Shi Jingjiao entered the Sanguan, and Wang Hongzhen, the assassin of Jiezhou, Feng Hui, the assassin of Luzhou, and the forward Ma Budu, Yu Hou Wang Sitong, and the infantry commanded Zhao Zaili to lead the army out of Rentou Mountain, and then went around to the south of Jianmen, and turned around to attack Jianmen.

On the thirteenth, Jianmen was lost, all 3,000 people of the Dongchuan army were killed, and Qi Yanwen was captured, and on the fifteenth, Wang Hongzhen and others broke through Jianzhou.

However, the large army failed to follow, so Wang Hongzhen burned down the houses of the defenders of Jianzhou, plundered food and materials, and returned to the army to defend Jianmen

Dong Zhang sent an envoy to Chengdu to report the emergency. When Meng Zhixiang heard that the Sword Gate was lost, he was terrified and said, "Dong Zhang really failed me!" ”

Then he sent Yaneidu to command Li Zhao to lead 5,000 troops to the rescue, and warned him: "You should redouble your hurry and occupy Jianzhou first, so that the army from the north will have no way to attack." Then he sent an envoy to Suizhou and ordered Zhao Tingyin to lead 10,000 troops to garrison Jianzhou.

He also sent Li Yun, the former Shu Yongping Jiedu, to lead 4,000 troops to Longzhou to guard the key points.

At that time, the weather was cold, the soldiers were afraid, and they refused to move forward, Zhao Tingyin advised everyone with tears in his eyes: "Now that the northern army is strong, if you don't do your best to resist the enemy, then your wife and children will be owned by others!" ”

The mood of the soldiers was excited, and at this time, Dong Zhang led the soldiers and horses of Liangchuan from Langzhou to be stationed in Trojan Horse Village. rise

At the beginning, Pang Fucheng, a native of Taigu, and Xie Qitun, the commander of Zhaoxin, were stationed in Laisu Village, and when they heard that Jianmen was lost, they said to each other: "If the Northern Army further obtains Jianzhou, then the situation in Ershu will be dangerous." ”

Then he immediately led more than 1,000 soldiers to rush to Jianzhou from the trail. As soon as they arrived, more than 10,000 officers and troops poured down from Beishan, and just as the sun was about to set, the two men discussed: "We are outnumbered, if we wait until dawn." There is no chance of survival for our people. ”

So Pang Fucheng led hundreds of soldiers to climb the North Mountain at night, shouting loudly behind the official army camp, Xie Qi led the rest of the people to attack from its front with short blades, the officers and soldiers were greatly frightened, fled the camp, and returned to guard the sword gate. I didn't dare to come out for more than ten days.

After Meng Zhixiang heard about it, he said happily: "At first, I thought that after Li Hongzhen captured Jianmen, he would take Jianzhou directly, hold its city, or lead troops straight to Zizhou, Dong Zhang would definitely abandon Langzhou and flee back, our army would lose reinforcements, and the siege of Suizhou would be lifted."

If this is the case, there will be enemies inside and outside. The two rivers are shaking, and the situation can be described as dangerous.

Now, they have burned Jianzhou, plundered the grain and returned to Jianmen, and the soldiers and horses are no longer advancing, and my affairs will be easy to do. The officers and troops parted ways and went straight to Wenzhou, preparing to attack Longzhou, but were defeated by Pan Fuchao, the commander of Xichuan Dingyuan, and Sha Yanzuo, a native of Taiyuan, the head of Yisheng.

On the 25th, Zhang Wu died in Yuzhou. Meng Zhixiang ordered Yuan Yanchao to take his place in command of his army. When Zhu Wei was about to arrive in Fuzhou, Wutai Jiedu made Yang Hanbin give up Qiannan. Running to Zhongzhou, Zhu Hao chased him to Fengdu, and returned to occupy Fuzhou.

Meng Zhixiang ordered Chengdu envoy Cui Shan to temporarily stay behind Wutai. On the third day of December, Shi Jingjiao led the army to Jianmen, and on the sixth day of the first month, he marched to Beishan in Jianzhou. Zhao Tingyin, Chen Bingya, the mountain behind the city, Li Zhao, Wang Hui, and Chen Bing are in the river bridge.

