Chapter 201: Longyou ends

At night, the city gate was closed, and the drum sounds of the fangmen were stirring up over Chang'an City. This was the third drum. The gates of the major fangmen were empty. The heavy iron gates were "squeaking!" and halfway through the gates of Xuanyangfang, more than one hundred military horses rushed into the gate with a carriage.

Wei Zheng, the right chief of the Shangshu in the carriage, was anxious and kept urging the coachman to move quickly. He received a pigeon letter half an hour ago. The content was very simple, with only one short sentence: "The people of Dangxiang in Hexi moved eastward, Huijun was lost, and Kaiyang was in danger."

The situation in Longyou suddenly deteriorated. Wei Zheng never dreamed that the rebellion of the Dangxiang people in Hexi actually burned to Longyou, and Kaiyang County was in danger. The letter was too little, so he could not consider the rationality of this matter. There were only four words in his mind, "Kaiyang's situation was in danger."

He knew very well what it meant to the Wei family if Kaiyang lost again. A Uighur invasion caused the Wei family to lose at least half of its strength. The wealth accumulated over decades was stolen. Hundreds of the Wei family's young elite were unfortunately killed. If they were hit hard again this time, the Wei family would definitely not recover.

The carriage ran all the way and arrived at Cui Yuan's mansion in a moment. Wei Zheng jumped down without waiting for the carriage to stop, but was staggered by inertia and almost fell down. Wei Zheng didn't care about tidying up his clothes and rushed up the steps in panic and said to the doorman: "Please report to the Prime Minister as soon as possible, saying that Wei Zheng asked for a meeting, something big happened in Longyou."

The old man who served as the gatekeeper of the Prime Minister's Mansion was not an ordinary servant. He had been a gatekeeper for Cui Yuan for twenty years. Who could refuse directly and who had to report? He had already refined a pair of golden eyes. He only had a high-ranking person like Wei Zheng who got off the carriage and almost fell down. He knew that the problem was very serious, so the gatekeeper immediately ran to report to the butler.

Cui Yuan had already changed his clothes and was about to rest. The concubine was helping him beat his shoulders when suddenly the housekeeper came to report, "Wei Zheng asked for a meeting, but something happened in Longyou."

Unexpectedly, Cui Yuan was not much shocked. He immediately thought that Zhang Huan was in trouble. He patted his concubine's hand and asked her to continue. His attitude was calm and calm, as if this was as expected by him.

In fact, Cui Yuan always had a hint of worry about the result of the Longyou peace talks. This worry came from Wei Ye's concessions that had made too few. In this peace talks, all the material support was actually provided by the Wei family. For example, the 300,000 stones of grain supported by Lingwu County every year was only the name of a court, and the court could give only promotions in posts, such as Zhang Huan's Hexi governor. In other words, Wei Ye actually had no concessions. He was bullying Hexi civil strife and Cui and Wei formed an alliance. Instead, Zhang Huan posted 2,000 war horses to him.

What does this mean? Zhang Huangaoyi? Or is he afraid that Cui and Wei will form an alliance to please Longyou? For this reason, Cui Yuan always felt that it was inappropriate, but the situation in Shuzhong was critical, and Wei Yan also sent troops. He had no time to look west anymore, and all his energy was devoted to the battle in Shuzhong. As for Zhang Huan, he had already handed over to Pei Jun, it was him Pei Jun who gave Wei Yan the guarantee, so what did he have to do with him?

"Take him to my outer study room and allow me to change my clothes." Cui Yuan changed his clothes and walked slowly towards the outer study room.

From then on, high-ranking officials will not go to see guests very quickly. They have to use this time to think about a countermeasure and also put on airs. Cui Yuan walked slowly to the study. During the time of this small incense stick, he had already made a decision. No matter what the reason was caused by the Longyou incident, he would block the news and never let Wei Yan in Shu know the situation. No matter what, he should stabilize the Wei family first.

Before he entered the door, he saw Wei Zheng at a glance like an ant on a hot pan, walking back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Cui Yuan's face immediately had a professional smile. From a distance, he smiled and said, "Wu Youcheng is not kind enough to drag me up from the quilt!"

