The horse was stationed outside Chang'an City. Yang Anxuan raised his head and looked at Chang'an City. From the outside, Chang'an was even more majestic than Luoyang. The city was four feet high and fully renovated. There was not a single weed on the wall that was more than five miles long. If they want to conquer Chang'an City by force, I don't know how many soldiers will die under the city.
The Jin army's daily routine attacks increased the psychological pressure on the soldiers guarding the city. In fact, Yang Anxuan was waiting for the gunpowder to arrive from the foot of Baizhang Mountain. With a sufficient amount of gunpowder, he could seize Chang'an City with as few casualties as possible.
During this expedition to the Later Qin Dynasty, Zhu Lingshi's army consumed 1,500 kilograms of gunpowder at Yaoguan; most of the gunpowder in Wang Zhen'e's hands was used in the Battle of Hongmen; Lieutenant General Liu Zhong's navy was used in the two battles of Dingcheng and Jingshang. The gunpowder was exhausted.
Yang Anxuan came to Yaoguan to bring all the last thousand kilograms of the Arms Department's inventory. Now, including the three hundred kilograms of gunpowder left in Wang Zhen'e's hands, it was less than fifteen hundred kilograms. It would be a drop in the bucket if used in Chang'an City.
I have already written to the Ordnance Department to speed up production, but the saltpeter is limited and it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, and Yang Anxuan is helpless.
Qian Qianqianya opened the north gate of Chang'an City yesterday, allowing the old, weak, women and children in the city to go out to eat. Huang Fu sent people to send intelligence. Yang Anxuan knew that Chang'an City was in chaos and there was not enough food. After a while, Chang'an City might be able to survive. The attack collapsed.
The intelligence sent by Huang Fu stated that there were rumors in the city that Yao Xing was dead, and that the crown prince Yao Hong kept his mourning secret in an attempt to calm people's hearts.
Regardless of whether the news is true or false, the existence of such rumors shows that Yao Hong's control over the court is weak. Yang Anxuan instructed Huang Fu to let the rumors fly for a while.
In the consultation hall, the main hall was empty, and the courtiers were standing outside the main hall. Only five people, Yao Hong, Yao Yu, Yao Shao, Liang Xi, and Ren Qian, were discussing secretly.
"Chang'an is in a desperate situation. I can't sit still and wait for death, so I decided to ask Daxia for help." Yao Hong said with difficulty, his eyes bloodshot.
As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Xi said: "Absolutely not. He Lian is so ambitious that if you call him here, you may drive the wolf out and get the tiger behind. You absolutely must not." Yao Hong gritted his teeth and said, "I'm about to drive the tiger away and devour the wolf. Let's The powerful Daxia army is fighting with the Jin army, so we have a chance to break the siege."
"Helian Bobo is a vicious wolf, how are you going to persuade him?" Ren Qian asked. Yao Hong glanced at Yao Shao. He had discussed it with Yao Shao in advance.
Yao Shao knew that he was the only one to sign the treasonous treaty. Anyway, he was old and would not live long after vomiting blood, so he simply took the blame for the prince and protected his descendants in the future.
"I propose to cede Yongzhou and Liangzhou to Helianbobo, recognize Daxia Kingdom, give 50,000 taels of gold, and then give 200,000 shi of grain and 1,000 pieces of cloth every year." Yao Shao said while coughing.
Liang Xi screamed and said: "Dong Pinggong, if this condition is known to the people of the country, I am afraid that we will be stabbed in the back, and we will have no place to stand." Yao Hong said bitterly: "It is better than being captured by the Jin army and becoming a prisoner. Okay." The expression on Liang Xi's face froze, the corners of his mouth slowly curved down, and he said with tears: "The ministers are incompetent, so the emperor is humiliated, and he deserves to die." Yao Yu said: "The matter is irreversible, and we can only take one step. One step forward. Helian Bobo is attacking Anding City. You can ask Qi Gong as the imperial envoy to negotiate with Helian Bobo." On April 12, Yao Hui received a secret letter and an edict from Yao Hong, ordering him to negotiate peace with Helian Bobo. , leading the Daxia army to rush to aid Chang'an City.
