The General Manager's Mansion has an inner courtyard. Although it is far inferior to the Jianhu Lake outside the county city, the beauty of the scenery is beyond Zhang Xuanning's expectations. At this time, he was in the pavilion of the small lake in the inner courtyard, admiring the clear water and white waves, reflecting the green and emerald scenery on the lake.
The light on the lake dances, reflecting the lake like a mirror.
By this time, it was already October 2, the twelfth year of Daye.
Despite this, the trees by the lake have not yet officially shed their leaves, maintaining their autumn green color, blending into the clear lake water, with the smoky mist rippling on the lake surface making it seem even more unreal and real.
However, at this moment, Zhang Xuanning, who was listening to the report, had an extremely solemn expression on his face: "The bandit leaders Zheng Wenya and Lin Baohu intend to invade our county. These two captured Jian'an County last year, and the prefect Yang Jingxiang died in it. I believe that they have eaten all the food in this county, and are going to wreak havoc in other counties again." This is actually very simple. A bandit army like this has no organizational strength or production power, and can only rely on plunder to eat. Therefore, after eating up one county, they will move on to other counties.
The fact that he had gained two counties had actually posed a danger to the nearby rebel forces. They had wanted to attack Jian'an County, but unexpectedly they had been attacked first. Zhang Xuanning was immediately shocked.
"I heard that there are 30,000 soldiers. Are there really 30,000 soldiers?"
"It's nothing more than a roll of men, women, old and young, of whom no more than 3,000 are capable of fighting." Li Bo sneered, "Jian'an County governs four counties, with a population of only 18,420. How can there be 30,000 strong men? Isn't that just mobilizing all the men in the county?"
"Prefect Yang Jingxiang died for his country last year, but what about the other officials?"
"Either death or being coerced." This simple answer revealed a harsh ending. In fact, if these officials met people with ambitions for the world, their endings should be good. What we are most afraid of is encountering this kind of rebel army, who will not consider any consequences and will do whatever they want, including burning, killing, and looting.
"My lord, Jian'an County is near our Yongjia County. We must be on guard against such a powerful enemy. It is better to send troops to destroy it when it is not strong enough. I believe that by then, the officials, local families, and the common people who have been harmed by the thieves will welcome your army." Li Bo said calmly: "Jian'an and Song Yuquan are several families in the local area. They practice fasting and support themselves with pine trees and water. They are all valued by Emperor Yang and have a great reputation. They are comparable to Kong Daomao of Kuaiji and Wang Yuanzhi of Danyang. I have contacted them and they will respond to your army and contact the villagers to defeat the armies of Zheng Wenya and Lin Baohu."
"Yes, order Zhou Feng, Feng Yuanding, and Ding Xingbang to lead 3,000 troops each to attack Jian'an County, and Chen Changlin to lead 3,000 naval forces to support them."
"Yes, my lord, who is the commander?"
“No distinction between primary and secondary.”
Seeing Li Bo was stunned, he wanted to persuade him again, so he said: "I know that if we don't distinguish between the primary and the secondary, it will easily cause problems, delay the opportunity to fight, and even be defeated one by one, but we have internal support and our strength is far superior to that of the enemy army, so we can do it. Sir, although our army has risen, we don't have a general who can stand alone. We have to give them this opportunity to gain experience. Who is strong and who is weak will be known after one battle. There will be frequent wars in the future. How can I personally lead everything?"
So this was the intention. Li Bo estimated it and said, "If so, it is reasonable. We will obey your order."
"Well, are there any other talented people in Jian'an County? Please tell me, sir." In fact, he already had a draft in his mind, but he should have asked the minister at this time instead of telling it directly.
To put it bluntly, it makes the lord take it too seriously. If Li Bo is a person who is jealous of talent, he might have killed him secretly, and even Zhang Xuanning can't do anything about it.
"My Lord, Li Baiyao, the Magistrate of Jian'an County, is the son of Li Delin, who was once the Minister of Internal History and prepared the national history and wrote the History of Qi. During the reign of Emperor Wen, Baiyao served as the Prince's Sheren and the Eastern Palace Scholar. He inherited his father's title of Duke of Anping, but was later stripped of his title by the Emperor and transferred to the position of Magistrate of Jian'an County. This man could write at the age of seven. He was studious and knowledgeable, and was appreciated by Emperor Wen. At that time, many of the memorials and proclamations in the court were written by him. He is truly a first-class talent."
