"Is there any new progress in the two capitals of the Central Plains?" After chatting for a while about the deceased, Liu Chengyou came back to his senses and asked.
"According to the latest news, His Majesty has sent troops from Luoyang to march eastward. Tokyo is within easy reach. Generals and officials from various vassal towns in Henan are vying to submit to him. When the emperor enters Tokyo, the Central Plains will be settled." Wei Renpu reported.
Liu Chengyou was not surprised at all about Liu Zhiyuan's progress in the south. If under such circumstances, Liu Zhiyuan was still as gentle and calm as before, the spotlight would really be focused on Liu Chengyou. This is not a good thing.
What Liu Chengyou was interested in was Xiao Han. He rubbed his fingers on the edge of his chin: "Where is Xiao Han?"
Wei Renpu answered eloquently: "The Khitan uncle Xiao Han led the Hu troops from the Central Plains to withdraw north. Calculating the time and distance, they have crossed the river north. Your Highness, during this period, most of the Hu troops in the Hebei states have evacuated. Xiao Han's group should be the largest remaining Hu clan in the country!"
"Then, we can't let them evacuate easily. They are the Khitan uncles anyway, so we have to give them a ride!" Liu Chengyou said calmly.
Since the sudden death of Yelu Deguang and the news of the Battle of Luancheng spread, even though there are still many barbarians in various places, their already shaky rule over Hebei has quickly collapsed.
The generals from various states successively attacked and killed the Khitan generals returning to the city. In the case of Liu Chengyou, they received many submissions. Liu Chengyou had already raised the banner of "Hebei made envoys". The prestige of the Battle of Luancheng alone was enough to intimidate everyone, at least for a short period of time, no one dared to challenge it.
As for those barbarians, they either died or fled. Liu Chengyou had the intention to keep them all, but he was entangled with many things and had insufficient power. He also had to worry about Yelu Ruan in the north and the states in Xuanfu, so he had more than enough ambition but not enough power. However, the Jin generals and officials in various states drove away the Hu people and defended the city. After all, only a few actually fought to the death with the Hu people. If you kill all the soldiers in your hand, what can you do to get an official position from here again and seek glory and wealth?
"Your Highness, Xue Huairang, the governor of Mingzhou, sent troops north and captured Xingzhou. He sent a report to drive out the barbarians and asked for credit!" A civil servant came in and reported to Liu Chengyou.
Liu Chengyou paused for a moment, took the official document he received, and browsed it quickly. Although his mood became gloomy, there was no obvious fluctuation on his face. He handed the official document to Wei Renpu: "This Ambassador Xue is worthy of being the leader of the Anti-Liao Dynasty." Hero, this* took the initiative to go north to help the soldiers and people of Xingzhou!"
Xue Huairang was originally the training envoy of the Mingzhou regiment. After Yelu Deguang destroyed the Jin Dynasty and the Battle of Hutuo River, he surrendered. When Liu Zhiyuan proclaimed himself emperor, he raised troops and called on all the Jin ministers to fight against the Liao Dynasty, but he did not move his troops. Until the death of Yelu Deguang and the defeat of the Liao army, news came one after another that Liu Zhiyuan's troops had entered Heluo. Unable to bear it, he decisively raised troops in Mingzhou, killed the Khitan generals, and sent people to express his sincerity to Liu Chengyou.
As for Xue Huairang, through the descriptions of two "Bai Xiaosheng", Feng Dao and Wei Renpu, Liu Chengyou had some understanding of this person. The impression was not good. He was a warrior through and through, and he was also a warrior who liked to conquer and exploit the common people.
However, even though he was unhappy in his heart, Liu Chengyou accepted him happily at that time and sent an envoy to appoint him as the governor of Mingzhou and the commander of the infantry.
Xingzhou is very close to Mingzhou. Liu Duo, a Yan general, was stationed with a small number of soldiers and horses. He was originally responsible for supervising the transportation of grain for the Liao army. The Khitan power in China was over and they had surrendered to Liu Chengyou. However, Xue Huairang suddenly sent troops, occupied the city and killed people.
