Five Dynasties River Mountains Fengyue

Chapter 189
From April to May, the training of soldiers outside Daliangcheng City was in full swing, and the lives of the people in the city were also much better off.

Most of the soldiers of the Imperial Army were people from Daliang and its vicinity. After the victory in the Huainan Battle, Shi Congyun blackmailed the Southern Tang court and rewarded the soldiers once, and the court rewarded them once. Soldiers and their families got richer.

If there is only money and no goods, then no matter how much money you have, it will be scrap iron, just like in the war years, no one wants money, but only real food, cloth and so on.

Otherwise, even if you have money, you will fall into a situation where you have money and have no place to spend it, and eventually the currency is worthless. This is almost the case in the past few decades. The reason, because of the confusion, is that money is worthless.

Rewarding soldiers is also to use real things such as cloth, food, wine and meat.

In the past, there was trade between Southern Tang and Dazhou, but it was also strictly controlled, and the trade between the two countries was not in circulation, so the hundreds of thousands of indemnities paid by the Southern Tang Kingdom will also be greatly reduced, because although copper coins are value currency and not the credit currency of later generations, if If you can't buy something, it will still depreciate greatly.

Therefore, Shi Congyun has been trying to open up trade with Southern Tang since March. If they disagree, they must agree to it forcefully, so that their indemnity can be paid to the soldiers, and they can also exchange specific value goods from Jiangnan. Otherwise, the soldiers Coin rewards obtained will be greatly reduced.

In the end, the imperial court agreed with him, and the Southern Tang Dynasty naturally did not dare to disobey the Great Zhou. It not only fully opened up the trade between the two countries, but also stipulated that the newly minted coins of the Great Zhou could pass in the south of the Yangtze River.

This has brought great benefits to many soldiers, and made them more enthusiastic about fighting. Everyone was encouraged, thinking of following him to go out again, and it also gave Shi Congyun more prestige in the army.

The return of these soldiers from Huainan also injected new vitality into Daliang to a large extent, making Daliang more prosperous.

Therefore, strategically speaking, the best way to fight a war is to fight a war that is profitable, a war that is supported by war, and a war of attrition is a last resort, and it should be avoided as much as possible.

……

Shi Congyun thought about it all night, and he thought it best to ask Zhao Kuangyin. It would be a good thing if a strong general like Zhao Kuangyin could work, and now he is not fighting alone, and his father is also the second in command of the bodyguard department. The influence of their father and son is not someone else within easy reach.

So the next day, when he arrived at the front of the temple, he made up his mind.

Zhao Kuangyin was in the same official office as him, but at Shi Congyun's level, he no longer needs to be responsible for trivial matters such as arranging patrols and deployments. Every day, the officers below will report to him, and he only needs to nod That's it.

He was originally sitting in Zhang Yongde's seat, the upper seat in the six-door office wing of the official office, and Zhao Kuangyin was in the side seat by the window.

Shi Congyun originally thought that he would ask about this matter, because the senior officials in front of the palace had already heard the news, and the court decided to attack Jingnan, and he was still in command.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Kuangyin didn't ask a word from the beginning to the end, Shi Congyun was suspicious, and the two had their own thoughts, so Shi Congyun chatted with Zhao Kuangyin without saying a word, and didn't say anything important.

He is also an old fritter, Shi Congyun has a ulterior motive, and he doesn't know what Zhao Kuangyin is thinking, but he knows that it is absolutely impossible for Zhao Kuangyin not to know that he is going to lead the expedition.

So the enemy doesn't move and I don't move, he casually said a few words to Lao Zhao, until the afternoon was about to go straight, and suddenly said: "Brother Zhao, do you have time to have a drink together?"

As soon as Lao Zhao got up, he was taken aback by what he said, and then he laughed and said: "How dare I refuse the invitation from the deputy commander-in-chief, of course, it is better to obey than to be respectful!"

The words were bold, and Shi Congyun also agreed, but he could vaguely hear something wrong from the words. After all, Shi Congyun was an old fritters, and often some details could not escape his ears.

The check in front of the hall is generally called the commander in chief, and his deputy is called the deputy commander in chief, also known as the deputy commander.

