At dusk, Guo Song rode back to his mansion. Today he visited several wealthy households in Ganzhou to listen to their opinions, and also comforted the families of the fallen soldiers. He spent the whole day so busy that his voice was a little hoarse.
As soon as he arrived at the door of the mansion, Butler Wang came up to him and said, "Your Majesty, General An Rengui just sent someone to deliver a letter to you, saying it is very important."
Butler Wang presented a letter to Guo Song. Guo Song took the letter, got off his horse, threw the reins to his entourage, walked to the inner courtyard but did not see his wife, so he said to the housekeeper: "I'm in the study, please let me go."
Madam, bring me a cup of hot tea!"
Guo Song quickly came to his inner study, sat down on the soft couch, and slowly closed his eyes. He had seen too many people today, and his headache was about to explode, so that he did not want to think about it anymore.
Who did I meet and what did I say?
After a while, he picked up the letter on the table and slowly opened it. An Guiren told him in the letter that Yu Hu and Zhang Liang were persuading generals above the captain level in the hope that they would oppose his impeachment of the former governor Wang Lianen.
At this time, Xue Tao brought a cup of tea and walked into Guo Song's study. Generally, men don't want their wives to enter their study. He wants a completely private and independent space, but Guo Song doesn't care much about this. His
The study also needs to be cleaned and the windows should be opened for ventilation. Of course, these things should be done by the wife.
Xue Tao saw her husband's fatigue and felt really distressed in his heart, so he said softly: "Some things can be left to the subordinates. You don't have to do everything yourself. No matter how many heads and six arms you have, you can't handle it."
Guo Song smiled and said: "The main reason is that the pressure of the war is relatively high and time is tight. I must complete the reorganization and preliminary training before the Shatuo people come to kill me. Just be tired if you are tired! I may not be able to come back at night in two days.
I have to stay in the military camp, and I can only take time to come back during the day to take a look, which will take about a month. I hope you can understand."
Xue Tao nodded, "Of course I understand. If you can't do it yourself, how can you ask your subordinates."
Guo Song was very pleased with his wife's understanding. He smiled and said: "There is a small military camp next to our mansion. I plan to station a hundred soldiers to protect the safety of the mansion and ask Xiaoyu Niang to be more vigilant at night."
Xue Tao was shocked, "What do you mean, husband, there will be assassins at night?"
"It's just a precaution. In fact, it's unlikely. Although the enemy opposite us is cruel, they don't bother to use despicable means like assassination..."
When Guo Song talked about despicable means, a wry smile appeared on his face. Didn't he make his fortune by relying on such despicable means?
.........
Two days later, Guo Song summoned all the Lang generals and the Zhong Lang generals to discuss matters in the large tent of the Chinese army. Dozens of generals gathered in the tent. Guo Song took a look at everyone and said slowly: "If I just came here before, I didn't understand the situation.
, it is not suitable to make a decision prematurely, but counting today, it is already my third day in Ganzhou, and I know everything I need to know, and it is time for me to formulate the rules."
Speaking of this, Guo Song glanced at the crowd and saw that some generals were slightly uneasy. He sneered in his heart and continued: "Everyone knows that the Shatuo cavalry will come at any time, so why are we fighting against Shatuo?"
When the Tuo people attack, should we abandon the city and flee, or stick to the city? This may be difficult for many people to choose, but it is the bottom line for me. We will definitely stick to the city. The key is what should we do with our production? Because we are afraid of the Shatuo people, the people
Are we going to stop plowing the fields in spring? If this problem is not solved, there will really be no harvest in autumn."
"I have asked many people who have fled into the city to escape the war in the past two days. They are all eager to farm and are very anxious. It is already March. In fact, the time for spring wheat planting has passed, but you can replant one season during summer sowing.
Corn, the time is late May and early June, everyone must be thinking, what is this Guo Song talking about? In fact, what I want to say is that we must have a fierce battle with the Shatuo people and beat the Shatuo people completely, and then we can be in a very long time.
