Reborn in the late Northern Wei Dynasty

Chapter 109 Xuzhou
”The governor Cheng from Luoyang went to Xuzhou, and there was no crime in autumn along the way. The people in the states and counties they passed through all ate pots of pulp and greeted Wang Shi.

Cui Ang, a well-known scholar in Boling, heard about it, and praised him: "There is nothing wrong with the military and civilians in ancient and modern times. This is the master of the Ming Dynasty."

'So they agree with each other a thousand miles away. '

When the timeline is dialed back before Gao Cheng knew the specific situation in Kansai.

In the handsome tent, Gao Cheng is still greeting Cui Ang, who came to join him with Cui Siam's letter, while Zhang Shiqi, who is in charge of recording Gao Cheng's words and deeds, has already prepared a draft for this matter.

Gao Cheng also got angry today: When you were in Xindu, you Cui Ang was high-minded and looked down on me, but now it's good, you ran from Jizhou to Luoyang after a letter from Cui Xian, and then chased you from Luoyang.

But on the surface, Gao Cheng still had a smile on his face, he said happily:

"With Huaiyuan's help, it's as clear as a fish in water."

Cui Ang was very excited, and said with a bit of shame:
"The Great Governor was sincere in conquering the land in the past, but Ang just buried his head in reading and didn't know the heroes of the world. He didn't have the face to see the Great Governor again. Fortunately, Ji Lun wrote a letter to invite him on his behalf. Ang was so grateful for this kindness, and dared not be called the fish and water. , I only hope that I can do the work of a dog and a horse for the governor."

Gao Cheng is not happy anymore, his staff members are all water, raising him a fish, there can be no exceptions.

He reassured:

"The world is chaotic, and there are many people who are greedy for fame and fortune. How many people are there who can study quietly like Huaiyuan? Now that Huaiyuan has completed his studies, he will come to join me. It's too late for Cheng Huanxi, so how can he blame him?"

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Gao Cheng regretted it. On the surface, there was nothing wrong with the words, but if Cui Ang rejected him on the grounds of studying, he would be indifferent to fame and fortune.

And Cui Jishu, who has been supporting him at the age of 17, is chasing fame and fortune?

Can't say no.

But Gao Cheng is still looking for compensation:
"The Cui family in Boling is full of talented people. Uncle Zheng is determined to help the country. He has worked tirelessly and helped me a lot. Now that I have Huaiyuan to assist me, I no longer have to worry about it."

There is only one more Zhang Shiqi in the handsome tent. Although he is flattering, he is very strict, otherwise Gao Cheng would not let him follow him.

As for recording words and deeds, he wrote his manuscript, and Gao Cheng would review it himself.

Cui Ang met Gao Cheng for the first time, and he hadn't developed any resistance to his methods of winning people's hearts. Just saying this, he really thought it was Gao Cheng's words from the bottom of his heart. After all, a 13-year-old boy has so many twists and turns.

Gao Cheng chatted with Cui Ang for a long time, and then called his personal guards to enter the account, and asked them to settle Cui Ang first.

Cui Ang left, Gao Cheng said to Zhang Shiqi:

"Send someone to tell Shuzheng that you don't want to arrange for the common people to welcome the king's teacher. I know the thieves are false and true, so I should send my army south to save the people from the fire."

Zhang Shiqi was ordered to resign.

Little King Gao has always been cautious and never fights unprepared battles. Anyway, he will definitely not be able to keep up with the affairs of Kansai, so he just walked slowly, letting Cui Jishu go to various states and counties before him, and organize scholars and wealthy families to play fish and water with him.

Now that the spies who went to Xuzhou to inquire about the news have sent back the information, Gao Cheng also has a bottom line in his mind.

It turned out that Liang people were also afraid. Before East Xuzhou voted for Liang, Liang general Hou Chengjun and others were defeated by Di Zhen. Stationed on the border of Wei and Liang.

The leading generals are also unknown people, so this battle is easy.

