In a large house in Chang'an, Longyou Jiedushi Zhu Si slammed the table, glared at Wang Lian'en and said: "Bastard, who asked you to find him? Why didn't you tell me before you acted on your own?"
Wang Lian'en was Zhu Si's general and his confidant. It was because Zhu Si helped him find Cui Youfu's path that he was highly recommended by Cui Youfu as the governor of Ganzhou. In front of Zhu Si, Wang Lien was like a primary school student meeting his teacher.
He stood with his hands folded and said tremblingly: "The humble official knows that he has been replaced by the new army general in Bashang. If he goes to Ganzhou to replace the general there, he will definitely be contradicted by the Ganzhou general. He has no intention to investigate the truth of the defeat.
I am very worried about my job."
"I told you that wars will always fail. You have your own decisions, and the generals below may not understand them. Don't take the defeat of Ganzhou too seriously. Just go to Daizhou and take office.
Why do you have to add extravagant information and go to Guo Song? You are obviously trying to hide it, do you think Guo Song can't see through your little thoughts?"
"I feel a little regretful about my humble position, but I have already said it, what should I do now?"
Zhu Si walked to the lobby with his hands behind his back, feeling a little upset. He had finished returning to the capital to report on his duties, but the emperor still refused to approve his return to Longyou. He felt that the imperial court would probably leave him idle in the capital.
But if he fights harder, maybe the emperor will agree to let him leave the capital. But at this juncture, Wang Lien, a bastard, went to meet with Guo Song and persuaded him to eliminate the generals of the Ganzhou Army. This idiot, a stranger, would not be listened to by others.
Your advice?
On the contrary, this reminds others to pay attention to this matter. Maybe, Wang Lien's unwieldy shit from his butt will cause trouble to himself.
Zhu Si held back his raging anger and said to Wang Lien: "Tell me the real reason for the defeat of Ganzhou. You must tell the truth and you must not hide anything."
Ganzhou originally had a garrison of 15,000 people, but last autumn the 10,000 Ganzhou Army took the initiative to attack, but was besieged by 30,000 Shatuo cavalry. The casualties were extremely heavy, and nearly 7,000 people were killed or captured. Wang Lien also suffered from this.
Removed from office.
It was just that he received Zhu Si's advice, and the reason for the heavy casualties was attributed to the fact that he would rather die than retreat in order to protect the people and retreated to the city. Therefore, he was praised by the late emperor Li Yu and was named the governor of Daizhou.
But what is the truth?
Wang Lien hesitated and said: "Deputy Governor Zhang Wenmao is a person promoted by the Zhao family. Beizhi has always had a bad relationship with him. Beizhi tried to kill him several times, but his subordinates were relatively powerful. Just when Shatuo's army was attacking, Beizhi made an excuse to support Qi.
Lian defended the capture and led 10,000 troops to Qilian to defend the capture. They were surrounded by 30,000 Shatuo cavalry. First, 2,000 people from the right army were surrounded. The humble position ordered Zhang Wenmao to lead 5,000 troops to rescue the right army. As a result, they were also trapped.
After a heavy siege, I felt that I could not afford to lose any more, so I quickly retreated with 3,000 left troops and returned to Zhangye City. Zhang Wenmao and his army never came back."
Zhu Si said coldly: "You actually killed Zhang Wenmao with a borrowed knife, and got rid of Zhang Wenmao with the help of Shatuo people, right?"
Wang Lien didn't dare to say anything, but nodded slightly. Zhu Si looked at him for a long time and said, "Then why didn't you say it before?"
"Humble job... I don't dare to say it's a humble job."
Zhu Si's face softened slightly and then said: "You want to use borrowed knives to kill people to eliminate dissidents, which is not a big problem in itself, but you lost 7,000 soldiers, and the matter is serious. Almost half of the Ganzhou Army was lost.
Do you think that the imperial court will send reinforcements to Ganzhou after the spring and you will still serve as the governor of Ganzhou?"
"Exactly!"
