Walking on the Imperial Street, looking at the densely packed people on both sides of the street, Du Zhongxiao looked angry, and felt strange. After walking for a while, he said to Zeng Gongliang beside him: "The weather is not clear, why are there so many people on the street? And it looks angry, what happened?"

Zeng Gongliang said: "Yesterday's provincial trial results were released. These were the candidates who failed. I'm waiting here to scold Ouyang Neihan, who is a tribute judge."

Du Zhongxiao shook his head after hearing this: "How can I not fail the exam? I haven't heard of it before, and I will scold you if I fail."

Cheng Kan on the side said, "This time is different. Ouyang Neihan abandoned his flamboyant writing style and had a very strict examination. Many people who thought they could pass the examination were defeated. These people were not angry, and they gathered here this morning to breathe in their hearts. This is nothing. Yesterday, Ouyang Neihan's house received several tributes. The imperial examination was once a few years, but suddenly failed. Some people always feel unannoyed and want to vent their anger on Ouyang Neihan."

Zeng Gongliang said: "Not only that, there are also candidates who borrow money to come to Beijing to take the exam. If they failed the provincial exam, they couldn't even go back home."

Du Zhongxiao nodded. He remembered his father, who borrowed money to go to the capital for the exam, and if he failed, he could only beg for food. If it weren't for him, his life would be spent. For some small places, it would not be easy to go to the capital. However, life is difficult for the candidates to fail, which was something that had happened before, but I never heard of him scolding the examiner after he failed. Today, Ouyang Xiu seemed to be a big trouble, and this kind of strange scene actually appeared.

Ouyang Xiu was the flag bearer of the ancient Chinese essay movement. This year, he was determined to reform his literary style. All the poems and essays with gorgeous rhetoric were severely punished. Moreover, the standards for the provincial examinations were much stricter, which was greatly reduced from previous years, with only more than 370 people. The addition of the two made the defeated scholars feel resentful and exuded all their anger on Ouyang Xiu, who was aware of the tribute.

Du Zhongxiao had just entered the Privy Council these days, and was thinking about the frontline war. He didn't know the big news in the capital. In fact, since yesterday afternoon, the capital was in chaos and there were constant trouble. Today, they crowded on both sides of the Imperial Street and insulted Ouyang Xiu, and all the ministers knew about it.

Such a big thing happened, the morning court was just a roulette of various departments and did not discuss any major issues. Ouyang Xiu's approach was supported by the emperor, and many officials in the court understood it, but there was no discussion in the court. It was just that the outside was full of momentum and the officials felt embarrassed.

After morning court, Du Zhongxiao went to the Privy Council to use tea soup and took a short rest. He was summoned to the palace to discuss matters with Jia Changchao, Tian Kuang and others.

The priest has a privilege. There is no need to schedule a scheduling to enter the palace to discuss matters. All the ministers face the monarch and make way for the priest.

After entering Chongzheng Hall, he performed rituals and Du Zhongxiao and the priest took their seats.

Zhao Zhen said: "After Han Qi's report, he has gone to Shanheguan, and the two armies of Zhao Zi and Yang Wenguang have joined forces. Now, the land north of Dangxiang Lingzhou and west of Helan Mountain is owned by the court. Only Lingzhou, Yanzhou and Hengshan areas are still unwilling to surrender. What should the court do if you do this?"

Jia Changchao said: "Di Qing has been besieging Lingzhou City for nearly a month, but it has not yet been settling. Only when the east of Yanzhou is looking at Lingzhou has come to this situation. You can instruct Di Qing to send a large army to attack the city day and night. If you don't believe Dangxiang can keep defending!"

Wen Yanbo said: "Taiwei, the first month has passed halfway, and the surrounding areas of Lingzhou will soon be thawed. If the Yellow River rises, it will not be possible to siege the city in Lingzhou. If the Dangxiang people do not surrender, they should have wanted to delay until the Yellow River rises, so that Taiwei Di has no choice but to retreat."

Tian Kuang said: "Xingqing Prefecture has been removed, and what's the use of Dangxiang left alone in Lingzhou? When the Yellow River rises, 10,000 or 20,000 people can be left to monitor Lingzhou, and the remaining troops will sweep the Hengshan area. Liang Zuo came to the capital with the captured princes and ministers of Dangxiang. Dangxiang has been destroyed, so there is no need to think too much. Lingzhou is really difficult to attack, so wait."

Zhao Zhen said: "It's nothing if a city in Lingzhou has not yet fallen. The important thing is that before Lingzhou has been set down, a large army needs to be besieged. Two hundred thousand troops are dragged there, and it is difficult for the court to deal with it."

