Chapter 221: Clearing the Clouds (6k)

Yang Chang came from Liangshan, and most of the main generals under his command were also people from the martial arts world.

His words were quite chivalrous, expressing his approval of Li Yanxian.

Zhong Shizhong was very pleased and immediately told Li Yanxian: "Since you have chosen to stay, follow General Yang well. You will definitely achieve something in the future."

"Yes."

Li Yanxian stood respectfully.

Women admire the strong, and men admire the strong even more.

Shaxiongling was like a god descending from heaven. On the way back, he did not get lost while traveling at night. His cavalry of 3,000 fought against 10,000, and he was able to kill 3,000 enemy leaders.
Li Yanxian was impressed by everything, so when he arrived in Weisheng, he had no intention of leaving.

When Zhong Shizhong nodded, he suddenly took Yang Chang's hand and said earnestly: "Taiyuan is an important town in Hedong. It has been besieged by the Jin people for more than half a year. If it is not rescued, it will be in danger. General Yang has such great talent and has repelled the Jin people's attacks many times. How can we not entrust him with important tasks? This time when I return to Beijing to apologize, I will definitely do my best to recommend him."

"Recommend me? To save Taiyuan?"

Yang Chang pointed at himself, and after repeated questions, he waved his hands repeatedly, and said with a bitter face: "Mr. Xiaozhong, you are too kind. I was able to repel the Jin soldiers before because of the geographical advantage. I only have more than 20,000 soldiers and horses, and I am short of food and armor. How can I have the ability to rescue Taiyuan? General, please don't flatter me."

"General Yang's words are not without reason. As the saying goes, a good cook cannot cook without rice. The reason why I was defeated at Shaxiong Ridge this time is that I was in a hurry and did not carry enough food and rewards, which made the soldiers dissatisfied and fled."

Zhong Shizhong sighed, and then continued, "Since Your Majesty is determined to recapture Taiyuan, the court will prepare the corresponding troops and supplies, and then hand them over to the general for command."

"Wait a minute." Yang Chang interrupted Zhong Shizhong, clasped his fists and said sternly, "General Zhong, please don't do this. I was born in the Green Forest and have little experience. I am afraid that the soldiers will not obey me. You should guard your own land and work hard to ensure Pingbei and Weisheng."

"This"

After hearing this, Zhong Shizhong frowned and stroked his beard, thinking that what Yang Chang said was indeed correct. To command the three armies, one needs prestige, and this young man has just made his mark and is not well-known in the Song Dynasty army.

While he was deep in thought, Yang Chang added, "Weisheng and Pingbei were taken back from Tian Hu, and they have not recovered from several battles. Especially the soldiers who will run away if they are not paid. Yang knows that his financial resources are limited, and he cannot afford to support such soldiers."

"It's a custom agreed upon in the military. There's nothing we can do about it. Sigh."

"Not necessarily? At the beginning of the year, Tokyo was besieged by the Jin army, and the soldiers defending the city also asked for money every day?"

"No, that's different."

"What's the difference? Aren't their lives in danger?"

After Yang Chang finished speaking, he raised his eyes, slapped the table with his palm, and said in a cold voice: "Being a soldier is not wrong in itself, but it depends on the time and situation. If the country and the nation are in danger, and you still insist on not working without money, you are a soldier who only cares about milk. I don't want you no matter how much you are paid!"

"Well said, but"

Although Zhong Shizhong agreed with this view, he thought that Yang Chang was too idealistic, so he changed the subject and asked, "By the way, from what you said just now, does it mean that the Weisheng Army doesn't need to be paid when they go out to fight?"

"Need not."

"Even if you win?"

Seeing Yang Chang's indifferent expression, Zhong Shizhong showed an expression of disbelief.

"If there is any spoils, they will be distributed according to merit. If there is no spoils, the family's taxes will be reduced."

"I said, how can we not give them anything? Otherwise, who would be willing to fight in the battlefield? Isn't tax cut just a disguised way of giving money? Old soldiers are much easier to talk to, but new recruits are..."

"Mr. Xiaozhong, you don't know that my soldiers not only have to fight, but also help build roads and bridges during the slack season and help collect grain during the busy season. Sometimes the army is short of food and grass, and they have to carry their own food."

