Chapter 230: Preparing for war (III)

Three days later, a huge news suddenly broke out in the Xiliang army: the former personal army of the governor, Chen Ping, the current Didao military envoy, actually used moldy brown rice as rice for the refugees in Hexi to feed the refugees in his arms, and fed them with personal pockets. It was also found that he had repeatedly embezzled military salaries in the army and embezzled 20,000 chunks of money. The governor had decided to behead him in two days later. The news came out, and the army was in a big uproar. Some people applauded, but some people felt that the governor was sentenced too much.

Early in the morning that day, more than a dozen ferries were moored on the bank of the Yellow River, and a team of soldiers were lined up on board. On the dock, Zhang Huan rode his horse and He Lou Wuji slowly. He Lou Wuji was ordered to go to Hehuang to preside over the training of the Hehuang New Army.

"After arriving in Hehuang, we must strictly train new recruits, pay special attention to intensive training on the plateau, and prepare for our future attack on Tubo. From now on, I will send soldiers to your place for rotation training in batches every year."

He Lou Wuji nodded, "Please rest assured, the governor, I will definitely train them with the strictest requirements. In at most two or three years, they will become real soldiers."

"I'll feel relieved with you." Zhang Huan pondered for a moment, and said, "There is another thing I want to tell you that this time, the pension method for the fallen soldiers in Hehuang has been introduced. Each fallen soldier's family can get a pension of 200 stalemates, but there is not that much money for the time being. First pay 10% and the rest will be provided monthly for ten years, and another ten acres of pension land will be added."

"Thank you, Governor." He Lou Wuji's eyes showed a hint of relief. He knew that according to the system set by the court in the fifth year of Qingzhi, soldiers died at most for their family members to be 50 cents, and they were exploited at all levels. In the end, there were only a dozen or twenty cents in the hands of the family members, but the governor set a standard of 20 cents. This time, more than 23,000 soldiers in the Hexi Army and Hehuang died in battle, which was 4.6 million cents. This shows that the governor really invested a lot. He thanked Zhang Huanshen, "I saluted the governor on behalf of my brothers."

Zhang Huan shook his head gently, and he smiled faintly, "I also know that the financial burden is a bit heavy, but if there is no pension, how can the dead soldiers keep their eyes closed in the Jiuquan? How can the living soldiers fight for us? I always thought that only by giving enough dignity to the soldiers can they be loyal to them and die without hesitation."

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan rode his horse towards a small hill. He immediately stood on the hill, facing the river breeze, staring at the soldiers lined up on the ship. These soldiers were his capital to capture the country, so how could he not treat them well?

"The governor is very good to the soldiers, but sometimes he is unfair to his old subordinates." Seeing that the breakup was about to be about to break up, He Lou Wuji hesitated for a while, and finally said what he had been holding on to his heart these days.

Zhang Huan didn't say anything, and after a long period of silence, he said coldly: "Do you mean I shouldn't kill Chen Ping?"

He Lou Wuji sighed. In the past two years, Zhang Huan's authority has become increasingly important. He rarely plays polo with his brothers in Dongneiyuan and is as joking as he is. The generals feel more majestic and pressure in front of him. However, if he doesn't say some words, no one in the Xiliang army dares to mention these things in front of Zhang Huan.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Chen Ping seriously violated the military rules and should be killed! I have no objection to this, but now is not the time to kill him."

Zhang Huan was slightly stunned, "Why?"

He Lou Wuji turned over and dismounted, knelt down on one knee to salute, and shouted: "This month, the governor has been heavily employed by the prominent clans of Longyou. Xin Lang has been with the governor for a long time. I won't talk about him. Although Ma Guorui, Bai Sheng, Li Fei Ming Erlang and others are heroic, what military achievements do they have? They are all in high positions. Many old subordinates in the army have complained about this, but at this time the governor wants to kill Chen Ping. He is the old man whom the governor has just joined the army. What does this make the brothers think? Please think twice!"

