A few days later, two officials from the imperial court were speaking for Mu Zheng in the palace, and they accused Zhang Yue.
One is Lu Jing, who is an associate of Wang Tao. He had impeached Zhang Yue before, but now he once again spoke out to help Mu Zheng accuse Zhang Yue.
One is Deng Wan, who had a falling out with Zhang Yue. This just confirms the saying that it is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge after ten years, and for a villain to take revenge from morning to night.
The official didn't say a word, letting Lu Jing and Deng Wan criticize for a while before throwing out Zhang Yue's analysis. The official responded to the question with Zhang Yue's book in front of the emperor, leaving both Lu Jing and Deng Wan speechless in the hall.
Wu Chong, deputy envoy to the Privy Council, spoke out and said: "Your Majesty, now the border ministers only devote 20% to 20% of their efforts to manage border affairs, but they spend 70% to 80% of their energy to prevent anyone from harming them. This is why border affairs are difficult to manage."
"I thought that my son-in-law Zhang Yue was not a talented person, but that he was willing to use more energy to manage border affairs than others. However, he was jealous within a few months of being appointed magistrate of the state. If the court treats people like this, how can there be a heroic person who is willing to do his best and make great achievements? If you are few, there will be many people criticizing you behind your back.”
"While attacking behind the scenes creates nothing but criticism, and instead uses criticism as merit, then who dares to make meritorious deeds and dare to go forward and sacrifice his life to serve His Majesty?"
The official nodded and looked at Lu Jing, Deng Wan and Deng Wan all looked dissatisfied.
The two had to confess to the officials.
Wu Chong took a step back. As a deputy envoy to the Privy Council, there were still people who dared to criticize his son-in-law so blatantly. But he didn't expect that Zhang Yue would submit a memorial at this time, which would invisibly eliminate all his troubles.
This also allowed Deng Wan and his like to see the closeness between monarch and ministers, and made it difficult for villains who wanted to slander.
Wang Anshi said nothing. Although Deng Wan was a member of his party, he also had a tacit approval of Zhang Yue.
Now he also admires Zhang Yue. His cautiousness and meticulousness are really like Tao Shixing's.
You must know that it is not difficult for border ministers to perform meritorious service, but it is really difficult to avoid making the king suspicious when they are thousands of miles away.
It is a difficulty for every border minister to be cautious and at the same time make achievements.
The official said: "Mu Zheng has always been submissive before, but I can't bear to kill him without teaching him. I sent someone to tell Mu Zheng that I know his grievances. If he is willing to behave himself and is still my minister, I can give him five thousand guan." To make up for his losses, I still want him to guard the Western Frontier for me."
Upon hearing this, all the ministers praised the official's kindness.
This is also consistent with the identity of the leader of a great country.
The official said modestly: "It is with Zhang Yue and Wang Shao's army in front that my kindness can benefit the Tibetan people."
"As for Qin Feng's roadside appeasement department, since I have entrusted him with it, I will let him paint freely. The Privy Council is not allowed to interfere with side affairs with documents. Since I have entrusted Zhang Yue to do one thing, I will not doubt the people he employs!"
Wen Yanbo, Feng Jing and Wu Chong of the Privy Council all said so.
After retreating from the court, Wang Anshi walked back to Zhongshu. Deng Wan followed Wang Anshi closely and said in a low voice: "My lord, Zhang Duzhi is very talented. Even if he is demoted to Xizhou, he can still stand on his own. But this person has definitely not lived in Xizhou for a long time." This person dared to disobey the official's intention to attack Hengshan. If this person returns to the court in the future, he will definitely be at odds with my husband, so my husband must not let him go freely."
Wang Anshi heard this and said: "You can't not use Zhang Duzhi just because he is not one of your own!"
"Mr. Sir! Do you think that Zhang Yue wrote a private letter to you after he learned about Xizhou?"
Deng Wan asked, staring at Wang Anshi's expression, and then he was overjoyed. Zhang Yue had indeed not written a private letter to Wang Anshi.
Who is Wang Anshi? He is the prime minister!
…
Zhang Yue doesn't know what's going on in Beijing yet, but the real problem in the battle with Mu Zheng is not external, but internal.
