In the Tang Dynasty, Fengxiang Prefecture, Chengdu, Jingzhao, Henan, and Taiyuan were collectively known as the "Five Capitals" and were named "Xijing".
Liu Heima also had the title of "Deputy Marshal of the World's Soldiers and Horses who stayed in Xijing".
Fengxiang is also one of his foundations.
After yesterday's defeat, he hurriedly retreated with his remaining troops and fled back to Fengxiang Mansion overnight.
Fortunately, Fucheng is still there.
What Liu Heima was worried about was not the Song army, but that Lian Xixian would take control of Fengxiang Mansion first.
Before the war, he and Lian Xixian said, "If we win, we will recover Longxi," but did not say what we would do if we lost.
Neither of them dared to say anything, so they were relatively speechless.
If defeated, Liu Heima plans to discuss surrender with Li Xia.
Too many soldiers and horses were captured by Li Xia, and his son was in the hands of the other party. Hanzhong and Longxi had formed a condescending attack on Guanzhong. In addition, Kublai Khan may not be able to defeat Brother Ali... In short, there are many reasons.
Even the words that Li Xia had talked with Jia Hou in detail would occasionally come to Liu Heima's mind.
The reason why he wanted to fight to the death again was not only to repay the great kindness shown to him by the great khans of the past dynasties, but also to try his best to preserve his pride.
Without a fight, he would not be convinced by Li Xia, nor would he dare to put all his family's lives on Li Xia.
The only way to determine victory or defeat in a battle is to see the situation clearly and be willing to do it.
This is a very subtle thought.
To put it simply, Liu Heima still wants to give it a try to see if he can stabilize the situation.
The still weak Li Xia surrendered, but in the end he was forced to make a helpless choice...
Lian Xixian could clearly see what Liu Heima was thinking, and of course he could see clearly that Liu Heima's intention of not adjusting the Fengxiang Mansion garrison and preserving his retreat was obvious.
Therefore, it is said, "Please let Mr. Liu go and do whatever you want, don't worry."
The implication is that he agrees to let him give it his all before making a decision.
Lian Xixian had no choice, otherwise if he was forced again, Liu Heima would not even be willing to fight.
A fight, at least there is a chance of victory,
Then call Wang Zhichen for reinforcements and strive for victory.
But in the end, he still failed.
Lian Xixian retreated only half a day earlier than Liu Heima. He had no time to control Fengxiang Mansion, so he led his confidants straight to Jingzhao Mansion.
This means that there is no longer any trust, and there is no reason to trust Liu Heima anymore.
Because he put his family's interests above those of the imperial court, he had a way of retreat before the war, but during the war he fled when he saw reinforcements arriving, secretly thinking of repeating himself.
Liu Heima knew that he could no longer be trusted, so surrendering to Li Xia was a better choice to preserve his family's fortune.
He still had the confidence to negotiate terms with Li Xia, which he had made clear before the war.
The more than 15,000 fighting forces left after the Lintao Battle were wiped out in the surprise attack on Hanzhong, and the more than 5,000 were wiped out in the decisive battle on the Weishui River. Only 1,400 were left...but there were still 5,000 elite cavalry scattered throughout the country.
.
As for the prefectures and counties in Guanzhong, there are still more than 20,000 troops garrisoned at each pass. Although their combat power is inferior, they are still enough to defend the city.
Moreover, Liu Heima has been guarding Shanxi and Shaanxi for nearly twenty years, and his status in the army is much higher than that of Lian Xixian and others.
Just by looking at a few things, we can see that when Alan Daer went south to take the exam, he dared to touch Lian Xixian and Shang Ting, but he did not dare to touch Liu Heima.
Looking back at Li Xia, although there are currently 10,000 elite troops in the Northern Expedition, Longxi is empty, so Li Xia really dares to lead his troops deep into Guanzhong? How can he capture Guanzhong? Can Sichuan and Shu sustain such a war after years of war? How to defend it after capturing Guanzhong?
There is no doubt that Li Xia needs Liu Heima's service.
