Three thousand miles in exile

This winter, the concubine of the Pei family holds the power in the court and promotes unjust imprisonment, and the whole imperial capital is in turmoil.

In the end, the butcher's knife of Pei's concubine fell on Zhao's head.

"Uncle Zhao Guo, come with us, or it will be too late!" Liu Zhanan, the leader of the dark guards stationed in the imperial capital, repeatedly persuaded him.

"The old man is innocent, why did you leave!" Zhao Jizhang was sitting in the main hall wearing an official robe. He looked out of the house and listened to the sound of beatings and killings in the distance.

Zhao Jizhang has already arranged for relatives to leave, and now the entire Zhao Mansion is empty.

After sending off relatives, Zhao Jizhang insisted on staying.

"What a Liang emperor! Indulge the ministers to hunt and kill important court officials!" Zhao Jizhang was shaking with anger. "The old man wants to see how he will convict me!"

"Uncle Zhao, the Emperor Liang is clearly insane. How can you reason with a lunatic?" The captain of the secret guard collected information for Liu Zhan, so he naturally knew a lot of secrets. "Did you know that Liang Tianzi took five stone powder every day?"

Zhao Jizhang was taken aback.

"He not only used five stone powder, but also used that indiscriminate drug to enhance the pleasure, and the wine pond meat forest night and night." The captain of the dark guard saw Zhao Jizhang's expression of disbelief, and continued to tell more secrets.

"Almost all the maids in the palace below have been favored. There are new faces on the dragon bed every day. If there are repetitions, the eunuchs will be beaten and scolded."

"Emperor Liang likes to use his virgins, and he discards them after use. He may give them to his clan members or to his guards, and even together with his guards... Sigh, the sensuality is unsightly."

Zhao Jizhang was completely dumbfounded.

He still remembered that Liang Tianzi was very diligent when he came to the throne, and the memorials in the imperial study were piled up to a man, and he also read them one by one.

It was because of Emperor Liang's diligence that Zhao Jizhang declined Liu Zhan's choice to stay as a minister of Liang.

What actually made Liang Tianzi willing to degenerate.

Is it the slander of a courtier?Or did supreme power tempt him to indulge?Zhao Jizhang suddenly understood that maybe it was a self-defeating self-abandonment due to internal and external troubles.

Liang Tianzi has exiled himself.

In the winter of the fourth year of Shengping in Daliang, Emperor Liang indulged Pei's concubine in Daxing's unjust imprisonment, and the persecuted former important officials fled with their families.

In the palace at this time, Liang Tianzi was furious because the officials fled, and he angered more people because of this.

"What is the Ministry of Punishment doing! You can't even catch a traitor! A bunch of wine bags and rice bags!" Liang Tianzi lost a lot of weight, but his spirit was abnormally high.

"Prime Minister, you take the imperial guards to arrest all the former court officials now, I don't need these wastes who are obedient and obedient!"

Emperor Liang ordered that people be arrested without charge. As long as they were ministers of the former court, as long as they pointed fingers at Emperor Liang in the court, as long as they had scolded Emperor Liang in private, they would all be arrested and sent to prison.

The ministers of the aristocratic family fell into panic.

Pei Gongli took this opportunity to remove obstacles and promoted batch after batch of Pei's children to serve as important ministers in the court, and his power reached its peak.

No one in the entire imperial capital and the entire court dared to contend with him.

However, Pei Gongli never imagined that the humiliation of ceding land and paying compensation only brought him a short winter peak.

In the spring of the fifth year of Shengping, Xirong continued to increase its troops to Hanzhong, and the scouts came to report, with nearly a million troops!

In March, Xirong's 30 forward troops approached Peizhou.

"Prime Minister! How did you guarantee it to me? This is the guarantee you said?!" Liang Tianzi was already on the verge of collapse.

Not to mention Emperor Liang, Pei Gongli was also dumbfounded at this time.

Daliang had been severely injured after the four-year war in Shengping, and it was impossible for the imperial court to recruit 40 troops.

It can be said that Daliang is at the end of his strength.

But Pei Gongli had no choice. Others could escape back to the ancestral land. Where could he escape?Ruichang City is gone, Pei's ancestral land is gone, he has nowhere to go except the Imperial Capital.

In order to take charge of the imperial court, he almost offended all the aristocratic families in the world. If he couldn't fight Xirong, he would die if he left the imperial capital.

"Your Majesty! I am willing to personally lead troops to fight against Xirong!"

This proverb is perfectly suitable to describe Pei Gongli at this time. When he personally presides over the preparations, he will know what Daliang has tossed the world into.

Several big cities in the south of the Yangtze River turned a blind eye to the transfer orders of the Ministry of War, especially the Lin family in Siyang, who had the toughest attitude.

Even if the people sent by Pei Gongli hold the imperial decree, Lin's words are still like this.

