Huan Rong

In the second year of Ningkang, in December Xinyou, [-] Jin soldiers besieged Tianshui City.

Count nine cold days, dripping water turns into ice.

The army rushed to the city and trapped the gates on all sides.The commercial roads were cut off, and business exchanges were blocked. People in the city were panicked, and they were frightened day and night.

When Jin soldiers rolled out battering hammers and tried to attack the city gate, the defenders at the top of the city immediately became a mess and almost abandoned the city and fled.The prefect of Tianshui led several loyal servants to the top of the city and beheaded the two with his own hands, but he still couldn't suppress them.

"The lord is dead, we will stay here, sooner or later we will run out of food, it is tantamount to a dead end!" a team leader said loudly.

"The Han, Qiang and Jie in the city are secretly plotting. Once the war breaks out, we will fight to the death against the foreign enemies, and we may not be able to stop the cold arrows behind us."

"Master Yao's words are justified!"

"People's hearts are unpredictable, you must guard against it!"

Everyone was chattering, and they all advised the prefect of Tianshui to act cautiously, not to be careless for a while, causing irreparable consequences.

The prefect of Tianshui, surnamed Fu, was born in the Diqin clan.Hearing that Chang'an was destroyed and Fu Jian died in battle, his grief and indignation could not be suppressed for a while, and he wrote several letters, intending to unite with the royal family abroad to attack the Qin family.

Although the idea is good, the response is very few.

Before he could continue writing letters to persuade the clan outside, Fufeng County had been captured by Jin soldiers.After that, there was news that Lueyang County had been imprisoned.

Thousands of rebels and refugees escaped from the two counties and entered Tianshui one after another.

The prefect of Fu Jian originally wanted to open the city to recruit and flood the army. He never expected that these rebels were more fierce than bandits.

Whether it is Han people, Zahu people or Di tribes, they are all treated equally.If you say grab, you will grab, if you say kill, you will kill.The evil deeds are heinous, which arouses the indignation and complaints of the people.

If the prefect Fu insisted on going his own way and still wanted to recruit these rebels, the people of Tianshui would not care, and the officials of the county government might rebel immediately and push him down as prefect.

The calculated source of troops was gone, and the Jin soldiers besieged the city again. The prefect Fu had no choice but to organize the young and strong in the city to climb to the top of the city in person, and wanted to fight to the death with the enemy.

He was determined to live and die with the city, but Tianshui officials didn't have the same thoughts.

When the Jin army rushed to the city, the people did not say anything, but secretly joined forces with each other, and successively gave birth to the idea of ​​"opening the city gate, offering the city, and ensuring safety".

Master Yao and the thief Cao secretly plotted. If the prefect Fu is stubborn, refuses to listen to the advice, and insists on dragging the people of the city to die together, he might as well take the head of the other, and the right should be given to the generals of the Jin army.

As time passed day by day, the siege of Jin soldiers became more and more strict, and everyone's minds became more active.

The tyrants in the city are about to move, and the Han people are undercurrents. The prefect Fu knows that things are not good, but he has no choice but to watch the situation continue to deteriorate and slide further into the abyss.

Today, the heavy snow stopped for a while, and the Jin soldiers marched out of the camp, rolled out battering rams, and carried the ladders.

The sound of drums and horns, the clash of swords and shields and the neighing of war horses were intertwined, becoming the last straw that crushed the defenders in the city.

From Di Renzhu down, no one wanted to lose their lives for nothing, they all wanted to open the city gates, and take advantage of the Jin army's failure to completely close the encirclement, looking for gaps and killing a way out.

At first, everyone just persuaded the prefect, hoping that he would change his mind and leave a way out for everyone.

The lord of the country is dead, and Chang'an has changed hands. Even if it can stop the Jin soldiers, it may not be able to stop the Qin clan's iron cavalry.What's more, there are Tuyuhun and Shiyijian in the west, who are trapped in Tianshui City, and they will die sooner or later!

It's hard to talk about it, it's almost a mouthful, Fu Taishou just doesn't let go, and plans to go all the way to the dark.

Everyone's patience is getting worse and worse, and their anxiety is getting worse.

After persuasion again to no avail, he finally decided to take the head of Fu Taishou and switch to the Jin army!

Although Governor Fu knew that his subordinates were dissatisfied, he would never have imagined that someone would actually do something to kill him at the top of the city!

Hearing the sound of the Jin soldiers' horns, Prefect Fu was overlooking the city, looking at the battle formation of the Jin soldiers.

If he hadn't dodged quickly, I'm afraid the knife would have been cut on the neck.