"How is this possible? I don't believe it."

Zhong Shizhong shook his head. He didn't believe there were such soldiers and thought Yang Chang was exaggerating.

Yang Chang did not explain, but pointed outside the hall and said, "General, if you don't believe it, you can ask anyone you want, the guards in my house, the passers-by on the street, the patrolling soldiers, and you will know the truth by asking."

"This"

Seeing that he was so sure of what he said, Master Zhong's disbelief turned into doubt, "Is it true? How did you do it?"

"It's very simple. We need to make every soldier understand one thing."

"What's the point?"

“There is no home without a country!”

Yang Chang stood up with the help of the table, letting the wind outside blow on his body, giving people a feeling of full aura.

Without waiting for Master Zhong to ask further questions, Yang Chang continued to add:
"Among the 20,000 soldiers under my command, a small number are from Liangshan, and most are locals and refugees from Taiyuan. They are all from poor peasant families and know how much impact frequent conscription has on a family. So I will let the soldiers in the army do all the corvée work, and the common people can just focus on farming."

'I don't understand'

"It's very simple, because the soldiers contribute more and can also benefit their families. As for their willingness to fight, the general might as well ask the refugees from Taiyuan in the city. Their old homes were occupied by the Jin people, and their parents, wives and children were killed by the butchers. If they continue to live in ignorance, who will protect their new homes?"

"This"

I didn't expect that after fighting for my entire life, my ideas on commanding troops are not as good as those of a young man.

Looking at Yang Chang's confident look, Zhong Shizhong recalled his own youth, when he was also so high-spirited and full of energy, but their situations were different.

Compared to Yang Chang who was born in Liangshan, he just benefited from the Zhong family? Maybe he had to come from the bottom to better understand the suffering of the people?

This kid is not simple.

"Hey, is it light outside?"

"what?"

"look."

After being reminded by Yang Chang, Master Zhong raised his head and looked towards the courtyard outside the house. The originally gloomy atmosphere suddenly became cheerful.

"This is."

"Mr. Xiaozhong, General Yang, the dark clouds outside suddenly dispersed and the sun came out."

Li Yanxian ran to the door and reported excitedly.

The sun is shining, which makes people happy.

Zhong Shizhong nodded happily and raised his hand to greet Yang Chang.

"We've finished drinking the wine, and the sun is shining outside. It's time for me to set off. Take care, General Yang. We won't see each other again."

"Wait a moment, brother, Li Yanxian, you guys stay with General Zhong and talk. I'll be back to see you off."

"Yes!"

"General Yang? No need."

After Yang Chang finished speaking, he quickly left from the back of the hall, leaving Zhong Shizhong and everyone else puzzled, and they all wondered if he had something important to say.

Thinking that he had to hurry on his way, Zhong Shizhong stopped drinking and accepted toasts from others. He slowly walked outside the house and looked up at the sky. Sure enough, he saw that the dark clouds were pierced by golden light and were dispersing in all directions.

"Just now the sky was blocked out, but in the end it didn't rain. It's really strange."

"This is not surprising. Yang Jiedu's nickname is the Bright Heavenly Lord. Not all rain can fall on him."

"Oh?"

Seeing Wu Song suddenly speaking to him, Zhong Shizhong looked at him in surprise and thought that Yang Changyu was indeed powerful. This was not ordinary prestige, and his subordinates seemed to worship him as a god.

There are two tables of wine at today's farewell banquet, the main table and the secondary table.

The main table was occupied by Yang Chang and Zhong Shizhong, and the second table was occupied by Wu Song, Hu Cheng, and Li Yanxian.

Zhong Shizhong's impression of Wu Song was only that he was a tiger-fighting hero, and now he was the infantry commander under Yang Chang, and was also in charge of the defense of Weisheng City. He was Yang Chang's trusted general, but he didn't know that the two were as close as brothers and friends for life and death.

"Haha, the Bright Heavenly Lord, what a resounding name, General Yang really deserves it."

"Look, here he comes, and..."

Wu Song stopped talking halfway when he saw Zhao Fujin had followed him.