Looking at the people in the south of the Yangtze River, they all scolded Emperor Liang and prime minister Pei, and they didn't pay attention to Liang in their words.

Until the Xirong army approached Peizhou City, Pei Gongli failed to raise [-] soldiers and horses and supplies of food and grass.

Knowing that Xirong went south again, there was an unprecedented wave of refugees in Peizhou and Jizhou. Some people ran south, and some people went north to enter Han.

The general of Peizhou urged the imperial court to recruit troops many times, but the memorials were like mud and cows poured into the sea without any news.

It was late at night, and the palace of the Han Dynasty was quiet, except for the occasional footsteps of the imperial guards patrolling the night.

"Xiao Lian wrote back, King Qing wants to have an interview with me, and tomorrow I will go to Taohe Pass." Liu Zhan said softly.

Song Fenglin opened his eyes. "What does King Qing want to talk about?"

"King Qing wants to keep the title, not hereditary, and he didn't mention whether his children and grandchildren want titles." Liu Zhan sat up and took the tobacco rod and stuffed it with shredded tobacco. "I originally thought that he would fight to retain the military power, but I didn't expect it to be such a good-sounding and useless title."

For this prince, King Qing paid [-] elites, and now he is desperate, and for this prince, he even wants the last military power.

Song Fenglin suddenly lost sleepiness. "Prince Qing wants to exchange military power for the prince, but after so many years of fighting in the Qing army, it is estimated that more than half of them will be disabled. Whether it can be used is another matter."

"It's still my queen who can see clearly." Liu Zhan sat up and swallowed, pinching Song Fenglin's ear. "If he doesn't know what to do, I won't have to take his family back to raise him. It's only a matter of time before Gaozhou surrenders."

As long as Liu Zhan cuts off his food, Gaozhou won't be able to last even a month.

Early the next morning, Liu Zhan set off for Taohe Pass, and Li Xiaolian led five thousand cavalry to escort him.

Passing through Huangchuan and passing Daizhou on the way, the south of Huangchuan is now more prosperous than before. New villages and terraced fields have been opened on both sides of the post road along the way, whether it is mountain forest or flat land, and the population surge is naturally prosperous.

The figure of Liu Zhan in a black dragon robe rode through Hengtang County. The county magistrate came to see him after hearing the news, but he directly refused to stop.

Two days later, Liu Zhan arrived at Taohe Pass.

Huang Wu, who was stationed here, led his troops to go out to meet the King of Han.

Liu Zhan raised his hand to signal them to be excused. "Let King Qing enter the pass to see this king."

At about a quarter of noon, King Qing and his party arrived at Taoshui River, but Huang Wushi on the gate tower did not open the door for him. "The King of Han has ordered that King Qing's entourage should not exceed three when he enters the pass."

There are hundreds of people in front of the guard of honor, and there are also thousands of soldiers holding the line.

King Qing sat in a luxurious car in a golden attire, his gray beard was neatly trimmed, and those who didn't know about this battle thought the emperor was coming.

On the other hand, Liu Zhan never wore a guard of honor, and those gaudy Huagaisheng flags had been left untouched in the warehouse. His guard of honor was his soldiers, and the glory of the King of Han was his powerful soldiers.

The contrast between King Qing and King Han was huge, and Huang Wushi looked down on this man who surrendered and wanted to show off.

"Soldiers are not allowed to enter, but guards of honor must be carried." The head of the guard stepped forward and replied.

Huang Wushi stood on the top of the city gate with a sword in his hand, repeating without looking sideways. "The King of Han has ordered that King Qing's entourage should not exceed three when he enters the pass."

For a while, the two sides were deadlocked outside the customs.

However, the barracks in Gaozhou City have run out of food. If they can't reach an agreement today, how will King Qing face those soldiers who fought for him when he went back.

King Qing had no choice but to agree.

In the end, only the head of the guards accompanied King Qing and the driver to enter Taohe Pass.

"Cars can only go here, King Qing please walk." It was not because of Huang Wushi's embarrassment, except for Hanwang's chariot, other chariots were not allowed to enter the core area of ​​the barracks. This was a recorded military rule.

King Qing was ashamed and angry, his beard trembling.

"King Qing, my subordinates will help you." The leader of the guards was a sensible person who took the initiative to step down the steps of King Qing. After entering the pass, they had no choice but to obey.

Liu Zhan was waiting for him in the big tent of the Chinese army in Guanzhong. From a distance, he saw a golden figure, with a golden crown, a golden dragon robe, a golden belt, and golden boots. Good guy, this is on par with gold.

It seems that it is false that King Qing has no money, but the truth is that he is reluctant to spend money.

Liu Zhan was expressionless, only mocking in his eyes.

