Chapter 80: Changes in Liang State

When he returned to the East Palace, Yang Yong gave up the matter of Xiao Cong's entry into the capital and ordered the guards to divide half of the prey to the King of Wei's Mansion, and the rest were sent to the kitchen. Tonight, the East Palace had a meal, and everyone would have a share.

When the ministers and servants of the Eastern Palace heard this news, they were immediately happy. The Eastern Palace was filled with a joyful atmosphere. As the Sui Dynasty became more prosperous, the emperor's restrictions on various royal palaces were much relaxed. Some days that were not festivals were also allowed to drink and eat meat. However, ordinary servants could eat meat too few days after all, and of course they were very happy to have so many prey and eat meals.

Just as he commanded the guard to distribute the prey, a little boy stumbled out of it, opened his little hand, and shouted to Yang Yong with a smile: "Father, hug, hug."

The boy was about three or four years old and was Yang Yong's eldest son. He was born to Yun Meier. The daughters of Yun Meier and Xing'er were concubines. The next year, the two daughters became pregnant at the same time and gave birth to a son in August and September of the fourth year of Kaihuang. The son born to Yun Meier was born one month ago and was named Yang Yan. The son born to Xing'er was named Yang Ge, but the crown princess was still silent.

Yang Yan inherited the advantages of his mother, with delicate facial features, red lips and white teeth when she smiled, and she was very cute. Yang Yong picked up Yang Yan who was rushing over and said, "Okay, Father, you are hugging you!"

But just as he picked up Yang Yan, another child shouted: "Father, I want to hug you too." However, when Yang Ge heard Yang Yong come back, he hurried out to greet him.

Yang Yong had no choice but to pick up the two of them at the same time. Yun Meier and Xing'er's daughters came out. The two girls were beautiful in appearance. Now winter has passed, and both girls have changed into bloated winter clothes. The youthful faces have long disappeared. Not only does they show the charm of young women, but they also have a sense of elegance and luxury.

When they saw Yang Yong, the two hurriedly shouted, "Husband is back." They were about to take over their respective sons from Yang Yong.

He handed Yang Ge to his mother's arms, but Yang Yong still hugged Yang Yan tightly, his eyes fell on Yun Meier's slightly raised belly, and he whispered: "Mei'er, you are pregnant again, be careful of your body. This kid is already three years old, it doesn't matter if you hug him a little." After that, he slapped Yang Yan's little butt.

Instead of crying, Yang Yan laughed, looking at his younger brother Yang Ge proudly. Yang Ge was very upset and kicked his hands and feet in Xing'er's arms, shouting: "Mother, I want my father to hug you, I want my father to hug you."

Yun Meier smiled slightly: "Husband, let go of Yan'er, otherwise, the two of them will have a fight again later."

Yang Yong had to smile bitterly and let go of Yang Yan. These two kids are only three years old now and know how to compete for favor. Fortunately, there are only two of them. If there were more Yang Yong, they would probably be annoyed. Yang Yong hopes that Yun Meier's belly has a child now is not his son.

Jiangling Liang Kingdom is already in the south. If Daxing City is said to make people feel a little cool, Jiangling is already in spring, with birds singing and flowers everywhere. Unlike the wheat in the north, there are many rice here. Many rice fields have just begun to plow, and soon, the farmland will be covered with green rice.

Although the Liang Kingdom is small, it is located in the golden waterway. Jiangling's prosperity is no less than that of Daxing and Jiankang. Because it is sandwiched between two powerful countries, it has become a cargo center for traveling from south to north. The best rice paper, ink, famous tea, cotton cloth from the north, and cows and horses in the south can be easily bought in Jiangling. Pedestrians on the streets are full of various hawking sounds.

After dusk, the daytime hustle finally passed, but the hawking sounds of vendors in various streets and alleys seemed to be still unsuccessful. After listening carefully, I realized that it was the sound of the big households in the city drinking and banqueting guests.

On the east side, a luxurious mansion that occupies almost half a street, also heard the sound of silk and bamboo. Occasionally, a crisp singing of a woman could be heard in the air. The three big words "Taifu Mansion" written on the main entrance of the mansion show the owner's identity.

The owner of this mansion is the Taifu of the current dynasty, and the uncle of the Liang master, Xiao Yan. At this moment, Xiao Yan, who is over 60 years old, sat opposite a middle-aged man. Their desks were filled with various delicacies, and several women were dancing in the middle.

The dozens of huge candles in the lobby made a sound of peeling, illuminating the entire lobby as bright as day. These candles are made of good oil, smokeless and colorless. A huge wax is priced at half a stone of grain. Only a wealthy family like Xiao Yan would be so luxurious.

