"However, you don't have to be too worried!" Liu Chengyou thought for a while and reassured: "Li Jing is a man of virtue, so he should not have any evil intentions of being implicated. If he works hard, there may be a solution in the future!"
"yes!"
Looking outside at the sky, night had fallen quietly. There was some movement in the Han camp outside the city. Liu Chengyou said: "Tonight the army is celebrating. Although Huaide's army has recently surrendered, it has also contributed to breaking Shouchun. We should celebrate with the three armies." .”
Liu Chengyou pointed at Li Fang and ordered: "Write a note and give it to the commander of Xudu, and go to the camp to receive wine and meat as a reward!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Commander, how could you say that in front of the emperor just now!" After leaving, Zhang Yi caught up with Xu Xiang, a little excited.
"How?" He turned to face Zhang Yi.
Zhang Yi took a deep breath: "The small concerns I mentioned will probably make the emperor feel that we have doubts and worry about our homeland. This will make His Majesty suspicious of us, so why can he use us with confidence? As a first-time surrenderer, I should show my complete loyalty and reject you..."
Hearing what he said, Xu Xiang suddenly realized and said calmly: "So, you are afraid that I will implicate you!"
"General, that's not what you meant!" Zhang Yi also felt a little excited and calmed down a little.
"I'm just expressing my hidden worries. How wise is the Emperor of Han? How could he not consider these things when he accepts us and other surrendered generals? Furthermore, didn't the emperor just say that he can only remember his family before he can remember his king?" Harsh criticism is an expression of understanding!" Xu Xiang glanced at Zhang Yi: "This general is not like some people. After all, it is difficult to be cold-blooded and ruthless. What do you think, Zhang Du Yuhou?"
It can be clearly felt that Xu Xiang's attitude towards him has changed dramatically, and it is as different as clouds and mud. There is a trace of thinking on his face. Is it because he has fallen into the Han Emperor's words and escalated several levels in a row, threatening him?
While Zhang Yi was thinking, Xu Xiang snorted coldly and hurried away first. Behind him, looking at his back, Zhang Yi murmured in a cold tone: "Which country is the 'king' the Emperor of the Han refers to?" Have you considered...
In the Jiedu Yamen Hall, Li Fang also used Xu Xiang's words to admonish Liu Chengyou, saying that the surrendered general was unsteady and should be kept on probation and should not be entrusted with military positions, and he was allowed to lead the old army.
Liu Chengyou said: "It is rare for people to miss their families when they are living abroad, especially for these conquerors. Xu Xiang can be considered honest if he can express his concerns in front of me.
How can you expect someone who has just surrendered to you to be wholehearted in a short period of time? As far as I am concerned, I am not observing his heart, but observing his actions."
Many times, when the generals are demoted and soldiers are serving for the new master, they will work extra hard. After all, they want to integrate into the new military and political environment and want to be recognized. Such situations are too numerous to mention.
After listening to the emperor's words, Li Fang clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty is broad-minded and treats people with sincerity, which is admirable. However, there is a saying in ancient times about guarding against the slightest change. Xu Xiang and others are indeed worried. Why don't your Majesty make other arrangements to prevent An unexpected disaster?"
After hearing the advice, Liu Chengyou nodded: "That's right! The Tang generals can be used dispersedly. As for the Huaide army, they can select their own men from among the soldiers and serve as officers to strengthen control!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
On the way to the Han camp to celebrate with the troops, Liu Chengyou called Li Shaoyou to the car. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Shaoyou carefully investigated some of the news in Shouchun City and compiled and reported it to the emperor.
With some sighs, Li Shaoyou said: "Wude Division placed three capable detectives in Shouchun City, but in the end, only one person survived. When I was found, I was also dying, with severe injuries to my body.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou directly gave instructions: "They are all heroes of the Han Dynasty. How can their role in spying on information be weaker than that of the heroes who fought in battles? We should be generous and rewarded, and we should not chill the hearts of the heroes!"
"Yes!" Li Shaoyuan said, "I understand!"
"How did you go about what you were told?" Liu Chengyou asked.
Li Shaoyou: "I looked for the captain of the Shenwei Army and inquired about it, and I got a little bit of information. Zhang Yi was from Quanjiao, Chuzhou, and his father was a county magistrate. After Li Jing came to the throne, he was dismissed for a crime. He was knowledgeable in reading and writing, and when he was twenty years old, he gave up writing and joined the army. , served in the army for eight years, and was transferred to the Jinling Forbidden Army with the Huai Ya soldiers of the Qing Dynasty. He participated in the battle of the puppet Tang Dynasty to destroy the king of Fujian, and was defeated and captured by the Tang general Zha Wenhui. He escaped and returned to the brigade alone, and was later transferred to the Divine Guard Army for several years. During the years, he was not promoted. It was not until he was under Xu Xiang's command that he was gradually promoted to the rank of battalion general. The left divine guard army was transferred to garrison Shouchun and followed him to the north.
In addition, according to the investigation, Xu Xiang surrendered to the Han Dynasty, and it was Zhang Yi who made up his mind for him."
After listening to Li Shaoyou's report, Liu Chengyou said softly: "From this point of view, Zhang Yi can be regarded as a frustrated person. No wonder he is so active in his service."
