Zhutian: My skills are not serious

Chapter 604 She Conquered You, I Conquered Her
In the next two months, the Western Army led by Dugu Feng and the Eastern Army led by Chai Shen were invincible and swept across Lingnan. They quickly recovered the territory from Jiaozhi County in the east to Jian'an County in the west and from Zhuya County and Rinnan County in the south. The Li generals entrenched in Longshui, Panyu and Shi'an surrendered without a fight. At this point, Fujian, Hainan, Jiangxi, southern Zhejiang, Guangdong and Guangxi, Vietnam and several counties in Yunnan were all recovered.

After Yu Wenzhi, Li Mi, Liang Shidu and other forces occupied Luoyang, the officials who escaped from the Eastern Capital through various channels learned the news of the defeat of the Song clan and the unification of Lingnan by the Empress Dowager, and they all went south to seek refuge.

Shortly after the Spring Festival in 619, Xiao Meiniang left Chai Shen, Xiang Siren, Dugu Feng, Shangguan Long and others to continue the conquest of Nanning Prefecture and Kunming Prefecture in the west, while she set out northward and headed straight into the south of the Yangtze River.

During this period, the female owner of Pegasus Ranch and the Queen of Yin Zhu Yuyan each gave birth to a daughter, just as Chu Pingsheng had expected. One was given the single name "Yin" by Lu Miaozi, and the other was named Jingjing, which was a combination of the characters "婠婠".

……

Spring March.

It is said that spring is the best time of the year, far better than the willows and smoke in the imperial capital. However, Xiao Meiniang neither went to Yangzhou nor Luoyang. Instead, she took a boat westward and came to Jiangling where the Daliang Emperor and her cousin Xiao Xin were.

In fact, unlike the mood he had discussed with his ministers last year about bringing the Empress Dowager to Jiangling for "retirement", Xiao Xin did not welcome this strong aunt and found various reasons to prevent her from visiting Jiangling. Until Minister Chai asked people to pull ten bells and put them at the city gate and asked him to choose one he liked, he "found a miracle doctor overnight and cured the leprosy" and led civil and military officials out of the city for ten miles to welcome his aunt into the palace.

That night, a grand banquet was held. Cen Wenben, Zhang Xiu, Chen Wu, Lei Youshi, Zhu Zhong, Su Chao and others were all invited to attend, but Xiao Meiniang only brought Chu Pingsheng and the eunuch Fei Xun to the table.

After three rounds of wine, five kinds of dishes, and a round of folk dance in the hall, Xiao Xian put down his wine glass, his expression changed for a while, and said to Xiao Meiniang who was sitting in the upper seat: "Aunt's expedition to Lingnan this time, killed Song Que, broke Yu Lin, and finally won a complete victory. When I heard the news, I was overjoyed. I prepared this matter during the Spring Festival to commemorate my ancestors. On that day, purple air came from the east and auspicious clouds filled the sky. It was indeed a good omen that the ancestor appeared."

Even though Xiao Xin was the leader of the Baling Gang and a so-called local tyrant, the flattery he displayed when he said auspicious words against his will was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Not to mention that Xiao Meiniang insisted on crossing the border to Jiangling to visit her cousin who was only related by blood but not by family ties, which made him, as the emperor of Liang, and the officials feel a sense of crisis from the bottom of his heart. Just say that when she arrived at the venue, as a guest, she sat in the first seat without any hesitation. This kind of overstepping of authority was also hard to make people feel comfortable.

Yes, she is the elder, but the problem is that this is the capital of Liang State and he is the emperor of Liang State.

"Is it……"

Xiao Meiniang sat upright with her hands placed flat in front of her, her long dark red sleeves spread out, and the phoenix crown on her head flashing with seven colors under the candlelight.

After the battle in Lingnan, everyone knew that she had superb martial arts and powerful means. Compared with when she was ruling from behind the scenes in Luoyang, her majesty was growing and her momentum was even greater.

Xiao Xin's usually ferocious face forced a smile: "Lord Cen and Zhang Xiu can both testify to this."

"Yes, yes, your Majesty, what you said is true. On that day, the purple air was dazzling and there were auspicious clouds flying with it. We thought it was a god coming to earth."

Cen Wenben is also very good at telling lies with his eyes open.

Zhang Xiu was much worse, and said in a vague voice: "I swear... that everything your majesty said... is true."

"So..." Xiao Meiniang said with a smile: "The ancestors are very satisfied with what I did?"

Xiao Xin shamelessly complimented, "Aunt's civil and military achievements are comparable to those of the emperor."

