"Military envoy, someone from the Dingnan Army is here to buy salt!" He was introduced to the official office built with bluestone and loess, and was responsible for the salt field and market order. He personally served a bowl of wine and reported the matter to Wang Yansheng.
"Oh?" Wang Yansheng became interested and stared at him: "I have already given an order. If the party members want to buy salt, they will pay back with money, silk, and horses, and the transaction will be based on the price. Everything must be done according to the rules. Why should you repay me?"
The city order explained: "This time the army has purchased a large amount of salt, which costs five hundred shi. The other party members hope that the price of salt will be stabilized so that they can be sold. I don't dare to do it on my own!"
"Hmph! That Li Yiyin has a big appetite!" Wang Yansheng muttered, thought for a while, and asked: "Are the people from the Dingnan Army still hanging around the salt field?"
"It's already much less!"
Wang Yansheng said: "I see, I'm afraid Li Yiyin is still evil! This purchase of salt is also a test!"
"The military envoy is wise!" the city magistrate complimented.
Previously, although the salt field was in the hands of the Dangxiang tribe in Yanzhou, the influence of the Dingnan Army was deep behind it. Although the amount of salt produced was not huge, most of it was exported to Xiazhou. In fact, if Wang Yansheng hadn't garrisoned here, it wouldn't take long for Yanzhou to be infiltrated by the Dangxiang people sooner or later.
Therefore, what Wang Yan did after he was promoted to Yanzhou was a big blow to the Dingnan Army, which directly cut off a large number of his minions in Yanzhou and cut off another way of making money. Therefore, since the summer of last year, there has been constant friction on the boundary between salt and forgiveness.
While presenting knights and horses to Tokyo, Li Yiyin also wrote a letter to impeach Wang Yansheng.
"If I were wise, why would I be here and take care of these business matters when there is no war? Isn't this what a general should do!" Wang Yansheng gruffly muttered and said: "I really want to send troops, General Those who dare to show off their power under my nose will be arrested and chopped!"
"The imperial court has something to do, and they asked me to guard this place, but they also tied my hands and feet! These barbarians don't need swords or blood, how can they frighten them!"
Not daring to accept this statement, the city magistrate asked Wang Yansheng for instructions: "May I ask the military envoy how to reply to the Dingnan Army?"
Wang Yansheng scratched his head, thought carefully for a long time, and said: "Well, the emperor wants to be gentle and appease Li Yi, and it is difficult for me to stir up trouble, so I will tolerate it for the time being. Give him two hundred dan and send him an envoy, but , the money you should ask for should not be less!"
"yes!"
"Send orders to all the forts north of Salt Lake to strengthen their vigilance for me!" Wang Yansheng ordered the military academy under the tent.
"General, we have come to report from the prefecture city. Zhao Kuangyin, the Marquis of Yu, the governor in front of the palace, is patrolling the border and crossing the border!" A postman came in to report.
"Huh? This Zhao Kuangyin came quite quickly. He has already patrolled until I ordered the border troops!" Wang Yansheng frowned, with a little dissatisfaction in his tone, and said: "When I was a general, he was just a forbidden soldier. Xiao Xiao, after all these years, I still want to visit him! There is no such thing in this world!"
"I won't stay here any longer and will go back to the city!" Although he complained, Wang Yansheng made a decisive decision to return to the city and left after just one explanation.
"Commander, move slowly!"
Yanzhou City is the only city in the territory. It is a small city with earthen walls and thatched houses, but it is very clean, which is a symbol of the rule of the Han Dynasty here. Zhao Kuangyin entered the city and spent half an hour inspecting various places.
"This Wang Yansheng has a rough temperament, but he is an expert in military management! The Dingbian sergeants are all strong and capable. They have been well trained by him. The city defense layout is also very organized. I checked and found no omissions. , He is worthy of being a battle-hardened veteran!" Standing at the top of the city, stroking the parapet, Zhao Kuangyin sighed.
"I think it's quite ordinary..." Zhao Kuangyi lowered his head and muttered as he listened. Fortunately, the sound was not loud, otherwise Zhao Kuangyin would have been taught another lesson.
In the distance, a group of Han knights came running. Each knight went north with a small flag. Next to the "Han" flag, one of the "King" flags was the most conspicuous, moving in the wind and galloping. And to Yanzhou.
"Wang Yansheng is back! Come on, let's go down to the city to meet the border guard general!" Zhao Kuangyin had good eyesight, smiled lightly when he saw him, and took the lead to set off.
The state government office is not heroic, and even looks a little downcast, but it is heavily guarded. In the Yamen hall, a banquet was prepared and Zhao Kuangyin was invited to take a seat. Zhao Kuangyin refused and had to be a guest. Wang Yansheng was even satisfied with this gesture, but with his angelic dignity, he needed to take into account the emperor's face and the majesty of the court, so he insisted on inviting Zhao Kuangyin to take the seat. He could not refuse, so he took the main seat.
