Xu Huai entered the flood season in Hehuai and after the tense confrontation subsided, he wrote a letter requesting to come to Beijing to meet the Holy Spirit. Emperor Jianji not only granted Xu Huai's request to meet the emperor, but also summoned all the major generals who participated in the Zhunnan War to Jianye
Narrate merits and discuss rewards.
Except for Xu Huai who was delayed for eight or nine days when he encountered bandits in Hanchuan, generals such as Zheng Huaizhong, Zheng Cong, Ge Boyi, Han Shiliang, Liu Yan, Zhang Xin, Deng Gui, and Ge Yu all arrived in Jianye one after another.
Gu Jiqian and Gao Junyang led the troops in Qinzhou and Lantian. The journey was even further away, but their nephews Gu Cong, Gao Zhitang and others led their troops to Jianye to congratulate Emperor Jianji on the great victory in Huainan and the birth of the prince.
Today is a big banquet, and the kings and ministers of Dayue can be among the best in the Jixian Hall.
In the Jixian Hall, the civil and military ranks were divided. Zhou He, as the left prime minister, led Gao Chunnian, Gu Fan, Zhu Hang, Qian Shangduan, Qian Zerui, Jin Zhuangcheng and other officials were sitting on the left side of the hall to have a banquet; Privy Councilor Hu Kai
The ministers Zheng Huaizhong, Ge Boyi, Han Shiliang, Liu Yan, Zhang Xin, Deng Gui, Ge Yu and other military generals were sitting on the right side of the hall to have a banquet.
The emperor's younger brother, King Huai Zhao Guan, had a special status, and Princess Yingyun sat at the imperial table.
Although Xu Huai was also the commander-in-chief of the town at this time, he passed over Hu Kai and Zheng Huaizhong and Ge Boyi, who were older and more powerful than him, and sat on the left side of the imperial case, with the emperor's brother, Huai Wang Zhao
Sitting and looking at the case is definitely a privilege that ordinary people cannot enjoy.
In the main hall, many civil and military generals had different expressions on this scene.
Some people think that Xu Huai is being unruly and arrogant by not saying goodbye repeatedly; some people are full of envy, jealousy, and even resentment; of course, some people think that Xu Huai is well-deserved and deserves to enjoy such an honor.
When the situation was at its most tense, the imperial court in Huainan not only assembled most of the Shenwu Army on the left and right, most of the Xiao Sheng Army on the right, most of the Xuanwu Army on the left and right, and all the Huai Prince's Palace Army, totaling 180,000 elite troops, but also recruited troops from all walks of life to defend the city.
The soldiers numbered 150,000, and suffered a total of more than 100,000 heavy casualties. In the end, it was the arrival of the flood season that forced the main force of the Chihu East Route Army to withdraw from Huainan.
Compared with the performance of Xu Huai, who led the Chushan Army after Zuo Xiaosheng's army collapsed and defended Ruyang, he single-handedly held up the middle line of defense and successfully blocked the enemies in the west of Beijing and Heluo from Jingxiang, the Huainan victory was inferior.
Quite a few.
Therefore, even if Zheng Cong, Ge Yu and others felt unhappy, they had to say some complimentary words to Xu Huai during the banquet.
Emperor Jianji was very interested. In addition to drinking frequently with the ministers, he also asked Concubine Zheng to carry the prince who was only three or four months old to the Jixian Hall to meet the ministers.
After the fall of Bianliang, most of the clan members, along with Emperor Tianxuan and the prince, became prisoners of the Red Husbands. Only four members of the clan who went south to the south were King Zhao Guan of Huai, King Zhao Yi of Wuwei County, Princess Rongle and Princess Yingyun.
At this time, there was a new member in the clan, and Emperor Jianji had a son in middle age. Of course, he was sincerely pleased.
Abandoning the cumbersome etiquette, the emperor and his ministers drank happily. Emperor Jianji soon got a little drunk. Under the persuasion of all the ministers, Emperor Jianji returned to his palace to rest early, and all the ministers also left Jixian Hall one after another.
"After Mr. Runan and others arrived in Jianye, His Majesty drank happily for several days, but his drinking capacity was not good enough. He got drunk early every time, so we had to find another place to continue drinking." Walking out of the palace gate of Jixian Palace,
Hu Kai and Xu Huai smiled and said, "Let's go to your place to continue drinking and casually visit your new palace..."