"You?!" Fu Taishou was furious, his eyes were pierced, and without caring about the bleeding wound, he drew out his long knife and said loudly, "You want to rebel?!"

"Rebellion?" Cao, the thief under the door, raised his blood-stained long knife and sneered, "Fu Jian is dead, Chang'an is broken, and Di Qin Zao no longer exists. Whose rebellion should I rebel against?"

"Your Majesty, this is to save everyone's life. You are determined to die, so you might as well lend me your head."

Scanning the crowd, he found that only the loyal servant was standing beside him, and the rest were standing opposite.

Governor Fu suddenly felt ashamed, knowing that there was no way to turn back, and he might die at the top of the city today.Suddenly he laughed wildly, and said: "You unfaithful people, think that taking my head can be thrown into the Jin Dynasty, and then enjoy the glory and wealth? It's a joke!"

"Even if I am going to die, I will never die by your hands!"

Before he finished speaking, Prefect Fu took half a step back, leaning his back on the city wall, glanced at the crowd again, shouted in Hu language, and cursed that they would die without a place to bury them.Immediately, with a single hand support, he jumped down the city.

In the howling north wind, his scolding could still be heard.

After a blunt sound, amidst the silver and white everywhere, a dark red suddenly bloomed, like a flower blooming on the other side of hell.

There was a dead silence at the top of the city, but the sound of drums and horns below the city did not stop.

Battering rams and chariots came out together, and the soldiers set up ladders and bravely climbed up the city wall.He was about to slash with his sword, but found that the defenders at the top of the city had no fighting spirit. Seeing Jin soldiers emerging from the top of the city, their first reaction was not to resist, but to abandon their swords and surrender.

Huan Shiqian got the report, and discussed with Xie Xuan and others, thinking that there was a fraud.

Unexpectedly, the master of the city led people to open the gate of the city. They were all dressed in plain clothes, with disheveled hair and feet, and shouted to dedicate the city.

"This..." Huan Shiqian lost his mind.

No matter Fufeng or Lueyang, it was only after a series of bloody battles that they were completely defeated.After a few days of fighting in Tianshui, everyone in the army thought that there would be a fierce battle, but in the end, no one was killed, and the other party offered the city?

"What does General Xie think?"

Xie Xuan pondered for a moment, and suggested that it might as well send people into the city, and then bring some officials from Xiancheng.

Asking Wang Xianzhi for his opinion is no different from Xie Xuan.

In the end, Huan Shiqian made a decision, removed the battering ram, sent two teams of soldiers into the city, and brought Master Yao and others to the big tent for careful questioning.

It's freezing cold, it's hard to explain why Mr. Yao and the others are wearing thin clothes, and their feet are bare.Walking through the snow, everyone was already pale, their lips were blue, and they were shivering.

Seeing Huan Shiqian in armor, everyone ignored the trembling and saluted one after another, saying that they were willing to vote for the Jin Dynasty.

"Oh?" Huan Shiqian sat on the main seat with a big horse and a golden knife, his eyes turned back and forth on everyone, "You are sure what you said?"

"Don't dare to be fake!"

"Are you the master of Tianshui County?"

"Back to the general, that's right."

"Where is Tianshui prefect?"

"He..." Master Yao hesitated for two seconds. Seeing Huan Shiqian's stern face, all eyes in the tent were fierce, and his hands were pressing on the handle of the knife. He didn't dare to hesitate any longer, and immediately asked Fu Taishou how he decided to defend the city. It is also clear how everyone betrayed their relatives and finally jumped off the city wall.

"You mean, the person who jumped off the city wall before was the prefect of Tianshui?" Huan Shiqian asked.

"Indeed." Master Yao nodded.

Huan Shiqian frowned, and looked at each other with Xie Xuan, Yang Guang, and the others, feeling deeply moved.

"Pull it down."

"General?"

Master Yao and the others showed shocking expressions, they couldn't believe that they offered the city on their own initiative and ended up like this?

Huan Shiqian didn't have the heart to talk to them, so he only ordered Buqu to take him down, but he didn't raise his sword immediately, and he didn't treat them very well.

"The body of Fu Taishou should be collected, so that he can be buried alive. If he meets his family members, he should arrange it properly."

"No!" Bu Qu clasped his fists.

"After entering the city, don't harass the people. If you violate it, you will be punished by military law!"

"promise!"

"Wang Chuan," Huan Shiqian turned to Wang Xianzhi, "I entrust you with the affairs of the city for the time being. You must count the books as soon as possible, re-register the household registration, and appoint new officials."

"Don't worry, general." Wang Xianzhi said with a smile, "I will enter the city immediately."

