Fenghou

Qiao Wu immediately ordered the flag to be replaced with the red-bottomed black dragon flag of the Western Army.

……

The pier was extremely quiet, and the river was also very quiet. Hundreds of large ships were moored on the wide river, without any movement, and there was no sign of troops disembarking.

Wang Jian felt bad. He remembered what Liu Ziyu said, what if he faked the attack?

Sure enough, Liu Ziyu was right, Wang Jian felt regretful, and ordered: "The whole army retreats to the city!"

The army turned around and retreated, but after retreating less than three miles, the soldiers shouted, "Dutong! The army behind did not catch up."

Wang Jian hastily reined in his horse and looked back. Sure enough, there were less than a thousand troops behind him. Li Hongdeng, Kong Changzhi, Shao Wen, the three commanders and their troops were all gone.

"Go and see what's going on?"

Several soldiers urged their horses to run south, and after a while the soldiers came back to report, "Dutong, they are gone!"

Wang Jian secretly cried out that it is not good, these generals have different intentions, he cannot stay here for long, he must withdraw to the city immediately.

Wang Jian led less than a thousand people to run at high speed, but the road was dark at night, and the soldiers ran less and less. The soldiers seized the opportunity and rushed to the rice fields on both sides. When they were less than two miles away from the county seat, there were only 300 people left behind Wang Jian. It was the three hundred soldiers he brought from Lin'an.

Wang Jian was completely insane. The [-] troops he brought out managed to escape completely. This was not a problem with a certain general, but a mutiny at the bottom.

Wang Jian was full of hatred, anger and fear, and rushed to the bottom of the city with three hundred men, only to see dozens of bloody heads hanging above the city gate, they were the deputy general Wu Yao and his personal soldiers.

Qiao Wu sneered on the top of the wall and said, "Wang Jian, when you regarded us as pigs and dogs, you never thought that we would be here today!"

Wang Jian was so angry that he cursed, "Bastard! You bastard! You will die!"

Qiao Wu waved his hand, "Archery!"

Arrows were fired from the top of the city. Wang Jian swung his sword and drew the arrows, retreating again and again, but his soldiers were caught off guard and dozens of people were shot down.

Helpless, Wang Jian had no choice but to lead his men around the city and fled to the north...

The large ships on the Minjiang River began to dock at the south wharf. The large ships were actually empty ships, and [-] troops gathered on the south bank. The commanders Liu Qiong and Tang Qian personally led them.

Even Liu Qiong himself didn't think that before they crossed the river, the [-] troops on the opposite side had all collapsed. The main general Wang Jian fled north in panic without even shooting an arrow. merit. '

As the sky gradually dawned, [-] Western troops entered Min County. The soldiers and civilians in the city happily beat gongs and drums to welcome the Western troops to enter the city. Qiao Wu led a large group of generals to salute. Treat the people of Fujian Road as your own people, you are the soldiers of Fujian Road, let alone kill, from now on, you are a member of the Western Army, and Fujian Road will also be guarded by you."

Qiao Wu raised his arms and shouted: "Long live! Long live His Royal Highness King Yong!"

"Long live His Royal Highness King Yong! Long live!"

Shouts resounded throughout the county...

Liu Qiong immediately divided his troops into five groups, each with [-] troops, and went to Jianzhou, Shaowu Army, Nanjianzhou, Tingzhou, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Fuzhou and Xinghua Army respectively. fell into the hands of the Western Army.

……

In the Ziwei side hall of the Lin'an Imperial Palace, Liu Ziyu's work report meeting was officially held. The emperor Zhao Gou, five ministers, several academicians and senior officials from various ministries all participated in the work report.

The job report was asked by Zuo Xiangguo Zhu Shengfei, and the questions were drafted by the emperor Zhao Gou. There were three questions in total, all of which were Zhao Gou's concerns.

"May I ask the appeasement envoy, did King Yong Chen Qing write to you two months ago?"

Liu Ziyu sighed secretly in his heart, he knew exactly what he was going to ask today, Zhang Jun had told him before, and he himself was prepared.

"That's what happened!"

Liu Ziyu replied frankly: "Chen Qing did write me a letter two months ago."

"Then please answer truthfully, what is the content of the letter?" Zhu Shengfei asked aggressively.

Liu Ziyu pondered for a moment and said: "Chen Qing said that he would set up a criminal department and invited me to be the chief officer. At the same time, he will succeed Zhang Miao who is about to retire and join the cabinet to participate in political affairs."

There was a slight commotion all around, and Chen Qing actually invited Liu Ziyu to join the cabinet to participate in political affairs. Such a good opportunity, Liu Ziyu did not go to Jingzhao.

