Thief Emperor

Chapter 690: Advance from Inside and Outside
If the Jiangdong regime is still in its infancy and its future is uncertain, then neither Li Yun nor Du Qian has the capital to negotiate terms with these nobles who come to seek refuge with them.

But now there is.

The world's pattern has now taken shape. Even Wei Quanzhong has to admit that the area of ​​Jiangdong has become part of Li's family.

Even if Li Yun suffered a great defeat in the Central Plains, as long as he retreated to Jiangdong, he would immediately establish his own country. If Li Yun himself was not confused and his successors were not too stupid, his foundation would last at least several decades or even hundreds of years.

Under such circumstances, Jiangdong is naturally a safe haven in troubled times and the place of refuge that these aristocratic families have always dreamed of.

Du Qian smiled and took Wang Yan for a walk around Jinling City. Then he pointed at the already bustling Jinling New City in front of him and said with a smile, "This is the new city that our king ordered to be built a few years ago. When the Wang family moves in, I will ask Jinling Prefecture to pay for a mansion for the Wang family in the new city."

Wang Yan was also looking at the new city. Hearing this, his eyes flickered. He looked at Du Qian and chuckled, "Shiyilang, before I came here, I was ordered to enter the Imperial City Department and read some information about Jiangdong. I heard that Prince Li ordered the construction of fifty mansions to be distributed to his subordinates and meritorious officials."

Du Qian pointed to the northeast corner of the new city and said, "It's almost finished there."

At this point, he looked at Wang Yan and said with a smile: "It is divided into two blocks, located in the east and west. One is called Xiping Block and the other is called Dong'an Block."

Wang Yan's eyes flickered, and he asked softly, "Will Prince Li make Nanjing his capital in the future?"

"Hard to say, hard to say."

Du Qian put his hands behind his back and said calmly, "When the king is successful in the future, even if he wants to move the capital, these fifty houses will be inherited by each family from generation to generation, and there will definitely be people living here for generations."

"That is."

Wang Yan said softly, "Living here, we are close to each other, so it is very convenient to communicate."

Du Qian chuckled, pointed to the front, and said, "We've arrived at the restaurant. I've invited a few guests to have dinner with Uncle Wu."

The two of them quickly went up to the private room on the second floor of the restaurant. Inside the room, Zheng Hao from the Xingyang Zheng family and several young people were all there and had been waiting for a long time.

Du Qian smiled and introduced Wang Yan, "Uncle Wu, this is Master Zheng Hao from Xingyang."

Zheng Hao bowed and said, "Greetings, Prime Minister Wang."

Du Qian then introduced: "This is Yang Min, the former governor of Jingnan. He is from the Hongnong Yang family. Does the king recognize him?"

Yang Min's face twitched. He stood up, sighed, and bowed his head to Wang Yan and said, "Greetings, Prime Minister Wang."

"This is Lu Yunzhang, the former governor of Wuchang. He is from the Lu family of Anzhou."

Du Qian smiled and said, "It's a branch of Fanyang Lu."

Wang Yan took a quick glance and saw that there were already more than a dozen people sitting in the private room. Most of them were local noble families who had defected to Jiangdong. Among them, the Zheng family of Xingyang was a thousand-year-old family.

Wang Yan glanced at Du Qian silently, knowing in his heart that the eleventh son of the Du family was clearly showing him that Jiangdong was not short of aristocratic families.

During this meal, everyone had their own thoughts.

But on the surface, everyone still had a smile on their face.

After finishing the meal, Du Qian smiled and said to Wang Yan, "Uncle Wu, please take a rest first. I will go find you later."

As he spoke, he glanced at Du Laian and said in a deep voice, "Take the prime minister down to rest."

Du Laian responded and led Wang Yan away, while Du Qian turned back to look at Lu Yunzhang and Yang Min, the two military governors, and said with a smile: "You two military governors are very cooperative. You don't have to live in the cell in the future. I will arrange accommodation for you and make arrangements for you when the king returns."

Lu Yunzhang and Yang Min exchanged a glance. Yang Min stepped forward and said with his head down, "Mr. Du, someone from the Hongnong Yang family also wants to join Jiangdong."

Lu Yunzhang forced a smile and bowed his head and said, "Mr. Du, our Anzhou is already under the rule of Jiangdong, and the master's family has a daughter who has become a lady in the palace. The Lu family is also willing to submit..."

Du Qian looked at the two people and said with a smile, "That's great. When you two go back, each of you should write a document. I will send someone to deliver it to the king. After the king nods, we can talk slowly."

After saying that, Du Qian glanced at the two of them, then left with his hands behind his back.

After walking around outside, he returned to his residence and met Wang Yan who was waiting for him in the living room. After seeing Du Qian, Wang Yan actually stood up to greet him. Du Qian hurriedly pulled his sleeve and pushed him into the chair.

After both of them sat down, Wang Yan sighed and said, "Shiyilang, tell me what your conditions are. I will listen to them in detail."

Du Qian poured him a cup of tea and said softly, "Even if the Wang family has joined, the families in the capital need people to contribute and help."

