General, please be a loyal minister!

Pull the time forward a little.

Yan Huan, who left Bingzhou in a hurry, rushed back to Dongdu day and night. The first thing he did was to enter the palace to see the young emperor, but what greeted him was the closed gate of Weiyang Palace.

Yan Huan wanted to break into Weiyang Palace directly, but the guarding soldiers stopped him.

Yan Huan's face darkened, and he snapped, "You guys are so bold!"

However, these soldiers were unmoved: "Prime Minister, it is His Majesty's order to 'see you without call'."

No matter how arrogant Yan Huan was, he didn't dare to say that he didn't listen to the little emperor. He held back his temper: "Then go and tell Your Majesty that I'm back."

It may be that the movement outside disturbed the inside, the door of Weiyang Palace opened a crack, and a thin eunuch came out.

"Yo! Prime Minister Yan is back?"

Seeing eunuch Yan Huan was a little surprised: "Eunuch Su? Why are you serving in front of the imperial court today?"

Eunuch Su replied: "Eunuch Jiao, he has a cold and will not be on duty for several days."

Yan Huan felt that something was wrong, but his eagerness to see the little emperor prevailed: "I want to see His Majesty, and I hope Eunuch Su will inform you."

Eunuch Su looked around, leaned up to Yan Huan and whispered, "Prime Minister Yan, please come back tomorrow, Your Majesty is just getting annoyed."

Yan Huan asked: "Why is Your Majesty upset?"

Eunuch Su sighed: "What else can you do, money matters, the war is about to start, conscription, food and grass...what don't you want money for?"

Seeing that the palace was still calm, Yan Huan felt a little relieved.So what if the little emperor found out about his embezzlement and bribery, and framed Dou Xiao?As long as the little emperor wants to keep the country, he cannot do without him.

Yan Huan, who left the palace and returned to the mansion, immediately sent someone to invite his confidants to come to discuss.

Not long after, everyone who was called came to Yan Huan's house except Xu Zhongyan and Cheng Ju.

Yan Huan asked, "Where's Cheng Ju?"

"Still dealing with political affairs in the Yamen."

"Where's Xu Zhongyan?"

"The people in Mr. Xu's house said that he is not here."

Although Yan Huan had doubts, he still felt that it was more important to discuss the matter at hand, so he temporarily ignored it.

In Weiyang Palace, the young emperor Yu Xiao heard the report from his subordinates, his face was frighteningly dark: "He really summoned his followers!"

Thinking of Yan Huan's acts of corruption, accepting bribes, forming cliques for personal gains, and cooperating with foreign enemies, Yu Xiao felt hatred from his heart. He felt that he was being used as a puppet by Yan Huan and his henchmen all these years like a fool.

All the benefits have been taken by Yan Huan, and all the notoriety has been carried by him!Thinking of what those foolish people scolded him, Yu Xiao became very angry!

Cheng Ju bowed and exhorted: "Your Majesty, calm down!"

However, the more persuasion at this time, the more counterproductive it became, and Yu Xiao yelled at the case: "Send someone quickly! Send someone to arrest them all!"

That night, Yan Huan and his henchmen were all arrested in Yan Huan's house, and it was Dou Cheng who led the troops to arrest them.

Seeing Dou Cheng Yan Huan was very surprised: "Dou Cheng? This old man has supported you a lot, but you are so ungrateful!"

Dou Cheng mocked: "Ingratitude? What kindness do you have to me? You say you are helping me, but in fact you are using me to split the Dou family. Don't forget, my surname is also Dou. Even if I want to surpass my uncle, I will not accept it." You outsiders!"

Yan Huan felt very ironic in his heart: When accepting his favor, why didn't he say that he disdained his company?

He roared angrily, "I want to see Your Majesty."

Dou Xiao replied coldly: "Your Majesty doesn't want to see you. Take it away!"

Yan Huan's strong request did not make him meet the little emperor, but met someone he did not expect: Cheng Ju.

The young man whom he recommended to the imperial court and single-handedly selected as the censor.

Yan Huan said in grief and indignation: "Cheng Ju, I have treated you well."

Cheng Ju smiled coldly, and ignored the words: "Yan Huan, you are corrupt and accepting bribes, exploiting the common people, forming cliques for personal gain, slandering others, separating monarchs and ministers, collaborating with internal and external enemies... which one is not a capital crime?"

The normally taciturn scribe revealed a kind of calm coldness when counting his crimes in detail, which made people feel chills in the bottom of his heart.

