Xiao Yuexian stood up and quickly walked towards a small door in the corner. There was a white jade screen in front of the small door. She ducked and hid behind the screen, but did not leave.
The inner hall has been tidied up a little, and the maid has placed two couches, and Xiao Mian is sitting on the dragon couch.
At this time, Xie Sili walked into the inner hall accompanied by Cen Wenwen. Xie Sili stepped forward, bowed and saluted: "Xie Sili meets His Highness Prince Liang!"
Xiao Mian was startled that he actually called himself His Royal Highness Prince Liang. He was immediately furious and his face sank. Just as he was about to question him, he saw Cen Wenwen winking at him repeatedly. He held back his breath and said coldly:
"Thank you, Minister, for coming all the way. Thank you for your hard work. Please take a seat!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Xie Sili sat down calmly. Although Xiao Mian proclaimed himself emperor, he was never recognized by the Sui Dynasty. Naturally, he would not address himself as your majesty. Xie Sili would never give in on such a matter of principle.
This time he was ordered to see Xiao Mian. In fact, he was here to recruit Xiao Mian to surrender, but he couldn't express his position clearly.
Cen Wenwen also sat down on the other side. He was the introducer and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this time Shilang Xie came from the pass and brought shocking news. His Royal Highness the King of Chu actually led an army to attack Chang'an."
"ah!"
Xiao Xian stood up abruptly. This news shocked him. At this time, a low exclamation came from behind the screen.
Xie Sili was startled. He heard clearly that it was a young woman's voice. There was actually a woman hiding behind the screen. This made Xie Sili a little puzzled.
Cen Wenwen also heard it, but he knew it was Princess Baoyue. He didn't take it seriously and said quickly: "Your Majesty, please sit down. We have conquered Chang'an but not the palace city."
Xiao Xiancai sat down slowly, his mind so confused that he didn't notice that his daughter was hiding behind the screen. This unexpected news shocked him so much that he finally restrained his inner panic and asked, "What on earth happened?"
"
Xie Sili bowed slightly and told Xiao Mian in detail how Yang Yuanqing led 10,000 cavalry to attack Chang'an and finally forced the Tang Dynasty to sign an alliance under the city.
Xiao Mian's face was filled with uncertainty. This actually happened twenty days ago, and he had no idea about it, which showed that he had no information. But at this time, he was more concerned about the fate of the Tang Dynasty.
Xiao Mian can be regarded as a tycoon... He knew very well what it meant for the capital to be captured by the enemy. Although the Tang Dynasty was careless, Guanzhong was empty, and the Sui army only launched a sneak attack, the Tang Dynasty was finally forced to sign the contract.
A very unequal contract.
This means that the Tang Dynasty can no longer withstand the pressure of the Sui Dynasty. As for two years of peace, that is even more nonsense. How can Yang Yuanqing give the Tang Dynasty a chance to restore its national strength? He is almost certain that the Sui army will fully attack the Tang Dynasty next year
.
But if the Tang Dynasty perished, he would be the next one. Xiao Mian finally started to panic, what should he do?
Xie Sili saw Xiao Mian's panicked expression. This was expected by him. If Xiao Mian didn't even have this awareness, then he wouldn't be worthy of being called a hero.
Xie Sili smiled slightly, took out a letter from his arms and presented it to Xiao Mian. "This is a letter written by His Royal Highness the King of Chu. The answer His Highness wants is in this letter."
A eunuch stepped forward and handed the letter to Xiao Mian. Xiao Mian took the letter and saw on the envelope it was written, 'Yang Yuanqing to Brother Xiao of Nanliang'.
Yang Yuanqing called him Brother Xiao, indicating that it was a private letter. He opened the cover of the letter, took out the paper, shook it out and spread it on the table. The first sentence jumped out to him, "We say goodbye to Jiangdu, and ten years passed by.
Brother Xiao, are you okay here?'
In Jiangdu, Xiao Xian sighed. That year, Yang Yuanqing wanted to deal with Zhang Jin and asked him to help him set up a game. In fact, they did not meet that time. The last time they met was probably in Dunhuang County, a chance encounter on the street.
