Eastern Jin Dynasty: My powerful father

Chapter 249 Where is the way forward?
Murong Ke was not obsessed with pursuing Yao Chang. Now it was confirmed that Yao Xiang was dead and his serious trouble was eliminated. He also learned from the prisoners that there were still 10,000 cavalry in the Qiang camp.

If you pursue a rash pursuit at this time, you will most likely give up the victory if you encounter an ambush.

He said to Murong Chui, who came to report the results of the battle:

"I want to go to Qingzhou first to meet Yang Shiqiu (Yang Qian).

"Now that Yao Xiang has been defeated, the rebellion in Qinghe and Xiang counties is just a plague of scabies. Soon the head of the culprit will be sent to Yecheng.

"Your Majesty will move south soon. When I return to Hebei, we can join forces to attack Yanzhou.

"Take Yan and Xu first. Qingzhou is surrounded by me on three sides and is within my grasp."

This was the plan that Murong Chui and Murong Ke had made together before. He responded:

"Don't worry, A Gan. With me guarding the soldiers, there will definitely be no commotion. You don't need to worry about the rear."

Murong Ke nodded slightly. He was very confident about capturing Yan and Xu states.

Yao Chang traveled more than 200 miles in a day and night. After crossing the Yellow River, he burned down the pontoon bridge and stood on the land south of the Yellow River again, but his heart was still not at peace.

After all, letting the Jin Dynasty get rid of Huan Wen's control was one of the reasons why Yao Xiang chose to reconcile with the Jin Dynasty.

The Qiang army's cavalry did not enter Baima City, but camped outside the city. Yao Chang ordered them not to go out to prevent the news of Yao Xiang's death from leaking.

Wang Liang had an ominous premonition when he heard that Yao Chang was suddenly taking a class. Until he saw Yao Chang wearing mourning clothes, he was heartbroken for a moment.

Wang Liang asked again:

Wang Liang, Yao Xiang's chief historian, was invited to the military camp.

Yao Chang said:

Moreover, 50,000 elite Qiang troops crossed the Yellow River north, but only 10,000 cavalry fled back. The elite Qiang troops that the Yao family relied on for a living suffered heavy losses. The Han army also lacked attention and was half soldiers and half farmers, so its combat effectiveness was really worrying.

Yao Xiang's ability in fighting was somewhat inferior, but winning people's hearts was his strength. Otherwise, such an outrageous thing as Yao Xiang being defeated by Huan Wen and the Han people spontaneously following Yao Xiang would not have happened.

Yao Yizhong, the father of Yao Xiang, had forty-two sons, five of whom were officials in Jiangdong and served as hostages, while there were still more than thirty who stayed in Xu and Yanzhou.

As for those surrendered soldiers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty who followed Yin Hao in the Northern Expedition and were captured by Yao Xiang, they were released to Jiangdong long ago after Yao Xiang reconciled with the Jin Dynasty.

With the testimony of Yao Xiang's trusted generals, Wang Liang bowed his head to Yao Chang with tears in his eyes.

Of course, even if Yao Chang succeeds in taking over his tribe, he may not be able to stop the invasion of Yan.

If Yao Xiang had not left a will, I am afraid that the ownership of this family property would have gone through a battle between dragons and tigers.

Wang Liang raised his sleeves to wipe away his tears. Instead of answering directly, he asked:
"How does my lord's talent compare with that of my father and brother?"

The next day, after a night's rest, Murong Ke led his fine cavalry towards Qingzhou. He no longer concealed his whereabouts along the way and galloped his horse, fearing that Duan Gong would get ahead of him. Hearing the news, he launched an attack on the returning Yan army.

Yao Chang was silent for a long time and said:

"Father and brother are both heroes of the moment, I am not as good as him."

Compared with his elder brother, Yao Chang's prestige is still much lower.

"Sir, there is no need to be polite. You are my brother's mastermind. The current situation is critical. The Murong family will go south soon. Please point out a clear path for Chang and teach me how to resist the Yan Kingdom."

