Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 429 Capturing Chang'an (Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month)

"Hurry up! No wonder you all lost to us while you were dawdling!"

"Let's clean up quickly and eat early!"

"Don't even think about escaping. This crime belongs to the imperial court, not to you."

“If you behave yourselves and are strong enough to abide by the law, you may be selected for the army; those who cause trouble will be sent to Anxi to serve as garrison soldiers for ten years!”

As the setting sun dipped below the horizon, it almost dyed the Daxi River valley a crimson red.

On the north bank of the Daxi River, the battlefield was now littered with countless corpses.

Several vultures circled in the air, waiting for a good meal.

On the battlefield, thousands of Han soldiers were directing nearly ten thousand Tang soldiers who had surrendered and disarmed to clean up the battlefield.

The Han army was in high spirits, while the Tang army was demoralized and could only stagger to carry the corpses of their comrades.

“Brother!!”

A young surrendered soldier suddenly knelt down, wailing and trembling as he looked at a corpse.

The corpse still clutched half a Tang Dynasty flag tightly in its left hand. The blood had long since dried up, and its face was covered with dark purple scabs. Half a family letter was sticking out of the inner pocket of its clothes. The ink on the letter was blurred by blood, but the words could still be seen.

[Ms. Ye Niang’s personal exhibition...]

"Don't blame us, blame the imperial court!"

The Han army captain raised his voice and explained the facts to the surrendered soldiers on his left and right, who then fell silent.

A moment later, they continued to hunch over, throwing the severed limbs and broken arms from the battlefield onto the cart, and then pushed the cart to bury the bodies in the pile of corpses not far away.

Even though the Han army did not whip or reprimand them, their words were like dull knives constantly scraping against their backs.

"Screw rustle..."

While the Han army supervised the surrendered Tang soldiers as they cleaned up the battlefield, Lingtai County in the east had already returned to its bustling state.

The laborers from Lingtai County have just been released and are now reuniting with their families.

Many of them lost their family members in the war, or their houses were destroyed by hurled stones.

In response, Liu Jilong had already issued an order: "For those whose relatives or family members died in the war, they shall be compensated with money and land; for those whose houses were destroyed and collapsed, they shall be compensated with money and silk for repair."

The people of Lingtai County didn't believe the Han army's orders, and even the captured Tang generals didn't believe them.

Among them were Zheng Tian, ​​Wang Shi, and other commanders of the Tang army...

"Your Majesty!"

"No need..."

Inside the county government office, several officers roughly brought in Zheng Tian, ​​Wang Shi, and Yang Fugong. They intended to make them kneel down, but Liu Jilong shook his head and dissuaded them.

Although Zheng Tian and Wang Shi were captured, they still stood up straight, but like Yang Fugong, they had many bruises on their faces.

This was the first time the first two had looked Liu Jilong so closely, while Yang Fugong was someone Liu Jilong knew.

Zheng Tian and Wang Shi looked at Liu Jilong in front of them. Even though Liu Jilong was thirty-five years old, he could still be described as having a magnificent appearance and being extraordinary.

"Zheng Taiwen, Wang Xiaonian..."

Liu Jilong walked up to the three men, read out Zheng Tian's and Wang Shi's courtesy names, and shook his head, saying, "The court isn't lacking in talent, it's just that it's subject to too many restrictions..."

"The two of you used a variety of tactics, which kept me busy, but the result was still the same. I still won."

The two men were filled with resentment. If it weren't for the fact that the generals of Fengxiang and Jingyuan hadn't turned against them when they saw the war turning against them and captured them alive to hand them over to Liu Jilong, they could at least have served their country and wouldn't have suffered such humiliation.

While they were still feeling humiliated, they saw Liu Jilong slowly draw his sword and personally untie them, his demeanor elegant as he said:
"Both of them are good ministers, but good ministers rarely meet an enlightened ruler."

"Although the Emperor values ​​you two highly, he still uses the eunuchs of the Northern Bureau to hinder you. If it weren't for that, how could I have so easily and by chance defeated you two?"

"My victory was not due to superior battle tactics and strategies, but rather to favorable timing!"
“Recalling the past, Li Guang was unable to be ennobled, yet he still bravely served the Han dynasty; Wei Zheng changed masters, but ultimately devoted himself to assisting the Tang dynasty.”

"A man should choose a wise ruler to serve; how can he merely sacrifice himself for the sake of a commoner?"

"If you two do not abandon me, I am willing to regard you as my pillars of support and will never let you down."

"If you two are unwilling to betray your master, then it is not too late to serve under his command after the court announces to the world and clears my name."

Liu Jilong spoke sincerely, but Zheng Tian and Wang Shi remained silent.

Seeing this, Liu Jilong was not angry. Instead, he nodded and looked at An Pohu behind him: "Arrange for the two of you to go to the Yin Hotel to rest."

