Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Zhang Shuye and Fan Qiong took away the Shandong army to serve the king, and Shandong became empty of troops.

Then, a swarm of thieves arose!

First, Li Cheng of Hebei raised troops in Liaocheng and captured Yunzhou, Qizhou, and the western part of Zizhou.

Li Yu and Zhang Yu again raised troops in Rencheng. After capturing Jeju, they also captured the southern part of Yanzhou.

Sun Lie, a thief from Jinan who had "one hundred thousand troops", was recruited by Zhang Shuye to serve as King Qin. Sun Lie's general Tengxu, who had fled into the Yimeng Mountains, has now come down to occupy the northern part of Yizhou and is besieging Yizhou City where the prefect has escaped and the county magistrate is defending.

Zhang Bor raised troops in Puzhou under the banner of Ju Ming. The main enemy was not the government, but thieves of all sizes in Puzhou, as well as the landlords' armed forces who formed strongholds to protect themselves.

Although Li Cheng, Li Yu, Zhang Yu, Teng Xu and others occupied so much territory in Shandong, there were actually countless landlords and armed forces under their rule. Basically, a few large landowners, leading many small landowners and farmers, took up arms to defend their hometowns. While guarding against thieves, they also resisted the government's tax collection.

For example, Li Cheng occupied two and a half states, but could only rule the city and its surrounding areas. The rural landowners did not care about him at all.

Li Cheng also fought against these landlords' armed forces. It was not difficult to win a few battles, but it was really not worth the gain and it was too energy-consuming.

The two sides quickly reached a tacit understanding, and the landowners paid a symbolic payment of taxes, which was regarded as recognition of Li Cheng's dominance. Li Cheng acquiesced in the existence of the landlords' armed forces and provided them with certain protection, and sometimes helped them exterminate bandits.

Shandong has descended into anarchy!

After all, Zhang Bor came from a well-known family, and with Ju Ming's endorsement, it was easier to gain recognition from the landlords.

After wiping out several groups of thieves, Zhang Bor wrote a letter in the name of Ju Ming, inviting the landlords in Juancheng County to form an alliance.

Everyone agrees on three chapters:

First, the landlords changed their allegiance to Marshal Zhu, and the landlords' armed forces were unified under the command of Zhang Bor.

Second, Puzhou's taxes, including exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, were restored to the standards of the Yuanfeng period. In addition, the horse administration should be completely abolished.

Third, each family was promised to select their children and go to the Hanzhong Economic and Strategy Mansion to seek official positions.

Relying on this, Zhang Boring recruited more than 3,000 troops and then went to the prefecture to negotiate with the prefect.

The prefect's name was Li Mida, and his official reputation in Puzhou was polarized. The powerful families resented his excessive levies and excessive taxes, while small landowners and farmers thought he was a good official, but everyone recognized his actions of building water conservancy and restoring production.

This man did not agree with uniting Jin to attack Liao, and advocated inciting Liao and Jin to attack each other, so that the Song Dynasty would enjoy the benefits of being a fisherman. During the Jingkang period, Han Shizhong and Li Yanxian were also promoted.

However, he had a high self-esteem and was very assertive. He served as an adviser to Li Gang and Lu Yihao successively. He offended both Li Gang and Lu Yihao by raising objections, and was suppressed and demoted by the two prime ministers one after another.

"You guys wait here, I will go to the city in person to persuade them to surrender!" Zhang Boring said to his generals.

The officers under his command were mostly sons of landlords, and they all advised him not to take risks.

Zhang Bor insisted on his opinion and rode to the city alone.

Li Mi hung him up on the city wall in a large hanging basket, and then ordered: "Tie him up!"

Zhang Bor responded with a smile, let him be bound, and said: "What's the use of the governor binding me alone? Those rebels outside the city have pledged their allegiance to Marshal Zhu and openly betrayed the Song Dynasty court. I can still restrain them if I am here. If they die or go to jail, they may become thieves. Who will take care of the trouble they cause?"

"The traitors are causing trouble, you are in vain to be a famous minister!" Li Mida scolded.

Zhang Bor asked: "The prefect is a first-class good official in Puzhou who cracks down on powerful people, stabilizes grain prices, builds water conservancy projects, and encourages farming and mulberry cultivation. There are no large groups of thieves in Puzhou, and they all rely on your governance. Zhu Jinglue and Marshal Zhu are here Chuanxia also governs the people in this way. If you are willing to correct yourself, you will be reused and appreciated."

Li Mida sneered: "Am I one of those people who turns his back on the Lord and seeks glory?"

