Late Tang

Gai Yu chuckled, "Actually, it's not impossible to poach the Zhao brothers."

"Oh, sir, what's the best strategy?" Li Jing was delighted when he heard the words. Li Jing thought about it. The brothers of the Zhao family are really good at defending the city. Li Jing has many generals under his command, especially his disciples. Although still young, they are all generals.But when it comes to Zhao Ji who can defend like this, it's really hard to find.

The current territory of the town [***] is mainly concentrated in three major areas, Dengzhou, Jinzhou, and Pingzhou, facing each other around the Bohai Bay.Although it is said that the three places are in the shape of horns, Li Jing has a great strategic initiative.But because of this, there are enemies on all sides.There is Ziqing Town in Dengzhou, Youzhou Town in Pingzhou, and Khitan and Goguryeo people in Jinzhou.If it's just that the current situation is good, what Li Jing is worried about is that if he transfers his main force to one place, such as Jinzhou to attack Liaodong, once the battle is stalemate, his troops will be trapped in it.If Youzhou attacks Pingzhou, or if Dengzhou is attacked from Ziqing or Ganhua, Huainan and other directions, it is possible that the three sites in the town [***] are even apart and separated by the sea. Will not be able to support.

If there is an extremely defensible general in charge, Li Jing can be freed from these problems that may be extremely small, but he has to worry about them.

"Zhang Tai and Yang Fuguang came here, to put it bluntly, to borrow food. Zhongwu Town is also short of food. Brother Zhao Ji is Chenzhou Yajiang, who is a general of the Zhongwu Army. Zhongwu Cui Anqian has always had a good relationship with the commander. If he asks We have to borrow food, but once this hole is opened, there will be endless troubles. Therefore, we might as well make a deal with Cui Shuai, exchange the Zhao brothers for food, and also transfer our business network to Chen Xucai of Zhongwu Zhuzhou, let Cui Shuai support our commodity trade. In this way, it is not just a simple loan of food."

Borrowing food can't be opened casually, but if it's a deal with the Zhongwu Army, that's another matter.

"Is Cui Shuai willing to exchange the Zhao brothers for food?" Li Jing hesitated.

"I think it should be possible." Jing Xiang said with a smile, "Since Cui Anqian took over as the commander-in-chief of the Zhongwu Army, he has single-handedly formed the Eight Capitals of Zhongwu and the Yellow Head Army. The biggest reason why he did this is because Zhongwu Town Small, but the local soldiers and generals are powerful. The arrogant soldiers and powerful families control the area, making it difficult for the Jieshuai shogunate to control Zhongwu Town. Brothers Zhao Ji from Chenzhou, and Qin Zongquan from Caizhou , Sun Ru, Zhou Ji from Xuzhou, etc., are all local army leaders of the Zhongwu Army. Like Wang Jingwu in Ziqing Town, Cui Anqian also wanted to have a real army to check and balance these army leaders. Now Zhongwu There is a shortage of food, if we borrow food from the Zhongwu Army to help them tide over the current difficulties, and the only request is to let him transfer Zhao Ji to the town [***] to take a post, and open the door for our products, I think he It's too late to be happy."

"There is really no need to worry too much about Cui Jieshuai. The real difficulty is that Zhao Ji himself is unwilling to come." Li Liang asked a question.

Zhao Yana has been a general in Chenzhou for generations, a land rich family, let them move from Chenzhou to the town [***], I'm afraid they may not be willing.

"How about transferring Zhao Ji to serve as governor of Dengzhou?" Li Jing asked.

"Even if Zhao Ji is really transferred here, I'm afraid it's not suitable for him to take the high position of Governor of Dengzhou. I'm afraid that the generals in the army will not be convinced. Moreover, the governor of Dengzhou is in charge of the people, and Zhao Ji, a general, will be the governor of Dengzhou. , It is inconsistent with the separation of soldiers and civilians proposed by the commander-in-chief." Li Chun immediately objected that the position of governor of Dengzhou was concurrently held by Li Jing, and he did not want Li Jing to give up this position. Moreover, Zhao Ji, a new general, suddenly took over the position of governor of Dengzhou, which is not fair to other civil and military officials, and it is not fair in rewards and punishments.