Just as Gao Cheng expected, as soon as the Liang people left, the scholars and powerful families in Xuzhou City sent letters of support through various channels. Gao Cheng read a few of them. Give it to Zhang Shiqi for storage.

In the future, if there is no inspiration, Zhang Shiqi can also learn from it.

In order to allow future generations to understand himself fairly and objectively, Xiao Gaowang has done too much.

Before Gao Cheng's army arrived in Xuzhou, they received seventeen heads from Pengcheng. According to the envoy, they were all those who participated in the attack on Di Zhen, including Xuzhou generals and nobles.

Gao Cheng was well aware of what they were doing, but they were just pushing out a few scapegoats.

The envoy was still looking at Gao Cheng eagerly, Gao Cheng thought for a long time, and said to the envoy:
"You take the head back and tell the envoy that I, Gao Zihui, will kill the person I want to kill, I will do it myself, no one else needs to do it for me."

The messenger turned pale when he heard the words:

"My lord, all those who conspired against me will be killed, why do you say that again!"

Gao Cheng didn't want to say more, and ordered people to drive the envoy out of the camp.

Cui Xian and Zhao Yanshen stayed in Luoyang, and Cui Jishu was the only confidant who followed Gao Cheng to the south.

When he heard that Gao Cheng drove the envoy away and he was unwilling to accept the head of the so-called perpetrator, he hurried to Gao Cheng's tent, and tactfully advised:

"The governor has a reputation for benevolence. Why is he unwilling to forgive the people in Xuzhou today? If he is appeased a little, Xuzhou can be regained without spending a single soldier."

Gao Cheng had his calculations and explained:
"What happened in Xuzhou is no different than that in Sanjing and Yanzhou. The local nobles and lieutenant generals colluded to murder officials and rebel. If I condone them, I'm afraid everyone will follow suit."

In Gao Cheng's view, the nature of the rebellion in Xuzhou was different from that in Sanjing and Yanzhou. Sanjing and Yanzhou conspired under the coercion of prefects and county officials, while Xuzhou's nobles rebelled by killing officials.

If these people sent seventeen heads of scapegoats and the matter was exposed, Xuzhou could easily regain it, but I'm afraid there will be more troubles in the future.

Cui Jishu heard the words and continued to persuade:

"Since the governor is determined to build his prestige, he should appease Xuzhou's tyrants. I have a plan. Please ask the governor to recover the envoy, accept his head, reward gold and silver, and order the envoy to bring a message, so that Xuzhou's acting officials will prepare wine and meat to reward the army. Set up a banquet to welcome the governor.

"In this way, everyone in Xuzhou must be convinced that the governor wants to forgive his crimes. The governor can use the fear of remnants of crimes in the city as an excuse to order Buqu to take over the city defense. This should be reasonable, and others dare to say more.

"Invite Xuzhou generals and school to the banquet together. As long as they enter the city, they will be slaughtered or scraped. It only needs a word from the governor to deal with it."

Cui Jishu's strategy is feasible, but for Gao Cheng, the gains outweigh the losses.

It is indeed easy to lure and kill Xuzhou rebels by coaxing, but at the cost of sacrificing one's political credibility.

Political reputation is a very illusory thing. Some people regard it as nothing, but others regard it as treasure, and eventually exchange it for huge profits.

For example, Sima Yi sold his political reputation for a good price.

When the Gaoping Mausoleum was not decided, Sima Yi exchanged Cao Shuang's vow to believe in the Luoshui alliance with the political reputation he had worked hard for for 40 years.

Believe that if you give up resistance and hand over your military power, you can keep your title and property.

In the end, after Cao Shuang gave up power, Sima Yi violated his oath and killed Cao Shuang's clan, and the Sima family completely controlled Cao Wei from then on.

Gao Cheng is the eldest son of Bohai King Gao Huan, the powerful minister of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the heir of the Gao family. How can the price of political reputation be lower than that of Sima Yi.

Sima Yi exchanged for Guozuo in the 150 year of the Two Jin Dynasties. Gao Cheng didn't want to be a fledgling, so he only exchanged for Xuzhou.

