Chapter 859: Serving the Country and Serving the Beloved

Shenjing, Hongde Gate.

On the street in the afternoon, the sun was harmonious, and pedestrians were coming and going, like a shuttle, like a weave, with a casual attitude, and many were leisurely.

The sudden sound of horse hooves, the impatient scolding of the knights, the eye-catching border army uniforms, and the cold standard steel knives made pedestrians panic and dodge.

The galloping warhorses were like ice-breaking sturdy ships, forcefully plowing open the flow of people, and galloping north along the vacated passage.

Jia Cong looked into the distance, his expression a bit solemn. The previous urgent military report sent to the middle palace was delivered by the Liaodong Town border army, bringing the heaven-piercing news that the Remnant Mongols had occupied the military grain depots.

He didn't know where the three fast riders just now came from, and it was also an eight-hundred-mile urgent report.

The horses were heading north of the city. The Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions were located in the north of the city, and further north was the Da Zhou Imperial Palace.

In short, the border army sending urgent military reports at this time would definitely not be a good thing.

A few days ago, Jia Cong deduced the military situation in the north at the Court of Judicial Review, thinking that after Anda Khan occupied the military grain depots, he would definitely have other movements.

Going north can cut off the retreat of Xuanfu and Jizhou towns, and take the opportunity to attack and capture them.

Going south can take advantage of the convenience of the grain route, with fast horses and elite cavalry, day and night, straight to Shenjing."

What he said at the time was definitely not spoken casually. Anda Khan dared to do the surprise attack on the military grain depots, and he was already prepared to gamble everything.

What Jia Cong deduced was the common sense of Anda Khan's troop strategy.

Now that the border army is sending urgent reports to the capital again, if it is the latest military report of the Remnant Mongols, the situation will be more difficult to clean up.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong's mood was unusually heavy. He originally wanted to return to the workshop outside the city before sunset to supervise and sort out the construction affairs.

But now he changed his mind and returned to the mansion first, because staying in the city, he could receive war news faster.

He asked Jiang Liu to change direction and return to the Earl's Mansion first, but the carriage had only gone halfway when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves again.

This time, the three fast horses passing by were still in the military uniforms of the army, but they were not the border army uniforms, but the fast horse scouts of the Five Military Commissions.

The knights still had three-colored small flags inserted on their backs, carrying letter report leather bags, still in the posture of hundred-mile urgent reports, and the sound of horse hooves was as fast as thunder, causing another commotion on the street.

The direction of the three horse teams galloping was still heading north of the city. It is thought that the places passed by this horse team must be on the same road as the previous wave of border army horse teams.

Jia Cong saw pedestrians on the street, occasionally showing expressions of horror, and many people were already talking about it.

A few days ago, the military grain depots in the north were occupied by the Remnant Mongols. After the news was announced at the early morning court, it had already spread in the market, and the people of Shenjing knew it well.

At this time, two waves of military report fast horses entered the capital, which had already caused a commotion in the streets and alleys, and I am afraid the disturbance would spread quickly...

Jia Cong's worries increased. Several waves of military reports entered the capital in one day. He had almost concluded that the military situation in the north must have had another major incident.

After returning to the inner courtyard, he went to his own courtyard. Along the way, he saw lush trees, magnificent pavilions, and a belt of clear water, winding from the depths of flowers and trees, pouring down the stone crevices.

The scenery was quiet, and the interest was natural. Jia Cong had no heart to appreciate it.

Passing by a stone bridge, he saw Daiyu with Zijian, walking on that bridge.

Wearing a light blue embroidered plum blossom jacket, a white cross-collar inner garment, a light yellow pleated skirt, and a large red feather-faced white fox-lined crane cloak.

Her jade face was beautiful, her clouds were dyed with ink, she wore a blue treasure phoenix hairpin on her bun, and her style was graceful, like a fairy.

She saw Jia Cong from afar, her expression was suddenly pleasantly surprised, she waved to him from afar, just called "Third Brother," and walked quickly across the bridge to meet Jia Cong.

When she walked close, Jia Cong asked: "Sister, where did you come from and where are you going?"

Daiyu smiled and said: "I was reading music scores in the room after lunch, and I was a bit tired, so I was going to talk in Second Sister's room.

Why did Third Brother return to the mansion so early? You said yesterday that you were going to Xuantian Palace to pay homage. Although it is calculated that it doesn't take a day.

But you often say that there are major events in the court and the government affairs are busy these days. I thought you would return to the government office first when you went down the mountain. Why did you return to the mansion before sunset?"

Seeing that Daiyu walked a bit hurriedly, her hair was messy from the wind, Jia Cong subconsciously reached out to pick up the messy hair and gently tucked it behind her ear.

The two were a bit closer, smelling the refreshing and intoxicating body fragrance of Daiyu, her skin was as white as snow, containing a blush, her hair was like clouds, black and soft, revealing an unusually moving look.

His fingers touched her smooth and silky earlobe, which aroused an indescribable beauty. The jade pendant inlaid with pearls swayed slightly, flashing light in the sun.

Seeing Jia Cong a bit forgetful, his behavior was too intimate, Zijian's pretty face turned red, and she subconsciously turned to the side.

Daiyu's eyes were full of light, and she smiled at Jia Cong, but she was not shy, just looked left and right.

She tidied up her hair and scolded: "Third Brother is too presumptuous, why are you moving your hands? Be careful of being seen by others and being treated as a big deal."

Seeing Daiyu's beautiful posture, with a unique prettiness and cuteness, Jia Cong's worries and suppression dissipated by more than half.

He smiled and said: "If you are seen, you are seen. Whoever treats it as a big deal, let him go and say it. To save others from thinking about it, I am not afraid."

