The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 111 I’m so stupid

On November 21st of the first year of Jingfu, the sky was so heavy that birds could not fly and beasts died in droves.

Hearing that Zhu Wen had failed to conquer Tongguan, the morale of the army was severely dampened. Li Keyong, who had been observing the situation in Quwo for a long time, sent He Gongya with 10,000 troops to capture Yuan County. Wang Chongying sent troops to join forces with the division in Taiyuan.

After receiving the report, Zhang Cunjing, the commander of the Xiashi camp, ordered Wang Yanzhang, the yamen officer, to rescue Yingyan Town. On the 23rd, the two towns were attacked several times but failed. The Hedong army was in turmoil and supported He Gongya to retreat to Yuan County.

Li Keyong received the news while eating. But he didn't seem angry. In the past twenty years, six or seven Jiedushi were killed or expelled by the Hedong Yajun. Li Keyong hated these people so much that he tried his best to deal with them after taking office. It was not surprising that they made trouble for him.

"Let He Gongya defend the city wall." Li Keyong ordered.

He didn't want to get involved in military riots, nor could he.

Rewards are the driving force of warriors. In such a cold and snowy weather, they are required to cross mountains and take the initiative to attack others. It is not enough to just draw pie in the sky. The problem is that the Crow King, who is almost selling his liver and kidneys, has no money. This is the fundamental reason why he can't retreat after a hasty battle with the army. This matter cannot be solved in a short time.

After the battle, the Crow King decided to take a break and rest for a year.

"What is Zhu Wen doing?" Li Keyong suddenly sighed, with tears flashing in his eyes.

Gai Yu is choking. Aren't you beating your son-in-law?

Seeing Li Keyong's appearance, Gai Yu felt a little sad.

In the tenth year of Xiantong, Sanlang, who was thirteen years old at the time, shot two wild ducks with one arrow, shocking all the generals present.

The young man, who was only 22 years old, swept across the northern part of Dai, captured Zhaluping, defeated the Kelan army, and severely damaged Cao Xiang, the commander of the army. He stirred up the situation in the region and attracted the attention of the world. At that time, he and the generals of the military government also believed that "the world is in chaos, and the imperial court's orders are no longer carried out in all directions. This is the time for heroes to start their own businesses.

After the defeat at Weizhou, the 24-year-old was exiled to Tatar. Although he was alone, he was still full of spirit: "I have offended the emperor and wanted to be loyal but was not allowed to do so. Now I hear that Huang Chao is coming north and will be a threat to the Central Plains. If the emperor pardons my crime, I will go south and make meritorious deeds. Isn't that great? Life is short, who can die in the desert?"

When he captured Chang'an, he was 28 years old, the youngest among the princes, but he was the most meritorious in destroying the enemy's nest and had the strongest military force, so everyone feared him.

Ten years have passed in a flash. The northern land was despised and deserted. The army was demoralized. The enemy Zhu Wen became more powerful and dared to tear off his mask and lead his troops to rob the emperor's carriage. As soon as Li Keyong set out on this expedition, he felt depressed as he thought of many things. When he led the army south, Zhu Wen only sent Zhang Cunjing to stop him... If Luo Luo and Ya Zi were not too young, he really wanted to rush over and fight Zhu Wen. The whole army was defeated and there was no hope of recovery, so he went back to Shenwuchuan to herd sheep. Die or die!

And that scumbag son-in-law.

I don’t know whether we can defend Tongguan.

Is it right or wrong to marry Wusi to him during this turbulent time?
How could my grandson have such a miserable fate? Born in this era where fate is unpredictable, can he live a peaceful life?

"Father..." Li Luoluo glanced at him stealthily.

Gai Yukuang winked. "We are fighting, why are you so sad? Can't you just be sad in bed at night? Besides, the situation in Hedong is just a little poor. As long as we rest and recuperate for a year or two, who are we afraid of? Even if we can't defeat Zhu Wen, it won't be difficult to keep Hedong."

Li Keyong looked at Dalang, his expression changing for a long time, and finally smiled and said, "Just thinking of a strategy to defeat the enemy!"

Let's fight. Let's show the Bian bandits what we are capable of. In the previous battle of Luzhou, Hedong suffered heavy casualties, so it's hard to believe that people would underestimate him. Li Keyong only has 50,000 or 60,000 soldiers, but Zhu Wen can't underestimate him. Since we want to fight, we have to knock out two of your big teeth.

