"It said: The victory in Shu was great, the Yutai drove the enemy away, and the restoration of Hanzhong was particularly magnificent. I highly praise it. When the generals reward their merits, they must be generous to encourage the ministers. Li Xia is loyal, garrisoning horses and working hard, and he is the leader.
He advocated it, promoted his official position three times, moved to Zhenxi Army, and appointed envoys to pacify Sichuan. He also knew the Xingyuan Mansion and was granted the title of Bo Guobo. Now is the opportunity for the Shu Road to turn around. I hope we can work together to help the future.
!”
"I accept the decree and thank you for your kindness."
"Congratulations to Li Shuai on your meteoric rise."
"Dare I ask the angel if the reward for the soldiers is..."
"Well, with the current chaos in Jinghu, how can we reward you? Please Li Shuai let the soldiers endure it for a while."
Li Xia then smiled and personally sent the messenger from Lin'an.
Of course he knew that given the current situation of the imperial court, there would definitely be no money and food.
Oh, this is also one of his twenty-one plans to seek Shu Commander, but it’s just that it’s unused later... If he doesn’t get it, there will be soldiers who will reward him...
Others only think that Li Xia has always been successful and say he is too lucky.
But in Li Xia's eyes, use the time you spend complaining about others' luck to work hard on your own, and make more preparations for rainy days, and luck will naturally come.
In short, after receiving the official uniform and official seal talisman, he was finally officially appointed as the commander-in-chief of Shu.
The Zhenxi Army Jiedu Envoy was a military officer, and Wu Jie was once appointed. However, Yanquan City, the Zhenxi Military Administrative Office, was no longer within the territory of the Song Dynasty, and it had not been organized for more than a hundred years.
As for the founding uncle... the titles in the Song Dynasty were not valuable, they were not hereditary, and there were not many honors below the level of the county king.
Jia Sidao had already been granted the title of Founding Duke of Linhai County, and Lu Wende was granted the title of Chongguo Duke, but they never showed it off... because it did not represent power.
It can only be regarded as receiving an extra monthly salary. It is also divided into real and virtual.
The founder of the state had 700 households in the city, and a household with a real seal of 25 coins per month could receive 175 kuais.
But Li Xia, who has a false title, can receive even less.
Whether this salary is high or low depends on how it is compared, whether it is compared to the price of a house in Lin'an or compared to ordinary families.
Anyway, in the eyes of scholar-bureaucrats, not much.
Therefore, in the Song Dynasty, when looking at a person's status and power, it depends on formal dispatch... knowing where to do things, where to appease them, and where to make arrangements.
And this official assignment was something the emperor could demote if he wanted, which shows the central government's control over the local area.
Created a rebellion in the Song Dynasty.
…
Li Xia didn't care much about this series of military titles, official positions, and official ranks. After leaving the Nanzheng County Government Office, he went to find Zhang Jue.
Zhang Jue was a guest soldier. After returning from Shanheyan, he was stationed at the camp outside the city. When Li Xia arrived, he was standing there in a daze holding his official uniform and official seal.
"Congratulations to Deputy Commander Zhang for his promotion."
"Feiyu...Oh, Li Shuai didn't tell me in advance." Zhang Jue turned around, handed the object in his hand to the soldier, bowed his hands and saluted, and said with a smile: "It's so hard to hide it from me...I'm so grateful."
Thanks."
"The messenger is gone?"
"Otherwise?" Zhang Jue said, "Li Shuai still plans to punch me in front of me?"
Li Xia turned around and took a look, called over a soldier who was feeding the horse, and motioned for him to bring the horse over.
The two of them got on their horses, walked slowly across the school grounds, and talked in detail in private.
"Now the person guarding Chengdu Prefecture is Nie Zhongyou. I will recommend him as the deputy commander of Xingyuan Prefecture and call him to Hanzhong to guard Chencang Road. In this way, Brother Jun Yu can do whatever he wants when he arrives in Chengdu."
"Don't worry, Li Shuai is too polite." Zhang Jue waved his hand and said with a smile, "How about Nie Zhongyou staying in Chengdu Mansion? I am also short of manpower."
"I have the final say." Li Xia said, "I am the Commander-in-Chief of Shu."
Shu commander has a considerable power, that is, the right of recommendation.
For example, Pu Zezhi recommended Zhu Xusun as the pacifier of Tongchuanfu Road.
Zhu Xusun has now been transferred to Guangxi to pacify, and he also knows Jingjiang Mansion... because Pu Zezhi has resigned, and because Jingjiang Mansion has been breached, he needs capable ministers.
"I plan to recommend Yi Shiying as the pacifier of Tongchuan Prefecture Road, and also to know Luzhou."
Zhang Jue knew that the court would not object given Yi Shiying's character, so he asked, "Where is Jiading Mansion?"
