The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 567 Visiting the Immortal Master in Huazhou

Chai Rong originally thought that the third southern expedition would face stubborn resistance from the Tang army like the last time.

Unexpectedly, something happened in February of the fifth year of Xiande, which greatly promoted the progress of the third southern expedition.

Guo Tingwei, the guard general of Luzhou of the Tang Army, offered his services to Dongguan and surrendered.

The Zhou army captured Luzhou without bloodshed, and the army entered the border of Hezhou.

Chai Rong summoned Guo Tingwei in Lujiang and appointed him to continue to serve as the defense envoy of Luzhou. The troops and horses under his command only changed their flags and remained unchanged in their organization.

After some inquiries, I learned that Guo Ting's surrender was related to the turmoil that occurred in the Jiangning court not long ago.

Guo Tingwei had been leading the army in Qianzhou (Ganzhou, Jiangxi) to guard against the forces of the Southern Han Dynasty. After being recommended by Song Qiqiu, Chen Jue and others, he was transferred to Jiangbei to join the Huainan war.

Nowadays, affected by the murder of Li Jingsui, Song Qiqiu was imprisoned in Qingyang, Chen Jue and others were sentenced to death, and the prince Li Hongji was facing deposedness. The so-called princeling party no longer exists.

Losing the support of the court, Guo Tingwei was worried that if he returned to Jiangning, he would still be unable to escape the charges of Song Qiqiu's remnant party, and would eventually end up with a disastrous end.

Rather than doing this, it is better to surrender early.

As for Guo Tingwei's youngest son who stayed in Jiangning, he couldn't take care of it.

Guo Tingwei surrendered. On the western front battlefield in Huainan, only Lin Renzhao's Tang army was struggling to support himself in Shuzhou.

Chai Rongdang immediately ordered Zhang Yongde to lead Zhang Yongde from Lujiang into Shuzhou, detour south of Huoshan Pass, and join Li Chongjin to attack Lin Renzhao's troops stationed at Huoshan Pass.

Lin Renzhao assessed the situation and realized that without the support in the direction of Luzhou, he would be unable to support himself in Shuzhou. He decisively led his army to retreat to Wangjiang County, ready to cross the Yangtze River and return south at any time.

On the eastern front, Zhu Xiu once again united Zhao Kuangyin, Han Lingkun, Wang Shenqi, and Si Chao, preparing to launch a cross-river battle from the three major ferries of Guazhou, Baisha, and Jiangyin at the same time, and attack Jiangning from three sides.

Li Jing knew that there was no room for change in the battle situation in Jiangbei, and that most of the Huainan area had actually fallen under the control of the Zhou army. He convened the ministers for a brief discussion and decided to negotiate a third peace.

At the beginning of March, Qi Wang Li Jingda, as Li Jing's special envoy, arrived in Chuzhou to meet with Chai Rong and presented a letter of surrender.

This time, Li Jing showed full sincerity.

First, he asked Prime Minister Feng Yansi to offer more than one million yuan in silver, money, tea, wine, silk, and grain to reward the Zhou army. Then Li Jingda knelt in front of Chai Rong and presented the atlas of the fourteen states and sixty counties in Huainan, and the population records. , willing to dedicate the land of Huainan to Dazhou.

Please write in the letter that Li Jing voluntarily removed the title of Emperor and changed it to the Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

To show his sincerity, Li Jing also sent Guo Tingwei's youngest son who stayed in Jiangning to Chuzhou.

The conditions given by Li Jing can be regarded as sincere.

Jiangnan was exhausted after three years of war. Li Jing knew that if the war continued, the Jiangning court would be the first to collapse.

Li Jing's only bottom line is to keep the title of Southern Tang Dynasty.

After seeing it, Chai Rong discussed it with Zhu Xiu, Zhang Yongde, Li Chongjin, Xiang Xun, Zhao Kuangyin, Han Lingkun, Wang Yanchao, Si Chao, Cao Han and other major generals in front of the Southern Tang envoy, and readily agreed.

Chai Rong ordered Huainan Jiedu envoy Xiang Xun to sign and seal the surrender letter on behalf of the imperial court. Zhu Xiu, on behalf of the Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty, signed a letter of credence with Prime Minister Feng Yansi on behalf of Li Jing. The two sides agreed to use the Yangtze River as the boundary and to stop fighting and make peace. Together in harmony.

At this point, the Huainan War, which lasted for more than three years, came to an end with the victory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Fourteen prefectures and sixty counties in Huainan were included in the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with an initial estimated population increase of 1000 to [-] million.

