Chapter 331: The Beginning of the Reduction of the vassal states

Chapter 331: The Beginning of the Reduction of the vassal states

Chapter 331: The Beginning of the Reduction of the vassal states

When Yun Dingxing returned home, he immediately sent someone to find his son Yun Shide.

After a while, Yun Shide came hurriedly, "Father, what urgent matter do you want to talk to me about?"

Yun Dingxing immediately said: "Stop attacking Xihai Trading Company and don't provoke them again!"

Yun Shide was stunned, "Why, they have agreed to move today!"

"Agree with that!"

Yun Dingxing cursed angrily, "They have already complained to the emperor, and the emperor called me in to scold me. He has an agreement with Xiao Xia, and promised to guarantee the safety of Xiao Xia's business. He wants to use Xiao Xia to deal with the King of Han. Let's leave them alone for the time being and don't touch them for now."

Yun Shide was really depressed. He had a chance to feel proud, but was hit down again.

He said angrily, "I can choose not to drive them away, but I can make it impossible for them to do business. Anyway, I have to vent my anger."

"Nonsense! Have you forgotten how your brother died? If you provoke the devil Xiao Xia, our whole family will die without a burial place!"

Yun Shide lowered his head and said, "I promise I won't provoke him again!"

Although he was forced to make a temporary promise, once the evil thoughts in his heart sprouted, they would only grow bigger in silence.

In the Mansion of the Duke of Yue, after Yang Su was dismissed from his position as prime minister, he kept a very low profile during this period and basically did not go out.

That morning, the eldest son Yang Xuangan came quickly and said, "Father, I have bribed Wang Qi with 1,000 taels of gold. He gave us two hours to leave and asked us to go through the back door."

Wang Qi was a eunuch sent by Emperor Yang Yong to monitor Yang Su. Yang Su had quietly established a relationship with Wang Qi through his brother Yang Yue and knew that Wang Qi was extremely greedy for bribes such as gold.

Yang Su immediately ordered his son to bribe Wang Qi with 1,200 taels of gold. Wang Qi finally couldn't resist the temptation and agreed to let Yang Su go secretly.

Yang Su evacuated his family to other places before Yang Yong ascended the throne, and now only his eldest son is with him.

He immediately ordered his eldest son to take the valuables that had been packed, and the father and son disguised themselves as servants and quietly left the mansion through the back door.

Wang Qi really kept his promise. There were soldiers monitoring the back door, but now there are none.

The father and son quickly left through an alley. They soon rented a carriage and left Chang'an City.

At this time, Yang Su's mansion was still under surveillance, and they did not know that Yang Su had left Chang'an.

A few days later, Yang Su and his son arrived at their hometown in Hongnong County. With the help of their clansmen, they boarded a boat from Shan County and headed to Jiangdu to join the King of Jin.

At the same time, Xiao Yu, the Minister of Dali Temple, also submitted his resignation to the emperor and begged him to allow him to return home.

At this time, Emperor Yang Yong had no intention of falling out with Prince of Jin. More importantly, Xiao Yu was not on the list of people prohibited from leaving Beijing, and he was not an important figure in the court. So Yang Yong approved Xiao Yu's return home.

Almost on the same day that Yang Su escaped, Xiao Yu also took his son Xiao Zhurong and left Chang'an by boat and returned to Jiangdu.

In early June, King Yang Xiu of Shu arrived in Chang'an and was immediately placed under house arrest in the palace by the emperor in the name of mourning for his father. He was also stripped of his royal title. Yang Xiu's imprisonment ignited the fuse for the reduction of the power of the princes.

On the tenth day of June, Emperor Yang Yong issued an edict to dismiss Qin Wang Yang Jun and Han Wang Yang Liang from their posts as Grand Commanders, and required the military offices under their jurisdiction to obey orders directly from the court.

Yang Yong issued an edict the next day, stating that Yang Jun and Yang Liang had disobeyed the emperor's recall and violated the relationship between the monarch and his subjects, so he stripped them of their royal titles and demoted them to commoners.

The confidant of the Han King in Chang'an immediately sent the news to Taiyuan by flying eagle. The Han King Yang Liang was furious and immediately ordered his army to rebel. He also issued a manifesto to attack the rebels, pointing out that the death of the previous emperor was unclear and that the prince was eager to ascend the throne, which was suspected of patricide and regicide. Before the emperor's order was spread, Yang Liang immediately sent hundreds of his men to various places to pass on the order, ordering the military offices in Hedong and Hebei to come to Taiyuan Prefecture for training.

