The Jinchang Army Jiedushi Office Office in Chang'an was originally part of the Xingqing Palace of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty.
After Chang'an City experienced large-scale burning and destruction several times by Huang Chao, Li Maozhen, Zhu Wen and others, the problem was actually still huge.
For example, in the Daming Palace in the north of the city, only the tall walls remain, and the rest have been completely destroyed.
The main functional areas, East Market and West Market, were almost completely destroyed, with only a few ruins remaining such as Kaiyuanmen.
The only thing that can still be relatively intact is the Xingqing Palace area where the Jinchang Army Jiedu Office is located. After several years of repairs by the Later Tang Dynasty, it can finally be used as the residence of Zhang Zhao.
Before Zhang Zhao opened up trade routes again, there were only about 70,000 residents left in Chang'an City.
After seven or eight years of recovery, there are currently about 140,000 people, which has doubled, and they have barely regained some strength.
However, due to the dilapidated city, residential buildings can only be located on both sides of Zhuque Street, and the houses are relatively low, which does not look like a large city.
The only better administrative offices, official offices, etc. are located around Xingqing Palace.
This distribution pattern is why Zhang Zhao thinks the problem is huge.
Due to the large number of ruined walls and long strips of residential buildings, the city defense of Chang'an City was ineffective.
At present, the Jinchang Army completes its defense by building forts in the city, combining a part of the city wall that can still be used, and supplementing it with equipment such as fences and antlers.
Zhang Zhao shook his head. This level of city defense can only defend against thieves, but cannot defend against an attacking army.
However, it is quite in line with the temperament of the five generations of warriors. The soldiers are not willing to defend the city at all, and they start fighting as soon as they get into position.
But it would be bad to be the capital of the country. Even now, it is a bit dangerous, because the threat from Meng Shu is real.
During the years when Yan Jin was in Qinzhou, Meng Shu often sent people from Lizhou Zhaowu Jiedushi (Guangyuan, Sichuan) and Shannan West Road Jiedushi Xingyuan Mansion (Hanzhong) to infiltrate Guanzhong, and hundreds of people fought in small-scale battles
, happens all the time.
Zhang Zhao learned from merchants on the Shu Road that Meng Chang had been hoarding grain and grass and refining soldiers in Lizhou and Xingyuan Prefecture, as well as the Wuding Army Jiedushi in Yuanzhou (Yang County, Shaanxi Province).
In addition, in history, Meng Shu took advantage of this period to conquer the Qin Dynasty and established Erzhou and Fengxiang Mansion, which was considered a big threat to Zhang Zhao.
Originally, Zhang Zhao wanted to repair Chang'an City, but now after recalling what he saw all the way south from Weizhou, King Zhang wisely shook his head.
Because after the Han and Tang dynasties, especially in the late Tang Dynasty when Chang'an was burned and then repaired, and then burned and repaired again, the entire Guanzhong and the hills were almost completely bare, and there was almost no trace left.
Large timbers were used to repair the palace.
"Your Majesty, Shizhong Pei has received a letter from Lingzhou."
Although Guo Tiance became the Deputy Privy Envoy, he still came to Zhang Zhao as his personal attendant whenever he had free time.
After hearing Guo Tiance's letter from Pei Yuan, Zhang Xichong immediately raised his head and looked at the sky with an expression as if he was wandering around.
If others don't know why Pei Yuan wrote the letter, how can he, Zhang Xichong, know?
Then Lingzhou is a trap. There are many problems in the northern party branches and there are few Han people. Moreover, there are no strong enemies on the grassland, so there is no chance to make achievements at all.
No matter how talented you are, going to Lingwu is equivalent to plunging into a pit. It looks like you are a high-ranking member of a party and his status is extremely important, but in fact it is almost the same as being assigned.
Therefore, Zhang Xichong knew without looking at what Pei Yuan wanted to do. He definitely wanted to be transferred to Guanzhong and follow the king into the Central Plains.
Sure enough, after Zhang Zhao read the letter, he scratched his head with a headache.
Pei Yuan first recalled how the two met, "incidentally" pointed out his contribution, and then praised Zhang Zhao.
The central idea is to come to Guanzhong. Even if there is no chance of following the eastward march to the Central Plains, it is still possible to guard Chang'an.
Zhang Zhao looked around and saw that all the civil servants and generals who thought he might be tricked immediately looked like Zhang Xichong.
Yin Yaozi lowered his head, as if the pattern on his sleeve was a famous painting.
Cao Yuanzhong raised a book he found somewhere and was flipping through it.
Yan Jin almost shrank himself into the shadows.
Liu Zaisheng was even more surprised. He moved back and gave the bear a look, asking him to cover himself.
