Chapter 1589: Moving the capital, chaos, and planning
Zhao Guiqian led the army to attack Lin'an from Nanchang, either heading north along the Yangtze River or over the mountains and crossing Xianxia Pass.
Whether it is the Yangtze River or Xianxia Pass, there are many obstacles.
According to Su Mingzhe's calculations, it would take at least two or three months for Zhao Guiqian to reach Lin'an.
In two or three months, hundreds of thousands of his own troops will be able to be mobilized to Jiangnan to counter the rebellion.
Then, with the momentum of great victory, he forced Song Tingxing to abdicate, which became much smoother.
Who would have thought that Zhao Guiqian would break through Xianxia Pass within ten days of raising his troops, thus ruining his plan.
Facing Su Mingzhe's surprise, Shi Songzhi said sadly:
"My lord, Zhao Guiqian is too cunning. He has bribed the general guard of Xianxia Pass a long time ago. As soon as the 500,000 troops arrive, they will break through the pass and enter!"
After Su Mingzhe heard this, he suddenly realized: This is something wrong.
Xianxia Pass is one of the four major passes in China, along with Jianmen Pass, Hangu Pass, and Yanmen Pass. It is so dangerous that one man cannot pass it without ten thousand men.
Generally, such passes are breached by the enemy from within.
"Now that Xianxia Pass has been broken, there is no danger to defend Lin'an..."
Su Mingzhe suddenly thought of something, his eyes flashed, he pondered for a moment, and then he addressed the two queen mothers:
"My dear, Zhao Guiqian is so powerful, how about we avoid his influence and move the court north?"
"Do you want to go back to Bianliang?"
Tang Anan had been favored by the man for more than a month, her face was radiant and delicate, she blinked her clear eyes and said delicately:
"Father, didn't you say before that Bianliang is already a desolate ruin?"
"Mother, the move to the north that I am talking about is not to return to Bianliang, but to move north to Dadu!"
Su Mingzhe was about to talk about the pros and cons of moving north to the capital, but unexpectedly, Xie Daoqing, who was holding the little emperor in his arms, categorically objected:
"no!"
Unlike Tang An'an, who only knows romance, Xie Daoqing studied history books.
She knew that in history, there was a white-faced and treacherous minister Cao Cao, who was the emperor at that time. He kidnapped the emperor to Xu County, and then used the emperor to command the princes and seize the country of Han Dynasty.
This moment is just like that moment.
Xie Daoqing didn't want to let the little emperor go to Su Mingzhe's territory and make the same mistakes again.
Seeing this, Su Mingzhe reluctantly advised:
"My Majesty, the rebels are powerful now, and an army of 500,000 people is close at hand. If I surrender, I can still survive, but I have to think about it for Your Majesty!"
Xie Daoqing had originally made up his mind not to be fooled by sweet words.
However, Su Mingzhe's words were like a steel needle, piercing the courage she had just mustered up.
Yes, she can live and die with Lin'an, but if the little emperor falls into the hands of Zhao Guiqian, his life may not be long.
Thinking of this, Xie Daoqing's original idea of firmly defending the city and waiting for King Qin's army suddenly wavered.
When she was undecided, she habitually looked aside:
"Sister, what do you think of your father's proposal?"
"Sister, I think my father's proposal is very good."
Tang Anan only knew that if he and his son went to Dadu, they would be able to stay together forever, and they would no longer have to sleep alone every night like before.
As for other issues, such as Su Mingzhe's plan to usurp the throne, that is still out of the question.
How could I ruin the happy day of a family's happy reunion just because of something that hasn't happened yet?
Bitch!
After hearing Tang Anan's answer, Xie Daoqing suddenly realized that his sister had been 'sleeped' by Su Mingzhe.
In desperation, Xie Daoqing could only look at Shi Songzhi:
"What does Prime Minister Shi think Mr. Xiang proposes?"
"I agree with what the prince said!"
Shi Songzhi knew that Xie Daoqing wanted him to speak out and object.
However, he neither dared nor wanted to.
