What the people of Yangzhou don't know is that all this is just a means of the Chu army. In order to raze this dirt mountain to the ground, Li Yuan ordered people to basically hollow out the inside of the earth mountain in advance, and then placed more than 100 explosive bags on the top of the mountain bag.

In fact, before the detonation, the pavilion on the dirt hill almost collapsed due to the act of hollowing out the soil, but it was still supported by a giant tree to keep the stuffing exposed.

In order to dig up the soil bag, more than 1,000 soldiers of the Chu army dug for three nights, and transported all the excavated soil to the back of the camp with sand packaging, so as not to let the city see the flaws.

The army was newly replenished with hundreds of explosive packs, and Li Yuan once thought of blowing up the city wall by placing explosive packs under the city wall, but he found that this idea was very good, but it was impossible to implement. Placing explosives packs under the walls to achieve the purpose of blowing up the walls may be feasible in other cities, but it is definitely not possible here.

It is wishful thinking to dig a tunnel to lead to the city, and the moat that is more than ten zhang wide and several zhang deep cannot be crossed, not to mention that if you want to blow up the city wall, you must dig through the foundation of the root of the city wall and prevent explosives from being under the foundation of the city wall.

That's not an ordinary amount of work, and if you have that means, why not just dig through the city wall, and spend that effort? Therefore, the precious explosives became a means for Li Yuan to act for the soldiers and civilians in Yangzhou City, adding fuel to the fiery rumors in the city.

The news did quickly bring the rumors in the city to a boiling state. People who didn't believe in it also began to believe in the whole thing because of the existence of the so-called "heavenly thunder".

Clever liars are generally mixed with lies, and once the truth is confirmed, people will even accept the part of the lie, which is the common psychology of human beings.

The rumors of the city are naturally impossible not to be known by the upper echelons. Zhang Wenbiao had heard of these rumors for a long time, but he had no time to deal with them, because time was pressing, and what he wanted to do now was to strengthen the city defense of Yangzhou, train new soldiers, and prepare materials to defend the city, and he could not delay for a moment.

He knew that it was impossible for the Chu army outside the city to remain unattacked, and as the turn of spring and summer approached, the changing weather forced the Chu army to make a choice, they either withdrew before the rainy season, or they would launch a siege before then, and it was more likely that the latter would happen.

Zhang Wenbiao doesn't care, but that doesn't mean others don't care.

Zhang Xun had heard these rumors from the time he began to circulate in the city, and when such rumors became more and more boiling in the city, Zhang Xun finally couldn't help but go to see Li Congjia and inform him of the rumors circulating in Yangzhou.

After hearing this, Li Congjia reprimanded Zhang Xun fiercely, and reprimanded him: "Now when everyone is united to defend Yangzhou, you use these market rumors to tell me, what is the purpose of this? You should go and do your best to assist King Huai in his affairs, instead of speaking ill of him behind his back. Once there is a mistake in Yangzhou City, how should I deal with it?! ”

Zhang Xun withdrew with a face full of shame, and scolded in his heart in anger, but he didn't give up, he felt that this matter was very important. And of course Zhang Xun didn't care whether the rumors were true or not, how could he not see that this rumor that suddenly blew like the wind must have been done by someone with a heart outside the city? He just wanted to make good use of this matter, so that Li Congjia could make up his mind to break up with Zhang Wenbiao, instead of being stupidly used as a pawn by Zhang Wenbiao.

A day later, when the news of the so-called heavenly thunder falling from the mountain outside the city was confirmed, Zhang Xun entered the palace again, described in detail how the heavenly thunder razed the earth mountain to the ground, and found more than a dozen soldiers who witnessed the incident to confirm it.

Li Congjia felt a little nervous at this time. The thunder is so powerful this day, so what is the use of this wall fortification? Isn't Yangzhou City in danger? Why is Zhang Wenbiao indifferent? Could it really be as rumored that he was going to take the entire Yangzhou City to fight Li Yuan to the death and bury him?

Once there are signs of doubt in my heart, what follows is a steady stream of suspicion.

