Late Tang

Just when Li Jing led the Zhendong Army and Dengzhou to do their best to rescue and produce disasters, the Central Plains was extremely restless.

Yicheng Army Jiedushi, also known as Zheng Huajiedushi. In August 758, the Jiedu Envoy of the Liuzhou of Huapu was established.In September, Zheng Cai Jiedu envoy was set up. In April 759, Zheng Chenyingbo Jiedushi was set up, there were Shenzhou, Guangzhou, Shouzhou at one time, and then Huaixi Jiedushi.

As the eastern gateway of Luoyang, the eastern capital of the Central Plains, Huazhou has changed its ownership several times.First belonged to Huapu Liuzhou Jiedushi, then Zhengcai Jiedushi, then Chen Yinghao Jiedushi, then Huaixi Jiedushi, and then Bianzhou Jiedushi, until 761 In 763, it was changed to Huahao Jiedushi. In 772, it was changed to Yongping Army Jiedushi. In 784, Huazhou was returned to Xuanwu Jiedushi. In 785 In 786, the Yongping Army was changed to the Yicheng Army, and only Bianzhou, Huazhou, Chenzhou, and Zhengzhou remained under its jurisdiction, governing Huazhou.By [-], Chen and Zhou prefectures also granted Chen Xu Jiedu envoys, leaving only Zhengzhou and Huazhou in the Yicheng Army.

The small Huazhou has become the focus of the world at this time.

For no other reason, a group of salt traders from Changyuan County in Huazhou gathered [-] people to rebel and captured Changyuan County.Originally, this was just a trivial matter, but in today's famine year, it is not uncommon for a few daring grass bandits to jump out.

The Jiedu Envoy of the Yicheng Army and the Shangshu of the Ministry of Inspection and Industry, Du Wei, was not surprised when he first heard that Wang Xianzhi had conquered Changyuan.Just ordered two thousand soldiers and horses to come to Changyuan.

After Wang Xianzhi captured Changheng County, his momentum was greatly increased. The salt traders in Henan and the rest of Xu Xun's rebellion responded one after another, and there were as many as [-] people at once.And at this time, Huang Chao from Caozhou, Wang Xianzhi's friend from the time he was selling salt, also brought a dozen brothers to discuss.

Unlike Wang Xianzhi, who is just reckless, Huang Chao has studied and participated in the imperial examination.Although he has failed many times, he also has some poetic talents.Wang Xianzhi personally welcomed Huang Chao into the city.Changyuan County is now in chaos.Those uprising soldiers and horses were everywhere. These soldiers and horses Wang Xianzhi divided them into ten battalions with 500 people as a battalion, and handed them over to the ten votes commanders under his command.

However, it is said to be a rebel army, but it is actually just a group of rebels. After the small Changyuan County was captured, it had already been looted.Not only those big families were looted, but ordinary people were not spared either.All valuable property was looted, and many soldiers even took the opportunity to rape women.

Even though it was broad daylight at this time, there were still a few shrill and miserable female cries from time to time in those streets and houses.

Huang Chao frowned. Huang Chao was already 50 years old at this time. Although he studied essays and participated in the imperial examination in his early years, since he failed in the imperial examination and wrote the chrysanthemum poem full of golden armor in the city, he took over from his fathers. He became the head of the largest salt merchant family in Caozhou.In recent years, he has been selling salt everywhere on both sides of the Huaihe River, even the Canal, the Yellow River, and even the Hedong, Hebei, and even Guanzhong.Over the past few years, Huang Chao has already transformed from a scholar into a leader of a private salt dealer group.

Cunning, vicious, and ruthless, this is the current Huang Chao.

Before Wang Xianzhi raised his troops, he sent someone to Caozhou to deliver a letter to him, inviting him to join in the incident.However, although he has a good relationship with Wang Xianzhi, Huang Chao did not rush into trouble.While secretly preparing for an incident, he came to Huazhou himself with a few confidants after he heard that Wang Xianzhi had captured Changyuan County.

But as soon as he approached Changyuan County, Huang Chao was a little disappointed.You can see the rebels looting everywhere. These people are like a group of bandits, even worse than bandits.Originally thought that the situation in Changyuan County would be better, but he didn't expect that the situation here disappointed him even more.

Wang Xianzhi's age is actually younger than Huang Chao's. Huang Chao is over fifty years old, but Wang Xianzhi is a few years younger than Huang Chao.However, both of them are from a family of salt merchants, and in terms of seniority, Wang Xianzhi belongs to Huang Chao's father's generation.

Wang Xianzhi noticed the disappointment in Huang Chao's eyes, and quickly smiled and said: "A group of bastards are playing too much, Shangrang, take some people to pass down the military order, seal the sword immediately, and go back to the camp!"

Sealing the knife means prohibiting looting and adultery.

