The shape of the north became clear after the Luoyang Guard was lifted. The original result of the battle between the three families became a battle between the East and West Palaces, and the Battle of Guanzhong became a key battle to determine who could dominate the north. First, the prince Yang Xi led the men and horses in front, and then Su Tingxia's Chinese army pressed on, and the Eastern Wangfu also started the conquest of Guanzhong with Yang Xi and Su Tingxia, two little-known figures, after experiencing many wars in the north.

On March 25, on the ninth day after the siege of Luoyang was lifted, Su Tingxia's troops and a team of soldiers and horses withdrawn to Guanzhong by Xiwangfu clashed, and more than 3,000 soldiers and horses were dispatched on both sides of the Canghe estuary. This battle surprised the world, originally thought that Su Tingxia's department, which had just swept the Bohai Kingdom in the north, was invincible, but they did not expect its combat effectiveness to be so low.

By March 26, the West Wangfu dispatched more than 4,000 men and horses from the Canghe estuary, and in a few days, they successively recaptured several cities that were originally occupied by the East Wangfu, which also gave the West Wangfu a few cities east of Guanzhong as a base point, and there was no need to hold on to Guanzhong. On March 29, Yang Xi's troops of more than 6,000 troops tried to recapture several cities on the first line of the Canghe estuary, and then Yang Xi's troops retreated 60 miles to station, and the battle of Guanzhong continued to enter the stage of stalemate.

At the beginning of April, the first line of the Canghe estuary was still the focus of contention between the East Wangfu and the West Wangfu, and the Dongwangfu launched a counterattack on the Canghe Estuary with Su Tingxia's department as the backbone, and Su Tingxia's 60,000 troops pressed into the Canghe Estuary, like the autumn wind sweeping away the leaves, and the six cities at the Canghe Estuary were all taken down within three days, and the grain and grass materials in the city were snatched away. At this time, the outside world realized that this is an army that feeds on war, and its most special thing is not its combat ability, but its ability to rob. Once the predatory consciousness of these robbers is stimulated, their combat effectiveness is also terrifying.

With Su Tingxia's troops stationed at the mouth of the Canghe River, the Chinese army was less than forty miles away from Tongguan, and a major battle against Guanzhong was about to break out.

At this time, Sima Yu, who was an envoy of the Southern Dynasty, personally led the envoy team of the Southern Dynasty to Luoyang. This is also the first time that he has personally set foot on the land of the Wei Dynasty after he went to the Southern Dynasty with Han Jian as a hostage. His arrival was also to personally greet Xiao Zhan, and at this time, the Southern Dynasty still did not make the matter of Xiao Zhan's succession to the throne public, and except for a few people in the imperial court, it was only an ordinary friendly visit sent by the new Southern Dynasty after the new regime came to power.

The day Sima Yi arrived in Luoyang was also the day when the news of Su Tingxia's garrison under Tongguan was transmitted back to Luoyang, and the time was the ninth day of the fourth month.

Although Han Jian was an old friend of Sima, he was hindered by some red tape. He didn't do anything to greet him personally, and the main person in charge of receiving the court was Lin Ke, who was transferred to the Ministry of Rites as a waiter. Because of the unfavorable matter of going to the Yuzhou military camp to negotiate, Lin Ke was detained by the Yuzhou army for more than half a month, and after returning to Luoyang, he did not even protect the official position of his official minister, and later was simply transferred back to the Ministry of Rites by Yang Rui. This time the envoys of the Southern Dynasty were received. He knew very well that this was another problem for the king of the east, but he still went to receive it.

The envoys led by Sima Yi were all the backbone of the family of King Hui and Xiao Ling. After settling in the National Post House, Han Jian sent someone to send a gift in person, and told Xiao Zhan some of the truth by the way. In the past, Xiao Zhan moved from the residence of the National Post House to an official office in the city, which can be regarded as a special separation from the envoys of the Southern Dynasty. This also made the relationship between the Southern and Northern Dynasties a little tense, after all, the envoys of the Southern Dynasties came. Even Xiao Zhan's residence has to be moved, and it looks like the court wants to do something with Xiao Zhan, and detain her as a proton.

On the tenth day of the fourth month, Han Jiancai, as the king of the east and the imperial court supervisor, personally went to the national post house to see Sima Yi and his party.

When he arrived at the National Post House, Han Jian specially did not let too many courtiers go with him. There are still a lot of things to say between him and Sima Yi, mainly involving the shape of the Southern Dynasty. Sima borrowed from Cao Ying's heart in Han, but he also had reservations about Han Jian's information, and Sima borrowed many things from saying anything. This made Han Jian also feel that there was a gap between the former good brothers, which may be related to the fact that he left Jinling and did not rescue Sima Yi from Jinling, but then he sent someone to rescue him, but Sima Yi had been attracted by Xiao Ling, the king of Hui, and it was Sima Yi who decided to stay in the Southern Dynasty and not return. This also made Sima Yi become Xiao Ling's right and left hand, and then changed the situation in the Southern Dynasties.

