Prime Minister

December of the fifth year of Xining

Zhang Yue led the main force of the Song Army to Ninghe Village (Xiangzi City).

This is the second time Zhang Yue has arrived at Xiangzi City. When he attacked Hezhou for the first time, he led [-] troops to garrison here and was surrounded by Fanjun regiments, but there was no news of Wang Shao in front of him.

Zhang Yue remembered that there were more than 2000 fan tents in the north of the city at that time.Wang Shao persuaded himself to kill them all, but he refused.Afterwards, the Fan army resumed besieging the city. These people not only did not appreciate the Song army, but assisted the Fan army to attack the city.

Zhang Yue had specially managed Ninghe Village before, not only fortified the city, but also added soldiers and rations.Although Wang Shao led the army to attack Minzhou, he did not dare to withdraw the soldiers and horses here, leaving a way for Wang Hou to retreat.

Therefore, although Jing Sili was defeated, Wang Hou led the remnants to retreat to the city to stabilize the situation, otherwise the situation in Hezhou would be too corrupted to be dealt with.

Now that he arrived at Ninghe Village again, Zhang Yue's state of mind has changed compared to half a year ago.

Zhang Yi, Wang Junwan, Zhong Shidao, Xi Qi, and Bao Shun also had [-] Tibetan cavalry to join forces with Zhang Yue.

After Zhang Yue heard from Zhang Yi that he not only defeated the Xixia reinforcements and the Erlejin tribe, but also pacified the Erlejin, a well-known tribe in Hezhou that was accustomed to conquering wars, he lightly reproached Zhang Yi with a few sentences.

Zhang Yu reasoned that it was difficult to control the cavalry of the Fan tribe below. If he was leading the Han army, it would definitely not be the case.

After that, Zhang Yue gathered all the generals in Ninghe village, and the main force of the Song army had arrived, and the famous generals gathered.

Among them are the envoy of the imperial city, Han Cunbao, the governor of Wenzhou, Hao Jin, the envoy of Zuozangku, Lin Guangqian, the envoy of Liuzhai, Yu Kedao, the governor of Guozhou, and Yao Xi and Yao Lin, the generals of the Yao family in the northwest.

Yao Xi, Yao Qi is known as the second Yao, even among the party members, they have a bad reputation, especially Yao Xi is the champion of the three armies.

When he was a general on Huanqing Road, he shot and killed the vanguard general who led the Xixia army with one arrow.

Another attack by Dangxiang, Yao Xi shot and killed hundreds of Dangxiang's cavalry one by one.

When the officials heard about Yao Si's reputation, they were skeptical and called him to Beijing for an interview on riding and shooting.

The officials knew that Er Yao was used to fighting, so he was specially transferred to Zhang Yue to attack Hezhou.

In addition to Yao Si, Yao Lin, Yao Gu, the third generation of Yao family generals, and Yao Xiong are also recruited.

The newly arrived generals are in full swing, thinking that Mu Zheng is a ghost, and Mu Zheng is vulnerable, while Er Yao Cong Bielu is even more eager to try, wanting to show off his skills.

However, Zhang Yue did not agree, and still followed the strategy formulated by Zhang Yi at the beginning, to level the outer periphery first, and then break the siege of Hezhou.

So Zhang Yue divided his troops in Ninghezhai, going north to the Yellow River and south to Nanshan, sweeping the mountains of Hezhou and the tribes in the river.

Zhang Yue said to the generals: "Those who are willing to surrender from the tribes in Hezhou will choose their strong and strong archers. At the same time, they will set up a stronghold, choose officials from the tribe to govern, and grant them fields."

"Each village chooses three or five commanders, with 250 people as the quota, one area for the archers, two hectares for the Tibetan officials, and three hectares for the big Tibetan officials. The Han officials and the Tibetan officials are in charge, so as to prevent the Han army from killing the Tibetans. The army takes credit, and each Fanjun can stab the word Fanjun in front of his left ear."

Wang Junwan heard clearly that this was Wang Shao's proposal to Zhang Yue.

Zhang Yue doesn't use his people but doesn't give up his strategies, which shows that he has a broad mind, which is never comparable to Wang Shao.

However, the newly recruited Fanjun is not as good as the Xizhou Fanjun, who has the benefits of salt money, but only grants land.

"As for the disobedient Fan tribes... they will all be wiped out!"