Sadness is indeed sadness.

But he was not afraid of Zhu Wen. Think carefully about the past two years. He destroyed the Meng family of Zhaoyi, defeated the joint invasion of Youzhou Army and Datong Army twice in the north. He defeated Chengde in the east and subdued Wang Rong. He defeated the imperial court's attack in the west. He did lose the two battles with Zhu Wen in Shangdang and Heyang, but it was far from a serious injury. It was not a real fight. He would not be afraid before he was severely injured.

This time when we go south to fight against the Bian Army, both sides will test each other to see who is stronger and who is weaker.

……

Military Supervisor Yang Fugong took a tour around the camp.

The sky was overcast, and it was expected to snow. The cavalry that was about to go out was forced to withdraw, and only the scouts composed of the Uighurs and Khitans were still wandering outside; they were indeed tough and extremely cold-resistant. They worked honestly even without any reward.

Yang Fugong asked someone and was told that the Khitan tribes never gave out this kind of reward during a war, and that even the logistics of the baggage were provided by the various tribes on their own. I don't know if this is true or not.

"Military appearance." A warrior saw him and saluted respectfully.

Yang Fugong was stunned.

Military appearance...

The last time someone addressed him in this way was probably at Baqiao. The sage sent a female official to see him off, and after Zhao had finished speaking on his behalf, she addressed him this way for the last time.

Tsk, Yang Fugong actually felt a little sad.

Time flies, a year has passed, right? Most of his hair has turned white, and the wrinkles on his face are getting more and more; half of his body is buried in the ground. It's strange to say. After leaving the vortex of Chang'an, the desire for power that used to occupy his mind gradually dissipated. He became obsessed with cultivation and discussed the art of external alchemy with Taoist priests all day long. When he had nothing to do, he would appreciate flowers and snow to cultivate his sentiments; many things that he couldn't let go of became clear-headed.

The disciple of the emperor... Actually, he was not really unfaithful. He killed his uncle, and beat and scolded him at every turn. When the tree fell, the monkeys scattered. The court and the public were silent. It was the saint who saved him because of the past kindness. Although he had the selfish intention of using the Yang family, he was able to let him go despite the coercion of the arrogant Ximen Chongsui and Li Maozhen. This was rare. It was not in vain that he had repeatedly argued with Tian Lingzi when he was in power. It was not in vain that he eliminated Zhu Mei and let the saint sit on the throne. It was not in vain that he took good care of the kings during the chaos.

"The flowers shed tears when they feel sad, the birds make their hearts tremble when they are separated..." Yang Fugong looked in that direction and became dazed.

The sage was plotting to seize the imperial power. In just over a year, he was like a completely different person. He was able to handle the military and political affairs of the country and the country well. He was able to fight back and forth with Zhu Wen, which really showed his momentum. But he was not sure if he could survive this hurdle; this battle had too many implications. If he was defeated and fled, he wanted to go back to Chang'an to summon Liang'er, Xin'er and others to lead the troops to protect the emperor... However, the sage was afraid that he would no longer trust him, so how could he let him go back? His death in Taiyuan should be the result he wanted to see the most.

"Military appearance?" The warrior saw that he was in a daze and shouted again.

Yang Fugong nodded with a smile, took off the silver from his wrist and handed it over: "Fight with all your heart and kill more Bian bandits for me."

"Junrong!" The warrior was dumbfounded. He just wanted to curry favor with the military supervisor and get on good terms with him, but he didn't expect to get rich. He would call him that from now on!

"No need to see me off." Yang Fugong waved his hand, limped away with his wooden stick, and his thin and short figure was reflected in the warrior's pupils.

An era... has ended. Now over sixty years old, he has washed away his ambition to rule the country, and all that remains in his twilight years is his loyalty to the country amidst the rain.

……

On November 25th, the weather still did not improve. After properly pacifying the series of aftermaths caused by Xu Zu's rebellion in front of the battlefield, Zhu Wen finally had no choice but to leave Niutouyuan and return to Taolin Pass in the east, leaving only a small number of troops stationed in Yanxiang Post, which is close to Tongguan, to completely block the possibility of Wang's army leaving the pass. The Ya army suffered more than 8,000 casualties, which was heartbreaking! Braving the extreme cold winter to attack the fortress, they were shot to death in the snow before they touched the enemy, burned to death under the wall of the village, and were smashed and bleeding by the stones of the civilians. The army might rebel at some point. He also lost a son. After Liu Zhijun rebelled, his second son Zhu Yougui, who cooperated with him in the charge, was also coerced. At this time, he might have been killed by Wang Congxun. Although she was a bitch born by a camp prostitute, he often suspected that he was raising a bastard for a warrior, but he had been raised since childhood, and even a dog had some feelings; this made Zhu Wen shed a few sad tears. He wanted to try to redeem Zhu Yougui with money and property.

