ps: Thanks to Yitian Walker and Furong for their votes!
In April of the second year of Tianfu, Youzhou Civil and Military Affairs held a grand welcoming ceremony in the suburbs. Li Chengzhong led Youzhou Civil and Military Affairs out of the city for ten miles and brought Zhou Jinrong, the envoy of the decree, into Youzhou.
Compared with being granted the title of governor of a prefecture, a ceremony such as the granting of the governor of Lulong is much more grand. After all, a large town like Lulong is far more noble than a governor of a state. Moreover, Li Chengzhong was conferred the title of
The governor of Yingzhou was an imperial edict of the Emperor, which was not recognized by the Zhengshitang. He was inferior in rules and etiquette by three points. However, according to the imperial edict brought by Zhou Jinrong this time, the Zhengshitang, the Privy Council, and the Emperor gave Shizhong
They all signed it, which was completely in line with the legal procedures of the Tang Dynasty.
What's more, the person who came was Zhou Jinrong, the privy envoy, and his official position and status were far higher than that of Han Quanjie. Even if Zhou Jinrong was not in power, his official position as privy envoy was enough to attract the attention of Youzhou Civil and Military Suburbs.
The grand ceremony held at the military field outside Youzhou City lasted for a whole day. In front of hundreds of civil servants and thousands of sergeants, Zhou Jinrong announced the decree, bestowed banners, awarded bronze talisman seals, and applied for the authority of the festival.
Waiting for etiquette, after the etiquette was completed, Li Chengzhong hosted a banquet in honor of the nominally second-ranking minister of the inner court. During the banquet, there was dazzling singing and dancing, plenty of wine and meat, endless conversation and laughter, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves.
Among the older generation of military leaders in Youzhou City, all those who held official positions in the imperial court were present, and they continued to play their roles in decorating the prosperous era with a tacit understanding.
Zhou Jingrong had already talked with Han Quanjie before coming here. Hearing Han Quanjie praise Li Chengzhong as "a close friend of our middle-ranking officials", he had already expected it. However, when he actually got in touch with him, he found that the other party's attitude was still far more cordial than he had imagined.
, I couldn’t help feeling a lot, and I couldn’t help crying and sighing several times.
"Li Shuai treats our family too well, and our family can't afford it." Zhou Jingrong took another drink at Li Chengzhong's cordial invitation, and said with trembling lips with excitement. No wonder Zhou Jingrong couldn't help himself. Middle-ranking officials have long since lost their past.
Although they are strong, all they have left is trembling. Facing the local military leaders, all they want is to survive.
Li Chengzhong's reception of Zhou Jinrong seems to have only existed a few decades ago in terms of scale and respect. Today's envoys often go out to announce edicts, even if they are to confer the title of Jiedushi or the title of king.
He was dismissed like a dog by the local military chiefs. For example, when Liu Rengong was granted the title of Military Envoy, because of a disagreement, he cut off the ear of the sergeant who announced the edict. He also tore the edict into pieces. So here we are.
Later, unless there was special necessity, the inner court generally did not send out senior officials to declare decrees, and all these tasks were left to the political affairs hall. At least the scholars in the political affairs hall were more respected by the local military chiefs on the surface.
Li Chengzhong was not an angry young man. Regarding these eunuchs with mutilated limbs, he did not choose to beat them to death with a stick in his mind. He still had the same view: all kinds of people are good and bad, some are good and some are bad. You want to say Zhongguan
Isn’t it good, then all the officials in the court are good ministers? At least Cheng Yuanzhen and Yu Chaoen were instrumental in shaping the Tang Dynasty. Without them, the Tang Dynasty would have fallen apart long ago. Even Yang Fugong more than ten years ago
. He once gave the Central Court the right to speak when facing enemy vassals. Unfortunately, he was driven away by the emperor, and finally died in a foreign country. In this regard, Yang Fugong was not bad. With such power, he was so obedient.
He allowed the emperor to do whatever he wanted without any resistance.
