In the winter of that year, after struggling for three months, the Eastern Court lost its last support against attacks with the fall of Liuhe City.
There were beacons everywhere, saying that the army coming from the west along the river would reach Jiangdu within a few days. This prosperous city was no longer peaceful and prosperous as it used to be. Inside and outside the city gates, there was only smoke and dust, soldiers were surging, and carriages loaded with gold, silver and treasures and people were rushing south.
These were the royal family nobles and officials of the Eastern Court. As Jiangdu was no longer safe, they could only follow Zhao Xitai and abandon their land again, retreating to the southeast coast in order to continue to live in peace.
Zhao Xitai took off his crown and clothes and dressed like an ordinary person. He was the last person from the Eastern Court to leave Jiangdu. When he rode out of the city gate accompanied by a group of soldiers, several trusted ministers and military commanders, he saw many Jiangdu people standing on both sides of the road, all with cold eyes. Some people standing in the back even whispered to each other, as if they were gloating over the misfortune.
One of his followers was furious and suggested setting fire to the city so that these conscienceless and ungrateful people would receive the punishment they deserved.
Several people who were whispering just now seemed to sense the anger from this group of people. They showed panic on their faces and turned to run, but were caught by several soldiers and pushed in front of Zhao Xitai.
With swords and knives at their heads, how could these people not be afraid? They kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Zhao Xitai looked grim. He looked at the people on the ground and said, "After I came here, I built water conservancy projects and abolished excessive taxes. I have done some good things for you, so I am not sorry for you. Now that I am leaving, it would be fine if you did not follow me, but you are still acting like this. If you can't give me a reason, I will kill you!"
Several people were horrified and shouted, "Your Majesty's kindness to Jianghuai is like rain and dew, but Your Majesty, do you know that those kings and officials are all blood-sucking leeches, treating us ordinary people as fish and meat. Isn't every family in our country miserable? In the past, we dared to be angry but did not speak out. It was only when we thought of this just now that we were disrespectful for a moment and begged Your Majesty to spare our lives..."
The follower drew his sword, but was stopped by Zhao Xitai.
He turned around and looked at the city behind him that he had worked so hard to build and had high hopes for, and suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears were about to come out.
He knew that the kings of the Eastern Court were arrogant and extravagant, and the officials were pursuing pleasure, but no matter how capable he was, he still had to rely on these people. It was precisely because he was worried that he had hoped to form an alliance with Changsha State to increase his chances of winning.
But Mu Fulan didn't believe him either and declined his proposal.
Today's results also confirmed her judgment. In front of Xie Changgeng's army, all her previous efforts seemed so pale and powerless.
"Xie Changgeng, did you hear that? This time, I didn't lose to you, I lost to my subordinates..."
He stopped laughing, looked at the shadow of the convoy carrying gold, silver and jewels going away in front of him, tightly gripped the hilt of the sword in his hand, and muttered.
…
After defeating the King of Zhao and completely controlling the Shangjing court, Xie Changgeng took advantage of the victory and launched an expedition against the Eastern Court. Zhao Xitai burned his granary. After learning the confirmed news, he sent a large number of troops to fight back, hoping to make a full effort when the enemy's morale was unstable. Unexpectedly, the fire burned only an empty warehouse filled with chaff. The real grain and grass had been secretly transferred in advance, and the so-called "rebel general" was just a maze arranged by Xie Changgeng. After holding out for three months, the Eastern Court fled to Lingnan.
The news reached Changsha State.
At this point, the only place in the imperial court that had not yet returned to Xie Changgeng was Dongting. The people believed that Xie Changgeng would launch an attack on Changsha State next, and the army might arrive one day. These days, almost everyone in the streets and alleys of Yuecheng was talking about this matter, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
In the meeting hall of the royal palace, the candles were bright that night. Mu Fulan sat alone behind the desk, looking at a written letter in front of her.
The sound of footsteps.
Yuan Handing walked in and whispered, "My lady, everything has been arranged for San Miao, and we can set off at any time. The San family treats you like a god, so you can take the young master with you, and rest assured that you will have no worries for the rest of your life."
Mu Fulan was lost in thought for a moment, then nodded and smiled: "Thank you for your hard work. Lu Lin and the others have been worried these days, and it's hard for them." She pushed the sealed letter in her hand over.
