Catching Monsters

Chapter 244: Conferring Xu Xiaogang the title of Duke of the State
The many generals who had been arguing and chattering just now looked at each other and kept silent.

Soon, Xu Xiaogang, wearing black armor, slowly walked through the hall gate, stepped onto the steps, and walked in.

He was wearing black armor, and his eyes no longer had the cynicism they once had, replaced by determination.

He walked with heavy steps, holding a folded flying fish suit in his hands.

After arriving at the center of the hall, Duke Cheng Duan Xing frowned and said in a deep voice, "Xu Xiaogang, what are you doing here? It is a fact that Duke Zhenguo Xu Dingwu has defected to the Northern Hu. How dare you come to the court hall wearing armor?"

Listening to Duan Xing's accusation, Xu Xiaogang looked at Xiao Yuzheng and said loudly: "Your Majesty has not yet sentenced our Duke's Mansion!"

After that, he knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am Xu Xiaogang, the Jinyiwei of the Eastern Pacification Division, and I have come to resign from my position as Jinyiwei."

Xiao Yuzheng had a blank expression on his face. He nodded slightly, motioning for him to continue.

Xu Xiaogang then said loudly: "The Zhenguogong Mansion has always guarded the border on behalf of the Great Zhou. My father is guilty of treason, which is unforgivable, but he cannot represent the attitude of our Zhenguogong Mansion."

"I am the legitimate son of the Duke of Zhenguo. I am willing to go to the border and guard the land of the Great Zhou for your majesty forever."

After saying this, he put the Jinyiwei's Feiyu uniform on the ground, stood up, put his right hand on his chest, and performed a standard military salute of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

After hearing Xu Xiaogang's words, everyone present fell silent, and Duan Xing couldn't help but slightly shook his head.

Xu Dingwu has just surrendered to the enemy and joined the Northern Hu. Can Your Majesty safely hand over the 150,000 troops at Jianchi Pass to Xu Xiaogang?

This guy must be so anxious that he is dizzy.

Even the Duke of Anguo, Tao Anbang, frowned.

It was obvious that the people present were not optimistic and believed that the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion might not even be able to escape this disaster.

Still dreaming of continuing to control the army?
It's just a fool's errand.

Xiao Yuzheng had a blank expression on his face, but he was thinking a lot in his mind, because no one except the Xu family could command the army at Jianchi Pass.

Xiao Yuzheng had tried this many years ago. He asked Xu Dingwu to come back for recuperation and replaced him with a senior official from the Ministry of War to temporarily lead the team.

But soon, the whole army was in chaos, because the main general sent out soon developed many bad habits, withholding military pay, suppressing generals with strong military capabilities, and arbitrarily placing his confidants in important positions in the army.

The entire army was enraged and almost mutinied. It was Xu Dingwu who rushed there overnight and calmed everyone down.

The 150,000-strong army at Jianchi Pass is the most important military force to deal with the Northern Hu.

There is no room for error.

In fact, Xiao Yuzheng had previously thought of letting the Xu family continue to control the situation, but this thought was fleeting.

Xu Dingwu surrendered to the enemy, and the Xu family continued to be in charge of the Jianchi Pass army. Not to mention that the ministers of the court and the public would not agree, even he would worry about whether another general would surrender to the enemy.

After thinking for a long time, Xiao Yuzheng slowly stood up and looked at Xu Xiaogang and said, "Xu Xiaogang, Xu Dingwu has already surrendered to the enemy. He is familiar with the terrain of Jianchi Pass and knows our Great Zhou army very well."

"What's more, his military ability is very impressive. If one day, he leads the Northern Hu troops to invade Jianchi Pass, what will you do?"

Xu Xiaogang's eyes were firm and he said unwaveringly: "If one day, we meet on the battlefield, I will let him know that a good father will have a good son."

"I will behead him for your majesty and send him back to the capital."

"You are just a kid." Duke Anguo Duan Xing stepped forward and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is better for me to go to Jianchi Pass. Although I have never been to the border or led troops, I am familiar with military books."

"I am familiar with all kinds of military strategies. As long as Your Majesty is willing to trust me, I will not let you down."

The other nobles saw this, but they didn't say anything. They all knew that Duan Xing wanted to lead the army at Jianchi Pass...

Most nobles are not qualified to lead such a large army.

Most of those who are qualified already have their own businesses, so there is no need for them to step out and compete.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaogang stared at Duan Xing, as he was the only hope for the survival of the Zhenguo Mansion.

He stepped forward and said, "Duke Anguo, you have never led an army before, and you have only read some military books. How can you lead an army to fight?"

"You've never led any soldiers, have you? You're just an idle young man from the capital." Duan Xing replied.

Xu Xiaogang said in a deep voice: "I am familiar with all the generals of the Jianchi Pass army. They are all my uncles and elders. If I lead them, they will definitely support me. Can it be the same with you?"

"not to mention."

"Do you really think that I, Xu Xiaogang, am a rich and powerful man who only cares about pleasure?"

"I started practicing martial arts at the age of five, and began to read military books at the age of seven. At the age of nine, I asked the old soldiers in the mansion to teach me how to lead troops."

At this moment, the Minister of War Du Huaian stepped forward and interrupted the quarrel between the two. He looked at Xiao Yuzheng and said, "Your Majesty, I want to talk to you."

"Take a break." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng glanced at Du Huaian, then slowly stood up and went to the side hall on the side of the court.