"Then how did you reply?"

"I told Chen Qing that I am not in good health. The poison from the arrow wound from that year has been left in my body, which has caused great harm to my body. I am not suitable for living in a cold place. In the future, I will still live in a warm place in the south."

Zhao Gou waved his hand lightly, this question can be passed.

Zhu Shengfei nodded, and asked again: "Second question, your three sons and nephews are all high-ranking officials in the Western Army, and you are the only one serving as an official in the imperial court. What are your considerations? I mean to say , why don't you live with your own children, which is more in line with human relations?"

Liu Ziyu nodded, "You asked a very good question. Frankly speaking, I wanted to retire a long time ago, especially in the past two years, my health has been getting worse every year, and I feel that the toxins in my body have invaded my internal organs. Maybe only two or three years. My life is over, and the reason why I stay in office is that I can't get in the way of Zhang Xianggong's request, and the kindness is hard to turn down. Secondly, I have an adopted son in Fuzhou, and he is still studying. I think I will resign when he is a little older.

Now that I have made up my mind, I will hand in my resignation after today's job report meeting, and live in the south of Sichuan Road, where it is also very warm and good for my health. I hope that Chen Qing will seal my second son to the south of Sichuan As an official, it is also convenient to take care of me. "

After Liu Ziyu said these words, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay. Liu Ziyu had already decided to resign, so what's the point of the report?

At this time, a guard walked quickly outside the hall and said loudly: "Report to Your Majesty, urgent report from Fujian Road!"

Zhao Gou hurriedly said: "Come up quickly!"

An eunuch went down, took the urgent report, and forwarded it to the emperor Zhao Gou. Zhao Gou spread the urgent report and read it in a hurry.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

The ministers turned pale with fright, and stepped forward to rescue him one after another. Qin Hui picked up the military newspaper on the ground with quick hands.

"Twenty thousand Fujian troops mutinied and surrendered to the Western Army. The deputy general Wu Yao was killed, the chief general Wang Jian fled north in panic, and the whole area of ​​Fujian Road was occupied by the Western Army. '

Chapter 350 Protest

In the imperial study room, Emperor Zhao Gou stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, his face ashen and silent.

He fainted briefly, and the imperial doctor asked him to stay in bed, but he refused, and immediately summoned five ministers to discuss matters in the imperial study.

"Tell me! What should I do now?"

Zhao Gou said in a low voice: "Fujian Road was forcibly taken away by the Western Army, and also cut off our connection with Guangnan Road. What retreat do we have?"

The four prime ministers all looked at Qin Hui. He is the prime minister on the right, and he should be the first to answer this question.

Qin Hui had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "Now we should summon the special envoys of King Yong and ask them to abide by their promises and withdraw from the Fujian Road they have seized. In any case, we must gain the upper hand in morals and let everyone in the world know about Chen Qing's treachery. .”

Next to him, Xu Xiantu said coldly: "If everyone in the world knows about Chen Qing's treachery, then he really has no worries. How many days can we support if the 50 army is suppressed?"

Xu Xiantu's reminder made Zhao Gou's heart tremble, maybe Chen Qing was really waiting for this day.

"What should I do?"

Qin Hui was dissatisfied and said: "Just watching Fujian Road being taken away, and Guangnan Road being cut off from us? What about the tax on Fujian Road? What about the tax on Guangnan Road? Let Xu Xiangguo talk about it." Your good idea!"

The tax issue hurt Zhao Gou, how could they support the army without the tax on Fujian Road?

Zhao Gou also turned around, and said to Xu Xiantu, "Xu Aiqing, tell me!"

Xu Xiantu said slowly: "Your Majesty, it is a fact that Fujian Road has been forcibly occupied. We also need to take action. It is necessary to summon Hu Yun first. They have indeed violated the original agreement reached by the two parties and asked the other party to give us an explanation.

Secondly, we need to get a channel to communicate with Guangnan Road, which also needs to be negotiated with the other side.

Third, we must actively consider ways to take back Fujian Road, including military pressure and encouraging the gentry and common people of Fujian Road to fight.

Fourth, we are too passive on the water, and we must find a way to reverse this passive situation. "

After Xu Xiantu finished speaking, Qin Hui immediately objected: "Your Majesty, I do not agree with Xu Xianggong's second point. We cannot negotiate with the other party to connect with Guangnan Road. This is tantamount to admitting the legitimacy of the other party's occupation of Fujian Road. .”

Zhao Gou also felt that something was wrong, so he asked Zhang Jun, "What does Mr. Zhang think?"

Recently Zhao Gou thinks highly of Zhang Jun and almost obeys him.

