Seeing Xia Zhen holding the dagger that stabbed out from the front door and the back of the head, he fell back to the ground with a "plop". For a few moments, everyone stood there stupidly, with their eyes open. Watching streams of blood pour out of Xia Zhen's head.
Not to mention that Shen Yang stared in shock at Han Qian who suddenly attacked and killed Xia Zhen. Zhang Ping, Chai Jian, Li Chong, and Yao Xishui did not know about the third prince's accusation beforehand. Han Qian's plan to attack Xia Zhen, only Tian Cheng and Xi Rong stood calmly on both sides to prevent Han Qian from missing.
Everyone was extremely shocked when they saw Han Qian reaching out and rubbing his side ribs that were so painful from being kicked. Then he checked his nose and confirmed that Xia Zhen had died. Then he pulled out the straight spine knife from Xia Zhen's shoulder, put it against Xia Zhen's neck, and cut him. The head was cut off, and blood immediately spurted out.
"Han Qian was ordered to kill the fugitive general Xia Zhen. His head is here, please examine by Your Highness." Han Qian ignored Xia Zhen's head, which was stained red with blood, and knelt on one knee in front of the third prince. The leader raised his head high and shouted.
"What does this mean?" Zheng Hui stared at the headless body of Xia Zhen, blood gushing out from his neck. He pressed the knife on his waist and retreated to the guard, asking angrily.
He did not expect that the third prince came to Xichuan with the grain transport fleet, lured them out of the city, and then unexpectedly beheaded Xia Zhen.
The guards brought out by Xia Zhen looked at the general being killed and looked at each other angrily.
Although most of the young men in the guard camp, Jianyong, had not yet disembarked from the ship at this time, Tian Cheng led more than 20 Zuosi scouts who came ashore first and moved forward to protect Han Qian, the third prince and the others, and at the same time moved out of the way. Let General Yong, the guard battalion at the rear, land faster and control the left and right sides.
The guards around Xia Zhen could only retreat hastily, drew their weapons and stood ready, preparing to fight with their lives.
"Xia Zhen abandoned the city without fighting, forcing our Dragon Bird Army to hastily and fiercely fight against Liang Jun in Tieguling Ridge under extremely unfavorable conditions, resulting in heavy casualties. Zheng joined the army, let me ask you, should Xia Zhen be killed for his crime?" Yang Yuanpu held back his heart. Feeling uncomfortable, he looked away from Xia Zhen's bloody corpse and asked Zheng Hui sharply.
Shen Yang couldn't believe what happened in front of him, but he also knew that this was not the time to question the third prince and Han Qian. It was important to stabilize the situation first. He also stared at Zheng Hui and said: "Zheng Hui, your Zheng family has passed down the family tradition of loyalty and filial piety." , Da Chu has also established a great reputation since the founding of the country. At this time, His Highness is pursuing Xia Zhen for abandoning the city, which has nothing to do with you. Why are you so angry and questioning His Highness? "
Zheng Hui had no friendship with Xia Zhen, and he despised Xia Zhen for abandoning Neixiang City and fleeing to Xichuan City. However, facing strong pressure from Liang Jun, he allowed Yingzhou Prefecture soldiers to withdraw into Xichuan City.
However, Du Chongtao had already reprimanded Xia Zhen for his crime of abandoning the city. Zheng Hui also thought that the matter had been revealed. However, he did not expect that a few days later, the third prince came to Xichuan City in person and immediately killed Xia Zhen. condemn.
Things happened so suddenly, and Han Qian and the others deliberately traveled with the grain transport fleet, unknowingly delaying their arrival in Xichuan until midnight. Zheng Hui and Xia Zhen had to be wary of Liang Jun's night attack and led dozens of their men out of the city. , thinking only about welcoming the Third Prince and his entourage into the city as soon as possible.
Seeing that there were only twenty or thirty guards around him at this time, how could Zheng Hui not be frightened?
In comparison, Xia Zhen brought more guards out of the city. He must have been somewhat defensive, but he didn't expect that the third prince did not wait for all his guards to come ashore before ordering Han Qian to take action directly.
At this time, the grain transport fleet docked at the dock was also in an uproar. However, the Yingzhou escort officials and a small number of troops were quickly controlled by Yang Qin, Feng Xuan and others who were closely watching them. Three people wanted to escape by jumping into the water.
After being chased in the water, the bodies were dragged onto the boat to ensure that no fish slipped through the net.
