Jiangling, a famous city for thousands of years, is backed by a large river. It has been decades of peace since the Gao family established the Nanping regime here. It is in the heart of the world. It can be said that it is sitting on the "VIP table" and watching the rise and fall of the Central Plains dynasties for three generations.
, the situation changes.
Speaking of which, compared to other separatist regimes, which either destroyed the country or caused civil strife, the Gao family has been passed down to three generations since Gao Jixing. Although the military and political affairs have become increasingly weak and the country's power has declined, it has never suffered major disturbances.
But since the spring of this year, the sunny city of Jiangling has been in a state of instability from top to bottom. Even the lowest level people in Jiangling can feel the tension permeating the air. Especially
After the Northern Han army completed its assembly in Xiangyang.
In the past few days since the beginning of summer, the people in power in Jingnan have become even more uneasy. Gao Baorong, who has lived in seclusion in the palace for many years, has recently discovered that the wine is no longer fragrant and the singing and dancing are no longer beautiful. He has resumed his affairs and asked about military affairs and politics.
internal and external situations.
The Han soldiers were everywhere, and the biggest military preparation on the Nanping side was to impose martial law on Jiangling City. All gates in floods and droughts were closed tightly, and entry and exit were strictly prohibited. Since then, people in Jiangling City have become more panicked. Although there are rumors that the imperial court
The army is going to attack Huxiang and only wants to take the road to Nanping. It has no intention of causing harm, but such rhetoric can only deceive the ignorant people.
As for the senior officials in Jingnan, they didn't believe it at all. Even with the cowardice of King Gao Baorong of Nanping, he only had a little illusion, but after the ministers explained it, they suddenly became more frightened.
As a group of knights came south, the long-closed Jiangling City was reopened. Across the moat, looking at the slowly falling suspension bridge, sitting high on the horse, Cao Bin couldn't help but sigh: "Master Wang is still far away, and Jiangling is shocked.
How can you stop the imperial army by being so closed-door? It just exposes your panic and only makes people laugh!"
Soon, a royal official hurried forward, respectfully led the way, and welcomed Cao Bin into the city.
In the lobby of the palace, there was a solemn scene. In order not to lose etiquette, but also to show respect for the imperial envoys, Nanping Wang Gao Baorong was the leader, with both civil and military personnel present, waiting for Cao Bin's arrival.
Perhaps due to years of hedonistic life and lack of exercise, Gao Baorong has gained some weight. His face is pale, his hair is yellowing, and his complexion is weak. It is obvious that he is in poor health.
"General Cao Bin, please pay homage to your Majesty!" Cao Bin entered the room steadily, held his head high and held his chest high, Cao Bin clasped his fists and said loudly, with a rare expression of excitement on his handsome face.
"General, no courtesy!" Gao Baorong raised his sleeves and gestured, looking very lenient. Seeing Cao Binying's vigorous appearance, he secretly sighed in his heart, thinking that a general sent by the Han Dynasty could have such magnanimity, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Murong Dushuai sent the general to Jiangling to meet the orphan, why?" He pretended not to know what to ask, but Gao Baorong couldn't get up his momentum at all, and his face was filled with a gloomy temperament.
Cao Bin, with a calm and humble look on his face, raised his hands and said: "When the Zhou Dynasty was in Hunan, wolves and violence were rampant. They were good at using swords and soldiers to attack the prefectures and towns, killing Jiedu, this rebel. Your Majesty has issued an edict and sent a large army to attack him.
, to control violence and suppress bandits in order to bring peace to the people of Hunan.
Now Commander-in-Chief Murong has led his army south and wants to cross Jiangling. He has sent a special general to come here to contact us about borrowing the road. I also request your Majesty to order that the passes in the cities in Jingnan be opened to allow the army to pass!"
His tone was very calm, but his words were full of force, and Cao Bin looked like he couldn't refuse. However, after hearing this, including Gao Baorong, he didn't show any passion or indignation. Most of them stayed silent, just expressing their emotions. It is inevitable to feel a little depressed.
Cao Bin made his intention clear and remained silent. He stood there stiffly, waiting for Gao Baorong's response.
Gao Baorong's face was full of hesitation. He hesitated for a while and asked: "I wonder how many soldiers and horses the imperial court sent south to attack Zhou Xingfeng?"
Meeting his gaze, Cao Bin said: "Forty thousand troops on foot and cavalry!"
There was no bluff, but this mediocre number made Jingnan civil and military officials full of worry. According to the Han court's investigation, the total number of soldiers and horses under the Jingnan states was about 20,000. Seven thousand soldiers, this is its entire military strength, and it is still an army that has been at peace for a long time.
