Chapter 881 The Ambition of the Yizhou Aristocratic Clan
Liu Zhang put Yang Hong in charge of Qiangu affairs in order to prevent him from getting too involved in military affairs.
At present, Yang Hong has become the leader of the Yizhou faction and is a typical hawk.
In history, Liu Bei's ability to conquer Hanzhong in the north and compete with Cao Cao for supremacy was actually due to Yang Hong's strong support.
Without Yang Hong, how could Zhuge Liang have soldiers, horses, money and food to give Liu Bei?
How did Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao?
Including last year when Liu Zhang faced off against the Qiang people, his troops were stretched thin and he had to ask Jia Xu for help.
With the help of Yang Hong, Jia Xu quickly recruited 40,000 county troops to support Liu Zhang.
Also due to Yang Hong's efforts, Yizhou was very stable and there was no civil strife.
Yang Hong was loyal, but a little ambitious.
With the establishment of the Qin State, all Yizhou families benefited.
It's just that the top class in Qin State, without any Yizhou family, is still occupied by the faction of elders under Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang estimated that the biggest dissatisfaction of the Yizhou family was that the two positions of Yizhou Biejia and Jingzhaoyin did not go to Yizhou people!
If a military general wants to be promoted, he needs military merit. If a civil servant wants to be promoted, he can only persuade the monarch to attack.
If the Yizhou faction wanted to gain greater power, they could only continue to expand Qin's power.
As the foundation of Qin, as long as it expands, it will definitely benefit!
As their power continues to expand, the status of these people will naturally rise!
"Yang Bucheng, why don't you want to be like this? It's just that the soldiers of the Qin State are really at the end of their war as Xun Shangshu said!"
Liu Zhang's tone and attitude were very kind, as if he was discussing with Yang Hong.
Liu Zhang could understand what Yang Hong did.
And without Yang Hong's help, how could Liu Zhang have troops and food?
You can't just prepare to kill the donkey as soon as the Qin State is established.
Yang Hong looked serious and saluted Liu Zhang again.
"Qin Gong, Guanzhong is currently exhausted and can develop with peace of mind, but Yizhou is rich and can summon tens of thousands of troops in an instant!"
"With the 10 million stones of grain and grass provided by Jingzhou in Guanzhong, there is no longer any grain crisis. And the grain stored in Yizhou is enough to support the army's eastward march!"
They rested in Guanzhong and Yizhou provided supplies. Now Liu Zhang understood.
It turned out that Yang Hong wanted Liu Zhang to march eastward to Jingzhou!
"Yang Bucheng, is this what you mean, or...?"
Yang Hong bowed his hands and saluted again, his attitude even more respectful.
"I would like to inform Duke Qin that all the major families in Yizhou are willing to do everything they can to support Duke Qin in his march eastward!"
It seems that Yizhou Family is ready to give it a try!
Jingzhou is currently in civil strife. With Qin's military strength, it is indeed easy to succeed.
If Xiangdong annexes Jingzhou, then maybe Liu Zhang can go one step further.
As the Yizhou family that contributes the most, they naturally have a greater say.
But there are risks!
Once the eastward advance fails, not only will Qin lose its reputation, but all the efforts of the Yizhou family will be in vain, and they will have no choice but to eat coptis!
"Yang Bucheng, the State of Qin was granted by His Majesty, and the fiefdom is Guanzhong. Gu also holds the position of Yizhou Mu, so this is reasonable and legal!"
"Now that our Qin State has just been established, we can't help but point our troops at Jingzhou. I'm afraid we will be criticized by the world!"
"If Gu has a disloyal heart and attempts to usurp the Han Dynasty and establish himself on his own, wouldn't that mean that Gu has broken the trust of the world?"
Liu Zhang's words were not just an excuse for Yang Hong, but also an unavoidable fact.
You can't just accept all the rewards from the imperial court and ignore all the orders!
At present, all Liu Zhang's actions are carried out under the will of the emperor, so he still holds great righteousness.
Once you rush into the army rashly, your righteousness will be lost!
I thought that these words would make Yang Hong aware of the current difficulties, but who would have thought that Yang Hong was already prepared.
"Mr. Qin, civil strife is currently breaking out in Jingzhou. Liu Jingsheng, the herdsman of Jingzhou, has been defeated, and only the land of Xiangyang is left in the entire Nanjun."
"If Qin Gong's troops come out and march directly to Jiangling at this time, then they can claim to the world that they are fighting for the rebellion of Jingzhou Mu!"
"At that time, after defeating the Jingnan army and capturing Liu Qi alive, he can hand it over to Liu Biao. As for the land in Jingzhou, it will naturally belong to our Qin State!"
Yang Hong looked proud and gently stroked his beard.
In his opinion, although righteousness is important, it is still no match for strength.
If justice really cannot be resisted, how did the Yongliang region come about? How was the Qin State established?
The purpose of marching into Jingzhou was to drive out the traitors who openly defied the imperial court!
In this way, the reputation of righteousness is not lost.
Just when Yang Hong thought he was sure of success and continued to ask Liu Zhang for orders, a burst of laughter came from beside him.
"Hehehe..."
Yang Hong was so angry that he turned to look at the person who was laughing.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be Pang Tong, the general of the military division, who was given the title of military division of the rear!
Yang Hong suddenly felt troubled.
Pang Tong was still young, but his resourcefulness was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
This attack on Yongliang and the defeat of the Qiang and Xianbei were all inseparable from Pang Tong's plan.
Especially a year ago, Pang Tong led his army deep into the east of Hedong, and defeated hundreds of thousands of Xiongnu cavalry several times with small numbers and large numbers, completely consolidating his extraordinary status as the mastermind.
It can be said that Pang Tong at this time is definitely in the spotlight!
Yang Hong immediately put on a smile and decided not to have a grudge with Pang Tong for the time being.
"Why is Commander Pang laughing?"
Pang Tong stepped out of the crowd, bowed his hands slightly and saluted.
"Master Yang serves the Qin State and has the heart of Qin Gong. Pang Tong deeply admires him!"
"Don't dare!"
Pang Tong was very polite, as if he were a junior.
This relieved Yang Hong's anger at the laughter just now.
In Yang Hong's heart, Pang Tong would not be the one to hinder him, but the two had a common goal.
What capable person with lofty ideals doesn’t want to honor his ancestors and return to his hometown with honor?
Normally, attacking Jingzhou would be extremely attractive to the civil and military ministers who were originally from Jingzhou in the Qin State.
For example, the first military general, Huang Zhong, the general who conquered the east!
The new mastermind and military advisor Pang Tong!
It was precisely because of this certainty that Yang Hong dared to raise it at the first court meeting.
"Commander Pang is from Jingchu. Don't you want to include the land of Jingchu within the scope of our Qin State as soon as possible?"
As he spoke, Yang Hong turned to look to the side of the general, his eyes going straight to the leader.
"General Huang, you are also from Jingchu, don't you want to return home in glory?"
"As far as Yang knows, General Huang has some connections with the Huang family of Jiangxia, and Military Advisor Pang has a close relationship with Mr. Pang De!"
"With such convenience, the nine counties of Jingxiang and Xiang are not easily accessible!"