On a cold day, beads of sweat oozed from Zheng Hui's forehead. Thinking about it carefully, he had to work hard to defend Xichuan City even if he did not send troops to contain Liang Jun from attacking Tieguling. He secretly felt that the third prince should not have killed him.
meaning.
Otherwise, Xichuan City will inevitably be in chaos, and it will be difficult to resist the attack of Liang Jun.
Seeing that the people brought by the third prince had taken control of the dock, Zheng Hui gritted his teeth and let go of the hand holding the knife. He did not dare to go too far. He knelt down on one knee in front of his guards and expressed his submission: "Xia Zhen will abandon the city without fighting."
, the crime is extremely heinous and should be punished.”
When Xia Zhen abandoned the city, if the third prince or even Li Zhigao had been present, he would have been able to kill him directly according to military law. However, it has been so long, and even if he wants to settle the score after the fall, he should be taken down and sent to the judge for interrogation. It is not that simple.
Declare him roughly.
However, no matter how stupid Zheng Hui is, he will not care about the difference at this time. He is more concerned about whether the third prince will use the topic to involve him.
"Very good," Yang Yuanpu nodded and said in as calm a tone as possible to appease Zheng Hui, "Master Zheng stood firm in Xichuan and ensured that the territory north of Danjiang was not in the hands of the enemy. He has worked hard and has made great contributions. I will definitely report it to my father.
, please give me credit for Mr. Zheng.”
"Zheng Hui failed to stop Xia Zhen from abandoning the city. Your Highness can forgive Zheng Hui's mistakes. Zheng Hui is grateful and does not dare to take credit." Zheng Hui said.
At this time, Han Qian saw Zheng Hui steady and handed Xia Zhen's head to a guard. He raised his hands to the third prince and said: "Xia Zhenyong abandoned the city in battle. He was the culprit. He has been killed at this time, but Yingzhou
All the generals were forced to abandon the city and retreat to the west after being coerced by him, with only minor mistakes. At this time, Liang Jun is about to force them. Please allow your highness to allow them to be temporarily assigned to Lord Zheng's headquarters to perform meritorious service?"
Yang Yuanpu stared at the more than 40 Xia Zhen guards who had retreated to a corner of the pier, and asked sternly: "Are you willing to accept your crime and make meritorious service?"
Handing these people over to Zheng Hui not only reassures Zheng Hui and clearly tells Zheng Hui that this matter will not involve him and will continue to expand his troops, but also recruits these people into the guard camp.
It's hard to feel at ease, and it may become a hidden danger.
Seeing Zheng Hui's men turning to stare at them, Scout Zuo Si and the three hundred young generals of the bodyguard army were all staring at him with eager eyes. How could these people dare to fight to the death? They sheathed their swords and knelt down one after another to express their surrender.
Zheng Hui also looked at the third prince hesitantly and asked: "Your Highness, do you want to temporarily confiscate the armor of these people?"
Yang Yuanpu glanced at Han Qian hesitantly.
Han Qian shook his head slightly. Since he was already generous, he should be generous to the end.
Besides, if these people are handed over to Zheng Hui, even if there are three or five people with different aspirations, nothing will happen.
"I believe that their loyalty to the great Chu will not change. Since they have been allowed to perform meritorious service for their crimes, I also ask Zheng to join the army to treat them equally. If they have merit, they will be rewarded, and if they make mistakes, they will be punished." Yang Yuanpu said to Zheng Hui.
"I will obey His Highness's strict orders," Zheng Hui said.
These guards are all direct descendants of Xia Zhen, and most of them are even members of the Xia family's family. After Xia Zhen was executed, they were the most likely to rebel. After these guards were dealt with, Yingzhou's
The 1,500 state soldiers would be easier to deal with.
…………
…………
In order to eliminate Zheng Hui's inner doubts and fears, the guard camp and Zuo Si's scouts stayed outside the city. Han Qian and others accompanied the third prince Yang Yuanpu into Xichuan City and stayed in the Zhenjiang Mansion that Zheng Hui had built in Xichuan City.
"Zheng Hui is a person who knows how to enjoy things!"
After entering the back house of the Zhenjiang Mansion and resting for a while, Han Qian saw many handsome boys and girls waiting in the house. Han Qian sighed and thought that most of these boys and girls were kidnapped by Zheng Hui after he surrendered two strongholds.
At this time, Zheng Hui personally led his troops to take over Yingzhou's state troops.
Liang Jun is stationed twenty miles away. All unrest factors in Xichuan City must be eliminated before dawn so that Liang Jun will not take advantage of it.