Yan Huan was anxious, and he said angrily: "The little emperor wants to blame everything on me? Why doesn't he think about where the money came from when he sings and dances every night? I will give him what he wants and say he wants to hear Yes, everything I do is his connivance and acquiescence!"

Cheng Ju didn't argue with him, and replied lightly: "Then I'm just doing what you did, but your Majesty just wants you to die now."

The little emperor has grown up over the years. Compared with Dou Xiao who is gradually pushed to the edge, he is more afraid of Yan Huan, who holds great power. He wants to take back his power from Yan Huan.

Yan Huan gritted his teeth: "I can't die, the little emperor can't do without me if he wants to keep the country."

As long as the little emperor tries it, he will know that this long-sick country will quickly collapse without these corrupt officials and cruel officials.

Without him to raise money, there would be no war at the front; without him, the court would have no peace; without his people to suppress and manage, there would be a lot of chaos everywhere...

However, what Yan Huan didn't say was that it was his corruption that caused the puppet government to resent the people; it was his party formation that caused everyone in the court to be in danger;

Keeping him is just drinking poison to quench thirst, but if you don't keep him, there will be a lot of troubles that the puppet government can't handle now.

Cheng Ju responded softly: "I know. Therefore, I will not let you live until His Majesty reacts. Or, I will maintain the surface of peace until you are questioned and beheaded."

Yan Huan looked at Cheng Ju in disbelief: "You——what do you want to do?"

Cheng Ju smiled slyly at him: "Don't worry, you will not be alone, maybe you will be the prime minister again in Huangquan soon."

But after turning around, Cheng Ju's expression quickly darkened.

Although Yan Huan was overthrown this time with the evidence collected through years of hard work and Dou Xiao's support, Xu Zhongyan was safe and sound.

He heard the news from nowhere, and picked himself up in advance. None of the evidence in Cheng Ju's hands could directly prove that Xu Zhongyan had something to do with Yan Huan, and the little emperor trusted himself as a teacher of classics and history. In his words: Xu Zhongyan is just a civil servant who studies classics and history. He doesn't have any real power in his hands. What can he do?

Cheng Ju couldn't argue. All he could do was to use Dou Xiao's power to imprison Xu Zhongyan and get rid of Yan Huan first.

Three years of preparation, secretly collecting evidence, gaining the little emperor's trust, and trying to win over Dou Xiao to restore the relationship between the little emperor and him... Cheng Ju is not satisfied with such a result after so much effort.

……

The news of Yan Huan's downfall spread to Jingzhou, but Han Zhao checked several times but could not find Xu Zhongyan's name.

He asked Su Xin: "Is this good news or bad news?"

Su Xin replied: "Xu Zhongyan used his low-level official position to hide himself and pushed Yan Huan as a puppet. Now he has given up the shield for so many years for two reasons: [-]. The senior brother did catch him by surprise. This is why he abandoned his pawn. The behavior of protecting the car; second, he is now planning to abandon the 'pond' of the pseudo-chao at any time, if he escapes, it will be like the sea is wide and the sky is high."

Han Zhao looked solemn: "We can't let him escape."

Su Xin smiled slightly: "Let the senior brother do the plugging, sir, let's concentrate on draining the water from this pond now."

In September, the army went out to fight against the puppet dynasty.

This time, Liu Jin led an army of 30 from Yangzhou and marched from east to west to the east capital, while Liu Ji led 15 troops from Jingzhou to march from west to northeast to assist Liu Ji.And Tong Rong led 20 troops to attack from the northeast.

In the face of this difficult battle, the Puppet Dynasty urgently mobilized 60 soldiers and horses to resist, and as long as they could hold weapons, they were all conscripted into the barracks.

In the camp of the Puppet Korean Army, Dou Xiao is inspecting the situation of each camp.

His eyes stopped on an exceptionally thin soldier: "How old are you?"

"twelve!"

Dou Xiao's expression darkened, he opened his mouth to say something, but he didn't say anything, in the end he just patted Xiao Bing on the shoulder and continued walking forward.

After inspecting it once, Dou Xiao walked to the front of the phalanx and said loudly: "Everyone—"

Dou Xiao got stuck, he wanted to make some promises to the soldiers.

However, all the money obtained by copying Yan Huan and his party's family has been used to recruit soldiers, buy horses, and buy food and fodder, and there is no surplus for pensions.

He couldn't guarantee that they would survive, nor could he guarantee what happened to them.

But he had to say something.