The generals said yes with a loud bang.

After the military discussion, Cai Jing said to Zhang Yue: "Don't send a letter from Wang Shao to Chengzhou!"

Cai Jing is now Zhang Yue's confidant, and he has read all the letters and official documents before submitting them to Zhang Yue.

Wang Shao is currently in charge of Chengzhou. Although Zhang Yue does not allow him to sign the text, he does not deprive the other party of the right to read the official documents of the court.

Wang Shao can know the battle report of Xizhou in Hezhou.

Wang Shao's letter is also a suggestion, asking Zhang Yuehou to provide compensation to the soldiers who died in the battle in Hezhou to rein in the army, especially the family members who stayed on Xihe Road should be properly settled.

Zhang Yue felt that Wang Shao's suggestion was very pertinent.

In addition, Wang Shao put forward a lot of his own opinions on the use of soldiers and imperial generals in Hezhou this time.

At the same time, in the letter, Wang Shao also apologized to Zhang Yue and admitted his mistake, saying that he was deceived by lard, disregarding Zhang Yue's kindness in promoting and recommending him, and then severely scolded himself.

Zhang Yue asked Cai Jing: "What does Yuan Chang think of Wang Zichun's letter?"

Cai Jingdao: "Wang Zichun is like Han Xin. He is not humble, he beats his own merits, and shows his ability. Han Xin can not forget the kindness of Piao's mother, who eats a lot of money, but forgets that Tingzi's wife gave food for several months, and he doesn't know Gaozu. Grace, appreciation and recommendation pull it out of humbleness, and make it wear three seals on its waist."

"Although Wang Zichun seems to know that he was wrong, in fact, he only saw our army make great achievements, so he regrets it."

Zhang Yue listened to Cai Jingzhi's words and smiled. Han Xin knew about the fact that Piao's mother had given him a lot of money. Han Xin was angry and no longer went to the pavilion leader's house to eat. As a result, he was too hungry to go fishing by the stream, so he met Piaomu and gave him a meal.

After Han Xin became famous, he gave Piaomu a daughter, but he didn't repay the pavilion chief, which can be seen.

Zhang Yue said: "If ten merits can't equal one evil, you can't hand them over. Yuan Chang's words are justified."

In the communication between people, you treat him well ten times, but you are not against him. Because you were not considerate once, he turned his face and broke up with you from then on.Such people should not associate with him.

After a pause, Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing: "But I won't invalidate my words because I can. You discuss the suggestions in Zichun's letter, and then report to me."

"Yes." Cai Jing was very happy to see Zhang Yue's trust, and then said: "The senior deputy director sent another letter asking for help."

Zhang Yue was very upset when he heard Gao Zunyu's letter asking for help.

But this time, it seemed that Xixia knew that the main force of the Song army was leaving Hezhou, so it stepped up its offensive against Dingxi City, and seemed to want to cut off the Song army's retreat, forcing the main force of the Song army to return to aid.

Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing: "Besieging Wei and saving Zhao is a common strategy in the art of war, and the Western thieves are also accustomed to this trick."

Cai Jingdao: "The tricks of the West Thieves really cannot be hidden from the Marshal."

Cai Jing knew that the news from the front was complicated, and Zhang Yue received countless such messages every day, but it was not easy to get a clear and calm understanding from so much information.

"But Dingxi City must not be lost, Yuan Chang grinds the ink for me."

Zhang Yue immediately took the pen and paper, while Cai Jing rubbed the ink for Zhang Yue.

When drafting official documents in the Department of Economics and Strategy, other people wrote for Zhang Yue. For example, the general texts were written by Xu Xi, and if it was more important, it was written by Cai Jing and Cai Bian brothers.

Zhang Yue himself just gave an outline or read it after they finished writing, and then sent it out in the name of the Economic Strategy Department.

Zhang Yue himself wrote to explain that this matter must be handled very carefully.

Zhang Yue wrote a letter to Gao Zunyu in his own handwriting, in which he expressed his humility to Gao Zunyu.

Zhang Yue and Gao Zunyu had some feuds at the beginning, but now Zhang Yue's emperor is in charge, and he can deal with all the generals on Xihe Road, including Gao Zunyu.

Its power is far from comparable to the original.

No matter how crazy Gao Zunyu is, no matter how much he relies on the backing of Empress Dowager Gao, he must restrain himself in front of Zhang Yue.