"If the king has a long-term plan, he must have military discipline. The brothers below are no longer salt sellers, but soldiers. The army must have discipline and restraint. Only in this way can we win the hearts of the people!" Huang Chao persuaded.

"What Mr. Huang said makes sense. He is indeed a person who has read books. It's not like me and other big bosses who don't understand anything. Now we lack people like Mr. Huang in our team. In this way, you come and join the army. I am a big Master, how about you being the second master?" Wang Xianzhi laughed.

Huang Chao shook his head: "Since raising troops, you must have a name. I think you should get a name as soon as possible and raise a banner. In addition, in the future, you can no longer use the customary address of the people in the world. You must have a name." High and low are different, so that you can command soldiers and horses."

"You are good at Mr. Huang, so you can help me get a name."

Huang Chao thought for a while, and said: "At the end of the Qin Dynasty, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang revolted. Their names were Princes and Marquises. , the year is Jiazi, the world will be prosperous. We also have to think of a resounding slogan, so as to call on more people to follow."

"Then what kind of slogan should we adopt? Do you have any ideas?" Wang Xianzhi really didn't understand these things.His idea is to raise the flag to rebel, recruit soldiers and horses, and then attack and plunder the city, rob money and food, embrace beautiful women, eat wine and meat, and have a good time.

"Back then, when Pang Xun rebelled, he proclaimed himself General Tianchu. Why don't we just play the banner of Tianbuping? Then the king can be called the leader of all the heroes in the country, and the general of Tianbuping."

"What's the point?" Wang Xianzhi asked.

Huang Chao caressed his beard and said: "Nowadays there are years of famine, but the imperial court refuses to relieve the disaster, and the powerful aristocratic families in that place are desperate to save them. The people are in dire straits, and the people are in dire straits. Let's play the banner of heaven's compensation for the average, which means to serve the people of the world Seek fairness, let all the people share the land and wealth equally, and enjoy the peace and prosperity together.”

"Okay!" Wang Xianzhi didn't really agree with these heavenly averages, but he wasn't stupid either.As soon as Huang Chao explained, he understood how attractive such a slogan would be to ordinary people, especially those who are hungry right now.What's more, Huang Chao also helped him think of a resounding title.

The average general of Tianbu and the leader of all the heroes in the country!

This name is resounding, and a great general alone can show off his extraordinary status. What's more, this is the meaning of marshal. If all the heroes in the country are unified, he is the marshal of the world's heroes.All the heroes in the world belong to him, this title is too good.

"The head of the Huang family is the vice capital of all the heroes in the country, let's run rampant in the world together!" Wang Xianzhi laughed loudly. "Then what's the name of our team?"

Huang Chao pondered, "Let's call it the Grass Army, an army of grassroots people led by the reckless heroes!"

"Cao Jun!" Wang Xianzhi chanted several times, and finally slapped his thigh: "Okay, let's call it Cao Jun."

With a slogan and a name, of course you have to write an essay, otherwise you will really become a group of grassroots bandits.The call to action was drafted by Huang Chao himself, and there are well-founded statements in it. It lists all kinds of corruptions in the Tang Dynasty, which shows that the Tang Dynasty has gone from top to bottom, and the corruption is dead.Now is the right time for everyone to stand up together and follow Cao Jun to overthrow this rotten Li Tang, and then everyone will share equally.

Huang Chao looked down on those messy gangsters, and suggested that the grass army should be organized according to regular officers.According to the establishment of the imperial court, the grass army consisted of five members, a group of ten members, a team of 50 members, a capital of a hundred people, a battalion of 500 people, and then two battalions and one wing, and five armies and one army.It is completely compiled according to the [-]th system.

The second army is a group, the fifth group is a team, the second team is the capital, the fifth capital is the battalion, the second battalion is the wing, and the fifth wing is the army.The first army is exactly 5000 people now.

Those former big and small ticket commanders, rudder masters, and Xiang masters were also awarded the titles of chamber masters, battalion generals, generals, team leaders, team leaders, and corps leaders at this time.He was also set up as a deputy, and there were officials such as Yuhou and Sima, but they all looked good all of a sudden.

All ten Piaoshuai served as battalion generals, and several of them also served as chamber masters. For example, Lord Shang also served as marching commander, and Bi Shiduo also served as Marquis of Duyu.And Huang Chao also accepted the title of deputy general of the Cao army, deputy capital commander of all the heroes in the country, and deputy general of Tianbuping.

Even the few confidantes brought by Huang Chao also got the title of general.At that moment, Huang Chao immediately ordered the cloth shops in the city to make the military flags and guards of honor immediately, and the uniforms of the soldiers of the army.The military uniforms of the Cao Army are all khaki, and the flags are also yellow, which is clearly different from the fiery red of the Tang Dynasty.