"Yes!" An Pohu bowed in response, then gestured to the captain at the door to escort the two away.

The two men left in silence following the captain. Only then did Liu Jilong look at his old acquaintance, Yang Fugong.

"I used to trade horses, and it's been ten years since then. I never thought I'd see Zike here."

When facing Yang Fugong, Liu Jilong was not so polite, and his tone inevitably carried a hint of teasing.

Yang Fugong was in a terrible state, with black eyes, a crooked and bluish nose, and scabs on the corners of his mouth.

"Who beat him up like this?"

Looking at the pitiful Yang Fugong, Liu Jilong couldn't help but shake his head and ask Dou Jingchong and the others.

"He was like this when he was offered up..."

Dou Jingchong said awkwardly, and Liu Jilong nodded upon hearing this, then turned to look at Yang Fugong: "Since it was your generals who made the move, Zike, then I can do nothing about it."

Yang Fugong couldn't help but curse Liu Jilong in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face, fearing that Liu Jilong would kill him as a sacrifice to the flag.

But as he feigned silence, Liu Jilong drew his sword and cut the ropes binding his hands, then looked at Dou Jingchong and said, "Bring a horse."

"Lead the horse?" Dou Jingchong was taken aback, and Liu Jilong also looked at Yang Fugong:
“Zike and I are close friends, and I know his integrity well. He will never surrender to our army.”

Yang Fugong felt a little embarrassed by Liu Jilong's words and tried his best to straighten his spine, but this aggravated his wound and made him wince in pain.

"I have released Zike today, and I hope that we will not meet again on the battlefield in the future."

As soon as Liu Jilong finished speaking, Yang Fugong's expression froze, clearly not expecting Liu Jilong to let him go.

Not only him, but almost everyone was surprised that their own Prince Han would release Yang Fugong.

In response, Liu Jilong wore a sorrowful expression: "I was originally a slave, but I was rescued by the Guiyi Army and that's how I was able to achieve my merits."

“During the reign of Emperor Dazhong, the late emperor bestowed many rewards upon me, which enabled me to prepare armor and provisions to defend against the Tubo. I then secretly vowed to serve the court and forever guard Longyou.”

"Afterwards, I recovered Longnan and recaptured Liangzhou, Jiannan and other six prefectures that had fallen into the hands of the barbarians. I originally intended to show my loyalty, but the court suspected me of expanding the territory and strengthening myself."

"Upon seeing the imperial edict condemning the guilty, I was filled with fear and confusion. I wished to plead my case in person, but the government troops blocked my way and the imperial army was pressing on the border. I had no choice but to draw my sword."

"It was a pleasure to meet Zike, and only then could I pour out my heart."

"If Zike were to convey this message to the Emperor, I would gladly retreat to Longyou and return to serve the Tang Dynasty..."

After Liu Jilong finished speaking in a refined manner, not only Yang Fugong was stunned, but even An Pohu, Dou Jingchong, Wang Chongrong and others could not sit still.

Yang Fugong was stunned for a moment, not believing Liu Jilong's words at all, but in order to get out of trouble, he still squeezed out a few tears.

"Knowing Mu Zhi's character, I knew from the beginning that this was not Mu Zhi's doing. Now that I know the reason, I only regret that I did not meet Mu Zhi sooner."

"If we can recover Chang'an now, I will certainly petition the Emperor on Mu Zhi's behalf, so that His Majesty may restore Mu Zhi's innocence..."

"Very well!" Liu Jilong nodded solemnly, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "In that case, I will leave it to Zike."

"I will certainly not fail in my mission." Yang Fugong quickly bowed in return.

Upon seeing this, Liu Jilong immediately sent someone to escort Yang Fugong out of the camp, and gave him a handwritten letter that he had prepared in advance to keep safe. If he encountered any obstacles on his way south, he could use this letter to travel freely.

Yang Fugong hadn't expected Liu Jilong to be so thoughtful. Although he suspected something was wrong, in order to get out of trouble, he nodded emphatically, then shook the reins and rode away.

"King Han, you..."

Seeing Yang Fuguang leave, An Pohu took the initiative to bow and asked, "Are you really going to retreat to Longyou?"

"How could that be?" Liu Jilong couldn't help but laugh. "This plan is merely giving the court a way out."

"But what if they really make you retreat back to Longyou?"

Dou Jingchong asked with concern, and Liu Jilong scoffed after hearing it: "What they should be worried about now is how to keep it from the people of Chang'an and escape to Luodu."

After he finished speaking, he asked An Pohu, "How many casualties have we suffered? How many enemy prisoners have we captured?"

When An Pohu saw Liu Jilong asking, he immediately bowed and said, "Commander Husi has not yet reported back. My division lost 3,475 men and had 1,725 ​​seriously wounded or disabled."

