On the fifth day of May in the first year of Wende, on the road between Liangdang County and Hechi County, a messenger caught up with the large army and delivered a bunch of official letters to Shao Shude.
Kuixia Jiedushi Li Kan captured Jingnan!
This place was originally captured by Qin Zongquan's general Zhao Deqi, but it turned into a white field and the people were scattered. Zhao Deqi was not interested in sending heavy troops to garrison, so Li Kan sent troops to occupy it, and took over Cai's generals Chang Hou, Xu Cun, Wang Jian, Zhao Zelu and his troops.
Flee to central Guizhou.
The emperor issued an edict to appoint Li Kan, the military governor of Kuixia, as the military governor of Jingnan, Jiangling Yin, and Wang Jianzhao as military governors of the Wutai Army (in central Guizhou).
The imperial court still had great trust in Li Kan. This was Shao Shude's first feeling.
"Zhao Sui Envoy, Kuizhou Li Kan, have you surrendered in the past two years?" Shao Shude called Zhao Guangfeng and asked.
"Returning to the Commander-in-Chief, the five prefectures in Kui Gorge have continued to provide gifts, and there is no shortage."
"No wonder." Shao Shude admired Li Kan a little. This is a thoughtful and knowledgeable person. After all, he has gone back and forth between the court and the feudal town a few times. He is really good at the overall situation.
But it may also be because he is an old man from the previous era, and old people generally have more affection for the Tang Dynasty. As for the new generation of warlords, it is hard to say.
But maybe the so-called new warlords are still good and have some rules. By the fifth generation, the atmosphere will be even worse and there will be no bottom line. At least, the sergeants these days will only make trouble before the war. Once they go into battle, they will
They will fight honestly. But the sergeants of the fifth generation were completely spoiled. They would make trouble before the war and also during the war. They wanted to increase the reward at the last moment, but if they didn't, they would mutiny.
In fact, the atmosphere is gradually getting worse, and people are also getting worse bit by bit. Military leaders and careerists have no bottom line in instigating and trying to please the sergeants, turning them into a group of people with insatiable desires. We must learn from this!
"If Li Kan gets Jiangling Prefecture, he will take action against Lizhou, Langzhou and other places, right? There will probably be continuous wars." Shao Shude put down this information. It was too far away, separated by Sanchuan, Jinshang, and Shannan East Road.
, I still can’t reach out my hand.
However, he also further realized that Li Kan's ambition was not small. When he was asked to exchange the captured Cai soldiers for horses, he was unwilling and only sent Guo Yu (Cheng Ru) over. This time, he took advantage of a false attack to capture
Jiangling Mansion seems to want to annex neighboring towns.
"Le Congxun was defeated in the battle at Huanshui and was beheaded. His father Le Yanzhen was also killed, and the heads of father and son were hung at the military gate. Luo Hongxin was ordered to stay as Wei Bo's governor." This is mentioned in the military newspaper.
All are expected.
The struggle for power was ruthless and most bloody. Le Yanzhen had already become a monk, but he still could not escape death. The accumulated wealth was all taken advantage of by others, and the mansion, wife and daughter could not be saved, and they all became the spoils of others.
and playthings.
However, Weibo Town completed the power transition so quickly, which is actually quite good. It avoided a long period of civil strife and consumption, otherwise Zhu Quanzhong might have put his hand in it.
By the way, there is a piece of information related to Zhu Quanzhong. This man has led his army south, first to Henan Prefecture, and Zhang Quanyi went out of the city to greet him. Then the troops sent Xu and Cai, targeting Yang Shouzong and Qin Zongquan.
Shao Shude felt a little stupid when he saw this. He cooperated with himself in bringing down Yang Fugong, but it gave Zhu Quanzhong convenience, so that he could justifiably attack Xuzhou?
But it probably doesn't matter much. With Zhu's thick-hearted and sinister look, even if it's not so justified, he can still do it.