Unbeknownst to the emperors and ministers of the Southern Tang Dynasty, two major projects related to the life and death of Jiangnan were in full swing.

The first is to dredge the section from Kaifeng to Xuyi of the Bianhe River. Once completed, boats from Kaifeng can reach the Huaihe River directly.

The second is to carry out large-scale expansion on the basis of the ancient Hangou and expand the waterways connecting the Huaihe River and the Yangtze River. When completed, the Huaihe warships can go south along the water and reach the Yangtze River.

These two major projects can closely connect the Central Plains and Huainan regions, and are of great significance to developing the economy, consolidating Huainan's rule, and strengthening armaments.

Li Jing would soon discover that Dazhou had already put the rope of destruction around their necks, and the three expeditions to Huainan only tightened the rope further.

When these two major projects are completed, soldiers and horses from Huaibei, Central Plains, and even Hebei will be able to appear on the Yangtze River in the shortest possible time.

Once this rope is tied, it will be difficult to break free, and it will only make the Jiangning court more and more out of breath.

When Zhou Jun crosses the river next time, there is only one end waiting for them.

In May, after basically clarifying key issues such as money, grain, and taxation in Huainan, Chai Rong prepared to drive back to Beijing.

At the same time, he also adjusted the administrative officials of Huainan states.

Li Chongjin took over as the Huainan Jiedu envoy, added Tongping Zhangshi, served as the commander of the guards and horse infantry, and was promoted to the Duke of Chu.

Li Chongjin was based in Yangzhou and succeeded Xiang Xun as the top military and political official in Huainan. He was responsible for stabilizing regional governance and eradicating the banditry caused by the three-year war.

Zhang Yongde still served as the inspector of the capital in front of the palace, and was added as the captain of the inspection school. He led the military governor of Zhenning. He was renamed Wu Guogong, and his wife was added as the princess of Jin Dynasty.

Zhu Xiu was promoted to the deputy capital inspector in front of the palace, the deputy commander of the guard's horse infantry army, the imperial tutor of the inspection school, the military governor of the Tianping army, and was promoted to the title of Zhao Guogong, and his wife Fu Jinhuan was given the title of Mrs. Zhao Guo.

Zhao Kuangyin was promoted to the commander of the capital in front of the palace, and was appointed as the chief inspector of the school. He led the Zhongwu Jiedu envoy of Xuzhou and was granted the title of Duke of Song Dynasty.

Han Lingkun was promoted to the deputy capital commander in front of the palace, and also served as the guard of the Mabu Army Du Yuhou, and led Huazhou Yicheng Jiedushi.

Xiang Xun was appointed as the Jiedu envoy of the German army, and the Huainan waterway was dispatched to recruit envoys, and Tongping Zhangshi was added.

This waterway transportation is recruiting envoys, that is, Xiang Xun is assigned to Bozhou to take charge of the water transportation reconstruction project in Huaibei and Huainan.

Wang Yanchao was transferred to Henan Prefecture Yin, led the Heyang Jiedushi, added Tongping Zhangshi, and was granted the title of Duke of Pi.

Cao Bin was promoted to the post of Marquis of Yu in front of the palace, and commander of the infantry guard, and was promoted to Duke of Huaiyang.

Wang Shenqi was promoted to Yuhou, the deputy capital in front of the palace, and deputy commander of the infantry guard, and was granted the title of Duke of Huayang County.

Cao Han was promoted to the envoy of Wude Department.

Pan Mei, Zhu Wu, Gao Huaide and others who had made meritorious service in the Huaixi battle were also rewarded one by one. Pan Mei continued to serve as the commander of the Tiger Wing Army and the commander of the guard horse army.

Zhu Wu was promoted to the commander of the brave army.

Gao Huaide was transferred to the commanding envoy of Longjie Army and led the envoy of Xuanwu Jiedu.

The remaining meritorious generals such as Mi Xin, Tian Chongjin, Yang Xin, Ma Renyu, Zhang Qiong, etc. were rewarded one by one.

At the end of May, Chai Rong completed the adjustment of Huainan's military and political personnel. All meritorious generals and officials were rewarded one by one, and Zhang Yongde and others were ordered to lead the imperial army back to Kaifeng.

Chai Rong, Zhu Xiu, and Zhao Kuangyin took hundreds of elite riders to Huazhou in light vehicles and fast horses.

In summer, the Weinan Plain has reached the season of summer grain harvest. The vast fields are golden, the horse teams are galloping along the official road, and the rich fragrance of wheat is intoxicating.

"Woo~"

Chai Rong, who was always dressed in uniform, reined in his horse and stopped. Zhu Xiu and Zhao Kuangyin, who followed closely behind, also tightened their reins hurriedly and stood by them on the left and right.

