The intelligence that Yang Anxuan led his army to the north was quickly placed on Diao Chang's desk, and he calculated in detail the number of people who went out and stayed in Xinye. Diao Chang concluded that Yang Anxuan had indeed led his army to attack Nanyang.
Diao Chang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little proud in his heart. Everyone said that Yang Anxuan was a rare famous general after Xie Xuan. Wasn't there nothing he could do about it?
Urgent letters asking for help have been sent to Jiangling and Nanjun Gong. Nanjun Gong has a smooth journey and has arrived in Xunyang. It seems that it will not take long for him to take over Jiankang.
Diao Chang gently stroked his beard and waited for Nanjun Gong to take charge of the court. As a close minister of Nanjun Gong, he was at least the governor of a state. Maybe he could be granted a title.
The clerk came in and reported, "Investor Diao, the heads of several aristocratic families in the city are asking for an audience."
Diao Chang narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Please."
The Xiangyang family is headed by the four families of Liu, Xi, Zhang and Xiang. The Liu family is the descendant of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty; the Xi family is the descendant of the former Xingyang prefect Xi Chizhi; the Zhang family is the descendant of Zhang Ti, the prime minister of the Eastern Wu Dynasty; and the Xiang family is the descendant of the Three Kingdoms. Descendants of Shuhan Xianglang.
In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, large and small clans and the royal family jointly controlled the country's political and economic lifeline. The further away from the capital, the greater the power of the clan.
Diao Chang was sent by Huan Xuan to garrison in Xiangyang. With the many soldiers and horses at his disposal, he secretly sought benefits from these aristocratic families, but he also needed the help of the aristocratic families if he wanted to gain a foothold in Xiangyang.
Yang Anxuan led his army to march westward, and Diao Chang ordered the city to be closed and guarded strictly. He recruited many troops from aristocratic families to help defend the city, and half of the military supplies came from aristocratic families.
Diao Chang did not dare to neglect, came to the front of the hall to greet him, met with several family heads and then welcomed him into the hall.
After a few words of greeting, Liu Na, the head of the Liu family, said: "Prince Diao, I heard that Yang Anxuan has led his army to the north, and Xiangyang is safe for the time being. Can you please order the governor to temporarily open the city gates to allow the flow of people and materials?"
Xiangchou said: "Xiangyang City has been closed for nearly half a month. There is a shortage of firewood in the city, goods cannot be circulated, and prices have skyrocketed. I hope the governor will take notice."
"Yes, there are several batches of goods in Yujia that are about to miss the delivery date, and the penalty is not a small amount." Zhang Bo said worriedly.
Diao Chang stroked his beard and smiled dryly: "Everyone, please understand during this emergency. Your losses will be reported to the Duke of Nanjun, and compensation will be paid at that time."
Liu Na and others looked at each other, knowing in their hearts that Diao Chang's words were just perfunctory. Even if there was some compensation, most of it would probably fall into the pocket of Diao Chang.
This Governor Diao refused to open the city gate without seeing any benefit. Liu Na took out a gift list from his sleeve and said with a smile: "Chief Diao has worked hard for the country and protected the people. I have prepared a small gift on behalf of the people of Xiangyang. I hope Governor Diao will accept it." "
Diao Chang took the gift list and glanced at it. He estimated that the value of the property listed above was more than a hundred gold, and he was quite satisfied.
Putting the gift list on the table, Diao Chang smiled and said, "Thank you so much for your kindness, Diao is shameless enough to accept it."
After picking up the tea and taking a sip, Diao Chang said as if he was considering it: "Some people mentioned the shortage of firewood and lack of supplies in the city, and it was Diao who didn't think carefully. In this way, starting from tomorrow, Si, noon, and Wei Open the south gate at three hours."
After taking a look at Liu Ne and others who were looking happy, Diao Chang said in a deep voice: "But as for the ugly words, in order to prevent women from sneaking into the city, people entering and leaving the city need to be strictly checked. There is no certificate issued by the government. No entry or exit allowed."
Liu Na and others stood up and saluted, saying, "Thank you very much, Governor Diao."
The difficulty that ordinary people have in applying for a certificate of income and exit is just a formality for them.
March 6th was the third day that Xiangyang City opened its south gate. At the end of the morning, miles-long caravans lined up outside the south gate, waiting for the city gate to open.
Yang Anxuan and Kuai En led four hundred elites across the river from the upper reaches of Fancheng, crossed Baizhang Mountain, and reached the south of Xiangyang City. Knowing that Diao Chang had fallen into the trap and opened the south gate, Yang Anxuan found a caravan manager and asked him to take the two people into the city in exchange for ten gold.