These women were beautifully dressed in veils, and their white thighs and crotch appeared and disappeared when they danced, and even the cherry red on their chests was not completely covered. When they danced to the bottom, the woman had already had fine beads of sweat on her face, and most of the veil wrapped in her body floated up, which was not blocked at all.

The middle-aged man held the wine in his arms and drooled with his eyes, staring at the woman dancing in the middle, and even forgot to drink the wine. Xiao Yan smiled and looked at the ugly appearance of the middle-aged man, not caring at all.

"If these women's nephews like them, how about I send them to them?"

The middle-aged man came to his senses and was happy in his heart. He just said hesitantly: "These women are still carefully trained by uncles, how can their nephews win over what they love?" The middle-aged man was no one else, but Xiao Xian, the younger brother of King Xiao Cong of Liang, who was the governor of Jingzhou at the time.

Xiao Yan sighed: "Uncle is old and he is powerless even if he has the will. However, his nephew is old and strong, so he just sends them to his nephew. Besides, even if he can keep this family business for a long time, how can he not let go of a few singers?"

The singer in the middle was still dancing, as if what the two talked about had nothing to do with them. Xiao Xian swallowed his saliva and took his eyes back from the singer: "What does the last sentence of uncle mean?"

Xiao Yan glanced around and waved: "You guys retreat!"

"Yes!" The dancers and various musicians and servants all came out one after another. After a while, only Xiao Yan and Xiao Xian were left in the lobby.

"Does your nephew know why Yang Jian wanted to entrust the king into Daxing. After the king left, he ordered Cui Hongdu, the Marquis of Wuxiang of Sui, to lead his army south and stationed beside Jiangling."

"This, didn't the Emperor of Sui say that he had not seen the king for many years and missed him so much that he ordered the king to enter the capital? As for Cui Hongdu's army to lead the south, the king's consent was also obtained. The Emperor of Sui was afraid that after the king left, the Chen Dynasty would send troops to attack, and Cui Hongdu just came to assist in defense." Xiao Xian said in an unsure tone.

"Hey, hey, is it just a helping defense?" Xiao Yan sneered.

Xiao Xian suddenly became nervous: "Did the Sui army want to attack us? No, no, Daliang has been attached to Sui over the years, and Yang Jian has never intended to annex. Uncle, are you worried too much?"

"Idiot, Yang Jian has not annexed us in recent years, so he has never been able to take action. In the past two years, the general manager of Xinzhou, Yang Su, built warships in Yong'an, Cui Zhongfang built warships in the Han River, and Han Qinhu and He Ruobi and his two men made great efforts to collect grain in the south in summer and autumn, attacking Jiangnan, so that Chen had to summon soldiers to fight. Countless wheat and rice in the south were rotten in the fields due to lack of labor, and Chen's national strength was greatly affected. Most of the troops mobilized by the Sui Dynasty belonged to the north, and wheat and rice had to be harvested one month late. Once Chen was about to stop, the Sui Dynasty just stopped fighting and asked the soldiers to go back to harvest food. Therefore, the Sui Dynasty was not affected at all. Now the gap between the national strength between the two sides was getting bigger and bigger. Yang Jian had long been determined to annex Chen State, so how could he keep Liang State?"

Xiao Xian blinked his eyes, and was completely led by Xiao Yan, and jumped up from the ground: "Will the king be in Daxing be dangerous?"

"The king and Yang Jian have known each other for decades and have become relatives. If Daliang is annexed, they may be able to enjoy the prosperity of high officials and good fortune. He must have understood in his heart that Liang State is too small and unable to fight against the Sui Dynasty. Maybe the king will take the initiative to offer the population to win Yang Jian's favor. You haven't seen the king even bring the prince Xiao Yu to the capital of the Sui Dynasty." Xiao Yan said disdainfully.

Xiao Xian breathed a sigh of relief: "Since that's the case, Liang State can't save it anyway, so it's better to be able to gain wealth and glory."

"Silly, stupid." Xiao Yan pointed at Xiao Xian and cursed: "You are gone, and you still want to be rich and prosperous. Do you want to enjoy wealth and prosperity in the underworld?"

If someone else dared to scold him like this, Xiao Xian asked someone to slap him around, but Xiao Yan was his uncle and the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty. Xiao Xiancai endured it and asked in confusion: "Didn't the uncle say that the king can enjoy high-ranking officials and generous salaries? How can it be glory and wealth?"

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Xian with a look of regret, "That's just in front of you. I ask you, how many kings who have lost their country can have a good end. The king and Yang Jian may be barely protected, but because Yang Jian was embarrassed to kill the king, he had to cut off the king's wings. You are the governor of Jingzhou and have half of the troops in Daliang. If Liang State is incorporated into the Sui Dynasty, you and I are the first person Yang Jian will have to cut off."

