Chapter 261 Each Chooses His Master
Yang Chang today sang the same tune as everyone else. Although he did not openly declare himself emperor in the end, he had already ordered the recruitment of soldiers and horses in various states, which was obviously a preparation for separatist rule and becoming a king.

Under pressure at the time, Tang Ke also joined the crowd in making noise.

On the way home from the Taiwei Mansion, Tang Ke frowned and thought about the future.

Should you leave early with your family, or should you degenerate and help rebel? You need to make a decision in advance.

His ancestors had all served as officials in the Song Dynasty, and he himself had even become the highest prime minister, so he had an inexplicable affection for the Song Dynasty. However, the Song Dynasty was in turmoil now, with the Jin armies from the east and west approaching Bianliang again. Now he could not go back even if he wanted to.

Tang Ke has been in Weisheng for quite some time, and the people in the area have never suffered from war. Although there was a shortage of food in the past few months, there has been no news of anyone leaving their homes and becoming a refugee.

Under the current military control, the people can live and work in peace and the soldiers can fight bravely, but the civil officials here are not valued enough.

Of course, the reason why Tang Ke felt that he was not valued was that there was a lack of the culture of valuing civil officials over military officials here. He could not override the military officers as usual. Instead, the military officers were acting arrogantly and occupying most of the positions with real power.

Moreover, since there were few civil servants under Yang Changzhi, each of them had to do the work of multiple people. They had no time for corruption, abuse of power, eating, drinking and having fun, and they felt that their ten years of hard study were a waste of time.

Even if there are many unsatisfactory things, there are still benefits.

The official environment in Weisheng is simple, without political infighting and struggle. Everyone works and lives in their respective positions. In fact, Tang Ke and his family have adapted very well to it.

When he was prime minister, he was criticized by the pro-war faction and cursed by the people because he advocated ceding territory for peace. The reason was that he was trying to share the emperor's worries.

Although he has become a discarded son of a dismissed prime minister, he does not want to end up as a traitor. But where else can he go if he leaves Yang Chang? Maybe he can go back to his hometown in Hangzhou and live in seclusion? I heard that Liu Yanqing and Zhang Shuye returned to Beijing to defend the emperor. Will Fang La sweep through Suzhou and Hangzhou again?

Tang Ke was full of random thoughts and was ready to spend some time to think it over carefully, but when he got home he saw an acquaintance visiting him.

"Eun-sang, you are back"

"Juemin (Fan Zongyin's pen name)? When did you come to Weisheng?"

"I arrived too late yesterday, so I didn't dare to disturb your rest. In the morning you..."

Before Fan Zongyin finished speaking, Tang Ke interrupted him curiously and asked, "Did you come with Wen Huanzhang? Why didn't you go to the Taiwei Mansion just now?"

"I am not a high-ranking official, nor am I a close confidant of General Yang, and no one notified me to attend the meeting."

"and you."

"I came to Weisheng on business, and I'll pay a visit to Prime Minister En."

Tang Ke sensed some complaints in Fan Zongyin's tone, and immediately waved his hand in response, "Juemin is thoughtful. I heard that Luzhou also had a good harvest. You must have been busy recently, right?"

"So what if there's a good harvest? I didn't take an extra stone. By the way," Fan Zongyin looked around and said mysteriously, "Does the Prime Minister know that something big has happened in Luzhou?"

"Is it possible that Geng Xidao was murdered?" (Geng Nanzhong, courtesy name Xidao)
"You know, Prime Minister? Lu Zhishen is really bold. He is your Majesty's confidant."

"The Taiwei Mansion was just talking about this. I didn't expect that as an important official of the court, he actually colluded with the Jin people and was killed by Lu Tongzhi. He had no fault with anyone."

Seeing Tang Ke's calm expression, Fan Zongyin, who had just sat down, stood up and asked in shock, "En Xiang forgot that we were in Beijing in the past. The three of us had a great time talking. Why don't you feel sad at all?"

"Although we have a history, Geng Xidao betrayed his country and surrendered to the enemy. Why should I be sad?"

"You can't say that. The Jin people were brutal and unreasonable. Minister Geng might have had no choice but to do so. Lu Zhishen just killed him like that. Didn't you see that his whole face was smashed? How cruel is that?" Fan Zongyin looked sad and angry.

