Shen Jian was appointed the leader. Although many of his troops were once private soldiers of his Shen family, there were only a few who were truly loyal to him. Most of them chose to lay down their weapons and surrender to the Sui army.
On the one hand, Lai Hu'er collected the defeated soldiers and cleaned up the captured warships. On the other hand, he sent Zheng Chenggong to lead 15,000 elite troops to quickly go north to Jinling and capture Yanziji, the bridgehead in front of Jinling City in one go.
. . . . . . . . . .
The news that Shen Jian's entire army was annihilated soon spread to Jinling City. This news was undoubtedly an eight-magnitude earthquake to the dignitaries in Jinling City. The nobles in Jinling City fell into panic for a moment. Serious differences have emerged within the Jiangnan gentry interest community, which is not monolithic, and is on the verge of splitting.
"Everyone, I have long said that the Sui army is powerful. If you come to protect your children and use your troops like gods, we are definitely no match."
In the main hall, Yuan Fazhu's neck turned red and he shouted angrily: "But you just don't believe it. It's fine now. Tens of thousands of soldiers from Jiangdong are gone like this!"
Yuan Fa was really angry this time. In the battle of the Yangtze River, his Yuan family's private army also lost five to six thousand people. The life and death of his two clan nephews Yuan Fu and Yuan Jia who were placed in the army were also unknown.
Xie Zong glanced at Yuan Fa with dissatisfaction, but this time he did not publicly accuse anything. It is true that Shen Jian's defeat was too tragic. All the major families suffered more or less losses, and the worst one may even have lost his son. They died in battle, and now more than half of the families have publicly stated that they will never use their troops to fight the Sui army again.
"Actually, as long as our interests can be preserved, doesn't it matter whoever becomes the emperor?" Xie Xiong carefully put forward his suggestion.
Zhang Kun frowned and said, "But the problem now is that I'm afraid the city of Jinling has already been lost before our envoy can see Emperor Sui!"
Lu Qiu said in a deep voice: "There is no thousand-year empire, only a thousand-year family. Yang Gao will not understand this truth. He should not push us too hard. There should be room for it, but you should restrain yourself in the future."
"According to Mr. Lu's opinion, does it mean that our only option now is to surrender to the Sui army?" Xie Zong asked suspiciously.
Lu Qiu smiled bitterly, "Master Xie, do you think you can defeat Lai Huer with just 40,000 soldiers and horses in Jinling City?"
"Report, urgent report!"
At this moment, Wang Ji, the commander of the South Camp outside Jinling City, rushed into the hall in a panic and said anxiously: "My lords, something bad has happened. Sui General Zheng Chenggong has led his army to capture the Yanziji Camp outside the city. Guard general Xie Tan died in battle!"
After hearing the news, the expressions of everyone in the palace became more solemn. Lu Qiu sighed helplessly, "Surrender! By surrendering now, we can at least contribute to the dedication of the city. When the Sui army breaks the city, we will be prisoners!"
"What Mr. Lu said is true!" Yuan Fa agreed, "Comrades, without further ado, we should enter the palace as soon as possible and ask that puppet to issue an edict to surrender to the Sui army!"
"Okay, let's do it!"
"Master Yuan, we listen to you!"
. . . . . . . . . .
Under Yuan Fa's instigation, all the Jiangnan nobles stood up and followed Yuan Fa into the palace. Only Zhang Kun, Xie Xiong and other close associates of Xie Zong silently chose to stay because of Xie Zong's eyes. Within the main hall.
Looking at the retreating figures of the nobles, Xie Zong smashed the table with hatred and cursed: "Damn old thief Yuan Pharaoh, one day I will make him look good!"
Zhang Kun sighed and said: "When the Sui Dynasty destroyed Chen, the head of the Yuan family, Yuan Xian, was the one who resisted the Sui army most fiercely. Later, when Nanchen was destroyed, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, secretly supported Yuan Fa against Yuan Xian. Last time we When they conspired to restore the Chen Dynasty, he resisted and resisted, and finally agreed as a last resort. Today, the Sui army is powerful, so it is not surprising that he encourages surrender!"
Xie Xiong said excitedly: "This old dog is a loyal dog of the Yang family. It is really hateful. When our Xie family supported Chen Shen, we did a lot. Even if we surrender to the Sui army, we will definitely be suppressed. I am afraid that we, the number one in Jiangnan, will be suppressed." The name of the aristocratic family must be given up to others!”
Zhang Kun waved his hand helplessly, "But now the Sui army is powerful. You have also seen what happened just now. Almost all the nobles have chosen to support Yuan Fa. Even Lu Qiu, who has always been on our side, has switched sides. He is powerless. Come back to God!"
"There is no way!"
Xie Zong suddenly said: "Brother Zhang, you and I have known each other for many years, and I am not satisfied with you. In fact, as early as last year, I had secretly accepted the surrender of Tang Emperor Li Yuan. My current official position is the deposed envoy of Jiangnan Province in the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Tang sent an eagle letter the month before last, promising that as long as we can keep Jiangnan this time, we can make me a prime minister in the future and retain all our original interests."
"It's true!"
Zhang Kun was overjoyed when he heard this, but his expression turned gloomy immediately, "The Emperor of Tang is far away in Guanzhong, thousands of miles away from the south of the Yangtze River. Even if he has the heart, he doesn't have the strength!"
Xie Zong sneered, "Who said the Tang Emperor was powerless? Prince Li Jiancheng has led 30,000 elite troops out of Shangyong to attack Jingxiang. As long as the prince succeeds, it will be difficult for Yang Gao not to withdraw his troops!"
Zhang Kun asked again: "What should I do if I come to protect my son? Zheng Chenggong in front of him has already occupied Yanziji, and it is only a day's journey from Jinling."
Hearing Zhang Kun's question, Xie Zong's face suddenly showed a terrifying murderous intent, "Isn't that thief Yuan Fa going to surrender? Okay, then let him surrender. When Hu'er comes to the city, we will Shouldn't these hosts hold a banquet to welcome him? When the time comes, I will poison the wine he drinks and kill him to protect his son. I will take the opportunity to falsely pass on his military orders and recruit all his cronies into the city to hack him. die!"
