Chapter 1233 Yi Shuai (two updates combined into one)
"Your Majesty, I ordered Lu Shengqing to go to Wenguyuan to tell Han Zhen to attack Weizhou to cover up defeat and turn the victory into victory. He was too late to retreat. He sent the second general on Huanqing Road under Weizhou City and the soldiers and horses to supervise the breeding. Nearly 10,000 soldiers and horses were killed by Dangxiang's soldiers and horses.
Attack."
"Afterwards, Han Zhen was worried that the imperial court would find out, so he did not allow the defeated army to enter Huanzhou City. As a result, the troops and horses were followed by party troops and attacked and killed, and thousands of people were killed! The third general of Huanqing Road, General Hanfan, died in the battle twenty
Three men, more than half of the troops and horses were lost."
"In addition, there are seventeen illegal things that happened when Han Zhen served as Privy Councilor for several years!"
When the officials heard about Weizhou's defeat, they were shocked and angry.
In the past, Han Zhen sent troops without permission, but he didn't care much about it. He would not accept military orders abroad. Zhang Yue also acted as a military commander in the past, so he refused to obey the imperial edict.
Frontline generals already have autonomy, let alone an envoy like Han Zhen who controls the six directions.
In his heart, Han Zhen actually secretly supported the attack on Weizhou. This was also a first-class test to see if Dangxiang would be devastated after losing Liangzhou. If Dangxiang really sat back and watched the Song Dynasty easily occupy Weizhou, he might consider ignoring Zhang Yue and others.
The opposition of the ministers will also mobilize six armies to destroy the party in one fell swoop within a year or two.
Unexpectedly, Dangxiang still had such power. After losing Weizhou, he counterattacked quickly and his troops were fierce.
It really surprised him.
Feng Jingdao: "Your Majesty, you are the second general of the Medical Clinic among the armies on Huanqing Road. Your troops and horses are the strongest on Huanqing Road. After the defeat of Lingzhou in the third year of Yuanfeng, you were also the first to replenish your troops and supplies, but in the face of
It is still difficult for the party’s elite troops to fight.”
"Your Majesty, we cannot underestimate this enemy yet."
Zhang Yue listened to Feng Jing's words and thought that during the Five-Road Expedition against Dangxiang in history, the Song Army had already defeated Dangxiang's army in field battles, but its battle organization and logistics were weak. But they ignored that Dangxiang was also making progress. At the battle of Yongle City, Xu Xi was confident
Mandi ordered Gao Yongneng and Qu Zhen to lead the elite of the Western Army to defeat the Iron Kites outside Yongle City in a field battle. However, they were unable to move forward and were defeated. At this time, the Western Army realized that they had underestimated the enemy.
.
In history, after defeating Xia City, Zhang Kai later reported a narrow victory, almost becoming second in Yongle City.
What Feng Jing said was true, but after hearing what Feng Jing said, the officials were very angry.
He was already in a bad mood when he heard the news of the defeat. He directly said to Feng Jing: "It's so easy for you to say it. How about going to Huanzhou and making Yi Hanzhen the commander?"
What the officials mean by this is to tell you, Feng Jing, to get out of here.
Zhang Yue also felt that the official's words were too much. Although his usual opinions were often opposed by Feng Jing, he knew that this was due to the ancestral system of "disagreement with each other", and the two had a pretty good relationship in private.
Even Cai Que became in-laws with Feng Jing.
Feng Jing only verbally opposed it, which was already good compared to other old parties such as Sima Guang.
The official family was furious, and this sentence was enough to chill Feng Jing.
Feng Jing immediately said without saying a word: "Your Majesty, I am too old to serve in the armed forces. I would like to serve as a small official in the local area."
In fact, Feng Jing was old and sick, and had long since wanted to leave. But the new party was like Wang Gui, and Cai Que thought to himself that there was no one in the old party like Feng Jing. If someone else were to come, everyone would still be noisy. Really
Not as good as Feng Jing.
The officials were extremely fed up and Feng Jing said: "Since you are going out, it is not convenient for me to keep you here. We also know Heyang in case the Khitan goes south!"