Shi Jingjiao led his troops to attack Zhao Tingyin, and Zhao Tingyin chose 500 soldiers who were good at archery to ambush Shi Jingjiao on the way back, waiting for the rabbit. Wait until the hand-to-hand combat before raising the flag, beating the drum and shouting to attack. The officers and soldiers were ambushed and retreated, fell to the bottom of the valley, and were captured and beheaded more than 100 people.

Shi Jingjiao sent cavalry to storm the river bridge, and Li Zhao shot with a strong crossbow, and the cavalry could not advance.

In the evening, Shi Jingjiao led the troops to retreat, Zhao Tingyin led the troops to follow, and the ambush soldiers jointly attacked, Shi Jingjiao was defeated, and had to return the army to Jianmen.

Shi Jingjiao's attack on Shu failed to achieve results, and the envoy returned to the court from the front line, telling that the road was difficult and narrow, and that it was extremely difficult to march into the army, and that the people west of Hangu Pass were exhausted by the transfer of food and pay for the army, and often fled and hid in the valley, where they gathered into thieves. Li Siyuan was very worried, and said to the ministers close to him: "Anyone can handle the affairs of the DPRK and China for me, I will personally go to conquer Shu." ”

An Chongzhi said: "I am grateful for the reuse, I am in a confidential position, and now the military prestige cannot be revitalized, it is my fault, and I ask that I be allowed to personally supervise the war." ”

Li Siyuan gave him permission, and An Chongzhi immediately resigned from the imperial court and galloped hundreds of miles every day. When the western feudal towns heard the news, they were all terrified and frightened.

So coins, cloth, military grass, and grain were sent to Lizhou day and night, and countless people and animals fell to death in the valley.

At that time, Li Siyuan had already alienated An Chongzhu, and Shi Jingjiao was unwilling to go west, and only after An Chongzhu left Li Siyuan's side, did he dare to make many arguments, thinking that Shu could not be conquered, and Li Siyuan thought it was very reasonable.

At first, Fengxiang Jiedu made Zhu Hongzhao curry favor with An Chongzhu, and he was able to rule the big festival town again and again. When An Chongzhu passed by Fengxiang, Zhu Hongzhao greeted him in front of the horse, let An Chongzhu stay in his official residence, and invited him to the inner room, called out his wife to pay homage, and personally served food and wine, and the etiquette was extremely respectful.

An Chongzhu cried to Zhu Hongzhao and said: "The villain framed me with slanderous words, and I was almost offended and could not avoid death, but fortunately, I was able to protect my clan thanks to the monarch's insight." ”

After An Chongzhu left, Zhu Hongzhao immediately went to the court: "An Chongzhu complained about the court and said bad things about the court, don't let him reach the camp, I'm afraid he will seize Shi Jingjiao's military power." ”

Zhu Hongzhao wrote to Shi Jingjiao again: "An Chongzhu's actions are reckless, if he arrives in the army, I am afraid that the soldiers will be suspicious and fearful, and he will collapse without a fight, and he should be blocked from going." ”

Shi Jingjiao was very frightened, and immediately said: "If An Chongzhi comes to the front of the army, I am afraid that people's hearts will change, and I must transfer him back as soon as possible." ”

At this time, Xuanhui made Meng Hanqiong return to the dynasty from the Western Front, and also told An Chongzhi about his mistakes and crimes, so Li Siyuan issued an edict to summon An Chongzhu to return to Beijing.

After An Chongzhi arrived at Sanquan, he got Li Siyuan's edict and hurriedly returned to the court, and when he passed Fengxiang, Zhu Hongzhao refused to accept it, An Chongzhu was very afraid, and galloped to the east to continue to advance.

Soon, Li Siyuan was reappointed as an envoy to protect the country.

Zhao Feng said to Li Siyuan: "An Chongxue is His Majesty's retainer, and his heart will never betray his master, but because he is not careful enough, he is slandered, if Your Majesty can't see his heart, I'm afraid he won't live long." Li Siyuan thinks that Zhao Feng and An Chongzhi have become friends. Very upset.

