Chapter 558: Attacking the enemy with a strategic advantage, Zhao Duan conquers another city
Chapter 558: The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plan. Zhao Duan wins another battle.
Can you spare your life?
Zhao Duan said this with a smile and in a calm tone.
Zhao Shixiong, who was sitting opposite, fell silent.
Who is Xu Jingtang?
Zhao Duan believed that this border general knew more than himself.
Therefore, he did not give a direct answer to the question about Zhao Ke because it was not important.
"Young man, I know you are eloquent and good at persuasion. If you were not so, you would not be able to thrive in the court."
Zhao Shixiong did not fall for it and followed Zhao Duan's conversation rhythm. Instead, he sneered and exposed his intentions:
"You just want to say that when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked. I am not a child, so why would I need you to teach me?"
Zhao Duan kept smiling, showing no anger at all, and spoke calmly:
"The general is no child, and he must understand all these details. I also believe that when Xu Jingtang persuaded the general to join the rebellion, he must have given the general enough reassurance, such as... marriage? Ha, or other promises. It doesn't matter."
"As a person, no matter how nice the words are, they must put them into practice. In fact, it doesn't matter what Xu Jingtang promised, what matters is how he did it.
From what I have seen, although this thief has appointed the general as the general, he has checked and restricted him everywhere. This behavior shows that he is not a benevolent monarch at all. How can he convince people?"
As Zhao Duan spoke, there was a hint of contempt in his eyes:
"Just like this sowing discord. Although Zhao did use some tricks, I have no intention of denying this, but if Xu Jingtang trusts the general, what is the use of this little trick?
To be honest, General, not long ago, I heard that the Yunfu rebels in the capital also bribed the Qingliu Party officials to slander and frame Yuan Li. It can be said that the public opinion is as strong as gold. However, Your Majesty did not doubt Yuan Gong because of a few false accusations. Instead, he tried his best to preserve his reputation... Comparing the two, I can't help but sigh."
Zhao Shixiong was stunned.
He didn't know anything about this matter, but after just hearing it, he believed it about 70%.
Because this is consistent with his understanding of King Mu and is not difficult to verify.
At the same time, he had no way to refute it.
Because King Mu's distrust of him was almost written on his face, it was a well-known fact.
Correspondingly, the degree of trust that the empress had in Zhao Duan was enough to make him envious.
As a general, who doesn't want to meet a lord who trusts him?
Zhao Duan smiled slightly:
"In fact, the general is well aware of these principles. Otherwise, he would not have come here to see me today as agreed."
Hearing this, Zhao Shixiong seemed to be enraged. Anger surged on his face and he stared at him intently:
"If you hadn't interfered..."
Zhao Duan sighed softly and interrupted him:
"If I hadn't interfered, would the general have remained stubborn and stubborn, making one mistake after another, and completely ruining the good reputation he has accumulated over half his life?"
He leaned forward slightly, his hands supporting his thighs, and his deep eyes suddenly looked at this southwestern "skinny tiger" very seriously:
"The general is not loyal to King Mu, is he?"
Not loyal!
These four words were like a sharp arrow, completely piercing through the fig leaf between the two people.
Zhao Shixiong's tiger eyes suddenly narrowed: "Oh? How do you know I'm not loyal?"
Zhao Duan gently uttered a name: "Zhuang Xiaocheng."
He said quickly: "As far as I know, the general first had other ideas about the court after his secret meeting with Zhuang Xiaocheng."
Zhuang Xiaocheng!
The previous Grand Tutor who had been beheaded long ago, and the leader of the Kuangfu Society.
When Zhao Duan mentioned this name, he couldn't hide his sigh. He originally thought that after Zhuang Xiaocheng's death, he would never have any intersection with this name again, but fate is unpredictable.
The time goes back to after the battle to defeat Su Dan. At that time, Zhao Duan subdued Nie Yurong and ordered her to investigate the details of how King Mu persuaded Zhao Shixiong to rebel.
But he did not just send Nie Yurong to investigate, he also mobilized the shadow guards and the personnel of the "New Kuangfu Society" which was gaining more and more influence in the underworld to investigate.
Because he remembered that after the Xuanmen coup, the remnants of the Second Prince Jianwen initially hid in Yunfu Road to avoid pursuers.
It was during the investigation that he unexpectedly learned that Zhuang Xiaocheng had secretly met with Zhao Shixiong many times.
To be precise, Zhuang Xiaocheng secretly met with many local officials, and Zhao Shixiong was one of the more important ones.
Moreover, Zhao Shixiong seemed to have provided private assistance to the Kuangfu Society, and was once very close to Mr. Zhengyang.
He has privately expressed many times his remembrance of the late emperor and his hostility towards the empress.
At that time, there were occasional frictions between the Southwestern Frontier Army guarding the border and Prince Mu's Palace, and Zhao Shixiong never gave Prince Mu a good face.
This is worth pondering.
Because logically speaking, a powerful general at the border has no reason to sympathize with a group of remnants of the remnants.
The Kuangfu Society was a group of scattered soldiers and had no bargaining chips to drag Zhao Shixiong into the water.