For this reason, Wang Gui, Zhang Yue, Cai Que and others all knew that Feng Jing was determined to leave.
Feng Jingdao: "I obey the decree."
Feng Jing has left and the post of Privy Councilor is vacant. Who will replace him? Where can he find someone from the old party like Feng Jing?
Not long ago, Xue Xiang died of illness while in office.
Two positions were now vacant. Wang Gui and Zhang Yue had already competed with each other many times in private, and the officials also had candidates they were looking forward to.
But that's not the critical issue right now.
"How to deal with Han Zhen? Who else can refuse the party membership besides him? What about Lu Huiqing?"
The officials plan to replace Han Zhen, but besides Han Zhen, who else is qualified?
Zhang Yue thought to himself that he asked Lu Huiqing to be a thug against Han Zhen, not Lu Huiqing to replace Han Zhen.
Zhang Yue went out and said: "Your Majesty, if Dangxiang and the Khitan alliance jointly deal with this dynasty, the land of Taiyuan is extremely important, and Lu Huiqing must be here to take charge."
The official nodded. He and Zhang Yue had a consensus. Although Lu Huiqing was not good in character, his abilities were truly unparalleled in the world. Once the Khitan and Dangxiang unite, the position of Taiyuan will be crucial.
After several rounds, only Lu Huiqing was sitting here.
Zhang Yue had already made a plan in his heart, which was to reset the system of Xihe Road and let Wang Hou, who conquered Liangzhou this time, be promoted to replace Li Xian who had returned to the capital as the system and control the Xihe and Qinfeng roads.
Then Shen Kuo, the envoy to the Jingyuan Road, was appointed as the envoy to the Jingyuan Road, Huanqing Road, and Yanyan Road. However, Shen Kuo did not sit on the Sixth Road as the Privy Council envoy like Han Zhen did before, but only in the capacity of the Privy Council.
Finally, Lu Huiqing, who knew Taiyuan Prefecture, led the Hedong Road alone as a bachelor of Guanwen Palace.
After Xihe Road captures Liangzhou, it will turn from offense to defense. From now on, the focus of the imperial court will shift to Jingyuan Road. As long as Wang Hou holds Liangzhou and strangles the Hexi Corridor, the national strength of the party that has lost the benefits of commerce and trade will gradually increase.
Points of land were consumed, and at the same time, the Song Dynasty could continuously obtain supplies from the benefits of trade by opening up the Silk Road again.
As for Shen Kuo, who was stationed on Jingyuan Road, he used the power of three groups of soldiers and horses to build the fort in a shallow attack. Starting from Huaide's army with Pingxia City as the core, he built the fort all the way to Mingsha City under the noses of the party members.
As long as the Song army captures Mingsha City, Xihe Road soldiers, horses and supplies can take boats to move eastward along the Yellow River, and finally join forces with Jingyuan Road to attack Lingzhou City!
After capturing Lingzhou City, Dangxiang was in disgrace!
This is not Zhang Yue's idea. From Qingli to the present, at least dozens of Western Army commanders or generals have proposed it to the imperial court. Zhang Yue doesn't care whether the party knows about it or not. I will play with you even if it is my open card.
Historically, after Li Xian failed in the five-pronged attack on Dangxiang, he thought that he should go out of Jingyuan Road and station troops in Mingsha City, so that Lingzhou City would be destroyed without being destroyed.
Of course, this is also the reason why Zhang Yue and Han Zhen broke up.
When Han Zhen was in charge of Huanqing Road, it was because Huanqing Road was among the six roads in charge, so he could make arrangements in the middle.
However, after Han Zhen was stationed at Huanqing Road, he was deeply influenced by the generals of the Western Army. As long as he was here, he could not avoid the route of attacking Hengshan. Zhonge, who advocated the strategy of Hengshan in history, was just a representative. After Zhonge's death, he still
Let his son plant the seeds of his legacy and let his son continue his career.
Of course, the military group of the Western Army Generals was cultivated by Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi at that time, and was later succeeded by Han Jiang and Han Zhen. In contrast, Zhang Yue trusted the Xihe Road Military Group that he had single-handedly cultivated.
