Chapter 680: Suta Surrenders
Chapter 680: Suta Surrenders
The news that Prince Jin led a large army to Pengcheng County reached Zhang Xutuo's ears, but at the same time, the newly enthroned Emperor Yang Dan of Luoyang also sent someone to convey his order, ordering him to lead his army back to Luoyang.
During this period, Zhang Xutuo gathered troops from all over the place, and his army gradually recovered to more than 10,000 people. However, with only these 10,000 people, his army could not defeat the Wagang Army, and could not even defend Liang County.
That morning, Zhang Xutuo sent someone to find his aide Xu Huan. Xu Huan was a fellow townsman of Zhang Xutuo. He had followed Zhang Xutuo for many years and was deeply trusted by Zhang Xutuo. He had been handling various documents for him.
"Zhang Shuai wants to talk to me about something?"
Xu Huan walked in quickly, holding a pen in his hand.
Zhang Xutuo sighed and said, "I just received an express letter from His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, asking me to go to Pengcheng County to meet him. Yesterday, the Emperor also ordered me to lead the army back to Luoyang immediately. What do you think I should do?"
Although Xu Huan didn't know much about military operations, he had a clear mind and a thorough understanding of issues, making him a qualified aide.
Xu Heng pondered for a moment and said, "Has Commander Zhang already acknowledged the Emperor of Luoyang?"
Zhang Xutuo was stunned. "Is there anything wrong?"
"The problem is that the King of Jin has not acknowledged the Emperor of Luoyang, so why should General Zhang be so anxious?"
"How do you know that the King of Jin did not recognize the Emperor of Luoyang?"
Xu Heng took out a notice, which was a notification sent by the Prince of Jin's Mansion to various places, one of which also arrived in Songcheng County, Liang County.
"Please read this, Marshal Zhang. This is a notice from the Prince of Jin's Palace. It clearly states that the Empress Dowager issued an edict that whoever unifies the world can inherit the throne of the Sui Dynasty. Then, the Empress Dowager appointed the Prince of Jin as the Regent of the Sui Dynasty. Did you notice the details, Marshal Zhang? It's the Empress Dowager, not the Grand Empress Dowager as Luoyang calls her. Only whoever unifies the world can inherit the throne of the Sui Dynasty. That means there is no emperor now, only a Regent. It's obvious that they don't recognize the Son of Heaven of Luoyang."
Zhang Xutuo said after a while: "Hasn't the emperor been planning to let the crown prince ascend the throne? Why doesn't Empress Xiao acknowledge it again? Is she under pressure from Prince Jin?"
Xu Heng said slowly, "I don't think that's the problem. When I saw the imperial edict, I felt it was a bit strange. It should have asked General Zhang to report to the capital, but why did they let General Zhang lead his army back to Luoyang? This is equivalent to giving up Liang County. It doesn't make sense. I suspect that this is Wang Shichong's intention."
Zhang Xutuo was shocked. "You said the emperor's edict was Wang Shichong's idea?"
Xu Heng nodded. "Wang Shichong was named the King of Zheng, Prime Minister and Minister of Revenue, and Grand Marshal of the Army, and was given the Nine Gifts. Do you think this is still a normal court, General Zhang?"
Zhang Xutuo said after a while: "This reminds me of Cao Cao."
"That's right. That's why I said that the emperor's edict that Zhang Shuai received might not be known to the emperor's eldest grandson. The edict was drafted by the prime minister. If the seal official is also the prime minister's man, then the emperor really couldn't see the edict."
Zhang Xutuo then understood why he was asked to lead his troops into the capital. If it was an imperial edict issued by Wang Shichong on behalf of the emperor, he would be able to understand it.
"Okay! I'll go see King Jin."
Zhang Xutuo made up his mind that if the King of Jin did not recognize the emperor, he would not recognize him either, and he would not be Wang Shichong's running dog.
Zhang Xutuo handed over the army to Liangjun Governor Yao Junsu, and the next day he rushed to Pengcheng County with more than a hundred personal soldiers.
Songcheng County of Liang County is today's Shangqiu, Henan Province, which is very close to Pengcheng County, which is Xuzhou. Two days later, Zhang Xutuo arrived in Pengcheng County, and Luo Shixin was ordered to come to greet Zhang Xutuo.
Historically, Luo Shixin was Zhang Xutuo's trusted and beloved general. Although the two had no more interactions after Xiao Xia crossed time and space, Luo Shixin, as an emerging general, still had great respect for Zhang Xutuo, who achieved success late in life.
Luo Shixin took Zhang Xutuo all the way to the temporary headquarters of Prince of Jin. Zhang Xutuo was surprised to find that the temporary headquarters of Prince of Jin was on a boat outside the city, which was actually right next to the Sui army camp.