Huan Shiqian issued several orders to take over Tianshui City as quickly as possible.After entering the city, he opened a granary to appease the people, read out the crimes of Master Yao and others, and questioned them one by one.And win over the local tyrants, and take capable people to serve as officials of the government.

Originally, he did not have this right.

But whoever lets the army out, Jiankang is beyond reach.In addition, with Xie Xuan and Wang Xianzhi in the middle, and the Chenjun Xie family, Langya Wang family and Long Kanghuan family being twisted together, Jiankang has nothing to do even if he has some criticisms.

Huan Shiqian spread out the map again, looking at the three counties that he had won, he was in a good mood.

"I have written a letter with my family lord, and the army is temporarily stationed in Tianshui City. Wait for the Duke of Huainan to leave Chang'an before making the next step."

Consecutively attacking the three counties of Fufeng, Lueyang and Tianshui is equivalent to taking down half of Qinzhou. The army is exhausted and needs to rest urgently.In addition, there were not many civil servants brought in. In order to completely digest the territory and population of the three counties, there must be a buffer.

The most important thing is that the negotiation between Huan Rong and the Qin family is related to the stability of the business in the Western Regions in the future.

If the negotiations break down, Fufeng County may immediately encounter war.

Huan Shiqian ordered troops to be stationed in Tianshui, not only to prevent the Di people from counterattacking, but also to guard against the Qin family.The land that was finally won is related to the big plan in the future, and no mistakes are allowed.

"General, Xuan has already written a letter with the family, and my uncle agreed, and will soon present to the imperial court, giving the general the right to elect the officials of the three counties."

Xie Xuan and Wang Xianzhi had already thought of the problem Huan Shiqian was facing.

Since it is a tripartite cooperation, it is natural to show sincerity.

The Huan family shared considerable benefits, and both the Xie family and the Wang family could get a share of the business in the Western Regions.In contrast, Xie An and Wang Biaozhi will be active in Jiankang, which will open the door for the Huan family to send troops to occupy land.

Things have developed to the present, the cooperation between the three parties is considered pleasant, and most of them are carried out very smoothly.

However, Huan Rong knew that all eggs should not be put in the same basket. Apart from Xie and Wang, Jia Bing had been sent to Jiankang, contacted the local Wu family, and planned together with Xi Chao to ensure that the plan was foolproof.

Of course, there is a prerequisite for all this, which is to be able to convince the Qin family.

For this reason, Huan Rong did not hesitate to go to Chang'an in person, just to complete the most important part of the plan.

The news of Huan Shiqian's garrison in Tianshui was sent back to Jingzhou, and Huan Huo immediately sent a letter to inform Huan Chong who was stationed in Gushu.

The Xie family and the Wang family sent out the children of the clan with the intention of telling the Huan family that even if they cannot hold the prefect seal of Fufeng and other counties, they must occupy a place in the county government.

Naturally, it is impossible to completely hide such a big move from others.

Coincidentally, Wang Tanzhi was seriously ill, and the Wang family in Taiyuan was afraid of going through an accident, so he was temporarily unable to take care of him; Xi Yin's attitude was very delicate. Hold the military power firmly, and there must be no mistakes.

Under such circumstances, the matter of Sima Yao's Yuanfu was put on the agenda, but it did not receive much attention.

The decree was sent out, and the princes and kings from all over the world were called to come to watch the ceremony, but the response was extremely indifferent.

The princes and kings either excused their illness and found it inconvenient to travel, or they found other excuses. In short, they tried not to come if they could.Even Sima Daozi tried to evade it again and again, he really couldn't push it, so he reluctantly went to the table, saying that he would go back to Jiankang to watch the ceremony.

Not long after, news came out from the palace that the emperor was going to get married.

The status of Sima Yao and the situation of the Jin family are all clear to the court.Not to mention the top gentry like Wang and Xie, even the ordinary nobles would avoid them.

I don't want to bear the name of a foreign relative, and I don't intend to use it to get promoted. No one wants to send their daughter to Taicheng to suffer.

In the end, it was the Queen Mother who came forward, summoned several foreign relatives, and sent Da Changle to go around for favors, and then settled on the niece of Queen Aijing Wang Muzhi-the daughter of Wang Yun, the internal historian of Kuaiji.

Wang's girl is very beautiful, but her personality is slightly "lively", and she has a unique hobby-drinking.The amount of alcohol is so high that no ordinary gentleman can match it.

Another point is that the Wang family is Wang Muzhi's niece, and Wang Muzhi is the queen of Emperor Ai of Jin Dynasty. In terms of seniority, Wang Muzhi wants to call Sima Yao an uncle.

Wang Shi is two years older than Sima Yao, but her seniority is two generations lower!