The most recent foreign war was when the Northern Han Dynasty was conquering Huainan. General Wei Lin led his army eastward to assist in the war. When the army was sent out, the war was coming to an end. Then Tang general Liu Renfan defeated Wang Kui's army who was also assisting in the war. In the end, There was no formal confrontation with the Tang army. After the Han-Tang Dynasty negotiated peace, they retreated to Jiangling and made some soy sauce. The fifty bolts of silk that Liu Chengyou rewarded at that time was not enough for military expenses.
Going back to the previous foreign war, we have to go back to the beginning of the founding of the Han Dynasty. At that time, Gao Congjie was still in power. He wanted to take advantage of the internal and external instability of the Han Dynasty to plunder and seek recovery. After the two states of Ying were rejected, he simply sent troops to seize them. .As a result, he was severely defeated by An Shenqi, the governor of Shannan East Road at that time, and returned home in embarrassment.
At that time, An Shenqi used only local troops. Now, those coming from the south were the main force of the Han Dynasty's imperial army. The army was also led by the imperial commander Murong Yanzhao. Moreover, it was only a partial division of the Han Dynasty, but its military strength exceeded that of the entire Han Dynasty. In Jingnan, there is such a disparity between the strong and the weak, which is really frustrating.
"I wonder when Murong Dushuai plans to mobilize his troops and which route he will take?" Gao Baorong asked again.
Cao Bin said: "This involves the secret of military aircraft, which cannot be known by the general, and the king should not inquire about it. All he needs to do is give an order to let it go!"
Cao Bin said this in a somewhat rude tone. Gao Baorong was a little embarrassed when he heard this. At this time, his younger brother Gao Baoxu stared at Cao Bin and asked lightly: "If I, Jingnan, don't let him go, what will the court want to do?" how?"
Gao Baoxu's attitude was neither soft nor hard. Cao Bin glanced at him sideways, but remained calm and said: "The army has a strong vanguard force, which clears roads across mountains and builds bridges when encountering water. If Jingnan doesn't cooperate with us, we will have to open up the road ourselves!"
After these questions, the atmosphere in the hall became a little tense. It was Sun Guangxian, the leader of the Jingnan civil servants, who spoke to Cao Bin with a smile on his face: "The imperial court wants to use the Dao to level Hunan, and Nanping is a vassal, so there should be no such thing." It's just that this matter is important, and our principals also need to discuss it. The general is coming at a gallop. Thank you for your hard work. Please stay in the hotel temporarily. I will have an answer in a day or two!"
"What Mr. Sun said is true. I still need to discuss it with the civil and military officials. General, please rest for now!" Gao Baorong also hurriedly agreed.
Hearing this, Cao Bin's cold eyes looked around the hall, and finally landed on Gao Baorong. A smile slowly appeared on his lips: "In this case, please your Majesty and all the wise men to seize the time. After all, the military situation is urgent and there is no room for neglect! "
"I'll take my leave first!" After saying that, Cao Bin took the initiative to leave, leaving Gao Baorong space for civil and military discussions.
As soon as Cao Bin left, the atmosphere in the hall became more and more solemn. The imperial court had previously sent envoys to report the matter of borrowing the passage, but there was no clear reply. However, this time, Cao Bin came as an envoy of the Southern Expedition.
Yes, it's time for them to express their stance. This time, there isn't much room for them.
Most of the staff were dismissed, leaving only Gao Baoxu, Sun Guangxian, Liang Tingsi, Li Jingwei, and Wei Lin, all of whom had solemn faces and serious expressions.
"Your Majesty, the envoy from Hunan wants to see you!" Before he could speak, he heard the announcement.
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Most likely, it was the news of the arrival of the Han army that made the Chu envoy who had been staying in Jiangling for a long time unable to sit still and hurriedly came to ask for an audience. The purpose of his visit was also clear to everyone present. After hearing this, Gao Baorong was slightly embarrassed.
He ordered impatiently: "Just say that I have something to do and have no time to meet you. Let the envoy of Chu return to the hotel. We will talk about it tomorrow if we have anything to do!"
"yes!"
Rejecting the envoys of Chu and closing the hall door, Gao Baorong looked around at the Jingnan officials in the hall. After pondering for a while, he finally spoke: "The Han army is about to move south, and our country must take its course. The crisis is imminent.
, how to deal with the imminent situation, please come up with a charter for me!"
After Gao Baorong finished speaking, everyone here remained silent. Even Gao Baoxu, who had just shown his talents in the hall, did not express his opinion. In recent years, although Gao Baorong entrusted his younger brother with affairs, Gao Baoxu also occasionally talked about the Northern Han Dynasty.
The threat. But when the threat actually comes, we dare not declare hostility.