What truly solved the mystery was the investigation results sent back by Nie Yurong.
Before Yunxi escorted Zhao Ke back, she did not go to see Zhao Shixiong first, but sent the secret letter to Taicang first.
After reading the letter, Zhao Duan learned a key piece of information:
It is very likely that Zhao Shixiong was loyal to the late emperor!
Because of his loyalty to the late emperor and his many contacts with Zhuang Xiaocheng, Zhao Shixiong always believed that the person who killed his father and brother in the Xuanmen coup was the empress!
In other words, he was deceived by Zhuang Xiaocheng!
Precisely because of his hostility towards the empress, he became estranged from the imperial court from then on, never went to Beijing again, and even openly refused to return to Beijing to report on his work.
Similarly, he was not persuaded by Xu Jingtang with benefits, but Zhao Shixiong wanted to support Prince Mu, overthrow the empress, and save the country!
After seeing this result, Zhao Duan felt it was absurd at first, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that this might be the truth.
Because he clearly remembered that Zhenbao had said this to him a long time ago when he mentioned Zhao Shixiong.
It is said that the late emperor was senile in his old age, which left many hidden dangers, including the appointment of trusted eunuchs and the failure to discipline the southwestern border troops, which led to Zhao Shixiong's self-inflicted invasion and his break from the checks and balances of the court.
But on the other hand, what if the truth is not that the late emperor was foolish, but that he trusted Zhao Shixiong enough that he delegated power to him, leading to his rise to power?
Everything makes sense now...
If we also consider that Zhao Shixiong only has one daughter and it is difficult for her to have another child.
The old emperor also had a theoretical basis for his trust in him.
In this way, it all makes sense that Zhao Shixiong began to resist the court after the Xuanmen coup, and then suddenly followed Prince Mu, but was refused to be trusted by Prince Mu...
It was for this reason that Zhao Duan decided to temporarily change his strategy.
That's why he sent Yunxi to send Zhao Ke'er there.
In other words, the reason why he chose to let Yunxi complete the escort mission was to make early preparations for the possible use of people from Kuangfu Society in the future.
"General," Zhao Duan slowly sat up and said with a smile:
"Zhuang Xiaocheng is a swindler. I have clarified this again and again, but the adulthood in people's hearts is like a mountain. General, you believed Zhuang Xiaocheng's words first, so you may not believe my extravagant words. However, Yunxi and the others are more trustworthy than me."
Zhao Shixiong was silent for a moment, then sneered:
"How do we know whether these people who support the society have already abandoned their original intentions and been intimidated by a treacherous minister like you?"
Zhao Duan said helplessly:
"General, why are you speaking in anger? If you really had no doubts about Zhuang Xiaocheng's lies, you wouldn't have come here to meet me today.
In fact, the best way to expose lies is time.
Your Majesty has been on the throne for three years. Your every move is in the eyes of the general. Whether you are a traitor or a benevolent monarch, people all over the world have their own scales. If the general still does not trust you and feels that he cannot see clearly from a distance, why not come closer? "
Zhao Shixiong laughed at himself: "Do you want me to betray my master and seek glory?"
Zhao Duan waved his hand and said:
"That's wrong. The general is a high-ranking general of the imperial court, and Xu Jingtang is a traitor. How can he betray his master? Moreover, given the current situation, Xu Jingtang must have been ready to attack the general. Isn't that right?"
Zhao Shixiong was silent!
At this point, it doesn’t matter whether Zhao Ke’er’s story is true or not.
Because from the moment Zhao Ke'er stepped into Yongjia City, Zhao Shixiong's crime of "colluding with the court" had been confirmed.
This is what makes Zhao Duan's methods disgusting.
Even if all operations are clearly informed to the parties involved, the party being schemed against has no way out.
Xu Jingtang could no longer trust him. And Kuang Fushe Yunxi's words that exposed his lies shook his fundamental position of attacking the empress.
"If you don't believe me, General, you can kill us here. Perhaps you can use our heads to show your loyalty to Xu Jingtang."
"General, if you believe me, Lord Zhao has asked me to bring you a message. Please go to the Taicang government office to meet him alone."
This is what Yunxi said to Zhao Shixiong.
Zhao Shixiong stayed awake all night and finally decided to go to the meeting alone.
And his choice was made from the moment he stepped into Taicang Mansion.
"Oh, that sounds good, but how can I believe you? How dare you use a traitor like me?" Zhao Shixiong looked at him with contempt, but his tone softened.
Zhao Duan bent down, handed him the brewed tea, and said calmly:
"Qingzhou rebel commander Wei Xianzong plotted treason, according to the law he should be executed along with his entire clan.
But I saved him and allowed him to lead the troops. Wei Xianzong has been promoted to a small flag officer because of his military merit in the battle with Su Dan. He is fighting on the eastern front. I believe that by next year, he will at least be promoted to a commander."
He said seriously:
"I have always believed that actions are worse than words. Your Majesty can tolerate the rebellion of Emperor Xianzong of Wei, so why should you send a general? If the general is willing to turn back and help me put down the rebellion, this governor can inform the world on behalf of Your Majesty that the general will not be held accountable."
