Chapter 724 Last chance

Although Yuan Xiaoju did not hold an official position, he still had a title, so there was no problem for him to call himself a minister.

Xiao Xia summoned him with the etiquette of an emperor, which was to tell Yuan Xiaoju that he was going to become emperor and give Yuan Xiaoju one last chance to take sides.

He believed that Yuan Xiaoju, a veteran official, could understand what he meant.

"Master Yuan, you have worked hard. Please take a seat!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

A guard brought a chair and Yuan Xiaoju sat down.

Xiao Xia smiled and asked, "Excuse me, Master Yuan, what is the current situation of the battle in Hedong?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the battle in Hedong is still going on fiercely. After 50,000 more troops were sent to Hedong, the situation has made some progress. The Tang army has captured Hedong City, but it is difficult to advance further. I heard that the other side has also sent 50,000 more troops, and the two sides are in a stalemate."

"How many troops are deployed in Longyou?"

"It's still 80,000 troops!"

Xiao Xia nodded. "I gave the prince a suggestion before. I suggested that the Tang army temporarily withdraw the troops in Hedong and concentrate their forces to attack Longyou. After taking Longyou, they will turn around and attack Hedong. Didn't they adopt this plan?"

Yuan Xiaoju bowed and said, "As far as I know, the Crown Prince did propose this plan, but the King of Tang and the military did not accept it."

"why?"

"There are many reasons. First, the prince is quite honest. He admitted that this was the plan proposed by Your Highness. The King of Tang was unhappy and thought that Your Highness had ulterior motives. Secondly, the reason given by the military was that it was very difficult to capture Hedong City and they had lost tens of thousands of soldiers. The military would never give up.

But there is another deeper reason, which is the problem of military factions. On one side is the Hedong faction led by Zhangsun Shunde, Liu Hongji, Yin Kaishan and others, and on the other side is the Longyou faction led by Qu Tutong, Yang Gongren, and Yuwen Chengdu. These two factions each have about 100,000 troops, and they have always been a bit tit-for-tat. The Hedong faction is unwilling to withdraw the Hedong army to attack Longyou, and the Longyou faction is also unwilling. "

"Didn't Yuwen Chengdu lead 30,000 troops to support Hedong before?" Xiao Xia asked with a smile.

"The leader has already been replaced. Now Li Xiaogong is leading 80,000 troops to counterattack Hedong."

Xiao Xia nodded slowly. He had given them the only suggestion that could help them turn things around, but he didn't expect that it would be rejected by all three parties. So don't blame himself for being ruthless.

"Excuse me, Master Yuan, is there any explanation for Li Yuan's establishment of his own dynasty?"

Yuan Xiaoju thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, there are two possible scenarios for the King of Tang to ascend the throne. The first is when the territory is stable, the military is victorious, and the people support him. The second is when the current regime loses its legitimacy. For example, if Your Highness ascends the throne, the Sui Dynasty will be supported by the people. It will be meaningless for the King of Tang to continue to defend the Sui Dynasty. He will definitely establish his own dynasty. However, there is a third possibility!"

"Master, please continue!"

Yuan Xiaoju bowed and said, "The third possibility is that the Chang'an court is dissolved, but the King of Tang does not ascend the throne. Instead, he submits to Your Highness in the name of the King of Tang and continues to maintain autonomy. This situation can only happen if Your Highness suppresses the King of Tang's ambition with strong military strength."

Xiao Xia secretly admired Yuan Xiaoju's deep insight, as this was exactly what Xiao Xia wanted to do.

The meeting didn't last too long, but Xiao Xia always controlled the topic. Yuan Xiaoju didn't have the chance to express his loyalty. In the end, Xiao Xia said calmly: "Let the past be the past. A new era of civil governance is about to begin. I suggest that the Guanlong nobles transform as soon as possible, from a military type to a civil type, enter the officialdom through the imperial examination, and gradually become a new family. From a close-knit group to a dispersed family like Hedong, this is the long-term path for your families. I also hope that you will not lag behind the times and be eliminated by the times in the end."

Xiao Xia's attitude has been expressed very clearly. He will not pursue the Hanzhong mutiny any further, but he will not tolerate the Guanlong nobles continuing to exist. All weapons must be disarmed, and the nobles must be transformed into aristocratic families, from martial arts to literature, and from groups to dispersion.