Calculated in this way, it is a bit embarrassing for the two to become husband and wife.

Sima Yao was not very satisfied with the queen, and his attitude was unavoidably pushy.

Seeing his thoughts, the Queen Mother couldn't help sneering, she spoke reservedly in front of her face, but she was not polite at all behind the scenes, she told Sima Yao clearly that marrying Wang Yun's daughter is already a high-spirited, what else do you want to choose?

"The officials have to think about it."

If you don't marry Wang's daughter, who else do you want to marry?

The Jiankang gentry counted them all, not to mention Wang Xie and other top aristocrats, even ordinary families were not willing to send their daughters to Taicheng.

Among other things, Sima Yao was the son of Kunlun's maidservant, even if he ascended the throne, his biological mother's bloodline would still not be changed.Marry his daughter to him?Totally impossible!

Sima Yao was not angry, but it was a foregone conclusion.If you continue to be stubborn, you will probably annoy the Queen Mother.Once the latter let go, who else can he turn to?

Queen Mother Chu?

Sima Yao shook his head, this road has long since failed.With the Queen Mother around for a day, the Queen Mother Chu will not be able to stand up.After thinking it over clearly, Sima Yao put away his unwillingness, and took the initiative to admit his mistake to the queen mother, and expressed his willingness to marry the daughter of the Wang family, and the grand ceremony of establishing the empress will be held after Yuanfu.

The Queen Mother looked at him with sharp eyes, as if she wanted to see what he was thinking.

Sima Yao lowered his head, his expression became more and more sincere, even with the most provocative eyes, he couldn't see any hypocrisy.

"Okay." The Queen Mother lowered her eyes, stroked the auspicious clouds on her cuffs, and said, "It is really a blessing for the country that the officials can understand."

Sima Yao repeatedly promised, confirming that the Queen Mother's attitude had softened and would not really let go, so he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up and exited Changle Palace.

Walking out of the palace gate and standing on the stone steps, Sima Yao gritted his teeth hard, pursed his lips into a straight line, suppressed the aggrieved and anger in his chest, deeply clenched his fingertips into his palms, and kept telling himself, endure, must endure!

The second year of Ningkang, Guihai

Qin Ce's letter was sent to Chang'an. After Qin Jing and Qin Yu read it, they went to Huanrong Camp in person, and reached a contract with the latter according to Qin Ce's intention.

"The Qin family gave up Fufeng to the land of Longxi, and it can protect the safety of the caravan." Qin Yu said seriously, "It's just that the benefits of Jingdao's promise need to be increased by [-]%."

Huan Rong shook his head with a smile and said, "Twenty percent is not enough."

He knew that the Qin family would not let go easily.

The so-called asking prices all over the sky to pay back the money, when he put forward the conditions, he was mentally prepared that the Qin family would definitely raise the price.

After discussing with Zhong Lin, the bottom line that Huan Rong can accept is half to [-]%, and absolutely nothing higher.

After all, with the opening of the trade route, he had to face Tuyuhun, and the risk he had to take was definitely not small.Caravans travel through the Western Regions, and it takes time to operate the local area, and the manpower and material resources invested in the early stage are comparable to astronomical figures.

Qin made a promise, and the price he paid was not small.It is completely impossible to increase by another [-]%.

"Half success." Huan Rong bit down to death, "This matter is beneficial to both parties. In the future, the king of Qin will conquer the northern region and drive out the bandits. All the money and food needed can be traded through this."

In short, if the money comes to your door, the negotiations will break down because of the three melons and two dates?Smart people know it's not worth it.

Qin Jun frowned, and turned to see Qin Jing clearly.

The latter stared at Huan Rong and said, "[-]%."

Huan Rong was about to shake his head again, but he heard Qin Jing say: "The Qin family took Yongzhou and sent troops to Gu Zang to chase Shi Yi Qiang."

Yongzhou is adjacent to Qinzhou, and Qin Jing's claim of taking it must be to completely wipe out the remnants of Diqin, leaving no one behind.Expelling Shi Yijian would save Huanrong another trouble.

Thinking of the Tuoba Department in Shi Yijian's hand, Huan Rong frowned, unconsciously rubbed the half tiger amulet with him, and raised his head to lock Qin Jing's gaze.

"Brother Qin is true?"

"Deedable."

"One percent?"

"One percent!"

"Where does Gu Zang belong to?"

"In charge."

"it is good!"

The two reached an agreement, drew up a contract on the spot, and carved bamboo slips with a knife and pen.

Qin Jing copied a copy and sent it back to Xihe by Goshawk.

Qin Jun looked at Qin Jing, then at Huan Rong, and finally decided, don't say anything, just watch.