Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 493 The Calm Before the Storm
A few days later, the ferry outside Kaifeng welcomed the first batch of Tuanjie soldiers, who came from Caozhou and numbered more than 700.

The Tuan Lian Bing system was a system where soldiers were recruited by the governors (or military governors) of each state and were not registered as regular soldiers, but they were still responsible for all the military duties they were supposed to do.

During the period of service, only food and pickles are issued to the soldiers, but no salary. In simple terms, they are just trying to get food rations in the army.

The Tuanjie soldiers were required to assist the local officials in defending their territory or cooperating in combat. They would not be separated from production for a long time and would be sent back to their hometowns after the military mission was completed.

If the war is prolonged, they will be rotated regularly. Their nature is between government soldiers and recruited soldiers, and they are not a full-time army.

Anyway, being a united soldier is not a good job. If there is no war, people in various places will try to avoid it.

Fang Chongyong took a look at the mental state of these united soldiers, as well as their military uniforms and weapons, and could not help but frowning slightly.

The uniforms were fairly new, but they were loose and untidy. Their faces were all sleepy and lazy, and there were not even a few archers to be seen.

The Tang army attached great importance to archery. There were few generals in the army who could not shoot arrows. Even Fang Chongyong had practiced riding and shooting for many years, so much so that his arms were slightly deformed.

If there are few archers in the army, it means that there are also few people with certain military skills.

As for the armor, haha, most of them are just a leather vest hanging on the chest and an iron helmet on the head, which may even have rust on it and looks extremely perfunctory.

This group of people are not very concerned about either the weapons or their maintenance.

"This is a farmer who has put down his hoe. Can he resist the rebels under Huangfu Weiming? It's hard for me to guard the city!"

Fang Zhongyong looked at Che Guangqian beside him with a look of shock. He felt that these people could only escort food and fodder at most, and other matters could not be entrusted to them.

According to Fang Chongyong's idea, for the sake of their own lives and property, these provincial governors should pay some attention to military affairs, right?

I didn’t expect others to be so unrestrained!
In other words, training a combat-ready army is not as simple as you think.

"General, the Central Plains has been peaceful for a long time. Perhaps they think that the battle between the elite soldiers of the Tang border town and the battlefield is just like that."

Che Guangqian also smiled bitterly. They had originally had some expectations for these united soldiers recruited by each state, but they did not expect them to be so unbearable.

Fang Chongyong nodded thoughtfully, and he began to understand why in the middle and late Tang Dynasty and even in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, three thousand elite soldiers could conquer several states, ten thousand elite soldiers could occupy one side, and fifty thousand elite soldiers could conquer the world.

It is really the so-called "garrison troops" with too much water in them!
"Come here, come here! What are you looking at? I'm talking to you!

Fuck, if you don’t clean up, you won’t behave yourself! What a moral person! "

At this time, He Changqi, with a dozen silver-spear filial piety soldiers, was leading the united soldiers of Caozhou to assemble, pointing and swearing with his weapons.

"Well, who did Li Jilan end up with?"

When Fang Chongyong saw He Changqi, he suddenly remembered this and asked curiously.

Che Guangqian thought for a moment, then came over and lowered her voice:
"General Ji, He Lao Hu and the others were afraid that Li Jilan was ill, so they didn't dare to take her. Later, a fire captain (in charge of five people) didn't mind and took her home to play with her for three days.

When he got tired of playing, he let Li Jilan go.

As for who that person is, I have no interest in him. How about I go and find out?"

Hearing this, Fang Zhongyong suddenly realized what was going on. He then waved his hand, signaling Che Guangqian not to cause any trouble.

Anaye has been in the army for a long time and she is very talkative. From time to time she would mention that men who have affairs will get infected with diseases or something like that, which made He Changqi and others scared to death.

However, being played with by a soldier almost like a prisoner for three days...Li Jilan really enriched her life experience.

"You guys are so disrespectful, if you don't like her, just let her go.

If you don't want it, you give it to a fire chief to play with. You are such a bastard. "

Fang Zhongyong scolded in a feigned displeasure.

"General, these women who like to play with words look down on the soldiers who are armed to the teeth. Brothers, your ambition is not in women, but in the spirit in your heart.

I didn't ask a beggar to play with Li Jilan, which was already a favor from the commander-in-chief. I didn't dare to trample on her because of her dignity. How could I possibly worship such a woman?"

Che Guangqian lowered his voice and defended himself, saying that he would not do such a thing, but he could understand why the soldiers under him would do so.

"Send people to the provincial capitals of each state to urge the provincial governors to quickly send the united soldiers to Bianzhou for training.

Also, officers should be selected immediately from the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army to take their trained united soldiers to various provincial capitals to take up their posts.

Establish a defense system. War is not far away and will soon spread to Henan."