Zhu Quanzhong's move south had a great negative impact on Chen Cheng, Zhe Siyu and others. The recruitment of people has been completely stopped. A total of more than 40,000 people were recruited before and after, most of which were sent to Shaanxi and Guo.
With Zhu Quanzhong's support, Zhang Quanyi's attitude became tougher and he insisted on asking the troops to leave Henan Prefecture. If that was all, Chen and Zhe might not pay attention to him. But Wang Gong of Shaanxi and Guo also asked them to withdraw their troops quickly.
And after the last batch of food and grass was sent, the supply was cut off, which made them very helpless.
Without food, nothing could be done. So Chen Cheng also rushed back from Xuzhou. In the previous ten days, he successfully raised more than 10,000 soldiers. In fact, thanks to Zhu Quanzhong's assist, he entered Henan Prefecture with great fanfare and flagged his march south.
, the people in Ru, Xu, Cai and other states were panicked, and the recruitment of troops went very smoothly.
The Henan incident is almost over.
Shao Shude roughly calculated that since the first time he sent people to Heyang to pick up the sergeant's family, in the past five years, a total of more than 200,000 people and more than 20,000 recruits have been recruited from Henan. Zhu Quanzhong must not know this account.
Afraid of getting angry.
"The order is passed down. The Huazhou camp will not be disbanded. The four troops commanded by Zhe Siyu will retreat to Shaanxi and Guo. If Wang Gong sends people to drive them away, they will retreat to Tongguan and wait for the next order." Shao Shude thought for a while and thought to let the brigade ride.
There is no need for the pawns to withdraw, it is better to let them stay there, and maybe they can make a deal with their sworn brother.
After handing the order to the messenger, they continued to march forward and resisted Hechi County four days later. On the tenth day of the lunar month, they passed Qingniuling and arrived at Changju County on the twelfth day. This county is already the boundary of Xingzhou and has an environment similar to Fengzhou.
, the difference is that he surrendered to the imperial court early.
On the 16th, we arrived at Xingzhou City. On the 22nd, we arrived at Xixian County and officially entered the territory of Xingyuan Prefecture.
"Welcome the Prince of Lingwu County." Jiang Dewen and Niu Li, together with a group of squires and elders, shouted from afar.
"Secretary Jiang, we have seen each other in Chang'an for many years." Shao Shude walked directly to Jiang Dewen, held his hand, and said happily.
He is a nostalgic person. When Commander-in-Chief Zhuge held Jie Xia Sui, Jiang Dewen, as the chief staff member, showed kindness to him and helped him with some small things. Later, he even went to Linzhou in person to help with matchmaking. With this friendship,
The relationship is naturally different.
"The Prince of Lingwu County is famous and powerful in the western border. Many people in Xingyuan have heard about it. I wish I could come to Xiazhou in person to congratulate you." Jiang Dewen was also very happy.
It is recognized by everyone that Shao Shude cherishes old friendships, believes in loyalty, and repays kindness. Even if he is not a commander-in-chief or a commander-in-chief with a large army, but just as a friend, he is still very good.
"This is..." Shao Shude looked at a tall and burly general next to Jiang Dewen and asked.
This person has a loyal face, is taciturn, and can even be said to be a bit dull. If the intelligence is correct, he should be a general that Marshal Zhuge relies on, and Niu Li of the Qingzhou Township Party.
"This is the military envoy on the left side of the Yamen Army, General Niu, the governor of Guozhou." Jiang Dewen introduced.
The military envoy in the left wing is the main official, and the governor of Guozhou is mostly a part-time official from the distant leader.
"Shannan General Niu Li has met the King of Lingwu County." Niu Li bowed and said.
He is a taciturn person, but he is not stupid, he just doesn't like to talk. If no one appreciates this kind of character, he may live at the bottom for a lifetime. So he decisively defected to Zhuge Shuang, a fellow countryman, which shows that he still has a lot of ideas in his heart.
of.
