The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 263 The first step to split the party members

Wang Chongyin mostly played the role of a counselor around Li Yiyin, but he was definitely not a weak scholar.

Living a life of wandering and no fixed abode since he was a child, he learned early to protect himself with fists, swords and bows.

So when Pan Mei and Bi Hongyu revealed their murderous intentions, Wang Chongyin woke up. This was Anding County, Jingzhou, the home base of the Zhangyi Army, not Xiazhou, Yinzhou.

The one hundred eagle cavalry he brought were still stationed outside the city. If he dared to act rashly, no one could save him.

Wang Chongyin's face was gloomy and ugly, and he forced himself to calm down.

But he found himself in an awkward situation. He stood up angrily just now and looked like he wanted to argue with Zhu Xiu. Now he knew that if a quarrel broke out, he would definitely be the one to suffer.

Wang Chongyin couldn't stand or sit. He was in a dilemma, with some sweat on his temples.

Seeing this, Zhu Xiu laughed secretly, coughed lightly and said, "Envoy Wang, please don't be angry. If you have anything to say, please sit down and talk."

Zhu Xiu took the initiative to speak, which was considered as a rescue for him.

In an instant, Wang Chongyin felt a little grateful in his heart. He cupped his hands without saying a word, straightened his robes and sat down again, his face returning to calmness.

In this situation, he could only maintain his last trace of dignity with silence.

As a special envoy of the Dingnan Army, even if he goes to Kaifeng, he can receive favors and courtesy from the court. Why is it that when he comes to the territory of the Zhangyi Army, he is so low-key and always suffers from anger?
Zhu Xiu moved the tureen and said with a smile: "My envoy said before that the two families have harmonious exchanges. The old commander and I also agree. In the final analysis, our two families have no insoluble hatred and there is really no need to embarrass each other."

Wang Chongyin smiled to himself and said: "Zhu Sima understands justice well. The Zhangyi Army will surely prosper under Zhu Sima's management in the future."

Wang Chongyin was indeed sincere when he said this. After the first confrontation and a few simple words, he deeply realized that this young man who occupied the top position in the Changyi Army should not be taken lightly.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Let's continue the topic just now. It is very simple for Li Shizhong to exchange for Li Guangrui. One thousand catties of gold, three thousand fine horses, and five hundred stallions. The ransom can be collected within two months and sent to In Pinggao County, Yuanzhou, if you see money or horses, let people go."

Wang Chongyin cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "There are still more than two thousand captives. I also ask Zhu Sima to show his noble hand and release them all."

"I said, prisoners are not an option in the negotiation." Zhu Xiu shook his head and shook his feather fan lightly, "As the saying goes: 'Until you celebrate your father's death, the disaster will continue.' These more than 2000 Wuyuan soldiers are the culprits of invading Yuanzhou. They stay and enjoy the hardships, which can be considered as atonement for the people who died in Yuanzhou."

Zhu Xiu said solemnly: "To tell you the truth, I just want to use these prisoners to warn the world. Don't think that our Zhangyi Army is easy to bully, let alone treat the lives of the people under our rule as a trifle! If you dare to invade Zhangyi Army's territory, you will be killed." If one of my people robs one of my people’s sheep or cattle, the price will be paid ten times or a hundred times!”

Wang Chongyin was angry, but also full of helplessness.

He finally understood that no matter how much he paid, he could not redeem the more than 2000 prisoners of war.

Although that group of miscellaneous soldiers did not have much value, they were also the most important force deployed by the Dingnan Army in Yanzhou.

If the prisoners are not returned, the Wuyuan Army will exist in name only, and the Dingnan Army will no longer have a deterrent force in Yanzhou.

The Baiyan Pool in Yanzhou is located more than a hundred miles north of Wuyuan, beyond the ancient Great Wall of Qin and Han Dynasties. The Baiyan Pool is an important salt-producing area and an important source of salt tax for the Dingnan Army. It is protected by the Yuzhou garrison.

Therefore, the survival of Wuyuan Zhenbing is irrelevant to the Dingnan Army. The symbolic significance is greater than the actual effect.