Hundreds of Forbidden Army cavalry in gray robes and carrying swords dispersed in an orderly manner, guarding the surroundings.

In the wheat field in the distance, from time to time, a busy farmer straightened up and looked suspiciously at this group of unknown people.

Chai Rong raised his whip and pointed at the golden wheat fields and said with a smile: "This year's Guanzhong summer grain harvest will be bumper. I think we can allocate part of it to Huaibei and distribute it to the peasants who have delayed farming due to labor."

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "In this case, Mr. Jingzhao Yin Hu Yanke will definitely go to the court to cry for poverty. When your Majesty reinstated him last year, he promised that he would not touch Guanzhong's money and food in the next two years."

The old general Hu Yanke had already served in Luoyang and returned home to retire. Last year, Xiang Xun returned to Kaifeng to take charge of inspections inside and outside the capital. In order to ensure stability in Guanzhong, Chai Rong invited Hu Yanke out and appointed him as Jing Zhaoyin to take charge of Guanzhong.

Chai Rong smiled and said: "If Mr. Hu is unwilling, I will let you come to Chang'an to settle the matter. I don't want to hear his complaints."

Zhu Xiudao: "I guess your Majesty's drunkenness is not interested in drinking. Let me come to Guanzhong not just to transfer money and food!"

Zhao Kuangyin looked at Zhu Xiu, then at Chai Rong, and suddenly said, "Your Majesty wants to conquer Mengshu again?"

Chai Rong laughed a few times: "It's true, let me think about it again, you two don't say anything!"

Zhao Kuangyin looked eager to try. Last time he conquered Meng Shu, he only went to Qinzhou to supervise the army midway and did not participate in the actual battle. This time he must ask for an opportunity to lead the army and strive to leave no regrets.

Zhu Xiu looked indifferent and said with a smile: "Your Majesty has not yet revealed why he came to Huazhou this time?"

"Haha, you kid can do calculations, why not do some calculations?" Chai Rong joked.

Zhu Xiu pretended to think and shook his head: "I can't guess."

Chai Rong pointed to a majestic high mountain to the southwest, "In the name of offering sacrifices to Mount Hua, I summoned Chen Tuan to meet him at the Xiyue Temple."

Zhao Kuangyin said in surprise: "It is said that Taoist Chen Tuan was born in the 11th year of Xiantong, Yizong of the Tang Dynasty. According to this calculation, wouldn't the old Taoist be 87 years old this year?"

Chai Rong squinted and looked at Huashan Mountain in the distance: "It is said that the old Taoist Chen Tuan is proficient in the art of health preservation. At such an advanced age, he can still climb dangerous peaks, and his diet and sleep are the same as those of young people. I have long wanted to ask for advice. Unfortunately, I issued a decree to summon him. After meeting him many times, the old Taoist refused to come down the mountain to see him.

Hum~ If he doesn’t come to see me, I will go see him!When we arrived at Xiyue Temple, at the foot of Huashan Mountain, I saw that he still had any reason to push back! "

Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile: "If the old man dares to avoid him again, I will go to Mount Hua and tie him up with a hemp rope!"

"Haha~ They say that the old Taoist master knows the mysteries, it's better for us to be polite first and then fight!" Chai Rong laughed. He believed that Chen Tuan had a secret health-preserving technique, but he did not believe that Chen Tuan had any ascension magic.

"Drive!~" Chai Rong waved his riding whip and galloped away, followed closely by Zhao Kuangyin.

Zhu Xiu smiled bitterly and braced himself to ride on his horse to follow.

No matter how wise or powerful the emperor is, he may not be able to resist the temptation of immortality.

A deafening sound of horse hooves passed by, and thick dust rose on the official road.

In front of the gate of Xiyue Temple, an old Taoist priest with white hair and childish face wearing a Taoist robe was holding a whisk in his hand and looking at the group of people appearing on the mountain road with a smile.

Beside the old Taoist priest, there was also a handsome young Taoist boy.

"Chen Tuan, a poor man, comes to see His Majesty!"

When Chai Rong and his party arrived at the mountain gate, the old Taoist priest walked down the steps and bowed his head.

Chai Rong looked at him, slightly surprised, and took a look: "How did you know that I would come at this time?"

Chen Tuan smiled faintly and threw his fly whisk towards the east: "This morning, I was watching the sky from Yuntai. When I saw the purple air coming from the east and the auspicious clouds covering the south peak of Huashan Mountain, I knew that the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty was coming today."

