Wan Yan Gang, a well-recognized general of the time, was actually a scholar with a Jinshi background.
He became an official in the early years of Mingchang and has been an official in the court. When he first served as an imperial minister, he went to Zuo to pick up relics. Because the remonstrance he wrote was untrue, he was questioned by the then Emperor Zhang Zong. Later, he was promoted to the official positions of Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Punishment and Langzhong of the Ministry of Industry. He also served as the birthday envoy to the Lord of Xia, and was the envoy for ceremonial exchanges with Xixia.
In the fourth year of his arrival in Taihe, he was able to do everything in the Xuanhui Academy, be in charge of court meetings, Yan Xiang, palace etiquette, supervising imperial meals, etc. Fifteen years have passed since he became an official, and he has never crossed the line. This is the fifth level.
According to the dynasty system, officials were qualified for three terms and promoted from sixth grade to fifth grade; officials were qualified for two terms and promoted from fifth to fifth grade. However, after Emperor Zhangzong established the Ten Elections during the Dading Period, all those who were promoted from three terms were the same. It can be reduced to two terms, and talents and hard work can be overused.
However, Wanyan Gang managed to survive at this level for fifteen years. This shows that he had no special talents in the eyes of the people in power at the time.
In the sixth year of Taihe, the Song people betrayed their alliance and went north. The Shaanxi generals faced Shu and Xixia in the Southern Dynasty at the same time. They had different opinions and argued with each other. There were even internal strife among the Qiang soldiers.
In this situation, Wan Yan Gang served as the pacification envoy on the Shuhan Road, raised military matters, and participated in the Western affairs with the Marshal's Mansion.
Arriving in Shaanxi together with Wanyan Gang were the new marshals You Linjun and Chongyou Supervisor Pu Chazhen. Theoretically, Wan Yan Gang should consult with representatives from the Marshal's Office.
However, he did not wait for the arrival of Pu Chazhen at all. After arriving in Shaanxi, he immediately targeted the Fan-Han archers and Feihe Wing Army from Fengxiang and Lintao and brutally killed a group of rebellious people. Immediately afterwards, he pursued local officials fiercely, and would not let go of anyone who had the slightest misdemeanor or who had shied away from military demands.
By the time the new marshal You Linjun and the Chongyou Metropolitan Superintendent Pu Chazhen arrived in Jingzhao, Wanyan Gang had already detained no less than 20 officials of the sixth and seventh grades from Lintao, Fengxiang and even Jingzhaofu Road. And when Pu Chazhen went to relieve his cheeks under the pleading of everyone, half of the more than 20 people had already died in prison!
After this scare, the originally disorganized and arrogant Shaanxi generals were immediately purged, starting from Wanyan Yu and Pu Chabing on the Fengxiang front, Wanyan Chengyu and Wanyan Lintun on the Qinzhou and Chengji front lines, and Shi Mo Zhongwen on the Lintao front line. , Shuhu Gaoqi, Bang Huihai, Wanyan Sizhong in Gongzhou and Liupan, and even Shaanxi Road Dutong Wanyanzhong, Dutong Deputy Envoy Oule Yacai, Tongzhi Jingzhao Mansion Affairs Wugu Lun Yanzhou and others , all obey military orders sternly.
Afterwards, there was a fierce battle between the Jin and Song Dynasties. The generals and armies of Guan and Shaanxi worked together to defeat the Song Dynasty in succession at Fangshanyuan, Heshangyuan, Xishanzhai, Longmen and other important places, such as Chencang, Chengji, Yanchuan and Laiyuan. All the soldiers from Sichuan and Shu returned to their old places.
Later, Wanyan Gang managed the Song general Wu Xi and made him rebel against the Jin Dynasty and return to the Song Dynasty. This created a situation for the Jin Dynasty where three out of four parts of the world were divided. Although Wu Xi was immediately crowned the leader, the Jin army on the Guanlong side, under the leadership of Wan Yan Gang, firmly suppressed the Xixia and Southern Song sides. In the following years, they won many battles on the battlefield.
From the beginning, the smooth use of troops stemmed from the unification of Guanlong affairs and power under Wanyan Gang. The unification of Guanlong affairs and power into one person was actually due to Wanyan Gang's powerful means of quelling the local military and political chaos.
