As soon as Fang Xuanzao finished speaking, Bing Wuzhen sneered repeatedly, Fang Shangshu, you think about things too simply. Wang Shichong and Yang Yuanqing were already in alliance, will he turn against Yang Yuanqing for us? You..."
Before Bing Yuan finished speaking, Li Mi stopped him, stared at Fang Xuanzao and said, "Sir, please continue."
Bing Yuanzhen saw Li Mi's solemn expression, obviously he was moved by Fang Xuanzao's suggestion. He also remembered that he had been talking sincerely for a long time, but Li Mi was unmoved. Then he suddenly realized that Li Mi actually wanted to stop the war.
He did not notice such an important change in his lord's mentality. Bing Yuanzhen felt regretful and full of jealousy towards Fang Xuanzao. Fang Xuanzao actually caught his lord's mentality. He did not dare to say anything more.
He only squinted at Fang Xuanzao with a look of contempt.
Fang Xuanzao ignored Bing Yuanzhen and continued: "I am not optimistic about the alliance between Yang Yuanqing and Wang Shichong. I just think they are just using each other. Yang Yuanqing needs Wang Shichong to resist Li Yuan's eastward expansion for him, and he also needs Wang Shichong to destroy him.
In order to support the Sui Dynasty in Luoyang, especially the latter, Yang Yuanqing did not hesitate to lend him 100,000 shi of grain in order to support Wang Shichong in his rise to power. As for Wang Shichong..."
When Fang Xuanzao said this, he quickly glanced at Li Mi out of the corner of his eye and saw that he was listening intently. He was secretly proud that he had accurately felt the pulse of his lord.
"Wang Shichong didn't really take refuge in Yang Yuanqing. He knew very well that Yang Yuanqing was only using him. Once the use was over, Yang Yuanqing would be the first to kill him, so he also maintained a kind of vigilance. Has the lord forgotten about Lu Chu?
?”
This sentence reminded Li Mi that officials from Luoyang came to seek refuge with him a few days ago and brought news that Wang Shichong had promised Yang Yuanqing to hand over Lu Chu to him, but in the end Lu Chu was killed by Wang Shichong himself. This shows that
Wang Shichong has both ends of the head and the rat in his heart.
Li Mi walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, then turned back and said, "In this case, Yang Yuanqing may attack Luoyang first, not us."
Fang Xuanzao narrowed his eyes and said, "The idea behind his humble position is that Yang Yuanqing is actually waiting for Wang Shichong to usurp the throne and oust Emperor Huangtai. Before that, Yang Yuanqing will not attack Luoyang."
Bing Yuanzhen, who was standing next to him, couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted: "Since Yang Yuanqing won't attack Luoyang for the time being, his target should be me, right?"
"No!"
Fang Xuanzao rejected Bing Yuanzhen's idea without hesitation, "I thought Yang Yuanqing would not send troops again for the time being. Hebei is not Hedong. Hebei is devastated. Yang Yuanqing needs to make great efforts in disaster relief and treatment of war wounds. His resources
He must focus on people's livelihood. If he continues to fight, his resources will be exhausted and he will be unable to fight against the Tang Dynasty in the future."
Seeing that Li Mi had believed in him, Fang Xuanzao urged him again: "Your Highness, our top priority now is to cease the war with Wang Shichong as soon as possible and use part of the treasure seized from Yu Wenhuaji to redeem the families of the officers and soldiers of Luokou City. I think Wang Shichong should
Will agree."
Li Mi finally nodded, "Then please sir, please be my special envoy to go to Luoyang to negotiate with Wang Shichong."
…
…
After entering spring, the dead-like Luoyang City finally began to regain some vitality. With the capture of Luokou City, the food crisis that had been plaguing Luoyang was finally alleviated. Wang Shichong obtained the 500,000 stone grain storage in Luokou Warehouse.
, in addition to the 100,000 shi of grain returned to the Sui Dynasty, the remaining 400,000 shi of grain suddenly gave Wang Shichong the confidence.
Although the battle at Hulao Pass was tragic, it did not affect the recovery of Luoyang City's vitality. The price of food dropped from 10,000 yuan per dou of rice to 300 yuan per dou of rice. The old cloth money-bad money gradually disappeared. This allowed Wang Shichong to obtain
great reputation.
Of course, the year-long famine also dealt an extremely heavy blow to Luoyang. The capital of the Sui Dynasty, which once had a population of one million and was at its peak, became devastated. In the past, Yang Guang spent tens of millions to build 200 buildings.
Lixi Garden has long been the grain fields and vegetable fields of Luoyang people. The exquisite buildings were looted, burned down or collapsed, and the rest were dilapidated and desolate, becoming the homes of crows, jackals and foxes.
More importantly, there are only a hundred thousand people left in Luoyang out of a million people12, and most of them have fled to Guanzhong and Hedong. The streets have become deserted, and less than 20% of the shops in the prosperous Fengdu city are still there.
Open for business.
That morning, a group of Wang Shichong's soldiers escorted Fang Xuanzao's carriage into Luoyang City. Wang Shichong's eldest son Wang Xuanying was already waiting at the city gate.
"On behalf of my father, I welcome Fang Shangshu to Luoyang!"
Wang Xuanying is about thirty years old, but he looks gentle and elegant. He does not have the toughness and coldness of Wang Shichong. His smile is sincere, with joy bursting from the depths of his heart. Although Wang Shichong holds the power of government affairs, in fact, most of them
Government affairs were all handled by Wang Xuanying, while Wang Shichong was mainly responsible for military affairs.
