Chapter 2268: Brother and sister break up, Xiuning returns to Qin
Chapter 2268: Brother and sister break up, Xiuning returns to Qin
Lu Xiucai left, but did not return to Luoyang directly. Instead, he went to Chang'an as an envoy to conduct further negotiations with Li Shimin.
Just as Lu Xiucai walked out of the tent, the next second the tent began to boil again.
"Grand Governor, do you really want to withdraw your troops? If you give up now, you will be unwilling to do so." Gongsun Xuanyuan said with a look of reluctance.
"Yes, Grand Governor..."
The generals all agreed, obviously unwilling to withdraw their troops at this time.
It took eight days from the time Qin and Tang Dynasties restarted the negotiations to the end of the negotiations and the two sides formally reached an agreement.
During this period, the 200,000 Qin troops outside Chang'an City were not idle, but launched a strong attack on Chang'an.
The morale of the Tang army was already low, and in the previous battles, the Qin army won, which also hit the morale of the Tang army again. Therefore, everyone in the Qin army thought that conquering Chang'an would be very smooth. However, the fact is that the eight-day fierce attack still failed.
Failed to capture Chang'an.
In these eight days of siege, the main force of the Qin army plus cannon fodder lost nearly 20,000 soldiers. Although they failed to capture Chang'an in one go, the casualties caused to the Tang army also increased day by day.
If this trend continues, it will only be a matter of time before Chang'an is captured, and the generals of the Qin army will naturally be unwilling to ask them to withdraw at this time.
"Do you think the governor wants to withdraw his troops?"
After hearing Li Jing's words, the generals realized that the withdrawal would have the greatest impact on Li Jing.
As the Grand Governor of Yongzhou, Li Jing commanded a four-pronged army of 200,000 people this time, but failed to capture the entire Guanzhong. He should be the most unwilling person.
Li Jing naturally did not want to withdraw his troops, but he understood what it meant to do nothing, so he explained: "The strength of Chang'an City is far beyond what was expected before the war. It will take at least a month and a half to capture it, but we have not even a month left to do it."
Not even a month."
Li Jing finally understood that the eight days of negotiations between the two countries were the last time his lord fought for him.
If Chang'an cannot be captured after these eight days of fighting, then even if we continue to attack Chang'an in the next half month, there will be no results.
"Before the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China is held, the Guanzhong War must end. Since Chang'an cannot be captured within the stipulated time, why increase casualties in vain." Li Jing said solemnly.
After hearing this, all the generals fell into silence, and no one objected to the withdrawal.
Seeing this, Li Jing ordered: "Send the order to cancel the siege of Chang'an."
Li Jing cannot withdraw his troops for the time being. After all, Lu Qinghou has not yet come out from Chang'an, and Li Tang has not yet agreed to the terms of the "Luoyang Treaty", but it is still possible to cancel the siege to show sincerity.
Following Li Jing's order, the Qin troops besieging the city were recalled to their base camp.
When the Tang troops on the city tower saw that the Qin troops had stopped attacking the city and lifted the siege, they thought they had won the battle, and they all started shouting and reveling.
"The Qin army withdrew its troops, the Qin army withdrew its troops..."
In Chang'an City, the Tang Palace.
Li Shimin looked at Lu Xiucai, who was well-dressed in official uniform. He always felt that this person looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.
"Envoy Qin, have we met before?"
Lu Xiucai looked surprised. He had only met Li Shimin once, but he didn't expect that Li Shimin would still have an impression of him. After all, he was so ordinary when he was still in Qixia Town.
"Qixia Town, Lu Qinghou."
Lu Xiucai smiled and saluted, while Li Shimin looked astonished. Apparently he had remembered the scholar, and his eyes suddenly showed surprise.
The timid and thin waiter at the beginning has now become the special envoy of the Qin State. It is indeed not surprising that anything happens in this world.
"It turns out we are old friends."
After Li Shimin sighed, he pretended to be businesslike and said with a cold face: "I already know the purpose of the Qin envoy's trip. Tomorrow, I will announce in public that I will relinquish the throne and submit to Qin as a vassal state.
.”
"Why bother tomorrow? It's better to choose a day than to hit the sun. It's better to do it today." Lu Xiucai said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, all the civil servants of the Tang Dynasty present looked at him angrily, and many even jumped out and pointed at Lu Xiucai and cursed loudly.
Lu Xiucai turned a deaf ear to this, as if the other person's insults were the barking of a dog, and just looked at Li Shimin calmly.
Li Shimin clenched his fist tightly, but then released it after a while. From the moment he decided to surrender in exchange for survival, he knew that there would be a day when he would be humiliated, but he didn't expect that day to come so quickly.
.
"Since your envoy is in a hurry, let's do it today."
Li Shimin said calmly, and then ordered to convene the city's top civil and military officials, and then publicly announced the terms of the "Luoyang Treaty" and the matter of surrendering the throne and surrendering to Qin.
"From today on, I, Li Shimin, will be removed from the throne, and the State of Tang will surrender to the State of Qin and become a vassal state..."