People in the Tang Dynasty had a strong attachment to the township party. If a person is prosperous, the township party will vote for him one after another, and the prosperous people also like to promote and reuse the township party. There is no way, social values are like this, relatives, wives, teachers and students, in the same year, the township party
A relationship like this is considered relatively stable. In this troubled world, everyone needs a stable and trustworthy relationship.
Xi County is a hundred miles away from Nanzheng County, which is where Xingyuan Prefecture is located. Commander Zhuge sent two people to greet him, which shows that he attaches great importance to it.
Zhao Guangfeng watched with cold eyes, but he saw something more: Zhuge Shuang might be arranging funeral arrangements. Looking at Jiang Dewen's eager attitude, he might still want to ask the commander for help, even though Zhuge Zhongfang was not young.
Three thousand infantry of the Yi Cong Army, the vanguard of the army, were stationed in the north of the city. The Tianzhu Army camped on the north bank of the Han River. Shao Shude led the Tielin Army to garrison Baima Yi and set up camp nearby.
"Secretary Jiang, how is your health?" After sending away the bureaucrats and gentry, Shao Shude called Jiang Dewen and Niu Li and asked.
"It's not good. I was able to get out of bed and walk half a month ago. In the past few days, I have been bedridden and can't even eat a few mouthfuls of food." At this point, Jiang Dewen sighed again and again, looking sad.
It is true that he was eager for fame. However, Zhuge Shuang extended his hand to support him in difficult times and served as his staff. Jiang Dewen was very grateful.
"We were separated from each other in the past, but it ended up like this." Shao Shude sighed: "When I was in Fuping, whenever I had something unclear, I would always ask Zhuge Shizhong for advice. The waiter would answer everything he knew and teach him carefully..."
Jiang Dewen also sighed, while Niu Li remained silent.
"What's the situation in the town?" Shao Shude asked again.
"People's hearts are in turmoil and undercurrents are surging." Jiang Dewen replied.
Niu Li opened his mouth, but finally said nothing.
"These are killers!" Shao Shude snorted coldly and said, "When I gather all my troops and march into Nanzheng, let's see what these people look like."
After that, he gave another order: "Let Li Tangbin come to see me."
Li Tangbin walked in quickly. Before entering, he glanced at Niu Li, and Niu Li also glanced at him.
"What are your orders, Commander-in-Chief?" Li Tangbin saluted.
"Choose two thousand elite soldiers and hand them over to reliable people to lead them. We will set off immediately and arrive in Nanzheng within three days."
"Yes!" Li Tangbin quickly retreated.
"Secretary Jiang, General Niu, we will set off together tomorrow to Nanzheng." Shao Shude said again.
The two of them are inseparable.
On the 23rd, the army broke camp and set off, heading eastward along the Han River, passing through Dingjun Mountain, Huangsha Shuikou, and Baocheng County, and arrived at Nanzheng County, Lisuo, Xingyuan Prefecture on the morning of the 27th.
"Commander!" Fu Cunshen walked out of the city and said softly: "Zhongge Shizhong was very happy to know that the commander-in-chief has come. He has already sent an order to summon the military officers and generals to the festival hall to discuss matters."
"What's the situation in the city?"
"I entered the city two days ago and found that the atmosphere was a bit strange. The generals had their own thoughts and were all waiting to see."
Shao Shude glanced at Fu Cunxen in surprise. Being able to notice these things meant that he was not just a martial artist who only knew how to fight and kill. It was a bit interesting.
"Send the order, the entire Tielin Army enters the city. Do you want to show those people who are pretentious that they can covet the Zhuge family's inheritance?" Shao Shude flicked his whip and said.
"Secretary Jiang, let's go into the city with a certain person. General Niu, do you need to go back and restrain the troops? Don't worry, Qiu will not commit any crimes when Tielin's army enters the city, just to scare Xiao Xiao." Shao Shude asked again.
"Returning to the King of Lingwu County, Wang Qianyu, the envoy of soldiers and horses in the right wing, is still in the city, no problem."
