Han Shizu

Chapter 549 Hunan: After you sing, I will appear
When Zhong Mo walked out of the south gate of the imperial city, it was already dark, and the surrounding area was heavily guarded. The imperial guards stood still like sculptures, and did not look sideways at him, who walked out of the palace gate.

Above the night, there was a crescent moon, the moonlight was dim, but under the imperial city, Zhong Mo looked relieved, looking back at the towering Han imperial city, heaved a sigh tone.

After a question and answer with Emperor Han, his intention to release himself back to Jinling was obvious, that is, he wanted to serve him as the internal support of the Northern Han Dynasty in the small court of the Southern Tang Dynasty.For Zhong Mo, this is not very joyful, because after thinking about it, it seems to be a poisonous fruit.

First of all, if he returns from Tokyo to the south, whether he can gain the trust of Li Jing and the Southern Tang court is a problem. If he is accused of collaborating with the enemy like Li Deming, that kind of result is not what he wants to see.

Secondly, being a traitor to the Lord is a bit difficult.If you were given a half-official position in the Han court, you still have such a big obstacle in your heart. If you go back to Jinling and eat Tang Lu, but do something that betrays the emperor and the country, it will always be bad for your reputation if it is spread.

However, after thinking about it, Zhong Mo found that he didn't have any more choices.As soon as Emperor Han summoned him, there was no room for him to live in the Tokyo market.On the other hand, even though he could endure a poor life, Zhong Mo really didn't want to be like this for a long time in his heart. In addition, his wife and family were all in Jiangdong, so it was always a good thing to be able to return to his hometown.

Another point is that what Zhong Mo said to Emperor Han was all from his heart. He really felt that according to the current situation, it was only a matter of time before the Northern Han Dynasty leveled the kingdoms and unified the world.

Take one step, count one step, Zhong Mo can only make this plan temporarily.Probably because he knew Zhong Mo's poverty and predicament, Liu Chengyou rewarded him with a hundred taels of silver. The reward was heavy in his arms, but Zhong Mo's footsteps were extremely brisk.When he returned to the rented residence, Zhong Mo had already thought about how to explain to Li Jing and how to face the Southern Tang courtiers' questioning after returning to Jinling.

"Your Majesty, Zhong Mo boarded the ship and returned to the south with the certificate issued by the Ministry of Rites!" In the palace, Liu Chengyou received a report: "Before Zhong Mo left, he reported generously to the sojourners and those who benefactors, and hired them in the city. I have two followers as guards."

"Since I can recite the kindness of lodging and food, I hope it can live up to my high expectations!" Liu Chengyou said lightly, and ordered: "It's more convenient to pass orders along the checkpoints!"

"Yes!"

After Grain Grain, the temperature has risen significantly, and the large wheat fields in Hebei have already begun to be harvested.Here in Tokyo, it was another summer rain, with heavy rainfall.

"Your Majesty, slow down, your clothes are wet!" Holding a big umbrella, Zhang Dejun followed step by step, reminding him, a little flustered.

It wasn't until Liu Chengyou slowed down in the Privy Council that Zhang Dejun put away his umbrella, and hurriedly helped to dust off the raindrops on the imperial robe.

"Okay, take care of it yourself!" Liu Chengyou pointed at Zhang Dejun's robe, which was more than half wet.

Inside the Privy Council, there is an orderly scene. Because of the weather, it is less busy and more leisurely.Along the way, the officials put down all the affairs in their hands and saluted.

In the military computer room, the two envoys Zhe Cong Ruan and Guo Rong were discussing something, when they heard that the Son of Heaven was coming, they hurried out to greet him.

"Free gift!"

"Make tea for Your Majesty!" Guo Rongchao ordered.

"Sit!" Liu Chengyou sat down with a big horse golden knife, motioned to Chao Zhe and Guo, and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Guo Rong laughed lightly and said, "Cao Yin of Lizhou reported that Zhou Xingfeng had sent troops to Langzhou. He sent [-] troops from Changsha. He entered both land and water, and the target was directed at Wuling!"