Zhao Shixiong was slightly moved. At this moment, he saw a kind of overwhelming spirit from the young man in front of him.
That is not the spirit of a general.
It doesn't seem to be the spirit of a commander.
After a long silence, Zhao Shixiong suddenly sighed:
"If you were a descendant of the Xu family, perhaps this rebellion of the kings would not have happened."
Stop saying that... Zhao Duan laughed dryly:
"Your Majesty has proposed marriage. We just need to wait for the world to be at peace before the wedding. The emperor's husband is also a member of the Xu family... I want to be included in the emperor's family tree."
The courage he had just shown suddenly disappeared into thin air. Zhao Shixiong even suspected that he had seen it wrong. Was this despicable guy really an enemy who had tricked him into a desperate situation?
How could a great general like you be defeated by such a spineless pretty boy?
"...Farewell!"
Zhao Shixiong stood up and was about to leave.
Zhao Duan hurriedly said, "Have some tea before you leave."
Zhao Shixiong hesitated for a moment, picked up the hot tea and drank it, then threw the cup away and walked out.
With a wave of his hand, the [Soul-Breaking Sword] that was held by Lang Shiba broke free from his restraints and fell back into the hands of this skinny tiger from the southwest.
Zhao Shixiong bent his knees and lowered his waist. The blue bricks under his feet cracked with a crackling sound. He rose from the ground and soared into the sky.
Such a loud commotion finally made the people waiting outside unable to bear it any longer.
The courtyard gate opened, and local officials and generals such as Sun Xiaozhun and Yuan Feng rushed in. They only breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Zhao Duan was calm and composed in the house.
Immediately, there was a strong curiosity:
"My lord, what on earth is going on?!"
Zhao Duan faced the surprised and puzzled eyes and said with a smile:
"It's a complicated matter, but in the end, some misunderstandings have been resolved. Zhao Shixiong has decided to submit to me, the governor, and will help us put down the rebellion."
Quiet.
The entire courtyard of the yamen was silent for a moment, and people suspected that they had heard it wrongly.
Zhao Duan had no choice but to give a brief description of what happened. Anyway, the matter was no longer confidential.
After listening to the narration, the faces of the large group of officials were filled with dullness and disbelief.
Yuan Feng was even more dazed and wanted to slap himself to verify that it was not a dream.
Xue Shence fought desperately on the eastern front and only managed to capture a few counties.
Governor Zhao was wandering around the city all day, and then he sent out a few people. Somehow, they took over Yongjia Prefecture without bloodshed?
Do not--
More importantly, Zhao Shixiong's betrayal meant the complete collapse of the Yunfu rebels.
"We may be able to defeat the Yunfu rebels!"
This thought arose in everyone's mind.
Sun Xiaozhun felt his heart beating like a drum. He was so surprised that he couldn't believe it.
"Sir... Is Zhao Shixiong really loyal to the late emperor? Could this be a lie..."
Zhao Duan suddenly smiled, stood up and walked to his side, and said softly with a meaningful tone:
"Why bother asking questions?"
Even if we take a step back and this matter may not be entirely true, why should we expose it?
Wouldn't it be good if everyone had a passable and acceptable excuse?
"Yuan Feng, get ready." Zhao Duan said.
The square-faced commander of the Fifth Army Battalion was stunned:
"My Lord... what are you preparing for?"
Zhao Duan glared at him unhappily and said:
"Of course, we will settle in Yongjia Prefecture."
……
Zhao Shixiong's movements were faster than Zhao Duan had expected.
Once he made up his mind, this thin tiger of the border army showed extraordinary decisiveness.
That afternoon, three pieces of news came from Yongjia City.
First: Zhao Shixiong suddenly beheaded a new batch of "military supervisors" sent by Prince Mu's Mansion in public.
Second: Zhao Shixiong publicly announced that he had come to his senses and sided with the imperial court. He also quickly disarmed all the troops of Prince Mu's Palace in the city, killing those who should be killed and imprisoning those who should be imprisoned.
Third: Open the city gates, have the troops leave the city and disarm, and welcome the five military camps led by Yuan Feng into the city.
In just one day, the ownership of Yongjia City changed, causing an uproar in the surrounding area.
Zhao Duan did not join in the fun, but just stayed in Taicang Mansion waiting for news. As a result, he unexpectedly waited for someone that night.
"Sir, Yunxi and the others are back, and they brought Zhao Shixiong's only daughter, Zhao Ke'er."
Lang Shiba walked to the top of the city wall and said to Zhao Duan, who was sitting on the top of the city wall looking at the stars in the night sky.
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then turned back with a strange expression:
"Zhao Ke'er? Was she sent here as a proton?"
Lang Eighteen said: "I heard that it was Zhao Ke'er who took the initiative to come here, and seemed to be very curious about you, sir."
"..." Zhao Duan rubbed his temple with a headache and said:
"Send someone to arrange for accommodation. I will leave now."
"it is good."
"Also," Zhao Duan raised his head, glanced at the fourteenth-hour moon, and said softly, "I will be in seclusion during the day tomorrow."
It’s time to return to the capital and announce the news of Zhao Shixiong’s surrender to the world.
(End of this chapter)