After deciding to sue for peace, Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief, as if a barrier in his heart had been lifted. Seeing Han Xizai and others looking like they were still trying to persuade him, Li Jing announced the dismissal of the court first, turned around and walked down the steps towards the inner hall. And left without giving the other generation a chance to speak.
Li Hongji looked unwilling and followed Li Jing to pay homage. In the inner hall, Li Jing sat at the table and drank a few sips of tea, looking exhausted both physically and mentally.
Li Hongji stepped forward and squatted beside him, grabbing Nai's father's hand, and asked urgently: "Father, do you really want to negotiate peace with the Northern Han Dynasty?"
"If we don't negotiate for peace, what else can we do?" Li Jing sighed sadly: "We can't continue fighting. If we continue to fight with the Northern Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty will perish! As a father, I cannot let the foundation created by the late emperor be defeated in my hands! "
"Huainan is also the foundation of the late emperor, how can we let Han thieves plunder it! Our dynasty still has a hundred thousand troops, crossing the river, enough to resist it!" Li Hongji was a little excited.
Seeing this, Li Jing couldn't help raising her hand, caressing the top of her eldest son's head, and said softly: "Hongji, I know you have great ambitions and strong will. However, the Han army is so powerful that you cannot defeat it. You have to take the overall situation into consideration. Jiangbei has become corrupt and difficult to control, but Jiangdong and Jiangxi cannot have any more problems.
Sending envoys to seek peace was a desperate move and was a continuation of the Tang Dynasty. However, the outcome would depend on the Han Emperor's attitude. Before the envoy returned south, the Tang Dynasty had to be prepared.
The generals and ministers of the outer court are ultimately of no use. I have King Jingda of Qi as my commander-in-chief, commanding the Dangtu camp and the land and water armies along the river to consolidate the river defense. You are my deputy, and you should control your temper, assist your imperial uncle, and ensure the safety of Jiang's defense.
Once the Han Emperor refuses to make peace, the rolling Yangtze River will be our greatest support! "
"Yes!" Facing Li Jing's gaze, Li Hongji nodded in agreement no matter how unwilling he was.
As for the foreign ministers of the Southern Tang Dynasty, after leaving the palace, Feng Yansi followed Song Qiqiu, rode in the same car with him, and asked: "Song Gong, what do you think of the peace negotiation?"
"What kind of peace? It's just a peace!" Song Qiqiu closed his eyes slightly, his body swayed slightly as the vehicle moved, and said directly: "But it's just a way to quench thirst by drinking poison!"
Feng Yansi was a little embarrassed. After all, he also supported the peace talks. He turned his head away with a guilty conscience and looked at the streets, which were full of desolation and depression. He sighed: "In order to deal with the invasion of the Northern Han Dynasty, the imperial court has exhausted all its military, financial and civilian resources." , If we continue the fight, we might cause civil unrest!"
"You didn't listen to me that day, and you regret it now!" Song Qiqiu said: "Your Majesty has a mediocre temperament, is hesitant and difficult to make decisions when encountering problems, uses people with doubts, and changes orders overnight. How can he be undefeated? He has just filled the dynasty. Among the Gonggun princes, Han Xizai was unswervingly determined and had some insight.
Is it true that Datang cannot be beaten? After more than ten years of accumulation, once there is no more energy left? From what I see, what King Yan said is right. You are just afraid of being beaten by the Han army!
Negotiating peace, humph, how could the Han Emperor withdraw his army without ceding all the fourteen states in Jiangbei? Huainan is completely lost, and only half of the south of the Yangtze River remains. How can we defend it? "
Hearing Song Qiqiu's words, Feng Yansi's face changed for a moment, but he did not dare to refute this veteran minister. After thinking for a while, he sighed: "It seems that Duke Song does not agree with the peace negotiation. Why don't you advise your majesty?"
"Is there any room for me to speak in this court? Even if I make suggestions, will Your Majesty listen?" Song Qiqiu's breath became more urgent, and he took two deep breaths before calming down, and said bitterly: "I will follow the late Emperor. I created a foundation that shocked the southern country. I never imagined that I would actually experience such results when I grow old. The sun is setting on the west mountain, the sun is setting on the west mountain..."
Song Qiqiu's sigh was vaguely lamenting the passing of the country's fate in the Southern Tang Dynasty. The decline of national power is almost irreversible, like falling into an abyss...
When the country was in crisis, the party disputes in the Southern Tang Dynasty eased unconsciously. There were divergent opinions between the two parties and within the two parties, and there were countless people who disagreed. This can be seen by looking at Feng Yansi and Song Qiqiu, Sun Sheng and Han Xizai. If Guo Zuo of the Southern Tang Dynasty had continued for a few more years, it would probably have transformed into a war faction and a surrender faction.