Zhang Huan looked at him silently. After a long time, he finally sighed, turned over and dismounted the horse to help He Lou Wuji up, and then walked to a big rock with his shoulder to sit down. After pondering for a while, Zhang Huan said to him softly: "In my memory, I always think about how my old subordinates raised their troops with me and how to start a foundation with me. When we were in Tianbao County, we were almost in short supply. When we were in the most embarrassing, we could only eat one meal a day. Later, we fought together for a few days and nights to marches over the blizzard that had not been seen in a century to capture Wuwei County. I remember that before the surprise attack on Lu Sigong camp, I promised to let you go to the West and make you the king of the West?"

He Lou Wuji nodded silently, and he also remembered these things in his heart. He said solemnly: "I have always admired the aspiration of the governor."

"Is it enough to have ambition alone?" Zhang Huan stared at the vast water of the Yellow River. A look of pain slowly flowed out of his eyes. "This time, Guanlong changed drastically. We lost the old nest of Wuwei. 20,000 soldiers were wiped out. Pei Jun took the opportunity to take away most of his foundation. I think everyone should reflect, especially for me, who wanted to win the world but was narrow-minded and could not tolerate dissidents. He also acted arbitrary and had all the power in his own hands. Take the Western Expedition to Hehuang for example. Hu Yong advised me not to be too hasty. Pei Mingyuan even mentioned that there might be changes in Zhangye, but I didn't listen to the plan and could not object. Finally, I fell into a big fight, but it would be better if I fell into it, but I woke me up with a palm."

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan's eyes gradually became brighter. He straightened his waist and said earnestly to He Lou Wuji: "You must know that the reason why I value the children of the Longyou clan is to consider the long-term. Strength is the foundation, but fighting and killing alone will only become Zhu Li's second. We must establish a strong interest group so that we can gain the greatest benefit in the future court struggles."

‘Strong interest group.’ He Lou Wuji murmured several times, and suddenly he stood up and saluted Zhang Huan, “Governor, I understand. I will advise everyone, please understand the Governor’s painstaking efforts.”

"Don't say too much." Zhang Huan patted his shoulder and smiled: "Just tell my brothers for me that we will conquer the logic in the future, and the Tubo beauty will let them enjoy it."

"There are beautiful women in Tubo?" He Lou Wuji grinned. He had never seen him before.

At this time, a fast horse galloped from the east and walked to Zhang Huan. The knight immediately reported: "Governor, the Empress Dowager's Special Envoy has entered the city. Mr. Hu asks you to return quickly."

"I understand." Zhang Huan turned over and bowed to He Lou Wuji, "General He Lou, I will hand over the Hehuang new recruits to you, and the journey will be smooth!"

"Please take care of the governor!"

He Lou Wuji strode onto the ship, and more than a dozen large ships slowly started, sailing north along the Yellow River water, and gradually disappeared at the end of the sky.

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Jincheng County, the Jiedushi Headquarters is particularly lively these days. As early as early June, several idle old houses about one mile away from the Jiedushi Headquarters had been demolished. On the vacant land covering an area of ​​nearly 100 acres, thousands of craftsmen have been busy nervously. Judging from the simple structure that has appeared, it is obvious that a large-scale building complex is being built here, and there are hundreds of soldiers patrolling and guarding around the construction site, and not allowing idle people to approach. Its mystery has aroused the curiosity of the people of Jincheng County. Many people with vision immediately made a judgment that this must be the construction of a new Jiedushi Headquarters. Indeed, the Jiedushi Headquarters one mile away was converted from a house during the Yonghui period, which is a bit old.

The official did not deny this rumor, and it was naturally a pity that he would agree. In peaceful days, change is the most anticipated thing, so every day there are groups of idle people coming to the nearby point fingers, ‘There is a puddle there, the back garden pond!’… ‘There is also a basement, this must be a secret prison.’ As long as idle people don’t cross the red line to find out the truth, the patrol soldiers will ignore them.

However, there was no idle today. They were on high alert near the newly built building complex and the headquarters of the governor. Nearly a thousand cavalry blocked the road and did not allow pedestrians to pass through. The road seemed empty, with only hundreds of palace guards from Chang'an waiting in front of the yamen. They guarded the envoy sent by Cui Xiaofu, the Queen Mother of the Tang Dynasty, just arrived an hour ago.

