Just the day after Zhang Xuan took over the Western Gu Pass, Yuchi Gong also sent people to send news of the capture of Hu Pass, and Fukou Pass was also captured by the Sui army.

However, Zhang Xuan's Bingzhou operation stopped here and did not continue to penetrate the hinterland of Bingzhou. He would not make Li Yuan's mistake. Although it was easy for Zhang Xuan to seize the Bingzhou counties except Taiyuan at this time, it was not enough strength to support him. Even if he captured Bingzhou, he would not be able to defend it. Sooner or later, he would be taken back by Li Yuan. The key to stabilizing Hebei and Youzhou. As long as he controls Jingxing and Wukouxing, attacking Bingzhou can be carried out at any time.

Two days later, Fang Xuanling brought 4,000 stonemasons recruited from Hengshan, Zhao County and Boling County to Shiai County, where Xiguguan was located. Shiai County is located at the entrance of Jingxing. It is a small county with a population of less than 20,000. The county has a population of only 5,000 or 6,000 people. The city circumference is about ten miles. Judging from the size of the city, this is an extremely inconspicuous small county, but because it guards Jingxing’s special geographical location, this small county has extremely high strategic value.

Zhang Xuan decided to convert Shiai County into a military city, which could garrison at least 6,000 soldiers. The original Shiai County wall was low and dilapidated, so Fang Xuanling brought thousands of stonemasons in order to repair and consolidate the county town, increase the height and thickness of the city wall, so that it can be easy to defend and difficult to attack, and become the bridgehead of the Sui army in Bingzhou.

On the city wall, Zhang Xuan looked in the direction of Taiyuan with his hands behind his back. At this time, Fang Xuanling slowly walked over and said with a smile: "When will the Grand Marshal be planning to attack Bingzhou?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head, "To be honest, I don't know either."

Speaking of this, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, "I think at least I will wait until Li Yuan destroys Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang for me!"

Fang Xuanling couldn't help laughing, "This is not bad. Let Li Yuan bother to cook and cook, and then we will eat ready-made ones. I guess he will vomit blood after hearing this."

Zhang Xuan smiled and asked again: "What did the military advisor want to say to me in the morning? I saw that the military advisor wanted to speak but stopped. Is there something happened in Qingzhou?"

Fang Xuanling's smile disappeared and he pondered for a moment, "Something happened, but it was not Qingzhou, but Liaodong Peninsula."

"What's going on?"

"Does the Grand Marshal still remember that we intercepted Yu Wenji and transferred hundreds of ships stationed on the Liaodong Peninsula to Huai River?"

"I know, these three hundred warships returned to the Liaodong Peninsula later."

Fang Xuanling shook his head and said, "The problem is here. These three hundred warships have returned to Beihai County. General Zhou Meng said that nearly 10,000 Goguryeo soldiers captured Huilong Town while they were away and set up ship blocking piles along Huilong Town. Neither Huilong Town nor Beishe City can be moored any more ships."

Zhang Xuan gradually frowned. Goguryeo would sooner or later attack the Liaodong Peninsula. He also knew that it was just Goguryeo who was taking action at this critical moment. What does this mean?

Fang Xuanling understood Zhang Xuan's thoughts and said on the side: "Goguryeo always wanted to turn the tables in Liaodong or Liaodong Peninsula. However, they were afraid of the pressure of the three battles of the Great Sui court and did not dare to act rashly. Until the emperor was killed in Jiangdu, they thought that the Great Sui Dynasty had been dead in name only and began to move."

"Does the military advisor think Goguryeo just wants to recapture the Liaodong Peninsula?"

"I think the Liaodong Peninsula is just the beginning. They think that the Sui Dynasty will perish and the opportunity will come."

Zhang Xuan took a few steps behind his hands, and he turned around and said coldly: "No matter whether it is the Sui Dynasty or other dynasties, no Central Plains dynasty will tolerate Goguryeo's ambitions. If they think they can take advantage of the situation, it's great, I will accompany you to the end!"

Fang Xuanling thought for a while and said, "To be honest, I'm just a little worried about whether Li Yuan would use his old tricks again, and then took advantage of the situation to attack Hebei."

Zhang Xuan sneered, "The affairs at his own family are still a mess. Whether it is Xue Ju, Li Gui, or Liang Shidu and Liu Wuzhou, they can take away his Chang'an. I believe that Li Shuliang's death has hurt him. I wish he would not dare to cross the Taihang Mountains again."

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Five days later, Pei Ji, the envoy sent by Li Yuan to negotiate, arrived in Anyang County, Wei County. Here, after two days of negotiations, he and Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui finally reached an agreement. Pei Ji represented Li Yuan to guarantee that the Tang army would not cross the border to attack Hebei within one year. The Tang army admitted its current state and agreed to the Sui army's occupation of Shiai County and Huguan. In response, the Sui army no longer continued to advance westward and promised not to attack Bingzhou within one year.

