Chapter 1073: Fighting for power before the battle
Chapter 1082 Fighting for power before the battle
Under Lingzhou City.
The main camps of the Song Army were all located in the rice ridges. Due to the irrigation of the Yellow River, Lingzhou was quite fertile.
At that time, Li Jiqian started his business by conquering the five prefectures. After conquering Lingzhou in the west, he changed its name to Xiping Prefecture and became the ruling center of the party.
After capturing Lingzhou, Dangxiang rose to prominence.
The Song Dynasty was also hesitant about Lingzhou, because Lingzhou had a difficult time supplying food. It was too expensive to transport grain from the interior to Lingzhou, and the court's finances were not enough to support it. At that time, many ministers thought it was better to give Lingzhou to Li Jiqian and give him some money.
Rewards and peace are more cost-effective than garrisoning troops in Lingzhou.
For example, the famous minister Yang Yi shouted to abandon Lingzhou.
However, many knowledgeable people believe that Lingzhou must not be abandoned, otherwise it will give the party an opportunity to become stronger.
However, when the DPRK and China were entangled, Lingzhou was captured by Li Jiqian, and the party was difficult to control from then on.
Zhang Zhi now looked at the city of Lingzhou, which had been unable to be conquered for a long time, and once again lamented that the imperial court's failure in Lingzhou was no less than the loss of Youyan. Not only was Lingzhou a large and fortified city, but also with Lingzhou's shelter, Xingzhou was in a safe situation.
Li Jiqian realized this at that time. He was worried that Lingzhou was too close to the Song Dynasty and would be attacked by the Song Dynasty in the future, so he crossed the Yellow River north and chose Xingzhou as his base.
In the hands of Li Deming and Li Yuanhao, two benevolent party leaders, Xingzhou was expanded into Xingqing Prefecture.
Xingqing Prefecture is sheltered by Helan Mountain in the north and surrounded by the Yellow River on both sides in the southeast. The Yellow River is not only a natural barrier, but also can irrigate farmland. It can be said to be a land of dominance.
So this time the Song Dynasty made a plan to capture the two states of Xingling and destroy Xixia's lair in one fell swoop.
Zhang Zhi returned to Dazhai, where Wang Zhongzheng, Zhong Shidao, Liu Changzuo and other generals were sitting in the big tent, facing the Lingzhou City guarded by Ren Duoyading, but they were unable to do anything.
It has been 20 days since the siege of the city, and the rations and wages were decided. Almost all the rations carried by the army and transported by Mingsha have been eaten.
Generals such as Zhong Shidao advocated returning to Mingsha to wait for food and grass supplies.
However, Wang Zhongzheng objected, believing that withdrawing the troops without permission would put the other side into a lonely battle when Gao Zunyu received news of his troops.
Hearing this, all the generals were dumbfounded.
Master Zhong said: "There has been no news about the soldiers and horses on the Yanyan Road so far. Can't we just wait under the city? Is it the best policy to be an enemy of Tumu?"
Wang Zhongzheng said: "If Lingzhou cannot be conquered, we can divide our army to attack Xingzhou first. Once Xingzhou is captured, Lingzhou will be destroyed without attacking."
After hearing this, everyone will feel ridiculous.
Master Zhong said: "This is ridiculous. You can't even conquer Lingzhou, so why can you conquer Xingzhou?"
Wang Zhongzheng heard this and said angrily: "This attack on Xingzhou was written by His Majesty himself? Do you dare to question His Majesty's holy judgment?"
Zhong Shidao knew that he had fallen into Wang Zhongzheng's trap and said: "The last general will make a mistake."
Wang Zhongzheng sneered: "You have attacked Lingzhou many times, but you just don't try your best. Is it because you are unwilling?"
Zhong Shidao was furious. When Lingzhou was empty before, he wanted to take it, but Wang Zhongzheng refused. Now that he couldn't attack the city, he blamed himself for not trying his best. He even tried to cover up his mistake by repeatedly attacking the city during the siege.
Find trouble yourself.
Such a killer.
Zhong Shidao held back his anger and said: "The last general will not dare."
The general below whispered: "In ancient times, I heard that scholars fought and read military books and marched, killing people. Now there are people who use imperial edicts to fight."
"A military book can adapt to changes, but an imperial edict cannot."
But Master Zhong was annoyed, and seeing that Wang Zhongzheng was planning to attack the city tomorrow, he immediately said: "Our army has been unable to defend the city for a long time. Once the enemy army plunders our army's food routes, everyone will die here. I will ask you first."
Retreat fifty miles to open up a living food road, as a strategy for the whole army."
Wang Zhongzheng scolded: "The common man has repeatedly said that he will withdraw his troops, which has shaken the morale of our army!"
