Chapter 717 Catching the Big Fish
Chapter 717 Catching the Big Fish
"What? Hanjia Cang City was lost?"
Wang Shichong's eyes widened. "I deployed 30,000 troops and still couldn't defend Hanjia City?"
Wang Shiwei said tremblingly: "The enemy army of 50,000 attacked the palace. I was afraid that the palace could not be defended, so I transferred the troops from Hanjia Granary to guard the palace. Originally, I was only temporarily transferring them and sent the troops back at dawn. Because Hanjia Granary had not been attacked, it was estimated that it would not matter if it was empty for an hour. Unexpectedly, the Sui army suddenly attacked Hanjia Granary, and the result was... the result..."
Wang Shiwei could not continue and lowered his head guiltily. Wang Shichong narrowed his eyes and the whip in his hand was shaking. He wanted to whip him. How could he have such a stupid brother? Did the imperial city still need 50,000 troops to attack? The Sui army was obviously trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain!
Wang Shichong's heart was bleeding, and he shouted fiercely: "Don't bother with the palace anymore, take Hanjia City back to me immediately. If you can't take it back, you can commit suicide to apologize!"
Wang Shiwei ran away in a panic. At this time, General Liu Changgong said, "The Sui army has been confronting us for more than a month. They suddenly launched an offensive last night. This must be a major signal."
"What are you worried about?" Wang Shichong asked.
"I am worried that the King of Chu will go from one extreme to another and send all 50,000 troops to attack Hanjia City, but the palace will be easily breached by the enemy."
Wang Shichong thought about it and felt that this was indeed possible. He had only said this in anger when he asked him not to care about the palace. He shouldn't take it seriously and really not care about the palace.
Wang Shichong immediately said to Wang Renze beside him: "You can lead 20,000 troops to support your uncle and make sure to defend the imperial city!"
"Yes, sir!" Wang Renze bowed and ran to check the troops.
Liu Changgong was unable to utter a word for a long time. This was his way of reminding the emperor that he should have replaced Wang Shiwei, but the emperor not only did not replace Wang Shiwei, he did not even give him the chance to support him.
Liu Changgong was disappointed. He finally realized that Wang Shichong now did not trust any outsiders at all. All the troops were led by his brothers and nephews. Even a stupid man like Wang Shiwei was appointed as the Marshal of North City, and in the end he lost Hanjia City, but he was not punished and continued to be the Marshal of North City.
Liu Changgong sighed inwardly and said goodbye to Wang Shichong.
Wang Shichong watched him leave coldly. He really didn't trust anyone with an outsider surname now. Although Liu Changgong was the best general under his command, Liu Changgong lost Hulao Pass and Luokou Warehouse successively. Wang Shichong suspected that Liu Changgong was trying to surrender to King Jin.
Although no evidence was found, he would never be allowed to lead troops again.
Liu Changgong was unhappy and took a carriage back to his palace. The streets were crowded with people, thousands of people were shouting and running. Liu Changgong was stunned and said to the personal soldiers who followed him: "Let's go and see what's going on?"
The personal soldier ran to inquire and came back soon to report, "General, the price of grain has skyrocketed. The price of rice in each grain shop has tripled."
"three times!"
Liu Changgong was shocked. Before, a dou of rice cost three hundred coins. Now it has tripled. Wouldn't it increase to a thousand coins?
This is horrible. How many people will starve to death?
The carriage entered Xiuyefang, and there happened to be a grain store near the gate. The streets were crowded with people kneeling, more than ten thousand of them, and everyone was crying.
A manager stood at the door of the store and shouted, "It is impossible to restore the original price. Without Hanjia Cangcheng, food will only become more and more expensive. Now one dou of rice is still cheap. If you want to buy, buy it. If not, go away and don't interfere with our business!"
Liu Changgong sighed deeply and said, "Let's go back home!"
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the mansion. Liu Changgong walked into the mansion with a heavy heart and met his eldest son Liu Ning.