At that time, the person who was running around actually doing things for Wan Yan Gang and whose hands were stained with blood was his close assistant Chi Zhan Sa Gai.
During the several years when Wan Yan Gang was in charge of Guanlong, in the southwest area from Lintao Road, Fengxiang Road to Jingzhaofu Road, Chizhan Sagai was the person in power below one person and above ten thousand people.
Relying on Wanyan Gang's power, he actually controlled the five forays in Fengxiang Prefecture, Qinzhou, Gongzhou, Taozhou, and Lanzhou. He did business with the Xixia people in party horses, Haozijia, and even fine swords, and with the Song people Join hands to smuggle silk, tea, and various luxury goods from Sichuan and Sichuan.
The huge benefits gained from this were all funneled into Wanyan Gang's hands, allowing him to bribe his bosses, make friends with his colleagues, and support his subordinates.
By last year, the wars between China and Mongolia in the northeast and northwest directions were completely defeated, and all famous generals and generals were killed or injured. The imperial court then transferred Wanyan Gang's general Shuhu Gaoqi to Zhongdu to serve as the Jinshan defense envoy.
At this time, more than 100,000 soldiers and horses gathered along the line from Xuandezhou to Jinshan and retreated from the northern boundary trench. Shuhu Gaoqi was busy comforting him, but he was powerless. As a result, the soldiers of the Jinshan Camp were often frightened and howled at night. One night, several times; hundreds or thousands of people gathered in the camp, killed the general, and fled deep into the mountains.
Gao Qi, the master of martial arts, wrote to the court one after another, urging that Wan Yan Gang's talent could be put to great use here and now. A group of people in the court who were close friends with Wanyan Gang also agreed. Therefore, the imperial court urgently recalled Wanyan Gang, who was serving as an official in Shaanxi.
After Wanyan Gang accepted his order, he immediately went to Jinshan to collect and rectify. He used harsh punishments and generous rewards, and acted boldly. Many defeated soldiers managed to escape from the Mongols' swords, and they were killed in Jinshan Mountain. Even some Jurchen nobles and nobles were not spared.
Although the method was cruel, it was inevitable that it would affect Chi Yu, and there was a lot of turmoil within the imperial court. But the situation in Northern Xinjiang, which was on the verge of collapse, has indeed stabilized slightly thanks to Wanyan Gang's efforts.
Now that the military barrier in the northwest of Zhongdu has not fallen down, the troops of the three recruiting divisions in the south have gradually moved northward, and the originally chaotic distribution of baggage, grain, ordnance, armor, and war horses has gradually returned to the right track. In just over a month, Daikin re-established its defense line in Jinshan, still like a golden city.
Wanyan Gang subsequently promoted a number of generals who had fought in Guan and Shaanxi to represent him in command of these reorganized armies. And with this huge army stationed on the side of Zhongdu, which was closely related to the security of the country, he had a prosperous official career in the country and rose to the top. Along the way, he became Minister Zuocheng and became Prime Minister together with his disciple Shan Yi.
Since this year, Wanyan Gang has advocated the province of Jinshan, and has also roped in Hu Shahu, a warrior who has been operating in northern Xinjiang for a long time. Apparently he is dissatisfied with the situation where the left and right prime ministers coexist in an effort to create a comprehensive system before the Mongolian army arrives. Zhongdu Road has no constraints. explain
It seems that this is Wan Yan Gang's old trick repeated in Guan and Shaanxi, which is not surprising in itself.
As for Wanyan Gang's pawn, he was still Chizhan Sagai. It's just that now Chizhansa has changed his official position to worship Adjun Meng'an. He has a higher status and acts more unscrupulously. Even the governor like Tu Shanhang did not dare to attack him directly.
Guo Ning thought deeply and said: "So, Wan Yan Gang's military talent lies in the purification of local military affairs rather than in the battlefield. Since he is in Jinshan Province, the first thing he has to do is to control the military and civilians everywhere. Back then, he The action in Guanlong is fast and fierce. Now that Jinshan's army of hundreds of thousands is in hand, it is even more powerful than Mount Tai. Not to mention, there is also a vicious dog like Hu Shahu who can come out at any time."