However, the loss of an entire formation of troops and horses at once was a major setback that the army had not encountered in more than ten years.

Wang Chongyin took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Putting aside the prisoners, I forgive Wang for bluntly saying that the price your army is asking is too high."

Zhu Xiu asked strangely: "Li Guangrui is Li Shizhong's biological son, and he is also the heir of the Dingnan Army. Your young master, does your family think that his life is not worth this money?"

Wang Chongyin smiled bitterly, cupped his hands and said with a bit of pleading: "Zhu Sima's price is too high. Since the two families have repaired, we should show sincerity to each other. For three hundred catties of gold, one thousand fine horses, and fifty stallions The price is ready."

Zhu Xiu shook his head: "Eight hundred catties of gold, two thousand five hundred fine horses, and four hundred stallions!"

Wang Chongyin gritted his teeth: "Five hundred kilograms of gold, fifteen hundred fine horses, and 150 stallions!"

"Your sincerity is obviously lacking! Six hundred kilograms of gold, two thousand fine horses, and three hundred stallions are the same price! No matter how low it is, there is no negotiation!"

Zhu Xiula had a long face, put on a very unhappy look, and showed the lowest price.

Wang Chongyin was speechless, hesitated for a while, and sighed bitterly: "To be honest with Zhu Sima, good horses are easy to say, but we really can't afford so much gold and stallions."

Zhu Xiu waved his hands, and said with a half-smile, "Your envoy, please don't fool me. The Dingnan army has accumulated savings for more than a hundred years, and has been doing business with Tubo and the Western Regions for many years. The merchants in the Western Regions like to trade with gold and silver. There are also Uighurs and Khitans in Jinshan. People, often carry a large amount of gold and silver to Yinzhou and Xiazhou for trading. I am willing to believe that other feudal towns cry poor, but the Dingnan Army complains that they have no money. I am afraid that the gold in Kaifeng’s treasury is not as good as your Li Shizhong’s pocket There’s a lot in it!
Not to mention horses, before you occupied my Yuanzhou Racecourse and took away more than a hundred stallions.During the Tang Dynasty, there were a total of 36 horse farms in Longyou Shepherd Supervisor, and [-] of them were located under the jurisdiction of Dingnan Army. Dingnan Army was the place with the greatest shortage of horses in the vassal town of our dynasty.

You must make the army so rich that even the officials will be jealous when they see it! "

Wang Chongyin laughed unnaturally and said: "Zhu Sima is joking. The Dingnan Army is located in a remote location with many mountains and few fields. It also has to guard against the flooding of the Yellow River, the treasury is empty, and the people are hungry and cold. They really can't afford much ransom, let alone dare to Compared with Kaifeng, the capital of the country! The official family occupies the world and is rich all over the world, how can a small Dingnan army compare to it."

Zhu Xiu was too lazy to listen to his words and said mockingly: "If Li Shizhong feels that the Hetao area is barren, he might as well exchange with Zhang Yijun. We don't want more. We want Xiazhou and Yinzhou, and Jingzhou and Yuanzhou will be given to you. How are you?"

"Uh" Wang Chongyin was speechless and smiled stiffly, "Zhu Sima is really good at joking, how can he change the territory under the jurisdiction of a vassal town without authorization? Besides, there are a large number of party members living in Yinxia Prefecture, and it is the ancestral property left by Xia Guogong. It is absolutely impossible to use it for exchange"

Zhu Xiu said impatiently: "Then stop talking useless words. Will you agree to the price I offer or not?"

"This." Wang Chongyin was hesitant. The price was already higher than Li Yiyin expected.

Forget it, Li Guangrui is his biological son after all, and he still needs to be expected to inherit the great cause and pay a higher price. Li Shizhong will not refuse to agree.

"Okay! Just follow Zhu Sima's request! Two months later, the two families reached a deal in Pinggao County, Yuanzhou!"

Wang Chongyin gritted his teeth, stamped his feet cruelly, and responded with his fists cupped.