This is the first time that Yang Chang has taken the initiative to bring the princess to meet foreign guests. Is there any deeper meaning behind this action?
Yang Chang had just left in a hurry because Li Yanxian had to stay in Weisheng, so there was no one to escort Zhong Shizhong back to Beijing. If something happened to him on the way, he would feel that his work was in vain, so he had to find someone to accompany him to Beijing.

And the most suitable companion for Quan Weisheng is now in the hands of Princess Zhao Fujin.

At the beginning of the year, the Jin army marched south to Bianliang. Liang Fangping, the eunuch and military governor, was ordered to guard Junzhou but he deserted. Afterwards, he was purged and killed by Emperor Qinzong. Generals such as Wang Yuan, who were temporarily under his command, were incorporated into Zhong Shidao's command to guard the capital.

Lei Zhen, a general under Wang Yuan, was the former commander of Zhao Fujin's guards. During the reorganization of the various armies in Tokyo, he was discovered by Wang Zongchu, the Grand Commandant of the Palace Marshal's Office. (Wang Zongchu was the uncle of Emperor Qinzong Zhao Huan of the Song Dynasty and was in charge of the imperial guards at the beginning of his reign.)
Wang Zongchu reported this to Emperor Qinzong, and Lei Zhen was immediately reinstated as a palace guard.

When Wen Huanzhang reported back that Zhao Fujin was in Weisheng, Qinzong sent Lei Zhen to serve his old master.

Lei Zhen and Ma Baoguo are capable guards, but they are not cut out to lead troops in battle. After observing them, Yang Chang asked them to guard the backyard, mainly responsible for the safety of his son Yang Huang.

Zhong Shizhong had never seen Zhao Fujin before. When he saw her following Yang Chang to see him, he thought that General Yang was so lucky to have such a beautiful woman in his family.

"My lady, this is Mr. Xiaozhong."

"General Yang, your wife is extremely beautiful, a hero and a beauty are truly matched."

"Haha, General, you are too kind."

When Yang Chang nodded modestly, Zhao Fujin, who had volunteered to accompany him, bowed to Zhong Shizhong and said respectfully: "General Zhong, you have worked hard to fight the enemy for the country. I heard that you are going back to Beijing, so I came to see you."

"solitary?"

"I am the daughter of the late emperor, Princess Maude."

"What? She is"

Zhong Shizhong was surprised that this girl claimed to be alone, but he didn't expect that she was the apple of the eye of the retired emperor, the legendary most beautiful woman in the Song Dynasty. No wonder she was so stunningly beautiful.

Yang Chang agreed softly: "Madam is indeed Princess Maode, but this is a long story. The general is injured and cannot walk easily, so Madam will send guards to accompany him."

"How does this work?"

"Mr. Xiaozhong, you don't have to be polite. The general almost died in the battle at Shaxiong Ridge to protect the Zhao family. Maode can only do a little to help."

"I am ashamed."

Zhong Shizhong was shocked repeatedly and could not concentrate for a long time. It was not until he was helped by Lei Zhen onto a horse and led out of the city that his groggy mind became clear.

Although his injuries had not healed, he insisted on riding a horse instead of taking a carriage for the general.

Walking along the streets of Weisheng City, I saw people going out to enjoy the cool air, all with comfortable smiles on their faces. I felt deeply moved that in the war-torn Hedong, it was rare to have such a peaceful place.

The two walked out of Weisheng South Gate side by side. Zhong Shizhong suddenly remembered Yang Chang's words "It's a long story", so he asked Lei Zhen: "Lei Commander, Princess Maode is the beloved daughter of the emperor. I have never heard of the princess getting married. Why?"

"I don't know what will happen next."

Lei Zhen knew what he wanted to ask, but how could a princess who was a princess befriend someone else's concubine so casually tell outsiders about it?
Seeing Lei Zhen's resolute response, Zhong Shizhong stopped asking further questions and rode his horse hurriedly along the difficult official road, but stopped by the roadside not far away.

"What's up, General?"

"Please help me get off the horse."

"okay."

Lei Zhen helped Zhong Shizhong off his horse, thinking that the old general needed to relieve himself. The summer wheat had been harvested, and there was wheat straw left in the field. Several old farmers were bundling it, and it seemed that they were going to take the opportunity of the cool weather today to carry the wheat straw back home.

