Entrepreneurship in the Late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 112 Borrowing a General
Yazhou has finally been captured.

This was the third day after Zhao Huai'an returned to Furen Garrison, when the good news came from the front lines.

After a 15-day siege of Yazhou City, Yang Qingfu, the deputy military governor of western Sichuan, finally captured the city, completely opening up the passage to the south.

At this moment, the 23,000-strong army stationed at Furen Garrison was finally about to march towards the front line to fight the Nanzhao army in the final battle.

Therefore, during this period, troops from various vassal states that were originally stationed elsewhere gradually gathered here, with new troops arriving every day, making the camp a bustling hub of activity.

Zhao Huai'an has been quite busy these past few days.

On the third day after his return, people from the shogunate came and brought a group of soldiers from Higashikawa, saying they were to be used as reinforcements for Hogito.

There were approximately three hundred people in these people, the majority of whom came from Jianzhou, with the remainder from the other twelve states.
Zhao Huai'an had asked Zhang Guinian about this place in eastern Sichuan and learned that it was only divided into two parts during this dynasty.

Previously, there was no concept of eastern and western Sichuan, because they were always a whole called Yizhou.

However, after overcoming numerous difficulties, the imperial court recovered both capitals and welcomed the retired emperor of Jiannan back to Chang'an. In order to suppress the remnants of the retired emperor's faction in Shu, it began to divide Jiannan into two parts.

The Chengdu Plain area was assigned to western Sichuan, while Jianzhou, the gateway to Sichuan, was assigned to eastern Sichuan, along with the other twelve prefectures that formed a semicircle around Chengdu.

This is how the history of East and West Sichuan came about.

In order to unify the regions that were too far apart from north to south, the imperial court also set up the Eastern Sichuan Military Prefecture in Zizhou, at the confluence of the Fujiang and Neijiang rivers.

Zizhou was just a small market town before, but once it was upgraded to the residence of the Dongchuan Jiedushi (military governor), it quickly became a famous city in Sichuan.

When this group of soldiers from eastern Sichuan was sent here, Zhang Guinian told Zhao Huai'an that they would be difficult to manage.

It's not a matter of whether they're arrogant or not, but rather that people from eastern and western Sichuan are notoriously at odds.

When the imperial court divided Sichuan into eastern and western regions, it was to suppress the wealthy western region.

Because almost all the passages from western Sichuan to the outside world were assigned to eastern Sichuan, tributes and memorials sent to Chang'an were first sent to eastern Sichuan.

Unwittingly, eastern Sichuan became the superior of western Sichuan, thus fostering a psychological advantage for people from eastern Sichuan over western Sichuan.

However, in terms of economy and population, western Sichuan, which occupies the Chengdu Plain, is much stronger than eastern Sichuan. Even Zizhou, the military governor's residence in eastern Sichuan, is just a small town. So it is natural that people in western Sichuan look down on people in eastern Sichuan.

The conflicts between western and eastern Sichuan are exactly what Chang'an wants, and they even intend to exacerbate them.

When the threat from Tibet was at its greatest, only parts of western Sichuan in Yizhou were on the front lines against Tibet and Nanzhao, and they simply did not have enough strength to defend against the threats from both sides.

Therefore, at that time, eastern and western Sichuan were once merged, but soon Chang'an split up Yizhou again and made it a common practice to send troops from eastern Sichuan to support the region.

After that, whenever there was a war, the troops from eastern Sichuan would be the first to enter Chengdu. During this period, all military expenses were borne by the Western Sichuan government. Because of the presence of foreign troops, the troops from eastern Sichuan were even more undisciplined in western Sichuan and often engaged in looting.

Over the past century, the conflict between eastern and western Sichuan has become irreconcilable.

Now Zhang Guinian tells Zhao Huai'an that the more than three hundred soldiers from eastern Sichuan sent by the envoy may not be a tonic, but poison.

It was only after hearing Zhang Guinian explain the inside story that Zhao Huai'an realized the seriousness of the matter. Moreover, this was no longer a matter of whether or not to keep the soldiers; it was something he had to handle properly. This was Gao Pian's test for him.

So, our old Zhao thought of someone else.

Yes, it was his former leader, Song Jian of the Zhongwu Army.

So he gathered a batch of gifts from the treasury, one of which was a pure wool white cloak.

That was the one Yan Shihui had worn before.

……

When Zhao Huai'an arrived, Song Jian was eating and was in a very good mood.

