Although Yelu Yanxi did not come to the Great Song Dynasty to "take refuge", but was arrested by the Jin people, this still made Zhao Ji feel that a stone in his heart had finally fallen to the ground.

In Zhao Ji's view, the main factor threatening the safety of Yanshan has changed from Yelu Yanxi to the Jin people, and it is time to be wary of the Jin people.

So, in March of the seventh year of Xuanhe, Zhao Ji ordered Tong Guan to go from Taiyuan to Yanshan to further deploy the defense of the north and prevent the Jin people from going south.

At this time, there are still people who say that Guo Yaoshi has a bad plot and has the potential to become the second in An Lushan.

In this regard, although Zhao Ji did not believe it, he still asked Tong Guan to secretly visit Pharmacist Guo when he went to Yanshan to set up defenses to see if Pharmacist Guo really had a plan.

Zhao Ji instructed Tong Guan in the codex that if he found that Guo Yaoshi had different ambitions, he could take Guo Yaoshi into the capital.

Tong Guan left Taiyuan after completing the handover procedures for silver silk with the Jin people, and then marched along the road of Zhending Mansion, Hejian Mansion, Mozhou, and Xiongzhou to Yanshan Mansion.

When Ma Kuo heard about it, he hurried from Baozhou to Mozhou to meet Tong Guan.

Ma Kuo's purpose in being anxious to see Tong Guan was to remind Tong Guan.

Ma Kuo believes that the reason why the Jin army has always maintained a superficial friendship with the Great Song Dynasty and did not send troops south to attack the Great Song Dynasty is not because they kept their promises, but because they took into account the three forces, namely Zhang Jue in Pingzhou, Xiao Gan in Xidi, and Yelu Yanxi in Jiashan, all of which were remnants of the Liao State, and all of them had the possibility of sparks that could ignite the plains, so they posed a threat to the Jin State.

But now with the capture of Yelu Yanxi, these three forces no longer exist, and the Jin people have no worries.

Ma Kuo believed that the Great Song Dynasty should be highly vigilant, because the Jin army could launch a surprise attack on the Great Song Dynasty at any time.

Tong Guan also agreed with Ma Kuo's judgment, and he said: "I will go to Yanshan to control the soldiers and horses today, and cover it to prevent Jin Renye." ”

……

When Guo Yaoshi learned that Tong Guan was coming to Yanshan Mansion, he was very uneasy - not long ago, he had refused to enter Beijing to be sealed, and he was worried that Tong Guan's coming to Yanjing would be unfavorable to him.

Not long ago, when receiving an edict from the Zhao and Song courts, Guo Yaoshi hesitated and finally did not dare to enter Beijing - he feared that once he entered Beijing, he would be relieved of his military power and lose his freedom.

Actually-

Pharmacist Guo's impression of Zhao Ji was originally very good.

But through Zhang Jue's death, Guo Yaoshi felt that a Liao general like him had nothing worth remembering in Zhao Ji's eyes.

Guo Yaoshi believes that he has seen the ruthless Zhao Song clearly, and he is afraid that one day he will become the second Zhang Jue himself.

Guo Yaoshi also felt that whether it was Zhao Ji or Wang Anzhong, Cai Jing and other officials in Yanshan Mansion, they actually distrusted him, after all, he was a general of the Liao State.

Therefore, in order to ensure his own safety, Guo Yaoshi felt that he must firmly control the Changsheng army, and must not let Tong Guan take away his military power, let alone let Tong Guan arrest him into Beijing.

In order to achieve this goal, Pharmacist Guo decided to give Tong Guan a good play.

So, when Tong Guan arrived in Yandi, Guo Yaoshi led several horsemen to leave Yanjing and go to Yizhou to meet Tong Guan.

Outside the city of Yizhou, Guo Yaoshi paid homage to Tong Guan with a very grand ceremony - that is, he bowed to Tong Guan.

This scared Tong Guan!

Tong Guan hurriedly dodged away, and said very puzzledly: "You are also a captain now, and our two official positions are almost the same, why do you want to give me this big gift?" ”

Pharmacist Guo replied, "Old lady, you have the grace of knowing the pharmacist, just like the pharmacist's father, so the pharmacist gave you this great gift. ”

Pharmacist Guo can have today's momentum, which does have a lot to do with Tong Guan.

Therefore, Tong Guan was quickly relieved.

