Chapter 482: Blood and Fire, Three Kingdoms Kill (Everything in Readiness)

After Liu Tongyuan had offered profuse thanks, Zhang Zhao did not let him leave, because since Liu Jingyan had already agreed to submit, they needed to strike while the iron was hot and not wait for him to slowly hand over power.

Anything that is not put into practice will have variables, let alone the military authority of a Military Governor of an entire military province.

Although the Jingnan Army of Binzhou had been rebuilt after a rebellion, it still had more than three thousand men, including several hundred armored soldiers, and no one would be willing to give that up.

So Zhang Zhao kept Liu Tongyuan there, then quickly agreed to a marriage, and immediately began the betrothal and gift-giving rites.

That was Zhang Zhao giving the youngest daughter of Zhang Huaiqing, his paternal aunt, in marriage to Gao Yunquan.

This marriage was one Zhang Zhao had always opposed.

Because if Zhang Huaiqing did not have another daughter in his old age, this paternal aunt would be his only unmarried female elder.

Although Gao Yunquan was shrewd, knew when to advance and retreat, and was accomplished in both civil and military affairs, he still had not reached the threshold for Zhang Zhao to agree.

For Gao Yunquan, he of course understood perfectly the value of being, so to speak, the only uncle-in-law of the Heavenly King Zhang.

Two years earlier he had begun sending people to lobby, and had worked hard to prove himself, but had never gotten Zhang Zhao to nod.

But this time, I, Commander Gao, have put down real capital. Besides being willing to offer a hundred thousand shi of grain and fodder, he was also willing to change the Zhangwu Army of Yanzhou into Zhangwu Garrison, hand over Yanzhou's military authority, and be content to serve only as Prefect of Yanzhou.

This carried special significance, because the Gao family had always been on the periphery of the Liang state and had been especially respectful, and no one knew how many people under heaven were watching how Zhang Zhao would deal with the Gao family.

If Zhang Zhao directly took over Gao Yunquan's military and administrative authority and abolished the Zhangwu Army military province of Yanzhou,

he would give the impression of being harsh and ungrateful, and of forcibly seizing power, and then the other commanders of the Jin state would all feel endangered, and might even rise up together in resistance.

But if Zhang Zhao did not take over Gao Yunquan's military and administrative authority, there was no corresponding political system within the Liang state for that.

If that happened, Zhang Zhao's move to abolish the military provinces and establish circuits, with no Military Governors, and with the three offices of Grand Commissioner, Transport Commissioner, and Prefect dividing civil authority, and the Garrison Commander, Circuit Militia Commissioner, and Border Suppression Commissioner each dividing military authority, would become empty words.

One must know that within the Liang state there were plenty of people eyeing the great authority of a Military Governor, and this opening could not be allowed.

In fact, Zhang Zhao had hinted to Gao Yunquan several times before, but Gao Yunquan had kept playing dumb.

Only now had he vaguely revealed a willingness, but it was only a hint, not a full declaration.

Zhang Zhao also knew why Gao Yunquan had not fully declared himself, and after weighing the matter, he agreed.

Politics, after all — as long as someone is not an enemy, you have to let them have their benefits. Those who try to keep everything for themselves generally do not get far.

And part of the reason Zhang Zhao agreed was that he had decided to make the Zhangwu Army of Yanzhou move.

Because Liu Jingyan had only submitted verbally, and Zhang Zhao had not yet announced an attack on the Jin state, so to make this thing solid, the main Liang army could not move.

Only the Zhangwu Army could move. Let the Zhangwu Army march south and swallow up the Jingnan Army, so that even if any discordant voices came, it would be a conflict between the Zhangwu Army and the Jingnan Army, and had nothing to do with him, Zhang Zhao.

Liu Tongyuan was kept there, and after Gao Yunquan completed the betrothal and gift-giving rites, Gao Yunquan would lead the Zhangwu Army of Yanzhou south to take over Ningzhou, which Liu Jingyan was garrisoning.

Three days later, the simplified betrothal and gift-giving ceremonies were completed, and the betrothal gifts were even just a single gift list, with nothing else prepared.

After completing these ceremonies and settling the marriage, Zhang Zhao ordered Li Xiaojie to accompany Gao Yunquan to Yanzhou, and then take Ningzhou.

At the same time, he issued an order authorizing Li Xiaojie to mobilize the militia and village troops of Binzhou, and while waiting for the main army to march south, to work together with Wu Ying'er of Weizhou to pin down Li Decong, Military Governor of the Zhangyi Army at Jingyuan in Jingzhou.