Tang Ke asked curiously: "What exactly do you want to say?"

"Yang Chang raised soldiers and cultivated land, and did not follow the imperial system. I'm afraid he had a rebellious heart. Didn't Prime Minister En see that?"

"This"

When Fan Zongyin said this, Tang Ke thought, "I saw it a long time ago. You wouldn't be so slow to react, right? People have almost made it clear today. Do you have any objections?"

"Yang Chang was born a bandit. He values ​​military power over culture in his jurisdiction. He is likely to follow Tian Hu's old path. Should we do something?"

"Ok?"

Tang Ke was stunned and leaned forward: "What to do? What can you do?"

"The civil officials in each state and army under Yang Chang are all frustrated, and you used to be the prime minister, and you have a high prestige in everyone's heart. Why not secretly connect them and find a way to win over the various armies..."

"Stop!"

Seeing that Fan Zongyin's words were not right, Tang Ke quickly stretched out his hand to stop him, and asked with a bitter face: "Do you know what you are talking about? You are making small moves in Yang Taiwei's territory and even trying to win over his troops. Do you want me to follow Geng Xidao's footsteps? I don't think I have the ability to do that."

"But if we let it go like this, it will be like the powerful feudal lords in the late Tang Dynasty. How can they not rebel?"

Tang Ke had just gone to the Taiwei Mansion, and at this time, stimulated by Fan Zongyin, he started to find excuses for Yang Chang.

"Your Majesty established the vassal states mainly to defend Shanxi, and he must have thought that the vassal states might become too powerful. Now Yang Chang has stopped the Jin army, but he has not betrayed the court."

"Yang Chang was born into a bandit family in Liangshan. There is a saying that goes 'a thief's nature never changes'. You were a judge many years ago, so you should know that many people who break the law will break it again."

"enough!"

Tang Ke interrupted Fan Zongyin and said in a deep voice: "The court has recruited many people, but few have rebelled. Now the Jin people are wreaking havoc everywhere, and Bianliang City is besieged by a large army, but we have never been afraid. Isn't this stability good? Don't let your imagination run wild all day long. This idea is very dangerous!"

"I see."

Fan Zongyin stood up and saluted, puffing up his cheeks and thinking for a while, then he came up with the second set of words he had prepared, "Are you worried about your family, Eun-sang? It is known that Weisheng may not be safe either."

"What do you mean?"

"It is still unknown whether the Jin army will besiege Bianliang. Maybe the Jin army is deliberately misleading us, but there are indeed troops in Zezhou. If the main force of the Jin army is really in Zezhou, what do you think will be the consequences? How many troops are there in Luzhou and Weisheng?"

"General Yang is always victorious in every battle. I believe he can handle it."

Seeing Tang Ke's words were so sure, Fan Zongyin couldn't help but sneer, "I have nothing to do in my spare time, so I have studied the battle between Yang Chang and Jin. Does En Xiang know what I have discovered?"

"what?"

"Whether it was Pingbei, Weisheng or Liaozhou, he relied on the passes and dangerous places to limit the attack power of the Jin cavalry, and then won the victory, and it was basically a small-scale victory. I have heard Huanzhang say that the Nianhan army that passed through Cizhou this time was at least more than 100,000 people, not counting Erliduo's Eastern Army. If they made a feint in Bianliang and then turned around to attack Shanxi, do you think about it?"

Tang Ke didn't understand military strategy, so he spread his hands after hearing this.

"So what?"

"What?" Fan Zongyin laughed contemptuously, "There are no mountains like Taiyue and Taihang blocking Zezhou and Luzhou. What can Yang Chang use to stop the two Jin armies?"

"But this is all your inference. Bianliang is the most prosperous city in the Song Dynasty and is also the seat of the Song Dynasty's imperial court. How could the Jin army feint an attack on Bianliang and go to great lengths to attack Shanxi? What do Nianhan and Erliduo want? Are they trying to make this place poor?"

"Eunxiang!"

