After a long time, the officials finally recovered from their shock.
Zhangsun Wuji also did not expect that the Emperor valued Zhangsun Minzhi and actually ordered him to "walk on the sword and enter the palace." He did not know if it was a disaster or a blessing.
"Min Zhi, step forward. Zhen will give you a dragon pattern jade plate that allows you to freely enter and leave the inner palace.”
Li Shi Min asked the eunuch holding the jade token to leave and hand it over to Zhangsun Minzhi.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Zhangsun Minzhi took the jade token, he was terrified. He knew that he had to pay back. However, if he rejected Li Er's reward in public, he would definitely be unhappy!
At this point, all the civil and military officials in the court were already numb. Today's matter in the court had instantly increased Zhangsun Minzhi's weight in their hearts.
Li Shimin looked down at Zhangsun Minzhi with satisfaction. Although this person was independent, he had shocking talent.
Li Shi Min had used all his power and privileges to win him over.
Changsun Minzhi, don't let me down!
Zhangsun Minzhi was sealed and retreated into the court. However, he didn't have a real position. He only had the title of Deputy Xiao Yao. He didn't know if he should be a civil official or a general.
At this moment, Zhangsun Wuji pulled him into the ranks of civil officials and made him stand behind him. This scene made all the officials sigh at how good the relationship between the Zhangsun brothers was.
However, Zhangsun Minzhi was very surprised.
Zhangsun Wuji whispered to him and snorted coldly,"I just don't want to see you lose face in the main hall and damage the reputation of the Zhangsun Clan!”
"Thank you so much!" He had also helped her once just now, so Zhangsun Minzhi could not figure out whether this old fox was telling the truth or not.
Before he had time to think, the atmosphere in the hall became solemn. They had finally entered the main point of today's court meeting.
Sworn troops to set out!
The title of eldest grandson Minzhi was a small matter in Li Shimin's eyes.
The situation in the north was critical to the survival of the Great Tang.
Li Shi Min suddenly stood up and said in a dignified voice.
"The Turks led 200,000 soldiers south and invaded our territory. Dozens of cities along the way were slaughtered, causing hundreds of thousands of our people to lose their homes!”
"In the north, Yuchi Jingde is stationed at Jingyang and is holding on!”
"As of today, the Ministry of Works has rushed to make 20,000 stirrups, adding another 20,000 cavalrymen to Chang 'an.”
"Who is willing to lead these 20,000 cavalrymen to support the front line?”
Hearing these impassioned words, the ministers were excited. Even Sun Minzhi felt a surge of blood in his heart. They finally realized how important stirrups were to the Tang Empire. Chang 'an City had 20,000 more capable cavalrymen.
"This subject is willing to go out and support Yuchi Jingde's troops!”
Cheng Yaojin stepped forward and cupped his fists. His armor clanged loudly.
"Do you have a chance of winning?" Li Shiming asked loudly.!”
"This subject is willing to make a military pledge that we will definitely be able to defend the empire's last line of defense!”Cheng Yaojin shouted like thunder, and some of the weak civil officials were scared back half a step.
Only now did Zhangsun Minzhi know why His Majesty sent Cheng Yaojin instead of Li Jing.
This battle was a head-on battle!
No stratagem, no strategy,
Only a powerful general could hold Jingyang and force back the Turkic army of two hundred thousand.
Jingyang, the last line of defense of the empire!
If it was lost, the Turks would come to Chang 'an!
"I order you to be Pingxi General. Lead 20,000 cavalry and immediately set off."
Li Shi Min's entire body was exuding a domineering aura, but he was suddenly interrupted by a sharp voice. He was secretly annoyed.
"Report!"
A red-feathered scout ran up the stairs and into the hall. He fell to the ground with a thud.
Everyone in the hall had a bad feeling. Could something big have happened? Or had the Turks retreated?
The red-feathered scouts were the highest-level scouts of the Great Tang. They could stay in the palace without getting off their horses and were responsible for delivering important national and military news.
Zhangsun Minzhi saw the scout get up. His face was pale and his limbs were stiff. It must be Jingyang.
Li Shi Min forced himself to calm down and said,"Speak!"”
"Jingyang has fallen, and the two hundred thousand Turkic soldiers are burning, killing, and pillaging Jingyang City. General Yuchi Gong is leading the remaining ten thousand troops back to Chang 'an.”
The entire place was silent, and no one spoke.
This news was like a clap of thunder to all the officials in the court.
A sorrowful atmosphere filled the hall.
The front line was defeated, and the last line of defense was broken. Chang 'an was defenseless and was indirectly exposed to the iron hooves of the Turkic cavalry.
The 60,000 city defense troops in Chang 'an City were not included. There were only 20,000 cavalrymen and 10,000 remnants of Yuchi Gong's troops left. The total number of troops that could be mobilized was only 30,000.
How could thirty thousand fight against two hundred thousand elite Turkic cavalry?
Moreover, the 20,000 cavalrymen had just been formed, and there were still millions of people in Chang 'an to protect.
The country was about to be destroyed!
Li Shi Min let out a long sigh and fell onto the throne, his eyes unfocused.
My Great Tang is dead!
There were even faint cries coming from the hall.
"Your Majesty, since things have come to this, I suggest that we move to Luoyang, the eastern capital, immediately.”
A person stepped forward. It was Xu Jingzong, and he spoke loudly.
Unexpectedly, Du Ruhui came out with a jade board in his hand and reprimanded,"Move the capital? Foolish move! Lord Xu, do you think you can outrun the Turkic cavalry? Do you want to keep the million people of Chang 'an City here?”
If they abandoned the city and fled, not only would the Tang imperial court lose face, but the Turks would also learn about the strength of Chang 'an Fortress. They would pounce on them like a wolf seeing a sheep and bite them.
"As long as there is life, there is hope. As long as His Majesty is alive, the Great Tang will be alive!" Xu Jingzong argued.”
These words instantly caused a debate among the civil and military officials. Most of the people in the court were from the Guanzhong aristocratic families. They were naturally reluctant to leave their homes and go to Luoyang, the eastern capital.
The remaining small group consisted of the Shandong and Jiangnan gentry. They strongly supported moving to Luoyang, the eastern capital, because the political center of the empire was very close to their hometown.
For example, Xu Jingzong was a member of the Jiangnan aristocratic family and a person from Suzhou and Hangzhou.
"Xu Jingzong! You made His Majesty abandon millions of people. What are your intentions?”
"Lord Zhangsun, how are we going to defend Chang 'an?!”
" Yes, if Chang 'an falls, it will be the end of the country. It's better to keep the imperial court and move to Luoyang."”
"I heard that Lord Li has over a hundred acres of land in Luoyang, hehe!”
"Nonsense, don't frame me!"
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