A crescent moon climbed up into the sky, casting a bright light all over the sky. The leaves have begun to fall, and the swaying branches look particularly deserted in the moonlight. The autumn wind blows, bringing a slight coolness. Unknowingly, autumn has really arrived.
Wang Xiaolie stood in front of the window, looking at the night outside, without moving for a long time.
If I was extremely happy and high-spirited when I returned to Ruzhou, when I went to Ye County for the drill this time, I felt very worried. After returning to Ruzhou, I have initially established a base and can develop my power according to my own wishes. When you go to Ye County, you really want to expand your power and face the storms from all sides.
There are three thousand troops in hand, but only half of them are truly capable of fighting. Can more than a thousand people shoulder their ambitions? Wang Xiaolie didn't know. He only knew that he had to try his best this time. If it fails, subsequent development will be very problematic.
This time was different from later generations and from most of history. Independent forces must occupy dangerous and solid ground in mountains and rivers, defend themselves well, and find the right opportunity to attack. This is the only way for each force to develop and grow. At this time, Zhao Gou's foothold was not stable, and the Jin army lacked the will to attack. Occupying a wealthy land and having someone own the territory is the key to development.
Luoyang is rich, but not suitable as a foothold. As soon as the Jin army crossed the Yellow River, it went straight down to Luoyang, making it difficult to hold on. In the eyes of Jin Jun, Luoyang's status is more important than Kaifeng. It reaches Shaanxi in the west, Xiangyang in the south, and controls the Central Plains in the east. It is an important strategic location. The real treasures are actually Dengzhou and Xiangyang in the south. The land there was fertile and the population was large, but it was not a place that the Song and Jin Dynasties paid much attention to. In history, it was after Yue Fei restored Xiangyang that he truly developed an invincible Yue family army.
Looking at the moon in the sky, Wang Xiaolie secretly estimated the current situation.
At this time, the guardian of Dengzhou was Tan Yan. He was originally a minor official. When the Jin army conquered Dengzhou, he hid in the mountains. After the Jin army left, Tan Yan came out to recruit men and took control of Dengzhou. The imperial court followed the trend and named Tan Yan a martial arts master, knowing Dengzhou.
At this time, most states on the South Beijing Road were in this situation. When the Jin army came, the court officials retreated, and local people appeared from nowhere to occupy the city, and the court took advantage of the situation and recognized it. To be honest, Wang Xiaolie's Ruzhou magistrate was much tougher than these people.
At this moment, Zhang Jun was saluting and singing promises outside.
After letting Zhang Jun come in, Wang Xiaolie sat on his seat and looked at him quietly. After a long time, he said: "I want you to do something private, and no leaks are allowed. I don't know if I can trust you?"
When Zhang Jun heard this, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic. After following Wang Xiaolie for several months, I saw that he was organized and organized in dealing with both superiors and subordinates. The most important thing is to have strict self-discipline. No matter what he does or what he asks his subordinates to do, Wang Xiaolie starts with himself. After all, people are still people, and they are always free from drinking, sex, and wealth. Self-discipline is so strict, can you really feel happy with it? If you allow yourself to do private things, isn't that just something you can't tell anyone about? In this way, he became someone Wang Xiaolie could trust. The leader's own people will definitely have a bright future in the future.
Seeing Zhang Jun crossing his hands and singing a promise, he looked eager to try. Wang Xiaolie nodded: "Now south of Ruzhou, Tangzhou, Dengzhou, Suizhou and other places are not guarded by imperial officials. Although there are governors, they are all entrusted to local strongmen."
At this point, Wang Xiaolie remained silent. Looking out the window, I don't know what I'm thinking.
After a long time, Wang Xiaolie said: "Ruzhou is a small place with a small population. It is not easy to hold on. If you want to have a way out, you still have to look to the south. Now, Li Yunwen, the prisoner of the South Jingxi Road, and Chen Qiudao, the deputy transport envoy, are leading the troops. Stationed in Ezhou, Xiangyang and Dengzhou in the north, the imperial court is actually unable to govern. In these troubled times, it is better to go and get it."
After hearing this, Zhang Jun couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I thought Wang Xiaolie was going to get money to rob women, but I didn't expect it was business. But then I thought about it, Wang Xiaolie had this idea, and it seemed that he was going to do something big.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Take five people, disguise yourself, and go to Dengzhou to explore. See what it's like there, how many soldiers and horses Tan Yan has, and how much food and supplies are gathered in the city. Now there are two roads in the south, south and north of Beijing. The richest ones are Dengzhou.”
After hearing this, Zhang Jun hurriedly crossed his hands and sang a promise. Allowing himself to do such a thing, it seems that Wang Xiaolie still values himself.
Wang Xiaolie added: "The reason why I let you go is because, among the generals in the army, you are the smartest and smartest. This kind of thing is not about rushing into battle. The most important thing is to understand the world. When you should be patient, you must be patient. When you should take action, you must One hit!"
Zhang Jun took a deep breath, crossed his hands and said yes. At that time, I was in Caizhou and killed my mother's adulterer and his slaves without blinking an eye. I can't say whether I can bear it or not, but when it comes to being cruel and ruthless, I definitely qualify.
Having said this, Wang Xiaolie stood up and walked back and forth in the room a few times. Said: "To be honest, I always feel a burden in my heart when doing this kind of thing. The Holy Emperor is in Yangzhou at this time, and as a minister, I have to serve the imperial decree. However, if I don't go south, I can't convince myself."
Zhang Jun smiled after hearing this: "Zhizhou, today's sage has ascended to the throne and is just fleeing south. People in the world have to find their own way to survive, so why bother."
Wang Xiaolie turned around, looked at Zhang Jun, and said nothing for a moment.
To be honest, it is not necessarily clear how loyal the officials of the Song Dynasty are to Zhao Gou. The thoughts of the ministers, and even the thoughts of the people in the world, were to protect the Song Dynasty, but they may not necessarily protect the emperor. If it doesn't work anymore, it would be normal for someone named Zhao to be the emperor. It was not easy for Zhao Gou to regain control of people's hearts and secure his position in the country within a few years. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Gou was called the King of Zhongxing, which makes sense in this sense.
But this cannot be said. It was rare for Zhang Jun to say this in front of Wang Xiaolie. In his heart, he felt that since Wang Xiaolian had the idea of occupying territory and expanding his power, why should he give face to the emperor?
Wang Xiaolie sighed secretly in his heart. Zhang Jun is good at everything and learns everything quickly, but he is too quick-thinking. Living in this world, there are many rules to follow. There are many things that you can understand in your heart but cannot say out loud.
At that moment, Wang Xiaolie even doubted whether it was appropriate for him to send Zhang Jun to do this.
Putting aside the distracting thoughts in his mind, Wang Xiaolie said: "This matter is of great importance, you must not take it lightly. To be honest, our foothold in Ruzhou is not yet stable, so we shouldn't have too many ideas. But Ruzhou resources It’s limited, I have to think about it.”
Zhang Jundao: "A good place in the world should be inhabited by virtuous and capable people. Now Tang, Deng and other states are occupied by small schools and small officials. What kind of behavior is this? Zhizhou defeated the Jin army at the beginning of the year, and he was ordered by the imperial court to guard you. The state should pacify the place. The people of Dezhou must be looking forward to having someone like Zhizhou to govern it. This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people, so why should Zhizhou be hesitant!"
Wang Xiaolie smiled but said nothing. It benefits the country and the people. Zhang Jun’s flattery is too obvious. This time he takes action, which will definitely make Zhao Gou suspicious. Although I have no intention of pleasing Zhao Gou, it is always bad to be remembered.
