The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 32 Chai Rong’s pressure

"I have received an order from the officials to lead my army to Zhaozhou before August [-]th to participate in the battle and fight the main Khitan army!"

Chai Rong took out the bright yellow brocade-covered document and handed it to Fu Jinzhan in front of Zhu Xiu.

Fu Jinzhan didn't answer: "I'd better not take into account the official's decree."

"I'll read it to Mrs. Fu." Chai Rong didn't force himself, opened the document and read it word for word.

Zhu Xiu shrank aside and pretended to be a little transparent.

The emperor's meaning was obvious. There were nearly [-] Khitan troops staying in Zhenzhou and Zhaozhou. The entire Hebei army must be integrated to have enough strength to fight the Khitan people decisively.

The news that Yelv Deguang was seriously ill was confirmed, so Liu Zhiyuan and most of the court officials believed that the time for a decisive battle with the Khitans had arrived.

There was also one thing mentioned in the decree that caught Zhu Xiu's attention.

Du Chongwei, the leader of the leading party and the culprit who led [-] Jin troops to surrender to Khitan, which directly led to the demise of the Later Jin Dynasty, and returned to the German army, gathered more than [-] troops and occupied Daming Mansion (Weizhou) to rebel!

Du Chongwei was originally Shi Jingtang's brother-in-law. As early as when he commanded the Jin army to garrison Zhenzhou (Zhengding, Hebei Province) to defend against the Khitans, he had a second thought.

His brother-in-law Shi Jingtang took advantage of the Khitan's power to become emperor, which greatly inspired Du Chongwei.

Last year, the Jin army and the Khitan suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Hutuo River. As the coach, Du Chongwei must bear the main responsibility.

Feeling guilty, Du Chongwei simply refused to do anything and led [-] Jin troops to surrender to Yelu Deguang, opening the door to Hebei for the Khitans.

Yelu Deguang took advantage of the situation and sent his troops southward, broke through Bianliang in one fell swoop, destroyed the Later Jin Dynasty, and captured the emperor Shi Chonggui.

Du Chongwei first accepted Yelu Deguang's canonization. Later, when he saw Liu Zhiyuan regaining Kaifeng, the new imperial court quickly gained a foothold and extended an olive branch to him, so he humbly surrendered to the new imperial court in Kaifeng and became a captain and commander of the returned army.

Now, Du Chongwei once again occupied Daming Mansion to rebel, clamoring to echo the Khitan army in Zhenzhou from the north to the south and destroy the Liu Han court again.

Liu Zhiyuan was anxious, and wanted to fight the Khitan army as soon as possible, and then return to the division to put down the rebellion.

That's why Chai Rong had the decree in his hand, urging him to lead his army to Zhaozhou as soon as possible.

Zhu Xiu carefully recalled the historical records and found that Du Chongwei's rebellion did not seem to cause much commotion.

It's just that this guy's reputation is too stinky and bad, and he has no bottom line in doing things. Liu Zhiyuan is worried, so he wants to go back and deal with him impatiently.

Fu Jinzhan listened quietly and asked, "What is General Chai's opinion?"

Chai Rong smiled bitterly and did not answer directly: "In addition, I also received a message from my father, asking me to lead the army to stay in Cangzhou and stand still! My father and a few important officials are opposed to a decisive battle with the Khitans in Zhenzhou!"

Fu Jinzhan looked surprised and fell into deep thought.

Chai Rong did not show Guo Wei's letter to Fu Jinzhan. Zhu Xiu secretly thought that Uncle Guo must have madly complained about Liu Zhiyuan in the letter, otherwise he would not have followed the order and sent a letter home to let Chai Rong Don't listen to the emperor's will and make excuses to stay in Cangzhou.

"My father said in the letter that although Emperor Yelu Deguang of the Liao Dynasty was seriously ill, the Khitan people's army was united and morale had not declined. It was by no means a good opportunity for a decisive battle at this time. If something went wrong, the consequences would be immeasurable! It was just that the officials were eager to win, but they were also worried about Du Chongwei Taking advantage of the opportunity to become bigger, they are eager to fight decisively.

The official decree and my father's letter each had different opinions. I really didn't know how to make a decision. After thinking about it, Mrs. Fu was the only one in Cangzhou who could discuss this matter with me. "

Chai Rong sighed and clasped his fists sincerely: "Mrs. Fu has been in Cangzhou for several months and knows the situation in Hebei very well. Also, Mrs. Fu has provided information. I sincerely ask Mrs. Fu to give me some advice."

Fu Jinzhan smiled bitterly and said: "General Chai is serious. Before Yeluwu wanted to besiege the city, I did receive news from the Fu family every three to five days. But now, the Fu family has lost contact with me, and the waterway south to Jingzhou has also Interrupted, I know no more than the General.”

Chai Rong couldn't hide his disappointment in his eyes and sighed: "Even the Fu family has cut off news. It seems that the external situation is still not optimistic."

The two of them were silent.Fu Jinzhan said: "General, you might as well send someone to investigate the situation north of Zhangshui first. If there are no Khitan people spying on Cangzhou, there is no harm in the Tianxiong army withdrawing now."

