Wang Shichong did not return to the palace. He just turned around, motioned for all the civil and military officials to follow, and then silently walked towards the city gate tower behind him.
Wang Xuanying, Yang Gongqing, Duan Da and others followed silently.
In their sight, Wang Shichong's once majestic and high-spirited figure turned out to be so desolate and sad.
Even his steps seemed heavy and staggering.
After entering the city gate tower, Wang Shichong sat in the middle, and everyone sat silently on both sides. The atmosphere in the room was particularly heavy for a moment.
After a long time, Wang Shichong spoke. The former hero looked haggard and desperate.
"My lords, now there are no reinforcements outside and no food and grass inside. I, Dazheng, do not have much time left." After a few words, Wang Shichong swallowed even more: "You lords have followed me for many years, and they have all worked hard and made great achievements. They should not come to an end.
, the 300,000 soldiers and civilians in the city should not die because of me."
"So, I am determined to accept the surrender. I wonder what your wishes are?"
Although they had expected Wang Shichong's choice, as soon as these words came out, the civil and military officials couldn't help but feel sad. After all, the Zheng State belonged not only to Wang Shichong, but also to them.
"Your Majesty——" All civil and military officials also cried loudly, but no one objected.
The general trend is like this, what's the use of struggling anymore!?
No, someone objects!
"Father," Wang Xuanying burst into tears at this time and hoarsely bowed down: "I can't surrender. It's not easy for you to create this foundation. How can you give it up to others?"
Wang Xuanying couldn’t bear to part with it.
The throne of the prince is not yet hot, and he has not been the emperor for a day.
"Idiot! Idiot!" Wang Shichong burst into tears, leaned over and touched the top of Wang Xuanying's head, and said in a harsh voice: "Do you think I am willing to give up? But God's will is like this, no matter what! no what!"
"If I don't surrender, once the city is destroyed, Luoyang will be turned into powder, and my Wang family will also be wiped out. I can't be such an unfilial descendant and deprive my ancestors of blood!"
Wang Xuanying had nothing to say at this time. He was unwilling to accept the grand ambition and hegemony he had obtained, but he did not want to die.
"Father——"
The Prince of Zheng burst into tears again.
Wang Shichong raised his head to the sky, calmed down his grief-stricken mood for a while, and then turned to Duan Da and Yang Gongqing: "Duan Aiqing, please draft a letter of surrender. Yang Aiqing, please go to the palace to get the mouth book, fish scale book, jade seal and other items.
Let’s surrender!”
After finishing the last two words with difficulty, Wang Shichong seemed to be instantly discouraged and became much older.
“I—I obey the imperial edict!”
When Duan Da and Yang Gongqing heard this, they felt relieved and at the same time very bitter.
"General Yang Wang, go and inform the Tang army that I am willing to surrender and ask them to wait for a while." Wang Shichong braced himself and gave another order.
"I obey the order." Yang Wang also wiped his tears and went out.
And as Yang Wang went out, the crying in the room instantly became louder.
Under the city.
Cheng Yaojin was waiting anxiously when he saw Yang Wang sticking his head out from the city and saying with a sad face: "General Cheng, your Majesty has decided to accept the surrender. Please wait for a while and make some preparations."
"Okay, okay, your majesty is really wise. I will report back immediately." Cheng Yaojin was overjoyed and immediately rushed back to the formation with a face full of joy: "Your Highness, Wang Shichong has surrendered as expected. He will leave the city immediately."
"Well, Gu heard it." Li Shimin was also excited about Mo Ming, and he patted Cheng Yaojin on the shoulder: "Yaojin did a good job, Gu will give you a credit."
Cheng Yaojin was so happy that he couldn't even see his face. This achievement came so easily, it was just a matter of lip service.
"Okay, please escort Dou Jiande and others back."
"promise."
Cheng Yaojin quickly turned around and sent the prison cars back to the rear, so as not to get in the way when they accepted the surrender later.
"It's so gratifying and congratulating that Your Highness's Eastern expedition has finally been successful!" Xia Yu was so smart that he immediately flattered him.
"Haha, it all depends on the help of military advisors, otherwise, how could it be so fast!?" Li Shimin immediately reciprocated the favor.
This is true.
In history, it took more than ten months from Li Shimin's expedition on the first day of July in the third year of Wude to Wang Shichong's surrender on May 11 of the following year.
Although Li Tang won in the end, it came at a huge cost, with huge losses in food, grass, ordnance, and troops.
But in this life, with Xia Yu's help, Li Shimin solved the battle in just over five months, shortening the time by half.
Moreover, the loss of national power is also greatly reduced.
All these changes are naturally the changes of butterflies brought about by the passage of Xia Yu.
"By the way," Xia Yu suddenly remembered something and lowered her voice: "Puppet Zheng has surrendered. What are His Majesty Wang Shichong going to do?"
Li Shimin was stunned and said with a smile: "Wang Shichong is the head of a country after all, so naturally he and his family have to be sent to Chang'an to be handed over to his father."
As for whether Li Yuan will use evil hands to kill Wang Shichong's family in the future, it's none of his business!
