Along the way, Shi Qing also gradually gathered the remaining troops, and one after another, more than a thousand people returned.
Zhao Shanxiang also received a report. The news of the investigation was the same as what Shi Qing said, and Xia Quan had also died suddenly in the army.
Zhao Shanxiang did not have much sympathy for Xia Quan's fate. He just hated him for not fighting and was very disappointed in him.
When Zhao Shanxiang arrived at Xuyi, Zhao Shanxiang summoned Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin as the Jianghuai envoy.
After waiting for half a day, the two of them arrived belatedly.
When they met, Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin didn't even look at Shi Qing. Shi Qing was furious, but most of his troops were lost and he lacked confidence, so he had to endure it.
Zhao Shanxiang sat upright, looking like a high-ranking official in the temple, showing no anger and self-respect. Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin raised their hands to pay their respects. Zhao Shanxiang raised his hands to support him, indicating that he would not be polite.
Then Zhao Shanxiang said: "You must have heard about Xia Quan's incident, so I won't go into details. Now I want you to send troops immediately and accompany me to defeat Chuzhou. After the incident is completed, I will come to my office.
I will ask for rewards in front of you. Officials are benevolent and righteous, and they attach great importance to military merit. You will not suffer any loss."
Zhang Hui smiled and said: "Your Majesty, you are joking. It is our job to serve as official servants. We don't need any rewards. But what a coincidence, as you said, I was going hunting a few days ago and I actually injured my arm."
, now that I can’t bend the bow or lift the sword, how can I fight?”
Zhao Shanxiang's expression did not change and he looked at Fan Chengjin.
Fan Chengjin is said to be a descendant of Fan Zhongyan, but he has not inherited Fan Zhongyan's character at all. He is selfish and despised. What a waste of a golden sign.
Fan Chengjin saw Zhao Shanxiang looking over and said: "Your Majesty, I have no objection to where you want to go. I also hope to fight for the country like General Shi Qing."
But there are thousands of roads on the road, and it is better to take an old road home. The imperial court placed us in Xuyi, and this Xuyi is our home. It is a mess outside. In my opinion, it is better to take care of the home first, and don't make trouble.
If there is no peace, the house will be occupied first."
Zhao Shanxiang looked at the two of them with evil eyes, but the two of them were not afraid at all. They were still chatting and laughing, saying that they envied Shi Qing's noble character and that for the sake of the court, he did not hesitate to empty his family's fortune. He was a young Yue Fei in the world, but in fact he was
He joked that Shi Qing had lost both his wife and his troops on this trip.
"cough."
Zhao Shanxiang coughed, and immediately a group of soldiers escorted dozens of tied old, young, women, and children into the courtyard. Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin stood up and took a look, weren't these Xia Quan's family members?
Xia Quan's family members were extremely frightened. When they saw Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin, they cried for help and burst into tears.
Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin were dumbfounded and stunned. They had already guessed what Zhao Shanxiang was going to do.
Zhao Shanxiang said: "Xia Quan colluded with Yang Miaozhen and rebelled against the imperial court. This matter has been confirmed by my official. Now, I will use military law to execute all Xia's family members as a warning to others."
After saying that, Zhao Shanxiang said lightly: "Kill."
Although the tone of the word "kill" was light, it was extremely coercive, which frightened Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin.
After receiving the order, the soldiers raised their swords and killed all Xia's family members in front of everyone. No one, old or weak, women or children was spared. They were all chopped down, and the blood dyed the floor tiles red.
At this time, Zhao Shanxiang looked at Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin again and said: "I was sent by the officials to cooperate with General Zhao Fan to encircle and suppress Li Quan. Now General Zhao has dragged Li Quan to Yangzhou and Li Quan has been destroyed.
It is inevitable. If you cannot clearly see the situation and insist on not being of one mind with the imperial court, then it will be difficult to say what will happen next."
Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin were frightened and felt that if they made the imperial court anxious, they would really not be their opponents.
So they unanimously knelt down and bowed to Zhao Shanxiang, saying: "General, I am willing to listen to your orders. Please forgive me for your faults."
From then on, Zhao Shanxiang persuaded Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin to leave Xuyi with their troops and go to Chuzhou, while Shi Qing stayed in Xuyi to recuperate and recuperate the entire army.
Although Shi Qing suffered a defeat, he did not join forces with Xia Quan. This was also appreciated by Zhao Shanxiang, who allocated military pay and supplies to him as a reward.
Seeing this, Shi Qing was greatly moved and vowed to be loyal to the imperial court and never regret it.
Shi Qing was treated so well, which also made Zhang Hui and Fan Chengjin feel at ease. They obeyed Zhao Shanxiang's drive more, which made Zhao Shanxiang feel more worry-free.
The words can be divided into two parts. Just as Zhao Shanxiang was mobilizing troops in Xuyi, Li Quan's life was becoming increasingly difficult.
It turned out that after Li Quan launched an attack on Yangzhou for three days, Yangzhou was as stable as Mount Tai with no sign of breaking the city.
Zhao Fan, on the other hand, did not leave the city for a decisive battle. He seemed to be in no hurry at all and planned to just spend it all.
In desperation, Li Quan decided to trap Yangzhou to death.
This is what Li Quan did. He sent troops to arrest people everywhere, and arrested 70,000 to 80,000 people in one breath. He asked them to dig earth and build a wall outside Yangzhou City, and built a long wall in order to cut off Yangzhou from the outside world.
connect.
Then Li Quan built a Tucheng in the east of Yangzhou City, stationed the main force of the army in Tucheng, and prepared to fight a protracted war with Yangzhou to see who could outlast the other if one was inside and the other was outside.
Li Quan was really not in a hurry at the beginning, and really planned to take his time, because with Yang Miaozhen behind him to support him, there would be no shortage of food and weapons, but as time went on, problems arose.
You must know that what Li Quan's rebels are doing is a rebellion. Of course, such a matter must be resolved quickly, the sooner the better.
If it is delayed for a long time, the benefits to the court will become more and more obvious. After all, the court occupies a righteous position.
Therefore, as time went by and Yangzhou was still undefeated, the morale of Li Quan's army began to be unstable, and many soldiers began to waver. Li Quan also sang drunkenly every day, appearing to be cool, but in fact he was hiding his anxiety.
Li Quan was anxious, but Zhao Fan looked calm.
At this time, Zhao Fan inspected the city defense and saw that the fighting spirit of the soldiers was not reduced and the city was strong, and he felt better.
The younger brother Zhao Kui had a worried look on his face. Zhao Kui said: "Brother, the officials ordered our brothers to suppress the bandits, but we have been unable to make achievements. If there are treacherous ministers in the court, I'm afraid the officials will be suspicious of us."
When a general is leading an army outside, it is extremely easy for him to be suspicious of the emperor. If someone provokes him at this time, something could easily happen.
Zhao Fan said with a smile: "You are worrying too much. The officials are wise, how can one or two villains be able to shake their minds? The enemy you and I face this time is Li Quan. Although this person lacks strategy, he is more victorious than the soldiers and horses under his command."
He takes the lead with one hand and is loyal to him. Such a person should never be easily defeated in a decisive battle."