In the second year of Shaoming, AD 947, on the second day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Yan received Tuoba Heng's advice, so he was not prepared to wait in Langzhou to meet the various Xidong barbarians west of Huxiang, especially Peng Shichou.
Zhang Yan is not a small king of a separatist regime like Ma Xifan. He is the emperor of a great dynasty. It is indeed inappropriate at this stage to go to Langzhou to swear an oath with a few barbarians who control tens of thousands of tribesmen.
Of course, the most important thing is that Tuoba Heng made Zhang Yan realize that now is not the best time to solve the problems of the ethnic groups in the southwest, and the native official system cannot be implemented immediately. This matter should wait until the world is settled, and then take it slowly. It's better to solve it.
Before Zhang Yan set off to leave, good news came from Guo Rong in Langzhou.
Pan Mei led 500 elite troops to raid the Langzhou barbarian stronghold in the mountains on a snowy night. The barbarian soldiers were caught off guard and were defeated by Pan Mei and the 500 warriors.
Guo Rong took the opportunity to attack from both sides with Zhao Kuangyin's army, and once again defeated the barbarians in Cili County, beheading more than a thousand people, seizing more than 3,000 farm cattle, and captured Ma Xihe's confidant Zhu Jinzhong and other generals who had fled to the barbarians in Langzhou. .
The losses suffered by the Langzhou barbarians were extremely heavy. The attacking power of the imperial army also shocked the barbarians. Many leaders were frightened and did not dare to support a few people against the imperial court.
So more than 60 local barbarians from Xiang, Tian, Lei and other tribes finally chose to be sent down the mountain to surrender to Guo Rong.
Guo Rong surrendered nearly 100,000 men and women, and seized countless baggage. Most of the gold, silver, brocade, armor, swords, and cattle that the barbarians had robbed from Tanzhou were recovered.
As the Xidong barbarians west of Hunan with the highest degree of Chineseization, the barbarians in Langzhou were actually no different from the Han people in Hunan at the end of the Tang Dynasty.
They have also learned advanced farming techniques from the Han people a long time ago, and many of them even fled into the mountains because of the unrest.
This situation is actually very common in Hunan. When the political power in the plains was stable, Xidong barbarians came down from the mountains to accept government management and became Han people.
The plains were in turmoil, and the Han people would also run to the Wuling Mountains and become Xidong barbarians.
This operation of exchanging identities between the two in order to survive has been going on for at least a thousand or two thousand years.
Cili County is located in the area where the Wuling Mountains transition to the Dongting Lake Plain. Further west, there is a vast virgin jungle.
The Langzhou barbarians have been cultivating the plains for seventy or eighty years. Most of them have long lost the courage to continue living a hard life in the mountains and forests.
Cattle are their lifeblood. Among the Langzhou barbarians, a bullock is more important than the lives of the whole family and is the most important tool for production.
Therefore, after Guo Rong captured thousands of cattle, if they did not want to go into the mountains and become terrifying erect apes, they had no choice but to come down and surrender in order to ask the court to treat them leniently.
Zhang Yan immediately ordered Guo Rong to carefully screen and severely punish the big and small mantou who responded to Ma Xi'e and committed crimes in Tanzhou City according to the law.
Those who deserved beheading were beheaded, those who deserved exile were exiled, those who deserved hard labor were immediately detained, and many of them were punished.
But in fact, this is a helpless choice, because until now, it is impossible to identify them one by one. There must be many fish that have slipped through the net, but Zhang Yan can only do this, and he cannot kill them all. .
This is also the reason why Zhang Yan left the matter to Guo Rong, because although Zhou Shizong in history governed the country well, he was not a good-tempered person, and had a very bad temper.
Sure enough, Guo Rong killed more than a hundred people, big and small, in various caves in Cili County, and made more than 600 barbarians as hard laborers. He recovered the looted property worth about 150,000 guan and rescued the abducted people. There are more than a thousand women and men.
Then they also confiscated the gold and silver accumulated by the Mantou family in Zhuxidong for hundreds of years, worth more than 100,000 guan.
