Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 13 Taking control of the military with one strategy
As soon as Chai Zongxun finished speaking, the officials in the palace immediately became excited and talked about it.

The various administrative measures formulated by Chai Zongxun fundamentally solved the problem of the current literati in the Zhou Dynasty who were dissatisfied with the lack of prestige of the ministers in power, while the generals and the imperial army were dissatisfied with being suppressed and having their salaries reduced.

Now that Sejong has passed away, Emperor Chai Zongxun succeeded to the throne at the age of 7. It is a wise move to stabilize the domestic political situation and improve people's livelihood and economy. Chai Zongxun's adjustment of Sejong's national policy is in line with the wishes of all the ministers in the court.

The admonishers Zheng Qi and Yang Hui were the first to go out and praised Chai Zongxun's wise move.

Chai Zongxun thought that in August, Zheng Qi and Yang Hui initiated the impeachment of Zhao Kuangyin in the court, and even suggested that the Queen Mother and himself kill Zhao Kuangyin. Wang Pu strongly opposed it, but the Queen Mother Fu stopped without any idea. It can be seen that the two of them of loyalty.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:

"My two dear friends have noticed that Zhao Kuangyin is plotting rebellion in August and are loyal to me! They are ministers of the country.

I intend to promote my two beloved ministers to the rank of imperial censor! "

Empress Dowager Fu, who was sitting behind Chai Zongxun, said:

"Your Majesty's decision is very good, I agree."

Zheng Qi and Yang Hui were overjoyed. They gave a big gift to express their gratitude and said:

"Thank you, Queen Mother, Your Majesty for your grace, long live my emperor!"

After waiting for a while, no one in the civil or military officials in the court spoke out against it. Chai Zongxun knew that he had been considering the policy measures for many days, taking into account the interests of the civil and military ministers, and was widely expected.

Chai Zongxun said:

"Since there is no objection to my measures, Prime Minister Fan will start implementing them in the capital and various states as soon as possible."

Fan Zhi came out of the class and said:

"Your Majesty, I believe that the five measures promulgated by Your Majesty are all in line with the current situation and represent the benevolent government of a saint.

It’s just that I believe that the biggest problem facing our country is external. The Northern Han Dynasty has taken refuge with the Khitan. Now that the late emperor has passed away, I’m afraid that Liu Jun’s ambition will lead to the invasion of our country with the Khitan barbarians. "

When Empress Dowager Fu heard this, she knew that this was indeed a major event for the country. Just when she was worried that the emperor was too young to answer, she saw Chai Zongxun nodding and saying:

"What Prime Minister Fan said is reasonable. The Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan are indeed a serious problem for our dynasty. Regarding this, I have discussed countermeasures with the Queen Mother:
The Songzhou returned to Germany army was led by the commander Li Chongjin, who led an army of 60,000 to defend the border to prevent the invasion of the Northern Han Dynasty.

The Imperial Guards and the Palace Front Division are the elite of our imperial army, with outstanding combat capabilities. My father once used them to connect the three states of Kemo, Ying, and Yi, and the Northern Lu were invincible!
Each of these two armies has about 60,000 mobile troops. Zhang Yongde and Han Tong can take turns to go to the front line at any time, rendezvous with the German army, and fight together against the Northern Han Dynasty and Khitan.

There are two armies of the three armies with a total of 120,000 elites, and the three generals are all experienced generals of our Great Zhou Dynasty!
By using this to guard against the Northern invaders, we will be safe from danger!
As for the Southern Tang Dynasty, from the winter of the second year of Xiande (955) to the spring of the fifth year of Xiande (958), his father led his army to conquer the Southern Tang Dynasty three times, and brought 14 states in the Huaihe and Huaihe regions into the territory, and made them vassals and pay tribute. , just continue to maintain this situation for the time being.

The Kingdom of Shu in the west is a small country with a weak army. Only I, the great Zhou Dynasty, can attack it. How dare I invade it?
All in all, as long as we, the Great Zhou Dynasty, prevent and defeat the invasion of the Northern Han Dynasty, we can ensure domestic stability. "

Li Zhong, who ranked third in the military generals' queue, walked in and out of the squad and said:
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Since the late emperor organized the army and became a military force, the combat power of our imperial army and the returned army of the Great Zhou Dynasty is superior to that of the Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan.

Your Majesty's substantial increase in the salaries of the Imperial Guards and Guarded Sergeants today will surely make all sergeants grateful and boost their morale.

If the Northern invaders invade, I will surely lead a large army to defeat them and win! "

Li Chongjin, 51 years old, was born in Cangzhou, the son of Princess Fuqing, the fourth sister of Zhou Taizu Guo Wei.