Wang Lien murmured: "I just didn't expect that the imperial censor would be impeached because of this. How could they get the news?"
"That means you are self-righteous. The censor who impeached you is called Li Bing, and he is from the Dugu family. Why did the Dugu family impeach you? Think about it for yourself."
Wang Lien thought for a while and suddenly realized, "Is it the Zhao family?"
Zhu Si snorted and said: "You understand now! You thought you were smart and used the hands of Shatuo people to kill Zhao Tengjiao's confidant Zhang Wenmao. How could the Zhao family let it go? If I hadn't tried my best to intercede for you, the late emperor would have
If you let this matter go, can you still serve as acting governor?"
Wang Lien quickly knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "I've been so kind to you, and I can't even repay you even if I wear a grass ring in my humble position!"
"Get up! Don't do stupid things behind my back again. I won't do it again. Do you understand?"
"Remember your humble position!"
Zhu Si walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said, "There should be some of your confidants in Ganzhou, right?"
"Zhonglang Yu Hu and Zhang Liang were brought to their posts by their humble positions. In addition, Zhonglang General Li Hui owes me a big favor, and there are several Lang generals who were also promoted by their humble positions."
"Where are the civil servants?" Zhu Si asked again.
Wang Lienen hesitated and said: "The Zhangye County Magistrate was promoted from a humble position. There are still several officials in the Governor's Mansion, but even if he goes to Daizhou for a humble job, he still needs to employ people, so we can only take them away."
Zhu Si shook his head, "The magistrate of Zhangye heard that the official department has issued a transfer order. The original magistrate of Zhangye has been transferred to Longyou. The new magistrate is Cao Wannian, the magistrate of Yulin County in Fengzhou. He is from Guo Song. Do you understand?"
Wang Lien sighed, "This is to be expected in a humble position."
Zhu Si said again: "You immediately write to your confidants in Ganzhou and ask them to find ways to stop Guo Song's investigation of the Ganzhou defeat. This matter is over. I don't want to cause any more trouble. Someone
If they are dissatisfied with me, they will definitely make a fuss about this matter."
Wang Lien didn't expect that the matter would involve his old boss. He was really frightened and said: "I'll write a letter when I get back from my humble job!"
………..
Wang Lien left, and Zhu Si walked a few steps in the lobby with his hands behind his back. How could he get the emperor to let him go back to Longyou?
Zhu Si also realized that although Guo Song was a potential threat to him, he was also an opportunity for him to return to Longyou. He brought so much military supplies, food and supplies, and if his team was attacked in Longyou, he would be killed.
The losses have been heavy, and I'm afraid the emperor will let him go back to Longyou to clean up the mess.
Thinking of this, Zhu Si wrote a letter, found a confidant, handed the letter to him, and gave him a few instructions. The confidant put the letter away, left Chang'an on horseback, and rushed to Longyou.
………..
As night fell, the soldiers in the Bashang military camp rested early and would set out before dawn tomorrow. They had already packed up and were waiting for the order to set off.
Guo Song was arranging the table in the tent and putting documents into the book box. At this time, a soldier came in and reported: "To report to the Governor, there is someone visiting outside the camp gate, saying he is an old friend of the Governor."
"who is it?"
The soldier handed over the greeting card. Guo Song took one look at it and said quickly: "Invite him in quickly!"
Guo Song really didn't expect that it would be Zhao Tengjiao who came to find him.
Of course, it is not surprising. Zhao Tengjiao was the governor of Ganzhou and had a good relationship with him. Guo Song wanted to visit him a few days ago. He heard that he was appointed as the governor of Bianzhou and was not in the capital, so he gave up the idea. Unexpectedly
He actually came back and came to see me on the eve of his departure.
Guo Song hurriedly came out of the tent to greet him. At this time, Zhao Tengjiao hurried in under the leadership of the soldiers. Guo Song stepped forward and clasped his fists and said, "Brother Zhao, long time no see."
