Wang Shichong's face was gloomy. On the side, Wang Xuanying, Duan Da, Heng Fasi, Yang Gongqing and other close ministers were also worried.
Since the Tang army besieged the city, bad news has come one after another:
First, Hanoi fell, and the road to aid from Hebei was blocked.
Immediately afterwards, Huiluocang fell, and Luoyang City's main food source was cut off.
Immediately, even greater bad news came. Nearly a hundred cities in the ten states of Zhengdong surrendered without a fight, and Wang Shichong was sold out.
Especially Yang Qing, the governor of Guanzhou, wanted to surrender to the Tang Dynasty even after killing his wife, which shows his ungratefulness and ambition.
Now, Dou Jian wanted to come to the rescue, but he would have to go through a lot of trouble.
This series of heavy blows made Wang Shichong suffer so much that he lost more than ten kilograms in a month and his temper became increasingly irritable.
What's even worse is that Luoyang City is gradually falling into chaos.
With the fall of Huiluocang, food in the city was in short supply. In just over half a month, the price of food soared from ten cents a bucket to more than a hundred cents.
Such exaggerated food prices naturally arouse public resentment.
The common people who could not afford the sky-high price of food had to resort to violent methods such as zero-yuan purchases, and vicious incidents such as beatings, smashing, and robberies occurred frequently.
In order to maintain public order in the city, Zheng Jun was exhausted, and Wang Shichong and the court officials were also very anxious.
"Damn it!" Suddenly, Wang Xuanying slammed the table: "They are a bunch of unruly people! My father and son suggested that we should severely suppress them and kill them as a warning to others!"
This prince has rested for more than a month and is in good health. Now he is full of energy again.
You must know that the people behind Zhongliang Store in the city are either aristocratic families or the powerful people of the day. The common people are cheating and buying for zero dollars. Naturally, these people suffer heavy losses.
Therefore, Wang Shichong and Wang Xuanying have been under a lot of pressure recently.
In the past, Zheng's army had some concerns about suppressing civil disturbances that were robbing food. Most of the time, they just dispersed the people and at most used military sticks to get rid of the problem.
But as the civil unrest intensified, Wang Xuanying could no longer bear the anger in his heart.
"No!" Duan Da became anxious when he heard this: "Your Highness, the people are just asking for a good meal, how can they die!?"
"The top priority is to quickly try to stabilize food prices. Forcible suppression will only be counterproductive and provoke greater civil unrest."
"Master Duan said it lightly. But where is the food?" Wang Renze smiled wryly and spread his hands.
In Luoyang City today, the people's homes have long been out of food. Only the rich and powerful and the Hanjiacang still have some food.
But how can the rich and powerful be willing to hand over the food obediently?
These people were not ordinary people, and Wang Shichong did not dare to provoke them easily.
The food in Hanjiacang cannot be touched even more. It is military ration! If the army runs out of food, the chaos will be even more terrible than it is now.
Therefore, as soon as Wang Renze's words came out, everyone in the palace fell silent.
After a long time, Yang Gongqing hesitated and said: "Your Majesty, why don't we discuss it with the powerful people and consider it as a credit to the court. When Dou Jiande relieves the siege of Luoyang, we can repay it double."
"I'm afraid these people are not so easy to talk to." Huan Fasi sighed.
If Zheng Guo was still strong, it might be easier to say something, but now it is obvious that it is getting worse and worse, and it is hard to say how many people will buy it.
Who is not afraid of losing everything?
If you dare to force yourself, do you believe that these powerful people will turn around and make secret arrangements with the Tang Dynasty? The consequences will be unbearable.
"But I can't care anymore. I have to do it if I can't." Yang Gongqing gritted his teeth and looked at Wang Shichong.
Wang Shichong's face looked gloomy and uncertain.
The food in Hanjiacang cannot be moved, and the riots in Luoyang City must be suppressed. After all calculations, the only option is to take action on the powerful people.