Even as early as the Lunar New Year, Li Xia had already decided on the strategy to conquer Guanzhong, that is, to conquer Liu Heima.
But, how to talk about it, the difference is huge...
~~
"If you have something to say, the commander-in-chief wants to fight for Guanzhong, but he must not fight for his temporary anger..."
In the Song army's tent, Jia Hou saw that Li Xia really dared to kill people, and he looked anxious and tried to persuade him.
This is why he used his eyes to signal Liu Yuanzhen to say tough words.
Liu Yuanzhen had to tell Liu Yuanzhen hard words so that he could say soft words and restore the situation.
Li Xia, however, does not have so many skills, and he never takes advantage of others. His expression is always calm, and his tone is calm with some sincerity.
"It's not just a matter of anger. If you don't have the sincerity to talk, the two prisoners will be killed. I won't talk about it."
Jia Hou was slightly surprised that Li Xia could be so determined. He bowed and said, "You are sincere. It is precisely because of your sincerity that my brother-in-law wants to marry his daughter to the handsome man."
"Is this sincerity?" Li Xia asked, "Isn't this because you want to gain my power?"
Jia Hou didn't expect him to be so direct. He hesitated again, and finally said frankly and honestly, "When it comes to power, the Liu family's power now is not small."
"No matter how small it is, I won't argue with you." Li Xia said: "In the first month of the year, I thought it was a perfect match for my brother to marry a daughter of the Liu family as his official wife, but now, the Liu family's power is much smaller."
Jia Hou was disdainful and maintained his etiquette, and said slowly: "My brother-in-law wants to get closer to the commander-in-chief. I want my brother to marry the twelve sisters. The commander-in-chief will..."
"You call me Marshal now. If I let go, you will call me by my name tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, Liu Heima will boss me around. Will I fight for the world or he?"
It was obviously a calm tone, but when the words "fight for the world" hit their ears, Liu Yuanzhen and Liu Yuanli raised their heads, still feeling that Li Xia was so crazy.
Jia Hou was not surprised and responded: "Brother-in-law does not dare to have such an ambition."
Li Xia said: "Therefore, he lost to me."
What the two seemed to be fighting for was Liu Heima's marriage to Li Xia or Li Zhaocheng, but in fact it was the status of the Liu family after they were annexed.
"Commander, please forgive me." Jia Hou had no choice but to roll up his sleeves, pointed to the map hanging in the tent, and asked: "Can I introduce the situation in Guanzhong to the commander?"
"Can."
"This place is Fengxiang Prefecture, with more than 3,000 garrison troops. After my brother-in-law led the troops back, there are still 5,000 people. The city is located to the north of the Wei River, with open fields; this place is Xunzhou. To guard against the Song army at Xieguguan, we deployed
Two thousand soldiers..."
Jia Hou talked eloquently, first pointing to the east along the Wei River, then north along the Jing River, then along the Yellow River to talk about defense in the east, and finally circled around Shangzhou and Tongguan, talking about cities and passes.
troops.
"On the other hand, Commander-in-Chief, he only occupies a stronghold in the westernmost part of Guanzhong. How can his troops face the entire Guanzhong?"
Li Xia asked back: "Can you really report the strength of Guanzhong troops to me truthfully? It's just an exaggeration."
"But it is certain that without the Liu family, the commander would not have been able to occupy Guanzhong."
"I already have tens of thousands of prisoners of war. It won't take long to build an army of tens of thousands."
"It won't take long. My brother-in-law can also train soldiers and horses from Guanzhong. Guanzhong has this population, money and food." Jia Hou asked: "But I wonder if Shu can support the tens of thousands of troops in the Northern Expedition?"
"If you don't believe it, why don't you take a look?"
Jia Hou smiled and said: "The commander-in-chief can only deal with the Mongolian power by taking Guanzhong as early as possible. Otherwise, when the battle for the throne of Khan is over, disaster will be imminent. Why bother?"
Li Xia asked back: "Why didn't Liu Heima surrender earlier? Why did he have to wait until his second son was captured and lose his troops and generals?"
