Don't be afraid of opponents who are like gods, but be afraid of teammates who are like pigs. This sentence also applies when helping others.
Without Li Heng's help, Fang Chongyong could have easily arranged Wang Zhongsi's return to Chang'an, having already made a comprehensive plan.
With the random interference of some of Li Heng's men, this matter would not be possible, and it would easily arouse Li Longji's suspicion!
Now, as expected, not only did things go wrong, but they just ignored it!
As expected, Li Heng was unreliable in his work and would run away when something happened.
Fang Chongyong didn't need to go to Zheng County, Huazhou to see how anxious his future mother-in-law would be now.
"Brother-in-law, do you think there is still a chance to change this matter?"
Wang Yanshu asked nervously.
The use of power has so-called "dimensions", and situations where "power cannot be used" often occur.
Now Wang Yanshu is vaguely aware of this, and feels that Fang Chongyong's mind is far ahead of his peers.
Because he felt that Fang Chongyong had already realized this deeply.
When Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, his powerful soldiers and horses were unable to do anything to the ministers of the court. Instead, they were manipulated by those people with intrigues.
This is a typical example of power that cannot be used due to its different dimensions.
"This matter needs an opportunity. Only when the time comes. But before that, you have to do one more thing for me."
Fang Chongyong leaned over and whispered in Wang Yanshu's ear for a long time.
"Is this really okay?"
Wang Yanshu asked with some uncertainty. Fang Chongyong's method was not too complicated, but too simple, so simple that it even seemed like child's play.
"This is the last chance. Otherwise, there is nothing I can do. When you go back, ask your mother-in-law if she is willing. If not, please hire someone else."
Fang Chungyong refused to give in even a step, as if he had an attitude of "If you don't agree, I'll give up." Wang Yanshu had no choice but to agree and rush back to Zheng County, Huazhou without stopping.
However, what Fang Chongyong didn't know was that in the north of the Tang Dynasty, where the Xi people and Khitans lived together in the north of Youzhou, the situation suddenly changed, catching him by surprise.
…
"Fang Jieshuai, isn't it inappropriate for us to mobilize five hundred elite cavalry without getting Zhang Jieshuai's military order?"
Next to Fang Youde, the Youzhou Observation and Disposal Envoy who was dressed in military uniform, there was a man dressed as a scholar, bowing his hands and asking in a low voice. This person's name is Cui Hao, a very famous poet. He wrote the poem "Yellow Crane Tower", and many of his works are very popular.
But in the officialdom, he has been depressed all his life. Now as an attaché (associate officer) of the Youzhou Observation and Disposal Envoy, he works in the Youzhou feudal town.
"You go back and tell Zhang Jieshuai that everything depends on the authority. It's too late to explain more. Let's talk about it after this battle."
Fang Youde, with a stern face, looked at the dense woods in the distance and frowned slightly. At this moment, he was leading five hundred fine cavalry in ambush on the hills that must pass by the Huanghe River (Luanhe River).
If this battle succeeds, it's easy to say. If he loses, if he doesn't die on the battlefield, he will have his head chopped off by Li Longji when he returns.
Of course, something unexpected happened, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired, and Fang Youde had no choice.
In the twenty-fourth year of Kaiyuan, Zhang Shougui, the governor of Youzhou, found an opportunity and led an army to attack the remnants of the Khitan rebellion. He defeated the enemy at Nalu Mountain and captured countless Dingkou and valuables, but he did not receive any special rewards.
Perhaps Li Longji felt that these things were the duties that the feudal town should do and were not worthy of rewards.
Zhang Shougui felt that it didn't matter. If the court didn't reward him, he wouldn't reward him. He was determined to become a general and become a prime minister, so he didn't care much about these things.
However, the arrogant and powerful generals under him were not happy!
Who cares about the little things they snatched from the hands of the ridiculing Khitan? What they want is to be promoted and make a fortune, and to go back to Chang'an to live a life of ease. They even hope that everyone will be promoted to a higher rank after Zhang Shougui leaves!