"This Zhou Xingfeng, I can't sit still!" Liu Chengyou couldn't help laughing.

In the two months since the end of the Huainan War, the situation in Hunan has changed dramatically. With Ma Chu's old generals Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng as the protagonists who sworn brothers, around Langzhou, there has been a wave of changes and brothers turning against each other. .

The cause of the incident lies in Wang Kui, the envoy of Wuping Jiedu. He was ordered to attack the Tang Dynasty, intending to take a bite of the fat meat of the Southern Tang Dynasty, but he did not expect that Ezhou is a hard bone, and he was beaten by the Tang general Liu Renshan. , Losing nearly half of the soldiers, they returned in embarrassment and returned to Langzhou.

After the destruction of Ma Chu, Hunan's military administration, except for the south of Gui and Chen, which was captured by the army of the Southern Han Dynasty, the rest of the territory was basically divided up by the ten brothers Wang Kui.Among them, Wang Kui is the most powerful, occupying Langzhou, and most of his soldiers are Wuling soldiers, who were the backbone of their original army against the Ma family and the Tang army.

However, after the defeat of Ezhou, the military strength was greatly reduced, and the strength of the best brothers was lost, which broke the internal balance of Hunan.Wang Kui, a warrior, was originally just a general under Ma Xie's subordinates. He was brave and seldom planned, without foresight, perverse personality, insatiable greed.

Of course, probably as a kind of instinct, he felt that his strength was weakened, and he was afraid of being spied on by others, especially Zhou Xingfeng who occupied Tanzhou.If you want to expand your strength, the easiest and quickest way is to annex other people's troops.

Therefore, Wang Kui set his sights on Chenzhou, west of Langzhou, which was occupied by Pan Shusi, one of the ten brothers.He sent his subordinates to lead an army of two thousand to march westward along the Yuanshui River to ask for money and food to make up for Wuling.

Wang Kui is greedy, and his subordinates are even more greedy, and even more ruthless.Pan Shusi was not made of mud either. Facing the persecution of Lang soldiers, he simply defeated the army sent by Wang Kui under the city of Yuanling.

Once he made a move, there was no room left, Pan Shusi became ruthless, and simply mobilized all Chenzhou soldiers, and quickly marched eastward, intending to preemptively strike before Wang Kui could react.During the raid on Wuling City, Wang Kui was unprepared and was captured by him in one fell swoop. Wang Kui was killed by the rebels.

From this, Pan Shusi successfully occupied Langzhou, the source of disaster in Hunan.

Probably Pan Shusi, he didn't expect that the progress would be so easy, and he was overjoyed by surprise.However, the action was swift. He recruited scattered soldiers, annexed Wang Kui's subordinates instead, and was able to occupy Lang and Chen prefectures, with more than 5000 soldiers, and became a big force in Hunan, and his ambitions followed.

After occupying Langzhou, Pan Shusi quickly changed his position and began to worry about other brothers. The biggest threat to him was of course Zhou Xingfeng who occupied Changsha.

Zhou Xingfeng originally had Changsha city that was looted and destroyed by the Tang army, but he was ruthless and capable enough. After taking control of Changsha, he once killed hundreds of lawbreakers in one day, and his opponents claimed their merits and harmed the people. He was also merciless, and was able to quickly stabilize people's hearts and restore order.

Afterwards, he recruited refugees and took in the Chu soldiers. When Huainan was in full swing, he sent troops south to control Hengzhou, and under the orders of the Han court, recruited Gui, Chen, Yong, Dao and other states, and actively suggested that Zhang Wenbiao and other brothers to garrison.

Later, there was a quarrel with Wang Kui, and each wrote to the court, pointing fingers at each other.Liu Chengyou was very friendly and asked Zhou Xingfeng to lead the army to attack the Tang Dynasty. Zhou Xingfeng also did the same, leading the army out of the city, and went east to attack Yuanzhou in the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Zhou Xingfeng was a very scheming man. He entered the Tang Dynasty, faced the generals of the Tang Dynasty and defended the city, and didn't care. He led an army to monitor, and dispatched his subordinates to plunder property and people in Yuanzhou, and captured [-] men and women. The goods were returned to Changsha.