When Han Jian arrived at the National Post House, Sima Yi also didn't bring anyone, but just greeted him in the side hall. From this point, Han Jian can feel that Xiao Ling has absolute trust in Sima Yu, otherwise, with Sima Yi himself as a member of the Northern Dynasty, if he wants to meet someone from the Northern Dynasty, there will definitely be someone around him to watch, and what Sima Yu saw this time is Han Jian, who is now in real power in the Northern Dynasty.

Sima borrowed plain clothes, and he no longer saw that he had the ambition to travel the world to be a chivalrous man, but like a scheming gentleman, when he got up to greet him, he just smiled, looking very distant. Han Jian naturally felt a little emotional when he saw his old friend in front of him, but he also knew that this time was different from the past, since Sima Yi chose to stay in the Southern Dynasty, he didn't want to provide him with any information, but really wanted to be responsible for Xiao Ling to do something.

"Brother Sima, please be seated." Han Jian opened his mouth, and the words in his mouth were also a little raw. Sima Yi didn't think anything of it, and sat down, but he and Han Jian were different. When he was in the north, he was at most just a guest secretary who didn't even have an official position on Han Jian's side, and although the things he did with Han Jian were not small, he only made some suggestions, and his plans were almost adding to the chaos.

In the end, the two of them are just friends, but now friends can't do it, and they can't say they can be enemies. Friend or foe.

"I came to the north today to welcome my return to the Son of Heaven and inherit the throne." Sima was open and honest, and his words were also full of strictness and harmony, "I wonder if the king of the east can use the diplomatic relations between the two countries as a degree to let him welcome the return of the Son of Heaven?" ”

"Well said."

Han Jian picked up the tea and found that it was cold, thinking that the people in the court did not pay much attention to the reception of the envoys of the Southern Dynasty, and when there were many guests in the National Post House, the envoys of the Southern Qi would not be regarded as the main guests. Han Jian put down the teacup and looked at Sima Qi, at this time Sima Qi was also looking at him, the former good brothers looked at each other so much, and they all saw the helplessness in each other's eyes. Times have changed. The identities and positions of the two are different, I think that when the two of them had no gap, it was also when Han Jian didn't even sit firmly on the throne of the Eastern King, but was just a son, and the Sima family was also bent on breaking into the world at that time, and it was not like now that it was above ten thousand people under one person in the Southern Dynasty. Become a peerless strategist.

"In a few days, the Son of Heaven will return to the south." Han Jian said, "But before that, you still need to clear the paperwork." Some things should be done with courtesy. ”

Sima Yi nodded, stood up, and made a big salute, as if he was thanking the Northern Dynasty for taking care of the eldest princess Xiao Zhan, but it also seemed to be drawing a line with Han Jian.

Han Jian didn't say much, originally he still wanted to talk to Sima about the old relationship. Looking at this posture, nothing can be said, so it can only be scribbled.

When Han Jian came out of the National Post House, he happened to meet Lin Ke, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, who came to contact, Lin Ke also brought a few officials from the Ministry of Rites, and when he saw Han Jian, he simply didn't see it, and hurriedly passed by, Han Jian could feel the estrangement between this former Shoufu and him, and Lin Ke also wanted to do something. It's a pity that with the decline of his official position, the group of people around him has almost fallen apart. Until now, there are few people he can rely on, and his status in the court has reached an insignificant level.

Han Jian came out of the National Post House and went directly to Xiao Zhan's residence, and when he saw Xiao Zhan at Xiao Zhan's place, Han Jian directly motioned for Xiao Zhan to go outside to talk.

Xiao Zhan came out with Han Jian, and Han Jian said bluntly: "The princess really intends to return south? ”

Xiao Zhan frowned slightly, she had very few opportunities to meet Han Jian. In the past, it was more of a polite and polite meeting, and she couldn't adapt to speaking so straightforwardly like today. Moreover, the question asked by Han Jian is also a little strange, how can he return to the south without intention? She had already informed Han Jian that she was going to return to the DPRK, why did she ask?

"I don't understand Dongwang's words." Xiao Zhan pretended to be a gesture.