Besides, for the Gao family, Gao Huan's political reputation is already cheap.

In order to achieve hegemony, Gao Huan, who was born at the bottom, betrayed his master three times and swore an alliance with Er Zhu Zhao twice, so the number of overdrafts was indeed a bit more.

There are also consequences. Gao Huan attacked Yubi for the first time and wanted to persuade Wang Sizheng to surrender. He promised to be a high-ranking official and generous salary, but because of his past behavior, he was ridiculed by Wang Sizheng.

Cui Jishu was not an outsider, so Gao Cheng patiently explained to him what was in his heart.

"What the son of the world thinks, the servant is far behind."

Cui Jishu said with shame.

Gao Cheng was relieved, and Cui Jishu resigned.

In fact, it's not that Cui Jishu didn't think of this level. In the world of great strife, all kinds of conspiracies and tricks are frequently appearing. In order to achieve the goal, there is no need to care about it.

But for Gao Cheng, the more immoral the chaotic and absurd Northern and Southern Dynasties, the more he will do the opposite. Maybe this reputation will not be sold in his lifetime, but he only needs to make a deal, and the reward is far from taking Xuzhou lightly. It can be compared, not to mention who said that Xiao Gaowang can't win Xuzhou by his own ability.

Gao Cheng has a good father who laid down this foundation for him and gave him the confidence to build a golden body for himself.

When the envoy returned to Pengcheng, there were already lights and festoons everywhere in Pengcheng, and several nursery rhymes were compiled, emphasizing that Gao Cheng had fun with the people, benevolent and loving.

Thanks to Gao Cheng's tolerant behavior before, everyone believed that they could be pardoned.

When the envoy relayed Gao Cheng's words that he wanted to take the head of the traitor himself, everyone turned pale with shock and panicked for a moment.

Based on Gao Cheng's character design, they still didn't expect that Little Gao Wang came with the purpose of exterminating the clan. They all thought that Gao Cheng's rebellion was not enough, and they thought they were covering up.

After all, the Luoyang clan rebelled, and Gao Cheng did not implicate his family members.

The nobles of Pengcheng only understood Gao Cheng's superficial meaning, thinking that he was going to give him a living person and let him do it himself.

So after some intrigue, another 14 people were escorted to Gao Cheng's army who had just set foot in Xuzhou, waiting for him to personally deal with them.

Gao Cheng received the envoy again, and when he saw the captives, he said angrily:

"Why do you wait to teach me how to behave!"

After all, he ordered the guards to untie the 14 people and drive them out of the camp together with the envoy and the accompanying escort.

The rebels released by Gao Cheng resented being betrayed, and the escorts dared not let them go back alive.

The two sides just came out of the big camp, and immediately started fighting. Gao Cheng heard about the turmoil outside the camp, and immediately ordered people to rescue the rebels, but out of 14 people, only three survived.

But when the envoy returned to Pengcheng with the rest of his entourage, the nobles in Xuzhou realized that Gao Cheng had many pictures.

So while everyone guarded the city strictly, they sent someone to send a letter to Liang Jun on the border of Liang Wei for help.

And Gao Cheng had already prepared for it. Rumors continued to spread on the border between Liang and Wei, claiming that Xuzhou was in turmoil. In order to atone for their crimes, Xuzhou's nobles planned to lure Liang's army into the country to help Gao Cheng break it, and Wei's army went south to plunder.

He didn't intentionally disseminate the application letter sent by the rich family in Xuzhou before, it's too late.

If Xuzhou's wealthy family and Gao Cheng really had a plan, how could the letters sent to Gao Cheng be easily circulated? Jiang Gan had to find a Jiang Gan to do things like stealing books.

There is no Jiang Gan, but he has Cai and brothers.

Gao Cheng summoned the three rebels who had fled back to the camp, promised to pardon their parents, wives and children, and ordered them to be escorted to the border between Liang and Wei.

The previous rumors were enough to make General Liang think deeply. He still benefited from Gao Chengxian's reputation of being lenient to others. Even the Liang people on the border between Liang and Wei did not think that he would completely liquidate Xuzhou's wealthy family.