"In this battle, our army defeated 60,000 government troops, killed no less than 20,000 government troops in battle, and captured more than 30,000 soldiers."

"At present, apart from the several thousand government troops in Baili City, there are only some troops left in places such as Zhisheng Pass, Anrong Pass, Liyuan Village, and Fengxiang."

According to the surrendered government troops, the number of local government troops was less than 30,000.

"At present, my division still has more than 6,700 elite cavalry, 8,000 infantry and cavalry, and a total of more than 14,800 men."

The 90,000 soldiers in Longdong were all killed, more than half of whom were captured, while Longyou itself also suffered heavy losses.

Due to the fact that Longdong was easy to defend and difficult to attack, coupled with the large number of new recruits in the army, the total number of soldiers lost was no less than 8,000.

Even though he had just experienced a great victory, Liu Jilong still had to consider the morale factor.

The soldiers are still cleaning up the battlefield and have not yet realized that the army has lost nearly 20% of its troops.

When they return to camp, they will surely grieve for the loss of their comrades.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Jilong said, "Nowadays, apart from the passes and cities such as Zhisheng Pass, Anrong Pass, Qianyuan, Fengxiang, Baoji, Sanguan Pass, Xinping, and Liyuanzhai, the rest of the cities are almost undefended."

"An Pohu, tomorrow you muster your troops, leave over a thousand elite cavalry to garrison Baili City, and the rest of the army will follow me south to Purun and attack Fengxiang!"

"Yes!!" An Pohu agreed without hesitation, and the generals also bowed. Then they mounted their horses and rode out of Lingtai County.

Before long, the battlefield had been cleaned up. After the Han army took the prisoners to their camp in Lingtai County, they immediately returned to their camp outside the city.

Returning victorious, they dragged their weary steps into the camp. The bloodstains on their armor had long since dried, turning an eerie purplish-black in the setting sun.

As they returned to their respective tents, the atmosphere in the camp suddenly became tense.

Standing inside the tent, their hands gradually slowed down as they removed their armor, their eyes unconsciously scanning their surroundings.

The once bustling tent was now empty of familiar faces, lacking its usual liveliness.

"Friday Lang! Where is Friday Lang?!"

Suddenly, a frantic shouting and yelling came from outside the tent. The voice gradually turned from anger to grief: "Zhou Wulang, you damned murderer! You promised to treat Father to a drink!"

No one responded to him; only the howling evening wind answered him. His words immediately stirred up memories for countless people.

Starting from some tent, suppressed sobs began to emanate from the soldiers who had been enduring the pain. These sobs spread rapidly throughout the camp like a plague.

In front of the central command tent, An Pohu looked at the densely crossed-out names on the roster, and his nose tingled slightly.

At the arrow tower, the soldiers on duty pulled down their hat brims, tears involuntarily streaming down their cheeks and dripping down their chins onto their chests.

Those familiar faces have finally disappeared, and the sobs that rose and fell within the camp added a touch of sorrow to this great victory.

Reality is always cruel, and they don't have much time to grieve. Most of them end up crying themselves to sleep.

When they woke up the next day, they once again donned a calm "cloak," and after roll call, they broke camp and headed south.

Zheng Tian and Wang Shi, along with other Tang generals, were all sent to Linzhou by Liu Jilong. Although they were not restricted from moving around the city, it was impossible for them to leave.

If they can't figure things out, their value will only decrease over time.

When they become worthless, they become disposable pawns that can be discarded at any time.

Meanwhile, due to the annihilation of Zheng Tian's main force, the number of troops in Guanzhong plummeted, and the Han army that marched south via the western route encountered almost no resistance.

The only place blocking their way was Purun County, where the government troops numbered only a few hundred. Upon seeing the Han army approaching and Zheng Tian's captured banner, they immediately opened the city gates and surrendered to the Han army.

On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the rainy season in Guanzhong had not yet arrived, but Liu Jilong had already led his army through Purun County into Guanzhong and surrounded Fengxiang County, where only three thousand Tang soldiers were stationed.

Without any delay, Liu Jilong decisively divided his troops to attack Fengxiang Prefecture and the counties in Longzhou with fewer troops.

In an instant, Fengxiang was in danger, and countless fast horses rushed to Chang'an. The price of rice in Guanzhong suddenly soared, reaching an exorbitant price of several thousand coins per dou (a unit of dry measure).

Inside Xianning Palace, Yang Fugong, who had fled back in a disheveled state, knelt beneath the golden platform, flanked by Lu Yan, Qi Yuanshi, and others from the Northern and Southern Offices.

Everyone looked grim, and the situation in Chang'an descended into complete chaos when news of Fengxiang's impending doom arrived.

The powerful and wealthy continued to sell off their land and flee Chang'an by carriage. For example, Wang Zongshi and other veteran officials from the Northern Division were already enjoying peace in Luoyang.