The special envoy was naturally Li Fanyun, but this time he came not only Li Fanyun, but also a royal prince came with him. He is the current emperor's biological father, Li Qi, the former King of Siqing. However, he has now been named King Luo. In addition to the title of prince, he is also the Minister of the Zongzheng Temple in the court, in charge of royal affairs.

Li Qiu is about fifty years old and is extremely obese. He always likes to look at people with his eyes squint. It is said that squint can restrain his eyes and collect a few rays of light, giving people a sense of shock. Over time, he has developed a habit.

He especially likes others to evaluate him as scheming, but he is a person who can't help but speak. A few words can make his heart open.

Li Qiu's biological father was Li Ying, the first crown prince of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, Li Longji. In the 25th year of Kaiyuan, Prince Li Ying exposed his ambition to ascend the throne too early and was killed by Li Longji. He adopted him to Li Cong, the eldest son of Li Longji who had no son. Now, his five-year-old son is the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. It is precisely because of these relationships that Li Qiu has always regarded himself as a leader of the royal family.

At this moment, in Zhang Huan's reception room, Li Qiu was holding tea, but his eyes narrowed his eyes to look at Zhang Huan opposite him. He had heard of Zhang Huan's identity for a long time, but he didn't take it too seriously. He was just an illegitimate son, not considered a member of the royal family. However, with Zhang Huan's rise in the past two years, Li Qiu's mentality has changed slightly. Even if Zhang Huan is the son of Prince Yu, he has never visited the ancestral temple and can't be the royal family. The ancestral temple is under his charge. In other words, Zhang Huan's identity has not passed by him, so he can only be a pseudo royal family.

However, Zhang Huan didn't seem to realize this. Not only did he add him to the last seat, but he even served him the last bowl of tea. Li Qiu, who claimed to pay attention to details, began to feel a little dissatisfied. He wanted to have some attacks, but what he was going to talk about today forced him to breathe.

The person sitting in the main seat was Li Fanyun. She had been expressionless since she came in. It seemed that she and Zhang Huan had just met for the first time, but were just asking questions after questions skillfully and professionally, the number of soldiers killed in Wuwei? The number of refugees escaped? What is their current situation? And so on, the person who answered her question was not Zhang Huan, but Zhang Huan's chief aide Hu Yong. Zhang Huan sat aside from a distance, looking a little careless. After a full half an hour of discussion, Li Fanyun changed the topic and raised another question that was obviously not related to today's mission.

"Mr. Hu, when we came, we saw a large-scale construction nearby, and I wonder what we were building?"

At this time, Li Qiu, who was standing by, could no longer help him. He coughed heavily and signaled Li Fanyun to get to the point. Li Fanyun's face changed, and he couldn't help but show extreme disgust in his eyes, but he suddenly returned to normal. Could it be that he didn't understand that he shouldn't stay here for more than half an hour of irrelevant questions?

Li Fanyun never understood what Cui Xiaofu's intention was when she followed him. Cui Xiaofu did not tell her, and she didn't even know what Cui Xiaofu wrote in her letter to Zhang Huan. More than a month ago, Cui Xiaofu issued an order to command Zhang Huan to host his son in the capital. She only realized this later. It was obvious that Cui Xiaofu no longer trusted her as much as before. This subtle change probably started shortly after she could attend the cabinet meeting, without any prior signs.

Li Fanyun is an extremely sensitive and extremely smart person. She had guessed briefly that Cui Xiaofu's neglect of her might have something to do with Zhang Huan. Just after Li Qiu coughed heavily, she suddenly understood that some agreement must have been reached between Cui Xiaofu and Li Qiu, and her mission to Longyou this time was very likely to have something to do with Li Qiu.

At this moment, this task was in the gold-painted ivory box held by a eunuch beside her, which was not before. In the past, Cui Xiaofu's secret letter was carried by her, but now the special envoy is the special envoy. The secret letter is returned to the secret letter. She could not see the content of the letter, but she did not take action, and the letter could not be handed over to Zhang Huan.

Since he understood that the content of the secret letter was most likely related to Li Qiu, Li Fanyun fell into silence for a moment. What role did he play in this mission?

