The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 434 Yun Dingxing's villain

After being awakened by the Sui Dynasty, Wang Shichong didn't know who to trust. He immediately scouted and closely monitored Tang Jun's movements. The conclusion he came to made him break out in a cold sweat. .

Quickly rectify the army and recruit troops, but his territory is small. Among the five counties, only two counties, Henan and Hongnong, obey his orders. The panic finally aroused the panic of the people, and a large number of people fled to Shangluo and Xingyang counties.

A tense atmosphere enveloped the streets and alleys of Luoyang. Although the news was strictly blocked by the government, the news spread to every corner of Luoyang, which made the people of Luoyang panic. The price vane represented by the price of rice began to rise rapidly. fad.

The most representative thing is that the price of rice has soared from 120 renminbi per doumi to [-] renminbi per doumi, and only Kaihuang five baht or Yanhuang Tongbao from the Sui Dynasty were charged, while Daye five baht or copper coins minted by Wang Shichong were rejected by merchants.

This morning, a shocking news spread throughout Luoyang. Wuchuan City in Feiyang was breached by Li Daozong, all county officials surrendered, and Li Daozong attacked Luyang Pass day and night.Once Luyang Pass is lost, Xiangcheng County will also fall completely, and Li Tang's army will directly threaten the southern part of Henan County.This news brought even greater panic to the people of Luoyang, rice prices skyrocketed again, and various prices began to get out of control.

Luoyang Ziwei Palace, Yun Dingxing walked quickly through the square of Wensi Temple, and walked towards the imperial study room. Yun Dingxing had been very successful in Wang Shichong's court for the past two years. He betrayed Yang Tan and made an abdication After the ceremony, he won the infinite trust of Wang Shichong, which made him flourish. In just two years, he was promoted to the post of Taiwei, and his status was only under Wang's clan.

Yun Dingxing's character is mean, but he has great talent, and he manages everything in order. Prince Wang Xuan trusted him very much, and discussed important government affairs with him.

But Yun Dingxing also understands that Wang Shichong is not a long-term king, he has to find another way out for himself, he knows that Yang Tong will not spare him, so he never thought of surrendering to the Sui Dynasty, so he secretly handed in the surrender to Li Yuan He received a letter of honor from Li Yuan himself, in which he praised him for his act of abandoning the dark and turning to the bright.

This made Yun Dingxing full of confidence in the future as if he had taken a reassurance, but he was not so dedicated to Zheng Guo.

"Captain Yun!"

As soon as Yun Dingxing walked up the steps, he heard someone calling him. When he turned his head, he saw the crown prince Wang Xuanying rushing over. He hurriedly stopped and waited. Today, Wang Shichong urgently summoned important ministers to discuss military and state affairs. Yun Dingxing thought he was late No, I didn't expect the prince to be behind me.

Yun Dingxing likes the crown prince Wang Xuanying very much. He is modest, low-key, approachable, and gentle. He is not as arrogant and fierce as his old man Wang Shichong. This kind of person is usually the favorite emperor of these "civilian" officials, but unfortunately he is Wang Shichong's son.

"Why did the prince come only now? I thought I was late." Yun Dingxing stepped forward to greet him
"Father sent a notice to postpone it for half an hour. Doesn't Taiwei Yun know?"

Yun Dingxing shook his head in astonishment and said, "I don't know!"

"It's probably because the person who reported the letter didn't find the Taiwei!" Wang Xuanying said in a low voice, "I have something I want to communicate with the Taiwei. Is it convenient?"

"It's okay!"

Yun Dingxing and Wang Xuanying came to a corner, and Wang Xuanying said worriedly: "I just got the news that the price of rice in Luoyang has skyrocketed to [-] yuan per dou of rice. ?”

A few days ago, when the price of rice rose to [-] ren per bucket of rice, Wang Xuanying immediately activated the Changping Warehouse to stabilize the price of rice. There was no effect, the price of rice was still rising, and today it even rose to an astonishing height of [-] liters of rice. Wang Xuanying didn't know how to deal with it. If Emperor Father asked about this matter today, he must have a countermeasure, so He could only ask Yun Dingxing for advice.

Yun Dingxing shook his head and said: "When the Wagang Army approached Luoyang, the price of rice in Luoyang soared to the point where there was no market for it. Yang Tong invested 15 shi of grain to stabilize the price, but it didn't have any effect. Later, he sent the Wagang Army Defeating Yu Xingyang, food prices returned to normal in a flash. The situation now is exactly the same as it was back then, because the panic caused by war is different from the panic caused by rumors. The only way to bring down food prices is Zheng The Tang army defeated the Tang army. As long as there is no threat of war, people's hearts will settle down. Anyone who has surplus food will not loot it. Now everyone can see no hope. Said, but every household must guarantee at least three to five months of food rations, so how much food is put in Changping warehouse is sold out, His Royal Highness, although the idea is good, but the method is wrong."

Wang Xuanying frowned, "Then how should I deal with it?"

"The method is very simple. The crown prince can change the grain from the Changping warehouse into porridge, so that the people from poor families who have no money to buy food can have a way of life. As long as they have something to eat, the people will not be chaotic. This is the only way at present. "

Wang Xuanying nodded, and asked again: "What about profiteers and people who make money from the country? Do you want to crack down?"

Yun Dingxing smiled: "Prince, you should know who is standing behind the so-called profiteer."

Wang Xuanying suddenly realized, isn't Luoyang's food all controlled by his uncle?He was immediately discouraged, nodded and said: "Thank you Taiwei for your guidance, let's go to Wensi Hall first."