"I didn't even have time to settle down in my new house, and I rushed into the palace in a hurry. I don't even know whether the house has prepared good wine and food!" Xu Huai said.
"Let's move slowly, just ask Zheng Tu and the others to rush back and prepare!" Liu Yan came over and said.
"We have an errand, so we shouldn't drink too much. We will send someone to the Marquis Mansion in two days to congratulate you!" said Deng Gui and Zhang Xin, cupping their fists and cupping their hands.
Liu Yan went south from Yunshuo and had an irreversible relationship with Chushan.
Whether he led his troops to participate in the first Bianliang defensive battle, or after breaking out of Bianliang and forming the Youxiao Victory Army, together with Xu Huai, Yang Lin and other generals, he was regarded as the backbone general of the main war faction.
Xu Huai came to Jianye this time, and it was rare for Liu Yan to get together with him. How could he not have a few more drinks?
The relationship between Zhang Xin and Deng Gui and Xu Huai is certainly not alienated, but as the generals who guarded the new capital Jianye, not to mention what Emperor Jianji thought, the imperial regulations also clearly required them to be with Xu Huai.
The court officials and ministers kept their distance.
If they casually go to Jingshenghou Mansion for a banquet, they may receive a memorial to impeach them from the Yushitai tomorrow.
Xu Huai bowed his hands to Deng Gui and Zhang Xingong to express his understanding, and invited Wang Fan, Qian Shangduan, Zhu Hang and others to accompany him, Hu Kai and Liu Yan to the new house for drinking.
Xu Huai and the others walked back to the Jingsheng Hou Mansion. Zheng Tu had already prepared the banquet with his people. Zhu Tong even brought some ice dishes from the manor and placed them in the hall to cool down the heat and save the crowd during this hot season.
Sitting in the hall, drinking and sweating profusely.
Xu Huai has been commanding the troops on the front line for a long time, so it is rare for them to get together. Hu Kai, Zhu Hang and others rushed to the new house, of course not just to continue drinking.
After everyone sat in the hall and drank a round of wine, Hu Kai entered the topic and asked:
"The Shenwu Army and the Huai Prince's Mansion Army suffered such heavy casualties in the battle of Huainan. It is also of greater strategic significance to defend the front line of the Huaihe River. This time, Duke Runan, Duke Xinchang, and Marquis Chencang are ranked first in the merit review.
Do you have any objections?"
"I am so young, and the enemy has occupied the Central Plains before leaving. I am still worried that I will not have the opportunity to be rewarded?" Xu Huai laughed, changed the subject, and asked, "I was delayed for nearly ten days on the way. What will happen next?
Can the DPRK and China make a final decision on how to adjust the defense line and how to eliminate the Dongting Lake bandits?"
This time, the imperial court convened the main generals who participated in the war to come to Beijing to receive rewards and promotions. What was more important was to discuss the follow-up military deployment. However, Xu Huai was delayed for eight or nine days on the way and missed the early discussions. Many situations are still unclear.
"There are currently several major events in the DPRK, one is to establish a queen, one is to suppress bandits, and the other is the deployment of a new defense line," Hu Kai said, "You didn't mention the matter of establishing a queen because you don't want to get involved in it.
, but there is actually no way to separate it..."
"Oh, the DPRK intends to transfer Duke Runan to replace Gong Xu as the envoy of Jingnan?" Xu Huai frowned slightly and said, "But I don't think the DPRK regards the Dongting Lake bandits as a serious threat, and it is true that they are at present.
It is more important to consolidate the defense line along the Huaihe River, so why would the Shenwu Army be dispatched to Jinghu to suppress the bandits?"
Except that everyone in Chushan grew up in the grass, Xu Huai paid more attention to tapping the potential of the people at the bottom than anyone else, and he also knew better than anyone the root cause of the Dongting Lake Kou Jiu eradication.
If the historical trajectory is not reversed, even if large-scale riots break out in the South, the situation may not be so severe.
The situation is obviously different now. The main reason is that after Emperor Jianji ascended the throne in Xiangyang, they successfully organized millions or even nearly ten million people from Hehuai and Heluo to move south.
However, the local area was unable to accept and resettle so many people who had taken refuge, allowing them to become refugees. The explosive power accumulated in the volcano thus formed was naturally far greater than the original historical trajectory.
However, Xu Huai still did not advocate mobilizing the Shenwu Army to go to Jingnan to suppress the bandits.
