Lanzhou, which has been in the border area since ancient times, is also an important town on the Silk Road, and a paradise for the convergence of ethnic integration.

For a long time, the northern Xiongnu, Turkic, Xianbei, Hui, Mongolian, Tibetan, Xixia and other nomadic peoples used to graze here, and also multiplied here. The Yellow River, Yuanchuan River, Leitan River, Zhuanglang River and other rivers converge here, making it not only an important border town, but also a key point of waterway and land route.

Take the northern post road to reach Liangzhou Wuwei City, to the west you can reach Shanzhou, and to the northeast along the Yellow River you can reach Lingzhou.

This is a typical terrain of "two mountains and one water", which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the strategic position is very important.

Although the agricultural economy of modern Lanzhou has some historical precipitation, it is different from the situation imagined by some people in later generations. In the Tang Dynasty, Lanzhou was still dominated by a herding economy, supplemented by an agricultural economy. It was not until the Yuan and Ming dynasties that a large number of Han people settled here, making it an area dominated by agriculture.

A few days later, Fang Chongyong took his personal entourage, as well as the Tianwei army, which had not yet taken shape and had only a few thousand people, set off from Shanzhou City and rushed to Lanzhou. After arriving in Lanzhou, he asked Ge Shuhan to take over the defense of Lanzhou City, and then waited for Wang Zhonghe's arrival while selecting the warriors of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Festival in the Tianwei army.

Wang Zhongsi came from the east side of the river and must go to Lanzhou, and the two always have to meet. I have to say that Fang Chongyong's arrangement can be described as well-considered.

Sure enough, he didn't sit hot in Lanzhou yet. Two days later, Wang Zhongsi arrived in Jincheng, Lanzhou, with a thousand pro-troops, as well as dozens of cronies led by Li Guangbi.

Probably worried about the inconvenience of supplies, so there were not many soldiers and horses around Wang Zhongsi. But there are really a lot of generals around him, if these people go to Shanzhou, it will almost be a big change in the top level of the Longyou Army! It only depends on how Wang Zhongsi arranges it.

Outside Jincheng, on the banks of the Yellow River.

Fang Chongyong, who came to welcome Wang Zhongsi into the city, looked at the few people around him, such as He Changqi and Wang Rare, and then looked at the huge military generals with dozens of people beside his father-in-law.

He also had to admit that he had a little misunderstanding of the unspoken rules of the Datang Border Army and the development of the times.

Before the Anshi Rebellion, although everyone knew that An Lushan was going to rebel, what An Lushan did was what almost all the bigwigs in the border towns were doing.

For example, after the Anshi Rebellion, Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi were at odds, because Guo Ziyi was An Sishun's confidant, and Li Guangbi was similar to Wang Zhong's son.

Wang Zhongji was wrongfully demoted, and he was replaced by An Sishun, which made Li Guangbi suspect that it was An Sishun's people who were doing evil.

Don't talk about the rights and wrongs in the meantime, it's just that the top-down posture of the border town generals is probably at a glance.

The difference between these people and An Lushan is only that An Lushan rebelled in the last years of Tianbao, and they have not yet done it yet, but the possibility of rebellion cannot be ruled out.

Putting aside political intentions, there should be no problem in treating these groups of military generals who are grouping together in border towns as "capable and powerful potential rebel groups." The rebellion of Fugu Huaien during the Daizong period and the Jingyuan Mutiny during the Dezong period have fully proved this point.

They are not a feudal town for the time being, but they already have the prototype of a feudal town, but they lack an opportunity. All the internal factors needed by the feudal town are constantly fermenting.

"I haven't seen you for so long, why are you stunned when you see so-and-so!"

Wang Zhongsi strode forward, patted Fang Chongyong's shoulder, and laughed.

"Father-in-law, please, the son-in-law has prepared a thin banquet to pick up the wind and wash the dust for the father-in-law."

Fang Chongyong saluted respectfully.

"Well, very good, let's go!"

Wang Zhongsi nodded slightly and said.