When King Qing stepped into the central tent, he couldn't help being taken aback when he saw the young man sitting on the main seat. King Han's posture was casual and lazy, but there was a decisive aura of killing and punishment in those dark eyes.

"Show King Qing the tea."

Li Xiaolian immediately brought hot tea, and turned away from the left and right, leaving only himself and Huang Wushi's retinue in the middle account.

Liu Zhan spoke lightly. "This king has retreated from the guards, King Qing can rest assured."

"Thank you King Han for your sympathy." The head of the guards replied on behalf of King Qing.

Liu Zhan glanced at the guard. "Why didn't King Qing bring any of his generals here? General Zhang and this king have a little friendship."

"This king left General Zhang to guard the city." King Qing looked away.

It's not that he didn't think about bringing Zhang Taining, but he didn't want to lose face in front of the generals, so he only brought the guards.

Liu Zhan didn't expose him, and took a sip of the tea cup. "Then let's talk straight to the point."

King Qing didn't touch the cup of tea from the beginning to the end, he was not sure whether the King of Han would poison himself here.

"This king hopes to keep the prince and set up the palace, and as for the military power, he can give up without reservation." King Qing felt that he had already made the biggest concession.

Liu Zhan put down the teacup, with a seemingly casual tone but could not refuse. "One country cannot tolerate two kings. If you surrender to the Han, you will have to hand over your prince and military power. As compensation, this king will give you a Marquis to spend your old age in Jinyang City."

"This prince is just a title!" King Qing was anxious.

"Titles are not allowed either. This king will not let any possibility of extra problems exist." Liu Zhan changed his sitting position, and the invisible coercion made people dare not look directly at him.

"This king didn't come to see you to negotiate terms with you. If this king is determined to cut off your food and prohibit private caravans from selling food to Gaozhou, what do you think will happen?"

King Qing trembled all over.

If it is said that King Qing was still thinking about luck before, facing this young king who sees everything at this moment, King Qing is already ashamed.

"You still have value worthy of my king's negotiation?" Liu Zhan smashed his last chance. "This king came to see you because it was not easy for the soldiers of the Qing army to fight Xi Rong, and for the sake of these warriors, I reluctantly talked to you."

"If you don't know what's good or bad, you'll just treat the lives of soldiers as worthless just because of these false names." Liu Zhan sneered. "There is no need for us to talk about it in the future."

This is the attitude of King Han.

When King Qing stepped out of the middle account, he almost lost his footing.

After the car drove out of Taohe Pass, he was still in a daze. The guard of honor and guard soldiers came up again. King Qing looked at the guard of honor surrounded by the front and back, as if defeat and embarrassment had never existed.

After a winter, all the food in the city was eaten up. Without enough food, how could the [-] soldiers and the people in the city survive?

As soon as King Qing came back, Zhang Taining went to see him, but King Qing avoided him.

On that day, King Qing ordered his guards to bring out a box of silver to Zhang Taining, and ordered him to go to Cenzhou to buy grain, other than that, he kept quiet about Jiang Han.

The fact that King Qing still had silver in his hand was widely circulated in the barracks.

"If you have money, why don't you take it out to buy food earlier, are we playing monkeys when we are hungry?"

"Yesterday, I only ate one piece of dry food. I was so hungry that I couldn't sleep all night. I haven't been paid for half a year. If I want to buy something by myself, I don't have any copper coins."

"He starved to death instead of dying in battle, what a fucking coward."

A few veterans were cursing.

Zhang Taining passed by on horseback and threw a money bag to them. "Go buy something to eat."

Several veterans hurriedly kowtowed their heads in thanks, and immediately burst into tears.

Zhang Taining let out a long sigh, took the box of silver and went to pull down the old face to ask for food.

In spring, the people of Cenzhou across the river from Gaozhou are busy with spring plowing, merchants come and go, and the city is even more crowded on market days.

"General Zhang, you are welcome." The shopkeeper of Liu Ji Commercial Co., Ltd. whispered immediately after seeing Zhang Taining.

Zhang Taining dare not neglect someone who can be called a noble person by Liu Ji Trading Company. "Please lead the way."

"Don't dare, please come to General Zhang." The shopkeeper returned the salute with cupped fists.

Ever since the Qing army was defeated like a mountain, King Qing ordered them to retreat again and again. The proud general back then had to bend his back now.

Zhao Wuguang, who was accompanying him, showed pain on his face, but he quickly recovered his expression and hurriedly followed.

There is a private room on the second floor of Liuji Commercial House. Seven or eight guards guarded the door. When they saw Zhang Taining, they took the initiative to open the door for him.

"Hanwang!" Zhang Taining was taken aback.

Liu Zhan was sitting in the first seat in plain clothes, holding Song Fenglin's white jade folding fan and playing with it, with a half smile on his face. "General Zhang, are you safe?"

After recovering, Zhang Taining and Zhao Wuguang went inside to salute Liu Zhan. "The final general has seen the King of Han."