The Sui Dynasty was good in everything except that the titles were too worthless. Everyone was a duke, and the title of marquis was not worth mentioning. But at this moment, Zhang Xuanning was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Where is this person? Please invite him in quickly."
"My lord, this man is among the enemy troops, but don't worry, I will send experts and the local families to protect him and his family so that you can use him."
"Dashan, sir, I'm really relieved that you're doing this." After thinking for a while, he asked again, "Is there anything else going on nearby?"
"According to urgent reports, Du Yangzhou and Shen Midi, who are from Donghai, are in rebellion, with tens of thousands of people. The emperor has sent General Chen Ling of the Right Imperial Guard to suppress them, but the outcome is still unknown. Observing the stars at night, two crooked arrows came out of the Big Dipper, twisted and snaking, and fell into the Southern Dipper. Li Feishixiong, a man from Anding, killed the prefect of Linjing, raised an army to rebel, and called himself a general. Moreover, in these few days, Yuwen Shu, the Grand Master of the Left Guard, the Grand Master of the Imperial Household, and the Lord of Xu, who was accompanying the emperor, died of illness!" Li Bo reported.
"Yuwen Shu is dead?" Zhang Xuanning was shocked, but also overjoyed. At this era, even if he was not very clear about history, he knew it clearly now. The reason was very simple. In any era, one must be familiar with the situation at that time, and there must be someone specifically to teach him the current situation.
Of course, the whole world would not forget a heavyweight like Yuwen Shu. The intelligence was very detailed, even more detailed than the historical records. This person was a Xianbei and a famous general in the Sui Dynasty. His father, Yuwen Sheng, was the highest pillar of the country. Yuwen Shu was brave and skilled in archery and horse riding when he was young. When Yang Jian abolished the Zhou Dynasty and established the Sui Dynasty, Yuwen Shu was appointed as the general of the right guard.
In order to destroy the Chen Dynasty and unify the north and the south, on the 17th day of the first month of the 9th year of Kaihuang, Yuwen Shu led his 30,000 troops across the river, and wiped out Xiao Lin, the governor of Chenwuzhou, and Xiao Yan, the governor of Dongyangzhou, and pacified the Three Wus. Later, he played a great role in Yang Guang's seizure of the crown prince. Therefore, Emperor Yang of Sui betrothed his eldest daughter, Princess Nanyang, to Yuwen Shu's second son, Yuwen Shiji, and appointed Yuwen Shu as the general of the left guard and changed his title to Duke of Xu. Yuwen Shu was trusted by Emperor Yang of Sui, and his power was overwhelming. No civil or military officials dared to disobey him. This time when he went to Jiangdu, the imperial guards gradually fell into his hands. Unexpectedly, he died now.
"It's really God's fault for the Yuwen family. If this man hadn't died, the Yuwen family might have really made a comeback and rebuilt the empire. Now, huh, Yuwen Huaji's qualifications and talents are relatively shallow after all. It seems that even if he can rely on his father's influence and family power to control the imperial guards, he won't be able to do it well." Zhang Xuanning said happily.
"My lord, you are right. If Yuwen Shu had not died, he could have defeated Li Zitong and Du Fuwei, unified the south, and recovered the north. I didn't expect that he died as soon as he arrived in Jiangdu before he could conquer the south. This is really fate." Li Bo said with emotion: "In fact, if he had died three years later, the south would have been in the hands of the emperor or the Yuwen family, and the situation would have been completely different. But now he has put himself in a dead end."
"Yes, it's destiny." In fact, Emperor Yang of Sui had a very good idea. If he moved to Jiangdu, with an army of 200,000 and famous generals like Yuwen Shu, it . Then he could look south and north, unify the world, or at least control half of the country.
However, unexpectedly, Yuwen Shu died just after the army moved to Jiangdu. In fact, it was still in time for Emperor Yang of Sui to move back to Luoyang immediately, but the possibility of losing Jiangdu would be extremely high. If he hesitated for a moment, it would be too late. So he could only watch helplessly as he was stuck in the mud and could not leave even if he wanted to.
This is the truth of history. It is truly destiny, not human planning.