On the eleventh day of the first month of 931, Li Renhan captured Suizhou, and the once 100 people killed Xia Luqi by defeating him, and Meng Zhixiang cut off Xia Luqi's head to show the public. Xia Luqi's two sons were in Shi Jingqi's army at the time, crying and begging to go to the enemy line to retrieve Xia Luqi's head for burial, Shi Jingjiao said: "Meng Zhixiang is a kind elder. Surely your father will be buried, and that would not be better than dividing your father's body and head into two parts? Soon, Meng Zhixiang really buried Xia Luqi. On the 14th, Shi Jingjiao once again led troops to Jianzhou, fought with Zhao Tingyin, and after a long battle without victory, he returned to the army Jianmen.

On the first day of February, because Suizhou and Langzhou had fallen, the transportation of grain and grass could not be connected, so Shi Jingjiao burned the camp and returned to the north. The soldiers and horses of Liangchuan chased Shi Jingjiao to Lizhou.

On the fourth day of the first month, the Zhaowu Festival made Li Yanqi abandon the city and escape, and on the sixth day of the first month, the two Sichuan soldiers entered Lizhou. After Meng Zhixiang used Zhao Tingyin to stay for Zhaowu, Zhao Tingyin sent a secret envoy to Meng Zhixiang and said: "Dong Zhang is a deceitful person, so you can share the sorrow with him.

Do not be at peace with him, for he will be your woe to you. Take him to Jianzhou to comfort the army. Please seek to annex the people of the two rivers, and you can achieve the ambition of the world. ”

Meng Zhixiang did not agree. Dong Zhang came to Zhao Tingyin's military camp. Stay overnight and go away. Zhao Tingyin sighed and said, "If you don't follow my plan, it will be difficult to stop the scourge." ”

On the 12th, Meng Zhixiang appointed Li Renhan, the queen of Wu Xinliu, as an envoy to the camp of the Gorge Road, and asked him to lead the naval army to the east to take some territory. On the 17th, Zhao Tingyin and Li Zhao led troops from Jianzhou back to Chengdu, leaving 5,000 soldiers and horses to defend Lizhou.

Eighteenth. Dong Zhang also returned to Dongchuan, leaving 3,000 soldiers and horses to fight in Guozhou and Langzhou. On the twenty-seventh, Lee In-han captured Chungju.

On the first day of March, Li Renhan captured Wanzhou. In the second year of junior high school, he captured Yun'an Prison again. Li Renhan arrived in Kuizhou. Ningjiang Jiedu made An Chongruan abandon the town and fled with Yang Hanbin from Junzhou and Fangzhou. On the fourth day of the first month, Li Renhan captured Kuizhou.

Zhao Tingyin went to Lizhou from Chengdu, and after a month, he invited troops to enter Xingyuan, Qinzhou, and Fengzhou, but Meng Zhixiang did not agree because the soldiers were tired and the people were poor.

At this time, Meng Zhixiang heard that his relatives who were officials in the imperial court were all safe, so he sent a messenger to tell Dong Zhang that he wanted to apologize with Dong Zhang.

Dong Zhang was angry and said: "Gong Meng's relatives are all intact, of course they should be attached to the imperial court; My clan has been destroyed, what is there to be thankful for! Since then, the two sides have become bitter enemies.

Meng Zhixiang because the imperial court favored him well, and Dong Zhang blocked the road of Mianzhou and prevented him from sending envoys to the court to thank him, so he conspired with Zhao Jiliang and others, and prepared to send an envoy from the Xiajiang River to the upper table, and the secretary Li Hao said: "You don't consult with Dongchuan and send envoys alone, then the responsibility for not abiding by the agreement in the future will fall on our heads." ”

Therefore, he sent someone to tell Dong Zhang, and Dong Zhang was noncommittal. Meng Zhixiang sent envoys three times to persuade Dong Zhang, but Dong Zhang ignored him.

On 19 March, Li Hao was sent to Zizhou to meet Dong Zhang, and he vigorously stated his interests and disadvantages. When Dong Zhang saw Li Hao, he scolded angrily, but still disagreed.

After Li Hao came back, he said to Meng Zhixiang: "Dong Zhang is not negotiable, and he has the intention of attacking Xichuan, you must strengthen your vigilance." ”

Here, Dong Zhang really gathered the generals to plan an attack on Chengdu, and all the generals swore that they would be able to conquer it, and after Dong Zhang heard it, he was even more determined.