Although these wealth did not come from his family wealth, as a member of the disaster-stricken army, he still felt that his heart was bleeding and his whole body ached like flesh was being ripped out.

"Your envoy is indeed a cheerful person!" Zhu Xiu clapped his hands and laughed.Wang Chongyin smiled uglier than crying. He hesitated and asked tentatively: "I don't know Li Guangyan?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Xiu slapped the armrest of the chair, pretending to be indignant and said: "Li Guangyan led his army to invade our Yuanzhou Racecourse, and went south with Li Guangrui to harass the people and plunder cattle and sheep. This is an unforgivable crime. !

This man was a tough guy. No matter how hard he was tortured, he would not say a soft word. He even cursed the old commander and me, and even greeted three generations of our ancestors!
Humph~ Didn’t this bitch threaten to be sworn in with me, the Chang Yi Army?Now that it is in my hands, I must let him know how powerful it is! "

With a cold face, Zhu Xiu stared at Wang Chongyin vigilantly: "Your envoy don't want to mention Li Guangyan again, even if you pay double the price, I can't let him go!"

Zhu Xiu cursed angrily and glanced at the side door blocked by the screen from the corner of his eye.

As expected, Wang Chongyin thought that the Zhangyi army did not dare to touch Li Guangrui, fearing that they would tear themselves apart with the Dingnan army, but they did not have so many scruples about Li Guangyan.

Li Guangyan's fourth brother and eldest sister both died at the hands of the Changyi Army, and the two sides formed a bloody feud. Now that Li Guangyan has been defeated and captured, he may not live long!

Wang Chongyin sighed with a grimace, and pretended to plead: "Please Zhu Sima, please be merciful and spare Li Guangyan's life no matter what."

Zhu Xiu changed the subject and said, "I wonder how much Li Shizhong is willing to pay for Li Guangyan? If the price is right, it's not impossible to negotiate!"

"This." Wang Chongyin's face froze. Just now he had said angrily that he wanted to cut Li Guangyan into pieces with a thousand knives. Why did he turn around and start discussing the price again?

Zhu Xiu laughed, acting like a profiteer: "If Li Shizhong can offer the same price, I can also consider to spare Li Guangyan's life."

Wang Chongyin didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Didn't Zhu Sima just say that Li Guangyan's crime is unpardonable?"

Zhu Xiu smiled shamelessly: "Isn't this the envoy asking me to spare Li Guangyan's life? I have to show some kindness to the envoy."

Wang Chongyin felt helpless and wanted to say that my words were just casual remarks. Why did you take it seriously?
He quickly understood that Zhu Xiu's fierce appearance of shouting and killing just now was just a pretense. The purpose was to raise the asking price and make another huge profit from Li Guangyan!
"Under the handsome appearance of this young man, Lang Siwen, he is actually so cunning and cunning! It's true that a person cannot be judged by his appearance~" Wang Chongyin looked at Zhu Xiu, who was sitting high on the throne and smiling. He was extremely vigilant and kept reminding himself that he must not be fooled by this person. Blinded by his appearance.

If he really changes to Li Guangyan, he doesn't know whether others will be happy, but Li Shizhong will definitely not be happy.

But this is, after all, an internal struggle within the Dangxiang Army. The delicate relationship between the members of the Dangxiang royal family cannot be made public, nor can it be explained outright.

Wang Chongyin considered his words and said: "In regard to Li Guangyan, can Zhu Sima give me a few days' grace and allow me to go back and report to Li Shizhong. After I get a clear answer, I will discuss it with Zhu Sima. But before I leave, I want to see Li Guangyan first."

Zhu Xiu thought for a while and said: "Okay! Li Guangyan is imprisoned in another prison and has received minor punishments. Your envoy must be mentally prepared and don't be frightened. Just let General Pan take your envoy there~"

Zhu Xiu gave Pan Mei a wink, Pan Mei nodded knowingly, stood up and cupped her fists and said, "The last general takes orders!"

Wang Chongyin followed Pan Mei to say goodbye and went to see Li Guangyan in the cell.