"My lord, Li Decong, Military Governor of the Zhangyi Army at Jingyuan, has shut his gates and will not see us.

Guo Jin, Military Governor of the Baoda Army of Fuzhou, would not even let them enter Fuzhou city, and directly escorted our envoy to Yanzhou. He has also blockaded the roads and forbidden Hexi merchants from entering Fuzhou territory."

After Liu Jingyan was dealt with, Zhang Zhao still faced five Military Governors. Among them, Zhao Ying, Military Governor of the Zhenguo Army of Huazhou, was a scholar who had already secretly submitted, and was only waiting for Zhang Zhao to send troops to coordinate from within and without to kill all the yabing guards of the Zhenguo Army.

The Military Governor of the Shunyi Army of Yaozhou had just suffered an internal rebellion, and the Military Governor had been driven out by his yabing guards, so for the moment there was no need to worry about him.

Of the three remaining Military Governors, Li Decong, Military Governor of the Zhangyi Army at Jingyuan, was the hardest to deal with.

Whoever said Shi Chonggui had no political acumen, Zhang Zhao would argue with them.

From the fact alone that this man had urgently transferred Li Decong from Military Governor of Hezhong to Military Governor of the Zhangyi Army at Jingyuan, and had given him two thousand yabing guards, one could see that Shi Chonggui still had a certain wariness toward Zhang Zhao.

Because after Kang Fu died the previous year, Li Decong was the most senior veteran among the Daibei military establishment.

And he was not simply an old general, because Li Decong had, back in the day, served Li Cunxu together with Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan.

Not only had he deeply won Li Cunxu's trust, he and Li Siyuan were as close as brothers.

Moreover, this man had always treated people with generosity. Whenever soldiers, officers, officials, or commoners committed offenses, he always showed leniency. Although his governance of a region had no great benevolence or virtue, he did not harm the people, nor was he greedy for wealth, and therefore his reputation among the Daibei military men was very good.

From Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan on down, everyone called him Seventh Brother Li, and even Li Congke and Shi Jingtang had called him that.

If Zhang Zhao wanted to enter Guanzhong, he first had to deal with Li Decong.

But Li Decong was already seventy years old, and if he suffered any harm under the sword, the matter would become very serious.

Zhang Zhao did not belong to the Daibei military group to begin with, and the commanders of the Central Plains already disliked him. If Li Decong were to die at Zhang Zhao's hands, they would most likely rather submit to Liu Zhiyuan than choose Zhang Zhao.

But in Zhang Zhao's view, Li Decong was only avoiding meeting, so there was still room to maneuver. Someone like Guo Jin, Military Governor of the Baoda Army of Fuzhou, was the one with whom there was no discussion to be had.

"That wretch Guo Shoujie — the Heavenly King did not suspect him of being a fellow townsman of Liu Zhiyuan of Hedong, and sent people a thousand li to recruit him, yet he is so ungrateful. I beg the Heavenly King to order the Datong and Feng'an garrisons to attack him."

Yin Yaozi, who had just arrived in Liangzhou, heard this, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes. Guo Jin's actions were practically a slap in the face to Zhang Zhao and the Liang state.

Zhang Zhao agreed with Yin Yaozi's opinion almost without thinking. Feng'an Garrison was in northern Long, and Datong Garrison was in Xia-Sui; they were originally going to march south from Yanzhou anyway.

Zhang Zhao had gone to recruit Guo Jin precisely to avoid the Baoda Army of Fuzhou threatening the flanks when the Datong and Feng'an garrisons marched south. Now that Guo Jin was being unreasonable, he could only be rooted out first.

"Then Cousin, make a trip to Xiazhou. Lord Yuanzhong is not skilled in military affairs and needs someone to assist him. After you go, regardless of anything else, strike at the Baoda Army of Fuzhou, and it must be a thunderbolt blow from the start, so as to overawe the petty schemers."

"Your servant obeys!"

Yin Yaozi said these things because he wanted to go to Xiazhou, because if he stayed in Yuanzhou, Zhang Zhao would again make him responsible for overall logistics.

"My lord, why not have Yongle come to Yuanzhou? Although Fifth Sister passed away long ago, there is still a bond of old affection there."

The "Fifth Sister" Murong Xinzhang spoke of was the fifth daughter of Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan, who had married Li Decong's second son, which was why he said there was a bond of old affection.