Han Jian smiled: "If it is the past. The princess can understand that she is back to the court, after all, the princess cares about the royal family of the Southern Dynasty. But now in this situation, King Hui is in charge, and in the tone of King Hui, the princess returns to the dynasty to be the Son of Heaven, and as the Son of Heaven, she must take the world as her own responsibility, but the princess goes back, and she has no military power and political power in her hands, but will only be a puppet emperor. On the contrary, it is better to stay in the Northern Dynasty, so that it is the best plan to protect one's body. ”

Xiao Zhan frowned, thinking about Han Jian's words, Han Jian seemed to be provoking the relationship between her and Xiao Ling, the king of Hui. According to Han Jian, Xiao Ling asked her to go back not to help her but to harm her, and even killed her for the throne in the future. Although from the perspective of power struggle, Xiao Ling's support for her to be the emperor was only an expedient measure, in order to win over the magnates of the Southern Dynasty and make a transition for Xiao Ling to ascend the throne as emperor in the future, Xiao Yang is still willing to believe that this imperial uncle has no ambition to ascend the throne.

"Does the East King ...... with the heart of a villain?"

Xiao Zhan was halfway through his words, but he felt disrespectful, so he simply didn't finish speaking.

Han Jian smiled bitterly and said, "How does the princess understand that it is the princess's business, but if the princess wants to know whether King Hui wants to sincerely assist the princess or has other plans, it is actually not difficult." ”

"Oh?"

Xiao Zhan frowned again, Han Jian's words today carried a lot of mystery, from the first sentence, she could feel that Han Jian was prepared. Now she actually said that she could test Xiao Ling's intentions in Luoyang, which she couldn't understand.

Han Jian said: "Then how about having an appointment with the princess today?" If it can be proved that King Hui has no intention of supporting the princess as the emperor, then the princess will stay in the Northern Dynasty, if not, he will personally send someone to escort the princess south to Jinling, and if the princess has something to do in the future, she can also come to the Northern Dynasty...... Waiting for you at any time. ”

Xiao Zhan smiled, listening to Han Jian's meaning, as long as she goes back now, she will be held hostage by King Hui, and she can still go back to Luoyang to take refuge at any time. But in her thoughts, what if her imperial uncle wants to use herself? Didn't she go back to use Xiao Zhan's power and power to consolidate the imperial court, just like Yang Rui now, why wasn't she using the power of the East Wangfu to protect the stability of the royal family? After all, she is a member of the royal family, and she has long been aware of some things, but she never thought that Han Jian would be so willing to make any agreement with her.

"The king of the east doesn't need to say it." Xiao Zhan said, "If the king of the east doesn't want to let him go, then I won't say anything about going back, and I can send the envoy the king of the east away." When King Hui ascended the throne, it was also to stabilize the situation in the Southern Dynasty, so that the King of the East could rest assured? ”

Han Jian said: "The princess will be mistaken. ”

"How can it be wrong?" Xiao Zhan asked rhetorically, "If the King of the East is in another country and knows that there is chaos in the court now, but he is willing to return to China to contribute to the stability of the imperial court?" If they are all like what the East King said today, looking forward and looking backwards, afraid of being used, then even if the little girl is stable in the Northern Dynasty, she will not be at ease in the future. The little woman went back to Ning Yuan, even if she died, she was worthy of the ancestors and ancestors under the Nine Springs. ”

Han Jian finally sighed.

Maybe these people in the royal family have the same ambition and ambition as Yang Rui, or what Xiao Zhan and Yang Rui have in their bones is how to serve the country and the people, he wants to protect Xiao Zhan, and now it seems that Xiao Zhan will not appreciate it, so why should he be a bad guy and leave Xiao Zhan?

"The princess said so, and it was no longer reluctant." Han Jian arched his hand and said, "Remind the princess that the envoys of your dynasty have arrived in Luoyang and will leave for the Southern Dynasty in the near future." Because after all, he was a good friend in Zaixia, and his arrival will never be embarrassed in Xiaxia, but if the princess returns to the Southern Dynasty, if she feels that she regrets today's events, then she is willing to do her best to help the princess get out. ”

Xiao Zhan said: "The king of the east has a heart. ”

In other words, it also means that I don't want to say more.

Han Jian didn't want to be bored, so he didn't even say anything about how to prove that Xiao Ling had other plans, so he said goodbye and left. When Han Jian left, Xiao Zhan recalled Han Jian's words before, although she also trusted Xiao Ling, the imperial uncle, she still couldn't figure out how Han Jian could prove something and keep her. If Han Jian didn't agree with her leaving, he could send someone to force her to stay, even if it was Sima Yi who came from the Southern Dynasty, it would be impossible to forcibly take her away, and when the Northern Dynasty had her as a hostage, it would be invincible. But Han Jian didn't do this, but persuaded her bitterly.

No matter how she did it, Xiao Zhan's intention to return was decided, even if she knew that her imperial uncle was going to use her, she had no regrets. What she thinks is that her mother and younger brother have not protected the foundation of the royal family, so she has the responsibility to inherit it, and the orthodoxy of the royal family cannot be destroyed, even if it is Xiao Ling, the imperial uncle, she can't give the slightest face. (To be continued......)