Chapter 349 Taking Advantage of the Situation
Chapter 349 Taking Advantage of the Situation
When Xiao Xia arrived at the camp, his father Yang Guang personally greeted him outside the tent. Yang Zhao was also there. The three of them walked into the tent together, but Yang Ling was not there. He did not have a good relationship with the main general Yang Su, so Yang Guang ordered him to supervise the supply of food and fodder in the rear army.
Yang Guang said to Xiao Xia excitedly: "Now our military strength has exceeded 300,000. I want to hear your thoughts. What should we do next?"
Xiao Xia smiled slightly and said, "Father, what do you think of Yuwen Shu?"
"Yuwen Shu?"
Yang Guang was stunned for a moment, and he understood what his son meant.
"You mean, to instigate Yuwen Shu to rebel?"
Xiao Xia nodded, "Yuwen Shu is known as the Three-surnamed Slave. This nickname is not for nothing. He actually seeks profit and avoids harm. He doesn't stand under a dangerous wall. He just went a little too far. But I believe that the destruction of the King of Qin has a great impact on Yuwen Shu. He will make a balance in his mind. If my father takes the opportunity to win him over, there is a 90% chance that he will lead his army to surrender to my father."
Yang Zhao said, "But Yuwen Shu's two sons are hostages in Taiyuan, and his youngest son Yuwen Zhiji is serving as a military officer beside Yang Liang. It's impossible for Yuwen Shu not to be worried. I'm afraid he wouldn't dare to take the risk even if he wanted to."
Xiao Xia shook his head and smiled, "Brother, you underestimated Yuwen Shu. With Yuwen Shu's cunningness, how could he really put his two sons in danger? He must have secretly left a loophole so that his two sons can escape from Taiyuan at any time. Besides, once Yuwen Shu surrendered, the King of Han would collapse, and he would not have time to issue an order to kill Yuwen Shu's sons. Yuwen Shu must know this very well."
Yang Guang pondered for a long time and asked, "What position should I promise Yuwen Shu? Does Xia'er have any suggestions?"
Xiao Xia had an idea long ago, and he said immediately: "Father can expand the Council of State Affairs to seven people. In addition to the left and right prime ministers, five more deputy prime ministers can be added as assistant prime ministers. Yuwen Shu can be given a deputy prime minister position and be separated from military power. This can satisfy his desire for power as prime minister and avoid the risk of him gaining military power. He doesn't even need to be conferred the title of king. He can still be given the title of Zhuguo Gongguan and Guogong. He doesn't have to worry about father settling scores later."
Yang Guang nodded, "Let me give it a try!"
Yang Guang also knew that Yuwen Shu was the key. Once Yuwen Shu rebelled against him, Yang Liang would fall.
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "We can also add fuel to the fire and spread some rumors among Yang Liang's army, saying that Yuwen Shu has secretly contacted us. Yang Liang will definitely be on guard and even deprive him of his military power. This will push Yuwen Shu to surrender to my father."
Yang Zhao clapped his hands and laughed, "This counter-espionage plan is good. I know Yang Liang will send soldiers out to collect firewood. We can use this opportunity to send a few soldiers with connections to sneak into the camp."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Has Big Brother already planted someone in Yang Liang's army?"
Yang Zhao nodded. "Cui Mingwei, a military officer under Yang Liang, is the nephew of my father-in-law Cui Hongsheng. He studied with me and we have a good relationship. He wrote me a letter saying that he didn't want to work for Yang Liang. I wrote back to appease him and told him to wait for my arrangements."
Xiao Xia said happily: "With such a person, things will be easier!"
...........
Yang Liang carried a large amount of food and supplies, but no fuel. There was no need to carry fuel. Whenever they arrived at a place, the army would send soldiers out to collect firewood.
That afternoon, three thousand soldiers each carried several bundles of firewood back to the military camp. After handing over the firewood, they returned to their tents. However, two soldiers went around the group of civil servants' tents and found the tent of Cui Mingwei, the assistant military officer of the Cangcao.
Cui Mingwei was about thirty years old. He was born into the Cui family of Boling. He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi in the tenth year. He first served as a secretary in the Secretariat, which meant he accompanied the emperor's grandson to study. During this period, he became a good friend of Yang Zhao.