Seeing Tang Ke arguing, Fan Zongyin responded meaningfully: "Of course it's hatred. How many Jin people did Yang Chang kill? Not to mention the generals such as Lou Shi, who also claimed to have killed Marshal Wuliebu. This hatred will definitely not be resolved."

"This"

Tang Ke was speechless for a moment.

Fan Zongyin was pleased to see this, and took the opportunity to approach and whispered a suggestion, cupping his hands and saying: "It is human nature that you are unwilling to take risks, but a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. It is indeed not appropriate to return to Bianliang now. We can take advantage of Yang Chang's absence and sneak away from Fengyue Pass."

"Sneak away? Leave Fengyue Pass? Where to?"

Facing Tang Ke's three questions, Fan Zongyin calmly replied: "Of course I will go to King Kang. King Kang is respectful to the wise and humble, and he will definitely make use of the Prime Minister."

"King Kang betrayed the court and is a true traitor. You..." "Your Majesty is close to the emperor. Isn't Prime Minister En clear? King Kang has the secret decree of the emperor. He has been supported by the military and civilians in many places. Sooner or later, he will be the heir to the throne. We should go and follow him as soon as possible. We can also get the credit of supporting the emperor."

"No way, absolutely impossible."

After hearing this, Tang Ke waved his hands and said firmly: "Even if the emperor wanted to restore the throne, the secret decree could not leave Longde Palace. Prince Kang must have forged the decree!"

"Nothing is absolute in this world. What if it is true? Don't forget that King Kang's surname is Zhao and he has the qualifications to inherit the throne. What does Yang Chang have?"

"He is the prince consort!"

"Prince consort? Haha."

Fan Zongyin laughed out loud: "En Xiang is well-versed in history. How many princes-in-law in history founded their own country? Yes, there is one, but Yang Chang is not comparable to Shi Jingtang. Shi Jingtang could borrow the power of Khitan, but Yang Chang had a mortal enemy with the Jin people, so he had no external force to borrow."

When Tang Ke heard Shi Jingtang, his originally conflicted and hesitant heart suddenly became determined.

"You are right. Taiwei Yang and Shi Jingtang are not comparable. One actively resisted foreign enemies, while the other colluded with foreigners and sold out the country. As for the King Kang you mentioned, he cheated the world's military commander by taking credit for the reward. This is an act of ill-intentioned intention. He later took the opportunity to betray the court, which is even more ungrateful. Tang will never be loyal to such a villain!"

"Good to you"

Fan Zongyin was so shocked that he was stunned and his mind went blank.

"You go!"

"what?"

"I ask you to leave!"

Tang Ke stepped aside to make way, and said seriously: "Since we are colleagues, today you can pretend that you have never been here. You can go back to Luzhou and serve as an official, or you can go to King Kang. But if you dare to follow Geng Nanzhong's example, Lu Zhishen will definitely come looking for you!"

"Yes, yes, thank you, I haven't been here before."

After Fan Zongyin finished speaking, he fled in panic.

After the conversation between the two today, how could I dare to continue staying in Luzhou?
Without waiting for Wen Huanzhang to return to Luzhou, Fan Zongyin left Weisheng that day. Later, relying on his status as a judge, he secretly escaped from Fengyue Pass to seek his merit in following the dragon.

Wu Song actually knew about Fan Zongyin's visit to Tang Ke and his early departure from Weisheng, but he did not take it seriously because he had other things to do.

Yang Chang is about to go to Zezhou, and all relevant personnel have been mobilized. Although Wu Song is in charge of the defense of Weisheng City, he controls the Night Owl Army. Due to the shortage of military forces in various states, the Night Owl Army is also on the list of conscription.

On July 15th, the army marched out with great victory.

After two days of planning and preparation, Yang Chang selected 10,000 elite infantry and cavalry, and appointed Lu Junyi, Chai Jin and Shi Qian as generals, to march south as the vanguard.

Qiu Qiongying, who used to follow the army, was temporarily left in Weisheng this time to cooperate with Ye Qing in recruiting and training new soldiers and serve as the commander of the second echelon.

With Shi Qian's Night Owl Army, Zhao Fujin was not taken to the front line. In order to prevent any unusual movements of the Jin Army in Taiyuan, she had to send a message at the critical moment, just like when Weisheng was attacked.

