Han Shizu

Chapter 505
"What!" Li Zhenggu's face changed when he heard the words, and he lost his voice in astonishment. He confirmed to Li Jing in disbelief: "What did your majesty say!"

"Besides, there is no other way for the Han master to stop fighting and retreat north!" Li Jing's face was tense, his knuckles turned white, and his face was full of humiliation.

"Your Majesty can't do it!" Li Zhenggu immediately bowed down and said anxiously: "Huainan is half of the country, like a person's feet. If one of them is lost, how can the Tang Dynasty stand in the world? If the Jiangbei is lost, how can Jiangnan defend it!"

"If you don't dedicate Jiangbei, the Han army will not give up. I'm afraid it will be difficult to preserve Jiangnan!" Li Deming retorted, standing beside him.

Hearing this, Li Zhenggu turned his head immediately, and angrily reprimanded: "It must be you, a traitor, who slandered His Majesty. What kind of benefits did the Emperor Han promise to you, and he dared to raise such a traitorous proposal."

Li Deming couldn't stand being scolded by Li Zhenggu pointing his nose like this, in Tang Ting, he was always excluded by Song Qiqiu and Li Zhenggu's party, and he responded angrily: "How dare you insult me! I just wished the emperor of Han, Chen and His Majesty, what are you talking about betraying the country!
Only you, ignorant of the general situation, disregarding the overall situation, overestimate your own strength, and talk about military affairs. If it weren't for you, why would Datang lose so many times and come to such a precarious situation!Could it be that you are only satisfied if you really want to bring about the subjugation of the Tang Dynasty? "

"Traitor! Traitor! Traitor! Treacherous!" Li Zhenggu got up straight away, rolled up his sleeves, looking like he was about to do something, and scolded him four times: "How dare you do dirty things in the hall, in front of the emperor, Flaming words!"

"You jester, you will never stop slandering me like this!" Li Deming shot back.

"Shut up, everyone!" Li Jing was annoyed by the quarrel between the two of them, and couldn't help being angry, and called the two of them to stop.

The quarrel in the hall came to an abrupt end, and it suddenly quieted down. A needle could be heard, and he sat slumped behind the imperial case. Li Jing looked at Zhong Mo and Li Deming: "Both of you, go to Jiangbei to discuss peace with Emperor Han. , Tell the Emperor Han that I promise to cede Huainan, and ask the Han army to temporarily cease fighting! As for the proposal of paying tribute, another form will be made!"

"I obey!" Li Deming said immediately.

"Think twice, Your Majesty!" Li Zhenggu persuaded again.

"Think again, think twice, can you retreat the Han army? Can you get back the cities and land occupied by the Northern Han?" Li Jing asked back, and Li Zhenggu was dumbfounded by the question.Li Jing felt in his heart that he really didn't want to hear the news of defeat anymore. Since the beginning of spring, he had already been annoyed by the Huainan war and had a nervous breakdown.

After exiting the hall, Li Zhenggu hurried away from Li Deming, caught up with Zhong Mo, and asked: "Zhong Shilang, you two went north to meet Emperor Han, what happened? You are the envoy, why did you let Li Deming, Playing evil and adultery?"

Facing Li Zhenggu's staring eyes, Zhong Mo just shook his head slightly and sighed: "The matter has come to this point, it's useless to talk too much. Does Mr. Li think that the Han army can retreat easily?"

"That can't completely cut off Huainan!" Li Zheng said sternly.

Just now in the hall, Zhong Mo didn't say much, let Li Deming play, let the two Li quarrel, intending to play down his weight and role in this peace negotiation as much as possible.At this time, facing Li Zhenggu, he didn't intend to say much, but just pretended to be sad and powerless, and left the palace slowly.

Li Zhenggu was never willing to rest, so he immediately left the palace to look for Song Qiqiu.The news that the Tang Lord wanted to cut off Huainan for peace spread like a gust of wind among the Southern Tang Dynasty and the opposition, causing an uproar immediately.

