In the lobby of Zhang's residence, all the powerful and powerful people in the local area looked horrified as they listened to Fang Laique reciting one piece of Tibetan military law after another.
Although they didn't know what the military law was like on the Tubo side, as these were all military secrets, they knew the military law on the Tang army's side very well.
After all, there are many children in the family who join the army.
The two military laws have something in common, and it can even be said that they reach the same goal through different paths.
In short, what Fang Laique memorized was definitely not fabricated.
In this way, what Fang Chongyong just said has some credibility!
Can a person who can recite the Tubo Military Law by his followers be a simple character? This is an easy judgment to make.
"Okay, that's enough."
Fang Chongyong raised his hand to signal Fang Laique to shut up. Fang Laique, who was reciting the book enthusiastically, stopped talking for a moment and was very obedient.
Now this "humanoid endorsement machine" has become the most handsome guy in the lobby, stealing his own limelight.
Of course, this alone cannot convince the local big players. If you are prepared for everything, you will be safe. In order to save himself, Fang Chongyong made a lot of preparations.
He is not the kind of person who just sits around and waits for rescue.
"Fang Shijun, this follower, is really talented."
Zhang Chan said with a smile on his face, as if he didn't want to be tricked.
The implication of his words is also very obvious. Fang Laique, the follower, does have a few brushes in his endorsement, which also proves that Fang Chongyong, like his father Fang Youde, is not an ordinary person.
But it doesn’t prove that Fang Zhongyong is a god at predicting things!
Especially in the case of Tubo, who dares to say that Tubo will attack Shazhou? It is spring now, and the Tubo people are busy farming and grazing!
"Yan Zhuang, unfold the map for everyone to take a look at."
Fang Chongyong gave instructions to Yan Zhuang with an expressionless face, his official authority fully displayed at this moment. When the local big players saw this, they didn't dare to question it like Zhang Chan.
Yan Zhuang ordered the servants here to bring a shelf, and then hung up the map of the Hexi region that had been prepared in advance. There is nothing unusual about this map. It is a must-have for merchants traveling on the Silk Road. It's just that many places have been marked by Fang Chongyong, including the various military strongholds of the Tang Army.
"The Tubo people have always wanted to cut off the connection between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Regions, so they have been focusing on Liangzhou before.
However, Liangzhou has a strong Chishui Army, and it is close to the defense area of Longyou Jiedu Envoy. Tens of thousands of reinforcements can be received at any time, so it is not convenient for the Tibetans to take action.
The last time, they went north from Mingshui (Shule River), captured Guazhou and destroyed the city wall of Guazhou. At that time, the Five Prefectures in Hexi Province almost lost four of them. However, it was only because of the brave soldiers of our Tang Dynasty border army that the Tubo people failed to succeed.
This time, the Jiankang Army has been mobilized to the Dadou Bugu line in Liangzhou, and the Moli Army is stationed far away from Guazhou and even further away from Dunhuang.
If the Tibetans attack Dunhuang this time along the Ganquan River (i.e. Dang River), and use an army to feign an attack and pull out valleys to hold back the reinforcements from Liangzhou, how do you think they should respond? "
After Fang Chongyong finished speaking, everyone present suddenly changed their colors.
This tactic is not unusual at all, because the Tubo people used this tactic in the mid-Kaiyuan period, and it was quite effective! The only flaw of this strategy is that these two roads are not convenient for the garrison and march of an army of more than 100,000 people.
They can only attack by surprise, but cannot advance steadily.
But the advantage is that once you succeed, as long as you can capture any one or both of Guazhou or Shazhou, you can completely disrupt the Tang army's deployment!
This made the Tang army's troop deployment under the "command" of the Tubo people.
At that time, it was Zhang Shougui, who was then the military envoy of the Jiankang Army and now the left prime minister, who used the "improved version of the empty city strategy" to counterattack, which bought time for reinforcements from the Tang army.
Otherwise, no one can say how bad the situation in the Hexi Corridor would have deteriorated at that time. At worst, Datang would lose all its territory in the west except Liangzhou.
But if they really want to take action this time, the Tubo people will most likely not fall into the trap, and there will definitely be a tough battle to fight.