The two walked side by side, and Wang Zhongsi suddenly sighed with emotion:

"After so many years, I am most glad that I didn't see the wrong person at the beginning.

My daughter's eyes are above the top, and her temperament is not very good, she didn't embarrass you after marriage, right? ”

Wang Zhongsi asked quietly.

"It's really not good, and I don't have the strength after a few strokes."

Fang Chongyong thought about the major events of his family and country, and casually agreed to it, only to realize that he had missed his mouth after speaking.

"Huh?"

Wang Zhongsi was stunned for a moment, stopped, and looked at Fang Chongyong with some doubts.

"The son-in-law is saying that she is fine. After settling down in Liangzhou, he took Xiuniang to settle in Wuwei City.

This time in Liangzhou, I am afraid the time will not be short. ”

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh and diverted the topic.

Wang Zhongsi also took the money smuggled by the Western Regions trade route, although he used it to support his cronies in the private army, but this is also a secret that cannot be said. In fact, this time Fang Chongyong was able to serve as the envoy of the Hexi Festival, that is, many bigwigs in the DPRK and China were working together, hoping that he could save this smuggling trade route.

From thrift to luxury, from luxury to thrift, in Chang'an, a giant city that costs money to walk, it is impossible to do without money.

Even if you don't want to spend money, it costs money to socialize with colleagues, meet friends with words, and tie up with your boss.

This money doesn't mean you can not spend it if you want to!

When I came to the lobby of the Yamen of the Mansion in Jincheng, I saw several long tables made up of many tables, which surrounded the entire hall into a "Hui" shape. On the table, there are all kinds of seasonal melon and fruit cold dishes, as well as cold dishes and dry cakes that do not need to be eaten hot.

In addition, there are not only mutton and lamb intestines commonly found in the northwest, but also beef that is steamed and eaten with cold dipping sauce.

Fang Chongyong waved his hand disapprovingly, and said to Wang Zhonghei:

"Yesterday there happened to be a cow in the city that hit the wall in anger and killed itself.

The climate is getting warmer every day, and it is not okay to leave it alone. I didn't expect my father-in-law and his entourage to arrive in Lanzhou today, which was really a coincidence.

Hahahahaha! ”

Hearing this, all the generals behind Wang Zhongsi showed a smile of "understood" and sat down in turn. He Changqi behind Fang Chongyong and the generals of the Tianwei Army also followed and sat on both sides.

The main seat facing the yamen hall is Fang Chongyong and Wang Zhonghei sitting opposite each other, such a banquet arrangement is in line with the rules of the imperial court. Now Wang Zhongsi is the envoy of the Longyou Festival, and Fang Chongyong is the envoy of the Hexi Festival, regardless of the qualifications and connections, the two are now at the same level.

After everyone was seated, Fang Chongyong ordered the food to be served. Hot dishes are served one after another, and there is an endless stream of servants coming in and out, which is more lively than the vegetable market. Flying in the sky, running on the ground, swimming in the water, you name it.

"Today's virtuous son-in-law is a waste of money, such a sumptuous banquet has not been seen for many years."

Wang Zhongsi looked at the room full of delicacies and sighed with emotion. Regardless of the question, this meal cannot be cheap.

"This reception banquet belongs to the official banquet, and it is recorded in the account of the envoy of the right branch of Longyou."

Fang Chongyong said with a smile.

Hearing this, Wang Zhongji smiled dumbly, and he was about to take over as the envoy of Longyoujie. Therefore, this meal was actually eaten by him by inviting Fang Chongyong, because the bookkeeping was recorded on the side of the Longyou Zhidu Envoy, and after all, it was the Longyou Jiedu Mansion that paid the last.

The districts of the camps, branches, and festivals stipulated by the imperial court were often slightly staggered, and the original intention was to let them not interfere with each other and restrain each other. However, with the change of the situation on the frontier, the imperial court gave the Jiedu envoy the power to interfere with the branch and the camp, so the three began to gradually converge. In the process of implementing government affairs, the Jiedu envoy became the superior of the Yingtian envoy and the Zhidu envoy.

