As the New Year passed, the weather gradually warmed up, the ice of the Bian River disappeared, the willows spit out new green, and a new look. However, for the imperial court, the Beizhou Rebellion could not be calmed down, like a bell in the throat, with a solemn atmosphere above and below.

In Chongzheng Hall, Privy Councilor Xia Xun introduced the recent situation on the front line of Beizhou and said: "Ming Hao recruited civil servants and built Qucheng outside the city. The demon thieves built a city tower on the top of the city, which was called Xixianghui. Seeing that Qucheng was about to be built, the demon thieves were not expected to catch the fire at night, and most of the Qucheng was burned. Ming Hao came to report that Li Xing, the third squad guarding Qucheng, had been killed. Qucheng's plan was discouraged, and a small school Liu Zun offered a plan. The officers and soldiers concentrated their forces to attack the north gate, and dug tunnels in the south city. In time, they would be successful."

Emperor Zhao Zhen heard this and frowned: "There are only a thousand soldiers in Beizhou City, and tens of thousands of troops besieged the city. More than a month has not been made. Now the New Year Festival is over, and the days of suppressing the thieves are still invisible. There are hundreds of civil and military officials and generals under Beizhou City, and the ministers in the court are in charge, and none of them can do anything!"

This statement obviously means to repay the ministers, including the prime ministers, and no one speaks for a while, and the atmosphere is a bit dull.

Wen Yanbo saw it and stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Beizhou. I hope to fight the thief for one month, otherwise I will ask you if you want to ask me!"

After hearing this, Xia Xun closed his eyes slightly and stopped talking. Chen Zhizhong glanced at Wen Yanbo imperceptibly and said, "Ming Hao is only in Beizhou for a month, and the origins of the troops are mixed, so he can be given some time. Now I send Mr. Wen to make Ming Hao too ugly."

Among the rulings present, Xia Shu had a quarrel with Ming Hao, and the Privy Council deliberately suppressed him. Especially when he directly intervened in front line command, Ming Hao could not completely control the troops. If the siege was not effective, Ming Hao had the responsibility, and the restraint of the Privy Council was also very important.

Wen Yanbo could see clearly and felt that this was a good opportunity to make contributions. He was promoted too quickly last year, and the court and the country were talking a lot. Even Emperor Zhao Zhi was a little doubtful. Wen Yanbo urgently needed a great contribution to consolidate his position. Especially when he raised the lantern in the palace, Wen Yanbo gave Zhang Meiren Shu Lantern from Yizhou, but was destroyed by Zhao Zhen, which made Wen Yanbo feel guilty.

In one month, although Minghao did not break the city, he did not do anything. Now the army under Beizhou City has basically been integrated and tried various methods of siege. As long as the Privy Council does not hold back, Wen Yanbo is confident that he will break the city in one month. This is actually the credit for robbing Minghao, but now he is not caring about it.

Chen Zhizhong had no friendship with Minghao, but he was afraid that Wen Yanbo would make a contribution to Beizhou and threaten his position, so he hurriedly stopped him.

Zhao Zhen said unhappily: "The small town of Beizhou has not been there for several months. Not to mention that the people in several states are unstable. In a few days, the Khitan envoy returned to the north and passed by, what did it look like? It was ridiculous!"

Seeing that Zhao Zhen was inclined to ask Wen Yanbo to replace Ming Hao, Song Xiang held the scepter and said, "Your Majesty, Du Zhongxiao, who was in Xiangzhou a few days ago, asked himself to cast a new cannon, and the attack was the most powerful weapon. Ming Hao also asked Du Zhongxiao to bring the cannon to help him, and the court has agreed. Now Du Zhongxiao is on the way, so why not wait for him to arrive in Beizhou and join Ming Hao to attack for a few more days."

Du Zhongxiao and Xia Feng had some old relationships. When they mentioned him, they thought about it and didn't say anything.

Wu Yu, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, said: "Du Zhongxiao and Zhang Ke occupied Tanglong Town with guns and cannons the year before yesterday. They were said to be a weapon in the army. When they were demonstrating in the capital, the momentum was really scary. Since the Beizhou chaos, the court has transferred a lot of them to the city, but it is useless. What is the difference between the newly cast guns? After the Shangyuan Festival, the Khitan envoys returned north and could not let them go to Mengzhou."

Song Xiang said: "I heard that the new cannon was cast of copper, which is much larger than the previous iron cannons. I heard that they can shake the city walls."

After hearing this, the priests couldn't help laughing. When Du Zhongxiao was demonstrating in the capital, he shot a pile of earth. After one shot, the soil flew in shallowness, and it looked quite loud. For this matter, the Privy Council tried it again last month to see how powerful it was. As a result, the shell hit the rammed earth wall, and there was only a white dot, which was not useful. Because of this, many people thought that Du Zhongxiao took tricks when demonstrating and deliberately exaggerated the power of the artillery, and some people had a bad impression of him.

If Du Zhongxiao hadn't invited him to Beizhou and signed with Beizhou, Wen Yanbo would probably have replaced Ming Hao. Now with the variable Du Zhongxiao, Chen Zhizhong would want to wait. What if he succeeded? Without this contribution, Wen Yanbo might not be able to sit firmly. Chen Zhizhong has a bad reputation among the censors, and for Wen Yanbo, he can suppress the pressure.

Seeing that others didn't speak, Chen Zhizhong said, "Your Majesty, Du Zhongxiao was interviewed by the Secretariat of Zhongshu a year ago. The empress had met him. During the conversation, I felt that this person was down-to-earth and not a person who spoke nonsense. Since he was so sure, he could try it. Let the Privy Council inform Minghao that before the Yuan Dynasty, Beizhou would be destroyed. If the city cannot be broken, it would not be too late to send Mr. Wen to him."

