Nu Yalang of Tang Dynasty

It was already the end of October when the news of An Lushan's rebellion reached the Anxi Protectorate.

Zhou Jun summoned important officials from the four towns and held a meeting in the meeting hall of the Duhu Mansion to discuss countermeasures.

Feng Changqing first took out a document and read it in front of everyone: "Anlu Mountain governs the soldiers of Fanyang, Pinglu, and Hedong towns, and also coerces the elites of foreign races such as Luo, Xi, Khitan, and Shiwei..."

The officials of the Anxi Protectorate did not think anything of it at first, but as Feng Changqing finished talking about Hebei's army one by one and introduced the generals in the rebel army, the expressions on their faces became more and more solemn.

.

After Feng Changqing carefully analyzed An Lushan's army, the hall was silent for a while.

After a while, Li Guangbi said: "The bandit army is powerful and should not be underestimated."

Li Siye cheered up and encouraged everyone: "Not to mention the elite of the Hebei Army, even if they are all three-headed and six-armed, how can we be afraid? The last general is willing to take the lead and defeat the rebels first.

!”

Then, many Anxi military generals came forward to ask for a fight.

Zhou Jun didn't make a statement, he just looked at Feng Changqing.

The latter nodded, picked up the book, and continued to read: "In order to fight against the rebels, His Majesty appointed Bi Sichen as the military envoy of the capital, and went to Luoyang, Tokyo to recruit troops; and then appointed General Cheng Qianli of Jinwu as the deputy envoy of Hedong Jiedu.

Go to the east of the river to recruit troops; then order Shuofang's army to march eastward to attack the rebels together."

After reading this, Feng Changqing stopped talking.

Li Guangbi was stunned when he heard this, and asked Feng Changqing: "What else?"

Feng Changqing: "No more."

Li Guangbi: "The bandit army has 200,000 elite soldiers. The imperial court did not issue an order to the Qinwang of the towns. Instead, it only recruited new troops and dispatched Shuofang's army. This is underestimating the enemy. How can it be so trustworthy?!"

Li Siye also asked anxiously: "What about the Anxi Army? Your Majesty did not issue an order to the Anxi Army?"

Feng Changqing: "Not only the Anxi Army, but also the Hexi Army and the Longyou Army received orders to stand still."

Duan Xiushi, who had been silent at first, couldn't help but say: "The recruitment and training of new recruits takes a long time, and it is difficult to achieve combat effectiveness. Even if we go to the battlefield and face the well-trained elite soldiers of Hebei, the chance of victory is very low.

Very little. And when it comes to selecting generals, although General Cheng is wise and brave, he is old and lacks energy. As for Bi Sichen, he is a guard of honor. Although he is eloquent, he lacks experience in battle and is not familiar with the art of war.

,Why did the imperial court choose him..."

Li Guangbi finally came to his senses at this time and said coldly: "Isn't it obvious that the imperial court would rather recruit new soldiers than use border troops to suppress the rebellion?"

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

The imperial court did not trust the border troops and was wary of the border generals. After this was exposed by Li Guangbi, everyone showed a look of resentment on their faces.

Seeing this shape, Zhou Jun said to Feng Changqing: "Keep reading downwards."

Feng Changqing bowed his hands and said yes, and continued to read: "The sage has a purpose, An Lushan is the chief evil, and the rest are just bewitched by him. I ask all prefectures and counties to give careful advice and influence first, and not to fight with each other.

It hurts the harmony..."

When the Anxi generals heard this, they could hardly believe their ears.

Hebei had raised the banner of rebellion against the Tang Dynasty, and all 200,000 troops went south to threaten the capital. The imperial court actually still had the idea of ​​​​persuading peace, and asked the prefectures and counties to mainly persuade and reform.

Li Guangbi was so angry that he laughed and uttered two words: "Absurd!"

Li Siye became even more angry and punched the pillar next to him.

In contrast, Duan Xiushi was much calmer and advised Zhou Jun: "Protector, Fan Yang is approaching Taiyuan Mansion, and the rebels are well prepared. It seems that Taiyuan is under siege and the situation is critical."

Zhou Jun looked at Duan Xiushi and said softly: "Taiyuan has fallen."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.

Duan Xiushi was a little confused and asked stammeringly: "Is this what the Governor said seriously? Taiyuan is the most fortified city in Hebei and is guarded by thousands of elite soldiers. The people in the city also yearn for the Tang Dynasty. Facing an army of 200,000 people,

No matter how bad things go, you can always keep it for a month..."

Zhou Jun smiled bitterly and shook his head.

According to the intelligence sent by Kong You using Hai Dongqing, Taiyuan City was captured on only the seventh day after An Lushan launched the rebellion.

In fact, Zhou Jun, who was familiar with history, could roughly guess An Lushan's methods without this information.

Long before the rebellion was launched, An Lushan sent a group of soldiers to Taiyuan Prefecture in the name of offering sharpshooters.

When the rebels arrived at Taiyuan Prefecture, this group of soldiers who had been arranged in advance not only tricked the city gate into opening, but also captured the deputy garrison of Taiyuan Prefecture, forcing the latter to ask the guards to surrender to An Lushan.

When Feng Changqing came up with the latest information, everyone in the hall believed the news of the fall of Taiyuan.

Li Guangbi scratched his head and said: "Once Taiyuan falls, there will be no obstacle for the rebels to move south. The next place to go is... the Yellow River."

