Pang Ji's face did not change, everyone looked at him, but he did not have the slightest panic, calmly came out of the ranks, bowed to Zhao Zhen, and stood aside without saying a word.

Everyone thought that he would defend himself, or refute Xia Zhu who pulled him out, but they didn't expect this person to be silent and not fiercely retort.

Zhao Zhen asked, "Pang Qing, is what Xia Zhu said true?" ”

"Emperor Qi, what Lord Xia said is the truth, the military rations have not been supplied recently, and the minister is guilty."

All the ministers were surprised, what idea did Pang Ji have, and he was willing to accept the guilt without justification, this is by no means Pang Ji's style, the new officials don't know Pang Ji, but old fritters such as Lu Yijian, Du Yan, Yan Shu, Xia Zhu and other old fritters know Pang Ji well; This man will not suffer the slightest loss, and if he willingly accept the sin, unless the sun strikes the west and goes out of the mountain.

"The grain and grass in the army can't be supplied, you Shaanxi transshipment envoy can't escape the blame, you say, is it because the imperial court can't supply enough, or is it your own reasons?" Zhao Zhen tried his best to avoid fierce words, and in his words, he only referred to the duties of the three divisions as the imperial court's supply was not enough, so as to avoid dragging Yan Shu out.

Of course, Yan Shu knew the emperor's intention to defend it, but he didn't accept it, as soon as Zhao Zhen's words fell, Yan Shu took the initiative to go out and play: "Your Majesty, the minister has something to say." ”

Zhao Zhen glanced at Yan Shu, and said in his heart: "I didn't call you, but you jumped out yourself, do you think there are few people involved in this matter?" Is it difficult for you to be involved with anyone? ”

"Yan Aiqing, I'm asking Pang Jihua, if you have something to say, I'll talk about it later."

"What the minister said is related to what the huge man said."

"Oh? That...... Yan Aiqing will talk about it. Zhao Zhen frowned, a little displeased.

"Thank you Your Majesty for your permission, here is the total number of grain and grass transported to the front line by the three divisions in the past year, not to mention the past, since June, the military rations sent to the northwest by the three divisions have exceeded 130,000 stone every month, and my northwest army has more than 100,000 people, plus the relief of the displaced people, tens of thousands of people have eaten all of them, and it is enough to count all the food and grass of tens of thousands of people, and the supply of grain and grass that this huge number of people said is not as good as I don't know when it happened."

Pang Ji arched his hand and said: "Lord Yan, since July, the grain truck team has been broken, and I am about to start this matter with His Majesty. ”

Zhao Zhenqi said: "The grain of the three divisions was sent, but you didn't receive it, what is the reason?" Could it be that the western thief entered the rear and intercepted it? Or maybe there are bandits who can't rob it? ”

Pang Ji said: "Your Majesty, how can the western thieves enter my hinterland to do evil, the bandits do have them, but my brigade of officers and soldiers escorted, how dare a small group of bandits act rashly; The minister has already found out the reason, the grain and grass were sent to Qinfeng Road through the Yongxing Military Road, and they were blocked at the foot of the Bison Mountain in Fengxiang, and the road was blocked, and they could not reach the front line. ”

Zhao Zhen frowned and said: "How can the road be blocked, I remember that there is an official road built in the northwest, which goes directly to the border states and counties, and the official road can't be walked?" ”

Pang Ji said: "Your Majesty doesn't know, since July, the northwest climate has been abnormal, there have been several heavy rains, and all the official roads where the grain trucks are going have been washed away by the rain, and the mudflow has broken out at the foot of the Bison Mountain to block the official roads that pass through the mountains for miles, and the grain trucks cannot go, so that the supply is not enough. ”

Zhao Zhen said: "It was blocked in July, and now it's nearly September, and the road is still not open?" ”

"The war in the northwest has lasted for several years, the people are seriously displaced, and there are bandits from time to time, and it is difficult for the people to collect, and the ministers have collected nearly 4,000 people in the left and near counties to dig stones and open roads, and the grain road can be opened in mid-September; The nearly 30,000 stone grain and grass supplied in August were completely carried over the mountain on the shoulder, and the grain stockpiled in Yanzhou could barely guarantee the daily supply of the army. ”

Zhao Zhen was silent, God didn't help, it was really unimaginable, he knew that the northwest was sparsely populated, the mountains were dangerous and the roads were difficult, there was no official road, and the materials could not be transported at all.

"Pang Aiqing, I know your hardships, but this official road must be opened as soon as possible no matter what, otherwise how can the Northwest Army fight?" Zhao Zhen said weakly.

"The minister swears to die in early September to open the official road, Your Majesty should not worry; The lack of supply of grain and grass Lord Xia had informed him that he had no food to fight this time, and he really didn't think about it. Pang Ji said lightly at will, pushed away the responsibility of military ration logistics, and kicked the ball to Xia Zhu, who pulled him out, and avenged him in a bland manner.

The ministers were impressed by Pang Ji's methods, this person has a deep city government and sophisticated methods, which means that it is like saying: I have already told Xia Zhu that the supply of grain and grass is not enough, but you still have to march into the war, isn't this stupid? You are solely responsible for the loss of this battle.

Han Qi was furious, pointed at Xia Zhu's nose and said, "Lord Xia, why do you already know about this matter, but you don't tell me, how can the major affairs of the soldiers be such a dereliction of duty?" ”

Xia Zhu was scolded by the deputy finger pointing at his nose, if he would be angry in normal times, but today he had to shut up, how could he say the little Jiujiu in his heart; Originally, after Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan arrived at the Northwest Front, they forcibly emptied all the military power of his commander, Xia Zhu was on fire in his heart, this time he actually did it on purpose, wanting Han Qi to suffer a loss, and then take this opportunity to play the emperor to get back the military power.

