The atmosphere in the palace was particularly tense. Although Tong Guan tried his best to conceal the news, the news of the defeat of the Western Front Army was secretly written to Cai Jing by officials from Jingzhao Prefecture, and the top officials of the entire court knew about it.

Li Yan, the general manager of the Great Inner, would not hide it for Tong Guan, and immediately told the emperor Zhao Ji about the unfortunate news. Zhao Ji was extremely angry and was furious in the palace for two consecutive days, smashing countless dishes and tea cups. The palace maids and eunuchs were so scared that they rarely saw the emperor who always whispered lightly.

At dusk, more than a dozen eunuchs rushed out of the inner palace and ran to inform the important officials that the emperor was going to convene military and political discussions.

In fact, almost all the important officials did not go home. They knew that there would be an emergency meeting tonight. Soon, more than a dozen important officials rushed from various government offices.

Cai Jing sat in a sedan chair and went to Yanfu Palace. The sedan chair developed from the carriage from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The carriage frame was surrounded by fences and ceilings, and there was no fear of wind and rain. It was also available. It was extremely popular in the Song Dynasty. It can be seen everywhere in the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival". Even ordinary families can use it. However, the sedan chair is mainly for female family members, and men usually ride horses or donkeys.

Horse racing is not allowed in the palace, but many ministers are old and have difficulty walking, so the sedan chair has become a very practical tool for passing through the palace.

"Please stay with Mr. Cai!"

At this time, Cai Jing heard someone calling him behind him, as if he was the Grand Marshal Gao Qiu, and he immediately ordered: "Stop the sedan chair!"

The sedan chair stopped, Cai Jing walked out of the sedan chair, and Gao Qiu was panting and caught up from behind.

"I'm already late, I didn't expect that Taiwei Gao was even later than me." Cai Jing said with a smile.

Gao Qiu rushed forward, took a breath and said, "It happened that something urgent has been delayed."

Gao Qiu and Cai Jing walked side by side, and Gao Qiu carefully tentatively said: "It seems that the rumors of the defeat in the Western Expedition are true!"

"Why!"

Cai Jing sighed softly, "It's really unexpected and hard to accept."

Gao Qiu looked at both sides and lowered his voice, "Don't you think this is a good thing?"

Cai Jing said lightly: "It depends on who understands it. It may be a good thing for Xixia, but it is extremely unfortunate for our Song Dynasty. Did the Taiwei say it?"

Gao Qiu cursed in his heart, immediately changed his tone, and whined: "That's! That's! It's so angry that the casualties are so heavy."

"Let's go on a sedan chair! Don't let the official wait for a long time."

Cai Jing was obviously unintentional and Gao Qiu said more, so Gao Qiu had to return to his sedan chair. The two of them got into the sedan chair. The guards carried them quickly towards Yanfu Palace.

In the Liangyi Hall of Yanfu Palace, Cai Jing unexpectedly found that the prince Zhao Huan was there. Although the prince also participated in various ritual dynasties, it seemed that this was the first time the prince attended the event, which made Cai Jing feel a little abnormal.

"The emperor is here!"

Cai Jing had no time to think carefully, and only heard the guards shouting. Everyone stood up one after another. Surrounded by a group of palace maids, Zhao Ji walked into the hall with a blue face. More than a dozen important officials bowed together, "See Your Majesty!"

"No gift!"

Zhao Ji waved his hand, and he sat down on the dragon throne, trying hard to calm his anger, and then slowly said: "I believe everyone knows why I have summoned you to discuss. Today, I have received Tong Guan's express report that the Western Expedition encountered a major setback, that is, I admit that the rumors are true. The Western Front Army has been completely destroyed, and now the Eastern Front Army is still struggling to support it in Shizhou. Let me tell you, what should we do now?"

Everyone looked at Cai Jing together. He was the leader of all officials. Of course, he should have made his statement first, but Zhao Ji looked at the crown prince Zhao Huan, "Crown Prince, let's talk first!"

Zhao Huan is only 20 years old this year, with a medium figure, fair skin, and gentle appearance. He was quite active a few years ago. In addition, he loved hunting and often went out to the city to hunt with some powerful children. However, since his father asked his third brother Zhao Kai to go to Suzhou to investigate Zhu Xie, Zhao Huan suddenly became mature and never hang out with the powerful children again. He lived in simplicity all day long, and ministers rarely saw him.

Zhao Huan walked out of the line and bowed deeply: "Father, my son also knows that military law is like a mountain. If you lose, you will be punished. If you win, you will be rewarded. The way to be a general is to be a general. No matter how many reasons Tong Taiwei has, he has explained it with all his explanations, it is ironic that he has sent a hundred thousand troops and countless money, grain and supplies to him. Therefore, my son suggested that he immediately revoke his position as a military commander and order him to return to Beijing for inquiries."

Zhao Ji nodded. It seemed that his son said something to his heart, but he did not draw a conclusion immediately. Then he glanced at Cai Jing, "Where is Cai Xiangguo's opinion?"

Cai Jing had already made a fuss. He walked out to salute the emperor and the prince, and said calmly: "Although Taiwei Tong's defeat in the Western Front should be held accountable, the old minister believes that now is not the time to hold him accountable. After all, the war to conquer the Western Xia has not yet ended, and the Eastern Front is still fighting fiercely. If the Eastern Front can perform its courage as before, and win consecutive battles, it may also be able to reverse the entire situation. Then as the head coach, this is a merit rather than a past."

No one expected that Cai Jing would excuse his lord Tong Guan for his mortal enemy. This surprised everyone. Everyone thought he would take the opportunity to defeat Tong Guan, but unexpectedly he was pleading for Tong Guan. Everyone looked at each other and couldn't figure out how Cai Jing was ruthless at the critical moment.