It is indeed very risky for the Tubo people to play this way. Once the battle fails, it will be difficult to withdraw the team.
But once the Tubo people succeed, the strategic benefits they will gain will be unimaginable.
"Fang Shijun's words do have some truth to them."
As the leader of a large local household, Zhang Chan nodded slightly and said.
"Everyone, I won't go into details about the current situation. What do you think we should do?"
Fang Chongyong asked with a solemn expression.
Hehe, what he said just now almost deceived him. The more he talked, the more he felt that the Tibetan people would do this.
However, not all mountains and terrain will be shown on the map. It is not impossible for the Tubo people to attack like this, but they need to climb over the snowy mountains, cross the desert, and come lightly.
How could they have such ability!
Fang Chongyong secretly praised himself for his extraordinary wit and invincible speaking skills!
"The Tubo people are committing all kinds of crimes by burning, killing and looting, and the food stored by our families outside the city is not safe. Why not temporarily store it in the charity warehouse in Luo City and let the Doulu Army keep it.
If the Tibetans attacked, these would be used as military rations to supply military needs. If the Tubo people don't come, these grains will be used as cheap grains in the charity warehouse to stabilize the market price. "
Zhang Chen said calmly.
When Fang Chongyong heard this, he immediately understood what the other party meant. Sure enough, the big business owners who can respond to everything locally are indeed not ordinary people.
If the Tubo people come, these grains will be the "protection fees" they pay to support the Tang army in fighting the Tubo people to the death. There is no problem in doing this, because even if they don't give it, the food will still be taken away after the Tibetans occupy Shazhou.
It was not even necessary for the Tibetans to occupy Shazhou City.
If the Tubo people don't come, then... this Fang Shijun will definitely not be able to eat and walk around, at least he will be punished and investigated by the court. And they, these big local households, store grain in charity warehouses used to stabilize grain prices. This matter cannot be hidden, and sooner or later the government and local people will know about it.
This is equivalent to selling out the next governor, and at the same time, ordinary people in the Dunhuang area will be grateful for their benevolence and righteousness, thus improving the family's local reputation.
In short, no matter whether the Tubo people come or not, they will not lose money! Their granaries are mainly located within the small city. Although the amount of grain stored in the granary in the farm outside the city is unknown, it will definitely not hurt these people.
For Fang Chongyong, with this batch of food, the Doulu Army will have no risk of running out of food this winter.
This proposal can be described as a win-win choice.
Before coming, Fang Chongyong guessed that the local big players would express their opinions, but he didn't expect that the other party would be so straightforward.
"I would like to thank you all on behalf of the people of Shazhou. I am on official business, so I will take my leave now."
After Fang Chongyong crossed his arms and saluted everyone, he immediately took Fang Laique and others away without any hesitation.
Regarding the huge problem of the imperial court's arrears of military pay, he had no other good tips. He could sum it up in one word: delay!
If you can delay it for half a year, delay it for half a year. If you can delay it for a year, delay it for a year. Today’s meal will buy you at least two or three months, so you can put it off until next spring!
As for what to do next, let’s talk about it later. Anyway, Brother Ji is not a human being, and the military expenses of the border army are in arrears, so what can he, the governor, do?
Brother Ji is not the only one who will lie flat and die? Fang Chongyong feels that he is not inferior to Brother Ji in this regard.
…
With the arrival of spring, the five states in the Hexi Corridor (except Shazhou) have gradually withdrawn from the state of military mobilization, and the sergeants of various armies have returned to their hometowns to work in farming. Every frontier army is in a state of "shortage".
The period from early autumn to early spring every year is the period of high incidence of Tibetan invasions. Therefore, the military households in the fields who have finished their farming work have to go out and join the various armies in Hexi to take turns on duty.
After the early spring, the Tubo people themselves were not a professional army separated from soldiers and peasants. They also had to be busy with farming.
Therefore, the border will enter a period of relative calm, and soldiers from various armies in Hexi will also have to go home to work in farming. They will be replaced in turn, and soldiers will naturally be in a state of shortage.