Of course, Xia Yu didn't care either. This Wang Shichong had assassinated him with his own hands. He wished Li Houhei Yuan had done it earlier.
"What about his subordinates and generals?"
A cold light flashed in Li Shimin's eyes: "Of course it is necessary to eliminate the roots without leaving any future troubles." Then he snorted coldly: "Choose a day to kill with Dou Jiande's civil and military officials."
Xia Yu's expression changed.
In history, this is what Li Shimin did. This made him confused. People said that Li Ertong was kind and generous, how could he be so cruel!?
"No, Your Highness!" He hurriedly advised: "It has been unlucky since ancient times to kill prisoners, let alone killing so many people. Please think twice!"
He still wanted to protect people, so he killed them all, so that was fine.
Li Shimin sighed: "Gu Zizi understands the concerns of the military advisor, but he has to do it."
"..." Xia Yu suddenly had a question mark on her forehead.
Li Shimin hesitated for a moment. He would not tell others some secrets, but it was no problem for a close confidant like Xia Yu.
"There are two reasons."
"The first is to get rid of Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande's gang members to prevent them from surrendering and rebelling again. The Tang Dynasty was just established, but it couldn't withstand the hardships."
"Secondly, military advisors should know that there are too many civil servants and generals in Xia and Zheng, but the power in the court is limited, so they cannot arrange them or support them."
Xia Yu was stunned. It turned out that it wasn't that Li Shimin didn't want to have a baby, but that he didn't dare and couldn't afford it.
After all, the carrot pit is limited, and Li Tang has to take care of himself and his family first, so there really aren't many free pits.
"I understand."
Xia Yu sighed, he really didn't know how valuable firewood and rice were if he was not a rich man. If he were Li Yuan or Li Shimin, he would probably have no choice but to do this.
"Can I protect only a few people?"
"This is counterintuitive." Li Shimin was very happy this time. There were only a few people, so it was not a big problem and it was easy to arrange: "Why, who does the military advisor think can be used?"
Xia Yu was overjoyed and said hurriedly: "There are a few. The first is Ling Jing. This person is outstanding in strategizing and is a genius in the world. His Highness should use him."
Li Shimin smiled and said indifferently: "No matter how outstanding he is, he will still be defeated by the military advisor. However, since the military advisor recommends him, that's all. As long as this person is willing to surrender, I will use him."
Li Ertong Shoes has no shortage of counselors now, but since Xia Yu strongly recommends them, they still have to give face.
"Thank you, Your Highness, I will go and convince him tonight." Xia Yu was very happy.
"Who else?"
"There is also Wei Zheng, a man who is knowledgeable and upright, and has the talent of a prime minister——"
"No need, Wei Zheng is already insured."
However, before Xia Yu could finish speaking, Li Shimin waved his hand and interrupted him, with an indescribable weird expression on his face.
"..." Xia Yu looked stunned and couldn't help but said: "But who has the discerning eye to recognize pearls?"
Li Shimin's eyes were distant and he sneered: "A discerning eye? It's not necessarily scary! The military advisor must not have thought of who is behind this person?"
Xia Yu was stunned: Could there be some hidden secret?
"It's the five surnames and Qi Wang!" Li Shimin revealed the answer to the mystery and said meaningfully: "The letters from Gu Cai back to Qingcheng Palace, Qinghe Cui, Boling Cui, Fan Yanglu, Taiyuan Wang, Zhaojun Li, Xingyang Zheng, and six families
Here we are, trying our best to ensure that Wei Zheng serves the Tang Dynasty."
Xia Yu's pupils shrank and she was shocked and said: "Is this Wei Zheng a person with the fifth surname and Qi Wang?"
Li Shimin nodded silently.
Xia Yu was so smart that he immediately understood everything: "I understand, these aristocratic families are playing the dirty trick of hedging their bets again!"
"Although they are most optimistic about Datang, it still does not prevent them from placing a bet on Dou Jiande."
Such tricks are also common methods used by aristocratic families.
Once the world is in chaos, they will place a bet on any force that may succeed in the competition, whether it is big or small.
In this way, no matter which side wins in the end, they can all benefit.
The most obvious example is the three brothers Zhuge Liang. The eldest brother Zhuge Jin served as an official in Soochow, Zhuge Liang assisted the Shu Han, and the younger brother Zhuge Dan was a fierce general in Cao Wei.
Therefore, under some bright surfaces, there are often unexplained plots and interests.
Xia Yu was very disappointed.
Another image of greatness and integrity was shattered in his heart. Behind Wei Zheng's eternal enemies, it seemed that he was not so pure.
Those aristocratic families would not support him in vain, Wei Zheng must represent their interests.
At first, Xia Yu was a little confused when she learned that Wei Zheng appeared under Dou Jiande.
After all, he remembered that in history, Wei Zheng was an old minister of Li Mi. After Li Mi was defeated by Wang Shichong, he also surrendered to the Tang Dynasty with his old master.
But in this life, there is a difference.
However, Xia Yu didn't take it to heart, she just thought that the butterfly changes caused by his time travel.
But now it seems that the history is really amazingly similar. Wei Zheng still has to enter the political arena of the Tang Dynasty, whether it is Xia Yu or not.