Previously, only the cutting of the six states on the Huai River had caused criticism, but this time.Especially after Zhong and Li set off again, the courtiers inside and outside the Southern Tang Dynasty were enthusiastic and courageous, and collectively wrote a letter, asking Li Jing to put an end to the idea of ​​defeating the country.

Of course, it's not that these courtiers are really loyal to the Southern Tang Dynasty and have excessive hatred for the Han army.It's just that the Huaiyang area has too many interests, especially the salt interest. How can they, who have vested interests, see it being annexed by the Northern Han Dynasty.

However, no matter how loud the clamor was, Li Jing replied with only one sentence, that is, if he could withdraw from the Han army, he would stop.Among the courtiers, only Han Xizai and a small number of insightful people wanted to express their passion and even sadness.

Han Xizai sent a letter to Li Jing, hoping that he could persist for a while. It was the farming season, and the Northern Han army had been working hard for a long time, so they must not be stationed in Huainan for a long time.The longer it is delayed, there will be changes. I implore Li Jing to suspend the peace talks and wait for changes.

It's a pity that although Han Xizai was insightful, he couldn't bear Li Jing's desire to truce, and he also felt tired of hearing the same and similar words too much.Therefore, Han Xizai's suggestion was not considered at all.What's more, fearing that Han Xizai's behavior would be excessive, he directly sent an imperial doctor to his mansion to "cure" him and let him live in the mansion.

As for Song Qiqiu, he was only in the mansion, and he sighed in disappointment: the first emperor had a long way to go, and the clothes and food he had to eat. The foundation he created was ruined here.

Luzhou, Hefei.

Regardless of the turbulent public opinion in the Southern Tang Dynasty, when he learned that the second envoy had returned, Emperor Liu Chengyou of the Han Dynasty had a much better attitude this time.Li Deming was flattered by this gesture.

"What good news did Mr. Li bring to me this time?" Liu Chengyou pretended not to know, and changed his address to honorifics.

"Report to Your Majesty, after my minister's persuasion, my lord has agreed to cede land, become a minister, and pay tribute!" Li Deming reported to Liu Chengyou as if he was selling well, and presented Li Jing's book.

After receiving the reading, a smile bloomed on Liu Chengyou's face. Looking at Li Deming, Liu Chengyou said: "Mr. Li has lived up to my expectations! I have made great contributions to the big man, and I will never forget it!"

Li Deming hurriedly said: "I only hope that the two countries can stop fighting and restore peace soon! My lord, please ask your Majesty, can we temporarily truce to show peace?"

"It's all right!" Liu Chengyou immediately ordered Zhang Yisu, who joined the army in front of him: "You can draw up an edict and send it to the troops in Huainan, suspend the attack, rest on the spot, and wait for the result of the peace negotiation!"

"Yes!"

For Liu Chengyou, rest is probably the main purpose.After all, after taking down Shouchun, during the nearly ten days of marching southward, the Han armies from all walks of life made rapid progress, but the upper and lower soldiers were also exhausted.On the other hand, there is a limit to everything. Under such circumstances, you can change your strategy, and give Li Jing hope.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding!" Li Deming said.

"As for the details of this peace negotiation, I will discuss it with you two, Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Transport Envoy Wang Pu!" Liu Chengyou said, winking at Wang Pu.

Seeing this, Wang Pu responded immediately: "I am under orders!"

Wang Pu's work efficiency is still very high. Later, he came to return to his command, took a booklet with him, stood respectfully in front of the emperor, and read: "Jingchen discussed with him, and the preliminary agreement is as follows: one , Southern Tang cut Jiangbei Shou, Hao, Si, Chu, Guang, Hai, Chu, He, Yang, Tai, Lu, Shu, Huang, Qi [-] states and Dahan;

Second, Li Jing removed the title of emperor to proclaim himself a minister, and changed his name to "Tang Guozhu" to stop all the arrogance of the emperor's luanyi costumes, and use Qianyu to record the year;
Third, between the Han and Tang Dynasties, with the Yangtze River as the boundary, they did not invade each other. Every year, they paid tribute to Tokyo, including 150,000 catties of gold, 500,000 coins of silver, [-] guan of money, [-] catties of tea, and [-] shi of rice.