Zhang Zhao sighed. At this time, no one would be willing to go to Lingwu to replace Pei Yuan.
Moreover, Lingwu cannot lack Pei Yuan. Integrating the local Dangxiang and other Fan-Han ministries is not an easy task, and ordinary people simply cannot do it.
So King Zhang looked at Zhang Xichong. This old man has been in Lingwu for so many years. He should have some people in his circle. Maybe he can recommend one?
Zhang Xichong was shocked when he saw Zhang Zhao looking at him with bright eyes. He thought Zhang Zhao wanted him to go to Lingwu again, so he hurriedly came out to offer advice.
"Your Majesty, Pei Yuying wrote this letter not because he had to come to Guanzhong, but because he did not have the merit of following the dragon.
Now that the waterway from Lanzhou to Lingzhou has been opened, and the transportation of supplies and war supplies is smooth, it is better to order Pei Yuan to recruit warships, recruit naval forces, and go down the river to take Fengzhou controlled by the Khitans.
He then ordered Zhe Congyuan to lead the two powerful chiefs of Fulin and Wu Luan, the deputy commander-in-chief of Datong Town, to attack Shengzhou from Fuzhou.
After the two armies are united, they can then capture Yunzhou. This will make the Khitans vulnerable to enemies from both sides and encircle Hedong."
It makes sense. Zhang Zhao nodded. Pei Yuan should be just like Zhang Xichong said, because he was afraid that he would not be able to contribute to the founding of the new dynasty by staying in Lingwu, so he turned his head and said to Fan Zhi.
"Writing a decree from Zhongshu Province, ordering Pei Yuan, Zhe Congyuan, Yang Hongxin, and Wu Luan to attack Yunzhou in order to counter the Guanzhong army."
"The king is wise, but I hope that the king can write a letter in his private capacity to comfort Pei Yuying."
Zhang Xichong breathed a long sigh of relief and said to Zhang Zhao.
That's right! You really need to write another letter in a private capacity.
As a scholar from the Central Plains who first followed Zhang Zhao, and suffered a lot for Zhang Zhao's great cause, he did not change his mind when faced with the temptation of Shi Jingtang's high-ranking officials. Now he can't follow Zhang Zhao out of the customs and settle in the Central Plains. It is absolutely unfair.
.
"Yuying is in Shuofang, and her hard work has made her great achievements. If she can go down the river and harvest Fengzhou, the Tiande Army and the Zhenwu Army will be rewarded for their merits in the future, and she will surely be among the best."
Once he saw that there was no risk of going to Lingzhou, Yan Jin immediately took the risk.
"Your Majesty, the Lord of Shu, Meng Chang, has recently frequently transferred the Shu Imperial Army to Lizhou and Xingyuan Prefecture. Should we deal with the Shu army before heading eastward?"
Zhang Zhao was speechless. His rise had actually aroused the ambition of Meng Chang.
This guy doesn't just sit on the bed and treat the harem like a brothel, he actually wants to take over Guanzhong.
"No! The Khitans are ravaging the Central Plains, and the Xingyi troops are about to quell the trouble. There is no accurate information on when Meng Shu will send troops, and we don't have time to wait."
Hearing what Zhang Zhao said, everyone knew that Zhang Zhao wanted to attack the Khitans first and then think about the rest.
In fact, that's right. In order to gain great righteousness, King Zhang asked Li Congyi to say in public that the one who drove the Khitans from the north was the emperor of the Central Plains. He couldn't wait any longer. If something went wrong, the problem would be big.
Yin Yaozi finally stopped looking at his sleeves. He sighed deeply in his heart and immediately noticed that Zhang Zhao was also looking at him.
Is there any way? Who told him that Yin Yaozi has always been good at guarding.
"Your Majesty, please guard Qinzhou to prevent the Shu army from marching north from Jiezhou (Wudu)."
"My cousin understands the righteousness well. With you in charge of Qinzhou, there will be no worries west of Guanzhong!" Zhang Zhao greatly appreciated Yin Yaozi's spirit.
However, Qinzhou (Tianshui) can only block the Shu army heading north from Jiezhou, but it can't do anything for those passing through Chencang Road and Xiegushui (Baoxie Road) from Xingyuanfu (Hanzhong).
When Liu Zaisheng saw this, he also took the initiative to ask for help. He can be regarded as the best defensive general on Zhang Zhao's side, except for Yin Yaozi.
"I request you to lead Ying Yang and three thousand soldiers from the two towns of Feng'an to guard Fengxiang Mansion to defend against the Shu army."
Zhang Zhao was even more satisfied. Someone had to go to the Central Plains to fight against the Khitans, but someone had to do the hard work and tiring work of staying behind, right?
