After the Battle of Lawu City and the Battle of Lanhui, both Xixia and Song Dynasties were severely damaged.
When Zhong'e withdrew his troops, he burned down more than 300 miles around Lawu City. Not a single tile was left, and the young and old were displaced. Spring plowing was also abolished, and annual gifts were cut off.
Liang Yimi sent an envoy to sue for peace, saying that as long as Suizhou and Huizhou were returned, the two countries could stop fighting.
The officials in Bianjing around them followed Wang Anshi's suggestion of slackening his ambitions and decided to negotiate peace. In fact, due to Khitan intervention, the capture of Hengshan was in vain, and this battle also consumed the material and financial resources accumulated by Hedong and Shaanxi for many years. It would not be possible to recover without recuperation for several years.
The Song Dynasty was temporarily unable to fight anymore, so the officials opened up trade with Xixia. At the same time, they pinned their hopes of opening up and expanding their territory on Zhang Yue and Wang Shao on Qinfeng Road.
As for Suizhou and Huizhou, the meat that has been swallowed into the stomach will never be spit out.
This time is just a short-term peace, and there will be a war behind the two sides.
After the official issued a decree to reward Yue with a medal, Zhang Yue immediately went to Shu and told the officials that he had "neither the merits of horizontal grass, but also the danger of collecting salary."
"Hengcao" comes from the Han Dynasty. It means to pull down the grass and pour it on the ground, which means that you have no merit at all. To collect firewood means that you are sick, and in this bitter cold place in the northwest, your health is not very good. Last time, you got a bullet. The injury from the arrow has not healed yet.
Zhang Yue understands the temperament of the official family.
Even the emperor was worried that his border ministers would rely on their own merits. He was currently in a state of rejoicing because he had captured the two states of Lanhui, so he had no time to consider other things, but as time went by he would definitely have a grudge in his heart.
Therefore, Zhang Yue said in the first sentence that he had no merit, and that the merit was attributed to the officials. In the next sentence, he made a misfortune to win the sympathy of the officials.
Zhang Yue said in his memorial that he should have declined, but he was afraid of letting down the emperor's kindness, so he took the job first.
Sure enough, when the officials saw Zhang Yue's memorial, they also responded with a letter.
This letter is also meaningful.
In addition to a few words of comfort to Zhang Yue, the officials also said that he should take good care of his injuries and that he would not have to do everything himself and could delegate things to others.
The officials also asked Zhang Yue to select his loyal and obedient Tibetan generals and effective Han generals.
Zhang Yue thought for a while and then made his own decision. He hired a painter to paint portraits of twelve generals including Wang Hou and Yu Longke, and made twelve copies of the drawings and presented them to the emperor.
This move is equivalent to the emperor meeting you.
This painting was sent to the capital overnight. The officials were full of praise when they saw it. They even exaggeratedly compared it to the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai. It was hung in the toilet behind the Chongzheng Palace. It can be seen at all times when going to court. .
The officials informed Guo Kui and Liu Xisheng that all major and minor matters of Qin Feng's roadside appeasement department were entrusted to Zhang Yue, and they could not control each other.
Weiyuan Weishui River Valley in June.
Strong winds and heavy rains came, the howling continued all day and night, and the rivers swelled.
This was a heavy rain that was rare in ten years. It obscured the distant mountains and sight. The cold rain hit the body. Even in Xizhou in June, it was a bit chilly.
Now Zhang Yue and Wang Hou are guarding Xizhou, while Wang Shao has returned to Tongyuan Army. The progress of Weiyuan city building has also been affected.
In the evening, the heavy rain stopped slightly.
The Song army began to light fires to cook. Dozens of bonfires were dotted with light beside the river bed, and the lights and shadows were swaying from the river valley to the plateau.
In addition to the Song army, there were also civilian services. They were actually prisoners of thousands of Tibetan people, but Zhang Yue treated them very well. Nowadays, the men in the Fan tribe are waiting for the rain to stop and they are consciously repairing the tents. The women and children are fetching water from the river valley and cooking pots, and the children are also helping out sensibly.
