Chastity Layman 2

Chapter 201
Out of Qizhou, into Binzhou.

Going north along the Jinghe tunnel, Qin Lang felt the precipitousness of the northwest gateway in the pass. The farther to the northwest, the less fertile plains, and the narrow and deep valleys are more obvious.

The Jinghe River is difficult to transport by boat and water, so Qin Lang and his party traveled along the rugged and winding road in the valley.I don't know how many Hu tribes have traveled along this road, approaching Chang'an in Guanzhong.I don't know how many Qin and Han armies gathered from Chang'an again and again to go on expeditions beyond the Great Wall.

But right now, Qin Lang didn't have thousands of troops around him, but only a hundred men and horses from the Zhenfu Division.They did not go on an expedition beyond the Great Wall to open up the Western Regions, but they also had heavy responsibilities.

Li Shimin asked Qin Lang to go to Jingzhou to see what Li Yi was doing at this time, which actually showed that Li Yi had been stabbed in Li Shimin's throat for a long time.

As a hero of the separatist regime at the end of the Sui Dynasty, although he joined Li Tang very early, he was never really trusted by the Li family and his son.

When it was Li Yuan's time, his methods were more gentle, but now Li Shimin, because he had an old grudge with Li Shimin, Li Shimin couldn't tolerate him even more.

And many intelligences detected by the Zhenfu Division also showed that Li Yi had been restless.

The last time the Turkic troops came to Chang'an, Li Yi was guarding Jingzhou. He made a strange move at that time. Although the court quickly reached a white horse alliance with Jieli and forced Jieli to withdraw his troops, Li Yi did not have time to make more changes, but at the critical moment Those actions still deeply stimulated Li Shimin.

"Sanlang, Zhao Cihao, the governor of Binzhou, is here to welcome you!"

Captain Dugu Yanyun reported.

Qin Lang's thoughts were interrupted, and he nodded.

Zhao Cihao is the Zhizhong of Binzhou, his full name is Zhizhong Engaged, the state assistant official, and he is second to Biejia.In the Sui Dynasty, Biejia and Zhizhong were changed to Changshi and Sima.

"Zhao Zhizhong also brought Yang Ji, the commander of Binzhou, with a lot of troops." Dugu Yanyun said something.

Qin Lang smiled, "It's okay, these two are our own."

Binzhou belonged to Jingzhou in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was called Xinping County in the Sui Dynasty. It was established in Tang Dynasty and renamed Binzhou. It only governed Xinping and Sanshui counties.

Originally, Binzhou could have been subordinated to Jingzhou, but the imperial court still established Binzhou independently, because of the special location of Binzhou.

Jingzhou already occupied the important portal of Jingzhou in the northwest of Guanzhong. If such a key place of victory is included, if the southern exit is also included, it will not be conducive to the needs of military guards. Therefore, Binzhou is established separately and is not affiliated to Jingzhou.

Li Yi was originally guarding Binzhou. He considered that once Binzhou came out, it would be the Guanzhong Plain, so the imperial court transferred Li Yi to Jingzhou in the north. It is an important military state, and Binzhou is guarding the gate in the south. Li Yi is actually trapped in Jingzhou.

Also because of the importance of Binzhou, after Li Yi was transferred away, Li Shimin did not send any more governors, not even the other ones.

Both Zhao Cihao and Yang Ji, the commanding army stationed in Binzhou, belonged to Li Shimin.

When Zhao Cihao saw Qin Lang, he immediately felt relieved.

"Duke Yi, you are finally here."

But when he saw Qin Lang coming with more than a hundred riders, he was a little disappointed.

"But what happened?" Qin Lang noticed the change in his face and asked.

"Li Yi wants to rebel!" Zhao Cihao said worriedly. During this period of time, all the prefectures in the pass were busy catching locusts for disaster relief. While Zhao Cihao was in charge of catching locusts in Binzhou, he also had to keep an eye on Li Yi all the time, not daring to relax at all.

