Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 527 Jingmen Kuimen
"General!"

Wang Sengbian looked at the guards kneeling in front of him, feeling mixed emotions.

The soldiers he brought with him were all from Jingzhou. Wang Sengbian's family had been in Jingzhou for generations, and these soldiers were all from Jingzhou that he brought to fight in the war based on his prestige.

When he swore to go to war, Wang Sengbian, who received the tiger talisman from the King of Xiangdong, swore a military order that he would not return until Hanzhong was conquered!

But the result?
First they lost the battle on the Shu Road, and then retreated to Ba County.

Then he lost in Ba County and retreated to Baidi City.

They lost again in Baidi City and retreated to Kuimen.

Now we are going to lose again. Where can we retreat to after losing this time?
Jingmen?

Or Jiangling?

Wang Sengbian was not unaware of the soldiers' fatigue, but he did not expect that Kuimen, one of the natural barriers of the Three Gorges, would be defeated so quickly.

People's hearts are broken and it's hard to lead the team.

After Wang Sengbian figured this out, he finally decided to give up.

He gritted his teeth and said to his guards:

"Evacuate Kuimen!"

Hearing that Wang Sengbian finally agreed to withdraw his troops, his personal soldiers were overjoyed. Wang Sengbian could only lead his soldiers to retreat to Jingmen in shame.

But when Wang Sengbian arrived in Jingmen, he met Sun Changshi from the Xiangdong Palace.

This Sun Changshi was also from a local noble family in Jingzhou and was a family friend of Wang Sengbian. Unexpectedly, as soon as Sun Changshi opened his mouth, Wang Sengbian was captured.

"Your Highness has ordered that Wang Sengbian deliberately provoked border conflicts for personal military merit, and he is to be taken to Jiangling Prison to await Your Highness's decision."

Wang Sengbian cried out that he was innocent. He was strong and the soldiers from the palace could not subdue him at all.

At this time, Sun Changshi asked the soldiers to withdraw and said to Wang Sengbian:
"General Wang, don't you understand?"

Wang Sengbian looked at Sun Changshi blankly.

Sun Changshi said:
"I locked you up to save you. It would be disgraceful if I resorted to violence."

Wang Sengbian's face turned pale. He had been disarmed and could not beat an ordinary soldier with weapons.

Sun Changshi looked at Wang Sengbian and finally couldn't help but say:

"General Wang, don't you know how many people you blocked when you were in Baidi City and Kuimen?"

Wang Sengbian was not politically sensitive, but he was not stupid. He immediately understood what Sun Changshi meant, and asked back:

"Are those caravans?"

Sun Changshi nodded and said:
"Last month, the merchant ship carrying the Buddha's tooth was seized by the general, which made Your Highness furious. Didn't General Wang check the background of the merchant ship you seized in Kuimen?"

Wang Sengbian argued: "Those merchant ships are carrying food and iron coins! They are aiding the enemy!"

When Wang Sengbian was in Kuimen, he seized a large number of merchant ships carrying grain to Yizhou. Because of this, he offended many people and was even reprimanded by Xiao Yi in a letter, who asked him to allow these merchant ships to pass immediately.

But Wang Sengbian remained unmoved and insisted on detaining the merchant ships, even confiscating several ships of grain.

After being reminded by Sun Changshi, Wang Sengbian finally realized that what he had done in Kuimen had become a thorn in the eyes of many powerful people.

"I want to see the prince!" said Sun Changshi:
"The prince has already gone to Jiankang. This is the prince's warrant for your arrest. Wang Sengbian, do you intend to disobey?"

Wang Sengbian was dejected. He thought about his persistence over the years, which seemed like a joke. He could only say to Sun Changshi:
"Wang doesn't dare. I will obey your orders."

Wang Sengbian also understood that going to jail was the best outcome for him.

This is also Xiao Yi's protection for him.

If I continue to stay outside, I'm afraid my life will be in danger.

Wang Sengbian clenched his fists. He was loyal to his country, but ended up like this.

When Sun Changshi saw that Wang Sengbian accepted his fate, he also breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Sengbian was the top military general in Southern Liang. If he really made trouble, it would take who knows how many soldiers would be needed to subdue him.

He cupped his hands and said:
"General Wang, don't worry. His Highness has already made arrangements before leaving Jiangling. You will not suffer in prison."

Wang Sengbian nodded slightly to express his gratitude to Sun Changshi. The soldiers who rushed into the house escorted Wang Sengbian and locked him up in the prison of the palace.

After Wang Sengbian was imprisoned, the pro-war faction in Jingzhou no longer had any leading figures.

The forces advocating peace talks with Yizhou gained the upper hand. How many people in Jingzhou are still waiting to do business with Yizhou!
Sun Changshi immediately rushed to Jingmen as an envoy, and then took a boat to Kuimen to ask for peace with Yang Jia who had just occupied Kuimen.

Three days later, Yang Jia met Sun Changshi, who was exhausted from the journey.

Yang Jia narrowed his eyes and looked at the important official arranged by Xiao Yi to stay behind, who was dressed as a typical Southern Liang official.

Compared with the clothing of northerners, the clothing of southerners is looser. This is a style left over from the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Standing at the bow of the boat with his clothes fluttering, Sun Changshi truly has the demeanor of a celebrity.

But in Yang Jia's opinion, the wide robes were not suitable for riding horses at all, and the complicated clothes required special servants to help people put on them. These clothes were completely useless.

Sun Changshi originally stated his goal: to cease fire and resume trade.

But Yang Jia was very tough. He said:
"In the past, our Yizhou caravans were always exploited in Jingmen and Kuimen, especially in Kuimen. How much of our goods did Wang Sengbian seize?"

Sun Changshi smiled and said:
"Your Highness has already imprisoned Wang Sengbian, and all the supplies that Wang Sengbian's men have robbed will be returned to you."

Yang Jia's attitude was still very tough. He said:
"What about Jingmen? Governor Hou said that if you want to continue trade, your army must give up Jingmen. Otherwise, who can guarantee that there will be no more war to block the trade route?"

Before Xiao Yi went to Jiankang, he ordered Sun Changshi to restore the trade route. Now Kuimen has changed hands, but Sun Changshi did not dare to cede Jingmen at will, because who knows whether the Yizhou army will continue to attack Jingzhou after occupying Jingmen?
Jingmen is the gateway to Jingzhou, so the navy from upstream can go straight down the river.

However, restoring trade was another task assigned by Xiao Yi.

Now that Xiao Yi has not yet been appointed crown prince, he needs to use the financial resources of Jingzhou to continue bribing the ministers of Jiankang.

Xiao Yi also needed goods from the Western Regions to please Xiao Yan.

Yang Jia had already understood Sun Changshi's bottom line in the negotiation. He looked at the other party and said:

"Captain Hou said there is another way."

Sun Changshi said quickly:
"Please enlighten me, General."

"Still in Jingmen. Your country's garrison cannot exceed 500 people. Merchants traveling between the two sides can enter Jingmen to rest. The garrison cannot arbitrarily detain merchant ships. How do you ensure that the trade is not smooth?"

Hearing this, Sun Changshi agreed without hesitation and said:

"This is a good idea! Your Highness will definitely agree!"

Yang Jia said again:
"There is one more thing. In the future, some goods can be settled with iron coins. How about that?"

(End of this chapter)