"It is also because of the great fortune of our lord that he changed the destiny and let this man die at this critical moment. Otherwise, we would be in great trouble." Li Bo was flattering and speaking sincerely. Indeed, if Yuwen Shu had not died and wiped out the troops of Li Zitong and Du Fuwei, the nearby counties would have surrendered as soon as an order was issued, after all, they were orthodox, and Zhang Xuanning would have been besieged, and it would have been difficult for him to accomplish anything.
Zhang Xuanning had noticed this attitude a long time ago. He found that after he came back, the attitude of Li Bo and his son towards him seemed to have subtly changed, and they became more respectful.
However, he knew that this incident alone was not due to his good luck, but perhaps it was more due to the Li family and other dragons who were qualified to take over the world!
After all, if Emperor Yang of Sui was allowed to conquer the south and Luoyang and Chang'an were not lost, the Li family would be doomed.
Of course, he didn't say this, so he smiled and said, "The Yang family has run out of luck. The one who will rule the world will no longer be the Yang family."
"That's right, my lord, you are extremely wise." This is about Zhang Xuanning's change of surname: "Throughout the rise and fall of dynasties, there has never been a case where the same surname has inherited the throne."
"Forget it, there is no need to say more about this. Has the inventory in the warehouse been completed?"
"The inventory has been completed. Please check it, my lord." Li Bo took out a small notebook with various numbers recorded on it. After all, the number this time was large, so it was better to record it in writing.
"Well, you did a good job, sir." He read a few pages and then put it down: "Sir, how many years do you think we can use the army now?"
"Don't worry, lord. We control the revenue and expenditure. We also have sea trade and land. I dare not say anything else. Within five years, you can use the army as you like. There will be no shortage of money and food. If you are successful, the south will be settled by then. Even if the treasure is used up, the money in the south will be enough." Li Bo sighed and said, "Back then, the Duke of Chu (the final title of Yang Su) was outstanding and extraordinary. He was proficient in military tactics and strategies. But he lacked the right time, which gave Yang Jian a chance to succeed. In the end, he died in depression, but he also left a great legacy. Now it is helping you. This is really fate."
After a pause, he continued, "My lord has already seized two counties and found treasures. Following the great deeds of our ancestors, you have also obtained the imperial seal. It is truly the destiny of the lord. We can see that the trend of sweeping across the south is about to take shape. Once my lord has taken a few more counties, you can inherit the title of Duke of Chu and be crowned king and establish your own system."
"Do you think that this is the way it should be, sir?"
"Yes, once Yuwen Shu dies, if Your Majesty cannot wipe out Li Zitong and Du Fuwei's tribes within a year, then the fate of the South will be completely cut off and it will be difficult to revive. At this time, the South is without a master. If the lord wants to recruit heroes and win over the old tribes of his ancestors, it is necessary to become king. This is a different time."
Zhu Yuanzhang's "delay in proclaiming himself king and building high walls" was actually a stopgap measure in the face of the powerful Yuan army at that time. Once the Yuan army was weak in the south and his own side was strong, in order to establish his status, he immediately proclaimed himself king, recruited heroes and controlled the place.
The situation is different now. If Emperor Yang of Sui cannot wipe out the troops of Li Zitong and Du Fuwei, he will lose control of both the north and the south. In this case, whoever declares himself king will gain the support of the people. It is truly a different time. If he falls behind, he will lose the golden opportunity.
After understanding this, Zhang Xuanning immediately said decisively: "Once we purchase food and take Jian'an County to stabilize the rear, our army will immediately capture Dongyang and Sui'an counties. In this way, the five counties will be connected and form a solid shape, which will truly become the capital of the emperor. Otherwise, the three-point connection is too thin. Once the five counties are taken, if the time is right, I will immediately ascend the throne and become king!"
"I congratulate my king and wish him a long life!" Li Bo immediately knelt down and said.
Zhang Xuanning couldn't help but take a deep breath when he heard this voice. Without being there in person, it is impossible to imagine how stimulating the voice of shouting "Long live" would be to him, making him feel like he was floating up to the sky.
However, he calmed down and looked around. He saw the tranquil lake without any waves, the reflection of the mountains and the lake, the mist on the blue water, and the gentle breeze. It made people feel open-minded, refreshed, and refreshed. Then he burst out laughing: "Sir, you really killed me. Sir, please get up quickly. We are just starting our great cause, so it is not time yet."
