When a war breaks out in the northwest, which general will be sent to lead the army to conquer the northwest? Emperor Huizong thought about it and couldn't make up his mind, so he raised the matter at the court meeting.
Cai Jing was originally operated by Tong Guan and was able to be reused in Beijing from the place where he was demoted in Hangzhou. After being reinstated as prime minister, Cai Jing did not forget Tong Guan's contribution, so he recommended Tong Guan to serve as acting Privy Councilor in front of Emperor Huizong. At this time, seeing that Emperor Huizong wanted to appoint the person who would lead the Western expedition, Cai Jing also wanted Tong Guan to use this to make a contribution to prove that he was a wise act in sponsoring Tong Guan, so he went out to the squad and said: "Long live my emperor! In my opinion, the imperial court is in the west The candidate for commander-in-chief is none other than Privy Council Tong."
When Huizong heard the report, he smiled and said to Cai Jing: "Your Majesty, this is what I want to discuss. I think Privy Council Tong has just acted as the Privy Council member. He has been responsible for the palace affairs and internal affairs for a long time. Suddenly he leads the troops to fight. I'm afraid. inappropriate."
Cai Jing held the ivory wat tablet in both hands, bent down to salute Emperor Huizong, and said sumptuously: "Your Majesty, when Privy Tong was appointed as a minister, he went to Shaanxi ten times as an envoy and was familiar with the situation of the five routes and the generals. With talent, Privy Tong will take command of the expedition, and there will be no other dangers. Based on my observation, Privy Tong has a good plan and is good at planning. He will live up to his mission and recover the three states of Shan, Huang, and Kuo."
When Emperor Huizong heard this, he said helplessly: "He is an eunuch. In the past, his errands were all chores. Even though he has been sent to Shaanxi ten times as an envoy, what can he do? This time he is going to fight."
Cai Jing insisted, "It is indeed an extraordinary move that the Holy One decided to take over the Tang Dynasty. However, an extraordinary act requires an extraordinary person, and it may be difficult for others to take on such a big responsibility. Although Privy Tong is an eunuch, I look at this person and it is really extraordinary. This person will definitely be able to accomplish this extraordinary thing. I sincerely request the Holy One to approve the report and order Privy Tong to be the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition. If the minister appoints someone inappropriately, I am willing to take responsibility for it. In addition, if the Holy One is not completely at ease with Privy Tong, You can make Wang Hou, the general in front of the palace, the deputy general to assist Privy Tong in his expedition to the west."
When Emperor Huizong heard the memorial, he was still hesitant and unable to make up his mind.
At this time, Zheng Juzhong, who had been replaced by Tong Guan, came out from the squad, holding an ivory wat tablet in his hand. He bowed to Emperor Huizong and said: "My emperor is above. In my opinion, he is not as good as the imperial edict hall." It is more appropriate for former general Wang Hou to take command, and Privy Council Tong to serve as the supervisor of the army in the name of imperial envoy to lead the army to the west."
Zheng Juzhong originally wanted to oppose Tong Guan taking command. He didn't want all the credit to fall on Tong Guan, but Cai Jing made the suggestion first, and Cai Jing had made it clear that he was willing to take the responsibility for the recommendation. Zheng Juzhong couldn't object clearly anymore, so There is this performance.
Emperor Huizong thought Zheng Juzhong was right.
The reason why Emperor Huizong deeply believed in Zheng Juzhong's memorial was because he felt that Zheng Juzhong's memorial was reasonable. According to Zheng Juzhong's memorial, the general Wang Hou would lead the battle as the marshal. To be reliable; secondly, Tong Guan served as the supervisor of the army, which just gave him some experience and at the same time satisfied the request of Prime Minister Cai Jing. This is the best of both worlds!
Therefore, Huizong was overjoyed and said loudly: "What Zheng Qing said is absolutely true! The decree was issued, and the general Wang Hou in front of the palace was specially ordered to be the marshal of the Western Campaign, and Tong Guan, the acting privy council officer, was the imperial envoy and served as the supervisor of the army. Command an army of 100,000 troops and march westward. In addition, Tong Guan is ordered to control and control the armies in the northwest, and recover the three states of Shan, Huang, and Kuo within one month. I admire this!"
This edict issued by Emperor Huizong is very strange and famous upon closer inspection. In the decree, although Wang Hou, the general in front of the palace, was appointed as marshal, when it came to the specific use of military power, Tong Guan had more control. This may be because Tong Guannai was the imperial envoy.
