Chapter 329 The new emperor ascends the throne
Chapter 329 The new emperor ascends the throne
Xiao Xia rushed back to the General Manager's Mansion. As soon as he sat down, Liu Wenjing came in and said, "We just received a pigeon letter from Taiyuan!"
Xiao Xia was cheered up and quickly took the pigeon letter. He had been looking forward to it for a long time. He opened the letter and took a closer look. It was indeed the information he wanted. The army of King Han Yang Liang had reached more than 200,000 soldiers, 80,000 of which were recruited soldiers and the rest were government soldiers.
This made Xiao Xia gasp. He had an army of more than 200,000 in such a short time. If the army of the National Protection Association was included, wouldn't his army reach 300,000?
Liu Wenjing noticed Xiao Xia's surprise. He stroked his beard and smiled, "Don't be surprised, butler. There is something fishy about this."
"How to say?"
"Because the King of Han is the Grand Commander of Bingwei, which covers Hedong and Hebei, there are about 150,000 to 160,000 soldiers here, but will these soldiers betray the court and support him in rebellion? I don't think so. Will Yang Yichen, the governor of Shuozhou, and Li Jing, the governor of Youzhou, support him? It's impossible. The troops under these two men are 70,000 to 80,000.
Therefore, the army that Yang Liang could really control was only about 100,000 at most, including his 80,000 recruits and 20,000 soldiers from Taiyuan Prefecture, that's all."
"But sir, don't forget to protect the National Assembly. They will take the opportunity to rebel in the name of supporting the King of Han."
Liu Wenjing nodded. "What the chief steward said is correct. The Baoguo Association is a big hidden danger. This time Shan Xiongxin initiated the Heroes' Alliance in Dongping County, which means that the Baoguo Association wants to get involved in the Central Plains. Yang Liang may not attack us, but the Baoguo Association will definitely attack us. If I am not mistaken, once the Baoguo Association rebels, the court will most likely ask us to wipe out the Baoguo Association."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "This is a good thing. I couldn't ask for more."
As the two were talking, there was a sound of hurried horse hooves outside, followed by someone shouting, "Express news from Chang'an, eight hundred miles away!"
Xiao Xia hurried to the general manager's office and saw several soldiers in mourning. Xiao Xia was shocked and asked, "What's going on?"
The soldier fell to the ground and cried, "Sir, the emperor has passed away!"
"Ah!" Xiao Xia was also stunned. His great grandfather was gone. He suddenly felt a lump in his throat and tears welled up in his eyes.
Xiao Xia was in a very low mood. His great grandfather, who had always cared for him, had passed away. His greatest supporter was gone, and from then on he could only rely on himself.
When I think of what my grandfather said to me, his voice, appearance and smile seem to be right in front of me.
"You can be a chess player. In my heart, you are the crown prince, but you have to fight for it on your own."
"I have seen through it all. Only you can inherit my Sui Dynasty. Not even your father can!"
Xiao Xia felt sad and couldn't help but burst into tears again.
At this time, Chief Clerk Zhou Mo, Recorder and Military Officer Zhao Guangcai, Chief Clerk of Liang County Cui Changyi and several staff members were all in the room.
Zhou Mo advised: "The emperor is the father of all people in the world. Unfortunately, he passed away. Everyone should mourn him. Please give the order!"
Xiao Xia nodded and said, "Go and spread my order. All the people in Liang County, Xingyang County, and Dong County should mourn!"
When the news of the emperor's death came, officials and people everywhere were very sad. Emperor Yang Jian unified the country, eliminated wars, and reduced taxes and levies, which led to a rapid increase in national wealth and a population growth of over 50 million. This was the highest population peak in history. Even the entire Tang Dynasty did not reach this peak until the Northern Song Dynasty.
Every household hung white flags and the whole nation mourned the emperor.
Not only Xiao Xia's jurisdiction, but also Jiangnan, Jianghuai, Central Plains, Hebei, Hedong, Jingxiang, Bashu, Longyou, Hexi, etc., all over the world mourned for the emperor.
But at the same time, Crown Prince Yang Yong ascended the throne, honored the previous emperor with the temple name of Sui Gaozu, posthumously named him Emperor Wen, and buried him in Tai Mausoleum. At the same time, he made Crown Princess Yuan the empress, and named Yun Zhaoxun a noble concubine. He pardoned his eldest son Yang Yan, allowed him to return to Beijing, and named him Prince of Ning.
