Just two sticks of incense had passed when hundreds of soldiers rushed from the official road in the distance, shouting, "The Western Army is coming, close the city gate quickly!"
A mile behind them, a Western army was chasing them in a mighty manner.
More than a hundred people rushed to the city, only to find that the city gate was closed and the suspension bridge was pulled up. The leading general cursed, "Idiot, wait until we enter before closing the city gate!"
What responded to him was a powerful arrow, "Whoosh!" The arrow hit the throat. The leading general immediately fell to the ground and died, and the remaining more than a hundred soldiers fled in fear.
At this time, eight thousand soldiers of the Western Army came over, the city gates were reopened, the suspension bridge was lowered, and the eight thousand soldiers entered the city. The scout commander on top of the city rushed down to the city, leading the eight thousand troops to kill the opponent's military camp.
With the internal and external cooperation of the Western Army's scouts, the Western Army captured Hengyang County without bloodshed. Two thousand Song soldiers surrendered, and the prefect Ma Wenfu and the general judge Liu Ji were captured alive. Two days later, Lingling County in Yongzhou was also captured, and several soldiers in Yongzhou were captured alive.
Famous state officials were also arrested and escorted to Jiangling Mansion together with their families.
Of course Chen Qing will not kill these officials. All his current military actions will eventually return to the negotiation table. This breaks the Song Dynasty's tradition of not killing civilian officials. It will be difficult for negotiations to continue. On the contrary, if they are left behind, they will become
A bargaining chip in negotiations.
Chen Qing was indeed in Jiangling Prefecture. Occupying Jinghu South Road was not a matter of meeting some officials, but more importantly, military deployment. Chen Qing knew very well that he had broken through the boundaries set by Emperor Zhao Gou and even the imperial court: he could not break through the boundaries of Sichuan and Shaanxi.
, if you want to break through, you can only break through in the area occupied by the Jin Kingdom in the north.
The occupation of Jinghu South Road this time is also inevitable for the gradual encroachment of Jinghu South Road in recent years. It can be said to be the last step. Regardless of whether the court has any objections, he must take this step and continue to push the border eastward.
In the big tent, Chen Qing said to Zheng Ping: "Jiangxia, Jiangling and Xiazhou are cooperating with each other. We have the absolute advantage on the water surface to ensure that Jinghu South Road and Sichuan Road are not lost. Jiangling Prefecture is the key, supporting both ends, and the imperial court wants to plot something."
Sichuan Road and Jinghu South Road can only attack Jiangling Mansion by land. In this case, we must strengthen intelligence collection and keep abreast of the movements of the imperial army at any time."
"Remember your humble position!"
Zheng Ping nodded and said, "Yesterday, Mr. Pang gave Beizhi a heads-up, and Beizhi felt it was necessary to tell His Highness."
Mr. Pang is Zheng Ping's staff member Pang Hua. One look at his name and you can tell that he is from the north, where birch trees grow. He is from Hejian Prefecture and is a fellow countryman of Zheng Ping.
"Say! What's the matter?"
"Mr. Pang told Beizi that once the imperial court loses Jinghu South Road, they will realize the importance of the navy. The imperial court will definitely commandeer the merchant ships and quickly form a large navy team. Beizi has written to inform
He killed his father and suggested that he hand over all the ships at sea to the Western Army to avoid being conscripted by the imperial court. However, His Highness should also pay attention to other seaports and try to avoid the ships at sea being confiscated by the imperial court."
Zheng Ping's reminder was very timely. Chen Qing really did not think of this. Warships have very high requirements for the ship's sturdiness. Generally, it is difficult for inland river ships to meet the standards of warships, but the sturdiness of sea-going ships can be comparable to that of warships. If
The imperial court forcibly recruited hundreds of large ships in a short period of time.
Chen Qing nodded, "I will notify Hu Yun immediately and let him respond with all his strength!"
At this time, a soldier said at the entrance of the main tent: "Your Highness, the son of Huaixi Xuanfu envoy Zhang Jun is asking for a meeting outside the military camp, saying that he has important matters!"
Chen Qing changed his mind and immediately understood that it must be the imperial court that asked Zhang Jun to take action. He immediately ordered: "Invite him in!"
Not long after, Zhang Ziqi was brought into the tent by his own soldiers. He bowed and said, "See His Highness King Yong!"
Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "Mr. Zhang, we haven't seen each other for a long time. How is your health?"
"My father is in good health. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Chen Qing smiled again and said, "Has your father received the imperial decree?"
"Your Highness's guess is absolutely correct, that's exactly what it is!"
