Jingyuan Jiedu Prefecture was a military town set up to defend against Tibet. It governed the four prefectures of Jing, Yuan, Wei, and Wu. It had a standing force of 25,000 people and guarded the northwest gate for Datang. Like other Jiedu Prefectures in the west,
The more than 20,000 soldiers in Jingyuan Jiedu Prefecture have not received their salaries for six months. The soldiers are complaining and the morale of the army is weakened.
At this time, the proclaimer arrived in Jingchuan County and asked the Jingyuan army to immediately mobilize troops to go to the Central Plains to join the war. This news caused an explosion of more than 20,000 soldiers.
The soldiers were extremely angry and firmly opposed to going to the Central Plains to fight. In the big tent, nearly a hundred mid-level generals gathered together. The military commander Wang Lien said to the generals: "Don't be emotional, everyone. The emperor has no shortage of hungry soldiers. Let's go to the capital and ask for help from the emperor."
After receiving our salary, we will go to the Central Plains again. What do you think?"
A general said: "I heard that other armies are given double salaries when they go to the Central Plains to participate in the war."
The generals immediately shouted, "That's right. Since you are going to participate in the war, of course you should be given twice the salary."
Wang Lien shouted sharply: "Quiet!"
There was silence in the big tent, and Wang Lien en said loudly: "Since other armies have precedents, then this is a reasonable request, and we can also put it forward. It is only a million dollars, which is just a drop in the bucket for the dignitaries of the court. Let's go back and appease
Soldiers, set out overnight tonight for the capital!"
That night, 20,000 troops packed up and set out overnight for Chang'an. For checkpoints along the way, they were ordered to go to the Central Plains to fight, but for the 20,000 soldiers, they were going to Beijing to ask for pay.
........
In Zhangye, a carrier pigeon flew from the east and landed in the mansion of the great businessman Shijia. Not long after, Shi Huan, the eldest son of the historian, hurriedly left the mansion and rushed to the official office of Jiedu Prefecture in Hexi Province.
Guo Song read the pigeon letter once and did not say anything for a long time. Shi Huan asked: "Do you need a reply to the letter?"
"I need to think about it. Master, please go back first. I will ask the soldiers to send you a reply later."
Shi Huan bowed and left in a hurry.
The news sent by Shi Donglai really confused Guo Song. The emperor ordered the Jingyuan Army to go to the Central Plains. He had told Shi Dong before that he should pay attention to the Jingyuan Army, so he sent this news.
In Guo Song's memory, the Jingyuan Rebellion should have broken out in the fourth year of Jianzhong. It is now the third year of Jianzhong, a full year ahead of schedule.
Is this army really just passing by and not about to mutiny?
Maybe I really was worrying too much.
After repeated consideration, Guo Song still felt that he should send a warning to the Dugu family in return for their help to him.
Thinking of this, he immediately wrote a pigeon letter to Duqiu and asked his soldiers to deliver it to the historian.
.........
This pigeon letter arrived in Chang'an two days later. At this time, 20,000 Jingyuan troops had entered Guanzhong and were rapidly advancing towards Chang'an.
Du Guqiu unexpectedly received a pigeon letter from Guo Song from the great Sogdian businessman Shi Donglai. The content of this express letter really surprised him. There was only one line on it, 'Beware of the Jingyuan Army launching a mutiny'.
Of course Du Guqiu knew that the emperor had ordered the Jingyuan Army to reinforce the Central Plains. The Jingyuan Army would definitely have to pass through Guanzhong before going to the Central Plains, but would they launch a mutiny when passing through Chang'an?
How did Guo Song know? A series of questions confused him.
But Du Lingqiu knew very well what was the purpose of Guo Song sending this letter to him? To prepare himself.
Dugu Qiu hesitated between believing and disbelieving, but he finally decided that no matter what, he still had to leave a way out for the Dugu family.
"Let the Third Young Master come over!"
Not long after, Dugu Qian hurried into his father's study, bowed and saluted: "See you, father!"
"Where are our ships now?"
"Reply to father, they are all in Caohe."
"Go and call the ships into the capital now and wait behind the West Mansion."
The West mansion is the old residence of the Dugu family, located in Yanshoufang. There is the largest secret warehouse of the Dugu family, which stores the valuable wealth accumulated by the Dugu family over more than a hundred years, including hundreds of large boxes.
Dugu Qiu then asked the housekeeper to inform the young women and children of the family to gather at the East Mansion. If a war broke out, rape and robbery were likely to occur, so the wealth, women and children of the Dugu family would be transferred first.