It's just that his prestige in the Huainan Battle was too high, and he gained the morale of the army. Although the officials finally let Zhang Yongde be the inspector of the capital, most of the soldiers believed that he should be the one, because he contributed the most.

So even if he is a deputy inspector, except for the civil service system of the imperial court and the people in the Privy Council, all the soldiers in the army are called Marshal Zhang Yongde. Zhang Yongde is too old, if he is still called the deputy palace commander, it will be too much.

Old Zhao used to call him Marshal, but now he suddenly became Deputy Marshal. Shi Congyun was keenly aware of this subtle change. He didn't care what Zhao Kuangyin called him, but he was afraid that there might be some subtle changes behind it.

But he didn't show it. After the two got down straight, they went straight to Daliang Restaurant with the bodyguards.

The soldier who often ran with Shi Congyun was Liu Qingchuan, a native of Zhengzhou, Henan, and a veteran. He followed him through more than a dozen battles in Gaoping, Shu, Zhengyang, Huainan, etc. He was a loyal veteran.

A few soldiers were left downstairs and had a table of wine and meat. Shi Congyun and Zhao Kuangyin went upstairs and had a table alone upstairs. While drinking and eating meat, they talked about work matters and the future the opinion of.

Zhao Da is a person who likes to drink very much, he often can't control himself, and talks a lot after drinking for three rounds.

The two talked slowly and talked about the general trend of the world.

As he talked, Old Zhao said: "Jingnan is a place that extends in all directions. A certain person thinks that if he wants to win the world, he must win it. The officials are wise and made such a decision, and even let the deputy commander-in-chief handle it. It’s definitely a sure thing.”

"Hahaha, brother Zhao praised me. How can it be so easy in the world? Gao Baorong and Zhou Xingfeng are not easy to deal with. At least they have tens of thousands of troops." He had already heard from Zhao Kuangyin's words There's some flavor coming out.

Zhao Kuangyin didn't seem to want to get involved in this matter, nor did he want to go to Jingnan with him. Anyway, after hearing these smells, he felt a little uncomfortable, but he quickly covered it up.

Then he said with a smile: "I'm really not sure about this matter. Half of the soldiers in my hand are recruits. Brother Zhao, do you want to help me?"

Zhao Kuangyin said with a bold smile: "The vice-commander, Wen Tao and Wu Lue, beat the Shu Kingdom to the point of fleeing, and beat the Tang Kingdom to the point of no defense. How could Jingnan be an opponent? A certain person wanted to follow the Vice-Marshal to make contributions and make a name for himself, but It is also involuntary.

The Khitan in the north is disturbing the border, the situation is urgent and urgent, Zhang Dianshuai has sent a letter, and he also wrote to the court, asking me to go to Hebei to help defend the Khitan, I am afraid that I cannot follow the deputy Dianshuai. "

"That should really focus on defense in the north. There is no peace in the north, and we can't fight in peace in the south. Come, come, let me toast Brother Zhao. With a capable person like you in Hebei, I feel relieved and dare to fight in the south." Fight with peace of mind." Shi Congyun laughed and held up the wine glass to toast Zhao Kuangyin.

The banquet will resume soon

previous topic.

"The Khitan harass the side, almost every year. In fact, whether Zhao Kuangyin goes to Hebei or not doesn't matter that much. He must stand in line.

To be honest, I felt a little lost and a little uncomfortable, as if I had been abandoned by someone. In the evening, Shi Congyun hugged the fragrant Zhao Shijian under the quilt and whispered in her ear.

"Who told you that you are only the deputy commander-in-chief? He is the commander-in-chief or a relative of the emperor." Zhao Shijian said.

"Yo ho, brave little girl, you have become lawless and started to make fun of your husband." Shi Congyun smiled and stretched out his hand from under the quilt to scratch her creaky nest.

Zhao Shijian grabbed his big hand, blushed, and diverted his attention by talking: "This is a good thing, you will be like this sooner or later when you have a high position, and when you reach a sufficient position, whether you want it or not, there will always be many people Follow you, many live by your breath.

It is better to see clearly who is loyal to you now and who is unreliable than to hesitate at the critical moment, so that you will not trust others. "

Shi Congyun put his chin on her beautiful collarbone and shoulder socket, nodded slightly, and sighed: "Actually, I am very contradictory. I respect and fear Zhao Kuangyin, respect his ability, but also fear that he is too capable.