Mr. Xiaozhong, what are you trying to do by going towards people?
Zhong Shizhong did not urinate, but remembered what Yang Chang had just said, and went to find the farmers in Weisheng to verify the situation. He did not believe that the military and civilians were so harmonious.

Seeing an elderly couple nearby, Zhong Shizhong immediately became interested, so he approached them and greeted them: "Old man, sorry to bother you."

"Ok?"

The old woman had poor eyesight and kept looking around with empty eyes.

The old man beside him heard the voice, turned around and saw that Master Zhong had an extraordinary demeanor, and hurriedly bowed in return: "Sir, what can I do for you?"

"How old are you?"

"Ah? You are fifty-two, you..."

"hehe."

Zhong Shizhong nodded with a smile, thinking that farmers had a hard life. He was 52 years old and looked much older than himself, who was 68.

“How was the harvest this season?”

"There was drought and little rain in the first half of the year, so the harvest was naturally not as good as last year."

"Oh, will that make you hungry?"

"If you want to have a full meal every day, you have to be willing to work hard, and you won't go hungry."

After hearing the old farmer's answer, Zhong Shizhong smiled and did not comment. He then asked: "I heard that the people of Weisheng do not have to perform corvée labor. I wonder if this news is true or false?"

"Are you an official from the imperial court?"

"No, I was just passing by and stopped to ask out of curiosity."

"Oh."

The old farmer wiped his sweat and said calmly, "It doesn't matter even if it's someone from the imperial court. This is no secret in Weisheng. We don't have to perform corvée labor. We just have to pay more taxes."

"More taxes? How much?"

“Half of the season’s harvest.”

"what?"

Zhong Shizhong became excited and thought to himself, I thought you were a good official serving the people, but you are even more evil than Yang Jian. You dare to collect 50% of the regular tax. How can the people survive?
No, the old farmer's expression is wrong.

"How can you still smile when you have such high taxes?"

"Is it very high?"

The old farmer spread his hands and said disapprovingly: "Apart from this tax, there are no other miscellaneous taxes or labor service fees. It is much better than the previous court and Tian Hu. If you work hard, you won't go hungry, and there will be a surplus when there is a good harvest."

"Even if there are no miscellaneous taxes, the 50% tax is still too high."

"Not high, not high at all."

Before Zhong Shizhong finished speaking, the old farmer interrupted him excitedly and said earnestly: "Last year, tens of thousands of refugees poured into Taiyuan, causing the government warehouse to run out of grain. I donated a lot of my grain."

"The government forced us to donate grain?"

"No, I donated it on my own initiative. The amount of food donated ranks among the top ten in the village."

The old man had a proud expression on his face after he finished speaking, which made Zhong Shizhong even more surprised and puzzled. He even suspected that Yang Chang had drugged him, or had arranged someone to perform the show in advance.

But he chose it himself, and he spoke righteously, as if it was his right.

Puzzled, Zhong Shizhong asked again: "I see you are not rich either. You don't even have enough to eat. Why do you want to donate to the government? And you pay so much tax."

"What's wrong with eating less? Yang Tianzun doesn't spend it. He uses it to protect his country. Will he leave it to Jin Gou to destroy our homeland? Even if Tianzun wants my life, I, Zhang, am willing to give it. It's just that I'm old. If I were younger, I would join the army and kill Jin Gou."

"This"

The old farmer scolded Master Zhong so much that he couldn't say anything back.

The shock in my heart at this moment was comparable to that when Yang Chang suddenly appeared at Shaxiong Ridge.

This young man has great prestige. People do not call him by his official title but just call him "Tianzun". Has he become a god or a saint among the people?
Setting out on the journey again, Master Zhong couldn't calm down for a long time. He asked Lei Zhen a lot of questions on the way, and they were all about Yang Chang.

Unfortunately, Lei Zhen was born as a palace guard and did not answer all questions.

Zhong Shizhong was not disappointed, thinking that with Yang Chang guarding Hedong, he could still stop the Jin army even if the court could not recapture Taiyuan. Although he had lost his army, discovering such a talent was an unexpected gain.

