The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 63 Who is worthy of being the governor?

In Qizhen, the clamor of drums shook the sky and the chaotic army gathered under Yongcheng.

Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu fought for several months at Dazhen Pass. Li knew that Wang would not let him go, so he fought desperately. Wang Xingyu also attacked fiercely, promising to occupy Fengxiang and plunder at will. He did not dare to retreat. Once he was defeated and returned to Bingzhou, the generals would be eyeing him covetously. Would he still want to live? That was how he got to the top.
Finally, after the food was completely exhausted, the two of them died at the hands of their subordinates, becoming food for the hungry wolves. The war ended, but things were not going to be the same. The 9000 remnants of the Qi people guarding Dazhen Pass joined forces with Wang Xingyu's remaining Bin troops and headed south to Yongcheng. There was plenty of food, wine, meat, and beautiful women here, which made them hungry and their eyes sparkle, and they shouted to go faster.

But they were too weak after long and hard fighting and severe food shortage.

Marching with heavy loads in such a hot summer day was tantamount to seeking death. When they reached the Wei River, the warriors' spirits, which had been lifted by the search for food, had seriously declined. The scorching sun scorched the earth mercilessly, and the earth was scorched by the heat. One by one, hungry soldiers fell on the green fields as they walked, becoming food for hawks and ants. On the post road they passed, corpses were scattered everywhere, like sesame seeds.

When they arrived at Yongcheng, there were only about 8,000 soldiers left. They roared weakly at the defenders and demanded to enter the city.

Fengxiang Town has a very special status in the history of Tang and Song Dynasties. It was established in the third year of Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty and abolished in the ninth year of Emperor Taizu of Song Dynasty. It lasted for 209 years and had 70 military governors. The more famous ones are Li Zhongchen and Li Baoyu, who were close to Emperor Daizong. Zhu Ci, a general under Shi Chaoyi, was the guy who occupied Chang'an and proclaimed himself the Emperor of Qin during the Jianzhong period. There were also the prime ministers, including Li Sheng, Li Yuan, Li Ting, Li Su, Li Yong, Zheng Yuqing, Li Xun, Du Chong, Cui Gong, Bai Minzhong, and Zheng Ting, who were all from military families.

Oh, Li Congke, the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, also came from Fengxiang. Fu Yanqing, the father-in-law of the God of Che, also worked here... In fact, we can see the pattern. Only the emperor’s absolute confidant can take the position.

Until today, the past 150 years have given rise to many generals in Fengxiang, most of whom were the henchmen who were not taken away by the successive governors. For example, the Youyan Huqi and Huaixi Guards under Li Zhongchen, who were under the command of foreign leaders. The Anxi and Helong soldiers under Li Sheng. There was also the Shuofang Army that the court had withdrawn from Guo Ziyi, and so on.

Many military schools in the town are descendants of these people. In the past, Zheng Ting was able to make some warriors cry with a song of Qin Wang entering the battlefield, and then led the Qi people to defeat Huang Chao. This is because these people's ancestors were meritorious officials and they claimed to be noble.

But this also led to extremely serious factional struggles in Fengxiang. The warriors were dissatisfied with each other and plotted against each other to seize power, making it difficult for the Jiedushi to rule. Years ago, Li Maozhen invaded Chang'an to purge the court, hoping to establish prestige through military exploits and win over the people's hearts - but unfortunately he failed. Seeing that it would cost heavy casualties to capture the capital, the people of Qi were unwilling to ruin their families to help the crisis, and immediately withdrew their support for the Jiedushi.

Then Fengxiang was in chaos. You messed with me, I messed with you, and there were many hills, just like a small Weibo.

"Li Maozhen is such a terrible fighter. I have served for fifteen years and have served six governors, but I have never seen such a fool." In the governor's residence, Li Zan, who was elected as the governor, observed the faces of the civil and military officials in the hall and said cautiously: "Now the soldiers of Dazhenguanzhi have joined forces with the people of Bin and fled to Yongcheng. They are mad with hunger and thirst, and have no military discipline, but they want to enter the city... What do you think?"

