In the second year of Jianxing, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Dijon invaded Beijing on the Lantern Festival.
The Liang court sent envoys many times to sue for peace, and even though they had negotiated land cession and compensation, they still could not stop Dijon from invading south.
Why get something at the negotiation table when you can get it on the battlefield? On the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, Dijon crossed the Yellow River and marched to Tokyo.
At the same time, the Dijon army invaded Taiyuan and pushed towards Luoyang. The Dijon Navy on the lower road was stubbornly resisted by Jingdong Navy and remained in a stalemate at the Bohai Bay.
The north fell, the capital was besieged, and all the troops in the south were mobilized. Among them, Liao Heng, as the prince, had the greatest momentum and the most credibility. Many refugees who fled from the north to the south of the Yangtze River took the initiative to join Prince Rui's camp. In less than half a month, , one hundred thousand soldiers and horses have been raised.
Song Che, in the name of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, summoned wealthy merchants and landowners from all over the country to raise donations. The gold mine on Shedao began to take effect. All the gold and silver money was turned into military pay and equipment, and a steady stream of equipment was used to equip King Qin's army.
In February, King Qin's army from all over the country was blocked by Dijon from the Yangtze River and could not advance even half a point. In early March, the isolated and helpless capital city was finally unable to resist. The Dijon army broke through the city, and the Liang Dynasty ended in name only.
Liao Heng immediately summoned all Qinwang coaches as a prince and held a Qinwang Conference in Yangzhou. The meaning of this is self-evident.
In March in Yangzhou, it was raining heavily and the smoke was hazy. On the eve of the conference. It’s still the same inn, still the same private room.
"This is the dragon robe that I asked Wenjun and the others to embroider for you, and the crown made by the craftsmen of Baiyu Tower. You can try it on. Does it fit you?" Song Che handed the dragon robe crown to Liao Heng.
Liao Heng stroked the five-clawed golden dragon on the dragon robe. Although he couldn't put it down, he was not in a hurry to take over. He just sighed: "I blocked the fate of the country just to get it. What do you think the ancestors of the Zhao family will think of me after I die?" Me?" Song Che said: "If you really believe this, you will never be the emperor." Liao Heng still did not take over, turned his back and looked out the window: "Brother Song, tell me, will they agree to the meeting tomorrow? "
"This is exactly what I want to tell you." Song Che slowly pointed out three fingers, waved them in front of Liao Heng's eyes, and said: "Three things - first, at the meeting tomorrow, I will propose that you be the emperor. , you must first politely refuse, or even leave the meeting angrily, this is a temporary measure, in order to be justified; secondly, among the marshals of King Qin, Han Dong from Shouchun Mansion is the most powerful. If you want to claim the throne, You must win over him. Han Dong's youngest daughter, Han Ling, the sister of Princess Han, is nineteen years old. When she is in the boudoir, you must marry her as your concubine and promise to make her his queen; thirdly, this King Qin Conference means that Everyone knows what is going on. If anyone refuses to come to the meeting, he or she must have a different attitude. You should secretly note it down and eradicate it in the future." Silent for a long time, Liao Heng sighed and held Song Che's hand. With trembling hands, he asked: "Brother Song, will you stand by my side when the time comes?" Song Che took a deep breath, looked at the drizzling dark night, and said sonorously and forcefully: "Repay your favor on the golden stage, support the jade dragon and die for you." !"... On the seventh day of March, the mountains and rivers were broken, and the wind and rain drifted away.
Inside Yangzhou Prefecture. More than 50 people, including all the capitals and military generals in the south, gathered together to support the broken country and save the collapsed building.
"With the current situation, we will build fortifications on the south banks of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River to prevent Dijon from invading south again!"
"The emperor has been captured! Why are we defending! Dijon is burning, killing, and looting in the north! We should gather all the troops, take the initiative in the northern expedition, and take back the capital and the emperor!"
"General Liu, our southern army already lacks horses. How can we use infantry to advance north?"
"Yes, we crossed the river many times and were defeated many times, and it was difficult to gain even half a point!"
"Then what should we do! Should we just give up the north? Today is the capital, and tomorrow will be Chang'an! If we feed those Tatars, sooner or later we in the south will also... Sigh!" Everyone expressed their opinions and chattered endlessly.