Luo Shixin smiled and said, "His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin is not only the commander-in-chief of the three armies, but also the regent. Apart from marching, he is also quite busy with government affairs. The official ship not only houses His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin's government office, but also many temporary government offices."
"So that's how it is. This means taking the government office with you."
Zhang Xutuo boarded the ship and was led to the main cabin. After a while, a personal soldier said, "Your Highness, please invite General Zhang to enter the cabin!" Zhang Xutuo walked into the cabin and saw that it was very spacious. His Royal Highness Prince Jin was sitting at the table. Zhang Xutuo hurriedly bowed and saluted, "Your humble servant Zhang Xutuo pays homage to His Royal Highness the Regent Prince!"
"General Zhang, please take a seat!"
The soldiers brought a chair and Zhang Xutuo sat down. He also liked chairs and did not like kneeling.
Xiao Xia smiled slightly and said, "General Zhang, we haven't seen each other for many years!"
The last time Xiao Xia saw Zhang Xutuo was in the third year of Renshou. He resigned from the post of General of the Left Wuhou Guard and was succeeded by Zhang Xutuo.
Zhang Xutuo also sighed: "Yes! At that time, Your Highness was still a young hero. More than ten years have passed, and Your Highness has become a king who is famous all over the world."
Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and then asked, "Does General Zhang know what happened in Luoyang?"
Zhang Xutuo shook his head. "I only know that the officials who stayed behind supported the emperor's grandson to ascend the throne. I don't know the other details."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "I have a very strong intelligence point in Luoyang, and I know everything that is happening in Luoyang. Look, this is the pigeon intelligence that was sent today!"
Xiao Xia handed a copy of the pigeon letter to Zhang Xutuo. Pengcheng County was an extremely important intelligence transfer station, and now the intelligence could be given directly to Xiao Xia. Jia Runfu, the director of the third department of the Intelligence Bureau, was on another ship with a group of intelligence officers to collect and organize the intelligence.
Zhang Xutuo took the information and saw two things written on it. The first was that Wang Xuanshu was appointed as the General of Beishenfu, and the second was that Yuan Wendu was dismissed from his positions as the Left Prime Minister and Minister of Personnel, and was replaced by Duan Da.
Zhang Xutuo bowed and said, "I am a stupid official, please understand the meaning of this."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "General, you don't know who Wang Xuanshu is, right?"
Zhang Xutuo shook his head. He really didn't know.
"This Wang Xuanshu is Wang Shichong's second son, and he is only eighteen years old this year."
"Ah!" Zhang Xutuo was shocked. Wang Shichong also controlled the palace guards?
"Now, Wang Shichong has total military power over the 150,000-man army in Luoyang. The generals who command the various armies are all Wang Shichong's brothers, nephews, and confidants. It can be said that Wang Shichong has complete control over the army. He also serves as the Minister of Revenue, and the financial power is also in his hands. The power over officials is the change in the second article."
Zhang Xutuo looked at the second one and understood a little, "Could it be that the left prime minister Duan Da is also Wang Shichong's man?"
"Duan Da himself was not Wang Shichong's man, but he was a soft dough and was manipulated by Wang Shichong. Letting him take over as the left prime minister was ostensibly a concession of power, but in reality Wang Shichong still controlled the power of officials. Yuan Wendu was dismissed from the position of left prime minister, which meant that Wang Shichong broke with the Guanlong nobles."
"why?"
Xiao Xia said calmly, "It should be related to Wang Long's death. It was Yuan Wendu who brought Wang Long and Yu Wenhuaji together, but the Guanlong nobles failed to save Wang Long's life in the end. Wang Shichong was angry with the Guanlong nobles, and they officially broke up. Yuan Wendu was demoted to the Minister of Works. This can be regarded as Wang Shichong giving the Guanlong nobles a little face, otherwise he would have expelled them directly."
Zhang Xutuo nodded gently, "I finally understand what happened in Luoyang. Your Highness, do you think Wang Shichong will usurp the throne?"
Xiao Xia said without hesitation: "Definitely!"
Xiao Xia stood up and walked to the sand table, pointing at the Sishui River with a wooden pole and said, "My northern expedition will not take too long this time. The army will not go to Liang County, but will go north along the Sishui River to fully control the Shandong Peninsula. So I hope that the general can continue to garrison Liang County and become the support point of my outer defense. I will give General Zhang 20,000 troops, and I hope that General Zhang will stabilize Liang County."
Zhang Xutuo was really moved. He had been worried all the way that the King of Jin would annex his army. Unexpectedly, the King of Jin not only did not annex his army, but also gave him 20,000 troops in return. This sincerity and trust made Zhang Xutuo feel so moved that he was willing to die for his confidant.
Zhang Xutuo bowed and said, "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I am willing to serve you loyally with my whole heart and soul!"
(End of this chapter)