Zhang Ziqi took out a letter and handed it to Chen Qing, "This is an autographed letter from my father to His Highness. I just asked his staff to copy it. It was signed with a seal. Please forgive me!"
Of course Chen Qing could understand how a veteran like Zhang Jun could let the handle of the letter fall into his hands. He could avoid the risk by having his staff copy it and add a seal.
Chen Qing opened the letter and read it, nodded and said, "I understand what your father means. Where are his troops now?"
"I don't know where they are now, but I know that the army must be marching slowly."
"Okay! Mr. Zhang, go down and rest first. I will write a letter for you to take back later."
Several soldiers took Zhang Ziqi down to rest. Chen Qing asked Zheng Ping to temporarily retreat. He thought for a long time and said to the soldiers: "Quickly go to the city to invite Counselor Zhou and Counselor Jiang!"
Half an hour later, Zhou Kuan and Jiang Yanxian were invited. Zhou Kuan and Jiang Yanxian happened to be in Jiangling Mansion to participate in the establishment of Shangshu Xingtai. Shangshu Xingtai was an agency of the Internal Affairs Hall. The chief minister was appointed by King Yong, and the heads of the six departments below were
Officials are appointed by the Internal Affairs Hall, and they are all sent from Jingzhao to ensure that the Internal Affairs Hall controls the offices of various ministers.
"Is there anything important, Your Highness?" Zhou Kuan asked.
"Please sit down, let's sit down and talk!"
Chen Qing asked the two of them to sit down and handed Zhang Jun's letter to them, "This is sent by Zhang Jun's son. Take a look!"
Zhou Kuan read the letter first and then handed it to Jiang Yanxian. Zhou Kuan frowned and said, "Does Your Highness think Zhang Jun is sincere? Or is he deliberately showing weakness to make us feel slack, and then suddenly launches a massive attack on Jiangling?"
"It's possible!"
Chen Qing pondered for a while and said: "But I think it is unlikely. This is not a decisive battle. If Jiangling Mansion is suddenly captured, the matter will be over. Otherwise, Zhang Jun will inevitably face a full counterattack from me. This is something Zhang Jun cannot afford."
, based on my understanding of Zhang Jun, he definitely doesn’t want to fight with us, but it is best for him to maintain a state of confrontation, so that he will not be cut off. He should still want to provoke us and keep it with us.
Confrontation."
Jiang Yan first asked: "Then why does Your Highness come to me?"
Chen Qing nodded and said: "Because I found this is an opportunity to seize Jinghu North Road. Although Zhang Jun wants to confront me, I can take the initiative, because the other party caused the war, and I can mobilize 100,000 cavalry to go south in a large scale.
There was a big battle between the armies of Jingxiang and Zhang Jun, and we took the opportunity to seize Jinghu North Road in one fell swoop, leaving the imperial court without a chance and losing a handful of rice. But this matter is of great importance, and I would like to hear your opinions."
Zhou Kuan shook his head and said: "If the problem can be solved by war, then His Highness can completely attack Jiangnan East Road and seize the north of the Yangtze River. These are all easily achieved, and even the destruction of the Song Dynasty is easy to achieve, but this is what Your Highness wants
Really? Your Highness wants justice and justice, not tyranny, so I humbly advise Your Highness not to seize Longwangshu. We have just acquired the Jinghu South Road, but the name is not justified, and we want to seize the Jinghu North Road. It is too eager and too reckless."
Jiang Yanxian smiled and asked: "Why is Your Highness so eager to get Jinghu North Road?"
Chen Qing said calmly: "What I actually want is Xiangyang. If we take Xiangyang, the Han River will be opened. The supplies from Jiangling Prefecture will be transported directly to Shangzhou through the Han River, and then from Shangzhou to Guanzhong. It is closer than taking the Shu Road."
There are more, and it’s a lot more convenient.”
Jiang Yanxian said calmly: "There are two ways to capture Xiangyang. One is to seize it by force, and the other is to let it take the initiative. The first way is unethical and too passive, and the second way is unethical and too passive."
Either way, no matter how angry the court is, there is nothing you can do. The most you can do is to use other methods to appease the court at the negotiation table."
Jiang Yanxian's suggestion convinced Chen Qing that there was really no need to use force to capture Xiangyang. The defenders of Xiangyang could surrender to themselves, leaving the court speechless, and finally handed over the Bianliang Palace, altars, ancestral temples, and imperial mausoleums to the court.
, which can be regarded as appeasement to the court.
At present, Xiangyang is guarded by the commander Wang Gui with an army of 20,000. To make Wang Gui surrender to him, he must not only win over him, but also force him into a desperate situation. Chen Qing has an idea in his mind. He can fight with Zhang Jun
