Zhang Yan stopped and stopped all the way to inspect the people's sentiments, and finally arrived in Guilin, Guangxi.
The officials of the Guangxi Chief Envoy, the Du Commander Shi, and the Procuratorate did not dare to neglect this important minister of the imperial court. They welcomed him ten miles outside the city and warmly entertained him in the city.
Zhang Yan was not polite. After taking out the imperial edict and reading it out, he looked at Han Guan, the chief envoy, and said with a smile: "The reward from the imperial court is quite generous. The emperor is particularly pleased with Han Dusi's victory over the Annan rebel army. Of course, the chief envoy will provide logistical support If you have meritorious service, your meritorious service will be recorded in the records of the Inspection Commission to maintain the stability of the place."
Han Guan did not take all the credit, saying: "The Annan rebel army was awarded the title. The biggest credit goes to Zhang Fu and Nanning Wei. Dusi Yamen deserves the credit."
Zhang Yan waved his hand, his eyes full of relief, looked around, and said: "How about the success of quelling the chaos? The imperial court has its own sense of proportion. Where is Zhang Fu?"
Han Guan shook his head bitterly and said to Zhang Yan who was looking around: "Commander Zhang is not in Guilin. He believed that after the war, the people were uneasy and the chieftains from various places might take the opportunity to cause chaos, so he led his troops on the front lines of Siming Mansion and Taiping Mansion. To maintain stability in the place.”
Zhang Yan was slightly surprised, thought for a moment, and said seriously: "Commander Zhang is victorious but not arrogant. He is a great talent in the army. The emperor has other decrees, and he has promoted Zhang Fu to the commanding officer of the Guangxi Dusi, assisting the Dusi in training all the guards in Guangxi. , if the troops are insufficient, troops from Guangdong Guard Station can be mobilized to supplement."
"Soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi?"
Han Guan's eyes became profound.
Han Guan was not surprised at all about Zhang Fu's promotion.
However, Han Guan was not prepared at all when he transferred his troops from Guangdong to Guangxi.
For Guangxi, although the garrison has only more than 30,000 soldiers, it can be said that these 30,000 sergeants are enough to suppress the local area, intimidate the chieftains, and occupy key areas.
Now that the emperor has proposed to transfer the sergeants of the Guangdong Guard Station into Guangxi, this order obviously has some "implications".
The increased military strength must not be used in Guangxi. If it is not used in Guangxi, where can it be used?
Han Guan understood the emperor's plan in an instant, nodded solemnly, and said: "So, Mr. Zhang's decision to govern Yunnan has a profound meaning, right?"
Zhang Yan burst out laughing and did not answer Han Guan. Instead, he turned to Chu Yong and Zhang Gongchen, the chief envoys of Guangxi, and said: "The emperor hopes that Guangxi will be stable, and please work together to stabilize the place."
Chu Yong, Zhang Gongchen and others stood up quickly and said: "I will definitely live up to the emperor's trust."
Zhang Yan did not stay in Guilin for long. After staying for one day, he went to Siming Mansion accompanied by Han Guan.
The road in the mountains is dangerous and the vegetation is lush.
Zhang Yan looked at the strange mountains and ridges along the way and couldn't help but sigh: "Guangxi is very mountainous. Once a chieftain makes trouble and takes over the terrain, it will be really difficult to deal with it."
Han Guan sighed and said, "Yes, using two thousand people may not be able to quell the chaos caused by a few hundred people. Fortunately, the chieftain surrendered and there was no major chaos."
It has always been said that bandits and greenwood people will definitely have no way to survive if they do not occupy dangerous places. Once they take advantage of the terrain, it will be extremely difficult for the imperial court to destroy them.
Either fight with all your strength and sacrifice your capital to fight, or recruit people or block them, there is no other good way.
"Master Zhang, there is something unclear about Han."
When he was resting, Han Guanming distanced himself from him, then looked at Zhang Yan and said seriously.
Zhang Yan looked at the mountain peaks in the distance, nodded slightly and said, "Ask."
