r18novel Page 305
Page 305
Tai'an City.
Emperor Zhao Chun, who possessed the intelligence about Zhao Gou, looked astonished!
"Xu Xiao is incredibly audacious! He actually dared to collude with bandits to attack the state capital!"
"For the sake of Chu Lushan, this old tyrant is practically ready to raise an army in rebellion!"
After flipping through another memorial, Zhao Chun froze on the spot, unsure whether to be happy or angry!
"Li Chang'an's four thousand men held Jincheng, and even the hidden Northern Liang cavalry were completely wiped out!"
"In front of the Crown Prince of Beiliang, he killed Chu Lushan and hundreds of Beiliang spies!"
Zhao Chun was naturally pleased that Bei Liang's plans had all failed.
However, Li Chang'an's performance has far exceeded his expectations!
This is different from simply flattening Qingcheng Mountain; this means being able to lead troops into battle properly!
It's too dangerous for a descendant of a fallen monarch to possess such abilities.
However, this is a memorial archway erected by the late emperor, and it cannot be torn down at will.
When Zhao Gou wanted to weaken the power of Li Chang'an, he fabricated rumors that Li Chang'an was plotting a rebellion.
Moreover, Li Chang'an has now rendered great service to the country and should not be dealt with casually!
Imperial Tutor Yuan Benxi said, "Your Majesty, all of Beiliang's spies in Yongzhou have been removed."
"The bandits of Daliang Mountain, whom the Yongzhou army had repeatedly failed to eradicate, have also been completely wiped out!"
"Xu Xiao's adopted son, Chu Lushan, was beheaded in public by Li Chang'an!"
"These are all good things!"
Zhao Chun nodded and said, "What you say is very true, teacher..."
"However, as you can see, Li Chang'an's prestige in Yongzhou is growing day by day!"
"The memorial states that when Li Chang'an entered the city, the people kowtowed and cheered!"
"Now in Jincheng, people only know about the Tang Emperor, and they know nothing about the Liyang Dynasty!"
Yuan Benxi said with a smile, "Li Chang'an is very popular, we can't let him stay in Yongzhou any longer."
Zhao Chun also said, "Of course not!"
“At that time, I originally intended to grant him the four prefectures of Hexi, but now it seems that this proposal is absolutely unfeasible.”
The fact that Li Chang'an had captured Xu Fengnian was not known to the Li Yang court.
If Li Yang finds out, the imperial court will definitely demand Xu Fengnian.
At that time, Li Chang'an will no longer be able to easily control Beiliang.
Yuan Benxi said in a deep voice, "This old minister has a plan that can make the court invincible!"
Zhao Chun said, "I would like to hear the details!"
Yuan Benxi unfolded a map of Liyang and then pointed to a place!
That place is west of Liangzhou and northwest of Shu.
To the north lies the border between the Northern Barbarians and the Western Barbarians, and to the south lies the land of the Western Regions and Tibet.
It can be said that there were Hu people in the north and barbarians in the south.
Zhao Chun's eyes immediately lit up, "The old Shazhou territory!"
Yuan Benxi said, "Originally, Shazhou was part of the Northern Han Kingdom. Later, the Northern Han Kingdom weakened and lost control of Shazhou."
"Originally, of the seven prefectures of Shazhou, two were occupied by the Hu people and two were occupied by the barbarians."
"The remaining three prefectures are nominally under the jurisdiction of our dynasty, but in reality they are independent. However, these three prefectures are greatly influenced by Northern Liang."
"Li Yishan, the cunning strategist of Beiliang, has hidden 100,000 elite troops here!"
Chapter 192 A Blessed Marriage to Xu Zhihu! Xu Fengnian's Blood-Written Letter! (23)
Hearing Yuan Benxi's words, Zhao Chun became increasingly alarmed.
The Northern Liang already had 350,000 troops, and even had hidden elite soldiers.
Yuan Benxi pointed to the map and said slowly, "The three counties of Shazhou, where Han people live, are nominally under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, but in reality, they have long been infiltrated by the Northern Liang."
Zhao Chun said, "The teacher means to give this northwestern enclave to Li Chang'an!"
Yuan Benxi said, "That's right!"