In addition to the importance of the Huainan defense line, what is more needed to suppress the bandits in Jinghu is a more trained and elite naval force.
The Shenwu Army was not good at water warfare and was transferred to Jingnan, so it was difficult to exert much effect in a short period of time.
"Mr. Xu was unable to get up from his bed. His Majesty sent imperial doctors several times for treatment, but it was difficult to see any improvement."
Hu Kai sighed,
"The choice of successor to Duke Xu is indeed a very troublesome matter - Duke Runan intends to go to Jingnan, and he will definitely not transfer all the Shenwu Army; but King Huai strongly recommends Yang Maoyan as the commander-in-chief of Jingnan
His Majesty was very hesitant about Yang Maoyan's ability to quell the chaos in Dongting Lake. He was thinking of transferring Han Shiliang there, and the King of Huai did not want Han Shiliang to leave Huainan..."
Han Shiliang was a mainstay figure in the Huai Prince's family, whether he followed Prince Huai to the south and stationed in Sichu and other places, or whether he led his troops to break the siege of Shouchun this time.
Although Ge Yu's performance is not bad, Ge Yu has never had the opportunity to lead an army alone and stand alone. He still cannot be compared with Han Shiliang.
Xu Huai looked at Liu Yan and asked with a smile: "You didn't ask for a royal tassel from His Majesty?"
"What kind of tassel should I ask for?" Liu Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "The Jianye Navy can't escape. Without a navy, how can we wipe out the lake bandits? How can I take over the Jingnan Navy and deal with local officials and generals?
?”
"Prime Minister, Your Majesty is even more interested in sending generals from the Huainan Palace to Jingnan to take charge." Han Gui, sitting at the head of the crowd, interjected and asked, "Are we going to make major adjustments to the Huainan defense line?"
Hu Kai glanced at Han Gui and said thoughtfully: "The Shouchun defenders and the Chuzhou army suffered heavy casualties, and the Chihu people continued to gather more men, horses, and supplies in the Xusu area. The entire middle and lower reaches of the Huaihe River were under defensive pressure.
It’s not lowered…”
Han Gyu didn't ask any more questions, but the meaning in Hu Kai's words was clear enough.
That is, the Shenwu Army will stay in Huainan and will not return to Nanyang, at least not in a short period of time.
This is actually what Chushan is eagerly looking forward to.
Whether the Shenwu Army can return to Nanyang or not is a huge difference.
At this time, the Zheng family and his son and the main force of the Shenwu Army are not in Nanyang. Even though it is impossible for Chushan to blatantly extend its tentacles to Nanyang, due to its own survival crisis, Nanyang Mansion and local forces will not only arrange for the government troops to participate in the defense of Chushan's western front
, in addition to agreeing to incorporate the mountainous areas in Fangcheng, Xiangcheng and other places into Chushan, it also accepted the large-scale dumping of fine iron materials from Chushan in Nanyang Prefecture, and agreed that Chushan could purchase grain, cloth, etc. in Nanyang Prefecture without restrictions.
Materials.
Whether it is possible to purchase grain and cloth cheaply enough to save military resources as much as possible, the latter is especially important.
In the area under the jurisdiction of Chushan, Lifengtang basically implemented the unified purchase and sales of grain, and controlled the price of grain to fluctuate around 2 guan per stone.
Lifengtang was able to purchase grain and cloth in Nanyang Prefecture without restrictions. Although there was no way to keep the purchase price so low, it could directly purchase grain from small and medium-sized landowners and farmers with surplus grain, and the price of fine grain per stone would not exceed four guan.
.
At the same time, Nanyang's grain prices have stabilized slightly this year, but the grain supply in its main cities, towns and ports is controlled by large grain merchants and landowners, and the price of refined grain per stone is still as high as eight or nine guan.
If Zheng Huaizhong, Zheng Cong and his son lead the Shenwu Army back to Nanyang, even if they do not consider that the attitude of Nanyang government and local forces towards Chushan will inevitably change, in order to protect the food needs of the Shenwu Army's generals stationed in Nanyang, especially the food needs of the generals' families, this requisition
The power must return to the hands of the Runan County Government.
At that time, Chushan still wants to purchase grain from Nanyang to make up for the shortage, so he can only trade with the big grain merchants secretly controlled by the Runan County Government. The cost will double, and he does not blame the Runan County Government for cheating Chushan...
