Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 562: The Seal of the Prime Minister of the Two Countries

Compared with the bustling autumn harvest in eastern Shandong, Bianliang is much more desolate.

It all comes down to that one fire.

As a commercial city, when the population decreases for various reasons, commercial activities naturally decrease as well.

Of course, given Bianliang's geographical location, as long as it doesn't cause any trouble, it will be able to quickly attract popularity.

Moreover, in a sense, the decrease in population in Bianliang was not a bad thing for Wanyan Liang.

He really didn't have enough food to feed the people.

Since taking control of Hezhameng'an and the army, after several months of chaos, Wanyan Liang finally returned to Bianliang and met Zhang Hao.

Although this Jin Dynasty prime minister did not risk his life to protect the prince like Jing Sihui and Xiao Yu, he stood firm and did not escape with Ugun Yuanzhong and Shi Ju. Instead, he worked hard to maintain the situation in Bianliang.

After this southern expedition, Wanyan Liang's arrogance was greatly reduced. When facing Zhang Hao, whose hair had turned completely white, he did not reprimand him, but only comforted him with gentle words.

However, the wounds caused by this defeat were not so easy to heal, especially since the troops that followed Wanyan Liang into the Huai River region were his core military forces. Without these troops, no place would be particularly stable.

What is even more tragic is the people's livelihood. In order to destroy the Song Dynasty, Wanyan Liang scraped the bottom of the pot of the Central Plains people.

What autumn harvest? The spring plowing fields have all been left fallow!
Food! Food! Food is the most important thing now!
But when it comes to food, there is no shortcut. You can only plant the seeds in the ground, water and weed, and take meticulous care to get a harvest.

As for purchasing.

Who would sell grain to Wanyan Liang? Wanyan Yong?

Just when Wanyan Liang was in a state of panic, a group of people arrived in Bianliang and came to the gate of the imperial palace, asking to see His Majesty.

After hearing the report, Wanyan Liang could hardly believe his ears. After being stunned for a moment, he asked his personal guards to bring the person in.

"Master chef!" When the person walked into the palace, Wanyan Guangying immediately stood up and saluted.

Wanyan Liang sneered and said, "Liangbi, do you still have the nerve to come see me today?"

The person who came was Hesheli Liangbi.

Hesheli Liangbi didn't indulge Wanyan Liang either. After bowing, he spoke sternly, "Your Majesty, I tried to dissuade you before the southern expedition, but you wouldn't listen. I even planned the strategy for the southern expedition for you, but you still wouldn't follow. Even so, I suppressed Duke Cao for a long time, until the news of the defeat in Chao County arrived, and I was completely defeated. Didn't I give my all?"

Every word of Hesheli Liangbi was like a sledgehammer hitting Wanyan Liang's chest. If this tyrant had been like this in the past, he would have raised his sword and killed people.

But Wanyan Liang suppressed his rage and said coldly, "If that's the case, why do you come to me instead of serving your wise ruler? Have you repented and turned from evil to good?"

Hesheli Liangbi was too lazy to exchange witty remarks with Wanyan Liang, so he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have come here to resolve the chaos in the Central Plains."

Wanyan Liang finally grew angry and stood up. "Liangbi, are you here just to tease me?! The Central Plains is in such chaos, how are you going to calm it down? Just with your mouth?"

Hesheli Liangbi was not angry either: "If we want to quell the rebellion in the Central Plains, we must first quell the rebellion in Shandong. Otherwise, if Shandong and Song send troops from both directions, the Central Plains will be difficult to defend. Even Your Majesty will have no choice but to retreat westward."

Wanyan Liang snorted coldly and did not comment.

Hesheli Liangbi continued, "There are currently 30,000 Tushan Zhen households in Xuzhou. I'm sure Your Majesty has already sent envoys to recall them, but it's difficult to do so, right?"

Wanyan Liang became angry when he heard about this. Tushan Zhen, Gao Jingshan, Xiao Qi and Guo Anguo were all his confidants, but now they were disobeying orders. No matter who tried to convey the military orders, there would only be a few words of response.

There is a shortage of food, the Song army is threatening, the area is unstable and it is difficult to move. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me.

I really don’t know what’s the point of staying in that broken place. When the time comes, we will be attacked by Shandong and Lianghuai, and we won’t be able to leave even if we want to.

Hesheli Liangbi said, "Perhaps Your Majesty believes that Liaodong has given some explanation. I know this matter very well. Liaodong did give some explanation, but they failed to win over the 30,000 households in Xuzhou. Those general managers and commanders are hesitant."

Wanyan Liang calmed down at this point. He sighed and said, "Liangbi, just tell me the truth. Among these people, who wants to be my vassal? And who wants to belong to Liaodong?"

Hesheli Liangbi pointed his finger and said, "Among them, Pucha Shijie was truly loyal to Your Majesty. Even though his son had lost all his confidants, he remained undeterred. He even attempted to kill the Liaodong envoys, but was stopped by the others."

Wanyan Liang looked somewhat gloomy. "If it was Pucha Shijie who defected to Liaodong, I wouldn't be able to say a word. After all, it's me who has wronged Pucha Shijie, not him who has wronged me."

Hesheli Liangbi seemed unaware and continued, "Gao Jingshan and Tushan Zhen really want to defect to Liaodong. Their trusted family members are all in Youyan, Liaodong and other places. It is impossible for them not to think about it." Wanyan Liang remained silent.

