At that time, when Li Jiqi's class returned to the dynasty, Meng Zhixiang asked for 6 million yuan of military money, and by this time there were still more than 2 million yuan left to be used up. Ren Yuan was working in Xichuan at the time and was very clear about this matter.

Later, Ren Yuan returned to the dynasty as the prime minister, appointed Meng Zhixiang as a servant, and asked him to send the remaining army money back to Beijing.

At the same time, Zhao Jiliang was appointed as the envoy of the Sanchuan system, supervised the matter, and controlled the taxation of the two rivers, cutting off Meng Zhixiang's financial route.

Meng Zhixiang was furious when he found out, not only refused to obey the edict, but also detained his old friend Zhao Jiliang in Chengdu. The privy envoy An Chongzhi was aware of Meng Zhixiang's intention to secession, and regardless of Li Siyuan's practice of "dismissing the Daoist army", he ordered Li Yan to be the supervisor of Xichuan, intending to strengthen his control over Xichuan.

This Li Yan is not Li Yan during the Three Kingdoms, Li Yan during the Three Kingdoms is also known as Li Ping, the word is square, and he is from Nanyang. During the Three Kingdoms period, he was a heavy minister of the Shu Han Dynasty, and Zhuge Liang was the minister of Liu Bei before his death.

In 231 AD, during the Northern Expedition of the Shu Army, Li Yan escorted the grain and grass because of the rain and the muddy roads delayed the time, in order to shirk the responsibility, he blamed Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, so that Zhuge Liang had to retreat back to the division, so he was convicted, was deposed as a civilian, and migrated to Zitong County.

In 234 AD, Zhuge Liang died of illness, and after Li Yan learned the news, he thought that no one would be able to use him in the future, so he died of anger in anger.

And Li Yan here is a native of Youzhou, formerly known as Rang Kun, who began to assassinate under Liu Shouguang, and later became Li Cunqing's guest envoy (an official in charge of diplomatic reception at the central government).

Li Yan is smart, versatile, skillful, knowledgeable, and eloquent. Tongguang three years (925). Li Yan sent an envoy to Qianshu to tell Emperor Wang Yan about the great achievements of the Later Tang Dynasty. The words were clear, and the Shu people were shaken.

The privy envoy Song Guangsi hosted a banquet for Li Yan. Asked about the situation in the Central Plains. Li Yan replied: "The year before last, when the son established the country name in Yedu, it took less than ten days from Yunzhou to Bianzhou to pacify the world, and the Liang State surrendered more than 300,000 soldiers.

China's territory extends to the sea in the east, to Gan and Liang in the west, to Youling (i.e., Youzhou) in the north, and to Minling in the south. Don't surrender.

And Huainan Yang Xingmi is strong for several generations, and Fengxiang Li Maozhen is an old minister of the previous dynasty, and he has to send his son into the palace as a hostage and bow down to the minister.

As for Jing, Hu, Wuyue and other places, they are all busy paying tribute and paying curiosities, and are willing to be feudal towns under the rule of our country.

Today, it is the trend of the times to unify the world! Song Guangsi said: "I don't know the situation in Jing, Hu, Wuyue and other places, Fengxiang Li Maozhen is my in-law of Shu. How can this person be credulous if he is capricious?

The Khitan is getting stronger and stronger, aren't you worried? Li Yan asked rhetorically: "Which is stronger, Khitan or pseudo-Liang?" Song Guangsi replied: "The Khitan is slightly worse. Li Yan then said: "My Tang Dynasty destroys Liang like a devastation, not to mention that the power is not as good as the Khitan of Liang State!"

Tang soldiers are all over the world. With the strength of one town, the four species can be wiped out. Since God gave birth to the Siyi clan, it is not within my Central Plains Kyushu. From ancient times to the present, successive emperors have left it to fend for themselves. If you don't care about them, you don't want to be reckless! ”

This general discourse. Blowing the justice and power of the world in the Later Tang Dynasty to the sky, the Shu people were frightened after hearing it.

The former Shu monarchs and ministers were mediocre, risky and peaceful, and extremely poor and luxurious. After Li Yan returned from the former Shu, he strongly advised Li Cunqiao to capture Shu.

At this time, Li Cunmiao remembered that he had sent Li Yan to exchange treasures for rare treasures in Shu with famous horses, and the former Shu was very modern, strictly prohibiting the export of rare items, and those that could be exported were called "grass things", which was almost "garbage".

Li Yan estimated that he would not smuggle, but of course he found nothing. The old thing is hated by the new, Zhuang Zong said angrily: "When things are sent to the Central Plains, it is called 'into the grass', and Wang Yan will have to become a 'grass man' (that is, a garbage man) sooner or later!" So Li Cunmiao made up his mind to cut down Shu.

