Cen Shen replied calmly: "My lord wants to conspire with the king to capture Hedong. He is willing to give up Xiangzhou and Weizhou, so that you can enter Hedong from the Jingjingkou, attack the northern capital Taiyuan, and then occupy Yunzhong, Daijun, Shuozhou and other places.
.”
Shi Siming chuckled: "Hedong's army has strong soldiers and horses, and strong combat effectiveness. When my Yan army was strong, it could not be conquered. Now that I have not recovered my strength, is your lord trying to lure me to die?"
"No," Cen Shen turned around and said, "It's not that the Hedong Army has strong combat effectiveness, but that the mountains and hills in Sanjin are undulating, making it difficult for a large army to move. The Hedong Army is permanently stationed in Sanjin, so it is familiar with the terrain and can fight according to local conditions. My Lord is willing to lead the army.
To help each other, the king entered Shangdang from Guguan Wu'er Valley in Hukou, and the king entered Taiyuan from the entrance of Jingjing, making it impossible for the two sides to fight from the beginning to the end. The Hedong Army was bound to be defeated by our two armies during the period. The king can sit back and relax, Hebei
Youyan no longer has to worry about the threat from Hedong."
Shi Siming's eyes rolled rapidly and he suddenly asked with a smile: "Li Siye joined Shangdang and gave up Taiyuan to me. Could it be that he wanted to go down from Shangdang to Puzhou and cross from Jinpu to Guanzhong?"
Cen Shen did not expect that Shi Siming had guessed his lord's strategic intention. He stood on the spot dumbly and Shi Siming immediately laughed proudly.
Yan Zhuang immediately corrected Cen Shen and said, "If my lord can enter the pass, he will give up the land of Henan. This move will also be beneficial to the king."
Shi Siming roared loudly: "The traitor has no right to talk to me here!" The two Hu'er warriors beside him immediately drew their swords from their waists, as if Shi Siming was going to chop them into pieces at the command.
Blowing his beard and glaring, he paced around Cen Shen: "Henan should have been mine! If your lord hadn't betrayed his faith and stabbed me in the back while the imperial court was retreating, I would have already occupied the Central Plains. Why would you need to give me help here?
I'm making wild promises! Now that you want to take Guanzhong, the imperial court is at a critical juncture, so you will definitely try to win over me. After I acquire Henan, Shandong and other places, I will join hands with the imperial court to eliminate you. Then I will fight with the imperial court for the areas in Hedong and Guanzhong.
how?"
Cen Shen suddenly laughed loudly, and Shi Siming asked angrily from the side: "Why are you laughing?"
"I laugh at the fact that King Zhou doesn't know who is strong and who is weak."
Shi Siming was very clear-headed, but deliberately played the opposite tune and said: "Li Siye now occupies the vast Henan Province, enters Shaanxi County and attacks Tongguan. He has recruited a large number of troops from Youyan and the imperial court. He has 150,000 troops under his command, and is undoubtedly the strongest in the world. Although the imperial court
Weak and often defeated, but most of the governors in the world responded, I am the second strongest. Although I live in Hebei, I am the weakest in the world. I should unite with the imperial court and defeat you, the strongest, first, and then I can win.
road."
Cen Shen laughed and said: "The great Tang Dynasty is so miserable in your eyes, no wonder you have been defeated at the hands of the imperial court. Since Li Yuan raised his troops from Taiyuan to capture Guanzhong, the Tang Dynasty has experienced the rule of Zhenguan, the rule of Yonghui, the reign of Empress Wu, and the prosperous Kaiyuan era.
It has been established for a hundred years. He has supported the king's rule and won the Qianxiang. He has conquered all the barbarians in Jiuzhou and has been arrogant at home and abroad and is known as the Khan of the heavens. The former emperor's virtues and policies are all respected by the world, and he can leave his descendants to reflect on his achievements. Therefore, the people of the world want to
Li and Tang could not rule the country. If you and I attacked Tang in order to survive, we would be called traitors. But if Tang attacked us, we would be submissive and punish rebels. Although Li Heng, the leader of Tang, was faint, he was holding people's hearts and minds. Attacking Tang was like sailing against the current. It was difficult.
It’s very important. From what your Majesty sees, whether you want to unite with my lord or submit to the imperial court is up to you.”
Shi Siming was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and said in surprise: "As you see it, if we fight against the Tang Dynasty and become independent, we are using human power to fight against God's will, and are seeking death?"
"The king of Zhou has sent a message. In the past, King Wu attacked Zhou, and Liu Xiang punished Qin. Doesn't this mean that he killed the previous dynasty and established a new dynasty?"
"But the so-called Shang Zhou and Qin Emperor were both tyrannies. Our Tang Dynasty has just experienced its golden age."