Because of their dumping, the people of Chang'an panicked, and now countless people are fleeing, but there are also many people who are willing to stay.

Even so, the official roads leading to Luoyang were still filled with migrating people, which would inevitably hinder the court's eastward relocation.

"Are you saying that my 100,000-strong army was completely wiped out, and Liu Jilong still dares to utter such arrogant words?"

"Yes……"

On the golden platform, Li Cui restrained himself from exploding and instead questioned Yang Fugong.

In fact, everyone knew that the words Liu Jilong had Yang Fugong bring were merely a way to give the court a way out, and that he would certainly not withdraw his troops.

Even so, they still hoped that Li Cui could step down from this position, at least that way they might be able to save Chang'an.

Given the current situation, even if Chang'an is saved, the imperial court cannot remain there any longer.

After all, if Liu Jilong wanted to, his troops could reach Chang'an within three days at any time.

Thinking of this, Li Cui did not respond to Liu Jilong's words, but after Yang Fugong's response, he immediately looked at Lu Yan:

"Minister Lu, what are the arrangements for the court to have its meals served in Luoyang?"

"Your Majesty, as long as Your Majesty issues a decree, all officials may follow Your Majesty to the Eastern Capital for meals at any time."

Lu Yan answered without hesitation, but inwardly cursed Li Cui for being so concerned with saving face that he was suffering for it.

Three days ago, he reminded Li Cui to move east to Luoyang, but Li Cui delayed leaving for the sake of his reputation.

Now Liu Jilong has even entered Guanzhong and reached Fengxiang.

If they don't leave soon, they'll really be captured by Liu Jilong.

"I..." Li Cui wanted to say something, but after opening his mouth, he hesitated and then sighed.

"Issue an imperial decree ordering all officials and the court to dine in Luoyang and depart at dawn tomorrow."

"Furthermore, you and the imperial carriages will depart first at 9 PM tonight."

Li Cui's words at this moment were exactly the same as those of the emperors who fled Chang'an a hundred years ago.

During the day, they were full of fervor, vowing to live and die with Chang'an, but once the people calmed down, they secretly ran away at night.

Li Cui did this because he was worried that the mass exodus of people would block the official roads and prevent his carriage from reaching Luoyang quickly.

Everyone was well aware of this, and Yu Cong seized the opportunity to say:

"Your Majesty, it would be better to issue an edict to Chang'an and Wannian counties to sell more than 300,000 shi of grain from the capital granary to the people at a fair price, so that the people can live in peace and the court can obtain money and make it easier to go to Chang'an."

“That would be best,” Li Cui agreed without hesitation, and Yu Cong added.
"Since the imperial court intends to take refuge in Luoyang, it should withdraw its troops from places such as Ziwu Valley, Luogu Pass, and Liyuan Village, and use these more than 20,000 troops to protect Luoyang."

"Furthermore, the military governors of Shannan East Circuit and Hedong Circuit should be ordered to guard against the rebels and prevent them from crossing the Yellow River and Shangluo."

Li Cui still agreed, because his mind was in complete turmoil.

Even now, he still can't believe that he is about to leave Chang'an, the city where he has lived for thirty-five years.

No matter how unwilling he was, he had no choice but to leave at this moment.

He dismissed Lu Yan and others, and ordered Tian Yun to inform all the concubines in the inner court and the members of the royal family in the sixteen princes' residences to prepare to leave the city for Luoyang that night.

After Yu Cong and the others left, they immediately sold the grain they couldn't take away as cheap grain at a price of two strings of cash per dou.

Not only them, but also the powerful and wealthy in Chang'an who, upon hearing the news, stopped hoarding grain and began selling it off in large quantities.

Besides grain, houses, fields, horse farms and other properties were also sold off, but people only bought grain to seek refuge. Even though the price of grain in the capital was as low as two or three strings of cash, no one bought it.

The originally soaring grain prices have been fluctuating almost every fifteen minutes due to the continuous selling by the powerful and wealthy.

At noon, the price was several thousand coins per dou (a unit of dry measure), but by dusk, it had dropped to a dozen coins per dou.

Even so, a large amount of grain in Chang'an City remained unsold.

As it turns out, Chang'an was not so short of food. If no one hoarded food and made it a scarce commodity, the price of food in Chang'an would not have remained at 1,000 guan per shi for so long.

As the curfew began, the common people returned to their respective neighborhoods, while the officials and nobles of Daming Palace, Xuanyang Ward, Changshou Ward, and the Sixteen Princes' Residences followed the emperor's carriage and left Chang'an City under cover of night.

There were only about 3,000 officials in Chang'an, of whom only about 1,200 were officials with real power. Only about 100 officials were notified and allowed to leave the city with the emperor.

This naturally included Feng Bangyan and Zhang Yichao, who were taken hostage by Li Cui.