"This letter is very important. After you send the letter out tomorrow morning, I will gather all the ministers and the people of the Mu clan and explain my decision to them. In the future, those who are willing to follow me to retreat to Sanmiao can go together. Those who don't want to go can stay. I will try my best to fight for official positions for these people in the letter. Even if the future cannot be compared with today, it should still be possible to ensure a lifetime of peace and security. As for those who want to go a step further, after the new dynasty is established, it will depend on their own abilities."
"Since we can unify the country without fighting, I think Xie Changgeng will not treat these old people of Changsha badly."
Yuan Handing hesitated and said, "My lady, as long as you say a word, the 100,000 soldiers of Changsha will not only respond with spears, but also the San Miao clan will swear allegiance to you. Within a few days, the army can be assembled and deployed at your will. If Xie Changgeng's army comes, I will lead the soldiers and go all out. I dare not say that I will win, but he will not think that he can take Dongting so easily. Once he is frustrated, he will have some reservations."
"Let's take a step back and say that even if we really lose in the end, it won't be too late for me to help you retreat to Sanmiao. Princess, please don't put yourself too hard!"
Mu Fulan smiled.
"Brother Yuan, I know you can't bear to see me suffer any injustice, but you don't know that I have not suffered any injustice in this matter. If I wanted to fight for hegemony and become king like Zhao Xitai, I would have asked you to attack everywhere, and I would not have refused the coalition with the Eastern Court. You don't have to think too much. The general trend of the world is tending to this. If it weren't for your training that day, Changsha Kingdom would not have the capital to negotiate with Xie Changgeng like this today. This is the best result for both me and the subjects of Changsha Kingdom. Even in front of the ancestors of the Mu family, I have a clear conscience."
Yuan Handing was silent for a moment, then stepped forward, took the letter with both hands, and said respectfully, "As you wish."
When he turned to leave, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside the hall. The attendant came in and reported, "My lady, a man came to the city gate overnight. He said his name was Liang Tuan and said that you knew him. He said he was sent to deliver a message to you and was left outside the city gate."
Mu Fulan was slightly startled, then asked: "Where is the letter?"
The man hurried forward and handed over a letter.
Mu Fulan took it and looked at the envelope in the bright candlelight.
There was only one line of words on the cover.
"Personally from Mrs. Mu."
When Mu Fulan saw these words that seemed to be written in iron and silver strokes, her heart skipped a beat.
She recognized it at once.
This is Xie Changgeng's calligraphy.
At this time, he suddenly took the initiative to write to me. What did he want to do
Mu Fulan opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.
There were only a few words on the letter.
He said that he had important matters to discuss with her and originally wanted to come to Yuecheng by himself, but was afraid that it would be inconvenient for her, so he stopped in Fuzhou and asked her to take the time to go to Yunmeng, where he would wait for her to meet him.
She watched it once and couldn't help watching it again.
The handwriting was Xie Changgeng's, she would never make a mistake. But what surprised her was that the tone of his letter, from beginning to end, was extremely polite, and one could even read a hint of prudence between the lines, as if the writer had written the letter after careful consideration of the wording.
Mu Fulan was somewhat surprised.
After Empress Liu was executed, the Eastern Court, which had been in confrontation with Shangjing for several years, also collapsed.
The time has come. In her original imagination, Xie Changgeng was most likely busy ascending the throne to become emperor.
Even if he ignored the promise that was passed on to him by Xier and was eager to strike while the iron was hot and take Dongting for himself now, he would not do it in such an ugly way and come here in person to put pressure on him.
With his means, he had many ways to do it. Li Liang from Fuzhou was his ready-made lackey.
But at this time he secretly went south and sent such a letter to ask me to meet him. What was his intention
When she saw Yuan Handing looking at her, she handed him the letter.
After reading it, Yuan Handing immediately said, "My lady, don't go. Be careful of fraud! If he really has something to do, please ask him to come here to discuss it."
Mu Fulan pondered for a moment and said, "He has the upper hand now. Even if he really wants to harm me or Changsha, there is no need to go to such great lengths. Besides, the meeting place is Yunmeng, so there is no need to worry. I was going to send a message to him to discuss matters, and now that he has come by himself, it will be more convenient. Some things are better discussed face to face."
She put away the letter, ordered someone to invite Liang Tuan in and arrange for him to rest, and said to Yuan Handing: "There is no need to disturb Lu Lin and the others tomorrow morning. You take some people with me to Yunmeng to see what his purpose is."