After hearing this, Zhou Jun nodded slightly, ordered his attendants to get the map, and said to everyone: "It has been twenty days since the rebels set out from Fan Yang. According to the distance traveled, they have now reached Lingchang, Weizhou (now Henan).

Hua County).”

Li Guangbi: "It is October now and the Yellow River has not yet frozen. If the rebels want to cross the river, they must recruit ferries."

Feng Changqing: "There is a Jindu in Liyang County and a Jindu in Linhe County. It is not difficult for the rebels to collect ships, but it will take a while."

Zhou Jun: "How long will it take for most of the rebels to cross the Yellow River?"

Feng Changqing: "If we want to cross the Yellow River with all the men, horses, food, grass, baggage, etc., it will probably take more than a month. But if we just send a few elite cavalry to go into battle lightly, and with a few days of rations, it will take five days."

Then you can cross the river and reach the south bank."

Zhou Jun: "Five days..."

Feng Changqing: "If the rebels cross the Yellow River and march towards Luoyang, the next city they attack will be Chenliu. If the imperial court wants to intercept the rebels, it will definitely set up defenses in Chenliu."

Zhou Jun: "Chen Liu has not been in combat for a long time, and he is afraid that the common people and officials will be cowardly and unable to resist the rebels."

Feng Changqing frowned and nodded lightly.

Zhou Jun looked at the civil and military officials in the hall and said: "The rebellion in Hebei has failed, and the imperial court has neglected to take precautions, which may lead to a big mistake. Anxi and Beiting must be prepared. If His Majesty calls for it, they must send out troops as soon as possible."

Everyone in the hall bowed and said hello.

Zhou Jun then said to Feng Changqing: "The imperial court underestimates the enemy. As a minister, I naturally have to share your majesty's worries. You write a memorial and say that the rebel army is powerful and that Anxi and Beiting are willing to send soldiers to Hebei to quell the rebellion."

Your Majesty, please play it accurately."

Feng Changqing responded.

At the end of the meeting, Zhou Jun left Feng Changqing alone and said to him: "The Beiting Protectorate has Han Haijun, Tianshan Army and Yiwu Army. I am afraid that they will advance and retreat together with the Anxi Army in the future. You can recruit one from Beiting."

Deputy, if we really need to send troops in the future, it will be easier for both parties to contact us."

Feng Changqing thought for a while and replied: "There is a judge named Cen Shen in the Beiting Protectorate. He is from Jiangling, Jingzhou. He is very talented in literature and capable in doing things. Why not recruit him to Qiuci?"

Zhou Jun was stunned for a moment and asked Feng Changqing: "But Cen Shen was the one who wrote "The general never takes off his golden armor at night, and the army fights with each other in the middle of the night"?"

Feng Changqing: "Does the Protector know him?"

Zhou Jun: "I have heard a little bit. Let him be the liaison with Beiting... Oh, by the way, if I remember correctly, Du Fu is currently serving in the Ming Jusi. After Cen Shen comes, Du Fu will

The school secretary will be transferred to you, so that the two of them can work together."

When Feng Changqing heard this, he didn't know what was going on, so he agreed.

After leaving the meeting hall, Feng Changqing looked back at the hall with a thoughtful look on his face.

Duan Xiushi passed by and after seeing Feng Changqing's expression, he raised his hands and asked, "Deputy envoy Feng, what did the governor say?"

Feng Changqing first shook his head, then nodded.

After thinking about it again and again, Feng Changqing pulled Duan Xiushi aside and said, "There is one thing that I have always been confused about. You are known to be resourceful and can help me with my advice."

Duan Xiushi nodded.

Feng Changqing: "In August of this year, officials from various prefectures, frontier armies, and government offices must prepare documents and rush to Chang'an before the end of the year to report on their work, and then participate in the imperial meeting in the first month of next year."

Duan Xiushi: "Yes, this has always been the case."

Feng Changqing: "The imperial court issued an order asking the Zhou Governor to stay in Anxi, and asked me to go to Chang'an to report on my duties. According to common sense, as the deputy envoy of the Anxi Protectorate and the chief envoy of the Beiting Protectorate, I

It would be appropriate for me to go to Chang'an and complete the report of Anbei Court together. However, after Zhou Duhu heard about this, he categorically rejected the court's proposal and asked others to replace me and go to Chang'an to report..."

Duan Xiushi: "Deputy Envoy Feng plays an important role in the Anxi Protectorate, and he has won the trust of Governor Zhou. It is common sense not to let you leave... Besides, if Deputy Envoy Feng really went to Chang'an, wouldn't he just meet...

…”

At this point, Duan Xiushi suddenly stopped and realized something was wrong.

The two were silent for a while, and Feng Changqing suddenly said: "A few days ago, I have been sending people to investigate the Yinglong Sect."

Duan Xiushi frowned, a little confused. Feng Changqing was originally talking about going to Chang'an to report on his work, so why did he suddenly mention the Yinglong Sect.

Feng Changqing: "The believers told me that Yinglong has the ability to understand the heaven and the earth. He can predict all natural disasters and military disasters in advance, and then warn mortals to make preparations."

Duan Xiushi was surprised. After thinking for a long time, he replied: "Maybe it's a coincidence."

Feng Changqing sighed softly: "Maybe."