History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 65: Li Keyong Goes to Difficulty

The Daibei region was ordered to suppress the rebellion and recruited a group of Shatuo remnants. However, these brave and combative Daibei warriors were arrogant and difficult to control. They took the money but did not work. Not only did they not go south to suppress the rebellion, but they also plundered and had no way to resist the enemy, but also disturbed the people.

The military supervisor eunuch Chen Jingsi and the surrendered Shatuo general Li Youjin (Li Keyong's uncle) reached a consensus that only Li Guochang and Li Keyong could control these Shatuo warriors. Therefore, he suggested to the court to pardon the crime of treason for Li and his son, allowing them to make meritorious contributions while serving their sentence and go south to fight the rebels.

Commander-in-chief Zheng Ting approved this pragmatic request and appointed Li Youjin as the leader of the recruitment team to go to Tatar to recruit Li father and son.

Li Keyong was overjoyed and immediately asked the Tatars to borrow troops. The so-called borrowing troops was actually a loan, a military investment by the creditor.

The Tatars were very optimistic about Li Keyong's potential and were happy to lend him troops.

In this way, Li Keyong led the Shatuo and Tatar coalition forces southward, and recruited soldiers along the way in the Daibei area, with a total of 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers. As you can imagine, the military discipline of this army was not very strict, at least the Tatar soldiers had no military discipline. Making money from war was their original driving force, and it was also Li Keyong's promise, so Li Keyong turned a blind eye to their plundering behavior.

The Daibei and Hedong regions had never been affected by Huang Chao's bandits, but had long suffered from the invasions and ravages of the Shatuo. They were more concerned about guarding against the Shatuo than against the bandits.

Moreover, the main force of the Hedong Army had just fled to the capital under the leadership of Zhuge Shuang, and its military strength was weak.

At this sensitive moment, tens of thousands of Shatuo cavalrymen came in force and plundered along the way, which touched the fragile and sensitive nerves of the people in Hedong. The Hedong region was facing a great enemy, and the Jiedushi Zheng Congdang drew troops to defend important checkpoints and sent requests for assistance to neighboring vassals.

Li Keyong led a large army and marched towards Taiyuan Prefecture. He questioned Zheng Congdang with confidence, "Why did you go against the emperor's order? Although we were mortal enemies not long ago, now I am following the emperor's order to fight against the enemy. We are already comrades-in-arms. Why do you still have to be hostile?"

Under pressure from Li Keyong's military threats, Zheng Congdang had no choice but to condescend to go up to the city wall and talk.

Zheng Congdang's answer was well-reasoned and neither humble nor overbearing. He presented facts and reasoned with Li Keyong's accusations and gave a strong response:
First, he praised Li Keyong and promoted him to a high position of virtue.

"You and your son have been loyal to the country. Since Xiantong, you have made many military achievements (referring to suppressing the Pang Xun Rebellion). The happy life of the people of the world is thanks to you and your son."

Then I started to blame myself and criticize myself:

"I have served in many dynasties and held the high position of Prime Minister. Now the bandits are rampant and the people of the world are suffering. The emperor has fled to Shu, but I cannot put on my armor and fight the bandits to repay the emperor's kindness. This is my great sin!"

In response to the accusation of sending troops to guard the pass and obstruct the southward advance, a reasonable explanation was given:

"I'm ordered to guard the frontier, and ensuring local security is my job." Don't get me wrong, I'm not targeting you, I'm saying that everyone here is a bandit.

Finally, the theme is made clear, and Li Keyong's bastardness is pointed out in a tactful way:
"The soldiers' discipline is bad, and the commander cannot escape the responsibility of negligence and connivance. If you can really kill the thieves and serve the country, and make the emperor return to the palace, then I will definitely take the blame, apologize for today's rude behavior, and be willing to accept any punishment. I hope that you can respect yourself and love yourself!"

Zheng Congdang passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi as early as the second year of Huichang (842). He helped the emperor draft imperial edicts (Zhi Zhigao). In the third year of Xiantong (862), he served as the chief examiner of the Jinshi examination (Zhi Gongju). If it comes to convincing people with reason, Li Keyong chose the wrong opponent and the wrong method.