Within half a year, Zhou Xingfeng was able to actually control the two prefectures of Tan and Heng, with tens of thousands of soldiers, and his strength completely surpassed the defeated Wang Kui.

Therefore, when Pan Shusi got Langzhou, how could he not express his fear of Zhou Xingfeng, a hungry wolf.While training soldiers and horses, repairing the city, and searching for money and food, he sent people to Changsha to tell Zhou Xingfeng his "difficulties" in attacking Wang Kui, saying that he only wanted to survive, and generously invited Zhou Xingfeng to live in Wuling City.

In this regard, Zhou Xingfeng expressed his understanding, and offered to propose to the Tokyo court to ask Pan Shusi to be the envoy of the Wuping Army.Pan Shusi refused to accept it, and helped Liu Yan, the former Jiedu envoy who was originally promoted by his ten brothers as a "face", to the stage, and he acted as a deputy envoy, and at the same time he went to Tokyo.

Regarding the situation in Hunan, the Han court did not intend to intervene, and took a wait-and-see attitude, and the imperial edict agreed.Having got what he wanted, and with the "righteousness" in hand, Pan Shusi felt at ease, and began to enjoy himself in Wuling City.

And Zhou Xingfeng, how could he not have ambitions for Langzhou, seeing that he had successfully paralyzed Pan Shusi, he began to stir up his subordinates.Previously in Changsha, Sun Lang and Cao Jin, who rebelled against the frontier, entered his field of vision.

At the beginning, after the two men led their subordinates to seek refuge with Wang Kui, they were highly valued. In the process of expelling the Tang army, they made a lot of achievements based on their familiarity with the Tang army.After Wang Kui was killed by Pan Shusi, he was incorporated together. However, under Pan Shusi's command, his wealth and official position were not promoted, and he felt resentful.

Faced with Zhou Xingfeng's secret contact, he was really tempted. Not long ago, he held a banquet and killed Pan Shusi, and directly led the army to raid the commander's mansion, and also solved the Jiedu envoy Liu Yan by the way.Later, the two occupied Langzhou. Sun Lang claimed to be the military governor of Wuping Army, and Cao Jin was the military governor of Chenzhou.

Regarding this, before the Hanting side responded, Zhou Xingfeng acted first.

Guo Rong said to Liu Chengyou: "Zhou Xingfeng used the banner of 'do justice for the sky, control violence and chaos', and widely distributed a message to the brothers in the south, saying that it was revenge for Liu Yan and Pan Shusi. The minister discussed with Zhegong It is believed that after several rebellion attacks and killings in Langzhou, the military strength has dropped sharply, and the morale of the army is unstable. I am afraid that Sun Lang and Cao Jin will not be able to stop Zhou Xingfeng!"

Liu Chengyou nodded and asked, "As for the chaos in Hunan, what do you two think the court should do?"

Zhe Congruan replied: "Wang Kui, Liu Yan, and Pan Shusi were all awarded by the imperial court. Their subordinates rebelled and attacked each other, completely ignoring the authority of the imperial court. If we follow this, in order to consolidate the majesty of the imperial court, we should Support Zhou Xingfeng to quell the chaos. However, Zhou Xingfeng sent troops privately without the permission of the imperial court. It was clearly in the name of quelling the chaos and revenge, and the fact of annexation and expansion. His ambition is obvious, and he cannot indulge! If Zhou Xingfeng is allowed, If Langzhou is occupied again, it will occupy the fertile land in Hunan, and it will definitely cause harm, and it will be even more difficult for the imperial court to control it in the future!"

"Have you noticed that this Zhou Xingfeng is extremely proficient in pulling tiger skins to make a banner!" Liu Chengyou nodded and smiled.

(End of this chapter)