Subsequently, Pharmacist Guo invited Tong Guan to inspect Chang Shengjun.

Tong Guan followed Pharmacist Guo to a clearing.

As soon as the order flag in Guo Yaoshi's hand waved, dense iron horses rushed from all directions.

The order flag in Guo Yaoshi's hand waved again, and the dense iron cavalry quickly retreated, and the suburbs were as silent as ever.

Tong Guan praised Guo Yaoshi's ability to command and train cavalry!

Tong Guan felt that there should be no problem with such a general and such a forbidden iron army to guard Yanjing and protect the northern gate of the Great Song Dynasty.

So, Tong Guan took out a large sum of money to reward Guo Yaoshi and Chang Shengjun, and did not capture Guo Yaoshi to Jingshi.

Wang Anzhong, the Xuanfu envoy of Yanshan Mansion Road and the prefect of Yanshan Prefecture, was recommended by Wang Hao and Liang Shicheng.

Since the fall of Wang Hao and Liang Shicheng, Wang Anzhong has been in a panic all day long, and he knows that his own days in Yanjing are numbered.

Really!

After Tong Guan came to Yanjing, he immediately suggested that Zhao Ji summon Wang Anzhong to return to the court, and Cai Jing would take over Wang Anzhong's position.

Zhao Ji quickly agreed.

Then, Tong Guan asked Zhao Ji to set up four generals on Hebei Road, that is, four military chiefs, to strengthen Hebei's defense.

The four military chiefs:

The first is the military governor of Zhongshan Mansion, which is in charge of Xin Xingzong - Zhongshan Mansion, in the eighth year of Qingli, Dingzhou Road was placed to pacify the envoys, and the eight state armies of Dingding, Bao, Shen, Qi, Guangxin, Ansu, Shun'an, and Yongning were promoted to the government in three years.

The second is the military governor of Zhending Mansion, which is in charge of Ren Yuan - Zhending Mansion, which was placed in the eighth year of Qingli to pacify the envoys, and unified Zhen, Xiang, Xing, Zhao, and Zhaozhou.

The third is the military governor of Hejian Mansion, which is in charge of Yang Weizhong - Hejian Mansion, named Gaoyangguan in the first year of Taiping Xingguo, and placed the pacification envoy in the eighth year of Qingli, Tongying, Mo, Xiong, Bei, Hebei, Cang, Yongjing, Baoding, Qianning, and Xin'an Prefecture Army, and was promoted to the government in the second year of Daguan.

The fourth is the military governor of the Daimyo's Mansion, which is in charge of Wang Yu - the Daimyo's Mansion, which was placed in the eighth year of Qingli to pacify the envoys, and commanded the armies of Beijing, Lan, Huai, Wei, De, Bo, Bin, Di, Tongli, and Baoshun.

These four military governors are also the deputy governors of all roads.

Tong Guan asked the military chiefs of the four routes to actively recruit fugitive soldiers and recruit loafers everywhere to fill the army.

Tong Guan wanted to use these four commanders to establish Hebei's military organization system, and through this system to recruit troops and enrich strength, so as to consolidate and strengthen Hebei's defense and restore part of the military strength of the Great Song Dynasty.

Tong Guan's idea didn't come up after he came to Yanjing—he had already formed it when he talked to Ma Kuo.

Because the Hebei Plain is a flat river, there is no danger pass can be guarded, so since the founding of the Song Dynasty, in order to prevent the Liao army from going south, a lot of defensive measures have been taken on the Hebei border defense line.

For example, large-scale planting of elm and willow trees to form defensive forests, excavation of ponds to build the "Great Wall on the Water", strengthening the construction of Hebei city to build a city defense system, and so on.

It should be said that these measures played an important role in consolidating the northern border defense of the Song Dynasty.

However, after the alliance between the Song and Liao, the two countries of Song and Liao turned hostility into jade silk, and there was no war for more than 100 years, the people on the border did not know weapons, and even many soldiers could not ride horses.

Tong Guan actually has some understanding of the military and political situation in Hebei.

To be fair, from the spring of the fourth year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan led the army to Hebei to patrol the border, until the seventh month of the fifth year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan has been working hard to run Hebei's military affairs.

A year later, in September of the sixth year of Xuanhe, Tan Zhi was dismissed, and Tong Guan returned to serve as the Xuanfu envoy of Hedong in Hebei, and he continued to run the northern defense of the Great Song Dynasty.