Chu Pingsheng was laughing as he watched from below, thinking that Xiao Xin was really a guy who could bend and stretch. Look how close he was to being embarrassed. As long as I wasn't embarrassed, others would be embarrassed.

"King Xiao, I heard that you were infected with leprosy a few days ago, but fortunately a miracle doctor helped you and cured the disease overnight?"

"Yes." Xiao Xin seemed to have forgotten that he was going to give clocks to all the officials in Jiangling. He laughed and said, "Thanks to the great blessing of my aunt's passing through, my nephew was saved by a miracle doctor and his pain was cured. Otherwise... Alas..."

He sighed heavily, shook his head, and looked sad.

Such acting skills left Chen Wu and others below stunned.

Chu Pingsheng thought to himself that this was not acting at all, every gesture and movement showed his desire to survive.

"Oh? I'd like to meet such a miracle doctor. I have a friend named Bian who has been troubled by a hidden illness for many years. If he can be cured by a miracle doctor, I think he will be able to regain his vigor."

"Hehe, hehe..."

Xiao Xin wanted to kill him a thousand times, but he couldn't...

"To be honest, that miracle doctor left without a trace after curing my illness. I can't do anything to help Mr. Chu's friend."

“Ha, ha, ha, hahaha…” Chu Pingsheng laughed, a little wildly, patted the black food table and said, “Xiao Xin, you are acting too much, it’s not natural at all.”

This sentence made Liang Guan, who was sitting with him, feel helpless and extremely embarrassed.

In the past, he would have just dismissed the matter with a word "bold". With a hot temper like Chen Wu, he might have drawn his sword and killed the man, thus eliminating the rude person for Emperor Liang.

But now, facing Chai Shao's ridicule, they dared not speak out.

Xiao Xin looked at his aunt for help: "Master Chai, you are joking."

Xiao Meiniang coughed lightly and said, "My dear, please don't make fun of Xian'er."

"Okay, I won't joke around anymore, let's talk business." Chu Pingsheng sat up straight, his face gradually turning colder. "King Xiao, last year when our army marched south, the traitor Song Que led 5,000 cavalrymen and detoured to Guiyang County, which was controlled by the Liang army. From there, he went east and attacked the grain transport team led by King Lin Shihong of Jiangnan, cutting off our Sui army's grain supply route, which almost led to disastrous consequences. Do you have anything to explain about this?"

"Aunt, you don't know that this matter was colluded between the Southern Camp General Manager, Grand Marshal Dong Jingzhen and the Song clan, who turned a blind eye to the matter of borrowing the road. My nephew is far away in Jiangling and is indeed unaware of it. If he knew, how could he allow Song Que to stab him in the back?"

Xiao Xin was filled with righteous indignation and said, "Aunt, please understand. Dong Jingzhen has done such a wicked thing. I have ordered General Zhang to arrest him and bring him back to the capital. He will be beheaded outside the city gate and his entire clan will be exterminated as a warning. I hope this will appease your anger."

Chu Pingsheng clapped his hands and chuckled: "A gecko cuts off its tail, a warrior cuts off his arm, King Xiao's desire to survive, I admire it, I admire it."

The weird voice and sarcastic words were so unbearable that even the maidservant serving beside him could not stand it, but Xiao Xin could only endure it.

Chu Pingsheng added: "So, King Xiao is wholeheartedly supporting the Grand Empress Dowager?"

"Of course. The Empress Dowager is my aunt, a living elder. How can I ignore our family ties and help an outsider?"

"That's a good feeling."

Chu Pingsheng picked up the jade cup with a green hue and took a sip of wine. "The Empress Dowager went north this time to recover the Eastern Capital Luoyang. Although Zhu Can in the north knows the current situation, he is not as close as King Xiao. Xiangyang is too close to Nanyang where Yu Wenzhi and Zhu Can are fighting endlessly. I thought again and again, only Jiangling has the Jingchu Gate in the north as a barrier, the Pegasus Ranch in the west, and Jingling in the east. Down the river is Lin Shihong's territory. Since King Xiao and the Empress Dowager are as close as family, I think it is better to allow my central army to be stationed here, so that the Empress Dowager can take command. After taking Luoyang and expelling Yu Wenzhi and other bandits in the future, we can evacuate Jiangling. What do you think, King Xiao?"

Xiao Xian's expression was normal, but there was an undisguised coldness in his eyes. Zhang Xiu, Chen Wu and others clenched their fists and breathed heavily. Only Cen Wenben had a normal expression and did not show any emotion.