Zhang Zhao hesitated. "With the world now in chaos and turmoil, would it be dangerous for Yongle to go?"

Murong Xinzhang shook his head. "From Weizhou to Jingzhou in the Jin state is only a hundred and forty li, and with Wu Ying'er sending men to escort her, there should be no problem.

Although Seventh Brother Li will not see our envoy, he cannot possibly refuse to see Yongle, nor can he fail to protect her safety."

Zhang Zhao slowly nodded. "Have Zhang Xibao and the others escort her, and have Wu Ying'er move the Weizhou army closer to Jingzhou."

"My lord, actually I would like to make a trip to Jingzhao Prefecture. Lord Guojun's sons and I were quite close in the Eastern Capital.

Perhaps if I go, I can spare Jingzhao Prefecture a military disaster. If my lord wants an intact Chang'an, he must recruit Lord Guojun."

Guojun was the courtesy name of An Yanwei, Military Governor of the Jinchang Army of Jingzhao Prefecture. Zhang Zhao had previously believed that entering Chang'an would require fighting, because An Yanwei was in fact a cousin of Shi Chonggui's birth mother, Consort An.

Although An Yanwei never flaunted his relationship with Shi Chonggui, Shi Chonggui treated him like a blood uncle, and with a bond like that, An Yanwei would absolutely fight to the bitter end.

"No! You can't go."

Zhang Zhao refused without a second thought. Who knew how far An Yanwei's loyalty to Shi Chonggui would go?

If Murong Xinzhang got harmed, he'd regret it until his guts turned green.

Seeing how much Zhang Zhao cared about him, Murong Xinzhang broke into a happy smile.

"My lord, rest assured. Your son will not go directly to see Lord Guojun. I will first go see the An family's eldest young lord and second young lord.

When those two were in the Eastern Capital, they did plenty of eating, drinking, and carousing with me. The great trend of the realm is plain enough now — the Jin state is at death's door. Even if Lord Guojun, as the imperial uncle, has it in mind to die with the Jin, his sons and grandsons may not be so willing."

Zhang Zhao gave it serious thought, then still shook his head.

"The Jinchang Army has only seven thousand men. Even with a strong city, how could they block my seventy thousand? This is too risky."

"What if An Yanwei forces the entire population of Jingzhao Prefecture to defend the city? Jingzhao Prefecture is the Chang'an of all us sons of Tang in Hexi and Anxi — of the Guiyi Army and the descendants of the Anxi Army.

My lord spent ten years of painstaking effort before Chang'an regained a little of its former glory. I cannot stand by and watch it be smashed to pieces again.

Besides, if we can enter Chang'an without bloodshed, my lord should know what glory that would be for our state of Liang!"

Zhang Zhao fell silent. Whether Chang'an was called the Western Capital, Yongjing, or now Jingzhao Prefecture, in the hearts of those who had endured calamity and never forgotten their old country, it had only one name — it would forever be called Chang'an.

And indeed, in these years Zhang Zhao had reopened the trade routes and, overriding all objections, placed the most important transit hub for trade beyond Liangzhou in Chang'an, precisely to restore its vitality.

Chang'an now had a population of two hundred ten thousand, the most populous city in Guanzhong, with goods flowing to all four directions.

Brocade, tung oil, and cloth were produced in enormous quantities. The Later Jin court could collect over seventy thousand strings of cash in goods and taxes from Chang'an every year — which was why they had sent their most loyal man, An Yanwei, to hold it.

And beyond its economic prosperity, Chang'an held the deepest significance for Zhang Zhao and the entire state of Liang. That was why Murong Xinzhang wanted to try.

A Chang'an intact, untouched by the flames of war, was simply too important to everyone.

Zhang Zhao rose to his feet and clapped Murong Xinzhang on the shoulder. He looked with emotion at this adopted son, only seven years his junior, still as brave and meticulous as ever, always treating Zhang Zhao's cause as his own.

Murong Xinzhang's value to Zhang Zhao had already surpassed that of Li Cunxiao to Li Keyong in former days — and in feeling, because of Lady Cao Sanniang, it was even stronger than that of Li Cunxiao and Li Keyong as father and son.

Though Li Siyuan and Li Congke stood as cautionary examples, Zhang Zhao was confident he could prevent such a thing from happening again.

"Since you have such ambition, your father will no longer stand in your way. Be careful in all things. If you meet any danger, remember that preserving your life is what matters most.

