Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 469 Killing without blood
"Sit down, don't be formal."

Fang Zhongyong pointed to the cushion in front of him and smiled at Sun Xiaozhe, who was so nervous that he almost had a myocardial infarction.

He looked very approachable and had no official airs.

"Marshal Jie asked you to sit down, how dare you not sit down?"

He Changqi, who was standing by, scolded Sun Xiaozhe rudely. His eyes widened, like the angry Vajra in the Buddhist temples.

After sitting on the cushion, Sun Xiaozhe asked cautiously, "I wonder what Marshal Fang wants me to do?"

He was very clear in his mind that after being captured, he was fed well and lived safely, which was totally not the treatment a prisoner should have.

When you give someone a gift, you must have something to ask for. Fang Zhongyong’s request must be not simple.

Sun Xiaozhe also knew what official position Fang Chongyong held.

Even though he is usually very arrogant in front of Cai Xide, it is because he knows that he is Shi Siming's "eyes" here. No matter what, he and Cai Xide can never pee in the same pot.

But now that you have been captured, who cares whether you are Shi Siming’s adopted son!

At this moment, Sun Xiaozhe's survival skills were at full capacity. He was extremely humble in front of Fang Chongyong and did not dare to put on airs at all.

Seeing that he was so knowledgeable and tactful, Fang Chongyong gently waved his hand, signaling He Changqi not to embarrass Sun Xiaozhe.

"Humph, answer our Marshal's questions honestly, or you will suffer the same pain that you should have suffered but didn't suffer!"

He Changqi uttered a harsh word, then stood behind Fang Chongyong, motionless like a sculpture.

"Cai Xide asked you to guard the Wuming Valley, but he didn't even give you horses. Is he deliberately making things difficult for you?"

Fang Chongyong asked nonchalantly as he leisurely took out a Tang knife and began to casually carve a piece of wood.

Sun Xiaozhe didn't even think about it and blurted out, "That's right, Cai Xide is trying to exclude dissidents and annex someone's troops."

"I see! No wonder then."

Fang Chongyong understood immediately.

Cai Xide’s headquarters does not have that many people, and there are factions within it.

The rebels were actually in a "loose" state. Before the rebellion, the number of people under their direct command was the amount of capital.

After the rebellion, the troops had to be divided and the command system had to be rebuilt, which naturally involved the transfer of troops and personnel.

Huangfu Weiming just followed the trend, adding sand to the soup to check and balance each other, and basically there was no major reform of the system.

Cai Xide led the army, and among his troops were Shi Siming's troops. The entire army was under the command of Shi Siming, and Cai Xide was also monitored by Shi Siming's men.

Before Huangfu Weiming's rebellion, the troops of the two towns in Hebei were restricted by the border military structure of the Tang Dynasty. As the governor of the two towns, he also enjoyed the benefits of the Tang Dynasty.

However, after the uprising, this organizational structure naturally collapsed. Before the new system was established, all the troops under his command could only be forcibly combined in the mode of "one commander and a group of brothers".

The inherent problems of this "grassroots team" will not cause any problems when the battle is going well, but once the battle situation becomes unfavorable, its drawbacks will become apparent.

For example, now.

After a long silence, Fang Zhongyong did not continue to speak. This strange silence made Sun Xiaozhe feel uneasy.

But he didn't dare ask more.

"Alas, I feel sorry for you this time.

According to the imperial court's military order, a traitor like you must, at the very least, be executed immediately. Then your head will be sent to the three armies as a warning to others.

You should know that the rebel army under Huangfu Weiming is now attacking cities everywhere in Hebei. The morale of the government troops is low and they urgently need to be boosted.

And your head is the best way to boost morale."

Fang Zhongyong sighed and shook his head. Sun Xiaozhe was so scared that he almost peed his pants!

If you want to kill, just kill. Don’t give people the illusion that they can survive before you kill!

Sun Xiaozhe cursed Fang Zhongyong in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face. He just looked like someone had drained all his strength, and he drooped visibly.

"But, this section commander feels that the four kings' fight for the throne and the rebellion in Hebei are all the affairs of the Li family, and are all the affairs of the saint and the prince.

Generals like you and me are just following orders.

Half a year ago, you and I were both heroes of the Tang border army. Now we have no choice but to fight each other.

This general is writing a letter now. You, as a messenger, will go to Xinzhou and deliver the letter to your adoptive father Shi Siming to persuade him to abandon evil and join the light. What do you think?

Fang Chongyong placed the Tang knife on the table, looked at Sun Xiaozhe and asked with a smile.

Is there such a good thing?

Sun Xiaozhe couldn't contain his joy on his face and was almost excited to stand up.

"Okay, please rest assured, General Jie, I will definitely deliver the letter and persuade my adoptive father to submit to the court."

Sun Xiaozhe made the guarantee almost in a panic.

A fool like Fang Chongyong, no, a good person like him, is hard to come by once in a hundred years, and I actually ran into him this time!

"Nothing."

Fang Zhongyong picked up the Tang sword again, looking confused, and asked Sun Xiaozhe: "If you never come back, and the court asks me why I released the rebel army officer privately, I will not be able to explain it to you."