He listened from outside the tent and occasionally heard hearty laughter.

Zhao Huai'an asked Li Shitai, who was standing next to him, with a puzzled look:
"Old Li, what's wrong? Why is Lord Song so happy?"

Li Shitai was equally pleased, and he chuckled softly:

"That's right, he's already eaten three bowls of rice today. The reason our Lord Song is so happy is because Yan Shihui is dead, and he died a horrible death."

As he spoke, Li Shitai stared directly at Zhao Huai'an and whispered:

"Old Zhao, tell me, I won't tell anyone else. Did you kill Yan Shihui?"

Zhao Huai'an shrugged and said to Li Shitai:

“Old Li, I, Zhao Daming, don’t beat around the bush. Yes, it was us who killed him. We braved the heavy rain and ran twenty miles through the night to Baizhangyi, killed Yan Shihui, had a drink, and then ran back twenty miles to go to sleep.”

Li Shitai chuckled:
“Zhao Da, you know how to make a joke. If you killed Yan Shihui, I’ll call you ‘Yay!’ The magistrate’s office has already sent an official to investigate. It’s just bad news.”

As he spoke, Li Shitai also gloated:

"Yan Shihui must have made a fortune in western Sichuan, thinking he could bring it back to Chang'an. He doesn't even consider how many defeated soldiers and bandits are around here. Who wouldn't kill for money? Yan Shihui is just a plucked chicken, yet he still dares to flaunt his wealth. He deserves to die."

Zhao Huai'an nodded in agreement.

Indeed, Master Yan made quite a fortune; after checking the goods at the post station, he must have made at least 100,000 strings of cash.

Half of the money was handed over to the military treasury, and the remaining 50,000 guan was divided equally among the officers and soldiers who participated in the operation.

When it comes to giving money, Zhao Huai'an is never ambiguous.

Li Shitai wanted to say more, but Zhao Huai'an didn't have time to listen. He just slipped a small item into Li Shitai's hand and went inside.

Meanwhile, Li Shitai picked up the object in his hand in a daze, only to find it was a small golden Buddha, which was quite exquisite.

Li Shitai chuckled, secretly annoyed that Zhao Da was still playing this trick on him. Then, seeing that no one was around, he casually stuffed it into his belt.

My good brother is in my heart.

……

When Zhao Huai'an came in, Song Jian gave him a cold look because he saw Zhao Dazheng carrying gifts under the tent.

No way, who gives gifts to their boss like that? That's so cheesy.

But as Song Jian watched, he suddenly stood up and addressed the dancers, musicians, and entertainers serving him:
"You all get out."

The group dispersed, and Song Jian shouted to Li Shitai outside:

"Withdraw your guards fifty paces away. No one is to approach without my order."

As he spoke, Song Jian quickly walked over, picked up the pure white woolen cloak from the gifts, and said excitedly:

"Good, good, good. I never expected it would be you, Zhao Da, who did such a good deed! Well done!"

Zhao Huai'an made no attempt to hide anything from his former boss, simply saying:

“Lord Song, you have treated me better than my own father. I, Zhao Huai’an, owe my success today entirely to your support. I knew that Yan Shihui betrayed you, which led to your peril. So when I heard that this scoundrel was leaving, I ran twenty miles to chase after him. Today I have come to bring you good news.”

Song Jian stroked his white fur cloak, his eyes filled with complex emotions—fierceness, fear, anger, and regret. He pulled Zhao Huai'an to sit on a stool and asked him to tell him what had happened.

As Zhao Huai'an recounted the story, Song Jian's smile never wavered. The humiliation he suffered in the Nanzhao army had cost him the most important ability of a man, a disgrace he would carry for the rest of his life.

He had heard before that Yan Shi would be released back to Chang'an, but he had no intention of killing him, simply because it violated the rules of the court, and he dared not cross that line.

More importantly, this was Gao Pian's decision, and he dared not go against Gao Pian's will.

But when he learned that Master Yan was dead, that his head had been chopped off and was soaking in water, swollen and stinking, the joy he felt was something no one could understand.

Now, upon hearing that Zhao Huai'an had traveled twenty miles to kill the man in order to repay his kindness, Song Jian felt nothing but gratitude.

For Zhao Da, it was merely an investment, both to repay the life-saving grace of that day and to ensure a future connection. But now, Song Jian was truly moved.

