Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 53 Night Banquet (Special thanks to book friend Mengyu for your monthly pass!)

Zhang Yong nodded, then asked for some details about the Huaizhou Jiedushi Mansion and its surroundings, and agreed on a way for the two to quickly contact each other.

Zhang Yong stood up and handed a baggage he was carrying to Governor Song, saying:
"Supervisor Song has worked hard for His Majesty to monitor the Yangzhou area. There are two hundred taels of silver here, so I asked Supervisor Song to accept it and treat his brothers to a drink.

I will lead my "Long Xiangwei" brothers into the city for business. "

Governor Song happily took the baggage and sent Zhang Yong out of the main hall.

One hundred sergeants under him and twenty sergeants under Zhang Yong were waiting in the courtyard.

Zhang Yong bowed and said:
"Thank you, Governor Song, for taking care of my business. I will definitely report this to my boss after I return to Bianjing."

Governor Song laughed and said:
"Captain Zhang, please reply to the owner of your company. I will pay close attention to your company's business. If you have any difficulties, Captain Zhang can come to me."

Superintendent Song Du sent Zhang Yong and his party out of the gate of the house.

Zhang Yong and others walked on Yangzhou Chang Street in the direction of the Huainan Jiedushi Mansion. About two-quarters of an hour later, they could already see the gate of the Jiedushi Mansion.

There is a big inn at the corner of the street. Guests are coming in and out in front of the door. The four characters "Huaiyang Inn" are written on the green flag.

Zhao Yong led everyone into the inn and asked at the counter for eleven "Tian Zi Hao" guest rooms on the second floor. Each room costs forty cents a day, which is slightly higher than the price in Bianjing.

Everyone's horses were led into the backyard stables by the waiters.

After having dinner together in the lobby of the inn and entering the largest guest room, Zhang Yong ordered the "Longxiang Guard" sergeants:

"We will stay at this "Huaiyang Inn" today and rest for a few hours. At nightfall, the twenty of you will disperse and set out to inquire about news in Yangzhou City.

At present, the movements of Han Lingkun, the military governor of Huainan, are unknown. There are dangers in Yangzhou City. You must be careful!

At two o'clock in the morning, we collected them all at the inn.

If you are in danger, don't forget your Majesty's great kindness and the military regulations of my "Long Xiang Guard"! "

Twenty fifteen-year-old young sergeants saluted and said:
"I will never forget Your Majesty's life-saving grace! If I fail in the operation, I will die, and my reputation as the "Dragon Guard" will never be reduced!"

Zhang Yong nodded, and the twenty sergeants all exited the room one after another, returning to the guest room to rest and recharge their batteries.

After driving for more than a day, Zhang Yong felt a little tired, so he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to breathe and practice.

Zhang Yong's family was poor since he was a child. He wandered around the world at the age of six or seven, and was taught swordsmanship and archery by strange people.

The year before last (the fifth year of Xiande), he went to Huashan to ask Chen Tuan to be his teacher. Although Chen Tuan refused, he allowed Zhang Yong to live in the Huashan thatched cottage for more than half a month and taught him a set of internal martial arts.

Time passed like water, and as the sky gradually darkened, the twenty "Long Xiang Guards" left the inn one after another and disappeared into the thick night.

Zhang Yong sat in the house and waited for a while. Seeing nothing unusual around the inn, he changed into night clothes and jumped downstairs from the window of the room.

After climbing out of the wooden wall on the side of the inn, Zhang Yong sneaked towards the Huaizhou Jiedushi Mansion in the night, his figure was like a phantom, almost invisible.

After looking for an opportunity to climb over the courtyard wall into Jiedushi's mansion, Zhang Yong dodged and moved all the way, avoiding the guards, and headed towards a large hall in the backyard with lights coming out.

As soon as a group of sergeants patrolling the palace passed by, amidst the music in the hall, Zhang Yong immediately climbed up the wooden pillars, sneaked under the eaves of the hall, found a window gap, and opened his eyes to look in .

The main hall was brightly lit, with dozens of candles burning all around; sitting on the main seat was a military general wearing aristocratic clothing, who should be Han Lingkun, the military governor of Huainan.