To a large extent, the Shatuo people did not dare to attack Ganzhou easily..."
"Commander, please interrupt Rong Beizhi!" Lieutenant General Li Hui couldn't help but say.
"General Li, please speak!"
"The humble minister did not understand what the governor meant. Does the governor want us to go north to fight the Shatuo people when they invaded Ganzhou in large numbers, like the previous governor Wang?"
Guo Song shook his head, "You are wrong to think so. A city defense battle is also a war. A city defense battle can also inflict heavy losses on the enemy. I used two city defense battles to destroy the Xue Yantuo people. This method will also do the same to the Shatuo people."
Be applicable!"
"But what if the Shatuo people don't attack the city?" Li Hui said unconvinced.
Guo Song sneered and said: "What are they doing in Ganzhou if they don't attack the city? The Shatuo people need to prepare a lot of food supplies for their large-scale southward movement. They don't go south to enjoy the mountains and rivers. They just go back after a trip. They can't do this."
If they can't make it, the Shatuo people must capture Zhangye City. Only by capturing Zhangye City can they use Zhangye City as their logistics base to continue their attack on the Tang Dynasty.
They came to test the truth in the battle last autumn, so after a winter of preparations, do you think they still don't have siege weapons? Considering the characteristics of the nomads, they will definitely attack Zhangye City before summer comes."
Li Hui did not dare to say anything. Guo Song glanced at the crowd and continued: "The question now is, how can we defend the city? Morale is low, military morale is disorganized, and military training is low. Such an army cannot defend Zhangye City at all.
So starting from today, we will do two things. First, implement the new work and rest training system, which must be strictly implemented. I will officially promulgate it later; second, pursue the former governor Wang Lien's crime of dereliction of duty and report the truth to the court.
, I have gathered all parties to investigate the situation in the past two days and wrote a complete report, which requires the signature of all generals above the rank of captain, and it must be completed today!"
When Guo Song said his last words, there was an uproar in the big tent. Zhonglang Yu Hu stood up and said angrily: "I have never held my predecessor accountable. Isn't it too much for Governor Guo to ignore the feelings of the brothers at all?"
?”
Guo Song said coldly: "Anyone who refuses to sign will be dismissed!"
"I quit!"
Yu Hu threw his helmet to the ground, turned around and strode away. When he reached the door, he said sternly to Zhang Liang: "Do you still want to work for the man named Guo?"
Zhang Liang hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said to Guo Song: "Can the Governor allow me to resign from my humble position?"
"allow!"
Guo Song gave him a clear answer without hesitation. Zhang Liang sighed in his heart, bowed, and turned around to leave.
Guo Song narrowed his eyes and snorted heavily. Dozens of soldiers rushed forward, pushed Yu Hu and Zhang Liang to the ground, and tied them up.
Yu Hu was furious and shouted: "Guo, do you want to kill people and silence them?"
Guo Song said coldly: "The following offenders will be beheaded according to military regulations. If anyone comes, push Yu Hu outside the camp gate and behead him in public!"
Yu Hu still wanted to curse, but the soldiers blocked his mouth with a rag and dragged him down.
Guo Song said to Zhang Liang again: "Although you are asking to resign, you have violated the army's rules of procedure and are equally guilty. You will be dragged down and beaten with thirty sticks, dismissed from the post of Zhonglang General, and driven out of the camp!"
Zhang Liang was devastated. He actually didn't want to do this, but he was forced by Yu Hu to express his stance. Several law enforcement soldiers took him down and beat him hard.
No one dared to say anything, but An Rengui understood that the governor had eliminated the two most important dissidents by forcing them to sign and join the team. The other generals and generals were gradually eliminated during training, but he did not know what the governor planned.
Clean up Li Hui.
Not long after, the law enforcement soldiers returned to their accounts and brought Yu Hu's head. Guo Song ordered: "Hang the head on the martial arts field for public display!"
