Late Tang Dynasty: I

Chapter 113 The True Loyal and Martyr

Li Ye was overjoyed when he heard that Han Jian reported that the envoys of the Guiyi Army had arrived in Chang'an.

Later generations have limited historical materials on the Guiyi Army, some of which are recorded in the Dunhuang Grottoes.

It records the great achievements of the Guiyi Army in opening up the territory in Hexi, all of which make His Majesty the Emperor fascinated.

I also sighed sadly at the last afterglow and decline of the Guiyi Army.

From the moment Zhang Yichao left Shazhou and Zhang Huaishen took over the Guiyi Army, the situation in Hexi went from bad to worse.

The irony is that the destruction of the Guiyi Army began when Emperor Zhaozong of Tang Dynasty granted Zhang Huai the Shen Jiedu envoy.

Emperor Zhaozong not only granted Zhang Huaishen the Jiedu Envoy of the Guiyi Army, but also appointed Zhang Yichao's son, Zhang Huaiding, the governor of Shazhou, where the Guiyi Army ruled.

However, Zhang Huaiding, who became the governor of Shazhou, had ulterior motives and secretly colluded with his brother-in-law, Suo Xun, who was the governor of Guazhou at the time, brazenly launched a mutiny, killed Zhang Huaishen's family, and claimed to be the Jiedu envoy of the rebel army.

History has proved that Zhang Yichao, Zhang Yitan, and even Zhang Huaishen, who succeeded him, were loyal to the Tang court.

But judging from the later development, who can be sure that the suspicion of the Guiyi Army by the imperial court at that time was unreasonable?

Li Ye collected his thoughts, as the position of emperor, he would definitely not allow a powerful army that is not under the control of the court.

Not to mention putting the loyalty of the army on the loyalty of a certain general.

But compared to the whole of Hexi, it is in the interest of Datang to minimize the risk.

The matter of dividing the administrative districts was put on hold for the time being, and Li Ye called all the chiefs to discuss the matter of returning to the rebel army.

"Guazhou and Shazhou's observation envoy Zhang Huaishen led the Guiyi Army and his subordinates. Although they were alone outside the Great Wall, their hearts towards the Tang Dynasty remained unchanged. I still feel the loyalty and filial piety of Zhang Gong Yichao and Yitan Brothers. I feel the difficulties of Guiyi Army. Today What do you guys think about this matter?"

Kong Wei said: "Your Majesty, during the time of the first emperor, the Guiyi army dominated the 16 prefectures in Hexi. Granting festivals and envoys to Jingjie, Guiyi's armies check and balance each other, so that Liang, He, Gan, Su and other states are all lost.

The minister thought that Zhang Huaishen, the observation envoy of Gua and Shazhou, could be given to return to the righteous army to regroup and subdue the Hexi states. "

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Jun said, "I think Zhang Huaiding, the son of Mr. Zhang Yichao, can be appointed as the governor of Guazhou. If there is any change in the Guiyi Army, the imperial court can also use Zhang Huaiding's hand to check and balance."

Li Ye looked at Zhang Jun, it turned out that you came up with this bad idea!

Li Ye turned to Liu Chongwang and said, "What does Mr. Liu think?"

"Your Majesty, I also think that the Guiyi Army should not be allowed to grow."

Li Ye said: "The states in the west of Hexi have not been restored, so how can they become bigger!"

Liu Chongwang said: "When the Hexi states are to be conquered, Zhang Huaishen will surely win the heart of returning to the rebel army, and his momentum will come true. If he does not do what he wants, there will be disaster."

Sun Kui said: "Your Majesty, I second the proposal."

Li Ye shook his head and said: "In the old days when Jingyuan rebelled, Li Huaiguang, Shuofang Jiedu envoy, in the name of suppressing the rebellion, raised [-] troops to fight against the rebels. People followed, and even Li Huaiguang was killed by his subordinates.

And the Zhang family gathered troops to restore the rivers and mountains of the Tang Dynasty. I thought it would not hurt the hearts of the soldiers who have made meritorious service. "

"This is a big matter, Your Majesty, please think twice."

Li Ye frowned and said: "The mountains and rivers have not yet recovered, and you are restricting them. You want to make Hexi die!"

"If the strategies of the gentlemen can protect both Hexi and the country, I will follow it."

"Who can guarantee it?"

What Li Ye said made all the prime ministers speechless, and no one could guarantee that the Guiyi army after castration would be able to capture Hexi.

