While Han Jian was waiting for Yang Rui's birth, Sima Yi, who was also in Hangzhou, was worried about winter food.

Since the loss of Jinling City, most of the grain-producing areas in the south of the Yangtze River have basically fallen into the hands of the Northern Dynasties, and the Northern Dynasties have very strict control over food and materials, because from the beginning of formulating the war plan, no one expected that Han Jian did not fight a blitzkrieg first, but was plotting the grain and materials of the Southern Dynasties, so that when the soldiers and horses of the Northern Dynasties went south to grab grain, they were basically defenseless.

When the autumn grain was ripe in this year, the Southern Dynasty was still busy with infighting, so whether it was the empress forces who fled south, or Zhu Tongjing, who was now in Jinling City, they all needed to worry about the food.

"Sir, now there are more than 40,000 soldiers and horses in King Qin, I don't know how many days the grain and grass can cope with?"

In the Taishou Mansion in Hangzhou, the empress began to listen to the government, although this is her exiled court, but since she ascended the throne, she has never really been in power, it can be said that the current Xiao Zhan has the power of the emperor that she did not originally have. These more than 40,000 horses are enough for her to recover Jinling, after all, there is Sima Qi, in Xiao Zhan's eyes, Sima Qi can be said to be a genius military advisor who is not born.

At this time, however, the deliberation was not in public.

In front of people, whether it is Xiao Zhan or Sima Yi, they must show the posture that this war is about to be won, so that everyone feels that taking Hangzhou City is the first step, and the next step is to go north and directly Jinling City is at your fingertips. Especially for the soldiers and civilians and officials who have just returned to Hangzhou City, you must behave like this, otherwise, who will work for you?

Sima Yu said helplessly: "If the estimate is good, in another four or five days, the army will begin to run out of food, and in another half a month, our army will run out of food." ”

"This ......"

Xiao Zhan fell into deep thought, she didn't expect things to be so bad. Just when the army was going north so smoothly, there would be an incident of food shortage. It means that even if the army arrives at Jinling City, it will have to retreat and make plans again, as for the situation of the defenders in Hangzhou. Xiao Zhan didn't dare to think about it, if he couldn't settle these people, would he give up the Hangzhou City he had already gotten away?

"Is there any other way, sir?" Xiao Zhan looked at Sima Yi, and it seemed that only Sima Yi could come up with a way right now.

But Sima Yi is a man after all, not a god, and no matter how wise he is, he can't conjure food out of thin air.

"If possible, we can borrow grain from the Northern Dynasties, and there seems to be no other way." Sima said a method that made Xiao Zhan smile bitterly.

Xiao Zhan sighed: "If the Northern Dynasty is really willing to lend us grain." So why send troops south? Isn't the food they are consuming now also plundered from the land of our Southern Dynasties? ”

Sima Yu continued to shake his head: "But maybe, the Northern Dynasty has a reason to borrow grain." ”

Xiao Zhan is a smart person, she quickly figured out the key to the problem, she said tentatively: "Sir, are you saying that the Northern Dynasty people want to use our soldiers and horses to contain Su Tingxia and Zhu Thief's soldiers and horses, so they will lend us grain?" I'm afraid...... The strategists of the Northern Dynasty had such a plan and could not give an account to their army. ”

Sima nodded.

What Xiao Zhan said makes a lot of sense. Even if Han Jian wanted to use Sima Yi's Qinwang soldiers and horses to contain Su Tingxia's soldiers and horses, he would not send grain and grass to Hangzhou City openly. Otherwise, what would the soldiers of the Northern Dynasty think? We fought the front line. As a result, those in power lend food to others to beat us?

Sima said: "Or you can go to another letter, it's good to try." What if the Northern Dynasty is really willing to borrow grain? ”

Xiao Zhan knew that there was no way out, so he could only nod. At the same time, Xiao Zhan inquired about some specific information about the grain transfer from the south, and Sima Yi said that with the current situation, it was impossible to transfer grain from the rear.

On the fourteenth day of the lunar month, less than four days after Sima Yi sent a letter to Suzhou for the third time. Han Jian's reply also arrived.

When Sima Yi saw this reply, he even threw the letter on the ground angrily, this was the first time he would be so indignant at Han Jian's letter after exchanging so many letters with Han Jian, and even Han Jian only wrote a reply with the three words "Su Tingxia". He laughed it off, too.

Just after Sima Yi dropped the letter, Xiao Zhan also happened to come out of the inner hall of the main hall of the Taishou Mansion and saw this scene.

She also hurriedly came out to check the situation after learning that the Northern Dynasty replied to the letter, in these days when Sima borrowed the letter to Suzhou, Hangzhou City has almost begun to run out of food, with the reduction of the ration of grain and grass for the soldiers in the army, there are already people clamoring, saying that King Qin's soldiers and horses are out of food, and now they can't requisition grain and grass from Fujian and Zhejiang, and even Su Tingxia's soldiers and horses have quickly begun to outflank them from behind.

