Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 675 It's Just a Misunderstanding
Yuan Zai stayed in an abandoned farm on the outskirts of Handan County and refused to leave. The owner of the farm was probably a wealthy man in Hebei Province, but now he and his family have fled due to the war, and the farmland has been abandoned.

Yuan Zai and his entourage planned to stay here for one night and return to Bianzhou tomorrow.

In fact, it’s not that he can’t leave today, but how can he explain to Fang Chongyong when he returns to Bianzhou empty-handed?
Could it be that he was driven away by Tian Qianzhen without even saying a few words?

Yuan Zai couldn't afford to lose this person.

Because before setting off, Fang Chongyong had called together his staff to discuss, and everyone felt that Tian Qianzhen could actually be won over. This person was not a direct descendant of Shi Siming, and he had no personal relationship with Li Baochen.

If you put yourself in his shoes, Tian Qianzhen's current situation is indeed quite embarrassing.

It was impossible for him to be rewarded by Shi Siming for winning a battle. He was already suspected, and he might be killed by Shi Siming, who was so cruel that he killed everyone around him.

Taking refuge in Guanzhong is also a way to death.

Not to mention losing the battle, in today's world, being weak is a crime and generals who cannot fight deserve to die.

Therefore, this task is much easier than lobbying An Shouzhong, Li Guiren and others.

Yuan Zai racked his brains but couldn't figure out why Tian Qianzhen was so angry. In any case, he should let him finish what he was saying, right?

"These soldiers turn hostile at the slightest provocation. It's really unreasonable!"

Yuan Zai, who was warming himself by the fire in the dilapidated house, cursed, but there was nothing he could do. He stood up from time to time, and paced around the house from time to time, thinking of a countermeasure in his mind.

As the saying goes, you can only prescribe the right medicine for the right disease. Now Yuan Zai just doesn’t understand where the problem lies, so he feels helpless.

Just when he was at a loss and his hair had turned a few white, his attendant pushed the door open and brought in a scholar.

"Mr. Yuan, it's great that you didn't leave. I am General Tian's staff member, and I followed the horse hoof prints here.

I just came here to try my luck, but I didn't expect Mr. Yuan to be really here.

General Tian has invited me. What happened just now was just a misunderstanding. Please don't blame me, Mr. Yuan."

The scholar, wearing a fu hat and a long cloak, saluted Yuan Zai with his hands crossed, and his attitude was extremely humble, which was completely different from Tian Qianzhen's previous arrogance.

Being arrogant at first and respectful later, there must be something fishy going on!

Yuan Zai understood what he meant, nodded calmly and said, "Then lead the way."

Half an hour later, Tian Qianzhen's staff led him to the county government's signing room. The general under Shi Siming was also a little uneasy at this moment.

When Tian Qianzhen saw Yuan Zai coming back, he was overjoyed. He hurried over, held Yuan Zai's hands and laughed, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding just now. Mr. Yuan, sit down and talk. Someone, bring some wine, good wine!"

His enthusiasm was undisguised, and he was completely different from just now.

Yuan Zai nodded reservedly. After the two sat down, he asked with some confusion: "What did General Tian misunderstand just now?"

“These are all insignificant past events.

In the past, Tian had exchanged all his wealth for Jiaozi, but later on, Jiaozi became waste paper, and Tian was left penniless. Hahahaha, it's not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning. "

Tian Qianzhen's smile seemed to be twitching. Yuan Zai could imagine how disheartened the other party was when those Jiaozi became waste paper.

He opened the wooden box beside him, took out the salt voucher inside, handed it to Tian Qianzhen and said, "This is a salt voucher, not a Jiaozi. It is used to obtain salt in Bianzhou. This item is extremely scarce in Bianzhou, and there is no problem in exchanging it. Yuan came here this time without many followers, and it is not convenient to carry heavy goods in the chaos of war, so I can only use the salt voucher as a gift. I hope General Tian will accept it."