Hearing Cui Yuan's voice, Wei Zheng stepped forward and bowed deeply and said, "If you have any rudeness, you will make a special apology in the future. Please ask the Prime Minister to save the Wei family."

"Don't be anxious! Don't be anxious! Even if it's urgent, you can only send troops tomorrow. Wei Youcheng will tell me what happened first?"

Cui Yuan's calmness calmed Wei Zheng's anxious heart slightly calmed down. He hurriedly took out the pigeon letter and handed it to Cui Yuan and said, "This is the Kaiyang request for help that I received half an hour ago. Please read the Prime Minister!"

The letter was made of a red paper roll, indicating that one hundred thousand is anxious. Cui Yuan sat down. He slowly unfolded the paper roll, squinted his eyes and browsed it briefly, "Dangxiang people are in trouble with Longyou?" Perhaps because Zhang Huan had preconceived ideas, Cui Yuan's first reaction was: "How could he be Dangxiang people!"

It is slightly different from Wei Deqing. Wei Deqing figured out this problem from the details that the two letters were too short, while Cui Yuan knew Zhang Huan very well. Unless there was a civil strife in Hexi, a deal and a meaningless Hexi Jiedushi would not be able to stop him from seeking Longyou.

He walked slowly in the room with his hands behind his back. In fact, like Wei Yan, he used the opportunity of military households to enter Hexi to install spies. However, his purpose was not to explore the information in Hexi. He knew that some information on some levels had no meaning to him. His intention was to pay attention to his daughter's situation. However, while sending news from his daughter, he also knew about some things in Hexi, such as Zhang Huan's construction of the Xibao, cleaning up the officialdom of Hexi, etc. Later, he also knew about the incident of Dangxiang people entering Hexi.

But he didn't believe that Zhang Huan would not deal with Dangxiang people well and would give them a chance to have civil unrest? However, Wei Yan was very confident in this matter, so he stopped talking too much, so he would not shake Wei Yan's determination to send troops to Shuzhong.

In fact, it is just one sentence. Zhang Huan and Zhu Li cannot be both. Zhang Huan is a wolf, which will impact his aristocratic family affairs, while Zhu Li is a tiger, so he wants to eat him Cui Yuan and his skin and bones, and take the weight of both. Since he has invested all his money to wipe out Zhu Li, what else can he do to balance Zhang Huan?

"The Prime Minister, Dangxiang people will devour everything in Kaiyang County like locusts. Even a strong city like Huijun cannot stop their cavalry. The subordinates are really worried that the forces of Kaiyang County will not be able to stop them, so they must ask the Prime Minister for help."

Cui Yuan had a little bit of doubt about the Dangxiang people just now. After hearing this, he suddenly realized that there were so many cities in Longyou that were not on guard. What were these Dangxiang people going to attack Kaiyang County, which was guarded by heavy troops?

Cui Yuan's heart was already like a mirror, but he showed no expression at all and said to Wei Zheng firmly: "Please rest assured that Wei Youcheng, since Secretary Wei personally led his troops into Shu for the safety of the court, as the chief minister of the cabinet, of course I would not stand by and watch Longyou."

He immediately stood up and shouted: "Come here!" Several guards outside the door immediately ran in and obeyed the orders.

"Prepare a car for me, I want to go to Pei Xiangguo to discuss major issues immediately."

Several guards hesitated for a moment and said, "But the Prime Minister, the gate of the house is closed."

"Shut up and let them open again!" Cui Yuan glared and said, "Can my dignified right prime minister of the Tang Dynasty still open a small gate?"

Several guards were so scared that they hurriedly went to prepare the car. Seeing that the Prime Minister was working so hard, Wei Zheng suddenly felt moved in his heart. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, and choked and said, "Thank you, Prime Minister!"

"It's all for state affairs, so don't be polite." Cui Yuan patted his shoulder and smiled and said, "It's getting late, you can live with me tonight!"

After saying that, he winked at the butler and ordered him to take Wei Zheng to the guest room to rest.