Jia Hou didn't even look at the Liu brothers who were tied there, and said calmly: "My brother-in-law has fourteen sons. It doesn't hurt to kill two of them. There are many soldiers and horses, so we can afford to lose them."
"But these two sons are the most outstanding." Li Xia said. As for how many troops Liu Heima had, he was too lazy to argue.
Liu Yuanzhen and Liu Yuanli looked embarrassed when they rarely heard Li Xia praise them.
Jia Hou held the salute again and asked: "Why doesn't the commander give in even a step?"
"I have been on the edge of a cliff for a long time and have never learned to retreat."
"The commander-in-chief is too arrogant." Jia Hou stamped his feet angrily and said with a flourish of his sleeves: "If you are so difficult to get along with, it's okay for my brother-in-law not to agree with you!"
"good."
Li Xia could calm down because he could see the situation clearly.
The Liu family has power and must borrow it.
But propriety cannot be lost.
Jia Hou looked at Li Xia deeply for a while and sighed.
He knew that he could not convince Li Xia to rely on the Liu family.
It's not that they didn't have the opportunity. In the first month of the year, the two had a deep talk.
It was that time that Li Xia looked him straight in the eyes, spoke his mind frankly.
"I have the ambition to clear up the emperor's universe and help all living beings..."
But at that time, not seeing Li Xia's strength, Jia Hou only thought that the young man was boasting.
Isn't it ridiculous that a Shu commander temporarily appointed by the weak Song Dynasty was young and arrogant and dared to claim to conquer the world without any foundation?
Later, he saw his people using strategies to annihilate an army of 40,000... and he was overwhelmed with great victories.
Finally, Li Xia's strength was revealed before his eyes.
Jia Hou had missed the opportunity at that time.
Looking back now, I realize that Li Xia actually speaks from the bottom of his heart, and every word comes from his heart...
"In that case, how about my brother-in-law talking to the commander in person?"
"Can."
~~
Late at night three days later, Emperor Yan's Mausoleum.
Liu Heima only brought Jia Hou here.
As soon as he saw Li Xia, he said: "Among my disciples, only Dalang and Wulang are the most virtuous. The rest are mediocre and have no intention of resisting the Mongols."
"You mean, if I don't let you go back tonight, I won't get the return of the Liu family?"
Liu Heima sighed: "I am old and will die if I die. I only hope to use my body to save my two sons."
Li Xia still understood what Liu Heima meant.
If the deal can be settled tonight, then everything will be easy. But Liu Heima is willing to come alone, which does not mean he has decided to surrender. It also depends on the conditions. If the conditions are not negotiated, Li Xia will capture him or kill him, and the rest of the Liu family will
The children will continue to be loyal to Kublai Khan.
"That's fine. Since it concerns the future situation of the Liu family, you, the principals, should discuss it together."
Li Xia then waved and asked people to bring Liu Yuanzhen and Liu Yuanli.
Since Liu Heima had the courage to go to the meeting alone, Li Xia was not afraid that the father and son plus Jia Hou, a scholar, could hurt him, not to mention that this was his territory and there were many layers of troops outside.
In the dark of night, the five of them stood under the stone steps of the mausoleum.
After a while, Liu Heima looked up at the stone tablet on the mausoleum and murmured: "I am a descendant of Khitan, not a descendant of Yan and Huang."
He first distanced himself from Li Xia.
Li Xia said: "The Liao Kingdom is no longer here, so you must have someone to belong to."
The tone of both of them was very calm, without the coldness on the battlefield.
It's not that they forgot the blood shed by their soldiers.
Rather, the blood shed by the soldiers was to facilitate the situation they were going to discuss next.
Politics is a very delicate matter, and its center is profit, including small profits and big profits.
Whether it is war or negotiation, they are all just means to achieve gain.
And the two people's conversation was not as confrontational as when Li Xia and Jia Hou were negotiating.
Because they all saw the situation clearly and took the initiative...
"Belong?" Liu Heima asked back, "In terms of belonging, Great Mongolia is more able to accept us Khitan people. Zhao Song can't even accept northerners."