Li Keyong originally came here with a high attitude, thinking that he was right and could rule the world, but Zheng Congdang's words left him speechless and at a loss for words.

After a long time, Li Keyong came up with another reason.

"I am ordered to fight the enemy, and I should supply food and fodder and reward the soldiers along the way. Now that I am passing through your land, you should reward the soldiers of the three armies."

Zheng Congdang agreed.

So Li Keyong retreated slightly, waiting for Zheng Congdang to reward the army. The army gathered outside the city, armed with live ammunition, showing off their power. This was not asking for rewards, but extortion. Zheng Congdang verbally agreed, but he delayed the delivery.

After waiting for a few days, Li Keyong led his troops to the city again and threatened with force.

Zheng Congdang had no choice but to give out a small gift as a token of his appreciation.

However, this little gift is really not enough: one thousand strings of money and one thousand dou of rice.

The number of troops Li Keyong brought was between 30,000 and 50,000.

If we calculate it based on 33, the average amount per person is coins, plus less than half a catty of rice. It is indeed the market price for sending away beggars.

If we calculate based on 20, each person would have coins and taels of rice. Even beggars are stingy.

Li Keyong was furious, thinking that Zheng Congdang was deliberately playing a trick on him and insulting his personality, so Li Keyong tore off his disguise and openly let his troops plunder.

The Hedong Corps that had gone to the capital to rescue them received the news and immediately turned around to return to defend their hometown; the Zhenwu Jiedushi Qibi Zhang led the Tuyuhun and Turkic tribes to rescue Hedong.

Li Keyong's evil claws spread from Daibei area and Hedong area to Hebei area.

The imperial court also mobilized the Tiande Army and the Datong Army to support Hedong.

Li Keyong's troops looted a lot and returned home with a full load.

At this point, before and after Huang Chao occupied Chang'an, Li Keyong plundered the area north of the Yellow River twice, and the two raids echoed across the river, causing trouble in the Central Plains. Li Keyong committed an unforgivable crime against the Tang Dynasty.

Li Keyong also understood the pulse of the imperial court. On the one hand, he kept submitting petitions to apologize and request amnesty. On the other hand, he established his own regime in the Daibei area, invaded Bingzhou and Fenzhou, and even seized the Loufan Horse Pasture.

Now, the eunuch Yang Fuguang, the chief military commander, had a far-sighted vision and pointed out that in order to defeat Huang Chao, it was necessary to pardon and recruit Shatuo Li Keyong again.

Yang Fuguang and Li Keyong were "old friends". As early as when the Shatuo Zhuxie clan surrendered to the Tang Dynasty (808), they passed through Yanzhou. At that time, the eunuch supervising the army in Yanzhou was Yang Fuguang's godfather Yang Xuanjia. Yang Xuanjia and his leader Zhuxie Zhiyi were in love and called each other brothers. Zhuxie Zhiyi was the father of Li Guochang and the grandfather of Li Keyong.

Therefore, Yang Fuguang pointed out that Li Keyong would definitely give face for the sake of the two elders.

Facts have proved that Yang Fuguang was right.

The commander-in-chief of the "anti-pornography and grass-cutting" campaign, Wang Duo, happened to be in Hezhong, so he approved the proposal of the eunuch Yang Fuguang, the chief military officer, and issued an edict to pardon all Li Keyong's past crimes, ordering him to raise an army to defend the king, and sent an official letter to Zheng Congdang to greet him and clear up the misunderstanding.

In November of the second year of Zhonghe (882), Li Keyong led Shatuo cavalry to rush to Hezhong to join the forces.

This time, Li Keyong did not pass through Taiyuan Prefecture in Hedong, but took a detour through Lanzhou (now Lan County, Shanxi Province). During the trip, Li Keyong led hundreds of personal cavalry to the city of Taiyuan Prefecture and bid farewell to Zheng Congdang. Zheng Congdang gave him a famous horse and other gifts, encouraging him to fight bravely and serve the country. Li Keyong also presented gifts to thank the adults for not remembering the villain's mistakes.

The two old enemies put aside their past grudges and smiled when they met.

(End of this chapter)