At the same time, they searched around for food, horses and mules.

With Huang Chao here, the military discipline of the Cao army immediately improved a lot.Putting on a unified military uniform and raising the flag, it looks a bit decent.

Wang Xianzhi handed over all these specific tasks to Huang Chao, and he only sang songs with his generals every night, and was drunk and dreamy every day.On this day, Wang Xianzhi and others were gathering for another banquet, and when the wine was half full, Huang Chao hurried over.

"The Jiedu Envoy of the Yicheng Army, Du Ke, has led his army here, only one day away from us!"

Wang Xianzhi was half drunk, hiccupped, and said indifferently, "Don't worry, Vice President, the officers and soldiers of the imperial court are all donkey dung eggs, just like this Changyuan County, and the defenders look like one. This one is beautifully dressed, but if he really tries, everyone loses his nerve. Then Du Ke will come as soon as he comes, afraid of what he will do!"

Huang Chao frowned: "General, don't underestimate the enemy. This Du Ke Imperial Army general came from an aristocratic family. In his early years, he was the envoy of Hedong Jiedu and fought with the Hu people. He is quite famous. Although he only led 2000 horsemen, but Not to be taken lightly."

When Wang Xianzhi heard that Du Qiang had defeated even the barbarians, he couldn't help but sober up a little.He is still clear about the fierceness of the Hu people. If Du Ke can defeat the Hu people, then he is not a useless person like the guard of Changyuan County.

"The deputy capital said how we should meet the enemy?"

"Du Wei is coming in a menacing way, in my opinion, we might as well avoid his edge for now!" Huang Chao suggested.

"Are we going to hide?" Chai Xiao, one of Huang Chao's ten voters, said loudly.

"It's not that we are afraid to avoid it, but we are actively moving to avoid its edge. We don't have much foundation in Changyuan County. In my opinion, it is better to lead the army into Caozhou, which is in the territory of Tianping Army. In this way, Du Ke wants to cross the border and pursue it. It's not that easy. Besides, I have a plan, and I can take Caozhou." Huang Chao suggested.

Changhuan is only a county seat, and the Cao army has gained a lot.This Caozhou is the city of the state. If Caozhou can be captured, the forces will become more powerful, and more people will come to join them.Moreover, there must be more money, food, property and women in the big city of Caozhou.

As soon as Huang Chao said that he had a plan to take Caozhou and avoid Du Tao's pursuit, everyone became excited.

"What shall we do?"

"Let Dadu lead the Caojun brothers to move to Caozhou, and I will go back to Caozhou's hometown Yuanju first, and lead the brothers to revolt. At that time, I will lead the recruited brothers to join the general. At that time, our army two If we attack Caozhou on the road, we will definitely win in a single battle."

Caozhou was under the jurisdiction of the Tianping Army, but Xue Chong, the Jiedu envoy of the Tianping Army, was not as prestigious as Du Ke, the Jiedu envoy of the Yicheng Army.In this war, it is natural to pick soft persimmons.

Lord Shang was captured by Li Jing last time and sent to Xue Chong. Although Xue Chong finally sent him to Puzhou, he also suffered a lot in Xue Chong's hands.At this time, he was naturally eager for revenge.

"I agree to fight Caozhou!" Shang Junchang has always been Wang Xianzhi's right-hand man, and he is also the military advisor of Zhilong.He took a map and unfolded it, pointing to the location of Caozhou and said: "Everyone, please look, the north of Caozhou is Puzhou, and Caozhou is the territory of Vice President Huang. After getting food and grass and recruiting some soldiers and horses, you can take advantage of the trend and go north to Puzhou. And Puzhou is the territory of our general and ten-piao commander. Going east, it is Jeju, and going further, it is Qizhou. No need for me Said, everyone knows that Wang Jingwu, the tooth general in Ziqing Town, is now in rebellion and is occupying Qizhou. There are tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and the momentum is in full swing. We can fight all the way from Caozhou, Puzhou, and then Jeju, and finally get close to Wang Jingwu .”

Huang Chao nodded: "If we arrive in Jeju, then Wang Jingwu is to the east, the Yellow River is to the north, and Wei Bojun is to the north. Wei Bojun will not listen to the court's transfer. In this way, there will be less threats from both sides, and we can deal with Xue with all our strength." worship."

Alliance with Wang Jingwu, then Wang Jingwu will not be threatened by the Tianping Army in the west, and the Cao Army will not be threatened by the Pinglu Army in the east. This is a win-win situation.

"I agree with this plan. I will go back to my hometown first, and I will lead the army to enter Caozhou!" Huang Chao said.

"Okay!" Wang Xianzhi was also moved by the bright future described by Monk Huang Chao. If it can be like that, maybe the imperial court will even designate himself as the Tianping Army Jiedushi.

(To be continued)