After the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, Li Chongjin was appointed as the direct governor of the inner palace. With his marriage relationship, he was gradually promoted to the commander of the front capital of the palace.

During the Zhou Shizong period, Li Chongjin moved to Yuhou, the capital of the bodyguard and army. He participated in the Battle of Gaoping and performed well. He was successively appointed as the envoy of Chengde Jiedushi and Tongping Zhangshi, and became the envoy of the Great Zhou Dynasty. After Chai Zongxun came to the throne, Li Chongjin was taken back by Fan Zhi and other civil servants as the commander of the German army, and was appointed as the Huainan Jiedu Envoy, the Inspector of the School, and the Shizhong.

In terms of royal seniority, Li Chongjin was Chai Zongxun's uncle.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said, "With Commander Li saying this, I have nothing to worry about.

In order to prevent Commander Li from having to garrison the border for a long period of time when the troops returned to Germany are too hard, I intend that from now on, the positions of commander of the Imperial Palace, the bodyguards, and the commanders of the three armies of the troops returned to Germany will be rotated for a period of three years.

The governors of various states also rotate according to this example. "

When Fan Zhi heard this, he established Ming Chai Zongxun to check and balance and prevent military generals from controlling an army for a long time and turning it into a private army. It was a great idea to rotate senior generals to serve in various armies. The three-year term might make the army become the general's private army. There was almost no sex.

Far more clever than his previous method of nakedly suppressing military officers and soldiers.

Fan Zhi immediately said respectfully:
"Your Majesty, this is an excellent proposal! If we act according to it, we will surely make all parts of the Great Zhou Dynasty as stable as Mount Tai.

The minister recommended that implementation in all states across the country begin immediately. "

Wei Renpu, the deputy prime minister and minister of household affairs, Tian Min, minister of industry, and others subsequently seconded the proposal.

Zhang Yongde, Han Tong, Li Chongjin and others in the queue of military generals looked at each other and thought that since the emperor and civil servants had approved this proposal, it would be good to rotate their posts. There would be no one among the three with greater status and power. Anyway, it was still He is an indispensable senior military general in the Zhou Dynasty.

Three people expressed their support one after another.

Chai Zongxun and Queen Mother Fu were overjoyed.

Chai Zongxun was originally worried that Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin would voice their opposition, but now it seems that the three of them, including Han Tong, are very loyal and willing to obey his will.

Besides Chai Zongxun's joy, Empress Dowager Fu was greatly satisfied when she saw the emperor scolding Fang Qiu and making a wise decision.

Queen Mother Fu thought:
"It seems that the emperor was really enlightened by the late emperor's dream. As the emperor said, the key to the important affairs of the government can be understood at a glance.

Our country, the Zhou Dynasty, has no worries! The burden that the late emperor entrusted to me can be said to be much lighter.

My father knows that my mother and son have taken control of the imperial army and the returned army in the capital, so he will probably not object to the rotation of military envoys. "

Fu Yanqing, the father of Empress Dowager Fu, was born in a general family. He was the fourth son of Fu Cunshen, a famous general in the Later Tang Dynasty and the military governor of the Xuanwu Army. At the age of thirteen, he was able to ride and shoot.

At first, he served Jin King Li Cunxu (Zhuangzong of the later Tang Dynasty) in Taiyuan. Because of his prudence and honesty, he was trusted by Li Cunxu and was allowed to enter his inner chamber. After he came of age, he was appointed as a personal commander by Li Cunxu.

In the first year of Tongguang (923), Li Cunxu conquered Houliang and took control of Bianzhou. Fu Yanqing was promoted to commander of scattered soldiers.

In the fourth year of Tongguang's reign (926), during the Xingjiaomen rebellion, most of Li Cunxu's followers left, and only Fu Yanqing, Wang Quanbin and more than a dozen men fought to resist the enemy. Later, Li Cunxu was hit by an arrow and died. Fu Yanqing and others had to mourn for a while and left Luoyang.

In the third year of Guangshun (953), Guo Wei granted Fu Yanqing the titles of Daming Prefecture Yin and Tianxiong Army Jiedu Envoy, and promoted him to the title of King of Wei.

After the Battle of Gaoping in the first year of Xiande (954), Chai Rong worshiped Fu Yanqing as Taifu and changed his title to King of Wei.

The eldest daughter and the second daughter both married Zhou Shizong, and the second daughter became the queen. The third daughter, Shizong, married Zhao Kuangyi as his stepmother.

After Chai Zongxun came to the throne, he was given the title of Taiwei Fu Yanqing.

(End of this chapter)