Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 36 Helong Situation

"Liu Jilong, the captain of the 13th Regiment, and Lu Yan, the young master of Shandan, are here to see the governor!"

In early July, outside the west city of Shandan, where people were cheering anxiously, as Liu Jilong sang and saluted, a large team stretched out outside the city, with the three-star flags fluttering.

The team consisting of more than a thousand Shazhou soldiers and nearly a thousand civilians made Lu Yan beside Liu Jilong much more obedient.

On horseback, Zhang Yichao, who was wearing armor and a civil and military robe, dismounted, walked forward to help Liu Jilong up, and then walked to Mei Luyan and helped him up.

He had a kind smile on his face and patted the back of Mei Luyan's hand gently, like an elder.

"It is a blessing for the soldiers and civilians of Shandan that Xiaojieer has surrendered to the Tang Dynasty."

"From now on, I would like to ask you to be appointed as the deputy governor of Guazhou. What do you think?"

Zhang Yichao said this, but Lu Yan knew that he had no choice.

He has already joined Zhang Yichao. Even though the official position is not satisfactory, it is too late to regret now.

"Thank you, Governor, for the invitation..."

Before Lu Yan said this, Zhang Yichao also looked at Liu Jilong.

His eyes were deep, as if he knew that Lu Yan must have done a lot of things, but in the end he was dealt with by Liu Jilong, so he comforted Liu Jilong: "You have worked hard too."

"These are all my responsibilities, I dare not complain!"

Liu Jilong bowed in response, still maintaining his neither humble nor arrogant look.

Compared with the powerful people who always talk about interests, Liu Jilian's image in Zhang Yichao's eyes is undoubtedly very good.

If it were the son of a powerful family, he would probably have asked for a title by claiming his merits.

"Let's go to Jie'er Mansion first."

Zhang Yichao nodded with satisfaction, and Liu Jilong also stepped aside to make way.

Zhang Huairong, who was following behind Zhang Yichao, led the horse forward. After Zhang Yichao got on the horse, the others followed suit.

In the northwest wind, Shazhou soldiers poured into Shandan City and completely took over the remaining three gates and streets.

One thousand Tibetan soldiers took off their armor and went home, waiting for arrangements.

Zhang Yichao led the generals to Xiaojie'er's mansion, dismounted, and walked into the mansion.

He looked around the Jie'er Mansion, which was full of Tibetan style, and stood in the courtyard for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking.

Soon, he walked into the main hall and sat on the main seat, while inviting Lu Yan to sit in the second seat.

After the two of them took their seats, Zhang Huairong, Li En and others took their seats one after another.

Liu Jilong got the last position on the left and looked normal.

Zhang Yichao saw all this. He was secretly delighted but did not praise him outwardly. He just chatted with Mei Luyan about each other's past in front of the other generals.

As a member of the Meilu family, Meiluyan's value in united front work is self-evident, not to mention that he and Shang Bibi of Shanzhou are from the same clan.

If he could be used to persuade Shang Bibi to rebel, it would undoubtedly play a key role in recovering Helong.

Everyone knew what Zhang Yichao was thinking.

In order to demonstrate his own value, Lu Yan told everything he knew.

Through his explanation, everyone also learned about the situation in the eighteen states east of Shandan.

After the death of Dharma Zampo in the second year of Huichang (842), the Tubo royal family was divided into two factions, with the two queens each supporting two young princes to inherit the throne.

Among them, the Tubo Prime Minister Shang Siluo and the Shanzhou Jiedushi Shang Bibi supported Qilihu, while Lun Kongre, the envoy of Luomenchuan, called himself the Prime Minister.

However, not long after he proclaimed himself prime minister, seeing that Tubo was still in turmoil, Lun Kongre naturally began to think of establishing himself as the king, and at the same time he opposed the appointment of Qilihu as the king.

His actions were naturally opposed by Shang Siluo, the Prime Minister of Tubo, and Shang Bibi, the governor of Shanzhou. In the face of opposition, Lun Kongre assembled 40,000 troops, claiming to have an army of 200,000, attacked Shang Siluo and Shang Bibi, conquered as far as Weizhou, and captured and killed Shang Siluo, the Prime Minister of Tubo, at Taohe River.

