Han Xiang

Chapter 638 Lu Su proposes a plan to conquer Jiangxia

After the edict was announced, everyone exchanged pleasantries, and Long Xiang took Jian Yong and Lu Su to visit the construction site.

At that time, workers were laying the foundation. Jian Yong looked at the vast area in front of him and remembered the Hefei New City he had just visited. He couldn't help but praise:

"My lord boasted about the fine construction of the mansion. I didn't believe it at first, but now I'm convinced after seeing it with my own eyes. The scale of this new city seems to be no less than that of Hefei New City. Do you want to move the state capital here?"

"Haha, Xianhe's guess is really accurate, that's right."

Long Xiang was halfway through his conversation with a smile on his face when he suddenly changed the subject and said, "This new city has not been named yet. Mr. Youlao returns to the court and asks your Majesty or the general to name it."

"The Lord is interested."

Jian Yong nodded in affirmation, and then added: "I once heard my lord mention that His Majesty misses the old capital of Luoyang. My lord promised to rebuild it after capturing it, and recommended General Long to take charge of this matter."

"Oh? The general is so flattering?"

Long Xiang was noncommittal, and just as the bridge servants came to see him, he introduced Jian Yong:

"Xianhe, this is my brother-in-law Qiaoyou, whose nickname is Jianguo. He has fully participated in the construction of Hefei New City. He is mainly responsible for the construction of Moling New City this time."

"Oh? What a young and talented man, not bad."

Facing Jian Yong's nod of praise, Qiao Man hurriedly raised his hands and said humbly: "Sir, you are too complimentary. I owe my current skills to my brother-in-law's teachings. However, there are still many shortcomings. I have to continue to learn from my brother-in-law."

"There is no need to belittle yourself in Jianguo. If you are unwilling to learn, it will be useless no matter how much I teach you."

"Uh"

"General Long, there is no need to be too humble. No matter your ability, my lord, General Guan, and General Zhang are all full of praise for you, and Jian Yong is also full of admiration for you."

Long Xiang saw that the topic was about him again, and the smell of food was already wafting not far away, so he suggested to Jian Yong: "The city-building workers are laborious and hard-working, so there will be an extra meal at noon. If Xianhe doesn't dislike it, he can just eat it." some?"

"I often hear General Zhang talk about Huainan delicacies. Today is the right time for me to have a good meal."

Jian Yong was a very talkative person, and he could get close to everyone with just a few sentences.

Everyone ate and chatted under the simple work shed, allowing Long Xiang to learn the details of Liu Xie's escape, and at the same time, he learned the news about Sun Quan from Lu Su.

After hearing this, Long Xiang's expression changed greatly. He put down his chopsticks and said solemnly: "Sun Quan has always liked sneak attacks. I thought that last time we marched into the Central Plains, he would take action against Jiangdong. But in the end, there was no disturbance. It turned out that he quietly seized the throne. They captured Jiaozhou, and even occupied Lingling. It seems that the disease of taking advantage of others has returned."

"Don't be careless when the clouds rise."

Lu Su was worried that Long Xiang was underestimating the enemy, so he stood up and reminded: "If Sun Quan is allowed to annex the four counties of Jingnan, and then connect with Jiaozhou, Yuzhang, and Jiangxia, his strength may be stronger than Jiangdong."

"Huh huh." Long Xiang smiled coldly, "Sun Quan and Cao Cao are secretly collaborating. General Guan can even repel Cao Cao's army. How can he sit back and watch him cause trouble in Jingnan?"

Jian Yong and Lu Su looked at each other and replied bitterly: "The general doesn't know something. Although General Guan defeated Cao Ren, Cao Ren's troops are still superior. General Guan will use all his strength to deal with Cao's army. Even Jiangling Liu Cong tried to appease him. The four counties in Jingnan are beyond our reach."

"Where is Zijing? What do you think?"

Facing Long Xiang's inquiry, Lu Su smoothed his beard and replied: "When I returned to Yangzhou and stayed in Xiangyang, I had an in-depth chat with Ziyang, Yuanzhi, and Pang Shiyuan. They all suggested that it is best to appease Sun Quan. If I can It would be better to directly recruit and surrender. At that time, except for Liu Zhang of Xishu who has not expressed his position, most of the world will be controlled by the imperial court, which will isolate Cao Cao in the Central Plains and Hebei, and then be eaten away like mulberry leaves."