Xiao Xian was immediately scared and sweated: "Uncle, what should I do?"

Seeing that Xiao Xian was frightened, Xiao Yan smiled and pointed to the south.

"Chen State?" Xiao Xian frowned. Although he was stupid, he knew that Sui was strong and weak. He refused to surrender to the Sui Dynasty, but instead surrendered to the Southern Chen. If Chen was captured, wouldn't it fall into the hands of the Sui Dynasty? Then he would die without a burial place.

"What are you afraid of? Although the Sui Dynasty is strong, Chen has natural dangers in the Yangtze River. The north and south have been divided for three hundred years. It is not easy for Yang Jian to unify it. As long as we surrender, we will definitely be highly valued. In any case, it is much better than staying in the Sui Dynasty." Xiao Yan dispelled Xiao Xian's concerns after a few words. Back then, the former Qin commanded a million troops, but he still could not pass the Yangtze River.

"It's good, it's just uncle, how can we contact Nan Chen?"

Xiao Yan clapped his hands, walked out of the back hall a middle-aged scholar and bowed to Xiao: "Go to the governor."

Xiao Xian was startled and pointed at the middle-aged scholar and said, "Uncle, who is this? How dare you eavesdrop on our conversation?"

"Nephew, don't be nervous. Come on, let me introduce it. This is the envoy of Lord Huiji, the Chen Dynasty's Yihuang Hou. When we arrive at Chen Dynasty, I would like to thank Lord Huiji for the introduction."

Xiao Xian smiled bitterly. Only then did he realize that his uncle had arranged everything. Although he was the governor of Jingzhou and had control of most of the troops of Liang State, this was beyond the reach of the Taifu Mansion. If he disagreed, his uncle would turn against him immediately.

This time, Xiao Cong came to Beijing and received an imperial edict from Yang Jian to enter Beijing, taking away most of the important officials, and even the prince took them away, leaving Xiao Yan and Xiao Xian to stay. Xiao Cong thought that one of them was his uncle and the other was his brother, and he would not betray him. Unexpectedly, five days after Xiao Cong arrived in Daxing City, Yang Jian received an urgent report from Cui Hongdu, who was monitoring Liang State at 800 miles. One month after Liang Lord Xiao Cong left, Chen Dynasty general Huiji suddenly led his army across the river. With the cooperation of the governor Xiao Yan and Jingzhou Governor Xiao Xian, the Liang army did not resist and opened the city gate to welcome the Chen Dynasty army into the city.

After that, Cui Hongdu immediately responded and led his army into Liang State. It was too late. Xiao Yan and Xiao Xian threatened all the civil and military officials of Liang State and more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians to enter Chen State by boat. The essence of Liang State was swept away by Xiao Yan and Xiao Xian, and set fire to the city. Many places became scorched earth.

After receiving Cui Hongdu's report, the emperor and ministers of the Great Sui Dynasty were furious, and Xiao Cong was even more frightened. Fortunately, Yang Jian did not blame him and announced the abolition of Liang State, the title of Lord Xiao Cong of Liang State, and the title of Duke of Ju, and sent the Minister Zuo Pushe to Jiangling to appease the remaining Liang State's remnants, and prepared for the war of unification.

The territory of the Liang Kingdom was included in the Sui territory. Although many places became scorched earth, it was undoubtedly much more convenient for the deployment of the Sui Dynasty on the north bank of the Yangtze River. When Xiao Yan secretly asked the Chen Dynasty to surrender, Ren Zhong, Zhou Luohu, Xiao Moha and other Chen Dynasty generals were overjoyed and wanted to lead troops to occupy Liang's territory, so that the Liang land would become a nail to prick the abdomen of the Sui Dynasty.

Unfortunately, Chen Shubao was devoted to enjoying himself and had no interest in national affairs at all. He entrusted all the power to his close ministers Shi Wenqing and Chen Guqing. These two had no talent and could only flatter and flatter. They were afraid that the generals would make contributions and squeeze their power. They ignored the generals' request and brazenly demanded that all the soldiers and civilians of the Liang Kingdom be led into the south of the Yangtze River and left only the gap for the Sui Dynasty.

Although the Chen Dynasty gained more than 100,000 military and civilians, the loss of the Liang Kingdom's geographical advantage was actually not worth the loss. It was just that Chen Shubao was superstitious about the natural dangers of the Yangtze River and no matter how the generals argued, Chen Shubao still agreed to Shi Wenqing's suggestion and gave Liang land to the Sui Dynasty for free.
Chapter completed!