Even so, including the imperial concubines and princes, Li Cui's eastern tour group still numbered over 40,000 people, including 5,000 Shence Army soldiers and their families responsible for escorting him.

It can be said that nearly 10% of the population of Chang'an left overnight, which is why Li Cui was worried about the people crowding the official roads.

"Are you leaving?"

Li Cui gazed at Chang'an City under the night sky, a sense of reluctance welling up in his heart. He then turned back to look at the three noble concubines inside the carriage, and the silent Li Meiling. "Nannan, it's Father who made you suffer..."

Li Cui's face showed dejection, and Li Meiling shook her head upon hearing this, saying, "This is not Father's fault."

After she finished speaking, she stopped talking and Li Cui also fell silent.

The procession of tens of thousands of people headed toward Luoyang, six hundred miles away, but the daily speed of these imperial relatives and nobles' carriages was not fast at all.

A night passed, and with frequent stops and starts, they had only traveled thirty li.

At this rate, Liu Jilong would probably have already reached Chang'an, while they probably haven't even arrived in Luoyang yet.

Meanwhile, as dawn broke, the three thousand officials in Chang'an were the first to notice something amiss.

The absence of high-ranking officials of the third rank and above from the regular court sessions today has made everyone uneasy.

Amidst the unease of the crowd, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial ascended the golden platform, took out the imperial edict in front of everyone, and read its contents aloud.

“In recent years, the Guanzhong Plain has limited land, and grain prices have soared, leaving the granaries empty. I was very worried about this. In contrast, Luoyang is bustling with activity, with boats and carts coming and going, making all affairs less expensive. I am not afraid of hard work.”

"It is advisable to take the northern route to the eastern capital this autumn, and the local officials of the prefectures and counties along the way shall not offer tribute, and the number of accompanying officials shall be reduced accordingly."

"The construction of palaces in the two capitals, unless required by military or national needs, should be halted..."

After the imperial edict was read aloud, an uproar broke out in the Zichen Hall. The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, all knowing that the court was not seeking refuge in the Eastern Capital, but rather moving the capital to avoid disaster.

They had clearly been abandoned.

"The court session is adjourned..."

Seeing that the assembled officials had all guessed his predicament, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies immediately composed himself, announced the end of the court session, and left the court.

The officials bowed in greeting, and after the court session ended, they hurriedly returned home, taking their gold, silver and valuables with them, and began their escape towards the eastern capital.

The sight of officials fleeing was witnessed by the people of Chang'an. The people of Chang'an, who were originally happy because the court had stabilized grain prices, soon realized that something was wrong.

As officials and soldiers fled Chang'an, the troops at Ziwu Pass, Luogu Pass, Liyuan Village, Lantian Pass, and other places all received orders to retreat to Tongguan.

Without the slightest hesitation, the government troops began to retreat in batches. If they ran out of money and food along the way, they would plunder the countryside. If they were driven by lust, they would rape and plunder.

In just a few days, Guanzhong, which could have been considered peaceful, was suddenly ravaged by war.

At the same time, Liu Jilong led his troops to capture Fengxiang, Qishan, Baoji and other places, and the Fengxiang army in Sanguan surrendered.

Upon learning that the Shence Army had withdrawn from Ziwu Pass and Luogu Pass, Chen Jingchong immediately led his troops to take over these passes and sent soldiers to Fengxiang to inquire whether Liu Jilong would send troops to Chang'an.

Yang Xuanji of Liyuan Village led his troops to retreat, and Husi Guang also led his troops south to occupy Liyuan Village.

Upon learning that Fengxiang Prefecture had been occupied by Liu Jilong, Zheng Tian's troops were completely annihilated at Lingtaiyuan, and the officials and soldiers in Longzhou and other places all surrendered. Only the Tang troops at Zhisheng Pass and Anrong Pass remained to hold their ground.

"Screw rustle..."

The sound of armor plates echoed continuously as Wugong County, located in the eastern part of Zhouyuan, welcomed the Han army.

Liu Jilong led his troops into Wugong County, but instead camped outside the county and met with the generals sent by Husiguang, Gao Jinda, and Chen Jingchong.

He sat in the main seat with an imposing air, with An Pohu, Dou Jingchong, Wang Chongrong, and others standing below him, while three other generals who had arrived on horseback stood in the middle, bowing.

"Tell me, what's the situation with each army?"

Liu Jilong questioned the three men, and upon seeing this, the one sent by Gao Jinda, a subordinate general, was the first to answer:
"The 10,000 government troops at Zhisheng Pass and Anrong Pass have not yet accepted the surrender offer, so Governor Gao has surrounded them with 20,000 troops."

As soon as he finished speaking, Husi Guang's subordinate general bowed and said, "Your Majesty, our army has captured Xinping, Liyuan Village, Liquan County, and Fengtian County."

