Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

The eunuch approached the table and stood three steps away, presenting the proclamation copied by the scout with both hands, and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, a scout has urgently reported that Zheng Tian of Fengxiang issued a proclamation the day before yesterday, which was sent to all under heaven."

Huang Chao placed the flatbread he was holding on the table, took the proclamation, and unfolded it.

Among the many rebel leaders throughout history, he can be considered a cultured person, after all, he had taken the imperial examinations, but unfortunately failed repeatedly.

As Huang Chao scanned the text quickly, his nonchalant expression gradually faded, replaced by a grimace. His half-closed eyes widened, and the whiskers at the corners of his mouth curled up.

He slammed the proclamation onto the table, causing the wine cup to bounce and spill wine, wetting half of the document.

"What a Zheng Tian!"

Huang Chao suddenly stood up and kicked the chair behind him to the ground. The rosewood chair crashed to the ground, causing all the civil and military officials in the hall to tremble, wondering what had happened to make him so furious.

"I heard that this fellow was bedridden and unable to speak just two months ago, and now he dares to issue me a challenge. The Tang army in Guanzhong is nothing but a defeated foe! How dare he!"

His voice was already rough and loud, but now, in his rage, it was like a muffled thunderclap that exploded in the hall, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

Zhao Zhang, one of the four prime ministers of the Great Qi Dynasty, remained expressionless. He simply stood up from behind his desk, bowed again, and said:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. What exactly has happened? May we take a look at this proclamation?"

"Take this and circulate it among yourselves."

Huang Chao picked up the proclamation, dusted off the wine stains, and handed it out.

Zhao Zhang took it and quickly read it through. After reading it, he continued to pass it on.

The civil and military officials didn't even have time to wipe the crumbs off their mouths, yet they dared not delay for a moment. After the proclamation was circulated around, they returned to Huang Chao's desk.

"Let's stop with the wishful thinking and just tell me your opinions."

Huang Chao looked around and his gaze fell on the group of generals. He could see the undisguised eagerness on the faces of these old brothers.

Seeing Huang Chao's gaze, the group of warriors could no longer hold back and all volunteered to fight.

"Your Majesty, what are you hesitating for? Send the troops!"

"Excellent! Excellent! King Huang, let's charge one more time with the brothers!"

"The Tang army is nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs. Your Majesty has granted me 30,000 men. I will take over the western provinces for Your Majesty."

"That's enough!"

Huang Chao grew impatient and stopped his generals from requesting permission to fight. He then turned his gaze to the civil officials, his eyes landing on Zhao Zhang, who had not yet taken his seat.

"Zilin (Zhao Zhang, courtesy name Zilin; meaning: both Zhang and Lin are beautiful jade), what do you think?"

"In my opinion, Zheng Tian's actions are not entirely a bad thing."

Zhao Zhang pondered for a moment, then stroked his beard and said.

Huang Chao laughed and cursed:

"What, his bounty on my head isn't a bad thing?"

Zhao Zhang calmly replied:

"Your Majesty, please consider this carefully. Last year, when the Tang Emperor fled west, 100,000 defeated soldiers from Guanzhong were scattered across the land, causing widespread panic and uncertainty. The military governors each had their own agendas; some were observing the situation, some were protecting themselves, and some were secretly colluding with others. The situation in Guanzhong was far from good, and there were too many things to guard against. However, Zheng Tian's proclamation has saved Your Majesty a lot of trouble."

Huang Chao frowned slightly:

"Go on."

Zhao Zhang said:

"Those military governors, they used to hide in their own territories, each with their own ulterior motives. If Your Majesty wanted to fight them, you had to take them down one by one. Now Zheng Tian has done something good, gathering them all together. Forty thousand troops sounds like a lot, but the troops from the various circuits west of the capital are all at odds with each other. They look down on each other. What right does Zheng Tian, ​​a prime minister sent to a remote post, have to command them? As soon as my Great Qi Heavenly Army arrives, won't this rabble be wiped out in one fell swoop? It will save Your Majesty from running around everywhere. Wouldn't that be much better?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Chao's expression indeed relaxed somewhat. He righted the overturned chair, sat down again, and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table, making a tapping sound.

He took Zhao Zhang's words to heart.

That makes some sense.

Those military governors used to be holed up in their own towns. He had to fight them one by one, which was time-consuming and laborious, and he might not be able to conquer the cities.

Now that Zheng Tian has brought them together, it saves him a lot of trouble.

Forty thousand troops sound impressive, but the various routes in western Beijing have always been at odds with each other. Jingyuan looks down on Shuofang, and Shuofang despises Fuyan. Although the Dangxiang cavalry are brave, they are still separated from the Han generals.

This rabble is a complete mob; it would be a miracle if they could actually work together on the battlefield.

That's the logic, but the unease in my heart just wouldn't go away.