In fact, everyone knows that if it weren't for the court's small actions, the Guiyi Army would not have lost Hexi so quickly.

Seeing that the chiefs were silent, Li Ye said slowly, "I want Zhang Yichao and Zhang Yitan to be honored to the fullest, to enjoy the Taimiao with the ceremony of the county king, and to order Zhang Huaiding, the son of Zhang Yichao, to enter the court to preside over the funeral. What do you think?"

Kong Wei said: "Since it is the gift of the county king, it should have a title."

Li Ye thought for a while and said, "Confer Zhang Yichao the King of Zhongwu County, and Zhang Yitan the King of Guiyi County."

When it comes to this matter, the chiefs still don't understand that His Majesty the Emperor is trying to elevate Zhang Huaishen.

Zhang Huaiding, the son of Zhang Yichao, was transferred back to the court in the name of filial piety, and the removal of Zhang Huai was deeply hindered.

Then Zhang Huaishen's father was carried to the king of Guiyi County, and named in the name of the Guiyi Army, which naturally strengthened Zhang Huaishen's influence on the various departments of the Guiyi Army.

But no one raised any objections. His Majesty's intentions are very clear. It's okay to do what you said, but if something goes wrong in Hexi, you have to be responsible.

They cannot bear this responsibility.

Since the public had no objection, the matter was settled.

Li Ye didn't want to see civil strife in Guiyi Army at this time.

Daming Palace and Yanying Hall the next day.

Hundreds of officials went to court, and His Majesty the Emperor received the envoys of the Guiyi Army.

Chi Haijian held the Helong atlas and went to see His Majesty the Emperor.

Li Ye walked down the dragon steps and helped up the messenger himself.

He comforted him and said, "All the sons and daughters of the Guiyi army are loyal and righteous."

Chi Haijian was also moved with tears and said: "The Guiyi Army is willing to restore our Datang Rivers and Mountains, even though they die, there will be no complaints."

"well!"

"I granted the Observation Envoy of Guazhou and Shazhou, the Inspector of Guazhou, Zhang Huaishen, as the Jiedu Envoy of Guiyi Army, the Jiedu Envoy Jingjie, the Emperor Mingguang Armor, 10 taels of silver, [-] pieces of silk, and [-] sets of Shanwen Armor. A thousand sets of horse armor, three thousand knives..."

This time hundreds of thousands of pens were gone, if not for beating Tuoba Sigong, Li Ye would not have been able to give so many rewards.

And Chi Haijian has never received such a luxurious treatment. The previous few times he came to Chang'an, Huang Chao was still raging in Chang'an. The most recent time, Hedong Li Ke used to rob Chang'an.

They managed to find out the whereabouts of the emperor, but to find the emperor, even seeing him was an extravagant hope. His majesty ordered a eunuch to dismiss them casually.

The Guiyi Army has been established for so many years, and it is the first time that it has received such a big reward from His Majesty the Emperor.

Sure enough, Xinjun has his own style, Chi Haijian is not blind, he can see clearly all the way to Chang'an.

The bandits in the mountains and forests that used to be seen everywhere are gone, the victims of disasters all over the sky are gone, and the barren fields are gone.

When we arrived in Chang'an, it wasn't as dilapidated as it used to be. Taking the eastern and western cities as an example, there were obviously a lot more things.

But what moved Chi Haijian the most was that he had finally completed his mission this time and obtained the envoy of the Guiyi Army for the Marshal.

It has been more than 20 years, and for more than 20 years, the commander-in-chief started in his first year, and now he is 57 years old, and finally got his wish.

Thinking of this, tears welled up in Chi Haijian's eyes, and he couldn't afford to pray.

"The last general will take the place of envoy Zhang, and return to the righteous army, thank you Your Majesty for your kindness..."

"True loyal and brave men, get up, General Chi, I will send another 3000 troops to escort the envoys and the gifts. All the envoys can rest in Chang'an for a few days and choose a day to return."

Chi Haijian replied: "Your Majesty, the general wants to return today!"

Li Ye said: "Why is it so urgent!"

"Mr. Zhang looks forward to the marshes of the Tang Dynasty, like looking forward to the rain and dew in a severe drought. In the end, he can't wait to fly back to Hexi, hoping to find out sooner."

Li Ye let out a long sigh and said, "Tomorrow, I will send the general off in person, and today the Hanyuan Hall will hold a banquet, and I will reward all the envoys."

"His Majesty……"

(End of this chapter)