So two of Zhang Shougui's subordinate generals, Zhao Kan and Baizhen Tuoluo, pretended to be ordered to inspect Yingzhou, but in fact they planned to plot evil. Fang Youde happened to know about this incident and captured the two men before they could launch a conspiracy.
Observation and Disposal Envoy, isn't it established to deal with similar things? This position is the two sides of Jiedushi.
After interrogation, it was learned that Zhao Kan and Baizhen Tuoluo were somewhat dissatisfied with Wu Zhiyi, who was then the envoy of Pinglu Jiedu, and believed that Wu Zhiyi was not active in military operations to exterminate the Xi tribe's rebels.
They believe that last year's campaign to encircle and suppress the Khitan was not fully successful because Pinglu Fan Town did not cooperate with Youzhou Fan Town, which allowed many elite Xi people to escape into the mountains and forests.
So these two people wanted to pass on Wu Zhiyi's order and let Pinglu Fan Town go into the mountains to suppress the bandits.
Fang Youde learned the inside story after the interrogation, but instead of arresting the two and imprisoning them for punishment, he used a trick to make the two guilty and meritorious.
He took advantage of his authority and wrote a military order directly in the name of the central government, and asked Zhao Kan and Baizhentra to take the military order to Yingzhou.
This military order informed Wu Zhiyi, the envoy of Pinglu Jiedu, that he must send troops to the north bank of Huangshui River to take advantage of the autumn harvest to catch them unprepared and intercept the remaining rebels of Xi Ren.
Wu Zhiyi didn't dare not listen, because the power Fang Youde used could only be used by the Observer and Disposer in extreme circumstances. That was a big move that would only be used when a military envoy in a certain place planned to rebel, and the observation and disposal envoy urgently mobilized troops to quell the rebellion in the name of the imperial court.
Since the imperial court generally adopts a four-year replacement system for Jiedushi envoys, and is assisted by various control methods, there has been no rebellion among Jiedushi envoys. In many vassal towns, the Jiedushi also served as the investigation and handling envoy.
For example, the Hexi Jiedu Envoy also serves as the Hexi Observation and Disposal Envoy, and there will no longer be another one.
There are two commanders here in Youzhou Fan Town, which is really a special case.
Therefore, no one has seen the ultimate move used by Fang Youde before, so its power cannot be underestimated!
After all, no one wants to be the first unlucky person to have their head taken off because of this.
Faced with this inexplicable military order, Wu Zhiyi finally gave up.
It is worth mentioning that Wu Zhiyi, who was born in Youzi, a veteran, once had a record of escaping from the battlefield when he faced Xi Ren and Khitan. He only survived because of Zhang Shougui's cover, and he was not punished afterwards.
Although this matter has always been a secret, many people in the upper echelons of Youzhou Fan Town still know about it.
At this moment, Pinglu Jiedu envoy Wu Zhiyi was leading his troops to fight fiercely with the Xi people on the bank of Huangshui River, while Fang Youde led his troops to ambush on a hill more than ten miles away, setting off an ambush.
"Commander Jie, there are Khitan cavalry coming towards Huangshui. They are only two miles away from here!"
At this moment, a scout hurriedly rode up to Fang Youde, raised his hands and saluted.
"how many people?"
"About five thousand people."
The Tang Army scout said nervously, "Five hundred to fight five thousand, that's not a very brave person." Of course, there are no absolutes on the battlefield.
Fang Youde frowned slightly, the Khitan cavalry was twice as many as he expected.
But if you retreat now, everything will be ruined.
If you are a man, you should draw your sword head on!
“Get ready to put the logs!”
Fang Youde ordered calmly.
"Come on!"
Cui Hao was shocked. Fang Youde wanted to die, but he didn't want to die yet!
"You go back and report your merits to Commander Zhang Jie, saying that Commander Zhang defeated the Khitan cavalry here and gained nothing."