Li Chengzhong has this understanding that transcends the times. Naturally, he behaves very naturally when facing Zhongguan. In fact, he is not flattering. All etiquette is arranged according to the classics. All banquets and gifts are nothing more than
It was just his awareness of "reciprocity". But just like this, it was enough to move the officials inexplicably. Therefore, Li Chengzhong had an excellent reputation in the inner court, especially his relationship with Han Quanjie, which was even closer.
After a lively banquet, Zhou Jinrong saw that "Commander Li" was a good man as Lieutenant Han said, so he plucked up the courage to make a request to Li Chengzhong. In fact, this was not Privy Zhou's personal request, but
He conveyed Zhang Juhan's request.
Due to Bian Jun's blockade, Zhou Jingrong came around Hedong. When he passed through Yunzhou, he met Zhang Juhan, the supervisor of the Lulong army. Zhang Juhan had been living in Hedong for two years. He was once the commander of Lulong and Hedong towns to jointly fight against Xuanwu.
They made great efforts to form an alliance, and were once trusted by Li Keyong. Together with Zhang Chengye, the supervisor of the Hedong Army, they helped defend the city in Jinyang. However, Lulong Town changed drastically after Liu Shouguang came to power. He changed his mind and attached himself to Xuanwu. Zhang Juhan was almost furious.
Li Keyong killed Zhang Juhan, and it was not until the truth and details of Liu Shouguang's rise to power spread to Hedong that Zhang Juhan escaped. However, Li Keyong did not dare to trust Zhang Juhan anymore, so he sent him to Yunzhou, where Zhang Juhan had nothing to do.
, stayed there for nearly half a year until Lulong changed dramatically again.
The friendship between Zhang Juhan and Li Chengzhong all came from their adopted son Zhang Mao'an. He wanted to return to Youzhou, but he didn't know how Li Chengzhong would treat him. Now that Zhang Mao'an was in Fengxiang, Zhang Juhan couldn't ask for advice. It happened that Zhou Jingrong transferred to Yunzhou, so he decided to go to Yunzhou.
Zhou Jinrong asked on his behalf.
"Zhang Jianjun wants to return to Youzhou?"
"Yes, great changes have occurred in Lulong. Zhang Jianjun almost died in Jinyang. He wants to return to Youzhou, but he doesn't know what Li Shuai means?"
Li Chengzhong changed his mind for a moment and knew Zhang Juhan's situation in Hedong. After thinking for a while, he came up with an idea. Zhang Juhan had been in Hedong for two years and was very familiar with the people in Hedong. It was very important for Li Chengzhong to continue to contact Hedong's strategy to fight against Xuanwu. He was still
It is hoped that Zhang Juhan will continue to play a role in Hedong and let the alliance continue.
"Zhang Jianjun wanted to return to Youzhou, and Li naturally agreed, but Li still hoped that Zhang Jianjun could continue to stay in Hedong. Now that Xuanwu is powerful, Peimo can't resist, and Lulong and Hedong can only make a small difference if they join forces.
Fight, otherwise the future will be worrying. Once it is divided and controlled by Xuanwu, the Tang Dynasty will no longer exist."
Zhou Jingrong was shocked: "Li Shuai is saying that King Dongping has the intention to usurp?"
Li Chengzhong said: "More than just a treasonous intention? He is already treasonous. Xuanwu's troops marched into Chang'an, and hundreds of officials in the court greeted him ten miles out of town. King Dongping accepted it with pleasure. What is this if not treason? What if I mean it?
The information is good, King Dongping will definitely change Zhang Guoben in at least five years!"
Li Chengzhong did not study well at that time, and even lost a lot of elementary school history textbooks. He could no longer remember whether the Tang Dynasty perished in 906 or 907. What he vaguely remembered was that after Zhu Quanzhong abducted the emperor to Luoyang,
It seems that a new emperor was established, and then within two years, Daliang was built. It seemed that many people were killed, including the massacre of all the middle officials, which was quite a famous feat in history.
Thinking of this, he added: "Privilege Zhou should be careful when he returns to Fengxiang. If King Dongping moves the emperor to Luoyang, remember not to follow him, otherwise his life will be in danger. Please also tell Lieutenant Han that if things go wrong, you can escape.
