A small donkey cart left the city gate, walked south along Zhuque Street for two or three miles, and stopped near Jianfu Temple.
Han Qi'an got off the donkey cart and looked up to see a tall tower decorated with white clay. The long street was filled with an endless stream of pedestrians and hawkers. Although this place was outside the city, it was more prosperous than inside the ordinary city.
He asked the coachman to go get something to eat, turned east through the alley of Anrenfang, and stopped in front of a small restaurant.
Looking inside, it was not lunch at this time, but there were three tables of diners sitting in the restaurant. Among them, there were three big men drinking at the end of the store, and there was a man and a woman sitting in the corner.
Han Qi'an entered the snack bar and walked towards the man and woman in the corner. A big man at the door looked up at him and seemed to want to get up, but was pushed down by another person.
The young man sitting in the corner looked back and said with a smile: "I've been away from Chang'an for a while, and I've been talking about this yokan. It's a rare occasion to come here to eat it, but you've found it."
Han Qi'an bowed and said: "Don't worry, sir, it's nothing important. I just feel better now that I can see you."
"Sit down, shopkeeper, and ask for another bowl of yokan and two steamed buns."
"Okay."
"I've had this yokan several times. It's really fresh and doesn't have any smell. I used to be weak when I was in Lin'an, but in the past few years in Guanzhong, I've been eating this steamed bun every day, and my body is actually very healthy. It's said that It’s not an exaggeration to be a savior.”
Han Qi'an sat down and rambled on, and added: "His business is good, and this area is also lively. Seeing that the world is at peace, is Chang'an city too small?"
"I know what Han Gong wants to ask, and I will definitely not move the capital to Kaifeng. The reason why I plan to bring hundreds of officials there to stay for a while this time is to supervise the southern expedition, to stabilize the people of the Central Plains, and to explore the water conservancy of the Yellow River. It means preparations for moving the capital."
"Lang Jun has not been in Chang'an for almost two years. He finally came back to appease everyone, and he will go to Kaifeng in a few days. Everyone speculated that the palace city was too small and did not have the atmosphere of a big country. They said that if they want to expand the palace city in the future, they might be able to The land of Daming Palace in Longshouyuan..." At this point, the shopkeeper came up with a tray and joked: "A few guests are also talking about expanding the palace? It's small, it's going to be built five hundred years ago, um this shop It’s still in the very center of Chang’an City.”
Han Qi'an smiled and said: "In this way, if the city is really expanded, your shop will be valuable."
"Hey, the emperor is at his feet. Besides, we can't go back and wait until we destroy the Song Dynasty and make the leader of the Song Dynasty laugh when we offer prisoners."
With that said, the store owner brought the food to Han Qi'an, told Han Qi'an to use it slowly, and told Han Qi'an that he could add more yokan before leaving.
But he didn't expect to be sitting in his small restaurant today.
Li Xia looked back and said: "There is no need to expand. Tell Mr. Han about your idea and don't spread it. Oh, I haven't told anyone else yet. If it spreads in the future, I will treat it as yours."
Could it be that he has taken a fancy to Beiping City?
"Kublai Khan has almost completed the construction, so we don't need to waste more people and money. Our territory will not be limited to this range in the future. Of course, we will wait for a few years to talk about it. The most important thing right now is the southern expedition." Han Qi'an lowered his head slightly and listened carefully. He held the steamed bun in his hand, tore it into small pieces and put it into the yokan. He said, "I came to tell you this before the Southern Expedition was over because no one wanted to go to Kaifeng and were preparing for a rainy day. As for Peking, it was even further away. , it is inevitable that some people will complain about the bitter cold in the north."
"I know." Li Xia smiled and said: "Because the interests of the relationship are so great, they are too worried to wait until the Song Dynasty is destroyed before discussing the matter. If the capital is moved in the future, let alone Chang'an.