The civil and military ministers who had been summoned felt as if the sky had fallen after seeing this scene, and they all looked like they were crying for their fathers and mothers, obviously unable to accept such a cruel thing.
But the relationship between countries is so cruel. At least the Tang Dynasty is still there and has the right of autonomy. It is just that its dignity has been rubbed on the ground by the Qin Kingdom, and the whole country has been hit.
After Li Shimin left the throne, he did not call himself a Duke or a Marquis. After all, the Tang State was now a vassal state of the Qin State. It was against the rules to call himself a Duke and a Marquis without permission. He would naturally be conferred upon Ying Hao after he became emperor.
Witnessing with one's own eyes that after Li Shimin passed away from the throne, the main mission of Lu Qinghou's trip was completed. After all, Li Shimin had even accomplished such a humiliating thing, so it was naturally impossible for him to violate other terms.
"The garrisons from the five counties of Zuofeng Ling and Li Keyong's troops in Huayin will withdraw within five days and hand over the control of the city to your army. I hope your army will not attack our retreating army.
." Li Shimin said.
Lu Qinghou nodded: "Since our two countries have stopped fighting and have shaken hands to make peace, our army will naturally not attack the Tang army."
"Qin Hai and Sima Yi, your envoy can directly take Qin Hai away. As for Sima Yi..."
As he spoke, Li Shimin looked embarrassed, and Lu Xiucai asked, "Did any accident happen?"
"Sima Yi is the guard general of Baling. He seems to have guessed that I would abandon him. Before the negotiation was over, he signed up and ran away. Now I don't know his whereabouts. I believe that with Qin's intelligence network, it is only a matter of time before I catch Sima Yi.
.”
What Li Shimin said was extremely sincere, but Lu Xiucai sneered in his heart. He didn't believe a word Li Shimin said, but he would not expose Li Shimin.
It would be a good idea not to surrender to Sima Yi. After the Qin State recovered, it would be a good excuse to send troops to attack the Tang State.
When he entered the city, Lu Qinghou was alone. When he left the city, he brought out Hu Hai who was tied into a rice dumpling.
After seeing Hu Hai, the generals of the Qin army suddenly became excited, especially Qin Ji, Qin Si and other generals from the Qin family. They rushed up and beat Hu Hai violently. If Li Jing hadn't stopped him, he might have been able to do it.
People were beaten to death.
Ying Hao had already issued an order to publicly execute the traitor Hu Hai and the regicide Liu Bei in front of the whole world on the day he ascended the throne to worship his ancestors and the late emperor, so Li Jing naturally could not let Hu Hai be killed by Qin Ji.
As for Hu Hai, his heart was filled with despair, and at the same time his intestines were almost turning green with regret.
He rebelled against his clan and defected to Li Tang because he believed that the Qin State could not withstand the siege from many countries. There were many people who had the same idea as him at that time. As a result, the Qin State not only managed to survive, but now Ying Hao is proclaimed emperor on behalf of the Han Dynasty.
, and he became a clown who voluntarily gave up his status as a relative of the emperor.
If Hu Hai was given another chance, he would never do this, but it was too late to say anything now.
Lu Qinghou escorted Hu Hai back to Luoyang, while Li Jing continued to hand over territory to Li Tang. After accepting the city ceded by the Tang army, he ordered the army to retreat into Lantian, Xinfeng and other four cities.
Just when the last Qin army was about to leave Chang'an, the city gates of Chang'an were opened wide, and Li Shimin personally escorted a carriage from the city. It was the wedding carriage of the Tang Dynasty. In the carriage were not only Princess Li Xiuning of the Tang Dynasty, but also the crown prince Li Shimin.
nebula.
Just before the negotiations between the two countries concluded, Li Shimin abolished Li Zhi's crown prince position and instead made Li Xingyun the new crown prince.
Li Shimin would do this because he was naturally reluctant to let Li Zhi, his legitimate son, go to Luoyang as a hostage. After all, he would probably never come back again. But Li Xingyun was different. He was a bastard.
If a son must be sacrificed, in Li Shimin's opinion, it is better to die as a bastard than as a legitimate son.
At this time, little Li Xingyun's cute little face was full of fear and uneasiness, making people feel pity for him, and even Li Shimin felt a little guilty in his heart.
"Father, do you no longer want Nebula?"
"How could it happen? Xingyun, don't think too much. Father will take you home sooner or later."
Li Shimin stroked Li Xingyun's little head and said extremely seriously: "When you go to Luoyang, you must remember not to get into trouble. You must listen to Aunt Xiuning in everything."
"Yes, Nebula remembered."
Little Li Xingyun nodded obediently.
Li Shimin still knew Li Xiuning's sister very well. Although their brother and sister had completely fallen out with each other now, and Li Xiuning hated him so much that he gritted his teeth, he would never anger his son.
After Li Xingyun entered Luoyang, if he had the help of his aunt Li Xiuning, his life as a hostage in Luoyang would be easier.