There is no explicit rule, but in practice it is a "superior" who runs unhindered.

share a yamen, and they also work together on weekdays. This is also the reason why Niu Cyclamen was able to save so many contacts when he was a camp envoy in Hexi.

At that time, he was in contact with all the big guys, and they worked together every day, and they had no friendship and grinded out a little friendship!

So in Wang Zhongsi's opinion, in fact, today it was Fang Chongyong who spent his king's money to entertain him, which was quite unkind.

Of course, if you really want to talk about it, it's all Brother Kei's money. Whether it is Fang Chongyong or Wang Zhonghei, they are all wage earners, not bosses.

This is considered to be "eating and drinking at public expense" allowed in the system.

"Let me introduce you, this is Li Guangbi, a Khitan man, from the Li family in Liucheng."

Wang Zhongsi pointed to a middle-aged man closest to his seat and said. This person was pointed at by Wang Zhonghe, and hurriedly got up and saluted bravely, and then sat down without speaking, like a stuffy gourd.

Fang Chongyong was also very reserved and returned the courtesy, and did not show surprise.

"This is Fang Chongyong, a virtuous son-in-law of a certain person, he is about to go to Hexi to serve as the envoy of the Hexi Festival, and you must take him as an example and do a good job for the saint."

Wang Zhongsi pointed at Fang Chongyong again and said.

Many people know that Fang Chongyong is his son-in-law, but they don't know much about this military general who is about to go to Hexi to serve as a festival envoy. Now when I hear this "exciting" news, I all feel the importance of reincarnation.

One life, two fortunes, three feng shui, life, in fact, has already begun from the moment of reincarnation.

In the Tang Dynasty, some people have just been born, and they have already been crowned kings and marquises. Some people can't touch the threshold of the eunuch until they are old.

Is this fair?

Certainly not fair.

But that's life!

In nature, when will there be absolute fairness?

The generals have relatives in their hearts, and they all eat vegetables with their heads bored.

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little stiff, Fang Chongyong hurriedly picked up his wine glass and toasted the generals under Wang Zhonghe's command one by one, without any shelf of temperance envoys. Only then did the atmosphere in the lobby begin to warm up, and it was not a problem to mingle with each other.

After being full of wine and food, Wang Zhongji ordered Li Guangbi to take over the defense of Jincheng, and at the same time got the fish talisman of the Tianwei Army, and ordered Ge Shuhan to lead his troops to camp on the bank of the Yellow River outside Lanzhou City, and then he and Fang Chongyong came to a guest room in Lanzhou Post Station for a secret conversation.

……

Fang Chongyong took out a small paper bag from his arms, and then poured the tea leaves inside into the teapot. Then he added boiling water to the teapot, shook it gently, and waited for a while before pouring the tea into the tea bowl and handing it to Wang Zhongsi.

"I've never seen this kind of tea."

Wang Zhongsi nodded slightly, took the tea bowl and took a sip and said.

"This tea doesn't need to be cooked, it just needs to be brewed. Whether it is in the military or in the civilian population, it is easy to carry, and this kind of loose tea can also be brought into ordinary people's homes.

There's no need to add unnecessary clutter.

Iron pot roasted tea, instead of steamed tea; Replacing tea cakes with loose tea and boiling tea with brewed tea will have a great future in the future. ”

Fang Chongyong said very seriously.

"You have a heart."

Wang Zhonghei was preoccupied, and casually responded, as if he had no time to pay attention to these small things.

"Last time you won the battle in Tibet, can you tell me in detail about the situation?"

Wang Zhongsi drank the tea in the bowl and asked softly.

"Father-in-law, that's right.

The main reason for the victory in this battle was that the internal fighting of the Tubo people was too strong, and the big theory of being in charge of military affairs in the theater could not restrain the armies of the Dongdais.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to win so simply. ”

Fang Chongyong thought about establishing a "sheepskin army" as a killing move on the way to Longyou, and then went to the back of King Subi to attach the Tang Dynasty, and the Tubo people were ready to attack Longyou, etc., no matter how big or small, they all told Wang Zhonghe.