"You don't need to be too polite, just sit down." Liu Zhan nodded with a folding fan.

"Thank you King Han."

As soon as the two sat down, a guard brought in tea immediately.

How keen Zhang Taining and Zhao Wuguang are, it is obvious that Liu Zhan has made a special trip here to wait for them. As for what the intention is, they dare not ask unless Liu Zhan tells the truth.

"To tell the truth." Liu Zhan said casually, opening and closing the folding fan in his hand. "This king plans to send 20 troops to take Gaozhou."

For a moment, the two were shocked.

Liu Zhan continued without moving like a mountain: "One country cannot tolerate two kings, King Qing insists on keeping the king, this king has no choice but to do so."

Most of the people in the city had run out of food, and the army had eaten their last meal, but even so, King Qing still had no intention of letting go.

His attachment to the prince even did not hesitate to exchange the lives of the people in the city.

Zhang Taining's rough face was black and red, and he was really angry.

Zhao Wuguang's face over there was also very ugly, no wonder King Qing took out the money from the bottom of the box as soon as he came back, trying to hide it from them and get by.

"The soldiers under General Zhang's command are all veterans who have experienced many battles. It's a pity to be buried with King Qing like this." Liu Zhan smiled, and the words he said were full of enchanting magic.

"This king also plans to let General Zhang continue to lead your subordinates to avenge the people of Hanzhong after King Qing descends to Han."

Zhang Taining was shocked.

Even Zhao Wuguang was surprised.

So, instead of disbanding the Qing Army, Liu Zhan will continue to lead troops for Zhang Taining?This was a surprise that neither of them had expected.

"General Zhang is thinking about it?" Liu Zhan smiled again.

Smart people don't need to be explicit about what they say, even if Zhang Taining can't understand Liu Zhan's subtext, Zhao Wuguang will definitely understand it.

The defenders of Gaozhou City are less than 10 people at full strength, and they are hungry and full. The soldiers are yellow and thin. It is not easy to survive the winter.

If the Han army besieged the city, Gaozhou would be defeated in this battle.

"General Zhang!" Zhao Wuguang chased Zhang Taining.

During this trip, the King of Han generously gave food, and the two brought back the food. The soldiers cheered and waited for the cook to cook it, but Zhang Taining's expression was gloomy.

After entering the camp, Zhao Wuguang plopped down on his knees. "General, is it worth dying for King Qing?"

The two lieutenants Chen Zhishan and Zhang Guangsheng didn't know what was going on, so they froze in fright.

"Look at the soldiers under our command. How can we retreat from the enemy if we can't eat enough? When we go to the battlefield, we will die."

At this moment, Zhao Wuguang didn't care whether to say it or not. "Prince Qing is because he is reluctant to let this Wang Juefang not surrender to the Han. He can't make up his mind. Let's make up his mind for him!"

As soon as Zhang Taining sat down, he felt a splitting headache in the battle between heaven and man.

"The King of Han has given you an olive branch. It can preserve your position and your soldiers, general! Why hesitate?" Zhao Wuguang scratched his heart anxiously.

At this moment, Chen Zhishan and Zhang Guangsheng's two lieutenants also understood, this is a great way out!

"I'll be the bad guy. I'll kill King Qing. I'll take care of this." Zhang Guangsheng stood up immediately.

Zhao Wuguang knelt and supported Zhang Taining's knee. "General, think about the soldiers, think about the people of Gaozhou City!"

At this time Zhang Taining is facing a painful choice, whether to be loyal to the old master for the sake of justice.

After some struggles, Zhang Taining finally chose the former.

If it is delayed until the Han army sieges the city, he and his generals will be prisoners, and now they can win Gaozhou for the King of Han.

If he does not plan for himself, he must also plan for his subordinates. Like Zhao Wuguang who had an old grudge with the King of Han, he had to intercede with the King of Han for Zhao Wuguang.

Zhang Taining finally nodded in agreement.

To avoid having long nights and dreams, Zhang Guangsheng and Zhao Wuguang led troops to surround the mansion where King Qing's family lived that night.

The original intention of the two was to kill King Qing, but they didn't want the soldiers to have been angry for a long time. They had survived the whole winter by eating tree bark and roots, and they had been blinded by hatred.

Hearing the movement, more and more soldiers spontaneously rushed into King Qing's mansion to smash and vent their anger. It was not until the daylight that the turmoil in King Qing's temporary mansion gradually subsided.

Zhang Taining didn't show up from the beginning to the end, and he didn't know that the soldiers lost control. When he received the news and rushed to Prince Qing's mansion, his eyes were devastated.

In the end, none of King Qing's clan survived, so Zhang Taining ordered the old master's body to be collected, and the clan was buried outside the city.

The chaos in Gaozhou finally came to an end.