The Li Guangyan that Wang Chongyin could see was naturally fake, pretending to be a death row prisoner with human life on his hands. After being tortured, his skin and flesh were torn apart beyond recognition, with only half a breath left. Wang Chongyin, the custodian, couldn't recognize him standing in front of him.

The screen moved away and Yan Ping led Li Guangyan into the hall.

Li Guangyan was dressed in prison clothes, his hair was simply tied up, and his hands and feet were not shackled. He looked at the place where Wang Chongyin was sitting in a daze.

Bi Hongyu stood next to Zhu Xiu, holding her knife and watching him warily. The aura on this man was very dangerous.

Sensing the woman's nervousness, Zhu Xiu smiled at her and motioned for her to relax, but unfortunately she only received indifference and indifference.

"Do you know the special envoy sent by your good uncle?" Zhu Xiu played with the feather fan and smiled teasingly.

Li Guangyan nodded silently, "Wang Chongyin, one of the most favored ministers around my uncle."

"Wang Chongyin, as Li Yiyin's special envoy, must have been warned by Li Yiyin before leaving. He talked to me about Li Guangrui and two thousand prisoners, but he didn't talk about you, a good nephew. Do you know the purpose?" Zhu Xiuyou said quietly. road.

Li Guangyan was silent for a while and said in a low tone: "He said he wanted to go back and consult his uncle."

"Consultation is nothing!" Zhu Xiu sneered again and again, "Li Yiyin is willing to spend a lot of money to exchange for Li Guangrui, and even exchange for the two thousand miscellaneous soldiers, but he is unwilling to pay half a penny for your good nephew!

Wang Chongyin didn't mention anything because he knew that Li Yiyin didn't want you to go back at all!
You, Li Guangyan, are the heir of the Dangxiang royal family, the famous Shenwei Taibao, and the nephew of Li Yiyin!If Li Yiyin hadn't nodded, do you think Wang Chongyin would dare to ignore your life and death?
If Li Yiyin knew that you were beaten half to death, he might wake up laughing from his dream, and would thank me for getting rid of you, the source of trouble that may lead to instability in the party's power! "

Zhu Xiu said sharply: "Li Guangyan, you actually know in your heart that Li Yiyin doesn't want to see you go back alive, but you are lucky and unwilling to admit it! Wake up, there is no place for you in the current army of disaster relief! For Li Yiyin As far as father and son are concerned, you are more of a threat than useful!"

Li Guangyan lowered his head, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, his face suddenly became ferocious and twisted, and his eyes were covered with bloodshot threads like spider webs!
"Clang~" The knife in Bi Hongyu's hand half slipped out of its sheath, she took a step forward and stopped in front of Zhu Xiu, watching him with extreme vigilance.

Yan Ping made a gesture, and a group of sergeants from the Beihu Camp rushed in from the side door and quietly surrounded Li Guangyan.

Li Guangyan's chest rose and fell violently for a while, then gradually calmed down. He raised his hand to quickly wipe the moisture from the corners of his eyes, looked at Zhu Xiu deeply, and said in a low and hoarse voice: "You promised that you would not force me to be your subordinate."

Zhu Xiu nodded and said calmly: "This is my promise to you! If you are willing, we can be friends."

Li Guangyan took a deep breath and imitated Han Chinese etiquette and clasped his fists tightly: "Please help me return to Xiazhou!"

Zhu Xiu smiled slightly: "Yes! But you have to go back to the transformation site first and wait. When the time is right, I will tell you what to do!"

Li Guangyan nodded, punched his chest three times, took a deep look at him, then looked at Bi Hongyu, who was facing a formidable enemy, and turned to leave.

Yan Ping hurriedly waved the sergeant from the Tiger Camp to let him go and took him out of the house and back to the transformation site.

Zhu Xiu waved his fist vigorously, and the first step to splitting the party members had been achieved!
Bi Hongyu sheathed her sword, looked at him with a complicated expression, and murmured: "Shuai Shi is right, there is more bad water in your stomach than the water in the Jing River."

Zhu Xiu grinned and rolled her eyes.

(End of this chapter)