In the outer circle of the Tibetan people's service are the camps of the Song army. Soldiers wearing Fan Yangli patrolled in the upper and lower reaches of the valley. A watchtower was built on the mountain pass, and there was also one on the other side of the river.
The soldiers of Song Dynasty held wind lanterns in their hands and stared at the passage to and from the river valley.
As for the unfinished Weiyuan Fort, a half-command of cavalry lived in it. Stables, canteens, food halls, military buildings, middle halls, and craftsmen's workshops were built in it. Wells were also dug. As a fort with only 500 steps, it is also a sparrow, although it is small. All organs are present.
The Song soldiers in the fort were all busy eating, but the smoke from the blast furnace in the workshop was still rising, and the craftsmen were still hammering away at the iron. The orange fire in the workshop and the sound of hammering passed through the rain curtain. It brought a different kind of vitality to Weiyuan Fort.
Zhang Yue is holding a wooden bowl and wooden spoon and queuing up with the generals to eat. As a magistrate who can manage the army when mounted and the people when dismounted, Zhang Yue also eats with the soldiers and generals in the poor Weiyuan Fort, only where he lives. separated.
Zhang Yue made a large bowl of hot porridge with oily glazes floating on it and sat down at the dining table made of simple wood. There is a plate of mutton on the table, and there is tea to relieve the tiredness after the meal.
There is no shortage of beef and mutton in Tongwei Village, but there is a shortage of fruits and vegetables.
Zhang Yue took a few mouthfuls of hot porridge and then heard someone report: "Tell the county guard that someone is coming from downstream."
Zhang Yue heard this and said, "It must be someone from the Guangrui Army who has arrived."
Having said this, Zhang Yue left behind a few mouthfuls of porridge and rode out of the castle with a few followers.
Zhang Yue braved the rain and rode for a mile, and saw more than two hundred soldiers advancing slowly along the slope. When they saw that they arrived on horseback, they had no expression on their faces. Numb and extremely depressed.
Zhang Yue dismounted and asked, "Who is the leader?"
After a while, a tall man came out and sang: "The villain Guang Rui's army is all overwhelmed. On the order of Mr. Jinglue, he came to Tongwei Village to defect to the governor of Xizhou Zhizhou Zhang!"
Zhang Yue patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's good to be here. We will be brothers from now on."
Zhang Yue glanced at the numerous heads on the road behind the man and said, "However, the military buildings in Weiyuan Fort can only house 2,500 troops at most. If you include family members, you can only house half of them."
"You have no choice but to live in a tent for now."
All the soldiers were stunned for a while, and they all said with confusion: "Young people don't dare to force themselves when they are guilty. I wonder where the county guard is?"
Zhang Yue glanced at the other party and said, "That's me!"
"That's you?" Zhang Sai asked in surprise.
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "What are you doing to lie to me?"
Dutou Zhang Sai suddenly turned his head and said excitedly behind him: "You guys, this is Commander Zhang!"
After saying this, Zhang Sai immediately bowed down, and the sergeant Guang Rui behind him also followed Zhang Sai on the slope with a roar despite the rain.
The sound of rapids in the river valley could be heard in his ears, but Zhang Yue could still faintly hear the whimpering and sobbing sounds of hundreds of men.
Zhang Sai said with tears: "I have been waiting for my sinful body to survive until today, and I only ask the county governor to take me in!"
Zhang Yue helped Zhang Sai up and said in a loud voice: "Okay, I will take you in from today!"
"Thank you, Sheriff...for your great kindness!"
Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Sai and the two hundred people whose faces suddenly became alive. Their eyes were no longer so numb. There was a little bit of hope in everyone's eyes, and finally there was a little smile on their faces. .
Zhang Yue shouted condescendingly to the soldiers on the ramp: "Guangrui Army officers and soldiers obey orders!"
"Follow me into the city!"
Zhang Yue led his horse and soldiers back to the city together. As a magistrate, he felt that he was also burdened with the expectations of so many people.
This can be seen as a burden, and it also gives him the courage to continue on this path.
Walking up the hillside, I saw the lights of Weiyuan Fort in front of me!
(End of chapter)