What's more, Zhang Yue wrote such a flattering letter to Gao Zunyu?

Zhang Yue said in the letter that this time the attack on Hezhou, the victory or defeat does not lie in Hezhou, but in whether Dingxi can stop the reinforcements from Xixia.

The outcome is in this battle. This time, I came to Xihe to serve under the imperial order. The officials are very concerned about the Xihe battle, and so are the two empress dowagers. Only by winning this battle can I live up to the emperor.

Therefore, the success or failure of Gao Zunyu in Dingxi is very important, and the success or failure of the battle depends on it.At the beginning, Wang Shao was arrogant and conceited, and didn't pay attention to General Gao, but I, Zhang Yue, have always known your abilities. Now that Wang Shao has been demoted, the entire Xihe battle depends entirely on you, Gao Zunyu.

I, Zhang Yue, is a scholar and I don’t know how to lead the army. I can only rely on you in the future. I hope you can help me a lot.

After Zhang Yue finished writing the letter, he said to Cai Jing: "Gao Zunyu is very famous and meritorious, you have to give him the fame and merit, don't argue with him about it, then he will try his best to defend Dingxi, and will not ask us for soldiers and food. "

"In addition, I will send ten altars of fine wine to Gao Zunyu."

Cai Jing admired the letter deeply.

I heard that Gao Zunyu and Zhang Yue were still at odds at the beginning, but it was very rare for Zhang Yue to put down his dignity and write such a letter to Gao Zunyu.

Zhang Yue finally said: "In the final analysis, it is the official business of the court, and there is no need to engage in personal disputes."

After this letter was sent to Dingxi City, Gao Zunyu was really happy.

Gao Zunyu raised his letter and said with a smile to General Miao Shou: "Now the manager knows that he relies heavily on me, Lao Gao."

Miao Shou also knew how to praise Gao Zunyu and said: "The general manager alone guards the [-] western thieves' army in Dingxi City, so that the other party dare not go south. Of course, Mr. Wang also understands that the victory of this battle depends entirely on the general manager."

Gao Zunyu nodded with a smile and asked, "Is there any movement from the thief outside the city?"

Miao Shou said: "I have been making small troubles all the time, but I couldn't break through our army's fortifications, and lost a lot of lives. Now it seems that I have sent some people to bypass Dingxi City and explore the way in the direction of Qinfeng or Xizhou! "

Gao Zunyu clapped the case and said: "Then how can we let the western thieves go around the city? We must let them all stay in Dingxi. It's a dilemma. Old Miao! You lead more than a hundred elites to ride out of the north gate, and I will use soldiers and horses to attack from left and right. Baojiao will break the thief this time!"

Miao Shou was overjoyed when he heard the words.

After the Xixia people came to attack, Gao Zunyu used the big method of shrinking, no matter how provocative the Xixia people were, he just didn't fight.

Even when the Xixia people put on a loose team, Gao Zunyu resolutely saw through that it was a Xixia trick and refused to fight.

But Miao Shou was jealous when he saw so many military achievements that he couldn't get it by himself. In the past month, he asked for battle many times, but was pushed back by Gao Zunyu's words of guarding the city carefully.

At this moment, Miao Shou got Gao Zunyu's instruction, so he hesitated, went back and ordered more than a hundred fine riders, opened the north gate and went out.

Sure enough, the Xixia people were not prepared at all, and Miao Shou stepped on several camps. Gao Zunyu saw that the Xixia people were unprepared, and immediately led the army out of the city to follow Miao Shou to cover up and kill them, defeating Xia's army.

Gao Zunyu reported a great victory in this battle, and more than [-] Xixia troops were annihilated and reported to the court.

At the same time, Zhang Yue's troops attacked from Hezhou in an all-round way, breaking Buqinbale and other tribes, burning their tents, sweeping all tribes in the south and west of Hezhou, and cutting off the reinforcements of Guizhang and Muzheng.

As for the ghost Zhang who surrounded Hezhou City, Mu Zheng was worried that Zhang Yue would cut off the way back to Nanshan, so he pulled out his stronghold overnight and retreated to Tabai City.

In January of the sixth year of Xining, a heavy snow fell suddenly. Zhang Yue, who had stayed in Ninghe village for more than a month, suddenly led his army northward.
Hezhou City, which had been besieged for several months, was recovered!