After a while, Cui Yuan's carriage was ready. Cui Yuan got on the carriage. After walking a few steps, Cui Yuan suddenly came forward and whispered: "Send more people to keep a close eye on Wei Zheng, and never allow anyone to go to Hanzhong to report the news!"

The confidant was about to leave, Cui Yuan suddenly remembered something, called him again, and added: "I will send you a letter to Cui Qinggong quickly and ask him to send someone to inspect the official roads from Longyou. If there are people who come from Kaiyang County to send a letter, they will be intercepted and killed immediately!"

After saying that, he pulled the curtain of the car and instructed the coachman: "Don't go out of the house, just circle me twice in Xuanyang House and go back."

The carriage opened, Cui Yuan's body shook gently as the carriage accelerated, thinking about the countermeasures for this Longyou Incident. The Wei family asked the court for help, obviously hoping that Cui Yuan would send troops, but he could not send troops. In fact, there was no soldier to send. The 100,000 Jinwu Guards stationed in Guanzhong had transferred 50,000 to Shu, and another 20,000 were sent to Hanzhong to support. There were only 30,000 Cui family troops left in the entire Guanzhong area, most of which were stationed in the capital. The Shandong army could not pass for a while, and the Hedong army was too few to the limit and could not move anymore. However, Pei Jun still had 60,000 Niu Guards stationed in Chang'an and east of Chang'an. No matter how important Longyou is, it is not as important as Guanzhong.

But this is just based on the interests of the Wei family, and the real reason why Cui Yuan dared not act rashly is that the Cui family must not be involved in the Longyou Incident at this time, otherwise it would be an excuse to enter Guanzhong, and there was also an old fox Pei who was waiting insidiously for the opportunity!

What's more, Zhang Huan is not Zhu Li. He is the son of Prince Yu and has the qualification to be the magistrate of the Nine Five. Just from the few retired veterans in Jincheng County who resolutely supported him, it can be seen that Qiu was supported by many people inside and outside the court.

Cui Yuan couldn't help but sighed secretly. Shu was in chaos and the court could no longer bear the other Longyou Rebellion. At this moment, he finally made up his mind that Zhang Huan could not fight, but could only comfort him.

As for the Wei family, although they cannot send troops, Wei Yan still has to give him face. At least he has to show that he has done his best. If it really doesn't work, just go to Longyou in person!

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In Kaiyang County, in just one day, people from several nearby counties fled, and a large-scale refugee wave also appeared in Kaiyang City. Although the government repeatedly appeased the people and Kaiyang City still had 20,000 troops to resist the attack of the Dangxiang people, the tragic situation after the Uighurs attacked Kaiyang County two years ago made the people unable to forget it.

People flocked out of the city to flee south. From the morning, thousands of people left the city first, but in the afternoon, news that the Dangxiang cavalry had left Yang County less than fifty miles, and panic began to occur in the city. Tens of thousands of people abandoned the city and fled, and the city gate could not be closed at all.

Until the evening, the city gate finally closed, the suspension bridge was pulled high, and the defenders on the city were ready. At this time, thousands of refugees suddenly fled to the north, and not far behind them, the shadow of the Dangxiang cavalry began to appear.

However, they did not seem to be chasing these refugees, but walked slowly, connecting into a long black line, slowly moving towards Kaiyang City.

Above the city, Wei Du lay at the battlement, looking nervously at the Dangxiang cavalry approaching, pointing his fingers, as if trying to figure out their number. At this time, a low voice came from beside him, "You don't need to count, about five or six thousand."

This is the military envoy of Kaiyang County, named Liu Heng. He is an old soldier in his fifties. Like Wang Guangmao of Hui County, he is also an old subordinate who has been with the Wei family for many years.

Liu Heng disagreed with the nervousness and fear of the Wei family. The other party was just a cavalry and it was okay to fight on the plains, but what kind of siege weapons do they have in the siege battle? Besides, he still had 20,000 people, and the number was far better than that of the other party.

He shook his head and said proudly: "Your sir, don't be afraid. At most, I will kill them without leaving any armor."

"Don't underestimate the enemy, this is just their pioneer. The large group of people is still behind. Do you think I will be scared by this little person?" Wei Du heard the disdain in his tone, and felt a little angry and embarrassed.