Originally, small victories and small losses have been very common in the tug-of-war for several years, but I didn't expect this time to lose so badly, not to mention 6,000 dead, but also nearly 20,000 wounded, the leak is too big, it has affected the balance of strength of the two armies, and this is the trouble in the capital.

This self-defeating is not Xia Zhu's original intention, but the matter has come to this point, Xia Zhu can only hope to take responsibility together, so he pulled Pang Ji out, I really hope that Pang Ji can understand his own hardships, and pull himself up for the sake of daily friendship, but he didn't expect this person to repay himself, and he took a bite lightly, but he directly sent himself into the quagmire.

"Xia Zhu, you're too disappointed." Zhao Zhen understood it, and concluded in one sentence that Xia Zhu's crime of dereliction of duty could not escape.

Xia Zhu knelt down and kowtowed like pounding garlic, his eyes couldn't stop looking at Lu Yijian on the side, he couldn't count on Yan Shu, it was already good that this person didn't fall into the well, and now he could only count on Lu Xiang to say a few good words to himself.

Lu Yijian secretly scolded Xia Zhu for being stupid, originally today, his spearhead was Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan, but he got Xia Zhu in and around, which was really unexpected.

Lu Yijian can't watch his own people being beaten into the eighteenth layer of hell, although it is unlikely that the emperor will sentence Xia Zhu to a felony such as stealing his house and killing his head, but even if he is sentenced to a prison sentence, it will be difficult to turn over in the future, and he must be guaranteed to reduce his responsibility.

"Lu Qing, in your opinion, how good should this matter be?" Of course, Zhao Zhen had to ask the old prime minister's opinion, and when dealing with these things, Lu Yijian was undoubtedly much more experienced than himself.

"Your Majesty." Lu Yijian got up from the stool and arched his hand: "The impact of this defeat is huge, the strength of our army and the western thieves has been unbalanced, the top priority is to hold the line of defense, not to let Yuan Hao's army enter, as for the responsibility of several adults, it is still a secondary consideration." ”

The officials nodded silently, but Lu Xiang still saw the situation clearly, and now that the border was in danger, the guilt of these people was indeed insignificant compared to the situation.

"But the guilty must be punished, otherwise how can the Zhengjun be popular, but the old minister thinks, Lord Xia and Han Fan are the best choice for the Northwest Army, and the victory and defeat of the army are commonplace, and there is also a moment of negligence, people are not sages, how can they consider everything thoroughly; The old minister's opinion is to allow a few of them to make meritorious contributions to their crimes, and the emperor should be asked to consider them lightly. ”

How could Zhao Zhen not hear the meaning of Xia Zhu's protection in Lu Yijian's words, it was obvious that Xia Zhu was the most responsible in this matter, Lu Yijian insisted on tying up the four people to speak, and his intention was to make each of them slap him lightly; Zhao Zhen also understands that at present, it is up to these four people to stabilize the situation in the northwest between the DPRK and the central government, and the others are afraid that they will not be able to use it, so it is the best policy to get off the donkey.

"What Lu Aiqing said is reasonable, and the guilty should be punished, otherwise it will be difficult for the people to be willing to accept the army, Pang Ji, Xia Zhu, Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan, and you and the other four will obey the order."

The four shouted long live and kowtowed to the verdict.

"As a transfer envoy of Shaanxi Fourth Road, Pang Ji failed to take precautions to predict the incident, and was guilty of dereliction of duty, but I thought that Pang Ji could quickly remedy it, and personally commanded it, and the measures were still appropriate. Pang Qing, you need to fulfill your duties, and don't let me down. ”

Pang Ji shouted long live to receive thanks, although his lowered eyes pretended to be terrified, but the joy that flowed from time to time exposed his heart.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that although Pang Ji has lost his post as a transfer envoy this time, he has been appointed as a recruiting envoy, and in fact his responsibilities are greater, which is like being demoted from the secretary of the provincial party committee to the post of commander of the provincial military division, although the rank has been reduced, but what is the biggest thing in the northwest now, it is naturally the biggest thing to fight against the Western Xia, and the importance of the commander of the military region is much greater than that of the secretary of the provincial party committee; Moreover, in this position, as long as there is no big basket, it is much easier to enter the center than to transfer it.

"Xia Zhu listened to the order, Xia Zhu neglected his duties, so that there was a defeat this time, the crime is unforgivable, but he has been guarding the northwest for many years, and his merits are like this.

Xia Zhu fell to the ground with a stone in his heart, and his head was full of sweat, this result was beyond his expectations, he thought that he would be dismissed from his post and convicted, but he didn't expect that the emperor would still let him make meritorious contributions in the northwest, this is really a big cake that fell from the sky.

"Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan listen to the order, you two have meritorious service in guarding the border, but this defeat is also responsible for poor planning, go to Shaanxi to appease the deputy envoy, Han Qi is demoted to the right secretary and knows Qinzhou, Fan Zhongyan is demoted to the household member Wailang, still knows Yaozhou, the situation in the northwest is tight, you two must be careful and careful, and together with Pang Xia Zhu to turn the tide of the war and expel the western thieves from the country."

Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan shouted long live in unison, thanking him for the order.

After the four of them finished announcing the decree one by one, most of the hundreds of officials sighed, thinking that it would cause a super earthquake, but I didn't expect the emperor to make this matter a big thing down, at this critical time, the emperor's benevolent heart is indeed the best way to stabilize the heart of the society