The Legend of Shushan Xuanjian

Chapter 772
A hat of mortals, come to the north of Weidu's house.The city is full of scenery, separated by indifferent buildings.

Watching Feihong off, the scene enters the sky and dies.Guanshan is absolutely beautiful, there are thousands of chaotic clouds, and there is snow in the north and south of the river.

——Gong Zizhen (clear) from "Dian Jiang Lips: Work Immediately on October [-]nd"

……

The flames are billowing, swords and soldiers are everywhere, and war is a disaster for all law-abiding people.However, because of the Anshi Rebellion, some unknown and unruly people in the world entered the military circle from the green forest and became local officials.

Deputy envoy of Huaixi Jiedu, Yushi Zhongcheng Li Xian, and deputy envoy of Huaixi Jiedu and governor of Songzhou Liu Zhan were such two people.

At the beginning of the Anlushan Rebellion, the Tang army's main force in Henan Province, Henan Jiedu, quickly disintegrated the Chenliu Tang army under Zhang Jieran and the army recruited by Feng Changqing.In the early days of the Anshi Rebellion, the Tang troops who fought against the rebels were almost all local state and county troops or rebel troops in Henan Province.The generals who commanded these armies were basically local figures in Henan Province, such as Liu Zhan, Xu Shuji, Shang Heng and so on.These Henan generals gradually expanded their territory and military strength during the war, and became the main force for the Tang army to fight against the rebels in Henan.

Li Xian and Liu Zhan were quickly promoted from a school lieutenant to a member of the imperial court due to their military exploits.

Li Xian was promoted to deputy envoy of Huaixi Jiedu because he broke the rebel army of Yongwang Li Lin, and Liu Zhan's promotion was even faster.

Before the Anshi Rebellion, Liu Zhan only joined the army as Chen Liu.During the war, Liu Zhan was exceptionally promoted because of his participation in countering the rebellion, and was promoted to the governor of Yuzhou.In the second year of Qianyuan (759), Liu Zhan was once again promoted to the governor of Huaizhou because of the strict order of the imperial army, and was transferred to the governor of Songzhou to serve as the deputy envoy of Huaixi Jiedu.

Although they are high-ranking generals of the Tang army, the martial arts habits of the two have not changed at all.Li Mi was corrupt and perverted the law, vicious and cruel; Liu Zhan was arrogant and self-willed.

The two have a very close personal relationship, an offensive and defensive alliance, and mutual protection. The previous Huaixi Jiedu envoys hated these two rebellious, arrogant and rude guys, but there was nothing they could do about them.After all, the camp made of iron, the Jiedushi of flowing water, and the real military power are all in the hands of these two local snakes.

In the first year of Shangyuan, Huaixi again transferred a Jiedu envoy.This new Huaixi Jiedushi named Wang Zhongsheng is different from the previous ones in that he is not a good stubble.

In the summer and April of the second year of Zhide (757), Wang Zhongsheng followed Guo Ziyi, and together with Pugu Huaien, Hun Shizhi, Li Ruoyou and other generals, set up an ambush at Baiquliuyun Bridge in Sanyuan County, and wiped out the rebels led by Li Guiren. Five thousand rebel elite cavalry.Since then, his reputation has grown and he has entered Suzong's vision.

After Wang Zhongsheng took office, Xing Yanen, the eunuch who supervised the army, observed his words and demeanor, and found that this person was a cruel master, so he took the initiative to make friends with Wang Zhongsheng.Together, the two defeated Li Xian and Liu Zhan, and firmly held the military power in Huaixi.

With the support of Xing Yanen, Wang Zhongsheng requested the imperial decree for the crime of "corruption, violence and lawlessness" to enact Li Mian's military law.

After getting rid of Li Mian, Wang Zhongsheng aimed at Liu Zhan again.

Under Xing Yanen's secret planning, in the first year of Shangyuan, there was a nursery rhyme widely spread in Huaixi: "While holding a golden sword in your hand, rise from the east, and the Liu family will be the king of the world."

Xing Yanen suggested to use this prophecy to deal with the domineering Liu Zhan.

Wang Zhongsheng understood it, and immediately attached this rumor to Liu Zhan, and reported to the court: "Liu Zhan has always had ulterior motives and plots against the law, and the "Liu" surname has fulfilled the rumors, so he should be eradicated as soon as possible to avoid future troubles."

In order to make Liu Zhan's case an iron case, Wang Zhongsheng begged Xing Yanen, the eunuch who supervised the army, to come to court.

After Xing Yanen returned to Beijing, he spoke to Emperor Suzong, saying: "Liu Zhan and Li Mian were originally in the same group. Now that Li Mian has been killed, Liu Zhan is suspicious and uneasy. If he doesn't take advantage of the situation to get rid of him, I'm afraid he will cause chaos.

However, Liu Zhan has a heavy army in his hand, it is best to use tricks to get rid of it.It is better to promote Liu Zhan to be the governor of the Jianghuai River and let him take over from the original governor Li Qiao. When he surrenders his military power and goes to Guangling to take up his post, he will be arrested on the way.This plan can be completed with only a few brave soldiers. "

Su Zong took it seriously, and issued a decree to appoint Liu Zhan as the governor of Jianghuai (that is, one person concurrently serves as the governor of Huainan East, Jiangnan West, and Zhejiang West). The speed made Deng Jingshan join forces to get rid of Liu Zhan.