He originally wanted to return to Beijing to apologize to the palace and personally recommend Yang Chang to Emperor Qinzong, but the emperor would not meet him as he pleased.

Zhong Shizhong's entire army was wiped out, and Yao Gu's army was defeated in Fenzhou, but the battle report reached the capital before them.

In the court of Tokyo Bianliang, the two factions of pro-war and pro-peace were constantly fighting each other.

The rescue of Taiyuan failed, and the peace faction seized the opportunity to rise up.

Although the peace faction no longer had its representative Li Bangyan, Geng Nanzhong, an old minister of Qinzong's Eastern Palace, stepped forward again to take the lead in advocating ceding territory for peace and attacking the peace faction headed by Li Gang.

If you make a mistake you must admit it, and if you are beaten you must stand at attention.

Before Zhong Shizhong and Yao Gu returned to the capital, Li Gang had to respond to Emperor Qinzong. Xu Han, the co-director of the Privy Council, was dismissed from his post and later demoted to serve as the prefect of Bozhou.

If nothing unexpected happens, the two of them, the chief and deputy governor of Hedong, will become victims of the struggle.

Not to mention entering the palace to meet the emperor, the day after Zhong Shizhong arrived in Beijing, the imperial edict exiling him to Qianzhou was delivered, requiring him not to stay in Tokyo but to set off for his post immediately.

Being able to save his life is still for the sake of the Zhong family's reputation.

When Zhong Shizhong failed to meet the emperor, he thought of a roundabout way to save the country and recommended talents through Zhong Shidao. However, his elder brother was already 75 years old and had been bedridden for a long time after retiring.

In late July, Zhong Shizhong left the capital with regret and loneliness.

As soon as we arrived at Nanxun Gate, the sky was gray and large black clouds gathered above.

Under the dark clouds, standing by the roadside was an old acquaintance, Li Gang, who had come to see us off.

Li Gang had a high reputation among the people, although he was not recognized by the military because he knew nothing about military affairs. Zhong Shizhong had no choice at this time, so he put aside his past grudges and recommended Yang Chang.

Sending troops to rescue Taiyuan was Qinzong's idea and Li Gang's insistence.

However, Qinzong blamed Li Gang for mobilizing so many troops but ultimately achieving nothing because of the two military defeats.

At this time, Geng Nanzhong and others took the opportunity to persuade Qinzong to cede land and seek peace, but Li Gang refused to give in in the court. Based on Zhong Shizhong's words, he recommended Yang Chang as the commander of Hedong Road.

Qinzong had a good impression of Yang Chang and was hesitating whether to agree to the request, but Geng Nanzhong stepped forward to stop him.

"Your Majesty, Yang Chang has just been appointed as the Jiedushi of Pingbei Army and Weisheng Army. He is already a high-ranking military general. With his qualifications and prestige, he has been promoted out of the ordinary. If he is promoted again without reason, I am afraid that the soldiers in the army will not accept it."

"It's already this time? Are we still judging by seniority? He rescued Master Zhong single-handedly, isn't that a credit?"

"What does that mean?"

Geng Nanzhong smiled faintly, cupped his hands and advised Emperor Qinzong: "Your Majesty, the brave general Yang Chang is guarding Pingbei and Weisheng, and he can still stop the Jin army from advancing southwards. I think there is no need to waste manpower and money. Since Taiyuan has fallen into the hands of the enemy, we might as well do a favor and focus our main energy on Hebei."

"shut up!"

When he heard about the favor, Li Gang couldn't control his temper.

He interrupted Geng Nanzhong in a stern voice and said, "Yang Chang was able to hold on to Pingbei and Weisheng, not only because of his strong personal ability, but also because of Taiyuan's persistence. If the court gave up directly, Pingbei and Weisheng would be difficult to defend, and Hebei has no geographical advantages. How can you fight the Jin army?"

"You just praised Yang Chang to the skies, and now you're saying he's no good?"

Geng Nanzhong ridiculed Li Gang in front of Emperor Qinzong and said with a contemptuous expression: "Since you have no confidence in defeating the Jin army, why do you continue to encourage Your Majesty to engage in militarism? Can our Song Dynasty withstand your torment?"

