The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 349 Destroying Liang (Part 4)

The weather was fine and sunny, and the five gates of Chenzhou were wide open.

The large contingent of Zhongwu soldiers jogged out and stood guard outside the moat. They wore black turbans, red headbands, and white spring clothes; the stout and robust men stood with their hands on their hips and spears in hand.

Several hillsides were also adorned with royal flags bearing the inscription of the Holy Tang Dynasty.

The imposing silver-sword officials inspected the troops, loudly checking their uniforms: "Swords must not be drawn, armor must not be worn! Upon seeing the envoy, shout 'May your virtue and military prowess last forever!' No one is allowed to look the envoy in the eye!"

After being severely damaged by Chao Jun, drained of its lifeblood by Quan Zhong, and killed by the emperor, the Zhongwu Army lost its right to be arrogant. After handing over the Zhao family's nine clans, it has been developing its people's livelihood in peace for the past two years, not making friends with anyone, and maintaining an ambiguous attitude of being neither too close nor too distant from the court.

After inspecting the area, the Silver Knife Army mounted their mules and waited quietly.

Inside the military headquarters, Qiu Dan donned the purple robes of an envoy inherited from Zhao Chang, and carrying in his hands a portrait of the Holy Emperor Yuan, painted by a scholar he had commissioned, strode out of the gate.

This was a custom of the Tang Dynasty: to draw the likeness of the sage and display it in the local area.

The Li Tang imperial family also had a long-standing tradition of having their portraits painted. From Li Yuan to Emperor Huo, their true appearances were actually preserved and passed down through generations.

The portrait and shrine tablets weren't destroyed when Huang Chao entered the capital; they were taken to Sichuan by Tian Lingzi. The first loss occurred during the Zhu Mei Rebellion. The Grand Master was carrying the portrait and shrine tablets out of Chang'an when they were looted by the rebel army. Meanwhile, officials like Du Rangneng were also robbed of their official robes and seals.

After Li Maozhen rebelled several times, the art was completely lost.

"Greetings to the Holy Emperor Yuanhuang." Upon seeing the true face of the sage, the officials and generals, who were lined up in formal attire on the main street, bowed their heads with their hands at their sides.

Qiu Dan nodded, exchanged greetings with the courtiers, and then carried the imperial portrait to the front.

The courtiers were divided into two groups and followed closely.

"Lord Han, what does the King of Wu want with this envoy?" Powerless against the imperial court, the regional military governors were often afraid of being betrayed and then framed and eliminated by the court; the current Zhongwu Army was no exception. Qiu Dan lowered his voice and asked Han Shan seriously.

Han Shan was a member of the Zhao clan.

Back then, at the grand ceremony in Luoyang, it was he who brought his wife and daughters from the Zhao family, along with some military and civil officials, to participate in the ceremony as a sign of submission.

"This... I don't know either." Han Shan frowned. "Perhaps they've come to conscript Tao Youyu."

"What should we do then!" Qiu Dan's heart tightened: "If what you say is true, should we obey the imperial edict or not?"

"The messenger has arrived from the King of Wu..."

He's not some saint or messenger!
Han Shan thought for a long time and barely managed to find a loophole: "To disobey the King of Wu's orders is exactly what I should do..."

"Let's just wait and see," Qiu Dan said absentmindedly. Being a military governor was utterly tasteless!

"How confident are you about Dalang's advance into Guanzhong?" Qiu Dan suddenly started talking to himself again: "We've been fighting for almost half a year now, with wins and losses, it's time for a resolution."

The fact that they had managed to defend such a formidable fortress and had yet to defeat Zhu Dalang raised some doubts in the hearts of the Zhongwu Army.

Is there still any need to display this saint's true likeness in the military headquarters for morning and evening audiences?
"Do not act rashly." Han Shan was preoccupied.

Everyone knows that the Sage went to fight against the Tibetans, which gave Zhu Dalang his opportunity.

If the main force is left to guard the area, and even after so long the eldest son has been struggling, it will be like slaughtering pigs and dogs when the main force of the royal army returns.
"Just wait and see. If you can conquer Chang'an, we will follow you there," Han Shan said. "However, I don't think there's much hope."

The mess that Bian Army made is too complicated to explain in a few words.

The fact that the King of Wu returned to aid Zhu Dalang shows that the sage had always kept an eye on him.

This emperor is always prudent and will not give anyone a loophole to exploit.