"The structure of the prefect is still too small," Zhang Bor said. "The prefect is mainly focused on the faint emperor, but Zhu Jinglue and Marshal Zhu are the main ones for the people of the world. The prefect protects one country and one name, but Zhu Jinglue and Marshal Zhu protect the world. Common people. I wonder which sage's book teaches the prefect to be so foolish and loyal? If your Majesty knows this, I'm afraid he will scold you for being unfilial."

Li Mi said angrily: "Let's discuss the matter as it is, and don't insult our ancestors!"

Zhang Boring said: "Your Majesty has been a prefecture and county magistrate for more than thirty years, but he was not even promoted to the prefecture. Why is this? Because he cares about the people and frequently angers superior officials for the sake of people's livelihood. When he was a county magistrate, he dared to He argued with the transfer envoy and even resigned from office to protect the interests of the people. If your father is still alive, he will definitely serve Zhu Xianggong, and he will definitely not serve as a guard dog for the Song Dynasty court!"

These words made Li Mida's face look uncertain.

Zhang Bor continued: "The foolish king Zhao Ji abandoned the country and fled to the foolish king Zhao Huan. He ceded territory to seek glory, and the people in all walks of life were deprived of food and clothing. Does the governor want to be so foolish and loyal that the world will be in chaos for a few more years and millions of people will die in the world? And Ask the prefect, if you want to protect the Song Dynasty, do you have any way? Even if you have a way, how can you make the foolish king and treacherous officials listen to you?"

Of course Li Mida was not a pedantic person, otherwise he would not have offended the two prime ministers Li Gang and Lu Yihao in succession, nor would he have the insight to become the boss of Han Shizhong and Li Yanxian.

Han Shizhong and Li Yanxian were both promoted by Li Mi when they were most impoverished and showed their talents to the fullest.

Zhang Bor asked again: "If you kill me, can the prefect manage Puzhou well? Even if Puzhou is managed well, there are many bandits in Shandong, and Li Cheng and Li Yu have captured many prefectures and counties. If they come, how can the prefect stop them?" ? At that time, the people of Puzhou will kill and injure many innocent people due to the selfish interests of the prefect, and many people will break their homes and flee!"

Li Mida asked: "After taking Puzhou, do you want to lead troops to fight in Tokyo?"

Zhang Bor shook his head: "Marshal Langjun asked me to clean up the situation in Shandong."

Li Mida asked: "How to deal with Shandong?"

Zhang Bor said: "First capture the Guangji Army and Xingren Mansion, and join forces with the Nanjing (Shangqiu) Rebel Army. Then capture Jezhou and control the water transportation throat of Shandong..."

"Wrong," Li Mida corrected, "Jeju only needs to occupy Jinxiang and strangle the waterway, and then immediately go south to attack Xuzhou. Xuzhou has many iron mines and is connected to the Huaihe River, so it can get soldiers, money and food. Prepare the army in Xuzhou If you use force, you will get twice the result with half the effort. Why should the Shandong thieves worry about injustice?"

Zhang Bor said with a smile: "Thank you, Grand Administrator, for your advice."

Li Mida added: "I can change the flag, but the soldiers outside are not allowed to enter the city."

Puzhou City was captured, and Zhang Bor immediately led troops to attack other counties in Puzhou. Wei Dian, the archer promoted by Ju Ming at that time, also led troops to surrender in Leize County.

Before Zhang Bor could reach Xingren Prefecture, Li Bao's wife clan raised troops in Chengshi to respond, frightening the Chengshi County Magistrate and fleeing.

As for Li Mida, after surrendering to the thieves, he also let go and began to clean up Puzhou's officialdom.

All corrupt and mediocre officials were expelled. Some of the officials with a bad reputation were directly beheaded by Li Mi to vent the public's anger.

Immediately, Li Mida attacked the monks and Taoist priests again.

At this time, Wang Laozhi had died of illness, but his son controlled the Taoist temple and occupied more than 10,000 acres of temple land.

Li Mida, with the archers he personally promoted, ransacked the homes of Wang Laozhi's descendants, destroyed Taoist temples, and confiscated temple fields to use them to resettle refugees and landless people.

Several big families in Puzhou that Ju Ming wanted to kill were successively dealt with by Li Mi, and then they built water conservancy projects and encouraged farming and mulberry farming.

In Shandong, which was in chaos, Puzhou was in great peace.

In ten months, Zhang Bor quickly captured Xingren Mansion and Guangji Army, and encountered little resistance during the siege.

When they arrived in Shanzhou, the prefect king went ten miles out of the city to meet him.

"The king of sinners, together with the officials and celebrities of Shanzhou, respectfully welcome the general to Shanzhou!" This guy was so cowardly that he bowed his head and bowed down, and almost knelt down in front of Zhang Bor.

