Weizhou is where the Jingsai Military Supervision Department of Xixia is located.
However, the military prison of Weizhou in Western Xia was greatly defeated by Liu Changzuo. Now it was defeated by the Huanqing Road troops led by Yu Chong, and more than 3,000 people were captured.
But two days after Yu Chong conquered Weizhou, he learned about the fall of Mingsha City.
Yu Chong stood on Weizhou City, stared in the direction of Mingsha City for a long time, and said to himself: "Zhang Zizheng has probably died for his country."
After saying this, Yu Chong felt a deep breath in his heart. Under the shouts from left and right, he almost fell to the top of Weizhou City.
Everyone on the left and right supported Yu Chong and said quickly: "Commander, although Mingsha has fallen, there is no news about Zhang Zizheng. As long as he is fine, or there is a slight improvement."
Yu Chong shook his head and said: "You don't know that Zhang Zizheng was very effective in this battle. He would rather cut off the enemy himself and save the entire Jingyuan Army. This man is truly the pillar of the country and the hero of the world."
"If he makes a mistake, how can the court forgive me?"
An aide on the side said: "Why don't you explain it to Prime Minister Zhang?"
Yu Chong shook his head and said: "I have never had a close relationship with Prime Minister Zhang, so to suddenly send him to your doorstep would be a source of ridicule to the officialdom."
While Yu Chong was speaking, a scout came to report: "According to the summary, the party troops from Mingsha City are moving towards Weizhou."
Yu Chong said angrily: "I knew it."
The staff said: "Commander, the party's soldiers and horses have captured Mingsha, but they are actually at the end of their war effort. Now it is just a bluff."
Yu Chong said: "How could I not know? I'm just worried that Liang Yong will attack me."
The staff member said: "The Western thieves always just rob once and then leave. They have no intention of plotting against the state or county. The current strategy is to abandon Weizhou."
Yu Chong calmed down for a moment and said, I was so panicked and confused because of Mingsha's attack. This is an ominous sign.
Yu Chong asked: "Where are the people from Zhangzhaoyuan?"
After Yu Chong asked, he immediately met Zhang Gen.
After Zhang Gen learned that Mingsha City had fallen, he said calmly: "Dad told me in advance that Mingsha will be saved if he can, and if he can't, the whole army will be the priority."
"I can testify with the court that I have actually done my best, and I can't blame others."
Yu Chong was dubious, but he said with a look of great joy on his face: "Xiao Yuan really understands the righteousness."
"I don't know, what's your opinion on signing the hospital?"
Zhang Gen said: "I don't dare to be the commander-in-chief. I have the humble opinion of the lower officials. We should make sure the road is safe before moving all the Weizhou people back south, and then set fire to the city, leaving not a single brick or tile for the Western thieves."
Yu Chong nodded and said: "That's right. I will dispatch three teams of soldiers to sign the hospital and return to Huanzhou first. I will lead the army behind and retreat slowly!"
Zhang Gen knew that the other party was showing kindness to him, so he immediately agreed.
Zhang Gen, Zhang Gong and Zhao Long led thousands of troops back to Huanzhou.
After learning that Mingsha City had been destroyed, Huanzhou was now in a state of war and chaos. Not to mention the Tibetan tribes that were semi-submissive to the Song Dynasty, they were all ready to make a move. Even the city was filled with a tense atmosphere.
Someone in the city spread rumors that the Song army was going to abandon Huanzhou or even Qingzhou, and asked the people to leave Huanzhou quickly.
When Zhang Gen arrived in the city and learned about this, he consulted the city's general magistrate. After signing the verdict and discussing it, he decided to impose martial law throughout the city. He personally took Zhao Long and Zhang Gong to patrol the city, and the soldiers went from house to house to check the population. Any unknown person was
All will be taken to custody.
More than a hundred people were arrested overnight.
Later, it was discovered that more than ten Xixia spies had sneaked into the city to attack the armory.
Under Zhang Gen's supervision, Huanzhou City quickly settled down.
A few days later, when Yu Chong led his army back from the front line, he saw that Huanzhou City was in good order. He asked who did it? He nodded after learning that it was Zhang Gen.
