That night, Zhang Yun led fifty people to move to the official residence in Xinchangfang. Li An and Zhang Lei had purchased a large number of official residences before, and now they were working. A large number of Jin army scouts were hiding in these houses, and there was basically no need for them.
When you go out, the door will be closed. Someone will come and deliver a batch of food after a while.
In the afternoon of the next day, Zhang Yun officially took up the post of inspection tax inspector. He was called an official in name, but in fact he was still an official, just the leader of the minor officials. He and more than a dozen of his subordinates all changed into the uniforms of tax inspectors with black bottom and red edges.
With a knife on their waist, they started their tax collecting career in Chang'an.
October has passed, and the weather is getting colder day by day. Especially in the morning, a thick layer of white frost will appear. In half a month, it will freeze.
In Taiyuan Tiance Mansion, the internal guard commander Wang Yue hurriedly came to Guo Song's official room. He waved to Du Siye at the door, and Du Siye walked out quickly, "Commander Wang, do you have something to see your highness?"
Wang Yue nodded, "There is an important situation!"
"I'll report it right away. Commander Wang will wait a moment."
After a while, Du Siye came out and said: "Your Highness, let you in!"
Wang Yue quickly tidied up his uniform and walked in quickly...
In the official room, Guo Song stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, staring at the dark clouds in the distant sky that were getting thicker.
It has been three months since the end of the Uighur Campaign. The war dividends are enough to support them in launching a new offensive. The abolition order has been implemented. Although the abolition of slavery hidden under the abolition order has encountered a lot of opposition, it has gradually got on the right track, so it will continue to expand.
The time has come.
Where is the next target? In fact, there is no need to think about it. It must be Guanzhong. Guo Song originally wanted to start thinking about Chang'an next year, but he got an extremely important piece of information two months ago. The money and grain reserves in Xingluo Cang have reached the warning level.
It can only last up to half a year.
This is a big deal. Zhu Si's court is not a normal court at all. The taxes they collect every year are pitiful. For so many years, they have been relying on the money and food from Guangtongcang and Li Shinei's treasury to support them. Now they are finally about to sit back and have nothing.
At that time, if there was no money and food, how could Zhu Si raise his army? He would definitely plunder Guanzhong. There is no doubt about this. How could Zhu Si not kill the fattened pigs?
Last time, he was forced to give up his plan to move the 120,000 wealthy households in Guanzhong to Luoyang because of his own obstruction. However, judging from the information he received later, this plan was very important to Zhu Si. He did not give up, he just suspended it.
.
When it comes to strategizing, Guo Song cannot wait for the opponent to make a move before thinking of a response. He must be able to observe the trend, seize the opportunity before the opponent decides to make a move, and take a preemptive strike to completely decipher the opponent's plan.
More than a month ago, Guo Song began to formulate and advance the winter hunting plan.
Of course it is not difficult to seize Guanzhong, but the difficult thing is not to cause any losses to Chang'an. Zhu Jinqing strictly abides by the orders given to him by Zhu Si and does not leave Chang'an. If there is any abnormal movement in Tongzhou, he closes the city of Chang'an and defends it. This is really difficult to handle.
At this time, Wang Yue appeared at the door, bowed and said: "Your Highness, I have something urgent to report from my humble position!"
Guo Song turned around and said, "What's the emergency?"
"Your Highness, do you still remember Man Wu and Zhang Jinshui?"
Guo Song nodded. Of course he remembered that among Zhu Si's spies in Taiyuan, Zhang Jinshui was the proprietor of Huichun Hall, and Manwu was a civil servant in Jinyang County government. He gave them a fake iron fire thunder formula.
, misled their development direction, Zhu Si continued to add spies in Taiyuan, Zhang Jinshui became the intelligence leader, and Man Wu also became a minor leader.
These two men were typical double agents, working for Zhu Si and at the same time working for the internal guards.
"Any new discoveries?"
"Manwu told me the news today that Zhu Si has developed a paper fire thunder."
Guo Song was not surprised. Paper fire mines were actually firecrackers. It was easy to develop paper fire mines. We were still thousands of miles away from iron fire mines. It would take them many years to develop the technology to purify the nitrate powder.
However, developing paper fire mines also has an advantage. Zhu Si can use gunpowder to make incendiary weapons.
Guo Song laughed, wondering if Zhu Si had the courage to go straight into Bashu.
Zhu Si was Guo Song's most effective thug, and he really didn't want to kill him prematurely.
"Then what?" Guo Song asked again.
"Then there was another major event. It was said that Zhu Si sent people to Chengdu to negotiate and wanted to exchange Guanzhong for Yangzhou."
Guo Song was startled. This was the first time he heard about this matter. He quickly asked: "Is the news accurate?"