Wang Xuanying firmly agreed to a truce with the Wagang Army. He knew that the court and the people were in urgent need of recuperation and recuperation. It was Wang Xuanying's strong push that led Wang Shichong to finally agree to peace talks with Li Mi.
Fang Xuanzao opened the car curtain and returned the greeting with a smile: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for coming to pick me up personally. I hope our peace talks can start with happiness and end with satisfaction."
"As the envoy said, I hope so too!"
Wang Xuanying and Fang Xuanzao looked at each other, laughed together, and the carriage sped up and drove towards the palace.
…
Although Wang Xuanying actively promoted peace talks with Li Mi, not everyone was willing to reconcile Zheng and Wei. There was also fierce opposition within Wang Shichong, mainly from the military opposition led by Wang Renze, who led his army to fight at Hulao Pass.
The heavy casualties of the soldiers made him unable to face this reality.
In Wang Shichong's government affairs room, Wang Renze was heartbroken and persuaded Wang Shichong to change his tune and withdraw, "Second uncle, more than 20,000 brothers died defending Hulao Pass. The bones of the soldiers are not cold, but today they are talking to Li Mi hand in hand. How can this make the brothers?"
Can you accept it? This will greatly damage morale. Second uncle, you are also the one leading the troops. You should understand better than my nephew."
Wang Shichong sighed and said: "I know it is difficult for the military to accept it, but you have to consider the overall situation. Do you think Li Mi is willing to give up Luokou City? It was more painful for him to make this decision than for us, but there is no way, Yang Yuanqing has already won it
Hebei, his next target must be the Central Plains. If we continue to fight Li Mi, we will only lose both sides, and in the end we will take advantage of Yang Yuanqing, do you understand?"
"But the Sui Dynasty and I are allies, and we will deal with the Tang Dynasty together. Second uncle, the crisis is only for Li Mi, what does it have to do with us?" Wang Renze said still unconvinced.
"Don't be naive. Yang Yuanqing is a tiger. He will not allow others to sleep soundly beside his bed. He will kill us sooner or later, even earlier than Li Mi. His so-called alliance with us is just using us. Do you think
Is he really that stupid to let us go just to save face?"
Wang Shichong stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Reconciliation with Li Mi will only benefit us, so please stop objecting. I have decided on this matter.
Wang Renze said helplessly for a long time: "But how can I explain to the soldiers?"
Wang Shichong smiled slightly, "It depends on how you say it. Just tell the soldiers that Li Mi is no longer able to fight with us and beg for peace. You want to portray this as our victory. Do you understand?"
"But victory must be rewarded." Wang Renze knew that it was inevitable, so he could only try his best to bargain and get something substantial.
"Yes, I will reward all the soldiers who participated in the war, especially you. I will make you the county king. I will reward you half of the property Li Mi sent. In addition, you can choose fifty maids in the palace.
Even if you pick the concubine away, it’s up to you!”
Wang Shichong squinted his eyes and laughed. Wang Renze was his most trusted nephew and would hold military power for him in the future. He would never be stingy with rewards for Wang Renze.
Wang Renze was moved in his heart and bowed: "Thank you very much to my second uncle for the reward. My nephew will not let him down."
"Go! Comfort the brothers and tell them that I, Wang Shichong, will not treat you badly..."
…
Wang Renze left, and not long after, Wang Xuanying hurried into the government affairs room and said excitedly: "Father, Li Mi's special envoy has arrived."
"There's no need to be so happy!" Wang Shichong glared at his son with great displeasure.
Wang Xuanying was startled, and the smile immediately disappeared from his face. He didn't know why his father was unhappy, so he could only say tremblingly: "Li Mi's special envoy is waiting outside the palace. Does father want to see him?"
Wang Shichong stood in front of the map with his hands behind his back, staring at Hebei and Hedong. After a long while, he slowly said: "I'd better avoid this peace talk, so as not to offend Yang Yuanqing. You can talk to Special Envoy Li Mi on my behalf! Tell them my difficulties.
Please understand."
"But...if I tell them like this, will it reveal my father's desire to get rid of the control of the Sui Dynasty? The child thinks it is better for his father to complain about illness."
Wang Shichong laughed and said, "Don't think they are stupid. They understand in their hearts, just like a mirror. But your caution is not wrong. Just tell the special envoy that I am not feeling well and cannot receive him."
"My child understands."
Wang Xuanying turned to leave, but Wang Shichong stopped him again, "Also, I can let go of their family members in Luokou City, but I think the sincerity of the property they sent is not enough. I still need 200,000 shi of food.
"
…
Anyang City in Wei County was once the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty and the largest city in Hebei. Although Dou Jiande captured the entire Hebei area south of Youzhou, only Anyang City and Liyang City were not captured. Li Yang City was Li Mi's
Dou Jiande did not attack the base in Hebei.
However, Anyang City was the last enclave of the Luoyang Sui Dynasty in Hebei Province. It was guarded by tens of thousands of Sui troops led by Wei Commandery Governor Yang Shanhui and Chang Shi Yaojunsu. After Dou Jiande's army attacked the city dozens of times, the city remained standing, but as the
After the Battle of Hebei ended, the ownership of Anyang City also became a problem.
In the afternoon of this day, more than a hundred Sui army guards had just been transferred to Hebei Province. Yang Xuanxuan, who was appointed as the prefect of Hejian County, arrived at the gate of Anyang City.
"Please report to Governor Yang that your clan brother Xuan Jiao is visiting!"