Li Congjia was originally a suspicious person, but Zhang Wenbiao swore to the sky with a dagger in front of him before, swearing allegiance to the Tang Dynasty, expressing his willingness to resolve the estrangement with the emperor and return the great government after keeping Yangzhou, so Li Congjia chose to work with Zhang Wenbiao with one heart and one mind, he did not easily believe Zhang Wenbiao's words, but he knew very well that his fate was also linked to Yangzhou City, and he had no choice.

But at this time, Zhang Xun kept adding oil and vinegar to the side, which really added a fire of suspicion. Li Congjia didn't express his position lightly, he didn't fully believe in this kind of mysterious thing.

However, the problem is that if Li Yuan's introduction of the thunder is true, the safety of Yangzhou City is indeed worthy of public opinion, and he is ready to ask Zhang Wenbiao about this matter to see how he responds.

Li Congjia immediately summoned Zhang Wenbiao, first asked about the progress of the city defense and the prospect of the war, Zhang Wenbiao answered Li Congjia in a clear manner, these are the things he has thought about thousands of times in his heart, and he is naturally confident.

Then, Li Congjia changed his conversation and asked about Tianlei.

"King Huai, it has been rumored in the city recently that Li Yuan can lead down thunder, which can shatter mountain rocks and break through city walls. Is this true? ”

With just this sentence, Zhang Wenbiao knew that Li Congjia had heard those rumors in the city.

Zhang Wenbiao replied with a straight face: "Your Majesty, you are the son of the Tang Dynasty, you should be clear-sighted, how can you be swayed by those market rumors in the city at this moment?" The so-called heavenly thunder is purely a fictitious thing, and Your Majesty should not believe it. As long as the city defense of Yangzhou City is strong, the top and bottom are united, and there is no risk of being broken. ”

Li Congjia frowned and said, "But I heard that Li Yuan led the heavenly thunder outside the city and razed a dirt mountain!" Isn't there such a thing? ”

Zhang Wenbiao said: "Yes, that dirt mountain was indeed razed, but the minister didn't think it was some kind of thunder. That Li Yuan is an ordinary man in the mountain village, where did the strange power come from? The so-called heavenly thunder circulating in the city in the battle between Li Yuan and Dongxi is also false, and the minister personally did an investigation, at that time Li Yuan used a large trebuchet to break the city and kill the enemy, and it was definitely not a heavenly thunder. ”

Li Congjia let out an "oh" and asked, "How do you know that Li Yuan can't lead the thunder?" What if he really would? ”

Zhang Wenbiao frowned and said, "Your Majesty, don't listen to other people's nonsense. If Li Yuan can really lead to any heavenly thunder thing, why not break the city directly? Instead, it is used on the dirt hill outside the city? Deter us? What's the point? With such an obvious flaw, how could His Majesty not understand it? Aren't these people stupid enough to believe such ridiculous rumors? ”

Li Congjia's face changed, Zhang Wenbiao's words were very disrespectful, and the meaning in his words was of course a reflection that he was also a stupid person.

Zhang Wenbiao also realized this immediately, but he seemed to have long been accustomed to this condescending tone of teaching, and continued: "Your Majesty, at this moment, you can't believe those rumors, now you must work together, don't be impetuous, and don't care about those gossips.

After this battle, the ministers will find out who is behind the spread of rumors. At this moment, the minister really can't go to investigate, and the minister is now focused on defending the city, so Your Majesty should not add to the chaos. ”

Li Congjia pondered for a long time, and said lightly: "Well, you go and do something, I know." ”

Zhang Wenbiao felt the indifference in Li Congjia's mood, but he didn't care about the idea of this mascot at the moment, he just wanted to put all his energy and time on defending the city, he thought that as long as he could hold Yangzhou, everything else would be too small to be a small problem.

On the afternoon of May 14, after Zhang Wenbiao was summoned by Li Congjia, a fast horse in the camp of the Chu army rushed to the city under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of soldiers at the head of Yangzhou City.

"Listen, people in the city, my majesty has a letter to King Zheng, please pass it on."

When the guards at the head of the city heard this, they ordered the archers to stop, but when they saw that the cavalry of the Chu army who was delivering the letter bent their bows and arrows, they shot a letterhead hanging on the arrow branch into the city. The letter was sealed tightly, stamped with Li Yuan's seal, and sealed with lacquer, with the words "King Zheng's personal opening" written on it.