Shen Yang signaled the maid who had made tea to exit the hall, and sat behind the long desk. A pair of old yellow eyes glanced at Chai Jian, Zhang Ping, Li Chong and others, and finally landed on Han Qian's face, and asked in a deep voice: " Mr. Han, why did you encourage His Highness to do such a dangerous thing? Can you reveal the mystery to me at this time?"
Han Qian can also be regarded as Shen Yang's disciple, but Shen Yang thought about the scene just now. If Han Qian hadn't failed to kill Xia Zhen in one fell swoop, it would have turned into a military chaos that was difficult to deal with and would have endangered the life of the third prince. Han Qian's last trace of friendship between teachers and disciples was also gone.
Of course he wanted to understand at this time that the so-called patrol was basically a scam led by Han Qian.
"Zhu Yu, King Yong of Liang Dynasty, is already in Wancheng, and the 30,000 Liang troops newly stationed in Wancheng at this time are made up of the elite of Liang Kingdom's Xuanjiadu - I wonder if this news can clear Mr. Shen Yang's doubts?" Han Qian said calmly.
"..." Shen Yang sat there in shock and didn't know what to say for a moment. He didn't expect that Han Qian didn't inform Defense Commander Du Chongtao immediately after learning such crucial information. First, trick them into coming to Xichuan City and behead Xia Zhen.
Shen Yang was extremely intelligent and could figure out what Han Qian's fundamental intention was when he thought about it. He would never agree with Han Qian risking the third prince's life, but he also knew that the end was now over and he could not save it.
Otherwise, Du Chongtao in Xiangzhou City would never agree to the third prince going to the Western Front to take command in such a dangerous situation.
"You didn't say beforehand that you wanted to kill Xia Zhen on the spot..." Chai Jian asked dissatisfied.
Knowing that Han Qian intended to get rid of Xia Zhen so decisively and ruthlessly, they would not be so hasty and should make more preparations to prevent mistakes.
"I don't know, Mr. Chai, Mr. Zhang, but His Highness and I are worried that Xia Zhen is too suspicious. We have too many preparations here, but it is not easy to trick Xia Zhen," Han Qian said, "As for Xia Zhen, we must do it first." The reason for getting rid of him at once was very simple. After the whereabouts of King Yong of Liang were exposed, he would immediately go to the western foot of Dahong Mountain and attack Yingzhou - Xia Zhenyou had a bad record of abandoning the city without fighting. Once Yingzhou fell, You can't guess what choice Xia Zhen will make, right?"
Although Chai Jian and Zhang Ping were dissatisfied that Han Qian had once again bypassed them and made arbitrary decisions, they had to admit that after the fall of Yingzhou, Xia Zhen chose to lead his troops to surrender to the Liang Army, which would have disastrous consequences for the Western Front.
Dealing with Xia Zhen and Yingzhou soldiers and horses is indeed the first thing they have to do.
Zhang Ping and Chai Jian had also discussed how to solve the problem of Xia Zhen and Yingzhou soldiers and horses before, but they did not expect that Han Qian would take such a decisive action.
"What are your plans for His Highness next?" Shen Yang stared at Han Qian and asked in a steady tone, "Do you want to hide this matter from Zheng Hui for the time being?"
"Even if Ying Sui and the two prefectures fall, Huangzhou is still four hundred miles away. Jinling is reinforcing Jingxiang, and Huangzhou is the key point. Your Majesty will never sit back and watch Huangzhou fall into the hands of Liang Jun. From this point of view, Zheng Hui actually has no There are other options, so there is no need to hide this matter from Zheng Hui." Han Qian said.
As long as Huangzhou does not fall, and Zheng Hui and his subordinates, who have all their family and dependents in Huangzhou, are in Huangzhou, it is unlikely that Zheng Hui will surrender or even flee south without fighting. At least until it is absolutely necessary, Han Qian believes that Zheng Hui Wouldn't make such a choice.
Otherwise, Emperor Tianyou decided not to be merciful and let their children go, and miss the opportunity to shock the generals.
"Since you know there is no need to worry about Zheng Hui, why don't you convince Zheng Hui first and then kill Xia Zhen?" Shen Yang asked again.
"What His Highness needs is Zheng Hui's loyalty, not cooperation." Han Qian said.
Shen Yang sighed slightly, while Zhang Ping, Chai Jian and others were also speechless.
Do they have a more reliable way to remove Xia Zhen's military power and imprison him, but it is definitely not as shocking as the scene just now - what Han Qian taught the third prince is not the ordinary way of checks and balances, the emperor's mind. !
