From Bianjing to Qingzhou, Zhang Gen galloped all the way through the post station. He changed horses without changing people along the way. He only slept three hours a day and spent the rest on the road. Rain or shine, it took him only twelve days in total to arrive.
Han Zhen was left far behind by him.
When Zhang Gen arrived in Qingzhou, he had only one attendant, Zhang Gong.
Zhang Gen went to the post station to rest. Qingzhou was the administrative center of Huanqing Road, and the post station was quite orderly.
After the postman saw Zhang Gen's guard, he immediately arranged meals for him and brought him hot soup for him to wash his feet.
After a while, Yi Cheng also came to greet him and said, "I don't know if someone coming from Xifu is going to be welcomed from afar!"
Zhang Gen asked about some military information, and Yi Cheng told Zhang Gen roughly what he knew. He also said that Zhao Zhan, the envoy of the Yongxing Military Road Transport Department, had arrived here.
Zhang Gen nodded and said, "Just in time to meet you!"
At that moment, Zhang Gen refused to eat. He asked the Yi Cheng to get a horse and went straight to the city. The Yi Cheng quickly sent someone to follow him.
The original Shaanxi Transport Department was split into the Yongxing Military Road Transport Department and the Qinfeng Road Transport Department in the fifth year of Xining.
The Qinfeng Road Transfer Envoy was in charge of the Xihe Road Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department and the Qinfeng Road Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department. Originally, the Qinfeng Road Transfer Envoy was Zhang Heng. Later, when Zhang Zhi was appointed as the Xihe Road Economic and Strategy Envoy, Zhang Heng was transferred and replaced by Chen
Xiang is the transfer envoy.
As far as Zhang Gen knew, his father had a deep business in Xihe Road. Not only were most of the local military and political officials promoted by Zhang Yue, but he also had a high prestige with the Qing, Tang and Han tribes.
Therefore, the people up and down Xihe Road only recognize the Zhang family as a signboard, and cannot refer to other handsome ministers.
After Zhang Yue returned to the court, the Xihe Road official faction was mainly supported by Zhang Yue.
Zhang Kai once wanted to support his own faction when he took office, but was opposed by Li Xian. It was not until recent years that Li Xian promoted people such as Li Hao and Zhao Ji that he became somewhat more powerful than Zhang Yue.
When Zhang Gen thought about this, he often lamented that his father had two faces. He was usually serious and thought of himself as a lonely minister, but in fact he was also involved in factions.
Not only did Xihe Road manage and appease the road, but also the Qinfeng Road Transport Department had to intervene. Although they were in Bianjing, they held the military training, financial and power of Xihe Road in their hands.
In fact, if you want to achieve something, how can there be no factions? Not to mention ordinary officials, as the prime minister, how can there be no group of people under his command?
After Zhang Gen slandered Zhang Yue, he visited Zhao Zhan.
According to the factions, Zhao Zhan opposed the reform and also opposed the use of troops against the Qing and Tang Dynasties.
Being a transporter on Yongxing Military Road made him even less fond of Qinfeng Road.
The Yongxing Military Road Transfer Department and the Qinfeng Road Transfer Department are both branched off from Shaanxi Road, but they are two systems.
In order to compete for the say in the Xia conquest, the two transshipment departments fought openly and secretly with each other and undermined each other. From Guo Kui to Zhong E, and then to Lu Huiqing, they all advocated the Hengshan strategy. For this, Guo Kui once impeached Wang Shao and others.
Zhao Fan now lives in a wealthy businessman's house in Gyeongju City, and hundreds of people from the transportation department are also accommodated in the house.
Upon learning that Zhang Gen was here, Zhao Zhan felt a pain in his forehead.
Zhao Zhan put down his official duties and immediately went to the gate to greet him. Seeing Zhang Gen's appearance and appearance, he couldn't help but thought, Zhang Yue and Zhang Dun both had good looks, but Zhang Gen was even more outstanding than his father and uncle.
Zhao Zhan smiled and said, "I've heard about the second place name for a long time, and now that I've seen him, he's indeed very handsome."
Zhang Gen smiled. He was new to high school, and he would most like to be called the second best, rather than rely on his father's reputation.
He heard that Shi Yan, the number one scholar, had been appointed as a local official before him. On the first day when he met with his immediate superior, the prefect Han Wei claimed to be the 'number one scholar'. As a result, Han Wei scolded him, doesn't the number one scholar have an official title? Shi Yan was said so by Han Wei
, immediately changed his name and called himself Signing.