In addition, nearly 30,000 Tang army prisoners of war can be resolved by redemption, but the two sides had objections to the specific ransom. After repeated negotiations, a compromise was finally reached. The ransom price was paid for a prisoner of war and twenty stones of grain. The ransom was limited to paying the ransom before the New Year and releasing it back to the prisoners of war.

At this point, the Tang army's plan to expedite the Eastern Expedition, which lasted for nearly two months, finally came to an end.

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While the two sides were in intense negotiations, Zhang Xuan and more than a dozen important officials inspected the construction of the Anyang Royal Palace and the new city. They first inspected the construction of the palace. The palace is located in the north of Anyang City, which is the land that Gao Lie purchased many years ago to prepare for the construction of the Bohai Palace. However, Zhang Xuan found that the land seemed to have become larger than when he inspected the last time. He asked Pei Hong in confusion: "Have other buildings been demolished in this land?"

Pei Hong is currently serving as the Zhongdu Order, responsible for various affairs of the transformation of Anyang City into Zhongdu City. Although the construction of the palace was the responsibility of He Chou, the provision of land was made by Pei Hong.

Pei Hong was a little embarrassed and bowed quickly and said, "Your Highness is right. The original land was about 1,100 acres. Later, we demolished a temple in the northeast corner and a military camp and schoolyard in the southeast, so that the land could be expanded to 1,600 acres. This is the minimum area that He Jun asked for."

"The military camp can be demolished, but if you demolish the temple, isn't it annoying?"

"Your Highness, it was not actually demolished, but moved the temple outside the city. The temple area has also become larger. The temple blessing is very satisfactory, and the villagers have no objection."

Zhang Xuan knew that things would not be that simple, but he couldn't care too much about such things. If he was too concerned, he couldn't do anything. So he stopped asking about the temple and asked He Chou, the craftsman, on the side, and said, "Why do you have to ask He Jun, why do you have to have 1,600 acres of land?"

He Chou was about 60 years old. After Yuwen Kai's death, he was the most famous architect in the Sui Dynasty, followed by Li Chun from Jian'an Ji Bridge. Both of them were entrusted by Zhang Xuan to be respected. One served as the chief craftsman, and the other served as the Minister of Works, responsible for the construction of Anyang Palace and the new city.

He Chou pointed to the palace where the high walls had been built and smiled: "In fact, I connected the Qi Palace, the imperial palace and the official office. If I only built the imperial palace and the official office, the original land would be enough, but I had to consider the Qi Palace, so I had to add another 500 acres."

Zhang Xuan laughed silently, and he turned around and said to everyone, "I have calculated it all, but I have forgotten my house."

Everyone laughed, and at this time, Su Wei asked, "Who is the envoy, I wonder when will the construction be completed?"

He Chou hurriedly said: "Report to Master, the construction will be completed by the end of the year."

Everyone was puzzled and asked, "There is still one and a half months to come, the New Year is now, and the high walls and foundations have just been built. How can we do it?"

"My dear sirs, I actually demolished the Linshuo Palace and the official office of Zhuo County and transported it. The materials are ready-made and can be built directly. I will also demolish Gao Lie's mansion and use the materials to repair the Qi royal palace, so it can be guaranteed to be completed before the end of the year."

Everyone then realized that the official office of Zhuo County is okay, similar to the official office of Jiangdu, which is small and complete, and is sufficient. However, Linshuo Palace is just a palace. Is it a little too small for the construction of the imperial palace? Although everyone has doubts, no one mentioned this matter. Everyone knew in their hearts that the imperial palace was just a symbol, and the Qi Palace was the real center of power, and it should not be put before the horse.

Everyone did not say anything more, visited the palace, went to the West City Gate, and continued to inspect the construction of the new city.

The new city is actually the expansion of Anyang City. It is close to the west and covers about half of Anyang City. The west city wall and the west city gate are demolished, and five miles west to the west to rebuild the new Xicheng Gate and the city wall. This is also because Anyang has too many populations and there is no spare land for the county town to build houses, which makes it impossible for all officials to settle down. Therefore, Zhang Xuan decided to expand the capital and open a new city to the west, as a residence for official houses, Imperial College and other residences, and school land.

The official responsible for building the new city is Li Chun, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. Since the construction of the new city is much simpler than that of the palace, it is very fast. Thirteen roads have been built in a total of six horizontal and seven vertical roads. Stone slabs have been laid on both sides, and the street trees on both sides will be planted around the spring of next year.

In the distance, the outline of the Imperial College, covering an area of ​​more than 700 acres, has begun to appear, and the school is currently being built.

In addition, Li Chun dug a river between the old and new cities and prepared to build six bridges on the bridge. At the same time, he dug a circular river in the new city to connect with the canal river in the city, so as to facilitate the transportation of materials when building official houses.

The officials were very interested in the new city. Their mansion would be located here. They rode horses in groups of three or two to find their satisfactory location, but Zhang Xuan did not go with them.

Zhang Xuan has inspected the new city many times and has no interest. He has something else to do. At this time, Zhang Xuan turned around and smiled at Li Chun beside him, "There is an important task I want to entrust to Mr. Li to complete."
Chapter completed!