"I look at Chang'an under the sun, and I look at Wuhui among the clouds. The land is extremely high and the South Sea is deep, the sky is high and the North Star is far away. The mountains and passes are difficult to cross, who will pity the lost people? When we meet by chance, we are all strangers from a foreign land. I miss the emperor's gatekeeper but cannot see him, how many years will I serve in the Xuanshi Hall?..." Zhu Wen muttered quietly while riding his warhorse on the narrow path of Huangjingban: "The princes fought and fought, all of them wanted to succeed each other. All the knowledgeable people in the country said that the court could not be revived. When I returned today, people's hearts were attached to the Tang Dynasty again."

"Following the secret imperial edict to punish the treacherous minister so-and-so" is a high-return activity that comes with high risks.

If it works, Chang'an changes hands again, then the Li family's destiny will enter the countdown, and the world will actively move closer to Prince Bian; just like the story of the usurpation of the previous dynasty. By then, many places will not need to use troops, and can be settled by issuing edicts; this is a high return. If it doesn't work, then now the high risk comes.

For scholars, Chang'an has an incomparable attraction. Even in the past ten years after the Chaos, scholars from Youzhou, Weizhou, and Lingnan came to take the exam. There were even many warriors in Chengde, Zibo, and Hezhong who were willing to send their daughters to the palace to be female officials. This time, the saint defeated the world's most powerful vassal, which showed the world that although the king's career was declining, the destiny had not changed, and the importance of the tripod was still difficult to ask. There is no doubt that Chang'an's attraction to the world will increase sharply.

Forget about the aristocratic families. There were quite a few Wei Pei children who served under Zhu Wen, and he knew them very well. It goes without saying which is more important, the family or the country. How fast he kneels, how fast he kneels to the saint. It was Xie Tong in his shogunate, who was ordered to go to Chengdu to pay homage to the emperor. The saint promised him to be a governor, and he went there happily immediately, without even following him to Bianzhou to take office.

Alas, he lost more than he gained, and instead increased the prestige of the saint.

"I am so stupid." Zhu Wen closed his eyes in pain. Perhaps he shouldn't have interfered with the saint's marriage and used tributes from the towns to force him to submit.

He had a strong premonition that there would be a wave of rebellion among his subordinates.

Especially that Ding Hui!

He was in the same army as him, and he was favored by him, so he became rich and noble. But on weekdays, he only liked to make sad and mournful sounds and read books behind closed doors. He often said rude words, "I will die for you," "My master is on an isolated island," and "People say Ji Shao is stupid and Jin Hui cannot be killed." Who is he pitying?
In addition, he still has some doubts about Zhang Cunjing. This warrior is too gentlemanly! He respects the superiors and loves the subordinates, never kills people indiscriminately, and Zhu Wen has seen him helping beggars on the street. Moreover, he always teaches his children: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness are what make a person. If loyalty and filial piety are not lost, the country will be safe.

With this kind of concept, it is hard to say who one's heart is loyal to...

"Let's just play some ball and go back to Bianzhou to celebrate the New Year."

"How can the Jin people hold out so well? Are the Northern Army made of iron?"

"Alas, thousands of people died in Tongguan in vain, but they didn't even get a young lady from the imperial palace."

"Pei Di, Zhao Jing, and Duan Ning are good people who try their best to consider the military and civilians. Li Zhen and Jing Xiang are traitors who only want to get promoted and make money. They instigate the Marshal to rebel day and night, causing the Marshal to be cursed by the world and put us to death."

"..."

Zhu Wen's heart trembled at the complaints of the soldiers, and he deeply regretted his partiality to Zhen and Xiang. This is a taboo, and it must be changed. Zhu Wen rubbed his stomach, and felt extremely hot.

Judging from the symptoms, Zhang Quanyi’s youngest daughter must be fourteen years old, right?
Yougui was captured, and his daughter-in-law Wang was forced to remain a widow... This beautiful and voluptuous second daughter-in-law is indeed extraordinary. Her gentle and virtuous character, her pitiful appearance after being scolded, and her reserved smile make people unable to control themselves every time they see her. Youwen's wife is also quite good. She is the best choice in terms of appearance and talent. It's hard to choose. The desire to mess around is almost uncontrollable.