The land price is worthless. The first thing that will harm the most is the interests of Yuancong's heroes. It is equivalent to a small power reshuffle. The bigger the heroes, the less willing they are to accept it."
"No." Han Qi'an calmly took a sip of yokan and put down the bowl before saying: "Really, how much loss can there be? I live in Chang'an and I live in Peiping. The fields, houses and shops of the honorable ministers will be demoted.
For some people, the connections they managed have to be reworked, and some people may have lost an opportunity to make a fortune. But if they can't even bear this loss, they will have fallen too fast."
That's what it means. Li Xia said: "It's not easy to be the emperor. I originally wanted to conquer the north, but if I'm not careful, I'll end up damaging the other side."
Interests."
Are you still worried about these things? With the prestige of Lang Jun, whoever makes up his mind, decides his destiny in spite of his indifference, and acts like thunder, how many people dare to disobey him?
It’s just a bit emotional. I was still discussing with Mingyue just now. I just wanted to go to Kaifeng to facilitate timely handling of the matter of destroying the Song Dynasty. This can lead to many conjectures and uneasiness. Fortunately, today I am the founding king. Otherwise, if I accept
It is the foundation of Zhao and Song Dynasty. As long as the intention of moving the capital to Kaifeng or Peiping is revealed, the Southern Expedition and the Northern Expedition must have been abandoned, right?
"One move can affect the whole body. The Zhao and Song Dynasties have been in power for 310 years. It is so intricate and deep-rooted that it cannot be affected." Han Chengxu said: "Therefore, there is no need to worry about the victory or defeat of the Southern Expedition. What is worth worrying about is that the accumulated shortcomings have been completely eliminated.
Not thorough?"
"yes."
This was a more complicated topic. Han Qi'an sighed. Seeing that the plate of mutton in front of Li Xia was almost finished, he stopped talking in depth about the long-standing shortcomings of the Song Dynasty.
Thinking back to the conversation just now, I found it a bit funny.
"In Chang'an, we are talking about moving the capital, in order to open up territory and expand the territory for thousands of generations; in Lin'an, Zhao Xu is also talking about moving the capital, but it is because he is greedy for life and afraid of death, and he lives in peace."
"Most of the people there have their property in Lin'an. They would rather surrender than move the capital. Some of the war leaders will oppose it. Even if the army reaches the city, it will be more difficult for Zhao Fu to move the capital than it is for me."
If we talk about comparison, he is not even qualified to compete. How can a chick from Lin'an be compared with the talented and wise Holy Emperor?
While chatting, a big man rushed into the tavern and whispered: "The battle report from Xiangyang has arrived."
The Chang'an Imperial Palace is indeed small. The so-called main hall is the size of the government office lobby, and most of the palace is occupied by a large sand table.
In the eyes of the Song Dynasty monarchs and ministers, the most critical situation is in Zhunxi, where the Tang Army's navy is moving down the Yangtze River. But if you see the sand table in Chang'an City, you will know that there is only one strategic core that Li Xia really pays attention to.
It was neither Luzhou nor Ezhou, but Wang Xun of Xiangyang, Lu Fengtai instigated rebellion against Xia Fu, or Jiang Cai attacked Jia Sidao, all with the same purpose - to isolate the Song court from Lu Wenhuan.
Xiangyang was the first strategic town that the Tang army needed to capture. Even if he could take Lin'an directly along the Yangtze River, Li Xia would not be able to let Xiangyang sit there like a fish bone stuck in his throat.
Lu Wenhuan has been stationed in Xiangyang for many years and has rich experience and complete city defenses. It is not easy to attack by force.
Now the leader of the Southern Expedition is Gao Changshou. After returning from Tubo, he was transferred to Hanzhong to rest and recuperate, both to prevent the Song army from sneaking attacks on the Han River and to prepare for the attack on the Song Dynasty.
When Li Xia defeated Kublai Khan, he immediately sent a message to Hanzhong. At that time, Gao Changshou was preparing to take Xiangyang, Luzhou, and Jiangling. Everything was planned by him.