On July 17, after two days of rapid march, the army arrived at Shangdang.

Lin Chong, Yan Qing, Wen Huanzhang and others came to the outside of the city to greet them in the scorching sun.

When Yang Chang saw this situation from afar, he knew that the military situation on the front line was not urgent.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Lin Chong immediately clasped his fists and reported: "Since the failure of the Jin army to capture Huguan on the tenth day, there has been no new movement in the past few days. However, after several days of reconnaissance, the scouts discovered that the Jin army is transporting grain to Gaoping. It seems that they are preparing for a big battle."

"A big war? How big will it be?"

Yang Chang first looked at Lin Chong, then his gaze fell on Wen Huanzhang.

Wen Huanzhang stroked his beard and replied, "There are many Jin cavalrymen in Zezhou. Our scouts cannot get close to Gaoping, so we haven't found out the enemy's strength yet. It is possible that the Jin army will fail to take Bianliang and turn back to deal with us."

"Gaoping?"

Yang Chang frowned after hearing this and continued to ask: "The ancient battlefield of Changping seems to be in Gaoping?"

"Yes." Wen Huanzhang nodded.

"The Jin people really know how to choose a place."

Seeing Yang Chang sighing with a smile, Wen Huanzhang immediately asked excitedly: "You are not going to take the initiative to attack, are you? We only have 20,000 soldiers here, which is definitely a gap with the number of the Jin army. Even if we directly recruit people from various states to join the army, we will not be able to supply weapons."

"We can't say we're taking the initiative, but we must understand the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. If we had known earlier, we should have brought the princess here."

When Yang Chang was speaking, he saw Shi Qian, so he waved his hand and said, "How are your Night Owl Army? They have never acted as a group. Do you want to show off your skills?"

"Brother, just give me your orders."

Shi Qian is not tall, but his response is sonorous and powerful.

Yang Chang was about to issue a military order when he suddenly remembered what Wen Huanzhang had said. He turned back and asked, "Mr. Wen, you just said that the Jin army was transporting grain to Gaoping?"

"correct."

“Where are they shipped from?”

"There are grain transport teams in all parts of Zezhou, right? Our scouts were restricted, and we only found the grain transport team in Lingchuan County."

Before Wen Huanzhang finished speaking, Yang Chang suddenly interrupted him and turned to ask Lin Chong: "Have you inquired about Lingchuan County? Are there any Jin troops stationed there?"

"We did investigate, but didn't find any Jin troops."

"Good, very good!"

Hearing Lin Chong's affirmative answer, Yang Chang couldn't help but slap his thigh.

Seeing Yang Changxin's delighted expression, Wen Huanzhang suddenly guessed what he was thinking and asked anxiously, "Does the commander want to take Lingchuan and then surround it and attack the reinforcements?"

"This plan is worth a try." Yang Chang nodded.

"No."

Wen Huanzhang cupped his hands and advised: "I heard that the defenders of Zezhou surrendered without a fight, which means that there are tens of thousands of puppet troops. The Jin army may not have assembled yet, but its total strength is definitely greater than ours. If the commander divides his troops to seize Lingchuan now, aren't you afraid of being outmaneuvered? The troops who went to Lingchuan may not be able to return."

"Sir, listen to me!"

Yang Chang nodded to Wen Huanzhang and said sternly, "The Jin army has always been known for its bravery. If they really have more troops than us, shouldn't they attack us from multiple routes at the same time while we are not fully prepared? Don't forget that the route between Zezhou and Luzhou is not limited to Huguan. So the reason why they are keeping their troops still and gathering to wait for battle is because they have few troops and are insecure."

"The general's view on issues is indeed different from others."

Wen Huanzhang opened his eyes wide, thinking that his previous victories might be entirely due to his bravery. Lin Chong, Yan Qing and others also nodded frequently.

"Sending a large number of cavalry on alert is actually a sign of guilty conscience. However, our military strength is indeed limited. We can only give 5,000 men at most to take Lingchuan, so it is still somewhat difficult. And I have to keep an eye on the enemy in Gaoping. So, who is willing to go for me?"

"I"

"I go!"

Lin Chong and Lu Junyi volunteered at the same time.

(End of this chapter)