Zhao Huai'an, even the most righteous men of old couldn't have been more like him!
He couldn't help but pat Zhao Huai'an on the shoulder, and said apologetically:
"Zhao Da, I will remember your kindness, but I'm afraid your days will not be easy in the future. After Yan Shihui's father arrives in Chang'an, he will become the Left Divine Martial General and will definitely investigate this matter. If it was really done by bandits, then so be it, but if you did it, we will definitely be able to find you. I have to think of a way to see if I can help you cover it up."

As he spoke, Song Jian actually started thinking about it.

Over there, Zhao Huai'an quickly said:

"Lord Song, look at my current merits. Can I get a position as a defense commissioner in Huaixi? After all, I, Zhao, am just an ordinary man. I'm not exactly someone important, but people in my hometown don't even know me. Wouldn't it be a waste for me to have made such a great contribution?"

Song Jian laughed heartily after hearing this, and said with great understanding:
"I understand. It's like wearing fine clothes in the dark if you don't return home in glory! You want to go back to Shouzhou? But that might not be easy."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huai'an knew there was hope and quickly added, "It doesn't have to be Shouzhou, just somewhere nearby. We know our own limitations; we wouldn't even dare to dream of those big cities or counties. We just want to find a place close to our hometown so we can take care of our elderly parents by our side."

Song Jian pondered for a moment, then nodded:
“Alright, I’ll think about this for you. And this is good too. The court controls Jiannan strictly, but it can’t control Huaixi. Going back to Huaixi is indeed a good way to avoid trouble. However, I alone can’t handle this. It mainly depends on the Prime Minister’s opinion, since he’s the one who wrote the reports and sent them to the court.”

"Furthermore, you must fight well in this decisive battle. At most, your current achievement will only get you the position of governor. If you want to be a nobody in Huaixi, you'd better fight this battle well!"

Zhao Huai'an nodded hurriedly, expressing his determination to be inspired by conscience and vow to kill the traitors to the death!
He knew that Gao Pian's side was the most important, but he still had to talk to Song Jian about it; that's emotional intelligence!
Besides, it's always a good thing to have more people contributing.

His face was all smiles, then he sighed, realizing he couldn't figure Song Jian out, and cursed:
"What kind of behavior is this? Laughing and sighing at the same time? You're putting on an act in front of me. Tell me, what is it?"

Zhao Huai'an fawned over Song Jian, tearfully recounting his current situation.

He said that Gao Pian had sent more than 300 Sichuan soldiers, all of whom were arrogant and unruly. He himself dared not sleep soundly in his tent at night, so he wanted to borrow a few Zhongwu Army warriors from Song Jian to help him suppress these Sichuan soldiers.

Song Jian wondered what it was about and asked how much he needed to borrow.

Zhao Huai'an cautiously extended three fingers, which startled Song Jian, who cursed:

"You bastard, I have a thousand or so soldiers, and you want to borrow three hundred?"

Zhao Huai'an shrank back and hurriedly explained:
"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I'll only borrow thirty-six people."

Upon hearing that the number included both zeros and whole numbers, Song Jian immediately understood what was going on and snorted:

"Are these people going to vote for you? Tell me, who are they?"

So Zhao Huai'an named the thirty-six warriors who had volunteered to join him that day. As soon as he named one, Song Jian's face darkened, because he knew most of these men.

That Li Jian is brave and talented, an excellent heavy infantry general; that Xu Yao is brave and skilled in combat, a fighting general in the army; that Wang Huan is not only brave but also skilled in military strategy, a talented general; and he also knows Zhang Jie, who knows some of the art of divination and can observe qi.

He had heard of the rest of them to some extent, and none of them were weak.

That damned Zhao Da said he was only borrowing thirty-six men, but he only borrowed the core members of the Zhongwu Army. That damned Zhao Da might as well have just borrowed three hundred.

Moreover, although it's said to be borrowing troops, given Zhao Da's fondness for warriors, will he return them later?

So Song Jian was about to yell "You're just dreaming!" when he saw Zhao Da looking at him with teary eyes, and his heart softened instantly.

Well, it's not easy for Zhao Da. Few of his men are from his hometown. For someone from Jianghuai to build such a team, you can see how much effort he has put in.

Forget it, forget it. My Zhongwu Army is Zhao Da's family. If we don't support him now, when will we?

Moreover, he understood that after Gao Pian took charge, the Zhongwu Army would not have the opportunity to make great contributions. Rather than wasting time, it would be better to send the young men to Zhao Da's side, where they could also have a bright future.