Zhang Jun said calmly: "Your Majesty, I support Xu Xianggong's plan, but on the second point, I suggest that you wait a little longer and don't rush to negotiate with the other party. It is a last resort. Weichen suggested sending people to Guangzhou in the name of a caravan, on the one hand to report the situation to the states of Guangnan and South, and on the other hand to collect ships, prepare to open up sea passages, and continue to maintain our legal rule over Guangnan and South.”

Zhang Jun's suggestion was appreciated by the emperor Zhao Gou. He was very rational and pragmatic. The most urgent thing was to get things done first instead of discussing such illusory things as morality. Of course, Zhao Gou was also afraid of angering Chen Qing, so he had no moral concerns. The Western Army could destroy the Song Dynasty in a few days.

"Let's do it separately! Xu Xianggong went to negotiate with Hu Yun and asked them to fulfill the agreement and withdraw from occupying Fujian Road. Zhang Xiang's police dispatched a military plan to put pressure on Fujian Road's military. Qin Xianggong was responsible for contacting the famous nobles of Fujian Road. Encourage them to stand up against the Western Army's occupation of Fujian Road."

After finalizing the strategy for Fujian Road, Zhao Gou immediately summoned Huang Guinian to encourage him, and then appointed Huang Guinian as the appeasement envoy of Guangnan Lianglu to appease Guangnan Lianglu on behalf of the imperial court, and was responsible for collecting ships and opening up the sea. aisle.

Ships have become the most important thing. Jiangnan's shipbuilding capabilities are actually very strong. There are so many boats in the river, all of which are small boats under 10,000 shi, or tugboats around [-] shi. It is obviously unrealistic to build a big ship because of the strong winds and waves on the sea. First, it cannot afford the time. It will take two or three years at the fastest to build a three thousand stone ship. Second, it is also unaffordable financially. If the salary can be barely guaranteed, all other expenses will be cut, not to mention the expenditure of tens of thousands of guan, [-]+ guan in shipbuilding.

Without the financial resources for shipbuilding, the imperial court could only find ways to get the ideas of the people, but unfortunately, after several rounds of exploitation, the existing ships of the people are very small.

The last hope is on Guangnan Lianglu, where there are still some seagoing ships.

Early the next morning, Xu Xiantu and another deputy prime minister, Guo Wanqixie, came to see Hu Yun and lodged a strong protest to King Yong represented by Hu Yun.

"This is a breach of trust and a complete violation of the Fujian Road agreement reached by the two parties!"

Xu Xiantu took out the agreement reached between Chen Qing and the emperor Zhao Gou, and pointed to the last one: "It is clearly written in black and white. The imperial court handed over Quanzhou of Fujian Road to the Xuanfu Envoy of Sichuan and Shanxi for governance. Except for isolated islands in the sea, Fujian Road The rest of the states are all owned by the imperial court, and neither side has any objection..."

Hu Yun smiled slightly: "At this time and at that time, the premise of signing this agreement was that the first emperor was still under construction, and that the first emperor would no longer seek the throne. If either of these two prerequisites is not satisfied, then this agreement will be invalidated. These two prerequisites were also written down and signed and approved by both parties, I remember it in the attachment of the text, does Xu Xianggong still remember?"

Of course Xu Xiantu remembered that he was the one who drafted the agreement. Xu Xiantu was silent for a moment and said, "Could it be that these two prerequisites don't exist anymore?"

Hu Yun nodded, "One of them no longer exists, the late emperor died!"

Xu Xiantu and Wan Qixie looked at each other and asked in unison, "When did it happen?"

"Two months ago! He liked to make alchemy, but he died of poisoning after taking the elixir he made. It's a pity that His Highness did not hold a public funeral at the request of the former prince. The coffin will be transported back to Bianliang for burial at the right time."

"This one……"

Xu Xiantu didn't know what to say. He had a feeling of being punched in the air. He came up with an agreement. He thought he could condemn the other party and gain the upper hand morally. Unexpectedly, he was calmly resolved by the other party. The premise of the agreement was not If so, then this agreement will be invalidated, and there will be no moral clauses that they can restrain each other.

Wan Qixi said unwillingly: "It doesn't mean that without an agreement, you can occupy the land of the imperial court at will. Your behavior itself is illegal and a betrayal of the emperor and the imperial court. The imperial court requires you to immediately withdraw from the illegally occupied Fujian Road. States."

Hu Yun said indifferently: "The territory of the world belongs to the people of the world, and only those who are virtuous can live. We just want to let the people of Fujian Road have enough food, be able to lightly pay and pay, and recuperate. This is the rule of saints.