The manager knew that Yang Anxuan was most likely a spy, but the fight between Chaoting, Huanxuan and Yang Anxuan had nothing to do with him. It was not common for him to bring two people into the city with ten taels of gold.
Two people with similar faces to Yang Anxuan were selected from the guards, exchanged clothes and clothes, and slightly modified their faces according to the records in the biography, but no flaws could be found.
Yang Anxuan ordered Kuai En and his men to hide in Baizhang Mountain to wait for news. He and Wang Quanyi followed the caravan into Xiangyang City. The inspection at the city gate was not strict, and Yang Anxuan entered the city easily.
Yang Shangbao and Yang Anshen also lived in the Pang family. The Pang family and the Cen family were in-laws. Cen Minghu hid in Xiangyang with Yang Anshen.
The Xiangyang family is not optimistic about Yang Anxuan, but they will not offend Yang Anxuan. For them, no matter who wins or loses, as long as it does not affect the interests of the family.
The Pang family is the descendant of Pang Tong of the Shu Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms. After the change of dynasties, the Pang family gradually disappeared from the public. Now it is only a fifth-rank family and is inconspicuous in Xiangyang City. Being small has its advantages, being hidden in the Pang family is not noticeable.
When Yang Anxuan saw Yang Shangbao and Yang Anyuan, Yang Anyuan asked in shock: "Third brother, why are you here? As a general, how can you venture into dangerous places? Alas."
Feeling his second brother's care for him, Yang Anxuan smiled and said: "No problem, Yu Ming led an army to attack Nanyang Wancheng on the surface. Secretly, he and Kuai En brought 400 elites to Xiangyang. Yu and Wang Quanyi went into the city first to find out the truth."
Yang Shangbao sighed and said: "An Xuan, my uncle misjudged the situation. The Liu, Xi and other families were worried and refused to help."
After asking about the situation in detail, Yang Anxuan thought briefly and asked, "Can the head of the Pang family be trusted?"
Cen Minghu was on the side and said: "The name of the head of the Pang family is Pang Qing. His second son is married to Yu's second sister. Thanks to the help of the Pang family this time, we were able to successfully avoid Diao Chang's two major investigations in the city. You should be able to trust it.”
Yang Anxuan said: "When you come to visit, you should pay homage to the master. Fan Minghu sends a message to Yu Tong and tells him that Hongnong Yang Anxuan is here to pay his respects."
Pang Qing, who was nearly fifty years old, was sitting idle in his study. Naturally, he couldn't hide the fact that Yang Anxuan and Yang Shangbao came to see him. Pang Qing knew in his heart that it was a trick sent by Yang Anxuan.
The footsteps stopped outside the house, and the second son Pang Xie said loudly: "Father, Minghu needs to see you for something."
Pang Qingyi frowned, knowing that Cen Minghu would not go to the Three Treasures Palace for any reason. If he tried to persuade him to be a spy, he would not agree to anything, and he could not make fun of the lives of hundreds of people in the Pang family.
"Please," Pang Qing put down his book and stood up.
Cen Minghu entered the house and saluted Pang Qing. Pang Qing said with a smile: "My nephew is used to living at home. If you have any inconvenience, please speak up. Don't let Mr. Cen blame Yu for neglecting you."
"I don't dare." Cen Minghu made a few cold remarks and directly explained his intention, saying: "Pang Gong, Yang Anxuan, the governor of Yingchuan and Xingyang, is now in your house. He wants to see you."
Pang Qing was startled, spilled the tea in his hand, and asked in a shocked voice, "Who are you talking about? Yang Anxuan? Didn't he lead an army to attack Nanyang?"
Cen Minghu said: "There are other people attacking Nanyang. Governor Yang secretly led his troops to hide outside the city, looking for opportunities to break the city."
Pang Qing put down the tea cup, thoughts running through his mind. Diao Changneng ordered the south gate to be opened. He must have carefully scouted Yang Anxuan's whereabouts. Judging from the news received, the war in Wancheng was fierce. Even if Yang Anxuan secretly sneaked into Xiangyang, the accompanying soldiers would There are not many horses, otherwise Yang Anxuan would have taken advantage of the city gate to open and rush into the city.
Yang Anxuan wanted to see him, and his intentions were obvious, but he avoided seeing him, which seemed impossible.
With no choice but to do so, Pang Qing could only force a smile and said: "We have a distinguished guest, please come quickly."