"At present, Governor Husi has stationed 3,000 troops in Liquan, while the rest of his troops have gone to persuade the counties of Binzhou to surrender."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jilong nodded, and the general sent by Chen Jingchong also quickly bowed and said, "King Han, Ziwu Pass and Luogu Pass have been captured by our army, and Zhouzhi County and Hu County have also been occupied by our army. They are only forty miles away from Chang'an."

"At present, Commander Chen has stationed 5,000 cavalry and infantry in Hu County and 3,000 infantry in Zhouzhi County, awaiting your military orders to enter Chang'an."

After the three finished speaking, Liu Jilong nodded in response, and then said:
“Our army has no more than 30,000 troops in Guanzhong. An Pohu, you shall lead 5,000 elite cavalry to garrison Chang’an. Anyone who dares to commit crimes shall be executed.”

"Dou Jingchong and Wang Chongrong, you two will each lead three thousand cavalry and infantry to persuade the counties to surrender."

"Send an order to Husiguang, instructing him to persuade the counties of Binzhou to surrender, then to recruit Tongzhou to surrender, occupy Pujin Pass, and spy on the troops at Tong Pass."

"Then send another order to Chen Jingchong, instructing him to attack Lantian Pass and to occupy Lantian County and Lantian Pass."

"Tell Gao Jinda to temporarily besiege those Tang soldiers. Although they have enough food, they don't have enough firewood, so they can't last long."

"Then, the wine shop will be transferred northward to attack Suizhou and Yanzhou, and southward to capture Fufang Town."

"This subordinate obeys the order—"

The generals readily agreed, and Liu Jilong waved his hand, signaling everyone to step back.

Upon seeing this, An Pohu and the others opened their mouths, but hesitated to speak. However, they were still afraid of their King of Han, and then withdrew from the tent.

In the following days, all the prefectures and counties in Guanzhong surrendered. An Pohu even led his troops into Chang'an and executed a group of criminals who had committed crimes during the war. The Wei River turned red with blood and heads rolled everywhere.

Husiguang led troops to persuade and capture the counties of Tongzhou, while also heading south to ascertain the number of Tang troops at Tongguan for Liu Jilong.

The Tang army at Tongguan numbered around 10,000, all of whom were Shence Army soldiers and were not very strong.

Chen Jingchong captured Lantian County and Lantian Pass, while the Tang army held firm in Shangluo and Luonan, but their strength was only a little over six thousand men.

Chen Jingchong requested permission to attack Jinzhou, but Liu Jilong stopped him.

On the ninth day of the seventh month, Liu Jilong led his army to Chang'an. By this time, after An Pohu's iron-fisted rule, there were no more local ruffians who dared to cause trouble in Chang'an.

"Sorry..."

When Liu Jilong arrived, escorted by over a thousand elite cavalry, a force of nearly ten thousand people had already gathered at the Mingde Gate of Chang'an City.

The elite Han cavalry lined up on both sides of the official road, and the officials entered the road, leaving a three-zhang-wide passage in the middle.

Behind the elite cavalry stood thousands of anxious merchants, wealthy households, and ordinary people.

After An Pohu captured Chang'an, he executed all the criminals, which was very gratifying and protected the property of the people in the city.

The problem is that many people are trying to profit from the war. While the powerful and wealthy in the Tang Dynasty were selling off their land in the capital, they were also buying up land in the capital, trying to join the Han army to protect their own property.

At this moment, they wanted to know how the King of Han intended to deal with these Jing Tian people and how he would deal with them.

Similarly, although many of the more than three thousand officials in the capital of the Tang Dynasty fled to Luoyang with the emperor, many officials who were dissatisfied with the status quo also stayed behind.

They believed that Liu Jilong needed to govern Guanzhong and would need their help, so they all wanted to get a share of the future credit for his success.

Amidst their differing motives, Liu Jilong, escorted by over a thousand elite cavalry, slowly approached the Mingde Gate, the south gate of Chang'an.

Liu Jilong, dressed in armor, rode up on horseback. An Pohu was the first to bow, and the other officials followed suit.

"Greetings, King of Han..."

"Everyone, get up."

Liu Jilong didn't keep them waiting long. He raised his voice to signal everyone to stand up, and then An Pohu strode over.

"What's going on with these people?"

Liu Jilong asked An Pohu, who explained, "These people are all ministers who did not follow the Tang Emperor eastward; they all chose to stay and serve you."

Regarding An Pohu's address of Li Cui as the Tang Emperor, Liu Jilong frowned and reminded him: "The Emperor went east, and these people did not follow him but instead came to us. They have no loyalty or trustworthiness to speak of."

"Let's put it aside for now and wait for Gao Jinda to arrive with the Protectorate officials before making any further arrangements."

Anpohu, with his keen sense of smell, noticed the way his Prince of Han addressed Li Cui and immediately changed his tune, saying, "Your Highness is quite right. I will drive away these disloyal people."