Of course, the Dugu family is as rich as any country, and their wealth is by no means limited to this. These wealth are the most valuable and the most expensive, and there are even dozens of priceless night pearls in them.
At this time, several important members of the Dugu family gathered together. After they were informed, they were very confused and rushed to ask the family leader about the situation.
"I received a pigeon letter from Guo Song, the governor of Hexi Province, saying that there might be a mutiny in the Jingyuan army and asking me to be prepared."
Dugu Changqiu, Dugu Changqiu's brother, frowned and said, "He is far away in Hexi. How could he know that there would be a mutiny in the Jingyuan Army?"
Another family elder also said: "It's a bit nonsense to have a mutiny! If nothing happened, wouldn't you be laughed at?"
"Everyone, listen to what I have to say."
Du Lingqiu calmed everyone down and said to them: "When I heard the news, my first reaction was that it was ridiculous, but I figured it out. Guo Song rarely had contact with me, and he suddenly sent this pigeon message.
With his identity, he must have discovered something? He would not send me a warning without any reason. This is one reason.
Next is the Yuan family. I also found that the Yuan family was a bit strange during this period. As far as I know, the Yuan family is also retreating. I don’t know why the Yuan family retreated. Now I suddenly thought, could it be with Guo Song?
Does the warning matter?
The third reason is that our Dugu family has not encountered any major disasters since the Sui and Tang Dynasties. A very important reason is that we are vigilant, more perceptive than ordinary people, and often deal with disasters in advance, so I decided that even if Guo Song's
Warnings are only 10% correct, and we all have to leave a way out for ourselves."
The family leader's decision was unanimously approved by everyone. Dugu Changqiu said with a smile: "The weather is also hot now, so we all go to the manor to escape the heat. We will come back after the Jingyuan Army leaves Guanzhong. What do you think?"
Dugu Changqiu's suggestion was unanimously approved by everyone. They were also afraid of death and just transferred the women and children. What if there was a mutiny and they were killed by the rebels?
Du Lingqiu thought about it and said: "Changqiu, you stay and take charge of the overall situation. I will lead all the clan members over fifty years old, as well as all the women and children, and our bodyguards and servants to follow us to Huazhou Manor."
In the afternoon of that day, under the pretext of going out for summer vacation, more than twenty large ships loaded with wealth, elderly people, women and children left Chang'an and headed for the Huazhou Manor. Their manor was in Zheng County, Huazhou, covering an area of 500 hectares, with high mountains and forests.
It is dense and secluded, and ships can sail directly into the manor. It is the best place to escape the summer heat and war.
Two nights later, 20,000 Jingyuan troops marched south along the Jing River and arrived at the capital. They set up camp outside the Chunming Gate in the east of the city. Logically speaking, they should go directly east to the Central Plains instead of crossing the Wei River.
Come to Beijing.
An official immediately reported it to Li Mi. Li Mi felt that the situation was serious and hurried into the palace to see the emperor.
At this time, Li Shi had not fallen asleep and was playing a poetry game with several concubines. Li Shi liked talented women, and most of his concubines could write poems and paint. With Xue Tao's reputation as a talented woman in Chang'an, if Guo Song hadn't wanted to marry her, it would have been very difficult.
Maybe she will also become one of Li Shi's concubines.
Li Shi was having fun when a eunuch reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Li Xiangguo wants to see you!"
"No!" Li Shi waved his hand and asked the eunuch to leave.
The eunuch had no choice but to go out and tell Li Mi, "Xiangguo, please go back first! We'll talk about anything tomorrow."
Li Mi suddenly became anxious and shouted outside the palace, "Your Majesty, I have something urgent to see you!"
Li Shi finally heard Li Mi's shout. He slapped the imperial pen on the table unhappily and waved to more than a dozen concubines, who immediately withdrew knowingly.
Not long after, the eunuch brought Li Mi in. Li Shi knocked on the table unhappily and said, "It's so late, what else do you have to ask me for?"
"Your Majesty, an official came to tell me just now that 20,000 Jingyuan troops are already outside Chunming Gate. They are clamoring to see Your Majesty. They are very excited. Your Majesty, there are 20,000 troops!"
Li Shi thought for a moment and said, "Let's appease them first. I will send people to reward them well and let them eat and drink well. If you have anything to do, we will talk about it tomorrow. How can I go to see them at night?"
That’s fine. Let’s reward the three armies first and calm down the mood. Li Mi nodded, “Your Majesty, please make arrangements immediately!”