Liu Heng did not say anything. Wei Du was not only the governor, but also the commander-in-chief left-behind Longyou. He didn't have to make a fuss with him. He smiled and turned to inspect the combat readiness.

Although Kaiyang City is tall, it is not a fortress that guards the pass. It does not have large city-defense weapons such as catapults and crossbows. The defense basically relies on crossbows. Despite this, 20,000 people defend more than 5,000 people, which is still more than enough. The soldiers on the city look quite relaxed.

Thousands of people who fled saw that the city refused to open the door, cursed and went south around the city. However, the Dangxiang cavalry did not attack the city. They did not have any siege weapons such as siege ladders. They only rode on horses, stood quietly one mile away, as if waiting for the people in the city to come out to fight.

At this moment, even Wei Du saw that the other party could not capture the city. He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at his left and right, "The Dangxiang people are just bandits who robbed their families and houses, and it is not worth fear. Wei Ping sent a letter to Chang'an, which was a bit of a big deal."

As soon as he finished speaking, only a few fast horses ran from the west, as if they were scouts of the Dangxiang cavalry. They shouted loudly, and the panic in their voices could be heard from afar.

I saw a Dangxiang cavalry suddenly blew the horn up to the sky, and the five thousand Dangxiang cavalry turned around and rushed north. They went further and further away, gradually turning into a thin black line in the city and disappeared at the end of the sky.

Everyone in Kaiyang City was stunned. They looked west at the same time, not knowing what was going on there. About a quarter of an hour later, a black line appeared on the horizon to the west, getting closer and closer, and the sound of war drums came faintly.

"It's the army!" Someone shouted loudly in the city, and a rapid "Dangdang!" bell rang on the city wall. Liu Heng shouted loudly and ordered the soldiers to change the focus of the defense to the west city.

At this time, Wei Du also saw clearly that the overwhelming army was coming here, with tens of thousands of them.

"It's the Tang army!" The soldiers saw the Tang dragon flag in the team clearly, and cheered on the city walls. Wei Du also saw a big flag with a big word "Cui" written on it. He couldn't help but shed tears of excitement and kept muttering to himself: "Great! The reinforcements from the court have finally arrived."

But Liu Heng's face became more and more gloomy. He felt that something was wrong with this army, and the colors of the clothing and armor were not like the Cui Family Army.

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Zhang Huan was hiding under the banner with the word "Cui". He had heard the cheers on the city wall and couldn't help but smile. When he was two miles away from the city, his hand gently waved and the team stopped moving forward.

At this time, a small school rushed forward, and with an arrow, he shot a letter to the top of the city. A soldier picked up the letter and ran to Wei Du, and handed it to him in fear. Wei Du happily took the letter. He glanced at the letter, his eyes suddenly became stunned, his face turned to ashes, his hands were trembling violently. For a while, he suddenly screamed and fainted.

The letter fell to the ground, and the letter said: "The governor of the Hexi Jiedushi Zhang Huan presented to the governor of Wei."

Soon, Wei Ping and more than a dozen important officials of the Wei family rushed to the city after hearing the news and looked at the letter together. They were all stunned. Zhang Huan came to save Kaiyang County?

At this time, Wei Du had slowly woken up. He looked at everyone with a blind eye and sighed: "There are no Dangxiang people. We are all fooled, and the head of the family is also fooled."

He suddenly burst into tears, "The Wei family is destroyed! Today is the time for us to finish our lives."

"Fuck!" Liu Heng, the military commander, finally couldn't bear it anymore. He pointed at Wei Du and cursed angrily: "You don't ruin our morale here. Before the battle is fought, do you have to admit defeat?"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone suddenly shouted loudly under the city: "I am Pei Mingyuan, the son of Prime Minister Pei. I'm here to ask for the meeting of Governor Wei."

Wei Du suddenly felt excited. He struggled to stand up, walked to the city wall, and looked down. Pei Mingyuan, wearing a white robe, stood beside the suspension bridge under the escort of several soldiers.

Although Liu Heng was fierce, he did not dare to kill Pei Xiangguo's son and stood aside and sneered.
To be continued...