In the winter of the same year, he sent Li Jiqi, the king of Wei, to the west, with Li Yan as the envoy of Sanchuan, and Kang Yanxiao led 5,000 troops to go first.

Wang Yan spread the news that "when Li Yan comes, I will surrender." Li Yan was overjoyed and rode a fast horse to Yizhou. Wang Yan was really obedient and surrendered on the same day.

Li Yan was leaving, and before leaving, his mother said: "In the past, the idea of cutting down Shu was yours, and the Shu people hated you to the bone, and now you have to go, I'm afraid you will die without a place to be buried!" ”

Li Yan turned a deaf ear. Meng Zhixiang had saved Li Yan's life, and now seeing that Li Yan was about to ride on his head, he said angrily: "The feudal towns in various places have abolished the prison army, but we are still in Xichuan, which is Li Yan's desire to destroy Shu again." ”

Then Meng Zhixiang led the army to the border, hoping to scare Li Yan away and make him retreat in the face of difficulties.

In 927 (the second year of Tiancheng), Li Yan arrived in Chengdu, and Meng Zhixiang held a banquet to entertain him. During the banquet, Li Yan showed an edict and asked Meng Zhixiang to kill the former prison guard Jiao Yanbin.

Meng Zhixiang didn't listen, and said: "Now that the feudal towns in various places have abolished the prison army, why did you come here?" ”

Then he ordered Wang Yanbai to behead Li Yan. After Li Siyuan learned about it, he couldn't reach the whip and couldn't investigate it deeply, and sent someone to send Meng Zhixiang's family members who were detained in Fengxiang to Chengdu to show his kindness. He can only be a man of latitude and horizontality, and a minister of introduction, but he has to regard himself as Zhuge Kongming in the world, and those who know the times are Junjie, and Li Yan made a negative teaching material.

Meng Zhixiang appointed Zhao Jiliang as the deputy envoy of Xichuan Jiedu and asked him to participate in confidential affairs. In 928 (the third year of Tiancheng), the imperial court renamed Zhao Jiliang as the regimental training envoy of Guozhou (now Nanchong, Sichuan), and appointed He Zan as the deputy envoy of Xichuan Jiedu.

Meng Zhixiang concealed the edict, and asked Zhao Jiliang to stay in office, but after it was not approved, he sent someone to Luoyang to ask for it repeatedly, Li Siyuan had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

In the same year, Li Siyuan crusaded against Gao Jixing, the envoy of Jingnan Jiedu, and ordered Meng Zhixiang to send troops to the Three Gorges to cooperate. Meng Zhixiang sent Mao Chongwei to lead 3,000 troops to Kuizhou (now Fengjie, Chongqing).

Soon, Gao Jixing died of illness, and his son Gao Congzhi became a minister to the Later Tang Dynasty. Meng Zhixiang then asked to withdraw the Kuizhou defenders, but was rejected by the imperial court.

Meng Zhixiang secretly instructed Mao Chongwei to agitate the soldiers, and he automatically dispersed and returned, and the imperial court could not control it. In 929 (the fourth year of Tiancheng), Li Siyuan wanted to sacrifice in the southern suburbs and asked Meng Zhixiang for a million gifts.

Meng Zhixiang believed that this was the imperial court's attempt to drag itself down economically. refused to give the resignation, and later, when he couldn't excuse himself, he only discounted 500,000 yuan.

Meng Zhixiang's series of disobedient behaviors aroused extreme suspicion from all over the court. As a result, An appointed his cronies to guard the states under the rule of Liangchuan, and used elite soldiers as their tooth army. Just in case.

In 929 (the fourth year of Tiancheng), An Chongzhi appointed Xia Luqi as the envoy of the Wuxin Army, and appointed Li Renju, who was at odds with Dong Zhang, the envoy of the Dongchuan Festival, as the envoy of the Baoning Army, and his cousin Wu Qianyu as the assassin of Mianzhou.

After Dong Zhang and Meng Zhixiang learned about it, they were very frightened, thinking that this was a prelude to the imperial court to send troops to fight against them. Here it is necessary to introduce Dong Zhang, Dong Zhang was originally a slave of Li Rang, a wealthy man in Bianzhou, Li Rang had a good relationship with Zhu Wen, who was the envoy of the Xuanwu Festival at that time, and often went to drink and feast, and later Li Rang became Zhu Wen's righteous son. changed his name to Zhu Yourang, and Dong Zhang was also known to Zhu Wen.