Please review all these, Your Majesty. "

"Is this all proposed by us?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"The first point is a consensus between both parties. If Li Jing becomes a minister, the second point is a must. There can only be one emperor in the world, and that is me, the emperor of the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains. In the rest of the separatist areas, those who pretend to be emperors should be one by one. Cut off. The list of tributes was drawn up by the puppet Tang Dynasty, and the ministers have increased the amount!" Wang Pu replied steadily.

Nodding his head, expressing approval of his errand, Liu Chengyou gave instructions: "Let's do this first, make the content of the agreement into a letter of credence, and let Li Deming bring it back to Jinling!"

"Just let Li Deming go alone? Then Zhong Mo is the envoy!" Wang Pu was a little surprised.

Liu Chengyou said lightly: "I know, but Guan Zhong and Li are two people. Zhong Mo is very suspicious, and he is not sure. If he is released again, he is afraid that there will be troubles. In the current Jinling court, there is already a lot of enthusiasm for this peace discussion. , bringing this book back, I'm afraid it will be even more uproarious. Let Li Deming run for me!"

"Your Majesty is considerate!" Wang Pu nodded.

"As for Zhong Mo, wouldn't it be beautiful to let him go and be a companion with Sun Sheng for a while, playing chess and chatting, singing the wind and enjoying the moon?" Liu Chengyou ordered Li Fang, and he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with forcibly detaining the envoy. .No way, who taught him to have big fists.

After making the arrangement, Liu Chengyou turned his attention to Wang Pu. Looking at his attitude, he was obviously much older than last year. His hair was a little grayer, and his brows could hardly hide his fatigue.

Liu Chengyou couldn't help but took a deep breath, and unexpectedly said emotionally: "Wang Qing, you have worked hard!"

Although the words are short, they are obviously a little more sincere.

In the process of the Northern Han Dynasty and the Southern Expedition, Tokyo was regarded as the base camp, Su and Yingzhi were the transfer stations, and Wang Pu was the person in charge of the intermediate link, doing complicated and burdensome work.

He is responsible for the supply of food and ordnance to hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Huainan. He is responsible for the coordination and dispatch of nearly [-] civilians.

As a result, the emperor's commander was in the south, and there was no need to worry about food and equipment. Tokyo should take five points of the credit, and Wang Pu alone would take five points.As far as Liu Chengyou heard, Wang Pu was often exposed to frost and cold, and he dealt with official duties day and night.

"You are loyal to your duties, and you should also take care of your health, and don't overwork yourself!" Liu Chengyou persuaded, "You are only 46 years old, but you are already half-haired, I can't bear it!"

"Your Majesty cares, and I am very grateful!" Wang Pu bowed respectfully, and responded peacefully: "Your Majesty obeys the order of the heavens, and wants to achieve unification and peace. I am the next pawn of the imperial court, and I can do my best to save my life When the merits are used in the country, the heart is satisfied, so there is no need to talk about suffering!"

"Wang Qing is really a national scholar!" Hearing what he said, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Zhang Dejun!" Liu Chengyou called out suddenly.

"The little one is here!" Zhang Dejun, who was immersed in the friendship between the monarch and his ministers, was shocked and hurriedly responded.

Liu Chengyou ordered: "Look for the imperial doctor, take Wang Qing's pulse, and take a look at your body. Also, find some good medicines and supplements for the imperial use, and give them to Wang Qing!"

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Pu couldn't help feeling sorry for this.

(End of this chapter)