As for the barbarian people who came down the mountain to seek refuge, Guo Rong broke up the original tribal system and dispersed them according to Zhang Zhang's request.
Although leaders will still be promoted from among the barbarians to manage them, these promoted people are no longer barbarians, but village elders and village chiefs. Their power will be under the supervision of the government at any time.
The Langzhou barbarians existed during the Han Dynasty. After Lei Man started his army to separate the country, they flourished for more than ten or twenty years, and Ma Yin could only divide them.
Now Zhang Gao finally took advantage of the fact that they had made a big mistake and were particularly weak to take them under the management of the imperial court.
Speaking of which, it's all thanks to Ma Xi'e. If he hadn't lured these Xidong barbarians out and made them rich. In the end, they couldn't give up the good fortune and refused to flee back to the mountains like before. They could have produced about 30,000 yuan. The Langzhou Xidong Barbarians are really not that easy to defeat.
Of course, the Langzhou Barbarians that Guo Rong has captured so far can only be said to be the best of them. At least 40% of the remaining Langzhou Barbarians have chosen to flee to the mountains.
These people can only rely on blockade and appeasement at the same time. After all, the vast mountains in western Hunan cannot be conquered by force alone.
However, this also brought about a consequence, that is, Peng Shisong's father, Peng Shichou, delayed his arrival in Langzhou.
No matter how Peng Shisong tried to persuade him, Peng Shichou did not dare to go to Langzhou for fear of being imprisoned by Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan, who received Peng Shisong's apology letter, did not force it, which further confirmed Tuoba Heng's advice.
To regain the tribes in the southwest, conquering and intimidating with weapons are the foundation, and the native official system is the flower that blooms from this foundation.
On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Gao ordered to kill more than 60 rebel generals such as Ma Xichong, Zhu Jinzhong, and Xu Qiong on the bank of the Xiangjiang River outside Tanzhou City.
Also executed at the same time were more than 700 Wu'an army soldiers who looted Tanzhou, killing Xiangjiang River red with blood.
People in Tanzhou rushed to tell each other, and people who had family members died at the hands of these people arrived with sticks and kitchen knives.
The angry people chopped all the corpses on the ground into minced meat and rushed directly into the Xiangjiang River to feed the fish without even having to bury them.
As for Ma Xi'e, he naturally wanted to bring Ming Zhengdian back to Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo to show the majesty of the army.
After killing the people, Zhang Gao pretended to confer upon Ma Xiguang the titles of king of Chu, governor-general of Tanzhou, governor of all provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, military envoy of Wu'an, and other positions.
Ma Xiguang didn't dare to accept it, so he could only kneel down outside the east gate of Tanzhou and cry and beg, saying that Ma Chu's luck was at an end and he was willing to donate his land and return it to the country.
So Zhang Yan immediately got off the donkey, abolished the Chu vassal state of Ma Chu, and changed the entire land of Ma Chu into Hunan Province, Tanzhou into Changsha Prefecture, Langzhou into Wuling Prefecture, and Guizhou into Guilin Prefecture.
Ma Xiguang was appointed Pingzhang of Hunan Province, but Ma Xiguang declined again, so Zhang Gao withdrew his appointment and named Ma Xiguang the Grand Tutor of the School, General Youbao Taowei, Zhongshu Ling, and the title of Prince of Changsha.
He was given the title of Marriage Princess Yutan and was given the special title Prince Consort Commandery. He was given the prince's robes and guard of honor.
All of Ma Xiguang's positions are fictitious, especially Zhongshu Ling, which seems to be high and powerful, but in fact Zhang Zhou's Zhongshu Ling is Zhang Zhang himself.
On weekdays, the people in charge are the Minister of Zhongshu and the Zhangtai Ling and Luantai Ling under his jurisdiction. The Zhongshu Ling with the title of Zhongshu Ling only receives a salary.
After sealing Ma Xiguang, Zhang Yan moved more than 300 members of the Ma clan, including Ma Xizhan, Ma Xineng, and Ma Xiguan, to the sacred capital of Luoyang. Build temples to offer sacrifices.