As a result, the battle situation on the Hehuang front line also fell into a period of confrontation. Neither side launched a large-scale offensive, but only fought hand-to-hand in some key areas. The number of troops involved in each battle did not exceed a hundred, and it did not cause any disturbance.
However, Hexi Jiedu Mansion in Liangzhou received several urgent official letters from Shazhou!
The first official letter was from Fang Chongyong, the governor of Shazhou, complaining that the imperial court continued to owe Lu's troops wages, and neither last year's winter clothes nor this year's spring clothes were issued. The soldiers were very resentful and there was a possibility of mutiny. If something unexpected happens then, he, the governor of Shazhou, will be powerless.
Please Liangzhou Prefecture to quickly replenish the military salary without delay.
Xiao Jiong only complained after reading this. This year, the military pay of the five states in Hexi has been in arrears, and it is not just Shazhou Doulujun's family! He had already requested money from the court, and the court replied that it was in progress and would definitely make up the outstanding wages. Having said all that, what else can he do as a military governor?
You can't just raise your arms and rebel, right?
Anyway, they were all complaining about poverty, and Fang Chongyong was not the only one calling Xiao Jiong, so Xiao Jiong simply ignored it.
As a military governor, he could not generate military expenses. If the court did not provide money, he would acquiesce in Hexi armies to rob Hu merchants in the Western Regions to replenish military expenses!
If the first article did not surprise Xiao Jiong, then the second official letter was a bit sensational!
Fang Chongyong said that he had received a local "information report" that many monks from Tibet were exploring the terrain of Shazhou and the distribution of the Tang army, "may have done something evil."
Therefore, he strengthened the defense of Shazhou area and believed that the possibility of Tibetans attacking Shazhou this spring was very high. Moreover, he also planned to start training the united soldiers, hoping that Hexi Jiedu Prefecture would quickly provide the military pay and food needed to train the united soldiers.
As for why Tubo attacked Shazhou, there are a lot of reasons listed below: 1, 2, 3, 4, 56. The whole article is full of words like "I think", "I think" and "probably".
The third official letter is also related to the second one. There is a lot of nonsense here. It probably means the location of the junction between Shazhou and Guazhou. That is, the route taken by the Tubo sneak attack last time is very dangerous and dangerous. It may be attacked by the Tubo people again. Please ask the Hexi Jiedu Mansion to send a troop of troops to garrison Shazhou.
The summary is just four words: protect me quickly!
Seeing Fang Chongyong's "letter for help", Xiao Jiong really couldn't laugh or cry.
The Tubo people attacked Shazhou. This happened somewhere. Fang Chongyong was making speculations throughout the article without any evidence.
If we follow Fang Chongyong's logic, in fact every state in the Hexi Corridor is under direct threat from Tibet, and no place is absolutely safe.
According to the Tang Army's "mobile defense" troop deployment in Hexi, except for Liangzhou, no matter who it was in the other four states, once they were attacked by the Tibetans, they would definitely need to stand firm and wait for reinforcements, and their own military strength would not be able to defeat the opponent.
Fang Chongyong posed a difficult problem to Xiao Jiong: Should we send troops to Shazhou, and which army should we send to Shazhou?
Xiao Jiong suddenly remembered that the Later Turkic Khanate had been destroyed and Baitinghai was already in the "rear area" position. At present, the abolition of the Baiting Army and the placement of its troops are still being debated and there is no final conclusion. So, can the Baiting Army be abolished, its soldiers relocated south of Shazhou, and an army rebuilt?
Xiao Jiong immediately called Wang Zhongsi and others to Hexi Jiedu Mansion, preparing to find someone to shoulder the responsibility.
On this day, the military and political officials of Liangzhou Prefecture gathered in the lobby of the Jiedushi Yamen to discuss a series of troubles caused by Fang Chongyong.
After everyone read the official letter, they all had a very intuitive idea in their minds: Fang Chongyong, this little kid, really knows how to ride a horse!
No matter what happens, I'll tell you everything.
However, you can't say that what he said is completely unreasonable. Because there is indeed the possibility that the Tubo people will attack Shazhou.