What year was it? He kind of forgot.
Xiao Mian looked down again, and after a brief reminiscence, he got straight to the point. He was actually invited to destroy Li Mi together. The other alliance was Du Fuwei. He and Du Fuwei attacked from the west, and the Sui army attacked from the north.
, after the time has started, there is nothing behind it.
Xiao Mian was confused. What should he do after killing Li Mi? Will Yang Yuanqing admit his duplicity? There is also Du Fuwei. What is his attitude? None of it was mentioned in the letter.
He also said that this letter could solve his doubts, but where did he solve it? He glanced at Xie Sili in confusion and asked: "I would like to ask Mr. Xie, what should I do in the Liang Kingdom? What is the attitude of His Highness the King of Chu?"
Xie Sili smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness needs to make your own choice. His Highness King Chu has not made any statement, but Li Mi is our common enemy. It is in our common interests that we join forces to annihilate him."
Although Xie Sili didn't say anything, Xiao Mian already understood. He pondered for a moment and sighed: "Let me think about this matter again. Mr. Xie will go back to your guest to rest first."
"Okay! I'll take my leave first."
Xie Sili stood up to say goodbye. Xiao Mian quickly winked at Cen Wenwen and said to him, "Xiangguo will escort the distinguished guest out of the palace for me."
Cen Wenwen stood up with a smile and waved to Xie Sili, "Please, Minister!"
The two of them left the palace. Xiao Mian then remembered something and got up and walked towards the screen. Only later did he realize that his daughter should be hiding behind the screen.
There was no one behind the screen, and his daughter had left. Xiao Mian thought about what his daughter had just mentioned. In fact, he knew in his heart that this was a good strategy to use marriage to increase Nanliang's bargaining chips, but he was unwilling to do so.
He forced his daughter to marry someone she didn't like.
Xiao Mian also knew that Yang Yuanqing would ascend the throne sooner or later, and that day was not far away. With his daughter's beauty, it would not be a problem to be favored, but...
Xiao Mian was also confused and didn't know what to do. He wanted to hear Cen Wenwen's opinion.
At this time, Cen Wenwen sent Xie Sili away and returned to the inner hall. He smiled slightly and said, "Is your Majesty feeling very embarrassed?"
Xiao Xian nodded, sat down again and said worriedly: "Originally, I thought the situation would last three to five years, but I didn't expect that Yang Yuanqing actually captured Chang'an. As a result, next year at the latest, the Sui army will attack the Tang Dynasty in a big way.
Chao, the world is about to change drastically, what should we do?"
Cen Wenwen was silent for a long time, and then slowly said: "Under the overturned nest, are there any intact eggs? If the Tang Dynasty is destroyed, we will not escape destruction. Now is the time for His Highness to make a choice. Xie Sili also said it very well just now
Clearly, Your Majesty needs to make a choice now, I believe these are Yang Yuanqing’s exact words.”
"According to your wishes, I must surrender to the Sui Dynasty, is that right?" Xiao Mian looked at Cen Wenwen and asked.
Cen Wenwen nodded and said seriously: "If I guessed correctly, Du Fuwei has surrendered to the Sui Dynasty, Your Majesty. In fact, the situation is over."
Xiao Mian paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. He was thinking with furrowed brows. In fact, he felt that it was not the last moment yet. If the Tang Dynasty was destroyed, it would be the last moment. He quickly glanced at Cen Wenwen. He felt that Cen Wenwen actually had
Selfishly. Maybe he has surrendered to the Sui Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Xiao Mian stopped and said: "I want to wait and see for a few more months on whether to surrender to the Sui Dynasty, but this time Yang Yuanqing only invited me to attack Li Mi together. There was no mention of surrender. If I agree to attack
Li Mi, I have a condition."
"Your Majesty, please speak. I will tell Xie Sili."
Xiao Mian pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Yang Yuanqing must agree to marry my daughter as his concubine."
"Princess Baoyue?" Cen Wenwen was stunned for a moment.
