Late Tang Dynasty: I

Chapter 148
Jiannan Dongchuan Jiedu envoy Gu Yanlang, and his younger brother Gu Yanhui, were originally a small school of the Tiande Army.

He is seven feet long and has a handsome appearance. Cai Jing, who was the defense envoy of the Tiande Army at the time, was amazed when he saw the two brothers, and said to his son Cai Shuxiang: "Both Yanlang and Yanhui have the appearance of Marquis. .”

Cai Jing promoted the two of them to positions in the army, and also asked his son Cai Shuxiang to befriend Gu Yanlang and Gu Yanhui.

After Huang Chao invaded Chang'an, the two Gu Yanlang brothers participated in the battle and helped conquer Chang'an. In addition, Cai Jing bribed Tian Lingzi, and Gu Yanlang was appointed as Jiannan Dongchuan Jiedu envoy.

It governs Luzhou, Rongzhou, Lingzhou, Changzhou, Puzhou, Yuzhou, Hezhou, Suizhou, and Zizhou, a total of Kyushu, and its governing place is Zizhou near Mianzhu.

Gu Yanlang was in Guangqi for three years and passed through Jianmen Pass when he went to his post. At that time, Jianmen Pass was guarded by Chen Jingxuan.

Chen Jingxuan looked down on Gu Yanlang quite a bit by virtue of his powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi.

"Small schools can also grant festivals!"

It made people rob Gu Yanlang of the Jiedu envoy. Fortunately, Wang Jian, the commander of the Eight Capitals of the Imperial Army at that time, mediated, and it was able to be comprehensive.

Not long after Gu Yanlang took office, he sent troops to capture Hanzhou in the northeast of Chengdu, and made his younger brother Gu Yanhui the governor of Hanzhou.

When the emperor used troops in Hanzhong, there was no news, and the imperial edict of His Majesty's personal conquest of Chen Jingxuan had not been sent to Liangchuan, so he did not know.

Suddenly a horse came to report that a large number of soldiers and horses suddenly appeared in Jianzhou, Gu Yanlang was shocked.

"How many people came from Jiange?"

Tan Ma said: "It's densely packed, no less than [-] to [-], and there are still people entering Sichuan from Jiange."

"Is there a mistake!"

"Jie Shuai, humble and has been in battle for a long time, how can this soldier's calculation be wrong."

Gu Yanlang's face was solemn, he brought this person from the Tiande Army, he naturally didn't dare to talk nonsense about important military matters, what he wants to know most now is where did the soldiers come from? 5 people is not a small number, and there are not so many soldiers in Hanzhong.

"Do you know where the troops are and who is the commander in chief?"

Exploring the horse said: "Jie Shuai, he is a soldier of the imperial court. The commander has not visited yet, but I found a very strange thing?"

"what's up?"

"Jieshuai, I have seen the dragon tent!"

Gu Yanlang asked: "Is it the emperor's dragon tent? Did you really see it?"

"It's clear from a humble look, it's the emperor's dragon tent!"

His Majesty's personal conquest?

Gu Yanlang was shocked by this news, perhaps he was forced to enter Sichuan by another feudal town!
This kind of thing is nothing new in Datang.

"How's the military style?"

If it is a rout, it doesn't matter how many people there are. The attitude of the feudal town also depends on the strength of the imperial court.

"Quite majestic!"

Gu Yanlang frowned, suddenly feeling weak.

"Cough...cough..."

After coughing several times in a row, Gu Yanlang's face turned red.

Uncle Cai on the side said: "Jie Shuai, are you okay!"

Gu Yanlang shook his head and said, "It's okay!"

Since the beginning of autumn, Gu Yanlang felt that his health was deteriorating, and now he spends most of his time in bed resting.

"The emperor is coming in a menacing way, I don't know why!"

Uncle Cai said to him, "Last year, the commander-in-chief came to the table, please forgive Wang Jian's crime, the court agreed, and ordered us to guard our town, but Wang Jian refused, and already got the land of Xichuan and three states. I just heard that Wang Jian asked the court for forgiveness." The imperial court has not responded to the envoy's festival."

Gu Yanlang shook his head.

"Wang Jian is too impatient, I'm afraid it will be difficult to be kind this time."

