Chapter 849 848 [There is no clear sky but there is sunshine]

As the city of Hanyang fell into the hands of Liang Jun, the Southern Zhou Dynasty was forced to switch to all-out defense.

Starting from Liangzhou on the border in the west, with the Ningguo Camp, Chengbei Camp and Linjiang Camp in the middle forming the defense framework, and ending at the bank of the vast sea in the east, the defense line stretching for more than 2,000 miles made the troops seem stretched thin. The Southern Zhou Military Aircraft Department could only order

Various ministries held fast to the large cities, military towns and passes along the route.

In the process of rescuing Hanyang, the Nanwufeng Navy encountered the urgent pursuit of Daliang Dingzhou Navy and lost some warships. After the fall of Hanyang, the north and south sides of the water area of ​​more than 100 miles were occupied by Liangjun and Wufeng.

The navy had no choice but to retreat upriver and return to its old water village at the junction of Ningzhou and Liangzhou in the Southern Zhou Dynasty to lick its wounds.

After Pei Yue's bold planning step by step, Daliang gained a firmer foothold on the south bank of Tiancang River and captured a narrow strip of land between Hanyang City and Jiangling City, which was a hundred miles long from east to west and more than twenty miles wide from north to south.

There are two large cities and three auxiliary cities in this area. There are three excellent ferries along the coast and two pontoon bridges on the river.

After several days of continuous mobilization, the Changping Camp, Qinian Camp and Zhennan Camp on the north bank sent a large number of sharp soldiers southward. There were 50,000 troops stationed in Hanyang City and 60,000 troops in Jiangling City.

Under Pei Yue's instructions, the subordinates did not make any cover-up of this troop strength, and even allowed Southern Zhou scouts to secretly observe at close range. The trend of the army taking advantage of the victory to move south was clearly evident.

At this time, the Southern Zhou court had turned into a mess.

The prestige of Xie Xiao, the Prime Minister and Minister of Military Affairs and the Duke of Zhenguo, dropped to the bottom. Xian Chunqiu, the Marquis of Jubei, took advantage of the situation. For the first time, the two military poles in the Southern Zhou Dynasty were on equal footing. Moreover, because the Fang family of Pingjiang lost a large number of key generals in this battle, Fang Fang

Xie Xiao's authority has been further weakened, and the future pattern is difficult to predict.

After the military suffered a serious blow, the voices of the peace faction in the court became louder and louder, and the Northern Liang army was eyeing it and might launch a war to destroy the country at any time, so it was urgent to plead for peace talks.

It's just that even Emperor Qingyuan knew that if he wanted to ask for Beiliang's forgiveness this time, he obviously had to be prepared to cut the flesh, and marriage would not have any effect.

More than ten years ago, Gu Liang led the army southward after capturing Jiangling. At that time, the foundation of the Southern Zhou Dynasty was solid and the army and the people were united. The Pingjiang camp was even more ruthless and not afraid of death, giving the Beiliang vanguard a head-on attack.

Nowadays, not only the strength of the army has been damaged, but there is also a clear trend of internal fighting. Even the trapped camp has been crippled by the cavalry led by Pei Yue himself. Who else can stop the Beiliang cavalry whose morale has reached its peak?

After numerous disputes, Xie Xiao, the Duke of Zhenguo, resigned, and Xian Chunqiu, Marquis of Jubei, took over as Prime Minister and Minister of Military Affairs. He was in charge of the Military Aircraft Department, which commanded the country's soldiers, and was responsible for reinforcing the northern border defense line.

The peace faction continued to stir up waves, and finally Emperor Qingyuan and Xu Huiyan had no choice but to give in and decide to seek peace with Beiliang.

However, is Beiliang really willing to start peace talks?

…

"Peace talks are inevitable."

In the spacious courtyard, there is a stone table under the tree, with various snacks and fruits placed on it. Pei Yue picked up the tea cup and took a sip, smiling and said to Ye Qi next to him.

Ye Qi is actually not interested in these things, because she doesn't like playing chess, and she also knows how tedious and difficult it is to think about the chess game from a high enough level. But this does not prevent her from being an excellent listener, so she does not

Jie Di asked: "Why? Didn't you ask the North Bank to move troops south to take advantage of the situation to capture the Southern Zhou border?"

Pei Yue smiled and shook his head and said: "Daliang has been uneasy these past few years, and the imperial court has no surplus food. Not to mention the locust plagues in various places in the past few years, just saying that we fought a whole year of war in the west last year, and the hair of the Minister of Household Affairs was...

It’s all over. There is a severe drought in the three states this year. If Xiangyun hadn’t acted righteously, I think that Mr. Lu might have hanged himself.”

Ye Qi smiled. It was obvious that this guy was bragging, but she couldn't think of a way to refute him.

Pei Yue continued: "In the final analysis, war is a competition of national strength, and it is absolutely impossible without money. No matter how brave the soldiers are, they can only win one city and one land at most. Without enough support, they cannot win the overall situation. The Southern Zhou Dynasty seems weak.

, In fact, the territory is more than half of Daliang, and there are hundreds of good generals and hundreds of thousands of armor, how can it be destroyed so easily."

Ye Qi nodded thoughtfully, which is why she likes to chat with Pei Yue, unlike some people who always drop their book bags or talk too much in the clouds.

Pei Yue stretched out and said with a smile: "I asked Guo Xing and others to move their troops south. The purpose is to put pressure on the Southern Zhou Dynasty and force them to actively seek peace, so that our government can calmly extort money."

Ye Qi asked curiously: "Extortion?"

