Jinyang, Shangshu Province.

Duan Shao, a tall man, sat in the upper position. He changed his gentle and elegant temperament in the past and showed his fierce look, showing his fighting appearance.

Only those Zhou people and rebels had seen this look in the past, but they were all dead.

The usually chattering ministers sitting on both sides of Duan Shao could not help but become three points shorter. They curled up with their heads inward, and no one dared to stretch out their bodies.

The mighty generals sat crossed among the ministers, wearing armor and carrying weapons.

Duan Shao's eyes swept over these people one by one.

That is to say, Zhao Yanshen conducted the first selection and eliminated many unqualified people. Otherwise, there would be no room for them here.

Duan Shao's purpose is simple.

He just wanted to protect Qi.

Back then, King Gao led a group of people like them and put in a lot of hard work to build this powerful country and despise the two thieves.

Many of the people who defect to Liu Taozi today are second or even third generation.

They had never participated in the founding war and lacked basic sympathy for this country.

But for the founding fathers like Duan Shao, Daqi was created by everyone, the foundation of everyone, and the destination of countless people who followed them in the east and west and died.

If the country is destroyed by his own hands, then what is the meaning of his life's battle? What is the meaning of the blood shed by so many people?

Every state and every city in Daqi has a story about it.

But Duan Shao also saw the current situation very clearly.

The tide is over.

One city or one state cannot feed so many people. In the past, Jinyang needed constant blood transfusions from the surrounding areas to maintain its army.

Now after what that little beast has done, the treasury doesn't even know how much food and grass is left.

If you want to go out to fight, the consumption of food and grass will be even more days. With the current strength, if you lead the army to attack the enemy, you are afraid that the food will be gone and the army will collapse halfway.

People cannot fight on an empty stomach unless they have higher ideals and a higher realm.

What Duan Shao faced was an unsolvable problem.

The generals are very happy. These rough guys never think about other issues. They just muddle along, blindly and not caring about the future. They just feel that without Gaowei, everyone can go back to the past, continue to hold the army, and continue to do evil.

Weird people will appear again to divide their power.

The ministers were very frightened. They could not see any future. They wanted to run but did not dare to run.

Liu Taozi doesn't want people like them.

Anyone who has a little bit of confidence that he can be taken in by Liu Taozi will definitely not be able to stay today.

Duan Shao read out the empress dowager's edict to remove the emperor.

The generals looked happy and saluted and obeyed.

The rest of the ministers said nothing. In the current world, unless King Gao leads the founding heavenly group to a sudden resurrection, it will be useless to replace anyone.

"Everyone, what should we do next?"

Duan Shao looked at everyone, as if he was asking them, but also seemed to be asking himself.

Everyone slowly looked at Situ Zhao Yanshen.

Zhao Yanshen opened his mouth and replied: "Da Sima, you should announce the emperor's crimes and prepare the new king for his enthronement. I am willing to have the ceremony arranged for the enthronement."

"Yes!"

"Yes, the next step is to prepare for enthronement!"

The ministers responded one after another.

Duan Shao was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "You all go back first, Mr. Zhao will stay here first."

Everyone seemed to have been relieved, and happily bid farewell to Duan Shao, and left one by one.

Zhao Yanshen sat aside, showing no signs of happiness or sorrow.

After everyone left, Duan Shao looked at him and said, "Mr. Zhao, we are the only ones here. Now in the court, you are the only one who can give me some advice. I hope you can speak freely. I will not punish you because of your words."

I don’t have any other ideas, I just want you to give me some suggestions.”

Zhao Yanshen smiled bitterly, "Why does Da Sima ask me?"

"What else can we do now?"

"Bingzhou originally relied on temple subsidies to support so many troops. Now there are not even a few cities left in Bingzhou. It is in chaos, the people have no intention of farming, and the treasury is empty without the need for enemies to attack. We ourselves cannot support it first.

Live."

"The Jinyang soldiers are our guarantee and cannot be revoked."

Duan Shao looked at him calmly, "So, what should we do?"

Zhao Yan lowered his voice and his expression became slightly serious, "There are three ways to go now."

"Mr. Zhao, please tell me."

"The first way is to find ways to reduce the size of the army, conduct farming, increase grain production, retain elites, conduct training, and wait for the opportunity to change."