Uncle Cai said: "Wang Jian has [-] armored soldiers, and the soldiers are in full swing. How about the imperial court's army? Marshal Jie should be very clear. I am afraid that the tens of thousands of troops that the imperial court managed to gather this time will be destroyed in one fell swoop."

Gu Yanlang shook his head and said, "That's not what I'm worried about. What if the imperial court ordered me to send troops from Dongchuan to help?"

Just as Uncle Cai was about to speak, he heard the guard preaching at the door: "An angel from the imperial court has arrived, please receive the order from Marshal Jie."

Gu Yanlang and Cai Shutong looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Mr. Cai, take over the order for me. If you want to move my Dongchuan soldiers and horses, please ask me to send troops because of my illness."

Uncle Cai nodded and asked people to burn incense to set up a case.

Not long after, the official led the angel into the Yamen Hall.

When Zhao Xi saw the person in front of him, he felt that something was wrong. No matter how good you are in Jiannan Dongchuan, you should not wear official uniforms when you receive the order. If so, what is the majesty of the court and what is the face of His Majesty the Emperor?
Zhao Xi frowned, and said in a calm tone:

"You are Gu Jieshuai?"

Cai Shuxiang shook his head, and said: "Angel, I am Cai Shuxiang, deputy governor of Jiannan Dongdao, Gu Jieshuai is seriously ill and cannot accept the order in person, so I ordered my minister to carry out it on his behalf."

Zhao Xi recalled that before leaving, His Majesty entrusted him to be tough and to show the royal dignity. Seeing Gu Yanlang being so rude, he said angrily:

"What kind of nonsense, deputy Jiedu, is there an imperial edict? Is there a document from the official department? Your Majesty's imperial edict can also be accepted by cats and dogs?"

Uncle Cai blushed from his old face.

"This……"

"What is this? If Gu Jieshuai is ill and the matter is urgent, our family can go to his couch to announce the decree. How can we ask you to pick it up? My family will ask you again, where is Gu Jieshuai?"

Zhao Xi scolded Cai Shuxiang all the way and made Cai Shuxiang unable to do so. Just when Cai Shuxiang didn't know what to do, there was the sound of door hinges turning from behind.

Gu Yanlang was wearing the official uniform of the Jiedu envoy, and supported by two attendants, he came out from the back hall.

Zhao Xi's face immediately changed from cloud to cloud, and he walked up to Gu Yanlang and said, "Since Gu Jieshuai is ill, he should cultivate himself well, and it's the same for our family to announce the decree in the bedroom!"

Gu Yanlang looked at Zhao Xi, gritted his teeth, and said, "I'm sick, I can't fully salute, I hope the angel will forgive me."

Zhao Xi said: "It's okay, our family will report everything to His Majesty."

Gu Yanlang looked left and right, there was a maid holding a tray, and a corner of the tray was exposed, several silver bricks.

"Also ask the angel to speak well!"

Zhao Xi waved his hand and said with a smile: "Gu Jieshuai, accept the order!"

Gu Yan bowed in salute.

"I am entrusted with Haotian's spring mission, Jiannan Xichuan Jiedu envoy Chen Jingxuan vainly recited the emperor's favor, and acted arrogantly and lawlessly, which is really despised by the world.

I have obeyed the order of the heavens, and begged for disobedience to bring peace to the world. Now the army is gathered in Liangchuan, Gu Yanlang, the governor of Jiannan Dongchuan, led the Dongchuan soldiers to join him, and sent the four seasons' taxes to Hanzhou..."

After Zhao Xi finished reading, he handed the imperial decree to Gu Yanlang.

It wasn't to attack Wang Jian, since it was to attack the mortal enemy Chen Jingxuan, Gu Yanlang naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Yanlang put his hands together, sighed and said: "Angel, I'm afraid that I'm sick and may embarrass your majesty's trust, please report back to your majesty."

Zhao Xi frowned slightly, and said, "Gu Jieshuai doesn't want to send troops, and also doesn't want to hand in taxes from last year and this year, summer and autumn?"

At that time, because Yang Shouliang in Hanzhong blocked Yangping Pass, last year's Dongchuan tax was not escorted to Chang'an.