"This is not an issue between Mongolia and Zhao and Song Dynasty, but culture." Li Xia asked: "Since the fall of Liao Dynasty, what culture has the Liu family spoken, written, and written poems and articles about?"
"This is what Jin Guo taught us."
"This is what the sages taught you, the sages of the Han family."
"Your Majesty has established the Han system."
"I said that if Kublai Khan is not thorough, he is not as good as me."
Liu Heima nodded casually and murmured: "It's hard to argue about merits and demerits. As a descendant of the Khitan, how much more do I have to do for the Han system before you think it's enough?"
Li Xia said: "I understand that these are feelings, and you have feelings, but I want you to obey me. Only feelings are not enough, you have to talk about strength. This is the 'reality' of the world."
"There's no need to talk about strength. How much strength do you have? You won't tell me the truth." Liu Heima sighed: "How about we talk about what you can give me?"
They were very calm, not as excited as when Li Xia and Jia Hou were arguing.
Because before it was just an argument, but now it is a matter of making a decision, and when making a decision, we care more about "reality".
Li Xia thought for a while and did not answer immediately. Instead, he said something off-topic.
"Wang Zhongchen also wanted to surrender to me, but I didn't accept it."
"Why?"
"I have to have a standard for whether you princes of the North are worthy of surrendering. I have to think about it over and over again. Just judge by deeds and disregard your intentions."
Li Xia did not relax his vigilance and still held his hand on the hilt of the sword.
His tone was very casual.
"If we talk about the heart, everyone can surrender, but everyone can kill. For example, Wang Shixian, he had the intention to return to the Song Dynasty, Wang Zhongchen, and brothers Wang Dechen also had the heart to appease the people; for example, you, even at this stage, you
You still want to be loyal to Kublai Khan. You are forced to have no choice but to bargain with me... You people have the sentiments of protecting the country and inheriting the Han Dynasty, but you still put your family first.
It's human nature, if I want to kill, I have to kill all the northerners.
Therefore, let me talk about the deeds. The Wang family comforted the people of Lizhou, but when they massacred Shu, there were far more dead souls under their hands than they could save, so they should be killed. You asked the Mongolian Lord many times for your life, and you saved many people in the north.
Ten thousand, far more than the number of soldiers who died at your hands in the battle formation, can be recruited to surrender."
Liu Heima didn't appreciate it and said: "You mean, you gave me a chance, I should still be grateful to you?"
"Yes, that's what I mean. I advise you to cherish it. In addition, I have given you more than one chance." Li Xia said: "Once in Chengdu and once in Longxi. Counting this time, if I was determined to kill you, you might have died.
three times."
This is a bit unpleasant to hear.
But Liu Heima couldn't refute.
He forced a smile and said slowly: "You didn't help Hunduhai to solve the problem, thank you very much."
Only this time, he was the most convinced. The lives of countless people in the place he guarded were at stake, so he had to thank him.
"I told Lian Xixian that I have far more principles than you. The same applies to surrender. I told you my conditions. If you agree, just nod. If you don't agree, I will kill four of you tonight, and then let your Liu family's children guard Guanzhong. Then
so what?"
Liu Heima frowned slightly and said, "I'll tell you the conditions first."
"That's fine, but I'm afraid it won't change my mind." Li Xia raised his hand and let him speak first.
Liu Heima felt Li Xia's straightforwardness and determination, walked a few steps, pondered, and finally opened his mouth to speculate on the situation.
"If I don't surrender, you currently have too few troops. Even if you can capture Guanzhong, it will take at least a year and a half to mobilize troops, absorb prisoners, and prepare food and fodder. Even if Sichuan and Shu can bear it, it can't be faster.
"
"I can take advantage of the situation and capture Fengxiang first. After your initial defeat, the soldiers have no fighting spirit."
"But this is forcing the Liu family to fight to the death with you. You should understand that I did not do my best in the battle on the Weihe River."
"Even if you mobilize Fengxiang troops to support us, you will still be defeated."