"No need, just let them disperse gradually," Liu Jilong shook his head to stop him, adding:
"The palace is completely closed, so I will stay at the Jinzouyuan in Xuanyangfang today."

"By the way, was Dou Bin left behind or taken away?"

He inquired about Dou Bin, the Han army's ambassador stationed at the Chang'an Jinzouyuan. An Pohu replied, "Dou Bin was detained, but Zhang Sikong and Feng Shilang were taken away."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jilong nodded and instructed, "The Zhang family's residence and land must not be touched. Dou Bin is familiar with Chang'an, so let him temporarily act as the Prefect of the Capital and govern Chang'an well."

"In addition, I ordered that all the sacrificial offerings be prepared and sent to Zhaoling, so that I may go there to offer sacrifices to Emperor Taizong."

"Yes." An Pohu's eyes flashed with joy, but when he heard that it was a sacrifice to Emperor Taizong, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

If Gao Jinda, Chen Jingchong, and others were here now, their status and seniority would be enough to persuade their own prince to ascend the throne.

Although An Pohu was of a high enough position, he lacked the necessary experience. If he spoke rashly, he feared he would suffer the same fate as Li Ji.

As he thought this, Liu Jilong shook the reins and headed towards Mingde Gate.

All the officials looked at Liu Jilong, hoping he would say something, but Liu Jilong remained silent.

Not only the officials, but also the merchants, scholars and wealthy households behind the elite Han cavalry were hoping that this person would say something.

Unfortunately, Liu Jilong didn't speak, and they could only discuss it after he had walked away.

"The King of Han is exceptionally talented and extraordinary; no wonder he was able to achieve great things."

"I just don't know if the King of Han has any further plans. If he can open up the imperial examination system and give important positions to us commoners, why worry about the stability of the world?"

"Ugh……"

Among a group of scholars, two women dressed in men's clothing stood out.

The woman in the lead was beautiful and in her early twenties, with a maidservant in her late twenties standing behind her.

As Liu Jilong departed, the surrounding scholars turned their attention to the two men.

"That must be Master Xuanji?"

"I heard that he beat a servant girl to death and almost got punished with death."

"Why should someone be punished with death for simply beating a servant girl to death?"

“That servant girl is from a respectable family, and she used private torture, so she should be severely punished.”

"No, I've heard that the person who presided over the judgment was rejected in his pursuit of love, and that love turned into hatred..."

"However, she was rescued after the Han army entered the city. I wonder if the Han army will recapture her and punish her."

The words of the scholars around her made Yu Xuanji feel uneasy, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering fear.

"Let's go..."

Yu Xuanji gestured to the maid behind her to follow, and they gradually moved away from the group of scholars.

At the same time, Liu Jilong rode his horse into Mingde Gate and arrived at the wide Zhuque Tianjie Street.

The Vermilion Bird Heavenly Street was a hundred paces wide, making it the widest city avenue even by today's standards.

However, the once bustling Tianjie Street was now deserted, which made Liu Jilong look at An Pohu and ask: "How many people from Chang'an have fled?"

"Three or four out of ten are law-abiding citizens; the rest are all well-behaved and law-abiding within their neighborhoods."

An Pohu explained to him, and Liu Jilong said, "In the past, Chang'an had nearly a million people, and there were more than 100,000 households in the neighborhood. But now, after the war, I don't know how many people are left."

He shook the reins and continued riding forward.

The neighborhoods in Chang'an were indeed prosperous, with tall walls, and one could often see the black gates opened by officials of the third rank or above.

The houses in the neighborhood are mostly made of earth and wood with tiled roofs, and the streets are not dirty or messy.

Before Liu Jilong even reached Xuanyang Ward, he saw more than ten people standing at the ward gate. The Han soldiers beside them did not disperse them, which made him frown slightly.

As he got closer, he could finally see what the group of people looked like.

The group of people were dressed in brocade robes and appeared to be around twenty years old.

"The Zhang family members greet the Prince of Han..."

They introduced themselves, and Liu Jilong's brow relaxed slightly upon hearing this. He quickly guessed their intentions and couldn't help but say:
"In a few months, the Protectorate will be selecting talents in Chang'an. If you have real skills and knowledge, you may participate in the selection."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shook the reins and rode away. The Zhang family members who were unwilling to follow Zhang Yichao breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

They had sent men to guard the city gates early on, and they also learned that the King of Han had not said a word to the officials outside the city.

The fact that he can say these words for them now shows that he still remembers the kindness Zhang has shown him.

Since that's the case, he naturally wouldn't take away their farmland and property.

Knowing this news was enough to put their minds at ease.

Therefore, after Liu Jilong left, they all returned to the Zhang family mansion, and Liu Jilong also went to the Jinzouyuan in Xuanyangfang.