Just from Wang Yansheng's actions, it can be seen that he has grown a lot after being demoted to Yanzhou. At least before, when he was dealing with people, he would not think about the emperor's face and the court's majesty.
"Yanzhou is remote here. Although there are cattle, sheep, horses and camels, there are no delicacies from the Central Plains. We only have these coarse food to entertain the Marquis of Yu, the capital of Zhao!" Wang Yansheng pointed to the wine and meat on the dining table and said.
After glancing at it, Zhao Kuangyin smiled heartily and said: "This is not rough food. When we are fighting in the army, those who are thirsty will eat meat as much as they want and drink a big bowl of wine. For Zhao, a few bowls of fine wine are enough. That’s it!”
"Okay! As expected of the emperor's favorite general, I like this kind of arrogance!" Wang Yansheng also laughed loudly, picked up a bowl of wine, and stared at Zhao Kuangyin: "Have a bowl first!"
"Please!" Zhao Kuangyin picked up the bowl and drank without even frowning.
After drinking a bowl of cow and wiping his mouth, Wang Yansheng looked at Zhao Kuangyin and said with emotion: "Marquis Yu, the capital of Zhao, really has a bright future! The people who could patrol the borders on behalf of the emperor before were either prime ministers or privy councilors!
Thinking about Wang, he has been in the army for more than ten years and has been on the battlefield. It is not too late to serve the emperor. The highest military position is no more than the deputy capital commander of the Protector of the Holy Army! After the southern expedition was over, we came down to Yanzhou to drink from the northwest wind. There is Marquis Yu in front of the palace, and now, I can only think about it..."
After listening to Wang Yansheng's words, Zhao Kuangyin remained humble: "Zhao is not talented and has little qualifications. Fortunately, your majesty trusts him and entrusts him with important tasks! On the contrary, General Wang has guarded Yanzhou for less than a year and has become famous far and wide. The barbarians are not afraid of him." Convinced, when I first entered the country, I heard about its great reputation and felt admiration. This is not something that Zhao can compare with!"
"You are so humble!" Wang Yansheng poured himself a glass of wine and said, "The emperor always values talents when employing people. How could General Zhao be so highly regarded by your majesty if he had no ability? If he didn't say anything else, he would conquer the Tang Dynasty. I, Wang Yansheng, would like to acknowledge my merit." High, but I have to admit that your contribution, Zhao Kuangyin, is greater..."
Zhao Kuangyin said: "The general is so complimentary!"
"This time you were ordered to patrol the border, and you arrived very quickly. The official document was sent a few days ago, and it said that you were still in Jingyuan!" Wang Yansheng continued to invite people to drink, and said, "Today you have arrived in Yanzhou!"
Zhao Kuangyin raised his glass and gestured: "The emperor's important affairs in the west are only two places, one is Longyou and the other is Shuofang. After Fengxiang's patrol, he will naturally come north!"
"Then tell me, I will lead the border troops to guard Yanzhou. How will the defense be?" Wang Yansheng looked at Zhao Kuangyin.
Facing his gaze, Zhao Kuangyin said: "Although Zhao arrived for the first time and did not inspect everything, he walked around the city. The soldiers were capable and disciplined, and the city was in order. This is all the result of General Wang!"
Zhao Kuangyin's words made Wang Yansheng very happy: "Then you must report to His Majesty truthfully!"
"That's natural!"
"Come on, drink!"
"Before leaving the capital, His Majesty also specially asked me to send greetings to General Wang and say that you have worked hard guarding the border!" After another sip, he cut a piece of meat and put it in his mouth as the Romans do in the country. Zhao Kuangyin sighed: "Your Majesty, you can always Missing the general!"
"Seriously?" Wang Yansheng became more energetic.
Zhao Kuangyin put down the knife and raised his hand toward the southeast: "How dare Zhao pretend to convey the holy will!"
The smile on Wang Yansheng's face became even brighter. Zhao Kuangyin asked: "Yanzhou is located in the northwest border. It is adjacent to the Dingnan Army. Capture troubles are always present. Your Majesty is very worried. General, what difficulties does it have to guard this place?"
After hearing this, Wang Yansheng said directly: "Without him, I only have a few soldiers! With 1,500 soldiers, the defense is not well prepared. If the party members cause a massive rebellion, I can fight for a while, but I cannot defend it completely.
Li Yiyin, the commander-in-chief of the army, was always restless. After I took office, I tried my best to rectify the situation and offended him again. I see, sooner or later there will be a battle. We need to increase the number of troops, at least 3,000. If the Dingnan army rebels, I can guarantee to defend Yanzhou and wait for the imperial court to put down the rebel army! "