Compared with Shi Yan, who was the first scholar from a humble family and was ignorant when he first entered the officialdom, Zhang Genze was much more experienced in people. He said: "The second place in the ranking is just a title before being released. I have seen the envoy in the lottery."
The other party is a dignified transfer envoy, and he is ranked among the top 100 civil servants.
As a member of the Privy Council, Zhang Gen must show enough respect.
Zhao Zhan smiled and said: "The second one on the list is the emperor's courtesy to the country. How can I not attach importance to it? I am just here to help you wash away the dust today!"
Zhang Genqian allowed one or two people to take their seats, and Zhao Zhan added: "Young and talented people in the academy, even if they don't depend on their family background, will be in the official position in the future. I feel really honored to meet you today."
Zhang Gen said: "The envoy of Cao Cao praised him erroneously."
"I am good at getting along with people and don't speak lightly."
Although Zhang Genren is straightforward, he learned quickly about officialdom and socializing, and he is also very familiar with dealing with people.
Within a short while, he and Zhao Zhan had a very pleasant conversation.
"I wonder how Huanzhou is doing now?"
Zhao Zhan's face darkened when he heard this and said: "Now in Huanzhou, to the west of Qingzhou, the banner of the Xixia general Liang Yongneng has appeared. Now that Huanzhou is guarded by Yu Jinglue, it is not a problem. Qingzhou has few soldiers and it is a place to store grain. I don't think so."
Don’t worry about staying here.”
Zhang Gen said: "I remember that when my father attacked Hezhou, support was cut off. It was Qin Feng Road Manager Cai Gong who overrided all opinions and sent troops to rescue. I have heard my father mention this many times that Cai Gong is capable of both civil and military skills."
"Today the Cao envoy is sitting here, chatting and laughing with his subordinates without changing his expression, which shows that he is confident."
Zhao Zhan smiled when he heard this and asked: "Did the signing committee come to Qingzhou on orders from Han Zhishu to send troops north to rescue Mingsha?"
Zhang Gen said: "Han Zhishu's intention is to let Huanqing Road take action and save if possible."
Zhao Zhan said: "There are 50,000 soldiers in Huanzhou, less than 20,000 in Qingzhou, and there are still 20,000 or 30,000 in other states. Once troops are sent out to rescue, what will happen if Liang Yongneng comes to invade?"
"Although I don't care about military matters, I believe in what Yu Jinglue means. The priority is to protect the safety of hundreds of thousands of households along the way!"
Zhao Zhan blocked Zhang Gen's words.
Zhang Gen wanted to speak again, but was manipulated by the experienced Zhao Zhan.
Zhang Genkong was passionate, but he was unable to do anything by these experienced bureaucrats.
Just then, a staff member came in to report to Zhao Zhan. Zhao Zhan was the most important person in appearance. When he saw the staff in a panic, he was dissatisfied and reprimanded: "I don't see any distinguished guests here!"
The staff said: "Commander Cao, Yu Jinglue has sent troops from Huanzhou!"
"The troops are dispatched!"
Zhao Zhan and Zhang Gen sat up at the same time, with expressions of surprise and joy on their faces.
"Where to send troops?"
"Weizhou, if you can reach Qingyuan today, you will be out of bounds tomorrow!"
Zhao Zhan sighed: "We are marching along the Baimachuan Road! Yu Chong sent his troops anyway."
The staff said: "He asked the commander-in-chief to quickly transfer grain to Weizhou!"
"I'll go!" Zhang Gen volunteered.
Zhao Zhan glanced at Zhang Gen and said: "My nephew has a body worth thousands of gold, so why take such a risk? There will be many opportunities to make meritorious deeds in the future."
Zhang Gen said: "What's the risk in escorting grain and grass to Weizhou?"
Zhao Zhan sneered in his heart that the young man didn't know how to be kind and generous: "What I don't know is that the Dangxiang is the best at intercepting people's food and grass. Previously, Peng Sun was very smart and capable on the Jingyuan Road. He led three thousand soldiers and horses to protect the food and grass, as well as the letters and texts in the rear, but he was repeatedly attacked.
The Xia people intercepted them, and most of their troops were defeated."
