Final Volume Chapter 39
Chapter 39 of the final volume
Shuangtang County is located in the north of Chuan State.
To the south of Shangjing is the Lei Ze County of Chuan State, and further south is the Yi Su County, and to the south of Yi Su County is Shuangtang County. There are many high mountains and steep ridges in Shuangtang County, and there is also a very famous and extremely important pass, Xuangu Pass.
It can be said that Xuangu Pass is the only way for the central part of Chuan State to connect the three counties of Lei Ze, Yi Su, and Shuangtang. Blocking Xuangu Pass is equivalent to cutting off the connection between these three counties and the mainland of Chuan State. Of course, as long as Feng State can occupy Xuangu Pass, it is equivalent to cutting off three counties of Chuan State at once, and then Feng State's advantage over Chuan State will become greater.
Tang Yin knew very well that although Xiao Xuan's sudden death would temporarily put the government and the people of Chuan State in chaos, Chuan State's strength was still there, and Feng State could not defeat the behemoth of Chuan State at once.
He settled for the next best thing, seizing the three counties of Lei Ze, Yi Su, and Shuang Tang in Chuan State, and controlling Xuan Gu Pass. Then, if Feng State sends troops to Chuan State again in the future, it will be a smooth journey, and Chuan State will no longer have dangerous places to defend.
Therefore, Tang Yin set the target of this expedition to Shuang Tang County. Land plundering was secondary, and Xuan Gu Pass was what he wanted most.
Liang Qi nodded while looking at the map and said, "Xuan Gu Pass in Shuang Tang County can be said to be a strategic location that must be fought for by military strategists. It is also the only way for Chuan State's hinterland to connect the three counties in the middle and north. However, the King of Chuan just died of illness, and Chuan State just gave up Shangjing. Our country suddenly sent troops to invade, which is really without a reason!"
Xiao Muqing and Qing Yu also nodded repeatedly, indicating that Liang Qi was right. If we want to send troops, we must at least have a reason to do so, so that we can become a righteous army.
Hearing this, Tang Yin smiled calmly and said, "Sichuan has occupied Shangjing for so long. Has it really not taken a penny or a treasure from Shangjing? We can ask Sichuan for it first. If Sichuan can't pay it back, won't we have a legitimate reason?"
"What your majesty means is..." Everyone looked at Tang Yin at the same time.
Tang Yin asked Wu Ying, "How much tax does Shangjing collect in a year?"
Wu Ying was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly took out her booklet again, flipped through it carefully, and after confirming it, she said seriously, "Reporting to your majesty, Shangjing's annual tax revenue is close to 10 million taels."
Tang Yin said, "The emperor has been away from the capital for four or five years. In the past four or five years, the tax revenue alone has lost tens of millions of taels. In addition, countless treasures have been lost in the palace. In total, it is almost 100 million taels. This money should be paid by Sichuan!"
Everyone took a breath at the same time. Sichuan occupied Shangjing for just over a year, but they were asked to pay 100 million taels of silver. How could Sichuan be the victim? Xiao Muqing said, "Your Majesty, Chuan will certainly not accept such a request."
"So, our country has a legitimate reason to send troops to attack." Tang Yin said with a smile: "If Chuan refuses to hand over 100 million taels of silver, then use the three counties of Lei Ze, Yi Su and Shuang Tang to pay off the debt!"
So this is what the king called a legitimate reason. Everyone looked at each other and nodded slowly, thinking that this was feasible.
Seeing that no one objected, Tang Yin felt more confident. He narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: "Since everyone agrees, then this matter is settled."
As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Muqing and said, "Muqing, immediately send someone to write a letter and pass it to the Chuan court, requiring Chuan to return 100 million taels of silver within one month. If it fails to pay within the deadline, it will bear the consequences."
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Xiao Muqing responded with a cupped hand.
Soon, the letter written by Tang Yinling Xiao Muqing was transmitted to Zhaoyang, the capital of Chuan State. Now Zhaoyang City was in chaos, and the court was even more panicked. Seeing the letter suddenly sent by Feng State was undoubtedly worse.
Ten million taels of silver was nothing to the rich and powerful Chuan State, but the key issue was that Feng State's reason was not convincing. Chuan State occupied Shangjing for more than a year, but the tax revenue collected by Chuan State during this period was pitifully small, at most a few million taels. Why should it give Feng State 10 million taels of silver all at once? Besides, Chuan State managed Shangjing during this period and managed Shangjing in an orderly manner. Even if it had no merit, it had worked hard. Even if it was not appreciated by the world, how could it pay silver?
The fifth princess Xiao Xiang was the first royal family to stand up and oppose. She believed that Feng State was taking the opportunity to blackmail her, and Chuan State would never agree to this. However, the second son Xiao Yuan disagreed with her. He believed that his father had just passed away and the whole Chuan Kingdom was in grief. If Chuan Kingdom fell out with Feng Kingdom at this time, it would not be able to gain any advantage. If Feng Army attacked Chuan Kingdom again, Chuan Kingdom would suffer more than 100 million taels of silver.
Xiao Xiang and Xiao Yuan were both very tough. One believed that they could not accept the extortion of Feng Kingdom, while the other believed that they should spend money to avoid disaster and keep things quiet. The ministers in the court were also divided into two factions, one supporting Xiao Xiang and the other supporting Xiao Yuan.
Because Xiao Xuan died too suddenly and did not make a will, it was not immediately decided who would inherit the throne. This was also the fundamental reason for the panic of the Chuan Kingdom court.
