Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 609 What is Loyalty and Treachery
"How is Chang'an now?"

In the general's tent, Fang Chongyong invited Zhang Guangsheng to drink. As the governor, he had not been to Chang'an for a long time.

I just heard some things happening in Chang'an city bit by bit.

From Ji Ge's escape to Hedong to Li Heng's ascension to the throne and enthronement of emperor surrounded by the powerful people in Chang'an.

From Ji Ge returning to Chang'an and killing everyone, to Fang Youde turning the tide and supporting Li Heng to take the throne again.

From Ji Ge being strangled to death by Li Heng to the mutiny of the Konghe Army.

The changes one after another were like a revolving lantern, making it hard to keep up.

It is difficult for outsiders to tell what is right and wrong.

"Oh, that's not a big deal!"

Zhang Guangsheng sighed and continued:
"Whether it's Li Longji or Li Heng, they have long lost their authority. The princes of the royal family are ready to make a move, frantically annexing the land and imperial farms outside Chang'an. The imperial army has never been established, and there are only 20,000 soldiers, but no corresponding combat power.

The imperial court has always been short of money and has imposed heavy taxes and levies, making life difficult for the people.

Now, Guanzhong is just an empty shell, and the Control Crane Army was led by Marshal Fang. Alas! "

He kept shaking his head and sighing. The collapse of the Tang Dynasty did not happen in a day or two.

During Li Erfeng's Zhenguan period, half of the military headquarters were in Guanzhong. If the military headquarters in Hedong and Dujidao were also counted, they could form an overwhelming majority in the Tang Dynasty and there was no shortage of troops at all.

However, with the disintegration of the military system and the westward movement of troops from Guanzhong (to Hexi and the Western Regions), the number of combat troops in Guanzhong was sharply reduced.

The hidden danger that has been lurking for decades will eventually erupt when the time comes.

"This time, Li Baochen should be able to enter Guanzhong smoothly and take control of Chang'an. No one can stop him."

Fang Chongyong sighed helplessly.

"Does he deserve it?"

Zhang Guangsheng was stunned and asked without thinking, then seemed to think of something and fell silent.

Whether Li Baochen is qualified or not is secondary. The key point is that this time the Konghe Army "self-destructed" and wanted to send Marshal Baochen to Chang'an. Who can be blamed for this?
“As the old saying goes: Those who seek the best will find the middle; those who seek the middle will find the bottom; those who seek the bottom will find nothing.

Li Baochen has been destined to enter Guanzhong, and I cannot stop him. I originally wanted to capture Li Baochen alive in this battle, but now I can only watch him enter Guanzhong. Man proposes, God disposes. "

Fang Chongyong shook his head and smiled bitterly. He never expected that the joke he played on Li Baochen last time, which led to the "Baochen becoming the emperor" drama, would come true!
Who could he complain to about such a mess? It was an indisputable fact that after Zhang Zhongzhi changed his name to Li Baochen, he did become very successful and had good luck.

Seeing that Zhang Guangsheng seemed to be hesitant to speak, Fang Zhongyong smiled and said:

"I want to build a personal army that will only obey my orders. It will be specially used to protect the mansion and my confidants. The temporary number of soldiers is five battalions, 1,500 people, equipped with good horses from Bohai. As for the name, let's temporarily name it Longjie Army. There will be a temporary military commander, and you will be in charge.

After returning to Bianzhou this time, you can recruit soldiers in the prefectures and counties under my jurisdiction. Once recruited, their families will also be relocated to Bianzhou and a unified place will be designated for them to live. Let Liu Yan make up for the recruitment needs for you."

Fang Chongyong patted Zhang Guangsheng on the shoulder and said, "I'll write him a blank check."

The generals in the Silver Spear Xiejie Army were about to be sent out, and even He Changqi would lead an army in the future. Fang Zhongyong felt that he really needed a team that would guard him at all times and would follow him without much connection with his subordinates.

Take precautions before they happen.

Zhang Guangsheng had little relationship with the Silver Spear Xiejie Army, but he was his old subordinate, they had worked together for many years, and he had no foundation, so he was just right for this important position.

The incident involving the Konghe Army once again made Fang Chongyong alert.

If the army is not arrogant, it will be weak and powerless and unable to resist the enemy;
If the army is arrogant, it will be difficult to control and will harm the lord.

The scale must be well grasped.

"Big brother!"

Zhang Guangsheng stood up excitedly, then sat down slowly.

Well, for now, it's just an appointment.

Thinking of this, Zhang Guangsheng calmed down again. How this so-called "Longjie Army" would perform depends entirely on how he selects people, builds the army, and trains the soldiers.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Everything depends on your own hard work.

Zhang Guangsheng nodded slightly, and the other party saluted with a fist.

Now that he has more talented people under his command, Fang Zhongyong also likes to play a balancing act, allowing people from different factions to form new armies instead of stuffing them all into the Silver Spear Loyal Army.