Fang Chongyong said a few words to Che Guangqian and went straight to the Kaifeng city gate. He was going back to the government office to work and be ready to face the next severe challenge.

Last night, an "inside source" in Hedong sent a secret letter saying that Wang Zhongsi had been relieved of his post as deputy marshal of the army and was only responsible for the logistics and training of the Hedong troops.

The power structure of the official army has changed from "one king in power" to "four heroes standing side by side". Brother Ji nominally controls the highest direct command of the army!

And prepare to attack Hebei from Hedong!
The battle that will determine the direction of the world situation may have already been launched!
Although Fang Chongyong was not optimistic about Brother Ji, he could not be completely sure that the government army really had no hope of winning.

After all, the four people who now control the power in the army are not good-for-nothings!

After returning to the Jiedushi Mansion in Kaifeng City, Fang Chongyong had not even sat down in the study when an "uninvited guest" arrived.

"why you?"

Looking at Zheng Shuqing, who was dressed in plain clothes and only wearing a futou, Fang Zhongyong asked with a puzzled look on his face. This person is really a rare guest, he should have been in Chang'an.

"Don't mention it, just avoiding disaster."

Zheng Shuqing was not polite and sat directly opposite Fang Zhongyong, unable to help but let out a long sigh.

"Uh, where do you start with this idea of ​​avoiding disaster?"

The more Fang Chongyong listened, the more confused he became.

Zheng Shuqing had been dismissed by Ji Ge before, but he still served as the Minister of Works.

In order to show the outside world that he did not dismiss Zheng Shuqing from his post because of the "anti-rebellion manifesto" in Hebei.

"Brothers Yan Zhenqing and Yan Gaoqing are secretly contacting various parties to welcome Crown Prince Li Heng to Chang'an to ascend the throne and become emperor! There are all kinds of rumors in Chang'an City now, and it can't be any more chaotic!

It's already this critical moment, if I don't run away, am I going to die in Chang'an?"

Zheng Shuqing retorted unhappily and drank the wine in the glass.

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly without commenting.

When it comes to the "survival instinct" of being an official, Zheng Shuqing in the court dares to admit that he is second to none, and no one dares to claim to be first.

Suddenly, Fang Chongyong realized that there was something wrong in Zheng Shuqing's words!
"As far as I know, Lord Yan has always been loyal to the king. How come he has become a traitor now?"

Fang Chongyong was a little confused. Was it because the world was changing too fast that he could not keep up with the pace of the times?

But when Zheng Shuqing heard this, a trace of mockery appeared on his face, and he sighed:

"Li Mi and your father support the crown prince Li Heng. Are they considered traitors? The princes from all over the country are recruiting soldiers. Are they considered traitors?

Huangfu Weiming supports Prince Rong Li Wan. Are they considered traitors?

After all, these are just private affairs of the Li family. What's so strange about Yan Zhenqing standing on the side of the prince?

Just ask the people of the world, who is not a traitor in your words? Now that I have deserted my post and left Chang'an, I am also a traitor! "

Zheng Shuqing's words are truly thought-provoking.

Fang Zhongyong thought about it and found that it was really the case! Brother Ji gradually lost control of the situation, so don't blame others for having their own plans.

After all, a living person cannot be suffocated to death by urine!
"It's not easy for you either."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh, but at this moment he suddenly remembered an important matter.

Fang Chongyong recalled the records about the Anshi Rebellion in his previous life. The main contradictions written in the history books were basically between the government army and the rebels, which meant that they could simply and roughly label the various groups of people at that time.

Either you are on the side of the imperial court or you are on the side of the rebels, there is not much in between.

But now that I think about it carefully, I realize that this is not entirely the case.

According to the rules of the game at that time, in fact, most people were loyal to Tang Suzong Li Heng!
After the Mawei Incident, they were not loyal to Brother Ji!
After Brother Ji went to Shu, even government decrees could not leave Chengdu!

Fang Chongyong suddenly realized that he seemed to have greatly underestimated Li Mi's accurate vision and Fang Youde's prophetic ability as a "time traveler".

Or it can be said that he greatly underestimated the appeal of the current Crown Prince Li Heng!

And the speed at which power backfires on Brother Ji!

Seeing Fang Zhongyong in a daze, Zheng Shuqing came up to him and said in a low voice: "I will give you a generous gift to help you gain a foothold in Bianzhou."

"what?"

Hearing this, Fang Zhongyong subconsciously asked back: "You are now free from official duties, are you going to donate all of Zheng's family assets to me as military expenses?"

"No, no, no!"

Zheng Shuqing waved his hand and explained:

"Some time ago, I took advantage of my position in the Ministry of Works to order the strengthening of Chang'an's military equipment, requiring the states of Lianghuai and Jiangnan to load some of the weapons, arrows, and armor in the government treasury, including: spears, clubs, Hulu, arrows, knives, swords, Mo Dao, knot-untying awls, chain roughs, axes, helmets, abdomens, armor, abdomens, boots, chain mail, etc., onto ships and send them to Chang'an via the canal.