Even if he drinks poisonous wine, he must hold on until Dou Jiande comes to his aid.
"That's all, that's all it can do."
"Huan Aiqing, it's up to you to handle this matter! Negotiate carefully with each family. In addition to double repayment, some conditions can also be agreed to."
"But if someone doesn't know how to commend them, they will be confiscated by force. Anyone who disobeys will be shot to death!"
Wang Shichong made up his mind, and his thin face looked murderous, like a ferocious tiger forced into a desperate situation.
Huan Fasi secretly complained, why was this offending job thrown to him again, but he did not dare to refuse, so he had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"By the way," Wang Shichong added with a sneer: "Let's start with the Zheng family in Xingyang!"
In troubled times, although it is common for five surnames and seven hopes to bet on long positions, the connection between the Zheng family in Xingyang and the Tang Dynasty is obviously too much.
The Zheng family of Xingyang was behind the fall of Mengjinguan and the overthrow of Zhengdong.
Therefore, Wang Shichong gritted his teeth about it.
However, the Five Surnames and Seven Watchers were there to help each other and were extremely powerful. No matter how much Wang Shichong hated them, he did not dare to break up with them easily.
However, just because you can't lift the table doesn't mean you can't be punished.
"I understand." Huan Fasi understood, and suddenly said bitterly: "It's a pity that the assassination of Xia Yu failed a few days ago. If we kill this person, Li Shimin will lose his arms, why should we worry that we can't turn defeat into victory?"
When Xia Yu is mentioned, everyone in the palace changes color.
Speaking of which, Xia Yu is Zheng Guo's biggest sufferer. Behind almost every defeat of Zheng Guo, Xia Yu's ghost remains.
This person is so smart that he is almost like a demon, and his tricks are as unconstrained as a horse's and his tricks, making it difficult for people to guard against him.
It can be said that the monarchs and ministers of Zheng State have been psychologically shadowed by Xia Yu. These people hate Xia Yu even more than Qin King Li Shimin.
"Humph, consider him lucky! Sooner or later, I will peel off his skin and cramp his muscles to vent his hatred!" Wang Xuanying touched his ribs that were still aching, with a look of gritted teeth.
However, things in the world have always been good and bad.
At this moment, a faint noise suddenly came from outside the palace, and it quickly became louder. It seemed that there were panic shouts everywhere.
However, the sound was too chaotic and the people in the palace couldn't hear what they were saying.
Wang Shichong, who was already in a very bad mood, suddenly became furious and shouted sternly: "Where is the general in front of the palace? Why is there so much noise outside?"
Hearing this, a general of the Forbidden Army rushed into the palace in three or two steps, but his face was full of fear and panic: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's not good, there are many monsters floating in the sky!"
"Fart!" Wang Shichong was furious, his eyes were so cannibalistic: "Where in the world are there any monsters? How dare you bully me!"
"Your Majesty, it really exists. You can see it when you go out. Everyone in the palace is frightened."
"Let's go and have a look." Wang Shichong was so convinced that he strode out of the palace. Wang Xuanying and others hurriedly followed. As soon as he went out, he saw the palace people running around, the imperial army in panic, and the whole palace was in chaos like the end of the world.
.
Wang Shichong raised his head in astonishment, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he was dumbfounded. He saw dozens of monsters flying in the sky:
It has a big round head with a hanging basket hanging underneath. It looks like a bird but is not a bird. I have never seen it before.
"No!" Before anyone could react, Huan Fasi jumped to his feet and said, "This is the 'Flying Demon' of the Tang Army, and the Heyang Floating Bridge was burned down by it."
The hot air balloon showed its power and destroyed the Heyang Floating Bridge, and the city of Luoyang naturally gained trust.
Although the Tang army surrounded the city, there was only 60,000 to 70,000 people, and it was impossible to besiege such a huge city like Luoyang.
Relying on their familiarity with the location, Zheng Jun's spies still had many channels to sneak in and out.