The female owner of Pegasus Ranch gave birth to a daughter for Chai Shao. Jingling Duba Villa has always been on good terms with Pegasus Ranch. There are reports that Qian Duguan, who secretly controls Xiangyang, is a member of the Yingui Sect, and the relationship between the Yingui Sect and Chai Shao... is known to everyone.

Once Xiangyang, Jingling, Feima Ranch and Jiangling all fell into the hands of Chai Shao and Xiao Meiniang, they would be connected to Luoyang in the north, Bashu in the west, Jingchu in the south, and Jiangxi in the east. With the cooperation of Zhu Can, how long would it take for Li Mi's territory in Huainan and Du Fuwei's territory to fall into the hands of the Sui court?

I'm afraid that this loan is like Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou and never returning it.

"Ahem." Xiao Xian suppressed his anger and said, "With the fighting power of Minister Chai who can defeat ten thousand enemies alone, and with my aunt's prestige, there is no need to worry too much. As long as the army sets out and entrenches in Luoyang, the quarreling Li Jiancheng, Li Mi and others will surely be defeated and flee."

Chu Pingsheng said, "Doesn't King Xiao know yet?"

"Do not know what is this?"

"In order to fight against me, the devil, the Buddhists not only sent Master Yixin and the four great monks to guard the Eastern Capital, but also invited Ning Daoqi, one of the three great masters of the martial arts world, to help. Therefore, retaking Luoyang is much more difficult than the battle in Lingnan. It may turn into a protracted war."

"Master Yi Xin? The Four Great Saint Monks? The lone man Ning Daoqi?" Xiao Xin's eyes were dull and his face was blank, and his greasy mouth opened and closed again.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Chu Pingsheng laughed heartily again, pointing at the gloomy Xiao Xin and saying, "Based on your acting skills, even Liu Bei would applaud you if he were reborn. You will definitely win an Oscar in the future."

Zhu Zhong was a young man who was as ignorant as a fool. He could no longer bear it and said, "Chai Shao, you are too arrogant. This is the capital of Daliang. The person sitting next to the Empress Dowager is her nephew from the same clan. Your Majesty, you have repeatedly said bad words and laughed loudly. It is extremely rude. You are disrespectful to your Majesty, and you are also disrespectful to the Xiao family and the Empress Dowager."

Chu Pingsheng put away his smile, reached into his bosom, and threw an envelope sealed with wax in front of Xiao Xin: "Do you recognize this letter?"

Xiao Xin was horrified, but soon recovered and pointed at the envelope on the ground and asked curiously, "Master Chai, what's going on?"

Chu Pingsheng smiled and said, "What do you think?"

"Master Chai, you are joking. This letter is sealed with wax and the name of the recipient is not written on it. How can I know the content of the letter?"

Xiao Xin said he didn't know, but he was actually very panicked.

After Xiao Meiniang took Yulin, the Sui army was unstoppable, conquering the east and the west, and swallowed up the entire Lingnan in just over two months. Liang State was located in Feima Ranch, Jingling Duba Villa, Xiangyang Qiandu Pass, Zhu Can who occupied the three counties of Huai'an, Runan and Yiyang, and Lin Shihong surrounded Lingnan. If Xiao Meiniang wanted to recover the lost territory, who would be the best target to attack next? Of course, he was.

When he learned that Song Que had died in the battle, all the top masters of the righteous path were mobilized to prepare for a decisive battle with the evil forces headed by Chai Shao. He then wanted to contact the separatist forces in Jiangbei and the masters of the righteous path and form an alliance. So he wrote a letter and ordered King Chu Zheng Wenxiu to take it to Chang'an to give it to Li Yuan.

If you want to know why they didn't go to Luoyang, the reason is very simple. The situation to the north of Jiangling is chaotic. There is Qian Dugu of Xiangyang in front and Zhu Can of Nanyang in the back. Both sides are either from the Demon Sect or have cooperated with the father and son of the Chai family. It is not safe to go through the territories of these two people. Going east, you have to pass through the territories of Jingling Duba Villa and Lin Shihong, and there is also the possibility of being exposed. Going up to Sichuan and Chongqing, and then to Chang'an is much better. What's more, Li Yuan has the support of Buddhism and has the closest relationship with the righteous way. His influence is much stronger than Li Mi, Liang Shidu, Yu Wenzhi and others.

But he never expected that Zheng Wenxiu messed up the mission, and the letter seeking an alliance to deal with Xiao Meiniang actually fell into the hands of Chai Shao.

(End of this chapter)