When Yu Chong saw Zhang Gen, he immediately asked him to come to the office of the Economic Strategy Department to talk.
After learning that Yu Chong had invited him, Zhang Gen hesitated whether to go, but he immediately thought to himself that this was Huanzhou, and although it was a border area, it was also the territory of the Song Dynasty, and even Yu Chong did not dare to do anything to him.
So Zhang Gen asked Zhang Gong to stay and went to the camp alone.
Zhang Gen saw that the palace was heavily guarded and there were soldiers guarding him everywhere. When he came to a hall, he saw a letter saying, "Where the festival hall is, any trespassers will be killed."
Zhang Gen walked to the hall under the guidance of his attendants.
I saw Yu Chong in casual clothes, pouring himself a drink in the hall.
Yu Chong glanced at Zhang Gen and said with a smile: "Sit down, my dear nephew!"
Zhang Gen felt a little uneasy in his heart, but he still sat down.
Yu Chong said with a smile: "My good nephew saw me alone today, which shows his courage. Yu Mou admires me."
Zhang Gen said: "Why can't I meet Jieshuai?"
Yu Chong smiled and poured a glass of wine for Zhang Gen and then said: "Xiannephew, you were just perfunctory before, do you think I can't see it?"
Zhang Gen's expression changed secretly, and he immediately said: "Why did the commander say this?"
Yu Chong smiled and said: "You want to impeach me. I only guessed three points. Now when I try it in person, I conclude that it is ten points."
"Ha ha!"
Zhang Gen secretly thought that he was really too shallow, but Yu Chong still tested him out.
Zhang Gen still said: "If it's Jieshuai, how could Zhang have such intention?"
Yu Chong smiled contemptuously and said: "My dear nephew, if I really let you fool me, I would have been pretending to be an official for so many years. Can you secretly distribute the gold and silver I gave you to the soldiers?"
"Don't be surprised. If I give you ten more courages, I won't dare to do anything to you! Drink!"
Zhang Gen felt relieved and drank a glass of wine generously.
But I saw Yu Chong said: "The king is successful and the bandit is defeated. If you don't impeach me, Prime Minister Zhang will not let me go. Yu still knows himself."
When Yu Chong said this, he remained calm and composed.
Zhang Gen also admired the other party's magnanimity.
Yu Chong said: "My dear nephew, to be fair, Yu has been treating you quite a bit these days."
Zhang Gen said: "Shuai Jie treated Zhang very politely."
Yu Chong said: "I know you don't value things like money, but I think I've benefited from the discussions I've had with my nephew over the past few days on strategies for preparing for battle and how to manage soldiers and generals!"
Zhang Gen nodded.
"That's good. My nephew, you can go." After Yu Chong finished speaking, he poured himself a drink.
Zhang Gen stood up and said goodbye.
…
The next day, an envoy from outside the city carried the imperial edict and went straight to the palace. In front of the civil and military officials in Huanzhou City, he read the edict and dismissed Yu Chongjing from his post as the envoy of the original road.
After hearing the edict, Zhang Gen thought to himself, this is too bold.
If it had been a hundred years ago, if the Jiedushi envoys of the Tang Dynasty feudal towns had received such an edict, they would not have killed the envoys on the spot and launched an army to rebel.
As for making up an excuse and asking Yu Chong to meet him outside the city, and then capture it on the spot, this is the best solution.
It should be noted that the civil and military officials in Huanzhou City used to take orders from Yu Chong.
However, after the envoy read out the imperial edict, Yu Chong handed over the seal on the spot without saying a word. At this moment, the civil and military officials around him seemed to suddenly not recognize Yu Chong, and no one said a word.
Yu Chong also cooperated very naturally. Seeing Yu Chong being taken away, the civil and military officials pretended not to see it, and did not even look at each other in the slightest.
Then Yu Chong followed the envoy like a sheep, left the camp, and found a place in the city to take care of him.
The next day, Tongzhi Privy Envoy, Sixth Route Privy Envoy Han Zhen, and Qinfeng Road Manager Cai Yanqing led their troops into the city and took over the tens of thousands of troops in Huanzhou City.
