After the First World War in Fan Yang, the Yan army was in chaos.
Hebei prefectures and counties, hearing that Fan Yang had been captured, revolted one after another.
More than a dozen prefectures and counties, including Xingzhou, Beizhou, Dezhou, and Cangzhou, fell into the arms of the Northern Tang Dynasty.
As for Shi Siming, he could only lead his troops to retreat southward to Weizhou, Xiangzhou, Weizhou and other places close to the capital road.
After that, Shi Siming's army was stationed in Handan City, where he began to build defense lines and recruit troops.
Among them, Li Guiren, the commander of the Yiluohe Cavalry, died under the muzzle of Crouching Tiger's gun. The army from Luoyang supporting Hebei suddenly lost its backbone, which gave Shi Siming an opportunity to take advantage of.
First, using secret talks, threats, inducements and other means, Shi Siming persuaded more than a dozen Luoyang generals to join him.
Then, he planned a military meeting, saying it was just to discuss strategies, and deceived the remaining Luoyang generals into the middle camp, and then ordered the ambush swordsmen and axemen to rush into the camp and kill all those who did not want to submit to him.
At this point, Shi Siming took advantage of Li Guiren's death in battle and took the opportunity to recruit 40,000 Hebei elites including the Yiluohe Iron Cavalry, and the strength of his subordinates suddenly increased greatly.
On the other hand, the capital of Yan State was Luoyang.
When it was heard that Zhou Jun led his army to capture Fan Yang, and that the Anxi army defeated the reinforcements sent by Luoyang, and that even Li Guiren, the king of Peiping, died on the battlefield, all the civil and military officials in the Yan Kingdom felt as if they were mourning their heirs.
, many people cried in the hall as if the sky had fallen.
Under the instructions of the powerful minister Yan Zhuang, Emperor An Qingxu of Yan Dynasty, who had been enjoying and dissolute in the harem, had to come out to stabilize people's hearts at this time.
In front of the civil and military officials of the court, the officials who returned from Hebei described in detail the destruction of Fanyang City and the death of the King of Peking.
When they heard that Fan Yang's city wall had been turned into ruins by the thunder, and that the King of Peking had been beaten into a sieve by sorcery, all the civil and military officials of Yan State were as silent as a cicada. Some of the less courageous people had their teeth trembling continuously and their whole bodies were covered in cold sweat.
An Qingxu, who was sitting on the throne, had already been emptied of wine and sex. After hearing these descriptions, his face turned pale with fright. He turned to look at his adviser Yan Zhuang and couldn't speak clearly: "Brother, look.
What should we do?"
Yan Zhuang was also surprised, and quickly asked the official who told the story: "You must pay attention to the thunder that day, and the sorcery, and don't talk nonsense!"
The official knelt on the ground and worshiped: "When Fanyang City was destroyed, thunder rolled and the ground shook. When the King of Peiping attacked Boling, there was also general thunder. Thousands of people were dragged into the river, and no one survived..."
If I have even the slightest bit of falsehood, I will not die a happy death!"
Yan Zhuang glanced at the civil and military ministers who were talking around him, and said calmly: "Such weird things are just a deception used by the Tang army. Don't panic...Fan Yang is the foundation of Dayan, and the inner government
The treasure house is all in it, so you must not lose anything. Although the King of Peiping died in the battle, Shi Siming's command is still intact, so why doesn't he continue to attack the city?"
The Hebei official kneeling on the ground said: "The minister also conveyed the imperial decree to Shi Duhu before, but he said that the enemy's situation was unclear and the morale of the army was shaken, so it was not advisable to advance rashly."
Hearing this, Yan Zhuang guessed Shi Siming's thoughts and couldn't help but said angrily: "Shi Siming is afraid of fighting and is as timid as a mouse. How disgusting!"
When An Qingxu heard this, he also said: "Brother! Why don't you transfer Shi Siming back and send another general to Hebei?"
Yan Zhuang thought for a while and replied: "No, Shi Siming is cunning and cunning. He still has tens of thousands of troops in his hands. If pressed, he might jump over the wall and do something. At the moment, it is better to stabilize him and let him go."
He continued to garrison Handan to prevent the Tang army from going south."
An official in charge of the household department in the court said to Yan Zhuang: "Mr. Yan, the national treasury is empty now, and money is needed everywhere. However, Fan Yang's treasure house has fallen into the hands of the Tang army. All future expenses of the country will be lost.