I want to use him but dare not use it with confidence, want to alienate him but can't bear to push him to the opposite side, now that he chooses not to follow me, I feel lost. "

"This is human nature, but those who achieve great things should not be swayed by emotions for too long, and melancholy should not last long."

"Who taught you, your grandfather?" Shi Congyun asked curiously.

Zhao Shijian shook his head: "I saw a lot of people's things, and I figured it out myself."

"You're right, let's go to sleep."

At the beginning of May, because of Zhang Yongde's letter, after consulting Zhao Kuangyin, the officials planned to let him go to Hebei to assist Zhang Yongde in defending against Khitan raids.

On the third day of May, the sky was bright and clear, the sun had just risen in the morning, and there was still a cool breath in the air. Shi Congyun went to Chenqiao Station to send Zhao Kuangyin to the north. The weeds on both sides of the avenue were lush and full of vitality.

Both in military uniform, they bid farewell on horseback.

"Brother Zhao has a smooth journey, I am relieved to have you in the north." Shi Congyun cupped his hands.

Zhao Kuangyin smiled with a black face, "Thank you, Brother Yun, for sending me off, I'm here to lend you a good word."

After finishing speaking, he turned around swiftly, and a wind blew up in the distance, stirring up waves in a large wheat field.

Ma hesitated and took a few steps, Zhao Kuangyin stopped and turned around and cupped his hands again:
"Brother Yun, I will never forget your life-saving grace in Jinyang back then, but I was only a martial artist with a low official status, so I can't repay you.

Many major events are not something that such a martial artist can control, and sometimes he can't help himself. I only hope that you will go south to Jingnan and you will be successful and prosperous. "

After saying that, he turned around and rode his horse away, followed by dozens of soldiers behind him. The sound of rumbling horseshoes followed the dust in the avenue, and soon disappeared at the end of the avenue.

"Do you think he has affection or is he leaving a way out for himself?" When the dust settled, Zhao Kuangyin and others disappeared at the end of the road, Shi Congyun asked Luqiu Zhongqing beside him.

Luqiu Zhongqing thought for a while, "Maybe there are all of them, but I think the commander-in-chief still needs to be cautious. He would rather believe that he is leaving a way out for himself. No one can tell for sure."

Shi Congyun said, "You are right."

After finishing speaking, he pulled the rein and turned the horse's head, looking at the Daliang City in the distance, "In any case, the road is open to the sky, so each side will go its own way, and it may not be a good thing to part ways."

Luqiu Zhongqing nodded: "The commander-in-chief is really a wise man."

On the eighth day of May, Lu Duoxun, who was a missionary, came back. He received grand hospitality in Nanping and Wuping. He and his accompanying Li Chuyun completed the task very well. They drew the maps of the main roads and rivers in the two places and handed them in To the Privy Council.

The officials were overjoyed and appointed Li Chuyun as the defense envoy of Langzhou on the spot. Of course, Langzhou was still in Wuping's hands at this time, but they just asked Li Chuyun to add an official position with more salary.

So far, all preparations for attacking Jingchu have been fully prepared.

Shi Congyun didn't hesitate, and proposed to the officials his plan for dispatching generals. This time, Li Chuyun, Si Chao, Li Hanchao, and Wang Quanbin were the main generals in the expedition to Shu.

With Si Chao as the commander of the navy, Li Chuyun as the forward and deputy commander, Li Hanchao and Wang Quanbing as the generals.

At the same time, he also explained his reasons. Si Chao led the navy to fight the entire Huainan battle, and he led the navy enough to rest assured.

Li Chuyun is most familiar with the mountains and rivers in Nanping and Wuping, and the geographical situation, and he performed outstandingly in the Battle of Huainan, so he was used as a forward.

Li Hanchao and Wang Quanbin are both veterans with rich experience and participated in many wars, so I can rest assured that they will be dispatched by myself as generals.

The Crown and the Privy Council approved his request.

Afterwards, the specific date of dispatching troops was also discussed, and he was informed that Xiande dispatched troops on May 25th in the fifth year, with the goal of destroying Jingchu.

(End of this chapter)