Fang Youde hit Cui Hao on the shoulder with a riding crop and said in a firm tone!
"You're reporting for merit before the fight even starts?"
Cui Hao asked softly.
However, Fang Youde just pointed his horsewhip in the direction of the Mo Dou Army camp behind him, signaling him to go back quickly to report the news.
After Cui Hao left, Fang Youde said to the ordering soldiers beside him: "If you pass on the order, we will make great achievements today. If we win this battle, the commander of this section will ask you for credit in front of the emperor! Let Zhao Kan and Baizhen The two Tuoluo people are taking the lead, if they don't die in this battle, the commander will let things go by the wayside!"
"Got the order!"
"Woo! Woo! Woo!"
The desolate horn sounded, and the Khitan cavalry, who were preparing to surprise the flank of the Tang army led by Wu Zhiyi, were dispersed by a pile of logs rolling down the hill on their way to the battlefield.
Just when they were frightened, five hundred Tang army elite cavalry rushed down from the hill. Fang Youde took the lead and rushed to the front, cutting off the flag of the Khitan cavalry with a sword.
The formation of the Khitan people, who had been hit repeatedly, was in chaos, and they could not look at each other from the beginning to the end. Those who fell off their horses trampled on each other, and countless people fled for their lives.
On the other side of the Huanghe River, Wu Zhiyi also finished taking care of Xi Ren's remnants, and found that sporadic Khitan cavalry were rushing towards them. He quickly sent troops to stop them. Only a few of the Khitan cavalry who were attacked escaped alive, and almost the entire army Overturned.
In the autumn of the twenty-fifth year of Kaiyuan, Fang Youde, the envoy of Youzhou Observation and Disposal, led 500 cavalry. With the cooperation of soldiers and horses from Pinglu Fan Town, they defeated 5,000 Khitan cavalry near the west bank of Huangshui, fifty miles east of the Mo Dou Army's station!
The Khitan and Xi people's coalition forces suffered a disastrous defeat in this battle. The Tang army took the opportunity to regain the defense area lost due to the rebellion of Sun Wanrong and Li Jinzhong in the late Wu Zhou Dynasty, expanded the communication channel between Youzhou and Pinglu fan towns, and opened up a military buffer zone.
The significance of this battle did not lie in how many enemies were killed, but in changing the passive defense posture of the Tang army in Youzhou since the year of Wu Zhou, so that the forces of Youzhou and Pinglu Town could be calmly dispatched between each other.
Cui Hao, an aide under Fang Youde's tent, wrote a song called "Song of the Yanmen Barbarians", praising the tranquility of the Youzhou frontier fortress after the battle.
"Gaoshan Daijun is adjacent to Yan in the east, and the Hu family in Yanmen is close to it.
Free the Hu Ying to chase the birds, and hunt the Akita on behalf of the horse.
The wild fires on the mountaintops are burning in the cold, and the lonely peaks are wet and smokey in the rain.
Hearing that there is no fighting in western Liaoning, he often sleeps in a restaurant while drunk. "
Soon, the battle reports and Cui Hao's poems were widely circulated in Chang'an, and the brothels in Pingkangfang were abuzz.
The scholars who hung out in Huajie and Liuxiang drank carnivally and wrote poems and poems, celebrating the invincibility of the Tang Dynasty and praising the bright stars rising in the border towns.
It was as if they personally went into battle and defeated the Khitans!
…
"My Tang Dynasty is invincible in the world, hahahahahaha!"
In the main building of Xingqing Palace, when they saw the battle report sent by Fang Youde through the inn channel, even Li Longji, who was used to reporting good news in border towns, was as excited as if he was in his twenties.
"Why didn't I see that Quan Zhong was a great general?"
Li Longji sighed with emotion.
"No one knows about the Quanzhonghui leader, but he is famous for his courage."
Gao Lishi reminded in a low voice from the side.
"Quan Zhong's courage is really great."
Thinking of what happened back then, Li Longji couldn't help but feel scared.
