While they were chatting freely, the guards who were patrolling the road ran back as if they were walking on flat ground and reported something to Li Jixun. Liu Chengyou noticed it and immediately asked: "What happened?"
Li Jixun immediately came over and reported: "Your Majesty, there is something going on at the front! There is an army blocking the road and there are some conflicts. They should be soldiers from Qingliu Pass!"
"Oh?" Liu Chengyou and Wang Pu looked at each other, smiled slightly and said: "I never thought that there are guards in this wild path!"
"Who is the guard general of Qingliu Pass? It can be said that he has done his duty to do this repeatedly!" Wang Pu said.
At Qingliu Pass, at the foot of Beiguan City, An Shouzhong and his men stood respectfully in front of the pass. Not long after, Fengchen Camp Guards appeared, and among the crowd's hearts, they were Liu Chengyou and others.
Seeing the majestic young man in a black robe, with a kurta on his head and a jade belt around his waist, An Shouzhong hurriedly came up to him and said, "General An Shouzhong, welcome your Majesty!"
"No need!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand, glanced at An Shouzhong, and said, "You did a good job guarding Qingliu Pass!"
"Isn't your Majesty in the county seat? Why did you come around to Beiguan? The general is really surprised to hear the news for the first time!" An Shouzhong asked respectfully.
"It's just that when I have free time, I go hiking and cross-country to explore the trails when I'm interested!" Under the guidance of An Shouzhong, Liu Chengyou walked slowly towards the pass and said, "I never thought that I would almost be killed by the officers and soldiers you deployed in the mountain. prisoner!"
Hearing this, An Shouzhong was startled and hurriedly said: "My subordinates charged at the imperial chariot and deserved death. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
"Not only is he not guilty, but he should also be rewarded!" Seeing that he had understood the wrong meaning, Liu Chengyou waved his hands and said with a smile: "It's because of their loyalty to their duties. Now Huainan has fallen, the pseudo-Tang Dynasty has surrendered, and Qingliu Pass is in the rear. You can still defend it. It’s thorough and not taken lightly, which is rare! I’m very happy!”
"Thank you, Your Majesty, I am just doing my job!" An Shouzhong said.
"Let's go! Show me the defenses at Qingliu Pass!" Liu Chengyou said.
"Your Majesty, please!"
...
When the Northern Han Dynasty took over Jiangbei in an orderly manner and calmly withdrew its troops, the turmoil and noise in Jinling, instead of being suppressed, became more and more intense.
Everyone inside and outside the court expressed their indignation and dissatisfaction with the treaty between the Han and Tang Dynasties, and they discussed and criticized it. What is different from the past is that the government does not control and stop people from talking about national affairs.
Han Mansion, Han Xizai is really sick this time, heartbroken. Since the peace was agreed upon, he has stayed in the mansion for more than ten days, without leaving the house, not hearing about the affairs of the mansion, obeying the emperor's orders, and devoted himself to taking care of himself.
In the palace, there was the sound of silk and bamboo, and two concubines, gorgeously dressed, danced gracefully. Han Xizai was lying on his side on the couch, picking up a spoon and scooping up wine and drinking it. His face was drunk, his eyes were blurred, and his fingers were still on his knees. , seems to be accompanied by the rhythm of dance music, looking slutty.
Not long after, a middle-aged official in purple clothes came to the hall under the guidance of a servant in the mansion. Seeing the scene in the hall, the middle-aged face showed a hint of hesitation. He walked up to Han Xizai and coughed lightly: "Mr. Han!"
Han Xizai glanced at him and immediately said with a smile: "It's Dingchen! Come, sit down, you and I will have a drink together!"
The visitor's name was Xu Xian, who was serving as the Censor Zhongcheng. He was one of the few Jiangnan scholars who was friendly with Han Xizai and other officials from the north. He started composing at the age of ten and was known for his talent. He was as famous as Han Xizai and was known as "Han Xu". Together with his younger brother Xu Kai, he was also known as "Jiangdong Er Xu".
Seeing the drunken look on Han Xizai's face, Xu Xian directly expressed his dissatisfaction: "The country is unlucky. Territory is ceded to the vassal, and the defeated army loses power. All the wise men in the government and the public are indignant. They are officials of the Tang Dynasty and have no thought of serving the country." , On the contrary, in the house, the will is depressed, drinking and having fun..."
Saying that, Xu Xian immediately turned around and left. Seeing this, Han Xizai suddenly woke up from drinking. While calling him, he also ordered people to leave the singing and dancing.
Personally guiding him to sit down, Han Xizai smiled bitterly and said: "How can I not know that the country is suffering, and as a minister, wouldn't it hurt my heart? However, what's the use of whining now that the matter has come to this? Besides, I am still at home with the patient, why? Even if you can't leave the palace, you still have to wait for the palace to summon you!"
After listening to Han Xizai's words, Xu Xian couldn't help but sigh heavily. Thinking about the turmoil in state affairs during this period, Han Xizai and other ministers also felt powerless in their speeches.
"What's going on in the current court?" Han Xizai asked.
