As the snow melted, the war took a sharp turn from late March.{3w.

The tactic of Jiangdu's solid walls and clearing the fields is based on defense and preparing for long-term consumption. After the Luoyang Army and the Beiwang Army captured Luozhou, the first round of offensive was the most fierce. In less than ten days, more than a dozen cities north of Jiangdu were lost, and several cities surrendered without fighting.

At the same time, a large-scale harassment war began, led by the cavalry of the Beiwang Army and the cavalry of the Luoyang Army as the auxiliary.

The cavalry of the Northern King Army fought against the Xianbei people all year round, and was considered brave. The cavalry came and went without a trace. For half a month, they plagued many cities in Jiangdu and plundered many war resources. The strategy that Jiangdu could not stick to also made these cavalry unscrupulous. Outside the city, they could also plunder the population, just like bandits. Many residents originally thought that living outside the city would be safe, but in the end they found that they had to enter the city to seek shelter.

As a large number of people poured into the city, another wave of migration came from the entire Jiangdu. This time it was not the migration of aristocratic families, but the migration of ordinary people. People would be plundered outside the city and had to enter the city. However, the city had a certain load. If so many people entered the city, ordinary cities could not accept it. Even if they could barely accept it, they would have difficulties in resettlement.

On the one hand, it was the continuous harassment of the enemy, and on the other hand, the people needed to resettle the city. The people moved their families and villages and even the entire area. When they arrived in the city, they could only temporarily build houses to shelter from the wind and rain. The poor conditions were not good, and even thatched huts could not be built. Their food and drink cost was also a problem. After all, there was not much food they could move away. Once they did not continue their meals, they would cause trouble.

As the population in cities increases, public security has become a major problem.

From late March to early April, the problems that the Dongwang Mansion had to face directly were not only the rebels kept bringing the nuisance to the city of Jiangdu, but also the migration of people from all over the country. The local governments kept complaining about the Dongwang Mansion, hoping to close the city gates and prevent people from entering the city from increasing pressure.

But the Eastern Prince's Mansion ordered the people to enter the city because Han Jian did not want to give up these people in Jiangdu and lost the hearts of the people.

Refugees moved to the city. The burden of material demand in the city has increased, grain prices soared again, and the prices of other daily necessities have also continued to rise. Although this is not the first time that Dongwangfu has dealt with such a problem, this time the problem is even more difficult. Because there is really no food this time, not as the last time, someone hoarded it.

At this time, Han Jian was also a little worried. The battle situation continued to deteriorate. Almost every day there was news of the city's loss, and the local burden was heavy. The entire Eastern Palace was no longer enough to make ends meet.

The supplies that could have dealt with for half a year have now been sold out in just over two months since the war officially started, and the real war has not even begun. If this continues, Jiang has not been defeated and is already in trouble, waiting to be slaughtered.

The Dongwangfu contacted and held a meeting and discussed many countermeasures, but none of them were feasible. Raising materials has become the biggest problem to deal with the difficulties at present.

The temporary resettlement measures taken by the Dongwang Mansion were to use military rations to deal with the increase in refugees in each city and to open porridge shops in each city to help the people. This only temporarily alleviated the pressure from the people, because the food was reduced day by day, and the food in the new year could not be sown, just like the surplus grain from the landlord's family, they would always be eaten.

By early April, Han Song suggested to Han Jian that he could "borrow grain" among the folk gentry through his connections. Han Jian rejected it.

First of all, the relationship between the Dongwang Mansion and the gentry, which had been "borrowed" from the Southern Qi Dynasty, was very unfriendly. Now, borrowing grain rashly will only make the gentry think that Jiang Du cannot continue and there is a high possibility of change.

Han Jian believes that the grain storage in Jiangdu can still be maintained for a while. Before the war becomes more embarrassing, we must first calm prices and not bring some bad news to the public.

After all, Han Song's family could not calm down the current big and small problems in Jiangdu, so they had to listen to Han Jian first.

At this moment, Zhu Tongjing, who suffered a secret loss last time in Jiangdu, stepped across Jiangbei again with great fanfare and came to Jiangdu for "on mission".

Zhu Tongjing was very fast this time. On the third day of the Southern Qi announcement of his mission, on the sixth day of the April 19th, he had already arrived at Jiangdu City. Although Han Jian had received a letter from Southern Qi in advance, he was still a little surprised by Zhu Tongjing's "rushing". After entering the border of the Wei Dynasty, Zhu Tongjing arrived in Jiangdu in just over two days. During this period, he could be said to have been restless. Han Jian suspected that he had just rode a horse and ran for thirty hours.

This time, Zhu Tongjing came here, and the specifications of the mission were much larger than last time. Only Zhu Tongjing and a few followers entered the city in advance. The following came, including the deputy envoy and followers, as well as the accompanying guards, were as many as two or three hundred.

Jiangdu also has improved its specifications in terms of reception. After all, when the Wei Dynasty was in chaos, the Southern Qi, as the largest enemy of the Wei Dynasty for a long time, sent envoys to Jiangdu to show kindness, and it also made the people feel that the situation might develop in a good direction.