Xiao Mian nodded solemnly, "This is my condition. If Yang Yuanqing agrees, I will send troops on time. Otherwise..."
Xiao Mian did not continue, but Cen Wenwen understood what he meant, otherwise he would surrender to the Tang Dynasty and help the Tang Dynasty jointly resist the Sui Dynasty. This is what he meant. However, the marriage could indeed bring the greatest benefits to Nanliang. Cen Wenwen thought for a while and said:
"Your Majesty, this marriage plan is a good one, and I completely agree with it."
.......
The guest house where Xie Sili lived was actually next to Yuzhang Palace. Xie Sili knew that Cen Wenwen had gone to discuss countermeasures with Xiao Mian, and also knew that Cen Wenwen would give him a reply soon.
Xie Sili didn't rest. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his hands, waiting patiently for Cen Wenwen's arrival. In fact, Xie Sili was a little nervous. Before he left, Yang Yuanqing repeatedly told him that Xiao Mian and Du Fuwei would join forces to attack Li Mi.
It is very important and affects the overall situation of the whole world. Xiao Mian must be persuaded to agree to it no matter what.
Xie Sili also knew that if Li Mi was destroyed, Nanliang would directly face the threat of the Sui army. Whether Xiao Mian would agree or not was still one thing.
If Xiao Mian refuses to agree, then Du Fuwei can only attack Li Mi alone. That would be too weak and will not achieve the goal. More importantly, Xiao Mian will become a variable and will not be able to become a key chess piece that affects the success of the overall situation.
At this time, footsteps were heard outside the door, and his entourage reported, "Servant, Mr. Cen is here."
Sure enough, Cen Wenwen came, and Xie Sili quickly opened the door, only to see Cen Wenwen standing outside the door with a smile, "Shilang Xie should be waiting for me!"
Xie Sili chuckled and said, "Cen Xiangguo, please come in!"
Cen Wenwen walked in. He was quite frank and did not beat around the bush. He said directly: "My Majesty asked me to tell the Minister that we have made a decision about joining forces with Li Mi."
"How is it?" Xie Sili asked anxiously.
"We can join forces with the Sui army and Du Fuwei to attack Li Mi, but we have a condition."
"condition?"
Xie Sili was slightly startled, "What are the conditions?"
"It's very simple. His Majesty said that he hopes that the relationship between our two families will take a further step, that is, a marriage. Your Majesty has an only daughter. I believe you all know that she is Princess Baoyue of our Liang Kingdom. I hope that His Highness King Chu can marry her as his side wife."
Concubine, the two families are married, so that we can go all out to help the Sui army attack Li Mi."
Xie Sili didn't expect this condition. He was a little embarrassed, so he pondered and said, "What if there are other conditions?"
Cen Wenwen shook his head, "This is our only condition. If the Sui Dynasty does not agree, it means that it is not sincere to us. In this way, it will be impossible for both parties to cooperate, and we will even be forced to seek protection from the Tang Dynasty."
Cen Wenwen's words were very direct and even a bit threatening, which really put Xie Sili in a difficult position. If he rushed to Taiyuan to ask for instructions and then came back to reply, he might be too late and miss important events.
In fact, Yang Yuanqing entrusted him with full authority to negotiate because he knew there was too little time. He could make any decision on behalf of the Sui Dynasty, but he did not expect that the other party actually proposed marriage. It is estimated that Yang Yuanqing's problem is not big. The key is how to explain to the princess?
Cen Wenwen smiled and said: "In fact, Princess Baoyue has a noble bloodline. She is the legitimate daughter of the Xiao family and the most beautiful woman in the Liang Dynasty. She is still unmarried and is completely worthy of His Highness the King of Chu. This is a beautiful thing. Why can't the minister agree?"
Xie Sili pondered for a long time. He thought of the overall situation of Yang Yuanqing. For Xiao Liang, an important chess piece, he had to agree. He couldn't care less if the princess was unhappy. Xie Sili finally gritted his teeth and nodded, "I can represent the Great Sui Dynasty.