"The news came from Zhang Jinshui, and he was told by his father. I can't be sure whether the news is true or not."
Zhang Jinshui's father, Zhang Qianqiu, is the chief physician of the Luoyang Palace. Although his official position is not high, he has access to some insiders. This news is at least 70% credible.
From a common sense analysis, this plan seems absurd, but Guo Songneng saw deeper. If Zhu Si wiped out all the wealth in Guanzhong, he really wanted to lose Guanzhong and took advantage of Li Shi's eagerness to return to Guanzhong.
The shabby Guanzhong in exchange for the plump Yangzhou is indeed a very cost-effective deal.
Guo Song took a few steps with his hands behind his back. If it were to happen next year, but the conquest of Guanzhong would not take a day or two, it is estimated that Zhu Si would take action soon, and they must not be allowed to cause damage to Chang'an.
Thinking of this, Guo Song finally made up his mind. It was impossible to cover everything and he had to act in advance.
...........
In the imperial study, Emperor Li Shi was pacing back and forth eagerly with his hands behind his hands, the excitement on his face difficult to conceal.
"They actually promised that?"
Zhang Yanshang said quickly: "It is indeed true. It was Wang Xian, the Taichang Qing of Zhu Si's puppet dynasty, who said that Zhu Si was willing to trade Guanzhong for Yangzhou. There is also Zhu Si's personal letter, which your Majesty has also read."
Li Shi waved his hand to calm himself down, and then said: "What I mean is, do you think this matter is reliable?"
"This is the first time I have heard of this kind of thing, but it seems reasonable. The armies of Guo and Song surrounded Guanzhong from three sides. Zhu Si felt that Guanzhong could not be defended, so he wanted to use it in exchange for benefits. The wealth of Yangzhou was no less than that of Guanzhong. He
It is entirely possible to change to Yangzhou, Weichen believes that this is Zhu Si's true intention, and besides, he is willing to give us Guanzhong first, and then we will return it to Yangzhou, Weichen does not feel that there is any disadvantage."
"Do the two beloved ministers think this can be done?" Li Shi asked again.
Zhang Yanshang and Yang Zhongfu, the minister of Taichang Temple, looked at each other. Both of them looked confused. This question was too difficult to answer.
After a long while, Zhang Yanshang said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I feel that we still need to be cautious about this matter."
"careful?"
Li Shi glanced at him, "I don't understand what you mean by caution? Reject Zhu Si?"
"That's not what Wei Chen meant."
Zhang Yanshang said vaguely: "I am afraid that if the matter spreads out, all the officials will not agree. Your Majesty, after all, you want to cede Yangzhou."
"This is not a cession!"
Li Shi was very unhappy and said: "This is called replacement!"
Li Shi emphasized the word 'replacement' and continued: "We took back the capital city and gave up Yangzhou, which we could not hold. The two sides have different priorities. Chang'an is not important to them, but it is extremely important to us. They want to
We want Yangzhou, but Yangzhou is useless to us, so why not!",
Zhang Yanshang sighed in his heart and had no choice but to say: "If His Majesty has decided, I will not object to it!"
Li Shi was impatient. He immediately ordered: "Zhang Xiangguo is personally responsible for negotiating with the other party and hammering out every detail. I hope to return to Chang'an for an outing."
"Wei Chen accepts the order!"
Zhang Yanshang resigned and walked out of the hall. He shook his head and said to Yang Zhongfu: "After this is done, you and I will both bear infamy!"
Yang Zhongfu suddenly became a little anxious, "We are just doing things according to orders, how can we be burdened with infamy?"
"It's hard to say! Our emperor has never done anything wrong."
"so what should I do now?"
"What can be done?"
Zhang Yanshang sighed, "Just take it one step at a time!"
In the imperial study room, Li Shi was still very excited. He never expected that Zhu Si would trade Guanzhong and Chang'an for Yangzhou with him. In fact, Li Shi had thought about it before, but he didn't dare to implement it. He thought it was impossible. Zhu Si
How could it be possible to give up Chang'an? But I never expected that Zhu Si would actually offer to exchange, and Chang'an would finally come back.
After the defeat of the Northern Expedition, he was completely desperate. Apart from begging Guo Song, he had no other way to go. However, the monarch's reserve made him unwilling to bow his head. But he did not expect that the good news came today and Zhu Si was willing to give up.
Zhonghe Chang'an.
As for the consequences of giving up Yangzhou, he also knew that at worst, Zhang Yanshang would be responsible. This matter was a dereliction of duty by the Prime Minister. With his own martial arts school, Li Shi could not care about anything else as long as he could get Chang'an.
How can I explain to my ancestors since I have never been able to return to Chang'an?