It is also common for the court to take a break. It is not so bad for military generals, but many civil officials are old, and the morning court usually takes at least an hour.

If there are many things to do, even two hours is common.

This side hall is where Xiao Yuzheng rests during breaks.

The side hall was not very big, but it was also magnificent, with several chairs placed inside. After Xiao Yuzheng and Feng Yu sat down, the eunuch waiting inside hurriedly served tea.

Du Huaian, who followed, whispered, "Your Majesty, Duke Anguo must not lead the troops."

"This man works in my military department. I know him very well. He is fine for handling some paperwork and miscellaneous matters on weekdays, but leading troops is quite complicated and cannot be accomplished by just reading a few military books."

"The incident at Jianchi Pass is serious. I may say this harshly, but if there were problems with troops in other places, it would not be a big deal."

"But if something goes wrong with the army at Jianchi Pass, once the Northern Hu break through Jianchi Pass..."

In history, the Northern Hu had broken through Jianchi Pass several times, and the Northern Hu cavalry almost approached the capital city many times.

Xiao Yuzheng took a sip of tea and asked slowly: "In your opinion, who is suitable to go?"

"Xu Xiaogang." Du Huaian said in a deep voice: "Xu Dingwu defected to the enemy. Most of the troops at Jianchi Pass are his trusted subordinates. They must be in a panic at this moment."

"If someone else were to go, not to mention the issue of withholding military pay, at least they would have to place their own trusted aides in many important positions."

"By then, the morale of the army may be unstable..."

"Xu Xiaogang is the most suitable candidate."

Leading troops to fight is not like treating people to a dinner. There are too many factors to consider, and the most crucial one is the recognition of the generals and soldiers under your command.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng closed his eyes and said, "It's a bit difficult. Xu Dingwu surrendered to the enemy, and Xu Xiaogang continued to lead the Jianchi Pass army. Ministers of the court, can you agree?"

Du Huaian took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, please think twice. It doesn't matter what the ministers in the court think. The most urgent task is to stabilize the army at Jianchi Pass."

"Besides..." Du Huaian lowered his voice and whispered in Xiao Yuzheng's ear: "Your Majesty, you should know that the Northern Hu army, food, and supplies are being transported southwards quickly..."

"I'm afraid it won't be long before the Northern Hu start a war."

"At this time, Jianchi Pass must not be in chaos."

Du Huaian had no selfish motives and was considering the matter purely from the perspective of leading the troops. He subconsciously looked at Feng Yu beside Xiao Yuzheng, wanting to ask Eunuch Feng to persuade His Majesty.

But Feng Yu just poured tea and didn't say much about this matter.

Xu Xiaogang, who was standing outside, was also waiting quietly.

Xu Xiaogang was also a little nervous. After all, this was a matter of life and death for the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

Finally, Xiao Yuzheng led Feng Yu and Du Huaian out of the side hall and slowly returned to the dragon throne and sat down.

All the ministers looked towards him.

Xiao Yuzheng closed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, then slowly looked at Xu Xiaogang and asked, "Pass on the order!"

"Xu Dingwu surrendered to the enemy and committed treason. His crime is unforgivable, but the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion has guarded the borders of the Great Zhou for generations and should not be implicated in this."

"Deprive Xu Dingwu of his title of Duke of the State."

"I appoint Xu Xiaogang as the Duke of Zhenguo and the Commander of the Zhenchi Army at Jianchi Pass. Go to Jianchi Pass immediately and command the Zhenchi Army."

After hearing what Xiao Yuzheng said, Xu Xiaogang finally felt relieved. He knelt on the ground and thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Duan Xing's expression changed slightly, and just as he was about to say something else, Du Huaian glared at him, signaling him not to make trouble.

Duan Xing then forced himself to suppress the words in his mouth and could only retreat with a dark face.

Xiao Yuzheng stared at Xu Xiaogang with deep eyes, and said slowly: "Take a short rest, then the Duke of Zhenguo will rush to Jianchi Pass."

After saying that, Xiao Yuzheng turned and left, and Feng Yu shouted loudly: "Dismiss the court!"

After today's court affairs were settled, the capital's Beijing newspaper and other major newspapers also changed their tone.

After Xu Dingwu surrendered to the enemy and committed treason yesterday, countless scholars wrote articles in the Beijing newspapers, cursing Xu Dingwu and the Zhenguo Mansion.

What kind of Northern Hu running dogs are they? The Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion should be arrested immediately and all the people in the mansion should be executed immediately.

But after the matters in the court were settled today, all the papers that had been typeset and ready for sale in the Beijing News were immediately destroyed.

Then let the writers and poets start writing articles again.

On the one hand, of course, it is to praise the loyalty of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion for generations, how the first generation of Zhenguo Duke made great achievements for the Great Zhou, and how the second generation of Zhenguo Duke defeated the Northern Hu, making the Northern Hu defeated and tremble in fear.

Then, today in the court, His Majesty appointed Xu Xiaogang as the new Duke of Zhenguo.

It then introduces how smart and wise Xu Xiaogang is, and how he has shown a talent for leading troops in battle since he was a child.

As for Xu Dingwu? He is a scum of the Zhenguogong Mansion.

At the same time, all the powerful nobles, including dukes and marquises, came to the Duke's Mansion in person to offer congratulations.

Or if the head of the family is not in the capital, the women in the family will rush over as soon as possible.

In an instant, the extremely deserted Duke Zhenguo Mansion was completely deserted, and a long queue formed.

(End of this chapter)