Gu Yanlang hurriedly shook his head and said, "If the entire Dongchuan army goes out for an expedition, if there is no minister present, there may be disasters and chaos. The minister ordered the deputy governor, Uncle Cai, to attach [-] troops to the leader. As for taxes, the minister will naturally send the same amount."

His Majesty the Emperor has arrived in person. Naturally, Gu Yanlang will not openly fall out with the court. Sending [-] troops to help out is the right thing to do. As for taxes, the Emperor has asked for them at the door of his house. Can you not give them?

In one year, Dongchuan taxed 40 guan and 50 pieces of silk, except for the Jidushi’s own use and interception. In the two years of summer and autumn, there were 80 guan and 100 million pieces of silk.

With such a large amount of money, Gu Yanlang still felt a little bit pained to take it out. How many soldiers can be raised and how many armors can be made.

"So good!"

After the angel left, Uncle Cai looked at Gu Yanlang and said, "You humble people don't understand military affairs, so how can you lead your troops to fight? If something happens, what should you do?"

Gu Yanlang said: "Chengdu is in danger, and it will fall in a blink of an eye. Why should I use troops in Dongchuan? In this case, the angel is rude. I will use you as the deputy Jiedu to lead the army to help. It depends on whether your majesty recognizes it or not. If you don't recognize it, you Leading the army and returning to the division, if you admit it, you will receive a share of military merit, these two things, there are two benefits, why not follow it."

Only then did Cai Shuxiang understand that Gu Yanlang was fighting for him, and hurriedly said: "Thank you for your kindness."

Gu Yanlang hurriedly supported Uncle Cai and said, "If I didn't have your father, Mr. Cai, how would I be here today? My father-in-law doesn't need to say more."

Uncle Cai wiped away his tears, and said again: "Dongchuan's tax, Jie Shuai really has to pay it in full."

Gu Yanlang shook his head and said: "The army of the imperial court has come from a long distance, so there must be a shortage of food, but people can buy the world's food and grass, and the price of food will definitely soar. If the high-priced food is used to pay for money and silk, I expect it will only cost [-]% of the money. That's it."

Uncle Cai said with a smile: "Jie Shuai has a great plan!"

Gu Yanlang sighed and said: "I only hope that after the fall of Chengdu, the emperor will not stay in Liangchuan..."

……

Dong Chuan Gu Yanlang did not want the court to intervene in the affairs of the two Sichuans, and Wang Jian was even more unwilling.

He had just seized the three states of Meizhou, Shuzhou, and Jianzhou, and the fall of Chengdu was only a blink of an eye.

Just last month, he asked the imperial court for envoys and envoys to cut off Jian, Shu, Qiong, Mei, and five prefectures of Chengdu to set up Yongping Army, but before the envoy came back, his style of painting suddenly changed.

The emperor actually came to Xichuan in person to conquer Chen Jingxuan himself!
He has been messing around for more than a year, and he just waited for the last shudder. Is the emperor coming to claim credit?

Wang Jian shook his head, really unwilling.

His subordinate Cao Wangbang said: "Jie Shuai should reward the soldiers heavily and attack Chengdu fiercely. If Chengdu is breached, the imperial court will definitely use Jie Shuai as a pillar, and the emperor will have nothing to do when he comes in person."

Wang Jiandao: "We are short of money and food, what can we use to reward the soldiers?"

Wang Bangzhong said: "Chengdu should be used to reward the soldiers."

Wang Jian was a little hesitant, if he robbed Chengdu, would he still be able to secure Xichuan.

Unfolding the imperial decree in his hand, the imperial decree said that the emperor personally conquered Chen Jingxuan and ordered him to rest until the army converged.

"Jie Shuai, you should continue to be disturbed by it. If your majesty comes down and then captures Chengdu, no matter how high the Jie Shuai's contribution is, what does Chengdu have to do with Jie Shuai?"

Wang Jian nodded, yes, Chengdu should be taken at this time, Chengdu should be taken, and the court cannot help but deny it.

"Decree, after the capture of Chengdu, only Chen Jingxuan and Tian Lingzi are the commander-in-chief, and the rest of the property and women will belong to the soldiers."

"promise!"

With this order, everyone in Wang Jian's army clamored for Xuantian, and the morale that had been low was revived again.

……

At this time, His Majesty the Emperor was consolidating his army in Jianzhou, and following an order, he marched towards Chengdu.

(End of this chapter)