"Those who have money have to pay, too."

Du Qian paused and continued, "Especially, those whose hometowns are in the Central Plains must fully cooperate with the king to conquer the Central Plains."

Wang Yan lowered his head and said, "I'm afraid those people won't be willing to get so deeply involved."

He paused and continued, "But there shouldn't be any problem paying for it."

"I will discuss it with them after I return."

Du Qian smiled and said, "No matter what, we must let the king and Jiangdong see your sincerity."

Wang Yan was silent for a long time, then nodded in agreement. He looked up at Du Qian and said, "Shiyilang, I have come all the way to Xiangzhou and then to Jinling. I cannot come back empty-handed. After I return, I will not be able to report to the emperor."

"This is simple."

Du Qian stroked his beard and said calmly, "Tomorrow, I will arrange for Uncle Wu to meet with His Royal Highness the King of Chu."

"The people from the Imperial City Department will see you go to meet the King of Chu. As for what you said and discussed after the meeting, no one knows. After Uncle Wu returns, he can say whatever he wants."

Wang Yan looked at Du Qian seriously, and after a long while, he slowly said, "Shiyilang, do you want me to sign a written agreement?" "No need, no need."

Du Qian waved his hand and smiled, "If the war goes well, Your Majesty, even without written evidence, your uncle will admit what happened today. If it doesn't go well, even with written evidence, your uncle won't admit it."

"It would be meaningless for me to report my uncle to the court with this evidence."

Du Qian paused and said softly, "It's useless."

Wang Yan clapped his hands and exclaimed: "Shiyilang is really bold and courageous."

"It's not that I have great courage, but I am determined..."

Du Qian looked at Wang Yan and said softly, "Is it possible for the court to succeed?"

"The court will only become more and more incompetent in the future. In a year or two, it may not even be able to question Uncle Wu."

After hearing this, Wang Yan was silent for a long time, and finally he let out a long sigh.

"You young man, speak up..."

“That’s really hurtful.”

Du Qian said calmly, "I am just telling the truth. The imperial court should not exist now. The reason it still exists is that it lives on the delusion of the civil and military officials in the court. Wait until this delusion subsides."

"The Great Zhou will be reduced to ashes."

Wang Yan frowned: "The court still has tens of thousands of imperial guards."

Du Qian smiled and asked, "Is it enough?"

"I'm afraid it's only enough to hold on to Xichuan?"

Wang Yan remained silent.

Du Qian smiled and poured him more tea: "Let's not talk about these unhappy things. Drink tea, drink tea."

Wang Yan sighed and said, "Shiyilang, do you hold a grudge against the imperial court?"

"Can't talk about it."

Du Qian shook his head, then said calmly: "I hate someone else."

He looked outside the house and said expressionlessly, "Maybe I can avenge my father soon."

…………

Yuzhou, Mount Jixia.

Li Yun's army, with nearly 40,000 soldiers, was stationed at the foot of Mount Jixia. A map was hung high up. Li Yun pointed at the map and said, "Most of the Zhongwu Army's troops are in the two cities of Ruyang and Yancheng in Yuzhou. It will be too time-consuming and laborious to continue to fight with them like this."

He placed his hand on the north side and said in a deep voice, "I am going to send an army to take Wuyang County in Xuzhou in the north."

"After we take Wuyang and Su Sheng, we will also have taken Dengzhou. By then, even if we can't go to the other provinces, we can take Yuzhou, Chenzhou, Yingzhou and other prefectures as our bases."

Zhao Cheng also looked at the map and said, "Mount, in this way, we will almost be adjacent to the territory occupied by the Pinglu Army."

"By then, there will be the Shuofang Army in the west and the Pinglu Army in the east."

He whispered, "I'm afraid we'll be attacked from both sides."

"Pinglu Army..."

Li Yun narrowed his eyes and said softly, "They don't have the strength to directly participate in the Central Plains War. Moreover, they just want to watch us fight with the Shuofang Army first, and then take the opportunity to gain an advantage. They will definitely not leave in the early stage."

"You didn't see that the Shuofang Army entered the Central Plains almost through the gate of the Hedong Dao family, and the Hedong Army turned a blind eye."

"At this moment, those Jiedushi just want to sit back and watch Wei Quanzhong and I fight to the point of both suffering losses. Only then will it be their turn to leave."

Li Yun made the decision and said, "Let's fight like this for now. I will send someone to keep an eye on the Pinglu Army. Once the Pinglu Army makes a move, we will change the formation."

"Meng Qing."

He called out, and Meng Qing immediately left the shift, lowered his head and said, "I'm here."

"You lead 5,000 troops and go straight to Wuyang."

Meng Qing bowed his head deeply.

"I obey my orders!"

Li Yun stood up and said slowly: "General Zhao, you lead 5,000 soldiers and horses out to feint and attack Yancheng, and coordinate with Meng Qing."

Zhao Cheng also nodded his head.

Li Yun stood up, his eyes fell on Ruyang, and he said softly: "It depends on... whether the Ruyang garrison will move. If Ruyang moves."

"I will take Yuzhou myself."

(End of this chapter)