The Xiongnu, who had been quiet until June, finally couldn't hold back. One night, they directly launched an attack on Pengyang City on the border.
They had been preparing for a long time, with a strong and well - equipped army. General Mao led his troops to resist them for seven days and seven nights. Eventually, unable to withstand the attack, he retreated to Fengyang Pass in Beidi Commandery.
This battle led to the loss of three northern cities in succession. The losses were heavy, and the whole court was shocked!
The emperor was still in a coma. Lord Zhang, the eldest among them, took the lead and summoned the senior duke, Chen Xuan, Liu Zhengze, and Jin Yuanzhou to discuss important matters in the side hall of the Zichen Palace.
Chen Xuan frowned tightly. "There's something fishy about this battle."
General Mao was his subordinate. Chen Xuan knew his capabilities like the back of his hand. Even if the Xiongnu launched a surprise attack, it was impossible for them to break through three cities in a row, especially when the army had sufficient supplies.
Liu Zhengze put his hands in his sleeves, looking calm. "Regardless, the person who is at fault can no longer be a general. Instead, we should think about who to send to resist the enemy."
Jin Yuanzhou glanced at him and then lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
Chen Xuan snorted. "In recent years, the military examination has been far inferior to the civil examination. I've proposed before that both civil and military officials are important. We must not value civil officials and suppress military ones. But..."
The senior duke pulled him and glared at him angrily.
Talking about this under the emperor's nose was asking for trouble!
Chen Xuan snorted again and pulled back his sleeve.
Liu Zhengze said with a half - smile. "It seems that the days of living in leisure have emboldened the marquis. I see that the marquis has recovered quite well, and his wounds seem to be almost healed. Why don't you go?"
"Inappropriate!" The senior duke gave Liu Zhengze a cold look. "Everyone in the court knows that Chen Xuan's right - hand tendon is severed. Do you want him to go to his death?"
Liu Zhengze glanced at Chen Xuan and let out a couple of chuckles. The senior duke frowned and shifted his gaze. He was annoyed by Liu Zhengze's sarcastic look!
"There's no reason to send a man with a severed hand to war even if there's no one else in the court," the senior duke said coldly. "Moreover, I don't believe that among all the civil and military officials in the court, we can't find a general with real talent!"
"That's not how it should be said," Liu Zhengze said calmly. "We've just suffered a defeat, and our morale is low. If we send a young and inexperienced person and he is defeated again, what will the people of the world think?"
The senior duke was speechless.
Although he hated Liu Zhengze, he had to admit that what he said was right.
The Xiongnu had broken through three cities in a row. They were coming in full force. At this moment, their country must not suffer another defeat, or the country would be in danger.
Jin Yuanzhou looked at one person and then another, and then fell silent.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Lord Zhang had been keeping his eyes closed and silent. At this moment, he slowly opened his eyes. "Chen Xuan, if you're sent to resist the enemy, what's your chance of success?"
Chen Xuan thought for a while and said conservatively. "If there are no traitors in the army, I have a 60% chance of recapturing the lost cities."
He suspected that there was a traitor in the army.
General Mao had followed him in battles. Chen Xuan knew his character best. Mao was a man of humble origin. Although he was a bit reckless, he was always cautious in battles. Moreover, there were his adjutant and military advisor with him.
It was impossible for them to lose three cities in a row without someone's interference. Chen Xuan wouldn't believe it even if he was beaten to death.
After a while, Lord Zhang said. "You'll lead the troops to set out the day after tomorrow. Send someone to order General Mao to return to the capital to plead guilty."
The senior duke was shocked. "This won't do!"
Liu Zhengze said slowly. "Why won't it do?"
"Shut up!" The senior duke wished he could tear Liu Zhengze to pieces.
Chen Xuan bowed. "Yes."
He stopped the anxious senior duke and left first.
On the way, the senior duke stared at him with wide eyes. "Are you crazy? Liu Zhengze clearly set a trap for you tonight, and you just jumped into it. Are you out of your mind?!"
Chen Xuan comforted him helplessly. "Keep your voice down. How can you make such a racket under the emperor's nose?"
The senior duke choked. He was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath. "You have to explain it to me tonight. Otherwise, I'll stay at your place and won't leave!"
Chen Xuan tried to shake him off by waving his sleeve. But unexpectedly, after they left the palace gate, the senior duke didn't even wait for his carriage. He quickly climbed onto the marquis's carriage. His agility was far beyond what one would expect of a man of his age.
He looked down at Chen Xuan, his meaning self - evident.
Chen Xuan: "..."
He helplessly rubbed his forehead and climbed onto the carriage as well. "Fine, fine. Let's go back to the mansion!"
When they entered the main courtyard, Chen Tingfeng happened to be there. Chen Xuan called him to the study to discuss the matter.
Chen Tingfeng took a look at the two men with a tense atmosphere between them and seemed to understand. "Was there something wrong with the discussion today? Did someone ask father to lead the troops to resist the enemy in the north?"
Although the senior duke wasn't surprised for the first time by Chen Tingfeng's ability to foresee things, he was still a bit shocked that he could guess the whole thing after just two glances. "That old scoundrel Liu Zhengze prepared a trap for your father tonight! And your father actually agreed!"
Chen Tingfeng looked at Chen Xuan. "Father?"
Chen Xuan rubbed his forehead. "Whether there's Liu Zhengze or not, I'll be the one to go in the end. What difference does it make? It's better to jump into the trap from the start and make preparations in advance."
Under the policy of valuing civil officials and suppressing military ones, it was extremely difficult to produce a capable general, not to mention one who could make the soldiers convinced.
Even if Chen Xuan managed to avoid it today, this matter would eventually fall back into his hands. In that case, it was better to accept it early and make the opponents hesitate and not dare to take extreme actions.
Chen Tingfeng thought for a while. "Has General Mao sent any messages? So far, we only know that he suffered a defeat, but we don't know the specific situation."
The problem was exactly here. This news shouldn't have spread so quickly, and the situation was still unclear. There must be someone behind it causing trouble.
Chen Tingfeng was well aware of this. His spies had already gone to investigate, and he would probably receive the news tonight.
Chen Xuan shook his head, his sword - shaped eyebrows furrowed, looking a bit gloomy. "I know Lao Mao's character well. For him to be broken through three cities in a row, he must be seriously injured."
This was also one of the reasons why he agreed to go to the north.
It was a fact that General Mao had suffered a defeat. Regardless of the reason, people usually only looked at the result.
If Chen Xuan backed off now, General Mao would surely die.
Either at the enemy's sword, or under the public's slander.
Or even worse, he might die on the way back to the capital under escort.
Chen Xuan sighed inwardly. General Mao was trained by him. How could he just watch him die?
The senior duke suddenly realized. "No wonder Lord Zhang first proposed sending you to the north and then mentioned escorting General Mao back. He probably anticipated this and wanted to save his life."
Chen Xuan nodded. "I'll set out the day after tomorrow. I'll go to the military camp to select troops tomorrow. I don't know how many soldiers I can take out. I hope the emperor will be awake tomorrow."
So that he could get half of the tiger amulet from him. As long as he had the tiger amulet, he wouldn't be afraid of not being able to command those armies filled with people planted by others.