"General Ji, after I deliver the letter, I will definitely return to Taiyuan City!"

Sun Xiaozhe quickly expressed his loyalty, and he looked very sincere! But it was hard to tell what he was thinking in his heart.

“Ah, how about this?

You write a letter of guarantee, saying that you have been persuaded and influenced by this commander-in-chief and are willing to draw a clear line between yourself and the rebel army.

how is it? "

Fang Chongyong suddenly "suddenly realized" and looked at Sun Xiaozhe eagerly.

"Okay! Please rest assured, Marshal Jie! I will write it right away!"

Sun Xiaozhe agreed without any hesitation.

"Go and prepare the four treasures of the study."

Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi.

"Humph!"

He Changqi looked at Sun Xiaozhe and snorted coldly, then turned and left. He soon came back and placed the pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table.

Fang Chongyong personally ground ink for Sun Xiaozhe, just like a farmer trying to persuade a poisonous snake to "become a new man". While grinding, he patiently said, "General Sun's trip may save thousands of people from suffering. This is a great good."

After grinding the ink, Sun Xiaozhe did not hesitate. His mind worked quickly and he immediately wrote a "letter of guarantee" in which he praised Fang Chongyong highly.

"Marshal Jie, do you think it's okay to write like this?"

Sun Xiaozhe handed over the letter of guarantee he had just written with a flattering look on his face, his heart in his throat.

"Well, very good. I didn't expect you to have such good literary talent."

Fang Chongyong was very satisfied with the content in the letter of guarantee that praised him.

He then picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Shi Siming to persuade him to surrender, and asked Feng Changqing to copy one.

"Give the letter to your foster father."

Fang Chongyong handed the letter of surrender in his hand to Sun Xiaozhe with a solemn look.

"Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief!"

Sun Xiaozhe put the letter close to his body, clasped his fists and saluted, his face also extremely serious.

"He Lao Hu, prepare a horse for him, prepare three days of dry food, and then send someone to escort him out of Chitang Pass."

Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi.

"Hey, if you dare not come back, I will definitely break your bones the next time I catch you!"

He Changqi threatened Sun Xiaozhe fiercely and shook his huge fist.

"Hey, don't be violent. General Sun is a man of great righteousness and will definitely come back." Fang Chongyong waved his hand at He Changqi and stopped him from threatening Sun Xiaozhe.

"Please rest assured, Marshal! I swear that I will definitely come back!"

Sun Xiaozhe promised solemnly, and then turned and left the courtyard where Fang Zhongyong lived. His steps became lighter.

I couldn't help but laugh at Fang Chongyong's wild ideas.

His adoptive father Shi Siming was already a general under Huangfu Weiming and was entrusted with an important task. What could the court give him?
Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. This Marshal Fang Jie is still too young and too naive.

Sun Xiaozhe secretly thanked his good luck.

After he and He Changqi left, Feng Changqing, who had been silent beside him, immediately asked Fang Zhongyong, "General, it's not too late to chase Sun Xiaozhe now. After he goes to Xinzhou to meet up with Shi Siming, he will definitely never come back! It would be better to cut off his head and send it to the three armies."

"Hehe, of course I know what he's thinking. I'm afraid he's still laughing at me in his heart, thinking I'm a fool!"

A sneer appeared on Fang Zhongyong's face.

"This... Commander, I heard that Shi Siming is a man of meticulous mind, cunning and cruel.

Now that Huangfu Weiming has not shown any signs of decline, he does not seem like someone who can be persuaded to surrender."

Feng Changqing looked at Fang Chongyong and smiled bitterly. He didn't understand what his commander was thinking.

"You all only see Shi Siming. In my opinion, Shi Siming will never surrender. Letting Sun Xiaozhe go is not targeting Shi Siming."

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand.

What kind of person Shi Siming was, would he, who lived a thousand years later, not know?

Fang Chongyong said to Feng Changqing with a serious face: "Go to Jingxing and give Sun Xiaozhe's letter of guarantee and the letter of persuasion that you copied to Cai Xide. Tell him that Sun Xiaozhe has gone to Xinzhou and will definitely complain to Shi Siming. Let him handle it himself."

"I see!"

Feng Changqing immediately understood what Fang Zhongyong was trying to do.

Sun Xiaozhe is not an honest man. If he returns to Shi Siming, will he not give Cai Xide a slap in the face?
It’s impossible even if you think about it!
Does Fang Chongyong's move count as provoking conflict between Shi Siming and Cai Xide?
Maybe Cai Xide surrendered to the government army because of this.

At worst, in order to protect himself, would Cai Xide complain to Huangfu Weiming, saying that this defeat was caused by Sun Xiaozhe?
Then show the court's letter of surrender to Huangfu Weiming?

Will he still trust Shi Siming in the future? How will Huangfu Weiming view Shi Siming?

Even if Shi Siming and Cai Xide were both magnanimous enough to hold a boat and forget what happened before, Huangfu Weiming was a man of great talent and strategy and did not care, making Fang Chongyong's actions in vain.