Later, because he underestimated the enemy, he was defeated by Shang Bibi in Hezhou and escaped alone.

Faced with an unfavorable situation, Lun Kongre hoped to use the recognition of the Tang Dynasty to strengthen his momentum and demanded that the Tang Dynasty recognize him as the Zamp.

Fortunately, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was not stupid. He knew that doing so would raise a jackal in the Hehuang area, so he refused. After being rejected, Lun Kongre raised his army to rebel against the Tang again.

In February last year, the commanders of Qinzhou, Yuanzhou, Anle and seven passes including Shimen, which had been occupied by Tubo for many years, knocked on the border and asked for surrender because of the war in Hehuang.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang did not miss this opportunity. He appointed the Minister of the Imperial Household Lu Dan as the envoy to comfort the enemy and ordered Jingyuan, Lingwu, Fengxiang, Bining and Zhenwu to send troops to respond.

In June, Kang Jirong, the governor of Jingyuan, recovered Yuanzhou and six other passes including Shimen.

In July, the Tang army took over the surrendered Anlezhou, Xiaoguan, Qinzhou and Ningzhou one after another.

"Now Shang Bibi is occupying Shanzhou, Lun Kongre is occupying Hezhou, and Liangzhou is ruled by various Jie'er, without a unified leader."

Mei Lu Yan explained clearly what he knew, and the Shazhou generals in the hall were very excited.

"Why didn't the Tang Dynasty continue to send troops to recover the Helong states?"

"They probably don't know that we have already recovered the four states of Gua, Sha, Gan, and Su. If they knew, they would definitely march west to respond to us!"

"Yes! That's right!"

"Haha, I'm about to return to Tang!"

For a moment, the hall was filled with laughter and joy, and the expression on Zhang Yichao's face couldn't help but relax.

But compared with their optimism, Liu Jilong knew everything.

Although Emperor Xuanzong of Tang trusted Zhang Yichao and his group of righteous men, he had no intention of taking the initiative to send troops to Helong.

In addition, if Liu Jilian remembers correctly, the Heshuo and Lianghuai vassal states were also unstable during the Dazhong period and there were several rebellions.

Compared with the Shazhou soldiers and civilians who started from scratch and were led by the idealist Zhang Yichao, the vassal states of Heshuo and Lianghuai can truly represent the spirit of the middle and late Tang Dynasty.

Although there were still many idealists in the Tang Dynasty, the end of the Tang Dynasty was not far away.

Liu Jilian should be thankful that he joined Zhang Yichao's army instead of the vassal states of Heshuo and Lianghuai, otherwise he would probably have to know what "the Emperor of Chang'an and the Wei Palace Army" meant.

It is a pity that the Guiyi Army in history also fell apart under the manipulation of Emperor Yizong of Tang and Emperor Xizong of Tang, and finally led to the killing of Zhang Huaishen, the last idealist of the Guiyi Army.

For Liu Jilian, the history of the Guiyi Army began with the killing of Zhang Huaishen.

After Zhang Huaishen's death, the Guiyi Army was no different from the vassal states in Heshuo and Lianghuai, except that the lower-level warriors of the Guiyi Army were not as fierce as the Wei Bo soldiers.

But it’s not surprising, because not every vassal’s guards can be as crazy as the Wei Bo guards.

Liu Jilian thought about it and realized that if he were the leader of the Wei Bo soldiers, he would probably have to wear a helmet when sleeping and going to the toilet, let alone carry out reforms.

Thinking of this, Liu Jilong thought of his Thirteenth Regiment and became even more determined to educate them well.

"Well, it's getting late. Everyone, please take a rest here and wait for the meal to be served."

While Liu Jilong was daydreaming, Zhang Yichao and Mei Luyan chatted for who knows how long. In the end, they ended the topic because it was getting dark.

Zhang Yichao had already asked someone to cook the meal, and he stood up. He first glanced at Zhang Huairong, then glanced around, and finally stopped at Liu Jilong.

"Huai Rong, Captain Liu, the two of you follow me."

"Yes!"

Zhang Huairong agreed subconsciously, and Liu Jilong quickly agreed after he realized what was going on. He stood up and followed the two of them out of the yamen.

(End of this chapter)