Chapter 374 Shi Siming Takes Back Power
Liu Yan took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty asked me to prepare the food and grass, I have prepared it."

"Thank you for your hard work, Shi'an." Li Heng patted Liu Yan's shoulder. "You have to take care of the salt law, tax system, and food and wages. You have worked hard."

Liu Yan said: "I am only in charge of the money and grain affairs. Your Majesty is in charge of the overall situation and is the one who really works hard. As long as I can share your worries, I don't feel tired."

Li Heng smiled and said, "Once things get started and there are rules and regulations, perhaps things will be easier. Then we can enjoy the three days together, the king and his subjects."

"Yes." Liu Yan smiled.

Li Heng turned to Feng Changqing and said, "Send the food and grass to Guo Ziyi, and let him seize the opportunity to recover the lost territory. Also, let Li Siye, Bai Xiaode, and Li Chengguang lead the troops to support. When they arrive at the front line, they will all obey Guo Ziyi's orders."

Li Heng did not let Gao Xianzhi lead the troops because Gao Xianzhi's rank was too high. If he went, it would be difficult for Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi, who led the main forces, to obey his orders, nor would it be easy for him to obey the orders of Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi.

"Yes." Feng Changqing accepted the order.

……

Hebei.

After Cai Xide learned that Wang Zhengxuan had killed the rebel Pinglu Jiedushi Xu Huaidao and was elected as the new Tang Pinglu Jiedushi, he led his troops to attack Pinglu again.

The government troops in Pinglu were defeated, so generals loyal to the Tang Dynasty, such as Wang Zhengxuan, Hou Xiyi, and Liu Zhengji, took their families and personal soldiers across the Bohai Sea to Pingyuan to meet Yan Zhenqing.

At this point, Fan Yang and Ping Lu both fell into the hands of the rebels.

But just after Cai Xide won the victory, he was called back by An Lushan who was in Raoyang.

Cai Xide had some doubts about An Lushan's edict, but he had to go because his backup supplies needed to be supplied by Fan Yang, which was not under his control.

Cai Xide brought his personal soldiers to Raoyang, and Shi Siming personally went out of the city to greet them.

Cai Xide hesitated and dared not enter, and asked, "Where is His Majesty?"

Shi Siming said: "Your Majesty is seriously ill and cannot come out to greet General Cai, so he has ordered me to come on his behalf."

"Oh?" Cai Xide was skeptical.

Shi Siming smiled and said, "General Cai, do you have any doubts? The situation in Dayan is dire right now. If we continue to doubt each other, won't the Tang court reap the benefits?"

Cai Xide was still hesitant.

Shi Siming said: "General Cai has worked hard all the way, and the soldiers are in urgent need of food. Your Majesty has prepared a banquet for everyone. If General Cai is still worried, you can take me into the city. If there is anything unusual, General Cai can kill me immediately."

Upon hearing this, Cai Xide asked, "Really?"

"Of course." Shi Siming walked forward and stretched out his hands.

Cai Xide took Shi Siming's hand, put the dagger against Shi Siming's waist, and said, "Please don't blame me, King Qi. When I see your majesty, I will apologize to you."

Shi Siming smiled calmly and said, "No problem, General Cai, please."

"Thank you." Cai Xide took Shi Siming hostage, stationed the main force outside the city, and took a few trusted men into the city.

When he arrived at the banquet hall, Cai Xide saw An Lushan sitting on the dragon throne.

However, at this time An Lushan had lost his former bravery and looked sickly, half leaning on the dragon throne, unable to stand upright.

When Cai Xide saw An Lushan's appearance, his eyes turned red and he said, "Your Majesty, you...what's wrong with you?"

An Lushan raised his hand vigorously and called out: "Cai..."

Cai Xide gave up holding Shi Siming hostage, ran to An Lushan, knelt before him, and said, "Your Majesty, you..."

An Lushan grabbed Cai Xide's hand and said excitedly: "I finally see you."

Shi Siming interrupted at the right time and said, "General Cai, I didn't lie to you, did I?"

Cai Xide turned to Shi Siming and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with your majesty?"

Shi Siming said: "Your Majesty has been seriously ill for a month."