The second son Yang Yu was named King of Chu, the third son Yang Yun was named King of Qi, and the fourth son Yang Yi was named King of Wei...
Yang Yong immediately announced a general amnesty and changed the reign title to Yongchang, changing the fifth year of Renshou to the first year of Yongchang.
But just half a month after Yang Yong ascended the throne, he issued an edict to summon the King of Jin, the King of Qin, the King of Shu, and the King of Han to come to the capital in the name of paying homage to his father.
But Yang Yong's intention was too obvious. Except for King Yang Xiu of Shu, the other three brothers unanimously rejected Yang Yong's edict.
Jin Wang Yang Guang wrote to the emperor that he would set up an altar by the Yangtze River to personally worship his father's spirit. The other two kings also said that they would worship their fathers separately and would not return to Beijing. Only Yang Xiu obeyed the imperial edict, began to pack up, and headed north again to Beijing to worship his father in Chang'an.
That afternoon, Xiao Xia received news that the fleet from Chang'an arrived at the Songcheng County wharf.
Xiao Xia rushed to the dock outside the city. There were a row of boats moored by the river, as many as three hundred of them. This fleet was exactly the fleet of Li Min and his team. They changed boats at a small manor in Huayin County, successfully avoided the interception of Tongguan and Hanguguan, and finally arrived in Songcheng County smoothly.
"Brother Xiao Xia!"
Xiao Xia suddenly heard someone calling him from behind. When he turned around, it was Li Min. He was holding a young girl by the hand. It was his daughter Li Jingxun. After taking the Spring Rain Pill, she had completely changed. Her original frail appearance had disappeared. She was obviously stronger, her complexion was rosy, she was full of energy, and her big eyes were sparkling.
"Why is my brother here too?"
Li Min smiled and said, "My mother-in-law asked me to go to Jiangdu to support His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. I finally managed to escape from Guanzhong."
"Hello, Uncle Seventh!" Li Jingxun bowed obediently.
Xiao Xia looked at her for a moment and smiled, "You look much better. You can reduce the dosage of the medicine and take it once every ten days. You can stop taking it after half a year."
Li Min was grateful: "Thanks to my brother's medicine, otherwise I would be really worried."
"You're welcome. Actually, E-Ying can eat it too."
"She really can?"
Xiao Xia nodded, "Their mother and daughter have the same constitution. If it works for the daughter, it should work for the mother as well. I'll give you some more later. Let Sister Eying take one pill every ten days. If you persist for one or two years, your constitution will improve greatly."
"Thank you for your good wishes. By the way, there is another person who is here too. Someone you know."
Li Min pointed behind him and saw a tall and thin young man standing not far away. It was Li Jiancheng.
Xiao Xia waved to Li Jiancheng, who quickly stepped forward and saluted, "Meet Chief Steward Xiao!"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "We are all family, no need to be so polite, just call me Qi Lang."
Xiao Xia said to Li Min again: "You have worked hard on the journey, let's go into the city and rest first!"
Li Min pulled Xiao Xia aside and whispered, "The ship is full of valuables, so it must be heavily guarded!"
Xiao Xia nodded, "I know there is a warehouse of valuables at the dock. I will arrange for the army to move it there for you to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
Li Min arranged for his trusted warriors to supervise the storage, and then he took his wife and daughter to the post house in the city to rest.
In the official residence, Xiao Xia specifically met with Li Jiancheng.
Li Jiancheng went to Liangjun and Jiangdu on the orders of his father Li Yuan. He went to Xiao Xia to seek help, and went to Jiangdu to find Prince of Jin to decide on which side to take.
Li Jiancheng took out a handwritten letter from his father and gave it to Xiao Xia.
"Father is very worried that the King of Han will attack Luoyang. Currently, there are only 10,000 troops in Luoyang. I'm afraid it will be difficult to defend Luoyang."
After reading Li Yuan's letter, Xiao Xia nodded and said, "Don't go to Jiangdu. I'll send someone to deliver the letter for you. Go back and tell your father immediately. First, he can move his family to Liangjun or Jiangdu. Secondly, I will control Hulao Pass, giving him a chance to retreat. He doesn't have to fight the King of Han. If the King of Han attacks Luoyang, retreat immediately. At least Luoyang can be kept safe."
Li Jiancheng breathed a sigh of relief, "I feel relieved with your words!"
Xiao Xia immediately wrote a reply to Li Yuan. Li Jiancheng did not stay and rushed back to Luoyang overnight.
(End of this chapter)