"The crown prince must not mention Yang Tong's disaster relief statement beforehand!" Yun Dingxing instructed.

"I understand this, and I will never mention it."

While talking, the two walked quickly towards Wensi Hall
The news of the Tang army's invasion made Wang Shichong panic. He had only 15 troops in total. The 5000 Fouyang army was defeated and less than 5000 troops were defeated at Luyang Pass in Xiangcheng. They were stationed in Xiangcheng and Xingyang counties respectively.There are only [-] troops left in Henan County, including [-] Yulin troops, and each of these [-] troops has [-] troops stationed at Hangu Pass, Hulao Pass, and Yique Pass. The actual army guarding Luoyang City is only [-] people. Even if there are only [-] people in the [-] Yulin Army City, if they are lined up on the city, it will not reach a wall of one foot per person.

There were more than a dozen important ministers and generals standing in the spacious Wensi Hall. Wang Shichong said to everyone with a gloomy face: "I just got the news that Xiangcheng County has surrendered to Li Tang, and Li Daozong's 20 troops have gone outside Yique Pass and are heading towards Luoyang. Come, but the speed has slowed down, and the situation on Hongnong's side is also very serious. Although our army resisted tenaciously, the [-] defenders could not stop Li Shimin's [-] troops from attacking in turn. Our army lost three battles and suffered heavy losses King Honglie of Wei and King Xingben of Jing died at Zhuyangguan. King Qianshou of Cai led the remnants to retreat to Tanshan, Lushi County, and called Changyuan, Zhuyang and other counties to form camps to prevent Tang army from advancing along Luoshui. I have ordered the defenders of Xiong'er County, Henan County to assist. It is said that after the Tang army broke through the Lu family, the main force attacked Zhuyang County and Hongnong County in the north, and aimed directly at Yan Township and Taolin County in Henan Province. Let's talk about the countermeasures !"

As soon as this remark came out, the whole hall fell silent.

After a long while, Yun Dingxing bowed and said: "My lord, I still can't see the real intention of the Tang army. Whether it really wants to capture Luoyang or confuse the Sui army. From the current point of view, I think Li Tang wants to fight from the Sui army." It is very possible that Wuguan and Tongguan will enter Guanzhong."

"Then how do you understand Li Tang's capture of Hongnong, Fuyang and Xiangcheng?" Wang Shichong asked again.

"Your Majesty, Li Shimin's 20 troops are the main force. Li Daozong only has [-] troops. With these [-] troops, it is impossible to capture Luoyang. He should be keeping our troops from going south. Otherwise, it is impossible to explain why his army suddenly slowed down."

At this time, Situ Duan Da also said: "Your Majesty, I also support the Taiwei's opinion, thinking that the Tang army's target is Guanzhong, and this can be seen from a single detail."

"What details?" Wang Shichong asked.

Duan Da walked up to the map, pointed at Hongnong's Lushi County with a wooden pole and said, "If the Tang army's target is us, then after Li Shimin takes Lushi County, he should divide his troops and march eastward to Xionger County in Henan County to directly encircle Luoyang City, instead of giving Cai Wang a chance to rest and prepare for us, but Li Shimin did not do so, and still attacked Zhuyang County and Hongnong County in the north, which was obviously in the direction of Tongguan. From this, we can conclude that Tang Jun The target is still Guanzhong, not us.”

Yun Dingxing nodded and said: "Duan Situ said very well that the Sui Dynasty has always been the number one enemy of the Tang Dynasty, and they did not dare to face the main force of the Sui army, so they used us as weak to deceive people. To put it bluntly, only We in the Henan and Xingyang groups have too little potential for war, and Li Tang can fight whenever he wants, and there is no need to use so many troops."

Yun Dingxing and Duan Da's analysis reassured Wang Shichong a little, he asked the crown prince Wang Xuanying, "Does the crown prince have any other opinions?"

Wang Xuanying originally thought that his father summoned everyone to discuss the soaring price of food, but his father was only thinking about the deployment of the army. This made Wang Xuanying heave a sigh of relief, but at the same time felt a little disappointed. The military is of course important, but Luoyang's people's hearts are also very important. If the issue of popular sentiment is not handled well, Luoyang is in danger of riots, but the emperor doesn't care at all.

Wang Xuanying thought about Yun Dingxing and Duan Da's words, and finally bowed and said: "I believe that it doesn't matter whether the Tang army's target is the Sui Dynasty or our Luoyang. The important thing is that our Luoyang city has too few troops. If the Tang army With a large-scale attack, our troops will not be able to defend for a long time. I suggest increasing the number of defenders, and at the same time strengthen the defense of Hangu Pass, and transport the grain from the Luokou warehouse back to Luoyang City, so as to be prepared for long-term consumption by the enemy! I don't believe that the Sui Dynasty will not respond."

Wang Shichong nodded, Wang Xuanying's suggestion touched his heart, he pondered for a moment and said: "The crown prince is right, there are indeed too few defenders in Luoyang, I plan to transfer the defenders of Xingyang County back to Luoyang, leaving only those in Hulao Pass. Five thousand troops, at the same time transporting the million shi stored in the Luokou warehouse back to Luoyang, what do you love?"

Yun Dingxing immediately praised: "Your Majesty's opinion!"

Everyone expressed their support, and Wang Shichong nodded, "Then it's decided like this! Relax the control over Xingyang County and concentrate our forces to defend Luoyang."

(End of this chapter)