"What else can we do? Let them in." Liu Bo, the commander of the Zhandao Command, stroked the black cat and laughed a few times: "The soldiers of the Dazhen Pass have wives and families in Yongcheng. If they starve to death, I'm afraid the people will be angry. Besides, Yanei also has their friends."

"This..." Li Zan frowned and dared not speak.

He didn't want to let the hungry soldiers in, fearing that he couldn't control them, but many of these troops were from the inner and outer garrisons of the yamen. If he didn't help them in need, it would make people feel mean and ungrateful - if he angered everyone, would he still be able to stay as the governor?
"Say something to the queen!" Seeing Li Zan acting like an ostrich, General Youya slammed the table and shouted angrily.

"What?" He Jin, the judge of the shogunate, took over the conversation and refuted: "Such a violent army, let it into the city to harm the people? Give them some food first to wake up, and then talk about it after they calm down in a few days."

"Humph." The general was displeased when he heard this: "Do you have the right to speak?"

He Jin was not afraid either. He put his right hand on the sword and sneered, "You must know that I am not just a sour scholar."

"That's enough." Seeing the tense situation, Deputy Jiedushi Zhang Fan tried to smooth things over, "Do you think it's interesting? If we continue to fight, will the imperial court come to destroy us? The saint was showing off his power under the city last time, and he has ulterior motives. Internal fighting will only benefit him."

"That's it."

"Stop arguing and think about what to do."

"Two Jiedushi died in half a year, five were left behind, and more than a dozen generals died. It's really laughable."

"Ugh……"

The civil and military officials sighed, Judge He Jin silently put away his sword, and the general snorted coldly and sat down again. "Give them wheat and some medicinal herbs for treatment." Li Zan said helplessly.

"Yes." The assistants took the order and left.

In fact, this is a trivial matter. Yongcheng is not short of food. The real issue that worries everyone is what should Qizhen do next.

Just as they said, it was a "ridiculous" thing - two military governors, five regents and more than ten generals were killed in the fight in half a year. If the saint raises his army to attack again one day, do you still want to live happily in Fengxiang?

Everyone still remembers clearly the hateful look on the saint's face when he sent troops to provoke under Yongcheng last time.

"Then, everyone..." In silence, Liu Bo, the commander of the Sword-Slashing Army, tried to probe: "In my opinion, we should take advantage of the violence of the combined forces and send our army to Chang'an to give the Saint a warning so that he will give up the idea of attacking us. Otherwise, if this goes on for a long time, they, they... oh, they are full and we are exhausted, and we will just be left with nothing."

One stone caused a thousand ripples, and the warriors immediately became active.

"Yes, yes, let's grab a handful of saints. The spring planting in Kinai should be over, right? Hehe, just in time to feed the horses."

"I don't want to attack the enemy. I just want to rob Zhuozhen, Xianyang, and Huyi. Attacking Chang'an will kill too many men. It's too dangerous."

"Wow, the Saint has provoked us by gathering troops in Yongcheng, and has also killed many of our comrades in arms in Guocheng. What kind of killing is this? He must not be forgiven for this vicious plot!"

"Okay, okay, let's rush to the capital and empty the mountains of grain and treasures in Daying, Qionglin, and Weibei warehouses."

Li Zan, who was looking down at the floor with a dull expression, had to look up when he heard this. He laughed stiffly along with the other generals: "Hahaha, kill!"

When the topic came to this, he didn't dare to disagree with Yanei.

Those who came to power through mutiny and murder can naturally be driven out by mutiny and murder. Those who do not cater to those below will die.

Li Zan did not have the courage to disobey his generals.

But he didn't want to go to Chang'an - Li Maozhen's previous experience was a lesson. If he didn't get any benefits, his whole family would be finished...

But now the warriors are getting excited, and the situation is beyond his control.

Zheng Ting was so prestigious back then that he was asked to step down by the officials after he was forbidden to rob and offend the warriors. If he hadn't had a group of supporters, his entire family would have lost their lives.

what can we do about it.

"Stay behind and make arrangements for the military affairs," the warriors urged.

Li Zan's face changed, and he stood up hastily, saying guiltily, "I'm going to the toilet, please wait a moment."

　There will be another update later. The college entrance examination is coming soon, so I'm quite busy.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)