However, under your rule, the land tax received five taxes and one, and the salt price was four hundred yuan a catty. There has never been such a heavy tax in the past dynasties. The cruel exploitation made the people destitute. In order to survive, the people from all over Fujian Road fled to Quanzhou with their families. , In just a few years, the population of Quanzhou has increased by five times. With such a bad government, you still have the nerve to say that Fujian Road is yours. Where have you read the books of saints? I am really ashamed of you! "

The two were left speechless by the scolding, and Hu Yun naturally didn't accept the so-called protest, but Xu Xiantu and Wan Qixi had no choice but to go back to the emperor for business.

In the imperial study room, Wan Qixie was sent away, and Zhao Gou left only Xu Xiantu alone. The situation changed, and the troops opposed fighting with the Western Army one after another. They were agitated. pressure plan.

At the same time, news came from Wenzhou that dozens of officials who did not want to be loyal to King Yong were driven out of Fujian Road, and the Western Army on Fujian Road did not allow court officials to pass through the border.

Zhao Gou's Fujian Road plan suffered major setbacks and had to be adjusted.

The first thousand and 350 chapters of reality

"The first emperor died?" Zhao Gou was stunned by the news.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Hu Yun said that the late Emperor passed away two months ago. He liked to make alchemy and died of poisoning after taking the elixir he made."

"Why didn't you mourn?"

Zhao Gou's tone was extremely dissatisfied: "At any rate, he is also a majestic emperor, and he just died without a sound, without even the most basic funeral?"

"The other party said that it was the request of the former crown prince, and he will be sent to the imperial tomb for burial at the right time."

"Hmph! I just deliberately kept the funeral secret, lest I know that the late emperor has gone, and they won't be able to blackmail me anymore."

Zhao Gou's dissatisfaction was only on the surface. Of course, the death of his eldest brother made him breathe a sigh of relief, and a huge hidden danger was gone.

After walking a few steps with his hands behind his back, Zhao Gou said again: "Xu Aiqing, there are only two of us, the monarch and his ministers, tell me the truth, can Fujian Road be taken back?"

Xu Xiantu shook his head, "Your Majesty, the possibility of getting it back is gone."

Zhao Gou's face was full of disappointment, and he sighed for a while and said, "Then what should I do?"

Xu Xiantu said in a low voice. "Your Majesty, it is a fact that Fujian Road has been lost, but no matter how much Hu Yun argues, they still have moral flaws in this matter. They know well that the best thing for us is to take advantage of this moral flaw. defects, put forward some requirements.

Of course, the request should not be too much, maybe they can agree, this is actually the last chance, if Qin Xiangguo is allowed to pester him unrealistically, he will only get nothing in the end! "

Xu Xiantu's persuasion was pertinent, and Zhao Gou had to face the reality that Fujian Road had been swallowed up, and it was impossible for Chen Qing to spit it out again, so just as Xu Xiantu said, taking advantage of Chen Qing's moral flaws in Fujian Road, Ask him something.

Zhao Gou was silent for a long while and said: "Then go and continue talking with them. I can admit that the Fujian Road belongs to King Yong, but I have four requirements. First, I want the Guangnan Passage. Second, I want twenty Wanshi ships. Sea boat, third, I want the emperor's coffin, and fourth, I want them to make a clear promise not to make any more plans for Guangnan."

……

In Changfeng Teahouse, Hu Yun handed a letter to Wang Mu, "This will be published in the newspaper tomorrow, and it is His Highness King Yong's instruction."

"What is it?" Wang Mu picked up the letter and asked.

"The obituary of the late emperor's death!"

Wang Mu was taken aback, "The late emperor passed away?"

"It has been more than half a year since his death, and there has been no funeral. His Royal Highness Yong wants to make the news public after seizing Fujian Road, which means that the agreement signed with the emperor before is invalidated."

"This late emperor held the Son of Heaven for so many years, and now that he is finally dead, I'm afraid he will breathe a sigh of relief!"

Hu Yun said with a faint smile: "In fact, the first emperor is worthless, but the former crown prince still has some value. After all, the emperor has no heirs now. If the first emperor is still valuable, His Highness will not release the news of his death."

"No problem, it will be on the headlines tomorrow, but whether or not the matter of Fujian Luyi should be published, there is a lot of discussion in Lin'an City now. If I don't publish such a big matter, the newspaper will lose its credibility."

Hu Yun thought for a while and said: "I'm still negotiating with the other party. After the negotiation is over, I can log it out. The death of the late emperor tomorrow will divert public opinion, so you don't have to worry too much."

Wang Mu smiled and said, "You mean, the other party will admit that Fujian Road belongs to us?"