After the Shenlong coup, Princess Taiping was in dire straits. At that time, Li Longji was also hesitant about whether to fall out with his biological aunt.
At that time, among the old ministers of Qiandi, only Fang Youdelikhan took the initiative and took the initiative to assume the task of liaising with the generals of the Beiya Imperial Army. What happened next proved that Fang Youde had foresight.
If Princess Taiping had struck first at that time, it would be hard to say who would win in the end.
"Nowadays, many people from the market have mixed in among Wanqi, and their combat strength is worrying. I plan to reorganize Wanqi, break them up, and eliminate redundant personnel. Create a new Longwu Army, divided into left and right armies, with Chen Xuanli as the general.
What do you think about letting Fang Youde lead the general of the left army of the Longwu Army? "
Li Longji asked Gao Lishi.
"Fang Youde is not good at socializing, and Chen Xuanli has no military exploits. If the two of them are in the Longwu Army together, I'm afraid someone in the court will criticize Fang Youde and should not be inferior to others."
Gao Lishi said cautiously.
The two cronies are both in the Longwu Army, and Fang Youde has recently made great achievements in Bianzhen. Who will be the number one and who will be the number two?
Can the people below be convinced? Will there be cliques?
He didn't think much of it at first, but now that he heard what Gao Lishi said, Li Longji felt that this arrangement was not very appropriate. Only one of Chen Xuanli and Fang Youde can remain in the newly formed Longwu Army.
Who is better to keep?
"Fang Youde can be awarded the post of envoy to Youzhou."
Gao Lishi continued to suggest.
"good."
Li Longji nodded slightly. This appointment can ensure that Fang Youde fulfills his promise to the soldiers participating in the war.
"It's just that Zhang Shougui has been in the border town for many years and has quite a lot of military exploits. This time Fang Youde borrowed troops to go to war, and he didn't interfere to stop him. If the court reprimanded him for no reason, I'm afraid it would chill the hearts of the soldiers in the border town..."
After speaking, Li Longji was silent and arranged for Fang Youde, but it was difficult for Zhang Shougui to arrange it again.
Pinglu Jiedushi envoy Wu Zhiyi cooperated with Fang Youde in fighting in this battle, and he achieved a lot, which is also a meritorious service. It cannot be said that Wu Zhiyi was demoted and Fang Youde became Pinglu Jiedu envoy, right?
Li Longji was suddenly in trouble.
"A minister in the court had long recommended Zhang Shougui to become the prime minister. At that time, Zhang Jiuling tried his best to stop him before giving up. Now that Zhang Jiuling has gone to Jingzhou to serve as the governor, the sage can discuss Zhang Shougui's appointment in the court.
Only when Zhang Shougui becomes the prime minister can he be appointed as the governor of Youzhou, and other meritorious officials can be rewarded in turn. This matter is not difficult to handle. "
Gao Lishi made a suggestion to let Zhang Shougui become the prime minister, continuing the rule of "going out and entering the prime minister" since the early Tang Dynasty.
It seems that it is not impossible.
"It makes sense, I have to think about it carefully."
Li Longji nodded.
"Lishi, go and call Ge Nu and Li Shizhi. I want to ask their opinions."
In the 24th year of Kaiyuan, Li Longji ordered Li Shizhi to build embankments in view of the fact that the Gushui and Luoshui rivers were flooding every year and wasting people's resources. Yin Li Shizhi of Henan used money from the inner treasury to build three embankments, namely Shangyang, Jicui and Yuepei, which successfully resisted the Guluo flood.
Because of his meritorious service, Li Shizhi was appointed as the imperial censor, one step away from becoming the prime minister.
The few people Li Longji thought were qualified to take over the position were Li Shizhi, Zhang Shougui, and Niu Xianke. Since Fang Youde has made meritorious service on the front line, he might as well settle the matter of paying homage to the prime minister as well.
With this idea in mind, Li Longji called Li Linfu and Li Shizhi to the Qinzheng Building of Xingqing Palace.
