Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Cheng Zongchu raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at the young man out of the corner of his eye.

He still remembered that at the apprenticeship banquet two months ago, Li Cenji had a fair complexion and a short beard, and looked like a pampered member of the imperial family.

Now that he's gotten so dark, it really looks like he's put in a lot of hard work.

He nodded inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

The expressions on the faces of Qiu Gongyu, Li Xiaochang, Tuoba Sigong, and Tang Hongfu were varied.

But what they were thinking was roughly the same:

On such an occasion, Zheng Tian deliberately called a disciple he had only accepted two months prior to his side, making his intention to cultivate this young man quite obvious.

Presumably, Zheng Tian was severely weakened after suffering from paralysis, and his son Zheng Ningji had accompanied the emperor to Shu, leaving him with no capable subordinates. Therefore, he was eager to cultivate a successor for himself.

However, we'll have to wait and see how much real skill Li Cenji possesses.

Among the officers and soldiers of Fengxiang town, everyone was astonished that Lord Zheng so openly valued Li Cenji.

Li Cenji naturally couldn't see these subtle changes in expression.

He walked steadily between the two rows of long seats, his eyes fixed straight ahead, and went straight to Zheng Tian's side. He stood to the right of Zheng Tian, ​​his hands hanging down, his posture upright, but his heart was churning with emotions.

He naturally understood the intention behind his mentor's actions.

This kindness and trust weighed heavily on his heart.

He lowered his eyes slightly, suppressing the emotion that had overwhelmed him, and then raised his eyes again, looking calmly at the hall above.

His teacher asked him to learn, so he studied diligently.

The junior officer who was originally standing to Zheng Tian's left with the documents in his hand, upon seeing this, very tactfully took half a step back and gave up his position.

Zheng Tian turned his head and glanced at Li Cenji, his gaze carrying a hint of kindness that was not easily noticed by others.

He didn't say much, just nodded slightly, and then turned his gaze back to the people in the hall.

The silence in the hall lasted for a moment longer.

Zheng Tian finally spoke.

"Gentlemen."

His voice wasn't loud, but it steadily suppressed the breathing of everyone in the room.

"I have invited you all here today because I have an important matter to discuss with you."

Everyone pricked up their ears.

Zheng Tian didn't rush to continue. Instead, he turned and took a letter from Li Cenji's hand. The letter had originally been held by the junior officer, and Li Cenji had taken it from him when he stopped.

Zheng Tian waved the letter and said, "King Chongrong of Hezhong sent this letter."

These words immediately caused a low commotion in the hall.

Wang Chongrong was originally the Hezhong Military Governor Li Du, in charge of military discipline and supervision, and was highly respected in the Hezhong army.

In November of the first year of Guangming, Huang Chao's army swept through the enemy lines and marched towards Tongguan.

At that moment, Li was panicked and didn't know how to deal with it.

Taking advantage of the conflict with Li Du, Wang Chongrong launched a coup, drove Li Du out of Hezhong, and took over the position of the acting governor of Hezhong.

The term "liuhou" means acting as the military governor.

According to the rules of the Tang Dynasty, when a military governorship was vacant, the imperial court would appoint another one.

However, ever since the An Lushan Rebellion, with the rise of regional warlords, this rule has become virtually meaningless.

Whoever has troops can take command of the military governorship, and the court will simply issue an edict of recognition afterward.

After capturing Hezhong, Wang Chongrong knew that his forces were too weak to stop Huang Chao's rebel army.

At that time, Huang Chao was in a hurry to break through Tongguan and occupy Guanzhong, and had no time to spare to deal with Hezhong.

Wang Chongrong then sent an envoy to Huang Chao to express his goodwill, saying that he was willing to submit to the Great Qi, but asked the Great Qi emperor to postpone sending troops to garrison Hezhong.

Huang Chao was then fully engaged in attacking Tongguan, and was happy to have one less enemy, so he agreed.

Although there was no explicit agreement between the two parties, they had reached a tacit understanding:

Although Hezhong nominally submitted to the Great Qi, it was in reality still Wang Chongrong's territory.

Huang Chao didn't bother him, and he didn't cause trouble for Huang Chao.

Two months have passed in the blink of an eye, and it's still going on now...

Inside the hall, the crowd was buzzing with discussion.

The military governor of Hezhong controlled the strategic pass of Puban and the Yellow River crossing.

When Huang Chao attacked Tongguan, Wang Chongrong was one of the first warlords to submit a petition to surrender.

How long has it been?

It's been less than two months!

Now, it's unclear what exactly happened, but the tacit understanding between Wang and Huang has been completely broken.

Cheng Zongchu was the first to lose his composure and said in a loud voice:

"Lord Zheng, what has that scoundrel Wang Chongrong done this time?"

Zheng Tian handed the letter to the junior officer beside him, gesturing for him to pass it around for everyone to see, and slowly said:

"Wang Chongrong killed Huang Chao's envoy to persuade him to surrender, and brought the entire town of Hezhong back to the imperial court."

These words were like a pebble thrown into boiling oil, causing an immediate uproar in the hall.

"What?!"