"If I fight to the death, you will also suffer heavy casualties... Well, if you kill me tonight, you can take down Fengxiang. By then, Lian Xixian will have prepared the defense of Jingzhao Mansion. Once the war continues, Sichuan and Shu will not be able to sustain it.
The Song Dynasty is afraid of the disaster of war, so it is necessary to remove your military power."
"Kublai Khan can't hold on."
"You want to let Ali go to the Central Plains?"
"No, the more likely scenario is that Lian Xixian did not dare to counterattack Fengxiang in order to protect the overall situation. He fought against Fengxiang for a year and a half, and then was defeated by me."
"Even so, this battle will take at least three years, and you have missed the opportunity to fight for the throne." Liu Heima said: "This is still a situation where all your plans go smoothly, and Lian Xixian is by no means simple."
"What's important to you is that the Liu family will also be uprooted during these three years of war."
Liu Heima was silent for a while.
He finally felt helpless and said: "Tell me my conditions. I will help you capture Guanzhong. You will release the prisoners. From now on, the Liu family will lead the troops in Fengxiang Mansion and take charge of military and civilian affairs. In addition, you will marry my daughter and have an heir."
, inherit the cause.”
"I also stated my conditions." Li Xia said: "The prisoners do not need to be released. The current military power of the Liu family can be commanded by Liu Yuanzhen and Liu Yuanli. They can be at my disposal and follow my military laws. In the future, military pay and rewards will also be dispatched by me. This
It also means that you have to hand over the military, civilian and financial rights in Guanzhong..."
"impossible!"
Liu Heima was furious.
Without the fiefdom and financial power, and the food and salary of the soldiers were dispatched by Li Xia, would military power still be military power?
He shouted loudly.
"You want my descendants to be your generals who are driven like lackeys under the rule of Zhao Song Dynasty?!"
If in Li Xia's eyes, the princes were traitor lackeys who surrendered to the barbarians, but in Liu Heima's eyes, they were actually independent princes in the Central Plains, autonomous from the soil.
Compared with Mongolia's laxity, Zhao and Song's restrictions on generals were much more severe.
Zhao Song was the one who always blamed the generals.
To put it more ugly, in Liu Heima's view, the military generals of Zhao and Song Dynasties were the emperor's lackeys who could be killed and punished at will.
This is one of the key reasons why no prince is willing to betray Mongolia, especially the Mongols and surrender to the Song Dynasty. It is an unavoidable hurdle...
"Today you are going to kill four of me, and I will never agree to it!"
"He is not a general with the status of Zhao Song." Li Xia was still very calm and said: "He is my general, the founding general of the country."
"Don't you think you are ridiculously arrogant?!"
"I don't think it is because of my self-confidence that I will not break my promise to your descendants in the future, or even turn against them. Do you think Kublai Khan can really let the princes control the military? Even if he can, his descendants can
Right? I'm just making excuses with you right now. There are too many people who are making excuses and making excuses with you. I will only be honest with you tonight. What you should see is not temporary prominence. The power of a prince is destined to be nothing more than a mirror. See clearly who has the real dignity.
amount."
Li Xia's eyes were frank and he said something seriously.
"If we refer to our predecessors to describe our ambitions, I would not be Zhao Yanna and Meng Gong. If we were to build a country, between Zhao Kuangyin and Li Shimin, I would not be Zhao Kuangyin."
Liu Heima looked at Li Xia and was stunned.
Li Xia is too young, but he said such words openly...
But Liu Heima suddenly thought that the reason why Li Shimin could tolerate all kinds of founding generals was precisely because he was young?
Only when you create great achievements at a young age can you be called the proud son of heaven.
A proud man of heaven must have strong self-confidence and the courage to tolerate others...
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Adding an update for the leader "Bayilu Louis Koo", thank you very much for the reward~~ Also, my coding rhythm is almost the same. I usually update the last chapter later before going to bed, and the following chapters will be a little later than the previous day.
So the updates are getting later and later these days, and I will slowly bring them back when I have time. Old readers should all know~~Please subscribe, please vote~~