So this is ah!

Tian Qianzhen was really surprised this time! He quickly put away the wooden box and handed it to his staff. Then he dismissed his attendants and left Yuan Zai alone to have a secret conversation with him.

Yuan Zai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Things were finally back on track. This was an area he was familiar with and he was not afraid.

Tian Qianzhen poured a glass of wine for Yuan Zai, clinked glasses with him, drank it all, and asked, "I wonder why Mr. Yuan came to Handan? Marshal Fang is not here just to give me money, right?"

"Shi Siming is extremely cruel and anyone can kill him. The emperor regards him as a threat. But General Tian is different. The emperor admires you and does not regard you as an enemy."

Yuan Zai said calmly.

Tian Qianzhen nodded. This was consistent with his expectations. Bianzhou sent someone here to make friends with him. There was a misunderstanding before, and now both parties can finally discuss things in a normal atmosphere and normal routine.

Tian Qianzhen was also relieved. If possible, he really didn't want to provoke Fang Zhongyong. It would be best not to offend a behemoth that governed dozens of states.

"Tian has admired the other commander for a long time. He now governs dozens of states and has an army of 100,000 soldiers. He is a powerful force that should not be underestimated.

Tian really felt Marshal Fang's kindness.

However, if there is no merit, there will be no reward. How can Tian repay Marshal Fang's kindness? "

Tian Qianzhen didn't beat around the bush with Yuan Zai and directly asked the question that concerned him most: If you don't explain your purpose, this money will be too much for me to handle!
"Shi Siming's bones are in his grave. I wonder what General Tian thinks of him. The emperor believes that Shi Siming will die sooner or later without a burial place. He deserves to die, but if that day comes, General Tian will inevitably be affected.

I wonder if General Tian has ever made plans for himself?"

Yuan Zai did not answer Tian Qianzhen's question, but directly pointed out the most embarrassing situation the other party was currently facing.

Tian Qian was unwilling to die with Shi Siming, not to mention that he might die before him. Yuan Zai felt that Tian Qian must have considered a way out, and there was even more than one way out.

"Appreciate further details."

Tian Qianzhen's face turned serious and he nodded slightly. Now that he had come to the point, there was no need for him to beat around the bush and pretend to be confused. It was pointless.

He also wanted to hear what Yuan Zai had to say.

"The emperor wants to take over Hebei and needs the help of General Tian. After the plan is completed, the governor of Huainan will allow General Tian to take his troops south to Huainan and take charge of Yangzhou.

Of course, not right now.”

Yuan Zai said in a deep voice, not trying to beat around the bush with Tian Qianzhen.

"Huainan?"

Tian Qian was really stunned. He really didn't expect there would be such a trick.

Yuan Zai saw that he had taken his words in, and continued:

"The emperor is sincere. He is not going to use General Tian and then discard him like trash. If the emperor only promised to grant him the title of Jiedushi of Youzhou after the matter is done, General Tian might not be able to stay in Youzhou, and he would not trust the emperor's promise.

The emperor did not want General Tian to become the second Shi Siming. After General Tian achieved military success and was stationed in Hebei, he would inevitably become a more powerful governor than Shi Siming, which the emperor could not tolerate.

Huainan is rich and peaceful, and General Tian can enjoy the good life here without any war. Why not?"

These words made sense, and Tian Qianzhen couldn't help but nod.

It is indeed as Yuan Zai said. If he killed Shi Siming and became the next Jiedushi of Youzhou, Fang Qing would probably not be able to feel at ease.

If that day really comes, even if Tian Qianzhen doesn't want to turn against him, he will have to be on guard secretly.

It is precisely because Fang Qing promised it as the governor of Huainan that it proved that the other party was really sincere and understood Tian Qian's true situation.

"Marshal Fang deserves his achievements today. I am convinced!"

Tian Qian said sincerely convinced that as for whether to be an insider or to kill Shi Siming, that was a matter for the future and he would talk about it when the time comes.