I think the ships will go to the Yellow River through the ferry outside Kaifeng and then be sent to Chang'an. The commander will keep an eye on it and intercept the weapons, which are enough to arm 200,000 soldiers.

Of course, there are certainly some governors who are unwilling to obey the imperial court's orders and pretend to obey but actually disobey. The governor can take the transfer orders from the Ministry of Works to those prefectures and counties to urge them to do their jobs."

Zheng Shuqing took out a stack of material transfer orders from the Ministry of Industry from his bosom. All of them had been signed and stamped, but the column for the content of the transfer order was blank and could be filled in by oneself.

To put it simply, Fang Chongyong just needs to lead his troops to the treasuries of the prefectures and counties along the canal to collect the goods.

If those people don't listen, just kill them directly, and then announce that the governor of that state is rebelling, and then you can take over the place with full legitimacy.

This matter must not be delayed, it must be done quickly. The longer it is delayed, the weaker the authority of the court will be, and the more people will have dissenting opinions.

Fang Zhongyong put away the "invaluable" transfer orders from the Ministry of Works with a complicated expression, feeling mixed emotions. He looked at Zheng Shuqing, who looked smug and composed, as if he had just realized for the first time how flexible the old man in the Tang Dynasty officialdom was!
I am not afraid of you being a gangster, but I am afraid of gangsters who are educated.

Zheng Shuqing is a cultured rogue, a fighter among insects! He can't do serious things well, but he can do the dirty work of poaching people smoothly.

How can we explain the tactic of deliberately mobilizing the imperial court's military equipment and letting them be "accidentally" intercepted by the Jiedushi of Xuanwu Army?

It’s really cheap!
At this moment, Fang Chongyong no longer dared to underestimate the wisdom and clever operations of the ancients!
"As expected, you don't think highly of the Saint either?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Zheng Shuqing and asked.

But his question was in vain. In fact, Lao Zheng's choice was already very clear. The other party felt that the building was about to collapse and wanted to make a fortune before leaving.

“Don’t even mention the Saint. Not many people in the court think that the Saint can successfully suppress the rebellion and defeat Huangfu Weiming.

They just wanted to welcome the crown prince to Chang'an to ascend the throne, thinking that the crown prince still had a few decades left to live, which was enough time for the next generation of their family to struggle. Alas!
These people are short-sighted. The world is in chaos. How can the prince clean up the mess alone? They are not worthy of being consulted! "

Zheng Shuqing pounded the table in grief. Even a bug like him felt that those people in Chang'an were bugs!
The brothers Yan Zhenqing and Yan Gaoqing were still trying to connect with all parties, but Zheng Shuqing, an outsider who was far away from the center of power, already knew the general idea of ​​the matter!
If you don't even understand the principle that if you are not secretive, you will fail, then what's the point of playing?
Zheng Shuqing, who had a keen political sense, quickly slipped away. Anyway, those people didn't like him.

"Don't go back to Chang'an, no matter what. I think this turmoil has just begun."

Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but shook his head and sighed.

"You should go back to your hometown in Xingyang first. As for your official position, I will arrange it for you."

Fang Chongyong poured another glass of wine for Zheng Shuqing. He knew exactly what this old man was thinking.

As expected, Zheng Shuqing chuckled and said, "It's still easy to talk to you. You don't need to hold a busy official position. I'm old too."

After seeing Zheng Shuqing off, Fang Chongyong fell into deep thought.

The world situation is more chaotic than I originally expected. It is really hard to predict the future direction.

Indeed, building high walls, storing up food supplies, and slowly becoming king are the universal principles.

……

In the main hall of Shangyang Palace in Luoyang, Li Mi handed Yan Zhenqing's handwritten letter to Crown Prince Li Heng, then stepped aside without saying a word.

Several people present, including Fang Youde, all looked solemn.

The development of things was beyond their original plan.

But now that the opportunity has come, whether or not to ascend the throne in advance has become a big and troubling problem.

"My dear ministers, what do you think?"

Crown Prince Li Heng handed Yan Zhenqing's handwritten letter to Fang Youde and asked in a low voice.

Other people’s opinions are not important. Without Fang Youde leading the troops to capture Chang’an, everything is nonsense.

"The arrow is on the string and has to be shot."

Fang Youde didn't ask if it was okay or not, but directly said these eight words.

"Your Highness, these people are the ones who support the crown prince to ascend the throne. If something happens to them and they are killed, then even if the crown prince enters Chang'an in the future, there will be no one to use!

I also suggest that we should make a plan to march to Chang'an immediately without further delay."

Li Mi saluted Li Heng and said.

Lament silently in my heart.

Sometimes, no matter how good your plan is, if you encounter "stupid teammates", you will be helpless.

(End of this chapter)