"There was no risk if we didn't go out of the border before, but it's hard to tell the distance from the border to Weizhou. What's more, Dangxiang scouts have appeared in Huanzhou and Qingzhou, so it may not be safe inside the border."
"Why do you need to wade into this muddy water?"
When Zhang Gen heard this, he realized that his knowledge was short-sighted, but his heart surged with passion: "Envoy, my brother is singing in the sand!"
After Zhao Zhan heard Zhang Gen's words, he really changed his view of the other party. He looked at the other party with some solemnity and thought, Prime Minister Zhang really gave birth to a good son!
If he was still flattering just now, but now seeing that Zhang Gen cares about his brother so much, it is not only a good family tradition, but also father, son and brothers can be filial to each other.
In fact, Yu Chong led the Huanqing Road troops and horses just out of the fortress, and the party members did not dare to launch a large-scale sneak attack at this time, so he just made some false threats.
Zhao Zhan was surprised in his heart, but on his face he shook his head and said, "No, my nephew is a member of the Privy Council, and he should be in charge of Qingzhou."
Zhang Gen said: "I would like to ask the envoy to complete it. Since ancient times, I have heard that brothers fight against tigers, and father and son fight in battle. All the heroes of my Zhang family have led troops in the northwest and served the country. How can I be willing to be second to others?"
Zhao Zhan improved his understanding of Zhang Gen, but still refused.
Zhang Gen said forcefully: "I am in charge of the Privy Council and I have the duty of accompanying the army as a supervisor!"
After listening to what Zhang Gen said, Zhao Zhan had no choice but to say: "You are really new to the hospital and are not afraid of tigers. Anyway, I know that I can't help you, so I will allocate a hundred cavalry soldiers to you. Whether you can protect yourself well depends on the virtuous man."
My nephew’s fate is decided.”
"As for the city of Qingzhou, I don't have any spare soldiers and horses. I can only allocate you five hundred soldiers and three thousand civilians to escort the soldiers and food to Weizhou!"
"yes!"
"You go back to the inn to rest first, then we'll set off tomorrow!"
Zhang Gen received the general's order and immediately returned to the inn to rest. The next day, he went outside the city to see the grain team that was about to set off.
It turns out that the food protection officer was named Zhao Long. After all, Zhao Zhan would never give the task of supervising food to a newcomer like Zhang Gen. However, as the other party was a member of the Privy Council and had the responsibility of supervising soldiers and horses, there was nothing anyone could do.
Stop him.
When Zhao Long saw Zhang Gen's appearance, he couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Is the signing house the son of Zhang Jinglue?"
Zhang Gen was surprised: "How do you know?"
Zhao Long was overjoyed and said: "Sure enough, my husband is my husband. I met him several times and saw that he looks similar to him, so I boldly made a guess!"
Zhang Gen smiled and said: "So you know daddy! Then how can you be a general on Huanqing Road?"
Zhao Long said in his own words that Zhang Gen only learned that the other party was from Qinzhou. At that time, Xihe Road was recruiting brave men, and Zhao Long went to apply.
Before, he followed Wang Shao to take Xihe. However, after Wang Shao was demoted, Zhao Long's official career was implicated, and he was transferred to Jingyuan Road as a general, and finally was transferred to Huanqing Road.
Zhao Long is a talented person, but he is depressed and frustrated.
Zhang Gen smiled and said: "Great, then I will call you Uncle Zhao."
Zhao Long quickly said: "I don't dare to take it seriously."
Now the grain team is heading from Gyeongju to Huanzhou.
The official road around Qingzhou was the easiest to navigate. Zhang Gen read a lot of military books, but he knew that reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles, so he asked Zhao Long for advice on everything.
Zhao Long knew that the other party was the son of Dazhang Jinglue and wanted to serve him. He told him everything he knew along the way and made up for Zhang Gen's homework crazily.
As for when Zhang Gen saw the opponent marching and when to set up camp, everything was planned. Even three thousand civilians were trained by him to be as obedient as soldiers.
Zhang Gen lamented that it was difficult to be a general. Let alone thousands of people, he might not be able to manage hundreds of people like this, or even provide food, drink, housing and transportation for dozens of people.
How extraordinary are those generals who have over 10,000 soldiers, or even 100,000 or hundreds of thousands soldiers in ancient times?
Regardless of victory or defeat, anyone who can arrange accommodation for hundreds of thousands of people marching is already considered to be the best talent in the world.