This is just like someone choking to death while drinking water. This kind of almost impossible thing has actually happened in life, and similar extreme situations cannot be completely ruled out.
It was none of their own business, but if anyone said that the Tibetan people would never come, they would automatically get on the boat, automatically get on the gambling table, and play against Fang Chongyong, the "idiot"! But originally they could have avoided this situation.
However, for these military and political officials to really agree with Fang Chongyong's views and support him seems too ridiculous and loses their stability.
So for a moment, everyone was a little hesitant, wishing that they had not opened these official letters just now, wishing that they did not know these nonsense.
“Everyone, I think it’s not wrong to think that there is no reason for the rumor coming out of nowhere. It’s not wrong to strengthen the defense of Shazhou and be prepared for any danger.
It would be better to transfer the old Baiting Army and Ganzhou United Forces to Shazhou. There is Longle Mountain to the south of Shazhou. After this, the Longle Army was built with 3,000 soldiers.
The military envoy is Guo Ziyi, and the deputy military envoy is Xin Yunjing.
The Wei Rong Army (stationed in the original Tubo New City) sent a thousand troops and horses that had been replaced this time to garrison Changle County in Guazhou to support them. The military envoy was Cui Qianyou.
What do you think? "
Wang Zhongsi said calmly.
Everyone looked at each other and cursed in their hearts.
As expected of a father-in-law, he is really taking care of his son-in-law, and his eating habits are no longer concealed!
But everyone felt relieved after thinking about it.
If any family has a future son-in-law like Fang Chongyong, they must protect him. He is still a child, and he is already a governor before he is married. How can he still do this when he grows up?
Wang Zhongsi's attitude is very clear. He is betting that the Tibetans will attack Shazhou. He will not shy away from relatives when promoting talents. Regardless of his status, he will personally support his future son-in-law!
Wang Zhongsi did have to bear certain political risks in this matter, but it was not a big problem. The kind with controllable risks.
The Tubo people are coming, and Wang Zhongsi's arrangement is definitely a magic touch like "I predicted your prediction", and it is easy to achieve great achievements.
In case the Tubo people didn't come, although this possibility was extremely high, it was just a fool's errand, which did not cause any human losses, but only a small loss of money and food.
It just had some impact on Wang Zhongsi's personal reputation. A general who is always nervous and nervous will certainly not be popular.
After secretly pondering in his mind, Xiao Jiong immediately made a decision and said: "Then just follow what Wang Jun said. By the way, we will allocate 20,000 silk from the Liangzhou government treasury to the Shazhou government office for the labor force."
Xiao Jiong added another handful of firewood to the stove!
He had received explicit instructions from Li Linfu. If there is a chance, if you want to win over Fang Youde's son Fang Chongyong, you must at least sell it well! It may be of great use in the future!
An Lushan, the military envoy of Pinglu Army, as a direct descendant of Left Prime Minister Zhang Shougui, has been promoted recently and became the deputy envoy of Pinglu Jiedu! After Li Shizhi returned to the court, it was only a matter of time before An Lushan became the envoy of Pinglu.
He may even be appointed as the governor of Youzhou alone!
When Zhang Shougui's power surges, the current central government situation will inevitably be broken.
Because An Lushan is Zhang Shougui’s adopted son!
This made Li Linfu, who had made no achievements in the military, feel great pressure. Zhangchou Jianqiong had previously obeyed his orders, but now he was aloof and not very obedient to his orders. Li Linfu urgently needed a frontier general who could do what he wanted.
If it’s something that’s beneficial but not expensive, you might as well do it.
Li Linfu's eyes had already focused on Fang Chongyong. He vaguely remembered that although this man was young, his methods of doing things were quite "flexible".
More importantly, Fang Chongyong is Fang Youde's only son. This alone is worth his investment.
What Fang Chongyong didn't know was that Yang Yuhuan was dead, Fang Youde was demoted to Lingnan, Yang Zhao took control of the prosperous Yangzhou Prefecture, and Brother Ji began to live and drink.
Everything is no longer what he imagined, it has become beyond recognition. And the Tang Dynasty was slowly sliding towards the unknown and elusive abyss.
(End of chapter)