Yao Chang did not hide anything from Wang Liang and told him everything.

"The weapons and armor are so prosperous and powerful, how does it compare with the garrison at the time?"

Yao Chang said truthfully:
"Our army has suffered a new defeat and lost most of its elite troops. It's not as good as this."

Wang Liang continued to ask:

"Will Yan's strength increase if it occupies Jizhou?"

Yao Chang stopped answering and asked:

"What do you mean, sir?"

Wang Liang finally expressed his thoughts:

"Before the Yan Kingdom captured Jizhou, my lord's father and brother even avoided his influence and left Hebei to find another way of life.

"Now that my lord's talents are not as good as those of his father and brother, the army has suffered heavy losses, and the Yan State's national power is getting stronger and stronger, why does the lord still want to fight the Yan State in Henan?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the audience was shocked. Yao Chang was very angry inside, but he knew that Wang Liang was telling the truth. If he insisted on occupying Yanzhou and Xuzhou to resist the Yan State, his chances of winning were really slim.

Yao Chang sighed:
"But the world is so big, where is my place?"

At this time, Commander Jianqi from the right said:
"Why not retreat to Huainan? The former lord once professed his vassalage to the Jin Dynasty. He should be able to find a place to settle down. My lord will rely on the dangers of the Huaihe River to fight against the Yan Kingdom with the Jin Dynasty."

Yao Chang was silent, but Wang Liang said anxiously:

"No!"

Everyone's eyes turned to him again, and Wang Liang explained:
"Although I am from Jin, I have been entrusted with the Yao family, so I should be considered for the Yao family.

"The First Lord ambushed Yin Hao, causing the Jin Dynasty to suffer heavy losses. He was forced by powerful ministers, and all the scholars in Jiangdong hated the Yao family deeply.

"The reason why we are willing to reconcile is just because we are afraid of Yao's military power.

"Now that we are defeated, not to mention whether the Jin Dynasty can take us in, as time goes by, the lord will be ostracized and find it difficult to move forward.

"Based on what Yin Hao has learned, the Jinshi will not give us the opportunity to develop and grow."

After hearing this, Yao Chang finally said:

"What sir said is exactly what I'm worried about." Jianqi was not depressed, he added:
"Since you can't go to Huainan, why not go to Luoyang and join Huan Wen."

If there is any family in the world that can surpass the Murong family in terms of strength, it is only the Huan family.

In the twenty states of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Huan family monopolized seven states including Jingzhou, Jiangzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Liangzhou, Qinzhou, and Liangzhou, and controlled the military affairs of four states including Yizhou, Ningzhou, Guangzhou, and Jiaozhou. They divided the world into two parts. One.

Huan Xi even took Hexi Xianbei and Tiefu Xiongnu into his own use, which means that the forces of their father and son have not been integrated, and Liang and Chu have their own affairs. Otherwise, once they join forces, such as the Battle of Luoyang, Murong Ke will only be defeated. And return.

When everyone heard this, they all nodded secretly. Youdao is the enemy of your enemy, and you are your friend.

Huan Wen and Huan Xi's father and son wanted to usurp the throne, just like Sima Zhao, and everyone knew it.

If he defected to their father and son, he should be accepted.

However, Wang Liang continued to object:
"Have you forgotten that Huan Wen also came from a noble family, and now he and Yin Hao have settled their differences, respecting Yin Hao as the Minister of Secretariat, and entrusting him with important tasks!

"My lord, you can live under someone else's roof, but you cannot serve as a minister in the same palace as Yin Hao!"

As the saying goes, it is easy to hide from an open gun, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow.

Once Yao Chang defected to the Chu State, Yin Hao had many ways to kill Yao Chang because of his hatred for the Yao family.

As for Huan Xi, it is not even under consideration.

To go to Guanzhong, you must pass through Luoyang, and Luoyang is guarded by Huan Huo, not to mention whether Huan Huo will get out of the way.