However, other roads are now progressing smoothly, but Gao Changshou himself is still blocked at the foot of Xiangyang City. He is feeling anxious. Li Xia can feel it from the lines in his words recently.
This day came another messenger from Gao Changshou, handing a thick letter to Li Xia.
Naturally, Gao Changshou had a lot to say, and it contained Lu Wenhuan's conditions for surrender.
Li Xia read it, frowned slightly, handed the letter to Han Qian, then stood up and walked to the sand table, looking at the small flag stuck next to "Xiangyang".
Han Qi'an read the letter, turned to the messenger, and asked: "According to Marshal Gao's wishes, do you want to agree to Lu Wenhuan?"
"yes."
Is it difficult to capture Xiangyang?
"The commander-in-chief said that it is not that Xiangyang cannot be captured, but that it is better to weigh the gains and losses and surrender. Although the battle with Lu Wende was won in the first year of Jiantong, many ships were lost. Now we have enough firearms to attack Xiangyang, but we are short of ships, and we are good at maneuvering them.
All the boatmen on the boat have been transferred to the Yangtze River."
"I understand." Han Qi'an nodded and said, "I think Lu Wenhuan is not hesitant to accept the challenge."
"Yes, the Xiangyang defenders are indeed the most stubborn group since our army conquered the Song Dynasty."
Han Qi appeased Xu and asked curiously: "Is Lu Wenhuan more capable of fighting than Li Tingzhi?" He is a warlord. Li Xia said, "His own Lu family's military city is well supplied with food, and he does not have to listen to the orders of the Song court."
"In this way, Lu Wenhuan's conditions are not excessive."
"To be honest, it's not too much."
As stated in the letter, Lu Wenhuan and
He did not want to live up to the kindness of the Song Dynasty emperor and rebelled. However, considering that the Li and Tang Dynasties were about to revive and unify, he hoped that the world would be peaceful as soon as possible, so he put forward several conditions. The first was that the Tang army must not hurt any Xiangyang people.
The rest is also very simple. It is nothing more than preferential treatment to the Lu family's descendants and generals. They will not be held accountable for their past crimes of resisting the king's army, and they will continue to be appointed as generals of the Tang Dynasty.
On the other hand, in order to show his loyalty, Lu Wenhuan was willing to be the vanguard to conquer Zhao and Song Dynasty and appease the soldiers and people along the river.
If it had been another king today, he would have agreed to his request.
After Li Xia stared at the sand table for a long time, he said: "It's not too much, but I don't agree. I should provide the conditions."
Han Qian walked to the small case on one side and dipped his pen in ink.
"After Lu Wenhuan surrenders, he must hand over his military power and donate the Lu family's wealth and industry. The generals of the Lu family must be tested by the imperial court for their talents before they can be appointed at their discretion."
Li Xia said it before, and then said: "If Lu Wenhuan agrees, he can appoint an honest and honest leader. If he doesn't agree, let Gao Changshou attack Xiangyang. If Gao Changshou cannot attack Xiangyang, let Jiang Cai lead his troops to the north."
Han Qi'an wrote quickly and did not try to persuade Li Xia to compromise.
He understood Li Xia's character, and the sand table was placed there, with small flags flying, representing the army's pressure on the country. Xiangyang had become an isolated city, so why did it need to compromise?
"Let me tell the generals in the Southern Expedition that they are not afraid of being late if they have a good meal. I am not worried that they will attack the Song Dynasty slowly. I am only worried that they will gobble too fast and swallow all the rotten meat and carrion."
The horse quickly went south along Wuguan Pass and quickly handed Li Xia's decree to Gao Changshou.
As a result, the siege war that had been suspended for several days began again.
Lu Wenhuan was startled when he heard the sound of the cannon. He was surprised that Li Xia could be so harsh.
After thinking about it again, he realized that he didn't understand Li Xia.