Jiangdu was prosperous because of the Grand Canal, when the war broke out north of the Huai River and the canal shipping was forced to be interrupted, the prosperity of Jiangdu began to fade, a large number of boatmen and dock porters were unemployed, commerce withered, the population plummeted, a large number of people returned to their hometowns, in just half a year, the population of Jiangdu dropped sharply from one million to 500,000.

The only transportation and commerce is the trade with the Jiangnan region, several major trading houses controlled by the Jiangnan Association gradually monopolized the commerce of Jiangdu, and the power of the Jiangnan Society has penetrated deeper and deeper into every corner of Jiangdu, so Chen Ling only controlled the security of Jiangdu City, but Jiangdu's economy and people's livelihood were controlled by Jiangnanhui, and even the local government of Jiangdu had to look at Jiangnanhui's face.

Two months ago, the Jiangnan Society sent Shen Jian to surrender Chen Ling, hoping that he could be loyal to the Jiangnan Society, but Chen Ling refused, and the Jiangnan Society immediately cut off the grain trade with Jiangdu, and the food supply in Jiangdu became increasingly tight, and the land of Jiangdu County alone was far from being able to feed the millions of people in Jiangdu City, not to mention Chen Ling's army.

The first consequence of the grain shortage in Jiangnan was that the price of grain soared, and the price of grain in Jiangdu rose from 80 wen to 500 wen for doumi, and then to 800 wen for doumi, and the grain price increased tenfold in just two months.

The soaring price of grain made many merchants see business opportunities, and they organized fleets to go to Jingzhou to buy grain, but they were intercepted by the army sent by the Jiangnan Society on the river, causing many merchants to suffer heavy losses, and the grain purchase plan failed.

Chen Ling also suffered from great pressure, he didn't want to be a prince, but he didn't want to be on the wrong side, so he had been waiting to see the situation, he would either surrender to Li Yuan or Zhang Xuan, and would never surrender to Jiangnanhui, but as the pressure on food increased, he also had to face a choice.

Just a month ago, Chen Ling sent people to Chang'an and Zhongdu at the same time, although it was only a trial, but it caused an uproar in Zhongdu and Chang'an, Jiangdu's strategic position naturally needless to say, whoever gets Jiangdu, who gets half of the southeast, for this reason, Chang'an and Zhongdu almost at the same time sent envoys to Jiangdu to contact Chen Ling.

Jiangdu Terracotta Mansion is located outside the east city of Jiangdu, here was originally the military office of Xiaoguo Army, and now it has become Chen Ling's military office, the military office is heavily guarded inside and outside, there is a carriage parked at the door of the military office, and several attendants are waiting boredly on the side.

In the inner hall of the military office, Chen Ling is entertaining the envoy from Chang'an, this envoy is none other than Chen Ling's own brother Chen Tong, Chen Ling has three brothers, two of whom are gentry in his hometown, and the youngest brother is Chen Tong, who is currently serving as a member of the military department in Chang'an.

Before leaving, Li Yuan, the son of heaven, met with him and promised him that if he could persuade Chen Ling to surrender to Chang'an, the imperial court would promote him to the rank of squire of the military department.

From a member of the military department to a waiter in the military department, this is a two-level leap, and it takes twenty years of seniority in officialdom, but now the opportunity is suddenly in front of Chen Tong, which greatly stimulates Chen Tong's determination to persuade his eldest brother to return to Tang.

There were wine and food on the small table in the inner hall, Chen Ling drank wine one by one, always silent, and Chen Tong was patient and persuaded his brother over and over again.

"Brother must have also seen it, Tang's territory from Bingzhou to Guanlong to Bashu, controlling the richest place in the world, military food is not a problem at all, the strength is much higher than the pseudo-Sui in the capital, the strength of the comparison determines the future trend of the world, some people say that Zhang Xuan is far-sighted, I also admit that Zhang Xuan has something extraordinary, but the Tang Dynasty Son of Heaven is also a virtuous corporal, humble and ambitious, no less than Zhang Xuan, so he can return to the heart of the world and establish the Tang Dynasty, brother, don't hesitate anymore, look at the sincerity of the Tang Emperor!"

Chen Tong saw that his brother was silent, he was a little anxious, put down the wine glass in his hand and said: "Big brother, the Son of Heaven has expressed his willingness to crown you as the general of the hussars, the king of Jiangdu County, what else is there to find fault with such sincerity, what is there to be dissatisfied with this honor in life?" Why is the eldest brother silent and refuses to agree? ”

Chen Ling sighed and said: "I can understand my brother's feelings, everyone wants to be promoted and make a fortune, you are so easy to get this opportunity, of course you don't want to lose, although I want to fulfill you, but the reality is very cruel, this is related to the lives of 30,000 soldiers, and it is related to the future of Jiangdu, so don't embarrass the foolish brother." ”

"But isn't it realistic for my brother to return to Chang'an?"