"Your Majesty!" Li Shaoyou couldn't help but wonder: "How virtuous and capable is this person to be able to fall into His Majesty's eyes?"
"I look at the pseudo-Tang generals who surrendered. Although this person is not famous, but in terms of ability, talent and ambition, he is unparalleled!" Liu Chengyou said: "I conquered Huainan and captured its land and cities. This is just the first one." It is more important to step forward, win people's hearts and bring them to rule, thereby providing taxes, soldiers, and labor for the Han Dynasty. And to do this, we must have enough talents, especially Huai people, for my use.
Since ancient times, there has been no shortage of talents in the land of Jianghuai, but there has been a lack of leaders to employ people. It is difficult for talented people to realize their ambitions and stretch their talents, and when I came, I planned to give them this opportunity!"
Nodding, Li Shaoyou echoed Liu Chengyou's words and said: "Your Majesty's arrival is like a blessing to the wise men from the Jianghuai River, like rain! It is also a blessing that this Yi can win your Majesty's attention!"
...
When the armies of the Northern Han Dynasty were invincible and invincible in successive battles in Huainan, the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Tang Dynasty were already on pins and needles, with repeated reports of defeats.
Evil reports from the north were coming one after another. The Han army was like wolves and tigers, raging across the land of the Tang Dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians were unable to stop it. Even if the time was only half a year ago, no one would believe that the Han army was dominant in the Jianghuai River and the people were prosperous. , the Tang Empire, the leader of the Southern Kingdom, was so fragile that it was almost unable to fight back against the attacks of the Northern Han Dynasty. The collapse of tall buildings and the changes in the situation always caught people off guard.
The Jinling Palace, among the singing platforms and dance pavilions, is already full of spring and full of vitality, but the melodious sounds in the entire palace are much less than usual. At the time of the Northern Disaster, the country was in turmoil, and Li Jing, the lord of the Tang Dynasty, I'm not so dazed that I still sing like a flower in the backyard.
In the inner hall, Li Jing read the military reports from Jiangbei, his hands trembling a little.
"Failed again..."
Li Jing was in his prime, but after only one winter, he looked a bit older. Staring at the map of the Tang Dynasty hanging in the palace, although the states in the north of the Yangtze River were still marked with Tang flags, in Li Jing's eyes, they
Just like a delicate girl, she is still being humiliated by a seven-foot-tall man from the north...
The armies of Shouzhou, Chuzhou, and Chuzhou were defeated in three places within two days, and they spread south one after another.
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"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness King Yan has returned to Beijing and is waiting for the edict at the palace gate!" The chamberlain came and informed him carefully.
After hearing the report, Li Jing became a little more energetic. Although he was a little surprised, he hurriedly said: "Hurry up and announce his entry into the palace!"
After a while, King Yan Li Hongji entered the palace. He was dressed in military armor. Although his face was inevitably tired, he looked natural. When he saw Li Jing, he quickly stepped forward to salute. Li Hongji originally controlled Runzhou, but when he came back this time, he returned to the court without permission.
, but looking at Li Jing's appearance, it was obvious that he didn't care about this.
"My son is back, please excuse me quickly!" Li Jing stepped forward and personally helped Li Hongji up. After looking at his eldest son for a few times, Li Jingqiang cheered up and said: "Wu Yue is attacking from behind, and the front line of Runzhou is in danger.
I wanted to call you back to the court, but the court officials resisted, saying that the commander-in-chief should not leave lightly, fearing that it would damage morale, so I gave up. However, it would be good to come back, and your mother and I can feel at ease in Jinling.
God will not bless me, your younger brother will die young, and during the national crisis, Erlang suddenly falls ill. As the eldest son, you must not let anything happen again..."
At this time, Li Jing's words revealed a lot of love for him.
Li Hongji had a fierce temperament. When he heard this, he felt something in his heart. Seeing his father's decline, he personally helped Li Jing sit down and said: "My son was in Changzhou. He led his army to defeat the Wuyue army and beheaded three thousand people. The money thief has already been killed."
retreat!"
"Oh!" Hearing this, Li Jing nodded subconsciously, and then reacted: "What, you have retreated from Wu Yue?"
"Exactly!" Li Hongji nodded.
"Okay! Okay!" Li Jing looked slightly happy, looking at the fatigue on his eldest son's face: "You told me the good news in person, thank you for your hard work!"
The Southern Tang Dynasty and Wu Yue were close friends of each other, and there were many major and minor wars between the two sides. Although Wu Yue was ordered to send troops by Liu Chengyou this time, the lack of troops was on the one hand, and Wu Yue also had internal disputes, which reflected the effects on the battlefield.
It was Li Hongji who led his army to defeat it and achieved his fame.
The joy did not last long. Li Jing sighed: "Wu Yue is in trouble after all, and the Northern Han Dynasty is the big enemy. Now our dynasty, in Huainan, has been losing consecutive battles, and I may not be able to defend it..."
Hearing this, Li Hongji looked at Li Jing firmly: "My son is returning to the court because he wants to ask his father for orders to reorganize his troops and go north to resist the Han army!"