Zhao Huan was really dissatisfied and immediately questioned Cai Jing, "Cai Xiangguo, his command was helpless, which led to the destruction of a hundred thousand troops, nearly one million stones of grain, hundreds of thousands of armor and countless siege weapons being taken away by the enemy. Who should bear this responsibility? Taking a step back, even if there is a special reason, it will lead to failure. What is the special reason? Should the court ask clearly? As for the fact that his entry into Beijing will affect the Eastern Front, it is even more nonsense. The command of the Eastern Front is fully responsible for the command of the Eastern Front. What does Zhong Shidao have to do with Taiwei Tong?"

Zhao Huan's series of loud questions made Cai Jing unable to speak for a while. He had to smile reluctantly and said: "No matter whether Taiwei Tong actually commanded the Eastern Front or not, he was undoubtedly the commander of this Western Expedition. The old minister did not want to excuse him, but just felt that he should wait a moment to see if the Eastern Front could reverse the situation."

Zhao Huan snorted, "Cai Xiangguo thinks the situation can be reversed?"

"It's hard to say that Xixia has not been able to break the city in nearly half a month when it attacked Shizhou. If we continue to increase troops to the eastern front, let Taiwei Tong make meritorious service and lead his army to support the eastern front, the situation may be reversed."

"He supports the Eastern Front, which will only wipe out the Eastern Front!"

"Enough, don't fight anymore!"

Zhao Ji interrupted the two of them impatiently. In fact, he had a plan and just wanted everyone to discuss it. But now he no longer had the patience to continue the discussion, so he ordered coldly: "Taiwei Tong is indeed not suitable to station in Jingzhao for a long time. He must return to Beijing to report his duties immediately. Shaanxi Road was defeated and the border defense was weak. Liu Yanqing could be appointed as Shaanxi Road defense envoy, and he could quickly lead 50,000 troops to the Songxia border for defense. In addition, he transferred 100,000 imperial troops to Hedong to support the battlefield on the eastern front and handed over to the Zhong Shizhong to control the required supplies, grain and grass, and the required transportation of the civilians will be handled by Hedong Road. I have decided and I will implement it immediately!"

Only then did everyone realize that the emperor had already decided, so they bowed together and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhao Ji shook his sleeves and left. The ministers then retreated from the court in groups of three or three. Cai Jing slowly walked to the prince Zhao Huan, and smiled and said, "Your Highness the Prince can see through the situation, and the old minister is ashamed of himself."

Because Zhao Huan had his third brother Zhao Kai threatened his position, he could not really turn against Cai Jing, so he smiled and said, "I deeply admired the situation that Mr. Cai abandoned his personal grudges and put the overall situation first. It seems that the court still needs Mr. Cai to understand the overall situation like this at critical moments and be a senior minister who knows the overall situation can be taken charge!"

Zhao Huan was also hinting that Cai Jing that as long as he supports him, he would need an old minister like him to take charge in the future. Of course, Cai Jing is already in his seventies, and whether he can wait until Zhao Huan ascends the throne is one thing, and Zhao Huan expresses his opinion to win over is another thing.

Cai Jing narrowed his eyes with a smile, "Young Prince, wise, is my blessing in the Song Dynasty!"

It was already dark when Liang Shicheng left the palace, but Wang Fu was waiting for him by the gate of the palace. When he saw Liang Shicheng coming out, he smiled from afar and said, "Tao Fu, let's go back together!"

The two of them are neighbors, and Wang Fu’s house is next to Liang Shicheng. Liang Shicheng was in a little heavy mood at this time, so he nodded, "Wang Zhongcheng, please get in the car!"

Wang Fu got on the carriage and waited for the carriage to leave the imperial city. He could no longer help and whispered: "It's really strange. How could Cai Jing speak for Taiwei Tong today?"

Liang Shicheng snorted coldly, "Has the rabbit died and the dog cooked, Wang Zhongcheng heard of it?"

Wang Fu was stunned, "Can Tong Guan be severely punished, and Cai Jing will be implicated?"

"Of course, the government can maintain the balance of power in the court because of their fierce fighting. If Tong Guan is demoted, the power of the court will be unbalanced, and Cai Jing's prime minister can no longer be preserved. Cai Jing is cunning, how could he not understand the benefits and harms? So he must keep Tong Guan, so he can sit firmly as the position of Prime Minister!"

Wang Fu nodded silently, Jiang was still so spicy that he could see through it than himself.

He asked again: "Why did the official let Liu Yanqing go to Shaanxi Road? I thought it was for Tan Zhen to go."

"Of course Tan Zhen wants to go. He is going as a military supervisor. Tong Guan may not be able to escape this time."

“Is it that serious?”

Liang Shicheng nodded, "The official family is determined to leave his position in the Taimiao. He spent nearly two years preparing for this northern expedition to Xixia, at all costs, but now his ambition has been completely destroyed by Tong Guan. You can imagine the anger of the official family towards Tong Guan. Tong Guan was demoted to the foregone conclusion. As for whether Cai Jing can keep his position, I don't know very well. Wang Zhongcheng, if Cai Jing's position is not guaranteed, your chance will come."

The reason why Liang Shicheng asked Wang Fu to get on his carriage for the first time was that he understood Zhao Ji's thoughts better than anyone else.

Wang Fu's eyes lit up and he asked carefully: "What should I do if I am a humble official?"

"Hasn't Wang Zhongcheng done it?"

Liang Shicheng said lightly: "You got on my carriage in front of the palace. Do you think the government will know?"

Wang Fu then suddenly realized that if Tong Guan was demoted, Cai Jing was demoted, Gao Qiu and Tan Zhen of Li Yan's faction controlled the army, the government would never allow a faction to dominate, and the new prime minister must have come from the Liang Shicheng faction.

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Chapter completed!