Dou Bin waited in front of Wutou Gate. When he saw Liu Jilong arrive, he quickly went up to lead his horse.

Liu Jilong dismounted, looked Dou Bin up and down, and said with satisfaction, "You've had a tough time these past few days."

"You are familiar with Chang'an City. From now on, you will serve as the Prefect of the Capital to govern Chang'an City."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Prince Han." Dou Bin bowed in return without hesitation, then looked up at Liu Jilong, opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

“They are all good men, so say whatever you want.”

Liu Jilong gestured for him to speak, and Dou Bin took the initiative to say, "King Han, Huang Chao's family members are currently in the neighborhood."

"What did you say?" Liu Jilong thought he had misheard, but Dou Bin repeated, "Before Huang Chao started his rebellion, he wanted to send his family to Longyou, but the court blocked the official roads, so they came to the Jinzouyuan."

"They had just taken them in when they learned that the court had closed the Jinzouyuan (a government office for reporting to the emperor) a few days later."

"The family members and children of Huang Chao and his companions are all in the Jinzouyuan. The servant who escorted them here can prove his identity."

Dou Bin explained everything. After listening, Liu Jilong wanted to meet Huang Chao's family, but after a moment's thought, he shook his head and said:
“I will not see him again. You should choose a deserted house nearby, settle him there, and send soldiers to guard him. Do not deprive him of his food and clothing.”

"Yes!" Dou Bin bowed in response, while Liu Jilong also turned to look at An Pohu.

An Pohu looked surprised, clearly only now realizing that Huang Chao's family was being hidden in the Jinzouyuan.

However, he didn't think Huang Chao was anything special; rather, he felt that he hadn't investigated properly and had made the King of Han's trip in vain.

"Since they are still staying here, I shall go to the Wannian County Government Office to rest."

After saying this, Liu Jilong remounted his horse and headed towards the county government office in Wannian County. An Pohu quickly caught up with him, his face full of apologies.

"Your Highness, this humble general was truly unaware of the matter. Please punish me."

"What crime have you committed?" Liu Jilong chuckled. "If I were Dou Bin, I wouldn't have informed you beforehand either. If the news leaked out, and some reckless individuals caused trouble, wouldn't that turn a good thing into a bad thing?"

“Yes…” An Pohu breathed a sigh of relief, while Liu Jilong reminded him, “Remember to prepare the items for the sacrifice.”

"Yes!" An Pohu nodded in agreement, and continued to shake the reins with Liu Jilong as they headed towards the Wannian County Government Office, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance.

As the two headed towards the Wannian County government office, the Tang court officials who had chosen to relocate eastward finally arrived in Luoyang.

"finally reached……"

Under the blazing early autumn sun, the outline of Luoyang's city walls came into view before the officials, and many of them showed relieved smiles.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived in the Eastern Capital."

Prime Minister Lu Yan's voice rang out outside the imperial carriage. Soon after, the curtain was lifted, and Li Cui stepped out of the carriage. In the blink of an eye, he could see the city of Luoyang in the distance.

"Sorry..."

A river breeze swept by, and the imperial horse responsible for pulling the carriage snorted comfortably.

"Have all the palaces in the city been repaired?"

Li Cui's face was somewhat pale, a lingering effect of days of fatigue.

Although he was traveling by carriage, Li Cui, who had grown up in Chang'an, found the climate along the way very unfamiliar. He would often be awakened by dreams of war whenever he fell asleep, making it difficult for him to get a proper rest.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the palaces within the city are ready, and the Shence Army has taken over Ziwei City."

"Although Ziwei City cannot compare to Daming Palace and Taiji Palace, it is still a place where His Majesty can rest well."

Lu Yan spoke in a fawning manner, and Li Cui nodded in response: "In that case, let's go into the city."

"Yes……"

Lu Yan nodded, and Li Cui returned to the carriage and lifted the window curtain.

As the imperial carriage drew closer to Luoyang, the sights surrounding the city made Li Cui gasp in astonishment.

Crops in the fields were all destroyed, and the people were dressed in rags; some even wove straw into skirts.

The child had thin limbs, a distended belly, and a dark complexion.

The adults were emaciated, their ribs protruding outwards, and they all knelt on both sides of the official road, their eyes numb and desperate.

The sight of corpses lying in the distance, being torn apart and devoured by wild dogs, sent shivers down Li Cui's spine and shook him to his core.

"Eastern Capital, how could this be..."

Li Cui couldn't help but speak, but Li Meiling, inside the car, pursed her lips and hesitated several times before finally saying to Li Cui:
“Has Ayemo forgotten the previous locust plague…”

"Locust plague," Li Cui muttered to himself, only then remembering that Dongdu was also within the affected area of ​​the locust plague.

Perhaps only now did he realize that his world was already riddled with holes...

(End of this chapter)