"In Qingcang County, one of the three counties, there are three abandoned military towns with around 200,000 displaced people!"
“Beiliang deliberately left them there, attacking them from time to time to train Beiliang soldiers.”
"When the time comes, provide them with enough money and food, and these refugees will immediately become elite soldiers!"
Zhao Chun sneered, "If the imperial court doesn't take action, these three prefectures will eventually be incorporated into the territory of Northern Liang."
"It would be better to give it to Li Chang'an and let him fend for himself there."
Yuan Benxi replied, "It is highly likely that Li Chang'an will be secretly eliminated by Xu Xiao."
"If he really gains a foothold and eliminates the Northern Liang forces, then we'll transfer him away."
"Then send a reliable general to join forces with Western Shu to contain Northern Liang!"
Zhao Chun cautiously said, "What if... I mean, what if!"
"What if Li Chang'an takes in those refugees and becomes too powerful to control?"
Yuan Benxi said, "Then issue an imperial edict to Beiliang, ordering Xu Xiao to lead troops to annihilate them!"
"No matter how powerful Li Chang'an is, can he compare to Xu Rentu of the Spring and Autumn Period?"
"In this way, those refugees will not become soldiers of Beiliang."
Zhao Chun's worried expression gradually relaxed. "Teacher is truly a genius!"
Yuan Benxi's eyes flashed, and he came up with another "brilliant plan"!
"Your Majesty, Li Chang'an has taken Xu Xiao's second daughter, Xu Weixiong, as his concubine."
"Xu Xiao's eldest daughter, Xu Zhihu, is the most beautiful woman in Beiliang and is still unmarried!"
"I heard that Xu Xiao intends to marry her off to a powerful family in Jiangnan to win over the local elites."
A wicked smile appeared on Zhao Chun's face!
"Li Chang'an killed Chu Lushan and three thousand Beiliang soldiers, and also robbed Xu Weixiong."
"Now we're going to Shazhou, which is behind Beiliang. We have a life-or-death feud with Xu Xiao!"
"You made Xu Xiao's son a prince consort, and you let your son disappear!"
"Then I will bestow Xu Zhihu upon Li Chang'an in marriage!"
"Not only is a marriage between them impossible, their hatred will only deepen!"
Unbeknownst to the emperor and his minister, Li Chang'an had also captured Xu Xiao's son.
Xu Xiao is furious that his son has been captured by Li Chang'an and the court is even marrying his eldest daughter to Li Chang'an.
However, the fact that Xu Fengnian had been arrested was something that absolutely could not be revealed.
Now, everyone in the world believes that Xu Fengnian went on a journey around the world after the bandits of Daliang Mountain were defeated and killed.
At the Tang Prince's residence, Li Chang'an was also gathering information from all sides.
Hongshu reported the spoils of the campaign against Daliang Mountain: 500,000 taels of silver and 100,000 shi of grain.
There were also weapons workshops in Daliang Mountain, all of which were seized by Li Chang'an.
Currently, within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Military Intelligence Division, responsible for wartime intelligence, is headed by Hongshu (Sweet Potato).
The Secret Intelligence Division, responsible for intelligence within Liyang, was headed by Xu Weixiong.
The Zhenwu Division, which manages assassins and intelligence in the martial arts world, is under the control of Qingniao.
All three women were talents cultivated by the Northern Liang Royal Palace, so there was no harm in not using them.
So far, Xu Weixiong and sweet potato are very useful, working diligently during the day and obediently at night.
"Your Highness, the imperial court intends to grant you the exclave of Shazhou and bestow upon you the title of Grand Protector of Anxi."
Upon hearing this news, Gu Dazu instantly flew into a rage, "That dog emperor has gone back on his word!"
"The Shazhou exclave is beyond the control of the Yang Dynasty. Xu Xiao has been infiltrating and managing the three prefectures for many years."
"And this Anxi Grand Protector, who is said to be on par with the Grand General, is actually just a nominal title."
Li Chang'an walked calmly to the large map.
"Seven counties of Shazhou!"
"Huh, Dunhuang County, which was occupied by the Northern Barbarians, is one of them!"
"I heard that Dunhuang City holds a special position in Northern Mang, and the city lord even calls himself Empress."