After hearing this, Xu Xian cheered up and said in a bitter tone: "The north of the Yangtze River has been completely surrendered and ruled across the river. The Jiang defense troops have gradually withdrawn to the south bank. At the moment, the imperial court is busy raising annual tribute and recruiting people. Exchange prisoners with the Han army..." 536 Literature
"We have not yet had time to compensate our dead and wounded generals and soldiers, but we have to raise money and goods to repay the annual tribute, haha..." Han Xizai's tone was inevitably sad.
What is more "sympathetic and reasonable" is that the war will end and the national funds will be empty. The Han Emperor agreed that half of this year's tribute can be paid in advance. Before the Han army in Jiangbei retreated north on a large scale, it was the most important thing for the Southern Tang court at the moment.
Xu Xian said: "After paying such a high price, I just asked for a strike. What I want now is to make no mistakes."
"I heard there's a lot of criticism from outside?" Han Xizai said.
Xu Xian nodded: "Everyone in the government and the public in Jinling, from the ministers to the common people, are ashamed of this. More than half of the officials in the government are uniting to risk their lives to remonstrate and ask your majesty to kill that traitorous traitor Li Deming!"
"Why don't you remonstrate when the peace agreement is still pending?" Han Xizai was quite disdainful: "In the current situation, if you ask to kill a mere Li Deming, isn't it embarrassing for Your Majesty?"
"Hey!" Xu Xian told the truth: "Signing such a treaty to defeat the country has offended the public, and the people's resentment is boiling. There is always a target to vent."
"At this time, stabilizing people's hearts is the most important thing. To calm the people and the army, restore peace to the country, and restore the people to farming! This dispute is just an act to abolish the government and disturb people's hearts!" Han Xizai said, thinking from the head Get up, still awake.
After hearing what he said, Xu Xian immediately said: "What Mr. Han said is that he understands the general situation and takes the overall situation into consideration. He should advise your majesty to issue an edict and eliminate the chaos!"
Han Xizai spread his hands and said, "Han is so in love with His Majesty that he cannot leave the house!"
Seemingly understanding what Han Xizai meant, Xu Xian resigned and left. After he retreated, Han Xizai sat behind the case, pondered for a while, sighed silently, and ordered to continue singing and dancing...
Within the Jinling Palace, there is the Chengxin Hall. During this period, Li Jing has been resting here, ignoring government affairs and seeing almost no one. He was really sick, and he was also mentally ill. Thinking about the loss of his country and humiliation during this period, he was begging for mercy, his chest was depressed, and his heart was sad, which was difficult to express.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Feng has returned from crossing the river and asks for an audience!" the chamberlain informed.
Li Jingqiang cheered up and asked Xuan. Feng Yansi walked in, looking dusty and dusty. Without waiting for him to be greeted, Li Jing asked urgently: "How is the situation in Jiangbei? Has the Northern Han Dynasty withdrew its troops?"
During this period, Feng Yansi basically stayed in Jiangbei, coordinating with some Tang officials on the handover of Jiangbei prefectures, counties and towns. Upon hearing this, Feng Yansi immediately spoke to reassure him: "Your Majesty, more than half of the Han army has withdrawn to the north, and most of the people it conquered have also returned to the north!"
"There's still half the Han army?" Li Jing said.
Feng Yansi said: "When I returned to the south, the Han Emperor had already visited Yangzhou. He heard that he was ready to return the capital. He only waited for the annual tribute from the south of the Yangtze River to be lost to the north..."
"Give it to him, give it to this robber!" Li Jing was a little excited, but also a little scared, and finally sighed.
After the couch slowed down, Li Jing looked at Feng Yansi and said: "Feng Qing, these days, the officials in the court have repeatedly asked me for orders, saying that Li Deming has committed a heinous crime and betrayed the emperor and the country, and asked me to kill him! What do you think of this? thing?"
Hearing this, Feng Yansi frowned slightly and paid attention to Li Jing's expression. It was clearly noticed that although Li Jing's tone was hesitant and his face was solemn, his eyes flickered, clearly showing some resentment.
After thinking about it for a while, Feng Yansi said cautiously: "I have also heard about it when I returned to Jinling. Nowadays, the public sentiments among the government and the public are surging, and the people's anger is overwhelming. Everyone from top to bottom hates Li Deming. Your Majesty, it is better to kill him to calm the public's anger and make the people more angry." The country’s political affairs are back on track!”
After listening to Feng Yansi's suggestion, Li Jing slowly lay down and said nothing for a while, seeming to still be thinking about it. At this time, an internal minister came to report that Li Deming, the king of Yan, had been arrested by Li Hongji.
During this period of time, Li Deming was like a rat on the street in Jinling. Everyone shouted at him to beat him. He didn't dare to go to the official office and didn't dare to welcome guests, so he hid at home.
After hearing this news, Li Jing seemed to wave his hands feebly and ordered: "Pass an edict that Li Deming be beheaded and abandoned in the city, under the supervision of King Yan!"
In fact, after the peace agreement was reached, it would be impossible for Li Jing to not feel regret. Feeling humiliated, thinking about Li Deming's behavior before and after, I couldn't help but feel resentful. I felt that I was bewitched by this person and ended up in such humiliation. I had already had murderous intentions.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Feng Yansi said.
"If I were so wise, why would my country decline to this point?" Li Jing laughed at himself.