Sin, sin.

……

On November 26, Zhu Wen returned to Taolin Pass.

According to the latest news. After the defeat in Yingyan Town, Li Keyong's army has turned eastward, and the vanguard cavalry and infantry have rushed all the way and seized the Shisi Military City in the northwest of Xin'an County. After a round of twists and turns, the battlefield has moved to the Mianchi and Xin'an areas. While Zhu Wen was resting in Shanzhou, he had sent people to Ruzhou and Xuchang to increase the Cai Army and Zhongwu Army by 15,000. He planned to eliminate the Shatuo bandits on the vast plains of Heluo and kill Li Keyong alone. The Battle of Tongguan has entered a new round of powerful vassal battles, and it seems that there is no saint.

"what is it call?"

"Liu Zhijun, a native of Pei County, Xuzhou, was originally the cavalry and infantry commander of the Ganhua Army, and the commander of the Gate Spear Army. He was also the commander of the left opening of the Xuanwu Army."

"He rebelled against Shi Pu."

"...Since Zhu Wen led his army to invade the east, the soldiers have fought hard. At that time, the prime minister was obsessed with women and was jealous of his subordinates. He killed civil and military officials at will. He also suspected that I had rebellious intentions and wanted to kill me, so..."

"Go ahead."

Liu Zhijun lay on the ground, gritted his teeth and said, "Let's start a rebellion!"

"Why are you rebelling against Zhu Wen again?"

"Eagles look like wolves, with human faces and beast hearts. Such people as An-Shi should be killed by everyone. How can those who rebel know how to be good?"

"Tell the truth!" The saint suddenly slammed the table. The warrior beside him immediately touched the hilt of his sword.

"He is harsh, cruel and murderous..." Liu Zhijun raised his butt high and answered in a low voice. I originally thought that the saint was a weak master, a puppet in the rumors, but who would have thought... Alas, it was a mistake! Can you have a good life if you join such a person?
"I heard that the Xuzhou silver knives, carved flags, guns, and horses of the Seven Du Ya soldiers are violent and like to eat people. They cut meat in broad daylight for fun and even slaughtered the Jiedushi and put it in the pot."

Hearing that the saint had even spoken out the military call, Liu Zhijun knew that he could not hide it: "Some rebellious people killed talented people, not everyone is like this..."

The saint stopped talking. He looked at the appearance and expressions of Liu Zhijun, Chai Renxin, Bao Jinzhong, Zhu Yougui and more than 20 other officers and fell silent.

"In my rule, rewards are sufficient, but any warrior who eats people, robs, sets fires, or commits adultery will be killed, regardless of whether they are noble or humble, close to the family." The sage stood up and walked out the door: "If you feel this is not the right place, leave by yourself."

"I'm willing to stay, I'm willing to stay! I'm willing to eat coarse food." Chai Renxin took the lead in begging. The Bian army is outside the pass, and going out is seeking death. If they are caught, they will definitely be killed by Zhu Wen in the most cruel way. Besides, what if the saint is testing...

The saint ignored them and looked at Zhu Yougui, who had a strange look on his face. He said, "I can let you go, or I can use you as the governor of Shan and Guo. It's your choice."

Zhu Yougui closed his eyes, completely hopeless.

I remembered Zhu Wen's scolding when I made a mistake - you slut, you bastard, wait till the world is pacified, and then kill this thief. I remembered the undisguised contempt of the generals, the ridicule of relatives like Yuan Xiangxian, and the various humiliations I suffered... I was already a coward, so what would happen if I was captured and released this time?

Whatever.

So be it.

Just as he was about to open his eyes to answer and express his opinion, the saint had already left silently.

After questioning the generals, he looked at the more than a thousand Bian soldiers and Xu soldiers who had defected. He didn't expect that when he asked them what they thought, the thieves said in unison that as long as they didn't kill the prisoners, it was fine. The reason left the accompanying ministers speechless. Some Bian soldiers said that they would be killed by the Ba troops if they returned. Some Xu soldiers said they had nowhere to go, but more people said: "We see that the king's army is brave and good at fighting, and the morale is high. If we follow the emperor, we will definitely have meat to eat!"

(End of this chapter)