This mountain winds for dozens of miles, shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings. There are stone gates built on the south, east and west sides of the mountain. It is surrounded by cliffs, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Especially the top of the mountain is very flat.
Qin Liangyu, the Duke of Shu, had the seal of the general in the east of the town, the president of the army of the five provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi and the admiral of the imperial camp in Sichuan and Shaanxi. Qin Liangyu led his troops to garrison on the camp mountain. His nephews, Qin Yiming, the commander-in-chief of Zhongyong Town, and Qin Gongming, the commander-in-chief of Shizhu, joined the army. Generals Qin Zuoming, Qin Zuoming, Sun Tzu, Ma Wannian, and Ma Wanchun also arrived with white pole troops.
Deputy Admiral Zeng Ying of Sichuan, General Yu Dahai of Chongqing, Deputy Generals Li Zhanchun, Zhao Yinxuan, Deputy Admiral Wang Xiang, General Hou Tianxi, and Ma Yingxiao also gathered with their respective troops.
Ma Gan, the governor of Sichuan, also came to join them.
"Black Flag Camp? Xiaoqi Camp?"
Qin Liangyu, who is in her seventies, has white hair and a tall figure that is still strong. She is wearing a military uniform and a jade sword on her waist. She looks at the sand table in front of her and is lost in thought.
"This is unlikely. It must be fake news." Governor Magan said.
Qin Liangyu raised his head and said, "Zhang Dapeng was once a personal attendant of Lord Long Live and one of the ten battalion officers who came to Shu last time. I talked to him once. He is a very good young man."
"Could it be that Zhang Dapeng was captured by Xiying on his way to Hanzhong?"
Several officers believed that this should be the case. Zhang Dapeng was captured by Xiying, so they now sent false news and made up such an outrageous story about the Black Flag Camp and riding alone into Chaotian Pass. The general of Xiying Liu Jinzhong, the commander-in-chief of Xiaoqi Camp, surrendered and so on.
"Zhang Dapeng went to Hanzhong from Chongqing and took Micang Road via Shunqing. Why did he go to Jinniu Road towards Tianguan?"
"They must be trying to trick us into getting there. There must be an ambush on the road."
Governor Ma Gan even said bluntly, "I have long said that the traitor Xian is capricious and cannot be trusted. He has abandoned Chengdu and destroyed Mianzhou, burning, killing and looting everywhere. He is determined to leave Sichuan and enter Guanzhong. Now suddenly there is such news , must be trying to trick us."
There was a moment of suspicion in the tent.
It was an unlucky thing to say that Zhang Dapeng reported military information to the rear at Chaotian Pass and specially sent Yang Wei and Ma Liang back. As a result, they encountered the thief Yuan Taobu on the way. Although they escaped, they both He was seriously injured, and in the end he could only hand over the letter and his military badge to an Orion in the sheltered mountain village for delivery.
That stockade was set up by some gentry, their clansmen, and some local people in a dangerous place in the mountains to avoid the chaos. It was they who rescued them, and they were willing to help deliver the message after knowing their identities.
When they rushed to Chongqing, they were intercepted by the Ming army from the north in the Fenghuang Mountain area of Pengzhou, Shunqing Prefecture, and the letters were found. The Ming army in central Sichuan did not believe the messenger they told, but they still reported to Qin Liangyu along the way. here.
However, with only a few letters written by Zhou Xiucai, Liu Jinzhong's signature, two hunters who delivered the letters, and Yang Wei and Ma Liang's waistband, it is difficult to prove that these are true.
In particular, Zhang Dapeng, who went to Hanzhong to deliver the imperial edict, actually raised a black flag army in the mountains of northern Sichuan. General Liu Jinzhong of the Western Army actually became sworn brothers with him. They even guarded Chaotian Pass together and said that Ma Ke had surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. , Zhang Xianzhong is rushing to Hanzhong, asking them to quickly reinforce Chaotian Pass.
No matter how you look at it, there is something wrong with this matter.
Qin Liangyu had a good impression of Zhang Dapeng, but it was only a one-sided relationship. After Zhang Dapeng entered Sichuan, he didn't stay in Chongqing very long before he went to Hanzhong to convey the order. Now that this situation occurs, Qin Liangyu doesn't know how to judge it for a while.
"Commander, Mr. Wen Ge is here!"
"Why are you here in person? Come with me to meet Mr. Ge!"
Wen'an was originally stationed in Fengjie, Kuizhou. After it was previously agreed that the Ming army in central Sichuan would rush to Hanzhong for reinforcements, Qin Liangyu led his troops north from Chongqing, while Wen'an moved from Fengjie to Chongqing.
After the Shizhu Baigan soldiers led by Qin Liangyu and the Sichuan-Shaanxi camp joined Zeng Yingyu Dahai and other troops in Nanchong, the latest imperial decree came from the rear. The emperor asked the Sichuan army to postpone their entry into Hanzhong, so Qin Liangyu chose to attack Shunqing Mansion
A camp was set up at the dangerous location of Fenghuang Mountain in Pengzhou, and people and horses were gathered to cope with the changing situation.
