At night, outside Luoyang City, there is a camp in Mangshan.
Although Meng Gong had secretly controlled most of Luoyang's territory, Luoyang was still Wang Shichong's territory on the surface. In order to prevent Wang Shichong from jumping over the wall in a hurry, he joined forces with the Tang army to deal with the Sui army. Meng Gong still led his army to garrison at Mang Mountain outside the city, trying to calm down Wang Shichong and his son.
In the Chinese army's tent, Meng Gong, who was known as the master of defense for repeatedly defeating Mongolian offensives on his own during the Southern Song Dynasty, was wearing general armor and quietly looking at Wang Xiaojie standing in front of him.
"General, as a member of the Wang family, why did you inform me? Don't you know that doing so will bring disaster to the entire Wang family?"
Wang Xiaojie took a deep breath, looked serious, and said loudly: "Although Xiaojie is a member of the Wang family, Xiaojie will never forget that he is a soldier of the Sui Dynasty. Moreover, Xiaojie does not think that the strategy offered by Changsun Anshi is If you can really win over General Meng, it will be even more impossible to recruit more than 10,000 elite men under the general."
When Meng Gong heard this, he immediately laughed and said: "General Wang is indeed a smart man. But there is one thing you may not have thought of. Changsun Anshi's offering of Changsun Wuji to Wang Xuanying was just a bitter trick to deceive Wang Xuanying. Changsun Anshi had already done it before. He secretly surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, and he deliberately provoked Wang Xuanying to kill me, just to create civil strife in Luoyang City and coordinate Li Shimin's offensive."
"What?"
Wang Xiaojie's eyes widened when he heard this, and he lost his voice and said: "This Changsun Wuji is crazy! Even if he really provokes civil strife in Luoyang by doing this, is he still alive after being imprisoned?"
"Perhaps this is what is called a scholar dying for his confidant!"
At this moment, a civil servant in a purple robe suddenly appeared outside the handsome tent. He was about forty years old. He was not very tall, but had an extraordinary bearing. There was a sense of awe-inspiring righteousness between his brows.
Wang Xiaojie subconsciously took a few steps back and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
The civil servant smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Zeng Guopan, a member of the military and military affairs department, has met General Wang!"
This civil servant was none other than Zeng Guopan, who had entered the army at random. His implanted identity was Wailang, a member of the Ministry of War of the Sui Dynasty. Yang Gao wanted to promote him, so he sent him to serve as a soldier in Xue Rengui's army. Later, he followed Meng Gong to Luoyang.
After Zeng Guopan saluted Wang Xiaojie, he walked slowly into the tent and said in a deep voice: "I have to say that Changsun Wuji is indeed quite capable. In order to provoke civil strife in Luoyang, he did not hesitate to risk his own life. Such courage It really makes us ashamed. It’s a pity that as early as the first day he entered Luoyang, he was already targeted by our Jin Yiwei of the Sui Dynasty. Baihu Shiqian personally went out to monitor him day and night. This morning he and his eldest grandson An Shi's plot was clearly heard by Shi Qian who was hiding under the carriage."
Wang Xiaojie was shocked when he heard this, turned around and left: "I will go back to the city to inform the prince and ask him to execute the eldest grandson brother immediately!"
Zeng Guopan shook his head helplessly and called to Wang Xiaojie: "General Wang, how do you plan to tell Wang Xuanying the truth when you go back? Tell him that you told General Meng Gong all about their conspiracy?"
"this..."
Wang Xiaojie was stunned when he heard this, and then he remembered that he had betrayed Wang Shichong and Wang Xuanying. He didn't know what to say and stood there blankly.
Zeng Guopan continued to speak: "To put it another way, even if General Wang concealed the informant, Wang Xuanying also executed Changsun Wuji and Changsun Anshi, but so what? Can they keep their peace in the future? Their Their ambitions destined them to be incompatible with the Sui Dynasty!"
Wang Xiaojie was silent for a long time, then suddenly spoke again: "Xiaojie would like to ask you all, can you only kill the culprit and not implicate those innocent Wang clan members?"
Zeng Guopan smiled slightly: "General Wang can rest assured about this. Your Majesty is kind and told me not to hurt innocent people when I was ordered to come to the Central Plains. As long as General Wang's people keep their peace and do not violate the laws of the Sui Dynasty, , then there will definitely be no fear of life. However, those who have done the most heinous crimes, such as Wang Renze, Wang Wan, and Wang Shiyun, are not included in this list."
Wang Xiaojie nodded slightly, which he had expected. In order to take charge of Luoyang, Wang Shichong purged countless dissidents. These people were Wang Shichong's pioneers in purging dissidents. Their hands were already stained with the blood of loyal ministers of the Sui Dynasty. If Yang Gao had forgiven them, how could he show favor to the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty? Account.
Rebellion was a serious crime that would kill the Nine Clan, so it was a blessing to be able to save the family. How could Wang Xiaojie dare to ask for anything extravagantly? He knelt down on one knee facing the south, kowtowed heavily several times, and said with tears of gratitude: "Your Majesty is truly a benevolent king through the ages. Xiaojie will not be able to repay Your Majesty's great kindness even if he is shattered to pieces! "
It has been some time since Meng Gong led his army to Luoyang. The situation in Luoyang City has been roughly figured out. Wang Xiaojie's ability is one of the best under Wang Shichong, and through the previous contact, Meng Gong is convinced that he is not a treacherous and cunning person.
Seeing him thanking Yang Gao so sincerely, Meng Gong immediately stood up and left his seat, walked to Wang Xiaojie to help him up, and said with a smile: "General Xiaojie is really a loyal and righteous man. Meng Gong admires him for leaving his small family for everyone!" With the help of General Xiaojie, I am confident that I will be able to make Li Shimin's son return home in defeat, and return the capital to Luoyang under His Majesty's command!"
Wang Xiaojie stood up, wiped the moist corners of his eyes, and said with his hands, "General Meng, although the military power of the Huainan Army has been handed over to Wang Shiyun by Wang Xuanying, Wang Shiyun has not taken office for less than a day, and it is absolutely impossible for me to be in the army." The forces are completely cleansed."
Zeng Guopan on the side was overjoyed when he heard this: "How dare I ask General Wang, how many people in the Huainan Army are under your command now?"
Wang Xiaojie lowered his head and thought for a while, then raised his head and said: "I have been in charge of the Huainan Army for the past two years under the orders of my uncle, and I still have a lot of influence in the army. Although I cannot order the entire army to correct the chaos, I can still mobilize five or six hundred people to support the army. No problem."
Zeng Guopan's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard this, and he soon fell into deep thought.
Although before he left Jiangdu, Yang Gao told him that there was no need to worry about any rumors, and that when the time was right, he would turn against Wang Shichong and seize Luoyang. But even though he said that, Zeng Guopan was a cautious person, and he would not take such a step that would damage the emperor's reputation unless it was absolutely necessary. What if some stubborn old-fashioned people insist on talking about this matter in the future, and the court uses itself as a scapegoat?
But now that Wang Xiaojie surrendered, he suddenly had an idea. If Meng Gong pretended to fall into the trap and lured Wang Xuanying to take action first, then they would not be crossing the river to burn the bridge but to suppress the rebellion. Moreover, with the support of Wang Xiaojie's confidants, Meng Gong who fell into the trap would not be in danger of his life. However, Meng Gong is the commander-in-chief of the three armies after all, and ensuring his safety is also extremely important, so Zeng Guopan still wants to consider and improve the details.