At this time, Zhang Huan, who had been absent-minded, suddenly laughed and said, "That house under construction is the new yamen of my Jiedushi. It's too old, it's time to change the place."

On the surface, Zhang Huan was indeed absent-minded while sitting aside, and his eyes were often turned out the window, but this was just an appearance. He was actually speculating on the intention of Li Qiu's coming together. Li Qiu's every move and even a subtle expression fell into his eyes. From the obvious dissatisfaction on Li Qiu's face when arranging the seats, to the time when he was about to have an attack when he was serving tea, and looking at his impatient look, Zhang Huan could infer that this was an impatient and shallow prince.

However, Zhang Huan himself was very interested in the secret letter in the box. Since the prince urged to read the letter, Cui Xiaofu's arrangement was that the prince must be present.

He stopped delaying and smiled slightly and said, "I wonder if the Queen Mother has any letters to me?"

"Yes!" Li Qi stood up suddenly, and he strode to the eunuch, took the box, and pushed it to Zhang Huan, "This is the letter from the Queen Mother to Zhang Envoy."

After saying that, he sat next to Li Fanyun without hesitation. His fat flesh shook, and leaned against Li Fanyun's slender body. Li Fanyun moved to the side in disgust. However, in this way, Li Qiu replaced Li Fanyun's main position, forming a trend of noisy to seize the main position.

At this time, Hu Yong, who was sitting opposite, also moved to the left and gave the position to Zhang Huan. Zhang Huan sat forward and took the ivory box to open it. There was only a handwritten letter from Cui Xiaofu, "Champion General, Longyou Jiedushi Zhang Huanqi". The credit was sealed with hot paint, and Zhang Huan tore open the letter skin and took out the letter inside.

He read it roughly and couldn't help but 'hum!' in his heart. The content of the letter actually recommended six people to him as the governors of Hehuang counties. These six people are all royal families. The first person on the list was Li Yun, the son of Li Qiu, who was recommended as the governor of Xiping County.

Some time ago, she forced her son to come to Beijing to please Pei Jun, but now she is so proud that she can reach Hehuang again. Cui Xiaofu is really good at being a human being. Moreover, there are only eight counties in Hehuang, so she wants to go to six at once. It’s really a pity that she can open this.

Zhang Huan raised his eyes and glanced at Li Qiu quickly, only to see him looking at him with expectant face. At this moment, Zhang Huan suddenly understood Cui Xiaofu's sinister intentions.

On the surface, if she agreed immediately, Li Qiu would be overjoyed, but this favor was her Cui Xiaofu, but if she refused, she offended Li Qiu, and she would generally think so.

But think about it a little more deeply, why did Cui Xiaofu let Li Qiu come? What is Li Qiu doing? Zongzheng Temple Minister is responsible for identifying the identity of the royal family, and what is her true identity? What is the consequence of offending Li Qiu? Cui Xiaofu clearly knew that Xiping County was the center of Hehuang, and she would never agree, so she specially proposed to Li Yun. Not to mention Xiping County, no county among the eight Hehuang counties would give up. Cui Xiaofu also knew very well.

Why did she do this? Zhang Huan smiled coldly. She thought that the conflict with Cui Xiaofu would not be exposed in a long time, but she did not expect that it would appear so early.

He immediately took the letter and said to Li Qiu with a smile: "I already know the prince's wish, but the prince must also know the rules in the court. This matter cannot be avoided by the Ministry of Personnel. Since it is the Queen Mother's intention, I will explain it to the Ministry of Personnel."

Seeing that Zhang Huan was speaking very smoothly, Li Qiu immediately sank his face and said directly: "Don't forget Zhang Jun, I am the Minister of Zongzheng Temple. Didn't Zhang Jun ask me for anything?"

"The prince is here to stay, please rest first!" Zhang Huan stood up, glanced at him, and said coldly: "Mr. Hu, take me off!"

After saying that, he strode into the inner room. As soon as he entered the room, he found that Li Fanyun quickly winked at him.

"Zhang Huan, don't be ungrateful!" Li Qiu's roar came outside the house.

"Prince, please!"

"What are you worthy of giving me?"

Inside the room, Zhang Huan smiled coldly and tore Cui Xiaofu's letter to pieces.

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To be continued...