"If you must ask, then I will only say one thing, surrender Li Yuan, how to solve the problem of our army rations, who will feed the 500,000 people in Jiangdu? Li Yuanyuan is in Chang'an, how can he give me food? ”

"This—"

Chen Tong thought for a while and said: "You can send grain from Bashu to the Yangtze River, or put pressure on the Jiangnan Association to resume grain trade, there is always a way to solve it." ”

"I've considered all of these, but they're all unrealistic, the Yangtze River will only be cheaper and miling, as for putting pressure on the Jiangnan Society, it's even more nonsense, how much can I believe Zhang Xuan put pressure on the Jiangnan Society, what pressure does Chang'an take? I'm afraid even Li Yuan wouldn't dare to say that! ”

Chen Tong's face was swollen red, and he said for a while: "Did the elder brother decide to return to the Sui Dynasty?" ”

"I was originally a general of the Great Sui, how can I say 'surrender', but I haven't thought about it clearly, let's not mention this matter first, let's talk about the situation at home! What is the situation of the two nephews? ”

Chen Tong was helpless in his heart, so he had to temporarily suppress the idea of persuading his brother, but he was not discouraged, he believed that Zhongdu could not give such generous conditions as the Tang Dynasty.

After a while, Chen Tong said goodbye and left, Chen Ling sat on the table, did not get up for a long time, I don't know how long it took, Chen Ling sighed, slowly stood up, and then he found that his staff member Du Wenxun was standing not far from him.

Chen Ling smiled awkwardly, "I was a little distracted just now, I didn't see Mr., I'm sorry!" ”

"I can understand the general's distress, report to the general, I have seen Lu Zhuo in my humble position."

Lu Ju is the envoy sent by the Central Capital, he is Zhang Xuan's father-in-law, and he is also the secretary of the Ministry of Rites of the Northern Sui Dynasty, with a lofty status, much heavier than Chen Tong's weight, Li Yuan let Chen Tong send an envoy and take the family route, but Zhang Xuan let Lu Zhuo send an envoy, and took the important minister route, the effect is no less than Chen Tong's envoy, and even more shows the importance of the Northern Sui court.

"What did he say?"

Chen Ling asked casually, but his steps stopped, showing a gesture of listening, and his body language betrayed his heart.

Du Wenxun saw the nervousness in Chen Ling's heart, so he said in a deep voice: "The Northern Sui Dynasty has two conditions, the general can choose one of them, the first is to serve as a general and garrison Liaodong, and the other is to abandon the military and follow the literature and serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. ”

Chen Ling was stunned, "Isn't the Book of Rites Lu Zhuo?" ”

"Lu Zhuo told me that he has resigned from the post of secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and is currently serving as the pacification envoy of the Southern Tour, appeasing the victims of Langya County and Donghai County, and if the general goes north to the central capital, then he will take the post of Jiangdu Taishou."

Chen Ling's face was slightly disappointed, compared to the hussar general and Jiangdu County King that Li Yuan gave him, Zhang Xuan was indeed a little stingy, and he only gave him the position of general, and the book of the Ministry of Rites was not bad, what about the title? It seems that there is no mention of it.

He was silent for a moment and said, "Sir, don't you think Zhang Xuan is too low?" ”

Du Wenxun smiled and shook his head, "I don't think so. ”

"Why?" Chen Ling raised his gaze and looked at Du Wenxun sharply.

"The general is the highest military position in the Sui Dynasty at present, and even Lai Hu'er willingly accepted the position of general, which shows that this is a very real thing, Lai Hu'er commanded the water division and got the real power, and the general will also garrison Liaodong and obtain the real power of the army, on the contrary, what is the hussar general of the Tang Dynasty, just a nice title of loose official, where is the military power? Li Yuan didn't mention it at all. ”

After a pause, Du Wenxun said again: "As for the king of Jiangdu County, the general can refer to Luo Yi, he is the king of Beiping County, what does he have now after the loss of Youzhou?" Who remembers him? If the general can keep Jiangdu, it's not bad to be the king of Jiangdu, but if he can't keep it, what's the point of being the king of Jiangdu. ”

Du Wenxun got to the point, and the key is whether he Chen Ling can keep Jiangdu, not only to keep Jiangdu, but also to solve the food problem.

Although Chen Ling told his brother that Jiangdu's biggest problem at present is the lack of food, Chen Ling still has a way to solve the problem of food shortage, go directly to Jiangnan, and use force to deter Jiangnan from reopening the grain trade, but what Chen Ling really can't say is whether he can keep Jiangdu.

Chen Ling sighed, took two pieces of information and handed them to Du Wenxun, "This is the express report I received this afternoon, 30,000 Sui cavalry have arrived in Gaoyou County, and more than 300 warships have also been killed on the Yangtze River outside Jiangyang County, this is the Sui Army Naval Division, there are at least 20,000 people, once I surrender to the Tang Dynasty, the Sui Army will attack from the north and south, and the soldiers will come to the city, Mr. Do you think I can still hold Jiangdu?" ”

Du Wenxun was stunned, the Sui army actually sent troops to threaten, and it was a north-south attack, no wonder the general looked worried from the afternoon to now, so it was.

"The general thinks he was insulted by Jang Hyun?" Du Wenxun asked tentatively.

Chen Ling shook his head, "I'm not a three-year-old child, so I don't even know how to use both soft and hard, I'm just thinking now, which one should I choose, Wen or Wu?" ”

Du Wenxun said with a smile: "Actually, I personally think that the Ministry of Rites is more preferable, isn't Li Jing just giving up garrisoning Youzhou and willing to serve as the secretary of the Ministry of War?" The general, the military power benefits for a while, and the court power benefits the descendants. ”

Chen Leng paced back and forth in the room with his hands in his hands, and after a long time, he finally nodded slowly and said, "Mr. is right, my Chen family should also start a family school." ”

(To be continued.) )