People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 306 Bad news, only ten thousand people came, and the general’s name is Di Qing

At the end of February in the fifth year of Qingli, the transfer order from Wang Chu, the magistrate of Yongzhou, had already arrived in Yongzhou. He was demoted to the county magistrate of Wuping, Fujian because he failed to report the information.

It's just that before the arrival of the new magistrate, he still has to carry out the handover work and cannot leave for the time being.

So when he saw Nong Zhigao entering Yongzhou City arrogantly, with the Huang brothers calling him "Wang County" with a smile, his nose was almost crooked with anger.

But there is nothing we can do.

This matter was investigated by the Imperial City Department. It happened that the imperial court had dealt with Xixia and Liao Kingdoms and was free to prepare to eliminate the Yue Dynasty. As a result, this mess was discovered. If he didn't demote, who would be demoted?

After Nong Zhigao entered the city, he became the Tongzhi of Yongzhou, and became the temporary leader before the new Yongzhou magistrate arrived.

He did not make any arrangements immediately, but just stayed with the prefect and waited.

After all, his status is different now, and he has to think about his career. If the new transfer envoy of Guangnan West Road and the magistrate of Yongzhou come to mess around and anger the Shangguan, there will be a big problem and it will be detrimental to the official career.

A few days later, Zhao Wenzuo, the former magistrate of Gaozhou, arrived first. After a smooth handover with Wang Chu, the magistrate and fellow magistrates of Yongzhou were all present.

Nong Zhigao began to contact him, and the two worked together for more than ten days.

The reason why Zhao Wenzuo took office was not only because he served as a magistrate in a neighboring state and was familiar with the local situation in Yongzhou, but also because he had outstanding political achievements and a good understanding of the ethnic minorities in the border areas.

The imperial court sent a secret message to Zhao Wenzuo, asking him to maintain a good relationship with Nong Zhigao as colleagues, and also expressed the imperial court's determination to regain the southwest and severely defeat Vietnam.

Knowing the intention of the court, he went in and out with Nong Zhigao during this period. Even if something happened, he would always discuss it with the other party. In this way, the two people quickly established an initial friendship and their relationship became increasingly close. .

In early March, Guangnan West Road transfer envoy Yang Cha finally arrived.

He was initially appointed as the Tongzhi of Suzhou, and was appreciated by Zhao Jun. He was promoted several times, first to the magistrate of Yingzhou, and then to the magistrate of Shouzhou. He was then promoted to Longtuge to serve as the system and supervisory censor. Last year, he was also appointed as Hanlin bachelor and Quanzhi of Kaifeng Prefecture. .

Now Kaifeng Prefecture is basically under the control of Bao Zheng, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, and Bao Zheng was officially promoted this year, so there was an unwritten rule for the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture.

That is, the prefect of Kaifeng is an excessive official. After serving for a month or two, he can often be promoted to serve as a minister in various departments.

But after Yang Cha became the prefect of Kaifeng at the end of last year, just when he was about to be promoted to various ministries, he was suddenly assigned to Guangnan West Road as a transfer envoy. Although he was still a high-ranking official, his future was not as bright as that of a minister. Many people thought he had offended someone and was released.

Only Yang Cha himself knew that the imperial court had entrusted him with an important task, asking him to organize and lead the southwestern forces to completely eliminate the Yue Dynasty in the south.

So when he arrived at Guangxi South Road, he did not stop at Guizhou, the administrative center of Guangxi, but went directly to Yongzhou.

March 9, outside Yongzhou City.

As Nanning, the later capital of Guangxi Province, in ancient times, Yongzhou's geographical environment was still quite good.

The Yongjiang River passes through it, irrigating a plain area in the north and south. In addition, there are few hills, dense forests, and rich timber resources. It is located in the southwest subtropical area, suitable for reclamation and human habitation.

Yang Cha was riding on horseback, surrounded by the transfer envoy guards. He could already see the Yongzhou city located on the bank of the Yongjiang River in the distance.

The city is not that tall. The nearby plains are densely covered with fields and there are some villages thriving there. But what's more, there are countless densely packed forests nearby, with almost no end in sight.

This South Guangxi Road is indeed full of jungles, and it is no wonder that there are so many miasmas.

Although the imperial court has widely publicized the fact that miasma is spread by mosquitoes in recent years, causing the people in the south to launch a war against mosquitoes, Yang Cha still felt a little scared when he saw the endless subtropical forest sea.