Anyway, the way is open, so we can just act according to circumstances when the time comes.

Yuan Zai didn't expect Tian Qianzhen to agree now. If he really agreed, it would be a fraud.

Building trust takes time. For this line to work, it requires continuous efforts to consolidate trust.

The two of them drank and chatted, both deliberately avoiding serious matters, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious, just like friends chatting.

"General Tian, ​​I heard that An Shouzhong recently defeated the Konghe Army in Huaizhou, and the latter fled back to Zezhou. I wonder what you think about this?" Yuan Zai suddenly remembered something before leaving Bianzhou, and couldn't help asking. Of course, this matter was not the main purpose of his visit to Handan this time.

Bribing Tian Qianzhen and dealing with the battle of Yecheng were secondary, while planting a nail inside Youzhou was the main thing.

This is for the sake of long-term consideration. This nail will definitely be of great use when we attack Youzhou in the future.

"An Shouzhong is a brave general. He attacked the enemy unexpectedly. He fought beautifully, but..."

Tian Qianzhen said halfway and then he didn't know whether he should continue, because his opinion might be different from others.

"General Tian, ​​please feel free to speak."

Yuan Zai suddenly became interested.

"In that case, then Tian will not keep it for himself. Tian believes that although Li Huaiguang was defeated, there may be a reversal in this battle, and it is still unknown who will win."

Tian Qianzhen said very cautiously.

“How come you see?”

Yuan Zai asked further.

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"Luoyang is a peaceful place. The soldiers under An Shouzhong have plenty of food and clothing, and they have not suffered much hardship. After a few years of peace and comfort, they will naturally be successful in good times. Once they encounter adversity, they may be unable to recover.

On the other hand, the Konghe Army has suffered a lot in the past few years. Zezhou is a small place and their life is not easy.

Without any support and strong assistance, the situation is like a mountain falling down on one's head.

In this desperate situation, if we fail to rise up, the army will fall apart.

In this situation, it is easier to unite the soldiers and unite as one. There is still a chance to kill An Shouzhong."

Tian Qianzhen expressed his opinion.

Yuan Zai subconsciously felt that what the other party said made sense.

No matter what, the Konghe Army was once an elite iron army that dominated the area. How could it be possible that they were killed by just one blow from An Shouzhong?

I'm afraid there will be more variables in the follow-up of this battle.

He secretly kept Tian Qianzhen's words in mind, thinking that after returning to Bianzhou, he would have a chance to give advice and suggestions to Fang Chongyong, and that he must not underestimate the Konghe Army.

I'm afraid this army and Li Huaiguang will have more to do and it won't be so easy for them to withdraw.

"General Tian has a keen eye, which is admirable. Yuan thinks so too."

Yuan Zai flattered Tian Qianzhen and said that flattery was free and he kept flattering him. The two of them had a very pleasant conversation and wanted to become sworn brothers.

After drinking, Yuan Zai got up and said goodbye. He stayed in the courtyard arranged by Tian Qianzhen for one night, and set off back to Bianzhou early the next morning.

……

Why did An Shouzhong take action against Li Huaiguang and his Konghe Army first?

Because you should choose soft persimmons, it’s that simple.

No matter who the "players" are in this game, Li Huaiguang is the weakest one, which is recognized. Unless Li Huaiguang is willing to be a dog for the Guanzhong court.

When the situation is still unclear, no matter what you do, there will be risks, so eliminating unpredictable "accidents" is the only way to reduce risks.

This was the case when they first attacked the Konghe Army, because An Shouzhong didn't know who this wild dog would bite first, so it was better to kill it first.

He hit Li Huaiguang so hard with the stick that he was defeated and retreated back to Zezhou.

This battle resolved the crisis in the three cities of Heyang. Without Li Huaiguang's support in Huaizhou, the army in Guanzhong could only take the Chenguan Road if they wanted to attack the three cities of Heyang from Puzhou.