The core idea of strategy is: stop war with war!

With a small-scale victory, the Tubo people did not dare to act rashly, and fought for a longer peace in the Longyou region, with this as the purpose of fighting.

And now, the predetermined goal has been fully achieved.

In the next time, the Tubo people will seriously prepare for war, and the Tang army is also preparing for war, it depends on who has better means when they start fighting this autumn!

After listening to Fang Chongyong's introduction, even if Wang Zhongsi was well-informed, he was shocked by the "sheepskin army" and the operation of blocking the way back from the horse pile.

The trick of rejecting horse piles and fences to block the way back has long been used by the Tubo people, and it has worked wonders in key areas.

But the operation of the "Sheepskin Army" is really unheard of, and Fang Chongyong is original!

"The Tang army against Tubo has always been full of dangers, and the slightest carelessness will wipe out the entire army. It's really the first person like you to win so much.

This Hexi Festival envoy is well deserved.

I also believe that with your connections, you will definitely be able to serve as a festival envoy in Hexi.

Your war to stop the war is indeed the best coping strategy for Longyou's side. The problem of the Longyou army is very big, and if there is a fight now, the poison of the mutiny of the Anren army will definitely affect the morale of the army. ”

Wang Zhongsi said with a look of relief, deliberately not mentioning the smuggling route. In fact, with the mess of smuggling in Hexi, he didn't think that Fang Chongyong would be able to play any tricks after he went. Such a big hole, after all, is just doing its best.

"Father-in-law, the target of the Tubo people is Shibao City. No matter how much they feint, it is a trick. Shibao City is a nail stuck in the Tuyuhun Ancient Road, and the troops from the Tuyuhun Ancient Capital Fuqi City must pass through Shibao City.

Therefore, the Tubo people will definitely pull it out first and then quickly, and they must not take it lightly. At that time, if you really want to support, a certain army from Hexi will go to the Dadou Valley and attack the flank of Tubo, and you can respond to your father-in-law's troops. ”

Fang Chongyong reminded.

"If you defend it for a long time, you will lose, and the saint will not be satisfied with the current battle line, and you must not defend the city to the death.

Do you think the right army of Hexi Long, how to act to break the situation? ”

Wang Zhongsi asked with a slight frown.

"Send troops to conquer the land of the Yellow River and set up a military town here, and you can give an account to the sage."

Fang Chongyong thought about it and said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Wang Zhongsi was thoughtful and silent, still thinking about the pros and cons.

When the princess of Jincheng married Tubo, Yang Ju (later the governor of Shanzhou), who was the general of the left guard, accepted bribes from Tubo and sent the land of Jiuqu to Tubo as the Tang Muyi of the princess of Jincheng. After Tubo obtained the land of Jiuqu, he stationed troops here to herd sheep, built cities and bridges, and further infiltrated the Tang realm.

In fact, Yang Ju did not make this decision entirely because he accepted bribes from the Tubo people, but also because Longyou's troops and supply lines were very reluctant to control the land of Jiuqu (Qinghai, Guinan, Tongde, Gonghe, Xinghai and other counties), simply put, the Tubo people rushed down from the plateau, and they couldn't hold it at all.

Occupying the land of Jiuqu means that the battle to conquer half of Tubo and even destroy the country must be put on the agenda, otherwise it will be a situation where it will be lost for a long time and will continue to be bloodletted. At that time, Princess Jincheng married Tubo, and it is understandable that Yang Ju raised this point, he was lazy and threw out his burden.

And what Wang Zhongsi is worried about is how to manage this place and how to defend it after conquering the land of Jiuqu.

progress, which will greatly affect the national policy; Retreat is the next Yang Ju.

Is it going forward or backward?

Wang Zhongsi fell into deep thought.

(End of chapter)