"Why don't you have to worry?"

"Your Highness, the Tang Dynasty has been planning for Luoyang for a long time. Now the opportunity has finally come. How could they let it go easily? From the division of the Tang army, we can see that Li Yuan planned Luoyang's layout, and went out of Tongguan to attack Hongnong County, and attacked Nanxiang Road, and finally surrounded Luoyang from the west and south. Of course, they may also be reluctant to give up Jingzhou as His Highness said, but that means they will fight to the decisive battle with the Northern Sui Dynasty. One is fat that is easy to talk to, and the other is a bone that may not be able to get even if they fight to the death. Who does Your Highness think Li Yuan will choose?"

Zhang Xuan nodded slowly. He had to admit that Fang Xuanling's words made sense, but to be cautious, Zhang Xuan said again: "I decided to send warships to block the Han River to prevent the Tang army from entering Jingzhou."

Fang Xuanling knew that the lord was worried that he could not control the situation. Although it was unnecessary, the navy blocked the Han River would still make people feel relieved. He smiled and nodded and said, "I support Your Highness's decision."

At this moment, soldiers outside the tent reported: "Report to your Highness, news came from Jiangxia County that the envoy of the Tang Dynasty had arrived in Jiangxia."

"Who is the messenger?" Fang Xuanling asked.

"It seems to be the Prime Minister Chen Shuda."

Fang Xuanling immediately smiled and said, "Captain Chen personally went to Jingzhou, so your highness doesn't have to worry about the sincerity of the Tang Dynasty. It must be the judgment of the minister. Give up Jingzhou and specialize in Luoyang!"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and said, "Luoyang is a big place in the Central Plains. We are so generous to give it to the Tang Dynasty?"

"Your Highness never thought of handing over Luoyang to the Tang Dynasty!"

Zhang Xuan nodded slowly, "When I compete for the Central Plains, how can I let this fat deer in Luoyang be easily? But I will solve Jingzhou first."

"Your Highness, I am willing to go to Jiangxia to welcome Chen Shuda and have a preliminary discussion on the conditions of Jingzhou."

"Yes, I'll bother with the military advisor."

The two discussed for a while, and Fang Xuanling left first. At this time, Zhang Xuan ordered his personal soldiers: "Go and invite the general to come to the big tent to discuss military information!"

Just less than half an hour after the warrior led his army north, the large ship that Chen Shuda was riding arrived in Hankou. Although Xiangyang had been occupied by the Zheng army, Wang Shichong had no naval army and could not intercept it on the surface of the Han River. Chen Shuda's boat still arrived in Hankou safely.

It was so wrong. If the warriors could leave half an hour later, or Chen Shuda would arrive half an hour earlier, they would meet in Hankou, and the warriors would have the decision of the court to give up Jingzhou. Then he would not lead his army to fight the Zheng army to death in order to regain Xiangyang City. Perhaps he would retreat directly to the north bank of the Han River to block the Zheng army that crossed the Han River to the north.

But Chen Shuda did not know that the Tang army had stationed in Hankou, nor did he know that the Tang army had left half an hour ago. His ship did not dock in Hankou at all, but docked in Jiangxia County, opposite the Yangtze River in Hankou.

At this time, several Sui army wardrobes came forward, and a navy captain stepped forward and asked loudly: "Who is the person in the ship?"

A follower of Chen Shuda walked out of the cabin and bowed, saying, "This is the boat of Chen Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty. Chen Prime Minister was ordered to go to Jiangxia to meet His Highness the King of Qi. I hope you don't make things difficult for you."

The lieutenant said: "My general is in Wuchang County, not in Jiangxia County. Should you go ashore to rest or go directly to Wuchang County?"

The entourage went back to report and came out for a moment and said, "My master said the situation was urgent, so he would not go ashore. Go directly to Wuchang County."

"Please feel free, we will have ships escort you to Wuchang Camp."

Chen Shuda slowly turned around on the boat, and under the escort of several Sui army sentry ships, headed towards Wuchang County to the east.

At noon the next day, there were fifty miles away from Wuchang County. At this time, a 3,000-stone ship was coming towards him under the escort of more than a dozen warships. A warship came forward first. A soldier on the ship asked, "Is there a Tang Dynasty envoy on the ship in front of me?"

Chen Shuda's entourage quickly stepped forward and agreed, "It's Chen Xiangguo's boat."

The soldier smiled and said, "Mr. Fang came to greet Prime Minister Chen with the order of the commander of the general. Please board the boat and go to the camp with my military advisor."

Chen Shuda could hear clearly while riding the boat, and he walked out of the cabin and said, "I am Shuda Chen, where is Military Advisor Fang?"

The soldier turned around and pointed, "Just above the big ship."

Chen Shuda nodded, "Let's get on the boat!"