Moreover, Luoyang is now occupied by the King of Wu, and the Bian army has run out of food. Even if they kill and eat people, how many nights can they have enough to eat?
It's probably all over!
The day the sage returns will be the day the eldest son is beheaded.

"So annoying!" Qiu Dan gritted his teeth and slapped the Sage's True Face twice across the face.

"Forget it, who cares who rules this world? Maybe it'll be another dynasty like Li Chun and Li Heng, father and son, where we might still have a chance to live a carefree life." Han Shan smiled and said, "Throughout these dynasties, how many truly wise rulers have there been?"

"He's probably an incompetent fool. There are so many factions within his ranks now. Once he's dead, there'll be plenty of entertainment to watch."

"To deal with this man, we'll have to rely on women."

"really."

Zhang Hui alone is enough to keep him bedridden. Once he gets his hands on Zhu Dalang's wives, concubines, daughters, and Zhu Wen's widows, heh!

Soon, the procession arrived at the ceremonial grounds outside the city.

Qiu Dan and Han Shan stopped their banter and, with meticulous care, held the true image of the sage, gazing at the horizon.

Just the art style, uh...

In the painting, the saint, dressed in a black robe, sits cross-legged on a couch, his hands outstretched on his knees, his eyes closed, his expression serene, and a gentle smile on his face. The painting, yellowed, grayed, and blackened by the erosion of time, now appears as if Qiu Dan is holding a portrait of a dead man in his hands as he stands at the front of the procession.

Those who paint are despicable!
"Clatter, clatter, clatter!" After a long while, the escorting military horses came into view.

"Serious!" the Silver Knife Army shouted.

"Tap!" The soldiers quickly regrouped.

Qiu Dan took a deep breath, adjusted his technique, and held the imperial portrait high in front of his face.

Yuan Xie, the Grand Master of the Eastern Pavilion, arrived slowly in a carriage, guided by the Zhongwu Army.

The Silver Knife Army soldiers made a gesture, and the entire army raised their right hands and shouted in unison: "May your virtue and military prowess last forever! May the Holy Emperor enjoy boundless happiness!"

Qiu Dan led his ministers forward to greet the angel: "Welcome, angel!"

"Hiss, what night is this?" Hearing the thunderous shouts, Yuan Xie leaned out of the carriage and smiled when he saw the grand scene and the fluttering banners of the Holy Tang Dynasty.

What a surprise! He was prepared to be turned away. He never expected the Zhongwu Army to be so resourceful.

Yuan Xie jumped off the carriage and strode forward, grinning smugly.

The Silver Knife Army soldiers, carrying ceremonial guards, walked behind him, step by step—a symbol of imperial power. The eyes of the soldiers on both sides followed their steps, their expressions solemn.

"Hey, what's that in Qiu Shuai's hand?" Yuan Xie stared intently at Qiu Dan as he held a painting in his arms.

Upon seeing it clearly, he was overjoyed and burst into laughter: "Hehehe, they even prepared a portrait of the Holy Emperor!"

Qiu Dan laughed and said, "Since Your Majesty is undertaking this great undertaking of revival, we, your subjects, are unable to serve you. We can only remain in the military headquarters, praying for your well-being and paying our respects day and night."

"How thoughtful of you!" Yuan Xie held Qiu Dan's hand, looking at this and that.

It seems that the Zhongwu Army is indeed quite loyal to the Holy Tang Dynasty.

This mission has been accomplished!

"Please enter the city, Lord Yuan," Qiu Dan said with a smile, stepping aside.

"I merely hold a sinecure in the Prince's Palace, and am unworthy to accept this mission." Yuan Xie humbly extended his hand: "General Qiu, please enter the city."

"Lord Yuan, please enter the city," Qiu Dan insisted.

"How long do we have to keep being so modest?" Yuan Xie laughed heartily, "Then it would be impolite of us to refuse."

The two then walked side by side and entered the city together.

The courtiers followed behind, then the army, with the Silver Knife Army also playing the pipa and drums, performing the "Qin King's Battle Song".

An angel has arrived, so majestic!

"Commander Qiu, are you aware of the mission I am entrusted with?" Yuan Xie surveyed the deserted, martial law-bound streets and alleys.

"Oh?" Qiu Dan asked, "What is the Emperor's decree?" "Not the Emperor, but the King of Wu." Yuan Xie corrected, "Zhu Dalang suffered a great defeat at Tongguan and will soon be annihilated. The King of Wu is on his way to capture Bianliang. His Highness's intention is to send troops to cooperate with the royal army in attacking Bianliang."