Huzi, rest assured — I will have your mother bring him into the palace to stay for a while. Everything in your household will be looked after by your mother as well."

A smile from the bottom of his heart spread across Murong Xinzhang's face, and the corners of his eyes even grew a little moist.

Because before this, although Murong Xinzhang came and went from Yongxun Palace and Yongshou Palace as if they were his own home, his son Huzi was not the same.

It was an unspoken understanding kept by both sides. Zhang Zhao had no grandson yet, and if Huzi were to come and go from the forbidden palace for long, it would give people the impression that Huzi was the eldest grandson.

So Lady Cao Sanniang had not often brought Huzi into the palace to play, Murong Xinzhang and his wife had never sent him in, and Zhang Zhao had never brought it up.

But though it was called an understanding, it was like a thorn lodged in everyone's heart. Now Zhang Zhao had personally pulled that thorn out, so of course Murong Xinzhang was overjoyed.

Zhang Zhao also suddenly felt a pang of guilt. All these years, Murong Xinzhang had campaigned north and south for him like an ox or a horse. The boy had lost his father at two, and at least for now, he truly regarded Zhang Zhao as a father.

Still, mindful of the Five Dynasties' frequent incidents of adopted sons slaughtering their adoptive fathers' sons and grandsons, Zhang Zhao had always treated Murong Xinzhang a little differently from a true son.

But now, Zhang Zhao was prepared to raise his trust in Murong Xinzhang, and to treat this adopted son who had been with him seven years as a true son.

Yet the father and son had barely begun to open their hearts to each other when Zhang Liecheng came running in to report — it turned out Hu Guang and the others had arrived.

Hu Guang's cheeks were so gaunt they had caved in, and the two warhorses were as scrawny as donkeys. But the one hundred twenty-seven riders who had set out were still one hundred twenty-seven riders upon reaching Binzhou.

"Sword Comes"

Twenty-four days to cover one thousand six hundred li — roughly sixty-seven li a day.

They had also faced inspections at every pass and the threat of bandits and mountain brigands, and their supplies had not been ample. At this time, that speed was already extremely fast.

"Heavenly King, your servant Hu Guang has returned with one hundred twenty-seven riders. I am ashamed before you, Heavenly King — the task you entrusted to me was not completed."

As Hu Guang spoke, he dropped to his knees before Zhang Zhao with a thud. Back when they had gone to the Eastern Capital, Zhang Zhao's order had been for them to wait in the Central Plains, and after the Liang army entered the passes, to watch for the chance to link up with them.

At the time, Zhang Zhao had thought that after Yelu Deguang entered the Central Plains, they would organize uprisings in various places to support the Liang army's entry into Guanzhong.

Zhang Zhao in those days was still somewhat immature, thinking that the war between the Later Jin and the Khitan would be settled in one stroke, with the Khitan descending like a fierce tiger from the mountain.

But now it was clear that was not so. The time had dragged on too long, the course too full of reversals — so much so that even eastward-returning partisans like Hu Cile had already grown corrupt.

Yet beyond all these uncertainties, the return of Hu Guang, Hu Qilang, and the others was what gladdened Zhang Zhao most.

It showed that his great enterprise of rebuilding the Great Tang and restoring peace to the realm still drew many people who shared his aspirations.

"You, Hu Guang, have returned from two thousand li — what shame is there in that? Rather, it is I, this Heavenly King, who am ashamed before loyal and brave men like you.

You are all fine sons of our Great Liang. With loyal and brave subjects such as you, why worry that the Great Tang cannot be revived! That Huaxia cannot be revived!

Hu Qilang, at the time you said you wanted no reward, and would wait until Hu Guang returned to speak of it. Now that everyone has arrived, come forward as well!"

Zhang Zhao stood atop a cheval de frise at the camp gate, surrounded by soldiers.

A few bold ones called out cheerfully to Zhang Zhao: "Heavenly King, Hu Qilang is in the rear camp feeding the horses."

"Zhang Xiaobao, then you go and summon him for me." Zhang Zhao laughed heartily and pointed at the bold soldier.

Zhang Xiaobao's eyes lit up. He asked in disbelief, "The Heavenly King knows me, Zhang Xiaobao?"

"Why wouldn't I? At the battle of Chiting Garrison, you alone killed three brave officers of the Gaochang Uyghurs, and you had the merit of seizing their banner. Am I right or not?"

Zhang Xiaobao's eyes shone even brighter, and he grew even happier — because this was the first time anyone had mentioned him without saying he was Zhang Xiaobiao's younger brother.