So, Song Jian sighed and shook his head:

"Get out, get out, get out! Don't let it happen again! Get out of here, you're annoying to look at!"

Zhao Huai'an jumped up, hugged Song Jian, and then carefully took a talisman from his sleeve, saying apologetically to Song Jian:

“Song Gong, Mao Niang prayed for blessings at the Dashengci Temple in Chengdu a while ago, and she also got one for you, saying it would bring you peace and happiness. I thought she was being strange, saying that you are already blessed with good fortune, why would she need to ask for it? But Mao Niang said that you were our matchmaker, and she wanted to do something to express her gratitude. I thought that made sense, so I brought it to you, Song Gong.”

Song Jian took the talisman somewhat absentmindedly and saw a sentence written on it:
May the Buddha's light shine upon us, bringing peace and safety throughout the four seasons!

At this moment, a long-lost emotion surged in Song Jian's heart.

Then, Zhao Huai'an actually took the talisman and hung it around Song Jian's neck, laughing:

"Lord Song, you must say, Daci Temple is indeed a great temple; even these peace charms are quite unique."

Then, Song Jian kicked him and kicked him out of the tent.

Watching Zhao Huai'an walk away laughing and joking, Song Jian twirled the amulet around his neck for a long time.

……

With the addition of thirty-six loyal and brave soldiers, Zhao Huai'an began to rigorously train the Sichuan East Army soldiers.

It must be said that these three hundred-plus soldiers from eastern Sichuan were indeed elite troops, and they were not the same as Zhao Huai'an had assumed they were all locals from eastern Sichuan.

These people came from almost every place, including Shannan East Circuit, Guizhou Province, and Guanzhong. They all came to Bazhong area in eastern Sichuan to reclaim wasteland and farm land because they had lost their land.

Because they lived in the Hengduan Mountains, these people were generally fierce and warlike, and many of them were recruited as soldiers by the Eastern Sichuan government.

However, these were the guards outside the academy, serving only as a force to counter the guards outside the government office in eastern Sichuan. They were not trusted by the Yan family father and son, otherwise these people would have followed after Master Yan left.

But no matter how arrogant these people were, they were in deep trouble when they encountered the thirty-six loyal and brave soldiers that Zhao Huai'an brought back.

In terms of martial prowess, the Zhongwu Army was unparalleled in the Central Plains; in terms of arrogance and fierceness, the Zhongwu Army resisted the Tang Dynasty for four generations. How could those soldiers from eastern Sichuan compare to them?
Therefore, Zhao Huai'an directly divided the more than 300 soldiers into eight teams, supplemented by more than 60 brave barbarian soldiers from the previously captured Nanzhao army, and assigned them to Li Jian, Zhang Qianyu, Xu Yao, Wang Huan, Liu Quan, Zhang Jie, Wei Hongfu, and Hua Hong respectively.

There was a little incident involved. On the day Zhao Huai'an took Duan Baolong away, Zhao Liu and the others encountered Fei Yanggu, who had come to join the army.

Old Fei, having somehow heard that Zhao Huai'an had grown powerful and influential, abandoned his carefree lifestyle and led his men down the mountain to find Zhao Da.

When Zhao Huai'an returned with his troops, he met Lao Fei and naturally spoke highly of him. However, he was quite surprised to see that among the group of men Lao Fei had brought, there were quite a few skilled horsemen.

After some questioning, Zhao Huai'an learned that although the western Sichuan region is geographically fragmented, it has many highland grasslands, which are the place where horses are raised. The mountain herds there have grown up on horseback since they were young, and riding is as easy for them as breathing and drinking water.

Zhao Huai'an was overjoyed. How could he have forgotten that Sichuan and Kangxi were also places that produced elite cavalry?

So he quickly gave Lao Fei a sum of money and told him to take it to Chuankang to recruit knights.

Anyone who can wield a ten-foot-long spear and gallop will receive a resettlement allowance of thirty strings of cash, and he will take as much as he can get.

Zhao Huai'an told Lao Fei that he was not short of money! Moreover, as long as Lao Fei could bring one person, he would secretly give Lao Fei ten strings of cash.

So, without even drinking that day, Lao Fei and a dozen or so companions took the supplies given to them by Zhao Huai'an and went back to their hometown to recruit soldiers.

There's no time when you can't drink alcohol, and this opportunity to make big money is rare; he's determined to fleece Zhao Da.

The forty-odd skilled riders he had previously led were left behind by Zhao Huai'an and handed over to Liu Zhijun for management. These days, Liu has been leading them and getting them used to each other.