Cai Jing was dissatisfied with Zheng Juzhong's petition, but after hearing Emperor Huizong's specific edict, Cai Jing felt that according to the emperor's edict, Tong Guan had great power and did not need to bear the responsibility for the defeat of the battle. As a result, my own responsibility for sponsoring Tong Guan is also reduced, so why not do it? Therefore, Cai Jing did not raise any objection to Zheng Juzhong's memorial.
When Cai Jing and Zheng Juzhong saw that Emperor Huizong approved their petition, and each received what he needed and was taken care of, they knelt down and shouted: "Long live my emperor! Long live! Long live!"
Let’s talk about Tong Guan. Tong Guannai was an eunuch. Before that, although Tong Guan had acted as an agent of the Privy Council, he had been engaged in serving people in the palace. It was just that Tong Guan was intelligent and observant, so he was very popular with the emperor. . Now, because Cai Jing repays his kindness, he insists on asking him to be the commander-in-chief of the northwest armies in front of the emperor. As Tong Guan himself, he can take charge of one place and create glory in life. How can he not be extremely happy and proud? ? ! Although he failed to become the marshal of the expedition to the west as he wished, he was able to become the imperial envoy and supervisor of the army. The marshal was still under his jurisdiction, and Tong Guan felt satisfied because of this.
When the order was issued to Tong Guan, Tong Guan was ecstatic. When Tong Guan learned that the reason why he became the imperial envoy and military supervisor was Cai Jing's insistence on petitioning him, he was even more grateful to Cai Jing.
That night, Tong Guan went to Cai Jing's house in person. In addition to thanking Cai Jing for his recommendation, he also asked for advice on the strategy for this expedition to the west.
Tong Guan was humble to Cai Jing and others, complimenting Cai Jing one by one as "grand master" and "benevolent minister". Cai Jing looked at Tong Guan who was full of compliments to him, smiled faintly, and said to Tong Guan: "The imperial envoy's expedition to the west is just to lead the troops. Although he is commanding an army of 100,000, he only claims to the outside world as 200,000. The army is ordered to hoist more flags and beat more gongs and drums. Besides, the troops from the northwest are cheering for them. What do those people know? When the imperial army arrives in Shan, Huang, and Kuo prefectures, they just attack one by one. While fighting, , Remember to surround three sides and open one door. When the people see that the imperial army has strong soldiers and horses, many soldiers and generals, and is majestic and unstoppable, they will inevitably abandon the city and flee. Recovering the three states will be as easy as flipping the palm of a hand!"
Tong Guan was overjoyed when he heard this and once again expressed his gratitude to Cai Jing for his support.
Cai Jing said: "The imperial envoy is too polite. When Beijing was trapped in Hangzhou and had no other choice, it was only with the help of the imperial envoy that he was reused by the imperial court and regained his position as prime minister. The imperial envoy must not be polite. The imperial envoy and the imperial envoy support each other and benefit each other. Well!"
Tong Guan and Cai Jing had a very happy conversation and were reluctant to leave until night.
In the early morning of the next day, Tong Guan and Wang Hou summoned an army of 100,000 troops at the east campus of Bianliang and solemnly swore in troops. After the oath was taken, Tong Guan and Wang Hou led the army to march towards the northwest, holding flags and beating gongs and drums.
On the way, the child was proud of the spring breeze, arrogant and arrogant. While Tong Guan and Wang Hou were commanding the army marching to the west, they suddenly received an urgent order from Emperor Huizong, ordering Tong Guan and Wang Hou to stop their troops immediately and return to the capital.
Why is this?
It turned out that after Tong Guan led his troops, a fire broke out in the Taiyi Palace in the middle of the capital. Emperor Huizong was afraid of the sky and warned that it was not appropriate to use troops. He immediately issued an order to Tong Guan and Wang Hou, which was delivered through the post station and Pegasus, telling them to stop the troops on the spot. Return to the court and use troops when the time is right. Therefore, on the way to march, Tong Guan received an order from Emperor Huizong to halt the army and return to Beijing.
Tong Guan sat on his horse and finished reading Emperor Huizong's imperial edict without making any move.