"Dad, what happened to you?" Liu Ning could see that his father was in a bad mood.
Liu Ning was the Shaoqing of Taichang, which made Liu Changgong extremely dissatisfied. His son was a Jinshi, but not only was he not valued, but he was also appointed as the Qing of Taichang by a ruffian who could not read a single word. It was because this ruffian showed filial piety and flattery to Wang Long that he became Wang Long's adopted son and finally became the Qing of Taichang.
Liu Changgong sighed and said, "Let your brothers come to my study together!"
Not long after, the second son Liu Yuan also came to his father's study. Liu Yuan was a military general. He was named General Wuhouwei a month ago, but he had no soldiers under his command. All the soldiers of Wuhouwei were killed by Wang Renze, and there was no reinforcement. Liu Yuan became a general in name only.
Of course, Liu Changgong also knew that this was Wang Shichong's expression of dissatisfaction with his loss of Hulao Pass. Liu Changgong glanced at his two sons and sighed, "Hanjia City was lost last night!"
"Ah!" Both sons exclaimed. They all knew the importance of Hanjia City. If they lost Hanjia City, Luoyang would be out of food.
"When I came back just now, the price of grain had risen to a thousand coins per bushel of rice. The people will always suffer!"
Liu Yuan asked: "Father, how did Hanjia City fall?"
Liu Changgong sneered, "Because there was a fool named Wang Shiwei guarding the North City, he handed over Hanjia City to the Jin Wang Army."
The eldest son Liu Ning asked in a low voice: "What is the matter that father called us here for?"
Liu Changgong nodded and said, "I want to write a letter to the King of Jin, asking him to attack the city as soon as possible and put an end to the tragedy in the city."
"Father wants to surrender to King Jin?"
Liu Changgong smiled bitterly and said, "I was originally a general of the Sui Dynasty. After I surrendered to Wang Shichong, I have no face to be a general of the Sui Dynasty again. I just want to tell His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin the truth and implore him not to delay any further."
"Father, do you think the Prince of Jin is delaying by not breaking through the city gate?" asked the eldest son Liu Ning.
Liu Changgong sighed, "It was so terrible to attack Hulao Pass. The thunder exploded in the sky, killing hundreds of people. The city gate was blown to pieces by two thunders. If he really wanted to capture Luoyang, he would have captured it long ago. He delayed attacking the city because he was playing Wang Shichong in his hands. It's ridiculous that Wang Shichong, that idiot, said that I had no intention of defending Hulao Pass. It sounds so nice. He might as well have said that I gave up on purpose.
"Father, let me deliver the letter!" Liu Yuan volunteered.
"Do you know how to get out of town?"
"I know. I have contacts in the army. I can ask them to help me get back to the city."
Liu Changgong nodded and said, "Tell your friends that you are going back to my hometown to attend my funeral. Don't tell them that you are going to see the King of Jin. You must remember that you must be on guard against others."
Liu Changgong was afraid that someone would sell out his son for wealth and fame. His brother had passed away last month and he had no time to go back, so he used this excuse to let his son leave the city.
"Kid, remember!"
Liu Changgong immediately wrote a letter and gave it to his second son. Liu Yuan hurried away with the letter.
Xiao Xia was slow to attack Luoyang, in fact he was fishing for Li Yuan's army. The last time the Wagang Army attacked Luoyang, Li Yuan sent 50,000 troops to station in Shan County, trying to fish in troubled waters. What about this time?
Xiao Xia was not sure, but he still wanted to give it a try. He waited patiently. His efforts paid off. After waiting for more than a month, the fish finally took the bait. Crown Prince Li Jiancheng led 30,000 troops to enter Shan County again.
It turned out to be Li Jiancheng, a big fish!
At this time, a soldier came to report: "Your Highness, Liu Changgong sent his second son to deliver a letter to Your Highness."
"Liu Changgong?"
Xiao Xia was slightly startled, and immediately said: "Let him in!"
(End of this chapter)