"Jiang Chun." Li Xiandao, "Jiang Chun is now the magistrate of Xuzhou. After he moves to Jiaren Prefecture, I will recommend Fang Yan, the magistrate of Qingfu County, to move to Xuzhou; the former Lizhou garrison is Kongxian, and he will be promoted to Lizhou West Road to appease He.
, and also know Lizhou."
As a result, Xingyuanfu Road, Chengdufu Road, Jiadingfu Road, and Tongzhoufu Road in western Sichuan were all controlled by Li Xia.
Zhang Jue asked: "Chongqing Mansion?"
"Just wait for the imperial court to send you." Li Xia said, "No matter how much you give, you won't be able to get it."
Zhang Jue asked: "What does Li Shuai want me to do?"
"Objection. Oppose Jiang Chun's appointment as the pacifier of Jiading Prefecture." Li Xia said: "I say Jiang Chun is lazy and negligent in government, and it is difficult for him to take on this important responsibility."
Zhang Jue has understood.
Chengdufu Road borders Jiadingfu Road, so it would be best if there is a gap between Zhang Jue and Jiang Chun.
"I really don't want to have so many calculations." Zhang Jue sighed, "It would be nice to kill the enemy with peace of mind."
"The more you calculate, the longer you can achieve." Li Xia said: "After Brother Jun Yu arrives in Chengdu, the first thing to guard against is Tubo, which has been included in Mongolian territory."
"Li Shuai is confident that Hanzhong will not be lost?"
"Um."
The two of them had driven their horses out of the camp and walked to the bank of the Han River.
When I stood on horseback and looked around, I saw people cultivating fields on the opposite cliff.
The wind is calm and the sun is beautiful, a rare peaceful scene...
Li Xia pondered and said slowly: "The first thing I will do when I become the commander-in-chief of Shu is to abandon all the mountain fortresses."
Zhang Jue paused for a moment and his eyes became serious.
"No!"
Li Xiandao: "For more than twenty years, Sichuan and Shu have been able to keep Sichuan and Shu intact thanks to Commander Yu's strategy of 'building a fortress to defend Shu'. I know this."
"Li Shuai really knows?"
Li Xia sighed rarely, this decision was extremely difficult for him.
…
"It is obviously right to build a fortress to defend Shu. If not, there would not be the anti-Mongolian situation in Sichuan over the years."
"Zhang Shi and Yang Li defended Kuzhu Pass, preferring to be quartered by five horses rather than surrender. Duan Yuanjian, Wang Zuo, Zheng Bingsun, Yang Li, Xu Xin, Zhang Zi... Countless heroes were stained with blood in these mountain cities and Changning Mountain.
, Qingju City, Lingxiao Mountain, Liyi Mountain City..."
"Yunding City, Diaoyu City, Divine Arm City, Lingxiao City... they have always stood firm despite the strong attack by the Mongolian army. I believe that even if the Song Dynasty disappears, they, they can still stand up the backbone of the Han people..."
"For more than 20 years of fighting against foreign invaders, the army and the people worked together as one, step by step... No, not with their feet, but with countless people using their hands and feet, even losing their lives under the cliff, in order to climb dangerous peaks, dig mountain roads, and reclaim fields, ponds, and finally...
The top of the mountain, which was only a rocky place, was transformed into a home and a fortress..."
"The Mongolian cavalry are invincible in the world. Only they can stop them. They are the only ones who can stop them..."
What Li Xia said was very confusing.
He simply couldn't put into words the blood, tears, loyalty, and even the sadness and strength caused by countless betrayals.
He couldn't tell clearly.
No one can tell clearly.
Only the mountains and rivers are still silently containing those corpses and heroic souls.
"Without these past experiences, there would be no Battle of Diaoyu City... Today, I received the appointment, and I feel it is too light. It seems that only a few people like you and me, General Wang, are heroes. People say, 'One general can achieve the goal of thousands of bones.
', But under your feet are millions of withered bones. Without them, the world would have died long ago. Everyone only saw the scene of Meng Ge falling. How light? How ridiculous?"
"Looking back to the source, the victory of this battle is the victory of millions of people..."
"Building a fortress to defend Shu, it takes twenty years of history of its rise and fall before we can win..."
At this point, Li Xia was silent for a long time, then opened his mouth and uttered one word.
"but……"
"But it's over. We built a fortress to defend Shu, not to live in the mountains."
"We want to return home. What kind of place is Hezhou? The confluence of three rivers, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with beautiful water and bright mountains, and fertile and fertile soil. What kind of place is Luzhou? There is also Chengdu, the land of abundance..."
"Our ancestors kept migrating to find these places that are most suitable for survival... How can we let them be abandoned or handed over to others?"
"I know that this is gambling and fighting. I have been in desperate situations countless times in my life, and I have fought to the death countless times. I have never been afraid of losing. It is just a life. If you don't fight, you will die. Only by fighting can you have a glimmer of hope. But,
I have never made such a big bet, this time, it’s the whole of Sichuan and Shu.”