"What am I, Li Gang, doing? If I can't win, I'll just kneel down and surrender? Everyone in the world can surrender, so where do you put Your Majesty?"

"Did I say we should surrender? Didn't they ask for a ceasefire? If we hand over the three towns, the Song and Jin countries will naturally return to peace."

"absurd."

Li Gang did not argue with Geng Nanzhong, but knelt down and kowtowed to Emperor Qinzong, admonishing him: "Your Majesty, the Jin people are greedy and will not be satisfied with the three towns. They also want Hedong and Hebei. Should we cede all of them? The country is indeed in trouble now, and the combat effectiveness of the army is not as good as that of the Jin people, but as long as we use talented people to manage the army and strengthen the country, we may be able to narrow the gap."

"To manage soldiers?"

When Qinzong heard these two words, his dissatisfaction was instantly aroused.

Not long ago, Huizong sent a handwritten letter in which he called himself "old and clumsy" and addressed Qinzong as "Your Majesty". He bluntly said, "The Jin people will surely invade the capital again, and requested to be allowed to go to Xijing to command the troops."

Xijing is Luoyang. Huizong was under house arrest in Longde Palace. He wanted to use this trick to escape, but was dissuaded by Prime Minister Wu Min.

In fact, even without Wu Min's advice, Qinzong would not let Huizong leave Bianliang, let alone let him go out to command the troops. A son is more wary of his father than a thief.

Seeing that Emperor Qinzong was frowning in thought, Geng Nanzhong guessed that the emperor had a love-hate relationship with Li Gang, and that keeping Li Gang in the central government would affect the emperor's judgment, so he thought of a plan.

"Your Majesty, General Zhong has retired due to old age, and the position of the Hedong and Hebei envoy is vacant. Since Minister Li is unwilling to cede the three towns, why not let him replace General Zhong and lead the soldiers of the two rivers to fight against the Jin people?"

"Geng Nanzhong, what do you mean? I'm a civil servant!"

"So what if they are civil servants? There are not enough civil servants in our dynasty to serve in military positions?"

"But."

Li Gang wanted to argue, but Qinzong impatiently interrupted them and muttered, "Geng Qing is right. Li Qing is concerned about the country and the people, so he went to the front line to share my worries."

"His Majesty."

"Back off, I'm tired."

"Yes"

After Emperor Qinzong dismissed the court, he drafted an edict to appoint Li Gang as the envoy of Hedong and Hebei, replacing Zhong Shidao as the commander-in-chief, and appointed Jie Qian as the deputy envoy to replace Yao Gu, and appointed Liu Qian as the pacification envoy of Zhending, replacing Zhong Shizhong to station troops in Zhending Prefecture.

Li Gang saw that this was Geng Nanzhong's plan. He demoted himself in secret and transferred himself away from the central government. When he returned home, he pretended to be sick and wrote a letter requesting retirement. He submitted more than a dozen memorials, but they were all rejected by Emperor Qinzong.

Geng Nanzhong instigated Qinzong again, claiming that the previous incident of the Imperial students forcing the emperor to abdicate was secretly instigated by Li Gang.

In February, the students of the Imperial Academy forced the emperor to abdicate, which resulted in Li Gang's reinstatement. Li Gang was the beneficiary of this incident, but Emperor Qinzong believed it to be true and implicitly rebuked him in his imperial edict.

Li Gang was later advised by his good friends in the court to take up his post and leave the capital. Later, because he did not understand military affairs and blindly built cars (chariots), he was disliked by Emperor Qinzong and was exiled.

Lei Zhen escorted Zhong Shizhong to Beijing and met a strange man in Luzhou on his way back. At this time, two horse-drawn carriages were on the road at the same time. Although the carriages were full of clothes and luggage, they left deep ruts.

Why is the luggage so heavy?

Lei Zhen walked closer out of curiosity and actually smelled a strong smell of gunpowder.

What does he want to do?
Seeing that the man was very strong and powerful, and was accompanied by two muscular followers, Lei Zhen was worried that he could not defeat the opponent alone, so he followed him quietly all the way to the Weisheng South Gate.

Just as he reached the city gate, he suddenly shouted, "Capture them!"

(End of this chapter)