Zhang Boring glanced around and found that there were actually women in the team.

Wang followed his eyes and introduced quickly: "This is my cousin, Li Qingzhao, a layman of Yi'an. This is his husband Zhao Mingcheng. He and his wife took refuge here, and I happened to be the prefect, so I took care of them." .”

Li Qingzhao and his wife have been on the move in recent years, and their life has been particularly difficult.

Wang is also a bastard. He claims to be taking care of his cousin and cousin-in-law, but in fact he is coveting their collection.

Fortunately, both sides got what they needed. Even if Wang didn't reach out, Li Qingzhao and his wife would have abandoned some valuables when they fled. By the time they fled south across the river, there were no books, scrolls, or antiques left.

In such a predicament, as long as the Jin people were not wreaking havoc, the couple no longer cared about whether it was a red thief or not.

Zhao Mingcheng stepped forward and bowed: "Meet General Zhang!"

Li Qingzhao followed her husband and said a blessing.

Zhang Bor was invited to the state city for a banquet and was very dissatisfied with the king's luxurious ostentation.

But the king took the initiative to offer the city, and it was inconvenient for Zhang Bor to fall out. Even if corrupt officials were to be punished, it would be Zhu Guoxiang's business.

Wang is the grandson of former prime minister Wang Gui, and Qin Hui is Wang's cousin-in-law.

Historically, this man relied on Qin Hui's power to dominate the south.

The Juebao Temple in Suzhou was occupied by the king and turned into the Wang Family Ancestral Hall. During the devastated war years, Wang did not want to restore production, but instead rebuilt the Qiyun Tower in Suzhou, spending people's efforts to build it into a magnificent building. Then he built a villa for himself next to Qiyun Tower. Then the West Tower was built, which is gorgeous, luxurious and beautiful.

"Cough cough cough cough..."

During the banquet, Zhao Mingcheng coughed from time to time.

Li Qingzhao advised him to drink less, but Zhao Mingcheng was impatient. Displaced intellectuals and celebrities are now living under someone else’s roof. What else can they do besides drinking to drown their sorrows?

Previously, Zhang Bor had killed more than 20 people and beaten more than 300 people with military sticks because the soldiers were robbing the people. The military discipline problem was basically solved.

At least, no soldiers dared to rob in the city. At most, they could have a few overlord meals quietly.

When Li Qingzhao returned from the banquet, he saw that the rebels "had no crime in autumn" and patrolled the streets to maintain law and order. He couldn't help but admired: "They are really benevolent and righteous troops. I heard that these rebels were recently recruited by Zhang Boring. All recruits can do this, Hanzhong Veterans are definitely better.”

Zhao Mingcheng was drunk and sneered disdainfully: "No matter what, he is still a traitor."

This guy had a lot of resentment in his heart. Shandong bandits were repeatedly attacked, and the couple abandoned their home and fled several times.

Every time the officers and soldiers defeated the bandits, soon after they returned to their hometown, another bandit came to kill them, so they continued to escape with their belongings.

Zhao Mingcheng now hates all thieves, including the Zhu family and his son. In his eyes, they are also evil people.

Isn't it good to live a stable life in a peaceful world, feasting, having fun, reciting poems and composing poems?

Why be a thief?

Li Qingzhao said: "In troubled times, it is not easy to restrain soldiers."

Zhao Mingcheng leaned in the carriage, drunk, and closed his eyes to fall asleep.

"Cough cough cough cough!"

Suddenly he covered his mouth and coughed. When he opened his hands, his palms were already covered in blood.

After resting for two days in Shanzhou City, Zhang Bor led his troops to Xuzhou.

Before they arrived at the border of Xuzhou, Gao Qiu sent someone to report: "General Zhang, my husband Gao Xianggong has arrested Zhizhou and returned to justice. He regrets his past mistakes and asks the general to quickly take over the thirty-six iron smelting yards in Xuzhou." !”

Zhang Boring was quite surprised: "Is this the surrender?"

The messenger replied: "My husband-in-law said that after two generations of foolish kings, it was difficult to dissuade him. Fortunately, wise men rose up to help the world. My husband-in-law has changed his mind and is willing to help Ming Gong rebuild the country. When the world is at peace, my husband-in-law will never be greedy for power. , when the time comes, he will definitely retreat to the countryside to cultivate himself and learn Taoism.”

"He's quite aware of current affairs." Zhang Bor didn't take Gao Qiu seriously.

He is not even qualified to be ranked among the Six Thieves. How can Gao Qiu be considered a traitor?