Noticing the vague anger in Liu Chengyou's tone, Wei Renpu didn't feel anything strange. He had seen this kind of thing many times. He gently put down the official document and said calmly: "Your Highness, now that Xingzhou is in his hands, we can move forward with the situation for the time being. At the moment, stability is the most important thing."
Stability is paramount to everything. Liu Chengyou naturally knows this truth. It's just that I feel a little bit unhappy.
However, he soon corrected his mentality. This was just a small warlord, not even a separatist force, and it was not worthy of a major war.
"Then, let's use him as the observation envoy for Xing and Ming!" Liu Chengyou said, and added calmly: "Gu, remember this person."
"What's going on in Yedu?" Liu Chengyou asked with a more serious expression, ignoring the matter of Xing and Ming.
Although Hebei is a large country with a vast territory and many prefectures and counties, it has only three important towns. Lulong in Youzhou still fell into the hands of the Khitans, and Chengde Town gradually surrendered after Liu Chengyou settled in Zhending. The only one left was Wei Bo. What is certain is that as long as Wei Bo surrenders, Hebei will be determined.
Previously, rebels from the Central Plains swarmed up and attacked the Khitan army, causing instability in all areas. Yelu Deguang belatedly sent various Jiedu to return to the local area. The original duo of Du Chongwei and Li Shouzhen who surrendered were respectively the Jiedushi of the Tianxiong Army and the Jiedushi of the Tianping Army.
When he returned to Yedu, Du Chongwei had more than 20,000 troops. He cooperated with Yelu Boli to defend the place and quickly quelled the commotion, which was not a big one at that time. When the Khitans retreated to the north, they were completely under their control. They had nearly 30,000 troops, and more than 2,000 Yan troops, led by Yan general Zhang Lian, were stationed in Yedu.
Yan Bing was really used as a tool by the Lord of Liao, and he could be seen everywhere.
At present, apart from the scattered Hu people, Du Chongwei's force is the most powerful and the most worthy of attention. It is an obstacle to the new dynasty's Hebei strategy. When various states offered their submissions one after another, only Yedu remained silent. And Liu Chengyou was also paying attention.
Without thinking, Wei Renpu replied: "It is heard that Du Chongwei has gathered troops in Yedu, gathered food and grass, and recruited strong people to repair the city. All these things may cause any changes!"
"Does Du Chongwei still have the morale of the Jin army?" Liu Chengyou expressed doubts, with some disdain.
Wei Renpu said: "A general may despise him, but he has food in his hands and has accumulated power for many years. Without external pressure for the time being, he can still support him!"
"Looking at his movements, he is gathering troops and repairing the city. Is Du Chongwei trying to go against nature?" Liu Chengyou said.
"That's not entirely true." Wei Renpu shook his head slightly: "There may be some stubbornness, but more importantly, it may be an act of self-protection."
"Weibo is an important town that separates the north from the south. It is too close to Tokyo and must be under control! The emperor will never allow Yedu to fall into the hands of Du Chongwei for a long time!" Liu Chengyou said seriously, with a firm tone.
Wei Renpu also nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Wei, does he have a plan to defeat Wei Bo?"
"It would be best if we can persuade him to surrender without losing any blood, and then look for an opportunity to mobilize and entrust his trusted generals." After thinking about it, Wei Renpu replied.
"Can Du Chongwei surrender?" Liu Chengyou had some doubts.
After thinking about it for a while, Wei Renpu said: "He led his people to surrender to the Khitan. He has failed the country. He is afraid of suspicion and cannot surrender easily."
"It seems that we still have to fight!"
"Hebei has not been pacified yet, and with the power His Highness has now, it may be difficult for him to make the trip. Besides, this is not the right time to launch an attack. The Khitans in the north still have to guard against it!" Wei Renpu still responded calmly.
Liu Chengyou thought for a moment and realized that he couldn't move easily. Again, stability trumps everything.
Around this time, the Liu family's situation was already irreversible, and they were slowly making plans after the Central Plains was pacified.