Soon, Chen Shuda and several entourages moved to the big ship. Fang Xuanling had already been waiting on the deck. When he saw Chen Shuda coming up, he hurried forward to salute, "See Chen Xiangguo!"

Fang Xuanling's father Fang Yanqian was once a subordinate of Chen Shuda, so Fang Xuanling did not rude to call himself a junior.

Chen Shuda smiled and said, "When I met my nephew, he was still a young boy who was learning to speak. In a blink of an eye, almost thirty years have passed. My nephew has become a pillar of the country. It is so touching and gratifying that Xiao Chong has such a son, he can rest in peace even under the stakes."

"The Prime Minister has been awarded, and he has worked hard all the way. Please sit in the cabin."

"Okay! Let's have a chat."

Of course, Chen Shuda knew Fang Xuanling's deep intention to come to meet him. If it weren't for the emperor or the prince himself to go into the negotiation, Zhang Xuan would not have participated directly in the negotiations. He could only come forward. As the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Jiangxia, the corresponding party should be the highest civilian official of the military, so the military advisor Fang Xuanling must be his negotiating party. I'm afraid that it will not be even in Wuchang County, and the double convenience will reach an agreement.

The two sat down in the cabin, and a entourage served them tea. Chen Shuda took a sip of hot tea and said with a smile: "It's still comfortable to sit in a big boat, and the cabin of the small boat is narrow. I feel really depressed all the way over. When I got on the big boat, I felt as if my heart suddenly opened up."

"If the Prime Minister walks the Yangtze River when he returns, we can arrange a large ship to send the Prime Minister to Yiling, so that the journey will be much more comfortable."

"Thank you for your concern, but when I go back, I will still take Nanxiang Road. It will save at least twenty days more than going to Bashu, and I don't have to walk the difficult Shu Road."

Fang Xuanling nodded and turned the topic to Nanxiang Road. He asked lightly: "We have received news that the King of Qin led a 70,000 army out of Wuguan to attack Nanxiang Road. I wonder what the progress is now?"

"I don't know the latest battle situation, but when I came out, the Tang army had captured Danshui County and gained a foothold in Xiyang County. However, the 30,000 main forces of the Zheng army were mainly concentrated in the county's Nanxiang County, so I estimate that there should be a fierce battle in Nanxiang County."

"If this is the case, Wang Shichong's entry into Jingzhou would probably be his biggest decision-making mistake."

"Isn't Wang Shichong's entry into Jingzhou an invitation from His Highness King Qi?" Chen Shuda said with a smile.

Fang Xuanling shook his head, "The original intention of the King of Qi was to hope that Wang Shichong would put pressure on the Tang army from the north and take down Xiangyang County. In this way, we can assign the three counties of Xiangyang, Handong and Chongling to him, but Wang Shichong attacked Nanjun and Jingling County without authorization, which made His Highness the King of Qi extremely dissatisfied. Although this was Wang Shichong's willfulness, it was enough to be fatal. His Highness of Qi decided to give up all support to him."

It sounds very nice and has sufficient reasons, but as a prime minister, Chen Shuda can certainly distinguish between true and false. It is true that Zhang Xuan gave up supporting Wang Shichong, but the reason is false. It is not because Wang Shichong attacked Nanjun, but because Wang Shichong's use has ended and it is time for him to perish.

As for letting Wang Shichong attack Xiangyang, it was still for the sake of a war. If Zhang Xuan wanted to unify the south, Wang Shichong needed to disrupt the situation, distract the Tang Dynasty from paying attention to Jingzhou, and at the same time force to give up Jingzhou. It was linked together and the methods were very far-reaching and vicious, which forced Chen Shuda to admire Zhang Xuan's strategic mind.

Wang Shichong was too far away. He was blinded by ambition and greed, and finally became a piece on Zhang Xuan's chessboard.

Faced with such a powerful opponent, Chen Shuda had to put away all his scheming and luck, and simply said frankly: "This time I came to Jiangxia with the order to talk to the noble army about withdrawing troops. Our emperor's will, we can give up Jingzhou, but there are three small conditions."

"Prime Minister, please tell me!" Fang Xuanling said with a smile.

Although negotiations require various skills, just like buying and selling vegetables, it is only meaningful when both sides are evenly matched. In the face of the strong Northern Sui army, any negotiation skills lose their meaning. Scheming will only cost a heavy price. Only frankness and straightforwardness may bring a little favor from Zhang Xuan.

Chen Shuda said slowly: "First, I hope that the Tang army in Jingzhou will withdraw without any damage, including soldiers and armor and dry food. Secondly, we have accumulated 10 million kilograms of pig iron in the warehouse of Wuchang County. I hope that the Sui army can transport us away. The third is Yiling County and Qingjiang County. We hope that we will continue to control these three conditions. I hope that your army can agree to them, so we will hand over Jingzhou intact." To be continued.
Chapter completed!