Qiu Dan was somewhat surprised, but not entirely convinced.

If Zhu Dalang's defeat and death were already evident, the messenger would not have spoken in such a gentle tone.

"Hahaha! Good riddance! The traitor Zhu has acted perversely, and we have long wanted to kill him, but we regret that we lack the strength!" Qiu Dan cursed a few more times, then laughed and said, "It is our duty to send troops to punish the traitor. All we need is an imperial edict to set out."

"There was no imperial edict. King Wu's trip was an urgent military matter and a decision made on short notice."

“This…” Qiu Dan looked troubled.

“Your Highness is acting on imperial orders to oversee the country, and you may act as you see fit,” Yuan Xie said calmly. “Furthermore, as long as we can capture Bianliang, whether or not we have an imperial edict is secondary. Serving the king and suppressing the rebels is a matter of public interest, and we can act first and report later! As long as we capture Bianliang, the emperor will not hesitate to bestow rewards.”

"Truly a restorer of order!" Qiu Dan exclaimed, his face filled with awe and reverence.

Seeing that he was avoiding the topic and changing the subject, Yuan Xie immediately became displeased: "Hmph!"

However, seeing that the Zhongwu Army was behaving well and not displaying any arrogance, Yuan Xie changed his expression.

Take it slow! Try to reason with them and talk to them several times.

The troop slowly arrived at the military headquarters.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" In the courtyard, Yuan Xie and the civil and military officials of the Loyal Martial Army paid homage to the Emperor's portrait, while the Silver Knife Army led their troops to pay homage outside the gate. Everywhere displayed the authority and legitimacy of the Holy Tang Dynasty, although for them, this was all the formality they had.

"Lord Yuan has come from afar. Please rest for today. We can discuss the important matters tomorrow," Qiu Dan said respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xie felt somewhat relieved, realizing there was still room for discussion.

Yuan Xie was sent to the guild hall.

At night, a beautiful woman came to warm the bed. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old when they played with her; upon inquiry, they learned she was a member of one of Zhao's maternal clans.

The sage slept with five core members of the Zhao family: Zhao Yanran, Zhao Zi, Zhao Meng, Lin Shi, and Cai Shi. He also slept with members of the Zhao family from his maternal side.

This made Yuan Xie not only happy but also pleased. Perhaps, Qiu Dan himself did possess a degree of loyalty.

The following morning, Qiu Dan led a delegation to the guild hall and personally inquired about his well-being.

"Let's not beat around the bush." ​​In the bedroom, Yuan Xie invited Qiu Dan to sit down and said in a deep voice, "The Bian army is rebellious and wicked, their crimes are heinous. The King of Wu has ventured deep into their lair and must be captured..."

At this point, Yuan Xie stared at Qiu Dan, waiting for him to respond.

"The Bian army is rebellious and immoral; they should be punished together!" Qiu Dan said earnestly.

Yuan Xie's expression froze.

Can you say something useful?

"Let me be clearer." Seeing that Qiu Dan only expressed his opinion without making a promise, Yuan Xie patiently continued, "Can we reach Bianliang to reunite before the first day of the third month? How valiant is our Holy Emperor? Who has ever been mistreated for their meritorious service? Think of Wu Xiong, Zha Zhu, Li Zan, and so on..."

"I understand, I understand perfectly," Qiu Dan said earnestly. "We will certainly send troops. However, the Central Plains have been plagued by war for years, and the Zhongwu Army has always been caught in the crossfire. Today, the population is dwindling, the people are impoverished, and our military preparedness is in disarray. It will take some time to reorganize the troops and distribute rewards..."

"Can we reach Bianliang before the first day of the third lunar month?"

"That's only one aspect. 'With traitors like Cai, Wang Jingrao, and Niu Cunjie as neighbors, I fear that the Holy Tang Dynasty might lose the two prefectures of Chen and Xu...'"

"I'm not going to discuss with you now whether the Zhongwu Army will be in trouble because of this," Yuan Xie interrupted. "The Bian rebels have been captured. These scoundrels are nothing but ants in the autumn!"

"Please allow us to prepare our weapons and rewards, and we will set out as soon as the matter is settled," Qiu Dan said, clasping his hands. "I also ask that Your Majesty understand our predicament."

"Wei Bo, Yi Cheng Army, and Zi Qing are all loyal subjects. Your Highness may also send envoys to summon them. With Commander Tian and his forces pacifying the rebellion, Bianliang can be easily captured."