Seeing that the terms of the peace talks were to cede Yongzhou and Liangzhou to the Great Xia Kingdom, and also give 50,000 taels of gold, 200,000 shi of corn per year, and 1,000 bolts of cloth. These conditions were like cutting the flesh and blood of the Great Qin Empire, Yao Hui angrily rebuked: "Losing power is an insult to the country. It is a great shame and a great disgrace. I will never go for peace talks." However, Yao Hui also learned from Yao Hong's private message that Chang'an was in danger. If no reinforcements arrived, it might not be able to survive for more than a month.
After thinking about it again and again, Yao Hui ordered people to invite Lu Chao, the prefect of Anding, and asked him to go to the Daxia military camp to negotiate peace. Lu Chao was the nephew of Lu Guang, the founding emperor of Houliang, and the younger brother of Houliang's lord, Lu Long. Houliang was attacked repeatedly by Southern Liang and Northern Liang, so Lu Chao persuaded Lu Long to surrender to Houqin.
So Lu Long sent Lu Chao to ask for surrender to Later Qin. After the fall of Houliang, Lu Long was granted the title of Duke of Anding, with Sanqi serving as a regular attendant. Lu Chao was appointed as the prefect of Anding by Yao Xing.
After learning that Yao Hui had ordered him to go to the Daxia camp for peace talks, Lu Chao took the order, took ten beauties and several carts of grain and grass, and drove twenty cattle and sheep out of the city to see the king of Daxia, Helian Bobo.
Helian Bobo took advantage of Jin's attack on Later Qin and led 30,000 light cavalry to the west to ambush Yao Hui who was planning to rescue Chang'an. Yao Hui retreated to Anding City.
Helian Bobo divided his troops into three groups, took turns going out to plunder, and sent the looted people and baggage to the north bank of Wuding River.
When he learned that an envoy was sent from Anding City, Helian Bobo smiled at the ministers around him and said: "The Jin State has attacked Chang'an City, and the Qin State is on the verge of death. I guess they sent someone to sue for peace. Come, summon the Qin envoy to the tent for an audience." Lu Chao walked through Daxia's long formation with his two personal followers, thinking to himself that it was ridiculous that such a small formation was trying to scare him.
His elder brother Lu Long wrote from Chang'an and told him that he wanted to take advantage of the Jin army's siege in Chang'an to seek restoration of the country, just like begging for the return of Qin.
After Lu Long returned to the Later Qin Dynasty, he attached himself to Chenliu Gong Yao Min. Yao Bi, Yao Min and Prince Yao Hong competed for the throne. The court of the Later Qin Dynasty was in chaos, and Lu Long also had the desire to restore the country.
Yao Hong was about to ask for peace from Daxia, but Lu Long felt that the opportunity had come and wrote to Lu Chao asking him to secretly ask Helian Bobo for help.
Yao Hui asked Lu Chao to ask Helian Bobo for peace, which was exactly what Lu Chao wanted. He walked into the tent with his head held high and saw a handsome man sitting in the middle, with many generals standing on both sides. Lu Chao cupped his hands and said: "Foreign minister Lu Chao has seen your majesty. ." Helian Bobo laughed and said: "You are Lu Chao, the Duke of Liang'an Ding. How does it feel to be the prefect of Qin'an Ding now?" Lu Chao responded loudly: "There is a time when the fortress is passed, and the enemy is attacked by the enemy, Sun Quan succumbs to Wei. Qiao Zhou persuaded the Lord to surrender. Isn't that a manly man? It's because of the surrender of power." Helianbobo nodded and said, "That's quite true. What's your purpose in coming?" Lu Chao said, "My Lord doesn't want the two countries to fight. , the people are suffering, so I sent my servants to sue for peace." Helianbobo looked around and said with a smile: "The Qin State was forced to the point of subjugation by the Jin people, and it is still ridiculous to say that the people are suffering, which makes people laugh. Forget it, you can tell me. What conditions did Lord Qin give me to withdraw my troops?" Lu Chao said: "If Your Majesty is willing to withdraw his troops, my Lord is willing to give you one hundred thousand shi of corn and five hundred pieces of cloth every year." Helian Bobo looked Lu Chao in the eyes and said coldly: " Chang'an is besieged by the Jin army, and the city's defeat is imminent. If Governor Lu wants to play some trick, I am willing to discuss it slowly with you, because I'm afraid your emperor won't be able to wait." Lu Chao's face hardened and he said "Your Majesty has clearly seen this, so the foreign minister told the truth. He will cut off Yongzhou and Liangzhou, offer 50,000 taels of gold, and give him 200,000 shi of corn per year, and 1,000 bolts of cloth." There was a sound of inhalation in the tent. This condition is indeed generous, Helian A hint of greed flashed through Bo Bo's eyes, and he smiled and said: "I agree to Emperor Qin's condition. You can inform Yao Hui to give up Anding City." Lu Chao said: "Your Majesty, this is to ask the Xia army to send troops to Chang'an to drive away the Jin army. The price." Helian Bobo's face darkened and he said, "Do you want both Daxia and the Jin army to suffer losses so that you can profit from it? What a sweet dream." Lu Chao said calmly: "Don't talk about gold, corn and other things. "My lord paid a heavy price for ceding the two states of Yong and Liang. If your majesty wants to get the two states without any effort, it would be better to fight to the death. If you take ten thousand steps back and say that the Jin people get Chang'an, what will it do to your majesty?" Helian Bob looked at Lu Chao coldly and was speechless for a long time. Lu Chao looked calm and his smile remained unchanged.