The Xihe Road Military Group was personally cultivated by Zhang Yue and Wang Shao. Although it also had some members of the Western Army, it was basically independent. In his plan, the Hengshan Raiders were of secondary importance, and there was no plan for the Hengshan Raiders at all. This made the Western Army
The general's expectations were undoubtedly disappointed.
Therefore, the conflict between Zhang Yue and Han Zhen is also the conflict between the two military groups.
In short, even if Liangzhou was captured, Zhang Yue had no intention of attacking Hengshan. Instead, he went straight to Lingzhou via the Jingyuan Road.
Zhang Yue said: "Like Han Zhen, who is so self-controlled and wise, he covets the rewards and the decision-making of the central government. I thought that I must ask the reason, so I recalled him to the capital for questioning. As for the privy council, Shen Kuo was temporarily taken over by Jingyuan Road.
"
Generals like Han Zhen must still be handled with caution.
Listing Han Zhen's seventeen crimes previously could not do anything to the other side. Only when the left and right central committee decided to use this crime to cooperate with the defeat of Weizhou and the other side covered up their mistakes could they defeat the other side.
To be fair, if Zhang Yue were not in the position of prime minister, he would not be willing to deal with Han Zhen.
But just like Lu Gongzhu, there is nothing you can do. If you are in this position, you will offend others.
Upon hearing this, the official Zhang Yue immediately said: "It's accurate!"
While talking, the Yintai Secretary hurriedly started to report, the magistrate of Xiongzhou reported to the report, and the Khitan envoy came back again with his credentials. According to his companions, Daliao has become a country related to Dangxiang, and the Dangxiang is required to withdraw its troops.
, returned the captured Liangzhou land, and executed the traitor Yelu Yixin.
As soon as this statement came out, the official's expression changed drastically.
…
Jingyuan Road.
Pingxia City.
The Huruchuan River passes not far from the city. The plains of Guangchuan in the past are now covered with city ultimatums, standing side by side. In the past, Dangxiang Tanqi, who regarded this as a smooth road, took a look and took a detour.
Since Shen Kuo became the envoy of the Jingyuan Road, he put up fortifications in important areas. This border area where party cavalry galloped freely has gradually become an important town along the Jingyuan Road.
In the twelfth lunar month of winter, Shen Kuo, wearing a black hat and purple robe, rode a thin horse, accompanied by a group of guards and generals, and suddenly inspected Pingxia City.
Shen Kuo stationed his horse at the foot of the city and looked at the rolling Tiandu Mountains in the distance. This was also where Dangxiang's former lair was. Before Pingxia City was built, Dangxiang's cavalry came out of Tiandu Mountain and could drive directly to Jingyuan Road in one day.
Weizhou City in the belly.
Shen Kuo ordered his people to enter the city without any fanfare and first inspected the capital warehouses and pastures in the city. When Guo Cheng, the magistrate of Pingxia City, was surprised when he learned that Shen Kuo was coming in person, he immediately led the city's capital guards, detained him, and patrolled to welcome him.
At this time, Shen Kuo had already asked about the wine tax and the money valley in the city. Shen Kuo was quite satisfied with the morale of the soldiers in the city. The soldiers were all wearing bright armor and stood solemn and unsmiling when guarding various places.
Guo Cheng came to Shen Kuo's side and saw hundreds of generals and soldiers standing there. Only the generals, Wang Shunchen, etc., as well as officials at all levels, were there.
Guo Cheng brought the envoys and soldiers in the city to pay homage. Shen Kuo nodded and said a few words of comfort. As we all know, Shen Kuo was one of the few officials who did not put on airs and show off. As a military commander, he often brought
A small number of followers inspected key places along the road.
Sometimes Shen Kuo would wear a shabby coat, and no one would be able to tell that he was actually an official.
Shen Kuo was a man who had merits and was able to recognize talents. The people he selected may not be loyal and reliable, but each one had their own merits. For example, Guo Chengcheng was the original subordinate of Liu Changzuo.
Shen Kuo saw that he had the talent to lead troops, so he immediately promoted him and entrusted him with the important task of Pingxia City Magistrate.