Although I don’t know whether Chen Tuan’s words are true or not, his appearance of immortality is indeed deceiving. Chai Rong couldn’t help but solemnly said: “I have heard that the immortal master’s Taoism is profound, and today I saw that he is indeed well-deserved!”

Chen Tuan stroked his beard and smiled, and his pair of weathered but gentle eyes swept over Chai Rong, Zhao Kuangyin, and Zhu Xiu in turn.

Zhu Xiu glanced at Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Da showed a rare nervousness. He looked at Chen Tuan like little stars in his eyes, his admiration beyond words.

No wonder, in the eyes of people at the time, Immortal Master Chen Tuan was the person in the world who was closest to the Ascension Fairyland. He had unfathomable abilities that could reach the heavens.

Throughout the ages, long-lived people have often had a mysterious aura, and this aura was infinitely amplified in the feudal era.

Under the auspices of Chen Tuan, Chai Rong worshiped the Taiyue Mountain God and then went to the side hall to take a seat.

"Immortal Master, are you willing to join the court as an official? I would like to build another palace for the Immortal Master within the palace city, and the Immortal Master can remain in the court as a great scholar and admonishing minister?"

After exchanging a few words, Chai Rong smiled.

Chen Tuan waved his whisk lightly, and said indifferently: "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but the poor Taoist is an idler from outside the country, and he is really not suitable to be an official in the court."

Chai Rong smiled and did not insist anymore. He already knew that Chen Tuan would not agree to join the WTO and become an official.

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes were full of reverence. This was the image of an expert hermit in his mind.

Zhu Xiuleng smiled coldly and said: "It is said that in the third year of Tang Changxing's reign, the immortal master went to Luoyang to take the exam. Unfortunately, he was unlucky and did not pass the exam. I wonder if this is the case?"

As soon as these words came out, there was silence in the hall.

Chai Rong was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at Zhu Xiu with a strange expression.

Chen Tuan's ruddy face trembled slightly, and the little Taoist boy standing behind him glared at Zhu Xiu angrily.

Zhao Kuangyin coughed dryly and hurriedly whispered: "Zhao Guogong can't talk nonsense."

Zhu Xiu ignored him, looked at Chen Tuan and said with a smile: "At that time, the immortal master was 61 years old. He had studied Taoism for many years and had achieved a little success, but he still did not forget his ambition to manage the world and benefit the people when he was young, otherwise he would not have done it. He participated in the scientific examination at an advanced age of over sixty.

Is it possible to think that in fact, the immortal master had always wanted to take the scientific examination to become an official in his early years, but he was always unable to pass the examination. It was not until he failed for the last time that he completely gave up the idea of ​​becoming an official? "

"Hey~ Mr. Zhao Guogong speaks like this, it is too disrespectful to the immortal master!" Zhao Kuangyin couldn't listen anymore and stopped him with some annoyance.

The little Taoist boy also snorted heavily.

Chai Rong smiled and said nothing.

Zhu Xiu glanced at Zhao Da: "The immortal master hasn't spoken yet, so why is Duke Song so anxious?"

Zhao Kuangyin wanted to refute, but Chen Tuan suddenly laughed loudly: "This part of Pindao's life history was clearly discovered by Zhao Guogong.

Yes, before the age of 60, Pindao could never forget his ambition to serve as an official and benefit one party.

Perhaps Pindao has no talent in the imperial examination, so he has been unable to get what he asked for.

Nowadays, the pursuit of Taoism has long been firm, and I can see clearly the rights and wrongs of this world. The so-called fame, fortune and fortune are nothing to me. "

Zhu Xiugong cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations to the Immortal Master for your perfect Taoism!"

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes widened with disbelief on his face.

Chen Tuan, the immortal master who was regarded by him as the representative figure of Taoism and the one who was closest to ascension in the world, turned out that before the age of 60, he was just a poor scholar struggling on the road of scientific examination?

Chen Tuan twisted his beard and looked at Zhu Xiu with a calm and penetrating gaze, and said with a slight smile: "The poor man admires Zhao Guogong's natural ability!
However, the general trend of the world cannot remain unchanged, and the cause and effect between heaven and earth may have been doomed from the beginning."

Zhu Xiu's hand holding the tea cup trembled and almost knocked it to the ground.

"What is born knowing? The immortal master's words are obscure and profound, but I can't understand them. Haha~" Zhu Xiuqiang pretended to be calm and put down the tea cup with a dry smile.

However, his heart was like a flood that had been released from the floodgates and was surging forward.

Is it possible that this old Taoist priest has really become a semi-immortal?