Han Guan looked serious and asked in a low voice: "It is not an ordinary move to mobilize troops from Guangdong to enter Guangxi. Has the court made a decision?
Do you want to conquer Annan? "
Zhang Mingfeng calmly put his hands behind his back and replied: "Have you made up your mind? I am afraid that only the emperor knows this. But judging from various arrangements, the possibility of the imperial court conquering Annan is very high."
Han Guan's eyes lit up. It was almost certain that Zhang Yan could say such a thing.
As a soldier, only by killing the enemy on the battlefield can you make achievements, and your merits will last forever!
"If this is the case, just relying on troops from Guangxi and Guangdong is far from enough. Even if you go to Yunnan and Ping Xihou leads the troops out of the customs, the troops he leads will be particularly weak."
Han Guan was a rational soldier and knew that the conquest of Annan would not be a small matter, but once the fuss became big, Guangxi would have no time, and with some sergeants in Guangdong, 50,000 to 80,000 people would not be enough.
A battle to destroy the country is out of the question without 300,000 troops.
Zhang Yan said calmly: "If that happens, the imperial court will dispatch additional troops. However, in addition to the Beijing army, the Guangxi and Yunnan garrison should be the main force. Whether you can seize this opportunity depends on you. .”
Han Guan understood and said easily: "This is natural."
It seems that military training needs to keep up and prepare for the war in advance.
Zhang Yan thought for a long time, and when Han Guan wanted to go on his way, he suddenly said: "Han Dusi, do you know about the Ma Yuan Bronze Pillar?"
"Ma Yuan Bronze Pillar?"
Han Guan frowned and said in a deep voice: "What Master Zhang is talking about is Ma Fubo during the Han Dynasty - the bronze pillar erected by General Ma Yuan?"
Zhang Yan nodded heavily and said: "Exactly!"
Although Han Guan is a military commander, he also knows some historical books.
Ma Yuan made great military exploits for the unification of the Eastern Han Dynasty. After the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he conquered Longqiang in the west, Jiaozhi in the south, and Wuhuan in the north. He was promoted to General Fubo and granted the title of Xinxihou. He was known as "Ma Fubo" in the world.
Zhang Yan stared into the distance and said: "In the 16th year of Jianwu in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Jiaozhi Zhengbi and Zhenger sisters broke out in rebellion. With the response of Yue and Li people from Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, Rinan, Hepu and other counties, they defeated the Han Dynasty. Garrisoned the army and captured sixty-five cities. Ma Yuan led an army to suppress it and erected a copper pillar in Jiaozhi. The inscription on the pillar was, 'If the copper pillar breaks, Jiaozhi will be destroyed', and the copper pillar will be the southern limit of the Han Dynasty!"
"Song Zhiwen's "Shaozhou Poems" says that in Zhuya Tianwai County, copper pillars mark Hainan. Yu Xin's "Ai Jiangnan Ode" says that the east gate is made of whipped stone to make a bridge, and the south pole is made of copper as a pillar. It can be seen from this that the copper pillars are It’s the land in the extreme south of the Central Plains. It’s just..."
Han Guan saw Zhang Yan turn his head and look at him, his eyes full of vicissitudes and depth.
"Just what?"
Han Guan asked.
Zhang Yan said in a cold voice: "But, is this copper pillar really necessary to exist? The emperor has not said it clearly, but as a minister, I should share the emperor's worries. Han Dusi, do you understand what I mean?"
Han Guan took a deep breath.
If there is no need for the copper pillars to exist, it means that the southern border of the Ming Dynasty no longer needs to follow the boundaries of the Han Dynasty, but can go further south, or even cover the entire Annan!
Only then did Han Guan finally understand the emperor's "ambition". He probably not only wanted to beat up the Annan Hu family, but also planned to seize this piece of territory!
The copper pillars were broken and Jiaozhi was destroyed.
Although this sentence was said by Ma Yuan of the Han Dynasty, it is not impossible for the Ming Dynasty to use it. It seems that we need to find this copper pillar, dig it out and destroy it, so that we can follow the words of the ancients and "Jiaozhi is destroyed" as a matter of course!