"Brother, please do some hard work and temporarily stay in Chang'an to support Yin Yaozi and Liu Zaisheng, control the Shu army and stabilize Guanzhong."
The brother Zhang Dawang mentioned was Li Ruoliu's eldest brother Li Ruoyu.
After returning to the east, this man gradually gave up his military position and became a senior official guarding one side.
"I don't have to work hard, I am willing to help your Majesty stabilize Guanzhong."
Of course Li Ruotai knew what Zhang Zhao meant. He was going to march eastward before Guanzhong was settled, so he had to leave a trustworthy and capable person to guard him.
As Zhang Zhao's uncle, he is the most suitable person.
"Your Majesty, I have a plan that may delay the Shu Lord's intention to enter Guanzhong." He Ning said suddenly on the side.
"He Weng, please speak." Zhang Zhao waved his hand, indicating to He Ningchang what he wanted to say.
For Zhang Zhao, he did not want to attack Shu first, so the later Shu sent troops, the more beneficial it would be for him.
"Your Majesty has great righteousness in his hands, and chasing the Khitan is a righteous act. Why not first send a message to Meng Shu, Nanping, Qian Yue and other countries, calling on them to raise their troops to attack the Khitan together.
You can also secretly tell Meng Chang, the Lord of Shu, that your Majesty is going to raise an army in August and ask the Lord of Shu to provide food, grass and equipment, and agree to reward Qin with the creation of two states after the event is completed."
"Send troops in August? Cut off Qin and form two states?"
Ma Shacai didn't understand the twists and turns of these scribes and couldn't help but frown.
He Ning smiled slyly, "All this is just to paralyze the Lord of Shu.
Meng Chang was born into a wealthy family and grew up in a deep palace. Although he had an enterprising spirit and was considered a benevolent and wise man, he was not about to become emperor.
Furthermore, the land of Shu is rich and prosperous, but it has not seen war for twenty years. I concluded that the Shu army is not determined to fight.
We can appeal to the Kingdom of Shu, be more sincere, and ask for money, food, equipment, and agree to send troops in August, and we are willing to cede the land of the two states.
The people of Shu must have believed it to be true, thinking that Guanzhong was in ruins and it was difficult for us to transport grain and grass in Dayong, so we had to ask them for help.
Thinking that there is plenty of time in August, the Shu Kingdom must be slacking off, and the deployment of troops will not be so urgent.
If we wait until August, when all the soldiers are ready, and we are willing to fulfill our promise, we can seize Qin in vain and form two states. If we don't, the pass will be empty, and they can take it for themselves."
Zhang Zhao laughed, "Who would have known that we would have sent troops in April, driven north to conquer Khitan in August, and Guanzhong had already been settled.
If Meng Chang still doesn't understand, someone can destroy Shu first and then take back the land of Yanyun."
"Then why did you only send messages to Meng Shu, Jingnan, and Qian Yue? But not to Wu and Tang Dynasties?"
Guo Tiance and others still don't know much about the situation in the Central Plains, so they ask this question.
He Ning's expression turned solemn, she cupped her hands towards Guo Tiance, and then looked at Zhang Zhao and said.
"Of all the countries in the world today, except for the Khitan and Liao Kingdoms, which are our biggest rivals in Dayong, Wu and Tang should not be underestimated either.
Although they had fewer cavalry and their soldiers were not as brave as those in the north, they still had a vast territory and densely populated areas, plenty of armor and plenty of food, and even more naval forces crossing the rivers.
We, the people from the north, are not good at boats, and the Central Plains was ravaged by the Khitans, leaving much of it in dilapidated condition, so we must not take our approach to the Wu and Tang Dynasties lightly.
If the message is passed to Li Jing, the leader of the Tang Dynasty, he has already pretended to be the Tang clan, and if he is allowed to gain great righteousness, Xiang, Deng, Shen, Cai and other states will be in danger, and we must be wary of their collusion with the Khitan."
What He Ning said actually makes sense. Zhang Zhao vaguely remembered that in history, Li Jing, the ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty, once sent an envoy to contact Yelu Deguang when the Khitans entered the Central Plains, and seemed to have established a few territories.
This also became an important reason why the Later Han Dynasty and the Later Zhou Dynasty continued to attack the Southern Tang Dynasty.
In fact, from a historical point of view, if there had not been a poet emperor like Li Yu, it would not have been easy for the Northern Song Dynasty to destroy the Southern Tang Dynasty. Zhang Zhao immediately followed suit.
"Okay! Just follow He Weng's advice and send a message to Meng, Shu, Nanping, Ma Chu, and Qian Yue countries, asking them to raise troops together to drive out Khitan."
This chapter has been completed!