In Yanziji, Sun Sheng was worshiped as Sikong, and he went to Shouchun as envoy with his credentials to present Han Emperor Liu Chengyou to discuss peace. Han Xizai came to deliver it in person, and the two argued again. As a result, they did not agree with each other or conspire with each other.
After Sun Sheng took the mission and went north by boat, urgent news came from the north again. After three months of siege, Shouchun was finally defeated by the Han army. This frightened Tang Ting again. No matter how stupid he was, he could see that in a short time, the Han army would conquer the south, and there would be no more obstacles.
As for Sizhou, it was difficult to support it alone, and no one believed that Guo Tingwei could hold it. And with the current empty situation in Huainan, it will be difficult to stop the Han army. Therefore, Li Jing, the leader of the Tang Dynasty, became more determined to negotiate peace.
...
Yangzhou, Jiangdu City.
Since Yang Wu, this famous city in Huainan has not experienced a war for about thirty years. Even in the past few months during the Han army's southern expedition, the two sides fought in the states and towns along the Huaihe River.
However, since the beginning of spring, the army of the Southern Tang Dynasty has been marching northward. In just over half a month, the situation took a turn for the worse, and the Han army came like a wind and a lingering cloud. At this time, at the top of the city of Jiangdu, the Tang flags had been folded, and the Han flags had been re-erected.
Zhao Kuangyin and Chen Sirang joined forces and led an army of 4,500 people. They quickly headed south by boat, heading towards Gaoyou. In the early morning of the next day, they launched a surprise attack on the Tang army. The newly defeated Tang army was unprepared and took advantage of it.
The Han army was fierce and the Tang army, which had lost morale and morale, was completely unable to stop it. Yao Feng abandoned the army and fled. He was captured by his subordinates and surrendered to the Han army. And this time, the Tang army's navy failed to escape and was intercepted in the water stronghold. After an attack and killing, they were all captured by Zhao Kuangyin.
Now that the war has reached this point, the Tang army in Huainan has basically lost its ambition. Facing the Han army, the resistance is getting weaker and weaker. The defeat was overwhelming, so the Han army's victory became easier and easier, and the results became greater and greater. After the Battle of Gaoyou, the biggest trouble for Zhao Kuangyin was that there were too many prisoners...
After Gaoyou defeated Yao Feng's army, Zhao Kuangyin and Chen Sirang took a short rest and led only 2,500 soldiers, heading south along the canal, under the banner of the Tang army, to attack Yangzhou.
When they arrived at Yangzhou, they entered the city without any resistance. With almost no effort, the city was full of soldiers and civilians, and they all took advantage of it.
On the bank of the canal, at the head of Jiangdu City, Zhao Kuangyin stood looking south, his eyes red and his expression tired, but his mood was completely relaxed and he wished he could roar loudly and laugh wildly.
"Jing Lue Envoy!" Dang Jin ran up to the city head and stood beside him: "What are you looking at?"
After hearing the question, Zhao Kuangyin raised his hand to point in the direction and said: "The canal flows into the Yangtze River, crossing the Yangtze River, which is the land east of the Yangtze River. It's a pity that our army's frontline, so far, cannot compete with the full force, and destroy the Tang Dynasty in one fell swoop." What a pity!”
Dang Jin didn't think so much. He just listened to the military orders. At this time, with a smile on his face, he said: "The city has been completely controlled. The city is really empty, but these guards are too useless. They actually left without fighting at all." Surrender. I made some inquiries and found that most of Yangzhou's defenses have not fought in more than ten years. They are really useless!"
"I didn't expect to capture the whole city!" Zhao Kuangyin also laughed and said: "However, as the war has progressed to this point, do you feel that our war is getting smoother and easier? You know this What does it mean?"
"What does it mean?" Dang Jin asked.
"The puppet Tang army has been defeated and the people's morale has been dispersed. Facing our army's invasion, they are no longer able to resist. Our Han army can officially annex Huainan!" Zhao Kuangyin said.
Dang Jin nodded, but his head was a little confused and he didn't fully understand what Zhao Kuangyin said.
Mentioning this, Zhao Kuangyin thought of something and immediately ordered: "Yangzhou is the most prosperous state in Huainan. It is rich in products and has countless goods. It is inevitable that some of the officers and soldiers below will be motivated by wealth. Send the order and order the officers of the battalions to strictly restrain them. Soldiers must not harass the people or plunder money or goods. All government offices and treasury must be strictly guarded and no mistakes can be allowed.
Now that Yangzhou is here, every plant, tree, brick and tile here belongs to the country. It should be reported and left to the disposal of your majesty and the court. No one can touch it lightly! "
The fact that Zhao Kuangyin could say these words shows that his ideological consciousness is still very high, or that he has lofty aspirations. Even if he is as wealthy as Yangzhou, it is difficult to move his heart.
When Dang Jin heard this, he couldn't help but muttered: "Brothers have fought hard and fought several bloody battles before we entered this big city. It's understandable to let off steam and get some money!"