There were more than a dozen banquet tables on both sides of the hall, and there were more than twenty guests sitting there, including military generals and people dressed as civil servants. In the open space in the middle of the hall, there are more than ten graceful girls performing dances. The leading girl is about fifteen or sixteen years old, especially her appearance and enchanting figure.

Zhang Yong hung his body under the eaves and beams and waited quietly for a while, hearing the voices of people in the hall asking for drinks and chatting.

About a moment later, Han Lingkun, who was sitting in the chair, said:

"General Liu and General Geng, how have I treated you since this military envoy took charge of the Tianping Army?"

The two middle-aged generals at the table both raised their hands and said:

"Master Jiedushi manages the army strictly and never defaults on the salary of the sergeants. The rewards and trophies from the court are distributed to us and other officers and men. He is deeply loved by the entire army!"

Han Lingkun nodded and said:
"This Jiedushi has been with the two generals in the Tianping Army for more than two years. I can't say how much I have taken care of them, but I definitely don't dare to treat them badly.

If the envoy of this festival has a big problem, which is also a big problem for our Tianping army, I would like to ask two generals to help me make a decision. "

Generals Liu and Geng both said:
"I don't dare! Please tell me, Lord Jiedu, I will be willing to help you solve your problems."

Han Lingkun said:

"Okay! Then I will tell you the truth!

Since the imperial court implemented the "night market" and the new water conservancy policy at the beginning of the year, most of the business operations in various Jiedu prefectures, including Huainan, have been taken over by the "night market", and most of the tax revenue has been collected by the imperial court.

However, the construction of water conservancy projects that can promote the collection of grain has been delayed in Huainan. Is it really unreasonable? !

At present, the tax revenue of the Jiedushi government is declining day by day, and it is no longer able to maintain the salary of the sergeants of our Tianping army. This clearly shows that the imperial court intends to attack the Jiedushi envoys from various places and intends to reduce the vassal in the future!
Fortunately, Tang Hao, the leader of the Tang Dynasty and the privy envoy, has contacted this envoy and is willing to help me with Jiangnan's abundant financial resources!

With such kind treatment, this Jiedu envoy has decided to unite with the Tang State to raise troops and establish himself as king, no longer serving the Zhou Dynasty who treated us harshly!

Please ask the two generals to help this military envoy and work together for a great cause! "

Generals Liu and Geng were shocked when they heard this. After looking at each other for a few times, General Liu saluted and said:
"Master Han has been an official in the Great Zhou Dynasty for three generations. The Great Zhou Dynasty has treated Master Han and our Tianping Army well!
Although the imperial court implemented the "night market" new policy, which reduced the tax revenue of our Jiedu government, it also reduced the taxes paid to the imperial court this summer.

If there is any difficulty, Mr. Han can go to the court and make it clear that Empress Dowager Fu and Your Majesty will not ignore our Tianping Army.

Why did Mr. Han use the military strength of the Zhou Dynasty, and the country was becoming more and more prosperous, to join the Tang Dynasty, where the emperor and ministers were idle and the army was weak? "

Han Lingkun said angrily:

"This Jiedushi has made up his mind! Rather than being suppressed in the Great Zhou Dynasty, a man should rise up and take action!"

General Geng pointed his halberd at Han Lingkun and said:
"Han Lingkun, aren't you committing rebellion and self-destruction?!
Now the 80,000 elite imperial guards sent by the imperial court will arrive in Yangzhou tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. With more than 10,000 people in your hands, even if you add reinforcements from the Tang Dynasty, how can you be a match for our imperial army of the Great Zhou Dynasty? "

Han Lingkun sneered:

"All the generals of our Tianping Army have followed the example of this Jiedushi Envoy, but you two are not the direct descendants of this Jiedushi Envoy.

Precisely because the Imperial Army of the Great Zhou Dynasty is about to arrive, this Jiedu Envoy wants you two to express your stance and make a decision!

Seeing that you two are so foolishly loyal to the Zhou Dynasty, I guess it is useless to tell you that this Jiedushi has expanded its army to 60,000 people in the past month or so?

That being the case, it's no wonder that this military envoy doesn't miss his old friendship in the army! "

(End of this chapter)