After Li Mi turned to Jiangnan, the first thing he faced was the four major forces entrenched in Jiangnan, Chen Len, Li Zitong, Chen Faxing, and Du Fuwei, Jianghuai.

Li Mi defeated the city with an army of 200,000 and forced Chen Len to surrender in Jiangdu. Then he surrendered Li Zitong with the generous conditions of being named King of Yue and qualifying troops.

Li Mi ordered Wang Bodang to lead 50,000 troops and Li Zitong's army to attack from north to south, and wiped out Shen Faxing in Wujun. However, Li Mi took advantage of the emptiness of Kuaiji and ordered Shan Xiongxin to lead 30,000 troops to attack Kuaiji City, behead Li Zitong on the top of the city, and incorporated Li Zitong's army.

In just two months, Li Mi regained a large area of ​​land east of the Jianghuai River, but Li Mi encountered heavy setbacks when attacking the western part of the Jianghuai River. Du Fuwei and Xiao Xian joined forces to fight against Wei, defeated Shan Xiongxin's troops in Lujiang County, annihilated more than 50,000 Wei troops, and Shan Xiongxin fled back to Jiangdu.

However, Du Fuwei's army also paid a heavy price in this battle, losing more than 30,000 people. Fu Gongyou was seriously injured. Although Du Fuwei and Xiao Xian defeated Li Mi's army, the power of Li Mi's army forced Du Fuwei to give up Liyang County and retreat to Hefei.

After Du Fuwei surrendered to Yang Yuanqing because of his mother's kindness, he was named King of Huai, but he did not dare to be king with Yang Yuanqing, so he was demoted to the title of King of Lujiang County.

Despite this, Du Fuwei was still a little uneasy. Among Yang Yuanqing's many subordinates, no one was named king, but he was named prince.

Although Du Fuwei didn't read much, he also understood the principle that a different surname could not be named king. Although he was glorious for a while, the problem was that it could not last long.

As the Sui Dynasty became stronger and stronger, Du Fuwei's concerns became deeper and deeper.

Early in the morning, Du Fuwei came to Fu Gongyou's mansion. Since Fu Gongyou was seriously injured, his injuries have recurred. His life was in danger several times, but he survived with his strong body, but he has not escaped danger yet.

The light in the room was soft. Fu Gongyou lay on the bed, his face was as thin as gold paper, and he was so thin that he only had a handful of bones left. He met Shan Xiongxin on the battlefield, and his spine was stabbed by Shan Xiongxin, which damaged his internal organs with a spear. He almost killed him on the spot.

Although he has been delayed until now, everyone knows that Fu Gongyou's vitality is getting weaker and weaker day by day, and it has gradually reached the point where the oil is exhausted and the lamp is dry.

Du Fuwei sat next to the bed, holding Fu Gongyou's hand tightly, feeling extremely sad. Although they had differences in their opinions on the overall situation, they were brothers, sharing hardships and struggling together, and striving step by step. The deep feelings between them were inseparable from contradictions and differences.

Looking at Fu Gongyou's thin face, Du Fuwei couldn't help but cry like rain, and big drops of tears rolled on Fu Gongyou's hands.

Fu Gongyou slowly woke up. He opened his eyes and saw that it was Du Fuwei. He smiled hard, "Why are the dignified man crying?"

"Brother, when will you get better?" Du Fuwei asked with a sob.

Fu Gongyou sighed slightly, and said with a low voice: "I can't do it anymore. Once I leave, the only thing I can't worry about is you. Alas!"

Fu Gongyou sighed deeply and whispered: "Now the Sui Dynasty eliminated the Turkic troubles and had no worries. It is estimated that it will launch a large-scale attack on Tang soon. The world is over. It seems that it is a wise move for you to surrender to the Sui Dynasty now, but I still want to persuade you."

"What are you going to say?" Du Fuwei asked with his hand tightly.