"As for the rest, they were wavering and somewhat hesitant. Xiao Qi mostly wanted to lean towards Liaodong, because the Khitan tribe was in Linhuang Prefecture after all, and the Khitan men under his command also wanted to return home in glory."

"Guo Anguo is quite the opposite. Although his hometown is Youyan, his family was uprooted long ago because of the affairs of his father, Pharmacist Guo. If it weren't for Your Majesty's grace, he might still be eating toads on Cangzhou Island. So although Guo Anguo wants to return to Youyan, he is still more loyal to Your Majesty."

After hearing this analysis which was almost the same as his own, Wanyan Liang shook his head and sighed.

Originally, when these 30,000 households were deployed, there was a consideration of mutual checks and balances. The three general managers and one left military inspector were Han, Khitan, Bohai, and Jurchen respectively, with different origins and statuses. But who would have thought that now, this check and balance would actually turn into an internal conflict, making it impossible for them to make a decision together?

However, whether it was Wanyan Liang or Wanyan Yong, their ruling centers were some distance away from Xuzhou. Both sides were overwhelmed by a lot of things and found it difficult to immediately gain effective control over these 30,000 households.

Wanyan Liang waved his hands irritably and said, "Liangbi, just speak frankly."

Hesheli Liangbi pulled out a roll of yellow silk from his bosom and said, "Your Majesty, I have received an imperial decree from His Majesty in Liaodong, ordering me to command the 30,000 households to deal with the Shandong rebellion. I hope Your Majesty will also give me an imperial decree, so that I can be justified."

An eunuch took the roll of yellow silk and presented it to Wanyan Liang.

Wanyan Liang held the yellow silk and did not open it for a long time.

He only felt that he was struck by a huge sense of absurdity, so much so that he sat on the dragon throne in a daze for a long time without saying anything.

What does it mean to have two imperial decrees? What does it mean to command 30,000 households in Xuzhou? What does it mean to be legitimate?
Was Hesheli Liangbi kicked in the head by a stupid roe deer in Liaodong?

However, after thinking for a moment, Wanyan Liang felt that this was the best option.

Since no one can command these 30,000 households, why not just let them recover the lost territory in Shandong? At least it can relieve the pressure on one side.

After all, in terms of geography, Wanyan Liang is much worse than Wanyan Yong.

There is Yu Yunwen in Lianghuai, Cheng Min and Wu Gong in Xiangfan, Wu Lin in Guanzhong, Wanyan Yong in the north, and there is also such a large group of rebels in Shandong.

If we are not careful, we will be attacked and killed from all sides. The strategic situation is extremely bad.

Even so, Hesheli Liangbi's attitude still surprised Wanyan Liang. He could not help but hold Wanyan Yong's imperial edict and said sincerely, "Liangbi, tell me the truth, what are you thinking?"

Hesheli Liangbi remained calm: "Your Majesty, no matter who wins or loses between you and the Majesty of Liaodong, the Great Jin will still exist. However, if the Han people gain power and use their ruthless tactics, there will be no Wanyan clan, no Hesheli clan, and even no Jurchens.

Your Majesty, this is not alarmist talk. Where are the Xiongnu? Where are the Wuhuan? Where are the Xianbei? With such a powerful force, will any of the Five Barbarians survive? Your Majesty, why not ask those with the surnames Murong, Dugu, and Yuwen if they call themselves Han Chinese?

"Therefore, for the sake of the Great Jin's national destiny and the fate of the Jurchen nation, even if both Your Majesties doubt me, I will find a way to preserve the Great Jin!"

After these resounding words, Wanyan Liang remained silent for a long time before he said, "Didn't Wulu stop you?"

Hesheli Liangbi nodded and said, "Of course we stopped them. However, given the current situation, even if His Majesty of Liaodong has great ambitions and a broad mind, what can he do?"

Wanyan Liang nodded and finally unfolded the imperial edict in his hand. After carefully reading it, he sighed, "The early years of Dading, Dading. Wulu actually used the reign title Dading? This was originally the reign title I was going to use after I conquered the Song Kingdom, but he actually got there first."

After hearing Wanyan Liang's complaint, Hesheli Liangbi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I request your permission."

Wanyan Liang shook his head and sighed again, then immediately summoned the Secretary of the Central Secretariat to draft an edict.

Now it was Hesheli Liangbi's turn to be a little surprised.

"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that I will lead these 30,000 troops to attack Bianliang?"

Wanyan Liang shook his head: "On the one hand, I trust you. On the other hand, neither I nor Wulu can control these 30,000 troops alone. If you can really make them defect with just two imperial edicts, it is your ability, and I will accept it directly.

But when the time comes, I will flee to Luoyang and leave the Central Plains to the Song State. Please don't be offended."

Hesheli Liangbi was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and laughed: "Your Majesty, you are too kind."

"Whatever," Wanyan Liang said somewhat listlessly, "Since Wulu has asked you to be the Left Prime Minister, I can't let you down. I'll give you the position of Left Prime Minister as well. Hey, holding the seals of two countries is a bit of a relic of the Spring and Autumn Period."

Hesheli Liangbi just bowed and seemed unaware of the verbal teasing.

(End of this chapter)