The guard did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly took the letter down to the city, and subconsciously wanted to send it to the Huai Wangfu to report first, but Zhang Wenbiao was not in the palace, but was busy supervising and patrolling the city defense, and soon after, the letter was unprecedented and strangely arrived on the table in Li Congjia's study in the palace.

Li Congjia took the letter and glanced at it, his face was slightly angry, the envelope was written by King Zheng himself, that is, Li Yuan didn't treat himself as an emperor, this guy is really hateful.

Because of concerns about safety, the envelope was opened by the waiter, and after identifying it, it was handed over to Li Congjia.

Li Congjia unfolded the letterhead, only glanced at it, and a surprised expression appeared on his face.

"Li Yuan, an old minister of the Tang Dynasty, asks Your Majesty to be proud." This first sentence was completely unexpected by Li Congjia, Li Yuan, who had already ascended the throne and became emperor, actually called himself a minister, and also called himself His Majesty, which was completely different from the title on the envelope, I don't know what he meant.

"Minister Li Yuan knocked on His Majesty's Holy Ann, and the minister had a message to His Majesty, the minister was born in the mountains and wilderness, and he was originally a people of grass and mustard, and a mediocre generation. However, by the grace of the first emperor, the royal grace, there is the honor of an inch.

Between the nights, in the morning and evening, the ministers all asked themselves and secretly warned themselves that the ministers' gains today are all from the royal gifts, and the ministers have an inch of merit, not the merit of the minister, but the merit of the royal gift. The minister should do his best to serve the Tang Dynasty in order to repay the emperor's grace and the grace of the saint. ”

"Phew! A hypocritical villain who defends the sky! That's how you repay my Li Tang royal family. Li Congjia spat viciously, but continued to look down.

"Since the protection of the University for ten years, the Tang Dynasty has entered an eventful autumn, internal and external troubles, the country is unstable, and the court is unstable. Even at the beginning of the eleventh year, the rebellion of the three towns in Jiangbei broke out, and the rivers and mountains were turbulent, the world was in smoke, the people were displaced, and it was difficult to settle the four seas. At this time, the ministers raised troops from Chudi, and in order to repay the favor of the court, they vowed to kill all the traitors and return the peace of the Tang Dynasty.

After that, the minister tried his best to wipe out the traitors with his modest strength and live up to the emperor's grace. What Ranchen never expected was that the swords of Jiangxi rose again, the capital of Jinling City was broken, the first emperor was difficult to hunt in the east, and then the minister was shocked to hear about the disaster of Feng Lingdu, at that time, the minister was thousands of miles away in Chudi, and it was difficult to save the fire from far water, and the pain of hearing it broke the liver and intestines!

However, the Tang Dynasty cannot be defeated, the court cannot collapse, and the ministers have to gather the virtuous ministers who are interested in serving the country in Chu, and rebuild the dynasty to correct the country's reputation, but unexpectedly, His Majesty was enthroned in the eastern capital, and even misunderstandings were numerous, and suspicion was everywhere, which was really unexpected. The minister has a clear heart like the hanging of the bright moon, but the dark clouds cover the moon, and there are many misunderstandings, and the minister is speechless and worried. ”

Seeing this, Li Congjia gritted his teeth and sneered: "Hehe, you are indeed at a loss for words. ”

"The minister knows that His Majesty will scoff at these words, but the minister only speaks in his heart today, and as for whether His Majesty believes it or not, it is not up to the minister to control it. The minister knew that when he was in Langzhou, His Majesty was confused by the traitor Zhou Xingfeng, and he had many suspicions about the minister, and even now His Majesty is alone in Yangzhou, ignoring the court etiquette and law to ascend the throne as the emperor, which is really a wrong move.

If His Majesty had been able to come to Chu in the past and have more contact and communication with his ministers, today's affairs would never have come to this point, the two countries would never have been opposed, and the war would not have been met, and the world would not have been in turmoil, and there would still be endless disputes. When the minister saw that the situation was like this, he was really worried and couldn't sleep at night. ”

"Shameless! How can there be such a brazen person in the world! Li Congjia scolded.

The chamberlain hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, if Li Yuan's thief is rude, Your Majesty will not read his letter." The slave and maid brought the brazier, and we burned it. ”

Li Congjia waved his hand and continued to look down at the letter.