Han Zhen was very busy dealing with military affairs, and all the civil and military officials in the city were trembling with fear when they saw Han Zhen.
This person has a bad reputation and is a more difficult master to serve than Yu Chong.
Zhang Gen entered the palace to meet Han Zhen and Cai Yanqing, thinking that it was Yu Chong who was sitting here yesterday. But yesterday, those indifferent soldiers, generals and civil servants were all sitting in the corridor with bated breaths, holding calendars in their hands, waiting for the court to attend.
Every official whose name was called had a nervous look on his face when he went to see Han Zhen.
There were also people who felt as if they had collapsed after being taken out of the festival hall.
Zhang Gen was originally an official of the Privy Council, so he went directly to the hall to pay his respects.
When Han Zhen saw Zhang Gen, he said to the man who was standing next to him: "Do you know who this gentleman is?"
The man at the bottom saw Zhang Gen and said with a smile: "Could he be Prime Minister Zhang's husband? This is the first time I met him and he was so kind to me."
"Back then, as a transport envoy, I followed Prime Minister Zhang to pacify Qingtang and collect Xihe. It can be said that I was in front of the horse and behind the horse."
Zhang Gen didn't need to guess to know that this person was Cai Yanqing, Qin Feng Road's envoy.
He said: "It turned out to be Commander Cai Cao. My father has said many times that Commander Cao took the lead in reforming military tactics on Xihe Road. Later, he defied all opinions and sent troops to rescue Hezhou City, saving the situation of the war."
Cai Yanqing laughed when he heard this and said, "This is the happiest thing in my life."
Han Zhen smiled and said: "I have a tiger father but no dog sons. Zhangzhaoyuan is much better than your sons."
"Exactly, exactly."
The officials who attended the court just now were all sweating profusely. If they had listened to Han Zhen and Cai Yanqing praising Zhang Gen's words, they would not know how to envy them.
Officialdom is the same as reincarnation. Some people start on hell difficulty, while others start on easy mode.
Han Zhen said to Zhang Gen: "Yu Gongda was dismissed from his post and was escorted back to the capital for trial. The officials asked me to temporarily act as the envoy of Huanqing Road Manager!"
Zhang Gen thought to himself, this power is really impressive. He stood up and said: "Congratulations, Zhishu!"
Han Zhen couldn't help but said proudly: "This is your respect for me."
Han Zhen guessed correctly, this unusual move was exactly the work of Zhang Yue.
It was he who strongly suggested it in front of the emperor.
If the generals who lead the army do not have local real power, they will be restricted everywhere and have nowhere to show their power. Therefore, the generals and military envoys must also serve as the governor of the first state of the road, and then the general manager of the military and horse capital.
After Yu Chong, the military envoy of Huanqing Road, was dismissed, Zhang Yue directly asked Han Zhen to also serve as the military envoy of Huanqing Road, which was also a break from the norm.
Originally, Han Zhen had to use six routes of military envoys to control the troops and horses of each route. Now he leads one route himself and also controls the other five routes of soldiers and horses.
In the past, the emperor would have been unable to sleep.
But why does Zhang Yue dare to delegate power so much?
In fact, this also went against his original intention, but he suddenly thought that history had proved that although civil servants often led troops unreliably, it was true to that sentence that scholars could not rebel for ten years.
He has never seen a few pure civil servants lead an army and rebel.
Zhang Yue looked through the history books, but there seems to be no such example.
The closest one was probably Zeng Guofan, but in the end he didn't dare to fight back.
The purpose of centralization is to collect power, but the purpose of collecting power is also to better delegate power.
In this case, why don't I think in the opposite direction and boldly delegate power to the commanders at the front? However, Zhang Yue did not give Han Zhen the post of governor of Qingzhou.
Cai Yanqing said: "But what should we do if Xixia sends envoys to negotiate peace with our dynasty?"
But Han Zhen said arrogantly and unreasonably: "If the imperial court discusses the imperial court, we will fight our own."
Cai Yanqing said: "Could Prime Minister Zhang mean to negotiate for peace while fighting? Can't we make peace while negotiating for peace?"
The two of them looked at Zhang Gen at the same time.
Zhang Gen shook his head and said he knew nothing about it.