When you come to Youzhou, Li will definitely not treat you badly, remember that!"
Another explosive prediction made Zhou Jingrong stunned. After a moment, he murmured: "How could it be so? The emperor is in Fengxiang, and the Dongping army is in Jinzhou. The emperor is still good, so how can he move to Luoyang?"
Li Chengzhong said calmly: "Can Li Maozhen's Fengxiang Army stop the Xuanwu Army? Can the Hedong Army hold off King Dongping in Jinzhou? Maybe within this year, well, maybe before the end of the year, Fengxiang will be in danger."
While Zhou Jingrong was digesting Li Chengzhong's "prophecy", he asked again: "Li Shuai just said that King Dongping is going to massacre Zhongguan?"
Li Chengzhong nodded: "With Cui Yin here, King Dongping will definitely do this."
These words made Zhou Jingrong's face turn pale and green, and he ended the subsequent banquet without hesitation. No wonder he was shocked. The Tang Dynasty lasted for nearly three hundred years. Zhou Jingrong always believed that the Tang Dynasty would definitely continue, even if there were now many vassal towns and no orders from the court.
Gyeonggi. In today's central government, the most popular view is that the world is now like the Zhou Dynasty, at most the changes in the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Whether it is the court or the inner court, they are preparing to ennoble the feudal towns all over the world.
, the princes and lords of small towns, the kings and dukes of large towns, with the emperor as the co-lord, and the feudal vassals split the earth to worship them.
Few people would think of the changes in dynasties!
With these frightening "prophecies", Zhou Jingrong did not delay in Youzhou. He hurried back to Fengxiang to report back to Lieutenant Han.
Before leaving, Zhou Jingrong once again interceded for Zhang Juhan. Li Chengzhong's words at the previous banquet, in Zhou Jingrong's view, were an excuse for the other party not to want Zhang Juhan to return to Youzhou.
"Li once again reiterated that if Zhang Jianjun really wants to return to Youzhou, Li will rush to welcome him, but Li still hopes that Zhang Jianjun can stay in Hedong and make more efforts for the two towns to join forces."
"Li Shuai and Lu Long have changed many times, and their policies have changed frequently. The King of Jin no longer trusts Zhang Jianjun. It is really dangerous for Zhang Jianjun to stay in Hedong."
"Privacy Zhou, Li promised that Lu Long's policy will never change again in the future. If Lu Long and Hedong cannot join forces, the Tang Dynasty will cease to exist. This is not alarmist, but is indeed something that is about to happen.
As for trust, Li can give Zhang Jianjun a big gift. With this gift, Zhang Jianjun will definitely regain the trust of King Jin."
"Gift?"
"Yes, Zhang Jianjun lives in Yunzhou, which is convenient for picking up and delivering these gifts. Now the fierce battle between Hedong and Xuanwu is going on. Li plans to transfer 2,000 war horses and 10,000 sheep from outside the customs to Yunzhou before June.
Jinyang. With these things, I believe Zhang Jianjun will be able to speak in front of the King of Jin."
Zhou Jingrong breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this: "In this way, our family can reply to Zhang Jianjun. Well, if Li Shuai's gift can be delivered, Zhou may stay in Yunzhou for a while and accompany Zhang Jianjun to Shanxi
Yang, to present the meaning of Commander-in-Chief to the King of Jin."
Li Chengzhong was overjoyed: "This is the best. Well, I'll hurry up and ask them to start now, and try to send the horses, cattle and sheep to Yunzhou in early May. Then they will have to bother Privy Zhou to make a trip!"
Zhou Jingrong left in a hurry. His return route was to leave the pass from Guizhou, detour outside the pass, and enter from Yunzhou to avoid Xuanwu's blockade. At the same time, Lulong Jiedu Mansion sent to various parts of the grassland, especially those close to
Purchase orders for sheep and horses from the Khitan, Kumoxi and other tribes in Guizhou also arrived outside the customs.
Li Chengzhong, on the other hand, continued to sort out Lulong's internal affairs. (To be continued...)