"Then let him serve as the commander of the Feixiong Army under the [***] town, Zhao Ji's current position is also known as the soldier and horse envoy, but he is the commander of the Zhongwu Army, and he will be promoted when he becomes the commander of the [***] army in our town. Level one."

Hearing what a few people said, Li Jing also felt that his previous thoughts were a little immature.So he nodded and said: "That's it. I will go to contact Yang Fuguang, and then send someone to Xuzhou. Mr. Li will contact Zhao Ji first, test his thinking, and talk to him about our plan. "

At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door.

Li Jing looked up, but it was Gao Sixiang who walked hurriedly and came in from the door.

"Commander, congratulatory envoys from the Tianping Army, Taining Army, Probation Army, and Huainan Army have arrived!"

Hearing this news, Li Jing was quite normal. These days, almost all the more than [-] feudal towns in the world have sent people here, the ones that are farther away are the first to arrive, and the few towns that are closer are the last to arrive.Even the envoys of the emperor have arrived, and it is not unusual for other towns to come.

However, Li Jing was a little surprised that Liu Ye, the governor of Huainan, sent people here. Before Huang Chao and Shang Junchang plundered the Huainan states, Liu Ye sent people to ask Li Jing for help several times, but Li Jing never sent reinforcements.It's just that in the end, a navy and two battalions were sent south to Huainan, and they still escorted the merchant ships along the way.

Huainan is the largest feudal town in the world, and it was once the wealthiest feudal town in the Tang Dynasty.

Huainan Jiedushi Liu Ye's father had long served as an aide to Li Deyu, the Prime Minister of Wuzong, and later served as the minister of the Ministry of Punishment.When Liu Ye was five years old, his father died, and Li Deyu adopted him to study with his children at home.Tang Xuanzong succeeded to the throne, Li Deyu lost power and was demoted.Liu Ye lost his backing and wandered around the Yangtze River and Qiantang River area, writing to support himself.

And when he was older, Gao Shaoyi invited Liu Ye to serve as a regiment training envoy under his tent when he was serving as the observation envoy of Shaanxi.When Gao Shaoyi was transferred to Zhenguo, Liu Ye also followed him.Later, Liu Ye was recalled to Chang'an, the capital city, as the school secretary and secretary of the province.Later, Prime Minister Liu Zhan recommended Liu Ye to be the Minister of the Household Department, and the Hanlin Bachelor accepted the order. In 870, Yizong executed the imperial doctors and arrested their family members because of the death of his beloved daughter Princess Tongchang. Lu Yan framed Liu Zhan together, and Liu Zhan was demoted.

In the following year, Liu Ye also served as the salt and iron transfer envoy.Later, he was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Rites, granted Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and entered the Zhengshitang to take over Liu Zhan's position as the actual prime minister.

In 873, Tang Yizong died, and Li Xuan succeeded Tang Xizong. In 874, Liu Zhan was recalled and paid homage again, and Liu Ye was afraid.In the same year, after Liu Ye invited Liu Zhan to Yantieyuan for a banquet, Liu Zhan died of a sudden illness, all suspected of being poisoned by Liu Ye.After that, Xiao Fang and Cui Yanzhao successively became the chief prime ministers, but they didn't like Liu Ye. Lu Yan and Wei Baoheng were all relegated to death.

Li Jing was very disdainful of Liu Ye's character, not only because he framed and poisoned Liu Zhan, who was kind enough to recommend him, but also because Li Jing's teacher, Yu Yu's clan, was defeated at the beginning, and Liu Ye was also a person involved in it.

Moreover, Liu Ye was very greedy. Li Jing's caravan expanded to Huainan. Liu Ye not only levied high taxes, but also privately ordered his soldiers to pretend to be robbers and rob Li Jing's goods several times.For such a guy, Li Jing can't wait to send troops to conquer him, how could he send troops to rescue him.