Tong Guan thought to himself, I have been living in the palace for a long time, responsible for serving as servants to the palace, and doing chores in the house. I have never had the opportunity to show off my talents, and I am mostly looked down upon by the officials in the court. Now, it is not easy to get such an errand to lead the people. A hundred thousand troops go to attack the small Qingtang people. Victory is a sure thing and success is imminent. How could Tong Guan give up this great opportunity to build a successful career and develop brilliantly? Therefore, Tong Guan decided in his heart to keep the Holy Emperor's decree secret and just lead the army to fight. Therefore, Tong Guan did not let Wang Hou read the imperial edict, but instead stuffed Emperor Huizong's imperial edict into his boots.
When Marshal Wang Hou saw this, he was confused and asked Tong Guandao: "Tong Jianjun, our army is heading west quickly, and the emperor is chasing after him on flying horses to deliver the decree. What's the purpose of it?"
Tong Guan, who was riding on the horse, turned to look at Wang Hou, smiled slightly, and said, "It's nothing important. It's just to encourage the army to move forward bravely and kill the enemy to achieve meritorious service."
When Wang Hou heard this, he no longer had doubts in his heart, and said casually: "That is a natural thing, what can you say?! As ministers and generals, we can only be loyal to the country."
Wang Hou didn't know the content of Emperor Huizong's imperial edict, let alone Tong Guan's psychology at this time, so he was easily deceived by Tong Guan.
At that time, Tong Guan ignored Emperor Huizong's order to return to the capital and continued to lead his army. Within a few days, he arrived at the western border.
After Tong Guan arrived at the northwest border, he immediately called a meeting with the generals of each town and ordered the generals of each town to lead their own troops to help the battle and cooperate with the imperial army to attack the three states of Shan, Huang and Kuo.
After hearing the order, the generals in each town did not dare to delay. They all came with their troops and horses to help in the battle and joined the imperial army led by Tong Guan.
Seeing that the generals from all the towns came with their troops and horses, and the imperial army and horses were strong and powerful, with many soldiers and generals, Tong Guan's ambition suddenly expanded even more.
During this Western Expedition, Wang Hou was the Marshal of the Expedition to the West. However, Tong Guan forcibly interfered in the formation and fighting style. Wang Hou saw that the imperial troops and horses were strong, so he wanted to surround the Qingtang people and annihilate them to avoid future troubles. However, Tong Guan objected in the name of supervising the army and ordered Wang Hou to adopt Cai Jing's suggestion, surrounding three sides and leaving one door open. All Tong Guan wanted was to ensure victory and take back the three states of Shan, Huang, and Kuo. Tong Guan did not want to force the Qingtang people to resist desperately. Wang Hou had no choice but to fight according to Tong Guan's suggestion. In the specific battle of surrounding three sides and opening one gate, Tong Guan bluffed, drums sounded, and urged the troops to attack, intending to intimidate the Fan people to abandon the city and flee.
Upon seeing this, Qian Ang, the magistrate of Qinzhou and the pacifier of Qin Fenglu who was recruited to cooperate with the imperial army, advised Tong Guan and Wang Houdao: "Although the people are brave, their weapons are disadvantageous. Our imperial army should surround the city on all sides and attack the city with force." , forcing him to surrender in order to regain the city; now how can we surround him on three sides and let one door open? This is to let him escape! If we do not completely wipe out the main force of the enemy and let them escape, it may not be the best strategy. Please think again, marshal and supervisor. "
When Wang Hou heard this, he thought to himself, isn't it true that it is wrong to let such powerful troops and horses, instead of surrounding the city and annihilating them, let the vulnerable Qingtang people abandon the city and escape. However, before Wang Hou, the marshal, could speak, Tong Guan scolded Qian Ang and said: "You are the governor of one state and the pacifier of the other. You are confined to a lonely city in the mountains and valleys, and you are blind. How do you understand the overall strategic situation?! You just obey the orders. , don’t say anything more! Don’t back down yet!”
Qian Ang was very unhappy when he was scolded, and cursed in his heart: "You gelding! You know nothing! Why did the emperor send such a eunuch to be the imperial envoy and supervisor of the army?!"
However, the rank of official was overwhelming and the military orders were overwhelming. Even though Qian Ang was dissatisfied, he had no choice but to retreat silently and obey Tong Guan's orders.
Because Tong Guan's strategic intention was only to regain the three-state city, he forced Wang Hou and adopted the strategy taught by Cai Jing before leaving. He surrounded the city on three sides and opened one door. As a result, the defenders saw that the Song army had strong soldiers and horses. The attack on the city was so fierce that all the troops abandoned the city and fled. Tong Guan was able to successfully recover the three empty cities.