After about twenty minutes, he finally arrived at the city.

Zhao Wenzuo, Nong Zhigao and other officials in the city came over and saluted him.

"The lower officials Zhao Wenzuo, Nong Zhigao, Huang Wei and Huang Shimi have met the commander-in-chief."

Everyone bowed down.

"Well, no courtesy at all. Let's talk about it after entering the city."

Yang Cha nodded slightly.

Many officials looked at him secretly.

I found that he was not old, he was only thirty-four years old this year, and his face that did not look old was already quite mature.

Everyone was quite surprised. The new Wuyuan County Magistrate Huang Wei, who was mixed in the crowd, asked the Xuanhua County Magistrate next to him in a low voice: "Brother Zhang, is the Commander-in-Chief so young?"

The magistrate of Xuanhua County smiled and said: "Brother Huang doesn't know something. The commander-in-chief is young and promising. In the first year of Jingyou's reign, he won the first-class Jinshi. Although he did not get into the top three, he still ranked fourth. Moreover, he had outstanding political achievements and won the title of Jinshi. If you are appreciated by the Imperial Academy, your future will be bright, and your official career will naturally be prosperous."

The world only knows that there are only three people in the first class, that is, the top pick, the second pick, and the top pick, but they don't know that it was the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Prior to this, there were five people in the first class of the Song Dynasty, but only the top three had exclusive titles, while the fourth and fifth did not.

But even so, those who can win the first grade, whether first or fifth, will have a very smooth career, especially Yang Cha. Historically, it only took seven years from the time he first entered the officialdom to become the transfer envoy.

Now eleven years have passed. He should have gone to work as a minister in various ministries, but he returned to the local area as a fourth-grade transfer envoy. His official career was already unsatisfactory.

Hearing the words of the Xuanhua County Magistrate, Huang Wei was envious for a moment.

Although he was also a Jinshi, he was ranked at the bottom of the fourth-level Jinshi. His starting point was extremely low, and it didn't matter. He had been in a state of selection, and he joined Nong Zhigao's team because he couldn't get it.

Compared with a proud man like Yang Cha, the gap is still too far.

The group soon entered the city.

Zhao Wenzuo had already hosted a banquet in a restaurant in the city.

Yang Cha was really hungry after a long journey, and there were many things that needed to be discussed at the dinner table, so he didn't refuse.

The restaurants in Yongzhou are not even a little bit inferior to those in Bianliang. The most luxurious restaurants are only two stories high. Looking around, the city is full of bungalows, and there are only a handful of two-story buildings.

Zhao Wenzuo entertained Yang Cha and said guiltily: "Commander, the southwest is remote and not as prosperous as the capital. Please be patient."

"It doesn't matter."

Yang Cha nodded slightly, then took his seat and said, "Everyone, please sit down."

"Yes."

Everyone took their seats one after another.

While waiting for the food to be served, Yang Cha said in a deep voice: "Where is Yongzhou Tongzhi?"

Nong Zhigao said hurriedly: "The official is here."

Yang Cha turned his head and looked up and down, and found that the other person was actually only around 20 years old. He was quite surprised and said: "I wonder how old you are?"

"Go back to Si Shuai, I just turned twenty this year."

Nong Zhigao was a little uneasy. He was afraid that the other party would despise him because of his young age.

"We know that we are young and have great potential."

Yang Cha smiled and said: "I heard that as early as four or five years ago, Tongzhi could not bear the excessive greed of the Yue Dynasty and raised troops to resist. Doesn't it mean that Tongzhi was only fifteen or sixteen years old at that time?"

Nong Zhigao smiled bitterly and said: "Guangyuan Prefecture was originally the territory of the imperial court, but Li Yue blackmailed the border residents and plundered the people. Even the lower officials couldn't bear it."

"it is good."

Yang Cha praised: "The Song Dynasty is in need of young men like Tongzhi."

As he spoke, he looked around and said, "The Imperial Academy has already named Tongzhi, saying that he has such courage and can be said to be a future pillar of the Song Dynasty."

"I have long seen that fellow intellectuals are extraordinary and their future prospects are limitless."

"Hahaha, if you can enter the Dharma Eye of the Imperial Academy, Nong Tongzhi will definitely have smooth sailing. If you get promoted in the future, don't forget to wait for me."