"Come here, take it down and kill it!"
After saying that Zhongshi Dao was captured on the spot, the generals on Jingyuan Road came forward and begged: "Your Majesty, please don't kill the general before the battle!"
As for the generals in Zhangzhi and Xihe Road, they remained motionless.
Wang Zhongzheng smiled slightly when he saw it, and said to the generals: "For the sake of everyone, let this man be spared for once. He will get off the prison car first. After Lingzhou City is defeated for our family, he will be taken to the capital and his Majesty will take care of him."
"The soldiers and horses on Jingyuan Road are in charge of Liu Changzuo."
Hearing this, all the generals secretly complained in secret. King Zhongzheng saw this and smiled coldly.
Wang Zhongzheng immediately asked his close associates to guard Zhongshi Road, and at the same time made arrangements for the attack on the city the next day.
Zhang Zhi didn't say anything. After leaving the tent, he glanced at the generals on Jingyuan Road, but said nothing. There were Wang Zhongzheng's close followers and eyes and ears near the tent, and they all watched every move of the generals under the tent.
Zhang Diao went straight back to the big tent on Xihe Road.
A man asked to see him in the middle of the night, and it was Liu Changzuo.
Liu Changzuo said: "Jing Lue, all the generals have just begged for Taiwei Zhong's mercy, why didn't you say anything? You are a civil servant, Jin Lue Envoy, and you are the only one in the tent who can compete with Wang Zhongzheng."
Zhang Zhidao: "Old General, do you think what General Manager Zhong said is reasonable?"
Liu Changzuo said: "What Lieutenant Zhong said makes sense."
In the night, Zhang Zhi pointed to the north bank of the Yellow River and said: "This is the seventh-level canal. Guo Ziyi defeated the Tubo people here. Once the Xixia people dig a canal here and let the Yellow River flood the fields, we will all become fish and shrimps."
.”
Liu Changzuo's eyes lit up and he asked: "What should we do?"
Zhang Zhi smiled and said, "It's nothing. Old General, remember my words and just go back and rest."
Liu Changzuo's eyes flashed, and he immediately left silently.
After Zhang Zhi sent Liu Changzuo out of his tent, he saw a frosty moon half hanging in the sky.
…
The next day, the Song army attacked Lingzhou City from three sides.
Master Zhongdao was imprisoned in a prison car.
King Zhongzheng ordered his left and right officials not to give him food, not even a sip of water.
Despite this, the siege was still not smooth. Under Xixia's defense, the Song army lost hundreds of people.
In the big tent, no one dared to oppose Wang Zhongzheng. Wang Zhongzheng promoted several generals in the Jingyuan army who were at odds with Zhongshi Dao.
Veteran general Liu Changzuo was excluded by Wang Zhongzheng because he initially opposed the invasion.
Zhang Zhi entered the military meeting. Today's atmosphere was a little different from before. Zhang Zhi stood up and said to Wang Zhongzheng: "Your Majesty, Lieutenant Zhong has not had water for a day. Please give him some water."
Wang Zhongzheng said: "I will make arrangements for today's attack on the city. Erxihe Road will be very delayed..."
Wang Zhongzheng had just eliminated the serious problem of Zhongshi Dao, and now he started to deal with Zhang Zhilai.
Zhang Zhi said calmly: "Your Majesty, wait a moment, I just received your Majesty's secret edict yesterday and begged you to read it out!"
Wang Zhongzheng was surprised when he heard this: "Your Majesty's edict is only for me, when will it be given to you?"
Zhang Zhi said: "I have sent someone to deliver it to the Emperor, and today His Majesty's edict has been delivered directly to my army on Xihe Road!"
"What edict?" Wang Zhongzheng asked in surprise.
Zhang Zhi said: "I was about to show it to your envoy!"
At this point, Zhang Zhi took three steps forward. At this moment, a loyal confidant of Wang Zhongzheng stopped in front of Zhang Zhi and said: "Jian Lue, please stay here! Please hand over any edict for review!"
Zhang Zhi smiled and immediately took out the edict wrapped in yellow silk from his sleeve. Wang Zhongzheng looked at it carefully and found that what Zhang Zhi took was indeed the emperor's edict.
Wang Zhongzheng was in a state of panic, but Zhang Zhi actually made a small report to the officials behind his back, and he only took it out today.
Then why would the officials grant him the imperial edict without passing it through his own hands? What is his relationship with the officials? Could it be that he is closer than his own minister?
It is true that after the two armies joined forces, Wang Zhongzheng sent and received all edicts. The other party was not only the official's agent, representing the official's identity, but also the commander-in-chief of the army.
How could Zhang Zhi go to Emperor Shu behind his back?