Before and after arriving at the Qin army's formation, Li Xiuning, who looked pale, was helped out of the carriage by two maids. It was obvious that his internal strength was blocked.
"Xiu Ning, forgive my second brother. My second brother will do this, but there is nothing you can do about it."
Li Shimin said with an apologetic look that he really didn't want to take advantage of his sister, but when things got to this point, asking Li Xiuning to marry would be a good thing for both countries, and he couldn't refuse.
Li Xiuning smiled disdainfully. She had seen through Li Shimin and was extremely disappointed with this second brother. She didn't bother to talk nonsense with him and said coldly: "Where are Qi'er and Lin'er?"
When Li Shimin saw this, he sighed in his heart, and then he took Lin'er out of a carriage behind him.
Lin'er hadn't seen her mother for more than ten days, and she missed her mother so much that when she saw Li Xiuning, she ran straight over.
Li Xiuning also rushed forward, hugged her son and cried bitterly, and asked if he had been abused during this period. After receiving the answer that he had not been abused, he felt relieved.
"Xiuning, why do you think so of your second brother? Lin'er is your son and my nephew, how could I abuse him?" Li Shimin said with a bitter smile.
Li Xiuning wiped away her tears, looked at Li Shimin coldly, and said in a deep voice: "Where is Qi'er?"
Li Shimin was silent for a moment and then replied: "Qi'er can't be returned to you yet. He needs to stay as a hostage. After the agreement between the two countries is successfully implemented, my second brother will accompany me to send Qi'er to Luoyang for you."
Mother and son reunited.”
"Li, Shi, Min."
Li Xiuning was shaking with anger, and her eyes seemed to be bursting with fire.
She knew that her second brother was a ruthless person, but she never thought that he would be so heartless. This meant that he took all her efforts and slaves for granted, and also squeezed out all the use of their mother and son.
The rhythm of value.
"You will definitely regret your decision today."
After coldly saying harsh words, Li Xiuning hugged her son and walked towards Qin Jun without looking back.
Not only did she not have any attachment to Li Tang, but she was also full of resentment.
She wanted revenge, she wanted Li Shimin to regret treating her, his biological sister, like this.
Looking at Li Xiuning's leaving figure, Li Shimin opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but in the end nothing came out. He sighed and motioned for his son to catch up.
Li Xingyun was frightened by the quarrel between his father and his aunt. He was pushed several times before he realized what he was doing. He ran after him with his short legs, shouting, "Auntie, wait for me."
Li Xiuning has been heartbroken by Li Shimin. She hates her brother for taking advantage of her mother and son. She has to target Li Xingyun. How can she still pay attention to Li Xingyun?
At this moment, Huo Qubing arrived with a group of cavalry. When he saw the child in Xiuning's arms, he suddenly understood. He cupped his fists and saluted, "Huo Bing, General of Pingbei of the Great Qin Dynasty, has been ordered to escort my wife back to Beijing."
Li Xiuning raised his head: "General Huo, I don't want to go to Luoyang so soon."
Huo Qubing was stunned, frowned and said: "Madam, this is a bit against the rules, please don't embarrass me."
"I heard that after Fu Cunjian, Changsun Wuji and others were captured, they would rather die than surrender to the Qin State. They are not talented. Now that they have entered the Qin Dynasty as a wife, they should contribute to their husband's family and are willing to serve as lobbyists.
Go and convince these descendants to descend in the future.”
Li Xiuning said lightly that she didn't think she could only use it for marriage.
Who is she, Li Xiuning? She is the iron lady of the Tang Dynasty who can fight on horseback and govern the country on horseback. Even if she does not rely on anyone, she is better than most men in the world.
Therefore, in her opinion, entering the Qin Dynasty this time is another kind of "official career". She wants her cruel second brother to know that abandoning her is the worst decision he has ever made in his life.
Hearing Li Xiuning say that he wanted to help persuade the generals to surrender, Huo Qubing smiled and said: "Madam, it's not easy to persuade these generals to surrender. You'd better stop messing around."
"The general may not know that Fu Cunshen was recommended to Li Shimin by my concubine.
As for Changsun Wuji, he encountered an assassin two years ago and was hit by a poisonous arrow. The doctors in Chang'an were helpless. It was my concubine who invited Yu Ji to save him.
In addition, generals such as Yang Jian, Gao Siji, Shang Master and Disciple, and civil servants such as Li Kui and Li Si have also received my kindness." Li Xiuning said lightly.
Huo Qubing was dumbfounded after hearing this. This was really amazing. He seemed to understand now why his lord wanted to marry this woman.
This woman's influence in the Tang Dynasty was second only to Li Shimin and Li Kui. If she had the help of this woman, she would be better than a hundred thousand soldiers in the Tang Dynasty.
"Madam, are you really sure?" Huo Qubing asked with some uncertainty.
"pretty close."
After hearing this, Huo Qubing made up his mind and gritted his teeth and said: "In this case, I, Huo Bing, am disobeying a military order and asked you, madam, to give it a try."