Wen Anzhi worked tirelessly to rush to Fenghuang Mountain and brought the emperor's latest imperial edict.
The Sichuan Army in Sichuan, as well as the Zhongkai of Yunyang, the Zhongzhen of Badong, and the Zhongyi of Xiangxi are all suspended in Hanzhong. The situation has changed. Ma Ke is very likely to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, and the tribes in Guanzhong are now in chaos. Zhang Xianzhong has already gone northward, and the Qing Dynasty
The army also moved south in large numbers. The emperor ordered that Zhang Xianzhong be allowed to go north and the Qing army enter Hanzhong and let them fight first.
The Ming army should take advantage of this opportunity to speed up military reorganization and improve the command system.
"His Majesty also proposed to expand the imperial camps to include Huguang Camp, Sichuan-Guihang Camp, Shaanxi-Gansu Camp and Yun-Han Camp, based on the Hu-Guang Camp and Sichuan-Shaanxi Camp. The Hu-Guang Camp will be stationed in Changsha, the Sichuan-Guihang Camp will be stationed in Chongqing, and the Shaanxi-Gansu Camp will be temporarily stationed in Jie.
Prefecture, Yunhan camped in Yunyang..."
"Mr. Ge, I just received a strange news here," Qin Liangyu told Wen Anzhi.
"Oh, there is still this matter and a letter written to me?"
After reading it, Wen Anzhi said, "I'm sure that although this letter was not written by Zhang Dapeng himself, it must have come from his dictation. I have been with him for a while, and we talked a lot. This tone and even style are indeed his."
Ma Gan suspected that Zhang Dapeng was captured by Liu Jinzhong, or even fell directly into the hands of Zhang Xianzhong, so what he said might be forced.
"Won't."
Wen Anzhi stroked his beard and said, "I have exchanged many letters with Liu Jinzhong before. He is indeed determined to join the imperial court. Now it seems that things are quite coincidental. Zhang Dapeng met Liu Jinzhong by chance. One was blocked from leaving Sichuan, and the other was unwilling to join Zhang Xianzhong anymore. The two of them
Let's unite and defend Chaotian Pass to ask for help. This is credible."
"Should we immediately reinforce Chaotianguan?" Qin Liangyu asked.
Wen Anzhi shook his head and refused.
"The sage's latest imperial edict is very clear. The tribes in Guanzhong have been defeated. Now the main force of the Qing army is moving south. Hanzhong Ma Ke and Bai Guang'en have both surrendered to the Qing. We have been left passive. It is difficult to save the fire near by water far away. What's more, Zhang Xianzhong is going north with all his strength. We
If you want to recapture Hanzhong and hold it at this time, it will be like going to heaven. It is better to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight."
"But the opportunity is rare now? Chaotian Pass is the gateway to northern Sichuan." Ma Gan believed that if the letter from Zhang Dapeng and Liu Jinzhong was true, then he should not give up easily, not to mention that there were two troops there, and Liu Dapeng was still the emperor's servant.
Although Wen Anzhi was a scholar, in the face of the current situation, he still insisted on following the emperor's strategy. He had served as a patrol commander in Yunyang and attacked Xiangfan, and as a governor in Pianyuan, where he had surrounded and suppressed the Three Loyalty rebels.
Many situations in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Huguang are very similar. Without first integrating the military leaders from all walks of life, or even pulling together an upright imperial camp that can obey the imperial decree and dare to fight, they want to start a war with Zhang Xianzhong and the Tatars at the same time.
This is impossible to win.
"The way I see it, His Majesty's decree is to build the Shaanxi-Gansu Expedition Camp and base it in Jiezhou (Wudu), so why not build the Shaanxi-Gansu Expedition Camp based on Zhang Dapeng's Black Flag Camp at Chaotianguan and Liu Jinzhong's Xiaoqi Camp first?" ," Wen Anzhi looked at the map. Jiezhou is located on the bank of Bailong River, a tributary of the Jialing River, to the west of Baoning Prefecture and Hanzhong Prefecture.
"When several troops from Guanzhong have withdrawn into Gongchang Mansion, they will first go to Jiezhou to have a peace meeting. They will mobilize some elites from each ministry and set up ten battalion heads for the Shaanxi-Gansu camp."
Ma Gan expressed doubts, "Then who will be the commander-in-chief of the Shaanxi-Gansu camp? It is impossible to guard Zhang Dapeng. Can you believe that Liu Jinzhong will be the commander-in-chief, or Wu Dading, who is unwilling to go south?"
"Let Zhang Dapeng be appointed as the admiral of the Shaanxi-Gansu camp, Liu Jinzhong be the deputy admiral, He Hongqi from Liangdang, Liu Wenbing from Chengxian County, Guo Junzhen from Wenxian County, Zhang Yingyuan, Jiang Dennglei from Jiezhou and other five generals who have retired to Gongchang , each dispatched a battalion of soldiers to Jiezhou to join the camp."