So what?
All this move cost was the release of an insignificant prisoner and the waste of a few pieces of writing paper.

The best strategy is to attack the enemy's strategy. Since we have nothing to do anyway, why not come up with some tricks to make Shi Siming and Cai Xide nervous?

This tactic requires little investment, but the possible results are worth looking forward to. Why not give it a try?
"Under your command, I will go to Jingxing right away!"

Feng Changqing clasped his fists in greeting and put the letter close to his body.

"Talk to Cai Xide and ask him if he can obey a certain order to open Jingxing Pass and allow the Hedong Army to break into the heart of Hebei.

Then the general recommended him to the court as the governor and defended his previous behavior.

It is said that he is a righteous man who has been lurking under Huangfu Weiming's command, and has been in direct contact with me, waiting for the opportunity to serve his country with loyalty.

It depends on Cai Xide's personal choice whether to jump off the boat now or follow Huangfu Weiming to the end. "

Fang Chongyong ordered Feng Changqing.

"I will do it as ordered."

Feng Changqing suddenly felt that he had a great responsibility.

There is a high possibility that Cai Xide "jumped ship" because it was difficult for him to get support from Shi Siming because of Sun Xiaozhe, and he might even be stripped of his military power. As for Huangfu Weiming, even if Cai Xide could prove his innocence, he did not intend to lose.

But it is hard to prove that he is "brave and good at fighting"! Cai Xide can't wash away the fact that he lost the battle!
If a worker who has a bad relationship with his boss and has no outstanding achievements, then in the eyes of the "big boss", there is no need to put this person in an important position.

It is inevitable that the investment will be idle and scattered.

It can be said that Cai Xide’s prospects under Huangfu Weiming are very bleak.

If Jingxing Pass could be opened at this time, allowing the government troops to break into the heart of Hebei, it would definitely be a great achievement! It would also be a token of surrender, which would be considered a complete break with Huangfu Weiming.

Now that the imperial court was at an impasse in suppressing the rebellion, it was necessary to establish a "model" to boost morale. Cai Xide's surrender was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the rebels.

It is inevitable to be favored by the court.

The first person to try something new is a warrior and will be remembered by the world. As long as Cai Xide is not stupid, he will definitely see the great benefits.

Only after Feng Changqing left did Fang Chongyong breathe a sigh of relief.

The reinforcements are taking so long to arrive...in fact, they may not even come to Hedong.

If the news brought by Che Guangqian is true, then it is enough to prove that the current political situation in the Tang Dynasty has reached the brink of "heaven-falling and earth-shattering".

Every border army must join the game!
If the prime minister causes political chaos, the prime minister must be held responsible and the emperor must replace the prime minister.

By the same token, if the emperor causes war throughout the country, he must take responsibility and abdicate!
The rebellion in Hebei shows that Brother Ji cannot maintain his rule. It is one thing for other border troops to suppress the rebellion, but what happens after the war is another matter entirely.

It is normal that many people nowadays listen to the instructions but not the propaganda.

If the border troops did not know what the political situation would be like after the "Four Kings Rebellion" was quelled, what the situation would be like at that time, and what benefits it would bring to them, then these people would not go through fire and water.

It's time to plan ahead.

Fang Chongyong immediately asked someone to call Li Sheng, who was still "interning" in the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army and was in charge of military logistics.

After the other party came to the study, Fang Zhongyong asked gently, "How does it feel to be in charge of logistics and not be able to go into battle?"

"It feels good to be back, handsome!"

Li Sheng clasped his fists and bowed, his smile didn't seem fake.

"Well, you are one of our family members, so I have a private matter that I would like to ask you to do.

When no one is around, you can call me your brother-in-law."

Fang Zhongyong's expression suddenly turned serious.

Now that things have come to this, Li Sheng naturally has no choice but to do it. He came over and lowered his voice and asked, "Brother-in-law, what private matter do you want to do?"

"Go back to Chang'an secretly and contact Zhang Guangsheng, the general of the Jinwu Guard.

Find an opportunity to secretly take my family out of Chang'an.

Of course, you just need to prepare secretly. I will send someone to inform you when to leave and where to go."

Fang Zhongyong gave the order in a low voice, fearing that outsiders might hear it.

"Brother-in-law, has something serious happened?"

Li Sheng was shocked.

"The artifact is unstable, just in case."

Fang Chongyong sighed.

The current political situation in the Tang Dynasty is in a state of chaos that is changing rapidly. Anything is possible in the future. Even a big victory or a big defeat is enough to affect the direction of the political situation.

If you don't take precautions, you will be in trouble.

"Got it. I'll leave today."

Li Sheng nodded slightly and said.

He is Wang Zhongsi's adopted son. It is only natural for him to protect Wang Zhongsi's daughter and his immediate superior's family.

It is the right thing to do.

In the future, Fang Chongyong will also give him enough rewards. Li Sheng cannot get these benefits from others, so he can only follow Fang Chongyong all the way.

"Go ahead and don't make any noise."

Fang Zhongyong waved his hand tiredly.

(End of this chapter)