On the ninth day of the April 1st, Han Jian met with the Southern Qi envoy for the first time. As a formal diplomatic talks between the two countries, both sides were in the mansion east of Jiangdu City, which was at the temporary court's residence.

In this meeting, Zhu Tongjing led a few people, and there were more than a dozen people, and they were all officials named by the Southern Qi. Among these people, not all of them were from the Empress Dowager Party of Southern Qi, and there were also Xie Rumo. From this point of view, Han Jian could realize that the Southern Qi mission was in the name of the Qi Dynasty, and not from Zhu Tongjing and the Empress Dowager Party like last time. Xie Rumo, as the representative of the war faction of Southern Qi, was willing to send envoys to come, which should have compromised against the Empress Dowager Party in some aspects.

Although Han Jian didn't have much experience in diplomatic talks, he was also able to handle them easily.

Zhu Tongjing is very good at diplomacy and brings a lot of gifts. The whole talk is like Zhu Tongjing is giving gifts. Some are given to the queen, some are given to the East King, some are given to the concubines of Han Jian, and some are given to Han Jian’s newlywed wife. Because Han Jian’s concubines and wife are numerous, the gifts have to be given several times.

Han Jian's "passion" faced by Zhu Tongjing can only be regarded as a microcosm of Zhu Tongjing's insidiousness and cunningness. Anyway, it does not involve major events between the two countries, so he "accepted it" as much gifts.

There was no result in the first talks. Zhu Tongjing just presented the letter of the country, saying that this time he came was just an ordinary "friendly visit". But even Bai Ding, who was illiterate in Jiang, also knew that the people of Southern Qi came this time with a different purpose.

Because of the last time when I borrowed food, many people wondered whether the Southern Qi sent Zhu Tongjing to take over the city that was replaced? If the Southern Qi took over the city, would they send troops to garrison? At that time, will the Southern Qi troops be prepared to assist Jiangdu to resist the rebels, or will they divide Jiangdu with the rebels?

There are many people talking about it, so naturally I can't find the answer.

After the meeting, Han Jian returned to the Dongwang Mansion, and Han Song and Han Cui had been waiting for Han Jian for a long time.

"What exactly do the Zhu's surname is going to do?" Han Cui asked angrily.

Han Jian was so happy that he said: "It's not what Zhu Tongjing wants to do, but what the people of Qi want to do. Last time they came, they proposed that we Jiangdu surrender, but I refused. This time they came, probably because of this matter."

Han Song and Han Cui were a little shocked. Although they had expected that the Southern Qi people might have made unsolicited proposals, they did not expect that the proposal would be so direct.

When Zhu Tongjing came last time, the war in Jiangdu had just begun and had not reached such an urgent point. This time, Zhu Tongjing came, and the cavalry of the Northern King Army had harassed the city of Jiangdu many times. Times changed, and Han Jian thought that Zhu Tongjing was also full of confidence.

Han Song asked, "Jian'er, if you feel embarrassed, leave the matter of receiving the envoys of Qi Dynasty to Taifu Gu. You can take care of military affairs with peace of mind."

"It's okay, I can handle these things." Han Jian said, "Now we can't tolerate us directly. In the Qi Dynasty, Xie Rumo's party had already wanted to start a war. This time, they could not wait to take advantage of the civil strife in our court. If they were given a chance, it would be very bad for us to be attacked from both sides."

"Then let it go..." Han Cui said, "The envoy is in Jiangdu. If you don't believe the people of Qi, you dare to send troops?"

Han Jian sighed slightly. Now that Zhu Tongjing's arrival is no longer simply persuading surrender, but a threatening mission.

If Jiang did not agree to his conditions, regardless of whether he left Jiangdu or not, the Qi people would send troops or would send troops.

But Han Jian expected that the possibility of Southern Qi sending troops so far is not great.

The main reason is that the war in Jiangbei is still in a stalemate. Although Jiang Du seems very embarrassed under the tactic of strengthening the walls and clearing the world, the entire battle situation is also passively beaten. But this does not mean that Jiang Du has no possibility of turning the tables in this battle.

Because at this time, the supply pressure in the rear of the Beiwang Army and Luoyang Army was greater. The Beiwang Army and Luoyang Army entered the hinterland of Jiangdu, which meant that the logistics supply line was longer and the possibility of being cut off the food channel was greater.

"Whether the Qi people sent troops now will not affect our river for the time being," said Han Jian.

Han Cui was a little puzzled, and Han Song pointed at Han Jian and said, "Let Jianer continue."

Han Jian continued: "Now that my Jiangdu is closed and I can't leave. Even if a million troops arrive, killing you to the death in my Jiangdu land, there are two worlds inside and outside the city wall. As long as we can ensure peace in the city, no matter how many enemies there are outside the city, we can disdain it."

Han Jian said it easily, but Han Song and Han Cui heard it not.

It is said that you can set up outside the city without any concern, but it is so easy for the enemy to come and disturb the enemy day and night, and to defend the city against the rebellion in the city.

Han Jian just said a general reason, because it was to reassure Han Song and Han Cui.

"If it really doesn't work, I borrowed the food I didn't borrow last time together this time." Han Jian said at the end.
Chapter completed!