Ever since Zhang Xiaobiao had shot dead over a hundred soldiers of the Dingnan Army outside Xiazhou by himself, everyone who mentioned Zhang Xiaobao would add, "That's Zhang Xiaobiao's little brother."

Zhang Xiaobao went off in high delight. The other soldiers also knew where the men who had returned earlier with Hu Qilang were, and one after another they shouted and ran off to find them.

Normally, running about and shouting were forbidden in the camp, and the personal guards around Zhang Zhao also urged him not to show himself like this.

For every man in the camp had a bow — who knew whether an arrow might come flying from somewhere?

But at a moment like this, Zhang Zhao would of course not listen. Not only would he not listen, this Heavenly King Zhang would also set his face sternly and point at the gathered soldiers, shouting.

"These are my, Zhang Zhao's, loyal and brave subjects. If I do not trust them, who else can I trust?"

At these words, the soldiers roared with joy, then crowded around Zhang Zhao and moved toward the review platform that had been set up. The sound grew louder and louder, and the crowd grew larger and larger.

But by this time, the officers of each camp had also hurried over. The commanders began organizing the soldiers, arranging the crowd into formation by garrison, battalion, and company.

Zhang Zhao climbed onto the drill platform. By now Tiger Qilang and the others had also been summoned over. Below the platform the crowd surged in a great clamor — no fewer than three or four thousand men, and still more were arriving.

Zhang Zhao pulled Hu Guang and Hu Qilang up onto the platform, gripping both their hands and refusing to let go. Looking out at the soldiers below, Zhang Zhao shouted.

"Seven years — more than two thousand days and nights, sixteen hundred li, traveling day and night without rest.

When they were sent to the Eastern Capital back then, most of them were not yet twenty. Now they are nearly thirty.

In all that long time, they never forgot their original oath. Through every hardship they endured, they were determined to return. Hu Guang, can you tell me — why did you cast aside the glory and wealth of Jin, abandon your wife and daughter, and come back to Great Liang?"

The gaunt Hu Guang looked at Zhang Zhao and said with firm resolve: "Because I remember what the Heavenly King once said to me: a true man born into a chaotic age should hold the great ambition to pacify the realm and give the common people a peaceful, prosperous era.

I have returned today precisely to follow the Heavenly King and put an end to this chaos."

Zhang Zhao turned to Hu Qilang. The man with the severed wrist grinned.

"The Heavenly King asks why I came back to Great Liang? Because I, Hu Qilang, am an upright, honorable warrior.

I risked my life in battle, never shrank from wounds or death — and the Lord of Jin rewarded me with three bolts of cloth. That is not a reward; it is an insult! How could such a miser deserve my loyalty?

And even if the rewards had been greater, I would not want them — because every bit of that gold, silver, and silk was plundered.

In Jin, even the wealthy live in constant fear of ruin. They are worse off than the poor of our Great Liang. Rewards that come from destroying families and ruining lives — I do not want them."

Zhang Zhao had not expected these two to say such things. He truly had not coached them in advance.

It seemed these were their most genuine feelings. Having witnessed the living hell of Jin, they longed all the more for the paradise of Liang.

"Well said! A true man may love wealth, but he must obtain it by righteous means. Goods stained with the blood of the innocent — we do not want them!

Since the two traitors An and Shi threw the realm into chaos, a hundred and eighty years have passed. This age of chaos should end. My loyal and valiant soldiers, tell me — who should end this chaos?"

"We will! We will!"

The vast crowd below roared as one, cheers resounding across the fields in every direction.

"Grant Hu Guang, Hu Qilang, and the returning warriors each gold, silver, and silk worth fifty strings of cash. Each man's merit rank shall be advanced two grades and three steps. All shall enter the Hanshan Unit and attend at my side. Loyal and valiant ministers shall receive generous reward!"

Zhang Zhao handed out the rewards in one stroke, then continued shouting to the officers and soldiers.

"In this realm, jackals rule the road, and the Khitan harbor the ambitions of wolves. But Heaven has granted us this gathering. It is fitting that we raise a righteous army, comfort the people, and punish the guilty. I ask all of you, officers and men, to join me in pacifying the realm."

"We humbly obey the Heavenly King's command — pacify the realm and restore the Great Tang!"

From Hanhai Garrison Commander Yin Yaozi on down, every officer and soldier roared their assent, morale soaring like a rainbow.

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