His three sons had already returned to the Zhou Dynasty. It was only natural for Li Jing to surrender later.
Zhang Guifang was defeated in West Qi. It was fine if he died, but he had even dragged hundreds of thousands of Shang Dynasty troops to suffer. He really deserved the title of being destined to be on the God roll — the Jinx.
The Azure Dragon Pass had lost many soldiers and generals, and they no longer had the power to conquer the west. After the news spread to West Qi, Grand Tutor Wen was furious … and smashed another desk.
"Ji Li!"
"I'm here!"
"Go and investigate the matter of Zhang Guifang's defeat. Order the five passes to be wary of the rebels' counterattack! Find out all the soldiers and generals in Xiqi before you come back! "
Although Wen Zhong was angry, he was exceptionally calm. He sent his disciples to West Qi to investigate. He did not directly question anyone or do anything.
Recently, he had suffered repeated setbacks in the war against West Qi. There were naturally changes that he could not control.
Wen Zhong was not an ordinary person. He had thought a lot and considered carefully. If West Qi really had the help of an expert, he might have to invite a few experts …
"How are the four Daoists? Why is there no news? Could it be that they left the army halfway and suffered such a crushing defeat? "
Wen Zhong hurriedly made a divination. When he saw the results of the divination, he looked sad and shocked.
"It's a pity that my four fellow Daoists have become loyal subordinates of Qi Mountain!" Wen Zhong looked sorrowful as he raised his head and shouted, "I can't rest easy if I don't kill that brat Ji Fa! Someone! Gather all the generals in the front hall to discuss! "
"Yes!" The messenger guard left in a hurry.
What made Wen Zhong even more surprised was that the news of Zhang Guifang's death in battle and the four immortals who had once caused a stir in Chaoge City had also died in Xi Qi had spread throughout Chaoge City almost overnight. The people in the city discussed it in private. They all said that Emperor Xin was cruel and heartless. Therefore, Heaven's Will belonged to Xi Qi and no one could stop it.
When Di Xin heard the palace servant report this matter, he felt a little anxious. He got up from the beauty's bed and summoned the Grand Tutor that night.
Daji pretended to sleep. What Di Xin could not see was her complicated expression.
On that devastatingly beautiful face, there seemed to be a hint of … self-blame?
In the side hall, Di Xin and Wen Zhong met. Di Xin pulled Wen Zhong to sit on the steps in front of the throne and asked about the battle in Xiqi.
Wen Zhong saw that Di Xin's face was a little haggard and his eyes were filled with frustration. He forced a smile.
"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. I misjudged her and thought that Zhang Guifang had made a name for herself at a young age. I didn't expect her to be so useless. "
However, he did not even mention the matter of the Four Saints of Nine Dragons Island.
Di Xin frowned and said, "Grand Preceptor, you don't have to blame yourself. Chaoge City is thousands of kilometers away from Azure Dragon Pass. The Grand Preceptor has been fighting for me for years. It's understandable that you don't know Zhang Guifang's true appearance."
Grand Tutor Wen could only smile bitterly in his heart. He looked at Di Xin and sighed. "Your Majesty, I know that you want to implement a new policy and try to weaken the authority of the various vassals. But if the new policy is supplemented by torture, it will really be the root of chaos. "
"Didn't I agree to the Grand Preceptor's advice?"
Grand Tutor Wen hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty agreed to Daji, Fei Hun, and You Hun …"
"Ah, this matter is all slandered by those traitors in the court. I was too anxious previously. It has nothing to do with them."
Di Xin's gaze did not meet Grand Tutor Wen's. Perhaps it was because he could not hide anything in front of the teacher who had taught him since he was young.
Grand Tutor Wen suddenly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I want to order someone to attack the West again. However, because of the previous defeat, I feel uneasy. I feel that I've let you down. I wonder if Fei Zhong and You Hun can be the supervisor?"
"Of course." Di Xin seemed to agree without thinking. He immediately drafted a decree and asked Wen Zhong to bring it back to the Grand Tutor's residence.
In the Grand Tutor's residence, Wen Zhong sat in the study after returning. He did not say a word until Ji Li's voice sounded outside the door.
"Teacher, I've already investigated."
"Come in and report," Wen Zhong shouted and threw the cloth on the table. His smile was a little complicated.
Ji Li was a little puzzled. "Teacher, is this the King's decree?"
"That's right. The King's decree … Heh, the King's decree."
"Teacher, why are you doing this?"
"It's fine." Grand Tutor Wen waved his hand. "Tell me what you've found out."
"Yes." Ji Li immediately reported the previous battle of West Qi to Wen Zhong without missing a single detail.
Prime Minister Yang Jian of Xi Qi, vanguard Nezha, and two more people appeared to help on the day of the battle. They were Nezha's elder brothers, Jinzha and Muzha. The three brothers used their own methods to bury the Four Saints of Nine Dragons Island in Xi Qi and send them to the God roll.
Grand Tutor Wen pondered for a while. "Did Yang Jian attack?"
"I heard that he used a shiny golden whip to kill Daoist Priest Gao Youqian."
"God Striking Whip …" Grand Tutor Wen pondered for a while and looked at the decree on the table. He felt that it was ridiculous.
He had spent so much effort to support the foundation of the Shang Dynasty, but in the end, he was schemed against by the person he was assisting …
"Teacher, what is written in this decree?"
"The King asked Fei Zhong and You Hun to be the supervisors of the army. The next time we send troops to conquer Xi Qi, these two important officials of the court will follow us."
Grand Tutor Wen emphasized the word 'important officials', but his expression was gloomy.
