Twenty-one, Jin Yong sings nursery rhymes in the north of the city
The Yan army came so quickly, of course, because the Jin envoy Chen Caozhi was on an envoy to Qin.
Murong Jun of Xianbei claimed the title of emperor in the eighth year of Yonghe, and then scornfully called Qin and Jin the second bandit. He always wanted to annex. So when Murong Ke learned that Jin sent Prince Xi Ma and Chen Caozhi to Chang'an as an envoy, he wanted to use Jiangdong's Weapons were exchanged for Guanlong's war horses. Murong Ke immediately mobilized 3,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry, with Dazai Sima Yuexi as the vanguard, preparing to capture Luoyang in one fell swoop, approach Mianchi, Lingbao and Tongguan, drink the Mawei River, and intimidate Di Qin. The capital of Chang'an——
Today, among the three kingdoms of Yan, Qin and Jin, the Yan State is the most powerful. The Yan State moved its capital from Dragon City outside the Great Wall to Ye City in the hinterland of the Central Plains. Its ambition to dominate the world is clear. As the Dazai who has overall military and political power in the Yan State, the great Murong Ke, the governor of Taiyuan, was not willing to let Qin and Jin join forces to fight against him. In May, he moved the ancestral temple from Longcheng and sent hundreds of officials to the new capital Yecheng. When he learned that the Jin envoy Chen Caozhi had gone to Chang'an, Da Yan I am surprised that the Eastern Jin Dynasty has always regarded itself as orthodox, and regarded Qin and Yan who founded the country and proclaimed themselves emperors as pseudo-regimes. Yu Liang and Huan Wen also used the Northern Expedition to enhance their reputation. Why are they willing to deign to treat Di Qin as an equal country now? ?
Murong Ke was very confused. Could it be that Jiangdong's national policy had changed, that he was willing to be content with peace, or that he had other plans? In any case, Murong Ke decided to take Luoyang first. Chen You, the defender of Luoyang, had already abandoned the city and fled to Luhun. Only Shen Jin's Eight hundred soldiers were left behind, and if they were not captured at this time, they would surely be captured by Shi Qin. Therefore, on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month, he led 7,000 infantry and cavalry out of Ye City and marched westward to Luoyang.
This is all Chen Caozhi learned from the sentinel. Yecheng is about a thousand miles away from Luoyang. The Yan army set out on the fourth day of this month. Today is the fourteenth. The Yan army forward is almost arriving at Luoyang City now, right?
Chen Caozhi said to the Di Qin envoy Xi Bao: "Luoyang city is sparsely populated, with less than a thousand defenders, but Murong Ke attacked with tens of thousands of elite infantry and cavalry. Such a fierce momentum is only meant for small Luoyang? Drink the Ma Wei River This is Murong Ke's true intention. Envoy Xi should send an envoy to report to King Fu Tian, and Huayin and Lintong should be prepared for it as early as possible."
Xi Bao, who had been serving as the prime minister of Qin for a long time, also knew that if the Jin army could not defend Luoyang, Mianchi and Lingbao would inevitably be oppressed by the Yan army, so he immediately sent an envoy back to Chang'an to report the Yan army's attack on Luoyang. , and at the same time informed General Deng Qiang, who was stationed at Lingbao, that he had prepared for it——
Xi Bao said to Chen Cao: "The Yan army is powerful, and Shen Jin will definitely not be able to defend Luoyang. We are just envoys, why should we go to that dangerous city? It is better to turn south, pass through Luhun and Ruyang, and go straight there Jiankang, right?"
Chen Cao said: "It's only seventy miles from Luoyang. The horse is galloping and it won't take two hours. I'm going to Luoyang. If I really can't defend it, I'll persuade General Shen to abandon the city. If Ambassador Xi is afraid of the Yan army, The situation is strong, you can go to Ruyang on your own, I will send two sergeants to guide you."
Xi Bao said displeasedly: "How can I fear the white slaves of Xianbei!"
Chen Caozhi quickly thanked him and said, "The envoy will go with me to Luoyang. It will only take half a day."
