supported Cheng Yi echoed his opinion one after another, and for a time, shouts of "Your Majesty is wise" were heard one after another in the court.

Wang Yansou was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He knelt down in front of Empress Dowager Gao and Zhao Xu, crying and saying, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager! You must not do this!

The matter of leading the army in person concerns the safety of Your Majesty. If there is any mistake, the Song Dynasty will be in irreparable ruin.

The Queen Mother has been in charge of government for many years and is very experienced. Under her leadership, we can still find a way to defeat the enemy. Why take the risk? "

Upon seeing this, the old ministers who supported Empress Dowager Gao also knelt down and begged Zhao Xu to revoke his decision.

In the court, the two factions held different views and refused to give in to each other, and the atmosphere was tense.

Empress Dowager Gao suppressed the shock and anger in her heart, stood up with a dignified manner, and looked majestically around the court, saying in a loud voice: "Since Your Majesty has the ambition to personally lead the army to serve the country, I will naturally not stop you.

But personally leading an expedition is no joke. It concerns the life and death of the Song Dynasty and there is no room for error."

She slowed down her tone and her eyes fell on Zhao Xu, “Your Majesty, although you are young and promising, the battlefield is ever-changing and extremely dangerous.

I don't doubt your majesty's ability, but the situation in the court is complicated and the enemy is full of tricks. If you are not careful, you will lose everything."

"For now," Queen Mother Gao continued, her voice steady, "we need to take a long-term view and formulate a comprehensive strategy.

I propose that Your Majesty be appointed as the commander-in-chief to coordinate the overall situation, demonstrate Your Majesty's determination to lead the army in person, and boost the morale of the troops.

I will stay in Bian Jing, dispatching food and fodder for Your Majesty, coordinating with all parties, and ensuring that there are no worries on the front line.

This way, Your Majesty can realize his ambitions and ensure the smooth progress of the expedition."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a lot of discussion in the court.

The young officials who supported Zhao Xu were whispering to each other, with some hesitation on their faces.

The old ministers who supported Empress Dowager Gao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and echoed: "What the Empress Dowager said is very true. This is a win-win solution!"

Wang Yansou looked up at Empress Dowager Gao, his eyes full of admiration, and said loudly: "The Empress Dowager is far-sighted. She can not only allow Your Majesty to lead the army in person to boost morale, but also ensure the stability of the court. It is truly a blessing for the Song Dynasty!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Cheng Yi's face suddenly changed color. He clenched his sleeves tightly, and his knuckles turned white due to the force. Empress Dowager Gao's proposal, which seemed to be the best of both worlds, actually contained a hidden mystery.

On the surface, she agreed to Zhao Xu's personal expedition, and gave him the title of Grand Marshal to boost the morale of the troops;
But in reality, holding the power of food and fodder dispatch and coordination among all parties firmly in one's hands meant that every move on the front line would be controlled by Bian Jing.

The war situation changes rapidly. If there is any delay, the opportunity to fight will be gone in an instant. By then, even if Zhao Xu has full ambitions, he will find it difficult to realize them due to constraints from the rear.

Cheng Yi originally hoped to use the excuse of Zhao Xu's personal expedition to allow him to seize power, break the Empress Dowager Gao's long-term power monopoly, implement his own reform ideas, and save the Song Dynasty from danger.

This move by Empress Dowager Gao almost ruined his plan. His years of hard work and expectations might be turned into nothing. Thinking of this, Cheng Yi's face became even gloomier.

Zhao Xu was equally anxious. Although he was eager to lead the army himself, his original intention was to use this opportunity to break free from the control of Empress Dowager Gao, truly take control of the government, and allocate resources and command battles according to his own wishes.

The plan proposed by Empress Dowager Gao nominally gave him the opportunity to lead the army in person, but secretly restricted his power.

In front-line combat, the timeliness of food and fodder supply and troop deployment is crucial. If one has to ask Bian Jing for instructions on everything, it will inevitably delay the opportunity to fight.

Moreover, Empress Dowager Gao had been in the court for many years, had extensive connections, and controlled logistics. She might have used this to suppress her own confidants and weaken her own power.

If the war was lost, Empress Dowager Gao would be able to put all the blame on herself and further consolidate her position.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu felt uneasy, and a hint of panic flashed in his originally determined eyes.

Moreover, Mr. Su was not someone who could be looked down upon. He asked himself to face Su Yun in person. Zhao Xu became panicked when he thought about it!

Fan Chunren had been silent all this time, just watching the situation develop. Seeing a hint of panic in Zhao Xu's eyes, he immediately shook his head slightly: The emperor is still too young.

(End of this chapter)