"It turns out that Tongzhi started the army at the age of fifteen. It was really a young man's courage. He must have contributed a lot to this success."

When everyone saw that Yang Cha valued Nong Zhigao, they quickly praised him.

This is what officialdom is like. When people above you praise someone, people below you can only be envious, jealous, and hateful.

As expected, Nong Zhigao was flattered by the boast and quickly returned the favor. In the Song Dynasty, the status of these border residents was not high. Huang Wei and Huang Shimi were still Jinshi.

Just because the identity of the border residents has not been valued, they can't even be dispatched during the selection process, so they can only be idle officials.

He was a failed candidate, not even a Jinshi, so he was naturally looked down upon in Yongzhou official circles.

Now that I'm being treated like this all of a sudden, I feel like I'm living in a dream. Yang Cha saw his flattered look and smiled. Zhao Jun asked him to comfort Nong Zhigao. After all, Song Dynasty had treated him badly before.

Obviously, Nong Zhigao wrote many times to request submission, but due to the selfish desires of the Yongzhou magistrate, the court could not get any news.

Not only did it chill the people on the border, but it also made the Song Dynasty not aware of the invasion by Xiaoxiao, which was simply a shame.

But after a moment, Yang Cha straightened his face and said, "But Tongzhi Nong, before the Zhiyuan comes, I have something to remind you."

Nong Zhigao said hurriedly: "Please be reprimanded by Commander-in-Chief."

"The Imperial Academy said that the Song Dynasty is an inclusive country. No matter what nationality they are, Han or Yi, if they are willing to be our subjects of the Song Dynasty, they will be treated equally and will not be treated differently."

Yang Cha said seriously: "Since you are willing to surrender to the Song Dynasty and become an official of the Song Dynasty, you should be loyal to the emperor and be loyal to the emperor. You must not build a country on your own and arrogantly proclaim the emperor like your father did. Do it, got it?”

Nong Zhigao was able to be forgiven this time because he repeatedly wrote letters explaining the reasons for the founding of the country. Secondly, he expressed his willingness to surrender many times and did not try to overstep his authority and claim the throne.

He founded the country to raise a banner and call on the border minorities to submit under his banner.

The present is about establishing a kingdom.

It was not until he rebelled in history and conquered Yongzhou that he established the Southern Kingdom and proclaimed himself emperor.

So judging from his behavior, at least the current Nong Zhigao is a bit like Li Yuanhao who wholeheartedly attached himself to the Song Dynasty. He has not yet raised troops to rebel and try to stand on his own as he did later.

Nowadays, his power is not strong, with only a few thousand men under his command, and his ambition has not expanded with the growth of his power. The imperial court gave him a fellow Jinshi origin and a fellow intellectual in Yongzhou, which already made Nong Zhigao very excited. How could he dare to What transgression?

Therefore, after hearing Yang Cha's words, Nong Zhigao was so frightened that he quickly stood up and repeatedly cupped his hands and said: "Commander, the court must be careful. The purpose of establishing the country is to make the border people join and call on the border people to fight against Li Yue. Otherwise, Li Yue invades the border. It is said that this is the land of Li Yue, and if the border people do not have the protection of the country, how can they dare to fight against them?"

"Well, of course the imperial court knows about it. If not, how could you sit here peacefully? Of course, your majesty is aware of it, and the court is aware of it."

Yang Cha cupped his hands to the north, and then said with a smile: "I know, there is no need to panic. The imperial court also appreciates your merits and will reward you. This time, you only need to do your duty and cooperate with the imperial court to eliminate Li Yue. That will be a big deal." A piece of credit.”

As he spoke, he looked at the other officials around him and said: "The imperial court will never forget its meritorious officials. Those who have merit will be rewarded, and those who make mistakes will be punished. This is the rule set by the Constitutional Yuan, and this rule also applies to everyone. So this The official is here to express his position, as long as there are meritorious service this time, I will report it truthfully, and everyone will be generously rewarded."

"Thank you, Commander-in-Chief!"

Everyone stood up and saluted.

"Sit down."

Yang Cha pressed his hands down to signal everyone to sit down.

By the time Nong Zhigao sat down, his back was already soaked with sweat.

Yang Cha first hit Guzao with a stick and then hit him with a stick. The beatings made him panic.

But what he said later still made him feel at ease.