In this way, Baoyidu's overall strength reached a new level.

In addition to the original twenty-five squads of Zhao Huai'an's camp, an additional cavalry squad and eight heavy infantry squads have been added, bringing the total strength to 1,700 elite soldiers and 1,800 supply wagons and servants.

Its overall strength has surpassed that of any other city under the Western Sichuan regime, truly making it the strongest army in Western Sichuan.

And so, Zhao Huai'an accumulated strength here, constantly converting his previous spoils into armor, weapons, and warriors, all in order to make an unparalleled contribution in the final battle later!

……

Soon, the shogunate summoned all the generals for the first time.

Gao Pian stood on the high platform, holding a yellow battle-axe in his left hand and a white banner in his right. Beside him was Long Shun, the deposed crown prince of Nanzhao, dressed in military attire, and several Nanzhao generals stood behind him.

Zhao Huai'an and the other generals from various vassal states stood on either side of the large cauldron, watching Gao Pian hold up a yellow silk scroll and loudly read the "Oath of the Southern Expedition" before the incense:
“Great rulers of the past always waged wars. Yu conquered the Sanmiao, King Wu of Zhou attacked King Zhou of Shang, Emperor Wu of Han drove out the Xiongnu, and Emperor Taizong of Tang pacified the Turks. Did these rulers want to take risks and raise armies? It was because if they did not eliminate the treacherous and rebellious, their virtue would not be recognized, and if they did not quell the chaos, the people would not be at peace.”

"In the Nanzhao Kingdom, the Meng clan is ruled by powerful ministers, and the young ruler Meng Longshun has been banished to the countryside, leaving the country in chaos. The ministers have been wronged, and the people have long suffered under oppressive rule, their hatred for the treacherous officials etched deep in their hearts. They are trapped in a perilous country, eagerly awaiting our royal army, like withered seedlings longing for rain. The signs of Nanzhao's collapse are obvious. This is a golden opportunity bestowed by heaven, how can we let it slip by?"

"Why should I fear the hardships of the journey or the shabby camps, abandoning my magnificent palaces for the dust and smoke? It is only because I am young and unfamiliar with military affairs that I have the good fortune to rely on my minister Gao Pian, who is knowledgeable in military matters and loyal to the country. He is perfectly capable of taking charge of military affairs on my behalf, wielding the yellow battle-axe, and personally leading the troops on my behalf."

"Today, soldiers from all directions have gathered, their armor gleaming in the sun, and they are invincible. As the saying goes, 'Farmers sow in spring and reap in autumn; soldiers fight bravely and will ultimately be rewarded.'"

"If we can work together to break through the city and quell the rebellion, we will reward you with official titles and ranks, and I will keep my word. If anyone dares to cower, desert, or betray the army, he/she will be severely punished, and his/her family members will also be implicated. This is unacceptable under the law of the land, and it is the same principle throughout history. Remember my words and strive to improve yourselves."

After the oath-taking ceremony was completed, all the generals, including Zhao Huai'an, suddenly realized the truth.

It turns out that Gao Pian had been staying here to wait for the imperial court's oath of allegiance. Although it is unclear how Gao Pian persuaded the court, with this oath, the army would have no more doubts about the decisive battle to come, as the court had already given its endorsement.

Therefore, the army of more than thirty men bowed down to Gao Pian in unison:
"We respectfully obey Your Majesty's decree."

After Gao Pian ordered Huang Juan's oath to be sealed away, he shouted at the kneeling generals:

"Gao Pian addresses you, officers, soldiers, and officers of the six armies: The sages strung wood to make bows and sharpened wood to make arrows. The advantage of these bows and arrows was to intimidate the disobedient, to conquer the weak and attack the ignorant, to seize chaos and punish the dead. Now, the barbarians are disobedient and dare to defy the king's command. The emperor has bestowed upon me axes and halberds to solemnly display the majesty of heaven. There is the honor of advancing to the death, and no shame of retreating to live. Obey the command, and you will be rewarded by your ancestors; disobey the command, and you will be executed at the altar of the land. An army has no two orders, and a general has no two words. Strive to be sincere in your service to the king and do not violate the laws and punishments."

After saying this, Gao Pian roared:
"Strive for victory, display our might, today is the day!"

The generals cheered, and the army roared. Only Long Shun, standing on the high platform, had a look of determination and fear on his face.

If the country doesn't even belong to me, what's wrong with me selling it?

(End of this chapter)