Hard work pays off, his staring is still useful, he has discovered a lot of abnormal behaviors in Jingzhou recently.For example, in the name of disaster relief, Li Yi recruited government soldiers and even requisitioned food and grass.

"What you said, the Zhenfu Division also has a grasp of it, but it is not enough to show that Li Yi will rebel. After all, Li Yi, as the governor, has the right to mobilize and requisition during the special period of locust hunting and disaster relief."

"Duke Yi, Li Yi will definitely rebel, I dare to guarantee it with my head!"

Qin Lang smiled.

"Zhao Zhizhong is loyal to the imperial court. His Majesty knows it well, and I understand it too, but how can the imperial court punish Li Yi for treason just because of these things?"

These words were actually telling Zhao Cihao that everyone knew that Li Yi was not a good bird, but in this matter, unless the court had more evidence, it could not act first.

"I am here to investigate this matter at the emperor's will."

Zhao Cihao smiled a bit reluctantly, "But Lord Yi only brought a hundred horses here, if Li Yi plots a rebellion and makes trouble, I'm afraid he won't be able to control it."

"Li Yi has long been a trapped bird in a cage. If he doesn't fight back, he will die. If he does, he will find his own death. To deal with Li Yi, only a hundred horses are enough."

Of course Qin Lang's words were not bragging.

If Li Yi was in Youzhou now, then Qin Lang wouldn't dare to say such big words. Li Yi had ruled the roost in Youzhou for many years, and his power was strong. Back then, even Dou Jiande could not attack Dou Jiande with [-] soldiers for a long time, but after all, it is not the past.

Li Yi was attached to the Tang Dynasty, and after Wude put down Liu Heita five years later, he was also conscripted by the court, and he never returned to Hebei after that.

Now, although it is said that the governor is outside the town, Jingzhou is a prison. In front of it, there is the gate of Xiaoguan in Yuanzhou, and there are two towns of Liang and Ling to block the connection with the outside of the Great Wall. In the south, there is Binzhou to block, and Chang'an is only three miles away. Only a hundred miles.

The most important point is that the imperial court has actually been guarding against Li Yi for a long time. It was guarding against him when Li Yuan was in power, and it was even stricter when Li Shimin took power.

At the time of Li Yuan, Li Yi was still General Tianjie at any rate, commanding one of the twelve forces in Guanzhong.

This Tianjie general is very important. Based on Li Yuanshi's military system, the Guanzhong area is divided into twelve military regions, led by twelve generals.

This military region system is completely different from the Twelve Guards system.

Li Yi, the envoy of the military region, has the power to command and deploy troops, as well as the power of civil affairs, finance and taxation, which is greater military power than that of ordinary border governors.

Compared with the original system in which the twelve guards commanded the generals, the commanding army mansion commanded the troops, the Ministry of War was in charge of dispatching orders, and the emperor had the right to choose generals, the military region system of the Twelve Routes in Guanzhong allowed Datang to face difficulties at the beginning of the founding of the country. When the military situation around Chang'an is complicated, the generals have higher decision-making and mobilization rights, and they don't have to ask for instructions in everything and obey the imperial court's mobilization, so as not to delay the war opportunity.

With his status as General Tianjie, Li Yi could mobilize the soldiers and horses under the command of the guards in Jingzhou, Yuanzhou, Binzhou and other important gateways in the northwest of Chang'an, as well as mobilize the money, food and taxes of the states.

But this important position was directly dismissed after Li Shimin became the prince.

The entire Twelve Taoists and Twelve Generals in Guanzhong were dismissed at once.

Later, Li Yi was transferred from Binzhou to Jingzhou, and then he was the deputy commander of the Northern Expedition, and the post of marching commander was also dismissed, so only the post of governor of Jingzhou was left.

The governor of Jingzhou is just a civilian job, and he can't even mobilize the soldiers of the local commanding army in Jingzhou, let alone the soldiers and horses of Yuan, Bin and other prefectures.