Among the priests here, except for the military general Wang Yiyong, only Chen Zhizhong was not a Jinshi, but he was the most trusted by Emperor Zhao Zhen. It was not that Zhao Zhen was prejudiced to scholars, but because he was very nostalgic and sometimes emotional. Chen Zhizhong's father Chen Shu served in Taizong and Zhenzong dynasties, especially when he was in charge of the Salt and Iron Envoy, and was particularly appreciated by Taizong. He once engraved the words "True Salt and Iron Envoy" on the pillar. For more than 60 years since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the recognized person in the Three Sessions was Chen Shu. Zhao Zhen met Chen Zhizhong when he was young, and their relationship was much deeper than others.

Chen Zhizhong supports Du Zhongxiao, and there is also a relationship between Han Jiang. Chen Shu and Han Jiang's father Han Yi have a very good relationship. The two families have a family relationship. Two days ago, Han Jiang contacted Chen Zhizhong and strongly supported Du Zhongxiao, believing that he would be able to quell the rioters when he went to Beizhou.

Chen Zhizhong and Song Xiang advocated that Du Zhongxiao would wait until he arrived in Beizhou and tried his new cannon before seeing the results. Xia Shu didn't say anything, so the matter was settled. The priest of his team, including Wen Yanbo, would not be able to hold on any longer.

Du Zhongxiao set out before the New Year, went to the Huanshui River to Yongji Canal, and followed the road beside Yongji Canal and headed north.

At this time, the river ice was not untied and the boat could not be used, otherwise the waterway would be much more convenient. The newly cast bronze cannon was pulled by three strong screws, and six were replaced on the road, traveling north. Du Zhongxiao took Tao Shiqi and rode a horse in front. During the Chinese New Year, he arrived at Daming Mansion in Beijing.

Chen Tui of Daming Prefecture welcomed Du Zhongxiao at the inn outside the city. After settling down, he said, "The staying husband and others are in the government office, and the scholars will go to see you."

Du Zhongxiao ordered Tao Shiqi to go to the government office to pay homage to Jia Changchao. On the way, Du Zhongxiao lived in the inn and never visited officials. He stayed overnight and got up early. Jia Changchao was different from others, and he had a high status, but he was also the Hebei Road Pacifier. Du Zhongxiao went to the Beizhou front line and should have followed his instructions.

When he arrived at the government office, he performed the ceremony and took the seats with guests and guests. Jia Chang said, "It's hard for the scholars to come far away. I have prepared a banquet here to welcome you tonight. I will go out of the city tomorrow and see how powerful you are. If it is really as you said, it can shake the city wall, I will be the Zhang court."

Du Zhongxiao was a little embarrassed: "My husband, I can't capture Beizhou for a long time, and the soldiers are anxious. The subordinates should travel day and night——"

Jia Chang waved his hand: "This place is not far from Beizhou, not a day away. The Privy Council tried old iron cannons in the capital city a few years ago, and it was useless to hit the city wall. Many officials felt that it was unnecessary for you and Beizhou. Bachelor, you are still young, and people feel that it is a big deal and the future is hindered."

Speaking of this, what else can Du Zhongxiao say? He had to bow down: "Tomorrow morning, the lower officials will welcome the husband to watch the cannon outside the city. It's just a banquet. When the lower officials come back from Beizhou, they will take the demon thief and drink it when they celebrate the ceremony."

Jia Changchao smiled and said, "Okay, you are so ambitious, so kind! If you go to Beizhou and really break through the city and capture the demon thief, I will hold a banquet for you here! The court will ask for merit for you!"

The Beizhou Rebellion actually originated from Daming Prefecture. However, after Jia Changchao took Pan Fangjing, he did not ask for confessions in time and failed to stop the Beizhou Rebellion 200 miles away. Seriously, Jia Changchao was responsible for this rebellion. When Minghao arrived in Beizhou, the two prefectures were directly commanded by the two prefectures. He did not let Jia Changchao intervene, which also made him feel uncomfortable.

If Du Zhongxiao arrives in Beizhou, he will be able to succeed. As expected by the two governments, Jia Changchao also breathed a sigh of relief.

After saying goodbye to Jia Changchao, Du Zhongxiao returned to the inn, found Tao Shiqi, and said to him: "Today I see Jia Xianggong, who will let us fire a shot outside the city tomorrow. Last year, the Privy Council tried to attack the city with the iron cannon you cast before. Because its power was too small and it could not shake the city wall. Many officials thought that when I was demonstrating in the capital last time, I exaggerated the power of the cannon. Jia Xianggong also had doubts, so I must take a look with my own eyes."

Tao Shiqi said: "The old cannons, goose eggs, big egg balls, naturally cannot shake the city wall. The current cannons used for cannons are more than ten times as big as before, and all the city walls have collapsed! Those people have never seen them, and they shouldn't have been ranked as officials!"

Du Zhongxiao sighed. It was not until he left Xiangzhou that he learned that the Privy Council had used cannons to attack the city, but it was not at all possible. This matter was brought up as a joke in the capital, thinking that Du Zhongxiao exaggerated his power and used it to express his merits. Even Tao Shiqi, who supervised the casting of guns and cannons, had a status as before. This time he arrived in Beizhou, he had to succeed in order to resolve other people's misunderstandings about himself.

After thinking about it, Du Zhongxiao said to Tao Shiqi: "The military situation is like fire, we cannot delay on the road. Tonight, you will take people to load the cannons so as not to miss the road tomorrow. After loading the gunpowder, you should stand by yourself and don't have any accidents."
Chapter completed!