In addition, Shen Kuo also attached great importance to information sources over the years and cultivated a lot of spies. He continued to sneak into Dangxiang territory through monks to collect information. This time Dangxiang formed an alliance with the Liao Kingdom, and this was the first information Shen Kuo found out and reported to the court.
Therefore, after serving as an official for several years, the generals on the Jingyuan Road were somewhat disapproving of Shen Kuo's behavior.
But over time, everyone gradually began to admire him, especially the talents he recommended to the court, who were eventually appointed and promoted. The officials and generals suddenly realized that Shen Jinglue had such a strong background in the court!
Now everyone on Jingyuan Road sincerely admires Shen Jinglue.
After Shen Kuo paid homage to the city god, he immediately entered the city government office. After a short rest, he met with the local Tibetan leaders.
Mingzhu, Miezang, Kangnu and other tribes all lived near Pingxia City. In the past, Li Yuanhao followed them south when he invaded. During the Xining year, Shenzong also wanted to recruit them and gave them property, but these tribes changed hands and gave the Song Dynasty to them.
The property was donated to the party.
Since the Song Dynasty built Pingxia City, they have now followed the general trend and become the registered households of the Song Dynasty.
Shen Kuo asked these leaders a few questions about the party's news, the people's harvest and winter preparations. After a while, Liu Changzuo, the deputy general manager of Jingyuan Road, led dozens of generals and arrived here.
As for Jingyuan Road, it is relatively independent from Huanqing Road and Fuyan Road. For example, Liu Changzuo, deputy commander of the army and horses of Jingyuan Road, has been excluded by the generals of the Western Army. When Wang Zhongzheng controlled Jingyuan Road, Liu Changzuo was constantly being used.
He took eye drops, which caused Wang Zhongzheng to have a very bad impression of him.
But Shen Kuo loved Liu Changzuo's talent very much, and the two even made a private appointment as a teacher and student.
Although Liu Changzuo was older than Shen Kuo, this was not mentioned in official circles.
Shen Kuo said to Liu Changzuo: "When the city of Pingxia was not built yet, the front line was Xining Village to suppress the Rong army. Li Xian proposed to the emperor that the distance from Xining Village to Mingsha City was four hundred miles, and from then on more than ten cities were built to
Lingzhou can be obtained with a backhand, but the emperor feels that it is too difficult and costs too much money and food."
"But after I built Pingxia City, I not only covered Weizhou behind me, but also covered the Rong army in the border towns. In order to protect Pingxia City, I built additional Zhenqiang and Jiuyang Towns near Pingxia City.
, opened the gorge, visited the four Qiang villages, and repaired Xiao Pass."
"Now I have built the fort all the way to the entrance of Shangyi. Dangxiang made many attacks to prevent our troops from approaching and building the city, but they were all repelled by Brother Zijing. The imperial court was able to capture Liangzhou this time because of your presence.
The reward transfer restricted a large amount of the party's manpower and material resources, and also cut off Tiandu Mountain and Huluchuan, the areas where the party members recruited troops and stored food."
Liu Changzuo said: "I am not worthy of being the general. Even if I have merit, it is all because of the teacher's strategizing, well-organized and well-organized command."
After Liu Changzuo was almost tricked to death by Wang Zhongzheng last time, he has now learned the rules of officialdom and puts on a high hat to flatter others when they meet.
Even though he said this, he still had the pride and courage of a general on his face.
Shen Kuo said: "Back then, Lingzhou City's success failed and you and I were demoted. Now that the imperial court has seen your merits, I have informed you that the general has been reinstated recently."
When Liu Changzuo heard this, he was overjoyed and said, "Thank you very much, student, for your cultivation."
Shen Kuo said with a smile: "In the past few years, I have been building a lot of forts in Tiandu Mountain and Huluchuan in accordance with the wishes of Prime Minister Zhang. Every time I captured a point, I built forts. At the same time, I built more forts to protect the flanks and grain roads. I advanced step by step. As long as we pass through
In two years, our army will be able to fully control the Tiandu Mountains and the Huluchuan River Valley, and use the troops, food and grass here."