Zhang Gao collected all the houses, shops, fields, gold, silver, brocade and other valuables of the Ma family in the Chu region, and received about 570,000 guan. He left 100,000 guan for Ma Xiguang and distributed 70,000 guan among the horses.
Ma Xiguang and others were grateful, and under the escort and surveillance of Zuo Bao Tao Guard's 500 cavalry, they bid farewell to Changsha City and Ma's Sheji Ancestral Temple and set off north.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Yan officially appointed Guo Wei as Pingzhang and Defense Envoy of Hunan Province.
He also asked Guo Wei to equalize the land in Hunan and build the Changsha Town of the Forbidden Army. At the same time, he established guard armies in Changsha, Wuling, Yueyang, Hengyang and other places.
Later, Guo Wei applied to move the administrative office to Wuling Prefecture (Langzhou) on the grounds that Changsha was dilapidated. Zhang Xian immediately agreed and appointed Guo Wei as the governor of Wuling Prefecture.
Changsha now has only 10,000 residents and the city is full of rubble. It really cannot be used as a provincial capital. Moreover, only by reaching Wuling (Changde) can we better suppress the Langzhou barbarians who have just been surrendered.
Later, Zhang Gao left He Zhongju in Changsha and served as the envoy of Hunan Province and the prefect of Changsha, presiding over the restoration work of Changsha.
At the same time, Zhang Gao ordered Zhang Zhaojun (Ma Shacai) to lead 6,000 cavalry south to Guilin.
Zhang Zhaojun was appointed General Chijie Pingnan, military commander of the prefectures and counties south of Guilin Prefecture, and concurrently served as Guilin Prefecture Yin and Guilin Prefecture military supervisor.
After Zhang Zhaojun arrived in Guilin, he rectified the local Jingbian army of Ma Chu and obtained more than 3,000 elite soldiers. He also gained nearly 10,000 troops from the Juntian Guards. In addition to the 6,000 pro-army and forbidden troops he brought with him, the force reached two The scale of ten thousand is enough to make Nan Han dare not take a peek.
After that, Zhang Zhaojun repaired the Ling Canal between the Lijiang River and the Xiangjiang River, organized and trained the Lijiang River navy, collected the hydrological conditions of the Lijiang River, built large and small warships and grain transport ships, and began to make preliminary preparations to defeat the Southern Han Dynasty. Work.
On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Yan arrived at Yueyang Mansion again and personally presided over the wedding of his adopted son Zhao Yanjin and Ma Xiguang's youngest daughter.
At the same time, Zhao Yanjin was appointed as the military supervisor of Yueyang Mansion, and all the navy and army in Yueyang were handed over to Zhao Yanjin.
At this time, Lu Yin, who was on an envoy to the Southern Tang Dynasty, returned. Li Jing was frightened by Zhang Gao's hard and soft tactics and completely lost his opinion. He was extremely afraid that Zhang Gao would hold him accountable for taking in Gao Baoxu and trying to recruit Wang Yun, the former governor of Chuyue Prefecture.
Yuan Heng (Tuoba Heng), who had changed his surname back to Yuan, and the new governor of Yueyang, Liao Kuangtu, immediately suggested that Zhang Yan take advantage of the opportunity to raid Ezhou in the Southern Tang Dynasty. As long as Ezhou was attacked, the entire Southern Tang Dynasty would completely lose its advantage on the Yangtze River.
But Zhang Yan didn't want to do this for the time being, because the Southern Tang Dynasty was just lip service and there was no need to deal with it like this. The most important thing now was to deal with Meng Shu.
Because of the news from Shu, Meng Chang was not as extravagant and peaceful as in history. Instead, he was still trying his best to accumulate strength and seemed to have some ideas.
Zhang Yan's original views on Meng Shu, especially Meng Chang, were actually misled by historical results.
In history, Meng Chang was known to spend a lot of time and alcohol. In addition to his own character shortcomings, there were two huge reasons.
First, Meng Shu's march into Guanzhong was hit by successive blows from the Later Han Dynasty and the Later Zhou Dynasty. The elite soldiers, especially Sun Hanshao, Zhang Qianzhao, etc. basically came to an end, and there was no hope at all.