"Everyone! 20 years ago, the Ling Emperor had no way, and the people of insight followed the late emperor to fight against him and established the current new dynasty. Some of them are standing here now, and some are your fathers and brothers... now The remnants of the next dynasty are delusional about restoration. Can we let them succeed? Can we let them take away the territory we have worked hard for and trample on our glory?"

"cannot!"

Dou Xiao spoke impassionedly, but few people responded, and the entire barracks revealed a dead atmosphere.

"Eliminate the remnants of the next dynasty, and everyone is the hero of the new dynasty! It's no problem to seal the borders! In this battle, Dou Xiao vows to advance and retreat with you! Live and die together!"

Dou Xiao lied, even he didn't enjoy the treatment of lands and borders, but he will guarantee that the second half of what he said is true.

The army of the puppet dynasty was also divided into two teams, 30 in the northeast, led by Dou Cheng, against Tong Rong, and 30 in the east, led by Dou Xiao, against the combined 45 of Liu Jin and Liu Ji.

And in these 30 miles, there are many old and weak soldiers who lack training. In addition to Dou Xiao's self-confidence in his ability, he also tried his best to relieve Dou Cheng's pressure in this way.

But Dou Xiao didn't find it difficult. Although Liu Jin had a large number of people, his commanding ability was not enough compared to the talented Liu Ji and the equally experienced Tong Rong.

He has absolute confidence to hold the Eastern Front with these 30 weak soldiers.

On the other side, Han Zhao, whom Liu Jin appointed as General Zuo, was also studying strategy.

If this expedition fails to eliminate the puppet dynasty, then in the next ten years, Jingzhou will not be able to go on another expedition.

Han Zhao couldn't wait that long.This battle must be won, and the puppet dynasty must be destroyed.

Dou Cheng has 30 troops in the northwest, and the city defense is strong, so Dou Xiao will not be too worried.All he needs to do is to defeat Liu Jin before Liu Ji and Liu Jin join forces, so as to avoid falling into the situation of being attacked by enemies.

When the enemy is in a hurry, you can't be in a hurry.

Liu Jin currently has a strong army and plenty of food and grass. As long as he fights steadily, when the 15 army led by Liu Ji completes the double-teaming, it will not be difficult to defeat Dou Xiao.

However, Liu Jin was not willing to give Liu Ji the credit. After listening to Han Zhao's analysis, he was dissatisfied and said, "Our army is far more powerful than Dou Xiao, so what is there to be afraid of?"

Han Zhao replied quietly: "Second son, be careful when sailing for thousands of years." Opposite is Dou Xiao, who has experienced many battles, not a fledgling young man.

The last thing Liu Jin wants to hear now is this kind of words: "I finally gained independent command again, this time I must leave Liu Ji and enter the Eastern Capital first!"

Han Zhaonai calmly advised, "The battle has just begun, so please be patient, Second Young Master. If you act rashly, Dou Xiao will only find an opening."

Liu Jin got even more angry, and he slapped the table: "Be safe, don't be impatient, be safe, don't be impatient, how many times have you said it? Let me show you something! Look, it's been half a month since the war started. , which city did you take down?"

On the southwest side, Liu Ji reported frequent successes and made many military exploits.

Liu Jin was really surprised by Gu Chongming's lightning-fast takedown of Weicheng, but things seemed to have changed when he followed Liu Ji to Bingzhou and returned.

Is Gu Chongming thinking about him, or is he trying to hold him back?

Will he also be bought by Liu Ji?Are those rumors that he has a close relationship with Liu Ji true or false?

Liu Jin originally wanted not to be suspicious easily, but the unfavorable battle made him feel restless, and everyone was not pleasing to the eye.

Just when Liu Jin got angry, a middle-aged scribe walked in. He glanced at Han Zhao and hesitated to speak.Liu Jin took a deep breath: "My son is impatient. Mr. Gu should go back today. We will discuss it tomorrow."

Han Zhao stood up, hugged Liu Jin, and turned to leave Liu Jin's tent.

Early the next morning, Han Zhao was woken up by the sound of drumming.

He walked out of the tent and saw a square of soldiers walking towards the outside of the barracks. He looked forward and found Liu Jin who was sitting on a horse and wearing a sharp coat.

Han Zhao stepped forward: "Second Young Master, do you have a battle plan?"

Liu Jin didn't answer Han Zhao's question, but just gave him a cold look, turned his horse and headed out of the camp.

The author has something to say: Daily Illusion: I am a little closer to the end after updating this chapter (actually it accounts for less than one percent of the outline_(:з」∠)_)

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