When Dong Zhang grew up, he was quite brave, fought in Zhu Wen's army, and was promoted to colonel with merit. During the Later Liang Longde period, Li Jitao of Zhaoyi Jiedu surrendered to Zhuwen in Luzhou, but the general Pei Yue refused to accept it, and rebelled according to Zezhou. Emperor Mo Liang sent Dong Zhang to attack, Keze Prefecture. Because of the merit of the history of Zezhou Thorn.

In the same year, after the Tang Dynasty destroyed the Later Liang, Li Cunqiao entered Bianjing, and Dong Zhang came to the court. Li Cunmiao is known for his courage and reputation, and he is treated preferentially.

In the summer of the third year of Tongguang, Dong Zhang was ordered to stay behind in Pizhou and the right wing of the camp to be the Marquis of Yu. The entourage of Prime Minister Guo Chongtao made a large-scale crusade against Qianshu, where there were military aircraft. All with the vote.

After Pingshu, Dong Zhang was awarded the deputy envoy of the sword Nandongchuan Festival because of his merits. Know the moderation. In the early years of Tiancheng, the school was inspected for two years, and the same chapter was added.

At that time, Li Siyuan was in power, Prime Minister An emphasized the dictatorship, listened to slander, and thought that Meng Zhixiang would rebel, and Dong Zhang was loyal and righteous, so he could be especially favored to guard against Meng Zhixiang. Dong Zhang's son Dong Guangye was an envoy to the palace at this time, attracting courtiers and praising Dong Zhang, and Dong Zhang gradually became arrogant.

In the summer of the fourth year of Tiancheng, Li Siyuan sent a guest provincial envoy Li Renju to send a message to Liangchuan, asking Dong Zhang to pay a tribute of 500,000 yuan to the imperial court for the purpose of sacrificing to heaven.

Dong Zhang, on the grounds that the land was narrow and the people were poor, only promised to pay a tribute of 100,000. In order to thank the envoys, Dong Zhang set up a banquet in the government office to entertain Li Renju, but at noon, Li Renju had not yet come, Dong Zhang sent someone to check, and saw that Li Renju was drinking with the advocate woman in the post pavilion, not only angry, led hundreds of troops, suddenly entered the post, scolded Li Renju, wanted to kill him, and then because of the persuasion of others, Li Renju was saved from death.

After Li Renju returned to the dynasty, he spoke of Dong Zhang's illegal affairs. However, An Chongzhi still protected Dong Zhang, and played with Li Renju as the training envoy of the Langzhou regiment, and soon he was promoted to the envoy of the festival.

The fire was about to burn to the eyebrows, although Meng Zhixiang was at odds with Dong Zhang, he still adopted Zhao Jiliang's opinion and formed an alliance with Dong Zhang, jointly fought against the imperial court, and asked the imperial court to withdraw the Jiedu envoy and assassin Shi sent by him.

Dong Zhang's son, Dong Guangye, was the palace envoy at the time, and Dong Zhang wrote to him: "The imperial court has set aside the prefectures other than Zizhou under my jurisdiction to set up another festival town and garrison Sanchuan, which is to put me to death."

You have seen the Privy Counsellor prophesy on my behalf: If the court sends one more person into the valley, I will rebel and bid you farewell. ”

Dong Guangye showed the letter to Li Qianhui, the privy councilor. But the imperial court obviously did not take it seriously, and it didn't take long for Xun Xian to lead troops to defend Langzhou, and Dong Guangye said to Li Qianhui: "If you don't wait for this army to arrive, my father will definitely rebel."

I don't dare to spare my life, but I am afraid that the court will send men and horses to cause trouble, and I hope that I can stop sending this army, and my father promises that nothing else will be done. Li Qianhui reported Dong Guangye's opinion to An Chongzhi, but An Chongzhi did not agree.

When Dong Zhang heard about it, he didn't say a word and immediately rebelled. The three towns of Lizhou, Langzhou, and Suizhou reported to the imperial court that Dong Zhang had gathered troops and horses to attack the three towns. An Chongzhi said: "I have long known that Dong Zhang wants to do this, but His Majesty is too tolerant of him and refuses to crusade." ”

Li Siyuan said: "I don't fail others, but if people fail me, they will crusade against him." On the third day of the ninth month, Su Yuan, the official of Xichuan, told Meng Zhixiang: "The imperial court will send a large army to crusade against Liangchuan. ”

Meng Zhixiang then discussed countermeasures with Zhao Jiliang, and Zhao Jiliang suggested that the Dongchuan soldiers and horses should occupy Suizhou and Langzhou first, and then Xichuan and Dongchuan would join forces to defend the sword gate, so that even if the imperial army came, the two rivers would have no worries. Meng Zhixiang listened to Zhao Jiliang's advice and sent an envoy to invite Dong Zhang to march together.