"Who told you that King Zhou of Shang and the First Emperor of Qin were tyrannical? Is it King Wen of Zhou or Emperor Gaozu of Han? This is the evil posthumous title they only got after they won. When King Wu won, it was called King Wu's Conquest of Zhou, and when he lost, it was called Jifa's Rebellion, Liu Bang
If he wins, it is called killing Qin and destroying Chu. If he loses, he will be no different from other bandits in history. If Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty cannot quell the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms, how can he be called a wise king? Li Longji and Li Heng are not without faults. Both his father and son
One is addicted to beauty and favors his relatives, which leads to rebellion, while the other favors eunuchs and frames heroes. From now on, no matter who wins the world, the king or my lord, if the historian is ordered to modify it a little, he will not be able to escape the fate of a foolish king."
Shi Siming stroked his belly and laughed loudly: "Your fallacies are so delicious that I already believe them."
Cen Shen quickly borrowed the donkey on the slope and said: "In that case, please send troops to Hedong as soon as possible, and my lord will also send troops to respond."
Just as Shi Siming was about to nod in agreement, a general wearing armor and fangs suddenly walked up to Shi Siming and whispered a few words in a low voice.
His face moved slightly, revealing a mysterious smile. He extended his hand to Cen Shen and said, "We have fine wine and venison in Youzhou, as well as beauties singing and dancing. Please go to the guest house of your house and enjoy it. Please cooperate."
We’ll talk about it later.”
Yan Zhuang regarded Shi Siming as a tiger and a wolf, and did not want to stay in his mansion for a day. He was about to speak, but Cen Shen stopped him with his eyes. He crossed his hands and said to Shi Siming: "Thank you so much, Your Majesty, we will leave first."
The steward of Shi's mansion guided the two of them to the guest house. On the way, Yan Zhuang asked in surprise: "I see what Mr. Cen said just now, and Shi Siming has been persuaded. How could something unexpected happen suddenly?"
Cen Shen muttered: "It must be the envoys from the imperial court who have arrived. Shi Siming is used to being at both ends of the spectrum, and businessmen like to compare products."
Yan Zhuang said with concern: "What if the conditions proposed by the imperial court are more favorable? Wouldn't we give up halfway?"
Master Cen put his hands behind his hands and said with a smile: "I have already expected this kind of thing, so I gave Shi Siming suggestions in advance. He will definitely ask for Hedong from the imperial envoys, and the imperial envoys will definitely not agree. From a strategic position,
Hebei and Henan roads combined are not as good as Hedong. The mountains of Sanjin are overlapping and overlook the Central Plains. You can advance, attack, retreat and defend. Only by getting to Hedong can the Central Plains be stabilized. Shi Siming understood this truth, how could the imperial court not understand it?"
Yan Zhuang sincerely admired Cen Shen, clasped his fists at him and said, "I have always thought highly of myself, but it was only after I met Mr. Cen that I realized that there are people outside the world."
Cen Shen stroked his beard and smiled calmly: "Mr. Yan is too praised. I also have people I admire."
…
The imperial envoys had been introduced into the main hall of Shi Siming's house, followed by five people holding the seals of Hebei Jiedushi and Henan Yin respectively, as well as the banners and flags issued by the imperial court.
After the envoy Cui Yuan entered the door, he stood up straight and crossed his hands and said to Shi Siming: "The interview envoy of Tokyo Ji, the imperial censor Zhongcheng, the envoy of Henan Daose, and Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhang Shi Cui Yuan have met King Xinyi."
Shi Siming snorted coldly and said: "I can't remember your many official positions, so why not get straight to the point? Your envoy is here to recruit me to surrender, and I don't know what you can give me?"
Envoy Cui suppressed the depression in his heart and said with a smile: "Your Majesty personally proclaims you the King of Xinyi, and concurrently serves as the governor of Hebei and Yin of Henan. You can recruit troops and pay food within the two fifty-six states, and unite with the imperial court to eliminate the rebellion.
Li Siye.
"The conditions are quite generous," Shi Siming played with the ring in his hand and snorted: "It doesn't matter whether you are a Yin of Henan Province or not. I have only one request. Please ask the imperial court to make me the governor of Hedong Province and allow me to station troops in Taiyuan and surrounding states.
.The former Hedong Jiedushi led his troops to withdraw from Hedong, what do you think?"
"This..." Cui Yuan said hesitantly: "Hedong is of great importance. I can't make a decision for the saint. After I report back to the court..."
"You can't make a decision, why did the court send you here?"
Cui Yuanning stood on the spot, unable to answer for a moment.
Shi Siming asked again: "You are a close official of the emperor, and you must also know the bottom line of the imperial court. In order to avoid wasting everyone's time, can you give me an accurate answer? Is it possible for the imperial court to allow me to occupy Hedong?"
"Well, if we only occupy Daijun in Yunzhong, we still have to discuss it, but if we want to occupy Taiyuan or even the entire Hedong, Taiyuan is the land of the Tang Dynasty and the northern capital, so I'm afraid we won't be able to agree."
"Don't make so many excuses! Your emperor has no intention of giving me Hedong. He is still waiting to prepare to attack my Youzhou from Hedong in the future!"
Cui Yuan quickly crossed his hands and said: "King Xinyi, please don't be angry. I can make the decision for your majesty and give you the land of Qilu. How about I promise you to stay in Luoyang temporarily?"
"Stop talking nonsense, I just want someone from Hedong to help me get him out!"