Xing Yanen thought that this plan of diverting the tiger away from the mountain was foolproof, but he did not expect that painting a tiger would not be an anti-dog, and this plan triggered a rebellion that swept across the Yangtze River and Huaihe River!

When Xing Yanen brought the edict to Songzhou to proclaim the edict, Liu Zhan was flattered and thanked Long En.And plan to hold a big banquet that night to entertain the holy envoy.

Before the dinner, Liu Zhan's general Zhang Jingchao found Liu Zhan.

Zhang Jingchao was originally the Japanese envoy sent to the Tang Dynasty. Because of his strategy, he was hired by Liu Zhan with a lot of money on the way back to the country and stayed in the army.

Zhang Jingchao said to Liu Zhan: "General, after General Li Xian was killed, Wang Zhongsheng couldn't tolerate you even more, and he will definitely take the opportunity to get rid of you.

Ordinarily, the imperial court will certainly reduce your military power, and even take your life.How could this decree be promoted instead of lowered, allowing you to serve as an envoy of the Three Ways?

The general had inquired privately that this Xing Yanen and Wang Zhongsheng were very close, so I'm afraid there is something wrong with this matter.

As the saying goes, if something goes wrong, there must be a demon, and the general must guard against it. "

These words were like a bucket of ice water being poured on the top of the head, freezing to the bone.Liu Zhan suddenly realized.

With murderous intent on his face, Liu Zhan made a beheading gesture, and said sinisterly: "He is not benevolent and I am not righteous. Since the emperor plotted to harm me, I, Liu, am not a vegetarian. Just hang your neck and kill.

Let's do it tonight, the big deal is that the fish will die and the net will be broken! "

Zhang Jingchao waved his hand and said with a smile: General, don't be impatient, there will be a plan in the end, not only can you keep the general safe and sound, but you can also use the plan if you want..."

……

That night, Liu Zhan held a grand banquet in the big tent to honor Xing Yanen and his party.

After drinking for three rounds, all the generals in the tent danced and danced, full of ugly appearances.

Liu Zhan got up and walked to Xing Yanen to toast.

Liu Zhandao: "My lord, this commander is a reckless man. Since he joined the army in Chenliu County, he has been promoted to governor in just a few years. It can be said that he has risen steadily and suddenly became rich.

Jianghuai is the wealth and endowment center of our Tang Dynasty, and the position of Jianghuai capital is very important, and it has always been held by important officials in the court.This commander has no outstanding military achievements, nor is he a member of the royal family or a family, and he has never even met His Majesty.To be so favored by His Majesty all of a sudden is really flattering and even more incredible.Could it be..."

Speaking of this, Liu Zhan looked cunningly, looked directly into Xing Yanen's eyes, and said, "Could it be that there is a treacherous villain who sowed discord and set a trap for Liu?"

Speaking of excitement, Liu Zhan couldn't help but shed tears.

"It seems that this kid Liu Zhan has become suspicious." Xing Yanen felt uneasy for a while, pretending to be calm, and said: "Nowadays the war is constantly raging, and it is hard to find a general. General Liu has always had talent and prestige, and the court relies heavily on it. Considering the importance of Jianghuai, His Majesty made an exception to promote you. Unexpectedly, it aroused your suspicion, why?"

Liu Zhan was silent, and suddenly said: "If there is no villain who framed me, then can I get the seal of the Jianghuai capital first, and then take office?"

Xing Yanen didn't expect Liu Zhan to do such a trick, and in a hurry, without time to think about it, he replied: "Of course."

The next day, in order to dispel Liu Zhan's suspicion, Xing Yanen had no choice but to fly to Guangling (now Yangzhou, Jiangsu), conspired with Li Yao, and then took the seal and talisman to Liu Zhan.

Xing Yanen pretended to be smart and thought that Liu Zhan could be stabilized now, but he is a clever and pampered eunuch who is no match for Liu Zhan in the battlefield.

The reason why Liu Zhan didn't set up a Hongmen banquet and killed Xing Yan'en on the spot was because he wanted to use his tricks to get the seal and talisman of the Jianghuai capital, so as to mobilize the three troops in the east of Huainan, the west of Jiangnan, and the west of Zhejiang to increase the bargaining chip for rebellion.

After Liu Zhan got the seal and talisman festival, he pretended to go to Shusuzong to thank him.

Then, Liu Zhan, in his capacity as the envoy of the Three Routes of Jianghuai, immediately issued letters of appointment to his cronies and old friends all over Jianghuai, entrusting them with important positions.

At the same time, Liu Zhan ordered the officials of the three Jianghuai provinces to send envoys as soon as possible to report to Songzhou with the books and books of the county.

After a period of intensive and careful planning, at the beginning of November of the first year of Shangyuan, Liu Zhan led [-] troops from his descendants, surrounded by envoys from various prefectures and counties, to march towards Guangling.

The "Jianghuai Rebellion" kicked off.

(End of this chapter)