When Meng Zhixiang heard that Dong Zhang was coming, he sent the commander of the Ma army to command Pan Rensi to lead 3,000 men and horses to Hanzhou to reconnoitre. Dong Zhang entered the territory of Xichuan, broke through the poplar forest town, and captured the guard general Wu Hongli, his arrogance was very arrogant, and Meng Zhixiang was very worried.

Zhao Jiliang said to him: "Dong Zhang is brave but has no kindness, the soldiers are not attached to him in their hearts, if he holds the city, it will be difficult to conquer, and if he conducts a field battle, it will be easy to capture him."

Now, it is good for you that he does not guard his lair. Dong Zhang's soldiers, the elite are placed in the forward, you should use weak soldiers to lure him, use strong soldiers to wait for him, although there will be small setbacks at the beginning, but in the end it will inevitably achieve a big victory.

Dong Zhang has always been known for his might, and now that he has suddenly raised an army, the people are afraid, and you should personally go into battle to resist him, so as to strengthen the fighting spirit of the soldiers. ”

Zhao Tingyin thought that Zhao Jiliang's words were right, and also said: "Dong Zhang is rash and has no strategy, he is bound to fail, I will go and catch him for you." ”

On the 29th, Meng Zhixiang appointed Zhao Tingyin to deploy the camp and the Mabu army, and led 30,000 people to resist Dong Zhang. At this time, Dong Zhang's military documents were sent to Chengdu, along with letters to Zhao Jiliang, Zhao Tingyin and Li Zhao, which spread rumors that Zhao Jiliang and Zhao Tingyin had conspired to recruit him to capture Xichuan.

Meng Zhixiang handed the letter to Zhao Tingyin, Zhao Tingyin didn't even look at it, threw it on the ground and said: "It's just a counter-strategy." It is only necessary to make the public kill the deputy envoy and the court. ”

solemnly said goodbye to Meng Zhixiang and boarded the journey. Seeing this scene, Meng Zhixiang couldn't help but say: "Things will definitely succeed." ”

Dong Zhang's soldiers and horses arrived in Hanzhou, and Pan Rensi fought with him in Chishui, but was defeated and captured by Dong Zhang, and Dong Zhang occupied Hanzhou. Second. Meng Zhixiang left Zhao Jiliang and Gao Jingrou to guard Chengdu, and led 8,000 soldiers and horses to Hanzhou.

Arrived at Mimu Town, Zhao Tingyin Chen soldiers were in the north of the town. On the third day of the first month, just after dawn, Zhao Tingyin set up a formation in Jiqiao, and Yisheng Dingyuan knew that Zhang Gongduo set up a formation behind him. Dong Zhang saw that Xichuan's troops were in a grand position, so he retreated to the Wuhou Temple.

The brave men under his tent clamored loudly: "The sun is at noon, what are we going to do when we are exposed to the scorching sun!" ”

Only then did Dong Zhang get on his horse and march forward. As soon as the strikers fought, Zhang Shoujin, the commander of the horse and step in the right wing of Dongchuan, surrendered to Meng Zhixiang. And said: "Dong Zhang's soldiers and horses are all here, and there is no follow-up army, so they should attack quickly." ”

Meng Zhixiang boarded the high tomb to supervise the battle, Zuo Mingyi commanded Mao Chongwei, and Zuo Chongshan commanded Li Jiao to guard the chicken bridge, all of which were killed by the Dongchuan soldiers, Zhao Tingyin lost three battles, and the soldiers and horses of Hou Hongshi, the deputy commander of the Yanei capital, were also defeated and retreated, and Meng Zhixiang was afraid. Struggling to support in the back.

At this time, Zhang Gongduo led the soldiers to shout and charge to kill. The Dongchuan army was defeated, thousands of people died, and more than 80 people, including Dongchuan Zhongdu commander Yuan and deputy commander Dong Guangyan of Yanai, were captured. Dong Zhang beat his chest and cried bitterly: "The close soldiers have been lost, who else do I rely on!" ”

So he fled with only a few cavalry, and the rest of the 7,000 men surrendered.