"The second way is, we can take the initiative to attack while we still have some food and grass. While Liu Taozi is in the south, attack his rear and capture Shuozhou and Hengzhou."

"Third way, we surrender to Liu Taozi and ask him to preserve the life of the clan."

Duan Shao nodded, "As expected of an old minister."

"This third item is what Mr. Zhao really wants to say."

Zhao Yanshen's expression did not change, "Da Sima just said that he would not be held accountable for his words."

"I'm not guilty because of your words, I'm guilty because of your actions."

"I really don't understand"

Zhao Yanshen looked confused.

Duan Shao shook his head gently, "Zhao Gong's performance is really great, but it's a pity that there are still flaws."

"I was thinking about something before. When the emperor was in Yecheng and the army sent by Liu Taozi was about to arrive, what was the best choice for the emperor to make at this time?"

"First, summon everyone in the city to resist to the death, then dispatch Jinyang soldiers to support and attack the enemy in separate routes, and then let the south of the river give full support. With Liu Taozi's killing in the north, neither the south nor Jinyang will remain indifferent."

"Second, withdraw to Fen River, summon Jinyang soldiers to escort them south, then retreat step by step, transfer the army and their families to the south of the river, use the army to control the south, use the supplies in the south to maintain the army, and continue the confrontation."

"Third, abandon Yecheng, do not occupy a position where you can retreat, run to Jinyang Gucheng, and surround yourself."

"I'm not surprised that His Majesty chose the third method. The Emperor is incompetent, but I heard that this was what you reported."

"You had a lot of dealings with Zu Jue in the past. I think you and he are on the same team. Liu Taozi and the others can always learn about the situation here quickly, and they can also encroach on us step by step. I have transferred some troops,

They come to capture any city, and they know it faster than I do."

"The temple is getting more and more chaotic, but you, Situ, don't pay attention to anything."

Zhao Yanshen was a little scared, and he said helplessly: "I am a civil servant, and facing the war is not as long-term as Sima thinks. Besides, there are people in the country who are colluding with Liu Taozi. This is not a secret. They all hope to save their lives in the future.

, did not hesitate to betray all kinds of information to Liu Taozi, how can you blame me?"

"If you have a friendship with Zu Jue, then your brother also had a friendship with Zu Jue in the past. Zu Jue and I just know each other. I have never even been to his banquet."

"I have always been a timid person. I never work with anyone. I only want to protect myself. If Da Sima wants to punish me because of this, I will admit it. But if he says that I colluded with Liu Taozi, then I will not admit it.

"

Duan Shao suddenly raised his head and looked at him, "Mr. Zhao is timid and just wants to survive. Everyone says so. If that's the case, why doesn't Mr. Zhao run away?"

"As far as I know, among the ministers in the DPRK, you are the one who has the least transgression. You have never accepted bribes, never seized land, and never killed people indiscriminately. Your biggest crime was just to promote cronies. However, you used to govern the local area, with first-class political achievements and outstanding abilities.

, Liu Taozi will never deal with you. If you stay in Jinyang, you may die at any time, but under Liu Taozi's command, you can save your life, why don't you run?"

"Many of the people I have offended in the past were under Liu Taozi's command. If I went to his side and those people framed me together, how could I survive?"

"Although Liu Taozi is an enemy, I understand his character, and Mr. Zhao must also understand that he will not kill people just to frame him."

"Mr. Zhao, you are a veteran of several generations and a minister who founded the country with us. Why do you do this?"

Zhao Yan sighed deeply, "Da Sima has already identified me as a thief, so it's meaningless for me to say anything else."

"I really don't have any talent. It's just that I live in Jinyang and never go out or meet outsiders. How can I collude with Liu Taozi? Alas, I think I'm not worthy of my position. If Da Sima wants to punish me, he can

Please put me in jail, but please do not humiliate me for the sake of our past friendship, and give me a happy life."

Duan Shao fell silent again.

"Here comes someone."

Several soldiers rushed in quickly. Duan Shao looked at each other calmly, "Take Mr. Zhao back to his house and take good care of him."

Zhao Yanshen stood up, saluted Duan Shao, and left without defending himself, following the soldiers.

Duan Shao frowned, and as soon as he picked up the document in front of him, his brother Duan Xiaoyan hurried in.

He put on new clothes and looked a little excited.
To be continued...