Pei Yue said: "This is an allusion, just listen to me slowly -"

Before he finished speaking, Taohua appeared at the courtyard door and said with a strange expression: "Master, that Miss Xu wants to see you."

"Huh?" Pei Yue was slightly startled.

Ye Qi said with a smile but not a smile: "You have been back to Jiangling for so many days, but it seems that you have never visited Xu Churong. Are you worried that sister Zhen'er will not let her in in the future?"

Pei Yue said sternly: "Ye Qi, I don't have any thoughts about her. Heaven and earth can learn from her."

Ye Qi tilted his head slightly and asked, "Really?"

Pei Yue nodded quickly and said, "It's absolutely true."

Ye Qi raised her hand and tapped his forehead, and said angrily: "It's weird to believe you! Taohua, please invite that Miss Xu to come in."

Taohua responded with a smile: "Yes."

When Xu Churong walked in, Pei Yue and Ye Qi were chatting happily. The intimacy between the two was not deliberate, but a natural expression. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but feel sad in her heart, but her face was full of sadness.

She could barely keep calm. After stepping forward to greet him, she sat down on the other side of the stone table at Ye Qi's polite invitation.

Pei Yue coughed lightly and said slowly: "Miss Xu, what advice do you have?"

Xu Churong looked sad, lowered his head and said, "I want to ask Marquis Pei for something."

Pei Yue's heart moved and he asked: "You want to go back to Jian'an City? This is not a difficult task, Miss Xu——"

Xu Churong raised his head suddenly, looked directly into Pei Yue's eyes, and said sincerely: "I won't go back."

Pei Yue's last words stopped abruptly, and he turned to look at the smiling Ye Qi with a slight guilt, and read the four words "As expected" from her bright eyes. He immediately felt very aggrieved, knowing that he had done nothing.

, this kind of ignorance

How could he accept the injustice, so he said to Xu Churong: "Miss Xu, although the two countries are at war, I will not take it out on you, and the war has nothing to do with you. Don't worry, I will let people know when the situation becomes clear.

Send you back."

Xu Churong shook his head firmly and said, "Thank you very much, Marquis Pei, for your kindness, but I am not here for myself today."

Pei Yue heard the implication of her words, and his face gradually became serious: "Are you here for Princess Qinghe?"

Xu Churong glanced at Ye Qi who was silent next to him, nodded and said: "Pei Hou, now that the war between the two countries has begun, the marriage must be cancelled. The princess sister is a good person, and I will guarantee with my life that she does not know about the plan in the south. I sincerely ask Mr. Pei Hou

In large quantities, the princess sister is allowed to return to the south. Churong...Churong is willing to work as a cow and a horse for the rest of his life to repay the kindness of the Marquis."

As she spoke, she stood up and moved to the side, and then knelt down to salute Pei Yue.

However, as soon as her knees touched the ground, her arms were lifted up.

Turning around, Ye Qi pulled her up with a normal expression, and then said to her: "Pei Yue will not bully you two weak women."

Xu Churong said with a complicated expression: "Thank you, Sister Ye."

Ye Qi turned around and said, "No need to say thank you."

Pei Yue sighed in his heart and said slowly: "Miss Xu, forgive me for not agreeing to this."

Xu Churong's face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with sadness.

Pei Yue said seriously: "When I was in Jian'an, the two countries had exchanged letters of credence. From that time on, Princess Qinghe was from Daliang. I have already compiled the letter and sent it to Kyoto. Regardless of whether His Highness the First Prince is willing to fulfill the engagement, she will

It is impossible for her to return to Southern Zhou. Of course, even if the eldest prince does not marry the princess, I can give you a guarantee that she will live a peaceful and happy life for the rest of her life."

Looking at Xu Churong's sad face, Pei Yue slowed down and said: "Even if you don't want to go back, how can Princess Qinghe be willing to go back? Let's see in a few years, at least now I can't let her go back, it will only kill her.

She. As for yourself..."

Xu Churong interrupted him again and said, "I won't go back."

Pei Yue sighed softly, nodded and said, "This is your freedom."

Xu Churong saluted the two of them again and said softly: "I've disturbed you two, Churong, please leave."

Watching her thin and lonely figure leaving the small courtyard, Ye Qi said lightly: "From the beautiful daughter of the Xu family in Qinghe to the current situation, it is no wonder that her heart is filled with despair. Speaking of which, those people in Southern Zhou are really unworthy of human beings.

Even someone as noble as a princess is just a pawn in their eyes."

Pei Yue said: "I hate old foxes like Xu Huiyan."

Ye Qi smiled knowingly: "It seems that he has already thought of this escape route, but you don't intend to follow his arrangement."

A murderous look appeared on Pei Yue's face, and he nodded: "As early as when we were in Kyoto, I was curious about why Xu Huiyan wanted to send the apple of his eye to me. In fact, he had this idea since then. He knew that the Xu family in Qinghe

As someone with great influence among the Nandu family, I also know that I will definitely not miss this opportunity. From this perspective, Xu Churong can be regarded as a tribute from the Xu family in Qinghe."

Ye Qi looked at him with interest and asked: "Then will you accept the condition given by Xu Huiyan?"

After a long time, Pei Yue said in a deep voice: "No."

Ye Qi asked again: "Why?"

Pei Yue said: "Although I am not against all kinds of vicious tricks, I can't treat people as objects. That's why I said I hate Xu Huiyan. Xu Churong is not a particularly lovable character, but there is nothing bad about her.

I should not have fallen victim to these conspiracy calculations. I know I am not a good person, but a man must do something and something he should not do."

Ye Qi laughed crisply, then stood up and kissed Pei Yue gently on the cheek.
Chapter completed!