Daiyu understood the meaning of his words, revealing dissatisfaction and domineering, which she actually quite enjoyed.

She hummed, and said: "You are being unreasonable for no reason. I won't mess with you."

……

Although Daiyu's tone was scolding, she didn't take Jia Cong's teasing to heart, and instead asked: "Why did Third Brother return to the mansion so early?"

Jia Cong sighed: "Originally, I was going to return to the workshop. Just after entering Hongde Gate, I encountered several waves of fast horse military reports. The situation was very wrong, and there must be another accident in the northern military situation."

Daiyu frowned and said: "Isn't it said that the Mongols robbed the military grain depots and got a lot of grain to spend the winter? Why are they still unsatisfied and making trouble during the New Year?"

Jia Cong said: "They are not just for grain. This time there is a big move. If I guess correctly, they must be raising troops to go south, and the imperial court is going to fight a big war."

Daiyu was originally a daughter of a boudoir, so how could she care about military affairs? She only paid more attention to it because she was influenced by Jia Cong.

Hearing that there was going to be a big war and seeing Jia Cong's worried expression, her heart went up and down, as if she had no place to land.

She frowned and said in a deep voice: "Third Brother once led troops at the Nine Frontiers. Now that the Mongol Tatars are invading, as Sister Yun said, will Third Brother also go on an expedition?"

Seeing her worried expression, Jia Cong took her small hand, soft as silk, as if without bones, but it was refreshing and cold, looking very helpless.

He felt a little distressed and led her to sit in the wind-sheltered veranda. He said: "The Emperor values the power of firearms. If the Mongols brazenly go south, I will mostly follow the army on an expedition.

The Emperor treats me quite generously. In these years, he has not been stingy with official titles. The so-called raising troops for a thousand days, the country has a war, and bearing the military merit, it is incumbent, which is the right reason.

Sister, don't worry. I am not a big-headed soldier, and it is not my turn to charge into the battle. Now the firearms of Da Zhou are flourishing, unlike the past when everything was fought with knives and guns...

Da Zhou's four seas are peaceful, only the Remnant Mongols outside the pass are the main trouble, and a war is inevitable sooner or later. If the war can be won and their roots cut off, there will be more peaceful days in the future.

Didn't Uncle write to mention that after you pass the age of fifteen, you will return to the south to visit relatives? After the war subsides, I can accompany you to return to the south, and we will have a good stroll."

Daiyu was teased by him and smiled, saying: "You are the best at coaxing people. I don't believe you easily. Since you have said it twice, you are not allowed to go back on your word, otherwise I won't follow."

Jia Cong smiled slightly: "When have I ever lied to you? I will definitely keep my word."

He said something uncontrollably, reaching out to hold the girl's slender waist. Daiyu's pretty face was pink, and she pinched his palm, and hit him again.

Looking left and right, Zijian was gone, not knowing where she went to stroll.

She scolded: "Third Brother, where are you putting your hands? It must be Ping'er and the others who have spoiled you, and you are becoming more and more dishonest..."

……

Shenjing, Ministry of War.

Minister Gu Yankui's government office has been busy these few days, with officials from the ministry entering and leaving frequently, and officials from the Five Military Commissions and the Ministry of Revenue often coming to connect official business.

Since the urgent Liaodong military report was sent to Shenjing, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao supported various response strategies, which had been implemented and issued one by one.

The military power of the Five Military Commissions had long been lost, and now they only bear the responsibility of military grain transport. The essential tasks of responding to the war with the Remnant Mongols are almost all handled by the Ministry of War.

Within these few days, the Ministry of War followed Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's imperial decree, and the preliminary mobilization of troops had been completed. 40,000 guard troops were mobilized from the four surrounding prefectures, and 20,000 were mobilized from the Five Military Battalions.

60,000 elites gathered in the northern suburbs of Shenjing and had been sent to Dezhou and Tongzhou north of Shenjing to strengthen northern defense.

The defense of the capital was also strengthened. The nine gates of Shenjing strengthened vigilance, and 40,000 elite Five Military Battalions were dispatched to strictly guard to prevent accidents.

The mobilization of the army consumed a huge amount of grain and fodder. The Ministry of Revenue's government office was brightly lit all night, and the transport of grain routes in various places was endless.

Not only to cope with the gathering of troops around Shenjing, but also to transport grain and fodder to the nine major frontier towns, to quickly alleviate the pressure of grain shortages caused to each town by the capture of the military grain depots.

Gu Yankui is an old minister of sixty years old. He has been in the Ministry of War for many years and has never been as busy as he is now.

He has been working day and night for several days, eating and sleeping in the government office, and has not returned to the mansion for many days.

These days, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao summoned him into the palace every day to discuss major events with the heads of various ministries, the most important of which was the decision of the Regional Commander for the war against the Mongols.

When the military grain depot was captured and announced at the early morning court, the civil and military officials were filled with righteous indignation, and many veteran generals in the court requested to fight.

Among them, those who requested to lead the army were not a few, including Prince Zhao Li Zhongmao, Duke of Qi Chen Yi, and Minister of War Gu Yankui. ===== CHAPTER 860 =====

He had been up all night for several days, eating and sleeping in the office every day, and had not returned to the prefecture for many days.

For the past few days, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had summoned him into the palace every day to discuss major affairs with the heads of various ministries. The most important matter among them was the decision on the Regional Commander for the war against the Mongols.

The news of the military depot being captured was announced at the morning court that day, and the civil and military officials were filled with righteous indignation, with many veteran generals in the court requesting to fight.

Among those who requested to lead the army, there were quite a few, including Prince Zhao Li Zhongmao, Duke of Qi Chen Yi, and Minister of War Gu Yankui, all of whom were prominently listed.