Chapter 101: Mantis trying to stop a chariot

[The lone brave Yan Zhenqing was sent to Pingyuan County to be the governor by a transfer order from Yang Guozhong.]

【Look at the map, Pingyuan County is near An Lushan’s base camp. 】

[When he arrived at Pingyuan County, Yan Zhenqing inspected the city wall of Pingyuan County and said that the wall was so short and not strong. What would happen if there was a flood? So he mobilized the residents to repair the wall. ]

[Yes, he firmly believed that An Lushan would rebel. ]

[If the imperial court doesn't care, then I, Yan Zhenqing, will! ]

[Yan Zhenqing was preparing to resist An Lushan in his own way! ]

……

"The officials in the court are not as clear-sighted as a small official sent from outside. The Tang Dynasty was prosperous, but it was rotten at the root. It deserved this disaster."

Cao Cao sneered.

Although Li Longji regarded himself as an idol, it must be said that this guy did not do very well in his later years.

He trusted his subordinates too much.

Have you forgotten the lesson learned from Sima Yi?

When Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, went to war with Goryeo, he was on guard against Li Jing, fearing that he would turn into the second Sima Yi.

As a result, Li Shimin was so bold that he dared to hand over 15 troops to a Hu people.

However, Yan Zhenqing is truly a loyal and righteous man.

A determined man of action.

Cao Cao's eyes revealed admiration.

……

"Plain?"

"Could it be the place where my elder brother served as the county magistrate?"

Although he didn't know whether this plain was the same plain, when Zhang Fei saw the word "plain" again, he stood up excitedly.

Liu Bei and Guan Yu both had smiles on their faces, and their hearts were filled with emotion, as if they were recalling some past times.

At that time, the three men were still unknown and powerless. They had finally earned an official position by virtue of their merits in suppressing the rebels. However, the Inspector sent by the court looked down on them and made things difficult for them.

Times have changed.

The three of them have been famous for a long time and have established a foundation.

Who could have thought that these three people who were once unknown and looked down upon by everyone would become truly famous in the future?

To be honest, even Liu Bei did not expect that he would be able to ascend the throne and become emperor in the future.

……

[At this time, An Lushan controlled one-third of the Tang Dynasty's troops. How could a small county like Pingyuan resist him? This was like trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm! ]

[Zhuangzi once said, "A mantis trying to stop a chariot is a man who must be the bravest man in the world."]

[It means that if a person can be like the little mantis, knowing that it is impossible to do something but still doing it, then he is a truly loyal and brave person. ]

……

This scene moved many people.

"Such a loyal and brave man should not be buried."

During the Hongwu period, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had always admired loyal and righteous people, was quite excited.

He immediately issued an order: "Biao'er, order Pingyuan County to carefully repair the Yan Lugong Temple and have people offer sacrifices on the first day of the second month of spring and autumn every year. Such a loyal and brave man should not be forgotten by the world."

……

[While Yan Zhenqing was busy repairing the city and training the army, the pair of Crouching Dragon and Phoenix in the Tang Dynasty were also busy. ]

[An Lushan replaced all 32 Han generals in his army with foreign generals. His rebellious intentions were obvious.]

【Yang Guozhong continued to suppress An Lushan in the court. In order to collect evidence of An Lushan's treason, he sent people to seal off An Lushan's home in the capital. 】

[In 755 AD, An Lushan finally rebelled. ]

[Yang Guozhong played an indispensable role. If he hadn't pushed An Lushan so hard, perhaps An Lushan would have rebelled a few years later. Of course, it's meaningless to talk about this now, because An Lushan rebelled after all.]

[An Lushan's slogan was to purge the imperial court and eliminate the treacherous minister Yang Guozhong. ] [Another trick of purging the imperial court. ]

[The routine is still the same routine, but some people succeeded and some failed. ]

……

During the Yongle reign, Zhu Di stroked his chin and said, "Why do I feel like the sky is pointing at me?"

The old monk beside him smiled and said, "There is nothing new under the sun. Throughout history, Your Majesty is the only vassal king who has successfully rebelled."

"People like An Lushan are no match for Your Majesty."

The old monk's words were very useful to Zhu Di.

That’s right. Is there anyone else who has successfully revolted as a vassal king throughout history except him?
To be honest, even Zhu Di didn't think he would succeed at the beginning.

Because it is so difficult, so difficult that there is almost no hope.

If Emperor Jianwen had not been stupid and God had not been on his side, it is hard to say what the final outcome would have been.

"The Hu people are good at fighting, but when it comes to governing a country, they are really inferior to the Han people. This can be seen from the Qing Dynasty. Even if An Lushan could dethrone Emperor Xuanzong, it would not last long."

Zhu Di sighed, "What a pity! Xuanzong didn't know how to judge people. He can't escape the blame for the great disaster that the people of the world suffered."

……

[An Lushan united with the Khitan, Xi, Shiwei and other foreign states, and personally led an army of 15 to march south. ]

[An Lushan's army was composed of elite soldiers who had experienced many battles on the frontier. The interior of the Tang Dynasty had been peaceful for a long time. Faced with An Lushan's army, some of the defenders were so frightened that they fell off the city wall and died.]

[The counties and prefectures of Hebei collapsed at the first blow, just like a porcelain-hitting incident. In just ten days, almost the entire Hebei province fell.]

……

"Born in adversity, die in comfort. What Meng Yasheng said is really true."

During the Zhenguan period, Li Shimin shook his head and sighed.

So embarrassing.

See Weizhi book.

It is ridiculous that the defenders were so frightened that they fell off the city wall. It shows how poor their fighting ability was.

Tianmu has already made it very clear the reasons for all this.

This is completely due to the lack of any sense of crisis and lack of serious practice!

……

[What is Yan Zhenqing doing in Hebei at this moment? He is living a carefree life. He has found some scholars and poets to go boating on the lake, drink and write poetry.]

……

"What's going on? Wasn't it said that this man was a brave and loyal man who dared to stand up to the enemy?"

Many people were stunned when seeing the scene on the sky curtain showing Yan Zhenqing boating on the lake, drinking and writing poetry.

Especially those who don't know about the later historical dynasties such as the Tang Dynasty, such as the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Fei has question marks on his forehead.

Is this what they call "blocking the car with your arm"?
This is clearly a case of giving up even though one knows the outcome is impossible!
There is no such thing as a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

"Don't worry, Generals. Just wait and see."

Seeing Zhang Fei's confused look, Zhuge Liang laughed and signaled him to be patient.

……

[Perhaps many people will wonder, what is the saying of "a mantis trying to stop a chariot"? This is not the case at all! ]

【Everyone, please don’t rush. 】

[Yan Zhenqing has the awareness of trying to stop a chariot with his arms, but that doesn’t mean that Yan Zhenqing is a mantis. ]

【If you have brains, you should block the car in a meaningful way. 】

[He hoped that his evasive behavior would make An Lushan relax his vigilance.]

[Because Yan Zhenqing knew that relying on his small Pingyuan County to confront An Lushan's cavalry was simply suicide.]

[He guessed that as An Lushan continued to move south, the imperial court would certainly send a large army to resist the enemy.]

(End of this chapter)