In this way, the newcomers will be grateful and the old brothers will have no objections.

Such talent allocation can ensure that they will neither interfere with each other when doing things, nor will they have too much power and allow these people to restrain themselves.

"Now that the world is in such a state of chaos, do you really want to support Prince Yong Li Lin to ascend to the throne?
I think Prince Yong... doesn't look like a wise ruler."

Zhang Guangsheng didn't know Fang Zhongyong's true thoughts, so he tested him cautiously.

In fact, more than one person was asking Fang Zhongyong this question.

After all, Li Lin was not considered to be outstanding among the princes in the past, and his moral character was also average. He even had a bad precedent of having an affair with a dancer on Ji Ge's birthday.

Can this person, and the talented team under his command, really support the ambition of recreating a prosperous Tang Dynasty?
The answer may not be so optimistic.

"Yeah, who knows."

Fang Zhongyong said it casually, but he was thinking far ahead.

From the metaphysics of the Wei and Jin Dynasties to the Confucianism of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there is a big bug in the superstructure of today's ruling class that has not been plugged.

The theory of "harmony between heaven and man" since the Han Dynasty has long been essentially bankrupt and has no practical significance.

Subsequently, Confucianism degenerated from an "official learning" for governing the country and maintaining peace to a "family learning" for self-cultivation and family harmony.

The ideological superstructure was squeezed out by the Wei and Jin Dynasty's metaphysical ideas of "valuing nothing" and "valuing something".

The word "expensive" here means to value.

The so-called "nothing" does not mean nothing, but the origin of everything, all started from "nothing". In a specific context, there is no such thing as divine right of kings, and the principles of all things have developed from "nothing" to what they are now.

This is obviously a reference to Taoist thought, but it is not about ruling by inaction. Simply put, it is to demystify and deify the "heaven" that previously determined everything, and emphasize human efforts and the origin of "Tao".

The so-called "existence" is "natural existence". The core of the idea of ​​"existence is reasonable", that is, the idea of ​​"common sense is reasonable".

This way of thinking may seem insignificant, but it has influenced China for more than a thousand years. It is the ideological basis for achieving broad consensus on great unification.

If something exists, it is reasonable. If it does not conform to the so-called "orthodoxy", then there must be something wrong with the "orthodoxy", not the facts in front of us.

The ideas of "valuing nothing" and "valuing something" did not disappear with the change of dynasties. Instead, due to the development of Buddhism and Taoism, their core ideas were gradually improved, refined and absorbed by Confucianism.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, due to the ignominious history of the ascension of Emperor Wen of Sui and Emperor Taizong, Confucianism, as the official school of thought, eventually formed the unified idea of ​​"the emperor should practice benevolent government."

It’s just that this ideological weapon itself is flawed.

It does not explain how a person who practices benevolent governance can become the Son of Heaven.

In other words, since anyone who practices benevolent governance can become the emperor, then Li Erfeng can, Wu Meiniang can, and naturally Ji Ge can, too.

Even the military governors of separatist vassal states could be considered acceptable.

Bloodline and origin are essentially irrelevant.

As for how these various "benevolent" people came to power, there is no need to dwell on this process. At least Confucianism, as an official school, does not dwell on this process.

This actually abandoned the foundation of the Han Dynasty Confucian doctrine of "the interaction between heaven and man": the king's power is granted by heaven. Since the divine weapon is no longer granted by heaven, then whoever does the best will be in power! After I grab the divine weapon, it will be fine to practice benevolent governance!

Therefore, there were many coups after the Zhenguan period and many rebels after the middle Tang Dynasty. In fact, we cannot entirely blame the bad state of the world. It is also related to the incompleteness of Confucianism in the Tang Dynasty.

However, how should I explain these complicated truths to Zhang Guangsheng?
It's just like playing the lute to a cow.

Fang Chongyong felt helpless, but he showed it on the outside with an inexplicable smile on his face.

"Brother? Brother?"

Seeing Fang Chongyong in a daze, Zhang Guangsheng stretched out his hand and waved it in front of him.

"what happened?"

Fang Zhongyong coughed lightly and asked to hide his embarrassment.

"Brother, if Li Baochen goes to Guanzhong, will we really do nothing?"

Zhang Guangsheng was a little confused, as Fang Chongyong's ideas seemed to be rather negative.

"How could I not do anything? It's just that I didn't do anything to Li Baochen."

Fang Chongyong sneered.

At this time, we should follow the trend and weave a "Baochen encirclement network" to create a situation where many forces besiege Marshal Baochen.

Of course, the reasons why these forces attacked Li Baochen might be slightly different, and there might be many contradictions between them.

But this did not prevent them from joining forces to deal with Li Baochen's entry into Guanzhong and work together for the "big picture".

"Brother, I think Li Baochen is not that strong. Li Guangbi should be leading a troop on the other side of the river. If the two sides join forces, they may be able to fight. Why let Li Baochen enter Guanzhong?"