How should this be done?"
When Yan Zhuang heard this, he also had a headache.
Although the Yan army captured the two capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang, their farming, taxation, etc. had not improved due to the war, and the army was constantly expanding. In terms of national revenue and expenditure, it was already unable to make ends meet.
While Yan Zhuang was thinking about countermeasures, an official in the palace suggested: "There are many aristocratic families in Chang'an and Luoyang. How about gathering them together and making them willing to donate?"
When Yan Zhuang heard this, his eyes lit up.
yes!
Yan Jun is out of money.
But there are a lot of rich people in Chang'an and Luoyang. Let each of them take out a little bit, and it is definitely not a small amount.
Yan Zhuang immediately made the decision to hold a palace banquet in Luoyang, inviting noble families from Chang'an and Luoyang to attend.
Half a month later, the palace banquet was held.
But when the nobles who were "forced" to come to the banquet heard the name of Le Zhan, they all looked embarrassed.
Although due to the power of Yan's army, everyone donated some more or less, but there were too few people gathered together. After all, for the Yan country, it can only be said to be a drop in the bucket.
After spending a lot of effort and finding that he could not raise funds, Yan Jun simply stopped pretending.
An Qingxu issued an imperial edict, ordering Yan soldiers to go from house to house, begin to search all places where food and property might be stored, and seize them.
The aristocratic families in Chang'an and Luoyang had spies among the Yan army and knew the news early.
On the one hand, these aristocratic families hid all the valuables in their homes; on the other hand, they worked hard to bribe the Yan army, asking them to turn a blind eye and let them go.
There are many people who are greedy for money in the Yan army. Most of the family members are safe and sound during this round of harvest by the Yan army.
However, Yan Jun, who was responsible for searching the property, still had to report to the palace.
As a result, ordinary people in Chang'an, Luoyang and other places suffered completely.
The livestock, grain, silk, copper goods and even furniture in these people's homes were all robbed by the Yan army and confiscated.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Some people's families were already in poverty. After the Yan army's almost skin-picking plunder, they didn't even have a grain of food in their homes, so they had to start wrapping their bellies with grass roots and bark.
Suddenly, in Gyeonggi Province and Duji Province controlled by the Yan army, the number of hungry people increased greatly, and desperate cries could be heard in every household.
At this juncture, a special guest came to Luoyang Palace.
In the meeting hall, Yan Zhuang looked at the young Sogdian man in front of him, who was dressed in silk, gold and silver, and asked doubtfully: "You just said, what is your name?"
The Sogdian young man bowed and said, "Dear officer, my name is Kang Kejing."
Yan Zhuang looked Kang Kejing up and down and asked, "You just said that you can bring countless wealth to Dayan?"
Kang Kejing: "Through transactions, each takes what he needs, and both you and I can obtain a steady stream of wealth."
Yan Zhuang: "Tell me about it."
Kang Kejing rubbed the ring inlaid with gems the size of pigeon eggs with her fingers and said: "There is a product in the Tang Dynasty that is very popular in many Western countries."
Yan Zhuang: "What cargo?"
Kang Kejing: "People."
Yan Zhuang was stunned: "What?"
Kang Kejing: "You may have heard that Tang slaves had three treasures: Bodhisattvas, Kunlun slaves and Silla maids. In fact, in Western countries, Tang slaves and maids are equally in demand."
Yan Zhuang was dubious: "You mean, the slaves of the Tang Dynasty can also be sold at high prices in the barbarian countries in the west?"
Kang Kejing: "Byzantine, Dashi, Frank, Leon and other kingdoms all regard the Tang people as first-class slaves. Goods of any quality can be sold at a good price."
Yan Zhuang frowned and said, "How can Yan, who reads the sages' books, betray his people and let them fall into the hands of barbarians?"
Kang Kejing looked at Yan Zhuang, smiled, stretched out a hand, and said to the latter: "As long as it is the best quality, I can give you this number for everyone."
After Yan Zhuang saw it, his heart moved and he asked in a low voice: "What is considered a top-quality product?"
Kang Kejing: "Young men and women, skilled craftsmen, skilled weavers, etc... Of course, I will also accept the elderly and children as additions, but the price will naturally be much lower."
Yan Zhuang stroked his beard, thought for a moment and then said: "How much can you take?"
Kang Kejing smiled and said: "As long as you are willing to sell, I will take as much as you want."