The families that successfully reformed can survive for a long time, while the stubborn families will be eliminated by the times. Xiao Xia did not specify how they would be eliminated, but if they continued to hide hundreds of thousands of weapons and armors, they would definitely be doomed. After a pause, Xiao Xia continued, "The former crown prince Yang Yong has passed away today. His coffin is in the Sanqing Palace in Mingyifang. He was once your son-in-law. You should go and see him off!"

Yuan Xiaoju nodded silently, "I will go right away!"

Yuan Xiaoju walked out of the palace with a heavy heart. He stood on the Tianjin Bridge and looked at the newly repaired bridge, which was more magnificent and wider than before. He suddenly realized that the Sui Dynasty was just like this bridge. It was blown up but restored and became a more powerful dynasty.

Yuan Xiaoju couldn't help but look up and sigh. The world was really going to change. The fate of each family would have to be in their own hands.

A few days later, the fleet, which was hundreds of miles long, finally arrived in Luoyang. For the people of Luoyang, they had no idea of the existence of this fleet. When the fleet entered the city from Luo River, the whole city was in an uproar. Hundreds of thousands of people came from all directions to witness this spectacular scene. The hundreds of large ships entering the city were only a small part, but each ship was a large ship with a capacity of ten thousand stones, which brought great shock to the people of Luoyang.

The ships entering the city were basically official ships. The ship carrying Prince Jin's family was a dragon ship with pavilions built on it. In addition to the main ship, there were several auxiliary ships for transporting servants and loading valuables. Prince Jin's family, together with the wet nurse, female guards, maids, etc., totaled about two hundred people. Soon a large cart took them into the palace.

The south bank is very lively, with more than a dozen large tents set up. These are reception tents. There is an interesting thing here. Except for the residences of high-level officials, the residences of other middle and low-level officials are decided by drawing lots. They are not allowed to choose, but decide by drawing lots themselves.

For example, if you are a fifth-rank official, according to regulations you can get a five-acre house. Then a dozen fifth-rank officials will gather together and each draw an official house with the same area and configuration, but in different locations.

This ensures fairness. If you draw a house in a slightly worse location, you can only blame your bad luck. But there is no need to be discouraged. If you are promoted or transferred to another position, your official residence will change.

The drawing of lots will only be done once. After the court's normal transformation, the allocation of additional official residences will be decided according to the system and will not allow for personal choice.

Officials of the ninth rank have houses of two acres, officials of the eighth rank have houses of three acres, officials of the seventh and sixth ranks have houses of four acres, and officials of the fifth rank and above all have large houses. In addition, officials in reserve and important officials, these low-level officials, all have houses of one acre.

Han Xiaoji currently serves as the commander of the Crossbow Bureau of the Military Equipment Inspectorate. The Crossbow Bureau develops bows and crossbows as well as large offensive weapons such as catapults and crossbows. The commander is a fifth-rank official.

Han Xiaoji brought his wife and children to the fifth-rank tent. He asked his wife and children to wait outside while he walked into the tent.

There are already more than twenty officials in the big tent, and there are many officials of his level, and most of the officials in the office are of this level.

Han Xiaoji verified his identity and received a migration manual, which told him in detail the arrangements for court affairs in the next few days. For example, tomorrow was salary payment day, and the manual would tell him where to collect the salary, how their living benefits would be arranged, where to report on the third day, and so on.

Han Xiaoji got another bronze plate, which was the official residence lottery plate. He came to a table and handed the bronze plate to an official. The official pointed to more than 20 identical white envelopes on the table and said with a smile: "Pick an envelope yourself. They are all sealed. Once you open it, you can't regret it. The envelope is your official residence. We will arrange a carriage to take you and your family there, and your luggage will be delivered to your door by soldiers."

Han Xiaoji recited a few words silently and chose the seventh envelope. His birthday was the ninth day of the seventh month, and his nickname was Qillang. Seven was his lucky number.

Han Xiaoji tore open the envelope and looked at it nervously. It was Chongyefang. He was immediately overjoyed. It was a second-class location in Luoyang.

The first-class locations are the first row of blocks on both sides of Tianjie and several blocks close to the imperial palace in the north city. The second-class locations are the second and third rows of blocks on both sides of Tianjie in the south city. Chongyefang is the second row of blocks.

The official registered his address and said with a smile, "Bring your family to the big tent and wait. A carriage will take you to your new home soon!"

Han Xiaoji hurried out of the tent, and his wife Yue came up to him and asked, "Where did you get the lottery?"

"Chongyefang in South City!"

The Yue family clapped their hands in joy. Their family had lived in Luoyang for several years and knew the situation in Luoyang very well. Chongyefang was definitely a good location.

(End of this chapter)

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