"Wang Chongrong surrendered and then rebelled again?"

"This fellow is fickle and unreliable; who can trust him!"

"What exactly happened?"

Zheng Tian raised his hand and gestured for everyone to be quiet.

After the commotion subsided slightly, he continued:

"The matter is actually quite simple. Huang Chao has repeatedly demanded higher taxes from Hezhong, levying grain, money, conscripting laborers, and soldiers. According to Wang Chongrong, in just two months, Huang Chao sent over a hundred envoys to Hezhong, which is truly outrageous. Moreover, after arriving in Hezhong, Huang Chao's envoys were arrogant and domineering, treating Wang Chongrong like a subordinate general, ordering him around at will. Who is Wang Chongrong? He is the military governor of a town in Hezhong, commanding twenty to thirty thousand elite troops. How could he tolerate such filth? His officers and subordinates were also angry at the envoys' arrogance and took the opportunity to speak to him. He then directly beheaded a group of envoys and sent messengers to make contacts everywhere, saying that he wanted to return to the court and join forces to fight Huang Chao. Now, Huang Chao has sent Zhu Wen and Shang Rang with 50,000 troops to suppress him, and the troops are probably already on their way."

He paused here, his gaze sweeping over the people in the hall:

"This letter was written to me. It is written in earnest words, saying that the town of Hezhong is willing to act as the vanguard for the court, and only asks that all provinces send troops to support us in attacking Huang Chao."

A buzz of discussion arose again from below the hall.

Cheng Zongchu spoke first, his voice loud and clear:

"Lord Zheng, this is excellent news! Hezhong is the throat of Guanzhong. If Wang Chongrong can truly return to the court, it will be like driving a thorn in Huang Chao's back! We will advance from the west, and he will support us from the east. With a pincer attack, how can we not recapture Chang'an?"

Before he could finish speaking, a cold laugh came from the side.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Tang Hongfu, the military governor of Shuofang.

The elderly general, with his white hair and beard, took a slow sip of tea before leisurely saying:

"Commander Cheng, you speak so lightly. Do you not know who Wang Chongrong is? Last year, when Huang Chao marched west to Tongguan, the court summoned him to reinforce the city, but he remained inactive, observing the situation. After Huang Chao broke through Tongguan, he was among the first to submit a memorial of allegiance. Now, only a few days later, he claims he wants to return to the court? Such a fickle man can betray Huang Chao today and the court tomorrow. Commander Cheng, you want to be his vanguard? I'll have to wait and see. Who knows, we might just raise our troops and march towards Chang'an, and he might already be surrendering to Huang Chao again. Then, both sides will join forces and attack us together."

These words, though spoken in a seemingly casual tone, hit the nail on the head.

Cheng Zongchu's face stiffened, and he was about to retort when Qiu Gongyu, the military commissioner of Qin Prefecture, spoke first.

"General Tang is right."

Qiu Gong coldly said:

"I've dealt with Wang Chongrong before. Back when he was a military commander, he was the kind of guy who would do anything for anyone. The fact that he killed Huang Chao's envoy today may not be because he genuinely submitted to the court, but rather because he felt that Huang Chao was pushing him too far."

Cheng Zongchu's face flushed red, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying:

"Commander Qiu's words are utterly unreasonable! No matter how much Wang Chongrong changes his mind, the fact remains that he killed Huang Chao's envoy! Huang Chao has already dispatched Zhu Wen and Shang Rang with 50,000 troops to suppress him, that's also a fact! He wrote a letter asking for help, does the court just stand by and watch Huang Chao wipe him out? If he loses Hezhong, Huang Chao will have no worries in the east, and then he can launch a full-scale attack on Guanzhong to the west. How will we resist then?"

Li Xiaochang, the military governor of Fuyan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

His voice was not loud, and his tone was calm, yet it silenced everyone.

"What Commander Cheng said is indeed true. If Hezhong is lost, Huang Chao will have no worries about the east. From this perspective, Wang Chongrong cannot fall."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Li Xiaochang then changed the subject:

"However, the concerns of Commander Tang and Commander Qiu are not without merit. Wang Chongrong is not entirely trustworthy. We cannot refuse his request for help, but we also cannot give him our full strength. In my opinion, we can send a detachment eastward to make it appear as if we are providing support, but we do not need to actually engage Huang Chao's main force. As long as Wang Chongrong feels that the court has not abandoned him, he will hold Hezhong to the death. Huang Chao will be attacked from two sides, and sooner or later he will reveal a weakness."

These words were measured and polite, offending no one, but they didn't offer any real solutions.

He truly believed that listening to his words was like listening to a lecture; his ability to smooth things over was first-rate.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zongchu snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Tang Hongfu and Qiu Gongyu exchanged a glance and remained silent.

Tuoba Sigong, the only barbarian general, sat calmly on the sidelines, not uttering a single word.

Seeing that the military governors at the head of the table were arguing endlessly and could not reach a conclusion, the officers and soldiers below naturally kept their eyes down and did not dare to interrupt.

Zheng Tian took in everyone's reactions.