"Sun Quan has always been ambitious, and he has a secret conspiracy with Cao Cao. I'm afraid that simple appeasement will not work, and it will be even less likely to surrender." Long Xiang shook his head.Lu Su tugged his beard and analyzed: "We have to resort to force if we can't surrender. We have done this before, but Sun Quan has deployed heavy troops in Chaisang and Pengze. A frontal breakthrough will cause heavy casualties. The most fatal thing is that Yangzhou was hit by floods. This is the case. We cannot respond with all our strength at the moment, so it is best to think of a good solution to stabilize it first, otherwise the existing garrison in Guiyang may not be able to stop it."

Long Xiang's face instantly became serious. He recalled that Liu Bei had easily taken over the four counties in history. He thought that Guan Yu really couldn't make a move now, and if he didn't care about it, he would probably be missed by Sun Quan.

It seemed that intervention was necessary, but at present the city was being built to provide relief work, and there was no surplus food to support the expedition.

While frowning and confused, Long Xiang suddenly had an idea.

"I thought of a plan that might extinguish Sun Quan's ambition."

"Appreciate further details."

Seeing that Lu Su, Jian Yong, and Qiao Min all looked expectant, Long Xiang stood up and took two steps back and forth, then stretched out his fingers and gestured:
"If the four counties in Jingnan are united, they will not let Sun Quan take advantage of him. However, only Governor Zhao understands the righteousness. Now that Xianhe has returned to Chang'an, he can make suggestions to the general and let your majesty designate a general to take charge of the four counties. ."

"Well, the general's suggestion is very good."

Jian Yong nodded in agreement, then reminded: "But you and Sun Quan are old rivals. Even if Yangzhou's internal affairs are complicated, it's best to spare your energy to put pressure on him. Only in this way can a two-pronged approach be effective. In addition, the general is your Majesty's personal Fengzhou Mu. You can be polite first and then send troops to persuade us to surrender, and there will be no loss if we give it a try."

"This"

Long Xiang suddenly showed bitterness on his face, and Lu Su explained: "Xianhe doesn't know something, and Sun Zhongmou is petty. Yunqi has seized the Sun family's foundation. There is a huge risk in sending people to persuade them to surrender. The messenger will probably never return."

"Didn't Sun Kuang surrender? Sun Quan denied that he had plotted to murder Zhou Yu and Sun Yi, so he would definitely not harm Sun Kuang."

Jian Yong's unintentional words suddenly gave Long Xiang inspiration. He glanced at Lu Su and responded: "Xianhe's conspiracy is feasible, but Sun Kuang divides the power of the Sun family. Sun Quan can be imprisoned even if he doesn't kill me. I thought I could send Sun Lang away for a while."

"I can see it."

Lu Su nodded in agreement, and then made a suggestion: "Although Sun Kuang can't persuade Sun Quan, he may not be able to persuade Cheng Pu. Jiangxia lies between Jingzhou and Yangzhou, which really affects the passage of ships. If Yunqi doesn't send troops to Yuzhang at this time, he must also Try to find a way to capture Jiangxia."

"Great idea." Long Xiang clapped his hands happily and added: "Cheng Pu is a veteran who follows Sun Jian. Sun Kuang brought Zhou Lang and Sun Yi's archives to see him. I don't believe that he is unmoved."

Watching Long Xiang and Lu Su talking to each other, Jian Yong on the side couldn't help stroking his beard and boasting: "Watching the two of them discussing and supplementing, it reminds me of the master and the military advisor. They also live in such harmony. No wonder everyone Congeniality.”

After everyone had lunch in the work shed, Long Xiang sent Jian Yong back to Moling Posthouse to rest.

Long Xiang worked neatly and without procrastination. After settling Jian Yong's affairs, he sent someone to invite Sun Kuang and Sun Lang, and at the same time he also called the two suffering masters of the Bao family and the Xu family.

Seeing that Long Xiang was thinking about Zhou Xiang, Lu Su was about to give him a compliment when he suddenly remembered Sun Shangxiang who was under house arrest, so he asked in a low voice: "Yunqi, the Sun brothers have arrangements, what should Sun Shangxiang do? She is not young anymore. Can’t you be locked up for life?”

Long Xiangxin said that Sun Shangxiang loved to dance with swords, and no normal man would marry her.

In addition, both Liu Bei's wives were present, and Long Xiang could not find a reason to give him a woman, and it was Sun Shangxiang, who had a huge age difference.

"I'm also quite troubled. Does Zijing have any countermeasures?"

"The emperor arrived in Chang'an alone, and his pillow was empty and lonely. Why not send Sun Shangxiang to the palace? Only then would the Sun brothers be able to persuade him to surrender."

“It seems to work”

Long Xiang thought that the age difference was not big. If the Sun family became relatives of the emperor, what reason would Sun Quan have to resist?
(End of this chapter)