But now, Meng Shu's strength has not been greatly reduced, but is still somewhat prosperous. Meng Chang still has some expectations in his heart.
To be precise, the future of Shu has not yet reached the point where Meng Chang has completely despaired.
Second, a wise minister like Zhao Jiliang who could guide Meng Chang had just passed away, and Mrs. Huarui had just been acquired by Meng Chang and brought into the palace. King Meng had not yet had time to reveal his true nature.
As for all the countries in the world today, the Khitan has basically been destroyed, Nanping and Ma Chu have been conquered, Li Jing of the Southern Tang Dynasty was scared out of his wits, Qian Yue and the Southern Han Dynasty were not afraid, only Meng Shu still had some strength, of course Zhang Gao had to fight him first .
Although this is the case, Yuan Heng still suggested: "The establishment of the Southern Tang Dynasty was based on three pillars: the natural danger of the Yangtze River, the sharp naval force, and the brave generals and loyal ministers.
Among these three pillars, the natural danger of the Yangtze River and the sharpness of the navy were about to be lost. Among the loyal ministers, Chen Qiao of Jizhou, Chen Ziqiao, and Lu Jinqing of Hongzhou. Although they had the talents of Wang Zuo, the Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty could not use them.
Therefore, only the brave generals Liu Renzhan of Shouzhou, He Jingzhu of Ezhou, etc., who command large troops and guard the natural dangers, are a serious concern for the imperial court.
Even if Ezhou is not taken, He Jingzhu cannot continue to serve in Ezhou. "
"Do you have any good ideas to drive away He Jingzhu?" The time is not ripe to attack Ezhou, but it can be considered to drive away He Jingzhu.
Yuan Heng immediately said to Zhang Yan: "Now that Gao Baoxu and others are in Ezhou, your Majesty can order envoys to go and demand the handover of Gao Baoxu and others.
Didn't the Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty say that he never ordered Gao Baoxu to be admitted and put the blame on He Jingzhu? Then we can use this excuse to hold He Jingzhu accountable.
Moreover, since the Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty was canonized by a saint and was a vassal of the Great Zhou Dynasty, He Jingzhu, the governor of the Wuchang Army in Ezhou, should also be a vassal of the saint.
So when we asked He Jingzhu to hand over Gao Baoxu and others, we also asked him to go out of the city to explain the situation to the angels. As soon as he left the city, we would capture him immediately and send him to the imperial court. "
Zhang Zhang touched his chin, "He Jingzhu has been operating in Ezhou for many years. The Wuchang Army of the Southern Tang Dynasty still has 20,000 troops, and the naval army is at least 10,000. Let's capture their commander in Ezhou. Isn't it too risky?"
Zhao Yanjin, who had just taken off the groom's wedding clothes, immediately came over, pointed at Zhang Yan on the map and said: "Sir, there is a city named Hanchuan to the east of Ezhou. Let the angels stop in Hanchuan and order He Jingzhu to come here. .
If we capture him here, the Wuchang army in Ezhou will not be able to rescue him for a while. If I can lead the Yueyang navy to respond, I will be safe. "
It seems that He Jingzhu must still have some abilities, because both the local Zhang Shaodi and his adopted son Zhao Yanjin are quite wary of him.
Thinking of this, Zhang Hao simply became cruel and said, "In this case, I will first order Du Lunchi to lead the navy from Jiangling to rush to Yueyang Mansion. If the arrest fails, we must beware of the attack by the navy from the Southern Tang Dynasty."
Then Zhang Hao looked behind him with a smile and asked: "I need a brave and careful person to convey the order. I wonder which Qing family is willing to go?"
Wang Jiu laughed in the distance, "Sage, this is a certain family that is doing its job. It was not enough to scold the Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty last time, so this time I will use He Jingzhu to make up for it."
All right! Zhang Yan also felt that only someone like Wang Jiu could do such a thing, so he immediately poured a bowl of wine for Wang Jiu himself.
"If He Jingzhu is captured and brought back to the court this time, your title will be secured."
(End of chapter)