Because there is a meaning in Yang Cha's words - that is, if he can make a contribution in this war to destroy Vietnam, then he will probably become famous in the future.

At this moment, the food finally started to arrive.

Yang Cha did not get down to business right away, but instead greeted everyone with a smile to eat.

With what he just said, the atmosphere quickly became heated.

Everyone's motivation to eliminate Li Yue Dynasty has also increased a bit, and they are full of longing for the future.

The main reason is that the imperial army has been too strong in recent years, and both Liao and Xixia were defeated by the north.

Compared with the Liao Kingdom and Xixia, the Vietnamese Li Dynasty was really a small country.

Even if the Li Dynasty had a population of two to three million, the Liao Kingdom had less than 10 million, and Xixia had only 800,000.

But when it comes to combat effectiveness, Li Chao can only describe it as mediocre.

Because of the high mountains and dense forests and blocked roads, the degree of Chineseization in Vietnam is not comparable to that of Goryeo, Japan, and information is extremely closed.

This led to the fact that Vietnam's smelting technology was quite backward at that time, and its weapons and equipment, military and horse training, and logistical supplies were very poor. Let alone compared with the Liao Kingdom, Xixia could beat them.

For example, during the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Sui Yang easily eliminated Vietnam and incorporated it into China's territory.

Therefore, these officials who were temporarily transferred from other places to reshuffle the local officials in Yongzhou were actually quite confident in destroying the Yue Dynasty.

Only Nong Zhigao knew that even if the Song Dynasty sent heavenly troops, it would not necessarily wipe out the Yue Dynasty.

Because they are not accustomed to the acclimatization and are susceptible to diseases, they have always been troubled by problems.

Even if Emperor Sui Yang wiped out the Yue Kingdom casually, what would happen next?

The Sui Dynasty was not dead, but it immediately became independent again.

So this is a problem.

But think about it carefully, if the imperial court eliminates Vietnam in the future and you behave better, will the imperial court leave Vietnam to you?

With my familiarity with Vietnam, I might be able to hang out and be a little king there.

Thinking of this, Nong Zhigao suddenly became excited again. After the meal, he immediately asked Yang Cha: "Commander, the border people have been harassed by the Yue Dynasty for a long time. They have long been filled with anger and are waiting for an order from the imperial court. I don't know when the imperial army will come." When it comes, I’ll wait and prepare early.”

Yang Cha smiled and said: "Don't worry, the imperial troops have already set off and will arrive in Guangxi soon."

"Oh?"

Nong Zhigao said happily: "I wonder how many soldiers and horses there are? Is the commander Fan Xianggong? It's better for the lower officials and the prefect Zhao to make preparations and gather some food and grass."

"It's a small country, why does Mr. Fan need to go to war?"

Yang Cha shook his head.

Li Chao is really not worthy of Fan Zhongyan.

Nong Zhigao was a little disappointed when he heard that it was not Fan Zhongyan, the God of War of the Song Dynasty.

But he immediately said: "Could it be Mr. Wang or Mr. Zhang?"

If Fan Zhongyan can't come, it would be a good idea for Wang Deyong and Zhang Kang to come.

Some people have long said that in addition to Fan Zhongyan, during the Song Dynasty, Wang Deyong, the privy envoy, and Zhang Kang, the deputy privy envoy, used troops like gods.

Zhang Kang, in particular, is now well-known. He went hundreds of miles deep into the hinterland of Xixia, intercepted the retreating main force of the Liao Kingdom, and made numerous gains, earning him unparalleled military honors.

If one of these two people came together, they should be able to defeat Yue Chao.

"Not at all."

Unexpectedly, Yang Cha waved his hand and said, "How can you kill a chicken with a bull's knife?"

"That is?"

Nong Zhigao was shocked.

Although the Li Dynasty was not worth mentioning in front of a behemoth like the Song Dynasty, it should not be looked down upon so much.

No matter what, we should send a big future.

However, I heard Yang Cha say: "The imperial court plans to send 10,000 troops this time, led by General Yuhou Di of the Guard Infantry Army in front of the palace."

"Ten thousand?"

Nong Zhigao almost collapsed at that time.

Imperial court.

Actually only planning to pay 10,000?

And he's still a little-known guard, waiting in front of the palace?

That moment.

Nong Zhigao only felt that the imperial court's plan to destroy Vietnam seemed to be a joke.

(End of this chapter)