Without a leader, who will decide?
"I wonder what Commander Bai has to say?" Liao Heng, who was sitting in the high hall, turned his head and asked Song Che. Maybe other generals don't know the name of Commander Bai, but in the hearts of all the people in the south of the Yangtze River, Commander Bai is a god descended from heaven.
All eyes in the hall were focused on the man wearing a white mask. Song Che took a step forward and said loudly: "Bai believes that whether it is an attack or a beast is only secondary. The most important thing at the moment is to establish a new king. As the saying goes, 'A family cannot be without a master for a day, and a country cannot be without a king for a day.' If With no leader and everyone expressing their own opinions, how can we decide on world affairs? How can we appease the people of the world?" He turned around, bowed deeply to Liao Heng, and said: "Prince Rui is the son of the late emperor. He was ordered by heaven. Since he has a long life, he should be ordered to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor in times of danger. , lead the army and people of the world again, expel the Tatar slaves, and restore the old capital!" As soon as this statement came out, there was a lot of discussion.
Some nodded, and some questioned, but in the end, they all turned their attention to an old man in his sixties, Mr. Han, the strategic envoy of Shouchun Mansion.
Director Han had an expressionless face and remained calm.
"No!" Liao Heng flatly refused: "The capital has just been captured, and the emperor's life or death is uncertain. If I ascend the throne and proclaim myself emperor at this time, wouldn't it be against the ancestral precepts? This must not be done!" Song Che tried his best to persuade: "Your Majesty, it's very important. Times call for extraordinary measures. Now Dijon is rampant, the world is leaderless, and the people are in panic. Daliang is in a period of life and death. We are gathered here to choose a wise king and feel proud!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we need you to take charge of the overall situation!"
"My lord, you are the Zhao royal family and the son of the late emperor. Who else is worthy of being called emperor besides you?"
"That's enough!" Liao Heng stood up and shouted angrily: "I have called you here to discuss the future of Daliang, but I have never thought about ascending the throne and proclaiming myself emperor. I will never say this again!" After saying that, he waved his sleeves. , left the table angrily.
"This, this, this...what should I do?"
"Yes, if Prince Rui doesn't proclaim himself emperor, Daliang will really be doomed!"
"Alas..." The whole room sighed, and finally parted unhappy. ...Rainy night. Official post. Song Che came to the inn alone.
"Please tell Mr. Han, Mr. Bai, that Mr. Bai wants to see you."
"Oh, it's Commander Bai. Lord Han said, if it's you, just go in directly. His guest room is on the first floor. Here, it's the one with the light on." The postman guided.
Song Che thanked him and came to the guest room. Just as he was about to call the door, he heard a voice coming from inside: "Please come in." Song Che pushed the door open and entered.
Director Han was sitting at the desk, reading a book on war. Two cups of tea were prepared and were still steaming. He knew Song Che would come.
Will come with chips. Song Che didn't show off anymore. He took out a gold post and a scroll from his sleeves, placed them gently on the desk, and said, "I heard that Mr. Han's youngest daughter has not yet been married, and there happened to be no concubine in Queen Rui's harem, so he sent I have come to propose marriage to your lord, and promise that after I ascend the throne and become emperor, I will appoint Concubine Han as the queen. Your lord, Han, is a veteran of the three dynasties and has high moral and prestige. This edict of accession should be sworn by your lord. Your lord, it is urgent to reorganize the country. I hope that I will put the overall situation first and dare to be the first in the world." Han Dong put down the military strategy, sighed deeply, looked at Song Che and said: "If my second son-in-law has a king and assistant like Mr. to help him, why worry about the world not being able to do it?" Song Che said Said: "King Anyang was in the right place at the right time and in the right place, but he was unpopular with the people. He was destined to become a tyrant, but not an emperor."
"It doesn't matter." Han Dong took the gold sticker and the imperial edict and said with a smile: "If the eldest son-in-law fails, if the younger son-in-law does, I will still be the head of the country."
"Mr. Bai, please leave." Song Che bowed politely and exited the guest room. At this point, the world is settled.