Later, he served as a local county magistrate. Three years ago, he was transferred to the Bingzhou General Administration Office as a military assistant in the warehouse department, in charge of the grain and fodder supplies of the Bingzhou General Administration Office. After this term, he will be promoted to the county chief historian and then the county governor. This is usually his resume.
It so happened that at this time, Yang Liang launched a rebellion and replaced all important positions with his confidants. Perhaps in order to gain the support of the Hebei aristocratic families, Yang Liang did not dismiss Cui Mingwei, but continued to let him serve as the military advisor of the Cangcao.
Cui Mingwei asked two soldiers to enter the tent, and the two soldiers presented him with Yang Zhao's letter. After reading the letter, Cui Mingwei nodded and said, "You stay here first, and I will arrange for you to meet Yuwen Shu as soon as possible."
The news that Prince Yang Jun's entire army had been annexed by Prince of Jin reached Prince of Han Yang Liang's camp at the fastest speed, causing an uproar. Even though Yang Liang failed to block the news in time, the news spread throughout the army, immediately causing a stir in the army's morale.
Previously, Yang Liang's 15th army was defeated by Xiao Xia, and more than half of its troops were lost. Although there were still 170,000 troops, the morale of the army was very low. They had not yet emerged from the shadow of the disastrous defeat in Huayin County. Another unfavorable news came, which undoubtedly made the situation worse. Their morale became even lower and their war-weariness was strong. If Yuwen Shu had not arranged heavy troops to suppress them, a wave of escape would have definitely occurred.
The news of the Qin army's demise not only had a serious impact on ordinary soldiers, but also had an adverse impact on many senior generals, Yuwen Shu being one of them.
When Yuwen Shu heard the news that King Qin was killed by Xiao Xia, he immediately realized that King Han was going to lose, Yang Yong could not protect the country, and King Jin would be the final winner.
Yuwen Shu was also very anxious. He always thought that the emperor loved his younger son more and would pass the throne to him. Three years ago, the King of Han had been rising strongly and had already become a rival to the Crown Prince. It was obvious that the King of Han, Yang Liang, would replace the Crown Prince.
It was for this reason that Yuwen Shu betrayed the crown prince and turned to support King of Han Yang Liang. This was the gamble he made, placing his life and family's future on the King of Han.
But ever since Xiao Xia blocked the King of Han in Jiangdu and the King of Han was frozen for a year, the situation of the King of Han took a sharp turn for the worse. In a very short period of time, he lost the opportunity to compete for the throne, became increasingly marginalized, and fewer and fewer ministers recognized him.
Yuwen Shu also saw the real reason for the King of Han's decline. On the one hand, it was his arrogant and cruel character, which treated human life as worthless and was ungrateful and mean. These fatal character traits caused the emperor to be extremely disappointed in him.
On the other hand, Yuwen Shu discovered that another real reason for the rise of the King of Han was that the emperor wanted to protect the King of Jin, Yang Guang. The person the emperor really wanted to use was the King of Jin. In order to prevent the crown prince from launching a critical attack on the King of Jin, the emperor pushed forward the King of Han, Yang Liang, to distract the crown prince's attention.
If the crown prince had died two years later, he would definitely have been replaced by the Prince of Jin.
Yuwen Shu saw through the emperor's true intentions, but there was nothing he could do. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he could not go back to the Prince of Jin. As for the prince, if there had not been the Yang Yan incident, he could have gone back to the prince. But ever since Yang Yan's hand was cut off, Yuwen Shu knew that the prince hated him to the core, so he fled Chang'an before the prince ascended the throne.
Now, the situation has gradually become clear, and the person who has the last laugh is actually King Jin.
Regret and anxiety were intertwined in Yuwen Shu's heart, and he was now a little helpless.
At this time, the voice of Xu Zongxuan, an aide, came from outside the tent, "General, it's me!"
"Please come in!"
Xu Zongxuan walked into the tent, bowed and said, "General, have you heard about the King of Qin?"
Yuwen Shu sighed, "How could I not know about such a big thing?"
"General, the situation is not good for the King of Han now! The morale of the army is low, and the King of Han himself is addicted to wine and women. Don't you have any other ideas?"
Yuwen Shu was silent for a moment and said, "Sir, just say whatever you want to say!"
(End of this chapter)