Du Zhongxiao held the scepter: "Your Majesty, the general of Xiang's commander of Shanheguan, Ye Meilangluo, after committing suicide, the generals surrendered to the court. Is this the same thing in Lingzhou? Wei Minglangbu is a member of the same clan of Yuanhao. Like Ye Meilangluo, he is a minister of life. He resolutely refused to surrender. In addition, Lingzhou's geography is easy to defend but difficult to attack, which has become such a dilemma. When the Yellow River rises, you can stop attacking Lingzhou first, send troops to monitor and mobilize troops to pacify Hengshan first. At the foot of Hengshan, a lonely city in Lingzhou, how can Wei Minglangbu stick to it?"

Zhao Zhen nodded: "This victory in Xingqing Prefecture was entirely due to the domineering and domineering of Wu Zang Epang. Li Shougui made a rebellion and Mebu decided to surrender. It was a lucky thing. Lingzhou was surrounded by water on three sides, with a deep city, and it was very rich in grain in the city, which was indeed not easy to capture. If it really couldn't be captured, we could instruct Di Qing to divide the troops and take Yanzhou first, and pacify the Hengshan area together with the Xia'an period of Fuyan Road."

All the ministers said it together. Now, the ministers in the court have understood that Lingzhou is a very special city and is not so easy to capture. The city is very large, located on the edge of the Yellow River, and the place where the Lingzhou River enters the Yellow River, with water on three sides. Moreover, this city is very special. After the Yellow River rises, it cannot flood the city, but there is a road leading to the outside.

Di Qing was very unlucky in attacking Lingzhou. Wei Minglangbu, who was guarding the city, did not surrender, and he was also the same clan of Yuanhao, and he was in a stalemate. Liangzuo was gone, and the other generals had no capital to support themselves, so they naturally surrendered. Wei Minglangbu was originally the Wei Ming family, and he had the opportunity to support himself, which was different from others.

After discussing Lingzhou, everyone felt that there was no good way, so they could only ask Di Qing to step up the attack. If the Yellow River has not yet captured the water, then they would mobilize troops to attack the Hengshan area first. There is Hequ Road in the north and Fuyan Road in the south. Dangxiang in Hengshan lost its strategic depth and it is not difficult to attack.

Zhao Zhen said: "Whether Lingzhou or Hengshan are concerned, the rest of Dangxiang's territory is owned by the court. The division of the Tu tribes has too deep affair, so Dangxiang cannot do this anymore. The two governments discussed how to set up counties and county and dispatch officials. The officials arrived, and the troops stationed can slowly withdraw and use other places where troops were needed. This is an important matter and cannot be delayed."

Wen Yanbo and Jia Changchao bowed to each other. In the past few years, officials were overwhelmed and many people had no things to arrange. In recent years, local reforms and newly occupied land, officials suddenly seemed insufficient. It was not easy to dispatch officials.

Zhao Zhen said: "Han Qi's troops have broken Shanhe Pass and connected with Hequ Road. With Di Qing's troops besieging Lingzhou, there is no need to leave too many troops there, so we can gather troops in Hequ Road. A few days ago, the Khitan Empress Dowager in Zhongjing was imprisoned by his subordinates, and the troops in Zhongjing had been surrendered to Yelu Hongji. Yelu Chongyuan was in Datong Prefecture and may not be able to hold on for many days. The court must make a decision early, what should we do in Khitan?"

Jia Changchao said: "Han Qi can gather troops in Shengzhou and Shazhou to observe the movements of the Khitan. If there are any abnormal movements, make progress in time."

Wen Yanbo said: "How to be enterprising? To attack Dangxiang, there must be a court order. Han Qi is the commander of the journey. How can he make a decision without authorization? The matters of Khitan need to be agreed upon by the court and the front line should act according to the order."

Jia Changchao said: "The frontline matter is urgent, how can everything be decided by the court?"

Zhao Zhen said: "What matters now is that the court knows what the Khitan war is and makes plans early. This matter is important, and there is no way to decide for a while. In this way, the Privy Council and the Secretariat each select officials, and one person in charge of the affairs, and discuss the strategy first."

Wen Yanbo and Jia Changchao held the scepter: "I will obey the imperial edict."

Zhao Zhen said: "The Deputy Envoy of the Privy Councillor Du Zhongxiao, the deputy governor of the magistrate Zeng Gongliang and Zhang Fangping discussed the matter together. Du Zhongxiao was the chief of the matter. Within three days, he decided to report it to the court."
Chapter completed!