Yao Chang sacrificed the near for the distant, and went to Huan Xi instead of Huan Wen. In the eyes of Huan Wen, he must have felt that he had been slighted and held a grudge for it.

The handsome Qiangbai in the back couldn't help but said:

"In this case, why not go to Hedong and join the Yu Kingdom.

"We and the Fu family were both moved to Guandong during the reign of Emperor Wu of Zhao (Shi Hu). The Yao and Fu families were both ministers of Zhao and had no grudges.

"Now Fu Jian attacks the country of Sui, supports hundreds of thousands of people, and occupies a strategically important place. He will surely accomplish great things."

Wang Liang still shook his head and said:
"Although Hedong is easy to defend and difficult to attack, it is located between Yan and Liang, so there is no saying that it occupies a favorable location.

"Now the State of Yan seems to be friendly with the State of Yu. This is because the State of Yan regards the State of Yu as an obstacle that prevents Huan Xi from going eastward.

“Once the Yu State shows signs of decline, or both sides suffer losses with the Liang State, the Yan State will inevitably march westward, attack Bingzhou, and attempt to dominate the north of the Yellow River.

"Therefore, although Fu Jian has many soldiers, it is difficult to achieve anything. Going to join him would be a secret betrayal."

The handsome man at the front, Wang Heina, was impatient and said angrily:

"It won't work this way, that won't work either. In today's world, there are only a few forces, so they can't surrender to the Yan Kingdom!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole house fell into silence.

Wang Liang cupped his hands towards Yao Chang and said:
"This is exactly the path Liang wants to point out for our lord."

Yao Chang was actually tempted, but he flatly refused:
"Murong and I have a grudge against my brother! Even if I die, I cannot be a minister of the Yan Kingdom!

"Otherwise, how can I meet my brother under the Nine Springs!"

When Wang Liang heard this, he straightened his back and shouted:

"Yao Jingmao! Have you forgotten the late master's instructions before his death?
"He asked you not to take revenge! He asked you to lead your tribe to find a way out in troubled times! Have you forgotten it?"

After saying that, Wang Liang coughed violently. His health was not good, and he was so angry that he coughed.

Yao Chang's face turned blue and white for a while, and he lowered his head and said nothing.

In the commander's tent, all the generals looked at each other, and then they all bowed down in unison:

"My lord, please put your late master's last wishes first and the overall situation first."

Defending Xu and Yanzhou will not be able to withstand Yan's cavalry.

After Wang Liang's analysis, everyone also knew that the Yao family had no other way out. For the current plan, they could only ask for surrender from the Yan Kingdom.

"you."

Yao Chang looked at the prostrated generals, as if after a difficult inner struggle, he finally sighed:
"That's it, everyone, please get up. I will comply with your request."

When everyone heard this, they were all happy.

Just when Tou Yan thought about it, he suddenly felt that the world was vast.

Yao Chang was not eager to send envoys to Hebei, but was eager to seize the military power of the Han army and completely control Xu and Yanzhou.

He wanted to surrender to the Yan State as the head of the Yao family.

Since Yao Chang surrendered on his own initiative and out of emotion and reason, Murong Jun had to let Yao Chang continue to lead the Qiang tribe and give him a place to stay. This was also the way out that Yao Xiang told Yao Chang to find a way out for his people. .

Of course, those Han troops could not be handed over to Yao Xiang by Yan State.

And if Yao Chang cannot control the Yao family, let Yao Yi and others also lead the army to surrender.

Murong Jun will definitely take the opportunity to break up the Yao family and let each of their brothers lead the Qiang army. This is certainly not what Yao Chang wants to see.

Not to mention how Yao Chang, with the cooperation of the military lieutenant general, seized control of the family, and what kind of storm he would cause within the family by proposing to surrender to the Yan State.

Just when Murong Ke went south to Qingzhou, met up with Yang Zhuan, and scared Duan Gong back, Huan Xi also ended his inspection in the Qifu Department and arrived in Yinchuan.

(End of this chapter)