Dong Yu wanted to rebel against Mu Zheng and surrender to the Song Dynasty, so he made an appointment with internal officials. Although Zhang Yue was suspicious, according to the procedure, he still had to report it to Guo Kui, the strategic envoy.
Guo Kui was sitting in Gangu City at the moment. At this time, Liang Yimi had led the Xixia army to the vicinity of Dingxi City, and the Song-Xia war was imminent.
When Guo Kui, who was in charge of Gangu, learned about the incident, he did not neglect it. Instead, he immediately sent someone to inform Zhang Yue and told him to be careful about Dong Yu, saying that the Tibetan people were cunning and careful about the recurrence of Cao Guangshi's incident.
Cao Guangshi was a famous general in the Song Army. He defeated Li Yuanhao's grandfather Li Jiqian many times and captured Li Jiqian's wife and mother.
Seeing that he could not defeat Cao Guangshi, Li Jiqian pretended to surrender. As a result, Cao Guangshi was ambushed and died at the hands of his defeated general Li Jiqian.
Zhang Yue received Guo Kui's letter and felt that Guo Kui was truly worthy of the name Guo Banxian. He had not yet told Guo Kui of his suspicions, but Guo Kui warned him like a prophet, to be careful of Dong Yu's fake surrender.
This is so awesome, Guo Kui's mouth is so open.
Guo Kui was still uneasy, so he immediately dispatched Jing Sili, the commander of the Deshun Army who had just arrived to aid Qinzhou, and led 1,500 troops to Weiyuan to assist in the defense.
This is really timely rain!
Guo Kui's strategy for Zhang Yue was to be cautious. After he defeated Liang Yimi, he would then lead his army to Xizhou to defeat Mu Zheng.
However, Zhang Yue did not intend to do this. He had already found out Mu Zheng's strength.
Although Mu Zheng sent out troops this time with great momentum, according to Zhang Yue's knowledge, Mu Zheng's appeal in Xizhou and the two states was not strong.
A very important reason why the Qing and Tang tribes could not defeat Dang Xiang was that they were scattered and there were many tribal leaders with ulterior motives such as Dong Yu.
Mu Zhengdian has been gathering troops and horses, but the following ministries are either late or don't have enough people.
More than ten days have passed since Zhang Yue learned about Mu Zheng's troops gathering, and Mu Zheng's main force is still on Mount Mobang. According to the spies' report, everyone was still not there yet.
So Zhang Yue had long heard that Mu Zheng was coming to fight, and he had come, but so far he hadn't even seen a hair on his face.
But no matter how long he waited, Mu Zheng still came to kill him.
In September, most of autumn has passed. Liang Yi was buried in Dingxicheng and had engaged the Song army for several battles. Both sides were victorious.
After Mu Zheng, who had been lingering for a long time, confirmed the news of Xixia's troops and restrained most of the troops on Qinfeng Road, he cautiously led his army over Mobang Mountain.
Mu Zheng claimed to have a hundred thousand men, but Zhang Yue speculated that at most only ten or twenty thousand could really fight, and the rest were old and weak.
Zhang Yue did not defend the city from the beginning. He planned to engage in a few battles with Mu Zheng first. If he could not defeat them, he would retreat to the fortified city.
More than ten tribes near Weiyuan Fort have rebelled against Mu Zheng and surrendered to the Song Dynasty.
All his troops were organized into households, and Zhang Yue temporarily selected two thousand elite Tibetan soldiers to serve as archers. At that time, Li Kui had already arrived in the army and volunteered to fight against Mu Zheng.
Li Kui was Zhang Yue's longest disciple, and he often talked about military matters. Zhang Yue gave him a command of troops and horses, and asked him to lead two thousand Tibetan army archers to station at Niaoshu Mountain to protect him. salt well.
Li Kui agreed immediately, led his troops to station on Niaoshu Mountain, and built a three-layer fence for defense.
As soon as Muzheng's vanguard arrived, they stormed Niaoshu Mountain.
Li Kui led his army to defend for a day. At dawn the next day, the archers of his Tibetan army suddenly broke into camp and were immediately attacked by Mu Zheng.
As a result, Li Kui's troops were defeated. Not only did they lose Niaoshu Mountain, but all the salt wells they had worked so hard to dig fell into Mu Zheng's hands.