Huang Chao picked up the half-finished wine on the table, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

Wine trickled down his chin, soaking the collar of his black robe, but he didn't seem to care. He slammed the wine cup down on the table and said:

"Zilin is right. However, there are still two things on my mind that I cannot put my mind at ease."

Zhao Zhang bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Huang Chao held up one finger and said:

"Firstly, there is Wang Chongrong in the east. That fellow killed my envoy and is still causing trouble. Although I have sent my brother Ye and Zhu Wen to suppress him, it will probably take more than ten days or half a month to determine a winner. If we start fighting in the west at this time, we will be fighting on two fronts and being attacked from both sides."

He paused, then extended his second finger:

"Secondly, I don't think all the Tang officials who surrendered in Chang'an were truly loyal. With Zheng Tian's proclamation, some might be tempted to make trouble and secretly collude. If I send all the troops out of Chang'an to fight Zheng Tian, ​​who can protect me from this stab in the back?"

Upon hearing this, the hall immediately fell silent.

Those military officers who had just been pounding the table and shouting for troops to be dispatched were now silent.

They all knew what fighting on two fronts meant.

Zhao Zhang pondered for a moment and said:

"Your Majesty's concerns are quite valid. However, in my opinion, there is no need to worry too much about these two matters. Although Wang Chongrong has occupied Hezhong, he only has 20,000 troops. Generals Huang and Zhu leading 50,000 troops to suppress him is more than enough. Even if they cannot achieve a swift victory, it will be enough to trap him in Hezhong, rendering him unable to move. As for the western front, Zheng Tian claims to have 40,000 troops, but in reality, only half of them are elite. Your Majesty only needs to send one capable general with tens of thousands of elite troops to defeat him with lightning speed, and the western provinces will naturally crumble. By then, Zhu and Huang should also have achieved their goals. With the two armies combined, Guanzhong can be secured. As for these surrendered officials in Chang'an..."

Zhao Zhang, having said this, laughed and said:

"His Majesty personally oversees Chang'an, his power extends throughout the land, who would dare to act rashly? Besides, His Majesty did not evacuate all the troops in Chang'an. He left 30,000 to 50,000 troops to guard the capital, and appointed trusted generals to take charge of the city's defenses. Even if someone harbors disloyal thoughts, they will not be able to cause any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Huang Chao's expression gradually relaxed.

Zhao Zhang then said:

"Your Majesty, I know Zheng Tian. He comes from the Zheng family of Xingyang, passed the imperial examination, and served as prime minister twice, with a good reputation. But he is ultimately a scholar. Nine out of ten scholars who lead troops are just armchair strategists. How many of those prime ministers can actually fight on the battlefield? Your Majesty is leading a battle-hardened army against a mere scholar; this is like throwing a stone at an egg. What is there to worry about?"

These words struck a chord with Huang Chao.

Who was Huang Chao?

He was a man who fought his way from Caozhou to Chang'an.

He was the man who led hundreds of thousands of troops across thousands of miles and conquered dozens of states.

Which of his old brothers didn't come from the brink of death and crawl out of piles of corpses?

Zheng Tian, ​​a mere old scholar who only knows how to write and paint, is he even worthy of being his enemy?

Huang Chao slammed his hand on the table, causing the bowls and plates to jump, and shouted:

"good!"

The civil and military officials in the hall were startled by his shout.

Huang Chao stood up, put his hands on his hips, and scanned the hall with his eyes like lightning, finally landing on the person at the very front of the military officers' ranks.

The man was about fifty years old, with a burly build, dark skin, and a neatly trimmed thick beard. His eyes were not large, but they shone brightly, revealing the fierceness of someone who had been through many battles.

He was Shang Rang, the Grand Commandant and Chancellor of the Great Qi Dynasty, and one of the four prime ministers.

Shang Rang was an old comrade who had followed Huang Chao since he started his uprising in Caozhou.

When Huang Chao and Wang Xianzhi joined forces, Shang Rang was one of Wang Xianzhi's generals.

After Wang Xianzhi died in battle, Shang Rang led his remaining troops to join Huang Chao, and from then on became Huang Chao's most trusted right-hand man.

Over the years, from Caozhou to Guangzhou, and from Guangzhou to Chang'an, Shang Rang followed Huang Chao across thousands of miles, achieving numerous military exploits. In the Great Qi Dynasty, no one could surpass him in terms of seniority and military achievements.

"Shang Rang!"

Huang Chao called out in a deep voice.

Shang Rang stepped out of the class, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Your subject is here."

"If I give you 50,000 elite troops, can you take down that old scoundrel Zheng Tian for me?"

Upon hearing this, Shang Rang's lips curled into a smile.

That smile radiated confidence.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said:

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Zheng Tian is merely a civil official, and his few tens of thousands of cobbled-together ragtag soldiers are no match for the battle-hardened army of our Great Qi. I am willing to sign a pledge: if I fail to raze Fengxiang to the ground and capture Zheng Tian alive, I will present my head to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Huang Chao laughed heartily and clapped his hands, saying:

"Excellent! Excellent! With Shang Rang here, what do I have to worry about?"