"But why should I place such a big bet? The reason is the same, as the saying goes, if you don't fight, you will die, but if you fight, you will have a glimmer of hope."
"The biggest gap between us and Mongolia is not in physical strength or horses, but in the overall national strength, which is hugely different. If we only stay in the mountain city, this gap will get bigger and bigger until the country is destroyed."
"This time, Brother Meng dies and Mongolia is in chaos. Such an opportunity will never happen again. Then, there are only two options, either death or fighting..."
"Huh." Zhang Jue let out a long sigh, not knowing how to answer.
He has been guarding the mountain city all his life.
He really couldn't imagine what it would be like to face the Mongolian cavalry in Sichuan and Shu without mountain cities.
There are only oral and written transmissions from predecessors.
Cao You heard that Hanzhong was martyred, and from then on the Mongolian army seemed to be in an uninhabited country. Millions of people in Chengdu were massacred overnight.
…
On the other side of the river, women and children ran to the edge of the field. The farmer who was still plowing turned around and picked up the child.
Across the Han River, the two Shu commanders standing on horseback did not speak again for a long time.
The horses gnawed at the grass on the ground and snorted.
…
Li Xia rubbed his face.
Zhang Jue turned his head and saw fatigue in his eyes for the first time.
"After talking about the high-sounding things." Li Xia sighed: "I will talk about some selfish things."
"Selfish?"
"After giving up the mountain fortress, the imperial court did not dare to demote you and me easily. Because, except for us, no one else can defend Sichuan and Shu without mountain fortresses, only us."
Li Xia reined in the reins, turned the horse's head, and looked north.
"No, today you or I are handsome, but tomorrow we will be rich and idle, a prisoner of the rank, and even the head in the box. I don't care about my own life, but I...never do things half-way."
"Brother Jun Yu, you are the deputy envoy of Sichuan Province. I need your full support. Move the soldiers and civilians from the dangerous peaks of the mountains. Grow the fields on fertile soil, develop water conservancy, build residential buildings, and make Sichuan and Sichuan prosperous. Gather grain widely,
Train and strengthen your troops. Then... Expedition to the north to clean up the old rivers and mountains."
~~
at the same time.
Outside Ezhou City, Kublai Khan's camp was located.
"I report to the King of Monan that I have met with the envoy of the Song Dynasty and said that if the army is willing to turn around, the Song Dynasty will be willing to pay tribute to me, and I will be given silver and 200,000 pieces of silk each year."
Kublai Khan looked calm and asked: "Do the lambs agree to draw the Yangtze River to rule it?"
Hao Jing responded respectfully: "The people of Song Dynasty are not willing to agree to this matter."
"It's not stupid. This is what Jia Sidao defended." Kublai Khan joked casually, then turned to Zhang Rou and asked, "What do you think?"
Zhang Rou responded hurriedly: "When I confronted Lu Wende, it was confirmed that he had led sufficient troops to go south. From this, it can be seen that the news about Diaoyu City must be... true."
Kublai Khan remained calm and asked Zhang Wenqian: "How can Ah Shu reply?"
"He is willing to go to Shangdu with King Monan."
Kublai Khan then patted his knees and said, "In that case, agree to the Song people's conditions."
"My ministers, congratulations to King Monan for his conquest of Zhao and Song!"
"..."
Kublai Khan smiled and accepted the congratulations.
When the officials retreated, the smile in his eyes dissipated and turned into calm.
In fact, he has received news that Alan Dal'er of Jingzhao Mansion has raised his flag.
He confirmed that Meng Ge was really dead more than ten days ago.
But there was no rush to go back.
Kublai Khan knew very well what kind of reputation he had in the Khan's court.
A clan king who supported the Han system and was called a "traitor" by his tribe.
Even if he rushes to Hara and Lin, there will not be one more person to support him at the Khuritai Conference.
This is definitely not a place where he can beat Brother Ali.
Kublai Khan wanted to go to Hara-Khorin, but instead of rushing to Hara-Khorin to die, he captured Hara-Khorin.
He knows where his potential is, and what he has to do is to maximize his potential.
To seize Zhao Song's financial resources as much as possible, improve his prestige, and conquer A Shu's soldiers and horses...
If it weren't for Jia Sidao's 700 cavalry breaking out of the encirclement, heading straight for Jiujiang, and re-strengthening the Song Dynasty's Lianghuai and Jiangxi defense lines, he would have even had the patience to capture Lin'an first.
But since the battle against Song Dynasty could no longer be fought quickly, he was able to retreat in time.
He attacks, and the Song people defend. The initiative is always with him...
~~
On April 15, Ashu led his army to Ezhou to join Kublai Khan.
On April 16, Kublai Khan led his troops back north and ordered the generals to withdraw their troops within six days.