Han looked at Zhang Yan's serious face, nodded and said: "The border of the Ming Dynasty should not be controlled by a copper
Pillar decision! Han understands how to act, thank you Master Zhang for your guidance. "
Zhang Yan smiled and said nothing more.
After the group arrived at Siming Mansion, Han Guan watched the ceremony of the Nanning Guard's conferment. Zhang Fuyin was promoted to the commander of the Guangxi Dusi, and the commander of the Nanning Guard was Yuan Yue.
Yuan Yue rose from the ranks of the army, and relied on his courage, wisdom and military exploits to win his place in the history of Nanning Guards command.
Huang Gui, Pan Cheng and others from Qianhu naturally supported it.
The new army strategy fell into the Guangxi Guards Station, which made all the sergeants excited.
After the banquet, Han Guan, Zhang Fu, Yuan Yue and others bid farewell to Zhang Zhen. There were sergeants guarding him along the way until Zhang Zhen arrived in Yunnan.
Han Guan summoned Zhang Fu, Yuan Yue, Pan Cheng, Huang Ying and others, and asked: "Do you know where the bronze pillars were erected by Han and horse support?"
Zhang Fu was confused about this. After all, he was a foreigner and did not know much about the local situation.
Huang Ying, however, knew better and said: "It is rumored that there is a slope post in Langshan, Annan, thirty miles outside Zhennan Pass, where the copper pillars are located. As for whether there are still copper pillars, I don't know."
Han Guan was a little angry. The Ming Dynasty was not as good as the Han Dynasty. It actually shrank its territory by thirty miles. Is this okay?
"Secretly send some people into Lang Son to investigate the news. If the location of the bronze pillar is determined, report immediately."
Han Guan ordered.
Zhang Fu and others agreed.
After the others retreated, Han Guan and Zhang Fu discussed the matter of dispatching Guangdong sergeants into Guangxi.
After careful consideration, Zhang Fu said: "In terms of Guangxi's grain, it is inappropriate to mobilize Guangdong troops on a large scale. In addition, if too many Guangdong troops are mobilized, it will definitely bring disadvantages to the local area. Comprehensive consideration, it can be from Guangdong Transfer one guard to Guangxi, and then transfer the Guangxi Guard to form a main force of 20,000 people to prepare for Annan."
“Is twenty thousand people too few?”
Han Guan frowned.
Zhang Fu said helplessly: "Lord Dusi, if we include all the sergeants in the preparations for war, who will suppress Guangxi? Once the rear is unstable and the food road is cut off, won't it be empty talk for the imperial court to march into Annan?"
"Besides, if the imperial court uses troops against Annan, it will definitely use a large army. The Beijing army has been restructured for a long time, and it is expected that it will participate in it. Once the Beijing army is dispatched, if we want to win military exploits in the Guangxi Guards, we can only use the path of elite soldiers."
Han Guan agreed with Zhang Fu's view and said: "Then the Dusi Yamen will send a letter to the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion and the imperial court to transfer a guard from Guangdong to Guangxi. However, I plan to leave the full responsibility to you for the training."
Zhang Fu knew very well that the training sergeant had a heavy responsibility. Looking at Han Guan who had entrusted him with the important task, he solemnly promised: "I will not disappoint Mr. Du Si!"
When Han Guan saw that Zhang Fu had agreed, he smiled slyly and said, "Since you agreed, you can't go back on your word."
"Well?"
Zhang Fu looked at Han Guan uneasily.
Han Guan looked at Zhang Fu proudly and said: "Although you and I entered Guangxi at the same time, the emperor relies heavily on you. This is known to everyone in Guangxi. Dusi will entrust you with the training of sergeants. What do you have to do?" OK……"
"My subordinates will do their best..."
Zhang Fu was a little frightened by Han Guan and said quickly.
Han Guan waved his hand and said leisurely: "Just trying your best is not enough. You still remember those Annan divine machine guns. I think the Second Artillery Bureau should have copied them by this time. Since you are responsible for the training of sergeants, it is up to you to write to the court. Ask for a batch of new divine machine guns..."