At this time, Fu Gongyou's spirits improved a little, his eyes brightened. He grabbed Du Fuwei's hand and said hurriedly: "You have just surrendered, and Yang Yuanqing won't touch you, but what about the future? If you want to get involved in the officialdom, you don't want this prince, but I still advise you to be a rich man and hide your identity in exchange for peace in the second half of your life."

Fu Gongyou's words hit Du Fuwei's thoughts. He pondered for a moment and nodded solemnly, "I listen to my brother, I don't want this prince."

As soon as he said this, a report from a personal soldier came from outside the door, "Report to the General, a businessman named Xiao came from the military yamen, saying that he had visited the General in Liyang County."

‘The businessman surnamed Xiao?’

Du Fuwei was slightly stunned, but he thought about it and immediately understood, "It was Xiao Feng, the envoy sent by Yang Yuanqing last time."

He patted Fu Gongyou's hand, "Brother, please rest assured, I know what to do? Brother, don't worry about these things."

He turned around and wanted to leave, but Fu Gongyou grabbed him, his eyes full of reluctance and nostalgia.

Du Fuwei was also a little sad and forced a smile, "Brother, please rest assured. I will come to visit you from time to time. I want to invite the best doctor in the world and will definitely heal my brother's injuries."

He gently broke free from Fu Gongyou's hand and walked out quickly. Fu Gongyou looked at him blankly and walked away, his eyes suddenly became extremely dim.

Du Fuwei's military yamen was actually not far from Fu Gongyou's mansion, and they were close to each other. Du Fuwei quickly walked into the military yamen and asked, "Where is the merchant surnamed Xiao?"

"Report to the general, the person is already waiting in the meeting room."

Du Fuwei strode towards the guest room. Yang Yuanqing sent Xiao Feng to this time, and there must be something big.

In the room, Xiao Feng slowly drank tea with a teacup, waiting patiently for Du Fuwei's arrival. At this time, Xiao Feng was already the prefect of Liang County and was in charge of the largest county in the Central Plains. Because he had served as an envoy once last time, he had a detailed discussion with Du Fuwei this time, and Yang Yuanqing handed over the important task to him.

Of course, compared with Xiao Xian's negotiations, Du Fuwei was much easier. After all, he had surrendered to Yang Yuanqing, and he did not proclaim himself emperor, not even proclaimed king, and he was the leader of a rebel army.

However, in order to prevent accidents and affect the entire strategic deployment, Xiao Feng still needs to take it seriously.

At this time, a rapid sound of footsteps came from outside the door, and then the door opened. Du Fuwei walked in with a serious look on his face.

Xiao Feng quickly stood up and bowed and said, "See Your Highness the Prince!"

Du Fuwei waved his hand, "The first thing I do is to say this. I don't want any prince."

"This" Xiao Feng was stunned and didn't understand what he meant.

"Envoy Xiao, please sit down and talk."

Xiao Feng sat down and looked at Du Fuwei in confusion. Du Fuwei sighed. "The most important thing is to know yourself. What kind of virtue can I, Du Fuwei, dare to be the prince. I have decided to give up the title of Prince and only retain the position of Jianghuai General Manager. I hope that Envoy Xiao can tell His Highness the King of Chu to understand my difficulties."

Only then did Xiao Feng understand what he meant. It was not that he thought the title was low, but that the title was too high, which was quite interesting. He smiled slightly and said, "I can tell Your Highness to you, but I still hope you can write a letter by yourself and directly express your wishes."

"Okay! I will write a letter to His Highness the King of Chu."

Stopped for a moment, Du Fuwei asked again: "I wonder what is the important thing about Envoy Xiao coming to me this time?"

The topic finally turned to the main business, Xiao Feng immediately said: "Your Highness is preparing to attack Li Mi next spring, hoping that General Du's Jianghuai army can cooperate and attack Li Mi's troops from the west."