Meng Zhixiang led his troops to chase Dong Zhang to Wuhoujin, and Dongchuan Mabu commanded Yuan to surrender. The Xichuan army invaded the capital of Hanzhou. The soldiers rushed to loot Dong Zhang's supplies, so Dong Zhang was able to escape. Zhao Tingyin chased to Chishui and forced down more than 3,000 of his soldiers.

Meng Zhixiang ordered Li Haozhang to draft a list of documents to inform the people of Dongchuan, and drafted a letter to comfort Dong Zhang, and said that he would personally go to Zizhou to ask Dong Zhang why he did not abide by the agreement. Questioned him about the charges of raising an army to fight.

On the fourth day of the first month, Meng Zhixiang and Zhao Tingyin met in Chishui, returned to Chengdu in the west, and ordered Zhao Tingyin to command troops to attack Zizhou.

Dong Zhang retreated to Zizhou and came back sitting on his shoulder, Wang Hui came to greet him and asked him: "The whole army of Taiwei went to Xichuan, and now there are less than ten people back, what is going on?" Dong Zhang cried and couldn't answer correctly.

After returning to his own mansion, he was having dinner when Wang Hui and Dong Zhang's nephew were waiting for Dong Yanhao to lead 300 soldiers to come in shouting. Dong Zhang dragged his wife to the city wall, and his son Dong Guangsi committed suicide.

Dong Zhang ran to the north gate tower and called the commander Pan Chou to let him suppress the rebels, Pan Chou came, but did not suppress the rebellion, but beheaded Dong Zhang's head and handed it to Wang Hui, who opened the city gate and surrendered to the Xichuan army.

On the 17th, Meng Zhixiang rewarded the soldiers in Zizhou, and after the banquet, he said to Li Renhan and Zhao Tingyin: "Which of the two generals should be suppressed here?" ”

Li Renhan said: "If Duke Ling hands over Shuzhou to me again, I can also go." Zhao Tingyin didn't speak, Meng Zhixiang felt embarrassed, and after he came back, he asked Li Hao to draft an official document, and after the two generals gave in, he appointed one as the queen.

Li Hao said: "In the past, the Taizu of the Liang Dynasty and the Zhuangzong of my Dynasty both led the four towns at the same time, but now the two generals are unwilling to give in, and it is only appropriate for the Duke to take care of it himself." You'd better hurry back to Chengdu and discuss with Zhao Jiliang. ”

Meng Zhixiang ordered Li Renhan to return to Suizhou, leaving Zhao Tingyin as the inspector of Dongchuan, and appointing Li Hao to manage the affairs of the Zizhou Military Government. Li Hao said: "The two tigers are fighting fiercely, I dare not accept this order, and I am willing to follow you back to Chengdu." ”

So, he used Wang Yanbaht to detain Dongchuan. On the 22nd, Meng Zhixiang arrived in Chengdu, and Zhao Tingyin soon led his troops back to the west. Meng Zhixiang said to Li Hao: "I got Dongchuan, and I have more worries. ”

Li Hao asked the reason, and Meng Zhixiang said: "Since I left Zizhou, I have received seven expressions from Li Renhan, all of which said, 'You should personally lead the town of Dongchuan, otherwise you will not be convinced. Zhao Tingyin said, "Originally, I didn't dare to lead Zhen Dongchuan, but because Li Renhan didn't give in, I had the heart to compete with him." ’

Please tell Zhao Tingyin for me, I will restore Langzhou as the Baoning army, plus the four prefectures of Guo, Peng, Qu, and Kai, and ask him to go to the town. I myself led Dongchuan to cut off Li Renhan's hopes. ”

After hearing this, Zhao Tingyin was still resentful, and asked to compete with Li Renhan, and the winner received Dongchuan, Li Hao repeatedly persuaded him, and he accepted Meng Zhixiang's order.

So in June, Zhao Tingyin was appointed as the queen of Baoning. On the seventh day of the first month, Zhao Jiliang led the generals to ask Meng Zhixiang to take over Dongchuan, and Meng Zhixiang agreed.

Zhao Jiliang and others asked Meng Zhixiang to be the king, and issued an order to temporarily call the book, but Meng Zhixiang did not allow it. (To be continued......)