"Okay, let's enter the city."
The weather is not very good today, with continuous drizzle and mist.
On the straight and wide streets, a large group of soldiers marched in neat steps. They were lined up neatly, their armor leaves were clanging, and the atmosphere was solemn. The difference between them and the soldiers of Xingyuan Prefecture could be seen at a glance.
This is a battle-hardened veteran.
In the tall mansions and restaurant lofts on both sides of the street, there were countless pairs of eyes watching them.
Shao Shude had a sneer at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to hear the broken voices in the hearts of many careerists. Some wealthy families have accumulated and worked hard for generations just to wait for an opportunity. When the opportunity arises and they are about to make a desperate move, it is difficult for them to enter the city with elite troops.
They were given a fatal blow, and all the planning, blending, and wooing, and the layout that had taken countless efforts, all disappeared in the face of the absolute superiority of force.
After arriving at the Jiedushi Yamen, Shao Shude dismounted. Inside and outside the gate were all the Tianzhu sergeants who had arrived earlier. Shao Shude encouraged them and then entered the courtyard surrounded by a large group of soldiers.
"Attendant." Shao Shude bowed and saluted, then quickly stepped forward and supported Zhuge Shuang who was about to stand up.
Zhuge Zhongfang, who was standing by the side, helped him along.
"It's still the same as before." Zhuge Shuang looked Shao Shude up and down carefully, and said with a smile: "The demeanor is more calm, and he has a sense of self-reliance without anger. Also, he has a heavy army in hand and is decisive in killing.
A person's wealth, life and death are all determined by a single thought. It is not surprising that he has such magnanimity."
"The servant still needs to rest. All matters in the town can be left to the generals. Don't worry, nothing will happen." Shao Shude helped Zhuge Shuang sit down, and then had a bed brought over and sat aside.
Compared to a few years ago, Zhuge Shuang looked much more haggard and extremely thin. This was an old man whose life was about to burn out. The only people he cared about now were his descendants and a group of old subordinates who had followed him for many years.
He wanted to give them an explanation. They had been with him for decades, and he couldn't just let them go in a daze.
"It doesn't matter." Zhuge Shuang sat on the commander's seat, took a few breaths, and then glanced around the hall. Basically, all the civil and military officers and assistants in the military mansion were here.
"Some of you are old people from Ruzhou and have been with me for twenty years. Some of you are from the east of Hedong and have been with me for seven or eight years. There are also newcomers to me from the south west road of Chijie Mountain, and our friendship is not shallow." Zhuge Shuang said slowly.
: "In today's troubled times, the situation is precarious. Shannan West Road was originally a pure land, but unfortunately it also suffered from war. A certain old man has been ups and downs for decades. He knows that his ability is low and his end is approaching. Now he has submitted his resignation to the imperial court and resigned from Shannan West Road.
As for the position of Dao Jiedushi, all matters in the town will be left to Jiedushi, and my son Zhongfang will decide them. What do you think?"
Shao Shude sat on the right side of Zhuge Shuang. Wherever his eyes went, everyone lowered their heads and did not dare to look directly.
"Since you have no objections, you can help my son with all your heart, okay?"
"The commander-in-chief has been in charge of Shannan for several years and has benefited the soldiers and civilians of ten states. I will do my best to assist you." Jiang Dewen, Niu Li, and Wang Qianyu all stepped forward and saluted.
And with them taking the lead, the shogunate's assistants and military officials also stepped forward to salute one by one and expressed their stance in public, which was regarded as a final decision.
Zhuge Zhongfang's face turned red, his expression was a little excited, and his hands were trembling slightly. Although he had stayed behind for a long time, so many generals saluted him at the same time, which still made him feel a little dizzy, and he felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.
"You also need to pay homage to Prince Lingwu." When Zhuge Shuang said these words, it was like a thunder.
Zhuge Zhongfang's face turned pale, and his generals looked at each other in confusion.