Zhao Guiqian's "Edict on Discuss" said that Shi Songzhi was a treacherous person who harmed the country.
If Shi Songzhi stayed and was caught by Zhao Guiqian, he would probably be executed by Ling Chi.
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Therefore, he is a firm believer in moving the capital north, but he is still a little unsure about where to move the capital.
Seeing that everyone in the palace agreed to move north, Xie Daoqing knew that he was alone and could not help himself, so he nodded helplessly:
"Since everyone agrees to move north, let's do it as soon as possible!"
After Zhao Guiqian's 500,000-strong army broke through Xianxia Pass, they were already within easy reach of Lin'an City.
If we don't set out as soon as possible, we may be caught in a trap.
It is indeed better to move the capital sooner rather than later.
Su Mingzhe first sent one thousand of his bodyguards to escort the empress dowagers of the two palaces, the young emperor, and the concubines of the late emperor Zhao Yun to the north.
Afterwards, he ordered people to transport away all the goods and grain that could be transported from the Jiangnan area.
If it cannot be moved, it will be scattered among the local people.
In short, Su Mingzhe wants to leave an empty Jiangnan for Zhao Guiqian.
…
Ten days later.
Zhao Guiqian led 200,000 front troops and arrived at Lin'an City. He saw that the city gate was wide open and the court officials had long since disappeared.
Logically speaking, after conquering the imperial capital, Zhao Guiqian should reward the three armies.
However, all the supplies in the government treasury were lost by Su Mingzhe.
Zhao Guiqian had no reward, so he had no choice but to order the army to plunder the people on their own.
In just three days.
Zhao Guiqian's 500,000-strong army turned the Jiangnan area into a hell on earth.
…
Shi Songzhi was shocked and angry when he learned that Zhao Guiqian allowed the army to burn, kill and loot in Jiangnan:
"How dare Zhao Guiqian do this?"
"What is he afraid of?"
Su Mingzhe smiled contemptuously at Jiangnan.
Zhao Guiqian's chaotic life directly pushed the people's support to his side.
After returning to Dadu this time, he can start the matter of the southern expedition.
Shi Songzhi felt a chill in his heart when he heard Su Mingzhe's sneer.
This time, the reason why Zhao Guiqian let the army harm Jiangnan was because Su Mingzhe had emptied the government treasury.
It can be said that Zhao Guiqian's chaotic order was forced by Su Mingzhe.
Thinking of this, Shi Songzhi felt a sense of fear towards Su Mingzhe:
"According to Su Mingzhe's plan, I'm afraid it won't be long before he ascends the throne and proclaims himself emperor. When the time comes, where should I go?"
Disturbed by Shi Songzhi's uneasy mood, everyone returned to Dadu after a month's long journey.
…
It was November last year when Su Mingzhe left Dadu.
Now that I'm back, it's already early April.
Less than half a year has passed, and the color of the world has changed.
Most residents in the capital city can feel a strange atmosphere, that is, officials are walking around with a bit more energy than before.
This day.
In the capital city, all the civil and military officials came early to wait in front of Yin'an Palace. As Princess Xiao Longnu appeared with the daughters of the harem and the Crown Prince Su Hui, everyone headed towards the South City Gate together.
Today is the day Su Mingzhe returns.
After some discussion, Liu Bingzhong and others decided to go ten miles out of the city to meet him.
Near noon.
Su Mingzhe learned that the welcoming team was only one mile away from him, so he asked Concubine Jia Guifei and Yan Meiren to put on their clothes and leave his car.
In just over a hundred days since his trip south to Lin'an City, Su Mingzhe had favored all the concubines of the late Emperor Zhao Yun.
Only the Empress Dowager Xie Daoqing refused to die and was spared.
However, the more reluctant she was, the more interested Su Mingzhe became in her.
Moreover, Su Mingzhe had already thought of a way.
As soon as he returned to Dadu, he hugged his son Zhao Chun and asked her, "You don't want the little emperor to die young, do you?"
I believe that after being threatened like this by him, Xie Daoqing would definitely lie down obediently for the sake of the country and the country of the Song Dynasty.