Shi Siming was not lying. Although he placed An Lushan under house arrest, Li Heng did not agree to his terms, so he fed An Lushan with good food and drink. An Lushan lost his power and lost his spiritual support. He indulged in wine and sex every day, which made his already poor health deteriorate quickly.

Cai Xide asked: "Who is in charge now?"

Shi Siming said: "Your Majesty, please leave the matter to me for now. Once you find the Prince of Jin, I will ask him to take charge."

Cai Xide said: "That's fine."

Shi Siming smiled slightly, had An Lushan carried away first, and said to Cai Xide: "General Cai has been traveling a long way, please enjoy the banquet."

Cai Xide no longer had any doubts, and he feasted with Shi Siming and got drunk that night.

The next day, Cai Xide sobered up and left the city, wanting to arrange for his troops to enter the city, but he found that his troops were gone.

At this time, Shi Siming rode over with his men and asked, "General Cai, what do you want to do?"

Cai Xide asked, "Where are my brothers?"

Shi Siming smiled and said, "I gave them money last night and told them that those who wanted to go home could go home, and those who didn't want to go home could follow me."

Cai Xide was furious when he heard this and said, "You are plotting..."

"General Cai!" Shi Siming interrupted Cai Xide, "You have fought many battles with me, and I have feelings for you. If you are willing to follow me, that would be the best. If you are not willing, your military talent makes me very afraid."

Cai Xide calmed down.

He knew that without his army, he had no right to negotiate.

Cai Xide turned his anger into laughter and said, "If the King of Qi wants me to pledge my loyalty, just say so. I am willing to follow the King of Qi. Why do you need to disband my people?"

Shi Siming said: "You didn't have this attitude yesterday."

Cai Xide smiled awkwardly and said, "Even if I had troops, I would not be a match for the King of Qi. I was confused yesterday."

Shi Siming said: "I just don't want to waste Dayan's military power on you. Are you willing to follow me?"

Cai Xide knelt on one knee and said, "I will follow the King of Qi till death!"

"Okay." Shi Siming got off his horse, helped Cai Xide up, and said, "I believe you!"

Shi Siming took Cai Xide under his command, but did not give him real power.

In the following days, the rebel generals who were stranded in southern Henan gradually returned north.

However, compared with Cai Xide, these people had fewer troops, so Shi Siming adopted the strategy of persuading them if possible, and killing them if not.

Yin Ziqi had previously gone north to support Mingzhou, but was defeated by Ma Lin and Li Sheng on the way and was the first to return north.

However, Yin Ziqi was loyal to An Lushan and scolded Shi Siming severely. Shi Siming was not polite and directly ordered Cai Xide to execute him.

Cai Xide knew that Shi Siming asked him to kill Yin Ziqi as a token of his loyalty, and since he and Yin Ziqi had no feelings for each other, he chopped off Yin Ziqi's head without hesitation.

Shi Siming first captured Cai Xide, then killed Yin Ziqi, and then sent people to search for An Qingxu, Li Guiren, Linghu Chao and others.

An Qingxu, Li Guiren and Linghu Chao had already heard about what Shi Siming had done, so they bypassed Raoyang and headed straight for Fanyang, preparing to return to their old nest to win over the hearts of the people and compete with Shi Siming for power.

However, a year and a half had passed, and Fan Yang was no longer the An family's old nest, but the Shi family's old nest. As soon as An Qingxu and his two companions returned to Fan Yang, they were arrested by Fan Yang's marching Sima Li Huaixian and sent to Raoyang.

Li Guiren was favored by An Lushan and swore to death that he would never follow Shi Siming. Although Shi Siming loved Li Guiren's bravery, he could not keep someone who did not follow him, so he executed Li Guiren with his own hands.

An Qingxu and Linghu Chao were willing to do anything as long as they could stay alive. Shi Siming did not kill them but only imprisoned them.

The previously imprisoned Ashina Chengqing also chose to submit to Shi Siming, but Wu Lingxun was unwilling to do so and was killed.

At this point, Shi Siming had basically completely grasped the real power of Dayan through various means and maintained superficial unity.

(End of this chapter)