Even if there is no direct evidence, General Liang Jun is still more willing to believe the content of the rumors. The rich family in Xuzhou is trying to trick them into going north. Gao Cheng must have set up an ambush, waiting for them to fall into the trap.

Now there are three more people defecting to the Liang Army camp, claiming that they were the ones who participated in the attack on Di Zhen, and now that the nobles in Xuzhou are determined to surrender to Gao Cheng, they escaped after fighting to the death. deceived.

General Liang Jun was convinced so far. He convened a military meeting and told everyone what he knew about the cause and effect. He smiled confidently and said:
"How could this trick fool me."

Everyone praised the wise general in unison.

As a result, the various departments of Liang Jun received military orders to strictly guard the border and not allow them to go north.

The nobles in Xuzhou didn't look forward to Liang Jun's rescue, but they waited for Gao Cheng instead.

Gao Cheng was not in a hurry to attack the city, he set up camp fifteen miles away from Pengcheng and ordered people to build siege equipment.

On the third day after arriving outside the city, the Gyeonggi soldiers did not carry ladders, but pushed simple catapults and lined up outside Pengcheng.

Looking out from the top of the city, you can see that the army is well-organized, with flags covering the sky, and the five thousand defenders of Pengcheng are all terrified.

"My lord, is everything going according to plan?"

Cui Jishu rubbed his wrist and asked.

It's not that his fists are itchy and he wants to beat up the future Emperor Daqi violently, but that his wrists are sore from writing letters with the military staff these days.

Gao Cheng looked down at the hundreds of sealed baskets carried by the soldiers, and said with a smile:
"Uncle is going to arrange it himself."

Today he wants to see that Pengcheng is full of literature.

Cui Jishu commanded the soldiers to transport the baskets to the place where the catapults were installed.

Some stones were stuffed into the basket to increase the weight.

The improvised trebuchets were all simple human-powered trebuchets, which required 250 people to cast the projectiles by pulling the ropes manually. Fortunately, Gao Cheng had no shortage of people on hand.

The officer in charge at this time was busy testing stones.

After he checked the angle, he gave an order.Five baskets respond

The soldier pulling the rope shouted:
"Pull hard!"

Five baskets flew to Pengcheng in response, and two of them hit the city wall. The baskets were smashed and the papers in the baskets flew all over the sky and scattered under the city wall.

But still three baskets flew into the city.

Pulling and pulling again and again, the baskets flew into the air one by one.

In Pengcheng City, papers were flying everywhere.

Everyone who picked up the paper saw that the written content was all discolored. It was the letter of recommendation they rushed to write to Gao Cheng.

All of a sudden, there was suspicion among the nobles, and it seemed that anyone could open the city gate and make meritorious deeds to survive.

In ancient times, Cao Mengde burned his letters to win people's hearts.

Today, Xiao Gaowang sent back the letter of vote to make him centrifugal.

Gao Cheng made up his mind: it will be a matter of time before Xuzhou is captured.

Think about it carefully, since I led the army, I first pacified Sanjing, and Chen Qingzhi fled in panic; , the [-] coalition forces took it back.

Three battles and three victories, he can be regarded as a famous general in the world. I don’t know if future generations read history. Knowing that King Xiao Gao led the army at the age of 13 and made such great achievements. With admiration, will he be named Xiaobingxian? No.

　This chapter was originally written to take Xuzhou by deception, but later found that it was not worthwhile to overdraw the political reputation, so it was greatly changed and almost rewritten.

　　Originally, at the end of this chapter, Gao Cheng was murdered in the governor's mansion, and the blood flowed like a river. Outside the mansion, children arranged by Pengcheng people were singing nursery rhymes praising him.

　　Thanks to book friend Jin Taixuan's Guoda for the reward.

　　The first update before [-]:[-] tomorrow, the second update at [-]:[-] pm, and the third update at [-]:[-] pm
　　
　
(End of this chapter)