"Zhang Dapeng is only a fifth-level garrison officer, a mere first-level battalion officer."
Wen Anzhi retorted unceremoniously, "Zhang Dapeng was a member of the Imperial Guards of the Yuan Dynasty. His Majesty specially commissioned him as one of the ten battalion officers of the Sichuan-Shaanxi camp. He also worked part-time as a Qianniu guard with imperial equipment. And he had just entered Shu. , was ordered to go to Hanzhong, crossed the dangers alone, and was able to pull up a black flag camp, repeatedly defeated the yellow thieves, defeated and beheaded many people, and was able to unite with Liu Jinzhong, which is even more impressive. In these troubled times, the country We need such good generals,
It is appropriate to act in a special way at special times, how can we stick to one pattern?"
Wen'an overcame all objections and insisted on presenting Zhang Dapeng as the admiral of the Shaanxi-Gansu camp. The reason was very clear. Firstly, he was a close associate of the emperor. Secondly, Zhang Dapeng's performance was also very eye-catching. He could insist on being in the thief's territory. A letter was sent to the emperor to send a team of troops, and Chaotianguan and Liu Jinzhong were directly summoned for the emperor.
Even though Liu Jinzhong originally intended to join him, Zhang Dapeng still played a very important role by appearing in the right place at the right time.
Of course, the most important point Wen Anzhi did not say directly was why the emperor had to build an imperial camp instead of directly integrating people from all over the country?
Why?
It's not because these military leaders are disobedient.
Isn’t it because these people can’t be beaten?
Zhang Dapeng happened to be at Chaotian Pass at the moment, and he was the only officer there in the imperial camp. Of course, Wen Anzhi politely asked him to act as the admiral.
Regardless of whether he was originally on defense or something else, does it matter?
Many civil and military officials under the emperor were just beggars, hawkers, long-term workers, woodcutters, tenants, or scholars a year ago, but now aren't they all important officials?
The origin of Wen'an was just that of a dismissed Imperial College student, and now he has visited five provinces.
"Wen Xieji, Wen Fengji, where is Wen Dingji?"
Three scribes walked out and said, "The official is here."
These three are all sons of Wen Anzhi. He has five sons. Now the fourth son, fifth son and his eldest grandson are all in Nanjing. The eldest, second and third sons have special officials, the eldest is Xingren, Si Xingren, and the second is Jinyiwei. Thousands of households, the third in charge of the Hanlin Academy, all worked in Wen Anzhi's Jinglue Yamen to help with military affairs.
"This economic strategy is now to appoint Wen Xieji as the supervisor of the imperial camp in Shaanxi and Gansu Province, Wen Fengji, and Wen Dingji to help manage the grain station."
"Tang Zhenbang, where is Tian Peilin?"
Two strong men with beards and tiger-like eyes stepped out to answer the order. They were both chieftains of Badong Rongmei, and Tang Zhenbang was the chief of the Suiwanyuan Tongtaping Chief Sui.
Tian Peilin was Shuijin Tusi's superior, Rongmei Tusi's ambassador, and they were related by marriage.
Rongmei Tusi is the largest Tusi in western Hubei, covering several counties. It is located in the Wufeng and Hefeng areas in the south of Jingjiang River. From the establishment of Huangsha Village with thousands of households in the Yuan Dynasty to the end of the Ming Dynasty, it has taken more than 300 years and it has jurisdiction over Jiaoshan.
Agate has a long lawsuit, Wufeng Shibao has a long lawsuit, Shiliang Xiadong has a long lawsuit, and Shuijinyuan Tongtaping has a long lawsuit.
They are one of the four major chieftains in Shizhou and can mobilize seven to eight thousand soldiers.
At first, Wen Anzhi was attacked by his chief minister Xue Guoguan. After he was dismissed and returned home, due to the turmoil in the Huguang area, he went to Shuijinyuan Tusi to live for two years. Here he not only became the honored guest of Tang Zhenbang and Tian Peilin, but also accepted Tang, Tian and other chieftains.
Children are students.
Wen Anzhi was transferred from the Yunyang Governor to the Pianyuan Governor, and the admiral's troops conquered the three loyalists and some chieftains who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. The first thing he did was to go to Rongmei. After he met with Tian Peilin, Tang Zhenbang and others, he quickly
He persuaded them to support the Ming Dynasty again, and summoned his local soldiers to follow Wen'an's conquest.
Wen Anzhi used these Tujia native soldiers as his governor's standard camp, and quickly put down the rebellion in western Hubei and western Hunan. After he was granted the title of Governor of the Five Provinces and moved to Fengjie, Tang Zhenbang and Tian Peilei even brought their sons.
Continue to follow it to Fengjie, and now it has become a standard.
"Which one of you is willing to take a thousand prayer markers to Chaotian Pass and join the Shaanxi-Gansu camp?"
"I will go there eventually!"
Tang Zhenbang stood up without hesitation. Tang Zhenbang and Tian Peilin used to serve as Wen Anzhi as students, but now they are deputy generals of Biaoying.