At the same time, he quickly concentrated his forces and prepared to catch the imperial court off guard, but Yang Liang was still a little unsure about who to lead the troops and generals.

In the palace, Yang Liang summoned Yuwen Shu. Yuwen Shu had no way out and had to be loyal to the King of Han.

Yuwen Shu said slowly: "I have two suggestions for Your Highness. First, you should quickly capture Luoyang. There are only 10,000 troops in Luoyang. Once you capture Luoyang and control Hangu Pass, the whole of Shandong will belong to Your Highness. Second, you must win the first battle. It is crucial to the morale. Not only strength, but also strategy must be used."

Yang Liang smiled and asked, "What's your plan, General?"

Yuwen Shu took out a proposal from his bosom, "These are the seven strategies compiled by this humble minister. I hope Your Highness can adopt them!"

Yang Liang quickly took the proposal and read it carefully, nodding happily, "The suggestion is very important. Let me think about it carefully and discuss it with the general tomorrow!"

"I resign from my humble position!"

Yuwen Shu retreated.

Yang Liang pondered for a moment, then handed the proposal to the counselor Wang Yu who had just walked in, "Here are some suggestions from Yuwen Shu, Military Advisor, take a look!"

Wang Long took the proposal, read it and said with a smile: "Three of them are about Zhao Kuo replacing Lian Po. I think it is feasible. Moreover, this is a strategy tailored for him. He wants to be valued by Your Highness."

Yang Liang hesitated and said, "Yuwen Shu is quite capable, but as you know, he is nicknamed the Three-surnamed Slave. I really don't trust him to lead the troops!"

Wang Long smiled and said, "Your Highness, don't worry. What Yuwen Shu wants is nothing more than status and wealth. Your Highness can give them to him. Why would he go to someone else to eat cold rice? Moreover, his two sons are hostages in Taiyuan. Even if he is undecided, he will become single-minded. Your Highness, we are in need of people now. We need experienced and qualified veterans like Yuwen Shu to lead the troops in battle."

Yang Liang finally nodded, "Then listen to the military advisor's advice and make use of Yuwen Shu."

According to Yuwen Shu's suggestion, Yang Liang ordered General Liu Jian to lead 10,000 troops across Jingxing to Hebei to recruit soldiers from various military offices. At the same time, he sent General Qi Liang to various places in Hedong to recruit soldiers from various offices. Yuwen Shu believed that these military offices were all waiting and would not come to Taiyuan easily. Instead of waiting, it would be better to take the initiative.

Yang Liang appointed Yuwen Shu as the general of the guards and ordered him to lead an army of 50,000 to Hedong County to fight against the imperial army. He also ordered Xiao Moke and his deputy Yu Gongli, who were stationed in Changping County, to lead an army of 30,000 through the Chenguan Pass into Henei to attack Luoyang.

In history, after Yang Liang's rebellion, he launched an attack on Guanzhong because he had been managing Hedong and Hebei for five or six years and had become fully capable.

Now Yang Liang had only been in Taiyuan for a few months, and he was not yet strong enough to control Hedong, so he adopted a strategy that combined defense and offense.

Taking advantage of the time difference, they launched a blitzkrieg and occupied Luoyang in one fell swoop.

At the same time, Yang Liang sent someone to Wuyang County to deliver a letter to Gao Zhu, the deputy leader of the Baoguo Society. According to their agreement, the Baoguo Society would also rise up at the same time and attack the Central Plains from Liyang County.

..........
The temporary headquarters of the Society for the Protection of the Nation was moved to Wei County, Wuyang County, and the 10,000 troops sent to Guanzhong to help Yang Liang have been recalled. Currently, the Society for the Protection of the Nation has 30,000 troops.

But these 30,000 troops were broken up into small groups and hiding in various places in Hebei. Now there is no need to hide it anymore and they are rapidly gathering in Wuyang County.

In the hall, counselor Wang Bo said to Gao Zhu: "We cannot reveal the Qi flag yet. I suggest that we should still use Yang Liang's flag to expand the army and occupy the territory. I suggest that we proceed in two steps. The first step is to seize the Liyang warehouse, get food and weapons, and then recruit troops. If the number of troops is sufficient, we can go south to attack the Central Plains."

Gao Zhu nodded, "Shan Xiongxin has recruited 5,000 troops in Dongping County. Once we are ready, he will help us cross the Yellow River."

Gao Zhu immediately ordered General Gao Shida to lead 20,000 troops to attack Liyang and capture the Liyang warehouse.

(End of this chapter)