"What is this doing, sir?" Xiao Zhan was also a little surprised, "Mr. has always been a person who is not surprised everywhere." ”

Waiting for Xiao Zhan to sit down in the main hall of the Taishou Mansion, he has the majesty of an emperor, although this is not a palace, but Sima Yi would rather regard this place as a palace.

Seeing that Sima borrowed nothing, Xiao Zhan smiled and said: "Even if the Northern Dynasty doesn't borrow grain, isn't it expected a long time ago, why should Mr. be angry?" ”

Sima sighed and said: "It's not that the Northern Dynasty refuses to borrow grain, but it proposes exchange conditions. ”

Only then did Xiao Zhan know why Sima Yi was so angry, it must be that the quid pro quo was very harsh.

Indeed, the current shortage of food in Hangzhou can easily lead to a series of problems, first the army is not satisfied, and then the soldiers and horses of King Qin, who followed Sima to the north, no soldiers will fight hungry, if they can't even solve the most basic food problem, who will work for them?

Xiao Zhan asked: "Could it be that the Northern Dynasty wants to take Hangzhou City from us?" ”

Sima Yu shook his head, looking very helpless, and asked the attendant to pick up the letter on the ground, and sighed: "Your Majesty, let's see for yourself." ”

Xiao Zhan took the letter curiously, and when she finished reading it, a slight wry smile appeared on her face. The exchange conditions proposed by Han Jian are actually not complicated, that is, it is okay to borrow grain, but it is necessary to exchange food with Xiao Zhan as a "hostage".

"Sir, why should I blame myself, I am the son of heaven of the Southern Dynasty, and now King Qin's soldiers and horses are in trouble, if I can exchange the strength of a mere person for the long-term peace and stability of the Southern Dynasty, then why not?" Xiao Zhan is still very good at thinking about the overall situation, and she herself knows that she can't help too much in King Qin's soldiers and horses, and many times it will make her feel that she has delayed Sima to deal with military affairs.

Sima said: "If Your Majesty thinks that this time you will be able to return safely from the military camp of the Northern Dynasty?" ”

Xiao Zhan said: "Why did Mr. say this? I also went to the Northern Dynasty in person, when my husband and my uncle embraced me as emperor. The Northern Dynasties were also allowed to do so. It's only been two years now, has Mr. forgotten? ”

"At this time and that time, the Northern Dynasty was still unable to extricate itself from the quagmire of war with the Xianbei people, and the return of His Majesty to the south could cause internal turmoil in our dynasty, which was the Northern Dynasty's desire to suspend the war with our dynasty." Sima Yi analyzed. "Now, the soldiers and horses of the Northern Dynasty are moving south, it is precisely to annex the territory of our Dynasty, at this time I have lost all the land towards the north of the Jiang, and even the land of Chu and Jiangjiang have also fallen into the hands of the Northern Dynasty, if Your Majesty goes to the enemy camp again, I am afraid that there will be no chance to come back. Is Your Majesty willing to be a king of the dead country? ”

After all, Sima Yi is a native of the Northern Dynasties, and he does not have the pedantry of a scholar in his speech, he will say whatever comes to his mind.

Therefore, even if Sima mentioned "the king of the dead country". Xiao Zhan was not angry.

Because Xiao Zhan had already been the king of the country once, but she was lucky that Sima stepped forward, so that she could gather troops and horses again, and she could have the opportunity to seize the authority of the Southern Dynasty again.

Xiao Zhan shook his head slightly and said, "Mr. is too worried, even if I really don't go back?" Isn't it possible for Mr. Huang to help Uncle Huang achieve great things? Or...... Mr. himself can also govern this country, and the country of the Southern Dynasty is in the hands of Mr. Or better than in the hands of my Shaw people. ”

Sima Yu didn't speak, because he knew that Xiao Zhan was just complimenting him.

If Xiao Zhan really has the idea of abdicating and making way for Xian. Then why didn't you give up resistance and surrender directly to the Northern Dynasty? Even if there is a difference between relatives and relatives, Xiao Zhan is more optimistic about him Sima Yu, but Sima Yu knows his situation very well, he is just a courtier's life, not an emperor's life at all.

"Your Majesty thinks twice."

In this case. Sima Yi seems to have only one way to advise.

Xiao Zhan said: "Since the Northern Dynasty has made conditions, then tonight you might as well summon the generals and ministers of the Central Dynasty and call the imperial uncle over to discuss this matter together." ”

……

……

By evening, Sima knew that things were inevitable.

Xiao Zhan said that she wanted to gather people to discuss the matter of using herself as a hostage in exchange for food. But from the daytime, Sima Yi had already seen that Xiao Zhan had made up his mind. Xiao Zhan is not the kind of mother-in-law, she knows that if it were not for the female emperor of the Southern Dynasty in exchange, even if the Northern Dynasty borrowed grain, it would not be able to explain it to the people in the court.