Tong Guan regarded the Yanshan region as the first line of defense, the four military chiefs as the second line of defense, and the Yellow River as the third natural line of defense.

Tong Guan thought that by strengthening the deployment in this way, the Hebei defense line should be impregnable......

……

After rearranging the defense facilities, Tong Guan returned to Beijing, and then reported to Zhao Ji: Guo Yaoshi has the skills to train soldiers, his strength can resist captivity, and his loyalty and righteousness are commendable.

At the same time, Cai You, who led the Privy Council, also had a good impression of Pharmacist Guo, and assured Zhao Ji that Pharmacist Guo had absolutely no problem and could be used with confidence.

Only then did Zhao Ji dispel his doubts about Pharmacist Guo.

Zhao Ji later received some reports, saying that Pharmacist Guo had private contact with Jin Ren, and reminded Zhao Ji to pay attention.

But Zhao Ji didn't pay attention to these reports and put them aside.

……

Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan and Cai You joined forces to run on Cai Qian, the purpose of using Cai Qian to force Cai Jing to give up the position of prime minister, and they hoped that Cai Jing would resign automatically.

But after Cai Juan was ordered to be suspended, it may be that Cai Jing is too nostalgic for the position of prime minister, or it may be that Cai Jing, who has rich experience in governance, wants to save the Great Song Dynasty by his own strength, in short, Cai Jing did not mention the matter of taking the initiative to resign, and still had the cheekiness to rely on the position of prime minister.

Zhao Ji was also a little dissatisfied with Cai Jing's refusal to hand over power, and he felt that he couldn't wait like this any longer.

In April of the seventh year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan had just returned from Yanjing, and Zhao Ji ordered Tong Guan and Cai You to go to Cai Jing's house together, and asked Cai Jing to thank him.

On this day, Tong Guan and Cai You came to the Taishi's mansion to explain their intentions, Cai Jing hurriedly set up wine to entertain, and Cai Jing cried at the beginning of the banquet and said: "Why don't you let Beijing for a few years?" When are there slanderers? ”

Tong Guan replied, "I don't know." ”

Cai Jing said again: "Beijing should go when he is old, and he can't bear to beg for it, and the above kindness has not been repaid, and the second prince of this heart knows it!"

When the people on the left and right heard that Cai Jing and his son Cai You were also called "Gong", they all snickered.

Although Cai Jing called his own son "Gong" in order to continue to be the prime minister, this still could not change Zhao Ji's determination to remove Cai Jing.

Seeing that it was impossible for him to rely on the position of prime minister anymore, Cai still wrote a letter of resignation and resigned from the position of prime minister with extreme unwillingness.

Cai Jing served as prime minister for only four months this time, and finally stepped down.

……

On May 5, Zhao Ji issued an edict on the grounds that Tong Guan had recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and pacified the rebellion of Gaotuoshan and other rebels, and asked the ministers to discuss the reward for conferring Tong Guan as the king of Guangyang County.

On June 6, Zhao Ji officially issued an edict, Taishi, Yuguo Gongtong Guan, according to the former Taishi, the Privy Council, Hebei Hedong Shaanxi Xuanfu envoy, into the king of Guangyang County.

Prior to this, the Song Dynasty had different surnames and were not relatives, and there was no king.

In the early days of Cai Jing's reign, for the political needs of "holding the theory of Shaoshu", Cai Jing suggested that Zhao Ji should be crowned Wang Anshi as the king of Shu, and later He Zhizhong was named the king of Qinghe County by Zhao Ji, but they were all posthumously gifted.

Those who are alive to be crowned kings, except for Cai Ying, who don't have to think about it, is only Tong Guan.

This was absolutely unprecedented in the Song Dynasty.

Moreover, Tong Guan is not only a military commander, he also has a special identity - eunuch.

And the eunuchs were crowned kings, and there were only three people in Chinese history - the other two were Feng Yi, Wang Zongai, and Bolu Wang Li Fuguo.

The reason for making Tong Guan the king, Zhao Ji made it very clear in the edict, that is, Tong Guan recovered the sixteen states of Yanyun and pacified the rebellion of Gaotuo Mountain and other rebels.

But the question is, Tong Guan led the army into Yanjing in the fifth year of Xuanhe, why didn't Tong Guan be crowned king at that time, and then let Tong Guan Zhishi, but now after a lapse of two years, he wants to make Tong Guan king on the grounds that Tong Guan recovered Yanshan?