Xi Bao had no choice but to follow Chen Caozhi to the east and stationed in Luoyang before noon that day. Shen Jin, Shen Chiqian and his son came to greet them. Chen Caozhi first asked about the movements of the Yan army. Shen Jin said: "The sentinel came to report yesterday. The vanguard of the Yan army began to cross the river in Wen County on the ninth day of the lunar month. It was estimated that it would take two days to cross the river and reach Gong County. Gong County was only a hundred miles away, and the infantry could reach it in one day if they moved quickly. However, the nearest outpost was to the west of Yanshi County. No trace of the Yan army has been found, and the distant sentry has not reported yet. It is expected that the Yan army's vanguard will have to wait for the army led by Murong Ke to cross the river before advancing together to Luoyang."
Chen Caozhi asked the Qin envoy Xi Bao to take a rest, and the three hundred Qin troops accompanying him also arranged for a banquet of wine and meat. Chen Caozhi and Shen Jin went to Jinyong City for secret talks.
Jinyong City is a city within a city in Luoyang. It is located in the northwest corner of Luoyang City and was built by Cao Ruishi, Emperor Ming of Wei Dynasty. The small city is three hundred steps long and two hundred steps wide (one step in ancient times was equivalent to about one and a half meters today). There is a hundred-foot high platform in the northeast corner. , it was originally used by Emperor Ming of the Wei Dynasty to visit and look into the distance. Later, Wei Chan was located in the Jin Dynasty, and the deposed emperor lived in Jinyong City. Most of the royal family who were demoted in the Western Jin Dynasty lived in Jinyong City. Jinyong City became a city for demotion, but miraculously avoided it. After several disasters that destroyed the city, compared with the dilapidated outer city wall of Luoyang, the city wall of Jinyong Small City is relatively intact, and it was also built tall and strong to confine the deposed emperor's royal family.
Jin Yong City is Shen Jin's last resort. Once the Yan army arrives, the huge and dilapidated Luoyang City will of course not be able to divide its troops to guard it. All forces can only concentrate on defending Jin Yong City. Gao Rou, the prefect of Yingchuan, sent 20,000 dendrobium rice last month, and all of them are stationed there. In Jinyong City, prepare to defend the isolated city.
Chen Caozhi and Shen Jin boarded the high-rise building in the northeast corner of Jinyong City. This building is now an observation tower and is guarded by sergeants. When they saw Shen Jin, they quickly saluted. Shen Jin ordered the sergeant to retreat first. He and Chen Cao were the only ones on the highest building. The two of them looked eastward at the vast wilderness. Maybe tomorrow, the Yan army's cavalry would appear under Luoyang City——
Chen Caozhi briefly told Shen Jin what happened in Chang'an. This mission to Di Qin was considered to have completed his mission. As for other strategies to alienate Di Qin's monarchs and ministers, Chen Caozhi did not tell Shen Jin. The top priority now is Luoyang. .
Shen Jin said: "Since Chen Yu has fulfilled his mission, let's go south and return to the country tomorrow. My son Chi Qian also asks Chen Yu to take him back with him. I, Shen Jin, want to keep this blood."
By saying this, Shen Jin meant that he would live and die with the lonely city of Luoyang. In the official history, Shen Jin was captured by Murong Ke. Shen Jin looked calm and composed. Murong Ke felt his loyalty and would forgive him. General Mu Yuqian of the Chinese Army said that Shen Jin was Judging from his demeanor, it is impossible for Yan to use this strange scholar. If he is pardoned, it will cause trouble in the future. Murong Ke then kills Shen Jin——
Chen Caozhi asked: "When I was in Shouzhou, I asked Zhu Yingtai, who joined the army in the Western Prefecture, to report to Grand Sima Huan on behalf of Grand Sima Huan. I asked Grand Sima Huan to reinforce Luoyang. Only by guarding Luoyang can we curb the expansion of Di Qin's power and have a chance to advance into the Central Plains. There is no reply from Sima Huan, the Emperor of Di——?"
Shen Jin smiled bitterly and said: "With the loss of Xuchang, Luoyang has become an isolated city. Yingchuan and Runan are fighting on their own. Huan Da Sima has returned to Gushu. Although he ordered the champion general Chen You to return to Luoyang to defend, Chen You is the governor of Yuan Dynasty. "My subordinates, Governor Yuan believes that defending Luoyang is a waste of troops and horses, and of course he will not come to rescue Luoyang."
As Shen Jin spoke, he took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Chen Caozhi, saying: "This is a letter from Zhu Canjun to you. It was sent to Luoyang at the end of last month. I was afraid of something urgent, so I opened it first."