However, Zheng Jun really didn't know what to call the "hot air balloon", so he took it upon himself to nickname it "Flying Demon".
Wang Shichong suddenly woke up, looked at the 'flying demon' flying quickly in the sky, suddenly changed his color and said: "No, the Tang army is going to set fire!"
As soon as he finished speaking, countless Tang soldiers poked their heads out from the basket of the hot air balloon, and then, raindrops of clay pots fell to the ground.
Looking at the position where the pottery pot fell, Huan Fasi felt his hair stand on end and was extremely frightened: "Your Majesty, it is Hanjiacang! The Tang army is going to burn Hanjiacang!"
Hanjiacang, located in the north center of Luoyang Imperial City, had hundreds of thousands of dans of grain stored there.
The tens of thousands of troops in the city and the food needed by the palace are all supplied by it. Once it is lost, it will be a disaster.
At this moment, rockets were shot down from the hot air balloon, and torches were dropped one after another, like countless shooting stars.
The land of granaries was already afraid of fire. If the Tang army continued to add fuel to the fire with such ungrateful behavior, it would be a big deal. In just an instant, countless fire points and thick smoke billowed out of the huge Hanjia Granary!
Wang Shichong's eyes were about to burst, he was jumping around like crazy, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Quickly, put out the fire! Whoever dares to slack off, I will punish him from the nine tribes!"
In the palace, the security system was already perfect. Suddenly, the alarm bells sounded, and countless imperial troops rushed to Hanjiacang in an attempt to put out the fire.
However, Tang Jun was not happy.
The hot air balloon in front was filled with tung oil. When the balloon in the back saw that Zheng Jun was still trying to put out the fire, he threw the clay pots even more frantically.
It is common sense to put out a fire than to set it off.
Therefore, within a few moments, the fire in Hanjiacang was not extinguished, but instead became one. From a distance, the flames were already rising into the sky and the smoke was covering the sun.
All fools know that this fire cannot be saved!
Hanjiacang is also finished!
In this case, even if all the food of all the powerful people in the city is collected, more than 300,000 people can be fed for how many days!?
Luoyang City is getting worse and worse, and a great famine is imminent.
"My food!" Suddenly, Wang Shichong shouted. He was so angry that his eyes darkened and he fell down.
"Father!" Wang Xuan responded urgently, and quickly helped Wang Shichong up, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Come here, call the imperial doctor quickly."
However, Huan Fa Si still remembered the business. Seeing that Hanjiacang could not be saved, he must not burn down the palace as well. He quickly shouted: "Send the order: Don't save the granary. Do your best to block the source of the fire and build an isolation belt. We must do it."
Save the palace."
In a hazy moment, Wang Shichong said: "Do as Dr. Huan said." He felt dizzy and passed out gorgeously.
…
At the height of Mang Mountain outside the city, Li Shimin and Xia Yu looked at the smoky Luoyang City, feeling very comfortable in their hearts.
This is retribution for telling you not to practice martial ethics!
Xia Yu said with regret: "It's a pity that only Hanjia Cang was burned. If it had been my wish, I would have burned the palace as well."
When Li Shimin heard this, a black line appeared on his forehead: The military advisor is really very vengeful!
"Military advisor, don't make trouble! This Luoyang Palace took several years to build with all the manpower and material resources in the world. It would be a pity to burn it down."
"In the future, I, the Tang Dynasty, can take it and use it as the capital of the East, but it cannot be burned."
Listening to Li Shimin's consolation, Xia Yu certainly understood.
No matter how guilty Wang Shichong is, a rare treasure like Luoyang Palace is innocent and must never be burned.
"I was just joking. Your Highness is too ungrateful."
"Speaking of which, we are not such stingy people."
Listening to someone's shameless self-advertisement, Li Shimin felt ashamed: Military counselor, military counselor, can we show some respect? Who doesn't know now that you will take revenge on the young man!