Zhao Tengjiao also smiled and said: "I heard that I was appointed as the governor of Ganzhou. It surprised me, but it also made me happy. Congratulations to me."
Guo Song invited Zhao Tengjiao to sit down in a side tent and asked the soldiers to serve tea.
Zhao Tengjiao asked: "When will the wise brother set off?"
"We'll set off before dawn tomorrow."
Zhao Tengjiao said rejoicing: "I hurried and hurried slowly, but I was still able to catch up. I can see my dear brother!"
Guo Song was startled, "Brother, did you come back specially to see me?"
Zhao Tengjiao nodded, "Wang Lien killed my confidant, how can I let it go?"
"Who is Brother Zhao referring to?"
"Zhang Wenmao, the deputy governor of Ganzhou, was killed by the bandit Wang Lien at the hands of the Shatuo people. Zhang Wenmao's son escaped from the rebel army and did not dare to return to Zhangye. He fled directly back to the capital to find me. He concealed the truth about the strength of the Shatuo army.
, sent Zhang Wenmao and 5,000 troops to rescue the right army, but as a result, the 5,000 troops were surrounded by Shatuo's 30,000 troops, the entire army was destroyed, and Zhang Wenmao also died among the rebels."
Guo Song pondered for a while and said: "From the perspective of army mobilization, there is nothing wrong with Wang Lien's sending Zhang Wenmao to rescue the right army. If this reason is used to bring down Wang Lien, I think it is a bit difficult."
Guo Song was very frank. If Zhao Tengjiao rushed back from Bianzhou just because of this incident, wouldn't it be a bit of a fuss? Guo Song felt that Zhao Tengjiao had something to hide from him. Although he didn't have a good impression of Wang Lien, he also
I don’t want to be someone else’s knife.
Zhao Tengjiao pondered for a moment and said: "I'll tell you the truth. This matter actually involves the internal fighting between the Guanlong nobles, the struggle between the Dugu family and the Yuan family. Does my dear brother know that the Yuan family has formed an alliance with Zhu Si?"
Guo Song remembered that he had seen Zhu Si and Yuan Lu together in the restaurant. He nodded, "I have seen Zhu Si and the Yuan family have a close relationship."
"Zhu Si was detained in the capital and was not allowed to return to Longyou. The Dugu family wanted to take down the post of Longyou Jiedushi, so I proposed that Wang Lianen's murder of Zhang Wenmao could be used to make a fuss. As long as the truth was told to the emperor, then the previous
Zhu Si's various excuses for Wang Lien were suspected of deceiving the emperor, and Zhu Si was completely unable to return to Longyou. This was equivalent to breaking an arm of the Yuan family. If someone recommended by the Dugu family was to serve as the governor of Longyou again
, one went down and the other went up, and the Yuan family was completely suppressed."
Guo Song smiled lightly and said, "Brother Zhao is trying to persuade me to get on the Dugu family's boat?"
Zhao Tengjiao secretly screamed, Guo Song actually figured out the deeper meaning of the Dugu family. The military factions of the Tang Dynasty were very fierce, and the Conglong faction like Guo Song had always been attracted by all parties.
"Does the wise brother still have hope for reconciliation with the Yuan family?" Zhao Tengjiao looked at Guo Song with a half-smile.
Guo Song was silent for a moment and said with a smile: "If you can't get on the Dugu family's ship, we will talk about it later, but it is something I would like to see if the Yuan family fails in their struggle for power."
………..
Guo Song sent Zhao Tengjiao away, Zhang Qianyi said with a smile: "Does the governor want to board the Dugu family's ship?"
Guo Song smiled slightly and said: "Only things in this world that are not available will make people look forward to them more."
Zhang Qianyi thought for a while and said: "The Dugu family did not show enough sincerity. If the governor agreed too early, he would be despised by them."
Guo Song shook his head, "It's not that they are unwilling to show sincerity, but they are afraid. In fact, even if I agree today, the Dugu family may not dare to accept it, so Zhao Tengjiao is just here to test, but...it would be great if we could cooperate with each other.