Yuan Xie didn't want to talk anymore.

Don't know how to appreciate it!

It is wishful thinking for a sage to hope that peaceful subjugation of the feudal lords will bring order to the world.

Thieves and convicts, thieves and convicts, that is truly the case!
“In that case, I have official duties to attend to, so I will return to report.” Yuan Xie sighed and stood up, saying, “General Qiu, please send out your troops as soon as possible.”

"must!"

Yuan Xie glanced at him, a murderous intent rising in his heart.

When the Holy Emperor returns and his horses trample the Central Plains, you all better not run away faster than anyone else.

*******
When Yuan Xie left Chenzhou, Gao Gang also arrived in Weibo.

"King Wu has summoned us to attack Bianliang. What is your intention?" In the White Tiger Hall of Ye City, Tian Xide summoned all the civil and military officials in charge.

"The Zhu bandit's power is gone, what's so difficult about defeating him?" Shi Shenxiao was the first to agree: "I've long heard that Bianliang is full of beautiful women and incredibly wealthy. Although it has been plagued by war and famine for the past few years, its foundation is still there. Let's make a fortune here."

"We have no great ambitions, what other choice do we have? Supporting the Holy Tang Dynasty is the only way out."

“But if the court quells the Little Zhu bandit, the Central Plains can be swept away in one fell swoop, and the Yuanhe cause will be basically established.” Zang Yanfan hesitated and said, “I’m really afraid that the emperor will take action against us then. He is very determined to make a comeback. How could he not have the ambition to get rid of us?”

"General," his cousin Tian Heng stood up and said, "Because of the traitor Quan Zhong, the Wei family has a very close relationship with the Emperor's court. There are still many officials and ministers serving in the court. What are you worried about? Even if they want to eliminate us, Taoist Zhong and Zhang Chengfa will not allow it."

“Given the current relationship, I don’t think the Sage would discard us after we’ve served our purpose,” Pan Yan said. “Besides, with the Bian army in such a sorry state, they can’t possibly stop the Sage. It’s only a matter of time before the Holy Tang Dynasty regains control of the Central Plains. Shouldn’t we seize this opportunity to gain more ground and wait for the Sage to hold a grudge against us for being two-faced?”

Immediately, someone else said, "Even before the Chaos, when the Holy Tang Dynasty controlled the world, they didn't come to punish us. The Zhao, Wei, and Yan dynasties were divided and hereditary, which was tacitly approved by the Holy Dynasty and the previous emperors. I think it's an overreaction to worry about them discarding us after we've served our purpose."

The soldiers analyzed and considered all aspects of the problem. Sending troops would have many advantages, but not sending troops would not only lose political face, but also could not prevent the fact that the sage would once again command the Central Plains.

How to choose is actually very simple.

But Tian Xide hesitated.

It's simple. Most people in Weibo don't mind sending troops. Didn't they fight against Zhu Dalang and the Emperor in Luoyang back then?
However, foreign troops are war-weary, and once they are transferred out, their morale drops to only two-tenths, or even none at all.

During the Zhonghe era, Han Jian invaded the towns of Yun and He. He fought for half a year without success in the former. He captured the latter, but the army did not want it and abandoned Han Jian with the loot before returning home. And since the target of the attack was a large city like Bianliang, a fierce battle was inevitable.

If they were to go, only Wei's personal guards could personally lead the expedition.

Eight thousand families, every death is a loss, it's heartbreaking!

It will shake the regime!

It's not so easy to establish a separatist regime.

The power and influence of the wealthy and powerful are all firmly entrenched within their own circle. The Weibo military government rules six prefectures, and besides the imperial court, many in the prefectures themselves are dissatisfied. Unable to resist locally, they flee to other regions.

For example, Zhu Dalang's number one lackey, Minamoto no Masaru, was a member of the Minamoto clan, a traditional samurai family in Weibo.

Another example is the three Zhang brothers, who served under Zhu Quanzhong and were commoners from Weibo.

"Enough, enough!" Tian Xide sighed and said, "We'll go ourselves."

If you don't help the Holy Tang fight Zhu Wen, Zhu Wen will ride on you and suck your blood.

Even helping the Holy Tang fight against Little Zhu Wen will result in bloodshed.

If we don't help, we might be condemned by the saints in the future.

Hey!
They compromised and eked out a living. Life was truly miserable for them in Weibo.

(End of this chapter)