He also appointed generals Zhang Tuo and Liu Guanghui to take over the military positions of Yu Hu and Zhang Liang. Both of them were confidants brought by Guo Song from Fengzhou. In this way, six of the eight generals were Guo Song's confidants.
Guo Song then said to everyone: "Disband and return to camp now. We will assemble the soldiers in one hour. All the soldiers must be assembled within 120 drums. Those who arrive late will be killed!"
Everyone was awed and stood up to bow and leave. Guo Song stopped Li Hui again and said, "General Li Hui, please wait a moment!"
Li Hui stayed uneasily. Guo Song waved his hand and said, "General Li, please sit down!"
Li Hui sat down and Guo Song said calmly: "General Li, do you think my punishment is too severe?"
Li Hui pondered for a while and said: "From a military law point of view, if you roar at the military tent and the following offends, there is nothing to say if you kill him. However, this kind of running away after a disagreement was common in Wang Lien's era, and some people even did it on the spot.
Drawing the sword, Wang Lianen has not punished anyone for this, but it will not work here with Governor Guo. I am afraid that even Yu Hu himself has not thought of it. The humble position is just worried that someone will impeach the Governor for this."
"What are you impeaching me for?" Guo Song stared at him sharply.
Li Hui didn't dare to say any more. Guo Song sneered and said, "I am impeached to promote my confidants and eradicate dissidents?"
Li Hui nodded, "As far as I know, Wang Lianen also has a backstage. His appointment as the governor of Ganzhou was recommended by Cui Youfu."
Guo Song smiled and said: "Let me tell you this! As long as the emperor helps him defend Ganzhou, even if I kill all the veterans in Ganzhou, he will not care. I will transfer a group of generals from Fengzhou.
, it was specially approved by the Emperor."
Li Hui was shocked. No wonder he dared to kill people. It turned out that the emperor was backing him.
Guo Song pondered for a while and then said: "The so-called hard and soft approach, in addition to the hard hand, I also prepared a soft hand. Before I came, I asked the emperor to ask for the position of General Youxiao Wei. If General Li is willing to accept it, I will
You can recommend this position to General Li."
Li Hui's heart was beating fast. Of course he knew that Guo Song would not tolerate him and would definitely drive him away, but he did not expect that Guo Song would send him away in a gentle way because he wanted to stay in Ganzhou.
Go for it big, or return to the capital to retire?
Li Hui had always dreamed of being promoted to one rank, but the step from being a lieutenant general to a general was just like being promoted to a third rank as a civil servant. It was extremely difficult to take this step, but today he got it easily. It was so easy that Li Hui had doubts.
"Captain, is this true? Promote me to general."
Guo Song nodded, "Of course it's true, but this is just a pension position. If it were me, I wouldn't accept it."
"No! I accept it."
Li Hui was a little excited, his face turned red and he said: "The Governor is only in his twenties, but I am already in my fifties. I have been a Zhonglangjun for fifteen years. I thought I would retire from this position, but I didn't expect this opportunity.
It’s here, of course I can’t let it go, it’s too important to me.”
Guo Song took out a letter of recommendation from his arms, "This is my letter of recommendation, with the Emperor's approval on it."
Guo Song opened the letter and filled in the name of the recommended person, "Li Hui, a lieutenant general in the Ganzhou Army". Li Hui saw the emperor's approval at the bottom, "I have approved it!" He felt excited, it was true.
Yes, it’s not about deceiving yourself.
Guo Song handed him the letter, "This letter is for you. You can go back to the capital directly and hand the letter to the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War will ask the emperor for instructions and appoint you as a general. Before that, I ask you to resign from the post of Zhonglang General."
"I submitted my resignation as soon as the army was assembled."
After a pause, Li Hui reminded again: "That Yu Hu also has more than a dozen confidants. Governor Guo must be careful of their revenge!"
"I understand. Hurry up and inform your subordinates. Don't get caught in the limelight and be used by me to worship military law."