How come you seem to know his past and present life when you meet him for the first time?

This old Taoist priest is really mysterious.

Chen Tuan smiled faintly, smoothed the white beard hanging down his chest and remained silent.

What he just said was really incomprehensible, and Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin were also confused.

Chai Rong smiled and said: "The immortal master must have a method to learn to live a long life. I wonder if you can teach him a few things so that we and other ordinary people can also live longer?"

Chen Tuan looked at him, and Zhu Xiu glanced at Chen Tuan, clearly seeing pity in the eyes of the old Taoist priest.

As if sighing, Chen Tuan said calmly: "Your Majesty cannot learn the health-preserving skills of poor Taoists."

After a pause, he said to Zhu Xiu and Zhao Kuangyin: "The two princes can't learn from it either."

Chai Rong frowned and said, "Why?"

Chen Tuan said: "Pindao's health regimen is to nourish the body with the essence of heaven, earth, sun, moon, mountains, rivers and vegetation. If you want to learn it, you must first abandon all worldly things and follow Pindao to retreat to the mountains and forests. From now on, you will have no chance to see the world of mortals, even if it is in heaven and earth." Change of color has nothing to do with me!"

Chen Tuan glanced at the faces of Chai Rong, Zhu Xiu, and Zhao Kuangyin one by one, and said calmly: "Are you still willing to learn?"

Chai Rong smiled bitterly silently, and Zhao Kuangyin said vaguely: "The immortal master is a person who has attained the Tao, and it is not for ordinary people like me to imitate him."

Zhu Xiu didn't even think about it, she shook her head and said: "If you can't learn it, you can't learn it. I'm born to be greedy for the world of mortals, and I don't have a chance with the Dao!"

Chen Tuan was smiling, and the depths of Gu Jing's eyes were shining brightly.

The little Taoist boy behind him burst into laughter, hurriedly covered his mouth, and stared at Zhu Xiu with interest.

Chai Rong sighed: "So, it's my monarch and my ministers who are causing trouble."

I took a trip to Huazhou and met Chen Tuan, the person closest to a god on earth. However, he didn't want to be an official, and asking for advice on health-preserving techniques was not something ordinary people could learn.

However, in the next two days, Chen Tuan still taught them a set of Daoyin health regimen, which seemed to be similar to Hua Tuo's Wu Qin Xi.

The three of them stayed in Xiyue Temple for three days, bid farewell to Chen Tuan and returned to Kaifeng.

On the dangerous road of Huashan Mountain, Chen Tuan took the little Taoist boy back to the top of the mountain to watch Yuntai. The master and the apprentice were walking on flat ground. Even the woodcutter who had been climbing mountains and cutting firewood all year round could not walk as fast as them.

"Master, you said that the world is a situation where four dragons are fighting. We have seen three of them. When can we see the other one?"

The innocent voice of the little Taoist boy is like the oriole in the mountains.

Chen Tuan, who was walking in front, stopped and turned to look in the direction of Kaifeng.

In front of him is a hundred-foot-deep abyss and valley, with mountains rising from the ground like knives and axes.

Clouds and mist surrounded the whole body, and bursts of cranes echoed in the deep valley.

Old Taoist Chen Tuan fluttered his dust in the air and said leisurely: "One dragon dies, two dragons fight, and there is a hidden dragon. It is destined to never appear in the world. The number of days has been determined, so it's okay not to see it."

Xiao Daotong wiped the sweat from his brow, panted and said, "Then among the four dragons, which one is the real dragon?"

Chen Tuan's deep eyes reflected the majestic mountains and said with a smile: "These four dragons are all real dragons. Originally, one of them in this world was enough to clean up the troubled mountains and rivers. It's a pity that destiny is unpredictable~~"

The little Taoist boy opened his eyes wide and swallowed his saliva: "If four true dragons appear together, then the world will be in chaos?"

Chen Tuan laughed loudly and touched the little Taoist boy's hair: "Don't worry, disciple. These four dragons also have their own luck. The winner will eventually be determined! There can be no chaos in this world. On the contrary, the master has already See, the land of Kyushu will once again become a majestic and prosperous age!"

The little Taoist boy's dark eyes reflected the golden sunset, and he grinned longingly.

Chen Tuan walked toward the Yuntai Viewpoint on the top of the mountain and sang loudly:
"In the past, I also went to the examination hall and met the immortal master by chance. A gust of fragrant wind floated my sleeves, and thousands of clouds wrapped around my clothes. I talked about mystical principles and exhorted the world to sing cave chapters. I have no honor or honor. Xian, I will teach you how to refining Huangfang again."

(End of this chapter)