Pihanjin - Chapter 81

In the winter of this year, after three months of hard support by the Eastern Court, with the fall of Liuhe City, the last resort, which was considered to be able to resist the attack, no longer exists.

Legend of the Four Wilds, it is rumored that the army that came from the west along the river will reach Jiangdu within a few days. In this prosperous city, there is no more singing and dancing in the past. Inside and outside the city gate, there is smoke and dust, soldiers are surging, and carriages loaded with gold and silver treasures, sitting in people’s carriages, are heading south.

These were the nobles and officials of the Eastern Court. Jiang is not guaranteed, they can only follow Zhao Xitai to abandon the land again and retreat to the southeast coast in order to continue to live in peace.

Zhao Xitai took off the crown of the emperor and looked like an ordinary person. He was the last person from the Eastern court to leave Jiangdu. Accompanied by a group of soldiers, a few close confidants, and military generals, when he rode out from the city gate, he saw many people in Jiangdu standing on both sides of the road, all of them with cold eyes. Some of the people standing behind even whispered and whispered, seeming to gloat in misfortune.

One of his entourage was furious, and came forward to set fire to the city, so that these people who had no conscience and did not know what to do would get the punishment they deserved.

The few people who had just been whispering seemed to feel the anger from this group of people, and their faces showed panic. They turned to run, but were rushed over by several soldiers and pushed them in front of Zhao Xitai.

With the sword at the head, these people are ordinary people, how can they not be afraid? He kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Zhao Xitai’s face was bleak. He looked at the people on the ground and said, “After I came, I repaired water conservancy facilities and abolished extortionate donations. I did something for you, but I didn’t feel sorry for you. Now that I’m leaving, it’s fine if you don’t follow. Like a face. If there is no reason, I will kill you!”

Several people were shocked and shouted: “Your Majesty’s kindness to me Jianghuai is like Shi Yulu, but Your Majesty, do you know that those who are kings and officials are all blood-sucking leechworms, who treat our people as fish. Which of our households is not miserable? In the past, we dared to be angry and did not dare to say anything, but I just remembered these things, and now I am disrespectful for a while, please forgive me…”

The entourage drew his sword, but was blocked by Zhao Xitai.

He turned his head and looked at the city behind him that he had worked so hard to manage with high hopes, and suddenly burst into laughter until tears came out.

The kings of the Eastern court were arrogant and extravagant, and the officials pursued pleasure. It was not that he did not know it before, but he had to rely on these people no matter how he had the means. It was because he was not at ease, so before that, he hoped that he could make an alliance with Changsha to increase the odds of winning.

But Mu Fulan didn’t believe him either, and declined his proposal.

Today’s results also confirmed her judgment. In front of Xie Changgeng’s army, all his previous efforts seemed so pale and weak, vulnerable to a single blow.

“Xie Changgeng, did you hear, this time, I didn’t lose to you, I lost to my subordinates…”

He stopped laughing, looked at the shadow of the convoy in front of him carrying gold and silver jewels away, tightly held the hilt in his hand, and muttered.

…

After Xie Changgeng defeated the King of Zhao and completely controlled the Shangjing court, he pursued his victory and launched a campaign against the Eastern court. Zhao Xitai set fire to his grain depot, and after learning the definite news, he attacked with heavy troops, in order to fight with all his strength when the opponent’s army was unstable. Unexpectedly, what the fire burned was just an empty warehouse filled with chaff, the real food and forage had been secretly transferred in advance, and the so-called “rebel general” was nothing but an ecstasy array arranged by Xie Changgeng. After holding on for three months, the Eastern Court fled to Lingnan.

The news reached Changsha.

So far, in the hinterland of the imperial court, where Xie Changgeng has not yet returned, only Dongting remains. The people believed that Xie Changgeng would launch an attack on Changsha next, and the army might arrive one day. These days, in the streets and alleys of Yuecheng, almost everyone is talking about this, and the atmosphere is extremely tense.

In the meeting hall of the palace, the candles were brightly lit that night, and Mu Fulan sat alone behind the desk, looking at a letter written in front of her.

There was a sound of footsteps.

Yuan Handing walked in and said in a low voice, “Master Weng, Sanmiao’s side has all been arranged and you can go on the road at any time. The third clan respects Lord Weng like a god, and Lord Weng takes the young master over there. Don’t worry, you can save the rest of your life. No worries.”

Mu Fulan was dazed for a moment, nodded and smiled: “Thank you for your hard work. Lu Lin and the others have been frightened these days, and they are embarrassing them.” She pushed the painted letter in her hand.