After Xiao Feng finished speaking, he took out Yang Yuanqing's handwritten letter and handed it to him. Du Fuwei took the letter and opened it and read it slowly. Yang Yuanqing made it very clear in the letter, and indeed he wanted him to prepare to assist the Sui army in attacking Li Mi.

This news surprised Du Fuwei. Didn’t it say that the Sui army was preparing to attack the Tang Dynasty? Why did it become an attack on Li Mi, which made him not prepared at all.

Du Fuwei lowered his head, and after a while, he sighed: "I only have 70,000 troops in my hands, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to play a big role with my own strength."

Xiao Feng smiled and said, "Of course it's not General Du's family to attack. At that time, Xiao Xian will also send 80,000 troops to join forces with General Du to attack from the western front."

Du Fuwei was overjoyed. If Xiao Xian was willing to send 80,000 troops and unite his 70,000 troops, there would be 150,000 troops. It would be enough to put a lot of pressure on Li Mi. If Xiao Xian was willing to send troops, there would be no problem. He hurriedly asked: "I wonder when the troops will be sent?"

"I have also written the letter. The official date of dispatch is scheduled for the first day of the second month. I can make it clear again that this date will not change." Xiao Feng said slowly.

Du Fuwei looked up and thought, but in fact, there was only forty days. He needed to start preparing. He finally replied clearly, "Please tell His Highness the King of Chu that on the first day of the second month, my 70,000 army will attack Liyang County on time."

Xiao Feng said goodbye and left, Du Fuwei paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. He was also thinking about the same problem as Xiao Xian, and if Li Mi was destroyed, the days of his own separatist would come to an end. He would either enter the court as an official, stay in the place, or resign, or live in seclusion. In any case, he needed to make a choice.

Just as Du Fuwei was feeling emotion, suddenly, a soldier rushed in from outside the door, knelt down and cried, "General, General Sui, he...he's gone!"

Du Fuwei felt a sensation of pain. He screamed, his eyes turned dark and he fainted on the ground.

When Yang Yuanqing returned from Mayi County, it was December 25th, and it was only five days before the New Year. The atmosphere of the New Year became stronger and stronger, and I kept hearing the sound of firecrackers exploding in the fire.

Yang Yuanqing entered Taiyuan City from the east gate under the escort of 300 personal soldiers. This time he put away the flag and changed into the costumes of ordinary officers, trying not to let the public recognize him.

As soon as I walked into the city gate, I saw a row of tables placed near the city gate, about seven or eight, with more than a dozen soldiers sitting, erecting a large wooden sign next to the table, with two big words "recruiting soldiers" written in black ink.

Although the New Year is approaching, there are still many people who sign up for the army, with about a thousand people, hundreds of steps away.

Registration in front of the table is actually just a simple review, name, address, age, parents and brothers, and the conditions of the Sui Army are relatively harsh. For example, age, neither over forty nor under the age of sixteen will be accepted.

There are also only sons or brothers and fathers who have joined the army, but they are not accepted. However, this time, Yang Yuanqing ordered the counties to recruit 150,000 new soldiers before the Lantern Festival, and the task is quite urgent. Therefore, when the Ministry of War issued the recruitment order to each county, the conditions were significantly relaxed. Except for the age limit, the other restrictions can be temporarily ignored.

Behind the table, there is an open space with more than a dozen stone locks placed on the open space, each stone lock weighing forty kilograms. After registering for the throne, everyone needs to pass the test here. In fact, it is just lifting the lock and lifting the lock. This one has not been relaxed. You must pass the lock test before you can officially join the army.

In addition, a large flock of sheep was raised near the city wall, with about a thousand, which is the most attractive thing. As long as you succeed in joining the army, each soldier can receive a sheep as a reward for joining the army.

This has led many people who are preparing to sign up for the army after the New Year to sign up in advance, with the goal of getting a sheep to celebrate the New Year for their families.

"Your Highness, do you want to go and have a look?" a soldier asked in a low voice.

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