After a while, Cen Minghu led Yang Anxuan over, and Pang Qing stood in the corridor to greet him. Yang Anxuan hurried to the front of the corridor, bowed and saluted, and said, "I have taken the liberty to come here to frighten Mr. Pang. I hope you will forgive me."
"It's really a splendid place for a distinguished guest to come to this humble house. Please come inside." Pang Qing was afraid of being heard by outsiders, so he asked Yang Anxuan to speak inside the house and signaled with his eyes that his son Pang Xie would stay outside.
Time was running out, and after a few words of greetings, Yang Anxuan took out the imperial edict ordering him to attack Huan Xuan from his arms. Pang Qing read it and remained silent.
Yang Anxuan knew that empty talk about righteousness could not impress Pang Qing, so he said: "Pang Gong, Huanxuan went against the grain and led his army to attack the court. No matter whether he succeeded or failed, he could not escape the word "rebellion". "
"You follow the emperor's decree to capture Xiangyang. If Pang Gong can help you, then you will report Pang Gong's merits to the court. At least one of the marquises in Guannei will be rewarded." Yang Anxuan said.
Pang Qing frowned and picked up the tea cup without making a sound.
Yang Anxuan knew that Guan Neihou's false reputation was of little use, so he continued to add:
"There is your son outside the door. He is a talented person who can be used sincerely. Such talented people should serve the country. If Pang Gong is willing to let your son leave his side, there is still a vacancy for the county magistrate in Yu County, and he can take up his post."
Pang Qing's face was filled with joy, he put down his tea cup and said, "Thank you very much, Governor Yang, for your kindness. There are still a few people in my clan who can be brought up, and I hope that Governor Yang will help me."
This was a bargain, Yang Anxuan said with a smile: "If we can take Xiangyang, the whole Yongzhou will be in the hands of fools, and there are many official positions in the state, I will definitely satisfy Duke Pang."
Pang Qing nodded and said, "It is Pang's duty to seek rebellion for the country, but please give orders from Governor Yang."
The next day, the Pang family went to the government office to collect the talisman for entering the city. At that time, they escorted two carts of goods into the city.
When they were crossing the city, they were stuffed with goods. When the soldiers guarding the city saw that there were only twenty people and two carts of goods, they didn't bother to open the boxes and check them, and just let them go.
On March 8, an aristocratic family in the city received an invitation from the Pang family, saying that they had imported a batch of colored porcelain from Jiangling and held a banquet for everyone to come and appreciate it.
Since the advent of colored porcelain last year, it has immediately stirred up the world. Families have inquired about its provenance. There are different opinions. Some say it is a treasure from the Western Regions, or it may have flowed from Rouran in the north of Wei. According to legend, merchants have seen it in Qin, Wei, Yan and other countries. , it is also said that the colored porcelain was made by local craftsmen, but there is no consensus as to its origin.
It was Yang Anxuan's decision to hide the origin of the colored porcelain. After the colored porcelain was exchanged for hundreds of taels of gold in Dragon City, Yang Anxuan felt that if anyone knew that this business was his own, he would soon be swallowed up by the aristocratic family. Before there is no strength to protect, it is better to be cautious.
So Yang Anxuan told the Pei and Qi families to transport the produced colored porcelain to Luoyang for secret distribution. The caravan mainly focused on overseas business. Even if it was sold domestically, it would be from the Western Regions or Rouran and other countries. The several families involved in this matter all knew the seriousness, and the secret of colored porcelain was protected.
Colored porcelain costs 20 gold each, but is still priced at a high price. When they learned that the Pang family had received a batch of colored porcelain, aristocratic families came to visit them on time. Many people planned to buy a few pieces as family heirlooms.
The news soon spread to Diao Chang's ears. He had seen a set of six colored porcelain bowls at a banquet hosted by Huan Xuan. He heard from Huan Xuan that he bought this set of bowls from a Wei businessman for 60 gold. have to.
Diao Chang was stunned at that time and really wanted to take the set of colored porcelain from Huan Xuan as his own. Fortunately, he still had some sense. Afterwards, Diao Chang thought of the set of lotus petal-shaped colored porcelain bowls from time to time and asked someone to do so. I spent a lot of money to buy it, but it has never been possible.
The Pang family actually purchased colored porcelain, and Diao Chang couldn't restrain his greed. He wanted to get ahead of the Pang family's banquet and take the best colored porcelain for himself.
As for the price, the Pang family is just a low-class family. If you give them some money casually, how dare Pang Qing ask for it from him.