Dong Zhang sent a letter to the three towns of Lizhou, Langzhou, and Suizhou, reproaching them for dividing the relationship between the imperial court and Dongchuan, and then sent troops to attack Langzhou. On the tenth day of the first month, Meng Zhixiang appointed Li Renhan as the commander of the camp to deploy, Zhao Tingyin, the assassin of Hanzhou, as his deputy, and Zhang Ye of the Jianzhou assassin as the vanguard commander, led an army of 30,000 to attack Suizhou, and sent Hou Hongshi, the commander of the Yaneidu, and Meng Sigong, the commander of Xiandeng, to lead 4,000 troops to join Dong Zhang to attack Langzhou. When the Dongchuan army entered Langzhou, the generals who defended it said: "Dong Zhang has long planned to rebel, and his soldiers who bought him with gold and silk property are unstoppable, and they should dig deep ditches and high bases to thwart him. ”

Li Renju, the commander of Langzhou, said: "The Shu soldiers are cowardly and have no combat effectiveness, and they can't stop our army's elite soldiers. ”

So he led his army out of the city to meet him, but his combat effectiveness was far less hard than his tone, and he was defeated before he could fight.

Dong Zhang ordered the army to attack day and night, and on the 20th, the city fell, Li Renju was killed, and his entire clan was executed. When Dong Zhang was a general in Houliang, he commanded Yao Hong to be subordinate to him, at this time Yao Hong was leading thousands of troops to defend Langzhou, Dong Zhang wrote a letter to persuade him to surrender, Yao Hong threw the letter into the toilet and ignored it.

After the fall of the city, Dong Zhang grabbed Yao Hong and reproached him: "I promoted you by myself, why are you inferior to me today?" Yao Hong said: "Old thief!

You used to be a slave in the rich family surnamed Li, sweeping horse manure, and you were grateful if you got some barbecue slices. Now that the emperor is using you as a festival envoy, what is the loss to you? And you did rebel, and you still have a negative heart for the Son of Heaven, what grace have I received from you, and you have lied and spoken nonsense! You are a slave, you are shameless, I am a righteous man, how can I do what you do!

I'd rather die for the Son of Heaven than live with a slave! The prisoner under the stairs dared to be so arrogant, Dong Zhang couldn't help but be furious, and ordered someone to burn a cauldron in front of him, and asked ten strong men to cut his meat and cook it to eat, Yao Hong scolded endlessly.

On the 26th, Li Siyuan ordered Dong Zhang's official title to be cut off, and appointed Shi Jingjiao as the envoy of the Dongchuan camp to recruit envoys, Xia Luqi as his deputy, and Wang Sitong, the general of the right military guard, to stay in the western capital and guard the camp Mabu Du Yuhou, as the forward officer, and sent troops to attack Dongchuan.

On the third day of October, Li Renhan besieged Suizhou, Xia Luqi was fortified in the city, and Meng Zhixiang's army led more than 20,000 Zizhou rebels led by Gao Jingrou to build a very long wall to surround Suizhou.

Charuqi sent Ma Jundu to command Kang Wentong to fight, and when Kang Wentong heard that Langzhou had been captured by Dong Zhang, he led his men to surrender to Li Renhan.

On the eighth day of the first month, Dong Zhang led his men and horses to attack Lizhou, but encountered heavy rain on the way, and the transportation of grain and grass could not keep up, so he retreated to Langzhou. When Meng Zhixiang heard this, he said in surprise: "I just broke through Langzhou, and I was about to wave my army to attack Lizhou, but its commander did not dare to resist, and he would inevitably flee in despair."

Our army will be able to seize his grain storage and occupy the dangerous place of Mantianzhai, and the imperial army from the north will not be able to save Suizhou in the end.

Now Dong Gong is staying in Langzhou peacefully, away from the Sword Pavilion, isn't it the best policy! Then he sent 3,000 soldiers to help guard the Sword Gate, but Dong Zhang resolutely refused and said, "This matter has been prepared." ”

Meng Zhixiang appointed Zhang Wu, the envoy of the former Shu Zhenjiang Jiedu, to recruit crusading envoys for the Xialu camp, and led the naval army to take Kuizhou directly. On the ninth day of the first day of November, Zhang Wu arrived in Yuzhou, and Zhang Huan, the assassin, surrendered to him, so he occupied Luzhou, and sent the vanguard Zhu Wei to march to Qianzhou and Fuzhou. (To be continued......)