Helian Bobo burst out laughing suddenly and said, "Prefect Lu, please be calm and sit down and talk in detail." Lu Chao breathed a sigh of relief and sat down aside, knowing that most of the peace talks were done.
Helian Bobo said: "If you want me to rescue Chang'an, the Qin State must first show its sincerity and give up Anding City. I will lead my army to fight the Jin army once. Regardless of victory or defeat, the conditions agreed to must be fulfilled." Lu Chao agreed, As long as the Daxia Army is willing to go to Chang'an City, his trip will not be in vain. As for what will happen to the Daxia Army when they arrive in Chang'an, it is not something that he has to consider.
Helian Bobo ordered people to bring food and wine to entertain Lu Chao. Lu Chao, thinking about his brother Lu Long's secret instructions, raised his glass and frequently gestured with his eyes to the left and right. Helian Bobo understood and said: "Left and left, I have a few private words to ask Governor Lu." There were only two people left in the tent. , Lu Chao stood up and knelt in front of Helian Bobo, saying: "Your Majesty, can you take Qin instead?" Helian Bobo smiled and gestured with his hands: "Prefect Lu, get up and speak. There is no one in the tent, so if you have anything to say, just say it. "Lu Chao stood up and said: "Your Majesty, do you know that Emperor Qin Yao Xing is dead." Helian Bobo was startled, and then said happily: "Seriously?"
"The servant's brother learned the truth from Chenliu Gong Yao Min. The king Yao Xing passed away on April 2, and the prince Yao Hong did not mourn in secret." Lu Chao said.
Helian Bobo immediately realized that Lu Chao's words did not show much respect for Yao Xing. He hinted that I had something to hide behind my back.
Thinking of Lu Chao's original identity, Helian Bobo had some clarity in his heart and said with a smile: "Did King Liang have something to tell me, please tell me?" Lu Chao bowed to the ground again and said, "Brother, please ask your servant to tell me something." Report, if your Majesty can attack Chang'an City, he will find a way to open the west gate of Chang'an and welcome your Majesty into Chang'an." Helian Bobo said lukewarmly: "As far as I know, after your brother returned to the Qin Dynasty, he was just an idler. The Duke is just a wealthy and idle man, what ability does he have to open the west gate of Chang'an for me?" Lu Chao said: "Your Majesty does not know something. After my brother returned to the Qin State, he deliberately flattered Chenliu Gong Yao Min, and he regarded him as a confidant. Yao Min colluded with Yao Min. Bi wanted to seize the position of crown prince, but after the death of the king, Yao Hong was afraid that it would affect the military's secrecy and not mourn, which made Yao Bi feel that there was still a chance."
"Yao Bi used Dong Ping Gong Yao Shao and Guang Ping Gong Yao Bi as commanders to guard the city of Chang'an. Yao Shao was weak and the city defense was actually in Yao Bi's hands. Yao Min was entrusted by Yao Bi to defend Zhang City Gate in the west. Yao Min did not If I am willing to guard the city day and night, I will ask my servant's brother to guard the city for him." Helian Bobo looked up to the sky and laughed and said: "God help me. If I can take Chang'an, I will transfer the land of Liangzhou to your brother and wish him a new recovery. country." Lu Chao was overjoyed, prostrated himself on the ground, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