Chai Rong said: "My father said in the letter that Cangzhou is the most important border defense in Hebei, and the Khitan people will not give up easily. He reminded me not to relax my guard. During this inspection of the riverside wharf, I specially sent people across the river to investigate. There was a rumor that Yelu Wu wanted to We are dispatching troops and generals in Zhuoxian County, and it seems that we have the intention of attacking Cangzhou again."

After a pause, Chai Rong whispered: "But the official decree strictly requires me to lead the army to arrive before August [-]th! The matter of the decisive battle in Zhenzhou has caused conflicts in the court, and the official and his father have also argued many times. I'm worried that if we don't follow the government's order, if there is a war in Zhenzhou, my father will be implicated."

Chai Rong's words were unclear, but Fu Jinzhan and Zhu Xiu understood them.

Liu Zhiyuan asked him to leave Cangzhou and rush to Zhaozhou to participate in the battle. He first concentrated his troops to attack the main Khitan force at all costs.

If Chai Rong makes an excuse to disobey orders, if a war breaks out, victory will be fine. Once defeated, Chai Rong and Tianxiong's army will be blamed, and Guo Wei will be implicated.

But the Tianxiong army is gone. If the Khitan soldiers cross the river to attack, who will be able to defend Cangzhou City?

With the emperor's strict decree on one side and the 10,000+ people in Cangzhou on the other, Chai Rong couldn't make a choice, and Fu Jinzhan didn't know how to make a decision.

When Zhu Xiu saw that the two of them were silent, Chai Rong was hesitant and a little anxious. He couldn't help but whispered: "Qi Cun Yashuai, can you allow me to say a few words?"

Chai Rong looked at him and said, "Go ahead."

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "The Tianxiong Army can't leave! Zhenzhou can't even go! Cangzhou City must be defended!"

Fu Jinzhan looked at him with a questioning look, and Chai Rong said in a deep voice, "Tell me the reason?"

Zhu Xiukan said: "First, as Guo Shuai said, even if the Liao Emperor was seriously ill, the fighting strength and morale of the Khitan army would be almost unaffected. This is determined by the tribal alliance attributes of the Khitan people.

Second, there are tens of thousands of people in Cangzhou City, how can we just leave them alone?If the Tianxiong army leaves and the Khitans cross the river to attack, and hundreds of thousands of people are either killed or taken captive, will the Xiangzhou tragedy happen again?It has to do with the public opinion of the court, the reputation of Ya Shuai, Tianxiong Army and even Guo Shuai. This must not be the case!
third"

Zhu Xiu paused and raised his head slightly, as if the old god was here: "According to my observation of the sky for many days and nights, there are changes in the number of Ziwei Dou. The stars in the northeast are dim, and there are bright stars that are on the verge of falling. Emperor Yelv Deguang of the Liao Dynasty, or According to this number of days, there is a sign of collapse!"

Chai Rong and Fu Jinzhan were stunned at first, and then looked at each other in shock!

Fu Jinzhan frowned and said: "Although there have been reports that Yelv Deguang is seriously ill, I don't think he will die from it. The death of Emperor Liao is not a trivial matter. It is related to the situation of the world and cannot be said in vain."

Chai Rong didn't believe it at all, and said in surprise: "Celestial phenomena have always been elusive. Could it be that your master, Mr. Siyou, has also done some research on this?"

Zhu Xiugong cupped his hands and said with a proud look on his face: "Laozi said: 'Man follows the earth, earth follows the heaven, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.' Confucius said: 'There is nothing to pray for if you are guilty of a crime in heaven.' Dong Ziyun: "Heaven and man merge into one." The teacher studied hundreds of schools of thought and understood the wise words of the sages. He also had some attainments in astronomy and calendar. The student was not talented and could only scratch the surface of what the teacher taught him. "

Chai Rong and Fu Jinzhan were doubtful. The theory of astronomical phenomena was too illusory. Nowadays, in an era of broken rituals and frequent wars, few people studied astronomy.

Si Tiantai in the Kaifeng court has been idle for many years. There is no official Tai Zhenglang, and there is really no one available, so we can only find some Taoist priests and alchemists to fill it.

Zhu Xiu said seriously: "Just imagine, Marshal Ya, once Yelu Deguang dies, the Khitan tribes will fight for the throne and will retreat north, so the decisive battle in Zhenzhou must be a bluff. At this time, he left Cangzhou and rushed to Zhuo County, but gave the Khitan soldiers a chance to fight." Take advantage of this opportunity! By then it will be too late to rescue!"

Chai Rong frowned: "In your opinion, how long will it take to find out?"

Zhu Xiumo calculated it and said firmly: "Within two months!"

"Two months." Chai Rong took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

Two months later, the time limit stipulated by the official order has long passed.

The key to the problem now is whether he dares to bet that Yelv Deguang will die of illness, that the Khitans will withdraw their troops, or that the decisive battle of Zhenzhou will not be fought!
"From now on, send more manpower to inquire about the news in the direction of Zhaozhou, and do our best to detect the movements of the Khitan army in Zhuo County! We must report every day, and those who delay and slack off will be killed!"

Chai Rong ordered Zhang Yongde sternly.

　Hand over your heart and votes~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)