In an emergency period, Chen Caozhi could not blame Shen Jin for opening his letter. When he opened the letter, it was just an official document. Xie Daoyun also advised Chen Caozhi to assess the situation. Huan Da Sima is now unable to run Luoyang. Jiangdong is weak, but the land of Huaibei can regulate it. Keep it, you can't abandon it, and you shouldn't waste manpower and material resources by fighting hard——
Xie Daoyun's analysis is not wrong, and history develops in this way. Before the Feishui War, the Eastern Jin Dynasty completely gave up the land of Henan and Huaibei. Jingxiang, Bashu and Bashu were also occupied by Qin. Among the nine states in China, Di Qin occupied seven out of ten——
Chen Caozhi said in his heart: "I came to the Eastern Jin Dynasty and got to where I am today step by step. I can't be ignorant and follow the trend. Di Qineng rose rapidly in just ten years. It was precisely because he caught Murong Chui's defection and the chaos in Yan. With this perfect opportunity, Wang Meng led his army to a successful battle. The powerful Yan State, which spanned 5,000 miles and had a population of nearly 10 million, collapsed in the blink of an eye. Since I knew this in advance, I naturally wanted to capture it before Fu Jian and Wang Meng. Seize this opportunity, this is a huge turning opportunity, so Luoyang must seize it."
Shen Jin saw Chen Caozhi thinking silently, but he didn't say anything. He thought about the Yan army approaching and the siege of the city in June. How long can he hold on? The Shen family of Wu Xing was punished, and Shen Jin wanted to cleanse the family with his blood. shame.
The sky is extremely blue, as pure as crystal gems, and the white clouds are like catkins, changing in shape and floating slowly from west to east.
Chen Caozhi looked at the blue sky and white clouds and said leisurely: "Brother Shen, I will go to see Murong Ke and Brother Murong Chui tomorrow -"
Shen Jin was shocked and asked quickly: "What does Chen Xiandi mean by this?"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Gong Anshi owed Murong Chui a favor thirty years ago. When he learned that I was going to the North as an envoy, he specially ordered me to bring a pair of gold wine vessels as a gift to Murong Chui."
Shen Jin asked what happened and said with a smile: "Xie Anshi from Dongshan is truly the most elegant man in the world. He still recalls the old relationship thirty years ago! But why does Chen Xiandi need to go there in person? Shen sent two sergeants to send the pair of gold coins away Just go to Gong County."
Chen Cao said: "Dong Anshi has entrusted you with it, so of course I will personally hand over this golden porridge to Murong Chui."
Shen Jin was deeply impressed by Chen Caozhi's talent and knowledge. Chen Caozhi was not a fool, so how could he throw himself into a trap and die? He asked, "What does Brother Chen Xian want to do? Can you let Brother Yu know?"
Chen Cao said: "If I am right, Murong Wei, the leader of Yan State, will urgently call him back to Yecheng without waiting for Murong Ke to capture Luoyang."
Shen Jin was hesitant and asked: "How can you see it?"
Chen Cao said: "Brother Shen, do you remember that I was accompanied by a man from the Duan tribe of Xianbei? His name was Duan Zhao, and he was Duan Si's general. I have ordered him to sneak into Yecheng quietly. Once Murong Ke leads his army out of Yecheng, When I came to take Luoyang, Duan Zhao would sing the two nursery rhymes I taught him in the suburbs of Yecheng. One of the nursery rhymes contained a few lines: "Brother and younger brother and the King of Taiyuan, first take Luoyang to Dingshuo Fang and prosper our great Yan Kingdom." "Zuo Chang" - I was in a hurry and the composition was too explicit, but fortunately it is easy to understand." The song is "Newspaper Selling Song", which is catchy and must be loved by children in Yecheng.
The Hu people in the north have a tradition of brotherly succession, but the Murong family of Xianbei admires Han culture and is the Hu people in the north who have the most sinicization of the Five Hu people. Therefore, they also follow the Han people's example and implement the eldest son inheritance system. After Murong Jun's death, the ministers of the DPRK believed that King Murong Ke of Taiyuan was a virtuous and talented man who wanted to make Murong Ke the emperor. Murong Ke resolutely resigned, and then he made Murong Jun's son Murong Wei the emperor. The Empress Dowager Kezu Hun was very worried about this, but Murong Ke's prestige was not He was loyal to his younger brother Murong Wei, so the imperial family of Yan State was barely in harmony.
And now, Chen Caozhi asked Yecheng to sing such a nursery rhyme after Murong Ke went to Luoyang, and the deep contradictions in the Yan royal family were aroused.