Wang Chang nodded: "That's true."
"As for Tu Shanhang...the difficulties he faces are part of the competition for victory in the imperial court in Zhongdu. Even if Tu Shanhang can tell the story of repelling Yang An'er in a eloquent way, Chizhan Sagai is coming to find trouble. , you can find problems there even if you are not here.”
Wang Chang continued: "So, it was right for Tu Shanhang to come here for help. Now he can only hope that the military and political parties will unite and use Guo Langjun's force to force Chizhan Sagai to restrain himself a little in order to gain time and wait. The situation changes."
"Ke Tu Shanhang didn't understand. Even if I threw myself into the Anzhou governor's office and used Anzhou's force to force Chizhan to change, how long would it take to win? When Wan Yan Gang's military order as the provincial commander-in-chief comes, How can the force of 2,500 people from the Junhe camp resist the majesty of the Jinshan Province army?"
Guo Ning shook his head disapprovingly and continued: "I dare to assert that when that time comes, Tu Shanhang will abandon us without hesitation and will never support us. This kind of noble man in Zhongdu has always been interested in us. It’s just my own power and position!”
It seems that the Xijunhe camp, which has just started to improve, can no longer be saved. The companions that Guo Ning gathered with so much effort either fled again and became homeless dogs; or they bowed their heads and succumbed to the court, but were inevitably driven by others again and became consumables in the fight with the Mongols.
Besides, there seems to be no third possibility?
But Guo Ning's expression didn't seem to show any regrets, let alone panic? What was he thinking in such a crisis? Why is he so confident?
Wang Chang lowered his head and thought for a while, then looked up at Guo Ning: "Guo Langjun, you have no intention of doing what Governor Tudan wants."
Guo Ning raised his eyebrows: "Oh?"
"Tudan, the governor, regards you Guo Langjun as someone like Yang An'er. In fact, Lang Jun's vision and mind are much broader than Yang An'er. All Yang An'er thinks is to rely on the court's temporary tolerance and seek some solutions. Breathing opportunity, some benefits in terms of food, fodder and military equipment. But what you want to gain from this, Mr. Lang, must be more... And you are determined not to consider the consequences after three to five months! Therefore, you will do more, Be more proactive and bold!”
Guo Ning laughed twice, looking at the vast water ahead, his eyes shining.
The small village is remote, and everything is silent at night, but in Guo Ning's ears, the sound of waves crashing in the distance is endless, louder and louder.
He has been well aware of the principle of shrouding corpses in horse leather since he was a boy. He has been on the battlefield for several years and is used to going through life and death. He has long since stopped taking his own life seriously.
Even though he had that big dream not long ago and had a lot of strange knowledge and ideas in his mind, Guo Ning is still Guo Ning and has not become someone else.
Therefore, when encountering a problem, Guo Ning must be "like sitting in a leaky boat or a burning house" and quickly choose a response plan without overthinking or looking back. The response plan that fits Guo Ning's habits, as Wang Chang said, must be the most proactive and bold one!
Guo Ning chuckled twice, raised his voice and shouted: "Wang Shixian!"
"exist!"
"You immediately return to the Junhe camp, pick up a hundred elite cavalry, and come here to rendezvous overnight. Zhao Jue will take my talisman and go with you!"
"As you command!"
Wang Shixian took a few steps back, turned around and led the horse. Zhao Jue followed closely.
"Monk Luo!"
"I am here!"
"You arrange for capable men to stay in the village to watch over Tu Shanhang and take good care of him. Neither let him die nor let him go! You yourself go to see Cui Xiannu and ask him to be obedient! "
Monk Luo was good at this. He agreed with a smile on his face, waved his robe sleeves and went to the other end of the village. I think if Cui Xiannu dares to disobey, he will definitely suffer a lot.
After coming back to his senses, Guo Ning asked, "Mr. Could it be that he had already guessed what I would do, so he told Tu Shanhang that all his companions would die?"
"It's just a small talk first to avoid embarrassment later." Wang Chang responded with his hands down.
"Hey, sir, you're quite precise."
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