Han Jian actually did not hesitate to do so.

In the political system of the Southern Dynasty, although Xiao Zhan was the emperor, he was once a puppet and is still a puppet. Because Xiao Zhan won't be of much help to this war.

It is not so much that this is to discuss things, but that Xiao Zhan is ready to explain some "future affairs", after she leaves, she needs to establish the exiled court of the Southern Dynasty headed by Sima Yi, and not let the power fall back into the hands of her imperial uncle Xiao Ling, who only knows the wind and snow.

Xiao Ling was also in the Taishou Mansion to discuss matters, and after Xiao Zhan told the matter, he knew that the food in the city had run out.

Sima did a good job of secrecy, and by this time, both the generals and officials in the army learned of the lack of food, and at the same time, they also learned that the Northern Dynasty had offered to exchange the empress of the Southern Dynasty for food.

In order to show their loyalty, some courtiers have already knelt on the ground and wept bitterly, scolding the brazenness of the people of the Northern Dynasty.

In the end, Xiao Zhan stood up and expressed her attitude: "I can use the power of one person to save the thousands of soldiers and horses loyal to my Southern Dynasty, I think it is worth it." You don't need to persuade me anymore, I have made up my mind, and tomorrow morning, I will personally ride to Suzhou City. I hope that one day in the future, I can learn that you will recover Jinling City, and I will return to the Qi Dynasty, and I am grateful here. ”

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan bowed and saluted the officials and generals present.

This is a great ceremony, everyone present has to kneel down to return the salute, but only Sima Yi and Xiao Ling are standing there.

"Mr. Sima, after I leave, the military and political affairs will be entrusted to you." Xiao Zhan finally looked at Sima Yi with eager eyes.

Sima Yi could only bow down to receive the order, but in fact, he himself didn't know why he would agree to Xiao Zhan's approach. He thought about it himself, or even he thought that Xiao Zhan should not have any problems going to Suzhou City this time, at least Han Jian would not kill Xiao Zhan, if one day, he won on the battlefield and could recover Jinling City, Han Jian would still be sent back by him and the people of the Southern Dynasties.

Even Sima Yi felt that this seemed to be a kind of extravagant hope, with his only 40,000 soldiers and horses of King Qin, relying on the exchange of grain and grass with the emperor as a hostage, what qualifications did he have to talk about victory in the future?

……

……

Early the next morning, Xiao Zhan's car to Suzhou was ready.

Although Xiao Zhan didn't want to publicize the matter, in order to stimulate the patriotism of the people of the Southern Dynasty to rise up to King Qin, the news was finally notified to the entire city of Hangzhou.

That morning, all the people of the city came out to see them off.

Xiao Zhan stood on top of the car and personally waved to the people who saw them off along the way. She was like an emperor who was going to die, and even she felt hopeless about this unknown future.

If she alone can be exchanged for the long-term peace and stability of the Southern Dynasty, Xiao Zhan is absolutely willing. But this time it was just to exchange food with the Northern Dynasty, and it was still a question of how much the Northern Dynasty could give according to the promise, even if it was given, it could only meet the temporary needs of the soldiers and horses of the King of Hangzhou Chengqin, and what should I do if I was short of food when I turned around? At that time, there will be no second female emperor who can be used as a hostage, and Xiao Ling is a wreck, who rarely takes him as a hostage?

After leaving the city, Xiao Zhan sat in the car, because the weather was too cold, and she couldn't get out of the car to see the situation outside.

From Hangzhou City to Suzhou City, it is not far, according to the current travel speed, it can be reached in about two days.

Xiao Zhan already felt that this was a disguised "humiliation" used by Han Jian, and now she wanted to be not only a hostage, but also a piece of goods and a trophy. Han Jian used the food necessary for Hangzhou City to exchange her for Han Jian's private property, even if she felt that Han Jian used to be a gentleman, but now the world has changed, as the emperor of the Northern Dynasty, how much ambition Han Jian has, even if she didn't know it before, now she can see it clearly.

There were very few soldiers and horses escorted from Hangzhou, because the section from Hangzhou to Suzhou was basically controlled by the soldiers and horses of the Northern Dynasty.

Sure enough, less than thirty miles after Xiao Zhan left Hangzhou City, there were already cavalry from the Northern Dynasty who came to take over the escort.

These cavalry teams of the Northern Dynasty can't be rude to Xiao Zhan. But in Xiao Zhan's heart, the closer he got to Suzhou City, the more uneasy Xiao Zhan felt.

After all, Han Jian also had to give an account to his people and soldiers, lending the grain to the Southern Dynasty, so that the Southern Dynasty could have this batch of grain to fight with Su Tingxia, which was tantamount to helping the enemy cut off his own siblings.

Unless Han Jian can convince his soldiers that as long as the empress of the Southern Dynasty arrives in Suzhou City, then the Southern Dynasty is already within reach. (To be continued.) )