He paused, then looked around at the generals and said:

"I will find you another general; where is Wang Fan, the Prefect of the Capital?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a person stepped out from the train behind.

This man was over forty years old, with a sallow complexion and a light beard, and a handsome appearance. He was none other than Wang Fan, the Prefect of the Capital of the Great Qi Dynasty.

"Your subject is here."

Wang Fan bowed and said.

"I hereby appoint you as Military Advisor, assisting Shang Rang, and overseeing the supply and provisions. The two of you, one a civil official and the other a military commander, must work together to bring back to me the head of that old scoundrel Zheng Tian."

Wang Fan quickly bowed and said:

"Your subject obeys the decree. Your subject will certainly do everything in his power to assist the Grand Commandant and jointly defeat the Tang army."

Huang Chao nodded and then said:

"You two should go out and claim to have an army of 100,000. Isn't that old scoundrel Zheng Tian trying to lure the snake out of its hole? I'll let him see whether he's luring out a snake or a dragon!"

Shang Rang and Wang Fan bowed in unison and responded with a resounding roar:

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Huang Chao waved his hand:

"Then everyone disperse. All provisions and military equipment must be prepared within three days. Three days later, when the Tang army sets out, our Great Qi will also march forth to Fengxiang and utterly annihilate them!"

The civil and military officials in the hall all knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Shang Rang and Wang Fan walked out of Hanyuan Hall side by side.

Outside the palace, the bright spring sunshine shone on the square in front of Danfeng Gate, making the bluestone floor shine white.

In the distance, the palaces of Daming Palace gleamed in the sunlight, their glazed tiles reflecting a dazzling light.

Shang Rang walked ahead with his hands behind his back, his steps steady, while Wang Fan followed half a step behind, keeping pace with him.

The two walked one after the other for a while, then Shang Rang suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Wang Fan, and smiled:

"Wang Jingzhao, how much grain and fodder do you plan to take on this expedition?"

Wang Fan was taken aback and said:

"This humble official was just about to consult the Grand Commandant. With an army of 50,000, and on such a long march, the provisions and supplies should be sufficient for at least a month. However, His Majesty has only given us three days; I fear we may not be able to prepare everything in time..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shang Rang waved his hand, interrupting him.

"There's no need for such trouble. Zheng Tian's troops are nothing but a rabble. Our army will overwhelm them with overwhelming force and achieve victory within ten days. We don't need too much food; enough for fifteen days will suffice. Bringing too much will only slow down the march and delay Your Majesty's affairs. If we run out of food, the army can eat from the people wherever we go."

Upon hearing this, Wang Fan's heart sank slightly.

Having followed Huang Chao for many years, he was certainly not ignorant of military affairs and logistics; in fact, he was in charge of logistics when he was in the rebel army.

Fifty thousand troops were set out with only fifteen days' worth of provisions. If the battle were to be delayed even slightly, it would be a catastrophe.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Shang Rang's indifferent expression, he swallowed the words back.

Who is Shang Rang?

He was the Grand Commandant of the Great Qi, Huang Chao's most trusted old brother, and a veteran general who had fought alongside Huang Chao for ten years.

What qualifications does Wang Fan have to teach Shang Rang how to fight?

Moreover, Shang Rang's words may not be entirely without merit.

The Tang army's forces were indeed insignificant.

Last year, the Tang army was defeated by the Qi army in one fell swoop at Tongguan Pass, a natural fortress.

Zheng Tian has only gathered tens of thousands of defeated soldiers. What trouble can they possibly cause?

Thinking of this, Wang Fan nodded and said:

"The Grand Commandant is right. Then I will go and prepare the provisions immediately."

Shang Rang nodded in satisfaction, then turned and continued walking forward.

-----------------

Li Cenji had imagined that his days accompanying the central army would involve riding ahead in the biting spring chill, leading his thousand cavalrymen to gallop back and forth, protecting the two flanks of the central army.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Tian summoned him to his side as soon as they left the city.

The thunderous sound of hooves shook the ground slightly, and the air was filled with the smell of dust mixed with horse sweat.

He was riding his horse when he heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats behind him.

Looking back, he saw a junior officer named "Swift Thunder General" from Zheng Tian's side, galloping up to him. The officer dismounted and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Commander, the General summons you."

Li Cenji dared not delay, and instructed Zhou Ping to continue leading the cavalry forward. He then turned his horse around and followed the junior officer toward the central army.

In the center of the army, Zheng Tian's military banner fluttered high.

Li Cenji rode his horse to the central army camp and saw his mentor already sitting in a spacious carriage.

The carriage was specially made, with a spacious interior and windows on all four sides. In the center of the carriage was a low table with maps, documents, writing materials, and other items laid out on it.