He didn't rush to express his opinion, but instead picked up the cup of tea that had long since gone cold and took a small sip.

When he made a move, the hall fell silent again.

Everyone knew that while the various military governors expressed their opinions, the one who truly made the decisions was the old prime minister sitting at the head of the table.

Zheng Tian put down his teacup, looked around, and asked with feigned surprise:

"Please speak freely, everyone. Why are you looking at me? Is there anyone else who has something to say? Don't be bound by official titles or ranks; just speak your mind. Let's pool our wisdom and make a collective effort!"

Even so, no one in the audience spoke up. After all, the various military commanders had already discussed all the possible solutions, and no one else had any better ideas.

Seeing this, Zheng Tian turned his head to look at the young man standing beside him, leaning on his sword, and asked:

"Jingzhi, what's your opinion?"

Li Cenji was caught off guard by being called on so suddenly, as if he had been transported back to his school days when he was called on to answer questions during class.

However, he was no longer a student, so for him, who knew about the Battle of Longwei Slope, this was like an open exam.

Li Cenji took a small step forward and replied:

"Reporting back to Commander-in-Chief, this humble general leans more towards Commander Cheng's view."

Most of the generals present felt that Cheng Zongchu's words were too rash, and even he, a general in Jingyuan Town, might not have fully agreed with them in private.

Now that they saw the young officer who had been summoned by Zheng Tian actually agreeing, they couldn't help but look at him.

Cheng Zongchu laughed heartily and clapped his hands, saying:

"Very well, Commander Li, I knew you were a sensible man!"

Tang Hongfu frowned slightly but did not speak. He simply turned his gaze to Zheng Tian.

Zheng Tian remained expressionless, simply holding his teacup, and said calmly:

"Oh? Tell me, why do you lean towards Cheng Shuai's opinion?"

Li Cenji took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said:

"Gentlemen, I am of low rank and my words carry little weight, and I should not presume to speak out. However, since Lord Zheng has given the order, I have dared to speak frankly."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, and slowly began to speak:

"I wholeheartedly agree with what General Tang and General Qiu just said. Wang Chongrong is indeed a fickle and unpredictable man, and cannot be entirely trusted. On this point, I share the same view as the two generals."

Upon hearing this, Tang Hongfu and Qiu Gongyu's expressions softened slightly.

Cheng Zongchu was taken aback. Just now this kid said he was inclined to his opinion, how come he turned around and started to fawn over Tang Hongfu?

"However, I believe that whether Wang Chongrong is fickle or not is not the most important matter at the moment. The most important matter is that Huang Chao has already sent Zhu Wen and Shang Rang with 50,000 troops to suppress him. This force is Huang Chao's troops detached from Guanzhong. Whether Wang Chongrong's surrender is genuine or feigned, he has indeed tied down a portion of Huang Chao's forces for the court. If the court remains inactive now and allows Huang Chao to eliminate Wang Chongrong first, then when Huang Chao is free to focus all his efforts on heading west, the pressure on Fengxiang will not be what it is now."

He paused slightly at this point, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the military governors at the head of the table before finally settling on Zheng Tian, ​​and continued speaking.

"However, regarding Commander Cheng's suggestion of 'sending troops to provide support,' I believe there is no need to rush. Since Wang Chongrong is such a fickle man, why should the court risk its own interests for him? If he demands that the court send troops, the court can comply, but it doesn't necessarily have to actually fight. I do have a plan that might be more prudent than directly advancing eastward to provide support."

Zheng Tian's eyes flickered slightly, a look of interest appearing on his face. He stroked his beard and said:

"Tell me about it."

Li Cenji clasped his hands and said:

"Does the General still remember that in the imperial edict, you were appointed 'Commander-in-Chief of the Military Camps on All Sides of the Capital'?"

Zheng Tian nodded.

The imperial edict arrived at the same time as Li Cenji's promotion edict, and it was issued by the emperor in Xingyuan Prefecture in the first month of the year.

Zheng Tian was appointed Grand Master of the Palace, Acting Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Chancellor of the Secretariat and the Chancellery, and Minister of War. He was also appointed Military Governor of Fengxiang and Longyou, and given the additional title of "Commander-in-Chief of the Military Camps of the Four Circuits of the Capital". He was to take command of the troops of the western circuits of the capital and preside over the recapture of Chang'an.

Although the title of "Commander-in-Chief of the Military Camps in All Directions of the Capital" was prestigious, Zheng Tian never truly raised the banner of authority.

Firstly, he had just recovered from a serious illness and his energy and physical condition were not yet fully restored, making it difficult for him to support high-intensity marching and fighting.

Secondly, the defeated soldiers in Guanzhong had not yet been gathered up and retrained.

Thirdly, in those days, regional military governors were used to being arrogant and domineering; who would truly obey orders? Zheng Tian was an extremely intelligent man, well aware that although he held the title of Commander-in-Chief, he had no real power. Forcibly trying to command the various regions would only invite ridicule. Therefore, after the edict reached Fengxiang, he only privately contacted several military commanders to rally support under the guise of "discussing the grand plan to suppress the rebels," never truly raising the banner of Commander-in-Chief.