Jingzhou is not Youzhou, Li Yi doesn't have much prestige here, without the status given by the imperial court, he is like a tiger in Pingyang.

Although there are still some confidantes around, but what kind of waves can they make?

Qin Lang's calm and self-confidence surprised even Zhao Cihao.

After all, Li Yi's name is very famous. During the previous dynasty, he guarded Youzhou and prestiged the barbarians outside the Great Wall.This kind of famous general still poses a great threat to civil servants like Zhao Cihao.

"Let's go, enter Xinping City. Zhao Zhizhong, the news of my arrival hasn't been revealed?"

"No, only my subordinates and Yang Tongjun know."

"Very well, continue to keep it secret and block the news. We will enter the city disguised as a food team in a while."

After entering Xinping City in Binzhou, Qin Lang stopped, he did not go to Jingzhou.

After Qin Lang entered the city, he stayed in the backyard of the Yamen in Binzhou, and began to gather information about Li Yi in Jingzhou. After analyzing a lot of information, Qin Lang summoned Zhao Cihao and Yang Ji successively.

On the third day after he entered Binzhou City, Zhao Cihao rushed to see him.

"Duke Yi, Li Yi is here."

"He has come to Binzhou with 8000 troops!"

Qin Lang wasn't surprised at all, he smiled calmly, "I knew he was coming a long time ago, and I've been waiting for him for a long time."

"What should we do now? Should we immediately call Yang Commander's army to assemble the government soldiers?"

"No need!"

Qin Lang smiled lightly.

"But Li Yi is going to the city soon, and there are not many soldiers in the city."

After Qin Lang arrived in Binzhou three days ago, he stopped and did not leave because three days ago he received a secret report from the Zhenfu Division in Jingzhou that Li Yi was rebelling.

After all, Li Yi couldn't hold back, he was about to rebel when the Turks invaded last time, but unfortunately he was not ready yet, in the end Xieli actually signed the Weiqiao alliance with Li Shimin and then withdrew.

This made Li Yi very angry.

But there is no way, things are in a hurry, and he is not ready at all.

But some things, once started, can't stop.

After Li Shimin launched the Xuanwumen Incident, Li Yi has been in a state of panic. He knew that Li Shimin would eventually come to liquidate him, and that day would come sooner or later.

When his old subordinate Wang Shen was killed in Youzhou, and dozens of his former confidants were also purged in Youzhou, Li Yi became more urgent.

Originally, he thought that the Turkic invasion was a good opportunity, so he sent troops south to join Xieli, who knew that his mother Xieli was a coward.

After Xieli left, Li Yi prepared and planned for a long time, and finally took advantage of the locust plague in Guanzhong and the uncertainty of people's hearts.

Li Yi and his confidantes summoned Jingzhou's government soldiers and local tyrants, pretending to follow the secret edict to order troops to enter the court!

He didn't even dare to openly rebel and raise the flag, because he didn't have much prestige and confidants in Jingzhou, so he could only use this method to coax and coerce soldiers to raise troops.He didn't even dare to pretend to obey Li Yuan's imperial edict, but pretended to obey the new emperor's secret imperial edict, saying that he was required to lead troops into the court to kill the rebels who conspired to cause chaos.

As soon as Li Xiaochang and Li Youliang's rebellion case was over, the generals in Jingzhou really believed it.

So Li Yi deceived Jingzhou generals and powerful households, recruited thousands of government soldiers and many village braves, and brought 8000 troops to Binzhou.

This was the result of Li Yi's long-term conspiracy with his confidants. They fought to the death and went directly to Chang'an City while all parties were not paying attention. If there was no chance, they would lead the troops back to Hebei.

He didn't choose to go out to the northwest because the three towns of Yuan Liangling blocked his way.

"Report, King Yan has led his troops outside the city!"

Qin Lang sneered twice, and said to Zhao Cihao, "Zhao Zhizhong, please go to the gate of the city to welcome King Yan!"

(End of this chapter)