Dongqing had a total of six states and twenty-one counties. Its territory spanned from the north to the south. The division of states and counties mostly followed the previous dynasty and was not based on population or land area. As a result, although Hu County, Zhe County, and Hu County were counties, the areas of the three counties were not small. Hu County was even comparable to the smallest state in Dongqing. Apart from these three special counties, Hejian County, Langya County, and Ningning County were also independent counties.
However, the size of the latter three was quite normal. Apart from having special military positions, they were no different from ordinary counties.
Langya County had already fallen under Huang Song's rule. Ningning County was located in the south and had previously submitted to Xu Bei.
Ever since Jiang Pengji had gotten rid of Xu Bei, although she hadn't mobilized her troops in Gongning County, the local aristocrats were very tactful and didn't dare to cause a ruckus. It was useless for them to make a ruckus. Jiangning County was attached to a high mountain range. Although it was a beautiful place, it did not produce much food. Jiang Pengji sent troops to choke off all the grain and trade routes in Jiangning County. She could starve hundreds of thousands of people in Jiangning County to death.
There were many aristocratic families in Yunning County. They saw that Jiang Pengji was not someone to be trifled with, so they did not go against the law and fight her head-on. Instead, they chose to give in.
Among the three counties, Hejian County was the only one without a ruler.
It wasn't that Hejian County didn't want to rely on any vassal. It was just that the geography of Hejian County was a bit awkward.
It was located on the pulse arteries of Wanzhou, Haozhou, and Cangzhou. It was an important position that could be used to attack or defend.
Before the spring ploughing, neither Jiang Pengji nor Huang Song dared to mobilize their troops in Hejian County.
Once the troops were mobilized, it would be a great war. If the spring ploughing was ruined, not only would the interests of the two feudal vassals be harmed, but the people under their rule would also be harmed.
Wars could be fought at any time, but the commoners only had one chance to farm. If they missed the opportunity, they would have to endure hunger for an entire year.
Apart from that, Hejian County had another significance to Jiang Pengji.
All the members of the Liu family lived in Hejian County!
The bad news Jiang Pengji received was none other than the fact that Hejian County had been raided by Huang Song's army and had quietly changed hands in the middle of the night.
When the bad news reached Jiang Pengji's ears, she was happy about the progress of the spinning wheel and the cotton. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
Those who were familiar with Jiang Pengji did not dare to look at her expression.
"How did Hejian County fall?"
After the battle between Xu and Pei ended, Jiang Pengji and Huang Song tacitly dispatched troops to guard the northern and southern borders of Hejian County. Neither side gave in to the other. The two sides maintained a delicate balance. No one dared to make the first move. They could only dispatch many scouts to investigate the enemy's situation. They had to grasp the military situation as soon as possible.
Under such circumstances, Jiang Pengji did not know what the guards were doing.
Huang Song had already sent his troops to conquer the whole of Hejian County, but the defending general was slow to react. It was already too late!
If he didn't give her a convincing reason, she would definitely punish him.
Although Jiang Pengji was usually easy to get along with, once she got angry, how could a lowly messenger be able to withstand her power?
Without any hesitation, he revealed everything that had happened.
After he finished speaking, the messenger soldier trembled and half-knelt down to beg for forgiveness. The atmosphere at the scene was extremely solemn.
Qiguan Rang, Wei Ci, and the others secretly glanced at their lord from the corner of their eyes.
They were mentally prepared for their lord to flip the table, curse, and curse Huang Song's ancestors.
Even if they lost control of themselves, they could still suppress this matter.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Pengji's self-restraint was excellent. Apart from her somewhat gloomy expression, she did not show any extreme emotions.
"Hejian's Zhang …" Jiang Pengji sneered coldly. Her eyes flashed with murderous intent. "They really got away with it back then."
The main reason why Hejian County was lost was that Hejian's aristocratic family, the Zhang's, took the lead in responding to the persuasion of Huang Song's subordinates. They secretly colluded with several aristocratic families to control the situation in the county. Later, on the night of the 24th of the third month, they cooperated with Huang Song's garrison troops. On one hand, they took down the Hejian's Liu's, Shangguan's, and other aristocratic families that were friendly with Jiang Pengji's forces. On the other hand, they welcomed Huang Song's army into the city. In less than half a night, Hejian County changed hands.
When everyone heard Jiang Pengji's words, they were momentarily stunned. They did not know when their lord and the Zhang's had discord.
Others had yet to react, but Liyun felt that the Zhang's name sounded very familiar.
After thinking about it carefully, his mind flashed. He finally remembered when the feud had started.
"This Zhang's name … seems somewhat familiar. Could it be the Zhang's who forced my wife to become a widow and almost caused her to lose her life? " Liyun remembered that the Zhang's family was Shangguan Wan's ex-husband's family. "After the feud started, could it be that they still bear a grudge? When Huang Song found out about it, he used it as a breakthrough point and sent people to persuade the Zhang's to change sides? If you think about it that way, it's not unreasonable. "
As soon as Liyun spoke, everyone focused their attention on him again.
After hearing what he said, many people had some memories. They followed the clues and dug up the old story.
"It's most likely because of this." Jiang Pengji secretly curled her lips and laughed angrily. "We should have skinned this clan alive back then!"
Qiguan Rang and Wei Ci coughed in unison, reminding Jiang Pengji to watch her words and not be so violent.
If word got out that she skinned a clan for no reason, she would be hated by the enemy's navy!
No matter what the situation was back then, it was an indisputable fact that Jiang Pengji had taken in the Zhang's young mistress who had escaped. Later, she had acted as a matchmaker for the young mistress, Shangguan Wan, and the military general, Li Yun. In the eyes of the Zhang's, this cuckold was dripping with oil. The grassland on her head could be used to race horses!
Although the Zhang's had no solid evidence that Jiang Pengji had stolen Shangguan Wan, the whole world knew that Shangguan Wan had remarried Li Yun.
From this standpoint, the Zhang's and Jiang Pengji's positions were natural opposites.
Rather than helplessly watch Hejian County fall into Jiang Pengji's hands and struggle at death's door under her tyranny, it was better to support Huang Song.
There was nothing wrong with this logic.
"Even so, if no one had secretly planned and promoted it, the Zhang's wouldn't have been so thorough."
Yang Si looked at Li Yun with some pity in his eyes.
As expected, it was better to be single.
Shangguan Wan was also a victim, but if Li Yun met an unreasonable lord, he would most likely vent his anger on her.
Jiang Pengji asked the messenger.
"Do you know who the lobbyist is?"
The messenger said, "According to the secret agents, it's a strategist with the surname Cheng under Huang Song's command."
According to the information obtained by the secret agents, before Hejian County fell, there was indeed a man who was dressed ordinarily but had an outstanding appearance and entered the Zhang residence.
Cheng?
There was only one strategist with the surname Cheng under Huang Song's command, right?
Everyone tacitly looked at Cheng Yuan from the corner of their eyes.
Cheng Yuan's father, Cheng Cheng, was Cheng Jing's nephew, and Cheng Yuan was Cheng Jing's grandnephew.
The age difference wasn't big, but the seniority was significant.
Jiang Pengji said disdainfully, "If it's Youmo, it's not surprising. The Zhang's been around for so many years, but she's still half dead. Her brain isn't that good either, and she's very easy to fool. "
This grudge could only be regarded as a catalyst. The person Huang Song had sent over, the lobbyist Cheng Jing, was the most important one.
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