The relationship between Li Jing and Liu Ye can be said to be unhappy.Liu Ye had a grudge with Teacher Li Jing, and robbed Li Jing's merchandise.And Li Jing also refused to save Huainan when the grass bandits robbed Huainan before.

Now Liu Ye actually sent someone to congratulate him, which is a bit strange.

Li Liang saw that Li Jing still had resentment towards Liu Ye, so he smiled and said, "Liu Ye is a greedy man, but don't worry, since he likes to pretend to be a robber, then we will also send a team of people to pretend to be robbers." The pirates just go to Huainan Yangzhou."

"Don't kill him, just scare him. It's not all bad for such an incompetent person to rule Huainan." Li Jing chuckled.

The guests from all parties arrived one after another, not only the envoys of the emperor, the envoys of the feudal towns, but also the famous families, the local wealthy families, and even the big businessmen from all over the world sent people or came in person.But what makes Li Jing happy is that this time it actually attracted a large number of literati to follow along.

After being recommended by others, Li Jing was able to get acquainted with many famous people.

The first one was surnamed Sikong, surnamed Tu, and styled Biaosheng. He called himself Zhifeizi, a native of Surabaya, and later moved to Hezhong.

The second one, surnamed Wei, surnamed Zhuang, styled Duanji, was born in Duling, Jingzhao, and was the fourth grandson of Wei Yingwu. Although he was young and failed several times in the examinations, he was very talented and famous;

The third one is from Qiantang. His surname is Luo. His original name was Heng.

The fourth person is surnamed Han, named Wo, courtesy name Zhiyao, nicknamed Donglang, nicknamed Yushan Qiaoren, and a native of Jingzhao Wannian.It is said that his father Han Zhan and Li Shangyin are both the same age and brother-in-law.In the fifth year of Dazhong, when Han Wo was ten years old, Li Shangyin went to the Zizhou shogunate to take office. Han Wo wrote impromptu poems to send him off. Li Shangyin praised him as a young talent, quick poetic thinking, and mature poetic style. Yu Laofeng's voice.

Li Jing went to the inn to meet these four people one by one. After several chats, all four of them had a good impression of Dengzhou and Li Jing.

In the end, Li Jing invited four people to serve as the commander-in-chief, and even set up a consulting position for these four people.

After Sikongtu accepted Li Jing's invitation, he recommended to Li Jing twelve famous talents who had ten famous talents in Fanglin, Xu Tang, Yu Tanzhi, Ren Tao, Wen Xian, Zheng Gu, Li Changfu, Zhang Qiao , Zhou Yao, Zhang Yu, Ju Yan, Wu Han, Li Qiyuan 12 people.

Luo Yin also recommended two talents of the same clan to Li Jing, Luo Qiu and Luo Ye. The three were called Sanluo, also known as Jiangdong Sanluo.

Li Jing was also very happy to get the list of recommendations. None of these people came, so Li Jing quickly sent people to everyone's hometown to invite them to come to Dengzhou.

For this reason, Li Jing specially asked people to build a new pavilion in Dengzhou City, named Wenhua Pavilion, as the residence of the recruited literati.

In addition, Li Jing also recruited many famous literati among the literati who came here.

Li Jing likes these people very much, although writing good poems does not mean that he can be a good official.But right now Li Jing admired them very much, not wanting them to become officials immediately.

Except for Sikong Tu, Luo Yin, Wei Zhuang, and Han Wo, Li Jing temporarily arranged for them to be professors in Dengzhou Academy.

They also recruited special staff to take care of these professors and consultants, not only providing food and housing, but also suggesting printing and publishing poetry collections for them.

This proposal made these poor celebrities very excited. Although they could not directly serve as officials for the time being, they were still extremely happy to be able to publish their own poetry collections while teaching academy students.Especially after discovering that Dengzhou Academy has a collection of [-] books, I am even more excited.

On that day, more than [-] people accepted Li Jing's invitation and became the professors of the academy.

The newly joined Sikong Tu, Wei Zhuang, Luo Yin, and Han Wo are actually called the Four Sages of the Town. (To be continued.)