“This letter is very important. After you send the letter tomorrow morning, I will convene the ministers and members of the Mu clan to explain my decision to them. In the future, those who are willing to retreat to Sanmiao with me will go with me. I do not want to go. Yes, even if you stay. In the letter, I will try my best to strive for a position of wealth for these people. Even if the future cannot be compared with today, it should still be possible to maintain a lifetime of peace and security. As for those who want to go further, wait for the new dynasty After that, it’s up to them to see what they can do.”

“If we can unify without fighting, I don’t expect Xie Changgeng to treat these old people of Changsha country badly.”

Yuan Handing hesitated, and said, “Master Weng, as long as you say a word, the 100,000 soldiers of Changsha will not only respond with arms, but at Sanmiao, the three clans also swear their allegiance to Lord Weng, and within a few days, the army will be assembled. Let him be dispatched. If Xie Changgeng’s army comes, I will lead the soldiers and go all out, I dare not say victory, but he can’t imagine winning Dongting so easily, once he is frustrated, he will have scruples.”

“Take 10,000 steps back and say, even if I really lose in the end, then it will not be too late for me to protect Wengzhu and retreat to Sanmiao. Wengzhu, don’t wrong yourself too much!”

Mu Fulan smiled.

“Brother Yuan, I know you don’t see me being wronged, but you don’t know, I’m not aggrieved in this matter. If I wanted to compete for hegemony like Zhao Xitai, I would have asked you to attack everywhere. You don’t have to think too much about it. The general trend of the world tends to be like this. If it hadn’t been for you to train troops that day, Changsha country would not have the capital to negotiate with Xie Changgeng today. For me, or for the subjects of Changsha, it is the best result. Even facing the ancestors of the Mu family, I have a clear conscience.”

Yuan Handing was silent for a moment, then stepped forward, took the letter with both hands, and said respectfully, “As ordered.”

When he turned around and was about to exit, there was a sudden sound of scurrying footsteps outside the hall, and the attendant entered and said: “Master Weng, there was a person outside the city gate just at night, claiming to be Liang Tuan, Master Dao Weng recognized him and said yes. Those who were ordered to deliver a letter to Lord Weng were left outside the city gate.”

Mu Fulan was slightly startled, and then asked, “Where’s the letter?”

The man hurried forward and delivered a letter.

Mu Fulan took it and looked at the envelope with a bright candle.

There is only one line on the cover.

“Mushi’s Weng Master personally enlightened”.

Seeing these words like iron and silver hooks, Mu Fulan’s heart skipped a beat.

She recognized it instantly.

This is Xie Changgeng’s word.

At this time, he suddenly took the initiative to write to himself, what did he want to do?

Mu Fulan opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.

On the letter paper, there are only a few words.

He said that he had something important to discuss with her. He originally wanted to come to Yuecheng by himself, but I was afraid that she would be inconvenient, so he stopped in Fuzhou and asked her to take the time to go to Yunmeng, where he waited for her to meet.

She watched it once and couldn’t help but watch it again.

The word is Xie Changgeng’s word, she will never admit it wrong. But what surprised her was that the tone of his letter, from the beginning to the end, was extremely polite, and there seemed to be a sense of prudence between the lines, as if the person who wrote the letter had carefully considered the words before writing it down. this letter.

Mu Fulan was surprised.

After Empress Liu was executed, the Eastern Court, which had been in a standoff with Shangjing for several years, also fell.

The time has come. In her original idea, now, Xie Changgeng is most likely to be busy, and should be enthroned and proclaimed emperor.

Even if he disregarded the promise passed on to him through Xi’er, he couldn’t wait to strike while the iron was hot, and now he would take Dongting as his own, and it wouldn’t be so ugly, so he came here to put pressure on him in person.

With his means, there are many ways. That Fuzhou Li Liang is his ready-made minions.

But at this time, he secretly went south, and received such a letter, asking him to meet, what did he want?

Seeing Yuan Handing looking at her, she handed the letter to him.

After reading it, Yuan Handing immediately said: “Master Weng, don’t go, beware of fraud! If he really has something to do, ask him to come here to discuss it.”

Mu Fulan pondered for a moment, and said, “He has the upper hand now, even if he really wants to be detrimental to me or Changsha, he doesn’t have to spend so much trouble. Besides, the place to meet is Yunmeng, so don’t worry about it. Those who want to send a letter to him to discuss matters, now that others have come by themselves, it is cheaper. There are some things, it is better to discuss in person.”

She put away the letter, ordered someone to invite Liang Tuan to take a rest, and said to Yuan Handing, “There is no need to alarm Lu Lin and the others tomorrow morning. Bring some people and follow me to Yunmeng to see what he wants on his trip.”