Zhang Guangsheng was a little confused. In fact, Fang Chongyong was not a person who was afraid of taking risks.

Just when Fang Zhongyong was about to speak, a personal soldier suddenly came to report that Yan Gaoqing wanted to see him!
"Ok?"

Fang Zhongyong, who was often forgetful, was stunned for a long time and couldn't remember who Yan Gaoqing was. Finally, Zhang Guangsheng reminded him and he remembered that this person should be the Vice Minister of War in Chang'an now!

In fact, the other party had met Fang Chongyong not long ago.

"Why is he here?"

"Maybe he came here for Li Baochen."

Zhang Guangsheng added.

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly, and could only say that many things were obvious.

It was not convenient for Zhang Guangsheng to stay here, so he quietly retreated from the other end of the military tent.

After a while, Yan Gaoqing was brought in. Compared with the last time they met, the Minister of War looked a little embarrassed. Probably in order to break through the blockade, he did not wear the Tang army uniform and looked like a beggar.

It is indeed difficult for him.

"Minister Yan came here to join forces to fight against Li Baochen?"

Fang Zhongyong asked in a deep voice without beating around the bush with Yan Gaoqing.

"It is indeed as Marshal Fang Jie said, but the details are slightly different.

The Konghe Army in Guanzhong mutinied, Chang'an fell, and the emperor died in the chaos.

Now Li Guangbi's troops are trapped in the three cities of Heyang. They want to settle in Bianzhou but their advance is blocked.

Yan came here to persuade the commander to send troops to support Li Guangbi. "

Yan Gaoqing saluted Fang Chongyong with his fists clasped.

"The emperor actually died in the midst of the chaos?"

Fang Chongyong was also a little surprised because Zhang Guangsheng did not reveal this news. Of course, it was not that the other party was hiding something, but that he simply did not know it.

Zhang Guangsheng, who described the rebellion from the perspective of the common people, naturally had no idea how Li Ying died in the end. And Li Huaiguang could not have spread the news that it was the Konghe Army that killed Li Ying in the end!

This creates an information gap.

"Rescue Li Guangbi and return to Bianzhou?"

After saying this, Fang Chongyong remained silent.

Judging from the paper, Li Guangbi has a lot of soldiers under his command, so they should be capable of fighting and should not be too dangerous.

The number of elite soldiers under Fang Chongyong's command is not even as many as that under Li Guangbi!

However, if you consider the situation on the battlefield, you will find that this is not the case.

It was impossible for Li Guangbi to carry much food and fodder along the Chenguan Road; and the Xuanwu Army camp was filled with endless food, fodder, coal and other military supplies.

This is not to mention that Bianzhou is constantly transporting grain and the logistics are fully prepared.

In addition, Li Guangbi came from afar and his army had poor defenses. Building camps also required wood, and they had to be ready to run away at any time. However, the Xuanwu Army was stationed in a well-defended camp and was not afraid of a surprise attack by Li Baochen's troops.

So in terms of comprehensive strength, as long as the Xuanwu Army does not leave the camp, its combat effectiveness is far higher than that of Li Guangbi's troops!

It is obvious who Li Baochen will attack.

"This is the marching sketch drawn by General Li. Please have a look, General Fang."

Yan Gaoqing took out a frozen parchment scroll from his arms and handed it to Fang Chongyong.

Well, the route is not difficult. It just passes through the north bank of Henan Prefecture (Luoyang), then through Huaizhou, through Heyin County, and then to the east of Xuanwu Army.

Fang Zhongyong couldn't help but nodded slightly.

There was no danger along the way. The only dangers were the pursuers from the three cities of Heyang and the obstacles sent by Li Guiren from Yecheng to block the way.

Li Guangbi did not move for the time being, just to confuse his opponent and to tell Fang Zhongyong about the plan. But he did not know how Li Baochen would respond and what Li Guiren would think.

"In three days, I will personally lead the troops to Heyin County to support Li Guangbi. Minister Yan, please rest in the army. I will send a messenger to Li Guangbi's camp to pass on the message."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice.

It seemed like a simple task to support Li Guangbi, but it was not. It was hard to say whether Li Baochen would take advantage of the empty camp and lead his troops to launch a surprise attack.

Fang Chongyong predicted that Li Baochen would not send troops here because the other party could not gain any advantage and would need a lot of time to attack the camp.

However, once this premise no longer exists, it is hard to say whether Li Baochen will clear the outskirts of Luoyang before entering Guanzhong!

"In that case, I would like to thank Marshal Fang Jie."

Yan Gaoqing sighed and looked like he was relieved.

Fang Zhongyong's support for Li Lin's ascension to the throne is essentially no different from Li Baochen's. After all, Marshal Baochen also supported Li Wan's ascension to the throne!

Now he and Yan Zhenqing had to rely on these sinister vassal states to maintain the stability of the Tang Dynasty.

It's really sad, I have to say.

(End of this chapter)