Sicang has never liked threats, so when the Crown Prince of Southern Qi and the Emperor of Xijiang were still uneasy about whether what he said was true or false, Sicang had already summoned the General Wang, the Minister of Hubu, the Minister of War and the Chief Assistant of Qi.
Discuss the details of the war.
Pei Yicheng and his envoys were not expecting this. At this time, they were sitting in the pavilion in the imperial garden of the palace, discussing the next countermeasures.
"His Royal Highness, we should return to Southern Qi immediately." A middle-aged envoy said with a somewhat urgent tone, "General Wang of Dongyou has hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses, and has been on the battlefield for many years. As early as more than ten years ago, their emperor had
Countries are watching with eager eyes, this
We should have figured out the topography of Western Xinjiang a few years ago. Now, as soon as the new emperor came to power, he found an excuse to conquer Western Xinjiang. Once Western Xinjiang is successfully destroyed, other countries will fall into war. We cannot sit back and wait for death. We must go back early and prepare a response.
OK."
"Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince." A man dressed as a general was worried. "I thought that I came to Dongyou this time for the sake of good relations between countries. I didn't expect that Emperor Dongyou would raise troops as soon as he said he wanted to. It really caught people off guard."
Pei Yicheng's expression was solemn: "Dongyou's soldiers and horses have always been strong. The reason why they stopped fighting before was because the treasury was too depleted and they didn't have that much money to continue supporting them in the war. Could it be that as soon as the new emperor came to the throne, they had money they couldn't spend all their money?
Money?”
As soon as these words came out, several civil servants present were surprised: "What do you mean, His Highness the Crown Prince, that they are just showing off?"
"No, what I mean is that they should have taken a fancy to Xijiang's declining national power in recent years, and wanted to bully others into annexing Xijiang and plunder the treasury of Xijiang." Pei Yicheng frowned, "The Emperor of Xijiang has been extravagant after he came to the throne.
, indulged in pleasure, spending countless gold and silver from the treasury every day, causing the ministers to complain, and even the military salaries of border officers and soldiers were misappropriated. The Western Border is now empty, and the time chosen by Emperor Dongyou is just right. "
The expressions of the ministers became more and more serious when they heard this. They are all ministers, so they naturally understand the stakes. If the emperor is dissolute and immoral, the ministers will naturally be a little dissatisfied. After all, although not everyone in the civil and military dynasties is dedicated to the country, the country is still there.
, The interests of their family only exist when the king is there. If the king is foolish and unethical, and destroys the country, their glory and wealth will also disappear.
The Emperor of Xijiang didn't seem to go that far in his first year as emperor. From the second year onwards, he ignored the advice of his ministers and spent all his time drinking and enjoying himself in the woods, which depleted the national treasury. He didn't have enough money to build a palace, so he went to the border to build a palace.
By depriving the soldiers of their military pay, they have long since become a coward who has no regard for the life and death of the world!
Among the Southern Qi ministers present, who can serve as envoys to other countries, who has no ability at all? Who does not know the seriousness of the king's incompetence?
The responsibilities of border officers and soldiers are very important. They know in their hearts that only when the border is guarded can the country be stable.
If the food and grass for the border soldiers cannot be delivered in time and the soldiers are hungry, how can they still have the strength to fight? If the soldiers are full of resentment towards the emperor, who can loyally guard the country?
The Emperor of Xijiang basically sought his own death.
"The treasury of Western Xinjiang probably doesn't have much money." A minister with an elegant face frowned and said, "The emperor has been spending extravagantly in recent years. In order to please him, some ministers have increased taxes, making the lives of the people in Xijiang more and more difficult...
Although things appear to be relatively stable on the surface, problems are already occurring everywhere. As long as a major disaster strikes, the country will instantly fall into civil strife."
Pei Yicheng shook his head: "It doesn't matter whether they have money or not. As long as Dongyou thinks they are rich, then they are rich."
What's more, even if there is no money in the national treasury, there are still so many wealthy businessmen in Western Xinjiang. When the country is ruined and the family is in ruins, there is no guarantee that the wealthy businessmen will not use their money to sell their lives in order to survive.
"So what your Highness the Crown Prince means is that Dongyou's conquest of Western Xinjiang is not just because Western Xinjiang has the weakest troops, but also to plunder more wealth?"
Pei Yicheng nodded: "Plundering wealth is not the main purpose, but it can indeed supplement the needs of the army——"
"Prince Pei!" Suddenly there was a burst of messy footsteps outside, followed by the panicked voice of the Emperor of Xijiang, "So you are here, I have a good meal!"
Pei Yicheng and several ministers of the Southern Qi Dynasty turned their heads in unison and watched the Emperor of Western Xinjiang approaching in a hurry. Their faces could not help but turn pale with fear.
"Why is the emperor looking for me so anxiously because of Dongyou's dispatch of troops?" Pei Yicheng asked knowingly.
"Yes." The Emperor of Xijiang looked anxious, "Emperor Dongyou actually wants to attack Xijiang. You can't just sit idly by and do nothing! All countries in the world will prosper and suffer. Once Xijiang is destroyed, other countries will still be safe.
? Prince Pei, you must think of a way!"
Pei Yicheng frowned, looking at the panicked expression of the Emperor of Western Territory, and felt disgust in his heart for no reason. Such a timid king who was afraid of death dared to speak rudely to the queen in front of the powerful country of Dongyou. Their demise was simply their own fault!
Although what he said is not unreasonable, and all countries in the world will prosper and suffer, Pei Yicheng is still ashamed to deal with such people.
"Prince Pei, once the war starts, it is not easy to end it." The Emperor of Xijiang was anxious, "Please think of a way, let's fight against Dongyou together -"
"Your Majesty, please be patient in Xijiang." Pei Yicheng said indifferently, "Just now, Caigu and all of you are also discussing countermeasures, but no matter what, we are still in the territory of Dongyou, and there is no way to prevent the war and connect the alliance capitals.
Not an easy task.”
"Then what should we do?" When the Emperor of Xijiang heard this, he suddenly lost his mind. "You should go back and mobilize your troops to attack Dongyou now. In this way, our two countries will attack from the front and back, and Dongyou will -"
"The Emperor of Xijiang is joking." Pei Yicheng looked at him as if he were a fool, with a mocking look in his eyes, "Don't say whether I can go back now, even if I really return to Southern Qi, the troops and horses will not be adjusted at will.
Yes, fighting is so easy?"
The Emperor of Xijiang looked pale: "Then... what should we do?"
Pei Yicheng didn't say anything, but took a sip of tea unhurriedly.
The envoy from Western Xinjiang who followed behind asked: "What conditions does Prince Pei want?"
As soon as these words came out, the Emperor of Xijiang immediately understood something.
Pei Yicheng wants to take advantage of the situation. Western Xinjiang is in danger. Without help from other countries, this time is likely to be disastrous.
Emperor Xijiang's face turned cold, and he turned to look at the ministers on the left and right.
"If Southern Qi sends troops to hold back Dongyou, the two cities of Jiafeng and Linya south of Zhoushan in Western Xinjiang will belong to Southern Qi." Pei Yicheng's tone was calm, as if he was talking about an ordinary matter, "I wonder what the emperor wants?
"
General Xijiang's expression suddenly changed and he flatly refused: "This is impossible!"