How to deal with the matter of Feng Kingdom asking for 100 million taels of silver became the key to the fight for the throne among the royal families. Whether it was the prince or the princess, if they could handle this matter well, they would definitely win the hearts and reputation of the people, and ascending the throne would become a matter of course.
At this time, the second son Xiao Yuan, who had always been indifferent to fame and fortune, suddenly became active and lobbied ministers in the court everywhere to get them to support his ideas, to meet Feng State's demands first, and then seek revenge after the situation in Chuan State stabilized.
Under Xiao Yuan's active lobbying, many ministers changed their stance and sided with Xiao Yuan. In the court, the voices of compromise with Feng Guo became louder and louder.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Xiang was disappointed. Feng Guo is a greedy wolf that cannot be fed enough. This time it will ask you for ten million taels of silver. If you accept it, it will ask you for twenty million taels next time. , thirty million taels or even more. Can Sichuan country continue to compromise?
It's a pity that most of the people in the court of Sichuan Kingdom are civil servants. After being intimidated by Xiao Yuan's words, many people no longer dare to maintain a tough attitude towards Feng Guo. After thinking about it, Xiao Xiangsi simply gave up the court and went directly to the Sichuan army who had returned from Shenchi.
The long story goes that Xiao Xiang did not inform the court at all, and left the capital with only his close associates. They traveled day and night, and finally met up with the Sichuan army in Dayan County of Sichuan Province who had returned to the capital.
Xiao Xiang burst into tears when she saw her father's coffin in the army. Unexpectedly, his wise father would die of illness on his way back home in triumph.
She asked the generals how her father died.
The faces of all the river generals were full of sorrow and helplessness. Zhang Situ choked and said: "The king's health has always been poor. This long journey to the sacred pond, the hard work along the way, coupled with the acclimatization and climate, made him sick from overwork, so..."
"Did your father say anything before he died?" Xiao Xiang wiped the tears on her face and tried to calm down her emotions.
The generals shook their heads, and Zhang Situ said: "Reporting to the princess, the king was unconscious for several days before his death."
Xiao Xiang sighed secretly, and then she took out the letter from Feng Guo and handed it to the generals, saying: "Feng Guo must have known about the death of his father, and Tang Yin wanted to take advantage of it and ask for 10 million from our country. Two pieces of silver.”
ah? The generals hurriedly gathered around and looked at the contents of the letter carefully. After watching, everyone gasped. Zhang Situ subconsciously clenched his fists and cursed through gritted teeth: "Shameless! Damn it! What a shameless Feng Guo!"
Buying on the side said: "No wonder there are reports that the Feng Kingdom has hoarded its army in Shangjing. Come to think of it, asking for silver is false, but raising troops to invade our country is true!"
Xiao Xiang's eyes flashed and she said, "General Bu, if this is really the case, how will our country respond?"
"It's very simple, either meet Feng Guo's request and hand them ten million taels of silver, or fall to the ground in a bloody battle with Feng Jun and never give in!" Bu Ying said word by word.
Xiao Xiang said quietly: "I heard the news that my father died of illness. Many ministers in the court have lost their minds. They are even more afraid of Feng State's military power, and they all want to accept Feng State's request. General Bu, in your opinion, our country should Should you accept Feng Guo’s request or reject it?”
Buying straightened her face, raised her hands and said, "Your Highness, the general is just a warrior. He only knows how to fight and does not understand state affairs. However, if the Feng Kingdom dares to raise its troops to invade, the general will fight to the bitter end with the Feng army!"
Xiao Xiang nodded secretly, this was what she wanted to hear. She said: "It is understandable that the ministers are greedy for comfort and do not want to fight. However, now that the Feng Kingdom has taken advantage of the dangers of others, it has ridden on the head of our Sichuan Kingdom. I will never tolerate it. However, the throne is not yet determined, and I have no one in my hands. Soldiers, even if they want to fight against the Feng Army, they cannot command our Dachuan soldiers."
After hearing this, all the generals looked at each other and paused for a few seconds. Generals Zhang Situ, Yang Zhao, Lu You, and Buying all knelt down on one knee, cupped their hands and said, "I am willing to obey the princess's command and take up the sword." Mountains and seas of fire, no matter what!"
They are all close ministers of Xiao Xuan, so naturally they can understand Xiao Xuan's thoughts best. Xiao Xuan had discussed with them more than once or twice about the transfer of the throne to Xiao Xiang. It was basically a done deal, but he had not yet had time to write the will.
In the eyes of the generals, Xiao Xiang is the new king of Sichuan, and Xiao Xiang's orders are equivalent to Wang Ling. Another point is that Xiao Xiang's attitude of taking the lead is also to their liking. In the eyes of the generals, Feng Guo is simply hateful to the extreme. It didn't mention the matter of asking for silver taels sooner or later, but it happened just before the king died of illness. Bringing it up at this juncture is obviously adding insult to injury and taking advantage of others' danger. Feng Guo is so shameless. If they can't teach them a lesson this time, they might be able to bully Sichuan Guo even more in the future.
Seeing the generals kneeling down, Xiao Xiang was so excited that tears filled her eyes, and she said with a trembling voice: "Generals, please get down quickly!"
After everyone stood up, she took several deep breaths to calm down her excitement. She frowned and said, "General Bu's speculation just now is the same as what I thought. Feng Jun's extortion was false and he sent troops to invade." That’s true, but I still can’t determine where the Feng army will invade from, and where our country should station its troops.”
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