"Aren't those two traitors the traitors that everyone in the court wants to kill? The King's actions are too chilling! "
"What do you know?" Grand Tutor Wen sighed and said, "It's true that Fei Zhong and You Hun are sycophants. They have no talent and are honest villains. However, it is these two villains that make the King feel extremely at ease. Because they are ugly and despicable, the King can order them around at will. "
"These old officials in the court all regard themselves as important officials. Ever since His Majesty was young, they told His Majesty that this cannot be done because it is immoral. That cannot be done because it is not what a wise ruler would do."
"I know His Majesty's personality better than anyone else. How could he not know that torture would cause the world to fear him? However, he is sitting in that position as the current human emperor! The fire that has been suppressed in his heart since he was young has really taken this opportunity to explode … "
Ji Li listened to his teacher's words from the side. His heart was filled with mixed feelings, and he could not help but nod lightly.
"Alright, let's not talk about this. I have been his official for a long time. When he has calmed down, I will naturally return him a stable country."
Grand Tutor Wen pulled himself together and asked Ji Li a few questions. Ji Li answered them one by one.
Before Zhang Guifang's second expedition to the west, Deng Chanyu, the daughter of the Deng family that Wen Zhong had specially transferred to the west, traveled overnight to Green Dragon Pass. She held Wen Zhong's token but was rejected outside the tent.
Ji Li said, "What Zhang Guifang said at that time seemed to be that beautiful women should not be left in the army, lest the soldiers lose the will to fight to the death."
"Useless person," Wen Zhong scolded and asked, "Earlier, you said that this Deng Chanyu only used less than ten thousand old, weak, and crippled soldiers to repel the hundred thousand Zhou Army?"
"That's right. This Deng Chanyu's method is quite brilliant …"
Ji Li recounted the entire process of Deng Chanyu scaring Nezha away. Wen Zhong clapped and laughed. "This woman is really an expert in using troops. When I was young, I was not as good as her! Hahaha! Zhang Guifang died, but I never expected to find such a precious treasure! "
"Does Teacher want Deng Chanyu to take over the position of chief of Green Dragon Pass?"
"No, her qualifications are still too shallow. Let her temporarily take over and reward her after she makes great contributions." Wen Zhong paused and said, "Write this matter in the memorial and send it to the palace tomorrow."
Ji Li lowered his head and agreed. He knew Wen Zhong's intentions for being so careful.
The higher one's position was, the more cautious they had to be. After all, they were accompanied by an emperor who killed officials for fun.
"Then, do you really want those two to do it?"
"Of course, let them do it." Grand Tutor Wen's eyes revealed some killing intent. "Are there any generals in the court who do not do anything?"
At that moment, Ji Li reported a few names. Grand Tutor Wen casually picked a person named Lu Xiong and asked him to go to the Azure Dragon Pass to pack up the troops. With Deng Chanyu as his deputy general, they would attack Xiqi again.
"The two supervisors, Fei Zhong and You Hun, will follow the army at dawn tomorrow."
"Teacher, what if the two supervisors don't leave?"
"Even if you tie them up, you have to drag them out of Chaoge City." Grand Tutor Wen snorted. "Remember, don't let them have the chance to meet the Emperor."
Ji Li smiled and nodded. He went to Lu Xiong's residence to announce the decree that night. He then transferred 100,000 troops from a few important towns along the way and stuffed the general's order into Lu Xiong's hand. Then, he brought a group of soldiers to Fei Zhong and You Hun's respective residences to kidnap them.
The streets where the officials and nobles of Chaoge City gathered were in chaos. Ji Li read Di Xin's decree twice. Without waiting for Fei Zhong and Fei You to say anything, he tied them up, gagged them, stuffed them into the carriage, and reported to the military camp outside the city.
Originally, when the ministers and commoners of Chaoge City heard that Fei Zhong and You Hun had been tied up by Grand Tutor Wen's troops, they celebrated.
However, half a day later, the Shang army set off. The two ministers were tied to horses and moved forward with the army. The news of the two of them being tied up to be supervisors spread throughout Chaoge City.
For a moment, the commoners did not praise him. Most people said that Grand Tutor Wen did not distinguish between loyalty and treachery. A few people who could understand knew that Grand Tutor Wen was using someone else to kill them.
Fei Zhong and You Hun were Di Xin's trusted right-hand men. If he could get rid of them just by saying their crimes in front of Di Xin, why would the ministers who died in the Shang Palace because of this matter die in peace?
Soon, Yang Jian heard about Lu Xiong leading the army to the west. The two ministers, Fei Zhong and You Hun, were supervising the army.
Lu Xiong mobilized the troops from the various towns along the way and walked very slowly.
Fei Zhong and You Hun were also precious. The noon sun was too hot, so they could not travel. They could not wake up too early. If it was too late, the fog would be heavy, and it would be easy for their legs to get sick … In short, they had all sorts of excuses and tried their best to drag Lu Xiong down. They really did not want to go to the battlefield to fight.
They could become ministers just by moving their mouths. Why did they have to fight to the death?
However, the two of them had been kidnapped. They did not have the time to deal with it, nor could they go to the palace to see Di Xin.
If he kidnapped one of them, he could take care of the other. He could plead for mercy in the palace and return halfway.
Unfortunately, the two of them had fallen into the army. Grand Preceptor Wen had even sent Ji Li to monitor them from the side, so they couldn't escape.
"These two buffoons." Yang Jian smiled and placed the jade token on the table. He pondered carefully.
Why did he kill Fei Zhong and You Hun? Wouldn't it be good to keep these two fellows back to continue fighting?
Um …
If that's the case, why don't I …
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