"Li Xian said that of the four hundred miles from Xining Village to Mingsha City, I built more than two hundred miles by myself."
"But I'm worried that Dangxiang and the Liao Kingdom won't give us this opportunity, so I came here personally to prepare for a rainy day, and to talk to you face to face."
Liu Changzuo asked: "Has the Liao army pressed on the border?"
Shen Kuo nodded and said: "The spy report said that the Liao Kingdom has repeated its old tricks and stationed troops in Yunzhou and Daizhou to force the dynasty to return Liangzhou."
Shen Kuo said: "The valleys in Shaanxi are criss-crossed. Therefore, when Dangxiang came from one road before, we divided into four separate routes to fight and were easily defeated by each one. If we take Tiandu Mountain and Huluchuan, it will be different. Xihe Road, Qinfeng Road, and Jingyuan Road
They are all connected into one piece, so this is a strategy taught secretly by the Prime Minister."
"So Pingxia City will be a place that the party must attack from now on! It is also a place that our army must save."
Liu Changzuo said: "Teachers can predict the future and are like gods. Students ask teachers to make arrangements."
Shen Kuo said: "It's not that I don't trust you, and I trust Guo Cheng who you recommended, but this place is extremely important."
…
The next day, Shen Kuo raised his tent in Pingxia City, and Liu Changzuo and other generals and officials near Jingyuan Road came to the city.
Shen Kuo was a simple and easy person who could be extremely picky about the details of everything. However, in daily receptions, he avoided all red tape and ostentation. He just wore a purple robe and sat in the temporary hall.
Although Shen Kuo was able to save money, the officials and generals below did not dare to ignore it, and all of them respectfully met with him.
Except for Liu Changzuo, who was seated, everyone else was standing.
Shen Kuo said: "When I came to Jingyuan Road this time, I asked Mr. Dazhang Jinglue how to defend Pingxia City."
"Master Zhang, the general manager, told me that if the soldiers are outside, the defenders dare to hold on to the wall. I deeply believe this statement."
"When the enemy is outnumbered and we are outnumbered, there is no need for soldiers to force reinforcements. Even if we win for a while, the siege may not be broken. The reinforcements must remember to advance cautiously and slowly."
"As long as we have strong troops outside, even if we don't fight, we are not cowards."
"When Dazhang was advising General Xihe on the way to Xihe, he defeated 70,000 Dangxiang soldiers at Taoshui River. He once said that Dangxiang's troops were so overwhelming that it was difficult to fight against the invaders from far away.
If you are ambushed, you will be defeated."
Shen Kuo is preparing for a rainy day. Although he doesn't know when Dang Xiang will attack, he is now preparing in advance.
He is prepared for everything he does.
As he was speaking, a person from the primary school suddenly came in and said: "Please tell me, please accept the order quickly!"
Shen Kuo was surprised and said: "Is there an imperial edict?"
"We have arrived at the city gate."
Shen Kuo immediately left his chair without saying a word. Liu Changzuo and other officials followed Shen Kuo and greeted the imperial edict at the entrance of the palace.
Soon the messenger arrived at the retreat and asked, "Are you Shen Kuo?"
"I am Shen Kuo."
"Shen Kuo listens!"
Shen Kuo bowed down but heard what the other party said: "Han Zhen has temporarily given up his duties as Privy Council envoy. Shen Kuo will be temporarily in charge of the affairs of the Privy Council. Jingyuan Road will be the town for the time being, and Jingyuan Road, Huanqing Road, and Yanyan Road soldiers will be controlled.
horse!"
After hearing this, Liu Changzuo and other generals were overjoyed.
Shen Kuo was promoted. Although it was a temporary court matter, something must have happened to Han Zhen on Huanqing Road.
With such an appointment, it won't take long before Shen Kuo's temporary title will be removed and he will become a serious envoy of the Privy Council.
Shen Kuo was a little confused and had not yet woken up from this appointment.
The envoy helped Shen Kuodao up and said, "Jing Lue, you have worked hard to manage everything on Jingyuan Road. Your Majesty and the Prime Minister can see it."