In the Taiji Hall of Jiankang City, the Empress Dowager Chu Garlic held the little emperor Sima Dan, who was only two years old, and sat on the dragon chair, beside which were two waiting little palace maids, and a white gauze curtain was laid in front of the dragon chair.

On the top of the main hall, almost all the officials above the fifth grade in the capital arrived, He Chong, Cai Mo, Sima Yu, Yu Bing and other important ministers stood at the front, and the rest of the officials were arranged according to their ranks.

The little emperor Sima Dan is only two years old, he is a playful age, honestly sitting in his mother's arms, it is completely torture for him, often he will twist his body after not sitting for a moment, and even shout to leave, the queen mother Chu Garlic can only keep coaxing in order to make the little emperor a little more peaceful.

Above the main hall, all the ministers seemed more worried, after all, a partial division of 20,000 horses and horses of Zhao State broke through the Wuhu defense line to cross the river, which was a huge threat to the Jiangnan of the Great Jin Dynasty, and even the capital Jiankang was in danger.

Minister He Chong first came out and said: "Qi Yu Emperor, Empress Dowager Niangniang, a 20,000-strong division of Zhao State has crossed the river and is killing in the direction of the capital, this matter is extremely critical, please ask the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to make a decision immediately." ”

Seeing that Zhao Guo's division had crossed the river, Chu Lianzi was also extremely nervous in his heart, he didn't understand military affairs, so he naturally didn't know how to deploy it, so he hurriedly asked: "Zhao Guo has invaded the border, what is the best plan for Aiqing." ”

A minister hurriedly came out and said: "The emperor, the queen mother, the main force near the capital of the Great Jin Dynasty have all been transferred to the Wujiang ferry to defend the main army of Shihu, there are no soldiers near the capital, and the only six battalions of Wuyi are used to defend the capital, so you must not transfer them at will!" ”

When Chu Garlic heard this, his heart became even more nervous, his pretty face turned pale with fright, and he hurriedly asked: "I'm a big Jin, is there no soldier to adjust?" Can the soldiers and horses at the Wujiang Ferry be temporarily repatriated to 20,000 to relieve the urgent need? ”

Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, hurriedly shook his head and said: "The queen mother, this matter must not be done, on the north bank of the Wujiang ferry, Shi Hu's main force is rushing to build warships day and night, and from time to time send warships to harass the defenders on the south bank of our country, now, our army's 30,000 soldiers and horses to guard the Wujiang ferry is still insufficient, if 20,000 are transferred, the remaining 10,000 horses may not be able to hold the ferry, once the ferry is lost, Shihu's main army crosses the river, the capital will not be able to hold, and even the entire Jiangnan will be lost. ”

Uncle Yu Bing continued: "If the Zhao army is partial to attack the capital, it is not bad, in case this partial division directly kills the Wujiang ferry, and the main force of Shihu on the north bank of the ferry is flanked on both sides, the Wujiang ferry will be dangerous, and once the ferry is lost, the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

"Yes! Oh, yes! The defenders of the Wujiang Ferry must be prepared, and the Wujiang Ferry must not be lost! The ministers hurriedly chimed in.

Although Chu Lianzi didn't understand military affairs, from the minister's words, he could also realize the importance of the Wujiang ferry, so he asked: "He Aiqing, can't I draw a single soldier around the capital of Dajin, can I give up some small cities to concentrate troops." ”

He Chong hurriedly replied: "What the queen mother meant, the old minister understands, after retiring from the dynasty, the old minister will send people to transfer all the 3,000 soldiers and horses of Dantu and Jurong to the Wujiang ferry to strengthen the defense strength of the ferry.

"Quasi-play, there is Lao He Aiqing." At the time of the national crisis, Chu Garlic spoke extremely politely.

He Chong was flattered when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "The Queen Mother is strict, this is what the old minister should do, the old minister is entrusted by the first emperor to be alone, and he should be loyal to the Great Jin Dynasty with all his might, and he will never give up." ”

Chu Garlic could clearly see He Chong's expression through the white sand curtain, it was indeed a loyal expression for the country and the people, Chu Garlic couldn't help but nod with relief.

Seeing that Chu Lianzi attached so much importance to the Wujiang ferry and despised the defense of the capital, the minister Cai Mo hurriedly said: "The queen mother, in the opinion of the ministers, it is very likely that the division of the Zhao State will attack the capital division in a hurry!" The Beijing division is the core of my Great Jin, the ministers and emperors of the Manchu Dynasty are here, as long as the Beijing division is broken, my Great Jin will be greatly injured, so, from now on, the sixth battalion of Wuyi must enter a state of combat readiness, in case the Zhao division attacks the capital, there is a good resistance. ”

As the empress dowager of the dynasty, Chu Lianzi naturally understood the importance of the capital, he looked at Cai Mo and said softly: "What Cai Qing's family said is extremely true, the capital is the foundation of the Great Jin, and the Zhao army must not be allowed to break through, Cai Aiqing, the city defense of the capital will be handed over to you." ”

When Cai Mo heard this, he hugged his fists and said: "The queen mother can rest assured, the old minister will do his best to arrange the defense of the capital." ”

Chu Lianzi nodded, paused, and suddenly asked: "He Aiqing, is there any news about the Northern Expeditionary Army that went to Jiaozhou to quell the rebellion, and the mourning family remembers that it was ordered to return to Beijing last month, and I don't know where it is now." ”

He Chong hurriedly played: "Empress Dowager, according to the soldiers who ordered the report, ten days ago, the forward cavalry of the Northern Expeditionary Army had arrived in Panyu City, and the follow-up main infantry had also left Jiaozhou, but there was still a long way to go from the capital!" After speaking, He Chong's face was bitter.

"Panyu City is more than 2,000 miles away, but I'm afraid that far water can't quench the thirst of the near."

"Yes! More than 2,000 li, the cavalry will take at least more than a month, and the infantry has just left Jiaozhou, but I am afraid that it will be three months after arriving in the capital. ”

The ministers in the main hall immediately began to discuss.

Chu Lianzi saw that Hua'an's Northern Expeditionary Army was still far away in Panyu City, Guangzhou, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, her childhood experience was still reflected in her mind, and she believed that as long as Hua'an's Northern Expeditionary Army returned in time, this crisis could be easily resolved.

In fact, a large area with the Wujiang River Crossing as the core was itself the defense scope of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and it was the Northern Expeditionary Army that was ordered to march south, causing a gap in the defense of this area, so that the Zhao army could rampage, and even let one of its partial divisions cross the river.

He Chong muttered the name of the Northern Expeditionary Army in his mouth, suddenly patted his head, hugged his fists and said: "Queen Mother, the old minister is really confused, in fact, there are more than 20,000 miles outside the north gate of the capital, and there are 10,000 horses, but they are not in our army, so the old man almost forgot." ”

"He Aiqing, there are still 10,000 horses near the capital, which army is it?" Chu Garlic hurriedly asked.

He Chong said: "Empress Dowager, is the Tuntian people of the Northern Expeditionary Army, a few years ago Shi Hu large-scale conscription, I Dajin in order to respond, but also to the country's army for temporary expansion, at that time, the Northern Expeditionary Army temporarily expanded 20,000 horses, a few months later, Shi Hu dismissed a large number of soldiers and horses, I Dajin in order to save expenses, will also temporarily recruit all the soldiers home, but the Northern Expeditionary Army of 20,000 horses were not dismissed, but in a large area of land in Jiangbei Tuntian, now, there are 10,000 horses in the north of the capital not far away, Another 10,000 horses are in Jiangbei. ”