There's a reason for that, of course.

At this time, Zhao Ji already felt that the north was not very safe, the border was facing the military threat of the Jin people, and there was a hidden danger of Guo Yaoshi and Chang Shengjun in Yandi, and although the peasant rebellion in Hebei, Shandong and other places had temporarily subsided, it could recur at any time.

Therefore, Zhao Ji urgently needs someone like Tong Guan who understands military affairs and can shake the situation to maintain the security of the north.

Originally—

Zhao Ji thought that Tan Zhi was a good material that could replace Tong Guan.

But it turns out that Tan Zhi is not enough to succeed and more than to lose, and he can't replace Tong Guan's position at all.

In addition, Tong Guan is now seventy-two years old.

Tong Guan's contemporaries, especially the military ministers, have largely left the imperial court – Deng Xunwu had died four years earlier. Zheng Juzhong also died two years ago.

And the younger ministers, such as Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan, Cai You, Yu Wencui, etc., are all literati who do not understand military affairs.

Zhao Ji thought about it and felt that no one could replace Tong Guan, and if he wanted to defend the northern frontier and maintain the security of the north, he had to rely on Tong Guan.

There is no other way, Zhao Jicai hopes to use the highest reward of the king to envelop Tong Guan, and hopes that Tong Guan can do his best for the stability of the Great Song Dynasty.

Moreover, Tong Guan is old, even if he is crowned king, he will not be able to be a few years.

Therefore, Zhao Ji will give Tong Guan the title of king at this critical moment.

……

Tong Guan was very happy about being crowned king, which was probably something he had dreamed of for a long time.

Of course, this is inevitably a grand celebration.

With Zhao Ji's approval, Tong Guan expanded his mansion a lot, making it more magnificent.

It is said that the construction workers at that time also congratulated Tong Guan and asked for a reward, and Tong Guan was very generous and rewarded everyone with a golden bowl.

At the same time that Zhao Ji made Tong Guan the king, he also promoted Cai You to the Taibao and let Cai You lead the Privy Council.

Taibao, Taishi, and Taifu are called the "Three Princes", all of which are genuine products, and they are all titles that express grace.

Cai You once served as the deputy commander of the Northern Expedition and was a partner with Tong Guan.

Back then, Zhao Ji arranged Cai You to be the deputy marshal, in fact, to supervise Tong Guan.

Now, Zhao Ji has made such an arrangement again, and its purpose is self-evident.

Cai You understood what Zhao Ji meant, so he also seized the time to cultivate his own power and prepare to balance Tong Guan in the future.

Actually-

Zhao Ji made Tong Guan the king of the county, and promoted Cai You to the Taibao, the purpose of which was to let them take on the heavy responsibility of the northern border defense of the Great Song Dynasty.

Zhao Ji felt that after making such an arrangement, he would be able to sit back and relax.

But after Zhao Ji rewarded Tong Guan and Cai You, Tong Guan was busy celebrating all day long, and Cai You was busy expanding his own power all day long, gathering momentum to fight Tong Guan.

Tong Guan and Cai You, who were pinned on by Zhao Ji, did not pay attention to the movements of the Jin people at this time.

And at this time, Wanyan Zonghan returned to the clouds and was organizing forces to repair the urban fortifications of Feihu County and Lingqiu County.

Ma Kuo was very vigilant, he immediately wrote a letter to Tong Guan to report the situation, and suggested that the elite troops of Shaanxi should be quickly transferred to guard Zhongshan Mansion and Zhending Mansion, and the wise and brave generals should be selected to guard the area of Yizhou in case the Jin army suddenly launched a southward invasion.

Tong Guan and Cai You did not pay attention to Ma Kuo's letter, they believed that the Jin State had just been founded, and the domestic situation was still unstable, and the key was not that no one contained the Jin people, and don't forget, Liaodong had been eyeing the Jin people.

Tong Guan and Cai You therefore concluded that it was impossible for the Jin people to risk sending troops south at this time, and the Jin soldiers were creating a tense atmosphere on the border, just to extort some money from the Great Song Dynasty, and they didn't even feel the need to report to Zhao Ji.

It's a pity -

Tong Guan and Cai You were wrong this time, because something big had happened in Liaodong, and they couldn't take care of the affairs between Song and Jin at all......

……

Read the URL: n.