In this case, it would be dangerous to fight alone.

Luoyang is a place of war on all sides. To the west, the troops of Guanzhong are eyeing it covetously. To the north, there are Li Huaiguang and the Konghe Army. To the south and east, there are the Bianzhou Army. An Shouzhong took the lead in attacking and cut off the threat from the north. Fang Zhongyong to the east is a long-term threat and it is impossible for him to seize Luoyang in the near future, so he can be ignored for the time being.

In this way, An Shouzhong only needs to keep an eye on Tongguan. After defeating the Konghe Army, the situation is very favorable for him.

However, while solving the old problems, new troubles have arisen.

In a side room of the Luoyang Imperial Palace, An Shouzhong and his deputy general Li Tingwang were arguing endlessly. The two disagreed on the issue of sending troops, and neither could convince the other.

"General, you can't lead the troops away from Luoyang. There is a lot of commotion in Guanzhong. They have tens of thousands of troops stationed in Huayin, Tongguan, and Puzhou.

If we are not careful, we will be doomed."

Li Tingwang urged earnestly.

"If we don't act now, it will be too late. Strike while the iron is hot!"

An Shouzhong didn't know what to say.

Li Tingwang's turtle mentality is unacceptable. A commander cannot be obsessed with a false sense of security and must think long-term.

"General, if you lead your troops away from Luoyang, what will happen if Guanzhong attacks Luoyang?"

Li Tingwang asked unwillingly, but An Shouzhong waved his hand.

"There is Tianjing Pass between Zezhou and Huaizhou. Scouts reported that Li Huaiguang's defeated soldiers retreated directly back to Zezhou City, and there was no one guarding Tianjing Pass.

I will first lead my troops to capture Tianjing Pass, then fight to Zezhou and destroy the Konghe Army. When the people in Guanzhong see that there is no profit to be made, they will naturally give up the idea of ​​attacking Luoyang.

This is a strategy to end war with war.

You think that a surprise attack on Luoyang by Guanzhong will not happen. "

An Shouzhong sneered.

In his opinion, Li Tingwang's thinking is that of a "nerd". Seeing the current situation, he believes that Luoyang will inevitably be besieged or even attacked.

In fact, as long as An Shouzhong could destroy the Konghe Army, it would be impossible for Guanzhong to send troops to Luoyang.

Because there is no chance, the risk of sending troops is too great. The forces in Guanzhong are too complicated, and the possibility of gambling with life is too low.

On the contrary, An Shouzhong hung Li Huaiguang's head on the city wall of Luoyang, which made the offensive and defensive battle around Luoyang disappear invisibly.

If you fail to kill the snake, you will suffer from it. In the long run, it is tantamount to letting a tiger return to the mountains.

If we don't take advantage of the opportunity when the Konghe Army has no time to repair and destroy this army, then when Li Huaiguang recovers and cooperates with Guanzhong to send troops, it will be really bad.

Tianjing Pass is located in Zezhou and has always been controlled by the Konghe Army.

In terms of distance, it is only a stone's throw away from Zezhou City, so the Control Crane Army naturally has an advantage geographically. In other words, time is on Li Huaiguang's side now. The longer it drags on, the more chances the Control Crane Army may have after it recovers.

It is clear who will benefit more from delaying. The current stability is only temporary stability, a moment of respite.

It has to be said that An Shouzhong's strategic thinking is indeed superior to Li Tingwang's.

Seeing that he could not persuade him, Li Tingwang sighed helplessly and said, "Then Marshal An will guard Luoyang City, and I will lead the troops to attack Zezhou. Is this okay?"

An Shouzhong thought about it and felt that what Li Tingwang said did make some sense.

He nodded and said, "That's it. Tomorrow you will lead 10,000 soldiers to Tianjing Pass. Occupy the pass first, and then see if there is any chance."

(End of this chapter)