He then stepped forward and said sincerely, "My father passed away early, and many members of the family were implicated. At this time, only my uncle is here. Even if I become king, you are still my lord. Although we are king and subject, we are undoubtedly father and son. I am willing to treat my uncle like Jiang Taigong with the heart of King Wu. Please help me!"
"How dare I do this? To meet a wise ruler, to help with great affairs, to go down in history, to protect my wife and children, to promote religion, and to destroy the barbarians - this is what I have always wished for. Now that I have met my lord, I would not refuse even if I had to die." Li Bo had just stood up, and when he heard this, he almost burst into tears. He then bowed deeply and kept saying this.
After waiting for a while, the interaction between the king and his minister, which was half sincere and half political, finally came to an end. No matter what, the relationship between the two of them was strengthened and the atmosphere became harmonious.
"My lord, when you become king in the future, should you use your ancestor, the Duke of Chu, as your title? This will also fit in with your intention of starting an uprising in the southern Chu territory." Li Bo then said some of the key words.
"The East Sea pirate leader Li Zitong has led his people across the Huai River, proclaimed himself the King of Chu, established a bright government, and attacked Jiangdu. It seems inappropriate for us to call him the King of Chu, right?"
"This bandit army, claiming to be king is nothing but usurpation, why should my lord care about it?"
"That's how it is, but the Yang family has run out of luck. If I inherit the title of my ancestor, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get the destiny!" Zhang Xuanning then expressed his plan.
"What does the Lord mean?"
"I will be called the King of Tang before Li Yuan, and establish the Tang Dynasty in the future!" he said decisively.
In fact, he knew history and knew that the Tang Dynasty succeeded the Sui Dynasty. Now Li Yuan had not yet called himself the King of Tang, so of course he had to seize the throne first. Once he became powerful and was called the King of Tang, his influence would spread throughout the world. The best case scenario was that Li Yuan would not want to follow behind and call himself the King of Tang, as that would be too embarrassing.
However, even if it was a disaster, Li Yuan could still be called the King of Tang, and the two Tang dynasties and compete for luck.
"Tang is the name of the country?" Li Bo was shocked and paused for a moment before saying, "Since the lord has the intention, then we will do as the lord wishes."
"Well, I'll leave these political affairs to you, sir. I'll go take charge of the military affairs first."
After Zhang Xuanning left, a man came out from the inner room. It was Li Chunfeng. Although he was young, he was also between the second-rate and first-rate realms. He had just used the Taoist mental method to concentrate and hold his breath, and he had actually deceived Zhang Xuanning. Now he also whispered the word "Tang", and then said with a wry smile: "I really don't know how the lord knew this word Tang, this is already a secret."
"My son is very intelligent, even smarter than his father. What did you see?"
"My lord, the dragon vein was originally pointed out by my grandfather. After two generations, it has been hidden. But now the dragon energy on your face is thriving and the dragon vein has moved. It is obvious that it was stimulated by obtaining the imperial seal. The white snake has even slightly revealed its horns and claws. It has turned into a white dragon. Since it has turned into a dragon, it can be king. However, the transformation from a dragon to a dragon is based on subtle changes. If it happens so quickly, I am afraid it will lose its gentleness and integration. This time, he killed Kong, seized the jade seal, and burned his pure thoughts, breaking many fates in the north in one fell swoop. It was lightning fast and extremely wise and decisive, but it also showed that he was tyrannical and quick to make decisions, and lost his tolerance." Li Chunfeng said a little worriedly: "Moreover, the lord's vitality at this time is far beyond the limit of ordinary people, nearly ten times. Therefore, the principles of destiny will not be effective for the lord in the future. With the help of dragon energy, once it becomes a climate, it will be difficult to check and balance in the future. I don't know whether it is a disaster or a blessing."
"You have considered that, too. However, if it is beneficial to the country, we should not avoid it because of misfortune or fortune. The Li family was born as a dragon. Although the world is big, there are only a few people who can compete with it. However, if we want to revive China and our great religion, it must be you. As a father, I have no choice." Li Bo thought for a while and said with a sigh: "Besides, the struggle in the world is like dragons and snakes. Once involved, we have to wait until the real dragon is determined. Halfway through, even if we want to retreat, it will be difficult. This is called a dragon fighting in the wild. It is really a principle of advancing but not retreating!"
After hearing this, Li Chunfeng remained silent, because it was indeed the case.